Marugame Udon

Incredibly flavorful udon! I had a bowl of nikutama and my girlfriend got tonkotsu. Both tasted amazing and stayed hot throughout the experience. The udon was chewy and springy while the toppings were fresh and delicious. Highly recommend any of the udon bowls as well as the egg tempura (tamago)!

So many options for udon here. The Tonkotsu is so so good and comes with a lot. The lemonade is also phenomenal! The service here is always so good and the workers extremely nice. Can’t wait to try all the menu items each time I come back!

Generous portions of noodle and rice based bowls with a very cool (and delicious 😛) fresh tempura bar where you can get your fave items from gyoza to tamago to shrimp. Reasonably priced and delicious with friendly service.

My favorite here is the pork soup… i get why is the most popular here. Besides that the tempura options are endless and always fresh and delicious . And portions worth every penny. Is usually not so crowded.. there street parking or parking in the Macy’s plaza building. Restrooms are available in the building but not in the restaurant and they’re usually not available or busy. Wheelchair access by Macy’s elevator.

Update: June 28, 2024 I had to come back for some more delicious honestly I’m glad the portions aren’t any larger or I would be in a weight loss program for the rest of my life The noodles are perfect. Incredible accommodations are wonderful and they have special programs to allow you to approve points. You should sign up. This place will leave ya craving more!!! I had the beef udon with egg and it was delicious!!! I loose the noodles absorbing the flavor!! So much delicious food to choose from!! I added the potent green tea drink too!! Woke me right up! The atmosphere is so welcoming

OMG 🤯🤤😋 I ordered the Nikutama and Shrimp plus Squid Tempura. I washed it down with Iced Matcha. The flavors just have a party in your mouth! The flavors come together so we'll to compliment each other! Best thing I've Eaten on my trip to LA from AZ thus far! Staff was super polite & helpful. They helped me navigate the menu & taste test the broth I liked best because it was my first time. Best part it's located next to Macy's Shopping Complex so you can walk around and browse the local shops. I'm in Love 🫶 with the place! Can't wait to be back to try other dishes. Prices are reasonable and quick & easy ordering.

When I checked into my hotel, the front desk clerk raved about this place and their homemade noodles. I was too tired after my trip so I ordered it from Uber Eats. I ordered the Nikutama Regular, Hot, Separate because it was the #1 recommendation. It arrived quickly, hot and all of the separate containers. I asked for extra tempura flakes and scallions because that was recommended, too. It was incredibly delicious! When I return to LA, I’m definitely visiting the actual restaurant.

Some of the best beef udon I’ve ever had. A true hidden gem! I will come back again and again 😋

The place is good. The food is high quality, and the team has great communication. They have an array of foods from udon to rice, and many appetizers such as katsu, vegetables, and more. Not only that but you can get a $6 udon bowl , which has a rich depth of flavor in its broth paralleled with soft yet beautiful udon. The place as well has many self services. You can get your own cup and water, to-go bags, chopsticks and such. In terms of interior design, it's beautiful. They have many seatings and the overall mood is beautiful. You can pay with both card and cash. The place is as well warm.

The food was AMAZING. Bowls were licked clean, lives were changed, service was extraordinary. I would recommend this place to anyone, MY choice of dish is the curry nikutama. LOVELY. Will come again.

Uni Udon: Delicious and creamy, with a nice touch of roe. Negatori: Fresh, tasty raw tuna - a great appetizer. Service: Fast, professional, and efficient. Ambiance: The wait was long (30-40 minutes on a Saturday), but the food made it worth it.

Clean and efficient space. The food was super quick. You walk up, place your noodle order and the "chef" make it for you right there. Then you bring your tray down to the cashier to pay. On the way, you can pick up some freshly made tempura. For a $12 bowl of tonkatsu, I was expecting a bit more protein. Or at least the full soft boiled egg instead of half. The broth was a good thickness and flavourful. Just a tad on the salty side. Portion size was decent. We were nicely satiated not too full. For a food court place, this one was pretty awesome.

