Came on a Sunday afternoon specifically because I'd been craving ramen and figured I'd wait it out. The 45-minute wait outside wasn't ideal, but they hand you an order sheet while you're in line and you drop it off with someone inside, so by the time we sat down the food came out fast. The vegan miso was good. Broth was deep and savory, kept going back to it. Extra noodles I added were slightly chewy in a good way. Staff was genuinely friendly. read more

Menya Ultra - Vegan Miso - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

I had spent all week trying to figure out a good place for my cousin and I to get lunch after I picked him up from the airport. I had decided tentatively to get pizza, but my cousin told me when I picked him up that he was on a healthy food kick. Plus, he wanted to go to a "Michelin star place" and this was the only Michelin star place I could think of... and ramen noodles are pretty healthy so what the heck? I had been to the Mira Mesa location before so I knew what to expect here. My cousin was new so he was trying to figure out what to order. Unlike last time at the Mira Mesa location, I knew not to order the extra noodles and went for the tonkotsu ajitama, which does seem like the safe option. I added corn and seaweed into my bowl, which I think helped add to the nice umami flavor. But even without the extra noodles, I still couldn't finish the whole bowl of ramen. To be fair, I did have breakfast a couple of hours before. Still, it was filling. And I had leftovers for later. My cousin ordered the Tonkotsu bowl only, and he said it was really good. Coming from a pretty picky eater like himself, that's a compliment. read more

had about a 45-minute wait around 6:30 pm on a saturday, but luckily they use yelp waitlist so you can plan ahead before heading over. ordered the nanban ramen, one of their specialty bowls, and thoroughly enjoyed it. i asked for less sodium and it ended up being the perfect level of seasoning for me. the noodles had a great texture, and i especially liked the shredded green onions. they added a nice crunch with every bite of noodles. the chashu could have used a bit more flavor, but overall it was a solid bowl of ramen. i'd definitely come back to try some of their other ramen flavors. read more

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Ramen here is excellent, but not the best I've ever had. Amazing service and a nice clean restaurant. We got sat within 20 minutes and for the amount of people waiting, I'd say that was great. The menu is small with only a few choices for a few types of ramen. I got the Miso with added corn and seaweed, but no mushroom. The broth was so rich and flavorful, the pork was mediocre, but those noodles are by far the best and freshea ramen noodles I have ever had. They were so soft and delicious, I was blown away. It really stole the show of the bowl. I just wanted more and more of the noodles. Overall I have had better broth and pork elsewhere but these noodles are by far the best I've ever had. I can't wait to try more of the ramen types and see how they rank. read more

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Love the noodles here, thin but chewy. The soup was delicious and the charsiu was great - no porky scent. The service was amazing and everyone was super kind. Love the vibe and the atmosphere as it feels like I'm taken back to Japan. Highly recommend! We had the tonkotsu and the namban ramen. Also tried the Nagoya style fried chicken. Chicken was crispy out, juicy and tender inside. We really wanted to try the added braizen pork charsiu but they were out. Make sure you get on the waitlist on Yelp before heading over, definitely made our wait much shorter. Max 6 ppl in a party for wait list as the restaurant is a small spot. Wait is based on table availability vs waitlist order... someone who checked in after you might get seated first if the table of their size becomes available first.... read more

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Finally checked out Menya Ultra and yeah... it lives up to the hype. Food: 4/5 The ramen is legit. Rich broth, perfectly cooked noodles, and the flavor hits hard. Only reason it's not a full 5 is just personal taste preference, but still top-tier. Service: 5/5 Staff was on point the whole time. Fast, friendly, and actually made the experience better. Ambiance: 1000000/5 This place just feels right. The vibe, the energy, the setup... you walk in and already know you're about to have a good meal. Definitely coming back. If you're a ramen fan, this spot is a must. read more

Menya Ultra - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

I came here for the first time the other day. I joined the waitlist on Yelp and am glad I did because there were a lot of other people waiting. I only had to wait about 10 minutes. I got the spicy tonkatsu & nagoya karaage. The food came out fairly quickly. I got the lowest spice and like spicy food but it was a little too spicy for me so next time I won't get any spice. It was my first time having nagoya karaage and it was so delicious. Service was excellent. I will definitely be coming back! read more

Menya Ultra - Spicy tonkatsu & Nagoya Karaage 3pc - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

