Did you know that the Chinese invented their own burger more than 2000 years before the first McDonalds even popped up?
You heard that right! The Rougamo was invented sometime during the Qin dynasty, which was a time period between 221 and 206 BC!
This traditional sandwich was invented by Chinese Muslims, but has since been adapted for the Han Chinese- the majority of the Chinese population- meaning that most of the rougamos in China are made with a pork filling.
Although first made popular in America by Xi'an Famous Foods in New York City, the Chinese chain Xi'an Street Foods has recently provided a rougamo portal in Boston!
Is it REALLY better than the HAMBURGER??
With a crispy flaky crust, the flatbread is almost like a crunchy croissant. Along with that, the sandwich also consists of slow roasted pork that has been braising for more than 18 HOURS!
How can that not be amazing?
The contrast between the crunchy texture of the bread, and the soft, chewy, roast pork provides the best marriage of flavors for every bite.
Xi'an Streetfoods also offers the rougamo with other fillings such as beef and lamb, which allows customers to experiment with different flavors.
Biang Biang Noodles are Bomb
Despite the rougamo being the spark of the restaurant, the main attraction is most definitely the Biang Biang Noodles!
These noodles are long and broad, much like Italian Pappardelle, but only with much more chew, and a better texture.
When I visited Xi'an Street Foods, I ordered the Cumin Lamb Biang Biang Noodles. These noodles are to die for especially because the tomato based sauce that's served with it is accompanied by their chili paste and oil. All of this gives the noodles an umami flavor that cannot be replicated in most other noodles. The noodles are also hand pulled daily, which ensures that they are chewy and have a good bite to them.
Furthermore, the crunch from the sesame seeds, shredded cucumbers and bean sprouts provide a perfect juxtaposition of texture with the soft chewiness of the noodles, and will completely satisfy your tastebuds in every way.
Chinese burgers and noodles are food items that definitely deserve more attention, as they are really are the best kept secrets within the Chinese community. (A special tip by You Tuber Mikey Chen is to dip the rougamo in the chili sauce from the noodles, which really unites the flavors)
So next time you're in Boston, you must drop by Xi'an Street Foods and give the rougamo and the Biang Biang noodles a try!