A great spot for a post-work drink — Front Street Izakaya skewers at Fengjia are super popular

Text & Photos /Gui Xiaosun

This 【Jikushi Yakitori】 probably doesn’t need much introduction — I’m guessing quite a few people know about it, right? XD I’m kind of the slow type when it comes to following trends, especially as a blogger. Compared to many others, my pace really isn’t fast~ Sometimes I even get moody and think, “I’m kinda meh about this new thing right now,” so I quietly push it back. I also tend to wait for the hype to die down before checking it out, just like most people, which is why I’ve postponed trying so many ramen and udon spots XD

But I actually wanted to come to this 【Jikushi Yakitori】 for ages!! Because I really love grilled food — skewers, yakitori, you name it — but I kept waiting during the hype and never got around to it. And then, unexpectedly, I ended up coming here with friends XD 【Jikushi Yakitori】 isn’t on the usual route I take around Fengjia. It’s in the Wenhua Road area, and it was only when a friend brought us here that I realized it was hidden away in this spot. The moment I saw it tucked away like this, I somehow liked it even more.

The vibe of Wenhua Road is such that the first floor is usually lined with shops, but there aren’t actually that many bustling ones. The only place that really draws a crowd is probably 【Jikushi Yakitori】!! XD So along the first-floor corridor, the seating area for 【Jikushi Yakitori】 is spread out like an outdoor izakaya. If this were near my home, I’d definitely want to come here after work.

Watching everyone sitting around leisurely, maybe the summer weather is a bit stuffy. But the atmosphere of people here drinking, eating skewers, and chatting fills the air — you can feel the close-knit vibes.

The little flags hanging above, the red lantern lighting, and the big sun umbrellas — these are all part of the place’s charm. There’s a lovable warmth that wouldn’t be the same without anyone, like a lively buzz that just gets better the more crowded it gets. It’s everywhere here, and it’s really easy to get swept up in the atmosphere. When you’re waiting in line, seeing those skewers is another kind of temptation, but I couldn’t get a good shot of the uncooked ones. There were just too many customers!! XD

Even though it’s summer, you’ll find yourself going back for bowl after bowl of miso soup, with chopped green onions on the side. It really has that full-on Japanese feel. Our group ordered a ton — since I didn’t order, I don’t actually know everything we got. But we waited at least half an hour that weekend evening, so you can tell the business is booming. Plus, sitting here, you might end up wanting to order more XD

I didn’t try every single item, so I can’t introduce absolutely everything to you. But overall, the taste is really great!! It’s the kind of standard you’d expect at a proper izakaya for skewers, yet you can enjoy this level of quality and amazing cost-performance at a street-side stall~ Also, most roadside skewers have super heavy sauces, but here you can really taste the natural flavor of the ingredients.

The added sauces are light and don’t overpower the food itself. Oh, and the draft beer here is delicious too. Not bitter at all — I finished my glass in no time!! XD Let me introduce a few of the skewers that passed through my hands, and then you can go explore the rest for yourselves!!

One of my favorites is the shrimp with pineapple inside — so good, it gave me the illusion of eating skewers sold by a roadside vendor by the Southeast Asian seaside, and I loved it!! XD Then there’s this 【Beef Wrapped with Glutinous Rice Sausage】, which I initially mistook for beef meatballs

Yep, that plump one in the middle is the glutinous rice sausage. And I noticed that the meat skewers here often have really unique fillings — stuff you don’t usually see, like asparagus, okra, bamboo slices, and probably a bunch of other things I didn’t get to try. Next is the Matsusaka pork — so tasty!! Juicy and bouncy, I love it.

This one up here is wrapped with asparagus — you can really find a lot of different combinations here. The highlight is that they’re all delicious!! The textures are rich, and the varied fillings make the meat more than just meat, adding a refreshing twist. You’ll unknowingly end up wanting a few more skewers!! XD

A few mixed skewers with green peppers were split among us, almost like they were freshly stir-fried!! XD

This was my first time at 【Jikushi Yakitori】, and I think I’ll definitely come back on my own soon!! Because the meal was so satisfying, and I really want to find time to come again. It’s perfect for a Friday after work. Enjoying a drink in the evening paired with these delicious skewers — just thinking about it makes me happy!!

After searching online for their Facebook, I found out they’ve recently opened other branches — I’ve listed them below for everyone to check out nearby!! XD

【Jikushi Yakitori】
Fengjia Branch: No. 18, Lane 150, Wenhua Road, Xitun District, Taichung City
Yizhong Branch: No. 32-5, Jinxin Street, North District, Taichung City
Donghai Branch: No. 20, Lane 1, Xinxing Road, Longjing District, Taichung City
Fengyuan Branch: No. 9, Xiangyang Road, Fengyuan District, Taichung City

 Article by: ［Enjoying life without getting bored.Gui Xiaosun］