Gyu Kaku Garlic Noodles Recipe

Gyu Kaku Garlic Noodles Recipe

Intro

And there was a single dish that I might eat nearly daily without a word of complaint, it would be this warm and buttery and garlicky bowl of goodness called the Gyu Kaku Garlic Noodles Recipe. 

Even the thought of it sends me searching to get out of everything and rush to my kitchen to begin boiling noodles. Something about that rich garlic smell combined with soy sauce, butter, and a bit of sweetness makes me feel hugged by food. 

And, trust me, after you prepare this at home, you may not be tempted to go to the restaurant at any time soon, as it is so easy and so pay-off-your-money good.


What are Gyu Kaku Garlic Noodles?

At its core, Gyu Kaku Garlic Noodles is a simple Japanese American fusion meal at the chain of popular yakiniku outlets, Gyu Kaku. As you can remember, the menu of the restaurant is full of grilled meats, sizzling plates, and bold sauces, in case you have ever been there. The garlic noodles are, however, the unsung hero of the entire menu.

They are:

  • Soft, a bit buttery noodles
  • Dipped into a shiny sauce composed of soy, sesame, garlic, butter and a small amount of sweetness
  • Perfectly balanced between savoury and comforting

It is not heavy-handed, yet bold, and it goes with absolutely anything: grilled beef, shrimp, and veggies.

Among the things that I love is that the noodles have an easy and complicated taste. The flavours are easily detectable, yet a combination results in a bite that is seriously crave-worthy. It is a type of food that you eat till the bowl is empty, then you start thinking that maybe you should have a little bit more.


The Account of My Discovery of This

The Gyu Kaku Garlic Noodles Recipe is something that I was introduced to altogether without any plan. I was going out with my friends on a birthday, and one of them strongly insisted, almost trying to push me, that we had to order the garlic noodles. 

I remember thinking, “Really? Of all these grilled things and dainties so entitled to sound, we are receiving noodles? However, as they came, shiny and aromatic, I made a single bite and immediately saw the buzz.

Since that time, I understood that I must bring them home. And because she is a woman chef who lives to experiment in the kitchen, this has become my mini obsession at the time.


Equipment List

The preparation of garlic noodles does not involve many things. You are likely to have it all you require.

  • A pot of medium size to boil noodles in
  • A large skillet or wok
  • A whisk
  • A medium bowl to mix the sauce with
  • A colander
  • Tongs or chopsticks
  • Cutting board and knife

That is it. Strauss tools to a Strauss dish.


Ingredients

This ingredient list is simple, yet each element in this Gyu Kaku Garlic Noodles Recipe is full of flavour. Here is what you will need:

For the noodles

  • 8 oz. yakisoba noodles or spaghetti
  • Water and salt for boiling

For the garlic butter sauce

  • 4 tablespoons butter
  • 6 to 8 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
  • 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1 tablespoon sugar (add more to taste)
  • 1 tablespoon of mirin or a splash of rice vinegar (optional)

For garnish

  • Chopped green onions
  • Toasted sesame seeds
  • Chilli flakes (crushed, optional)

Instructions

Prep the noodles

Boil a pot of salty water. Cook the noodles as per the package instructions until they are tender. Do not overcook them. Drain and set aside.

Make the garlic base

Melt the butter in a big skillet on medium heat. Add minced garlic and cook until it is no longer brown. This is necessary since when garlic burns up, it becomes bitter.

Blend the sauce

Combine the soy sauce, oyster sauce, hoisin, sesame oil, sugar and Mirin in a small bowl in case of their presence. This mixture should be poured into the skillet containing the garlic butter.

Add the noodles

Put the noodles in the skillet and mix them up until all the noodles are covered with the smooth, glossy sauce. Tongs/ chopsticks are best used.

Adjust seasoning

Taste and adjust. Add additional sprinkles of soy in case it is not salty, sugar to create a balance, or butter to add richness.

