Shilin is the largest and best-known of Taipei's many night markets — a couple of blocks of covered food courts and surrounding warren of alleys, packed every evening with a cheerful, jostling crowd. It is unapologetically touristy now, but the food is still good, the atmosphere remains genuinely Taiwanese, and even regular visitors find something to come back for.
The classic stalls to look for include the Shilin large fried chicken (a thigh-sized slab of crisp, peppery fried chicken), grilled corn, oyster omelettes, bubble tea, papaya milk, stinky tofu, scallion pancakes, pepper buns, and Taiwanese-style fried dumplings. Take the MRT to Jiantan (not Shilin) station; the market is across the road. Most stalls open from 6 pm until past midnight.