AI Spot Summary
The signature dishes of Cheng Bian Zhen Wei Eel Noodle include dry-fried eel noodles and eel noodle soup. The flavors are on the sweeter side, and the eel has a chewy texture, but there is a lack of wok heat and the aroma is relatively weak. The noodles do not fully absorb the sauce, which affects the overall flavor. The squid noodle soup is lighter and more refreshing, suitable for those who prefer milder tastes.
The interior environment is dim but clean, with a seating area that can accommodate about 20 people. The storefront has a traditional covered corridor, which gives the dining atmosphere a distinctive traditional character.
The service is average; customers need to find a seat and fill out the menu before queuing to check out. The queuing speed is relatively fast, but the waiting time for dining is longer. Overall efficiency is acceptable.
Reviews
💠 Cheng Bian Zhen Wei Eel Noodle
Hi everyone! I’m Wolf Wolf🪽
Today I’m in Tainan, and I want to introduce you to an old establishment founded in 1970 – Cheng Bian Zhen Wei Eel Noodle!
This restaurant has a great reputation, drawing many locals and tourists alike. However, my dining experience this time had a bit of a discrepancy, which I’d like to share for your reference.
🔸 Eel Noodle Soup (140 NTD)
Features a Tainan-style sweet, thick broth that is smooth and rich. The eel has a nice chewy texture, and the noodles absorb the broth well, performing reasonably. However, this time the broth was a bit bland, lacking the rich and aromatic warmth that one might expect, which is a bit unfortunate.
🔥 Stir-Fried Eel Noodles (190 NTD)
This dish is supposed to be the highlight, but I must say the wok flavor was noticeably lacking this time! The stir-fry aroma didn’t come through, and while the eel was decent, the overall experience felt like it lacked that soul of a stir-fry, and the taste was rather flat. The price is on the higher side but didn’t deliver the surprise one would expect.
🦑 Squid Noodle Soup (140 NTD)
The squid was very fresh, crunchy, and without any fishy taste, which is a plus! The thick soup style is similar to the eel soup, but compared to it, the taste is lighter, suitable for those who prefer milder flavors.
✍️ Personal Thoughts:
Although this restaurant is a well-known brand and might have had great strength in the past, the waiting time for this meal was very long, and I didn’t experience the "high-heat wok flavor" I expected, which felt a bit overrated. If you are a fan of Tainan's wok flavor, you might be disappointed. However, if you want to try the flavors of a classic old restaurant, it can still be on your list of places to visit!
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🔹🏠：Cheng Bian Zhen Wei Eel Noodle
🔹📍： No. 235, Section 1, Dongmen Road, East District, Tainan City
829 Fried Eel by the City
🌟 Find a seat first and queue for checkout
🌟 2023 Michelin recommended
"Fried Eel by the City" was established in 1970 and is located at the Dongmen Circle. It has been in business for over 50 years, featuring stir-fried eel as its signature dish, with the option to choose whether to thicken the sauce or not. They also offer stir-fried squid and sesame oil kidney in their menu, where the default flavor is mildly spicy, but customers can request adjustments if they don't prefer spicy food.
The environment at Fried Eel by the City has a street-level shop with a dimly lit indoor dining area. It is quite clean, with seating for two and four, accommodating around twenty people. Seasonings are self-serve, and cars can park in parking spaces along Shengli Road, while scooters can park at the entrance.
The menu at Fried Eel by the City is as follows: the signature eel noodle soup can be served with or without thickened sauce, plus they offer stir-fried squid and internal organ soups like sesame oil kidney, sesame oil pig's heart, and pig liver broth, with prices ranging from 140 to 270. Dine-in customers should find a seat and fill out the menu before lining up to pay; take-out customers should fill out a take-out order form and then queue to check out.
Let's eat
Dry Stir-fried Eel Noodle (without thickening) 💰190
The portion is quite generous, but there is a significant variation in the length of the eel pieces, resulting in different textures. The longer eel is not crispy at all, while the shorter eel is crunchier. Since I don't enjoy very sweet eel noodles, I usually order them dry; however, the version here is not dry enough and tastes a bit too sweet. The noodles are stir-fried separately and then combined with the eel, leading to insufficient overall aroma. The noodles don't absorb the sauce well, which makes them a bit too moist and tender. The menu states mild spiciness, but for someone who dislikes spicy food, I find the flavor to be not very distinct.
Eel Noodle Soup (with thickening) 💰140
The seasoning here is sweeter than the dry stir-fried version, and the noodle issue remains the same—personally, I prefer not to have thickened sauce.
Thoughts: The flavor at Fried Eel by the City feels quite average in Tainan’s LUNA, leaning toward the sweeter side. The noodles may not be stir-fried together due to high business volume, leading to insufficient flavor absorption. The noodles remain just noodles, while the eel stays just eel.
Key considerations for the meal: The noodle flavor is on the sweet side.
Key considerations for the environment: An old shop with dim lighting but clean.
Key considerations for parking: Scooters can park at the entrance; cars can park in the spaces along Shengli Road.
Key considerations for restroom availability: No restrooms available.
Key considerations for queuing: Very quick service, almost no waiting time.
Key considerations for service: Average service.
Value for money: 🌟🌟🌟
(Only discussing food and prices)