Lemongrass Chili Shrimp
Shrimp tossed in lemongrass chili oil.
Garlic Noodles. Narlic Goodles.
Savory, buttery, and addictive. Our take on this Vietnamese American classic is one of the most beloved dishes at Quan Hapa.
Order Now
How we Garlic the noodles?
We pan-fry linguine in butter with a generous amount of chopped fresh garlic and a soy sauce–based sauté sauce. Then we finish it with parmesan cheese and green onions. It’s bold, savory.
Specialty Style Garlic Noodles
Choose from our signature styles like Lemongrass Chili Shrimp, Bo Luc Lac, or Katsu — or keep it simple with the classic plain version.
Vietnamese Shaken Beef
Seared steak in a Bo Luc Lac sauce tossed in the garlic noodles.
Chicken Katsu
Crispy panko-breaded chicken served with savory tonkatsu sauce.
Tofu Katsu
Crispy panko tofu cutlets — a crunchy, satisfying plant-based option.
Classic Plain
Garlic noodles, savory and simple — buttery, garlicky.
Garlic Noodle History
Garlic noodles, originally created in 1975 by Chef Helene An at Thanh Long in San Francisco, blend Vietnamese and Italian influences into a rich, garlicky dish that quickly became a signature item. Designed to appeal to American tastes while staying rooted in Vietnamese flavors, the noodles are often paired with seafood like Dungeness crab. Over time, garlic noodles spread nationwide, with many Asian-fusion restaurants offering their own twists. Their popularity surged thanks to media features and celebrity attention, cementing their place as a beloved Vietnamese American classic now known as San Francisco Garlic Noodles.
Why they fit at Hapa?
“Hapa” means “half Asian,” and we live in that blend — Vietnamese roots, Asian-American culture, and bold flavors. This hybrid dish personifies what Quan Hapa is all about and is a homage to the original. Like many of our dishes, our garlic noodles aren’t “authentic” but they capture the spirit of sharing cultures & adding our own touch to push food and flavors forward.
Timeline
Our garlic noodles keep evolving — here’s a quick look at how they’ve grown over time.
Garlic Noodles
FAQ
Are your garlic noodles vegetarian?
Not at the moment, but we are working on it.
What kind of noodles do you use?
We use linguine — it holds the sauce well and has a great texture.
I normally see it with Asian style noodles. Why don't you use them?
Good for you. We tested various styles of noodles, and for us, linguine held up the best and we didn't want to be lo mein
Are they spicy?
No, the base version is not spicy. You can request chili oil or spicy protein add-ons.
Can I add protein?
Definitely. Try them with shrimp, shaken beef, chicken katsu, or tofu.
Are your garlic noodles gluten-free?
No. Both the noodles and sauce contain gluten.
Where did garlic noodles come from?
They were first created in San Francisco by Chef Helene An in the 1970s and have since become a Vietnamese American favorite.