Noodles are an integral part of Japanese cuisine, with soba noodles, udon noodles, ramen noodles and somen noodles holding a special place in the country's culinary heritage. As we step into 2024, foodies and travelers alike are looking to explore iconic and lesser-known Japanese noodle dishes that offer a flavorful taste of culture.

In this definitive guide, we bring you 178 mouthwatering Japanese noodle recipes to try this year. Curated with care, the list features succinct descriptions of traditional Japanese and contemporary noodle dishes perfect for adding to your Japan food bucket list.

From hearty nabeyaki udon hot pots to chilled summertime somen, flavorful shoyu ramen noodle soups to handmade soba noodles, this guide has something for everyone. We've included popular picks like yaki udon along with hidden gems like kitsune udon waiting to be discovered.

You'll find wheat noodles and egg noodles made in a variety of styles, from stir-fried yakisoba loaded with oyster sauce to cold noodles served with traditional soy sauce-based dipping sauces.

With a focus on cultural insights and actionable recommendations, this list serves as your go-to reference for seeking out the diversity of Japanese noodles in 2024. Immerse yourself in the essence of soba, udon, somen and ramen with 178 authentic and fusion Japanese noodle dishes our readers will love discovering throughout the year.

Let's dive in and explore the best udon noodles, ramen noodles, and other Japanese noodle delicacies coming your way in 2024!

Japanese Noodle Dishes

A

Aka Soba (赤そば)

• Soba noodles with red food coloring.

Amazake Soba (甘酒そば)

• Soba noodles served in a sweet sake broth.

Ankake Soba (あんかけそば)

• Soba noodles with thick starchy sauce.

Asari Soba (浅利そば)

• Soba noodles served in a broth with small clams.

B

Bakudan Soba (爆弾そば)

• Bomb-shaped fried soba noodle balls.

Bokksu Soba (ぼっくそば)

• Soba noodles cooked in chicken broth.

Bukkake Soba (かけそば)

• Soba noodles served cold and dipped in a soy sauce broth.

Buri Soba (鰤そば)

• Soba noodles with yellowtail fish.

C

Champon (ちゃんぽん)

• Noodle dish from Nagasaki with seafood and pork.

Chasoba (茶そば)

• Green tea flavored soba noodles.

Chikin Soba (チキンそば)

• Ramen style noodles with chicken broth.

Chuka Soba (中華そば)

• Ramen style noodles in a Chinese flavored broth.

Chuka Udon (中華うどん)

• Thick udon noodles in Chinese broth.

Curry Nanban Soba (カレー南蛮そば)

• Soba noodles in curry flavored broth.

Curry Udon (カレーうどん)

• Thick udon noodles served in curry flavored broth.

D

Dangojiru Soba (だんご汁そば)

• Soba noodles in soup with rice dumplings.

Dojo Soba (どじょうそば)

• Soba noodles with loach fish.

E

Ebi Soba (海老そば)

• Soba noodles with shrimp tempura.

Ebimame Soba (海老豆そば)

• Soba noodles with shrimp and beans.

G

Genmai Soba (玄米そば)

• Soba noodles containing brown rice flour.

Gomadare Soba (ごまダレそば)

• Soba noodles with sesame seed sauce.

Gomoku Soba (五目そば)

• Soba noodles with mixed tempura.

Gomoku Udon (五目うどん)

• Thick udon noodles with mixed tempura.

Gyu Soba (牛そば)

• Soba noodles with thinly sliced beef.

H

Hiyamugi Soba (冷麦そば)

• Cold soba noodles with dipping sauce.

Hiyashi Soba (冷しそば)

• Chilled soba noodles served with dipping sauce.

Hōrensō Soba (ほうれん草そば)

• Soba noodles with spinach.

I

Inaka Soba (田舎そば)

• Rustic soba noodles with soy sauce flavor.

Inaniwa Udon (稲庭うどん)

• A type of udon noodle from Akita prefecture.

Ita Soba (板そば)

• Soba noodles served on a plastic or wooden board.

J

Jūwari Soba (十割そば)

• 100% buckwheat soba noodles.

K

Kabocha Soba (かぼちゃそば)

• Soba noodles with Japanese pumpkin.

Kake Soba (かけそば)

• Hot soba noodles in broth.

Kake Udon (かけうどん)

• Hot udon noodles in broth.

Kamo Nanban Soba (鴨南蛮そば)

• Soba noodles with slices of duck meat.

Kamo Soba (かもそば)

• Soba noodles with duck meat.

Kamo Udon (かもうどん)

• Thick udon noodles with duck.

Kamatama Soba (かま玉そば)

• Soba noodles with a raw egg.

Kamatama Udon (かま玉うどん)

• Thick udon noodles with fried egg.

Kani Cream Korokke Udon (カニクリームコロッケうどん)

• Udon noodles with crab cream croquettes.

Kani Soba (かにそば )

• Soba noodles with crab meat.

Karaage Soba (から揚げそば)

• Soba noodles with fried chicken.

Kata Soba (かたそば)

• Firm soba noodles made by cutting rather than rolling.

