Truthfully, I am not well traveled and therefore not better informed about Vancouver’s new bars and restaurants that have been imported from other countries.
Such as the case with Marugame Udon. They have garnered a lot of excitement as a global brand with world acclaim for their udon. I have been seeing lots of folks posting about it and trying it when they first opened, as Canada’s very first location.
Given their location downtown and all the options to try in and around the area, I have yet to do so. This was until this weekend, now that they have takeout and even the possibility of delivery. I am not too sure on the specifics, but I believe it is due to packaging concerns and logistics on how they can ensure their quality product carries from dine-in to delivery, this has been delayed until now.
The restaurant has a fairly large footprint, located on a visible corner on Cambie Street just off the Georgia viaduct. Parking may be a challenge, but possible if you don’t mind a wee walk.
Within, although there is plenty of dine-in seating, this is not a sit down service. You walk in and join the line at the front counter. There, you can order from a condensed menu of noodles, with your choice primarily being what broth you want them sitting in.
Today we got their popular sellers, a classic brown sauce gravy and a rich and plentiful curry sauce. The former also comes with a soft boiled egg and the latter, a piece of deep fried tonkatsu cutlet.
All the staff work behind the counter, compiling your order and you are given the option for green onions or not. We would order for takeout to be able to enjoy a feast for dinner, so everything is served open face in their cardboard containers with plastic lids. All minus the curry who got his own large plastic tub for fear of spilling. Even the soft boiled egg got his own container and we were given empty plastic sauce cups to be able to self serve, pour, and pump into.
Sauces are a self-serve from their own bar. The line up includes a thick and tangy tonkatsu dip, a light sauce for the tempura, and a richer soy sauce. Here you can also grab chopsticks to go, napkins as needed, and soup spoons, if you are dining in.
But the part that really sets them apart, and makes this experience special, is your ability to pick and choose from an assortment of pre-fried tempura kept warm under heat lamps. The selection today included both vegetable, meat, and seafood options, where you are paying per piece.
We grabbed a large stick of zucchini, a just as long stick of asparagus, shiitake mushrooms, potato croquettes, the last shrimp tempura, and a couple pieces of tempura chicken. They are meant to accent your bowl of udon, but can just as easily be treated as his own dish.
Naturally, I expect the food to taste best freshly assembled to order and eaten when originally warmed. However, I can contest that as our first time trying their food, it was delicious, taken home and stored in the fridge, until we are ready to dig in for dinner a few hours later.
For those who like it lighter, their Nikutama Udon served with Sweet Flavoured Beef, Onsen Eag. and BK Sauce is the one to go with. Here, you are looking at the tempura to flavour your bites and the udon serves as a base.
Chicken Katsu Curry Udon with Crispy Chicken Katsu in house made curry. The curry option is definitely more focussed on the udon noodles as there is plenty of sauce for them to swim in. Thankfully, when taking it to go, it is poured and stored in a separate container as to not get soggy. This was a lovely mellow curry with only a hint of the heating spice, equal parts sweet to savoury. It was especially fun to slurp up. Here, are the tempura offered more substantial and filling bite. The best accompaniments was the chicken cutlet and the potato croquette, and the latter is included.
In short this is a quick and easy stop for Japanese-style thick noodles. I enjoyed the food and would like to come back and dine in with them in the future for the fresh is best experience.
Marugame Udon Canada
589 Beatty St, Vancouver, BC V6B 6A3
(604) 568-5500
ca.marugame.com
