Let’s dig in on a food tour—authentic Sichuan-style beef noodles in the alleys of Xinsheng South Road!

Photos & Text by TravelScape Liao Weiren
 
Located along Jinan Road next to Taipei’s Zhongzheng-Fubao Special District, the street is lined with eateries that nourish the lives of locals, students, and office workers. Even more hidden culinary gems can be found in the nearby alleyways—including this beef noodle spot tucked away in the lanes of Xinsheng South Road, which we’re taking you and our editor to try today!

There seems to be more than one Jiuwu Beef Noodles, but we’re not sure if they’re all related. The one we visited today is located in an alley off Section 1 of Xinsheng South Road, not far from Zhongxiao Xinsheng MRT Station—just a short walk away. It’s a popular everyday choice among locals and office workers, often bustling with diners during meal hours.

Jiuwu is known for its authentic Sichuan-style beef noodles. Our editor opted for their signature red-braised beef noodles with half tendon and half meat. The broth was indeed flavorful—with both aroma and spice hitting the mark. The noodles had a nice bounce and slight tenderness, which our editor really enjoyed. The half-tendon, half-meat combination was also great. A bite of meat, a bite of noodles, and a sip of broth made for a very satisfying experience. But if you can’t handle spicy food at all, you might want to go for the clear-broth version.

Their double-sauce noodles mix sesame paste with fried sauce, served together with noodles. At first glance, you see only the noodles—the sauces are hidden underneath. Once you stir everything together, the aroma gradually unfolds, creating a layered taste that makes it hard to stop eating.

Our editor also tried their wontons, which had a generous filling and moderately thick wrappers. Paired with crisp cucumber, the spicy red oil blended beautifully with the savory pork inside—our editor quite liked them. The sauce was just a bit too heavy, so it’s best to adjust the amount to your taste.