8 Vietnamese and Chinese Noodle Soup Recipes to Warm Up To

Noodle soups are a year-round favorite for me, but I realize that for many people, the chilly wintry months are when the brothy, warming comforts of noodle soup sooth the soul as they warm the body. Many people know and adore Vietnamese pho and I've certainly done my best to boost its value and versatility, but that's not the only noodle soup I treasure.

Once you've explored pho on this website or via The Pho Cookbook, push forward into the Vietnamese repertoire! There's bun bo Hue, which is featured on the cover of my first cookbook and doable via the pressure cooker in Vietnamese Food Any Day. But there are other splendid Vietnamese noodle soups waiting to further your culinary adventure. And since Chinese cuisine informs a lot of Viet cooking, I also have a soft spot for Chinese noodle soups! On this post are eight recipes for you to try.

Vietnamese Noodle Soups

Hu Tieu Nam Vang  - is the classic southern Vietnamese noodle soup. Pictured above and below, it's a crazy surf-and-turf combination that's vibrant in color, flavor and texture. To learn more, take a deep dive into the hu tieu world via this post that includes a recipe for one of Vietnam's most beloved noodle soups.

Chicken and Bamboo Shoot Rice Noodle Soup (Bun Mang Ga) is a northern Vietnamese favorite, especially during the lunar new year that's coming up on February 12, 2021 when the Year of the Ox kicks off. The broth is enriched by chicken and dried bamboo shoot, which you may be familiar with in Japanese ramen. For bun mang ga, there's a fair amount of bamboo shoot used to impart earthy umami, chewy texture and a delicate sweetness. You could simmer duck or pork shank instead but chicken is prized for Tet.

Vegan “Crab” and Rice Noodle Soup (Bun Rieu Cua Chay) is a faux take on a crab and rice noodle soup. The method of coagulating soy milk is fun, and the result is a light and refreshing, tomato-ey super slurpable bowl!

Kien Giang Fish and Shrimp Rice Noodle Soup (Bun Ca Kien Giang) - And since we're not able to travel far these days, make this sunny Mekong Delta noodle soup. It's absolutely delicious and involves some cool techniques and interesting ingredients. Yes, bun ca Kien Giang has garnishes that include cucumber to refresh and brighten. It's got plenty of southern Viet funk, so make the noodle soup and extend your Vietnamese adventures to the far southern reaches of the country.

Chinese Noodle Soups

Bourdain Tribute Wonton Noodle Soup was indeed inspired by the late Anthony Bourdain. I developed the recipe after watching an episode of his show, which took me back to a Hong Kong that I experienced in the early 1990s. Of course, his show didn't exist then but the episode had plenty of impressions of the essence of Hong Kong culture and cuisines.

Informed by cooking teacher and cookbook author, Florence Lin, this Instant Pot Sichuan Spicy Beef Noodle Soup is quicker to make that a long simmer on the stove. The broth is beefy but not too heavy duty, which means it'll satisfy you but not weigh you down.

There are many Sichuan influences in Taiwan (e.g, there's a less spicy version of douban jiang in Taiwan!) and Lorna Lee highlighted the regional impact in her cookbook years ago. I made her Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup to get a sense of how Chinese flavors migrate. If Sichuan food is overly intense for you, try Lorna's. You'll experience similarities and differences. I find it mellower and friendlier. Just like Viet pho, Chinese beef noodle soup isn't one note!

And you can mix proteins up! This Spicy Beef and Tofu Skin Noodle Soup from Fuchsia Dunlop’s cookbook, Every Grain of Rice (one of my favorite Asian cookbooks), showcases something I love to do nowadays -- cut back on meat consumption but not totally cut it out! She uses tofu skin to add chewy texture and earthy flavor to the bowl. It's lighter and definitely not dull!

And, if you need more inspiration and recipes, check my cookbooks and other favorite Asian cookbooks.