Consistency is key, and that is exactly what Marugame is! We love their beef udon, Nikutama udon (beef and egg in their sweet, savory broth), and their tempuras. We come here about once a week and definitely loyal to what we order. Once you order at the counter, you get to choose the tempuras you want, then drinks. It's an order, pay at the counter, and sit down type of shop with no waiters or waitresses to serve you, so you bus your own dishes when you're done. The wait can be long during the weekend, but the lines are pretty fast and there's always tables available. read more

Marugame Udon - Valley Fair - Noodles Near Me - Santa Clara, California

Solid spot for lunch with the kids during summer break. The lines move fast because the staff know the menu. Service is cafeteria style with food delivered onto a lunch tray for guests to move down the line and pick out items. The inside is pretty noisy since this location is in a mall. The udon have a nice chewy bounce. Very consistent every time we come here. The bolognese is newer item now on rice as well. It was very good. I just wished the cheese was placed in before the hot broth was added so that it melted some more. read more

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I was craving udon the other day, so decided to give Marugame Udon another try. My friend lives across the street from Valley Fair, so we just walked from her house. It was pretty early, only 5:30 ish, so there was no line. You still order at the counter, are handed your food on a tray, and if you want additional sides, they will give you a paper boat to place your self-service selected items. After paying, you can turn around and add condiments onto your udon. They have containers filled with green onion, tempura flakes, and grated ginger. I like that you can now add your own toppings, so you can put as much or little as you'd like. My friend got the kitsune udon and a piece of eggplant tempura. I had the tonkotsu udon, which came with two pieces of char sui and marinated egg. I also grabbed a tempura shrimp, tempura zucchini, and a potato croquette. I loaded up on green onions, grated ginger, and even threw on some tempura flakes. I enjoyed my dinner and can say my craving was satisfied. Thanks Marugame Udon! read more

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Reliably good! Love that you can get a smaller portion at a low price. It's become my go-to meal if I'm not hungry yet by the time I'm done shopping at Valley Fair but also don't want to cook at home later. read more

We missed some good house made noodles this side of Tokyo, we walked by and I came full stop when I saw the noodle makers. We got in line, took a look at the menu and followed the signs on where to order. Once you place your order (given to you on a tray cafeteria style) then you continue down the line for other add ons like chicken katsu, gyoza etc. (at an extra charge all labeled). You pay and find a seat and the journey to Japan begins... the noodles, the rice the flavors aooo good! We miss the food in Japan and this place delivers. Too, at the end... as in Japan do the honorable thing and clean your table.. there's a place to take your tray. Price is right and they get crowded but worth it for fresh noodles!!! Fast and friendly service too!! read more

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I'll be honest, I'm not a ramen fan in general but I go with friends/family for them. This udon place is right across the busy ramen Nagi and i finally put my foot down and told my party no on ramen. So we went here instead! Oh boy, I really liked my selection I believe it's called bolognese. Today they opened later than usual so there was a small line since we came in 5 mins before opening but seating was not hard at all. I liked that I can easily grab my water refill/to go container when I'm done. Would definitely come back again! read more

Marugame Udon - Valley Fair - Noodles Near Me - Santa Clara, California

We've eaten here a few times. The udon is pretty good. Their broth is tasty. The serve-yourself-tempura-bar is a nice feature, but the tempura and gyoza are just ok. Service was inconsistent. We've had friendly, helpful servers. And we've had not-so-helpful servers. I'd cut them some slack. Good help is hard to find these days. There is plenty of seating inside. It is clean and well organized. read more

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Came here after shopping with a friend and honestly it's so good!! service is amazing! The food is super fresh!! definitely super clean inside in a nice cozy spot to hang out! read more

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Every time we come here the noodles have never disappoint. They're pretty consistent for a "fast" food option. I wasn't a fan of all the broths but will always come back for the original udon noodles. It gets busy but we always find a seat and the workers are fast. Very family friendly space. read more

