Heipi Seafood Restaurant

Review

Budai is the largest fishing port in Chiayi County, and seafood restaurants crowd around its tourist fish market. Heipi Seafood Restaurant is one that travel reports and roundups often name. It stands on Zhongshan Road beside the market and focuses on fresh catch straight off the boats, usually serving set dishes and banquet tables, but what made it famous is a seafood bawan big enough to share among several people.

The giant seafood bawan weighs about 330 grams. Reports list a filling of scallop, shrimp, taro, shredded turkey, braised egg and shiitake mushroom. The skin is fried until crisp while the inner layer stays soft and glutinous, quite unlike the usual Changhua or Pingtung versions. Articles say it can feed three people, and one report mentions awards in food competitions. Crispy shrimp rolls are another favourite, while banquet tables are built around the day's catch.

Online opinions are clearly divided. Fans enjoy the unusual, well-filled bawan and the harbour atmosphere beside the fish market, and some praise the sweet, fresh oyster dishes. Many others find prices high and portions not worth the cost, with prawn orders especially likely to feel overpriced, and some think the flavours are only average. It is best to focus on the signature bawan and seasonal seafood and ask about market prices before ordering.

Reports say the bawan starts at about NT$120 and a seafood banquet table runs around NT$3,600, though actual prices follow the market. Google lists roughly 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. with Wednesdays closed; sources may differ, so check before you go. The fish market draws crowds on weekends; use the car parks around the harbour. For groups or banquet tables, phone ahead to book.

It suits visitors exploring Budai Harbour and the tourist fish market, and families or friends who want a shared seafood meal. Two or three people can split one giant bawan and add an oyster dish or the catch of the day. On a tighter budget, eat the bawan and then buy fresh seafood at the market. If you want more classic Budai snacks, pair the visit with a nearby oyster fritter stall.