Marugame Udon: Alameda's New Go-To for Fresh, Fast Japanese Noodles

Marugame Udon Introduce

udon alameda

For Japanese food lovers across California, a highly anticipated addition to the culinary scene has finally arrived in Alameda: Marugame Udon. Nestled within the vibrant South Shore Center, this new location has quickly become a local favorite, offering a bright, spacious, and inviting atmosphere that stands in delightful contrast to its previous incarnation. Marugame Udon brings the beloved Japanese tradition of freshly made udon noodles and crispy tempura to the East Bay, providing a fast-casual dining experience that’s both authentic and incredibly convenient.

From the moment you step in, you'll notice the transformation of the space into a bright, airy environment with ample indoor and outdoor seating, making it perfect for a quick solo lunch, a casual meal with friends, or a family outing. The concept centers around made-to-order udon bowls, cooked right before your eyes, and a tempting array of self-serve tempura, ensuring everything is as fresh as possible. Whether you’re a long-time fan of Marugame Udon from other locations or are discovering their delicious offerings for the first time, this Alameda spot is poised to become a staple for anyone in California seeking hearty, savory Japanese comfort food with efficient and friendly service.

Location and Accessibility

Marugame Udon is conveniently located at

2249 S Shore Center #330, Alameda, CA 94501, USA

. This puts it right in the heart of the Alameda South Shore Center, a popular outdoor shopping and dining destination that serves as a community hub. The center's design offers easy access and a pleasant environment for visitors.

The location within South Shore Center provides ample parking, a significant advantage for diners driving from various parts of Alameda or surrounding California cities. The center is designed with pedestrian access in mind, making it easy to stroll to Marugame Udon after shopping or for those who live nearby. While specific public transport routes directly to the entrance might vary, the overall accessibility of South Shore Center via local bus lines and its position on a major Alameda thoroughfare ensure that Marugame Udon is a convenient and easily reachable destination for locals seeking delicious Japanese cuisine.

Services Offered

Marugame Udon in Alameda is designed for efficiency and customization, offering a streamlined process to get your delicious Japanese meal:

Dine-in Service: Enjoy your freshly made udon and tempura in the restaurant's bright and spacious dining area, which features ample indoor and outdoor seating. The open kitchen concept allows you to see the noodles being made.
Fast-Casual Dining: The service model is fast-casual, meaning you move along a line, selecting your udon base, then adding various tempura items and toppings. This ensures quick service, even during busy periods.
Online Ordering: For maximum convenience, Marugame Udon offers online ordering for takeout. Customers can place their orders, and the food is typically ready for pickup within 10 minutes, making it ideal for those with limited time.
Takeout: All menu items are available for takeout, allowing you to enjoy Marugame Udon’s offerings wherever you prefer. The packaging is designed to keep your food fresh for transport.
Self-Serve Tempura Bar: A highlight of the experience is the self-serve tempura bar, where you can choose from a variety of freshly fried items like chicken katsu, tamagoyaki, gyoza, shrimp, and various vegetables.
Customizable Udon Bowls: Diners can choose from different udon bases (Dashi Broth, BK Sauce, Pork Broth, Curry Sauce, Sesame Chili Broth) and customize their bowls with various toppings and add-ons like sweet beef, soft-boiled eggs, kitsune-age (sweet fried tofu), chashu pork, and fresh vegetables.
Rice Bowls: In addition to udon, the menu also features popular Japanese rice bowls such as Gyudon, Chicken Katsu Curry, and Chicken Katsu Teriyaki, offering more variety.

Features / Highlights

Marugame Udon in Alameda stands out with several key features and highlights that have quickly made it a local favorite:

