It’s true that we Singaporeans can never get enough of good food and are always on the hunt for the best gastronomic experiences, especially when travelling. Because we love food as much as you do, we’ve had the most delicious task of putting our heads together and compiling a list of some of the best night markets in Asia to fuel your foodie cravings. As always, we’ve given consideration to your budget and can offer some great advice on the best days to book your flights. That way, you’ll spend a lot less time on flights and a lot more on mouth-watering morsels. True foodies indeed.
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Jalan Alor Food Street
Let’s kick off with Jalan Alor Food Street. Unlike the other markets on this list, Jalan Alor isn’t an insider’s tip, but is that good that we had to mention it. With food ranging from local Malay and Chinese dishes to international cuisine and exotic snacks, it’s the perfect place for those who want to try a bit of everything. With its mixed crowd of party-goers, tourists and locals, everything really is on offer. You’ll find great bites here, such as barbequed chicken wings, grilled seafood, tofu bakar and belacan fried rice. Due to the ramshackle nature of the market, some of the street’s vendors have rather random opening days and times (make sure to check opening times if you’re going to somewhere specific), but in general the market is open every day from 5pm till late. By the way, if you’re planning a weekend trip to to Kuala Lumpur a Sunday and to Tuesday return trip is 29% cheaper, on average, than a Saturday to Sunday getaway. f you’re looking for some luxury accommodation to go with your tasty treats, try the Parkroyal Kuala Lumpur, just a short walk away from Jalan Alor.
Address: Bukit Bintang, 50200 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam: Ky Hoa Night Market
Ho Chi Minh is well known for its fine dining and French fusion restaurants. For more adventurous travellers, we recommend slipping away from the French cafes and tourist-heavy spots in District 1 and hopping over to District 10 for some authentic street food at the Ky Hoa Night Market. Get your teeth into the most popular local delicacies, like Vietnamese Com Tam (“broken-rice”), Bot Chien (fried rice flour cake with egg), Bun Thit Nuong (cold rice vermicelli), as well as exotic tidbits like fried insects and arachnids, a.k.a. the future of protein. If you can get a few days off, travel on a Wednesday and return on a Friday and save up to 33% (when compared to booking a flight leaving on a Sunday returning on a Monday). Luckily, the market is open daily from 5pm to midnight and with such great flight savings, think about splashing out by at staying at the 5 star Windsor Plaza Hotel. Top street food + luxury hotel = a genius getaway.
Address: Thong Nhat Stadium, 138 Dao Duy Tu, Thanh Binh, Vietnam
Phnom Penh, Cambodia: Psar Reatrey
Overlooking the river is Phnom Penh’s only formal night market, Psar Reatrey. Checking out the live and local pop music is a must as you stroll through this very local night market. But tasting the local cuisine is, of course, the real reason to visit. Make sure you try at least 2 of these famous dishes: Fish Amok (Cambodian style steamed fish), Kuy Teav (noodle soup), and Prahok (crushed and salted mud fish in banana leaves), also, if you’ve never had the chance to imbibe insects before, take a seat at the back of the market and try fried cockroaches and salted grasshoppers. Although the market is only open Thursday through Sunday, you can save up to 55% by arriving Monday and returning Saturday, as opposed to staying over a weekend. With so much to see and taste, you may want to consider checking into a nearby hotel, such as the Sunway Hotel Phnom Penh, located within easy walking distance from the market.
Address: Street 1 (Preah Sisowath Quay) in Wat Phnom Commune, Daun Penh District
Bangkok, Thailand: Rod Fai Market 2
As you approach the Thailand Cultural Centre, you may notice a sea of colourful tents; head to them straight away. These house row upon row of street food vendors, offering hungry foodies everything from stir fried pad thai to barbequed fish and of course the perennial favourite, mango sticky rice. Before going back for seconds, give yourself some time to digest and head up to the second-story bars. There you check out the market from above and enjoy some live music. If you fancy pairing the luscious food and bar experiences with an excellent hotel, like the Grand Mercure Bangkok Fortune, save some money by travelling to Bangkok on a Monday and leaving on a Friday. By travelling on these days of the week, you can save 27% on flights compared to other booking combinations.
Address: Ratcadaphisek Road (close to Esplanade Shopping Mall)
Taipei, Taiwan: Shi-Da Night Market
Because it’s located in one of the city’s trendiest neighbourhoods, as well as near several universities, Shi-Da has a particularly young and vibrant atmosphere. This means that Shi-Da can cater to the foodies, the fashionistas, and those of us that identify as both. Apart from tasting local delicacies; such as black pepper buns, grilled squid, and the gloriously named stinky tofu; you should also take some time just to explore the stalls of local fashion designers. Make it a whirlwind holiday and save up to 16% by flying out a Sunday and back on a Tuesday, as opposed to holidaying from Tuesday till Sunday. Keeping this in mind, grabbing a 3-star hotel like the Park Taipei Hotel, which is just a short stroll away from the market, will really allow you to make the most of the time you have.
Address: Lane 39, Shida Rd, Da’an District, Taipei City
Debby Soo, KAYAK Vice President APAC comments “Tasting local food is a highlight on every traveller’s itinerary. To avoid disappointment, travellers should make sure to check the opening hours of night markets as they are not all open daily. Also, Singaporean holidaymakers should come prepared with sufficient amounts of loose change, as the vendors only accept cash payment.”
*Data analysis is based on flight searches made on KAYAK.sg from June 2015 until June 2016 for travelling dates between June and December 2016. Average prices are quoted in Singapore dollars and based on a return economy flight for one person. All prices quoted may be subject to change and may no longer be available. Hotels are recommended based on short travel distance from the night markets or food street, rated at least 4 stars. Searches are made on 18 June 2016 for 1 night stay and 2 guests from 27 June to 25 July 2016.
