Marugame Udon

We arrived for dinner at 6:15pm on Friday and the restaurant was quite busy. Fortunately, we got a street parking nearby the restaurant. The service was good and prompt. My only complaint was that they need to clean the table as it was very sticky. - Nikutama udon: the udon was perfectly cooked and chewy. The beef slices were the best! They were tender, sweet, and in good portion. The poached egg was good too to be mixed with the dish. The tempura crumble gave a crunchy texture to the dish - Chicken katsu curry: the portion was quite generous. The chicken katsu had crispy coating and tender meat. The curry sauce was just okay & nothing special. - Sides: tamago tempura & shrimp tempura were crispy and good.

A transcendent noodle experience at Marugame Udon… I don’t usually use the phrase “life-changing” to describe a bowl of noodles… but here we are. From the moment you step inside Marugame Udon Berkeley, it’s like being transported into a cozy, bustling noodle haven where deliciousness practically hangs in the air like perfume. We got the Curry Nikutama and the Vegan tan tan and if comfort and joy had a baby, it would taste exactly like this. The beef in the curry nikutama was melt-in-your-mouth tender, the broth a silky, golden ocean of rich curry perfection. The silky egg sat on top like a jewel, slowly swirling into the noodles, creating a sauce so luscious it should be illegal. Every bite felt like a warm hug from a very talented chef. Whoever invented the vegan tan tan deserves a medal. A vegan dish that somehow manages to be creamy, spicy, nutty, and deeply flavorful all at once? Sorcery. The noodles had the perfect chew the kind that makes you involuntarily close your eyes after the first bite. Toppings? Crisp, fresh, and beautifully balanced. Portions? Generous enough to make your future self thank you. Ambiance? Casual but immaculate, with that satisfying clatter of trays and chopsticks that lets you know everyone’s eating well. If I could, I’d build a small shrine to this place in my kitchen. If Marugame ever shuts down (god forbid), I’ll personally chain myself to the door and protest.

My usuals for no frill basic authentic udon. No crazy long wait, clean (usually) and simple. Good selection of fried sides. Parking is a challenge but not impossible. Their AC needs serious work. It gets hot inside

For a chain restaurant, the udon here is high quality. The noodles were big and fresh, and I liked the ability to customize your dish and your sides. The bowl was really filling and worth the price (in my opinion), I was able to finish it all. The spices they had, which I added, made the dish taste even better. Overall, I hardly have any complaints. It’s not the best udon out there, but it’s pretty great. 4/5.

Unfortunately, the service was disappointing. The servers didn’t seem very welcoming and had trouble communicating in English. When I asked about the shrimp, I was simply told, “Here’s what we have.” The vegetables were served cold, the boiled eggs still had shells, and the green onions weren’t cut properly. Overall, it made the experience less enjoyable. I hope the restaurant can improve its service and food quality.

My husband and I drove 92 miles for a bowl of Udon and then to spend the day on 4th Street shopping. While the food is always delicious at any Marugame Udon, the service was lacking at this location. When I placed my order, the server put my bowl of Udon on a soaking wet with tempura flakes tray that was cleaned but "dirty" at the same time, I was turned off by that. The station where we returned our bowls after we ate our noodles needed attention as the garbage was full and the counter was full of used returned bowls.

Marugame is always good because I'm a huge udon fan vs ramen. Their soup/broth base is very good! The noodles were cooked perfectly and the toppings were great! The Curry rice bowl was also tasty. If you want good basic udon and curry rice at a reasonable price. This is the place to visit.

Amazing food, blazingly fast lines, and a calming atmosphere.

Convenient location near the Berkeley campus with a lot of seating! Similar to other locations, the ordering system is like a cafeteria. Very solid bowl of udon, but line can move a bit slowly and during peak hours it may be hard to get a table since a lot of people sit around and hang out.

It's been two years since I've had Marugame Udon. Last time was at the Hawaii location. I was excited to come here again. Came here on a Thursday afternoon and it wasn't too crowded. Ordering was a bit like cafeteria style. I wanted to switch it up and try one of their rice bowls. I ordered the Chicken Katsu one. They topped it off graciously with a lot of tempura flakes and green onion. I thought the chicken was underwhelmind, and it was just a lot of sauce blended with the rice.

