Xinyi Eel Pasta Old Shop Has Been Stir-Frying for 50 Years — A Perfectly Balanced Sweet, Sour, and Spicy Delight

Text & Photos /Orange Dog Loves Candy

The Sunflower Student Movement brought fame to Taichung’s Sun Cakes and Pingtung’s cakes, as well as Tainan’s Ah Jiang Stir-Fried Eel. Already quite well-known, Ah Jiang reportedly saw lines stretching over ten meters long. When it comes to Tainan street food, eel pasta and beef soup are both must-tries — you really have to explore them one by one like collecting puzzle pieces.

Since both are famous local snacks with their own unique strengths, each shop has its own distinct flavor. I thought I had found my favorite after trying Ah Jiang, Ah Yuan, and Chi Er, but one day I stumbled upon a strong online recommendation for a low-key gem on Datong Road — 【Xinyi Snack Shop, the Eel Stir-Fry Expert】. Though it’s called a snack shop, it’s a fully operational eatery, not one of those shady ones (which would only make things more confusing, haha XD). Naturally, as someone with an inexplicable love for eel pasta, I just had to make time to check it out on Datong Road.


After all, I heard from netizens that there are two eel stir-fry shops on Datong Road, but since no names were mentioned, I wasn’t sure which one they meant. Just as I was thinking about it, a friend in Tainan conveniently sent me a message saying their boss had just taken them to a great eel stir-fry place on Datong Road.


I can only say everything happened by such a wonderful coincidence. Following their lead, I found this 【Eel Stir-Fry Expert】. I literally didn’t see a signboard — it’s at a three-way intersection on Datong Road. Turns out I used to walk past it often. Now it’s run by the second generation; the original owner, Mr. Guo Xinyi, had been making it for over 50 years. The original shop was at Beimen Road Roundabout, where it operated for over 20 years before moving to its current location at No. 146, Section 1, Datong Road.

The shop itself is just as small as Ah Jiang’s, with a few hanging lamps, the old-time shop look, and a handful of tables and chairs. As soon as customers come in, service begins. During the day, you might see the elderly owner, similar to how Ah Yuan at Chenggong Road still comes out to cook despite having passed on the trade.


Of all the places I’ve visited so far, the owner here is one of the politest. A young lady comes over to seat us and take our order — she seems to be the boss’s daughter, though I didn’t take her photo, so don’t ask me for one XD.

At the front of the shop, fresh eels are displayed in bamboo baskets — a classic, old-school preservation method XD. There are ice blocks inside to keep the eels fresh even when taken out at room temperature. However, that raw, live appearance actually puts some people off — at least, many friends I recommended it to refused to try it (sigh). But generally, at busy shops like this, the eels don’t stay out for long before they’re all gone.


I took a quick peek at the price list at the back… geez… it’s really not cheap. Eel is inherently not an inexpensive ingredient, and prices vary between shops. Currently, dry stir-fried eel dishes top out around 150 NTD for the pricier ones. By the way, sea cucumber roe is also one of their signature dishes, but I forgot to order it today.


【Dry Stir-Fried Eel Pasta / 150 NTD】

The whole dish is stir-fried beautifully, and I think it’s because of the vibrant mix of ingredients — aside from onions, there’s also garlic sprouts. For Tainan-style eel pasta, the sourness of black vinegar and the sweetness of sugar are standard fare. However, under the skilled hands of each master chef, popular shops all have their own unique flair. As for this old shop in Xinyi, its seasoning strikes a subtle balance.


Sweet and sour are essential to the Tainan taste, but what stands out is the refreshing kick of spice in the aftertaste. The spiciness is a basic element here, and it’s quite distinct yet not overpowering — unlike the hidden heat you get at Ah Jiang or Ah Yuan. So when I say “balance,” I mean the delicate harmony of sweet, sour, and spicy — it’s flavorful and has me eating bite after bite. There’s also a faint wok hei (breath of the wok) that adds rich layers of flavor.

The star ingredient, the eel slices, are cut thick and stir-fried to a perfect crisp. Watching the boss cook with ease, you’d never guess he has such precise control over the heat. Compared to other eel pasta shops, Xinyi really delivers outstanding results.


I also really like the noodles — they’re slightly flat and have great elasticity, soaking up the sauce beautifully.


【Dry Stir-Fried Sesame Oil Pork Kidney / 200 NTD】

I was actually thinking of ordering sea cucumber roe, but my mouth just blurted out that I wanted sesame oil pork kidney XD. The kidney here is stir-fried until the sauce is quite dry, and the sesame oil isn’t overly heavy. But the kidney is well-prepared beforehand, so the umami is quite good, complemented by hints of ginger. It’s not bad, just a bit pricey.


But after trying the bold and generous stir-fried pork kidney at Chi Er near the Ambassador Theatre, it’s honestly hard to find a sesame oil pork kidney that tops theirs.

It’s said that the original Xinyi shop didn’t even have a signboard (though I don’t see one now either), because it was the kind of neighborhood spot where locals had been eating for decades. So as long as you knew the smell and the location, why would you need a name? You’d just walk in when hungry and order. So when I asked the boss the shop name, he hurried to the kitchen and dug out a business card from who-knows-where XD.

He said ever since the high-speed rail started operating, more and more out-of-towners have been finding their way here. But not having a name caused confusion for customers, so they decided to name it after Boss Guo Xinyi — hence, Xinyi Snack Shop. So coming here based on word-of-mouth for this old-school taste did not disappoint me. The price is a bit on the high side, but compared to my favorites, Ah Jiang and Chi Er, I think it offers just as rich and satisfying flavors.

One bite of that sweet and sour flavor brings back nostalgic old Tainan — not just the classic old houses full of charm, but also the sweet, sour, bitter, and spicy notes that tingle the taste buds. The bold eel pasta — don’t judge it by its humble looks. It might just become your best memory in Tainan.


【Xinyi Snack Shop】

Address:No. 146, Section 1, Datong Road, West Central District, Tainan City
Phone:04-2130614
Business Hours:11:00Am-01:30Pm+04:00Pm-10:30Pm
Spending Tips:No days off. However, it's recommended to try the dry stir-fried eel pasta to fully appreciate the quality of the eel and the skill of the cooking.
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