Miaoli Yingcai Night Market 苗栗市英才觀光夜市

11/19/2019

Miaoli Yingcai Night Market it the largest night market in Miaoli and has some great treats and foods that you would expect from a Taiwan Market. However, the market is only open Friday, Saturday, and Wednesday. Here you can find an authenitic Taiwan night market experience unspoiled from foreign tourists and large crowds.

Background:
Before 2010, the night market was located at the Miaoli activity center, after which it was moved to the sports center. Because visitors decreases after moving to the sports center, it was later moved in 2011 to its location today behind the train station on land owned by the farmer's association.
Because of a lack of visitors and tourists during the week, the night Market is only open Friday, Saturday and Wednesday. On Sunday, the night market moves to Houlong, where it only opens for that day.

Hours:
Friday: 6:30-11:30 PM
Satruday: 5-10 PM
Sunday: Closed. Moves to Houlong Night Market which is open from 5-11 PM.
Wednesday: 5-10 PM

How to get there:
By car/scooter: Take provincial highway 13 to Miaoli City, then turn south on Yingchai Road until you come to the train station. The night market is right in front of the train station. There is parking available on the street and there are some paid parking lots nearby.
By train: Take the TRA to Miaoli Station. The night market is right in front of the west entrance across the street.

Map:
Please see below:

Our Journey:

Miaoli is not known for its night markets. Due to the limited amounts of tourists and population, there is not enough market to keep night markets open every weekday like in other areas of Taiwan. For this reason, Miaoli's night market might be one of the most pristine and unspoiled night market experiences in Taiwan.

We have been to Miaoli's night market twice. Once by train and once by car. The entrance is right across from the train station, where there is plentiful scooter parking. Also we were able to park our car on the street next to the market on a later trip. That would be unthinkable in Taipei.

The night market is spacious and not super crowded. There are also places to sit down and eat.

Guabao 割包

Guabao (割包, 刈包, aka Taiwanese Hamburger) is another popular treat in the night market, also made famous by Anthony Bourdain when he visited Taiwan. Guabao has a soft steamed bun with braised pork, greens, and peanut powder mixed in. It's pretty good, and you should definitely try some if you come. There are two stalls that sold them when I was there.

Another view of the guabao stall.

Delicious guabao.

Kids jumping on small trampolines tied to ropes, doesn't look like much fun to me.

Oyster Omelette 蚵仔煎

Oyster Omelette ingredients include a red sauce which is usually made of ketchup or hot sauce and soy sauce. A typical omelette will have a gluttonous flour base, fried with greens, eggs, and your choice of oyster or shrimp.

This one was so good that we ate most of it before I could get a photo.

A 10 NT bread stand, which was pretty good. Even though some westerners think that Taiwan bread is too sweet or soft, I love the stuff.

Deep fried taro balls, another night market favorite in Taiwan.

Shish Kebab 烤肉串

Another popular treat in this night market is Shish Kebab. I saw quite a few of these stands in the night market. Here is some baked squid and fish near the entrance of the night market.

More options like tofu, bacon, hot dogs. chicken butts, etc.

Also some baked corn on a stick.

I almost won one of these mini turtles, but I broke the paper net too many times. We almost brought home a turtle pet.

After a long day, we relaxed at the Yuan Motel in Gongguan, which we have visited multiple times.

It is a very nice hotel for the price, with an excellent breakfast buffet, and hot tubs similar to many other motels in Taiwan. You can book the Yuan Motel here.

Stay tuned for more of our adventures in Miaoli County, like the Miaoli Grand Canyon pictured above.

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