With rice prices soaring, yakisoba is now popular. Easy to make and cheap, yakisoba is attracting attention as a savior in the face of rising prices. Furthermore, yakisoba specialty shops are opening in Tokyo one after another. We will look into the secret behind its popularity. ■ From the popular classic "yakisoba" to private brands, a wide variety of yakisoba is lined up in the large supermarket "Beisia", from the easy "hard yakisoba". Ippei Tsukamoto, grocery manager at Beisia Sakura store, says, "Sales of noodles such as Chinese noodles and yakisoba have increased compared to last year." Sales of noodles are booming now, replacing the soaring price of rice. Among them, yakisoba is attracting attention because it is quick and easy to make and contains vegetables. So, what kind of yakisoba is actually selling? After looking around, a woman came to the yakisoba corner and picked up the popular classic "Maruchan yakisoba" and put it in her basket. Customer: "I've been eating it for a long time." "Maruchan Yakisoba has a good taste." The familiar yakisoba, which can be completed in no time by pouring the powdered sauce that comes with it and frying the noodles and ingredients, is still popular. And the popular yakisoba that many people chose is a slightly unfamiliar yakisoba. What's the reason? Customer: "It was cheap. (Q. How much was it?) 99 yen." "Beisia"'s private brand yakisoba is a bargain at 106 yen including tax for three servings. It's so cheap that people can't help but buy a lot. Customer: "I guess the cheapness is what attracts me the most. I chopped the yakisoba into small pieces and mixed it with rice in half and half to make soba rice. It has a normal sauce flavor, but it's a little different when you add rice." Another woman picked up the yakisoba on the top shelf without hesitation. She bought Ogawaya's "Hata Yakisoba." It comes with deep-fried Chinese noodles, so you can pour the sauce of your favorite ingredients over it and you'll have "Ankake Yakisoba" in no time. Of course, the noodles are crispy. Customer: "Just as is. I just make stir-fried vegetables and put them on top." ■ "Yakisoba = something you eat at home" is not the same? The taste of a specialty store that makes you want to go out and eat! With the rising cost of living, many people are becoming addicted to the taste of yakisoba, which has been attracting attention, and "Soufuren Kanda Branch" in Kanda, Tokyo opened in June 2024. Although "yakisoba = something you eat at home", it has become popular with a taste that makes you want to go out of your way to eat it. This yakisoba is made by pouring a secret sauce over the noodles and stir-frying them on a hot plate. Customer: "It feels like a completely different food." Customer from Switzerland: "Sometimes the noodles are crispy and delicious." In fact, this main store is the birthplace of Oita's soul food "Hita Yakisoba", which has been in business for over 60 years. What is this popular crispy yakisoba!? How to make it... Spread the noodles flat and wait for about 1 minute. Flip it over and the other side will be crispy and golden brown. The noodles are placed on top of bean sprouts and spring onions, and then the secret sauce is poured over them to double the aroma. The rich yet light sauce is thoroughly mixed with the noodles, which are then grilled at a high temperature. This results in the famous "Soufukoi Yaki" (1,050 yen). A customer said, "The balance of crispy and moist parts is just right. It's not too thick or too thin, and it makes you want to eat rice." Many customers are becoming addicted to Oita/Hita Yakisoba after trying it for the first time. Soufukoi Kanda store manager Hamasaki Hibiki: "We want people in Tokyo to know about us, so we're opening a store in Ueno and Kanda, and in November in Jujo." ■Marugame Seimen opens a specialty store Artisanal skill! The fluffy and chewy "Omu Soba" is also in Nishikasai. A little way down the shopping street where many locals come and go, you will find the yakisoba specialty restaurant "Nagata Honjoken Metro Center Nishikasai". The shop only has a counter and is always full of customers. The reason is that the horumon and yakisoba are grilled on a hot plate in front of you and steaming yakisoba. The table is almost entirely made of hot plates, so the freshly made food is immediately delivered to the customers. You can enjoy the most delicious taste while it is still hot. A customer said, "It's fun and I'm happy that I can eat it right after it is made." A customer from overseas was surprised but also smiled. A customer from Australia said, "It's a wonderful and unique experience to have it made right in front of you. You can enjoy it with all your senses because you can enjoy watching it and the smell is intriguing." In fact, this shop is in the same group as Marugame Seimen, so just like the udon noodles, all the noodles for the yakisoba are made in-house and are fresh and chewy. The chewy noodles go well with "Bokkake," a specialty of Nagata, Hyogo, made by simmering beef tendons and konnyaku until they become soft and tender. The most popular dish, "Bokkake Yakisoba," which is served with a slightly sweet and spicy sauce, costs 750 yen. A customer said, "It's really good! It's really chewy and feels thicker than the yakisoba I have here," and "The noodles are chewy and delicious." Another dish that is popular among women is the "Omu Soba." When an egg tries to escape from the hot plate, it is quickly pushed back in with a spatula to create a fluffy omelette. Finally, it is rolled up, topped with sauce and mayonnaise, and placed on the yakisoba. "... (https://newsdig.tbs.co.jp/list/articl... ▼TBS NEWS DIG Official Website https://newsdig.tbs.co.jp/ ▼Please subscribe to our channel! / @tbsnewsdig ▼Information provided by "TBS Insiders" https://www.tbs.co.jp/news_sp/tbs-ins... ▼Video provided by "TBS Scoop Post" https://www.tbs.co.jp/news_sp/toukou.... #News #news #TBS #newsdig