Island Life Taiwan is your #1 resource for all things Hualien! Our blog is loaded with informative articles by locals and our unique tours and experiences are top rated in the area. Check out all we have on offer!

Three Koalas Restaurant – Very reasonably priced American & Italian fare. Paninis, Personal Pizzas, Burgers and more. Our favorite is the steak sandwich with goat cheese and balsamic onion jam. A popular place for families.

Address: No. 122, Bo’ai Street

Farmers Kitchen – This delicious vegetarian restaurant serves a wide variety of dishes and grow their own organic produce locally. Our favorites include the spinach calzone, the Caprese salad and the chick pea cottage pie.

Address: No. 407, Zhongshan Road

Boom Burger – Affordable and tasty burgers, pizza, salads and more.  Our favorites include the mushroom burger, the Hawaiian burger with fresh pineapple and the mozzarella sticks with garlic aioli. A good late spot near-ish the train station.

Address: No. 28, Zhuangjing Road

Dos Tacos – Classic Tex Mex cuisine such as tacos, enchiladas and burritos, this fun, sociable place is great for a beer and a bite. Several Mexican beers are available in bottles, and our favorite nibbles include the giant nachos and the sizzling fajitas. Not exactly authentic Mexican food but hey, it’s Asia! Salud!

Address: No. 92, Fuxing Street

Oh La La Crepery –French Crepery near the train station. Many tasty crepes and small French dishes to choose from. We like the banana Nutella crepe and the Beef Bourguignon.

Address:  611 Zhongshan Road

Kimamaya Japanese Cuisine – This hip Japanese BBQ spot is a favorite among both locals and visitors alike. With a large menu of meats and vegetables to choose from, it’s a great place for groups to gather around a table center BBQ grill. Kimamaya uses fresh coals, not propane burners, so the flavor is better than many of the other spots locally. Our favorites are the steak and the mushrooms.

Address: No. 144, Bo’ai St.

Siam Thai Food – Delicious homestyle Thai restaurant with a limited but authentic menu. Our top choices are the Papaya Salad, the Lemon Pork Slice, the Pad Thai and the Holy Basil Pork Rice.

Address: No. 71, Fuxing Street

Sushi Express – Yes it’s a chain and yes it’s essentially “quick eats” carousel sushi, but the quality is surprisingly high and the variety excellent. At $30 TWD per plate, mix and match fresh sashimi, nigiri and specials like crab claws and grilled shrimp. Downtown location makes for convenience across the board.

Address: No. 582, Zhongzheng Rd.

Dongdamen Hualien Night Market – Located on the grounds of the old Hualien Train Station, this sprawling night market is the largest in Hualien County, and a must visit while in Hualien City. With hundreds of stalls of food, games, trinkets and more, prepare yourself for a wonderland of aromas as you pass by grilled steak and sausages, aboriginal delicacies, traditional Chinese favorites and of course… Stinky Tofu! With numerous carnival style games, this is a fun and safe place for families and all to enjoy a vibrant evening in Hualien.

Address: Located downtown off Zhongshan Road

Old Banyan Tree Restaurant –  This bustling local place has an “English” menu with pictures and dishes come in good portions for sharing. Everything is delicious as this is one of our favorite Hualien restaurants.

Address: No.69 Mingzhi Street

He Jia Huan Nan Bei Yao –  As if the name wasn’t already a mouthful, this well priced Taiwanese restaurant offers delicious meals that are a cut above the rest. From duck breast to pork feet, local greens to dumplings, this place is sure to have something for everyone. Though they don’t have an English menu yet, they do have pictures and the friendly staff are great at helping with suggestions.

Address: No. 228, Zhonghe Street

Dai Ji’s Wonton Soup – Another Hualien institution. In a town where wonton soup is considered a specialty, Dai Ji’s is widely considered the best. For 80 years this family institution has been preparing their dumpling soup and the recipe has never changed. Don’t fix what isn’t broken we suppose! With only a handful of tables, locals often sit on stools next to the shop slurping up their favorite soup after a long days work. Be sure to take advantage of the various condiments available to customize your soup with chili oil, vinegars and more!

Address: No. 120, Zhonghua Road

Zhou Steamed Dumplings – This decades old famous steamed bun shop serves a local version of Xiao Long Bao and is widely considered the best in Hualien. Grab a bag to eat on the street. Lines form on weekend evenings. Don’t forget the sauce

Address: No. 4-20, Gongzheng St.

Koufu Beef Noodles – This is a local favorite for a Taiwanese classic dish! Beef Noodles are a mainstay of Taiwanese cuisine, large bowls of simmering broth, noodles, vegetables and slow cooked beef pieces.

Address: No.533, Fujian Street

Ba Fang Yun Ji Fried Dumplings – These small chain shops of fried and steamed dumplings are inexpensive and delicious. At $5 TWD per dumpling, mix and match or try them all! Be sure to check out the sauce station as well. Veggie options available.

Address: No. 696, Zhongshan Rd. & No. 93, Guolian 3rd Rd

Wang’s Tea House – This tea house and restaurant offers relaxing atmosphere and a wide range of teas and snacks to choose from. A few set meals are available as well but most just come for the tea and tranquility. English menu available.

Address: No. 565, Zhongshan Road

Hai Po Oyster Omelet Stand – CHALLENGE FOOD ALERT! Wanna try something really different? This Hualien specialty looks like a trainwreck but is surprisingly tasty. Scrambled eggs with oysters, green onion and hot sauce. This is THE local spot.

Address: No. 88 Ziyou Street

Cifadahan Traditional Amis Restaurant – 30 minutes from Hualien but worth the trip, at this unique restaurant, one can sample some of the finest Amis aboriginal food in Taiwan. Known for their “stone soup”, this treat is prepared beside you in a large bowl made of banana leaves. Local wild vegetables, prawns and fish are added to the broth, and then large, hot stones are added to the bowl, cooking the soup right beside you! Also, you can try salt cooked whole fish prepared in charcoal, wild mountain vegetables or various other traditional dishes. Try visiting it as part of this Butterfly Valley Hot Springs & Aboriginal Food Experience.

Address: No. 16, Lane 62, Daquan Street, Guangfu Township