MARUGAME UDON

We had such a wonderful experience at Marugame Udon! The food is absolutely delicious, and what impressed me most is how the kitchen is right in front of you, so you can see how clean and well-organized everything is. I especially want to thank Alejandro Corrales for his patience in introducing the different noodle options and recommending the traditional beef udon. It was perfect! My family and I enjoyed every bite and we’ll definitely be coming back next week. Highly recommended!

All the foods are good here. I have not tried anything I did not like. Service here is very efficient. Even when there is a line it is definitely worth the wait. They had all the appropriate sauces for all dishes they had and it was very clean. Staff are so helpful and pleasant. Definitely a go to in San Diego if you haven’t been!

Visited Marugame Udon at Westfield UTC the tempura was super crispy and fresh, and the udon itself was flavorful and satisfying. The only downside was that it was a bit too salty for my taste, and the place was really loud when I visited, so it was hard to have a conversation. Still, the food quality was great overall and definitely worth a try if you’re in the area! 🍜

I have been wanting to come here for so long and I'm glad I finally got to before I moved! Came in starving really needing some soup so we stopped here after seeing a movie and it was pretty good udon. When we walked it there was anime on the walls and bags of rice everywhere which made the place feel really authentic and they said "Ohayou gozaimasu" when you walk in. The servers took our order right away and were more than patient with us while we figured out what we wanted. We ordered the #1 Nikutama, the #6 Tonkotsu and the #22 Gyudon. The Nikutama had a perfect broth, perfectly cooked udon and a beautiful egg on top that made for a perfect bowl of udon. The Tonkotsu was also very good with tender cooked chasau pork. It also had a soy marinated egg which was a nice touch. And the Nikutama was also tender, perfectly cooked and well seasoned steak over rice and sauce on top. The flavor of everything mixed into the rice so nice making everything well balanced. All three dishes had tempora flakes on top which was not described on the menu, nor was it in the pictures on the menu. They got soggy after 5 minutes so the dishes definitely didnt need them. We also got the tempora squid and shrimp. They had a selection of tempura cooked appetizers which was nice too, both were cooked perfectly. Overall, Marugame Udon is a really authentic Japanese Udon restaurant and worth the visit!

We LOVED Marugame in Hawaii and when we found out there was one in San Diego we were ecstatic! The noodles are a perfect texture and the broths in both of our bowls were amazing. Good portion for the prices and they offer a ton of different tempura items. The shrimp and sweet potato tempura were my favorites. Perfectly breaded. The only thing I was disappointed by was that they do not offer Spam musubi at this location like in Hawaii. I was looking forward to it. All in all would highly recommend if you are a noodle person.

After shopping with my boyfriend, we went to eat udon here for lunch. I was looking forward to it because the reviews were so good, but tbh the instant udon sold at Ralphs is more delicious...

I got the beef nikutami and gyoza and was very happy with my meal. It was my first time here and the food was delicious. The broth was a curry base but not spicy at all, just had the perfect rich flavor and a little thicker than a normal dashi. The beef with onions was sweet and tender. The gyoza were just okay I wish they had more flavor and that they made their own sauces instead of the pack of gyoza sauce.

Flavorful Tomatama curry udon and crispy shrimp. The line might look long but it moves pretty fast. My food totaled $23 (drink, shrimp, udon).

Immediate 5 stars! Feels like the perfect comfort food. FOOD Nikutama udon (cold) : it was the first hot day in a while so cold udon sounded really good to me and it was! It's very refreshing, the udon noodles are silky smooth and they are generous with the beef portion even in the regular size bowl. Yes the sauce is on the sweeter side but that's to be expected with Japanese niku udon. I love the crispy tempura flakes that soak up the sauce and the egg was cooked to jiggly perfection, overall super satisfying. Curry Nikutama : full of flavor, also has a similar sweet note. For tempura, we tried sweet potato, zucchini, shrimp, chicken and the big katsu. They were all well fried and flavorful. The only letdown was the sweet potato was pretty thick and dense so it felt very heavy... I'm used to it being a little softer/fluffier. Additionally, the chicken tempura was a pretty chunky big piece, it was kind of hard for me to get good bites but my boyfriend enjoyed it. SERVICE, WAIT, AMBIANCE Went on a Sunday evening, the line was not long, just at the doorway so we decided to take advantage of the short line. Upon entry, you have a clear view of the chefs inside preparing the fresh noodles and bowls. It's cafeteria line style and you first order what bowl/soup/sauce you want - the menu is quite simple. Once you get your bowl, you can pick from a self-serve selection of tempura then slide down to the cashier to pay and then get your own utensils and find a seat. They have seating inside and outside and have staff to ensure smooth flow of patrons, ensuring tables are maximized for space and adjusting according to # of pax as needed. Overall it's casual and fast without feeling like I'm in a rush or crammed up.

