Tantan-men is the Japanese version of which Sichuan noodle dish?

Tantan-men is the Japanese version of Sichuan dan dan noodles. The Japanese name, tan tan men, comes from the Chinese name dandanmian, while the dish’s flavor profile is built around chili, sesame, and savory minced meat.

Traditional Sichuan dan dan noodles originated in Chengdu and were historically sold by street vendors carrying a shoulder pole with baskets of noodles and sauce. The original Sichuan preparation is commonly served relatively dry, with chili oil, Sichuan pepper, pickled vegetables, minced pork, scallions, and peanuts.

Japanese tantan-men is often soupier and milder, with sesame paste or ground sesame, a richer broth, and ramen-style noodles. It is therefore related to, but not identical with, the classic Sichuan dish. “Crossing-the-bridge noodles” is a Yunnan specialty, while wonton noodles are associated with Cantonese cuisine, so neither is the source of tantan-men.