The Best Japanese Street Food You’ve Never Heard Of

While ramen might be the more familiar Japanese noodle dish among U.S. consumers, it’s not necessarily designed for portability. Yakisoba, on the other hand, can be adapted for on-the-go noshing. Thin and wavy with a springy texture and golden hue, these noodles can be served in a bowl, but they’re a street-food sensation when tucked into a toasted hot dog bun. This delicious carb-on-carb sandwich, known as yakisoba-pan, brings portability to enjoying pasta—without the utensils or bowls. Plus, its umami-packed noodles make the perfect base for a variety of high-impact ingredients.

But before jumping into one-of-a-kind creations, it’s crucial to master the basic build:

1. Start with ramen noodles or yakisoba noodles for maximum visual appeal, sturdiness and easy eating.
2. Then, lightly toast a buttered hot dog bun to prevent moisture seepage from the noodles.
3. Go heavy on the sauce for full-flavored noodles without any dry spots.

From this point, menu developers can begin tweaking existing components or adding new ones. For example, adjust the sauce viscosity (thick or thin) and flavor. Let the sauced, stir-fried noodles stand alone with only complementary garnishes, or load in vegetables, seafood and meats. Yakisoba-pan can be served hot or cold, across dayparts; operators can even offer smaller portions as snacks or bar bites.

The possibilities are plentiful, but here are a few starter ideas to get the creative juices flowing.

Try This

• Toasted hot dog bun + stir-fried yakisoba noodles in sake-oyster soy sauce + pickled ginger + nori-mayonnaise drizzle
• Toasted hot dog bun + stir-fried ramen noodles in zesty orange sauce + chopped crispy chicken breast + cilantro leaves
• Toasted hot dog bun + stir-fried ramen noodles in spicy hoisin-barbecue sauce + chopped braised pork belly + chopped hard-boiled egg