Good and fast service. Food is consistently good. A top choice on University avenue. Udon is fresh and delicious. read more

Marugame Udon - Japanese Near Me - Palo Alto, California

The food was amazing and it was super quick to get my food. There were 2 servers who were especially helpful, Jonah who accommodated for my love for onions and complimented me. Rylan the other server went out of his way to check up on us to see how we were doing, great service. Very beautiful building too. read more

I ate here for the first time last night and it was an excellent experience. Actually, we just picked it up, but our short experience picking up our food was very positive. Most importantly, the food was fantastic. Second, we ordered it to-go and unfortunately the bag ripped and one of the broth containers spilled. We went back to let them know what happened. They were very apologetic and the manager offered us comped drinks. We both politely declined like it's no big deal, not your fault the bag ripped. But then he insisted on something and offered us two pieces of tempura. At that point I couldn't say no. It's not just about the free food (which was also very tasty), but I love that type of restaurant vibe of hospitality, the feeling of getting taken care of as "their" customer. Definitely locked in a customer read more

Food is good, it is a chain so the same taste. The staff were very friendly. It cannot be helped because they leave the entrance door opened but some flies landed on my food when I was getting more water. Also, the return tray area has no space to put any dishes. It didn't look busy but they probably needs to pay more attention to the area because it didn't look good at all. read more

Delicious noodles with lots of flavor and plenty of udon options/toppings! This was kind of like chipotle style, you can build your bowl, or order a pre-set menu item. You can also add tempura of all sorts near the end of the line. You can watch the chefs make your noodles while you wait, it's really cool. The portions were okay, I feel like it was a little small, and the trays weren't the cleanest when we got them. But there was plenty of seating, inside and out. I found a seat for the 3 of us no problem! read more

Marugame Udon - Japanese Near Me - Palo Alto, California

I've tried various locations of Marugame Udon in the bay area and in SoCal. It's not my absolute favorite udon spot but it satisfies the udon craving. Indoor and outdoor seating both available, spacious and clean interior. I usually get the nikutama udon, but the most recent time I tried their new bolognese udon. It was pretty unique and hearty. It gets cheesy and creamy after mixing if that's your thing. Tried some of the beef tomatama curry udon too and it was solid. Good option if you want a flavorful broth that's not overly heavy. We got an assortment of sides as well including the tamagoyaki, pumpkin tempura, sweet potato tempura, and potato croquette. All were solid except the sweet potato tempura which was quite dry and chalky. It'd be awesome to see a wider variety of sides that aren't fried in the future. read more

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This udon spot was interesting. There are a few tables inside and outside, but because it is located in a very busy downtown area, it definitely feels like they need more seating, especially during the evening when I visited. At first, it looked promising. As someone who loves spicy food, I noticed that some dishes offered a spicy broth. However, when I asked if they could add a spicy sauce to my creamy broth or simply leave some on the side, they refused. They did have chili oil in a bottle and pepper available, but the chili oil was far too oily and did nothing to improve the flavor, and the pepper was not much help either. What the broth really needs is something with more consistency and depth, like a spicy paste or gochujang, to actually enhance the taste. That left me eating a broth that tasted awfully bland without any real heat. The meat had the most flavor, but aside from that, the dish was not very savory. I would strongly recommend that they include a gochujang sauce or some other spicy condiment on the side so customers can adjust the flavor to their liking. What really blew me away was the tempura. It is made fresh and was easily the highlight of the meal. I would skip the vegetables and get extra tempura instead. Honestly, I would even go back just for the tempura if they have not upgraded their spicy options. read more

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I love Marugame! I swear, there's not many places you can get this quality of food for this pricepoint. The Palo Alto location is more food court style. You order and grab a tray and take your order down the line. You can pick tempura from under a heat lamp. I ordered the Nikutama noodles and Sausage Tempura and Shrimp tempura and bbq Chashu Pork (1 Piece). Everything was delicious. The noodles were fresh and had good flavor. They have such a nice variety of tempura and toppings and noodles. There's something for everyone! It was packed and service was efficient and good. The interior decor is lacking but you don't come here for the ambiance. read more

