Make a takeout staple at home in 30 minutes, with just 15 minutes of cooking time! This Shrimp Lo Mein recipe with tender egg noodles, crispy vegetables, and juicy shrimp is easy to make and customize with your favorite add-ins. 

shrimp lo mein in a ceramic bowl with white chopsticks
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What is Lo Mein and How Does it Differ from Chow Mein?

Lo mein translates to “tossed noodles,” with mein (or mian) being the Chinese word for “noodles.” The dish differs from Chow mein (“fried noodles”) in cooking style and composition.

Lo mein noodles are boiled separately from the stir-fry. Once cooked, the soft noodles are tossed into the pan with the stir-fried vegetables and protein (chicken, beef, shrimp, etc.), coating them with sauce.

Chow mein noodles are only par-cooked before being finished in oil in the stir-fry pan itself. Chow mein is typically less saucy than lo mein with fewer vegetable and protein add-ins. Fried chow mein noodles are crispier than boiled and tossed lo mein noodles.*

*Source: Chow Mein vs Lo Mein from the San-J blog. Check out the article for an in-depth comparison.

All of this having been said, I’ve noticed regional differences in how these terms are used in the United States. What most of my West Coast friends call “Chow mein” is a steamed noodle dish closer to what we know as “Lo mein” on the East Coast. For crispy noodles, friends have told me that they order “Hong Kong Style Chow Mein.”

About Lo Mein Noodles

Chinese lo mein noodles are long egg noodles, typically about 1/8- to 1/4- inch thick. You can find them fresh, frozen, or dried.

Whenever possible, I like to use fresh lo mein noodles. Like most fresh pasta, they only take a few minutes to cook to al dente, depending on the thickness.

You can buy fresh lo mein noodles in the refrigerated section of most Asian markets. They’ll be a light yellow in color, and should be either used or frozen within a couple of days of purchasing. They mold if held too long in the refrigerator.

ingredients for shrimp lo mein in bowls

My regular grocery store also stocks the same brand of “fresh” noodles that I buy at the Asian market in their freezer section. Honestly, when they’re defrosted, they’re just as good as buying fresh. I defrost mine overnight in the refrigerator before using.

If you’re unable to buy fresh or frozen, you can also use dried lo mein noodles. They will take closer to 5-6 minutes to boil to al dente. I often see them in the International aisle at the regular grocery store.

In a pinch, you can also substitute long pasta, such as thick spaghetti, bucatini, or linguine. It won’t be authentic to takeout, but it’s an option if you’re unable to source Lo mein noodles.

Regardless of the noodles you use, it’s important to make sure that you don’t overcook them when boiling. You want them to be tender, but not so soft that they’ll fall apart when you toss them with the rest of the ingredients.

Fun read: want to learn more about Chinese egg noodle styles? Check out Chinese Noodles 101 from Serious Eats.

sauce for shrimp lo mein in a bowl with a whisk

Making Shrimp Lo Mein

Lo Mein is an easy recipe that’s perfect for a weeknight meal. You can even prep the sauce and vegetables ahead to make this dinner just as quick as calling for takeout.

Shopping for shrimp? I use the 26/30 count size in this recipe. Check out my Shrimp Sizes guide before heading to the market for more info about shrimp count labeling.

Do I Need a Wok for Lo Mein?

No. You can make lo mein in either a wok or a large non-stick skillet (12-inches). For home stoves, more important than the wok vs. skillet distinction is making sure that your pan is hot enough to stir fry the ingredients without steaming them.

For the best flavors and textures, you want the pan to be quite hot so that you can quickly cook the vegetables to crisp tender, and the shrimp until juicy and opaque. This will only take a couple of minutes for each element!

What Vegetables Can I Use?

You can add just about any vegetables you like to your lo mein! My favorites are snow peas, carrots, scallions, water chestnuts, bamboo shoots, and mung bean sprouts.

Other popular additions are sliced yellow onions, bell pepper strips, shredded Napa cabbage, mushrooms, and broccoli. If you can stir-fry it, you can add it to your lo mein.

shrimp lo mein cooked in a wok with snow peas and carrots

Making Lo Mein Sauce

The sauce for Shrimp Lo Mein is a fairly simple combination of dark and light soy sauces, Shaoxing wine, and oyster sauce, with a touch of toasted sesame oil and sugar. It has a nice depth of flavor and is fairly salty in flavor.

