Category Archives: Street Food Guide

Must Try Famous Food at Orchard Road

05/20/2014 Shem MD Leave a comment

Singapore is a heaven for culinary adventure; you can find everything here from cheap street foods to fine dining restaurants. However, Orchard Road is definitely the place you must visit to if you want the real deal of hearty Singaporean foods and refreshing beverages. Most are very cheap and perfect for culinary adventure for the backpackers or budget tourists.

Famous Orchard Road Foods You Must Try
Most of famous foods on Orchard Road you can find at Taman Serasi Botanical Garden Food Center, which is a kind of food court area. Here are some famous foods to try here:

Roti John

This savory ‘roti’ (bread) is popular in Singapore, but only at Orchard Road you can find the original stall. Original Roti John Stall is famous because you can actually taste the ingredients on top of the the French bread, since it is not slathered in so much BBQ sauce or mayonnaise. The toppings can be cheese, chicken, beef, onions or eggs.

Orchard Road Nasi Padang

Nasi Padang is proof of the Indonesian culture that influences culinary tradition in Singapore. Basically, this is rice dish with various side dishes such as fried chicken with turmeric and ginger spices, chili chicken and fish, fish and chicken curry, mixed vegetables, chili paste (red and green), rendang and many more. Famous ‘nasi padang’ restaurants are Mansor D’ Café, Punggol and Minang.

French Food

If you prefer your fancy French food, do not miss Les Amis at Scotts Road Shaw Center. The restaurant serves French food with slight Asian touch without obliterating the actual taste. This restaurant is also famous as the first fine dining French restaurant, and the quality of food is amazing. Recommended dishes are smoked eel, roasted monkfish, scallop with uni, and amazing choices of petit fours.

Lim Kee Banana Fritters

Banana fritters are simple street food, but Lim Kee at Maxwell Food Center makes them amazing. Although only has small stall, Lim Kee offers delicious, creamy and crunchy banana fritters made only from a type of banana called ‘pisang raja,’ which has creamy texture and natural sweetness. However, you can also find other delights such as green bean fritters. They are very cheap snacks to accompany your Singapore adventure.

Uncle Ice Cream

Uncle Ice Cream is a nickname for ice cream sold from simple carts by (usually) senior citizens around Orchard Road; ‘uncle’ is a call for the male sellers and ‘auntie’ for females. Uncle Ice Cream is basically handmade ice cream sells in a cup, cone, and the most popular sandwich ice cream, which is an ice cream block between two slices of bread. The ice cream comes in flavors like chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, durian, mint, and many more.

Killiney Kopitiam

Killiney Kopitiam often becomes favorite venue to find cheap breakfast. Favorite combinations are simple but very hearty: thick coffee or tea (with milk or not), eggs and bread slices with kaya, a type of sweet and soft spread made of eggs, pandan leaf and coconut milk.

Orchard Road is surely a great start for your Singapore culinary adventure.

Lists of Most Popular Food Trucks in America in 2014

05/19/2014 Shem MD Leave a comment

Food trucks once considered as cheap food sources that people only chose as the last or quick meal option. Now, hunting for food trucks is one of the most favorite culinary adventures in United States. Food trucks nowadays provide various types of foods even with restaurant quality, but of course with all the practicality and casual feeling of eating from flexible food establishments.

Best Recommendations for US Food Trucks
Interested in eating at America’s best food trucks? Here are the newest lists of mobile food establishment you can find:

Roxy’s Gourmet Grilled Cheese

Located in Boston, Roxy’s Grilled Cheese usually travels around locations such as Cleveland Circle, FT. Point and Dewey Square. Grilled cheese sandwiches are elevated with unique recipes, such as grilled cheese with Portobello mushrooms and tomato, Gouda cheese, pepper ham and pineapples, and grilled cheese with smoked apple wood bacon.

Taceaux Loceaux

Located in Texas, this taco truck usually makes its round at Uptown Nola area. The truck is easily recognized because it has unique ‘Dawn of the Dead’ artwork. It serves tacos with unique ingredients such as brisket, taco with salsa picante, spicy chipotle aioli taco, smoked bacon taco and many more.

Korilla BBQ

Hunt for this Korean food truck around Soho, Midtown, Flatiron and Dumbo in New York City. The concept is pick-your-own ingredients, where buyers can choose to eat with bowl, wrap, rice, various kimchi condiments, bulgogi and other Korean delights in take-away style.

