10 Best Spots For Mouth-Watering Ramen in San Diego

Craving a mouth-watering bowl of ramen? San Diego boasts dozens of restaurants selling their own take on the famous Japanese noodle dish. Served in all sizes and flavors, once you have your first portion, you’ll be hooked.

San Diego ramen restaurants have something that will cater to all tastes, whether you want to keep things simple with a hint of soy sauce or prefer to take a risk with a miso-based bowl.

We’ve put together a list of all of the best places in San Diego to enjoy a nice serving of ramen. These will satisfy your cravings without having to fly across the Pacific.

Read on for the best spots for ramen in San Diego.

Best Ramen In San Diego

Manya Ultra

Multiple San Diego Locations
Website

Let’s kick things off with Menya Ultra which has multiple locations throughout San Diego.

This ramen shop opened its first branch in the north of Japan in 1994, and years later won awards at the Tokyo Ramen Show. To this day, they have locations all across Japan and have hit the shores of San Diego in recent years.

Their menu comprises three types of ramen: tantan men, miso, and tonkotsu. Once you’ve selected your base, add additional toppings such as slices of braised chashu, paiko, and Chinese wood ear mushrooms.

In terms of pricing, the average cost of a bowl is $15.95, which is pretty standard for San Diego.

Manya Ultra is a casual, no-frills traditional Japanese ramen restaurant with only indoor seating. It tends to fill up on weekends, so takeout may be easier when the restaurant’s full.

Nishiki Ramen

Address: 8055 Armour St #201a, San Diego, CA 92111
Phone: (858) 987-0222
Website

Nishiki Ramen is set in San Diego’s Asian Restaurant District around Convoy and has been keeping the bellies of locals happy since 2015. Opened by a native Japanese man from Tokyo, Nishiki Ramen has become a hit in recent years for its tonkotsu broth used in each of its servings.

The menu at Nishiki Ramen will spoil you for choice, with over 15 styles of ramen available. Even containing the famous smoke bomb black and delicious gyokai tonkotsu.

A standard portion at this authentic Japanese restaurant will cost you around $14, depending on which option you go with.

There’s a parking area in front of the restaurant, and even on the weekends, you shouldn’t have too much trouble finding a space.

Nishiki Ramen’s dining space is quite small. Don’t be shocked if you see a huge line forming outside, it’s common and well worth the wait.

Izakaya Masa

Address: 928 Fort Stockton Dr, San Diego, CA 92103
Phone: (619) 542-1354
Website

Izakaya Masa is over at Fort Stockton Drive and serves some of the best ramen in San Diego. It’s a bit of a hidden treasure and doesn’t get near the crowds as other options on this list, only because it’s situated outside the main center. 

Even though Izakaya Masa is known for its ramen, its menu is more Japanese-focused, with a huge selection of other delights. Think chicken katsu rolls, beef teriyaki, and yummy tune sashimi.

Everything on the menu is pretty reasonably priced, for example, a bowl of shoyu ramen is only $13.

The welcoming atmosphere at Izakaya Masa is what really makes the experience. The staff is super friendly, and genuinely make you feel welcome. All seating is indoor and gives you a real feeling of what Japanese restaurants would be like.

RakiRaki Ramen

Multiple San Diego Locations
Website

RakiRaki Ramen on India Street in Little Italy is definitely worth a visit. Their extensive menu features a delightful array of ramen dishes, including the delectable tsukemen (dipping noodles), and their ramen burgers are to die for.

The owner Junya Watanabe was born in Tokyo and set up RakiRaki Ramen in 2012. He’s been gratifying the appetites of San Diegans ever since.

RakiRaki Ramen’s venue is small and intimate, like all the best Japanese restaurants. You’ll love the architectural details and the presence of grand Japanese lanterns, casting a mesmerizing glow throughout the restaurant.

It’s easy to see why this is a favorite among ramen restaurants in San Diego.

Underbelly

Multiple San Diego Locations
Website

A personal favorite ramen spot of ours is Underbelly. They have three locations, one in Little Italy, North Park, and on the UCSD campus, so you have plenty of choices.

Their menu is on the pricier side, but the portion sizes are considerably large, so expect a good feed. Everything tastes wonderful, from the chicken confit ramen to the fruity cocktails.

