Tajima Ramen Mercury

★★★★☆ 3.8 (2176) • $$

"Tajima Ramen is a solid spot!Two of us ordered:-carnitals roll $13-garlic edamame $5-cream cheese wontons $8-tajima ramen $16-hazy IPA $8-japanese whiskey series (kuchi smash) 2 for $20All the food was quite good. Staff was friendly.Tight parking spots in the plaza."

Blue Ocean - Harumama

★★★★☆ 4 (1055) • $$

"Went here on a Friday for brunch. We beat the crowd because everyone and their mama was trying to get a table. We were seated at window side, overviewing the ocean of La Jolla. Which made our stay worth while. The main reason we wanted to dine in this restaurant. Ordered noodles, buns and salad along with some assorted Sakes. All were very good.This place did not dissapoint. Good location, clean and good service. I recommend if you want to try some Asian grub.Beware: To get parking around this location is rather difficult. It's all by luck if you see a parking space or you can just opt in to pay for public parking, $20 to $30. "All pending on Parking Venue.""

Underbelly

★★★★☆ 3.9 (2961) • $$

"Fantastic little place in San Diego. I'm not a big ramen fan, so when my husband suggested going here, I wasn't planning on eating too much. But once he ordered and I tried his food, I wished I had ordered my own. He got a chicken ramen bowl and it was AMAZING!!!! So flavorful and a huge portion. We also got their wings on the side, and they may have been the hes wings I ever had.The ambience was also really cool here. You go up to the counter, place your order, then find a spot to sit. There were so many different little nooks and crannies to eat at (indoor/outdoor/bar seating/upstairs/downstairs). It was awesome! Food came out very fast and the service was 10/10."

Nishiki Ramen - Mira Mesa

★★★★☆ 4.3 (483) • $$

Kitakata Ramen Ban Nai - San Diego

★★★★☆ 4.4 (258) • $$

"Next to Target and Costco, with plenty of parking. Best part was no wait. It could mean that either people still don't know about it, or not good. Have to give it a try.First impression. Ample space between seatings. Don't feel crammed like you are actually eating in Japan. The cooks were not japanese, but they were skillful at what they make. Immediately upon entering, we were greeted and lead to a table. After ordering, the food were served hot within timely manner. The portions were generous and fulfilling. I would definitely recommend their fried chicken! Super tasteful with great texture. The meat in the ramen were a bit different, they were about 1cm or 1/4" cubes unlike other ramen shops. The meat was tender and tasteful. The chashu was very tender too. The noodle had a very balanced texture. The broth itself was slightly on the salty side.The service was great and the restaurant was very clean. Overall, it was a very satisfying experience. It gets a 4.8 out of 5. Will come again!"

Harumama Noodles + Buns - Little Italy

★★★★☆ 4 (2114) • $$

"CUTE BUNS is what gets people into the door. I found that the character buns were the best part of the experience and really enough to make up for how the other foods were a bit on the mediocre side. We got multiple savory and sweet buns and then Ramen. I wasn't in love with my Ramen dishes and I felt like the restaurant truly is investing their time into making cute character buns. So I would suggest coming for the buns and perhaps skipping the other dishes. Staff were nice, nothing bad or great stood out. Parking is hit or miss since you are in Little Italy."

369 Ramen & Chinese Food

★★★★☆ 3.8 (453) • $$

"The Chinese food is consistently very good. We especially love their orange chicken. They offer awesome lunch specials during the day. For everyday Chinese food, it is very good quality. The service here is super friendly and welcoming. The restaurant is very open, bright and clean. We liked it here."

