Yilan Jiapeng Charcoal-Grilled Oysters — Large, plump, and completely free of any fishy taste

Photos & Text /Xiao Hu’s Dream Food Blog

I’ve always heard people say there’s a grilled oyster stall in Yilan that does great business and tastes both fresh and delicious. So during my last trip to Yilan, I begged Little Blue Guy to take me there. To my surprise, he mysteriously said he was taking me to what he believes is the best grilled oyster place in Yilan.


Later, when I shared about it on our Facebook fan page, a bunch of people asked me where this place was. But honestly, I just hopped in the car and let them take me wherever — I had no idea where we were even going. Afterward, Little Blue Guy admitted that “this” place might not have been the same one we went to last time, as the original spot had apparently moved. But the funny thing is, he didn’t even notice the difference when eating, which I guess means the quality here must still be pretty good (laughs).


Back in the day, Xiao Hu often used to say I don’t bother distinguishing between main branches and franchises, nor do I really care much about whether something is “authentic” or not. For me, the immediate feeling of food in your mouth is the truth that can’t be faked — that’s what I want to write about and share. So let’s not worry about these two similarly named places or whatever drama may exist between them. When in Rome, eat as the locals do — just sit down and dig in.


At the back of the shop, there’s a tin-roofed shelter that keeps things bearable even in hot weather. Otherwise, the weather really is the enemy of street snacks, especially those without air conditioning.


When eating seafood barbecue, you’ve got to pair it with a beer or two. I wonder if fellow drinkers have noticed — a good drink tastes especially sweet when you’re with good friends =)


If I remember correctly, this big plate costs 100 NT. The portion sizes vary a bit, probably weighed? The oysters were cleaned fairly well, but they still had a slight sea breeze flavor, mostly coming from the shells and your hands afterward. Unlike the oysters from Penghu that I previously shared — the famous Penghu product from Guo Jia Ci Fu, the fresh shelled oysters. ?酝旰笫?竿耆?挪坏胶Ｐ任丁＜br />

Sure, there’s a faint fishiness from the shells and fingers, but these big, plump oysters have zero fishy taste. Even without squeezing on lemon to mask the flavor, they’re perfectly fine. Bite into them and they’ll juice right up.


Since the girl at the four o’clock position in the upper right corner wouldn’t touch them at all, Little Blue Guy also ordered a few plates of freshly grilled veggies. For example, these water bamboo shoots with nice texture and natural sweetness, even more delicious when dipped in a sprinkle of pepper salt.

These grilled shiitake mushrooms are also tasty. The sauce was a bit too sweet and applied a little thickly, but luckily the mushrooms themselves are juicy enough to balance the flavor.


Then there’s these baby corns, which seem to be a staple in almost every barbecue or grill these days. I’ve tried hard to recall, but I have zero memory of them from childhood — I don’t think many people grilled them back then, or maybe they weren’t even a thing? But honestly, I really like them. Whether grilled or boiled, they’re crispy, sweet, and fragrant. Compared to boiling, grilling seems to preserve their natural sweetness even better.


This plate of squid also cost around 100 NT. It was grilled directly on the rack without any sauce brushed on, so the unique aroma of grilled squid really stands out on the tongue.

After chewing (in Taiwanese: “bu,” meaning to chew), it turned out to be softer than I expected. The texture and the rich juices left a deep impression. Though the taste is probably what everyone imagines — that simple, happy kind of deliciousness. Not sure if it’s because we were with a great group of friends =)




[Jiapeng Charcoal-Grilled Oysters]

Address: No. 1-1, Shitoucuo Road, Qixian Village, Yuanshan Township, Yilan County
Contact Number: 03-9232055.

Xiao Hu’s Dream Food Blog
If “eating” is just about filling your stomach, then “food” would be far too boring~~~