Popular BBQ spot in Kaohsiung – Refreshing flavors with a brush of sauce and seasoned salt

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Compared to other long-established BBQ joints, A-Xia Charcoal Grill is somewhat of a rising star. The shop is located at the triangular corner on Huaron Road, with its bright yellow signboard featuring red letters that really stand out. We’d passed by occasionally, noticing it always had decent business, and with a fellow foodie’s recommendation, we thought we’d give it a try one day. It just so happened that a few days ago, while picking up my husband from a business trip, we stopped by for a meal.

There are quite a few similar shops in Kaohsiung. In the past, we’ve shared several popular skewer spots, which we still occasionally visit for takeout. What motivated us to come to A-Xia was mainly the recommendation from a fellow enthusiast, and we thought we’d document our experience here for everyone’s reference.

The counter offers a wide variety of options. Most of what you’d find at a typical skewer shop is available here. There are baskets nearby where you can pick what you want and place it in the basket for the staff to prepare.

The dining area is open-concept, and since smoking isn’t prohibited, some customers smoke on-site. Those who dislike smoke are advised to take their food to go.

BBQ paired with beer is the choice of most diners. Non-alcoholic drink options are limited to just the top row.

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Ingredients go through preliminary preparation first, then are initially grilled on a gas grill.

After customers make their selections, the final grilling is done on charcoal just before serving.

There’s a large price list on the wall for reference.

Since there were many dine-in and takeout customers, we waited quite a while. When the food arrived, the bamboo skewers were removed, and the items were cut into small, bite-sized pieces for easier eating.

We ordered about seven to eight items, plus one bottle of tea drink, totaling NT$315. Perhaps we picked slightly pricier items, because overall, we didn’t feel as full as we did during our last visit to another spot where we spent NT$280.

The shop’s BBQ doesn’t focus on heavy sauces. Even when sauce is offered, it’s usually just a thin layer. The main seasoning comes from sprinkled pepper salt and the like. Personally, I found the smoky aroma wasn’t as strong as expected, and for those who prefer bold flavors, the taste may come across as a bit light.

Of course, different strokes for different folks — maybe this is just the preferred flavor in this area. Otherwise, the business wouldn’t be doing so well.

BBQ remains a popular dinner or late-night snack option for many. It’s common to see groups of friends gathering here for grilled skewers and beer. For those who dislike smoke, taking the food to go is a better option. Although the flavor isn’t to our personal taste, sharing our experience is still worthwhile for others who might want to check it out. Next time, we’ll explore more great BBQ spots to share with everyone.

A-Xia Charcoal Grill
Address: No. 580, Huaron Road, Gushan District, Kaohsiung City
Phone: 0981-559588
Business Hours: 5:00 AM – 12:00 AM (midnight), closed on Sundays

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