Menya Ultra - San Diego

First time trying this place. My friend who grew up in Japan took me here because he said this is the most authentic you will get in the area. We didn't have a wait for a table of 3, however it was a weekday. We all ordered the Tonkotsu Ramen and it came out quickly. Ramen isn't my favorite food, but this ramen was really amazing. Very flavorful! It was soooo good! The restaurant itself is decently sized and a little narrow. But they make it work, and you can fit many people in here. One thing to note is that they do have a strict policy on no outside food or drinks. I was at a cafe before coming to this place and brought my coffee in so it didn't sit in the hot car, but they told me it was not allowed inside the store. I understood and brought it back out, but this is just to note for others if you are in a situation like me - just finish your drink before you get seated!

Hard Reaching on 6/10Tonkatsu was just okay, it wasn't completely bland but it just felt like it was missing something. The slices of pork just felt like chunks of meat, the eggs were over cooked, and the noodles felt like something you get out of an instant ramen package (it just felt artificial).Definitely better ramen spots in San Diego.Service itself wasn't bad, it was slightly crowded but workers felt a little overwhelmed or were just talking to each other even when people had their hands up asking for service... maybe it was just an off day, but it could be better

Menya Ultra has been recommended to me by a few people when I was craving ramen. I tried it and honestly did not understand the hype of this place. I went back to give it another try on two occasions because my friend wanted to go try it. Each time has been a disappointment. The broth of the tonkotsu ramen isn't that flavorful, it just tasted like water and salt with no depth to it. They are also incredibly stingy with the meat in your bowl-- they give you exactly one thin slice of chashu. That's kind of crazy for a 18$ bowl of ramen when most places give you two or three. For my spicy lovers out there-- if you want some spice in your ramen, you better be prepared to pay an extra 1$ PER spice level on their spicy miso ramen. If you're looking for value this place probably isn't going to be your bowl of ramen.The best thing about Menya Ultra is probably their fried chicken. We ordered the Nagoya Fried Chicken and it was juicy and tender with a good crisp to it. The service was friendly and they come to refill your water frequently. They have a Yelp check in to reserve a spot in line and we only waited about 15 minutes each time. It's not the biggest restaurant and looks like your average ramen shop inside but they move pretty fast. Overall the ramen is mediocre, not the worse thing ever but it's definitely mediocre for the price. If you're craving some good ramen you should go take the trip down to UTC and go to Ramen Nagi.

Menya Ultra has a good reputation in San Diego and I will agree that it's pretty good ramen. My go-to is usually the ajitama tonkotsu ramen and my favorite topping is corn. If you've never added corn to your ramen, please try it. I am also a big fan of their okonomi fries. The fry texture is crispy and the okonomiyaki sauce, pickled ginger, bonito flakes, and mayo really belong on fries, to the point that I question why this isn't a more common combination anywhere else. Super recommend as an appetizer. Their negi pon karaage is also a winner. I had the black tantanmen this last time I visited, and I found this ramen to be a bit disappointing despite the "chef's recommend" symbol on the menu. I personally found it to be too peppery (I find black pepper to be kind of a weird addition to ramen as well!) and too salty. The sesame surprisingly didn't add as much savory nuttiness as I was expecting. The ground pork is also a very small portion. I do not really recommend this menu item. A big reason for deducting a star is because this Menya Ultra location smells very heavily of cigarette smoke. It's off putting for a restaurant to smell so strongly of cigarettes while you are trying to enjoy a meal. They can't control it unfortunately because there is a cigar shop next door. Tip: You can get discounted ramen by buying a Costco gift card if you plan on coming here more than once.