Absolutely delicious. The best chain there is for a heart-warming bowl of udon. So delicious and incredibly nice staff at this location! We came in maybe 30-45 min before close, were served incredibly quickly, and were able to finish up our meals before the restaurant cleaned up for the night! The nikutama udon is so delicious. The sweet beef is just about my favorite meal in the world. I crave this all the time. Pro tip: if you ask for tempura flakes, get them on the side so they don't just become a soggy puddle in your soup. Also don't get baited by all the tempura options. The bowls of noodles are pretty big and are quite filling. We were able to accommodate our group of 6 quite easily in terms of seating! Not sure if it was because we got there a bit on the later side, but it was fast and easy.

From Ramen to tempura, there's decent Japanese cuisine selection. I opted for tempura for quick snack. You can order meals at the beginning of line station or skip to self serve for tempura options. I chose the shrimp and eel tempura and matcha drink. The tempura was light and tasty. Range from $2-4 depending on selection. The matcha was delicious. It's sweet but not over bearing. There's variety of seating and i believe the water closet is in the back. There's two stations , the middle for Togo, napkins, water, and eating utensils. Adjacent is the sauce station. I like the wall art and the staff thanks you in Japanese when leaving. The interior is Japanese style earthy aesthetic. It's as if you're in Japan eating at a small Tokyo restaurant. I will return to try their curry and ramen!

I hadn't been here since the first time I went, well over a decade ago! Came with a group on a Saturday evening and the wait was not bad - we only waited maybe a few minutes until our group was called. You place your name on a clipboard and there's inside and outside patio seating. Your whole party has to be present, otherwise you may find yourself waiting a bit longer. Once inside, it's pretty cozy, but slightly bigger than you would imagine just seeing it from the outside. Our group got udon, karaage, beer and sake. I got the miso carbonara udon and it was absolutely delicious! It was slightly sweet, creamy and the chunky bits of bacon were nice and salty. Overall a very tasty dish -- I would get again! The karaage was also very tasty and had a curry salt and mayo for dipping. Service was great and the food was excellent. I definitely would be back again and would love to try even more of the dishes! It's easy to see why Marugame is such a staple and popular.

I ordered the beef udon with egg and it was amazing. Even tho it was Postmates it still was warm. The katsu was crunchy. I love the udon flavor

Did not have high expectations coming in as the place looked a bit empty, but this really hit the spot. The noodles were perfectly chewy, broth was nicely flavored and not too heavy, and there was a pretty large portion of beef. Went on a weeknight, but the place eventually began to fill up a bit as I ate my meal. Staff were friendly and I was in and out pretty fast. Would recommend.

While visiting here was a little chaotic at first, the food was very delicious and really hit the spot during a chilly afternoon! My favorite part about visiting here was the various tempura they had available. Love coming here!

Great food, ambience n location. More to choose from on the menu. Great customer service

I am very pleased with this location. it was very consistent with other locations I e been too. I love coming here especially now that it's cold. I do wish maybe the tempura was made more one at a time because it gets cold fast and the heat lamps don't seem to do much . Space is very larger group friendly and I like the area it is in as well to walk around.

I had to come back for some more delicious honestly I'm glad the portions aren't any larger or I would be in a weight loss program for the rest of my life The noodles are perfect. Incredible accommodations are wonderful and they have special programs to allow you to approve points. You should sign up.

