Header image courtesy of Jiu-Wu Beef Noodles
Hong Kong’s recent dip in temperatures means it’s time we dip our spoons in hearty soups! This time, we have our eyes set on something comforting, savoury, and Taiwanese. Also known as niu rou mian (牛肉麵), this toothsome dish of Taiwanese beef noodles, served in a rich broth, actually originated in Sichuan. During the Chinese Civil War, some two million civilians moved across what used to be called the Formosa Strait to Taiwan, where nostalgic immigrants preserved memories of home by cooking their native recipes.
Of course, the dish has undergone several transformations since then, and the current take on Taiwanese beef noodles does have some variations. Mostly, the bean paste broth is served with beef cuts, spring onions, and garnished with coriander, and it is much milder than its Sichuanese predecessor. Restaurants typically serve this dish with pickled mustard greens. It does, however, take some expertise to get this dish just right.
For your dining pleasure, we have compiled a list of the best places in Hong Kong to get a bowl of authentic Taiwanese beef noodles—your belly-warming, meaty companion this winter!