I love Menya Ultra but I can't justify waiting for more than 30 minutes to be seated no matter how much I like a restaurant. Luckily, because we were having a really late dinner and it was about a hour before closing, there was no wait. Their Tonkatsu Chashu ramen is so delicious. Chewy noodles, clean broth, perfect toppings, and tender chashu. It's also the perfect portion although hubby could probably eat two bowls by himself. read more

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

Menya Ultra is a ramen shop that focuses on traditional Japanese-style ramen with an emphasis on house-made noodles, rich broths, and carefully prepared toppings. We walked into a clean, functional space with a straightforward ramen shop feel that keeps the attention on the food rather than the décor. The atmosphere is unpretentious and efficient, the kind of place where you come for the bowl in front of you rather than the surroundings, and the steady flow of customers speaks to the quality coming out of the kitchen. The ramen is the main highlight, especially the noodles and broth combination. The noodles have a great texture with a firm bite that holds up well in the soup, which makes a noticeable difference in the overall bowl. The tonkotsu ramen delivers a rich and savory broth, creamy without being heavy, paired with toppings like chashu and soft-boiled egg that add layers of flavor and texture. The spicy miso ramen adds more depth and heat without losing the comforting qualities of a classic ramen bowl, and the heat level is balanced well enough that it does not overpower the other components. The tantanmen and black sesame ramen are also good options if you want something a little different from the standard ramen lineup, each offering a distinct flavor profile that still feels rooted in the traditional style. The toppings help round out the experience, with the chashu being one of the stronger parts of the meal. The pork is tender and flavorful, with a nice sear that adds a subtle smokiness, and it pulls apart easily without being mushy. The soft-boiled egg is cooked to that perfect jammy consistency, and the seasoned egg adds a richness that ties the bowl together. The karaage is another popular addition, with crispy pieces that work well as a side alongside the ramen, offering a contrast in texture and a break from the broth-heavy main. There are also options for different preferences, including vegetarian choices and customizable add-ons, which gives the menu a bit more flexibility than some ramen spots. One thing to plan for is the wait. The restaurant uses a waitlist system, and it can get busy during peak dinner hours, so joining the list ahead of time is the best way to avoid standing around. Once seated, the service is generally efficient and the food comes out quickly, which helps keep the experience moving without feeling rushed. The staff handle the flow well, and the turnover moves at a pace that matches the casual, no-fuss style of the restaurant. Menya Ultra is one of those ramen spots where the quality of the noodles and broth makes it worth the visit. The combination of authentic flavors, well-executed bowls, and a focused menu makes it a strong choice for anyone looking for a satisfying ramen meal in San Diego. It delivers the kind of bowl that feels both comforting and intentional, the sort of meal that stays with you after the last spoonful. read more

Menya Ultra - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

I got the vegan ramen bowl with egg. It was okay. I wouldn't get it again, but it wasn't bad. I enjoyed the fried chicken. The staff was really friendly and professional. We got our order right away, even though it was a busy Saturday. I also appreciated how clean and fun the ramen shop looked inside. Parking was easy too because it's located in a plaza. read more

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Actually, it was a really good experience. I came in really hungry, but one of the boilers was down so they offered a free appetizer to compensate for the wait. When checking out they said my meal was comped. I'd definitely come back either way cause the food was really good. Thanks read more

Menya Ultra - Really good flavor. I'm glad I tried it. - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

Worth the wait. I've been waiting a couple years to try this place and it did not disappoint. The staff were friendly and efficient. They did a good job getting people in and out and making sure everyone was happy. The food was amazing like you'd expect from their reputation. The Nagoya fried chicken was a surprise treat that was absolutely delicious. The ramen broth was savory and flavorful with plenty of umami goodness. Got an extra egg in mine which was worth it. The place isn't that big so make sure you get on the waitlist if you're not there when they open. Plenty of parking out front and they have a good number of tables in the place. Definitely worth a try if you're in the mood for good ramen. read more

