Across Asia, noodle soup dishes have been a staple for thousands of years, and it's easy to see why. These steaming, soul-warming bowls show up everywhere—from street hawker stalls and family-run shops passed down through generations, to the everyday kitchens where home cooks work their magic. Here are a few of my favorite Asian noodle soup recipes that I hope you'll try!
1. Tantanmen Ramen
Tantanmen is a spicy, savory mashup that blends the bold flavors of Chinese Dan Dan noodles with the comforting richness of Japanese ramen. My version of this Asian noodle soup offers a rich broth infused with nutty sesame and fiery chili, savory crumbles of seasoned ground pork, and springy noodles. Best of all, you can make it at home in under 30 minutes—no ramen shop required.
RECIPE
2. Wonton Soup
The savory aroma of this iconic dish fills the streets of Hong Kong, enticing hungry pedestrians to stop and gather in lines outside the many establishments serving this delicious noodle soup. You'll usually find it topped with a tangle of youmian noodles that hide the delicate shrimp wontons in a deeply flavorful broth. It does take a bit of time to make, but the results are definitely worth the effort!
RECIPE
3. Pho Tai Nam (Vietnamese Noodle Soup)
If we're going by cravings, this might just be my favorite Asian noodle soup. I've spent years dialing in this recipe, because I still haven't found a great bowl of pho here in Tokyo. The layered flavors in the broth are beefy, with warm spices and charred aromatics. Pair it with silky rice noodles, tender slices of beef, and a fresh tangle of herbs, and it will transport you straight to the streets of Southern Vietnam.
RECIPE
4. Chicken Udon
This bowl of noodles is exactly what your mouth craves when you want chicken noodle soup. A classic Asian noodle soup, Chicken Udon features delightfully chewy udon noodles, a deeply savory, lip-smacking broth, and chunks of tender chicken. If you want to spice things up, I also have a Curry Udon recipe that's warm and aromatic in all the right ways. And if you're feeling adventurous, I've also shared how to make your own thick, springy homemade udon noodles.
RECIPE
5. Pork & Kimchi Udon Noodle Soup
If you want to heat things up, this fiery bowl of kimchi udon will ignite your taste buds with flavor. Like many great Asian noodle soup recipes, this one bridges borders, and it's a cross-cultural mashup that just works—thick, chewy Japanese udon meets rich, tender pork belly and the bold, tangy heat of Korean kimchi. And if you've ever wanted to try your hand at homemade kimchi, I've got a simple Small Batch Kimchi recipe to get you started.
RECIPE
6. Tsukemen (Dipping Ramen)
More of an experience than a soup, Tsukemen Ramen isn’t your typical bowl of noodle soup. Instead of everything swimming in broth, the noodles are served separately and dipped into an ultra-concentrated soup that tastes like you took all of the umami-rich ingredients from the land and sea and distilled them down into a bowl. It can take days to coax out that kind of flavor, but I’ve developed a shortcut that gets you there in about twenty minutes. Be sure to check out my Ramen Guide for all of my ramen recipes.
RECIPE
Noodles have long been a cornerstone of Asian cuisines, weaving their way through history and across borders. Along the way, each culture has left its mark, adding new flavors, techniques, and stories to these beloved Asian noodle soup recipes. Craving more noodle goodness? Head over to my Noodle Category for even more slurp-worthy inspiration.
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