5 Incredibly Delicious, Must-Visit Yakisoba Specialty Restaurants in Tokyo - From Classic Flavors to New Takes!

What Is Yakisoba?

Yakisoba is a popular type of Japanese home-cooking. This dish is made with boiled or steamed Chinese noodles stir-fried with ingredients such as pork, cabbage, bean sprouts, and onions, flavored with Worcestershire sauce, and topped with red pickled ginger and seaweed. As the whole meal can be prepared on a single iron griddle, yakisoba is also classic food cart fare at events and festivals.
Convenience stores and supermarkets also sell ready-to-heat yakisoba, as well as instant versions that can be made by adding boiling water. You can definitely say that yakisoba is an integral part of Japanese food culture.

1. Jimbocho Yakisoba Mikasa (Jimbocho)

Mikasa is so popular, people often line up for a seat even before they open! The curly noodles are made using Hokkaido-grown wheat, and have a chewy, springy texture. The only choice on the menu is yakisoba in either sauce or salt flavors (800 JPY (incl. tax)). Both options are loaded with spring onion, cabbage, bean sprouts, and pork topped with a soft fried egg. Break the egg yolk as you eat and you\'ll be amazed by how it mellows out the richness of the yakisoba.

2. Tokyo Yakisoba (Oshiage)

This yakisoba specialty restaurant is located in Tokyo Solamachi, directly under the Tokyo Skytree. Their specialty is tsukemen-style yakisoba, which means the noodles come with a dipping sauce. This dish is made with springy, flat noodles, slow-cooked beef simmered until it melts in the mouth, and well-fried onions. The ingredients are stir-fried in sauce, and then served with a homemade dashi-based dipping sauce.
There are three types of sauce available: a white sauce made with a citrus fruit called "sudachi" and soy sauce, a black sauce made from black sesame paste, and a red sauce made with spicy miso and kimchi. Optional toppings such as green onions and boiled eggs are available to add to your order. Tokyo Yakisoba is a perfect restaurant for anyone who wants to try a new twist on classic yakisoba.

3. Yakisoba no Marusho: Hongo 3-chome Branch (Hongo)

At Yakisoba no Marusho, you can choose from more than 10 varieties of yakisoba, including soy sauce, salt, and Neapolitan flavors. Their homemade yakisoba noodles are known for their rich wheat flavor and chewy texture. The most popular dish is the Marusho Special Sauce Yakisoba (780 JPY), a classic dish made with a generous portion of noodles and yakisoba ingredients fried in their secret special sauce. The extensive side menu is also appealing, with extras like gyoza (dumplings) and karaage (Japanese fried chicken) available to choose from.

4. Fukuchan (Asakusa)

Established in 1964, Fukuchan is a long-running izakaya (Japanese pub) located in Japan’s oldest underground shopping mall, Asakusa Underground Shopping Street. Their renowned yakisoba (350 JPY (incl. tax)) is a simple dish consisting of just cabbage and chewy, slightly thick noodles. The yakisoba is served on alumite dishes, lending the restaurant a retro, Showa-era atmosphere. When you\'ve finished sightseeing in Asakusa, come and enjoy the nostalgia of this old-fashioned spot.

5. Celona (Nishi Gotanda)

Guests can enjoy fresh meat, seafood, and teppanyaki dishes with a great choice of drinks at Celona. They are famous for their Luxury Additive-Free Yakisoba (From 1,200 JPY), a decadent take on yakisoba made with carefully selected ingredients. Their specially-made fresh noodles are somewhat chewy with a slippery texture. This yakisoba is grilled until crisp on the bottom, giving guests both a savory crunch and a springy texture to enjoy.

You will find local variations on the classic yakisoba dish all over Japan. Keep your eyes peeled as you travel for delicious regional recipes!