Hong Kong Style Shrimp Chow Mein Noodles

5 from 16 votes
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Hong Kong Style Shrimp Chow Mein Noodles is a classic Chinese dish consisting of crispy, pan-fried noodles and a rich gravy filled with fresh vegetables and shrimp! The ultra crispy noodles is crispy around the edges and soft from the gravy in the middle – when mixed up it’s a perfect contrast of textures!

Hong Kong Style Shrimp Chow Mein Noodles close up on a plate

Watch the Hong Kong Style Shrimp Chow Mein Noodles Recipe Video Below!

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I have very fond memories eating this dish at the Chinese restaurant (complete with the lazy susan circular turntables!) with family growing up as a kid. It was one of my all-time favorite dishes and I’m excited to share my version with you!

Raw ingredients for hong kong style chow mein noodles

Ingredients for Hong Kong Style Shrimp Chow Mein Noodles

These Hong Kong Style Shrimp Chow Mein Noodles recipe are just like they serve them at the Chinese restaurants and perfect for a weeknight meal! Here is what you’ll need for the recipe:

  • Shrimp (these were extra large U12) – I like to use shrimp in this recipe but you can really substitute any protein for this dish!
  • Kosher Salt
  • White Pepper
  • Light soy sauce (low sodium)
  • Baking Soda
  • Cornstarch
  • Chicken Stock
  • Oyster Sauce
  • Sesame Oil
  • MSG (optional)
  • Sugar
  • Shaoxing Wine
  • Chow Mein Noodles
  • Neutral Oil – My favorite neutral oil is avocado oil, but you can also use canola or vegetable oil! I don’t use olive oil when cooking Chinese food for two reasons: 1. It has a low burning point and 2. I find that the flavor profile does not usually go with the dish. 

Fresh Vegetables

  • Baby bok choy
  • Mushrooms (I used Oyster, Seafood, and Beech mushrooms)
  • Onion
  • Scallions
  • Carrot
  • Garlic
  • Ginger

Noodles

  • If you’re looking for a good brand of chow mein noodles to use, I recommend the brand Golden World below. I can often find these at my locale Chinese supermarket. They are also labeled as “Steam Egg Noodle”
Chow mein noodles in packaging
These are the chow mein noodles I always buy from my local 99 Ranch or Chinese supermarket – the brand is Golden World!

Hong Kong Style Shrimp Chow Mein Noodles: Recipe Instructions

Marinate the Shrimp

The first step in making Hong Kong Style Shrimp Chow Mein Noodles is deveining (if not already deveined) and marinating your shrimp. Combine the raw shrimp in a mixing bowl with salt, white pepper, soy sauce, and baking soda. The baking soda will help keep the shrimp crisp and plump during the cooking process!

Next, mix the sauce by combining chicken stock, oyster sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil, white pepper, msg, sugar and shaoxing wine. I always like to premix my sauce to have it ready to go during the fast cooking process.

Once the sauce is mixed, blanch your chow mein noodles in boiling water for 30 seconds to remove the excess starch and rinse, drain, and pat them dry to remove any excess moisture. DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP! Otherwise, you may risk having soggy noodles!

Pan-Fry the Noodles

In a large nonstick pan, heat about 1/4 cup of neutral oil in the pan over medium high heat. Gently lay down your noodles as flat as possible, using tongs or chopsticks to evenly distribute them throughout the pan. Pan fry each side for 2-3 minutes, checking the bottom for a golden brown color. When flipping, it may be necessary to add more oil in order to crisp up the other side of the noodles.

When the noodles are done, they should have a deep golden brown color and crispy texture! Remove them and place them on a plate to drain.

Cook the Shrimp and Aromatics

In the same pan, add another tablespoon of neutral oil over medium high heat and sautรฉ your garlic, ginger, and scallion for 30 seconds. Add the marinated shrimp and cook for 1-2 minutes per side until about 75% cooked through (these will cook fully in the sauce).

Remove the shrimp and aromatics. Add another 1/2 tbsp of oil and sautรฉ your vegetables for 2-3 minutes until crisp.

Final sauce for hong kong style chow mein

Add the Sauce

Once the vegetables are sautรฉed, add the premixed sauce along with the shrimp and aromatics you cooked earlier. Bring to a boil and let the sauce reduce slightly (about 2 minutes).

Add the cornstarch slurry to the gravy and mix well over high heat until the sauce has thickened (refer to video and photos below for gravy consistency!)

