Along Guangzhou Street near Longshan Temple, afternoon sunlight slants into the shop while a large pot of broth rolls with pale gold bubbles. A bowl arrives: white-tinged squid pieces wrapped in a thin coat of fish paste floating in the broth, a light spoonful brings sweet-sour thickness — and you instantly understand why this soup has been eaten in Bangka for a hundred years. It is Taipei's oldest temple-front memory.
What is Squid Thick Soup
To make squid thick soup, rehydrated squid is cut into pieces, coated in a thin layer of fish paste, and briefly boiled, then added to a broth of bonito or pork bones thickened with tapioca starch. Black vinegar and sugar give it a sweet-sour lightness; the bowl is finished with cilantro or garlic paste. The Taipei version leans toward a cleaner, more translucent sweet-sour style, with moderate thickness that lets both the elasticity of the squid and the smoothness of the fish paste come through.
Liang Xi Hao on Wanhua's Guangzhou Street was founded in 1921 and has been in operation for over a century, now in its fourth generation — one of the oldest squid thick soup shops in Bangka. In 2021, President Tsai Ing-wen visited Liang Xi Hao alongside a CNN reporting team, a story with a verifiable international media record. One important correction: the claim circulating online that "Liang Xi Hao received Michelin Bib Gourmand" is incorrect. It does not appear on the official list. Do not write "Michelin" in connection with this shop — either in copy or verbally — to avoid misleading readers.
How to eat it like a local
Local knowledge
Verified endorsements (filtered for sponsored content)
- Liang Xi Hao was founded in Bangka in 1921 and has operated for over a century through four generations — one of the rare genuinely century-old street food establishments in Taipei.
- In 2021, President Tsai Ing-wen accompanied a CNN reporting team to visit Liang Xi Hao; the international media record is verifiable.
- Honest note: This dish has no Michelin Bib Gourmand listing in Taipei. The claim that "Liang Xi Hao received Bib Gourmand" is a misconception — do not write "Michelin" in connection with it.
Visiting tips
- Liang Xi Hao is near Longshan Temple, making it easy to combine with a temple visit, Bopiliao Historic Block, and Huaxi Street Night Market for a half-day itinerary.
- MRT Longshan Temple Station Exit 1, then a 5-minute walk. Lunch is busier; the mid-afternoon lull is the most comfortable time.
- Seating is limited; groups should visit at off-peak hours. When ordering, add oil rice and blanched greens at the same time.
Information compiled from the Michelin Guide, the Taipei City Government Tourism website, and large-scale public reviews; sponsored content has been filtered out. Photos are placeholders until Dio's on-site shots replace them with exclusive channel footage.