I was pleasantly surprised that the low pricing was not reflected in the quality of the food. We had the pork cutlet plate + a side of curry, spicy black garlic ramen and a chashu ajitima bowl. Everything was tasty and service was so friendly and fast. What I liked most: well made miso soup, the minced pork and garlic in the curry, perfectly cooked soft boiled eggs and very resonable pricing. What could have been better: the cabbage dressing was a tad sweeter than I like and location was a little inconvenient (parking was hard to come by) We'll be back for sure! read more

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great katsu curry - this place always hits the spot but the katsu piece is smaller compared to other places as well. service was great when we came ramen - decent, good quality ingredients but the broth can be a little bit greasy chicken katsu - solid! good but the katsu is really small and it isn't consistent read more

Monsta Ramen - Japanese Curry Near Me - San Diego, California

Pros: Service was great, plenty of parking and the food is on the cheaper side in comparison to other ramen shops. The garlic soy fried chicken was pretty good! Cons: mediocre ramen, I got the black garlic ramen but it tasted diluted and lukewarm. Id describe it as the fast food of ramens (casual and perhaps lower quality) read more

Monsta Ramen - Black garlic ramen. It's just ok, bit diluted - Japanese Curry Near Me - San Diego, California

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I can appreciate a good ramen bowl that is very well priced in this economy. This spot advocates for low price and good quality and that is exactly what you get. A bowl of ramen is about $13 or so and that's rare to come by nowadays. I got the black garlic ramen and it was delicious. The portion is pretty much equivalent to your average bowl of ramen. The broth was flavorful and you can definitely taste the garlic. The noodles were chewy and the chashu was mostly lean with a little bit of fat. The egg also tastes like it's been steeped in alcohol which is a plus. I wouldn't say it's the best black garlic ramen I've had but for the price I could say it's definitely worth it for what they give you. The service was also very nice. We were told to sit anywhere we'd like and water was given immediately. It's a great spot for anyone wanting a hearty and reasonably priced meal. read more

Monsta Ramen - Black garlic ramen - Japanese Curry Near Me - San Diego, California

This cozy restaurant was what we needed on a cold evening for an affordable bowl of ramen! The server was really kind, & helped us answer questions we had about the menu. The food was priced well & comes out very quickly. * Soy Garlic Chicken Karaage - 8/10 (the chicken itself was pretty juicy. we just thought the breading was too soggy. the sauce did have a yummy soy garlic flavor) * Black Garlic Ramen - 7.5/10 (it was good for the price but the soup was very oily. the soft egg was cooked well & delicious, but we wish they didn't just give a half an egg. the chashu was tender & had a great amount of fattiness. we appreciate the addition of the corn & bamboo shoots. the noodles were just your average ramen noodle, & lacking bounciness. overall, great for the price but average for a ramen) read more

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"Scary good prices & quality" is their tagline and Monsta Ramen lives up to it. I was poking around for good ramen places and there were a lot with $18-$20 bowls, but then when Monsta popped up, it was a revelation. $13 regular with a daily Tonkatsu ramen special of $10?? I was sold. We came to this strip mall early for dinner since we were still on East Coast time and Monsta was pretty empty, but by 6pm, it had filled up. Ordering off the QR code menu was a snap, though our very nice server would have readily taken the order. Just over the half glass frosted partition next to our table was the open kitchen where the ramen artisans were slinging their craft. Dishes are prepared fast & served hot. First, our appetizers of Gyoza (5 for $4) & Kurabata Sausages (3 for $3) hit the table and we dived in. Gyoza were crispy crunchy and the sausages had a good snap. The wife's Black Garlic Ramen came out steaming and the garlic aroma was wafting. She said the chew on the ramen noodles was perfect. The cutlet of my Pork Katsu Curry Rice was crispy panko crusted, tender on the inside and perfectly seasoned. The dish looked like a beach scene with the rice beach on an ocean of curry sauce. The curry was all the more tasty with bits of onion & minced pork added for flavor & texture. All told, the bill was $33 and with tax & tip was $42, an amazing value for some awesome food. They really lived up to their motto and no wonder customers come back again & again. Later, I was checking out their Facebook page and the way they care about preparing their food is amazing! read more

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This place is pretty cool because they always have specials/happy hour. The pricing is very reasonable. If you're looking for something affordable this place is it. Plenty of shareable appetizers. I got the spicy ramen and edamame. Only thing is it is freezing in the restaurant but other than that I enjoyed this place. Service was great and they were able to answer all of my questions. read more

