Baikohken Ramen

First time at this place. It’s been new to the area but established since 1969 in Japan. Rich, flavorful broth, chewy noodles, and perfect toppings. They have great lunch deal and happy hours. Generous portions, friendly staff, and great for satisfying ramen cravings!

Authentic Japanese ramen created from a traditional Japanese recipe. The owner is actually from Japan, following in his father's footsteps here in the US. Upscale atmosphere... And a lot of other things on the menu besides ramen. Super friendly and efficient service.

Food was pretty great, I now understand their argument about depth of flavor by mixing their base broths. Really tasty albeit a little expensive for the hillcrest special but overall certainly enjoyable. Also had the potato croquettes which were expertly fried and beautifully pillowy mashed inside.

I came in alone on a Thursday evening and was seated immediately. I ordered the Shoyu Ramen with an egg. It was the best ramen I’ve ever had. The broth was so deeply flavorful, but not heavy. Noodles perfectly cooked. I usually don’t like bamboo, but the bamboo shoots were so good! Chashu was tender and flavorful. Food total was $16.50, which I think is very reasonable for the quality and portions. I will certainly be back!

Update: They also make their own miso and soy sauce! I’ve been to many ramen places and none of them featured their house made miso or soy sauce which is understandable because it is A LOT of work!! This just showcases the outstanding level of care they put into their food! The restaurant appears hole-in-the-wall in a strip mall, but when you enter, you’re delightfully surprised by their modernized, clean, bright interior. The service was impeccable and the food came out quick. Their house specialty shoyu ramen came with half pork and half chicken broth. The broth was not too rich and the flavors were well-balanced. The spicy miso was delicious as well, stronger flavor profile overall. The noodles were very chewy and the thickness felt appropriate for the soup base. I appreciate their rather simple and focused menu, highlighting their house specialty. The flavors are classic and not overly seasoned and not too salty. The portion was just right and the pricing seems very reasonble. It’s so nice to find a ramen place that’s as high quality and classic as Baikohken when there are so many ramen places that are modernized or westernized. It makes Baikohken stand out for us. We’d recommend to those wanting a bowl of classic, good quality ramen, no tricks or twists.

This might be my favorite ramen spot in San Diego so far. The shio ramen broth is so clean and flavorful, paired perfectly with the great texture of the noodles. The chashu was just right—not too fatty—which made it even better. Adding fresh garlic takes the whole bowl to the next level. Definitely a must-try for ramen lovers!

We had the Tonkotsu and the Miso ramen. The Tonkotsu was like $24 but felt like it had less ingredients than the $15 Miso ramen. Both had really good broths. Next time I would opt for the miso ramen just because it is the same size with maybe a little bit more ingredients for about $10 less. I understand that Tonkotsu broth takes a long time and maybe the pork they are using is fancier but the Miso was better. This is one of the best Miso ramens you can get outside of Convoy! Pictured is the Tonkotsu.

My wife and I lived in this ramen shop's hometown of Asahikawa, Hokkaido, Japan for two years in the mid-eighties when we taught at a local university there. We used to enjoy the ramen at a locally-famous ramen shop with our local friends. Imagine our surprise when we saw a sister store here in San Diego! Excellent ramen and authentic taste! They even had butter and corn ramen, which was a new flavor of ramen when we lived in Hokkaido (Hokkaido is Japan's dairy capital). Visit this store for an excellent bowl of ramen!

Little hole in the wall. Such a cute place! We loved all of it! The service was great, everyone was really nice! Oh - make sure to make reservations! It's a pretty popular place. What we ordered: * Shoyu Butter & Corn Ramen - I added an egg & a spicy bomb ball (on the side). All I can say is that it hit the spot. It was raining and chilly that evening. Perfect! Yummm! * Takoyaki - Super cute presentation & oh, so tasty! A must try. * Fried Chicken 3 Piece - Crunchy & tender, delish! * Sake in a Wood Box - Tasty & cute!

Came for second time last night and it's official! My new favorite Ramen place. Sorry Nishiki but this place won me over!! My go to order is the Spicy Miso with butter and corn it is delicious!!!! First time I had the shoyu and it was good but not as good as the spicy miso! Also hag is where it's at!!!