The People’s Pig

If you love eating pork, go to Portland and find The People’s Pig truck around SW10 & Washington. You can get everything from pork brisket to pulled boar, from smoked bacon to even wild boar dish.

Easy Slider

Located in Dallas, this food truck sells various sliders with thick patties from Angus cows. The schedules can be checked from their official website. The filling variations are limitless: goat cheese, strawberry jam, bacon, peanut butter, mayonnaise and such.

Beaver’s Coffee & Donuts

This food truck sells various delicious donuts and coffee beverages (hot brew, cold coffee beverages, and milkshakes) in Hyde Park, River North and The Loop areas in Chicago.

The Fat Shallot

This is a popular sandwich food truck in Chicago that has rounds in similar areas like Beaver’s Coffee& Donuts. The most famous menu is their Pretzel Salami Sandwich…which is a sandwich with pretzels instead of regular bread slices, and filled with salami.

Via 313

Located in Austin, Texas, this food truck is famous for selling pies and square pizzas. There are options of various savory pies, such as pepperoni pie and cheese crusted pizza. The truck usually makes rounds on 1111 East 6th and 61 Rainey Street.

King of Pops

This truck makes rounds around various locations in Atlanta and can be tracked through its official website. They sell authentic flavored paletas, but the most famous treats are popsicles with various flavors, including seasonal fruits like apple and pear.

John Mueller Meat Co.

Located in Austin, this truck is heaven for all meat lovers. The truck sells its goods on 2500 E. 6th Street, and sells sausages, smoked beef, bacon, ribs, smoked beef brisket, chicken and smoked turkey.

What are you waiting for? Make these food trucks your next stops when you travel across the United States.

Editor's Picks, Food, Restaurant Reviews, Street Food Guide

Famous Asian-Specific Foods in Little India Singapore

03/28/2014 Shem MD Leave a comment

When you visit Singapore, you cannot miss the chance to visit Little India street. As the name suggests, it is the center for the large Indian community in Singapore. You can find a lot of entertainments here, from amusement places and of course, the food stalls or stores spread all the way around. There are a lot of famous foods in Little India Singapore to satisfy your crave for tasty cuisines.

In Little India, you can find a lot of menus of Indian foods, most of which are cheap even according to Singaporean standards with the generous portions and vegetarians. Therefore, this location is not only going to satisfy your needs of Indian foods but also for other types of foods, especially from Asian countries.

The Best Chapatti at 170 Norris Road

This store offers you the best chapatti in town. The store is called as Azmi Chappati Thye Chong, which offers halal foods for Moslem. Most of people who have visited this store suggested trying the keema, dhal and aloo masala. Those are the names of foods served by the store. Some even said order two pieces of chapatti would secure your tummy for a whole day.

Gandhi Eating House

This store also offers you some famous foods in Little India Singapore. Located at Chander Road, this Gandhi eating-house serves many kinds of Indian Food. This is what Little India offers you, a lot of Indian foods to try.

Fish Head Curry

Muthus is one of restaurants to offer you the most famous fish head curry in Singapore. However, you can also try the almond chicken, saag paneer, the garlic naans, and a beef vindaloo. You can find the tasty fish head curry. However, you should prepare for poking around to get some respectable chunks of fish. The restaurant is clean and modern, and you can see the process of cooking as it is located right in the middle of the restaurant.

As for the fish’s head curry, it is believed as the melting pot of culinary cultures (Indian, Chinese and Indonesia). Therefore, you can find this kind of foods specific for those three countries easily. However, Little India claims to have invented this food.

Raw vegan and vegetarian treats at Brindavan

If you are a vegetarian, do not be afraid to try hanging out in Brindavan vegetarian rest and café. This restaurant offers you vegetarian foods with raw vegan and vegetarian treats to fulfill your needs for tasty foods.

Other popular restaurants

The Madras New Woodlands restaurant offers you Indian vegetarian staples, such as dosai, appam, upuma paratha, and idli. Then, Sungei Road Laksa sells the tastiest laksa in a big of bowl. There are also Komala Restaurant which serves Indian fast food, the Original Fried Hokkie Mee with its famous Panggul Nasi food, and a lot of Singapore seafood restaurant which have been known as the most popular place to find cold crab. Those are some famous foods in Little India Singapore.

