Marugame’s Cold Udon in the London Heatwave

Another heatwave hits the UK, and my first thought isn't "beach day" but "cold noodles." Specifically, cold udon. I’ve been to Marugame before and was told they only serve it in the summer, which seemed odd. But after trying it, I get it—it's just a bit... average.

Japanese Udon Chain Restaurant, image from Marugame

I rolled up to the Argyll Street branch on a weekday afternoon, and it was blissfully quiet. Plenty of empty seats, no queues. I ordered the cold udon from their summer menu and loaded up on sides: a soft shell crab tempura, a karaage, a kakiage, and a soft-boiled egg. The total came to £16, which felt pretty fair for a big lunch in central London.

Good tempura, horrible udon

The cold udon itself was just okay. The noodles had a decent chew, but they were surprisingly coarse and rough, not the smooth, glossy udon I love. Maybe they’re using a different kind of flour? The real disappointment, though, was the broth. The chef seemed to have gone wild with grated ginger. I tried my best to scoop most of it out, but even a little bit completely overpowered the light broth. Honestly, it was a ginger-heavy disaster. It was definitely not what I expected.

On the bright side, the tempura was good. It was crispy, not greasy, and the soft shell crab had a strong, delicious flavour. It was a good portion for the price, too. It saved the meal from being a complete write-off.

Verdict: Good for a quick, cheap lunch if you're nearby, especially for the tempura or hot udon. But when it comes to the cold udon, you can find a better option in the frozen aisle of a supermarket.

Ratings:

Food: 3/5 (Decent tempura, but the udon is a no from me)
Service: 3.5/5 (Friendly staff overall)
Decor: 4/5 (Clean and tidy)
Value: 3.5/5 (Decent value for central London)
Overall: 3.5/5

Estimated cost per person: £10-15

Restaurant Info:

Marugame Udon (multiple branches in London)

1A Argyll St

London

W1F 7DB

020 4571 8504

marugame.co.uk

Comments

🍜 Noodle Nova London- Beyond Chinatown's Gravitational Pull

When you're craving proper Chinese food in London, your brain immediately screams 'Chinatown!' and you're mentally bracing for the jam-packed street. But London's culinary map is expanding faster than my waistline after a day out. I was loitering around the Temple station area, pretending to be a fancy lawyer (didn't work, my shoes were too muddy), when my stomach issued an urgent demand for noodles. A quick search later, and I found myself staring at Noodle Nova, a new kid on the block that's doing Lanzhou beef noodles. The Vibe and the Broth Giant vase in the centre First impression: Nice décor. And true to its Chinese name, Qing Hua Yu (青花鈺), which means something like 'Porcelain Jade,' there was a rather large, fancy vase in the shop. Clearly, they've gone for aesthetic as well as noodle. Spicy broth taste good too but I prefer non-spicy one Now, onto the main event. As a specialist beef noodle joint, they offer a whole spectrum of noodle thi...

A Joy -Taipei's Highest (and Priciest) All-You-Can-Eat Truly Worth the Sky-High Bill?

When someone mentions "buffet," your mind probably conjures up images of lukewarm, vaguely-Chinese food trays and a general sense of regret. But hold onto your chopsticks, because East Asia’s buffet game is a completely different. We’re talking next-level quality, and prices to match. This time, Honest Bao scaled the ultimate peak in Taipei to review what might be the city's highest and most expensive buffet... and I'm here to tell you if it's the absolute best. Great view on Taipei city This place is seriously popular, so ditch your spontaneous dinner plans. You must book in advance, and here's a cheeky little catch for you international travellers: they tend to charge foreigners a tad more since you typically have to use a booking agent like Klook to snag a spot. Once you're in, though, prepare to be impressed. The restaurant sprawls across the entire floor, and the variety of food is absolutely monumental—it easily dwarfs any buffet spread I've enco...

Barcelona's Best-Kept Secret? Finding High-Quality Sushi at Sato I Tanaka

As a big city and famous for seafood, it's no surprise that Barcelona has some quality Japanese restaurants. It seems people are really crazy for them here too, as I really struggled to find any online availability when I tried to make a reservation. They are definitely busy, but not 100% full every day. Stay until the end of the post for a little tip to secure a table. Good quality tuna from Spain Sato I Tanaka, a small, unassuming spot that promised an omakase experience for less than the price of a flight to Japan. The moment I walked in, I felt like I was back to Japan. A long, elegant wooden counter, the quiet clatter of knives, and a chef who looked like he knew his way around a fish. This was the real deal. Love the red prawn We went for the lunch tasting menu, and at under 50 euros, my expectations were set to "cautiously optimistic." I mean, I've paid more for a sad-looking sushi platter in London. But what arrived was pure magic. The rice was perfectly seas...

Honest Bao

Search This Blog