A must-try in Kenting: 4 university graduates inherit family business — a 35-year-old Taiwanese beef noodle shop

Reported by Hua Shaofu / Pingtung

Located on Provincial Highway North, a route you must take when traveling from Kaohsiung to Kenting, Taiwan Beef Noodle (Taiwan Niu) has been operating since 1982 (the 71st year of the Republic of China). The shop mainly serves beef noodles and braised dishes made with Taiwanese beef, and even offers papaya milk and mango juice. With tasteful decor and a large parking lot, it doesn’t look like your typical noodle shop at all. As part of a special promotion, from now until February 15, customers who show the ETtoday News Cloud app when making a purchase can choose one free side dish.

▲ The beef used in Four Scholars Beef Noodles comes from Taiwanese cattle. (Photo / Reporter Hua Shaofu)

Many people know that acquiring knowledge was not easy for the previous generation, but the four daughters of the Lin family have all done exceptionally well — each graduated from university and then took over the family business, which is truly commendable. That’s why this shop is also known as “Four Scholars Beef Noodles.” The owner’s wife said with a smile that she loves the land of Kenting very much, and hopes that both locals and tourists can taste their proud beef noodles — that’s what makes a trip here worthwhile.

▲ Four Scholars Beef Noodles offers handmade pulled noodles. (Photo / Reporter Hua Shaofu)

The shop offers three types of broth: braised, tomato, and clear stewed. There are choices between traditional noodles and home-style noodles, and the meat options include half-tendon-half-meat, tendon-rich meat, and classic beef — the variety is rich and diverse.

▲ Four Scholars Beef Noodles offers both traditional noodles and handmade pulled noodles. (Photo / Reporter Hua Shaofu)

Classic Beef Noodles
Cooked using the braised method, this dish could be described as “three wishes in one” — a single bowl contains the essence of beef, similar to the concept of a “three treasures” platter, including beef tendon, beef tripe, and beef slices. The beef is selected from flower-patterned cuts, ranking just below steak grade; the tendon is from the front section, which is thicker and richer; the tripe is honeycomb tripe, tender yet slightly chewy.

▲ The scallion-braised beef tendon ramen uses a type of noodle that’s springier than traditional handmade noodles, offering a better bite. (Photo / Reporter Hua Shaofu)

Scallion-Braised Beef Tendon Ramen
This version uses a springier type of noodle than traditional handmade ones, giving it a better bite. The owner’s wife said with a smile, “We use rapid freezing to make them last longer.” Also, because they’re ramen noodles, they don’t absorb the broth too quickly, allowing diners to enjoy the flavor more gradually with each bite.

▲ Bachelor’s Pork Chop Noodles is an option for those who don’t eat beef. (Photo / Reporter Hua Shaofu)

Bachelor’s Pork Chop Noodles
For those who don’t eat beef, try this Bachelor’s Pork Chop Noodles. The pork is pounded thin before being fried, and it’s cooked to order — a preparation method designed to satisfy non-beef eaters.

▲ The braised sides platter is a popular side dish for Taiwanese noodle orders. (Photo / Reporter Hua Shaofu)

Braised Sides Platter　
The braised sides, which sell just as well as the beef, are a great pairing for Taiwanese noodle dishes. The shop offers around 20–30 varieties of braised meat alone, and you can even opt for a mixed platter of beef and pork. The owner’s wife said, “We carefully select our meats. For beef, we only use free-range beef — not the kind raised in pens, but cattle that actually roam outdoors.”

▲ From now until February 15, show the ETtoday News Cloud app when ordering to get a free side dish worth NT$60. (Photo / Reporter Hua Shaofu)

For side dishes, the shop offers dozens of choices, including sweet, Kyoto-style Japanese cucumbers; Korean kimchi, which they’ve been making for decades after learning from Koreans; and Taiwan beef jerky, which is slightly tougher and better suited for making dried meat snacks.

Our special deal runs from now until February 15 — show the ETtoday News Cloud app when ordering to get a free NT$60 side dish.

Taiwan Niu Four Scholars Beef Noodles

Address: No. 61, Section 2, Zhinan Road, Wenshan District, Taipei City
Phone: 08-889-9906
Business hours: 09:00–19:00, open year-round

ETtoday News Cloud is currently running an interview and collaboration campaign with the shop
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