Marugame Monzo in Los Angeles - Phone Number, Reservations, Reviews

The udon itself is a very satisfying texture. The sauces they’re cooked in are unique and deeply flavorful. Absolute gem.

There were so many people recommended this place so I d like to try. I ordered Uni Udon, Fried chicken and beef and egg udon. They were good but not like how people described type of super good and the waiting time was around 20 min.

Epitome of umami! Uni udon is sumptuous without being too fishy, the mushroom cream is rich and hearty and the beef with fluffy jidori egg is sweet and tangy and another great option if you don’t want a creamy broth. Service is quick and no frills, with the intention of getting everyone happily fed and out asap. Be wary of long lines and crowded interior in the evenings and weekends, but if you can muster the wait and packed house, the udon is well worth it.

It's so, so delicious. There's a lot of salmon roe and the noodles are a bit unique. Somewhere between kalguksu noodles and udon noodles? I want to come again and try other menus.

amazing food :) such good service. great place to go either before dodger games or concert (went to alex g concert w caleb after!)

We usually love coming here, especially for the uni cream udon with ikura, but the last time we were here, the portions were noticeably small and there were barely any ikura in the bowl. Still a wonderful bite, if a bit expensive for the size.

This was soooo freaking good beef with the fluffy egg udon...🤤🤤

SO good. We were sat pretty quickly, but just be sure that the entire party is there - or they won’t seat you until they are. It is a pretty tight space, but there’s indoor and outdoor seating, and most workers speak both English and Japanese.

creamy mentai udon is an example of perfecting a dish

One of my favorite restaurants in LA. I ordered mushroom cream udon and it was super delicious. Highly recommended!

Incredible food, Udon was marvelous, very friendly ambient, nice service, you can´t go wrong with them, I really recommend them.

My favorite spot for creamy uni udon.

Food was really good. Our server was nice. We were seated to our table right away. I would come back again.

We were passing through the area and saw a huge wait to eat. So we decided to wait for ourselves and were not disappointed. The spaces between each table are super tight but service was fast, food was great and I can't wait to come back.

This is not the place, food is mediocre. Uni cream udon, the uni was terrible. Aizen is so much better than this. Service is nonexistent. They only take your order and you don't see them again after that. You're also rushed out of there before you're done eating. They left the check while my husband was still eating but i finished, so i paid with card, and they picked up my signed copy of the check before my husband finished eating lol. Daikokuya would never do that.

Pretty good, but not great. The urchin noodles kinda disappointed. Not sure if it was just me, but they were very creamy without much salt or deeper flavor. A little bitter. Chicken skins were interesting and pretty good… but again, nothing special. Left feeling like I ordered the wrong things. Service was snappy and waiters were nice. No wait.

I usually only come here to eat one thing: the uni udon. If you’re coming during normal people hours, you most likely will have to wait in line like a peasant. The food is good and solid, but I did feel the “wow” factor from the first time I’ve had it til’ now has suddenly faded. Maybe if it’s your first time it’s worth a try, but I would be hard pressed to come back here before trying other places. Still a great place to have dinner and the service is great.

It was ok. Kara - age a bit dry, udon was decent. Nothing horrendous, nothing great either. Kinda like Tottenham FC

One of the best places to have the udon noodles, the broth, noodles and the flavor- absolutely delicious. You will not be disappointed. I tried their spicy tofu udon and the carbonara udon. There is a public parking opposite to the restaurant. Be prepared to wait if you go during the peak hours. Worth the wait. I would recommend this place.

It has the atmosphere of a normal Japanese restaurant. I usually avoid creative udon, but I decided to give it a try. Creamy udon noodles are delicious. There were plenty of ingredients and the volume was sufficient. I take my hat off to them for their efforts in pricing that doesn't feel like inflation and for their Japanese-style customer service. I still want to use it.

I ordered Urchin udon and it comes in a creamy base. Avoid if you don’t like a creamy udon. Shrimp&scallop rice comes with too much mayo and teriyaki sauce. Fried eggplant is the only dish we liked.