Marugame Udon is located on Shattuck near the Berk campus and is a perfect spot for college students. Great value for ample portions. I've been to this location before and always thought it was pretty good, but my last visit left room for improvement. I love to watch fresh udon noodles being made and appreciate that Marugame lets their patrons view the noodle making process. I ordered the Nikutama in BK Sauce (served with the Sweet Beef and Soft Boiled Egg). Unfortunately this bowl didn't feel like the same quality I've had before from here. I felt the dish was a bit too overly sweet - unfortunately didn't provide the same comfort I was looking for with a bowl of broth/udon to satisfy those cozy feels on a rainy day. While I like the spontaneity of the tempura being grab & pay, some veggies were both soggy and dry, which I felt was also a miss. Service is quick and efficient though and this spot has plenty of room for gatherings and a stroller :) All in all, there are a few other spots in the area I will have my next bowl of udon, but hoping this was just an off day. I will prob also switch my order around for the next go-around to try something that might hit home better.

Marugame deserves better reviews! It's delicious, very affordable, warm and fresh food. Service was quick and the line moves fast. I tried the miso broth with soy meat and it was so so good! It's hard to find a fully vegan option that's actually tasty.

I thought the udon was pretty good, but I did have to ask for more soup, which they kindly didn't charge me extra for. It tasted like other Marugame's I've been too. The only thing my boyfriend I didn't like about this place though, was the joint bathrooms. I thought it was fine at first, but when I walked in and saw a man, I immediately was jump scared. The stalls are completely blocked off from one another, but still.

Well I never would've come here on my own. I was in the building for an event and needed a quick bite. I was underwhelmed by the menu but I'm not an udon girly. I do not seek it out. The noods are just too much for me. But I needed something and a member of the staff offered me a sample of broth. I liked it and decided on the tan tan. The broth was really tasty but I was slurping and kinda dripping all over. It's messy to eat, or I'm not good at it lol. I didn't eat it all so I put the lid on and took it home. I reheated it the next day and was pleasantly surprised all the ingredients held their structural integrity. Surprisingly, I liked the taste even more the second day. Maybe because the noodles had softened up a bit. But the restaurant was easy to spot, it was very nice inside, plenty of seating, super accommodating and nice staff. I'd go back and recommend.

I have been to Marugame in Honolulu and in San Ramon recently. The Berkeley location is much bigger! It's a lot more seating. They have both indoor and some outdoor seating. The food quality has been consistent across all three locations I've visited! Each location has different favorite menu items. For Berkeley that's the curry nikutama. Service is quick once it gets going. It is cafeteria style so it's very simple. Sometimes you might be waiting a little bit if they aren't taking orders that moment. I got the regular sized curry nikutama and an iced matcha tea. It was a fairly filling meal. Good flavor. I'd be happy to get it again. The matcha tea is very earthy. It may be too much for some people. The restrooms are gender neutral. Very clear labeling on how to dispose of the utensils. The only issue I have is the physical location. The parking is difficult for someone that doesn't live in town. As a Cal student Marugame would be great! I'd be eating here once a week minimum. But I would not drive into Berkeley for Marugame. I'd rather go to the San Ramon location which has a free parking garage structure.

I love Marugame so much. I'm never disappointed. When I want a bowl of udon, Marugame is my go to. Don't forget to also get the various tempura! Easy to order, super quick, and there are a lot of seating at this location.

Honestly, it was a little disappointed, trying this place after visiting the location in Hawaii. There's definitely not as many people as this one so I think the fried temporary items are not moving as fast as they are in Hawaii. Definitely taste a little bit more fresh and newly fried in Hawaii than this location. I really enjoyed everything here though overall with the selection and prices. Parking was OK, but you'll probably have to park a little bit further and the residential area.

