Marugame Udon

Visited Marugame Udon at the Glendale Galleria on a Saturday afternoon, and it definitely lived up to its reputation. The place was **busy** with a **long line**, but it moved fairly quickly. The noodles were **fresh, chewy, and full of flavor**, just like many reviews had mentioned. Despite the crowd, the food quality made the wait worth it. Overall, a great spot for fresh udon—just be prepared for a line during peak hours.

Ordered No. 1 on the menu, Nikutama, No. 6 Tan Tan Ramen, No.7 Curry Nikutama Ramen. If you like clear broth, recommend Nikutama. If you like creamy broth, order No.2, I saw a lot of women ordering the creamy broth. My favorite was the Tan Tan because I like spicy food. The udon noodle is chewy al dante. Personally, I like less al Dante for udon, but it was a fun texture. Will definitely come back for Tan Tan. Oh, squid fries are a must!

My friend recommended this place to me , one time we met up and this is where we ate. She is right , this place is awesome!This is located inside the Glendale Galleria mall, the broth is very flavorful and very comforting, plus the aroma - oh my!it is reakky good. Their price is very reasonable especially at this time everything is adjusting their prices.They variety of selections.I ordered for soup with pork chasu as additional - it is very tender and Im glad I orderrd this oneand I also got the chicken curry which is very delish and ingredients tastes so fresh. You can add crispy tempura crumbs and fresh onion leaves to make it more tasty.it is free of charge.They also have chopped ginger on the side counter- also free! The to go box are always ready for you to get, isnt it so convenient.Ambiance is very simple and cool.The staff are nice and courteous. The restroom is clean too.I definitely recommend this place and would come back again.

I had a great experience at Marugame Udon! The beef bowl was flavorful and comforting, topped with savory beef, crunchy tempura bits, fresh green onions, and a perfectly soft-boiled egg that brought everything together. The side of assorted tempura—especially the shrimp and mushroom—was light, crispy, and not greasy at all. Everything tasted fresh and satisfying. Highly recommend if you’re craving hearty Japanese comfort food at a good value!

Fantastic Food! If the staff is very friendly the food is fresh and made to order. Great atmosphere, place quite a few tables

Service was so quick and the food is absolutely delicious!! I would definitely come back to this location specifically because the cashier who helped us Kevin was so nice!!

Great food! Seasonal veggies are about $2.65. The large is just $1 extra and you get extra noodles and meat.

Udon tastes the same as the last time I visited when it first opened. Been years since I visited. Seems like toppings and tempura options are smaller than before but noodles are still consistently good!

Hard to find good Udon and this place does it very well. You start by picking what type of udon you want and they serve it on a tray and ask if you want tempura flakes (HECK YAH LOAD ME UP) and green onion and as you scoot on down you can get some tempura and other goodies. There is a tempura sauce station near the water. I got the curry udon and it was amazing. Curry was rich and the gyudon wasn't overly sweet, and paired well with the curry. My wife doesn't like curry but she really enjoyed the flavor. Udon was cooked to perfection, with the right amount of bite and springy texture. Wife got the tonkatsu and the broth was flavorful but I preferred the curry. Make sure to add some chili flakes it really brings out the flavors! It is tucked behind the food court so can be a bit tricky to locate. Parking, its a mall its horrible but eventually youll find it.

I haven't had Marugame in a hot minute, but this location is pretty good and is conveniently the closest one to me. We went yesterday (Saturday) around 1ish, and it was pretty busy (we had to wait in a short line but it moves fast; I have been here before on a random Sunday afternoon when it wasn't a peak meal hour, and there was no line then). All the workers were moving around efficiently to make the food, clean off tables, and count how many people were coming in/leaving to make sure everyone got a seat. My go-to is usually the nikutama udon, but we wanted to try the new limited Tomatama Curry Udon (tomato + egg mixed in curry sauce with chicken katsu on top), so my husband and I ordered a large one to share. The katsu was freshly sliced in front of us, and it was the best part of the whole dish (to me) other than the fresh chewy udon noodles. The sauce was not too strong in curry flavor (just a nice aftertaste of curry to complement the tomato and egg), and it was rich and thick enough to stay on the noodles as you ate. My husband loved the dish so much, he said he could have eaten the whole bowl by himself and wants to go back again just for the Tomatama. I personally love the nikutama one more (so I will probably order that next time), but the Tomatama is solid if you are curious and want to try it before they take it off the menu.

