Marukame Udon – Waikiki, HI

Happy soggy Sunday everyone! What a weekend forecast, did you folks get the text message earlier today? I was freaked out at first because it was the first one I ever received from emergency alerts, I thought it was great though! Hope you are all doing well. We had a bit of craziness at work due to the power outage but everything was back to normal just in time to go to work on Friday.

The famed Marukame Udon! They have been open for quite a while and haven’t slowed since day one. They have even opened a location in downtown. So two great locations with awesome parking options. That was dripping in sarcasm wasn’t it?  I took the trek out to Waikiki recently to give them a try! I parked at Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center and walked over. It was a short but hot walk…and the place does not have air conditioning! I came back and went to the food court to buy something to get validation for the parking. Here’s a tip for you, you have to spend at least $10 to get the validation. Here’s a second tip, everyone in the food court has terrible customer service. When I went to pay for my parking ticket, it would have cost $10 for parking so it’s good I got something in exchange. Anyway, a real quick update today! I had an…interesting experience.

140525-01

140525-02Regular Ontama Udon – Cold

The noodles were pretty good. Actually they were very firm which I don’t mind at all. The cold noodles hit the spot on this hot day. I thought their udon and sauce was good, but nothing I need to return quickly for. Their seats are always filled but the way this place works, someone is always leaving as you are ready to sit and eat!

140525-03Fish Cake Tempura and Shrimp Tempura

Here’s my funny story about this visit. Well you get in line, you let the cook know which style udon you want. They prepare it up really quick and hand it over to you, you then walk over to the hot tempura bar and musubi bar before you hit the cashier. The tempura are all set out with tongs ready to be selected. I wasn’t really paying attention to everyone ahead of me so as I reach the musubi bar, I start to grab my own musubi by hand. I got a stern scolding from the lady behind the bar about having to use the tongs. The tongs were tucked away on the side…for you to grab your individually wrapped musubi. Yes, I was trying to grab for my own plastic wrapped musubi and was told to use tongs. It was a bit ridiculous if you ask me – isn’t that what the plastic wrap is for? I didn’t take pictures of the musubi but the salmon onigiri was not great. The salmon was incredibly salty which overpowered the whole musubi…or was it cause I was salty from the experience? Hehe, in any case…I’m glad I got to try this place but I am definitely not itching to return soon.

6 responses to “Marukame Udon – Waikiki, HI

  1. jalna

    LOL! I got scolded for doing something similar once. I can’t remember where it was . . . maybe some buffet restaurant. I did use the tongs, but I changed my mind after putting an item on my plate and I put it back. The lady got mad and said that they would have to throw it away now. I apologized and put it back on my plate.

    “I’m so sorry, but can you please use the tongs.” instead of “Hey, hey, hey, don’t do that!” would’ve changed your whole experience. It’s not something hard for them to do I think . . . unless they hate their job.

    • lol oh Jalna, sorry to hear you went through that. it’s hard when you’re meaning well but the person gets mad yeah? the scolding certainly made me dislike my experience but they aren’t hurting for business!

  2. Anon

    Da tong Nazi !!!!!

    Btw I love this place…but I didn’t grab anything;) cheap and ono.

    • hahaha I hope she’s not just being nazi with me! Wait a minute, you don’t even grab tempura?? I wanna give downtown a try but I will have to find parking first…

  3. Anon

    Park at the municipal lot off of beretania….not a far walk from there.

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