Marugame Udon - Valley Fair - Udon - Noodles Near Me - Santa Clara, California

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Get your fix on fast comfort food Japanese eats while on a break from your shopping inside this sleek beautiful Westfield Shopping Mall. Marugame Udon is a chain that's been opening locations around the Golden State throughout the last decade. Sawtelle 'hood in Los Angeles has one of course, as does San Francisco's Stonestown Galleria Mall. Nikutama is the classic and what they call "most loved" on menu. The secret perhaps is in the dashi sauce. They ladle the dashi brown stock over the udon nest that is warmed up and placed in the bowl. The bowl builder skillfully scoops a soft poached egg without rupturing it into the bowl and carefully weighs a container of thin chopped sliced shredded beef which tops the noodles. One small fatty slice of Cha Shu is almost highway robbery price and will set you back an up charge. Which sucks, but tariffs and inflation are out of restaurants' and our control. As are too many things in this nation, but.. I digress. Finally they ask if you want garnish: scallion very fine sliced and crunchy tempura bits are offered. That's it for the Chipotle phase. Next, select tempura items by yourself. Option of various items under a heat lamp. Use tongs to select, and it's all tempura. What appealed to me was the zucchini, and I chose a nice hefty one that the staff brought over fresh out of the back. After all that you end up at the cashier station to pay for your bowl, and then you go to the rear to get water, napkins, chopsticks and condiments such as tempura sauce and togarashi, which is a seven spice seasoning really not that hot or spicy but it adds nice flavour. Atmosphere is noisy, but there's plenty of seating. Large anime mural occupies a wall. One side of the eatery is entrance and exiting into a main part of the mall, and the other side leads almost directly to an exit outside. If you enjoy Japanese noodles and want to try something different from ramen, I heartily suggest Marugame Udon. It's a reliable chain for a quick good udon meal with a few extras in a kool setting. read more

Marugame Udon - Valley Fair - niku (beef) udon with extra scallion, zucchini tempura, cha shu slice - Noodles Near Me - Santa Clara, California

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Marugame Udon has been around for a while, and while it's always busy, it lands in the "just okay" category for me. It definitely fills you up, but the quality is a bit hit or miss. The broth is never quite hot enough, and the fried items, while tempting, can feel a bit oily and heavy after a while. The setup is quick and efficient: you order cafeteria-style, grab your tempura and sides from the self-serve area, then pay at the end before finding your own seat. Despite the crowds, turnover is high and you can usually find a place to sit without too much trouble. It's fast, comforting, and convenient but not something I'd go out of my way for. read more

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Had a quick lunch here and it's truly a gem. The restaurant is very welcoming .. fast pace but welcoming. Very clean and nice. It's almost cafeteria style.. you get in line and order what you want .. they'll put it together right in front of you then slide you your order on a cafeteria plate. You can then add your fried side items if you like .. I ordered the regular bowl of tomato curry udon and added some potstickers while my son had the chicken katsu with rice The tomato curry udon is thick and very good! I loved it. The udon is thick and chewy. Perfect everytime. The potstickers were just ok My son loved his chicken katsu over rice. A nice quick place for lunch if you're on a time crunch. read more

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I came here at noon and here's my experience: We ordered at the counter which was also a open kitchen and we paid at the end of the line. I ordered Cheese Katsu Tomatama Curry Rice and added some tempura. Total was $22. For personally, I don't like its taste, it was kinda bland. The texture of the rice was watery because they put a lot of curry on it, I wish they put it on the side or made the curry thicker. My friend ordered noodle soup with pork and he said that the meat was still cold and overall the quality seemed worse than before. .Another friend she ordered Unagi rice and she told me that it was good. read more

Marugame Udon - Valley Fair - Cheese Katsu Tomatama Curry Rice - Noodles Near Me - Santa Clara, California

Was trying to grab a quick lunch, so we went to Marugame Udon since the line wasn't crazy. Ambience: typical mall setting, tables crammed close to each other Got the cheese katsu tomatama curry. Wished i got something other than the seasonal udon... pretty heavy, mainly ate the protein and couldn't finish my bowl. The tempura add-ons were delicious though! My favorites were the shrimp & potato croquette. Sweet potato was ok. Experience was alright overall but not too memorable. read more

Marugame Udon - Valley Fair - Noodles Near Me - Santa Clara, California

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Warm and delicious noodles to have while waiting for your appointment at Apple. We went during a time when it was not busy but once we left there was a line out the door. The service is quick though as it is a service line. The tempura is good but because it is not made fresh to order it is cold when you eat it. The potato croquette was my favorite. It was nice to have something warm and comforting in the mall. read more