Ambiance: Marugame is a quick serving Japanese restaurant focused on udon, tempura, and rice dishes. Service: Since it was self serving, the service was as good as it gets since they provided a quick checkout and wait for getting our noodles. Food: We got a nikutama and miso beef udon along with a tamagoyaki and zucchini tempura. We found the nikutama to be quite good and very reminiscent of udon in Japan. However the miso beef udon was terrible. The flavors were everywhere, it was sweet, sour, and bitter with no complimenting flavors. It was pretty much inedible and would COMPLETELY avoid. The tempura was cold and soggy and was obvious had been sitting. However I found the tamagoyaki tempura to have a nice egg flavor. I do want to note that this place is quite expensive and other options for udon are much more preferred over this establishment.

We came on a busy afternoon, I love tempura and my gf loves thick udon. A match-made noodle spot. Music brewing, deep fryers frying, the smell of the broths simmering before you order in line is what really caught my attention. We had several things to try: 1. Curry Nikutama - very silky, oily, smooth and umami broth, sweet beef on top, and a soft poached egg. Yummy 2. Shoyu Tonkotsu - a very creamy porky/rich broth and a half hard boiled egg(we didn't know you could choose, saved that option for next time) nonetheless, a very good udon soup. 3. Tempuras: sweet potato, tamago, potato croquette, zuchinni, and shrimp. They were all freshly fried. Hot and very good! 4. The drinks: Calamansi-ade, super refreshing, just enough sweetness and tart. A solid drink. Matcha is strong on the tea with perfect sweetness. Both very good, solid drinks. The staff was very friendly and welcoming. That's 5 stars! Will definitely visit again and try the other items. Love this place! Thanks Marugame Udon gang!

Very tasty casual udon spot. Got the nikutama curry udon, good curry flavor. The noodles were the best part. The egg was so so. The tempura shrimp and tempura potato croquette were both great, tempura dipping sauce so so. Very fast, nice folks. Good place for a quick lunch, reasonably priced too

We love the vegan options here the spicy Tantan is very good. I hope they add more vegan options to their menu. And more locations!

Second time in 3 days, visiting from San Diego and this place is now a regular spot! Parking is difficult here, look for metered street parking along the main street or spots around the blocks. You are welcomed by a spacious dining room, menus on stands and above the order booth, and the delicious smell of what you're about to eat! Main dishes are ordered and prepared in the initial booth, followed by a counter of a la carte selections of tempura, katsu and more. Drinks right before the cashier, and try the calamansi lemonade, it is SO good! I've ordered the Tonkatsu twice, and I'm not over it. The broth is delicious, and all the ingredients just add to it. Udon noodles are fresh, all made to order, right in front of your hungry eyes! Sit anywhere, and there is an island with the tempura sauce, eating utensils and to go containers complete with bags. Enjoy!

Amazing food, quick service, nice music and atmosphere. Great value and good vibes for catching up with friends. Top picks: Nikutama, Tonkotsu Small is very filling. Add ons are pricey. (Cool format where your bowl is made right in front of you! Very efficient but don't forget to bus yourself on the way out.)

This Marugame location was solid. Fast service and staff is friendly. Plenty of takeout containers and utensils at the side table in case you want to take your item to go. The cold noodle combo was good if you want something simple; it comes with one choice of tempura and a drink. Would come back if craving Marugame and in the area.

First time at this location and it is clean and spacious! Plenty of room and there is outside dining as well. Menu you choose what you want cafeteria style. I had the regular tonkatsu with side of tempura and calamansi drink. Disposable utensils and you bus your tray and sort out the washables and disposables. Would come back again. Metered parking and free residential street parking. The portion I ordered was tasty and just right

Marugame is heaven for anyone who loves udon. The order process is easy, you pick an udon base and then can add toppings and fried goods on as you go down the line. For this visit, I got the Nikutama, which is beef and egg. The broth was so flavor I actually drank it until it was empty. The potato croquette was delicious as well, but eat it quickly or it will disintegrate into the soup. The told of the egg was running beautifully when I broke it and mixed it into the udon. This place was huge, very easy to find a table to eat at. There are also good tables outside. The only thing that threw me off was the bathroom. It's pretty much a communal area so both men and women go in, so don't be too alarmed when you walk in together with a stranger. Parking: Not too bad. I was able to find cheap street parking about 3 minutes away.

