Eat in Wanhua, Taipei

Lao Shan Dong Homemade Noodles ★ 4.5

Lao Shan Dong has been hand-pulling ribbon noodles since 1949 from the Wan Nian Building basement in Ximending. Bib Gourmand, ten-herb beef broth.

Signature: Hand-pulled beef noodle, Ten-herb broth noodle, Beef tendon plate

Order: Hand-pulled ribbon-noodle beef bowl; add tendon and pickled greens.

Tip: Open 10:30-21:30 daily. Cash only; the entrance is via the building's basement food court.

Lao Shan Dong Homemade Noodles ★ 4.6

Lao Shan Dong in Taipei has been hand-pulling ribbon noodles since 1949 from the Wan Nian basement in Ximending. Bib Gourmand, ten-herb beef broth.

Signature: Hand-pulled ribbon noodle, Ten-herb beef broth

Order: Hand-pulled ribbon-noodle beef bowl with tendon.

Tip: Open 10:30-21:30 daily. Cash only; basement food-court entry.

Ay-Chung Flour-Rice Noodle ★ 4.3

Ay-Chung's standing-counter mianxian in Ximending has been ladling oyster-and-pork thin-rice-noodle soup since 1975. Eaten kerbside, two bowls deep.

Signature: Oyster and pork mianxian, Pickled chilli, Garlic vinegar

Order: Large bowl with extra chilli sauce and black vinegar.

Tip: Open Mon to Thu 10:00-22:30, Fri to Sun 10:00-23:00. Cash only.

Ay-Chung Flour-Rice Noodle ★ 4.4

Ay-Chung in Ximending has been ladling oyster-and-pork thin-rice-noodle soup since 1975 at a standing kerbside counter. Two bowls deep, eaten on the curb.

Try: Oyster and pork intestine mianxian

Tip: Take a large bowl with extra chilli sauce and black vinegar from the condiment table.

Huaxi Street Tourist Night Market ★ 3.8

Huaxi Street in Wanhua near Longshan Temple is Taipei's oldest tourist night market, historically known as Snake Alley. Pork blood soup, herb teas, snake.

Tip: Open 16:00-24:00 daily. MRT Longshan Temple, Exit 1.

Ay-Chung Flour-Rice Noodle ★ 4.5

Ay-Chung in Ximending has been ladling out oyster-and-pork thin-rice-noodle soup since 1975 for under NT$80 a bowl. Standing-counter, two bowls deep.

Try: Oyster and pork mianxian

Tip: Cash only. Open until 23:00 Fri to Sun.

Ay-Chung Flour-Rice Noodle ★ 4.5

Ay-Chung Flour-Rice Noodle on Emei St in Ximending is the 1975 standing-counter mianxian stall drawing second-bowl regulars from the pedestrian streets.

Why locals love it: A standing-counter mianxian stall in Ximending that draws second-bowl regulars from the surrounding pedestrian streets, since 1975.

Tip: Cash only. Pile on chilli and black vinegar from the condiment table.

Lao Shan Dong Late ★ 4.4

Lao Shan Dong in Ximending runs late through the Wan Nian basement food court in Taipei, hand-pulled ribbon-noodle beef bowls until 21:30 daily. Bib Gourmand.

Try: Beef noodle and dumplings

Tip: Open 10:30-21:30 daily. Cash only.

Ximen Red House Plaza ★ 4.2

Ximen Red House Plaza is Taipei's LGBTQ nightlife heart in Wanhua, a cluster of open-air bars and pubs in the plaza behind the 1908 octagonal Red House.

Tip: Open-air drinks Thu to Sun from 18:00. Reservation only at indoor venues.