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    Nikka Ramen

    4.4 (897 reviews)
    ModerateRamen, Poke
    Closed 11:30 am - 2:30 pm, 5:00 PM - 9:30 PM
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Order Nikka Ramen Takeout or Delivery

    Nikka Ramen Photos

    NIKKA RAMEN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Trendy
    Casual
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Nikka Ramen

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    Reviews With Photos

    Poke
    Erik W.

    We we bought our dog and they bring out a doggy water bowl right away Service was nice who was great next time you come to Santa Barbara or UCSB will come here for sure

    Sylvia C.

    Stopped in for a quick dinner. I ordered the small half and half (salmon and ahi tuna) bowl. It was great! The fish was fresh, and it was loaded with toppings! I've never had apple in my poke bowl, but it was a nice addition. For a small bowl, it was very filling. I really enjoyed it! My family also enjoyed their meal. Service was very friendly and fast!

    Christie N.

    Tonkotsu ramen with pork shoulder and Yuzu Shoyu with pork belly. The broths for both are really good, service is fast and staff are very friendly! They don't come with an egg though, so you'd have to order on the side.

    Brian A.

    Another amazing experience at Nikka! We were seated right away and our server immediately greeted us and made sure we knew they temporarily stopped serving sushi. That was no problem for us because we were craving a chashu bowl and some chicken karaage! This was different from other chashu bowls I've had. This one was more balanced with fibrous ingredients like apples and lettuce. It was amazing regardless! I can't wait to come back again!

    Black Garlic "Kuro"
    Bethany W.

    A solid ramen place in Goleta! We came for lunch and they tried their best to make a big table for our group with 3 kids. Inside is spacious, bright, and clean. My Kuro ramen was really flavorful and filled to the bowl brim. I had a ton of toppings and pork shoulder (which was super tender and flavorful)!! The thick noodles were well cooked and went well with the broth. Everyone else's bowls were big and packed with meat/noodles/toppings/etc. Price is decent for what you get too! Overall, this is a great place to fulfill your ramen cravings if you're in the area!

    Curry Ramen
    Bryan T.

    Get the classic standard ramen on the menu Ramen broth is brewed over a day They legit have a guy whose only job is to worry about the broth This is like sixteen dollars you may think that is pricey But for it to be the best ramen in Santa Barbara so that's what you are getting You are going to get the best ramen in the county The sushi for appetizers is amazing too so don't be afraid to do that The pork is really good too

    Sushant Z.

    Yea this place is a solid ramen spot. Always get the Kuro ramen with the tasty short rib beef and I add a jammy egg. The broth is thick and rich. The noodles were chewy. The egg was perfectly cooked, marinated and jammy.

    Constance L.

    Genuinely some of the best food I've had in Santa Barbara, and the staff is so friendly and attentive too!! I got the spicy tonkotsu ramen with thick noodles and it was perfect. So rich, flavorful, and savory with a hefty amount of toppings for every bite! The chashu bowl was also perfect -- smoky, caramelized pieces of pork belly on fluffy rice. Seriously so satisfying. This is for sure going to be a go-to stop whenever I'm in town!

    Sushi menu
    Lily Z.

    Nikka Ramen was one of the first place in the Santa Barbara/Goleta area to start serving authentic ramen. My goto here is the shoyu ramen. Normally, it is savory, clean tasting, and I liked the thick noodles more than the thin noodles in the tonkotsu ramen. I don't know what happened today. It was super salty, one dimensional, and lacked the deep chicken flavor of their normal shoyu ramen. I am hoping that this is a one time thing and not because they cut corners and ruin a good product.

    Shiro tonkatsu ramen
    Deb W.

    Service was not as good this visit. The main room was almost full and the server just told us to go find a seat in the other room. He didn't lead us or point into any direction, nothing. We just sat wherever and luckily a server came over without having to wait too long to order. I tried the tonkatsu ramen with the pork belly this time. I do NOT recommend the pork belly. For some reason they crisp up each of the just 2 slices of pork belly to the point where each slice is over cooked. It was tough to eat. Stick with the pork shoulder. Tried the chicken karage I don't recommend either. It was chicken thigh cut into small pieces and over fried until it was dry and tough to eat. I wondered why they served with a vinegar sauce and not the typical mayo. I understood when I ate a piece as the chicken was way too salty. This visit I would give just 2 stars, but 3 averages out my two visits.

    Pork Small Chashu Bowl
    Shawn N.

    Great ramen and Japanese food overall. Negatives: -price, the prices are a little higher which is common in Santa Barbara area. They do offer smaller sizes for the rice bowls, which still give you great value to portion size. Additionally the other ramen place in this area is more expensive and unjustified. For the portion sizes I wouldn't count this against them. Though for those more sensitive with money, I will leave this here. Positives: -taste, the ramen is excellent. I would say I like it almost as much as ramen nagi. I got the spicy tonkatsu ramen. What stood out for me were the thick noodles. These noodles are preferred as they are very good at holding on to the broth. The pork shoulder was very tender and the protein portion was very generous. We also got a small pork belly bowl, and the small poke bowl. They were both good, my wife loved the pork belly bowl, the pork was crispy and had tons of flavor. The bun sampler was also great. -service, quick and responsive -ambiance, modern and had a Japanese charm Overall 5/5 Next time we visit Santa Barbara we'll be looking to go here again

    Inside seating and dining area
    Mitchell N.

