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Somen are very thin, delicate Japanese wheat noodles, traditionally served chilled with a light dipping sauce in the warmer months. They are thinner than soba or udon, and cook in under two minutes, making them a quick, refreshing summer dish.
Where to buy somen noodles in the UK
Somen noodles are stocked by most Japanese grocers, and increasingly by larger UK supermarkets in the world food aisle.
Which aisle are somen noodles in?
Somen noodles are in the world food aisle, in the Japanese section, usually bundled and tied.
Asian supermarkets
A Japanese grocer is the most reliable source, and usually stocks Hakubaku or a similar established brand.
Buying it online
Online is a straightforward option if there is no Japanese grocer nearby, and dried noodles keep for a long time.
What are somen noodles?
How to use it
- Cooked briefly, then rinsed in cold water and served with a dipping sauce, as in hiyashi somen.
- Added to a light broth for a warm version (nyumen) in cooler months.
- Topped simply with spring onion, ginger and sesame for a fast, clean meal.
Why the thinness matters
Somen’s very thin strands cook in under two minutes, far faster than soba or udon, this is precisely what makes it suited to a light, quick, cold summer dish rather than a heartier hot bowl, its delicacy would be lost in a rich, long-simmered broth.
Serving it warm in cooler months
A warm version called nyumen exists, the same noodles served in a light hot broth rather than chilled, a reasonable way to enjoy somen outside the summer months it is traditionally associated with.
Serving size per bundle
A single bundle, usually 50 to 100g, is typically enough for one light serving, buy enough bundles to match the number of people you are feeding rather than guessing.
The best somen noodles to buy in the UK
Hakubaku or Miwa are the somen noodles most reliably found through Japanese grocers and online in the UK. Somen are very thin, delicate Japanese wheat noodles, usually served chilled with a light dipping sauce in the warmer months.
What to check on the label
- Bundle ties, some brands tie small bundles with a coloured thread, purely traditional and removed before cooking.
- Cooking time, since somen cooks in under 2 minutes and overcooking turns it mushy quickly.
- Whether a dipping sauce (tsuyu) is included or needs buying separately.
Somen vs soba vs udon
| Type | Thickness | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Somen | Very thin | Cold noodles in summer |
| Soba | Medium, buckwheat | Cold or hot, earthier flavour |
| Udon | Thick, chewy | Hot broths and stir-fries |
Bundle size and thread colour
Somen bundles are traditionally tied with a coloured thread purely for decoration or to indicate a grade, remove it before cooking rather than assuming it needs to stay in for flavour. Pack sizes vary, so check the total weight if you are cooking for a specific number of people.
Aged vs standard somen
Some premium Japanese brands age their somen for a year or more before selling, said to improve texture and flavour, though standard, unaged somen is perfectly good for everyday use and far more common in the UK.
Multipack bundles
Somen is often sold in boxes containing several individual bundles, check the total weight against how many people you are cooking for rather than the number of bundles alone.
How to store somen noodles
Unopened bundles keep for well over a year in a cool, dry cupboard, once opened, keep the remaining bundles in a sealed bag or container to protect them from moisture.
Keep unopened bundles in the cupboard, they keep for many months.
Frequently asked questions
Are somen noodles the same as vermicelli?
No, somen is a wheat noodle, while rice vermicelli is made from rice flour, they look similar but behave differently in cooking.
How long do somen noodles take to cook?
About 1 to 2 minutes, they overcook very quickly so timing matters.
Are somen noodles served hot or cold?
Traditionally cold with a dipping sauce, though a hot version (nyumen) exists for cooler months.
Can I substitute vermicelli for somen?
Not really, somen is a wheat noodle while vermicelli is rice-based, they behave differently when cooked.
Shop this
- Somen noodles. Very thin wheat noodles for a light, cold dish.
