Only open for 4 hours a day — Banqiao’s wildly popular late-night snack: spicy sauce & sesame paste “cold noodles”!

Text & photos byPingzi

On a hot summer day, if you’re craving cold noodles to whet your appetite, Pingzi wants to recommend a super-popular late-night queue-worthy dish she discovered in early June this year in Banqiao — Lao Chen’s Cold Noodles. It’s become a hit late-night eatery in Banqiao recently, open only 4 hours a day from 9:30 PM to 1:30 AM. The shop sells just one signature item: Lao Chen’s Cold Noodles. Made with special noodles and mixed with spicy sauce and sesame paste, the chili sauce is a must for those who love their noodles spicy. At just NT$50 per serving, it’s an affordable delight, available only for takeout. This Banqiao hotspot draws long lines — perfect for foodies looking for a must-visit experience.

Originally, Lao Chen’s Cold Noodles was located on the roadside of Guanqian East Road, a 5-minute walk from Fuzhong Station on the Taipei MRT. But as of July 14, 2017, it has moved to a new location right across from KTV chain Moneybox and Jiuda Barbecue in Banqiao. Even while waiting at the traffic light, people were amazed by the crowds. The new address is No. 1, Guanqian West Road, Banqiao District, New Taipei City. Even on its first day in the new spot, there was still a long line — a clear sign of its immense popularity.

Since it was the first day in the new location, the new signboard hadn’t been put up yet, but it still drew huge crowds. Just looking at the line of people queuing along the roadside is enough to catch anyone’s attention, and makes you even more eager to try this legendary Lao Chen’s Cold Noodles.

Operating hours are Monday to Saturday, from 9:30 PM to 1:30 AM — just 4 hours a day. For a late-night Banqiao eatery that draws queues, this is definitely the place to be.

The owner, who is a big fan of cold noodles, wanted to share them with other noodle enthusiasts. He developed the recipe himself, shopping for ingredients after work and starting prep around 2 or 3 PM. The meat sauce is made in limited daily batches, stir-fried by hand, and the sesame and spicy sauces are blended in the perfect ratio to create the ultimate flavor. The noodles also have a uniquely chewy texture. A small sign at the entrance introduces Lao Chen’s Cold Noodles: spicy sauce + sesame paste for NT$50.

The shop sells only one dish — the signature Lao Chen’s Cold Noodles — and only offers takeout, no dine-in service. Just hearing that they sell only one type of cold noodle might sound unusual, right? On the first day, each customer in line was limited to buying just two servings, as supplies are limited and sold out daily.

The essential sauces that make these noodles delicious include: Sichuan pepper sauce, garlic, a special sauce, and sesame paste (as shown above). All sauces are prepared fresh and mixed on-site — this is the key to keeping the flavors vibrant.

For those who love spice, the chili sauce is a must — it’s also stir-fried in-house. Pingzi absolutely loves this chili sauce; it’s richly aromatic, spicy, and full of bold flavor.

Lao Chen’s Cold Noodles are an affordable treat, priced at just NT$50 per serving. The portion is very generous, giving you a truly satisfying meal. The ingredients are generous too. There are no overly complicated sauces here — the noodles are portioned carefully by weight, then mixed with Sichuan pepper sauce, garlic, special sauce, sesame paste, chili sauce, and topped with shredded cucumber. That’s how this seemingly simple yet extraordinary cold noodle dish is made.

As Pingzi mentioned earlier, those who love spice should definitely add a generous spoonful of chili sauce — it adds a fragrant kick. You’ll also see cubes of fried tofu and richly flavored meat sauce, all sitting atop a hearty bed of noodles.

Once you stir everything together, you’ll find plenty of savory broth at the bottom, releasing an irresistible aroma that really whets your appetite.

When you pick up the Lao Chen’s Cold Noodles with chopsticks, you’ll feel just how substantial and generous the portion is — a true reflection of the shop’s dedication and sincerity.

Just looking at the noodles, you can tell they have a wonderfully chewy, layered texture. It’s super tasty, and after eating, the aroma of the spicy and sesame sauces lingers in your mouth, making you want another bowl right away.

By the time you finish the noodles, there’s still plenty of sauce left at the bottom — you won’t want to waste a drop and might even wish you could drink it all. That’s how delicious it is.

Takeout is handled with the same care — each serving is neatly packed in plastic bags.

The cold noodles and sauce are packed separately, which is the secret to maintaining the noodles’ great texture and flavor. After all, mixing them together would make the noodles soggy. The sauce is also packaged fresh for each customer, so you’ll have to wait patiently. After trying Lao Chen’s Cold Noodles, Pingzi couldn’t stop raving about them and wanted to take extra servings home for her family. If you also work late or, like Pingzi, often find yourself up at night, why not make a pilgrimage to this Banqiao late-night eatery and try this wildly popular queue-worthy dish?

Lao Chen’s Cold Noodles
Phone: 0978-555-795
Address: No. 1, Guanqian West Road, Banqiao District, New Taipei City
Business Hours: Monday–Saturday 21:30–01:30, closed on Sundays

upssmile Pingzi (up’s smile upward smile)!
She is a designer and also a photographer for Up’s Smile Travel, Food, Design & Photography.
Passionate about “travel,” “food,” “design,” “photography,” and movies.