Garnish and serve

Top with green sliced onion, chilli flakes, or sesame seeds. Pour at once, and hopefully when the steam is fairly coming out in little noodle clouds.


Why You Will Fall in Love With These Garlic Noodles

It has dozens of reasons, but I would include a breakdown of the large ones.

  1. They are easy.
    The Gyu Kaku Garlic Noodles Recipe can be made in a short time and even during a weekday when you are tired and your brain is as dry as a dry raisin.
  2. They are extremely multifaceted.
    Add any protein and turn it into a full meal.
    • Grilled chicken
    • Shrimp
    • Tofu
  3. The taste is universal.
    Kids love it. Adults love it. Even picky eaters love it.

Familiarity with the Flavour Profile

Now, it is time to discuss taste, as this dish is a masterpiece of harmony.

  • Garlic: The star. Warmth, aroma, depth.
  • Butter: Creamy, smoothing harsh flavours into one bite.
  • Soy sauce: The umami anchor—savoury and salty.
  • Oyster sauce: Viscous, rich, slightly sweet.
  • Hoisin sauce: Sweet, smoky, sticky, glossy.
  • Sugar: Balances salt and garlic.
  • Sesame oil: Nutty and fragrant; a little is enough.

All ingredients serve a purpose, and when they are combined, you get a meal that is highly flavorful and yet delicately so.

Gyu Kaku Garlic Noodles Recipe

Choosing the Right Noodles

The decision on your noodles can even transform the personality of the plate.

  • Yakisoba or ramen noodles: Best; spongy, clingy, absorbent.
  • Spaghetti: Works surprisingly well.
  • Rice noodles: Gluten-free but lighter.
  • Udon: Thick and filling; heavier dish.

My personal preference is to use yakisoba since the texture is just perfect. However, when all you possess is spaghetti, then there is no need to despair; the Gyu Kaku Garlic Noodles Recipe still comes out fine.


Tips From My Kitchen

I have a few things to tell you, having made these noodles more than once, as I dare not say.

  1. Do not burn the garlic
    Believe me, when garlic is burnt, the party is liquidated.
  2. Use real butter
    This is no moment to deal with substitutes. Butter brings the magic into being.
  3. Taste the sauce and add noodles.
    You can fine-tune it to ensure that it is ideal at all times.
  4. Serve immediately
    Noodles are freshly prepared. They become shine-less when they take too long.
  5. Add heat if you like it
    A small amount of chilli paste or red pepper flakes works wonders.

Fun Add-Ins and Variations

As it is, the Gyu Kaku Garlic Noodles Recipe is fine; however, you can put your own touch to it. My favourite variations are the following:

  • Shrimp garlic pasta: Fry shrimp in butter, garlic and add at the end.
  • Chicken garlic noodles: A complete dinner with grilled chicken slices.
  • Vegetable noodles: Add mushrooms, bell peppers, bok choy or broccoli.
  • Spicy noodles: Add chilli garlic sauce or sriracha.
  • Garlic noodles: Add half and half or cream to make it extra creamy.

Serving Suggestions

These noodles need no gilding; they are also unbelievably good in the company of:

  • Grilled steak
  • Short ribs
  • Roasted veggies
  • Teriyaki chicken
  • Fried eggs
  • Pan-seared salmon

Essentially, they accompany all things.


And the next thing is how to make it feel even more like the restaurant

When you want to experience the flavour of the restaurant to its fullest extent, here is what you should do:

  • Use yakisoba noodles.
  • Add slightly more oyster sauce than you think you are going to need.
  • Finally, stir-fry over high heat to add a hint of smoky taste.
  • Just before eating, add a small knob of additional butter.

It is these minute details that make one truly experience the atmosphere of the Gyu Kaku Garlic Noodles Recipe being served at the table.


How to Store and Reheat

These noodles are good to keep, but they are always best fresh.

