Classic Guilin Rice Noodles

Opening ts doors in 2013 in Oakland’s Chinatown, Classic Guilin Rice Noodles offers exactly what’s in the name. Their specialty, rice noodle bowls and soups, is a popular local dish from Guilin, a region of China that is known for its picturesque limestone karst hills.

The dish consists of a base of thick rice noodles with toppings such as salty meats, pickled vegetables, peanuts, and soy-marinated hard-boiled egg. A small bowl of cloudy broth is served on the side to be sipped or added to the bowl of noodles as needed. The noodles are white, slippery, and spaghetti-like, while the toppings have interesting textures and flavor profiles.

Classic Guilin Rice Noodles’ menu has over 10 different types of rice noodles topped with a variety combinations of meats, including crispy pork, barbecue pork, beef tripe, and beef brisket. Aside from its signature dry-mixed noodle bowls, the restaurant also offers a huge selection of noodle soups, rice plates, and stews, with vegetarian options available.

In the dominantly Cantonese food scene of Oakland’s Chinatown, Classic Guilin Rice noodles is a breath of fresh air with its regional specialty dishes and contemporary décor. With Lake Merritt BART Station just three blocks away, the eatery is also close to several AC Transit bus stops. Street parking is available.