I've been going here since they opened in 2017. I consider myself a ramen connoisseur, and believe me when I say that this ramen is THE BEST IN SAN DIEGO, no exaggeration. That still holds true til this day and probably will when you read this. The price can get a bit steep, but it's worth every penny. I've tried all the variations here and you seriously can't go wrong with any one, whether it be the classic tonkotsu, miso, or tantanmen. My go-to is the standard tonkotsu chashu ramen. I'm a big boy so I always get extra noodles. When you order extra bean sprouts, they mean EXTRA bean sprouts lol. The broth is so milky and flavorful, that I always end up finishing it; that's how amazing this ramen is. Oh, if you come early enough, I HIGHLY recommend the braized chashu. It's like a slab of meat you can just bite into and only compliments whatever you get. The appetizers always hit, no matter what. The gyoza is always on point, the karaage is so juicy and comes out piping hot. I tried the karaage variations and I'm not a fan. I'd prefer to keep it simple. The ice cream tempura comes out ridiculously hot, so I'm not sure how the ice cream stays ice cold. But it's a perfect finish to the perfect meal.

There was absolutely no wait Monday evening in the month of August! Service was quick and helpful. The Nagoya karage was super delicious and tasty. Can't go wrong with sharing that in addition to the ramen. I got the spicy miso ramen level 1 with braised chashu on the side (thankfully they had it!) and it was delicious! The brotha was okay but I hear the original ramen is what they are known for so I will reevaluate again getting that next time.

An EXCELLENT ramen spot! They are recognized by Michelin as a selected restaurant in SD, and it is well deserved because their ramen stands out from the rest. I came in during the weekday for a co-worker lunch and got seated right away. I know the place is on the smaller side so I'm glad we didn't have to wait too long. Their menu isn't huge but they have 11 different ramens with many toppings and some sides.I ended up getting the Spicy Miso Ramen, hot level. It was not too spicy which was nice so I was able to eat it fine. I wanted to try the Braized Chasu extra topping but they had run out so I got extra pork, which I'm glad since their chashu is a thinner slice than average. The ramen is also a hefty amount so I had leftovers!We also got a Okonomi Fries on the side and it was a generous portion topped with sauce, mayo, bonito flakes, and ginger. A yummy sharing plate.Overall, would come back again. They have impressive ramen and great service. All employees bid you goodbye when you leave, very friendly :)

My co-worker told me one thing and one thing only when I mention I was visitng San Diego, and it was to try Menya Ultra! After a long day at the safari park, my partner & I make our way to to eat some ramen, we got in the Yelp waitlist 30 mins ahead and arrived just in time! The place is quite small, so I'd reccomend putting yourself on the waitlist beforehand to avoid the long wait. Tontaksu ramen: So delicious! I love that there's a low sodium option since I'm not a fan of salty ramen. I was slurping the broth like I've never have before! It was insanely flavorful yet light. The noodles did not fall behind either, it was soft but had a chewy bite to it! TanTanMen Black Sesame: This has a very rich broth and is a little bit saltier. The nutty ness is a nice touch but does fall a tad bit behind when compared to the Tonkotsu. Nagoya style Karaage: It came pipping hot and was still very juicy while remaining a nice crunch. The glazing is a sweet sticky soy glazed full with unami. A perfect appetizer to our 2 ramens!Overall, I'm so glad I got to try this place. It's definitely worth a stop, even with the wait time. I'll definitely visit again next time I'm in San Diego!

Menya Ultra has some of the best ramen flavors in San Diego. Recognized by Michelin, this place is almost always busy during dinner time. You have to be sure to reserve a spot online if you want to eat here duirng dinner time. The service is great and there are many choices for ramen. 'The ambiance is really nice and although the space is a little small, there are many seats that they seat people in. It is not cramped. There is almost always a group of people waiting outside for their number to get called so they can start to eat. Parking is pretty simple to get and in the several times I have gone, it has never been an issue. Overall, I would recommend going here! It is a really good place to get ramen but do beware of the lines.

Finally had a chance to try Menya out! I picked the Chashu Tonkatsu he ordered the Negi Miso we both added an egg. He also ordered a chef fried chicken app and some gyoza. I prefer a steamed gyoza vs deep fried but he was pretty happy with it. We both found the fried chicken a little too sweet. My ramen was pretty good, very rich porky broth. His negi miso was phenomenal, after trying his mine actually seemed bland. I love the noodle texture and perfectly soft boiled eggs! I'd definitely return for the negi miso