Third Market Da Mian Geng

Review

Third Market Da Mian Geng is stall C40 inside the market, next to No. 25 Heping Street. Reports give two ways in: enter from the Taichung Road post office side and walk a few meters, or use the Heping entrance by Chang Hwa Bank and look for the red "Da Mian Geng" sign beside the Jinshunfa incense shop. The stall has only a few tables and is now run by a young owner, serving from morning into early afternoon for breakfast or lunch.

Da mian geng is a Taichung-only everyday dish: thick alkaline noodles cooked into a lightly thickened soup. Here the noodles are soft yet springy, likened by one writer to udon. The soup carries fried shallots, dried radish and chives, plus garlic crisps and minced pork sauce. It is boldly seasoned with an old-fashioned taste, and the bowl is bigger than expected, enough for a full meal. The plain broth has a noticeable alkaline note without bitterness; adding the Dongquan chili sauce on the table tames it and brings out sweetness, a common local habit. The owner keeps two broths, so anyone wary of the alkaline taste can ask for the milder stock.

The price rose from NT$30 in 2022 to NT$40 from 2023, and two pieces of fried tofu cost NT$10, a good match for the noodles. Most coverage praises it as cheap and authentically Taichung. One writer admitted it was less unusual than imagined, side dishes such as pork intestine are average, and first-timers may need time to get used to the alkaline taste. The setting is a plain market stall that feels hot in summer.

Sources differ on hours and closing days: a recent report says 08:30–14:30, closed Mondays, while other data says 08:00–14:00, closed Mondays and Tuesdays, so check before going. Parking around the market is difficult, so come by bus or scooter; mornings are a little less crowded.

It suits budget travelers curious about Taichung's local breakfast. Order one bowl plus fried tofu, taste the plain broth first, then add chili sauce to taste; if the alkaline flavor is too much, ask for the milder broth.