By KHT Staff. Pingtung County Government photos.
PINGTUNG — Pingtung eel is appearing in a limited-edition Taiwan Railway bento available at 13 sales locations across Taiwan through Oct. 5.
The Pingtung County Government (屏東縣政府) and Taiwan Railway Corporation (臺灣鐵路公司) launched the NT$250 “Eel Moon Reunion” bento (鰻月團圓便當) Tuesday as part of a Mid-Autumn Festival campaign promoting the county’s seafood industry.
Each meal contains eel prepared in two styles. Kabayaki is grilled with a familiar sweet and savory glaze, while shirayaki is lightly grilled without the heavier sauce, allowing more of the fish’s natural flavor to come through.
Pingtung County Magistrate Chou Chun-mi (周春米) suggested eating the shirayaki first and then the more strongly flavored kabayaki.
The bentos are being sold in limited quantities during lunchtime. Southern Taiwan sales points include the east-side bento counter at Kaohsiung Station, the Fongshan Taiwan Railway Bento Experience Store, Xinzuoying Station, and the Taiwan Railway counter at Zuoying HSR Station.
Other participating locations include four counters at Taipei Main Station and outlets at Banqiao, Hsinchu, Taichung, Changhua and HSR Xinwuri stations. The announced sales list does not include a location in Pingtung County.
Customers purchasing the bento during the Mid-Autumn holiday will also receive a Pingtung seafood shopping bag while supplies last.
Pingtung has produced eel commercially for more than half a century. The county is also home to many of the businesses involved in processing, cold-chain transportation and exports, creating an industry that extends beyond fish farming itself.
Japan is Taiwan’s largest export market for eel. Ministry of Agriculture (農業部) Secretary-General Lin Chia-jung (林家榮) said the value of Taiwan’s eel exports during the first eight months of 2026 increased by more than 30 percent from the same period last year.
The bento was unveiled at Taipei Main Station alongside dishes featuring other Pingtung products, including grouper, barramundi, Thai shrimp, duck eggs, bananas, cocoa and red beans.
County officials said the railway partnership is intended to introduce local seafood to a broader domestic market while helping Pingtung producers expand into processed and branded products.
