I got lucky enough that some friends were waiting in line before I got there so we literally walked to the front of the line. I tried the nikatamu udon. It was fantastic. I love that they have all the add ons you can just buy too. The spam masubi was really good. The fried cheese and the imitation crab was really good. This place operates like a well oiled machine. People are in and out. Great experience. I would definitely eat here again! read more

In and out Honolulu quite often and a friend of mine suggested this place for udon. The long line at the door especially on rush (food) hour is possibly discouraging but it's absolutely worth the wait. I played safe due to shortage of time and ordered online for an easy and quick pickup. The food was ready in 7 minutes (great!! the website forecasted 15). An order of large nicutama udon and some gyoza. Due to the pickup option I decided to have the all components separated to be assembled when ready to eat. Amazing taste, great food quality and a great reminder of the good food I had in Tokyo. Be there soon.. again and again!! read more

Love the fresh hand made udon noodles! Curry broth and side tempura delicious. Wish we hand this near our home--Would eat there every week!. read more

Marugame Udon - Curry udon#8 with tempura yummys - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Coming to Hawaii I was nervous about potentially limited vegan options. During a walk we stumbled across this place and were completely shocked by the popularity and pricing of this restaurant! We noticed that they had a dedicated vegan option; a TanTan Udon, that contained a creamy & spicy sesame broth with boiled vegetables, (cabbage, broccoli & carrots) green onions, crispy fried onions, as well as a plant based soy meat crumble. Decided to head inside and it was set up almost as a cafeteria-like station, by getting your tray and asking which item you want by the numbering system listed on the screen. They also have self serve tempura options, however, I could not get a clear answer on whether or not the vegetable options of tempura were vegan friendly. They did not have the soy meat crumbles when I ordered, to which they offered the aburaage option, which is fried sweet tofu. So just keep in mind of that when visiting. The service was great, very kind and swift especially with constant customers. The ambiance was busy, lively, & fast paced with the amount of people going in and out. There is quite a bit of seating inside as well as outside. So all in all, just give this spot a try and you won't regret it. read more

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If you're in Waikiki and skip Marugame Udon... you're wrong I got the curry udon and this place absolutely did not disappoint. The noodles were perfectly soft without being overcooked, the broth had so much flavor, and every bite tasted fresh and homemade. The bowl looked huge at first, but somehow it ended up being just enough because it was THAT good. Honestly shocked at how good it was for the price. I liked it so much I ordered another one to go before leaving read more

Loved this spot! Line gets pretty long but service is quick. Ordering here is a bit different, it's fast paced and kinda like a cafeteria. You wait in line grab a tray and you let them know what you would like and they serve it to you right then and there. The udon was delicious and the broths in both soups that we got were great. Overall a great bowl of udon. Love the vibe of the place as well, lots of seating. read more

Marugame Udon - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Great spot for a quick udon meal. There's always a line up and the seating is first come first serve, and cafeteria style. Perfect for single diners or small groups. Would not recommend for a large group because it will be hard to get seats together. The udon is hand made and simple and a great value. read more

Best tasting udon in Waikīkī! So affordable, yummy, and quick service. I love their tempuras too, we tried shrimp, eggs, and Asian potatoes today! So crunchy and delicious!! Highly recommended, it's a small place, but almost no wait for the table you can sit right away. There is a sign saying " don't save seat before you order," we didn't find a seat while we are ordering but we could find seat right away! read more

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Curry udon with a variety of tempura. Any kind of tempura you want. Love the veggies. There usually is a line but that doesn't matter, it's worth it. Usually takes 20 minutes max. It's serve yourself with ordering the main entrees at the counter while you wait. Low key ambience sit down area. I prefer going for lunch! Worth it! read more

I was told this this is a Michelin star restaurant and apparently very popular udon restaurant among tourists. They have limited menu. We ordered #1 udon and garlic chicken salad. The udon was decent although the broth was a little salty. Chicken salad was a miss as the fried chicken was not crispy and the salad didn't seem fresh, also the combination with udon was weird... There was a long line during lunch time so plan accordingly. read more

