Izakaya Masa
Izakaya restaurant · San Diego
928 Fort Stockton Dr, San Diego, CA 92103, USA
Highlights
Authentic Japanese spot with ramen, sushi, small plates
Authentic Japanese spot with ramen, sushi, small plates
"This tiny izakaya is pretty inconspicuous, so anyone inside is clearly in-the-know. You come for the ramen, but you stay for the small plates. Start with the Hakata ramen, a smooth tonkotsu broth layered with pork belly, fried garlic, seaweed, and ginger, before making your way to shareables like fried agedashi tofu, vegetable gyoza, and salmon ochazuke (a rice-in-soup dish topped with fish). Skim the list and you'll see imported Japanese beer and vodka, though it's sake that reigns supreme. The food at this place is on point, and it has a line to show for it—but Izakaya Masa's intimate vibe and size are part of the fun, ratcheting up the experience of any date or (small) group meal with friends. More importantly, though, waiters don't circle like vultures—so you can stretch it out for as long you'd like." - Archana Ram, Marie Tutko
"Reservations are a must at this tiny restaurant in Mission Hills. Popular for its ramen and sushi, also try a selection of appetizers and a beer. Dishes include gyoza and agedashi tofu, or more exotic offerings include chuka karage (spicy jellyfish), takowasa (wasabi marinated octopus), and ankimo (monkfish liver with ponzu sauce)." - darlene-horn
"No-bull sake and ramen The vibe Intimate, modest The crowd Locals who know good soup when they slurp it The drinks Sake-heavy The food Japanese small plates" - Archana Ram
"Well-loved for its affordable prices—their starting option is priced at $10—Izakaya Masa in Mission Hills serves a variety of izakaya style dishes like donburi, gyoza and more but is known particularly for its ramen. Choose from hakata and soyu." - darlene-horn
"The strip-mall restaurant is easy to miss if you don’t know what’s hidden inside: Japanese bar snacks, steaming bowls of pork-broth ramen, and imported sake."