Marugame Udon - Valley Fair - Tamago, asparagus, mushroom and udon - Noodles Near Me - Santa Clara, California

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Love the udon here and always my favorite spot for a big bowl on a budget. I got the nikutama and my mom got the beef (only difference I had an egg), and nothing heals the heart like a bowl of soup. Smooth and great service and sat ourselves in the corner, crowd is bumping in the mall on a Saturday night but lots of seating! Clean tables and extremely polite staff, will keep up my regular appearances, watch out! Compared to the other local Marugame locations, I find this one to be the most consistent and best staff, but the others for sure will have easier parking and accessibility for not being a mall location. read more

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I took my mom here for dinner today. Her first time here. I have been to the location in San Ramon and my first time at this location. I order the most loved number 1 Nikutama udon for $13.49 while my mom ordered the #7 Curry Nikutama udon. I enjoyed my dish, it was good. My mom thought her dish was a bit more in the salty side, probably due to the curry. She didn't finish her sauce and wanted to save it and take it home to add more noodles. Overall, I enjoyed coming to this place. It is nice and fast. There was a line after we placed our order around 7:15pm. There are plenty of tables here to sit. A good place to get food if you are in a hurry as everything is already cooked. The server just needs to put your dish together. The udon is chewy and just right. I would come back and try other dishes. read more

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I love Marugame! Got the Curry Nikutama, my favorite, and it did not disappoint. I've had the original (i think) in Waikiki and its still better than here and SF. But I still love it and will get it every time I see it, since I dont live near one. Love the to go station alone the back, would use that quite a lot. read more

Marugame Udon - Valley Fair - Curry Nikutama - Noodles Near Me - Santa Clara, California

This place is always a classic, casual, udon spot with the popular nikutama BUT HAVE YOU TRIED THE NEW TOMATAMA CURRY UDON?! ya I think my life was changed after trying the new cheesy tomato based broth udon with crispy chicken katsu OMIGOD. I've been in love with their nikutama with delicious tender beef, and their soft egg, but the tomatama is freaking bomb Had to make sure I got it with cheese so you can dip that with the katsu. Also get chili flakes and ginger on the side to add to the broth, changes the overall flavor profile in the best way possible. I'm so happy it's been a while since they have added a new udon in place, I def would come back for the tomatama! read more

Marugame Udon - Valley Fair - Tomatama Udon - Noodles Near Me - Santa Clara, California

Ok but not as good as other locations. I understand this Valley Fair location is very busy, but the quality goes down a bit here. I asked for extra green onions and they're so stingy here. The face I got was like I kicked someone's cat. At other locations, you are able to scoop it yourself. The broth could be hotter as well. The tables are a little dirty, if you're able to find an open table. You then need to flag someone down to come wipe it for you. Not my favorite Marugame, but still reliable. read more

Marugame is a Udon noodle chain. This particular location is on the second floor Valley Fair right across from Ramen Nagi. The place is clean and pretty organized. The service is minimal but fast. If you're looking for fast and cheap, this is fine. The food quality is mediocre. The udon is a bit over chewy, the dashi broth is kinda tasteless. The beef is cheap and chewy. I didn't order any tempura but my family didn't give it good reviews. There are better options in the mall. read more

Marugame Udon - Valley Fair - Menu - Noodles Near Me - Santa Clara, California

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Marugame has changed since the last time I came but still tastes good! There was no wait on a Monday night and I love how fast you can get the food. Their menu expanded so I tried the bento box with the usual beef. It came with a side of their classic soup with seaweed. Now the green onions and tempura flakes are self serve so you can add as much as you want! There are also some other condiments to make it spicy or for tempura. read more

I've been going to this location for a while since it's in valley fair and the quality of their dishes and add on are on a slow decline. The restaurant was very popular even during the week having lines spanning outside but with competing restaurants around now isn't the time for the quality to drop. A lot of their hot fried stuff are cold, and soggy. I miss the crispness. Even though the customers are expected to put their trays and bowls away sometimes they don't and now the tables stay dirty and occupied. Disappointed but what can we do. The sf location has always been pretty consistent and great. Hopefully this location gets better the next time I'm there. read more

