Zhajiang noodles originated in Beijing, China, and are a popular street food throughout the country. Zhajiang noodles are usually served with a savory bean sauce (zhajiang), minced pork or beef, and fresh vegetables. Zhajiang noodles have a long history in Beijing cuisine and are mentioned in ancient Chinese texts, reflecting their status as a beloved and enduring dish. Zhajiang noodles are often enjoyed as a quick and affordable meal by students, workers, and families in China, with bustling noodle stalls lining the streets of cities like Beijing.

The old Beijing fried sauce noodles also have some folk legends and stories. It is said that during the Qing Dynasty, a Beijing opera performer often coughed with the sound of "fried sauce", and later his disciples imitated this sound in the performance of Beijing opera. Another legend is that during the Qing Dynasty, an official, fleeing, mixed the sauce in his hand with noodles to fill his stomach, thus creating the delicacy of fried sauce noodles. These stories and legends add a lot of mystery and historical color to the old Beijing fried sauce noodles.