I've only been to the Underbelly location in Little Italy. Finally visiting the North Park location is a game changer. I love how the North Park location is a little bigger than it's sister restaurant. It has the same vibe. But somehow feels a bit more chill. Probably because there's more room and you don't feel like you have to hurry and eat fast to make room for the next person. We ordered a pair of the belly of the beast, pork belly Bao buns and a pour of Blind Pig. The ramen was delicious as usual. I forgot to order extra ramen. Some say it's a must. The beef practically melted in the broth. The egg was perfectly runny and all the toppings just worked together to create this amazing ramen. The Bao buns were good but needed something. Maybe Hoisin or an aioli. The condiments provided were a nice touch. I always need more sesame seed oil, soy sauce and chili. The service was super friendly and helpful. Always a plus when the staff have a smile on their face and bring good vibes. When you place your order, you find a place to sit and place your number on the table. They will bring you your beer and order ASAP. Overall, this place is a go to when you want ramen a good beer/cocktail and a place to hang out. read more

Underbelly - Belly of the Beast Ramen,Pork Belly Bao - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

Underbelly caught my eye based-off the interior/exterior of their original location in downtown, but was recommended to go to the North Park location as it's bigger and less packed. Waited in line for a good 35-45 minutes before being able to place our order. FYI this is counter-service ramen, so when you order they give you a number and you find a table yourself. The Thai Curry Ramen was extremely flavorful! At first glance the soup does look a bit lighter than I'd typically like which usually translates to less flavor, but that was not the case. The slight thai flavors from the red curry & basil really changes the profile and is very unique. I also had some of the Belly of the Beast Ramen (not pictured) and the highlight in that bowl was the Oxtail Dumpling. The dumpling was decadent and sooooo gooooodddd! The oxtail meat was so tender and is a must try (they serve it as an add-on too). read more

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Really good vibes at this spot. You order at the counter upon entry and seat yourself anywhere in the restaurant. If the weather holds, I recommend sitting outside as they have heaters across every table. The music, bar, food and atmosphere is great. read more

Underbelly - Belly of the Beast Ramen - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

Easy, filling ramen. The noodles are great, the meat is perfectly cooked, the broth is not too hot. What do I say about ramen bowls? Get extra egg and noodles always, and extra meat as needed. You need the former two, the latter one can be avoided if you order the right bowl. I also suggest getting some baos. They are delicious and are a great way to start or end any meal. You also get two with each order and given what is in them, the price is not unreasonable. While ramen is ideal for cold months, this hearty bowl is good for any month. read more

Very, very average ramen. I got the belly of the beast bowl, which came with short rib, oxtail dumplings, and a soft boiled egg. It's a great price for the amount of toppings you get, so that's why I'm giving them three stars instead of two. The noodles were in huge clumps, and they were comparable to the noodles you get in instant ramen. I would expect higher quality noodles at a restaurant. The broth was okay, but I've had much richer tonkotsu broths. It just felt kind of weak. The best part of the bowl was the short rib. It was super tender. The oxtail dumplings and egg were just okay. I also got the short rib bao, which I was really excited about, but my excitement quickly turned into disappointment when I took my first bite. The bao and short rib was great, but the assembly really took it down a notch. The spicy mustard sauce was concentrated in one spot instead of being spread throughout, so my first bite was overwhelmingly shocking. Not great to get a mouthful of spicy mustard. It was so unappealing that I couldn't bring myself to eat the rest of the bao. read more

Underbelly - belly of the Belly of the Beast Ramen - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

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Went here with my boys and it was a great dinner. We walked in and ordered with no issue. We sat down and got our food right away with a very friendly waiter. The ambiance is very aesthetically pleasing and the seating area is majestic. We sat at the long fireplace table and it was very fun for a lack of a better word. The ramen was phenomenal, flavorful and i would come back again. read more

