A xiaolongbao and steamed-dumpling shop on Gongzheng Street, with bamboo steamers stacked high out front. The xiaolongbao have a fluffy, bun-like dough and plenty of juice; I had them with hot and sour soup. Gongzheng Baozi, whose sign hung next door, has since moved to No. 46, Renai St.
No. 4-20, Gongzheng St., Hualien City, Hualien County, Taiwan
Sources: supertaste.tvbs.com.tw travel.yam.com supertaste.tvbs.com.tw
This moment in the journey
Fluffy xiaolongbao
Next on Hualien's menu: xiaolongbao. After dark, I walked to neon-lit Gongzheng Street, where bamboo steamers were stacked high at the shopfront and clouds of steam rose into the night. The sight alone was exciting.
The xiaolongbao here at Zhou Jia (周家) have a fluffy dough, more like a steamed bun. One bite and a rich, concentrated meat juice bursts out and soaks into the soft dough. Every mouthful was delicious. I could eat these forever.
A bowl of deep-flavored hot and sour soup calmed me down. Next door hung the sign of Gongzheng Baozi (公正包子店), which has since moved to Renai Street.
Watch this scene on YouTube4:28
More notes from this journey
Hualien, Taiwan
Breakfast of purple waxy corn and Taiwanese sweet potato
In Taiwan, breeders have developed sweet waxy corn that carries both sweet kernels and sticky waxy kernels on a single cob.
From: Hualien: the sea and delicious everyday life
Hualien, Taiwan
Taiwanese instant zhajiangmian set
Wei Lih zhajiangmian is an instant dry noodle launched in Taiwan in 1973 by Wei Lih Food Industrial.
From: Hualien: the sea and delicious everyday life
Hualien, Taiwan
Pine Garden (松園別館)
A military facility from the Japanese colonial era, built in 1942 on a hill overlooking Hualien Port.
From: Hualien: the sea and delicious everyday life
Hualien, Taiwan
Dongdamen Night Market and Indigenous Street
Hualien City's big night market.
From: Hualien: the sea and delicious everyday life
Hualien, Taiwan
Maqaw (馬告), the mountain pepper
Maqaw is the Atayal word for the mountain pepper native to Taiwan.
From: Hualien: the sea and delicious everyday life
Hualien, Taiwan
Bianshi, the wontons of Hualien
In Hualien you see bianshi (wonton) shops all over town.
From: Hualien: the sea and delicious everyday life
More notes from Overseas
Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu
Longsilog
Silog is the name for a family of Filipino breakfasts built on garlic fried rice and a fried egg; the name changes with what comes alongside.
From: Everyday life on Mactan Island
Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu
Pancit canton (from instant noodles)
Pancit, noodles brought to the Philippines by Chinese immigrants, has become a full part of Filipino cooking.
From: Everyday life on Mactan Island
Hsinchu, Taiwan
Xian doujiang (savory soy milk soup)
A classic Taiwanese breakfast.
From: An apartment in Hsinchu and the steam of the night market
Hsinchu, Taiwan
Hsinchu rice vermicelli (instant)
Hsinchu rice vermicelli has a history of more than 150 years.
From: An apartment in Hsinchu and the steam of the night market
Somerset Region, Queensland
Bacon and eggs with the owner's fresh eggs
Eggs fresh from the farm owner's hens, fried in an iron pan alongside bacon.
From: Borrowing a small house in the Australian countryside
Somerset Region, Queensland
Barbecued kangaroo steak
Kangaroo from the town butcher, grilled on the barbecue in the yard.
From: Borrowing a small house in the Australian countryside