The Best Yaki Udon Recipe- 焼きうどん (2024)

Yaki udon (stir fried udon noodles) is my go-to dish whenever I have a busy schedule and need something quick and delicious to fill my stomach. The udon noodles are stir fried in a mixture of soy sauce, butter, and dashi powder, and topped with bonito flakes and fresh scallions. Plus, 10 minutes is all it takes to make this dish from start to finish.

Yaki udon is one of those dishes you can find everywhere in Japan. It’s a cheap and tasty dish is found on izakaya (Japanese pub) menus, as well as family restaurant menus. It’s also sold premade in Japanese convenience stores and supermarkets. It’s a noodle dish I grew up eating because udon is my mother’s favorite type of noodles. She often made it for lunch and topped her noodles with sliced cabbage and carrots, almost like yakisoba.

My yaki udon recipe is a little different from hers, and quite different from the traditional recipe – but just as delicious! Only 7 ingredients and 9 minutes of your time are needed.

What is Yaki Udon?
Yaki Udon Ingredients
- Cookware and Utensils Needed
How to Make Yaki Udon
Stir Fried Udon Noodles Variations
Cooking Tips
Storage
Frequently Asked Questions
A Different Udon Dish for Every Season
What to Serve with Yaki Udon

What is Yaki Udon?

Yaki udon is a popular Japanese stir fry made of udon noodles that have been tossed in mirin and soy sauce. It’s very similar to yakisoba or lo mein in terms of flavor but the noodles used – udon noodles instead of egg noodles – are what makes the dish so different.

As you can see, my udon noodle recipe is quite different from the classic one. But the fact that the noodles are pan fried means this dish it’s still considered yaki udon (which literally means “fried noodles”).

Yaki Udon Ingredients

Udon noodles:I recommend using either fresh udon noodles or frozen udon noodles for their thick and chewy texture.
Butter:The butter adds depth of flavor and makes this simple noodle stir fry taste comforting. I recommend using salted butter (vegan butter also works).
Dashi powder:Dashi powder is a powder made from a mixture of dried bonito flakes, sardines, sometimes other types of fish, and kelp. It has a pleasant fish taste and is packed with umami. The better the dashi you buy, the more complex your dishes will taste.
Soy sauce:For this recipe you will need Japanese soy sauce such as Kikkoman or Yamasa. The reason is that Japanese soy sauce is more complex in flavor than dark soy sauce or other types of soy sauce.
Bonito flakes: Bonito flakes, called katsuobushi in Japanese, add an extra layer of umami and absorb the flavors of the sauce so that every bite you savor is epic.
Green onions:Chopped green onions add a nice crunch to the dish and a beautiful green pop of color.
Nori:These toasted seaweed sheets have a mineral taste that pair beautifully with the overall taste of the dish. They complete the dish and look beautiful too.

Cookware and Utensils Needed

Small to medium pot
Medium to large skillet
Chopsticks

How to Make Yaki Udon

Scroll all the way down to the recipe card for the full recipe.

Prep and gather all of your ingredients.
Fill a small or medium pot with enough water to cook the noodles, and bring to a boil.
Add the noodles and cook them according the directions on the package. Fresh and frozen noodles usually need 2 to 3 minutes to cook. Drain the noodles and set them aside.
Add the butter, dashi powder, and water to a skillet over medium high heat, and stir until the butter has melted and is bubbling.
Add the udon noodles and toss them a few times to coat evenly. Cook the noodles for 2 to 3 minutes, until they are soft but a little crunchy on the outside (light brown in color).
Stir in the soy sauce, coat the noodles evenly and turn the heat off.
Transfer the udon noodles to a plate and top with bonito flakes, green onions, and nori. Serve.

Stir Fried Udon Noodles Variations

Sprinkle sesame seeds on top of the noodles to add a nice crunch and extra nuttiness.
Add a pinch of red pepper flakes or a squirt of sriracha sauce to add a little heat.
Add 1/2 teaspoon sugar to the sauce to give the dish some sweetness.
Add cooked chicken, shrimp, or beef, for a more filling meal.

Cooking Tips

To loosen the noodles or prevent them from breaking during the boiling process, grab a pair of chopstick and gently shake the clump of noodles to help separate them. I suggest you do this after waiting for 1 minute, to give the noodles a chance to separate on their own.
If you have already boiled your noodles but are planning to use them later, add a teaspoon of oil (I use sesame oil) to the noodles and toss well. This will prevent the noodles from sticking together. Place them in an airtight container and refrigerate until you are ready to cook them.

Storage

Place the leftovers in an airtight storage container and refrigerate for up to 2 days.

Freezing: Freezing yaki udon is not recommended as the texture of the noodles may get mushy. Ultimately, it’s best to eat this dish fresh. Plus, if you are using frozen udon noodles that have been thawed, refreezing them will result in drier noodles and overall loss of quality.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make yaki udon ahead of time?

Yes you can! Yaki udon is good hot and at room temperature so it doesn’t need to be served fresh. However, I don’t recommend making them more than a day ahead to prevent the noodles from getting too hard or mushy.

How do I thaw frozen udon noodles?

Microwaving them for about 1 minute is the fastest way to thaw them. The second option is to let them sit in boiling hot water for 1 to 2 minutes while gently loosening the noodles with chopsticks.

Can I use oyster sauce or black bean sauce instead of soy sauce?

While it is an option, it’s not something I would recommend you do. The flavors of this dish are quite delicate and simple and adding something salty and sweet like oyster sauce can overpower it.

Are udon noodles gluten-free?

No they are not. Udon noodles are primarily made from wheat flour which makes them unsafe to eat for those suffering from celiac disease and gluten intolerance.

A Different Udon Dish for Every Season

One of my favorite aspects about eating udon is that, in Japan, you will find preparations that match the season. For example, in the hot summer months, cold dishes like bukkake udon ( ぶっかけうどん) and zaru udon ( ざるうどん) are served with light summery broths. A great way to beat the heat!

However, in the winter months, you can expect to be served more hearty and warming preparations like curry udon and nabeyaki udon (鍋焼きうどん).

Yaki udon, on the other hand, has no season and can be served year-round.

What to Serve with Yaki Udon

Whenever I make these stir fried udon noodles I like to serve them with a simple soup, some pickles and greens on the side.

Here are some of my favorite side dishes:

Vegan kimchi
Nasu dengaku
Miso soup
Iceberg lettuce with Japanese restaurant style carrot ginger dressing
Gomae (Japanese spinach and sesame salad)

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