Super similar to udon shops in Japan! Love the udon, but some broths are a bit salty, and meals are not extremely substantive. Great place to get dinner with friends, though.

The service was quick, but the food did not taste very good and there was only one vegetarian/vegan choice. The ambiance felt too cafeteria-like for our taste, although I could imagine the place works well for college students.

I enjoyed delicious udon here with family and friends. I thought service and fast and quick. The curry udon was really good. When I asked for extra green onions on the side. The cashier very nicely helped me. Nice seating inside and loved that we didn't have to wait. The water cups were in poor condition though.

Tried the beef dashi bowl with a side of veggies and a 2 pieces of tempura . The broth was sweet and flavorful as described and the udon noodle are very fresh and a decent portion . The beef is really thinly sliced . I would say if it had more flavor depth in the broth it would be a 5 from us . They also have a little booth area where you can get your spices and tempura sauce . When you are done eating the have a organized station to return all your utensils,bowls and garbage /compost. The service was quick and they were very inviting . The ambiance was not loud more of a low conversation /college study area as well since ucb is near by. We would definitely come again when we are craving fresh udon noodles . I totally forgot to snap pics ! But I will next time

Marugame in Berkeley is hands down the best fast food udon spot. I always opt for the beef udon because it's incredibly flavorful. The service is fast and efficient, making it perfect for a quick and satisfying meal. Plus, the restaurant is clean, and the bathrooms are well-maintained and nice. Highly recommended for udon lovers!

The price of a bowl of Udon with one piece of smallest pork meat is ridiculous. Not to mention the price of an additional sides you add with it. I had way better Udon than this POS and much more tastier! The curry rice is even worse. I have never tasted a Japanese curry sauce with such bad after taste. Lastly the staff is so silo and unfriendly. Not a good experience for my first time coming here; first and last for me.

I recently came here again. I ordered the Nikutama and it was pretty good. The udon was filling. I would recommend getting the tempura on the side so the soup broth becomes less chunky when you mix it all together. I also got a couple of tempura items. The tamagoyaki is a must as well as the sweet potato. Now, the most impressive thing about this place was their spoons. It was so legit and sturdy.

Hadn't been for a while but the weather made we want udon soup. The service is still fabulous, love the tempura, the gyoza, absolutely delicious. Everything still a 10. And it's more than worth your money. A large fresh noodle soup for $14 bucks! Will be coming back more often.

I honestly loved Marugame on my Hawaii trip a couple of years back, and once I got to Berkeley I was super excited to try Marugame, but to be honest it was quick lackluster? I ordered the curry udon, and it was really watery and almost tasteless except the overwhelming salty taste. This was really disappointing as Japanese curry is among my favorite foods. I also got the shrimp tempura and a vegetable croquette. Again these were also disappointing since it was cold, and I'm not even sure how that happens because we came in at 12:00 PM... However, my friend really enjoyed their chicken katsu don, and for their first introduct to Japanese food? We'll take it. Overall, pretty decent, but a far cry from the Marugame I had in Hawaii.

Recently went to Marugame and grabbed a bowl of their curry nikutama udon noodles. I used to go this spot all the time in grad school and it still hits. I think the noodles have a good chewy consistency and their broths/sauces are flavorful. This was my first time trying the curry udon and I was definitely satisfied. They also have different types of tempura that you can grab as well. The cook was even nice enough to get up some fresh ones for us. Overall, I feel like this is a solid spot if you're looking for a quick bite in a reasonable price range ($10-$15). Fun, casual vibes. Great for lunch.

Fire meal. Got the beef gyudon and it was super good. Usually get the udon but wanted to switch it up this time. The beef is super tasty and only critique would be that it's pretty heavy on the sauce. The service is always really good and inside is super clean and spacious. Love this place for a quick dinner w friends!

