Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Ramen Nagi

    4.4 (728 reviews)
    ModerateRamen
    Closed 11:00 am - 2:30 pm, 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM

    Ramen Nagi Photos

    Business Info

    RAMEN NAGI ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Trendy
    Outdoor seating

    You might also consider

    More like Ramen Nagi

    Recommended Reviews - Ramen Nagi

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Red King Ramen
    Kim M.

    Absolutely worth it to come here. Thankfully we did not have to wait, and the server did a great job explaining the menu and how to make our order. Very efficient! We sat outside, which was beautifully shaded. The table was well supplied with a full pitcher of water, a box of tissue, and a host of condiments (bean sprouts, mustard greens, sesame seeds, etc). The ramen was amazing!! Very rich broth, seasoned exactly as I requested. The ramen egg was prepared beautifully. The chashu pork slices were tender and delicious. The noodles were just right. A wonderful ramen experience!

    Ally W.

    I have been to Ramen Nagi in the Bay Area, and liked it, so I knew I was going to like this location as well. My recent favorite has been their Black King (black garlic and calamari ink in a silky broth with chashu, black minced pork ball, black sesame, and Nagi spices). I added a soft-boiled egg and extra mushrooms. Aside from ramen, their chicken karagee is also very good -- crispy on the outside and flavorful on the inside. Even though I was full from the ramen, I still ended up having stuffing myself with the chicken karagee.

    Red King with 2 eggs and extra spice
    Monica N.

    We recently brought friends here who requested a good place to eat and of the list of choices we provided, they picked Ramen Nagi. My husband and I have been here several times before as it is both mine and my husband's favorite ramen eatery in San Diego. This is the best ramen in San Diego. After going on my own little ramen crawl around SD, this is the top of them all, bar none. If you really are craving something close to ramen in Japan, try this place. Everything is fantastic here but my favorite of all the ramen choices is the Red King (the spicy tonkotsu). The Black King is also good (squid ink) and has a nice umami punch to it with a good helping of garlic to seal the deal. The karage (fried chicken) is great as well. The texture is perfect and I think the sauce provided really added to the overall bite. The gyoza is also fantastic as well and they provide a dipping sauce that is not the standard dip but something better. If I recall, it is a lightly sweet pear-esque sauce with the consistency almost like apple sauce. It's very very good, don't knock it till you try it! The service is always quick and top-tier. They always have a jug of water with lemon slices and cups available to use at any time. Seating is both indoors and outdoors. Inside it can be a little cramped if you have a large group but outside has full tables next to the pond which is quite nice. This is not a traditional restaurant so there are a few things to keep in mind: 1) There are no reservations. 2) There is a dedicated queue outside and you need to wait in that to line to be seated. 3) They will not take you to be seated until your entire party is readily available so just be cognizant of that. 4) Everyone in your party will receive a red marker and a paper form to fill out your individual orders while you are in this line. If it is your first time, check the Chef Recommendation box at the top to make it easier. Sides are at the bottom (most ramen do not include an egg so if you want an egg make sure to mark it). 5) Your party may be seated at the same table as another party and share the space. If this is an issue for you, sit outside. 6) You get your receipt from your sever and pay at the register.

    The amazing Cooks
    Joe B.

    Well I came Here with my bf and I was expecting a normal ramen experience but this place made me change my loyalties from other parlors to here. Ramen Nagi has my alliance, the broth was exquisite, and the experience of customizing everything in a paper sheet without the long line as in Marugame, made everything faster and less cumbersome. Our servers knew where we were seating and were fast and courteous, ambiance was great they had vintage video game background music, and some others that made the moment quirky and fun. I will come back

    Original King Ramen
    Francisco R.

    First time I tried this place I wasn't surprised and was irritated because of the long wait. But this second time around it was no line to get in, and the food was absolutely delicious. Ordered the original king ramen with an egg. Broth was so good, it reminded me of the one I had in Tokyo. The thin noodles are also my favorite. Spicy level at 1 for extra flavor. The gyoza on the other hand are decent and very small. I will definitely be coming back for more ramen.

    Chasu bowl
    Daniel D.

