Marugame Seimen Udon Price Drop: Kake Udon at ¥390 & Budget Dining Tips in Japan

In a refreshing move amidst persistent inflation across Japan’s food service industry, Marugame Seimen (丸亀製麺), Japan’s largest Sanuki udon restaurant chain, has announced a major price reduction on five of its most popular signature menu items, effective November 25, 2026.

Most notably, the chain’s staple Kake Udon (regular size) is dropping by ¥50—from ¥440 down to ¥390 (tax included). This sub-¥400 price point delivers meaningful cost savings for foreign workers, students, and budget-conscious residents across Japan.

1. Full Breakdown of the 5 Discounted Udon Dishes

Marugame Seimen emphasized that the noodle recipe, in-store kneading craftsmanship, and fresh dashi stock brewing standards remain completely unchanged, with savings achieved through kitchen logistics optimization:

• Kake Udon (かけうどん – hot broth): Reduced by ¥50, from ¥440 down to ¥390.
• Kamatama Udon (釜玉うどん – fresh hot noodles mixed with raw egg): Reduced by ¥60, from ¥500 down to ¥440.
• Mentaiko Kamatama Udon (明太釜玉うどん – egg udon with spicy cod roe): Reduced by ¥60, from ¥620 down to ¥560.
• Kitsune Udon (きつねうどん – topped with sweet simmered fried tofu): Reduced by ¥50, from ¥590 down to ¥540.
• Yakitate Niku Udon (焼きたて肉うどん – freshly simmered beef and onion): Reduced by ¥60, from ¥840 down to ¥780.

Lowering the baseline price of Kake Udon below ¥400 empowers diners to customize their meal with additional side toppings while staying well within an everyday lunch budget.

2. Maximizing Value with Smart Tempura Pairings

The underlying concept behind this price adjustment is “Keep the noodle quality identical, add your favorite tempura piece with the difference.” With ¥50 to ¥60 freed up per bowl, you can easily craft satisfying combinations:

1. Under-¥550 Economic Lunch: Pair a ¥390 Kake Udon with a crispy chikuwa fish cake tempura (approx. ¥140) or a soft-boiled tempura egg (tamago ten – approx. ¥150).
2. Hearty Vegetable Combo Under ¥600: Combine Kake Udon with the colossal Kakiage vegetable fritter (approx. ¥180). Submerging the crunchy fritter into hot dashi broth yields a deeply savory, filling meal.
3. Take Advantage of Free Garnish Counters: Marugame Seimen provides complimentary self-service toppings at all locations, including freshly sliced green onions (negi), grated ginger (shoga), and crispy tempura flakes (tenkasu). Adding a dash of shichimi chili powder and specialized dashi soy sauce elevates even the simplest ¥390 bowl.

3. Essential Dining Hacks for Foreign Residents in Japan

To make the most of your dining budget at Marugame Seimen nationwide, keep these proven techniques in mind:

• Half-Price Kamaage Udon on the 1st of Every Month: Every 1st day of the month is celebrated as “Kamaage Udon Day” (釜揚げうどんの日), where steaming Kamaage Udon is served at 50% off (regular size for approx. ¥170).
• Collect Udonfuda Paper Coupons (うどん札): You receive one coupon per bowl purchased. Collecting 3 coupons gets you a free topping (such as onsen tamago or tororo grated yam), 5 coupons give a ¥100 tempura discount, and 10 coupons redeem a completely free bowl of Kake, Zaru, or Kamaage Udon.
• Download the Marugame Seimen Official App: Registering the mobile app unlocks instant welcome discount vouchers (¥50 to ¥100 off) and enables barcode receipt scanning for weekly scratch-and-win coupon draws.

Official Sources

• Gourmet Watch (Impress): 丸亀製麺「かけうどん」など全5種を最大60円値下げ！ 質はそのまま、好きな天ぷらを選んで自分好みの一杯に
• Marugame Seimen Japan Official Website