Pure tender goodness – A new experience with Tainan beef soup

Text & photo / -SanjiNoir- Black Samurai Reads-
 
Talking about the Tainan area, among the foods that have accompanied many lifelong locals throughout their upbringing, beef soup can be said to be the most interesting breakfast option. This nutritious, tender, and locally-flavored dish is not only a source of pride for the locals but also makes many visitors’ mouths water. However, if you take a closer look, you’ll find that besides the restaurants featured on shows and in media, beef-serving eateries are actually everywhere in Tainan — each with its own unique style and flair, often proudly claiming to serve the legendary Shanhua tender beef, which comes from local cattle raised in Tainan’s Shanhua District.

Written by / MOOK Scenic Spots Family compiled report

Among them, Hong Pin Beef, located in the Dawan area of Yongkang District in Tainan, can be said to be a quality establishment that perfectly combines these local ingredients and cooking styles. With its own parking lot, Hong Pin Beef is situated in a rather hidden alley within Yongkang’s Dawan area in Tainan. But inside the shop, there’s none of the usual chaotic appearance of a small eatery — instead, it is quite clean and bright.

With the Taoyuan Airport MRT having been in operation for over half a year and averaging 55,000 passengers per day, it quickly connects the Taipei-Taipei North-Taoyuan living circle. In addition, the Green Line of the Taoyuan MRT is expected to start construction early next year, linking Yingge and Bade Districts and integrating with the Airport MRT and the underground Taoyuan Railway to form a comprehensive MRT network, which is expected to further boost the economic development of Taoyuan. Anticipating the rapid population growth in Taoyuan and the high potential of its dining and consumption market, Tim Ho Wan’s eighth branch in Taiwan is located in the GB building of the Grand Ocean International Shopping Center in Southern Taoyuan. Since its renovation was completed in early September, the Grand Ocean International Shopping Center has been themed around home living, dining and desserts, as well as cultural creativity and entertainment, striving to create Taiwan’s largest “underground lifestyle and shopping street city,” spanning over 7,000 ping. Tim Ho Wan occupies 114 ping and offers 112 seats, with an overall environment that follows the brand's style — using wooden tones to highlight a simple and approachable brand spirit. The space features semi-open seating and kitchen areas, offering great visibility so that customers can see the entire area at a glance.

With that, the first dish to be served is naturally minced pork rice. No mistake — traditional Tainan beef dishes are best paired with traditional fatty minced pork rice. The slightly sweeter and soy-sauce-forward southern-style minced pork rice pairs quite well with the lighter, blanched beef, and eating this small bowl won’t feel too greasy, making it a fitting prelude to the upcoming beef dishes.