Marugame Udon is a fun spot for fresh, made-in-house udon with plenty of room to customize your bowl. I originally came in excited to try the Tokyo-Styled Loaded Chashu Pork, but unfortunately it was sold out. Luckily, the Curry Nikutama turned out to be a pretty delicious backup choice. The udon noodles are made fresh in-store and have that satisfying chewy texture you'd hope for from a good bowl of udon. The beef was tender, the curry had a fragrant savory depth, and the soft-boiled egg added a nice richness and creaminess that tied everything together. One of my favorite parts was the condiment station -- being able to add fresh cilantro, green onions, ginger, togarashi, lime, and other toppings lets you really personalize the flavors and brighten up the bowl. My only minor notes: the curry leaned a little saltier than my personal preference, so a lighter touch on the seasoning would make it even more balanced. Also, during my visit there were quite a few flies around the dining area, which may have just been a seasonal issue, but it did take away a bit from the overall experience. Overall, still a satisfying bowl of udon with fresh noodles, comforting flavors, and a fun customization experience. I'd definitely come back to try the chashu pork when it's back in stock! read more

Marugame Udon - Nikutama Curry Bowl - Japanese Near Me - Arcadia, California

I'd like to preface this review noting that I've never written a bad review. AMBIANCE/ SERVICE -- We decided to eat here since our original plan did not work out. It's been a while, but we loved the original location in little Tokyo. So heavily disappointed this time around. First of all-- SO MANY FLIES!!! I counted fives flies on one customer's purse and at least 15 on the bench. We decided to try to eat at the tables outside even though it was warm, but the flies were extra aggressive. I asked the workers if we could take our food inside the food court and ensure we would bring the trays back since we had our 6 MONTH BABY in the stroller. I was extremely shocked when they did not allow it, esp since we had a baby! We settled at a table with the least amount of flies-- then one of the workers kept swatting them, which just made the situation worse. FOOD-- quality has dipped tremendously. It was fine as "mall food". But noodles did not taste fresh and my broth was too salty. OVERALL- would give a 0 if I could. read more

food is normal, just your typical udon and plain broth, with your choices of tempuras. however my takeout experience was horrific. i checked out two beef udons and 2 cheese katsu in store. first, they gave me chicken katsu instead of cheese katsu, so they had me return my order then notified me that they are now working on frying cheese tempura. i watch them the entire time but they proceed to fry everything that was already in stock that was not cheese. waited over 15-20 mins for them to start frying the cheese sticks. in total i waited over 30 mins for a takeout order thats suppose to be grab and go. to compensate, they threw in an extra cheese stick, thank you for a free $3 item when i could've just eaten in store and left quicker than this take out order and wasted half an hour of my time. additionally, i touched the chicken katsu that was in the bag and they put the katsu BACK on the serving stand. this is completely UNSANITARY. read more

The very first time that I had Marugame Udon was in HAWAII. I always wished they would open one in California. Who knew that 8 years later. They would be nation wide!! So grateful for this hand made iron place... NIKUTAMA UDON: 10/10 The STAR OF THE SHOW! It has so much savory and rich flavors. This dish we leave you wanting more and coming back for more. Highly addictive and super delicious!! CHEESE KATSU TOMAMATA: 8/10 New item! Worth trying if you like tomato sauce with udon noodles! I thought it was a creative idea. It reminded me of the Chinese version of the tomato and egg noodles. Not bad but, I still went back for more Nikutama udon noodles... SERVICE: 8/10 Every seems like they are just going their job. The cashier seems quiet and doesn't really want to do much. When I asked for Togo boxes, I almost got the eye roll but, when my friend said we got it already, he seemed relieved. My perception is so accurate that it seems like a curse more than a gift at this point... AMBIANCE: 8/10 It is usually crowded so I would recommend having your friend go sit at a table first and have someone else order the food in line... What happened to the CALAMARI TEMPURA? That was my ALL time favorite!! MARUGAME UDON, NOODLE LOVE STRONG!!! read more