Once the gravy is done, ladle the sauce and toppings over the pan fried noodles and enjoy your Hong Kong Style Shrimp Chow Mein Noodles! I love the contrasting textures of the crispy edges with the softened middle when the noodles are soaked in the gravy – it’s a contrasting textural delight!

hong kong chow mein noodles on a plate

Recipe Tips for Hong Kong Style Shrimp Chow Mein Noodles

PREMIX YOUR SAUCE

  • The cooking process for the sauce is FAST so itโ€™s a great idea to premix your sauce together, then add it straight into the pan! The corn starch will help thicken the sauce into that velvety texture that Chinese restaurants made so famous.

SUCCESS IS IN THE PREP

  • For a recipe that comes together extremely quickly, the key to pulling this recipe off successfully is having your ingredients prepped and in bowls right next to your wok or pan! Have your premixed sauce, chicken, and vegetables ready and easily accessible during the cooking process.

If you liked this Hong Kong Style Shrimp Chow Mein Noodles recipe, check out some of the most popular Chinese Take-Out recipes on the blog!

Love noodles? Make my 15 minute Chili Oil Noodles or one of my personal favorites, Beef Chow Fun!

If you tried this Hong Kong Style Shrimp Chow Mein Noodles or any other recipe on my website, please leave a ๐ŸŒŸ star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below!

5 from 16 votes

Hong Kong Style Shrimp Chow Mein Noodles

Servings: 4
Prep: 30 minutes
Cook: 15 minutes
Hong Kong Style Shrimp Chow Mein noodles close up
This crispy Hong Kong Chow Mein is just as good as the Chinese restaurants! Crispy pan fried noodles are smothered with a rich, luxurious gravy and fresh vegetables!

Ingredients 

Protein + Marinade

Remaining Ingredients

  • 2 cups baby bok choy
  • 5 oz mushrooms, I used oyster, seafood, and beech mushrooms
  • 1/4 cup onion, sliced
  • 2 scallions, cut into 2" pieces
  • 3 oz carrot, cut into 1" discs
  • 5 cloves garlic, chopped
  • 1 inch ginger, sliced
  • 1 lb chow mein noodles, I used fresh

Sauce (Gravy)

Cornstarch Slurry

Instructions 

  • Prepare and slice vegetables as directed. Separate garlic, ginger and scallion and set aside.
  • Place peeled and deveined shrimp in a mixing bowl and marinate with soy sauce, white pepper, salt, and baking soda. Set aside for 15 minutes.
  • Mix together 1 tbsp cornstarch + 1/2 cup water to create a cornstarch slurry. Set aside.
  • For the gravy, in a bowl mix together chicken stock, oyster sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil, white pepper, msg, sugar, and shaoxing wine.
  • Bring pot of water to a boil and blanch fresh chow mein noodles for 30 seconds. Immediately drain and dry on paper towel to remove excess moisture.
  • Take pan and heat 3 tbsp of neutral oil over medium high heat. Pan fry noodles until one side is crispy and takes on slight color (2-3 minutes). Flip and pan fry the other side, adding more oil if necessary and pan fry for another 2 minutes until both sides are crispy and the inside is soft.
  • To a hot wok or pan, add 1 tbsp of oil and saute garlic, ginger, and scallion for 30 seconds. Add marinated shrimp and cook over high heat until 75% cooked through and remove (about 2 minutes)
  • Add another tbsp of oil and sautรฉ onion, carrot, bok choy and mushrooms for 2 minutes. Add the premixed sauce and bring to a simmer over medium high heat, then add back shrimp, garlic and scallions to the pan. Let simmer for 2 minutes.
  • Re-mix the cornstarch slurry (cornstarch may have sunk to the bottom), then add it to the gravy mixture. Turn the heat to high and stir throughout until the gravy has thickened, about 1 minute
  • Immediately top vegetables, shrimp, and sauce directly over pan fried noodles.

Nutrition

Calories: 624kcalCarbohydrates: 96gProtein: 46gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 186mgSodium: 2097mgPotassium: 682mgFiber: 9gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 8880IUVitamin C: 59mgCalcium: 234mgIron: 6mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Chinese
Tried this recipe?Mention @cj.eats_ or tag #cjeatsrecipes!

About CJ

Iโ€™m a third generation Chinese-American home cook who has always loved cooking & eating! Welcome to my food blog, where you can find trusted, tested, easy & approachable recipes for the everyday home cook that taste delicious! I am so glad you're here!

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5 from 16 votes (4 ratings without comment)

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14 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    My favorite style of noodles and Iโ€™m so thankful that I get to make it at home whenever I crave it since not all Chinese restaurants have this on their menu.

  2. 5 stars
    My favorite style of noodles and Iโ€™m so thankful that I get to make it at home whenever I crave it since not all Chinese restaurants have this on their menu.