If there is a single type of dish that can be found all over Asia, it’s noodles.
Take your palate on a flavorful trip to the Orient with this list of 30 Asian noodle recipes.
If you want to take a quick trip to Asia without breaking out your passport, these Asian noodle recipes should help do the trick.
Asian noodles come in many different shapes, sizes, and forms.
There are three broad types for you to choose from–wheat, glass or cellophane, and rice.
Wheat noodles are made using different kinds of wheat flour and a binder, such as eggs or plain water.
Rice noodles are, as you might have guessed, made out of rice flour and water.
The last type, which is glass noodles, is made using different kinds of starches like tapioca, mung bean, and sweet potato.
Out of these three broad types, you’ll find some of your favorite noodles.
Some of the most popular noodles in Asia and Asian cuisine include egg noodles, lo mein, udon, ramen, soba, rice vermicelli, somen, and wonton.
These are used mostly in stir-fry dishes and soups, but at times, you’ll find some of these in salads, spring rolls, and served with a dipping sauce.
Some of the steady favorites on this list include Pad Thai from Thailand, Pho from Vietnam, and Char Kway Teow from Malaysia.
The most popular noodle dish worldwide, however, is #7.
So, are you excited to go on your culinary trip to Asia via these noodle dishes?
Let’s get into it!
1. Mee Goreng
Let’s get this list started with a popular noodle dish from Malaysia.
Mee Goreng uses dried egg noodles and has beef as well as seafood in it.
It’s somewhat spicy and sweet due to the sriracha and coconut sugar in it.
Here’s a really simple noodle dish that you can pair with any protein.
Some people use spaghetti with this recipe when they don’t have egg noodles on hand.
But if you want authenticity, fresh Chinese-style egg noodles should be used for this.
This noodle dish is a spin-off of its more popular chicken dish, which is Kung Pao Chicken.
Originally from the Sichuan Province of China, this recipe features flat rice noodles, bite-sized chicken pieces, and a variety of vegetables.
It also notably uses peanuts and ground Sichuan pepper in it.
If you’ve traveled to Singapore and Malaysia, you will easily find this noodle dish in hawker stalls there.
This recipe features lots of meaty shrimp, tofu, scrambled eggs, and bean sprouts.
Oh, and not to forget, the flat rice noodles that absorb all of that yummy, spicy, and sweet sauce!
5. Pad See Ew
Craving a savory, sweet, spicy, and slightly sour noodle meal?
This recipe from Thailand should hit the spot.
Made with wide, flat rice noodles, chicken, and a thick brown sauce, this dish is so easy to make; it can be on your table in a snap!
6. Jjajangmyeon
From Thailand, let’s move on to South Korea, where this unique dish comes from.
The noodles in this dish are similar to the Japanese udon, which are thick and chewy wheat-based noodles.
You serve this with the noodles underneath, and the spicy black bean sauce with pork bits and vegetables poured on top.
7. Shoyu Ramen
Now, who hasn’t heard of or tried Shoyu Ramen?
This Japanese noodle dish traditionally takes two to three days to make.
But this version is a quick and easy one you can make in less than an hour.
Here’s a stir-fry noodle recipe that you can try when you don’t want to sweat it in the kitchen.
You can use any wheat-based noodle in this dish, but egg or rice noodles that are made specifically for stir-frying are great for this one.
It’s a simple recipe where you stir fry the veggies, add the par-boiled noodles, and mix in the sauce!
9. Khow Suey
If you want to try a Burmese noodle dish, this is the one you should try.
Not only does it have a great mix of flavors, but it also has quite a range of textures.
From chewy to crunchy to meaty to soft, you get it all in one bowl.
Spicy, savory, sweet, tangy, and bitter, these noodles are just some of the flavors you can expect from this dish!
Yes, this noodle recipe takes your palate on a wild ride with everything you will taste in each bite.
For a more authentic dan dan dish, substitute the spinach with pickled mustard greens.
One of the most popular Asian noodle recipes you’ll find in the US is this mainstay on Chinese restaurant menus.
It’s flavorful, it’s filling, and it’s oh-so-satisfying!
So, instead of ordering from your go-to takeout place, why not try making your own?
12. Pad Thai
Here’s another super popular stir-fried noodle recipe from Asia, this time from Thailand.
This dish consists of flat rice noodles, shrimp, chicken, and scrambled eggs.
Also in this dish are bean sprouts, a hodge-podge of vegetables, some tofu, and a variety of spices.
13. Miso Noodle Soup
Ever tried using soba noodles in a recipe?
This dish calls for this Japanese noodle and uses miso paste as its main flavor source.
It also has kelp powder, some Korean gochugaru powder, and loads of greens, making it a spicy and flavorful noodle treat.
14. Hokkien Mee
While originally from the Fujian Province of China, these noodles have gained popularity in Southeast Asia, particularly in Penang, Malaysia, and Singapore.
The recipe on this list is the Singaporean version.
If you can’t find skin-on prawns (you will need the shells for the broth), you can always use shrimp bouillon cubes and peeled shrimp for this dish.
15. Pancit Lomi
Want to try something different for those cold nights when you want hot, filling soup?
Why not try this recipe from the Philippines that combines thick egg noodles with pork broth, pork bits, and pork liver?
If you can’t find squid balls and don’t like liver, you can always omit the latter and replace the former with cooked shrimp.
16. Assam Laksa
Here’s a super authentic recipe for one of the steady favorites when it comes to Malaysian cuisine.
This noodle soup has some rather obscure ingredients in them, so you might want to ask your local Asian grocer for some help.