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Stopped into the Santa Anita Mall and decided to try this Udon spot because their noodles are made with only 3 ingredients: "Pure Flour, Salt, and Water". I'm really trying to focus on healthy, cleaner ingredients in this day and age. I visited a couple times over the last few months, trying the #1 Nikutama beef udon and each visit had consistently DELICIOUS, hot broth. The noodles are fresh, and irresistibly chewy. I love the soft boiled egg to mix into my broth, too!! I am the type of person to love one item at a restaurant and always crave that one thing. I keep coming back not only for the food, but the quality of customer service you will receive here is above and beyond!! There was tons of seating. Just as quickly as customers come in, customers were leaving, and the staff is so clean and professional - keeping up with the ebb and flow of messes. You can help them by clearing your tray at the trash station! My group always loves the food. Even on super busy days, your crew works hard and serves up consistently great food over and over again. I will definitely be back to the best udon place I've ever been!! read more

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Great place just outside the food court and next to Cheesecake Factory. There's plenty of seating inside and you order first and they'll cook your noodles right then and there, then you get complimentary toppings so I kinda went ham on the seaweed, cilantro, and tempura. But they also have green onions, ginger, garlic, etc. Got the large Kitsune ramen and man is it good, the fried tofu is nice and sweet, a perfect blend with the savory but clean broth. And the tempura crab is unbelievably crispy on the inside with an almost melting sweet crab inside. 10/10 Service is fast and friendly. I do wish we used our student discount for 15% off, but it was only after we paid and ate that we saw it was a thing. After you order and pay--there's water, sauces, and cutlery to the side. The shichimi chili pepper is so good, the perfect spicy addition to any of their options. I didn't try the tempura dipping sauce but it's also available. The noodles aren't as satisfying as what I'm used to, my udon noodles are a bit more qq, these, while elastic, are a bit softer. But, still really good. Almost all the tables seemed a bit wobbly though, but it really didn't stop me from having a delicious meal. Definitely recommend! read more

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Always clean, organized, and kid-friendly with plenty of booster seats! Note: Bowls are no longer on the side counter, but you can get them just by asking.The kake udon is a massive hit with our kids, and the katsu is always perfectly fresh and crispy. Love that they keep the crunchy tempura flakes well-stocked. Pro-tip: Visit during off-peak hours to avoid the long lines! read more

This is a solid, build-your-own udon restaurant conveniently located in the mall. The service is fast and the udon is delicious. Ordered the shrimp bk and added veggies and sweet potato. 15% student discount if you show your ID! The tables could be cleaner. read more

Marugame Udon - Shrimp BK Kake - Japanese Near Me - Arcadia, California

If you want a quick and fast meal (yet delicious), Marugame Udon should be on your list. There are a variety of different types of wood you can order, and they all come piping hot with savory soup and delicious toppings. I have tried a bunch of different offerings on their menu and you can't go wrong. It all depends on what you're in the mood for. Once you order your udon, you have the choice of selecting various types of tempura: shrimp, tamago, imitation crab, etc. The chicken cutlet is my go to. Searing is first come first serve and it can get busy, but folks come and go pretty fast. Located on the AMC wing of the Santa Anita Mall, so Park could be a challenge depending on when you go. read more

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Great alternative to the chaotic food court option. Service is always friendly, food is consistent across the board, rice, udon with a variety of soup base, and the complementary garnish is definitely a plus! The tempura bar is my kid's favorite! read more

Marugame Udon - Fresh tempura! - Japanese Near Me - Arcadia, California

We love this place! We come here often whenever we're craving some good, warm & comforting udon. Their sides are always crispy and fresh as well! Service is always super friendly. The restaurant itself is kind of packed inside, can be difficult to get around. There are seats outside as well. 10/10 will always come back read more

