Tried Nikutama Udon and it was so delicious! The meat was tender and flavorful. Broth was delicious and I end up drink up the whole thing! It also comes with sweet onions and soft boiled egg which brings out the flavor even more. I also tried their tamagoyaki (sweet egg omelette) and shrimp and while it taste good, I could live without it. I would recommend nikutama udon 5/5. Would go here again read more

A good place for fresh udon and a satisfying meal in South Coast Plaza. We went on a Thursday night and there was no line which was a welcomed surprise. Most of the time when we walk by on weekends there's a fairly long line. There's a decent amount of seating, but a lot of the tables were dirty when we arrived and they stayed that way the entire time we were there. You order along the counter and find a seat after paying for your food. The service interactions are minimal and they gave very short responses when we asked questions. It was also a little bit off because the cashier went off to go do another task in the middle of our transaction so we ended up having to stand there and wait for a few minutes in order to get a receipt. The portion size is decent and the noodles are very fresh. The noodles have a really nice chewy texture and they're really enjoyable to eat. We said yes to adding tempura flakes but it ended up making the soup fairly oily. The shrimp tempura was mostly batter and it was difficult to find the shrimp inside. The next time I go back I would want to try other dishes to see if the taste is better. read more

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Marugame Udon is a pretty budget friendly place to have a quick stop to have a meal in South Coast Plaza. There is a decent variety of broths to choose from and bento boxes if you don't want udon! After choosing one, there are also a selection of tempura options to choose from if you want something extra and light, which is nice. Staff is pretty chill to go through your order once you enter and there's plenty of seating, but it does get busy at times, so maybe take note of that. I got a nikutama udon and even the regular size was pretty decent to get full from. The broth was good and the meat was pretty tender so that's nice. I try different things when I do decide to come, and every visit goes well for expectations on what I'm ordering, which is nice that there's a good baseline of consistency. Especially the noodles being just right, it's never too stiff or soggy, which is always a plus. read more

Marugame Udon - Nikutama Udon - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Not a huge udon fan but this is a staple. Several different broths to choose from with several that you can get hot or cold. Noodles were perfectly al dente I added extra green onions to mine as well as shichimi and chili oil to give it a kick. Forgot to take pic oops read more

Marugame Udon - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

We usually come here for the teriyaki chicken katsu with udon, but they've discontinued the sauce for it, so we tried the nikutama udon instead. It was still really delicious. The noodles were perfectly cooked as always and the sauce, egg, and beef made it super yummy. I still prefer the old teriyaki chicken katsu though. Overall, still a good meal. read more

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I Like this style restaurant where you go down the line and build your bowl and select your sides. It's super quick and efficient and ensures hot fresh options. I've come here many times and the udon is always great and very flavorful. read more

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Visited on a weekday for lunch. He place was not busy so there was no wait. Staff were kind and the place was clean. Got Two dishes both were good and at a pretty fair price. read more

Marugame Udon - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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This place is downstairs under DTF Got there, there was no line. Food is quick, why scoop what you infront, kinda like cafeteria style. There are other add ins towards the end. We ordered their creamy udon and nikutama, added the green onions and tempera, two fried chicken pieces, gyoza Broth was good, I enjoyed the creamy udon more, pork slices were very thin, and I wish I didn't add the tempera because the flakes just got very soggy The nikutama was ok, broth was sweet, the tempera flakes got too soggy here also. The ran out of the big fried chicken so we got two small ones. This is probably my favorite thing there! Very flavorful and tender. Gyoza tastes like it's been sitting there for hours. Was a little stale/cold. Wouldnt get this again read more

Marugame Udon - Creamy udon - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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I love udon. I love curry. I love cheese. Put the 3 together, you have my favorite menu item. I also love the tonkatsu, but since this curry cheese tomatama came on the menu, I don't want anything else. It's a thick bowl I will admit, but it's a cheat meal for me. read more

Marugame Udon - Cheese Katsu Tomatama Curry udon - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

tried out the marugame in south coast plaza on a friday afternoon and there was no line. i would consider this location a casual, fast service restaurant. you order with one of the staff, they make your order right then and there, and there's a grab and go section for their assortment of tempura, and then you pay and find a table to eat. service was average, typical with more fast service spots. the cheese katsu tomatama curry udon was pretty good, udon had good chew and their tomato base curry had good flavor and katsu was crispy and tender. their beef rice bowl was hearty and fatty that came with a seaweed soup on the side but the soup had so much sesame oil in it, it just tasted like hot water with sesame oil. our favorite tempuras of what we grabbed were definitely the shrimp, zucchini and sweet potato tempuras. the gyozas' meat filling had a more american flavor/seasoning, almost like a hamburger gyoza and the potato croquette was just okay. everything was still crispy even with them being under the heat lamps but i love that they have different condiments out for you to grab yourself like the tempura dipping sauce, ginger, chili oil, katsu sauce, and the japanese chili powder as well. read more

