Wanjiang's 100-Year-Old Squid Noodles - Liangxi Restaurant
In 1921, 18-year-old Chen Liangxi, a young man from Wanjiang, was selling squid noodles with a pole on the side of the Longshan Temple Fire Department. On the temple square, there were always many devout men and women coming to pray, draw lots, and with the rising smoke from the Longshan Temple, they ate from morning until late at night.
Two bites for one bowl, a bowl of Liangxi
The squid noodles at Liangxi have crisp and fragrant squid strips, as well as handmade escolar meatballs made by himself. Fresh and sweet, two different seafood flavors enhance each other. Later, it was passed on to the second generation, Chen Ching-shui, who set up a stall in the Longshan Temporary Market. Although it was just a small stall with five or six seats, the business was still lively and busy.
In 1989, the third generation, Chen Ping-jun, took over. He took over the family business right after he finished his military service, then married and had children. However, he never expected that just three years later, the Longshan Market would be demolished for the construction of the MRT Longshan Temple Station. Everything started from scratch, and he and his wife had to set up a stall under the awning on Xiyuan Road. It was the hardest time for Liangxi. They had to start working after the shops closed, and the young couple worked hard even in the wind, rain, and typhoon.
Leaving the familiar place, they had to start from scratch to attract customers. Fortunately, the regular customers came from far away just to taste the squid noodles from their childhood. The most heartwarming thing was when they said, "We come here to see this hardworking couple!" The bitterness and warmth of being dependent on others were deeply felt, and after their hard work, Liangxi finally had its own shop on Guangzhou Street in 2003.
Years ago, due to the high cost of squid, many shops cut the squid into thin strips and covered them with thick fish paste. However, Liangxi always followed the traditional method of his grandparents, insisting on using fresh squid strips and escolar meatballs. At that time, a bowl of squid noodles only cost ten yuan, but Liangxi sold it for fifteen yuan, because this bowl of real ingredients was known by those who understood!
Another signature dish is the stir-fried rice noodles, which are soaked in a special sauce, stir-fried with fried scallion and oil, and then topped with a special garlic sauce. A bowl of squid noodles and a plate of stir-fried rice noodles have been enjoyed from the old days of grandparents to the present. Under the efforts of the third generation, Ping-jun and his wife, Liangxi continuously developed classic old-fashioned dishes such as braised pork rice and various types of noodles.
The taste memory of old Wanjiang
The family business is now carried by the fourth generation, Chen Yu-an. He gave up his rising rock dream and left the spotlight to go into the kitchen, working side by side with experienced auntie employees who had seen him grow up. In 2019, Yu-an led Liangxi into the "Taipei Rebuild" store renewal program. The old shop was reborn, integrated with the local cultural characteristics of Wanjiang, and once again told the century-old old stories and new stories.
For many years, Liangxi has become a shared memory of the children of Wanjiang. Even the shooting of the film "Wanjiang" included Liangxi. "Boss, five bowls of squid noodles to go!" the menu said, "What the temple gate wants," classic dialogue and scenes, recreating the youth scenes of several generations of Wanjiang people.
Starting from the temple square of Longshan Temple a century ago, then moving to Longshan Market, moving to Xiyuan Road, and finally settling down in the Guangzhou Street night market. The squid noodles of old Wanjiang have passed through the centuries of Longshan Temple's prosperity, and still retain the fresh and delicious flavor of Liangxi.