Southern Taiwan takes night markets to the next level. They are everything and more, transforming empty lots to bustling ecosystems for a few hours of a night, attracting crowds like flies to a light. Liuhe Night Market is not one of these magical night markets though. It’s more of a typical street market. A famous one at that, one of the most famous in Kaohsiung, and one that has been around for decades, since the 1950s.
Today, it’s more of a tourist attraction. The kind of night market where you might hear more English (or other foreign languages) than Taiwanese on any given night. It’s not really known for anything in particular, but it checks off the boxes for most of the main hits for street food.
The main draw of Liuhe Night Market is probably its central location. Unlike most southern night markets that are best reached by motor scooter, Liuhe is easily accessible by the scant MRT system in the city.
The market spans a couple blocks of Liuhe Road. Each evening, dozens of vendors set up, lining the street with stalls that sell everything from traditional Taiwanese teppan steaks to grilled skewers, fried chicken, papaya milk and shaved ice. There are some tables and the classic plastic stools in the middle of the street for any food that can’t be eaten while walking.
Liuhe Night Market is mostly food, there are some shops and toy/souvenir/cheap clothes vendors scattered throughout but it’s not really a market for shopping. So anyways, when in Kaohsiung, it’s an easy place to stop by to scratch that street food itch. It’s touristy, but not so painfully crowded as some other popular ones in other cities, a solid, low-effort high reward add to any Kaohsiung itinerary.
the details
| Address | Liuhe 2nd Road, Xinxing District, Kaohsiung City |
| Reviews | https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g13806440-d1539433-Reviews-Liuhe_Tourist_Night_Market-Daliao_Kaohsiung.html |
| Hours | vendors are generally set up by around 5pm, and most of the business trickles down by 11pm or midnight |
| Price | $ – street food prices, a little goes a long way |
| Aesthetic | classic night market, lots of neon signs and plastic stools |
good to know
Go here for: easy street food, a cheap dinner, late night snacks
Eat this: honestly any of the classic fare, oyster omelette, stinky tofu, grilled squid, papaya milk, etc; get whatever looks good and popular
Amount of time to spend: an hour or two depending on whether you’re looking for a snack or more of a meal
When to come: any time, but earlier side is probably better
Getting here: take the MRT to Formosa Boulevard Station (red & orange line) and use exit 1
Other things to note: Cash only, so come ready with coins and small bills (100NT goes a long way)
Last visited: April 2019
Last updated: November 2022