I've been coming to this udon place quite a few times, and I love it! Their tonkatsu ramen is my favorite -- I really don't know why it was discontinued. On my last few visits, I wasn't sure what to get, so today I tried the broth with udon noodles, shrimp tempura on the side, and a soft boiled egg. Unfortunately, after getting home, I ended up very ill and threw up. That said, I'm still giving them a good rating because when I called to report the situation, the manager, Celeste, handled it exceptionally well. She took it seriously, listened carefully, and didn't brush me off. I truly appreciate that kind of care, and because of how they addressed the issue, I feel confident this was a one-off, and I will definitely be back.

Ambiance: this Marugame Udon store is located near one entrance of galleria mall, it could get very packed during rush hours Service: friendly and patient with requests, although it might take a while to place the order when they ran out of bowls Food: standard udon menu with seasonal items CREAMY BROTH - **** Tonkotsu style creamy chicken broth, topped with juicy pork chashu, and a flavorful seasoned egg, tasty with flakes and green onions, chewy noodles and bold flavor broth, recommend Price: generous portions and affordable prices, expect $15~$20 for a very fulfilling bite

Had a craving for udon and came across this Marugame in LA. Thought I would compare it with the one in SF. Well, at first glance they both look very similar. Although the dining area is much smaller here. Due to lack of staff, the dining area and bathroom are pretty messy. Used paper napkins are littered throughout the floor and bathroom. However, the food was very good. The portion size was also very good. In fact, the taste and portion size is better than the SF location! The kitchen staff was very friendly as well. Overall, I would come back. Just wish they would keep the place cleaner.

It's definitely a super kid friendly spot my little guy and I love. The place is clean, org sized and similar to a cafeteria style so you order what you like and slide the tray down as you go. The staff is friendly and helpful. I love the dashi and tonkatsu broth, the udon is not overcooked and has some good chew -- will be back again soon.

Had a few issues coming to eat here with some friends the other day. So we LOVE Marugame udon. The noodles are gummy, slippery, and deliciously chewy with a yummy base of broth. We got the most popular dish (Nikutama) and I got it hot, while my friends got it cold. The cold version is refreshing and is perfect for a hot sunny day. We waited for a long while at the counter before being asked on what we would like. It was so long it caused a big crowd to form behind us while we were standing there and waiting. Next, we were disappointed that the kitchen ran out of green onions for the day. That ingredient being out made our dish feel like it was missing that crunch and vitality green onions would usually give to the dish. Finding a table was easy for us and we sat next to the water station near the utensils area. A couple of people asked to get it changed because the water machine was out. I saw them ask a lady, who then asked the dishwasher guy to change it. However, we got grossed us out while waiting for the water get replaced. The water gallon was pulled out by the guy and while we waited, we saw the water dispenser tube was PLACED ON THE FLOOR! We were shocked because that tube is literally what goes inside of the water gallon.. and so we didn't want to drink water anymore after seeing that. Lastly, the broth was also abnormally stronger than usual for all of us. It was dark brown when it should normally be a lighter brown. We soon felt headaches after eating for a while. It felt like the broth concentrate wasn't right and it tasted like the sodium levels felt so high idk.. We pulled through and immediately went to our cars to drink from our reusable water bottles. Meat, egg, and noodles were delicious but there issues made our experience here not the best.

Very yummy! Staff explained the menu to us while we decided what to eat. Prices are super reasonable and the portions are great. First come first serve with the seating, but they do reserve the bigger tables for familys 3+

I really enjoyed eating at this restaurant. It's a really nice pick-your-own food type of restaurant. You pick your type of food at the front of the line and watch the really nice workers make it in front of you. You then get to pick your tempura, which is an extra charge, but definitely worth it! This place is nice if you're looking for yummy udon. I got the tonkatsu udon--super flavorful!

