Noodles are life. No matter what corner of the world you visit, there’s probably some sort of noodle specialty available for you to try, and it’s probably pretty darn tasty.
The noodle dishes on this list are taken as a whole – we’re not going to narrow down our favorite types of the dishes, but instead focus on the totality of the dishes. We asked our office to vote on a selection of 25 famous noodle dishes, simply asking them to pick their five favorites. These were the top 10.
1. Laksa
This Malaysian specialty took top spots, receiving the most overall votes in our poll. Laksa is typically served with chicken, shrimp, or fish, and has a spicy coconut curry style broth that will leave you your mouth with a serious dose of umami. It’s pretty much heaven in a bowl.
2. Pho
Narrowly missing first place is a bowl of pho, the Vietnamese soup loaded with flavor. Morning, afternoon, evening, after a late night out – there’s never a bad time for a bowl of pho with extra fatty brisket.
3. Khao Soi
Served widely in Myanmar but also across Northern Thailand and Laos, Khao Soi is packed with flavor. It has incredible depth, and if you can’t find a restaurant serving it locally, make it yourself.
4. Ramen
Pork belly, an egg, and a rich bowl of broth that’s to die for. Straight from Japan, Ramen come in at number four.
5. Carbonara
An egg, cured pork like pork belly, pepper, and a hard cheese like Parmasean or Asiago is all you need to make this incredible dish. While it may seem simple, it’s the simplicity that makes it amazing. Cacio e Pepe nearly made the top 10 as well, and it’s just Pepper and Cheese! Don’t veer off course.
6. Udon
The second Japanese noodle dish to make the cut, Udon traditionally has a lighter broth and a thicker noodle than Ramen.
7. Pad See Ew
This dish has Chinese influence but is commonly enjoyed in Thailand. Chinese broccoli, fish sauce, and beef are the stars of the show.
8. Lasagna
Some people in our office called it the King of Pastas, but the final voting tally didn’t see it that way. It’s thought to be one of the oldest types of pasta in the world.
9. Chow mein
There really are endless ways to serve this wonderful dish, we prefer a house special with black bean sauce.
10. Bun Cha
A Hanoi favorite, Anthony Bourdain and President Obama sat down for a bowl of bun cha a few years ago. It’s an amazing mix of sweet, sour, hot and cold, fatty and vegetables…it’s just perfect.
Summary:
Indulge in a global culinary adventure with our list of the ten best noodle dishes from around the world. Noodles, revered as a universal comfort food, take center stage in these diverse and delectable creations. Rather than choosing favorites, we present a medley of mouthwatering noodle specialties. Voted on by our office team, these dishes represent the tantalizing variety of global cuisine that celebrates the humble noodle in all its delicious forms.
