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    Ujin

    4.1 (149 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

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    UJIN ATMOSPHERE

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    Recommended Reviews - Ujin

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    Tonkatsu Ramen with Beef Belly
    Francesca P.

    Ended up here with a group of 12. After a late-weeknight dance practice, the plan was to go to dinner to celebrate one of our dancer's birthdays, but practice ended later than planned and the restaurant we tried to go to next door which had advertised it was open until 9:30, told us they were closed. Ujin looked closed as well with all of their outdoor furniture stacked, and one party inside paying their check and making their way out, but one of us decided to ask if they were open and could take a party of 13. They happily accepted and welcomed us in, we fit perfectly at the large table in the center. Our server Liang was extremely warm, friendly, welcoming, and took our orders. The food did take a little while and understandably was coming out in waves, but it wouldn't be realistic for all the dishes for a party this size to be ready at the same time. We could see the staff behind the bar cooking and it seemed like they weren't stressed or rushed, but like they were focused and content. The presentation of each dish was fantastic and beautiful. Everyone said how much they enjoyed their dishes, from presentation to quality to freshness and flavor. The server even allowed us to split the check into several parties and was patient the entire time. there was a slight mix-up where a beer that nobody ordered or received ended up on the check, and when we tried to communicate that we only ordered 3 beers, not 4, she seemed confused. We ended up just paying for the extra beer rather than trying to sort it out as we knew everyone was tired and ready to go home. Would definitely return!

    Classic Tokyo Shoyu Ramen

    Visited for lunch on 5/2/26, unfortunately the experience was quite disappointing, especially considering there were only about 2-3 other tables occupied at the time. We ordered the Classic Tokyo Shoyu Ramen, Karage, Pork Bun, and soda. The ramen arrived only warm instead of hot, the karage lacked seasoning, and the soda was forgotten until we reminded staff. Service overall was very much lacking - no follow up for water refills or table check-ins during the meal. The food quality was standard to below average, and with the lack of attentiveness from staff, the overall experience didn't meet expectations.

    vibe
    Chloe K.

    bad food ramen tasted like water we had to ask for salt and spice(?) in the ramen idk how u make food with no salt at all, it was super bland so the broth tasted like warm water workers didn't seem like they wanted to be there

    Classic ujin ramen
    Marlene G.

    Came here on a Saturday night with a group of 6 people and even though it's small they were able to seat us in about 10 mins! Unfortunately it was pretty busy and they only had one server for the entire restaurant, so we never got waters refilled, had to wave the server down for minutes before getting the check, and then waited 10+ mins to get a receipt they definitely were understaffed for the number of people that were there and it really impacted to experience. Also, I was really looking forward to the egg included in their classic ujin ramen, but all our bowls came out with no eggs... when we asked it was because they ran out!! At 6pm:( and no discount offered for each $2 egg they just tried to serve without them and not say anything:( Not sure what is going on with service and stocking up their eggs here, but the ramen broth itself was actually very tasty, which is why it's disappointing to give 3 stars. Not sure I'd come back given the experience though.

    Classic Tokyo Shoyu Ramen
    Nicole R.

    Wow. I was blown away by the ramen here at Ujin. I ordered the Classic Tokyo Shoyu Ramen and it did not disappoint. The broth alone was so flavorful and I'll be honest - I typically like to add chili oil or spice to my soup dishes, but this ramen needed no additions. It was delicious all on its own. Also, the noodles were made so well. I appreciated the vibe of the restaurant as well. Not overly crowded and good for groups. We had a group of 5 and found a table right away on a Friday night.

    Meri A.

    Great spot for Japanese food. I had their beef bowl and it was delightful! Beef was tender and flavorful!! The inside has nice decor and service here is good. This is in a busy shopping center so can be tricky during the lunch rush.

    Tonkatsu
    Tiffany P.

