Night markets are a huge part of Taiwanese culture. They can be found all over the country -- some are very large and crowded, with lots of tourist customers, while others are quite small and mainly attract visitors from just their local community. During my time in Taiwan, I have visited over a dozen night markets, big and small. At each of these night markets, you're sure to find some iconic Taiwanese meals and snacks, most from local cooks and farmers. Though local specialties may vary between different night markets, there's one iconic Taiwanese food you're sure to see at any night market… actually, you’ll probably smell it before you see it. That food is stinky tofu. The name is a bit on the nose, isn’t it?
I have tried so many amazing foods at night markets, it's hard to pick a favorite! Some of my favorites include xiaolongbao (小笼包, pronounced sh - ow - long - b - ow), which are also known as soup dumplings, and tanghulu (糖葫蘆, pronounced t - aw - ng - hoo - loo), which are bamboo skewers lined with fresh fruits covered hardened sugary syrup. But stinky tofu stands out because of its unique taste, and of course, its unique smell. Like many traditional Taiwanese foods, it originally came from China. However, it has become super popular in Taiwan, and is now seen as an icon of Taiwanese cuisine.
