DUBLIN, CALIFORNIA – When one of America’s best ramen restaurants announces that it’s opening a new branch in the 925, people pay attention.
And that’s doubly true when the restaurant announces that it’s opening two new restaurants in rapid succession!
That’s exactly what happened with one of the Bay Area’s top ramen joints. First, they announced and began to build a new restaurant in Walnut Creek.
Then, all of a sudden, they opened a new one in Dublin, too.
The restaurant is Marufuku Ramen, of Japantown fame. I stopped by their brand new Dublin branch to try out the food.
For years, East Bay diners have trekked through the Caldecott Tunnel or across the bridge to get their fix of Marufuku’s signature 20-hour pork broth. Now, the “925” has a seat at the table.
Located at 4288 Dublin Blvd #101, the new outpost marks a major expansion for the brand, which first rose to fame in San Francisco’s Japantown in 2017.
For years, East Bay diners have trekked through the Caldecott Tunnel or across the bridge to get their fix of Marufuku’s signature 20-hour pork broth. Personally, I took my three kids all the way to Japantown to test Marufuku before it landed here.
Now, the “925” has a seat at the table.
The Dublin branch is smaller than the restaurant in the city, but has a very nicely-done interior.
One constant: the wait! Pro tip: if you plan to visit, put your name in via the Yelp waitlist function before you leave the house. Marufuku doesn’t take reservations, and even at a random lunchtime on a random Friday, the wait was almost an hour.
When my wife and our three kids got inside, we found that the Dublin branch has bigger booths than the SF original–a big plus if you’re eating with a family.
There’s also a nice bar area that looks more low key and perfect for a date night.
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True to its roots, the Dublin location serves the brand’s hallmark Hakata Tonkotsu Ramen, featuring an ultra-rich, milky pork bone broth and artisanal thin noodles.
It’s a creamy, intense broth full of thin noodles, pieces of pork, a soft-boiled egg, and lots of veggies.
Like the original Japantown spot, Marufuku does a fantastic job serving kids. My three kids got the Kids Ramen, which arrived in less than 5 minutes.
It’s a balanced meal with a simple ramen soup, pieces of chicken, edamame, veggies, a juice box, and a little jello dessert.
They loved it. And they kicked it that it costs only $10–not much more than a McDonald’s Happy Meal!
Kids get a small token they can use to get a free prize from a vending machine at the entrance, another big plus. This is definitely a family-friendly spot.
In addition to a big ramen menu, Marufuku also features appetizers, rice bowls, and more. We tried the gyoza, which were excellent.
There’s a special item that’s unique to this location, too. At Dublin only, Marufuku sells a true Japanese A5 Wagyu skewer.
Real Japanese Wagyu is the rarest beef in the world. It’s held to exceptionally high standards, and it’s rumored that some farmers give their cows daily massages to cut their stress levels and help to achieve the fat marbling and meat quality needed for the A5 rating.
All this work also makes real A5 Wagyu extremely expensive! A little skewer at Marfuku is $15. Of course, we had to try it.
The meat is delicious–creamy and with so much unsaturated, olive-oil-like fat that it literally melts in your mouth.
At about $3 per bite, I don’t know if I’d order it again. But if you’ve always wondered about real Wagyu, or your kids have watched lots of YouTube videos that talk about the rare meat, a little skewer is a fairly accessible way to try it out–and a fun addition to the experience.
The staff at Marufuku in Dublin is extremely efficient, although many are still in training. Our items came out fast, and everything was done correctly.
Prices at Marufuku are reasonable for Bay Area ramen standards. Again, the cheaper kids meals really make a big difference when eating out with a big family. You can use the savings to splurge on some Wagyu!
Overall, Marufuku is a great addition to the growing Dublin restaurant scene. The choice of the Ulferts Center is a strategic one. Positioned near the I-580/I-680 interchange, the center is already a “foodie” hub, anchored by staples like Koi Palace. Marufuku joins a growing list of high-profile Bay Area exports betting big on the Tri-Valley’s booming population and appetite for authentic international cuisine.
There’s one coming soon to Walnut Creek, too! For a review of that as soon as it opens, as well as updates and reviews on every new restaurant in the 925, join my free 925 News newsletter.
