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    Baikohken Ramen

    4.3 (212 reviews)
    ModerateRamen
    Open 11:00 am - 2:30 pm, 5:00 PM - 9:30 PM
    Updated 3 months ago

    Order Baikohken Ramen Takeout or Delivery

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    Business Info

    BAIKOHKEN RAMEN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Happy hour specials
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Baikohken Ramen

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    Len L.

    Come early, only serves 180 to 200 bowls a day. All hand made to the same standard. Service was cheerful and explained fully the different types of Ramen. Original from Japan since 1969! The ambience brings you back to old Japan... very authentic.

    Vegan miso ramen  SHOYU Hillcrest Special
    Emily C.

    Delicious ramen for vegan and meat eaters alike! I ordered the vegan miso ramen with a soft boiled egg while my sister ordered a Shoyu Ramen with Chashu (braised pork belly). The experience Service very pleasant. We were acknowledged right when we entered the door. Staff quickly cleaned up a table for us to sit down and brought us the menus. I like how our food came out at same time! The Food An excellent portion of toppings along with the ramen. The soft boiled egg was delicious!! All in all, all the ingredients and flavors were tasty and I really enjoyed! My sister enjoyed as well Overall We will definitely be coming back again! The parking area is limited, but we were lucky to find a spot. There is free parking here which is really nice!

    Vegan creamy miso ramen with egg added ($2 extra for the egg !!)
    Nicole J.

    I was craving ramen and decided to check out Baikohken in Hillcrest. Came here toward the end of happy hour on a week night and was pleasantly surprised to be immediately seated and note the $2.50 16 oz Draft Sapporo! They a ton of ramen options and handrolls. I ordered the vegan creamy miso. Presentation was phenomenal, but the broth was EXTREMELY salty. I also felt that they skimp on the toppings, which is disappointing at $18.98 a bowl for just two small pieces of tofu, a few corn kernels, and green onion bean sprout and mushroom garnishes ... they charge extra if you ask for more. I don't think it's worth the cost honestly. I felt like my waitress forgot about me and I was constantly calling out after her to place the order. Food came quickly though once I ordered.

    Miso Ramen
    Jessica S.

    I've been wanting to try this ramen spot for a while now, after hearing great things about it. I finally made it here after a couple of years! It's located in the same plaza as Oscars Mexican Seafood and Five Guys in Hillcrest Center on University Ave in Hillcrest. There's a free parking lot with stalls but could be very difficult during rush lunch and especially dinner hours. There are a lot of free street parking in the area where the residential homes are as well, I believe. I ordered their Miso Ramen, and the broth was comforting and hearty without being overly salty. The chashu was also cooked nicely. While I enjoyed it, nothing stood out as outstanding. One downside for me was that the noodles were a bit soft, although my friend preferred that texture. My friend got their Shoyu Ramen, and my boyfriend got their Spicy Garlic Bom! Ramen. I was pleasantly surprised by the Shoyu - it was surprisingly hearty and not as salty as I expected. I don't usually choose shoyu as they're salty and thinner in broth but not the Hokkaido style at this restaurant. My boyfriend's Spicy Garlic Bom! Ramen was quite spicy even though the menu showed 3/5 chili peppers! The spicy garlic paste was a great addition, enhancing both the taste and presentation. Thankfully, I was able to steal a bit of the paste from him and not have that one bowl to myself, LOL. We also came during happy hour and were quite shocked by the price of their Sapporo - $2.50 for 16oz! Wow, what a steal! We also got their Takoyaki and the Norishio fries. Overall, this restaurant was good, and I would love to come back to try their other ramens and items.

    Shoyu Ramen
    Ashley Y.

    WARNING-- So, so, SOOOOO incredibly salty I cannot even begin to describe how salty their soup base is. They are extremely heavy handed with their salt here. Even the fried chicken was crazy salty!!! We ordered the shoyu and shio ramen, both regular with no add-ons. Both were incredibly salty. Like 2 spoon fulls and we're done. I didn't see a low-sodium option on the menu and they don't do custom paper orders here like some other places. We asked for hot water to dilute the broth and the waitress was kind enough to bring us 2 mugs of hot water. We added about 2/3 of the cup in and then finally it was ok to eat again. Once we diluted it with water, the umami flavors were able to be tasted, but my goodness without the extra water? My tongue was numb and frozen with the shock of the saltiness. I couldn't taste anything beyond that. Their shio was more clear and straightforward savory salty flavor, while shoyu I'd say had some more sweetness. The noodles were nice and chewy, the chashu was nice and thick. I do like the free addition of bamboo shoots because usually we have to pay extra. Really, the components were all good but as the soup base is such a key component of ramen, I'd be lying if I said I enjoyed my bowl. It REALLYYYY needed that mug full of water before I could even taste the real flavor of the broth. Same with the fried chicken-- super salty!!! No diluting can happen with this one unfortunately. We just didn't finish it. It was fried and relatively juicy, but the seasoning was too much for us. Unfortunately my personal preference and this restaurant's flavor profile were clashing too much for me to enjoy anything. I won't be back but if you like heavy, salty flavors then this is the place for you!! Service wasn't anything much. She hands you your food and pretty much disappears but she did get us those hot waters which were much appreciated! It took awhile to get the bill though. Parking is easy since there's a parking lot (but there are a lot of popular things in this plaza) I do want to add that I'm not super salt sensitive or had issues like this in the past before. This place was just so incredibly salty. Judging from the good reviews it might have been an off day (I went on a Sunday) but still, very unfortunate experience.

