JAPANESE culture has come to The Oracle, and it’s all thanks to a bowl – well, 2,000 of them – of noodles.
Marugame Udon has opened in the former Pizza Hut restaurant on the shopping centre’s Riverside.
It held a week-long celebration, giving away free bowls of udon noodles and, on Saturday, welcomed a Taiko drumming team for a Matsuri Festival. They performed at lunchtime and between 4pm and 6pm.
The restaurant has an open-style canteen kitchen. Guests can either use click and collect kiosks, or queue up and watch their meal being made as they go along the line.
As well as noodles, which are made on site, there are tempura and omusubi sides, a build-your-own condiment station and a range of Japanese sauces.
Japanese drinks are available, while unlimited soft drinks can also be bought.
And for dessert, there is an unlimited soft serve ice cream machine.
The company says there are more than 20 dishes under £5, and many meals for under £10, and there are just three ingredients in the noodles: wheat, salt and water.
Kouhei Honkawa, Marugame Udon Europe head of quality said: “We’re excited to be opening our kitchen in the heart of Reading.
“We’re launching our value casual dining concept to the city as we carry on our mission to introduce udon to more people across the UK.
“The Oracle is a buzzing and lively place for visitors and residents of Reading, making it the perfect place to open our newest site.”
The company came to the UK in 2021, and Reading is its 11th across the country.