Marugame Udon - Valley Fair - Noodles Near Me - Santa Clara, California

The food was delicious. We ate Nikutama Udon, which is our favorite. The service was quick too. We just waited in line for 20 minutes due to peak dinner time. The ambiance is lively. It's a family-friendly restaurant. read more

Marugame Udon - Valley Fair - Nikutama Udon - Noodles Near Me - Santa Clara, California

Easy, quick, and delicious! This restaurant is so efficient. You order your udon and walk along an assembly line, watching your noodles get cooked and your toppings being added. The whole process takes minutes. At the end of the line, you can then add a variety of fried side dishes, ranging from shrimp tempura to chicken katsu. There's usually a pretty long line, but it moves very quickly. The udon options are reasonably priced and quite tasty. I enjoyed the savory dashi broth my noodles came with, along with the tender slices of beef. I also tried the gyoza, which was crispy on the outside and had plentiful filling. If you're looking for a fast and delicious meal, Marugame Udon is the perfect choice. read more

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My normal go-to is the Curry, but I tried the new seasonal tomato curry and it was pretty good! Udon here is always good! Their regular size bowls changed, we believe it's a smaller size. They have someone helping with seating now and a lot of employees helping us carry our trays backs and cleaning the tables for the next party. read more

Marugame Udon - Valley Fair - Seasonal item. Spicy Tomato Curry - Noodles Near Me - Santa Clara, California

I'm literally the biggest Marugame Udon fanatic. I love everything on their menu. If i could eat something every day it would be Marugame Udon. You get so much variety, from udon to rice and light broth to curry. Good selection of tempura as well as sides. Good price point for the amount of food you get too. Although it is kind of the "fast food" of udon the quality is pretty good. The beef is thinner and more fatty but I like that because it gives more flavor. Tempura was a bit soggy though, so it was probably sitting out for a bit. Service was efficient and ample seating in the restaurant. Interior is well maintained. Cleanup crew was very nice and picked up my finished tray for me. Would come back! read more

Marugame Udon - Valley Fair - Noodles Near Me - Santa Clara, California

Marugame Udon is consistently worth it, even when the line looks long enough to test your patience. That said, here is the hack: order online, pick it up, and eat at the tables just outside the seating area. Same food, no line, immediate happiness. As for what to order, Curry Nikutama is it. I have never successfully talked myself into getting anything else. The curry broth is rich and savory without being heavy, clinging perfectly to those chewy, freshly made udon noodles. Once the egg melts in, the whole bowl comes together in the most comforting, deeply satisfying way. Marugame does not overcomplicate things. They focus on quality, consistency, and food that actually delivers. Long line or not, this is a repeat visit every time. read more

Marugame Udon - Valley Fair - Curry Nikutama on the go - Noodles Near Me - Santa Clara, California

A very good alternative from Ramen Nagi. We didn't want to wait in line. So we came here. This was my first time and there was a good selection of fried foods to add to your udon. I got a few tempura, squash and a pork katsu. It was so with it. A cute spot that that had 2 entrances. Restaurant isn't closed off which is nice. It wasn't crazy busy when we came here. We were able to find a spot to sit, unlike most places they have a wait. No wait most people eat and leave. I do want to come back and try their other choices. I got what was recommended the beef nikutama. It does have a sweet taste to it. I personally would like it was more savory. read more

Marugame Udon - Valley Fair - Noodles Near Me - Santa Clara, California

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Food: Tomatama Curry Price: $13.99 (Regular) Overall: I really liked that Marugame Udon is at Valley Fair and across from Ramen Nagi. I went with my mom and sister (mom never tried this place) and it was pretty crowded; we waited around 20 minutes. Upon looking at the menu, they had a new item so I tried th Tomatama Curry! The process is quick and tables was easy to get as people were finishing up in a timely manner. The Tomatama had tomato egg and katsu + the udon had a good bounciness to it. It is quite a bit salty and heavy but, I think the katsu and curry is such an elite combo. Marugame Udon is such a solid yummy udon spot! read more

