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Songshou Rd Night Market Mystery
The taxi driver wasn't totally making it up, but you're not going to find it by looking for a sign. That stall doesn't have one. It's not really on Songshou Rd itself, it's in one of the narrow lanes between Songshou and Songde Rd, closer to the Songshan MRT side. Walk toward the old Songshan train station and look for the alley with the red paper lanterns that aren't lit, about halfway down the block.
The tofu balls there are different because they fry them twice, once to set the shape and once to order, so the outside is almost crunchy while the inside stays soft and funky. They only make about fifty portions a night and they're usually gone by 9pm. If you get there and the line is just two or three people who look like they know exactly what they're doing, you're in the right spot.
honestly i think that taxi driver was sending you on a wild goose chase but in a good way. songshou rd night market isn't really known for deep alleyway stalls, most of the action is right along the main drag and the few side lanes that are lit up. if you walk past the xinyi sports center end toward the songshan train station side you'll see a few smaller stalls tucked between the old apartment buildings but nothing that feels like a speakeasy for tofu.
the stinky tofu balls thing does ring a bell though, there's a place on the nanjing east rd side of songshan that does fried tofu balls with pickled cabbage, not stinky but more like a savory puffy donut thing. could be what he meant. either way just go with low expectations and you'll prob stumble into something good, the steamed buns from the cart near the mrt exit are way better than any mythical tofu anyway.
I've tracked that stall down before, took me three tries. It's not on Songshou Rd at all, it's in the alley that runs behind the old police station near Raohe Street, about a five minute walk from the Songshan MRT exit 3. Look for the blue plastic tarp with a single bare bulb hanging from it, that's the only light they use.
The lady running it used to sell from a cart near the train station but moved deeper into the alley a few years back when the rent went up. She starts frying at 7pm sharp and the first batch goes to people who've been waiting since 6:45. The key is the sauce, it's a dark fermented chili paste she makes herself, not the standard sweet stuff most places use. Bring small bills, she doesn't take credit cards and gets annoyed if you hand her a 500.
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Seeking recommendations for facial or massage treatments targeting jaw tension and TMJ issues
For muscle-based jaw tightness, the traditional 推拿 places often do better than the fancy facial spas, and they're cheaper. There's a small 國術館 near Shuanglian I go to for neck and jaw stuff, the guy works the masseter from outside and does traction on the cervical spine, which is where a lot of referred jaw tension actually starts. Around NT$800 for 40 minutes, no booking app, you just walk in. It won't fix a real joint problem but if your issue is muscular clenching it's worth a try.
if its actual tmj stuff and not just cosmetic face massage, go see a dentist who does 咬合板 (occlusal splint) first, the massage places treat the symptom not the joint. dr chen at a clinic off fuxing south road near daan park sorted my clicking in like 3 visits, mostly by adjusting my bite & giving me a night guard. the relief from that lasted way longer than any spa facial i tried
my physio at a small clinic near Liuzhangli MRT did intraoral work on my masseter and pterygoid muscles, basically gloved finger inside the cheek releasing trigger points. weird at first but it fixed the morning headaches within maybe 4 sessions. its not a spa thing at all, its rehab, so book it as a medical visit. 針灸 also helped me, the needles go in the jaw and temple, but the physio did more for the actual tightness.