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

Baikohken Ramen - butter and corn SHIO Hillcrest Special - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

I think this is a michelin recognized ramen restaurant, so I've been wanting to try to for a while now and so glad I got the chance to! This was the best smelling ramen I've ever had. I actually don't know what they put in there to get it to smell like that but it tingled all my senses wow. I got the butter & corn shoyu ramen with egg and mushrooms and it was insanely delicious. Very very tasty and noodle firmness was good. Highly recommend!! Portion size was super filling as well. I want to come back to try their other options! I came on a monday evening, and we were able to get seated right away :) read more

Baikohken Ramen - butter & corn shoyu ramen with egg and mushrooms - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

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I really wanted to love this place! I'm a huge ramen fan and have explored nearly every ramen spot San Diego has to offer, so after reading all the positive reviews, I was excited to try it. Unfortunately, the pork belly tonkotsu ramen didn't quite live up to my expectations. The broth was much lighter than I'm accustomed to and lacked the deep, rich umami flavor I typically expect from tonkotsu. The pork belly had great flavor, but it was surprisingly tough and difficult to pull apart--I felt like a cartoon character trying to tear into it with my teeth. Perhaps this is more of an exception to what is typically served? As other reviewers loved their ramen. The service, however, was excellent. The staff were incredibly kind and attentive, and our food came out quickly after we ordered. Their hospitality was definitely the highlight of the experience, but sadly, the ramen itself left me disappointed. I really wish I could rate it more highly! read more

Amazing weekday lunch special! $15 will get you a ramen, fried chicken or chashu rice, and a drink! My 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 read more

If you're into shoyu ramen, this is definitely the spot. The noodles were really good and cooked perfectly, and the customer service was great too. Solid bowl of ramen and I'll definitely be coming back. read more

Baikohken Ramen - shoyu ramen - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

This is an authentic Hokkaido ramen restaurant with a store in San Diego. I always get the Miso ramen which is great! I tried the chicken curry rice and enjoyed that a lot too. There is a parking lot which is a bonus for Hillcrest. The service is extremely fast and we had no wait on a Saturday night. read more

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The food was amazing but the service is where it shines. There was only one female service but she was hustling and always had a smile on her face. Her recommendations were great and you could see how she genuinely wanted cater to each customer. The ramen was on point. The flavors were there. Dishes came out fast and were hot. The fries were a bit disappointing as there wasn't much on the plate for paying full price as opposed to happy hour price, but whatever. We were full and our bellies were happy when we left. The only downfall is the parking lot is really small. Keep that in mind for larger parties. read more

Delicious ramen for vegan and meat eaters alike! I ordered the vegan miso ramen with a soft boiled egg while my sister ordered a Shoyu Ramen with Chashu (braised pork belly). The experience Service very pleasant. We were acknowledged right when we entered the door. Staff quickly cleaned up a table for us to sit down and brought us the menus. I like how our food came out at same time! The Food An excellent portion of toppings along with the ramen. The soft boiled egg was delicious!! All in all, all the ingredients and flavors were tasty and I really enjoyed! My sister enjoyed as well Overall We will definitely be coming back again! The parking area is limited, but we were lucky to find a spot. There is free parking here which is really nice! read more

Baikohken Ramen - Vegan miso ramen SHOYU Hillcrest Special - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

