Marugame Udon has been arrived in Galeria Bali!

1:32 AM

love letter to udon (from a recovering ramen girl)

Dear Balinese friend (especially the ones tired of my blabs),

I know. I used to whisper “ramen” in class and shout it in the car. I manifested broth in basecamp.

I even did bathroom soliloquies about chashu. You were patient. I was… not.

Good news: I’ve moved on.

Better news: it’s to udon. (same family, softer personality. let me have this.)

I found my noodle: Marugame Udon, Bali

#1

Galeria Mall finally has Marugame Udon (it opened a while ago, my heart arrived late). I’ve wanted to try it since forever in Surabaya, but fate said “Bali first, sis.”

What is this place?

Udon = thick, springy wheat noodles in a light dashi-based broth.

Marugame does cafeteria-style service: you queue, order, slide your tray, add tempura, pay, sit, slurp.

#2

Menus sit above the line, there’s a display out front if you make decisions with your eyes (same).

#3

No waiters hovering; you follow the line and point at your destiny.

Efficient.

Dangerous.

#3

It’s crowded all day. The line moves fast, though.

#4

Like introverts at a party heading straight to the snack table.

#5

What I ordered (and loved)

Kake Udon, IDR 33k

Standard bearer. Clear dashi, chewy noodles, soothing-as-Spotify. It tastes like the bowls I had in Japan: simple, clean, quietly addictive. If you want heat, the condiment bar has chopped leeks, tempura crumbs, and sliced chilies.

(Free-flow ocha ~ IDR 10k = my love language.)

#6

Tempura things, from IDR 8k

Self-control who? Prawn, chicken, kabocha, enoki, and skewers.

I told myself “just one,” then built a small, crunchy museum.

#7

Kitsune Udon

My surprise favorite. Sweet marinated tofu skin (aburaage) on a gentle broth. Despite the name (“kitsune” = fox), no foxes were harmed; it’s an easy vegetarian win.

Other hits I peeked at / stole bites of:

Beef Curry Udon (comfort chaos in a bowl)
Tori Baitan Udon (rich chicken broth)
Zaru Udon (cold noodles you dip—refreshing and weird until it isn’t, then you’re in love)

Why I’m suddenly Team Udon

Ramen is drama (I respect her). Udon is a supportive friend who texts “home yet?” and brings you soup when your brain is buffering. Also: price-friendly, fast, and it scratches my Japan homesickness without me selling a kidney for a flight.

Tiny how-to (because first-timers always ask me)

Join the line.
Tell the chef your udon. Watch noodles get baptized.
Slide tray → grab tempura (or rice dishes if you’re udon-averse).
Pay.
Hit the condiment bar (leek/tempura bits/chili/tea).
Sit. Slurp. Heal.

Sincerely, from the girl who will now say “udon” in the toilet,

Ikkel

(yoU DON know how happy I am.)

#SerahLuKel

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