I was in Little Tokyo for 5 days for work. I went to Monzo twice because it was so good. My favorite was the Uni udon. I wasn't sure what to expect, as I typically am only so-so about uni. But this was one of the best things I've ever eaten. Their kuraage was also delicious. The second time I tried the Mentai Squid udon, which was also very tasty. Service is brisk and friendly. A great place for a date or a solo outing.

Lots of different udons. I don’t like seafood or seafood based broths & there was a vegetarian & even a gratin or cheesy udon that I will try next time. If you like udon, this place is awesome! Place is tight quarters & parking is not convenient, but most places in LA has parking challenges. I would go back to try a different udon as they have a nice selection.

Best pasole around...great food

Came here on a Sunday night around 7 pm, wait for 15 mins and I was in. It’s a cute little shop that serves good udon. I tried the Takoyaki and it was fine, not great. Little too doughy for me. For the udon we tried the miso carbonara and the hot dragon. I would say that they were both good. Carbonara is very creamy and milky while the hot dragon packed some good flavors. The hot dragon felt like it was more food than the carbonara. Took about 15 mins to get our food so a bit slow but I think they handcraft the noodles so many that’s why it took a while? About $50 for two udons and an app.

The curry udon was savory and came with the perfect amount of toppings. The Shrimp and scallops tempura could’ve been a little more crispy in my opinion. The braised pork udon broth was perfectly seasoned, the pork could have been cut smaller to make it easier to eat. We also thought it could have been braised a little longer as the fat wasn’t tender enough to eat. We were seated and served quickly, it wasn’t a bad experience and i would definitely come again.

Went for dinner with a few friends . Food was ok , too salty . The ingredients were not fresh and not very well washed . As per my picture you can see rotten leaves . Average food , average customer service .

I decided to try this place out since a friend recommended it while I was in Little Tokyo. I honestly didn’t have any expectations for an udon place because I’ve had udon at the Marugame Udon chain and expected something similar. Let me tell you that this place elevates their udon to the next level. The mentai udon was easily one of my favorite meals during my trip to LA. The sauce was creamy, savory, and sweet with the perfect balance. The umami from the mentai and shrimp complements the sauce so well. It wasn’t too rich and was just right. I slurped up all of the sauce it was that good. Highly recommend and would come back. Service was also very attentive and kind.

Not your standard Udon dishes. There are some unique items on the menu. Make sure to explore and ask questions. I enjoyed the uni udon, which tasted like carbonara. The chilled noodle dish would hit the spot on a hot summer day.

Visited Sunday night, there was queue and we waited about 15 minutes for available seats. We tried uni cream udon and carbonara udon. Both were nice!

Creamy carbonara udon is a must!!!

Everything tasted of old oil. Should have steered clear of the fried foods. Tempura was fine but too oily. Agadashi tofu has that same flavor of old oil, and was too fried tasting. Udon noodles were no better than frozen, and even the plain udon broth was filled with fried bits. Not somewhere I’d return willingly.

The mentai seafood pasta was perfectly creamy, and the noodles were cooked just right. We had 3 pcs takoyaki ( 1 of the takoyaki dont have octopus piece, the filling ), crispy chicken skin was perfect, crunchy and tasty but too much sauce (sour). It would be better if they put the sauce on the side. Everything was great. The only downside is the waiter ( the middle-aged woman with dyed blonde hair and using glasses), we dont even finish our food and dont ask for the bill yet, out of nowhere she put it in our table (at the bar). That was rude. Its not even 20 mins before our food arrived. Please improve the service, other wise you will drive your customer away.

We went twice to Marugame Monzo in one week, both times for dinner. Service There's normally a waiting list and the place is a bit small, however we never had to wait more than a few minutes in both occasions. The staff was friendly and the dishes arrived quickly. The restaurant seemed very clean and there's an open view to the kitchen. No issues with the service. If you get the options of around 15$, it's a fantastic value. If you go for the 22$, I think it's still fair, but not as good of a value for money as before. Overall, great. Food I had the noodles which are simply great. They were not handmade in front of us as we were led to believe, but they were definitely fresh and delicious. Their sauces are creamy and tasty. On taste alone it is a great place definitely not to be missed. Atmosphere The feel of the place is pleasant. Although it is small and therefore the conversation on the next table from yours will be clearly audible to you. So I wouldn't classify this as a romantic-type restaurant. Overall Strongly recommended place. Good value for money, great noodles and quick service. I would definitely recommend the creamy mushroom noodles. Place not to be ignored if you are in the area and hungry for noodles.

