The side dishes actually include beef tongue and oxtail!! The spicy kick of garlic in the beef noodles

Text and photos byOld K

Not long ago, Old K tried the famous Liao Family Beef Noodles on Jinhua Street, and to be honest, it didn’t really suit his taste. Later, he saw Claire’s review of Liao Family Beef Noodles. After checking it out, he wondered, “How come this isn’t the same place I went to?” It looked so much more delicious!! He immediately added it to his must-try list—and as a top priority, XD

So Old K went there. Their sign is pretty low-key, but you can’t miss it if you spot the OK Mart at the intersection.

As soon as he walked in, the boss noticed Old K had a camera and asked how he’d heard about the place. Old K said he came based on someone’s recommendation and first ordered a bowl of beef noodles. He looked at the side dishes—since the beef noodles weren’t exactly cheap, he thought of ordering something inexpensive like dried tofu or pig’s head meat. But the boss asked, “Did someone recommend any particular side dishes for you?” Old K had forgotten for a moment XD The boss then offered to pick for him. Old K figured, since he was already there and the boss was so enthusiastic, it would be rude to refuse. He quickly agreed. There were four seasonings on the table, and the garlic was an unusual addition for beef noodles.

Beef Noodles (NT$180)
This clear-braised broth looks incredibly rich!! He took a sip first—the broth looked greasy but wasn’t at all heavy on the palate. It felt like a concentrated essence from various cuts of beef, with a smooth, velvety richness spreading in the mouth. It had a very pure flavor, which Old K quite liked.

The noodles were your standard thin ones. They were cooked nicely, and the thin strands were just right for soaking up the rich beef broth. The combination worked really well.

The beef was extremely tender yet still had some chew to it—very delicious. But before Old K could finish one piece, the boss came over XD

He immediately picked up a clove of garlic and said their garlic is all “injured.” Old K took a closer look and realized they were all sliced with a knife.

One piece of beef with half a clove of garlic in one bite—the flavor was really unique. The garlic’s distinctive sharp spiciness elevated the umami and sweetness of the meat. Friends who dare to eat raw garlic definitely have to give this a try.

Side Dishes (NT$300)
These were the side dishes the boss picked. On the left is beef tongue, and on the right is “moon” oxtail. Don’t ask Old K why it’s called moon oxtail—that’s what the boss said XD

Beef tongue is honestly pretty rare to find in beef noodle shops (maybe he’s never seen it before?)

This soy sauce with chili is something the boss strongly recommends adding on top.

The beef tongue slices were pretty thick. They had a soft yet slightly firm texture, quite different from the bouncy chewiness of grilled beef tongue. Since it wasn’t heavily braised, eating it plain is relatively light. But when you add a small spoonful of the soy sauce chili and some scallions, the flavor instantly upgrades!! The not-too-salty, slightly sweet soy sauce, mildly spicy chili, and slightly sharp scallions create a really rich texture—it’s delicious.

Next, try the oxtail. The oxtail has two textures: one part resembles beef tendon, offering a bit of bounce and chew.

The other part looks a bit like pork skin—thin slices that require almost no effort to chew. It feels like the gelatin just melts in your mouth. Of course, it’s even better with a dash of soy sauce chili and scallions for extra flavor.

After finishing the noodles, there was still some broth left. Old K added some pickled mustard greens to try. The pickled mustard here isn’t too salty or too sour. You can taste a faint tanginess, but it doesn’t overpower the broth. It was actually quite hot that day, but Old K still finished all the soup.

Old K’s Little Tips: Old K only found out at checkout that the side dishes cost NT$300 XD He was a bit shocked, but beef tongue and oxtail aren’t cheap to begin with. He felt it was definitely worth it. The beef noodles were great too, and seeing others enjoy the beef soup made it look really tasty. Their beef soup is like the kind you get in Tainan. This place is really good—but if you want a truly amazing meal, make sure to bring extra cash XD

Old K’s Personal Ratings (out of 10, higher is better)
Taste: 8.4
Value: 6
Dining Environment: 5
Price: 5.5

Old K
Keep the food journey going, Old K!!

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