Dishes
Danzai noodles
擔仔麵
Also called: tànn-á-mī · ta-a noodles · slack season noodles · 度小月 (Du Hsiao Yueh)
Noodles in shrimp broth topped with braised minced pork and a shrimp, Tainan's signature snack.
What it is
Oil noodles in a shrimp-flavoured broth, topped with braised minced pork, shrimp, coriander and garlic. Many shops add bean sprouts, black vinegar and an egg. The noodles are smooth and chewy.
Where it comes from
The name means 'shoulder-pole noodles'. The usual story, from the Du Hsiao Yueh brand, is that a Tainan fisherman, Hong Yutou, began selling noodles from a shoulder pole around 1895 to get through the typhoon months when fishing stopped. Fishermen called these lean times 'small months', and his lanterns read 度小月, 'getting through the small months', which became the shop's name.
How it is made
Noodles are blanched, at some stalls by a cook sitting on a low stool, then topped with shrimp broth and a spoonful of minced pork sauce. Du Hsiao Yueh stir-fries leg meat with scallions for its sauce and simmers it for a long time. Shops keep their exact recipes secret.
How to eat it
Danzai is a snack. It comes in soup or tossed with pork sauce, and braised side dishes can go on top.
In Tainan
Du Hsiao Yueh on Zhongzheng Road calls itself the original century-old shop, and Small Park Danzai Noodles opened more than 70 years ago beside a small park that no longer exists.
Where to eat it in Tainan
小公園擔仔麵Small Park Danzai Noodles
Evening noodle stall serving small bowls of danzai noodles topped with shrimp and braised minced pork.
台南度小月擔仔麵原始店本舖Du Hsiao Yueh Danzai Noodles (Original Store)
Historic danzai noodle brand serving small bowls of noodles with shrimp and minced-pork sauce.
府城食府（安平）Traditional Tainan Feast (Anping)
Large, festive Anping restaurant serving Tainan street snacks such as danzai noodles and oyster omelette alongside banquet dishes. Groups can cover a lot of local food in one sitting.
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