This culturally rich part of Singapore offers you not only food stores to fill up your tummy with delicious cuisine, but also other stores like record shops, spice vendors, and flower stalls. Before moving to the business, to get in to this location, you can use the northeast MRT line at Farrer Park Stations near Serangoon Road. Those are the convenient entry points into the area.

Asia, Destinations, Editor's Picks, Restaurant Reviews, Street Food Guide

Exploring Malaysia’s Tourism and Cuisine

03/08/2014 Shem MD Leave a comment

Since some years ago, Malaysia has become main and foremost tourist destination in Asia Pacific. This county offers a distinctive yet adventurous experience. You can enjoy the city view, learn the diversity of cultures, or relax in its beautiful beaches. However, culinary tourism must be an integral part of your visit to Malaysia. Before you visit those tourist destinations, it is time to relax and enjoy the rest of the day.

Extraordinary Malaysian Local Cuisines

In Malaysia, you will find various types of delicious local cuisines that can melt your tongue. Nasi lemak is one of Malaysia’s favorite dishes. It is suitable for breakfast. This dish is made from fragrant rice, cooked with coconut milk and pandan leaf to create a unique taste and to arise your appetite. Traditionally, Nasi Lemak was served with various additional dishes such as fried chicken, fried anchovies, hard-boiled eggs, and sambal (spicy sauce). The most recommended place to eat Nasi Lemak in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, is the Village Park restaurant, located in Damasara Jaya, Petaling Jaya.

Enough with the breakfast, now let’s skip for the lunch. The best lunch dish to have is pucuk ubi sambal tempoyak with ikan bilis. This is a traditional Malaysian dish, perfect for lunch, because it’s quite spicy. You can eat it for lunch at Restoran Salero Negori for the best service. Besides Pucuk Ubi Sambal Tempoyak with Ikan Bilis, another perfect dish for lunch is Sup tulang ketuk, which is made of beef bone; best place to eat this dish is at Geylang Kopitiam. In this restaurant, the guests can taste the delicious and original Melayu dishes.

In the night, you can free yourself by visiting famous food streets in Kuala Lumpur, called Jalan Alor. This place is popular for night culinary tour in the evening in Kuala Lumpur. You can find almost all of Malaysian traditional and modern foods and drinks offered at affordable prices.

Exploring Malaysia’s Top Tourist Destinations

Malaysia offers distinctive holiday destinations. If you enjoy exploring the beauty of nature, Mulu Caves is a must-visit place while you are in Malaysia. Located in Gunung Mulu National Park in Borneo, the park has an incredible view of rainforest setting. Deep down inside the cave, you will find a chamber called Sarawak chamber, which is the biggest cave chamber in the world.

Still in Borneo, there is Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation that has rescued baby Orang Utan since 1964. Here, you can interact with trained Orang Utan, or just see the beauty of the rainforest nature of the island. If you are a budget traveler, Perhentian Island is the perfect destination. You can get the view of beautiful sandy beach and turquoise blue see, diving experience, and it has many cheap accommodations. Besides Perhentian Island, Langkawi Island is also a great choice to spend your holiday at white beaches, jungle-covered hills, and craggy mountain peaks.

If you prefer to spend time ‘inside’ the city, you do not have to worry, since Malaysia also has so many tourist destinations to enjoy. Petronas tower is one of the tallest buildings in the world, and features Sky Bridge connecting the two buildings on the 41st and 42nd floors. Georgetown Inner City is another city spot to spend your time. This town is located in the northeast corner of Penang Island, and mostly occupied by Chinese descendants. If you visit this place, you will find most local head out to the street to have meal or drinks in the evening.

Destinations, Editor's Picks, Europe, Food, Street Food Guide

Enjoy a Culinary Tour in La Boqueria Market, Spain

03/04/2014 Shem MD Leave a comment

Ask everyone, and almost everyone will agree that La Boqueria Market is a perfect place to taste Spanish dishes. Located in Ciutat Vella district of Barcelona, Catalona, Spain, La Boqueria market is one of the main and foremost tourists’ attractions that offer a wide range of good and food selections. From Pincho to Tapas, all types of traditional and modern Spanish dishes are available in this market. It is one of the most famous food markets in the world, especially in Europe, and it attracts more than a million people every year. This landmark has well-known restaurants and cafés, full of delicious cuisine.

