"GO: for one thing: Marugame Monzo’s fatty, dense noodles. Yes, it’s worth the wait. ORDER THE: udon, of course. You can’t go wrong with really any of them—as intensely as the noodle cooks are about rolling out and chopping the thick stands to order, they’re equally intense about the soup they pair the noodles with. But our favorites are the simple ones, like hot kake with pops of fried tempura dots and sea urchin cream. THE VIBE IS: efficient. There’s not much ambiance—dark wood chairs, dark brown leather booths, yellowish lighting—but you don’t really mind when you’re slurping as much of those heavenly noodles as you possibly can. The staff is quick to get your order in (and you out) since there’s a constant line out the door, but they’re attentive and easy to flag down. PRACTICAL STUFF: Open every day: Monday to Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. —Elyse Inamine" - Condé Nast
