Let’s eat noodles together in Tainan—try the super generous squid stir-fried noodles and chicken wing rice!

Text & photos bySean

I went for dinner tonight at Jai Mi Ba (Eat Noodles Bar) on Bao’an Road. I always thought I’d written about it right after it opened, but when I got home and looked, I realized… I hadn’t at all. To avoid making the same mistake again, I decided to write about it immediately. Jai Mi Ba is located toward the back section of Bao’an Road, an area packed with famous snack shops.

It’s the same road, but this part gets fewer tourists. But as a local, you really should visit ROOM A upstairs—it would be such a waste not to experience it while you’re in Tainan. The interior of Jai Mi Ba is spacious, and the indoor lighting above the tables is well designed, making food look just as appetizing as it tastes.

I love open kitchens—they give off this… reassuring vibe.

The restroom is also very clean, and they even provide floss picks—big plus!

There are storage baskets by each seat for customers to place their bags or jackets. In winter, this is especially practical. I think it’s a small but thoughtful gesture any Taiwan shop could easily do, yet surprisingly few actually have them. Such a shame.

The more I write, the more I wonder why I hadn’t written about it before. Basically, it’s the kind of place I really appreciate. Getting older really changes things—you talk the most about your own name at age two, and by age eighty-two, you can probably only remember that too (laughs bitterly).

Here’s the menu:

Help yourself to the side dishes… every single one looks so tempting, I’ll definitely try them all someday!

Soy Milk Noodles

The noodles are slightly softer than my preferred texture, but the soy milk broth has a unique flavor—it’s refreshing, smooth, and not at all cliché. This could easily be their signature dish.

Dry Stir-Fried Squid Noodles

The squid is fresh, and the noodles have that chewy texture I love. It’s just delicious.

Had this on my first visitChicken Wing Rice

The chicken wings are flavorful and tender, and there’s a generous portion of rice underneath. Without the side dishes, it gets a bit bland toward the end—I ended up eating it with chili sauce. More meat juice would’ve been even better. Speaking of chili, their chili sauce is great. For someone like me who usually goes for mild spice, just a little bit packs a punch.

Mushroom Chicken Soup Noodles

The chicken leg in the noodles is tender and flavorful, and the soup has a hint of ginger and is hot enough—perfect for the weather. I couldn’t get enough of it. Today I also grabbed some dried sausage—it had a slightly Western twist compared to regular sausages, which was oddly delightful.

Moroccan Eggplant Stewed Egg

A pretty unique dish. You can taste the acidity of the tomatoes and some spices, all simmered until soft with the eggplant. I personally really liked it, but the other three were a bit… puzzled by the flavor, so I happily enjoyed the whole plate myself.

The pork lard served with the blanched greens isn’t overly salty or greasy. I like it.

The flavors at Jai Mi Ba are really pleasing, and the portions are bigger than expected. On my first visit, I misjudged the serving size—I ordered one bowl each with Xiao Bao, and we couldn’t finish them. The dining environment and small details are all well thought out. Aside from being neither super close nor super far from my home, there’s not much to complain about. Because of the distance, it probably won’t make it onto our regular dinner rotation, but I’ve decided to put it on our weekend lunch list. If you haven’t been yet, you should definitely give it a try—it’s really good.

Jai Mi Ba Facebook
Business hours: 11:30–14:30, 17:30–20:30 (closed Tues & Weds; temporary closures will be announced on FB)
No reservations / No service charge / Pets not allowed for hygiene reasons / 10% cleaning fee applies for takeout
Address: No. 1-1, Lane 159, Bao’an Rd., West Central District, Tainan City

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