【Foodholic Niko @ Taipei】

"Chuan Yu Snack Bar" has been an old store in the Zhongshan Station area for quite some time. Recently, they also opened a branch near Taipei Station. When I dined at the original Zhongshan Station location today, I noticed that a new store had opened right next door. It seems that business is quite good, so they expanded!

"Chuan Yu Snack Bar" is only a one-minute walk from Exit 1 of Zhongshan Station, but the exit is currently under construction. I tried walking from Exit 4 and turning right after crossing the street to get there. The Zhongshan shopping district is bustling with shoppers every day. Even at this odd hour of 2-3 PM on a weekend, the place was still packed!

"Chuan Yu Snack Bar" has two menus. One is focused on noodles and small bites, while the other features larger dishes, which are more suitable for group dining. Additionally, there are many small dishes available at the counter, and I noticed many customers picking up the sour and spicy shredded potatoes and lotus root.

The restaurant is very considerate; almost every dish allows you to choose the spiciness level, ranging from mild to very hot, and some can even be made without spice.

Chongqing Sour and Spicy Noodles $100
I chose mild, and the spice level was indeed quite low—barely noticeable. Next time I come, I’ll definitely try the medium spice; that should be more satisfying! The portion of noodles is generous, and the noodles themselves are soft, containing bean sprouts, peanuts, sour beans, and more. At first, I found it pretty decent, but as I continued eating, it became a bit monotonous and heavy.
For me, it's a bowl of sour and spicy noodles that scores around 70 points—not bad, but not the best I've had.

Red Oil Dumplings (Dry) $100
I forgot to count how many there were, but I recall there being at least 7 or 8. The portion is fair; the thickness of the skin is medium, but I personally feel there was a bit too little filling and the seasoning was average. This might be because I chose mild spice; I left with a feeling that it didn’t quite hit the spot. I definitely need to try the medium spice next time!

Next time, I must try the larger dishes! Today I saw the people at the next table ordering Chongqing Crisp Pork, boiled fish, and more; they all looked delicious!

Summary: 🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑
Dickson's Fooday food review is here again!

This time, we visited a Sichuan restaurant hidden in the alley near Zhongshan Station!
It includes various spicy boiled fish, Sichuan-style meat, and spicy noodles!
Without a powerful foodie friend to guide me, I really wouldn't have known about this place! 🤣🤣🤣

At weekend dinner time,
there was already a long line at the entrance,
not to mention the crowd waiting for takeout next to it.

On my first visit,
Dickson thought,
this place looks somewhat ordinary, almost like a snack shop,
with the appearance of a noodle shop at the end of our alley,
what could possibly be so appealing to draw such a crowd outside!? 🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️

Just how amazing could it be to have so many people queuing!? 🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️

After a long wait,
we finally entered to dine indoors,
but the indoor environment was indeed cramped due to the crowd. 🥹🥹

Just a slight turn or when the staff brought out dishes,
I was worried that I might splash sauce all over myself,
I might just become a local celebrity in Zhongshan District! 😈

If you're looking for a great date atmosphere,
it seems this place isn't it –
just the shouts from the neighboring tables and the passing aunties. 🤷‍♂️

Alright, let's finally dive into the main spicy theme!
On that day, we ordered:

👉 Spicy Boiled Fish
Loaded with deep red chilies paired with tender boiled fish,
this combination truly delivers a fresh taste sensation!
After all, boiled fish is inherently tender and soft,
but soaking it in that deep red spicy broth adds a thrilling spicy and tender texture! It's super exciting!!!! 🥹🥹

👉 Spicy Chicken Cubes
I thought it was just chicken cubes stir-fried with chilies,
but the spiciness of Sichuan cuisine is something else!
This dish has a numbing and spicy sensation,
as you bite into the chicken cubes, it numbs your taste buds!

After eating a few chicken cubes,
I instantly wanted to down several cups of water! 🌊🌊

Overall,
this restaurant allows you to adjust the spiciness to your preference.
On that day, my friends and I likely ordered medium spicy,
which was still manageable at that spice level.