Marugame Udon a Japanese fast-casual restaurant chain specializing in Sanuki-style udon. I am generally a fan of Marugame Udon, but this specific Downtown LA location is a bit of logistical nightmare to visit. This branch is located in the plaza level of The Bloc (formerly Macy's Plaza and Broadway Plaza). [Parking]: Extremely interesting and yet confusing parking situation. The Bloc's visitor parking lots are located on the 4th and 5th floor. For visitors entering the lots from Flower St, THE FIRST PARKING BARRIER ARM ON THE 1ST FLOOR IS FOR VALET PARKING ONLY ($8 for valet parking for 2 hours with validation)! This is one of those lots with spiral/circular parking garage ramp so things can get a little bit of dizzy. Standard self-parking rates with validation are $1.00 for the 1st hour, $2.50 = the 2nd hour, and $4.00 = the 3rd hour, and standard daily parking rates apply after three (3) hours. Visitors must bring their purchase receipts to the parking office located at the valet desk level to get their parking tickets validated. Otherwise standard rates without validation is $3.50 every 10 min up to $44 daily maximum. [Service]: I have been to other Marugame Udon locations and this location has one of the slowest service. I probably waited 5+ minutes despite being the next person in line. Only few tempura were readily available at the tempura station, but one of employees mentioned about cooked to order and the staff brought my tempura order 5 minutes later. [Menu]: Pick a base (dashi broth, curry sauce, pork broth, BK sauce, vegan broth, sesame chili broth) and all udon bowl comes with the complimentary scallions and tempura flakes (The Sanuki Way). Next customers pick their own tempura add-ons and pay at the cashier station. Three rice bowl options are available (gyudon, chicken katsu curry, and chicken katsu teriyaki). *** Kake (dashi broth: traditional Japanese fish stock, simple and classic - regular $5.95): I typically just get the cheapest option without any add-ons as their udon and dashi broth are always on point. This time it was no exception. *** Still great udon, but I would rather prefer other Marugame Udon locations due to parking hassle and slow service. P.S. - Marugame Udon has a loyalty rewards program and it is free to sign up.

I went for lunch with 8 other people and the service was great considering how packed it was! I got the Nikutama, shrimp tempura, chicken tempura and chicken katsu. I definitely recommend the katsu over the tempura, it's just a bit more flavorful and great with the katsu sauce. The Nikutama was delicious and the udon was nice and bouncy! Lastly, there is plenty of seating, the 9 of us found a place to sit pretty easily - would definitely recommend!

On February 2nd, I went to Marugame Udon for a noodle breakfast consisting of a large Nikutama Bowl with a Diet Coke. Since I was already here, my order was made quickly and delivered to me in no time. The meal cost about $20, including my 15% tip, and I had no problem finding a seat. The place was clean, the employees were helpful, and the music was pleasant to listen to. Overall, I can leave it at that. The thing is, though this is my second time at Marugame Udon, my first visit was on Christmas Eve last year at the Waikiki location during my layover for my homecoming trip to Cambodia--a trip long overdue because of the pandemic. When I visited Marugame Udon in Waikiki, it was an experience from the moment I waited in line with other tourists to the moment I exited the building. Looking through the window, I saw a man preparing the next batch of noodles by hand as I stood next to friends talking about their days in Hawaii. Even though it was a humid and sunny day, the occasional breeze helped soften the temperature. I was excited to try something different from McDonald's or a microwave meal. When I entered, we were in a conga line, but it was moving fast. I ordered the same noodle soup then as I do now--a meal that would be enough to sustain me for the entire day. I got my food and sat by myself after being directed by one of the staff to an open seat. It took me 20 minutes to finish my soup, but I took my time because I was immersed in the atmosphere, observing a diverse community of people laughing and smiling together in Hawaii. I said to myself, "This is amazing. It's like Thanksgiving." The soup was tasty and satisfying, leaving me full without needing seconds. Once I finished, I exited the restaurant and made my way to a nearby café, planning out my homecoming stay in Cambodia. The problem is that while I did visit Marugame Udon in Hawaii, it was tied to one of the most meaningful experiences I had in a long time. This means that a review of my recent visit to Marugame Udon will inevitably be influenced by that memory, whether I wish for it to be or not. While I did enjoy the meal and believe it was flavorful, it is bound to "taste" different from the one I had in Waikiki because that memory is so significant. Therefore, though I am giving this location the same four-star rating as the Waikiki location, I am basing my review on the product, service, and cost value rather than my personal memories, to ensure fairness and remove factors that the restaurant cannot control. That's why I can confidently say: If you like Japanese noodles, Marugame Udon is the place to go.

