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

Menya Ultra - Nanban Ramen (Seasonal Special) - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

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

I ordered Tonkotsu Ajitama. The ramen texture is great, quite chewy. And l like the boiled eggs on top especially. There's a slight sourness to the eggs that adds flavor. Soup is good, not too salty. The reason I have 4 stars and not 5 is because I didn't feel like it is special enough. I'm adding comment after checking the meaning of Ajitama, which is seasoned eggs. This is its specialty then. Its great. read more

I have been going to Menya for a long time and today may have been my last day. The Ramen itself (broth and noodles) was good but.... Now you need to pay to add an egg to the bowl. Every place I go to get ramen it comes with an egg. It is not an option you need to pay extra for. The great egg famine of last year is over and eggs are back to normal prices. Why the upcharge for something that should just come with the ramen? Suffice it to say I did not opt in to the upcharge of adding a egg to my ramen. When I got my ramen to my surprise there was just a single, very thinly sliced, sad looking little piece of pork loin floating on the surface. There used to be 2-3 slices, just like every other ramen place in Kearny Mesa gives you. So absent the egg and just the single, sad piece of pork floating on top, there really wasn't much in the bowl of soup, just broth, noodles, some scallions, whatever those thin purple colored things are (sorry don't know what they are called), and of course the tiny piece of pork. For $17? Are all the things that used to come standard in a bowl of ramen now an up charge? Do I now have to pay extra for the egg the missing 1-2 pieces of pork that used to come in the bowl? I guess so. I know it is just not me, but why not just charge more for the freaking bowl of soup instead of making everything an upcharge? Menya needs to know there are a million ramen places in the area and nickel and dime'ing your customers is a terrible strategy. I also noticed that today the place was not busy and I generally no longer see a crowd outside waiting to be seated. I wonder if its do to the shinkflation happing here. It was a good run but I guess I am back to Tajima as my go to. read more

Have been on a ramen kick lately, so my family and I decided to give menya ultra a try for our first time. We ordered the nagoya fried chicken and gyozas to start. Both were delicious! For my ramen I ordered the spicy tonkatsu. The waiter recommended I get the spicy on the side, and I'm super happy I went with his recommendation. I was able to control how spicy I wanted my soup. I don't think I would've been able to handle all the heat if I didn't! Their staff and service were great! And the vibe of the restaurant reminded me of Japan :) Overall we had a great experience here and loved their ramen. read more

Menya Ultra - Tonkotsu with spicy on the side - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

The ramen tastes fresh. It's very easy to order and the food comes out fast. You can have conversations in here it's not very loud. Thank you Kai for being our server. Great service and food. Delicious! read more

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

This place can fill up very quickly. Service is quick. I got the tantan ramen with paiko pork. The broth I didn't care for much, but with the pork and all the toppings I got enough of a fill.Easy free parking lot read more

Menya Ultra - Tantanmen W// Paiko Pork - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

It was meant to be as our wait time was only 5 minutes! As we entered it was very small but cute ambiance. This was our first time here and the ramen was as close to what you would get in Japan. Everything was delicious and there was so much on each bowl that we had enough food to take Home for the next day. read more

Menya Ultra - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

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

My buddy and I went here after a run, and I gotta say their ramen is so refreshing, they serve it hot or cold and we got it cold, and it was great, also got a Sid dog their signature fried chicken and it was beautifully spiced , the staff was also extremely friendly and overall has a good environment, very affordable too, would recommend as a nice casual spot. read more

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

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

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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We came here so stoked and ready to love this place, but were disappointed. Plenty of parking outside, great service. The broth lacked in flavor. Maybe we just ordered the wrong thing, but we both kept feeling like there was something missing. Still a solid ramen, but not as expected given their Michelin Plate. read more

Menya Ultra - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

This wasn't one of my favorite ramen spots, especially with now having better ramen options in San Diego. I got the Tonkotsu Ajitama ramen (you pay extra for 2 eggs) and the broth itself is decent, but it's pretty strong if you take a sip of it by itself. This specific ramen only came with 1 very thinly sliced chashu which I was shocked because any other ramen places give you more than 1 and it was just okay nothing special. The biggest issue for me was the noodles. They're the thin type, which is standard for ramen, but these noodles barely soak up any of the broth. Because of that, every bite just tasted like plain boiled noodles, and I could barely taste the broth unless I drank it separately. It made the ramen feel really unbalanced. A good ramen place you will be able to taste the broth flavor with each bite of the noodles. The toppings were pretty standard, mainly green onions and the usual toppings that come with the bowl. If you want an egg, that's an additional charge. There's also a waitlist, so depending on how busy it is, you may have to wait for a table. Service was okay, but nothing memorable. Our server came by once to take our order and never came back to check on us during the meal. You also pay at the register rather than having your server bring the check to your table. I think this was probably one of the harder ramens I've had to eat. I only took a few bites before deciding I couldn't finish it because it felt like I was eating plain cooked noodles. I ended up giving the rest to my boyfriend, and he also thought it was pretty mid. We recently moved from the Bay Area, so we've definitely been spoiled by some really good ramen spots. Ramen Nagi isn't even our first-choice ramen spot anymore, but I'd still choose it over this. Overall, I don't think this is somewhere I'd go out of my way to visit again. read more

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

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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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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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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Truly one of the best ramen spots in SD! The tonkotsu is so rich and the chashu is tender and not fatty, though I wish there was more of it. The Nagoya karaage is also soooo flavorful and juicy and addicting. I usually come a few minutes before opening and never have to wait for a table. Service is friendly, attentive and efficient. Parking can be difficult at times. I will be back! 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

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

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

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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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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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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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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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 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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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

Best ramen in town hands down. Great food, good customer service. If you're in San Diego, you gotta try this place out. read more

Menya Ultra - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

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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Great food and service. I docked one-star because of the wait time though. I got on the waitlist ahead of time and we had to wait an additional 20 minutes on top of Yelp's estimate. I get that the place is popular and super busy, but I don't quite understand all the hype. The ramen is as tasty as any of the other ramen places. Because of that, I'd rather just go to one of those spots where we can get seated immediately. Also, my young daughter likes her ramen plain and most places actually volunteer to charge us less. It's not expected, but it's a courtesy I appreciate nonetheless. read more

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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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 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

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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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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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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I ordered online and went for a pickup. The host was very polite and helpful. The dishes were delicious. Very well seasoned and fresh made very happy with the food and service. Place was neat and clean. read more