Noodles You’ll Crave – Pingtung’s Budget-Friendly “Longing Noodles” Street Stall on Liuqiu Island

▲ The hugely popular “Longing Noodles” on Liuqiu Island.

Photos & Text /Shadow

The second day of our Liuqiu Island trip was packed. We started early with a visit to Ugui Cave, Clam Shell Bay, and Shan Zhu Gou. After returning from Shan Zhu Gou Scenic Area, we headed back to the homestay to pack up and check out.

After checking out, we left our luggage at the homestay counter and hopped on our scooter for lunch. That day’s goal was the super popular “Longing Noodles” on Liuqiu Island. The tiny shop was already swarmed with people, showing just how much charm it holds.



We were surprised to spot a wood-fired stove right at the shop entrance, with the scent of burning wood wafting out—a very retro vibe. We couldn’t tell what kind of dish was being cooked inside.


Just then, we saw an elderly lady lifting the pot lid and transferring something into a smaller pot. We immediately dashed over from our seats to catch the moment. It turned out to be something like red-braised beef or pork ribs, though it wasn’t on the menu—maybe it’s a side dish?


Some say once you’ve tried this place, you’ll never forget the taste and will definitely come back for another bowl of these heartwarming noodles, which is how they got the name “Longing Noodles.” We thought we were early, but even more people had beaten us to it—the small iron shack instantly buzzed with activity.

Can you imagine eating noodles under the shade of a big tree, baking in the sun? The iron shack has limited space, and even with a few tables and chairs, it couldn’t accommodate the growing crowd. So, they simply set up more tables and chairs on the open grassy area. Even with extra seating, it was still packed—sharing tables was common.


Off-island tourists are big fans here. As for how good it really is—you’ll have to try it yourself. Before arriving, I did some research, and many netizens recommended the bitter melon stew. I asked my husband to make sure to order that.


We picked up a menu from the owner, and I was curious to see moonlight lily (yu tou) zongzi on there. My adventurous husband went for it. The menu wasn’t extensive, but the prices were reasonable. While my friend and I looked for seats, my husband stayed behind to order.

Sesame sauce dry noodles – 35 TWD. Who knew waiting for a simple bowl of noodles would take so long? Dining here requires some patience—we waited about half an hour before our orders started arriving.

First up, my favorite: the sesame sauce dry noodles. They weren’t much different from those on mainland Taiwan. With sesame sauce, it’s easy to overpower the dish if you use too much, but when balanced just right, its aroma really shines.


The shop didn’t go heavy on seasonings. The base had a savory scallion oil flavor, enhanced nicely by the sesame sauce, meeting basic expectations. The noodles were perfectly cooked—not too soft, not too hard. By general standards, it was solid, but personally, I’d love a stronger flavor to create more contrast with the sesame sauce.


Longing Noodles – 35 TWD. One of the menu’s signature dishes. It comes with a light pork bone broth seasoned with a bit of scallion oil, yet it doesn’t feel greasy at all. It uses the same noodles as the dry version—soft yet firm—and gave me a slight hint of Hakka noodle vibes.

Small Intestine and Pig Blood Soup – 30 TWD. The seasoning struck me as rather mild, which was obvious in the broth. Pickled vegetables and chive flowers were added for flavor, giving the otherwise light soup more depth. The pig blood and intestines weren’t bad, but they didn’t leave a strong impression either.


Bitter Melon Stew – 30 TWD. Another signature dish. The bitter melon was stuffed with real ground pork, not fish paste. It was stewed until very tender and paired with a very light broth—aside from a touch of salt, the main flavor came from the unique aroma of the bitter melon. It’s not spectacular, but it’s a comforting, home-style dish.


Moonlight Lily Zongzi – 35 TWD. We were excited to try these, expecting something special—but were surprised to find parts of the zongzi were still cold, not fully steamed. We were momentarily stunned. Thankfully, no one let it ruin the mood. We guessed the shop was just too busy and it was an oversight—an isolated incident.

Despite the flaw, the glutinous rice itself carried the lovely fragrance of moonlight lily leaves, and it was filled with hearty braised pork. If it had been fully heated through, it would’ve probably been quite tasty.


Cold seaweed salad – 30 TWD. Another menu highlight. The sweet-and-sour flavor was super appetizing, and the seaweed had a nice crisp, almost like kelp. This one got a unanimous thumbs-up from us.

With limited resources on the island and fewer food options compared to mainland Taiwan, word-of-mouth among tourists—and the power of online exposure—has made this a must-visit eatery.

Whether it’s delicious or not is subjective. From our experience, everything met or exceeded basic standards. Perhaps it’s the retro vibe of the wood-fired stove at the entrance, or the unique experience of dining under the trees—these special moments all added up to great memories of our time on Liuqiu Island.

【Longing Noodles】

Address:No. 7, Lane 31, Shangshan Road, Liuqiu Township, Pingtung County
Phone:0931-766862
Business Hours:06:00～13:30

ShadowsSpecializing in content about local snacks in Kaohsiung and Pingtung, hoping to find more food enthusiasts through sharing. Everyone is also welcome to leave messages on the “Food Enthusiasts’ Graffiti Wall” in the “Food Enthusiasts Club” with the address, shop name, and recommended dishes of your hidden local snack gems. A food review will be shared with everyone soon!

==============================================
Kaohsiung Food Adventure Blog　Kaohsiung Food Enthusiasts Club Facebook Fan Page