The must-try Rongrongyuan Beef Noodles in Kinmen – the Sichuan-style broth is clear, sweet, and the noodles are Q-textured

Text & Photos /Orange Dog Loves Candy

Aside from being famous for its sorghum production, animal husbandry is also a key industry in Kinmen, and the local yellow beef is quite well-known. However, the biggest regret of this trip to Kinmen was not getting to try the all-beef feast at Gaokeng. After all, there are so many delicious foods here – not only did every dish suit my taste, but with sightseeing spots to visit as well, our five-day, four-night itinerary was packed to the brim. Fortunately, that morning in Jinhu Township, I happened to pass by this 【Rongrongyuan Ramen Shop】, which is said to be a famous spot. Coming to Kinmen without knowing what beef tastes like just wouldn’t do, so even though I had just eaten breakfast, I had to squeeze in a bowl of beef noodles.

It seems to have been a Saturday holiday that day. At first, I thought the streets weren’t too crowded. But by 12 noon, Rongrongyuan was already fully seated, mostly with locals and soldiers.

Moreover, the decorations on its walls are so colorful XD – landscape photos, Spring Festival couplets, all sorts of things plastered together. It looks like an old shop that’s been around for ages, and it has good recognition, as I saw quite a few recommended articles about it online. It also seems to be a nostalgic spot for many who did their military service here, which shows how long it’s been rooted in the area.

Aside from Shanwai, it seems there’s also a branch behind the Kincheng Station. Although beef noodles aren’t exactly a rare food – in Taiwan, they’re almost as ubiquitous as convenience stores – different regional eating habits still give rise to unique culinary characteristics. I think beef noodles still have their own special charm.

Also, their prices were even cheaper than I expected – a bowl of beef noodles is only 85 NT. Considering that in Taiwan, beef noodles often cost over a hundred NT per bowl, this is an incredibly rare price. Aside from beef noodles, we also ordered an extra portion of their signature stir-fried noodles and some dumplings, because I’m a total dumpling fanatic – I’d feel bad if I didn’t order them when I see them. The four of us only ordered these three items, because the portions in Kinmen are always huge, and you really can’t go overboard or you’ll end up too full XD

Beef Noodle Soup / 85 NT – Here you can choose between thick ramen or Kinmen-style noodles. Since I figured I probably wouldn’t get a chance to try Kinmen noodles in the next few days, I decided to get both beef and noodles at this stop XDD One bowl of beef noodles to satisfy both cravings at once!

Although the broth is said to be Sichuan-style, I didn’t find it spicy. Instead, it was quite clear, sweet, and had a faint aroma of beef.

In addition to beef, they also added quite a lot of bok choy. It was actually a bit different from the Sichuan-style flavor I expected, but it was still tasty and not greasy. The beef chunks were a bit bigger than I anticipated – I read other reviews saying it was slices, but mine were chunks.

There were probably five or six pieces (maybe five, to be exact), but the texture was slightly firmer, with good chewiness. However, it was a bit different from the Taiwanese style of beef, which is usually braised until tender and flavorful. Also, the pieces here were quite large.

The noodles part, however, really impressed me. I took quite a few photos of this bowl, but the noodles didn’t turn soft and mushy in the soup at all. Since Kinmen noodles are thin, they were still quite elastic, and I really liked them. Plus, there were so many noodles – highly recommended!

Now for the highlight – no matter how tolerant you are of spice, if you don’t add this signature spicy sauce, you really can’t say you’ve tried Rongrongyuan. Because that’s the soul of the dish. And you don’t need much – just one spoonful. That nose-clearing, sweat-inducing spiciness is so intense, but after trying it, you’ll instantly want to take some home. The aftertaste aroma is also very rich (though the spiciest chili sauce I had in Kinmen wasn’t from here!! Another place was so spicy it brought tears to my eyes with just one drop).

Signature Stir-Fried Noodles / 50 NT
Looking at this bowl, it’s definitely the authentic Kinmen portion – big and hearty, super satisfying. Lots of noodles, lots of meat sauce. Actually, a lot of people these days don’t eat beef, so this stir-fried noodle dish is made with pork sauce. It’s loaded with tons and tons of scallions, like they’re practically giving them away, plus lots of pickled vegetables and mustard greens – it’s all very generous. And when ordering this stir-fried noodle, make sure to ask if they have ramen, because for that hearty, satisfying texture, you really need to pair it with thick ramen. The meat sauce also has added douban, so it’s salty with a hint of sweetness. With the rich mix of toppings, every bite is full of flavor. It actually left a deeper impression on me than the beef noodles. Though the noodles with noodles were also delicious, they felt like they were missing something XD

Handmade Dumplings / 5 NT each / 15 dumplings per batch – It’s a bit of a shame the dumplings aren’t beef-filled, but the pork ones are actually pretty tasty, with Q-textured, springy wrappers.

The pork is from the hind leg, with a hint of sweetness, paired with crisp cabbage – it’s actually quite good, and the size is decent too.

Roselle Tea / Forgot how much it cost, but it’s really suitable to bring a bottle if you’re visiting Kinmen in the summer. Mainly because we were sitting outside in the heat, but this drink has enough sweet-and-sour flavor – one sip and it’s instantly cooling and refreshing.

This Rongrongyuan should be considered a must-visit famous spot for Kinmen tourism. I was a bit worried it would be just average, but unexpectedly, although the beef in the noodles wasn’t mind-blowing, I really liked the other parts and dishes. I asked the locals for their thoughts, and they felt that the Shanwai branch performs more consistently than the Kincheng branch. This time, because we had so many places to eat, I didn’t get to try their other flour-based dishes like scallion pancakes, etc. Maybe if I visit Kinmen again next time, I’ll come back to try their dough-based dishes. Sharing my simple thoughts with everyone!

【Rongrongyuan Ramen Shop】
Address: No. 7, Huanghai Road, Shanwai, Jinhu Township, Kinmen County
Phone: 082-331993
Business Hours: 11:30 AM – 7:30 PM
Spending Tip: Don’t miss the signature spicy sauce – it’s sold in-store!

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