Have you tried French-style beef noodles after having Sichuan and Taiwanese versions?

Text and photos byGui Xiaosun

This holiday, I arranged to meet up with friends in Fengyuan, and one of the main reasons was to take them to try the ‘French-style beef noodles’ I had discovered before. We all decided to meet directly at the shop, and I had even made a reservation in advance because I was afraid there wouldn’t be any seats available during the holiday. I truly believe that Taichung has so many great eats, and if you don’t reserve a table, finding a seat during meal times is almost impossible.

My friends and I also have this feeling: you’re ready to spend money on a nice meal, but the restaurant might not even have a seat for you. XD So never underestimate how some restaurants can make you forget all about “the economic downturn.”

This time we visited 【Le Chen, French-style Beef Noodles】, and were surprised to find the menu had become even more diverse, with lots of new additions. The three of us ordered two combo meals to share, and in the end, we were still super full. What’s more, we ended up trying some of the new dishes, and realized this place really has creativity and knows how to keep innovating!

I fell in love with this place the first time I came because the shop has the vibe of a café, yet it serves beef noodles. It makes eating beef noodles feel quite refined, especially with those Tiffany blue walls that effortlessly draw you into their romantic atmosphere.

As for holiday crowds, most restaurants and department stores see the biggest influx around 12:30 PM. If you can arrive earlier, you might not need a reservation, but if you come later, there are no guarantees. Just looking at the crowd, you can tell that since there are many residential areas nearby, you’ll see lots of families coming in for some quality parent-child time.

The shop also writes its latest dishes on a blackboard outside. This time we ordered the 【Pumpkin Cheese Dry Noodles】 and 【Cocoa Curry Fried Pork Cutlet Rice】 listed there. And they’re available 【all day during holidays】, which means even guests who sleep in can enjoy a meal whenever they want. It’s kind of like brunch, serving food all day and warming the hearts of all the late risers. XD

The shop is full of little details and decorations that always make me take a second look. Whether the shelves are dust-free or what stories the displayed ornaments tell — my mind always wanders. Sometimes, it’s the little details that show how much care a shop puts in, and these are things that are both easy to overlook and easy to remember.

The first time I came here, I loved the illustrations in the shop. Unlike typical restaurants that just hang photos of their food, they use 【hand-drawn illustrations】 to present each dish in a cute and fun way. If you like them, take a closer look — every stroke is drawn with such warmth!

Another thing I really like about this place is that it’s very 【family-friendly】. Just look at the colorful utensils prepared here, including colorful bowls and plates. It’s such a thoughtful restaurant. Kids can pick their favorite colors to use, and they’ll definitely be thrilled.

This time, the menu became even richer. In addition to the previous French-style beef noodles and Sichuan spicy noodles, there were many new flavor options. Cocoa curry pork cutlet rice, cocoa curry fried chicken rice, pumpkin cheese dry noodles, as well as kids’ beef meatball tomato noodles and chicken nugget rice. The combos are divided into A and B, and this time we went straight for two Combo A sets.

The summer sunlight streaming in from outside made the air-conditioned room quite comfortable. The light filtered through the blinds of the floor-to-ceiling windows gently illuminated the bright tiled floor.

We waited for the food to arrive, and the first dish to come was something I loved the first time I came: 【Braised Beef Flower】. I fell in love with it immediately. The tender beef, rolled into a flower shape, had so many layers in each bite — soft and juicy. I loved it. XD

The main course arrived, and the first dish was the 【Cocoa Curry Fried Pork Cutlet Rice】. The moment I saw it, I wanted to try it because my longtime friend absolutely loves curry rice. So I’m always on the lookout for curry rice that she would enjoy, and since she doesn’t eat spicy food, I have to be selective.

This time, I found this 【Cocoa Curry Fried Pork Cutlet】, and I’m sure my friend will love it. It’s not spicy at all and has a slightly sweet flavor that’s very smooth. As I ate it, I realized it’s because of the “cocoa.” But it doesn’t taste too chocolatey, which is an interesting twist. It’s perfectly suited for those who don’t eat spicy food. Especially kids — I noticed many children really love curry rice.

I love this pork cutlet. The outside is crispy, the inside is soft and tender, and you can really see the thickness. It’s super filling. There are also some simple sides like cherry tomatoes, okra, baby corn, plus the essential carrots and potatoes. It satisfies both the eyes and the taste buds. XD

Next up: the 【Pumpkin Cheese Dry Noodles】. The portion is surprisingly generous. We initially thought dry noodles would be about the same size as regular dry noodles. But when it arrived, it was as big as a regular soup bowl of beef noodles. And the colorful vegetables immediately caught our eye.

Look closer, and you’ll see a layer of pumpkin and meat sauce on top of the noodles. Black fungus shreds, carrot shreds, and mung bean sprouts — black, red, and green. The colors are so inviting. Give it a good stir, and you’ll immediately smell the aroma of pumpkin and cheese rising up with the steam. It wafts into your nose, and you just can’t wait to dig in.

I really like the noodles here. They’re well-prepared — not too soft, with just the right texture. And the pumpkin cheese meat sauce is so delicious. I wonder if there’s a bit of tomato in it? Because it’s not just the sweetness of pumpkin or the richness of cheese. There’s also a tangy sweetness like tomato, and maybe some other secret ingredients. The point is, it’s delicious. Truly a creative shop.

With the combo, we ordered two side dishes — one was blanched greens, and the other was shredded kelp. I really like dishes like shredded kelp and tofu skin salad. The boss also gave us a plate of onion rings, and the freshly fried ones were so tasty. XD

We shared the dishes on the table, but we weren’t done yet because we also ordered a pumpkin soup and the ice cream pancake from the combo, which hadn’t arrived yet. After a short break, the two items showed up together, and the scene felt like afternoon tea. XD

This cup of pumpkin soup is absolutely adorable. And there’s latte art on top. Look at my “coffee” — how special. XD This pumpkin soup is fragrant and thick. We were thinking that waking up to a cup of this in the morning would be such a treat. Just imagining it feels healthy. Then there’s the ice cream pancake, which is one of the combo options. Since it was part of the set, we never expected it to be such a big portion. We were genuinely surprised when it arrived.

A whole plate with eight pancakes and one scoop of ice cream — that’s basically the portion of an afternoon tea set outside. And it’s just one option in the combo. Could one person even finish it? @@ The pancakes are delicious, with a slightly chewy texture — not the overly crisp kind you get these days, but with a soft feel. Dip it in the ice cream, and we really felt lucky that only two of us ordered two meals. You can totally imagine parents bringing their kids here and having a perfectly satisfying meal like this. XD

I really like this photo at the back. I’m not sure why, but I like it. Just like liking a shop, we all have our own preferences and habits, and sharing is also a habit.

On my second visit, I’m happy to report it still makes me love it just as much.

【Le Chen French-style Beef Noodles】
Address: No. 150, Bo’ai Street, Fengyuan District, Taichung City
Phone: 04 2522-7797
facebook:https://www.facebook.com/LeCheng.tw

Author of this article: [Life is enjoyable and never boring. By Xiao Sun]