Lanzhou Beef Noodles (Hand-pulled Noodle Soup)
Tens of thousands of stores across China! The Art of Beating "One Clear, Two White, Three Reds, Four Greens, Five Yellow" by Artisans in the Air
Description
The most famous noodle dish in China. A halal dish rooted in the Islamic (Hui) minority. The chef hand-pulls the dough in the air the exact second you order. Served in a crystal-clear beef bone broth topped with blazing red chili oil. An absolute art form.
Restaurants serving Lanzhou Beef Noodles (Hand-pulled Noodle Soup)
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On this site you can check dictionary details and, later, places to buy or eat related items.
The Recipe section below is a general reference, not a recipe from the listed shops.
Recipe
Ingredients
- Hand-pulled wheat noodles
- Beef
- Beef bone broth
- Radish
- Coriander
- Garlic leaves
- Chili oil
- Spices
Instructions
- [Authentic Recipe & Differences]
- (The Soup's Soul) ZERO pork is used. Boil beef bones and meat with a dozen medicinal spices (black cardamom, cinnamon, Sichuan pepper) for hours, skimming meticulously to create a crystal-clear 'Qing Tang' broth.
- (Hand-Pulling) Knead flour with 'Peng Hui' (natural lye from mugwort ash). Upon order, the chef repeatedly slams and stretches the dough in the air, creating noodles ranging from hair-thin to belt-wide in mere seconds.
- (The Absolute Plating Law) Must fulfill the standard: 'One Clear, Two White, Three Red, Four Green, Five Yellow'. 1=Clear broth. 2=White radish slices. 3=Red chili oil. 4=Green cilantro/garlic leaves. 5=Yellow lye noodles. Only when all five are perfect is it truly Lanzhou.
Learn more Spice, substitutes, tips
Key spices
Deep beef bone umami、Complex medicinal spices、Chili oil
Substitutes at Japanese supermarkets
(Difficult to replicate at home - eat at specialized shops)
Pairing
Lamb Skewers / Extra Beef slices
Trivia
[Trivia] To Lanzhou locals, this is 'Breakfast'. The day begins by heading to a noodle shop at dawn, watching the chef's magnificent noodle-pulling performance, and slurping down the boiling hot soup.
Eating tips & etiquette
[Unique Eating] When served, sip the clear broth first to taste the pure beef umami. Then, mix the floating red chili oil into the noodles and slurp. The radish slices perfectly reset the palate from the rich beef fat.
Allergen
None