Made a reservation a couple of weeks in advance for late Valentine's Day (Feb 15). We were running late, after 3-4 calls they picked up and were able to push our reservation back! We're grateful because otherwise soon after we got there around 6:20 pm a line began. I ordered the Hillcrest Shio special. It comes with extra pork, an egg, butter corn, and seaweed. It was lots of food! The soup started off light at first and as the butter melted, it got heavier/saltier. The noodles were some of the best I've had in the States. Unfortunately, I did have a mild stomachache after dinner, but I'm pretty sensitive so I don't fault the restaurant too much. I think if I went back I would just get the normal shio or shoyu bowl. I paid about $60 for two bowls of ramen, no apps, after taxes and fees. The location is the same as the old Menya Ultra in Hillcrest - down to the layout of the tables and chairs. It's definitely cozy in there but not horrible. No outdoor seating.

Baikohken Ramen is just alright. A standard ramen place with light broth noodles. There was nothing that really stood out here. They took over the menya ultra and didn't do much else to make it spruce it up ambiance wise. The service was poor as they forgot our order of shōchū. Food: Shoyu Signature Ramen: the broth was a classic soy based broth nothing too special. Noodles were also pretty standard with good texture and chew to them. The chashu had a similar taste and texture to ham, which was not good at all. What was very good however was the egg. Perfectly done and perfectly seasoned! Shio Ramen: main difference here was the broth. The salt base made it have a much lighter feel which brought the dish together better. Still not the best broth I've had, though better than the shoyu.

Pro tip.. make sure to make a reservation. They don't accept walk ins majority of the time. We ordered: MISO RAMEN - I usually order miso ramen every time I eat ramen but I felt there was something missing. I added a lot of ramen seasoning & pepper so I think next time I'll order the spicy miso ramen. Their egg was delicious & I could tell the quality was there! SERVICE - Our ramen came out within 15 minutes & the service was friendly

We decided to try this place on a Friday night for dinner. It's a small ramen restaurant so not tons of tables so they were busy but the wait was short - probably 10 minutes tops. I will say we were there at 5:45 and people coming in after 6:15 were being told there was a 30 min wait, so plan accordingly. We ordered a 3 piece of the friend chicken, spicy. It was delish, it came with a spicy sauce drizzled on top and some chili flakes. It was fried boneless chicken thighs, super moist and juicy. Very yum. One of us got the Hillcrest Special with miso broth and the other got the chashu ramen soy sauce with an egg added. Both bowls of ramen were really delicious, but we both agreed we liked the shoyu ramen (soy sauce) best. The miso broth was milder in flavor, although still very garlicky and flavorful. Parking lot is tiny but people were coming and going pretty quickly even for a Friday. We found a spot right away. Service was fast, food came out hot and quickly. Noodles were yummy - would definitely go back here!

Their ramen was okay- not my favorite ramen spot, but still decent. Got their shoyu ramen with the garlic bomb, which the bomb unfortunately made the broth extra salty. My friend got the butter & corn ramen, and of the last scoops of soup that I tasted, it was delish! I'm curious about their vegan options. I'm willing to give this place another try. Place has fitting deco, comfortable vibes, and service was quick. Though they have a small parking lot attached, it gets filled quick and street parking in Hillcrest can sometimes be tricky. But probably a time of day thing.

Cute ramen place. Great friendly service. The parking situation isn't the best but the ramen was delicious . I ordered the spicy miso ramen and the chicken karaage. Perhaps I put in too much of the spicy miso but it made the broth too salty. I had to ask for extra broth to dilute it. Definitely tasted better afterwards. My friends ordered the miso ramen and their broth was perfect. The chicken karaage was perfect -crispy and juicy. I will return if I'm in the neighborhood but for me , there's other ramen places that are comparable in taste and price with better parking . I wish it was in a Bette r location.

This place feels like an exclusive club! Make sure you call to get a reservation or take a chance and wait outside. But I will say, it's worth the wait! The parking can be a bit hectic to account for that when you're making a trip here. The waitress was extremely kind, quick and for being the only lady serving all tables, power to her! Cute welcoming interior. Unfortunately, with being the only server, service was slow and for three people to eat one simple bowl of Ramen and ending with mochi, it took an hour and a half, a good chunk of which was spent wondering when she'd come back. Vegans/vegetarians, rejoice! There are options for us (but only two). You also have the many add-ins to top your ramen. I had the vegan miso and it was pretty bomb; nothing crazy out of this world or a must have but definitely glad they had a veggie option! I added in butter and corn, and they legit put a little block of butter so if you're a little on the clogged-arteries conscious side, maybe avoid that or butter on the side? My friends got their spicy fried chicken and said it's definitely worth it. Juicy and crunchy and also larger pieces than other ramen spots. Word of warning! The spicy garlic bomb isn't vegetarian. I couldn't hear what she said was in it but it's not friendly to the non-meat eaters. Ended the night with a little mochi ice cream. They have mango, matcha, vanilla, and red bean. You get two per order, and can mix & match! Had the matcha and red bean. I usually only go for matcha but this time, the red bean hit harder. All flavors were great though!

