Marugame Udon

I’ve been to the Marugame in Hawaii, Costa Mesa, and Arcadia so I was so excited to hear that Chino opened a location near my hometown!! My family loves Marugame. This location is consistent with the others, the udon is fresh and delicious. They give you a great portion and the tempura is crunchy like usual. Staff is really friendly, location is very clean and spacious. Even on the weekdays it gets busy! Our family faves are the beef nikutama and the curry nikutama. 1000% Recommend the sweet potato tempura.

Very happy Marugame comes to Chino Hills. The standard of udon is consistent with their other stores. I do think they have fewer options for tempura.

+6

One of my new favorite spots in Chino Hills! I come here all the time, and the curry nikutama is my go-to—it’s rich, flavorful, and always satisfying. The udon noodles are perfectly chewy, and the broth has just the right balance of spice and umami. The service is always quick and friendly, making every visit a great experience. Highly recommend!

Backstory* I found this restaurant name through google, it was one of the top rated restaurants in Hawaii, Honolulu Oahu. (we had a holiday trip there late Dec) Come to find out they recently just opened a restaurant close to where we live. We decided to check it out and it did not disappoint, one of the best udons, chicken tempuras and shrimp tempuras I've ever had. If you're new 1️⃣ Take a look a the menu, pick out a dish (udons or rice dishes) 2️⃣ They will ask if you want Tempera flakes and green onions in your dish (you can decline if you want) 3️⃣ They give you a tray with your food. You will move to an area where you can pick out Fried Chicken, Shrimp, Squid Temperas (all goddamn delicious btw) 4️⃣ When you checkout there's a popular drink, Calamansi-ade. (Go ahead and grab that) 5️⃣ And Voila! You enjoy your food! TLDR Best Udon. Best Tempuras. EAT. 😊

Forgot to get a before i started eating picture by was recommend by a friend named Andrew! I came from out of town and this place was amazing! It definitely hit the spot! Affordable and staff is soo friendly! Restroom was clean! Perfect for a date w the wife or a meal w the family! Highly recommend and will definitely be my go to spot!

It was pretty good.Will definitely come again!

Had Marugame Udon once in Hawaii, glad to have it again in Chino Hills! Definitely going to this restaurant again and again. Fast order, fast delivery fresh udon and crispy tempura.

Awesome! This place finally opened! This replaces the Home Cooking that used to be here, and they did a great job opening it up. Homemade udon is great, if you love udon, this is the place to go. This tasted just like the marugame I had in Taiwan. Whoever is expanding these knows what they are doing. Even going inside, you are greeted by all the workers. You first get in line to order what you want, rice bowls, udon, large or regular size, then you move down to see if you want to add anything. They have some tempura or katsu towards the end before you pay. We got the Tan Tan, the Beef, and the Nikutama. If this is your first time to visit, definitely get the Nikutama. Great texture on the udon, and delicious broth. You can see they order flour from Japan, as there are bags of it to separate the ordering line and the tables. There a station where you can order yourself, and a filtered water and utensil station. They really opened up the place from the previous restaurant, they made the place look great and comfortable. Will def come by again and try some of their other dishes, or bowls in this case. Until next time !

+6

New eating experience in town Love this concept, tempura and udon, usually I have to drive to mitsuwa in Costa Mesa but now I have this in town. Food is excellent although a bit pricey. There's nothing like the comfort of curry udon and tempura.

+5

If you’re a fan of udon, this spot is a treasure trove of authentic Sanuki-style goodness. Having tasted Marugame Udon in both Hawaii and Japan, I can confidently say this is as close to the real deal as you can get without hopping on a plane. The experience starts the moment you step into the bustling queue, which moves like clockwork despite the consistent crowds during lunch hours. The efficient service ensures you’re savoring your bowl of goodness in no time. The beauty of this place is the versatility. If you’re in the mood for something light and comforting, the simple udon with its silky noodles and delicate broth is perfection. Add your choice of extras like a soft-boiled egg, thinly sliced beef, or crispy tempura to elevate the experience. Craving something more indulgent? Opt for the rich tan tan or curry bases, paired with tender chashu or savory beef, for a hearty, soul-satisfying meal. Speaking of tempura, the offerings here are exceptional—light, crispy, and fried to golden perfection. Pair them with your udon or enjoy them as a side. The tempura shrimp, zucchini, and chicken are standout picks. The flavors are spot on, the prices are reasonable, and the entire setup caters to both quick eats and heavy meals that truly hit the spot. Highly recommended for udon enthusiasts and anyone craving authentic Japanese comfort food.

