Header images courtesy of Oh My Food Recipes and @randytann (Instagram)
Noodles are arguably one of China’s greatest inventions (next to ink and paper, of course), and though many experts have argued back and forth over whether it was the Chinese or the Italians who invented noodles, well, a 4,000-year-old bowl of noodles unearthed in China should settle that debate. (Additionally, it should be noted that the most likely scenario is that pasta was developed in the West, while noodles were developed in the East.)
Regardless of its origins, the art of noodle-making (or noodle-pulling) has been passed down throughout Chinese history. You would be hard-pressed to find a province or region on the Mainland without its own signature noodle dish. Up in northern China, noodle dishes are famous for being heavier and more filling since they are mostly made from wheat. Down in southern China, we like to use rice noodles as a snack or a main dish. Hong Kong itself is an influential hub of local noodle dishes in its own right, so without further ado, here is a brief introduction to the different noodle dishes you can find in Hong Kong’s traditional noodle shops or your neighbourhood cha chaan teng!