Kaohsiung’s Little Shanghai Crispy Chicken, which has no fixed storefront, always draws a line of eager buyers.

Text & Photos /Shadow

Crispy chicken is a common street snack, but the version sold by Boss Liu is especially popular. We passed by several times, both in the afternoon and evening, and there was always a queue. A nearby snack shop owner told us that whenever Boss Liu is in business, their own sales definitely take a hit — proof enough of how sought-after his crispy chicken is. That convinced us to give it a try.

Since he doesn’t have a fixed location, Boss Liu and his wife set up their stall at different spots every day. On Fridays and Saturdays, they appear near Qingyun Temple by Fuguo Road close to Xinzhuangzi Road, usually starting business around dusk.

By around 4–5 PM, there’s already a line forming. Even so, everyone waits patiently, and some are clearly regulars, buying several bags at a time.

Boss Liu handles the frying himself. Just standing in line, we could feel the intense heat radiating from the fryer — and that’s nothing compared to what he endures, constantly stirring to separate the clumped pieces of crispy chicken.

After about ten minutes of non-stop stirring and flipping, the delicious crispy chicken pieces are finally ready to be fished out and drained of oil before the next batch goes in. Watching him work, we couldn’t help but feel impressed by how labor-intensive it is.

The golden nuggets of crispy chicken glisten right before our eyes — absolutely mouthwatering. The boss lady doesn’t say much and doesn’t show much expression, and at first we were worried she wouldn’t let us take photos. But in the end, she generously arranged the chicken just right for Shadow to shoot — so thoughtful.

Once the chicken is drained, it’s transferred to the metal tray in front of the boss lady for easy weighing. The crisp sound as she scoops up the chicken tells you just how crunchy it is. To enhance the aroma, only a light sprinkle of pepper is added.

Soon enough, the pile of crispy chicken sells out completely. If Boss Liu doesn’t work fast enough, the line would surely get even longer. Fortunately, we only had to wait about ten minutes or so to get our freshly fried, piping hot crispy chicken.

Portions come in large (NT$100), medium (NT$50), and small (NT$30). We actually bought the large size for NT$100, but when my husband got out of the car, he didn’t hold the paper bag properly, and a few larger pieces fell out, getting muddy and ruined. We had to let them go. The actual portion for NT$100 is about three to four pieces more than what we photographed.

This crispy chicken turned out to be a bit harder than we expected. After eating a whole bag, our jaws were actually getting a little sore. The coating is indeed very crispy, but also on the drier and tougher side. It tastes good, but those with sensitive teeth might find it tough to chew. We’re not sure if it was just this particular batch or if all of Boss Liu’s crispy chicken is like this.

The back of the business card shows where Boss Liu sets up shop each day. Interested friends, make sure to check it carefully so you don’t go to the wrong spot.

We heard that Boss Liu is hearing-impaired. Watching him focused on the fryer, with little expression on his face, working daily in such a hot and risky environment without complaint or giving up — it’s truly admirable. The texture of this crispy chicken is especially crunchy, unlike anything we’ve had elsewhere. It’s great as a drinking snack. Friends who enjoy that firm texture should definitely give it a try. Recommended.

【Little Shanghai Crispy Chicken】
Address: Next to Qingyun Temple, Fuguo Road near Xinzhuangzi Road, Zuoying District, Kaohsiung (Fridays–Saturdays)
Phone: 0976-039321

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