To store:

Store in an airtight container for no more than 3 days.

To reheat:

Revive in heat in a skillet with a splash of water or butter.
Do not microwave as much as possible; this dries the noodles.


Can You Meal Prep This?

Yes, however, I would recommend keeping the sauce and the noodles separately. Stirring everything in a refrigerator will eventually leave the noodles too full of sauces, causing them to become sticky.

Rather, boil the noodles, rinse under a little running water and dry. Store the sauce in a jar, and mix it when you are about to have dinner.


Why This Gyu Kaku Garlic Noodles Recipe Matters to Me

Being a chef, I am fond of recipes that look easy to prepare but are big in flavour. This one does exactly that. It is also the sort of food that makes me remember the reason why I fell in love with cooking in the beginning. It is daring, reassuring, and such a pleasure to divulge.

I like its approachability as well. It does not require any special skills, ingredients or complex techniques. Nevertheless, the outcome is like you have eaten out somewhere and paid much more than you ought to pay.


Final Thoughts

The Gyu Kaku Garlic Noodles Recipe has been one of the favourite comfort foods in my life, not only due to the flavour it gives, but also the ease with which it is prepared. No matter how many people you are cooking for or a large group, this dish never fails you. It is hot, smelly, fatty, garlicky, and ideal on any night of the week.

When you like intense tastes, simple meals and warm foods that enable you to shut down your eyes and smile, then this will be your new noodle dish.

Allow yourself to have fun and make it personal, taste in between, and have fun. Happy cooking!

More Amazing Recipes:

Gyu Kaku Garlic Noodles Recipe

Gyu Kaku Garlic Noodles Recipe

Olivia Brooks
Try this easy Gyu Kaku garlic noodles recipe packed with garlic, butter, soy, and hoisin. A rich, quick comfort dish made with simple pantry staples.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Japanese American Fusion
Servings 2
Calories 520 kcal

Equipment

  • A pot of medium size to boil noodles in
  • A large skillet or wok
  • A whisk
  • A medium bowl to mix the sauce with
  • A colander
  • Tongs or chopsticks
  • Cutting board and knife

Ingredients
  

For the noodles

  • 8 oz. yakisoba noodles or spaghetti
  • Water and salt for boiling

For the garlic butter sauce

  • 4 tablespoons butter
  • 6 to 8 garlic cloves minced
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
  • 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1 tablespoon sugar add more to taste
  • 1 tablespoon of mirin or a splash of rice vinegar optional

For garnish

  • Chopped green onions
  • Toasted sesame seeds
  • Chilli flakes crushed, optional

Instructions
 

Prep the noodles

  • Boil a pot of salty water. Cook the noodles as per the package instructions until they are tender. Do not overcook them. Drain and set aside.

Make the garlic base

  • Melt the butter in a big skillet on medium heat. Add minced garlic and cook until it is no longer brown. This is necessary since when garlic burns up, it becomes bitter.

Blend the sauce

  • Combine the soy sauce, oyster sauce, hoisin, sesame oil, sugar and Mirin in a small bowl in case of their presence. This mixture should be poured into the skillet containing the garlic butter.

Add the noodles

  • Put the noodles in the skillet and mix them up until all the noodles are covered with the smooth, glossy sauce. Tongs/ chopsticks are best used.

Adjust seasoning

  • Taste and adjust. Add additional sprinkles of soy in case it is not salty, sugar to create a balance, or butter to add richness.

Garnish and serve

  • Top with green sliced onion, chilli flakes, or sesame seeds. Pour at once, and hopefully when the steam is fairly coming out in little noodle clouds.
Keyword Gyu Kaku Garlic Noodles Recipe
Hi, Iโ€™m Olivia Brooks! Cooking is my passion, and I love turning everyday ingredients into meals that bring joy to the table. On CulinaryPearl, I share simple recipes, helpful kitchen tips, and inspiration for food lovers everywhere