Eat your way down this street: Tainan’s Guohua Street, home to fresh-squeezed pineapple bubble tea and fried chicken legs

Text & photos byKui Xiaosun

Fried Chicken Trading Co.: No. 22, Guohua Street, West Central District, Tainan City (next to the entrance of the Western Market) facebook \ One Two Rest
Bogey: No. 51-2, Section 3, Guohua Street, West Central District, Tainan City (diagonally opposite Brian’s)
Thirteen: No. 63, Zhengxing Street, West Central District, Tainan City facebook
Phoenix Trading Co.: No. 21, Lane 16, Section 3, Guohua Street, Tainan City facebook \ 06 223 2498

I believe anyone who’s visited Tainan often must definitely know about ‘Guohua Street’ and ‘Zhengxing Street’. Even two years ago when I wrote about Tainan, it was these two bustling cross streets right by Hai’an Road—teeming with people—that captured my heart. They represent the youth and passion of Tainan. The classics on Zhengxing Street include Juanwei House, Rainbow Came, Brian’s Tea, and Xiaoman Canteen; turn onto Guohua Street for Xiaojuan Rice Vermicelli, Jiangshui Stall, and the Western Market, then keep going all the way to Yongle Market.

This time, instead of eating the places I’ve already tried or written about, I’m checking out the ones I haven’t yet—starting with the recently famous ‘Fried Chicken Trading Co.’, a cup of Tainan’s beloved ‘Bogey’ fresh milk tea, and then heading to the new vibe at the Western Market’s ‘Phoenix Trading Co.’ to jot down these spots for you all. Oh, and there’s also ‘Thirteen Macarons’ near the alley of Xiaoman Canteen on Zhengxing Street, perfect as a souvenir. XD

First, let me show you just how crazy the crowds in Tainan get during the Qingming holiday through a few photos. This reflects how rapidly Tainan’s tourism has developed over the past two years—whether it’s a regular weekend or any holiday break, the place is packed. And it’s especially wild on Guohua and Zhengxing Streets, where the word “crazy” really fits. That’s why earlier news mentioned the idea of turning the area into a pedestrian zone. Personally, I think it’s really needed on holidays. XD

I wonder where the current ‘tea drink craze’ will spread next. XD But since I’m someone who doesn’t like canned drinks from convenience stores, bubble tea is pretty much essential for me in the summer. In Tainan, I like everything from Brian’s and British Blue to Bogey. It’s like once I have those brands, it totally cures my ‘homesickness.’ XD So just yesterday on Sunday, I ended up going to Brian’s twice (Can I get a VIP card now?!

But I’ll be honest—I can’t guarantee whether this ‘tea craze’ will reach the shops I love or not.

Alright, no more seriousness. I’ve long loved Bogey on Weimin Street, and of course, they’re on Zhengxing Street too. This time, I somehow fell for their fresh milk tea (lightly sweetened, lightly iced) and bought it two days in a row. It’s fragrant but not too sweet—just super “comfortable.” XD

After getting my drink to quench my thirst, of course the next step was to grab some food to munch on. XD This ‘Fried Chicken Trading Co.’ is probably already well-known to many. As for me, I just got around to trying it this time. It’s been hyped non-stop online and on TV shows, and finally—finally—I got to eat here. Hahahaha XD

The Fried Chicken Trading Co. keeps things simple: three small chicken legs (small drumsticks), eight taels of chicken (big drumsticks), crispy chicken nuggets, and potatoes. We weren’t hungry enough to finish a whole big leg, so we just got one order of small legs and one order of nuggets each. The crowds weren’t deterred by the already hot weather in April. The sunlight beating down on everyone still kept them moving forward. XD

Finally it was our turn to reach the shop. The staff were dressed super youthfully—each wearing plaid shirts, suspenders, and hats, greeting us with tons of energy and warmth. We took our hot small legs and crispy nuggets to the side to enjoy. The small legs really won me over.

