Shi-Da night market closing

[Incubus]

the Kangqinglong (Yongkang St., Qingtian St., and Longquan).

Interesting you bring this up. I think this is a case where the residents of Longquan becoming envious of the property value over in Yongkang and Qingtian, especially Qingtian. That street is loaded. You'll know what I mean if you ever wander into the quiet neighborhood behind the mosque on Xinsheng.

[headhonchoII]

Its funny because there are many areas so much worse than Shi-Da which was becoming gentrified quite rapidly. Illegal is illegal though there is not much the can do if the city wants to enforce the rules. Always be aware that in Taiwan most laws exist already and enforcement can change at anytime.

[Feiren]

the Kangqinglong (Yongkang St., Qingtian St., and Longquan).

Interesting you bring this up. I think this is a case where the residents of Longquan becoming envious of the property value over in Yongkang and Qingtian, especially Qingtian. That street is loaded. You'll know what I mean if you ever wander into the quiet neighborhood behind the mosque on Xinsheng.

I'm sure that's exactly what the property developers are whispering into their ears. There are quite a few high end luxury buildings on Qingtian St. Very few on the Longquan side.

I

[Belgian Pie]

I really wish they do make Taipei a lot more comfortable to live in, while things have certainly improved compared to other cities Taipei is just crowded, dirty, and crazy.

I think a big part of the Shi-Da market closing is the fact that people had to endure noise for years and years well after 1am, when they're trying to sleep so they can get up for work early next day. It really sucks in many areas in Taiwan you need an earplug to fall asleep because its just too noisy.

That's a good one ... Taiwanese going to bed before 1AM ... and BTW, Taiwanese sleep anytime, anywhere no matter the noise ...

I think this is a micro vs macro argument. On the micro level some are going to be hurt. Some have been put out of business while others merely lost a few of their favorite restaurants. On the macro level the area will probably be much better in the long run though

Better for whom?

[Fox]

This is simply not true, when was the last time you walked around that area?

4 months ago. I know a few people with restaurants there. I went there a lot because I did business at Shi-Da and Tai-Da.

[headhonchoII]

This is simply not true, when was the last time you walked around that area?

4 months ago. I know a few people with restaurants there. I went there a lot because I did business at Shi-Da and Tai-Da.

I was responding to the snadman Fox.

[gunadz]

This makes me so incredibly sad. When I studied at Shi-Da two years ago, I staid with a lovely family on Shi-Da Rd. lane 94. Sure, heading out and coming back at night was a bit of a pain, but I wouldn't have had it any other way. They loved the area too and had been living there for a very, very long time.

That said, I'm left wondering where will the students go to hang out at night now? Gongguan is nice and all, but it doesn't really hold a candle to Shi-Da. Maybe its time to start looking at Taizhong?

[ironlady]

Yeah, for everyone who's sorry for the passing of those "lovely international restaurants" -- those are a very new phemonenon in the life of the Shi-Da night market area. The backbone of those businesses was the shuijiao place on Longquan, the noodle shops, and the endless assortment of tea shops -- all gone for some time now. What's left is a gentrified imitation of a night market. If you want "international food" go to Xinyi. I'm just wondering if there will be any place accessible to normal folks who want an order of shuijiao. It's getting harder and harder to find "normal food".

[zyzzx]

Looks like the crackdown may be spreading to Yongkang St. and Wenzhou St.

According to this report, Mei's Tea Bar is closing for the entire month of March after being fined. A resident's group on Wenzhou St. is trying to repeat the successes in the Shi-Da area.

Nooooooooooo, leave Wenzhou Jie alone
Wenzhou is nothing like Shi-Da. It's not that crowded, not noisy, and, except for a few cafes, just about everything is closed by 9 pm. The mix of business and residential is the best thing about the place, and I say that as a resident. I was bummed to hear about Shi-Da, but I will be seriously pissed off if they start messing with my neighborhood.

[Feiren]

Yeah, for everyone who's sorry for the passing of those "lovely international restaurants" -- those are a very new phemonenon in the life of the Shi-Da night market area. The backbone of those businesses was the shuijiao place on Longquan, the noodle shops, and the endless assortment of tea shops -- all gone for some time now. What's left is a gentrified imitation of a night market. If you want "international food" go to Xinyi. I'm just wondering if there will be any place accessible to normal folks who want an order of shuijiao. It's getting harder and harder to find "normal food".

There were some great places on Longquan St. where students could fill up on good but inexpensive food. The knife noodle place and the big Hong Kong style duck shop were two great example. But the decent places are long gone. In the core Longquan St. area, the only remaining food shops are of very low quality indeed. The surrounding areas are where the new 'international' additions are.

For great jiaozi at a reasonable prices, walk don't run to Longmenkezhan just north of CKS Memorial. They are the only place I know of that still makes their own wrappers themselves. I don't eat shuijiao anywhere else in Taipei (China is a different story). The side dishes--cucumber salad, doupi, charcuterie, and luwei--are all outstanding. Two people can gorge themselves and drink themselves silly for less than NT$500.

And guess what? The area is slated for redevelopment and this great Taipei institution will soon vanish.

Very soon, Taipei will have no street food left at all despite the claims in the tourist literature that you can get sopmething to eat 24 hours a day etc.