Nestled next to the "Jimmy Square," this Italian gelato is rich, fragrant, and smooth on the palate.

Text and photos by /Orange Dog Loves Candy

Although autumn has arrived and the weather is a bit cool, eating ice cream has never been limited by seasons or weather for me. To me, enjoying ice cream in summer is certainly a relief, but having it in winter is the ultimate indulgence XD—so much so that I shiver with delight, especially with Italian gelato, whose fruit and ingredient flavors are always full-bodied and satisfying. On this trip to Yilan, I finally got to stroll around the long-awaited Jimmy Square in front of Yilan Railway Station. However, early October wasn’t as cool as it is now—the daytime sun was still blazing, almost as intense as midsummer. Just a few steps down the road, I spotted this 【Chalet Galletto Italian Gelato Specialty Shop】 around the corner. It’s not particularly eye-catching, as it’s tucked away near the surrounding bushes, which made it all the more intriguing.

Most visitors to Jimmy Square come here for the Jimmy-themed art installations, and there are quite a few foreign tourists too. I think besides ["The Sound of Colors" (向左走向右走)], the flying train at Diudiuang Square is the most popular spot. But on the day we visited, it was daytime, and the area was under renovation, so not many people stopped to take photos. The best things about walking around here are the great photo opportunities and the very low parking fees—just 10 NT per hour.

When you’re tired from walking, you can head to the end to 【Chalet Galletto Italian Gelato Specialty Shop】 to cool off.

Its pure white exterior and interior decor tones, hidden within the greenery, present a concept of pure nature.

I was drawn to the special flavor gelatos made in collaboration with local Yilan agricultural products on the nearby signboard, such as ruby red guava and pineapple.

But as soon as I walked into the shop and saw they had chocolate whiskey, I forgot all about the ruby red guava—I had to try it anyway.

The shop offered about 11 gelato flavors that day, and every one was available for generous tastings. The staff were very friendly and introduced them all enthusiastically. As for pricing, it’s pretty much on par with other Italian gelato shops—[small cup 90 NT / large cup 150 NT].

It’s not exactly cheap, but it’s really delicious. Some flavors are only available as single scoops (like the whiskey chocolate), and in terms of portion size, I personally felt that getting a double scoop was more worth it, as the individual portions seemed a bit larger than single scoops.

As for the seating, there are high stools by floor-to-ceiling glass windows where you can enjoy the sunshine and greenery while eating (though outside the window is just bushes XD). I don’t know who he is, but I saw a lot of people taking pictures of him, so I followed suit XDDDD.

There are also beautiful Anta water chandeliers above the seats, which cast beautiful light patterns on the tables when lit. The shop has air conditioning, and it’s usually quiet on weekdays, making it a relaxing experience for travelers like us who are just wandering without a set destination. If you can’t decide what to order, the shop also has a recommended popularity ranking to refer to.

【Tenren Matcha (green) / Italian Pistachio (off-white) / Double flavor combo 150 NT】
The portions are really quite generous—one person could end up feeling a bit frozen afterward XD (but I didn’t pick this one).

These were actually our two favorite flavors of the day. The matcha flavor uses matcha from Tenryu River in Shizuoka, ground from spring tea leaves. However, it doesn’t have much of the usual bitter astringency of tea. Instead, the first sip releases an elegant matcha aroma—rich and full-bodied.

The sweetness isn’t overpowering, and while the gelato itself is dense, it melts smoothly on the palate. It’s a really great flavor.

The other flavor, pistachio, was a delightful surprise. I usually encounter pistachios mostly in desserts, so I hadn’t noticed that Italian gelato has it as a standalone flavor. This pistachio had a rich, bold aroma that instantly spread as it melted, and the nutty flavor was genuinely impressive. The sweetness is a bit high but not cloying. I really liked the profiles of these two flavors.



【Lime Grape / Small portion / 90 NT】
It has a subtle sweetness with a hint of lime, while the grape flavor is a bit faint and not very prominent. The small portion is, well, smaller.

What stands out is the lingering aftertaste of lime, which is quite nice. It’s tasty, but I prefer the bold directness of the pistachio. For a wine-flavored gelato, they also have a whiskey chocolate one that’s even more aromatic, though that one is only available in large portions.



【Chocolate / Some other flavor / Double flavor combo 150 NT】
Okay!! This was me sneaking a photo of another couple’s gelato because I wanted to document more flavors but forgot to ask what they ordered. I just remember one of them was chocolate, though I think our large cup portions were a bit bigger.



Originally, I just wanted to stroll around Jimmy Square and grab some normal xiaolongbao, but unexpectedly, I stumbled upon Chalet Galletto. It turned out to be a rare half-hour break from the heat. Sitting in this little city shop, which isn’t part of my usual routine, felt surprisingly relaxing. The service was very friendly, and since I was with my kid, I just asked for some hot water—and they even made sure the milk was at the right temperature. That kind of attention to detail was really thoughtful. Of course, their signature Italian gelato was wonderfully authentic and delicious. The only small regret was not having room to try the fruit flavors. Next time I visit Yilan, I’ll definitely come back—or even just grab a bowl of gelato and stroll leisurely around Jimmy Square.

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◎ Shop introduction: [Chalet GELATO Italian Gelato │ Yilan City]
◎ Address: No. 27, Alley 1, Railway Road, Hemu Road, Yilan City, Yilan County (intersection of Yixing Road and Minquan Road)
◎ Phone: 03-9333030
◎ Business hours: 09:30 AM - 06:00 PM
◎ Tip: There’s a paid parking lot nearby—20 NT for the first hour, then 10 NT per hour after.
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