Always so yummy! Service is great and they're always quick to replenish the tempura bar or grab finished bowls. read more

Marugame Udon - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

The food was yummy and had good options. The restaurant is a good place to get food before heading on the trolley to Petco Park for big events or before a movie. I definitely recommend eating here before any event. read more

We got number 10 Kake! Delicious comfort food that is so filling and easy on the stomach. Service is excellent and the staff is very attentive. Ambiance is also great with great KPop and Asian pop music. A classic Asian food choice! read more

Marugame Udon - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

I've never really liked udon but this is the place that made me change my mind! There can be a line but we usually go off peak hours so it's not too bad. My order is usually a beef nikutama, sweet potato tempura, tamagoyaki tempura, and a calamansi drink. The most recent visit I tried their bolognese and immediately regretted it lol - def would stick with my usual! read more

Marugame Udon - Nikutama, Calamansi, matcha - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

Currently on the keto diet but some friends wanted to go here. I asked if I could swap out the noodles or rice on any dishes and they couldn't do it. Everything would be an additional cost. I got the Bolognese with a side of veggies. It was actually really tasty! Definitely rich as they have a cream sauce base and then put the meat sauce on top. The meat was a little sweeter than I was expecting but not overly so. The veggies were unsalted which I appreciated since the meat was on the saliter side so when I mixed it all together it was perfect. Didn't have to wait at all on a Wednesday night around 6:30 but we did have to sit outside since all the inside tables were taken. No heaters outside so bring a jacket if you're going at night. read more

Marugame Udon - Bolognese without noodles or rice. Side of veggies. - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

Always a solid udon spot in San Diego. We usually order the number one (most loved) and a side of tempura. The line today was ridiculously long so we opted for take out. It took about 5 minutes for our food to be ready and there was seating nearby. Have dined here before and I enjoy the dining room. I like that they don't let people sit until they have their food. Good service! read more

This place is a freaking gem - wish we had one in the East Coast. So good we came back here twice on the trip. Both udon bowls I had were fantastic. Noodles made fresh. Fresh tempura in the line up was delicious with self-service tempura sauce. read more

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YUHM! This spot was consistently busy and we absolutely understood why. They get people through the line quickly and you can see them working on the udon while you wait. We tried a couple of different styles and both were delicious in their own regard. Both eggs were perfectly cooked and gave us a beautifully runny yolk. We thought we would need a large, but could've absolutely done a small. read more

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Came on a Friday night around 8pm and this place was CROWDED! The line was out the door and all the tables (outdoor + indoor) were occupied. Luckily, the line moves quickly. If you're completely new to Marugame Udon, it can be confusing at first. You order your broth/udon first. The menu has pictures which is very helpful as it'll show you the type of broth and what proteins (if any) it comes with. They then give you your bowl on a tray, and they'll also ask if you want any of the complimentary toppings (green onion, fried tempura). You can also pay for extra topping such as a boiled egg. Before you make your way to the register, you can self-serve additional tempura which are a few dollars each. They had only a couple of choices, such as shrimp, sweet potato, pumpkin, zucchini. After you pay, a worker is there to help seat parties -- a much needed service considering that almost every table was taken! You bring your tray of food to your table. Water, utensils, and condiments such as chili pepper/hot oil/tempura dipping sauce are all self-serve. You bus your own dishes as well, as there is a dish drop-off area near the exit. The food was good. Udon noodles are nice and chewy, noticeably more so than if you ate packaged udon noodles at home. The broth is clean and simple. The self-serve tempura were all fresh; however multiple members in my party ordered the shrimp udon that came with shrimp tempura, and some of the tempura we were given were extremely soggy. Portion sizes are on the smaller side, but overall fair with relation to pricing. Overall, Marugame Udon is a decent place for a bowl of udon. However, I am NOT a big fan of this particular location -- I first had Marugame Udon at their Sawtelle location -- as this UTC location is easily overcrowded during peak dining hours. In addition, the first workers we interacted with (the ones who handle your broth order) had very unwelcoming personalities. They also shoved us our trays of udon so forcefully that what little broth is in the bowl to begin with spilled out, leaving behind a sad noodle-to-broth ratio... I would not come back to this particular location, but I would recommend those who haven't had Marugame Udon before to at least give it one try. Note on parking: Marugame Udon is located in the Westfield UTC outdoor shopping mall, where parking is free for the first hour and $2 per hour thereafter. read more

