Start your morning with Tainan beef soup—order the soup and get braised pork rice for free!

Text and photos bySan Gao Sir

My 2017 Tainan trip is almost at its end. Having visited Tainan many times, I always make sure to try one or two beef soup shops. Over these trips, I’ve naturally compared them, and this time, Xiluodian Beef Soup stands out among my favorites, leaving me quite satisfied.

The shop name “Xiluodian” refers to a temple near Shennong Street. Tainan has many historical sites, many of which are not widely known. Perhaps the original beef soup shop was closer to Xiluodian, hence the name? Its current location is farther from the bustling area, with Ah Han’s Savory Porridge just across the street. It’s very noticeable when you ride by on a T-bike.

They don’t offer too many items—just a few types of soups and stir-fries. I ordered the spicy scallion-stir-fried beef. In Tainan, I’ve had stir-fried dishes many times, and scallion-stir-fried beef is almost always cooked with onions, which adds a hint of sweetness. The stir-frying technique and seasoning here are excellent, with little greasy residue left at the bottom. The flavors of garlic, chili, and other seasonings are well infused, and the meat has the right balance of chewiness and tenderness without being tough. For an extra NT$100, I got a plate of braised beef tendon and tripe, which was flavorful though the taste was more mild and straightforward. The portion size was decent—in the north, a similar plate would normally cost double.

When the beef soup and mixed soup arrived, I took a quick sip of the broth before digging in. The deliciousness of the meat isn’t just about texture—the beef flavor needs to be rich, and it should have a hearty chewiness to really win me over. Another beef soup shop I tried in Tainan, Ah An, clearly fell short in terms of meat quality compared to Xiluodian. The beef liver and tendon in the mixed soup also tasted great. If you like spicy food, you can dip it in the homemade orange-red chili sauce.

If you’re hungrier, a bowl of plain rice paired with a bowl of braised pork rice makes a great combo. The braised pork rice that comes with the beef soup turned out to be surprisingly good. One bowl had rich, gelatinous flavors, while the other bowl of plain rice was drizzled with savory beef soup broth, soft tendon and beef slices, and shredded ginger with soy sauce—a truly comforting bite in every mouthful.

Xiluodian Beef Soup
Address: No. 98, Park South Road, North District, Tainan City
Business hours: 5:00 AM–1:30 PM (Closed on Tuesdays)

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