TAIPEI: Dihua Street - Lin He Fa oil rice chicken, Du hsiao Yueh, Lao A Bei

 After a successful first day of night market feasting and settling into the rhythm of Taipei, we decided to take a slow day at Dihua street. 

This historic street in Dadaocheng feels like walking through a living postcard — rows of beautifully preserved shophouses, herbal medicine stalls, traditional fabrics, and a growing number of cute cafés and design boutiques. 

Our first stop was Yong Le Market 永樂市場

It is Taiwan's largest fabric hub tho we didn't check out any of that but I am told the market's second and third floors are a paradise for textile enthusiasts, offering a vast array of fabrics, from traditional Taiwanese prints to luxurious Japanese silks. Tailors on-site can transform your chosen materials into custom garments, making it a must-visit for fashion aficionados. 

We stayed on the ground floor which is a bustling traditional market where locals shop for fresh produce, herbs and household items. 

I am a very typical Singaporean. There was this shop Lin He Fa Oil Rice Chicken (林合發油飯雞腿) at the entrance of the market and so many locals were queueing for it. So I joined the queue too. i later learng that this shop, Lin he fa has been serving its signature oil rice since 1894. This fragrant dish features glutinous rice stir-fried with dried shrimp, mushrooms, and pork, topped with a succulent fried chicken leg and a soy-braised egg. 

We had some almond dessert followed by best gui ling gao as well. 

No pictures of the guilinggao because I had no idea where my dad procured it. He took a walk around the market and came back with 6 bowls. 

Continuing our culinary journey, we visited Du Hsiao Yueh, a renowned establishment originating from Tainan. Their signature Dan Zai noodles are a comforting bowl of thin noodles in a savory broth, topped with minced pork and a single shrimp. 

We then trekked forward and our final food stop was lao a bei, a humble eatery known for its squid thick soup. This hearty dish features tender squid pieces in a flavorful, starchy broth, perfect for a satisfying end to our food adventure. 

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✈️ Baby’s First Flight — and Our First Bite of Taipei: Rao He Night Market, Bar Mood! 🇹🇼👶🍜

Nicholas and I decided when baby G was 1 year old that it is time for our first holiday as a family. We were debating on where to go, should we go back to Japan ( our favouritest country. ) or should we try somewhere new. It really helped that Nick had gone to Taipei a few months back for work and he was like :I think we should go to Taipei, I know the place, it is baby friendly, the things are cheap and our parents will definitely enjoy the food and buys! And Nicholas has been dreaming about the buffet at Regent Hotel. 

So that was that - our first trip as a family was to... TAIPEI! 

We flew economy on Singapore airlines on the 8.20am flight ( reached taipei 1.10pm)  and I'm going to tell you exactly why I feel flying economy is enough. 

Its a 5 hours flight. You are not going to be reclining in peace with a toddler. Half the time you are entertaining your kid, doing aisle laps. You paid extra for a lie flat seat but your toddler decides the floor is way comfier.

I am naturally a very considerate person haha. In economy I am surrounding by other families, seasoned parents and travellers in economy know that they are going to be disturbed by a toddler cries. The stress of my toddler crying and thinking about how the other business passagers are cursing me internally is too much for me to bear !

And lastly the money saved from purchasing a business ticket, that equates to more bubble tea and snacks in Taipei!

We stayed at ​The Regent Taipei, where Nick stayed for work previously. And I super recommend it ! 

Its situated in the heart of Taipei's Zhongshan District, the hotel is just a 5-minute walk from Zhongshan MRT Station, providing easy access to the city's attractions. Not that it mattered to us because we took grab everywhere haha. 

I just wanted to make a shoutout to the hotel's rooms. They provide ample space for families with young children. Our rooms arrangement were such, my parents took a room. Nick was to share a room with his parents. I was going to share the room with my helper and baby G. But the bed was actually big enough to accomodate Nicholas and myself so Nick ended up sleeping over our room everynight. 

Here's baby G in the crib that the hotel staff so kindly set up for us. 

And this is also her admiring the view from our high floor room with her jellycat bag haha. 

