Slurping down a bowl of beef noodles at Lin Dong Fang (林東芳牛肉麵) in Taipei is nothing short of a religious experience. The broth is deep, dark, rich, and spicy; the shank and tendon chopstick-tender; and the noodles springy and chewy, never gluey. Add a glob of house-made “chili butter” (capsicum lard, basically) and it’s just like GAME OVER, people.

No. 274, Section 2, Bade Rd., Zhongshan, Taipei, Taiwan; +886-2-2752-2556.