🍽️ Qishan Saozi Noodle

Sour-spicy minced meat with thin noodles, a western Shaanxi flavor.

Qishan saozi noodles are a traditional dish of Qishan, Baoji, in Shaanxi's western West Prefecture. Thin, springy noodles are topped with saozi, a relish of diced pork stir-fried with vinegar, chili, tofu, carrot and wood ear, tangy and aromatic. The cooked noodles are lifted into a bowl and covered with the saozi soup, prized for thin, springy, smooth; sour, spicy, fragrant. The broth is bright and tangy, the meat savory, the vegetables colorful, one slurp of noodles and soup feels complete. Qishan versions lead with sour broth and a dash of red oil; the dish is a fixture of festivals and banquets, and a symbol of West Prefecture hospitality.