I'm so glad to see this brand expanding in the US. This was a must stop anytime we were back in Hawaii however the wait times since Covid made it an impossible task. So it's nice to see them in the upper 48. I don't know if they were looking at my previous review of the Hawaii location but I swear that they never offered sweet meat curry udon as a menu item before, I'd always have to ask to have it added into a curry udon. Regardless I'm glad it's a normal thing now and I don't have to look like a weirdo when ordering anymore. The only thing that I will was that was a miss was the lack of Musubi and Kaki-age (vegetable tempura ball) at this location but they had tempura bok choy!?! The Kaki age is a perfect dish as it's small shredded veggies and it's able to break apart and add to the udon or to soak up some broth. I honestly prefer it over the larger slices of vegetable tempura offered as it's not as heavy as eating a gigantic slice of pumpkin or sweet potato. The food was quality and taste as what I'd expect from marugame as we've got the stamp card from all of the US locations and have been to a few in the motherland. It's always a must est for me whenever we are in striking range of a location. Ps Pro-Tip: Don't be an asshole and claim a seat before you get your food. This place has somehow got some good timing to where people cycle through at an even rate. Parking your ass without food disturbs that balance. So don't be they person! That is all read more

Marugame Udon - Large sweet meat curry udon with all the fixings. - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Tried this place again with my family and it was decent. My mom got a curry Udon and split it with me. My sister and brother ordered the Tonkotsu Udon and it was unfortunately spicy for my sister and niece because there was chilli oil and lots of onions. We didn't know before ordering.... So, if you want no onions or anything spicy... Tell them when ordering. The Udon was soft and chewy. The broth for the curry was kind of salty but texture wise it was good. Tonkotsu broth is very rich and creamy. Overall, I prefer the beef Udon. I think it taste better and has more texture. read more

Really cheap udon for decent portions and freshly made noodles. I ordered the tonkotsu udon, which comes with chashu pork, miso ground pork, garlic, and seasoned egg. The noodles are Sanuki style and handmade, and it is entertaining to see the chefs prepare them while you wait in line. Also, I got the chicken katsu curry rice bowl, which has a slightly sweet aftertaste; this definitely had great portions -- lots of protein for only $11. However, the rice tends to be a bit overcooked. The restaurant is not too busy on a weekday night, but some of the tables are dirty because there are less employees. The line goes by pretty quickly, and there are a lot of tempura add-on options. read more

Marugame Udon - tonkotsu udon - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

See all

This place has soooo much hype. TLDR; it's good but a bit salty MENU - large selection of different udons. Slightly overwhelming with choice overload but easy to navigate ORDERING - grab a tray and tell the server your order. She will make the noodles in front of you and add your broth. Add any additional toppings and add tempuras on the side. Slide your tray down until you're ready to pay! What I loved: meat is so soft and pulls apart easily. The tempura crumbs and green onions add a great crunch The broth was a bit on the saltier side. Very hearty if you're craving something like this, but I would pass if you're looking for a cleaner and leaner soup base read more

Marugame Udon - Beef Udon - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Savory, hot and delicious udon at Marugame never disappoint. Shrimp and squid tempura plus chicken Katsu round out our delicious meal. Amazing ambiance here with hip hop background music but authentic Japanese decor. Fast and friendly service from the staff. Highly recommended if you're visiting South Coast Plaza! read more

Marugame Udon - Beef udon - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I love Marugame but the lines here are honestly such a nightmare. Service seems to be fast because once you order, everything moves quickly. The location itself is small, so finding a table to dine in can be a little hard. I ordered the large cold Nikutama and it was so delicious! The cold broth was refreshing and the soft poached egg on top was so good! I also got the shrimp and zucchini tempura. Both were so crispy and so good. Marugame is always a good choice but if there's a line, expect about a 40 min wait. read more

Marugame Udon - Cold Nikutama - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