Originally, the first public market was opened on Saint Joseph’s day, in March 19th 1840. This place was firstly transformed into modern market in 1914, when Marquis Campo Sagrado, Catalonia’s general captain at that time, decided the rules for the market after the convent was gone. Not only does it offer excellent dishes, the market is also home for fresh ingredients presented in great charm by the local sellers.

Extraordinary Spanish Cuisines

Enjoying the landmark of this site will not be complete if you do not try the traditional Spanish dishes along the street, either offered in outdoor or indoor food stalls. The following are some must-try dishes at La Boqueria Market:

Manchego Cheese

This type of cheese is very popular and important sheep’s cheese in Spain. It is has unique characteristics, in terms of both taste and appearance. This cheese is made from pure milk of Manchega sheep, bred in La Mancha region, which has cool weather and lush plants for the sheep to eat. This dish has been a part of tradition of Spanish people in the past. Therefore, make sure you taste one from the traditional restaurant that still preserves the original taste of the cheese.

Jabugo

Jabugo or Jamon Iberico is an Iberian ham and it has become a special dish in Spain and Portugal, derived from black Iberian pig. The price rate, taste, and grade are varied according to the pig’s diet. The finest and most expensive grade of the ham is called bellota, which is obtained from pigs grown in oak forest at the border between Spain and Portugal. The animal eats only acorns.

Tapas

If you are wandering around La Boqueria market, make sure you try Tapas. It is a snack or appetizer, which you will definitely find in the market, offered in various presentation. One of the most famous places that serve tapas in Spain along La Boqueria market is Pinotxo Bar. The bar offers you delicious and cooked tapas and it is highly recommended by the tourists and local people.

In addition, during your visit, if you like to enjoy a relaxing morning or afternoon, you can try Spanish specialist, Café con Leche. It is a white coffee beverage, which is similar to caffe latte. The beverage is made from strong or bold coffee, mixed with scalded milk, depending on the customers’ preference. This type of beverage is very suitable to enjoy after you spend your time walking around the market.

Delicious Takoyaki Types by Coco Takoyaki Malang

02/28/2014 TravelFore Leave a comment

If you ever visited Japan or at least love Japanese food, you must know the popular street food takoyaki. While basically this is a very simple food (grilled octopus inside fried flour dumpling), takoyaki is famous because of its unique taste, rich sauce and topping, and its status as comfort food with cheap price. Takoyaki is so famous that there is even takoyaki museum in Japan, and its recipes appear in various websites and recipe books. Also, you can find places to buy takoyaki outside Japan, such as Coco Takoyaki in Malang, Indonesia.

Just ask the owner of this Coco Takoyaki, Shem M.D. (Founder of Travelfore.com). His love for this Japanese street snack has made him started Coco Takoyaki at food court 3rd floor in Malang Town Square, Malang, East Java, Indonesia. Unlike many other dumb-down takoyaki stalls, he insists of keeping the original taste of takoyaki like in Japan. This is a good place to taste the original takoyaki and try out various flavors, since takoyaki is quite a versatile snack.

Takoyaki Origins and Types

Takoyaki was first invented by Tomekichi Endo, a street vendor in Osaka, in year 1935. In Japan, takoyaki is famous as the later development of an earlier snack called akashiyaki, a fried egg dumpling filled with octopus that comes from Akashi City in Hyogo Prefecture. However, takoyaki later became more popular than akashiyaki, although the cooking style is similar. Takoyaki is made of batter made of wheat flour, filled with chopped octopus (tako) and mixed with tempura scraps before fried in special pan with many half round spots.

Traditionally, takoyaki is sprinkled with green onion and laver, and thin shaves of bonito made of fish, and eaten with special takoyaki sauce that taste like Worcestershire sauce. Now, the popular serving of takoyaki includes mayonnaise, but sometimes there are shops that sell takoyaki with different options of sauce such as soy sauce, chili sauce, ponzu sauce (soy based sauce with lime), sesame sauce and many more. All contribute to the rich taste of takoyaki.

Now, you can find takoyaki in various taste and flavors, thanks to the versatility of this snack. Many snack shops, including Coco Takoyaki, do not only use octopus as the filling. Popular fillings now include cheese blocks, crabstick, chicken, shrimp, and beef (or basically anything that goes will with the fried flour dumpling). Dried seaweed powder is sometimes added to give richer taste. However, traditional toppings and filling such as octopus, bonito shaves, green onion and special takoyaki sauce are still kept and become long time favorites.

