A New Udon-Making Machine Comes to Life on Sawtelle Next Month

Sawtelle newcomer Marugame Udon is hiring up now. The anticipated Japanese noodle shop is promising big things for the already restaurant-rich stretch of Sawtelle Japantown, but they’ve got a secret weapon to help win the war: a noodle-making machine.

Per a release from the company, Marugame Udon will come “equipped with an original, Japanese-imported machine that mimics the traditional methods” of making udon. That means the equipment actually kneads the finished product itself, unlike Marugame Monzo in Little Tokyo where guests can watch a person flipping and pulling the dough by hand. Apparently it’s still a pretty impressive feat, and turns out standardized finished versions all day long. From there the noodles are aged slightly then cut and boiled off in front of diners.

The move towards automation means that Marugame Udon is eyeing a cafeteria-style model, with no table service and low prices. Bowls of udon will start at $4.50 ($2.90 for rice bowls), with tempura listed at just $1 apiece. The space is large enough to accommodate crowds too, with room for 76 inside and 19 more out on the patio.

Marugame Udon opens for business on September 14 at noon. From there expect hours from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday, with an extension to midnight Thursday through Saturday. Show up on day one and get $1 bowls of kake udon all day (limit one per guest), while the first 100 people in line will earn a $10 gift certificate for a return visit.

Marugame Udon
2029 Sawtelle Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA

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