Ay-Chung Noodle Taipei Review: Ximending Street Food
Is Ay-Chung Flour-Rice Noodle in Taipei worth the hype? We brave the 95°F heat in Ximending to review this legendary street food spot.
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Is Ay-Chung Flour-Rice Noodle in Taipei worth the hype? We brave the 95°F heat in Ximending to review this legendary street food spot.
Hey there, fellow foodies and travelers!
Today, I’m excited to share my honest review of one of Taipei's most legendary street eats:
Ay-Chung Flour-Rice Noodle
right in the heart of the bustling Ximending district!
When you wander through Ximending,
you'll inevitably spot crowds of people holding palm-sized paper bowls,
standing right on the sidewalk, happily slurping down noodles.
That crowd is exactly how you know you've arrived at
the famous Ay-Chung Flour-Rice Noodle!
To be completely honest, it was a scorching 95°F when I visited,
and I seriously questioned whether I wanted to eat hot soup in that heat.
But seeing the vibrant local crowd and the incredible aroma,
there was no way I could just walk past!
Spoiler alert:
I am so glad I didn't let the summer heat stop me!
With its rich, savory broth, perfectly tender pork intestines,
and silky, thin noodles that just melt in your mouth,
this is an absolute must-try street food experience
whenever you visit Ximending.
Ay-Chung Flour-Rice Noodle
阿宗麵線
❤️ Address: No. 8-1, Emei St, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 108
❤️ Hours: Open Daily 7:30 AM – 11:00 PM
❤️ Phone: +886 2 2388 8808
❤️ Service: Takeout only / No delivery available
Ay-Chung Flour-Rice Noodle · No. 8-1, Emei St, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 108
Ay-Chung is located right in the middle of Ximending.
Since it's right in the center of the shopping district,
it’s incredibly easy to find! ☺️
The famous Ay-Chung Flour-Rice Noodle
Keep in mind there is no indoor seating here.
You simply order, grab your piping hot bowl of noodles,
and join the crowd eating standing up on the street.
At first, eating hot soup on a busy sidewalk
might feel a little strange and chaotic.
But honestly, it fits the lively energy of Ximending so perfectly
that it ended up being one of my favorite local experiences!
1. Menu & Prices
Ay-Chung Noodle Menu & Pricing
The menu here is beautifully simple.
They only sell pork intestine flour-rice noodles:
Large Size: NT$85 (approx. $2.60 USD)
Regular Size: NT$70 (approx. $2.15 USD)
The Regular Size Bowl
I ordered the regular size.
When you first receive the cup, it might look a bit small,
making you wonder if it will actually fill you up.
But once you dig in,
it’s packed to the brim with noodles and plenty of savory intestines.
It's actually the perfect size for sharing
if you want to save room for other night market snacks.
If you are exploring Ximending with a partner,
sharing one regular bowl is highly recommended!
Of course, if you're a big fan of pork intestines
or want to make a full meal out of it,
getting your own individual bowl is the way to go.
3. The Taste Test
How does it taste?
Imagine a rich, non-spicy, deeply savory pork stew.
The broth is incredibly thick and comforting,
tasting as though it has been slow-simmered for hours.
Up close with the delicious pork intestine noodles
Even though the summer heat was intense,
taking that first spoonful was surprisingly soothing.
It has a deeply comforting quality,
and I immediately understood why people stand outside
in the middle of summer just to eat this!
The pork intestines were exceptionally clean and tender.
They have a wonderfully chewy, rich, and savory flavor with zero gamey smell.
The noodles themselves are incredibly thin—even thinner than vermicelli.
Instead of being springy or firm,
they are silky, soft, and slide right down your throat.
You actually eat this dish with a spoon rather than chopsticks,
scooping up the noodles and rich broth together.
The delicate noodles act as the perfect vehicle,
soaking up all that incredible, thick broth.
Here is a crucial tip!
Ay-Chung noodles are topped with fresh cilantro (coriander)!
The herbal punch of cilantro balances the rich pork broth beautifully,
but the flavor can be quite strong if you aren't expecting it.
If you absolutely cannot stand cilantro,
make sure to ask them to leave it off when you order
(you can say "bu yao xiang cai" in Mandarin).
4. Essential Travel Tips
The line at Ay-Chung is almost always long.
When you first see it, you might think you'll be waiting forever.
However, the staff works with lightning-fast efficiency,
and you will usually get your bowl in just 5 to 10 minutes!
So don't let the long queue scare you away!
The lively street near Xing Fu Tang
That being said, the weather is hot and the food is steaming.
Here is my ultimate pro-tip:
If you are traveling with a partner,
have one person line up for the noodles,
while the other lines up at the famous Xing Fu Tang nearby
to grab a cold, refreshing brown sugar boba milk!
We did exactly this,
and having an ice-cold drink to wash down the hot, savory noodles
made the entire experience ten times better!
Also, make sure to bring your own tissues or wet wipes.
They fill the cups right up to the brim,
and eating thin noodles with a spoon while standing in a crowd
can get a little messy on your hands and face.
Having some wet wipes handy will save your day!
5. The Verdict
If you are planning a trip to Taipei,
Ay-Chung Flour-Rice Noodle in Ximending
is an absolute must-visit street food destination.
While eating hot soup on a hot summer day might sound intimidating,
the incredibly rich broth and perfectly prepared intestines make it entirely worth it.
It's a quintessential Taipei culinary memory you won't forget.
For an authentic, delicious, and cheap bite of local culture,
make sure to add Ay-Chung to your Taipei itinerary! ☺️
The large size of Ay-Chung Flour-Rice Noodle is 85 NTD, and the regular size is 70 NTD. If two people plan to enjoy it along with other foods at the night market, we recommend sharing one regular size.
Ay-Chung Flour-Rice Noodle is takeout only, and there is no seating space inside the shop. After ordering, you receive your noodles in a cup and eat them standing on the street.
Yes, cilantro leaves are added by default. If you cannot eat cilantro, it is best to ask them to remove it when placing your order.
Even if the line looks long, the food is served very quickly, so it usually only takes about 5 to 10 minutes to get your noodles. If you are with a companion, we recommend having one person stand in line while the other buys a cold drink at Xing Fu Tang right next door.
대만 타이베이 샤오롱바오 딤섬 동파육 맛집 까오지 Kao chi
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