I'm so happy they are expanding to different parts of the bay! This is conveniently located in Alameda! (It is a tiny bit far from the freeway but the drive to it is worth it)! It's located in a large shopping plaza. The inside is big and has lots of seating outdoor and indoor! This is a cafeteria style served and sit down restaurant so you would get in line order and pick up your temperas if you want to purchase any and pay, then find a seat and enjoy! The udon like any other Marugame is delicious! I always mostly get the tonkotsu but I have tried other ones before, they all don't disappoint so you can't go wrong, if you never been, you need to try! read more

Marugame Udon - Japanese Near Me - Alameda, California

I cannot emphasize how much Marugame Udon (specifically the Sawtelle location in LA) was a constant when I was in college, so I was so happy to see one open near me in the old Panera space. It's quick, affordable, and it's fun walking with your tray of food to the cash register cafeteria-style. I ordered the Tonkatsu, which has chashu, miso ground pork, and a hard boiled egg. I thought there was not enough ground pork in my bowl, but it still tasted good. I wish the egg was soft-boiled, but all Marugame locations have this so I have to give it a pass. I remember at other locations that you could get your own tempura bits and green onion, but that was probably taken away due to COVID. Either way, you can always ask for more. I recommend asking for the tempura flakes on the side so they don't get soggy. My sister got the Curry Nikutama and they LOADED her bowl with sweet beef. It was wild. I had some and felt like the flavor of her bowl was stronger than my bowl. I like both and have frequently gotten both bowls in the past. It seemed like they didn't have much tempura when I was there and that they did not have the same variety of tempura as other locations. I'm hoping that was a one time occurrence and that they really do carry all the tempura options! read more

Marugame Udon - Tonkotsu, Curry Nikutama, Shrimp, Extra Tempura Flakes - Japanese Near Me - Alameda, California

Today was my 2nd time at this location, the first being only roughly two weeks ago. Unfortunately, it seems like it's already gone noticeably downhill in such a short timeframe. It was 1pm on a Saturday, but no line out front like my last visit. But for some reason, it took quite some time for someone to take our orders, unlike the extremely fast paced environment last time. I tried the tonkotsu udon this time. The egg was very dry and overcooked, and the noodle texture seemed more soft and lost its bounciness. Overall, I'd describe the food as fast food udon. Everything was just "alright", and I wouldn't even describe a ~$14 bowl of mediocre udon as cheap. But it's fast and convenient in a neighborhood without too many food options. read more

Marugame Udon - Hope this is worth - Japanese Near Me - Alameda, California

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We tried the bolognese and the marugame deluxe. Both were delicious. I like that you can choose the add on tempura that you want. There's good variety and something for everyone. I will be back. read more

Saw my Yelp friend Jean L picture posts on 3/4/25 and came here as soon as I got back to the bay! Quality/Quantity - Brings back so many positive memories of Oahu! If you are following, 2024 was the first year we did not go back to the islands... Today we decided to get one of each of the "Most Loved," best sellers: Curry Nikutama - My wife's favorite. A mild curry flavor, in my opinion. Nikutama - My daughter's favorite. A mild beef broth, in my opinion. Tonkotsu - My favorite, the most flavorful in my opinion! Also got the following tempura: Zucchini - Flavorless in my opinion, but when dipped in the sauce... Potato - My daughter's second favorite, but it was too "mushy" for me. Almost like deep fried mashed potatoes, lol. Egg - This is rarely found and my daughter was so happy. This is always her favorite; I am surprised she only got one. Sweet Potato - My favorite. Atmosphere - Decent size location. I'm actually surprised it was not busy...? Has the fad finally died down? Indoor/outdoor seating. Plenty of mall parking. Open 7 days a week from 11am to 9pm. Service - Counter service, also think cafeteria system. The noodles are made fresh, you can taste the difference. Actually everything is made fresh in front of you; an open kitchen layout. Only 1 week new, so plenty of employees. Price - $58, as usual, we over ordered. And my daughter ordered size large for each bowl. Considering the amount of food we got, it was reasonably priced. Owner Comment - Congrats on your success since the early 2000s and with your 1000+ locations worldwide. read more

