Cuisine

Types of Chinese Noodles — Complete Guide to Asian Pasta

Fresh artisan noodles — Rêve Saveur Martigny

China is the birthplace of noodles — the first traces of pasta date back over 4000 years. Today, there are hundreds of types of Chinese noodles, each with its texture, preparation method, and culinary role. At Rêve Saveur in Martigny, we specialize in fresh wheat noodles, extruded to order.

The Main Families of Chinese Noodles

  • Wheat noodles (面, miàn): the largest family. They can be fresh or dry, thick or thin, hand-pulled or knife-cut. This is the base of our DanDan Mian, Braised Beef, Rainbow Noodles, and Ramen.
  • Rice noodles (粉, fěn): translucent and slippery, naturally gluten-free. Perfect in soups and stir-fries, they absorb sauces remarkably well.
  • Egg noodles: enriched with eggs, yellow in color with a firmer texture. Very popular in wok stir-fries.
  • Ramen (拉面): hand-pulled wheat noodles, elastic and slightly alkaline. Our Fried Duck Ramen pays homage to this tradition.
  • Buckwheat noodles: gluten-free, nutty flavor, typical of Japanese (soba) and Korean (naengmyeon) cuisines.

Fresh vs Dry: Why It Changes Everything

At Rêve Saveur, we exclusively use fresh noodles. The difference is fundamental:

  • Texture: fresh noodles are elastic and silky, unlike dry pasta that can become mushy.
  • Cooking: they cook in 2-4 minutes, versus 8-12 for dry pasta.
  • Digestibility: the natural hydration of fresh noodles makes them more digestible and less heavy.
  • Absorption: they absorb sauces better, making every bite more flavorful.

Our Noodles at Rêve Saveur

  • DanDan Mian — 23 CHF: fresh noodles with sesame sauce, minced pork, Sichuan pepper.
  • Braised Beef Noodles — 27 CHF: slow-braised beef, fresh noodles, star anise scented broth, soft-boiled half egg. New.
  • Rainbow Noodles — 21 CHF (23 CHF with chicken): fresh noodles, cherry tomatoes, carrot, cucumber, corn, soft-boiled half egg, sesame sauce. Vegetarian.
  • Fried Duck Ramen — 26 CHF: wheat ramen, crispy duck, soft-boiled egg half.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the different types of Chinese noodles?

Wheat noodles (miàn), rice noodles (fěn), egg noodles, ramen, and buckwheat noodles. Each type has its texture, use, and culinary tradition.

What's the difference between Chinese noodles and Italian pasta?

Chinese noodles use finer flour and are stretched or cut rather than extruded. They're more elastic, silkier, and cook faster.

What Chinese noodles can you taste at Rêve Saveur?

DanDan Mian (23 CHF), Braised Beef Noodles (27 CHF), Rainbow Noodles (21 CHF, 23 CHF with chicken), and Fried Duck Ramen (26 CHF). All fresh and extruded to order.

Come Explore the World of Noodles

Taste our fresh noodles at Rue du Grand Verger 12, Martigny. Lunch Monday to Saturday, dinner Thursday to Saturday.

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Explore Our Cuisine

Discover our DanDan Mian, our carbo-loading guide and our Sichuan specialties.

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