Lin Mama Pot-Boiled Yi Mein

Review

Lin Mama Pot-Boiled Yi Mein sits on Fuxing Street in Madou right next to the market and is a go-to brunch spot for locals. Supertaste includes it on its Madou must-eat list, and Newtalk's Madou food roundup singles out its sweet broth simmered from pork bones. The shop is small and the hours are short, yet a queue often forms soon after opening, making it one of the most popular noodle shops around the market.

The signature pot-boiled yi mein costs NT$70, plus NT$10 for a large. Media describe a pork-bone broth that is sweet without being heavy, topped with a soft-boiled egg and clams along with fish cake, sliced pork and greens, for a hearty bowl. The yi mein turns soft as it soaks up the broth. There is also a ramen version, but one report found the ramen rather firm, so those who like soft noodles are safer with yi mein. Shacha sauce, chilli and pepper are on the table, and diners suggest tasting the plain broth first.

Fans praise the sweet broth, generous toppings and fair price, and many call it a bowl they always detour for in Madou. On the downside, some dislike the melamine bowls and chopsticks and the crowded dining room. One takeaway customer once received the wrong amount of broth packs and noodles; the shop later reached out to make it right, and comments largely credit its attitude. Others feel shacha sauce masks the broth.

Hours run from about 6 a.m. to noon. Sources disagree on closing days: media say Mondays, while other listings show Sundays and Tuesdays closed as well, so check before going. Ordering is fully self-service, so watch how it works before joining the line. Nine to eleven is the busiest stretch; come earlier for a shorter wait. Street parking near the market is tight, so a scooter is easiest.

It suits noodle soup lovers and anyone after a filling, budget brunch, and pairs well with the wan gui and ice shops around Madou market. First-timers can order a plain pot-boiled yi mein, go large if hungry, sip the broth first and then add shacha or pepper to taste, spending about NT$70 to 100 per person.