Ba'le #1

Top choice in Hualien


Vinyl, enamel advertising signs and ethnographic ornaments add even further to the character of this authentic yet unpretentious, century-old cottage where beautifully balanced bargain meals are a Hualien dining highlight.

There's no English but all options are essentially a rice bowl topped with a selection of excellent veg-and-egg sides – you only need to pick the meat/fish accompaniment from a list of eight options (1 is beef, 2 fish, 5 superb fatty pork with bamboo shoots). Whatever you pick, don't miss helping yourself to miso soup (included) from the big tureen. From 4pm, you can enjoy a post-meal coffee at the conceptually similar cafe Parallelspace next door.