Available only on weekdays: generous portions of Sichuan peppercorn chicken and plump, sweet-and-savory plum pork clam noodles

Text and photos byOld K

A few days ago, I saw on Facebook that a friend went to try a thyme clam noodle place, but what caught Old K’s eye wasn’t the clam noodles—it was the Sichuan peppercorn chicken. So he looked up their business hours online and headed straight there XD

This thyme clam noodle shop is located on Xing’an Street, near Qingcheng Street—no wonder Old K had never noticed it before. He doesn’t come here often. They open at 11:30 AM, and within minutes of opening, people were already walking out with takeout meals.

Judging by the interior decor, it seems they’ve been around for quite a while.

He ordered a bowl of plum pork clam noodles and a single portion of Sichuan peppercorn chicken.

Here, plain rice is free if you order a meal. If you don’t order food, rice is 10 NT per bowl.

The food came out really quickly—an efficient little shop.

Plum Pork Clam Noodles (120 NT)

Their broth is a light, refreshing pork bone soup, with the sweetness of clams and a hint of basil for aroma. At first sip, it might taste a bit light, but the more you drink, the smoother it becomes—it’s actually quite tasty.

There’s a decent amount of plum pork, and it comes in two types: one is thinly sliced, chewy and QQ (bouncy) without being dry, and the other is thicker, with a softer yet still firm texture. Neither is dry or tough, and both are pretty good for a boiled dish.

The clams are clearly high-quality—you can tell just by looking. Each one is plump, sweet, and fresh, probably hand-selected.

The noodles have a good texture too, nice and chewy, and there’s a generous portion. Guys will definitely get full, and girls could probably share a bowl between two XD. And if you’re really hungry, don’t worry—the rice is free, so you’ll leave satisfied.

If you find the plain pork a bit bland, there are seasonings you can add. Their chili looks like it might be mild and salty, but it actually has some heat along with the saltiness—not too spicy, but great for dipping.

Sichuan Peppercorn Chicken (90 NT)

When it first arrived, Old K was shocked—this plate is huge, and just looking at it puts a smile on your face XD

The skin on this Sichuan peppercorn chicken is super crispy. When you bite into it, it’s all crunch-crunch. The chicken thigh meat inside is juicy, tender, and springy, paired with a tangy, sweet, slightly spicy, and numbing sauce that’s seriously addictive. But since the chicken thigh itself has a slightly sweet flavor—kind of Taiwanese-style—it’s still a delicious Sichuan peppercorn chicken. If we had to nitpick, the sauce could come with a bit more volume XD.

Old K’s Little Tip: The Sichuan peppercorn chicken here is seriously high quality. For the price and portion size, it’s an absolute must-try. The clam noodles are also great, and ordering like Old K did is seriously satisfying. If you’re someone with a smaller appetite, two people could share an order like this and just add more rice if needed XD. But note: they’re closed on weekends, so if you don’t live nearby, you’ll have to come after work in the evenings.

Old K’s Personal Rating (out of 10, higher is better)
Taste: 8.2
Value: 8.5
Dining Environment: 5.5
Price: 7

Thyme Clam Noodles
Facebook Page
Address: No. 161-1, Xing’an St., Songshan Dist., Taipei City
Phone: 02-02-2712-0016
Business Hours: 11:30 AM–2:30 PM, 5:30 PM–8:30 PM (Closed Saturdays and Sundays)

Lao K
Keep the relay going, Lao K!
Blog　Fan page