So much hype aorund Underbelly! Unfounded though. Walked into the restaurant to discover it was counter service, which I was excited for. But was immediately greeted with a stoic and rude cashier, who just stared at us when we ordered. No suggestions, no friendliness. My sister and I got a Fried Chicken appetizer as well as the Underbelly Ramen and Thai Curry. She also got a few drinks at the bar when we seated. I was shocked at how salty my food was. It was probably one of the most salty broths and adobo meats I've eaten at a restaurant. You know that feeling when something is so salty, it tastes spicy? Same went for the Thai Curry. The Fried Chicken plate was fine, nothing special. The hard thing was that there was actually flavor in the broth, somewhere, but it got masked immensely by the salt. Could've toned it down at least 50%. The tonkotsu broth was also not tonkotsu. Tasted a lot more seafood. Surprised how they could even call it tonkotsu when it does not taste anything like a pork broth. The drinks were delicious though. That was the one thing we commend. But again, the service was really condescending, especially since we had never been here before. We received no introduction, and when we asked for water, the bartender looked at us weird, avoided us most of the night, and never gave us refills (there are bottles for customers to self-attend to). Never got a friendly word from any of the staff, did see some friendly interactions though. read more

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Food wise, I expected a lot more because of the positive reviews and the hype around it. I was disappointed with the Underbelly Ramen - the broth was thick and just salty, didn't taste much like Tonkotsu broth which is pretty rich in pork flavor. If you're not used to having pulled pork in your ramen, skip out on the Underbelly Ramen and go for the Tonkotsu instead. The noodles were also too soft/soggy and overcooked. The egg was excellent, it was marinated pretty well and all the other toppings were fine. The ambiance was great, and probably the best part. The service was also good for a hybrid self-serve restaurant. You order your food at a kiosk at the entrance and you're able to seat yourself which didn't take too long considering there was a line outside. Service was fast and the only thing you really have to get for yourself was water which was already filled for you anyway. read more

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

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My go-to ramen spot. Amazing ambiance with outdoor seating, fire pits, and an outdoor bar. Communal stone benches where you sit with others. First you order inside, and then they bring the food to you. My favorite ramen is their tonkotsu ramen, and I typically order garlic chips and an extra ramen egg on top. Deep, umami flavor. They also have a great selection of sakes and beers, extensive side options like chicken confit and shishito peppers. This location is also dog friendly which is a huge plus for me. read more

I love this place! The food is always great and the service is fast and friendly. The outside dining is nice and vibey and they allow dogs. read more

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Nice atmosphere and great food. We ordered the Underbelly ramen, beef bowl, gyoza, and beef bao buns. All delicious! There's ample seating, mostly outdoors but there are both fire pits and heat lamps. Love the night time ambience, super pretty spot and dog friendly! read more

Underbelly - Beef bowl - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

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pretty solid vegetarian ramen with reasonable price. it doesn't come with tofu tho... so i added the eggplant wrapped tofu skewer. if it came with tofu i'd give 5 stars. also it's pretty dark inside the restaurant at night if you're into that vibe. maybe i'll go during the day next time read more

Underbelly - Vegetable Ramen - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

100% one of my favorite spots. The food is yummy. My favorite is the beef bowl with shaved rib eye.

If you want the best, Rahman you've ever tasted, go to Underbelly! I recently got sick with the flu and I finally got over there to get a big to go order yesterday and ask them why they don't deliver with Uber eats or DoorDash and they said they couldn't keep up with the volume so they don't deliver... I can see why they could not keep up with the volume because their food is excellent! I swear it's the best Ramen I've ever tasted so far in San Diego! also, the ambience in their place is very nice when you go eat when the weather is good cause it's mostly outdoors, but they do have a small area where you can sit inside, but mostly an outside place. Their Fried chicken bao buns are so delicious! I have enjoyed everything I have ordered there and they also have a full bar/beer. I highly recommend this place because so far I have not found better ramen to date in San Diego! You should check them out! read more

