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Enjoy the most flavorful garlic noodles, packed with garlic, butter, Parmesan cheese, and a delicious Asian-inspired sauce. This recipe is my take on the famous dish from Thanh Long restaurant in San Francisco!
Garlic noodles have been a favorite of mine for years. What’s not to love? Asian noodles tossed with plenty of garlic, butter, Parmesan cheese, and a rich, flavorful Asian-inspired sauce. It’s one of the most requested dishes at my dinner table—friends and family can’t stop raving about it!
The best part? It’s a crowd-pleaser for everyone, even the pickiest eaters, from toddlers to elementary school kids. Plus, it’s only 304 calories per serving! Don’t forget to check out my step-by-step video, so you can make perfectly flavorful garlic noodles at home!
Thanh Long & Crustacean Garlic Noodles
I learned to make this dish after trying it at the famous Vietnamese Thanh Long restaurant in San Francisco and Crustacean in Beverly Hills.
Their signature garlic noodles and roasted crab have won over food critics, foodies, and fans alike. These dishes helped launch a multi-million-dollar restaurant empire, now with four locations and counting, for the An family, who hail from Vietnam.
The secret to their success lies in the “secret kitchen”—a fully enclosed kitchen within the main one, off-limits to employees, where family members prepare the legendary noodles using recipes passed down for three generations.
After a few R&D trips to their restaurants, I created this garlic noodle recipe, complete with my own secret garlic sauce and special ingredients.
What Goes Into This Recipe
- Yellow noodles: These aren’t your typical ramen noodles; they’re often labeled as “Taiwanese Oil Noodles” in Asian stores. Each strand is coated with oil, ranging in color from pale yellow to a deeper shade. For the best results, I recommend sourcing these noodles from Chinese or Vietnamese grocery stores in the US.
- Parmesan cheese: Trust me on this one—opt for the bottled Kraft Parmesan cheese. It works wonders in this recipe, adding a delightful richness.
- Maggi Seasoning: This is the secret ingredient that elevates the dish to new heights. It imparts a distinctive umami and savory flavor, with a complexity that surpasses regular soy sauce.
Please refer to the recipe card at the bottom of this post for full details on each ingredient.
Recipe Substitutions
My easy recipe calls for the following key ingredients:
- Noodles: If you don’t have access to Asian grocery stores or supermarkets nearby, consider substituting yellow noodles with spaghetti or linguine. Both alternatives yield equally delicious results, provided you cook the noodles al dente.
- Maggi Sauce: If Maggi Seasoning sauce isn’t available, you can try Braggs Liquid Aminos (gluten-free!), which you can find at most regular supermarkets. Alternatively, Thai Golden Mountain Seasoning Sauce can be used as a substitute. You can easily find these sauces online if they’re not available in local stores.
- Fish Sauce: For those who aren’t fond of the pungent and intense flavors of fish sauce, you can opt to double the quantity of oyster sauce in the recipe. Unlike fish sauce, oyster sauce isn’t made solely from oysters; it’s typically a blend of oyster juice concentrate and extract, rendering its fishy undertones virtually undetectable.
- Garlic Herb Butter: If you’re looking to elevate your garlic noodles with an extra burst of flavor, try using my garlic herb butter instead of regular butter. This rich, flavorful butter will add a delicious depth to the dish.
Recipe Variations
Over time, I’ve crafted several variations of garlic noodles that I absolutely love. Here are some fun and flavorful ideas to try:
- Brown Butter Garlic Noodles: Swap the butter for brown butter to add a rich, nutty twist.
- Shrimp Garlic Noodles: Toss in some sautéed shrimp for a protein-packed version with a Vietnamese-inspired vibe.
- Parmesan Garlic Noodles: Double up on Parmesan for an extra creamy, cheesy take.
- Crustacean Garlic Noodles and Roasted Crab: Recreate the iconic restaurant dish at home—pair the noodles with roasted Dungeness crab for a luxurious meal without the $150 price tag.
- Garlic Sesame Noodles: Stir in toasted sesame oil and sesame seeds for a nutty, aromatic flavor.
- Garlic Sriracha Noodles: Give your noodles a fiery kick with a drizzle of Sriracha.
- Garlic Noodles with Garlic Broccoli: Add a side of garlic broccoli for a pop of green and extra garlicky goodness.
Mix and match these variations to find your favorite—you can’t go wrong!
How To Make Garlic Noodles
Rinse the yellow noodles under running water to get rid of any excess oil, then let them drain and set aside.
Now, bring a pot of water to a boil and cook the noodles until they’re al dente—still a bit chewy, but not too soft.
Pro Tip: Keep testing the texture so you don’t overcook them! Once they’re done, drain them well.
To make the Garlic Sauce, heat a sauté pan over medium to low heat. Add the butter and let it melt, then toss in the garlic and sauté until it’s fragrant, but not browned. Once it’s ready, add all the seasonings and stir it all together until it’s nicely combined. Transfer the sauce to a small bowl.