I usually don't write reviews for chains but I need to remember not to come back here again. First, when I was paying, the woman at the cash register was very standoffish and rude. Then, water dispenser was out of water, so I begrudgingly informed the woman working the register and she audibly signed and rolled her eyes at me. She didn't even say "thanks for letting me know" or something. Literally, she just said "ughhhhhhhh" then proceeded to change it. Second, I was given the wrong food. I ordered a chicken teriyaki katsu and received a chicken curry katsu. I hadn't realized until we started eating and I didn't want to go back to ask for it to be remade because the woman working the register was so rude. The curry was weirdly sweet and not good. I also got tempura and the batter was way too thick and there was no crispiness at all. The pieces were hot out of the fryer and were soggy because the batter was too thick and it was not cooked long enough. The pumpkin tempura was undercooked and the pumpkin was still crunchy inside. I also got an tonkotsu udon. They pre-measured like 20 servings of udon which sat cold on the counter then were placed in the soup. So, naturally, the soup was luke warm. To be fair, the udon noodles themselves were pretty good.

Came here for udon just for a simple meal and it was just what we needed! It's located in the galleria and near the foodcourt! We had the curry nikutama and the kake! The kake was lighter and the curry nikutama was heavier so it balanced pretty well! But maybe next time I'll just get the regular nikutama because the curry made it especially heavier! Food was solid and workers were friendly and nice!

I had wanted to try this Marugame Udon for the longest time. I remember coming here when they opened up a location here in Glendale. A couple of months ago I was in Hawaii and the Marugame out there had a crazy crazy line. So I knew the next time I was in Glendale I wanted to stop in and try it. It's a pretty interesting concept where you order the food on you want and they will create it for you depending on the different broth you want. And once you have the base udon dish, then they have a section for tempura and musubis that you can get before you get to the register. The portions are surprisingly filling. I got a large thinking that it didn't look that big but once I was halfway through it I figure there's no way I was just going to finish and in hindsight, I should've taken the rest to go. I ordered the Tonkatsu spicy Ramen. Then they asked me how spicy I wanted it and I wasn't too sure how spicy the store is so I went with medium but I felt like I could've gone a little spicier than that. I came here during the week at 2 PM so I wasn't too busy but I've read some reviews where the way it can be kind of long but the line does move fast. It is right next to McDonald's on the first floor so if you're able to see you find a parking spot in the parking structure near there that is probably the ideal location.

I come here so frequently but yet somehow I've always forgotten to write a review until now. I know I can always come here for some comfort food, a nice warm bowl of noodles or the sweet beef over rice. The chicken cutlet over rice is also a favorite. They consistently do these dishes very well. Their portion sizes are perfect. If you're feeling extra hungry the day that you come in, order yourself some extra noodles or extra meat. You can also pick up a few of their tempera items from their short line between the end of the noodles and the beginning of checkout. The one thing that bothered me today about my visit was the extremely long line. I did not think that they were so understaffed, but I guess they were just really slammed. I feel like the staff has changed completely. Usually see a lot of of the same people working, but today was very different. The one person that was consistent, however, was the manager. She didn't exactly have the most happy expression on her face today, but I have a feeling it was because of the crazy amount of people who were saving tables in the dining area when they really ask you to refrain from doing that so those people who have their food, already in hand, can sit down quickly to eat And then move on. The line today was tremendous and took a whole lot longer than I thought. The food here is always good. The recipe never changes. The consistency of the noodle is perfect, in my opinion. I like a good thick chewier udon noodle. They've got a new broth, the creamy tonkotsu. I have not tried it yet, but I have a feeling I will be trying it very soon. One thing that was kind of out of the ordinary that I noticed was the mess around the condiment and utensil area. Usually that area is kept very clean and neat. But I guess, like I said, because they got slammed today, that area was especially messy. By the time that I finish my meal and I bust my dishes back to the receiving counter, the area had been tidied up. But still, I was in shock in that first moment that I saw how dirty and disorganized that counter space was. My family and I, tonight, ordered a large beef udon and a gyudon, sweet beef on rice. My lil one also ordered 2 tamagoyaki, tempura style fried sweet egg omelette. This was more than enough for the 3 of us. We'll be back soon. Yum!! Always delicious!!

Sooo good! I door dashed it so I can't give too much info on the restaurant experience but the food was bomb and they packaged it really well if you're thinking about ordering takeout. I got the Nikutama Udon and it was delicious. They have a non egg version of the udon I got and it's cheaper so I'd get that instead because I swear the egg dissolved straight away into the broth and I couldn't even tell it was there. Excited to go back and get more!

