Xinzhugui Charcoal Yakitori Izakaya — Try Their Creamy Bacon-Scallop Skewers

Text/Photos bySir Three Highs

A few days after the holiday, with nothing much to do, I visited several places that were open and on my list: Friendy Pizzeria, Menyuka, and then this charcoal yakitori-focused izakaya called Moibon. I came mainly to test out the skewers, had a little drink, and didn’t order much.

I didn’t make a reservation. When I arrived just after opening, I chose a seat at the counter. Right behind the partition in front of me was the grill. They use an iPad for ordering — just tap your choices, select checkout, and you’re done. It’s actually quite convenient.

They serve Orion, which I hadn’t had in a while. It pairs pretty well with yakitori.

● reminds you: Don’t drink and drive.

When it arrived, I honestly thought it looked a bit thin — not really thick-cut — but the flavor turned out surprisingly good. The direct charcoal grilling made the inside tender and juicy. Still, at this price, I probably wouldn’t order it again.

I usually go for the salt-grilled version of this classic, but today I suddenly wanted the sauce-grilled one. The skin wasn’t as crispy as I’d hoped, but overall it was okay.

Chicken neck meat, with its layers of skin and flesh, has always been one of my favorite parts. I went with the salt-grilled option here. The tenderness was a bit lacking compared to other places, but there was more firmness to the meat. The char marks were just right, and the aroma clung nicely — very flavorful.

I noticed that the “heart tubes” from the previous menu are no longer sold separately. The chicken hearts had a juicy crispness, but the flavor was rather plain, and the cooking seemed a bit underdone.

I got the leaner part, sauce-grilled. It had a rich umami from the fat but wasn’t greasy.

After grilling, they brushed it with melted butter and sauce. The texture and taste were both pretty good.

The outer layer was grilled super crispy, but the inner fat hadn’t been trimmed. I wouldn’t normally mind, but this should’ve been a great grilled pork intestine. After one or two bites, I only ate the crispy parts — let’s just leave it at that.

There was plenty of butter — simple and delicious.

The total came to about NT$1,400. The flavors from the grilling had room for improvement (they were a bit middle-of-the-road), but for an izakaya not primarily focused on yakitori, the standard is pretty decent. The average price per skewer is a bit cheaper than specialized yakitori spots in Taipei, and there’s no service charge. Overall, the cost-performance is average. I wouldn’t go out of my way to return, but if I suddenly felt like having a few skewers, it could be an option.

Moibon Charcoal Yakitori
Address: No. 6, RenDe St., North District, Hsinchu City
Phone: 03-5222297
Hours: 6:00 PM – 1:00 AM (Closed Mondays)

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