You don’t even need to ask someone if it’s good if it has been served the same way for thousands of years.
You can assume it’s delicious.
Guilin Noodles (桂林米粉) is one of those many Chinese dishes that has withstood the test of time since its development in the Qin Dynasty over 2000 years ago – and to this day it remains a powerhouse of local cuisine.
Guangxi Province
Around Guilin, China, in Guangxi Province, the rice noodles are as popular as they’ve ever been throughout antiquity.
Bowls of the flavor packed noodles fly out of hole in the wall restaurants during all meals of the day.
From construction workers to little Chinese infants, Guilin noodles are loved and offer the ultimate in culinary satisfaction.
Though I personally almost always prefer rice over noodles, I’ll say that these were pretty good!
What are Guilin Noodles (桂林米粉)?
As the name suggests, the dish consists of soft white rice noodles – the Chinese kind that had an influence on noodles like Phở in Vietnam and Mohinga in Burma. They are served plain in mild pork or beef (or sometimes horse) broth along with a few steamed green veggies and possibly a few pieces of some kind of meat.
Get exclusive updates
Enter your email and I’ll send you the best travel food content.
However, if you can see the photo at the top and below, you may not even see any noodles at all!
As a lover of pungent flavors, spices and sauces, I strive to take full advantage of self-service condiments that are for grabs at all Guilin noodle restaurants.
Guilin Noodle Toppings
- Chinese Pickled Vegetables: different at every Guilin noodle restaurant but there’s normally bamboo shoots, green beans, and maybe some kind of cabbage
- Peanuts: roasted peanuts
- Soy Beans: pickled soy beans
- Green Onions: raw chopped green onions
- Chili Flakes: dry toasted chili flakes should always be a main component when you dress your bowl of Guilin noodles
Noodles and Dumplings
Nothing goes better with a bowl of Guilin Noodles than a steaming bamboo tray full of Jiaozi (Jiǎozi 餃子).
This type of Chinese dumpling is a bit meatier and bulkier than Hong kong dim sum dumplings.
These particular dumplings at the Lotus Patch Guilin Noodle restaurant were filled with a little bit of minced pork and minced wood ear mushrooms.
After spending a month in Yangshuo, China (about 1 hour from Guilin), and comparing a few different restaurants, the best were from a small hole in the wall eatery overlooking a lotus patch. After discovering this gem of an eatery I went there a number of times prior to taking a bike ride in Yangshuo!
The antique wooden platform where the restaurant sits along with their ancient kitchen equipment were evidence of the age of the legendary Guilin noodles!
All I know is that they made a next to perfect bowl of Gulin noodles, had a great selection of toppings, and their lotus patch garden view was unbeatable.
Check out this quick 1:51 VIDEO!
Price for Guilin Noodles
Guilin noodles in China normally cost 3 – 5 CNY ($0.47 – $0.78) per bowl, and the portions are quite large! Tack on an extra 3 CNY ($0.47) and you’ll get about 12 dumplings. Is that a great deal, or what?
If you ever visit don’t forget to eat Guilin Noodles and Dumplings, and if you are in Yangshuo be sure to stop by the Lotus Guilin Noodle restaurant!
How to Get There
Not sure exactly what the name of this restaurant is but here’s map to make it easier to find it.
View Guilin Noodle Restaurant, Yangshuo, China in a larger map
Highlights of Uzbekistan – 14 Days of Meat, History, and Hospitality
In Laos, Raw Duck Blood Salad Brings People Together
Get exclusive updates
Enter your email and I'll send you the best travel food content.
Dan
12 years ago
Delicious looking noodles – yeah I’m really missing all the restaurants I visited in Guangzhou last month.
Mark Wiens
12 years ago
Thanks Dan!
Micamyx|Senyorita
12 years ago
Been dreaming of chinese food the whole night. Why did i go here 0_0
Mark Wiens
12 years ago
Haha, hope you can find some good Chinese food soon!
John in France
12 years ago
Do you know what Mark, I had never had any desire to go to China, but having read your last few posts, it is now a must for me, thanks!!
Grace
12 years ago
I think they give you the micro stools so that you start burning the calories as you eat since you’ll have to spend some energy balancing on it =) The photos and videos are looking great Mark!
Mark Wiens
12 years ago
That’s a great theory Grace, and it sounds good to me. Anything we can do to burn a few more calories (and be able to eat a bit more), is a priority with me!
Debbie Beardsley @ European Travelista
12 years ago
I am so hungry right now! I can’t tell you how good your pictures look. Craving food now. . .
Mark Wiens
12 years ago
Thanks Debbie!
Nomadic Samuel
12 years ago
Oh man, I miss Guangxi food as well! It’s not a good idea to read your blog on an empty stomach 😛
Mark Wiens
12 years ago
Ha, thanks Samuel! Man, I just love the different variations of Chinese food in each province, and Guangxi is one of the best!
Maria
12 years ago
You have it ALL w/that view and the food! Envy doesn’t even begin to describe the emotions :-/
*laugh*
Mark Wiens
12 years ago
Haha! Thanks Maria!
inka
12 years ago
Dumplings are so my thing. And the video is fun to watch. Well done.
Mark Wiens
12 years ago
Thanks Inka!
Laura
12 years ago
I also usually take rice over noodles, except maybe Korean noodles. 🙂 I also LOOOOOVVVVVEEEEEEE dumplings of almost every variety. Those ones look amazing.
Mark Wiens
12 years ago
Dumplings are really awesome. I’m not sure if I’ve had fresh Korean noodles, but when it comes to packaged ramen, I also love the Korean red package the best – the kimchi noodles!
Raymond @ Man On The Lam
12 years ago
Oh I do love me some noodles. And some dumplings too!
Mark Wiens
12 years ago
It is a very pleasing meal!
jenjenk
12 years ago
i just slobbered over myself – no joke. why do you do this to me??!!!! It looks so good!!!!
Mark Wiens
12 years ago
Hahaha…Awesome!
James Shannon
12 years ago
If you’re trying to convince me to spend time poking around rural China for weeks at a time, you’re doing a splendid job!
Amazing dish!
Mark Wiens
12 years ago
Ha, thanks a lot James. Hope you get a chance to hang around Yangshuo, it’s a wonderful place!
Christy @ Technosyncratic
12 years ago
I have a soft spot for noodles, so this hits me right in the gut. 🙂
Mark Wiens
12 years ago
Awesome to hear that Christy! They can be so tasty!
Melissa
12 years ago
great shots and great story! now i’m hungry…
Mark Wiens
12 years ago
Thanks Melissa – now go get something to eat!