David was super chill and good proportions. Nice dude. And he was funny super nice dude

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

Great tasting food, like I always remember it. Tempuras are pricey and not worth the value, esp the 'big' chicken katsu which has shrunk in size. Udon itself is great value. Cramped restaurant read more

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

Whenever I crave udon, Marugame Udon hits the spot. The food is delicious. Their freshly made in-house, right in front of you noodles are perfectly chewy. The service is quick. And best of all, it's kids-approved. 1. Nikutama - Savory simmered beef, sweet onions, and a silky soft-boiled egg. Yum. 5. Creamy Broth - Tonkotsu style - Creamy chicken broth, topped with juicy pork chashu, and a flavorful seasoned egg. My favorite! 10. Kake - Served with comforting umami-rich dashi broth. My kids love this dish. read more

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This is my favorite udon spot ever! The service is always fast and efficient, which makes the experience even better. There are plenty of seating areas, but it does get super packed on weekends, so I'd definitely keep that in mind when planning a visit. Despite the crowds, the food quality stays consistent and fresh. The udon noodles are always perfectly cooked with an ideal chewy texture. The tempura is also a highlight, super crispy and so good when paired with the warm, comforting udon. Overall, it's a spot I keep coming back to! read more

Marugame Udon - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

They have new item, clam udon. Amazing!! I am glad they have something else than meat. Been a fan before they opened in OC and only in Honolulu back then. So I have been having way too many basic items. Still love miso and beef with onsen egg. But clam has lighter and refreshing taste instead of sweet dashi taste. They give lots of clams which is nice. I hope they will keep this item as it's really good. Service was fast. I'm impressed with the worker at the cashier and frying station. The fried chicken was not oily and good. I am impressed not salty but well balanced. read more

Marugame Udon - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Wonderful udon that hits the spot on cold days! Love the self serve tempura station! The shrimp is always a hit! Plenty of seating and the service is great too read more

Marugame Udon - Beef, tempura - 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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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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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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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

This was my first time trying udon and I loved it. My gf introduced me to this restaurant chain. I ordered their large nikutama udon. The bowl includes savory simmered beef, sweet onions, and soft boiled egg. We went before the dinner rush and was able to find seating so quickly. I also got their tamago tempura and it was so flavorful and sweet. Soft in the inside and crunchy on the outside. The price for our bowls was very reasonable. We were so full after. I can't wait to come back and try their other dinner items. This experience did remind me of being in Japan at an udon restaurant. It got pretty busy right when we ordered and a line started forming after. Lots of tables and seatings. read more

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

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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Amazing quick eats for on the go! This place gets busy but they make the lines go quickly. Their ambiance is family oriented and they're located below din tai fung. read more

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It's a small restaurant tucked in the corner across the Uniqlo store. It was our first time there and we were not disappointed. I felt like I was back in Japan eating an authentic Japanese meal. We ordered the beef and eel bowl as well as the Katsu udon. We also got a side of crab meat tempura. It's self serving so you can pick and choose whatever toppings or side dishes you'd prefer. The Service was quick so we were in and out of the restaurant. read more

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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

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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This was my first time trying this place, and I was pleasantly surprised. The noodles were soft, the broth was rich and full of flavor, and the meat was tender. The ordering process was simple. You order and pay first, then find a seat, enjoy your meal, and clean up after yourself when you're done. The prices are very reasonable, especially considering it's located inside the mall. I would definitely come back for a bowl of noodles after a long day of shopping. read more

Marugame Udon - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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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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

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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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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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'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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When I get hungry at SCP I usually stop by for udon because the service is quick and it is inexpensive. The line goes by quickly. They have other other options other than udon and it is nice to see them make it for you. read more

Marugame Udon - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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

Quick service, great food and good price. Love that we have this option at South Coast. read more

Marugame Udon - Menu May 2026 - 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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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

I tried Marugame for the first time when I went to visit Oahu and it was delicious. I was excited to see they had a location nearby while visiting. The restaurant itself is in a great spot with plenty of parking. Upon walking in it felt kind of warm but I thought it was just behind the counter. I ordered my udon noodles with a seasoned boiled egg and got the shrimp tempura. The food was great and the staff were super nice. Once I sat down I realized the entire restaurant felt really hot. Eating hot soup in a hot restaurant is not enjoyable. The food and staff were awesome but it was way too hot for me. Although it was 80's outside it would've been a lot cooler eating outside than inside. For that reason only I probably wouldn't come back to this location unless the restaurant's AC worked well. read more

Marugame Udon - Nice location with plenty of parking - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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

Arrived 10 mins. before opening today and there was a line. Did not have the wait long before ordering - Large Nikutama with a side order of kitsune age along with tempura crab and sweet potato. Food was amazing and love the location and vibe. Got to try this when in South Coast!! read more

Marugame Udon - Large Nikutama, kitsune age, sweet potato and crab tempura. - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California