Cheap, Tasty, and Huge: A Taichung Noodle Shop That Dares You to Finish – Niu Bei Bei Beef Noodles
Meow meow everyone, welcome back! It’s me, Mydondon. Today we’re heading to a place I’ve already visited countless times. Time really flies, doesn’t it? I went from high school all the way to college! Whenever I’m away studying in another city, I always end up missing this place, wishing I could just grab a train ticket and rush home for a delicious bowl of noodles.
But before we dive in, let me drop the shop info first!
Niu Bei Bei Beef Noodles – Location Info
Niu Bei Bei Beef Noodles on Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/WXugFfkfYXu8QcRi8
Hours: 11:00 ~ 21:00 ( open every day )
Seating: about 25 seats ( four-person and eight-person tables )
Address: No. 42-1, Jinde Rd., East Dist., Taichung City 401
We got there around 20:12. Since it was off-peak, we grabbed a table right away, though there were still a couple of groups slurping their noodles. Overall the place was pretty clean — the floor and tabletops weren’t sticky
, but you could tell the condiment bottles hadn’t been touched in a while. We ordered wonton noodles, a large spicy dry noodle, a large plain noodle, and original beef noodles — 5 bowls in total. Everything came out in about 6 minutes, which is honestly impressive.
Niu Bei Bei Beef Noodles – Large Plain Noodles
Let’s start with the plain noodles! From this photo you can really see just how big this bowl is — it’s basically the size of a washbasin! This large bowl of plain noodles costs 50 NTD, and finding a bowl this big AND this cheap in this day and age is pretty rare. The broth itself tastes like it was simmered from pork bones — it’s not just dead-salty from salt, but actually makes you want to drink every last drop, one spoonful after another.
Just like a regular bowl of plain noodles or yi-mian, the soup comes with minced pork, bean sprouts, and a bit of green onion — simple, but more than enough. And they don’t skimp on the minced pork either; you actually get a meaty bite, which I think is really nicely done! That said, a whole big bowl of noodles like this can feel a little plain on its own, so personally I always add one of their amazing condiments… and that’s the pickled mustard greens! Adding the pickled greens into the soup gives it a touch of sourness — that sour-and-savory combo pairs perfectly. And the bowl of pickled greens is huge, so don’t be shy about piling it on! Every time I come, I always add a ton!
Niu Bei Bei Beef Noodles – Spicy Dry Noodles
Next up is my personal top pick — the spicy dry noodles!
Oh wait, not THAT spicy dry noodle — I mean THIS bowl of spicy dry noodles~
This bowl of spicy dry noodles is seriously delicious — my family always has to order one every single time. One bite of this big bowl of spicy dry noodles is incredibly moreish, making you go bite after bite after bite. On top there’s the shop’s own house-fried minced pork, green onion, bean sprouts, and dried tofu. At first it doesn’t taste that numbing, but the heat slowly builds up — getting spicier and spicier, more and more satisfying. If you really pay attention, there’s also a hint of sweet chili sauce in there. It’s got such a Taichung flavor to it! Highly recommended if you’re a spice lover!
Niu Bei Bei Beef Noodles – Original Beef Noodles
Next, let’s try their signature dish — the beef noodles~ Honestly, I’m not the biggest fan of the beef noodles. Maybe it’s because they weren’t stewed long enough, so the beef has more of a chew to it and lacks that melt-in-your-mouth feeling. But they’re still generous with the meat — even this small bowl of beef noodles has 5 chunks of beef, and none of them are so tiny you can barely see them! I can’t say it’s the most chunks I’ve ever seen, but personally I think the value is still pretty high. As for the broth, there’s plenty of that spice-packet flavor and it’s seasoned just right — it’s not bland like some others, nor is it overpoweringly heavy with doubanjiang. If you’re treating yourself today, you should grab a bowl of beef noodles too!
Also, adding their pickled mustard greens to the beef noodles is delicious too — the herbal notes in the broth combined with a bit of pickled greens give it more layers, and the chewiness of the greens themselves bumps the richness up another notch. Pickled greens with beef noodles really is a perfect match.
Alright! Thanks everyone for tuning in today! Is there a noodle shop on your street corner that’s so good you have to eat there every time you go home? Feel free to share it with everyone — who knows, maybe I’ll go give it a try next time too! If you enjoyed my article, why not give it a like and a bookmark? And if you’d like to see more reviews of other restaurants in the future, go ahead and hit that like button. Down below are a few articles you might enjoy, so feel free to check them out too! See you next time~