Popular place, have to wait a bit for a seat but definitely worth it! They nail it every time 💯

This place is AMAZING!!! It is literally the best udon I've had in Los Angeles!! I poped in after a day at The Brood museum which it is really close to. Street Parking can be a little bit tricky but you can just pay and go into one of the lots close by. I personally love the sour plum udon its super sour and delicious but if that's not your thing they literally have a ton of different options. You can get a double portion on any of their udon for a small up charge (I think only $2 more) and it is totally worth it! Their tuna is a delicious appetizer as well. One big thing to be aware of, there is often a wait list you have to sign up on to get in. Be sure you give yourself ample time.

The sea urchin uni udon and the mentai squid butter udon is out of this world and worth the wait! My go to lunch spot in Little Tokyo 🍜💜

rude staff, food is overhyped. udon with regular white sauce, not worth a wait.

The cream udon with mintaigo is good, but with less portion and high price. The main reason I give this store 2 star is the nasty chicken skin. The chicken skin itself is super blend, only the shouyu have the taste, and they should add the shouyu for me, instead put the sauce and chicken skin separately. It cause some of my chicken skin is wet, soggy, and salty. Others are blend and greasy. I highly recommend to take this dish off their menu, super nasty. The chicken skin itself is so greasy and comes up with the gamy chicken smell which I feel like the chicken is still alive. Another problem is the service, once you finish the server are such in a hurry to check the bills, and wanted you to leave for new customers. In short, I would rather go to the normal marugame instead.

Unbelievably good udon at great prices. Phenomenal broth, perfect noodles, crispy and delicious tempura, and wonderful wait staff. Fat serving time. Tips: Eat in, delivery costs an average of 3 dollars more per thing you order. Go alone, on a date, or in a small party - the wait time could get pretty brutal at busy hours.

Do not come this udon store! Discriminate disabled people!!! The old Korean waitress is horrible rude and uneducated. My mom is disabled people, need crutches to walk and standing, she told us you need wait all your people here then coming and have the seats and table, and there is no any people in the restaurant, all table is no people.... When we sit down she blame my mom has a service dog..... then use her finger point to every person ask what you want to drink.........

I tried the Carbonara Udon and thought it was delicious! The sauce/broth is very creamy and savory. The fatty pork is great too. It's definitely something unique. If you've had carbonara before it's just about the same but a tad more liquidy(?) and then just add some thick, chewy udon noodles to that!

Mentai cream udon and takoyaki balls ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🔥🔥🔥

their menu is fully back!! been waiting to eat the seafood tomato udon for so long. the waiters are so nice, and of course the food is delicious (and comes so hot!!).

2pm on a Wednesday, restaurant is half empty..and they won’t seat until all “parties are present”. We were waiting for one person. All this hassle for mediocre udon at best. I’ll take my business to Aizen.

Really tasty udon with a lot of unique varieties. The curry udon was very well balanced in texture and taste The mentaiko cream was not too rich and had a nice seafood flavor that wasn't fishy. The noodles were bouncy and chewy with a great texture. Staff was nice and attentive and the restaurant was clean.

Got the Shrimp Tempura Rice Bowl and Fried Chicken Appetizer. Both were delicious! Very friendly staff too.

This is one of the great places for udon around little tokyo. You really can’t miss with almost everything on the menu. Draft beer glass seems pretty small, otherwise no complaints.

Had the Sea Urchin Udon a whole thing for myself and tried other things. Soooo yummy haven't been there for years and was not disappointed.

Mapo tofu and mentaiko udon. The mapo tofu was very flavorful, the mentaiko was briny and creamy. Both were good.

Food is to die for! Highly recommend.

The uni pasta was perfectly creamy, and the noodles were cooked just right. We had fried chicken as well and everything was great. The only downside is there is no bread to soak up the extra uni pasta sauce. Others in my group, got the beef udon, seafood, and mushroom. Everyone was happy.

Udon noodle was not smooth or chewy, but flour-y. Pork was not charred and porky. Curry udon sauce was meh. I am disappointed.

