Looking for a quick and flavour-packed vegan Japanese dinner? This spicy yaki udon is ready in just 20 minutes and brings together chewy udon noodles, crisp tofu, and a rainbow of vegetables all tossed in a savoury-sweet sauce with a chilli kick.
Yaki udon (焼きうどん) literally means "fried udon" and is one of Japan's classic izakaya (Japanese pub) dishes - quick to make, deeply satisfying, and usually washed down with a cold beer. My version keeps it 100% vegan, making it an easy go-to for weeknights when you want bold flavour without fuss.
Why You'll Love This
Quick & easy - On the table in 20 minutes flat.
Comfort in a bowl - Chewy noodles, savoury sauce, and a warming chilli kick.
Plant-based power - Protein-rich tofu and loads of fresh veg make it hearty and healthy.
Flexible - Swap the veg, dial the spice up or down, make it creamy with a spoonful of vegan mayo, or exchange the protein for one of your plant-based favourites - think Quorn, veggie mince, or even vegan bacon.
Restaurant vibes at home - Izakaya-style noodles without the takeaway price tag.
What to Serve With Spicy Yaki Udon
This dish is filling on its own, but a few simple sides or sips can turn it into a proper Japanese-style feast.
Gyoza (dumplings) - Pan-fried veggie gyoza make a brilliant little extra on the side.
Miso soup - A light, savoury broth that balances the heat of the noodles.
Edamame beans - Simply steamed with a sprinkle of sea salt for a quick protein boost.
Pickled ginger - Bright, crunchy pickles add contrast and cleanse the palate.
Japanese beer or sake - Asahi, Sapporo, or a crisp chilled sake pair perfectly with the spice. See this guide on our favorite japanese beers if you'd like to explore more.
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Ingredients
Serves 2 | Prep time 10 mins | Cooking time 10 mins
For quantitites take a look at the recipe card. For an overview see below:
- Udon noodles (Forzen or fresh preferable)
- Doubanjiang (fermented chilli bean paste, spicy-savoury)
- Kombu dashi powder
- Soy sauce (Kikkoman or similar)
- Cooking sake
- Mirin
- Neutral cooking oil
- Tofu - Extra firm (preferably a variety that you don't need to press)
- Salt & pepper
- Pointed cabbage
- Spring onion
- Onion
- Carrot
- Red pepper
- Birdseye chilli
- Garlic
- Pak choi or choi sum
- Layu & Shichimi togarashi
Instructions
Here's the plan for the best spicy stir-fried udon you'll ever make:
- Boil water for the noodles (but cook them just before the final fry).
- Chop a colourful spread of veg and cube your tofu.
- Stir-fry tofu and veg until golden and glossy.
- Drop in the noodles and sauce - let everything sizzle together.
- Finish with spring onion, chilli oil, and shichimi togarashi.
Dinner, sorted in under half an hour. Follow on below for details on how to make this step by step. You'll soon be expert yaki udonners in no time!
Step 1. Get the water boiling.
Fill a large saucepan with about 2L of water and bring it to a rolling boil. Leave it bubbling on the side while you get everything else ready - you'll cook the noodles just before the stir-fry.
Step 2. Prep the veg and tofu.
Peel your garlic and slice it into lovely paper-thin discs. Trim and peel the onion, cut it in half, then slice into thin even strips. Keeping the slices uniform means they'll cook evenly and gently flavour the oil with that gorgeous garlic and onion aroma.
Slice the carrot lengthways into thin sheets, then cut those into fine batons (little matchsticks). The smaller you go, the quicker they'll soften while still keeping a nice bit of crunch.
Cabbage - Staring with a cabbage quarter, go ahead and cut out the tough core, then shred the leaves into ribbons. Don't go too chunky - ½ inch strips wilt down beautifully and soak up that spicy sauce.
For the red pepper, deseed and dice it into small chunks, about 1 cm. That way, it cooks fast, adds bursts of colour, and gives you those little sweet pops against the spice.
With your choi sum or pak choi - Separate the stalks from the leaves. Chop the stalks into small pieces so they can get a head start in the pan, then leave the leafy tops nice and chunky - they'll wilt down in seconds and give you that lovely fresh green lift.