Absolutely LOVE this place! I didn’t know I loved udon until I had Marugame. The first time I had Marugame was in Hawaii and I made sure I had it a few times before leaving back to Cali haha. When I found out they were opening in Chino Hills I was over the moon excited! The Chino Hills location was even better than Hawaii! When you walk in you are greeted by all the staff. The staff here is amazing bc they are so kind and helpful! The atmosphere is open and has plenty of seating. When they first opened I was coming/ordering to go multiple times a week bc I had missed it so much! Even after having it so much I still come weekly and would come more if I lived closer. My favorite dish is the Curry Nikitama! But I have tried almost everything and it’s all delicious. The noodles here are so fresh and that is what honestly keeps me coming and craving for more. You won’t be disappointed if you give this place a try. However, if you are disappointed let me know and I’ll take your left overs haha

Very happy to have a udon place near home. My Japanese neighbor recommended so I came to give a try. The place is nice and clean. Variety of choice even you are not a pork person with traditional side dishes. I like the speciality drinks and tempura. Love the fireball flavor, need pay a bit extra but adding salty and spicy flavor to your noodle.

Great atmosphere, it was very clean and smelled good. And the food was delicious. The staff was very friendly.

Delicious noodle joint with great sides. The potato croquet and chicken were perfectly fried. The broth was delicious and the udon noodles had great texture. Overall I really enjoyed this spot and I'm adding it to my regular noodle joint list. If you're in Chino Hills make sure you stop by for a great bowl of noodles!

We absolutely love this place! Their udon noodles which are freshly made are delicious. I ordered the Beef Tomatama Udon the 1st time we were there and never got over how good they were so we had to go back sooner than expected. The place is cozy but very comfortable and the staff are industrious, efficient, respectful and helpful. Btw, their calamansi juice is very, very good. Kind of strange to find it in a Japanese resto (it’s a Filipino drink) but glad that they have it. We will be back!

Very clean and neat place, you feel immersed into the cooking experience (which is exactly what makes marugame udon different from other udon restaurants in the past!). The smell, the visuals, the greetings all reminded me of high school. We would all go to marugame udon after class to get a quick meal before heading back to study again. Weirdly nostalgic for me. It tastes just as the same as 10 years ago. Fresh noodles, hot soup, tempura selection, and then placing your tray to the side on your own. This location has kiosk to order, free parking lot with EV charging station right in front of the store. 99 ranch and daiso are right next door. Plug in stations are on the wall if you want to charge your phone.

Marugame Udon in Chino Hills is such a comforting spot; especially on a cold, rainy day. Their udon soups are absolutely delicious, warm, and full of flavor. You can really taste the freshness in every bowl. As a first-time visitor though, I will say the ordering process was a little confusing. A clearer sign or simple explanation for newcomers would go a long way. The layout of the tables also feels a bit uninviting and could definitely be improved to make the dining experience more comfortable. With that said, the staff truly made up for it. Everyone was warm, kind, and welcoming, which I genuinely appreciated. Overall, great food and great people; just a little room for improvement in the flow and layout. I’ll still be back for that amazing udon! 🍜

Especially on a gloomy / rainy day. Get yourself some fresh hot udon, get in and out! - Freshly made noodles, good ingredients from what I can see - lots of options - fast - reminds me of things I see in Japan, still have yet to go there - easy peasy - clean Lines can get long but it’s fast and most people who eat here understand the “eat and get out” concept. Not really a sit down kinda spot. I mean if it’s slowing think it’s okay but that’s not the concept of this restaurant. Check it out! See the picture below for a large versus a regular size

Very impressed with the food. We tried a variety of everything. The yam tempura was so tasty, best I have ever had. All the rice and noodle bowls were excellent and very tasty. The Ala-cart items were priced ok, we got allot of them. The staff was very very friendly, helpful in choosing and getting items to table and very nice. We will be coming back here again after our second trip here already.

