Menya Ultra UTC La Jolla

I am not sure how they got into the Michelin Guide California, but we have had many better ramens. Both of the soups we had were good, but the tonkotsu wasn’t as good! My main issue was with how thin and small was the chashu piece that came with it! You had to pay $4 more to get 4 more pieces but the pieces are way too small. The noodles were okay, nothing special. The service was relatively slow and it seems like they were way understaffed.

First time here at this location since we weren't satisfied with the one in Convoy hoping it’s better. Not sure which dishes earned its Michelin Star because Tonkotsu Ramen or Karage Don sure didn't gave me the 5 star flavor/ Wow factor. I've been to numerous Ramen restaurants and Menya Ramen is just average. Broth was okay. Tonkotsu Ramen ($17.95) didn't have enough decent chasu pork (only 1 slice) so order Tonkotsu Chasu Ramen which is $3.00 more if you expect 3 slices at least. I prefer the karage on the crispy side. My wife had to ask me multiple times if the chicken was done because we're not use the way it's cooked. Gave another shot at Menya Ultra and probably our last one. Service was great but we were expecting more!

We loved this place. We just came from a round trip in Japan and can easily say this place at UTC has the same if not better food. The service was excellent and Kaylee, the manager was very nice and friendly. Our new favorite spot outside of Japan. Ps. The music was very smooth.

If you’re a ramen lover in San Diego, you have to try Menya Ultra. The broth here is next level rich, flavorful, and just the right balance of creamy and salty. The noodles are fresh, springy, and soak up all that umami goodness perfectly. I ordered the Tonkotsu with chili paste on the side and added the soft boiled egg. The chashu pork practically melts in your mouth, and the toppings just make every bite better. It was so delicious and definitely recommended.

Skip the lines!Perfect for queue-haters—head straight to their UTC branch. This place packs serious credentials: Michelin-recommended and reigning ramen champ！ 🍜 Flavor Bombs: → Broth:Chicken + dried fish simmered 18hrs = umami explosion!💣 → Noodles:Custom thick-cut, springy texture that clings to every drop of broth! → Egg:Marinated soft-boiled—ooze that molten gold yolk✨ → Chashu:Low-temperature pork belly... gushes juices when bitten! 🥩💦 🔥 Pro Moves: ✓ Add yuzu pepper (citrus-spicy kick!) ✓ Heap on free-refill mountain of chives🌱

Nice location, some variety of foods. They give you plenty of food portions for one person. The Takoyaki didn't taste well cooked inside, it was kind of overly soft.

I was so cold on a chilly day and was grateful to find a vegan ramen near by when traveling. The delicious creamy broth made me warm and happy. The young girl at the cashier was enthusiastic and friendly! My only wish is that they added some protein to a vegan version: tofu, impossible/beyond, lots of other faux meats available in Asian stores, these days it’s very easy. The garlic oils that was poured around my pile of onions made the soup yummy.

Typical Mall food stall ambiance but with excellent food, does not disappoint. Very authentic taste,rich creamy texture, service temperature was on point. Highly recommend.

I must admit this place is so convenient meeting up with folks of like mind. Are you in the mood some ramen? Well it's lunch time so you guessed it I am! My go to order is the Tonkotsu Ramen with pork, chashu, egg green onion, wood ear mushroom and of course the sesame seeds. The broth is simple with pork broth, soy sauce and fish flavored oil. It all works out, just be careful as it's hot. My friend and I shared an order of Nagoya Fried Chicken. This left us pretty stuffed that we had to walk around a bit after the meal. I will have to save some space to try the dessert next time. Staff is very helpful and friendly. Depending on the time of the day it can be crowded but rest assured you will find a place to sit.

With UTC's parking garage, this is a convenient option for ramen. Order at the counter, take your seat and be served within minutes. The ramen is pretty standard in my mind, the noodles a little more chewy than some places. I don't have the most discerning palate when it comes to ramen, but the broth was flavorful and there was plenty of veg and meat in the bowl, so I was content.

