Noodle Bowl Recipes inspired by iconic bowls from Japan, China, Thailand, Korea, Vietnam, and Indonesia. Rich flavorful broth, amazing noodles, and piles of colorful, healthy toppings!
noodle bowls for the New Year
Eating noodles is a New Year’s tradition in many Asian countries ~ slurping a long, unbroken noodle from your bowl symbolizes a long, happy life and luck in the coming year. Longevity noodles (chángshòu miàn) served in Chinese New Year feasts can range from 18 inches to over 3 feet!
Lunar New Year 2026 falls on February 17th. This marks the beginning of the Year of the Horse.
So when you enjoy any one of these noodle bowls during a New Year celebration, remember the rich cultural symbolism behind them! It’s not just about the delicious food, but also about celebrating new beginnings, good health, and prosperity for the year ahead. Slurping is encouraged!
Table of contents
- noodle bowls for the New Year
- Asian noodle varieties
- common types of Asian noodles
- Dan Dan Noodles
- Creamy Ramen with Turkey (and Chili Crisp!)
- Weeknight Peanut Butter Noodles
- Teriyaki Pork Ramen
- Chinese Burning Noodles
- Thai Green Curry Noodles
- Easy Chow Mein
- Quick Chili Oil Noodles
- Miso Ramen with Shitake and Chicken
- Easy Slow Cooker Pho Noodle Bowls
- Coconut Curry Noodle Bowls
- Beef and Broccoli Noodle Bowls
- Kombu Ramen
- Vegan Dan Dan Noodle Bowls
- Green Curry Noodle Bowls
- Teriyaki Salmon Noodle Bowls
- Shrimp and Zoodle Curry Bowl
- Asian style salads to try
photo: Steamy Kitchen
Asian noodle varieties
Here’s a quick rundown of the different types of noodles you’re likely to see in your supermarket~ they are sold fresh or dried, but you’re much more likely to come across the dried noodles. Look in the international section of your store ~ and don’t stress over this, you can swap out different varieties in your noodle bowls, just follow the package instructions for cooking.
common types of Asian noodles
Wheat Noodles:
- Ramen: These springy, straight or curly noodles are often served in umami-rich broths with various toppings like meat, vegetables, and eggs. Think Japanese ramen or Chinese Lanzhou beef noodle soup. Of all the Asian noodles I’d say I rely on ramen the most often.
- Chow Mein ~ ‘mein’ means noodle in Chinese, and there are lots of variations on these classic wheat noodles. Lo mein noodles, for instance, are flatter and broader than chow mein.
- Somen ~ very thin wheat noodles often used cold in the summer, and also in Vietnamese pho.
- Udon: Thick and chewy, these wheat noodles star in Japanese dishes like stir-fries, cold noodle salads, and hot noodle soups.
Rice Noodles:
- Vermicelli: Thin, delicate rice noodles used in soups, salads, and spring rolls across Southeast Asia. They soak up flavors beautifully.
- Rice noodles or Rice Sticks: These are easily the most widespread rice noodles in US stores. They come in various thicknesses and are ideal for stir-fries, soups, and even salads.
Buckwheat Noodles:
- Soba: Thin, round, and brown whole grain noodles made from buckwheat flour, offering a slightly nutty flavor. The deeper the color the more buckwheat the noodles contain. Enjoyed cold in dipping sauces or hot in broths in Japanese cuisine.
Bean Starch Noodles:
- Glass Noodles: (or cellophane noodles) are made from mung bean starch. These transparent noodles have a unique, springy texture, often found in stir-fries and salads.
Dan Dan Noodles
My Dan Dan Noodles are an easy weeknight version of traditional Sichuan street food, and SO delicious. The crispy pork in a creamy spicy sauce is outrageous. We make this dish with wheat ramen noodles on a regular basis all year long, the family loves it demands it!
Creamy Ramen with Turkey (and Chili Crisp!)
A silky, savory bowl of creamy ramen made with leftover turkey, miso, chili crisp, and hot broth. It’s the perfect quick comfort meal after the holidays.
Weeknight Peanut Butter Noodles
China, Japan, Thailand and Indonesia all lay claim to peanut noodle dishes, each with its own flavor spin. The concept that ties them together is the combination of creamy peanut butter clinging to chewy, carby noodles. That’s delish in any language and makes quick work of dinner no matter where you live. I make this dish with Japanese udon or ramen noodles, but on weeknights with no time to get to the supermarket, I use spaghetti! Let’s dig in to my Weeknight Peanut Butter Noodles.