Fantastic addition to the already strong Asian food lineup at UTC. I was admittedly a bit skeptical of the cafeteria style setup, but Marugame lived up to the Instagram hype and long lines, and then some. The line was already out the door and wrapped around a small queue, when we arrived around noon on a Saturday. But it moved fast, and probably only took 10 minutes to get our food. You order at the counter, first your base (broth or curry), bowl size, then add ons, and can top it off with self serve tempura to finish. I definitely recommend adding tempura flakes when asked. There's a good amount of indoor and outdoor seating, but all the tables were full, so we took our meals to a seating area a bit farther into the mall. I got the Curry Nikutama, size medium with chicken tempura. The curry was super flavorful and not at all spicy, the noodles were the perfect chewy texture, and the tempura was so juicy. The tempura flakes really took the dish to the next level. I have a pretty big stomach but felt the medium size bowl was more than enough, and would recommend the same. All in all, this place has udon down to a science, and I'll for sure be back!

It's finally arrived! Marugame has been my favorite spot in Honolulu for years, my last visit to the island I ate there 4 times in just 5 days(I know 5 days is way to short an Oahu vacation)! This new spot does not disappoint, been three times since opening and I can't get enough! The line may be long, but they move it along really nicely! Great indoor setting and friendly staff. Go and try for yourself, you will not be disappointed.

QUICKIE REVIEW Fresh udon had here. FOOD This is what I tried: -Curry Nikutama It had a heart on the menu so had to give this one a try. Sauce is not heavy and it has flavor. A nice treat for lunch. Not light but no where near heavy. PARKING Mall parking. SERVICE Order as you go through line and pay. PRICE Less than $20 including drink. TIP/OTHER THOUGHTS Been to this restaurant all over the world, glad to see San Diego finally got one. Came here on a Sunday during lunch time. Line was LONG compared to any other place. I did see a lot of people just order to go and then eat outside. If you are not dying to eat inside, that is the play.

Yay! Finally! Marugame has found a home in San Diego! I used to frequent the Costa Mesa location, so I was so happy to hear when Marugame was going to open up in SD. I absolutely love udon and they make it the best way possible, using simple ingredients and rich flavors. The portions are a good size for the price and I love the variety of dishes you can get. The service was very quick and efficient too. It's a cafeteria style where you queue up and build your dish along the line. They also offer a variety of tempura that was perfectly crisp to perfection. They also have staff assist with seating, so you don't have to worry about the crowded dining area, rest assured, they'll find you a spot. I've eaten here twice already and I know I'll be back for more soon!

So happy to have a Marugame Udon in San Diego! Queues can be long but it goes fast because of the way the service/ordering is setup. Going during non-peak meal times is a strategy too. I love the simple and traditional nikutama udon with a few tempura on the side- taste is delicious and pretty similar to what you get in Japan. Prices aren't that bad compared to most Japanese cuisine across the states. Service is quick and efficient. Located in the UTC mall so there's plenty of parking that is free for the first 2 hours, plenty of seating inside and outside that cycle out quick. Looks like there is a to-go counter too.

Marugame!!! Finally!!!! I LOVED this place back in Los Angeles, and was beyond thrilled to see it come down to SD. Of course the lines are insane at peak hours atm, but I came in the late afternoon on a weekday and there was almost no wait. The food is served cafeteria style. You order your noodles, they get prepared and handed to you, then you slide them onto your tray and mosey on over to the tempura trays. I ordered the nikutama because egg with my udon is a requirement not a suggestion. I normally don't get tempura but I was celebrating some good news so I got whatever I wanted :)) namely the squid, sweet potato, chicken, and shrimp. The noodles themselves are pretty reasonably priced but with the tempura my total was over $20. You pay, then go find your own table. The space is clean with some cool art. There is self serve water, pickled ginger, and shichimi spice blend. The food tastes just as good as I remember!! Maybe this is a hot take but I generally like udon more than ramen, tho I would never turn down a bowl of ramen from some of my top spots. Udon noodles are toothsome and are the perfect vehicle for a thick and clingy sauce. The portion of beef was HUGE and the egg was a perfect onsen egg. I also love that their shichimi is flavorful with a gentle kick. It doesn't overpower the savory, fish based broth but rather enhances it. The tempura were delectable as well. I was especially impressed by the squid! It was way more tender than fried squid had any right to be. The chicken was also cooked perfectly, super juicy and flavorful. All of my items were absolutely delicious! Unfortunately, my favorite udon style, the mentaiko, is not available at this marugame. They also had the workers there add tempura flakes and green onion to your bowl, instead of it being self serve as I remember it in LA. The tempura selection was also a bit more limited than I remember. This could be another first-world COVID casualty, it could be that this location is smaller, or newer, or some combination of all of these. Nonetheless, as much as I enjoyed my food I was bummed that some of the things I loved most at marugame several years ago are not available. Despite this I'm definitely thrilled to see the marugame open here, and I already know I'm going to be spending many more weekdays dining during off-peak hours to get my fill of this lovely udon!!

Okay, so I've got a confession, I'm not really into udon, but I had to try this place because I love dining in UTC. I have to say, this place made me a convert! Noodles were soft and bouncy, broth was delish! Recommendations: Tonkatsu - It's a Yes for me! Savory and delicious broth paired well with the fresh ingredients! Curry Nikutama - First time trying a curry soup, and I loved it! Shrimp Tempura was crisp! Calamsi Drink was so refreshing! Highly recommend. Lines can be intimidating, but we only waited 20-30 mins. You're not allowed to sit in the tables until after you order. One diner attempted to save a table but was told that you're not able to reserve a table until after you've paid. They have a great system in place, and the staff will help find you a table once you've paid. Definitely will come back again!