Marugame Udon - beef rice bowl - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Delicious. Beef was so good, udon noodles perfectly cooked, the dashi broth. SO GOOD. I'm obsessed and definitely coming back. I wish they had a spicy paste or something to make it spicy but still delicious with the lil chili flakes they got. read more

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Not my favorite udon but I was in the area and decided to give it a second chance. The line wasn't too long on a Friday night and it moved fast. Service was nice. I got the creamy broth because the menu said it was the most loved and beef dashi broth. For tempura I got zucchini, chicken, shrimp, and pumpkin. I didn't love any of them the batter wasn't crispy, it was cold, and it was falling apart. They udon unfortunately wasn't memorable either. Neither of them had enough broth and the udon was so slippery it struggled to stay on my spoon and in my chopsticks. read more

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We stopped by Marugame for a quick bite while shopping at South Coast Plaza. Line was long, as always. I didn't really want anything as all their meats are too fatty for me and their use dark meat for their chicken katsu and not chicken breast meat (per their cook in the kitchen). My sister and her husband got the number 1 since they like the meat more fatty and not too lean. I got a couple pieces of tempura and the tempura is good here. They currently have a promotion for like $10, you'd get a bowl of udon and limited choices of toppings. read more

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We came here on a weekday for lunch, and there wasn't a line. We ordered the tempura bowl and the gyudon bowl. We also added more tempuras before we paid for our orders. They have a self-serve water station and don't forget those tempura sauces too! I love the setup here; it seems like you're in an alleyway in Japan. Everything was delicious, the tempura was crispy, and the sauce was not watered down. The gyudon bowl is also tasty. We were satisfied with our food, and the service was speedy and efficient. The staff were also friendly and helped us clean up and clear our trays when we finished our food. read more

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It's unfortunate they changed their menu. They completely got rid of the curry, instead made it tomato based. My daughter won't eat when we come here anymore unless the original menu is back. They also got rid of a really good rice bowl.... What a shame. read more

Marugame Udon - Curry Udon - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

We'd been here before some years ago and really enjoyed the food and experience, so decided to come back again. One of the most memorable things about this place was how we got in the looooong line out the door, and around the block. But this time we got smart and showed up early, with no long lines or waits for a table. The place was still busy, but we got through the doors right away upon arrival. So, this is a cafeteria style restaurant where you pick your freshly made noodles.. literally from scratch, and pick all the freshly fried tempura items that appeal to you. Final bill is based on the type of noodles and number of tempura items you choose. Once paid for at the end of the line, you go find a table and enjoy your meal. I must say, the noodles looked and tasted so good....boiled just right with a very nice springy chew, and the pieces of tempura fried to a crispy perfection on the outside. My hardest time was deciding which items to choose as everything looked so yummy that I wanted to try one of everything. If getting a quick fill with a delicious and comforting bowl of hot freshly made udon noodles, accompanied by freshly fried hot and crunchy tempura is the craving for the hour, then this is the place to come... despite the typically very long lines, which moves pretty quickly.... it's still definitely worth it. read more

Marugame Udon - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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This spot is great for a casual get together! Be wary during weekends and rush hour times that seating may be hard to find. Although prices have gone up, Marugame is still a great affordable spot while serving high quality udon and tempura. Service is great and efficient. I think their regular bowl portion has gotten smaller since I remember having more room to mix in my bowl last time ordering "regular size". A great spot to get in and out for a bite! read more

Marugame Udon - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I got the Nikutama bowl and added a few tempura items. I had no idea it was set up like that so I really enjoyed being able to choose what I wanted to add. The bowl was a bit sweet but they have a great spice ball you can add to balance it out. It was packed when we got in line but by the time we got our food, a bunch of tables opened up so don't worry if it's busy! read more

