The Best Food Guide to Hualien: 7 Must-Eat Delicacies!

With its dramatic mountains, rugged Pacific coastline and easy access to the natural beauty of eastern Taiwan, Hualien has plenty to keep outdoor lovers occupied. Yet its scenery is only part of the reason to visit.

The city also has a food scene worth building an itinerary around. Beyond familiar Taiwanese favourites such as stinky tofu and oyster omelettes, you will find long-running restaurants, beloved street-food stalls and local specialities that travellers continue to queue for.

Arrive hungry and work your way through these must-eat delicacies in Hualien.

1. Steamed goose at Mr. Goose

Image credit: Wei-Te Wong

Goose may be commonly roasted elsewhere in Asia, but Mr. Goose takes a lighter approach to the meat.

Its signature goose is gently cooked before being sliced and served with shredded ginger and a savoury dipping sauce. The result is tender and succulent, with a cleaner flavour than the deeply roasted versions many diners may be accustomed to.

The ginger provides a sharp contrast to the richness of the meat, while the sauce adds just enough saltiness to bring everything together. Order a plate to share, especially if you are travelling as a group.

Mr. Goose has been serving diners in Hualien since 1983 and now offers far more than its namesake dish. Depending on the menu available during your visit, you may also find seafood, stir-fried dishes, goose-oil rice and other Taiwanese specialities.

2. Fresh mochi at Tzen Chi Mochi

Image credit: Tzen Chi Mochi website

Hualien is closely associated with mochi, making this chewy rice cake one of the most popular edible souvenirs to bring home.

Tzen Chi Mochi, also known as Tzen Mochi or 曾記麻糬, is one of the city’s best-known producers. Its traditional mochi comes with soft, springy skin wrapped around fillings such as red bean, sesame, peanut and other familiar Taiwanese dessert flavours.

Fresh mochi offers the most satisfyingly tender texture, but it also has a relatively short shelf life. Check the packaging and storage instructions before buying several boxes, particularly when you still have a long journey ahead.

Besides traditional mochi, the brand sells a broad selection of Hualien snacks and souvenirs, including sweet potato pastries, taro treats, pineapple cakes and mochi-based creations. Just try not to finish everything before returning home.

3. Juicy pork buns at Gong Zheng Bao Zi

Image credit: Kenneth Lu

Do not be surprised when the “xiao long bao” at Gong Zheng Bao Zi arrives looking more like a small steamed bun.

Unlike the delicate, thin-skinned soup dumplings associated with Shanghai, Hualien’s version features a thicker and fluffier exterior surrounding a juicy minced-pork filling. The substantial dough makes each piece soft, pillowy and surprisingly filling.

These buns are inexpensive, straightforward and immensely comforting, which explains why queues frequently form outside the shop.

Round out your order with steamed dumplings, boiled dumplings or a warming bowl of soup. Gong Zheng Bao Zi is one of Hualien’s most recognisable snack stops, but nearby establishments serve similar buns too, giving you ample opportunity to compare different versions.

4. Oyster omelette at Hai-Pu

Image credit: Xavier Lin

Oyster omelettes can be found across Taiwan, but Hai-Pu Oyster Omelette has become one of Hualien’s most enduring versions.

The dish combines eggs, oysters, leafy vegetables and starch to produce a texture that lies somewhere between crispy, gooey and chewy. It is then finished with the stall’s savoury-sweet sauce, which coats the omelette and brings all the components together.

Hai-Pu prepares its omelettes in small batches, so the queue may move more slowly than expected. Watch the cooks at work while waiting and enjoy the plate while it is still piping hot.

The stall has been part of Hualien’s food scene for decades. Its menu is focused rather than extensive, so come specifically for the oyster omelette instead of expecting a full restaurant meal.

5. Pork Rib Noodles

Image credit: Wei-Te Wong

For something more substantial, sit down to a bowl of Hualien’s comforting pork-rib noodles.

At Jing Xiang Pork Rib Noodles, tender pieces of pork rib are paired with springy noodles and a deeply savoury broth. A dry version may also be available for diners who prefer their noodles coated in sauce rather than submerged in soup.

The ribs are usually cooked until soft enough to pull easily away from the bone, making this the sort of warming, unfussy meal that feels especially satisfying after a long day of sightseeing.

Another long-standing choice is Lai Cheng Pork Rib Noodles, which has served Hualien diners since 1948. Its pork-rib noodle soup features an old-fashioned broth made with pork and chicken bones, accompanied by fried or braised pork ribs and noodles.

Look out for braised eggs and other side dishes to complete the meal. Both shops have their own loyal followers, so serious noodle enthusiasts may want to try each before choosing a favourite.

6. Scallion pancakes at Lao Pai

Image credit: Chen Ying-Cheng

Hualien’s fried egg scallion pancakes have become almost as famous as some of its major attractions.

Unlike the flatter and drier scallion pancakes found elsewhere, this version is plunged into hot oil until its exterior turns crisp and blistered. An egg is fried alongside it, preferably with the yolk left gloriously runny, before everything is folded together.

The contrast is the entire point: crunchy dough, chewy inner layers and rich egg yolk spilling out with the first bite.

Several popular stalls operate around Fuxing Street, including the easily recognised yellow truck frequently associated with Hualien’s most famous version. Nearby stalls sell their own interpretations, and the queues can stretch along the street during busy periods.

Order it spicy for an extra kick, then lean forward before taking a bite unless you want egg yolk decorating your clothes.

7. Coffin Toast at Chiang Family’s Coffin Toast

Image credit: Chiang Family Coffin Toast Facebook

Despite its dramatic name, coffin toast is considerably more appetising than it sounds.

This Taiwanese snack consists of a thick piece of bread that is fried or toasted, hollowed out and filled with a savoury mixture. A separate piece of bread is placed over the opening like a lid, giving the dish its coffin-like appearance.

The snack originated in Tainan, but Hualien has developed its own popular versions. At Chiang Family Coffin Toast in Dongdamen Night Market, diners can choose from an assortment of fillings rather than being limited to the traditional creamy stew.

Depending on the menu, options may include black-pepper pork, seafood, chicken, cheese and other rich combinations. The crisp bread gradually absorbs the sauce inside, creating a satisfying mixture of crunchy and soft textures.

Dongdamen Night Market has hundreds of stalls spread across several sections, so save room to sample grilled meats, indigenous Taiwanese dishes, fruit drinks and other snacks while you are there.

More Hualien foods worth trying

Seven dishes barely scratch the surface of what Hualien has to offer. While exploring the city, keep an eye out for wontons, peeled-chilli dishes, indigenous Taiwanese cuisine, grilled meat skewers and pastries made with Hualien sweet potatoes or taro.

Dongdamen Night Market is an easy place to sample several snacks in one evening, while the streets around central Hualien are dotted with modest eateries that have served local residents for generations.

Business hours can change, and some traditional shops close once they sell out. Check the latest listing before travelling across town and carry cash, as smaller stalls may not accept international cards.

Hualien’s mountains and coastline may draw you to eastern Taiwan, but its food gives you another reason to stay. Between the tender goose, chewy mochi and dangerously runny egg pancakes, one visit may not be enough to taste everything.