Paid by card. Marugame is located in UTC near 85 Degrees and there is parking by the hour. My party and I went here when it opened and the line was already starting to form. I heard a lot of good things about this place so we wanted to try. There is indoor and outdoor seating. We ordered the curry nikutama and tan tan, plus shrimp tempura. I didn't like the tan tan that much, maybe because of the soy meat. The curry nikutama was ok. The worst thing was my party and I had to rush to the restroom about an hour after eating here because something wasn't cooked correctly and our stomachs hurt. I would not go back here again.

As soon as we saw ramen, we knew we wanted to go. As soon as we saw the long line, we reconsidered. But we stayed anyway, and we were glad to see that the line moved quickly. As you come in you order at the counter - pick a type of broth and add-ins, then select tempura and dumplings, and pay at the register. Thankfully, there was someone waiting to point us to an open table after that, as it was pretty crowded. The udon was great - hot, chewy noodles and incredibly flavorful broth. Once seated, we kept hearing the kitchen staff call out every time fresh items were delivered to the tempura bar, which was all the time! We had the kitsune in dashi broth with sweet fried tofu, the BK udon in a flavorful sauce, and the miso udon with sweet ground beef. I have literally nothing bad to say. Each was so tasty, and quite different one from the other - they weren't just slight variations, but entirely different enough to give us a real variety to enjoy. The staff was friendly and attentive throughout our time, and we can't wait to go back!

I've been wanting a Marugame to open a location in San Diego for quite some time, and their new location at UTC just makes total sense! I arrived around 5pm on a Friday night expecting a ridiculously long line, but much to my surprise there actually was only a few people in line which was perfect! All the staff at Marugame work so efficiently to get everyone in and out as quickly as possible, but at the same time not making you feel rushed. There is plenty of seating inside and out, and you order at the counter before workers will help you find the next available table if there isn't one ready yet. I was pretty hungry and opted for a large bowl of the tonkotsu udon. I added some bok choy for veggies on the side, then grabbed a few pieces of tempura (shrimp, sweet potato, and zucchini). They do have stations after you order where you can grab ginger, spices, and water as well. My udon bowl was PERFECT! The broth was so yummy, and the spices I grabbed at the self-serve station just elevated it even more. As I was pretty hungry, I thought the large size was more than perfect. The tempura was also cooked to a crispy perfection - my personal favorites are for sure the shrimp and sweet potato. If I could take home a bunch of these I would do so in a heartbeat!

4.5 stars Very close to the Hawaii location but not quite the same, or I didn't order the right item.. I like that you can still get a resonably price meal for $6.95 if you get the large BK Udon (bukake udon) yes its called that! Bukake means to splash so you get the crispy bits of tempura batter created by splashing them in the oil. BTW they are not vegan, I think they contain bonito stock in them. I got the large TanTan with comes with sesame chili broth and ground spicy soy meat. It was good but wasn't that spicy, I wish there was more of a punch to it. The noodles were very good, nice and chewy. I like that they paid attention to details like warming the bowl so that the broth and noodles are not cooled down when it hits the cold bowl. I also got the calamansi-ade, it was refreshing but rather expensive at $4.50 especially since the cup was filled with ice. It was worth trying but I don't know that I'd get it again, maybe if I was in the mood and just wanted something out of the ordinary. You can always add on tempura items after but I didn't see the veggie tempura that I like and the selection wasn't as large as the Hawaii location. The line can get long, so come early as they open, and the line moves quicker than you think since it doesn't take that long to eat a bowl of udon. Just don't linger at your table and have a whole conversation after you're done. You can see the insanely long line, give your seat up so people can sit. Its located in the UTC mall so theres 2 hour validated parking, just be prepared to wait in the line which could take up at least half of your time.

I've had Marugame in Hawaii and Costa Mesa now and the one in UTC doesn't disappoint! I'm always impressed by their efficiency in getting your food and always having a table for you by the time you pay for your food. Even if the line is long, don't be deterred because it will go a lot quicker than you think! My favorite bowl here is the curry nikutama. It is so filling and all the flavors mesh perfectly. I also enjoy getting some of the tempura sides! I recommend the egg tempura, the potato croquette, and the squid tempura. Ambiance is fast-casual.

If you're ever craving udon this is a really solid option. Located inside the UTC mall it was really busy when we went on a Fri night around 7 so we ordered at their to go window and got our food about 20 min later. I got the miso udon with the spicy soy meat and my partner got the curry noodles with a seasonal chicken katsu on the side. The udon texture was great. The miso broth was really rich and tasty. I also loved that the corn added some texture and sweetness to the dish. The spicy soy was not spicy and not really that interesting of a flavor. It just tasted salty. My partner liked the flavor of his dish but even though we ate our food shortly after getting it, the broth was lukewarm. He wished it was hotter. The chicken katsu was great! Super crunchy and not dry.

