Ya Rou Bian Goose House

Review

Ya Rou Bian stands on Section 1 of Zhonghua Road in Ximending and is one of the oldest goose restaurants in the area. According to the Taipei City tourism department, it opened in 1950 selling only duck; after two slow years it added goose and business took off, and it is now run by the third generation. A column in Global Views magazine adds that Taipei diners preferred goose, so the shop switched to goose alone while keeping the name "Duck Meat Bian", which has become a shared memory for many long-time Taipei residents.

The kitchen uses Taiwanese native goose, often called lion-head goose or Taiwan goose, whose meat is firm with a fresh sweetness. The rice noodle and wheat noodle soups are built on a rich stock simmered from goose, and the shop stresses that no MSG is added; each bowl comes with chives, bean sprouts and a few pieces of goose. There is also goose liver, gizzard and blanched greens, and the smooth, boneless liver is often recommended. Ordering is simple: choose a portion of goose and add a bowl of rice noodles or wheat noodles.

Positive reviews mention a smoky aroma in the goose, tender meat and a clear, tasty broth, and many foreign visitors return, calling it authentic Taiwanese food. Complaints focus on price and portion: one diner wrote that a single portion of goose at about NT$100 has only four or five pieces with a lot of bone, which feels poor value. Others find the noodle soup oily with simple toppings, the chilli sauce salty, and the quality lower than in the past.

Online listings give hours of about 11:30 a.m. to 8:20 p.m. on weekdays and until 9:20 p.m. at weekends, with no fixed day off; check before going. Peak times are busy, but food comes quickly and tables turn fast, and the second floor is roomier than the first. The shop is a short walk from MRT Ximen Station; parking in Ximending is hard, so driving is not advised. Expect to spend roughly NT$100 to 300 per person.

It suits anyone who wants an authentic Taiwanese meal in Ximending and likes goose, or needs a quick bite while shopping. Solo diners can order goose rice noodle soup with a plate of greens; groups get the best value sharing a half-goose platter, and diners also recommend adding goose liver. Choose rice noodles or wheat noodles as you like, and the fried shallot topping makes the greens especially fragrant. The chilli sauce is salty, so taste a little first.