There’s an ongoing debate between Japanese noodle aficionados:
Which is better: soba or udon?
And it’s a debate I’d prefer to stay out of.
For starters, I like both. I love the thinner soba (buckwheat) noodles that have a hearty texture and feel. But the soft, chewy udon noodles always make me feel better, too.
It’s a tough call.
But the other day I was feeling like udon — yes, on an 85-degree weekday afternoon — and we walked to Marukame Udon, a self-serve, fast-food chain restaurant that opened in Waikiki last year.
I had always wanted to try it but decided to wait for the newness of the eatery to wane a little. We’ve seen lines pour out onto Kuhio Avenue in the middle of the day, prompting us to find another place to eat.
But here we were, on a hot afternoon walking around Waikiki — and Marukame was empty.
So we stopped by, read the big sign outside with instructions on how to order a bowl, and snapped a few pics with my iPhone 4.
Here’s what our recent lunch looked like:
Marukame Udon
Marukame Udon, 2310 Kuhio Ave. Hours: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. daily. Phone: 931-6000
4 Comments
I’ve always wondered why their broth is luke warm, not hot. But for the price, you can’t go wrong!
Hello Cat,
Happy fuud pixs Friday the 13th!
I like both myself too. I’ll just order one of each.
Fridays are always a treat looking in on the Dish of FUUD. I don’t wait in long lines anywhere (other than the airport or post office, where I don’t have much choice). I like the look of Marukame Udon, but I would probably only go if it was nearly empty. This kind of ordering and dining stresses me out, especially when I have trouble pronouncing or remembering the names of the food I’m trying to order.
Prefer Udon but like both. There is a place on S. King called Jimbo I absolutely love. Every time I am in Hawaii it is a must stop place for me.
It used to be you had to bring your own beer don’t know if it is still like that.