Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture, is known as the "gyoza town."
However, there are other affordable and filling local delicacies. The second most popular after gyoza is Utsunomiya yakisoba, which is one of the local delicacies you should definitely know about.

This time, we will introduce you to the characteristics and history of Utsunomiya Yakisoba, as well as the differences between it and Fujinomiya Yakisoba, and reveal all about its appeal.

Characteristics of Utsunomiya Yakisoba

Utsunomiya Yakisoba is characterized by its thick, chewy noodles, which can be topped off with sauce to adjust the flavor to your liking.
The sauces range from Worcestershire sauce-based to the restaurant's own original blend, but they all mix well with the noodles and add depth to the flavor.

Another feature is that the noodles are first steamed in the soup stock, which allows the flavor to soak into the noodles, making them so delicious you won't be able to stop eating them.

In addition to ingredients such as cabbage and squid, Utsunomiya yakisoba can also be topped with meat, ham, fried eggs, etc. You can choose the amount of yakisoba you want depending on how hungry you are, or add more toppings depending on your mood, so you can customize it to your liking.

Utsunomiya yakisoba, which is often served as take-out, is not uncommon to be handed over in plastic bags or wrapping paper in addition to being pre-packaged.

Utsunomiya Yakisoba has some unusual characteristics, but what is the history behind how it became popular as a local delicacy?

The history and origin of Utsunomiya Yakisoba

There are about 50 Utsunomiya yakisoba restaurants in the city, and the original is said to be a yakisoba shop founded in 1952.

Yakisoba originally started as a snack for children who would gather at candy stores shortly after the war. It is said that the reason stores began opening in Utsunomiya later on was due to a combination of factors, including the fact that there was a large noodle factory in the city and there were many companies making yakisoba sauce.

How to make Utsunomiya Yakisoba

From here, I will introduce how to make Utsunomiya Yakisoba.

First, add oil to a frying pan and fry your favorite vegetables such as cabbage and carrots. Once fried, season with salt and pepper and set aside on a separate plate.

Next comes the noodles. Add oil to a frying pan, add the noodles while breaking them up, and when they start to brown, add the soy sauce-based soup stock and stir fry until all the water has evaporated. You can also use diluted mentsuyu soup as a substitute for the soup stock.

Once the noodles are cooked, add commercially available yakisoba sauce and the stir-fried ingredients, and when well mixed, it's done.

After serving on a plate, you can add toppings of your choice, such as pickled ginger, green laver, or fried egg. If you add cut-up pieces of squid, pork, or ham, it will look more like local yakisoba.

Furthermore, to enjoy Utsunomiya Yakisoba even more, you can add sauce, shichimi pepper, pepper, etc. to enjoy a different flavor. Please try eating it in your favorite way.

The deliciousness and appeal of Utsunomiya Yakisoba

The greatest appeal of Utsunomiya Yakisoba is the exquisite harmony between the thick, chewy noodles, the delicious dashi stock, and the spicy, aromatic sauce.

Another attraction is that there is a wide variety of options to choose from, such as the amount of yakisoba and toppings, so you can eat your fill at an affordable price.

This time we introduced the standard way to make Utsunomiya yakisoba, but there are many other unique yakisoba in the city. For example, it is possible to add toppings that reflect the original ideas of each shop, such as egg yakisoba topped with an omelette, yakisoba with minced meat and cheese, and yakisoba with curry sauce flavor. Why not try out the unique flavors of each shop while you're there?

Differences from Fujinomiya Yakisoba

Speaking of local yakisoba, "Fujinomiya yakisoba" is also popular. Fujinomiya yakisoba is made with firm noodles topped with meat scraps left over after squeezing out the lard and shaved sardines, making it a dish that highlights the unique texture of the noodles and the rich flavor of the shaved bonito flakes.

The chewy noodles are made by quickly cooling the steamed noodles and coating the surface with oil. Yakisoba noodles are generally steamed twice, but Fujinomiya Yakisoba is steamed once, which allows it to maintain a stronger chewiness compared to other noodles. Both local yakisoba noodles have different characteristics, so you'll want to try them both.

Access to Utsunomiya City

From here, we will introduce how to get to Utsunomiya city. The most convenient way to get to Utsunomiya is to take the JR Tohoku Shinkansen, JR Utsunomiya Line, or Tobu Railway Tohoku Expressway from Ueno Station in Tokyo.

If you take the Shinkansen from Tokyo, you can get to Utsunomiya in about 50 minutes on the JR Tohoku Shinkansen. If you take the conventional line, it's about an hour and 50 minutes if you take the JR Utsunomiya Line (Ueno-Tokyo Line bound for Utsunomiya) from Tokyo Station or Ueno Station.

If you are going by car, it is convenient to take the Tohoku Expressway and get off at Kanuma IC. The journey takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes.

There are many restaurants around the station where you can eat Utsunomiya Yakisoba, so it's also recommended as a snack to have while sightseeing. If you're sightseeing near the station, why not visit Utsunomiya Futaarayama Shrine, which is a 5-minute walk from JR Utsunomiya Station? It's a famous spot that is often visited by Utsunomiya residents, and the imposing red torii gates and vibrant green scenery are soothing to the soul, making it a true "urban oasis."

The fortune-telling slips at Futarasan Shrine are unique in that they are shaped like dumplings and you pull them with chopsticks, and in spring you can also see the beautiful cherry blossoms blooming within the shrine grounds. Be sure to use this as a reference when sightseeing in Utsunomiya city.

Location of Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture

summary

This time we introduced Utsunomiya Yakisoba, which is popular in Tochigi. The chewy thick noodles are mixed with dashi soup and a deep-flavored sauce, making it so delicious that you'll finish it in no time.

Be sure to try it out at a local restaurant, as it has a slightly different flavor from your usual yakisoba and a wide variety of toppings.

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