Guilin Mifen (桂林米粉), or Guilin Rice Noodles, is a most renowned dish that has proven to be well-liked by people all over China. Though it is available in some other cities, you have to taste it in its hometown to get the most authentic flavor.
In Guilin, the locals often eat the noodles for breakfast, and regard it as an energetic start of the new day. You don't even need to ask someone whether it's good or not. This dish has withstood the test of time since its development in the Qin Dynasty over 2000 years ago.
Plain rice noodles are white, and taste soft and smooth. They are made from rice flour starch, and come in round or flat shape. In a Guilin mifen shop, the sales standard of rice noodles are counted by liang (两). And often, there are several themed noodles offered, including Boiled Noodles, Sanxian Noodles, and Fried Noodles. However, the most common one is Gravy Dry Noodles (Lu Cai Fen, 卤菜粉), 4 yuan for two liangs (100 grams) or 4.5 yuan for three liangs (150 grams) now.
You have to tell the cashier what size noodles you want. After payment, a receipt will be given to you for getting your bowl of noodles. At the kitchen counter, the chef puts noodles in a sieve ladle to heat them up in boiling water, before putting them in a bowl. Gravy, oil, fried peanuts or soybeans, thin slices of marinated meat are then added on top.
Well-chopped condiments are usually put on a separate table for customers to add by themselves, including pickled vegetables, spring onions, chili sauce, vinegar and broth.
