Absolutely! The flavor profile and the amount of fat is different, but the principle of serving a bunch of tasty things on top of noodles and then stirring it all together definitely didn’t originate with abura soba. Read more

Good question. “Soba” by itself always refers to buckwheat noodles. However, the word can also mean “noodles” in general, although this usage is restricted to certain set phrases. For example, yakisoba (stir-fried noodles) is also made with ramen-style wheat noodles. Regular soup ramen is often called chūka soba, meani… Read more

No, it’s a soft-boiled egg cooked in the shell in sub-boiling water. Sorry I didn’t clarify this in the piece! Read more

This is how my mom made instant ramen for us kids growing up. Minus the fried egg. Maybe this is why I love abura soba? Read more