Now for the chilli: take a bird's eye, slice it finely, and leave the seeds in if you want that extra fiery kick. Then for the garnish, trim your sping onion taking off any dull parts of the stalk and slice into thin discs.
Pat your tofu dry and then cube into ½ inch pieces. First slice into slabs, then into strips, and finally into cubes. More edges means more surface area to crisp up and soak in all that flavour once it hits the pan.
Tip: Go for an extra-firm tofu, like the one from Tofoo, and you can skip the faff of pressing - it's already low in water and ready to crisp up. If you're using a softer block, though, give it a good press and pat dry first. That way you'll get that lovely meaty texture and those golden edges that make the dish a thousand percent better.
Step 3. Fry the tofu
Heat oil in a wok or large frying pan over medium-high. Add tofu and fry until crisp on the edges (2-3 minutes). Season with salt and pepper.
Step 4. Add the veg.
Start with garlic, onion then 2 minutes later add the cabbage, and carrot. After a couple of minutes, add red pepper and pak choi stalks. Stir-fry until glossy and tender-crisp. Toss in the pak choi leaves at the end for just 30 seconds or so. Season with a good couple of pinches of salt a freshly ground pepper. Reduce heat to low while you par-cook your noodles.
Step 5. Cook the noodles.
Drop your udon into the (now) boiling water. For dry noodles, undercook by 2 minutes. For vacuum-packed, cook just until the strands separate (encourage them to separate by tickling them using chopticks). Drain in a colander and shake off excess water.
Step 6. Sauce it up.
Turn up the heat on your pan. Add the drained noodles along with doubanjiang, soy sauce, mirin, sake, and kombu dashi. Stir vigorously until everything is sizzling, glossy, and coated in deep, savoury flavour. This is where it transforms into true spicy yaki udon.
Step 7. Plate and finish.
Divide between bowls. Top with sliced spring onion, a drizzle of layu, and a dusting of shichimi togarashi. Eat straight away - these noodles are at their best piping hot.
Substitutions
You don't have to stick rigidly to this recipe - one of the joys of yaki udon is how adaptable it is. If you can't get hold of udon noodles, you can use soba, ramen, or even spaghetti in a pinch.
Tofu is brilliant here because it crisps up nicely and soaks in all that flavour, but feel free to swap it for tempeh, seitan, or soy-based "chicken" strips.
Doubanjiang adds that deep, spicy-savoury hit, but if it's tricky to find, you can use gochujang or even a teaspoon of miso paste with chilli flakes for a similar kick.
Veggies, which ones you use, are totally flexible - broccolini, bean sprouts, peas, spinach all make excellent stand-ins if that's what you've got to hand.
Mirin can be exchanged with a pinch of sugar if you don't have any to hand (as long as you have sake).
Variations
Heat - If you like things hot, you can make this dish extra spicy by adding extra finely sliced bird's eye chilli or adding extra chilli powder. It'll give you a fiery bowl of spicy udon that really packs a punch.
Mayo - For something a little different, try a creamy version. Stir a spoonful of homemade kewpie vegan mayo through the noodles at the very end and you'll get a rich, silky sauce with a Japanese wafu-style vibe.
Sesame - If sesame flavours are more your thing, finish the dish with a drizzle of toasted sesame oil and a scattering of sesame seeds instead of chilli oil. It adds a nutty depth that works beautifully with the chewy noodles.
Equipment
- Wooden spoon or spatula
- Large wok or frying pan
- Saucepan for boiling noodles
- Colander for draining udon
- Chopping board + sharp knife
Storage
Best enjoyed fresh, but leftovers keep in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheat in a hot pan with a splash of soy sauce or water. Not freezer-friendly (udon gets mushy).
3 Tips for Success
- Get your pan properly hot - stir-frying should sizzle, not steam. You want that loud, exciting fry going on. Just remember, every time you add cold veggies the heat will dip, so don't be shy about cranking the temperature up a touch to keep the action going. If things start charring too fast, ease it back down. It's all about finding that sweet spot where everything cooks quickly, stays vibrant, and picks up just the right bit of colour.
