Amay Mi Gan (Flagship)

Review

Amay Mi Gan's flagship sits at No. 142 Zhongshan Road in Pingzhen, right in the heart of Zhongzhen Market and its surrounding food quarter. The area grew out of a settlement for families of soldiers who came from the Yunnan–Myanmar border, and Amay is its best-known name. Several rice-noodle shops in the quarter belong to the same group, and this flagship is where many first-timers to Longgang start.

The signature is mi gan made from pure rice, served in a broth simmered from black-pork bones and topped with sliced pork, pork liver and an egg; staff ask whether you want the egg fully or half cooked. The noodles are smooth with a clear rice aroma and the broth leans savoury and salty; you can swap in thick or thin rice vermicelli or wheat noodles. The side-dish counter is large, with green papaya salad, pea jelly and flaky posu buns often singled out, while the spicy beef hot pot is loaded but salty.

Fans praise the modern room, plentiful seating, strong air conditioning and tourist-friendly prices, and the house chilli paste is popular as a dip or stirred into the soup; some return just for the buns. Critics mainly find the broth too salty, with some adding vinegar and white pepper to balance it. Others say it is crowded, noisy and rushed, more hype than substance, and that neighbouring noodle shops are just as good.

It opens daily from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., so it works for breakfast through dinner. Expect queues at peak times; staff seat you, and side dishes are picked up at the counter and paid for together. The sources do not give a full price list; diners report a main bowl at around NT$100, so most people spend NT$100 to NT$200 with sides, but check before you go. Weekend parking around Longgang is tight, though paid lots are nearby.

It suits first-time visitors to Zhongzhen Market who want rice noodles and a range of Yunnan–Burmese side dishes in one stop, and the ample seating makes it easy with older relatives or overseas friends. Order a bowl of the mixed mi gan with papaya salad or pea jelly, add the spicy beef hot pot for a group, and stop at Amay's dessert shop next door for posu buns to take home.