*Fresh Handmade Udon* Request to sit at the bar so you can watch them make the udon. It was fun to watch! Recommend: Sea Urchin Udon and Miso Carbonara Udon Long wait but it is worth it. Come early and put your name on the list.

Very good udon that was super fresh and ample in size. Loved that it wasn’t scolding hot when brought to the table.

Absolutely delicious! Every time I go, no matter the dish I choose the food is always spectacular! This place is worth the drive, time, and money.

Pretty good udon. Had the vegetarian option. Not amazing atmosphere to linger after food and drinks were alright

Food: 5⭐️ The food was all very delicious! The udon noodles were made and cooked perfectly. We enjoyed various udon bowls, including their white wine clam sauce, their duck broth, and their beef with fluffy egg. We also got their signature uni cream udon, which we liked it but not as much as we expected to. The uni is cooked so it has a milder flavor and firmer texture rather than the creamier texture you may have in sushi, and the cream sauce is decadent but quite heavy. We also enjoyed their karaage and assorted tempura which were both masterfully fried and delicious. Service: 5⭐️ We arrived at 11:30am on a Tuesday and waited about 15-20 minutes. You can put your name on a waitlist outside the restaurant, but you must have your whole party there and can’t wander away since they call your name manually. We had a very attentive and kind waiter! Atmosphere: 5⭐️ Great vibes overall. You can venture to the back of the restaurant to watch them prepare the food if you’re interested!

Great quality food at a good price point. Wait is usually 10-30 mins for two people. Will be back soon.

I recently dined at Marugame Monzo in Little Tokyo and was thoroughly impressed by their udon noodles. Cooked to perfection, the noodles had an ideal texture that complemented the rich broth exceptionally well. The ambiance of the restaurant adds to the experience, making it a delightful spot for udon enthusiasts. While the uni udon was a unique twist, I found the uni flavor to be somewhat subtle. I expected a more pronounced sea urchin taste, but it didn't quite meet my expectations. Additionally, the portions were on the smaller side. Despite these minor drawbacks, the overall dining experience at Marugame Monzo was exceptional. The diverse menu, friendly staff, and the standout udon noodles make it a must-visit for anyone exploring in Little Tokyo.

Great spot. Wait wasn’t too bad. Had the tempura which was so crunchy, light and flavorful. Shrimp tempura udon and Beef Udon. Not too filling and heavy. Just right!

stellar udon. the best i've ever had. you can tell it's homemade

Mentai cream udon to the moon. Simply delicious. Love the noodle thickness and texture mixed with the creamy soup. Wait may be long but food was quick and it’s worth it. The space in the restaurant is quite limited and they will sometime have you share a table with another group (especially if your a pair), but they do their best to give you the privacy you need with a screen in between.

I use to frequent here. The uni udon and udon gratin with chicken were my go to. I came here recently and the quality of the sea urchin udon changed. Not sure what it is but it tastes a bit bland from what I remember. I was disappointed. I hope to come back and give the udon gratin a try again. I hope the quality remained 🤞

Creamy, delicious, and flavourful udon. Marugame has a variety of unique Japanese udon that I would go for over and over again. We had so much fun trying each of the items on the menu.

This was the first restaurant my friends, family, and I ate at during our 5 day LA stay as it was Michelin recommended. When I saw the cream udon I was a bit confused as I never thought cream and udon flavors pair. After finishing our food, we had mixed reviews as some of us liked it and others were not convinced. Though we collectively agreed that the takoyaki, tempura, donburi, and udon toppings were tasty; also the big soup spoons were a nice touch. I also tried a normal bowl of udon & I loved the flavors and the translucent soup. The waiters all had deep Japanese accents and spoke Japanese, idk if they was authentic or forced, but it definitely added to the vibes. They also have some room for carry-ons and folded baby strollers.

Noodles are made on site and are delicious.

This place is a gem. It is truly the most recommended in all of little Tokyo after trying several other places. The noodles were perfect. Best broth I've had in my life. All the meat and extras were fresh. I got the dragon, and my partner got the fish upon. The takoyaki crispy but melty inside, sauce was perfect. Silky broth in the fish udon and perfectly cooked shrimp.

