Chongqing Road fried chicken | 阿元的炸雞 (A Yuan De Zha Ji): a hidden 30-year stand whose juicy crisp wings reward an early visit
Chongqing Road has many local snacks, but 阿元的炸雞 (A Yuan De Zha Ji) is unusual. Away from the busy MRT district, it feels like a fried-chicken stand only Banqiao locals know how to find.
Open for over 30 years and featured on television, it sells just three fried items: drumsticks, wings, and bone-in chicken steak. The list is short, but regulars arrive steadily when sales begin.
Location and transit
The stand is near 新北市板橋區重慶路 295 巷, about a 20-minute walk from MRT 府中站 · Fuzhong. That is not especially close for an MRT stroll, so it best suits people already around Chongqing Road, Guoqing Road, or Banqiao rear station.
Coming specifically from the MRT, treat it as a lane-side Banqiao snack walk. This is a residential and commercial neighborhood, not a tourist food district, and A-Yuan hides in its everyday lanes.
Its inconspicuous location adds a locals-only feeling. The friendly team has an old-stand rhythm with regulars, who arrive on time and simply call out quantities.
Setting and atmosphere
It resembles a traditional fried-food stand: the owner keeps frying, his wife bags orders, customers arrive, and most leave with their food.
Crowds gather after sales start at three in the afternoon. Residents know the schedule, and popular items go quickly; arrive right at three for the full selection.
This is not a stand for lengthy indecision or photos. Come early, buy freshly fried chicken, and eat it hot.
Menu and ordering
The menu has only three items: drumsticks, wings, and bone-in chicken steak. With no complex flavors or long list, decisions are quick.
First-timers should try the wings, the biggest surprise here. The chicken steak resembles a rib cut, with marinade and juice. If drumsticks remain, add one.
Choose pepper or chili powder. Freshly fried food is hot and fragrant, and eating warm best reveals crisp skin and juices.
Bone-In Chicken Steak
A-Yuan's version is not the huge breast cut common at night markets, but a bone-in rib-like chicken piece. It is marinated, with a gentle seasoned aroma and good overall flavor.
Fresh from the fryer, its oil fragrance is distinct; the outside is crisp and the inside juicy. Pepper completes the aroma and adds traditional stand character.
It does not pursue an enormous, ultra-filling slab, but the aroma of the chicken cut itself.
Chicken Wings
The wings impressed most. Skin is clearly crisp, meat juicy rather than dry, and seasoning penetrates better than expected—a different style from the steak.
Crisp skin crunches while the meat remains tender. Chili and pepper powders sharpen aroma and saltiness, making one wing lead effortlessly to another.
If choosing only one, I recommend the wings for their crispness, seasoning, and juice—the clearest explanation of the stand's popularity.
Drumsticks
Although this article focuses on steak and wings, many visitors come specifically for drumsticks. They sell quickly and often disappear if you arrive late.
For drumsticks, come when sales begin at three. The charm of old-stand chicken lies in the first hot minutes; miss them and return earlier next time.
Who it suits
A-Yuan suits those seeking Banqiao fried chicken, Chongqing Road food, or afternoon snacks. It is not convenient station food, but works for locals or anyone willing to walk farther for an old stand.
It also suits fans of traditional fried-chicken stands: a simple selection, fried to order, little packaging, good aroma, fair prices, and an old-shop rhythm.
Mind the hours and sellout speed. Do not assume popular items will remain later—you may find only air and frying aroma.
Shop information
阿元的炸雞 (A Yuan De Zha Ji)
Address: 新北市板橋區重慶路 295 巷
Phone: 0921-896-478
Hours: 15:00～19:00
Closed: Monday and Tuesday
Transit: about a 20-minute walk from MRT 府中站 · Fuzhong
Closing thoughts
A-Yuan is a deeply local Banqiao stand. The location is inconvenient and the walk from 府中站 · Fuzhong takes time, but its hidden setting makes it feel like a neighborhood fixture.
The wings surprised me most: crisp skin, juicy meat, and addictive chili and pepper. Bone-In Chicken Steak has ribs, good marinade, and clear oil aroma and juice when hot. It is direct old-stand fried chicken, not refined dining.
If you are near Chongqing Road or willing to walk farther from 府中站 · Fuzhong for a local snack, save A-Yuan. Arrive right at three, buy wings first, then see what remains; come late and there may be no choice left.
