Taiwan is all about its night markets and a majority of the renowned ones are situated in Taipei. However, do not be too quick to rule out Southern Taiwan. This article will introduce you to the top three must-visit night markets in Kaohsiung, and after reading through, you will be convinced on why they are worthy of your time as much as Taipei’s night markets are.
Ruifeng Night Market
The Southern city of Kaohsiung is blessed with numerous night markets and one of the famous ones - which is on par with Taipei’s ‘big guns’ - is Ruifeng Night Market. As long as you are in Kaohsiung, it is highly recommended to check out this market, and though it may be smaller than those you’ve visited in Taipei, in terms of crowd levels and overall liveliness, Ruifeng is not far behind.
Ruifeng Night Market is situated in a dedicated square-like space with hundreds of stalls occupying almost all empty spaces within the area. It is the most diverse of all night markets in Kaohsiung, which also translates to a more touristy night market, so do expect to feel the heat of the crowd while you are there.
You are bound to see the common Taiwan street foods such as smelly tofu and braised meat, just to name a few. To be honest, there’s too many food choices for you to pamper your taste buds, so here are a few of the more popular ones. The food stall at the first row of the food section specializing in Giant Takoyaki Balls, which is definitely a worthy recommendation. On the down side - if a tad exaggerating - consuming a single Giant Takoyaki Ball is equivalent to a meal, considering it’s generous fillings within it. Watch out, small eaters!
Some of you may feel the inevitable dullness of eating similar street snacks which can also be found at other night markets. But toss those concerns aside, as there are “creative” street snacks to the rescue! You can express your gratitude to those few particular stalls in Ruifeng Night Market as they took effort to specially create such unique treats.
One such place is the lone, precious toast stall which sells the unique bubble tea toast and matcha azuki toast among a variety of other styles of toasts. The toast is neatly slathered with matcha spread before being stuffed with muah chee and red beans, with a crisp exterior that adds on to the refiness of the toast, coming together to create an explosion of flavours in your mouth. With such an interesting alternative to drinking bubble milk tea, anyone should sink their teeth into this gem, regardless if they are fans of tapioca pearls or not.
With hundreds of stalls selling a range of products, prepare for some bargaining. There are also old-school style games such as baseball, throwing rings, shooting balloons, mahjong, and other recreation booths to keep people of all ages well-entertained at Ruifeng Night Market.
Address: 804, Taiwan, Kaohsiung City, Zuoying District, Yucheng Road, 南屏路
Opening Hours:
Tuesday, Thursday - Sunday: 4pm - 12am
Monday, Wednesday: Closed
Liuhe Night Market
During the day, Liuhe 2nd Road looks just like any other ordinary road, but when nightfall approaches, the road slowly transforms into a lively pedestrian market. The main highlight of Liuhe is its abundance of seafood on sale, and seafood lovers should definitely come here for an indulging feast! The market takes half an hour to walk through and it's incredibly spacious, especially when it becomes less crowded upon entering the wee hours of the night. Well, guess it’s time to unleash your ravenous appetites in this night market while feeling the downtown energy surge through you.
Address: Liuhe 2nd Road, Xinxing District, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan 800
Opening Hours:
Monday - Sunday: 5pm till late
Kaisyuan Night Market
This night market boasts an impressive total of 1000 stalls and is known as Taiwan’s largest night market. Just like its fellow counterparts, Kaisyuan night market offers exactly what you can find in a typical Taiwan night market, except you have even more options to choose from due to the monstrous size of the market!
As you walk through the market, you will realize how well-organized it is. Each stall has its own number and the layouts of the routes are named after the ten main streets in Kaohsiung, making navigation around the market that much easier. Another thing you will notice is the usage of modern technologies such as the ability to download online coupons and promo information right onto your phone, which shows how Kaisyuan sells itself as a young and organized huge night market capable of winning customers over by going online.
One unique feature of this market is a bar-type stall serving Taiwanese beer. As it is not possible to find a similar concept in other Taiwanese night markets, Kaisyuan truly scores some points when it comes to creativity too.
Address: No. 758號, Kaisyuan 4th Road, Qianzhen District, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan 80652
Opening Hours:
Thursday - Sunday: 5pm - 12am
Monday - Wednesday: Closed
Visualize yourself surrounded by noisy loud-speaking vendors calling out to you to taste their food, the tempting aroma of street snacks, the trendy clothes, and a whole bunch of classic arcade games whereby you can possibly nab that cute stuffed toy you love! Ultimately, there is just so much to savour, marvel at, and experience in Kaohsiung’s vibrant night markets. Thus, if you happen to stop by, be sure to indulge in the most charming night market experience that you deserve!
