Know Your Japanese Noodles

There are many kinds of noodle dishes consumed in Japan. Identifying each one can be tricky. Here is a visual guide to help you sort through it all.

Shoyu ramen is ramen noodle in soy sauce-flavored soup.

Ramen noodles in miso based soup are called miso ramen.

Ramen noodle is served in a salt-flavored soup with toppings such as corn.

Tonkotsu means pork bones in Japanese. Ramen noodles are served in tonkotsu-based soup.

Hiyashi Chuka is like a noodle salad and is eaten during the summer in Japan. Toppings and dressings vary.​

This is a variation of basic hiyashi chuka and is served with sesame flavored dressing (goma-dare).

Cold somen (thin wheat noodles) are served with dipping soup and toppings.

Somen noodles in hot soup are usually called nyumen.

Yakisoba noodles are stir-fried with meat and vegetables and seasoned with sauce.

This is a crunchy kind of yakisoba (fried noodles) served with a thick sauce.

Udon noodles served in hot soup and topped with seasoned aburaage (fried bean curd) are called kitsune udon.

Yaki udon is stir-fried udon noodle similar to yakisoba.

Zaru soba is cold buckwheat noodle spooned onto a bamboo plate (zaru). It's served with dipping soup and some toppings.

Tsukimi soba is hot soba (buckwheat noodles) with a raw egg topping.

The sauce is simply poured over boiled udon (thick wheat noodles). It's served with various toppings, such as grated daikon radishes and grated ginger.

Miso nikomi udon is a hot udon noodle dish simmered in miso-based soup.

Udon noodle is served in hot curry soup.

Dipping noodles are generally called tsukemen. Chilled ramen noodles are served with dipping soup and toppings on the side.

This salad is made with udon noodles and various toppings.