Yeh Mike Herbal Fried Chicken

Review

Yeh Mike Herbal Fried Chicken on Zhongxiao Road is the snack most often named around Xinhua Old Street. Several Xinhua food guides list it as a must, and NOWnews describes its twist: chicken marinated in Chinese herbs, then fried and dusted with a house-blended herbal pepper, unlike ordinary popcorn chicken. It opens only about four afternoon hours a day, and the queue has become part of its identity.

The headliners are chicken cutlet, drumsticks and wings, backed by sweet potato, fried squid balls and fried squid. The herbs stay in the background as a gentle aroma; the crust is crisp, and the soy-based marinade gives the meat a bold, rice-friendly flavour. Diners single out the juicy drumsticks, and sweet potato fries with plum powder are popular too. Portions are weighed, so servings are fairly consistent.

Praise centres on the distinctive taste, crisp outside and tender inside, and fair prices; many call it the snack they always take home from Xinhua, and service is faster than the line suggests. Complaints are the long wait, which reports put at about an hour, drumsticks selling out early so latecomers get what is left, and a flavour some find salty and oily once cold.

Hours are roughly 14:30 to 18:30, closed Wednesdays, with ad hoc closures posted on the fan page, so check before going. It is takeaway only with no seating, and there is a public toilet nearby. To cut the wait, arrive before opening or go on a rainy day or weekday; popular items usually sell out before evening.

It suits people wanting a walking snack or a side dish for dinner. First-timers can get a drumstick and sweet potato, adding fried squid balls if you like strong flavours. When busy, let one person queue while others stroll the old street.