Seasonal Snack Stalls: A Vietnamese Vendor Sells Thai-Style Cold Noodles – Tangy, Spicy & Refreshing

▲ This summer-only Thai cold noodle stall is on a “trial run” this year and business is booming.

Reported & photographed by Chen Tzu-yin / Taipei

The sweltering summer heat is unbearable, leading many to crave cold noodles, replacing hot meals with their refreshing chill. Recently, the “Mr. Tseng’s Double-Sauce Cold Noodles” featured in ETtoday Ettoday News Cloud...“Mr. Tseng’s Double-Sauce Cold Noodles”received great praise, and now reporters have found a “new” Thai-style tangy and spicy cold noodle dish that’s equally cooling and tasty.

“My wife is originally from Southeast Asia, and she’s really good at cooking. So we thought we’d try selling this in the summer, and we didn’t expect customers to love it so much,” the boss said with a smile while busy serving customers, holding up this bowl of “this summer’s new offering” – Thai-style tangy and spicy cold noodles.

The reason for this description is that the couple has actually been selling sesame oil chicken at the same stall for over 20 years, enduring the seasonal ups and downs every year. Last summer, they were invited to a food fair and, worried that sesame oil chicken might be too heavy in the heat, the couple had a bright idea and started selling Thai cold noodles at the fair. The response was overwhelmingly positive, which led to the “seasonal switch” and the appearance of various Thai dishes at their stall this summer.


▲ This Thai cold noodle dish, loaded with toppings, is a signature item that leaves you feeling full and satisfied.

So why not sell Vietnamese food? The boss’s wife explained that she noticed Taiwanese people prefer bolder flavors in Thai cuisine compared to the lighter Vietnamese dishes.So, using her existing skills, she’s created a menu featuring Thai-style salads, tangy-spicy dishes, and clear soups,giving customers the option of a warm soup as well.

“Thai Cold Noodlesis a must-order signature dish for many customers. The pile of toppings includes the essentials for cold noodles—carrots and cucumbers—as well as onions and the common Thai ingredient of shredded chicken. The boss’s wife also adds diced tomatoes and pineapple, sprinkles with peanut powder and cilantro, and finishes it off with a drizzle of her special tangy-spicy sauce and a slice of lemon for that perfect touch, completing this bowl of Thai cold noodles and showcasing the couple’s dedication.

“Is it to your liking? Is it tangy and spicy enough? We can adjust the flavor for you!” Perhaps because this newly introduced Thai snack doesn’t yet have the 20-year reputation of sesame oil chicken, the boss pays extra attention to how customers receive the new dish. The fine, vermicelli-like noodles paired with the tangy-spicy sauce deliver a complex taste—spicy with a hint of sweetness, yet still refreshingly light—with occasional bites of peanuts adding a pleasant surprise. The tomatoes and pineapple not only enhance the visual appeal but also contribute to a richer texture.


▲ The thin noodles are made from white flour rather than oily noodles, making them blend seamlessly with the toppings without clashing.

For those who don’t mind the heat, go for the tangy-spicy series—tangy-spicy seafood, beef, or pork, served with either noodles or glass noodles. The sweet and clear broth once again proves the boss’s wife’s skills are “no joke.” The boss said they’ve been selling Thai snacks since after the Qingming Festival this year and plan to continue until after the Mid-Autumn Festival, when they’ll switch back to sesame oil chicken and pork ribs. So, for those wanting to sample the boss’s wife’s Thai cooking, make sure to catch this “summer-only” humble yet delicious treat.

  
▲ Left: The impressive skills come from the Vietnamese boss’s wife; right: the boss carefully garnishes the toppings.


▲ The friendly service and personalized flavor adjustments offered by the couple are also one of the shop’s highlights.

[Shop Information]
Stall at the entrance of Zhong] Market
Address: No. 76, Section 3, Bade Road, Songshan District, Taipei City
Business Hours: 5:30 PM – 11:30 PM, closed on Saturdays
Prices: Thai Cold Noodles 70 TWD, Thai Tangy-Spicy Pork 90 TWD, Thai Tangy-Spicy Beef 100 TWD, Thai Tangy-Spicy Seafood 110 TWD

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