Dan Dan Noodles

Dan dan noodles feature thin wheat noodles served in a spicy sauce made of chili oil, Sichuan peppercorns, sesame paste, and minced pork. The combination creates a signature numbing and spicy flavor profile characteristic of Sichuan cuisine.

The dish is named after the carrying poles, known as 'dan dan,' that traditional street vendors used to transport and sell the noodles. Vendors would carry two baskets suspended by a pole over their shoulders, serving the noodles directly to passersby.

Traditional dan dan noodles are served almost entirely dry, with just the intensely flavored sauce coating the noodles. While some modern restaurants serve a soup-heavy variation, the original Sichuan street food contains little to no broth.

Dan Dan noodles originated in the Sichuan province of China during the late 19th century. The dish was created as a cheap, portable, and calorie-dense meal that could be quickly mixed and sold by walking street vendors.