Lydia C.
Yelp
Gubami (Taiwanese for beef noodle) and the hidden Goût Bar downstairs are by Lanshu Chen who just closed her 1 Michelin star Le Moût.
We love beef noodle soup. This is meant to be an elevated beef noodle spot, and I was concerned that it might not live up to expectations, but honestly, there is so much heart in these dishes.
The chefs were warm and friendly, letting me see the side dishes to choose what to order because my Mandarin vocabulary is, frankly, weak The complimentary starter of shaved daikon with salt and lemon in olive oil was a revelation (making this at home, thanks!), and the other small dishes were delectable: green bean cooked with lardons and mixed with fermented tofu, yuba with chive sprouts.
We both ordered the red-braised (紅燒) version of gubami, and my husband said that it's one of the best things he's ever tasted. I can't really disagree. The beef was tender and full of flavor. The noodles were bouncy with a great texture. Broth was savory, well-balanced, and it came with a truffle and porcini chili sauce to add, making each bite even more interesting.
This was our first meal in Taichung... kind of made me want to cancel the rest of our weekend plans just to eat here
Oh, there is a not-so-secret bar downstairs. They make solid classic cocktails. We had a B&W and a Last Word. They serve a nice vegetable consomme as an amuse bouche, and some pork fat cooked nuts to go with your drinks.
There are more photos on my Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/p/BsRU0KAB7Rb -- tried to post them all here but IG mobile app won't save the edits), including the entrance to the speakeasy and the menu with prices. I think gubami is well worth it.