Culinary experts recommend this classic Taiwanese flavor—refreshing and refillable “Qie Zi Noodles”!

Text and photos by /kuni

(The soup of Mai Mian Yan Zai’s Qie Zi Noodles is excellent)

Mai Mian Yan Zai is a classic Taiwanese eatery highly praised by many food connoisseurs. Located near Dadaocheng and Cisheng Temple, the area is packed with renowned street food vendors. Rising early under the bright morning sun and strolling along the narrow Anxi Street to pay homage to Mai Mian Yan Zai, it’s no surprise that as a long-established spot, there were already three elderly gentlemen enjoying their breakfast at the front stall. The menu lists dishes without prices, which seems to be the norm here. I ordered pig’s heart, pork intestine, shark meat floss, red braised pork, liver pâté, greens, and Qie Zi Noodles. Apart from the pork intestine at NT$100, all the meats were NT$50 each, while the noodles were just NT$20.

(The storefront)

(Inside the shop)

(The dishes came out quickly)

The liver pâté wasn’t to my liking—it was unexpectedly dry and tough—but the pork intestine was crispy, and they gave me a generous portion. The shark meat floss was fairly ordinary; for better options, you should walk along the neighboring Liangzhou Street toAh Hua’splace, which offers a wide variety and has rich fish aspic jelly.

(Pig’s heart)

(Pork intestine)

(Shark meat floss)

(Liver pâté)

(Greens)

Today’s Qie Zi Noodles were average, but the broth was outstanding—the light pork bone flavor balanced beautifully with radish for a refreshing taste. All this for just NT$20, and you can even get refills on the broth—it’s amazing. The frequently recommended red braised pork, according to the auntie, is made from the pork belly cut, not overly fatty, and has a slightly chewy texture. Suddenly craving something nearby, I decided to try my luck at Ah Jiao while it was still early. To my surprise, I managed to get the “Little Dot” cut I’d been wanting—small pieces with a texture similar to Matsuzaka beef, yet incredibly juicy and rich in marbling that felt like it would burst with flavor as you chewed.

(Red braised pork)

(Loved the Qie Zi Noodles!)

(Later went to Ah Jiao and got the Little Dot cut)

Mai Mian Yan Zai – Jin Quan Snack Shop
Address: No. 106, Anxi Street, Datong District, Taipei City
Phone: (02)2557-7087
Hours: 08:00–15:00

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