Hand-pulled shrimp noodles (虾子面) are Wuhu's most distinctive food contribution — thin wheat noodles served in a shrimp-based broth garnished with dried river shrimp that give the soup an intense umami depth. The dish has become an identity marker for the city, and locals are particular about the quality of the shrimp: the best versions use small dried Yangtze shrimp whose flavor is concentrated and complex in a way that the larger farmed shrimp common elsewhere cannot match.
Good versions are served at small noodle shops throughout the city, particularly in the older neighborhoods near Mirror Lake. The dish is almost always eaten as a breakfast or morning snack rather than as a main meal, though portions are substantial enough to constitute one. Ordering is simple: point at what others are eating. Prices are low, and the best shops are typically identifiable by the queue outside rather than by any signage aimed at visitors.