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

Finally got to try out a Menya Ultra location. I thought it was gonna be the Clairemont Mesa location but my mom and I wanted dinner after a piano recital ran long and I thought this would be the best opportunity to try out this place. Have to say: It's probably best to go when the place is about to close. We got there at 8:30pm and there was basically no wait. My mom and I both ordered the Negi Miso noodles. I liked that the place provided a low sodium option for the more health conscious of us. I was of the thought that they might underserve on both the pork and the noodles (many other ramen places have done so with no forewarning) so I ordered extra noodles and extra pieces of chashu pork. Along with the corn. It was a lot of food. But it was very good. The pork was surprisingly so tender. I thought it was gonna be hard or chewy. I think the wheat noodles were the best part. I think you just have to come to this place on an empty stomach and starving, which was me about two hours before I ate here. Since I ate a little beforehand, it was just difficult to finish the bowl in one sitting. But hey, leftovers for lunch tomorrow. Also love that the place is bright and cozy (it's probably very chaotic when it's at full capacity) and not too loud with the background music. read more

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My friends and I go to the restaurant around 11:30am on a Sunday. We were immediately seated at a table. We started with the 3 piece fried chicken (5/5). The chicken was tender, juicy, and had a delicious flavor. I also ordered the Spicy Tonkotsu Ramen (3.5/5). I got it extra hot. It had a good kick to it. It only came with 1 slice of pork. Service was on the slow side. read more

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Tl;dr Food is on par with the Convoy location, but group seating management is subpar and leads to unnecessarily long waits but still more room than the Convoy location. The food quality remains consistent with their other locations. The noodles were chewy and had a great texture. Between the two broths we tried, the tonkotsu was great, while the miso was a little too salty for my taste. For appetizers, the chicken karaage was not bad but nothing special. The takoyaki was the same, nothing special but it still tasted good and was up to my standards. Even though this location has more seating than the one on Convoy, we still waited for over an hour. They kept seating groups of two instead of us, claiming they wouldn't combine tables and refusing our offer to just split the group up into 2 and 3. Ultimately, when they finally sat us, they ended up combining two tables anyway. The food is still good, but the lack of flexibility and poor management for larger groups makes the long wait hard to justify. Overall, I would come back but just keep it to a party of 2. read more

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I don't go to ramen restaurants often because the broth is too salty for my taste. This one is no exception. We ordered a kids meal, #3 Tonkotsu Chashu and spicy Miso. The noodle texture was good but the broth was salty and spicy (spicy level was ok but too salty). The kids meal came with chicken katsu and fries. We had to send them back in because they were cold and looked like have been sitting there for a while. They brought us fresh ones later after i asked. We waited for 20-30 min to get in and then waited just to get some drinking water to start. The check came pretty quickly though! Unfortunately this is not the Michelin restaurant standard that I expected. read more

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Came in around 5:30 and missed the initial seating, we were quoted 20-35min wait but ended up waiting for more than an hour. There was a huge party of 10+ who wouldn't leave and the servers wouldn't combine single tables so they kept skipping my party and seated smaller groups of 2. Fried chicken was really good and a big portion. The tonkotsu broth is good but not hot enough for my liking. read more

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

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Delicious! You can never go wrong here, I always recommend this location for ramen to my friends The broth is always rich with flavor and the meat and egg are nice additions as well service is great and quick! Ambiance is nice and feels like you are always welcomed!! Would def come back again! read more

Menya Ultra - Negipon Karaage 3pc - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

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Came here a little after they opened for dinner on Friday and was seated right away. For appetizers, we ordered the Nagoya style fried chicken and okonomi fries. The fried chicken was just okay but the fries were really good! They separated the bonito flakes from the fries which I thought was very thoughtful so that the flakes don't get soggy. For ramen, we ordered the miso ajitama and spicy tonkatsu. I didn't realize there was a layer of oil on top of the broth so the first sip I took was straight up oil. Definitely recommend that you mix your ramen before eating it. I really liked how thin and firm the noodles were and how tender the chashu was. However, the broth was a bit too oily for me so I only finished half my ramen. My boyfriend ordered the spicy tonkatsu katsu and said it was very spicy even though he chose the least spiciest option. We both thought the ramen was just okay. Service was good. Our server kept checking in on us and our food came out quick. read more