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The most reviewed spot on Yelp. Of course I have to stop by to see what the fuss is all about. After passing on it for three straight days because of the long line, we finally caught it around 10:30AM with no lines. We see what the hype is about. The ordering was done like the high school cafeteria lunch line, which caught us off guard a bit. You order which ramen you want with the first staff member. You grab a tray and move down the line. Once you receive your ramen, you slide down to choose any sides if you choose to. We tried the Squid Tempura ($2.25), the Potato Croquette ($2.25), and Chicken Katsu ($4.85). All of them were delicious if I may add. After you pay, you seat yourself, which the tables are first come first served. I tried the Tonkotsu Udon ($12.75) while the fiancee ordered the Curry Nikutama Udon ($14.15). Both were delicious and hit the spot. We almost decided to come back again for lunch on another day because of how quick the food is prepared and it's delicious. Would definitely love to see them open one in NYC and give the other ramen/udon shops a run for their money. read more

Marugame Udon - Left: Tonkotsu Udon; Right: Potato Croquette and Chicken Katsu - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Tried the new creamy broth and it was delicious (still doesn't compare to my favorite, curry udon!) the tempura had less selections now, there wasn't mushroom or the mixed fried veggies... ) read more

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A meal I wish wouldn't end... the udom is incredibly flavorful and the noodles are perfectly chewy. I got the #2 and ate beyond comfort because it was so tasty. Highly recommend! read more

Worth the wait, alittle hot inside but honestly not a big deal for the quality, gyoza was so good too read more

Marugame Udon - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Bypassed the line by putting in an order and picked it up eight minutes later. Not terribly impressed. Very undercooked pieces of pork. Seasoned eggs tasted like regular eggs. Creamy broth was ok. Nothing stood out. Just ok. read more

Marugame Udon - Gross fatty, undercooked pork - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Marugame Udon is a fast-paced, grab-and-go style spot -- but don't worry, there are seats. You just have to earn them (by surviving the line and staking your claim like it's musical chairs). This place is always packed, and for good reason -- the udon is elite. Like, slurp-it-down-and-sigh-after level good. The noodles are perfectly chewy, the broth hits all the right notes, and the whole operation runs like a deliciously efficient machine. Easily top 5 of our Honolulu food adventures. If you're in the area, line up, load your tray, and get ready for one of the most satisfying meals you'll have. read more

Marugame Udon - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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If you want and easy, quick, and cheap option then Marugame udon is it. After a long day exploring the island, this is low-stress and delicious. The menu is simple yet has so many options. On top of the main menu, there's a ton of tempura options to add on! Semi- self service location where they add to your tray as you go down the line read more

Marugame Udon - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Tiktok told me I needed to try this place. I believe they only have locations in California & Hawaii. The internet wasn't wrong.... There is always a long line. However it went really fast because its counter service/assembly line style so you better know beforehand what you want cause it goes fast. The udon is fresh and made to order. After you order your udon, next is the tempura selection you can add to your tray. Finding a table wasn't too difficult as people are constantly coming and going. Definitely worth a visit while in Waikiki! read more

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Yes, it's really worth the wait & all the hype! Wait: Long line at times but I promise it moves fast. Cafeteria style where you grab a tray and keep it pushing. Seating is constantly rotating and available. If you truly are in a rush you can order take out. NO RESERVATIONS. Food: I myself am not a huge fan of udon but could absolutely smash a bowl here. My husband on the other, is a huge udon fan and said it's some of the best he's had on island. I opted for the katsu curry and was impressed with how flavorful the curry was. They also have a good selection of tempura to pick from. Parking: they don't have their own parking so street side parking is your best bet. Drinks: no alcohol but a good range of non alcohol options. read more

So good and super convenient right across from our hotel. Fresh noodles, flavorful broth, and the tempura was amazing. Quick, affordable, and definitely worth the stop! read more

