- Categories:
- Food & Beverage
- Tags:
- CookingFood
- Where:
- United States
- Date change rule:
- Every October 6
- Holiday emoji:
- 🍜
National Noodle Day arrives every October 6, inviting everyone to twirl, slurp, and savor their favorite pasta and noodle dishes. This ancient staple, celebrated globally, comes in countless shapes and forms, from delicate vermicelli to hearty lasagna sheets. Dive into a bowl of comfort, explore new recipes, and share your noodle-fueled joy with friends and family.
Want to sponsor National Noodle Day? Learn how
Expected National Noodle Day Deals
While we await official 2027 promotions to drop, history shows that National Noodle Day inspires delicious deals from a variety of establishments. Look for special offers at Italian restaurants like Olive Garden and Carrabba’s Italian Grill, which often feature pasta specials. Asian noodle houses such as P.F. Chang’s and local ramen shops are also likely to offer discounts on their signature bowls. Grocery stores like Whole Foods Market and Kroger may run sales on dried pasta, fresh noodles, and accompanying sauces, encouraging home cooks to create their own masterpieces. Even fast-casual spots like Noodles & Company are prime candidates for BOGO deals or discounted entrees. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as October 6 approaches.
Platform Guide for National Noodle Day
TikTok
Tag @www.nationaltoday.com and use #NationalNoodleDay. Film a quick recipe, a noodle-pull challenge, or showcase your favorite noodle dish from around the world.
Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #NationalNoodleDay. Share mouth-watering photos of your noodle creations, restaurant finds, or a ‘day in the life’ with noodles.
Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #NationalNoodleDay. Post about your family’s favorite noodle traditions or ask for recommendations for local noodle spots.
National Noodle Day Hero
Marco Polo
History of National Noodle Day
Eating noodles is the easiest way to forklift as many delicious carbs into your mouth at once, making them a national favorite. The term has become a catch-all for all things pasta, spaghetti, macaroni and dorm-friendly ramen, which means there’s a dish out there for everyone, no matter your sauce and topping preferences.
The oldest historical mention of noodles appears in a dictionary from the third century A.D. in China. The earliest noodles, were shaped into little bits, formed from bread dough, and thrown into a wok of boiling water. Unlike other inventions, it’s rather difficult to pinpoint exactly when and where noodles came from given that they relied on the innovation of home cooks.
In Turkey and across central Asia, a dumpling dish evolves into manti, tiny tortellini-like dumplings. Some researchers theorize that Genghis Kahn and his empire that spanned from east Asia to central Europe contributed to the spreading of dumplings. Thus, both the Italians and the Chinese lay claim to inventing the noodle.
Regardless of where the noodle originated one of the most alluring things about noodles is how varied they are. In China, you have chefs that pull the thinnest of noodles called la mian; meanwhile in Italy, you have broad flat paste layered with bolognese and béchamel sauce, better known as lasagna. And both are noodles!
Noodles have been with mankind in nearly every culture, making it one of the planets most widely eaten foods. National Noodle Day sits at the beginning of October which is National Pasta Month, filling this month with a variety of flavors and options to fill a hungry belly.
National Noodle Day timeline
Noodles were invented in China.
Noodles become popular in Europe, especially Italy. Some now credit Marco Polo with bringing them back from China, though he was not the first. Arab traders may have brought them first.
Thomas Jefferson returns to the US after several years in France and brings back two cases of pasta.
Instant ramen was invented in Japan, where it initially was considered a luxury food and was priced at 6x fresh noodles!
How Businesses Can Celebrate National Noodle Day
Local restaurants and food trucks can celebrate National Noodle Day by featuring limited-time noodle specials, offering discounts on popular pasta dishes, or creating a ‘noodle flight’ with smaller portions of different types. Specialty grocery stores can host tasting events for various international noodles and sauces, or offer discounts on ingredients for homemade pasta. Cooking schools can run workshops on making fresh pasta or mastering specific noodle cuisines, driving engagement and sales.
National Noodle Day FAQs
When is National Noodle Day?
National Noodle Day 2026 is observed on Tuesday, October 6. This annual celebration encourages everyone to enjoy their favorite pasta and noodle dishes, from classic Italian to savory Asian varieties.
How many types of noodles are there?
There are hundreds, if not thousands, of distinct noodle and pasta shapes globally, with Italy alone boasting over 350 traditional pasta types. From thin vermicelli to wide pappardelle, the variety is immense, offering endless culinary possibilities.
How popular are noodles in the US?
Noodles and pasta remain incredibly popular in the U.S., with the average American consuming approximately 20 pounds of pasta per year. It’s a versatile and affordable staple found in nearly every household, cherished for both quick meals and elaborate dishes.
Where did noodles originate?
Archaeological evidence suggests noodles originated in China over 4,000 years ago, with a remarkably well-preserved bowl of millet noodles discovered at the Lajia archaeological site. This predates the earliest known European pasta by millennia.
How To Celebrate National Noodle Day
Try making your own noodles
Making noodles is not nearly as hard as it seems. Water, flour, salt, and an egg is all you need... mix the dough, roll it out flat then into a 'jellyroll' shape, and cut into strips. Now get to it!
Go out for noodles
As a much simpler alternative to making your own noodles or pasta, go try out that new restaurant that serves noodles. Search for Noodles on Yelp and see where your noodle adventure takes you, whether it is to Italian, Korean, Chinese, American or Japanese, the choices are endless.
Take a noodle-making class
Search out your local cooking school and sign up for pasta making class. You'll learn so much about making noodles and pasta that you'll have spaghetti coming out of your ears.
5 Facts About Instant Ramen That Will Blow Your Mind
It was first a luxury food
Because of its convenience, instant ramen was initially 6 times as expensive as fresh noodles.
Japan invented it
Many Japanese consider instant ramen their contribution to the world and a source of national pride.
China is obsessed with it
Citizens of China consume more than 46 billion packets of ramen each year.
It is super popular in prison
It consistently ranks on the top of lists of food items sold to inmates.
It is even cheaper than you thought
At 13 cents per package, it would only cost about $140 a year to eat ramen noodles for every meal.
Why We Love National Noodle Day
Every culture has its own noodle tradition
Every area of the world has its own traditions and history surrounding noodles. In Italy, in China, in Vietnam, everyone has different techniques and ingredients to make their traditional noodles right.
Noodles can be healthy
If you're health conscious or on a low-carb or no gluten diet, there are still a ton of noodles out there for you! People love noodles so much that they are now made of such things as, black beans, Mung beans, Quinoa, Shikitaki, Kelp, and even zucchini. So don't limit yourself! You can still join in the fun of National Noodle Day.
Noodles are fun
Eating noodles is super fun, whether you eat them with a spoon and a fork, chopsticks or by slurping them up like in "Lady and the Tramp" a noodle date can be a blast with friends or your significant other. Invite your friends out for a noodle night at any place you can get noodles.
Social Media Tips for National Noodle Day
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