In an alley on Minquan East Road, there's a small, unassuming stall that's always packed with long lines. There are over 2,500 reviews on the map, with a score of 4.5 stars. Visiting the Golden Taiwanese Vermicelli usually means waiting at least 20 minutes. This shop is even called one of the top four vermicelli spots in Taipei.

When it comes to the best bowl of Taipei vermicelli, Golden Taiwanese Vermicelli is definitely a top choice. They're open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. with almost no downtime. During meal times, it's always packed with people. Even Olympic badminton gold medalist Li Yang has visited here to check it out.

Golden Taiwanese Vermicelli has been open since 2017. In just a few years, it has stood out in the vermicelli market and is known online as one of Taipei's top four vermicelli shops. The other three are Le Yeh Vermicelli, Vermicelli Legend, and A-Chuan Vermicelli.

Even more impressive, Golden Taiwanese Vermicelli was chosen for the well-known food contest "500 Bowls." World bread champion Chen Yao-xun also recommended Golden Taiwanese Vermicelli. Coincidentally, Chen Yao-xun's bakery is right across from the shop. Olympic champion Li Yang visits Golden Taiwanese Vermicelli because nearby, Xinsheng North Road Lane 361 has recently been renamed Lin Yang Road, which is also next to Golden Taiwanese Vermicelli.

Golden Taiwanese Vermicelli opened in 2017. It's not an old shop, but it became super popular in just a few years, mainly because of Pokémon GO. At that time, right in front of Golden Taiwanese Vermicelli was Minyou No. 1 Park, which had a "Mewtwo Gym." Many Pokémon players would gather there to catch Pokémon and battle at the gym. After playing, they often went next door to enjoy a meal at Golden Taiwanese Vermicelli.

The menu at Golden Taiwanese Vermicelli is very simple — so simple that they don't even print a menu. Instead, you just look at the menu on the wall. They only sell two things: vermicelli and Xiaolongbao. You can choose different toppings for the vermicelli, such as mixed ingredients, oyster, pork intestine, or diced meat. The prices are the same for all options. The large bowls are 80 TWD dollars, and the small bowls are 65 TWD dollars.

Today, it's extremely hot outside, so no one is sitting outdoors. Everyone's hiding inside where there's air conditioning to eat.

You need to walk down the alley to see the dining area inside the store.

The indoor dining area isn't very big, but the overall environment is pretty clean. It doesn't have that greasy feel you get in some snack shops.

If you don't want to wait in line when you arrive, make sure to avoid the busy lunch and dinner hours. So, we specifically came at 1:30 PM, and there was no line when we got there.

The tabletop is also cleaned very thoroughly.

Assorted Vermicelli Large Bowl (綜合麵線大碗)

If you're not sure which type of vermicelli to order, I recommend choosing the combo. It comes with all the ingredients—pork intestine, oyster, and diced meat—covering three kinds of toppings in one bowl for a satisfying experience.

The broth for the vermicelli is made with bonito flake stock, simmered to perfection. A little thickening is added, but it's just right—smooth without being too sticky. The bonito broth has a subtle sweetness, and overall, it's a light and clear flavor.

At Golden Taiwanese Vermicelli, our broth is light and simple. So if you want to add garlic, vinegar, or chili, you can season it yourself to your liking.

His oysters aren't the biggest ones, but they're very fresh and tender. Each oyster is coated with a layer of sweet potato powder, making them extra smooth and silky. The reason why Golden Taiwanese Vermicelli is so popular isn't really because of the soup, but because of the generous toppings. In this big bowl for just 80 TWD, there's so much stuff overflowing!

His pork intestines are cooked perfectly, with no strong offal smell that you usually get. They've also been marinated separately, so you can taste the savory soy sauce flavor. The cooking time is just right, so the intestines are chewy and tender with a nice bounce—not soft or mushy at all.

Diced meat is also one of the specialties of Golden Taiwanese Vermicelli. It may look simple, but it's actually tastier than you'd expect. The meat is pickled and coated with a layer of thickened sauce, making it very smooth to eat. The meat is also super tender. With these three ingredients, every single one is really delicious.

The thin noodles are handmade and come in both thick and thin styles, so you get a nice chewy texture. They're cooked just right, so they're not too soft or soggy.

One basket of Xiaolongbao with 8 pieces. (小籠包一籠 8 顆)

Usually, one person filling up on a large bowl of thin noodles is already quite enough. If there are more than two people, it's better to order a basket of Xiaolongbao.

The Xiaolongbao usually comes with dipping sauce, white vinegar, and shredded ginger.

Xiaolongbao are very cheap, and their taste is fairly ordinary, not like they are homemade by the shop; they give off a frozen food vibe.

The wrapper of the Xiaolongbao is quite thin, and inside there's lean pork with a good amount of broth. It tastes really comforting, but if you're asking if it's super delicious, not really. Still, at 80 TWD, it's pretty good value for money.