Berkeley welcomed a taste of Taipei on September 23, 2017 when Shihlin Taiwan Street Snacks opened in Berkeley’s very own Asian Ghetto. Shihlin, internationally known for its XXL Crispy Chicken, has opened over 150 outlets around the world. Since its grand opening last month, Shihlin has already gained enormous popularity among students and locals. At the soft opening, customers queued for hours anticipating the famous Shihlin Street snacks, reminiscent of Taiwan’s Shilin Night Market.
So what’s so special about the XXL Crispy Chicken? And more importantly, is it worth waiting in line for?
XXL Chicken
The main attraction at Shihlin is its XXL Crispy Chicken. Think popcorn chicken, but cut into thick, juicy pieces, and brought to life with a flourish of seasonings. These seasonings include garlic, soy sauce, rice wine, and five-spice powder. They also have varying levels of spiciness—mild, hot, and very spicy.
However, the best element of Shihlin's XXL Crispy Chicken is its rich juiciness. In contrast to popcorn chicken's dry and flaky texture, the thickness of Shihlin's chicken pieces preserve its inherent succulence. This deluxe juiciness is most likely attributed to how Shihlin cooks its chicken. Shihlin pounds, marinates, and fries its chicken to a golden crisp, then cuts it into strips and showers it with seasoning. This combination of signature spices and juiciness leads to the distinctive Shihlin XXL Chicken we all know and love.
Other Taiwanese Snacks
Although the XXL Chicken often steals the spotlight, Shihlin's menu offers a wide variety of authentic Taiwanese bowls and bites. Dishes like the Treasure Ricebox and Grandma's Braised Meat Rice are crowd favorites.
The Treasure Ricebox is ideal if you want to try a little bit of everything! It has crispy chicken, bean curd, and pickled cabbage over fluffy, short-grained white rice. The ricebox has a good mixture of texture and flavor. Grandma's Braised Meat over rice has a split egg and bean curd, and is definitely a hearty meal. Shihlin also has handmade Oyster Mee Sua, made with wheat vermicelli noodles topped with oysters, and steeped in a special stock with 5 secret ingredients.
The sweet plum potato fries are a delectable combination of sweet and savory; they are golden, crunchy, delicious. On top of that, the fusion of sweet potato and plum powder give off an irresistible fragrance. If you want to switch up your night snack, these unique sweet potato fries may be the way to go!
Unique Drink Selection
A perfect drink on a hot day, Shihlin's refreshing iced teas, juices, and sodas are a great fix. Lemon Ai-Yu Jelly and Smoked Plum Juice are the signature drinks. The Lemon Ai-Yu Jelly (pictured) is invigorating; the jelly is nice and soft. The jelly is made from the seeds of a variety of figs found in Taiwan and have a rotund depth of flavor. The Smoked Plum Juice is a blend of tangy and sweet juice from sour pickled plums, with a subtle bite of smokiness. Savour the unique zing of this zesty Smoked Plum Juice, and you'll realize why it's such a big hit.
Other drinks include Taiwanese Root Beer, Taiwanese Apple Cider, and Winter Melon Tea, which are some of the most popular Taiwanese drinks. These sweet, complex drinks complement the spicy XXL Crispy Chicken very nicely and are a great palate refresher.
Verdict
Shihlin prides itself in quality over quantity. The food is bold and flavorful; the drinks are energizing and fresh. Shihlin is open from 11:30am to 9pm daily, so come on over for a night snack of XXL Crispy Chicken. You just might, for a moment, feel as if you are eating chicken at Shilin's very own Night Market.