Order the Original Chicken ($6.90) and a Brown Sugar Milk Tea ($3.90 for M). That’s it โ that’s the first-timer combo. The Original is the plain version, so you actually taste the marinade instead of the batter, and the brown sugar milk tea is the drink we pair it with in our own brand copy. Everything else on the menu makes more sense after you’ve had those two.
Why the Original Chicken and not the Extra Crispy one?
Because the first time, you want to know what the chicken tastes like. Not the coating.
Our chicken cutlet is chicken thigh, not breast. That’s the whole product decision, and we’ve written a full piece on thigh vs breast if you want the long version. Short version: thigh holds the marinade longer and stays tender even after it’s fried hard. Breast doesn’t. We picked the right meat, not the cheapest one.
Every cutlet is marinated before it goes in, then fried fresh when you order. No batch-frying, no reheating. That’s why there’s a wait โ sorry lah, it’s the trade-off.
The Extra Crispy Chicken ($6.90) has a thicker batter and more crunch. It’s great. Just come back for it on visit two, when you’ve got a baseline.
What if you don’t want a whole cutlet?
Get the Taiwan Popcorn Chicken ($6.90) instead. Bite-sized, easy to share, and it’s fried with basil leaves in the oil โ that basil aroma is the thing that makes ้นฝ้ ฅ้ (xian su ji) read as Taiwanese rather than generic fried chicken. If you’re eating with friends or feeding kids, this is the smarter first order. More on what makes the popcorn chicken work.
Sides are $3.90 to $5.30. If you only add one, make it the Tofu Fries ($3.90) โ fluffy inside, crisp outside, and consistently the item people love but never order. Also Shake Shake Fries ($3.90), Golden Sweet Potato Fries ($4.60) and Taiwan Seafood Tempura ($5.30) if you want a proper spread.
All the sides can be dusted with our seasoning powders โ Mala, Seaweed, Cheese, Garlic Seafood, Sour Plum. First time, go Sour Plum. Trust us on this one.
What should I drink with it?
Brown Sugar Milk Tea โ $3.90 (M) / $4.90 (L). That’s the canonical pairing.
If you want something lighter against the fried chicken, Moon River Honey Jasmine Milk Tea ($4.50 M / $5.50 L) is the other one we point people to. It’s floral, less heavy, cuts through the oil nicely.
Add Pearl for $0.80 (M) / $1.20 (L). Classic tapioca, the default. Feeling adventurous? Aiyu Jelly (ๆ็, lemon-yellow, very Taiwan) or Grass Jelly (ไป่, herbal, slightly bitter-sweet) are the two that locals in Taipei actually order.
Ordering at I Love Taimei
We’ve been doing Taiwanese street food in Singapore since 2009, women-owned, co-run by Phoebe and Yadah. There are 14 outlets island-wide. A few to start with, straight off our store list:
- Bugis Junction โ 230 Victoria St, #B1-K11 to 11A, Singapore 188024. Open 11:00โ22:00 daily.
- Northpoint City โ 1 Northpoint Drive, #B2-115, South Wing, Singapore 768019. Open 11:00โ22:00 daily.
- Junction 8 โ 9 Bishan Place, #B1-22, Singapore 579837. Open 11:00โ21:30 daily.
Most outlets run 11:00โ22:00. Junction 8 and West Mall close at 21:30, so don’t turn up at 21:45 and blame us.
One thing worth knowing before you order: all our food is prepared with no pork and no lard, and we don’t serve beef either. We are not halal certified โ that’s the honest answer, and we’ve explained the full picture here. It’s a real middle ground: not certified, but genuinely pork-free and lard-free, so mixed groups can eat together without anyone sitting out.
FAQ
What’s the single best first order at I Love Taimei? Original Chicken ($6.90) with a Brown Sugar Milk Tea ($3.90 M). Plain cutlet so you taste the marinade, brown sugar tea because that’s the pairing the brand itself uses.
Is the chicken spicy? The Original isn’t. Spice comes from the seasoning powders you add โ Mala is the hot one. Ask the crew to go light if you’re unsure.
Is there a vegetarian option? Yes. Tofu Fries, Shake Shake Fries, Mini Hashbrown, Enoki Mushroom, Golden Sweet Potato Fries and Mushroom Combo are all vegetarian-friendly. Full detail in our vegetarian options guide.
How is this different from Taiwanese fried chicken in Taiwan? Same lineage. The oversized chicken cutlet is a Shilin Night Market staple โ the official Taipei tourism listing names the “Huge Chicken Cutlet” among the market’s signatures. We make ours with no pork and no lard in the fry oil, which is the one deliberate difference.
Can I order online? Yes, and delivery’s available too.
Still deciding? Have a look at the full I Love Taimei menu and work out your order before you get to the counter.
Taste it for yourself โ 14 outlets island-wide. No pork, no lard.
