Some of the Best Beef Noodle Soup in Taipei (Sept 2026)

Every bowl on this page is one we sat down and ate, many of them around 2-3 pm on a weekday to dodge the lines. Our favourite right now is Menqian Yin Wei in Ximending, where you eat alone in a booth and the bowl comes through a bamboo blind. Liu Shandong is close behind, being a longtime favourite that's actually worth visiting, with their tasty broth, but the fermented black beans and large servings really make it a standout. Dark Palace Taiwanese Gourmet in Tamsui also great for its thick-cut beef and rich broth. This guide is an evolving list as we continue to review spots.

What to Order

The first time I had properly braised tendon was at Yongkang. It's soft enough to fall apart on your tongue, but it holds together on the chopsticks. I've never had anything like that in North America. When a menu offers half beef, half tendon, that's what I order, though the bowl usually comes with more tendon than beef.

Nothing wrong with ordering the all beef bowls, but if you haven't tried tendon yet, we do suggest you get a bowl of half-meat-half-tendon at least once.

Many restaurants will have many options for sides. My favourite is smashed cucumber, which usually comes with a bunch of garlic.

How to order

Ordering varies. At Menqian Yin Wei you order by QR code on your phone. At Dark Palace Taiwanese Gourmet you mark a paper menu, or if you get the English menu you use a highlighter on the plastic menu, and pay at the counter. At Mercuries you order at the counter at the front door. Generally, if you see sheets of paper at the front door, you grab one, find a seat, mark what you want to order, then take it to the counter to pay.

Many places will have different options for noodles. Small noodles are common, but so are wider ones. Places like Wanderlust and Lao Shandong offer hand-cut noodles, which tend to be wide but irregularly shaped. One of my favourites.

Depending on the restaurant, many sides may be offered. Smashed cucumbers are popular, and some more trendy places will offer things like pickled green mango, spicy glass noodles, or yuzu radish. Pickled mustard greens and chilli are often self-serve, sometimes at the table, sometimes at a self-serve location somewhere in the restaurant.

What a bowl costs

If you read reviews from Taiwanese people on Google Maps, you'll often see CP referenced. This is a reference to cost-performance, which basically means if something is worth what it costs. So even if something is cheap, it may not be good CP if it is very low quality and doesn't taste good. Similarly, if something is more expensive than usual but is very high quality and "worth" the price, then it's good or high CP. Beef noodles can be as low as NT$110 for a small bowl, and NT$130 for a large bowl at Jianhong Beef Noodles, which I found while doing research, I haven't been yet but now have to go visit. That's only US$3.67-US$4.10 per bowl! Generally though, you're looking at around NT$150-200, and it goes up from there. Here are the prices of what we've paid at places we've reviewed:

• Wanderlust: NT$220 for its top bowl.

• Liu Shandong: NT$240 for a large bowl.

• Menqian Yin Wei: NT$309, or NT$448 with sides and the 10% service fee.

• Dark Palace Taiwanese Gourmet: from NT$350, with a NT$599 wagyu bowl.

• Yongkang: a large bowl of half beef half tendon went from NT$330 to NT$370 in 2026.

• Mercuries: NT$229 is a combo with a drink and a side.

When to go

Beef noodle restaurants are all over. Unless you're going to a famous spot, there's generally not going to be a lineup unless it's right at the lunch or dinner rush, and even then, it depends on the place.

For the famous spots, it's a good idea to go outside of the lunch or dinner rush if at all possible. But check the open times as well, since some restaurants close down for a couple hours in the afternoon. Who knew Taiwanese people also did siesta?

FAQ

How much is beef noodle soup in Taipei?

It can be as cheap as NT$100-120, or US$3.15-3.78, but most fall in the NT$150-250 (US$4.73-7.88) range. Some bowls can be over NT$500 (US$15.76).

What is beef tendon like?

Soft and gelatinous, when simmered for many hours. Most places will make sure it's soft, but once in a while you may find a chewy piece. It's good to know it's connective tissue, mostly collagen, not fat.

Is Taiwanese beef noodle soup spicy?

Not necessarily, although many places do have a spicy option. Usually if you like it spicy, you can add chillis or chilli oil to the soup.

Is there a service fee or tipping?

Usually there is no service fee, although some places like Menqian Yin Wei adds 10%. Tipping is not expected at restaurants in Taiwan.

Updates

• 09-28-2026: First publishing

• 10-11-2026: Added Liu Shandong review