Exquisite Lighting Decor Shines Bright into the New Year！Taipei’s Most Romantic Alleyway Serves Up Veterans’ Village Cuisine

Photos & Text /Little White Whale

As the year draws to a close, in addition to indulging in a feast at [Shandong Laolao Noodle Shop] Shipai Branch, you should also enjoy the romantic night scenery of Shipai Christmas Alley. The [Shandong Laolao Noodle Shop], which has been serving refined northern flavors for four generations, has opened three outlets in Kaohsiung, sharing authentic veterans’ village cuisine with the locals. Taipei residents are in luck！If you crave authentic northern flavors, there’s no need to travel all the way to Kaohsiung — just take the MRT to Shipai Station and your wish will be granted. If you’re also a fan of northern cuisine, you’ve probably had steamed dumplings or pastry pockets... But have you ever heard of “Spicy-to-Death Noodles”? Ever tried “Dalian Folded Pancakes”?

[Shandong Laolao Noodle Shop] has a striking red sign, but it’s tucked away in an alley on Section 1 of Shipai Road and can easily be missed if you hurry past.

Just remember this Chunghwa Telecom shop at the alley entrance—that’s the one！If you’re driving, you can park in the underground pay parking lot at Shipai Elementary School.

For some reason, seeing this red, classic-style door instantly fills me with joy and puts a big smile on my face！It’s as if opening this door will turn back the clock, making me feel like I’ve stepped into the grand courtyard of Grandma Shandong, where I can plop down on a little stool and nag Grandma for candy！

[Shandong Laolao Noodle Shop] is simply yet elegantly decorated, with spacious dining areas that make you feel right at home.

As someone who often eats northern cuisine, my first visit to [Shandong Laolao Noodle Shop] made me feel like I’d walked into the Grand View Garden—I didn’t know what to order！

The moment I saw the menu, I wanted to order the signature Tomato Beef Noodles, Golden Pork Belly Pastry Pocket, Zhuge Dumplings, and Honey Crunchy Sweet Cakes... But with just two mouths to feed, how could we possibly devour so many authentic northern delicacies in one go？Sniffle～～

Once, the show “Foodie Family” featured [Shandong Laolao Noodle Shop], and among the dishes, the “Spicy-to-Death Noodles” left the deepest impression on me.

Forget whether they’ll actually “spice you to death”—just take a look at these hand-kneaded, rolled noodles, full of chewy texture, and you’ll agree they’re worth every penny.

The shop’s specially blended “Spicy-to-Death Noodles,” even in mild spice levels, are extremely satisfying in summer and warm you from head to toe in winter！

If you don’t like spicy food but still want to taste the deliciousness of [Shandong Laolao]’s zhajiang (fermented bean paste) sauce, you can order the “Weihai Zhajiang Noodles” without any spicy sauce added.

I’ve loved dumplings since childhood, so I was really curious about the “Zhuge Dumplings” on the menu, but I was even more eager to try a basket of fresh pork steamed dumplings.

Shandong dumplings are one of the classic representatives of authentic northern pasta. The Shandong uncle is tall and burly, and the wrappers he makes are especially chewy.

I really like the texture of [Shandong Laolao]’s steamed dumplings—the filling is generous, the wrapper has good bite, and the steaming time is perfectly judged.

Tomato Beef/Beef Tendon Ramen is a must-order signature dish at [Shandong Laolao], but I hadn’t had big-flavor noodles (dalu mian) in ages, so I specially ordered them to try.

Stir-fry the ingredients, thicken the sauce lightly, then slowly pour in beaten eggs while stirring—the result is the authentic northern dish, Big-Flavor Noodles (Dalumian).

[Shandong Laolao] offers two rare must-try desserts: the sweet red bean “Cloth Heart Longing” and the savory meat-filled “Dalian Folded Pancake.”

If you’re a “sweet-tooth ant,” order the “Cloth Heart Longing”；I prefer savory, so I went all in on the “Dalian Folded Pancake”！

Dalian Folded Pancakes, a common Beijing street food：large pieces of dough gently wrap and flatten the meat filling, pan-fried until crisp and golden, then served hot and cut into pieces.

The above are photos from my first visit in early June 2015. When December came around and I visited the romantic Shipai Christmas Alley again, of course I had to revisit [Shandong Laolao].

Half a year apart felt like three autumns. After longing day and night, I finally got my wish to revisit—YA！Excitedly seated, I was startled to find the prices had gone up？

Last time I couldn’t try the Zhuge Dumplings (available with either cabbage or leek fillings), so this time I specially ordered a few to taste. Why are they called “Zhuge Dumplings”? The boss mentioned in a media interview that it was just for fun, to help customers remember them better！

In my memory, Shandong dumplings were hearty and quite large, but why are [Shandong Laolao]’s dumplings so dainty and adorable？Six dollars per piece—whether the price is fair is for everyone to decide. But these lovely handmade dumplings definitely live up to their reputation for chewiness！

Taipei’s temperature has gradually taken on a wintry feel lately, making me long for a big bowl of red-braised beef noodles to warm both stomach and heart.

The broth is rich and mellow, with tender, flavorful beef slices cooked to perfection—and there are plenty of them. I recommend getting the large portion to share with friends or family for maximum enjoyment！

In the past, when visiting northern-style eateries, I’d always get beef or pork pastry pockets. [Shandong Laolao] actually serves something I’ve never heard of before—Golden Pork Belly Pastry Pocket？

The golden-brown crispy crust tightly wraps around egg skin, lettuce, alfalfa sprouts, bean sprouts, roasted pork, and salad dressing.

The taste was truly unprecedented, and I couldn't help but praise in my heart: the 120-yuan Roasted Pork Roll at [Shandong Laolao] is a high cost-performance must-try delicacy.

[Shandong Laolao Noodle Restaurant] is located on Lane 3, Section 71. Just a few steps away to Lane 15, you can enjoy the romantic night view of Shibaixiang Christmas Lane.

During every Christmas season, residents of Jiqing Li decorate with festive lights, and Lane 15, Section 71 is the most lively, hence earning the name "Christmas Lane."

Shibaixiang Christmas Lane in Shiqi Jiqing Community, along with the nearby Fuxing Christmas Park, was once voted by netizens as one of the top ten most romantic Christmas spots in Taiwan.

Initially, only the San'ai Church in "Christmas Lane" would festively decorate the inside and outside of the church just before Christmas. Later, every December, local residents spontaneously decorated the lane and their balconies around San'ai Church with colorful lights.

The decorations in "Christmas Lane" may not be as dazzlingly bright as those in Xinyi District or New Taipei City’s Christmasland, but they offer a warmer, more intimate atmosphere.

For over a decade, the residents of "Christmas Lane" have generously welcomed us to this most romantic lane in Taipei to celebrate Christmas together. We hope you can cherish this romantic connection, and while enjoying the scenery and taking photos in "Christmas Lane," please do not disturb the residents' peace.

Shandong Laolao Noodle Restaurant
Address of Taipei Shibaixiang Branch: No. 2, Lane 3, Section 71, Shipai Road, Beitou District, Taipei City　
Phone: (02) 2820-6627　
Business Hours: 11:00–14:30, 17:00–21:00

Shibaixiang Christmas Lane
Address: Lane 15, Section 71, Shipai Road, Beitou District, Taipei City (lights on until the following Lantern Festival)

Xiao Baijing, who loves sharing, photography, and travel
Happy learning photography lets me see the world from a different angle; happy tasting of food allows me to enjoy the world through ordinary happiness.

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