This review has not 1.. not 2.. but 3 reviews in one. Why? Because I ate this place 3 days in a row because it is THAT good. Marugame Udon is such a unique style restaurant you must stop in and experience. It almost has a cafeteria style walk up counter to select your order and watch it be made fresh right in front of you. You can see your noodles be made fresh from start to finish. Watch your bowl be out together by the staff. Sounds like a lot, but the efficiency of this restaurant is awesome with a staff member in each station. After watching your bowl made, there is a grab and go tempura station with many different options to add in. I ordered the Nikutama Hot all times (I know I probably should've ordered others but it was just too good) I added green onions, shrimp tempura and the Fireball. Add the fireball on the side if you'd like to make it spicy!! Best udon bowl I've had in such a long time and will continue to keep coming here.

I've been to Marugame in Oahu so it was nice to try one on thr mainland. Fresh udon noodles made right in front of you, customer service was fast, and food is very fresh. I had the Nikutama spicy which was a bit sweeter than I would like but overall quite yummy. The tempura options were very fresh and crispy.

Fast cafeteria style udon place walking distance from UC Berkeley. Order first. Get food. Pay. You can take out or dine in a casual but large sitting area inside or patio dining outside. High ceilings = feels very spacious. My son loves his udon, and this place is perfect, he always gets the extra portion and it's exactly how he likes it (no onions, extra flakes!). The menu isn't that extensive but you can add on tempura or chicken katsu to make your meal more filling. We went here twice in 3 days, this is the kind of comfort food he likes. Service is LIGHTNING FAST and friendly. Restrooms are unisex. Sign up for their frequent flyer program. Credit cards or cash.

Marugame always hits the spot. I get the nikutama every time and I could never get tired of eating it!!! My sis and I came during a Saturday around 3ish with no line!! There's plenty of seating here and the bathrooms are super clean!

I don't eat in because it's typically crowded. Word of advice, if you want all the goodies it's suppose to come with your order, DON'T come when they're just opening because they are not prepared. The food is good but the service in the early opening not so good

Udon is ok here. Just the same as all the other joints. What I'm here to review is their chicken Katsu teriyaki bowl. Sooooooo much sauce. My katsu was swimming in it. Became a soup instead of a rice bowl. If you order, ask for it on the side or ask for a light drizzle.

Can't remember if I've ever been to a Marugame udon before but I would definitely come back! The service style is like chipotle/others where you pick your udon and then you travel down the line to pick up any tempuras you would like. We got the Beef (with all toppings + extra egg) and the Nikutama (with all toppings). Then for tempura we picked up 2 shrimp, 1 squid, and 1 sweet potato. I would say that the Nikutama is so much better than the beef. Don't be fooled like me - i wanted a soupy udon so despite the description of Nikutama being "sauce" it's more like a broth. Would recommend the Nikutama, not so much so the beef udon. I didn't like the flavor of the broth as much. The tempuras were good - the batter is extremely fluffy and airy. There's tempura sauce near the napkins and utensils but I honestly didn't like the sauce. I enjoy a heavier saltier sauce but this one is very light. There are plenty of seating at this location although it was extremely difficult to find parking and took us quite a long while. Would maybe recommend another location if you're driving.

I'm so disappointed. I've been to the one in Hawaii and I feel like this branch's quality is utterly lacking comparatively. It was not tasty, everything was messy, and service was bad. I asked the girl serving if I could get a bit more soup and she literally gave me a few droplets lol she could've just said she can't do that if she didn't want to? There were no clean cups for water and the self-service area with sauce and utensils were a hot mess too. Step it up Berkeley Marugame!

Marugame is a casual restaurant where you order up front and watch them assemble your bowl, so it's a fairly quick process. Self serve tempura is available as well, and the noodles are bouncy and the broth is flavorful. The price is also pretty fair as well.

DO I RECOMMEND THIS PLACE?: 10/10 would recommend i loveee nothing more than a bowl of warm soup and noodles or just noodles with sauce is equally my top choice! if you're looking for high-quality noodles along with some bomb tempura then marugame udon would be a great spot for you! i appreciate how they have various options (including vegan choices) after going to both this location and the san ramon location many times - their staff, service, and food quality is always up meeting my expectations!! the casualness of the restaurant ambiance is like cafeteria style - in which you go through each section (noodle ordering, toppings, tempera, and then pay) but it's still very personal and intimate! tips: - no private parking but lots of street parking and parking lot available - lots of vegan options available - noodles with soup/sauce available - indoor and outdoor seating available - perfect for friends, family, dates, pet friendly (outside)

I reccommend ordering in person instead of online pickup on busy days. I ordered through the Marugame udon app & listed to include both sauces and an egg, I wasn't given either. Plus the portion sizing was really skimpy for the regular kake udon. I was pretty disappointed but next time I know I'll have to wait in line.

