Restaurant Style Dan Dan Noodles (VIDEO)
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Dan Dan Noodles is one of my all-time favorites! I love the creamy, spicy, tingly sauce with the chewy noodles and crispy, fatty ground pork. Top it off with my Homemade Chili Oil, peanuts, scallions, and you have one of my favorite meals in under 30 minutes!
Watch the Dan Dan Noodles Recipe Video!
A Note from CJ
Dan Dan Noodles are my favorite!
Dan Dan Noodles is the most famous street food from Sichuan, China and everyone seems to have their favorite version of it. My recipe is inspired by a restaurant in Los Angeles that went out of business but made the BEST Dan Dan Noodles!
If you love the flavors of Dan Dan Noodles, I would recommend trying my Mapo Tofu or Chinese Style Green Beans! If you love noodles but are in the mood for something less spicy, I would make Korean Black Bean Noodles (JaJangMyeon) or Soy Sauce Pan Fried Noodles or the BEST Garlic Noodles you’ll ever have.
Literallyyyyy the BEST dan dan recipe I’ve ever used. Will be a staple in our house going forward. Just made them for lunar new year.
Ingredients for Dan Dan Noodles
Refer to the recipe card for the full list of ingredients and measurements!
- ground pork – If you cannot eat pork, you can substitute with dark meat ground turkey or chicken, as well as an 80/20 ground beef.
- shaoxing wine – If you cannot find shaoxing wine, the closest substitute would be cooking sherry. If you cannot use alcohol, I would use a little bit of chicken stock.
- chili oil – I like to use my Homemade Chili Oil; you can use store bought too! Halve the amount if you are sensitive to spice.
- sesame paste – Dan Dan Noodles is traditionally made with sesame paste but you can sub with tahini or natural peanut butter (no sugar added). Make sure to give the sesame paste a good stir to incorporate the oil and paste before adding it to your sauce
- msg – I use MSG in moderation as an optional flavor enhancer. This is always optional.
- noodles – I used fresh wheat noodles (Shanghai-style) by the company Golden World (found in the refrigerated section of my Chinese grocery) but you can also use any long noodle of your choice (egg noodles would be great!)
- optional garnishes – I like to top my Dan Dan Noodles with crushed peanuts, freshly chopped scallions, and one last drizzle of chili oil. I have also seen Dan Dan Noodles topped with bok choy, choy sum, or preserved mustard greens.
How to Make Dan Dan Noodles
Marinate and Cook Pork – Marinate the ground pork with Shaoxing wine, light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, white pepper, salt, and five spice powder for 15 minutes. In a large skillet or wok, heat 1 tbsp of neutral oil over high heat until just smoking. Add the marinated ground pork and cook until the pork fat has rendered and crisped in it’s own fat, about 4-5 minutes. If using mustard greens, add them in a stir fry with the pork for another 30 seconds. Remove and set aside in a bowl.
Mix Sauce and Cook Noodles – In a large bowl, mix together the chili oil, light soy sauce, sesame paste, ground Sichuan peppercorns, five spice powder, sugar, MSG if using, and garlic. Cook noodles in boiling water until al dente and transfer immediately to your sauce along with 1/4 cup of starchy noodle water. Add more water if needed to loosen up the sauce. Top the noodles with reserved pork, freshly chopped scallions, blanched bok choy, crushed peanuts and enjoy!
PRO TIPS
CJ’s Storage Tips
Store any leftover Dan Dan Noodles in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. The noodles will soften and stick together as they stick – this is normal. I like to reheat in the microwave until warmed through – somtimes a wet paper towel on top helps steam and loosen the noodles.
If you tried this Dan Dan Noodles or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below!
Authentic Dan Dan Noodles (VIDEO)
Video
Ingredients
Pork
- 1/2 lb ground pork
- 1 tbsp shaoxing wine
- 2 tbsp light soy sauce
- 1/2 tbsp dark soy sauce
- 1/2 tsp white pepper
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp five spice powder
Sauce
- 1/4 cup chili oil
- 2 tbsp light soy sauce
- 2 tbsp sesame paste
- 2 tsp ground Sichuan peppercorns
- 1/2 tsp five spice powder
- 1/2 tsp sugar
- 1/4 tsp msg, optional
- 4 cloves garlic, chopped
Noodles + Garnish
- 1 lb noodles, fresh or dried
- 1/4 cup noodle water, add more to loosen sauce, if needed
- scallions, chopped, optional garnish
- crushed peanuts, optional garnish
- bok choy, blanched
Instructions
- Marinate the ground pork with Shaoxing wine, light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, white pepper, salt, and five spice powder for 15 minutes.
- In a large skillet or wok, heat 1 tbsp of neutral oil over high heat until just smoking. Add the marinated ground pork and cook until the pork fat has rendered and crisped in it's own fat, about 4-5 minutes. If using mustard greens, add them in a stir fry with the pork for another 30 seconds. Remove and set aside in a bowl.
- In a large bowl, mix together the chili oil, light soy sauce, sesame paste, ground Sichuan peppercorns, five spice powder, sugar, MSG if using, and garlic.
- Cook noodles in boiling water until al dente and transfer immediately to your sauce along with 1/4 cup of starchy noodle water. Add more water if needed to loosen up the sauce.
- Top the noodles with reserved pork, freshly chopped scallions, blanched bok choy, crushed peanuts and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This Dan Dan Noodles recipe was originally published in December 2023, and updated in May 2026.
This was absolutely delicious. I doubled the recipe for 4 and there was nothing leftover. I can’t wait to make – and eat – this again! Thank you.
I don’t eat pork so I crumbled and baked some tofu and used that instead. So delicious! Love how quickly it all comes together. I’ll definitely be making this again and again!
So glad you loved it! Thanks for the great review!
Literallyyyyy the BEST dan dan recipe I’ve ever used. Will be a staple in our house going forward. Just made them for lunar new year.
I’m so glad everyone loved it! Thanks for making it, Whitney!
Thanks for posting this! Since I came across your recipe, I’ve kind of become addicted to it. It’s my go-to noodle dish whenever I feel like I need comfort food. Keep up the good work!
I’m so glad you love it, Bert!
This is such a great recipes will make it again!
Ryan.gatsby
Yumm!!
I love Dan Dan noodles and when I came across your recipe when you first posted this, I had to make it and it came out amazing!
IG: Leynakayy
Dan dan noodles are my favorite noodle dish! A great carb heavy meal and wonderful to sate the soul! So tasty and enriching!
Insta: sugi0h