If you can’t locate some of these ingredients, ask your Asian grocer for possible substitutes (like torch ginger flower, which can be replaced with some ginger and mint).
17. Bahn Canh
Looking for a Vietnamese noodle dish that isn’t pho?
This one is a soup dish that has crab and ground pork in it.
While the recipe does teach you how to make Banh Canh noodles from scratch, you can always substitute it with ready-made udon if you’re in a rush.
If you’re unsure what to bring to a potluck, this recipe is worth considering.
This is a noodle salad that’s relatively easy to make, but it does involve a lot of chopping.
Made with rice noodles, this dish can be tweaked to include seafood like shrimp or salmon and can be turned vegetarian by using tofu as your protein.
19. Pho
When you ask people what Vietnamese noodle dish they’re familiar with, this is sure to be the answer.
This is the national dish of Vietnam, after all, and it comes in a few varieties like pho ga (chicken pho) and pho bo (beef pho).
This version, however, is a quick one that uses your choice of meat (chicken, beef, pork, or shrimp) and broth.
20. Goong Ob Woonsen
If you have a pack of glass noodles in your pantry, and you don’t know what to do with it, try using it with this.
This is another Thai dish that’s savory and slightly sweet but surprisingly devoid of any heat.
You can add some pepper flakes to this dish if you want some kick to it, though.
Another noodle salad that you can try making is this one that has lemongrass chicken in it.
Served in individual bowls, this recipe calls for rice noodles, some bean sprouts, lettuce, carrots, and cucumbers, plus a dressing that uses fish sauce and some lime.
Top each bowl with some fried shallots and sliced red chilies.
22. Bihun Goreng
For those who are big fans of Nasi Goreng (Indonesian Fried Rice), this dish is a must-try.
Instead of rice, this dish uses angel hair rice noodles (vermicelli); however, you can use thicker versions of this noodle.
The meat in this dish can vary according to what you want–it can be chicken, pork, shrimp, or a combination of all three.
Here’s a fusion dish that combines the flavors of Thailand with the noodles of Japan.
Served cold, this salad is also very colorful due to the myriad of vegetables added to it.
Aside from the peanut butter in the sauce, you also sprinkle crushed cashews into it, adding crunch to each bite.
24. Lor Mee
Thick noodles in a thick gravy-like soup?
Yes, please!
This Malaysian dish traces its roots back to China and is served with half a hard-boiled egg, sliced fish cake, some tofu, and pork.
25. Japchae
No list of Asian noodle recipes would be complete without this iconic Korean noodle dish.
Some people think this is a stir-fry and others call it a noodle salad.
It’s actually both a salad and a stir fry with the stir-fried veggies and meat tossed in with the sauce and the noodles away from the heat.
Lots of Thai noodle dishes use flat and wide rice noodles, and this is another one.
And don’t be fooled by the moniker, though, since this dish has no alcohol in it.
It has loads of flavor and lots of spice, however, and is said to be the favorite of drunk people after a night of imbibing.
27. Pancit Canton
No party or get-together in a Filipino household is complete without this stir-fried noodle dish.
This dish is made with dried egg noodles and a variety of meats, particularly shrimp, pork, and chicken.
Much like most dishes from this country, this dish is savory and not spicy and sometimes served with some lime juice for contrast.
28. Yaki Udon
While this dish may seem like a Japanese version of Pancit Canton, it’s not.
For starters, it uses fresh noodles and not dry ones.
It’s also sweet and slightly sour, with the addition of sugar and some vinegar in the sauce.
This Singapore noodles recipe is a truly unique dish.
It mixes flavors from China, India, and a few Southeast Asian nations.
Combining shrimp, barbecued pork, bean sprouts, bihon noodles, and curry powder in a dish that melds different Asian cultures in one plate.
30. Janchi Guksu
Also called Korean Banquet Noodle Soup, this traditional dish is perfect for those who love anchovies.
Because the broth is made with anchovies, bonito flakes, and kelp, it may have a somewhat fishy taste, which can be an acquired taste.
When served, you can top this with other Korean favorites, like kimchi, bulgogi, and roasted seaweed.
The bottom line
With this long list of Asian noodle recipes, your tastebuds will have one amazing trip through Asia!
Travel from China to Singapore to Malaysia to the Philippines by simply staying in your kitchen!
Give each recipe a go and see which dishes you will end up adding to your repertoire of noodle favorites.
Best Asian Noodle Recipe Collection
Take your palate on a flavorful trip to the Orient with this list of 30 Asian noodle recipes.
Ingredients
- Mee Goreng
- Garlic Noodles
- Kung Pao Noodles
- Char Kway Teow
- Pad See Ew
- Jjajangmyeon
- Shoyu Ramen
- Vegetable Lo Mein
- Khow Suey
- Sichuan Dan Dan Noodles
- Chicken Chow Mein
- Pad Thai
- Miso Noodle Soup
- Hokkien Mee
- Pancit Lomi
- Assam Laksa
- Bahn Canh
- Sesame Ginger Noodles
- Pho
- Goong Ob Woonsen
- Lemongrass Chicken Noodle Bowls
- Bihun Goreng
- Soba Noodle Salad
- Lor Mee
- Japchae
- Thai Drunken Noodles (Pad Kee Mao)
- Pancit Canton
- Yaki Udon
- Singapore Noodles
- Janchi Guksu
Instructions
- Find your favorite recipe from our Asian Noodle Recipes list.
- Gather all the ingredients needed.
- Start cooking and make us proud!