World-famous udon noodle shop makes Dallas debut with new exclusives

In a highly-anticipated arrival, authentic udon noodles are coming to town: Marugame Udon, a chain based in Tokyo that specializes in handmade Japanese udon noodles, plus tempura, robata grilled foods, and katsu sandos, is coming to Texas, with the first location opening in Carrollton at 3450 E. Hebron Pkwy.

According to a release, the restaurant will open August 31.

Marugame Udon first came to the U.S. more than 10 years ago when it opened a flagship location in Waikiki, Hawaii. The chain has since expanded to California, opening eight restaurants up and down the West coast.

Pulling from a centuries-old tradition of noodle making, Marugame serves Sanuki-style noodles: a thicker, "bouncy" noodle that is both chewy and tender, whether served in a broth or drizzled with sauce.

Marugame is also said to be known for its lively and theatrical exhibition kitchen, where you can watch all food being prepared and assembled to order.

That starts with noodles being made behind the glass at the start of the order line, along with the preparation of tempura, katsu sandos, and char-grilled proteins in full view of diners.

Carrollton will boast a new prototype with a double-sided line, which is take-out and pick-up friendly. Online ordering is available as well as third-party delivery via Uber Eats, Door Dash, and others.

Sandos
Carrollton will debut four new katsu sandos, the hip new word for sandwiches, all served on toasted Japanese milk bread, featuring:

• Kobe beef cheeseburger with house-made slaw and "bulldog sauce"
• Spam and cheese katsu with pickles
• chicken katsu
• egg salad

Robata
Char-grilled robata items on the menu include

• chicken meatballs (also offered in an udon bowl)
• grilled steak with shiso salsa verde
• Japanese BBQ pork belly
• vegetable skewer with maitake mushroom, shishito peppers, and kumato tomatoes

Also new to Marugame Udon is U.S.-made Momo Kawa organic Junmai Gingo sake and ice-cold Japanese beer, both available on draft.

The team
Marugame Udon is being brought to Dallas by an experienced team led by President and Chief Strategy Officer Mark H. Brezinski; Chief Operating Officer Pete Botonis; and the growing private equity firm of Hargett Hunter, based in Raleigh and Dallas.

Brezinski is well known for having co-founded Pei Wei Asian Diner, where the exhibition kitchen idea was first popularized. He was also a key player in Velvet Taco, Banh Shop, and many other DFW restaurants.

He and Botonis worked together on Pei Wei, opening the original in Phoenix and growing it nationally to more than 200 restaurants.

"Pete and I have a great history together and we couldn’t be more excited to be bringing our version of this wildly successful concept to the DFW area," Brezinski says in a statement. "Japanese foods are, in my opinion, the most versatile of all Asian foods and we promise to make it a tough decision for Marugame guests to choose between the great bowls, sandos, skewers, and freshly made tempura. In fact, we think guests will find many new favorites to enjoy on multiple visits at lunch and dinner."

A second location will open in Dallas' Old Town on Greenville Avenue in the fall and others are planned for Houston and Dallas in 2021-22.