The classic old-shop version of Wuhan hot dry noodles, featuring a denser sesame paste, more robust spicing, and the traditional technique of tossing noodles with oil while fanning them to dry.
While the basic version of Reganmian is enjoyed across Wuhan, the "old shop" version represents the traditional preparation found at long-established noodle stalls in the Hankou district. These shops use a thicker, more intensely flavored sesame paste and take extra care with the noodle-fanning technique. The resulting noodles are denser, chewier, and more intensely flavored than the standard version. Visiting an old noodle shop at dawn is a Wuhan ritual — the best shops sell out by mid-morning.