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    Meiji Seimen

    4.5 (1.7k reviews)
    ModerateNoodles, Izakaya, Ramen
    Closed 11:30 am - 2:00 pm, 5:30 PM - 9:30 PM
    Updated 1 month ago

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    MEIJI SEIMEN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Meiji Seimen

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    Watkins L.

    I stopped by Meiji Seimen Homemade Noodle and had a nice meal. It's not a very large restaurant, but it has a cozy atmosphere with a small, casual setup. The servers were friendly and attentive, and our food came out pretty quickly. We ordered the Shabu Shabu Udon, Chicken Tempura Curry Udon, and a Small Beef Bowl. One thing worth noting is that their udon contains egg, so keep that in mind if you have any egg allergies. Out of everything we tried, the Chicken Tempura Curry Udon was my favorite. The curry broth was rich, comforting, and packed with flavor, and the chicken tempura stayed surprisingly crispy even after sitting in the broth for a bit. The Shabu Shabu Udon was also good and had plenty of tender beef, while the Small Beef Bowl made for a solid side dish. Overall, this is a good spot if you're craving fresh udon and want something warm and comforting. Looking forward to coming back and trying some of their other menu items. Until next time!

    Curry udon
    Brittany P.

    I have been coming here for the last couple years, and I have to say it never disappoints. Me and my boyfriend always share the large curry udon and a few appetizers and usually it's filling for the both of us. The restaurant is small, so the wait times are understandably longer than some other places but it's well worth the wait- they make their udon noodles in house every day. We almost never get dessert but after our last visit, we're definitely gonna start ordering the panna cotta. Best texture of a panna cotta I've ever had at a restaurant. Normally they are too gelatiny for my taste, but this one was smooth and had a nice balance with the berries on top. They also have a happy hour which involves some starters and a beer if that's something that interests you! This is definitely one of those places that's in our monthly rotation for when we do eat out!!

    Udon set and curry idon set in the back
    Jamie A.

    I have no words to describe the incredible lunch experience we had at Meiji Seimen. It's in an unassuming strip mall and a true local, hole in the wall restaurant with only a few tables and always a long wait. I recommend checking the current wait time and getting on the Yelp waitlist before heading over. Staff was all so friendly and accomodating and as soon as they noticed I had a purse with me, provided me with a bag hook I could borrow while we dined! That seems like such a small thing but it was truly so considerate and I appreciated it so much!! My fiancé and I shared their delicious fried chicken appetizer (this is a must get - incredibly crispy large pieces and perfect ratio of meat to batter), he got the pork katsu curry udon set which he loved and said was so flavorful, and I got the tempura udon with extra fish cake. The broth was so light and perfect! Absolutely delicious. This is now on our date night rotation. Thank you for the amazing meal and service!

    Interior.
    Jeff Y.

    I had Meiji Seimen bookmarked and we decided to try it before picking strawberries at Hana Field since we would be in Costa Mesa. Parking was easy to find in the parking lot, but there was a decent wait to dine in for lunch on Saturday. For our party of 2, we put our names on a wait-list and waited about 30 minutes. The restaurant is not that large which explains the wait. The interior was decorated in wood traditional Japanese style. Service however was very attentive and friendly. We scanned the QR code to browse the menu. We decided to order curry katsu udon (spice level 2), grilled mackerel set, and cold egg + tororo + mentai udon. All of the food was extremely delicious, especially the udon. This is definitely an authentic Japanese restaurant with Japanese employees. Most of the diners were Japanese, Korean, and Taiwanese. Prices were also very fair, under $20 per dish. I was really impressed and would gladly come back, just be prepared for a wait during peak times!

    tempura cold soba
    Anna W.

    It's a small restaurant, so I definitely recommend joining the Yelp waitlist. The katsu here is one of the best I've ever had, it was so good that we ended up ordering another side of it. I also got the tempura cold soba, which was refreshing and light. The curry udon was delicious too. The curry broth isn't as thick as the typical Japanese curry, making it easy to slurp with the udon while still being rich and flavorful. The service was good and the ambiance is nice and cozy. I will be back to try other dishes they have!

    Pork cutlet
    Daniel C.

    First time here and thoroughly enjoyed it. Came on a Friday evening and the place was crowded. A quick 5 min wait so not bad at all. I have always been a fan of soba and this place gives you a decent portion. We each got one soba and shared a few other dishes. The good came out relatively fast and it was delicious. We also got a sparking sake - which was a little sweet for my taste and pretty low abv. Chicken karaage - big pieces and crispy. Pork cutlet - crispy and juicy. Soba with tempura - nice portion. Flavorful broth and the tempura was light. Overall I would come back here

    Brian A.

