Flying potato chips aren't just a gimmick — freshly shaved fries retain the true aroma of potatoes.

Text & Photos /Orange Dog Loves Candy

Seeing this photo, don’t you also feel a strange sense of dissonance XDD? Why are they using plumbing tools to sell fries!! I can only say that Fengjia Night Market is just that delicious, fun, and interesting!! It seems like every time you go back, there’s always something new popping up. The last time I visited with friends, we discovered Korean molecular cotton candy ice cream, and there was also a massage chicken steak where you couldn’t figure out where to press. Now I’m seeing this new gimmick of using a power drill to shave fries. I walked back and forth in front of the stall, constantly worried about whether it was even edible XD. Fries are truly a mischievous little snack. Knowing full well that this starch-packed thing, when deep-fried, just piles on more layers of fat, but the moment I smell the aroma of freshly fried potatoes, my mind says no, yet my mouth honestly says, ‘Boss — one plate of flying fries to eat now, please!’

Although this 【Posi Fly Chips】 place is pretty wild, it’s actually just a small stall. You might not even notice it as you walk by. It’s tucked away in the always-packed Qinghe Street, which has famous stalls like Golden Right Leg and Ah Hua Oden. But truth be told, what I love buying the most at Fengjia Night Market are the easiest things to eat: sausage wrapped in rice, pig’s blood cake, and fries. They’re perfect for eating while walking, you won’t look messy, and your hands won’t get covered in grease or sauces — I just hate dealing with that.

It’s just that because my friends often come to Taichung and like me to take them around Fengjia Night Market, squeezing through the crowds to feel the warmth of being alive. So if I don’t occasionally discover some new shops, I’d probably end up eating the same hundred or so places until one day I’d get ganged up on and beaten with sacks XD. Getting back to the topic, this 【Posi Fly Chips】 is run by a young couple (most of the bosses here in Fengjia are probably younger than me). I’ve always been curious about where this electric drill used to shave potatoes came from — some kind of legendary weapon. I had to ask the boss several times before he finally told me.

Turns out, he saw something similar when he was in Australia and thought it was fun, so when he came back, he made his own version. Plus, he used to work at an American-style restaurant (according to the news), so he incorporated the sauce styles from American diners. Actually, fries as a fried snack have been around as long as I can remember, probably brought to Taiwan by Wendy’s. The American fast-food style of fries is like those soft, mashed-potato-like fries. But after American restaurants started appearing in Taiwan, we began to see freshly cut, skin-on fries. These have more texture and aroma, are more chewy and filling, and I personally prefer them more. Posi Fly Chips sells these whole, unadulterated potatoes, which go into their electric drill slicer. Then, the moment the boss flips the switch, the fries fly through the air like onion rings and land in the bowl he’s holding — all in about five seconds T_T. Then the fries go to the back to be deep-fried and finished up — it doesn’t take too long, but everything is made to order.

They offer several flavors of fries, but the base fries are all shaved using that same electric drill. The only difference is the sauces drizzled on top. Aside from the flying chips, they also sell various flavors of Mexican crisps, similar to Doritos, but much lighter in texture. Honestly, it’s hard to tell what’s what just by looking.

I just went ahead and ordered four items to try out the flavors. Prices are around 60 to 70 NT each, but check the bottom right corner — if you buy a combo of crisps and flying chips, it’s a discounted set price of 110 NT for both, so it’s most cost-effective to grab two kinds with a friend. Today, we each picked one flavor and immediately found a well-lit spot to take photos first XD.

【Mexican Spicy Salsa Crisps / 60 NT / Vegetarian (5-spice)]
These Mexican corn chips are also deep-fried fresh, then topped with homemade fresh salsa, plus some slices of spicy Mexican chili. At first, I was hesitating whether those big chunks of chili would be super spicy.

But they weren’t spicy at all — instead, they had a tangy, appetizing flavor. The crispy, light corn chips paired with the vegetable-packed salsa gave a refreshing sweet-and-sour taste with a bright kick of spice, not too harsh, and not greasy either. Just why it’s labeled as 5-spice vegetarian, I can’t quite recall, but I think it should be vegetarian-friendly.

【Cheesy Spicy Meat Sauce Flying Chips (Beef Sauce) / 70 NT】
To be honest, if you’re used to American food, it’s really hard to resist ordering something like this spicy meat sauce when you see it. The crispy flying chips are rolled up snugly in the paper box, topped with lots of shredded lettuce, spicy meat sauce, and some Mexican chilies. The colors aren’t that eye-catching, but the enticing aroma kept wafting over, practically begging me to eat it — it looked amazing.

The freshly fried chip rings were still slightly warm, and the outer coating was thin, so the first bite gives you a slight crispness, followed by the solid aroma of potatoes and a soft, mashed texture as you chew. Even though they’re shaved into fry shapes, the spicy meat sauce hits your tongue first with an appetizing spicy zing, then blends with the savory saltiness of the meat sauce.

Combined with the freshness of the lettuce and the mild acidity of the chili, the whole spicy, sour, salty medley had me devouring it in seconds. There are plenty of stalls selling spicy meat sauce, but Posi’s version is truly top-notch!! Highly recommended, a must-try!!

【French Honey Mustard Flying Chips / 60 NT / Egg-based Vegetarian】
Honey mustard sauce is pretty common these days, available at many fast-food or snack stalls. You don’t have to worry about the spiciness of mustard because the sweetness of the honey tones it down, leaving just a subtle hint of mustard aroma — it’s a really likable, non-cloying dipping sauce flavor.

This one is just a simple combo of flying chips + shredded lettuce + honey mustard sauce. Their sauce is drizzled on both the top and bottom, and I thought it was pretty tasty. But if you’ve just had the rich, bold flavor of the previous cheesy spicy meat sauce, this one feels more like a dessert XD.

【Smoky BBQ Sauce Flying Chips / 60 NT / Vegetarian (5-spice)]
American-style BBQ sauce is usually tomato-based to add flavor, but it also seems to have a bit more vinegar and lemon juice for acidity and smokiness, along with a thick, salty taste. That salty-and-sour combo soaks into the fries, giving every bite that authentic BBQ flavor.

If compared to the cheesy spicy meat sauce above — both being classic representatives of bold American flavors — I personally still prefer the layered taste of the cheesy spicy meat sauce. The BBQ sauce is authentic, but a bit one-note.

Actually, I originally thought Posi Fly Chips might just be another gimmicky fried snack. After all, there are fry stalls everywhere in Fengjia. But after actually trying it, I ended up liking it way more than I expected. The freshly shaved fries retain a more genuine potato aroma, and the sauces are really enjoyable. The shop even custom-made their own paper boxes for easy takeout while walking. Though the portion might seem small, they use a whole potato, so it’s actually quite filling (since it’s all starch). Using a drill as a tool is eye-catching and gimmicky, but I think if the boss occasionally dressed up as a construction worker, it’d be even more attention-grabbing XD. Like wearing a hard hat or something, haha!! But seriously, if you’re interested… definitely come try it out!!

◎ Shop Info: [Posi Fly Chips Fengjia Night Market Wenhua Road Qinghe Street │ Xitun District]
◎ Address: No. 92, Qinghe Street, Xitun District, Taichung City (Opposite Ah Hua Oden)
◎ Phone: 0922-170351
◎ Business Hours: 5:00 PM – 1:00 AM
◎ Tip: Buying flying chips together with Mexican crisps is a better deal!!
 

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