MARUGAME UDON

Marugame Udon Is Now Slinging Noodles at Westfield UTC | Eater San Diego

"At Westfield UTC Mall near Macy’s, I checked out the newly opened Marugame Udon, which has a grand opening scheduled for Monday, April 15 and is currently open for dine-in with 24 indoor tables and 10 patio tables while pickup and delivery via DoorDash and Uber Eats will start next week. The restaurant specializes in Sanuki udon—made with 100 percent wheat flour, water, and salt to produce pillowy, thick noodles inspired by founder Takaya Awata’s family ties to Kagawa Prefecture; Awata opened his first Sanuki udon spot in Kakogawa in 2000. Popular offerings include the nikutama (an umami-rich broth with sweet beef, served hot or cold), creamy tonkotsu, and the beef udon in traditional dashi, plus two vegan bowls (vegan miso and tan tan) and rice options like chicken teriyaki, chicken katsu curry, and beef gyudon. Service is cafeteria-style with an open-theater kitchen where diners grab trays and choose toppings as they move along; bowls are dipped in a 190°F liquid to heat the ceramic before noodles and broth are added from a separate vat, and staff ask if you want the bowl “sanuki-style” (topped with green onions and tempura) — a sign of welcoming hospitality, according to culinary director Akinobu “Aki” Matsuo. Add-ons include green onions, tempura, big chicken katsu, and kitsune age tofu, and drink choices so far include traditional iced matcha and calamansi lemonade; Matsuo says the UTC location will offer seasonal specials, this is the chain’s 12th California outpost, and store manager Kobe Thrower believes it could become its second-busiest location after Hawaii as Marugame plans up to five locations across San Diego (Mitsuwa Marketplace, the Convoy District in the Zion Market complex, Clairemont Mesa, and Del Mar)." - Helen I. Hwang