This Marugame Udon is located inside the mall right next to the food court. I was doing some shopping recently and decided to stop by for a quick lunch. Luckily, we arrived just as they opened, so the wait was minimal--perfect timing! We ordered the Beef BK Sauce Udon (large) and the Curry Chicken Katsu Rice. The udon was good, and they definitely hook you up with a generous portion of noodles if you get the large. The curry rice was also solid--crispy katsu and rich curry sauce that they thoughtfully served on the side to keep the rice from getting soggy. Overall, it was a great lunch. My only critique would be the texture of the udon--it felt a little flat compared to what I've had at Marugame in Hawaii, where the noodles just seem to have that extra something. We also ended up grabbing a few tempura pieces from the self serve. Still, I'd definitely come back if I'm craving udon in the area!

Easy to order and friendly (once you're able to grab their attention- it was pretty dead here when I went). However the food was pretty meh. Bland, nothing special. It definitely doesn't taste like the original marugame. My mistake for hoping this scaled down fast food version could remotely compare. Wont be back.

Love this place. This is my go to marugame. Staff here are sweet as can be. Very attentive. In this location due to the smaller area, you must order and get your food before sitting down. Portion are perfect, you'll see the different between large and medium size portion for the udon. Some other location, it's almost the same. For the drink, Love the calamansi. It's very refreshing.

Delicious as usual! The girl who took my order was very nice and so was everyone else my bowl was passed along to. The cashier was incredibly kind too! I got my order to go and they made sure i knew where all the lids and stuff were. I always get the beef nikutama. Its very small but clean in there and easy to find in the mall. Udon perfect as always

Amazing food! My favorite udon spot and the calamansi drink is my bf and I's favorite! My bf loves the chicken katsu and I love the curry udon!

If I could eat this every day I honestly would! I loveeee Marugame and make sure to stop at this location anytime I'm shopping at the Glendale Galleria. I was so bummed when they closed the Beverly location a few years ago but I'm happy they opened this one. The Nikutama (hot) is such a treat! I always say I'll try other items on their menu one day but I never do because you just can't go wrong with this dish. Make sure to load it up with tempura flakes and an egg too. And complement it with the a la carte tempura bar (I recommend the shrimp tempura). YUM!

My daughter wanted noodles at the mall, so we had lunch here at Marugame Udon at the Glendale Galleria. I thought what we ordered was just ok. I love udon noodles just not from here. In Japan, I use to eat udon weekly, so I have an idea on how I like it prepared. Got the Nikutama to share with the kid. I thought the udon noodles were over cooked (soggy) and the broth on the sweeter side; too sweet. Tempura was old and hard; especially the sweet potato one. We probably came on an off day. I'll try something else next time and see how it goes.

Marugame Udon provides hand crafted udon bowls, tempura, and beverages from a theater kitchen, allowing guests to watch as their food is prepared. Each bowl of udon noodles is made to order to ensure that you are getting the best tasting food. They make udon by hand here! Fresh udon in the mall, no way! Get in line and order your food. I got the Nikutama with udon (Served with Sweet Beef and Soft Boiled Egg). Then you move down the line and find tempura by the piece. Grab and go style. I got the Big Chicken Katsu, Tamagoyaki (Sweet Egg Omelette), and Sweet Potato. YEAH! Loved that the soup and food was still hot when we got home. Everything is great tasting, fast, easy, and if I lived this close like my friend I will NEVER cook again.

This udon place is very affordable and delicious! Staff are always helpful! The place is clean.

3.5 stars for taste, price, and portion. Quality was inconsistent at times; the food seemed better during peak meal hours. This branch of Marugame was located inside the Galleria mall, which offers free parking. How it works: Order at the counter, request your add-ons, grab the fried snacks that you want, and pay at the cash register. The small tables and booths seat 2-4. Find a table and help yourself to water, utensils, sauce, and to-go boxes. When finished, return your tray to the window near the cashier. UDON ORDERED - Curry udon ($9.45 - regular size). The soup curry was disappointing. It tasted like a beef gravy with the scent of curry spices, and it was sweeter than I preferred. The noodles were on the softer side since we arrived at the end of the night. I took my food home and literally washed off the curry. On the plus side, I appreciated the free green onion and tempura crumble. - Nikutama ($12.35 - regular size). This udon tasted like gyudon in soup form! The "BK broth" was a fantastic balance between umami, soy, and bonito. The scoop of beef was soft, fatty, savory, and sweet. It also came with a soft boiled egg. - Beef ($11.35 regular size). I enjoyed the double scoop of the delicious beef, but the dashi broth was just okay. It was light and simple, tasting mostly of bonito. I've had the dashi broth before, and it was more complex back then: a blend of savory, sweet, and briny. Next time, I would try ordering the BK Udon with an extra scoop of beef. TEMPURA ORDERED The various fried tempura were priced at $2-3 apiece. Sadly, the dipping sauce missed the mark for me. It did not achieve the sublime balance of sweet, umami, and soy that you can get at other places. - Chicken Tempura. Despite the uneven dark spots in the batter, the tempura did not taste burnt. It was great! The marinade was flavorful. - Shrimp Tempura. Big pieces of shrimp that were not mealy. The batter was thick, but still on the delicate side. A better dipping sauce would have made this tempura sing. - Zucchini Tempura. The batter was thin and soggy, but the zucchini was tender and flavorful.