Marugame Udon - Shrimp udon (top) with additional veggie tempura (bottom) - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

I discovered Marugame Udon in Oahu, Hawaii and every time I vacation in there, I always make sure to eat there at least once! I was super happy when they opened up in San Diego and every time I go to UTC mall, I usually eat there because it's a good value and yummy. There's usually a line which shows just how popular it is but the line usually goes fast. My go to is the nikutama udon if you want a classic udon with beef and recently I tried the bolognese udon which is also good but doesn't have the traditional dashi flavor. I like that you can add tempura à la carte and the meal is always filling and satisfying! read more

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Wow! Just wow. It was a cloudy day in San Diego and I had one thing I wanted to eat - UDON. Now, my coworker has been raving about this place so I gave it a shot and I'm so mad I didn't get to try this place sooner! It is sooooo goood!!!!! The noodles - perfection. The soup - a sweet soy sauce base that I absolutely love! I was hungry & ordered the large Nikutama with an egg and it was plenty! Price: $ Parking: Next to 85 degrees in UTC mall - 1 hour free parking Recommendation: Nikutama with egg. If there is a line, I recommend a to go order. I was able to get my food in less than 5 minutes. How epic is that!!!! To go service was delayed because of how busy it was inside but it was still a positive experience because of how quick it was! I highly recommend Marugame Udon. It was so yummy and super affordable :) read more

Marugame Udon - To go order - Nikutama - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

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Always loved this chain and glad they opened a location in UTC. The texture of their housemade udon noodles are always great, and you can't go wrong with any of their soup bases. Their nikutama is one of my go tos with the sweet and savory beef, but I also especially like their kitsune with the sweet fried tofu. Love that you can dress up the udon with unlimited green onion and tempura flakes. They have a large selection of tempura and again, you really can't go wrong with any of them. Lots of indoor and also some outdoor seating with a separate take out line as well. read more

Marugame Udon - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

Love going to Marugame Udon! It's a great casual spot and it's easy to order. Sometimes it can be difficult to find seating, but the staff are helpful with that. My go to order is the regular sized Nikutama. It's not too pricey and it's nice to have for lunch or dinner. read more

Marugame Udon - Nikutama - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

If you're looking for a quick and casual "order and go" udon spot, this is it. There's usually a long line, but it goes pretty fast. After ordering your main dish, you can also add some tempura like shrimp, mushroom, zucchini, and sweet potato. We all had their signature dish, Nikutama. It's a generous size with a lot of meet. I actually wish it was a bit more soupy, as I like the broth. I also had their zucchini and sweet potato tempura. Next time, I'll have to try their creamy chicken udon because that looked pretty yummy too. read more

Marugame Udon - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

The creamy udon with chicken broth, pork chasu and seasoned egg was delicious comfort food. The noodles were thick, slippery and fresh. And the broth was light. I also got shrimp tempura, steamed vegetables and the calamansi drink. It was a filling and delicious meal. Service was quick. There was no wait on a Saturday at 11 am. The place is large, clean and comfortable. I've eaten the Kitsune at their Waikiki location and would like to return to taste other bowls of udon on their menu. read more

Marugame Udon - Creamy udon - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

This is a fast casual udon-focused restaurant - Japan-imported chain. Everything is either reheated to order (noodles are par boiled), or kept under a warmer (tempura). It's not bad, but not great either. Broth flavor was good, but it was not particularly hot, temperature-wise. The udon was realllly soft; no "bite" left in the noodle at all. The tempura was stodgy - the batter was very oily. I would not order the tempura again. I might give the noodles another try? But at $20 with tax, they need to be better. read more

Marugame Udon - Creamy broth udon with chashu and egg - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

One of the best udon spots around! The line "looked" long but we only waited for about 15 mins... it went pretty fast. We got the creamy tan tan (large) noodles with the tempura flakes and green onions on the side (so it doesn't get soggy) and then 2 shrimps, pumpkin and zucchini tempura. We shared the large bowl of noodles.. which was plenty!! Everything was very good. The only complaint I had was by the time we got to our table to soup was not very hot. Which is a bummer because I love HOT soup with my noodles. Other than that.. always love this place!! read more