Marugame Udon - Nikutama and Sausage Tempura and Shrimp tempura and bbq Chashu Pork (1 Piece) - Japanese Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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It's nice you're able to see them assemble the food before handing it to you! Order the Nikutama udon and eel and beef rice bowl. Both were great choices and very filling. There's plenty of seating inside and outside of the restaurant if you miss the rush. read more

Marugame Udon - Nikutama and Eel + Beef Rice Bowl - Japanese Near Me - Palo Alto, California

Fast and easy. We didn't want to get into the ramen line nearby so we chose this instead. We have been to the Honolulu location before. We didn't know they had this in Cali as well. This location is new apparently? We love how easy it is to order like cafeteria style. No lines and prices are so reasonable! The udon soup with tempura was good but a bit too salty for me. Noodles were delish! I feel like I got shorted on my broth though. This place can get busy but lines move really fast! Recommend if you are on the go! read more

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Everyone knows about Marugame Udon, and they have multiple locations in the CA, HI, and the WA area. As within all their locations, they offer udon, rice bowls, tempuras, and add-ons. We found one within walking distance, and we decided to stop by for a quick lunch. I went for the Nikutama, which came with beef, sweet onions, and a soft-boiled egg; I also added a Potato Croquette and a Big Chicken Katsu to my order. Everything came out hot, and it was a simple meal if you're on a time crunch. They have both in- and outdoor seating, but go for the outdoors, as you can people watch. Service was quick and efficient. +udon +fast & friendly service read more

AMBIANCE: Foodcourt-style seating area with self-serve water, garlic, pepper, and tempura sauce. You order and pay at the front. There is free street and covered parking in Downtown Palo Alto. FOOD: I got their Tonkotsu Style Udon with a potato croquette and tempura sweet potato. The portion size was great and filled me up. The taste was okay--probably wouldn't go to Marugame Udon again if I'm craving authentic udon. The meat was mostly fat and the broth flavor wasn't super strong. Would be an okay meal if I needed something quick. SERVICE: It is mostly self-serve after you order, but the staff seem friendly. read more

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

I got the curry nikutama. There's a decent amount of meat. Curry broth is thinner than I thought it would be but the flavor is good. The noodles are chewy and freshly made in house. The boiled vegetables are pretty bland but good for getting a fiber fix. Service is fast and you get the food right away! Ambiance is ok.. You can find a table quickly and eat but it's not a place to have a leisurely conversation. read more

Marugame Udon - Curry Nikutama - Japanese Near Me - Palo Alto, California

Have been here 3 times now, enjoyed it every time! I wish there were more vegan options, currently it's just the tantan. One time when I came there was a limited time new vegan udon dish which was great, but would love more permanent menu additions. The tempura flakes are fried in the same oil as the meat, so I personally still consider that to be vegan but others might not. Overall highly recommend, this is my go-to casual spot to meet up with people. read more

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Hadn't been to downtown Palo Alto in years, so this was a nice surprise. The vibe is fast-casual, but the food punches well above what the speed would make you think. The katsu plate with thick udon was excellent, but could've used a touch more spice, still a great dish. The real standout though was the freshly cooked shrimp tempura. Don't skip it, best tempura I've ever had. The tempura was mildly sweet and savory. Everything hit the table in under 5-8 minutes which was crazy read more

Marugame Udon - Cheese Katsu Tomatama Udon Nikutama - Japanese Near Me - Palo Alto, California

I had beef and eel bowl with egg,shrimp and mushrooms tempuras. It was delicious. Also they made sure that our family of seven had a table to sit together comfortably. read more

Marugame Udon - Japanese Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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I had mixed feelings about this place. Pros, the noodles tasted fresh and delicious. You can clearly see the noodle-making process, which adds a level of transparency that I really appreciate. The texture of the noodles was excellent, and the overall taste was delicious. It's obvious that the noodles are the star here. The staff were also perfectly fine no issues at all on that front. That said, the cons really impacted the overall experience. The tempura items were sitting out under a heat lamp and had gone cold by the time we ate them. Unfortunately, the gyoza were also disappointing and didn't taste fresh. The biggest issue, however, was the bathroom. So disgusting. It was genuinely unpleasant and felt more like a neglected school kitchen than a restaurant restroom. Cleanliness is important to me, especially in a place that emphasizes food preparation transparency. Overall, I think this restaurant has strong potential because the noodles themselves are very good. If they improve food handling for the fried items and significantly address cleanliness this could be a much better experience. read more

