HualienPlay Recommendations

Mr. and Mrs. Yuan's Kitchen at 106 Wan, Feng-Bin Township, is a pet-friendly seafood restaurant near Shi-Ti fishing harbour. The menu leans on fresh catch of the day at mid-range prices (about NT$200 to NT$1,000), and the dining room is comfortable with on-site parking. Some reviews note the seasoning runs mild and the music loud, but the spacious, air-conditioned interior and reservation service make it a reliable shelter for a meal — particularly handy for families travelling with dogs.

Hou-Dian-Tian Café hides in an alley between Cheng-Gong and Fu-Jian streets in Hualien City. The plain white façade opens into a wood-and-warm-light interior with a literary, laid-back feel. The concise menu covers pour-over coffee, tea and a rotating dessert case (canelés are the signature), and a small seat count means reservations are wise for an unhurried afternoon. As a pet-friendly café that keeps two dachshunds and a resident cat, it welcomes visitors with their own pets and is a favourite among the city's animal lovers.

Yuan-Ye Pasture sits on the Seven Star Lake shoreline in Xin-Cheng Township and is a pet-friendly sea-view café with a working-goat twist. Fresh goat-milk drinks headline the menu, joined by international mains, cheesecake and the signature goat-milk latte, while floor-to-ceiling windows turn the Pacific into a moving backdrop. Open through the afternoon until 6 p.m., it suits brunch, lunch or afternoon tea with an average spend of about NT$400. Dogs and cats are welcome indoors, and the tidy, comfortable seating has made it a hit with pet owners near Seven Star Lake.

Ka-Bi Xiao-Mai-Suo occupies Hualien's Japanese-era chief-prosecutor dormitory, a county-listed heritage building. Inside, Shōwa-period antiques and tatami-mat seating recreate an old Kyoto-style townhouse, while the menu covers coffee, desserts and light meals. The shop is fully pet-friendly, and its two resident Shiba Inus — Dou-Zhai and Xi-Mei — are the unofficial mascots. Guests remove their shoes and slip on socks (the café sells its own branded pairs) before settling in, and the roomy seats and garden courtyard invite lingering over afternoon tea. A must-visit for Shiba fans and lovers of retro atmosphere.

Na-Zi-Zi Grilled Fish on He-Ping Road is a pet-friendly indigenous omakase restaurant in Hualien. The signature is salt-grilled Taiwan tilapia served Amis-style; for about NT$350 per person guests enjoy seven to twelve courses including grilled fish, unlimited braised-pork rice and seasonal vegetables. The dining room is open and well-lit, with on-leash dogs of all sizes welcome and resident dogs to play with. Affordable prices, generous courses and a salty-savoury profile have made it popular with families and pet owners alike — perfect for travellers who want indigenous cuisine without leaving their dog at home.

Shan-Xia Chen-Liang sits along Provincial Highway 11 on the Hualien coast, near Farglory Ocean Park and Shan-Du Space. The kitchen focuses on Southeast Asian and Thai dishes, served in a Bali-style garden courtyard with sea views and a pet-friendly policy that suits family gatherings, company dinners and birthday celebrations. Reservations are recommended — without one, walk-ins can sit outdoors, and queues are common. The vibe is unhurried and holiday-like, equally good for photos and for the food itself.