To celebrate the 115th Double Tenth National Day of the Republic of China, “Taste of Taiwan 2026” night market opened on the evening of October 2nd (Friday) at STC Rowland Legacy in Rowland Heights, California. Multiple night market food vendors from Taiwan crossed the seas to participate, bringing over 60 classic Taiwanese snacks. The event featured approximately 88 booths, combining different ethnic cuisines from Southern California for a 10-day Taiwan food and cultural exchange event until October 11th.
Organized by the STC Foundation, AI Education Foundation, and TUFBA, the event is themed around “food, culture, people, connecting the world,” aiming to introduce Taiwan to people of different ethnicities in Southern California through its night market culture, allowing them to taste Taiwanese flavors and further promote people-to-people exchanges between Taiwan and the US.
Chairman Fang Xiaowei of the AI Education Foundation expressed that Taiwanese night market street food has gained international renown in recent years, winning awards in various international competitions. Therefore, the goal is to bring the essence of Taiwan’s night markets directly to Southern California, enabling overseas Taiwanese who miss the taste of home to enjoy authentic Taiwanese cuisine without having to wait to return to Taiwan.
He mentioned that 19 representative Taiwan night market vendors were specially invited to the US to promote Taiwanese cuisine widely through the event, allowing people of different ethnicities in Southern California to personally experience Taiwanese flavors, get to know Taiwan, fall in love with Taiwan, and even consider traveling to Taiwan.
President of STC Foundation and founder of STC Rowland Legacy, Xu Huiyin, stated that Taiwanese food vendors brought over 60 classic dishes covering various night market and local specialties in Taiwan. Some vendors arrived in the US just two days before the event and immediately prepared ingredients according to local regulations to engage with the people of Southern California during the 10-day event.
In addition to the Taiwanese night market vendors, this event also involved over 60 vendors from different ethnicities, including Mexico, Korea, Japan, China, and more, enhancing the cultural exchange between Taiwanese cuisine and the diverse food culture of Southern California, showcasing the cross-cultural feature of “Taiwan x Southern California.”
The opening ceremony attracted local politicians and overseas Chinese community members in Southern California. California State Senator Bob Archuleta greeted the audience in Chinese, saying “hello” and congratulating Taiwan on its 115th birthday. He praised the organizers for bringing Taiwan’s night market culture to Southern California, believing that the event not only provides a culinary experience but also helps promote understanding and cooperation among different ethnic communities, deepening Taiwan-US friendship.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis sent representative Andrea Moreno to express support for the event, acknowledging the long-term support of the STC Foundation in assisting local small businesses and community development and creating business opportunities.
Diamond Bar Councilman Jack Tan and his wife, as well as Theresa Lee, Director of the Walnut Valley Water District, and other local figures were also present to congratulate the event. Theresa Lee presented a certificate on behalf of Congresswoman Judy Chu, recognizing the organizers for hosting the Taiwan food and cultural exchange event.
The opening night featured a “Bless Taiwan, Start a Wish” blessing activity, using red, blue, and white balloons to symbolize Taiwan and the US, akin to the tradition of making wishes when releasing sky lanterns in Taiwan, inviting attendees to make wishes together and send birthday blessings to the Republic of China at its 115th anniversary.
Participating Taiwanese night market vendors included “Golden Ingots” egg cakes, “Starving Late Night” scallion pancakes, “Under the Banyan Tree” steamed buns with minced pork, and boiled peanuts. Among them, the “Snooze for Another Five Minutes” founded by Taiwanese YouTuber “Little Sister” offered the “3 cm-thick Quilted Milk Cap” series, allowing people in Southern California to experience Taiwan’s new generation beverage culture.
The event also featured a Taiwanese tea art, premium coffee, and indigenous cuisine section, showcasing Taiwan’s agriculture, food, and diverse ethnic cultures. “Qijunan” from Taiwan brought tribal food and culture, including salt-roasted fish, salted pork, millet wine, signature cocktails, traditional handicrafts, music, and dance.
Qijunan’s representative, Li Changyu, indicated that the team members come from various indigenous tribes like the Paiwan and Ami, hoping to introduce Taiwan’s indigenous peoples’ culture of hospitality, reverence for nature, and promote tribal tourism, cuisine, and handicrafts through food and cultural exchanges with overseas communities.
The “Taste of Taiwan 2026” event runs until October 11th, from 5 PM to 11 PM on weekdays and from 3 PM to 11 PM on weekends, at STC Rowland Legacy located at 18991 Colima Road, Rowland Heights, CA. ◇