I literally come here often for the kitsune udon! I deadass always come back over and over think I have a udon addiction that aside this place is soooooo good the udon is so yummy. Con is it's always crowded if you try to eat in other than that it's amazing and great. I enjoy coming here often for the kitsune udon.

My friend and I came here for late lunch and it's her favorite place for udon at the mall. There were not a lot of people and the service was fast. I ordered the Nikutama udon and my friend ordered the Tonkotsu udon. I got a squid tempura and she got a sweet potato and a shrimp tempura. We both enjoyed our food and our stomachs were happy!

Wow! Better Japanese noodles than in Japan! Had lunch here with our son and his wife who just returned from Japan a few weeks ago and we all agreed we enjoyed these super fresh noodles more. We'll be back often.

Fast service and tasty food. This is a great option if you're looking for some solid udon.

Usually come here for the udon but wanted to try their new tendon bowl and was super disappointed. They just use their regular shrimp tempura from the grab and go had to wait for my other shrimp tempura to be made.. not worth the $15

Been to this restaurant several times before and this place never disappoints. Walking into the restaurant, the area is well maintained and clean. As I walked in, the person helping me place my order greeted me and was very kind. I decided to go with the nikutama dish and the udon was tasty and flavorful. Marugame Udon offers several other dishes, including teriyaki bowls even for those wanting to switch it up. You are even allowed to add other toppings to your bowl such as additional meats or noodles. Dining here was nice and will definitely be back!

I love Marugame and this location is ok. The food is consistent and the service is just ok. It's in a mall and feels like it's in a mall, if that makes any sense. But I like the food and there aren't a ton around so I'll go to this one.

There was a long line to get in, but the line moved pretty quickly. You can't save seats until you order your food, so by the time we ordered, there was an available table for us. The Nikutama (sweet beef) udon was very good. Their squid tempura always seems to be undercooked. They should be cooked longer for them to be more crispier. Our dinner destination was the revolving sushi next door, so we ate the udon and some tempura as our appetizers while we waited for our table. We ended up eating too much and were only able to eat a little from Kura Sushi. We enjoy having Marugame Udon from time to time. We will be back!

This location is inside the Gendale mall the ambiance is not the most comfortable because of the mall vibe but the staff makes up for it. The employees at this And all the Marugame udon locations that I have visited are amazing, they are friendly attentive, and they pay attention to my kids. My youngest son is always asking to come to Marugame Udon and normally he gets the No.7 but they recently changed their menu and he had an opportunity to try something new and he loved it. I love the food specially all the add on choices. We usually get the chicken shrimp and the fried dumplings. We definitely recommend this place one in DTLA and in Hawaii

Food is good, great portions and tastes fresh. But your employees need to chill. 4 adults ordered more than $100 worth of food dining in. And my niece who bought a hotdog from the food court to eat with us was getting harassed to eat outside. Like come on, i understand if we didn't buy any of your food. Your employees and policy are disappointing. I am from vegas and i always go here when i visit LA. Maybe I'll give it a second chance, maybe not. But service and treatment is very disappointing.