Marugame Udon - Valley Fair - Noodles Near Me - Santa Clara, California

Quick lunch stop at Marugame Udon in Valley Fair--always a solid 4 stars and super dependable when I need a fast, satisfying bowl. Weekday and early weekends are least busy: walked right up today. Lots of couples tables and some families with strollers. Went with the large Beef Udon (perfect amount of tender sliced beef and rich broth), added a soft-boiled egg (runny yolk), and the sweet potato croquette on the side--crispy outside, naturally sweet inside. Everything hot, fresh, and exactly what I expect every time. Clean tables, friendly staff, and the open kitchen vibe is fun. Never disappoints when I'm craving udon. I'm here monthly. read more

Marugame Udon - Valley Fair - Large beef udon, side of Soft boiled egg, Potato Croquette - Noodles Near Me - Santa Clara, California

I'm always happy to enjoy a meal at any of the Marugame Udon restaurants. They offer a cafeteria style ordering line which keeps the wait time low. There was a waiting line in-front of the restaurant but the queue moved quickly . It's helpful to decide what to order while waiting in line as the staff are ready and awaiting to fulfill your request. Typically you choose either noodles and broth or a rice dish. I chose the Nikutama which includes beef, onions and a soft-boiled egg. My mom wanted a more simple choice of the classic udon with the BK broth. Keep an eye on the menu as some may served cold or hot depending on the dish. I love that there is a self service line for add on tempura (shrimp and different vegetables), chicken katsu, croquettes, and/or gyoza. You can definitely beef up your meal as you see fit. After you receive your dish and choose your sides and drink the staff is waiting at the register for your payment. Eating in was our choice and luckily we timed it as there were a few two-seat tables available. If you have a larger party it might benefit you to look for seats first. It is self service for utensils, napkins and even the tempura sauce. Luckily I had visited the Berkeley location so I knew to look for those counters. Once you finish you are expected to return your try to the area towards the "back" of the restaurant. A staff member was waiting to receive the empty dishes and trash to be separated. If you want tasty food, quick service and no frills experience I would definitely try out this spot. read more

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Curry Nikutama is amazing! I would definitely will be coming back for that with their side of fireball sauce. I would recommend that they make the tempura fresh when we order. I picked up one tempura pumpkin and one tempura zucchini (which they just made). The tempura zucchini was crunchy and soft in the middle! Love the texture. But the tempura pumpkin was a little soggy. Beautiful decor all around. Ambiance is nice, perfect for a meal at a mall. Service is fast and efficient. read more

Marugame Udon - Valley Fair - Noodles Near Me - Santa Clara, California

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Always consistent and filling. Marugame is my go to udon spot. I've been to 3 locations and they've never disappointed. Sometimes there is no line at the valley fair location and other times there's a long line but it goes by fairly quickly. It's never as long as the ramen place across the way (iykyk). You tell them what you want and work your way down the line. Very fast and efficient service. Sometimes there's a worker who will tell you where to sit but mostly you just seat yourself. When you're done eating you'll bring your tray to the counter and they'll take care of it. I go back and forth between the Tonkotsu and the beef udon. Both are flavorful and fresh. Sometimes I'll get the Tonkotsu and add a side of beef. They also have chili flakes if you want to add some spice. There are sides like tempura, fried veggies and chicken katsu as you go down the line. Personally I like the potato croquette. Will always come back when I'm craving something warm and brothy read more

