Largest #1 Udon Chain in the world opens its 4th branch....

Note : UP Town Center Branch

Thank you for the flatlay @johnbunag

NEW BRANCH ALERT !

People in this part of the metro must be rejoicing with a collective cheer of Yay with the opening of this popular self-service joint from Japan at UP Town Center .

Marugame UP Town Center is the fourth branch after the brand's grand launch a year ago in Bonifacio High Street in BGC.

Did you know ... ?

Marugame opened its first shop in Kakogawa City Hyogo in November 2000
Toridoll Holdings Corp is the Japanese company that runs marugame chain
Marugame Waikiki 2011 - the first shop opened outside Japan
Marugame Thailand 2012 - first shop opened in Asia
Marugame Philippines opened In August 2017
Ben Chan's Suyen Corp has the franchise in the Philippines along with Paul, St. Mark's Cafe, Bench Cafe, Maisen, Pablo, Patchi chocolates to name a few
800 branches in Japan 200 branches in 12 countries

Unlike their Glorietta version, the food counter is right inside the restaurant. The lay out is rectangular. It still echoed the decor from Glorietta though which I learned from Ms. Tess (marketing) was replicated from their original store in Marugame in Japan.

It had a relatively high ceiling, wood floors the color palette of which was echoed on the chairs and tables. The result is a neat and tidy space any OC would love. There is a space just across the cashier were all condiments are with matching little black bowls and glasses for drinks.

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A shock of dark pinkish hue on the couch, an "adobe"-tiled wall and a pastel colored painting provided a respite from all the warm browns and black.

How to Order

Queue
Choose from the menu plastered above your head
Choose your noodles - hot or cold
Wait for a few seconds for the udon to be cooked.

5.Receive your udon

6.Proceed to tempura and omusubi section to pick your sides... if you want some that is . Otherwise just wait patiently until it is your turn at the cashier
7.Pay
8.After paying turn behind you for your condiments, glass of water or tea.
9.Choose your table.

5 Types of Udon

Kamaage - for chewy noodles, get it hot from the pot
Kake - served with broth
Bukkake - udon with thick broth
Kamatama - hot udon with egg. Best with dashi-shoyu (soy-sauce broth)
Udon with dipping sauce - udon rinsed in cold water

What Pigoutsundays loved :

Beef Ontama Bukkake

R P210 L P260

Loved the Udon which was made fresh from the premises with a machine that was shipped from Japan. It was thick yet al dente at the same time just perfect for slurping away. The beef was thinly sliced and delicious.I loved my poached egg as well. It was creamy and scrumptious.

The whole dish is actually reminiscent of sukiyaki because of the sweet broth. The regular size is more than enough for ladies with modest appetite like moi hehe

Chicken Paitan Udon

R P200 L P250

My foodie friends are not too keen on this broth. But I like it a lot. The taste is at once familiar and comforting like the one my mom used to make when I get sick but sans the udon of course. The eggs were amazing as expected (egg person here ) . It almost stole the thunder from the Udon. Or so I thought until I bit into those freshly made thick wheat flour noodles ..... yum!

Apart from the Udon though let us not forget that Marugame also serves spectacular side dishes...

Noritama Omusubi P35

Spam Omusubi P60

Salmon Flakes Omusubi P55

Tuna Omusubi P40n

and rice bowls...

Curry Rice P160

Marugame Tendon P270

Summary :

Freshly made udon right before your eyes, cafeteria price for top notch ingredients, authentic Japanese cuisine originally from Marugame ( a city located in Kagawa Prefecture), fast service...what's not to love?

No wonder its spreading like virus all over the world haha. Sorry not a good analogy. But you know what I mean.

Tip :

Take it from this mom's experience.

If you order just one item like the large Butakke for example, it will only set you back P260. It is when you add on the omusubi and tempura/s that your cost escalates . The side dishes ie gyoza, tonkatsu and the like may be just in the range between P35 to P75 but you would be surprised how it all adds up once you reached the cashier .