'Night Market King' Must-Try Food Rankings Across Taiwan! South Airport Market's Delicious Fried Chicken, Dongdamen's Yuli Stinky Tofu Goes Viral, and Netizens' Favorite Crispy Chicken Cutlet Spot
(translated from Elle)
Taiwan's latest hit food variety show 'Night Market King' has already reached millions of views shortly after its premiere! Dubbed as Taiwan's version of 'Chef Wars', 'Night Market King' features the top ten night markets voted by netizens, with competitions centered around Taiwan's iconic street foods.
To claim the title of "Strongest Night Market," each market is pulling out all the stops, sending their best vendors to compete with their signature dishes. Watching these affordable delicacies on the show, don't you also want to immediately visit these popular stalls and experience the dishes that won such high praise from the judges? ELLE has compiled a list of the most talked-about stalls from 'Night Market King' - let's see what makes these stalls special and which dishes are must-tries!
'Night Market King' brings together Taiwan's top ten voted night markets for competition. The first phase features competitions around Taiwanese favorites like "chicken cutlets, oyster omelettes, and stinky tofu." The second phase focuses on "desserts, beef dishes, and seafood." The final phase will see markets competing with "rice and soup combinations, traditional dishes, and innovative cuisine." The surviving markets will advance to the grand finals.
Broadcast Information: Premieres every Saturday at 19:00 on VideoLand Channel, with rebroadcasts on TTV main channel at 22:00 the following Saturday. Digital platforms include Chunghwa Telecom MOD/Hami Video and the official Night Market King YouTube channel (next-day upload).
Besides the mouth-watering street food, the judge panel is another highlight. The show is hosted by LULU Huang Lu-yin, Ada A/DA, and Mei Li, with international judges including million-subscriber YouTuber Korean Golden Needle Mushroom, Hong Kong star Eric Tsang, and Thailand's Alizabeth Princess. Each episode features different mystery guests, including Yellow Shuan, Lee Yu-xi, and competitive eater Xiao Hui.
In the first episode's chicken cutlet battle, each vendor brought their best dishes. The cutlets featured crispy golden breading, juicy meat, various seasonings, and unique sauces to satisfy different palates. Each shop's signature chicken cutlet looks irresistible!
'Night Market King' Vendor Recommendations: South Airport Night Market's "Good Taste Fried Chicken" Operating for over 30 years, they use fresh chicken with a proprietary marinade that keeps the meat juicy while preserving its natural flavor. Besides chicken cutlets, their chicken legs, leg cutlets, and wings are also popular items. Address: Lane 307, Section 2, Zhonghua Road, Zhongzheng District, Taipei Hours: 15:30-00:30 (Closed Mondays)
Dongdamen Night Market's "Yilan Fragrant Chicken Cutlet" uses two coating layers - one crispy batter and one breadcrumb layer. Seasoned with special spices, it creates a rich, layered texture while sealing in the chicken's juices. Paired with Thai sweet and sour dipping sauce, it offers a unique international flavor! Address: No. 38, Zhongshan Road, Hualien City, Hualien County Hours: 18:30-23:30 (Closed Wednesdays)
'Night Market King' Vendor Recommendation: Dadong Night Market's "De Sheng Sauce-Grilled Chicken" De Sheng uses fresh warm chicken that maintains its natural sweetness. Paired with the owner's special "Tainan Sweet" sauce and Thai sauce, its sweet flavor instantly won over judge Princess's approval. Address: No. 701, Section 1, Linsen Road, East District, Tainan City Operating Hours: Every Monday, Tuesday, and Friday
THREADS Popular Vendor Recommendation: "Xie Li Fragrant Chicken Cutlet" Da'an Branch Besides vendors featured on the show, food lovers surely have their hidden gems, and "Xie Li Fragrant Chicken Cutlet" is one of the most discussed chicken cutlet shops on Threads. With branches across Taiwan, the Da'an Road location is one of the most popular, even visited by host Ada. Chicken cutlet lovers shouldn't miss it! Address: Lane 31, Section 1, Da'an Road, Da'an District, Taipei Hours: 15:00-23:00 (Closed Mondays)
'Night Market King' Oyster Omelette Battle: Ruifeng Night Market's "Ruifeng Chang Seafood BBQ" Takes Crown
Oyster omelette, a beloved local dish that many Taiwanese grew up with, is popular among both locals and foreign tourists. The freshness of oysters, texture, and sauce flavoring are all crucial factors in determining the winner. The combination of the crispy exterior, savory soft eggs, and oysters makes it a must-try night market dish!