Food = AMAZING! Service = Excellent Ambiance = minimal and lovely Best meal I've had in a very long time. Must make reservations.

It was hard to beat the Menya restaurant in terms of replacement, but I feel like Baikohken Ramen surprised me with their ramen! The walls in the restaurant had a graphic that displayed they were from Japan. They serve Hokkaido style ramen and offer Tonkatsu, Miso, Shio, and Shoyu based broths. I went for their Tonkatsu Ramen which included two pieces of chashu, wood ear mushroom, a marinated egg, and green onion. The tonkatsu was rich in flavor and the broth was not heavy like some Tonkatsu. Their noodles are a pale wheat noodle that held the flavor of the soup! On the side were S&B togarashi and black pepper to enhance the flavor. Very glad that Baikohken Ramen has made its way into San Diego, and I do hope they stick around. Their ramen is simple yet flavorful and authentic. A bowl is super heartwarming and the service from the staff are all nice. I liked my experience here and would come back a second time.

Miso ramen (noodles) from Hokkaido, Japan. I loved how clean the restaurant is and they had many tables. We ordered lunch special. Miso ramen tasted just like I'm used to eat in Japan. Please try Miso Butter ramen as butter adds rich flavor to miso broth. The waiter forgot some of our order but overall everything was good!!

First time at this place. It's been new to the area but established since 1969 in Japan. Rich, flavorful broth, chewy noodles, and perfect toppings. They have great lunch deal and happy hours. Generous portions, friendly staff, and great for satisfying ramen cravings!

@baikohken_usa made the best authentic Ramen in the heart of @hillcrestsandiego, it is well known in Japan. I can easily say that this restaurant is very convenient for workers around the area with their exciting happy hour lunch time. it tastes really good and different, i love it there.

Very delicious and authentic dining experience. The food was out fast and it was amazing. They added extra spice to the furikake fries for us which was awesome. Very sensitive to allergies, truly appreciated. We'll definitely be back. Soymilk broth is a must try.

The food was great! That was my first time having Shio ramen. It was delicious. The food came out quickly. Our drinks did have a slight delay. We got our food before getting our drinks. All we ordered was a coke and a water. We had a reservation and when we arrived we thought Yelp just put us on the waitlist but we ended up getting a text shortly after arriving letting us know our table was ready. The ambiance was very casual. The event had the football game on. Great experience. Pricing wasn't terrible either.

This place is a small section in Hillcrest that replaced the Menya Ultra in the area. It sells Hokkaido style ramen in Tonkotsu, Shio, Shoyu, and Miso. The place is well lit with very nice staff and decent chairs and artwork. I had the spicy tonkotsu which had a ball of chili paste, whilst my friend had the chashu tonkotsu with takoyaki to share. The takoyaki was delicious with flakes of bonito on top and the delicious and hot octopus innards. The tonkotsu was the main star with the spice bomb packing a punch. The soup was rich in pork bone flavor rather than a mainly creamy tonkotsu which was delicious. The noodle had a nice bite and carried the soup well. I really enjoyed the food here, and the lighter broth does make a difference on the palate. All in all, a very excellent meal, worth coming back to.

I've only gone to a couple ramen places and have been unimpressed but the spicy garlic ramen here was AMAZING. This is the only place where I would be a return customer just for the ramen. The spice and flavor levels were perfect.

Not the ramen I was expecting! Especially for close to $30! It was ok, but definitely not worth what they were charging, I've had much more flavorful tonkotsu for $17-$20 in SD. The inside was cute, but very small. The servers were nice and several people kept coming in to make reservations, so I feel obligated to try the ramen here one more time before deciding to never eat here again.

