Wikipedia

Cart noodle

Cart Noodles
Cart noodles with beef soup
TypeNoodles
CourseMain course
Place of originHong Kong and Macau
Serving temperatureHot
Main ingredientsFlour, egg and depend on toppings
  •   Media: Cart Noodles
Cart noodle
Traditional Chinese車仔麵
Simplified Chinese车仔面
Cantonese YaleChējái mihn
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinChēzǎi miàn
Yue: Cantonese
Yale RomanizationChējái mihn
JyutpingCe1zai2 min6
IPA[tsʰɛ́ː tsɐ̌i mìːn]
Alternative Chinese name
Traditional Chinese嗱喳麵
Simplified Chinese嗱喳面
Cantonese YaleLáhjá mihn
Transcriptions
Yue: Cantonese
Yale RomanizationLáhjá mihn
JyutpingLaa5zaa2 min6
IPA[la̬ː.tsǎː mìːn]
A bowl of thin noodles with sour wheat gluten and fish curd at a restaurant in Sham Shui Po
A menu in a cart noodle restaurant in Wan Chai

Cart Noodles (traditional Chinese: 車仔麵; simplified Chinese: 车仔面) is a noodle dish which became popular in Hong Kong and Macau in the 1950s through independent street vendors operating on roadsides and in public housing estates in low-income districts, using mobile carts.[1][2] Many street vendors have vanished but the name and style of noodle endures as a cultural icon.[3]

History

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With many immigrants arriving from mainland China during the 1950s, hawkers would sell food from mobile carts roaming the streets.[1] Some vendors specialising in cooked noodles would sell them with an assortment of toppings and styles.[4]

Historically, the cart frames were assembled out of wood with a metallic basin, allowing a heat source inside to cook the ingredients. In the past [when?], it was possible to receive large quantities for a cheap price. With hygiene standards rising, the majority of street hawkers, licensed or otherwise, have since vanished.

Legacy

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The name and style of the noodles endures, and remain widely available in Hong Kong style teahouses.[5] The price may vary depending on the ingredients, or establishments. It is typically considered an affordable food, and is consumed as a mid-day snack or lunch. Additionally, due to the noodle's widespread cultural influence, it can also be found in higher-end establishments with emphasis placed on better quality ingredients and technique.

Typical combinations

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Cart noodles is typically based upon the diner choosing various ingredients they would like, including the type of noodles, various soup broths, and toppings.[2] Examples of types of noodles and toppings, which may vary considerably from stall to stall:

Toppings

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Noodles

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Soup

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The soup served can vary with the establishment and diner preferences, some options may include: beef broth, fish/seafood broth, chicken broth, laksa soup, curry soup, .[2]

See also

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References

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cart noodle.
  1. ^ a b "Cart noodles" (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 2007-08-22. Retrieved 2007-03-15.
  2. ^ a b c "The best local food in Hong Kong". Time Out Hong Kong. 16 January 2019. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
  3. ^ "Kai Kai Noodle Shop". CNN Go. 8 October 2010. Archived from the original on 14 October 2010. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
  4. ^ "May May Cart Noodle Restaurant". hiphongkong.com. Archived from the original on 25 January 2013. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
  5. ^ Yu, Helen. "Where To Find The Best Cart Noodles In Hong Kong". Tatler Asia. Retrieved 2024-07-30.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "Test results of cart noodles released". The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Division, Food and Environmental Hygiene Department. 27 April 2009. Retrieved 26 August 2019. (in English)