Chopstix

★★★★☆ 3.9 (1335)

"Solid Japanese restaurant with a large menu with good food.My party of 4 came by for dinner around 6 pm on Sunday. We got incredibly lucky with parking, as one car was about to leave in the back parking lot and we snagged the spot. Otherwise, it's a small parking lot supporting multiple restaurants, and I don't know where everyone parks.There were a couple tables open at Chopstix, so we got seated immediately. Service was a bit slow, and we had to wait a while to get water and place orders.The menu has a bit of everything. There are plenty of rice dishes, cold and hot noodles, soup noodles, bento, and sushi rolls to choose from. That was great for us, as everyone ordered something different. I was seriously blown away by their noodle soup selection as there were so many topping options and it was very customizable with your preferred type of broth and noodles.We shared the karaage ($8.95), which was good but I found it a bit on the bland side. For my main, I got the Dragon Roll ($13.95) and the salmon roll ($5.95). Both were good, but I thought the sushi rice was a little bit too soft and sticky. Maybe it was a bit overcooked?My friends got the chicken yakisoba ($11.95), tonkatsu curry rice ($13.95), and the deluxe tempura tonkotsu ramen ($12.95). Everyone enjoyed their food and agreed portions were massive, especially given the price.I would highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a Japanese spot in Convoy! But good luck with the parking."

Sushi Factory

★★★★☆ 3.8 (444) • $$

"Okay, this was my second time coming to Sushi Factory and it was exactly as I remember. Simple, decent, affordable, and satisfying. It's certainly not something to look forward to as you would a beautiful omakase, but it scratches a certain itch when you want a few standard rolls like a spicy tuna and a carafe of sake without breaking the bank. The sushi doesn't stop at the spicy tuna rolls as I suggested above but I don't really get too adventurous at places like this. Stick to the basic fish that is readily available and popular like tuna and salmon. I could be completely wrong but I tend to believe that fish like this would be ordered by the customers more often and in turn the restaurant probably orders them more often too. Are they going to be fresher than the others? I'll keep telling myself that, don't burst my bubble. In summary, there is a time and place for cheap(ish) sushi and when I have a hankering for it, Sushi Factory is just close enough for me to indulge."

Tajima Ramen East Village

★★★★☆ 3.8 (1072) • $$

"If you want amazing ramen in a nice atmosphere, look no further! I got the "white" Tajima ramen and was blown away at the tenderness of the pork and cook on the ramen noodles. Service was as expected. Try the special!"

Marufuku Ramen

★★★★☆ 4.4 (684) • $$

"Ramen is one of my most ordered dishes locally and every state I visit. This ramen here at Marufuku is one of the best I have ever had! The flavor is unrivaled! The depth is incredible and very deep! I wish I had more descriptors because it is a flavor of dreams! The paitan ramen is a must order, it has whatever topping you would like. We had eggs, the most tender and flavorful chicken, bean sprouts, fish cake and green onions! May I use the description "WOW"! Love the spicy ramen as well! We also ordered sides, I do recommend the chicken kaarage! The gyoza was also nice. The service was quick and the ambience of the Delmar Skydeck is really something to see and enjoy! Unique, cool, interesting and provides a mood elevation! This place is a must try and can't wait to return! Ramen craving for sure!"

Buta Japanese Ramen

★★★★★ 4.6 (425) • $$

"Having a ramen shop right down the street from USD seems like a great idea with many nearby students. Business at Buta Japanese Ramen has appeared to be steady even after the pandemic. We came to get a late dinner and did not have to deal with the headache that is normally the parking situation in The Presidio Plaza. The remodeled interior could seat 32 customers in the main dining area with two more seats adjacent to the service counter. The staff was very engaging and pleasant.Our order consisted of the Chicken Karaage, Crazy Garlic Ramen, and the Golden Curry Ramen with chicken. The last item was mine which I asked for an extra portion of noodles to be added for $2.50. The karaage was nice and crispy with about eight fried pieces of chicken in the dish. The Golden Curry Ramen ingredients were a braised chicken drumstick, creamy curry broth, crispy noodles, lime, green onion, and chili oil. The curry flavor was strong, but it made the broth too thick for my palate. What was more disappointing was that the noodles were mushy instead of light and springy.Perhaps I chose the wrong style of house ramen out of the choices that were available on the menu. The prices seemed reasonable, but the quality of my product was subpar. This was one of the rare occasions in which I did not finish all the contents in the bowl, and I also did not take home any leftovers. I rounded the rating of my dining experience at Buta Japanese Ramen down to three stars."

