Noodles are full of mystery, and yet universally loved. They have been around since more than four millenniums ago and still are going delicious, as it's always hard to resist! Can you name each noodle variety, based on its shape, seasoning, cook methods, and so on—without googling? Neither do we! Many noodles now have local touches with unique characteristics. However, we don't need to argue about which one is the best—or who invented the noodle, or join the debate to determine which came first: pasta or noodle. Save the debates for later, as the most important thing now is a bowl of hot noodles that can warm up our windy days, especially in Ubud.

Generally, during the dry season which spans from May to September, we had a little moment of 'winter'. From June to August, Bali's temperature's getting cooler as the wind from Australia's winter season brought a cold, dry, a relatively high-pressure air. Increasingly, this relatively high air pressure causes the air masses movement from Australia to Indonesia, resulting in the great decrease in air temperature at night in Indonesia, especially Java, Bali, NTB and NTT.

Consequently, our stomachs are longing for something warm and tasty, like noodles! And we are lucky, as here in Ubud, we can cross the world from Java to Japan and from Korea to China, just by hopping from one bowl of delicious noodles to another.

Here is a quick guide to some of Ubud’s best noodles — as well as advice on some interesting places to actually eat them.

Javanese Noodles (Mie Jawa)

Where to eat:

• Warung Vinaka, an Asian cuisine restaurant and vegetarian-friendly | Suweta street | 12pm - 10pm. Try: Rendang noodle. Rendang is a heavily spiced—deep cooked tenderloin.
• Warung Mie Koe, a small noodle bar | Sukma street | 10am - 8pm. Try: Mie Ayam Komplit: Chicken Noodle with wonton, meatball, vegetables.
• Kedai Mieso, abbreviation of Mie Baso, literally means meatball noodles | Raya Sanggingan street | 11am - 10pm. Try: Mie Ijo (Green Noodle)
• Pawon Wong Solo, a local small eatery | Teges street | 10am - 10pm. Try: Chicken noodle, paired deliciously with Es Dawet; a traditional iced sweet dessert.
• Bakmi Arga, a halal-homemade noodle restaurant | Sukma street | 10am - 9pm. Try: Mie Ayam Special Bakso Pangsit Goreng (Chicken Noodle Soup with Mushroom, beef meatball, and fried dumplings)

Javanese noodles have a soft texture due to their unique cooking process. A bowl of chicken noodles consists of boiled mustard greens, a sprinkling of garlic onion leaves and fried dumplings. The magic of the seasoning lies in the chicken oil mixture, made by vegetable oil, ginger, pepper, coriander, and garlic.

Jakarta Noodles (Mie Jakarta)

Where to eat:

• Mie Ibukota, an Indonesian cuisine restaurant | Raya Singakerta street |12pm - 10pm. Try: Chicken Noodles Mushroom.
• Bakmie MG, an Indonesian—Jakarta style restaurant | Raya Sanggingan street. Try: Bakmie Pangsit Goreng (Fried dumpling noodles)

One couldn't tell at a glance the difference between Javanese Noodles and Jakarta Noodles, but when we tasted the latter, it hit our savory taste buds, while the other's flavor was rather sweet.

Chinese Noodles

Where to eat:

• Fu Shou Noodle Club, a homemade chewy noodles with authentic family recipe | Raya Ubud street | 11am - 8pm. Try: Roasted pork belly, char siu pork, free-range chicken. Paired deliciously with Chinese Shumai Pork/Chicken
• Hongalia, a homemade Chinese cuisine restaurant | Jatayu street | 8am - 11pm. Try: Chicken Noodles, mixed with shrimp gyoza or fried cuttlefish.
• You & Mie, a little homemade Chinese noodle restaurant | Sukma street | 11am - 8pm. Try: Homemade wonton noodles paired with mushroom.

Chinese noodles, also known as mien—a yellowish wheat noodles, could be thin, thick, stiff or chewy! There's always a bowl of flavor to suit everyone on any occasion.

Japanese Noodles

Where to eat:

• AngKaSa, A home-style Japanese Restaurant | in an alley of Monkey Forest street | 11am - 11pm. Try: Char siu (Roasted Pork) Ramen, Tuna Avocado Rolls, paired deliciously with a choice of healthy salads and pasta.
• Kafe Topi, a hidden quiet Japanese cafe | Nyuh Kuning street | 9am - 7pm. Try: Udon, Japanese cold noodle.
• Toro Sushi, a sushi cafe | Gootama street | 11am - 10.30pm. Try: Tempura Soba, Japanese noodle and prawn tempura.
• Man Maru, a Japanese Restaurant | Raya Sanggingan street | 12pm - 11pm. Try: Curry Udon.

A Japanese wheat noodle dish, from Ramen - comes in a variety of sizes, although most tend towards thinness, to Udon—the thickest Japanese noodles, all are delicious.

Korean Noodles

Where to eat:

• Roots, a Korean restaurant | Raya Sanggingan street | 11am - 9pm. Try: Miso Noodle
• Cloud Nine Ubud Pub and Co, Korean Authentic food with vegetarian options | Raya Lungsiakan | 9am - 12am. Try: Shin-Ramen

Although Korean and Japanese have their own miso which are both made from fermented soybeans and salt, the Japanese version has a mild sweetness, while the Korean one has a more complex note. You might want to try the Miso Noodle Bowl, as it is a perfect combination between ramen and miso soup!

Thai Noodles

Where to eat:

• Melting Wok, an Asian—French fusion | Gootama street | 10am - 10pm. Try: Coconut Curry Noodles
• Buddha Bowl, a Vietnamese-Thai restaurant | Pengosekan | 8am - 11pm. Try: Vegetarian Fried Noodle Tofu
• Lè Mien, a homemade noodle restaurant | Sugriwa street | 10am - 9pm. Try: Sawang—Barbeque Pork Bangkok Style

Thai rice noodles are deliciously spicy, with a slight of sweetness.

Vegetarian Noodles

Where to eat:

• Veggie Karma, an Asian vegetarian and vegan food | Hanoman street | 11am - 9.30pm. Try: Asian veggie noodles
• Warung Semesta, an organic vegetarian restaurant | Monkey Forest street | 7am - 10.30pm. Try: Fried vegetarian noodles
• Nine Heaven, a vegetarian/vegan Restaurant | Sukma street | 9am - 10pm. Try: Vegan Ramen
• Siam Sally, a Thai Restaurant | Hanoman street | 10am - 12pm. Try: Vegan Noodle Bowl
• Cloud Nine Ubud Pub and Co, Korean Authentic food with vegetarian options | Raya Lungsiakan | 9am - 12am. Try: Kong-guksu; plain noodle in cold soup made from pure soy bean, almond, and sesame seed

The deliciousness of noodles is for everybody, including vegetarians! You have noticed that some restaurants listed above are vegetarian, but Ubud has plenty of other vegan options for you.