Not the biggest or most interesting night market, still I will write this review because I have not reviewed any Taiwanese night market yet and Lihue in Kaohsiung is a pretty typical example. If you are not aware, night markets are all over Taiwan (every city has many, often running concurrently from evening to midnight or later) and they are all about food. It is some of the best street food you can find in Asia (if you compound price, cleanliness and taste in my opinion).
The visit
I was in Kaohsiung in late December 2018 and I decided to take a stroll in this market as it was very close to my hotel.
The market spread around 700 meters on Lihue street with probably close to 100 vendors. It was quite crowded, as night markets always are in Taiwan. Good thing, it is mostly food, but you can also find garments and souvenir vendors.
I started with one of the popular vendors: a stall preparing Taiwanese hot dogs. This is actually a sausage squeezed in a bun of sticky rice. Other condiments are added including ketchup and spring onion. Only 60 NTD for a small one (1.95 USD). I liked it and it was not too messy to eat. Thanks to the paper wrap it stayed into place.
Then, if you like a soft ball, the diced beef vendor is a sure shot. I have seen them in Taipei as well. The beef is cooked with a blowtorch. Not the highest quality, but it does the job. A small portion is 100 NTD (3.20 USD).
This vendor was quite interesting. She prepared some shrimp and egg balls, using quail eggs. Maybe too much pepper, but another easy dish. Just 60 NTD (1.95 USD).
I also had a piece of mullet roe, made warm and combined with a slice of apple to make it more palatable. Mullet roe is a specialty of the South of Taiwan. Just 50 NTD (1.60 USD). In the picture above, while they are warming my mullet roe, on the grill they are cooking fish gizzard.
Of course there is much more, including more expensive seafood as shown in the picture above. A few stalls have stools and a few tables in the middle of the road, otherwise it is food on the go.
The check
No checks provided, but the total experience was less than 10 USD and it was totally enjoyable. Night markets are a great food experience in Taiwan.
Where in Kaohsiung:
Liuhe 2nd Road, Xinxing District.
The night market is within walking distance from Formosa Boulevard Station of the Kaohsiung MRT.