I loved Marugame when I had it in LA and I'm so happy that they finally opened a location in San Diego. It's still new, so there's still quite a bit of a wait. We arrived about 20 minutes before they opened Sunday morning and there was already a line. By 11:00 the line was all the way back towards the Macy's across the playground. First you order the type of dish that you want, and then when you get to the corner, that's where you order the toppings that you want to add. Then they they have the self-serve tempura before you get to the cashier. I ordered the Nikutama ($12.55). I haven't tried the tempura here because I know that I wouldn't be able to finish it all if I did, but I have gotten it at the other location. The only thing is that since the tempura is sitting out under a hot lamp, it's not necessarily made fresh. By the time we got to the tempura section there was also a bunch of tempura that was already gone, like the shrimp, even though it has only been probably about 30 minutes since they opened. As usual the udon was great. The nikutama had a lot of flavor and the beef was very tender. Plus, it is on the cheaper side so that makes it a lot better. You do get a bit less than you would from other udon places, but it was the perfect amount for me, and I was able to finish the bowl without getting too full, but full enough to last me until dinner. Like I said, I've always been a fan of Marugame and I'm glad that they opened one here. It would probably be a good idea to wait until the hype dies down a bit but if you do decide to go, go maybe 45 minutes early at this point.

Finally had the chance to visit this extremely popular place! The line is always so long but rest assured that service inside is always quick and top-notch. I got the Tonkotsu bowl and it was a little bland and underwhelming in my opinion. I grabbed the fireball sauce they had on the table not knowing it wasn't free, but I'm so glad I did because I think it saved this bowl. Pricing was decent considering you don't get much toppings. Overall, it was good but it didn't blow my roof off. However I am definitely coming back to try out the other options as I've heard that the curry bowl is very delicious!

Finally a location in San Diego and another coming soon in Clairemont!! I've been to the one in Irvine and Hawaii. They are very consistent in all locations! I always order the Nikutama Udon which is the beef udon with eggs. I haven't tried any other udon. The sweet potato tempura is my absolute favorite !!! This location has both indoor and outdoor seatings. The staff does a great job at patrolling tables. Line can be long but goes by quick! There's also a separate to go order window if you don't plan on dining in! I believe other locations also have an online ordering system, I'm not sure if the location has that set up yet.

There's always a line up but they move fairly quickly. The food is made fresh since there is a high turnover rate. Sometimes they can't keep up with the demand. I couldn't buy the squid tempura since it's not being made fast enough. In particular it is always out everytime I come here. It's also very hard to find seating when it's busy. The Bay area has a staff that will help you locate seats which is nice. Either way, I'm still a fan of Marugame from my previous experience at the different locations.

I've been here 3 times now and each time it's just as good! I used to go to the locations in SF and LA and I'm so glad they opened a location here in SD. I've had their Curry Nikutama as well as their regular Nikutama and I love both! The tempura is also great and looked fresh every time I was there. Although I was always worried about seating, my party and I were always able to find some after we got our udon. Service is great as well! They also have a rewards program which is great, will definitely continue coming back here!

I've been to Marugames before and my past experiences have always been great. However, my recent experience at this location was very disappointing. I had an order placed for pickup at 6:45pm on a Sunday. We had to wait till 7:20ish for our order to be ready despite placing an order ahead of time. We didn't get a name but the staff wasn't super friendly, she was a bit dismissive when we asked about our order so that left a bitter taste as well. Once we got home and opened the bags, we realized they forgot to pack our big chicken Katsu. That was super upsetting as that's my boyfriend's favorite. They didn't forget the Katsu sauce though but we didn't have the chicken Katsu to dip it with. If we lived closer, we would've went back and gotten a refund or our missing piece but we're like 25-30 mins away from UTC. The next thing that was upsetting was the broth to noodle ratio. It might be a takeout thing but there was sooo little broth. It barely covered halfway up the bowl of noodles. There was adequate broth the past experiences dining in at another location. Not sure if we'll be back.

I've always been a die-hard fan of Marugame, so when one opened up right next to me at UTC, I knew that I had to try it. It definitely took me a couple of weeks to do so since the lines were so long when it first opened, but now that it's been opened for a while, the lines have definitely started to die down. Even then, don't let the lines intimidate you, because it moves pretty fast. At this location specifically, there's plenty of seating both indoors and outdoors. If you aren't able to find seating at Marguame, there are also a couple of benches near Wetzel's Pretzels where you can probably dine. I think my favorite part about Marugame is how consistent and reliable the food is each and every time, not only at this location but across multiple locations - you know exactly what you're getting each and every time. My go-to order is usually the Beef Udon, but sometimes I opt for the Kitsune udon as well. Both are delicious and always hit the spot, especially when I'm looking for some comfort food or something warm and soupy on a cold day. It's a generous serving of food, and I never leave hungry. You can probably catch me here at least once a week, oopsie :)

We used to drive up to South Coast Plaza just to have some Marugame Udon and were all hyped up when we found out they were coming to San Diego! Since their grand opening, we've been here twice. The first time was during lunch hours so there was a bit of a wait, about 40 minutes. The second time we went at 4pm and there was no wait. For my first visit, I ordered the Tonkotsu udon that came with chasu pork and a soft boiled flavored egg. I also got some tempura shrimp and octopus. For the second time, I ordered the Kitsune udon and sweet potato tempura. What's great about the udon here is that the flour is imported from Japan and the noodles are freshly made. While waiting in line, you can see the noodles being made from scratch through the large window. Nothing beats fresh udon! The way this restaurant works is you order your udon in line, they give you your bowl, you grab whatever tempura you want, and proceed to pay. It's open seating so you seat yourself after you get your utensils and dipping sauce. Once you're done, they clear your table and tray. There are no reservations available. They have a pick up window on the outside of their restaurant for online orders. The udon is addicting! I'm not a typical broth drinker, but I slurped up every last drop! This place is great!

