Zhang Xiu-Xiong Mitaimu

Review

Zhang Xiu-Xiong Mitaimu sits in a small lane on Tianjin Road in Luodong. Supertaste named it when covering local breakfasts in Luodong, and GoFun's Luodong food roundup also lists it as a must-eat. The shop is small and opens before dawn, with a steady stream of locals from early morning; even in hot summers people squeeze inside for a steaming bowl of mitaimu.

Mitaimu are short, thick noodles made from rice batter. Here they are cooked in a big pot of stock enriched by the shop's assorted boiled meats and offal, giving a sweet, savoury broth, while the noodles themselves are slippery and springy. On the side come cold cuts such as pork shoulder and pork intestine, dipped in garlic soy sauce. None of the sources list exact prices; it is an inexpensive snack shop, so check prices on site.

Fans praise the flavourful broth, silky noodles and fresh cold cuts, calling it a truly local Yilan breakfast worth waiting for. Complaints focus on the cramped, stuffy room in summer and the crowds at peak times; some note that kitchen staff also take orders and serve, so they can be curt when busy, and takeaway customers wait outside the door.

Hours are roughly 5:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., closed Tuesdays, though sources differ slightly, so check before you go. Come early and state everything you want, noodles and side dishes, in one go so nothing gets missed; takeaway customers queue at the door. The shop is in a residential lane where parking is hard, so park around Zhongzheng Road and walk over.

It suits anyone wanting a traditional Yilan breakfast or light clear-broth snacks, and travellers who visited Luodong Night Market the night before and want something lighter in the morning. First-timers can order a bowl of mitaimu soup plus a plate of pork shoulder and pork intestine, best with garlic soy sauce.