    My wife and I first had Ramen Nagi in the Bay Area and it set the bar for ramen in the US for us. Since they opened this location at UTC, it's been very popular with lines almost every evening and every weekend. It's located next to the speak easy at UTC and the line starts next to the fountain. There is plenty of outdoor seating but limited counter seating with a few tables inside. Decor is clean and service is quick. They give you a paper order sheet and you check what you want. The red ramen is the spicy option and it has a ton of flavor. If you decide to drink all of the broth like I did the first time, be practical to have to run to the bathroom. The karage is also crispy and delicious, but very heavy with the sauce. Chasu in the rice bowl was a bit dry due to its leanness. Overall it's a great place to eat at a reasonable pro

    Koi pond and some outside seating
    Vivi V.

    My husband and I were fans of Ramen Nagi ever since we tried them a few times in the Bay Area before this San Diego location opened. It's nice to find that the taste and quality is still the same as we remember. They no longer offer free mustard greens, but the bean sprouts and sesame seeds are still free. I enjoyed my original king ramen with light salt, no oil, extra heavy garlic, cabbage topping, kakuni, thick noodle firm. The karaage chicken was covered in a tasty honey soy sesame oil sauce, but way too oily for me to eat many. I liked the crisp and egg dipping sauce. Parking is 2 hours free at UTC mall. For lunch on Thursday about 1pm, we walked right in since the lunch rush was done.

    RAMEN NAGI
    Henri V.

    Ramen Nagi in the UTC Westfield shopping center always has a long line of people waiting to dine and waiting in line is not my thing, until one morning I saw no line. I walked inside and asked for a table. Some staffer told me to stand in line, I said there's no line and it they don't seat me now I was leaving. I was then seated anywhere I wanted. I sat outside in their patio next to the Koi pond. I already knew what I wanted and ordered the Veggie King Ramen. All week in La Jolla it was cloudy and cold that all I wanted to eat was a hot bowl of soup. I also ordered the chicken Karaage which incudes dipping sauces that minimized the dark meat chicken gamey taste, edamame, side boiled cabbage and ice green tea. The green tea was unsweetened and I preferred honey which they don't have :( Service staff weren't detail oriented, lots of items I ordered were missing and only brought over after I pointed it out. The hot bowl of ramen was presented and it looked good but kind of funny with two potato croquettes on each side, looked like ears lol. Those potato croquettes turned out to be pretty tasty with half of it dunked into the creamy mushroom miso broth. By the way, this soup is not considered vegan because it has dairy, which I was ok with. I asked why the kitchen not prepare this soup vegan by using coconut milk to be dairy free. But as staffers have zero control of the menu, all they can do is agree. The creamy mushroom miso broth is probably among the tastiest ramen broth. Sadly not much of it in the bowl, next time I would order it without noodles, which I didn't even eat, as I only wanted that rich hot broth, so delish! My first bowl of Ramen Nagi was at Century City in the Westfield shopping center and it always had a long line of people waiting. The staff asked me if I dined here before, I said no but dined at the Century City Ramen Nagi and that's why I was familiar with the menu and ordering technique. The outdoor patio dining next to the koi pond with my pup Fendi next to me, as I slurped the rich mushroom miso broth was an amazing ambiance and a pleasant positive experience. If I don't have to stand in line, is when I would return. For those who have more tolerance and patience Ramen Nagi is a Recommend.

    Karage
    Diana L.

    Customizable ramen with little forms to fill out, add extras. The dinner line can be long so plan accordingly (outdoor wait next to a koi pond, so don't be like Michael Scott.) Clean but small interior, good atmosphere. Service is pretty fast, staff is very attentive. Perfect portions but you can always get extra noodles if you're super hungry.

    Karaage, standard tonkotsu ramen, bonito fish king
    Nikki B.

    Not a big ramen person but this place definitely up there for me! This is our second time coming and the wait can get pretty long but luckily we made it before the rush on Saturday. The interior is a little small but the staff are sweet and pretty attentive. As for the food, we really like their noodles! Not too soggy or firm and we loved how it wasn't too thick. The chashu wasn't my favorite but the pieces are big. I got the standard tonkotsu ramen with chef recommendations and we also got the bonito fish king special which we liked but it was a bit salty. The portions are on the smaller side but it was enough for us to feel content. Karaage was also great. Would come again!

    Noodles
    Marie T.

    Definitely a favorite ramen spot for me. The line can sometimes look intimidating, but I feel like it moves pretty quickly. Menu is minimal, but that's perfect because I'm there for ramen. Broth is very flavorful, and I like how it can be customized based on one's preferences. Chasu is always perfect and tender. Their egg is soft boiled, with a slightly runny yolk which I enjoy. When I first came here, the noodles weren't my favorite as I preferred another shop's noodles, but they really grew on me. I hope they open more locations in San Diego, preferably one closer to me! Staff is nice. They do a good job explaining the process, so be sure to let them know if it's your first time. Tables are always clean, too. I'd definitely recommend this spot to all ramen lovers.