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Honestly, the food was really mid. But if u consider the price then it's not that bad. $12 for curry ramen, $12 for pork chop curry and $12 for pork chop rice plate is hard to find in SD. There's several daily lunch specials. We tried $4 gyozas, they were deep Fried not pan fried. Service was good. The server was helpful and the food was quick. read more

Monsta Ramen - Curry pork chop - Japanese Curry Near Me - San Diego, California

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Not only is the food here good but it's affordable. You can also find all day specials of $10 tonkatsu ramen or even lunch specials on the $10 menu. Parking here is a paid lot but the first 2 hours are free. Food came out quick. They have spices on the table if you want it spicer. We ordered: -Takoyaki ($6) - decent because it wasn't too much batter. -Soy garlic chicken karaage ($10) - two words, crunch and crispy. -Black garlic ramen ($13) - nice Al dente bouncy noodles, needed more garlic flavor. -Pork cutlet curry rice ($13) - the curry flavor was savory and sweet with a thick gravy consistency. We added more spice from the table and it came out to our liking. This little place deserves more attention. Will definitely come back again. read more

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QUICK TAKE// Felt the black garlic ramen wasn't as standout as other black garlic ramens out there. Overall wasn't the most impressed and will not be coming back. FOOD// I came in here on a whim to try a quick ramen spot during lunch. I was tempted to try their very cheap $10 tonkatsu ramen, but instead went for the BLACK GARLIC RAMEN. I thought this one was tasty enough, but not as tasty as Nishiki ramen's. It honestly wasn't bad, but didn't blow my mind either. SERVICE// Very attentive and quick given lunch hour. VIBES// small clean space, nothing particularly standout. read more

Monsta Ramen - Black Garlic Ramen - Japanese Curry Near Me - San Diego, California

TBH, this place wasn't our first choice; HOWEVER, was a clutch find on a busy Friday night where it appeared to be a wait everywhere else. We were hangry and Monsta Ramen welcomed us with open arms :-) I was teetering on ramen or curry and our super friendly server swayed us to order the curry. One pork cutlet curry rice, one chicken cutlet curry rice, and one crunchy soy garlic chicken karaage appetizer later we were re-engergized and enjoyed the tasty meal. read more

Extremely reasonably priced ramen for this day and age, but also fairly basic in terms of taste, quality, and quantity so not really as amazing of a deal as one might presume upon first glance at the menu. Regardless, Monsta hit the spot while barely making a dent in my wallet (pro tip: check out the all-day specials for even greater savings)! My vegetarian girlfriend enjoyed her Veggie Miso Ramen (house made miso soup base, tofu, and bok choy) while I was similarly satisfied with my Tonkotsu Ramen (house made tonkotsu base, chashu, and half a soft boiled egg), both of which came with naruto, wood ear, corn, green onion, and seaweed. We ordered via QR code, but table service was available as well. Our server checked on us several times, which we appreciated. The restaurant space was simple and clean, and only lightly populated during our midweek lunchtime visit. Parking was plentiful in the shared plaza lot - I imagine this isn't always the case, however! read more

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Cool new ramen spot. Nothing out of the ordinary, but seems like it is consistent and reliable so definitely worth a few visits! The curry ramen had great taste, and I love the idea. The appetizer was okay, but I'm not much of a fried foodie. Service was exceptional and friendly. Fast service, clean service and they no doubtedly deserve five stars on service. read more

Monsta Ramen - Japanese Curry Near Me - San Diego, California

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Very cheap! Considering the price, this place is great! The ramen is yummy and you really can't beat the value. The spot is causal, and it was easy to walk in and grab a seat. The food came out fast. You can order on the QR code for a discount. read more

Another ramen spot opened up, so we checked them out back in April. We got the shrimp spring roll, tako yaki, pork katsu curry, and the spicy black garlic ramen! He also go a glass of Sappor beer on draft. Food and service was really quick! We got our food within 5 minutes! The apps were good! The curry had a good ratio of rice to protein. The ramen was also very flavorful, since I love garlic and spices. Worth a try if you're in the area! read more

