🚩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.
Half muscle, half meat beef noodles
Broth: Refreshingly sweet with no muddled soy sauce flavor commonly found in braised beef noodle soup.
Vegetables: Crunchy, not mushy, allowing you to enjoy individual flavors and textures.
Beef: Large and satisfying pieces, with a chewy texture that is cooked just right—not fatty or dry.
Noodles: Thick wide noodles, perfectly cooked with no raw taste, very elastic and chewy.
Portion: The large bowl is truly generous, and since I ordered dumplings, I should have opted for a smaller bowl.
Dumplings
Skin: Just the right thickness and intact, not a single one was broken.
Filling: Very plump, with fragrant pickled vegetables and sweet scallops.
The service was friendly. I accidentally scratched my dumplings into the set meal, and they repeatedly confirmed with me to help change my order; otherwise, I really couldn't finish the extra soup they provided.
I often eat at a beef noodle shop in Miaoli called "Jiu Li Xiang Shui Jiao Beef Noodle Restaurant." I’ve been eating here since I was a child! 😂
When you come here, you must order the beef noodles and some side dishes. The seating inside isn’t too ample, so if there are fewer people, you might have to share a table. 😂 The restaurant is very busy during mealtime!
The broth is red-braised, with a slight spiciness. It’s very tasty, with a moderate saltiness. Adding some pickled vegetables enhances the flavor! 🤓 The beef is tender and delicious, and soaking up the broth makes it very satisfying. 😝
Dumplings 🥟
The dumplings are chive dumplings and are quite large! They taste pretty good too. 😂
Side Dishes
Peanuts and Dried Fish:
The peanuts are a bit hard, and the dried fish is also quite dry and tough. Be careful if you have dental issues! 😂
Braised Tofu and Egg:
I personally love this type of side dish! 😜 They are well marinated! Adding a bit of spicy sauce is also quite nice. 😌
Cucumber 🥒:
The cucumbers are topped with sesame sauce, making them very addictive!
Overall, the prices are reasonable, and it’s delicious food that I’ve enjoyed since I was little. 🤤 I find myself missing it from time to time!
# Sichuan Beef Noodles
Even though it's Sichuan style, as someone who doesn't eat much spicy food, I didn’t feel much spiciness. I only felt a bit of heat when drinking the soup.
I absolutely love the noodles. They're not thin and have a very chewy texture. Awesome!
# Cold Dressed Tofu
The tofu inside is soft and tender. Definitely recommend.
# Century Egg Tofu
It performs normally. When it was just served, the color of the sauce looked quite special. It seems they mixed soy sauce paste with minced garlic, and the tofu and century egg were not sliced. It appears they prefer to mix it all together 😂 (I prefer it in chunks to eat separately).
Lao Dong Beef Noodles should be considered a well-known beef noodle chain in Taipei. I bought the clear broth beef noodle soup this time to help a post-operative patient recover, as it's less heavy in flavor.
The beef itself is very tender and has a bit of fat, making it not too dry, and the thickness is just right, providing a truly satisfying bite. The noodles are on the thicker side, not too soft and not too hard, just perfect. However, perhaps because they're factory-made noodles, they have a very uniform texture, and the noodle's own aroma isn't very noticeable. The soup, due to the beef's marbling, is very rich and sweet, but drinking too much might still feel a bit greasy.
As for the dining environment, since it's located in the food court beneath NTU Hospital, there are plenty of seating spaces, but you need to arrive early during peak dining hours to avoid long waits for ordering and receiving your meal.
📍 Anle District, Keelung City
A local recommendation for queue-worthy food in Keelung, the restaurant is not easy to find parking for, so it's suggested to park at a nearby public parking lot and walk to the venue. The menu offers many choices, and the shop pays great attention to each customer's taste. Similar to some ramen shops, you can adjust the richness of the broth, the type of noodles, and the level of spiciness, allowing each visiting customer to enjoy a bowl of beef noodles tailored to their personal taste. If adjustments are needed during the meal, the staff is very friendly and helpful in assisting, providing a very considerate service.
Dish🥘
Màn Hàn Dà Sān Yuán / Mild Spicy / Ramen / 230 TWD:
If you're unsure what to eat, you can order this bowl, which includes beef shank, beef tendon, and beef cheek meat. The beef pieces are very large and stewed to be very tender, with a fairly generous portion. I chose ramen noodles; although not as thick as wide noodles, they have a very chewy texture and a good level of firmness. My favorite part of the whole bowl is the broth, which is very rich in layers as it is slow-cooked with Moon Fragrance and introduced by the shop to include a variety of traditional Chinese medicinal herbs. Paired with the shop's special spicy beef oil, it is indeed very satisfying, making you want to take an extra bowl home.