Teriyaki Pork Ramen
Ramen is a study in contrasts. It can be the most nothing meal with a packet of noodles and instant broth powder, or it can be a complex meal rivaling any cassoulet or Bourguignon out there. My teriyaki pork ramen falls somewhere in between. If you roast your pork and marinate your ramen eggs the day before, it’s a relatively quick meal, but with many moving parts, lol.
Chinese Burning Noodles
Sichuan burning noodles tossed with spiced pork, warm chili crisp, and crushed roasted peanuts and sesame seeds is out of this world delicious ~ (but not hot and spicy!)
Thai Green Curry Noodles
This Thai Green Curry Noodle Soup is a symphony of vibrant greens from lemongrass and basil, to broccolini. Sylvia from Feasting at Home makes this stunning rice noodle bowl in about 20 minutes with the help of store bought green curry paste.
Easy Chow Mein
Western chow mein is a distant cousin of a Mandarin dish of the same name and at this point it’s really more of a Western dish. Different versions of chow mein are served all over the US (and the world) in Chinese-style restaurants. This Easy Vegetable Chow Mein is patterned after the one from Panda Express, which is my fave, and a good base recipe if you want to take it in different directions.
Quick Chili Oil Noodles
My Quick Chili Oil Noodles are a godsend when you’re fiercely hungry, totally beat, and short on time and ingredients. This recipe, made with Chinese lo mein noodles, has come to our rescue countless times!
Miso Ramen with Shitake and Chicken
My Miso Ramen with Shitake and Chicken is a hearty meal that still manages to be under 30 minutes, low fat, and low calorie. Miso paste makes a umami rich broth that will boost your immune system.
Easy Slow Cooker Pho Noodle Bowls
My Easy Slow Cooker Vietnamese Pho Recipe makes use of the crock pot to do all the heavy lifting, and after the broth is cooked to perfection, all you have to do is assemble this aromatic noodle bowl.
Coconut Curry Noodle Bowls
Lindsay from Pinch of Yum makes this unique Bangkok Coconut Curry Noodle Bowl with a fresh flavor profile and pad Thai style noodles. Love that crunchy red cabbage garnish.
Beef and Broccoli Noodle Bowls
I made these Beef and Broccoli Noodle Bowls with Japanese udon noodles that just require a quick soak to soften them. Quick cooking thin slices of sirloin steak and lots of crunchy broccoli and water chestnuts makes this our favorite 30 minute meal.
Kombu Ramen
When noodles are this good, it pays to make a whole pot of them, like this Kombu Ramen from Judy Kim. Dried kombu (seaweed) gives this quick broth great umami flavor.
Vegan Dan Dan Noodle Bowls
Vegan dan dan noodles is a plant based version of our favorite weeknight meal ~ this easy Chinese noodle bowl has got all the flavor without the meat!
Green Curry Noodle Bowls
Vermicelli noodles star in this pretty green curry noodle bowl from Taylor, the Girl on Bloor. I love that she uses peanut butter and coconut milk to boost the flavor, and she makes her own homemade green curry paste.
Teriyaki Salmon Noodle Bowls
These simple Teriyaki Salmon Noodle Bowls from The Cozy Apron rely on big chunks of caramelized salmon and brown rice spaghetti style noodles. If you marinate the salmon overnight, the meal comes together in a flash.
Shrimp and Zoodle Curry Bowl
This vibrant Shrimp & Zoodle Thai Curry Bowl from Vodka & Biscuits is an aromatic Whole 30 meal guaranteed to chase away any chill.
Asian style salads to try
Hey Sue! There are so many noodle recipes I want to try, I am spoiled for choice.
I noticed one of your links is not working. It is for the site for Sesame & Peanut Ramen with Ketjap marinated Chicken. It shows the page doesn’t exist.
Thanks for your site, you are my “Go-To” when looking for something new to make.
Thanks for calling that to my attention Sheri!
These photos and recipes look amazing. I was disappointed that the Japanese noodle bowl labeled Udon noodles don’t look like the Udon noodles I am familiar with. They are usually much thicker then the ones shown in the photo.
Tried to give you 5 stars on the Chicken Parmesan Meatballs, but the computer would not let me =( I had to “cheat” a bit, since my meatballs are usually ground beef and pork – SO, simply used chicken instead of the beef, but with the pork there – no complaints, I don’t even think they noticed the switch. The recipe is fantastic, and the leftovers were great!! Even though I feed 3, made an entire batch and was able to have leftovers for myself and friends. SO glad I found your website, I like to try new recipes all of the time, and I will be visiting often.
Thanks Cynthia, your rating did come through on your comment <3 I appreciate your support and glad you loved the meatballs!
Gorgeous noodle bowls, I want to try them all!
oh my goodness….. I love oodles of noodles!!!
:))