Marugame Udon, Masters of Handmade Udon Noodles

About two weeks ago, we have launched our Foodami Flavors website. It was a busy Tuesday and I had to go with my sister to run personal errands, buy stuff at the grocery, and get papers notarized near city hall.

After having a hectic day, we decided to go to SM Marikina to relax and buy some bread at French Baker. They sell products at 50% discount starting at 7:00 PM: baguette, walnut loaf, pinoy tasty, ube cheese pandesal, wheat loaf, ciabatta, cinnamon rolls, and peach danish (my second choice next to blueberry danish which was not available at that time).

Located at the Ground Floor of SM Marikina is Marugame Udon where we enjoyed a sumptuous dinner. Marugame Udon (also known as Marugame Siemen in Japan) is recognized for their freshly handmade noodles. Centuries ago, the restaurant business began in Japan and was named after Marugame, a city in the Kagawa Prefecture which is renowned to have the best thick wheat flour noodles.

The branch at SM Marikina follows safety protocols: (1) facemasks, face shields and wellness checks (2) strict handwashing and (3) social distancing. Customers are not allowed to sit near the entrance of the restaurant while other customers line up to place their orders.

It was difficult to choose what to order on the menu. As a food enthusiast, I wanted to taste all the udons, rice bowls and side dishes (LOL!). After much thought, my sister and I decided to order Beef Ontama Bukkake Udon (Regular: P210 / Large: P260) and Pork Samurai Udon (Regular: 170 / Large: 220). I was tempted to order Coke but decided to drink water instead since we ordered two yummy large bowls of udon and two side dishes.

When the waiter placed the two bowls, side dishes, and condiments on the table, I was thrilled to take pictures of the food. The smell of pork, beef, fresh spring onions, and tenkatsu or bits of tempura batter, can already satisfy the craving of a hungry customer. It looks and smells delicioso!

The Japanese paintings, wooden walls, chairs and tables, and bright hanging lamps at the restaurant, provide a relaxing ambience for tired, famished customers. So if you had a rough day at work - treat yourself, unwind and gobble-up a beef udon.