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Restaurant ReviewThe Brothers Jiang (Kunming, China)
there are many restaurants in tis chain, so use th,
Kunming, China
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Reviewed by: Jacqueline M. Newman
Spring Volume: 2012 Issue: 19(1) page: 26
  The Brothers Jiang is a chain of restaurants where one should go for Guo Qiao Mi Xian, the most popular dish in Kunming. In English, called 'Crossing Bridge Rice Noodles,' it is not only popular, but is the featured dish as this restaurant which has many locations in this city including one at Xiao Xi Men. There are also outposts in other Yunnanese cities, and in Beijing, Chengdu, and Xian.
At every Brothers Jiang, there is no menu. One pays when entering and gets a ticket representing the number of items paid for in a particular category. Then one gets seated and gives this chit to the wait person. A big bowl of soup arrives, usually a chicken stock. So do small plates of various meats and vegetables, as ordered. A smaller plate with seasonings comes, too. And so does a bowl with rice noodles, thick or thin. Some order theirs seasoned with vinegar, we did not know to do so. Most meats are raw and sliced very thin as can be seen below, a few come already cooked, but do need reheating in the soup.  Customers put their individual ingredients into the hot soup, best to do so raw foods first, and in any order. The vegetables and noodles are usually added last, as we were told to do, but before beginning to chow down.
 This Crossing Bridge Rice Noodles dish has several stories about it. Most include that a woman brings her husband this dish going over a bridge a long way from where they live. Often it did arrive cold because he is living there temporarily on an island over this bridge. He is studying there away from distractions, for the Imperial examinations. How and why it stays hot is part of these stories.
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