This Kaohsiung handmade noodle shop only offers five types of noodles — even the seasonings are homemade!

Text and photos byShadow

Nestled in an alleyway, Alleyway Beef Noodles is a noodle eatery that just opened recently. The owner previously studied Shanghai and Jiangsu-Zhejiang cuisine, then worked for a shipping company as a ship’s chef, spending long periods at sea. Eventually, due to his love for noodles, he chose to return ashore and open this small noodle shop.

The shop has limited seating, accommodating only about a dozen people. The dining environment is clean, simply decorated without being tacky, and air-conditioned.

The owner sells only these five types of noodles. Don’t underestimate them — all the seasonings used are made by the owner himself, which is quite labor-intensive. Also, because they’re handmade, quantities are limited and the shop closes once they sell out.

On the front table, there are several condiments such as pickled vegetables, chili oil, and black vinegar.

The fridge also has the shop’s homemade side dishes, each for 30 NT$

Shanghai Scallion Oil Noodles – 50 NT$

The so-called scallion oil is slowly stir-fried by the owner using green onions — rushing can easily burn them.

The aroma of the scallion oil fills the entire bowl of noodles. Even the noodles are carefully selected — it took a long time to find these chewy, elastic mainland-style noodles. Shanghainese customers who have tried them say it tastes like home.

Fried Sauce Noodles – 70 NT$

I used to not be a fan of fried sauce noodles, mainly because the sauce was overly salty and lacked flavor variety. But after trying the shop’s fried sauce, I finally understood the true deliciousness of it.

The fried sauce is slowly cooked over low heat without any thickening agents, giving it a slightly sweet taste. Adding a bit of chili oil and black vinegar guarantees a more layered and rich flavor — this is the eating method recommended by the owner, and it’s absolutely wonderful. Everyone should give it a try.

Pickled Mustard & Shredded Pork Dry Noodles – 65 NT$

The Pickled Mustard & Shredded Pork Noodles use lard for flavoring, though the taste is somewhat mild and the lard aroma isn’t very strong. My husband, who likes pickled mustard, suggested the shop make the pickles a bit crispier.

All dry noodle dishes come with a bowl of clear soup. The broth is made from pork bones and contains no MSG.

The homemade pickled cucumbers have a satisfying crunch and a light saltiness, but lack the traditional sweet-and-sour taste — a bit of a pity.

The shredded onion is flavored with Zhenjiang vinegar, making it a simple yet well-executed side dish. However, if the onions were softened with salt first, both their appearance and texture would be even better.

Although the shop doesn’t offer many items, each one is meticulously handmade. Anyone who’s tried them can definitely feel the owner’s dedication. In fact, there aren’t many people who go to such lengths to make every seasoning from scratch. Often, convenience leads to cutting corners, and the true essence of deliciousness is lost. You must try these earnestly prepared noodle dishes — highly recommended.

Alleyway Beef Noodles
Address: No. 80, Yongle Street, Lingya District, Kaohsiung City
Phone: 07-3380257
Business Hours: 11:30–14:00, 17:00–20:00
Closed on Mondays

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