The old-fashioned beef noodle shop in Zuoying - Meihua Noodles. Hidden within the military dependents' village in Zuoying, this noodle shop retains a rich local flavor, with its special "sour cabbage" and "spicy radish oil" being must-try delicious toppings that elevate the entire bowl of noodles.
The broth of the clear-braised beef noodles is refreshing yet rich, and what surprises you the most are those incredibly huge pieces of beef. It’s the first time I’ve seen such large chunks of beef, yet they are still stewed to be tender and juicy, with each bite bursting with the sweetness of the beef, making you unable to resist having one mouthful after another.
The spicy beef noodles have just the right level of heat; even ordering it with a little spice allows you to clearly taste the distinct numbing spiciness. The noodles soak up the spicy broth and have a bouncy texture, and the accompanying tofu and duck blood are also very flavorful, providing a smooth and tender mouthfeel. It’s a bowl that spicy food lovers must not miss.
Finally, we tried the double vegetable dry noodles, and the portion is really substantial! The sour sauce mixed with the noodles is especially appetizing, and combined with the double vegetables, it’s refreshing and satisfying.
This old shop excels in the quality of its broth, beef, and side dishes. Each bowl of noodles showcases the chef's dedication to the cuisine. No wonder the business is so good!
First, let me talk about the appetizers: I highly recommend the fried chicken wings! They are definitely a must-order and unbelievably delicious.
This place is a beef noodle shop located near the Tonghua Night Market, open until 1:30 AM, making it a great spot to have a bowl of beef noodles after grabbing a drink at a nearby bar!
This time, I ordered braised beef noodles and fragrant chicken noodles with mushrooms.
To begin with the noodles, the restaurant thoughtfully offers a variety of noodles for customers to choose from, which I personally think is a big plus.
The broth of the braised beef noodles is decent, but I was very surprised by the thickness of the beef. The beef itself is not too tough and tastes really good. Personally, I don't particularly like tomato-based broth, but it doesn't affect my rating of this bowl of beef noodles.
As for the fragrant chicken noodles with mushrooms, I absolutely love the broth. It’s somewhat reminiscent of Japanese ramen chicken white broth but not as rich. The chicken itself is very tender, and when eaten with the mushrooms, it feels very harmonious!
Even though they are open late into the night, there are still quite a lot of people in the shop, so be prepared for a possible wait before you go!
Across from Zhen sheng.
When I was studying in Hsinchu, Duan Chunzhen Beef Noodle was the representative of high standards in my mind. Although the wait often exceeded 40 minutes, I felt that the bowl of beef noodles was truly worth the wait. Recently, I spotted this shop in Tainan's Little West Gate and took the opportunity to relive the experience.
This time, I ordered their classic half meat, half tendon beef noodle soup. The broth of the beef noodles was still as rich and spicy as ever, and the beef chunks were tender yet intact, paired perfectly with the chewy handmade noodles, making the whole bowl very satisfying. The beef tendon was also extremely soft and easy to chew. Their chili oil is still a highlight, fragrant and flavorful, although it might be a bit too strong for those who don’t eat spicy food.
However, the prices have indeed increased quite a bit since my student days, with a single order of beef noodles costing around 200 NT dollars, which isn’t cheap compared to current prices. But in terms of quality, it’s still worth treating myself once in a while.
Overall, the quality of Duan Chunzhen has remained quite good even after becoming a chain, especially the standards of the broth and chili oil are commendable. If you want to enjoy a bowl of high-quality braised beef noodles, this place is definitely worth recommending!
Braces Reviewer: Independent Restroom 🚾👍
This time, I visited "Eat Noodles Drink Soup Yilan Beef Noodle" after spotting this 4.8-star-rated place while browsing Google Maps. It looked great, so I decided to give it a try. The store is transformed from an old house, and the atmosphere is quite unique.
We ordered Braised Beef Noodle for 175 NT$, Braised Beef Rib Noodle for 175 NT$, Chicken Soup Noodle for 170 NT$, Cold Diced Radish for 30 NT$, Wasabi Cucumber for 35 NT$, Mapo Tofu for 20 NT$, Kelp for 25 NT$, and Beef Tripe for 130 NT$, totaling 780 NT$.
The broth of the Braised Beef Noodle is not overly salty, and the beef is sliced with just the right tenderness; the meat in the Braised Beef Rib Noodle is perfectly stewed and easily separates from the bone, complemented by chewy thick noodles that have a solid texture. The Chicken Soup Noodle is well-plated, with broth made from chicken bones that is refreshing and not greasy, tasting sweet and fresh.
The side dishes also performed well; the beef tripe is slightly on the soft side, the kelp is tender but not soggy, the wasabi cucumber is refreshing, and the mustard sauce is not overwhelming. The staff's service attitude is polite, and the store's decor is thoughtfully done. I will definitely return next time I'm in Yilan!
🚩Location🧭
Located near the intersection of Dazhi Road and Xinyi Street in the East District of Taichung City, adjacent to the Kaohsiung New Era Shopping Center.
