Late-night eatery in Chiayi – savory "turkey rice" even at 3 AM

Photos & Text /San Gao Eats Han

Finishing off a meal of Ah Ji’s eel noodles and Ah E’s tofu pudding is only half-satisfying. For a proper nightcap, head to Ah Xia at the Wenhua Road Night Market. As the night gets later, fewer spots sell turkey rice, but Ah Xia stays open until 3 AM, making it a great friend for late-night cravings.

Though it’s a humble roadside shop, the interior is fairly tidy. Compared to other turkey rice specialty stores, it offers many more menu choices—perhaps this approach is more popular in the night market area.

The main dish, turkey rice, features smallish pieces of breast and thigh meat sprinkled with pepper, mixed with scallion oil, and seasoned with a salty kick. It undoubtedly revives your appetite. Although the meat has a slightly dry texture, it’s springy and, for someone like me who rarely gets to eat authentic Chiayi-style turkey rice in a year, it’s pretty good.

Baby squid with golden egg and salad—crispy and chewy. It’s been years since I last had this snack. The green bamboo shoots are pre-sliced, still sweet, so they’re okay in moderation.

A plate of turkey wings helps make up for not having enough turkey meat. The wings are large, the meat sweet, and the simple sauce of ginger, scallions, and light soy sauce enhances the flavor nicely. The only downside is the thick skin and fat, which can get a bit greasy if you eat too much.

Finally, finish with a bowl of pork bone soup (ahem?), and your stomach should be pretty full by now.

Yuanxing Yuxiang House near the roundabout was packed that night. The summer/fall red diamond grapefruits hadn’t hit the shelves yet, so I guess I’ll have to miss out on them for now.

Next door, Qicai Papaya Milk is probably an old-school shop—the place has a full-on vintage vibe. I ordered a plate of watermelon, served with a sprinkle of salt on the side, and the cutting style was quite bold. Their signature papaya milk is 50 NT dollars, freshly blended, thick, and delicious—it’s definitely worth stopping in for a sit-down.

Ah Xia Turkey Rice
Address: No. 119, Wenhua Road, Chiayi City
Business Hours: 7:00 PM – 3:00 AM

Qicai 500cc Papaya Milk Specialty Shop
Address: No. 329, Zhongshan Road, Chiayi City
Business Hours: 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Savoring Taiwan, one delicious bite at a time
San Gao Eats Han’s food journey　San Gao’s Fan Page