Some links on this page are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, The Asian Larder earns from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
Wheat noodles stir-fried with pork and vegetables in a tangy, slightly sweet sauce, a quick Japanese street-food favourite.
Yakisoba
- 300 g yakisoba noodles (or thick wheat noodles)
- 200 g pork belly, sliced thin
- 1/4 cabbage, shredded
- 1 carrot, julienned
- 2 spring onions, sliced
- 4 tbsp yakisoba sauce
- pickled ginger and aonori, to serve
- 2 tbsp oil
- If the noodles are not pre-cooked, boil briefly and drain.
- Heat the oil in a wok and fry the pork until cooked through.
- Add the cabbage and carrot, and stir-fry for a couple of minutes.
- Add the noodles and yakisoba sauce, tossing until everything is well coated and heated through.
- Stir in the spring onion for the final minute.
- Serve topped with pickled ginger and a scattering of aonori.
Tips for the best yakisoba
- Pre-cooked yakisoba noodles just need a quick loosen in the pan, do not boil them again or they turn mushy.
- Toss constantly once the sauce goes in, so it coats evenly rather than pooling at the bottom.
Where to buy yakisoba noodles in the UK
Yakisoba noodles are stocked fresh or frozen by most Japanese grocers, with dried wheat noodles as a reliable substitute from mainstream supermarkets.
Which aisle are yakisoba noodles in?
Fresh or frozen yakisoba noodles are found in the chilled or freezer section of a Japanese grocer. Mainstream UK supermarkets stock dried wheat noodles in the world food aisle instead.
Asian supermarkets
A Japanese grocer is the most reliable source for genuine yakisoba noodles, often sold with a sauce sachet included.
Buying it online
Online is a good option for dried versions if there is no Japanese grocer nearby.
Storing it
Keep fresh or frozen noodles as directed on the pack. Dried noodles keep well in the cupboard.
With or without a sauce sachet
Some fresh or frozen yakisoba noodle packs include a sauce sachet, giving a complete meal kit, while others are sold as noodles only, ask which type a shop stocks if you already have your own preferred yakisoba sauce.
The best yakisoba sauce to buy in the UK
Otafuku is the yakisoba sauce most widely stocked through Japanese grocers and online in the UK. Yakisoba sauce is a thick, tangy, slightly sweet Japanese sauce similar to Worcestershire sauce, the defining flavour of stir-fried yakisoba noodles.
What to check on the label
- Whether it is labelled specifically for yakisoba rather than a general okonomiyaki sauce, since the two are close but not identical.
- Sugar content, which varies noticeably between brands.
- Bottle size relative to how often you cook yakisoba.
Yakisoba sauce vs okonomiyaki sauce
| Type | Consistency | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Yakisoba sauce | Thinner, tangier | Stir-fried noodles |
| Okonomiyaki sauce | Thicker, sweeter | Drizzling over pancakes |
Yakisoba sauce vs okonomiyaki sauce on the shelf
The two often sit side by side in the world food aisle and look similar in the bottle, so check the label carefully, using the wrong one gives noticeably different results, okonomiyaki sauce is thicker and sweeter, better suited to drizzling than tossing through noodles.
Bottle size
A standard bottle lasts a long time even with regular yakisoba nights, since only a few tablespoons are used per batch of noodles, so there is little benefit to buying more than one bottle at a time.
Not overcooking pre-cooked noodles
If using pre-cooked yakisoba noodles, they only need loosening and warming through in the pan, not a full re-cook, treating them like dried noodles and cooking them longer turns them mushy rather than keeping their proper bite.
Frequently asked questions
What noodles should I use for yakisoba?
Fresh or pre-cooked yakisoba noodles if you can find them, otherwise thick wheat noodles like udon work as a substitute.
Is yakisoba the same as chow mein?
They are similar in concept, but yakisoba uses a distinct tangy Worcestershire-style sauce, giving it a different flavour to Chinese chow mein.
Can I use udon noodles instead of yakisoba noodles?
Yes, thick udon or ramen noodles work as a substitute, though the texture is slightly different from proper yakisoba noodles.
Do yakisoba noodles need boiling first?
Pre-cooked yakisoba noodles just need loosening in the pan, while dried substitutes need boiling first according to the pack.
What is yakisoba sauce used for?
Tossed through stir-fried noodles and vegetables at the end of cooking, the defining flavour of yakisoba.
Shop this
Some links on this page are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, The Asian Larder earns from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
- Yakisoba sauce. The tangy base for proper Japanese stir-fried noodles.
- Yakisoba noodles. Pre-cooked noodles for a proper yakisoba.
