Yakisoba (焼きそば) is a very popular common stir fried noodle dish that is eaten commonly eaten all around Japan.

There are many variations of yakisoba, the most common/popular type is known as “Sauce Yakisoba” (ソース焼きそば). Unless otherwise specified, yakisoba typically refers to “sauce yakisoba”.

The word “yaki” (焼き）means frying or stir frying. “Soba” (そば) is a general term for noodles. “Soba” also typically refers specifically to “buckwheat noodles” (e.g. Shinshu Soba), though that is not the case with yakisoba. This can be a bit confusing at first.

Read on for more interesting info about yakisoba:

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Ingredients

The main ingredients of Yakisoba are:

Noodles
Various vegetables
Meat (optional)

The only required ingredient for yakisoba is noodles. Typically, “Chinese noodles” are used (i.e. Chuuka-men 中華麺), which are the same noodles generally used in ramen.

As mentioned earlier, “soba” noodles (i.e. buckwheat flour noodles like Togakushi soba) are not used to make yakisoba. If udon noodles are used, the dish would be referred to as “yaki-udon” (焼きうどん).

You can use any type of vegetables or meats to make yakisoba. The most common vegetables used are cabbage, carrots, and onions.

The most typical meat is pork, although chicken, beef, and various seafoods (e.g. squid, shrimp) are also commonly used.

The sauce and seasoning can also vary greatly by restaurant/chef. Typically, it is some combination of soy sauce, oyster sauce, and/or Worcestershire sauce. There are also many pre-made “yakisoba” sauces available for purchase at supermarkets.

Yakisoba is often garnished with benishoga (紅生姜, i.e. pickled ginger), and nori (のり, i.e. dried seaweed) or aonori (青のり, i.e. dried seaweed flakes/powder).

Location / Where to Eat

yakisoba street food stall — Yakisoba is a popular street food and festival food

Yakisoba is eaten all across Japan. It can be eaten in restaurants, and is also a common home cooked dish. It is also a very popular dish found as a street food at festivals or fairs. There are even many popular “instant” yakisoba which you can buy at convenience stores or supermarkets across the country.

Many regions in Japan have their own special variation of yakisoba. The “Big 3” local variations of yakisoba are: Fujinomiya Yakisoba from Shizuoka Prefecture; Yokote Yakisoba from Akita Prefecture; and, Ota Yakisoba from Gunma Prefecture ¹.

History / Origin of Yakisoba

The history of yakisoba in Japan dates back over 100 years ago to the Taisho period (1912-1926). The original yakisoba is based off the Chinese dish “chow mein” or “chao mian” (炒麵), which literally means “stir fried noodles”.

The modern day version of Japanese yakisoba (i.e. “sauce yakisoba”) is said to have originated sometime in the 1930s, in the Asakusa district of Tokyo. Asakusa was known as a trendy area at the time, and new products would often originate there. A Chinese noodle factory was also located in Asakusa, so restaurants could easily (and cheaply) get the main ingredient.

Interesting: Three of the original yakisoba shops in Asakusa are still in operation today²: Sometaro (浅草染太郎), Denkiya Hall (デンキヤホール), and Daikama Main Branch (大釜本店). If you are in the area, check them out!

The popularity of yakisoba really grew after the war (1950s). Japan was struggling economically at the time, and yakisoba was a cheap / filling (and delicious) dish that people could have.

In the 1960s, and 1970s many instant yakisoba products were released from major food companies like Nissin Foods and Maruchan. Many of these products are still around today, including Nissin’s popular Yakisoba UFO.

Yakisoba Recipe

Here is a super simple “street food style” yakisoba recipe from Kurashiru: