Zhonghua Road Night Market (ไธญ่ฏ่ทฏๅคๅธ) is situated along Zhonghua Road in Taichung’s Central District and has historically been one of Taichung’s most popular early night markets. However, since the emergence of additional night markets in other neighbourhoods, the number of visitors to Zhonghua Road Night Market has diminished significantly. Despite this decline, the market remains a worthwhile destination for anyone wishing to experience the most authentic local flavours of old Taichung, and it is visited more frequently by locals than tourists. Personally, we chose to visit this market since it was just a one-minute walk from our hotel, which was quite convenient.
So one night, I was seriously craving some instant noodles, and we ended up hitting up a nearby 7-Eleven store to get our fix. But then we thought, why not add some more goodies to our supper feast? So we strolled over to Zhonghua Road Night Market, and we ended up with a whole smorgasbord of deliciousness!
Instant ramen, sandwiches, onigiri, tea eggs, and street food! ๐
By the way, I really think 7-Eleven stores in Taiwan are freaking amazing! Seriously, they’ve got some of the nicest snacks and food items ever, and don’t even get me started on the prices. It’s like a foodie’s paradise, I swear. I might have to dedicate an entire post to singing their praises, haha!
Boneless Fried Pork Rib ็ก้ชจๆ้ชจ้ ฅ
We spotted the first pushcart stall parked outside 7-Eleven and decided to try it out. The lady boss didn’t seem very friendly and was pretty grumpy, plus the portion size was a bit small. Despite that, the pork ribs were nicely fried, with a crispy outer layer and a fragrant mix of seasonings.
Since the ribs had no bones, they were easy to eat. The meat was a little chewy, but not too tough. It was like the pork rib version of Salt & Pepper Chicken (Yan Su Ji).
Sweet Potato Balls ๅฐ็็
These sweet potato balls came in a super generous portion – we got around 30 balls in one bag!
They were QQ chewy on the inside and had a strong sweet potato flavour. We were lucky enough to get a freshly made batch, so they were piping hot.
While waiting in line, I had a blast watching the boss fry up the sweet potato balls – I was curious how he managed to get them so perfectly round while cooking. He was seriously skilled!
Papaya Milk ๆจ็็ๅฅถ
This was hands down the best papaya milk we’ve tried in Taiwan! The cool thing about this drink shop is that we got to pick our own fresh milk brand. However, since we’re not locals, we didn’t know which brand to choose, so we asked the girl taking our order to recommend a thick and flavourful one.
The papaya milk she suggested was absolutely perfect! We asked for no sugar syrup, so all the sweetness came straight from the papaya. When mixed with the milk, it created a rich, creamy, and aromatic blend that was seriously delicious. It hit the spot!
Bi Lian Da Fried Chicken ๆฏ่ๅคง้ทๆ
We stumbled upon this shop on Zhongshan Road while walking back to our hotel. It’s called ๆฏ่ๅคง (“Bigger Than Face”) probably because their fried chicken cutlet is massive, haha!
But what really cracked me up were the names they gave their fried chicken on the menu, like ๆฏ่ๅคง (bigger than face), ไธ่ฆ่ (shameless), ๅฐ็ฝ่ (toy boy) and ๅ่็ฎ (thick-skinned). It was pretty amusing!
Fried Chicken Breast ๅ่็ฎ
We tried ๅ่็ฎ, which was a thick cut of chicken breast meat. Felt so worth it for the price paid, lol.
The best part was how incredibly moist the chicken was, even though it was so thick. The batter was thin, extra crispy, and super flavourful. Honestly, it was just as good, if not better than Hot Star or J&G! I highly recommend giving it a try!
King Oyster Mushroom ๆ้ฎ่
We also decided to try their King Oyster Mushroom, and oh my goodness, they were amazing! The outside was super crispy while the inside was so juicy. Another winner!
Final thoughts
While it may not be as lively as some of the other night markets in Taichung, Zhonghua Road Night Market is still a fantastic spot for a late-night food adventure. I highly recommend rounding up a group of friends and heading to the market to explore all the endless options and delicious flavours that await you! It’s definitely worth checking out.