    Nice little Japanese/Ramen spot slightly tucked away in University City/away from all the mall traffic. I wish I took a picture of the interior because it was very sleek and clean looking! From every angle of the restaurant you can see the kitchen and people cooking noodles/slicing their meats which was cool. I ordered the tonkatsu ramen with beef belly (10/10); chicken karaage (10/10 + huge portions!); & shared the beef belly bowl which came with rice and an egg (10/10/). Because this place is newer, service is a little bit slow, but I'm sure they'll pick up the pace with time. Definitely coming back!

    Open kitchen
    Jane A.

    RAMEN (3.8 stars) If you are looking for your typical big ramen bowl polluted with a bunch of decorated flavors, this is not that kind of place. - FOOD: (first time) amazing. (second time) meh. - PRICE: paying for quality not quantity - SERVICE: (first time) excellent - I think (second time) uhm mediocre. - AMBIANCE: modern and really nice My confusion of inconsistency has come down to the service not servicing correctly. First time coming here left me wow'ed and set the bar for my ramen experience. Second time coming here left me disappointed and not wanting to come back. Same order (as I thought), different days (a week apart), and a perceived thought of the execution being inconsistent . I also question the staff's ability to handle details. The restaurant IS NOT BUSY and there are about 4-5 staff and if service is inconsistent and not pay attention to details, it now makes me question the execution on the food. :: FIRST TIME :: That cliche saying you don't forget your first time! Service was excellent - attentive and everything came out in timely fashion. Went for the most expensive ramen and a ramen soup base I have never tried and it left me on cloud nine. What I "thought" I ordered.... "Classic Shio Ramen with Wagyu" this entire time BUT come to think about it after reviewing the menu (now), it sounds like they gave me "Classic Miso Ramen" (hence the toppings) in my bowl OR they gave me Shio Ramen with the toppings of the Miso bowl. IF this is truly the MISO RAMEN then it was superb! CLASSIC MISO RAMEN W/ WAGYU )26) - Presentation was basic but very presentable. Portion was on the smaller side but I am okay with that because I'm here for quality not quantity. The soup base was so delicious, it was very clean yet rich - not polluted with many ingredients. They added a hint of chili oil and it added this hint of warmth and heat to the broth that wasn't overpowering. The noodles were very fresh, thin, and the texture is how I like them - not overly chewy and not overly soft (many ramen noodles at other restaurants are chewier) and easily consumable without feeling full quickly. My bowl had shredded bamboo shoots, wood ear mushrooms, half of a soft boiled soy egg, and seaweed on the side of the bowl for decoration (I keep it as decoration as I hate seaweed in my ramen). And to top of an amazing bowl of ramen, the thinly sliced cuts of wagyu. The wagyu were grilled and placed into the bowl fully cooked. They were so tender! No charred ends but it carried some smokey flavor - yum! HIGHLY RECOMMEND MATCHA MOCHI ICE CREAM ($3) - Exactly what it is. Not sure why they didn't clump this item under the mochi ice cream that lists chocolate/vanilla/strawberry, they could have just append matcha to the list instead of creating an entire desert line for this. :: SECOND TIME :: First time set the bar too high. Order: Ginger Ale ($2), Edamame with Truffle Paste, and Shio Ramen w/ Wagyu (again). I had to ask for my Ginger Ale after my meal was about done (ramen + appetizer) because it never came out. Edamame was an appetizer which came AFTER the ramen bowl was about done. The table over had the same issue, they finished their bowls of ramen and waiting on their appetizer. Staff, were preparing their own dinner and eating. SINCE, I thought that amazing bowl was Shio, I reordered. And well if this is the true Shio Ramen - it's disappointing to me (I'm glad I didn't get it the first time). It was a let down. And so was the service. CLASSIC SHIO RAMEN W/ WAGYU ($26) - Presentation was basic but very presentable. Portion was on the smaller side but I am okay with that because I'm here for quality not quantity. But Why does this bowl look completely different than the last time I was under the impression I ordered this same exact bowl? The ramen toppings were half soft boiled soy egg, ALOT of bonita flakes, and the typical seaweed decoration. The broth literally tasted like FISH, that is all I could taste. It was way too fishy for my liking - even me immediately taking out the bonita flakes and seaweed. Also, the wagyu looked more like BEEF BELLY (not Wagyu) and it was extra fatty and appearance and texture were not like the Waguy I ordered before. If you are not a fishy person, don't order this. EDAMAME WITH TRUFFLE PASTE ($9) - Although this came AFTER the main meal, this was the most enjoyable thing out of the order. Truffle paste is way better than truffle oil, very flavorful but less artificial tasting. HIGHLY RECOMMEND Ginger Ale ($2) - It's nice to see soda in a can being sold cheaply! Please, keep it that way. I'd love to come back if they can make whatever ramen they gave me the first time the same exact way. Until then....

