Shilin Night Market is a tourist night market in Taipei that has more than 500 stalls. Foods you should try here include cold noodles and giant sausages. Keep reading to learn whether it’s worth visiting.
I’ve visited Shilin Tourist Night Market several times and want to share recommendations. And information to help you learn more about the market.
Before heading there, you’ll want to read through this piece to find valuable information like:
Let’s get busy.
Quick Facts: Shilin Tourist Night Market
Hours | Monday–Friday: 4:00 PM–12:00 AM Saturday & Sunday: 4:00–11:00 PM |
Number of Stalls | 539 |
Closest Rail Station | Jiantan Station (Taipei MRT Red Line) |
Opening Date | 2011 (current location) 1899 (original location) |
City Located | Taipei City |
Address | No. 101, Jihe Rd, Shilin District, Taipei City, Taiwan 111 |
Chinese Name | 士林夜市 Pinyin: Shì lín yèshì |
Foods To Try at Shilin Night Market
You can find many local flavors in Shilin Night Market like:
Food | Restaurant/Stand | Restaurant Chinese Name | Address |
---|---|---|---|
Giant Sausage | Nowhere specific | NA | NA |
Oyster Omelet | Zhong Cheng Hao | 忠誠號蚵仔煎 | 111, Taipei City, Shilin District, Dadong Rd, 15-32號號 |
Vermicelli Noodles | A Hui Vermicelli | 阿輝麵線 | No. 52號, Danan Rd, Shilin District, Taipei City, 111 |
Cold Noodles | Good Friend | 好朋友涼麵 | No. 31號, Danan Rd, Shilin District, Taipei City, 111 |
Pork Ribs | Hai Yu | 海友十全排骨 | No. 49, Dadong Rd, Shilin District, Taipei City, 111 |
Fried Chicken | Hometown BBQ Chicken | 家鄉碳烤香雞排 | No. 1, Jihe Rd, Shilin District, Taipei City, 111 |
Shanghai Fried Bun | Chung Chia | 鍾家原上海生煎包 | No. 38號, Xiaodong St, Shilin District, Taipei City, 111 |
Bubble Tea | Nowhere specific | NA | |
Oyster Mushrooms | Grilled King Oyster Mushroom | 燒烤杏鮑菇 | No. 98, Danan Rd, Shilin District, Taipei City, 111 |
What are all the foods I listed?
It would take me too long to explain. I dedicated a separate guide to Taiwanese food. Check it out to understand what you’re buying.
No matter what part of Taiwan you’re in, try bubble tea from any restaurant. It’s much more affordable (and tastes better) than outside Taiwan.
Good Friend is a Michelin Star restaurant [1]. Many judges ranked this restaurant as the best in its food category. What are cold noodles, though? They’re noodles served in sesame sauce and have a hint of lemon.
While browsing the night market, play some carnival-style games. Some of what you’ll find include pinball machines and balloon shooting (with BB guns). Or shop for cheap clothing.
Shilin Night Market Map
How To Get To Shilin Night Market
Reach Shilin Tourist Night Market through one of the following ways:
- Rent a YouBike & drop your bike off at a nearby station
- Take Taiwan High Speed Rail or Taiwan Railways Association train to Taipei Station
- Take the Taipei Metro to Jiantan Station (Red Line)
- Ride the Taipei Metro Red Line to Jiantan Station
- Take the Taipei Sightseeing Bus (Blue Route) and depart at MRT Jiantan Station
Here’s a map to the Red and Blue routes for the Taipei Sightseeing Bus.
Looking for Luggage Storage?
Store your luggage at nearby businesses, hotels, or lockers without paying an arm and a leg. If you’re worried, each bag will include up to NT$10,000 ($364) worth of insurance.
Take the load off and don’t haul your stuff while adventuring
What’s There to Do Around Shilin Street Night Market?
Here’s what to do around Shilin Night Market:
Attraction | Walking Time | To-Do |
---|---|---|
Shilin Cixian Temple | 3 min. | Admire the temple’s architecture |
Chiang Kai Shek’s Residence | 12 min. | Admire the flowers & learn about Taiwan’s history |
Jiantan Mountain Trail | 14 min. | 1–2-hour hike that leads to a beautiful view of Taipei City |
Grand Hotel Taipei | 18 min. | It’s a hotel |
Riverside Park | 34 min. | Walk along the Keelung River |
Jiantan Mountain is my favorite hiking trail in Taipei. Go at night, and you’ll get a mesmerizing view of Taipei City and Songshan Airport. Ensure you go on a day when the sky’s clear. Otherwise, you’ll see smog or clouds.
Here’s a livestream showcasing some of what you’ll see:
If you’re interested in temples, this area is home to one of Taipei’s oldest, Chicheng Temple.
Otherwise, to catch a glimpse of Taiwan’s history, visit Chiang Kai Shek’s residence. He was a military leader, a member of the Kuomintang (KMT), and the first official president of Taiwan.
While he has a controversial past, you’ll learn a lot about this figure by visiting his former home. Depending on the time of year you visit Taiwan, you can catch beautiful flowers that adorn the property.
You will find this property north of the night market.
To learn more about the Chinese Civil War, explore the nearby National Revolutionary Martyrs’ Shrine. It’s a place dedicated to those who died during the war.
Then there’s the Taipei Grand Hotel. Whether you want to view it or stay in it, either option will give you a look at a place that hosted various famous figures like former US presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower and Ronald Reagan.
Visit Chiang Kai Shek’s Residence
Shilin Market History
Shilin Street Tourist Night Market was built in 1899 [2]. Making it Taiwan’s oldest tourist night market. From there, local food businesses began to accumulate customers.
For more than a century, Shilin survived the following:
- The Japanese Empire
- The KMT’s harsh era of martial law
- Taiwan blossoming into a democratic nation
As the country transitioned into the 2000s, in 2002, the Taipei City Government shut down and demolished the market due to fire hazards and safety and sanitation concerns.
To keep their income flowing, vendors moved into nearby temporary structures.
In 2006, Shilin Night Market began to transform. Five years later, the renovations finished, and the market returned to its former glory.
Conclusion
Many vendors may mark up their prices because Shilin Night Market focuses on tourists, but don’t let that deter you. You still won’t have to pay much for food. Don’t be afraid to try something new.
If you are deterred, consider one of Taipei’s other night markets.
Explore More Night Markets Throughout Taiwan
Northern Night Markets:
Southern Night Markets: