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Lovely underrated find! This ramen place is tucked away in a shopping plaza near UTC mall but with super easy parking and tons of spots. We came in for an early dinner during a weekend and there was plenty of seating. Immediately upon entering, I was shocked by how nice the decor was and everything felt very modern, intentional, and well designed. There was even this giant sculpture near our table. The tables were big, sturdy, and just felt like quality. The servers were very patient with our big group taking some time to figure out what we wanted to order. They were definitely responsive but not pushy. I had the shio ramen and I thought it was very tasty. The broth was light and flavorful but not too much. Noodles were on the thinner side and had nice texture. The chasiu in the ramen was very good but the chicken was just okay. The edamame portion size was giant. Everyone enjoyed their food and was pleasantly surprised and satisfied with their meal. Highchair available? Yes!
Ujin is located in a plaza so there is free parking. They have a pretty simple menu. The ambiance is very cozy, music isn't too loud. I ordered the Ujin classic shio ramen with wagyu and it was pretty good. It has a sweet and savory fish based soup. The only critique is that the ramen can be presented more aesthetically. The service was a bit on the slower side since it's only 1 person taking orders. However, they are very sweet and went out of their way to figure out how to email me a copy of my receipt when I requested.
Waiter Felix was on his first day and did a great job handling our large party of six. We ordered Agedashi Tofu, Karaage (deep fried boneless chicken), and Miso ramen with wagyu beef and Spicy mushroom ramen. We all loved the food. Ramen was fresh and made in house. Very smooth. Liked the toppings that came with ramen. We then ordered one of each dessert: matcha mochi ice cream, matcha cheesecake, various other daifuku mochi, matcha mont blanc cake, fried red bean and cream cheese ball. Indoor and outdoor seating available. Modern Japanese decor. Will definitely return.
I think a majority of Asian food in San Diego is pretty subpar. But this may be one of the best ramen places I've been to in the area. Service was slow given they only had one waiter working, maybe waited 15-20 for our food. Ramen was great. I like how they have noodles that are straight and not the curly, instant noodles looking type of noodle. The shio ramen broth was not too salty or heavy. I liked that it had a slight hint of yuzu.
Came here on a Saturday night with a group of 6 people and even though it's small they were able to seat us in about 10 mins! Unfortunately it was pretty busy and they only had one server for the entire restaurant, so we never got waters refilled, had to wave the server down for minutes before getting the check, and then waited 10+ mins to get a receipt they definitely were understaffed for the number of people that were there and it really impacted to experience. Also, I was really looking forward to the egg included in their classic ujin ramen, but all our bowls came out with no eggs... when we asked it was because they ran out!! At 6pm:( and no discount offered for each $2 egg they just tried to serve without them and not say anything:( Not sure what is going on with service and stocking up their eggs here, but the ramen broth itself was actually very tasty, which is why it's disappointing to give 3 stars. Not sure I'd come back given the experience though.
Wow. I was blown away by the ramen here at Ujin. I ordered the Classic Tokyo Shoyu Ramen and it did not disappoint. The broth alone was so flavorful and I'll be honest - I typically like to add chili oil or spice to my soup dishes, but this ramen needed no additions. It was delicious all on its own. Also, the noodles were made so well. I appreciated the vibe of the restaurant as well. Not overly crowded and good for groups. We had a group of 5 and found a table right away on a Friday night.
Visited Ujin on a Saturday afternoon and had a nice experience overall. Parking was pretty easy, which is always a plus for a weekend. The restaurant has a really nice aesthetic and gives off a quality vibe as soon as you walk in. I know they're known for their ramen, but we all ended up going for rice bowls instead. Everything we ordered tasted really good, and we also enjoyed the appetizers. The agedashi tofu stood out to me--it had a unique shape and was super enjoyable. Definitely glad I got to try this spot with my family. That said, I probably wouldn't come back specifically for the rice bowls since it's something I feel like I could recreate at home with ingredients from an Asian market. However, I would be interested in coming back to try their ramen next time. Overall, a solid spot worth trying!
Highly recommend the tonkatsu ramen and asking the staff to make the meal spicy. Great overall meal for a reasonable price. Place has a very unique build and chill ambiance. Food 5 | Service 5 | Ambience 5
Nice little Japanese/Ramen spot slightly tucked away in University City/away from all the mall traffic. I wish I took a picture of the interior because it was very sleek and clean looking! From every angle of the restaurant you can see the kitchen and people cooking noodles/slicing their meats which was cool. I ordered the tonkatsu ramen with beef belly (10/10); chicken karaage (10/10 + huge portions!); & shared the beef belly bowl which came with rice and an egg (10/10/). Because this place is newer, service is a little bit slow, but I'm sure they'll pick up the pace with time. Definitely coming back!
