Signature dry noodles and handmade bean soup buns—snack "vegetarian" set meals for just 33 yuan!

Text & photos by /Tangerine Dog Loves Candy

My impression of Lukang is probably similar to many others’, as I remember this place from Lo Ta-yu’s song “Lukang Town.” But it wasn’t until several years after my military service and starting work that I first stepped into this once-bustling town. The former port and grain-distribution hub of Luzaikang has completely transformed into a tourist attraction centered around its old streets. The once-quiet decline has been replaced by the hustle and bustle of tourists, with old streets and red bricks serving as backdrops for photos. People come here for a taste of nostalgia and to explore a variety of local specialties that satisfy their taste buds. As the saying goes, 'Food is the paramount necessity of the people,' and tourism is all about eating and drinking. In the past, must-visit items here included shrimp monkeys, Lukang meat buns, pork ball noodles, oyster omelets, and beef tongue biscuits, among others. This time, a local enthusiast was kind enough to guide us to the bustling 【Lin Mingtang Vegetarian Noodle Shop】.

This 【Lin Mingtang Vegetarian Noodle Shop】 hasn’t been widely recommended by friends before. It’s a bit off the main tourist route. I later remembered that the “Foodie Savants” TV show, hosted by the Tomato Brothers, had once featured this place. To be precise, its location is on Jieshou Road, in the alley behind the Lukang Police Station. There’s only this one snack shop along the entire street, and unless you have specific dietary needs, those used to meat-based diets wouldn’t usually go out of their way to look for local vegetarian options. According to our guide, the owner, he’s been eating here for ages but isn’t quite sure how many years it’s been open. Still, it’s quite famous—not just frequented by tourists, but also often visited by locals. It has now been passed on to a younger generation of two brothers who handle the cooking.

Visiting at 2:30 PM, the shop was packed with customers, but we only heard the owner telling incoming guests that certain items were already sold out. Their business hours are long, from 11 AM until 6 or 7 PM, with no breaks, and maintaining such steady business is quite exhausting. It’s said that on the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month—special vegetarian days—they might even sell out by 5 PM. So, why not come and try the flavors for yourself?

What they offer is simple: bean buns, noodles, rice vermicelli, and the option to choose between dry or soup noodles. The highlight is their signature bean bun soup paired with dry noodles—for just 33 yuan. It’s practically a compassionately priced bargain, which explains why it attracts so many people every day. No wonder it’s said they’ve bought several houses with just this menu item (joking). But while they may be doing well, they’re definitely earning hard-earned money, standing and cooking noodles for seven or eight hours a day, not including prep time. They deserve to earn well for making such delicious food!

【Signature Dry Noodles + Bean Bun Soup │ 33 yuan │ Basic crowd favorite】
A bowl of noodles and soup for such a low price—if I lived nearby, I’d probably visit four or five times a week. But the dry noodles are really quite simple: flat wheat noodles topped with homemade vegetarian minced meat, and drizzled with a savory sauce underneath. It looks rather ordinary at first glance, but as soon as it’s served, the aroma wafts up with the steam, likely from the sauce. The vegetarian minced meat isn’t your typical tofu-based vegetarian product—it’s actually made from flour by the shop itself, browned through braising.

The flat wheat noodles have a nice chewy and springy texture. Mixed with the well-seasoned sauce, each bite offers a light, savory flavor that’s refreshing. The bean bun in the soup is also homemade; regulars call it a “vegetable roll,” which is coated, deep-fried, and then boiled.

The outer layer of the bean bun softens slightly in the soup, becoming half-crispy and half-soft. When you bite into it, you’re greeted with the crisp, sweet freshness of the vegetables inside—like cabbage, radish, and bean sprouts. The combination of crispy outside and fresh crunch inside, without being greasy, is truly a signature taste of Lin Mingtang. The soup also comes with a piece of fried tofu, and you can ask for a larger portion to get two extra pieces. The whole meal leaves you wanting more and feeling about 70% full.

This vegetarian noodle shop, loved by locals, offers a uniquely delicious taste. Simple yet refined in its flavor details, it lacks the heaviness typical of many vegetarian dishes but makes up for it with a refreshing, savory taste that lingers. The flavors aren’t complicated, but they’re undeniably enjoyable—even someone like me, who eats a lot of meat, fell in love with it at first try. If you’re in Lukang, it’s worth stopping by, though you should be prepared to wait in line, as there are plenty of fans of their vegetarian noodles. Sharing my simple thoughts for your reference!

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