A 30-year-old hidden gem in Hualien—its signature dish features garlic, chili, and freshly dug snail meat

▲ Freshly dug and stir-fried snail meat, paired with basil, garlic, and chili—absolutely satisfying.

Text and photos by Nine-Five Nasty Wife

"Do you dare to eat snail meat?" asked Xiao Yang, a picky eater from Hualien. It turns out that near the Farglory Hotel in Hualien, there’s a stir-fry eatery with over 30 years of history, and its most iconic dish is"Stir-fried snail meat". So Xiao Yang highly recommended that I check out this locally beloved snail meat spot.

The exterior of this stir-fry joint is rather low-key, with a neon sign reading "30-Year-Old Snail Meat Shop." Inside the tin-roofed space, the tables and chairs are quite traditional, adding a rustic, hometown charm. The menu on the wall includes stir-fried snail meat, as well as other quick dishes like stir-fried clams, beef, and crab claws—about a dozen options in total, not too many.

▲ A big plate piled high with snail meat is enough to make your mouth water.

Once the snail meat arrives, just the portion and toppings are enough to feast your eyes: thick, plump pieces of snail meat stacked like a small mountain, doused with generous amounts of garlic, basil, chili, and other spices. A layer of spicy oil glows faintly red, making you swallow your saliva uncontrollably.

▲ Besides the signature snail meat, the shop also offers many other stir-fried dishes.

Trying this stir-fried snail meat, which embodies over 30 years of craftsmanship, the texture is both springy and crisp. Each piece of snail meat has a balanced chewiness without being tough, unlike the coarse and rubbery texture with a slight fishy taste found in some other restaurants. Instead, it has a natural sweetness. The supporting role, garlic, is sautéed in high heat with its skin on—soft yet still slightly crispy, appetizing and great with rice. Paired with other seasonings, the snail meat is salty, spicy, sweet, and fragrant, with a bold wok aroma, delivering a rich and satisfying taste.

▲ Another best-seller: basil fried eggs.

As for the basil fried eggs I ordered on a whim, they also have a nice thickness and tender texture. The golden crust is slightly crispy, while the inside has visible air pockets, so it’s not overly dense or greasy. The eggs are generously studded with basil, which releases a subtle fragrance after quick frying—its performance is also above average.

▲ During meal times, the restaurant is often packed with customers.

The staff revealed that because Hualien has high humidity, the snail meat is delicious and plump. Plus, the snail meat here is dug and stir-fried fresh, making it particularly fresh and superior in texture compared to frozen alternatives. Xiao Yang also highly recommends that after enjoying the spicy, flavorful snail meat, you wash it down with a few glasses of ice-cold beer—it’s definitely the best way to spend an evening in Hualien. (Drinking in excess is harmful to health.)

Snail Meat 30-Year-Old Shop
Address: No. 255, Zhongmei Street, Hualien City
Business hours: 11:30–14:00, 16:30–22:30, closed every Sunday
Price: Snail meat NT$300 per serving, basil fried egg NT$100 per serving

● ETtoday News Cloud reminds you: Don’t drink and drive, and don’t drive after drinking.