Rakiraki Ramen & Tsukemen

★★★★☆ 3.8 (92) • $$

"Welcome to PQ!This place has legit ramen...Worth the premium price on most of their items.It has a small dining area but very clean. Parking is easy most days and nights unless the gym is packed. Service is prompt.Be sure to try their ramen that includes the pork ribs... Literally fall of the bone meat!The karaage chicken dish with rice was good but did have a salty batter.I'll visit again for sure when I don't want to make the trek to Convoy for my ramen fix"

BESHOCK Ramen - East Village

★★★★☆ 4.3 (1770) • $$

"Came here on a Saturday after comicon - such a great venue location however, parking is going to be a little difficult in this area. A special Comic-Con menu as in my pictures and the place was pretty full. it's a moderately loud but casual ambience. We sat at the bar and got seated very quickly, and the bartender is very attentive.-Service is quick and there is plenty of seating-Items were very fresh as such as the yellowtail that we shared-The fried chicken was a bit salty for me, but otherwise a good portion-The most unique thing that was the Ube drinks that were not overly sweet and more of a coconut base-highly recommend it. Very refreshing and even almost a dessert.Food was very filling so I definitely recommend coming here if you're hungry. I just wish we had more time to try the different sockets that they had which you can get a glass, a craft or a bottle! Fun place. Definitely will go back to this fun place!"

The Bowl Ramen & Izakaya

★★★★★ 4.5 (41)

"Not a very intuitive name, but The Bowl is a new ramen shop and izakaya that has opened in the former space of an OB sushi restaurant. The owners are the same as The Joint which is at the end of the block but on the opposite corner. What struck me when you walked in was the inordinate number of maneki-neko (beckoning cats) that adorned the interior. Not only were these Japanese figurines lined up at the bar, but they were also present on a giant plaque along the right wall and above the bar near the ceiling. Their presence is supposed to bring good luck to the owner, however this felt like overkill as there were more than 100 of these cat statues with a raised left arm.The menu featured five styles of ramen and four rice bowls on the first page. The other page listed the cold and hot izakaya items and desserts. The bone broth for the ramen contained pork and chicken which was cooked in-house for 16 hours. I chose the Chicken Gyoza to start my meal. The pan fried dumplings came as six pieces filled with minced chicken and veggies. A spicy dipping sauce was provided in the middle of the dish. They had a decent crunch to them.The House Ramen with extra noodles was my entree choice. Pork chashu, aji tama (1/2 soft-boiled marinated egg), menma (marinated bamboo shoots), bean sprouts, and negi (green onions) were the other components in the bowl. Despite the long preparation time, the broth lacked umami and needed more seasoning. The four chashu pieces were chewy and not as tender as I have eaten elsewhere.Even without the additional noodles, the price was expensive. Three of the five ramen (including the veggie version) cost more than $20 which is above the local market standard. Maybe the price was higher because there is less competition in OB. The service was decent although I felt that more attention was paid if you sat at the bar versus one of the tables. I moved over to an empty bar stool after initially picking one of the four-top tables."

Izakaya Naruto

★★★★☆ 4.3 (1064) • $$

"What a great experience! My Husband read great reviews about this sushi spot. We decided to try it out on a Friday Night.When we arrived, there were two other parties waiting to be seated. The staff immediately greets everyone who comes in with a "welcome!"? All said in unison, pretty nice. You sign in onto a paper sheet at the front. Make sure that you enter at the door on the left. There is one way in and one way out.It took about a 7-10min wait to be seated, as we chose the sushi bar. The place was packed. Our server was a nice dude in a white baseball cap. He took our drink order and appetizer: 1 0% alcohol beer, 1 Kurukirishima (Sweet Potato) Sho__-Chu, and a Chicken Karaage.The drinks were very cold and perfect. The Chicken was very crisp and juicy. We then ordered several assorted rolls and enjoyed them very much. Please see the pictures for the ones that we ordered. The greatest and most popular one here is called the Abre La Boca Mucho. We thought that was really cute so we ordered that last.The owner was very very warm as well as all of the sushi chefs that we had. I will say that it's a cool experience to sit at the bar so you can watch them prepare everything. I had planned to bring my sister back here because she was visiting from Japan but we ran out of time. For sure we will be bringing her when she returns. Overall, this was an excellent experience. Thank you."

