My Pahtner, our son, and our son's pahtner had a planned outing watching Ridley Scott's movie The Dog Stars. After finishing the entertaining and riveting apocalyptic movie, we weren't sure where we were going to eat for dinner because our first restaurant choice Ramen Nagi closed at 9pm. My son's pahtner mentioned that the Ramen Nagi in San Jose had a last seating of 9pm, so we walked briskly to the restaurant and I learned that as long as you're in line before the closing time of 9pm, you'll get served. Three of the four members in our party talked glowingly about Ramen Nagi, so I was excited to grub here for the first time. After eating their Original King ramen, the chicken karaage, the gyoza, and receiving quality customer service, I wholeheartedly concur with my family's positive reviews and understand now why the restaurant was packed at closing time and why Ramen Nagi is highly rated with 4.4 stars and 738 reviews. Ramen Nagi is located within the shops of the University Towne Center (UTC) La Jolla mall. The restaurant is located towards the west end of the mall where you'll find Raised by Wolves, new spot Chef Fei, it's across from Katsuya Ko and Alo, and it's next door to Van Leeuwen Ice Cream. Parking is paid parking at the mall, but the first hour is free. There's bright indoor seating and minimally lit umbrella covered outdoor seating. Being the foodie that I am, I prefer indoor seating, so that the lighting would be conducive to seeing the food and taking pics. Look for the banners with Japanese verbiage and a large red lantern in front of Ramen Nagi. Adjacent to the outdoor seating, there's a water feature that gives off relaxing vibes. The customer service from all of the staff we interacted with was outstanding and is probably why it's such a popular eatery. To be completely transparent, I'm not a fan of having to make my food selections on the provided sheet of paper while waiting in line. I don't know if that's normal SOP and maybe it was because we were one of the last diners and they just wanted to speed along the process. I'd rather take my time, peruse their menu, and order what I desire. Luckily for me, my Pahtner had eaten at Ramen Nagi, so I just trusted her choices with a personalized deviation. What I ordered, through my wife's recommendations, was the following: Original King ramen flavor, normal strength of salt, normal richness in oil, normal garlic, chashu pork, green onions for vegetable, #4 for my spiciness, normal thin noodles, tamago (egg), and for appetizers, chicken karaage and gyoza. I felt rushed to pick my selections. For my spice level, #4 made me sweat, so be cautious when choosing spiciness unless you can handle a lot of spice. I really enjoyed the taste of the broth and the components I chose, but the chashu was not as tender as I would have liked. The ramen was a satisfying bowl that I consumed delightfully. Make sure to order both the chicken karaage and gyoza. The karaage was succulent, tasty, and would have eaten well with white rice. The gyoza was unique as it came out not looking like the dumplings I'm accustomed to. It came out flat and covered in a crunchy texture. That too was memorable and yummy. My family and I had quality time enjoying The Dog Stars and dining at Ramen Nagi. I understand now why my family recommended eating here and now I recommend everyone try out this delish ramen restaurant. read more

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Our Date night done right by this cozy noodle shop. We went with the black garlic ramen (that tonkotsu mayu broth is no joke with that deep, rich, and almost squid ink from the burnt garlic oil) topped with a perfectly jammy soft-boiled egg, tender chashu, wood ear mushroom, scallions, and crispy garlic bits. The broth had that long-simmered pork bone depth without being overly heavy, and the garlic oil gave it a smoky, almost umami-bomb finish plus a touch of seafood with that 燻 and 鮮. We also grabbed an extra chashu plate on the side which melts in our mouth, lightly charred at the edges. The space has a fun, energetic izakaya vibe exposed brick, big fabric noren banners hanging from the ceiling (the "Universal Noodle Creator" branding is a nice touch), and an open kitchen where you can watch the cooks in action. It gets loud and communal, which made for a lively date night rather than a quiet one good to know going in. Service was quick, water and shichimi/pepper grinders were on the table, and the seating (bench-style, close quarters) has the casual ramen-shop energy. It's just missing Naruto walking into this shop. If you like bold, funky, garlicky tonkotsu broths, this is a must-try. Will be back for the other flavors on the wall menu. This place doesn't do take out but takes your order as you wait in line. You can order the takeout after you sit and pack the food yourself. read more

