焼(や)きそば

やきそば
noun
fried noodles, yakisoba
food
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(ひる)ごはんに焼(や)きそばを作(つく)った。
I made yakisoba for lunch.
屋台(やたい)の焼(や)きそばはソースの香(かお)りがたまらない。
The aroma of sauce from the street stall yakisoba is irresistible.
お祭(まつ)りに行(い)ったら、まず焼(や)きそばとかき氷(ごおり)を買(か)うのが定番(ていばん)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(や)きそば is made with 中華(ちゅうか)麺(めん) (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.

Forms

  • ソース焼(や)きそば: the standard sauce-flavored version
  • 塩(しお)焼(や)きそば: salt-flavored yakisoba
  • 焼(や)きそばパン: a bread roll filled with yakisoba, popular at convenience stores and school cafeterias

Cultural note

焼(や)きそば is closely associated with 祭(まつ)り (festivals) and 屋台(やたい) (food stalls). It is one of the most iconic 屋台(やたい) foods alongside たこ焼(や)き.

Common collocations

Related Words

Related: たこ焼(や)き (takoyaki)
Related: 焼(や)きうどん (fried udon noodles)
Related: 中華麺(ちゅうかめん) (Chinese-style noodles)
Compare: 肉野菜炒(にくやさいいた)め (stir-fried meat and vegetables)
general
Added 2026.2.24 20:36 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
13000/13405_yakisoba