My favorite place in all of Little Tokyo. Their authentic freshly made udon is so wonderful. There are many tasty options but if you are a seafood fan like me, you will love the uni cream udon. It's my go-to choice! The tempura is also freshly fried and very good. Be prepared to wait in line for this place , which doesn't take reservations, but you won't be disappointed.

The Sea Urchin and the Carbonara are the most popular udon. The wait on a Friday night was about 30mins for 2 people, and you can sign yourself up for the waitlist on the clipboard at the front. The udon is fresh and soft and the food comes out very quickly. Can’t wait to go again!!

Got the fluffy egg beef udon. It was OK as far as udon goes but was nothing that special, tasted nice and the broth was good but didn’t live up to the 4.6* rating in my opinion. The service was good, interior decor was very basic and not the nicest place to linger once we finished eating.

The udon is a bit too al dente for my liking. But flavor is good. The beef tataki was a bit plain. There was not much flavor

The creamy udon noodle dishes are the way to go here! I find their cold beef udon noodle dish to be a bit on the salty side. Also, the mini porkbelly with rice dish was mid. It wouldv'e tasted better if there was less or no pepper sprinkled onto the rice. A packet of pepper on the side would be more helpful so it can be added on. Keep in mind this place gets super packed during the weekendz! Try to get there early esp if you're dining with a group & expect a wait-time before you get seated.

Phenomenal restaurant! We had a large party and they were able to accommodate us. My friend had the sea urchin udon and he loved it! I had the curry udon and it was delicious! This place is popular so plan a visit accordingly otherwise you might find yourself in a long wait!

Everything was good as expected as most restaurants in Little Tokyo. Underwhelmed by pork belly bowl. The man with long hair was a much better server than the woman with alot of make up and mask. She was slightly irritated for what reason I dont know but her vibe showed. She made it feel more like a Korean restaurant. I spent about $70 and tipped 25%.

I just wanted curry udon. I togo'd it. Best thing ive ever had in little toyko, and ive been coming here for over 10 years. Recommend 👍 (15 minutes togo time, sat in a nice sunlit area) ($13)

It's good. But it's a lot of money for what it is. I'd be hard pressed to come back.

So, the first time I came here, which was December 2022, I got Hot Dragon Udon and Octopus Takoyaki. Everyone else in the group got Miso Carbonara Udon. My udon was about what I expected based on what I've heard about Monzo. The takoyaki were even better. But the carbonara udon that I tried was really amazing. It was so good that I often thought about it and wanted to come back again to get it for myself. Well, I finally had the chance to do just that! Unfortunately, I don't know what went wrong. The Miso Carbonara Udon this time around was nothing like what I previously had. The dish I was given was extremely bland. There was little flavor and it tasted oily, as if the sauce used wasn't prepared properly. The service was also terrible. It was a nice day, but the inside was warm enough to have me sweating. I was given a cup of warm tap water that had no ice, had my order taken, and then never saw the waitress again until they came back to give the check while expecting a nice tip for doing nothing. It's not as if they were busy or understaffed that day either. There were only two other tables they had to check on with three or less people at them. The waitress was surprised when I didn't tip them the 18% they were expecting for bad food (not the waitress's fault, but they could have been checking if everything was good) and worse service (this is the waitress's fault). They then made a scene about it after I calmly explained why it wasn't 18% that was given. Anyway, no real loss. Little Tokyo and the street where Monzo is located are flooded with extremely good noodle spots. Hachioji, which is a few restaurants to the left, has some of the best ramen and pork bao buns I've ever had. I recommend those if you're ever in the area!

The udon for me and my gf were too saggy. Unsure of they over cooked it... we came due to the Michelin guide and a bit disappointed. Good atmosphere and good service tho ( my gf didn't even finish her udon)

Dude. This place is too legit. Worth the wait. (Approx 20 minutes on a Tuesday Night!) Ordered the Sea Urchin Creme Udon. Holy mother eff, that thing was expensive but SO DAMN GOOOOOD. Creamy urchin bits swirling in your rich, flavorful broth. One spoonful and I was in heaven. I kinda wished we got to sit in front of the chef to see him make his masterpieces, which is an option if you're lucky. But I guess you can't be too picky for dinner. Great service, always on top of their game with waters and greeted us with smiles all around(: Minus a star for portion size though):