For dinner, we took a grab straight into the legendary Raohe Night Market — and let’s just say, it did not disappoint.

🍖 Fuzhou Pepper Buns (福州胡椒饼)
Crispy on the outside, piping hot and juicy inside — these oven-baked buns are packed with peppery pork and spring onions. Cooked in traditional tandoor-like ovens, the queue is long, but worth every bite!

🦪 Dong Fat Hao Oyster Mee Sua (东发号蚵仔面线)
A local fave — this bowl of silky mee sua is loaded with plump oysters and tender braised intestines, all drenched in a rich umami broth. Bonus points for their super smooth chili garlic sauce.

🥙 Duo Duo Rou Jia Mo (多多肉夹馍)
Think of it as a Chinese pulled pork sandwich — flaky flatbread stuffed with fragrant, slow-cooked meat. Crispy edges, juicy center, perfect for one-handed eating while juggling a wriggly toddler.

Other things we ate at the night market was this amazing chicken sausage and of course PAPAYA MILK which my dad has fond memories during his last trip to Taiwan which was... when he was doing National service. thats like almost 50 years ago! haha

Some other shops I identified but didn't manage to try are 

🍲 Chen Dong Pork Ribs Medicinal Herbs Soup (陳董藥燉排骨)
A Michelin Bib Gourmand-awarded stall, We didnt try it because I'm just not a fan of herbal soup. 

🧄 Xiagang Mingpeng Stinky Tofu (下港名彭臭豆腐)

🍗 Little Chef Big Chicken Steak (小廚師大雞排)
This spot offers a generously sized, crispy fried chicken steak that's both juicy and flavorful. It's a popular choice among locals and visitors alike, perfect for sharing or indulging solo.​

🥚 Lee Chi Oyster Omelette (李記蚵仔煎)

🥛 Kenting Pasture Fried Milk (墾丁牧場炸鮮奶)

We spent about 2 hours in Raohe market ( 6pm - 8pm) which I think is more than enough when you're travelling with a baby in tow. Baby G was really starting to get slightly fidgity at the 1.5 hour mark. We may be traveling slower and accomplishing less places these days, but every bite and moment felt richer ❤️ 

As the night was still young, Nicholas and I decided to have a date night at Bar Mood

Located in the stylish Da’an District, Bar Mood isn’t your typical cocktail bar. Founded by award-winning bartender Nick Wu, this sleek and modern spot has earned its place on Asia’s 50 Best Bars.

From the moment you walk in, Bar Mood feels different. The space is elegant yet personal — with custom-made furniture by Wu’s parents and fresh floral arrangements from a local artist. The centerpiece is a bar top garden filled with fresh herbs and botanicals that find their way into your glass.

The cocktail menu is a love letter to Taiwan. Each cocktail is beautifully presented and often comes with a little story — from the inspiration behind it to the local roots of the ingredients.

If you’re new to Taiwanese spirits or just want to explore unique flavour profiles, let the bartenders guide you. They’re warm, knowledgeable, and clearly passionate about their craft.

Bar Mood also serves up elevated bar bites with a Taiwanese twist. We just had the fries because we were so stuffed from the night market but Nicholas had tried some of their bites during his last trip and he describes the food to be jhust as thoughtfully crafted as the drinks. 

While our toddler was happily snoozing back at the hotel with my helper, this was our moment to indulge. Bar Mood is perfect for couples, cocktail lovers, or anyone looking to experience a different side of Taipei — where local meets luxe.

📍 Raohe Street Night Market

Address: Raohe Street, Songshan District, Taipei City 105, Taiwan
Nearest MRT Station: Songshan Station (Green Line), Exit 5
Opening Hours: Daily from 5:00 PM to 12:00 AM

📍 Bar Mood Taipei

Address: No. 53, Lane 160, Section 1, Dunhua South Road, Da’an District, Taipei City 106, Taiwan
Phone: +886 905 773 621

Opening Hours: Monday–Thursday: 6:00 PM – 1:00 AM; Friday–Saturday: 6:00 PM – 2:00 AM; Sunday: 6:00 PM – 1:00 AM