Newly opened late-night skewer shop in Kaohsiung — crispy fried squid with salsa sauce is an absolute flavor bomb!

Text and photos by /Shadow

Qingfeng Street is the busiest road from Gushan toward Zuoying. Though narrow, it’s bustling with traffic, a stark contrast to the quiet alleyways nearby. Because most people don’t pay much attention to these lanes, they might not notice that there’s a newly opened skewer and fried food shop on Huaining Road.

Just a few steps away from the lively Qingfeng Street, the small shop has no elaborate decoration, and since there’s no air conditioning, most customers opt for takeout. The red lantern serves as the signboard, making it look just like any other street stall from the outside.

On the counter, there’s a refrigerated display case holding the meat skewers prepared by the owner. These skewers are longer than those at typical skewer shops. The owner even joked that they’re as long as an arm. Shadow noticed that the meat skewers here are grilled fresh from raw meat, unlike night market skewers which are often pre-cooked.

In addition to meat skewers, there are also vegetable skewers. Since all ingredients are freshly prepared by the owner, it’s common for them to sell out before being fully restocked.

The shop’s skewers are first deep-fried, then grilled. This method is used to lock in the flavors, so the skewers are briefly submerged in oil before being grilled.

The shop doesn’t use charcoal for grilling, so there’s minimal smoke. During the process, the skewers are brushed with the shop’s signature sauce, and for those who enjoy spicy food, a sprinkle of chili powder is added.

At first glance, you might think the prices are a bit higher than at typical skewer shops. The truth is, the skewers here are longer than those at other places, so the portions are naturally bigger. Aside from regular skewers, the shop has also developed some new ways to enjoy them.

From left to right in the photo are chicken gizzard, chicken heart, chicken thigh meat, pork collar, and chicken thigh cartilage cubes — doesn’t it all look very appetizing?

Whether it’s the grilled color or the flavor of the sauce, each bite offers a delightful surprise. The sweet sauce paired with a hint of spicy chili powder really brings out the best in the skewers.

Fish cake slices, salted pork, pork intestines, chicken skin, tofu pockets, and chicken wing mid-joints — each flavor is excellent.

The skewers, first fried then grilled, not only retain their original taste but also have a perfectly accentuated flavor from the sauce. It’s exactly what we like.

Crispy fried squid — salsa flavor, 100 TWD
Unlike typical skewer or fried food shops, the owner has developed a variety of sauces to pair with the fried items. For example, the crispy fried squid comes in original flavor, as well as numbing-spicy, salsa, and special mustard flavors.

Eating the crispy fried squid on its own lets you enjoy the chewy texture of the squid and that freshly fried aroma. Dip it in the shop’s homemade salsa sauce — a tangy and refreshing dip that gives the fried squid a whole new flavor profile.

Grilled chicken leg salad, 150 TWD
The combination of salad and grilled chicken leg is an innovative creation by the shop. Concerned that fried food alone might be too heavy, they combined salad with fried chicken leg and developed multiple flavored dressing options.

The chicken leg is fried to a crispy perfection, served already cut into bite-sized pieces. The side salad is drizzled with special mustard and salsa sauce, balancing out the richness nicely.

The grilled chicken leg steak was originally served with the shop’s homemade numbing-spicy sauce, which has a bolder taste. The owner kindly offered us the special mustard sauce to try. This chicken leg salad allows girls to enjoy fried food while loading up on fresh salad — reducing any guilt, achieving two goals at once.

● 《ETtoday News Cloud》 reminds you: Don’t drink and drive, and don’t drive after drinking.

Originally not offering drinks, the shop added beer to the menu following strong customer requests. Skewers and beer are a perfect match. Customers are welcome to bring their own drinks (note: excessive drinking is harmful to health). The flavor of the shop’s skewers is exactly what we enjoy — especially the rich taste of the sauce brushed on the skewers. It has its own unique character, and overall the taste rivals that of nearby barbecue shops. With portion sizes as long as your arm, it’s quite competitive. A great choice for dinner or a late-night snack, recommended for skewer lovers.

Bafantai Shop
Address: No. 8, Huaining Road, Gushan District, Kaohsiung City
Phone: 0903-262203
Business hours: 18:00–24:00
Day off: Every other Sunday

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