Borough Chief Liu's Turkey Rice

Review

Borough Chief Liu's Turkey Rice sits on Gongming Road and takes its name from the owner's past role as borough chief. It is one of the names Chiayi locals bring up most for turkey rice, and its appearance on Netflix's Street Food documentary has drawn many domestic and overseas visitors. It ranks near the top of Housefeel's online buzz list, and Supertaste includes it among Chiayi's must-eat snacks.

Supertaste reports that the meat soaks in broth for about two hours to stay moist and that the rice is from Xiluo. Unlike most shops that use chicken fat, this one dresses the rice with lard and crisp fried shallots for a stronger aroma. You can choose thigh or breast slices, or shredded meat, and pickled mustard greens make it even more refreshing. The report lists turkey rice at NT$35, oyster soup at NT$35 and braised napa cabbage at NT$30.

Praise centres on the fragrant shallots, the sauce soaked into the rice and the fast service, and some diners also recommend the side dishes and whole turkey wings. Complaints mention meat that is sometimes dry and crumbly and a lack of seats at peak times; some feel a bowl is small and you need extra sides to fill up. The overall flavour is rich, so those who prefer light food may find it a little oily.

Reports give hours of roughly 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., closed Mondays. The queue is longest around noon, and diners suggest coming in the afternoon to avoid waiting. You order on a paper slip, hand it to staff and the food arrives quickly. Parking nearby is hard, so use a paid car park or ride a scooter.

Good for anyone who wants authentic Chiayi turkey rice and enjoys the aroma of shallots and lard. First-timers can order a bowl of turkey rice with oyster soup and braised cabbage, while bigger appetites can add a turkey wing or a second bowl. To compare textures, get one bowl with slices and one with shredded meat.