I really wanted to give this place a 5 because there were so many parts to this visit that went well, but unfortunately the parts that didn't would've made a more strict Yelper say I'm being generous. First things first, I HIGHLY encourage making reservations in advance, especially during their peak times which are the weekends and evenings. When we arrived the line was SUPER long and being that we had reservations we just walked right in and were seated almost immediately. The restaurant itself was nice and clean with good decor, just really tight seating and loud. It didn't take too long for someone to get our order. Unfortunately no one said there names so I am not able to address them in this post. The food came out pretty fast. Our appetizers: Norishio fries, nice and crisp with good flavor, Hokkaido croquettes, perfect crisp with the creamy smooth filling absolutely delicious, and the fried chicken very flavorful, you could def taste the ginger but it wasn't bad. Our ramen: Hubs got the Kurobota Tonkatsu Ramen and I got the spicy version adding butter and corn. The flavors blended so well, it's the first time I've actually finished everything, almost finishing the broth as well whereas other Ramen spots I don't finish the noodles or the even make a huge dent in the broth. The only complaint I have was my charsiu was cold and in not sure if it's supposed to be like that but I was kind of taken aback because I wasn't expecting it to be cold. Otherwise it tasted great and the broth was fine, not too cold or hot. Then when we finished, we waited for a good 15 mins for someone to check on us. No refill with the waters, luckily I got a tea so I gave my husband my water. I had to flag someone down to get their attention. Unfortunately the guy next to us got to her first so I had to wait for her to get back. I had placed a to go order after she finally came to us. But at least our to go order came out fast. Our bill for 2 ramen, 1 tea, 3 appetizers and 1 more appetizer to go with tax and tip $110. Would I go here again? Sure after payday and on a weekday probably around lunch time after school is back in session and people are working. But for the price point, I would probably go to my usual Ramen place as the food quality and service is consistently good and cheaper.

The server that waited on me when I picked up to go food was excellent, and she was so nice! And the ramen broth tasted OK, but there wasn't enough of it, and I even bought extra broth and it was such a small serving on the extra broth, but I'm glad I ordered the extra or I wouldn't of had enough broth to even enjoy the ramen. Also, there was just one big piece of meat in it... It just was disappointing because I've had better Raman at Underbelly. I wouldn't say, don't go there I would just say I was not a huge fan of their ramen for the meat and the vegetables they put in it and there wasn't enough broth, although the broth did taste very good. And I got my food to go, so I went inside, and the ambience of the restaurant was nice.

The ramen was absolutely delicious! The broth was rich and flavorful, and the noodles had the perfect firmness. We're definitely coming back and highly recommend it to anyone! From their website, the broth is made from pork bones and chicken bones, known as the 'meat-based' soup, and broth from kelp and dried sardines, known as the 'fish-based' soup, the characteristic of this soup is the 'double base.' Despite its rich and deep flavor, it has a light aftertaste. Their Hokkaido style (wheat) noodles is used to create their signature medium-thin curly noodles. Their noodles are made entirely in-house and does not contain eggs. Their Chashu Juicy pork is soaked overnight in their original homemade soy sauce, the sauce softens the meat and release the savory flavor that expresses the fine quality of chashu. Their bamboo shoots are an indispensable part of the Baikohken Ramen experience. Some are as large as a thumb, but all offer a soft, crispy, and delightful texture. It's a small restaurant and very popular so making a reservation is highly recommended. Parking can be challenging.

Yummy, authentic Japanese ramen! We visited Japan last year and had amazing ramen everywhere while touring (Ichiban being the worst for us there),and I have yet to try ramen here in SD that matches the ramen there I had yeah. That being said, this place serves delicious ramen this side of the Pacific and it's worth a try! Our fam of 4 tried the tonkatsu and shio ramen, hubby having his shio served up as a Hillcrest special. Everyone in my party agreed that the ramen was delicious, and was worth our drive from Chula Vista to try it out. I personally loved the texture and flavor of the noodles, the richness of the tonkatsu broth, and the eggs and tender chashu pork were quite delicious. For me, the broth was a tad salty, but paired with noodles it was very good (shouldn't drink ALL - yes some - of that sodium laden broth anyway!) and I always appreciate food being served hot which their soups were. I tried my daughter's shio broth, and while I still prefer tonkatsu it had a nice flavor profile. Hubby was satisfied with all of the toppings included in his Hillcrest special. We also tried the croquettes, which were served up quickly, piping hot (didn't get pics). They were tasty and I liked it paired with the katsu sauce, but at $8.95 for 2 small croquettes it was a bit steep imo. Family enjoyed it though! All in all, I give it a solid 4 stars, the saltiness of the broth and the slightly steep price point bringing it down from a potential 5. Service was very friendly and prompt and deserved a solid 5 though! Give it a try and see what you think!