Nishiki Ramen - Kearny Mesa

★★★★☆ 4.2 (2559) • $$

"First time in San Diego, we literally just landed my buddy was shopping at Mitsuwa marketplace. So I met him there and saw Nishiki Ramen. It was calling my name after the flight. Staff were so friendly when we walked in. I started off with Asahi beer and ordered "Akuma" ramen with hard boil egg. Pork belly chashu was juicy and tender, cooked perfectly. The broth had mild spice and so delicious. The server asked if we were from out of town, he made us must visit and eat list. It was awesome that he took the time to write it for us. Nishiki offers a lot of seating and even has bar seating where you can see the kitchen. Parking isn't to bad. It's a pretty big parking lot but they have a lot of stores in the plaza. Great ramen place."

Harumama Noodles and Buns

★★★★☆ 4.3 (421) • $$

"Prepare to wait on the weekend. There's a waitlist. The food is good, but I've had better. Everything was cute and overpriced. The broth had a weird taste, but it was okay. The buns were small! I could eat at least 6 of them to be satisfied. You're just paying for the animal art. They took forever getting our food out...The restaurant was pretty with nicely decorated plants.This place is overrated. All hype.Free parking only on the streets. If you shop at the organic market next door, then you can park in their lot."

Rakiraki Ramen & Tsukemen

★★★★☆ 3.8 (4868) • $$

"Hands down some of the best ramen in SD! Being open late, they're our go-to after a night out if we're in the mood for something warm. I always always get their Red Edition Ramen: Jukusei Fermentation. It's literally comfort (with a bit of a kick) in a bowl! Amazingly decadent broth, springy and thick noodles, and tons of toppings (they're not shy about loading up your bowl). My favorite part has to be their thick garlic chips sprinkled on top. SOOO yummy! Absolutely worth having to deal with some gnarly breath afterwards."

Hana Sushi

★★★★☆ 4 (505) • $$

"Family was craving some sushi for dinner. Ordered "to go" and picked it up. Dinner was delicious and I was happy that they have improved from the past visits. Thank you!!!"

Sushi Yorimichi

★★★★★ 4.5 (296) • $$

"This might be my new go-to spot for sushi and for when I'm craving carbonara. Hidden gem in Linda Vista-- you've gotta check this place out!Parking/Ambiance/Service:There were a handful of parking spots up front and a few more on the side. This place is tiny! There were 3 4-person tables, 2 2-person tables plus 4 seats at the bar-- not best for large groups, just a heads up. The inside is decorated as a Traditional Japanese style restaurant, really felt like we were back in Japan! Low key, casual ambiance. Our party of 2 went at 3pm on a Sunday and we were seated right away. Our server was great and food came out very quickly.Food:We loved everything that we ordered. I wish we could have ordered more but these were filling enough. Pricing was very reasonable. The rolls were big (around 8-9 pieces). My husband and I shared all plates and we were pretty stuffed-- had to bring home leftover Udon. -Yorimichi roll ($12): imitation crab, crispy shrimp tempura, cream cheese inside plus suuuper fresh seared salmon, spicy mayo, eel sauce on top.-Surf and skate roll ($12): spicy tuna, crispy shrimp tempura inside plus seared beef, garlic ponzu, yum yum sauce, and fried onion on top. The beef melts in your mouth. -Carbonara udon ($13.25) with bacon- you can choose between bacon, chicken, or shrimp for your protein. Bacon was cooked and tasted like Pancetta. Perfectly runny poached egg on top. Sooo creamy, delicious, and filling. I recommend sharing this.-Grilled salmon belly ($8): part of their monthly special menu. This plate was surprisingly bigger than we thought. This plate was served last and it was grilled to perfection. Melt-in-your-mouth and very flavorful.Overall:I will definitely come back to Sushi Yorimichi to try out more things off the menu and to check out happy hour during the week!"

