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| - I'm just going to put it out there: Diyijia is my favourite Taiwanese vendor for portable, fried chicken slabs of crispy happiness.
I'll be short here to not get carried away by my usual verbage. I have tried Hot Star and Cheers Cut too, both of which cater similar products at nearly the same prices. The difference? The flavour, texture, and impeccable devotion to service. Now, I'm not here to put down the other competitors, as their items are also great fried finds. Diyijia just has a special place in my stomach.
I ordered the jumbo chicken in spicy and original. I had one of them boneless and I kept the other with the bone in. This was during the grand opening week, so I was blessed with a BOGO promotion which cut my bill in half and left we putting forward a mere 16 dollars for 2 jumbo chickens and 2 drinks (50% off). As excited as my frugal soul was, it wasn't the affordability that won me over, though it was a great gimmick to garner extra exposure! The chicken flesh, concealed by crispy skin, was tender, fresh out of the fryer and juicy. Even the original one was more memorable than the flavoured TFC (Taiwanese fried chicken) I've had elsewhere. Portion-wise, it was slightly larger than the slabs you get at Hot Star and Cheers Cut, so for the same price, it's quite a bang for your buck! Also, I love how you have the option to have your chicken boneless or with the bone in. This feature isn't found elsewhere, and it accommodates those picky eaters who hate being surprised by the bone at the bottom of their chicken slab.
The workers also think from the viewpoint of the consumer. Unlike other TFC vendors, Diyijia has disposal cutlery and plates for diners to use. In a way, they are encouraging diners to feel comfortable eating and sharing their large portions of chicken, thus making this a great spot for family and friends. I mean you would like a knife to halve your chicken instead of getting burns from using your hands, and a plate is always welcome when you don't want grease smearing all over your face from taking a deep dive into hand-held uncut chicken. Sanitation and safety are all checked off here!
However, nothing's perfect. There are two caveats I want you to know: One, the spicy chicken is more salty than spicy, so don't go ham for that if you're perculiar with your seasonings. Two, the drinks are made with cheap juices and you can taste how low quality they are. There doesn't seem to be a rule against bringing in your own drink, as I saw other diners slurping their bubble teas from other shops without any concern from the workers. As such, quench your thirst elsewhere, but make sure you buy some chicken first!
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