    interior
    Mike L.

    Ujin is a little different in that they specialize in a light broth with truffle (classic Tokyo shoyu ramen). The odd thing is the topping of chicken breast which makes me think it's an afterthought. The karage was pretty delicious to share with others.

    Tonkatsu Ramen with chasu pork and chicken breast
    Imee C.

    One of the best ramen place in UTC area in my opinion. Came here for lunch with my mom on a Sunday. They have parking in this small strip mall but it's always packed. The restaurant looks very nice inside. The kitchen looks they are fully staffed but there was only one server. However, we were seated right away. I ordered the Tonkatsu ramen with chasu pork and chicken breast. My mom ordered the spicy mushroom pork ramen. My tonkatsu broth was very good. I finished the broth before i finished the noodles and pork. My mom's spicy mushroom pork was also very delicious. It wasnt too spicy but it had enough kick to it. The mushroom flavor was as to die for. The only complaint I have was the fact that they only had one server. Took us awhile to get our bill and to go container.

    Jay R.

    Visited on twice to get a good sampling of their menu. Steer clear of the tonkotsu ramen, from the broth to the size of entree, it leaves a lot to be desired. The shoyu ramen on the other hand is the opposite. Decent size, great broth, with a surprising amount of protein, this should be the default order for all that stop by. Skip the karaage and get the especially tasty gyoza to round out your order.

    Anny L.

    My go-to ramen place in San Diego. The Tonkotsu with A5 Wagyu is incredibly delicious -- a creamy broth and melt-in-your-mouth beef. Classic Shoyu is also a solid option if you prefer something lighter. Always busy, but worth the wait!

    Cucumber salad
    Christina A.

    Tried this new ramen spot for the first time. My first impression I did enjoy it and I would go back if I'm in the area. I'm not sure if it would be my first choice with other good ramen places in the area. Sour: the appetizers were sub par. The cucumber salad was chopped think and lacked flavor. The gyoza was nicely crisp but I wasn't the biggest fan of the filling. It lacked the truffle flavor it mentions. My husband and daughter ordered the tonkotsu. They liked the noodles and the beef but the broth lacked the flavor they are used to for tonkotsu. Sweet: I ordered the classic Tokyo shoyu ramen. I do prefer thicker noodles but these noodles were still good and a little chewy which I like. The broth was nice light and refreshing. It had a lot of flavor but it did lack the truffle flavor I was hoping for. That was part of the reason why I ordered it.the chicken was juicy even though it was white meat. The restaurant was nice and clean. The server was very friendly.

    Ujin with wagyu

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    I love this place. If am am anywhere near and any level of hungry this is where I go. Super happy with the classic ramen!

