Algal Fun on Peace Island: Spicy & Healthy Seaweed Stinky Tofu Hotpot

Reporter Zhu [Name obscured]

Visiting Peace Island in Keelung, you can see waves crashing against the wave-cut platform, where a few mothers can be spotted bending over to pick fresh seaweed. This is a unique sight on Peace Island. Thanks to the constant sea breeze, the island boasts an abundance of algae. The restaurant "Algal Fun" at Sea Corner Paradise on Peace Island makes the most of this resource, using seaweed as a main ingredient to create dishes like seaweed stinky tofu and seaweed juice, attracting many visitors.

The seaweed stinky tofu contains no fish paste or greasy broth, offering a spicy yet refreshingly balanced flavor. (Photo / Reporter Zhu [Name obscured])

Looking out from "Algal Fun," you’ll enjoy the beautiful sea and sky, with many visitors playing nearby—savoring delicious food while admiring the scenery is truly a delight.

Peace Island is home to many algae species, such as nori, hair seaweed, deer horn seaweed, stone flower seaweed, and red beard moss, which also attract various marine life. With seasonal changes, you might spot hairtail, mackerel, or even lobsters. Many locals come here to swim and fish. To promote Peace Island’s specialty—seaweed—Yang Liling, deputy manager of "Algal Fun," came up with the idea of incorporating algae into cuisine, developing a series of hot dishes, cold drinks, and souvenirs.

With so many seaweed-based options, diners often take their time deciding what to order.

Looking up at the extensive seaweed menu can be overwhelming. Yang Liling says, "Many people are hesitant about algae-based foods because of their unusual appearance, and traditional algae dishes often have a fishy taste, making them less appealing. So, we focus on eliminating the fishiness. Here, you can enjoy the unique aroma and texture of seaweed. Plus, algae are rich in gelatin, aid digestion, and are great for beauty."

Yang Liling highly recommends the blue-green algae juice. Its deep green color may look intimidating at first, with tiny psyllium seeds floating on top. But one sip reveals a cool, sweet-and-sour taste that overpowers any seaweed fishiness, while the psyllium adds a layered texture and aids digestion—making it hard to stop at just one. It’s priced at NT$80 per cup. The taro ball bird’s nest jelly is another signature dessert. Don’t confuse this "bird’s nest" with the traditional kind—it’s made from a type of algae called sea bird’s nest, resulting in a smooth, non-fishy jelly. Paired with the sweetness of taro balls and the richness of milk, you could easily enjoy three bowls in the summer heat. It’s NT$70 per bowl.

The blue-green algae juice is cool, sweet-and-sour, with psyllium adding texture and aiding digestion while keeping you full. I want to buy a whole bucket to take home!

When the steaming hot stinky tofu hotpot arrives, the NT$150 price tag is well worth it for the generous portion. But this stinky tofu is different—the original toppings are replaced with a generous helping of seaweed. The broth is a clear, algae-based soup with a touch of chili oil for flavor, so you no longer have to worry about greasy soup when eating stinky tofu. Another dish, the seaweed cold noodles, is a great choice for women trying to lose weight, available in shrimp or vegetarian versions (NT$130 and NT$150, respectively). The noodles are topped with a variety of seaweed and flying fish roe, and even the noodle base is processed with seaweed, giving it a particularly chewy texture. A hint of sesame sauce enhances the flavor, so you can eat as much as you like without worrying about calories.

What a colorful plate of seaweed cold noodles—the seaweed itself is the most vibrant garnish.

Store Information:

Algal Fun:No. 360, Pingyi Road, Zhongzheng District, Keelung City, within Sea Corner Paradise on Peace Island

Business Hours:10:00-20:00

Phone:02-2462-6199

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