If you love seafood, Keziliao Harbor Fish Market (蚵仔寮漁港) near Kaohsiung is an absolute must-visit. This bustling harbor market is where locals come to buy some of the freshest seafood in southern Taiwan - and if you know the trick, you can have it cooked and eaten just minutes after purchasing it.
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That's exactly what we did.
We wandered through the market stalls, picked out an incredible variety of seafood straight from the tanks, and then brought it across the street to local seafood restaurants that cooked everything for us while we sat outside with a cold beer watching the ocean.
It might be one of the freshest seafood meals you can possibly have.
What Makes Keziliao Harbor Special
Keziliao Harbor is one of the largest fishing ports in southern Taiwan, so seafood here is extremely fresh. Boats unload their catch daily, and much of it goes directly to the stalls in the market.
As you walk through the market you'll see rows of tanks and displays packed with seafood - much of it still alive.
Some of the things we saw included:
- Lobsters
- Crabs
- Multiple types of clams
- Oysters
- Shrimp of all sizes
- Squid and cuttlefish
- Tons of fish species I couldn't even identify
- Stingray
- Shark
Basically, if it swims in the ocean, it's probably here.
Most stalls display seafood in large tubs or tanks filled with seawater, and vendors will scoop out whatever you want to buy.
What We Bought at the Market
After walking through the market and trying not to buy everything in sight, we settled on a seafood feast.
Here's what we ended up getting:
- Live grouper
- Live crab
- Thai shrimp (these were huge!)
- Two types of clams - regular clams and short neck clams
- Fresh oysters
- Squid
Everything except the squid and oysters was still alive when we bought it, which is always a good sign of freshness.
Pro Tip: Take Your Seafood to Be Cooked
One of the best parts of visiting Keziliao Harbor is what happens after you buy your seafood.
Across the street from the market are small seafood restaurants and cooking stalls that will prepare your seafood exactly how you want it. You simply bring your bag of seafood over and tell them how you'd like everything cooked.
Common cooking styles include:
- Steamed
- Stir-fried
- Grilled or roasted
- Soup
- Deep fried
Once they start cooking, you grab a seat outside, open a beer from the fridge, and relax while the dishes arrive one by one.
Since the harbor is right there, we were literally eating seafood while looking out at the ocean it came from.
How Our Seafood Was Cooked
Because the seafood was so fresh, we kept things simple so the natural flavors could shine.
Steamed Crab
The crab was simply steamed, which is perfect for fresh crab. The meat was sweet, delicate, and needed almost nothing else. Of course they did also have a self station of condiments if you did want to dip it in something.
Grilled Thai Shrimp
These Thai shrimp were massive and grilled, which brought out so much flavor. The high heat lightly charred the shells and intensified the natural sweetness of the shrimp. They were juicy, smoky, and incredibly satisfying - one of our favorite dishes of the meal.
Fried Oysters
The oysters were deep fried until crispy and served hot. These were absolutely incredible - crunchy on the outside, juicy inside. They were so tasty because not only is the oyster so fresh but also the batter in Taiwan is so tasty!
Stir-Fried Clams
The clams were cooked in a savory soy-based stir-fry sauce with garlic and aromatics such as Thai Basil. The sauce soaked into the shells and made every bite flavorful.
Blanched Squid with Ginger
The squid was lightly blanched, sliced, and served with julienned ginger. You could dip it into either:
- A ginger sauce
- Soy sauce with wasabi
Simple and delicious.
Grouper Miso Soup
The grouper was turned into a rich miso fish soup. The broth was savory and comforting, and the fish itself was incredibly tender.
Walk It Off at the Nearby Temples
After finishing a huge seafood feast, you'll probably be very full - which is perfect because there are some beautiful temples just a short walk away.
Strolling through the temple grounds is a great way to digest after your meal, and it's also a fun place to take photos. The temples are colorful, detailed, and full of traditional Taiwanese architecture, making them a great backdrop for a few cute pictures before heading back.
Between the harbor views, the fresh seafood, and the nearby temples, Keziliao Harbor ends up being a full experience rather than just a place to eat.
Final Thoughts
Keziliao Harbor Fish Market is more than just a seafood market - it's a full experience.
You get to:
- Walk through a lively harbor market
- Pick out live seafood from the tanks
- Bring it to nearby cooks to prepare
- Eat it immediately while watching the ocean
For seafood lovers, it's hard to imagine anything better.
If you're visiting Kaohsiung, this is an unforgettable place to experience Taiwan's seafood culture.
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