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Best Biangbiang noodles in London

“Thick, belt-like noodles from Shaanxi requiring a 58-stroke character just to write their name.”

Biangbiang noodles

What the real thing tastes like

Biangbiang noodles (simplified Chinese: 𰻝𰻝面; traditional Chinese: 𰻞𰻞麵; pinyin: Biángbiángmiàn), alternatively known as youpo chemian (simplified Chinese: 油泼扯面; traditional Chinese: 油潑扯麵) in Chinese, are a type of Chinese noodle originating from Shaanxi cuisine. The noodles, touted as one of the "eight curiosities" of Shaanxi (陕西八大怪), are described as being like a belt, owing to their thickness and length. Biangbiang noodles are renowned for being written using a unique character. The character is unusually complex, with the standard variant of its traditional form containing 58 strokes.

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Biangbiang noodles arrive as thick, ribbon-like strands that earned their name honestly—they're shaped like belts, substantial enough to hold sauce rather than disappear into it. Born in Shaanxi cuisine, these noodles have claimed their place among the region's most distinctive dishes. They're also famous for something entirely impractical: their name requires a character so intricate it contains 58 strokes, a visual complexity that matches the noodles' unapologetic boldness.

Order it here when it has

  • substantial and generous
  • iconic regional identity
  • distinctive character

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