Cold - light soba, served with crispy tempura
Cold soba noodles impress with thin, soft noodles but still slightly chewy. The noodles are chilled, covered with shredded seaweed and served with tsuyu dipping sauce, scallions and wasabi.
The soba flavor is quite light, when dipped in sauce, it creates a moderately salty and sweet taste. Wasabi and scallions help the dish have more aroma, a slight spicy taste, without losing the characteristic flavor of the noodles.
The accompanying tempura part creates a contrast in texture. The outer layer of flour is yellow, crispy, while soba is cool and soft. Eating the two dishes alternately helps the meal not be monotonous.
This is a noodle suitable for diners who like a light flavor, not too greasy. Cold Soba is also a worthwhile choice to try when exploring Japanese cuisine, especially on hot days.
Ramen
Speaking of Japanese noodles, ramen is probably the most familiar dish to international tourists. This noodle dish has many variations according to each locality, among which the most popular are ramen with soy sauce (shoyu), ramen miso and ramen with pork bone broth (tonkotsu).
A bowl of ramen usually includes noodles, broth and toppings such as chashu pork, soaked eggs, seaweed, scallions or dried bamboo shoots. The broth is cooked in different ways, creating a variety of flavors.
Visitors can easily find ramen restaurants from crowded neighborhoods in Tokyo, Osaka to small cities. This is also a suitable choice for a quick meal, especially on chilly days.
Udon
Unlike ramen, udon impresses with its white, thick, and chewy noodles. The noodles are mainly made from flour, usually served in light broth from dashi, soy sauce, and mirin.
One of the familiar versions is kitsune udon, eaten with sweet fried tofu. In addition, visitors can also try tempura udon with crispy fried shrimp or vegetables.
Udon can be eaten hot or cold. In the summer, cold udon bowls are often served with dipping sauce, bringing a lighter feeling than hot noodles.
Besides soba, ramen and udon, Japan also has many other famous noodle dishes such as yakisoba, somen or hiyashi chuka. Each dish has its own flavor, contributing to enriching the experience of exploring cuisine, culture and the unique features of the cherry blossom country.
