Late-night food hunt！Charcoal-grilled skewers with a secret family sauce, passed down through two generations

Text & Photos /Orange Dog Loves Candy

For someone like me, who’s always more energetic the later it gets, knowing where to find late-night snacks after 10 PM is essential info. After all, no matter how much I love my family, eating convenience store microwave meals too often doesn’t feel great for my health—and those frozen foods always seem to lack that human touch in cooking (okay, maybe I’m just being picky with all sorts of petty reasons). Luckily, the area around SOGO Department Store and Chinmei is still pretty lively at night, with a wide variety of food options. Recently, near Hǎolè Dì (Happy Land) diagonally across from Shàngxiàng Market, I discovered this cozy little 【Charcoal Skewers】grill stand tucked into a small corner.

This small food cart sells not just skewers, but the dreams of young people striving to make it, alongside a legacy that a mother has fought to preserve for twenty years. It’s an affordable nighttime skewer stand—after buying from them a few times, I gradually got to know them and chatted a bit. I thought, how could I not introduce such a great skewer stand to everyone?

As the sun sets, the upward road under the night sky marks the start of another busy shift. The bustling Shàngxiàng Market is in full swing, but a little further down at the intersection of Měicūn Road and Shàngxiàng Road, a small skewer stand lights up its lanterns at around 6 PM. The tiny stall glows with vintage lanterns. Though the selection isn’t overwhelmingly large, there are still quite a few choices. It’s simply called 【Charcoal Skewers】, as the grilling is done directly over raw charcoal, giving the skewers that distinctive smoky flavor.

Two young people run the stall every night. Though they’ve only been here for a few months, they actually used to sell skewers in Běitún for twenty years. Originally, it was the mother’s grill stand on Hòuzhuāng Road—though back then it had no name. After they closed that shop, the daughter took over and chose to start anew in the western district. She goes to the market herself every day to buy ingredients, then cuts and skewers the meat herself. The stall opens in the evening, with a shoe store behind it and a red tea ice shop next door. After 10 PM, when the shoe store closes, only their stall remains lit.

Occasionally, you’ll see the mother pitching in to help a bit. When things get busy, I’ve seen them grill forty or fifty skewers at once. Sometimes they also offer delivery services (as long as the distance isn’t too far), so the whole family is really kept on their toes.

They emphasize that all ingredients are fresh and grilled directly over charcoal—no pre-boiling or frying. So it takes a bit of waiting, but even without marinating or pre-cooking, the skewers are still incredibly flavorful. That’s what makes them impressive. Their highlight is the 【Special Sauce】, a secret recipe that the mother has used since her days running the stall. She personally brews it every week. I didn’t ask too much about what’s in it, though.

I tried the sauce briefly—it has a subtle hint of alcohol and a rich sweetness, with a bit of that umami depth reminiscent of Japanese bonito flavor. The sauce has a translucent amber color. When dipped onto the meat skewers, it adds sweetness without being overly salty. It’s really quite good.

Prices are clearly displayed on the board at the front of the stall, or you can also find them on their business cards. The back of the card even has a stamp card—you get one point per 100 NTD spent, and after ten stamps, you get a free chicken cutlet (order of 100 NTD earns one point). Because they’re located right by a busy roadside, they’ve specially made an acrylic box to hold the various skewer ingredients, keeping them free from car and motorcycle exhaust. Most thoughtfully, they also offer a phone reservation service for their skewers.

Just grab the skewers you want and place them in the iron pan—simple. I think the prices are pretty reasonable, with the most expensive being only 40 NTD (except for the chicken and chicken thigh cutlets). You can grab a few extra skewers without worrying too much about your wallet. But let’s start with my favorites—this review covers quite a few items!!

【Snacks │ Grilled Tofu Skewers │ 15 NTD】
Let’s start with this one to prove this place really does have skewers as cheap as 15 NTD XD. But honestly, the grilled tofu is pretty tasty—the tofu skin gets a bit crispy, and after trimming off the burnt parts and brushing on the sauce with a sprinkle of pepper, the mellow sweetness gets a little kick from the pepper.

【Meat │ Charcoal-Grilled Boneless Chicken Thigh Cutlet │ 60 NTD】
They emphasize that there’s no pre-boiling or frying—just fresh chicken thigh cutlets grilled directly. So it takes a bit of time, but while they do have chicken breast cutlets, the staff sincerely recommends the thigh version as having firmer meat. If you prefer something more tender, go for the chicken breast.

During grilling, they also kindly trim off any slightly burnt parts, then brush on their signature grilled sauce. The sauce isn’t overly salty, and the aroma carries a gentle sweetness. The skin is grilled golden and crispy, and the juicy, tender thigh meat is absolutely delicious.

【Meat │ Grilled Pork Skewers │ 40 NTD】
These are made with pork slices rolled around scallions. Aside from this visit, I’ve bought them myself before. I feel like they sometimes get slightly overcooked, which is a bit of a shame—but the scallions stay refreshingly crisp and juicy. The overall combo is actually quite tasty. I later suggested they might adjust the cooking time a bit, and the last time I tried, the texture was just right.

Occasionally, they’ll whip up the hidden menu item: bacon-asparagus rolls. Not always available—it depends on luck. I think they’re just as good as the scallion ones, though not as juicy, but they have that fresh asparagus sweetness.

I also got bacon-enoki mushroom rolls. Though they call it bacon, it’s actually fresh pork belly rather than cured bacon. Still tasty, but I still think the pork-with-scallion or asparagus rolls are better.

【Meat │ Grilled Beef Skewers │ 40 NTD】
Don’t let the shape fool you—they look a bit like chicken gizzards, but these are actually diced beef skewers. The beef here is really good, tender and juicy with that natural beef sweetness.

【Meat │ Grilled Pork Belly Skewers │ 40 NTD】
The pork belly is cut a bit thick. The pork is grilled just right—juicy, with the white parts taking on a lightly golden, slightly charred hue. Brushed with the sauce, you get fat that’s rich but not greasy, with a nice bounce, and lean parts that are firm and springy. Add in the fragrant scallions, and if you don’t mind fatty meat, this one’s highly recommended. Great portion size, excellent texture, and zero greasiness.

【Meat │ Grilled Chicken Skewers │ 35 NTD】
This is probably the staple of any grill stand, but among their meat skewers, the chicken ones are arguably the best value. I happened to buy a single 10 NTD grilled chicken skewer on my way home the other day. Similar price, but the taste difference was huge. They use fresh chicken here, resulting in tender, sweet meat. The 10 NTD roadside version? Way drier in comparison.

【Snacks │ Grilled Fish Cake Skewers │ 25 NTD】
Three big pieces of grilled fish cake for this price is pretty solid. During grilling, they puff up like cotton candy. I really recommend these—the texture is great and the portion is hearty. Worth trying.

【Snacks│Grilled Rice Sausage│NT$15】
At the size of this rice sausage, it would usually cost at least NT$20 at a typical fried chicken skewer stall, so I thought theirs was pretty affordable. The rice sausage is lightly slit along the edges after grilling to let the sauce seep in. The casing has a slight crispness, and the sweet sauce flavor is quite nice.

【Meat│Grilled Miyazaki Pork Skewers│NT$40】
At first, I couldn’t figure out what this was, since it’s a long piece unlike the usual sliced Miyazaki pork. But chewing into it, you can definitely taste the characteristic springy texture and sweetness of Miyazaki pork. I’d definitely recommend giving it a try.

【Meat│Grilled Chicken Wings│NT$25】
I didn’t expect their grilled chicken wings to be quite large—about three sections per wing. The meat is fairly plump. These are great for anyone who loves both gnawing on bones and eating meat. The wings are tender and substantial, making them a solid choice.

【Meat│Grilled Chicken Butts│NT$25】
The chicken butts have no off-putting smell and are one of my go-to basics at barbecue stalls. The fatty, tender meat paired with a bit of cartilage is fantastic—I could easily eat two skewers in one go.

【Vegetables│Grilled Mushroom Skewers NT$25│Grilled Green Pepper Skewers NT$25│Grilled Green Bean Skewers NT$25】
These aren’t cut in half or into small pieces—they’re skewered as three whole, hearty mushrooms (stems removed, of course). After grilling, just brush on the sauce and they’re delicious. A must-try for mushroom lovers.

I’m not as fond of the green peppers—they might be a bit overcooked and too soft. I prefer mine with a slight crunch. The green beans are skewered in larger portions, and they’re fresh, juicy, and tasty. Compared to the green peppers, I’d recommend the green beans more.

【Meat│Grilled Bone-in Chicken Cutlet│NT$50】
This is literally a whole, unseasoned chicken cutlet that’s grilled. It hasn’t been marinated beforehand, but the sauce flavor does seep in during cooking. It looks bigger than a chicken thigh cutlet. Since it’s grilled to order, there’s a bit of a wait. The cutlet has a decent thickness.

It has a hint of juiciness but is a bit drier in texture. Between the two, I’d recommend the boneless chicken thigh cutlet a little more.

【Snacks│Sausages│NT$20】
These are sausages bought directly from the market, with a slightly sweeter taste like those from southern Taiwan. They’re not too small and taste pretty good.

Actually, izakayas and skewer shops are almost as common as convenience stores these days, especially in the western part of the city—it gets livelier the later it gets. However, the prices generally aren’t very wallet-friendly. And if you’re looking for cheap NT$10 charcoal-grilled skewers, the taste often doesn’t live up to expectations. That night, discovering this little skewer stall actually made me really happy. The prices are relatively modest, but the skewers are quite delicious. Plus, the two young owners are friendly and easy to chat with. You can tell they take their grilling seriously and put a lot of care into it. For four or five skewers, it’s tasty without breaking the bank. There’s also a big cup of ice tea nearby you can grab. Everything you need in one spot.

(They even have a super tame shop dog that occasionally comes by to help mind the stall XD—it’s such a friendly little pup) The cheapest skewers are NT$15, and even the most expensive meat skewers (not including the chicken thigh cutlet) are only NT$40. Remember to have a little patience and wait a bit!)

Charcoal-grilled Skewers
◎ Address: No. 291, Meicun Rd., West District, Taichung City (diagonally opposite Hot-K)
◎ Phone: 0970-321008
◎ Business Hours: 6:00 PM – 12:30 AM (until 1:30 AM on Fridays and Saturdays)
◎ Note: Closed on Sundays, phone orders available

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