bad food ramen tasted like water we had to ask for salt and spice(?) in the ramen idk how u make food with no salt at all, it was super bland so the broth tasted like warm water workers didn't seem like they wanted to be there
Ended up here with a group of 12. After a late-weeknight dance practice, the plan was to go to dinner to celebrate one of our dancer's birthdays, but practice ended later than planned and the restaurant we tried to go to next door which had advertised it was open until 9:30, told us they were closed. Ujin looked closed as well with all of their outdoor furniture stacked, and one party inside paying their check and making their way out, but one of us decided to ask if they were open and could take a party of 13. They happily accepted and welcomed us in, we fit perfectly at the large table in the center. Our server Liang was extremely warm, friendly, welcoming, and took our orders. The food did take a little while and understandably was coming out in waves, but it wouldn't be realistic for all the dishes for a party this size to be ready at the same time. We could see the staff behind the bar cooking and it seemed like they weren't stressed or rushed, but like they were focused and content. The presentation of each dish was fantastic and beautiful. Everyone said how much they enjoyed their dishes, from presentation to quality to freshness and flavor. The server even allowed us to split the check into several parties and was patient the entire time. there was a slight mix-up where a beer that nobody ordered or received ended up on the check, and when we tried to communicate that we only ordered 3 beers, not 4, she seemed confused. We ended up just paying for the extra beer rather than trying to sort it out as we knew everyone was tired and ready to go home. Would definitely return!
Great spot for Japanese food. I had their beef bowl and it was delightful! Beef was tender and flavorful!! The inside has nice decor and service here is good. This is in a busy shopping center so can be tricky during the lunch rush.
RAMEN (3.8 stars) If you are looking for your typical big ramen bowl polluted with a bunch of decorated flavors, this is not that kind of place. - FOOD: (first time) amazing. (second time) meh. - PRICE: paying for quality not quantity - SERVICE: (first time) excellent - I think (second time) uhm mediocre. - AMBIANCE: modern and really nice My confusion of inconsistency has come down to the service not servicing correctly. First time coming here left me wow'ed and set the bar for my ramen experience. Second time coming here left me disappointed and not wanting to come back. Same order (as I thought), different days (a week apart), and a perceived thought of the execution being inconsistent . I also question the staff's ability to handle details. The restaurant IS NOT BUSY and there are about 4-5 staff and if service is inconsistent and not pay attention to details, it now makes me question the execution on the food. :: FIRST TIME :: That cliche saying you don't forget your first time! Service was excellent - attentive and everything came out in timely fashion. Went for the most expensive ramen and a ramen soup base I have never tried and it left me on cloud nine. What I "thought" I ordered.... "Classic Shio Ramen with Wagyu" this entire time BUT come to think about it after reviewing the menu (now), it sounds like they gave me "Classic Miso Ramen" (hence the toppings) in my bowl OR they gave me Shio Ramen with the toppings of the Miso bowl. IF this is truly the MISO RAMEN then it was superb! CLASSIC MISO RAMEN W/ WAGYU )26) - Presentation was basic but very presentable. Portion was on the smaller side but I am okay with that because I'm here for quality not quantity. The soup base was so delicious, it was very clean yet rich - not polluted with many ingredients. They added a hint of chili oil and it added this hint of warmth and heat to the broth that wasn't overpowering. The noodles were very fresh, thin, and the texture is how I like them - not overly chewy and not overly soft (many ramen noodles at other restaurants are chewier) and easily consumable without feeling full quickly. My bowl had shredded bamboo shoots, wood ear mushrooms, half of a soft boiled soy egg, and seaweed on the side of the bowl for decoration (I keep it as decoration as I hate seaweed in my ramen). And to top of an amazing bowl of ramen, the thinly sliced cuts of wagyu. The wagyu were grilled and placed into the bowl fully cooked. They were so tender! No charred ends but it carried some smokey flavor - yum! HIGHLY RECOMMEND MATCHA MOCHI ICE CREAM ($3) - Exactly what it is. Not sure why they didn't clump this item under the mochi ice cream that lists chocolate/vanilla/strawberry, they could have just append matcha to the list instead of creating an entire desert line for this. :: SECOND TIME :: First time set the bar too high. Order: Ginger Ale ($2), Edamame with Truffle Paste, and Shio Ramen w/ Wagyu (again). I had to ask for my Ginger Ale after my meal was about done (ramen + appetizer) because it never came out. Edamame was an appetizer which came AFTER the ramen bowl was about done. The table over had the same issue, they finished their bowls of ramen and waiting on their appetizer. Staff, were preparing their own dinner and eating. SINCE, I thought that amazing bowl was Shio, I reordered. And well if this is the true Shio Ramen - it's disappointing to me (I'm glad I didn't get it the first time). It was a let down. And so was the service. CLASSIC SHIO RAMEN W/ WAGYU ($26) - Presentation was basic but very presentable. Portion was on the smaller side but I am okay with that because I'm here for quality not quantity. But Why does this bowl look completely different than the last time I was under the impression I ordered this same exact bowl? The ramen toppings were half soft boiled soy egg, ALOT of bonita flakes, and the typical seaweed decoration. The broth literally tasted like FISH, that is all I could taste. It was way too fishy for my liking - even me immediately taking out the bonita flakes and seaweed. Also, the wagyu looked more like BEEF BELLY (not Wagyu) and it was extra fatty and appearance and texture were not like the Waguy I ordered before. If you are not a fishy person, don't order this. EDAMAME WITH TRUFFLE PASTE ($9) - Although this came AFTER the main meal, this was the most enjoyable thing out of the order. Truffle paste is way better than truffle oil, very flavorful but less artificial tasting. HIGHLY RECOMMEND Ginger Ale ($2) - It's nice to see soda in a can being sold cheaply! Please, keep it that way. I'd love to come back if they can make whatever ramen they gave me the first time the same exact way. Until then....