True story: the first time I made lo mein at home years ago, I tasted my sauce before tossing it with the noodles and hesitated to finish the stir-fry with it. It seemed so salty on its own!

I decided to go for it, and it turned out to be exactly the amount of seasoning the lo mein needed. The noodles are quite bland on their own, and you’re using the sauce to season a lot of vegetables and shrimp, so it balances out. If you do want to reduce the sodium content, you can substitute low sodium soy sauce for the light soy sauce.

Dark soy sauce is what gives the lo mein noodles their characteristic caramelized color. If you’re unable to source dark soy sauce, you can use all light or all-purpose soy sauce. The flavor of the finished dish will be similar, but the color will be lighter.

Want to read more about the sauces and seasonings used in this stir-fry? Check out my Chinese-Inspired Cooking: Pantry Essentials tutorial to help you navigate the market.

shrimp lo mein served in bowls with soy sauce on the side

Serving Shrimp Lo Mein

I always offer my guests extra soy sauce at the table for those who want a fresh pop of umami and saltiness with their lo mein. For a spicy twist, this recipe is delicious drizzled with chili oil. And, for a tangy note, some enjoy a few drops of rice vinegar over their noodles.

I like to serve lo mein fairly quickly after stir-frying so that the vegetables are at their freshest and crispest. Just like takeout, though, leftovers reheat pretty well the next day for lunch or a second night’s dinner.

Especially if microwaving the leftovers, I like to pull the shrimp out and add them just toward the end of reheating so that they don’t become tough and overcooked.

More Chinese Takeout Inspired Recipes

5 from 17 votes

Shrimp Lo Mein

It's easy to make Shrimp Lo Mein at home that tastes like it came from your favorite Chinese-American restaurant! Prep the vegetables ahead to make this recipe just as quick as takeout.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4 to 6 people

Ingredients

  • 1 pound lo mein noodles (fresh, if possible)

Sauce

Stir-Fry

  • 6 scallions
  • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil , divided
  • 1 cup shredded carrots
  • 1 cup snow peas , trimmed
  • 8 ounce can water chestnuts , drained
  • 8 ounce can bamboo shoots , rinsed and drained
  • 1 pound raw shrimp (26/30) peeled, deveined, tail on or off
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic cloves
  • 2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger (I use a microplane)
  • 2 cups mung bean sprouts
  • extra soy sauce, chili oil, and/or rice vinegar , for serving (optional)
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Instructions 

Make the Noodles

  • Boil lo mein noodles in a pot of lightly-salted water for 3-5 minutes, until al dente. Drain and rinse under cool water. Set aside.

Make the Sauce

  • While the noodles are boiling, whisk together light and dark soy sauces, Shaoxing wine, oyster sauce, sugar, sesame oil, and white pepper in a bowl. Set aside.

Make the Stir-Fry

  • Cut the scallions in half to divide them into the dark green and white/light green parts. Thinly-slice the white/light green parts. Cut the dark green parts into 1 or 2 segments of about 2 inches. Set aside.
  • Heat a wok or large (12-inch) skillet over high heat until very hot. Add 1 tablespoon vegetable oil and sauté carrots, snow peas, water chestnuts, and bamboo shoots for about 2 minutes, until crisp-tender. Remove from the pan and set aside.
  • Heat another tablespoon of oil in the wok or pan and sauté shrimp until pink, translucent, and lightly brown on the edges, about 2-3 minutes. Remove from the pan and set aside. 
  • Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil in the wok or pan and add garlic, ginger, and the sliced white and light green scallions. Sauté for 1 minute. Add sautéed vegetables, shrimp, noodles, and bean sprouts to the pan, tossing to combine.
  • Pour the sauce mixture around the sides of the pan and add the dark green scallion parts. Cook, tossing, for 1-2 minutes.
  • Taste the lo mein. Season to taste with additional soy sauce and ground white pepper, if desired. Serve hot or warm, with soy sauce to pass at the table, a drizzle of chili oil if you like the dish spicy, or a few drops of rice vinegar for a tangy finish (all optional). 

