Thank god my posse is comprised of a bunch of foodies.

 You really can’t survive on street food forever hunnies, no matter what my Taiwan posts might persuade you to believe, lol. I find it especially imperative that you travel with like-minded peeps, those who want to see what you see, eat what you eat, spend where you spend. It will make the entire trip wayyyy more efficient and enjoyable when precious time is spent together, exploring the culture and making memories in the meantime.

Our tour guide (aka OMK/ my future bro-in-law) found us a gem of an institution right in the heart of Taipei’s Fish Market for our viewing and dining pleasure. Located within the market is Addiction Aquatic Development a multi-level industrial complex housing 10 different areas within its concrete walls. From outside, it looks like just another factory warehouse, albeit brimming with lush foliage as you near the main entrance; however once you escape inside, it’s a whole ‘notha beast y’all…

Features live aquamarine products with rows and rows of fresh crab, saltwater fish, clams, scallops, pretty much anything and everything found in the neighboring seas. What you get is factory direct products delivered straight to the consumer, quality controlled for fair and reasonable pricing. Translated to USD…this place was a friggin STEAL!! Buy now, bring home and serve.

Houses a Fresh Seafood Market, much like a Taiwanese-style Whole Foods with a jam-packed STAND UP Sushi and Seafood Bar. Patrons can order sashimi and sushi straight from master chefs who do all the selecting for you for the sushi bar. The Seafood Bar, directly adjacent to the sushi, features fresh raw oysters, shrimps, crabs served up any way you like. This little corner was the busiest of the bunch. Clean, fresh, fast, and best of all, convenient….Ingenious!

Features a 2nd level Hot Pot Restaurant (above right) where YOU boil your hand-selected seafood in a bubbling seaweed-based stew. You pick the flavor of the broth (or no flavor and let the sweet juicy seafood do all the seasoning for you) and dunk your findings along with fresh veggies (sometimes with noodles) for a traditional Taiwanese meal.

Features a Charcoal Grilled Seafood Barbeque patio with the cutest setup! This open-air outdoor area was MADE for group dining with overhead string lights casting an ambient glow and tons of strategic landscaping to make the vast space still feel warm and inviting. Even in broad daylight the patio had romantic urban appeal. Such a sweet concept, might have to steal this design to inspire my next project ;D

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My FAVORITE area and where we ended up dining for the day:

You hand select your seafood from gleaming tanks of freshwater lobsters, prawns, crabs, even hand-cut steaks are available for purchase…you specify the preparation…and in just under 30 minutes their sailor-suited staff seats and serves you in a swanky restaurant complete with private dining areas to house your rambunctious squad…scoooore!

After climbing a mountain of stairs you enter upon a modern Japanese-style lobby where you are escorted to your dining room…

Tell me this is not the sexiest corridor you’ve ever seen??

Famished and HANGRY at this point!…

Meal starts with grinding fresh wasabi from the root.

We expected this to be super spicy and pungent from familiar Japanese sushi joints, however Taiwanese wasabi root is SOOOO mild in comparison, we had to add fresh chili with soy sauce for a kick.

Honkin’ platter of fresh sashimi, hand-picked from the ground level fish market, easily serves a table of 8 at just under $150USD…crazy!!!

The sashimi platter alone was priced at around $100USD but we upgraded with abalone, sea cucumbers, oysters, and some extra fixins…yes, we are piggies!

The aftermath…

No.18, Aly. 2, Ln. 410, Minzu E. Rd., Zhongshan Dist., Taipei City | TEL. 886-2-2508-1268

We spent over 5 hours here exploring the grounds, savoring the seafood, and shooting like a madwoman and STILL did not capture everything AAD had to offer. There’s also a Cooked Food DELI restaurant serving healthy lunch boxes togo, a Lifestyle retail market where you can purchase seasonings/ ingredients/ cookbooks/ dining ware/ flowers etc., a dedicated Fresh Fruit Market featuring local fruit selections either wholly fresh or freshly squeezed for your enjoyment, and lastly a Flower Market with all types of florals and decorative plants to purchase and take home.

They seriously thought of EVERYTHING here at Addiction Aquatic Development and after just one super well-spent afternoon, we were HOOKED!  If there’s any ONE place you MUST visit on your foodie venture here in Taipei, Taiwan make sure it’s Addiction!! You will NOT be disappointed!

Hope you all enjoy a splendidly savory weekend!