A must-try for noodle lovers: 50-year-old satay sesame sauce noodles bursting with Q texture and aroma

Photos and text byShadow

Wen Zhang’s Plain Noodles is fairly well-known in southern Kaohsiung. With over 50 years of history and appearances on food shows, its satay sesame sauce-flavored plain noodles are a small bite worth adding to any noodle enthusiast's must-try list. We previously shared our experience at the Xingzhong branch, and this time we’re sharing our experience at the flagship store.

With over 50 years of history, it’s likely a humble noodle stall that many locals have grown up eating. Judging by the timeline, it’s probably run by the second generation. The layout is the same as the branch—both have the service counter indoors while leaving the arcade area for customer seating.


It’s unclear whether the boss looks similar in age to the Xingzhong branch owner, perhaps they’re brothers. Despite being busy, the boss always greets customers with a friendly tone, asking what they’d like to order, which helps bridge the gap and makes us feel right at home.

The chefs at Wen Zhang Noodle Shop are all men—we’re not sure if that’s tradition or for some special reason. The heat fills the entire indoor space, no wonder the boss wears short sleeves even when it’s cold; he’s really tough. There are many jars of sauces by the stoves, yet the service counter remains clean despite them, showing the shop takes hygiene seriously.


The dining area inside is long and narrow, much more spacious than the Xingzhong branch, and also has TV news so you can keep up with current events.


Both branches have the same menu. The satay sesame sauce noodles are a must-order, and we also got duck meat noodles and wonton soup.


The side dishes are also not to be missed. Last time they were featured on TV with blanched green peppers, but we didn’t see any so we didn’t order them and went with other options instead.


The side dishes came in two separate plates, totaling 100 NT$. The dipping sauces—soy paste and mashed garlic—were placed right next to the dishes, rather than in small separate dishes like at the Xingzhong branch.

The tofu was only colored on the outside, the inside still white, so the taste was relatively mild. The pig skin and kelp had a softer texture but were very generous in portion, leaving us quite satisfied.


Duck meat noodles – 50 NT$ (small), the duck meat had a smoky aroma and chewy texture. It’s a pity the pieces were a bit small. The broth wasn’t particularly special, just a regular one with meat sauce, simple but with an old-school charm.


Satay sesame sauce noodles – 40 NT$ (small). The much-anticipated satay-flavored sesame sauce noodles. While mixing the noodles, the aroma of the sesame sauce didn’t seem as fragrant as when we had it at the Xingzhong branch, though the Q texture of the noodles was still good. If you don’t eat them right away, they quickly stick together.
This time, the noodles lacked that faint hint of satay flavor—the taste was mostly just sesame sauce. The level of wow factor was greatly reduced. As a sesame sauce noodle, it’s definitely delicious, but as a satay sesame sauce flavor, the satay taste could be more pronounced.


Wonton soup – 20 NT$. Although not the shop’s strong suit, the wontons were quite generous in portion, making it feel like great value. It’s not to say the plain noodles are super cheap, but this flavor, passed down for decades, has a loyal customer base for a reason—it definitely has its uniqueness. This humble yet distinctive small eatery is definitely one you shouldn’t miss when in Kaohsiung. Highly recommended.


[Wen Zhang’s Plain Noodles]

Address:No. 69, Minyu St., Qianzheng District, Kaohsiung City
Phone:07-3323726
Business Hours:11:00–22:00
Closed:Thursdays
ShadowSpecializes in introducing local snacks from Kaohsiung and Pingtung. Hopes that through sharing, more food buddies can be found~ Also welcome everyone to leave the address, name, and recommended dishes of your hidden gem snack spots on the “Foodies’ Wall” in the “Foodies’ Club.” Food reviews will be shared with you soon.

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