Marugame Udon brings Japanese Christmas traditions to the UK with festive fried chicken feast and strawberry shortcake udonut

Marugame Udon, the Japanese noodle restaurant chain, is marking the season to be jolly by launching two limited-edition menu items in the UK this December. From this week customers will be able to order a Japanese Fried Chicken (JFC) Feast for delivery only, while a new Strawberry Shortcake Udonut will be available in-store throughout the month. The initiative draws inspiration from the country’s unique Christmas traditions, where these unexpected items have become seasonal staples.

The JFC Feast – which stands for both “Japanese Fried Chicken” and “Just For Christmas” – is designed to reflect Japan’s longstanding yuletide custom of eating fried chicken, a practice that began in the 1970s and has since become a widespread festive ritual. Families often queue for hours to purchase their fried goodies for the special day, a tradition that Marugame Udon is now offering to UK diners.

The feast is available in two sizes: a two-person option priced at £32.50 and a four-person version at £59.95. Each includes a selection of the brand’s signature dishes, such as Teriyaki and Hot Honey HS Chicken Bites, Chicken Katsu and Chicken Karaage, accompanied by small bowls of Curry and Kake noodles and finished with a Strawberry Shortcake Udonut. The dessert is a seasonal variation of Marugame’s Udonut range – doughnuts made from leftover noodle dough. The new flavour is inspired by kurisumasu keki (クリスマスケーキ), the Japanese Christmas strawberry shortcake, which is often associated with celebration and togetherness, and is priced at £2.50. It’s also available in two other festive flavours: Cinnamon & Strawberry and Matcha & Strawberry.

“Each Udonut is made from light and fluffy leftover udon noodle dough and topped with festive flavours,” said the team at Marugame Udon, adding that the new treats offer “an irresistibly joyful taste of Japan’s favourite Christmas dessert in every bite.”

Food Desk

For further information about Marugame Udon and locations (which operate a delivery and walk-in service only), visit their website here.