Noodles are my childhood love, and I am always excited to make Asian-fusion Garlic Noodles right in my kitchen. While noodle dishes have deep roots across Asia, this popular garlic butter noodle style was famously popularized in San Francisco at Thanh Long restaurant, known for its rich, umami-packed seafood and noodle dishes.
These noodles are tossed with plenty of garlic, butter, and savory sauces, creating a deep, flavorful coating on every strand. The best part is how quick and easy they are to make at home, ready in no time.
To get the best possible result, it’s important to follow the recipe closely, especially the timing and proportions of the sauce ingredients. The balance among garlic, butter, and soy-based sauces is what gives these noodles their signature rich, savory flavor, so even small changes can affect the final flavor.
Pay attention to how long you cook the garlic to avoid bitterness, and make sure the noodles are tossed well so every strand gets evenly coated. Doing so ensures you achieve that perfect restaurant-style texture and bold, satisfying flavor at home.
Equipments Required
- Chopping Board: You can also use a plastic or steel chopping board, depending on your convenience.
- Dutch Oven: While I use a Dutch oven to cook my noodles, you can also use a deep pot.
- Saucepan: I use a saucepan to toss my noodles with other ingredients. However, you can also use a wok for the same.
- Colander: I use a colander to strain the water from the cooked noodles. You can also use a sieve.
- Knife: I use a sharp knife to thinly slice the green onions.
Garlic Noodles Ingredients & Substitutions
Note: The ingredients in this recipe will make 2 servings. You can adjust the serving as per your requirements.
For Noodles:
- 140g/ 5oz Dried Ramen: I prefer using ramen in this recipe. However, you can also substitute two noodle cakes.
For Sauce:
- 30g / 2 Tbsp Unsalted Butter: Though butter will make it tastier, you can use olive oil instead.
- 2 Tbsp (6 Cloves) Garlic, Finely Minced
- 2 Tsp Oyster Sauce: This recipe calls for oyster sauce, but I also use Worcestershire sauce as a substitute. Other than that, vegetarian oyster sauce will also help you achieve the same profile.
- 2 Tsp Fish Sauce: You can also use soy sauce as a substitute.
- 1 ½ Tsp Maggi Seasoning: If you don’t find this, you can substitute light soy sauce and Asian Worcestershire sauce.
- ¼ Cup Noodle Cooking Water
- ¼ Cup Finely Grated Parmesan: I usually use Pecorino instead. However, you can also use Grana Padano as a substitute.
- ¼ Cup Green Onion, Thinly Sliced (~1 stem): Leeks can also be substituted for this.
- Cilantro for Garnishing: You can also use parsley to garnish the noodles.
- Salt To Taste
Preparation And Cooking Time
| Preparation Time | Cooking Time | Total Time |
|---|---|---|
| 5 Minutes | 6 Minutes | 11 Minutes |
How To Make Garlic Noodles At Home
Step 1
Add salted water to a pot and cook the noodles according to the packet directions. Scoop out ~1/2 cup cooking water. Strain noodles and set aside.
Step 2
Take a saucepan and add 2 tbsp butter to it.
Step 3
Add the noodles and cook, stirring until soft.
Step 4
Next, add cooked noodles to the saucepan.
Step 5
Add parmesan to the noodles in the saucepan.
Step 6
Add oyster sauce, fish sauce, Maggi seasoning, and green onions.
Step 7
Toss until the noodles are all coated, and the sauce is not pooled in the bottom of the saucepan.
Step 9
Transfer the noodles to a serving bowl and garnish with more Parmesan and cilantro.
Expert Tips That I Recommend
- I always reserve some noodle-cooking water as the starch in the water helps to thicken the sauce, coat the noodles nicely, and enhance the flavor of the dish.
- I prefer grating the parmesan myself, as it melts nicely with the noodles compared to store-bought pre-grated parmesan.
- I sometimes add vegetables like carrots, bell peppers, cauliflower florets, and mushrooms to make the noodles healthier.
- When you substitute soy sauce for fish sauce or Maggi seasoning, it’s better to use it for only one of these ingredients, as too much soy sauce will mask the garlic noodles’ flavor.
- Sometimes I like my noodles a little spicy, so I add chili flakes or sriracha sauce.
