Soba and Udon – quick noodles for a few dollars
Matthew Baxter
Cheap and simple, everyone likes Soba and Udon. Soba is thin noodles made from buckwheat, while Udon is thick white flour noodles. They sometimes come in soups, or sometimes you dip them into a little pot of soup. Both hot and cold versions are available, so these noodles make for a perfect light meal any time of the year.
Various toppings are also available, such as tempura, seaweed, pork or egg. Often you may come across special varieties according to the area you are in, so try Soba or Udon out a few times!
Price: From around 300 yen (about 3 dollars), more with extra toppings.
Name in Japanese: Soba/そば, Udon/うどん
Where can I buy it?
All medium to large train stations will have a little Soba and Udon bar, usually where customers stand up while eating. They are also scattered around towns and cities, and the cheap ones will boldly display pictures or plastic food models, so it is easy to know what you are getting. If there is no Japanese, try to match the pictures/models with the Japanese characters!
Staff will sometimes ask whether you want Soba or Udon, so if you hear these words tell them what you want!