I've been wanting to try this ramen spot for a while now, after hearing great things about it. I finally made it here after a couple of years! It's located in the same plaza as Oscars Mexican Seafood and Five Guys in Hillcrest Center on University Ave in Hillcrest. There's a free parking lot with stalls but could be very difficult during rush lunch and especially dinner hours. There are a lot of free street parking in the area where the residential homes are as well, I believe. I ordered their Miso Ramen, and the broth was comforting and hearty without being overly salty. The chashu was also cooked nicely. While I enjoyed it, nothing stood out as outstanding. One downside for me was that the noodles were a bit soft, although my friend preferred that texture. My friend got their Shoyu Ramen, and my boyfriend got their Spicy Garlic Bom! Ramen. I was pleasantly surprised by the Shoyu - it was surprisingly hearty and not as salty as I expected. I don't usually choose shoyu as they're salty and thinner in broth but not the Hokkaido style at this restaurant. My boyfriend's Spicy Garlic Bom! Ramen was quite spicy even though the menu showed 3/5 chili peppers! The spicy garlic paste was a great addition, enhancing both the taste and presentation. Thankfully, I was able to steal a bit of the paste from him and not have that one bowl to myself, LOL. We also came during happy hour and were quite shocked by the price of their Sapporo - $2.50 for 16oz! Wow, what a steal! We also got their Takoyaki and the Norishio fries. Overall, this restaurant was good, and I would love to come back to try their other ramens and items. read more

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Mom's Night Wednesday early dinner. They have some killer Happy Hour Food + Drinks Deals only caveat was you had to order a Happy Hour Drink to get the Happy Hour Food Pricing. Neither of us drink alcoholic beverages, so no Happy Hour for us. I order Tonkotsu Ramen and she got the Spicy Ramen. We also Takoyakis to start. There were on a few guests dining in so there wasn't much of a wait for our food to be served. After realizing my ramen didn't come with Menma (marinated bamboo shoots) when it arrived I asked for some on the side. Other restaurants include it so the additional charge was a bummer. I came hungry so I polished off my whole bowl with maybe a few slurps of the broth left. The flavor was good but I've had better. Takoyakis were yummy I like watching the Dancing Dashi flakes. The decor was very traditional Japanese. The ceiling was rather cool. I would come back with a drinking buddy to take advantage of Happy Hour food. read more

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I was craving ramen and decided to check out Baikohken in Hillcrest. Came here toward the end of happy hour on a week night and was pleasantly surprised to be immediately seated and note the $2.50 16 oz Draft Sapporo! They a ton of ramen options and handrolls. I ordered the vegan creamy miso. Presentation was phenomenal, but the broth was EXTREMELY salty. I also felt that they skimp on the toppings, which is disappointing at $18.98 a bowl for just two small pieces of tofu, a few corn kernels, and green onion bean sprout and mushroom garnishes ... they charge extra if you ask for more. I don't think it's worth the cost honestly. I felt like my waitress forgot about me and I was constantly calling out after her to place the order. Food came quickly though once I ordered. read more

Baikohken Ramen - Vegan creamy miso ramen with egg added ($2 extra for the egg !!) - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

Come early, only serves 180 to 200 bowls a day. All hand made to the same standard. Service was cheerful and explained fully the different types of Ramen. Original from Japan since 1969! The ambience brings you back to old Japan... very authentic. read more

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WARNING-- So, so, SOOOOO incredibly salty I cannot even begin to describe how salty their soup base is. They are extremely heavy handed with their salt here. Even the fried chicken was crazy salty!!! We ordered the shoyu and shio ramen, both regular with no add-ons. Both were incredibly salty. Like 2 spoon fulls and we're done. I didn't see a low-sodium option on the menu and they don't do custom paper orders here like some other places. We asked for hot water to dilute the broth and the waitress was kind enough to bring us 2 mugs of hot water. We added about 2/3 of the cup in and then finally it was ok to eat again. Once we diluted it with water, the umami flavors were able to be tasted, but my goodness without the extra water? My tongue was numb and frozen with the shock of the saltiness. I couldn't taste anything beyond that. Their shio was more clear and straightforward savory salty flavor, while shoyu I'd say had some more sweetness. The noodles were nice and chewy, the chashu was nice and thick. I do like the free addition of bamboo shoots because usually we have to pay extra. Really, the components were all good but as the soup base is such a key component of ramen, I'd be lying if I said I enjoyed my bowl. It REALLYYYY needed that mug full of water before I could even taste the real flavor of the broth. Same with the fried chicken-- super salty!!! No diluting can happen with this one unfortunately. We just didn't finish it. It was fried and relatively juicy, but the seasoning was too much for us. Unfortunately my personal preference and this restaurant's flavor profile were clashing too much for me to enjoy anything. I won't be back but if you like heavy, salty flavors then this is the place for you!! Service wasn't anything much. She hands you your food and pretty much disappears but she did get us those hot waters which were much appreciated! It took awhile to get the bill though. Parking is easy since there's a parking lot (but there are a lot of popular things in this plaza) I do want to add that I'm not super salt sensitive or had issues like this in the past before. This place was just so incredibly salty. Judging from the good reviews it might have been an off day (I went on a Sunday) but still, very unfortunate experience. read more