Absolutely blown away and it came straight from Japan!!! I came from Hawaii where we have so many Asia fusion restaurants and so many ramen spots to choose from recently went to Japan and now im hooked ... this is authentic ramen! We were greeted early about 5 minutes as the waitress saw us outside and quickly secured a table . We got 4 types of ramen and ALLLLLLL of them were good . With ramen it's all in the broth usually but this had flavor on every single item in the bowl it was delicious . The chef was so kind both naturally from Japan and they were super sweet and we talked a bit about Japan which made me so happy .parking was easy as it is in a lot and the area was so clean . Everything you could tell was authentic especially the sake ! The prices are reasonable and I think I genuinely found one of my favorite spots in the states !

Service was fast and friendly. We ordered the spicy chicken karaage, the spicy miso ramen, and the Hillcrest Special (Shio). We liked the chicken! It was good but nothing amazing. We thought the same about the ramen. I liked the light shio broth, but I didn't care for the meat. My friend didn't like their meat either. Ambiance is cute! The food is good but nothing mind-blowing. We paid around $55 for everything.

This might be my favorite ramen spot in San Diego so far. The shio ramen broth is so clean and flavorful, paired perfectly with the great texture of the noodles. The chashu was just right--not too fatty--which made it even better. Adding fresh garlic takes the whole bowl to the next level. Definitely a must-try for ramen lovers!

This was the old Menya Ultra's old location which I used to frequent. This new Ramen restaurant has a pretty simple menu, the new decor is nice. For my 2nd visit I went with the salt ramen (Shio) again as it has a nice balance of savoriness and it is light being made from chick and pork bones & fish and seaweed. Tried the Tonkotsu my first visit and thought it was overly salty and not as creamy as other Ramen joints in San Diego, I know this is their specialty so I will try it again in the future. Only complaints are that I wished they would add steamed Gyoza's instead of the deep fried. Great customer service and clean nice inside look. For sure will be back.

I heard about this restaurant from many different sources saying that it was an excellent place to have Ramen and since I was in the neighborhood, I thought I'd stop by and check it out. It's a good idea to make reservations because they were quite a few tables ahead of us so we had to wait for quite a while to get the table , but the staff was very sweet and cordial. It's been here since 1969. I ordered the Shio and my friend the Miso Ramen. Shio is a lighter soup. The Shio was perfect. A must visit. Keona was awesome. What a sweet smile

The food and service was friendly and timely. The ambiance set me back in Japan with the music, staff who are Japanese, kind and very respectful. I would come back and bring a group of family or friends. Seating can accommodate a large group and children as well. The stick Gyoza isn't the best but tastes like the Hawaii favorite, Gau gee, with a mix of the tea flavor of gyoza. Shoyu ramen is really awesome and the noodle texture is on point! The shio (salt) flavor meets Japan tastebuds! I will come back.

Seriously authentic and amazing! The wait staff are so nice. The menu is easy to read and understand. I highly recommend this place for Ramen. Oh, parking sucks.

Tasty ramen, tasty karaage! Friendly service, although our food did take some time to come out. Ambience was minimalist, clean. We both got the Shoyu Hillcrest special- the servers told us the Shoyu ramen is what they're best known for. The prices were higher than expected, but we enjoyed all the toppings. Located in the Hillcrest shopping center where Uncle Biff's is, parking can be a little tight during the dinner rush.

was pretty good! not sure if it's michelin star level but i def want to come back service was great tho! shoyu ramen was good portion was enough i was pretty full and takoyaki was to be expected notbing special.

Parking spaces are tight in the lot and normally packed on this busy street. We were greeted upon arrival with the option to pick our table. Our server and the well known chef were in attendance and neither disappointed. I opted for the 13 hr broth of meat and fish bones and added two orders of the marinated eggs. The broth was amazing and rich. Between the Shoyo and Shio is the saltiness of the broth. Will try Shio next time. Ambiance was perfect for a Japanese restaurant, they spoke Japanese and were so polite and the restaurant was clean, including the bathroom. Worth multiple trips to taste through the menu.

Went here because all the rave reviews and I'm always in the hunt for a good shoyu ramen. We had to wait close to an hour to be seated and once we were inside waitress left us without taking our order or even giving us water for atleast 20 mins. But fine maybe they were busy or caught up with something else. It'll be okay if the food was good... The food was not good. We ordered the shoyu and spicy miso ramen. Both of the broth tasted very one dimension. There was no depth to the broth. I felt like I was just drinking water mix with salt and it was SALTY. We didn't even finish our food because it was so salty. Would not ever come back. I have no idea why this place has such high reviews.

