Eat · Ximending & Red House
Ay-Chung Flour-Rice Noodle
Walk-in oyster-and-pig-intestine vermicelli in a bowl, mostly eaten standing on the street; go before 11:30 or after 14:00 to skip the queue.
- Standing counter
- Oyster and intestine
- Cash only
- Order: Oyster vermicelli in a bowl
- Walk-in window: before 11:30
- Queue risk: 11:30–13:30
- Menu with prices on Voykit
Highlights come from Voykit's own data and desk notes, not from reviews. Hover a tag to see its source.
Rules in force · 8Older streets have covered arcades with parked scooters a…
- East Asia ↗Every border in East Asia is a full international border, Hong Kong and Macau included: an entry permission for one never covers the next.
- East Asia ↗Ferries between Korea, Japan and China cancel in rough seas and typhoons; keep a flight or a spare day behind every sea leg.
- Taiwan ↗Check visa-exemption length, passport validity and the online arrival card (TWAC) on the official sites before you fly.
- Taiwan ↗An EasyCard (or iPASS) covers MRT, buses, local trains and many convenience-store purchases; buy one at the airport or a station.
- Taiwan ↗When a local government declares a typhoon day, transport and sights can close for the day; follow the official notice, not the forecast alone.
- Northern Taiwan ↗The north coast and Jiufen are wet for much of the year; carry a compact umbrella and do not plan a sunset view around clear skies.
- Taipei ↗Older streets have covered arcades with parked scooters and stalls: large suitcases go from the car or MRT exit to the door, not along the arcade.
- Taipei ↗The MRT stops around midnight; after that use taxis and the Uber app. Check the last train before dinner.
More
Map & directions
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Plan
Open now, when you can walk in, what to order
Go now?
Open?
Usually 10:00–22:30Usually 10:00 AM–10:30 PM
Typical hours: check on the day.
Busy this hour
Estimate by hour below
Easiest walk-in
before 11:30
Reservations
Walk-in, no reservation
Paying
Cash only
Per person
NT$60–80 (≈ US$2–3)2026 estimate · check
Walk-in windows
Tip
Format
A walk-in lunch is only planned as primary when your arrival lands outside the “impossible” window.
Your first order
- Oyster-and-intestine vermicelli, small蚵仔大腸麵線 小The classic bowl; sweet-savoury and hot.NT$60–70≈ US$2–3
Menus and prices change; the board on the day wins.
Not checked in the last 12 months (no check date on file).
On the ground
How to order, tip and pay, allergies, and booking
How to order
- The soup is very hot; wait and use the spoon.
Tipping
Sit-down restaurants: about 10%, less than the 15–20% US norm.
Allergies and diets
- NoVegetarian · Broths and sauces use meat or seafood; ask for a Buddhist vegetarian shop nearby. · say: “Wo chi su, bu yao rou.”
- NoVegan · Almost all dishes contain meat, egg or fish stock.
- NoHalal · No halal certification at small stalls; pork is common. · say: “Wo bu chi zhu rou.”
- NoGluten-free · Soy sauce and wheat noodles are used throughout.
- AskNut allergy · Peanut powder and sesame appear in sauces; show a written card.
- Not on fileAllergy · Show a written card; the counter is crowded and cross-contact is likely. · say: “Wo dui ___ guo min.”
Paying
Cash only
- Pay first, take the bowl and stand on the street to eat.
- No tipping; prices are on the board.
- Cash only at the counter.
Booking
- Booking
- Walk-in, no reservation
- Reservations
- Not taken
- Note
- Walk-in, order at the counter.
Not checked in the last 12 months (no check date on file).
Map and nearby
Where this place is, how to get there, and what is around it
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Nearby places
Eat nearby
More detail
Everything else we know about this place
How to order here, in full
How to order here
The order of play at the counter or table, what to say, how much to order and how to pay.
- 1The soup is very hot; wait and use the spoon.
No shared language? Tap dishes in the order builder below and show the waiter the full-screen list in the local script. For a printed menu, translate a photo of it.
What to say
| In English | Say or show | Sounds like |
|---|---|---|
| How much is this? | 這個多少錢？ | juh-guh dwo-shao chyen |
| One of these, please | 我要一個這個 | wo yao ee-guh juh-guh |
| No meat, please | 我吃素 | wo chr soo |
| Not spicy | 不要辣 | boo yao la |
| To go | 外帶 | wye-dye |
| The bill, please | 買單 | my-dan |
| Hello | 你好 | nee-how |
Portions and sharing
- Stand in the short line, order at the counter and say the size.
Extras, condiments and what costs extra
- Extras: Extra intestine or a larger bowl costs NT$10–20 (≈ under US$1) — Ask before you pay.
- Vegetarian food (素食) is easy to find at Buddhist vegetarian buffets; say “wo chi su”, and ask if there is garlic or egg if you avoid it.
Paying and tipping
Sit-down restaurants: about 10%, less than the 15–20% US norm.
- Pay first, take the bowl and stand on the street to eat.
- No tipping; prices are on the board.
- Cash only at the counter.
- Tipping: Not expected; a 10% service charge is added in many restaurants.
- Carry small notes and coins: most stalls are cash only.
- Order at the counter, pay first at small shops, and return the tray or bowl if there is a stack.
At the table
- Go before 11:30 or after 14:00; the queue is longest at lunch.Go before 11:30 AM or after 2:00 PM; the queue is longest at lunch.
- Do not stick chopsticks upright in rice or pass food chopstick to chopstick.
- Look for a busy stall with a short menu; a queue of locals is a good sign.
Price and paying
- Typical spend
- NT$60–80 (≈ US$2–3) per bowl
Paying, diet and allergies
Paying
Cash is the safe choice; small NT$ notes and coins.