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First timer here, but fear I did this place wrong. I ordered a chicken katsu bowl to go. The chicken katsu was juicy, but I really didn't like the curry itself. It was quite salty. My fiancé ordered a side of beef with rice and the beef was an oil bomb-- all fat. I feel this is a place I need to: 1) sit in 2) order the udon. This place was packed so I'm sure people love it. Or maybe it's just new? I'll give this another try and update my review once I do. read more

Marugame Udon - Chicken katsu - Japanese Near Me - Alameda, California

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I went to Marugame Udon on a weekday during the first week it opened. Arriving just after opening there was only one person in front of me. As-is, service was quick. I liked being able to walk up, request my udon, grab a tempura from the counter then pay. The staff was friendly and enthusiastic as well. As for the food, I ordered curry nikutama. The Japanese curry was good and went well with the udon noodles. I had a sweet potato tempura as well which met expectations. The calamansi drink was good. By the time I finished eating there was a line out the door. read more

Marugame Udon - Curry Nikutama at Marugame Udon - Japanese Near Me - Alameda, California

Ate here about 4 weeks ago... Been to quite a few Maru in the bay but this new one was different. I missed the green onion and sauce bar. There was a limited amount of tempura options. I love the fact there are rice bowls now for the non udon diners. The chicken Katsu was perfectly fried and flavorful. The udons are still silky yet chewy here. The tempuras, I had the shrimp and sweet potato which were both good. This is a low key but super efficient restaurant with a quick fix for Lunch or dinner if you want an easy simple and delicious meal. I hope in the future they offer different tempura samples to customers to try before they buy. Might sell more tempuras this way. read more

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This tastes like enchiladas,tacos, chili without the jalapeños & spices lol Yummy tho very Japanese coded Imagine if S&B made bolognese cubes read more

Marugame Udon - Japanese Near Me - Alameda, California

So glad this is here! Quick and easy udon that hits the spot if you're craving! They're in the spot that used to be Panera. Tempura was good too! read more

Marugame Udon - Creamy Broth Udon-Tonkotsu Style - Japanese Near Me - Alameda, California

Fast service! Got their beef udon, side of kabocha and squid tempura and calamansi drink. The regular size is already very generous- I had leftovers to take home. The large is double the amount of udon. Great to have another Asian food option in the area. read more

Marugame Udon - Beef udon - Japanese Near Me - Alameda, California

I've been eagerly waiting for Marugame to open in South Shore ever since they put up their sign and started with their construction around mid last year. After visiting their Berkeley and SF locations many times, I finally got to check out this new spot over the weekend. The atmosphere is bright and welcoming with plenty of seating and a clean modern patio. With its cafeteria style, you order first then get seated but the line moves quick and you can always find a spot. Marugame's corner truly stands out and I think it's a great addition to South Shore! I ordered the Curry Nikutama -- super yummy, but before I devoured it, a large bug (it looked like a mosquito x____x ) flew into my bowl. I was startled, but the staff handled the situation perfectly as they immediately replaced my meal with a new bowl! While the incident wasn't their fault, their customer service was excellent. Lowkey sad to see Panera go, but I'm glad that Marugame is here to stay. This is def my new go-to spot for comfort noods. read more

Marugame Udon - Japanese Near Me - Alameda, California

I tried the chain many years ago in SF, and I thought it was fantastic. I was excited this place had opened up in this location. We went on a Saturday afternoon, it wasn't crazy busy. I ordered the spicy broth with vegan meat crumbles. I'm not vegan but I like the spicy broth. I also picked an assortment of tempura. I think this place is overpriced on their tempura. It lacked flavor and crunch. Just felt like wasting my money. The noodles were good, but I didn't like the broth this time. Maybe I need to get a different broth, either way, I can find better udon and tempura elsewhere. I will say this place is always busy, not sure if it's because it's new and easy location to get to. read more

