Delicious eats behind Taoyuan Railway Station: beef noodles with herbal aroma and braised dishes

Text & Photos /Viviyu

When talking about delicious food behind Taoyuan Railway Station, you can’t miss this little log cabin noodle shop located near St. Paul’s Hospital. During mealtimes, the place is always packed, and it’s also a spot I often passed on my way home from school as a kid. This noodle shop has been operating since 1975 (the 64th year of the Republic of China), making it a long-standing eatery in the back station area. Aside from their delicious beef noodles, their side dishes are also top-notch. While A was away on a business trip, I brought the kids here to revisit this tasty little gem.

The little log cabin is located on Jianxin Road. Parking nearby isn’t very convenient, so we usually ride our bikes there to avoid struggling to find a spot. If you really must drive, the closest parking is probably the paid lot at St. Paul’s, but that’s a bit of a walk away. Actually, I thought I’d already written about this little log cabin noodle shop before, but when I went to look up the info, I couldn’t find anything—so here I am writing about it again. Up~

They have all the basic noodle options. Normally I love dry Zhajiang noodles, but this time Anita wanted wonton noodles and beef noodles too, and she couldn’t decide between them, so I ended up just having beef noodles and sharing. The price is mid-range, so it’s easy on the wallet for budget-conscious diners. You have to order dumplings in sets of at least 10.

The braised dishes and side dishes are definitely must-orders. There are more choices if you come around lunchtime, but by dinnertime, items like pig’s blood cake, tofu skin, and cucumber are often sold out.

That said, every time I stand here I still get choice paralysis because I want to try everything, and before I know it I’ve ordered way too much. It’s not so much that I’m a big fan of noodles—it’s really the braised dishes I love.

Each table comes with seasonings you can help yourself to. Spicy-food lovers should try the chili oil here. I found it pretty spicy but also fragrant—it’s really good.

Side dishes $85

I accidentally went overboard and ordered a whole bunch: marinated eggs, kelp, fish cakes, and dried tofu flowers. Eating noodles alone is no fun, which is why I always order these.

Fish cakes and dried tofu flowers are two of my favorite braised dishes. The tofu flowers here soak up all the broth and have a faint herbal aroma. When you bite into them, they release juices—it’s a flavor I really enjoy.

Wonton Noodles (small) $60

Anita said she was afraid the portion of beef noodles might be too big to finish, so she ordered wonton noodles instead. Uh, turns out she seriously underestimated herself. Has anyone ever been told not to eat too much while having beef noodles? Yep, that was me...

The noodles in the wonton noodles are similar to ramen noodles—slightly thinner but still very springy. Anita kept saying there wasn’t enough meat in the wontons. I told her that’s actually normal; the ones you buy at home are usually supersized, so you can’t compare.

Plain Noodles (small) $40

Vincent just wanted noodles and hot soup, so plain noodles were the perfect fit for him. They come with a bit of scallion oil.

Beef Noodles (small) $100

The noodles are a bit thicker than the previous two bowls—you can really taste their firm chewiness. The noodles themselves are quite fragrant, and the broth has a slightly sweet herbal aroma. It’s not the usual red-braised beef noodle soup base—it’s more like a light stewed taste. Anita drank half of this bowl—it’s her favorite beef noodles.

There are about 4–5 pieces of beef in the small bowl. The beef is tender and easy to eat, without any greasy aftertaste. The soup tastes a bit sweet, but you don’t get that parched feeling even if you drink a lot. It’s really delicious.

They also sellWinter Melon Tea $20—it’s super sweet, which is why the kids love it. Our total bill for the meal that day came to 305 NT.

The shop has about 10 tables, and it’s simple and clean inside. I think that’s one of the reasons I’d want to come back. The flavors are great too—I recommend this spot for anyone checking out the back station food scene in Taoyuan.

Little Log Cabin Noodle Shop
Address: No. 26, Jianxin Street, Taoyuan District, Taoyuan City 330
Phone: 03-3616780
Hours: 10:30–14:30, 16:30–20:30 (Closed Sundays and Mondays)

JoinViviyu’s Little World Fan PageReceive instant messages without missing a single one
‘VIVIYU Little WorldTravel across Taiwan. Explore the world.