Hidden gem in Tamsui: Live and juicy "hairy crabs" freshly caught and served on the spot

Text & Photos /Sir San Gao

This year, I couldn’t resist another crab-eating trip along the northern coast. Besides trying the Wanli crabs, I remembered reading on President Huang’s blog that he spoke highly of the hairy crabs from Jinshimen—especially now as the weather turns cooler and the roe becomes richer. That very afternoon, I called ahead to check. The farm is a bit off the beaten path, but there are signs along the way, so it’s actually quite easy to find.

Next to the farm is a separate shed where you’ll dine. First, we headed to the farming area for a look. The owner said they use no chemicals at all, relying instead on probiotics and trace elements for eco-friendly farming. He told us not to wash our hands right after eating—the residue wouldn’t feel sticky but rather powdery, and the crab oil would have a faintly fragrant aroma. It was absolutely true.

Since the larger crabs had mostly been sold earlier, the owner laughed and said each person should get at least two (though it’s not mandatory), but one just wouldn’t be enough. Later, I totally agreed with him. I picked four crabs, each around 4 liang (about 150g)—one male and one female for me. The ones weighing between 3.5–4.4 liang were NT$2,800 per catty, so four crabs came to NT$2,300. They weighed them first to confirm.

They served black sugar ginger tea to warm us up. The male crabs had white roe, while the females had rich, condensed roe that tasted incredibly creamy—arguably the best I’ve ever had—and with absolutely no fishy smell (that usual subtle odor was completely absent). Even the crab meat itself was sweet.

The female crabs were also delicious, with sweet, fragrant roe that was soft, slightly chewy, and moist—not dry and hard like some red roe. It’s a great spot well worth a special trip.

Jinshimen Hairy Crabs
Address: No. 3-2, Shitoucuo, Tunshan Li, Tamsui District, New Taipei City
Phone: 0937-528328

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