Cantonese Soy Sauce Chow Mein. Chow mein noodles fried in a green and onion oil with soy sauce and sesame oil. Simple and delicious. A popular Chinese side dish often served at restaurants, Chinese takeaway or for dim sum. It pairs well with your favourite protein of choice and veggies.

It’s easy to make at home and you’ll only need 7 ingredients to make this dish and only 15 minutes of your time.
What are Cantonese fried noodles?
They are steamed chow mein noodles pan fried in some oil along with green onions, yellow onions and lightly coated in soy sauce with sesame oil and seeds. Optionally, you can add bean sprouts for extra crunch and taste.
Easy to make!
This Cantonese chow mein is simple to make at home! You’ll first steam your Cantonese steamed chow mein noodles. Then remove them from the steamer after the 5-minute mark.
Then in a large wok over high heat, add oil and let that smoke. If you’re using a non-stick pan, you can skip the smoking part and set the heat to medium. Then once it smokes, add your yellow onions, and let that cook until it becomes translucent.
Quickly throw in your green onions and noodles. Optional: if you want to add bean sprouts, this is the time to add them. Season the noodles with your regular and dark soy sauce and sesame oil. Give it a good mix. Remove off the heat and garnish with sesame seeds and more green onion, optional.
Watch how I made it!
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Tips
Below are tips on making the best noodles with soy sauce and sesame oil:
- Make sure to buy the steamed chow mein. It will say “steamed”. If you can’t find this and you can only find the kind that is not steamed, you will need to steam them according to package instructions.
- Do not boil the chow mein even though it says too. I find this creates the chance for soggy noodles.
- Prepare all your ingredients ahead of time as the cooking process will be super quick (only 5 minutes in the wok).
- Cut the onions and green onions into 1-inch-long thin pieces.
- Wash the bean sprouts well, a few washes to remove any odor. Make sure you use fresh bean sprouts. Sometimes if you use bean sprouts that are older, it emits a funky smell.
- Have your seasoning ingredients ready to toss over the noodles?
- Once the noodles are mixed with the ingredients, remove off heat immediately. You do not have to overcook the noodles.
FAQ
Below are frequently asked questions about these Hong Kong style noodles:
What kind of noodles should I use?
Cantonese steamed chow mein noodles.
Where can I find these noodles?
Most Asian grocers will carry them in the fresh noodle section. Sometimes they can be found in the freezer aisle.
What kind of soy sauce should I use?
Regular and dark soy sauce. Both can be found at most Asian grocers in the sauce aisle.
Can I use mung bean sprouts?
Of course! But just note that the mung beans have a larger bean attached to the sprout.
What are Cantonese noodles made of?
They're made of wheat flour, egg and water.
Other recipes you may like!
If you enjoyed this Cantonese soy sauce noodles recipe, you may enjoy these other recipes:
CHICKEN SHRIMP CHOW MEIN
CHICKEN TOFU VEGETABLE CHOW MEIN
CHINESE LO MEIN
CANTONESE VEGETABLE CHOW MEIN
CHINESE VEGGIE LO MEIN
TOFU VEGETABLE CHOW MEIN
For this recipe
You will need the following ingredients for these Cantonese soy sauce fried noodles:
- 425 steamed chow mein noodles
- 2 stalks green onion, sliced into 1-inch-long pieces
- 1 yellow onion, sliced thinly
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp dark soy sauce
- Two tbsp sesame oil
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- Optional: sesame seeds
- Optional: 200 grams bean sprouts, washed and strained thoroughly
How to make Cantonese soy sauce pan-fried noodles
- Slice your green and yellow onion into thin pieces as specified above. Prepare your sauce ingredients ahead of time.
- In a large wok or steamer, fill it with enough water. Place a wired rack into the steamer and your plate of chow mein noodles on top of the wired rack. Cover and steam the noodles over high heat for 5 minutes.
- Remove the wired rack and clean out the wok of it’s liquids. Set it over high heat. Wait for it to smoke. If you’re using a non-stick pan, set the pan over medium heat and skip the smoking part. Then add vegetable oil and allow the oil to smoke. Quickly add your yellow onions and cook until translucent.
- Then quickly add green onions and give it a mix.
- Then swiftly add the steamed noodles, regular soy sauce, dark soy sauce and sesame oil. Optional: if you’re adding bean sprouts, add them here.
- Mix everything together and you can lower the heat to medium heat. Once everything is mixed, transfer to a serving plate immediately. Optional: garnish with more sesame seeds and green onions. Serve and enjoy!
Give it a try!
Well, I hope you give my Cantonese Soy Sauce Chow Mein a try! It always excites me when you guys make my recipes and I hope this is one you try.
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Easy 15 min. Cantonese Soy Sauce Chow Mein
Ingredients
- 425 grams Cantonese Steamed Chow Mein Noodles
- 2 stalks green onion sliced into 1-inch-long pieces
- 1 yellow onion sliced thinly
- 2 tbsp regular soy sauce not light or dark!
- 2 tbsp dark soy sauce
- 2 tbsp sesame oil
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- Optional: 200 grams bean sprouts washed and strained thoroughly
- ½ tsp sesame seeds optional garnish
Instructions
- Slice your green and yellow onion into thin pieces as specified above. Prepare your sauce ingredients ahead of time.
- In a large wok or steamer, fill it with enough water. Place a wired rack into the steamer and your plate of chow mein noodles on top of the wired rack. Cover and steam the noodles over high heat for 5 minutes.
- Remove the wired rack and clean out the wok of it’s liquids. Set it over high heat. Wait for it to smoke. If you’re using a non-stick pan, set the pan over medium heat and skip the smoking part. Then add vegetable oil and allow the oil to smoke. Quickly add your yellow onions and cook until translucent.
- Then quickly add green onions and give it a mix.
- Then swiftly add the steamed noodles, regular soy sauce, dark soy sauce and sesame oil. Optional: if you’re adding bean sprouts, add them here.
- Mix everything together and you can lower the heat to medium heat. Once everything is mixed, transfer to a serving plate immediately. Optional: garnish with more sesame seeds and green onions. Serve and enjoy!
NOTES
Chow Mein is one of my favorite meals, but I've never tried it with Soy Sauce. Thanks so much for this great idea!
Looks delicious, such a classic Chinese dish!
The noodles look perfectly sauced!
this soy sauce chow mein is EXACTLY what I have been craving!! I just bought light & dark soy sauce, so this is what I'm making this weekend!
I am new to cooking Chinese food. What noodles do I purchase for this recipe? Are these chow mein noodles the dry, crisp ones?
You are looking for "Steamed Chow Mein Noodles" on the package. These noodles are made of egg, flour and water. When deep fried in oil they do become the dry crispy ones.
I cannot find steamed chow mein noodles anywhere just regular egg noodles and stir fry noodles. Any suggestions?
I would suggest using the stir fry noodles in your case.
The best!!!! I tried making this for the family last night - I only adjusted recipe by adding in shredded green cabbage to the mix! Was exactly like the dish at my favorite restaurant from when I was younger!!! SO GOOD! Great recipe! Thank you 🙂
Thank you for making my recipe Rachel! I'm so glad you enjoyed it and great idea to add some shredded cabbage 🙂 Have a lovely day!