Lin Dong Fang’s iconic Taiwanese beef noodle soup stands as a beacon of classic Taiwanese cuisine in the heart of the city. Renowned for its aromatic broth and tender beef, beef noodle soup has become a staple for locals and travellers alike. The balance of savoury broth, chewy noodles, and succulent beef at Lin Dong Fang offers an authentic taste of classic Taiwanese food, making it a must-try for anyone who hasn’t graced its floors yet.
The art of Taiwanese beef noodle soup is not something that can easily be replicated. Lin Dong Fang works hard to produce the best bowl of beef noodle soup that it can, day in, day out. This classic dish, celebrated for its comforting and flavourful profile, strives to balance an appropriately savoury, yet light flavour that can be enjoyed every day of the year. I go for mine in winter, and relish every single spoonful.
Unveiling the Ultimate Taipei Beef Noodle Paradise: 10 Flavours, 1 Delicious Foodie Tour!
If you head down south to Tainan then you'll find thinly sliced beef that is oftentimes pink. But here in the north you're more likely to find the kind of cut like in the picture above. You should anticipate a thick slice of beef with deliciously delicate layers of silky smooth fat nestled within.
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Thankfully just a few years ago Lin Dong Fang had a renovation and moved from the road side shack that it once was, to the location right on Bade Road that you see now. Even back during those shack times, Lin Dong Fang was booming with business. You'd line up outside, watching everyone inside the open plan restaurant eat the steaming bowls of beef noodle soup served up in those double-walled metal bowls. I even remember eating my Christmas lunch there on my first Christmas in Taiwan.
Since those times, Lin Dong Fang has gone fancy and made everything look just a step up in quality. Their opening times don't change often, so you're pretty much set if you follow the above as a guide.
With their renovation, they have really tried to keep it basic inside. They have gone for wooden tables and stools (I prefer a chair, honestly, but you can't win them all), wooden slatted dividers to hide the bathroom and other private areas, and lots of bright lights. It's a relaxing atmosphere, but the openness of it probably wouldn't lend itself to a date or an intimate time with friends.
If you aren't sure how to order or what to do when you arrive at Lin Dong Fang, then this is the post for you. See below for How to Order in Taipei Restaurants like a definitive pro!
3 Fast Tips on How to Order in Taipei Restaurants like a definitive pro!
You can get the package deal on Klook for a bowl of beef noodle with Hua Gan and a drink.
The Menu at Lin Dong Fang
The menu is beautifully simple. Choose which of the 5 bowls you'd like, and make sure to grab a few sides with it, too. A small bowl will set you back between $210-290 ($110 if you don't want any beef chunks), while a big bowl will set you back between $$240-320 ($130 if you don't want any beef chunks).
If it's your first time at Lin Dong Fang, then you absolutely must get the standard bowl of beef noodle soup at the top of the menu. But if you come with others, then make sure to order the 2nd bowl of half tendon and half beef. That tendon is where it's at! Classic Taiwanese food at its very best.
If you know anything about Taiwanese food, especially beef noodle soup, then you'll know that the side dishes make the experience just as much as the beef, soup, or noodles do. So, what should you get?
- Pig ear salad - smokey, chewy, crunchy, tasty.
- Cucumber - refreshing, crunchy, mildly spicy, lots of garlic. I RECOMMEND.
- Dried Tofu - fragrant soy taste, mildly spicy.
- Tofu skin - soft soy flavour, mildly spicy.
- Dried fish (with peanuts) - crunchy fish, crunchy peanuts, fragrant.
- Hua Gan tofu - soft, filled with soup, fragrant beef broth flavour. MUST ORDER.
- Pickled cabbage - refreshing, crunchy, pickled.
- Mustard greens - crunchy, fresh, mildly spicy.
In reality, you can't go far wrong with any of the side dishes here, but you absolutely have to get that Hua Gan.
Talking about accompaniments for your food, you also cannot miss this spicy butter. In England we would call this spicy beef dripping. It's the fat that gets rendered off the beef, cooled down, and mixed with their signature blend of spices. Why is it so good?
The layers of flavour that it brings to the bowl is quite stunning. You'll get a smack in the face with some chilli, then a smoky paprika-like flavour comes through with added fragrant spices.
What we ordered
Cucumber 小黃瓜
Oftentimes beef noodle soup can be quite heavy, salty, and dense. I find that some pickled cucumber helps to balance out the heavy flavours out a little bit. The cucumber is very lightly pickled with garlic and chilli, and I order it pretty much every time I eat beef noodle soup. It's a bit of a classic Taiwanese food side dish. Give it a go and let me know what you think.
Hua Gan 花干
Airy, fluffy, filled with beef soup, and just right on the money. It's like a fluffy tofu that is cooked in their beef soup so that it takes on a lot of the soup. It then soaks in and is held within the texture. It's often scoldingly hot, so give it a few minutes, but absolutely make sure that you order this each and every time you go to Lin Dong Fang.
Beef Noodle 牛肉麵
El classico - beef noodle soup at it's unadulterated best. Lots of beef, lots of green onions (scallions) and noodles hiding under the surface of that fragrant beef broth.
The noodles lurking under the beef are medium thickness airing on the thicker side. They are good, but nothing particularly to go nuts about. The beef is thick, chewy, delicate, and full of flavour. You'll get around 4 bits in your bowl, which might not sound much, but the thickness is enough to enjoy and be satiated by the bowl by the time you come to finish it.
The broth is full of beef flavour without being overly salty or deep with flavour. You'll most certainly be able to finish off the bowl, but I do remember getting home and being quite thirsty...
Half Tendon Half Beef Noodle 半筋半肉麵
So the first time you go, you have to get the classic beef noodle soup. But the second time you go, you will definitely want to diversify by ordering this bowl. That tendon adds a different dimension to the bowl, but there's also your friendly couple of thick slices of beef up in there, too.
The tendon is perfectly soft and silky smooth in texture as you bite down. Bits like this are slightly more resistant with a chewier texture, but some other bits are soft and break apart very easily in your mouth as you bite down. The half tendon half beef really is a great experience that I encourage everyone to get on board with.
The soup used is the same in both of these bowls. When you add that chilli butter to the broth, start with a little at a time until you reach your desired spice level. Not only will you get a bit of added spice, but the level of fragrance you get from the bowl is something quite magical.
The Bottom Line
Is it worth it? Lin Dong Fang is somewhat of an institution for beef noodle soup throughout the city, serving up one of the best versions of classic Taiwanese food that you will find. However, there are similarly delicious beef noodle soup restaurants dotted around the city, so if you're elsewhere in the city there will likely be a good alternative nearby.
What is the best dish? The half tendon half beef is the best, by quite a way. The additional texture is where it's at.
Are there other places like this? Plenty. See below for some other beef noodle soup options in the city.
- Liu Shan Dong - Taipei Main Station
- Lin's Noodles - Guting MRT Station
- Muji Beef Noodles - Taipei 101 area