The Famous Yongkang Beef Noodle Soup
Yongkang Beef Noodle is one of Taipei’s most well-known and popular eateries, in operation since 1963. The name reveals just about everything you need to know: its location, just off Yongkang Street in Da’an, and its signature dish, the beef noodles. The flavourful and spicy soup is so loved, it draws long lineups every day of the week, and earned its establishment a spot on the first ever Taipei Michelin Bib Gourmand, which recognizes cheap and delicious food. You must go try it for yourself!
This place is so popular, there’s nearly always a line down the street. The only way to avoid it is to go as early as possible (opening is at 11:00am). Still, waiting for a table is almost guaranteed. Thankfully the line was moving pretty quickly when we visited, so we didn’t have to wait outside in the heat for any more than 15 minutes. We’re sure this would be much longer during peak hours.
There are dozens of tables between the two floors of the restaurant, and they’re always packed full. It can feel a bit crammed and chaotic with waiters hurriedly filling orders to try to get people in and out as quickly as possible.
To speed up the process, you can grab a cold dish as soon as you walk in. They’re always available for cheap and can make a great appetizer while ordering and waiting for hot food.
We got the cucumbers with garlic and it was a great choice! It doesn’t look like much, but the garlicky crunch made for a nice starter.
Their signature dish, the Braised Beef with Noodles in Spicy Broth, costs $200 for a small and $230 for a large. The broth was hearty and flavourful with a slight spice. The Australian beef was tender and delicious. While we’re sure there are other great beef noodles in the city, this was one of the best we’ve had. All those flavours and textures made for a great meal — it’s the only dish you really need to order!
What’s the vibe?
No-frills local restaurant that always has a line down the street. It’s packed and loud inside.
Worth it?
It’s worth going at least once! While we’re sure you can find other beef noodles shops in the city that are just as good if not better and don’t have a line, this place is a Taipei staple. It serves very tasty food at a reasonable price.
Would you go back?
We already have!
Last updated: June 2019
| Yongkang Beef Noodle |
| Chinese Name: 永康牛肉麺館 |
| Hours: 11am - 9pm |
| Phone: 02 2351 105 |
| English Address: No. 17, Lane 31, Section 2, Jinshan South Road, Da’an District |
| Chinese Address: 台北市金山南路二段31巷17號 |
