Must-Try Old Shop Meatball Soup in Yilan: Garlic Flavor vs. Traditional Original

 
▲ Must-Try Old Shop Meatball Soup in Yilan: Which One Will You Choose? (Photo / Reporter Chen Zi-Yin)



Known as the "Back Garden of Taipei," Yilan is not only close to Taipei but also offers distinctly different scenery and affordable, authentic cuisine that draws crowds from the capital. When it comes to Yilan’s food, delicious meatball soup is always on the list, and when talking about meatball soup, two iconic shops come to mind—Beimen Garlic Meatball Soup and Linchang Meatball Soup.

With over forty years of history,Beimen Garlic Meatball Soupis located on Jiucheng North Road near Yilan Railway Station. Arriving at the shop, you’ll be stunned by the long queue. Even though a second branch just a few meters away is open for seating, it still can’t handle the constant stream of customers. Waiting an hour is common. The biggest highlight of Beimen Garlic Meatball Soup is the generous amount of garlic added to the traditional broth. The current owner, the second-generation proprietor, says his mother was the original founder. “Back then, a Dr. Chen inspired my mom to put garlic in the broth. Customers loved it, so we thought, why not add even more?” And that’s how this line-worthy garlic meatball soup came to be.

The broth of Beimen Garlic Meatball Soup is simmered with garlic and pork bones, paired with fresh shredded bamboo shoots. The chewy meatballs, served in the garlicky, sweet broth, need no further explanation to convince you of their deliciousness. A drizzle of chili oil takes it to another level.

▲ Fresh meatballs are hand-formed right at the entrance, filling the air with the aroma of raw meat.
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▲ The second-generation owner of the garlic meatball shop sees the dish not just as food, but as “love from his mother.”

Another must-try meatball soup in Yilan isLinchang Meatball Soup,located opposite the Lanyang Forestry Culture Park. Also a fifty-year-old shop, it’s run by the second generation. Though the storefront is slightly larger, it’s always full, and watching the staff work together efficiently shows just how popular this place is.

 
▲ Another decades-old shop, Linchang Meatball Soup serves traditional vinegar-flavored meatball soup that’s cheap and delicious.