A Surprising Fusion of Flavors: Tainan’s A Long Yi Mian (Handmade Noodles) with Fragrant Burdock Noodles

Text & Photos /Xiao Sheng

A Long Yi Mian incorporates burdock and carrots into their noodles—a unique fusion rarely seen in Tainan. The taste is surprisingly good, which is why the shop always attracts many food enthusiasts.

Located at the intersection near Wanchang Street on Section 1, Fuzhong Road, A Long Yi Mian is an exceptionally unique noodle stand. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that A Long mixes burdock, carrots, and spinach juice into handmade noodles to create a variety of flavors. Since opening in 1950, over six decades have passed, yet the shop still retains a loyal customer base. Especially during late-night hours, the crowd is a testament to its popularity.

Originating from Yanshui Town, A Long Yi Mian offers three noodle flavors—burdock, spinach, and carrot. Burdock is available year-round, while the other two vary by season. On our visit, spinach was not available, but carrot flavor was. I used to frequent A Long Yi Mian often, but haven’t been back since traveling abroad. This time, I returned to revisit the nostalgia.

The small shop sees a steady stream of customers during lunch and dinner times. In addition to the noodles, the lu wei (braised meat and vegetables) I enjoyed years ago is also delicious. However, I haven’t had that in a while. After being abroad for over two years, what surprised me upon returning to A Long Yi Mian was how much the prices had increased. Though I can’t recall how much it cost before, a small bowl of noodles now costs NT$50—significantly more than regular noodles.

Burdock Noodles (Small NT$50, Large NT$60): As someone who loves burdock, I usually go for this flavor. The small portion isn’t very large, but besides the meat sauce and garlic, it also includes some bean sprouts and two slices of pork. Though it looks appetizing, seeing the rising prices makes me sigh—life is getting harder, even street food is going premium.

The burdock noodles are slightly darker in color, but the texture is quite chewy. The meat sauce adds nice flavor, really enhancing the noodles. You can detect a subtle burdock aroma, but the garlic paste really brings out the flavors. The texture of these noodles is excellent, and they taste much better than the carrot ones. Later, when I tried the carrot noodles with a friend, the taste was okay, but the aroma was faint. Though they had the orange hue, they felt like regular noodles. (I didn’t take photos of the carrot noodles as I didn’t have my camera with me XD)

Wonton Soup (Small, NT$30): The small bowl of wonton soup is actually cheaper. It comes with a generous portion of wontons. The broth is flavorful, and though the wrapper isn’t as chewy as those from Fu Rong Snack Shop, the pork filling is very tasty. Overall, the wonton soup is quite good.

Though I’ve been eating at A Long Yi Mian for years, I never wrote about it. While it remains special and the taste is still decent, the price has risen far beyond what it used to be. That’s why I visit less frequently now. Still, it’s worth trying for its unique flavor.

A Long Yi Mian
Address: No. 62, Section 1, Fuzhong Road, West Central District, Tainan City
Phone: (06)228-6280
 

Xiao Sheng’s Wandering Journey
Every journey, every trip, is a quest. Though I’m not entirely sure what I’m searching for, what I ultimately gain is always more than I expected. So, my wandering journey will continue unabated.