'Night Market King' Vendor Recommendation: Ruifeng Chang Seafood BBQ's "Double Egg Crispy Oyster Omelette" From Kaohsiung, this dish won the championship with unanimous praise from judges! The owner reveals the secret lies in the batter and sauce. Besides the cookie-like crispy exterior, their unique sauce balances the overall flavor without being too greasy. Singer Yellow Shuan was so excited after the first bite that he stood up from his seat! Address: No. 1128, Yucheng Road, Gushan District, Kaohsiung (Inside Ruifeng Night Market) Hours: Monday, Thursday, Sunday 17:00-01:00, Saturday 17:00-01:30, Tuesday 09:00-17:00 (Closed Wednesday)
'Night Market King' Vendor Recommendation: Hao Da Yi Kou "One Bite Oyster Omelette" From Yizhong Commercial District, this vendor stands out by combining oyster omelette with takoyaki concepts. Each piece is easy to eat, with a crispy exterior and chewy filling that melts in your mouth. This innovative take on oyster omelette surely surprises food lovers! Address: No. 261, Yizhong Street, North District, Taichung City Hours: Tuesday-Thursday 17:00-23:00, Friday-Sunday 18:00-23:30 (Closed Monday)
Stinky tofu is both feared and desired by tourists visiting Taiwan, being one of the most familiar night market scents. Besides attracting stinky tofu lovers, different cooking methods bring out various aromas and flavors. Beyond common fried stinky tofu, there's braised tofu, steamed tofu, and more. After watching the show, you'll want to rush to the night market for a box!
'Night Market King' Vendor Recommendation: Dongdamen Yuli Stinky Tofu's "Assorted Stinky Tofu" When served, judges immediately exclaimed "So stinky!" But biting in reveals rich tofu fragrance, crispy yet gentle exterior, and refreshing side dishes, making Yuli Stinky Tofu the well-deserved champion! Address: No. 15, Bo'ai Street, Hualien City, Hualien County Hours: 17:00-22:00
'Night Market King' Vendor Recommendation: Lehua Fang Family Garden's "Crispy Stinky Tofu" From Lehua Night Market, this first competitor received immediate praise from judges. Their stinky tofu is crispy outside and soft inside, bursting with tofu juice in one bite. Their homemade bird's eye chili sauce is the highlight - spice lovers must try it! Address: No. 26, Yongping Road, Yonghe District, New Taipei City Hours: 17:00-23:00 (Closed Monday)
'Night Market King' Vendor Recommendation: South Airport He Jia Steamed Stinky Tofu's "Kung Fu Stinky Tofu" Have you tried steamed stinky tofu? This South Airport Night Market vendor uses fermented vegetable braising liquid with secret sauce, steaming it together with tofu to absorb the aroma and essence. Paired with rich ingredients in the soup, it's an unforgettable experience! Address: No. 18, Lane 313, Section 2, Zhonghua Road, Zhongzheng District, Taipei Hours: 16:30-22:30
THREADS Popular Vendor Recommendation: "Handmade Stinky Tofu" As the show aired, this Yizhong Commercial District vendor next to competing "21 Stinky Tofu" gained attention. Besides tender tofu texture, netizens highly recommend trying it with chili sauce! Address: No. 21-2, Yizhong Street, North District, Taichung City Hours: Wednesday-Friday 16:00-22:00, Saturday-Sunday 15:00-22:00 (Closed Monday-Tuesday)