A-Po Breakfast & Noodles

Review

A-Po Breakfast & Noodles is at No. 6 Dongshan Street in Hsinchu's East District, near Hsinchu Senior High School, and many students and neighbours have eaten here since childhood. Supertaste's Hsinchu breakfast round-up says it has been open for more than forty years with big portions, and several budget-food posts by the blogger Bunny Ann list it too, describing military-village flavours and heavy crowds at mealtimes.

The best known item is the fresh double-yolk egg crepe with a dough stick: the dough is rolled on the spot, wrapped around a fried dough stick with two eggs, fragrant outside and crisp inside, and very filling. Among the noodles, chilli-oil wontons with noodles, Sichuan style, are the favourite, with silky wrappers, plump pork filling and a numbing, fragrant red oil. The menu also has dry noodles, fried noodles and beef noodle soup, and the soy milk is house-made and self-serve. Mornings draw the crepe crowd and noon the noodle crowd.

Fans say value like this is hard to find in Hsinchu, portions are so big it is easy to over-order, the owners and staff are friendly, food comes fast and tables turn quickly, so seats often free up. Critics find it oily and strongly flavoured, and the Sichuan noodles are quite spicy for the faint-hearted; some wish for lighter options. It is busy at peak times, with the look of a traditional breakfast shop.

According to online information, it opens roughly 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and closes on Sundays, though some listings say Mondays as well, so check before going. The shop is on a lane off Dongshan Street where street parking is hard, and school-run traffic is heavy, so come by scooter or on foot. There are plenty of indoor seats and crowds come and go quickly.

It suits anyone wanting a filling, cheap military-village brunch, and locals who work or study in the East District. On a first visit, order a double-yolk egg crepe and a bowl of chilli-oil wontons or wonton noodles to share between two; ask for mild if you dislike heat, and drink the house soy milk. Expect to spend around NT$100 per person.