Got the Curry Nikutama with chicken katsu, shrimp tempura, potato croquette and chicken tempura and everything was sooo good. Can't wait to go back. I really appreciate the fact that the food is served in ceramic ware instead of melamine plastic bowls like most places so I can eat here and know I'm not consuming a bunch of microplastics. They even dip the bowl in hot water to ensure it does not cool the food too fast. I also love the pureed ginger they have by the water dispenser and the service was great, a very helpful lady assisted our company lunch with clearing the tables with a nice smile, very considerate and pleasant. I will be back many more times. You can tell the place is good when there is a line going out the door as soon as they open, def worth the short wait even if there is a line.

Good artisan Udon noodles, made there for you to view. My lady and I tried their Nikutama bowl, and it did not disappoint! A tiny bit sweet, tasty meat and the noodles, thick and had a great texture and most importantly, taste. Overall, will go back again. Want to try their curry Nikutama. 😋

The food, service and atmosphere were all fantastic. I ordered the Nikutama (beef with soft boiled egg), chicken katsu curry and tonkotsu. My only wish is that the udon soups were served hotter in temperature, otherwise they were tasty. I also liked that the restaurant was fairly spacious. I would recommend this place and come back!

Came in around 7 pm on a Sunday night, pretty packed. There were a few tables open so I seated pretty quickly after I ordered my food. I was surprised the katsu was still crunchy, not sure how long it was sitting out by the time I picked it. Overall fast, pleasant experience, would come back to try the other menu items

My family had a great dinner experience at this Marugame location in Chino Hills. Usually meal times are hectic with two little ones but they really gave us great service (carrying the food to our table for us). The manager Matt was super nice and made sure my family had a great dining experience. The picture speaks for itself in terms of how the food was. A+!

Good Udon Places Here! Prices and portions are good for standard. Services are good and quick (The manager (maybe) is friendly). Nikutama Udon (Cold) is the best in my opinion because it is delicious and refreshed. Tonkotsu Udon is good but broth isn't the best compared to other Ramen restaurants. Tamagoyaki is also my recommendation as well if you like deep fried eggs. Chicken Katsu Curry is pretty good especially the curry is spicy and a little bit sweet at the same time. Recommend to people who want to have a quick bite or lunch here because it's serving quick and not expensive (compared to the same area).

Very clean, plenty of free parking. Love their Udon and curry rice. Price is very reasonable and staff are very friendly.

first time here and WOW ! 🤩 I’ll definitely be back! my boyfriend and I both got the Nikutama Udon with extra tempura flakes ontop. In addition, we got tempura shrimp, sweet potato, tamago, and a chicken katsu- which they offered to cut for us before sitting down! It was so refreshing experiencing the excellent service throughout our whole experience here, definitely recommend coming !

Pat Neuman

We absolutely love this place! Their udon noodles which are freshly made are delicious. I ordered the Beef Tomatama Udon the 1st time we were there and never got over how good they were so we had to go back sooner than expected. The place is cozy but very comfortable and the staff are industrious, efficient, respectful and helpful. Btw, their calamansi juice is very, very good. Kind of strange to find it in a Japanese resto (it’s a Filipino drink) but glad that they have it. We will be back!

