Marugame Seimen 101: The King of Freshly Made Udon

2025/12/24 Categories: Food | Budget Dining

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Why Marugame Seimen is No. 1

While sushi and ramen get all the fame, Udon (thick wheat noodles) is the soul food of Japan. And one name dominates the Udon world: Marugame Seimen (丸亀製麺).

While other chains like Hanamaru Udon once led the market, Marugame has surged ahead with over 800 stores in Japan and 200 globally. It is the undisputed king of the industry. But unlike fast-food chains that rely on factories, Marugame does something crazy: They make the noodles from scratch in every single store.

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The Secret: “The Art of Inefficiency”

In the world of chain restaurants, efficiency is usually god. Central kitchens make the food, and shops just reheat it. Marugame Seimen rejects this.

• 100% In-Store Preparation: Every shop has a noodle-making machine right at the entrance. They mix domestic wheat, salt, and water, knead the dough, cut it, and boil it right in front of you.
• The “San-Tate” Rule: Hikitate (Freshly ground), Uchitate (Freshly kneaded), and Yudetate (Freshly boiled).
• Fresh Dashi: The broth (Dashi) is the life of Udon. Because the aroma of Dashi fades quickly (like coffee), they make small batches over 6 times a day in every store rather than using preservatives.

Critics once said, “This inefficiency will make them fail.” Instead, the “live performance” of noodle making and the overwhelming freshness of the food propelled them to #1.

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Menu 101: The 4 Basic Udon Types

The menu can be overwhelming, but it all comes down to 4 Basic Styles. Start here.

Menu Name	Description	Best Way to Eat
Kake Udon (かけ)	Hot noodles in hot broth. The standard style.	Add plenty of free green onions & tempura bits.
Bukkake Udon (ぶっかけ)	Noodles with a splash of concentrated sauce poured over them. (Hot or Cold)	Add a soft-boiled egg (Onsen-tamago).
Kama-age Udon (釜揚げ)	Noodles straight from the boiling pot (no cold water rinse). Served in hot water with a dipping sauce.	Dip in sauce with ginger & sesame.
Zaru Udon (ざる)	Cold noodles rinsed in cold water. Served on a bamboo tray with dipping sauce.	Refreshing! Eat with Wasabi or Ginger.

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⚠️ Survival Guide: How to Order (Step-by-Step)

Challenge Level: High Marugame Seimen generally does not have English menus, and it is a cafeteria-style line. You must speak to the chef. Don’t worry! Use this guide and the “Help Cards” below.

Step 1: The Tray

Enter the shop and grab a tray and a small plate (for tempura) at the counter.

Step 2: Order the Udon

Stand in front of the chef. Tell them the Type and the Size.

• Sizes: Nam (Standard), Dai (Large), Toku (Extra Large).

[Help Board: Show this to the Chef]

すみません、かけうどんの「並（なみ）」をください。 (Excuse me, I would like Kake Udon, Regular size, please.)

すみません、ぶっかけうどん（温・冷）の「並」をください。 (Excuse me, I would like Bukkake Udon (Hot / Cold), Regular size, please.)

すみません、釜揚げ（かまあげ）うどんの「並」をください。 (Excuse me, I would like Kama-age Udon, Regular size, please.)

Step 3: The Tempura Station

Slide your tray to the right. You will see a mountain of freshly fried Tempura. Pick what you like with tongs.

• No. 1: Kashiwa-ten (Chicken Tempura)
• No. 2: Vegetable Kakiage (Giant Onion/Carrot fritter)
• No. 3: Potato Croquette
• Others: Inari Sushi, Onigiri (Rice balls).

Step 4: Pay & Free Toppings

Pay at the register. (Usually around ¥600 – ¥1,000 total). After paying, look for the Self-Service Station. You can add unlimited:

• Green Onions (Negi)
• Tempura Bits (Tenkasu)
• Ginger (Shoga)

Step 5: Return

After eating, please return your tray to the “Return Shelf” (返却口).

Preview

🉐 Big Sale: Half-Price Day

On the 1st of every month, the signature “Kama-age Udon” is served at half price.

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Top 10 Popular Menu Items

(Based on “Minna no Ranking” votes)

1. Bukkake Udon (Cold) – Perfect texture.（ぶっかけうどん）

1. Niku Udon – Beef Udon.（肉うどん）

1. Mentai Kamatama Udon – Hot noodles with raw egg and spicy cod roe (Mentai). Creates a creamy carbonara-like sauce.（明太釜玉うどん）

1. Kama-age Udon – The purest wheat taste.（釜揚げうどん）

1. Torutama Udon – With grated yam and egg.

1. Kamatama Udon – Hot noodles mixed with raw egg.

1. Kake Udon – The classic.（かけうどん）

1. Zaru Udon – Cold dipping noodles.（ざるうどん）

1. Kashiwa-ten – The famous Chicken Tempura (Side dish).（かしわ天）

1. Curry Udon – Rich Japanese curry soup.（カレーうどん）

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Trivia: The Hollywood Star Who Loves Udon

Did you know that John Travolta is a massive fan of Marugame Seimen? When he visits Japan, he is often spotted at Marugame locations (especially in Kyoto), sometimes alone, sometimes with his family.

The “Travolta Style”:

1. He orders Kake Udon with Tempura.
2. After finishing the noodles, he buys a bowl of rice.
3. He dumps the rice into the remaining broth.
4. He tops it with Mentai (Spicy Cod Roe), Green Onions, and Tempura bits to make “Udon Dashi Ochazuke.” It is a very “Pro” way to eat!

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Operating Hours & Budget

• Hours: Generally 11:00 – 22:00 (Varies by store).
• Budget: ¥390 – ¥999.
• Payment: Most stores accept Cash and IC Cards (Suica/Pasmo). Credit cards are accepted at some, but not all, locations.