Marugame Udon - Japanese Near Me - Arcadia, California

i've now been to this specific location 5x and 3 of the times have been take out orders. every single time we have ordered take out there's a hiccup. takeout orders are totally deprioritized. i placed my order while the restaurant was almost empty, i paid, waited and then proceeded to watch 15 other parties in the dine in line receive and pay for their food and finish more than half of their meals while i still waited. mind you, i ordered ONE plain udon bowl literally nothing else. i waited a total of 16 minutes while everyone else in house was finishing their food. i saw over 9 people in the front working and only 1 person manning takeout orders. there were several people after me waiting for their takeout orders too. i don't know why i keep coming back to this location (never had issues in waikiki or glendale) honestly it's because my toddlers like the noodles. i've had multiple issues with waiting and quality and have passed it off as businesses having off days, but after another bad experience i realize management needs work. the smell of the food is a lot more pungent here too. the broth was especially fishier today and in prior visits the beef smelled really off. read more

Marugame Udon - ordered at 6:21, received my food 16 minutes later - Japanese Near Me - Arcadia, California

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This Marugame Udon location is part of The Shops at Santa Anita. It's connected to the mall near the food court, but you need to exit the mall first in order to enter. We came by on a Saturday afternoon, and there was no line. I got their Nikutama Udon, which you can order hot or cold. It was a warm day, so I opted for cold. The broth is slightly sweet and comes with a soft boiled egg. I like that they have tempura flakes and green onion that you can add to your liking. The texture of their udon is always perfectly springy, and the soft boiled egg has a nice creaminess to it. And of course, when at Marugame Udon, you have to get some tempura from their self-serve tempura bar! I got an eggplant, tamagoyaki, green bean, and sweet potato. The shrimp tempura wasn't replenished yet, so we ordered a couple, and once they were made, someone brought them out to us. A solid spot for some good udon! read more

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Cafeteria Style to get some udon! You pick what type of udon you want, customize how you want, and after there is different types of tempura to add to your tray as well. +Lines usually go by pretty quick, tempura is hit or miss. -Sometimes not that warm/ oily. +Udon is always a hit. +Toppings/ sauces are available on the side by the tissues and utensils +- seating can be tough when its crowded +clean read more

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Way too many flies!!! It's absolutely disgusting & ridiculous!!! Take a bite then swat, take a bite then swat, unacceptable!!! Food is decent but not coming back at all. Thought we would grab a bite before a movie but it was a complete mistake!!! Mentioned the flies to staff and it was like yeah there's a lot of flies I'll let management know... Everything is dirty including the bathrooms... you can see other customers taking bites and swatting flies!!! read more

Marugame Udon - 3 flies in 1 picture! Absolutely unacceptable! - Japanese Near Me - Arcadia, California

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Too many flies. I went a few days ago and wanted something quick that's not the usual mall food. And as the employee was making my food, a fly landed on the bowl as he stepped away to grab things. Then when I went to look for a table to sit at, all of the tables in the main area were dirty. I sat by the window (cleanest out of all tables) and again, flies everywhere. read more

