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    Underbelly

    3.9 (2.2k reviews)
    Open 11:30 am - 11:30 pm

    Underbelly Photos

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    UNDERBELLY ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Hipster
    Casual
    Trendy

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    Recommended Reviews - Underbelly

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    Melon-y cocktail
    Robert R.

    I really enjoyed the outdoor seating with the fire at the table. It was a nice touch. I ordered the Belly of the Beast bowl. The meat was a little tough and overcooked i think, but the noodles and broth were really delicious and had a great texture. I also ordered a melon-y cocktail that was very refreshing and not too strong or overwhelming. Overall, a good dining experience.

    Ashley M.

    Walked in on a busy night and the wait wasn't too long. Friendly staff. Cute vibes and aesthetics at night. We got our food togo, loved the packaging. Details matter. Ramen and wings super flavorful. Im sure all their items are worth a try ! Love.

    Underbelly Ramen  Spicy Edamame  Beef Gyoza
    Caitlin D.

    Overall had a great experience. Came here the a freind. The atmosphere and the music is good. Most seating is on an outdoor patio, but there are outdoor heaters. It was a bit windy for us so we sat at the bar next to the kitchen. You order at the front and then they bring your food to you. It's open seating and if you have a large party it can be hard to get a table big enough for the whole party if you don't get there before the rush hits. The food was quick to come out. I had the Underbelly Ramen and I enjoyed it but the pork chashu was under seasoned and I wish they had chili oil to add to the broth. Spicy edamame and freind dumpling were good too. It's definitely a spot I would consider coming back to.

    Underbelly Ramen, Sapporo and a hot sake
    Tameka J.

    The house favorite/most popular was the Underbelly Ramen - so good! Tonkotsu Broth, an egg, Chashu Belly and Adobo Pulled Pork! The pulled pork was my favorite! Next time I'm ordering the Tonkostu Ramen, my usual go-to. Fast and friendly service although counter service isn't my favorite. Ordering another drink wasn't too hard, I just don't like having to leave my spot in order to get something else. Staff walks around pretty often making it easy as well. Loved the interior, open outdoor, the fire strip on the community table. Great for friends get together or date night (or eating solo like me)! Scored on parking but I could see it being a bit hectic on busy nights. People were out and about on a Friday. This is going to be in my top three ramen spots for San Diego for sure!

    Karina D.

    I'll be honest -- my last visit during lunch a while back left a bad taste in my mouth. I waited forever while the cashier was running around delivering food and wiping tables, even though there were already people in line(and I don't think they were short staff) . Felt pretty chaotic and I left kinda annoyed so I ended up leaving. Gave it another shot on my lunch break and wow, total 180! It was still a little busy, but the cashier was super friendly, took my order quickly, and my food came out lightning fast. Got the Japanese corn dog and it was so tasty! Also grabbed the Tonkotsu ramen and the broth was rich, creamy, and packed with flavor -- exactly what I was craving. Especially with the San Diego weather lately. Super glad I came back. and I'll definitely be returning more often now. Worth checking out if you're in North Park and want some solid ramen or tasty Japanese corn dogs!

    Nate A.

    Really enjoyed the environment of Underbelly. The food however wasn't very memorable. The Thai curry ramen came with 2 pieces of shrimp, however it was still pretty good. The chicken wings were nothing special as well. The bao buns however were very good. It is a very cool atmosphere though and I would recommend trying it at least once!

    Bar
    Kym W.

    Stopped by there on New Year's Eve for a lunch snack. It was raining that day so it was the perfect opportunity to have some delicious vegetarian Ramen. The staff was thoughtful paid attention and checked inon us to see if we needed anything else. The Ramen was so delicious. I will definitely be returning to this spot and I would suggest it to anyone who is looking for a tasty meal. The chairs at the bar are a bit uncomfortable so maybe grab a different seat than I did.

    Teriyaki Chicken
    Angelo P.

    The place itself is aesthetically pleasing, but service was not good. It was our first time going here and nobody explained how the seating worked. It was pretty dark so it was hard to see where things were. We asked the server for water and we were told it was self serve but didnt tell us where it was. All while giving us attitude. Food was below average.

    Belly of the Beast Ramen
    Vivian T.

    I've been here twice, years apart from each visit, and have to say not much has changed! The casual method of ordering upfront and little to no service gives you context of how the atmosphere is here. Totally underwhelming the first time I ever came and on my recent visit. I love the vibes and hidden feeling of this place here in NP, just not a big fan of the food. I got their Belly of the Beast ramen, and everything was completely off. The seaweed and short rib tasted old, the noodles were soggy, and their concept of an oxtail dumpling just didn't work for me. I did like their marinated egg, but that was just about it. Overall, I came hungry, left hungrier and I didn't finish the food. Definitely one of the older spots for ramen that has lasted and has even scored a second location. But if you are looking for a fast casual experience of enjoying ramen, this is your spot to be. My overall rating for Underbelly would be around 2.5 stars.

