Wuqi Lailai Seafood Restaurant

Review

Wuqi Lailai Seafood Restaurant is at No. 155-5 Wunan Road, surrounded by fields and not far from Wuqi Fishing Harbor, Taichung Port and Gaomei Wetlands. Reports say the owner started out with a roadside stall; since moving to the current site in recent years the restaurant has become more spacious, with a large banquet area. It is a favorite for local customs brokers hosting clients, family dinners and even wedding banquets, and it is often full on weekdays too.

There is no fixed menu: guests walk up to the seafood counter, look at the day's catch and order, and dishes change with the season. You can also book a ten-person set, choose two dishes and leave the rest to the chef. Often recommended are steamed flower crab with springy meat (market price), sweet, moist pumpkin rice noodles, crispy fragrant duck that takes about half an hour, sweet-broth chicken soup with gouweicao herb, plus live fish served two ways and handmade Taiwanese radish cake. After sitting down you usually get complimentary starters such as salty fried duck wings, fried fish pieces and duck blood, generous enough to leave you half full before the mains arrive.

Most reviews praise the fresh ingredients, large portions and fast service, and staff even remind guests not to over-order. Prices, however, are reported very differently: Supertaste says about NT$500–800 per person, while UpToGo says around NT$300 per person with no service charge. Sources differ, and the real cost depends on the seafood you order. One article also notes that some lean parts of the crispy duck are dry, and weekends are busy enough to mean a wait.

Closed Mondays. Hours are roughly 11:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., with a break from 2:00 to 4:30 p.m. A large free parking lot makes driving easy. Bringing your own drinks costs NT$100 per table as a cleaning fee. On weekends and holidays, call ahead to book (04-26579628); without a reservation you may be seated near the entrance.

It suits family dinners or company gatherings of four or more, or anyone who has finished exploring the harbor and wants to sit down for a proper seafood meal. Come with a group, order the crispy duck as soon as you sit down, choose market-price seafood in moderation, and remember that the free starters are already filling.