A very efficient grand opening! Been awaiting their open for quite some time and so excited they are here in Alameda. The line was long at 11:30 but it smoothed out. Very efficient for a grand opening day. The food was also very good compared to other locations. For first timers, pick your main dish and order it cafeteria style. Udon is constantly made from scratch and cooked all day as tin can see through the window when you enter. You can add additional meats and side. And then you can select pieces of tempura to add to your for a per piece charge. Dine or take out. Leftover containers near the utensils. Outdoor seating too. Welcome to Alameda, Marugame. So glad you are here! (Shirts avail opening day!) read more

3.5 stars. Three of us went to Marugame the Saturday after it opened and expected there to be a huge line when we walked up sometime after 11:00 am. There was no line outside and only a handful of people ahead of us once we got inside. However, as it inched closer to noon, the line rapidly started growing and snaking outside. This is quite the operation. You order at the counter and seat yourself, watching your food get served a la Panda Express, Harry's Hofbrau, etc. There are also a number of add-ons (some free, some paid). Between the noodle counter and the cash wrap is a buffet-style area with a handful of appetizers and sides you can self-serve, including kara age, katsu, gyoza, and more. I grabbed a katsu, a plate of gyoza, and my husband got the chicken kara age. I went with the tan tan, but was disappointed when I realized later that it was a vegan dish with ground soy. However the flavors were at least very good, the vegetables were still crisp and not overcooked, and the udon had the perfect amount of chew. I also upgraded to a large bowl, which was more like a standard serving of udon in most other Japanese restaurants I've been to. However, even though this is supposed to be a spicy dish, I didn't sense any amount of heat at all, which was another disappointment. The gyoza had a good amount of meat and the katsu was fantastic. Super juicy inside and light and crispy outside. My brother got the katsu rice bowl and loved it and my husband really liked his curry nikutama. However, I disliked the chicken; it had an overly soft texture when I bit into it and the breading wasn't as crisp as it could've been. I want to come back because there are other udons on the menu I want to try. This wasn't a bad experience by any means, but the tan tan wasn't totally what I was hoping for. But the flavors were good enough, the udon cooked perfectly enough, that I still want to try other dishes here. Prices were also pretty reasonable, especially considering how expensive it is to eat out now. read more

Marugame Udon - Tan tan (front), curry nikutama, katsu, gyoza, chicken kara age (back) - Japanese Near Me - Alameda, California

The service was a bit off at this location than my experiences at other locations. The staff seem to be confused at the ordering area. The broth was not as hot as I would like it. The tempura selection was slim and not fresh. They did have a sign out that said if not tempura not available, an order can be placed at register and would be brought out to you. The condiment area looked messy, and unattended to. The counter was sticky from the spilled tempura sauce, there was no ginger out and the napkin dispensers were empty. The icing on the cake was the fact that a pigeon was walking around the floor INSIDE getting it snack on eating the crumbs left on the floor. I couldn't finish my food, so I packed it up and finished it at home. read more

Marugame Udon - Japanese Near Me - Alameda, California

Heard Marugame Udon opened in the former Panera Bread location at the South Shore Center. Great location and visible from the parking lot. As a point of reference, it is located in the same area as Five Guys, Chipotle, Jamba Juice Service is basically cafeteria style. You chose your entree, servers on other side of food line prepare and provide. They are VERY FAST!! Next you select your sides....please use the provided tongs and not your fingers!!! Each side is charge individually....not AYCE. Next stop is drinks, pay and find yourself a table. They also have outdoor seating. I came before the dinner rush so Inwas able to find a 2-top for myself. Noodles are freshly made and broth is nice n hot. The sides I selected were chicken katsu (nice crunch), tempura zucchini and tempura calamari. All were tasty and good I hear they recently opened. Place is clean and lots of workers helping out and cleaning off trays read more