Takoyak Serving Style

Takoyaki is usually served in a box with toothpicks to eat it, and in Japan, one box usually contain eight takoyaki balls (based on the standard size of takoyaki pan). However, in many takiyaki shops, sometimes there is option for four takoyaki instead of eight. Many modern takoyaki shops in Japan also sell takoyaki in ‘takoyaki boat,’ a large boat shaped bowl contains takoyaki balls in different fillings. Placing different fillings in one box is also a popular menu option in modern takoyaki shops around the world including at Coco Takoyaki.

So, if you love takoyaki and cannot go to Japan, visit an original takoyaki shop nearby right now, such as Coco Takoyaki in Malang, Indonesia.

Asia, Editor's Picks, Food, Restaurant Reviews, Street Food Guide

Famous Food You Can Try in Geylang

01/30/2014 Shem MD 1 Comment

If you love to eat and have a plan to visit Singapore, do not miss the chance to sample foods in Geylang. This popular tourist destination is famous for its lines of food stalls and restaurants, and you can eat almost anything Asia can offer. This is because Singapore is like a small Asia, where immigrants from various parts in Asia come and blend with locals, creating unique mix of culture.

You can eat Indonesian, Malaysian, Singaporean and Chinese foods in Geylang, whether you eat at cheap food hawker stalls or in fancy restaurants. Here are some of the best ‘must-try’ foods in Geylang area.

Crispy Chicken at Moi Lum Restaurant

Moi Lum is a famous restaurant located in Maxwell Road, and this is a favorite place for many Singaporean families and tourists to gather and enjoy hearty meals. The restaurant is not fancy and more like a homey, family style restaurant. There are various Chinese dishes here, but the favorite is crispy roast chicken and crispy chicken skin. They both come with delicious sauce, and while the roast chicken is tender and juicy with delicious skin, the crispy chicken skin is probably better as beer companion. The taste is amazing, not too salty and very crispy as well as succulent. Address: 38 Maxwell Rd, Singapore 069116.

Geylang Claypot Rice

This is a great, hot and hearty dish that you can eat anywhere, but the most famous Geylang claypot rice is served in a restaurant with the same name. This dish is a combination of rice, vegetables, marinated chicken and fish, pork and traditional Chinese sausages made of pork and duck liver. Cooked in a clay pot and eaten directly from it, the dish has rich taste and it will make you feel super satisfied. Address: 639 Geylang Rd, Singapore 389570.

Smelly Tofu

This funny sounding dish is fermented fried tofu served in thin slices, eaten with condiments and sauce such as sweet and spicy sauce. The most famous restaurant that serves smelly tofu is Mini Star, which is located in 789 Geylang Road.

Turtle Soup

There are only few places that serve turtle soup, and one of the famous places is Ser Seng, a herbal store that also doubles as restaurant. Turtle soup is famous as a long time healthy food that has a lot of benefits in China, and it is also believed to make you live long (from the fact that many turtles can live for hundreds of years). The soup itself is probably more like chicken soup with herbal aroma, but it is the health benefits that people are looking for. Address : Lorong 21 Geylang, 29 Lorong Bachok.

Rochor Bean Curd

Rochor Bean Curd is a famous dessert in Geylang Road that is sought out by many culinary lovers. Despite the small shop, the dessert is very delicious. It is made of coagulated soymilk and it can be served hot for breakfast, or cold for delicious dessert. The cold version is sometimes served with gelatinous pearls. The shop also sells other soy related snacks and dishes such as tofu fries and fried bread. Address: 745 Geylang Rd, Singapore 389653.

So, if you are in Geylang, do not forget to visit these places and try their unique dishes. Of course, while you are in Singapore, you do not want to miss a chance to taste durian, the king of fruit.

Asia, Editor's Picks, Food, Street Food Guide

Hunting for Delicious Foods at Gurney Drive Penang

11/28/2013 Shem MD Leave a comment

Street stalls that sell street side foods always become attractions for culinary lovers anywhere they go, and in Malaysia, the most recommended spot to taste the best street side foods is Gurney Drive in Penang area. Also known in local language as Persiaran Gurney, this area of food stalls is located in front of the beach. You can eat here while enjoying the view of beach and high-rise buildings that are mostly condominiums and bungalows.