Really good eats, had a Curry nikutama with a big chicken & potato tempura with a calamansiade drink. The music is really chill and the workers are friendly

I had a delicious BK Udon and Bok Choy Tempura . Yummy will try more next time . Everyone very friendly.

I came here to say since it was the closest udon spot near my location. This marugame udon is located in the bloc, and parking is expensive without validation. I ordered a nikutama regular with a calamansi-ade. The nikutama was just as good as the other locations that I have tried. I did notice that the broth here was slightly richer in taste than the others, but I assume it's just a coincidence. The udon noodles were chewy and thick. Everything tasted great and as I liked it to be. Overall, food was up to my expectations. I took off a star because the person making our noodle soup decided to gossip with his co worker instead of serving us first. He held the bowl in his hands while continuing to talk to his co worker. We were also the only ones in line.

First time customer today & cannot wait to go back! Service was 5 star ! Everyone had a friendly smile and answer for us - no rushing. We had Katsu teriyaki rice bowl & Katsu teriyaki udon bowl. We had some delicious tempura as well - it was not greasy nor was it overcooked - shrimp, zucchini, sweet potato & gyoza. The restaurant, tables & seats were clean, the music was excellent & the condiments were well stocked. The trash was overflowing when we got there, however they were quickly and efficiently emptied. We look forward to our next visit (next week ) and we both want to try the curry sauce! Thank you for a delicious lunch Marugame Udon! Well done, you!

Total was $38 lol... I got the Kitsune large udon, then grabbed a lot of tempuras to try. I wasn't a fan of the fried chicken. It was more of fried chicken meatball, everything was all stuck together, which made some of the batter undercooked unfortunately. The seasoning was good. Tempura Shrimp, & Squid was great. The Udon noodles were disappointment. It fell apart as you grabbed them with your chopsticks, over cooked and mushy. I like the concept of the cafeteria style, get the noodle/rice bowl you want, grab the sides, pay and enjoy. The staff members were super nice, I asked for freshly fried chicken and when it was gone, they brought it out to my table. Definitely worth trying once, will have to try rice bowl next time and skip the udon.

Just as good as the ones in Japan! They closed down during COVID but have been open again for a while. No more crazy lines at lunch, but as good as ever.

So yummy! My friend and I popped in for dinner and this was a super filling, quick, and worthy meal. The employees were super nice to let us try the broths before deciding what to order. The space itself has lots of seating as well, this makes for a great meal that you can take your time eating and order food line style. I love that they had 2 vegan options. In my order, I went for the Miso Udon. The food was flavorful and extremely filling. I don't even think I finished my bowl. The tempura was yummy, I'm not sure if it's vegan. However, I dipped it in my udon instead of the fish sauce and it slappeddd. Would definitely go again, hope they bring more locations to Texas! My friend loved their matcha btw!

Can't go wrong with this place. Clean restaurant, friendly staff, and good food. I like everything they have here, I try something new every time and always enjoy it!

Was here for Lunch it's right next to joey's macy's and a shopping center in the plaza .,, Udon is ok well mines is creamy vegan and it was ok...they can work in keeping soup andplatehotter before serving cold soup... The toppings are very light corn n sprouts.. vegan meat is cold and eeeeh.. but crunchy tempura flakes n green onion really bring it together... For large plate personally i think small one is good size already... $25 per person with shared iced lemonade and fried tempura for each ..

Quick service! It's fun to see your food assembled in front of you. Lots of yummy tempura options too! :)

Had to evacuate to Downtown due to fires in my area. So happy this restaurant was a hidden bonus in the chaos. The food was amazing went back a few times and nothing disappoints!!! The vegan options were wonderful!!! Old movie posters on the walls creates a relaxing atmosphere. Staff are friendly and the robot that delivers food is so cute!!!