Nutrition Estimate

Serving: 0.166recipe | Calories: 711kcal | Carbohydrates: 103g | Protein: 39g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 285mg | Sodium: 2263mg | Potassium: 510mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 5790IU | Vitamin C: 33.5mg | Calcium: 216mg | Iron: 4.8mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

About our recipes

Please note that our recipes have been developed using the US Customary measurement system and have not been tested for high altitude/elevation cooking and baking.

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Recipe Rating




21 Comments

  1. Joanne Johnson says:

    This recipe was so fire ๐Ÿ”ฅ๐Ÿ”ฅ. Lol, I didnโ€™t want to share it, but I did! My kids and her friends devoured the whole pan. โค๏ธ๐Ÿ™๐ŸฝโœŒ๏ธ๐Ÿ”ฅ๐Ÿ’ฏ

  2. Deb says:

    Excellent

  3. Stephanie P. Rigsby says:

    This recipe is amazing. Iโ€™ve made it many times. This is my go to lo mein recipe!!!

  4. Mary says:

    I’ve tried several lo mein recipes, this is by far the best!

  5. Dione says:

    Absolutely AMAZING! I am African American and itโ€™s hard for me to cook other culture dishes but the steps were super easy to follow. The dish came out perfectly. It wasnโ€™t even salty. The Chinese food restaurants I go to always make me feel sick due to the high salt, but this meal was very well balanced and just delicious! Iโ€™m keeping this recipe for the books thank you!!!

    1. Dione says:

      I even added beef to it. Still came out delicious ๐Ÿคค.

  6. Debi Carlson says:

    Well, traveling in an RV I still want healthy meals and this is a great one. I didn’t have soy sauce or ginger and used my chardonnay instead. It is still fantastic. Thank you.

  7. Clint says:

    I just cooked this and it was amazing. I had to use sherry instead of shaoxing but it was delicious. I’ll make it forever.

  8. Michelle L Bulin says:

    This was a WINNER. Came together quickly after an entire day of driving. Delish. Not greasy. Plenty of veg. Added baby spinach and mushrooms bell pepper, to carrots and snowpeas.

  9. Robin Bradley says:

    Such a great recipe! I love the mix of sauce ingredientsโ€ฆespecially that white pepper is included. I have found that to be a secret ingredient in several dishes that many recipes leave out. Black pepper is not the same at allโ€ฆand white pepper is a game changer especially in hot and sour soup! Iโ€™ll keep watching for more great recipes๐Ÿ’• Robin

  10. Richy says:

    Very easy to follow recipe, especially for an inexperienced one in the kitchen like myself. Tasted very good and will be doing it again! Thanks for sharing.

  11. Jane says:

    So good everyone thought take out

  12. Misty Lee Henry says:

    This recipe is amazing! My kids where literally licking there plates . lol

  13. Jane says:

    Delicious didnโ€™t think I could do it

  14. Lisa says:

    We really like this Shrimp Lo Mein..taste really good. I will be making this again and again.
    Thanks

  15. Nadia says:

    Wow! Another great recipe from to add to my repertoire. It tasted BETTER than my local Chinese. It is so nice when your labour is worth the effort (that doesnโ€™t happen to me often). But Iโ€™ve made 3 recipes from this site so far & every single one was a tasty success. I feel so clever & motivated to cook more!

  16. Vera says:

    This was great. I did have to modify it slightly due to what ingredients I had available. I made the sauce exactly as is. For the vegetables I used scallions, carrots, snow peas, water chestnuts, but I did not have bamboo shoots or bean sprouts. I increased the amount of snow peas and added some red bell pepper strips. I like that this recipe is easily adaptable when it comes to the vegetables. I also cut the entire recipe in half and got two hearty servings. I will definitely make this often.

  17. Nikita Frazier says:

    Hands down the best recipe for Shrimp Lo Mein????????????

    1. Amanda Biddle says:

      Iโ€™m so glad you enjoyed it, Nikita!

  18. Shirley says:

    I was hesitant to try this because Iโ€™ve made Lo Mein recipes in the past that have been so disappointing. The photos looked so good that I decided to give it a go. This recipe is excellent and my whole family loved it. Thank you!

  19. Jim says:

    I made this and it was just like the Lo mein we get at the Chinese place. Iโ€™m glad I went to the Asian market and bought the dark soy sauce and fresh noodles. This was spot on.