We went twice to Marugame Monzo in one week, both times for dinner. Service There's normally a waiting list and the place is a bit small, however we never had to wait more than a few minutes in both occasions. The staff was friendly and the dishes arrived quickly. The restaurant seemed very clean and there's an open view to the kitchen. No issues with the service. If you get the options of around 15$, it's a fantastic value. If you go for the 22$, I think it's still fair, but not as good of a value for money as before. Overall, great. Food I had the noodles which are simply great. They were not handmade in front of us as we were led to believe, but they were definitely fresh and delicious. Their sauces are creamy and tasty. On taste alone it is a great place definitely not to be missed. Atmosphere The feel of the place is pleasant. Although it is small and therefore the conversation on the next table from yours will be clearly audible to you. So I wouldn't classify this as a romantic-type restaurant. Overall Strongly recommended place. Good value for money, great noodles and quick service. I would definitely recommend the creamy mushroom noodles. Place not to be ignored if you are in the area and hungry for noodles.

Visited this udon spot on a Tuesday late afternoon. My partner ordered the sea urchin udon and I ordered the duck nanban udon with takoyaki on the side. The food met our expectations for what udon should taste like, but there wasn’t anything particularly special about the flavor itself. The service was great, and I would recommend stopping by to try their signature/cream-based udon.

I’ve been here twice and I haven’t had to wait either time, but I think that’s just pure luck since this place seems very busy. I recommend getting there ahead of time before they reopen for dinner since a line starts to form by the time they reopen. The service is fast and the staff is very attentive and nice. The food is amazing. I love the lunch deal they have of the mini rice bowls. They’re definitely a good addition to have with your udon.

Food was generally okay until the tipping part which really turned me off. I did tip the restaurant with the remaining change that was given to me back by leaving it on the table. Upon seeing the tip, the lady decided to stop me before leaving and raised her voice, insisted that the gratuity fee is too low to be considered as a tip and recommended that I should be giving a suggested gratuity of 18-20%. If the tip is that important or compulsory, i would recommend to have it as an automatic gratuity in the bill payment. I just came across so many more 1star reviews where people had the same encounter as me. So saddening to know that they had the same encounter too. Just to let everyone who is visiting this restaurant to know that tipping is not compulsory according to the california law and the restaurant do not have the right to force this upon customers.

I always love coming here. Literally all their dishes are awesome. The beef with fluffy egg has so much umami. More expensive than Marugame Udon(the quick sit down place) but there’s so much more depth of flavor. They make their udon in house so the texture is amazing. Super bouncy. Gives that QQ texture everyone looks for in good noodles. If you’re lucky you’ll get to sit near the window where they make it :) Also if you’re not looking for a noodle dish, their pork rice dish is just as amazing. Be aware though, their line gets ridiculous sometimes

Ordered the mentai cream udon. Was good but lacked a bit of flavour. Came with lots of shrimp and scallops.

Curry udon, crispy chicken skin, and karaage were amazing. Very reasonable prices too (though I’m coming from NYC so probably take that with a grain of salt). The udon is handmade in the back of the shop and you can see them preparing food in the open kitchen. I would love to go back again when I am next back in LA.

Oh LA your food is so heavenly. This udon spot is worth the visit for a variety of savory and creamy udon. You can get the creamy variety in the carbonara udon with bacon or the savory traditional udon with tempura on the side. The service is great and attentive and the wait is not that bad if you go early like around 5:30pm. The flavors with their fried chicken was so great, a mayo and golden spice that tasted soooo good. Udon that is so fresh and chewy is worth the travel.

Oh LA your food is so heavenly. This udon spot is worth the visit for a variety of savory and creamy udon. You can get the creamy variety in the carbonara udon with bacon or the savory traditional udon with tempura on the side. The service is great and attentive and the wait is not that bad if you go early like around 5:30pm. The flavors with their fried chicken was so great, a mayo and golden spice that tasted soooo good. Udon that is so fresh and chewy is worth the travel.

It’s a basic order but shrimp tempura udon was the best one ive ever had. Don’t skip it. I liked it more than the carbonara.

