At the table
Choose the noodle base, toppings, soup or less broth, and chili level when ordering. Mix added sauce through the noodles; use chopsticks for noodles and a spoon for broth. Cut large springy fish balls before biting.
Fish balls contain fish and may include other meats, starch, egg or soy. Wheat noodles and chu hou sauce add wheat and soy; egg depends on the noodles. Vegetables may have been simmered in meat stock. Confirm your whole combination, not just the topping names. Chu hou paste also commonly contains sesame.
Cart noodles are assembled to order. The illustrated fish-ball-and-radish bowl uses curry sauce; chu hou sauce is another choice. Check the whole combination and the sauce ingredients.
GET TO KNOW THE DISH
What goes into it?
Explore some key ingredients below. Preparations may use additional seasonings and ingredients.
Cart noodles are assembled to order. The illustrated fish-ball-and-radish bowl uses curry sauce; chu hou sauce is another choice. Check the whole combination and the sauce ingredients.
Typical ingredients
In some versions
Recipes vary by restaurant.
How does it taste?
A customizable noodle bowl: choose noodles, toppings and sauce. A fish-ball-and-daikon option has springy noodles and fish balls, soft radish and a savory broth; other combinations taste quite different.
- Chili heat
- Heat not recorded
- Texture
- A customizable noodle bowl: choose noodles, toppings and sauce. A fish-ball-and-daikon option has springy noodles and fish balls, soft radish and a savory broth; other combinations taste quite different.
- How it’s made
- One plain preparation: For a simple example, simmer daikon in water, cook fish balls and wheat noodles separately, then combine with the radish cooking liquid. Add a little chu hou paste, with scallion optional. Other meats, noodles and sauces are separate choices. Cart noodles are assembled to order. The illustrated fish-ball-and-radish bowl uses curry sauce; chu hou sauce is another choice. Check the whole combination and the sauce ingredients.
Cart noodles are assembled to order. The illustrated fish-ball-and-radish bowl uses curry sauce; chu hou sauce is another choice. Check the whole combination and the sauce ingredients.
A CONNECTION TO PLACE
Origin & regional roots
Associated with Hong Kong.
About this regional connection
Hong Kong: The customizable cart-noodle format is associated with Hong Kong street-food culture.
Ask if they have it first
请问你们有港式车仔面吗？
Do you have this item?
A LITTLE SOMETHING TO READ
Story & history
Hong Kong cart noodles
The defining feature is flexible assembly rather than one fixed recipe. Customers choose a noodle base and several prepared toppings, making texture and seasoning vary from bowl to bowl.