The ramen here is a must! The line may look intimidating but it moves pretty fast as they take your order at the door. The restaurant itself had a nice ambiance - dimly lit with a variety of different indoor/outdoor seating options. Underbelly Ramen: 10/10 I mean c'monnn! This ramen did not disappoint. Broth was creamy and delicious and the pork was super tender. This ramen had a slight edge over Belly of the Beast but both still soo good! Belly of the Beast Ramen: 9.9/10 I could go without the dumplings but all the other toppings were great! The oxtail made the broth taste almost reminiscent of Pho. Everything paired so well together! Drinks: we ordered the Calpikachu, Mangomarugarita, and Pink Momanga. The drinks were veryy strong and sweet and packed full with ice. No one at my table was able to finish their drink. I would personally pass on the drinks here! Bao Buns: 3/10 honestly pretty disappointed in these. We ordered the Pork Belly Bao and Short Rib Bao and they just lacked in flavor. There needed to be some sort of sauce added imo Japanese Fried Chicken: 9/10 the perfect amount of crispiness and not oily whatsoever. A nice shareable for the table! A squeeze of lemon on top and the mayo dipping sauce elevated the dish beyond basic fried pieces of chicken. Meat Eaters Bento Box: 9/10 i enjoyed each dish included in this bento box! My personal favorite was the pork belly with the Japanese sweet soy sauce on top. The gyoza were fried to perfection. Nice and crispy and light! The kimchi and cucumber salad helped balance out the meal perfectly. read more

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I've been to Underbelly years ago before their renovation and updated look/menu. Back then, I wasn't too big of a fan of their ramen. Too many ingredients to be "unique" and I didn't like the whole "no spoon" thing. Decided to give it another try when they reopened. The vibe is very cool and aesthetically pleasing. I really enjoyed the ambiance. The food, still just okay unfortunately. The food wasn't bad, just okay. I tried both the belly of the beast and underbelly ramens. The Tonkotsu broth was a bit bland. I felt like there could've been more flavor to it, especially with all the meats, which were actually cooked pretty nicely. I also tried the pork belly bao. Unfortunately, this was the blandest of them all. I probably wouldn't get it again. The cocktails were fun and pretty good. Presented very nicely. Overall even after the makeover, Underbelly still seems pretty average to me. It's a cool spot to grab some late night ramen but besides the cool ambience, the food is just alright. Also...they still don't have spoons. read more

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Great food. Great Ambiance and quick service. Your food comes out immediately after you order in the front and the ramen is amazing. Everyone needs to try this place out! read more

Pretty dang good ramen! I got the chicken one and it was super good but my friend got the lobster/seafood one and it wasn't nearly as good as mine but nonetheless, tasty. We got there at around 5pm ish on a Saturday and there was already a tiny line but when we sat down the line became increasingly longer. So, get there early! Ordered the Kimchi, Spicy Edamame, 2x ramens. ~Kimchi was phenomenal. ~Spicy Edamame wasn't my favorite because it tasted to me like it was covered in chili powder (mexican candy chili?? to me - maybe I am deranged but my guest agreed.) ~The chicken ramen was the star of the show, the egg was to DIE. Overall, the ambience of this spot is pretty great. Firepits, awesome bar with cute decorables, and skater modern vibe. Kaws dolls and stormtroopers included. *Cue chopsticks* read more

Underbelly - Chicken Ramen, Seafood Ramen, Spicy Edamame, Kimchi - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

We were feeling lazy and ordered Underbelly to go - several pork belly and Nashville fried chicken baos along with a beef bento box and the underbelly ramen. I have never had a ramen that travels well for take-out BUT THIS WAS IT! The BEST take-out ramen we have EVER had! Everything was DELICIOUS! I would recommend the Nashville fried chicken baos over pork belly if you have to choose one. Baos come in orders of 2. Our order was ready prior to the designated pick up time so service is quick! I would love to dine-in next time because the overall ambiance of the whole place is absolutely wonderful. Definitely go here for the vibes and great food read more

If the saltiness is brought down two notches than it will be a banger 100 percent. Will be going back for another try.