See all

We were there on a Saturday night and the place was PACKED. The line took about 40 min to get through. We had a baby in a stroller with us. They ask that you park your stroller by the front door. Instead we got lucky and pulled the stroller up next to our table. Thankfully they didn't say anything and allowed us to do it because we weren't equipped to hold our infant while eating Udon. lol. The noodles are outstanding. The broth is not the type of curry I am used to - it was very tasty but the texture was not my thing. I don't know how to describe it except for it was shiny. Usually I have a great mastery of chopsticks but the curry was so slick the noodles slipped right through my chopsticks. The meat was delicious but a little too fatty for my taste. The shrimp tempura was on point. Super crunchy, fresh and tasty. The sweet potato on the other hand was a bit dry, and usually that's my favorite. The noodles were so so so delicious that I would be back in a heartbeat and look forward to when they open in San Diego. read more

Marugame Udon - Beef Curry Udon and Tempura Shrimp and Sweet Potato - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

See all

I have frequented the one in LA and loved their Uni Udon but this location didn't have that so that was a bummer. The noodles are fresh and the soup was good but I wasn't really expecting the sweetness of the broth. I guess I should have read the description of the broth better. It was still good nonetheless but was hoping for a more salty savory broth. If you are in the area and don't want to wait for din tai fung upstairs, this place is good enough to satisfy your lunch cravings. read more

Had Marugame once in Hawaii, was so thrilled to find out that there's one in this mall on our visit to Orange County. It really is the BEST udon I've had. Since it is always busy, you're guaranteed to always have a fresh batch of noodles that's the perfect chewy texture. The concept is simple and straight forward; you pick your choice of udon soup and go down the line with the option to grab tempura or other add-ons. I got yelled at for not using thongs to pick up a mushroom skewers, whoops my bad. All hail to Marugame Udon, if there was a sin that I'd get punish for, it would be because I easily get lured to delicious food. Tell me about your experience if you've been here or is going to after reading this review:) read more

Marugame Udon - Kitsune udon with mushrooms tempura. Love, @eatoutthao - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

See all

Always a great value. Regular or large sized both give you tons of food. Noodles are always perfectly cooked and chewy. Love the curry nikutama with beef. It wasn't too salty this time, just the right flavor. Tempura is also very good. Great service as always and staff are really good with helping you find a seat. read more

I've been a fan of Marugame forever. My favorite has always been the curry nikukama. I usually add an egg and shrimp tempera as add ons. Food is always fresh and delicious. It gets a little pricy with all the add ons, but it's filling. Highly recommended if you're looking for a quick delicious meal at SCP. read more

Marugame Udon - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Every time I'm in town, I always have a craving for Marugame! Absolutely love the Udon noodles and tempura here. The noodles have this perfect texture and is so filling. I wish I could have one of each tempura. I would recommend getting the pork because sometimes the beef can be over cooked. The only flaws is not easily being able to find tempura sauce. Also, the guy who was taking our orders was a little short with everyone and his coworker. I get it, repetitively asking people what their order is can be tiresome but he seemed like he hated asking people for their order. read more

Marugame Udon - Beef Dashi - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

This place is good and I can see why there's usually a long line during dinner and on weekends. I got their Teriyaki Beef Bowl because I'm not a fan of udon. However, I did try my boyfriend's Curry Udon and it wasn't bad. My boyfriend enjoyed it. Their Teriyaki Beef Bowl was savory and very filling. I never had teriyaki with crispy fried beef before but it was good. I loved the texture of their rice because it was so soft. We also tried their Big Chicken Katsu which was crispy. I enjoyed my meal but this isn't something I would ever crave. I would still recommend it though. If you're an udon lover, you would love this place. I came here on a Thursday evening around 6pm right before their rush and there was no line. Personally, I don't think it's worth it if there is a long line. Service here is good though. They're nice and clean everything up really quickly. read more

See all

i mainly visit south coast plaza only for marugame udon! it is served cafeteria style with udon/rice bowl and optional tempuras. you can also add green onions and tempura flakes in your bowl. my fav is the nikutama udon ($12.55, beef with soft boiled egg) and occasionally get shrimp tempura or potato croquette on the side. i've never had an issue with service or seating here despite how busy it is. there is always a line out the establishment but it does move fast. can't wait to visit again! read more