I've been here twice in the span of two weeks, the first time I took to-go and the second time was during lunch hours on a workday. The line was pretty quick and short during lunch, but it did fill up after I gave my order! I've gotten the large both times. The only difference between a large or a regular size is the amount of broth (at least for the Nikutama) so I would keep that in mind when you are ordering. I only found this out when i took to-go and my friend and I ordered the same thing but different sizes - we realized that the soup container was much larger. I've heard the Tonkotsu had more slices of meat with the larger size, so it could just be the Nikutama. The soup is quite filling and the udon noodles were super fresh. It was a nice harmony of flavors and when adding in the Gekikara Fireball it just came all *chef's kiss* I'd definitely go back again to try other menu items, as I completely loved the Curry Nikutama and the Nikutama itself. The tempera is so good and light. It felt almost healthy eating fried food ahhaah. It was kind of pricy, but I think its worth a try! I have gotten the shrimp, potato, the chicken, and the tamagoyaki. I definitely recommend the shrimp and potato. The calamasi-ade. I would go to Marugame just for this drink. It's light, refreshing, sweet, but not too sweet - its the perfect drink for a sunny day. Perfect for san diego weather. The ambiance of the place is pretty busy, its very food court like, but I like the busy-ness of it. It's a great place for family, friends, dates, etc. An all-arounder for sure.

Marugame's reputation far precedes new locations that they open up. The quality is superb and taste is delicious. If you've been to one, you know what you'll be in for. They've been very consistent across locations... what really set this site apart was how well organized and quickly they moved in spite of the long line of customers that were waiting. The seating area is pretty large and they've got some seats outside as well. It's tempting to try and find an open seat and wait for your food to come, but if you do that you'll mess with their well organized system they've got going. The staff moves very quickly to find seats for customers, I was impressed. When we got our meal there as a bit of wait but they moved quickly to clean off a table and re-arrange it for us (since we were a fairly large party of 5). I could see a line building up of customers that had their food but no tables, but within a few min after other customers finished, the staff had everything cleared, cleaned, and rearranged for those guests. You don't typically see service this friendly and well coordinated in most other restaurants. Though there was a line to get in and order, it moved very quickly and smoothly and as noted seats became available very quickly as well. It was a great meal and I enjoyed the overall experience. Definitely worth a visit.

Come early! My hun & I got in line at 1040a & they open at 11a. There was already a line formed but once they opened, the line got super long. Cafeteria style. Order your bowl, add tempura &/or gyoza, get a drink & pay. Then you find seating inside or outside. Super streamlined. They have a variety of udon bowls- sauce based or broth based. & they also serve rice bowls too. Tonkotsu: Lighter feel since it is broth based. Delicious broth & the udon was thickly sliced. Nikutama: A sweeter, heavier feel since it is sauce based. Tasty! The portions here are huge, even if you get the medium size so come hungry!

Omg I'm sooo happy this opened in SD! We love going to Marugame Udon in other states and typically order the Nikutama. We also tried the tonkatsu version and both were so delicious and the broth is super flavorful. The Sweet beef is very tender. Their tempura tastes fresh and inventory moves quickly, which helps with freshness. Staff here are super nice and helpful. They are located across from the fish playground by Macy's.

I got the Nikutama and fireball (.75). The broth is amazing, the service was great, and the wait wasn't awful. We came at 6ish. I was worried we would have trouble finding seating but an employee led us to a table right after we paid. I got the large bowl but will likely get regular next time as the portion was a bit too filling for me. I also tried the katsu and it was delicious. The shrimp tempura and potato croquette were okay. This place is cafeteria style so you tell them what noodles you want and self serve the tempura. Definitely recommend!!

It's about time Marugame Udon came to San Diego! I feel like most people know what Ramen is but have never heard of Udon. Udon is a thick noodle made from wheat flour and is usually served with a light broth. I highly recommend Udon when you're craving a light Japanese noodle dish as ramen tends to be on the heavier and saltier side. Marugame operates on a cafeteria line style ordering system which I really like. You'll start by telling the employee what kind of bowl you want and as you move down the line you'll get to customize your toppings. It's fast and everything is made fresh on the spot. My favorite thing to get here is the curry udon but sometimes I'll switch it up to the regular nikutama. I used to get a lot of toppings but realized it got pricey quick so now I just stick to a regular sized bowl which is already filling enough. I came here twice already and both times have been a smooth experience. The first was within the closing hour the first month they opened and the tables were still filled with people having their late dinner. Recently I came on a weekday after work with my dog. Line moved fast as usual and the service was fantastic. I was struggling with my shopping bags, carrying my food, and my dog. The employee noticed and she helped me carry my tray to an open table outside, give me water, as well as take away my tray when I finished my meal. I really appreciated it a lot.

