Of all the night markets that Taipei has to offer, the one you shouldn't miss is Shilin Night Market, which is also the largest in all of Taiwan. It is filled to the brim with the best of Taiwanese street food like pan-fried dumplings, stinky tofu, tian bu la (Taiwanese fish cakes), bubble milk tea, oyster omelettes, Taiwanese XXL fried chicken, grilled king oyster mushrooms, and deep fried milk.

The best part of it is that you won't burn a hole in your wallet. Do some research beforehand and go with some places in mind so you won't find yourself overwhelmed or lost for choice. And don't forget to wear comfortable shoes.

Shilin Night Market | No. 101, Jihe Rd, Shilin District, Taipei City, Taiwan 111 

See also: 6 best street snacks unique to Taiwan

Get your fill of Taiwanese staples like lu rou fan (braised pork rice) and braised offals at MoonMoonFood. Do not let the wait for a table deter you as the experienced and quick staff have worked out a system that gets orders in and guests seated as quickly as possible. You must have at least one order of its the braised pork rice, scallion oil noodles, braised offals, and boiled soups. 

Each dish is seasoned and cooked to absolute perfection and you will leave with a full stomach and happy heart. The space may be a little cramped but it's comfortable enough. Note, however, that the menu is completely in Chinese.

MoonMoonFood 雙月食品社 | 6-2 Qingdao East Road, Zhongzheng District, Taipei 100 | +886 2 3393 8953 | Monday-Saturday, 11 am–2:15 pm, 5–8:30 pm

Taiwan's selection of fish and seafood are one of the freshest outside of Japan, and Sushi Ryu is the perfect place to get a taste of it. The Michelin-starred establishment prides itself on importing its ingredients from Japan three times a week to ensure freshness and only serves omakase menus. 

If you've got a big appetite, Sushi Ryu also offers an omakase option where the chef will continue serving you sushi and other dishes for as long as you wish. Don't miss the ankimo (monkfish liver). Reservation is advisable, as seats tend to be filled a month in advance. 

Sushi Ryu | No. 60-5, Section 2, Xinsheng N Rd, Zhongshan District, Taipei City, Taiwan | +886 2 2581 8380 | Tuesday-Sunday, 12pm-2:30 pm & 6pm-10 pm

See also: 5 things you probably didn't know about sushi

Crowned the best bar in Taiwan by World's 50 Best in 2022, Indulge Experimental Bistro is Aki Wang's brainchild that serves up some of the most creative and beautiful cocktails, which pay tribute to Taiwan's bountiful produce such as teas. 

Creativity, precision, and balance are at the forefront here, along with seasonal specialties. If inventiveness in your drinks are what you're looking for, Indulge Experimental Bistro delivers just that.

Indulge Experimental Bistro | No. 11, Lane 219, Section 1, Fuxing S Rd, Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 106 | +886 2 2773 0080 | Monday-Sunday, 11:30 am-2 am

If you can't get enough of Taiwanese noodles, then why not pack home a bag of them? Ranging from scallion oil dry noodles to soupy beef noodles, choices are aplenty—especially since the inventor of instant noodles was born in Taiwan. There is one to fit every budget and flavour preference. 

My picks are the Uni-President Man Han Feast chilli beef flavoured instant noodles, Tong Yi Mian braised pork flavoured instant noodles, and A-Sha Tainan sesame flavoured noodles.

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