All recipes

Cao Lầu (Vietnamese Noodle Bowl)

Cao Lầu (Vietnamese Noodle Bowl) layers springy rice noodles with tender, five-spice–marinated pork, crisp bean sprouts, and fresh herbs for a vibrant, balanced bite. Fragrant garlic and soy lend savory depth while basil and cilantro add brightness, making it ideal for a satisfying lunch or weeknight dinner when you crave bold, fresh flavors.

  • Prep20 mins
  • Cook15 mins
  • Serves6
  • DifficultyEasy
Cao Lầu (Vietnamese Noodle Bowl)
  1. 1

    Whisk the soy sauce, garlic, five-spice powder, sugar, paprika, and bouillon granules in a large glass or ceramic bowl. Add the pork and toss to coat evenly. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.

  2. 2

    Remove the pork from the marinade and shake off the excess. Discard the remaining marinade.

  3. 3

    Heat the oil in a large skillet or wok over medium heat. Cook and stir the pork in the hot oil until browned, 4 to 7 minutes. Add the water; cook and stir until the water evaporates and the pork is cooked through, about 2 minutes more.

  4. 4

    Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Rinse the rice noodles under cold water and gently separate them. Submerge the noodles in the boiling water until about half-tender, about 30 seconds. Add the bean sprouts to the water and noodles; continue cooking until the noodles are tender yet slightly firm, about 30 seconds more. Drain.

  5. 5

    Combine the noodles and pork mixture in a large serving dish. Top with the lettuce, green onions, basil, cilantro, and chow mein.

About This Recipe

Cao Lầu (Vietnamese Noodle Bowl) is a Vietnamese dinner recipe made with 16 ingredients. It takes about 35 mins, serves 6, and is rated easy. Key ingredients include Bean Sprouts, Chicken Bouillon, Chow Mein Noodles, and Five Spice. Each serving provides about 776.94 kcal, and is a good source of protein.

Recipe Questions

What is Cao Lầu (Vietnamese Noodle Bowl)?
It is a Vietnamese recipe made with 16 ingredients, usually served for dinner or lunch.
What is Cao Lầu (Vietnamese Noodle Bowl) made of?
The main ingredients are Bean Sprouts, Chicken Bouillon, Chow Mein Noodles, Five-Spice, Fresh Basil. The full list of 16 is above.
What goes well with Cao Lầu (Vietnamese Noodle Bowl)?
Explore these Vietnamese side-dish recipes.
How long does it take to make Cao Lầu (Vietnamese Noodle Bowl)?
About 35 mins in total: 20 mins to prepare and 15 mins to cook.
How many calories are in one serving?
One serving provides about 776.94 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
Is Cao Lầu (Vietnamese Noodle Bowl) easy to make?
This recipe is rated easy, with 16 ingredients and 5 steps.

How easyChef Pro Scores This Recipe

easyChef Pro gives every recipe a health score from 0 to 100, built from more than 30 nutritional parameters including nutrient density, energy density and glycemic impact. It calculates rather than estimates, so the same recipe returns the same score every time.

The number is traceable. You can see exactly which nutrient moved it, so a dish scoring 78 might show fiber pushing it up while sodium pulls it down, alongside the NOVA processing level of each ingredient.

Your health goal changes the calculation itself, not just a filter. easyChef Pro applies clinically derived weighting across six health dimensions, which is why the same dish can score well for one goal and poorly for another.

Swap an ingredient or change the serving size and that math changes with it. Scoring your own version is the only way to see what your kitchen actually produces.

Modified this recipe?

Changing ingredients or serving sizes changes the nutrition profile. Score your own version with easyChef Pro to see how it compares.

Learn More