🪑About the overall atmosphere🎡
This is a street known for its dining, so parking in front can be difficult. The shop's sign is designed in red and black, prominently displaying the "Flank Beef Noodle $100" as a promotion. The air conditioning inside is open, the cooking area is outside, and there are chairs to rest nearby; it seems there is only one staff member, so there might be a short wait during meal times. The dining space indoors is large, arranged in a narrow shape, and there is a second dining area further inside.
💰About the prices💰
I ordered the "Flank Beef Noodle $100" as advertised, and payment can be made in cash or via LINE PAY.
🍴About the food☕
I wasn't quite sure what flank was at first; it turned out to be four pieces of meat that appear to have some connective tissue but don’t feel chewy when eating. The meat is delicious and melts in your mouth, paired with cabbage and thin noodles (you can also choose thick noodles or ramen). If I had to point out a downside, it would be that the noodle portion might be a bit small, but I think it's generally sufficient for most people; the broth is slightly spicy but very tasty.
🤨Conclusion♥
Just from the smell, I felt that this beef noodle should be delicious. Drinking the broth to the last drop was very satisfying, but for me, the portion was a bit small.
"Jia Bao Beef Noodle" is located on Park Road in the North District of Tainan. Previously, when passing by, it always looked quite popular. I remember when I first came to eat here, the taste left a deep impression on me. The broth was rich and flavorful, and the overall seasoning was excellent. During this visit, I ordered the classic half tendon and half meat beef noodle again, but after tasting it, I felt a bit of disappointment. It seems the flavor has slightly declined compared to before.
The quality of the beef tendon and beef is still good, especially the texture of the beef tendon, which is cooked just enough to be soft but not mushy, with a slight chewiness. The noodles also have good elasticity, are firm, and can absorb the flavor of the broth, making them very satisfying to bite into. However, this time the broth felt less rich than before, lacking the distinct layers and depth I experienced previously, and it seems to be missing "a key flavor." But I can't quite put my finger on what has changed.
This experience left me a bit disappointed, but I still feel that this restaurant's half tendon and half meat beef noodle is above average, especially with the quality of the beef and beef tendon, which still satisfies. As for the variation in the broth, it may be due to individual differences, or perhaps the taste just wasn't quite right this time, leading me to slightly doubt my memory. Nevertheless, I still think Jia Bao is worth visiting occasionally, after all, finding a place in Tainan that offers both noodles, beef, and beef tendon is not that easy.
Tainan's beef soup comes in countless varieties, from the unforgettable taste of the early morning bowl of beef soup at Liu Qian to the phase where you try any bowl that catches your eye. It's hard to replicate the feeling of having that first bowl of beef soup in Tainan. Perhaps it's a taste of youth.
As for the beef soup from this particular shop, I feel that when it comes to the flavor of the soup, most shops simply need to use fresh, warm beef and appropriate seasonings to create a deliciously sweet and enjoyable broth. The sauces are quite similar across the board, typically a sweet soy sauce with shredded ginger, but the quality of the meat can vary significantly.
In terms of portion, this shop offers a slightly larger amount of meat, and it's also thicker, which is reflected in the price—one bowl costs 150. I'm not quite sure if the meat is thick or if it was heated too long, but it actually turns out to be a bit tough, losing the original advantages of fresh warm beef, making the beef soup a bit disappointing to drink.
However, regarding the dining space, compared to other old beef soup shops, this one is spacious and comfortable, suitable for many people to dine together.
Old Qiu's Original Beef Noodle Soup is located at the intersection of Songren Road and Zhuangjing Road. This spot has hosted several establishments in the past, but none have lasted long. However, Old Qiu has been here for over a year now, indicating that its strength has been recognized by the local residents.
Today I enjoyed beef soup noodles, tofu, and seaweed, totaling 105 NT dollars.
Beef Soup Noodles:
You can choose between plain or spicy broth, and the noodles can be either thin or thick. I opted for spicy thick noodles today. The distinction between small and large bowls here pertains mainly to the amount of meat; if you want more noodles, you need to purchase extra noodles, which feels a bit like the "kaedama" offered in ramen shops.
The spicy broth is rich but not overwhelmingly hot. The thick noodles are cooked thoroughly while maintaining elasticity, resulting in a satisfying texture.
Tofu and seaweed: When combined, they’re just standard inexpensive side dishes without any distinctive features, but they are definitely tasty.
Overall, it's clear that this is one of the branches of the "Original" beef noodle soup chain, with stable quality and a flavor profile similar to other locations.
The condiment bar in the restaurant inherits the chain's specialties, and I particularly like the chopped green onions and Sichuan pepper oil. Drinks are also self-serve, continuing to provide great value for money.
The layout of the restaurant is somewhat unique, with a small staircase dividing the dining area into two parts, so be careful not to trip.
I highly recommend it to everyone!
The environment is comfortable and the atmosphere is good, suitable for dining alone or in groups.
I ordered Old Beijing Beef Noodle Soup and Spicy Fried Dumplings. The texture of the noodles is quite good and chewy, but the broth tastes like the base soup from a chain hot pot restaurant with added spicy seasoning. It's decent, but not something I would specially come back for.
The dried tofu is very juicy, and both the texture and seasoning are great. If I come back, I will definitely order it again.
The winter melon tea is delicious and pairs well with the food.