Tabelog ratingMendokoro Wataya Marugame ten (麺処 綿谷 丸亀店) is a large, fast self-service udon hall built around one dish: niku bukkake. It is thick Sanuki udon in a little concentrated broth, piled with beef simmered sweet and savoury. The business traces its roots to a 1948 canteen with a butcher's background. Reviewers repeatedly call it the best meat udon in Kagawa, and it was named to Tabelog's Udon 100 selections in 2020, 2022 and 2024. Portions are famously large: one noodle ball weighs 350g, against a typical 210–240g.
Nearly every reviewer praises the beef bukkake. They describe chewy, glossy noodles and generous sweet beef, with a squeeze of lemon to cut the richness. The special bukkake (beef, pork, soft egg and wakame seaweed) is a regulars' favourite. Several reviewers single out the tempura shiitake and the oversized inari, rice in sweet tofu pouches. Many add that the queue moves faster than it looks.
Not everyone is converted. A minority find the broth coarse or mass-produced, and the noodles soft by Kagawa standards. A few describe some staff as curt or pushy, and the pace feels hectic. Tempura is sometimes cold or hard.
Reviewers in 2026 paid around ¥600 for a small beef bukkake (earlier ¥560) and ¥460 for a half. They paid ¥670–780 for the special bukkake, ¥420 for a small kamatama (noodles tossed with raw egg) and ¥160 for tempura such as kakiage. Large costs about ¥100–110 more. A full tray with sides came to ¥900–1,390. A typical lunch is under ¥1,000, and there is no dinner service. One reviewer heard a price rise was coming. On value, reviewers are emphatic: many call it the best they found anywhere.
- Getting there: 8 minutes' walk from JR Marugame Station, near the Sanukihama Kaido Minatomachi intersection.
- Hours: Mon–Sat 8:30–14:00 until sold out. Closed Sundays and public holidays, and often over long holiday periods.
- Payment: cash only. Credit cards, electronic money and QR payments are not accepted.
- Booking: reservations are not taken. Just walk in. Lunch queues spill outside but move fast, and early morning is quieter.
- Ordering: take water and a tray first, then order aloud. Decide on your udon, hot or cold, and size before you reach the counter. Tempura is unlabelled.
- Portions: a small is already a full 350g ball. Order a half if you plan to visit several udon shops.
- Condiments: free ginger, sesame, shichimi, tempura crumbs and wasabi are at the end of the line.
- Seating: 130 seats at counters and tables. There are no tatami rooms and no private rooms.
- Smoking: non-smoking inside. A smoking area is right outside the entrance, beside the queue.
- Parking: 50 spaces in lots 1–5 around the restaurant.
- Families and access: children are welcome, but there are no children's chairs. Strollers must be folded inside. Wheelchair access is available.
- Dress: casual.
- Takeaway: the listing says cooked dishes are not for takeout. Reviewers note frozen udon to take home is sold from a vending machine.
