rev:text
| - My experience with Asian-style western food has been mixed, from: the bad (attempt at Italian food), the okay (Malaysian snack burgers), to delicious (bakery). For purely anthropological purposes of exploration and understanding, I had to try the Taiwanese take on southern fried chicken.
Inside is nice, open, and colourful. Another reviewer mentioned that aspects of it are kitschy with non-nonsensical sayings on the wall. It kind've adds to the experience however.
I was doing takeout, and the overhead menu only shows a few items - though there were clearly other more Taiwanese dishes on the tables. The combos are around $10-11, which puts it a couple bucks more than their spiritual father - the Colonel. However, it comes with a choice of around a dozen bubble teas. Moreover, the quality of the chicken - as I was about to find out, was superior.
As others have said, they're made to order; so expect to wait at least 15 minutes. However, I asked and a sever confirmed that one can call ahead. Duly noted for the future. Nice service too, I should add.
The order arrived and by the heat of the bag, it was apparent that this had been in the fryer only 30 Mississippi's earlier. They said they don't have a spicy variety, but they do provide two containers upon request. One is a salt/pepper mix, and the other is a chilli power. I threw some in the bag, and *shake shake shake*, I have spicy chicken.
I ordered the chicken 'steak', which is a nice sized breast (get your mind out of the gutter) diced into a few pieces. The colour of the battered skin is noticeably different from typical fried chicken. It's almost a greyish-white and you can see the seasoning. It's different, but it's not off-putting either. Chicken was cooked to a perfect level and still juicy. The oil was at the right temperature since the grease wasn't sponged in. There was a unique taste and seasoning that emerged. It's killing me that I can't identify it, but I'm sure you'll taste it if you try it. Fries were fairly average.
Tasty chicken, and will certainly come back (and call ahead) when in the area.
|