Eating In Translation

Three Brothers

Assemble-it-yourself dessert ice (NT30).

Three Brothers
Shida Night Market, Taipei
(One of several locations)

Juice Stand

Shida, the shortened Chinese name of National Taiwan Normal University, also takes much of its character from a college-age crowd that might be just as happy at the mall; less interesting for the food. Starfruit juice (NT30).

Juice Stand
Shida Night Market, Taipei

Double Happiness

Squid soup (left; NT40) and cuttlefish soup (NT50). Less exotic than the snake soup, snake meat, and snake blood liquors that earned Huaxi St. the moniker "Snake Alley," but as Jerry noted and as we quickly confirmed with a walk-by, the Huaxi St. snake joints now do business almost exclusively with tourists, and very little at that. Double Happiness is a little on the fluorescent side, too, but its still a dining haven for regular folks.

Double Happiness
Huaxi St. Night Market, Taipei

Sharkment storefront

The entire bill of fare is right under your nose, or someone's nose.

Big Intestine

Great name, though Jerry had to translate for me. Container of sliced sausage with pickled vegetables and hot sauce (NT50).

Big Intestine
Huaxi St. Night Market, Taipei

7/11

Melon Creamy Soda (490 ml.; NT36), from Japan. Carbonated, and more creamy than melony; becomes cloying.

On later occasions:
Vitamin C.C. Lemon (600 ml.; NT25), from Suntory in Japan. Dry, not tart.
FIN: Fly in Nature (580 ml.; NT 25). Like watered-down Gatorade.
Calpis Sour (275 ml.; NT50). Milky color, milky orange-lime flavor.

7/11
Many locations in Taipei

Fruit Stand

Just out of season, wood apples (or rose apples, or wax apples; NT60 each) were relatively expensive, crisp like an unripe pear, and clean-tasting (read: relatively flavorless). Hope to give them a second chance someday, at their best.

Fruit Stand
Ningxia Rd. Night Market, Taipei

Wong Fresh Fruit

Botanically, they're a fruit, and in China and Taipei, tomatoes are treated like one. In the tourist night markets in Beijing you'll find them slathered in hardened syrup; if you'd rather show restraint, try them sliced and stuffed with plum and mango (bag, NT50).

Wong Fresh Fruit
Ningxia Rd. Night Market, Taipei

Ling's Dessert Stall

Glutinous rice balls with crushed peanuts (NT30) are a traditional Hakka treat, often served as an appetizer; best when served fresh and warm from the pot, as you'll find them here.

Ling's Dessert Stall
Ningxia Rd. Night Market, Taipei

Fried-Foods Stall

The basil (hiding at the bottom of the bag) makes the difference with these nearly boneless chicken nuggets (about NT30).

Fried-Foods Stall
Ningxia Rd. Night Market, Taipei