Iconic Noodle Dishes Across Asia You Have to Try

No food family maps Asia better than noodles. Each country, and often each region, has shaped flour and water into something deeply its own, from silky rice ribbons to springy wheat strands. Ordering them abroad can be tricky because noodle-shop menus are frequently written only in the local script, so photographing one to translate it helps you tell a soup from a stir-fry before it arrives. Here are the bowls worth crossing borders for.

Pho (Vietnam)

A fragrant beef or chicken broth simmered with star anise and cinnamon, poured over flat rice noodles. Order pho bo (beef) and pile on fresh herbs, lime, and chili yourself. Tip: a clean, aromatic broth is the mark of a good shop, no extra sauce needed.

Ramen (Japan)

Wheat noodles in broths ranging from clear shoyu to rich tonkotsu, topped with pork, egg, and scallion. Tip: slurp fast so the noodles stay firm.

Pad Thai (Thailand)

Stir-fried rice noodles with tamarind, egg, tofu or shrimp, peanuts, and a squeeze of lime. Tip: the best versions come from busy cart cooks who fire each portion fresh in a screaming-hot wok.

Laksa (Malaysia and Singapore)

A coconut-curry noodle soup (curry laksa) or a tangy tamarind one (asam laksa), depending on the region. Tip: ask which style a stall makes, since they taste wildly different.

Dan Dan Noodles (China)

A Sichuan classic of wheat noodles in a spicy, numbing sauce of chili oil, Sichuan peppercorn, and minced pork. Tip: mix vigorously from the bottom so every strand catches the sauce.

Beef Noodle Soup (Taiwan)

Niu rou mian, braised beef and tendon in a deep soy-and-spice broth with chewy wheat noodles. Tip: pair it with a side of pickled mustard greens to cut the richness.

Cold Noodles (Korea)

Naengmyeon, chilled buckwheat noodles in an icy broth, is summer relief in a bowl. Tip: add the mustard and vinegar provided to brighten the flavor.

Across the continent the rules rarely change: eat noodles hot and quickly, and do not be shy with the chili and herbs on the table. When the menu is a wall of unfamiliar characters, translate a photo and order the dish that defines the place you are in.