Review #846
2025-018
Food Order:
Nikitama (sanuki-style udon, sweet beef, soft boiled egg, umami-rich sauce) with Scallions & Tempura Flakes, Gekikara Fireball, Gyoza, Potato Croquette, Bok Choy, Sweet Potato, Calamansi-Ade
Depending on entry point, Marugame Udon is either located in Harbor Regional Center (Village Ln.) or Village Del Amo (Hawthorne Blvd.), taking over Marie Callendar's spot. And I've been waiting to try them for ages ever since my foodie buddy Michelle W. reviewed the Sawtelle location, noting tech is used to executing a perfect bowl of udon.
The restaurant was still in its soft opening days when I first ordered takeout: 03/21/24: The online order system menu differs from physical menu availability, & staff manning the phone doesn't take phone orders even with kiosk & online system issues, so I had to come in the restaurant to place my order at the register & waste extra time when I could be working. They use a Chipotle-style assembly line ordering format with a cubicle wall to pick-up takeout orders. I opted for the udon bowl to be packed separately so each ingredient retains its flavor & the egg unbroken.
In addition to an exasperated order, I checked my bag at a red light & had to turn back for the missing fireball sauce, & noticed my refreshing calamansi-ade was more ice than drink but it was good & recommended. The noods were stuck together (extra time from driving back) & gummy (overcooked); the udon sauce was tepid & mild in flavor, not flavor packed as claimed; the beef was a little overcooked/dry if a bit bland; the croquette was nice & crisp, but needed to properly drain or blot off the excess oil; only the egg was a perfect soft boil so you get that yolk ooze to coat the noodles & beef when it's broken. Overall, it was a poor 1st experience/impression.
I chalked it up the experience to soft opening blues & came back 1 year later. The online system works! I mostly repeated the same order & a large udon order; bok choy is no longer on the menu & added sweet potato. They're no Sanuki no Sato... Marugame's udon is decent for a takeout order, & the sauce/broth is alright. The large had more sweet beef but it looked to be the same amount of udon? I liked the crisp croquette & sweet potato, but it's a stretch for 1 small piece of root at $1.95 (especially when a whole potato is the same price or less) or for the other sides. Yikes! Nikitama's sweet beef was tender & not dry on the 2nd go.
The menu offers a decent selection of udons with a couple of rice bowls, & a good selection of tempura & sides; however the online menu doesn't match their POS system (like bok choy being unavailable). Price points are fare for the mains, but feel like I'm being gouged for the tempura & sides ($2 for 1/2 egg?!). Or maybe I haven't focused on ramen dining that I'm out of touch?
Takeout is a-ok. I believe Marugame Udon would a better dine-in experience than takeout... just not sure when I would return.
Recommended: Nikitama, Gekikara Fireball (if you like a l'il heat, get this), Gyoza, Potato Croquette, Sweet Potato, Calamansi-Ade (ask for less ice or that's what you're most getting). read more