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TLDR very well designed concept for a quick "workers lunch." Flavor quality varies between broths but noodles are great. Lots of optionality. Would recommend! Marugame is a franchise of cafeteria style udon soup noodle restaurants. This location is in the UTC Westfield by the south entrance. The line is always busy but it moves very fast; service knows how to move fast for the experienced and educate effectively for the uninitiated. Don't expect a long wait. You pick your soup and base, a server will hand you a tray, then you pick out tempura fried sides before paying. Quick and painless! Service 10/10 Food: we focused on udon and sides the noodles are made in house and have a nice springy texture upon biting. Each batch is cooked to order and cooked well. Despite waiting in line, the bowls are hot by the time you sit. The fried toppings are cooked well but come with the risk of sitting for a while. One of our katsu was hot while the other was lukewarm. Seasoning across the board was good for both: lightly salted with a hint of oil rather being drowned in it. Noodle 8/10 Chicken katsu 6/10 Curry udon: nice and thick broth with a classic mild flavor; also very smooth. Don't expect heat, don't expect a heavy hand with spice, do expect a decent sweetness. 7/10 SEASONAL Tantan udon: more mild than I would have liked. Very little peanut flavor, a savory tomato flavor comes through but ultimately I wanted heavier spice and a forward peanut. 6/10 So with good food and quick service this place makes for a nice quick lunch. The interior speaks that way too. There's a pass for you to put your dishes away and the design is very industrial with some color pop. I'd come back as a local but it seems that's the vibe. Ambience 6/10. read more

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Stopped by again for some udon, and their tonkotsu udon is always a hit. We also tried their new eel bento, and it definitely exceeded our expectations. The portion of eel was generous, and for the price, it was absolutely worth it. read more

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Marugame is our all time favorite udon comfort food. I love how they came up with new flavors for the udon options. We tried the bolognese udon , it had a rich and creamy sauce with bolognese topping, an egg is still included for extra protein. I really enjoyed the cheese katsu tomatama udon because of the mildly spicy broth, topped with perfectly done katsu. The melted cheese balances the spice. They also serve rice boxes now, for those who are not in the mood for udon. read more

Marugame Udon - Bolognese udon - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

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This quick-service spot on the edge of UTC Mall has addicting soft and silky udon noodles. The perfect bounce and chew. The noodles are the star. Get there early for dinner to avoid a long line. I get the curry sauce udon with sweet beef and an egg, otherwise known as Curry Nikutama. Each component has a different flavor profile to give it a sweet, salty, savory umami combo when you stir it all up and enjoy. Once you order and get your bowl of udon you pass the tempura bar before paying, where you can grab a number of crispy fried options. The potato croquette and tempura cheese are two favorites, but you really can't go wrong with anything there, just be careful cause each item of crispy goodness you grab with the tongs adds another few dollars to your order total. After paying, one of the staff seats you promptly at an available table and points you to the sauce and condiment bar. The space is bright and busy, and ends up a pretty quick meal (if there isn't a line) and you're in a rush. read more

Marugame Udon - Curry Nikutama - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

I recently visited Marugame with my family for dinner and was pleasantly surprised to find the line wasn't out the door like it used to be. We ordered a wide range of foods, rice bowl, bento box, udons (the new bolognese and the beef soup) and various tempuras. There is a fair amount of dine in tables and the sauce/utensils station is self serve. The to-go boxes and bags are also self serve on the side. As expected the udon is cooked perfectly (they do have a timer at the cook stations). This is certainly a solid choice for dinner with the family if you are in the mood for noodles. read more

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MARUGAME UDON @ UTC LA JOLLA Parking is available in their parking lot and is free for the first two hours. After that, you'll need to pay an additional $3 for each extra hour. I'd recommend parking closer to Corner Bakery if you can, it's usually less busy and has less traffic compared to the Nordstrom area. I've been wanting to try this udon place for so long, and every time I pass by there's always a line out the door. My mentor and I finally came on a weekday, and it was still packed. The line wasn't as long as it usually is on weekends, but it was still busy. The ordering process is pretty straightforward, you look at the menu, decide exactly what you want, and then tell the staff as you move through a single-file line while watching them prepare your bowl. They also offer add-ons like shrimp tempura, corn, and other small sides that you can customize your order with. I ended up getting their simple udon bowl and added corn. They also have drinks available, and some you're even able to sample. I absolutely loved the environment and overall vibe of the place. The only thing to note is that seating can be tricky, if you're going with a friend, I'd recommend having one person grab a table while the other orders. It's very much a grab-your-food-and-find-a-spot kind of place, both indoors and outdoors, so securing seating quickly is key. The noodles were so fluffy and cooked perfectly. I'd highly recommend stopping by if you're looking for a warm, comforting bowl of soup, it truly hit the spot. Everything was so delicious and flavorful, and the staff were extremely kind and friendly. I'll definitely be coming back. read more

