TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — China Airlines added Duan Chun Zhen’s beef noodles to the menu on Friday at its VIP lounge in San Francisco International Airport.

The airline said that its San Francisco lounge menu features braised beef noodles as the primary option, with seasonal variations to include tomato, original, and classic flavors, per CNA.

Tseng Yu-ping (曾煜屏), general manager of the airline's San Francisco branch, said the braised beef noodle soup is prepared by sauteeing beef fat with Sichuan peppercorns and other spices, followed by simmering beef bones for eight hours. He added the beef is slow-cooked in a specially crafted broth, resulting in tender and flavorful meat.

Tseng said the airline’s San Francisco lounge serves approximately 30 to 50 bowls of beef noodles daily. He noted the airline also pairs side dishes with beef noodles.

Additionally, China Airlines will introduce other Taiwanese cuisines at the lounge, including Mapo tofu, radish cake, bubble tea, and Ten Ren's Tea bags. The move aims to promote Taiwanese tourism to international travelers.

Sylvia Lee (李思賢), director of the Tourism Administration’s San Francisco office, said that more than 760,000 North American tourists visited Taiwan last year, including 650,000 from the US. 

Last year, airlines such as China Airlines, EVA Air, Starlux Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines expanded their flight offerings and introduced new routes. Nine North American cities have direct flights to Taiwan, with at least 160 weekly departures.