    Belly of the Beast Ramen
    Andrea P.

    I seriously cannot eat ramen anywhere else because it's just too good here. Anything else disappoints! They're dog friendly which was a huge plus for us recently. I thought I was going to have to give it up forever because we just got a new puppy. I prefer this location over the Little Italy one because of the communal seating. I love the atmosphere, the vibes are just always good! Such a cool spot. One of my favorites that I recommend to everyone!

    Underbelly Ramen
    Jenny E.

    5 stars for vibes alone. I never thought I would hear a D Savage song playing at a restaurant. I came in to dine by myself on a Saturday night & this was the exact kind of spot I was looking for. You order at the counter, find your own seat, and food is brought to you. There is bar seating and normal tables as well. Music was great. Ramen was good, nothing spectacular or mind blowing.

    Underbelly Ramen add corn
    Kyra M.

    My absolutely favored ramen spot I have ever been to. The food is incredible so flavorful and at such a great price!! The underbelly is my favorite as it comes with both pork belly and shredded pork. The belly of the beast comes with dumplings in the ramen. It is order as you walk in and they bring you your food. They are so fast less than 5 minutes and you get your meal. On a rainy day they are very busy. They are great for eating there with lots of outdoor seating and fireplaces and super fun festive cocktail glasses. They are also great for take out and they separate the noodles from the broth so that it does not get soggy. Portions are also very large lasts me 2 meals.

    Long day. Late night. First time at Underbelly. Walked in hungry, tired, ready for a comforting bowl of ramen... and instead got greeted by pure darkness, both in lighting and energy. I'm all for moody ambiance, but if I need night vision goggles to read the menu, we've gone too far. Asked for a little help choosing and got... a finger pointing at the text. No explanation, no guidance, just "read." Cool. Got it. No water offered. No mention it's self-serve. Just vibes. (Dry ones.) Shoutout to the one kind staff member who noticed and stepped in, brought us water, explained things, and basically saved the experience. Give that man a raise. Seriously. He was the only one who remembered where he was and what he was doing there. Because everything else felt like we were inconveniencing someone by simply existing. The ramen looked good, but it's hard to enjoy a meal when the service makes you feel like you should've eaten somewhere else. Yes, I tipped -because I'm not that person, but let's be honest: the service didn't earn it. Underbelly, your kitchen deserves better than the front-of-house energy we got that night. We didn't dine. We completed a task. Would I come back? Hmmmmm. No. There are more hospitable ramen houses. Respect the food you are serving. If you cannot be courteous to the late night diners paying your hourly wage.

    Belly of the Beast Ramen

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    30 days ago

    Great food and the setting is very calm and relaxing. Quick service and professionalism is outstanding.

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    6 months ago

    Loved the ambiance and food was at a great price point. Whoever was on the aux cord on a Thursday night, shoutout!

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    Underbelly Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Underbelly

    Is there enough seating for a table of 13 people, give or take?

    Hi. They have plenty of seating to accommodate 13 people. The only thing is you seat yourself so it's first come first serve basis. You order at the counter and find a place to seat. When I had 9 people for my Mom's birthday we came in early and… Read more

    Do they have vegan broth?

    Yes. They have a vegetarian ramen that "can be made vegan".

    Are there are gluten free ramen broth and noodle options?

    Do they still have happy hour? If so, what time and what are the deals?

    Are dogs allowed?

    Yes dogs are allowed on the patio from what I saw.

    Do they deliver?

    No clue, sorry go there's a lot better

    Are you guys open for pick up only?

    As of 2/4/2021, this place is open for take out & outdoor dining :)

    Is there a kids menu?

    I didn't see one but there are tons of kids happily eating there

    View All 9 Questions

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    Baikohken Ramen

    4.3(211 reviews)
    1.7 miHillcrest
    $$
    Kid friendly
    Large group friendly

    Amazing weekday lunch special! $15 will get you a ramen, fried chicken or chashu rice, and a drink!…read moreMy coworker made this great pick for a workday lunch. I got the shoyu ramen, chashu rice, and a cold oolong tea. The ramen was fine in texture and al dente. The broth was flavorful, without being oversalted. I was very impressed by the chashu: it was carefully cooked and just melts in your mouth. Extra tender. The oolong tea really hit the spot too. The food came quickly, and service was good. I just came back from Japan last month, and this place in San Diego did not disappoint. I would definitely come back again to try their other items. Sorry no pictures this time, as I was famished. Parking lot was small, but we were able to find a space at 1pm on a Friday

    We tried the spicy ramen, tonkatsu ramen, curry, and while all were tasty and good, I'm not sure…read morethis would be at the top of our ramen list. The serving was a bit smaller than what we are used to when we order ramen but overall we enjoyed our dinner and our 9 year old gave it a 6/4 stars. Service was very nice once we were seated and the wait for the food was not bad. It is a really cute place, feels authentically Japanese inside, but also authentically small, so I recommend reservations for a larger group: we were a party of 7 on a Saturday evening around 5:30 with no reservation and we had a wait of around 40 minutes. Definitely worth trying at least once.