1 month ago
My new favorite ramen spot of all time and it's not even close. Came here after a friend recommended and I'm recommending all my friends to go here now too!!! FOOD: 9.8/10 What we ordered: Chicken Karaage | 9.5/10 When you first bite into it, you are met with a mildly sweet soy bbq sauce paired with a crunchy fried exterior, the batter shatters into crumbly bits that add a light crunch. My only note is that it could be crunchier, but idk I'm just a crunch fiend Classic Tokyo Shoyu Ramen | 10/10 Every single bite of this ramen was insanely full of flavor and the texture of each ingredient was perfect. -- Standout ramen ingredients: the Noodles were the perfect level of al dente for me and the deep umami flavor of the broth clung onto the noodles nicely. the Chashu had this sweet char-grilled flavor and my jaw actually dropped after the first bite. The marbling of the fat was a good ratio which made the meat soft and juicy. It melded really well with the broth that was infused with a rich sesame oil aroma. And then every bite after still blew our minds. the Broth had a deep flavor with a sesame aroma that coated the tongue and clung to the noodles. It came with black pepper garnish that added just enough brightness to the soup. I enjoyed how the broth was not too salty yet every sip was so rich. I finished all of the soup down to the last drop! (Picked up the bowl and chugged it ngl) read more
10 days ago
2 months ago
The area is gorgeous and the service is courteous and amicable the food was good and tasty. Ambiance is nice and chic. read more
Lovely underrated find! This ramen place is tucked away in a shopping plaza near UTC mall but with super easy parking and tons of spots. We came in for an early dinner during a weekend and there was plenty of seating. Immediately upon entering, I was shocked by how nice the decor was and everything felt very modern, intentional, and well designed. There was even this giant sculpture near our table. The tables were big, sturdy, and just felt like quality. The servers were very patient with our big group taking some time to figure out what we wanted to order. They were definitely responsive but not pushy. I had the shio ramen and I thought it was very tasty. The broth was light and flavorful but not too much. Noodles were on the thinner side and had nice texture. The chasiu in the ramen was very good but the chicken was just okay. The edamame portion size was giant. Everyone enjoyed their food and was pleasantly surprised and satisfied with their meal. Highchair available? Yes! read more
Ujin is located in a plaza so there is free parking. They have a pretty simple menu. The ambiance is very cozy, music isn't too loud. I ordered the Ujin classic shio ramen with wagyu and it was pretty good. It has a sweet and savory fish based soup. The only critique is that the ramen can be presented more aesthetically. The service was a bit on the slower side since it's only 1 person taking orders. However, they are very sweet and went out of their way to figure out how to email me a copy of my receipt when I requested. read more
Waiter Felix was on his first day and did a great job handling our large party of six. We ordered Agedashi Tofu, Karaage (deep fried boneless chicken), and Miso ramen with wagyu beef and Spicy mushroom ramen. We all loved the food. Ramen was fresh and made in house. Very smooth. Liked the toppings that came with ramen. We then ordered one of each dessert: matcha mochi ice cream, matcha cheesecake, various other daifuku mochi, matcha mont blanc cake, fried red bean and cream cheese ball. Indoor and outdoor seating available. Modern Japanese decor. Will definitely return. read more
3 months ago
I think a majority of Asian food in San Diego is pretty subpar. But this may be one of the best ramen places I've been to in the area. Service was slow given they only had one waiter working, maybe waited 15-20 for our food. Ramen was great. I like how they have noodles that are straight and not the curly, instant noodles looking type of noodle. The shio ramen broth was not too salty or heavy. I liked that it had a slight hint of yuzu. read more
11 months ago
Came here on a Saturday night with a group of 6 people and even though it's small they were able to seat us in about 10 mins! Unfortunately it was pretty busy and they only had one server for the entire restaurant, so we never got waters refilled, had to wave the server down for minutes before getting the check, and then waited 10+ mins to get a receipt they definitely were understaffed for the number of people that were there and it really impacted to experience. Also, I was really looking forward to the egg included in their classic ujin ramen, but all our bowls came out with no eggs... when we asked it was because they ran out!! At 6pm:( and no discount offered for each $2 egg they just tried to serve without them and not say anything:( Not sure what is going on with service and stocking up their eggs here, but the ramen broth itself was actually very tasty, which is why it's disappointing to give 3 stars. Not sure I'd come back given the experience though. read more
3 months ago
Wow. I was blown away by the ramen here at Ujin. I ordered the Classic Tokyo Shoyu Ramen and it did not disappoint. The broth alone was so flavorful and I'll be honest - I typically like to add chili oil or spice to my soup dishes, but this ramen needed no additions. It was delicious all on its own. Also, the noodles were made so well. I appreciated the vibe of the restaurant as well. Not overly crowded and good for groups. We had a group of 5 and found a table right away on a Friday night. read more
