Rich sesame paste and refreshing cucumber slices—our guide to 14 must-visit cold noodle spots in Taipei

Reporter Lee Tzu-yi / Compiled report

On hot summer days when you lose your appetite, a bowl of cold noodles topped with crisp cucumber slices, rich sesame paste, and tangy sauce is especially appetizing and cooling. With many cold noodle shops in Taipei and fierce competition, ETtoday EBC has compiled a list of 14 super-popular cold noodle spots in the city. If you’re a fan of cold noodles, come join the pilgrimage with us！

▲ Zhangchun Cold Noodles (formerly A’Chun Cold Noodles). (Photo / Screenshot fromZhangchun Cold NoodlesFan page)

Zhangchun Cold Noodles
Address: No. 368, Section 2, Zhonghua Road, Wanhua District, Taipei City
Phone: (02)2301-3417

With over 30 years of history, Zhangchun Cold Noodles (formerly A’Chun Cold Noodles) opens at 7:30 am, and sometimes sells out before noon. It’s one of the must-try dishes in the Nanjichang area. The shop only offers two items: cold noodles and miso soup. Spice lovers shouldn’t miss the shop’s chili sauce—adding a few spoonfuls makes the flavor even more appetizing. The most expensive option, the large cold noodles, costs only NT$40, while a bowl of miso soup is under NT$15, and you can refill it at the counter. It’s incredibly affordable.

▲ Pingtung Renjia Cold Noodles. (Photo / Screenshot fromPingtung Renjia Cold NoodlesFan page)

Pingtung Renjia Cold Noodles
Address: No. 1, Lane 535, Fujin Street, Songshan District, Taipei City
Phone: (02)2749-4326

Started in Pingtung in 1959, Renjia Cold Noodles has branches in Kaohsiung and Taipei. The noodles here are slightly thicker than regular wheat noodles, and the sauce is made with sesame paste, sugar, and vinegar, then sprinkled with a bit of peanut powder. Paired with crisp cucumber slices and bean sprouts, spice lovers can also add Renjia’s homemade chili sauce for an even more satisfying experience.

▲ Yongji Cold Noodles (Photo / Reporter Wei Huaxuan)

Yongji Cold Noodles
Address: No. 21, Tongde Road, Nangang District, Taipei City
Phone: (02)2786-8709

Located near the Houshanpi MRT station, Yongji Cold Noodles is only open until 2:30 pm daily, making it a nostalgic taste that locals have enjoyed since childhood. The signature “Original Flavor Cold Noodles” are fragrant with sesame, offering a refreshingly light taste. The “Pork Floss Cold Noodles,” on the other hand, have a stronger flavor—rich sesame paste mixed with pork floss, a rare and special combination not commonly found in the market.

▲ Fude Cold Noodles. (Photo /Xiaohu Dream Food Network)

Fude Cold Noodles
Phone: (02)2503-8553
Address: No. 76, Xing’an Street, Zhongshan District, Taipei City

Fude Cold Noodles is quite famous in Taipei’s late-night food scene. Its sauce has a sweet flavor with hints of garlic, and adding the red and green double sauces (chili and mustard) enhances the taste even more. Another standout is the pickled mustard greens and shredded pork cold noodles, which come with a variety of toppings—diced tofu, shredded pork, pickled mustard greens, and cucumber slices layered separately—offering a unique blend of sweet and savory flavors.

▲ Zhixiang Cold Noodles. (Photo / Reposted fromZhixiang Cold Noodlesofficial Facebook page)

Zhixiang Cold Noodles
Address: No. 26, Lane 311, Section 2, Heping E. Rd., Da’an District, Taipei City
Phone: (02)2700-3080

Zhixiang Cold Noodles emphasizes authentic Sichuan flavors and is one of the go-to spots for local residents. Its signature cold noodles have a relatively refreshing taste, with rich sesame sauce, a hint of garlic, and a slight tanginess from vinegar. The addition of a spicy chili sauce that’s not shy on heat takes it to another level.

▲ Chen’s Cold Noodles (Photo / Photo by reporter Tsai Cheng-liang)

Chen’s Cold Noodles
Address: No. 29, Lane 123, Section 5, Nanjing E. Rd., Songshan District, Taipei City
Phone: (02) 2766-0171

Known for being open 24 hours a day, Chen’s Cold Noodles is a famous name in Taipei, and it’s not uncommon to spot celebrities here. In addition to the standard flavors like sesame sauce, soy sauce, garlic, and vinegar, the signature cold noodles feature a secret recipe of homemade rock sugar syrup. The perfect balance of sweet, sour, salty, spicy, and umami creates a uniquely layered flavor. It's also common to pair your noodles with their three-in-one soup — the classic combo at Chen’s.

