King-size prawns bigger than your palm!! Rich and creamy shrimp paste, Q-textured and bouncy meat

Text & Photos /Gui Xiao Sun

On a holiday before going abroad, since I had to visit Yangmingshan, I took the chance to meet up with friends in Tamsui. I remember the weather was already a bit cool that day—compared to when I took my older friend on a Taipei trip just a month earlier, the temperature had dropped noticeably. My friend brought us to 【Jin Jia Men Kai Guo】, a hotpot place near the Tamsui MRT station, right across from the 【Fen Mi Liao】bus stop, for hotpot!! XD

Honestly, before winter even officially arrived, I noticed many hotpot restaurants were already bustling. As someone who loves hotpot, I enjoy it no matter the season. Over time, though, I’ve definitely become more picky about flavors. 【Jin Jia Men Kai Guo】looked pretty low-key from the outside, but I was surprised when we went in—the interior space is huge, and it was almost fully packed that day. After the whole meal, I realized not only was the broth excellent, but the ingredients were the real highlight. Especially the affordable à la carte style—it’s such a great concept.
Highly recommended to friends in Taipei and visitors alike XD

When we pushed open the door, we couldn’t tell it was so packed from the outside. Some tables have partitions, some don’t, but the spacing is just right, so even with full tables of food, it doesn’t feel cramped. I noticed a lot of families dining here—must be super fun for the whole family. Maybe because this area is residential, it really shows how solid 【Jin Jia Men Kai Guo】is.

The space has a clean, simple, and understated vibe. The condiment area had super fresh scallions, garlic, and chili peppers—something I love about hotpot, being a spice enthusiast!! XD

After quickly snapping photos of the diners all around, I was practically starving—the aroma wafting through the air was irresistible. Sitting down to check the menu was the only logical move XD

Here, everything is à la carte, and the best part? The prices are super reasonable. A plate of sliced meat is just 88 NT$, much cheaper than many places in Taichung. Most items are priced at 36, 38, 48, 66, or 88 NT$, which makes it easy to just go ahead and order freely XD

Also, this illustrated menu featuring the ingredients is absolutely gorgeous. It’s hand-drawn with amazing detail showing the allure of seafood, vegetables, and aquatic products—I could stare at it for ages XD

The semi-open kitchen also revealed super friendly and polite staff. Even during the busy rush, everyone maintained a great attitude. That’s something I always secretly observe when dining out XD. The broth arrived quickly—we chose a Japanese-style broth and a spicy hotpot. The spiciness level isn’t adjustable, just mildly spicy, but the broth is fragrant and smooth, leaving no burning sensation afterward.

The clear broth was also sweet and light, perfect for cooking greens and seafood. We put the meat in the spicy pot to boil—it was so flavorful sometimes we didn’t even need dipping sauce. Not sure if it’s because we were in Tamsui, but I had never seen these little squid rolls in hotpot before. They sometimes appear skewered and blanched in Tamsui streets, but I’d never seen them in a hotpot restaurant.

We tossed them straight into the clear broth, and once scooped out, the aroma of the squid rolls was phenomenal. Biting into them, their Q-texture and freshness were exactly the flavor I love XD

Basically, if I spot them in Tamsui, I’d buy them, but eating them in a hotpot was a first. The fresh texture still makes me crave a few more. Their taste is totally different from squid—it’s so fresh and delicious.

And then there was this fish—absolutely amazing. So bouncy and zero fishy taste. So satisfying. We also ordered pork and beef—the beef plate was already partially eaten, and it’s available for just an extra 1 NT$ with check-in. Super great XD. The plum pork slices were huge, 88 NT$, so even with a bigger group, the price feels very manageable—super reasonable.

We also got udon noodles, which were amazing cooked in the spicy pot. Fresh, QQ (chewy), and super satisfying—but be careful when slurping them in, don’t get burned by the piping hot broth XD

The table was soon filled, and as we finished items, new ones kept coming. We chatted, ate, and marveled. Especially when the later seafood arrived, we just had to take our time enjoying it. I also loved the meat slices here—each slice was generously sized, with great texture and presence!! XD

The mixed vegetables were stunning—so colorful. Red tomatoes, yellow corn, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, green broccoli, leafy greens, brown mushrooms, tofu skin, white enoki mushrooms, cabbage, and black wood ear fungus—fresh and clean, making you want to toss them all in the pot right away XD

Then came the king-sized prawns!! Super impressive—they’re not quite as thick as my arm, but definitely over three fingers wide @@. Limited supply, might not even be available even if it’s on the menu. Once I confirmed with the staff they had some, I ordered them immediately—I love seafood!! XD

Just look at it—isn’t it shocking from every angle?! It was the first time I’d seen a prawn that big. I just knew it would be insanely delicious (that’s what I thought at the time). I actually hated to put it in the hotpot. I kept taking photos, trying to capture the shock I felt. The staff also told us it needs longer cooking time, unlike regular white shrimp that just turn pink XD

As the steaming broth continued with nearly all the veggies in, the aroma got even better. My friend sitting across, surrounded by the steam, said they could smell the cauliflower—it smelled so fresh and sweet. So we decided to finish the veggies first, then cook the seafood last XD

After polishing off tons of veggies, we decided to slowly cook the giant prawn and wait for that moment of tasting. Of course, one prawn wasn’t enough for me, so I also ordered a seafood platter XD

And when it arrived, it shocked us!! Some of the white shrimp were still moving—legs twitching non-stop. Even skewered, you could feel them jumping and wriggling, instantly grabbing our attention XD

Besides the white shrimp, there were two types of fish, clams, and our beloved squid rolls. Seafood lovers can just order the seafood platter and enjoy fresh ocean flavors. I don’t quite remember how long we cooked them for—because I took out the giant prawn halfway, thinking it wasn’t done yet XD. Later, I boiled it together with all the seafood in the clear broth, and the burst of umami kept wafting, making my mouth water non-stop.

When I finally plated it—yes!! It was even wider than the plate. Compared to my finger beside it, it was shockingly thick. The “three fingers wide” I mentioned? Totally accurate.

When I peeled it open, the amount of shrimp paste was insane—thick and rich. You could find it all over the shrimp body and even in the head. It was abundant, solid, and super fresh. On the plate, its beautiful red body looked like essence itself—each bite was an indulgent experience. The meat was super Q and bouncy. It’s a richness you just won’t get from regular white or grass shrimp.

We ordered ice cream for dessert. The plum juice and lemonade during the meal were both fresh. Writing this now, I really miss the quality and substance of 【Jin Jia Men Kai Guo】. For two people, you could get a fresh mixed veggie platter, a seafood platter, two meat plates or add a few sides, and still have change from 800 NT$. It’s actually more affordable than many seafood hotpot places. No wonder it’s so popular with the local community. Parents’ taste buds definitely know best XD

You know, having friends everywhere in life is important. Especially since connections are lifelong assets. Thanks to my friend’s recommendation, I got to try the 【king-sized prawns】, that amazing spicy broth, the meat platter, and the veggies. Now my winter hotpot calendar is already filling up XD

Sharing this spot with everyone — an affordable yet high-quality à la carte hot pot restaurant right near the Tamsui MRT Station, just across from the Mifenliao Bus Stop: 【Jin Men Jia Kai Guo】 ^_______^ / waiting for Ychengta ??〖/p>

Address
No. 257, Section 1, Zhongshan North Road, Tamsui District, Taipei City
Phone
02 2629 0018
FB
https://www.facebook.com/ComeHomeHotPot?fref=ts

Author of this article:［Enjoying Life Without Boredom. Xiao Sun｜规小孙］