Taiwan has lots of famous food that has won over many tourists’ hearts and one of them is none other than its legendary beef noodles, which boasts a flavourful, strong broth and melt-in-your-mouth tender cuts of beef that’s perfectly complemented with some springy noodles. Mmm, just thinking about it has got us drooling!
Source: Burpple
Source: Chinese Micro News
A bowl of this hearty noodles is popular among locals and tourists alike so it isn’t a surprise if you find beef noodle stalls at almost every corner. It comes in both cheap and expensive alternatives, depending on the ingredients that the restaurant uses. The question is, how much are you willing to pay for it?
However, for this tiny, unassuming specialty beef noodle shop in Taipei, one bowl of their finest beef noodles costs TWD10,000 (RM1,395). Wow, what? In fact, it has even been crowned the “world’s most expensive beef noodle soup” by CNN. Niu Ba Ba (which literally means Beef Father) or Beef 688, serves only eight types of beef noodle soup ranging from TWD500 (RM69) to TWD10,000 (RM1,395) per bowl.
Source: Chinese Micro News
Source: Instagram
Known as the Presidential Beef Noodle Soup, you may expect a massive bowl of noodles for that price but the proprietors believe in quality over quantity. By paying just a few ringgit shy of RM1,400, you get 120 grams of noodles, five four-inch squares of beef, one piece of tendon, and soup, of course. No, this is not a scam!
Why is it so expensive? The founder of the shop, Wang Tsung Yuan and his son, Eric Wang who run the shop that was started since 1990 explained that they charge a premium price for the dish because of their recipe. Each bowl uses at least four premium beef cuts that are imported from Australia and the United States but only the best cuts are used for their most high-end bowl.
Source: Facebook
Source: CNN
As for the soup, Wang said that he has spent years perfecting the recipe and thus, his ultimate goal is to make “the world’s best beef noodle soup”. To make the Presidential Beef Noodle Soup, Wang explains to SCMP, “We take four kinds of beef, all from Australia or the United States, pan fry it, boil it, freeze it overnight and cut it into the best pieces.”
The star of the dish is still the soup and that’s where Wang has perfected his craft. Much like a perfume distiller, Wang makes the soup by blending six different stocks from the tendons, tenderloin, and bone for that signature taste. Customers can choose from five different types of noodles with various options for a satisfying meal.
Source: Daily Mail
Source: Daily Mail
Although it has a hefty price tag, Wang says that at least one person orders the Presidential Beef Noodle Soup almost every day and recommends that a reservation be made two days in advance. It’s a very time-consuming process! Even his cheapest bowl of noodles isn’t that affordable but he believes that the price is worth it for six reasons: the quality of beef, custom cuts, freezing technique, soup-blending technique, noodle quality, and minimal seasoning.
Niu Ba Ba has made global headlines for its astronomical price but those who have tried it have nothing but praises for the noodle dish. The majority of reviews on its Facebook page gives it glowing five-stars and one of them even says, “Having the opportunity to come to Niu Ba Ba for a bowl of beef noodle soup is one of the best things in life.”
Source: CNN
Address: Niu Ba Ba, 149, Section 6, Minquan East Road, Taipei City, Taiwan
Contact: +866 287917187
So, if you are in Taiwan, would you try this world-famous beef noodle soup?
Also read: Most Expensive Street Food in Bangkok Cost RM129! But People are Still Lining Up to Get It