Sushi Ren

★★★★☆ 3.8 (99) • $$

"I enjoyed my visit here. The service was great - friendly and on top of their customer service. Their menu has a great variety of Japanese food, including ramen, sushi, rice bowls, and bento boxes.I intended to get ramen, but curry and rice sounded good. They have a vegetable curry bowl. The pictured bowl that looks like soup actually has rice on the bottom and just enough. I would ask if I could add tofu next time (I'm not sure if they would). Their spicy edamame was one of the best I've had in a while. Their spicy sauce is sooo tasty and made well. I suggested to my friend that he add it to his miso ramen.The restaurant decor is nice too. Nice looking lighting and comfortable area for dining."

Ramen & Sushi Spot

★★★★☆ 4.4 (47) • $$

"I took a drive north this past weekend and ended up at the Encinitas Village Shopping Center where this casual Japanese eatery was located. The business name was very straightforward which I appreciated. The inside of the suite reminded me of some of the poke shops closer to where I live. It was brightly lit, and the tables were well spaced apart. A center bar area was featured where you could watch the chefs assemble the orders. There was even a clock on the wall behind the bar in which the numbers were replaced by pieces of sample nigiri.As the only diner at the beginning of my visit, I had time to snap plenty of photos after placing an order. The Ramen + Roll combo on the top right corner of the front menu page was the best offer. You could select any ramen bowl and any special roll for $24.95. The Veggie Curry and Encinitas were my picks. I usually stick with a tonkotsu broth for ramen, but the picture of the Veggie Curry looked interesting. Four potato croquettes were added to the bowl with noodles, scallions, and bamboo shoots. The curry broth was not spicy and had good flavor.The sushi roll was rice-less and made up of salmon, tuna, and whitefish on the inside. On the outside was soy paper, avocado, mustard, and spicy mayo. The sauces were heavily applied and overshadowed the fish. That would be an area of improvement to allow the seafood to shine more. The price I paid for the amount of food I received was very reasonable. When I factored in the quality and execution of my dishes, I gave a four star rating to Ramen & Sushi Spot."

Steamy Piggy

★★★★☆ 4.4 (5843) • $$

"The food we had included spicy ramen, steamy piggy ramen, kimchi bulgogi fries, steamy piggy bao (which is filled with custard), plum soju, passion punch, and passion fruit juice. Everything was so delicious. Just remember, there's a kick to the fries because of the kimchi, but they are crispy and yummy! It's not cheap, but definitely worth it. The servers are amazing and the atmosphere is impeccable. Love it!From our first date at this table in this restaurant to now happily married--this place will always hold a special place in our hearts."

Ahi Sushi

★★★★☆ 3.9 (518) • $$

"Came here for some chicken udon. The bowl lasted me two meals. The chicken was very flavorful and grilled. There were lots of vegetables and the soup base was delicious."

KUMI Sushi Grill

★★★★☆ 4.3 (364) • $$

"Kumi Cafe is a nice spot where you can grab a bite of Japanese food. I came here for lunch with a family member. We were promptly greeted and seated with menus. For convenience, they do have QR code menus you can scan with your phone at each table, if for whatever reason you don't happen to get a menu.They have a wide variety of appetizers and dishes from sushi to teriyaki and even (Korean) bulgogi. On this visit, I went with the Teriyaki Beef Bowl and my family member went with the Chicken Katsu Lunch Special and chose the California Roll as the add on.The food arrived in the time you might expect (probably about 15 minutes) and everything looked great.The teriyaki beef was tender and flavorful. I'm glad they added extra teriyaki sauce with the rice. The sauce consistency was appropriately on the thicker side, which is what I am accustomed to and it tasted pretty good. The portion filled the bowl and I had to be careful not to spill anything over the side of the bowl.The chicken katsu was perfectly crispy and it came with a dipping sauce on the side which was flavorful. The California Roll was okay (at best)... bland and not very enjoyable. I think a grab and go California Roll from Mitsuwa or Nijiya probably scores better.This place was very busy. I was concerned about the server because she was by herself. She was taking care of 8 tables by herself. About 15-20 minutes after we arrived and ordered, another server showed up to help the lone server out.Service was okay, it was pretty busy so not totally unexpected. Kumi Cafe was clean... clean tables, menu, utensils, dishes, etc. Parking in this shopping center can become difficult to find during peak hours. Kumi Cafe is located right next to Starbucks and is in the same shopping center as Staples and Mitsuwa.I think we would come here again and maybe even become regulars here. Overall a good experience.4 / 5: Food3 / 5: Service4 / 5: Cleanliness 3.7 / 5: Overall (rounded up to 4)"

