Biangbiang Noodles – One of Xian Famous Foods

Biangbiang Noodles (Biangbiang Mian) is a kind of traditional noodle dish unique to Shaanxi Province. When strolling around bustling blocks in Xi’an, such as the Muslim Quarter and Yongxing Fang Food Street, you will find a lot of noodle restaurants offering Biangbiang Noodles served in a very large bowl. The noodle strips have a chewy texture, and the bright-red seasoning will fully release its strong fragrance after being poured with hot oil. The delectable flavor of Biangbiang Noodles has not only satisfied the taste buds of Shaanxi natives, but also attracted numerous tourists taking food tours to Xi’an.

What Does “Biangbiang” Stand for?

“Biang”, in Chinese, is an onomatopoeic word imitating the sound of noodles smashing against the chopping board. It is recognized as the most complicated Chinese character with 56 strokes that cannot be typed out on a computer even today. Therefore, a pithy formula has even been created and passed down among locals for generations to write the character “Biang” correctly.

A Single Biangbiang Noodle Strip Can Make a Child Feel Full

Biangbiang Noodles has another nickname Kudai Mian in Chinese, which refers to noodles as wide as a belt. A single noodle strip is usually 5 centimeters in width and a length of around 1 meter, which requires 100 grams of wheat flour in general to make. Therefore, for those who eat less, like an ordinary child, a single strip is enough to make them feel satisfied.

Famous Restaurants to Enjoy Biangbiang Noodles in Xi’an

1. Lao Li Jia 老李家

South Street Branch 南大街分店

Location: No. 3, South Street, Beilin District (a few meters north of Yongning Gate)

The Bell Tower Branch 钟楼分店

Location: No. 46, Luomashi Pedestrian Street, Beilin District (250m east of the Bell Tower)

2. Da Xi An 大嘻咹

Big Wild Goose Pagoda Branch 大雁塔分店

Location: 100m north of Exit E of Da Yan Ta Metro Station

The Bell and Drum Towers Branch 钟鼓楼分店

Location: No. 28, North Street, Lianhu District (150m north of the Bell Tower)

3. The First Noodle Under the Sun 天下第一面

North Square of Big Wild Goose Pagoda Branch 大雁塔北广场分店

Location: No. 8, Xiaozhai East Road, Yanta District (50m west of Exit B of Da Yan Ta Metro Station)

Happy Mall Branch 新乐汇分店

Location: A9, Happy Mall, Ci’en Road, Yanta District (at the southeast corner of the South Square of Big Wild Goose Pagoda)

4. Ai Hua 爱骅

Location: No. 19, Dongmutoushi Alley, Beilin District

5. Zheng Da Ma 郑大妈

Location: No. 80, Nanyuanmen Alley, Beilin District

6. Yuan Jia Cun 袁家村

The Bell Tower Branch 钟楼分店

Location: F2, No. 60, Luomashi Alley, Beilin District

Grand Tang Mall Branch 大唐不夜城分店

Location: F3, Intime City, No. 410, Yatan South Road, Yanta District

Biangbiang Noodles Recipe – How to Make Biangbiang Noodles at Home

1. Mix wheat flour and a little salt, gradually add water, and knead them together to form a dough;

2. Keep kneading until the dough gets smooth, and rest the dough for about 10 minutes;

3. Separate the dough into a few pieces of the same size, coat them with oil, and then cover the pieces with plastic wrap and rest for over 40 minutes;

4. During this period, you can chop up garlic, chili peppers, and scallions, and cut cabbage into slices. Also, cut leeks into sections and pour some hot oil on the top;

5. Remove the plastic wrap when time is up and flatten the dough pieces using your hands. Hold both ends of the dough piece and smash it against the chopping board to a proper thickness;

6. Cook noodles and cabbage slices in boiling water, and scoop them into a bowl;

7. Put the prepared vegetables on top of the noodles, sprinkle some pepper powder according to your taste, and then pour hot oil on top.

8. Finally, add some salt, soy sauce, and vinegar, stir them well and you can enjoy the delectable Biangbiang noodles.