Just check out how tender the meat is once you bite in. The skin is thin and juicy—absolutely delicious. There’s even a hint of pepper flavor in the crispy skin. It’s definitely tastier than any fast-food chain. But the crispy nuggets were just okay. Taichung’s Jiguang Street’s Xiangxiang Chicken totally beats it—the meat here felt a bit dry, and not as tender and bouncy as the small legs. XD So my advice is: just go for the ‘legs’ here. XD

Zhengxing Street and Guohua Street are really lively. From the busy food stalls to the many little shops nearby that are fun to browse for a while—on Zhengxing Street, there’s this green-bricked old one-story house right at the alley entrance of Xiaoman Canteen. That’s ‘Thirteen Macarons.’ You’ll definitely be drawn in by the old doors and window frames from the outside… plus the girl with her mouth open in the window. Don’t you just want to peek inside and see what’s there? XD

Then right after I took the photo above, the owner said, ‘No photos!’ XD So sorry, everyone will have to come see for themselves. Inside, besides macarons, there are also some cultural and creative design products that match the vibe of Zhengxing Street and really make you take a second look.

Here are the macarons I brought home and the little stickers the owner gave me. These macarons are 35 NTD each, slightly smaller than the usual market size, with 6–8 flavors. The best part is they’re not too sweet. Delicious. XD

At night, we stepped out of Wei’ai Apartment and decided to check out the Western Market and grab a bite. Jiangshui Stall is a classic at the Western Market, but we didn’t eat there this time. XD

I’d noticed two little shops in the Western Market that carry on the old market’s style but add more warmth. One is ‘Phoenix Trading Co.’ and the other is ‘Pure Job’s Tears’ right across from it. But when we went by ‘Pure Job’s Tears’ that night, it was already closed—and it was pretty hot—so we decided to get some pineapple bubble tea instead. XD

This ‘Phoenix Trading Co.’ really drew us in. Just taking photos from the outside, every angle had that charming, eclectic vibe. The old window frames added so much character to the whole shop. The staff were super polite, and you could really see how dedicated and hardworking they were. With a semi-open kitchen, they’ve taken simple foods and made you feel like you’re rediscovering them. Honestly, just the ‘pineapple’ itself is enough to make you stop and enjoy it.

The ‘Pure Job’s Tears’ across the street, which had just closed, I’ll try to catch next time and share with you all. XD

This time we ordered two cups of pineapple bubble tea, some handmade cookies, and a sweet potato cake. Sitting in the Western Market, still bustling with people even at night, you really start to drift off thinking about the past. How many kids used to run around here? What kinds of fish swam daily under the watchful eyes of grandmas and moms? What kind of stories were being told where Phoenix Trading Co. stands now? What kind of fun did Pure Job’s Tears used to have? Thinking about it all makes you realize time leaves traces in every era, and those traces stay in the hearts of everyone who’s lived through history.

This pineapple bubble tea is seriously addictive. The pickled pineapple is just so good. Each cup has plenty of fresh pineapple chunks, plus a slice of lemon that gives off a refreshing, crystal-clear pineapple aroma. It cools you down from your mouth all the way to your body. That’s why we even took one to-go back to Wei’ai Apartment. XD

The sweet potato cake is also super tasty. The flavor is simple—the sweetness is just from the sweet potato, nothing extra. The almond flakes are weighed out, super crispy, and you’ll seriously find yourself eating slice after slice. XD

That day, I felt really immersed in the Zhengxing Street and Guohua Street of Tainan because we were staying at Wei'ai Apartment, and just stepping outside led us to Zhengxing Street. It gave us the experience of living here for a night.

We could take a stroll in the evening when the crowds had thinned, feel the breeze on a night after the sun had gone home, and walk at an unhurried pace, heading back only when we were tired or ready to rest. That day—I’ll always remember the satisfaction of playing non-stop along Guohua Street and Zhengxing Street until we were completely worn out. XD

Sharing with everyone the four shops on ‘Guohua Street’ from this three-day Tainan trip of ours. Maybe you’ve been to all of them, or maybe you’re just about to go—either way, I believe ‘Tainan is never boring to explore!’ ^______________^ /

 

[Enjoy life without getting bored. — Gui Xiao Sun]