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Menya Ultra is having a limited time Customer Appreciation Event March 1-14, 2026 at all locations for dine in only: (1) FREE EXTRA NOODLES (2) $3 DRAFT BEER Limited-time Special Price SERVICE Staff are efficient and juggle a busy crowd well DRINK $3 Draft Beer: crisp, slightly bitter as beer typically is FOOD 5/5 NEGI PON FRIED CHICKEN: flavorful, crispy, and topped with mayo and scallion/spring onion 5/5 Black Tantan Men: chef's recommended - flavor is chef's kiss... mmmmwah I added Egg topping, Corn, Seaweed (4 Sheets), and extra seasoned minced pork (don't skip on this one especially if you like flavor). The Hokkaido wheat noodles are still superbly springy read more

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Menya Ultra is a decent option to dine out casually. The service was above average, however we had some complications splitting the bill amongst many people so I would recommend just paying together if coming with a group. *FOOD* Tantanmen: The broth had a very nutty and umami flavor that paired well with the wood ear mushrooms. The ramen noodles were bouncy and absorbed the flavor well. I would highly recommend getting the low sodium option as the broth is very salty. Overall, the ingredients tasted very fresh. Gyoza: The gyoza shell was extremely crispy and the pork was juicy and gelatinous. I would highly recommend this as an appetizer. Nagoya Karaage: The chicken was still crispy and juicy by the end of our visit. The batter was lightly doused in a savory soy sauce and was very delicious. Menya Ultra is a at a good baseline restaurant for ramen, however there are probably better ramen restaurants in San Diego. read more

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Love this place for its authentic Japanese ramen. I did not even realize this restaurant was recognized by the Michelin guide until I got here. After waiting for about 20 minutes, my husband and I were seated at the counter. We each received an order sheet, which made ordering really easy and quick. I really liked that the menu was simple and concise. I would highly recommend the Tonkatsu Ajitama ramen. It comes with a slice of chashu as well as a seasoned egg. The pork broth is very rich and flavorful, while the noodles are nice and chewy. If you are searching for high quality and authentic ramen from Japan, then this is the right place to go to. A must-try if you are in San Diego! read more

Menya Ultra - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

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I went on a Saturday for lunch so there was roughly a 30-40 minute wait I think. I joined the waitlist then just wandered around Daiso for a bit to kill time since it's in the same plaza. Despite being so busy, the employees are pretty quick which is great since the restaurant itself isn't too big. To order, you have a piece of paper where you select what you want on a piece of paper so it's nice and easy. Ajitama ramen: 5/5 Really flavorful I liked this a lot. I was craving something a bit spicy though so I asked for chili oil or something on the side which they happily helped me with. I usually prefer slightly thicker noodles so I liked these Spicy miso ramen: 5/5 I tried a bit of this since my cousin got it and I really liked it. It wasn't super spicy but it was a good amount still flavorful read more

Menya Ultra - Spicy miso ramen, ajitama tonkotsu ramen - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

Stumble upon Menya Ultra and very happy that I did. My wife and I was fascinated by the line that accumulated right as the restaurant opened. The yelp waitlist fills up quick so make sure to get on the list before arriving. Parking - Free in a shared lot Interior is quite nice, can be a bit compacted but thats pretty typical for a Ramen/Noodle shop. There's also seating on the counter which is quite nice. Staff is very quick with the orders and are very welcoming. Many of the options caught our eyes but a plus is that there's tons of customization for your bowl. Very straight forward and easy to order. When it comes to ramen, this is as good as it gets. We had our eyes on the Ajitama and Chashu Ramen bowls and they came out exceptionally quick. Portions are quite generous and wasn't super salty which is always one of the crucial points of a ramen bowl. Noodles are very savory and mixed with the broth creates that rich feeling. Super flavorful overall. Overall, very impressed with Menya Ultra, a gem that was found and very happy that we got to try it. We didn't get to try any side dishes this time but most definitely checking that out the next time I revisit. Love the high quality noodles and the consistency of the bowls. I can see why they're Michelin recognized. read more

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Arrive with an empty stomach; you will need all of the space you can get (portions were HUGE). The karaage is made up of whole chicken thigh pieces - 3 pieces is probably the equivalent of at least 1/3 lb. Ramen hit the spot - the broths were deeply flavorful; noodles were al dente with a nice chew. The chashu was well cooked - not at all dry. Service was fast and friendly. A couple of items to note: they will only seat your party if all of you are present (we had a 4th diner who was parking when we arrived = no-go on seating us); and, as at least one other Yelper has observed, it smells like smoke (cigar or cigarette?) inside the restaurant. There appears to be another business that allows smoking next door. Unfortunately that has impacted the MU premises. They do need to work on that -- it is noticeable. read more