Marugame Udon - Nikutama Bowl with: Shrimp Tempura Potato Croquette Chicken Karage Sweet Potato Tempura - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Came here with family to have an early lunch. This place is located inside the mall on the 1st level underneath the din tai fung. It's an order before you sit type of place. Seating is decent but for larger parties, you would need to go find seating first then go order to make sure your party has the proper amount of seating because you'll have your food as soon as you order and pay for it. Menu is simple, a few options and you can either get a regular size bowl or a large bowl which is twice the udon serving of the regular bowl. You'll order it and the person will add the noodle and broth you want. Then the next person will add the toppings if you want it and then it's basically lunch line type of thing grabbing other tempura items if you want as you slide your food to the cashier to pay, where you grab a bottle tea drink. He'll ring you up and you're on your way to your seat to eat. Grabbing utensils and napkins as needed. They also offer water and have water cups for you to grab too. And you also clean up your own trays and bowls to their designated area near the drink area. Customer service was ok. They didn't greet you or anything. Just straight transaction. They also seemed like they were freaking out seeing large parties come through because seating was limited when multiple large groups like ours all came at the same time. But it is what it is in my opinion when it's lunch time. Kind of felt like we had to rush to eat and get kids out so others could come and sit. Didn't feel like a place we could just go as a group to eat and mingle. I guess we know to not come here for family meals now. read more

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This location is very different from the original one in Little Tokyo, but we were surprised to really enjoy our experience. The menu is much more limited than the OG location. You order like going down a cafeteria line. Not all the tempura is made fresh; they're just sitting there waiting to be picked up as you move down the line. But the food was delicious. We ordered a beef udon bowl, a chashu udon bowl, and tempura rice bowl. We also ordered extra shrimp tempura on the side. Everything was filled with umami flavor. The tempura bowl had a good mix of tempura. The udon wasn't as good in chewy texture as the one in Little Tokyo. But the broths were really good. The shrimp tempura wasn't as fresh and crispy as made to order. But overall the food was decently priced and tasted good. There's a self serve area of sauces and grated ginger as well as to go boxes and extra bowls which we appreciated. It also made for serving littles very convenient. This was a pleasant surprise in South Coast plaza that I wasn't expecting. We would come back for convenience. read more

Marugame Udon - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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When you're in need of a lunch break while shopping at South Coast, this is a great cafeteria-style option. The wait time is relatively quick and somehow there's always seating, even if the line is out the door. I usually opt for the Nikutama, Marugame's bestseller. The sukiyaki beef is thin and slightly sweet, the poached egg is freshly cracked in front of you, and the udon is always cooked perfectly (though slippery, lol!). You also get the choice to add green onion and tempura flakes. I ask for no tempura flakes because I find that they get soggy quickly. If you're in the mood for a little extra something, there are additional a la carte items that you could add to your meal (various tempura, croquettes, karaage chicken, gyoza, etc.). Overall this is a solid place to eat while you're shopping, especially if you don't want to deal with the Din Tai Fung wait or prices :) read more

Marugame Udon - Nikutama Udon (regular size) - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Very proud to have introduced my boyfriend to this spot, because now we'll go here almost every time we're at south coast. I usually get the nikutama which is an awesome 9/10 for me but last time I went they had the tomatama curry udon and WOW that's a 10/10 for me. (I love tomato). The service is always good here; they have a great system down with a good work flow. Sometimes it looks like it'll be really hard to find a table but it always seems to work out for me even when it's busy. The nature of the restaurant being fast-service means people aren't typically hogging all the tables for too long, and I find that the employees are really fast to help clear/clean tables. Love this place! read more

Marugame Udon - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I have an early stages of sore throat, and this place definitely did the trick for me or at least is currently help aid it. The Dashi Beef Broth is really good and very rich, it comes with crushed flakes and green onions. You can add other ingredients to your meal but they have their separate pricing. It's located in a highly populated mall, seating is VERY limited and because its own section in the mall there are no tables outside the area. Keep that in mind. The service is really good, positive energy and greetings on the way in and out. There's also someone who collects your trays for you but I personally like bringing it to the dirty dishes section. Definitely recommend read more

Marugame Udon - Beef Dashi Broth - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Have heard such great things about this place and finally decided to stop in. I love that it's basically cafeteria style so you choose your style of udon and then add whatever toppings and tempura you like. Super fast and easy. I went with the classic kake udon. There's something so soothing about just the dashi broth and and noodles but I decided to add an egg for some protein this time. I also got a few tempura veggies on the side including my fave: sweet potato! They have so many options here though, I feel like there's something for everyone. If you want to add a bit of heat to your bowl, try the togarashi. It was introduced to me as a sort of similar to tajin style spice and I definitely noted some similarities here between the chili pepper appearance. This spice blend has great depth of flavor and just adds a little oomph to an already delicious dish. Overall, I will definitely be back! read more