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Menya Ultra is one of my favorite family friendly restaurants in this area + the ramen is SO GOOD! I've been coming here for years. Never disappoints. Solid spot. Pro Tips: buy the Menya Ultra gift cards from Costco + join the virtual waitlist from the comfort of your home before going! FOOD I usually order the tonkatsu/miso which are both pretty solid. Some bowls come with eggs and some don't. I like to make sure to add egg & corn which is an extra charge. The egg is cooked perfectly! Soup base is rich & fatty as it should be. For kids under 10, you can order a kids meal for $8.95 which includes half portion of ramen noodles with corn, juice box, fried chicken, & fries. Pretty good value! ORDERING LOVE how you can mark what you want on a sheet of paper which makes things so much clearer & efficient. PARKING Located next to a grocery outlet, lots of parking! read more

Menya Ultra has some of the best broth! The portions are very generous and the ramen is uber delicious. We had the tonkatsu charsu with a seasoned egg and corn. This is the first time trying the seasoned egg and it was sooo tasty. The miso ramen is also the perfect comfort food. Love the gyoza - it's light, crispy and delicately seasoned. The staff is friendly and helpful. read more

Menya Ultra - Tonkotsu Chashu with seasoned egg and corn - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

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Great ramen as can be seen by them opening up this additional location. You don't have to wait at this location (or as long) as the Claremont Mesa one. Usually, if we have to wait, it's a few minutes max. Service is solid. We always get a bowl of ramen and a order of the regular fried chicken. Our tweak is that we ask for some spicy mayo to dip our chicken into and, for our ramen, we ask for some chili oil and red pepper flake that you can add as much as you like into your soup. The oil and flake are Japanese "hot" so not really hot at all for us but adds that little extra spice that I/we like in our family. read more

The restaurant was clean and the staff were friendly and attentive, so over all I had a good experience but I have to say the ramen was just average. I had the vegan miso ramen and it was nothing special, that doesn't mean it wasn't good, it just didn't stand out. The noodles were cooked well, not super chewy or super soft, the broth was nice and creamy for being vegan, and the salt levels were good. There were many small tables for two, I'm sure you could push them together if you have a bigger party. There is no outside seating and it is not dog friendly. Plenty of parking is available as well. The only thing was the music was pretty loud, I like EDM music so I thought it was fun but it was distracting. read more

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

I ordered the spicy tonkotsu ramen. While the spicy level was great, the broth was overwhelmingly salty and fishy. Siping a spoonful of the broth was similar to taking a swing of pure fish sauce. Maybe it was just a bad day, but even the noddles were off. I remember them having nice texture and a good chew to them. Today, they were rather stiff and broke away with a powdery feeling. I tried to finish the bowl, but ended up having to leave it. The regular chicken was fine, nothing very notable. I had no issues with the waitlist system and appreciated the text notifications. read more

Menya Ultra - Fried Chicken Karaage 3pc - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

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Yummy ramen! We all enjoyed our ramen. Came hot and fresh. I think pricing went up a bit but that's industry wide

Trien Menta. Long wait for paper thin pork chashu slices. Even ran out of the side order of pork chashu before 1pm on a weekend. Disappointing. There's way better Ramen options in Mira Mesa. read more

Menya Ultra - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

I really enjoyed this place! Came here on a Sunday night and didn't have to wait very long. We started with the Takoyaki and Negi Pon chicken, the chicken was spectacular! I ordered the Tonkatsu Chasu ramen which was great! We sat at the counter which was nice and not too loud despite the open kitchen. read more

