Marugame Udon Eyes East Bay for Next Opening | Eater SF

"Having drawn crowds since it opened in Stonestown Galleria in late 2018, Marugame Udon is expanding to Berkeley in a ground-floor space at 1919 Shattuck Ave. as part of a six-location U.S. chain. The spot uses a cafeteria-style line where diners choose a hot or cold udon bowl (small or large) that’s boiled to order, then move along to a tempura and musubi bar with options like potato croquettes, shrimp tempura, and salmon-filled rice balls, and finish their bowl at a toppings bar with cilantro, green onions, tempura crumbles, and various sauces. It’s positioned as an affordable lunch or dinner for a student-heavy neighborhood: basic kama-age udon is $4.50, the nikutama bowl (with sweet beef, soft egg, kake sauce) is $8.50 for a regular and $9.50 for a large, and tempura pieces run $1.30–$2.20. This is the chain’s second attempt to open in Berkeley after 2017 rumors didn’t pan out, and signs plus confirmation from a contractor onsite indicate this location will move forward." - Ellen Fort