Late-night ramen at Fengyuan’s Unbe Ramen – their signature “Demon Claw” ribs are bigger than the bowl itself

Text & Photos /Xiaosheng’s Wandering Journey

The pork ribs in the Demon Claw ramen are absolutely massive, making the noodles in the bowl look like caged birds trapped under the claws of a giant beast. This ramen definitely knows how to grab attention.

I’d long wanted to try Unbe Ramen’s Demon Claw ramen, but Fengyuan is quite far from where I live, and I usually can’t be bothered to make the trip just for ramen. However, one day, thanks to a colleague’s suggestion and the fact that I attend an English book club in Fengyuan every Wednesday, we mustered up the enthusiasm to head out despite the chilly cold wave. Even before our visit, we’d heard that Unbe Ramen is often packed, but when we arrived, there was no line at all XD. Maybe the cold wave was just too intense, and most people didn’t feel like coming out for ramen~

Unbe Ramen Alliance is located at the intersection of Xishi Road and Fengyuan Boulevard in Fengyuan. There’s nothing particularly fancy about the exterior—it’s just a red-and-white canopy, giving off a cozy, banquet-like vibe (Taiwan-style?), and the ramen is actually cooked right on a food truck, which is pretty convenient. The basic ramen served on the cart is just your standard fare, but since we’d come all the way to Fengyuan, of course, we had to try the legendary Demon Claw ramen XD

As you approach the shop, you’re immediately drawn in by the mouthwatering aroma. The staff grill meat right inside the store, and nothing beats the irresistible allure of an attack-by-scent strategy. The shop also gives different names to pork cuts—ribs are called Demon Claw Ramen, while mine was Tank Ramen, though I’ve forgotten which part of the pig that comes from XD. But the common thread? The meat portions are shockingly generous.

Matsuzaka Pork Ramen (NT$240)

I let my colleague order the Demon Claw Ramen, and I stuck with my favorite, Matsuzaka Pork. The ramen itself comes with egg, nori, wood ear mushrooms, dried bamboo shoots, fish cake, corn, and cabbage, but the egg is regular—not the runny yolk type I prefer.

The broth is rich but not overly intense, and the cabbage in the toppings is a clear sign that this is authentic Taiwanese-style ramen. While I do enjoy Taiwanese ramen, the flavor of this one was a bit mild. Still, on a freezing cold wave day, sipping a warm bowl of ramen broth is pretty satisfying.

The noodles themselves are perfectly al dente—not too soft or mushy, and not as chewy as typical Japanese ramen. They’re just solidly middle-of-the-road.

The Matsuzaka pork in the Matsuzaka Pork Ramen may not have many slices, but compared to the thinly sliced pork you usually see, Unbe Ramen’s version is thick and hearty, which is very satisfying to look at.

The Matsuzaka pork is also sprinkled with fried garlic chips for extra flavor. While the ramen itself is fairly standard, the grilled meat is truly the soul of this dish. You can smell the mouthwatering aroma of the grilled pork from a hundred meters away, and the first bite of the Matsuzaka pork delivers a satisfying crunch and heft that delights the taste buds. The fried garlic chips add a fragrant punch that really elevates the pork.

Demon Claw Ramen (NT$240)

The Demon Claw Ramen is the signature dish of Unbe Ramen Alliance—the portion of ribs is so huge it overflows the bowl XD. Actually, the Matsuzaka Pork might seem meaty, but it’s only half a pork chop. In comparison, my Matsuzaka Pork order, despite having fewer slices, actually had more meat and felt more satisfying.

On the other hand, the Demon Claw Ramen is genuinely ridiculous in size. The flavor of the ribs is similar to the Matsuzaka Pork, just with a different texture due to the cut. Overall, the taste is pretty good, and enjoying each individual pork chop makes the meal even more enjoyable.

This visit to the long-talked-about Fengyuan late-night ramen spot, Unbe Ramen Alliance, didn’t involve trying a ton of items, but I think I got the highlights. The Taiwanese ramen was just okay for me, but the grilled Demon Claw and Matsuzaka Pork were quite good. That said, I’m a big ramen fan, and I think the broth and noodles are the true soul of ramen. So, while Unbe Ramen Alliance has plenty of gimmicks, I still lean more toward Japanese ramen XD.

Unbe Ramen Alliance
Address: Xishi Road, Fengyuan District, Taichung City (Empty lot opposite Hezuo Elementary School at the Fengyuan Boulevard intersection)
Business Hours: 5:00 PM – 12:00 AM

Xiaosheng’s Wandering Journey
Every journey, every trip is a pursuit—even if I’m not entirely sure what I’m chasing—but in the end, what I gain often exceeds my expectations. And so, my wandering journey will continue endlessly.