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I've been to the OG location in Oahu and the food and vibe are amazing; but the Berkeley and San Ramon locations have been inconsistent and disappointing. So I was hesitant to try their newest location in Alameda South Shore. I'll have to say its the best of the 3 that I tried. We went on a weekday around 1PM to avoid the weekend lunch crowd. There was a queue of 12 people ahead of us but it moved quickly. The dining area had plenty of open tables inside and out; so no worries about finding a spot. It is "self" seating and "self" bussing after you are done. (I noticed a kiosk to order takeaway inside - away from the dine-in line so that is an option) When it was our turn to order, I noticed the huge staff behind the counter making noodles, serving, and frying. It was a well orchestrated team. I ordered the Curry Nikutama, then selected the tonkatsu, shrimp tempura, sweet potato, and pumpkin. The tempura is a self-serve cafeteria style and charged per item. The trick is to watch the workers and get the just-fried items because they do sit under a heat lamp and not good when its cold and soggy. My udon was perfectly chewy and covered with curry-deliciousness (mild spicy) I ate the tempura first and they were flavorful and crunchy. Come and give it a try read more

Marugame Udon - Curry Nikutama + matcha - Japanese Near Me - Alameda, California

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Fiancé and I came here first week of opening and we were so happy with how our food and experience turned out! Luckily we came right before they opened so the line was short but it seems to move pretty quickly anyway. I got the curry nikutama and he got the tonkatsu udon. Both are delicious options and extremely flavorful. The texture of the noodles are bouncy and thick. I got a regular sized bowl because once you have the sides, you can get filled up fast! And a tip, careful with the sides. It's not too bad for just the bowl of noodles but each individual size can cost between $2-5 each so it adds up. Dining in was a good experience because the tables were clean and there are tons of staff that walk around ensuring that you're having a nice time. You can put your bowl away yourself at their dish station but the staff will sometimes walk around and take it away for you. We loved it so much here that we came back a week later with two co-workers! Food is delicious and something fresh for Alameda and there's excellent service here. read more

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Marugame has always been my go to for a cheap casual meal. This store just opened a two weeks ago and there's already so much hype around it. This particular location is very spacious and has plenty of seating. I was surprised that there was no wait time bc of how much seating and how efficient they were. I thought that this location was on par to other locations but the only downside was that their tempura was wayyy too battered and oily (see photo). Usually their shrimp tempura is my favorite but this time around it felt like I ate a mouthful of fried batter so that was a bummer. A pleasant bonus was their calamansi drink! OMG it was sooo refreshing and delicious. I lowkey would wanna come order just the drink too hahaha Overall decent and would come again for some cheap udon! read more

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I was excited to see a Marugame Udon open closer to me, and it did not disappoint! The food was fresh, flavorful, and satisfying. The udon noodles had the perfect texture--chewy and soft--and the broth was rich and comforting. The tempura was crispy and delicious, adding a great complement to the meal. The service was efficient, and despite being a new location, everything seemed to run smoothly. I'll definitely be back to try more of their menu! Highly recommend for anyone craving a hearty and authentic udon experience. read more

Marugame Udon - Tan tan ramen - Japanese Near Me - Alameda, California

I came on the Sunday one week after opening day. There were a lot of people but the line wasn't too long. There were plenty of seating and it was quite clean. You order the food at the counter, where you get to see them make the udon from scratch. Then you can grab additional meat, tempura, katsu, gyoza, etc. for additional cost. Then you pay at the end of counter and you get your own table. We got 3 large Tonkotsu Udon and 1 large Curry Nikutama. They all had great flavor and had generous amount of udon! We also got potato croquettes, big chicken katsu, shrimp tempura and chicken tempuras. All of these items were absolutely delicious! Fried to perfection. Last but not least, we got the Calamansi-ade! This drink was amazing! So refreshing! Perfect amount of sweetness and sour! Definitely quenched our thirst! They have a station to obtain utensils, water, tempura sauce, katsu sauce and to-go containers as well. 10/10 recommend! Great service with fresh and delicious food! read more