    Chris U.

    Second Review It's been a year since our last visit here. Six customers ahead of us right after 11AM opening on a Saturday. No wait time for our seats. We were offered / ordered their limited Wagyu slice beef as the main toppings so why not try it. Satisfied with our Ramen. Creamy and hot broth the way we like it. Perfect cooked eggs! - Original King - with Kakuni - Limited Wagyu Beef Slices. I think instead of potatoes, should have been with something else since you already have the noodles as starch. It's just my personal opinion. I cannot stop eating their seasoned bean sprouts even though it's peppery, it taste so good! Line gets long and busy so be prepared. Courteous and attentive staff!! Highly recommended if craving for Ramem while shopping at UTC La Jolla mall. Line gets long and busy so be prepared. Courteous and attentive staff!!

    Chicken karaage.
    Anurag M.

    This was my fifth visit to Ramen Nagi at UTC, and it continues to be amongst the ramen spots in San Diego. Consistency is often what separates a good restaurant from a great one, and Ramen Nagi has delivered a fantastic experience every time I've visited. On this visit, I ordered the tonkotsu ramen with a seasoned egg and braised pork belly, along with a side of karaage. The broth was rich, creamy, and deeply flavorful, with the kind of pork-forward depth that tonkotsu lovers crave. Despite its richness, it remained balanced and drinkable from the first spoonful to the last. The noodles had an excellent texture, and the toppings were spot-on. The pork belly was tender and succulent, while the ajitama egg was beautifully marinated with a perfectly jammy yolk. The karaage was equally impressive - crispy, juicy, and seasoned just right. Served with shredded cabbage, a lemon wedge, and a creamy tartar-style sauce, it was the perfect accompaniment to the ramen. One of the small details that keeps me coming back is the jar of seasoned bean sprouts on every table. Tossed with sesame oil and black pepper, they provide a refreshing crunch and a subtle nutty flavor that pairs wonderfully with the rich broth. I find myself adding them throughout the meal, and they elevate an already excellent bowl. The only disappointment is that Ramen Nagi appears to have discontinued its pickled mustard greens. Longtime customers will likely understand why that's unfortunate. Their tangy, salty bite provided the perfect contrast to the richness of the tonkotsu broth and added another layer of complexity to the meal. The ramen is still outstanding, but I definitely miss having them as an option. What I appreciate most about Ramen Nagi is the balance of flavors and textures in every bowl. Fresh green onions, wood ear mushrooms, tender pork, springy noodles, and that signature creamy broth all come together beautifully. The ability to customize noodle firmness, broth richness, garlic, and spice level makes it easy to tailor the experience exactly to your liking. If you're looking for authentic Hakata-style tonkotsu ramen in San Diego, Ramen Nagi remains one of the best choices in town. Even after five visits, I'm still finding reasons to come back. The quality has been consistently excellent, the karaage is a must-order, and the ramen continues to justify the wait during busy hours. Bottom line: Five visits in, Ramen Nagi still delivers one of the most satisfying bowls of ramen in San Diego. I only wish they'd bring back the pickled mustard greens.

    Karaage Chicken

    See all

    9 days ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 days ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    22 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Joe B.
    41
    108
    162

    29 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 26
    Thanks 12
    Love this 29
    Oh no 1

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Anurag M.
    38
    12
    47

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 3
    Love this 4
    Oh no 1

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 1

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    8 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 days ago

    The ramen was delicious and cam out literally in 3 minutes!! So good, service was nice had lots extra add ins. Love their menu style. YUMMY

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 19

    Ramen Nagi Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Ramen Nagi

    Do they serve alcohol?

    They do not serve any alcohol at all.

    Does the UTC location accept cash?

    They are cashless.

    Do they have gluten-free options?

    None at all.

    Do they have takeout?

    No they don't. I wouldn't recommend take out either. Ramen quality degrades quickly, as in minutes. This is the kind of food you should eat hot and fresh. I've seen complaints about ramen shops, yet the diner got take out. Of course it wasn't good.… 

    Do they take reservations?

    No, they are walk-ins only

    Is there any outdoor seating?

    Yes and pet friendly.