Marugame Udon - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

I love going to this place whenever I am craving udon. My absolute favorite udon to get here is the nikutama, but I decided to try the new seasonal item: beef tomatama curry udon. It had a slight sweet heat and it didn't taste like your usual japanese curry flavor. It wasn't my favorite and I probably wouldn't get this again because I prefer a more soupy broth. Each bowl comes with complimentary green onions and crunchy tempura topping, but you can always opt out of adding it. After you grab your bowl, you have a myriad of tempura options. My favorite is the tamago tempura. It can get pretty packed inside, but it was nice to have a person designated to seating people after their purchase. read more

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We went out our granddaughter's favorite place for her graduation celebration. The place was packed but the server was very courteous and made the table for seven of us. And the food was delicious as usual and enjoyed the different varieties of meals from the one in Honolulu. read more

Marugame Udon - Eel and beef bowl with egg,shrimp and mushrooms tempura. - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

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Have to leave another review because I feel like Marugame just gets better and better! I ordered their seasonal item the cheese katsu tomatoma udon and it was incredible. The katsu is perfectly cooked and crunchy and I absolutely loved the tomato based broth flavor. They have servers who are ready to prepare a table for you as soon as you pay and they take your food to the table. Then when you are done, they help clean everything up. The process and line are so efficient and food quality still amazing as usual. Highly recommend! read more

Marugame Udon - Curry Nikutama - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

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In the long list of noodle restaurants at UTC maragame udon provides a more fast casual style ordering in a service line and choosing additional add ons as you go. We tried the chicken katsu curry and the udon noodles. The udon was the star and if you get the large you can share. It's a cheaper option in the mall for any meal read more

Marugame Udon - Extra Udon Noodles - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

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Came here on my lunch break and it's so good! Marugame is a chain and always has a long line but with good reasons! Food and quality are amazing and consistent between all the location. You order the udon you'd like and you can add other tempura on the side, which were all so fresh. Their iced calamansi lemonade drink was so refreshing to complement the warm soup! read more

Marugame Udon - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

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First time coming to Marugame Udon. I'm not much of a noodle person so I've resisted this place for a while. However, I completely loved my experience. Pros: -it's a cafeteria style establishment where you stand in line, place your order, grab any self serve items, then pay. -generous portions - indoor and outdoor seating Cons: -n/a Great, casual place! read more

Marugame Udon - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

I visit Marugame Udon relatively frequently for the convenience, comfort food, and good price. This time I tried the new tomato-based soup with katsu (sorry I forgot the name!) it was good, but not as good as my usual Nikutama. I just like more soup rather than curry consistency. Price is great for the portion, especially for the large sized bowl and I don't get any tempura since those are pricier. The Marugame Udon in UTC is always busier during the UCSD school season. I try to go during the summer or during breaks to avoid the line. This time we waited about 20 minutes to get to the front of the line to order, on a Friday night. There were few open tables but the turnover rate of the tables always works out in the end. Staff there are very proactive about cleaning up tables after patrons and will help with bussing tables as well. read more

Marugame Udon - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

I've been to Marugame Udon in LA many years ago and have frequently visited this UTC location. Recently, I had the Nikutama and Tonkatsu with a cheese croquet and chicken katsu. The process is always quick and easy, cafeteria style which is perfect for a fast meal. Seating opens up pretty quickly and you can help yourself to the utensils and sauces on self serve area. read more

Marugame Udon - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

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Amazing!!! I ordered pickup and tempered my expectations as I thought that food would be cold and soggy as I had to walk back to my hotel. Shrimp and sweet potato tempura were fresh and crispy. Udon was warm and the ingredients were packed separately. Just as good as eating there. The flavors were similar to what I had in Tokyo. Ordering online was super easy and quick. Too bad I don't live around here or I would be coming all the time! read more

