Been going here for years, and it still (on balance) continues to be the best Ramen in SD…read more And for reasons I cannot explain, this location continues to be better than the Mira Mesa location, I don't think they make the most exciting noodles, soup, or toppings; yet somehow as a whole package, I think it just WORKS. Ambiance and service are both great, but you're here for Ramen, and it's the best.

Have you ever been disappointed by the actual food that was served to you? What came out doesn't…read morelook like the picture on the menu? It happened to me here at Menya Ultra... I ordered Nanbanmen, seasonal special, thinking "a whole lot of negi!" looking at the menu picture, but what came out had a tiny pile of negi instead. The chashu was thinner than before... sad sad world we live in If you like straight ramen noodles, this is the place for you.

Ive been coming here for years. Love it here. Staff supper…read moreawesome and friendly. It is small inside but nice and simple. We always get the TONKOTSU RAMEN . I add the broccolini and order it with no spinach. But you can leave the spinach if you'd like. The broth is creamy and smooth and you can choose thick or thin noodles. lately I've been going at night with my daughter when she gets out of work. After a long day it's nice sipping some ramen and hanging out.

The ramen itself was 3/5, but the way HiroNori handles its service charge really left a bad taste…read morein my mouth. When our check was brought out, we were told that a roughly 17% service charge had been added. I have absolutely no problem tipping -- I believe servers should be compensated well, and I'm happy to tip based on the service I receive. What bothers me is the way this system is structured and communicated. HiroNori states that the service charge is not a tip and is used to support fair and equitable wages for the entire team. If that is the model the restaurant wants to use, I would much rather see those labor costs transparently incorporated into the menu prices and employees paid accordingly. Instead, customers receive a significant percentage-based charge on the bill and are then put in the uncomfortable position of having to specifically ask for it to be removed if they don't agree with it. That creates unnecessary social pressure -- most people understandably don't want to look like the person asking their server to remove a charge that has just been described as supporting employees. It also creates confusion about tipping. If the approximately 17% charge is "not a tip," are customers then expected to tip another 15-20% on top of it? If it effectively replaces a traditional tip by funding higher wages, that should be stated much more clearly. I'm happy to pay fair prices for good food and I'm happy to tip employees for good service. What I don't like is a pricing model where a substantial charge appears at the end of the meal rather than simply being reflected in the advertised cost of the food. Good ramen, but the service-charge policy seriously detracted from the experience and would make me think twice about returning.

Coming from Fukuoka, I'm pretty picky when it comes to tonkotsu ramen. I have my go to for that,…read morebut would go to Beshock from time to time for the very great sake selection. Honestly hard to find a place with so many choices and very reasonable pricing. My most recent visit I saw that the menu was changed completely and that they were serving tori paitan. I never had it before so I had to try it and it was delicious! You still get a very similar mouth feel of a creamy tonkotsu ramen, but it just doesn't sit as heavy. I think scrapping a menu that they've had for years is a bold move, but I see the vision. They're bringing a different style of ramen that you won't really find anywhere else here in San Diego. Would highly recommend being open minded and giving it a shot. Also would recommend ordering it with hard thin noodles. Workers are also always very friendly and knowledgeable about the sake so definitely ask for a recommendation to pair with your food.

This spot is our neighborhood go to! I'd say we stop in at least every other week and every single…read moretime it hits the spot. We are typically sat and served right away, and inside is very cute and clean. A bowl of their ramen will never do you wrong and we are a sucker for their appetizers as well. The spicy garlic edamame is a must, as well as the spicy tuna crispy rice. They also have an array of delicious and special sakes, great for a night of sampling and enjoying.