Marugame Udon - Valley Fair - Sides - Noodles Near Me - Santa Clara, California

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This Marugame location at Valley. Fair really hits the spot when you want a quick bite of hot udon noodles. They're located on the 2nd floor, next toAlamo Drafthouse Cinema and across from Ramen Nagi. Don't worry if you see a line, because it moves fast. I've seen stanchions set up out front (and along the will around the corner) anticipating huge crowds lining up for the place. Honestly, I have never seen that many people lining up outside. It's nothing like the line for Ramen Nagi. I noticed they completely revamped their menu compared to my last visit. They build your bowl in a similar assembly line fashion to the one at Chipotle. I had the Creamy Broth udon ($14.65) and my daughter had the Nikutama udon ($13.49). We also added veggies ($2.99), plus sliced green onions & tempura flakes (no extra charge). The udon here is always good, never too mushy. The Creamy Broth udon is good if you want a tonkatsu style bowl. There sliced pork chasu were decent thickness. And you get a whole egg! You have to be in the right mood for the Nikutama, since it leans on the sweeter side. I like how they have a self serve water dispenser, so you never have to bother staff for refills. There's plenty of seating inside, and a few out the outside (along the walkway leading to the parking garage). The staff is very quick to wipe clean tables that have been vacated. We try to sit outside since the music is always cranked up too loud for sitting inside. It is way too loud to hear what the staff is asking you when you're ordering your food. And it's too loud to have a conversation when seated indoors. I don't know why they have to set it so loud. After you're done eating, you bus your own tray by taking it to the tray return area at the back. There's some cool wall art inside. All the Marugame locations I've been to are decorated this way. read more

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Comforting udon soup + crispy tempura! My first time here, I ordered one of their most popular bowls, the Nikutama. I thought it was good, but needed ~*something*~ My sister said you need to order a side of their spicy fireball if you're looking for a lil extra something! It's not too spicy! Another time I ordered a tonkatsu style broth and that one was better! More flavorful and rich with soft chachu. Wide tempura selection. A super random one that I actually really liked was the cheese tempura! read more

Marugame Udon - Valley Fair - Nikutama - Noodles Near Me - Santa Clara, California

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A Must-Try Udon! Marugame Udon at Valley Fair Mall is our new favorite, easily beating out crowded spots like Nagi. The best part is the customization: pick your broth, then your choice of veggies and meat. We always get the 5 vegetarian broth, which my kids adore. Quick service and consistently delicious food. Bypass the lines and head here for a fresh, personalized meal. read more

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Been here many times as it's a quick and easy meal for when you're hungry at the mall. Sometimes, there's a line but it goes fast (at least a lot faster than Ramen Nagi). Even during the busy period, there's always a table because you have to order first before you are seated. It's rather loud, so sometimes you have to speak up to order. They have the noodles preportioned out so when you order, they heat it up and prep your order pretty quickly. There is complimentary tempura flakes and green onions if you want, and other paid side dishes to add to your noodles. After receiving your noodle/rice order, there's also tempura and deep fried items you can pick and choose. They look quite fresh, but can be a bit oily at times because they are sitting under heat lamps. The regular udon is great on its own, but a little plain. They also have different variety of soup and rice dishes as well, if you want something with more flavor. Also they have a vegetable side dish, but just beware the veggies are cold. I really like how they have take home containers where they have the utensils. There's also shichimi and pickled ginger if you want some spice. After your meal, you should put away the dishes away at the tray return area, though a staff member does come around to take them away if they notice you are done with your meal. Since this restaurant is located in a mall, there's plenty of parking, but only the first 90 minutes is free. read more

Marugame Udon - Valley Fair - Noodles Near Me - Santa Clara, California

I've been to marugame many times. It's bomb. It's affordable. The tempura stuff is usually good and tastes fairly fresh. Tried their newer option the creamy tonkotsu broth udon and it was really creamy and flavorful. The chashu was also really good. Honestly you can't go wrong with any of the options. Overall def will be back for my udon fix next time I'm in the area read more

Marugame Udon - Valley Fair - Creamy tonkotsu broth udon - Noodles Near Me - Santa Clara, California

Tried Marugame Udon after deciding not to wait for a ultra-trendy ramen place a stone's throw away. It was a great choice. MU is a super-decent udon house in the mall. After watching the good folks behind the counter ladel that glorious broth, I decided to give them a try. It was a very good decision. Having spent my youth eating at several noodle houses in Japantown SF, I have developed a good sense of what is good. MU is good. It starts with the broth. It can't be too watery or too salty. I could drink that broth life coffee; it is so good. The noodles are next. Udon noodles need to be thick, soft but it with a little bit of density. Again, MU succeeded. Add to that the Kakuni Chashu, soft-boiled egg & finely chopped green onions and it was a bowl of heaven. I now have a Udon place in the mall. Their fast-casual environment was clean, organized and orderly. If you are looking to satisfy a noodle craving, MU is the spot. Now for the pics. read more

Marugame Udon - Valley Fair - Noodles Near Me - Santa Clara, California