Marugame Udon is a chain udon resturant that serves freshly made udon. It's not hand made, but they do make their udon from flour - daily. I first tried Marugame at their Sawtelle location in West LA. Since then, I have tried many other locations around Southern California. They offer a reasonably priced bowl of Udon. At the Los Angeles location, it's nestled in the BLOC. I went on a Sunday after my workout for lunch. The place was clean and I was their first customer. The staff mentioned they just started opening on Sundays, when previously they were usually closed. I had their large curry nikutama. It's a hearty bowl of thinly sliced beef in a sweet sauce and then coated in a thick curry sauce. Definitely not light in any means. After tax and tip, it was $20.04. It's a little expensive for a casual lunch, but I think it was worth it when you're looking for a calorie dense meal. I didn't add any extras (mainly fried meats/vegetables)-- which looked absolutely tempting.

Always a delight to come here for my layovers, as we stay downtown LA. I always get the Nikutama as I love the sweet beef flavors for the Udon, this time I tried the Curry Nikutama since I love the aroma of the Curry spice, it did not disappoint. I also think that it's time to try their rice bowls. The selection of tempura is always consistent whichever branch you go. Staff here in DTLA is a 5 star as well

Ordered kitsune udon and shrimp & squid tempura. While the noodles lacked some chewiness and the toppings were average, the broth was rich and comforting, and the tempura was delightfully crispy, fresh, and not overly greasy. Good comforting food for cold winter time.

Delicious! Always love coming here. Service great and ambiance is nice and clean! Def want to try the tan tan next!

Very surprising how this was my first time trying marugame udon, but definitely enjoyed it. The quick and convenient way to just slide down an aisle and grab items to add on top of your udon is pretty nice. It's a good place to drop by when you're busy. This location is located at the Bloc, so parking is on the 4th floor.

Food: A Service:A For a semi self serve udon. I was more than happy the flavor of the curry nikutama was satifying. The noodles had good body, nice and tender. The tempura crisp fresh and delicious. Especially the tempura tamagoyaki. The Service was friendly and accommodating, helpful and able to answer any questions. Id leave pucs. But the food didn't want me to wait.

It is always fresh, fast and friendly. Very clean and cheap place. Highly recommended.

Whenever we enjoy a Saturday evening at one of the fine dining spots in downtown LA, we always make it a point to stop by Marugame for Sunday lunch. The menu offers a wide variety, the food is consistently fresh and delicious, and the staff is unfailingly courteous, friendly, and professional. Kudos to this location!

i love this place ! the food is always amazing and affordable ! everyone here is so kind and helpful, and in a genuine way ! everyone shows up so authentically. i love how the door is always propped open, it feels very welcoming and inviting. this space is clean and has a lot of seats in both in the front, back, and in the courtyard outside if you're trying to catch the sun or eat with friends who have purchased from food from other establishments. i also love that they offer seasonal veggies available now to balance out my bad heading habits . don't sleep on this gem ! come check it out if you're nearby

Marugame is the OG amazing udon place that you have to hit up! Amazing food and quick!

Beef udon 5/5 - I love marugame! It is pretty salty but I still really enjoy it. The flavors are so good and the meat is tender. I like popping the egg yolk and mixing it with my broth to make it a little creamy. Fried chicken 5/5 - this is my favorite to get. Sometimes if they don't have it I will get the shrimp tempura but for the price the chicken is so worth it!

I had to! I mean, come on, it called to me! Coming in the young lady behind the counter was so helpful. I ended up ordering the tonkotsu Udon noodles with a side of soft boiled egg, bok choy, and 1 order (comes in a pack of 5) of gyozi crispy wirh a little sauce. Not bad, Mary! The noodles were so tender and thick, and I knew the small bowl was more than enough for me, and I was so right. I had it, of course, with a slice of pork, which also was perfection. Who knew? But as I have been seeing in LA, the prices are really stepping, but I guess it's due to the city. With a matcha drink. My total was $32.30, but of course, these kids were kind, so another $5 tip is in order. The actual sitting area is nice with some really nice photos on the wall and the smallest chairs to fit an adult. I like that. I definitely could go for another some other day, but reviews I must and can't settle for 2 in 1 week!

