There’s an ongoing debate between Japanese noodle aficionados:
Which is better: soba or udon?
And it’s a debate I’d prefer to stay out of.
For starters, I like both. I love the thinner soba (buckwheat) noodles that have a hearty texture and feel. But the soft, chewy udon noodles always make me feel better, too.
It’s a tough call.
But the other day I was feeling like udon — yes, on an 85-degree weekday afternoon — and we walked to Marukame Udon, a self-serve, fast-food chain restaurant that opened in Waikiki last year.
I had always wanted to try it but decided to wait for the newness of the eatery to wane a little. We’ve seen lines pour out onto Kuhio Avenue in the middle of the day, prompting us to find another place to eat.
But here we were, on a hot afternoon walking around Waikiki — and Marukame was empty.
So we stopped by, read the big sign outside with instructions on how to order a bowl, and snapped a few pics with my iPhone 4.
Here’s what our recent lunch looked like:
Marukame Udon
Marukame Udon, 2310 Kuhio Ave. Hours: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. daily. Phone: 931-6000