    What an amazing visit! We were looking for a quick spot to enjoy some yummy Japanese food and Meiji Seimen was the spot! We used Yelp check in and were sat almost immediately after we arrived! Their service is always incredible and very attentive since I always finish my water the moment I sit down. I ordered way too much last time so I ordered a fried pork bowl and it was perfectly crunchy and the rice was perfectly cooked.They event included a pepper that added a nice spice to the dish. My partner and her mom ordered udon and said the noodles and broth were perfect! We also tried their tofu and shrimp tempura! Totally loved my experience and I hope to have another!

    Zaru Soba
    Riley K.

    OH WOW THE BEST DESSERT IVE EVER HAD IN MY LIFE OMG PLEASE TRY THEIR PANNA COTTA.... Overall reasonable pricing and good service. Maybe check the waiting time before you go, as there are people waiting outside.

    Fried Chicken
    Ky-Anh H.

    What a gem of a location in Costa Mesa. I was craving soba because I've been kind of sick of other noodle dishes lately, and Meiji Seimen outdid themselves. I love getting soba at different locations as a change of pace, and at Meiji it's perfectly made. The seating didn't take too long on a Tuesday night and the food took about 5-7 minutes to start coming out which was really nice! Parking isn't too bad, the area is a bit small but it's never really full here. We started off with the shishito peppers which came with bonito flakes which was a nice addition. It added a bit of extra flavor and wasn't too fishy, it overall complimented the peppers really well and gave it some depth! Next was the fried chicken as I wanted to have some protein with my soba and it was just right, crispy and crunchy while still being juicy! The sauce was of course a good addition to dip in to give extra flavor. Lastly, I got a plain order of zaru soba, which was just perfect for the night. The noodles weren't too soggy or stiff, they were just right. Combining the wasabi, seaweed, and green onion to the dip helped add more flavor to the noodles each dip and made for a perfect meal for me. I will definitely be back whenever I crave soba noodles! The server was really nice and stopped by plenty of times to make sure we were doing fine which was great to see!

    Shabu shabu udon, tempura zaru udon
    Olivia Z.

    We came on a Thursday around 6:20 but joined the waitlist around 6. We had to wait about 20 minutes before being seated but that makes sense since the restaurant is super small. We ordered a shabu shabu udon and the tempura zaru udon. They were both decent with chewy udon and a flavorful broth but it tastes like something I could make at home. I liked the udon more than the tempura since the noodles were super chewy and firm but the tempura could have been crispier and was on the soggy side. My friend thought the shabu shabu udon was okay but said she has had better udon elsewhere. Overall, I would come back to try their soba but wouldn't go out of my way or wait super long. Ratings Shabu shabu udon: 3.8/5 Tempura zaru udon: 4/5

    Austin B.

    Was running hot so I'm glad they had some cold options. Chicken karaage was a little overdone and I've definitely had better elsewhere. Beef tongue also overcooked but good flavor The chicken tempura though was very unique and good with I think black pepper in it? Want to come back for lunch specials like the gyudon cause I love beef bowls and also need to try that limited 10 bowl dish they have

    Shabu shabu udon mild space ce
    Robert H.

    TL:DR - neighborhood gem. Go Service - prompt, efficient, attentive Ambiance - small setting. Wait list so plan accordingly Food - spot on flavors Nabeyaki Udon - delicious. Shabu shabu udon - mid spice - great bowl Cold soba - refreshing Mackerel - great starter Pork belly starter - stellar!! Pro tip- be prompt and get on the wait list.

    2 pieces of tempura as part of Tempura Soba
    Ashley Y.

