Zhen Zhen Beef Noodles (珍珍牛肉麵): braised beef noodle soup and pancakes by Houshanpi Exit 1

Zhen Zhen Beef Noodles is at No. 11, Lane 743, Sec. 5, Zhongxiao E. Rd. in Xinyi, two doors down from Chunlai oyster vermicelli, right next to Xiangdu roast meat bento (香都燒臘便當). It is 1–2 minutes from Exit 1 of Houshanpi MRT Station.

It opens 11 am to 2 pm and 5 to 8 pm, and is closed on Wednesdays. There are about 30 seats, and you can also take out or order delivery. To order, mark what you want on the order sheet and hand it to the staff. You pay after you eat.

There are about 10 beef noodle shops around Houshanpi. I think this one is the best.

The braised broth has a layer of red oil on top. The beef comes in big, tender pieces, and the tendon is stewed until soft. The noodles are wide and flat, soak up the broth, and come topped with green onion. To get both beef and tendon, order the half tendon, half beef (半筋半肉).

First sip the broth, then eat some noodles, then a piece of beef, and finally take all three in one bite. After three to five bites, stir in no more than a spoonful of pickled mustard greens (酸菜), and it tastes different again.

The other favorite is the jin bing (斤餅): a stack of thin pancakes to wrap around shredded pork in sweet bean sauce (京醬肉絲). One order is right for one person. Add a side of pork intestine or cucumber; they are good wrapped in the pancakes too.

If you don't eat beef, the pickled mustard and shredded pork noodles (榨菜肉絲麵) are popular, with a plate of blanched cabbage. About NT$200 per person fills you up.

Zhen Zhen is 1–2 minutes from Houshanpi Station, easy for lunch or dinner after work. Our Houshanpi rooms are right on top of the station. Stays start at 30 days, the rooms come furnished, and you can move in with just a suitcase.