FAQs About Garlic Noodles
Nutritional Information Per Serving
To give you a better understanding of the dish’s nutrition, I have included the nutritional information for this recipe for your reference.
| Calories | 450 Kcal |
| Carbohydrates | 45g |
| Protein | 14g |
| Fat | 25g |
| Saturated Fat | 14g |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 2g |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 9g |
| Trans Fat | 0.5g |
| Cholesterol | 41mg |
| Sodium | 2535mg |
| Potassium | 243mg |
| Fiber | 2g |
| Sugar | 2g |
| Vitamin A | 6071U |
| Vitamin C | 5mg |
| Calcium | 203mg |
| Iron | 3mg |
Recipe Variations For Different Diets
- Vegan Diet: You can replace oyster sauce with mushroom broth flavored with teriyaki, garlic, and celery. You can also substitute fish sauce for soy sauce and regular Parmesan and butter for vegan Parmesan cheese and vegan butter.
- Keto-Friendly Diet: I replace ramen noodles with Tofu Shirataki noodles, and oyster sauce with Worcestershire sauce or a teriyaki sauce.
- Gluten-Free Diet: I use gluten-free noodles instead of regular ramen noodles.
- Dairy-Free Diet: Butter and cheese are the two milk-based ingredients in this recipe. Therefore, lactose-intolerant people can substitute butter for olive oil and cheese for vegan parmesan.
Storing And Reheating This Recipe
Storing
- Refrigerator: I store the leftovers of my garlic noodles in an airtight container. They last for up to three days in the fridge.
- Freezer: When I want my garlic noodles to last longer, I use freezer bags. I transfer the leftovers of the garlic noodles into a freezer bag, label it with the date, and freeze it. This way, the noodles stay fresh for up to three months. However, it’s important to remember not to freeze them for more than 3 months, as this can alter the noodles’ texture and taste.
Reheating
- Microwave: Place the noodles in a microwave-safe container and reheat for 1 to 2 minutes at medium power, stirring in intervals.
- Stove: I usually prefer reheating the noodles in a hot pan or wok over medium heat by sprinkling some water. That’s because the texture of the noodles usually changes as they sit in cold temperatures.
What To Serve With This Recipe
While garlic noodles are packed with flavor and can be enjoyed on their own, I prefer them with Chili Potatoes and a Fried Egg on the side. However, noodles truly go well with almost everything.
Therefore, you can pair them with Mochiko Chicken, Grilled Pork, Chinese Fried Lobster, Salmon Belly, Baked Orzo, or shrimp.
If you are looking for vegetarian options, you can serve these noodles with crispy fried vegetables in soy sauce.
Printable Version
Garlic Noodles Recipe
Ingredients
For Noodles:
- 140 Gm Dried Ramen
For Sauce:
- 2 Tbsp Unsalted Butter
- 2 Tbsp Tbsp Garlic, Finely Minced
- 2 Tsp Oyster Sauce
- 2 Tsp Fish Sauce
- 1½ Tsp Maggi Seasoning
- ¼ Cup Noodle Cooking Water
- ¼ Cup Finely Grated Parmesan
- ¼ Cup Green Onion, Thinly Sliced
- Cilantro For Garnishing
- Salt To Taste
Equipment
- Dutch Oven
- Saucepan
- Colander
- Knife
- Chopping Board
Instructions
- Add salted water to a Dutch oven and cook the noodles as per the directions given on the packet. Scoop out ~1/2 cup cooking water. Strain noodles and set aside.
- Take a saucepan and add 2 tbsp butter to it.
- Add garlic and cook, stirring until soft.
- Next, add cooked noodles to the saucepan.
- Add parmesan to the noodles in the saucepan.
- Add oyster sauce, fish sauce, Maggi seasoning, and green onions.
- Toss until the noodles are all coated, and the sauce is not pooled in the bottom of the saucepan.
- Transfer the noodles to a serving bowl and garnish it with some more parmesan and some cilantro.
Notes
- I always reserve some noodle-cooking water as the starch in the water helps to thicken the sauce, coat the noodles nicely, and enhance the flavor of the dish.
- I prefer grating the parmesan on my own as it melts nicely with the noodles in comparison to store bought pre-grated parmesan.
- I sometimes add vegetables like carrots, bell peppers, cauliflower florets, and mushrooms to make the noodles healthier.Â
- When you substitute fish sauce or Maggi seasoning with soy sauce, it’s better that you only substitute soy sauce for one of these ingredients as too much soy sauce will lead to losing the flavor of garlic noodles.
- Sometimes, I like my noodles a little spicy, so I add chili flakes or sriracha sauce to them.
Nutrition
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Conclusion
If you crave Asian flavors, these Garlic Noodles are sure to satiate your cravings. Quick, simple, and easy are the words that come to mind whenever I try this recipe.
This dish is also very versatile and can be customized in various ways. I know you are here because you love noodles, and I’m sure this recipe will not disappoint you. So, give it a try and share your experience with us in the comments below. Happy cooking!
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