Nighttime seaside views await you – memories of childhood snacks at Qijin Wan’er Seafood

Text & photos byShadow

Wan’er is a name most people are familiar with. Anyone who’s visited Qijin has probably eaten at Wan’er Seafood, making it one of the area’s iconic food spots. Recently, my husband found out that Wan’er had relocated to Qigang Road near Windmill Park. The new spot offers sweeping sea views, making it quite relaxing to enjoy fresh seafood while taking in the harbor scenery. We deliberately chose a weekday after work, gathered a few friends, and headed there for a meal. We also wanted to document our experience at the new location to share with everyone.

In the past, there was quite a stir over the naming dispute between Wan’er and Wan’san. Originally called Wan’san Snack Bar, it was located on Zhongzhou Second Road. Later, a relative opened a similar-sized stir-fry eatery on Qijin Second Road and registered the name “Wan’san.” The original shop then changed its name to Wan’er and continued operating at its old location until it recently moved to Qigang Road. The dining method remains the same as before—buy meal tickets first, then pick your favorite dishes from the kitchen.

Next to the ticket booth is the direction to the restroom, while the other side leads to the kitchen area. On weekdays, there aren’t many diners, and most seem to be tourists. Wan’san benefits from its prime location and tends to be busier, whereas Wan’er, being more tucked away, doesn’t get as much foot traffic on regular days.

After buying your meal tickets, head this way. Due to price increases, some costs have changed since our last visit. Most stir-fried dishes still cost around 100 NT, fish dishes range from 150 to 200 NT, and seafood prices are available on a menu—if you can’t find it, just ask the staff.

From sashimi to various seafood dishes, everything is laid out for you to choose from. We usually split the meal tickets among a few people and pick dishes together, then hand the tickets to the staff at the kitchen entrance. For dishes priced at 150 NT, they’ll give you 50 NT in change.

Even the samples look mouthwatering, but the real dishes are just a step away.

The restaurant’s menu is mainly divided into fish soup, sashimi, cold dishes, and stir-fries. Most cold dishes are pre-made and ready to serve, and the fish soup section is also quick.

The stir-fry section doesn’t always have ready-made dishes—you can’t just grab them off the shelf. On weekdays, the chefs don’t prepare too much in advance, so you have to order directly. The only downside is that you have to wait on-site while they cook.

The new location offers better views and a more comfortable dining environment. There are also large fans nearby, so you won’t be sweating while eating. It’s much cooler at night, and we picked a seat by the sea, allowing us to enjoy the nighttime view of the Taipei 101 direction (Note: likely referring to Kaohsiung 85 Sky Tower) while dining.

Rice is still free, but free drinks have been discontinued. Now, only boiled water is provided, and if you want a drink, you’ll need to buy it at the ticket booth.

Now, only a water dispenser is available for free use.

The garlic pork is decent, though it relies heavily on the dipping sauce for flavor.

My husband said he really wanted meatball soup that day, so we got some. The taste was close but not quite up to the standard of traditional banquet-style meatball soup. Still, the ingredients were generous.

Wanluan Pig’s Trotter wasn’t as good as the ones from Wanluan, but it still satisfied our cravings.

Miso Fish Soup

Miso Fish Soup is a must-try at Wan’er, and you can even ask for a refill.

The stir-fried cabbage, cooked over high heat, tasted average—just like home-style cooking.

Stir-fried clams still have the occasional shell with no meat, but the flavor was delicious.

Kung Pao Squid—writing this, I realized our favorite dishes haven’t changed much from years ago. Despite the pile of red chilies, it’s not too spicy and has a rich flavor that pairs well with rice.

Stir-fried snail meat—Shadow loves this dish. The snail meat is crispy, and the salty, rich flavor made her eat extra rice.

Sweet and Sour Fish—potato strips replaced onions, and the fish wasn’t crispy enough. The sweet and sour sauce leaned more toward a tomatoey tanginess with a stronger flavor.

After the meal, you can take a stroll along the shore and enjoy the nighttime scenery with fishing boats dotting the sea.

Wan’er holds many childhood memories for many people. The meal ticket system has always been its signature feature. Back in the day, Shadow and family/friends dined here countless times. Even though our tastes have become more refined over the years, our love for Wan’er hasn’t faded. Maybe the dishes aren’t the most refined, but the emphasis on speed, mass appeal, and the memories of gathering around a round table for meals are irreplaceable. We’ll definitely come back to try the new location again soon.

Related Info
Restaurant Name:Wan’er Seafood
Address: No. 60-50, Beishan Lane, Qijin District, Kaohsiung City (Qigang Road)
Phone: 07-5714191

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