Marugame Udon - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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First time at Marugame Udon was at this Waikiki location on Thursday, August 31, 2023. We had flown in earlier that day and DJ fell under the weather. While he rested in our hotel room, I read about iconic eateries in Waikiki and discovered this place. We decided to walk over for bowls of soup in hopes that the dinner would help DJ to feel better. Just a few blocks walk from the Royal Hawaiian, we arrived shortly after 6:15 PM to a short line out the door. Seeing that the queue was quickly growing longer and longer, we joined the file. To our pleasant surprise, people were getting in without much delay. So, yeah, you can count on a constant intimidatingly long line, but it moves fairly quickly. I didn't realize that Marugame Udon is a fast-casual restaurant chain with a cafeteria style of service - I didn't expect to place our orders at the counter and carry our food and drink on trays to our tables. I'm not a big fan of such set up, but fine, we were already there and in need of soup, so why not check out what all the hype's been about? Below are what we ordered: Kitsune (Large for $8.50) + Soft Boiled Egg ($2.25) - DJ's brothy bowl was nice. The sweet fried tofu tasted like the tofu skin of inari sushi. A great choice for vegetarians. Curry Nikutama (Large for $13.25) - My udon was very hearty and yummy. The sweet beef had tiny bits of fat, but didn't bother me, to my pleasant surprise. Toppings like Inari ($1.25/piece) and Tempura; Shrimp ($2.25/piece), Mushroom ($2.00 each) were nice sides to also add as soup toppings. ICED CALAMANSI-ADE - Citrusy and refreshing. ICED MATCHA - Sweet, earthy, and rich deliciousness. Food items are plated in reusable tableware; however, drinks are poured in disposable plastic cups. Once we got to the dining room, we found an available booth table right away. From the looks of the line that could easily wrap around the building, one might expect to find a super crowded room with fully occupied tables. Somehow, timing of rotating tables seemed to work out perfectly in a seamless flow. The venue was fairly clean on the evening of our visit, but the floor could have used a good sweep - I stepped on some noodles under our table. Not sure if we will return...because we have local Marugame Udon restaurants in California. Glad, though, that we had our first experience at the popular Waikiki locale. read more

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We love ordering from here. The food is so yummy and delicious. We normally order the Nikutama and the Curry Nikutama with an extra soft boiled egg for both. The service is amazing and the food always is delivered on time and hot!! read more

Initially, I believed that I shouldn't prioritize visiting Marugame Udon Waikīkī since I already have a Marugame Udon restaurant in my home city of San Diego. The Marugame Udon there always had a long line, but I chalked it up to novelty. When I saw that Marugame Udon Waikīkī has a long line that just about wraps around the block on a nightly basis and they've been there for years, I figured that something must be going right. Since I was staying at the Kuhio Banyan Club in the same plaza and could roll right out of bed and into Marugame Udon, it was only natural for me to have ended up in their dining room. This Marugame Udon location has to be the cutest one I've seen so far. Styled to resemble udon shops in Japan, the food is served along a cafeteria-style line. Just let the staff know what kind of udon or rice bowl you'd like to enjoy and the rest is self-serve! I opted for the Curry Nikutama Udon and a sampling of the shrimp, sweet potato, and tamagoyaki tempura as well as a potato croquette. My husband enjoyed the Curry Chicken Katsu Udon. Because it's Hawai'i, Spam musubi is also offered here. We each ordered calamansi-ade at the register and found a table by the window before digging into our absolute feast. My Curry Nikutama Udon was perfection. The thick, fresh, springy noodles sopped up every bit of curry sauce and egg yolk. I appreciated the crunch of the tempura bits and the freshness from the green onion. The shrimp tempura was to die for, partially because high-quality shrimp is easy to source on O'ahu and also because the tempura batter was perfectly crispy. I enjoyed all the tempura I selected, but the shrimp really stood out. Service was quick, friendly, and super efficient. While we visited early enough to avoid a line, I can see how it would be possible for the staff to serve a high volume very quickly. Overall, I was impressed by every point of my experience here. Even though I feel encouraged to try out the location back home, I know that the ambiance won't be quite the same. If you're like me and you're thinking that you don't need to give this place a shot just because there's already a location back home, just visit anyway. They've got long lines for a reason! read more

