Marugame Udon — The one-stop for affordable udon all while still being authentic and authentic in London!
Marugame Udon is known for their handmade udon, kake-dashi broth and piping hot tempura selection. So for our first visit we ordered the large bowl of kake-dashi udon with their pumpkin and kakiage tempura.
The Sight
As expected when we ordered a large bowl of kake udon, the bowl was bigger than our face and the portion size was decently huge. Although we wouldn’t say it was overwhelmingly huge as it can be finished by one — Female; 161cm; 45kg. But to be fair, we do have a huge appetite. And none of the other customers while we were there ordered a large bowl for udon. The dashi broth was of a clear yellow. So clear that you can see the bottom of the bowl. The noodles were of a milky white colour, thick and somewhat rectangular shaped and topped with spring onions. The tempuras were fried to a perfect shade of golden brown.
The Smell
There’s a light salty fragrance of the broth slowly making its way to the air.
The Sound
The only sound made as we devoured the udon was the short slurp as the udon enters our mouth before it filled it and only silence could be heard. The pumpkin tempura made a dull crisp while the kakiage tempura has more crunch to it.
The Taste
Don’t let the clear broth deceive you, it is rich with umami. Every strand of the chewy udon picks up its flavours, making it a savoury experience. However, if you just eat the udon and drink the broth, you might find yourself getting overwhelmed by its saltiness. This is when the tempura comes in. The sweetness of the tempura mellows down the saltiness of the udon and adds a crisp texture to what was chewy.
The Verdict
Overall, it’s one hearty meal! Definitely a comfort food special when it’s cold outside. The udon comes in three sizes — small, regular and large — so you’ll never be out of options whether you have a big or small appetite. There are also plenty more other variations of udon and rice bowls in their menu that one can explore too!
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