Marugame Udon — Local services in San Gabriel

I absolutely love everything about Marugame Udon, and I’m so glad one opened closer to my home! We used to drive 25–30 minutes to the Arcadia location, so having this new spot in San Gabriel is a game changer.

Food: The food here is just as consistent and delicious as the other Marugame locations in Southern California. The menu appears to be the same, and the quality control is spot-on. Even though this location just opened, everything was fresh and tasted great.

Service: The service is one of the standout features of Marugame Udon. From the warm greetings to helping guests carry trays and bus tables, the staff goes above and beyond. One of the team members even brought over a high chair for my son without us having to ask—super thoughtful!

Atmosphere: The vibe was lively and upbeat, even for a Thursday night. I went for an early dinner and was able to beat the dinner rush, which made for a relaxed experience.

Location: This spot is in the Tawa Gateway, on the opposite end from 99 Ranch, closer to Valley. I’m usually only on that side for Wushiland, but this location was easy to see from the main parking lot.

Parking: Parking was a breeze, which is a luxury anywhere in LA. There was plenty available in the main lot, and I also noticed more spaces behind the restaurant—a major plus for...

Marugame has been one of my favorite udon spots for years! I still remember trying it for the first time over a decade ago at their Hawaii location. I’m glad they’ve expanded to more places so you can get that same quality closer to home.

This new location is pretty nice. It has a large seating area and was clean and well-organized when I visited. You start by ordering your udon at the counter. I went with the large Nikutama, then moved down the line to grab tempura. I ended up picking jalapeño, zucchini, shrimp, and squid — all freshly made and still crisp when I sat down.

The udon came out quickly. A good bowl of udon really comes down to the texture, and this location nailed it. The noodles had that perfect chew, and the broth was flavorful without being too salty. The tempura was light, crispy, and not greasy, which really hit the spot.

So far, this is my favorite Marugame location in SoCal. Everything felt on point, and I’ll definitely be back when that udon and tempura...

Found this Udon spot on IG and had to check it out. First time here and the Udon is up to par with its savory flavors.

The thick wheat flour noodles are made fresh and cooked fresh right in front of you, made to order.

You may pick & choose the many styles of broth from Shoyu/Tonkotsu to create your own likings and then head over to the pick and choose tempura or your choice from shrimps to veggies.

I skipped the shrimp and let my daughter have the last one. I chose sweet potato, zucchini, and squash. I will say that the next time I will wait for fresh batches because a couple tempura pieces came out cold and a tad bit on the un-crunchy side of things.

I tried their tonkotsu broth and it was pretty good to the taste, however not quite as rich and creamy textures that I prefer.

The restaurant was clean, organized, and their service was good. I give their Torrance location a try and see how they do with a different choice...