5 months ago
Visited Ujin on a Saturday afternoon and had a nice experience overall. Parking was pretty easy, which is always a plus for a weekend. The restaurant has a really nice aesthetic and gives off a quality vibe as soon as you walk in. I know they're known for their ramen, but we all ended up going for rice bowls instead. Everything we ordered tasted really good, and we also enjoyed the appetizers. The agedashi tofu stood out to me--it had a unique shape and was super enjoyable. Definitely glad I got to try this spot with my family. That said, I probably wouldn't come back specifically for the rice bowls since it's something I feel like I could recreate at home with ingredients from an Asian market. However, I would be interested in coming back to try their ramen next time. Overall, a solid spot worth trying! read more
4 months ago
Highly recommend the tonkatsu ramen and asking the staff to make the meal spicy. Great overall meal for a reasonable price. Place has a very unique build and chill ambiance. Food 5 | Service 5 | Ambience 5 read more
1 year ago
Nice little Japanese/Ramen spot slightly tucked away in University City/away from all the mall traffic. I wish I took a picture of the interior because it was very sleek and clean looking! From every angle of the restaurant you can see the kitchen and people cooking noodles/slicing their meats which was cool. I ordered the tonkatsu ramen with beef belly (10/10); chicken karaage (10/10 + huge portions!); & shared the beef belly bowl which came with rice and an egg (10/10/). Because this place is newer, service is a little bit slow, but I'm sure they'll pick up the pace with time. Definitely coming back! read more
bad food ramen tasted like water we had to ask for salt and spice(?) in the ramen idk how u make food with no salt at all, it was super bland so the broth tasted like warm water workers didn't seem like they wanted to be there read more
7 months ago
Ended up here with a group of 12. After a late-weeknight dance practice, the plan was to go to dinner to celebrate one of our dancer's birthdays, but practice ended later than planned and the restaurant we tried to go to next door which had advertised it was open until 9:30, told us they were closed. Ujin looked closed as well with all of their outdoor furniture stacked, and one party inside paying their check and making their way out, but one of us decided to ask if they were open and could take a party of 13. They happily accepted and welcomed us in, we fit perfectly at the large table in the center. Our server Liang was extremely warm, friendly, welcoming, and took our orders. The food did take a little while and understandably was coming out in waves, but it wouldn't be realistic for all the dishes for a party this size to be ready at the same time. We could see the staff behind the bar cooking and it seemed like they weren't stressed or rushed, but like they were focused and content. The presentation of each dish was fantastic and beautiful. Everyone said how much they enjoyed their dishes, from presentation to quality to freshness and flavor. The server even allowed us to split the check into several parties and was patient the entire time. there was a slight mix-up where a beer that nobody ordered or received ended up on the check, and when we tried to communicate that we only ordered 3 beers, not 4, she seemed confused. We ended up just paying for the extra beer rather than trying to sort it out as we knew everyone was tired and ready to go home. Would definitely return! read more
Great spot for Japanese food. I had their beef bowl and it was delightful! Beef was tender and flavorful!! The inside has nice decor and service here is good. This is in a busy shopping center so can be tricky during the lunch rush. read more
RAMEN (3.8 stars) If you are looking for your typical big ramen bowl polluted with a bunch of decorated flavors, this is not that kind of place. - FOOD: (first time) amazing. (second time) meh. - PRICE: paying for quality not quantity - SERVICE: (first time) excellent - I think (second time) uhm mediocre. - AMBIANCE: modern and really nice My confusion of inconsistency has come down to the service not servicing correctly. First time coming here left me wow'ed and set the bar for my ramen experience. Second time coming here left me disappointed and not wanting to come back. Same order (as I thought), different days (a week apart), and a perceived thought of the execution being inconsistent . I also question the staff's ability to handle details. The restaurant IS NOT BUSY and there are about 4-5 staff and if service is inconsistent and not pay attention to details, it now makes me question the execution on the food. :: FIRST TIME :: That cliche saying you don't forget your first time! Service was excellent - attentive and everything came out in timely fashion. Went for the most expensive ramen and a ramen soup base I have never tried and it left me on cloud nine. What I "thought" I ordered.... "Classic Shio Ramen with Wagyu" this entire time BUT come to think about it after reviewing the menu (now), it sounds like they gave me "Classic Miso Ramen" (hence the toppings) in my bowl OR they gave me Shio Ramen with the toppings