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{{short description|Chinese noodle dish}}
{{More citations needed|date=July 2008}}
{{Infobox prepared food
| name             = Mee pok
| image            = File:FishBallMeePok.jpg
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| caption          = ''Mee pok'' served "dry" with fish balls
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| type             = [[Noodle]]
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{{Chinese|order=st|s=面薄|t=麵薄|p=miàn báo|poj=mī-po̍h|teo=mi7boh8}}

'''''Mee pok''''' is a [[Chinese noodle]] characterized by its flat and yellow appearance, varying in thickness and width. The dish is of [[Teochew people|Chaoshan]] origin and is commonly served in the [[Chaoshan]] region of China and countries with a significant Chaoshan Chinese immigrant population such as [[Singapore]], [[Malaysia]] and [[Thailand]]. ''Mee pok'' is commonly served tossed in a sauce (often referred to as "dry", or ''tah'' in [[Hokkien]] ({{zh|poj=ta}})), though sometimes served in a [[soup]] (where it is referred to as "soup", or ''terng''). [[Meat]] and [[vegetable]]s are added on top.

''Mee pok'' can be categorised into two variants, [[fish ball]] ''mee pok'' (''yu wan mee pok''), and mushroom [[Ground meat|minced meat]] ''mee pok'' (''bak chor mee''). ''Bak chor mee'' is usually prepared using thin noodles ("mee kia") (widely known as wonton-style noodles or [[youmian]]) or mee pok, while ''yu wan mee'' can also be prepared in both styles or other noodle varieties.

''Mee pok'' is a staple commonly offered in hawker centres and [[coffee shops]] ([[kopitiams]] in parts of [[Southeast Asia]]) in Singapore, together with other Chinese noodle dishes.

== ''Mee pok'' sauce ==
The [[sauce]] in which the noodles are tossed in is a very important aspect of the dish, and is considered a representation of the cook's skill and experience. The importance of the sauce in ''mee pok'' can be thought of similarly as the sauces that accompany [[pasta]].

The sauce consists of four components: [[chile pepper|chili]], [[oil]], [[vinegar]] and other condiments such as [[soy sauce]] and [[black pepper]]. The chili is made from various ingredients and its preparation often includes frying and blending. Oil, traditionally lard, ensures a smooth texture in the noodles, although [[vegetable oil]] is sometimes used as a healthier though less tasty version. Vinegar is added for its sourness, and diners may specify how much vinegar is used.

The chili sauce may be replaced with [[ketchup|tomato ketchup]] for children and others who are uncomfortable with the spiciness of the chili.

== Soup ==
Soup is served in a bowl as a side dish accompanying the "dry" variant, or served together with the noodles for the "soup" version where the sauce is omitted. Traditionally, the soup is boiled and simmered overnight with old hen, pork bones, dried [[sole fish]], and soybean. The resulting broth is rich in taste and cloudy in appearance.

== ''Mee pok'' noodles ==
[[Image:MeePok.JPG|thumb|right|200px|''Mee pok'' noodles sold in [[Bukit Batok]], Singapore]]
Usually, the noodles are factory-made, and require substantial preparation before cooking. Different [[hawker (trade)|hawkers]] prepare and cook their noodles differently, but the desired outcome is the same: springy ''[[al dente]]'' noodles.

Hawkers often toss the noodles vigorously to remove excess flour and soda and to separate noodles which have stuck together. Other processes include stretching the noodles, cutting into a desired length, and separating into serving portions.

The cooking process of the noodles consists of blanching in hot and cold water multiple times, though some hawkers omit the cold water. The noodles are drained and placed in either sauce or broth.

== ''Bak chor mee'' ==
''Bak chor mee'' ({{zh|s=肉脞面|t=肉脞麵|poj=bah-chhò-mī|p=ròucuǒ miàn}}; [[Teochew Min|Teochew]]: neg8 co3 mi7; [[Southern Min]]: bak chor mee), which translates to minced meat noodles, is a [[Singaporean cuisine|Singaporean]] noodle dish popularly sold as street food in hawker centers and food courts.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/food/sts-food-critics-recommend-their-5-favourite-stalls-for-good-bak-chor-mee |title=5 best bak chor mee in town, picked by ST's food critics |work=The Straits Times |date=10 November 2016  }}</ref> The noodles are tossed in vinegar, minced meat, pork slices, pork liver, stewed sliced mushrooms, meat balls and bits of deep-fried lard. ''Bak chor mee'' can be categorised into two variants: a dry version and a soup version. Most dry versions come with slices of stewed mushroom, minced pork, slices of lean pork and sometimes fried [[ikan bilis]], atop noodles tossed in a punchy chilli-vinegar sauce, while soup versions are lauded for the depth of pork flavour in its broth. Singapore's ''bak chor mee'' was listed as the top world street food by World Street Food Congress. 
<ref name="about.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.asiaone.com/food/singapores-bak-chor-mee-tops-world-street-food-list?amp|title=Singapore's bak chor mee tops world street food list|access-date=5 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170704011033/http://www.asiaone.com/food/singapores-bak-chor-mee-tops-world-street-food-list?amp |archive-date=4 July 2017 |author=Lam Min Lee}}</ref>

== Fish ball ''mee pok'' ==
This version of {{lang|zh|mee pok}} is usually served with toppings of [[fish ball]]s, sliced [[fish cake]]s, {{lang|zh|geow}} (a type of small dumpling made with fish meat paste wrapping a small bit of minced meat), [[Ground meat|minced meat]], meat balls, [[lettuce]] or ''[[taugeh]]'' (beansprouts in [[Min Nan|Hokkien]]). It can be made with the addition or omission of any of the toppings, prepared in soup or "dry" style, and either with or without the chili sauce.

== Other types of toppings ==
Newer varieties of toppings include deep-fried [[dumpling]]s, [[abalone]] slices, imitation [[crab stick]], and other processed fish products.

==In popular culture ==
* ''[[Mee Pok Man]]'' is the title of a [[film]] directed by [[Eric Khoo]], a [[Singapore]]an film director.
* ''Bak chor mee'' featured prominently in an episode of [[The Mr Brown Show]], which satirized the [[Singapore general election, 2006#James Gomez saga|James Gomez saga]] during the [[Singapore general election, 2006|2006 Singapore general elections]].

==See also==
* [[Chinese noodles]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Chaozhou cuisine}}
{{Malaysian cuisine}}
{{Singaporean cuisine|state=collapsed}}
{{Chinese noodles}}

[[Category:Chinese noodle dishes]]
[[Category:Teochew cuisine]]
[[Category:Malaysian noodle dishes]]
[[Category:Singaporean noodle dishes]]