Kawara Soba (かわらそば)

• Soba noodles stir-fried with vegetables.

Kitsune Soba (きつねそば)

• Soba noodles with aburaage (fried tofu).

Kitsune Udon (きつねうどん)

• Thick udon noodles with aburaage.

Kuro Soba (黒そば)

• Soba noodles with black soybeans or squid ink.

Kurumi Soba (くるみそば)

• Soba noodles with walnuts.

M

Mamenoko Soba (まめのこそば)

• Soba noodles with green pea pods.

Masu Soba (桝そば)

• Soba noodles served in a traditional wooden box.

Mentsuyu (麺つゆ)

• Noodle dipping sauce made from soy sauce and mirin.

Mentonikomugi Soba (緬澱小麦そば)

• Soba noodles with wheat flour added.

Miso Ramen (味噌ラーメン)

• Ramen in a miso flavored broth.

Morisoba (盛りそば)

• Large servings of soba noodles.

Moyashi Soba (もやしそば)

• Soba noodles with bean sprouts.

Mugi Soba (麦そば)

• Soba noodles with extra wheat flour.

N

Nabeyaki Udon (鍋焼きうどん)

• Udon cooked in a hot pot.

Nama Soba (生そば)

• Fresh, uncooked soba noodles.

Namamugi Soba (生麦そば)

• Uncooked soba noodle dough.

Namero Soba (なめろそば)

• Soba noodles with seasoned minced chicken.

Nanban Soba (南蛮そば)

• Soba noodles with chicken meat.

Naporitan (ナポリタン)

• Japanese spaghetti with ketchup sauce.

Nattō Soba (納豆そば)

• Soba noodles with fermented soybeans.

Negitoro Soba (ねぎとろそば)

• Soba noodles with minced fatty tuna.

O

Oroshi Soba (おろしそば)

• Soba noodles served with grated daikon radish.

R

Rāmen (ラーメン)

• Chinese style wheat noodles in broth.

S

Saimin (サイミン)

• Ramen style noodles popular in Hawaii.

Sakura Soba (桜そば)

• Soba noodles with cherry blossom motifs.

Sansai Soba (山菜そば)

• Soba noodles with wild vegetables.

Sara Soba (皿そば)

• Cold soba noodles with dipping sauce on a plate.

Sara Udon (皿うどん)

• Plate of cold udon noodles with dipping sauce.

Shojin Soba (精進そば)

• Vegetarian soba noodles for monks.

Shoyu Ramen (醤油ラーメン)

• Ramen noodles in soy sauce broth.

Shrimp Somen (海老そうめん)

• Somen noodles with shrimp tempura.

Soba (そば)

• Thin brown buckwheat noodles.

Somen (そうめん)

• Very thin white wheat noodles.

T

Tanuki Soba (たぬきそば)

• Soba noodles topped with tempura.

Teuchi Soba (手打ちそば)

• Handmade soba noodles.

Tempura Soba (天ぷらそば)

• Soba noodles with tempura prawns.

Tori Soba (鳥そば)

• Soba noodles with chicken.

Torigara Soba (とりがらそば)

• Soba noodles in chicken bone broth.

Tsukemen (つけ麺)

• Ramen noodles served with thick dipping sauce.

U

Udon (うどん)

• Thick white wheat noodles.

W

Wakame Soba (わかめそば)

• Soba noodles with seaweed.

Wanko Soba (わんこそば)

• Eating soba noodles served in tiny bowls.

Y

Yaki Soba (焼きそば)

• Stir-fried ramen style noodles.

Yaki Udon (焼きうどん)

• Stir-fried thick udon noodles.

Yasa Soba (野蚕そば)

• Soba noodles made from wild buckwheat seed.

Yomogi Soba (よもぎそば)

• Soba noodles with mugwort plant.

Yosenabe Soba (寄せ鍋そば)

• Soba noodles cooked in broth within each bowl.

Yuzu Soba (柚子そば)

• Soba noodles with Japanese citrus.

Z

Zaru Soba (ざるそば)

• Cold soba noodles eaten with a dipping sauce.

Zoni Soba (雑炊そば)

• Soba noodles in a vegetable soup.

Essential Tips for Enjoying Japanese Noodle Dishes

When exploring the diverse world of Japanese noodles, there are some key tips to enhance the experience:

• Slurp noodles loudly like a local - this aerates the noodles to bring out all the flavors.

• Add condiments like roasted sesame seeds, grated ginger, or green onions to customize your noodle dish.

• When eating ramen, drink the broth alongside the noodles to get the full flavor profile.

• Chow down on cold noodles like somen and soba fast before they absorb all the tasty tsuyu dipping sauce.

• Pair noodles with complementing sides like dumplings, fried chicken, or edamame beans.

• Use chopsticks to guide noodles into your mouth if you're a beginner.

• Say 'itadakimasu' before eating as an expression of thanks for the meal.

• Give your palate a break by alternating slurps of noodles with sips of tea.

Embracing these tips will allow you to properly savor the textures and flavors of udon, soba, ramen and all kinds of Japanese noodle delights.

Get ready to become a noodle connoisseur!