Move over bubble tea, there’s a new kid on the block. Hsien su ji, or salted crispy chicken, has become increasingly popular abroad over the past few years. Now it’s the subject of a New York Times article, which says more and more restaurants in the U.S. are selling this Taiwanese night market fixture. Quite a few Taiwanese American chefs have even reimagined it, putting it into American-style chicken hamburgers and sandwiches in cuisine that brings out the best of Taiwanese and U.S. food.

With big gulps, this YouTuber chows down on hsien su ji at a Taiwanese restaurant in New York. In recent years, this salty and crispy chicken snack has become more and more popular abroad, becoming an emblem of Taiwan, after bubble tea.

“Taiwanese fried chicken meets the moment,” a New York Times headline declared, introducing the hsian su ji and Taiwanese chicken fillets now sold in many American restaurants. Taiwanese Americans are inventively putting hsien su ji into sandwiches and chicken burgers, combining American and Taiwanese food cultures to win over American diners.

Jorden, an American who has been in Taiwan for more than four years, takes a big bite of a chicken fillet and then chows down on hsien su ji and a large batch of fried basil. He says traditional American fried chicken is usually dipped in thick buttermilk and has a thick batter, whereas hsien su ji is boneless, with a thinner batter made of sweet flour. However, the most special thing about hsien su ji is that it is sprinkled with white pepper and fried with garlic and basil to give it more flavor.

Jorden
American expatriate
For southern fried chicken, it’s usually if you are going to make a sandwich, it’s probably pickles and that’s about it. I feel like ji pai is like, so so so tasty. I think they spray like water on it before they put it in, so it’s like the water kind of explodes against the breading, really, like this crunchy.

Jorden says he hasn’t been home to the U.S. for many years and has heard from several friends that there’s a craze for hsien su ji in his hometown. In particular, there are many bubble tea shops around his old university, which also sell small portions of hsien su ji as a snack.

Debra
American expatriate
I guess it won’t help our obesity rate, but if people like it I suppose they should continue with it. I guess they are going with a consumer trend.

Patrick
American expatriate
I hope when I go back home next time I can try it.

This Taiwanese night market favorite has become a popular dish in the U.S., showing more and more people across the globe are learning to love Taiwanese food.