Beef Rice Noodle Roll


ChinaBeijing Jindingxuan
AI Overview
Beef cheung fun is a traditional dim sum dish originating from Guangdong Province, China, made primarily from rice flour. It consists of a thin rice crepe wrapped around a filling of beef, which is then steamed and served with a special soy-based sauce. In the Guangdong region, it is a popular dish for breakfast and yum cha, and in recent years, it has become widely available at Chinese restaurants and dim sum specialty shops not only in mainland China, but also in Hong Kong, Southeast Asia, and various parts of the Western world.
Beef Rice Noodle Roll
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Map: Discovery Location of This Food
Taste Rating
2.3/5
The sauce, rice crepe, and meat are not well balanced and feel separate from each other. The cilantro has a nice aroma. The rice crepe is smooth and has a good bite, but the beef doesn’t really have its original flavor or any distinct taste or smell.
Price
39 Yuan Renminbi
Meal Date
9/27/2025

AI Gourmet Analysis


Overview

Beef Cheung Fun (niúròu chángfěn) is one of the traditional Cantonese dishes that developed mainly in Guangdong Province, China, and enjoys great popularity as a breakfast or dim sum item. In Japanese, it is also called "Beef Rice Crepe" or "Beef Cheung Fun." The main characteristic is the very thin, crepe-like skin (rice skin, rice crepe) made from rice flour, which wraps finely sliced beef, herbs, and sometimes green onions or cilantro, and is served with a gently flavored soy sauce-based dressing. This dish is served not only in South China regions such as Hong Kong and Guangzhou but also in Chinese restaurants and dim sum specialty shops around the world.

Origin and History

Beef Cheung Fun originated in the South China region centering on Guangdong Province, and spread widely along with dim sum culture in the early 20th century. Cheung fun (腸粉) is named for its texture, which resembles pig intestines ("cheung" meaning "intestine" in Chinese); originally, it was a simple dish made only of rice flour dough, but from the mid-20th century onward, new variations featuring pork, beef, shrimp, and other ingredients emerged. Beef Cheung Fun is a relatively recent variant among these and is a staple dish especially in dim sum restaurants in Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou. With the global spread of dim sum culture, it is now commonly found in Chinatowns in Southeast Asia, North America, Europe, Australia, and other multicultural cities worldwide.

Preparation and Characteristics

Beef Cheung Fun is primarily made through the following process:
  • A liquid batter made of rice flour, water, oil, and salt is spread thinly in a steamer or a special cheung fun maker, then cooked to create a translucent, chewy, and slippery rice skin.
  • While the dough is still hot, marinated beef (often tenderized and cut into thin strips), cilantro, and green onions are placed on top and rolled up.
  • Finally, a sweet and savory sauce composed of soy sauce, sugar, stock, green onion oil, etc., is poured over to finish the dish.
Freshly steamed beef cheung fun boasts a glossy appearance, and the thin rice crepe clearly encloses the filling inside. When eating, it is mixed with the sauce, and herbs like cilantro often add a subtle accent. As is characteristic of Cantonese cuisine, it is constructed with a focus on "mouthfeel," "smoothness," and "fragrance."

Regional Differences and International Expansion

In Guangzhou, Hong Kong, and Shenzhen, you can enjoy traditional beef cheung fun, while in Malaysia and Singapore, variations featuring shrimp, char siu (barbecue pork), and more are also popular. Depending on the region, tofu, fried dough sticks, or omelettes may be wrapped instead. With the globalization of food culture, beef cheung fun now appears in home-cooking recipe videos and as frozen food products.

Contemporary Examples in Beijing, China

In large Chinese restaurants that blend Beijing and Guangdong cultures, traditional dim sum styles are maintained but unique ingredients and arrangements are often added. "Jindingxuan," mentioned in this article, is a renowned restaurant chain based in Beijing, known for its faithful reproduction of traditional Cantonese dim sum. Along with Beijing's urban culture, cheung fun has long been loved by both locals and tourists.

Nutritional Value and Health

Beef cheung fun primarily consists of carbohydrates from rice flour and protein from beef, and is regarded as a relatively healthy light meal per serving. The fat content varies depending on the cooking method, but it is generally recommended to serve it with vegetables for a well-balanced meal. With the increasing popularity of gluten-free diets, rice flour skins are also favored by people with dietary restrictions.

Cultural Significance and Social Background

Evolving along with the development of dim sum culture, cheung fun has taken root as a dish that not only functions as a snack, but also enlivens daily gatherings and social moments in the Cantonese region. In the morning dim sum tradition known as "zao cha," cheung fun is an essential menu item and contributes to interaction among different generations. With urbanization and globalization, beef cheung fun is positioned as a medium for people's communication.