Wuhan hot dry noodles (Reganmian) is THE iconic dish of Wuhan, a breakfast essential that locals eat every single day. Alkaline noodles are tossed with a rich sesame paste sauce and various toppings.
Reganmian is not just a dish — it is the soul of Wuhan. Every morning, millions of Wuhan residents start their day with a bowl of these noodles from their favorite street stall or breakfast shop. The dish was invented in the 1930s by a vendor named Li Baoqing who got the idea of tossing noodles with sesame paste. What makes it special is the alkaline noodles, which have a distinctive yellow color and springy, chewy texture that perfectly holds the thick sesame sauce. The Wuhan saying goes: "Over the Yangtze, down to Hankou, a bowl of Reganmian is the best breakfast."