Solid Ramen spot in Hillcrest featuring ramen with all your favorite broths and beverages. Baikohken Ramen opened up recently in Hillcrest and has replaced the Menya Ultra that was previously there. Per their website, Baikohken is mostly found internationally and this San Diego location is their first in the continental United States. I was eager to try it as something like this feels as if it would be very authentic! It did not disappoint. I came in around noon on a weekday and there were plenty of available seats. The service was attentive and helpful. They walked me through the menu, and their recommendations, and were eager to assist. I ended up going with the Hillcrest Special in the Shoyu broth. The Hillcrest Special features all the toppings so it was a perfect way to see how the ramen was. The Shoyu broth itself felt authentic. It was very flavorful and had the perfect amount of salt. The Chashu was nice and soft. The toppings were excellent. Overall it was an excellent ramen that I'd come back for if I was in the mood. The ambiance felt like a ramen shop with how it was set up which added to the experience. The ramen is solid here and really hits the spot. It doesn't break the mold or break boundaries but it is somewhere I would go when I'm craving ramen.

I've passed by this location a few times and decided to try it on a week night for dinner. There were a few parties inside when we arrived but we were able to get a table quickly. I believe they have a waitlist as well for when times get busier. We got the hokkaido croquette and it was so good. It reminds me of the Porto's potato balls in a way. It was light, crispy, and a good change from the normal chicken that I'll get. Definitely a must try! For each ramen, they have different variants such as Hillcrest, chashu, or butter and corn. I ended up getting the shio ramen I normally don't get shio. I enjoyed this, it tasted less heavy than tonkotsu and the chashu was good. I think I'll try the tonkotsu next time here or their shoyu one since those looked equally as good. The atmosphere is very cozy and perfect for a date night or dinner. Staff here is very friendly and there's a parking lot, which is nice! I'm still thinking of those croquettes as I'm finishing up this review. They have a waitlist but since we went on a weeknight, there were only a few occupied tables.

My friend and I were craving some soup and we decided to come here since there was no wait. The service was incredible, and the food was even better! It's very cute and small, so it's a good, intimate spot for a date!

Was hoping for the best... Great service, food came out quick but one ramen was cool, another luke warm. Really only three choices for ramen. So sad about the temperatures. Chicken karate bowl with rice was tasty and filling. Takoyaki appetizer was good. Parking is tough as it's in a busy mall with lots of other restaurants. Plus the parking spots are tiny...mini-van was too big, had to let people out before parking.

I love Baikohken! Servers and stuffs are so nice and welcoming Real ramen from Hokkaido We love chef Yuki San!!!

A Michelin-recognized ramen chain has arrived from Japan and it's located in Hillcrest right next to Oscar's and Uncle Biff's. I had high expectations but overall, wasn't too impressed. At the time of visit, they were still working on their liquor license so maybe they're still getting their bearings. Expect a wait during peak hours because there's a bit of hype that comes with being Michelin-recognized. The parking lot is shared between other popular stores and restaurants so you might have to park on the street. If you have a large group, come early to put your name down on the Yelp waitlist! French Fries: This was the biggest disappointment. The fries themselves were actually really good but they gave so little. Just take a look at the picture and you can actually count that there are less than 20 pieces. And for $7, which is $1 more than the normal because we asked for the spicy version (with the spicy sauce on the side). I wonder if this was a fluke or if this is what they actually expect to be a fair portion of $7 fries. Also the spicy sauce is not spicy and has a slight tang. Fried Chicken: Comes with 6 pieces. And just like the fries, you can make it spicy for an extra $1. The spicy sauce isn't spicy at all though. Super crunchy and it's all dark meat too so you know it's gonna be juicy. Hokkaido Croquette: Comes with two pieces. Really surprised by how much I enjoyed these. Panko-fried crispy and the potato filling was soft and fluffy. The sauce on the side to dip tasted just like eel sauce from a sushi restaurant. Hillcrest Special Ramen - Salt: The Shio broth here is very light and clear and pretty good but they didn't give that much. The chasu meat is lean and not fatty at all, which I'm guessing is the Hokkaido-style. The bamboo was cut into thick slices and it's pretty good, but I was expecting a little more flavor. Overall, we weren't completely satisfied with the meal and I'm not sure if we just had a bad experience or if that's the way it's supposed to be. But there's a ton of other ramen shops in San Diego that, in my opinion, are better.

My favorite ramen spot in SD so far! I like lighter ramens and their shoyu ramen hits the spot. I think it's pretty unfortunate that the restaurant is pretty empty the few times i've gone because people are missing out. Service is great and prices are average too. Parking can get crowded but there's street parking too. Definitely recommend!!!

