No. 1 Taste III in Baltimore: Cantonese Roasted Meats and Hand-Pulled Noodles in Fells Point
No. 1 Taste III is a casual Cantonese restaurant on Eastern Avenue in Fells Point that specializes in roasted duck, pork, and chicken sold by the pound, paired with hand-pulled noodle soups and rice plates. The restaurant operates as a counter-service spot with a small dining area, occupying the ground floor of a narrow rowhouse typical of the neighborhood. It draws regulars from across Baltimore who come for roasted meats that are brined and cooked daily, not reheated from a warming case.
What the Restaurant Actually Does
No. 1 Taste III is fundamentally a roasted meat counter where customers select from whole or half birds and pork cuts displayed behind glass, choose a starch (noodle soup, rice, or congee), and sit at small tables to eat. The kitchen also makes hand-pulled noodles in-house most days, which arrive thick and slightly irregular in texture. The operation is small enough that the staff works within sight of the dining area, and the space fills quickly during lunch and dinner rushes. This is takeout-friendly but not optimized for it; the restaurant assumes you will sit, eat quickly, and leave.
Menu and Pricing
Roasted duck costs approximately $8.50 to $10.50 per pound depending on which part you choose; a quarter duck runs roughly $8 to $12. Roasted pork belly and leg are similarly priced by weight. A bowl of hand-pulled noodles in duck or pork broth starts around $9 to $11. Congee (rice porridge) topped with shredded roasted meat is $7 to $9. Combination plates pairing meat, noodles, and vegetables are $12 to $15. Prices have remained stable but verify current rates before ordering, as wholesale protein costs fluctuate. The restaurant does not take cards; cash payment only.
How No. 1 Taste III Compares to Other Cantonese and Chinese Options in Baltimore
No. 1 Taste III's direct competitors in Baltimore are few. Dim sum-focused restaurants like Dim Sum Garden in Canton offer broader menus but center on dumplings and small plates rather than whole roasted meats. Bo Brooks in Canton serves roasted chicken and duck but emphasizes sit-down dining and a full liquor program; prices run higher ($13 to $18 per entree) and the focus is less purely Cantonese. For hand-pulled noodles specifically, Choptank in Harbor East offers Chinese-American noodle soups in a more upscale setting with higher prices ($14 to $17). No. 1 Taste III fits a narrower niche: it is the closest thing in Baltimore to the roasted-meat counters found throughout Hong Kong and Guangdong province, where customers buy meat by weight and select their own starch. Choose No. 1 Taste III if you want classic roasted poultry and pork at straightforward prices; choose Dim Sum Garden if you want breadth and small-plate variety; choose Bo Brooks if you want a fuller dining experience with cocktails.
Who It Suits and Who It Does Not
This restaurant suits people who know what they want or are willing to order by pointing and watching. It suits lunch crowds with limited time, regulars who come weekly, and anyone comfortable with minimal English-language menus and a no-frills environment. It does not suit groups seeking a leisurely meal with table service or anyone expecting a written menu at every seat. It is not suitable for large parties because the space is small and turnaround is fast. It suits people who eat meat; vegetarian options are minimal (basic fried rice, vegetables as sides).
What the First Visit Involves
Walk in and look at the roasted meats in the case. Staff will point to options and ask your choice. Decide if you want a quarter, half, or whole bird; specify the cut if you have a preference. Then choose a starch: noodle soup, rice with vegetables, or congee. The order will be assembled quickly, plated on disposable dishware, and you will sit at one of four or five small tables. Eat within 15 to 20 minutes. Pay cash at a small register near the door. No reservations; no takeout packaging beyond a bag.
Hours, Parking, and Logistics
No. 1 Taste III is open Tuesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and closed Mondays. Street parking on Eastern Avenue is available but competitive during lunch and dinner. The restaurant is a five-minute walk from the Fells Point pedestrian core; bus routes 1 and 10 stop nearby. Confirm current hours before a visit, as holiday schedules vary. The space is not wheelchair accessible; the entrance is at street level but narrow, and the dining area has only tight passage between tables.
No. 1 Taste III exists in Baltimore because the city has a large Cantonese-speaking population in Fells Point and Canton who eat roasted meat regularly, and enough other residents have learned to want it too. It survives by doing one thing well and pricing accordingly.