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Gotta love Marugame! Udon is one of my favorite comfort foods and this place always hits the spot. I'm glad they opened one up that's closer to us, so we can go a little more often. I love how they have a wide variety of options from cold noodles, hot clear broth, curry, etc. I honestly have a hard time choosing because everything is good, and it totally depends on my mood that day. You can't beat the fresh made noodles and it's always fun picking the toppings and tempura options. The base price of the noodles on its own is very reasonable, but it can add up once you start getting excited with all the add ons. During our most recent visit, I got the large BK udon with 2 pieces of shrimp tempura and 1 zucchini tempura. I liked the broth, which is more concentrated and stronger soy sauce base. My husband got the curry udon, which was hearty and flavorful. I'm glad I got the large because it was just the right amount of food for me. Service was really quick and the cafeteria style line is very efficient. There were also plenty of seats at this location and we found a table in the back. read more

Marugame Udon - B.K. Udon (Large) with 2 shrimp tempura and Zucchini tempura - Japanese Near Me - Palo Alto, California

Prior to the Palo Alto location opening, I used to make the trek down to Cupertino. Now with the Palo Alto location, I have options, although I do love the overall vibe of Palo Alto better. The location is conveniently located on the corner, which is perfect for controlling the lines that extend beyond the doorway. The process is cafeteria-style just like the other Marugame locations, where you move down a line that starts with ordering your udon, picking up your udon, self-selecting your tempura, and then paying & choosing your seat. I ordered the Creamy Broth - Tonkotsu style, and it was absolutely delicious. The broth was creamy and flavorful, and the pork was pretty tender with a slight chew. I couldn't tell the difference in quality from the other locations, but the interior was quite spacious and clean throughout. The tempura seemed pretty fresh as well, given the crispness of the potato croquette I ordered alongside the udon. The great thing about the Palo Alto location is that there's lot of parking available, including a couple of parking structures. You might just need to navigate the traffic, especially on evenings when it's the most packed. However it's a delicious and affordable restaurant located on University Ave to get your udon & tempura fix, and it's the perfect comfort food for the chilly Bay Area nights! read more

Marugame Udon - Tempura bar! - Japanese Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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Love a good fast casual moment. My first time at this specific location, but the quality stays consistently good. Despite it being a Friday night, there luckily wasn't a long line. The nature of Marugame is that you order first and take your seat, so the queue is usually fast moving. This University Ave location is relatively large in terms of amount of tables. I got the tantan udon, which contains sesame chili broth with veggies and soy. I got the regular size, and I feel that it is enough to keep me full. The texture of the noodles is always super chewy, and I think the soup to noodle ratio is great. Despite the tantan being a vegan broth, the flavors were super rich and was the perfect amount of spice. Also loved how they gave an adequate amount of veggies. Overall very happy with my experience here, an enjoyable meal :) read more

Marugame Udon - Tan Tan (Vegan) - Japanese Near Me - Palo Alto, California

Swung by on Friday night. Food was fresh and yummy! Will be back for a hot bowl of noodles

Their new creamy broth udon with chicken and pork chashu was so so yummy. As an Asian who's eaten a lot of chashu, the first bite made me take a pleasant pause to savor the soft and flavorful meat. As for service, the workers cleared tables and checked in on guests. Clean and brightly lit. The bathroom had a nice floral scent. There is a very clean baby changing table. Customers on Saturday night were mostly young families and students. I've been to three Marugame Udon locations and this one is the tastiest and best serviced so far. Try it out! You won't regret it! read more