RakiRaki has been a regular stop for me when I'm in San Diego, and while the ramen is excellent and…read morethey offer some very good sushi rolls, I have to start with the real reason I keep coming back: their karaage chicken! This is hands down my favorite karaage chicken anywhere. Crispy and beautifully seasoned on the outside, juicy on the inside, and dangerously easy to keep eating long after you know you've had enough. In fact, whenever I eat here, I almost always order an extra karaage to go specifically to take back to my hotel and enjoy a day or two later. That probably says more than anything else I could write about it! There's also a pretty interesting story behind RakiRaki. Owner and executive chef Junya Watanabe was born in Tokyo and eventually spent about 20 years in the fashion industry before changing directions and pursuing ramen. He traveled back to Japan to learn the craft and trained under respected Japanese ramen chefs before opening the original RakiRaki right here on Convoy Street in 2012. It turned out to be a pretty good decision! RakiRaki became one of the restaurants associated with a newer generation of businesses that helped transform Convoy into the incredible Asian dining destination it is today. Watanabe subsequently expanded into other locations and Japanese food concepts, including ventures focused on vegan Japanese cuisine, sushi, and, appropriately enough considering my obsession with it, Japanese karaage. The ramen here is also excellent and absolutely worth coming for. They offer everything from tonkotsu and chicken ramen to tsukemen, along with some seriously flavorful specialty bowls. If ramen isn't what you're after, their sushi rolls are another good option, and the presentation can be really impressive. This location is in the Convoy Street area, so parking can be an adventure. The restaurant sits in a very busy center with several other restaurants all competing for the same limited number of spaces. Give yourself a little extra time, especially during peak dining hours. Service has always been pleasant, although I don't think it's quite as good as what I remember from their former Little Italy location on India Street. Nothing bad by any means, just not quite the same level of attentiveness and overall experience I remember from that location. Still, the food keeps me coming back. Great ramen, beautifully presented sushi, an interesting San Diego success story, and karaage chicken that I literally order twice during the same meal just so I can have it again later. A solid four stars and definitely worth a stop when you're eating your way through Convoy. Just be prepared to hunt for parking!

I would have liked to give them more stars. Although this is a ramen place, we did come to try…read moretheir other menu items. We got the karaage rice bowl and two of their rolls. It hurts to say it was mid. The rice bowl was okay but the chicken didnt have too much flavor and i feel like the rice to chicken ration was a little off. For the rakiraki roll, there was just too much rice. When you look at the rolls sure theyre big but its mainly rice. I think for the price, you could go somewhere else for better rolls. The other one had too much cream cheese too. All i tasted was rice and cream cheese. The staff were very friendly and attentive though. We didnt notice that we had dropped something on the floor and one of them picked it up for us. The restaurant itself is nice but as introverts, the two seater tables are very close to each other. Its fine though I understand the need to maximize space. Overall I would come back for their ramen but I probably wont get the rolls or rice bowl again.

When you see lettuce/greens and a lemon served with a tantem ramen you know the place is either not…read moregood or is trying too hard. Average at best when compared to Menya Ultra.

Marufuku Ramen, 12841 El Camino Real, Suite 204,…read moreCarmel Valley, San Diego, CA92130. Ramen. 4.5* out of 1,193 reviews (as of time of writing). They certainly lived up to the fantastic reviews. Happy we came here. There's another location in Irvine with fantastic reviews too. The restaurant is in Sky Deck which is an upscale food court with plenty of other restaurant options. Very nice ambiance. The Plaza is vibrant and has "mixed" shop type (eg. supermarket, clothing, restaurants etc.). Nice place for a day out. We were exploring the culinary scene during the San Diego Restaurant Week (13th-20th Sept 2026) and decided on this one because of the good reviews and we've never been here. There's a special menu (with special pricing) for the Restaurant Week (see pictures for menu). There's also a special lunch price for Bento Boxes between 11am-5pm which was a great deal. Food and service were excellent. The ramen broth was rich, creamy, "sweet". The broth was so good that I slurped down every drop of it. Very satisfying meal indeed. The Chicken Katsu Bento Box was excellent too. Definitely worth the drive. Will come again.

The cuisine was absolutely exquisite, and the service was truly phenomenal. As my inaugural ramen…read moreexperience, it was an unqualified and memorable success.

Came here after a street fair looking for a warm dinner…read more We were seated quickly and service was friendly and fast. The inside is large with many tables and very clean. Loved the decorations. The ramen was flavorful and came out in no time. Highly recommend this spot.

Fun Fact: Ramen Nagi started in Tokyo and became known for its bold, highly customizable ramen. And…read morehonestly, the customization is one of my favorite parts about coming here. I've been to Ramen Nagi a handful of times, and it's one of those places I know I can count on when I'm craving a really satisfying bowl of ramen. In facts, its probably my favorite ramen spot ever. First, the must-order for me is the potstickers. They come connected, so you literally get to break them apart yourself. It sounds like a small thing, but it's actually pretty fun, and the potstickers themselves are delicious. Crispy on the bottom, juicy inside and perfect for dipping. But the ramen is really where Ramen Nagi shines. I love how customizable it is. You can choose your broth, richness, noodle texture, spice level and all the little additions, so you can really build the bowl exactly how you want it. I usually like having the ability to control the richness and spice because sometimes I want something comforting and rich, and other times I want something a little lighter. You can also control how chewy you want the noodles to be. The noodles have a great texture and the broth is flavorful without needing a ton of extra toppings to make it interesting. There is also plenty of variety, so you can come back and try something different each time. I also appreciate that the portions are filling without feeling like you're just getting a giant bowl of noodles. Don't leave without ordering the potstickers. And definitely take advantage of all the ramen customization options.