▲ Mom Liu’s Cold Noodles. (Photo / Reposted fromMom Liu’s Cold Noodlesofficial Facebook page)

Mom Liu’s Cold Noodles
Address: No. 37, Section 5, Civic Blvd., Songshan District, Taipei City
Phone: (02)8787-2093

A few years back, they opened a high-end flagship store on Dongxing Road that really turned heads, but although it has since quietly closed, the main branch near Taipei Arena still draws long lines — making it a great post-club bite. The portions at Mom Liu’s aren’t huge, but they’re just right for a late-night snack. The noodles have the perfect texture, the garlic aroma is fragrant, the cucumber is crisp, and it’s even better when paired with a soft-boiled egg.

▲ Willow Family Cold Noodles. (Photo / Reposted fromWillow Family Cold Noodlesofficial Facebook page)

Willow Family Cold Noodles
Address: No. 21-1, Guangfu S. Rd., Songshan District, Taipei City
Phone: (02)2763-4573

Established in 1963, Willow Family Cold Noodles is now in its second generation and is considered a long-standing cold noodle spot in Taipei. The signature original cold noodles feature a relatively light sesame sauce combined with pungent garlic and an exclusive homemade spicy sauce. The noodles are chewy and bouncy, especially appealing to those who prefer bold flavors.

▲ Jiawei Cold Noodles. (Photo / Reposted fromXu JinmingFacebook)

Jiawei Cold Noodles
Address: No. 8, Beining Rd., Songshan District, Taipei City
Phone: (02)2577-7477

Jiawei Cold Noodles specializes solely in cold noodles, offering three flavors: sesame paste, douban, and vegetarian. The sesame paste cold noodles have just the right flavor—the peanut taste isn’t particularly strong—and paired with a subtle garlic aroma, they’re refreshingly light yet richly fragrant. Those who don’t like garlic can opt for the richly flavored douban sauce.

▲ Daiji Cold Noodles. (Photo / Screenshot fromDaiji Cold Noodlesofficial fan page)

Daiji Fujian Cold Noodles
Address: 1F, No. 427, Fujin St., Songshan District, Taipei City
Phone: 02 2764 2690

Daiji, a very popular spot in Minsheng Community, offers three cold noodle flavors: original, douban, and shredded pork with pickled mustard greens. The most unique aspect here is that instead of miso soup, the cold noodles come with a pork bone broth-based soup—available as egg drop soup with egg whites, wonton soup with wontons, or shredded pork with pickled mustard greens soup. The soup flavors pair perfectly with the cold noodles and are also a must-order item.

▲ Orchid Pavilion Cold Noodles. (Photo / Screenshot fromOrchid Pavilion Cold Noodlesofficial fan page)

Orchid Pavilion Cold Noodles
Address: No. 87, Section 3, Chongqing S. Rd., Zhongzheng District, Taipei City
Phone: (02)2341-9922

Located under Zhongzheng Bridge, the flagship Orchid Pavilion Cold Noodles has been in business since 1966, when the first-generation founder sold cold noodles from a small pushcart, eventually growing into today’s multi-location chain. The shop offers a wide variety of items, including noodles, bowls, rice dishes, and combo meals that mix ingredients like seaweed, pickled radish, and ham. The cold noodles come in four flavors: original, sesame paste, spicy, and tomato. The owner especially recommends trying a unique way of eating them—with a bit of mustard added for a numbing, spicy, and pungent kick.

Guanghe Cold Noodles
Address: No. 12, Lane 136, Sanmin Rd., Songshan District, Taipei City
Phone: 02-2756-7583

Operating in Minsheng Community for about 30 years, this is a local queue-worthy favorite. The signature cold noodles feature specially made thick noodles, topped with a rich sauce that combines the aroma of sesame paste and the tang of Zhenjiang vinegar. Spice lovers can add a bit of the special chili sauce for an even better flavor. The wonton soup in the meal is particularly notable for using Shihtsui mushrooms, making it hearty and flavorful.

Air Force Cold Noodles
Address: No. 68, Songlong Rd., Xinyi District, Taipei City
Phone: 0927-793623

Located at the end of Lane 30, Yongji Rd., Air Force Cold Noodles is only open until 2:30 PM and is beloved for being affordable and filling. The generous portion of noodles, once coated in sauce, offers a subtle hint of garlic and sesame aroma, paired with shredded cucumber and bean sprouts for a refreshing taste. The shop also offers another popular soup, the “three-in-one soup,” which includes wontons, tofu, and egg drop in one bowl of miso soup.

Liangji Cold Noodles
Address: No. 158, Lane 30, Yongji Rd., Xinyi District, Taipei City
Phone: (02)2747-3461

Liangji Cold Noodles, in business for over 30 years in the Eastern District, is a regular spot for nearby office workers. The price difference between the small and large portions of cold noodles is minimal, so it’s recommended to go for the larger size, which offers much more. The sesame paste here is quite generous, almost covering the entire bowl of noodles, and once evenly mixed, the noodles are fully coated. A drizzle of chili sauce adds a numbing and spicy kick that really hits the spot.