Disappointing Decline in Service at Underbelly Northpark Underbelly Northpark was once one of my favorite ramen spots, but unfortunately, the experience has taken a turn for the worse. While the food remains as amazing as ever, their rigid and inflexible policies have really soured my visits. Due to allergies, I don't eat egg or seaweed, and I asked if they could substitute with corn--a seemingly simple request given that corn is much lower on the ingredient cost scale. To my surprise, they insisted on charging extra for the addition. For a place I've frequented for years, it's frustrating to feel nickel-and-dimed over something so basic, especially when accommodating food allergies should be standard practice. It's clear they have enough business that they don't need to keep long-time customers happy, or attract new ones. After years of being a loyal customer, I won't be returning. read more

I was excited to try Underbelly after seeing all the amazing reviews. I got an order to go, which I recommend because there's usually always a line. I got Tonkotsu ramen, which was extremely underwhelming. The seaweed made the broth extremely fishy for some reason which threw off the taste a little bit, and the pork belly was really fatty. I do want to give it another try since everyone else has raved about it, but I will not get, or do not recommend the Tonkotsu. read more

I came for lunch and loved the decor. Service was polite, clear, and helpful with the party's dietary restrictions. The food was good, though it came along with high downtown costs. Chicken karrage: crunchy, mayo goes great with their spicy powder and lemon Seaweed Salad: a little too acidic but great portion for value and added cucumbers Gyoza: crispy, the sauce goes great with additional sesame oil Underbelly ramen: hit the spot for people in the party who were missing Japanese ramen, though the broth base was more protein-forward than in Japan, it was still delicious oxtail dumplings: ordered on the side and costs extra, so recommend just adding it to your ramen, very tender almost too soft but the most flavorful bite of food we had. read more

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Ramen newbie and let me say this.. Chicken Confit Ramen dish. 10/10 plus adding the dragon chili paste to it , makes it 10000/10 ! Will definitely be coming back! Plus paying first and then sitting down, is honestly the best way to dine. The only downside , I would say is community seating, I don't like that you have to find where you can "most likely fit". I know it's a small venue but I wish there was more organization on that aspect. Ambiance is nice because the crowd keeps to themselves and or their party . It gets loud but not disruptive. read more

PARKING Parking in North Park is always a grief. I recommend going into the residential area behind the restaurant to park. WAIT We went on a Wednesday around 7pm and the wait was really long. We ended up getting our food close to 7:50pm. Luckily they served us immediately after we ordered. If you've never been here before, you line up to order at the register where they'll give you a number tag and find a seat yourself. FOOD/DRINK Got the Belly of the Beast for the ox tail dumplings (they melted in my mouth ). My friends and I also tried their Ube Wan Slushy (ube-flavored with coconut rum base) and Calpikachu Slushy (fruity calpico with vodka base). My friends didn't like the Calpikachu much but everyone loved the Belly of the Beast ramen! read more

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One of my favorite places to grab ramen! The ambiance is very low key, casual food affair. The service is prompt, you order at the counter and pay prior to receiving food. The food comes out fast and hot, broth has a rich flavor. Never disappoints. read more

Underbelly - Belly of the Beast Ramen - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

Decent Ramen in Northpark. Self service system. You will need to order first then choose a spot to dine at. Get your own water and cups. They will even make you take your own bowls off the tray that they bring you as well. Overall, great ramen with generous portions. Loved the side sauces and condiments that were at the table. read more

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Underbelly had great tasting ramen, and service was even better. Our food got delivered extremely fast. The vibes of the restaurant were top tier, and I'd recommend this for a date spot. read more

Underbelly - Belly of the Beast Ramen - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

