Marugame Udon lines up second London site ahead of wider rollout
The 4,500sq ft restaurant will span two floor and have space for 150 covers.
It is one of several new F&B brands set to join The O2. Other recent signings to the south-east London venue include Kitchen Pizzeria; Middle Eastern brand Soukra; German Doner Kebab; and competitive socialising concept Boom: Battle Bar.
“We’re delighted to be welcoming Marugame Udon to The O2 to bring their fresh Japanese noodles and exciting flavour combinations to our visitors," says Janine Constantin-Russell, MD of Icon Outlet and the Entertainment District at The O2.
"With the reopening of the arena, we’re excited to also be welcoming back music fans to the destination, and Marugame Udon’s quick service style is a fantastic dining option for our visitors to enjoy a bite to eat ahead of a show.
"Here at The O2, we’re continuing to diversify our offering of food and beverage brands on-site and are excited to be bringing a new cuisine which is matched in both quality and value to our customers.”
Marugame Udon is the world’s largest udon noodles and tempura restaurant chain and made its UK and European debut in London last month, opening a flagship site on Liverpool Street through a new joint venture between Toridoll Holdings Corporation and Capdesia Group.
Another three sites in the capital are understood to have already been lined up, with further expansion planned for London, the rest of the UK and Europe in the near future.
The company, which has more than 800 fast casual restaurants in Japan and a further 250 across Asia, the US and Russia, has previously said its intention is to eventually operate 6,000 restaurants worldwide.
Sector veteran Keith Bird - who is best known for a long stint running Gourmet Burger Kitchen - is leading the brand’s European push.
Marugame Udon specialises in Sanuki udon, which differs from similar Japanese Udon noodles in its taste and texture.
Sanuki is a region of the Kagawa prefecture in Japan known for its udon noodles, with the company producing noodles daily in its restaurants using Japanese-imported machines that mimic traditional preparation methods. The noodles then undertake an aging process where they are stored in a temperature-controlled environment.
Menu items include bukkake served with house made kake sauce; terikayi chicken bowl; chicken katsu sando; kitsune - made with Kake undon and sweet fried tofu; Sanuki udon noodles with a beef curry broth; and tonkontsu with chasu pork.
The tempura selection, meanwhile, includes chicken, shrimp, squid, crab meat and sweet potato that are cooked in front of the customer, accompanied by toppings such as freshly-grated ginger, green onion, tempura flakes and sesame seeds.
Prices are strikingly affordable, with mains starting at £3.45.
