Just a five-minute walk away — both Hualien’s Gongzheng Steamed Buns and Caramel Tapioca Balls are right here

Text and photos byGui Xiaosun

As I wrote, I gradually moved on to the kind of mouthwatering food that just makes you drool at the sight of it. Especially the authentic local snacks you come across while traveling — they always make even waiting in line feel worthwhile. How could I miss the chance to try them? XD

I started by sharing photos of 【Gongzheng Steamed Buns】 to let you all take in the aroma. This time, besides finally visiting the famously renowned Gongzheng Steamed Buns, I also tried the super famous Caramel Tapioca Balls. But due to road repairs that day, I missed out on the scallion pancakes (so heartbreaking!)

Anyway, this post is all about introducing Hualien’s famous: Gongzheng Steamed Buns and Caramel Tapioca Balls. For those of you planning a trip to Hualien this summer, feel free to save this info and check it out when you go~ XD

That day, I arrived in downtown Hualien after driving straight from Changbin — a two-hour drive that brought me there just in time for lunch. I still remember the scenery along the eastern coastline, and how I deliberately rolled down the car window to enjoy the blue coastal views. So the two-hour drive didn’t feel long at all. In fact, when I got back, I was even a bit worried that the smooth ride might have led me unknowingly speeding and getting a ticket XD When we got to downtown Hualien, as long as you’re willing to drive around a bit, you can definitely find street parking. Plus, Gongzheng Steamed Buns and the Tapioca Balls are nearby, so after spotting a good spot, I went for a stroll to look for food.

As I approached Gongzheng Steamed Buns, I could see from afar a crowd gathered around as if the buns were free. Honestly, I could totally imagine such popularity, but when I actually got there, I secretly hoped for a bit of luck to avoid such a long line. Fortunately, a spot opened up outside, and you had to secure a seat first before you could order. Most of those waiting in line were just getting their orders to go. Next to Gongzheng Steamed Buns, there’s also Zhou Family Steamed Dumplings and Xiao Long Bao. If you’ve got the appetite, you can compare the two — both have their own fanbases online XD

True enough, prices in the east are really reasonable and good value. It looks like a great place where you can eat your fill without spending much. But the seating is seriously hard to come by and requires a lot of waiting. Some people who initially only ordered two baskets of buns ended up ordering more. So don’t assume the table you’re waiting for will be available soon — anything can happen. There are seats both inside and outside the shop. Inside, it’s so crowded you can barely walk through the aisles, so in the end, we chose to wait outside. Oh, and don’t think you can just grab an empty table and sit down — someone did that that day and got scolded by the staff, who even took the table away XD

If you’re hot and want a drink, they’ve got those too — black tea, soy milk — it really reminded me of a traditional breakfast shop. I immediately bought one to cool down. That day, because of the two-hour drive, we hadn’t expended much energy, so the two of us only ordered one basket of buns. And thank goodness we only ordered one, because these buns are seriously filling and substantial.

Can you see it? This bun is almost as wide as four of my fingers. And we all agreed the best part is the wrapper — chewy with a hint of sweetness, and very fresh. The filling is so good you could eat five buns and not get tired of it. No wonder so many people love them. Even now, looking at the photos makes me want to take another bite. These are definitely buns — and just five NT each? Super cheap.

When leaving, I just wanted to take a photo of the bamboo steamers, but accidentally captured a staff member eating a bun XD This photo is still really amusing to me — so realistic and vivid, even the staff can’t resist the deliciousness. Then we walked to Wuba Tapioca Balls — the two spots are just a five-minute walk apart. Really close, which means no need to worry about circling around for parking. We got to enjoy both treats in one go.

This Wuba Caramel Tapioca Balls shop is actually pretty easy to miss from the outside because it’s tucked further into an alley. If I hadn’t checked the street view beforehand, I might have walked right past it too XD That day, the weather was really hot, so of course I had to try their 【Pineapple Bread】 right away.

That’s it — doesn’t it look like pineapple bread? Hahaha XD That day, I saw a memorable scene here. The person making the frozen treats was a middle school boy, around that age. The Caramel Tapioca Balls we ordered were made by him. From afar, I could see him working super diligently, carefully drawing the grid lines on every bowl. It made me think — how many middle schoolers these days know things beyond just studying? I’ve always believed academics are important for kids, but I think their attitude toward life outside the classroom matters even more.

This Caramel Tapioca Balls portion wasn’t as big as I expected, but at 50 NT, I thought it was totally worth it. The caramel drizzled on top is really fragrant, and the taste just keeps you going for more. At first, we couldn’t bear to break the ‘pineapple’ surface XD But inside, there are tapioca balls and other toppings. What really stood out was the traditional, old-school flavor that we really loved.

This first post on East Coast snacks introduces two very popular shops in downtown Hualien. You can park near one and just walk to the other — they’re that close. So don’t miss either option XD I’m introducing both to you here, and stay tuned for the next post featuring snacks in downtown Taitung.

【Gongzheng Steamed Buns】
Address: No. 199-2, Zhongshan Rd., Hualien City
Phone: 03 834 2933
Business Hours: 24 hours

【Wuba Caramel Tapioca Balls】
Address: No. 165, Bo’ai St., Hualien City
Phone: 03 832 2929
Business Hours: 12:00–22:30

Author:［Enjoying Life Without Boredom. Gui Xiaosun］