Bouncy, chewy, and slippery, udon noodles are one of the most popular noodles in Japanese cuisine. I love them for their comforting flavors, hearty bite, and how easy they are to prepare.
From simple, soul-soothing soups to hearty stir-fries and refreshing chilled salads, there’s a udon dish for every occasion. In this roundup, I’m sharing my favorite authentic Japanese udon recipes to inspire your next meal.
Each dish highlights the versatility of udon, with a mix of traditional flavors and a few modern twists. I hope you’ll find a new favorite to enjoy!
Nami’s Cooking Tips for Udon
- Use frozen udon noodles – They only take about 1 minute to reheat in boiling water. I especially love frozen Sanuki udon for its thick, chewy texture. You can usually find it in the freezer aisle of Japanese or Asian markets.
- Gluten free? Swap in rice udon noodles and use gluten-free soy sauce or tamari soy sauce.
- Make homemade noodles – If you have time, try making Homemade Udon Noodles with wheat flour, water, and salt. Nothing beats the fresh texture!
Which udon recipe have you tried? Leave a comment at the end of the post—I’d love to hear from you. Now let’s get started!
Our Best Japanese Udon Noodle Recipes
1. Beef Udon (Niku Udon)
A comforting bowl of beef udon is all about balance: savory broth, tender slices of beef, sweet caramelized scallions, and chewy noodles. It’s a dish we turn to again and again, no matter the season—and I think you’ll love it just as much.
“This is our favorite JOC recipe! We eat this at least once a week especially now that our supermarket now sells frozen udon. This is also what we eat when we feel a little sick.” — Amy
2. Yaki Udon (Stir-Fried Udon Noodles)
Yaki udon is a classic Japanese stir-fried noodle dish with chewy noodles, veggies, and your choice of protein. Ready in 25 minutes and vegan adaptable!
“It’s a 10/10 from me. I just happened to have some chicken, cabbage, and udon noodles to use up, and it all came together in this delicious, satisfying dish.” — Jess
3. Curry Udon
Fragrant curry soup with chewy udon noodles is an unexpected but irresistible combination! This comforting bowl is typically served with tender onions, thinly sliced meat, and scallions.
My version uses quick-cooking sliced pork, but you can easily swap in your favorite protein.
“Tried this recipe today and actually used leftover turkey as my protein. Yesterday I smoked a whole turkey and used your miso glaze recipe. Today I turned it into the soul. It was so good!” — Nick
4. Vegetarian Udon
I love this udon soup for its soul-soothing flavors, make-ahead convenience, and versatility. Don’t skip the minced mushrooms—they pack a punch of flavor—while keeping the rest simple.
🥦 Got leftover grilled tofu or veggies in the fridge? Toss them in, and you’ve got the perfect quick weeknight meal!
“THIS WAS SO GOOD!! Amazing simple broth and perfect for colder weather. I made way too many veggies to everything else ratio, but that’s never a bad thing.” — Richard T
5. Mentaiko Udon
Coated in a buttery, spicy cod roe sauce and topped with fresh herbs and shredded nori, this is a truly special Japanese dish.
🧡 Hunt down mentaiko at a Japanese or Korean market, and you’ll have this flavorful udon ready in just 15 minutes.
“This was very easy and satisfying to say the least! It tasted almost exactly like my favorite udon places, but mentaiko has been in shortage here so I had to improvise and added salmon instead. Such a great recipe.” — Aura
6. Kitsune Udon
Kitsune udon, or “fox udon,” is one of my favorite Japanese soups, with chewy noodles and sweet, seasoned tofu pouches. I love enjoying it hot or cold—comforting any time of year!
“Such an simple, yet comforting dish. What I appreciate most is that the recipe provides shortcuts and alternatives if you don’t have the time or ideal ingredients.” — Monica Vu
7. Udon Noodle Soup (Kake Udon)
Kake udon is all about simplicity. Enjoy it as a comforting, vegan-friendly noodle soup, or add tempura, tofu, or vegetables for a heartier lunch or dinner.
“5 stars! I made this with your homemade udon noodle recipe and enjoyed with some simmered daikon. I feel so comforted!” — Toni
8. Cold Tanuki Udon
This refreshing chilled udon is perfect for slurping your way to cool relief on a hot day. Cook the udon, rinse it under cold water, and dress it in an umami-rich broth, then top with cucumber, tomatoes, wakame seaweed, tenkasu (tempura scraps), and a soft-boiled egg.
“Just tried making it! Super yummy!!” — Karen
9. Nabeyaki Udon
Nabeyaki udon—traditionally served in a Japanese clay pot—is a cozy wintertime favorite. Surprisingly, it’s easy to make at home: start with a flavorful dashi broth, then add udon and your choice of ingredients to cook.
🍲 No clay pot? A heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven works perfectly too.
“This recipe tasted exactly like what we’d have at a Japanese restaurant. The broth was superb – full of umami and so comforting on a cold day. I was thrilled that I could make it at home!” — C Tan
10. Cold Curry Udon
This summer udon celebrates a mix of textures and flavors in every bite! Chilled udon is soaked in savory curry soup and topped with seasonal vegetables and quick-cooked proteins.
“I made this curry with the Just One Cookbook roux recipe and fresh tomato and cucumber from the garden. Since I’m a vegetarian, I modified the recipe by excluding animal protein (I only used eggs). It still tasted good.” — Kristi
11. Miso Nikomi Udon
Miso nikomi udon, a beloved dish from Nagoya, features udon noodles, chicken, shiitake mushrooms, fried tofu pouches, fish cake, leafy greens, and a rich miso-flavored dashi broth. Perfect for chilly days, this comforting noodle soup will warm you from the inside out.
“Tried this recipe a few times. My kids love this dish 🙂 Contains all the things they like, except the leek.” — June
12. Udon Noodle Salad with Miso Dressing
This one is sure to brighten your day! Whisk together a simple miso dressing (great for many recipes), drizzle it over chilled udon and colorful vegetables, and voilà—you’ve got a refreshing summer noodle salad.
“I had a small piece of ginger to use up and this was the perfect recipe for that!! This dressing is delicious!!” — Kim
More Popular Japanese Noodle Recipes You’ll Enjoy
- Yaki Soba (Stir-Fried Japanese Noodles)
- Soba Noodle Salad
- Vegetarian Ramen
- Miso Ramen
- Somen Noodle Soup
Best Authentic Japanese Udon Noodle Recipes
Ingredients
Instructions
- Select the udon recipes you want to make from the list above.
- Follow the detailed instruction in each post (tips and substitutions included).
- Make and enjoy the udon recipe!
- What are your favorite ways to cook udon? Share in the comment box below!
Did you make this recipe?
Tag @justonecookbook on Instagram so we can see your delicious creation!