How To Throw a Taiwanese Night Market Party at Home
A variety of grazing dishes, food stations and twinkly lights translate the energy of a night market for a magical evening.
Yen Wei and Ryan Chen for Made in Taiwan
In Taiwan where I live, night markets are destinations—places for tourists to experience the concentrated vibrancy of the city, or a pit stop for locals who want a quick snack on their commute back home. The open air bazaars that date back to the 19th century, birthed from the edges of temples—where opportunistic peddlers would gather as folks paid their respects to the gods. The bazaar eventually became a semi-permanent fixture at many of the more popular temples around the island, and reached a climax in the ’80s and ’90s at the height of Taiwan’s economic prosperity.
When I was a kid visiting Taiwan from Los Angeles during winter break, they were the highlight of my trip. They were pulsating spaces where I could play darts, gnaw on sweet pork sausages and sip comically large cups of lemon iced tea. I’d meander through the crowds with my parents, and stuff myself with so much food that I had a hard time falling asleep.
Much of the night market experience depends on the atmosphere—the bustling crowds, the neon lights, smells wafting through the air—but the spirit of that energy can be translated into one of the most magical gatherings in your own home that’ll bring friends and family together.
Yen Wei and Ryan Chen for Made in Taiwan
Create the Immersive Environment
Night markets are as much about the atmosphere as they are about the food. Here’s how to reference those vibes in your own home.
Host the Party Outside
If possible, host the party outdoors on a nice evening. After all, an outside, nighttime setting is a quintessential commonality of Taiwanese night markets. Best case scenario: get the neighborhood involved and get a block party going. Realistically? A simple backyard or sidewalk soiree would work fine as well.
Put Out a Variety of Lights
Illuminate the scene with an assortment of lights you have on hand. If you’re buying decor, put up colorful string lights and red paper lanterns. LED signs are a great addition, too. Night markets in Taiwan are brightly lit spaces, usually set up on the edge of Taoist temples. Don’t be timid with the lighting. Vendors, after all, have to see what they’re cooking. Get the floodlights out if you have them.
Create a Station for Each Dish
Use small folding tables to mimic the food stalls and encourage your guests to walk around and sample different foods like they would in a real market. Lay the hot food out on steam table pans if you have them. Some dishes are traditionally served with toothpicks or paper bags (see the food section below), so arrange them next to each dish to complete the experience.
Set Up a Game Area
For the little ones, games are an inherent part of the night market experience. Carve out a kids corner with carnival-style games like ring toss or darts. These little activities can coax out the playful spirit of a night market and give guests something fun to do between bites.
If it’s an adult-only party, tarot cards or a mahjong table would be appropriate. I often see fortune tellers squeezed in between food vendors. Mahjong admittedly isn’t as common at the night markets, but it wouldn’t be unheard of.
Yen Wei and Ryan Chen for Made in Taiwan
Gather a Variety of Grazing Plates Together
I wrote a cookbook about Taiwanese cuisine in 2023, and dedicated an entire chapter to the food of the night markets. During my research, I discovered something important: the most popular night market dishes are quick, satisfying bites—perfect for grazing throughout the evening.These dishes can be time consuming, so don’t do everything yourself. Delegate or do it potluck-style. Just set up the tables and tell your guests to bring a dish. Here are some different quintessential categories to focus on.
Yen Wei and Ryan Chen for Made in Taiwan
Fried Chicken and Pork
Popcorn chicken, crispy bite-sized chunks of deep-fried chicken, fits that criteria entirely. It’s five-spice marinated chicken coated in a light batter, fried until golden, and finished with a sprinkle of fried basil for extra flavor. Serve the chicken with toothpicks to give guests that street food vibe. Big slabs of deep fried pork (pictured above) or chicken are common as well, as long as they’re made with boneless cuts of meat for an easy eating experience. These are usually served in paper bags.
Grilled Skewers and other Delicacies
Of course, a night market experience isn’t complete without a grill and the faint smell of charcoal in the air. Set up a backyard barbecue and get some skewers going. Cumin-dusted lamb (pictured above) is an especially popular flavor combination.
Matt
Easy to Hold Desserts
For dessert, candied fruit coated in a glassy sugar shell (pictured above) adds a pop of color and crunch. Mochi is another fun, easy-to-hold confection that works well in this setting.
A Shaved Ice Station
By virtue of being a subtropical island, Taiwan gets hot, and so shaved ice (pictured above) is a lovely and traditional way to cool down. Get a station going with toppings or flavored syrups in paper bowls.
Con Poulos
Refreshing Beverages
Night market drinks in Taiwan are simple and refreshing, and should complement—not overwhelm—the bold, salt-licked flavors of the savory bites. Fruit juices are great for this. Freshly squeezed sugarcane juice is common, though admittedly hard to source if you’re not based in the subtropics. My personal favorite is watermelon juice because of its subtle, yet punchy level of sweetness. Bubble tea (pictured above), of course, is a must for any Taiwanese-themed gathering, with its chewy tapioca pearls and sweet milk tea. Serve the tea with large colorful straws.
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