Hot dry noodles are the Chinese noodle dish traditionally served with a sesame-based sauce and associated with Wuhan.
Known in Chinese as reganmian, hot dry noodles are a signature food of Wuhan in Hubei province. The noodles are cooked, coated with sesame paste, and commonly finished with soy sauce, scallions, pickled vegetables, and other seasonings. Unlike many noodle soups, the finished dish is relatively dry.
The noodles are often prepared in advance and reheated or refreshed before serving, which helps explain the dish’s name and quick street-food format. Sesame paste gives the sauce its characteristic richness.
Hot dry noodles are distinct from dan dan noodles, whose Sichuan-style seasoning usually includes chili and minced meat. They are also different from cold sesame noodles, which are served chilled and belong to a broader family of preparations.