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

This place was so good I came two nights in a row. Ordered the Nikutama, which has simmered beef, onions, and a soft-boiled egg. Also ordered the beef with dashi broth. Both were delicious, but the Nikutama is a must try and the egg genuinely makes it so much better. Ordered both with tempura flakes, green onion, and a side of vegetables. You enter a line as soon as you walk in and tell them which one you want. Then they hand you a tray with your bowl of udon, and you can add a few fried sides from a self-serve area, before paying at the register. Prices are good and there is a lot of seating in here, even if it seems busy. Service is fast, food was scrumptious, and ambiance is nice. Will definitely be back! read more

Marugame Udon - Beef Dashi Broth - Japanese Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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Loved their signature udon, the nikutama beef udon with egg and their thick, doughy noodles. So satisfying. Sweet and savory too, and could eat a whole bowl on my own. Easy, quick, and affordable, great for an udon fix. Would totally come back and get it again. 5 stars!!!! read more

Marugame Udon - Japanese Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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This is by far the best location I've been to. It's spacious with high ceilings, light, and ventilation. The food is the same of course; delicious with precise measurements of ingredients. The one thing I did notice though, was their rice bowls! I'm not sure if this is new to their actual menu or if it's strictly at this location. Either or, I'm excited they have it! Me and my co workers had a great time and would love to come back again. read more

Marugame Udon - Japanese Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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I was very excited that a Marugame Udon was opening in downtown Palo Alto. I've been to their locations in Oahu, Cupertino, and the Westfield Valley Fair Mall. All the locations have been pretty much the same. The service is quick and friendly, and the food has been the same at each place. There are high ceilings and plenty of indoor and outdoor seating at the Palo Alto location, and it's conveniently located near several parking lots as well. Overall, it's a relaxed atmosphere to grab some udon or tempura. As for the food, it is certainly good and at reasonable prices. I like the nikutama udon and the curry udon, and the different tempura offerings are always fun. The calamansi drink is also quite refreshing, especially if you're having something heavier like the curry. Definitely a great spot to pick up some food quickly in Palo Alto, and it's right on the main street so there's lots of options for dessert or boba! read more

I love this place and find myself coming back time and time again. My order is always under $10 for a full meal, and the food is delicious! The service is always so friendly and FAST as well!! I am so happy they opened here. read more

LOVED the cafeteria-style line and the way that we could see the noodles being made by hand. The noodles were super fresh and perfectly chewy. Everyone behind the counter was friendly and highly skilled. We were fooled and thought there weren't many places to sit, but there was a back area with additional seating which came in handy on a busy night. My one note is that I wish the batch of broth I had was a little hotter so it could heat up the pork belly. Such a great find in Palo Alto! read more

Marugame Udon - Order #5 - Japanese Near Me - Palo Alto, California

My veggie udon was delicious. But two flies flying around our table during the entire meal outside, and the asparagus tempura being very chewy/old made made reconsider ever ordering it again even though it tasted delicious. Shrimp tempura was Costco level, like in a good and bad way lol Tempura overall is good; if you can afford $2-5 a tempura, it's good. read more

Marugame Udon - Tan Tan (Vegan). Spicy, flavorful, not too salty. Noodles were fresh and perfectly cooked. So yummy - Japanese Near Me - Palo Alto, California

Marugame does it again!! I had their tomato tomatama udon and it was so flavorful and reminded me of Chinese egg tomato dish. It's heartier than their other flavors due to the thicker broth and acidic/sweet nature of tomato, but I love it! The egg takes on an egg drop soup-like consistency. The tempura was yummy as always, it was lightly fried and breaded to perfection. I'm always excited to visit Marugame, and this time was no exception. I would recommend everyone to try their seasonal tomatama dish. Everything here hits the spot and is perfect on a chilly winter day. read more

Marugame Udon - Japanese Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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When you're craving something fast, comforting, and tasty! This hit the spot when you're seeking that mash up of Asian and Italian for the bolognese udon. I think it gets really busy at this location because there were ropes outside for queues but thankfully on a Thursday evening just before rush hour and dinner we were able to easily come in. Would come back again read more