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I'm so excited that my favorite udon restaurant is now in Alameda! This used to be Panera, and I can't believe Marugame took over, but hey I'm not complaining! I have loved their noodles ever since I've had it at their Berkeley location years ago, and I can never get enough of it. We decided to stop by on the 3rd day after opening. There was already a line when we arrived right at 6pm. I was surprised that it only took 25 minutes from waiting in line to ordering and finally sitting down with our food. Loved the minimalistic look inside and the open space. Everything we ordered met our expectations! My favorite was their Tonkotsu Udon since the broth was extremely flavorful. The Kitsune Udon was simple yet fulfilling. The Calamansi-Ade was something new on their menu and was light and refreshing. Loved the crispiness of the Shrimp/Zucchini Tempuras and Fried Chicken paired with tempura sauce. I can't wait to be back again to try other items. I don't think you can go wrong ordering anything from their menu. Their customer service was exceptional! Their employees cleared our table by taking our trays and dishes. And they were all extremely friendly!! read more

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Decided to try their online ordering and take out today. Food was ready within 10 minutes! This is awesome. Food tasted just like in the restaurant - delicious! Only downside that may have been overlooked is the quantity of broth. We ordered 2 large nikutama udon and the portion of noodles and beef was good except that the broth was a little too little (see included picture with this review). So we made a little broth to go with it so that we have enough. Hopefully the restaurant can continue to improve and make sure this is resolved next time - I'll share again when I do take out. read more

Marugame Udon - Noodle and meat bowl, broth bowl, and meat and onsen egg container - Japanese Near Me - Alameda, California

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Marugame locations seem to be pretty consistent with the quality of their food and the Alameda location is no different. It's located in a big outdoor mall with tons of free parking. The mall had pretty holiday decorations when I visited, and the restaurant interiors are also nice and clean. There was a small line but moved really quickly. I got the large order of Shrimp BK with the shrimp on the side so that the shrimp tempura batter doesn't dissolve in the hot soup, also got a chicken katsu on the side. I was delighted to see that this location offered unlimited green onions and tempura flakes to add to your bowl and I did get generous helpings of those. Upon being seated, I realized my udon hardly had any broth. I had imagined the udon hiding the broth underneath, but there was hardly any broth. I took my food back to the counter and they quickly apologized and gave me a big bowl of hot broth. I enjoyed their perfectly chewy noodles, the subtle broth peppered with tempura flakes and the succulent shrimp. The large bowl of udon is a lot of carb and I couldn't finish, so left with a full belly as well as leftovers. read more

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We've been making Marugame Udon a regular since we do our groceries in the area. We've tried their rice and noodle dishes, while I am a repeat customer, I could not bring myself to give it more than a 4 star. Here's why: Rice dishes: they ALWAYS overload my rice dishes with sauce, making the dish super salty, basically a pepsi experience instead of a coke. We cannot finish the rice bowls not because we're full, but because it's "too heavy" from the sauce Udon: most consistent (duh!) - nothing to say about it this is a chain and they figured it out for the noodles Tempura: some good, some bad, depending on how long it's been sitting out for in their rack. Overall service: it's a "fast food" like experience, mostly self service with self clean up with limited cleaning help. Price is reasonable, but not "cheap" read more

Good but would not say great. Pricey for fast casual dining where you serve yourself water / condiments. Food was good but not memorable. Got the kitsune udon read more

Marugame Udon - Japanese Near Me - Alameda, California

When I walked in I looked for the menu to see what to order. I went with the #1 since it was popular. They pulled fresh noodles and heated them up before placing in my crafted ceramic bowl. I added an egg which was just cracked into my bowl. They asked if I wanted tempura flakes and I declined. There was a station to add tempura to my soup but I decided to just enjoy it without extra additions. I had an unsweetened green tea which paired well with my beef ramen soup. There was something that dripped onto my table so I don't know what was leaking. I like how the ice was tiny cubes for my cup of water. Great pick of restaurant for a casual Saturday night dinner with friends. read more

Marugame Udon - #1 Beef Beef Gyudon - Japanese Near Me - Alameda, California

Great staff, fast service and very flavorful and hot food. Coming back for sure!!! Music is good too

Authentic and delicious Japanese Udon and Fresh Tempura prepared in front of you. I can watch how the udon noodles are made and cooked! Fast service and spacious dining room! read more

Nikutama udon and croquette/sweet potato are my goto. Food is consistent with every visit. Service is like instant as long as there is no line. It's a solid spot in my rotation. read more