    SHOYU Hillcrest Special
    Joriene M.

    Shoyu Ramen ($14.98) - The highlight was the shoyu broth, which was unlike any other ramen broth I've had. I appreciated that it was lighter yet so full of flavor. They also marinated the chashu perfectly. I enjoyed this simple and comforting bowl of ramen!

    Shoyu ramen
    Sarah N.

    I went on a Saturday at 5:30 PM and there was already a wait. I only had to wait 15 minutes though. There was a check in via Yelp at the tablet and it would text you when you were ready to be seated so that was convenient. My husband and I both ordered the sure you Ramen, which is what they're known for. Even though that it was a shoyu ramen, the broth was pretty flavorful and it wasn't clear like some of the other shoyu Ramen broth you see so I would say that this was probably the best shoyu ramen I've had so far. The shop was kind of on the smaller side, but decent amount of tables inside. The server we had was very friendly and very enthusiastic had great energy overall my favorite Ramen in San Diego? No, but it is pretty good if you're looking for shoyu ramen

    temaki
    Emily D.

    My first experience at Baikohken Ramen was.. decent. The service was satisfactory. I ordered the Tonkotsu ramen, which came with half an egg, a singular (**also on the small side**) piece of chasu, and some mushrooms. To say the least, I was very disappointed in the protein to noodle ratio. I am used to rationing my chasu while eating ramen, but it was very difficult to do so here considering the piece was super thin also. The temaki was also not very memorable. For a $16 bowl of ramen, I feel like the quality just was not there.

    SHOYU Hillcrest Special
    Alicia P.

    First opened over fifty years ago in Hokkaido, Baikohken received two Michelin recognitions. I popped into the Hillcrest location, the first on mainland US. They serve authentic ramen, served to way it is served in Japan. The noodles were cooked perfectly, with just the right bite. The broth is simmered for 13 hrs to creates a flavorful, savory soup! We also enjoyed the 3 pc temaki set, salmon, tuna and Hokkaido scallop. It was so fresh, I'd return just for that!! Service was very pleasant and attentive. We even got to meet Chef Yuki Sato that joined the restaurant in 2007 and opened the Hillcrest location in 2024. Although the parking can be tight in this area, I'd give this place a try!!

    Shoyu Ramen
    Phillip V.

    Came here with my coworkers for a birthday lunch and had a pretty mixed experience. The highlight was easily the chicken karaage -- crispy, juicy, and perfectly seasoned. Honestly, some of the best I've had anywhere. Unfortunately, the ramen didn't quite live up to expectations. The noodles themselves were spot on -- great texture with that classic firm bite -- but the broth was underwhelming and, surprisingly, not served hot enough. For a place with this reputation, that was disappointing. Service, though, was excellent and very much in line with the polite attentiveness you'd expect from a Japanese spot. Still, if you're after standout ramen in San Diego, I'd recommend Kitakata, Santouka, or even Tajima (yes, they're good again!).

    Green Tea and Calpico
    Dung N.

    I've been here 4 times now! On my last visit, they added temaki to the menu. You can get salmon, tuna, or scallops. Toppings consist of octopus, salmon roe, or crunchy spicy toppings. Their signature ramen was very flavorful. I added seaweed and the spicy bomb. My friend tried the Hillcrest ramen, which was loaded with butter, corn, egg, and seaweed! We also share the chasu bowl. Everything was tasty!

    Authentic from Japan
    Natalie H.

    We visited for the weekend to SD found this place through TikTok. The servers were amazing. The atmosphere seemed authentic and the vibes were great. Very chill laid back and the food was absolutely amazing. SO flavorful we will definitely be visiting when we come back!

    Kurobuta Pork Belly Tonkotsu Ramen
    Julian T.