Loveeeee this place! It's so easy to get to, and parking is plentiful and free. It's right by panini kabob so park near there and you'll see it in the left as soon as you walk inside the mall. I ordered the Tan Tan and added a soft boiled egg (next time I'll do hard boiled) corn, and bean sprouts, I also removed soy meat. I got a side of the spicy paste and it made the broth taste even better! Such comfort food and it's so filling. The regular size was plenty, I was stuffed and still had a lot left over. The tempura sides are so good to dip or have with the udon, make sure you get the gyoza too! The calamansi-ade and matcha are both REAALLLLY refreshing and good! 10/10

Marugame Udon is always a satisfying experience. I had been to another one of their locations a couple times before, but this was my first time trying the Glendale one. Located in the Glendale Galleria, this spot is very convenient if you're out shopping in the area. To eat, my go-to is just the large beef udon. Simple, flavorful, and filling. Service is quick, and the price point is affordable. Go ahead and check this place out!

Cold weather = warm soup, and was craving Marugame because it has the best udon in my opinion. I usually go to the one in sawtelle, but was in the area and wanted to try the new location. The people serving us was very pleasant, and thankfully there wasn't a long line either. For what they had in regard to the space, the ambiance was nice and a good amount of people can eat here. Overall great experience, I wish that they would bring back the musubi

The Beef Udon and Nikutama Udon were both great. Good flavor and freshly made. Recommended if you're in the area and looking for a good, quick meal.

I came here on a lunch break for the first time and was really disappointed. I ordered the teriyaki katsu and the chicken was pink. When I brought it to their attention the man told me it was the marinade and it's dark meat however the other half of the chicken looked white and cooked thoroughly and the teriyaki tasted more like gravy than teriyaki sauce. The tempura was also not good, too mushy and not quality veggies. All in all for the $21 I paid, I'm extremely disappointed with how terrible everything tasted.

Craving udon? Cant go wrong with Marugame even though they are a chain. The food is always consistent and fast. Fresh hand pulled udon made fresh daily. Love the nikutama udon here very flavorful broth. The service is fast as they cook the noodles in front of you and just add your soup/broth to the noodles. They have tempura that's always fresh. Surprisingly we were able to walk in and order immediately at 3pm on a Thursday. At the San Francisco location at this same time there is still a short wait. So we were amazing how fast we can start our order. The serving size is just perfect for me for a large.

A friend of mine told me he thinks this udon restaurant might close. I'm upgrading my review to 5 stars because this business needs all the support it can get. I will come here at least once a week. I'll do my part to try and save this business.

I'm from Japan, it was Great! Almost like a Japanese one! All staff was kind and full of energy.

woah! salty. the soup and even the tempura sauce we dont normally come to this location so i dont know if this is normal here. we have eaten at various locations in so cal and nor cal im a bit confused if they changed all locations as we just returned stateside. i guess i need to go to my normal locations to compare

