Start by bringing a medium pot of water to a rolling boil. Add your noodles of choice and cook until they’re just al dente. Drain and set aside—but don’t forget to save a bit of that noodle water. It’s your secret to silky sauces!

Whisk together soy sauce, toasted sesame oil, rice vinegar, and a dash of sugar in a small mixing bowl. This mixture will coat each noodle, adding layers of flavor. Keep this on standby!

In a small saucepan, gently warm your vegetable oil over medium heat. Toss in the minced garlic and chili flakes, stirring until your kitchen smells heavenly, and the garlic turns golden brown. Be careful not to burn it!

While the oil is still sizzling, drizzle it over your cooked noodles. Toss everything with the sauce you prepared earlier, letting the noodles drink up all that garlicky-chili goodness.

Plate your noodles and sprinkle them with sesame seeds and freshly sliced green onions. A final drizzle of sesame oil or chili oil will tie everything together beautifully. Now grab your fork or chopsticks and dig in!