    This great ramen spot has quickly become one of my favorites. Great broths, noodles, tender meats, and great takoyaki. Servers are the best! So friendly and welcoming. Chef yuki is always there cooking it up for all of us every single day. He is always greeting everyone who comes and goes. He seems like such a great guy. Only con would be parking.

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    6 months ago

    Ramen lovers don't walk, run to this spot! Best ramen I've had in the United States let alone San Diego

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    Baikohken Ramen Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Baikohken Ramen

    Is there any options without pork (i.e. broth and or toppings)?

    Yes, they have a vegan option.

    View All 3 Questions

    Rakiraki Ramen & Tsukemen - Original Chicken Ramen

    Rakiraki Ramen & Tsukemen

    3.8(5.2k reviews)
    5.3 miKearny Mesa
    $$

    Chris Maldonado was absolutely incredible. From the moment we sat down, he took amazing care of us…read moreand made the entire experience exceptional. He was attentive, thoughtful, and truly listened to every detail of what we needed, especially regarding a gluten allergy, which meant so much to us. It is rare to find someone who is both so professional and genuinely caring at the same time. The ramen, floats, appetizers, drinks were all fabulous! Highly recommend this restaurant and definitely ask for Chris if you visit. Service like his is what keeps us coming back.

    I have seen the subpar humble beginnings of this restaurant and swore I would never come back after…read morea lukewarm experience with painfully mediocre food from an uncreative limited menu, not to mention being charged at an obscene level. About a year ago, some friends want to try the food out here and I was pleasantly surprised to see how much it had improved! So imagine my surprise where I came in this evening and was completely floored with how abysmal it has somehow become again with only the last few months. The service has been insultingly, rude; we had a talk with our server and even pass along a compliment, it was shocked with how unkindly they responded. Every single item of the menu has been absolutely terrible; the sushi was a quarter of the size it usually is and tastes terrible, the edamame is cold and feels like it was scraped off the floor, and the karaage chicken is now covered in a glaze that is making our stomachs absolutely sick. And the food is even more expensive than it was before! I absolutely do not want to pay for any of this and it makes me sick to my stomach to have wasted our time here this evening.

    Photos
    Rakiraki Ramen & Tsukemen - Inside seating area

    Inside seating area

    Rakiraki Ramen & Tsukemen - Kurobuta Spare-Rib Ramen

    Kurobuta Spare-Rib Ramen

    Rakiraki Ramen & Tsukemen - Spicy Tuna Roll

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    Spicy Tuna Roll

    Harumama Ramen + Sushi - Little Italy

    Harumama Ramen + Sushi - Little Italy

    4.0(2.3k reviews)
    1.7 miLittle Italy
    $$

    046/2026/FEB Decided…read moreto try this other location ! So lucky we got a table of 5 without reservation! This location has capacity of 56 diners only ! A stellar service from Matthew ! Food was great ! So famished that when food came didn't get to take picture! Crab Wontons had generous filling and very delicious as well!! Grilled Salmon served on a sizzling plate with rice and topped with furikake and teriyaki sauce!

    The first time we came, there was an empty table, but we were told it would be a 20-minute wait. We…read morewaited, came back, and it was still the same table sitting empty, which was a bit confusing. That said, the waitress we had was very kind and attentive, and the food was decent, so we decided to give the place another try. After a long day at Legoland, we returned around 6pm and I had called ahead to make a reservation for four. The person on the phone took my name and number, so I assumed we were all set. When we arrived, the restaurant wasn't even full, but no one greeted us for several minutes. Eventually, a waiter came over, and when I mentioned our reservation, he seemed confused and said they don't take reservations for parties under six. I tried to explain that someone had taken my information over the phone, but he interrupted me multiple times and didn't let me finish. He then walked over to another group behind us and asked if they were there first, even though we had arrived before them, which was frustrating. We were eventually told there was space available at the bar seating (bar stools) instead of a table. At that point, we were tired and hungry, so we accepted. Unfortunately, the service didn't improve. The waiter seemed rushed and disorganized--he couldn't remember our order and had to ask us which dish belonged to who when the food came out. As for the food, it was okay but not memorable. My ramen was just average--the pork was dry and the egg was overcooked. Overall, the food is decent, but the service really needs improvement. This particular waiter clearly needs more training, or possibly a different role, as the level of service did not meet basic expectations for a restaurant. Our second visit left a bad impression, especially since it was our last night in San Diego. Sadly, we won't be coming back.

