With over 1,000 locations around the globe, Japan's largest udon noodle restaurant chain Marugame Udon will soon open its first San Diego restaurant.
Operated in Japan as Marugame Seimen, Marugame Udon was founded in Kakogawa City in 2000. The company now operates around 1,200 restaurants around the globe, including in Singapore, the United Kingdom, the Philippines, Cambodia, Vietnam, Australia, Taiwan, Indonesia, Russia, South Korea, China, Hong Kong, and Thailand. In the United States, Marugame Udon has around a dozen branches sited in California, Hawaii and Texas.The first San Diego branch of Marugame Udon will open in the space that last housed Veggie Grill within Westfield UTC Mall in La Jolla. Like other locations, expect a cafeteria-style, fast-casual restaurant with an open kitchen where customers can see the chefs preparing the udon noodles and broths.
The menu will be centered around handcrafted udon noodles, available hot or cold in various sizes in different broths or dry, then customized with an array of toppings such as tempura and onigiri (rice balls with filling). The eatery will also offer several rice bowls and sides, as well as soft drinks. For first-timers, the recommended order is Marugame Udon’s bestseller the Nikutama, which features thin slices of beef, a soft boiled egg, and chewy noodles swimming in sweet, beef broth.
Marugame Udon is anticipated to open by year's end at 4545 La Jolla Village Drive, Suite H28, inside Westfield UTC in San Diego's La Jolla neighborhood. For more information, visit marugameudon.com.