    SUPER small cozy little place serving good soba and udon! We put our name on the waitlist before we got there and still had to wait almost an hour for a party of 4 for Saturday dinner! This place is popular so come ready for a wait!!! I just had udon recently at another place so I figured I'd try out their soba. If I'm not mistaken they make these themselves. Hot Tempura Soba ($15) with large size upgrade ($3.5) and added seasoned egg ($2)-- It was a super simple but satisfying meal. The broth has depth without feeling oily or greasy. It's clean and simple but very well seasoned. I kept drinking the soup. I got the large upgrade since everyone else at the table was doing that and I'm glad I did! Since it was a super simple broth I probably needed the extra noodles to be full. Ajitama was beautifully done and I'd get it again next time! Shrimp tempura was whatever wouldn't go out of my way to get it again. I also wish it came with a dipping sauce! Actually what happened was my first choice was sansai (Japanese mountain vegetables) soba but they ran out of sansai and my heart broke because I was so locked in and committed. That's exactly what I was craving so had to last minute change to tempura... I'll have to come back and get my sansai fix!! I personally don't know if the soba was special enough for me to be like "wow I taste the difference!!" but that might be because I got it hot? Next time I'll probably get it cold. Or try their udon instead. Fried chicken ($9.5)-- BEAUTIFULLY fried and seasoned! Super juicy, savory, and good portion size. The dipping sauce is good too! I much prefer sauces like this over when places just give you mayo. Must order!! Will be getting again!! Parking is easy since it's located in a strip mall. Just make sure you put your name on the waitlist when you're near the restaurant and check in on the iPad when you get there!

    Chicken karaage

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    Page 1 of 43

    Meiji Seimen Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Meiji Seimen

    Do u guys take cash sorry for adking?

    Yes, Currently we do. Starting April 1st, We will be cashless.

    My daughter loves fried chicken and shrimp tempura but has an egg and dairy allergy. Is there any egg and dairy on both?

    Fried chicken does not have egg or dairy, but the tempura batter has egg and dairy. Both items are fried in the same oil, so I recommend not ordering if your daughter has a severe allergy.

    Hi, Do you take reservations?…

    They don't take reservations, but you can join a virtual waitlist! You'll get updates about wait time, when your table is getting ready, and when to check in with a host! You can join online or in person

    Do they still serve soba noodles?

    Yes we do!! We also sell our Soba(Limited amount) at Mitsuwa market place in Irvine location

    Does Meiji Seimen use any msg in their food? Thanks.

    Soba and udon is made with dashi stock which is typically made with a combination of kombu (kelp) seaweed and bonito (a type of fish), both of which contain natural MSG. Natural MSG occurs in foods such as mushroom, fish, seafood, tomatoes, kelp,… 

    Are there entire vegan options- ie, do the dipping sauces for the Zaru soba/udon contain dashi or other animal products of any sort? We have a pure vegan in our party, no egg, dairy, bonito flakes, dashi, or anything of the sort

    R u dog friendly? Thank you

    No outside seating/No dog allowed as of 5/2022.

    Is this place open saturdays?

    Yes. But the wait can be long.

    Has anyone had the sliced tomatoes? What's it like?? Im very curious to see what it's like. Like come on guys...it's JUST tomatoes, but IS there SOMETHING to it?

    it's the best tomato I've ever had in my life! must get every time

    What sort of dishes would you recommend for a first time visitor? Which udon dish would you…

    I forgot the real name, but it's the beef Udon that I highly recommended. Their broth goes well with it

    Do they have any good vegetarian udon or ramen options?

    There is a big poster on the wall and the same material on their web page that explains how their dashi is made from seaweed and shaved bonito fish. So if you don't mind the fish there are many veggie options there.

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    Hakata Ikkousha Ramen

    Hakata Ikkousha Ramen

    4.0
    (1.6k reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $$

    A Legendary Slurp - Gone But Never Forgotten It is a true…read moretragedy for the Orange County food scene that Hakata Ikkousha in Costa Mesa has closed its doors. This wasn't just a "ramen joint"--it was a masterclass in authentic Fukuoka-style soul food. The Broth: Liquid Gold The standout was always their Signature Tonkotsu broth. You could literally taste the 30+ hours of labor that went into it. It had that distinct "frothy" texture (the bubble of the bone marrow) that you only find in high-end Hakata shops. It was rich, creamy, and carried a deep umami funk without ever being overly greasy. The Hits * Black Tonkotsu: The roasted garlic oil (mayu) added a smoky, dark complexity that ruined all other garlic ramens for me. * God Fire: For those who like to sweat, this offered the perfect balance of heat without sacrificing the integrity of the pork flavor. * The Karaage: Genuinely some of the best fried chicken in the area. Massive, juicy thigh meat with a shattering, thin crust and that addictive spicy mayo on the side. * Customization: I loved that they let you pick your noodle firmness. "Hard" was the only way to go to ensure that perfect snap with every bite. The Atmosphere The Costa Mesa location always had a great energy--functional, clean, and unpretentious. The staff were always efficient, greeting everyone with a loud "Irasshaimase!" that made the experience feel truly authentic. It's heartbreaking to see such a high-caliber spot leave the neighborhood. If you were lucky enough to eat here, you know we lost a heavy hitter. To the team at Ikkousha: thank you for the memories and the best bowls in the city. You'll be sorely missed! Note: For those still craving that specific broth, their Torrance locations are still holding it down--definitely worth the drive to keep the dream alive. Come back to OC! !

