🍽️ Guilin Rice Noodle

Fragrant marinade with smooth rice noodles, a Guilin icon.

Guilin rice noodles are the culinary calling card of Guilin, Guangxi. Thin round noodles made from early-harvest indica rice are dressed with a master marinade of star anise, cassia and black cardamom, topped with braised beef, crispy fried pork, sour bamboo shoots, peanuts and scallion. The marinade is the soul, deep, aromatic and lingering, while the noodles are smooth and springy, best enjoyed dry-tossed first. Local tradition is to eat the flavored noodles with toppings, then pour in broth to drink as soup: one noodle, two ways. It is the everyday street breakfast of Guilin, carrying the plain, lively flavor of this landscape city.