The place is out of sight from the main street. It can be a place you run into if you walk around. The first thing you notice, at night, are the neon pink lights. It really sets it apart from a lot of the things in Sandiego.
The inside layout is cool too as it has two story dining with downstairs being mainly bar seating. The top floor is accessed by a slim winding staircase. The upstairs is small and gives you a view of the downstairs and outside and ceiling all in different neon colors. The only complain is that the seating is not very comfortable. Chairs and tables feel like they'll fall apart.
The food is very good. But it's recommended to come on a colder day as we went on a summer night, and they have no AC up there.
The menu is very small but gives you the essential and it's well done!
I'd recommend this place for a nice date but not a formal one.
Definitely some of the most flavorful Ramen I've had! I like that they allow you to customize and add additional items to the Ramen to ensure you can try a little bit of everything. The vibe of the restaurant is amazing, too, I love the open window concept!
I ended up getting both some Bao and Ramen, and both were fantastic!
If you're in the area, it's worth stopping here!
Such a San Diego experience!
Walking up from downtown, this place was hard to miss. Bright decor on the outside but a moody atmosphere on the inside, it is a super attractive stop.
You walk indoors to order & then grab a seat anywhere. There’s a lot of variety - you can be indoors near the bar or outside on the patios. Lots of options depending on how much you want to be part of the music and the energy.
Service was great and the actual food was just awesome. I love when ramen places blow your socks off & these guys did just that.
I enjoyed the “belly of the beast” bowl (which is a tonkotsu with braised short ribs and oxtail dumplings) at the recommendation of the bartender. Loved the unique take on a tonkotsu. Everything was delish and it was super affordable. Bowls were like $15!
This place is among my favorite I’ve had in the downtown area so far. Worth the walk, no doubt!
Before getting an extra plate of noodles and sides, order your desired dish (my friend and I bought the belly of the beast ramen) first and see how filling it is. My friend ordered extra noodles, meat, and some mushroom wrapped in bacon and felt like his stomach was going to explode (this is a good thing btw) because of the amount of food given.
The dumplings in the Belly of the Beast Ramen were succulent. The oxtail was delicious. I was afraid it would be a bone in oxtail but it's more of a slice of well done meat! It's not spicy at all, so if you're spice adverse, you should have no problem eating it. The dress code seemed more laid back. You can eat outside, at the bar, or upstairs. They serve alcohol here as well.
Stephanie Sikes-Mitchell
+5
Exceptional food and vibes. Ordering process pretty similar to ramen shops in East Asia that I’ve gone to- you order at the counter/bar and take a seat either indoors or outdoors and they bring it out to you. Limited seating indoors, but we were early so no issues on our end. Service was very efficient and staff was helpful with anything we needed. Broth was super flavorful and pork was tender. Really enjoyed the Bao- my only “complaint” would be having more of a sauce/ heat level to the Nashville hot chicken, otherwise it was very good! We very much enjoyed our meal and look forward to coming back 😋
Came here for a date night with my lady on a Friday. Considering all the positive feedback I have heard, I thought we would have to wait longer to be seated. You order everything from the bar terminal and it is a first come first serve self-seating layout. The restaurant is esthetically pleasing, with awesome lighting and great music playing at a reasonable level. My lady ordered the Underbelly Ramen which was good but not amazing 4 🌟s. I ordered the Bento which was exactly what I expected 4 🌟s. We also split an order of shrimp gyoza which was a little burnt but still delicious 4 🌟s . This atmosphere is awesome for a date night and a lunch/dinner at a reasonable price 👌. Service was great! Always topped off our beverages and asked if needed anything else. Over 4 🌟 experience check it out if you are in little Italy and are not craving Italian food.
When you get ramen this good you can’t do no wrong.
Everything we ate there was fantastic. Bao buns were warm and fluffy, gyoza was fried perfectly, and the broth to the ramen was divine.
Just the seating area is just a little tight and weird. They have their windows fold down and turn into a table so someone is outside and someone is inside, but it works for them.
Go check out Underbelly if you’re in San Diego. It’s located in little Italy so super close to everything.
I usually order the belly of the beast and I can’t stop ordering it. I know I can’t go wrong with that ramen. Thank you chef for the delicious food. Service is great and I enjoy the atmosphere❤️☺️. I always return when I visit San Diego. This time I ordered a bento box which was very good as well. 👍🏼
Gluten free ramen was SO good. I'm gluten intolerant (non celiac) and the waitress made sure to tell me the broth has soy sauce, which was very much appreciated! I can usually handle a little soy sauce (has a low wheat amount) and was totally fine after eating. I highly recommend the bacon wrapped mushrooms too. Street parking only so on evenings you might have to walk a bit. 100% recommend, we came here twice on vacation and it was great both times.
Might be too cool for it’s own good. The location is great, lots of cool vibes here, neon, dark. Clearly a play at a dreamy Japan. Counter service is fast and the food comes out super fast. But is it worth it? Not sure, Gyoza, while fried is a bit tasteless until you smother it in sauce. My belly of the beast ramen was fine, excellent noodles, and broth was quite good. Egg and the meat were bland and boring. Added some of the habanero paste for flavor. Why no beer list? Considering they have something like 15 taps, a list or Untappd connection would help out a lot.
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