Marugame Udon - Curry Nikutama Udon, Shrimp, Sweet Potato, and Tamagoyaki Tempura, Potato Croquette, Calamansi-ade - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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We stopped in for lunch and ended up really enjoying our meal. We ordered the garlic noodles along with a variety of tempura shrimp, vegetable, potato, and even the omelette tempura. Everything was flavorful and well-prepared. The interior seating isn't the most impressive, to be honest it feels a bit dated and cramped but the friendly service and good food definitely make up for it. The prices are also very reasonable, especially for Waikiki, which was a nice surprise. They offer a wide selection of udons and tempuras, and I just learned they have locations in San Francisco as well. I'll definitely be checking those out when I'm back home. read more

Marugame Udon - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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My first meal here in Hawaii! Came at 4pm and luckily there was no line. In the front, you can see fresh udon being made. Cafeteria style restaurant. Grab a tray, place your order and grab tempura sides as desire. Tempura items are charge per piece. Pay at the register. After paying, then grab a table. They offer different udon flavors, rice, salad, etc. For the udon, there is regular and large size. I ordered regular Nikutama. Can definitely taste the freshness of the udon. The broth was flavorful but a bit too salty and was lukewarm. Self serve sauce and water station. read more

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There are multiple locations of Marugame Udon. This was actually the first location that I had been to. I got tired of poke and shrimp and I just NEEDED some Asian soup before my flight so decided to come in. This kind of resembles a cafeteria type vibe where you go down the process line. It is very efficient. The veggie Udon is fresh, chewy, and hit the spot. read more

The employee who was bussing tables named Mark had excellent customer service skills! He greeted us the moment we walked in and he helped entertain our sons. Definitely a very kind man. We ordered the curry nikutama, the bk udon, and some gyoza. Everything was delicious, especially the curry. Definitely recommend. read more

Marugame Udon - Menu - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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After a long flight, this place really hit the spot! Noodles were delicious, the broth was very flavorful. The fried items were tasty, crispy and not oily at all. We will definitely come back again in our next visit! read more

This place is the go to spot for after a night of drinking. Udon always eases the hang over! This udon is always the best. Hand made fresh in front of your face! Seating is first come first serve and they offer complimentary water. The tempura is def a must so make sure to try some that stand out to you. Service here is always great and they are extremely nice and helpful. Ambiance can sometimes be a little chaotic because of how much people are constantly in and out of the space. I have always come here and will continue to do so!! read more

Marugame Udon - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Line was pretty long but moved relatively quickly. The indoor seating area was lively and completely packed so we needed to wait a few minutes to find an empty table to sit at, which was a little awkward with us holding our trays. - Nikutama: 5/5 can't go wrong with this one. Slightly sweet and flavorful beef read more

Marugame Udon - Nikutama - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

The flavor! The speed! The Value! 100% would go back. Was so excited to have a vegetarian or vegan option that wasn't boring. Thank you read more

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OMG this place is soo good. Came back the next day for more fresh udon!! This place is a must! read more

Marugame Udon - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Don't let the line discourage you! It goes by surprisingly fast, and the food is worth the wait. The restaurant is such a fun experience. They have a lot of options, and you watch the food get made in front of you as you go through the line. It's similar to a buffet because you get the add-ons (tempura, potstickers, etc.) after you get your main dish. Seating is a little chaotic because people are going in and out, but we were able to sit right after getting our food. The food itself is great. The udon was the best part. All of the add-ons were not as fresh, but they were still good. read more

