Taiwanese Street Corn (Shacha Corn) – Smoky, Sweet & Spicy Night Market Favorite

Discover authentic Taiwanese street corn — grilled over charcoal, brushed with soy, sugar, chili, and shacha sauce, then topped with cilantro and sesame seeds. A smoky, sweet, and spicy night market snack that’s easy to recreate at home.

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Prep Time 5

Cook Time 15

Total Time 20

Servings: 6

Course: Appetizer, Side Dish, Snack

Cuisine: Asian, Less Than 30 Minutes, Street Food, Taiwanese

Calories: 636

Ingredients Equipment Method

Ingredients

4 Tbsp soy paste Available at most fine Asian grocers
1 Tbsp sweet chili sauce
4-5 cloves of garlic smashed
hot chili sauce *optional, but good
6-8 ears of corn shucked

Equipment

1 Stainless Steel Kitchen Tongs

Method

In a small bowl, combine soy paste, sweet chili sauce, and crushed garlic cloves.
Stir well and reserve.
Heat a grill over high heat and cook the corn, turning occasionally, until charred in spots, about 20 minutes.
Brush the marinade over the corn and rotate it, repeating this step 3-4 times, or to your desired taste.
Insider Tip
💡 For the most authentic flavor, grill the corn over charcoal instead of gas — the smokiness is what makes it taste like Taipei’s famous night markets. If you can’t find shacha sauce, swap with a little hoisin + chili paste for a quick substitute.
Enjoy!