Here is the second part of the popular “Top 3 Chinese Street Foods You Have to Try” series that you all have been patiently waiting for. If you want to know more about Chinese street foods favorites, you are sure to find it below.
In the last food article, we discovered 3 of the street foods while going into detail about one of them in particular. And today, I will introduce the remaining two: “兰州拉面 (lán zhōu lāmiàn) Lanzhou noodle,” and “沙县小吃 (shā xiàn xiǎochī) Shaxian snack.” So, let’s read on.
I. 兰州拉面 (Lán zhōu lāmiàn) Lanzhou noodles/Lanzhou beef noodle
Lanzhou people generally do not call it “拉面 (lāmiàn) ramen,” but “牛肉面 (niúròu miàn) beef noodles.” Restaurants called “兰州拉面 (lán zhōu lāmiàn) Lanzhou Ramen” are mostly owned by people that came from other Chinese provinces.
In every city, the signboard “广告 (guǎnggào) advertisements” for Lanzhou noodles can be seen in the streets, so, some people even said: Lanzhou noodles occupy the entirety of China!
According to the taste and preference of the guests, the chef will create noodles of different sizes. The essence of a bowl of good noodles is the “汤 (tāng) soup,” which is made from the traditional 100-year-old method. It marinades with the fresh beef and more than ten traditional condiments.
Finally, a spoonful of spicy oil is added and that makes it tastes better! Now it’s time to savor each sip until it’s gone.
Beef noodles in various parts of the country are different from each other in color, “形状 (xíngzhuàng) shape,” and taste. The main reason is that the main and secondary ingredients of beef noodles are greatly changed because of the difference in water and soil in different places. So consumers in most parts of the country have trouble eating traditional “Lanzhou beef noodle”.
Therefore, if you have a chance, you should try authentic Lanzhou noodles.
II. 沙县小吃 (Shā xiàn xiǎochī) Shaxian snacks
“沙县小吃 (shā xiàn xiǎochī) Shaxian snacks” can be called “活化石 (huó huàshí) Living fossils” in ancient Chinese traditional culture. Some methods of making snacks even retain the original characteristics.
Characteristic One: Cost-effective.
The unit price of Shaxian snacks is generally not too much more than “10 元 (shí yuán) ten yuan.” It’s cheap while delicious, and it’s easy to get full off of a serving.
Characteristic Two: Fresh and Tasty
Almost all Shaxian vendor’s snacks have a common historical tradition of making the snacks on the same day as they are sold. The number of snacks made per day is not much. This method takes into consideration the individual preferences of the customer by seasoning the snack accordingly. This is one of the important reasons why it is kept “新鲜 (xīnxiān) fresh” and delicious.
Characteristic Three: Healthy
From a dietary standpoint, Shaxian snacks are also technically very healthy. Shaxian snacks are basically light, low-fat, and low-calorie. One of the most important raw materials in the Shaxian snack is the soybean. It has the highest nutritional content of its kind. Many of the raw materials and condiments of the wind-flavor snacks in Shaxian County are rich in nutrition. Some food can be taken as a medicine and has the function of preventing diseases and increasing “健康 (jiànkāng) health.”
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Shaxian snacks can be found all over the streets and alleys with the majority of residents having sentimental ties to it as their comfort food.
While most people grew up eating Shaxian snacks and have a strong fondness for them. Many visitors quickly become attached to their newly found snacks as well. If you ever have the chance to try them for yourself you won’t regret it! Practice the example sentences below to make your first experience ordering Shaxian snacks a little easier.
Now that you are more familiar with this hidden treasure of the foodie world and have had the opportunity to read the history and study a few of the ways to order various Shaxian snacks, take the quiz below to evaluate your comprehension!
Key Learning Points:
1. 广告 (Guǎnggào) advertisement
Example:
Zhè zé guǎnggào zhǔyào shì zhēnduì niánqīng rén de.
这则广告主要是针对年轻人的。
The advertisement is aimed primarily at young people.
2. 汤 (Tāng) soup
Example:
Nǐ xiǎoxīn yìxiē, qiānwàn bié bǎ tāng sǎ le.
你小心一些, 千万别把汤洒了。
Be careful! Don’t spill the soup.
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3. 形状 (Xíngzhuàng) shape
Example:
Zhè kuài shítou de xíngzhuàng hěn qíguài.
这块石头的形状很奇怪。
The shape of the stone is very strange.
4. 化石 (Huàshí) fossils
Example:
Zhè kuài huàshí kěnéng yǒu wǔ bǎi wàn nián le.
这块化石可能有五百万年了。
This fossil may be 5 million years old.
5. 新鲜 (Xīnxiān) fresh
Example:
Wǒ gèng xǐhuan chī xīnxiān de shuǐguǒ.
我更喜欢吃新鲜的水果。
I prefer to eat fresh fruit.
6. 健康 (Jiànkāng) health
Example:
Duànliàn yǒu yì yú shēn xīn jiànkāng.
锻炼有益于身心健康。
Exercising is good for physical and mental health.
1. Read the dialogue and answer the question below:
Xiǎo Xīn: Míng ming, yìqǐ qù chī lán zhōu lāmiàn ba.
小新：明明， 一起去吃兰州拉面吧。
Míng ming: Bǐ qǐ lán zhōu lāmiàn, wǒ gèng xiǎng chī shā xiàn xiǎochī.
明明：比起兰州拉面，我更想吃沙县小吃。
Which of the following statement is true according to the dialogue? Please choose the best answer.
A. Xiao Xin prefers Shaxian snacks more than Lanzhou noodles.
B. Xiao Xin prefers Lanzhou noodles more than Shaxian snacks.
C. Ming Ming prefers Shaxian snacks more than Lanzhou noodles.
D. Ming Ming prefers Lanzhou noodles more than Shaxian snacks.