of the Miso bowl. IF this is truly the MISO RAMEN then it was superb! CLASSIC MISO RAMEN W/ WAGYU )26) - Presentation was basic but very presentable. Portion was on the smaller side but I am okay with that because I'm here for quality not quantity. The soup base was so delicious, it was very clean yet rich - not polluted with many ingredients. They added a hint of chili oil and it added this hint of warmth and heat to the broth that wasn't overpowering. The noodles were very fresh, thin, and the texture is how I like them - not overly chewy and not overly soft (many ramen noodles at other restaurants are chewier) and easily consumable without feeling full quickly. My bowl had shredded bamboo shoots, wood ear mushrooms, half of a soft boiled soy egg, and seaweed on the side of the bowl for decoration (I keep it as decoration as I hate seaweed in my ramen). And to top of an amazing bowl of ramen, the thinly sliced cuts of wagyu. The wagyu were grilled and placed into the bowl fully cooked. They were so tender! No charred ends but it carried some smokey flavor - yum! HIGHLY RECOMMEND MATCHA MOCHI ICE CREAM ($3) - Exactly what it is. Not sure why they didn't clump this item under the mochi ice cream that lists chocolate/vanilla/strawberry, they could have just append matcha to the list instead of creating an entire desert line for this. :: SECOND TIME :: First time set the bar too high. Order: Ginger Ale ($2), Edamame with Truffle Paste, and Shio Ramen w/ Wagyu (again). I had to ask for my Ginger Ale after my meal was about done (ramen + appetizer) because it never came out. Edamame was an appetizer which came AFTER the ramen bowl was about done. The table over had the same issue, they finished their bowls of ramen and waiting on their appetizer. Staff, were preparing their own dinner and eating. SINCE, I thought that amazing bowl was Shio, I reordered. And well if this is the true Shio Ramen - it's disappointing to me (I'm glad I didn't get it the first time). It was a let down. And so was the service. CLASSIC SHIO RAMEN W/ WAGYU ($26) - Presentation was basic but very presentable. Portion was on the smaller side but I am okay with that because I'm here for quality not quantity. But Why does this bowl look completely different than the last time I was under the impression I ordered this same exact bowl? The ramen toppings were half soft boiled soy egg, ALOT of bonita flakes, and the typical seaweed decoration. The broth literally tasted like FISH, that is all I could taste. It was way too fishy for my liking - even me immediately taking out the bonita flakes and seaweed. Also, the wagyu looked more like BEEF BELLY (not Wagyu) and it was extra fatty and appearance and texture were not like the Waguy I ordered before. If you are not a fishy person, don't order this. EDAMAME WITH TRUFFLE PASTE ($9) - Although this came AFTER the main meal, this was the most enjoyable thing out of the order. Truffle paste is way better than truffle oil, very flavorful but less artificial tasting. HIGHLY RECOMMEND Ginger Ale ($2) - It's nice to see soda in a can being sold cheaply! Please, keep it that way. I'd love to come back if they can make whatever ramen they gave me the first time the same exact way. Until then.... read more
Ujin is a little different in that they specialize in a light broth with truffle (classic Tokyo shoyu ramen). The odd thing is the topping of chicken breast which makes me think it's an afterthought. The karage was pretty delicious to share with others. read more
1 month ago
One of the best ramen place in UTC area in my opinion. Came here for lunch with my mom on a Sunday. They have parking in this small strip mall but it's always packed. The restaurant looks very nice inside. The kitchen looks they are fully staffed but there was only one server. However, we were seated right away. I ordered the Tonkatsu ramen with chasu pork and chicken breast. My mom ordered the spicy mushroom pork ramen. My tonkatsu broth was very good. I finished the broth before i finished the noodles and pork. My mom's spicy mushroom pork was also very delicious. It wasnt too spicy but it had enough kick to it. The mushroom flavor was as to die for. The only complaint I have was the fact that they only had one server. Took us awhile to get our bill and to go container. read more
My go-to ramen place in San Diego. The Tonkotsu with A5 Wagyu is incredibly delicious -- a creamy broth and melt-in-your-mouth beef. Classic Shoyu is also a solid option if you prefer something lighter. Always busy, but worth the wait！ read more
3 months ago
We dined here over the weekend and it was delicious. My husband ordered the classic Ujin ramen and I did the Spicy mushroom with Wagyu. Both ramen were so good! We are definitely coming back. This is one of the best if not the best Ramen places we've tried in San Diego. Service was a little slow but the waitress was very friendly. read more
Came here on a Tuesday, lunch time and there was plenty of seats. The vibe here is really cute, I love the interior design. Definitely could go on a date night here or have a chill hang with friends. I ordered the Ujin ramen with chashu and chicken. I was happily surprised with how light the broth was. It was a little bit more fishy than I was expected but still good. The pork chashu is so yummy, not sure how they cooked it but it was very tender and flavorful. I also really like these type of thin noodles. The chicken breast was pretty dry in my opinion, but it didn't take away from the dish. Service was pretty fast and they let us each pay for our own separate check which was nice. The bowl was ~$20, which I'd say is pretty standard nowadays for ramen in San Diego. Still pricey in my opinion for the amount of food you get, but I'd still come back here! read more