Gurney Drive is actually an affluent neighborhood; buildings that dominate this area are luxury apartments, condominiums, and seaside bungalows. There are also two famous plazas: Gurney Plaza and Gurney Paragon. There are skyscrapers that make an impressive background behind the whole area. However, while this area is identical with affluence, the most popular attraction among locals and tourists is still the street food stalls area.

Gurney Drive Street Food Stalls

Under the imposing shadows of high-rise buildings, luxury residential buildings and skyscrapers, there are lines of street food stalls that deliver taste of Asia. Called by locals as Pusat Penjaja Tanjung Gurney, the area is located on a spot between Gurney Plaza and Sunrise Tower. Although Gurney Plaza is populated by visitors, there are so many plaza visitors who also choose to eat at one of food stalls at this area. Although the price of foods here have been risen since the first time this area operated in 1970s, Gurney Drive food stall area is still considered a cheap place to enjoy local taste.

At Gurney Drive, you can find various dishes, sweet treats and beverages that originate from various areas in Asia such as Malaysia, Indonesia, China, Singapore, India and Hong Kong. This is because Malaysia is also home for many immigrants from those areas, and they bring along their rich cuisines, adding the varieties of foods you can find in Malaysia.

What You Can Eat

Many foods sold at Gurney Drive have a rich taste, especially because people in Asia love foods with prominent spices. There are some popular recommendations of foods that you must try at Gurney Drive:

Hokkien Char Noodle (Hokkien Char Mee), a type of yellow noodle that is served with soy sauce, vegetables, pork, fish cake and fried pork fat. Sometimes, Hokkien Noodle is served with prawn and other seafood.
Java Noodle (Java Mee), a type of noodle dish from Java Island, Indonesia. It usually consists of yellow noodle cooked with yellow, rich broth, sprinkled with cabbage, shredded chicken, egg and fried red onions. There is also the fried version called Mee Goreng (literally “fried noodle”).
Satay, a type of meat dish that is usually chopped into small cuts, put in the skewers and roasted on charcoals with soy sauce and some spices. The traditional companion for this dish is rice, rice cake, cucumber slices, tomatoes and chili paste.
Char Koay Teow, a popular Malaysia-Singapore dish made of fried noodle, chives, prawns or other seafood, chili, bean sprouts and soy sauce.

Do not forget to visit Gurney Drive next time you visit Malaysia and enjoy delightful local taste.

Asia, Destinations, Editor's Picks, Street Food Guide

The Vibrant Shilin Night Market in Taiwan

11/28/2013 Shem MD 1 Comment

Everyone in Taiwan knows that if you want to see the most vibrant night view, you must go to Shilin Night Market. Shilin Market Taiwan is also one of the most famous tourist destinations in Taiwan, and it is much recommended for travelers who visit this country. Located in the district with the same name, this colorful place is also the biggest night market in Taipei, Taiwan’s capital city.

This market has everything, from food stalls to clothing and jewelry, from bars to video arcades, and from street side snacks to toys. This is also a favorite place for students to hang out with friends, because the market usually opens around 4 PM, after school is over. This is also a favorite place for locals to buy fresh goods for dinner, or hang out during weekend.

History of Shilin Market

Shilin Market Taiwan has been operating since 1909. It was used as a place for trading agricultural and farm products between Shilin District and other areas such as Dadaocheng and Banka. The humble market soon grew into bigger market that sold a lot more things and invited more customers. Gradually, the market turned into a trading, culinary and entertainment center. More vendor owners and merchants started business here. So many were they that the market finally turned into night market (it was previously a regular day market).

Eventually, Shilin Night Market became so crowded that it began to face fire risks as well as sanitation problems. Finally, the government relocated all food vendors; now, food vendors are located near to Metro Jiantan Station. Meanwhile, the old structure that previously housed food vendors were demolished and renovated. The project finished in 2011, and Shilin Market became its current look.

What You Find at Shilin Night Market

Just like its old days, Shilin Market Taiwan sells a lot of things and houses hundreds of vendors, including food stalls. There are about 540 food stalls at the food court, and there is a second structure above the non-food sections. It becomes a parking lot. This is a good place to really see the vibrant nightlife of Taiwan and see the lively interaction between locals and tourists. You can find almost everything, clothes, jewelry, souvenirs, accessories, bootlegged DVDs and imitation products of original European and America brands, video game arcades, bars, karaoke bars, nightclubs, toys and many more. However, the most famous place to visit at this night market is probably the food stalls.