Honestly. Worth the hype. Worth the wait (it's fast) I had…read morethe number one with some extras. I've also had the red one but the king broth is exceptional. Ramen up.

Harumama Ramen + Sushi in Little Italy delivered another stellar five-star dining experience! From…read morethe moment you walk into this lively spot on Columbia Street, the fun, welcoming ambiance and efficient, friendly service set the stage for a great meal. The highlight was easily the ramen. Served steaming hot, the rich, savory broth was packed with incredible depth and layered flavors. It came generously loaded with fresh toppings, including sweet corn, bamboo shoots, scallions, and roasted Brussels sprouts that added a fantastic charred texture to every bite. Resting right over the bowl on a wire rack was a perfectly fried, golden-crisp katsu cutlet. Keeping it elevated off the broth was a brilliant touch, ensuring the panko coating stayed wonderfully crunchy until the very last bite. Between the vibrant atmosphere, attentive staff, and thoughtfully presented, delicious food, Harumama continues to prove why it's a must-visit destination in Little Italy. Highly recommended!

Love this place Service was exceptional and the menu has…read moreeverything if you are craving some Japanese Ramen sushi baos and more Great concept

I've been coming here since probably 2016-2017, and it used to be the best unknown place for…read moreauthentic Japanese food, like if you close your eyes tight and eat your food. You feel like you're in Tokyo. Alas, right before COVID social media blew it up and now there is always a line and a wait, I'm sure the business is happy but I miss my local late night after work izikaya. None the less. I still frequent as much as possible. The wait is the biggest deterrent if I'm hungry hungry. I'd suggest, especially if a party bigger than 2, showing up early to put your name on the list. The decor- classic traditional izikaya, if you've been to Japan, you know. Beer, sake, and tons of options for small plates and sushi to share, and of course some amazing ramen. Service- we've always had great service here, the staff is Japanese so for those looking for the "American" style service, may be a bit off putting. No large smiles and how is your day, it's more what would you like to eat and let me get it for you. The food, the food always brings me back. Jelly fish salad- always a must to start Negi Hama - we ordered 2 this time to share cause it was so good Hamachi Kama- because duh, it was perfectly cooked and tasted AMAZING!! Player 2 got the Hakata ramen and I got the Shoyu. I always go back and forth, honestly you can't go wrong with either. If you like the thicker more rich broth though I'd say stick with the Hakata. Eel donburi- we are big backs and like to eat, don't skip on this one. It is amazing All and all, if you enjoy authentic Japanese food, served unabashedly in a Japanese setting, this is the place for you.

Absolutely enjoyed this restaurant! It is located in a small plaza with limited parking. We came…read morearound 9 and waited about 20 mins before we were able to get a table. We ordered drinks first. Their green tea was soooo delicious! I also enjoyed their alcohol options. Each dish is sooo delicious and definitely worth the money! A must get here is definitely the tuna carpaccio!! it's soooooo good! We ended ordering it twice. There were still a good amount of people when we finished. A lot of people catching up. Vibes were great!

Underbelly is a super cool spot and the ambiance inside is beautiful. It took a minute to get sat…read moreon a Friday evening and parking was very difficult. We sat upstairs, the stairs are so cool and upstairs is cute but small/packed. The neon lights created a really interesting and unique atmosphere for a ramen spot. The vegetarian ramen I got was really good and so was the chili edemame. The buns are also so soft and pillowy.

Overall, I thought the ramen was ok, pretty standard for tonkotsu. We ordered the Underbelly Ramen…read morewith pork belly and the Adobada Pork Ramen. Both were flavorful, though I found the broth a bit saltier than I prefer. It was enjoyable, but nothing that really stood out or made me want to come back specifically for it. The ambiance has a trendy, nightlife vibe, with dim lighting and a lively atmosphere. Seating is open window facing the downtown streets so it can get pretty noisy and chilly, especially in the evening.