Last day！ Huaguang’s second wave of demolitions — the iconic Liao Family Beef Noodles says goodbye

Reported and photographed by You T-Ru / Taipei

Huaguang Community is facing its second wave of demolitions. At six o'clock tomorrow morning (the 24th), over 20 businesses and residences on Jinhua Street will face forced demolition. The iconic Liao Family Beef Noodles is one of them. On its final day of business, Liao Family Beef Noodles posted a pink paper notice at the entrance announcing “Last Day,” bidding farewell to its loyal customers who have supported it for 41 years.


▲ Liao Family Beef Noodles posted a pink paper notice at the entrance announcing “Last Day,” bidding farewell to its loyal customers who have supported it for 41 years.
“I’ve been here ever since I was born.” Once rated as a five-star dish at the Taipei Beef Noodles Festival, Liao Family Beef Noodles is now run by the second generation. The young owner is 32 years old. At 8 p.m. on April 22, after seeing off the last group of customers, the owner and his mother were tidying up the shop while putting up a handwritten “Last Day” notice on the transparent window at the entrance. They stuck the paper up, then took it down, repeating the action several times, as if contemplating how to say their “final goodbye” to the shop and their customers.

What used to be a single five-ping unit is now a 20-ping space where Liao Family Beef Noodles has knocked through three adjacent units. The counter at the entrance was once the stove where noodles were cooked. That stove, which always had a pot of beef broth and another of boiling noodle water, was a favorite corner for foodies to hang out and chat with the first-generation owner, Mr. Liao. Though the space has expanded and more tables and chairs have been added, the rich yet fragrant clear beef broth, paired with tender, slow-cooked beef, still draws in crowds of diners.


▲ On the morning of the 24th, Huaguang Community will face its second wave of demolitions, during which over 20 businesses and residences on Jinhua Street, including Liao Family Beef Noodles, will be forcibly demolished.

“Even if we’re reluctant, there’s nothing we can do but let them tear it down.” On the morning of the 24th, Huaguang Community will face its second wave of demolitions, during which over 20 businesses and residences on Jinhua Street, including Liao Family Beef Noodles, will be forcibly demolished. “We’re not doing the demolition ourselves, and we hope to serve until the very last moment.” On the evening of April 22, with just two days left before demolition, the young owner finished tidying up the shop, hopped on his scooter to leave, and took one last look at the red sign “Liao Family Beef Noodles” on the door. His gaze held both reluctance and fearlessness.

“After May, we’ll reopen at No. 98 Jinhua Street, though we’re not sure yet on what date.” Future diners who still want to enjoy that rich clear beef broth can head to Liao Family Beef Noodles’ new address. But the low house, narrow walls, and the aroma of stewed beef wafting through as people passed by — all of which once existed within Huaguang Community — will disappear forever the moment the excavators move in.