It's a nice, clean Japanese noodle restaurant with a fast-food style setup. You stand in line, choose your noodle dish, and then take it to your table. They offer both indoor and outdoor seating. I ordered the beef tomataka noodles. The noodle quality was very good, but the sauce could have been more flavorful. If you want to add spice, there is an extra charge for the sauce. read more

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I generally prefer ramen to udon, but I do like to change things up and am happy that this spot opened up in Alameda. Been here at least 5-6 times so far. When they opened, the lunch rush was extremely busy, nowadays it's still busy but way more reasonable. No frills cafeteria style service, but they are pretty fast with your order. Tonkotsu udon is my favorite--I always get the large, which comes with an extra piece of chashu pork. I do wish the udon bowls had the runny egg as an option instead of the boiled egg. read more

Food is delicious and has a good ambience. Service is very quick and efficient and I think they have a good system going.

If I had to get my Marugame Udon fix, I would head over to the nearest location in Berkeley. But now I'm only a 10 min drive away as Alameda is the home of the latest location. This was formerly the Panera location and it has been transformed to an open and spacious restaurant. As you enter, you can see the udon noodles being prepared. You place your order and the workers prepare it and place your bowl on a tray. If you want tempura items, like chicken katsu, squid, shrimp, potato, egg, sweet potato, and even gyoza, put in the paper basket onto your tray. You can order drinks at the register when you pay. There is a water dispenser with the utensils on the back wall. I enjoyed my usual large Kake and it was piping hot with a squid tempura. Service was friendly and for less than $10 for a large bowl of delicious fresh udon is still great value. So happy that it's in Alameda and I can satisfy any udon craving with a ten minutes' drive from home. read more

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Nice hot soup for all of this temperamental weather! Good food and vibes that my family loves and would hate to miss. We come here weekly read more

I came on the second day of grand opening and it was packed. Located in the southshore plaza, it was previously where Panera Bread was. The renovated the store so it is spacious, brightly lit and clean. The service is quick and there are a ton of workers walking around cleaning and refilling items that needed to be replenished. When you walk in, you stand in line and wait your turn to let the staff know which udon you would like. Once they give you your udon, you pick your tempura items and then pay at the counter. Quick spot to grab some noodles when you are looking for something cheap, quick and easy. read more

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Great food. Quick service. Casual ambiance. Little pricey. Will come back soon. Came here for lunch read more

Marugame Udon - Japanese Near Me - Alameda, California

Subpar staff service and presentation issues at Alameda restaurant on 12/23/2025 at 7pm - I contacted Marugame on the same day through the 3rd party app Thanx and they said they would forward the below information Marugame. As of this message we have not received a response. I contacted Marugame here on yelp on January 8, 2026 to try to solve this internally, but no response, so I'm forced to leave this review. We refuse to patronize this location in the future due to the issues that were caused by your staff and now lack of response by the upper management of the location. We were regular customers at this location, but our recent visit was disappointing due to subpar staff service and presentation issues. We will not visit again due to the lack of upper management response. We ordered a #16 Gyudon and requested udon instead of rice. The staff member, who claimed to be the Manager (a white man with glasses, but we didn't catch his name), initially said substitutions weren't allowed because his boss said so. However, the online menu, app, and kiosk all showed rice or udon as options. We even saw another customer get their request for udon with gyudon fulfilled while we were waiting. Your Manager accused me of looking at a different menu and a difference restaurant. Eventually, the Manager relented and allowed the substitution "this one time." Beyond the service issue, we noticed: - The condiment and to-go container area was not fully stocked. - The floors were not clean which can be a health code violation These issues were disappointing, especially since the restaurant wasn't busy. read more

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What the heck happened here? It only took two weeks for the service and quality to decline. Hope this place figure out a good balance. The ordering process along with the food prep took significantly longer this time. I should've stuck with the curry nikutama this time too but it gave me the runs last time. Most likely not from the food.. they were a lot of diners last time and the restaurant setup result in a lot of high touch areas. Dropping this to a 3* with a sad face . read more

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