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I failed to take pics cuz I was so hungry . I first tried Marugame Udon in Waikiki and loved it. So I had to eat it in Costa Mesa. I got the tonkotsu and a side of chicken katsu n sweet potato. The broth was magical. Top with green onion and katsu flakes! Tasty and warm for the rainy drive from Vegas. Line was long but moved quickly. Service was great, easy and painless! Restaurant was clean and tidy for a busy place just like the Waikiki location. Thank you Marugame Udon. We will be back and next time I'm taking pics! read more

Heck yeah, I love Marugame. It always feels like I won't have a table to eat at, given how long the line is and the number of people already eating, but I always seem to find a table. That said, the place is always packed, which says more about how good the place is than anything, and it feels like I'm in a food stall. I really do like the vibe. And of course, the udon is spectacular. I always love how you can peek in and watch the workers cook and prep. It gives shades of In-N-Out in the form of a Japanese restaurant. Quite the experience. Highly recommend! read more

Marugame Udon - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Update! you should try the tomatoe curry udon it was so good and homie!! I saw it said seasonal so just wanted to add photos. read more

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TLDR: An affordable food spot that can easily trap you into spending too much money. You will get a good meal, but it's just a question of how much money you'll spend. Curry Nikutama (L): Is it good? Yes. The udon portion was solid, and the noodle bite was the perfect line between firmness and softness. The sukiyaki beef was sweet, not too fatty, and had an okay portion. The curry sauce (soup) was alright, the green onions and tempura crumbs will always be a welcome addition. Is it worth $16? Leaning towards no, because I think you could've made this at home for a significantly lower price. Shrimp Tempura: It's alright. Don't forget to get the tempura sauce Chicken karaage: It's a decently sized chicken finger that was quite good. It's juicy even though it's been sitting in the frying rack for a bit, and I think this is the correct option if you want chicken. Large chicken karaage: It's bigger but not necessarily better. You keep the same goodness of the smaller karaage but just make it a bit harder to eat given the size. It's double the price too, but I'm not sure if it's double the portion. Ambiance: Normal restaurant feel with a lunch room style of ordering. You can get an option to pick out some more stuff on the way to the cashier which is a nice addition. Service: It's basically self-service after you're done ordering. read more

Marugame Udon - Curry Nikutama Shrimp tempura Chicken karaage Large chicken karaage - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Traffic has slowed down quite a bit since it opened back in 2019. Or maybe it's just because of the day and time? My kiddo and I came here right before noon on a Monday. There was no line, and a few parties sitting down. I ordered my usual - regular kitsune with the green onions and tempura flakes ($9.65). I also added a shrimp tempura ($2.29) and zucchini tempura ($1.99). I do like to sprinkle shichimi and add a small dollop of grated ginger, too, to give it a kick and a different flavor. Nothing has changed much throughout the years, which is a good sign. Prices have gone up, and the sides have gotten smaller, but still a healthier and cheaper option than most fast food places these days. Service is quick, staff are friendly, and there are new menu items to try. IMO, the closest parking would be the parking lot in front of Claim Jumper and the formerly Forever 21 location. Enter the mall between the 2, and go down the escalator in front of Din Tai Fung. read more

Marugame is always a great option for a quick eat. This location has friendly staff. I just wished it was a little cleaner, but other than that it's great! Love trying all their different broths:) I got the tan tan (you can make this a VEGETARIAN OPTION) this time, and it was BOMB! read more

Marugame Udon - i got the tan tan broth this time! - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

0 stars if I could. We ordered the nikutama udon which is usually our favorite. Found a very, very long piece of hair in our udon. The staff was very rude and offered no words of apology and just snatched the bowl from my hands and slammed the new bow down so hard the broth spilled all over the tray. Won't be visiting again, which is such a shame because this was one of our favorite spots. read more

