Easy Cold Soba Noodles (Zaru Soba) (VIDEO)
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I love eating cold Soba Noodles (Zaru Soba) with a sweet and savory tsuyu dipping sauce that complements the mild, nutty noodles perfectly. Whip the noodles and sauce up in 15 minutes and enjoy the most delicious simple meal!
Watch the Zaru Soba Noodle Recipe Video!
A Note from CJ
Zaru Soba is so simple but delicious!
Sometimes simple really is best – and this Zaru Soba is testament to that! I love how you only need a handful of ingredients and 15 minutes – it’s perfect for those hot summer days when you don’t want to cook!
You can also serve it alongside your favorite Japanese dishes like Pork Katsu, Chicken Katsu (or Air Fryer Chicken Katsu) with homemade Tonkatsu Sauce, Chicken Karaage (or Air Fryer Chicken Karaage), Panko Shrimp, or Chicken Teriyaki!
My go-to cold soba recipe! I’ve made this recipe time and time again. So simple yet so delicious.
Ingredient Tips
Refer to the recipe card for the full list of ingredients and measurements!
- dashi powder – Dashi is Japanese soup stock that has a unique, rich, umami-packed savory flavor. I used dashi powder. If you use liquid dashi, be sure to use the same measurements as the recipe calls for water and omit the dashi powder.
- mirin – If you don’t have mirin, you can substitute with rice vinegar + 1 tsp of sugar, or 1/4 cup water + 1 tbsp honey mixed in
- soba (buckwheat noodles) – Soba noodles are Japanese noodles with a unique nutty flavor, made out of buckwheat flour.
How to Make Zaru Soba
Make the dipping sauce – In a small saucepan, mix together water, dashi powder, light soy sauce, mirin, and sugar over high heat until it comes to a boil. Turn off the heat and transfer to a heat proof dish or glass container. Place in an ice bath until completely cool. If making the sauce ahead of time, place it in the fridge until the sauce is completely cool.
Cook noodles and garnish – Heat a pot of boiling water over high heat and cook the soba noodles according to package directions. Immediately drain the soba noodles and rinse with cold water or place in an ice bath to completely stop the cooking process. Serve with a small bowl of sauce garnished with sesame seeds and scallions. Serve the cold noodles and sauce alongside grated radish, wasabi and nori. Enjoy!
If you tried this Cold Soba Noodles (Zaru Soba) or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below!
Cold Soba Noodles (Zaru Soba)
Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- 1 tsp dashi powder, use 1 cup of dashi stock if not using powder
- 1/4 cup light soy sauce
- 1/4 cup mirin
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 8 oz dried soba noodles
- 1 tsp sesame seeds
- 3 scallions, chopped
- 2 tbsp white radish, grated
- 1 tsp wasabi, grated
- 2 sheets nori, cut to thin strips
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, mix together water, dashi powder, light soy sauce, mirin, and sugar over high heat until it comes to a boil. Turn off the heat and transfer to a heat proof dish or glass container. Place in an ice bath until completely cool. If making the sauce ahead of time, place it in the fridge until the sauce is completely cool.
- Heat a pot of boiling water over high heat and cook the soba noodles according to package directions. Immediately drain the soba noodles and rinse with cold water or place in an ice bath to completely stop the cooking process.
- When ready to eat, add the sauce to a small bowl and garnish it with sesame seeds and chopped scallions. Serve the noodles and sauce alongside grated radish, wasabi and nori. Dip your noodles in the sauce and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- dashi powder – Dashi is Japanese soup stock that has a unique, rich, umami-packed savory flavor. I used dashi powder. If you use liquid dashi, be sure to use the same measurements as the recipe calls for water and omit the dashi powder.
- mirin – If you don’t have mirin, you can substitute with rice vinegar + 1 tsp of sugar, or 1/4 cup water + 1 tbsp honey mixed in
- soba (buckwheat noodles) – Soba noodles are Japanese noodles with a unique nutty flavor, made out of buckwheat flour.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This Cold Soba Noodle recipe was originally posted in July 2022, and updated in January 2026.
I have made this numerous times and love this recipe. I have used Kiko man light soy sauce unfortunately I have run out. Can I substitute Chinese light soy sauce?
Hi Reiko – thanks so much for your review! The flavor will be slightly different but I wouldn’t say that it’s drastically so. Chinese light soy sauce would be a fine substitute!
Came back from Japan last week and was craving some cold soba noodles. This recipe was easy to make and quick. I added some thin beef slices on the side for additional protein. My husband rated this recipe a 7.5/10! I like that this type of meal is cost-effective and tasty with convenient ingredients in my pantry. Thanks, Chris!
Delicious! Thank you for the great review!
Made this for my mom and she loved it!
My GO-TO cold soba recipe. I’ve made this recipe time and time again. So simple yet so delicious. Thanks CJ!
IG Handle: HAHAJasmin
Amazing dish. My kids request it all the time now.
So delicious and simple, absolutely perfect on a hot summer day
@chunglannie
Tastes like a restaurant-quality meal.
This recipe taste exactly like the restaurants, so good and flavorful!