Bomb Scallion Cake
Egg is cracked in the center of scallion pancake, then deep-fried, named "fried egg" due to its similar pronunciation. It is a famous food in Hualien, with two shops, no genuine or counterfeit distinction, and similar taste. After being fried in high-temperature oil, the pancake emits a fragrance of scallion. When taking a bite, the runny egg yolk slowly flows into the mouth, giving a unique texture.
Fair bun shop
Famous throughout Taiwan for its delicious taste, many celebrities are fans of it (it is said that Jam Hsiao always eats it whenever he returns to Hualien). Its specialty is the small steamed buns, petite and exquisite, which are different from other baozi in terms of fillings. What makes it unique is its skin, which not only lacks the sourness of fermented dough but also has a slight sweetness.
One of the must-visit spots for food in Hualien is the main attraction of course, goose meat. The meat is very tender and many people line up for it. However, the boss is a bit capricious and in order for more customers to taste the delicacies, each table can only order one portion of goose meat. The shop's fish roe salad, rice blood cake, and braised meat noodles are also very special.
A type of wonton, Hualien flattened dumplings were originally introduced by a boss named Dai Ah-huo from Fuzhou. In 1976, Mr. Chiang Ching-kuo tasted the liquid fragrant dumplings during his inspection of Hualien, which caused a sensation. When Mr. Ma Ying-jeou visited Hualien, he also tasted this type of dumplings from the same shop.
The outer layer made from glutinous rice wraps different flavored fillings, with a sweet and not greasy texture and a chewy and energetic taste. Originally, it was a delicacy that only the indigenous people would make during festivals. Now, it has been improved and become a popular local specialty snack in Hualien.
East gate sightseeing night market
This is an integrated and planned combination of several night markets and pedestrian streets, including Fucheng Night Market and Ziqiang Night Market, as well as Indigenous Street and China's various provinces Street, making it the largest night market in Taiwan at present. The food and beverages sold here are similar to those in other night markets in Taiwan. One worth visiting is the "Indigenous Street," where grilled salted pork is a characteristic and authentic food in Hualien.
Roasted snapper in salt
The fresh and tender flavor of Taiwan sea bream is well known to many people, and Hualien's salt-roasted sea bream has become a popular food trend in Taiwan. Located in the Hualien train station square, the 9453 Beer Bar is deeply loved by locals for its salt-wrapped roasted sea bream. The salt flavor penetrates through the skin into the fish meat, with a mild and balanced taste and tender and delicious flesh. It not only attracts locals in Hualien but also many foodies from Taipei and Kaohsiung who come after hearing its reputation.
Jiaxing ice fruit store
Jiaxing Ice Fruit Shop, although located in the countryside of Hualien Xincheng Township, attracts many diners from Hualien City. Its main specialty, lemon juice, is sour and refreshing, and is the most popular item. After visiting Taroko Gorge, shared shuttle tour groups pass by this shop (local drivers all know about this small shop). If time and parking conditions permit, you can ask the driver to wait a few minutes and take the takeaway to enjoy later.
A small restaurant with good business, especially in the autumn and winter seasons. The locals in Hualien love to eat ginger duck hotpot, which has ginger duck soup base and comes in both large and small portions. You can order a variety of vegetables and meats (duck intestines, duck meatballs, tofu, bean skin, etc.) to cook in the soup. The dipping sauce is usually fermented bean curd paste, and you can enjoy the warm and happy feeling while eating.
The money is in the breakfast room
If you are a big eater with a heavy taste, you must not miss Qianji Breakfast. You can order a spicy noodle dish with a semi-cooked egg and noodles coated with a slightly oily sauce, which is the epitome of perfection. In addition, the pan-fried dumplings and pig blood soup are also must-try dishes at Qianji. Qianji is a local breakfast restaurant, so be prepared to wait in line.
Lai Cheng Pork Noodles is a local nostalgic noodle dish that Hualien people are very fond of. It has a somewhat Japanese style and the pork ribs are fried to be especially fragrant and crispy on the outside while tender on the inside. The noodles are also very chewy and have a certain resistance to them. There are also cold dishes such as golden eggs, seaweed, pig skin, and vegetables to accompany the noodles. If you like noodle dishes, you can go try it out.
Seafood Market Behind the Wharf
In the Pacific waters of Hualien, the Kuroshio current brings abundant fishing resources. Outside the whale watching pier, there are several seafood stalls and nearby restaurants that offer processing services. This is a favorite place for locals to enjoy delicious seafood, and although there are currently few tourists, the seafood here is not only fresh but also reasonably priced and worth recommending. Location: Entrance of the whale watching pier, Fengbin Township, Hualien County.
The scenery at the observation deck is very good.
Man Mei Restaurant
The first generation of the boss was a grandmother named Man Mei. She started her business by selling Yang Chun noodles and later gradually transitioned to selling Hakka-style braised pig's feet. They inherited the characteristics of Hakka cuisine, which is salty, fragrant, and oily. The taste is very authentic Taiwanese braised flavor. A bowl of fragrant pig's feet, paired with a bowl of fragrant braised pork rice, is full of happiness and flavor. This is a celebrity store, with photos of various celebrities and the boss on the walls.
This is a brand story that has lasted for over 70 years, and it displays the hardworking and resilient spirit of the people in Taiwan. In the early days, the Hualien-Taitung railway took about 8 hours to travel from Hualien to Taitung, and when passengers arrived at the Chishang station, they were all extremely hungry. At that time, the ancestors of Chishang began selling sweet potato cakes to serve the passengers in front of the station. Later, in order to sympathize with the difficulties of outsiders, they started making rice balls and selling them on the platform. Today, it has become the first brand of railway bento in Taiwan.
Royal shandong beef noodle shop
Royal Shandong Beef Noodle Restaurant is located in the town of Chenggong. Although the restaurant is small, it is well-known and has a two-generation cross-strait love story behind it. For decades, the small restaurant has insisted on hand-cutting the beef and using an original bean paste recipe with carefully brewed beef stock made from bone and beef brisket, along with a secret recipe that has been passed down for years. These elements create a bowl of soup with a clear taste and strong aroma, as well as tender and chewy beef noodles.