Cards are not taken at most small counters (check).
EasyCard at a few shops; ask before you order.
Local QR wallets; foreign wallets rarely work.
Diet and allergies
Yes means there is something for you; ask means possible with care; no means go elsewhere.
- Vegetarianno
Broths and sauces use meat or seafood; ask for a Buddhist vegetarian shop nearby.
Show: Wo chi su, bu yao rou.
- Veganno
Almost all dishes contain meat, egg or fish stock.
- Halalno
No halal certification at small stalls; pork is common.
Show: Wo bu chi zhu rou.
- Gluten-freeno
Soy sauce and wheat noodles are used throughout.
- Nut allergyask
Peanut powder and sesame appear in sauces; show a written card.
- Allergynot on file
Show a written card; the counter is crowded and cross-contact is likely.
Show: Wo dui ___ guo min.
What is in the dishes
- Oyster-and-intestine vermicelli, small蚵仔大腸麵線 小shellfish
- Oyster-and-intestine vermicelli, large大碗shellfish
Read from the menu names and notes; recipes vary and cross-contact is not tested. Check with the kitchen.
Who it suits, booking and the kitchen
Who it suits, booking, closures
- How to book
- No bookings; order at the counter.
- How far ahead
- Not needed
- No-show / cancel fee
- Not applicable
- Dress code
- None.
| When | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly | none | Open every day; hours vary (check). |
| Lunar New Year | check before you go | Closed for a few days. |
Show the kitchen
Tap a need to get a large screen you can hold up to staff. The wording is the guide’s; a helper who reads the language should confirm it if your allergy is serious.
Hour by hour, with queue times
Quietest listed hour: 10:00 (light).
- 10:00lightlittle or no wait
- 11:00busya short wait is possible
- 12:00packedexpect a long lineLongest queue
- 13:00packedexpect a long line
- 14:00busya short wait is possible
- 15:00busya short wait is possible
- 16:00busya short wait is possible
- 17:00heavyexpect a line
- 18:00heavyexpect a line
- 19:00heavyexpect a line
- 20:00heavyexpect a line
- 21:00busya short wait is possible
Desk estimate for a weekday; weekends run one level higher. Not live data. No line length is on file, so waits are in words.
Comfort, facts and cons
Hygiene and comfort
- Seating
- Standing or a shelf: no proper seats
- Kids
- kids' menu: no · stroller: poor · Small bowls; hot soup
- Access
- step-free: yes · A street counter on a flat pavement; standing only
Hygiene
- Standards are fine; bowls are washed between servings.
- Eat while hot; do not carry it into the crowd.
Facts
- Reservations
- Not taken — Walk-in, order at the counter.
- Capabilities
- food
- Getting there
- Ximen Station (Bannan and Songshan-Xindian lines), exit 6 · ~3 min walk
Cons
- Queue most of the day; standing room only.
- Cash only in most cases; the bowl is small.
Dish glossary
| On the menu | What it is | Order it how |
|---|---|---|
| 麵線 mian xian | Thin wheat noodles cooked until soft in a thick broth. | Point at the bowl and hold up one finger. |
| 大腸 da chang | Pig intestine, a normal topping. | Say 'bu yao da chang' for no intestine. |
| 蚵仔 e-a | Small oysters. | Ask for oysters ('ke-a'). |
| 香菜 xiang cai | Coriander (cilantro) is added by default. | Say 'bu yao xiang cai' for none. |
| 大碗 / 小碗 | Large and small bowl. | Say 'da wan' or 'xiao wan'. |
Price check
- locals pay
- NT$60–80 (≈ US$2–3) for a bowl; the same for everyone.
- tourist price
- Neighbouring tourist stalls may charge NT$100 (≈ US$4)+ for the same bowl.
- rule
- No tipping; prices are on the board.
| Extra on the table | Typical charge | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Extras | Extra intestine or a larger bowl costs NT$10–20 (≈ under US$1) | Ask before you pay. |
Deep dive
Questions, alternatives, and where our facts come from
Questions and answers
Questions and answers
Is it worth the queue?
Once; it is a one-bowl stop. Go off-peak.
Checked 2026-09-29 · Voykit desk
What is Ay-Chung Flour-Rice Noodle?
A standing counter in Ximending selling oyster vermicelli, a thick, savoury noodle soup.
How much does a bowl cost?
About NT$60–80 (≈ US$2–3) (2026 estimate).
How long is the queue?
Short before 11:30 and after 14:00; 20–30 minutes at lunch and on weekends.Short before 11:30 AM and after 2:00 PM; 20–30 minutes at lunch and on weekends.
Is it vegetarian?
No; the broth and toppings use pork and oyster.
Do they take cards?
No; bring cash.
If it is closed or full
Nearby alternatives
If it is closed or the line is too long
Places without an authored walk are ranked by straight-line distance × 1.3 at 5 km/h (3 mph)3 mph (5 km/h).
All places to eat in Taipei, with filters →
Used as a seated rest node in Taipei in 4 days.
Sources
- secondaryWikivoyage - Taipei (Eat)
Was this useful?
Add Ay-Chung Flour-Rice Noodle to a day
Source: Price per person
Draft
Written from desk research. Not yet compared with the official source.
No official source is recorded for this figure.
Prices are 2026 estimates from the menu or the price line on file. Check on the day.
Source: Opening hours
Draft
Written from desk research. Not yet compared with the official source.
No official source is recorded for this figure.
Source: Best time
Draft
Written from desk research. Not yet compared with the official source.
No official source is recorded for this figure.
The easiest walk-in window or the quietest hour in this guide. Crowd levels are desk estimates, not counts.