小杜意麵

🌟Find a seat first for dining in, then go to the counter to order.
🌟A great choice for late-night eats in Tainan.

"Xiao Du Yi Mian" has been in operation for over 70 years, located next to the Youai Market, open from the afternoon until midnight, serving dinner and late-night snacks!

The Xiao Du Yi Mian store is an old house, with dining space in the arcade and inside the shop, plus a roadside area that gives a sort of street food vibe. There’s no air conditioning, but since people eat here in the evening, it doesn’t get too hot, even in the summer.

I think the biggest downside of Xiao Du Yi Mian is the layout of the staff's workflow. If it's your first time coming here, don’t just stand in line; you should first find a seat, then go to the noodle cooking area to order. Remember to tell them your table number, as there are no menus and ordering is done verbally. Their workflow is also a bit confusing; when looking for the noodle chef, they might send you to someone else, and sometimes you can order... After ordering, you get side dishes, and the ordering and payment processes are separate, and when you’re checking out, they will ask you again what you ordered. The elderly staff will double-check the math on your bill!

The Xiao Du Yi Mian menu includes Yi Mian (noodles), You Mian (oil noodles), rice noodles, Guo Zai (rice cakes), and a few soup dishes, among which the bone and meat soup is a limited option, costing just 30—super cheap! The wonton soup is highly recommended.

Time to eat!
Yi Mian (small) 💰50

My favorite is the dry Yi Mian; it's traditional old-style Yi Mian made with lard for flavor, topped with meat sauce and some pork slices and cabbage. The Yi Mian is QQ (chewy) and salty and fragrant, just delightful.

Wonton soup 💰30
The wontons at Xiao Du Yi Mian have thin skins and are full of filling. They are the kind you want to buy and take home to cook.

Thoughts: The late-night hours are really recommended for this nostalgic Yi Mian.

If you prioritize food: The dry Yi Mian is excellent, and the wontons are great too.

If you prioritize the environment: It's an old house, dining in the arcade.

If you prioritize parking: Motorcycles can park in front; cars can park at the Youai Parking Lot.

If you prioritize toilets: None.

If you prioritize queueing: The speed is very fast, almost no waiting needed (for dining in, you stand at the ordering area!).

If you prioritize service: Chaotic. 😂

If you prioritize value for money: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 (simply discussing food and prices).