The Mei Qi Theater is no longer... leaving only “grilled corn” coated in thick, savory sauce.

Photos & Text /Anismile 阿尼笑一个

When I was a kid watching movies in Hualien, there was no Showtime Cinemas—just Mei Qi, Guo Sheng, and the second-run screenings at Grand Theater. After the movie, I loved stopping by to buy a fragrant charcoal-grilled corn cob. There were no fancy flavors, just the classic taste of traditional barbecue sauce. The sounds of tapping the bamboo skewer and brushing the corn still bring back those childhood cravings.



The Mei Qi Theater has now been rebuilt as the Josie Hotel.
The theater is gone, but the shadow of Mei Qi remains only in the “grilled corn.”



The grilled corn here uses locally grown corn, roasted over handmade charcoal.
It’s pre-roasted once to reduce the overall grilling time later.



When selecting your corn,
you can gently squeeze it to check its firmness, or simply ask the vendor to pick one for you.
Softer corn absorbs the sauce better,
while firmer corn takes longer to eat because it requires more chewing.
Sometimes it makes my mouth sore from chewing, so I prefer the softer kind.



The Mei Qi grilled corn stand is just a small stall, with no large machines.
It’s made to order, so you’ll have to wait a bit.
During busy times, the wait can be over 30–40 minutes.



Steps to order your corn:
1. 【Choose your corn and preferred texture】
2. 【Specify your spice level】 – If it’s your first time, we strongly recommend starting with mild spice.
3. 【Remember your number】 – They don’t give out number tags, so keep track yourself.



Good food is always worth the wait.
The grilled corn comes with thick, rich sauce that clings tightly to every kernel.
Even the gaps between the rows of kernels soak up the smoky flavor of the sauce.
They won’t cut corners just to save time,
so you won’t end up with a corn cob dripping with sauce but lacking flavor inside.
Every time I go, the vendors are really friendly.
The corn is wrapped in plastic bags, and the bamboo skewers are covered with paper,
which keeps it from sticking to your hands or accidentally dropping—very thoughtful.


I even overheard the owner talking to his family about...
He really did warn the guests that it’s super spicy, but they just didn’t believe him,
Everyone, you really have to trust the boss,
I usually eat spicy food all the time—mild spice is fun, medium spice numbs half my lips after just half a skewer,
As for extra-spicy, I’ll probably still be eating it tomorrow morning because it’s so good I can’t bear to throw it away！
If you want to eat grilled corn, the most recommended one in Hualien right now is Meiqi Grilled Corn,
Honestly, instead of squeezing through the night market crowds,
this small little stall serves up the most authentic and traditional flavors,
and you can also swing by across the street for a bowl of Ye Xiang BIANSHI wontons—it’s pretty great too.

【Shop Info】

Meiqi Grilled Corn
Address: No. 61, Xinyi Street, Hualien City (diagonally opposite Ye Xiang BIANSHI)
Phone: 0921─862─756
Business Hours: 15:00 to 23:00 (sold out means no more)

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