Marugame Udon

Although I try my hand at a variety of cuisines, I shy away from Asian cuisines because I never seem to get it quite right and would rather go to a restaurant and enjoy it from professional chefs. So when I first discovered Marugame Udon, I had been looking for a restaurant in the Old Town area of Dallas that served food I couldn’t recreate at home. I have had my fair share of instant or frozen udon bowls that can be microwaved in three minutes but I had not been to a restaurant that specializes in freshly made udon.

Marugame Udon isn’t located in the bustling, urban part of downtown Dallas but is about ten minutes away yet still close enough for any sightseeing you want to do that day. Upon walking in, you are greeted warmly by the entire staff and are presented with an expansive menu with vegetarian-friendly options and other snacks and sandwiches such as katsu sandos and tempura. The seating area is well-lit and presents a soft urban ambience with bright hues and elements of Asian design. When placing your order, you are given a view of how the udon is made in their theater kitchen. The udon is freshly made to order and you are allowed to customize your bowl with a variety of toppings. At the end of the conveyor-style process, there are several teas and beverages to choose from that complement your meal.

For my first time, I decided to order two savory bowls, which differ from the traditional udon bowls as you are allowed a choice of steamed rice or udon. I chose the udon noodles for my Silken Curry bowl, which comes with Sanuki-style noodles in a traditional Japanese curry and a choice of shrimp tempura or chicken katsu. I selected the shrimp tempura option, which comes with 2 pieces of shrimp, and chose the Berry Oolong Tea to accompany the udon. Since I was with friends, we were curious about the Mac n’ Cheese udon option and couldn’t resist trying it.

Since it was my first time, they brought out an extra piece of shrimp tempura for us to enjoy. As most restaurants tend to charge a premium price for shrimp, this gesture was touching and thoughtful. While we ate, I was grateful I was in the company of good friends as the slurping of noodles can be a little awkward for some and can make for a messy situation. The Silken Curry bowl was savory and hearty while the Mac n’ Cheese udon was surprisingly very creamy and tasty. When we rose to clean our table and place our trays in the designated locations, the staff came over to clear our table and told us not to worry about it. Overall, while it seems like a casual restaurant, the service was impeccable and made our experience much more enjoyable.

Marugame Udon is a hidden gem in the downtown Dallas area and I have gone back there countless times with my friends. Each time, my friends leave impressed and want to go back again with their family and significant others. When I recommended Marugame Udon to a good friend who had recently returned from a trip to Hawaii, she commented on how there was a Marugame Udon located in Hawaii. During her vacation in Hawaii, she would walk past it every day but was never able to try it as the line was always two hours long. She was unaware that Marugame Udon has Texas locations and was overjoyed to know that there was one here for her to try as well. If you are looking for traditional Japanese Udon for a reasonable price in the downtown Dallas area, Marugame Udon is the place to go!

By Farah Wazir

Marugame Udon Address: 5500 Greenville Avenue #1102, Dallas TX 75206