Menya Ultra - Spicy Tonkotsu with chashu; Gyoza 8pc; Nagoya Karaage 5pc - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

Menya Ultra is hands down one of best ramen spots, especially if you're looking for ramen without that heavy MSG taste. Tonkotsu Ramen (10/10): Broth is super creamy and rich, and it pairs perfectly with togarashi and chili oil. I always add corn to my ramen and it makes it even better -- such a good combo. Service was great. We got seated about 30 minutes after they opened, which felt lucky since there's usually a line out door. Servers were kind and attentive, checking up on us often, and ramen came out faster than I expected. Definitely a top ramen spot for me. read more

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Four years later and it's still some of the best ramen around. Prices are a little higher than they were a few years ago, but the broth is still rich and delicious, and the service was great. Our server Alexander was really kind and answered all of our questions. The edamame was a little saltier than usual, but it still tasted great. I also like that you could add your own spice if you want spicier read more

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We thought making the reservation at 5PM would get us an open table easily, then checked on Yelp, and found out we were 23rd in line with a waiting time of 45 minutes. Nonetheless, we still decided to head to the restaurant and wait for a table. Located in a busy plaza, finding parking space required some patience but we eventually found one after 10 minutes. Upon our arrival, we checked in through the tablet stand at the restaurant's entrance. Inside, with the decor of traditional Japanese ramen-ya, it could accommodate around 45 guests (30 in tables and 15 in counter seatings). The turnover was quite fast and the attentive staff made sure the tables and counters were cleaned right away when vacated. Once seated, orders were placed through the individual order sheets with all the options. On this visit, we ordered the following dishes (arrived in 10 minutes): Ajitama Tonkotsu Ramen: The broth was lightly creamy, savory, and rich without being excessively oily. The thin noodles were perfectly cooked with very nice texture. The chashu was tender and halved egg was beautifully runny. The chopped green onions and wood ears added flavor and texture to the broth. Black Tan Tan (with Egg Added): If you like strong broth, this ramen is for you. The miso based broth was creamy, chili oil covered spicy, and quite rich from the sesame paste. The noodles were al dente and the halved egg was also nicely runny. The bean sprouts, green onions, and wood ears balanced the creaminess of the broth. Nagoya Style Karaage: the battered outer layer was nicely crispy and inside meat was juicy and tender. The savory and tad sweet dressing went well with the dish. The portions were sensible (you can add extra noodles) and the prices were reasonable. It was totally worth the wait. read more

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Love coming here. Such a must and such great people here. Food is always great and the place is always crazy crowded. Definitely will be back soon. read more

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Very good ramen and food. I tried the Nagoya fried chicken, gyozas and the Tonkotsu Ajitma. The broth was very flavorful and delicious. A little salty for me but the waitress let me know there is a low sodium option so if you need to watch your sodium intake I would try that option. I'm going to do that myself next time. Overall everything was great. Great food and service! I will definitely go back. This place is on the Michelin Guide and is located in the Convoy area. read more

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We came in because we were gifted a gift card. Food was good though not really my favorite though. The chicken had good flavor just a bit too salty. The service was okay as they seem to be getting ready to close. Parking is easy to find and price was affordable. read more

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I was fully prepared to be unimpressed just by the fact you only get 1 piece of pork chashu with your ramen that still costs just under $20 including tax. However I was wrong. The focus is not even the meat but the incredible broth & perfect noodles. I was very impressed by the quality and would happily return with a hungry belly. read more

Menya Ultra - Tonkotsu Ajitama - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

Rich, varied, and healthy food! I've been missing my experience in Japan and this location is the closest to it by far! But the reason it's not 5 stars for me is because of the service, they switched the toppings for my partner and my order, and charged us for an item that wasn't delivered, which they removed the charge for, but a mistake that a customer should have to notice. Great decor, traditional. Hope the service gets better. read more

My top 1 ramen place in San Diego! (Only this location) Try to get in line early or else it could be a really long wait, but it's worth it. I love their miso ramen, the paiko in the tantanmen is really good, and recently I tried their seasonal cold soup noodle which was also amazing!! *I also always ask for firm noodles because I prefer its texture read more

Menya Ultra - Seasonal Cold Soup Noodle - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

