Yuka Aoki Visits Dadaocheng Snacks: The Four-God Soup in Front of Cisheng Temple Is Delicious

Text/Photos by Style Traveler Biweekly

Yuka Aoki, who loves Taiwan, has been frequenting Dadaocheng, this old district with its quaint atmosphere, for over a decade. She often dropped by to visit friends and get to know locals. Known for always writing stories for others, she has now opened her own little shop within Dadaocheng, becoming part of the old city’s narrative.

Today’s Dadaocheng features a mix of old and new, with a vibrant diversity that presents an aesthetic both seemingly conflicting yet harmonious. Yuka Aoki laughs, saying that these days, Dadaocheng seems to have come back to life.

The Dihua Street and Dadaocheng area used to offer meals and snacks for the working class, where the food mostly had to be filling yet also cleverly prepared.

After being washed by time, today’s patrons are mostly neighbors, with shop owners chatting with customers in Taiwanese dialect while serving traditional flavors at modest prices. Visitors coming between morning and noon may not necessarily be here just for the food, but rather to enjoy familiar tastes that transport them back several decades—a meal filled with human warmth has become a unique brunch moment enjoyed by old Taipei residents.

Dry Wheat Noodles King — Also Great as a Snack

▲Dry wheat noodles, with delicate and springy texture, topped with sweet-spicy red sauce and chopped leeks, leave diners wanting more. (NT$30)

Located on Guisui Street, this Dry Wheat Noodles King has been around for over 80 years. Many old Taipei residents have dined here. Compared to typical shops, their noodles are even more fragrant and springy, making it hard to stop at just one bite. The portion isn’t large, and Yuka Aoki often brings Japanese friends here—especially appealing to tourists who want to eat light but sample variety. Ordering a bowl of noodles with the sweet-spicy red sauce, plus a wonton soup and a few side dishes, is the most common way to go.

▲Thin-skinned and juicy, it’s the perfect match for the noodles. (NT$30)

Address: No. 204, Guisui Street, Datong District, Taipei City
Phone: (02) 2553-0538
Hours: 10:30–21:00
Payment: No credit cards

Lin Hepha Oil Rice — A Century-Old Shop with Delicious Flavors

▲Oil rice, made with a unique braising sauce, has a bouncy yet soft texture without the usual difficulty in digesting glutinous rice, and is full of aroma. (NT$90 per 500g)

The stall has no seating, kitchen, or even much space—just an area of one or two square meters. Though unassuming in appearance, Lin Hepha Oil Rice leaves a lingering fragrance in the mouth, with a melt-in-your-mouth soft texture. The oil rice is made fresh daily and sold out by closing; it often runs out after midday, so latecomers go home empty-handed. Yuka Aoki fell in love with it after trying it out of curiosity.

Address: 1F, No. 21, Section 1, Dihua Street, Datong District, Taipei City (Stall 1041)
Phone: (02) 2559-2888
Hours: 07:30–12:30 (Closed every second and fourth Saturday and Sunday of the month)
Payment: No credit cards

Temple-Front Four-God Soup — The Most Popular Four-God Soup

▲Rich and flavorful four-god soup, with its milky-white broth simmered from Job’s tears, blending the umami of pork stomach and intestines into its essence. (NT$60)

The four-god soup in front of Cisheng Temple is a 60-year-old popular vendor, with its most sought-after option being the mixed-flavor four-god soup. The milky-white soup has simplified the “four gods” ingredients down to mainly Job’s tears, while pork stomach is thick and rich, pork and rice tube intestines are tender-crisp, and small tripe offers a good chew. The broth is sweet and rich—you can order them separately or go for the mixed soup. Regulars love pairing a bowl of four-god soup with an old-fashioned meat bun—the warmth of the flavor comforts the heart, and the generous portion fills the stomach.

▲Made only with pork hind leg and scallions, the old-fashioned meat bun is simple yet incredibly charming. (NT$25)

Location: Opposite No. 34, Lane 49, Bao’an Street, Datong District, Taipei City
Phone: 0922-042-742
Hours: 09:30–17:00 (Irregular closures)
Payment: No credit cards

Ye Family Congee & Rice – The Exquisite Taste of Simple Congee and Rice

▲ Though the bowl contains only meat broth and congee with rice, every element is incredibly delicious. (NT$20)

Ye Family’s delicious offerings have even been recommended by food critic Shu Guozhi. The uncooked rice is slowly simmered and stirred, the broth is made from dried bonito and shiitake mushrooms, and the meat broth is added when the congee is boiling. The texture is similar to that of soaked rice but with distinct grains. Crispy fried shallots and chopped celery add aroma, allowing you to taste the sweetness of both the rice and the broth.

Although the congee ingredients are simple—just pieces of meat and small shrimp—the dish includes shredded bamboo shoots in summer and shredded radish in winter. The owner uses chunks of meat rather than minced meat, giving the dish a rich meaty flavor and good chewiness.

Address: No. 17, Lane 49, Bao’an Street, Datong District, Taipei City
Phone: 0916-836-699
Hours: 09:00–15:00　
Payment: No credit cards

Squid Biao – Unique Taiwanese-style Squid Flavor

▲ A quick dip in hot ginger water, and a plate of squid is ready to serve. (NT$150/half squid)

“Squid Biao” in front of Cisheng Temple is a long-established spot specializing in a unique Taiwanese-style squid flavor. Unlike typical squid that is plumped up and oversized, the squid here is dry and flat, hardly more than 0.4 cm thick—its appearance is quite ordinary. But once you take a bite, it’s an entirely different experience: the more you chew, the more flavorful it becomes, almost like dried squid, with a rich umami filling your mouth. It’s not tough like cartilage, but has a satisfying chew, and when paired with shredded ginger, garlic, and cilantro, the taste becomes even more refreshing.

Address: No. 17, Lane 49, Bao’an Street, Datong District, Taipei City
Phone: 0922-111-682
Hours: 09:30–16:30　
Payment: No credit cards