Yikes, the workers assembling the food in bowls seem really unhappy. I visited a couple months ago and again just yesterday, and it was uncomfy having my food made by people who appear so clearly miserable. Since it has happened on two separate occasions, I don't want to return to find out if it's a regular occurrence. For example, the worker who put toppings in the bowl aggressively threw down the tray and shoved the food at my mom. It didn't appear they did this due to a sense of urgency but rather because of a bad mood in general. Even when I dined solo months ago, I noticed the workers preparing the food were not friendly at all. Other than that, the food is fine. And the workers out in the dining room are efficient and helpful in assisting people to find empty tables to sit down at. But I'm done with Marugame for reals this time. read more

i liked the structure of the restaurant where it's kinda like a cafeteria line and you tell them what you want and go down to grab the tempuras that you like. overall very reasonably priced and yummy food. the potato croquettes were the best out of all the fried foods and sweet potato was not bad just a little dry. Definitely a go to for reliable fast and easy udon place! read more

Marugame Udon - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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This establishment offers a no-frills dining experience. The udon noodles are very spongey and enjoyable. The soup and curry was super savory and rich. I believe the best items are actually the tempura -- they are crispy, airy, and flavorful. Food is served here in a "lunch line" kind of style. You'll pick your udon type R/L and then move down the line picking from various tempura items. The workers here are well-spoken and keep the line moving efficiently. read more

Marugame Udon - Nikutama and Curry Udon - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

My friends said this is a chain? Nevertheless, I was excited Marugame Ramen joined the Diamond Anton Plaza. First time trying "Build Your Ramen" --- sort of concept similar setup like Chinese fast food/cafeteria style. Currently for the month of March -- coupon special all noodles comes with free homemade drinks! As a ramen enthusiast, welllll just eating, always on the lookout for new spots to try! Marugame Ramen's "build your ramen" concept is a must-try. When you walk in, you're immediately greeted with a modern board of options so get in line and order up. What sets Marugame apart from other ramen spots is the customizable approach -- you get to build your sides from scratch but be careful that you don't end up with $20 bowl! Here's how it works: 1. Choose Your Broth & Spice Level: They offer a variety of broths like Miso, and Tonkotsu. 2. Pick Your Base: You can choose the main ingredient- egg, pork, etc. 3. Add Your Toppings: This is where it gets fun! From traditional toppings like soft-boiled eggs and chashu pork to my favorite sweet fried potatoes and shrimp tempuras. 4. Add extra condiments l: For those who like to add garlics and spicy salt to suit your taste. 5. I also go their signature lemonade. They also have matcha. I ordered Tonkotsu broth sweet tofu, a soft-boiled egg, and a sprinkle of green onions -- extra spicy. The broth had a deep, comforting flavor, and the noodles were perfectly chewy. You "clean up" your own table by bringing all items -- including bowls back to the return kitchen area. Overall, not bad for fast food. read more

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This place is known for their Udon and it lived up to the hype. From what I heard, the line to get the food is usually long, but moves fast. We got lucky and went on a day that wasn't busy with no wait time. The inside of the restaurant is pretty small with limited seating space, but usually easy to find seats. The design of the store is very Japanese inspired. We ordered 2 Nikutama and the total came out to be $33 after tax and tip. The nikutama soup was sweet and flavorful. The sweet beef combined with the soup was delicious. If you want delicious udon, this is the place to go. They had so many other dishes to try so I'm definitely coming back. Hope that the lines aren't long. read more

Marugame Udon - Menu - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Ordered the Nikutama Udon and it was so comforting with chewy noodles and a really flavorful broth. I also grabbed a shrimp tempura on the side and it was light and crispy. The atmosphere is clean, bright, and busy in a good way. It feels casual and easy. The line moved quickly and the service was fast, which I appreciated since I just wanted something quick to eat. It's a nice grab and go spot when you want something tasty without a long sit down meal. I'll definitely be back to try more. read more

Ok I absolutely love this place, always hits the spot and especially those potato croquettes like come on they're so good. I got the kitsune udon this time because I love the tofu and we also got a creamy tonkatsu which also never disappoints. There's plenty of seating in the back and it's a seat yourself situation after the very kind staff makes your bowl in front of you so it's a very chill experience! I will always recommend this place go get yourself some yummy udon. read more

Marugame Udon - Creamy Tonkatsu + Potato Croquette - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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So so good! I always kill my bowl (pictured). The veggie tan tan is delicious, spicy, and flavorful and the udon is the perfect consistency. For the amount of food you get, it's also very affordable at around $15 per person. Quick service, efficient, and reliable. read more

Marugame Udon - After - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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I love this placeeee. This is my fave udon spot. The noodles are chewy and the perfect texture. I like to try something new every time I come. My top favorites are the chicken katsu curry and the beef udon. I also love their tempura. The line can get long but it moves quickly and the seats will open up. read more

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