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    Baikohken Ramen - Heart Melt Ramen - Valentine Special 
Stretchy torched cheese over rich miso broth.
Limited time only!

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    Baikohken Ramen - Shoyu Ramen- It is classic Ramen in our restaurant.

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    Baikohken Ramen - Hand rolls are here! Pick your base & topping--tuna, salmon, scallop, ikura, or tako wasabi. Build your perfect bite!

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    Ramen Nagi - Original ramen

    Ramen Nagi

    4.4(713 reviews)
    10.2 miUniversity City
    $$

    We recently brought friends here who requested a good place to eat and of the list of choices we…read moreprovided, they picked Ramen Nagi. My husband and I have been here several times before as it is both mine and my husband's favorite ramen eatery in San Diego. This is the best ramen in San Diego. After going on my own little ramen crawl around SD, this is the top of them all, bar none. If you really are craving something close to ramen in Japan, try this place. Everything is fantastic here but my favorite of all the ramen choices is the Red King (the spicy tonkotsu). The Black King is also good (squid ink) and has a nice umami punch to it with a good helping of garlic to seal the deal. The karage (fried chicken) is great as well. The texture is perfect and I think the sauce provided really added to the overall bite. The gyoza is also fantastic as well and they provide a dipping sauce that is not the standard dip but something better. If I recall, it is a lightly sweet pear-esque sauce with the consistency almost like apple sauce. It's very very good, don't knock it till you try it! The service is always quick and top-tier. They always have a jug of water with lemon slices and cups available to use at any time. Seating is both indoors and outdoors. Inside it can be a little cramped if you have a large group but outside has full tables next to the pond which is quite nice. This is not a traditional restaurant so there are a few things to keep in mind: 1) There are no reservations. 2) There is a dedicated queue outside and you need to wait in that to line to be seated. 3) They will not take you to be seated until your entire party is readily available so just be cognizant of that. 4) Everyone in your party will receive a red marker and a paper form to fill out your individual orders while you are in this line. If it is your first time, check the Chef Recommendation box at the top to make it easier. Sides are at the bottom (most ramen do not include an egg so if you want an egg make sure to mark it). 5) Your party may be seated at the same table as another party and share the space. If this is an issue for you, sit outside. 6) You get your receipt from your sever and pay at the register.

    First time I tried this place I wasn't surprised and was irritated because of the long wait…read more But this second time around it was no line to get in, and the food was absolutely delicious. Ordered the original king ramen with an egg. Broth was so good, it reminded me of the one I had in Tokyo. The thin noodles are also my favorite. Spicy level at 1 for extra flavor. The gyoza on the other hand are decent and very small. I will definitely be coming back for more ramen.

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    Ramen Nagi - Inside

    Inside

    Ramen Nagi - Limited Garlic King

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    Harumama Ramen + Sushi - Little Italy

    Harumama Ramen + Sushi - Little Italy

    4.0(2.2k reviews)
    2.5 miLittle Italy
    $$

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

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

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    Harumama Ramen + Sushi - Little Italy
    Harumama Ramen + Sushi - Little Italy
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    Izakaya Masa - Ochazuke

    Izakaya Masa

    4.2(1.5k reviews)
    2.5 miMission Hills
    $$

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

    I've lost count of how many times we've had dinner there, and each visit is just as wonderful as…read morethe last. The food is consistently incredible - seriously, you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. And the team working there? Absolutely lovely! They're super efficient but also incredibly warm and welcoming, which really makes a difference. You absolutely, positively *have* to try their sushi rolls if you go. They're truly next-level good! On my most recent visit, I decided to try the Gyudon Bowl, and oh my goodness, it was such a delightful and comforting dish. So flavorful and perfectly prepared - definitely a new favorite of mine! Just a little heads-up though, finding parking in that area can sometimes be a bit of a challenge, but I promise you, the delicious food and fantastic experience are well worth the minor hassle. Hope you get a chance to check it out soon!

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    Underbelly - ramen - Updated May 2026

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