Taipei’s Hipster “Soul-Numbing Noodles” – A Perfect Match with Spicy Beef Soup!

Text/Photo byFood Craving, Snapshots

Recently, this soul-numbing noodles spot has been all over Instagram. After clicking on the photos, I was instantly drawn to the glossy noodles and the looks of the indulgent spicy beef soup. It turns out this is a new restaurant brand launched by Dashixiong Spicy Hot Pot, featuring its star dish—the soul-numbing noodles—as a standalone offering. Fans can now head straight to the new shop for noodles. The restaurant is simply named “Soul-Numbing Noodles Shop” and is located in the Zhongshan shopping district. With a minimalist style, it gives off the vibe of dining at a hipster café.

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Soul-Numbing Noodles Shop is tucked away in an alley next to Zhongshan Station and Exit R9 of Zhongshan Underground Street. Its plain white decor makes it hard to associate with beef soup or stir-fried noodles—you might even mistake it for a Japanese-style café!

When I visited in the afternoon, I didn’t notice the operating hours and realized that the shop is closed from 14:30 to 17:30. I ended up going for a stroll and returned for dinner. Friends planning to visit, don’t show up during off-hours, okay? The space inside is small, and the seating is a bit cramped, but business is booming. Aside from being fully seated, there were also quite a few customers waiting outside. Fortunately, the turnover rate is fairly quick.

The menu is presented like a martial arts secret manual on the table. The meal options are simple: two flavors (spicy and clear-braised) of beef soup and the soul-numbing noodles. For the beef soup, you can choose either slices of pure beef or a half-tendon, half-beef combination. Additionally, if you find it not spicy enough, you can request to adjust the heat level.

The minimum order per person is one beef soup + soul-numbing noodles. We ordered one spicy beef soup + soul-numbing noodles and one clear-braised beef soup + soul-numbing noodles. If that’s not enough, you can also add side dishes. Side options include pickled vegetables, duck blood, youtiao (fried dough sticks), and braised items, among others. There’s also a photo zone where you can take pictures (as seen in the photos taken by many diners).

Spicy Half-Tendon, Half-Beef Beef Soup + Soul-Numbing Noodles – NT$280

Each noodle dish is served in two bowls: one with the beef soup and one with the noodles, almost like having the soup and noodles of a beef noodle dish served separately—but here, you’re meant to eat them separately. The portion size is quite generous, to the point where I couldn’t finish mine that day. The noodles also come with a soft-centered egg and duck blood, making for a rich and filling meal. I liked the texture of the soul-numbing noodles—they were chewy and springy, and the rich sauce paired well with the chopped scallions. The soft-centered egg was also great, though the duck blood could have been more flavorful.

The half-tendon, half-beef beef soup has 3–4 extra pieces of tendon compared to regular beef soup. The tendons are stewed until extremely tender, making them a delight to eat with the spicy broth. The spice level isn’t actually very high, and the soup is mild enough to drink. However, it is a bit oily. There’s also a generous amount of thinly sliced beef, which, despite being thin, still has a good texture.

The restaurant’s signature sauce has a sweet and savory flavor, which pairs perfectly with the tendons and beef slices.

Clear-Braised Beef Soup + Soul-Numbing Noodles – NT$230

While it lacks the rich intensity of the spicy beef soup, it offers a lighter, more delicate aroma. Compared to the spicy version, it’s relatively more refreshing. However, the clear-braised beef soup without tendon is even simpler, featuring only pure beef slices, but the portion is still generous!

The soul-numbing noodles from Soul-Numbing Noodles Shop are indeed delicious. Between the two soup flavors, I prefer the spicy beef soup. The portions are hearty, and although the price is a bit higher, it’s still worth trying out.

Dashixiong Soul-Numbing Noodles Shop
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Address: No. 36, Lane 42, Section 2, Zhongshan N. Road, Zhongshan District, Taipei City (Exit 4 of Zhongshan Station, Exits R7 and R9 of Zhongshan Underground Street)
Phone: 02-2523-5700
Business Hours: 11:30 - 14:30, 17:30 - 20:30

Food Craving, Snapshots
Navigating through the busy yet leisurely-paced lives of Taipei residents.
Loves uncovering hidden culinary gems in the city, alleys, and right by your doorstep, with a passion for exploring corners filled with stories.
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