Ramen Nagi - Ramen - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

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Everytime I pass by on the weekend nights, there are always outrgeously long lines which are apparently 2-3 waits. Also because they have very limited dining tables inside and outside. I highly recommend dining here during the weekday for lunch, less than 5-10 minute wait. This spot easily became my new favorite ramen spot in the entire city. I love that every aspect of it is customizable. Red King (Spicy) Heavy Oil Extra Heavy Garlic Chashu Sliced Pork Loin Add Kakuni Pork Belly on the side Green Onions Spicy Level 1 (Not spicy at all, get Spicy Level 2) Thick Normal Noodles Chicken Karage - Delicious Chashu Rice - Delicious Veggie Gyoza - Delicious, very small, order double Regular Gyoza - Delicious, very small, order double Overall, great service, amazing food, would come here over and over again. read more

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This is my favorite ramen place in San Diego right now. The reason being you are able to customize your bowl to fit your tastes. I always get mine less salt and less oil and it's perfect. Sometimes I find ramen to be way too rich but with ramen nagi it's the perfect balance. I also enjoy the customization of the noodle texture and I love getting my noodles firm. And the complimentary bean sprouts is the cherry on top to the perfect meal. When you start getting tired of the taste, you can easily change it up by either adding some vinegar, sesame seeds, chili powder, black pepper or the crunchy umami filled bean sprouts. It's a meal that can only get better as you progress through it. As for the service, even though it's a small place I never find myself waiting for more than 10 minutes. The food comes out quick and pretty much everything you need (chopsticks, napkins, toothpicks) is in front of you making it easy for the servers. Honestly, I can not fault this place in any way. It's one of my favorite restaurants and I go here frequently. read more

Ramen Nagi - Original king - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

Amazing ramen here! Went all in for their Italian ramen with pesto, cheese, and bacon and it was delicious. My friend got the original and loved it. We were very fortunate to be seated right away because this place gets super busy super fast. Customer service is amazing especially when explaining the customizations. Overall, great place! Highly recommend coming here first before shopping around read more

Ramen Nagi - Italian - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

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Ordered the original, red king, and an order of karaage. You're able to customize each bowl to your liking such as toppings, richness of broth, salt level, and noodle preference. We all enjoyed their thin noodles because the server explained it was more traditional versus the thicker noodles that American culture uses. Next time I would opt for the traditional and pass on the red king (it was not spicy and tasted more sweet). Their karaage is crunchy but also had the sweet marinade to it which I didn't enjoy, it was more of a chicken nanban. read more

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Happy to have finally enjoyed some of this delicious ramen. I went with the spicy ramen and really enjoyed it. I love how you're given the option to customize your bowl, noodles, heat, veggies... pretty much everything. I'll definitely come back here once it cools down a bit for another round of ramen read more

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This is now my favorite ramen spot in San Diego! Really nice broth, the sheet of customizable toppings/broth flavor strength/noodle doneness is always appreciated. I highly recommend the tonkotsu with pork belly instead of the usual chasu. The pork belly is so succulent and tender and flavorful. I think the broth here is amazing. Now when I'm craving ramen I think I'll keep going here. read more

Ramen Nagi - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

This place has become one of my favorite ramen spots in SD! It is located in the UTC mall and has both inside and outside seating. It can get pretty busy, but the staff is very efficient and welcoming. I always get the red king, which is their original tonkatsu broth with a spicy miso kick. I also like the gyoza which are perfectly crispy and juicy inside. This spot is a must try if you're shopping around the mall or if you want some great ramen. read more

Ramen Nagi - Red and Original King - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

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By and far the best ramen I've ever had. This place can get insanely busy, and rightly so. The broth is immensely flavorful, and you're able to customize your ramen with additional options to make it completely catered to your tastebuds. The pork belly is my personal favorite, but I always add a side Chashu and egg for extra protein. Don't skip the chicken karage either. Very fairly priced side that's delicious, insanely crispy, and complements the meal. read more

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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. read more

