Taiwan Food Atlas

Gongjheng St. Steamed Buns

Around-the-clock budget xiaolongbao — the everyday icon of Hualien City
📍 Hualien · Gongjheng St, Hualien City🏆 Notable · Street Food🥟 24-Hour Queue

Gongjheng Street Steamed Buns are a cluster of 24-hour xiaolongbao and steamed-dumpling shops on Gongjheng Street in Hualien City, anchored by two veteran names, Zhoujia and Gongjheng. At three in the morning on Gongjheng Street, most shops have their shutters down — except one, blazing with light, white steam from the bamboo steamers drifting out into the arcade. Late-night tourists, taxi drivers just off shift, young locals heading home — they all crowd around the takeaway window waiting for a freshly steamed basket. This is the everyday scene here: open 24 hours, never a quiet moment.

The flagship shop, Zhoujia Steamed Dumplings, was founded in 1975 by Mrs. Zhou, who first set up a street stall on the corner of Gongjheng Street — the first shop there to sell steamed buns. Now run by its third generation and past 50 years in business, it operates alongside a second long-running shop, Gongjheng Baozi, both open 24 hours.

What are Gongjheng St. Steamed Buns

Strictly speaking, "Gongjheng Street Steamed Buns" is a cluster concept. Two long-standing 24-hour shops operate on Gongjheng Street and the nearby lanes, with menus centered on xiaolongbao and steamed dumplings, served alongside hot-and-sour soup and corn chowder. The xiaolongbao here don't aim for the thin-skin, soup-filled elegance of Din Tai Fung — the skin is thicker and chewier, the filling is traditional ground pork with a bit of juice, and a basket of 10 costs just coins. Dip in ginger-shredded soy sauce. The steamed dumplings have springy wrappers and generous fillings that hold their own.

How did they become a Hualien City icon? Zhoujia Steamed Dumplings was founded in 1975, the first shop on Gongjheng Street to sell steamed buns; another shop, Gongjheng Baozi, followed and the two face each other across the street with their respective fans. The 24-hour model means they serve morning fishing-port workers, daytime tourists, and late-night taxi drivers alike — all hours covered. They've become the go-to queue snack of Hualien City for years. It's not about any single shop's fine craftsmanship, but rather the overall memory of "budget price + round-the-clock + local legacy brand."

How to eat them the authentic way

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Xiaolongbao plus steamed dumplingsThe local standard order is one basket of xiaolongbao and one basket of steamed dumplings. The flavors complement without overlapping, and it's the best value for two people.
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Pair with hot-and-sour soupOrder a bowl of hot-and-sour soup to cut through the richness — the pepper aroma, vinegar tartness, and fatty filling balance perfectly. This combination has held steady for 30 years.
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Don't skip the ginger shredsGinger shreds with soy sauce are free at the table. Pile a few onto the xiaolongbao before eating: it cuts the grease and adds fragrance.
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Late night is smootherDaytime tourist hours mean long queues; from midnight to 4 a.m. there's almost no wait — perfect for a post-itinerary supper.

Local know-how

Verified endorsements (ad-free)

  • Zhoujia Steamed Dumplings was founded in 1975, the first steamed bun shop on Gongjheng Street, now approaching 50 years of operation.
  • Both Gongjheng Street steamed bun shops have operated 24 hours for years, and are the definitive queue snack of Hualien City.
  • Hualien City Office tourism information and numerous travel media list Gongjheng Street as a must-visit food cluster in Hualien City.

Practical tips

  • The two shops have similar-looking signs and are easy to mix up — check whether you're in front of "Zhoujia" or "Gongjheng" before joining the queue.
  • Weekend queues around midday can run 20 minutes or more; avoid 11 a.m.–1 p.m. and 5–7 p.m. peak hours.
  • Cash is the main payment method; there's a convenience store nearby where you can withdraw money at the same time.

Data compiled from Hualien County Government Tourism Department, local township farmers' associations, and large-scale public reviews; sponsored content has been filtered out. Photos will be replaced with exclusive channel footage after Dio's on-site shoot.

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly does "Gongjheng St. Steamed Buns" refer to?

It's not a single shop but a collective name for two 24-hour veteran shops on Gongjheng Street, Zhoujia and Gongjheng Baozi.

When was Zhoujia Steamed Dumplings founded?

Zhoujia Steamed Dumplings was founded in 1975 by Mrs. Zhou, who started with a street stall at the corner of Gongjheng Street, the first shop there to sell steamed buns.

Why can Gongjheng St. Steamed Buns stay open 24 hours?

The two veteran shops have long served three distinct waves of customers — early-morning port workers, daytime tourists, and late-night taxi drivers — which sustains round-the-clock business.

Sources

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