Menya Ultra - Negipon Karaage 5pc - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

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My first time ordering I got the Isshido Signature Paitan with udon noodles. I ordered it to go but I loved how they packaged the noodles and toppings in a separate steamer basket than the broth. The broth was a little bit salty and I wish there was more broth but I just added some water and it was fine. The serving size was enough for 2 days so the price was pretty reasonable. Over night the broth was gelatin like so they definitely make bone broth. I can't wait to try their other soups as it was so savory umami flavor and delicious with the boiled eggs! read more

Yup, I still love Menya. Maybe cuz it's summer and people don't want hot ramen soup, but there wasn't any wait time at 7pm. We were seated quickly, ordered quickly, and got our food quickly. They have an anniversary deal going on, free add-on noodles. So my hubs and I were able to share one ramen bowl. Incredibly worth the price. Their broth is delish! Their noodles are very good with good texture. Yum! Happy customer. :) read more

Menya Ultra - Black Tantan Men - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

Loved this spot for a casual dinner moment. Negi pon chicken was so so good and the portions were huge for 5 pieces? They made for a good leftover midnight snack Servers were all very friendly too! read more

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Not sure what everyone is raving about when it comes to Menta Ultra - Mira Mesa. I saw the good reviews on both Yelp and Google + the mentions made on Lighthouse California magazine so decided to visit. We visited on a Saturday night right when they open at 5pm. When we arrived, there were only 2 tables already seated inside but still required us to be put on a Waitlist. How pretentious and actually inefficient! Once it was our turn to get seated some few minutes later, we were instructed to sit right next to another 2-seater table even though there were plenty of other 2-seater tables available. The waitress rolled her eyes and gave me a lot of attitude about it when I asked to be seated elsewhere as there were plenty of other tables available. The spot she wanted us seated would have been the equivalence of using a urinal right next to another person when there's other urinals available. I ordered some gyoza that came deep fried which I wasn't expecting. It was overcooked and definitely not something I would have gotten had I known. Definitely don't recommend it unless you are really into eating greasy air puffs with hardly any fillings inside because of improper handling of the already thin dough. The ramen itself was very bland and the extra bean sprouts I paid for never arrived with it. None of the 3 servers floating around the restaurant ever came around to refill water, asked us if we needed anything or if the food tasted ok after serving. My noodles were actually overcooked and it had the texture of a nyumen / overcooked somen noodles. The broth was very salty and one dimensional. I would have added some black peppers, sesame oil, pepper paste or something else just to have some extra flavor beyond salt. The table provides no other condiments which made the experience that much more crappier. It was also frustrating that I had to wait for good 15 minutes just to pay our $62 tabs as they just ignored our table after dumping the orders. My visit on Saturday here felt like one of the crappiest ramen visits I've had since moving to SoCal. The worst being the Santouka Ramen I had in Irvine that got me food poisoning / vomiting on my way home and another close tie being Josui Ramen in Torrance. Menya Ultra is another one that is a close tie due to the crappy service and mediocre food quality. read more

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When you come here here might be a wait but it is definitely worth it! Inside they play good music and it's not too loud. They quickly take your order, but there is a little bit of a wait to get your food, the ramen is creamy with bold flavors. The pork is so flavorful and moist! I'm looking forward to my next visit here read more

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

I ordered too hot, but the noodles were so good that I could eat through the spice, albeit slowly.

