Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup

Tony Liu talks about the iconic Taiwanese dish that'll put you in a beef coma.

Nov 12, 2023

Favorite Food interviews real people about their favorite food.

Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup (牛肉麵)

Amid the slurps of satisfied customers, I chat with my cousin Tony Liu over a piping hot bowl of Taiwanese beef noodle soup in Taipei, Taiwan.

As one of Taiwan’s most iconic dishes, it’s so popular that every year Taipei hosts a national Beef Noodle Soup Festival to see which chef dishes up the best bowl of noodles.

Rich, savory, and undeniably aromatic, it’s easy to see why Taiwanese beef noodle soup ranks as a favorite.

What's your favorite food and what is it?

Taiwanese beef noodle soup.

It’s a noodle soup that typically consists of tender chunks of braised beef that’s flavored with aromatic herbs and spices. It’s often garnished with green vegetables and pickled mustard greens. It’s quite a popular dish in Taiwan. It's easy to spot on many street corners and food courts.

Don’t forget the pickled mustard greens, which admittedly we did.

Why is this your favorite food?

It checks the comfort food box with warmth and appealing flavor, especially in cold weather. There’s more soul in this soup because it has more beef than in a Big Mac! Also napping in a beef coma is always better than a food coma.

Describe the perfect Taiwanese beef noodle soup.

I prefer a soup with a punchy flavor, perhaps with a bit of spice, well-cooked noodles that maintain a slightly firm texture and springiness. The beef has to be tender and succulent, absorbing the good flavors of the soup.

The best have “noodles that maintain a slightly firm texture and springiness.

Any interesting facts about Taiwanese beef noodle soup?

This dish has roots in the culinary traditions of Chinese immigrants who came to Taiwan. It likely evolved from Sichuan beef noodle soup. It’s also one of the top-selling instant noodles flavors in Taiwan.

Beef noodle soup flavored instant noodles for when you need your quick fix.

What’s one memory you have of Taiwanese beef noodle soup?

Don’t try eating beef noodle soup while riding a bicycle.

Fear not, that last chunk of beef was not forgotten.

Where can I get the best Taiwanese beef noodle soup?

This place in Taichung City where our cousin brought us to has a wonderfully flavored soup! It’s a small unassuming spot from the outside, but it’s been around for years and is a local favorite. You can order different cuts of tender meat with different spice levels. The noodles have a semi-firm bite and soak up the soup flavor well. Also don’t forget to add a spoon of pickled mustard greens to complete the rich, savory bowl of soup.

❤️ Thanks Tony for letting me share this spicy bowl of noodz with you. I promise not to forget the pickled mustard greens next time.