What is Chicken Yakisoba? An Easy Guide to This Classic Japanese Dish

A popular Japanese stir-fry noodle dish that is easy to make at home and tastes great is chicken yakisoba. It has chicken, vegetables, and wheat noodles cooked in a sweet and savory sauce.

A Brief History of Yakisoba

The word “yakisoba” comes from two Japanese words that mean “buckwheat noodles” and “fried.” But these days, most yakisoba recipes, like chicken yakisoba, use wheat ramen noodles instead of the traditional buckwheat soba noodles.

Yakisoba originated as a fast, convenient food sold from food carts during festivals and markets in Japan. The dish eventually spread across the country and became a staple of Japanese street food. These days you can find yakisoba being served at festivals, fairs, street markets, and restaurants across Japan.

The Characteristics of Chicken Yakisoba

Here are some of the main qualities that characterize this noodle dish:

• Noodles: Most ramen noodles are made from wheat, but soba noodles are a more traditional and authentic choice. The noodles are briefly boiled then sautéed with other ingredients.

• Protein Thin strips of chicken breast are the typical protein providing substance and richness. Chicken thigh or pork can also be used.

• Vegetables: Broccoli, cabbage, carrots, onions, mushrooms, bean sprouts, and bell pepper are all popular vegetables. Using a slaw mix saves time.

• Sauce: A sweet, tangy, savory sauce flavors the noodles. It contains soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, and sometimes oyster sauce. Sriracha adds a nice heat.

• Quick cooking: Thanks to pre-cut ingredients, yakisoba can be made in under 30 minutes. It’s a convenient weeknight meal.

• Big flavors The sauce provides plenty of bold, punchy flavor that brings the whole dish together.

Ingredients Needed to Make Chicken Yakisoba

Chicken yakisoba is comprised of just a few primary ingredients:

• Noodles: 2 packages of instant ramen noodles (3 oz each) or 4-6 oz dried yakisoba noodles

• Protein: 1 boneless, skinless chicken breast or 2-3 boneless thighs

• Vegetables: 1 onion, 1/2 head cabbage, 1 large carrot, 2 cups broccoli florets, other veggies to taste

• Sauce: 1/4 cup soy sauce, 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce, 2 Tbsp ketchup, 1 Tbsp brown sugar, 1 Tbsp grated ginger

• Oil: 2 Tbsp vegetable, canola, or peanut oil for cooking

• Seasonings: Salt, pepper, toasted sesame oil or seeds, sriracha (optional)

You likely have most, if not all, of these ingredients already in your pantry and fridge. It’s an affordable and easy meal to make at home.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Making Chicken Yakisoba

Follow these simple steps for making flavorful chicken yakisoba in 30 minutes or less:

1. Prep ingredients: Slice chicken into thin strips. Thinly slice onion and cabbage. Grate carrot. Cut broccoli into bite-size pieces. Grate ginger.

2. Make sauce: In a small bowl, combine soy sauce, Worcestershire, ketchup, brown sugar, and any other sauce ingredients.

3. Cook chicken: Heat 1 Tbsp oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook 5 minutes until no longer pink. Remove chicken to a plate.

4. Cook vegetables: Add 1 more Tbsp oil to skillet. Add onion, cabbage, carrots, broccoli, and ginger. Cook 5 minutes until starting to soften.

5. Boil noodles: While veggies cook, boil noodles for 2-3 minutes until tender. Drain and rinse with cold water.

6. Add sauce and chicken: Return chicken to skillet with vegetables. Give sauce a stir and add to skillet. Cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly.

7. Toss noodles: Add cooked noodles to skillet and toss everything together until fully coated in sauce.

8. Adjust seasonings: Taste and add more soy sauce, sriracha, sesame oil, etc to taste.

9. Serve: Divide yakisoba between plates or bowls. Garnish with sesame seeds and green onions if desired. Enjoy!

With these simple steps, you’ll have a flavorful bowl of chicken yakisoba in no time. The secret is in the sweet and salty sauce – be sure to give it a good stir before pouring over everything to fully coat the noodles.

Tips for Making the Best Homemade Chicken Yakisoba

Here are some helpful tips to make sure your chicken yakisoba turns out perfectly:

• Use very hot oil and cook ingredients in batches for best results when stir-frying. This prevents steaming.

• If ingredients start sticking to the pan when stir-frying, add a splash of water to help unstick.

• Fresh ginger adds lots of flavor. Use a microplane to finely grate it.

• Slice the chicken thin and against the grain so it cooks up tender.

• For crunch, add sliced bell peppers, shredded carrots, or bean sprouts.

• Swap chicken for thinly sliced pork, beef, or shrimp if desired.

• For extra flavor, add minced garlic and sesame oil to the sauce.

• Use toasted sesame oil to coat the noodles after draining for added richness.

• Serve with additional sriracha on the side for those who like more heat.

Fun Variations and Substitutions

One of the great things about chicken yakisoba is that it’s endlessly adaptable to use up whatever ingredients you have on hand:

• Vegetables: Try mushrooms, snap peas, bell peppers, shredded lettuce, kimchi, etc.

• Protein: Thinly sliced ribeye, shrimp, pork, or extra firm tofu.

• Noodles: Soba noodles, udon noodles, spaghetti, or vermicelli.

• Sauce: Add oyster sauce, hoisin, miso paste, rice vinegar, sesame oil, chili oil, etc.

• Garnishes: Green onions, pickled ginger, sesame seeds, Sriracha, furikake, etc.

Get creative with the veggies, protein, noodles and garnishes! The sauce ingredients are key, but the rest is flexible.

Is Chicken Yakisoba Healthy?

While chicken yakisoba is not necessarily low in carbs, its ingredients do provide some healthy nutrients:

• Protein: Chicken provides lean protein, important for building muscle.

• Vegetables: Cabbage, carrots, broccoli, onions provide fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

• Ginger: Contains anti-inflammatory compounds that aid digestion.

• Garlic: Boosts immunity and heart health.

To lighten it up, use reduced sodium soy sauce, skip the sugar, and load up on extra vegetables. Enjoy in moderation as part of a balanced diet.

Where to Find the Best Chicken Yakisoba

If you don’t want to make chicken yakisoba at home, look for it at:

• Japanese restaurants: Yakisoba is a menu staple at most Japanese restaurants or hibachi grills.

• Food festivals: You can often find chicken yakisoba at outdoor street fairs and festivals.

• Asian grocery stores: Many have prepared hot food bars selling freshly made yakisoba.

• Food trucks: Japanese food trucks will frequently offer yakisoba. Check your city’s food truck lineups.

• Freezer section: Look for frozen yakisoba noodle kits for an easy shortcut at home.

So next time you’re craving something fast, flavorful and easy, give homemade chicken yakisoba a try! It’s sure to satisfy your noodle stir-fry cravings.