I've already been here three times, and each time it's been great! Long lines during regular eating hours, but good if you go right before dinner! I love the curry udon! However, the drawback is it's super busy so it is rushed. Sometimes the tempura is not filled up as fast by the time you get there.

This place is great place to have a causal meal. The line can get pretty long but it moves fast. Also there is a line for a reason. The udon noodles are made fresh and carefully portioned out so you get the exact amount every time. Came here with my family and we tried both the curry and regular broth. Both delicious! A little on the sweet side but enhances the udon noodles. Large bowls are around 13-14$ and is plenty of food. You can add tempura for about 2$ a piece. Fair warning it can be a bit intimidating since it's packed, but the staff is very helpful with finding you a seat and tables turn quickly. Highly recommend!

I've been here once on opening day and it has improved in service and availability of the tempura items. The line moves quick but seating is a struggle. I always get the nikutama bowl and it's consistently really good and tastes the same as the other locations I've been to. The shrimp tempura and the sweet potato are always nice additions. The gyoza we got was ok, nothing too special, I would skip bc it's similar to ones at the Asian markets you can make at home. Service is nice and welcoming. I do not like the seating set up as it can get really busy in there and people are saving tables when they haven't gotten their food. Which caused us to be holding our tray of udon & drinks finding a table. Luckily a worker helped us find one outside. It's not the best experience to sit outside as there are flies and so many people passing by and children are so loud playing at the play place in front of the restaurant. It would make the experience better if Marugame would not allow customers to save seats before they have ordered. Other locations have implemented this and works really well since eating udon is pretty fast. Something to try.

There had been a lot of chatter about this restaurant. Every time we go to utc, there was always a long line here. SERVICE - Finally went over the weekend. Love that it was a fast food type of concept. You get in line and order when you get closer to the front. Once you get your bowl, you have a tray which then you push to the tempera section. You can pick out the pieces you want and then you move forward to pay. It gets crowded but because it was a fast food style feel, tables open up fast. Shout out to the waiters who cleared the tables quickly. FOOD Tempura - I was a little let down with these. We got the shrimp and some veggies. It was subpar. Not super crispy either. Gyoza - Again, just subpar. I wouldn't get them again as they were fairly basic. Katsu Chicken - It was pretty dry. I would not recommend this at all. Tonkatsu - The broth was soooo good. Tons of flavor. Creamy and savory at the same time. The noodles were solid. Let me tell you, nothing like fresh udon noodles. Nikitama - This one was great too but I am not a big umami fan. My husband did enjoy this one. I would come here only for the udon. Highly recommend it and worth the wait.

First time trying a Marugame Udon and I've heard so many good things. I'm usually not a fan of udon but I had to visit because of all the hype and how close it is to home. At the moment, lines are long but hopefully they'll die down in the future. If you're strapped on time, the to-go line is pretty much non-existent and you could just bring your order to the food court to eat instead. As you move down the line, you order your main entrees first. It's prepped right in front of you and placed on a serving tray. The self-serve tempura station is next and here, you can grab any of the deep-fried items, from chicken to squid to potatoes. It's nice that you can portion control the tempura but if you're hungry, be careful of grabbing a lot of food because it adds up fast. The Nikutama comes with sweet beef and a soft boiled egg. It's advertised as a sauce base but I disagree. Unless by sauce base, it's not meant to be drank like soup? My expectation was something thicker, something that coated onto the noodles better. It's a very sweet sauce though and it reminds me of sukiyaki. I also ordered the large but later realized that it's just a larger portion of noodles, not meat. So in comparison, the meat serving seemed small for the bowl. As for the tempura, the chicken was really good. Dark meat so you know it's going to be juicy and it was fried really crispy. The squid was a little bland and not as crispy as the chicken. The Potato Croquette we got was fresh so super hot. It's really crispy but a little bland too. Overall, a good meal but I wasn't overly satisfied, partially because of my indifference to udon. Great to try at least once but I just prefer other Japanese noodle dishes more.

I love udon and I love Marugame! If you are looking for a yummy and affordable bite, this is the place to be. I'd opt for take out if you are in a time crunch because first time I came on a Monday evening, I waited 45mins. The udon has a perfect bounce and I've had the dashi broth, the tan tan, and the B.K. Sauce. All were super yummy and flavorful. I'd recommend the dash broth ones if you are looking for something a little more light. The B.K. was a definitely a nice medium but there was not much soup in the bowl. The Tan Tan was definitely the most rich and hardy. Spice level for the Tan Tan was probably like a 4/10, for reference hot cheetos is spicy for me so I think my tolerance is fairly low - the Tan Tan was tolerable spice for me. I'd also recommend their tempura! My personal fav is def the squid tempura!

Came in at opening on Wednesday. Line brings around 10:45. Love the interior and design. Even when you're waiting there are windows so you can see people making the food. Costs are high for sides like over $2 for a soft boiled egg. I would say in comparison to the Hawaii, we like the udon bowls better and the udon was just as good for the nikutama and sweet beef with dashi broth. The tempura was not. I got shrimp tempura, zucchini, and squid. They were mid. Their service was great and seating filled up within the first 10-15 min of opening but loved the ambience and taste. So happy this opened up in SD and definitely will be back.

