Few beef noodles in Taipei cost just NT$100 — and this one comes with six big chunks of beef!

Text and photos by /Viviyu

Wang Family Knife-Cut Noodles
Address: No. 60-46, Section 4, Xinyi Road, Da’an District, Taipei City
Business hours: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM

Heading north to meet up with friends and hand over some shopping items, we rarely get the chance to stroll around near Da’an Station, so we decided to try a street food stall. Our “eating capacity” wasn’t strong enough for two people, and there are plenty of beef noodle shops near Xinyi Market. My favorite Dingwang Spicy Hotpot Chicken Feet is also nearby.

In the past, when I went to Dingwang to buy chicken feet, I often just stood on the opposite side of the road and gazed from afar. I only thought the area was lively but didn’t realize it was actually Xinyi Market. Truthfully, I’m really not familiar with Taipei... I navigate by food. If you ask me where Section 4 of Xinyi Road is, I wouldn’t know, but if you mention Dingwang, I’d know exactly where it is… Ha!

Our chosen target was Wang Family, recommended by a friend, but when we arrived nearby, huh — it turned out that Old Zhao’s Knife-Cut Noodles had a long queue. There wasn’t even seating inside, yet so many people were coming to buy. That’s really something unique. But since we were getting takeout and had nowhere to eat, who knows when we’ll get the chance to try Old Zhao’s?

The Wang Family Knife-Cut Noodles shop we chose makes their noodles fresh every day. Customers even asked if they sell noodles separately, but the boss said they can barely keep up with the demand for in-store servings, let alone selling raw noodles. So if you want to eat them, just come in and order a bowl. Of course, the shops near the market can’t be expected to have great ambience, but as soon as you get close, the aroma wafts over and even if you weren’t hungry before, your stomach starts growling...

Big Braised Noodles — NT$60
Highly recommended by a friend of my friend, these big braised noodles apparently have more ingredients compared to the other two shops. But since I haven’t tried the others, I can’t compare. Still, the soup here tastes quite different from the usual sour-spicy noodle soup I’ve had. It comes with shredded meat strips, black fungus, and a huge amount of Chinese cabbage.

The big braised noodles also use the wide knife-cut noodles. The broth is quite refreshing.

Beef Noodles (Small) — NT$100
In Taipei City, it’s really not easy to find beef noodles with so many generous chunks of beef at just NT$100. Count them — there are really six big pieces. This is probably something you’d only get at home. The portion is really hearty and honest.

It’s rare to see a whole plate of pickled mustard greens placed on the table for customers to help themselves, and there’s one plate per table — now that’s generous. This is a must-add when eating beef noodles and can really elevate the flavor of the broth.

Take the first sip of the broth — it may look greasy, but it’s rich and smooth, and not spicy. This is a beef noodle dish even kids can enjoy. If you’re a spice lover, don’t forget the shop’s homemade chili sauce. Just a spoonful will do the trick.

Next, try the handmade noodles. Just looking at them tells you they’ll taste great — the translucent noodles seem to shine. As soon as you take a bite, these wide noodles are really chewy and satisfying. I love them. No wonder customers ask if they can buy the raw noodles — I’d love to take some home to cook for my family too.

The beef is beef shank, half tendon and half meat, which has a particularly great texture. I like to bite into a whole chunk of beef, and adding some pickled mustard greens takes the flavor to another level. Wang Family Knife-Cut Noodles has been selling in Xinyi Market for decades. Maybe it’s not the most famous, but after tasting it this time, I really think it’s delicious. Even without air conditioning at the stall, I’d still be willing to grab a bowl of this great NT$100 beef noodles in the summer.

‘VIVIYU’s Little World’ ~ Traveling Across Taiwan and Beyond
Food, travel, group buys, parenting life — everything under the sun. The guiding principle for our travel plans? Happiness above all else.