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Wow! I finally got to try this place after seeing this place open last year and I should've come sooner. The prices are super reasonable and the food was good. We ordered tons of food and so we took home leftovers. The interior was simple and clean. You seat yourself and there were tons of tables. I like how you can order on the QR code provided or with the waitress. Our waitress was really nice and helpful. She checked in with us to make sure everything was good but wasn't overbearing. We tried the tonkatsu ramen with black garlic oil and spicy sauce on the side, the pork cutlet curry, sausages, potato croquette, cabbage salad, takoyaki, and monsta lemonade. The tonkotsu ramen was pretty good. The broth was good but the black garlic sauce really leveled it up and added the perfect level of savory and umami. It came on the side and was a generous amount so you could choose how much you wanted to use. The curry was good and there was a generous amount of curry. The sausage, potato croquette, and takoyaki were fresh and crispy. The monsta lemonade tasted like raspberry and was yummy. Overall, I had a great experience and I think this will become one of my go to spots for ramen. read more

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A great spot for a quick bite. This was seat yourself and you can either order on your phone or order with a server. The food is then brought out to you. There are many ramen options and appetizers. Everything was delicious but I only got a picture of the spicy ramen! read more

Monsta Ramen - Japanese Curry Near Me - San Diego, California

Weekday lunch with coworkers, only ones dining in. But why? The food, pork cutlet and chicken karaage with curry and rice, were delicious, and portions were decently sized. Compared to Coco Ichibanya, there's a milder flavor to the curry, and it does not have any spicy level. Can't beat their price too! Workers were attentive, bringing out the freshly made food in a timely manner and checking on us regularly. Clean and quiet dining room to enjoy a conversation. read more

First time here and was recommended by a family member! Honestly everything was a 5/5! Food We ordered 2 of the all day tonkotsu specials, 1 Gyoza (5pcs), 1 hot&creamy skewer (comes with 2 skewers), and 1 potato shrimp (4pcs). - the tonkotsu ramen was exceptional, definitely recommend, especially for the price and quality! 5/5 - the skewer was really tasty, as it is deep fried and glazed with their creamy and spicy sauce. The sauce packs some heat so be wary if you're sensitive to spice. I really liked it! 5/5 - the potato shrimp was very interesting but also fun to eat! It's like a fried shrimp tempura with some crunchies. 5/5 Service Food came out in less than 10 minutes, apps first of course, and then our ramen (: Ambiance Super casual and also there was no wait on a Tuesday night! I enjoyed my time there In total paid less then $45 and tipped of course! Well worth the money, time, and parking! Would go again read more

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I'm a pescatarian so don't get much ramen however, this has some of the best vegan ramen broth I've found. Very flavorful.

I love the cute icon for the place it's sooo adorable and the reason why I wanted to come here since January 2024! My friend mentioned that it is an affordable priced restaurant and I would agree. The woman working there was super lovely and supplied us with nice ice cold water. The food also came out in a timely manner. I ordered the ($12 or 13, I can't remember but one of those!) Pork Cutlet Curry Plate, it comes with a large portion of rice and a few pieces of pickled cucumber and ginger (I believe). The pork cutlet was beautifully fried and cooked, it was somehow juicy and didn't contain lots of fat like some other places had. The curry was nicely seasoned and not overly salty at all. They gave a large amount that paired really well. On the table they had a thick spicy sauce that we could add on the plate. It was strong spice but also had some notes of tomato-- in my opinion at least. Quite filling and the perfect amount, you could share this between two people as well. read more

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Great service. Our girl was pretty helpful and pleasant. I ordered the tonkotsu, with noodles on the side. I love the broth, however it wasn't hot at all. Not sure what happened. I even made it a point to mention i like my ramen HOT ... my friend told me hers was hot though... I did finish it nonetheless. I ordered the chicken skewers, no sauce... thought it was going to be grilled, just as shown on menu.. however, when it came out, it was breaded. It was cool but i woulda preferred it grilled. read more

Came for dinner the food is always good I get the curry plate with the pork cutlet and white rice the curry is very flavorful and the pork is crispy & cooked perfectly, service is friendly and helpful and it's a great place for a quick lunch or dinner which is always great as well when your hungry! read more

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Monsta Ramen in San Diego was honestly a great experience from start to finish. The food was really good, and you can tell it's made fresh. The water was super cold and refreshing, which was perfect with ramen. What a perfect meal for a cloudy day. Here's what i ordered: I ordered the spicy black garlic ramen, and even though it's labeled spicy, it wasn't spicy at all, still very flavorful and delicious. I also tried the black garlic ramen, and it was rich, savory, and satisfying. The environment was clean and welcoming with plenty of seating. There was no wait time at all, we walked in, seated ourselves wherever we wanted, and were served quickly. The staff was friendly, fast, and made the whole experience easy and comfortable. The restroom was an all-gender restroom with one stall, and it was well-maintained and clean. Parking was also super easy, there's a lot of parking available, which made getting in and out stress-free. Definitely a spot I'd come back to. read more

