Locals highly recommend this must-try in Tainan: Yuan Guohua Street Small Squid Rice Vermicelli!

Text & Photos /Gui Xiaosun

Anping Industrial Park · Yuan Guohua Street Small Squid Rice Vermicelli: No. 5, Lane 2, Section 1, Zhonghua West Road, Tainan City ＼ 06 263 1721 ＼ Open 9 AM–9 PM

The article about Tainan is unknowingly coming to an end. I keep thinking I’ll go back after summer vacation—there’s just so much Tainan food that I feel I haven’t finished trying yet... There are so many places I want to stay and so many feelings of just wanting to relax, which feel especially strong in Tainan!

This ‘Anping Industrial Park · Yuan Guohua Street Small Squid Rice Vermicelli’ was recommended by a friend from Tainan. Basically, every time I go to Tainan, I ask him tons of questions XD. Here, I sincerely thank you!! (Bow～～～ Actually, the first time I had small squid rice vermicelli was at Guohua Street’s small squid rice vermicelli... Later, I heard from a friend that what real locals eat is this place, (Original) Guohua Street Small Squid Rice Vermicelli... This (Original) character definitely has a story behind it XD. Without delving into its history, this time I came especially to try this truly local-recommended ‘Anping Industrial Park · Yuan Guohua Street Small Squid Rice Vermicelli’.

This ‘Anping Industrial Park · Yuan Guohua Street Small Squid Rice Vermicelli’ doesn’t have many online articles. It’s definitely the kind of shop that’s easily forgotten XD. But when you drive near here, you’ll be drawn in by the crowd... Because there aren’t really any other shops nearby, and the parking spaces around this spot were already full. It’s hard not to notice it!

Also, I’d like to thank the gentleman on the right in the picture below. That day, our car was almost out of gas (I woke up too leisurely in the morning and didn’t realize we were running low)... When he heard us asking the shop staff, he immediately appeared beside us and told me there was actually a gas station at the end of the road on the right. Later, when we sat down, we realized he must also be one of the owners. So cute, so friendly—thank you so much. I really love this kind of Tainan hospitality, which often makes me feel very safe even in unfamiliar places.

This ‘Anping Industrial Park · Yuan Guohua Street Small Squid Rice Vermicelli’ is located on the first floor by the roadside, under a canopy... Everyone finds their own seat quite familiarly. You can really smell the faint sweet aroma of blanched small squid wafting through the air from time to time... which makes my mouth water. We came on the last day of the Qingming holiday. When we left Zhengxing Street’s Weiai Apartment in the morning, we even bought a Bryan burger—only to recently find out that Bryan has now opened a store in Taichung!! (Yay XD). There are only three types of dishes at ‘Anping Industrial Park · Yuan Guohua Street Small Squid Rice Vermicelli’: small squid rice vermicelli, small squid soup, and rice vermicelli soup. Watching the people at the same table digging in, I sat there appearing calm, but inside I was super excited. I just wanted to take a bite of those squids XD.

Then our small squid rice vermicelli arrived. The big chunks of squid were right there in front of my eyes, instantly satisfying my heart. The small squid at this ‘Anping Industrial Park · Yuan Guohua Street Small Squid Rice Vermicelli’ are really huge. And just the sweet, fresh aroma alone gets your mouth watering. Plus, the little bit of celery is the perfect touch, making the whole flavor refreshingly delicious.

Take a closer look at these squids—aren’t they all huge? And the thickness is no joke either... They’re so bouncy and satisfying to bite into. The rice vermicelli is the thick kind, crispy and chewy, making you want to keep eating non-stop and getting totally hooked. No wonder the locals strongly recommend this place—it’s truly unforgettable, addictive squid... (Status: Want to come back for another bowl right away XD).

After tasting this deliciousness, I believe next time I come, I’ll definitely order a ‘small squid soup’ and if I can still eat more, I’ll get a rice vermicelli soup too. Hahaha~ Because the squid is just so good, you’d be willing to stuff yourself silly for it XD.

I really like the atmosphere in these local snack shops. Whether it’s the customers’ drooling anticipation or the habitual hand movements of the owners... Every scene may seem ordinary, but it’s filled with endless enthusiasm. Like the old-school bowl filled with blanched squid, then expertly topped with a bowl of soup... You can really feel the steam carrying the aroma of the food straight to your nose, instantly waking up your senses.

Here, you’ll see many elderly folks walking out from the alleys, just sitting down to have lunch. You’ll also see quite a few tourists who seem to have gotten the tip-off and came specially. The sky in Tainan at noon is beautifully blue, and the temperature is already quite high, but everyone comes for this flavor. Next time we have the chance, we’ll definitely come back again. This unforgettable, Q-textured flavor—Anping Industrial Park... Small Squid Rice Vermicelli!! ^~^

 

[Enjoy life, don’t be bored. Gui Xiaosun]、FB