When you’re enjoying cold noodles in Japan, the key is not to over-dip. This technique may require some chopstick finesse, but the goal is to dip the noodles just enough to enhance the flavor without overpowering it with sauce.
For the perfect ratio, only dip about two-thirds or half of the noodles into the sauce. Definitely avoid submerging them fully or leaving them in the sauce for more than a couple of seconds.
It may feel awkward at first, but (quiet and not excessive) slurping is considered polite. Once you get used to the process, you’ll also notice that it’s a very hassle-free and efficient way to devour noodles. Lastly, slurping has actually been proven to intensify the flavors through aeration, which better mixes the sauce (or soup) with the ingredients.