Banyan Tree Fried Mutton

At the intersection of Mingli Road and Minguo Road in Hualien stands a glass structure that is hard to be overlooked, within which a restaurant has been housed. This restaurant Banyan Tree Fried Mutton named itself after a century-old banyan tree situated right next to the establishment.

The owner used to run a ginger duck restaurant, which was opened only in winter (simply because we don’t need soup to warm us up in the sweltering hot summer). In order to run a restaurant with year round potential, the owner opened up Banyan Tree Fried Mutton instead. With a semi-outdoor setting that boasts a traditional Chinese atmosphere, Banyan Tree is one of a kind and like no other stir-fry restaurants in Taiwan. Items on the menu include Taiwanese omelettes with dried radish, fried bird’s nest ferns, deep-fried intestines, the Hakka stir-fry, and of course, the signature dish — fried mutton. The diverse variety will satisfy every palate, but the affordable price will be even more of a win as each plate of stir-fry costs only TWD100 or so.

When the night falls, the restaurant will be lit by early imperial lamps, and with the old banyan tree as a backdrop, it looks more like a secret gastropub hidden in the forest and definitely makes for a perfect spot to hang out with friends for drinks in a summer night out.