Yes, all of these rice noodle recipes center on a star ingredient (the noodles), but there’s so much variety within the category. The rice noodle canon is as expansive as it is delicious. From brothy bowls to punchy stir-fries to chilled noodle salads, these are the rice noodle recipes we turn to again and again.

You’ll see a range of names at the store—rice sticks, rice vermicelli, flat rice noodles; it’s worth familiarizing yourself with the differences (and learning the noodle’s actual name if you don’t know it already). Each brings something distinct to the table. A few of our go-tos: bánh phở, medium-width flat noodles ideal for soups; wide, chewy ho fun (also called char kway teow), perfect for high-heat stir-fries; and delicate Hsinchu mi fen, which excels in quick-cooking noodle dishes like a stir-fry. No matter the shape, one thing holds true: Rice noodles cook fast and absorb flavor like a dream.