Marugame Udon - nikutama (bottom), tonkatsu (top) - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Been to the similar restaurants in Hawaii called Marukame Udon. My favorite is the one in Waikiki. So I was happy to see this restaurant. I got the kake, my daughter got the curry and her bf got the beef. We also got some tempura. The only disappointment was they didn't have wasabi which I love in my udon. Other than that, it was tasty and good! After a long road trip driving in for the weekend from Las Vegas, this udon hits the spot! read more

See all

Traditional udon eatery in the middle of south coast plaza on the first floor. There is typically there is a long line to order your udon. They have a selection of tempura and other delicacy that go with your udon as well. Food is fresh and tastes great. Not too many tables and seats so you may have to huddle to find a seating spot. Prices are very reasonable. There is one server that walks around "wiping" the tables with a dirty rag but everything is pretty much self serve. If you are craving Japanese or udon particularly, this is a safe bet in the heart of OC. read more

Marugame Udon - Inside seating - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

See all

Went to the Berkeley location a bunch back in college, and have been meaning to try their South Coast location for a while! We came by on a Sunday afternoon (~4PM), and the wait was very short. My partner ordered a Nikutama udon, and I wanted to try something different so I got the Tan Tan udon. Unfortunately, the Tan Tan was kind of bland and not spicy, so I regretted my decision, haha. Will probably just go with the Nikutama next time. The shrimp tempura was also nice and crispy, but a little pricey for what it is. There's a good amount of seating, but I can imagine it gets pretty packed during peak hours. The sauce bar area is also kind of underwhelming compared to that of other locations. I liked how they have a lot of to-go containers and bags that are easily accessible if you need to take leftovers home. Also, they were doing some sort of promotion for $5 off if you sign up using their app, but the reception is so bad in the restaurant that we weren't even able to use the coupon, lol. The mall wifi is also very spotty there too. Not a huge deal, but just keep in mind if you wanted to use a coupon there. read more

Marugame Udon - top: Nikutama udon; bottom: Tan Tan udon - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I feel like this location is quite amazing, especially considering you can have a quick hot bowl of freshly made udon noodles in the middle of your shopping trip at South Coast. The noodles taste great and pairs perfectly with their broth, and it's nice to have some additional texture provided by some of the garnishes and crunchy tempura bits. I generally order the Beef udon and although they are not generous on meat, it's still a very filling meal that could possibly be split between two people. The fried tempura items that are on display while lining up to pay for the bowl of udon is also very appetizing and tastes as good as it looks. I like to pick up the fried shrimp (if it's available - usually the first one to run out) and fried sweet potato as appetizers for my udon meal. The location is quite small and can be jam packed, but they certainly maximized every bit of the space available. There is seating all along the sides, as well as seating in the back, and even their own restroom within the store. There's another wall acts as a staging area for dirty bowls and trays, which helps encourage customers to not leave their items on the table when leaving the restaurant. Overall, it can be busy but the line moves relatively fast, the food quality is great, and it's quite unique to have a fresh udon joint inside a mall! read more

Food (5/5): I am not a big udon fan but wow this place was good. I got the kitsune which is like the classic kake udon with a piece of abura-age or sweet fried tofu. The abura-age was DELICIOUS! I love tofu in general but I think the flavor of this item complemented the soup so well. Not pictured are the tempura that my boyfriend and I shared. I definitely underestimated how filling the kitsune and each piece of tempura is. My boyfriend got the kake udon. For tempura, we got big chicken katsu, shrimp, squid, sweet potato, tamagoyaki, zucchini, and the chicken. My boyfriend's favorite tempura was the chicken one because it so tender (and for him the chicken tempura was better than the chicken katsu because of the breading). My favorite was the tamagoyaki because I love tamago egg and the tempura batter worked surprisingly well with it. Price (5/5): We totaled to about $35-40 but honestly we ordered WAY too much food. I would say for each person only 1-2 pieces of tempura will be enough especially if you get something other than the basic kake udon. Based on that, the price is still super affordable. Service and Interior (4/5): The line for this place was MASSIVE. I don't think I've ever waited that long for udon but I think it was worth the wait. The benefit is you get to see them make and cook the udon as you wait because of the open and big windows. I love the transparency of the restaurant and the focus on simplicity. Most of the service comes from creating your udon bowl as you pick your own tempura and seat yourself based on availability. The reason why I put 4/5 is because I felt that the space was a little small for how popular the restaurant is. For our group of 4, we had to rush to get the one table that opened right as we were done ordering, but two of us stood there for a good 3-5 minutes waiting for tables which was sort of awkward for the people nearby trying to eat. However, I would still come back despite this aspect because the food is really good. read more