Super creamy and yummy! Worth a visit

This place was worth the wait! you have to sign your name on a waitlist outside and they will call your name 3 times before crossing it out and moving onto the next group. definitely wait within hearing distance as the list moves faster than you might think. the dishes came out quickly and were delicious. i prefer marugame udon if you want a classic udon meal as the beef udon here wasn't as flavorful/sweet as the one i get at their udon exclusive chain. i got the gratin and everyone said my dish was best! everything else was delicious and fun. carbonara was amazing, though we didn't taste any miso. the uni was great as well but just a bit pricey. get that if you want more of an umami taste. not a 5 because the only unique thing was the addition of udon. the beef udon wasn't as good as Marugame Udon. the other dishes weren't life changing, but i don't think they were meant to be and my expectations were incorrect. perfect for a rainy day and filled us up!

Three of us came here on Sunday afternoon around 3PM. We were #8 in line. We waited for about 30-40 mins. Once you got seated, the service was fast and friendly. Ordered Miso Carbonara udon, Fluffy egg beff udon and Mentei Udon, and app 8 pcs Takoyoki. All udon dishes we had were solid 5/5! So ridiculously good and we had food comas after.. lol.. Takoyaki is 3/5. Food came out hot and timely, check delivered once our bowls were almost empty.

It is interesting that I've been to Marugame Monzo many'ies of times but never wrote a Yelp! review. Shame on me.When this place first arrived in little Tokyo I was confused since the name was similar to the Hawaiian spot Marukame. Very big on the mistake because this establishment serves Udon but very differently.Marugame Monzo gives you a new perspective of udon dishes and flavors that regular udon eaters will experience. It is quite difficult to explain other than you have to try this place if you have never been here before. Years after their opening I still find myself visiting every so often. Over the years I did notice some of my favorite dishes have disappeared but they made room for new additions. Sometimes its a good thing. The place does get crowded so be sure to wait it out or go early. Parking: metered street parking, paid structures

The four of us put our name down for dinner on a Friday night and were seated in about 25-30 minutes. We knew exactly what we wanted to order and got our order in as we sat down. The udons came out quickly! My Hot Dragon udon was not spicy, but there was a healthy serving of ground pork, with tasty pork bone broth! The Uni Cream Udon was phenomenal! It is quite expensive but uni is universally expensive uniwhere you go. We're going to come back to try their other udons! The noodles are so fresh and chewy. Can't wait to run through their whole menu!

The place in LA for inventive handmade udon dishes. Tried the creamy uni and carbonara udons, and both were delicious, but have to give the nod to the uni. The bowl was packed with fresh urchin, which incorporated to make an earthy and decadent sauce for the thick, chewy noodles. Also had the tempura appetizer, which was perfectly fried and light, and a great way to start.

Got here on a Sunday around 11:15 (they open at 11:30) and we were 14th on the sign-in sheet before they even opened. There is serious demand for this place and it's as good as people say it is. Service is quick and attentive, even with how busy they are. My wife got the uni (sea urchin) udon and I got the champon udon. We also tried the takoyaki (octopus balls) and some tempura. First, the udon itself is handmade in the restaurant - you can literally see them do it through a clear partitioned wall inside. The udon is thick and chewy with just the right firmness when it goes into soup. The uni udon was a cream sauce - good flavor and a good size. Most of the specialty udons are creamy though like the carbonara or baked cheese gratin udon. If you don't like cream, there is also another page of clear broth udons. The champon is a little in between. It's a thin soup but has some milk in it sometimes. This one tasted more like a tonkotsu ramen soup and was good but a bit salty. The ingredients were tasty though, lots of small seafood and cabbage.

The creamiest udon I have ever eaten. There are chunks of uni in there so don’t waste the sauce. We added rice to eat with the leftover sauce and it’s so good!

It’s raining day in LA. Having Udon 🍜 in such weather feel so good. Udon is so delicious, will definitely come again

this place definitely lives up to the hype !! we ordered the uni udon, champon udon, and mapo tofu udon - along with the assorted tempura and seafood salad. all the udon dishes we ordered was great! uni was very rich but still delicious, champon was a lighter broth with lots of veggies, and mapo tofu was a thicker broth/sauce type of dish