Beef noodle soup is more often than not really good wherever you go. But when it’s right next to Taipei Main Station MRT and top quality, you are on to a serious contender for best in the city.
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So Liushandong beef noodle soup has been in action since 1951 already, and I would not be surprised at all if it lasts another 50+ years. I mean, this place is going to stand the test (taste) of time because it serves up honest, no-frills, delicious food, at a really reasonable price.
The restaurant itself has something close to 20 seats inside, but be prepared to sit quite close to the people near you. You may even have to wait. Such is the Taipei Main Station location, where foot traffic and tourists are both quite high in number. But, please don’t let that put you off, as Liushandong is definitely worth hanging around for.
Unveiling the Ultimate Taipei Beef Noodle Paradise: 10 Flavours, 1 Delicious Foodie Tour!
The Menu
For more help on how to order breakfast, as well as other meals at restaurants, check out my post 'How to order like a pro' for some extra help.
A breakdown of the menu:
- Single portion of pork chop $90
- 排骨每份 Pái gǔ měi fèn
- Single portion of beef $110
- 牛肉每份 niú ròu měi fèn
- Zha jiang mian $90
- 炸醬麵 zhá jiàng miàn
- Beef soup (with meat, but no noodles) $150
- 牛肉湯 niú ròu tāng
- Beef soup (with noodles, but no meat) $80
- 牛肉湯麵 niú ròu tāng miàn
- Preserved/pickled veg with pork and noodles $90
- 榨菜肉絲麵 zhà cài ròu sī miàn
- Pork chop with noodles $140
- 豬肉排骨麵 zhū ròu pái gǔ miàn
- Beef noodle soup with a deep, rich broth $160
- 紅燒牛肉麵 hóng shāo niú ròu miàn
- Clear broth beef noodle soup $160
- 清燉牛肉麵 qīng dùn niú ròu miàn
- A variety of side dishes $20
- 各式小菜每盤 gè shì xiǎo cài měi pán
Side dishes $20/each
Never underestimate side dishes in restaurants. It doesn't matter where you are, side dishes are an absolute must, especially when they're priced as low as $20! When eating at a beef noodle soup restaurant, I strongly recommend you to get their tofu dish 花干 Huā gān. Why? The way that it is invariably cut up allows all of the soup broth to nestle right in there in all of the air bubbles specific to this type of tofu. Soak it in your soup broth when it arrives, and feel the happiness (幸福).
I will also invariably get peanuts whenever I see them on a menu, as my infatuation with peanuts is strong. These ones are boiled and are really good (especially when paired with whisky, you know, just saying).
On the table - seasoning
So top left you will see the dried chilli concoction that made my tongue sizzle. It's this dried black bean and chilli seasoning that goes really well when paired with (lightly, not liberally) a mouthful of soup and beef. Definitely try it!
On the right, you can see the pickled greens that go hand-in-hand with beef noodle soup. I mean, you'll find it at almost all restaurants that serve beef noodle soup, and for good reason, too. I'd strongly recommend you to have some of your soup first, but when you're ready to level it up, spoon a couple of portions of this into your bowl, swish it around, and enjoy.
Some people, seemingly, pair garlic with their beef. Not me. I can see why, as I am sure that the fragrance matches the beef really well, but I don't want to be stinking up everywhere I go with my repugnant breath for the rest of the day.
What Beef Noodle Soup did we order?
紅燒牛肉麵 hóng shāo niú ròu miàn $160
The broth in the 紅燒 beef soup has layer upon layer of flavour. It is typically the richer of the two broths, and for that reason, it is my standard order - I am all about those rich flavours!
The broth - Deep, rich, salty, clean, and delicious. By the end of the bowl, you can feel that it is quite salty, but then again, what beef noodle soup isn't, really?
The beef - Awesome, in every way. Cut differently to the beef in the 清燉牛肉麵 qīng dùn niú ròu miàn, this one is thicker and the fat seems to be that much silkier because of it - a score for this 紅燒 beef right here. The beef flavour is strong and matches the soup perfectly.
The noodles - Some of my favourite noodles in beef noodle soup anywhere. Thick, juicy, chewy. They tick all the boxes.
How good does that spoon look right about now? Check out that chilli and black bean goodness to the right of the spoon - yes, like a boss! Flavour on flavour.
清燉牛肉麵 qīng dùn niú ròu miàn $160
Typically the lighter of the two broths, the 清燉 soup is clearer and less dense than the 紅燒 one. But, that isn't to say that it is inferior in any way. It really is not.
The broth - Clear, clean, salty, and great. It isn't as salty as the 紅燒, therefore it is quite easy to drink the entire bowl with ease. There feels to be more of a fragrant garlic flavour in this one, too.
The beef - Delicate, beefy, extremely tasty. This cut of beef felt less fatty than that of the 紅燒牛肉麵 hóng shāo niú ròu miàn, but what it lacks in silky fatness, it makes up for in delicateness. I really liked this beef as it still retained all its beef flavour, whilst simultaneously being able to melt in my mouth.
The noodles - Some of my favourite noodles in beef noodle soup anywhere. Thick, juicy, chewy. They tick all the boxes.
You have to appreciate a close-up noodle pull, right? Really good noodles right here!
The Bottom Line
Is it worth it? Oh yes. Get the 紅燒牛肉麵 hóng shāo niú ròu miàn and you will be laughing.
What else does the Taipei Main Station are have to offer, though? I am not a regular around this area, but maybe I went for a cheeky doughnut afterwards, as one of my favourite chunky doughnuts is in this area...
Is it worth a second visit? Without a doubt. I'll be back next month, for sure.