Today, I revisited the Food Place food court, located at Pavilion Mall. The food court is located beside the Oriental Kopi Restaurant. It is time to try food from another stall.
This time, I ordered yuan hot & sour rice noodles (3 pcs shrimp balls) from the Xia Yuan Yuan stall, which cost RM16.90 per bowl. They make the Shrimp Balls at their stall instead of the ready-to-use type.
This comforting bowl consists of Thick, chewy rice noodles (chuān fěn style) and Shrimp balls — handmade, bouncy, and mildly seasoned seafood spheres that offer a juicy contrast to the rich broth. The Soup base is dark, intensely flavored, hot and sour.
Toppings include roasted peanuts, chopped spring onions, bean sprouts, and other pickled or aromatic vegetables that create a layered, nutty crunch and brightness.
Hot and sour rice noodles originate from Southwest China, particularly Guizhou and Sichuan provinces. In Chinese, it's often referred to as 酸辣粉 (suān là fěn). These noodles were sold by street vendors and became popular for their low cost, bold flavors, and quick preparation. Traditionally made with sweet potato starch noodles or rice noodles, they're soaked in spicy vinegar-based soup, topped with fermented vegetables, ground meat, or crispy peanuts. The dish reflects the Sichuan culinary philosophy of málà (麻辣) — a combination of numbing (from Sichuan peppercorn) and spicy.