Visited on twice to get a good sampling of their menu. Steer clear of the tonkotsu ramen, from the broth to the size of entree, it leaves a lot to be desired. The shoyu ramen on the other hand is the opposite. Decent size, great broth, with a surprising amount of protein, this should be the default order for all that stop by. Skip the karaage and get the especially tasty gyoza to round out your order. read more
10 months ago
Tried this new ramen spot for the first time. My first impression I did enjoy it and I would go back if I'm in the area. I'm not sure if it would be my first choice with other good ramen places in the area. Sour: the appetizers were sub par. The cucumber salad was chopped think and lacked flavor. The gyoza was nicely crisp but I wasn't the biggest fan of the filling. It lacked the truffle flavor it mentions. My husband and daughter ordered the tonkotsu. They liked the noodles and the beef but the broth lacked the flavor they are used to for tonkotsu. Sweet: I ordered the classic Tokyo shoyu ramen. I do prefer thicker noodles but these noodles were still good and a little chewy which I like. The broth was nice light and refreshing. It had a lot of flavor but it did lack the truffle flavor I was hoping for. That was part of the reason why I ordered it.the chicken was juicy even though it was white meat. The restaurant was nice and clean. The server was very friendly. read more
1 year ago
I'm grateful to have a ramen place within walking distance of my home, and that it has an option for a broth that is fish-based! I am a huge fan of fish-based broths. I got spoiled with fish-based broths in Japan, and couldn't get the same satisfaction with ramen spots throughout San Diego until now! Their menu describes what type of broth each option has. The option that had fish in it was the Ujin Classic Shio Ramen. I chose wagyu as my protein. I finished every last drop! The noodles paired very well with the broth. The wagyu was pricier but worth every bite. The umami of the broth shined through. And it didn't feel too heavy. At other ramen locations, sometimes the broths feel too heavy or leave me feeling bloated -- but I didn't get that at all from my choice of broth. We also tried their gyoza. The gyoza was quite beefy, which was unexpected in a good way. Most gyozas I've had are either pork or chicken. I enjoyed the gyoza overall! The service was great. All of the workers were kind and attentive. The location has indoor and outdoor seating. There's a big table in the middle that would do well for large groups. The bar seating was fun since we got to watch the workers cooking and prepping the food. read more
1 year ago
Came here around 4 PM on a Friday and there were lots of empty tables so we got seated right away. It's in a plaza with its own parking lot so it wasn't too bad to find parking. What we got: Chicken karaage - we ordered the 5pcs. The pieces were actually pretty big so I'd go with 3 pieces if you just want to try it. I liked the chicken karaage even though it's not as crispy as I'd like it to be since there's some sauce on it. Tokyo shoyu ramen - I actually really liked it! It wasn't overly salty and the flavor was pretty good on the broth. They didn't give us an option on how we wanted the noodles but mine was on the firmer side which was good. The Chashu was super soft and the egg was good. It also comes with a slice of chicken which is nice. We ordered an extra side of chashu in case the ones in the ramen weren't enough but I thought it was a good amount. Service was nice and attentive. The bathrooms were pretty clean. I'd come back again and maybe try the tonkotsu next time! read more
5 months ago
Only tried the chicken karaage here, and it was fine. It looks a lot crispier than it actually is - maybe double-frying might help with that, but they battered and fried it to order. Chicken itself was juicy; they use thigh. They also have this sweet soy sauce that they toss the chicken in, which I liked - I believe it is Nagoya-style karaage. I don't think I will come back here for their karaage when Ramen Nagi (my favorite place for karaage) is at the mall nearby, but I might come back to try their other items like their tsukemen dipping noodles. We ordered for takeout, but the restaurant setup was very nice and clean. They have a window for you to see them making fresh noodles and dumplings. The bar area is also an open kitchen concept, so you can see your food being freshly prepared. Lots of parking in the plaza although it gets crowded during busy hours sometimes. read more
1 year ago