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This place continues to be my favorite spot for Ramen in SD. We signed in before opening and was seated when the door first opened. Plenty of servers around to help and attend to your requests. A smaller restaurant, so really not suitable for large groups. The ramen is so rich and savory. The noodles have a perfect chew. There are specific bowls you can choose from, and all are customizable. Not a whole lot of side items to choose from, but their fried chicken (karaage) is a yummy pairing. Yummy read more

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I signed up on the tablet outside. The wait said about 34 minutes. I went into the Daiso to walk around and kill some time. I got a text saying it had been pushed out even further. I got a text to come back because my table would be ready soon. I waited another 10-15 minutes and finally my name was called. This place has a cool set up. I was alone so I sat at the counter. You order on a paper. I wasn't given a menu, just the paper. If I had a menu I would have made some different choices but that's how it goes sometimes. I'm not sure the waitress even realized I did not have a menu. I had high hopes for the tan tan. It was good but I would have liked more flavor or a little bit of heat. The noodles were good. The chashu was alright. I did add chashu and an egg to mine. read more

Menya Ultra - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

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In terms of Ramen and San Diego I've had quite a number of different styles amongst some really solid restaurants. There was restaurant that kept being recommended "Menya Ultra." I've been meaning to drop on by ever since it first opened, but was also trying to avoid the lines. Fair warning the waitlist can be a rather long wait. I happened to luck out - was out and about with the fam and we just so happened to be in the area, for a bonus we lucked out on the waitlist... only 20mins Upon entering the restaurant it felt quite surreal. My fam all mentioned that the layout reminded them of Ramen Ya (Hawaii). The restaurant is very quaint, while it may appear smaller - it's quite homely. I was really impressed with how helpful the staff was, everyone was friendly and helped us when ordering. As Menya Ultra has a checklist order form, it was a bit confusing at first - but I feel like it could really streamline the ordering process. Especially now knowing how it works. When it comes to food I have to say I'm more than impressed. As I mentioned before I'm a bit of a Ramensseur (connoisseur of ramen). I've had all sorts, but it's fair to say Menya Ultra is truly something special. Upon first slurp - you can tell the quality of the noodles. It was pretty funny to watch the entire Family do the same thing, we were all stunned in silence at just how good everything tasted. I opted for the Black Sesame Tantan, everything about the Ramen was top notch. I got extra noodles with my Ramen and it was the perfect amount of Broth and Noodles. I didn't even feel the need to add anything into the broth. It was the perfect amount of spice, so many wonderful flavors to enjoy. My wife ordered the Miso Ramen and we got the Tonkotsu for kids. Everyone finished their Ramen, even our youngest who is a bit of a picky eater. Overall looking forward to going back and making this a regular stop. To help with the line, you can actually join the waitlist using Yelp. Once you join it will give you what time to show up. I also feel like it needs to be said, Menya Ultra is one of the best Ramen I've ever had, certainly one of the Bests in San Diego. read more

Menya Ultra - Black Sesame Tan Tan - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

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Menya Ultra Ramen has always been worth the wait for me. Raki Raki does not compare to their food quality as well as the table service. If the wait for Menya ever feels long, just know it will be worth your while. I always order the TanTan Ramen with Fried Chicken on the side as my protein in replacement of the chashu pork. I also like to add the butter topping so it creates an even creamier broth. For an appetizer the okonomi fries are great to snack on and share. This establishment will always satisfy my ramen cravings no matter the time of day! read more

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Menya Ultra is my favorite place for ramen in San Diego! They have great ramen as well as small eats like the karaage. It's usually my first stop when I land in San Diego because it's quick, easy, and delicious. Plus the veggie ramen is great as well! The service is warm and quick, and you'll get your food quickly. I've never had to wait long, but I usually go during lunch. They do have a Yelp waitlist if you want to go at night. A wonderful place to grab great ramen in Kearny Mesa! read more

Always so ono dis place. Reminds me so much of Hawaii-style "saimin." Had the Ajitama Ramen, Nagoyabstylenfried chicken (katsu), edamame and then Sapporo was half price today! Yay! Domo arigato gozaremasu! read more

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Came around 6PM and the place was packed, but I joined the waitlist before driving over and only ended up waiting about 10 minutes, so I recommend doing that or coming earlier. The inside is small and cozy, giving that classic Japanese ramen shop vibe. Service is quick and efficient, and I liked that you order by checking off what you want on a paper sheet. I got the Ajitama ramen, and the broth was delicious, rich, and really soothing!! The only downside is parking, since the plaza has a lot of businesses, finding a spot took a while. read more