Freshly Made Udon Noodles: The cornerstone of their offering is the "handcrafted Sanuki-style udon" noodles, made fresh in-house. While some reviews note a slight difference from Hawaiian locations, the texture is generally considered an improvement and contributes significantly to the "umami" experience.
Bright and Spacious Environment: The restaurant boasts a "bright and spacious" interior with "lots of seating indoors and outdoors." This transformation from its previous occupant has created a much more inviting and comfortable dining atmosphere.
Crispy and Delicious Tempura: The tempura selection is highly praised. Items like "chicken katsu, tamagoyaki, and gyoza were all yummy" and noted for "not dripping with oil," indicating they are cooked at the correct temperature for a perfect crispness. Reviewers highlight this as a significant improvement over other Marugame Udon locations.
Savory and Flavorful Broths: The udon bowls are described as "umami" with "broth savory," indicating rich and satisfying flavors that prompt customers to "finish three bowls completely including the soup/gravy to the last drop." Popular choices include Nikutama (sweet beef and soft boiled egg) and Tonkotsu (rich and creamy pork broth).
Efficient and Smooth Service: The fast-casual model ensures "smooth and efficient" service. Even during potentially busy times, the staff are described as "very nice and helpful," contributing to a positive customer experience.
Refreshing Calamansi Drink: The calamansi drink receives specific commendation for being "refreshing! Not too sweet and not too tart," making it a perfect complement to the savory udon and tempura.
Quick Online Ordering for Takeout: The online ordering system is exceptionally efficient, with food reported as "ready within 10 minutes" for takeout, a major plus for busy individuals and families.
Consistent Quality for Takeout: Food ordered for takeout "tasted just like in the restaurant," ensuring that the quality isn't compromised when enjoying it at home.
Variety of Menu Options: Beyond classic udon bowls, Marugame offers different broth options (Dashi, BK Sauce, Pork Broth, Curry, Tan Tan), various tempura items, and rice bowls like Gyudon and Chicken Katsu Curry, catering to diverse preferences.

Promotions or Special Offers

As a popular fast-casual chain, Marugame Udon often has promotions and a loyalty program to reward its customers. While specific, active promotions for the Alameda location beyond general brand offerings aren't detailed in the provided reviews, here's what locals in California can generally expect and how to find current deals:

Loyalty Program: Marugame Udon has a rewards program, often referred to as "Exclusively Marugame" or similar. Benefits typically include a sign-up bonus (e.g., $5 upon signing up, or "10 bonus Noodles when you Sign Up" for online ordering), points earned per dollar spent, and a free tempura item on your birthday month. This is an excellent way for frequent diners to earn rewards.
Online Ordering Promotions: Platforms for online ordering (such as their direct online portal or third-party apps like DoorDash, Uber Eats, Grubhub, and Seamless) may occasionally offer exclusive discounts like free delivery for first-time orders or percentage-off deals on qualifying orders. It's always worth checking these platforms before ordering.
In-Store Specials: While less common for continuous promotions, some locations might have rotating daily specials or limited-time menu items, which would typically be advertised within the restaurant. For example, some Marugame Udon locations (outside of the provided reviews) have offered "Late Night Udon Deals" with discounts on combos.
New Menu Item Testing: As one reviewer noted receiving a "free meal from participating in a new menu item test and review," it suggests the possibility of occasional opportunities for engagement and rewards through customer feedback programs.

To stay informed about the latest promotions and special offers specific to the Alameda location, the best approach is to sign up for their loyalty program, check their official website, and monitor their presence on popular food delivery apps.

Contact Information

To enjoy the fresh udon and tempura at Marugame Udon in Alameda, or for any inquiries, you can reach them using the following contact details:

Address: 2249 S Shore Center #330, Alameda, CA 94501, USA
Phone: (341) 202-8166

The Alameda location generally operates daily from 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM, according to their official website. However, it's always a good idea to confirm hours on their website or a delivery platform, especially during holidays or for specific takeout/delivery availability.

Conclusion: Why This Place Is Suitable for Locals

Marugame Udon is an incredibly suitable and welcome addition for locals in Alameda and across the wider California Bay Area, offering a refreshing take on Japanese comfort food. Its recent opening has been met with excitement, and for good reason. The transformation of the space into a bright, spacious, and inviting environment with ample seating makes it a comfortable and enjoyable spot for any occasion – from a quick solo lunch to a family dinner.

What truly makes Marugame Udon a local gem is its commitment to fresh, quality ingredients and a highly efficient service model. The handcrafted Sanuki-style udon, praised for its improved texture and savory broths, forms the perfect base for a customizable, hearty meal. The crispy, non-oily tempura, a notable improvement over other locations, adds a delightful texture and flavor contrast. For busy Californians, the quick online ordering and takeout options are invaluable, ensuring a delicious meal is always just minutes away. The friendly and helpful staff further enhance the experience, making every visit a pleasant one. Marugame Udon offers an authentic taste of Japanese fast-casual dining that is both delicious and convenient, solidifying its place as a go-to spot for satisfying udon cravings in the local community.

