Namie yakisoba is a local B-class gourmet dish that originated in Namie Town, Futaba County, Fukushima Prefecture. Namie yakisoba, which is also served in school lunches, is a soul food beloved by the locals.

Let's explore the characteristics and history of Namie Yakisoba.

Characteristics of Namie Yakisoba

The biggest feature of Namie Yakisoba is its extra thick Chinese noodles. The noodles are about three times thicker than normal noodles, almost like udon. The ingredients are simple, just pork and bean sprouts. The noodles and ingredients are fried in lard and finished with a rich, thick sauce.

The hearty Namie Yakisoba is popular among locals as it is cheap and delicious. The connoisseur's way to eat it is with chili pepper sprinkled on top.

The definition of Namie Yakisoba is that it is made with pork, bean sprouts, thick Chinese noodles, and a sauce flavor. In addition, in restaurants that have been certified as "Namie Yakisoba Taikoku," the dish is served on a plate with nine horses drawn on it. The nine horses, which have been handed down in the local Ohori Soma ware for over 300 years, represent good fortune and fulfillment.

The Namie Yakisoba is served on a plate with the noodles and ingredients dyed a beautiful sauce color. The extra-thick noodles have absorbed the rich sauce and pork flavors, giving them a chewy texture. The crunchy bean sprouts are also permeated with the flavor. When you eat Namie Yakisoba, a rich flavor fills your mouth.

The trick to making Namie Yakisoba is to stir fry the ingredients, add the sauce, and stir fry until all the water has evaporated. It's like lightly simmering the noodles and ingredients in the sauce.

They are also particular about using lard. Frying in lard gives it an even richer texture. If they used salad oil, it would have a completely different taste. It is said that it is difficult to perfect the flavor precisely because it is such a simple dish.

The history of Namie Yakisoba

Namie Yakisoba was born in Namie Town, a seaside town in eastern Fukushima Prefecture. According to Mr. Asami, head of the Namie Yakimen Taikoku noodle shop, it is said to have been around for about 70 years.

In Namie Town, where agriculture, fishing, and forestry were thriving, yakisoba was made for the workers using pork, bean sprouts, and extra-thick Chinese noodles, which are "cheap and filling." There were no yakisoba specialty restaurants, so it was served in restaurants and izakayas.

The famous restaurant that originated this dish is "Namie Specialty Original Yakisoba Nawanoren," which was located near the then National Railway Namie Station. Although it is now closed, it is said that it became a Namie specialty when it began serving yakisoba made with extra thick noodles in 1955.

When local people eat yakisoba outside the prefecture, many of them are puzzled and ask, "Is yakisoba really something that thin?"

Then, in 2008, the Namie Town Chamber of Commerce and Industry Youth Division established an organization called "Namie Yakisoba Taikoku" to revitalize the town. At the time, yakisoba did not have a name, but when Namie Yakisoba Taikoku began its activities, it was named "Namie Yakisoba" to appeal to people outside the prefecture.

Namie Yakimen Taikoku promotes its restaurant business through its Napoleon-inspired "Yakisoba Taiou" fashion, which features a bowl of fried noodles on top of the head. As Namie Yakimen Taikoku gradually gained recognition, the restaurant chain began to ask restaurants to become certified members, allowing them to work together with a unified sense of unity.

Although each restaurant has different noodle thickness and sauce flavor, Namie Yakisoba is a soul food that continues to be loved by locals. In 2013, Namie Yakisoba won first place at the 8th B-1 Grand Prix held in Toyokawa City, Aichi Prefecture.

Fukushima Tourism Information and Access

There are many tourist spots in Fukushima, but we recommend you start by visiting Koriyama City, located in the center of Fukushima. Koriyama City has many tourist spots where you can enjoy beautiful nature. Here are three recommended tourist spots.

Lake Inawashiro

Lake Inawashiro, where you can enjoy camping and marine sports, is the fourth largest lake in Japan. With an area of about 103 square kilometers and a depth of about 93 meters, it spans Aizuwakamatsu City, Koriyama City, and Inawashiro Town. It is also known as "Heavenly Mirror Lake" because of its clear, pure water. Lake Inawashiro is also famous as a place where swans come to visit, making it a popular tourist spot.

Koriyama Nunobiki Wind Plateau

Koriyama Nunobiki Kaze no Kogen, located at an altitude of about 1,000m, is located on the south side of Lake Inawashiro and is in a great location. It is also the largest wind power plant in Japan, and is also called "Wind Plateau" because it is equipped with 33 huge windmills. The seasonal flowers blooming under the giant windmills are soothing. It is a tourist spot where you can enjoy sunflowers in the summer and cosmos in the fall.

Koriyama Culture Park

Culture Park, located on a spacious site, is a complex that includes an amusement park, indoor playground, gymnasium, and more. The amusement park "Dreamland" has attractions such as roller coasters, go-karts, and Ferris wheels. It is also popular with families as it has a grassy area where you can enjoy picnics. In the summer, you can enjoy a swim in the pool with a water slide.

Koriyama City, where you can enjoy both gourmet food and sightseeing, is located in the center of Fukushima Prefecture, making it easy to access other parts of the prefecture. Koriyama City is about two hours by Shinkansen from Tokyo.

We also recommend taking a leisurely drive to Fukushima. Find the best way to get there.

Location of Namie Town, Futaba County, Fukushima Prefecture

summary

Namie Yakisoba is made with thick, satisfying noodles, making it a very satisfying dish. The rich flavor and texture are addictive.

If you visit Fukushima, be sure to try Namie Yakisoba.

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