Great quick and affordable food. Service is very quick, you get your food in a matter of minutes. Perfect food anytime throughout the day! A staple whenever I'm in town! I got the Tonkotsu Udon this time and it was just as good as their other menu items. Great place to come and eat with friends! The menu has been updated recently as well.

Good udon, very confusing menu (there are multiple menu boards, slightly varied), efficient service. For a quick meal that is good, fast and affordable, this place is great. Also very good for kids because you can build your own bowl to your liking. Udon is good. Tempura is good as well. Place has good food, but not a destination spot, if that makes sense. Quick, tasty and efficient meals is what this place excels at. Can get hectic to find an open table when crowded.

Ordered rice bowls to go. They skimp on carryout orders. Had to add rice from the day before. Also ask you to tip on takeout. STOP RIPPING CUSTOMERS OFF! STOP BEGGING FOR TIPS FROM STRANGERS! What little food they give you is just meh. Every employee looks like a high school kid. Pay your people a high wage and stop being shady, Marugame $$$

Always love coming to Marugame Udon, especially in the winter when it's gloomy and rainy and I'm craving something warm. I like this location because it is next to a lot of different study spots and coffee shops, so I can always come here after studying to reward myself with a little meal. Parking at the Berkeley location is a little hard to find (but it is hard to find parking on Shattuck in general). The ordering process is so easy and everything I've tried from their menu is great! My go-to order is usually the Tonkotsu Udon and I like to grab some tempura varieties on the side. Highly recommend if you haven't had Marugame Udon before!

For being a big chain, this place has consistently good food. I'm a big fan of their curry udons! Especially with a soft egg cracked into it with extra green onions on top! Lawd. So good. Service is fast! Of all the other locations I've been to, this one almost never has a line. Sound sad? It's not! It's usually pretty crowded inside & people are happily and quietly slurping up their soups. :)

After a long flight into Oakland we really wanted something hearty that would warm us up. So glad we got the udon noodles from Marugame. The ease of ordering online and the speedy delivery was awesome! We loved the packaging with care and the instructions on how best to eat the noodles. This bowl really hit the spot, definitely going back but this time in restaurant before we head back to Texas for another culinary experience!

Ambiance: It is more a food court style fast food udon location. Fun place to go with friends to pick up a quick bite to eat. Pretty clean self service place. Lots of room though to eat with friends. Sometimes the line can get pretty long especially if school is in session. Food: Honestly I think this was a case of it Bering over hyped or just not as good as the original in Hawaii. I felt like it just was not that fresh and the egg was completely cooked no jelly or runnyness to it. But over all it was good just not AMAZING like everyone says. I got the Nikutama udon and it was nasty just not below my socks off good. The tempera just didn't taste very fresh like it might have been sitting for a little bit. Over all I'll go back just keep my expectations a little bit lower.

This location is quite spacious and nice. Many things are self service after ordering your udon in front like finding a seat, getting utensil and water, and putting the tray/dishes away. The udon was very tasty. Their tempura was alright. I feel like the quality of the oil that they fry the tempura in isn't that good because I can taste it in the tempura.

The restaurant is beautiful inside and very spacious. It's typically busy but it functions sort of like a fast food place. You go in a line to order your noodles and then you walk down a lane of tempura or extra sides you can grab to add to your order. What's special about this dining experience is you really see your food being put together! The udon is very freshly boiled in front of you and then they throw it into your soup broth. They follow by adding in all the toppings and extra ingredients. The dishes are filling and flavorful and you can order and eat within minutes! After you're done you just place your waste and tray onto a window towards the kitchen where the staff will grab your trays and dishes. It's a really nice place to drop by in Berkeley but admittedly parking is super hard to find! It's along a strip of other businesses too, which makes it easy enough to go out for desserts or other food right after!