The food is great and the prices are unmatched I love the do udon it's so much flavor for a little price.

This place is inside a nice open mall/shopping area. It's set up as a no frills, self service, convenient food stop but with enough ambiance for young people to grab casual eats with friends. Delicious and wholesome udon with the easability of fast food. Tried the dashi broth udon and it tastes authentic without too much MSG or cheap ingredients. Even though there're no servers, the set up is thoughtful so that you don't feel service is lacking in any way. The order counter/theater kitchen runs efficiently with friendly staff, and everything you need including take out boxes are easily accessible. Overall a great experience.

Just as good as the Waikiki location. Service was fine. Dining area was clean. Tried the veggie miso udon for the first time and I liked it very much. Surprisingly. Tempura was crispy like it should be.

Food was amazing, as usual. The udon and soup were very good, and the tempura selection were fresh. The restaurant is clean, and everyone working there provided the good vibes. Overall a very pleasant experience, although parking was difficult, but that's expected on that side if town.

Yikes, Marugame Udon - Los Angeles was not good. My colleague and I did not like our udons at all. They have two vegan options. A "tan-tan" udon with mild spicy vegan broth, bok choy and soy meat, and a "vegan miso" udon with corn, bean sprouts, and soymeat. The broth was very mediocre but what made it bad was the soup was served to us lukewarm. My colleague and I both commented that we wished our soup was hot. Not even piping hot, just how a proper bowl of udon should be. Lukewarm just makes everything taste like leftover. About the tempuras, unlike another review posted here, I was told by the staff that none of the tempuras (potato croquette included) are vegan due to the batter containing eggs. Also the Tofu piece that you can add to your udon is also not vegan because the sauce the tofu sits in has fish. My colleague also mentioned her potato croquette was bad, no taste. It's a crime to make potato croquette taste bad! I was initially very excited when I first stepped in, wanting to return another time to try the other vegan option but seeing how everything is served today in a "school cafeteria manner" ... I know my food wont taste good. Lastly, the texture of the udon was very lackluster. No bounce or chewiness to it at all. If you want great tasting udon, go to Marugame-Monzo in Little Tokyo. Their vegan Vegetaful Udon is excellent. Overall, this is a one time only experience. Will not return.

Been going to this place for a long time and every time I go here I am I am always full and satisfied. Clean place. Friendly crew and affordable prices.

We came here cause it was close by to Sheraton Grand Los Angeles and it didn't look like there was a wait time. When you walk in, you order right away and they make your bowl in front of you asking if you want toppings in there. As you make your way down, you can get tempura for extra charge. I got 1 shrimp tempura for $2.99 as well as the Nikutama udon. The shrimp tempura was really crunchy and delicious. I dipped it into my udon broth. The udon was also delicious. It was hot and the noodles were cooked Al dente! The beef was sweet but really good. I loved the crunchy topping they added to give the udon texture.

The ambience is fair. On the outside looks like a fast food, but on the inside is actually quite nice. The service was really friendly and the workers are very nice. We had two different type of noodles the vegan noodle and the tan tan noodle. The flavors are really good, however, it is quite salty. We had to ask for an extra bowl of hot water to dilute the broth a bit more. We also tried the tempura, which is also pretty good, nice and crispy and not soggy. Broth can be a little bit hotter, it's a bit lukewarm. Therefore, they get four star.

In a good location, flavor profile on point, and lots of variety. Not too busy also! The staff was extremely friendly and offered to fry us some fresh shrimp tempura.

1st timer here!! :) I was greeted, welcomed and helped by Ramon.. Since it was my first time here I was not sure on what to get because everything on the menu looked so very delicious and delightful.:) Ramon's patience and opinions were very , very helpful . I decided to go with the sweet beef miso udon accompanied with sides of shrimp tempura and gyoza.. All of the dishes met by expectations and much , much more !! I will definitely return as long as I continue to receive that energy Ramon brought and all the amazing food !!!