Amazing. I've been to 2 other Menya Ultra locations and this one is the best. Starting with the food I loved it. We came on their 31st anniversary so we all got free extra noodles. The quality of their ramen and broth is rich and tastes much better than the other ramen spots in SD. This is a restaurant where I believe has one of the best services. Our waiter was attentive and went out of her way to explain things to us when we were having trouble deciding. Food did not take long to come out either! Overall, the place was designed well and gave me a taste of Japanese culture. I would say this is the closest ramen I have tasted to the ramen I ate in Japan. read more

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I've only had Menya twice and I don't consider myself a ramen lover. I usually eat at ramen shops because someone else wants it. But I recently had their Paiko TanTanMen and it was actually really good. It was spicy, rich and full of flavor. It came with a crispy pork cutlet that I loved. I also had a takoyaki but wish it was more crispy. The Nagoya chicken karrage was a solid choice but we were so full and had some leftover. All in all, it was a good meal but I never want to wait an hour for it again. read more

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Best cure for June gloom? A warm flavorful bowl of tonkatsu ramen from Menya! And for their 30 anniversary celebration, this month's weekday special is FREE extra noodles and $1 off egg. As if I needed any extra incentives! This location is bright and modern. Best part is almost zero wait time, thanks to Yelp's virtual waitlist! So don't forget to join the waitlist before you arrive. Final note: love how this place runs like a "mom&pop" shop, even with a Michelin recognition. Everyone is attentive and act so grateful you've come by to eat. Worth the hype, in my humble opinion!! read more

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Loved this ramen! There are so many ramen spots that I've tried in San Diego and Menya Ultra was one of my favorites. I wish that the pork was a little thicker, but the broth was very flavorful and noodles weren't too thick which I really enjoyed. They have a Yelp waitlist, so we didn't have to wait long for a table for dinner. The restaurant itself was very clean and had an open concept design where you can watch the cooks make the ramen. read more

Menya Ultra - Tonkotsu Ajitama, Negipon Karaage 3pc, and Paiko Pork Tantan - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

Came back to the Clairemont location, and this place really stands out. The broth and overall ramen might honestly be the best we have in San Diego. I went with the spicy tonkotsu with pork chashu and added a chicken cutlet, and it absolutely delivered. On my first visit, there was some confusion. The staff didn't clarify that chicken chashu isn't actually a thing here, so it felt like I was just paying extra for a different version. This time around, everything made much more sense. Fair warning, my spice tolerance is high and I handled the "extra hot," but even then I would probably go with regular hot next time. The creaminess of the tonkotsu broth deserves to shine, and the heat can overpower it a bit. The chicken cutlet is a great touch. They place it right in the broth so one side stays crispy while the other soaks up all that rich flavor. Really nice contrast in texture. Looking forward to coming back again, especially to try the pork cutlet next time. read more

Absolutely delicious! I loved the service and attentiveness of the staff. The decor was fun and music was just right. My ramen was amazing and had just the right spice level. I cannot wait to go back and try more! read more

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

I used to love ramen from Menya Ultra very much, but lately I have found myself shying away from it. I went again last night ordering Spicy Miso Ramen with extra chashu. It took them 20 minutes to bring out my ramen even though I was the only new diner at the time. The flavor is still there, but it was also very oily. I thought miso broth was supposed to be light. I had Spicy Miso at Kitakata and it wasn't like this. Still a good place to come when I crave for ramen since it's so close to where I stay, but I won't be taking my friends here. read more

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It's a decent bowl of ramen... came by on a mid weeksay and it was pretty empty for service at dinner time. Service was ok.. nothing to applauded or talk negatively about. 2 kids ramen kits (vert small "half" ramen w 4 little tiny tiny pieces of chicken on a lettuce leaf and 1 cherry tomato) at 9 bucks + one bowl no frills tonkatsu ramen for mama.. w tip .. put me out about 50 bucks total. I am not a huge fan of this chain's soup base (salty imo and my opinion alone)... but it's rich and creamy and the pork is good. After you have been abroad to know the real deal... nothing in the US tastes as good. But... for what it is.. it satisfies. Rarely frequent the venue but for those who enjoy ramen it does the job. read more

