If there is a noodle center of the Universe, I suspect Taiwan might be it. (Aside from Italy, of course!)
One of my favorite things to eat in Taiwan is noodles (miàn). Like rice, noodles are a staple of the Taiwanese diet and the variety of
noodle dishes available will surely excite any pasta connoisseur.
Don’t even think about eating the boxed Ramen-type noodles found in Taiwanese convenience stores. Here are a few authentic and more popular Taiwanese noodle dishes to try if you’re ever looking for a carb fix on the island.
Beef Noodles
Beef Noodles are a favorite in Taiwan. The city of Hsinchu is famous for its beef noodle soup. More like a stew, the noodles are thick and chewy, the meat is marinated and tasty, and the soup is often cooked spicy, though of course mild forms are available. Though not really a fan of pork or red meat, I did enjoy Hsinchu’s beef noodles very occasionally.
Rice Noodles
Though rice noodles are popular throughout the country, the city of Hsinchu is also famous for these thin, long noodles made from ground rice. Light in weight and clear in texture, the dish is often served with soy sauce, a sprinkling of vegetables and tiny pieces of pork. Rice noodles can be found in heaps (literally, giant heaping pots) at night markets around Taiwan.
Dry Noodles
One of my favorite Taiwanese dishes (also found in copious amounts at restaurants and night markets), I ordered Gan Mian (hot dry noodles) on many occasions. The best part was when the cook would dump the noodles into a clear little bag sans bowl – the Taiwanese version of fast food. The bag handle was perfect for hanging off scooter handlebars.
I don’t know how many times I drove down the road with my bag of dry noodles flailing in the wind.
Dry noodles can be cooked a variety of ways with a variety of noodle sizes. My favorite was the thin noodle version cooked in scallion oil and served with light vegetables (minus the meat), and chili or soy sauce. Other mixtures include dry noodles with sesame or peanut sauce.
Oyster Noodles
Found in many a night market throughout Taiwan, transparent oyster noodles are cooked in a starch-like soup and tossed with fresh oysters. I had them once or twice and though I’m not a fan, they’re definitely interesting.
Taiwanese style spaghetti
I tried “Italy Mian” numerous times while living in the country. I frequently visited a little corner stand down the street from where I lived in Puli. The stand, managed by super wonderful ladies, offered snacks such as chicken sandwiches and Taiwanese style spaghetti. Though it took some getting used to at first, I grew to love the Taiwanese version mixed with light sauce, vegetables, corn and chicken.
This is just a mere sampling of the many types of noodle dishes visitors can find in Taiwan. Some other tasty offerings include thick noodles slathered in mushroom sauce and endless options of noodle soup dishes.
Taiwanese cuisine is delicious!
Photos © Rhonda Mix and Google images.