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I went on a Saturday at 5:30 PM and there was already a wait. I only had to wait 15 minutes though. There was a check in via Yelp at the tablet and it would text you when you were ready to be seated so that was convenient. My husband and I both ordered the sure you Ramen, which is what they're known for. Even though that it was a shoyu ramen, the broth was pretty flavorful and it wasn't clear like some of the other shoyu Ramen broth you see so I would say that this was probably the best shoyu ramen I've had so far. The shop was kind of on the smaller side, but decent amount of tables inside. The server we had was very friendly and very enthusiastic had great energy overall my favorite Ramen in San Diego? No, but it is pretty good if you're looking for shoyu ramen read more

Baikohken Ramen - Shoyu ramen - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

Superb Tasty, and Plentiful Food, Fantastic Attention to Detail Service, and a Cool, Relaxed Japanese Style Ambiance.

First opened over fifty years ago in Hokkaido, Baikohken received two Michelin recognitions. I popped into the Hillcrest location, the first on mainland US. They serve authentic ramen, served to way it is served in Japan. The noodles were cooked perfectly, with just the right bite. The broth is simmered for 13 hrs to creates a flavorful, savory soup! We also enjoyed the 3 pc temaki set, salmon, tuna and Hokkaido scallop. It was so fresh, I'd return just for that!! Service was very pleasant and attentive. We even got to meet Chef Yuki Sato that joined the restaurant in 2007 and opened the Hillcrest location in 2024. Although the parking can be tight in this area, I'd give this place a try!! read more

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Came here with my coworkers for a birthday lunch and had a pretty mixed experience. The highlight was easily the chicken karaage -- crispy, juicy, and perfectly seasoned. Honestly, some of the best I've had anywhere. Unfortunately, the ramen didn't quite live up to expectations. The noodles themselves were spot on -- great texture with that classic firm bite -- but the broth was underwhelming and, surprisingly, not served hot enough. For a place with this reputation, that was disappointing. Service, though, was excellent and very much in line with the polite attentiveness you'd expect from a Japanese spot. Still, if you're after standout ramen in San Diego, I'd recommend Kitakata, Santouka, or even Tajima (yes, they're good again!). read more

Baikohken Ramen - Shoyu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

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Shoyu Ramen ($14.98) - The highlight was the shoyu broth, which was unlike any other ramen broth I've had. I appreciated that it was lighter yet so full of flavor. They also marinated the chashu perfectly. I enjoyed this simple and comforting bowl of ramen! read more

Baikohken Ramen - SHOYU Hillcrest Special - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

I've been here 4 times now! On my last visit, they added temaki to the menu. You can get salmon, tuna, or scallops. Toppings consist of octopus, salmon roe, or crunchy spicy toppings. Their signature ramen was very flavorful. I added seaweed and the spicy bomb. My friend tried the Hillcrest ramen, which was loaded with butter, corn, egg, and seaweed! We also share the chasu bowl. Everything was tasty! read more

