Experience the thrill of cracking crabs and shrimp with your hands—Taipei now offers the overseas “Crack Seafood”!

▲A seafood feast piled high on an iron plate—what a treat. (Photo/From theThe Shrimp Daddy Seafood RestaurantFacebook fan page)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

Giant plastic bags are filled to the brim with mussels, king crab legs, lobsters, and more. After being seasoned specially, they’re poured directly onto an iron plate—this super generous seafood feast makes your mouth water just by looking at it. Netizens who’ve tried it all say it’s incredibly satisfying.

▲Celebrity Kate Yeung is also a fan of “The Shrimp Daddy.” (Photo/From theThe Shrimp Daddy Seafood RestaurantFacebook fan page)

This American-style “The Shrimp Daddy,” located near Taipei’s Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall MRT Station, gained fame after being featured by Fashion Guide and other media. Even celebrities and basketball stars are fans—it specializes in the traditional yet unique overseas “Crack Seafood.”

“Crack Seafood” refers to large portions of seafood that are blanched, then tossed with the restaurant’s signature sauce and shaken slightly inside a plastic bag to absorb the flavors. The seafood is then poured onto an iron plate. Diners can use tools provided by the restaurant, such as hammers and scissors, to crack open the shells. This style of dining is very popular in regions like California and Vancouver.


▲The restaurant brings this unique foreign dining style to Taipei—you no longer have to travel abroad to enjoy it.

Here you can savor a variety of delicious seafood, including mussels, white shrimp, grass shrimp, Boston lobsters, scallops, king crab legs, oysters, and squid—making it a seafood lover’s paradise. When the server pours the enticing food from the bag, it piles up into a small mountain of seafood on the plate, filling the air with an irresistible aroma.

Fresh, plump seafood, enhanced with flavorful sauces, bursts with rich taste. Take a hearty bite, and the sweet, juicy flavor explodes in your mouth. Diners keep eating non-stop, their hands busy cracking and cutting.

▲Even though the prices are high, crowds often flock here—proving the appeal of these generous seafood feasts. (Photo/From theThe Shrimp Daddy Seafood RestaurantFacebook fan page)

However, enjoying this lavish seafood feast comes at a cost. There are three set meal options: “Date Night,” “The Good Life,” and “Party Time.” The cheapest starts at around NT$1,200, which is not cheap. Those wanting to try it should be prepared to spend quite a bit—the experience is worthwhile depending on your perspective.

The Shrimp Daddy
Address: 1F, No. 11, Lane 180, Guangfu S. Rd., Da’an District, Taipei City
Phone: 02-2771-0910
Business Hours: Tue–Fri: 17:30–23:00 / Sat–Sun: 11:30–23:00