My daughters and I have been to Marugame Udon at Westfield UTC in San Diego. We enjoyed it very much. My youngest daughter and I decided to try out their Arcadia location at The Shoppes at Santa Anita for lunch on a Sunday afternoon. Interior setup is pretty much similar to a cafeteria. I appreciate there is a sanitizer station right at the front of the line. Please sanitize your hands before moving forward. Thank you! Concept is self-service... get in line, pick your food item, get your food item on a tray, move through the line to pick any appetizers you would like, pick out a drink of choice if you choose, and head to register to pay for your food and drink. Afterwards, get your condiments, water if any, and utensils and napkins. After you're done eating, go get your to-go boxes and bag if you need them. Lastly, go return your tray to the return tray area. Restooms are in the back of the restaurant. If you're doing take-out, don't get in line. Just walk straight in towards the right of the register counter area. There is a self-ordering kiosk for your use. Now to our dining experience... Restaurant was clean. They weren't super busy. We got in line and we were up next. Wait time was pretty much nil. They have about 11 udon bowls, about 5 rice bowls, a good selection of appetizers, and add-ons as well. Besides sodas and water, they have a couple specialty drinks. We got #1, #7, and #20 plus one Calamansi drink. Lady staff at the register was pleasant and nice. We paid for our food, sat down at an open table, and started eating. There are no table servers. They do wipe down the tables as people leave. Thank you! #1 Nikutama Udon with some appetizers (my youngest daughter) #7 Curry Nikutama Udon with Zucchini, Sweet Potato (mine) #20 Eel & Beef Bento (to-go for my eldest daughter) My curry udon bowl had a good amount of udon noodles. I don't eat beef so I had to give my protein to my daughter. The curry was thick in consistency. I would have preferred it thinner. I do love the egg! Both zuchhini and sweet potato were very good. I enjoyed the latter more than the former. Even though I enjoyed my curry udon bowl, I probably won't get it again because of the thick curry. My daughter enjoyed her udon bowl plus her appetizers very much. Please be mindful that every appetizer is an additional cost. Your meal could add up very fast! You've been warned LOL. We plan to come back to try their other udon variations plus more delicious appetizers. read more

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Yeah, what is going on here! There is like 7 people working here and not that busy but food takes forever. Everyone at a snails pace. Stood in line to pay and like no one at the registers. Had to drag someone to help. And what's with all the flies in this place . read more

My girlfriend and I visited this place after a long day of shopping at the Santa Anita Mall. This was a perfect small meal to help hold us over until dinner. There were plenty of people but the queue went by fairly quickly. Additionally it was pretty clean over here and easy to find a seat. This place just tasted like any normal udon establishment so I wasn't really impressed, but it's good for what it is. The reason why they get 4 stars is that they initially got my order wrong and ended up having to waste food :( then when I got to the cashier i asked for shrimp tempura flakes on the side and he condescendingly just pointed to the water station. Overall my experience was alright and it definitely felt like I was at a food court eating here. read more

Marugame Udon - #3 & #11 - Japanese Near Me - Arcadia, California

Stopped by for a quick lunch and this place never fails to disappoint. Ordered the Nikutama udon with sweet potato tempura. Love that they allow you to add unlimited tempura flakes and green onions here. This location is somewhat better than the San Gabriel one, but the Glendale location is the best one so far. Quick and nice service as usual. read more

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Marugame udon is perfect for the fast casual dinning experience, I wouldn't say it's the best udon I've ever had because there wasn't much veggies in my dish or other ingredients, but the trade off makes sense for the speed ! I got : Eel & Beef bento Calamansi drink Creamy broth udon Even though the ingredients in my chicken broth udon with pork lacked veggies, it was super tasty!!! Got that umami flavor, rich broth, and wonderful udon bouncy texture . The eel & beef udon was on the smaller side, I just wish it had more rice ... it was still delicious though. I liked their service at the register, Kind people, patient and welcoming. The calamansi drink is made in house and very delicious , not overly sweet which was super refreshing with the udon and rice. Big atmosphere, family friendly, I like that after I got the food paid for , I can add my own sauces or tempura topping / cilantro and green onion toppings. Follow me for more foodie adventures -LIVING WITH LUCI read more

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Perfect addition to this mall! I first tried marugame udon in Japan and this location does it just as good. This location is so convenient and is well kept after. Ordering is easy as the large menu is right before the line where you order. I highly recommend getting a separate cup of their free crispy tempura flakes at their free condiment section. It is SOOO tasty!! I highly recommend trying their udon with a soft boiled egg and their eel beef rice bento. The portions are very generous and easily shareable. read more

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Well, thể food is good , savory and delicious. You order, and more toppings for extra and pay. Simple as that. This place is good side and plenty tables for you. It is cleaned , a little noisey since it is also family's restaurant. Foods were excellent , freshly made udon and the broth was tasty good. We will back here again. read more

