"Crab World’s Yao Ming!" Taipei’s Freshly Caught King Crab: Two Ways to Enjoy – Grilled and in Soup, Even the Broth Cooked into Congee Is Delicious

Text and Photos byNot Absolutely a Foodie

I found out about 89 Live Seafood because a long time ago, I saw an incredibly enticing report on FTV News that made me drool uncontrollably in front of the TV!(Click the link to watch the news report) Later, I made plans with friends to check it out, and we realized we could never go back to the way things were~~ This time, I came back for a second visit. In the past, I’ve had all-you-can-eat king crab, and even the frozen crab legs were enjoyable. But after trying 89’s live king crab, going back to all-you-can-eat crab buffets just feels... wrong. It’s like: This isn’t king crab~ This isn’t king crab~ This isn’t king crab at all!! 89’s king crab is absolutely, genuinely delicious!! Definitely don’t try it lightly!! (Highly addictive—proceed with caution)

This article is based on my experience during my visit and my personal preferences. Everyone has different tastes, which is why my blog and fan page are called “Not Absolutely a Foodie”! Enjoying good food is a joyful thing, so everyone, please read this article with a relaxed mindset.

Nini’s Mini Review: The king crab legs in the pot are incredibly flavorful; the thighs grilled to perfection are sweet, juicy, and absolutely divine.

The shop is named 89 Live Seafood because it’s located at No. 89 Hejiang Street.

As soon as you walk in, you’re greeted by hundreds of king crabs. They’re gigantic, outrageously huge. The owner says the smallest ones start at 8 catties, so you won’t find any small ones here. Just hearing that is exciting enough.

89’s king crabs come from the Sea of Okhotsk. They’re kept in a circulating freshwater pool supplied with pure oxygen, so you can imagine how fresh and springy the crab meat is.

The first time I came, there were four ways to enjoy the king crab: sashimi, grilled, in a hot pot, and as king crab congee. Perhaps considering that raw king crab sashimi is quite cold in nature, this time they only offered three options. The staff said they no longer had sashimi available.

The hyperactive king crab that keeps trying to crawl out shows just how lively it is.

King Crab $1200 per cattyCompared to many other freshly caught live king crabs, 89 is more affordable. There were only six diners that day, so we asked the boss to catch a slightly smaller one (8 catties 4 taels). For larger groups, you can go for a 10-catty one. We also ordered six side dishes: Thai-style sirloin, golden squid, ginger-scallion pork intestines, stir-fried clams, stir-fried water spinach with shredded pork, and oyster omelet.

The boss freshly caught a king crab and then got to work dismantling it. The knife skills were impeccable, and eating this meal didn’t require any crab utensils at all. Just follow the cuts the boss made on the crab legs, give a gentle twist, and the crab meat will “show its thigh” to you.

The crab thigh meat is thick and plump. Grilling it over high heat helps lock in the juices.

Ginger-Scallion Pork Intestines $200

The pork intestines must be cleaned thoroughly. Nini doesn’t eat intestines, but she heard from friends that this dish is great—the intestines are flavorful and tender.

Oyster Omelet $150

Nini doesn’t eat oysters either, but her friend said the oysters are very fresh. The eggs are rich in flavor, the texture is smooth and tender, and the edges have a slight hint of charred aroma.

Stir-Fried Water Spinach with Shredded Pork $220

The water spinach is crispy and delicious.

Stir-Fried Clams $280

Did anyone else notice they served clams? But clams aren’t on the menu. We all guessed the shop might have run out of clams, so they stir-fried clams instead. But we think it would’ve been better to inform customers in advance. As long as the clams are fresh, stir-fried with basil, they’ll definitely be delicious.

Thai-Style Sirloin $380

Although it’s called Thai-style, the seasoning is more like sweet-and-sour sirloin—it’s sweet, sour, and really tasty. The pork is springy and crisp, and the vinegar flavor is tangy without being overpowering.

Golden Squid $580

This dish also deserves a round of applause. Nini really loves golden-style dishes—she always orders them when eating hot pot stir-fries. The squid is stir-fried with salted egg yolk, giving it a savory umami taste that makes you want to keep eating. And unlike some stir-fry shops where the plate is swimming in oil, this one is much lighter and fresher.

And now comes the main event.King crab – $1200 per jinOn the table, Up！

This is the leg, we’ll use it for the pot later.

Just the leg is this long—Yao Ming level.

The whole table is packed full, so impressive～ In winter, I love hot pot the most. Seeing all the ingredients laid out on the table, plus the steam rising from the pot, it feels super, super happy ♥ Do you guys feel the same? The grilled king crab legs are also served up now！

As mentioned earlier, the boss has already sliced them up for you with a knife. You just need to peel it with your hands, and the shell splits in half. Then you can easily pull out the whole crab leg and pop it into your mouth—totally worth it~~ totally worth it！ The crab meat is very satisfying, one bite and you’re completely fulfilled.

It’s springy and crispy, and thanks to the high heat grilling, all the juice is locked inside the leg. When peeling, the juice keeps dripping. One bite in, as you chew, all the juices burst out from between the leg meat. It’s unbelievably sweet and delicious！

While happily enjoying the grilled crab legs, you can also toss the smaller crab legs into the pot Up！ Eat the big legs first, then the little ones—it’s a non-stop feast. No need to say much about the broth in the pot—it’ll be incredibly flavorful！ You’ll be asking for bowl after bowl, completely won over.

Don’t forget to eat the crab butt！ The staff will remind you and show you which part it is. The crab butt has a texture like squid—it’s even more springy and chewy, super tasty. And if you want to make congee at the end, you can tell the staff. They’ll ask how many bowls of rice you want. The rich king crab seafood congee gathers all the essence of the hot pot—it’s a must-try！

The grapes served after the meal weren’t an afterthought either—they were super sweet and large. Their skin was covered in bloom, and anyone who knows a bit about grapes knows that bloom is a sign of sweetness. Nini ate all the grapes that day.

After eating your fill, you can also take a photo with the king crab. The crab is so heavy it could double as a bicep workout—get a friend with good photography skills to help you～ Otherwise, you might end up holding the crab for ages and still get a bad shot.
(↓ Feels like the crab legs could wrap around me ↓)

Overall, you’ll be busy using your thumb (busy giving thumbs-up). Every stir-fried dish is delicious—I’ve been here twice and never had a bad dish. If I had to point out a flaw of 89 Live Seafood, it’s probably the service. The ideal number of diners is around 8–10 people. More people means you can try more stir-fries and share the cost of the king crab. On average, it’s about a thousand per person. (It really depends on what dishes you order.) The price is only a few hundred more than an all-you-can-eat meal. But with all-you-can-eat, the frozen crab meat is soft, mushy, and falls apart when you chew. It may sound like a good deal, but within a limited time, cracking the claws, shelling, digging out the meat, and chiseling it out takes quite a bit of effort. Ordering more often involves waiting. By the end of the meal, you don’t feel like you’ve eaten as much as you thought. So Nini stopped going for all-you-can-eat king crab. The 89 price is indeed a bit high, but for live king crab, it’s still pretty affordable. It’s perfect for family gatherings, work celebrations, year-end parties, holiday meals, and treating yourself at the end of the year！

89 Live Seafood
No. 89-1, Hejiang Street, Zhongshan District, Taipei City (near MRT Xingtian Temple and Zhongshan Junior High School stations)
02-25016167
11:30~14:00 / 17:00~22:00
FB 89 Live Seafood
(The above information is based on the visit at the time. Please check the official website for the latest updates before visiting)

Nini loves food & loves travel.
Has been to 21 countries, enjoys both independent and group travel.
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