The noodles are delicious, and the potstickers have juicy meat filling—but the prices make it hard to eat here every day.

Text & Photos /Orange Dog Loves Candy

A bowl of noodles we’ve eaten since childhood—the deepest memory is of Mom cooking them, steam rising in the air. Maybe it’s something deeply rooted since childhood, but every time a bowl of noodles is placed in front of me, I always think of that scene. Probably because I’ve been away from home for so long, nostalgia tends to surface in these small, unintentional moments.

I don’t know if it’s because of this childhood impression, but I’ve always preferred noodles over rice. Whenever I see noodles, I want to try them. And when it comes to noodles, this place in Taichung—【Everyday Noodles】—comes to mind. I think few people in Taichung don’t know about it, but whether they like it or not is another story. After all, I know its reputation in Taichung is pretty polarized.


That said, the original store on Dazhong 12th Street is still packed on weekends. But I remember the first time I came to Everyday Noodles was because of a special feature in Business Weekly two or three years ago, so I came specifically to try it. I’ve actually forgotten how much it cost back then, but it probably wasn’t too different from the current prices.


Later, I saw their branches pop up everywhere. For a while, they slightly lowered their prices, but then those branches suddenly disappeared. Now, only the original store and the Taipei branch remain. A friend told me it’s become a bit different now, so I found time to come back and try it. Actually, I haven’t been to any of the newer branches, so I’m not sure what their decor is like.


But the original store is just grand and spacious with high ceilings. The first time I came, I even thought, “It’s just a noodle shop, why is it so luxurious?” The lighting isn’t overly bright but uses soft, warm yellow instead. The color scheme of the whole place is white and light tones, light and comfortable. The servers are quite enthusiastic and attentive.


I opened their long-absent menu, and the prices were still those familiar numbers XDD.


So I just randomly ordered a bowl of noodles each for us, plus some side dishes to try, since it had been so long since I last ate here.


【Matsusaka Sesame Oil Noodles / 150 NT】

The broth is made with pork bones and black sesame oil, served with thin noodles. It includes pre-seared Matsusaka pork slices. The light-tasting broth has a hint of wine aroma dancing on the tongue. The thin noodles actually have decent elasticity—they didn’t get mushy even after the time it took to take photos.


【Thai Basil Pork Stir-Fried Noodles / 90 NT】

A cross between Thai-style meat sauce and Chinese noodles. Actually, their noodles are pretty good, so as long as the sauce is well-made, it tastes great. On the menu, you can see this is a three-star spicy noodle. And indeed, the spiciness is quite strong—it suddenly hits your throat with a kick. If you like spicy food, you can go for this one.


【Scallion-Opened Shrimp Braised Noodles / 160 NT】

This one has a very old-school flavor. It’s noodles cooked in broth and sauce, simmered slowly in a small pot. It includes dried shrimp, scallion whites, loofah, shrimp, and clams, with some loofah on the side. The noodles are slightly soft but not mushy, and the broth is thick and rich, though quite sweet and savory. The old-school taste comes from the thickness and the aroma of the dried shrimp. I quite like it, though the price isn’t as cute.


【Xiaolong Soup Dumplings / 6 pcs / 100 NT】

Their soup dumplings are a bit smaller, but the wrappers are quite firm and elastic, and they don’t collapse even when cooled. The pleats are very delicate. The pork filling is flavorful enough, and the juice isn’t greasy. I think it’s pretty tasty.


【Ice Flower Shrimp Potstickers / 110 NT】

Same ice-flower-style potstickers—you can’t help but compare them to Xiao Liu’s Potstickers on Huamei West Street. Though Xiao Liu’s isn’t cheap, Everyday Noodles is even pricier. But the crispy layer here is thicker and crunchier, the meat filling is fresh and juicy, and there’s even a whole crisp shrimp inside. Just like the soup dumplings, there’s no greasy aftertaste—just fresh umami. I personally think these are much better than Xiao Liu’s potstickers nowadays.

Eating like this, one person spent 200 NT. Compared to the price of a regular street-side bowl of noodles we’re used to, it’s definitely higher. Saying it doesn’t taste good isn’t really fair, because the sauces and seasonings are quite good. Out of the three bowls of noodles I ordered, I quite liked two. The soup dumplings and potstickers were also pretty decent.

The environment is clean and comfortable, and the service attitude is also very nice. It’s just the price that makes it hard for me to eat here every day XDD. Though the reviews are polarized, I see the weekday crowd isn’t overwhelmingly busy, but people do keep coming in. Weekends are even more obvious. Here’s a simple sharing of my thoughts for everyone Up!!


【Everyday Noodles】

Address:No. 126, Dazhong 12th Street, Nantun District, Taichung City
Phone:04-23278888
Business Hours:11:00Am-09:00Pm
Consumption Reminder:No days off. Reservations recommended for weekend dining.
======================================================
Orange Dog Loves Candy Blog　Orange Dog Loves Candy Facebook Fan Page