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Good food, not great food. It feels like your typical ramen bar scene, nice music, drinks, and good hot food. Super cool lights at night, which is was drew us to the place. The food isn't anything crazy, but it wasn't terrible. If you're hungry, it's a great place to stop in for a good time with some friends. We got the chicken ramen and fried chicken bun. Both were good, my bf liked dipping the fried chicken bun into the ramen soup. Order: you order at the front desk, they give you a number, you pick a place to sit and they bring you the food. Experience: food came out hot and fast, but our drinks didn't come until we were half way done with our food. :/ read more

Underbelly - Order - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

I can definitely vouch for this place. I've been there a few times and I gotta say the Ramen here is delicious.

Pretty bummed to write this review, I really think it should be 3 stars but it seems so harsh! The service was great, everyone was kind & welcoming. We arrived at 10:30 PM on a Saturday (the restaurant closes at 11:30 PM), there were a few items they said they were out of which wasn't a huge deal. You self seat & I loved the vibe of the seating. Long tables with fire down the middle. Food came out so quick which was great! Here is where my major complaint is, the ramen is SO SALTY. It's almost unbearable. I could not drink the broth or eat all the chicken, due to the saltiness. I was in shock that it was that strong. I don't think I would come here again simply because the main meal was so disappointing. I can see how this spot is so popular, I think maybe my dish was simply off for some reason. read more

Underbelly - Chicken Confit Ramen - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

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Went on 9/7/25 around 12pm - 12:30pm. Guy (with beard) cooking didn't have gloves on. He would touch the food after touching literally anything else. His arms, pants, rags, etc. It really grossed me out. Do better. read more

Delicious!!! I love the bowl of noodles I got there it was fantastic!! The appetizers were also really good and for sure different then most places which I enjoyed. The drinks were awesome and the place was really cool with the half inside half outside feeling. I highly suggest going here and getting a bowl of noodles!! read more

Underbelly - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

It was amazing and cool experience.Amazing food,good service and food fast service happy read more

Underbelly - Bar food Tuna Tataki Pork Belly House Mushroom Mix Meat Friendly Oxtail Dumplings Shishito Peppers - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

Fabulous evening ambience. Everything was amazing; Ramen, gyoza, bao, cocktails, patio seating. Flavors were perfection. I wasn't a fan of the fried chicken, it was a bit chewy and only served with Mayo. The host who took our order was so welcoming and patient and he recommended a delicious saké that we loved. Servers were super friendly and attentive. We had a lovely dining experience and will be back! read more

Underbelly - Pork belly bao, short rib bao, beef gyoza, Japanese fried chicken, saké, Tears in the Rain cocktail, Yubari King cocktail - Ramen Near Me - San Diego, California

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Underbelly is such an unassuming place. And maybe even a tad underwhelming. I had walked by several times as it was only a few blocks from my AirBnb and I never realized it was a ramen joint. I simply thought it was an open-concept bar. I came for lunch one day and upon walking in, I was super confused by their ordering/seating system. It's set-up like a fast casual place where you order upon entering and them you seat yourself, but it isn't clear to do that. When I walked in, I made eye contact with a staff member and then asked for a seating for one and then she said I order first and immediately asked for what I wanted. It was my first time and there wasn't a menu in sight. She quickly realized and handed me a menu and walked away without saying much else. Other people began to line up behind me, and were also confused on the system. There were no extra menus available so they had to wait for me to decide and be waited on. About 5 mins later a different staff member came to take my order and told me to sit anywhere, and also pointed out the water station to me. Most of the smaller tables were taken so I sit at the edge of one of the large rectangular ones. This felt super strange to me. My food came out 5-10 mins later and looked delicious! It's super aesthetic and IG worthy. I had ordered the Belly of the Beast and the Pork Belly Baos. Both were good, but not great. It's more of modern twists to Japanese classics-- and I'm not a huge fan of that generally. I thought the ramen broth was good, but I didn't care for the hoison braised short rib or the oxtail dumplings at all. It seemed like overkill and flavors were getting lost rather than complemented. Also, I thought it was strange that one of the servers never gave spoons to anyone who ordered ramen, but the other one did. I had to ask on more than one occasion. Why is this not standard? The service was also otherwise very slow for a restaurant that only had like 10 people in it, and servers seemed to avoid eye contact at all times, and then visibly annoyed that someone even asked them a question. So basically, the meal started with a weird vibe and then I left with a very bad impression by the food and the service. The atmosphere is very California, but lacks any personality. read more

