Hot Noodle Recipes From All Around Asia

In Asia, carbs are either rice or noodles. There's just something lacking when you're eating a meal without rice or noodles. Noodles aren't just one of Asia's staple foods; it's also a popular comfort food. Though these recipes may differ in taste, texture, and scents, what they all have in common is that they're sure to warm you up as they settle in your belly. 

If you particularly love noodle soup recipes and heavily make it when cooking at home, perhaps it's time to add a twist. Don't just stick to the recipes you know and take a gander at the different ways that different people around Asia enjoy noodles.

Photo by Patrick Martires

1 Sichuan, China: Dan Dan Noodles Recipe

In less than 30 minutes, you get all the flavor punches that this unique noodle dish offers. There's a nuttiness like no other. It's thanks to, not just the peanuts, but also the tahini or sesame paste. It's given even an even more complex and enjoyable flavor, courtesy of the umami-packed shiitake mushrooms, tangy black vinegar, and spicy and fragrant Sichuan peppercorns.

Pairing cold nights with hot soup is the secret to life.

Photo by Karishma Etong

2 Vietnam: Beef Pho Recipe

Vietnam is famous for its delicious, fresh pho that's loaded with flavors coming from all directions. It's not just the great soup base that's packed with umami-flavors from the beef broth and quality fish sauce, but also the other flavors layered into it. Fresh, spicy, and bold aromatics lemongrass, mint, and cilantro are built into the soup's integral flavor. Just make sure you control the spiciness by slowly adding your chilies and perhaps even removing the seeds.

Photo by Patrick Martires

3 Thailand: Crispy Curry Noodles Recipe

This popular crispy, curry noodle dish is laced with complex flavors and a myriad of textures. The spicy yellow curry paste combined with velvety coconut cream explodes with flavor as a creamy, potent soup base while the noodles, fried to a crisp, are light and the chicken and prawns are succulent and tender to the bite. With so many great things going on, it's such a pleasant surprise that it only takes 30 minutes to make.

4 Canton, China: Chicken and Prawn Wonton Noodle Soup

This classic Chinese staple dish isn't just cozy and filling, it also has a secret. The secret is that you can make the dumplings and broth way in advance, freeze them, and cook them whenever you're in need of something delicious. Now you can have a great meal with pockets of meat and freshly cooked noodles even when you barely have time to do any cooking. This can be as simple as reheating your soup and all its ingredients. Easy!

Photo by Bianca Laxamana

5 Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore: Mi Goreng Recipe

These three countries are pretty close together, making way for a recipe that each one can claim as their own. Mi Goreng is a tasty stir-fried noodle recipe that's surprisingly easy to make. The sauce is made of soy sauce, oyster sauce, and kecap manis, a thick, savory-sweet, and soy sauce-like condiment. If you're unsure of buying kecap manis just for one recipe and are now hesitating about making this, stop! Kecap manis can be easily made at home by mixing equal parts soy sauce and brown sugar. 

Also, don't forget the fried egg! The slightly runny yolk mixed into the noodles will make it richer and creamier with every bite.

Photo by Patrick Martires | Styling by Elaine P. Lim

6 Malaysia, Singapore: Speedy Seafood Laksa Recipe

With just a border separating Malaysia and Singapore, it's no wonder that they both love their laksa. With the key ingredients in laksa both widely available around the two neighboring countries, they would, of course, cook up this super flavorful bowl as often as possible! The Philippines, also a Southeast Asian country, also has many of the key ingredients to make it from scratch, too: bihon, laksa paste, squid balls, and bean sprouts should make a delightful laksa recipe.

Photo by Riell Santos

7 Thailand: Chicken Pad Thai Recipe

Pad thai is nutty, fresh, sweet, tangy, salty, and exploding with umami. These stir-fried rice noodles make the perfect silky, chewy neutral base for the flavors that take flight when tossed with the tangy sauce. Tangy tamarind paste and lime wedges don't just add acidity; they add a fruitiness, giving life to the crushed peanuts and crunchy bean sprouts, too.

Photo by Bianca Laxamana

8 Japan: Miso Pork Ramen Recipe

Silky, delicious ramen noodles in a rich, steaming miso-infused pork broth-we all have a treasured memory of ramen so good it makes you close your eyes just to revel in the memory. It's a simple formula, but it's quite a winner. You get umami-packed, creamy miso accentuating the rich pork flavors up. The Japanese sure know what they're doing when it comes to food.

Do you have a real passion for ramen and are heading up to Japan to get a real taste of authentic ramen? Check out our infographic on where to get different kinds of ramen.

Photo by Riell Santos

9 Philippines: La Paz-Style Batchoy Recipe

If Japanese food is minimalist, ours has always been maximalist. Philippine's own hot noodle soup is loaded, not just with pork stock, but also with beef broth and dried shrimp paste. We're big on punchy flavors, and we love it.

If you're looking for a hot noodle soup that satisfies your Filipino taste buds with bold, strong flavors, you can't go wrong with this batchoy recipe. It also has chicken pieces, pork liver, garlic, and chicharon. In fact, our version invites you to use your imagination with all the delectable, sinful toppings possible. We say, why not?

Since you'll be delving into these noodle recipes full-force, you'll need a guide on what noodles to use. Choosing the right noodles does make a difference as the flavor and texture greatly differ from one noodle to another. Read our quick guide so you know exactly what noodle would be best for which noodle recipe. 

Photo by Patrick Marties

Asia's rich tapestry of culture undoubtedly also gave birth to a rich abundance of flavors. There are just so many ways to cook your noodles! So go ahead and let go of your old recipes to make room for new ones that might be just as unforgettable. Let every bite and slurp be a flavorful adventure, tasting like a foreign city you've yet to see or an unforgettable vacation you once took. Choose a recipe, and just make it! We're sure you won't regret it.