This is a review for my dining experience during their soft opening. Service was awful. The restaurant was really not that busy, but the kitchen and the wait staff were clearly scrambling, gathered around their machine and looking confused. No water top offs. We were rushed to order immediately after sitting, only to wait (and we genuinely kept track of the time) more than 30 minutes for our orders. We were never warned about delays, and the only communication we had with the waitresses were questions spoken to their backs as they walked away in a hurry. When the food finally came out, it was not very hot, and there was no apology for the wait time. My noodles came overdone. My friend's noodles (she got the thicker kind) came out so hard that she couldn't finish them. When I tried them, they were so underdone that they stuck to my teeth. I will point out a few considerations: 1) It is a soft opening, and they are still working out kinks in their operation. 2) Their broth was flavorful with lots of potential for a good bowl of noodles. 3) I have friends who have had very good experiences here during their soft opening. I am leaving 1 star because I can only judge off of the experience I had there, but your mileage may vary, and things may improve as they get out of the soft opening stage. read more
This was probably my worst restaurant ramen experience I've ever had in my life -- purely by the quality of food. Ujin, more like Umid. I can't fathom how they decided on the combination of ingredients for their ramen. This is totally an Americanized restaurant, and I would never recommend this restaurant to anyone. Even packet ramen from Ranch 99 is better than this. I got their classic Tokyo shoyu ramen, and I was blown away by how disastrous the broth was. Who in the right mind wants to use chicken broth with truffle oil? The shoyu drowns out the chicken flavor of the broth, and the truffle oil drowns out the composite flavors altogether. Also, how come it's just chicken broth -- what about the immersion of both flavor after the broth is reduced? Where did that go? I honestly think this was just chicken broth (which probably was store bought) and shoyu with truffle oil in it. Nothing about this bowl of noodles screams chicken ramen to me. As someone who has made chicken ramen multiple times from scratch, this was an utterly disasteous experience. The only enjoyable part of the meal was the karaage, since that is much harder to mess up. However, the ramen itself was a doomer experience already. The service wasn't amazing, but wasn't bad either. The waiter didn't seem like they had much patience with us when we asked questions about the Tsukamen (since it wasn't offered in the restaurant at the time of my visit yet). Otherwise, it was simple service. The ambiance of the place was not bad because it was upscale in the looks. Very hipster looking place. However, the tables were pretty close to one another and should be separated out more so there is less noise from party to party. Overall, I think this was the worst restaurant experience I've had. Do not go here unless you want to be serviced with disappointment and a side of regret. read more
I tried this newly opened ramen restaurant in La Jolla. I would be interested in returning to try the Shio ramen. The service was prompt since we dined in around 5pm so the restaurant was empty. 5/5 - Classic Tokyo Shoyu Ramen, I really enjoyed this delicate broth and touch of truffle. You can really taste everything in the soup and there are a lot of delicious toppings too. The chasu pieces are thick and tender. The ramen egg is perfectly cooked. 1/5 - Cucumber salad, they really cut up a cucumber and just poured sauce on top. I thought this was going to be marinated so that there would be more flavor imparted. Save your money and skip this app. read more
Ujin is a step away from our usual tonkatsu ramen and focuses on lighter broths like shio and shoyu. It's located in the Renaissance Towne Center plaza and shares a parking lot with a lot of other restaurants. The lanes are a bit tight here but I've usually never had any issues finding parking. I love what they did with the exterior building. It really looks like something right out of Japan and although it doesn't match with anything in the plaza, it doesn't stick out like a sore thumb. The interior is very spacious and there's a large communal table in the middle. There are counter seats where you can watch the kitchen staff work and a couple of tables along the wall. Since it was our first time here, we wanted to order as much as possible to try everything. The menu is pretty small so there isn't a lot to go back and forth on. Food comes out really fast but it also wasn't a full house so not sure if that played a role in the faster service. And speaking of service, we were checked on multiple times. Staff is attentive and we didn't wait long for to-go boxes, our check, etc. Pork Bun: Comes with 2 pieces so great for sharing. Just a little something to get our appetite going. The bun is fluffy but the pork isn't as fatty as I'd like it to be. Very flavorful though and they'll give some wet wipes since it's a little saucy. Karage: Our order come with 3 large pieces. Their version has a sweet, peppery sauce drizzled on it. It's not that crunchy but it was pretty good. You can get more pieces for an additional cost. Classic Tokyo Shoyu Ramen: The soup base is chicken, truffle, and porcini and the mushroom flavors really shine through. It's light but flavorful and perfect for a cold night. However, there were a couple of things I wish were different. The ramen egg was just hard-boiled. The chicken tasted like boiled chicken so kind of flavorless and rubbery. If they added more chashu instead, which had this grilled flavor, I would've liked it even more. Also wish it had more vegetables too, like either some mushrooms or bamboo shoots. Overall, it was a good meal! I walked out feeling full and warmed up but I couldn't help but compare to my favorite tonkatsu ramen shops, even though that's like comparing apples and oranges. I think it's a great addition to the ramen scene and being so close to UCSD, I hope they get good business with all the college students! read more
