Can't get in without a reservation? Capture your girlie heart — Hsinchu’s ultra-photogenic dreamy “pizza place”

▲ The little wooden house that resembles Howl’s Moving Castle is actually Luau’s wood-fired oven pizza area. (Photo/IG@laiyiching0816Provided. Please do not repost without permission to avoid copyright infringement.)

▲ The restaurant’s vibrant color scheme makes it very photogenic. (Photo/IG@peishan1019Provided. Please do not repost without permission to avoid copyright infringement.)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

Hidden in Xinzhu’s Xiangshan district is a locally well-known specialty magical house. As soon as you approach, the aroma of pizza wafts through the air. The small shop gets packed during meal times, and you might not even get a seat without a reservation. Resembling Howl’s Moving Castle, the building of Luau Pizza Chailiao Pizza is highly distinctive. The entire venue — including the garden, landscaping, and the little wooden house of the wood-fired oven area — was all personally designed by the owner, exuding a strong Southeast Asian vibe along with a sense of wandering freedom and ease.

▲ The scent of wood-fired cooking hits you as you approach. (Photo/IG@tomato820828Provided. Please do not repost without permission to avoid copyright infringement.)

Located near Yuanpei University of Medical Technology in Hsinchu, Luau Pizza Chailiao Pizza is a locally popular eatery. "Luau" is a word from the Hawaiian indigenous language (pronounced similarly to "loo-wah"), meaning a feast among flowers, a tipsy party, or a laid-back moment. The restaurant specializes in its own wood-fired oven pizzas. Controlling the flame with firewood requires some skill — although it's more labor-intensive, the resulting pizzas have an extra layer of aroma that regular ovens just can’t produce.

▲ The restaurant is full of great photo spots; the mix of flowers and wood creates a fairy-tale-like atmosphere. (Photo/IG@sinsinsieProvided. Please do not repost without permission to avoid copyright infringement.)

▲ The pink wall outside the dining area is covered in green vines, offering a uniquely charming vibe. (Photo/IG@yuyan_1130Provided. Please do not repost without permission to avoid copyright infringement.)

While the restaurant is known for its wood-fired pizzas, the building itself is also a major highlight. From the red brick exterior, the lush green lawns in the garden, the meditation area, the magical little wooden house for wood-fired pizzas, to the pink-walled dining space, every corner of the venue is perfect for photos — perfectly catering to those with a love for photogenic, girly aesthetics.

▲ The lawn in the yard also features a designated meditation area where visitors can relax and unwind on the grass. (Photo/IG@jiang_1202Provided. Please do not repost without permission to avoid copyright infringement.)

During certain seasons, the walls are covered with orange trumpet vines. When in full bloom, the natural wall of flowers becomes incredibly mesmerizing, instantly turning the spot into a private flower-viewing location. However, due to the natural environment and abundant plant life, the place also has quite a few mosquitoes. Visitors are advised to take anti-mosquito measures.

▲%The place bursts with natural vibrancy, like “a painter’s palette” or “a dreamy girl’s paradise.” (Photo/IG@tomato820828、laiyiching0816Provided. Please do not repost without permission to avoid copyright infringement.)

A photogenic restaurant isn’t always delicious, but most online reviews of Luau Pizza Chailiao Pizza are positive, with many saying the pizzas are definitely worth trying. However, wood-fired pizzas take longer to prepare, so it’s best to be mentally prepared for a wait. The menu includes pizzas, pasta, risotto, homemade sweet pies, wood-fired bread, juices, sodas, coffee, and tea. Seasonal specials are also offered, such as purple clam pizzas, risotto, and pasta from April to October. Ingredients like wild goats from Miaoli’s mountainous regions, free-range local chickens, seasonal fruits and vegetables, and native Taiwanese loofah reflect the restaurant’s philosophy of “eating with the seasons.”

Luau Pizza Chailiao Pizza

Address: No. 5, Lane 323, Yuanpei Street, Hsinchu City
Phone: 03 539 9967 (reservations recommended)
Business hours: Tuesday to Friday 11:30–19:00 / Saturday and Sunday 11:00–19:00
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Special reminder for those visiting Luau: drive or ride slowly, as the roads there are narrow and buses pass through — speeding is dangerous!