Japchae - Korean Noodles

Recipe video above. Sort of a stir fry, sort of a noodle salad, this big, colourful Korean noodle dish is tossed together in a bowl rather than on the stove and served barely warm. Made with chewy, slippery sweet potato noodles (dangmyeon) which are available in large grocery stores, though can be substitute with glass noodles (bean thread noodles) or vermicelli noodles in a pinch.Makes a big batch - leftovers make for a terrific lunch!

Prep time: PT20M

Cook time: PT15M

Rating

4.86 stars (35 reviews)

Keywords

japchae, korean glass noodles

Ingredients

600g/1.2lb bone-in beef short ribs *RECOMMENDED* ((300g/10oz boneless))
300g/10 oz boneless beef short ribs *RECOMMENDED*
300g/10oz scotch fillet / boneless rib eye (or other steak, recommend tenderising (Note 1))
2 tsp soy sauce (, all-purpose or light soy (Note 2))
2 tsp white sugar
2 tsp finely minced garlic
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/4 cup soy sauce (, all-purpose or light soy (Note 2))
2 tsp white sugar
1/2 tsp finely minced garlic
1 1/2 tbsp sesame oil
1/2 tsp cooking/kosher salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
250g/ 8oz sweet potato noodles ((dangmyeon), dried (Note 3))
4 tbsp vegetable oil ((or other plain oil))
1 tsp cooking/kosher salt (, divided)
1 onion (, peeled, halved, sliced into 6mm/1/4" wedges)
3 green onion stems (, cut into 5cm / 2" lengths, white & green parts separated)
200g/7oz fresh shiitake mushrooms (, stem removed, cut into 5mm/1/5" slices (Note 4))
2 carrots (, peeled, cut into 3mm / 1/8" batons)
1 red capsicum/bell pepper (, cut into 0.5cm / 1/5" slices)
4 1/2 cups (tightly packed) baby spinach
2 tbsp white sesame seeds

Cuisine

Korean

Steps

Quick beef marinade:
- Cut beef into strips that are ~ 5mm thick, 1cm wide and about 5cm long (1/5" x 2/5" x 2"). If using shortribs, trim excess fat, cut the meat off the bone. Then cut each piece in half lengthwise (to form 2 "steaks") then slice into 5mm thick. (See step photos in post or video at 0.11s, Note 6)
- Marinate - Put beef in a bowl. Add marinade ingredients, then mix. Set aside marinate while you proceed with recipe, ~15 - 20 minutes is all it needs. (Note 5)
Sauce and noodles:
- Sauce - Mix the Sauce ingredients in a very large mixing bowl.
- Noodles - Cook sweet potato noodles per packet directions (normally 8 min in boiling water). Drain, briefly rinse under tap water then shake off excess water well. Add noodles into the bowl with the dressing. DO NOT MIX.
Vegetables:
- Batch 1 - Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a large non-stick pan (30cm/12") over high heat. Cook the brown onion, white part of green onion and shiitake mushrooms with 1/2 tsp salt for 2 1/2 to 3 minutes, stirring constantly, just until starting to soften but not going golden. Pour on top of the noodles - don't mix yet!
- Batch 2 - Using the same pan still on high heat, heat 1 tbsp oil then cook the carrot and capsicum for 1 1/2 minutes, constantly stirring. Add spinach, green onion and the final 1/2 tsp salt. Keep cooking for 1 1/2 minutes until the spinach is wilted. Transfer into the noodle bowl - still don't mix!
- Cook beef - In the same pan, heat the final 1 tbsp of oil still on high heat. Add beef and cook for 1 1/2 minutes until very lightly golden and just cooked through. Add to the noodle bowl. Don't mix!
- Mix! Add most of the sesame seeds (reserve some for topping). NOW you can mix! Toss, toss, toss.
- Serve - Transfer into a serving bowl, sprinkle with remaining sesame seeds. This is meant to be eaten warm, not piping hot. Eat!

Nutitrion

Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 504 kcal
Carbohydrates: 58 g
Protein: 18 g
Fat: 24 g
Saturated Fat: 4 g
Trans Fat: 0.04 g
Cholesterol: 35 mg
Sodium: 1590 mg
Sugar: 9 g
Unsaturated Fat: 18 g

Reviews

Izzy on 2025-08-06 (5 stars):
AMAZING!!!! I tried Japchae at a local Korean restaurant and I was hooked. This recipe tastes just like it! Very easy to follow, full of favor, and a 10 out of 10! Cannot recommend enough!!
Savannah on 2025-08-02 (5 stars):
This website was very helpful and provided useful information and guidance to make this delicious dish , all ingredients complemented each other perfectly!
Nikki Christie on 2025-06-14 (5 stars):
OMG, this was so awesome! The short rib meat really made all the difference, thanks for that tip. This is definitely going into my dinner rotation.
Elaine on 2025-05-18 (5 stars):
Another amazing recipe, I skip the meat, but it was still so delicious. I will definitely make this again.
Ariel on 2025-01-10 (4 stars):
The flavour of the meat was lovely and for the most part was just like my favourite japchae at our local korean restaurant. The noodle sauce was a bit too salty from the soy sauce and I had to add more sugar to the dish to offset it. Would probably halve the soy sauce amount next time.
Meiling Akbarally on 2024-11-28 (5 stars):
Made this a couple of times now. So delicious!
Lilia on 2024-11-20 (5 stars):
So good!! Just like my favourite takeaways. Who knew it was so easy to make, I’m hooked
Christind on 2024-11-12 (5 stars):
I had never heard of or tasted Japchae until recently. I was instantly enamored. Prepared and cooked for the first time yesterday. Thank you for the detailed and step-by-step instructions. Absolutely scrumptious. This will join my Best of the Best binder straight off. Thank you so much for expanding my horizons and teaching an older dog new tricks!
Ashley on 2024-10-13 (5 stars):
Since coming back from Korea I've been on a Korean cooking kick and this recipe did not disappoint! I was making for 2 and couldn't find cheap short rib so opted for a porterhouse steak which we cut thin and BBQ'd instead of pan frying. I already can't wait to make this dish again!
Bster on 2024-08-18 (4 stars):
Hello, I tried several recipes for Japchae. But this recipe came out top of my list❣️ I believe difference is that this doesn’t stir fry after boil the noodles. Thank you for sharing great recipes 💗
Dinny Schmidt on 2024-07-27 (5 stars):
Does this freeze well?
Dinny Schmidt on 2024-07-17 (5 stars):
This was amazing!! I’ve looked for years for a Japchae recipe that’s tastes like my Korean friend used to make. This finally had that authentic taste. My family loved it too. Thank you!
Dee on 2024-07-06 (5 stars):
Love Love Love this recipe, it was such a hit for a salad to accompany a BBQ, thanks so much
A on 2024-06-20 (5 stars):
Delicious first time and as leftovers!
Michelle C on 2024-06-05 (5 stars):
Lovely recipe but two things. The times seem very short. I’m a quick cook usually and it took me 1.25h from start to finish including cutting meat. Also. How do you mix it at the end?! I think I need to go to the gym and work on arm power! It is sure a workout!
Ali B on 2024-05-05 (5 stars):
We make this delicious Jap Chae regularly as a vegetarian side dish. That means cutting out the beef and beef marinade sections. I use reconstituted dried shitake mushroom. I tend to cut out the onion as I find the green onion as well as the garlic in the noodle sauce (which is pretty much raw) provides enough allum notes!
Mary on 2024-04-06 (4 stars):
Another great recipe, thank you Nagi! I made this for dinner tonight, both my husband and son just loved it. I followed your recipe exactly and it turned out delish! Definitely a do-over!