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I ordered the Tonkatsu Ramen with the egg and a side of their fried chicken. Noodles were fresh and broth was delicious. Chicken was okay. I just wanted more protein. Once we sat, service was fast and good. I'd say they are a stickler about keeping people outside to wait to be seated even when the house is not full. One issue I do have and maybe it's something the business cannot help is the smell of cigar smoke that permeates into the restaurant from the neighboring cigar lounge. But if you don't mind the smell, the food is good. read more

First time going to Menya Ultra after hearing it's been Michelin-recognized. We got in with no problem, ordered and had all of our food out within 10 minutes. Super fast service and very large portions! $17-$20 ramen bowls I wasn't blown away by the flavors like I assumed I would be with a michelin recognized restaurant but I'm going to give it another try for sure read more

Menya Ultra - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

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Sooooo I just moved to SD from LA and I figured it was only right I had to find a Ramen place so I ran to Tik Tok. I will say this place definitely lives up to the Michelin Star hype. The restaurant itself isn't that big, so be prepared to sit close to people. However, the staff is friendly, we received great service and it is a good vibe. I will admit I can't remember the names of what we had but I loved the featured fried chicken and the spicy ramen I had with the black sesame. 10/10 recommend. read more

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Drove 2.5 hours from Southern California on a Saturday afternoon just to try Menya Ultra, and honestly--it was worth every minute of the drive. The restaurant itself is small, but the hostess was running around handling everything so well. She was super attentive and kept things moving smoothly. We got our order quickly and everything came out piping hot. The Nagoya Karaage chicken was incredible--juicy, flavorful, salty in the best way, and perfectly crispy. The ramen noodles were fresh with just the right amount of bite, and the broth... wow. You can tell it's been simmering for hours--it was rich, layered, and so flavorful. I added extra spicy miso, which gave it the perfect kick. I got the Negi Miso and loved every bit of it, and we also tried the Spicy Miso which was just as amazing. Honestly, this spot lived up to the hype, and I'd absolutely come back again. read more

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Wait times are long for walk-in, so make sure you join the waitlist! This place is always my favorite. There is a heavy smoke smell inside, so if you're sensitive to smoke I would definitely keep that in mind. But the servers are always super nice and attentive, and the ramen is of course 10/10. Finishing the broth is the best part. Always a great place to eat! read more

you first have to join a waitlist either on the yelp app or in person, it gets busy but the line moves fast. the ramen here is always delicious and flavorful. i love the karage here the most because it's so crispy and they have three ways they make them. the fries were also good and you definitely won't be disappointed with anything. read more

So good! The ramen was delicious, the staff was friendly, and the whole experience was great. Can't wait to go back.

*September 2025 Update* For some reason the inside smelled like a casino, like heavy second hand smoke smells. We weren't explained why it smelled like that and was too afraid to ask. Food was still good, but difficult to stay inside for more than 45 minutes due to the smell. read more

Menya Ultra - Negipon Karagae - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

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Tried their Valentine's Day special (feb 2026) which included two drinks (beer or soft drinks), six pieces of chicken karaage, and two bowls of ramen (includes the ajitama) for $50. We added a couple extra toppings. It was such a great deal for amazing ramen on a chilly weekend. Service was impeccable as always. The journey towards earning enough points to get a menya ultra skateboard continues... read more

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To me this remains the epitome of what a good ramen shop should be; small, intimate, friendly but relatively quiet staff, and big steaming bows of good soup. I know they took a bit of a downward turn a few years ago but lately they seem to have their mojo back and are putting out great bowls. I wouldn't call them the best ramen out there but it remains a very good bowl of good soup, made with great ingredients that all comes together nicely. Its prices are on par with most ramen places nowadays and it remains a good place to go for their San Diego flagship. read more

Menya Ultra - Paiko Pork Tantan - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

My husband and I ate here on Sunday for lunch. We waited about 5-10 minutes for a table around 11:45AM. The menus had the details of the ramen, appetizers, and drinks offered. For the ramen, you fill out a sheet of paper with your selections, which they review with you before taking the other. Our food came out pretty quickly. We order 6 piece gyoza, Tonkotsu Ajitama, and Negi Miso ramen. We both thoroughly enjoyed our ramen and ate it all. The gyoza was good as well. I had the Tonkotsu and thought the broth was very flavorful. My husband could have used a little more garlic in his. Service was very good. They refilled our water and made sure to apply my number for rewards. The restaurant is small and you must wait outside for your table. I'd recommend being prepared to wait if you're visiting during peak hours. read more

Menya Ultra - Negi Miso - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

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