Mr. Chino Hills

Marugame Udon in Chino Hills is such a comforting spot; especially on a cold, rainy day. Their udon soups are absolutely delicious, warm, and full of flavor. You can really taste the freshness in every bowl. As a first-time visitor though, I will say the ordering process was a little confusing. A clearer sign or simple explanation for newcomers would go a long way. The layout of the tables also feels a bit uninviting and could definitely be improved to make the dining experience more comfortable. With that said, the staff truly made up for it. Everyone was warm, kind, and welcoming, which I genuinely appreciated. Overall, great food and great people; just a little room for improvement in the flow and layout. I’ll still be back for that amazing udon! 🍜

Jessica

Especially on a gloomy / rainy day. Get yourself some fresh hot udon, get in and out! - Freshly made noodles, good ingredients from what I can see - lots of options - fast - reminds me of things I see in Japan, still have yet to go there - easy peasy - clean Lines can get long but it’s fast and most people who eat here understand the “eat and get out” concept. Not really a sit down kinda spot. I mean if it’s slowing think it’s okay but that’s not the concept of this restaurant. Check it out! See the picture below for a large versus a regular size

LG O

Very impressed with the food. We tried a variety of everything. The yam tempura was so tasty, best I have ever had. All the rice and noodle bowls were excellent and very tasty. The Ala-cart items were priced ok, we got allot of them. The staff was very very friendly, helpful in choosing and getting items to table and very nice. We will be coming back here again after our second trip here already.

Zoro357

Good artisan Udon noodles, made there for you to view. My lady and I tried their Nikutama bowl, and it did not disappoint! A tiny bit sweet, tasty meat and the noodles, thick and had a great texture and most importantly, taste. Overall, will go back again. Want to try their curry Nikutama. 😋

Gabriel Izzo

Got the Curry Nikutama with chicken katsu, shrimp tempura, potato croquette and chicken tempura and everything was sooo good. Can't wait to go back. I really appreciate the fact that the food is served in ceramic ware instead of melamine plastic bowls like most places so I can eat here and know I'm not consuming a bunch of microplastics. They even dip the bowl in hot water to ensure it does not cool the food too fast. I also love the pureed ginger they have by the water dispenser and the service was great, a very helpful lady assisted our company lunch with clearing the tables with a nice smile, very considerate and pleasant. I will be back many more times. You can tell the place is good when there is a line going out the door as soon as they open, def worth the short wait even if there is a line.

Wesley Erickson

The food, service and atmosphere were all fantastic. I ordered the Nikutama (beef with soft boiled egg), chicken katsu curry and tonkotsu. My only wish is that the udon soups were served hotter in temperature, otherwise they were tasty. I also liked that the restaurant was fairly spacious. I would recommend this place and come back!

Dalton Wang

Came in around 7 pm on a Sunday night, pretty packed. There were a few tables open so I seated pretty quickly after I ordered my food. I was surprised the katsu was still crunchy, not sure how long it was sitting out by the time I picked it. Overall fast, pleasant experience, would come back to try the other menu items

Olivia Hou

Very happy to have a udon place near home. My Japanese neighbor recommended so I came to give a try. The place is nice and clean. Variety of choice even you are not a pork person with traditional side dishes. I like the speciality drinks and tempura. Love the fireball flavor, need pay a bit extra but adding salty and spicy flavor to your noodle.

Jason Lee

My family had a great dinner experience at this Marugame location in Chino Hills. Usually meal times are hectic with two little ones but they really gave us great service (carrying the food to our table for us). The manager Matt was super nice and made sure my family had a great dining experience. The picture speaks for itself in terms of how the food was. A+!

Nick Wong (NickGaming)

Good Udon Places Here! Prices and portions are good for standard. Services are good and quick (The manager (maybe) is friendly). Nikutama Udon (Cold) is the best in my opinion because it is delicious and refreshed. Tonkotsu Udon is good but broth isn't the best compared to other Ramen restaurants. Tamagoyaki is also my recommendation as well if you like deep fried eggs. Chicken Katsu Curry is pretty good especially the curry is spicy and a little bit sweet at the same time. Recommend to people who want to have a quick bite or lunch here because it's serving quick and not expensive (compared to the same area).

