Japan is home to oodles of noodles! Check out our top 5 to learn all about our faves and how you can enjoy them.
5. Shirataki
Made from konjac these noodles are little different from the average. Super popular with dieters, they’re very high in fibre, but also very low calorie.
Shirataki are most popular in dishes like oden and sukiyaki hotpot where they can absorb the delicious flavour of whatever they’re cooked in.
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4. Somen
These wheat noodles are very popular served chilled in summertime as a way to cool off. Somen are similar to udon noodles, but much thinner.
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- Tanabata Festival Somen Noodles
- Fresh Somen Noodles with a Yuzu Twist
- Tanabata Festival Character Somen Noodles
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3. Soba
These thin noodles are made with buckwheat. As wheat-free or juwari varieties made with only buckwheat are easily available, soba is popular not only with gourmets, but healthy eaters too.
Soba can be enjoyed hot in soup or chilled with a dipping sauce, especially popular on warm sunny days. Soba is naturally high in Vitamin B1 and as a result was popular for preventing beri beri with citizens in Edo (old Tokyo).
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2. Udon
These thick, wheat noodles are enjoyed hot or cold. Possibly the most famous udon is made on Shikoku island and is known as sanuki, after Kagawa Prefecture’s historical name.
Hot udon are usually served in broth (or curry for curry udon) and chilled udon are usually accompanied by a bowl of dipping sauce. Popular toppings are spring onions, tempura flakes, seasoned and fried kitsune tofu or tempura.
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1. Ramen
Ramen may have originated in China, but Japan has really made it their own. With regional specialities and styles, you could spend a long time travelling and not have tried all the different types!
Ramen are thinner noodles made from wheat, often with a distinct yellow colour from the kansui alkaline water they’re made with. Kansui is what helps give the noodle their wonderful texture and is named after lake Kan in Mongolia, whose water is supposed to be fantastic for ramen making!
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Inspired to try some noodley dishes of your own? Shop online at Japan Centre for all your ramen, udon, soba, somen and shirataki needs.