1 year ago
In terms of ramen spots in San Diego, I would say this is average. The service is quick and I really enjoyed the broth. The chicken breast piece was interesting for me since I've never had ramen with it, but I did like eating in addition with my chashu. The interior of the restaurant is very chic and I would definitely go back to try their other ramen broths! read more
Such a beautiful space and vibe. Service was pretty straight forward as the menu is very typical of a ramen place. The waitress was very presentable and polite about what she recommended. We started with the pork buns which were generously portioned and filled. The chasu was torched well it had a nice flavor of the flame as well as being quite moist and tender. We shared a Classic Tokyo Shoyu Ramen. The broth was so aromatic that we could smell it before it got to the table, and the chicken was so flavorful, the meat was nicely seasoned and succulent. We added a side of Wagyu to our order which was a touch tough from torching but quite flavorful and still enjoyable to add to the ramen. They showcase that their noodles are handmade, I got here upon opening of the restaurant and I saw the area they operate to make the noodles but they were not making them at that time. You can tell by the texture that it's homemade but I prefer my noodles too have a bit of bounce to them still and these were just a touch done more than I'd like. Overall it's a beautiful place to go on a date or if you just really want ramen. I'll be back again my friends! read more
5 months ago
Visited for lunch on 5/2/26, unfortunately the experience was quite disappointing, especially considering there were only about 2-3 other tables occupied at the time. We ordered the Classic Tokyo Shoyu Ramen, Karage, Pork Bun, and soda. The ramen arrived only warm instead of hot, the karage lacked seasoning, and the soda was forgotten until we reminded staff. Service overall was very much lacking - no follow up for water refills or table check-ins during the meal. The food quality was standard to below average, and with the lack of attentiveness from staff, the overall experience didn't meet expectations. read more
My husband and I are ramen lovers and were excited to check out this new restaurant from when we heard about it on Eater. Also all the photos of the food looked great! However, expectations fell short. Reading some of the other reviews, we asked for our noodles to be hard. The single waitress was very kind and apologetic when she needed to move us to another table 15 minutes we had already been seated there. I asked the waitress between the classic shio or shoyu and she said the shio was more for people who want it with beef and her personal favorite was the classic shoyu. Although there was only 1 other party dining, our ramen took over 20 minutes to come out and the chicken Karage appetizer came out when we were almost finished eating our ramen. Classic Tokyo shoyu ramen (3/5) - Solid - the truffle flavor was nice and broth was well seasoned (not too salty like commonly at other ramen restaurants). The egg was perfectly jammy cooked, chashu was tender thick and flavorful, and the chicken breast was nice. However the noodles were still soft. Some of the bamboo was a little tough. Spicy mushroom pork ramen (2.5/5) - because these noodles were thicker, they were more firm and had nice bite/chew. The flavor was a very muted version of other ramen shop's similar spicy fermented paste ramen.. and although it's called spicy, it wasn't spicy at all! And there wasn't any spice on the side to make it spicy. Karage chicken (2/5) - it looked amazing in photos and amazing when it came out, but needs serious improvement. The batter doesn't stick and falls off so that as you're chewing it, the batter separates from the chicken and you're stuck with eating a very crunchy dry batter by itself. I agree with another review that the sauce is so salty and unusual. To me it almost had that Szechuan pepper taste to it, which I did not like. However the chicken pieces themselves were big and juicy. Parking - plenty of free in lot parking but the spaces are tight on Saturday evening. Decor - modern, futuristic, and interesting to look at. They played 90s hip hop music. It got noisy when more people filled the restaurant read more
Ujin is a ramen spot in the La Jolla towne center and is still in its soft opening. I got the Kyoto IPA Classic and a Classic Tokyo Shoyu Ramen. I'm not huge on shoyu ramen but the chicken and truffle soup had umami flavors that made me wanting more !The ramen came with thin noodles and two thick cuts of charshu pork with a nice char, a slice of chicken breast, bamboo shoots, and shiso egg. My only feedback would be that the egg was fully cooked rather than half boiled. The restaurant is spacious and had an open and inviting ambiance. They can seat large parties on the high top tables. You can also watch the magic happen and how the noodles are made in house through the glass. There was a larger than life size gold angel wing statue. The servers were nice and overall, I had a good experience. read more
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