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Came here for a weekday lunch, no wait and and quick service. Location is in a strip mall, with parking, and a casual vibe. A few of the tables were occupied. We ordered 2 ramens (Hillcrest special ramen salt and the Shio ramen with an egg added) and 3 pieces of the spicy fried chicken. The fried chicken were definitely the highlight - crispy, juicy, large thigh pieces with a delicious spicy sauce drizzled on top. A great app to share (or to even eat yourself!). The ramens were alright and the salt flavors were light and umami, not too heavy. However, it's definitely on the pricier side (on par for the area though), and we wished there was more broth to go with the ramen as that's what we were most excited to try (and what makes truly good ramen, I believe). The chasu was a bit dry, egg was perfect. Overall, an okay (if pricier) ramen spot to visit in the area, but I wouldn't go out of my way to come again. read more

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We tried the spicy ramen, tonkatsu ramen, curry, and while all were tasty and good, I'm not sure this 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. read more

My first experience at Baikohken Ramen was.. decent. The service was satisfactory. I ordered the Tonkotsu ramen, which came with half an egg, a singular (**also on the small side**) piece of chasu, and some mushrooms. To say the least, I was very disappointed in the protein to noodle ratio. I am used to rationing my chasu while eating ramen, but it was very difficult to do so here considering the piece was super thin also. The temaki was also not very memorable. For a $16 bowl of ramen, I feel like the quality just was not there. read more

Baikohken Ramen - temaki - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

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I saw Baikohken on Lighthouse California magazine and have been wanting to visit for awhile. Their food was not a disappointment per se, but not somewhere I would go out of my way to visit. It's located within a strip mall with plenty of free parking right in front of the building. I visited during Saturday shortly before 6pm. There were only 2 other tables occupied with families enjoying early dinner. I thought it was nice how accommodating and patient the staff was towards every customers. (Giving a side eye at you, Jyosui Ramen) We were greeted promptly and the food was served hot without much wait. I was excited to see that they offered Gindaco brand takoyaki and felt thoroughly disappointed by the taste and texture of the item. The given product was frozen takoyaki deep fried in oil. Nothing like what I have been accustomed to eating by Gindaco. The octopus inside was tiny -- like the size of #2 pencil erasers. The bottom of the container was pooling with yellow grease. Very disappointing. The ramen itself was also underwhelming. I ordered the spicy miso chashu ramen. It came with just one piece of very thin, dry, and overcooked piece of chashu and just half an egg. The noodles had nice bouncy texture but the broth itself tasted thin and watery. I finished my meal well before my dining companion because there really wasn't much of anything in it. My dining companion was also disappointed by the shio ramen she ordered. I also wished the restaurant offered seafood or chicken as topping options for those who doesn't eat pork for various reasons. Additionally, I thought it's sad when the reputation of the restaurant doesn't match the product qualities that gained its initial fame. In sum, the food isn't garbage per se, but I wouldn't go out of your way to come eat here. read more

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Baikoken translates to ' illuminating the plum,' which is more of a Japanese cultural sentimental and symbolic mean. This Asahikawa style ramen shop started in Hokkaido, Japan since 1969. The characteristics of this ramen m: soy based broth with an oil based top, its popularity expanded to various cities throughout Asia: Hokkaido, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Honolulu and San Diego. Evidently in 2012 and 2017, the Hokkaido location received Michelin recognition for its fusion of traditional and innovative creation beyond the typical broths of: soy based, miso and shoyu. Instead mixing bone broths from fish and pork as their double broth technique. As a diner who does not eat pork products, I always chose the vegan option from this menu: Creamy miso broth with minimal toppings and I enjoyed the broth, noodles, the bamboo shoots, bean sprouts and green onion. Other occasions, I've added corn, seaweed, more bamboo shoots, extra green onions and a pat of butter! All variations were delish. My days as a college starving student who lived on ramen still haunts me and made me more resilient with gratitude. Fast forward to now, my home made ramen concoction has elevated with my preferred ingredients: truffle oil from Le Tourangelle, broth from shiitake and chanterelle mushrooms, saffron sprigs, crispy leeks and caviar...yesss!! I'm not a hugh fan of chicken especially dark meat but wanted to try the Karaage, which is japanese version of fried chicken using thigh dark meat. After tasting a bite, it was okay, well seasoned but the gamey taste of the dark meat lingered, and one bite was all I wanted, had the rest boxed Togo, as I know my furbaby would eat a little bit of it later after I sponge/squeeze off the excess greasy fried oils. This restaurant is located in a small strip mall with limited free parking, not too far from Scripps Mercy Medical Center in the Hillcrest area. This is the newer restaurant of all the ramen places in the area. It's clean, with minimal decor, indoor seating only. I usually stop in for a late lunch to avoid the lunch crowd. Service is cordial and nice by the staffers. However, on my recent visit, the waitress forgot to bring my ordered green tea and also didn't follow up to ask me if everything was satisfactory, I would have ordered additional items, so service needs improvement. Even though I can't comment on their claim of fame innovative fish and pork bone broth ramen, I'm glad they offer some vegan options and have always had an overall positive dining experience. Recommend read more

