Yuan Qing Oyster

Review

Yuan Qing Oyster hides in a lane near the entrance of Nanya Night Market in Banqiao. It began as what locals called Banqiao's nameless dry oyster stall and only later took a name. The shop describes itself as a long-running Banqiao eatery, and Supertaste includes it in both its Fuzhong food roundup and its Nanya Night Market list, making it a go-to for oysters in Banqiao.

The signature is tossed oysters: large, plump oysters lightly blanched to keep their sweetness, served with pickled radish and shredded ginger, and eaten with tossed noodles, rice vermicelli, glass noodles or wheat vermicelli. There are also oyster soup, small squid and mixed seafood options; the broth is made from oysters and squid with a clear basil aroma, and herbal braised snacks can be added.

Diners praise the fresh, large oysters and fair prices, many recommend the small squid noodle soup, and people like that it is open from early morning to midnight. Complaints centre on the small space, packed like sardines at meal times and awkward for strollers; flavours are fairly light, so those who prefer bold seasoning may find it underwhelming.

Online information says it opens around 5:30 am, with a morning-to-afternoon session and an evening session running until around midnight; sources disagree on whether it opens on Mondays and on exact hours, so check before going. Media list noodles and side dishes from NT$40, and noodles with seafood at about NT$90 to 180. There is a public car park next door, or walk about ten minutes from Fuzhong MRT.

It suits anyone craving fresh oysters, or wanting a hot bowl of noodles at dawn or after wandering Nanya Night Market. First-timers can order tossed oysters with tossed noodles and add an oyster or small squid soup; groups can share braised snacks and blanched greens, and at peak times consider takeaway or coming off-hours.