Tainan beef soup (牛肉湯) is the unrivaled champion of local eats in Tainan. While a simple protein-packed dish commonly eaten for breakfast, each bowl of freshly cut beef slices bathing in sweet broth that cooks right in front of your eyes should not be underestimated. This is by far the most important food in Taiwan, and you would be remiss to not savor Tainan beef soup on a trip down south.
What is Tainan Beef Soup?
Tainan beef soup is a local dish consisting of beef and beef broth. It’s made by adding piping hot broth to bowls of thinly sliced raw beef, which then cook sometime between the time it arrives at your table from the kitchen. This is the power of fresh beef, a specialty of Tainan which is also the largest producer of beef in Taiwan.
Though simple, Tainan beef soup has no ordinary taste. The broth is sweet, deceptively so, as are most things in Tainan. This harks back to a time when sugar, an expensive good, was added to foods by merchants to convey wealth and status, much like the Japanese and ice cubes.
It is this simplistic combination of ingredients that makes Tainan beef soup distinct from Taiwanese beef noodle soup (牛肉麵). Where the latter showcases the titular braised beef and noodles, as well as bok choy and other greens, beef soup is a more laid back affair. Perhaps that’s why it’s often eaten alongside braised beef rice – braised beef atop steamed rice – a spin on the traditional braised pork rice (滷肉飯).
Where to Find the Best Beef Soup in Tainan
Tainan is the de facto capital for beef soup in Taiwan and is home to the best beef soup restaurants in Taiwan. Thanks to the widespread availability of fresh beef, Tainan is also home to the most beef soup restaurants, each of which have slightly different variations on this incredibly popular southern dish.
Below are three restaurants serving up what I consider to be the best beef soup in Tainan, each simple, cheap, and satisfying. Try them yourself by ordering my classic order: a bowl of 牛肉湯 (beef soup) and a small bowl of 牛肉燥飯 (braised beef rice), two Tainan staples.
Hong Pin Beef Soup 鴻品牛肉湯
Until recently, I was under the impression that Qi Ge Beef Soup was the best beef soup in Tainan. Then came Hong Pin. A huge restaurant with generously portioned and heavy braised beef rice, Hong Pin beef soup is honestly the best I’ve ever had, and I’ve had a lot of beef soup in Tainan. It fills up very fast at Hong Pin so make sure you get here ahead of the lunch rush so as to not miss out.
- Open hours: Tuesdays to Sundays, 11am to 2pm and 4pm to 10pm
- Price: From $120 NTD ($3.70 USD)
- Address: There are two locations, one in West Central District (台南市中西區中華西路二段50號) and one in Yongkang District (710台南市永康區大安街288號).
Qi Ge Beef Soup 旗哥牛肉湯
Qi Ge Beef Soup in Tainan’s North District is a firm favorite of the gym crowd, early morning crowd, and just all round hungry crowd. With an amazing beef soup that comes in three different sizes (you don’t see that everywhere), there is so much deliciousness to enjoy, great AC to take a break in, and a weird stone pigeon statue to stare at. I also highly recommend their braised beef rice (牛肉燥飯).
- Open: 7am to 12am (Weds. to Sun.), 7am to 2pm (Mon.), 3pm to 12am (Tues.)
- Price: From $130 NTD ($4 USD)
- Address: No. 126, Zhonghua North Road 1st Section, North District, Tainan City 704 台南市北區中華北路一段126號 (大興街口)
Directions: Take bus no.70 to Xianbei Village Bus Stop and walk 2 minutes. Alternatively, turn left onto Minsheng Road 2nd Section from Haian Road. Walk for 1.1km, then take a right onto Zhonghua 2nd Section past the Kindness Day hotel. Continue down the road for 1.4km – Qi Ge Beef Soup will be on the right. There is (limited) parking for scooters and cars.
2 Cows Beef Soup 二牛牛肉湯
Two Cows Beef Soup in Tainan’s Anping District is probably one of the most diverse beef soup restaurants in Tainan as, in addition to their satisfying beef soup, they’re also famous for crispy beef roll pancake 牛肉捲饼. The thicker cousin to danbing (Taiwanese breakfast pancakes), these value-added rolls take meals at Two Cows to a whole new level. The blasting AC and transparent glass that lets you see into the kitchen also help.
- Open: 7AM to 12.30AM (Mon. to Fri.), 7AM to 1AM (Sat. & Sun.)
- Beef Soup Price: From $120 NTD ($3.70 USD)
- Address: No. 570, Anping Road, Anping District, Tainan City 台南市安平路570號
Directions: Cross Anyi Bridge at Anping Fisherman’s Wharf and head right down Alley 8, Land 33, Anping Road. This is the first road on the right once crossing the bridge. This will take you by Chengtian Bridge, where Two Cows Beef Soup is just opposite on the left. Alternatively, get off the bus at An-Ping Junior High School and walk for 1 minute.