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We visited for the weekend to SD found this place through TikTok. The servers were amazing. The atmosphere seemed authentic and the vibes were great. Very chill laid back and the food was absolutely amazing. SO flavorful we will definitely be visiting when we come back! read more

Baikohken Ramen - Authentic from Japan - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

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This great ramen spot has quickly become one of my favorites. Great broths, noodles, tender meats, and great takoyaki. Servers are the best! So friendly and welcoming. Chef yuki is always there cooking it up for all of us every single day. He is always greeting everyone who comes and goes. He seems like such a great guy. Only con would be parking. read more

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Just had lunch here and the ramen was phenomenal. Kinda bummed they did away with their lunch special. The spicy chicken appetizer was really good, too. My friend ordered the miso ramen and he said it wasn't as flavorful as he hoped. Would still recommend checking this place out. read more

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Had the shoyu ramen (and added an egg). The broth may be salty to some but was lighter than expected. It felt balanced to me. There are other broth options if you prefer something else. This place is a good option for Hokkaido style ramen. Tie fried chicken was also a tasty appetizer. read more

Baikohken Ramen - Shoyu ramen - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

Service is excellent. Walked in and immediately greeted. I was invited to sit anywhere I would like. As soon as I was seated, waitress came by to drop off menus. I went with the spicy ramen and it was delicious as expected. Had some Japanese craft beer and the generous saki pouring. Ambiance is typical ramen/sushi decor. read more

Baikohken Ramen - Spicy garlic Bom - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

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This is becoming my favorite spot to get ramen for lunch. The location has a decent sized parking lot, so it's not too hard to find parking. I normally get their Shoyu Ramen and add the spice bomb and it's so flavorful. You can tell the broth has so much depth. The service is always fast and the waitress was very attentive. I normally get their karaage and a Sapporo with their lunch special. The karaage is juicy and the sauce that comes with adds the perfect flavor to go with each bite. Plenty of seating and the restaurant is clean. I recommend this place for a quick and affordable lunch. read more

Baikohken Ramen - Shoyu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

The Karaage is some of the best I've ever had. The salt and pepper was simple but somehow really came through. Make sure not to skip the croquettes either! Excellent broth and I loved the soy eggs. read more

Baikohken Ramen - SHOYU Hillcrest Special - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

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We had Chicken Karage Pork Belly Tonkotsu Ramen Mazesoba soupless ramen Hot tea Parking can be tough in this complex, but during a rainy evening, we somehow got lucky and the restaurant wasn't busy either. The broth had good flavor and umami. You can really taste the roasted pork. The noodles were cooked al dente. They were bouncy and chewy. The pork slices were tender and this texture clearly shows the meat was carefully seasoned and cooked for hours. So glad they have maizesoba because the closest we ever found was in Irvine. Only wish there was seasoned ground meat included. There was one sliced pork, but adding more means an extra charge. The chicken karage appetizer can be sliced into bite sized pieces. I was also expecting the green tea to be matcha powder or loose leaf instead it came in a tea bag. read more