Now, to serve, toss the noodles in the garlic sauce until they’re evenly coated. Sprinkle on some Parmesan cheese and give it one more good mix. Serve it hot and enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely! I always double the sauce ingredients to make a larger batch. I store it in an airtight container and keep it in the fridge for up to two weeks. When you’re ready to use it, simply thaw the sauce to room temperature or reheat the desired quantity in the microwave. It’s that easy and convenient!
This recipe is a Vietnamese-American creation, developed by the An Family of Thanh Long in San Francisco. They skillfully blend the best techniques from both East and West, along with a mix of cross-cultural ingredients, to create the ultimate Asian/Vietnamese noodle dish.
Yes, you can definitely do that. Simply prepare the garlic sauce and boil the dry ramen noodles (you might need 2 packs). Discard the MSG-loaded seasoning packet that comes with the ramen and use your homemade sauce instead. Voila!
Absolutely! I developed this recipe in 2015, and I’m the original food blogger who decoded the secret recipe to make it as close as possible to the versions served at the restaurants. My recipe has undoubtedly “inspired” other websites and food content creators. This is the BEST and most authentic recipe you’ll find online.
What To Serve With This Recipe
Serve this versatile noodles with dishes such as Caramel Chicken, Air Fryer Honey Garlic Shrimp, Shrimp and Broccoli, or Garlic Herb Roasted Salmon, along with a side of Texas Toast. To replicate restaurant-quality meals at home, I recommend pairing the noodles with the following dishes:
I hope you enjoy this post as much as I do. If you try my recipe, please leave a comment and consider giving it a 5-star rating. For more easy and delicious recipes, explore my Recipe Index, and stay updated by subscribing to my newsletter and following me on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram for new updates.
Garlic Noodles (The Secret Recipe!)
Ingredients
- 20 oz (570g) yellow noodles, use spaghetti or linguine as substitute
- 1 tablespoon bottled grated Parmesan cheese
- water, for boiling the noodles
Garlic Sauce:
- 1 stick unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons garlic , minced, or more to taste
- 1 tablespoon Maggi seasoning sauce
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce
- 1 tablespoon sugar
Instructions
- Rinse the yellow noodles under running water to remove excess oil. Drain and set aside.
- Heat up a pot of water until boiling. Add the noodles into the boiling water and cook the noodles until al dente (you want it to still have a good chewy bite), or for a few minutes. You can taste the texture of the noodles while cooking. Do not overcook as the noodles will turn soggy. Transfer the noodles out and drain dry.
- To prepare the Garlic Sauce, heat a sauté pan over medium to low heat. Add the butter to the pan and allow it to melt. Once melted, add the garlic and sauté until aromatic but not browned. Next, add all the seasonings to the pan and stir well to combine. Transfer the garlic sauce to a small bowl.
- To serve, simply toss all the noodles with the garlic sauce until evenly coated. Then, add the Parmesan cheese and toss again to ensure everything is well combined. Serve immediately while hot and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- For an individual serving of garlic noodles, take a portion of noodles and place them in a bowl. Add garlic sauce to taste, then top with grated Parmesan cheese. Stir well to combine before serving.
- If you can’t find yellow noodles, spaghetti or linguine can be used as substitutes.
- If Maggi Seasoning sauce isn’t available, you can try Braggs Liquid Aminos (gluten-free!), which you can find at most regular supermarkets. Alternatively, Thai Golden Mountain Seasoning Sauce can be used as a substitute.
- For those who aren’t fond of the pungent and intense flavors of fish sauce, you can opt to double the quantity of oyster sauce in the recipe.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Hi Bee,
I want to make this & wondered if I could opt out of parmesan cheese all together? I used to love Kraft but no longer use it due to certain ingredients. I just hope it would not alter the taste too much…
You can skip it, or use real grated Parmesan cheese and not Kraft.
Hello rasa good to get this recipe 😋 looks delicious so I have no problem with it all the ingredients are close by my address 😋 and i can start to shop 😋 looks delicious and I have to try 😋 this 💯 I’m sure everyone will be happy 😊 😃 and thanks again John from Belgium 🇧🇪.
Thanks John for your comment, very cute with lots of emojis! :)
So simple and easy! Very delish!!!!
Thanks for your 5 stars rating and great comment. :)
I didn’t hear anybody ask what the Maggie seasoning was. Maybe you all know what it is but I don’t. And I didn’t see anywhere where there was a recipe. Did I miss it?
Hi Beth. Maggi seasoning is a widely used seasoning sauce in much of Asian cooking. You can find it at most Asian grocery stores.
Is it 20oz of dried or cooked noodles ? Thank you!
Hi Sandy, it’s 20 oz. of dried noodles or spaghetti.
My favorite, easy, go-to recipe. I like to add mushrooms and green onions. Thanks, Bee!
Lovely to know that this works well for you. Thank you for your support.
My favorite when i dont feel like cooking. We call it POOR MANS PASTA ALA OIL………………
Great Recipe!
Fabulous and simple garlic noodles! I have already enjoyed a few of your other recipes!
But I just want to share a quote from Chef John…”you can buy good cheese, and your can buy grated cheese, but you can’t buy good,grated cheese. I think you recipes is EVEN BETTER with good self-grated cheese!
Thank you and please keep up the really good work!