Crustacean Garlic Noodles and Roasted Crab
Published Jun 08, 2008
Updated Aug 26, 2024
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Crustacean Garlic Noodles and Roasted Crab—my copycat recipes come remarkably close to the authentic flavors from Thanh Long and Crustacean's "secret kitchen." Try them at home for a truly delectable meal.
Crustacean Garlic Noodles
If you live in the Bay Area or the Greater Los Angeles Area, you’ve probably heard of, and most likely dined at, the renowned Thanh Long Restaurant and its more famous sister property, Crustacean.
Their signature garlic noodles and roasted crab have not only captivated food critics, foodies, and aficionados alike but also helped launch a multi-million-dollar restaurant empire (now counting three locations and growing!) for the An family, who originated from Vietnam.
The secret to their success lies in the “Secret Kitchen”—a completely enclosed space within the main kitchen, off-limits to all employees, where family members prepare the legendary Garlic Noodles and roasted crab using secret recipes passed down through three generations.
I dined at Thanh Long in San Francisco many years ago and thoroughly enjoyed the garlic noodles and roasted crab. However, it wasn’t until recently that I revisited these dishes.
This time, I visited Crustacean Beverly Hills, where I ordered roasted crab, grilled tiger prawns with garlic noodles, and Maine lobster with garlic noodles.
The taste of the garlic noodles was exactly as I remembered. However, in my honest opinion, the roasted crab was too dry for my liking—I suspect it was boiled and then roasted, which caused it to lose some of its juiciness.
The lobster garlic noodles were good but didn’t stand out as exceptional. The highlight of the meal was definitely the grilled tiger prawns with garlic noodles. The sweetness of the grilled prawns paired perfectly with the garlic noodles.
Everything we ordered that night was also a bit too salty. Despite this, I was still enchanted by the food and, most importantly, intrigued by their “Secret Kitchen” and the family’s secret recipes.
I resolved to uncover the secret recipes using nothing but my taste buds and keen observation. I scrutinized the remains of the roasted crab dish—cracked black pepper, check; coarsely chopped garlic, check; butter, check; exotic spices, possibly, but I couldn’t find any concrete evidence.
I also packed a box of garlic noodles to go for further examination at home.
After analyzing the flavors, I spent hours in the kitchen perfecting my copycat recipes for Crustacean’s garlic noodles and roasted crab. I added the seasonings gradually, aiming to replicate the original taste as closely as possible.
While I’m sure my recipes and techniques differ somewhat from the secret ones, there really aren’t many “secret” methods for preparing garlic noodles and roasted crab.
I believe my versions of the garlic noodles and roasted crab are as good as, if not better than, the originals at Crustacean—at a fraction of the cost! (One order of garlic noodles costs $11.50, and the roasted crab is $41.95.)
As for the myth of the “Secret Kitchen,” I’d say it’s more about clever marketing than practicality.
Crustacean Garlic Noodles and Roasted Crab Ingredients
- Dungeness Crab
- Garlic
- Chicken Bouillon Powder
- Parmesan Cheese
- Yellow Noodles
- Ground Black Pepper
- Sugar
- Unsalted Butter
Garlic Sauce Ingredients
- Butter
- Oyster Sauce
- Fish Sauce
- Sugar
- Garlic
Frequently Asked Questions
You can use any fresh wheat noodles from Asian grocery stores. If fresh noodles are not available, spaghetti can be used as a substitute for equally delightful results.
The garlic noodles can be prepared in advance and reheated. However, roasted crab is best enjoyed fresh.
There will likely be no leftovers! However, if you do have any, store the noodles and crab in airtight containers in the refrigerator. You can reheat them in a pan or microwave.
This recipe is only 793 calories per serving.
What To Serve With This Recipe
For a restaurant-style Asian dinner at home, I recommend the following recipes.
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Other Recipes You Might Like
Crustacean Garlic Noodles and Roasted Crab
Ingredients
- 20 oz. (570g) yellow noodles
- water , for boiling noodles
- 1 tablespoon Kraft Grated Parmesan Cheese, in green bottle
Garlic Sauce:
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons minced garlic, or more to taste
- 1 tablespoon Maggi seasoning sauce
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce
- 1 tablespoon sugar
Crustacean Roasted Crab:
- 1 Dungeness Crab, about 2 lbs./800 g
- 1 stick unsalted butter , 8 tablespoons
- 3-4 cloves garlic, chopped coarsely
- 2 teaspoons whole black pepper, cracked using a mortar and pestle
- 2 teaspoons chicken bouillon powder
- 1/4 teaspoon sugar
Instructions
Crustacean Garlic Noodles Recipe
- Rinse the yellow noodles under running water to remove any oil. Drain well and set aside.
- Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add the noodles and cook until just tender, being careful not to overcook them as they can become soggy. Remove the noodles from the pot and drain well.
- Prepare the Garlic Sauce by heating a sauté pan over medium-low heat. Add the butter and let it melt, then add the garlic and sauté until fragrant but not browned. Add all the seasonings and stir to combine. Transfer the garlic sauce to a small bowl.
- To serve, toss the noodles with the garlic sauce. Add the Parmesan cheese and mix until well combined. Serve immediately.
Crustacean Roasted Crab Recipe
- Clean and chop the crab into 6-8 pieces. Heat the butter in a wok over medium-low heat and sauté the garlic until aromatic but not browned. Add the black pepper and chicken bouillon powder, then incorporate the crab and stir well. Add the sugar and cook the crab until the shell starts to change color.
- Dish out the crab and bake it in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 25-30 minutes. Serve hot with garlic noodles.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I tried your recipe for the first time today, and it turned out great. Plus it was simple to follow and make. Thank you!
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I have used this recipe many times… absolutely love it! The difference between the restaurant and Rasa Malaysia’s rendition is imperceptible.
Thank you!?
Which maggi bottle to use? Red cap or yellow cap? One from China one from Europe. One have msg (Europe) one from China no msg. I buy both little bottle. Red cap Europe one more salty.
Either is fine.
I buy crab in can cooked. That ok?
No.. they are best alive. Boil to kill, cool, clean
What is Maggie Seasoning Sauce??
It’s a seasoning sauce. The brand is Maggi.
Great recipe! I put an additional asian flavor profile, a teaspoon of minced ginger to the crab. What really pushed this recipe over the top was adding in the crab butter to both the crab and the noodles! My daughter who normally does not enjoy shellfish, was licking her fingers and was determined to get the last morsel of crab from the shell.
Thanks for your trying!
The secret kitchen is real and separate from the main kitchen. I worked for them.
This is best recipie that is almost as good as Thanh Longs!
what type of Parmesan Cheese is best to use?
In the green bottle.
Do you buy live crab or precooked? I can only find precooked. If I have live crab shipped to me, how do you recommend killing it before chopping?
live crab would be nicer.
Are you preparing a pre-cooked, frozen crab? That’s all I can find in the stores..
I’m so excited to try this!! I lived in SF and now in LA. TL and Crustacean are an all time fave!. I have a question about one of the steps in crab prep. What does ” cook crab half way” mean?how do you know it is done 1/2 way before roasting?
Half cooked, meaning not cooked through. As soon as the shell starts to turn red, they are half cooked.