This branch of Marugame is always well organized, clean, and fast! Every time I stop by I'm happy with the quality of the food, friendliness of the staff, and availability of clean tables. The food is also well worth the price given it's fresh noodles and presumably fresh toppings, too! Overall a great spot for a good bowl of udon! read more

Prompt opening at 11am on a Saturday. Friendly service. The ginger clam udon is very good. Nice light kick with the ginger sauce. Just-cooked clams and freshly-chopped vegetables at opening. Added half a seasoned egg for more protein. (They also offer a whole unseasoned egg.) My son scarfed his usual plain udon. So convenient for going in and out. read more

Fresh handmade udon! Free, plentiful street parking, and the bright signage makes this corner spot super easy to find. Inside is very casual cafeteria-style. The fun part is the open kitchen where you can watch the chefs knead, cut, and boil the udon noodles right in front of you. Just flour, water, and salt, made fresh on-site and served fresh every time. The ordering process is pretty straightforward: order your udon directly from the chefs, then move down the line for tempura and sides like chicken katsu, shrimp, and gyoza. There's a separate line for dine-in and to-go, plus a station for utensils, hot sauce, tempura sauce, ginger, etc. They even have a "How to Eat Udon" guide on the wall. Seating is mostly 2-tops, with a small outdoor patio in front. Since it's in a busy business area, it seems like a lot of people come here for a quick solo lunch. Restroom was clean and decent. I also like that they offer a free tempura or house beverage for completing their feedback form via QR code. It's nice that they're asking for actual feedback instead of just fishing for Google/Yelp reviews. I submitted mine and got a pineapple sunrise drink. Even better, management actually replied afterward and addressed the specific points I mentioned in my feedback. It felt like a genuine, human response rather than an automated "Thanks for your feedback!" Nice touch! Overall, a fun spot for fresh, handmade udon and a quick casual meal. read more

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Such a great spot for udon! The noodles are made fresh & they cook them right when you order. Your food is ready in about a minute. It's super fast! I ordered a large bowl since I was hungry and learned my lesson that it is wayyy too much food lol. Will be ordering regular size next time. The broth was delicious, the noodles had a nice chew to them, and the tempura was really yummy! I think the prices are fair and it's ideal if you just need to grab a quick bite to eat :) I love that you can add unlimited green onions and tempura flakes to your bowl. There's plenty of seating both indoors and outdoors. read more

Marugame Udon - #5 creamy broth udon & shrimp tempura - Japanese Near Me - Palo Alto, California

I love udon and this is my favorite place to go to all the time. I really liked how this location has a self-serve tempura station where I can put as much tempura crisp in here as I like. Kitsune (5/5): Sweet tofu with a normal udon. I really like this because it provides comfort and sweetness at the same time. Crab tempura (5/5): Although it's imitation crab, you cant get this anywhere else. read more

Marugame Udon - Japanese Near Me - Palo Alto, California

This place completely lived up to the hype! The udon was sooo delicious, and you could immediately tell the noodles were fresh--they had the perfect chewy texture. I ordered the creamy broth udon with pork, egg, and a creamy milk-based broth. It was rich, comforting, and packed with flavor without being too heavy. I also added vegetables, plus the fried sweet potato and pumpkin, which were perfectly crispy and made a great addition to the meal. The portions are super filling, so you definitely leave satisfied. Service was fast, there was plenty of seating, and everything came out fresh. I'll definitely be coming back the next time I'm craving a comforting bowl of udon! read more

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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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 love that they make fresh udon! The line goes by super quick. There's so much seating inside and it's clean and well lit. In the back near the bathrooms, there's seating for a larger group of 6-7 people. I recommend getting #1 which is beef and the most popular. I wish they had more beef shavings in the bowl. 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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My favorite udon place in Palo Alto!! I swear this hit everytime and they make it so fast. Employed are so efficient and I love the options of appetizers. The shrimp tempura is my favorite to get. read more

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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This is my favorite location. They have a lot of seating and nice staff!! The ambiance is great as well with a lot of seating

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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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

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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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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A quick meal for a good price! It's a good go to with friends or after work, with plenty of tables and a clean space.

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

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

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

Quick service (cafeteria style), good atmosphere, and good food. Pictured is a large BK udon (cold) with a side of tempura mushrooms and crab stick. read more

Marugame Udon - BK Udon with a side of tempura mushrooms and crab stick - 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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Marugame always hits the spot! The udon is fresh and hot just like how i like it. Quick and friendly staff too!

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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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

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

Really great fresh udon! I love the tempura! Fast service as well recommend highly there is usually a line but moves fast

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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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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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

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

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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