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    Rakiraki Ramen & Tsukemen - Original Chicken Ramen

    Rakiraki Ramen & Tsukemen

    3.8(5.2k reviews)
    4.2 miKearny Mesa
    $$

    Raki Raki on Convoy is most importantly Consistent. What stands out to me is the connected The…read moreYasai kitchen. It features a completely vegan menu and separate kitchen for zero cross contamination. On the regular Raki Raki menu there are plenty of options for anyone with dietary restrictions including but not limited to Vegetarian and Gluten free. The vegetarian options are flavorful, I personally add the Akadama spice ball for a needed kick. As a life long vegetarian I love the ability to go to a restaurant not traditionally vegetarian and still have multiple options while not losing out on flavor. The staff is attentive, and the restaurant is beautiful on both sides. The RakiRaki side offers some open airflow which is great at lunch. The lunch special and happy hour really can't be beat for cost, flavor, and options. get a vegetarian ramen and tofu donburi for $15. The vegetarian ramen is not listed on the lunch special options but they will always do it if you ask.

    I have seen the subpar humble beginnings of this restaurant and swore I would never come back after…read morea lukewarm experience with painfully mediocre food from an uncreative limited menu, not to mention being charged at an obscene level. About a year ago, some friends want to try the food out here and I was pleasantly surprised to see how much it had improved! So imagine my surprise where I came in this evening and was completely floored with how abysmal it has somehow become again with only the last few months. The service has been insultingly, rude; we had a talk with our server and even pass along a compliment, it was shocked with how unkindly they responded. Every single item of the menu has been absolutely terrible; the sushi was a quarter of the size it usually is and tastes terrible, the edamame is cold and feels like it was scraped off the floor, and the karaage chicken is now covered in a glaze that is making our stomachs absolutely sick. And the food is even more expensive than it was before! I absolutely do not want to pay for any of this and it makes me sick to my stomach to have wasted our time here this evening.

    Photos
    Rakiraki Ramen & Tsukemen - Inside seating area

    Inside seating area

    Rakiraki Ramen & Tsukemen - Kurobuta Spare-Rib Ramen

    Kurobuta Spare-Rib Ramen

    Rakiraki Ramen & Tsukemen - Spicy Tuna Roll

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    Spicy Tuna Roll

    Marufuku Ramen - Marufuku Ramen

    Marufuku Ramen

    4.5(1.2k reviews)
    5.9 miCarmel Valley
    $$

    After my first visit here almost 2 years ago, the Paitan Ramen has been on my mind and there has…read morebeen nothing that has come close to this experience with this particular broth. It is absolutely fantastically amazing. Maybe that's too much use of describing words, but I could actually say more. Paitan broth is a very interesting broth. It is a rich, creamy, and opaque Japanese soup base, most commonly made from chicken (tori paitan). I understand that the preparation takes a lot of time with painstaking patience to create and ultimately serve this particular broth. Marufuku does it right! The Ramen noodles that they use and the toppings that they add just enhance the already amazing taste, and depth of the soup itself. I also like that you can choose your spice level and they also have options to add other additions to truly make this your own Ramen experience. They have other dining choices as well, such as the chicken Katsu Bento, which stands very highly on its own, and I would order that again. Crisp and flavorful chicken, fried to perfection served along with rice, vegetables, and gyoza, even a little corn on the cob, so cute! The service has been excellent with each visit and the staff even spent a little time chatting with us, which was very nice. I also love that this location is within the beautiful setting of the Skydeck. They have their own special, unique ambience, architecture, and lighting to make this just an exemplary experience. I cannot wait to return and I hope I have some time left on this particular trip to come back. In any case, I will be back soon.

    I've tried this ramen place at their location in San Francisco's Japantown, and I was so happy when…read moreI found out that they were coming to the Sky Deck in Del Mar! I ordered the Hakata Tonkotsu DX, and it was amazing. Super rich in flavor, and the pork was exquisitely cooked. The egg that I ordered with it was also the perfect jammy consistency. Super quick and convenient service with the tablet that they bring directly to your table to pay the check. I love coming to the Sky Deck because of all of its food options, but this one takes the cake for me!

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    Marufuku Ramen - Marufuku Ramen Del Mar

    Marufuku Ramen Del Mar

    Marufuku Ramen - Marufuku Bowls

    Marufuku Bowls

    Marufuku Ramen - Open Now!!!!

