As an international culinary hub, Taipei offers a rich variety of seafood dishes, from traditional Taiwanese seafood and Japanese live seafood to creative seafood cuisine. This article carefully selects Taipei's most distinctive seafood restaurants, suitable for both banquets and everyday dining.
Highlights
Taipei's seafood restaurants stand out for blending diverse culinary cultures with fresh ingredients. Key highlights include:
Diverse Culinary Styles: Taipei brings together Taiwanese, Japanese, Hong Kong-style, and creative seafood, allowing diners to savor seafood delicacies from different cultures.
High Freshness Ingredients: Many restaurants feature live water tanks or direct deliveries from fishing ports, ensuring seafood freshness. For example, Addi伊藤水產 combines a supermarket with a restaurant, where customers can directly select freshly caught seafood.
Great Value Options: Compared to other cities, Taipei offers many affordable yet high-quality seafood restaurants, with abundant à la carte options and set menu combinations suitable for different group sizes.
Recommended Spots
Addi伊藤水產 (Mitsuboshi)
Located near Xingtian Temple Station, Addi伊藤水產 is Taipei's popular seafood supermarket and restaurant combined. Its biggest特色 is the "standing eat" culture, where customers can select fresh seafood in the supermarket area and then enjoy it standing in the standing eat area. Must-try items include牡丹蝦, sweet shrimp, and bluefin tuna sashimi, each slice showcasing extreme freshness. Sea urchin軍艦壽司 is another signature, with its melt-in-your-mouth texture that leaves you craving more. In addition to raw dishes, they also offer grilled seafood and hot pot sets, creating a relaxed atmosphere perfect for diners seeking high-quality seafood quickly. Note that queues may form during peak hours.
Xiangyun Tea & Cuisine
Located in Zhongshan District, Xiangyun Tea & Cuisine is a long-established seafood restaurant in Taipei, renowned for refined Taiwanese seafood dishes. The restaurant exterior is full of traditional charm, with elegant interior decor, making it perfect for family gatherings or business banquets. Their signature "Steamed Fresh Catch" uses the day's freshest fish, seasoned simply with ginger and scallions to highlight the natural flavors. The fish meat is tender and sweet, a must-order for many returning customers. Fish maw in clay pot is another classic dish, with a rich yet refreshing broth and generous portions of fish maw. Overall, Xiangyun's cuisine leans toward traditional Taiwanese flavors, with seasoning that doesn't overpower, allowing the seafood's natural sweetness to shine. Reservations are recommended, especially on weekends.
Xingpenglai Taiwanese Seafood
Located on Section 7 of Zhongshan North Road, Xingpenglai is a local favorite for Taiwanese seafood. The restaurant prides itself on "freshest" seafood, with large live seafood tanks where customers can personally select ingredients. Their signature "Poached Live Shrimp" is a must-try, using energetic grass shrimp, poached in boiling water and dipped in special sauce. The shrimp meat is springy and sweet, fully preserving the seafood's natural flavor. Another popular dish is "Red Crab Rice Casserole," with plump crab roe and flavorful glutinous rice, a classic wedding banquet item. Overall pricing is moderate, suitable for gatherings where you want to eat abundantly while maintaining quality.
Xianyu Live Seafood
Located in Neihu District, Xianyu Live Seafood is known for affordable and honest live seafood. The restaurant exterior is unassuming, yet it's a hidden favorite among local Neihu residents. Its biggest特色 is the "fish market direct operation" pricing advantage, where seafood is both fresh and reasonably priced. Recommended "Steamed Grouper," with tender fish meat steamed to perfection, dipped in soy sauce and scallion for a simple yet delicious flavor. Sauteed clams is another signature, with savory sauce perfect for rice, and plump clam meat. Overall, Xianyu follows an affordable home-style approach, perfect for daily family meals or small gatherings with friends.
Pangsida Seafood Restaurant
Located in the East District, Pangsida Seafood Restaurant has a fun and playful name, famous for creative seafood dishes. The restaurant style is modern and innovative, combining Italian and Japanese cooking techniques to present diverse seafood options. "Wellington Salmon" is the house specialty, with a crispy exterior and tender salmon inside, creating layers of flavor that amaze. "Mentaiko Baked Scallops" is another popular dish, where the milky aroma perfectly blends with seafood umami. This place is perfect for those who love creative cuisine and younger demographics, with a reasonable minimum spend, ideal for celebrating special occasions.
Practical Information
Transportation: Most Taipe seafood restaurants are located along MRT lines, making the MRT the most convenient option. Addi伊藤水產 is near Xingtian Temple Station (about 3 minutes walk); Xiangyun Tea & Cuisine is between Zhongshan Station and Songjiang Nanjing Station; Xingpenglai can be reached via MRT to Zhongshan Elementary School Station; Xianyu Live Seafood is best reached by car or taxi.
Average Cost: Average spending at general seafood restaurants is about NT$300-800 per person, while upscale restaurants may exceed NT$1,500. Addi伊藤水產 is a supermarket-restaurant combo, with individual sushi costing about NT$80-200; Xiangyun and Xingpenglai are full-service restaurants, with set menus around NT$500-1,000.
Business Hours: Most seafood restaurants serve lunch from 11:30-14:00 and dinner from 17:30-21:00, with some closed on Mondays. It is recommended to call ahead to confirm hours and reservation services.
Travel Tips
1. Reserve in Advance: Popular restaurants like Xiangyun and Xingpenglai are fully booked on weekends, so it is recommended to call and reserve 2-3 days ahead.
2. Avoid Peak Hours: Addi伊藤水產 is relatively quieter on weekday lunches, with more crowds in the evening and on weekends. To avoid queues, consider non-peak times.
3. Selecting Live Seafood: At restaurants offering live seafood, you can personally select from the tanks, usually with on-site weighing and pricing.
4. Seasonal Limited Dishes: Some seafood dishes are adjusted according to seasons. For example, fall is the best time for crabs, so pay attention to the restaurant's seasonal menu.
5. Parking Information: Some restaurants do not have designated parking, so it is recommended to take public transportation or check nearby parking locations in advance.
Taipei offers abundant seafood options whether you seek upscale dining or affordable cuisine, you can find suitable choices in this city. Hopefully this guide will help you discover more delicious surprises on your Taipei seafood journey.
