Liuhe Night Market: seafood heaven in Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung is a port city and Liuhe is its night market. The seafood here is as fresh as it gets — pulled from the ocean that morning and on your plate by evening.
Getting there
MRT Orange Line → Formosa Boulevard Station (美麗島). Exit 11, 5-min walk.
Hours
6pm–1am daily. Busiest 8–11pm.
Budget
NT$400–800 for a full seafood feast — cheap by any standard.
The seafood experience
The defining Liuhe experience is the live seafood tanks that line the main strip. You walk up, point at what you want — crab, lobster, shrimp, clams, squid — tell them how you want it cooked (grilled, steamed, garlic butter, salt and pepper), and it's prepared in minutes. Price per 100g is displayed on the tank.
How to order from the tank
- 1. Point at what you want and confirm the price per 100g
- 2. Tell them the cooking style: 烤 (grilled), 蒸 (steamed), 炒 (stir-fried)
- 3. They'll weigh it and tell you the total before cooking
- 4. Sit at the tables nearby — they'll bring it out when ready
Beyond the seafood tanks
Liuhe's most iconic non-tank dish. Thick, starchy broth with squid and glass noodles. NT$60.
Pork, mushroom, quail eggs, and corn — charcoal grilled at the stall. NT$20–40 each.
Kaohsiung mangoes are Taiwan's best. In season (May–August), this is the finest version of Taiwan's most famous dessert.
A Kaohsiung specialty rarely found in Taipei. Intensely umami, slightly fishy, perfect with chili.
Insider tip
Negotiate. Prices at seafood tanks are not fixed for tourists. A polite ask — "有沒有便宜一點？" (any discount?) — is not rude, it's expected. You probably won't get much off, but they'll often throw in something extra.
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