I think it was waste water from a foot massage place. It added much more taste and fragrance to the broth.

I would also be concerned about the mixian or noodles sold in restaurants. They use tap water that usually doesn't get boiled at least once before cooking.

@Dazzer, the two are not even in the same category.

If a mixian shop owner makes his own noodles, uses fresh ingredients, and makes it from scratch, that is not "fast food." BK imports frozen, processed food from a factory and heats it up. There is a world of difference.

and it still ain't cordon blue

We had a great one in the North about 1km south of Metro. But I won't explain where it is closely - it tasted amazing and ingredients were fresh but after sneaking a look at the kitchen a few times I understood why I got laduzi! I don't want to be responsible for someone getting sick!

@mmkunmingteacher

Do you actually believe that your typical local mixian shop makes his/her own noodles and uses fresh ingredients? While not as heavily processed as a BK burger, it is by no means guaranteed to be "fresh" and "made from scratch".

Mixian are almost never made in house nowadays, it's usually purchased in bulk and usually delivered fresh in the morning. However, this does not mean the noodles are made using fresh ingredients as many mixian factories are located outside the purview of health inspectors producing mixian under poor and unsanitary conditions, often using bleach and other chemicals to make it more desireable. There have been many busts showcasing what actually goes into the mixian, suffice to say, it's definitely not fresh.

In order to further cut costs, the broth used is usually nothing more than tap water flavored with MSG and chicken bouillons. The toppings that goes into the mixian, or as the the local tongue would call it "hats", are not guaranteed to be fresh either. It could be made with animals downed by diseases rather than being butchered, the cooking oils used could've come from the gutter. The toppings might have even have been sitting out for a few days.

Of course I'm not saying a typical mixian shop will have all of these problems, but the odds of having one or two of these issues are quite high.

While a bowl of mixian is fulfilling, I would hardly call it healthy or fresh.

I am not a mixian fan at all but there is a little shop in the quickly vanishing little village area near where I live where a really tasty bowl is served up by the sweet lady that runs it. I am not a vegetarian but I shy away from meat here mostly and I get a bowl of really good noodles from her now and then. She also does me some nice fried red bean and dry doufu gaifan with decent fried eggs. It is not too oily and I usually do not have to hit a toilet within twenty minutes after eating, so I like the place though it looks so plain and unimpressive. I dread the day I will start seeing chai characters 拆 on the buildings on that particular street, signaling its imminent demise and the subsequent erecting of yet one more towering set of drab apartment buildings. Man I may go a bowl later today even now that I think how it may all be gone soon :(