Ramen Nagi - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

Ramen Nagi is one of my goto spots in San Diego. I was never a fan of Ramen until I had the ramen here, and now I'm hooked! The staff are always very friendly and always go out of their way to make us feel welcomed. Greyson and Brandon are the sweetest, we come back just to see them. My goto is always the Green King, the broth is rich and has notes of basil pesto. Served with thick noodles at a level 7 spice. The chicken karrage is perfectly crispy, served with a side of egg sauce and a hint of yuzu. I've just recently tried their limited edition Duck King and it was amazing. All the flavors blended well together. You won't be disappointed. read more

Ramen Nagi - Duck King - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

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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. read more

Ramen Nagi - Red King with 2 eggs and extra spice - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

Tried Ramen Nagi in San Diego and overall had a really good experience! The ramen looked amazing when it arrived, and I loved the rich broth, tender slices of pork, and all the different toppings. The noodles had a nice texture too, and the portion was definitely satisfying. My only issue was that the ramen was a little too salty for my taste. The flavor itself was good, but the saltiness became pretty strong after a few bites, to the point where I couldn't really finish drinking the broth. I think I would have enjoyed it even more if the seasoning had been slightly lighter. Other than that, everything was great. The restaurant has a fun, energetic atmosphere, service was efficient, and the ramen was beautifully presented. I'd still come back and try a different bowl next time -- just hopefully with a little less salt! Overall, a solid 4-star experience. read more

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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! read more

Ramen Nagi - Red King Ramen - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

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My friends and I noticed the line here was short for a Saturday afternoon so we finally had the opportunity to try this spot. I'd heard rave reviews saying it was some of the best ramen in San Diego. The service was very quick, and the menu was simple and straightforward, but the food itself unfortunately didn't live up to the hype for me. I tried the red king and some of the veggie king. I think I had higher expectations because of the long wait, and would have loved some more variety in the side dishes. San Diego has a lot of great ramen spots, but this wouldn't be one I'd immediately go back to. read more

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. read more

Ramen Nagi - Original King Ramen - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

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 read more

Ramen Nagi - Chasu bowl - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

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I've been waiting for the hype to die down here but I guess this place is so good that the lines were still long . It's a small restaurant with some tables and counter seating. And they have patio seating too. This experience reminded me of times in Japan eagerly waiting in line to get a table for delicious ramen. Fortunately since we were a party of 2, we only waited about 20 min. Our server sat us at a small counter just for 2 people facing a brick wall. Haha. If we come with a larger group, I think it's best to split up so we can be seated faster and would have to sit in separate tables. While you're in line they hand out a sheet of paper per customer where you check off what type of ramen you want, style of noodle, the levels of oil, saltiness, and spiciness, and sides,etc. They also offer vegetarian options. We ordered the red king and the garlic king with thick firm noodles and the pork belly. We also ordered a karaage side dish. We were told that the broth is cooked for 20 hrs. We really enjoyed our ramen as the broth was rich in flavor. The red king was a little spicy but very good. ( I selected level 1 spiciness.) We really enjoyed the garlic king too. The broth is black color as they infuse squid ink into it which adds an extra umami flavor to the broth. What sets their ramen apart from other ramen places is their pork belly. It's a big chunk of delicious and tender pork belly... it was amazing! And each bowl of ramen also had a ball of minced pork which looked like a meatball but you're supposed to mix it into the broth. So flavorful! The karaage was battered differently from what I'm used to. It was more crunchy and with a bit sweeter taste. Reminded me of Chinese fried chicken drumsticks flavor in SF. IYKYK. I liked it but wish it was juicier. Prices were comparable to other ramen restaurants. Good portions and friendly service . I highly recommend this place! read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

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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 read more

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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. read more

Ramen Nagi - Karage - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

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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. read more

Ramen Nagi - Noodles - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

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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!! read more

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I've heard lots of hype surrounding Ramen Nagi and I've been putting it off because of the line, but I finally decided to visit today and it absolutely lived up to all of my expectations. I arrived at 5 pm (when they open) and the line was pretty long at that point but moved fast as they began seating people. I probably waited 15-20 minutes for patio seating, right next to the koi pond. Once seated, we ordered the Karaage to start which was so flavorful and tender. It was tossed in a subtly sweet sauce and served with lemon and a side sauce. For the ramen, I went with the red king, but swapped the chashu for pork belly. I find that pork belly can sometimes be chewy, but this was cooked to perfection. I am not exaggerating at all when I say it melts in your mouth. The broth was my favorite part, it was super rich and the perfect level of spicy. All the food we tried was truly 10/10. The only downside was it started raining towards the end of our meal and our table wasn't fully covered by umbrellas so we got a little damp, but the staff offered to move our table more under the covering which was very nice. And honestly if I'm being rained on, it doesn't hurt to have hot soup to keep me warm LOL. I will definitely be coming back rain or shine! read more