We were really craving ramen and had this spot on our must-try list, so we decided to check it out. Got there around 7:30pm--no line outside, but they had an iPad by the door for the waitlist. It said the wait could be anywhere from 1 to 11 minutes, but not even a minute after signing in, they called us in. Super quick! The service was friendly and efficient. We ordered right away, and by 7:45pm, we were already enjoying a hot bowl of ramen. The broth was creamy and full of flavor, the noodles were cooked just right, and the ajitama egg had that deep, umami goodness you always hope for. My boyfriend even said it was the best ramen he's had in a long time. If you're ever nearby and in the mood for a comforting bowl of ramen, this place is definitely worth a visit. read more

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First time dining here and the Ramen did not disappoint! We came here at around 6 or 7 PM on a Friday night and got seated right away. The service was good as well. The inside of the restaurant is a bit small with few tables. Family friendly experience and had a kid's menu. We ordered the Tantan Ramen with Pork cutlet and Tantan Ramen with chicken. I'd say one of the best Ramens I've had! The meats were cooked to perfection! The Ramen soup was very tasty, creamy, and had the perfect spice. The servings are huge and I'd probably order 1 and add extra noodles and share it with my husband if we ever go back next time. We'd go back to this place again if we ever visit SD! If you're around the area and can't figure out where to eat? Try this place out, it won't disappoint. read more

Menya Ultra - Kid's menu. My 8 year old son devoured this and wanted another plate. - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

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I have been to many many many ramen places in San Diego, LA and even Japan. Among all, Menya Ultra is on my top 5 list. And, this is indeed the best ramen place in San Diego! I have been here so many times and tried out every single item on their menu. My favorite is the pork chop ramen with extra bamboo add-on, and an ice cream tempura to finish the delicious meal. Besides food, the place is pretty spacious and kept clean, no sticky or oily table or utensils. Service is friendly and attentive. Even though the line is usually long, but they manage to get everyone in just about the right amount of waiting. As this place is always crowed, one trick to avoid long line waiting is registering your name on the waiting list via Yelp app maybe 15 mins prior arrival. read more

Menya Ultra - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

We stopped by for dinner, and ordered spicy kontasu and black sesame dandan noodle. The spicy kontasu had one thin slice of tonkasu and came with no eggs. The taste of broth was similar to instant noodles. And for ~$17, the amount of meat that came with it was ridiculous, almost as thin as store bought bacon. In comparison, Raki raki gave you a huge and thick slice of tonkasu, wa dining okan (a shop that does not specialize in ramen) provides 2 standard slice for ~$16 ramen. Menya Ultra's version was straight up sad. The black sesame Dan Dan noodle didn't stand out either. I did order an extra egg, because it wasn't included. The quality of the egg was interesting, that the egg white was immediately fragmented when I tried to pick it up, and the yolk did not have that half liquid half solid texture either. The food was not great, not worth the price and does not live up to the hype. I don't get why people still come here when there are many great options available in SD. On a positive note, wait was short ~18:00 on weekday. Waitress was friendly. Food came out fast. That's as much nice things as I could say about this place. read more

I am so disappointed to say that Ramen Menya Ultra is no longer what it used to be. It is just okay. I've eaten here 4-5 times since they've remodeled and reopened with their new dine in contactless ordering system and the ramen broth no longer gives me joy and admiration as it once did. The braised chashu (limited) that used to be thick even pieces are now thin & unevenly sliced. They no longer offer the garlic paste which I loved about Menya. The service is barely there with all new staff (and less staff) because you order on your own and all they do is drop it off at your table and leave. I'm heartbroken because I was a major fan before and recommended Menya to everyone, even bringing out of towners here, but now I have to find another restaurant for tonkotsu ramen. read more

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I meant to post this review before the end of 2025 but now looking back the timing of this couldn't be any better. Why? Well I'll tell ya! I just returned from Japan and had no less than 10 bowls of ramen of various styles and prices. Sure, ramen is abundant in Japan so the price is not a fair comparison but the quality is. I'll say this, we are damn lucky to have Menya Ultra in SD. Every bowl of ramen that I've ever had here has held up with flavor and quality to a lot of the ramen in Japan. For me, Menya has always been a go-to and now they're even more solid in my eyes. read more