Marugame Udon - Japanese Near Me - Arcadia, California

Unsanitary conditions. The entire restaurant is filled with flies. Also, the girl with the pale skin, dark hair, and permanent scowl on her face should not be handling food. I saw her grab and serve noodles after using her gloved hands to touch the monitor's screen -AND- after resting her hands on her hips. Gross, gross, gross! read more

Today I went to the Arcadia's location try its rice bowl. I ordered the beef and eel combo. The beef is tasty but the eel is the highlight of the dish. It was melt in your month. The servers and the cashier were friendly and provide excellent service. read more

Marugame Udon - Eel & Beef Bento - Japanese Near Me - Arcadia, California

The best udon I've ever had. Just got the classic beef broth bowl! (In large) Their sunset pineapple drink was great but too sweet for me so I added water to it. Service was amazing. So sweet and accommodating. Definitely will be back, thank you for having me Marugame udon! Arigatoooo read more

Marugame Udon - Japanese Near Me - Arcadia, California

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What I ordered - Nikutama - sweet beef with soft boiled egg - Tonkotsu - chashu pork, miso ground pork, and seasoned hard boiled egg. - 2 sides of their spicy gekikara fireball - tempura: shrimp, potato, and pumpkin The plate report - The udon soup is always so comforting, especially on a rainy day. I like how you can order a simple udon soup or a rice dish. They have a large variety and can easily satisfy a group of people. - Nikutama is definitely on the sweeter side but I like adding a side of their spicy gekikara fireball to add a kick. - Tonkotsu was also good. Doesn't taste like your typical ramen soup but it's still tasty. - Tempura - I wish they put out a sign of when fresh tempura comes out. It's hard to tell if it's been out or it's freshly fried. Typically, I would say the tempura is on the softer side for me and isn't as crunchy as I would like. Little things to note - This is located outside near Cheesecake Factory and benihana - this mall gets busy now so parking might be tough during peak hours - You order before grabbing a seat - They have free tempura flakes at their self service bar Price point $ - Under $15 read more

Marugame Udon - Nikutama and tonkotsu - Japanese Near Me - Arcadia, California

Too many flies flying around inside,and too dirty! They need to clean the restaurant and get rid of the flies!

Located in the outdoor area near the food court, this place is pretty convenient if you are in the mood for some Udon after a day of shopping. I tried their Creamy Broth Udon-Tonkotsu Style udon topped with pork chashu and a seasoned egg and their Nikutama udon served in with sweet beef and soft boiled egg. The Nikutama udon was definitely my favorite of the two! I enjoy the balance of sweet and savory from the dish. I love that they have a fried section that has tempura, gyozas, and other sides. I tried their potato wedges which was just okay. read more

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Went there with my family on Sunday, the food was good but the flies in the restaurant made it difficult to enjoy the meal. Not sure why it got so bad. The flies were literally everywhere and moving in the back didn't help. read more

I love udon and Marugame Udon is classic. My kids enjoy the pretty basic udon with broth and a side of tempura and my husband and I enjoy the curry udon. We wish there was one located in Ventura but for now, we satisfy our craving in LA and OC whenever we can! The ordering system is casual. You line up, order, pay, and bring your tray with food back to your seat. read more

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I wasn't greeted by any of the staff and was standing there for a few minutes patiently waiting. Although two staff members did make eye contact with me. I had the nikutama and I had hoped for the broth to be warmer. There was plenty of seating inside. There was seating outside as well. I went today, a Sunday, and since this is at the mall, parking was a bit tough to find. I was too full to try the musubi. The calamansi drive and the flavor, but wasn't particularly my favorite. I love my noodles, but I'm not sure I'll be back here. read more

Marugame Udon - Nikutama, musubi, calamansi - Japanese Near Me - Arcadia, California