    Had an awesome meal at Nikka Ramen with my dad during a weekend trip to Santa Barbara. This has been one of our go to ramen spots for years, and it never disappoints. The tonkotsu ramen is the star. I always get the Kuro with the black garlic oil, which is hands down my favorite. The broth is incredibly thick, rich, and full of flavor. You can really tell the quality of the pork and the care that goes into the broth every single time. My dad usually goes for the classic tonkotsu with garlic, and it is just as solid and comforting. I always add extra pork, corn, scallions, a little spice, and extra black garlic oil. That black garlic oil takes it to another level with this smooth, garlicky, creamy depth that is unreal. Portions are generous for the price, which makes it even better. Service was excellent. Our server was friendly, attentive, and quick, from taking our order to refilling our drinks. We felt taken care of the whole time. If you are in the Santa Barbara area and looking for a reliable, high-quality ramen spot with amazing broth and great service, this place is an easy recommendation.

    Pork belly ramen burrito
    Ivette A.

    The broth is out of this world , incredibly tasty . Burrito is huge portion sizes are generous and the service is great . This is my favorite meal and I order it every time

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    7 months ago

    My family loves Nikka Ramen. We love the Ramen and all of the food. My kids even love Nikka Ramen.

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    Nikka Ramen Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Nikka Ramen

    Can I bring my dog if I sit outside?

    Yes

    Is there outdoor dining?

    Yes there is!

    Has anybody taken a photo, let alone actually tried, the elusive ramen burrito?

    Yes

    Do they have gluten free options?

    We do have some Gluten Free Options I would call the restaurant when we open at 5:00 PM

    View All 6 Questions

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    Uniboil

    Uniboil

    3.9
    (309 reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $$
    Outdoor seating
    Kid friendly

    incredible food and awesome experience will be back a+ experience…read more really appreciate the kind service. great ambiance.

    We were passing the area when we decided we needed some lunch. I found this place on yelp and…read moredecided to give it a try. It was an open layout that had plenty of seating inside the restaurant. The decor was moder, but not overdone. We were greeting and pointed to a table but that was it. We realized there was a QR code on the table and we could order our food on there. It took a little while to get our food even though no one else was there. I found it really odd to not even be told to use the QR code to order or be informed of anything. Stewed beef noodles with Ramen- 9/10 My husband ordered this and I tried some. The broth was delicious. Rich and flavorful but not overbearing. The noodles were cooked perfectly and the meat was tender. The bok choy was a needed touch. My husband ate the whole bowl and wanted a second because was so good. Certified Angus Beef hot pot- 8/10 I ordered this with the tom yum broth. I didn't know it was a creamy version of the broth until it was served. I'm not mad about it but it wasn't in the description in case others are dairy sensitive. The broth was flavorful and really delicious. I will say that the beef was tough and it a typical cut that overcooked very quickly in the broth. I'm not positive it was Angus beef grade. I just now realized it was missing the lotus root but gave me zucchini instead. I was also missing my quail eggs. If I didn't read the description to know I was supposed to have them, I would've missed that too. Overall, the food was delicious but the service was 1 star for sure. We were never checked on and the waiter only appeared if we pushed the call button. If you can overlook the lack of customer service, the food is really delicious.

    Photos
    T1 sizzling fried rice
    T1 sizzling fried rice
    Curry Udon with Chicken
    Curry Udon with Chicken
    Tomato beef

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    Tomato beef
    Nikka Japanese Market

    Nikka Japanese Market

    4.5
    (56 reviews)
    0.0 mi
    $$

    Nikka Japanese Market is truly a gem in Goleta and the surrounding Santa Barbara area. A perfect,…read morecute shop featuring groceries and other Japanese goods, it is magical! I must mention their prices are also super fair and you can get a great deal on high quality items!! I am not from here, but I am a frequent visitor. I have always had a difficult time sourcing Asian grocery items until I discovered this spot. Their store holds so many surprises within its aisles. From dozens of varieties of soy sauce to specialty frozen foods and ceremonial fruits, Nikka has it all! I was looking for ingredients to make Lu Rou fan, a Taiwanese traditional braised pork, and was struggling to find the ingredients elsewhere. I came in looking for 2 types of soy sauce, shiitake mushrooms, and vegetables. They had it all! A very wonderful, kind woman assisted me and pointed me to exactly what I needed. We also had a sweet conversation about taiyaki, which I was also able to buy from here. I'm so sad I didn't get her name! If you are reading this, thank you for the help!! I have been back a few times since my first visit and each time I go it is awesome! If you are looking for specialty items or just want a new place to get groceries, stop here!!! :)

    I would not have survived my time in Santa Barbara without this shop! Such a good selection of holy…read moregrail items for asian cooking, and the staff are beyond friendly on top of that.

    Photos
    So many kinds of Miso. ... This is not all
    So many kinds of Miso. ... This is not all
    Fancy melon!
    Fancy melon!
    Sake as like it. This is just a sample

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    Sake as like it. This is just a sample

    Nikka Ramen - ramen - Updated August 2026

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