Ramen has been one of the most popular and loved Japanese dishes. But did you know that health-conscious people are shifting towards UDON and SOBA?
Today, you’ll learn how they are different and where you should go if you wanted to try a typical simple UDON or SOBA.
What is the difference between UDON & SOBA?
- UDON is white noodle made from wheat flour. Usually they are eaten in hot broth with different toppings, but some are also eaten cold to be dipped in a special sauce.
- SOBA is brown noodle made from buckwheat flour, and just like UDON, can be eaten either hot or cold.
Try them both and see which you like!
Here are 3 casual places to try them.
3 major places to try your noodles
1. Marugame Seimen
Marugame Seimen is one of the most popular UDON places in Japan. They are all over Japan, and easy to find while touring around.
Look at the menu variety! You can also buy ONIGIRI, TEMPURA, and other Japanese dishes to accompany your UDON. Plus, very reasonable.
How to order is “cafeteria style”, so you don’t have to worry about not being able to order in Japanese. See here for how to order and prepare your UDON at Marugame Seimen.
2. Hanamaru Udon
Hanamaru Udon is also a popular UDON place. Very similar to Marugame Seimen, they also have many different toppings and side menus. Pricing is also very similar, so basically it’s not that different from Marugame Seimen.
But if you were an UDON freak already, you probably would notice how the UDON noodles are different in terms of texture. This is why some Japanese people have their “I like Marugame better” “I like Hanamaru better” conflict.
3. Fuji Soba
Compared to UDON, SOBA to Japanese people (especially Edokko) is very “Iki (=a Japanese word describing something very traditional but trendy)”. SOBA placecs have been gathering places for Japanese people for ages, and it’s a place to go for nice kanpai drinks. Typically, Japanese men may gather at a SOBA place, drink beer & sake ordering alacarte side menus, and would wrap up the nice feast with a bowl of SOBA.
But if you don’t want to spend that much of a time at the SOBA restaurant, I suggest you should try one of the standing SOBA stalls like Fuji Soba.
Fuji Soba is one of the most major standing SOBA bar in Japan. Usually located in or near train stations, it’s very convenient for Japanese “salarymen” to stop by and eat their quick meal.
From Erika
Since when has Ramen become such a big thing overseas?
And since I’ve lived overseas, I can tell you this as a Japanese native. The UDON and SOBA I’ve eaten outside of Japan, are most of the times NOT GOOD!!! (sorry, just giving honest opinion)
So, yes, please try them out while you are in Japan. The ones I introduced here are Japanese FAST-FOOD UDON/SOBA places, so it would be nice to just try it out and see if you like it.
And, you can slurp them as much as you want to and no one will think you are rude. Oh, isn’t that great! Eating SOBA without sluriping? You’re not even half way there.
So, ssssssluuurrrp away!!
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