Marugame's Authentic Udon in Bonifacio High Street
Whenever I visit Bonifacio High Street, I always notice a long queue in this restaurant that goes by the name Marugame Udon. At first, I couldn't understand the rave about the place, but someone told me that it's really "sulit" there and that the udon tasted amazing. From then on, I got curious. Hence, when we had the chance to drop by the area once again, we decided to give this place a try.
Authenticity at its finest
The great thing about Marugame is that it was able to bring the authentic experience from Japan, making this franchise a huge success. Upon entering the automatic sliding door (which is a common thing as well in Japan), you'll be greeted by the aroma and heat from the noodles (since the boiling station is near the entrance). Right then, you'll already feel the authenticity, which is further built up by the interior.
However, things don't just stop there. You'll be ordering in a rather unconventional way -- or we may call it "The Japanese Way". If you happen to be not fond of fancy term, then alright, we can settle for "The Cafeteria Way".
Anyway, you'll start the process by getting a tray, and from there you'll choose your orders. They will immediately hand over your orders after a brief set of preparations to make sure that your orders are fresh. There's also a part where you can get side dishes to pair with your noodles (or gyudon, if you are not in a mood for noodles). At the end of the line, the server will compute for your total where you will pay at the same time.
Anyway, let's now take a look at some of the dishes we had!
The Chicken Paitan (P200 - regular | P250 - large) had a milder taste compared to the more popular choice, Beef Ontama. It borderlines being "mediocre" due to this mildness in taste. Thankfully, I had a different order.
The Beef Ontama Bukkake Udon (P210 - regular | P260 - large) had this rich clear broth that was refreshing in every sip. It also had this sufficient level of sweetness that went well with the savory taste. Plus, there is a generous serving of beef on top of it.
The Udon itself was perhaps what made the dish very special. I liked how it was very fresh. To characterize the texture, I would say that it was firm on the outside but soft when you take a bite. It was indeed dreamy!
We also ordered some Karaage (P60) and Tonkatsu (P75) to go with the udon, and I would say we made the right choice! I just loved how their crispiness and saltiness smoothly interacted with the sweetness of the broth. It further raised the bar by pairing these with the udon!
That's all for now. I can't wait to try out more of this soon!
Marugame Udon - Overall Ratings and Summary
Note: Unshaded stars are equivalents of half-stars. The ratings reflect my personal experiences on the times I dine here.
Place ★★★★★
Taste ★★★★★
Service ★★★★★
Value for Money ★★★★★
Budget: at least P210 each for a personal bowl of udon
No. of visits for this particular restaurant/branch - 1 || Date of last visit - November 24, 2017
Marugame is definitely a must-try! The ambiance is marked with an authentic feel matched with an unconventional way of ordering. The dishes were skillfully prepared that allowed them to have distinct identity. In other words, they were delicious! On top of all, you don't need to shell out that much just to experience this authenticity. It's really worth the long wait!
Marugame
Location: Building 7, Bonifacio High Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City
Operating Hours: 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM (Sunday to Thursday) and 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM (Friday and Saturday)
Service Charge: NONE (as you may know Japanese are not fond of service charge)
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