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    Open Now!!!!

    Baikohken Ramen

    Baikohken Ramen

    4.3(213 reviews)
    8.7 miHillcrest
    $$
    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.

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    Baikohken Ramen - Heart Melt Ramen - Valentine Special 
Stretchy torched cheese over rich miso broth.
Limited time only!

    Heart Melt Ramen - Valentine Special Stretchy torched cheese over rich miso broth. Limited time only!

    Baikohken Ramen - Shoyu Ramen- It is classic Ramen in our restaurant.

    Shoyu Ramen- It is classic Ramen in our restaurant.

    Baikohken Ramen - Hand rolls are here! Pick your base & topping--tuna, salmon, scallop, ikura, or tako wasabi. Build your perfect bite!

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    Hand rolls are here! Pick your base & topping--tuna, salmon, scallop, ikura, or tako wasabi. Build your perfect bite!

    Harumama Ramen + Sushi - Little Italy

    Harumama Ramen + Sushi - Little Italy

    4.0(2.3k reviews)
    10.1 miLittle Italy
    $$

    046/2026/FEB Decided…read moreto try this other location ! So lucky we got a table of 5 without reservation! This location has capacity of 56 diners only ! A stellar service from Matthew ! Food was great ! So famished that when food came didn't get to take picture! Crab Wontons had generous filling and very delicious as well!! Grilled Salmon served on a sizzling plate with rice and topped with furikake and teriyaki sauce!

    Would not come here. They did discontinue the chicken bao bao but they still have all the…read moreingredients. I go to ocean beach and La Jolla for the karrage bao bao. I called today @3:42 to the little Italy location and the woman in the phone was very combative and just rude. I went into harumama in both La Jolla AND ocean beach. They were so lovely there and made me the karrage chucken bao bao. I was told no, they don't have it; but they have the ingredients and can make it for me, at BOTH locations. I always get two or more orders of them. I have photos from two days ago from the other location. However at THIS little Italy location I was told "it's policy they cannot do the the karrage chicken on the bao bao and it's against policy". I did inform her Ive been going to both other locations they never have a problem and told me it wouldn't be one as they have the ingredients (still sell karage chicken, and still sell bao bao), & that they just took it off of the menu. This employee at the little Italy locations response was " yea that's the OCEAN beach one. WE are the little Italy location. WE have different owners" She was rude and my ask/request isn't out of question. I'll solely stick to the other two locations in La Jolla and ocean beach due to their service and clear higher abilities and comprehension skills. Both other locations happen to be further away, I'll just go there to avoid this horrible service I received at the little Italy location. As seen in the photo we are at the La Jolla location and were given exemplary service. The ladies were so nice and explained it would be no problem, and that their cooks had no issues doing it. So disappointed as I'm a creature of habit so once a restaurants employees disrespects me I'll never go again. I'm lucky there are two others still open to go to. Just not this one.

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    Harumama Ramen + Sushi - Little Italy
    Harumama Ramen + Sushi - Little Italy
    Harumama Ramen + Sushi - Little Italy

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    Izakaya Masa - Ochazuke

    Izakaya Masa

    4.2(1.5k reviews)
    8.3 miMission Hills
    $$

    This spot was gas once again I had to double back fasholy 2nd time around & yes this is the same…read morespot where you had to wait and put my name on the paper as everybody will too but the food is worth it!!! I ordered once again the same thing as last time which were the Spider Special Roll (Soft Shell Crab Tempura, Avocado, & Caviar). Lobster Dynamite Special Roll. (Lobster, Avocado, Caviar & Spicy Mayo W/ Green Soy Paper) Hakata Ramen (Sliced Pork 2pc, Fried Garlic, Green Onion, Dried Seaweed, And Red Ginger). Donburi (Over Rice) Salmon Teriyaki