    Photos
    Harumama Ramen + Sushi - Little Italy
    Harumama Ramen + Sushi - Little Italy
    Harumama Ramen + Sushi - Little Italy

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    Izakaya Masa - Ochazuke

    Izakaya Masa

    4.2(1.5k reviews)
    0.8 miMission Hills
    $$

    How have I not been here before! This not-so-hidden gem is probably one of the best sushi spots…read moreI've been to in San Diego. My friend and I met up for dinner and put our names down at 5:15pm. We were there 15 minutes before they opened. Although, we were eighth in line, we were seated first since no one else was around. Once we were seated, our server came around and took our order for drinks and appetizer. We started with seaweed salad, fried gyoza, and tuna carpaccio. The tuna carpaccio was delicious and I loved the garlic. I wanted to order everything on the menu, but was sold on the rolls. I ordered the spicy hamachi roll and the cherry blossom roll, which was recommended by the server. Both rolls were the freshest sushi I've had in a long time. The flavors were perfect and they weren't flashy rolls. They were classic rolls that showcased the fish so well. The service was incredible, everyone was so friendly and I really enjoyed the whole experience. I can't wait to come back, especially on a colder day to try their ramen!

    They do have a list outside where you put your name down. We came a little early knowing there…read morewould be a line. I genuinely thought people were exaggerating how great this place was, especially when it came to authenticity. They were not. Not one item we ordered was bad and we ordered about 20 dishes. The ramen was the absolute winner. Best ramen I have had in San Diego. I was blown away by the broth and the noodles. The sushi was great, including the spicy tuna. Everything tasted fresh and fairly priced. You really can't beat these prices. The fried chicken and tuna carpaccio were standout appetizers. Honorable mention to the chicken katsu roll. It was insanely massive and so good. We will absolutely be back to try more appetizers and the ramen. We recently went to Japan and this ramen has been the closest we have had to what we experienced there. I didn't even take a picture of it before it was in my stomach!

    Photos
    Izakaya Masa
    Izakaya Masa - Green tea mochi

    Green tea mochi

    Izakaya Masa - Green tea mochi

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    Green tea mochi

    Underbelly

    Underbelly

    3.9(3.1k reviews)
    1.8 miLittle Italy
    $$

    Some restaurants become part of your travel memories & Underbelly is absolutely one of those places…read morefor us. When we visited San Diego back in 2016, we ate at Underbelly twice because it was just that good. Returning this trip felt a little like revisiting an old friend. And I'm happy to report... it was every bit as awesome as we remembered! The best part? The staff affectionately called us "O.G.'s" when they heard we had been longtime fans, which immediately made us feel welcome & set the tone for a fun dining experience. We started with the kimchi because some traditions simply should not be broken. Tangy, punchy, spicy & full of flavor, it was the perfect opening act before the ramen arrived. I opted for the Tonkotsu Ramen: rich tonkotsu broth, soft boiled egg & chashu pork. The broth was deeply savory & comforting, the pork tender & flavorful, that perfectly soft egg tied everything together beautifully. It was exactly what ramen dreams are made of. Hubby went with the Underbelly Ramen, extra spicy: tonkotsu broth, soft boiled egg, chashu belly & adobo pulled pork. The extra spice brought serious heat & he was thrilled with every fiery bite! There is something incredibly satisfying about returning to a restaurant years later & finding that the magic is still there. Underbelly delivered the same bold flavors, cozy ramen comfort & cool Little Italy energy that made us fall in love with it the first time around. Not every restaurant earns a repeat visit nearly a decade later & even fewer live up to the memory. Underbelly absolutely did. We will be O.G.'s forever! NOM NOM NOM #YUM

    Me and my friend came here after skating for 7 hours and we were HUNGRY. We both got ramen and…read morenothing else. My friend really enjoyed her ramen. We both devoured it. I literally ate my ramen in like 5 bites. Not a big fan of the Charsiu pork cus I really don't like the big chunk of fat but I just ate it for protein. I got the underbelly ramen with spicy miso which I think was recommended by our host. We just needed a quick bite but I'd come back to try something other than ramen. The vibes inside was giving Tokyo after dark. It's kinda small inside but they have outdoor seating and I thought it was hilarious that they exited out the window to serve the food LOL

    Photos
    Underbelly - Whiskey drink

    Whiskey drink

    Underbelly - Pork Belly Bao: Chashu Pork Belly, cucumbers, hoisin, pickled mustard seeds, scallions, and cilantro served on steamed buns. | $9

    Pork Belly Bao: Chashu Pork Belly, cucumbers, hoisin, pickled mustard seeds, scallions, and cilantro served on steamed buns. | $9

    Underbelly - Upper level looking out

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    Upper level looking out

    Baikohken Ramen - ramen - Updated May 2026

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