Chen's Congee Restaurant

Tucked away in the city of Hualien, this Japanese-style house may look like a nostalgic inn from the ancient Chinese times, but it is actually a Cantonese restaurant serving up a variety of dim sum and congee.

Converted from an old residential house, Chen’s Congee Restaurant is a favorite of many locals. As soon as you step in the restaurant, you will be walking into an old-fashioned movie scene seemingly frozen in time. Mouthwatering dim sum can be found on the wooden stack by the counter, including spring rolls and glutinous rice balls with sesame. The steamers are loaded with carefully presented dim sum, from baozi to shumai and dumplings. As the name of the restaurant suggests, congee is of course the signature dish here. Raw rice is soaked in water and simmered over low heat, and the result? The silkiest Cantonese congee (also known as jook) served with deep-fried breadsticks! The fresh scallions happen to bring balance to the slightly greasy breadsticks, and that is what they call a perfect bowl of congee.

If you are a big fan of Cantonese cuisine, how can you miss out on Chen’s Congee Restaurant while in Hualien? Simple and warm like everyone’s home, Chen’s brings us back to the good old times in the quaintest setting possible.