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We came in for my son's birthday and everything was amazing! We first encountered this place during the Taste of Hillcrest since they were a participant and the sample brought us back. We had the Teppanyaki, Sapporo, green tea, and 3 bowls of ramen. Everything was just delicious. The service was wonderful and everyone was so kind. The place was clean and fresh. We will definitely be back! read more

Ramen lovers don't walk, run to this spot! Best ramen I've had in the United States let alone San Diego

Tried Baikohken Ramen while I was in San Diego and really liked it. We got seated right away and there was plenty of seating. The inside is really pretty and has such a nice vibe. The staff was super friendly and welcoming. I ordered the Shoyu Ramen and it was so good, full of flavor and came out really fast, which is always a plus. Definitely my favorite thing we ordered. I also tried the fried chicken curry rice. It's a smaller portion, but still really good and flavorful. If you're not super hungry, it's a good option, but honestly the ramen is the way to go. Overall, great food, quick service, and really friendly people. I'd definitely come back next time I'm in San Diego. read more

Baikohken Ramen - Shoyu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

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Found out about this spot via Instagram reels! Was set on getting ramen tonight and was happy to stumble upon this place over my usual. The service was very friendly and prompt. I was dining alone and was not made to feel weird at all. Felt very welcomed. I started with hot sake and croquettes-- so yummy!! I chose the Shoyu ramen with chashu pork and added egg as my main. The most flavorful and comforting broth. I think I can say this is the best ramen I've had in SD so far. Will definitely be returning and bringing friends. Can't wait to experience more of their menu. read more

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I went here for dinner because I was interested in the vegan tomato based ramen since I hadn't seen a tomato forward ramen before. Overall, I enjoyed it but I feel like the tomato flavor could have been stronger. I did like that there were seasonings on the table that you could add, and I feel like overall they are slightly different than other SD ramen places. My friend is a big fan of the butter and corn ramen, which I also hadn't realized was a thing. We were seated quickly and the service was friendly! read more

Baikohken Ramen - Tomato VEGAN - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

We tried to call to order pickup but the phone went to voicemail repeatedly so we gave up and DoorDashed. For around $70 for just the food we got a tonkotsu ramen, butter and corn shoyu ramen, a small chashu bowl, the norishio fries and a spicy garlic bom. The portions were small for the fries and the ramen, but the small chashu bowl was reasonable in my opinion. The food started off tasting fine but by the middle I found it saltier and saltier til it was nearly inedible (ramen and fries both). Overall I felt it was overpriced for portions and quality. The chashu was tough and there was only one slice of chashu in the whole bowl of tonkotsu ramen. The chashu bowl was actually much tastier in my opinion and the sweetness of the sauce and the mayo kept it from being too salty. That was delicious. I would hope dine in is better and maybe we will try that sometime so I can update, but their takeout was definitely inferior to other ramen delivery. Also not sure what's going on with the phone line...busy or just not used? read more

Baikohken Ramen - The norishio fries through DoorDash. Small portion for almost $9. - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

It's been a while since we want to try this new place in Hillcrest, we were finally did! First of all the pace is super clean, good ambiance and cute! We tried spicy ramen with regular one both are fantastic, so authentic and delicious, bring back memories when I ate ramen in Japan! They have sake and of course Sapporo. The service was amazing she was so attentive even though the place was full and she was the only server. The kitchen staff had to help her and entertain us! Kudos to the team! VERDICT: I WILL DEFINITELY COMEBACK read more

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Have you ever had cold Ramen? Well I hadn't until yesterday and let me tell you. It was absolutely amazing. I mean wow! The young man that served me was great as are all the servers when I go and this small quaint place is always clean and welcoming. Great service and great atmosphere. Try the cold Ramen...it's delicious! read more

Baikohken Ramen - Cold Ramen with chicken - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California