2 Popular Night Market Snacks See Price Surges, Netizens Exclaim: Only Crazy People Would Buy

Aside from the impact of fewer mainland Chinese tourists, some night market operators believe that weak consumer spending among Taiwanese is also a major factor. In the past, night market snacks in Taiwan were known for their affordability, but now even these street foods have become unaffordable for many. Among them, two popular dishes have seen the most noticeable price hikes, sparking online discussions and prompting netizens to lament that only a madman would buy them.

According to a report in today’s Apple Daily, since Tsai Ing-wen took office in 2016, the number of mainland Chinese tourists at Shilin Night Market has plummeted by over 30%. Coupled with declining foot traffic from locals and competition from convenience store food, night market vendors who used to rely solely on selling stir-fried squid, oyster omelets, and steak have started offering Taiwanese cuisine and stir-fried dishes to provide tourists with more choices and help salvage their revenues.

While night market operators emphasize that “Shilin Night Market has transparent pricing and won’t turn into Kenting,” it has still sparked discussions among netizens about recent price fluctuations for night market snacks. Taking Shilin Night Market as an example, oyster omelets and stir-fried squid are among the must-try famous snacks. However, with the prices of squid and squid ingredients hitting record highs and the dual increases in oil and electricity costs, there has been a significant rise in snack prices since 2008 and 2012, with the highest price gap reaching up to 20%. Nowadays, a bowl of stir-fried squid at Shilin Night Market costs NT$80, and an oyster omelet is priced at NT$60.

The prices of popular Taiwanese snacks are now approaching those of lunchboxes. While some tourists say “it’s still acceptable for the sake of trying something new,” others lament, “It’s delicious, but too expensive. When I was a kid, a bowl only cost NT$50,” or “Paying for squid is like paying for beef noodle soup—I’d say only a crazy person would buy it.” However, some netizens offer a mitigating view, saying, “Rent is the biggest issue.”