云天川味食堂西屯

Item: 云天川味食堂 西屯
Rating: 3
Author: Lucille邊走邊吃

台中市 • Sichuan cuisine

7 months ago

Lunch1 pplNT$175

I went on a business trip nearby, and the person in charge of the organization I was visiting recommended that I definitely try their red oil dumplings. I was so curious about it that I rushed to eat there.

However, overall, my expectations were somewhat lowered after the meal. I initially thought the red oil dumpling noodles would be fragrant and spicy, making me need to drink water. Instead, the salinity was so strong that it overshadowed both the fragrance and spiciness, forcing me to gulp down a big glass of water.

The overall dining environment wasn’t bad, as there was air conditioning, but they had an adorable store cat that liked to bite your ankles and hands. Although it was super cute, it was definitely not easy to deal with! 😂 Also, parking nearby requires going back to Wenxin Road, where there are paid parking lots for cars and roadside parking spots for motorbikes.

I saw the next table enjoying hot and sour noodles, so I decided I would definitely go back to try that next time.

Red oil dumpling noodles for 100 NT dollars. The noodles were really so much that I was surprised I couldn’t finish them, and I ended up reluctantly leaving some behind. The noodles are thicker than the usual ramen, but the texture isn’t as chewy as Japanese ramen. The ingredients include peanuts, green onions, bean sprouts, and a little bok choy. There are about 10 dumplings in the dish (while eating, I kept thinking I must be crazy to order noodles). A single order of dumplings is 80 NT dollars, so if you don’t want to burst your stomach, just order the dumplings. The meat in the dumplings doesn't have a porky smell, and the skin is thicker than regular Taiwanese wontons. However, the spiciness of the red oil comes in slowly, while the saltiness is so strong that I had to keep drinking tea with it.

Add cabbage for 20 yuan. It's hard to evaluate whether this is worth it or not. I originally thought it would be added to the noodles or blanched separately, but it actually tasted very much like stir-fried cabbage in red oil (?), topped with a lot of spices, so I choked on it a bit while eating 🤣.

For an additional 55 yuan, you can choose one side dish and red tea. I chose the Sichuan ear (wood ear mushrooms), and this was probably the best dish of my meal. The mushrooms have a smooth and crunchy texture, and when mixed with the red oil, it's truly a perfect match!

The side dish's black tea doesn't taste like anything (my mouth is numb from the spice).

Indoor seating

The store cat must be given a chance to shine. Don’t let his cuteness fool you; he kicks and bites my shoes and even scratches the boss lady. If you're afraid of cats, proceed with caution—he really loves to play rough.