Traditional beef noodles in Shoufeng Township – the beef melts in your mouth, and the broth is mild and slightly spicy

Text & photos by /Viviyu

Qiao Xifu Noodle Shop
Address: No. 243, Zhongshan Road, Shoufeng Township, Hualien County
Phone: 03 865 2065

I’ve known about this Qiao Xifu Noodle Shop since I was a student over ten years ago, but back then my student budget couldn’t stretch to beef noodles. I usually just got braised pork rice from Auntie Qiu to get by. It wasn’t until the owner of Xiaoyuwa Homestay recommended it that I finally remembered this place and got to try the beef noodles. How on earth did I survive back then… haha.

There are quite a few menu options here, with noodle dishes and stir-fried noodles being especially popular. The side dishes are also very affordable.

Among the noodle shops around here, the decor is pretty nice, with a touch of Chinese-style design. The funniest part is that they even sell uniforms here.

Steamed Egg Custard $10
It’s really just a cheap option to go with rice for kids. It has clams and hot pot ingredients in it, and for the price, it’s pretty good.

Marinated Yellow Clams $30
This marinated yellow clam dish is hard to beat when it comes to how nanny makes it, but this time I tried it and it really wasn’t for me—the flavor is way too sweet, like something you’d only get in Tainan. Sweet marinated clams are just a bit weird…

Shredded Pork and Egg Fried Rice $60
Vincent, who said he wanted rice, ordered a plate of shredded pork and egg fried rice. It’s about the portion of two bowls of rice, and the rice is fried so each grain is separate. The texture is pretty good. We packed it to go back to the homestay and eat, and it was still tasty even when cold.

Blanched Greens $30
Always good to get some greens for balance. The blanched sweet potato leaves with minced pork sauce were fragrant.

Smoked Pig’s Head Skin $30

Pickled Mustard Greens with Shredded Pork Noodles $60

Cold Tossed Pig’s Liver $30

Pig’s Intestine $40
You usually only find these kinds of offal dishes at noodle stalls. When I eat at a noodle stall, I like to order pig’s liver or pig’s intestine to go with it. The pig’s intestine, when cleaned well, doesn’t taste bitter, and with a drizzle of sweet soy sauce, it’s delicious.

Scallion-Garlic Stir-Fried Yellow Clams $150
Shoufeng Township is the hometown of yellow clams, and these come from the rice fields of Lichuan Fish Farm. A big plate stir-fried for 150 NT—definitely fresh because it’s from the source. Just the heat might’ve been a little too high; taking it out a few seconds earlier might’ve made the texture even better.

Beef Noodles $100

There’s a hidden homesick feeling in this bowl, plus the joy of finally getting to try it. The texture of the noodles is very chewy. Back then, I’d just listen to classmates talk about it. Now actually getting to eat it feels really great—the broth is slightly spicy yet has a gentle, soothing feel.

The beef is so tender it melts in your mouth. I still prefer the parts with a bit of tendon. I actually like noodles more than the beef, but there’s still a satisfying feeling overall.

After eating at Qiao Xifu, I felt really satisfied, but because of that, I couldn’t bring myself to eat the Toyoda Sauce Chicken Cutlet afterward. If you’re in the Shoufeng area, you can have a hearty meal at Qiao Xifu or Doctor Beef Noodles. I think it feels way better than after eating X Mei Pig’s Trotters…

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