Underbelly has a nice chilled out vibe that you’ll sense as soon as you walk through the doors. There’s free parking next to the premises too, which is nothing to complain about.

When debating where to have ramen in San Diego, this is always a good bet.

Buta Japanese Ramen

Address: 5201 Linda Vista Rd ste.103, San Diego, CA 92110
Phone: (619) 272-0795
Website

Buta Japanese is another great San Diego ramen location on Linda Vista Road. Its unassuming storefront may deceive some, but after your first meal, you’ll find yourself unable to stop raving about the place.

Where do we start with the menu? It’s affordable and has everything a good Japanese restaurant should. Enjoy soul you ramen with chashu pork belly and spicy miso red buta, as well as tasty appetizers like crispy deep-fried pork gyozas and chicken karaage.

The inside of Buta Japanese Ramen is neatly decorated with sophisticated decor, giving a cozy feeling. If we were to say one negative thing about this spot, it would be the parking situation. It can be difficult to find a space, and even when you do, it’s a 20 minute maximum stay.

Tajima Convoy

Address: 4681 Convoy St STE H, San Diego, CA 92111
Phone: (858) 576-7244
Website

Tajima Convoy is a good ol’ reliable ramen option on Convoy Street, featuring a diverse range of signature Japanese culinary delights.

Their eatery is over 1,100 square feet and has a huge communal table in the center, creating a casual ambiance and allowing you to mingle with other ramen lovers.

Tajima Convoy prides itself on homemade authentic ramen that takes up to 12 hours to perfect. It may not be what you’ll find in Japan, but you must try the carnitas ramen, a Mexican-infused version of the dish made with spicy tonkotsu pork, cilantro, lime, and dried oregano.

Finding Tajima Convoy can be a tricky one. It’s a bit hidden in an unsuspecting car park, but with Google Maps, you’ll find it. Before entering the building, order and pay, then take your seat. It’s a bit unusual, but effective.

Hokkaido Ramen Santouka

Address: 4240 Kearny Mesa Rd, San Diego, CA 92111
Phone: (858) 974-1101
Website

Tucked away in the Mitsuwa Market, a prominent gourmet Japanese market, is Hokkaido Ramen Santouka, a delicious ramen house. They have locations in Japan and around the US, which offer fast service and favorable prices.

As you’re walking down Kearney Mesa Road, you’ll be able to smell the piquant flavors from this beloved spot.

Hokkaido Ramen Santouka specializes in tokusen toroniku ramen, plus many others, like spicy miso ramen and shoyu ramen. One of these with a glass of sake is the perfect combination.

BESHOCK Ramen East Village

Address: 1288 Market St, San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619) 310-5498
Website

In the vibrant East Village district is award-winning BESHOCK Ramen Restaurant, where you’ll find a mix of Japanese and international cuisines, all crafted with fresh local ingredients for maximum flavor. 

Of course, ramen is at the forefront of BESHOCK Ramen, with nine different variations available on the menu. If we were to recommend one, it would have to be the chicken katsu curry ramen, between the curry broth and chicken, wow, it’s amazing.

BESHOCK Ramen is a little bit on the expensive side if you plan on trying some of their specialty dishes. However, a standard bowl of umami ramen, it’s only $13.95.

HiroNori Craft Ramen

Address: 3803 Fifth Ave, San Diego, CA 92103
Phone: (619) 241-2856
Website

HiroNori Craft Ramen definitely takes the number one place for an all-around experience. Founded in 2017 by Hiro and Nori, the owners have built an empire with restaurants not just in San Diego but all across California.

Each bowl here is crafted with precision and perfection, using their own authentic noodles, sauces, and stock. The soy sauce is sourced from a company in Japan with 300 years of experience, and the owner works with a wheat farmer in Canada to ensure top-quality grains. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a better recipe anywhere else in California.

The Tonkotsu Ramen is so yummy, order some edamame on the side, it’s like the cherry on top.

HiroNori Craft Ramen is always busy due to its popularity and size, but the staff is fast, and wait times are usually only 10 to 20 minutes.

Upon our visit, finding a parking space was tricky. Check 500 Robinson Avenue Parking around the corner or LAZ parking across the street if you’re stuck.

That concludes our list of the best ramen in San Diego. Which one will you visit next time you crave spicy sesame tantanmen craft ramen?

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