- Undercook your noodles - they'll finish off in the pan. This keeps your spicy udon noodles bouncy rather than soggy. What you're after is that lovely bit of bite, noodles that hold together and soak up the sauce instead of breaking apart and turning to mush.
- Stage your veg - firmer veg first, leafy greens last and keep things moving in the pan so everything get a nice even cook. If you prefer to have some charred flavors allow things to sit for 30 secs to get a crisper coating on things
FAQ
It means vegetable yaki udon - a stir-fried noodle dish with loads of veg. This spicy yaki udon is similar but with a chilli kick.
Absolutely - try Quorn, soya mince or tempeh in your spicy udon noodles.
Cut down the doubanjiang and skip the birdseye chilli. You'll still get loads of umami from the soy, mirin, and dashi.
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with this:
📖 Recipe
Spicy Yaki Udon - Easy 20-Minute Vegan Japanese Stir-Fried Noodles
Equipment
- Large wok or frying pan
- saucepan for boiling noodles
- colander for draining noodles
- Chopping board
- Sharp knife
- Wooden spoon or spatula
Ingredients
- 2 × 200g packs cooked udon noodles or 200g dry
- 1 heaped teaspoon doubanjiang fermented chilli bean paste, spicy-savoury
- 1 teaspoon kombu dashi powder umami-rich broth base from kelp
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce Kikkoman or similar
- 1 tablespoon cooking sake
- 1 tablespoon mirin Japanese sweet rice wine
- 1½ tablespoons neutral cooking oil
- 200 g tofu cubed
- Salt and black pepper to season
- ¼ head pointed cabbage shredded
- 1 spring onion thinly sliced (for garnish)
- ½ medium onion sliced
- 1 medium carrot cut into thin batons
- ¼ red pepper diced
- 2 cloves garlic thinly sliced
- 1 bird's eye chilli finely sliced (leave seeds in for extra kick)
- 2 -3 leaves pak choi or choi sum stalks and greens separated
- Layu Japanese chilli oil, to finish
- Shichimi togarashi Japanese 7-spice, to finish
Instructions
Step 1. Boil the water
- Bring about 2 litres of water to a rolling boil in a large saucepan. Keep it bubbling on the side - you'll cook the noodles just before the final stir-fry.
Step 2. Prep the vegetables
- Peel and slice the garlic into thin discs.
- Trim, peel, and halve the onion, then cut into thin strips.
- Slice the carrot lengthways into thin sheets, then cut into fine batons.
- Core the cabbage and shred it into ribbons.
- Dice the red pepper into small chunks (about 1 cm).
- Slice the bird's eye chilli finely (leave seeds in for extra heat).
- Separate the pak choi stalks from the leaves, chopping the stalks small and leaving the leaves chunky.
- Slice the tofu into slabs, then strips, then cubes (about 1 inch). Pat dry if needed. More edges mean more crisp and flavour absorption.
- Trim and chop the spring onion into thin discs for garnish.
Step 4. Fry the tofu
- Heat the oil in a wok or large frying pan over medium-high. Add the tofu and fry for 2-3 minutes until the edges are golden. Season with salt and pepper.
- Step 5. Stir-fry the veg
- Add the garlic, onion, cabbage, and carrot to the wok. Stir-fry for 2 minutes, then add the red pepper, chilli, and pak choi stalks. Cook until glossy and tender-crisp. Toss in the pak choi leaves for the final minute.
Step 6. Cook the noodles
- Add the udon noodles to the boiling water. Cook according to the type:
- Dry noodles → cook 2 minutes less than the packet instructions.
- Vacuum-packed noodles → cook just until they separate.
- Drain well in a colander, shaking off excess water.
Step 7. Combine with sauce
- Turn the wok heat up to medium-high. Add the drained noodles along with the doubanjiang, soy sauce, sake, mirin, and kombu dashi powder. Stir vigorously until everything is evenly coated, sizzling, and glossy.
Step 8. Finish and serve
- Divide the noodles between bowls. Garnish with sliced spring onion, a drizzle of layu chilli oil, and a dusting of shichimi togarashi. Serve immediately while piping hot.
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