锦江之星 温岭大溪

In a bright, airy space that is tastefully furnished in an antique gold colour scheme, the open kitchen and live seafood tanks are the centre of attention. Popular choices include yellow croaker, pomfret and lobster –pick your favourites and have them cooked in your preferred way. Must-tries include the crispy deep-fried beltfish belly, which is packed with umami and briny sweetness. The Taizhou-style braised crushed crab is pure decadence.

You can find Xin Rong Ji in all major Chinese cities these days, but this is their longest-standing outlet (in business since 2005). As in most Taizhou-style restaurants, diners pick their own seafood from the tanks and specify how they want it cooked. All-time favourites include golden fried beltfish with delicate flesh in a crispy crust, and braised sea anemone with glass noodles, which seduces with its flavoursome broth and lovely textures.

The huge menu pasted on the wall may seem overwhelming, but the must-try for first-timers is definitely their signature noodles in ginger broth. Rather than ginger juice, the broth is slow-cooked with ginger tea that impart mellow warmth without being overly spicy. It comes with an array of shellfish, veggies, mushrooms, as well as ginger-infused fried egg. For a sweet finale, try their creamy egg custard with ground walnuts and ginger juice.

This brand with a nation-wide presence started out as a seafood stall in Linhai in 1995. Xin Rong Ji opened this branch in 2013, in a restored villa in Linhai, set amid lush greenery and boasting lake views, and it has since become a pilgrimage destination for loyal customers. The menu features the chain's classics from across the decades, including its famous braised yellow croaker with sticky rice cake, which generated much buzz in the early days.

As the owner strives to serve every Taizhou-style small dish under one roof, his menu covers much ground, from flatbread wraps and bianshi dumplings to stuffed pancakes known as maibing. But the main draw is their home-style wok-fried mochi with egg and vegetables – the sticky rice cake has a crispy crust and chewy centre. The hearty "old-town" thick soup is garnished with shepherd's purse, dried tofu, potato, ground pork and baby oysters.

This three-storey eatery, the group’s flagship, offers private rooms on the upper floors. The array of live and chilled seafood on display is quite spectacular and wild-caught fish from the East China Sea is especially prized for its outstanding quality. Braised yellow croaker with sticky rice cake unveils interesting textures and natural sweetness. Made with spring water, Ningxi tofu soaks up the flavours of shrimps and salted pork.

At this spot with a model junk boat at its door and a name that is a wish for a bountiful catch, it comes as no surprise that the freshest local seafood and fish are its strong suit, alongside Taizhou home-style classics. The bouncy-textured signature shrimp patty boasts unparalleled umami, and the steamed roe crab seduces with its buttery, gelatinous roe. Their sautéed rice cake with sea anemone comes in an umami-loaded broth with a unique briny flavour.