After checking that Jilin Night Market was the nearest night market to our hotel and within walking distance, we decided to go on our first night in Kaohsiung.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t quite the night market we imagined. There were only a few stalls open, and the street was still open to motorists. Maybe it was because we visited on a Thursday night? Since there wasn’t much to explore, we decided to try a few street foods instead.
First, we ordered a big bowl of oyster soup and an oyster omelet, which cost around NTD 130 (₱252.52) for both.
The oyster omelet was different from the one we tried in Taipei last 2024. Instead of having a crispy exterior, this one was soft all throughout. It had eggs, oysters, and slices of Nappa cabbage (Baguio pechay), with a sticky rice-like texture similar to tikoy that added a little chewiness and extra flavor. It wasn’t crispy, but it was still enjoyable.
The oyster soup had oysters, pork intestines, vermicelli noodles, and coriander. The broth was comforting, and the combination of ingredients made it quite filling. Hubby loved both dishes, especially with a little chili oil added but they were still good even without it.
Of course, we couldn’t leave without trying some street snacks!
Next, we bought sweet potato balls for NTD 50 (~₱97.12). I expected them to be dense and chewy, but they were surprisingly airy inside. They had just the right amount of sweetness, making them easy to munch on. They’re not too heavy despite being made from sweet potato, and that light texture made them somewhat addictive.
We also tried chicken pops for NTD 50 (~₱97.12). These were seasoned with just pepper, but sometimes simple seasoning is all you need. They were flavorful and tasty without needing much else. Unfortunately, I was not able to take a photo as we dig in right after our order was handed to us.
But the biggest surprise of the night was the guava love!
We noticed many people lining up for their orders, so we got curious and decided to give it a try. The recommended flavor was lemonade with licorice, so we ordered the small serving for NTD 60 (₱116.55).
Honestly, this turned out to be our favorite among all the snacks we bought that night! The guava had a refreshing sourness from the lemonade, balanced by the fruit’s natural sweetness. It also had a slight crunch, possibly from the skin, although I’m not entirely sure. The seeds had already been removed, making it easy to eat. Even the small serving was enough for two people to share.
Although Jilin Night Market wasn’t what we expected, at least we discovered a few tasty treats along the way. And who would have thought that the snack we were merely curious about would end up being our favorite? ☺️