Marugame Udon Photos

Marugame Udon Location

Marugame Udon

California Alameda County Alameda South Shore Center

2249 S Shore Center #330, Alameda, CA 94501, USA

Marugame Udon Reviews

3.1.25Long awaited opening finally here!Love how they've transformed this location which used to be Panera. It is now so bright and spacious, compared to the slightly tight and dim feeling that it used to be. Makes this space much more inviting. There's lots of seating indoors and outdoors.Service was smooth and efficient. Wonder if line will get longer as people start coming throughout this week and into weekend.Calamansi drink was refreshing! Not too sweet and not too tart.Tempura (chicken katsu, tomagoyaki and gyoza) were all yummy. Not dripping with oil which means it was cooked when oil was sufficiently hot enough. It was definitely an improvement here compared to the Berkeley location that has become very oily that we generally forgo their tempura now.Lastly the three different bowls of udon we had were umami! We finished three bowls completely including the soup/gravy to the last drop. Udon texture is an improvement from Berkeley, but compared to Waikiki, Oahu, still missing the slightly chewy texture that takes udon to the next level. Making noodle is an art so hopefully Alameda location can continue to improve.We will be back now that it's 3x closer to us.3.9.25Decided to try their online ordering and take out today. Food was ready within 10 minutes! This is awesome.Food tasted just like in the restaurant - delicious!Only downside that may have been overlooked is the quantity of broth. We ordered 2 large nikutama udon and the portion of noodles and beef was good except that the broth was a little too little (see included picture with this review). So we made a little broth to go with it so that we have enough. Hopefully the restaurant can continue to improve and make sure this is resolved next time - I'll share again when I do take out.
Mar 10, 2025 · Kenneth Tong
Great location for this fast casual chain. The udon was hearty, broth savory, and staff very nice and helpful. On par with fast casual udon joints in Japan.It was fun to come back after I received a free meal from participating in a new menu item test and review 😃
Apr 26, 2025 · Joshua McCauley
I'm super excited for Marugame Udon to finally open at the former Panera Bread. The closest one near me is the Berkeley location.Since today was the grand opening, to-go orders were a bit longer, but it was very organized since it was so busy. The staff were awesome and totally worked their butt off. I loved that they gave out free drink samples while in line outside. I did lined up before realizing I could just order it to go and went straight inside..I ordered from the Marugame Udon app, which was very easy to use. I ordered the Tan Tan Udon, Curry Nikutama, and Nikutama. The Curry Nikutama was very delicious and consistency on point. The sweetness from the sweet beef and the savoriness from the curry sauce, this delicious blend is a perfect balance! 😋 I love how they labeled and sticker each item in my to-go bag!This was a very well organized event! Great job to all the workers there. They cleaned every table anytime someone leaves, and the workers go around greeting the customers. Also, I was able to chat with a bunch of random people here. They were all very friendly! It was a great experience!Of course, I'll wait it out. I would go back again and again!
Mar 05, 2025 · Nancy C.
This place is a chain-franchise business, and it was started in LA first, then moved to the Bay Area. Daly City and Bekelery has one as well. I was glad they opened at South Shore. I have tried their udon in different locations, so I had to give this place a try. The line was short during typical lunchtime hours. The prices are similar to other locations. We got Tan Tan and Curry with sweet potato, friend chicken, and fried eggs. All I could say was that everything here was quite medicore and didn't stand out much. The food and broth were at room temperature. The guy who scooped and placed broth in bowls, making some mess around the bowls and on the plate. A lot of improvement is needed. Their overall quality, I rated 3.3 out of 5, is just like other locations. I feel their franchise has gone downhill compared to when it was started.
Mar 07, 2025 · B. Wai
I was never a fan of udon before, but that changed today. This was SO great! Really nice people and amazing food! Don’t take my word for it. Just go try it. You will not be sorry!
May 15, 2025 · Judy Bartlett