Taiwanese Beef Noodle$wanhuaDaily 10:30-21:30
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.
Shanghai Xiaolongbao$$daan
Kao Chi opened in 1949 and relocated to Xinsheng South Road in Taipei, two-minute walk from Dongmen MRT, Shanghainese xiaolongbao and sheng jian bao.
Signature: Xiaolongbao, Sheng jian bao, Drunken chicken
Order: Xiaolongbao, pan-fried sheng jian bao and cold drunken chicken.
Tip: Two minutes from Dongmen MRT exit 7. Open daily 09:30-22:30; queues quieter than Din Tai Fung.
Tainan Dan Zai Noodle$daanSun to Thu 11:30-22:30, Fri and Sat 11:30-23:00
Du Hsiao Yueh transplants the 1895 Tainan dan zai bowl onto Yongkang Street in Taipei. Tiny porcelain bowls of shrimp-and-pork noodles, garlic and coriander.
Signature: Dan zai noodle, Shrimp roll, Braised pork rice
Order: Dan zai noodle bowl, shrimp roll, braised pork rice.
Tip: Open 11:30-21:30 daily. Order at the counter.
Taiwanese Home Cooking$$zhongshanDaily 11:00-21:30
Shin Yeh in Taipei opened 1977 and writes the menu for textbook Taiwanese home cooking. Bib Gourmand, round-table portions, congee on every table.
Signature: Three-cup chicken, Sweet potato congee
Order: Three-cup chicken, sweet-potato congee, stewed pork rice.
Tip: Open 11:00-21:30 daily. Phone reservations. Service charge added.
Chinese$$zhongzhengDaily 11:00-14:30, 16:30-21:00
Hangzhou Xiao Long Tang Bao is the off-Yongkang xiaolongbao counter for Taipei locals near CKS Memorial Hall MRT. Bib Gourmand, crab-roe xiaolongbao.
Signature: Crab-roe xiaolongbao, Sheng jian bao
Order: Crab-roe xiaolongbao, pan-fried sheng jian bao.
Tip: Open 10:30-21:00 daily. Walk-in only; weekday queues shorter.
Xiaolongbao$$daanMon to Fri 10:00-21:00, Sat and Sun 09:00-21:00
Din Tai Fung's Xinyi Road original counter in Taipei is the xiaolongbao queue that turned a 1958 oil shop into a global chain. Bib Gourmand listed.
Signature: Xiaolongbao, Niu rou mian, Cucumber starter
Order: Ten-pleat pork xiaolongbao, niu rou mian, cucumber starter.
Tip: Take the queue ticket on arrival and shop Yongkang Street while you wait.