    I was completely unaware 10/26/25 was the last day this location was open so I feel very blind…read moresighted T-T The only location left is Torrance and I hope it stays open! Favorite ramen spot ever!! The Black Devil Level 2 Spice will be missed.

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    Menu pg 2
    Menu pg 2
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    Menu pg3
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    Menu pg 4
    Slurpin' Ramen Bar - Costa Mesa

    Slurpin' Ramen Bar - Costa Mesa

    4.5
    (755 reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $$

    I was in the mood for ramen, & my roommate recommended this spot. I got the Chaschu special and it…read morewas so flavorful! The meat was super tender. We also ordered the fried rice, which was okay. The garlic edamame was also really good. Service was excellent! Very attentive servers & friendly. It was a bit cold in the restaurant, but with the hot broth of the ramen it warmed me up for a bit haha. The music was a vibe inside too. I would definitely come back.

    This location is actually laughable. I placed an order on DoorDash for pickup. I show up exactly at…read morethe time it should be ready and it's already been given away. The server doesn't apologize - he states it's already been picked up. How? I ask if they don't verify the DoorDash confirmation for pickup. The server Kendrick tells me they do, but scammers show up with the exact order confirmation screen and pick up orders. Honestly sounds like BS to me, considering they have pickup orders by the front door on a shelf that anyone could take. Either way, the lack of an immediate apology or questions to clarify just point to the fact that he assumed immediately I was a scammer. Okay, annoying. But whatever. I want my food. I ask to have it remade - they're still seating people and people are ordering. They're not closing anytime soon. He tells me they won't remake it. I ask why and he continues to insinuate I'm a scammer and a thief trying to pick up someone else's order. He tells me to cancel my order. I'm beyond pissed at this point because I can't even get a refund via DoorDash because it's already being prepared. So I go back and talk to him again. He continues to refuse to cancel the order or remake it. He gets on the phone with a "Peter" who he claims is the manager. It gets really fun from here. Peter listens to my story and says there's nothing they can do. He says scammers do that all the time, and every restaurant deals with it. Okay, so how has it never happened to me at ANY restaurant? And how have I NEVER heard of it happening? So Peter, after refusing to do anything for me for a while, finally says he'll talk to the server to try and cancel the order from their end. Fine. I hand the phone back to Kendrick and he walks inside. I wait 7 min and no updates. So I go inside and ask him if he's canceling the order. He says, "what do you mean?" I tell him the manager said he'd tell him to cancel the order. Kendrick says, "he was telling you to do that". More gaslighting lmfaoooooo. I tell him no, he told you to. Again, I'm pissed beyond belief at this point and again, I can't get a refund via DoorDash because it's already "being prepared". You would think saying that 3 times is enough for them to finally get it but no. I wasted 20 min driving here, and another 25 waiting for a resolution for this BS. Kendrick tells me he can't cancel the order twice. I just ignore him and wait. 3 min later he goes "I canceled it". Like... you guys are acting like I'm the scammer when you clearly are the ones trying to pull some shady stuff. I FINALLY get my refund and Kendrick says, "sorry I just work here." Brother, that's not your line. You say that when, for example, corporate has a policy that no one likes. This all stemmed from you and your team's incompetence. The lying and gaslighting is absolutely crazy. 25 min and they either could've just refunded me or remade my order. A waste of time. I'll never visit any Slurpin again - this was just pathetic. Not a single bit of sincerity or willingness to help. The manager sounded like he was tired of talking to me, and our conversation lasted 2 min (I'm not even exaggerating). If you want food, don't go here. If you want to keep your money, don't come here. However, if you want to be treated like a liar and a scammer from the second you walk in, then this place is perfect.

    Photos
    The bois eating Sizzurpin' Ramen
    The bois eating Sizzurpin' Ramen
    Chashu rice bowl (large)
    Chashu rice bowl (large)
    FRIED SQUID LEG

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    FRIED SQUID LEG

    Meiji Seimen - noodles - Updated July 2026

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