Marugame Udon - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

One of my favorite places to eat in OC! I love their Nikutama udon. The line can get super long so I recommend coming earlier if you really want your food quick! It's on the bottom floor of south coast plaza and there's a structure right next to it so you can park there! The concept is just like a lunch or cafeteria line. Everyone lines up and you tell them what you want and they make it for you and put it on your tray. You can then go down and pick whatever add ons you want like musubi, tempura, onigiri, etc. You get your own water and utensils and when you're done, you bring your tray and bowls to the dish washing station and place them in the spots accordingly for them to be taken away and cleaned! read more

See all

Always love it here, BUT always gotta be early or you'll wait in the long line. It moves fast, but when you're hungry in line it takes forever lol. I always get the curry udon bc the flavor is just AMAZING! So much Unami, and it just leaves you so fulfilled. My bf always gets the original Udon. Sitting inside is small, so if you have a big party. Might be difficult. You also CANNOT SIT TILL YOUVE ORDERED/PAID! It's courtsey to others. The staff will have you removed. I wish they'd make the sign for that big and in the front of the store bc the amount of ppl that were being rude to the staff is :( We've ordered to go before as well if you don't plan to eat there, or don't want to wait in the line. They're quite fast, and you can pay online/at store. Then you pick it up there when you let the staff know. read more

Marugame Udon - curry udon, beef, green onions, tempura, egg, shrimp tempura, & potato croquette// IG: sharfoodies - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

See all

Affordable prices for quality bowls udon or rice. Always hits the spot and fills me up. My favorite is the tonkotsu udon. Highly recommend for quick and quality eats. read more

Marugame Udon - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Marugame is definitely one of the go-to spots for friends to grab a bite to eat and catch up. Gotta come a at a good time though or else the line becomes really long. I been here multiple times, and it goes pretty quickly (around 15-30mins). Nikutama Udon - 9/10 Curry Nikutama Udon 8/10 I really like their Nikutama Udon. It comes in either a small bowl or large. I usually get the large and it is pretty worth for the price. Great portions of meat to udon, and the egg cooked perfectly soft boiled to melt over the udon. I would say it's sometimes a bit too salt for the sauce. Other than that very savory. I tried the Curry Nikutama Udon (pictured) and it was pretty good! I think I would prefer having the curry on the side to control how much is in the udon. Definitely will be coming back for sure, it's one of my favorite places. Rating is definitely 4.5 stars, the seating and wait time is long, and the tempura is pretty expensive in my opinion. Udon is worth it though! read more

Marugame Udon - Curry Nikutama (Large) - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Always a great choice when coming here. Located in South Coast Plaze 1st floor. Was a little chilly outside so some warn Katsu Curry hit the spot. Was pretty crowded for dinner around 7pm on a wed night. Would always recommend coming here read more

Marugame Udon - Chicken Katsu Curry - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Marugame Udon is awesome- definitely hits differently on a cold day and you need some noods for lunch or dinner. I've had this stuff when I visited Berkeley and glad to see one in Orange County as well! Watch the full process from the cafeteria line and enjoy the show of fresh Udon being made in front of you. It does get horribly crowded, so I definitely recommend going off hours like 2-5pm on a weekday instead, as there's ZERO LINE, and as lunch and dinner hours make the wait less worth it IMO. Queueing could be better, like at faster Udon places in Japan, they give you a menu for you to checkmark and you hand it to them, allowing things to move faster. As for the food, I actually have to control myself in not overspending on extras as it can add up real fast. Udon is a place where you can spend somewhere between $6 from their cheapest option to easily going over $20 haha. If you want to get filled, I recommend large. But regular works if you want to a smaller meal. Nikutama Udon: 5/5 (#6 on the menu) Simple, thick noodles, highly recommend the onions and toppings. You get a runny egg that you can dump into the noodles for the extra savoriness. Oh man, it is GOOD. Packaging is stacked on top of the noodles, letting you add however much you want in the Udon for the good stuff. Tempura: 4/5 I've tried Shrimp and the Sweet Potato tempura here, and while they're good be careful ordering more than you need, as they are pretty pricey. Had to try it this time as last time I didn't get these. Definitely worth a visit for a quick treat yourself IF it's not dinner hours. Otherwise it's a long wait, but still good. read more