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um $10 ramen, $11 with tax included in this economy!! SOLID ramen with great portions and broth was so hearty and delicious. Wanted to sip all the broth. Egg was runny, nice chasu. Cannot complain plus their prices are so reasonable! It is also nice they have a spicy paste to add into your ramen on the table to switch up the flavors and up the spice. Not to mention friendly workers and speedy service. Was able to accommodate party of 7 well and plenty of seating. read more

Monsta Ramen - Ramen - Japanese Curry Near Me - San Diego, California

The perfect casual ramen spot! Monsta ramen is delicious and the value is insane. I love the options they have and the prices can't be beat. If you are looking for a solid bowl of ramen, Monsta is the place to go. There is a QR code where you place you order which makes ordering and checking out super convenient. I ordered the spicy miso ramen and it came out in 10-15 minutes. The ramen was delicious and the perfect spice level. The noodles were a good texture and not overcooked. The highlight for me was the perfectly cooked ramen egg. It was jammy and full of flavor! There was also chili sauce at the table if you wanted to add extra heat to your ramen. The service here is awesome. Our waitress was super sweet and helpful. She told us about the specials of the day and made sure we were well taken care of. Overall I love monsta if I'm in the mood for some quick ramen or just want some delicious food that's a good value. 10/10 read more

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I was pleasantly very surprised by the portion size and delicious crunch of the food. The pork katsu and curry was so flavorful and yummy. The food came out very quickly, but I had to order from my phone. I kind of wish they just had us stick to normal ordering styles. The service was great and very attentive. This is what made me give 5 stars from a 4. The staff was so friendly and very fast to cook and serve. The place is simple and a quick place to grab a bite with friends. It's nothing fancy, but it is a simple place with good food. read more

Monsta Ramen - Katsu & curry - Japanese Curry Near Me - San Diego, California

I've been wanting to try this place since then opened and it didn't disappoint. You can order through a QR menu with some discounts and specials or through the server! When you order through the QR menu, they had Tonkotsu ramen for $10 vs $12 if your order through a server. We ordered that along with the chicken katsu rice plate. The chicken was not dry and perfectly crispy. It came with a side cabbage salad. The portion for the price was reasonable. Overall, I had a great experience and the food was good. I would come back! read more

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Came here for an early dinner on a Saturday around 6pm... a smaller restaurant, our group of 12 did wait about 30 mins or so to be seated. We ordered through our phones, and our food was brought out to use within a few minutes. A decent selection at decent prices. I took advantage of their $10 ramen deal amongst other things. My kid liked their fried gyozas. The ramen was rich and filling. They also have curry plates. There was only one server, she was busy but friendly and we were taken care of. A decent place to go for some Japanese eats. read more

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It was really yummy. The chicken cutlet was really crispy and not oily. The crab rangoons were super good, seasoned with something I've never had them seasoned. The curry ramen didn't taste that strongly of curry but it was really good ramen. The employees were nice and the restaurant was cute. read more

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Sometimes, all you need is a quick, decent tasting, filling and affordable meal. If you are in the mood for Japanese food that meets those criteria, Monsta Ramen is there for you. The menu is simple, but it works. There are a few ramens, curries, rice bowls, and the typical appetizers and drinks. Order via the QR code, and then it a short wait for the food. The food quality is on par with the fast-food chains or convenience stores in Japan, which is good enough considering how cheap and filling it is. Despite how low the prices already are, there are also lunch and all-day specials. I came with my boyfriend for lunch. The parking lot was busy, but we managed to find a space. We entered the restaurant and got seated right away. The restaurant was clean and spacious, and the server was fast and polite. We had the tonkatsu ramen and chicken katsu curry. We enjoyed a quick meal and left with our stomachs full and wallets hardly dented. read more

Monsta Ramen - Tonkatsu ramen - Japanese Curry Near Me - San Diego, California

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We saw the prices looked very affordable (the ramen is at least a few dollars cheaper than other ramen places) and went in to try this place on a Saturday. The waitress was very friendly/helpful in answering our questions, and took our order (even though there was an app to order). The restaurant was very clean and well-lit, and the seats around us filled up quickly. We had the pork katsu curry, tonkatsu ramen and cheese chicken skewers. The pork katsu was very good and tender, as were the chicken skewers. The portions were also very generous, given the low prices. The only thing was my ramen broth was not the most flavorful (besides being too salty). I would definitely still recommend this restaurant though, it has solid quality food at good prices. read more