Watkins L

Awesome! This place finally opened! This replaces the Home Cooking that used to be here, and they did a great job opening it up. Homemade udon is great, if you love udon, this is the place to go. This tasted just like the marugame I had in Taiwan. Whoever is expanding these knows what they are doing. Even going inside, you are greeted by all the workers. You first get in line to order what you want, rice bowls, udon, large or regular size, then you move down to see if you want to add anything. They have some tempura or katsu towards the end before you pay. We got the Tan Tan, the Beef, and the Nikutama. If this is your first time to visit, definitely get the Nikutama. Great texture on the udon, and delicious broth. You can see they order flour from Japan, as there are bags of it to separate the ordering line and the tables. There a station where you can order yourself, and a filtered water and utensil station. They really opened up the place from the previous restaurant, they made the place look great and comfortable. Will def come by again and try some of their other dishes, or bowls in this case. Until next time !

Melissa Vargas

first time here and WOW ! 🤩 I’ll definitely be back! my boyfriend and I both got the Nikutama Udon with extra tempura flakes ontop. In addition, we got tempura shrimp, sweet potato, tamago, and a chicken katsu- which they offered to cut for us before sitting down! It was so refreshing experiencing the excellent service throughout our whole experience here, definitely recommend coming !

I came here for a weekday lunch. It was still pretty busy because it recently opened. As a result, it was very loud with the open kitchen and constant greetings, such that I had to repeat my order multiple times to confirm it was correct. I personally found the tonkatsu ramen lacking in protein as they only provided one slice of meat and half an egg. However, they do provide a sizable noodle portion even at regular size. The citrus drink was also not too sweet and tart.

Good and consistent Udon. Service is good for opening period. Small, bright and clean dining room.

+2

Food is good. The restaurant should provide proper Asian spoons. These tiny desert spoons take away the Asian noodle soup experience. I would’ve given a 5 start if proper sized spoons are provided.

Overall not bad. I ordered the cold udon number 1. I thought the broth was a little too salty for my taste. I would recommend the normal portion...I found the large portion to be too much for me. Other than that I would come back.

This is our second time having Marugame. We got the Tomatama Curry Udon & Nikutama Udon. Such flavorful and delicious broth (it is a little sweet though). We should have gotten the regular size, there is so much food in the large we were able to have leftovers for lunch the next day. Highly recommend. Service was amazing. The only downside is that I feel their tempura is a little over priced so we never get any.

the udon I had here its actually tasty, The staffs here also very friendly, the only con is they that turn the AC so cold and frazzling!🥶

It's so unhealthy, the calorie count must be shockingly high, and it's not cheap either. Maybe eat it once a year.

I was so excited to hear about the opening of Marugame Udon in Chino Hills, especially since I used to frequent the Sawtelle location! Their udon has always been reasonably priced, comforting, and satisfying without feeling too heavy. The restaurant operates cafeteria-style—after ordering, your dish is handed to you on a tray, and you can pick your tempura before heading to the register. It’s a super efficient system since fresh udon is constantly being made, so there’s no wait for noodles. This location is a bit smaller, so seating is only available after ordering, and the tempura selection is more limited compared to other locations. I got the tonkotsu udon, while my husband tried the chicken katsu curry—which turned out better than expected! One thing to note: after finishing your meal, you’re expected to clear your table and bring your bowls and trays to the designated area at the back of the restaurant. Overall, a great addition to the area and a must-visit for udon lovers!

An upscale version of Yoshinoya, to say the least. Their udon is made in-house from scratch, and you can totally tell the difference. Finally, a place where you have great tasting food without having to pay extra for tips, just like in Japan.

Ora T.

This is our second time having Marugame. We got the Tomatama Curry Udon & Nikutama Udon. Such flavorful and delicious broth (it is a little sweet though). We should have gotten the regular size, there is so much food in the large we were able to have leftovers for lunch the next day. Highly recommend. Service was amazing. The only downside is that I feel their tempura is a little over priced so we never get any.

Joe Reyes

An upscale version of Yoshinoya, to say the least. Their udon is made in-house from scratch, and you can totally tell the difference. Finally, a place where you have great tasting food without having to pay extra for tips, just like in Japan.