Marugame Udon - Curry nikutama - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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There was almost no line. However, this was at around noon, and later, while we were eating, the line was out the door and almost the length of the building. Just show up a little early from the popular eating times and it will be fine. There are several types of udon and fried food. We got the teriyaki chicken bowl, udon #1, and udon #2. They were all pretty good. The teriyaki was crunchy and well-flavored. Both udons were soft and delicious. The fried food was greasy, but crispy and very...fried. There were several options to choose from for the fried food, including cheese, sweet potato, krab (with a k), chicken, tempura, and egg. Also, while we were there, we picked up a couple wrapped musubis for about $3.50 each. You order your udon first and then get the tempura after you get your udon. The line moves fast though, mostly just people deciding on what they want to get. Overall, the restaurant had a convenient location and we would eat here again if we had time. We have eaten here almost at least once every trip we have made to Waikiki. read more

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Never thought I'd have the chance to eat here as there's always such a long line. (Yes, it's THAT popular!!) Came here as a party of 5 and was able to get our order in and a table in less than 10 min!! We came at around 9:00 pm Monday night, so we were able to get in and out in a good amount of time. The food was SO good and SO worth the wait. Everything tastes fresh and authentic. It's a lively environment with people coming in and out (I'm impressed with the staff's ability to flip tables so quickly!) I absolutely will come here again if I ever have the chance. read more

Marugame Udon - BK Udon, Nikutama Savory Udon, Pineapple Sunrise - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

The line for this udon place was super long! It took us some courage to join the line, but it turned out that the line moved pretty fast and we waited for about 30 min. Ordering was done by picking the soup base, toppings, and tempura sides. We got the recommended Tonkotsu and Nikutama. For tempura, we got shrimp, crab meat, sweet egg omelette, as well as a spam musubi. The Nikutama came with the signature BK sauce, sweet beef, and a soft egg. The BK sauce was light, but the sweet beef was very sweet, which made the sauce sweet as well. I was not a big fan of how sweet this bowel was. The udon noodle itself had good texture though. The Tonkotsu, in contrast, was lightly salted. It came with a slice of chashu pork, miso ground pork, and a hard boiled egg. The tempuras were great too - crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. I liked the crab meat tempura the most. It tasted fresh and lightly seasoned, which went well with both bowls. Overall I think it is worth the wait if you are in the area. Don't be scared away by the long line! read more

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Came back this year and had a similar order from last year. Love the tempura vegetables . but added the citrus drink. Loved it. The perfect foil for the rich sauces and tempura. Did take out as the line was very long 40-50??? Was done quickly and we walked back to our hotel to eat and things were still hot. Note that there are a few tables around the corner as well. Took about 10 min or less so very happy! read more

Marugame Udon in Waikiki is absolutely worth the line (and yes, there's usually a line -- for good reason). The fresh, handmade udon noodles are next-level delicious . springy, chewy, and made right in front of you. I got the tonkotsu udon with a side of zucchini, gyozas and masubi , and everything was hot, flavorful, and super satisfying. The setup is fast-casual, cafeteria-style, but the quality feels gourmet. Quick, affordable, and so tasty. My only complaint is that they rush you so they can seat more people . Which is understandable. read more

Marugame Udon - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Originally heard really good things about this place before coming here. We waited in line for about 30 mins which wasn't an issue. It went by really fast. The food overall was super mid. The broth was super salty and noodles were still hard. It was super hard finding seating to sit with each other. The food was warm, not hot. read more

If you're an Udon fan and you're in the Waikiki area, specifically near Kuhio avenue, you owe it to yourself to stand in what is likely a fairly long line to enjoy a steaming bowl of udon noodle soup. If you're strolling around downtown Waikiki, you'll likely not be able to avoid seeing the line in front of Marugame Udon. Once you decide to commit to getting inside, you'll eventually pick up your own tray and order your bowl with a staff member ready to assemble your udon bowl. You'll then have a choice to pick up individual tempura pieces(charged per piece). Once you check out at with the cashier, you'll likely be shown by a staff member to an open table, or if no one is there, you'll go find an open table for yourself(hopefully). I was there twice during my recent trip to Honolulu and I did not have an issue finding a table during either visit. The staff is courteous and helpful, and this is a no-nonsense restaurant. Grab your delicious bowl of udon, slurp it down and head out relatively quickly. read more