See all

I have passed by this restaurant a few times and wish I tried it sooner! You start off by ordering your dish at the front, once it is ready you can add anything you'd like from their selection in front of you. The food is ready almost instantly which is great! There is plenty of seating inside but does get a little full and crowded during peak hours. I got the curry udon added tempura flakes(a must) and boiled egg. We also tried some of the tempura sides which were amazing! I was super full from the udon noodles and almost didn't finish it, and they still have a larger size than this. If you find yourself shopping at south coast plaza and want a good bowl of udon this is the place! Can't wait to be back. read more

Marugame Udon - curry udon added tempura, boiled egg, and tempura veggies on the side - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

My favorite udon restaurant!! This place just always hits the spot! You can taste the quality of the noodle! The noodles are freshly made and have a delicious Al Dente type of chew and it's a nice thick noodle! I love that it's a prompt and fast and efficient service, waiting in line and ordering your food and it being prepared very quickly, but still high quality in taste. All the broths are delicious and tastes fresh! My favorite is the tonkatsu which is a rich, creamy and thick and tasty sauce. I never have a problem with how crowded it is here because I'm always able to find a table and eat without a long wait, unlike din tai fung. You can also have extra tempura and fried chicken too! read more

This place was so affordable and delicious. Definitely coming back here again since I work so close

I had marugame udon for the first time in Hawaii. Two days later, I decided to try this location back at home because my friends/family have claimed it's not as good. Wrong. This location is exactly the same as in Hawaii... It is tasty! I ordered a tonkatsu bowl, and I like to add in chili powder that's available at the condiments station. I also add an extra order of sweet beef on the side because I find that the chashu isn't enough protein. I'm so glad that everything tastes the same, especially their delicious, fresh udon. I was craving it immediately after coming back from Hawaii. read more

OMG!!! I am Japanese and finally an authentic udon place!!!! Loved it! I had the tonkotsu udon. Yummy!!! The people there are so nice!! The cashier was so super sweet!! She took the time to explain what each of the drinks were! and the busser was going around offering to clear the tables for people! Will be back!! read more

Marugame Udon - Awesome udon right underneath the Ding Tai Fung at South Coast Plaza! - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Decided to to go to Marugame to try the New Spicy Tan Tan Udon that just hit the menu . OMG! What a disappointment. I would say looks appetizing but no flavor at all. Just Udon in Chili oil. The pork mixture did not have any flavor. Service was good but just discovered they do not sell rice balls anymore. That was sad due to lack of help. I would not order this again. Place was still full. Had zucchini, sweet potato, and Napa cabbage tempera. And on top of everything. There was a piece of stone in the potato that gridded my teeth. Terrible feeling. read more

See all

Hands down my favorite udon place in OC! I wish they had more locations in southern OC but the drive is always worth it. The restaurant is located in South Coast Plaza but the prices are reasonable. You order, pay, and get your food before sitting down. Although there can be a line sometimes, the wait is worth it and the service is pretty fast. I always get the Nikutama, which is a perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors. I've tried the tempura once and it was good. The restaurant has a good amount of seating and I like the ambiance. They even have to-go containers and water cups on the side so you can get those yourself if needed. read more

Marugame Udon - Nikutama - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Always great experience dining here!. Line usually go by fast. Staffs are friendly! I recommend the nikutama!

