Shi Jin Tang Far Eastern 食‧金湯經典麵食館 大遠百店 (Kaohsiung, TAIWAN) ★★★☆☆

Ever since enjoying my breakfast dessert at Y ing R. (隱弄) 2.5 hours ago, I set off on a leisurely walking tour through Sanduo District (三多商圈) until I stumbled upon the Kaohsiung Branch of FE21’ Mega Far Eastern Department Store (高雄大遠百) in the heart of the city. It was at that very moment that I realized I still hadn't crossed off one essential item from my to-do list for this trip: Taiwanese beef noodle soup. Just when I pulled out my phone and started searching for a noodle place nearby, there was one right here at the food hall of the department store!

I am referring to Shi Jin Tang Far Eastern (食‧金湯經典麵食館 大遠百店), a popular local noodle joint on the 11th floor of the department store.

Aside from their signature beef noodle soup, the classic wonton noodle (懷舊餛飩湯麵) and assorted dumplings (綜合水餃) are also local favorites. In fact, I have noticed that a few of my fellow diners were having these instead of the beef noodles.

Like most traditional noodle shops in Taiwan, we also get to choose all these goodies at the kitchen counter including the tripe, blood etc.

I was handed a plastic menu sheet listing all the dishes and their prices, where I could jot down the dishes I wanted for lunch.

Classic beef noodle (牛肉拉麵) (NT$210) – An old-school Taiwanese beef noodle soup just the way I wanted it.

The thick-cut beef brisket looked a little rough but it was tender and full of flavors.

The radish was soft and well-cooked. It was soft enough to melt in the mouth.

I wasn't a fan of knife-cut noodles but I thought they did a nice job clogging up the broth. The broth did come piling hot so I was sweating the whole time while slurping up the chewy noodles. Despite the dark color of the broth, the flavors were light (but deep) and quite easy on the palate. 

It's nice to get this one off the way at last. After all, I have less than 5 hours to go before my plane departs for Hong Kong.

Food Rating: 5.7/10

Price: $$

Address: 11/F, 21 Sanduo 4th Road, Lingya District, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

Closest Metro Station: Sanduo Shopping District

Tel: +886 7 536-3261

Opening Hours: 11:00am - 10:00pm daily