Hidden gem at Shilin Night Market: skewers grilled to steakhouse quality

Text and photos byXiaohu’s Dream Food Blog

[Yezhi Station Eats] Shilin Night Market – Wang Xiao Gu

Can you believe street vendors in night markets serve beef this good? Let’s see what this conscientious couple from Kinmen is committed to xd

Friends who know me are aware I hate Shilin Night Market. Regular readers of my food reviews might’ve noticed that out of my 2,000+ Taipei eatery reviews, I’ve written about Shilin Night Market fewer than ten times. This is the only place I genuinely want to recommend, even though this is a promotional piece—mainly because I hope such quality won’t be driven out by mediocrity.

I remember the day after sharing this on our fan page, many people privately asked me where the shop was. They couldn’t find it. So, yesterday I deliberately went back to Shilin Night Market and took photos of the directions. Simply put, enter from the left-side alley facing Yangming Theater (the alley to the right of Silver Arrow Color).
 

Even before coming here, I’d heard rumors of a street vendor in Shilin Night Market using premium beef for their skewers, but maybe I just dislike the place too much, so I never came. When I arrived, I realized my friend was talking about this “Wang Xiao Gu”... At first, I thought they only sold “king oyster mushrooms” lol.

At first glance, the juicy king oyster mushrooms and grilled chicken thigh cutlets seemed to be the main items, but I fell head over heels for the “Florentine beef skewers” and another unpublished secret weapon. Oh, and the girl working at the counter is actually pretty cute..... But being a shy guy, I could only secretly take photos from afar (laughs).

The stall isn’t very big, with a small back area where the owners rest, but customers can also eat and relax there. Meanwhile, the boss was practicing darts, joking to customers, “Hit the bullseye, and I’ll give you a free beef skewer.”

I tried twice and it was impossible. Then he said, “If handsome guys or pretty girls hit the green ring outside the bullseye, they get one too...” But the definition of “handsome” or “pretty” is up to the boss. I thought he was joking, but when other customers tried, some actually hit and got free skewers...

The back half is the kitchen—or rather, an exceptionally clean kitchen.

The staff slicing and grilling the meat all wear gloves, wiping the tables while cutting. Such good habits from the chefs.

Seeing the staff slicing the beef, I was so shocked that a night market vendor would use such quality meat that I asked the boss if I could take a photo. It suddenly struck me how many night market “dice-cut beef” skewers are actually made from reconstituted meat...

And look at this cross-section... I can’t believe this is the kind of beef used at a street stall. I’d believe it if this were from a high-end restaurant—it’s absurdly beautiful. The boss added that the meat is only lightly marinated and cooked to about rare or medium-rare.

A thick slice of this was priced at 110 NT on the sign. Honestly, it’s worth the price even as a steak... That’s insane. Serving beef this good at such a price—if the business isn’t booming, it must be because they’re fighting the wrong battle, trying to sell high quality in a market known for “cheap” and catering to tourists. No wonder the boss said if business doesn’t pick up, he might as well become a shady vendor... and just sell cheap beef.

The beef is diced into bite-sized pieces for easy eating on the go. As they’re sliced, the juices already start dripping—I silently muttered, “What a waste.”

Then they’re grilled again in a German-imported oven until medium-rare. The boss says if customers prefer it more well-done, that’s fine, but he still recommends medium-rare for the best flavor, juiciest texture, and tenderness.

The grilled dice-cut beef remains incredibly tempting, now with the aroma of roasted beef wafting up as you get closer, paired with surprisingly delicious onions (soaked in water to reduce spiciness).

No exaggeration—when you bite into it, the juices really burst out. The tenderness and sweetness of the beef make it unbelievable that I’m in a night market. It’s insanely delicious. This beef is easily dozens of times better than what you’d find in many restaurants. But while I’m moved by the boss’s dedication, I’m more worried about his ideals.

Next up is the popular “grilled chicken thigh cutlets.” The chicken is pre-marinated in boxes, so during grilling, no sauce is brushed on, staying true to the boss’s commitment to health and natural flavor.

The glossy chicken cutlet is grilled to a blinding shine. The first bite is shockingly crispy with a slight crunch. Calling it Peking duck might be an overstatement, but it does have that vibe. Beyond the crispiness, the chicken skin’s sweet, oily richness is fully grilled out. Just looking at the glossy photos, you can tell how delicious the skin is—absolutely amazing.

The chicken meat itself is also incredibly tender and flavorful. You’ll even feel like sucking your fingers afterward. I might’ve thought it was charcoal-grilled if I didn’t know better.

Finally, the supposedly signature juicy king oyster mushrooms are simply grilled and sprinkled with a bit of black pepper and chili powder.

Honestly, these king oyster mushrooms are super duper juicy... and sweet enough. They’re definitely tasty, but my heart was already conquered by the beef from the start...

When I was about to leave, I wanted to buy a few servings to share with friends waiting for me to dine out. The boss, seeing how much I loved the beef, instructed the staff to slice it directly for me, saying this method is for the connoisseurs—the customers who really know their stuff. Seriously, the five-minute grilled beef is insanely good, but this sliced version? Insanely, insanely good... And this way, you can really taste the sweetness and tenderness of the beef, plus it’s even juicier. I recommend adventurous eaters or those who love slightly raw beef to ask the boss for it this way... because this is how the boss eats it privately—it’s not normally served like this.

Alright, just say Brother Xiaohu begged the boss to slice it like this for you (laughs).

Wang Xiao Gu
Address: No. 1, Lane 101, Wenhua Road, Shilin District, Taipei City (Enter the left-side alley facing Yangming Theater, one minute in, opposite Ah Zong Noodles)
Phone: 0935-555141
Business Hours: 17:00-23:00

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