The pepper-flavored shrimp is pungent but not spicy—you can even pop the whole shrimp head into your mouth without a problem.

Text & Photos /Xiao Hu’s Dream Food Blog

As a child, I was a picky eater who hardly touched seafood, and I went through a long “allergic phase” with shrimp. My strict mom told me that back then, eating shrimp would make me get nosebleeds or break out in rashes. Although I overcame my fear of shrimp dishes as I grew up, I never really fell in love with them. Over the past two or three years, due to work, I gradually started eating more shrimp dishes, but none of them ever made me fall for a particular restaurant—until this place came into my food-loving life.

Over a year ago, a friend introduced me to this restaurant in Jiaoxi, Yilan, which specializes in Thai giant red shrimp. Ever since my visit, I’ve been longing to come back. Whenever I’m in Yilan, I make it a point to stop by just to enjoy the pleasure of sucking the shrimp heads (I barely eat shrimp heads at other places).

This shop, named “Jiang” (which I’ve always found hard to remember), serves shrimp and skewers. It’s located on the provincial highway in Jiaoxi, less than a kilometer from the Toucheng Interchange toward Yilan—right across from a not-so-great bucket chicken place that’s usually very busy. By the way, the shop has its own parking lot, which can fit about seven or eight cars, so getting there is quite convenient.

The Japanese-inspired gravel and wooden path in front of the shop creates a lovely atmosphere. On a cool autumn evening, it’s quite refreshing and pleasant to sit outside eating shrimp and drinking.

As soon as you walk in, you’ll see two huge, adorable teddy bears “eating” a massive shrimp dish...

If you plan to come here on a weekend evening, it’s best to make a reservation in advance. Also, the owner keeps a limited stock of shrimp daily to ensure their freshness and quality, so they might sell out on busy holidays. It’s safer to call ahead—don’t end up like a friend of mine who drove all the way there only to find the shrimp sold out, haha.

Jiang’s specialty is a variety of dishes centered around Thai giant red shrimp, which are still alive and kicking before being cooked. The fish tank is located behind the kitchen—if you’re interested, you can ask the owner to show it to you.

The edamame served as an appetizer has a stronger black pepper flavor, slightly salty and spicy, making it a great match for a cold beer.

While shrimp dishes are the main focus here, the shop also offers other options for those who don’t eat shrimp, such as a mixed hot pot with meat, shrimp, clams, meatballs, tofu, enoki mushrooms, taro, vegetables, and more. The ingredients are quite diverse.

%The broth for the hot pot isn’t too heavy, and if you don’t want to cook everything together, you can also ask the owner to serve it in the following way↓.

The fried chicken here is also pretty good—the skin is fried along with the meat, making it crispier and richer in texture.

Paired with lettuce, it adds a refreshing and juicy touch.

There are various fried snacks suitable for kids, and while they’re okay as drinking snacks, some are a bit over-fried.

The mackerel overnight dry is interesting—over the years, I’ve gradually started eating fish, even the once-feared shiny-skinned ones. But I still find the strong, oily flavor of “mackerel” a bit intimidating, or rather, a little fishy. But those who love it really love it.

Aside from shrimp dishes, I always order one or two skewers of Sanxing scallion pork here. The pork is similar to pork belly but sliced thinly, with plenty of Sanxing scallions stuffed in. The taste is dominated by the sweetness of the scallions, and the slightly charred, oily richness is incredibly satisfying.

Among the shrimp dishes, there are three that I absolutely love, and I always order at least one: the pepper shrimp. The pepper flavor here is pungent but not overly spicy—so much so that I can even put the whole shrimp head in my mouth without issue. Sometimes, when I’m feeling lazy to peel, I’ll put half the head and half the shrimp meat in my mouth in two bites, enjoying the distinct sweetness of the shrimp.

The second is the garlic shrimp—the garlic flavor is rich and bold, with a slightly sharp garlic spiciness that pairs exceptionally well with the thick shrimp meat. It often tempts me to pop the whole shrimp into my mouth and enjoy it immensely.

P.S.: These shrimp are so popular that they often get snatched up quickly. By the time I realize and go for a photo, there are usually only two left...

My absolute favorite here is the Thai-style shrimp salad. I love its delightful hint of Thai sweet-and-sour flavor. Strangely enough, the sauce pairs perfectly with the shrimp. Overall, this dish is also the most delicious way to enjoy the shrimp head. Another reason I love it is the abundance of onions—it’s incredibly satisfying.

If you prefer a more straightforward shrimp flavor, the salt-and-pepper shrimp is a great choice. It’s somewhat similar to Hong Kong-style Baked Crab Style, with especially fragrant and crispy shrimp shells and a great texture. Notably, the heads of these Thai giant red shrimp are particularly large, with thick and sweet roe. The shrimp head is one of the flavors I miss most when I’m in Jiaoxi. If you’re like the old me and hesitant to suck the shrimp head, please, for my sake, give it a try—give both you and the shrimp head a chance. You might just fall in love with it, too (laughs).

Since eating shrimp dishes can get your hands dirty, the restaurant thoughtfully provides a sink inside.

This is a must-try dessert: “Winter Melon in Ice.” The subtle fragrance of passion fruit, the crisp texture of the winter melon, and the chill of the crushed ice make it a perfect refreshing ending to the meal—delicious.

Jiang’s Shrimp Skewers

Address: No. 1, Lane 141, Section 6, Jiaoxi Road, Yilan County (Take the Toucheng Interchange and drive about one kilometer toward Jiaoxi))

Phone: 03-9870380 (Parking available)

Business Hours: 11:00–14:00 / 17:30–23:30 (Closed on Tuesdays)

【Xiao Hu Wu Si San】

Sometimes I say I don’t like a certain food, and it might be related to the freshness of the ingredients or maybe even the cooking method. To truly enjoy good food, you just have to keep giving each other chances XD. For example, it was through this kind of persistent trying that I found this place that made me fall in love with shrimp dishes. Even though it’s all the way in Yilan, I still find myself missing the delicious taste of “shrimp” from time to time.

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If “eating” is just about filling your stomach, then “food” would be far too boring~~~