Longevity Noodles with Mushroom Recipe (Yi Mein)

by Christian Ou on February 8, 2026

5 from 1 review

Longevity noodles (Yi Mein) stir-fried with shiitake mushrooms and savory sauce, symbolizing long life and prosperity—an classic Chinese dish for Lunar New Year celebrations.

Longevity Noodles with Mushroom Recipe Yi Mein

Long, saucy noodles tossed with mushrooms, garlic, and chives — Longevity Noodles are one of the simplest yet most meaningful dishes you can make. The flavor is savory, slightly smoky from dark soy sauce, and rich with umami from mushrooms and oyster sauce.

If you don’t know what to cook for Lunar New Year, check out my Top 12 Favorite Dishes for Chinese New Year. Here are some of my favorite noodle dishes to make: Better than Take-Out Chicken Chow Mein, Zha Jian Mian Fried Sauce Noodles, and Beef Yaki Udon Noodles.

What Are The Different Types of Longevity Noodles?

Different regions use different noodles depending on tradition and availability. No matter which noodle you use, the most important thing is to keep them long and don’t cut them because long noodles symbolize a long life, good health, and lasting happiness!

Yi Mein, or E-Fu Noodles, are the most classic noodles used for longevity dishes. They’re wheat noodles that are deep-fried before drying, which gives them a slightly spongy texture that soaks up the sauce easily. Egg Noodles and Hand-Pull Noodles are other popular choices because they’re easy to find in most grocery stores.

Why Longevity Noodles Are Symbolic

Longevity Noodles are traditionally eaten during Lunar New Year and birthdays because the long, uncut noodles symbolize long life, good health, and enduring happiness. The key tradition is to keep the noodles as long as possible while cooking and eating — breaking them is said to shorten luck! Serving this dish is a way of wishing loved ones a long, smooth year ahead.

How to Cook Longevity Noodles

Make the Sauce: Combine mushroom water, soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, sugar, salt, and white pepper. Set aside.

Cook the Noodles: Cook noodles according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.

Stir Fry Aromatics: Heat oil in a wok over medium-high heat. Add garlic, shallots, and mushrooms. Sauté until fragrant.

Add Noodles & Sauce: Add the noodles and pour in the sauce. Toss to combine.

Step 5: Add chives or green onion.

Step 6: Stir and cook for 1-2 minutes until the chives turn bright green and slightly wilted.

How to Serve Longevity Noodles

These are my favorite dishes to serve with Longevity Noodles:

Braised Lion’s Head Meatballs
Sweet & Sour Pork
Taiwanese Three Cup Chicken (San Bei Ji)
Chinese Steamed Whole Fish
Stir Fried Morning Glory with Garlic

Substitutions

Yi Mein: If you can’t find yi mein, you can also use wheat noodles, spaghetti, or fresh egg noodles.
Add protein: Chicken, shrimp, or tofu work well.
Extra veggies: Bean sprouts, napa cabbage, or snow peas.
Vegetarian: Use vegetarian oyster sauce (mushroom sauce).

Equipment

Large Cooking Wok

How to Store and Reheat

To Store: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days.
To Reheat: Microwave until warm.

Top Tips for Success

Don’t overcook noodles – slightly undercook so they don’t get mushy when stir-fried.

Use high heat – Quick cooking keeps noodles bouncy and prevents sogginess.

Prep sauce ahead – Have sauce ready before cooking — stir fries move fast.

Toss gently – Avoid breaking the noodles too much.

Serve immediately – Best texture right after cooking.

Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

Lunar New Year Series NOODLES