Ramen Nagi - Karaage Chicken - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

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A perfect rainy day meal! The ramen and chicken karaage is so good! Came during lunch on a Saturday rainy day and probably waited about 15 minutes before getting seated. The space inside is pretty small! There is outdoor seating, but with the rain this wasn't a possibility. Service is very quick and efficient! You'll select what you want in your ramen ahead of time while you're in line which helps with the quick service! The food here is so good and it's some of the best ramen I've had! read more

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Located in the Westfield UTC shopping center behind Din Tai Fung, this spot is a very small space with some additional outdoor seating. We did have to stand in line, but it moved quickly--less than 10 minutes--and they handed out paper menus to fill out while we waited. We were seated inside, and it was busy, with servers constantly on the move. We ordered the spicy tonkatsu at spice level 1. It was good, though still a bit too spicy for me. I did appreciate that they serve a whole egg rather than just half a boiled egg. I usually order black garlic tonkatsu, but unfortunately it wasn't available. The menu is limited, but we also enjoyed the gyoza and chicken karaage, and the table condiments were a nice touch. Overall, it was a satisfying meal and a great place to enjoy on a cold night. read more

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We had such a great experience at Ramen Nagi! Our family tried a few different bowls -- my son and husband ordered the Black King, and I went for the Red King, all with pork chashu. We also shared the karaage chicken, which was crispy and flavorful -- a perfect start. All three ramen options were delicious, but my favorite was definitely the Red King -- rich, bold, and not shy on the spice (just how I like it!). I tasted the Black King, and it was quite forward with black pepper. I also really appreciated how customizable everything was -- we could adjust the oil, salt, noodle firmness and thickness to our liking. There was a bit of a line and the indoor seating is pretty limited, but since we were fine with the outdoor tables, our wait was only about 20 minutes. Totally worth it. I'm already looking forward to coming back -- I've got my eye on the Green King, which sounds unique (though I'm still on the fence about the cheese!). Overall, a fantastic ramen spot -- flavorful food, friendly service, and great energy. Highly recommend! read more

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I'm not a ramen person, but I'd TOTALLY wait an hour for ramen at Ramen Nagi. I went on a casual shopping stroll at UTC and was like, hm... Why is there a line at Nagi's so early? It was a Tuesday afternoon and there was already a queue at 11AM open. Strange ain't it? And so I thought, today's the day to be spontaneous! And my husband was sooo glad I was. (he loves his ramen) I got the Original Hino. I thought that trying out the most basic menu item would be the best option. SO AMAZING. It was sooo flippin' flavorful and the ramen noodles were cooked to perfection! Each slurp had the right amount of fat and the pork belly was SUCCULENT. Melted in my mouth and it was such a huge serving size! The karaage was good but holy heck, I loved the ramen much more. EsPECIALLY with the pork belly. I'd definitely return and I /might/ be a ramen girly now, haha! read more

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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! read more

Ramen Nagi - Karaage, standard tonkotsu ramen, bonito fish king - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

I'm from the Bay Area where the OG Ramen Nagi have there first 2 locations My in and I have been going to their Palo Alto location since 2019 Love them , super consistent and super service. Even though this location is in a high end Westfield mall. Altogether a superior experience and value versus the local ramen spots here in San Diego area. We've been to a few here. In a few words , must try even though the location is in a mall and near La Jolla a But in the university city side and traffic is not an issue except for weekends We went after a UCSD campus tour and this is what I needed to get me back into my happy place Bonus: coincidentally ran I to one of their executives of the ownership group and here overheard my son and I mentioning their PA location and he came over and introduced himself to us and we chatted and he was super friendly and modest. He was hands on. I thought he was an employee, he was busing tables, sitting patrons and wearing their uniform. Thanks Hok!! Keep it up Ramen Nagi!! read more

