Reganmian (Hot Dry Noodles) is the signature street food of Wuhan and one of China's most famous noodle dishes. Fresh alkaline noodles are tossed in a rich sesame paste dressing with soy sauce, pickled radish, and scallions. Unlike soup noodles, these are served 'dry' — intensely flavored and satisfyingly thick.
Reganmian is to Wuhan what pho is to Hanoi or pizza is to Naples. Every Wuhan resident eats it for breakfast, and the city consumes an estimated 2 million bowls daily. The dish was reportedly invented in the 1930s by a vendor named Li Baoqing. The key to great Reganmian is the quality of the sesame paste — it must be thick, aromatic, and made from roasted white sesame seeds.