No need to fly 10 hours away—authentic Malaysian laksa in New Taipei, plus seafood barbecue!

Reported by Hua Shaofu / New Taipei

Located in Banqiao, New Taipei, Mengga Seafood Grill is opened by celebrity Lin Daoyuan. The restaurant sources fresh seafood directly from fishing ports every day and sells out daily. Recently, in collaboration with Ai Cheng during the winter season, they introduced hot pot dishes to offer customers more diverse culinary options besides the signature seafood skewers.

▲ Lin Daoyuan and Ai Cheng introduce Mengga Seafood Grill’s new dishes. (Photo / Reporter Li Yukang)

Lin Daoyuan and Ai Cheng became friends while filming the TV drama "New Recruits' Diary." Their personalities clicked instantly—they’re not only close pals in private but also great collaborators at work. Speaking of how their partnership began, Ai Cheng joked, “He just showed up at my house with a contract and told me to sign it. Super decisive!” He also teased that Lin’s business is so good, even he has to wait in line, leaving Lin laughing, “You really should’ve told me earlier.”

▲ Lin Daoyuan and Ai Cheng clink glasses on-site. (Photo / Reporter Li Yukang)

“I want to maintain quality. Selling a lot but neglecting quality is absolutely not OK,” said Lin Daoyuan. His daily skewers focus on freshness and great value, so he restocks from different fishing ports late at night every day. As a result, customers can dine with peace of mind. The blackboard also features various “hidden menu” daily specials.

▲ Ai Cheng’s eyes go wide after tasting a large clam. (Photo / Reporter Li Yukang)

When talking about the origin of laksa, Ai Cheng laughed and said that to enjoy an authentic, traditional taste, you’d have to fly 10 hours to get there. It’s reported that this laksa is popular in Kuching, Sarawak, originally sold by Teochew people. It contains over 30 spices and, compared to the laksa in Singapore or Kuala Lumpur, has a darker color and distinctly different flavor.

▲ Lin Daoyuan introduces Ai Cheng’s laksa hot pot base. (Photo / Reporter Li Yukang)

When Lin Daoyuan and Ai Cheng dug into their own creations, their exaggerated expressions caused plenty of laughter. Both joked that they were eating “at the risk of their lives.” “I’m scared I’ll have a stroke after this meal,” Lin said, dramatically devouring his food. Ai Cheng quipped, “I still miss the days when I was chubby.”

▲ Boston lobster is grilled live on the spot. (Photo / Reporter Li Yukang)

Boston Lobster
Priced between NT$800–900 per serving, depending on the market rate. Sourced fresh daily and grilled live to ensure customers enjoy the freshest, most delicious seafood.

▲ Lin Daoyuan highlights the juicy broth inside the large clams. (Photo / Reporter Li Yukang)

Large Clams
NT$150 each, filled with juicy broth. Each clam is carefully selected and packed with flavor. Thanks to special preparation, they won’t open during grilling, ensuring they remain plump and juicy right up until you take a bite—each one delivers the “taste of the sea.”

▲ Giant arm shrimp, priced between NT$800–900 per serving. (Photo / Reporter Li Yukang)

Giant Arm Shrimp
Priced between NT$800–900 per serving, depending on market rates. A plump deep-sea shrimp is salt-grilled with sea salt. The satisfying sight of taking big bites is super comforting.

▲ Assorted nigiri sushi, NT$280 per serving. (Photo / Reporter Li Yukang)

Assorted Nigiri Sushi
NT$280 per serving, another great value dish. Seven pieces of various sashimi types, each slice is larger than NT$50 worth, making it a must-order.

Special offer: From now until the end of January, show the "ETtoday News Cloud" app when dining at Mengga Grill to receive a skewer of fish balls!

Mengga Seafood Grill

Address: No. 196, Section 2, Changjiang Road, Banqiao District, New Taipei City
Phone: 0980 898 882 (No reservations by phone; all seating is on a first-come, first-served basis)
Business Hours: Tuesday–Sunday 17:00–until sold out, closed on Mondays.

Original Laksa Shop in Ximending

Address: No. 124, Section 1, Zhonghua Road, Wanhua District, Taipei City
Phone: 02 2383 2570
Business Hours: 11:00–22:00

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