Monsta Ramen - Japanese Curry Near Me - San Diego, California

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Let me tell you first that my rating does not reflect food quality. My friends and I wanted to try this cute new ramen place in convoy. Pros: Cheap, affordable, accessible, and staff is attentive. Cons: you get what you pay for. It's not the best ramen I've had, but not the worst. Located in convoy, with so much competition, I guess I'm just picky when it comes to what I like. I would say this place is OK. If you're looking for Japanese food on a budget, I would recommend this place. read more

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New place in the Olleh plaza in Convoy. Went in for dinner and it was relatively empty except one other patron. The place was clean with soft piano music in the background. The service was good and attentive. Black garlic ramen was good. Not a deep broth but not bad. Also got takoyaki and tonkatsu curry plate. Blue raspberry lemonade was whatever. Nothing to write home about but decent meal at a good cost. read more

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This place is marketed as affordable and tasty and it is! $10 ramen special, $4 gyoza. Service was very minimal- you order on an app. The restaurant was clean and bright and had a cool wall with their egg logo on it. The spicy gyoza ramen was also super tasty. I'd like to come back and try the chicken katsu read more

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Very nice waitress. They have the option to order online by scanning a QR code on the menu or with the waitress. We just went ahead and ordered in person. They also had a small kiosk by the door for placing a take out order. Mainly came here for the Japanese Curry and we were quite delighted with the result. We got the chicken cutlet and pork cutlet curry rice. Both were juicy and the coating was crunchy. The curry itself has nice kick but not super spicy and the rice was perfectly cooked. The Monster Skewers were basically chicken karaage on a stick and you can choose different sauces. The spicy mayo was flavorful and had a good kick to it. Just FYI, they use chicken thighs. Definitely worth trying out! read more

Monsta Ramen - Pork Cutlet Curry - Japanese Curry Near Me - San Diego, California

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Stopped by because they close later (@9:30pm) than most other restaurants in the area. Food is reasonably priced (inexpensive), and service was great! Our server was super sweet, which is such a rarity nowadays. But the food was super mid. Ramen broth tasted watered down, curry from the packets. My husband makes curry as his go-to "easy" meal and his is more tasty, so I have a direct comparator. Sad to say, I'm not likely to come back. read more

Monsta Ramen - 3 sausage curry plate - Japanese Curry Near Me - San Diego, California

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I love this place for a quick meal! It's super affordable, dare I say the cheapest ramen in town. The service is super quick and friendly and you order off your phone. They also make it easy to split bills if you're going with a friend because the online menu allows everyone their own tab. We always get the 10$ Tonkotsu ramen and the pork cutlet curry with rice. The ramen is good, it's got 2 pieces of meat and half an egg for 10$. I'm not really sure there is anything of such comparable price around town. The curry is also a huge portion and the katsu was crunchy and yummy. Parking is easy in the afternoon and shouldn't be a problem, but it's still Convoy so it could be tough during the dinner rush. read more

Monsta Ramen - Pork Cutlet Curry - Japanese Curry Near Me - San Diego, California

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Was looking for a place that served ramen but also curry, and this was the perfect place. Service was super amazing, and there was a nice selection of seating spots for lunch. Cool decor with the main character on the wall and the plates/utensils. Ended up trying the curry ramen (very flavorful), a side of the sausages (yay Happy Hour) and the potato croquette. Would love to try more items on my next visit! read more

Monsta Ramen - Sausages and potato croquette - Japanese Curry Near Me - San Diego, California

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I adore Mostra Ramen. The restaurant reminded me of some Japanese train station menu items where it's no frill, standard ramen, curry, and rice bowls at a very affordable price. It's pretty impossible now to find any Japanese restaurant serving food in the $10-13 range and it feels like it's Monstra's mission to make food affordable. With the reasonable price, the quality is still there. The pork katsu curry was very crispy and the portion was massive. The Gyudojidon and Japanese sausages were very flavorful. The Tonkotsu ramen broth was mild and not as rich as other ramen shops in town, but for $10 a bowl, I devoured it. Our server was beyond lovely and sweet and would come by our table several times to make sure we are doing alright. I highly recommend this restaurant for folks looking for yummy Japanese food without breaking your wallet. A really good spot for local college students! read more

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