Great udon! I have only had the one in Hawaii so I was excited to try this location. The line went faster than expected and the udon was so big and so good. I loved that the one I chose had beef, egg, and other toppings. Easy to find seating and nice staff. read more

Marugame Udon - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Marugame Udon really changed my thoughts on the Japanese dish! I never really had good udon until my boyfriend and I finally were able to stop by after meaning to give it a try before the pandemic hit. What I really appreciate about this spot is how transparent the restaurant is with their food preparation, you can really see how fresh and fast your food is prepared right in front of you. I ordered the Nikutama Udon and my boyfriend got the Mentai Kamatama. We also order a potato croquette, tamagoyaki, mentai masubi, and shrimp, squid, and crab tempura to share on the side. It was our first meal of the day and our first time here so we were excited to try out a lot of different items :) My favorite part about the Nikutama Udon was how well the thinly sliced meat paired with the deliciously sweet and savory broth, the tempura was just perfect with it! My boyfriend's Mentai Kamatama was served with a rich dashi soy sauce so eating it with the hot spring egg yolk was very satisfying. The potato croquette also had a subtle sweetness to it, which I really enjoyed. Overall, I will definitely be planning a trip back to try some of the other udon options and tempura pairings. I'd also really like to be able to try one of their sandwiches on the menu next time, as they said they didn't have any when we visited. read more

See all

Came here on a Saturday around 5pm and the line wasn't too bad. It extended to the wall outside but we only had to wait about 15min. Once we ordered our food, we were taken promptly to an open table. Had both the Tonkotsu and Curry Udon and they were delicious. The Curry Udon was definitely the heavier dish but it was so flavorful. The Tonkotsu Udon was rich and delicious. The udon itself was cooked to the perfect consistency. Definitely would recommend both! Also got a side of shrimp tempura which was nice and crispy and went great dipped in either broth. The salmon onigiri was pretty standard, nothing special. Staff was friendly and helpful. Overall, definitely one of the best, if not the best udon place I've been to. Can't wait to go back! read more

See all

100% will be coming back. This is my new favorite cold weather meal! The workers weren't the most friendly, but you have minimal interaction so it was fine. The cashier was super friendly though! The seats are very close together, there isn't much privacy or space. It's quick service though so this isn't really a place to stay and hang out. The beef dashi was a bit sweet, so flavorful and good. The Tonkotsu was salty but delicious. The noodles were perfectly cooked and the portions were large. We took more than half home. The shrimp tempura and katsu were very good. The mushrooms were soggy - wouldn't get those again. read more

See all

I'm surprised I haven't written a review yet for Marugame Udon! Truly one of my favorite local udon restaurants. The lines were insane when this location first opened but it seems to have died down since the pandemic (especially on the weekdays). I always order the regular beef udon ($9.50) with a chicken tempura ($1.90), and fishcake tempura ($1.80). Broth is perfect every time and extra flavorful if you add a bit of tempura flakes + scallions. I tried the salmon musubi ($1.95) and definitely do not recommend. The salmon is cooked but just dry and it was more so heavy on the rice. However, i'm really here for the udon so I can't fault them much on the musubi. Always have great service. Lids, chopsticks and bags provided at the tables to package your food to go. read more

See all

Obsessed! Is the only word that comes to mind when I think of Marugame Udon, because I am obsessed with coming here. It's become a mall ritual. Plus, it's affordable enough that I justify going each time I'm at South Coast. I've had the beef udon and the curry Nikutama- both are amazing. The line can get long but luckily it moves quickly. You'll have to enter the mall to get the food here. I've also ordered to go and it was delicious but nothing beats eating it hot and fresh. read more

Marugame Udon - Curry Nikutama is yummy - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

See all

Love this place, but not the wait! I always think the line will go by quickly, but it doesn't! Im glad it is closer than the LA/Hawaii location though. I'd recommend the beef udon or the beef curry udon. Noodles are cooked perfectly. Get the tempura topping on the side to stay crispy when your ready to eat. The other prepared hot foods are good, but I notice often sold out or still making. One downside is the service or set up seems slow cause by the time I get to sit down and eat, my piping hot udon soup has already cooled down.. Still a great place to come grab casual lunch while out shopping. read more

Marugame Udon - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California