Another mini getaway to San Diego. Stop by this restaurant randomly ( Monday 2pm) because we were craving ramen and it was not busy. Small resturant, is easy to locate on the corner of the main street. Street parking only. Although the Resturant is small the seating design is well done. Main floor probably fits 15 comfortably. Mini unstairs area fits roughly 10 and a large outside space for seating. Love the Japanese decor felt like I was in Japan again. * Things to note - I was confused how the seating arraignment works cause there were only 2 servers no one really told us what to do and it looked like it was a self seating arraignment by how the other 2 guest ordered and just sat down. Main sever was at the bar/cashier. You need to order & pay there first before you're allowed to sit and then she gives you a number stand. I went to sit upstairs while my husband gets our stuff and was told I was not allowed to do that.. by the other server. Although my husband was placing/paying for our order, she said I had to wait with him. Her reasoning was because when it's busy it's hard for them to locate the guest. I guess that makes sense. The cashier server didn't seem mind though told us to sit anywhere and gave us our number stand. So it's best to double check! Food : Underbelly Ramen 3/5 $14 Tonkatsu Ramen 3/5 $13 Not the best Ramen but not the worst, broth was good. Noodles a bit soggy. Overall good for a quick bite ! Overall I rate 4 star because it's a unique place to try at least once :) read more

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We came here around 6pm on a Sunday and the line outside the door was about 20+ minutes. First time trying this place since I'm usually not a big ramen fan but it was good. The restaurant was beautiful and we really wanted to sit by the fire at the bottom tables instead of the bar but none of the seats opened up before the time we left. The spicy garlic edamame was very spicy! And the ramen had alot of flavor. The pork bao buns tho... I wasn't a big fan of the meat inside. It was lacking a lot of flavor. The yellow drink I ordered was delicious and the flavors were beautifully combined. Would come back to try something different Also there is only one restroom here read more

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This has been a go-to spot for my wife and I since 2021, and we usually bring visiting relatives/friends here. I was in the Navy until 2022, and have had the most excellent ramen in Tokyo, as well as the Phillipines and Guam. It has such a great atmosphere, featuring tables with fire in the middle, as well as bar service that's pretty accessible. My go-to is the Tonkotsu ramen, coming from someone who has had the real deal. And the Japanese whiskey selection is very nice. I usually order a side of Shishito peppers or something for the table, but the food typically comes out very fast. My one downside (depending on who you are) is that they usually have some pretty heavy (and explicit) rap music playing, and I've seen families with children hanging around. Also, sometimes you have to ask for a spoon, which I consider to be essential, for sipping the broth. Expect to be sharing a table with others as well, especially if going on a busy night. read more

Food: - Thai Curry Ramen - The flavor was good; I like the spicy kick. The shrimp was delicious and perfectly cooked. - Belly of the Beast Ramen - Personally my favorite. I love the dumpling in it, and the flavor is good. I think the broth is good overall. - Eggplant Bao - Delicious fried eggplant with papaya and sauce. I love the flavor of this. I wasn't sure what to expect, but it was my favorite. Parking: Parking is always difficult in North Park, so go early so it's not an issue. Service and Ambience: Everyone was super nice and friendly. The outdoor bar is super cute. The only issue I had was the flies. I think having an outdoor area in general just produces flies, but I had to constantly swat them away so it was a bit annoying as I'm eating read more

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