Marugame Udon - Beef udon w egg, shrimp and sweet potato tempura - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

Amazing food amazing experience the line is way too long but that is what it is great location goes to parking close to play area and a selection of seating indoors and out once you get your order your service food comes out very quickly read more

I got the curry katsu udon that was not available the first time I went, while my partner got the creamy broth tonkotsu. Overall, the portions were good and everything tasted fresh. However, I feel like both broths could have been a bit more flavorful. Both meals were good, but I wouldn't find myself craving either one. The place can also get very crowded and wait times can vary depending on the day and time you go. read more

Marugame Udon - Tomatoma Curry Udon w/Cheese and Katsu - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

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For all the buzz surrounding this place, my experience landed in the "just okay" category. The space gets busy (which is a good sign) but the broth never really delivered the depth or richness I was hoping for. I'm a big udon fan, but nothing here stood out, and the miso ended up being my least favorite of the bunch. Service was fine, nothing more, nothing less. I will say their cleanup crew is impressively efficient, which is appreciated in a high-traffic spot. Sometimes there is a wait to sit in the crowded space, but it's typically not too long. Just keep your eyes open. The toppings can add up quickly, and the final bill can creep higher than expected for what you're getting. Not a bad visit, but not one I'd go out of my way to repeat. read more

Marugame Udon - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

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Affordable and delicious food! Came on a Friday night and even with a line out the door the wait went by fast. You select your udon of choice and grab your tempura and pay. The process is very easy and service is quick. The dining area was full but thankfully the workers were quick to rearrange the space to get us seated! This is a perfect meal for a cool day. The flavors are great and I truly enjoyed everything I got! read more

Marugame Udon - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

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TLDR: Great Udon! Noodle texture is amazing and their prices are very reasonable! This is my go to spot when I'm craving Udon! Nikutama: 8.7/10 Sweet boiled beef served with a light dashi, soy based broth! This is exactly what you want when you are craving those classic Japanese dashi, soy, mirin combination of flavors. The broth is made of three parts - dashi has a great seafood umami flavor combined with the saltiness of the soy, balanced with the sweetness of the mirin! Egg Tempura: 8.8/10 This was very good. My first time having this and the softness of the scrambled egg contrasted with the crunchy yet light tempura batter was a textural delight! The batter and egg are seasoned so the tempura sauce doesn't have to do the heavy lifting. The tempura sauce tastes like their soup (same ingredients) with just a bit more soy. read more

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We discovered this fast casual Japanese restaurant first in Tokyo when meeting up with friends and kids. We were excited to see one open at UTC and that it had the same easy goodness we remembered. The highlight is the udon - noodles with good springiness and chew. We had this in both the tonkotsu broth (our favorite - salty but tasty). The tomato katsu broth was also flavorful. We similarly liked the tempura by the piece and the fast service (order and get food at the counter and then go find a seat). read more

I had the pleasure of trying MARUGAME UDON in San Diego for the first time, and it was a fantastic experience if you're in the mood for some authentic udon noodles. The udon is perfectly cooked, boasting that thick, chewy texture we all love, and the broth is bursting with flavor--just like you'd find in Japan. Word on the street is that many locals are also raving about how good the udon is here. The vibe is laid-back and ideal for a chill meal, and you can even catch some of the noodles being prepared. It's a fantastic spot for hearty, comforting Japanese food! We were lucky. No line for us but after they had huge line. Serve fast but people had to wait. Fresh and restaurant was clean. I liked it. Playground for kids right next to it and bathroom is across the street. I like it. Best place at the Mall. read more

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My sister told me that they discovered this awesome Sanuki-Style Udon Noodle restaurant when in Hawaii recently and now they have a location in SD so we had to try it. The udon is made on site and as you order, they heat it up and make your dish along a sort of cafeteria type line. When you have your main udon dish, next up is the awesome tempura section which has a nice selection of freshly made tempura. Then you slide along to the checkout counter, pay and go eat. I ordered the most popular one on the menu (#1). It was called Nikutama Udon. I also got a tempura potato croquette and a sweet potato tempura slice. Everything was very yummy and the tempura was battered just right. I loved the thinly sliced beef in my dish. I would definitely return again when back in SD. read more

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