Chiayi CountyEat Recommendations
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Ke Rou Stone Pot's Xing-jia second-gen branch at No. 504 Xing-ye West Road, West District, runs a hot pot buffet stocked with nearly 100 ingredients - meats, vegetables, sauces, rice and noodles, and desserts - sourced fresh and varied. Broths lean on sesame oil and Brazil mushroom bases, suiting fans of自助 pots. Hours stretch from midday to 2 a.m., with set meals starting at NT$398 and an average check of about NT$511. The roomy interior and easy parking make it a solid pick for group dinners or late-night feasts.
Yi-Xiao-Guo Hot Pot, Ren-Ai Branch, at No. 452 Ren-Ai Road in Chiayi City runs on a help-yourself buffet model. A single pot starts around NT$170-180 and unlocks more than 20 soup bases plus a full self-serve spread of sides, vegetables, and ice cream, with extras like buy-one-get-one-free pork slices and raw scallops running on rotation. The two-storey layout fits gatherings and family meals, the shop opens at 10 AM for the lunch rush on weekdays, and it has become a reliable wallet-friendly pick near Chiayi Station thanks to the sheer variety of broths and the high value per dollar.
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Liu Li-zhang Chicken Rice on Gongming Road is one of Chiayi's most iconic turkey-rice institutions. Tender shredded turkey bathed in light, fragrant shallot oil draws tourists and locals alike, with crowds forming daily; non-peak hours are far easier to score a seat. The delicate, low-grease seasoning splits online opinions but wins over purists, and the menu adds cold plates and milkfish soup. Friendly service and an overseas Japanese following make it a must-try Chiayi classic.
Open since 1992, Sheng Yi Dou Hua at No. 413 Zhongzheng Road, West District, is a 30-plus-year handmade douhua landmark. The silken tofu is paired with house-made sweet potato balls, taro balls, fen-guo, and topping-heavy snow ice like noodle-tea douhua. The fine texture and balanced sweetness win both residents and travelers, while creative icy desserts and traditional snacks round out the menu, making it a must-stop treat near the Culture Road shopping belt and night market.
Also known as Xin-wei-xiang Sausage Shop, this sixty-plus-year veteran sits beside the South Gate roundabout on Gonghe Road, East District. Charcoal-grilled sorghum sausage, emperor-bean large intestine, and house sticky-rice sausage arrive heavy on garlic, dense in bite, and rich with charcoal smoke. Lines form despite a roughly one-hour service window, thanks to the handmade heritage flavor that earns it a permanent slot on Chiayi must-eat lists as a quick afternoon or late-night fill-up.
Tucked in an alley beside Chiayi Station's rear Exit 2, this low-key seafood eatery is a local cult favorite. Fresh catches anchor the menu, with stir-fries, seafood soups and seafood sausages served in generous portions at friendly prices, ideal for group meals or quick post-train bites. Without a fixed menu, guests pick from the day's catch on ice, and the owner-cook offers tailored recommendations, so each visit feels like a delicious surprise. Underground parking makes driving equally easy.
In Minxiong Township, Songshan Earth-Oven Mutton slow-cooks male lamb aged eight months to a year using the ancient pit-oven method: meat, herbs, rice wine and red clay sealed underground for three days and nights. The resulting broth is rich, herbal and fragrant; the lamb falls apart on the tongue, perfect with a side of oil-tossed vermicelli. A roughly NT$1,500 set for two anchors the menu, with à la carte available. Featured by Netflix's Street Food, it is a Chiayi must-eat where diners can watch the ovens being unsealed.
A 60-plus-year Chiayi institution at No. 361 Zhongzheng Road near the Culture Road Night Market, Lin Cong Ming serves a beloved sand-pot fish head and winter-vegetable shrimp soup. The broth is deep and savory, the fish tender, and dine-in customers enjoy free refills, endearing it to tourists and locals alike. Hours run 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and weekend queues of about 20 minutes have themselves become part of the experience. Affordable and shareable, it is a must-eat Chiayi landmark.