Jay

the udon I had here its actually tasty, The staffs here also very friendly, the only con is they that turn the AC so cold and frazzling!🥶

Sophie Tsai

I was so excited to hear about the opening of Marugame Udon in Chino Hills, especially since I used to frequent the Sawtelle location! Their udon has always been reasonably priced, comforting, and satisfying without feeling too heavy. The restaurant operates cafeteria-style—after ordering, your dish is handed to you on a tray, and you can pick your tempura before heading to the register. It’s a super efficient system since fresh udon is constantly being made, so there’s no wait for noodles. This location is a bit smaller, so seating is only available after ordering, and the tempura selection is more limited compared to other locations. I got the tonkotsu udon, while my husband tried the chicken katsu curry—which turned out better than expected! One thing to note: after finishing your meal, you’re expected to clear your table and bring your bowls and trays to the designated area at the back of the restaurant. Overall, a great addition to the area and a must-visit for udon lovers!

I’ve eaten its udons in 4 different cities and they all tasted a bit different. All places serve udons in different levels of sweetness. The one in Chino Hills wasn’t terribly sweet, while others were overly sweetened that I would never go back to them. Not unlike other Marugames, the udons and soup here were pretty plain and nothing really stood out. Not sure why this place is popular

The broth was very tasty but udon was overcooked, which made the whole experience less than ideal. I would choose to get the regular sized bowls, as with a large your toppings are very minimal and not enough to eat with every bite. The fried items are flavourful but a bit stale from sitting out. Perhaps it would be better fresh. We have had better at other locations, perhaps it was just an off day for this one. I’d come back if they improved on their noodles as the dining area is clean and staff is friendly :)

Pretty decent place, not what I was expecting at all! You choose a dish from the menu, and they put it together on the spot. You are then allowed to choose fried add ons (fried sausage, tempura shrimp, tempura veggies, etc) for a reasonable additional charge. The noodles were a bit overcooked, and the broth wasn't as warm as I would've liked. I'm not too sure if its supposed to be serve warm or hot, but i usually prefer my broth to be borderline boiling lol. Our server and other employees were very friendly and nice!!

Big Fish Dive Club

I’ve eaten its udons in 4 different cities and they all tasted a bit different. All places serve udons in different levels of sweetness. The one in Chino Hills wasn’t terribly sweet, while others were overly sweetened that I would never go back to them. Not unlike other Marugames, the udons and soup here were pretty plain and nothing really stood out. Not sure why this place is popular

Kevin N

The broth was very tasty but udon was overcooked, which made the whole experience less than ideal. I would choose to get the regular sized bowls, as with a large your toppings are very minimal and not enough to eat with every bite. The fried items are flavourful but a bit stale from sitting out. Perhaps it would be better fresh. We have had better at other locations, perhaps it was just an off day for this one. I’d come back if they improved on their noodles as the dining area is clean and staff is friendly :)

Jessica Trejo

Pretty decent place, not what I was expecting at all! You choose a dish from the menu, and they put it together on the spot. You are then allowed to choose fried add ons (fried sausage, tempura shrimp, tempura veggies, etc) for a reasonable additional charge. The noodles were a bit overcooked, and the broth wasn't as warm as I would've liked. I'm not too sure if its supposed to be serve warm or hot, but i usually prefer my broth to be borderline boiling lol. Our server and other employees were very friendly and nice!!

Non-native English speakers, do not come to this restaurant. There is a discriminatory employee here. The rude staff member at the counter couldn’t understand what we were saying while ordering, so they switched to another person to help. They even said in front of us that they couldn’t understand us and mocked us. Is this how Japanese companies manage their employees? Allowing them to mock others without any sense of professionalism or proper training? Do you think we could enjoy our meal under such circumstances? This employee needs proper training and should not be working at the counter. From start to finish, there was no smile. Even the staff clearing the tables offered more friendly service. I’ve visited other branches before, and they listened to us carefully and smiled. The employee here lacks training. You should either terminate them or provide more thorough training. I’m very disappointed in this branch and will not come back. This is not the attitude I expect from a Japanese company. The atmosphere of the meal was ruined by this employee, and I even saw others experiencing the same situation on the same day.