I was surprised by how unimpressed I was by the food. I never come to this area because parking is always impossible, but I was lured by the idea that this was a Michelin-recognized ramen restaurant. I was glad to have tried it as part of my ramen tour, but it not anywhere close to my top-ranked ramen shops in San Diego. Food: - I ordered the Shoyu Ramen ($14.95) and Shio Ramen ($14.95). Noodles are QQ so no complaints about this. However, there are these super thick chunks of bamboo that really need to be cut into thinner pieces (see picture), because they are not tender enough to be bit into smaller pieces. Chashu was tender but had no fatty components that revealed it to actually be pork belly. The shoyu flavor is clearly apparent in the shoyu ramen, but neither broth was particularly amazing. - Fried chicken ($6.95 for 3 pieces): Batter is very crispy. However, the thigh meat is stringy, as if it was cooked for way too long - Croquette ($6.95): I did not know a deep fried panko-crusted piece of mashed potato could be cooked incorrectly, but the interior literally had zero salt or flavor. Seasoning was needed. Ambiance: Located in a shopping center that has free parking lot. However, based on other reviews stating that it can be hard to get in/out of the lot during busy hours, we chose to do street parking (which was very limited). The restaurant interior is elegant and airy. Service: Quick and friendly

This is Baikohken's first US mainland location as the only other shop outside of Asia is in Honolulu. It is a Michelin-recognized ramen restaurant that was founded in Hokkaido in the late 1960s. The Hillcrest Center suite where it resides was the home of another local ramen chain until late last year when it decided to focus its business in different areas of San Diego. Baikohken's grand opening occurred earlier this week with operating hours from 5 to 10 pm nightly and from noon to 3 pm on weekends. The parking situation in this plaza can be congested in the evening so be patient. We made an online Yelp reservation, however it was unnecessary as just one group was seated when we showed up at the opening time. A binder containing the menu was at each of the tables which could hold a total of about 50 diners. Edamame and five fried items made up the side dishes. The two of us chose six pieces of Fried Chicken to split. It could be ordered normal (our pick), spicy, or with a smaller serving size of three pieces. The crust was light and crispy. Kewpie mayo and hot sauce were provided for dipping, but I didn't try either as the meat had sufficient seasoning. Three main flavors of broth were featured... Shoyu (soy sauce), Shio (salt), and Miso (fermented soybeans). The base of the "double soup stock" was meat from pork bones and chicken bones and seafood from dried fish and seaweed. There were three pricing levels ranging from the cheapest (Butter & Corn) to the mid-level (Chashu) to the most expensive (Hillcrest Special). Curly noodles, special homemade chashu, and premium bamboo shoots were added to the broth in each bowl. Other toppings were available at a surcharge. They included a soft boiled egg, bean sprouts, extra butter & corn, extra chashu, extra bamboo shoots, and extra noodles. I selected the Butter & Corn Shio Ramen which had a mild salt flavor. That made the broth light and easy to consume at the very end of the meal. A thick slice of chashu was included along with butter, corn, and bamboo shoots. The curly noodles were perfectly cooked. The shoots were a bit chewier than I liked while the chashu was slightly above average compared to other ramen places I have tried. My friend bought the Spicy Miso Ramen which was the hottest version on the menu. A vegan ramen with a tomato base could be ordered if you wanted to avoid meat. Rice with meat was offered as two types of chashu bowls in a small or large serving size. No desserts or sweet items were listed on the menu. Alcoholic beverages were currently unavailable because the ABC license had not been approved yet. The service from the waitress was fine. Before we left, a lady (manager/owner?) handed out a 10% discount card to each of us which we assumed was a grand opening promotion. It's valid until the end of this August. I rated our dinner at Baikohken Ramen with 4.5 stars as a few tweaks could elevate it to a full five star level.

