Tag: fried chicken

HotStar Chicken

Rating
10/10

Wait
5 Minutes

Value
$3 per dish

Where
Taipei

Large Fried Chicken
The original gigantic fried chicken snack. Imagine a chicken pounded to about a 1/4″ thick and 1′ in diameter. What’s makes the fried chicken great is the unique breading which is crunchy, light, and fluffy. The seasoning is on point and I opted for the spice powder which adds a nice kick. The only issue I have with the fried chicken is the bones are still intact – and boy are there a lot of bones. I believe without the bones the meal would be a lot cleaner and easier to eat towards the end.

HotStar is the original maker of the Large Fried Chicken. The stalls are easily noticeable with its baby blue signage. The Large Fried Chicken has become one of the most popular snacks in Shilin Night Market, with massive lines to prove it. They have a couple spots scattered around the market so it’s worth a walk around to find the shorter line. However, the line moves quickly and the ordering regiment is efficient. And for only $70NT ($2 USD), it’s definitely worth the wait as one piece is enough for a meal.

Website – http://www.hot-star.tw/

Hardwater

Rating
8/10

Wait
None

Value
$15 per dish

Where
SF

Spicy Nashville Style
This isn’t the best fried chicken and corn cake, but it is a solid dish. The fried chicken isn’t that crunchy but it does have nice subtle spicy flavor. The corn cake is the definitely the star of this dish.

Bourbon Lift
A must order. Essentially an alcoholic version of a Snow Plover*. Beyond tasting delicious, the presentation of the Bourbon Lift is also very striking. There’s a large layer of foam “lifting” from the rim of a glass, with only a small metal straw sticking through the foam. 

Hard Water is one of the cooler places along the Embarcadero. It feels like a place where the hip bougie sailors would go to drink and snack on some upscale home cooking. Beyond the food, the most striking feature is the interior which is a good example of adaptive reuse, the art of repurposing an old space into a new function. There is a good balance between the modern finishes and the various accenting nautical elements. Hard Water feels hip and trendy but not out of context.

Right when you enter, you’ll be confronted by a wall of whiskey. A very large wall as the ceiling are quite high. Your eyes will pan across the sea of whiskey bottles and it’ll eventually settle, dead center, on an amazing horseshoe shaped marble bar. Hanging above the bar, a sizable light pendant has been made by repurposing a mooring buoy.  As you scan the rest of the space, you’ll notice that there is only bar type seating. By now the concept is understandable, Hard Water is a place to drink and the U-shaped marble bar is the “fashion catwalk” for the whiskey. 

The whiskey list is extensive and exotic. I didn’t try any whiskey but did scan over the list and noticed quite a few good selections. Instead, I ordered cocktails which were delicious. It’s worth noting that there is only a handful of cocktails on the menu.  

Hard Water is a great whiskey bar. It breaks away from the old idea of whiskey bars being filled with cigar smoke, dim lighting, and leather chairs. If you’re looking for an unique space that serves stiff drinks and small bites, you can’t go wrong with Hard Water.

Website – https://www.hardwaterbar.com