Marugame Monzo
A Little Tokyo udon specialist with a substantial tempura selection and recent published praise specifically for its frying.
How we calculate this
We combine ratings from independent platforms and weight each source by how many ratings back its score.
- Google Maps4.51,648 ratingsCounted
- Yelp4.45,196 reviewsCounted
= 4.4 / 5 · 2 independent sources, each weighted by how many ratings back it.
Our own Taster score is never mixed in.
Public platform ratings, shown as of when we last checked, kept separate from our own Taster score.
What diners are saying
Selected diner feedback from public sources, attributed summaries, not verbatim quotes or our own review.
Diners praise Marugame Monzo’s fresh, hand-cut udon, watched being made at the bar, and its rich uni-cream and carbonara bowls; the thin shrimp tempura on the tempura udon is singled out as perfectly crispy. Common gripes are difficult paid parking, a small room and occasional long waits.
Why it matters
Kat Thompson’s 2025 Eater report makes the tempura case directly. The guide should distinguish Monzo from the separate Marugame Udon chain.
Dishes highlighted in the coverage we read, not a promise of today’s menu, and not our own picks.
Listed on sources checked today; live operation was not phone-verified.
In the press
What critics and reporters have written, attributed summaries, not our own review.
In December 2025, Eater’s Kat Thompson praised the delicate crisp coating of Monzo’s mixed shrimp and vegetable tempura. Her report treats the frying as a real attraction alongside the restaurant’s Sanuki-style udon.
One dated professional firsthand report. No TendonTempura visit or score is implied.
ContextLocation & visit
329 E 1st St, Los Angeles, CA 90012 · Los Angeles, California
How ratings work
Diner ratings. We show each platform's public rating as of the date we recorded it, on a 5-point scale, with a link to the current rating. Our tempura rating is our own firsthand tempura score, always kept separate and never blended in.
Diner consensus. We combine independent platforms into one score, weighting each by how many ratings back it. Platforms that share the same reviews are counted once, and the consensus only appears with two or more independent sources.
Independence. How we rate and recommend is never affected by any advertising, partnership or sponsorship. Ratings and reviews remain the property of the platforms they come from.