Taipei’s Budget Food Feast: Rich and Fragrant Rice Noodle Soup & Hearty Side Dishes

Text & Photos /Old K

Rice noodle soup and rice vermicelli are among Old K’s favorite street foods. A bowl of rice noodle soup paired with a big plate of sides makes for a very satisfying meal, so he always keeps an eye out for new spots to try every now and then.

This rice noodle soup shop near Taipei Medical University’s College of Medicine has just made it onto his list of go-to places. Once he arrived, he realized there were tons of great food options in this alley—several eateries looked pretty good, including the super-popular dumpling spot Longmen Inn. It’s truly a hidden gem of a street.

Of course, the main dish here is rice noodle soup, but the selection of side dishes is also quite impressive. There are so many things he wanted to try—he decided to start with a few.

Most people have rice noodle soup with sides, but Old K has sides with rice noodle soup XD A big plate of sides is the only way to go for him.

Rice Noodle Soup (NT$25)
The soup even comes with a spoonful of fried shallots, which include a bit of dried shrimp. This soup is absolutely delicious—rich yet sweet, likely from a well-seasoned broth made with various ingredients. The fried shallots add a slight oiliness, but also enhance the aroma and shrimp flavor, making the taste even more intense. At first, Old K thought the shrimp might clash with the rich bone broth, but it didn’t—the shrimp flavor only came through when you bit into one. The noodles are thick and chewy, making for a perfect combination. Old K really loves their rice noodle soup—it’s definitely among the best he’s had.

Just look at the color of the soup—it’s amazing. And no, Old K wasn’t just eating the noodles without drinking the soup. After sipping it for a while, the owner came by to refill his bowl. This place offers free refills on soup. Even though it was hot outside, Old K enjoyed every sip. This bowl doesn’t have fried shallots—just a pure bone broth that’s less greasy and still delicious. If you don’t like fried shallots, remember to tell the owner in advance, as Old K heard other customers ask for no fried shallots too XD

Sides (NT$110)
Old K ordered four items: pork large intestine, pork skin, pork cartilage, and fried tofu. For NT$110, this huge plate isn’t expensive at all.

He also added some fermented black beans with chili on the side.

Let’s start with the fried tofu. The outer layer is slightly crispy with a nice chew, while the inside is tender and soft—it’s really tasty. Fried tofu is cheap and helps fill you up, though some varieties can have an odd smell, maybe from staleness or grease. This one doesn’t. Dipped in the fermented black beans with chili, it’s even better. The chili mix isn’t overly salty or spicy, and the heat doesn’t linger too long—it’s quite pleasant.

The pork cartilage is all about that crunchy texture—Old K just loves that crisp, crackling bite XD There’s also a generous portion.

His favorite, pork skin, is a bit on the harder side, but still okay.

The pork large intestine here is well-prepared—soft, bouncy, and smooth, with no strange flavors. All the sides are pretty great.

Move aside the shredded ginger, and you’ll see the portion is quite generous.


K’s Little Tips:
This rice noodle soup is really delicious. The broth is so tasty, and the fact that you can get refills makes it such a great deal. Sure, it’s hot soup in the summer and might make you sweat, but the place has air conditioning, so it’s not too bad XD Hurry and grab a bowl of rice noodle soup with these tasty sides.


K’s Personal Ratings (out of 10, higher is better)
Taste: 8.4
Value for Money: 8.5
Dining Environment: 5
Price: 7.5

Sanhe Rice Noodle Soup
Address: No. 3, Lane 61, Lin Sen South Road, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City
Phone: 02-2392-5489
Business Hours: 6:30 AM–3:00 PM (Closed on Mondays)

Old K
Keep it going, Old K!

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