I grew up in San Francisco, not far from Thanh Long, a modest Vietnamese eatery that gained notoriety for its garlic noodles and crab. They also branched out to other sister restaurants – Crustaceans.
In the early 2000s, when I was dating my husband at the time, he took me to the best restaurants when I first visited Thanh Long. Although we went for the Dungeness crab, we ended up falling in love with their garlic noodles, and I vowed to make them myself someday.
A small restaurant called Thanh Long in a bright chartreuse color dominated the corner of 46th Avenue. and Judah St. in the outer Sunset district of San Francisco.
Chef Helene An oversaw the kitchen at that time, and her daughters worked as servers. Even their kitchen staff does not possess the recipe for their garlic noodle dish because it is kept in such strict confidence.
At its original location, Thanh Long has now expanded into a larger space. Crustaceans, its sister establishments, are located in Beverly Hills and San Francisco.
You probably came here to check out whether this recipe is the same as their divine but distinctive garlic noodles if you’ve ever had them.
I’m here to tell you that THIS RECIPE IS IT! It’s the authentic recipe for Helene An’s renowned garlic noodles, or as close as I can get to it. And I’ve been looking for this for more than 20 years!
I came across a recipe for these garlic noodles on the early Internet. It had a long list of 10 ingredients.
The noodles I made using those ten ingredients didn’t taste anything like Thanh Long’s. So disappointing and a waste of ingredients!.
In order for you to understand why these buttery, garlicky noodles contain ingredients like parmesan cheese and fish sauce that are practically incompatible with one another, I must first tell you the history of these noodles before we move on to the recipe.
In the North Beach neighborhood of San Francisco, Helene An’s daughter introduced her to Italian garlic spaghetti decades ago. After trying it, Helene believed she could improve it, so she went home and did just that. And Thanh Long’s garlic noodles were born!.
The garlic noodles served at Thanh Long are not an Italian, American, or even a traditional Vietnamese dish. It’s fusion.
Somehow without the parmesan cheese, it does not taste right. It also won’t taste right if you omit the Maggi seasoning, as I did at first.
What Dishes to Serve with This Recipe?
I suggest the following recipes for a filling dinner that’s simple enough to make during the week.
How to make a Crustacean Garlic Noodles Recipe
Everyone enjoys food that is crunchy, delicious, and healthy, and the best crustacean garlic noodles will do the same for your taste buds. No matter what recipe you choose, you’ll enjoy it. This is a tasty recipe with plenty of flavor that will bring back your sense of wonderment.
How to Enjoy the Garlic Noodles
This dish is the ideal starter for a weeknight meal, dinner with guests, or a potluck contribution due to how simple it is to prepare. It is delicious both on its own and when included in a multi-course meal.
Personally, I prefer it on its own with an additional sprinkling of Parmesan and chili flakes on top. Pair it with a leaner protein, such as chicken, fish, or seafood, for a more well-rounded meal. Serve it with a nice bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon if you’re throwing a dinner party. *chefs kiss*.
If you have leftovers, youll thank yourself the next day. You can prepare the garlic noodles by placing them in a refrigerator in an airtight container. Reheating the noodles is simple, and the flavors seem to improve after a day or two. Personally, I almost never have enough leftovers to freeze. However, if you want a quick meal later, you can freeze leftovers and reheat them in the microwave. I advise only storing it in the freezer for a month maximum.
Pro tips:
