A-Bao Roast Chicken Introduction
When it comes to the cooked food at the Xin Zhuang Public Market, A-Bao Roast Chicken, which has been selling roasted chickens on the first floor of the market for over 50 years, is definitely a must-try local delicacy. The female owner, Li Bao-Gui, is the second generation of the well-known "Dong Bao Eatery" that became famous during the Japanese occupation period on the old streets of Xin Zhuang. Li's Taiwanese-style roast chicken sells hundreds of chickens on weekends at her small stall, and especially during the recent Lunar New Year, she sells as many as five hundred chickens in a single day, which showcases the love that the people of Xin Zhuang have for A-Bao Roast Chicken. A-Bao's roast chicken is distinctive; it uses freshly slaughtered, warm-bodied chickens that are cleaned and then marinated with a unique sauce. Once the chicken absorbs all the flavors, it is hung in a traditional oven. The fresh whole chickens, roasted at high temperatures, have an alluring golden and shiny skin, while the meat is tender and juicy, offering an indescribable rich and fragrant taste that is completely traditional, attracting many nostalgic food lovers who travel long distances just to buy a few to savor at home.