Marugame Udon - Bolognese Udon - Japanese Near Me - Palo Alto, California

I'm so happy there's finally a Marugame Udon location in the mid-Peninsula. I ordered the creamy broth udon, and it was delicious, rich, flavorful, and comforting. Their tempura and fried sides were crispy, fresh, and not greasy. It's great that you can pick and choose what you want to go with your noodles. The service was quick, and the setup is efficient and casual. Perfect for a satisfying, no-fuss meal. I'll definitely be back! read more

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

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Came here for lunch on a weekday and I guess I misunderstood the menu. I ordered the Tempura Tendon because I thought it was noodles with Tempura, but it turned out to be rice with Tempura. I asked if I could get the noodles instead of the rice but I was told, "no". But one of the workers told me I could get another noodle dish and just add Tempura to it. So I ordered the Beef Udon and then walked over to the section where you add the extra's like at a buffet. I didn't realize that the Shrimp Tempura was $2 per piece. So with 1 piece of shrimp, sweet potato and Asparagus Tempura, my Udon dish ended up costing about $20. After I got the food, I noticed that I could have just gotten plain Udon and added Tempura and other items to it for a much more economical price. The noodles were good. But the Asparagus Temprua was very tough and difficult to eat. Overall the experience was OK. read more

Marugame Udon - Japanese Near Me - Palo Alto, California

There was a super long when coming around 7/8PM on a Friday night. Ambiance and Service Service was still super fast and a packed house with lots of seats in the front of the restaurant outside. Food Food was good, I probably thought there was too much rice and not enough meat in the dish. Lord of options for sides to read more

Marugame Udon - Chicken Katsu Curry over rice - Japanese Near Me - Palo Alto, California

The udon is great here. The food is well priced with options to customize - and get creative - or keep it simple - with your options and depending on your budget. The tempura is always freshly made up in batches, so you never have to worry about soggy or cold bites. It's a good meal, all the way through. read more

Marugame Udon - Teri Chicken Tartar Udon - Japanese Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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It's been a cool minute since I went to this spot so here I am. I ordered a nikutama udon in the regular size $12.55 which is served with sweet beef and a soft boiled egg. Lemme tell yall, it was soo good. The quality of the udon of this place is so consistent. This is one of restaurant that I frequent so I definitely recommend checking this spot out if you haven't alreadyTry it out if you like. :) read more

Marugame Udon - Nikutama - Japanese Near Me - Palo Alto, California

This place is great!!! Location is great very convenient lots of parking near by Lunch room vibes The service was fast and easy to order. I love the way you order your food and they make it in front of you! It's so delicious. Over all 5 stars can't wait to come back read more

Marugame Udon - Wow so good - Japanese Near Me - Palo Alto, California

I've been to several Marugame locations all throughout california & hawaii, and this one is probably one of the better ones. The interior is super clean and they always have fresh tempura coming out. This app is super intensive. The menu here it's pretty standard to all their different locations. If you haven't been there before, it is similar to a quick udon to go spot. You can order at the front for the staff to make your bowl and then you go and pick out different sides to your preference, then you pay and then you sit down. In terms of the food itself, the taste and quality is very consistent to the other locations. I love how the udon noodles are made by hand, and the chewiness and thickness is perfect. The soups are also pretty good, it's definitely more of an Americanization of traditional udon, but I feel like it appeals to a lot of the American taste buds. My favorites lately have been the miso beef udon or the classic beef udon. The prices here are generally between $10-$15, which is very affordable compared to other things in the Palo Alto area. Overall, this is a good option if you are looking for a quick, affordable spot. read more

Simple food but cozy, very fast service and self serve counter is fully stock. Good is reasonable price and tasty. read more

Marugame Udon - Cheese Katsu Tomatama Udon, Beef Tomatama, Extra Udon Noodles, Pumpkin Tempura - Japanese Near Me - Palo Alto, California

It's great that this opened up in PA - who needs to go to Hawaii anymore? Very quick casual service and good food - it tastes healthier though a little less flavorful than some of the other popular udon spots nearby. The veggie add-on was so-so. read more

Marugame Udon - Nikutama - Japanese Near Me - Palo Alto, California