Hongwenji Cold Noodle

In Taiwan’s hot and humid summers, it is easy to have no appetite at noon, so a bowl of cold noodles at this time is the best choice of all, and Hongwenji Cold Noodles is the perfect place for it. Taichung has two branches of Hongwenji Cold Noodles: one near the National Museum of Natural Science (國立自然科學博物館) and the other opposite Paochueh Temple (寶覺寺). Although the outside of both of the stores looks old and dirty, the crowds still gather here. In fact, business can be so good that they have sold out of some noodle dishes as early as 9am in the morning on a weekday! And while there is limited seating inside, there is also take-away if you prefer.

While there are only several options of noodles for you to choose from, anything you choose is not bad at all. Indeed, in addition to cold sesame noodles (麻醬涼麵) and yellow noodles (黃麵), nothing beats liangpi (涼皮). Simply put, it is the wide range of noodles on offer here, accompanied by the refreshing cucumber and special sesame paste that can bring satisfaction to customers. The spicy duck’s blood (麻辣鴨血) is very much recommended, but if you are vegetarian, you can also eat here without a problem. If you are looking for a refreshing, cheap and very Taiwanese lunch in Taichung, Hongwenji Cold Noodles is your best bet.