The Yasai By Rakiraki

★★★★☆ 4.2 (331) • $$

"If you were looking for a proper vegan sushi restaurant, this is the place to visit. Located in Little Italy is The Yasai Vegan Izakaya and it was worth every dollar. It was between Amakari roll and Stressed Out roll. I ordered the stressed out roll not because I was feeling any particular kind of way. The waiter highly suggested the roll and it sounded delicious. It was nice, no actually, it was lovely. It was warm and wickedly delightful. There was avocado, no-cream cheese, and smoked tofu in the inside. On top was a spicy aioli pickled smoked jalapeño and sweet shoyu drizzled. Sushi is great on any day ending in "Y"! I would absolutely order that again! I also have my eyes on the Amakari roll next time and to try one of their signature ramen dishes. The feel of the place was nice overall. Tip:Street parking"

Ayu Sushi & Noodles

★★★★☆ 4.4 (123) • $$

"I've come many times for lunch as it's more affordable . It never seems busy so I worry if they'll be able to succeed at this location as it's a bit tucked away from everything . They have a nice outdoor patio which has heaters and is dog friendly. They recently added Happy Hour! Which was much needed and hopefully draws in more customers. Their lunch specials are what I've tried the most. The bentos come with soup, rice, salad, tempura, 2 pieces of gyoza and of California roll.Our recent visit for happy hour:Shishito peppers $5:- good size portion of deep fried shishito. I liked the lemony aioli on the side.House cab $5:- nice pour and decent to drinkGarlic edamame $5:- sooo very yummy. The sauce was finger lickin good. Chashu buns $5:- two soft mantou buns with a small piece of pork belly inside. The bamboo container was a cool touch. The buns were soft and the pork belly tenderSalmon hand roll $6 (no rice):- I was glad they could offer the roll with no rice. It was a small handroll but tasted fineSpicy tuna hand roll $6:- nice size and tasted freshI hope word gets out that Ayu offers Happy Hour as it's a great way to try some items here. Lunch really is the most affordable option. I've tried their Galbi entree and it was super generous portion and well worth the $28 price."

Karami Ramen

★★★★☆ 4.4 (390) • $$

"Food is so good and service is very quick. The venue is small but ample seating; people are in and out. Their habanero ramen is fantastic - the broth is a chicken base and has very deep flavors without being too heavy. Noodles are fresh. Highly recommend and will come back again."

HiroNori Craft Ramen

★★★★★ 4.7 (1260) • $$

"We were cravin' ramen and were told this is one of the best places. They were right!As everyone mentioned, you go there and scan the QR code to put your place in line. For us we went on a Friday and it went by pretty quickly. We walked around the block for 20 minutes for two people before it was our time.Started off with the pork buns. The sauce on those things were divine. Had their chicken rice bowl, their pork bowl, and their tonkotsu ramen.The noodles were all they were amped up to be for the ramen.The chicken and pork were tasty for the bowls.Portions were gratuitous. The large bowls can easily feed two.Service was fast and friendly! It's a cute small place but wouldn't go here with a big group. More than 4 means waiting longer. As a complete side note if it's just you and one more person it's fun to sit at the "bar" seating looking out the window. It's a one way mirror and man was it funny watching people look at themselves the whole time.There is a parking lot behind on sixth and Robinson that you have to pay for. Otherwise street. During busy hours be aware of that."