Conceived as a regional 'Noodle-Bowl Chain Restaurant' in Japan in 2000, "Marugame Udon" holds true to it's original intention of following the authentic tradition of hand-rolling thick gummy "Sanuki" udon noodles, which started centuries ago in the 'Kagawa Prefecture' in the southern part of Japan's main islands. And this was a good plan, because 'Thick Gummy Udon Noodles' served in a clear golden Dashi-based broth is actually the 'Exact' type of Udon that most westerners grew up with since Japanese cuisine first started becoming popular in America & Europe following WW2. There are many dozens of types of Udon noodles in Japan, with many of them being thin like Ramen, or made from 'Hard, Boxed' noodles making them more like Spaghetti (which is not 'Gummy' at all), and some regional udon noodles were not even served in any broth at all, but instead were stir-fried and oily with vegetables, meat, and a brown sauce. These other styles of Udon would not have been familiar to westerners, and would not have been a success in the United States. Since its first restaurant opened in Japan, "Marugame Udon" has been committed to serving freshly handmade udon noodles. Their Udon noodles are made with skillful hands in an 'open kitchen', so the customers can see them being made. The Udon Noodles are placed in a selection of unhurried homemade broths, all flavor-filled. The udon bowls are best accompanied by a side of freshly fried tempura, and then topped with fishcake, vegetables, and other condiments to compliment the soup. Since "Marugame Udon" opened it's first overseas restaurant in Hawaii in 2011, they have expanded their restaurants throughout Asia to North America, reaching 1,000 restaurants in the world in 2018. In 2021, they opened their first restaurant in Europe, with in London first. Since then, "Marugame Udon" has steadily expanded their restaurant empire into Europe, Canada, and the United States, reaching about 800 restaurants in Japan and around the world, including one of it's newest branches here in the small but eclectic "Foody-City" on the northeast edge of Los Angeles, tucked between Pasadena, & the San Fernando Valley: Glendale, where I've lived for years and moved from (in favor of freezing cold Chicago where I had grown up) after getting complications from Covid and needed continuous from family & friends help not too long ago (and Boy Oh Boy do I miss the weather & the amazing food of Southern California). What surprised me about the location is that Glendale "Marugame Udon" makes Udon noodles in the Marugame way, which is a long, time-consuming process, crafted from three simple ingredients, flour, water and salt, creating a perfect Sanuki style udon noodle the same as in Japan. Udon and Tempura are perfect partners in Sanuki style. In Kagawa Prefecture, home of Sanuki udon, many of udon stores serve tempura as side dishes. Below are some of the soup-bowls and menu styles offered at "Marugame Udon"... NIKUTAMA Their best-selling menu around the world serving with sweet and savory beef and BK sauce, with a poached Onsen egg (soft boiled egg). KAKE Udon in a light dashi broth with full of savory umami flavor. Just like their udon noodles, they also make fresh dashi broth everyday. It is a classic comfort food in Japan. KAMAAGE MARUGAME's signature udon bowl which can fully enjoy a more fragrant and aromatic udon experience. Udon straight from the Kama (pot) served in Kama water with BK sauce (thick dipping dashi sauce) for dipping. Marugame Udon also offers a number of Full Vegan Meals (both Udon Soup Bowls, Rice Bowls with Toppings, and many Vegan Side dishes). Some of the Non-meat options, include steamed Bean Sprouts, steamed corn, a steamed vegetable medley, plus white plain rice, and plain boiled udon noodles served with a bowl broth. But the most interesting non-meat item is the stir-friend soy beans in a sweetened vegetarian brown sauce (it looks just like ground sauced beef and is yummy on rice). Marugame Udon offers numerous broths, soups, and sauces, both meat based, fish based, vegetarian, and vegan. These include a light Dashi fish & seaweed broth, a rich pork Tonkatsu soup, a Vegan miso broth, a spicy red "Tan Tan" (Dan Dan) broth, a thick curry sauce, and the restaurant's signature "BK Sauce".

This is my first visit and it's quite interesting. You basically order the udon, the pick additional sides. Sides are vegetable, shrimp, sweet potato, etc. are a la carte. The broth is tasty, thickness is just right, udon is perfect. I think the bread crumbs on top is something I've never seen added to Japanese noodles. It's not bad. You do have to bus your own dishes.

Loooove marugame udon! It always hits the spot especially on a cold day! Got the nikutama and the bk broth was so flavorful with umami. My partner got the curry nikutama which was even MORE flavorful. A little too much for my liking but is really yummy. I love how you can choose from a variety of different tempura. My absolute favs are the zucchini and tamago (sweet egg). You gotta try! Also I love this location the most because I feel like the workers really take care to make the presenation of the food nice. Also it's not very crowded. Even on a weekend!

Love it here..food is 10/10 everytime just need to up the ac here it can get a bit warm

I would probably rate this around 4.5 stars--it's not perfect, but it's pretty good and there aren't a lot of udon places that I can think of off the top of my head. There are plenty of Asian restaurants that offer udon, but not as their main specialty. The udon noodles here are delicious. The broth is decent. I love the toppings, and the tempura sides you can get are tasty as well. Their curry version is good as well. The line is quick and the service is great. And the last time I was here, the workers saw that I had my hands full and offered to take my tray to the table for me. I don't think that's in their job description, and I declined, but that was a nice touch and what prompted this review. My only tiny issue is that the food is slightly on the greasy side--nothing too terrible, and probably to be expected for this type of food. So 4 and a half stars rounded up.

I had first heard about this place when I was living near South Coast Plaza in OC and the line would be out the door. Now that I am close to the Glendale location, I go here on most visits to the Glendale Galleria. I stick to my usual order of the Kake style Udon, which is their Sanuki-Style Udon served in their dashi a.k.a traditional Japanese broth. Broth and noodles is always a nice way to go. When I arrived, it was very quiet, probably because it was right after lunchtime. OrdeOrderingrng was very simple and quick. No need to get the large portion as the regular is enough food and filling. The ambiance is very casual and nice if you need a quick stop for food. *Tip- -Parking is very simple as the lot is right outside -Make sure to ask for lots of complimentary toppings