🍽️ Cat's Ear Noodles

Small pasta shaped like cat ears in chicken soup.

Mao'erdor, or Cat's Ear Noodles, is a traditional noodle dish of Hangzhou, Zhejiang, named for its curled, ear-like shape. Small pieces of dough are rolled across the thumb to form tiny shells, then boiled in rich chicken or bone broth and garnished with diced ham, bamboo shoot, mushroom and shrimp, reflecting Hangzhou's delicate ingredient palette. Each little ear is springy and chewy, floating in a clear, deeply savory soup. The craft lies in hand-rolling the shells and simmering a fine stock. Along with Pian'er Chuan, it is one of Hangzhou's most cherished noodle bowls, offering visitors both bright Jiangnan broth and playful, delicate texture.