Hearty northern Chinese prefer noodles, breads, buns and steamed dumplings, called jiaozi and baozi.

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Their daughters' school is next door, and the area brims with businesses like a nearby street vendor who sells handmade noodles and wrappers for making pork-and-chive dumplings.

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Ramen noodle dishes such as tan tan men (whole-wheat egg noodles and spicy miso with pork and spicy homemade sausage), dumplings and hot tapas (locals line up for the duck-fat fried chicken) are local favorites.

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Not only is the traditional suckling pig, generally served in times of celebration, available on many menus, but many additional dishes with special meaning highlight these holiday menus such as noodles which symbolize longevity, sweet rice dumplings symbolic of family unity, and shrimp which represents happiness.

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