This place is perfect for those who love spicy or sour flavors,
especially in cold weather,
coming here should be an exhilarating experience!
Just remember, you might have to wait in line for a bit! 😧😧

Food: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑
Beverages: 🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑
Atmosphere: 🌕🌕🌗🌑🌑
Service: 🌕🌕🌕🌑🌑
Price: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑
Location: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑

🤪🤪Dickson's Food Ramble🤪🤪

After wandering around Zhongshan District,
wanting to challenge a girl’s taste buds,
do you want to know how spicy she can handle,
or just how sizzling she is?
Then this is the place to be! 😈😈

Is the food spicy, or is the girl spicy?
We’ll find out after we eat (!?❤️❤️)

Wow, I still remember on our first date, my friend asked me if I eat spicy food.
I said, "Of course, if a girl can eat it, so can I."
She really underestimated me!!!! 😆😆

Looks like I was a bit too confident,
as soon as I was hit by that dark red spicy air, I was taken aback!
But how could I just give up? 🥹

As expected, I ate just like she did,
even if I was sweating profusely and downing cup after cup of water,
I wouldn’t back down! 🥹

After all, no matter how spicy it gets, it can’t be spicier than the girl across from me!
How could I admit the food was spicy in front of her?!!!!

After eating,
don’t forget to exchange triumphant eye contact with her,
letting her know, "Ha! What’s spicy about that?"
If she challenges me, I’ll accept!

But be careful,
after finishing her meal, she might rush off to the next place,
leaving me behind with spicy regrets
and the lingering flavor in my mouth! 🥹🥹

This is a famous hot and sour noodle restaurant. Go there during meal time to have a high chance of queuing or sharing a table.
It is recommended to go in as soon as the door opens and there is no need to queue!
They sell hot stir-fries and snacks!
This time I ordered hot and sour noodles and red oil noodles!
His fans are very Q!
The hot and sour noodles are quite lacking! But it’s still delicious!
The price is also cheap! If a girl eats it, one portion will be quite filling!
I don’t think I’ll order the Hong You Chao Shou again, it’s just mediocre!
If you want to season it, there is also a sauce area where you can adjust it yourself!
If you like to eat hot and sour noodles, I suggest you try Haji hot and sour noodles downstairs at the Beijing Railway Station. It’s also delicious!

If we share tables together, the seats will still be crowded~
It is recommended to take the MRT there, as it is difficult to park by car or bike!

Many people recommended this restaurant to me, and one person told me that they only serve hot and sour noodles from Sichuan and Chongqing. I haven’t even had a chance to try it after such recommendation🥲🥲

Today is finally here! It was also packed at noon!
The place was packed with people, the seats were packed, and the table turnover rate was extremely high.

Ordered today
🔅Chongqing Hot and Sour Rice Noodles $120
-The first time I came here, I ordered light spicy food. Next time I decided to order medium spicy food.
-His spicy food is very fragrant, either the kind that will burn the throat, or the kind that smells fragrant but is not so spicy that the tongue cannot feel it👍🏻👍🏻
-Hot and sour noodles are very Q, I love them
-I don’t know if the acidity can be adjusted. A little more sour would be great too🥹

🔅Salati Chicken $175
It looks super red 😂 but it’s actually not very spicy (a little spicy)
This is also the part that can be spicier next time
(I really don’t eat very spicy food, but he must have adjusted the taste of Taiwanese people. If it is local spicy food in Chongqing and Sichuan, it must be more than this)

This dish is super refreshing to eat in summer❤️

🔅Red oil hand copy $100
This dish is really not spicy enough, it tastes like wontons🤣
I even used it to dip it in the chicken sauce.

⚠️Suggestions
If you usually eat spicy food, come here to enjoy the spicy food.
I don’t usually eat spicy food, but there are also mild spicy ones you can choose from.

After a long absence of renovations, Sichuan and Chongqing finally reopened. The newly decorated store has become very spacious and bright, the seats are not as cramped and crowded as before, and the floor is no longer greasy and sticky! The free drinks also have a home.
Today I ordered spicy and sour duck blood tofu noodles. The duck blood is smooth and tender, and the holes in the tofu are filled with soup, but it is warm and not hot. Every time I eat Sichuan and Chongqing, I always feel that the soup is very warm. I have a cat tongue, so I can accept it fairly well, but if you like a hot bowl, you may be disappointed.
I also ordered the cold fish skin. The sauce was a bit sweet and the fish skin was crispy and had no fishy smell.