I tried Marugame Udon, located just outside the food court. The setup is very fast-casual: you order at the counter, pay at the cashier, and then sit down like a fast-food spot. The food was fine -- freshly made and served quickly -- but it didn't really stand out. The udon was good, but not as flavorful or satisfying as other ramen or noodle spots nearby. Service was efficient but not very memorable, and as someone new, there wasn't much explanation or guidance through the ordering process. The space is clean and spacious, but given the strong food options inside the Santa Anita mall food court, I'd probably choose one of those instead next time. Not bad, just not a must-return. read more

Marugame Udon - Indoor, order and sit - Japanese Near Me - Arcadia, California

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This is my second time having marugame udon. The first time, I ate too fast and didn't get pictures. This time, I took my time and remembered, because their udon is delicious. Both times I've gotten their creamy chicken udon with an egg in it. The broth is savory, slightly thick - but not too much, and the udon are the perfect texture. The pork was excellent and well seasoned. At first I thought I'd be hungry and that the serving wasn't enough. In actuality I got full really fast and had leftovers. When a cold day hits; I will definitely get this again. read more

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It's really a shame that they precook their udon. It truly ruins the fact that they make it fresh. I wanted to give them a second chance but again, the noodle texture was overcooked and not bouncy. The soup and the beef were good though. I'd skip the tempura all together - it just sits there and is soggy. read more

Marugame Udon - Nikutama with corn - Japanese Near Me - Arcadia, California

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Been coming here a few times since it opened and service is usually pretty quick, despite the long lines during the weekends. Food is always fresh and tasty. Tried their new beef tomatama udon and it was excellent. Good amount of tomato flavor and beef. read more

Marugame Udon - Tan Tan (on top) and Kitsune (bottom) with sides of katsu and fried mushrooms - Japanese Near Me - Arcadia, California

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Got a Too Good to Go Surprise Bag ($6) and it was amazing! Got a container of Udon, a tray of potstickers, and a tray of shrimp tempura and potato croquette! The udon was still super hot and fresh. The tempura was still very crispy and delicious! The tray of potstickers were very yummy and full of meat! Only downside is that the pickup time is quite late (10pm) but it's so worth it! Would definitely recommend! read more

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Marugame Udon offers comforting bowls of udon and an assortment of tempura. The noodles are freshly made and cooked. I've had the opportunity to try other locations and have appreciated the consistency across the various other Marugame Udon locations. My favorite order is the Curry Beef Nikutama Udon. I love the sweet sliced beef, onsen egg, and thicker curry broth that coats the udon perfectly. For this meal, I grabbed a piece of shrimp tempura and zucchini tempura. There is tempura sauce, sliced green onion, and Japanese red pepper flakes available for you to grab on the side. read more

Marugame Udon - Curry Nikutama - Japanese Near Me - Arcadia, California

Marugame Udon is just right outside of Santa Anita mall entrance by food court. Party of two families decided to have a lunch together with 4 adults and 4 kids on a weekday. Menu selection is limited, but they are customizable. Service is average as basically everything is self service. Vibe is modern cafeteria like. They have fritters and side options on udons are good. However, I did not like the fact the water plastic cup is flimsy and hard to use dispenser with it. Udons are solid, the secrets to good food is always the ingredients and how you prep them. Soup base is good. They have most ingredients ready, so you don't really have to wait too long for the udon. It's basically the line and customers that's slowing things down. I can see some people don't like the cafeteria experience, but the food does taste quite good as we have zero complaints in our party. read more

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Looking for a good hearty meal that is somewhere between food court eats and pricey restaurant? Marugame Udon is your best bet. Located right outside the food court next to Cheesecake Factory, it is literally your mid price point option. Made to order noodle soups, base, protein, and flavoring all customizable. Friendly staff, tasty eats, plenty of indoor seating with a couple tables available outdoors. The only cons: 1) For some reason, the sides are all priced higher than expected when considering the entrees (soups) are relatively decently priced. 2) Fountain drinks are no longer available. And there are no refills on the juices behind the counter. read more

Marugame Udon - Gyoza, Beef Gyudon, tonkatsu udon, tempura - Japanese Near Me - Arcadia, California