Umi Sushi

★★★★☆ 4 (570) • $$

"Stoped at Umi Sushi for dinner and it was great! We were greeted and seated quickly. The place was inviting and clean. We didn't want a bunch of leftovers so we shared a salad, edamame and did the pick 3 combination which we chose teriyaki chicken, California roll and sashimi which had tuna and salmon. The sashimi was so fresh and buttery! The teriyaki chicken was not dry and was perfect. Edamame and California roll while no frills were great as well! Overall, had a great delicious dinner with great service!"

Korean Kitchen Tofu & Galbi

★★★★☆ 3.8 (495) • $$

"Finally made my way to dine in, just like my initial review I was beyond impressed with this place. Everything tasted amazing and it surpassed the flavor from my first order. Service was amazing and our waitress was beyond friendly. They had K-pop playing in the background and it definitely added to the experience. The portions are on the larger side and we definitely ordered more than enough food for two people. We ended up paying around $70 which surprised us. We have become obsessed with this place and have already been back a few times."

Oi Shiba

★★★★★ 4.8 (87)

"Oi Shiba is a new ramen shop that has debuted this weekend at a suite in the Clock Tower Plaza of PB. The ownership is the same as that of the restaurant empire featuring Steamy Piggy in the Convoy District. The suite was not particularly large with sufficient seating for about two dozen customers. The parking situation was ideal with lots of shared spaces with the neighboring businesses that don't have heavy patronage.The one-page menu was simple with six Shiba (ramen) bowls featured, all named after a color plus one veggie variety. The remaining offerings were three deep fried sides, four drinks, and a dessert. I chose the Takoyaki and the White Shiba for my meal. The deep fried battered octopus balls topped with bonito flakes were served as eight pieces. I would say that the presentation of this side dish was one of the better versions I have seen. The crispiness of the fritters was just fine.The bowl contents were chashu pork, tonkotsu broth, wood ear mushrooms, scallion, egg, and noodles. The pork was sliced thin while an entire soft boiled egg was included. The broth was heavier than I preferred. The diameter of the noodles was mid-range, not too thin or thick. The service from the waitress was fine. The prices on the menu sheet may differ slightly from that on the website so note the possible variation(s)."

Facing East Noodle & Bar

★★★★☆ 4 (1610) • $$

"Arrived at around 7:30 p.m., and we were seated quickly. Line started forming shortly after we arrived. Order via the QR code located at the table. The standout for me was the dry udon - topped with a curry sauce and pork charsiu. I want another bowl of this! Yum! The pork dumplings in chili oil was another good one. Kiddo liked the popcorn chicken. BIL ordered the honey tofu, and he really enjoyed them. The chicken heart and chicken thigh skewers were good, but I could pass on them next time."

Shōwa Ramen

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (28) • $$

"Showa Ramen has opened in the new cluster of eateries near the Ridge Walk Academic Complex on the UCSD campus. The ownership group also operates other restaurants in town including The Taco Stand. Seating is available inside the suite and on the front patio adjacent to the main entrance. All of the chairs and tables had a light colored wood grain look to make the ambiance feel bright.Ordering is done through a touch screen located in a kiosk in the center of the room. A bottleneck is created if there is a line waiting to enter an order into the system. It would be prudent to set up a second kiosk, maybe outside on the patio. The menu offered seven appetizers, two salads, three donburis, and six types of ramen. The prices were about average for a ramen shop in SD although they would dent the budget of a college student if he/she ate here regularly. At least this place will allow those on campus to get their ramen fix without having to travel off-site.I picked the Gyoza and Tonkotsu Ramen for my lunch. The former came as five pan-fried, pork and vegetable dumplings with a spicy dipping sauce. The latter was a noodle bowl of light pork broth containing a piece of pork belly, half egg, bamboo shoots, nori, green onions, and sesame seeds. I asked for an extra portion of noodles, however what I received should have been the quantity for a standard serving. Both items were prepared fairly quickly by the kitchen. The flavors were decent but nothing memorable."