Great location for Udon! Line moves quick, as with the Costa Mesa location, seating can be hard to find sometimes because this place is always busy.. however the staff team is so friendly and helpful.. as soon as a table is about to leave they wipe the table clean and let you know the table is available. I had the Nikutama, hubs had the Tonkotsu. Nikutama was good, they crack the egg in front of you and it's a perfect soft boiled egg. I do wish they'd give a bit more broth though, I had the tempura flakes and it soaked up all the broth, mistake on my part. Tonkotsu broth had a mild flavor and it was pretty good.

Food: I got the beef udon, squid tempura, and sweet potato tempura. It was really good, super flavorful. They also have a dipping sauce for the tempura as well. Service: service was great as well! It was kind of hard to hear the employees when ordering, but that's to be expected. There were so many people in there. There are also employees that help you find seats and will wipe down tables for you. 10/10. Ambiance: clean interior. Lines are long on weekends. Plenty of parking in the parking garages with two free hours of parking. Side note: there were people who ordered to go and wanted to sit at the tables at Marugame. The employees did ask them to kindly leave because it was for guests waiting in line only. Think some signs could definitely help!!! (But also I don't understand why you would argue with the staff! You don't order to go at a restaurant and sit there and eat??? There's plenty of other seats in the mall). Overall would recommend!!

Came here on a Saturday night and did have to wait in a line, but the line moved quickly and it is worth the wait. I got the Nikutama (udon with sweet beef and hard boiled egg). You're able to choose as you go through the line what you want so I got some extra protein (chashu pork and soft boil egg). Everything was very quick. Also got some shrimp tempura, squid tempura and a chicken cutlet and everything was great! We even got to eat inside since the service was so quick. Great experience with my favorite kind of noodle!

This place is amazing! It's a well organized and coordinated experience! The food is freshly made to order, NOTHING is premade or frozen, and better still the service is AMAZING I won't say more, you gotta experience it yourself. There is always a line but I promise it goes FAST!!!

It's finally in SD! No more trekking to OC, or to Hawaii for this epic Udon spot! This place has a special place in my heart as it's the closest good udon place you'll get to Japan. As it just opened, line was long to dine in so I opted for Togo so my kids could play at the play structure (which is soooooooo convenient to be near) Togo counter was easily accessible and was quick to order. (Unfortunately my wait time was longer than usual as they gave my order to someone else and I had to remake the order for me) fortunately for them, the food made up for it. EVERYTHING IS GOOD. You cannot go wrong with anything you order, seriously. Even getting it Togo, it doesn't even matter. The quality of food sticks and you won't miss the flavors in every bite. We got the beef udon, curry udon, BK udon, gyozas, shrimp tempura! All perfectly curated like their mothership location. I like getting the udon sanuki way for an extra umpf. ENJOY THIS GREAT NEW ADDITION TO UTC MALL!! Really making this mall greater than it already is

Came here on grand opening day right when it opened at 11am. There was already a line but it wasn't too bad. We waited about 30-45min to order. I've never seen so much staff at a walk-up counter place before. There must've been about 30 people working back there. You can watch them make fresh noodles, fresh tempura, everything is made fresh. Once we ordered, there was a worker who found a table for us. The staff were very efficient with clearing tables and helping guests find seating. I ordered the Nikutama Udon with a side of shrimp tempura and potato croquette. I've tried Marugame Udon in multiple locations before and everything tasted exactly how I remembered. The broth is very savory, the noodles cooked to the perfect consistency. The fried foods were very good as well. For grand opening they also had a table outside where you can redeem a free T-shirt and stickers if you spent at least $30. You just have to show your receipt. Overall, the grand opening went very well. Food was delicious and everything was moving very quick and efficiently. I'm glad we finally have a location in San Diego. I definitely will be coming back again, hopefully when it's not super busy.

Came for dinner on a Tuesday night with a friend. Service was quick and easy! There's an assembly line to get you through so you can order and pay quickly! There's also tons of options to choose from. I got the curry nikutama. The portion for the udon was pretty good! I got the regular and it filled me up. There were also additional fried goods to add onto your udon too. The interior is kinda small so it could get crowded really fast. Would definitely come back again for a quick bite!

Came on a Friday night and braced ourselves for a crazy wait, but it ended up not being too bad! The line moved fast and we only wanted 45 mins in total. We tried the Beef Udon (with dashi broth) and the Curry Udon. I love how you can pick out the tempura pieces one by one - the chicken tempura is like a giant karaage (highly recommend!) Such a big piece and so juicy. The dashi broth is delicious and the noodles are fresh and in between chewy and soft. The soft boiled egg was the only item I don't recommend - $2.25 for half an egg was a little ridiculous haha! The customer service was good - we saw the staff helping folks find a table if they have their food but no tables are open (didn't happen too often though!) The ambiance is fast dining style - super busy and the tables turn quickly.

