Fengshan Salty Rice Noodles

Review

Fengshan Salty Rice Noodles sits at the corner of Weixin Road, directly facing Fengshan First Public Market, its bright red sign visible from afar. Many Fengshan locals grew up eating here. It opens early and stays open into the evening, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner crowds alike, and local food bloggers often list it as a Fengshan must-eat among the old-town noodle stalls.

The signature rice noodles differ from the usual translucent kind: they look pale and are notably springy, and one blogger guessed sweet potato starch is added, which keeps them from going soft in the soup. The broth is light and clean, topped with crispy fried shallots and minced pork for aroma without grease. Among the sides, the braised large intestine is stewed until tender and evenly seasoned, while braised pork skin, pig trotter, fried tofu and braised eggs are regular orders. Noodles come dry or in soup.

Online reviewers mostly praise the chewy noodles, the light, easy-drinking broth and the cheap, flavorful braised sides, and some say it is the taste they return for every time they visit Kaohsiung; staff are warm and quick. Complaints focus on lunchtime crowding, tight seating, sides some find ordinary, and prices creeping up with inflation. Overall, the consensus is an affordable old local flavor.

It runs roughly from early morning to 9 p.m., but opening times and the weekly closing day differ between blog posts and online listings, so check before going. Noon is the busiest; takeaway customers queue outside, while dine-in guests tell staff and get seated. With the market next door, car parking is hard, so come by scooter or bus, or avoid the noon peak.

It suits anyone wanting a Fengshan market brunch or old-style noodles. First-timers can order a bowl of rice noodles dry or in soup with a braised egg, plus a plate of braised intestine or pork skin; bigger appetites can add pig trotter or fish skin soup, then stroll the First Market afterward.