Kexian Grilled Oyster Dongshi Buffet

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 long-running shared-plates house near Chiayi Station, Tao Cheng Gu Wei specializes in traditional Taiwanese banquet cooking and ban-zhuo feasts, renowned for sky-high CP value. Old-school dishes arrive in generous portions, with a dozen capelin sometimes ringing in at just NT$120 and a bowl of soup at NT$10. The restaurant relocated from the tourist fish market to No. 121 You-xiao Road, West District, where it hosts family dinners and wedding banquets in unpretentious surrounds, with quality that earns steady local and traveler praise.

Yu Xiang Tea Shop, a Chiayi West District fixture, has built its reputation on grapefruit green tea and orange green tea. The modest storefront draws early-morning weekday lines and weekend reservations, with drinks served at the signature half-sugar, less-ice golden ratio using real fruit pulp for a clean, refreshing finish. Hours run 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays and till 9 p.m. on weekends (closed Mondays and Tuesdays), offering takeout and on-site sipping near the Culture Road Night Market.

Zhi Geng Niao Chao Fresh Fruit Tea is a Chiayi hand-shake darling built on grapefruit green tea and a fresh-fruit lineup. Sourced from old-tree Chiayi grapefruit, fruit pulp fills roughly 80 percent of each cup, hand-peeled and cut for a juicy mouthfeel that meets smooth green tea with a gently tart-sweet finish. The brand runs outlets on Guohua Road (closed Sundays) and Minzu Road (closed Mondays), opening around 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Large-size options and friendly prices make it a CP-value must for residents and tourists alike.

A 60-plus-year veteran of the Culture Road Night Market, A-E Soy Milk Dou Hua specializes in tofu pudding bathed in soy milk, with toppings such as peanut, red bean, barley, mung bean and tapioca pearls. The silken texture and balanced sweetness pair beautifully with crispy youtiao or hot soy milk, endearing it to locals and visitors alike. After a 2023 Yanping Street fire, the stall relocated to a nearby new storefront with both indoor and outdoor seating, with a bowl running NT$35-40, making it one of the night market's most affordable treats.

A 40-year-old East Market landmark, A-Fu Wang Si Meat Roll wraps a generous filling of pork, onion, fish paste, water chestnut, jicama, carrot and celery in hand-laid pork caul fat, deep-fried to a golden crisp. Each hefty, juice-packed roll is limited to two per customer, so lines form early. At about NT$80 a piece, it is a beloved breakfast or late-night must for locals and tourists, with the market's lively atmosphere adding to the experience even without posted hours.

Hidden in an alley in Chiayi West District, A-De Shi Turkey Rice operates out of the ground floor of the owner's townhouse, slinging turkey rice over rice with a self-serve side bar. The vibe is warm and neighborly, drawing mostly locals. Turkey meat stars, joined by wok-fried vegetables and fried pork chops at friendly prices - a single turkey rice is about NT$40, or guests can pick three sides for a bento box. Parking and seating are limited, but the friendly owner and aromatic, oil-light fare make it a true Chiayi taste.

Beside Chiayi Culture Park, Huang Ji Cold Noodles has earned a four-decade-old reputation for cold noodles and cold meat-balls defined by a unique white-vinegar (mayonnaise-style) sauce. The signature cold noodles use flat yellow noodles for a refreshing bite, joined by cold rou-yuan, century-egg tofu, and fen-guo ice for a full heat-busting lineup. The shop is clean, with free tea for dine-in customers and a takeout menu, drawing both locals and tourists back for the unmistakable flavor and longtime heritage.

On the first floor of No. 281 Section 2, Bo-ai Road, West District, Dookki Chiayi serves all-you-can-eat Korean tteokbokki hot pot. Guests mix and match rice cakes, odeng, fried snacks, Korean fried chicken, fish cake, instant noodles and DIY fried rice from a constantly restocked bar. Two pricing tiers - roughly NT$299 and NT$350 - both include hot pot, fried items and the自助 bar. The roomy, uncrowded space and warm table-side explanations make it ideal for friends and family gatherings.

At No. 520 Ren-ai Road, West District, Jing-He Hot Pot Chiayi is a popular all-you-can-eat destination with multiple broth options and a playful cotton-candy and sugar-painting自助 bar that turns dessert into entertainment. Prices start at NT$288 on weekdays, averaging NT$540, and hours stretch to 2 a.m., perfect for late-night feasts. Reservations open at 05-2230068, and the spot suits diners who love the fusion of creative hot pot with playful sweets.

Gu-chuan Sukiyaki in Chiayi County is a wallet-friendly all-you-can-eat spot built on two broths - sukiyaki and kelp - with unlimited pork, beef, vegetable platters, white rice, free red tea and Xiao-mei ice cream. Weekday lunch sits at NT$320 per person, dinner and holidays at NT$350, with two sharing one pot and a 90-minute limit. Meals center on sliced meats; seafood and premium meats cost extra, and food waste incurs a surcharge, perfect for budget-minded diners who want meat and sides in one sitting.

Hao-Ke Yakiniku's Chiayi branch recently relocated from Showtime to beside the Far Eastern department store with a full upgrade. The all-you-can-eat yakiniku runs in two tiers - a NT$668 entry plan and a NT$988 premium feast - both bundled with the自助 bar, varied seafood, wagyu and other high-quality proteins. Guests grill for 120 minutes, with hot pot, Coldstone ice cream and other self-serve desserts in rotation. Birthdays booked online enjoy 75-85 percent discounts, and vegetarian needs can be arranged in advance, suiting travelers and locals seeking value-driven yakiniku.

On the ground floor of the Zun Huang Hotel in Chiayi County, Zun Huang Xiang Pot serves all-you-can-eat hot pot and Japanese-style sukiyaki. Multiple broths, wagyu, seafood and a well-stocked自助 bar anchor the spread, with fresh ingredients and wide selection suiting families, company dinners and senior diners alike. Weekday prices start at NT$398 with a 90-minute limit; weekends tend to draw queues, so reservations are recommended.

At No. 222 Bao-sheng Street, Minxiong Township, Chuan Mu Yakiniku runs a dual all-you-can-eat of grilled meats and hot pot. Adult pricing is NT$599, children from NT$239, including assorted meats, seafood and a自助 bar, plus Häagen-Dazs ice cream. A QR-code ordering system keeps ordering and serving quick, suiting family dinners, friend meet-ups and group banquets.