Is authentic eel noodles in Tainan really under NT$100? Just look for “Glasses Guy”!

Text and photos by /Orange Dog Loves Candy

Recently, after a photo made the unspoken-about Ah Jiang’s Stir-Fried Eel one of Lin Fei-fan’s most missed hometown dishes, the place was packed for quite a while, making it tough for me to grab a bite without waiting ages. The boss must’ve been stir-frying until his arms gave out. But when it comes to Tainan flavors, aside from beef soup, the sweet and sour taste of eel spaghetti is truly a nostalgic hometown flavor. However, as a hometown flavor, actually, every eel spaghetti shop in Tainan has its own slightly different take. Over the Lunar New Year, I heard that this place in the South District public housing — [Glasses Guy Stir-Fried Eel Expert] — was also highly recommended, but I came a few times only to find it closed or got lost. This evening, after making sure it was open, I came specially to give it a try.

At around 6:30 PM on a Monday night, my navigation led me and my junior college classmate to the alley entrance of the public housing on Xinjian Road in the South District. In this not-so-brightly lit alley was [Glasses Guy Eel Spaghetti]. It wasn’t even a holiday, yet the whole shop was packed. There was even an old man at the alley entrance directing us where to park — the first time I’d seen that at an eel spaghetti shop XD. The funniest part was that local residents sitting at the alley entrance chatting saw people struggling to find parking and said, “It’s okay, just park and go eat — I’ll watch your car for you!” XD. But do be careful about illegal parking here, as the shop has posted notices that police might come by.

Both takeout and dine-in customers were bustling non-stop at the entrance, and it’s hard to imagine how busy it gets on holidays. I think it used to be on Jinhua Road a long time ago, then moved here, and I heard it’s now run by the second generation. You can choose between wheat noodles, rice vermicelli, or spaghetti — just check the menu board on the wall and order directly. But if you’re in a group of two or more, it’s best to have someone find a seat first, otherwise it’s really hard to get a table. You wouldn’t want to eat standing up, right? Here at Glasses Guy, the stir-fried eel isn’t as flamboyant as at Ah Jiang’s or Ah Yuan’s — I didn’t even see any dramatic sizzling flames.

But it’s continuously stirred non-stop. The guy wearing glasses in the photo is probably the first-generation owner. I heard that back then, not many people wore glasses and held a spatula, so with him being both, customers just started calling him “Glasses Guy.”

Just looking at the menu explains why so many people flock here. In terms of pricing for stir-fried eel, it’s really quite affordable. Normally, in Tainan, eel spaghetti with thickened sauce is priced between NT$80 and NT$100. For dry stir-fried eel, prices of NT$120 to NT$150 per plate are common, and eel isn’t exactly a cheap ingredient. So with their pricing of just NT$70 to NT$80, it’s really great value, plus the portion size is generous. We shared a table with others, and the auntie at our table struck up a chat after seeing us with a camera. She said she’s been coming for years because it’s cheap, the portions are big, and it tastes good — she’s even willing to ride her scooter over. But because it’s busy, even after ordering, you might have to wait about 10 minutes for a seat.

[Dry Stir-Fried Eel Spaghetti / NT$80]
As soon as it was served, I thought the auntie was right — the portion is really big. Dry stir-fried noodles usually come in large portions, but Glasses Guy’s is even more generous, and the eel slices are all small, unlike other shops.

They’re sliced irregularly and casually, but I feel there might be a bit more eel. And they don’t skimp on the onions either — it feels like a solid portion of dry stir-fried eel noodles. I asked them to add more spice, but the staff said it’s already included. I only tasted a hint of chili seed spice near the end, not sure if I forgot or if that’s just how it is.

Tainan-style stir-fried eel usually sticks to the sweet and sour flavor typical of Tainan cuisine, but Glasses Guy’s version isn’t as strong. Or rather, the eel and onions are seasoned during stir-frying, but the spaghetti is pre-boiled, so it’s only lightly tossed in the sauce. The noodles themselves aren’t stir-fried together with the seasonings.

But the eel still has that signature Tainan crispness, which I really like — it’s not easy to maintain that with so many orders. The spaghetti still has a bit of boiled water taste, so while the noodles are chewy, they bring both the sweet-sour sauce and water flavors. Overall, it’s not bad — the eel is well-cooked, which is the most important part — though the seasoning and noodle handling slightly bring down the score.

[Dry Stir-Fried Squid Spaghetti / NT$80]
Honestly, I’ve always wondered why “stir-fried squid” is considered a standalone dish, so this year, driven by years of curiosity, I finally ordered a plate to try.

The noodle issue is similar to the previous stir-fried eel, but the squid tastes good, though nothing particularly special — maybe I just don’t get it. But the squid is cooked nicely, thick, crispy, not overdone, and there’s a generous portion.

I didn’t order anything else because I’m especially fond of dry stir-fried eel — tasting that was enough.
The flavor at [Glasses Guy Stir-Fried Eel Expert] isn’t particularly outstanding for me, but it’s solid — it hits all the right notes. Generous portions, affordable price, so if I had to nitpick, it’s just that small issue with the noodles, and the flavor could be stronger for my taste. I personally prefer the heavier, oilier stir-fried eel style like Ah Jiang’s or Ah Yuan’s. Though their quality can be inconsistent, I also like Xinyi Stir-Fried Eel on Datong Road or Chiyi near the Ambassador Theatre. (Links to those reviews below.) But since business is booming, everyone has their favorite — eel flavors come in all kinds. Here’s my simple take for your reference.

[Glasses Guy (a.k.a. Glasses Guy) Stir-Fried Eel Expert]
Address: No. 5, Lane 21, Xinjian Road, South District, Tainan City
Phone: 06-263-6129
Business Hours: 5:00 PM – 12:00 AM
Reminder: Closed on Sundays, expect crowds on holidays — weekdays are recommended

Orange Dog Loves Candy Blog　Orange Dog Loves Candy Facebook Fan Page