Beef noodles are a quintessential dish in Taiwanese cuisine, enjoyed by both locals and tourists. This savoury and hearty soup dish features tender beef, chewy wheat noodles, and a flavourful broth infused with soy sauce, garlic, and aromatic spices. The dish has a long history in Taiwan, dating back to the 19th century when Chinese immigrants brought the recipe from their homeland.
Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup: A Cultural Symbol and National Dish
While beef noodles were already established in Taiwan, it was the arrival of Kuomintang (KMT) party members in 1949 following their defeat in the Chinese Civil War that brought the dish to wider popularity. Many of these KMT members were from Sichuan province, and they brought with them their own version of beef noodle soup, which eventually became known as Taiwanese beef noodle soup. This dish is believed to have played a significant role in breaking the traditional taboo around consuming beef in Taiwan, and even contributed to the wider acceptance of American dishes that feature beef, such as hamburgers.
Today, beef noodle soup is widely recognized as a cultural symbol and national dish of Taiwan, a must-try for anyone visiting the island.
Beef Noodle Haven in Taipei’s Wanhua District
In the Wanhua District of Taipei, near Xining Market, there is a cluster of beef noodle restaurants, many of which are open 24 hours a day. These include Jianhong Beef Noodles (建宏牛肉麵), Jianhao Beef Noodles (荐豪牛肉麵), Fuhong Beef Noodles (富宏牛肉麵), Xiao Wu Beef Noodles (小吳牛肉麵), Longcheng Sichuan Beef Noodles (隴成川味牛肉麵) and Lao Liu Beef Noodles (老劉刀切牛肉麵).
Fuhong Beef Noodles – A Popular Choice Among Locals
After doing a quick search on Google, we decided to go for Fuhong Beef Noodles.
The reason why locals are fond of this beef noodle restaurant is because it offers a high value for the money. For just NT$100, customers can enjoy a bowl of beef noodles with unlimited soup and noodles, as well as a complimentary beverage. Additionally, the restaurant operates 24 hours a day, allowing customers to satisfy their craving for beef noodles anytime they desire.
Getting to Fuhong Beef Noodles
Take the Songshan-Xindian/Green line MRT and get off at Beimen Station (G13). Once you exit from Exit 1, walk straight ahead and turn right onto Luoyang Street. Keep walking straight until you spot Fuhong Beef Noodles on your right-hand side. The entire walk should take approximately 6 minutes.
Affordable Menu Variety at Fuhong Beef Noodles
In addition to beef noodles, Fuhong Beef Noodles also offers sesame sauce noodles, braised meat dry noodles, dumplings, and various side dishes. The restaurant provides customers with reasonable pricing, with small and large beef noodles costing NT$100 and NT$120, respectively. The menu offers side dishes and other noodle options ranging from NT$25 to NT$65, with nothing exceeding NT$120.
Every table is equipped with a condiment station that includes preserved vegetables, beef oil, spicy beef oil, and chili sauce. Customers can customise and enhance the flavour of their beef noodles by adding these condiments according to their personal preferences.
There are two kinds of noodles to choose from – thick (knife-cut 刀切) or thin (細麵). In my opinion, even the thin noodles are relatively thick.
At first glance, the beef noodle soup served at Fuhong Beef Noodles looked pretty ordinary to me. The soup, which had a light and refreshing soy sauce base used to braise the beef, was not as flavourful as I expected it to be. However, the addition of condiments such as spicy beef oil immediately boosted the flavour, making it rich and fragrant. This flexibility allowed us to customise the taste according to our personal preference. Therefore, even if you find the beef noodle soup to be lacking in robustness, don’t be disappointed as you can enhance the flavour with the condiments provided.
They served the beef in generous and chunky pieces, with some tendons adding extra texture to the dish. The meat was tender with a satisfying bite. They also cooked the homemade noodles perfectly, maintaining a chewy and springy texture that made them enjoyable to eat.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Fuhong Beef Noodles is a popular choice among locals for its excellent value for money, variety of menu options, and customisable condiment station. While the beef noodle may initially appear ordinary, the ability to adjust the flavour with the provided condiments makes it a versatile and satisfying meal. The generous portion of tender beef and the option to enjoy unlimited homemade noodles and soup without any additional cost add to the overall dining experience. With its 24-hour operation, it’s no surprise that Fuhong Beef Noodles is a must-try for anyone in search of a delicious and convenient beef noodle fix.
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