There are so many things to be said about food in Asia. Street food and Night Markets should have books written about them with tips and suggestions. If you aren’t exactly comfortable with spoken Chinese, no worries! Most food vendors are more than happy to help. Even if they don’t speak more than a few words of your language. Pauline, as a vegetarian, has a little more to consider. But take heart! Even in the most seafood and carne friendly spots, there are still no-meat options to be found. You may not find tasty treats that hit it out of the park every time, but rest assured, they are out there. And most often you can depend on street vendors to stay mainly in the same place, so if you do find a gem you can go back to them time and time again.
Street Vendors
Walking in almost any busy pedestrian area will yield some interesting street vendors. Lots of people might be worried about hygiene and “content.” We have never had any problems in Taiwan so far. I have tried many of the “meat on a stick” places, and Pauline of course sticks to vegetarian options. But there are also lots of snacks and other novelties to take note of. One of the best egg custard tarts I have ever tasted came literally through a hole in a wall.
Now some foods have rather familiar flavors, but totally unidentifiable textures. One example for us is any of the glutenous rice balls that are flavor neutral. They can be really tasty. But not everyone is into the chewy texture. Some things are just an acquired taste. But most things will set you back for less than a dollar. Definitely well worth the price!
Night Markets
Night Markets are some of the most chaotic, fantastic, and Asian of places. There are so many different things to see and sample. Some of them specialize in certain types of merchandise. Some are mainly just food stalls. But many in Taiwan mix traditional storefronts with street merchants for a engaging mix. Most Night markets open in the late afternoon, and will go late into the evening. If you are taking public transit back home, just keep in 
mind that not all buses or subways run very often after midnight. Some night markets are more foreigner friendly, but they all have fantastic foods to try. Most importantly, gestures to signs or examples of what others are having will get you a long way. Plus, many stall operators will at least have some English to help you figure out what is being offered. Also, we’ve come to trust that we don’t have to worry about people overcharging us for food just because we don’t speak Chinese very well.
Rolled Ice Cream at the Night Market
Even if you might be familiar with some of the foods, the way that they are made or presented gives it a fantastic foreign flair. For example: an ice cream stall with a cold stone isn’t exactly that out of the norm. Even if its rather cold out in the winter months in some parts of Taiwan. Rolled ice cream is pretty well-known in this part of the world, but just watching someone make it in front of you is all part of the fun of just about anything you buy in a Night Market. Most vendors also get into the show, which makes for good times for all. You can watch what happened when we had a friend from the states visit and we just had to have a cup to share among ourselves.