Marugame Udon - Japanese Noodles & Tempura (Liverpool Street) — Restaurant in London

If you are going to order take out, don't order online or from their kiosks. Instead, join the dine in ordering queue and order your take out there. Food is good and staff are nice but take out service is bad.

I went to the store and ordered from the takeout kiosk. When I ordered, there was 2 customers in the dine-in queue. There was a dedicated employee serving them. Another employee started preparing my take out chicken katsu but after pouring the katsu sauce in the container, first dine-in customer came to till.

So, the employee preparing my food left it there and went to the till to serve the first dine-in customer. Then, the second customer. While they were paying for their dine-in food, more dine-in customers joined the queue, got their food, and came to the till to pay for their food. The employee that stopped preparing my food kept serving the dine-in customers.

The store wasn't busy but there was a constant flow of new dine-in customers. At that point, I realized that I won't be getting my food unless new dine-in customers stopped coming in. So, I joined the dine-in queue with the receipt in my hand. The employee serving dine-in customers noticed the receipt in my hand asked if I ordered from the kiosk and told me that I have to wait in the waiting area. I asked for an ETA and they said 1 minute.

Since 1 minute is a quite short timespan, at that moment, I thought that "Oh, they are going to put rice and chicken into the container that is already filled with already-cold-by-now-katsu sauce and let me go".

That didn't happen. I waited for the employee that started preparing my order to become free again from the till duty and then they finished my order.

They were all very nice in their manners and the food tasted good but their take out system isn't good. It's just bad.

The whole thing probably took 20 minutes or so. Not intolerable but if I joined the queue instead of ordering from the kiosk, I would be out in less than 5 minutes with my food.

Another benefit of not ordering from the kiosk and getting in the queue is that at any point if you can't tolerate waiting anymore, then you can just leave. If you order at the kiosk, probably there is a way that they can refund you but that will probably take longer than waiting...

Located in the bustling area of Liverpool Street, Marugame Udon offers a delightful culinary experience that tantalizes the taste buds and leaves patrons craving more. From the moment you step inside, the aroma of freshly prepared udon noodles fills the air, setting the stage for a truly satisfying meal.

The menu boasts a variety of udon dishes, each prepared with precision and care. Whether you opt for the classic Kitsune Udon with sweet fried tofu, the savory Beef Nikutama Udon, or the comforting Curry Udon, every bite is bursting with flavor. The noodles, made in-house using traditional methods, have the perfect texture – firm yet tender, providing a satisfying chew with every slurp.

One standout dish is the Tempura Udon, featuring crispy tempura shrimp or vegetables atop a steaming bowl of udon noodles in a flavorful broth. The contrast of the crunchy tempura against the soft noodles creates a delightful harmony of textures, while the broth is rich and aromatic, infused with umami goodness.

The dining experience at Marugame Udon is not just about the food; it's also about the atmosphere. The open kitchen allows diners to witness the skilled chefs crafting each dish with expertise, adding an element of excitement to the meal. The casual yet vibrant ambiance makes it an ideal spot for a quick lunch or a relaxed dinner with friends.

Service is prompt and friendly, with staff members eager to assist with recommendations and ensure a pleasant dining experience. Whether you're a udon enthusiast or a newcomer to Japanese cuisine, Marugame Udon in Liverpool Street is sure to leave a lasting impression with its delicious food and...

Visited last Thursday and after a 1.5 hour wait since 11.50am, I was really happy with the menu. The selection is great and service is incredibly fast! The paitan chicken udon was amazing:) Incredibly chewy noodles with a generous serving of chicken. Make sure to help yourself to a big scoop of fried tempura batter for extra crunchiness. And I couldn't get enough of the Japanese pickled ginger. I tried the prawn tempura, red bean dorayaki and courgette tempura (although sad there wasn't any squid tempura when I visited). The prawn tempura was soggy but the courgette and dorayaki tasted great. The price is wallet-friendly too!

If you're wondering how the ordering process works, when you enter the restaurant, grab a tray and order from the menu overhead. You may need to wait a few minutes for the kitchen to prepare your noodles from scratch/on the stop. Collect your noodles by placing your tray on the pick up point and push your tray along the table - think of it as a manual conveyor belt. Next stop is the tempura station. Grab a plate and use the provided tongs to take what you want. Following that is the rice ball station. Each rice ball is individually wrapped so they're good for takeaway too! Next up is the chilled station where the desserts and beverages are. You can also pick up a bowl from here for the ice-cream. Then pay for your meal and turn behind you to proceed to the ice-cream machine. Beside that is the condiments station where you'll find pickled ginger, spring onion, chili flakes and tempura flakes etc. You'll also pick up your cutlery from this station....