Ho fun is the broad Cantonese rice noodle used in dishes such as beef chow fun.
Ho fun, also called ho fan or Shahe fen, is made from rice flour and water. The noodles are wide, flat, and smooth, making them well suited to quick stir-frying. In beef chow fun, they are cooked with sliced beef, bean sprouts, scallions, and seasonings such as soy sauce.
The noodle is named after Shahe, a town historically associated with Guangzhou in Guangdong, China. It is now widely eaten in southern China and in Cantonese restaurants around the world.
Ho fun is different from rice vermicelli, which is much thinner. “Chow fun” describes a stir-fried preparation, while ho fun identifies the noodle itself. Regional restaurants may use slightly different widths and textures.