Ramen Nagi - Spicy King, Standard King , gyoza , charsu rice bowl, extra pork belly and charsu forgot the soft boiled eggs - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

located in UTC! Waited about 30 minutes in line. Was passed out a slip of paper and pencil and was told to fill out the slip with kind of noodles: thin, normal, thick richness of broth toppings/additions meat/veggie choice egg I got the spicy tonkatsu and thin noodles. Broth is great! Very flavorful 7.5/10. good richness and creaminess. I just wished they gave the default veggies... I only had 2 thin pieces of pork. as you can tell by the picture theres more noodles than soup or toppings. Inside seating is limited! about 30 ppl sat inside?? and about 15-20 ppl for outside seating. read more

Ramen Nagi - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

We met with friends from out of town here one evening. We were seated on the long table with other guests. It was the normal conversation loudness that was generally acceptable. They also have outdoor seating with ample heaters to keep diners comfortable. I ordered the classic Ramen with extra pork belly and a side of Kara age. I also ordered the cold tea to drink. My wife got the green ramen. I was satisfied with my order and my wife loved the green king ramen that she ordered. I guess pesto has a place in ramen. We will return to try their other offerings. read more

Ramen Nagi - My ramen order. - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

Perfect spot for dinner on a rainy night! There was a bit of a wait since people probably had the same idea but not too bad. We sat outdoors on the patio which was covered and had heat lamps. The ramen was pretty good! Meat was delicious, noodles were solid and the broth was good. I would have liked a bit more flavor on the broth which would have made the ramen really stand out. The chicken karaage on the other hand was really good! Big pieces, really crispy, and had a nice flavor to it as well. Service was also very helpful. A good spot to eat in the SD area. One thing to note is that UTC only gives you two hours of parking, and parking itself is a bit of a mess. If you don't mind that, this is a great ramen place! read more

Ramen Nagi - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

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. read more

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This location is in a gorgeous mall, UTC La Jolla. Ramen Nagi has been on my wish list for a while since seeing them in nor Cal a few months ago. Great service-quick, fast, courteous. I tried the black ramen, edamame and karage chivken. I have to say the broth was a little disappointing because it was too spicy, it overwhelmed the broth. Presentation-very good Service -very good Cleanliness-excellent Maybe not worth the long lines i usually see outside. read more

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Came for the King's Crab (soft shelled crab) I was immediately disappointed because they ran out. We went Wednesday at 11 AM and they said they ran out Tuesday. The day before I went on their website and Instagram and it said limited through October 12. I'm pretty sure I was also looking at the UTC location. But there's no way to call ahead of time to find out if they were still serving the soft-shell crab. I did send an email and received an apology for their late response later that day. Anyway, my friends who came with me have never been here so we decided to stay and have ramen. Upon my disappointment, I asked if they were serving their Gyoza and was told no. However, they did come back to let me know Gyoza was available if I wanted to order it. I was glad to add it to my order I also ordered the Black King with normal salt, but it was a tad salty. I think maybe because of the pork belly. It was still delicious and I would get it again except go light on the salt. My friends enjoyed their selection of ramen and the Karaage Chicken . The service was excellent, I just wish they had a means to contact them directly. read more

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My Favorite Ramen spot. The whole menu is delicious but you must try the RED KING. This one is the best one on the menu. I know my ramen and this one is a winner. My daughter and I come here once a month and we are never disappointed. You do have to pay extra for the egg but it's worth it. All my Real Ramen lovers out there please try out this spot! read more

Ramen Nagi - THE RED KING‍ - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

It's a beautiful Monday and I am off from work.... So I thought to myself, "what would really make this a terrific day?" And my response to myself was, "Veggie King Ramen from Ramen Nagi." Of course! So i drove to UTC, dealt with a bit of traffic, and then happily got on line at about 11:44 am, and by 12:20. I'd enjoyed my delicious Ramen at a nice little table outside by the Koi Pond. The paper ordering system continues to be efficient and the service was friendly and efficient. My bowl with added egg came to $22.09 with tax. Note: Nagi is a cashless restaurant. I also love the refreshing lemon water that is on every table! There are many great ramen spots in San Diego but this is my go to place for my favorite ramen. I don't eat pork or beef, so the fact that they have the delicious veggie king on offer all the time makes me feel seen & appreciated as a diner. read more

Ramen Nagi - Veggie King with Egg - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California