Winter is the time for nourishing food—try this classic Chiayi street snack: aromatic Taiwanese-style “Sesame Oil Chicken”!

Text & Photos /Feitian Xuan

Chiayi Snack & Food: Yanping Street Sesame Oil Chicken (formerly Culture Road Sesame Oil Chicken)

The weather has turned noticeably colder these days—it’s the perfect time for sesame oil chicken. That reminded me of this “Chiayi Yuan Culture Road Sesame Oil Chicken” that a group of us tried in Chiayi last year. Out of nowhere, I pulled out the photos and started writing… Back then, our group hit ten food stalls in Chiayi, taking crazy amounts of photos, and the biggest hit among them wasn’t the turkey rice, but this “Chiayi Yuan Culture Road Sesame Oil Chicken”!

I brought Little Cherry along that day—the entrance photo didn’t come out great, so please bear with us…

This carrying pole… Who knew there’d be pasta here besides turkey rice?!

The interior isn’t particularly tidy or clean—if that bothers you, maybe give it a pass… But for street food, you’re only in and out in about 10 minutes anyway. As long as the food is hygienic, I can let it slide… (photo by 13)

Menu… Before this meal, we had already been to “Lin Congming’s Clay Pot Fish Head” and “Guo Family | Kong Xinglan’s…” That day, under the lead of Manager Xiaopang from “Chiayi Lan Kwai Fong Garden Hotel,” we powered through to our third stop… The ordering was also decided by Manager Xiaopang…

The braised snacks on the table were killing me—I was so full I could barely breathe, but seeing these glossy, old-school braised treats instantly revived me…

The sesame oil chicken is served hot after being reheated.

I don’t know why, but here we are again with another full table… (so scary!)

Sesame Oil Chicken (thigh) - $150 NTDOn a cold day like this, seeing this bowl of classic sesame oil chicken warms both the body and the soul…

It uses a whole free-range chicken thigh, and besides the thigh, there’s also pig’s blood cake. For someone used to stronger liquor flavors, the wine taste is a bit light, but I think it suits the general public’s palate… And the chicken—needless to say—the meat is tender, bouncy, and full of rich flavor…

And there’s pig’s blood cake too！ You can tell at a glance it’s made the old-school way—not powdery at all…

Sesame Oil Vermicelli (Dry) - $30 NTD; Sesame Oil Vermicelli (Soup) - $45 NTD
I’m not usually a big fan of vermicelli, but I felt that the vibe of everyone digging in together that day made this ordinary bowl of vermicelli feel extraordinary…

Turkey Rice (Small) - $25 NTDI’ve had turkey rice at many places in Chiayi, and every shop really does have its own unique style. This “Chiayi Yuan Culture Road Sesame Oil Chicken” version includes fried shallots, giving off a very fragrant aroma. The turkey meat is in small cubes, and the rice is on the softer side—I think taste is subjective…

Braised Snacks – Probably cooked in an aged braising sauce, they’re incredibly flavorful and well-seasoned.

Maybe it was because our group was so large that day—eight adults and one child, with around five cameras—that even the owner asked what we were up to… (photo by 13)
We joked that we were a photography exchange association, and the owner said her husband was also learning photography and would come by the shop later. Thankfully, we finished eating and left quickly—otherwise, our amateur skills would’ve been exposed in no time.

Chiayi Yuan Culture Road Sesame Oil Chicken
Address: No. 255, Yanping Street, West District, Chiayi City
Phone: (05)224-4539
Business Hours: 18:00–3:00

Feitian Xuan
I record the ups and downs of my life—food, fun, joy, and sorrow—with a lighthearted tone. Blog、FB