    View All 8 Questions

    You might also consider

    Menya Ultra

    Menya Ultra

    4.3
    (2.9k reviews)
    4.7 mi
    $$

    Been going here for years, and it still (on balance) continues to be the best Ramen in SD…read more 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.

    I had spent all week trying to figure out a good place for my cousin and I to get lunch after I…read morepicked 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.

    Photos
    Negi Miso
    Negi Miso
    Negi Miso
    Negi Miso
    Negi Miso Ramen

    See all

    Negi Miso Ramen
    BESHOCK Ramen - East Village

    BESHOCK Ramen - East Village

    4.3
    (1.9k reviews)
    11.6 mi
    $$

    Five stars. Possibly six. BESHOCK Ramen appears to be serving some kind of emotionally…read moredestabilizing joy broth. I went here with my daughter, thinking we were just having dinner. A normal meal. A casual San Diego ramen situation. Incorrect. What actually happened was that my child experienced a culinary event so powerful it rearranged her internal belief system. She took one bite and immediately declared it her "favorite meal ever" and "the best sushi on earth," which is impressive because those are two separate categories of food, but honestly I respect the conviction. At that moment, she became a tiny ramen prophet. A noodle evangelist. A sushi sommelier of chaos. I was no longer her father. I was merely the adult with a wallet and transportation. The ramen was fantastic. The sushi was fresh. The whole place had that magical "we actually care about what we are doing" energy, which is increasingly rare in a world held together by parking apps and spiritual fatigue. Then, as if the first visit had not already altered the timeline, my daughter made me go back the next day. Not requested. Not suggested. Made. There was no negotiation. She had tasted the mountain and demanded we return to the temple. So we did. And it was still excellent. BESHOCK is now officially part of our family lore. Somewhere between "remember that time we saw the ocean" and "remember when your daughter discovered ramen and briefly became a food critic possessed by a joyful sea dragon." Highly recommend. Bring your children only if you are emotionally prepared for them to ask to come back immediately.

    Starting this review out by saying I've been going to Beshock for over 5 years now. I went recently…read moreand to my surprise, they changed their entire ramen options. Beshock used to have tonkotsu ramen but now only offer ramen with chicken broth. They used to have this AMAZING lunch combo where you'd be able to buy ramen + sushi but they no longer offer that any more. Although it's still good and i can't really complain about the new additions I just wish they'd still have a tonkotsu option. I used to go out of my way to drive to downtown and order their food but I don't think I'll be doing that anymore. Again their food is still good just completely different.

    Photos
    Salmon Crudo
    Salmon Crudo
    BESHOCK Ramen - East Village
    Surf & Turf Roll

    See all

    Surf & Turf Roll
    Baikohken Ramen

    Baikohken Ramen

    4.3
    (215 reviews)
    9.1 mi
    $$
    Kid friendly
    Large group friendly

    Amazing weekday lunch special! $15 will get you a ramen, fried chicken or chashu rice, and a drink!…read moreMy coworker made this great pick for a workday lunch. I got the shoyu ramen, chashu rice, and a cold oolong tea. The ramen was fine in texture and al dente. The broth was flavorful, without being oversalted. I was very impressed by the chashu: it was carefully cooked and just melts in your mouth. Extra tender. The oolong tea really hit the spot too. The food came quickly, and service was good. I just came back from Japan last month, and this place in San Diego did not disappoint. I would definitely come back again to try their other items. Sorry no pictures this time, as I was famished. Parking lot was small, but we were able to find a space at 1pm on a Friday

    We tried the spicy ramen, tonkatsu ramen, curry, and while all were tasty and good, I'm not sure…read morethis would be at the top of our ramen list. The serving was a bit smaller than what we are used to when we order ramen but overall we enjoyed our dinner and our 9 year old gave it a 6/4 stars. Service was very nice once we were seated and the wait for the food was not bad. It is a really cute place, feels authentically Japanese inside, but also authentically small, so I recommend reservations for a larger group: we were a party of 7 on a Saturday evening around 5:30 with no reservation and we had a wait of around 40 minutes. Definitely worth trying at least once.

    Photos
    Baikohken Ramen
    Shoyu Ramen- It is classic Ramen in our restaurant.
    Shoyu Ramen- It is classic Ramen in our restaurant.
    Happy Hour has started!!
Guess what?Beer is only $2.5!!!!

    See all

    Happy Hour has started!! Guess what?Beer is only $2.5!!!!

    Ramen Nagi - ramen - Updated July 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...