✨ AI Quick Take
A legendary old-school shop with a constant queue on Dexing East Road in Tianmu. Famous throughout the area, it specializes in truly gigantic beef noodle soup: its small bowl arrives and instantly dwarfs many other shops' large. Although it closes at half past six in the evening, crowds stream through all day. It is a rugged refuge for anyone who wants to fill up completely after work on thick slabs of beef and a boldly flavored broth.
● Beef Noodle Soup
The beef noodles come only with red-braised broth, dark in color and deeply aromatic without being overly salty. The bowl contains beef shank and tendon, every piece cut thick. Braising seasons the shank while leaving some chew, and the tendon remains soft and gelatinous. The plain noodles are cooked on the softer side and readily soak up the soup. For a tangy turn against the red-braised aroma, eat them with the shop's pickled mustard greens.
● Braised Assortment
The platter combines layered tofu, pressed tofu and pig scalp, cut into easy-to-pick-up pieces and topped with scallions for fragrance. Both tofu varieties absorb the braising liquid, bringing soybean aroma and savory saltiness. The pig scalp is cut notably thick, thoroughly seasoned yet still springy, giving it an especially pronounced chew. As a side for noodles, the plate adds different textures alongside both soup and dry preparations.
● Zhajiang Noodles
The zhajiang noodles arrive in a ceramic bowl, wide noodles covered with minced pork sauce and a generous mound of shredded cucumber. Toss from the bottom so the sauce coats the noodles evenly. Each bite then combines the savory pork, substantial noodles and crisp cucumber. The overall seasoning is gentle rather than aggressively rich, though the portion is unmistakably large. If you do not want soup, this bowl presents another face of homestyle dry noodles.
For a first order, a small bowl with half shank and half tendon is enough. Taste the broth plain, then add pickled mustard greens as you like. Two people can share a braised platter. If you prefer mild food or no heat, ask first about wonton noodles, sesame-sauce noodles and other options. Zhajiang noodles suit big eaters who favor dry noodles; do not force yourself to order them just because they are inexpensive.
- Address:台北市士林區德行東路 80 號, about an 11-minute walk from Exit 2 of Zhishan Station (芝山站).
- Type:Red-braised beef noodle soup, dry noodles and counter-ordered braised bites.
- Highlights:Thick-cut shank and tendon, in portions larger than a typical small bowl.
- Reminder:The broth is directly salty and spicy, and peak hours bring queues. Average appetites should resist the large bowl.
📌 Editor's Verdict
In short, 忠誠牛肉麵 (Zhong Cheng Niu Rou Mian) became a sensation in Tianmu through its outrageously large, thick-cut beef shank and genuinely gigantic portions. The beef broth and zhajiang noodles can grow monotonous in the second half, tiring the palate and feeling heavy. Yet the five tender but satisfyingly firm chunks of wagyu shank and the savory, deeply seasoned assorted braised bites still make this the dependable, hard-edged Taiwanese beef-noodle choice on Dexing East Road when you want to eat meat with abandon and chase ultimate fullness.
