A generous serving of pork meatball soup paired with freshly fried Longfeng Legs—dousing them in chili sauce is how the pros do it.

▲Longfeng Legs coated with a layer of sauce alongside meatball soup.

Text and photos by Nine-Five Nasty Wife

Have you ever heard of “Longfeng Legs”? This Taiwanese snack evolved from chicken rolls and is mainly made with ingredients like cabbage and fish paste. Because of their resemblance to small chicken drumsticks, they’re called Longfeng Legs. In Hualien, there’s a restaurant called Zhang’s Meatball Soup that sells not only traditional snacks like meatball soup and braised pork rice but also offers Longfeng Legs, which have become a must-order favorite among regulars.

Although the restaurant specializes in traditional snacks, Zhang’s has still set up a spacious dining area. At the open kitchen counter by the entrance, aside from watching the staff prepare various snacks, you can also see golden fried meat rolls and Longfeng Legs waiting to come out of the deep fryer—absolutely mouthwatering.

▲Golden-fried meat rolls and Longfeng Legs in the oil vat, extremely tempting.

The Longfeng Legs at Zhang’s Meatball Soup are all freshly made and deep-fried. The expert way to enjoy them is to drizzle a spoonful of savory sauce before topping it off with a layer of special chili sauce. The freshly fried Longfeng Legs have slightly crispy exteriors, and when coated with sauce, they gain a moist texture. Take a big bite, and your mouth is hit with a delightful mix of numbness and aroma—it’s extremely satisfying. The star ingredient, cabbage, is cut into sizable chunks, maintaining both texture and its natural sweetness, which complements the slightly salty sauce. Despite its simplicity, it’s incredibly tasty with an authentic, rustic charm—no wonder every customer ends up with one in hand.

▲The pork meatballs in the soup are hearty, and the broth is refreshingly light.

As for the meatball soup, which the shop proudly advertises as “Hualien’s only pure pork meatball soup,” although it may look lightly colored, it contains shredded bamboo shoots, carrots, and celery that add a nice crunch. The soup has a moderately thickened consistency, making it pleasantly refreshing. The varying sizes of meatball pieces add up to around seven or eight, each offering a distinct chewiness and firmness. Compared to meatball soups with higher fish paste content, these give a more satisfying feeling of fullness.

▲Prices of items in the shop range around 25–50 TWD, making it affordable, coin-pocket-friendly cuisine.

According to the shop’s introduction, the owner used to sell meatball soup and Longfeng Legs in Luodong before relocating to Hualien, bringing the flavors of Luodong to this spot. A local from Hualien, Xiao Yang, also shared that Zhang’s starts its day early in the morning, so many people enjoy the meatball soup as breakfast. Since the shop closes at 3 PM, the lunch rush often sees it packed to the brim. Travelers used to nighttime meals should also watch the time—they might just end up sighing outside the closed shutters if they miss the window.

▲At lunchtime, it’s common to see the place bustling with customers.

Zhang’s Meatball Soup
Address: No. 72-2, Xingang Street, Hualien City
Phone: 03-833-3458
Business Hours: 07:00–15:00
Reference Prices: Longfeng Legs at 25 TWD each, meatball soup at 40 TWD per bowl.