1.
fried noodles, yakisoba
A popular Japanese dish of stir-fried wheat noodles with vegetables, meat, and a savory sauce. A staple of street food stalls at festivals and a common home-cooked meal.
昼ごはんに焼きそばを作った。
I made yakisoba for lunch.
屋台の焼きそばはソースの香りがたまらない。
The aroma of sauce from the street stall yakisoba is irresistible.
お祭りに行ったら、まず焼きそばとかき氷を買うのが定番だ。
When you go to a festival, buying yakisoba and shaved ice first is the standard routine.
USAGE:
Despite the name containing そば (buckwheat noodles), 焼きそば is made with 中華麺 (Chinese-style wheat noodles), not buckwheat noodles. The noodles are stir-fried on a griddle with cabbage, pork, and other ingredients, then seasoned with a thick Worcestershire-type sauce.
VARIATIONS:
- ソース焼きそば: the standard sauce-flavored version
- 塩焼きそば: salt-flavored yakisoba
- 焼きそばパン: a bread roll filled with yakisoba, popular at convenience stores and school cafeterias
CULTURAL NOTE:
焼きそば is closely associated with 祭り (festivals) and 屋台 (food stalls). It is one of the most iconic 屋台 foods alongside たこ焼き.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 焼きそばを作る: to make yakisoba
- 焼きそばを焼く: to cook yakisoba
- 屋台の焼きそば: festival stall yakisoba