A simple bowl of garlic mashed dry noodles for just 25 NT$, and blanched greens for only 20 NT$.

Text and photos byOrange Dog Loves Candy

Recently while watching [Lonely Gourmet], I can’t recall which season it was, but I came across this popular noodle dish called ‘啪当！’. It originally started as an in-house staff meal at one shop, but after regulars kept recommending it, it became a popular off-menu item. That really piqued my curiosity. Watching Gorou savor it so enthusiastically on screen, I suddenly remembered that there’s a noodle shop in Tainan that serves garlic-flavored noodles too. Perhaps the methods are a bit different, but 【Tian Fu Noodle Shop】—its delicious garlicky flavor still makes me want to revisit it every time I go back to Tainan. It’s located near Cheng Kung Hospital on Changrong Road, a very unassuming little noodle shop, yet its business remains consistently bustling.

Speaking of 【Tian Fu Noodle Shop】, the stretch of Changrong Road in Tainan where it's located is actually quite interesting—right across from it is another super-popular noodle shop called 【Ah Yuan Noodle Shop】. Both are extremely well-loved spots. At lunch and dinner times, both shops are packed with cars and bustling with noise and energy. Of course, I know each has its own loyal patrons, but both are equally affordable, so I just alternate between them.

But Tian Fu Noodle Shop really feels like a temporary, shabby little noodle stand. It hasn’t changed at all over the years, and neither has the crowd—it’s always packed during peak meal times, so I usually come around 2 PM when it’s less crowded.

There’s nothing particularly special about the decor inside, but they do have air conditioning, which is really appreciated for the price. Another feature of this little noodle shop is that their noodles are homemade—they roll the dough and cut the noodles themselves.

Because the noodle-making machine is right inside the shop, you often see the owner and his son making noodles while you’re eating.

Perhaps that’s why they’ve managed to reflect the savings in the pricing, truly operating on thin profit margins but high volume.

As a result, much of the shop space is used to store bags of flour. But the space has expanded a bit compared to before. Take a look at the price list: pork rice for 15 NT$, dry noodles for 25 NT$, and not even in mini portions—and a large bowl is only 5 NT$ more.

While we were eating, the boss struck up a conversation with me when he saw I was taking pictures. He told me about a recent trip to Taipei where he ordered just a few dishes at a random noodle shop and ended up spending hundreds, which made him think prices had really skyrocketed. I just laughed and said, “Boss, that’s just because your prices here are way too low!”

And take a look at these side dishes—there are several items for just 5 or 10 NT$. Honestly, their prices haven’t gone up much in the past five years. But the sides are displayed in a small cabinet by the door—you pick what you want, and the auntie will calculate the price and tag it on your pick. Plus, there’s also a big pot of clear soup you can drink for free outside. The broth is light, but you can add scallions yourself.

It’s this kind of down-to-earth pricing that makes people miss it so much when they’re away from Tainan.

【Garlic mashed dry noodles / Small bowl / 25 NT$】
If you think it’s just a small bowl, the portion in this bowl would probably cost 30–35 NT$ in central or northern Taiwan. There’s a bit of pork sauce drizzled on top, a small handful of bean sprouts, and the mashed garlic is already mixed in. It’s simple, but solid.

The homemade noodles are flat and wide—the texture isn’t bad, not mind-blowing, but the savory-sweet pork sauce sticks nicely to them. It has at least a slight touch of sweetness, because after all, this is Tainan. Then comes the faintly spicy kick of the mashed garlic, subtle. It’s been over half a year since I last had this bowl of garlic mashed dry noodles, and the flavor seems a little different this time. That slightly spicy garlic taste is what makes this dish so addictive for me, and this time it seemed a bit milder. It’s not a complex flavor, but it’s one that grows on you.

【Blanched greens / Sweet potato leaves / 20 NT$】
Served generously on a bold metal plate, it’s 10 NT$ cheaper than market price and in larger portions. Back in the day, you could fill up with a plate of blanched greens and a bowl of noodles for just 45 NT$. After leaving Tainan, you’ll hardly find prices like that anymore.

【Mixed sides / Tofu, blood rice cake, kelp, plus fish cake / 40 NT$】
If you’re at a typical noodle shop, you’d hesitate to order sides because a random plate could easily cost 200–300 NT$. Here, you don’t have to worry about that at all. They may not be the most deeply flavored sides, but they’re cheap and not bad at all, served with soy paste and a generous sprinkle of scallions. Actually, I really like their blood rice cakes—I always thought they were made with duck blood, because they have a firmer texture than usual. Sometimes I’ll add an extra serving of sliced pork or pork intestines. For just 40 NT$, this whole plate is really great value. I often feel like the boss is looking out for our health XD

【Dry wontons / 30 NT$】
This was actually my first time ordering them. The QQ wonton wrappers are filled with simply seasoned, lightly flavored pork. Topped with soy paste and mashed garlic, and a generous sprinkle of scallions, the portion is pretty good and tasty.

And finally, finish with a free bowl of soup to rinse your mouth XD. It’s really just plain clear broth, with no strong seasoning.

I think one reason this shop has so many regulars is that it’s genuinely much more affordable compared to market prices. For example, today the three of us ate our fill for just 175 NT$. In Taipei, 175 NT$ might only feed 1.5 people. But for me, aside from the low prices, it’s the simple flavor of those garlic mashed dry noodles that I’ve loved all these years. It’s not the kind of mind-blowing dish you’d go out of your way for, but once you’ve tried it, you’ll likely become a regular like me. Though the 【Ah Yuan Noodle Shop】 across the street is also great—you can alternate between the two. Both are affordable, delicious, and good value. I previously found a hidden gem in Taichung’s Jiguang Street that served amazing mixed noodles with unbeatable value. I think in terms of pricing, there are very few places in Tainan that can compare to 【Tian Fu Noodle Shop】.

======================================================
◎ Shop info: [Tian Fu Noodle Shop, Changrong Road │ North District]
◎ Address: No. 73, Section 4, Changrong Road, North District, Tainan City
◎ Phone: 06-2004706
◎ Business hours: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
◎ Notes: No days off, no minimum spend required
======================================================

[For more real-time delicious food and movie information, please add]
@orange_dog_loves_sweets@
Orange Dog Loves Sweets Blog Orange Dog Loves Sweets FB Fan Page