    How have I not been here before! This not-so-hidden gem is probably one of the best sushi spots…read moreI've been to in San Diego. My friend and I met up for dinner and put our names down at 5:15pm. We were there 15 minutes before they opened. Although, we were eighth in line, we were seated first since no one else was around. Once we were seated, our server came around and took our order for drinks and appetizer. We started with seaweed salad, fried gyoza, and tuna carpaccio. The tuna carpaccio was delicious and I loved the garlic. I wanted to order everything on the menu, but was sold on the rolls. I ordered the spicy hamachi roll and the cherry blossom roll, which was recommended by the server. Both rolls were the freshest sushi I've had in a long time. The flavors were perfect and they weren't flashy rolls. They were classic rolls that showcased the fish so well. The service was incredible, everyone was so friendly and I really enjoyed the whole experience. I can't wait to come back, especially on a colder day to try their ramen!

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    Izakaya Masa
    Izakaya Masa - Green tea mochi

    Green tea mochi

    Izakaya Masa - Green tea mochi

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    Green tea mochi

    Underbelly

    Underbelly

    3.9(3.1k reviews)
    10.1 miLittle Italy
    $$

    This is the BEST ramen spot to stop by, especially after a long flight. 8 minutes away from the…read moreairport! There are no parking lots, so please plan accordingly. You will be driving in San Diego downtown near Little Italy, where parking is limited, and parking meters are available. The underbelly ramen was $14 that consists of tonkotsu broth, soft-boiled egg, chashu belly, & adobo pulled pork + corn add-on. The drinks I tried were the $11 whisky highball made from toki, sparkling water, & lemon essence + the $12 calpikachu made from peach nectar, calpico, lemon, & vodka. 10/10 on the food. 10/10 on the drinks. Once you walk in, you order at the cash register & they will give you a # & ask where you prefer to sit. There are seats inside the restaurant, but if it's fully booked, there are available seats outside. Since San Diego has the best weather, sitting outside was lovely even during dinner hours. I would definitely come back anytime I visit this city.

    Some restaurants become part of your travel memories & Underbelly is absolutely one of those places…read morefor us. When we visited San Diego back in 2016, we ate at Underbelly twice because it was just that good. Returning this trip felt a little like revisiting an old friend. And I'm happy to report... it was every bit as awesome as we remembered! The best part? The staff affectionately called us "O.G.'s" when they heard we had been longtime fans, which immediately made us feel welcome & set the tone for a fun dining experience. We started with the kimchi because some traditions simply should not be broken. Tangy, punchy, spicy & full of flavor, it was the perfect opening act before the ramen arrived. I opted for the Tonkotsu Ramen: rich tonkotsu broth, soft boiled egg & chashu pork. The broth was deeply savory & comforting, the pork tender & flavorful, that perfectly soft egg tied everything together beautifully. It was exactly what ramen dreams are made of. Hubby went with the Underbelly Ramen, extra spicy: tonkotsu broth, soft boiled egg, chashu belly & adobo pulled pork. The extra spice brought serious heat & he was thrilled with every fiery bite! There is something incredibly satisfying about returning to a restaurant years later & finding that the magic is still there. Underbelly delivered the same bold flavors, cozy ramen comfort & cool Little Italy energy that made us fall in love with it the first time around. Not every restaurant earns a repeat visit nearly a decade later & even fewer live up to the memory. Underbelly absolutely did. We will be O.G.'s forever! NOM NOM NOM #YUM

    Photos
    Underbelly - Whiskey drink

    Whiskey drink

    Underbelly - Pork Belly Bao: Chashu Pork Belly, cucumbers, hoisin, pickled mustard seeds, scallions, and cilantro served on steamed buns. | $9

    Pork Belly Bao: Chashu Pork Belly, cucumbers, hoisin, pickled mustard seeds, scallions, and cilantro served on steamed buns. | $9

    Underbelly - Upper level looking out

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    Upper level looking out

    Ujin - ramen - Updated June 2026

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