Shilin Market Taiwan sells a lot of foods, but the favorite menus are usually traditional Chinese buns and their fried variations, fried steak (usually made of chicken), milk tea with ‘pearls’ (sweet gelatin balls), and oyster omelet. There are also popular Japanese fried foods, such as many types of tempura, and sweet treats such as peanut candy and jelly.

As a popular tourist destination, Shilin Market Taiwan is located in a very strategic spot and it can be reached from different areas using public transportation called The Red Line by locals (officially known as Taipei Rapid Transit System) that ends at Jiantan Station, located near the market. You can also use bus with particular numbers, such as 216 to 218, 224, 277 and 280.

Save up to $525 when you book your flight and hotel together at Expedia.com!

Editor's Picks, Food, Restaurant Reviews, Street Food Guide

10 Unique Indonesian Foods You Must Try

10/21/2013 Shem MD 4 Comments

When visiting Indonesia, do not skip the opportunities to try its original foods. Indonesia is a country rich in cultural heritages, including traditional foods. Each of 33 provinces in Indonesia has its own specific food, but many of them have spread to other provinces and become famous in many areas. Forget fancy fine dining; it is time for you to hit simple local restaurants or cheap food stalls to get these unique foods.

Sate Buntal
Sate (satay) buntal is one of Bali’s unique dishes besides betutu chicken and suckling pig. The word ‘buntal’ refers to the sate shape, which is not in small pieces of meat like the usual sate. Instead, sate buntal is made of finely chopped fish meat with spices, which are formed into one large lump orb bulge (‘buntalan’) using hands. The meat then attached on bamboo skewers and grilled.

Gudeg Kendhil
Gudeg is actually a famous and common dish in Yogyakarta Province in the center of Java; this is a rice dish eaten with stewed jackfruit, egg, chicken, sweet-savory spice and fried shaved coconut. However, Gudeg Kendhil is cooked in a clay pot (kendhil) and has hearty taste.

Mie Aceh
Mie Aceh (Aceh Noodle) is a spicy noodle dish from Aceh province in western Indonesia. The dish uses egg noodles with thick broth, served with beef, goat meat, crab, squid or prawn. There is also fried noodle version, but most people love Mie Aceh with broth.

Mie Bangka
Mie Bangka (Bangka Noodle) is almost similar with Mie Aceh. It is also made from egg noodle. However, the broth is lighter, served with various seafood dishes.

Gulai Patin
Gulai is a term for dish that is cooked with yellow coconut milk broth (the yellow color is from turmeric). Patin is a freshwater fish with soft meat that is very abundant in Jambi province. Gulai patin is usually cooked with coconut milk broth, but more traditional version uses fermented durian fruit flesh.

Ayam Taliwang
Ayam Taliwang (Taliwang chicken) is a chicken dish from Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara. This dish is a set of fried or grilled spiced chicken served with white rice, fresh vegetable salad and chili paste. Usually, this dish served with really hot spice.

Tinutuan/ Manado Porridge

This is a porridge dish from North Sulawesi. Tinutuan has become a staple food in many provinces, mainly because this dish is light and healthy. Tinutuan is rice porridge without any strong flavor, mixed with green vegetables and corn. To complement its light flavor, Tinutuan is often served with salted dried fish, boiled corn, and chili paste. This is also a popular dish for breakfast.

Gohu Ikan
Gohu Ikan is a dish from Ternate, Maluku province, which is well known as ‘Ternate sashimi.’ This is because Gohu ikan is a raw tuna fish mixed with very strong and sharp spices, such as chili, red onion, garlic, lime and many more.

Rujak Cingur
This East Java dish is made of cow’s snout or tongue, mixed with cucumber, young mango flesh, soy cake, pineapple, bean sprout and long beans. It is eaten with special spice made of prawn paste, palm sugar, chili, salt and fried onion.

Catemak Jagung
Catemak Jagung (corn catemak) is a type of dessert porridge made of corn, pumpkin and green bean, which is very popular in East Nusa Tenggara. Although this is dessert, the porridge is rather savory than sweet.

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