When it comes to Hualien xiaolongbao, it may not be as famous as Din Tai Fung, but this railway city in eastern Taiwan actually hides many flavors that locals have enjoyed since childhood. The development of Hualien xiaolongbao is closely tied to the early immigrant history—residents who migrated from western Taiwan to Hualien in the military dependents' villages brought the craft of Jiangsu-Zhejiang style buns to the east coast, gradually evolving into Hualien's own version of soup dumpling culture. Unlike Taipei's refined approach emphasizing thin skins and bursting juice, Hualien xiaolongbao is more generous with slightly thicker skins, and the filling seasoning leans closer to Taiwanese local taste. Some shops even add local ingredients like Sanxing green onions or vegetables from the Chikeshan Mountain in Yuli, creating a unique "floral salty" flavor.
The distribution of Hualien xiaolongbao shops follows a geographical logic. They are mainly concentrated around the old train station area on Zhongshan Road and Chongqing Road, as well as the newer commercial district near Tzuchi University of Science and Technology. There's an interesting phenomenon among these xiaolongbao shops: many start making the dough and wrapping fillings in the early morning hours to ensure the soup is at its most flavorful for the morning market. Due to Hualien's tourism industry characteristics, these long-established shops serve primarily local residents and early-morning hikers, creating a unique breakfast culture.
【Recommended Shops】
Da Yu Wang Pork Rib Noodles: This longstanding shop in front of Hualien Train Station has xiaolongbao as an unexpected specialty. The shop uses natural fermentation with traditional yeast, giving the dough a subtle sweet aroma. The filling is made from ground pork hind leg meat, with clear yet rich-tasting soup. A serving of ten xiaolongbao paired with spicy and sour soup is a breakfast memory for many Hualien locals. The owner insists on starting to roll the dough at five in the morning, saying "the soul of xiaolongbao lies in the dough—only when the dough is right can it hold the soup." Address: No.287, Section 1, Zhongshan Road, Hualien City. Price: approximately NT$60-80 per serving.
Gongzheng Street Bun Shop: This unmarked hidden shop sits in an alley on Gongzheng Street but is well-known among locals. The owners are an elderly couple who have been making xiaolongbao for over thirty years, starting preparations at three in the morning. Their xiaolongbao are particularly large, and one bite reveals a distinct peppery spiciness—this is their biggest difference from other xiaolongbao on the market—they use white pepper from Gukeng, Yunlin, rather than pre-made seasoning powder. A small amount of pork skin gel has been added to the filling, giving the soup a浆-like consistency. They usually sell out after two in the afternoon, so early birds get the best picks. Address: No.5, Lane 23, Gongzheng Street, Hualien City. Price: approximately NT$70 for ten pieces.
Nameless Stall at Golden Triangle Commercial District: This nameless stall operates under the arcade of the Golden Triangle Commercial District, only opening in the evening. The current operator is the second-generation heir, originally his father sold from a pushcart. Their xiaolongbao have exceptionally thin skins, where you can almost see the color of the filling, and they don't burst or leak soup after being steamed. Their sauce is homemade garlic soy sauce mixed with a bit of black vinegar, achieving a well-balanced sweet-and-sour taste. A serving of eight costs approximately NT$50, making it a popular budget food in the area.
Fujian Street Cai Mama Pan-Fried Buns: Although the shop name says pan-fried buns, their soup dumplings are quite famous too. Different from regular xiaolongbao, these buns are half-steamed and half-fried, giving the bottom a crispy texture. They come with a small dish of shredded ginger and soy sauce for customers to mix as they prefer. Regular customers say these xiaolongbao have "two layers—the top skin is soft while the bottom skin is crispy, creating a very special texture." Address: No.115, Fujian Street, Hualien City. Price: approximately NT$12-15 per pan-fried bun, NT$60 per serving of xiaolongbao.
Meilun Morning豆浆 Shop: This豆浆 shop near the Meilun area is famous for its breakfast-time crowds. Their xiaolongbao are available in limited quantities, determined by the amount of ground pork they procure each day. They use fresh pork from that same day without any artificial additives, so the soup naturally congeals into a meat jelly texture after cooling. This meticulous ingredient selection means although their xiaolongbao aren't large in size, they have an especially meaty texture. Office workers in the Meilun district喜欢外帶一盒配上豆漿，作為一天的開始。 Address: No.88, Zhongmei Road, Hualien City. Price: approximately NT$80 for ten pieces.
【Practical Information】
Most of these xiaolongbao shops operate mainly in the morning to afternoon hours. It's recommended to visit before 10 AM to get the freshest batches. Since many are family-run operations, they often close up shop once they've sold out in the afternoon. In terms of pricing, Hualien xiaolongbao generally cost between NT$50-100 per serving (8-12 pieces), making it a very affordable,budget-friendly culinary experience. Transportation options include walking or riding ubike from Hualien Train Station to each recommended location. The main clusters are around Zhongshan Road, Gongzheng Street, and the Golden Triangle Commercial District, with travel time around 5-15 minutes.
【Travel Tips】
The taste of Hualien xiaolongbao represents a different kind of enjoyment compared to Taipei's refined xiaolongbao—here, the emphasis is on the seasoning of the filling and the chewy texture of the dough, rather than extremely thin skins and scalding broth. For comparison, try ordering a serving of xiaolongbao with a bowl of tofu soup—this is the local标配的吃法。 Additionally, many xiaolongbao shops only accept cash, so it's advisable to bring smallchange. Some longtime establishments don't support mobile payment either, which is part of experiencing old-school Hualien.
