Popular Noodle Dishes in Japan

Variety of Japanese Noodle Dishes:

  -   Soba: Soba Noodles are traditional Japanese noodles prepared from buckwheat and wheat flour. Soba noodles are as thick as spaghetti. These are offered cold or hot garnished with toppings. Zaru soba noodles are boiled and cooled down before being served with a soya sauce (tsuyu), wasabi, nori seaweed and negi (Japanese leek). The water used to boil the noodles (soba-yu) is mixed with tsuyu, which they drink after the meal. Other delicious Soba dishes are noodle soups garnished with rich toppings such as Kitsune Soba, Tanuki Soba and Tsukimi Soba. Yakisoba is not prepared with soba noodles but with Chinese noodles chukamen.

  -   Udon: Udon noodles are traditional Japanese noodles prepared of wheat flour. Udon noodles are thicker than Soba noodles. Soba noodles can also be served hot or cold with delicious toppings. Udon noodles can be prepared in three ways - Kitsune Udon, Tanuki Udon and Tsukimi Udon.

  -   Ramen: Ramen are delectable Chinese style noodles cooked in a soup with delicious toppings. Ramen is one of the popular cuisines of China that was given a native flavor of Japan over the years. But it is believed that Ramen was a traditional Japanese noodle dish which was taken to China later. In recent times it has become a popular Japanese dish giving out a native flavor. Thin Ramen noodles are offered in a soup garnished with delicious toppings. Some of the delightful Ramen soups are Shoyu Ramen, Miso Ramen, Shio Ramen and Tonkotsu Ramen. Popular Ramen dishes with rich toppings are Chashumen, Tanmen, Wonton ramen etc. Japan is dotted with Ramen restaurants. Ramen has become widely popular outside Japan.

  -   Somen: Somen noodles are also made of wheat flour like Udon noodles. But these noodles are not as thick as Soba and Udon noodles. Somen noodles are served cold.

Yakisoba: Deep fried Chinese styles noodles are called Yakisoba. You can savor Yakisoba noodles with vegetables, meat and ginger.