It is here! Just as good as in Hawaii. Got in line 10 minutes before they opened at 11AM on a weekday and got seated with our food around 11:20AM. Line moved quickly. Menus were posted throughout the line so everyone knew what to order when it was their turn which sped up the process. Food was so fire. The chewy noodles and hearty broths hit the spot. The sweet beef was melt in your mouth good. Get the cold broth on a hot day, plus it keeps the noodles chewier. The tempuras were all fried to perfection. Matcha and calamansi-ade were so refreshing and not too sweet. Service was efficient and very friendly. There's a big ol' sign to not reserve seats but unfortunately I still saw people do it. I hope the staff will enforce this to prevent people just claiming a table for a long time. 2 large bowls, 2 drinks, and 6 tempuras came out to $45 before tips. So good. Welcome to San Diego! Note: the hard boiled egg for $1.80 is just half an egg. Edit: unless you come right at opening, expect a longgggg long that is very slow moving.

So happy to be able to try Marugame now that they opened in SD. Their location in UTC is great because there's usually ample parking, but seating is pretty limited, especially for more than two people. The lines can get long, but service is quick. I ordered the Nikutama, which had a very nice savory broth, fresh udon noddles, and the green onions and ginger went great with the dish. I recommend getting the egg because the broth keeps it together until you are ready to eat it. I also tried some of the curry based dishes, and the broth had more spices and was a bit thicker than my dish. Overall, they're worth a try if you're at UTC!

I always order the Nikutama, but wouldn't recommend if you like a lot of broth. Of course since they just opened, the line has been long the past 3 times we've went. I was extremely excited to finally get to enjoy Marugame in SD, given I mainly only have it when I've been to Hawaii, and was a little disappointed that they don't offer as many tempura options. The pumpkin tempura used to be my fav! Hopefully they rotate and get some more varying tempura options. Also, it may seem like you won't be able to snag a table while you're here because it's so busy but we've actually had no trouble getting tables! We even came in with a party of 7 and had no issue finding a seat by the time we're cashing out. The workers there work very hard and diligently to keep the lines moving and clearing tables. They are constantly pre-bussing tables and as soon as you're finished they take your plate from you in order to get the tables cleared as fast as possible. I love Marugame!

Visited their other locations in Los Angeles and South Coast, so I had to try their new location at UTC Mall. While I do enjoy a good udon, their udon seems to be more on the chewy side. You're better off ordering a regular sized bowl since the large size is just extra noodles (they use the same bowl for a regular and large). Their tempura options are great - I usually get their sweet potatoes and chicken. Sometime the tempura can be a bit off which was the case this time in the chicken. Overall it's good udon but there are other places that offer more flavorful broth. U must say however, their curry broth is delicious. It's your typical line up, order, pay, and eat service. I like this type of service and I rather not be bothered while eating.

I've tried Marugame udon in Hawaii- both their Waikiki location and Downtown Chinatown location, and I was excited to hear one was opening at UTC mall. Came by on a Wednesday afternoon shortly after opening, around 1130 am, and I didn't have to wait too long thankfully. Probably got my meal within 15 minute of arrival. Perks of being able to come before the mad rush! They have a take out window too, so if you're in the area and in a time crunch, take out is an option. The ambiance is nice- as you enter the restaurant, you'll see immediately to the left all the hard workers handcrafting these delectable noodles. You order your meal and they'll ask if you want toppings- green onions and tempura flakes- you can opt in for both, one or none. There's also options for add ins (see menu for reference). Then they'll hand you your bowl of noodles on a cafeteria like tray and you'll move on to the tempura choices. I was a bit disappointed with the selection of tempura sides, they didn't have a lot of options but maybe they're still ironing things out as they just had their grand opening recently. I tried a regular beef udon. The noodles are perfect. I think the broth could use a little more flavor. Even with the tempura flakes and green onion toppings. They offer one small ice cream scoop of beef, it's nothing like the images on the menu. I had no trouble finding a table to enjoy my meal. Don't be intimidated if there's a long line- the turnover rate is pretty quick. And workers will help you get seated and put away your tray. They also help with crowd control but I feel like I'm being rushed to eat my meal so someone else can get a table. Also, an employee left their dirty rag on my table while I was eating :(

Absolutely stoked that SD finally has a Marugame, and at UTC too! Located inside the mall, this spot has both a 'to go' stall and a dine-in line. Because it opened recently, the line does get pretty long but it does move quickly. Once inside, you can choose your Udon dish and then make some choices on side dishes. I got the Curry Udon with beef and it was delicious. The staff are incredibly nice and helpful. There is inside and outside seating. I would consider this dining casual. Will be back very soon!

Just like every other San Diegan, I was HYPED that we finally got Marugami Udon. And I'm even happier to report that this place exceeded my expectations. I've come on two different occasions, and I had a fun and delicious experience each time. Don't worry if you see a long line - the line moves quickly, and finding a seat at many of the dine-in tables is easy. The noodles here are... everything I could want and more from an udon noodle! Thick, chewy, soft, and fresh. You can definitely taste the difference between hand-crafted noodles and those frozen udon noodles most places use. I've tried the beef nikutama and the curry nikutama. I prefer the beef, but the curry one is pretty good as well. I would skip out on the tempura side offerings even though they might look tempting. The ambiance is cute. It's exciting seeing the workers build your bowl right in front of you. The design of the place is fresh, and everything was clean and tidy. I'm a fan. I'll for sure come back, and I'll bring all of my friends along with me. 5/5