Bland soups and soggy tempura make Marugame Udon a flop - Review - Seattle - The Infatuation

"This popular udon chain from Honolulu opened its first location outside of Hawaii at Southcenter Mall. But it doesn’t quite live up to the hype. The broths are bland, the noodles are too soft, and fried things like tempura and potato croquettes are stale, oily, and kinda sad. Sure, it works if you’re after a quick, casual bowl of udon, but the mall has way better food close by. Food Rundown Tan Tan The strong orange tint of the broth is an illusion. What looks like a rich, spicy broth is a watery letdown, topped with plasticky soy meat crumbles. photo credit: Kayla Sager-Riley Nikutama This broth is sweet and light, but it doesn’t really stand out. You’ll mostly end up snacking on the beef and soft onions, and poking around for any stray bits of poached egg left. photo credit: Makena Yee Chicken Kastu Curry For a place that specializes in udon, the best thing here might be this dish. The chicken katsu is crispy and the curry is pleasant, though definitely on the sweet and tomato-y side. photo credit: Makena Yee Shrimp Tempura These have clearly been sitting under a heat lamp for way too long, losing any and all traces of what might’ve once been a crunch." - Kayla Sager-Riley