Came here and got the spicy miso ramen and 6 piece karaage. The karaage was very crispy and flavorful, probably the best karaage of any ramen shop in SD. On a second visit I got the gyoza which are deep fried. I prefer the more traditional pan fried which has a crunchy side fried on the pan and a chewier side that is cooked by steam. All their broths (except vegan) are made with both pork and chicken bones and konbu and bonito flakes. Because of this combination, the broth is cleaner and less oily yet still has great flavor. The spicy miso was tasty and had a good mild miso flavor the spice level was perfect. Not too spicy or mild, you can ask for chili oil if you want it more spicy. It came with thick pieces of bamboo shoots, wood ear mushrooms, bean sprouts, green onions, chashu and a half soft cooked egg. There was a good amount of curly noodles, which I prefer over the straight Tokyo style noodles. I thought the bamboo shoots and wood ear mushrooms were kinda bland so push them to the bottom of the bowl to soak up the broth. I also tried the shoyu chashu ramen the flavor was good they asked if I wanted chili oil so I added a little as well as some togarashi in the pepper shaker on the table. The chili oil added a nice sesame flavor with some heat. I think the togarashi added more heat. There was a lot of chashu! There's also a special ramen pepper blend on the table which adds more flavor than just regular pepper. I think there's sesame seeds, garlic and onions in that mix. Service was very friendly and prompt. There is a small parking lot that they share with the other businesses in the same plaza. So take the first one you see or find one a block or two away. Baikohken took over the space where Menya Ultra used to be in the same parking lot as Uncle Biffs and Oscars Mexican Seafood. Baikohken is a Michelin recognized ramen shop, which makes it surprising that it wasn't too crowded when I visited. Normally when a new ramen shop opens, especially such a decorated place, there's a line out the door. I think it's just a matter of time before people discover it. Be sure to use Yelp reservations.

Tasty, Hokkaido-style ramen in the old Menya Ultra spot in Hillcrest. It took a little bit to get used to because the furniture and layout still looks the same. Our server was extremely friendly and provided prompt service throughout. Fried Chicken Karaage - okay, not great. The pieces were small and not as juicy as others I've had. Still had good flavor though! Shio Ramen + Egg - their famous "double broth" with meat and seafood essence makes the soup flavorful but still light. Perfect for days I want ramen but not super rich broth like tonkotsu. The noodles were bouncy and had a nice texture. The boiled egg was the best part!!One of the best boiled eggs I've had - so glad I added one! My husband got the spicy miso ramen and he really liked it we well.

We were told by our friend that a new Ramen shop had opened up in Hillcrest, and saw that Baikohkeh truly did take the spot of previous tentant Menya Ramen. With accolades of being on the Michelin guide of Hokkaido, we had expectations of being impressed, but they fell slightly short. - PARKING - Small dedicated lot to the businesses in this strip plaza. There are a few street parking spots along the adjacent street as well! - SERVICE/ENVIRONMENT - The setup of the interior is pretty much the same as Menya had it, with 2-4-6 person table arrangements available. They have a Yelp Waitlist, so you can check-in online! We came on a Saturday near 6:30pm, and waited about 10-15 minutes. I do think they are still working out the kinks of service as we had several delays throughout our meal. They did graciously separate the spicy sauce for our appetizers, since one of our party members is spice prone. My main gripe was how long it took for our items to come out, considering other tables seemed to get theirs first even though we ordered before them. - FOOD - Fried Chicken (spicy,6pcs - $7.95): Really crunchy skin and juicy meat inside. The pieces of chicken themselves were decently sized too. French Fries (spicy - $7.95): Seeing the price, I would assume it would be like a basket of fries. Unfortunately, this was the most disappointing plate of fries I've ever seen. Not even filling up the entire bowl, and at this cost... it was not worth it at all. Hokkaido Croquette (2pcs - $6.95): Super crispy, well fried, great potato filling! They served it with something that tasted like eel sauce. Spicy Miso Ramen ($18.95): Besides the extra spice (which I think you can ask for chili oil on the side and have the same effect), this differs from the regular Miso Ramen by having woodear mushroom and 1/2 seasoned egg. The spiciness isn't too bad, I actually added in more chili oil and was still fine. The noodles are thin, but have a nice chew to them. The chasiu meat was very tough for me unfortunately, and one of our other bowls had cold slices. - OVERALL - Our expectations fell short in terms of the ramen, and the lacking portion in the appetizer. However, they do have good Fried Chicken and Croquettes... but we probably will have our other ramen shops to go to.

Awesome ramen! The broth had amazing umami flavor! Hokkaido style ramen, with a rich pork broth. The broth came out steaming hot and the seasoned egg was delicious. Chef Yuki Sato was very kind, and the service was fast & excellent. The menus told the story of the restaurant's Japanese origins, as does the ambiance. Authentic ramen noodle ありがとございます！(Thank you!)

Best ramen place ever! This was our second time visiting this place and we have to bring our friends with us this time.

Baikohken Ramen is located in a smaller parking lot, but they offered a welcome coupon after our meal. I've come on a weekday, 1-2 hours before closing and there was no wait. Service is attentive, and the ramen is comforting.