Marugame Udon Puts Liverpool Street Japanese Restaurant on the Menu | Eater London

"A major Japanese udon chain making its long-awaited U.K. debut with a 4,000 sq ft Liverpool Street site, replacing the Wahaca at the listed address. The operator, which runs over 1,000 restaurants in Japan, emphasizes sanuki udon tradition using proprietary machines designed to mimic the hand-kneading and shaping process. Its menu centers on two classics—kamaage udon (served in a communal pot with a dipping dashi) and kake udon (served in a hot kakejiru broth of dashi, soy and mirin)—with customizable add-ons such as tempura, chicken and pork katsu, and onsen eggs, plus a self-service condiment bar the company bills as “iconic.” The concept follows a Japanese cafeteria model (no table service, noodles boiled to order) for quick service, positioning it to appeal to U.K. diners already invested in noodle culture and to expand into vacated larger restaurant spaces amid the coronavirus-driven market shift." - James Hansen