Devil Chicken Fillet Fengjia Main Store

Review

Devil Chicken Fillet's Fengjia main store is stall D9 inside Huanlexing Plaza at No. 71 Wenhua Road. It is the signature stall for thick-cut fried chicken at Fengjia Night Market and is often called one of the originators of Taiwan's thick-cut chicken fillet trend. Over the years it has repeatedly featured in media coverage and online top-ten votes, and the brand has franchise stores in several Taiwanese cities and has expanded to China, Singapore and Malaysia. One blogger specifically advises making sure you are at this genuine main store.

Unlike many stalls that pound the chicken thin, it keeps the full thickness of a whole chicken breast, coats it in a house batter and fries it to order. The coating is firm and crunchy with an audible crackle, carrying a slightly sweet Taiwanese marinade aroma, and the meat is savory-sweet and juicy. There are only two flavors, original and spicy, at NT$100 each. Several articles say the spicy version brings out the sweetness of the meat and makes the sweet-savory contrast clearer, and biting into such a thick piece is very satisfying.

Media and roundups generally treat it as Fengjia's benchmark chicken fillet, reviews are mostly positive, and it is often recommended as a late-night snack. However, most available sources are night-market roundups with similar descriptions and little detailed criticism, and with just two flavors, those who like to try different seasonings may find the choice limited.

Sources disagree on hours: one roundup gives 5:30pm to 10:30pm with Wednesdays and Thursdays off, while other information says it opens at 6:30pm, so check before you go. The stall is inside Huanlexing Plaza, next to air-gun and dart game stalls, so you can play a round after eating. It is a stall made for eating on the move, and walking there while exploring the market is easiest.

It suits first-time Fengjia visitors who want a classic thick-cut chicken fillet. Try original first to taste the juices and marinade, and choose spicy if you like heat. Two people can share one and still save room for other stalls.