Update: I did enjoy the karaage chicken over rice and the fact that they had all these different sauces on the side that you could help yourself with basically there is a mix of self serve, and service that is really indicative of the sit down Ramen type of spot. This is trying to be. I updated my review because my kids did really enjoy their Ramen. It did taste salty for me and I would say the overall flavor of the broth was rich. That many would say they enjoyed that type, but for me a lighter broth would just be preferable. They give plenty of noodles and the service was attentive at 5pm today. I honestly returned because I had a gift card but I'm glad I did try it again because it is a four out of 5 Star place.

Great Ramen! Fast service! 10/10 experience! They make their noodles from scratch, and you can definitely taste the difference!! The place isn't too big so I wouldn't recommend going with a large party, but I highly recommend giving it a try.

The line wasn't that long. Once, we put in the order (outside), we were in line to find a table. Once, sat down the food came pretty fast. The food was good, it was simple and was given a-lot of combination.

I visited Menya Ultra earlier this week to try their vegan miso ramen. The person who took my order gave me a complimentary side of chili paste to add to my ramen to make it spicy, which I appreciated. She was very kind as well. Unfortunately, the wait was very long even though there were not too many other customers around. I did notice other people who ordered after us receive their food relatively quickly, so we were worried they had forgotten about our order. After checking in to remind them, we received our food around 10 minutes later, about 30 minutes after we had originally ordered. The ramen was good, not the best vegan miso I've had but still tasty. I appreciated the free sauces they have out and used a few. I wished the ramen had more of the miso flavor and perhaps some tofu or inari for protein instead of just vegetables. I will probably continue to go to other places when having ramen, but I'm glad I tried it.

This is a good ramen spot but not nearly as good as ramen nagi which is on the other side of the mall. There is never a really long line compared to their location in Claremont and the service is pretty fast. I got the spicy miso ramen with an egg - extra spicy. It was a good level of spice but they forgot my egg so I had to go back to the counter and ask for it again. The egg had a good runny yolk but was not as marinated as I prefer. They also put way too many bean sprouts and mushrooms as toppings, it kind of felt like i was eating a huge mouthful of both in every bite! Of course I'm sure you can ask for less or none but I didn't know it was going to be so much when I ordered it. The broth was good though, very rice and creamy! And the noodles were well cooked. My only complaint was that I had asked for no fish oil but I still tasted it when I was eating so I think they forgot to not put it in.

Absolutely fantastic ramen spot! I'm so happy they opened this new location! From the moment I walked in, the atmosphere was cozy and inviting -- you can tell a lot of care goes into both the food and the experience. The broth was rich and flavorful, perfectly balanced without being too salty. The noodles had that ideal chewy texture, and the toppings were super fresh (the soft-boiled egg was perfection). Service was friendly and attentive, and everything came out piping hot. You can tell this place takes pride in what they do -- it's easily some of the best ramen I've had outside of Japan.

I was really looking forward to trying this Michelin-level ramen joint, but here's how things went down. For starters, this wasn't quite what I expected. The place was much smaller and more casual...and you had to order in line, which I found a bit hard to do since choosing the ramen can be complicated (especially if you're adding toppings). I just wished this was a normal ramen joint...with a wait staff. My husband ended up ordering this Miso Ramen with Paiko Chicken (add-on)...and I got this Black Sesame Tan Tan Ramen, with Eggs and Corn (add-ons). Well, my husband seemed to like the ramen...but not exactly enthralled. He didn't particularly like the dark-meat chicken, and didn't feel that it was any better than the non-Michelin-level ramen he last had. Surprisingly, I felt the same. I actually loved the Black Sesame broth, but the thing that peeved me off was their stinginess with the pork. My ramen had maybe 2-3 droppings of pork. For a 24-dollar ramen, it was sure skimpy on the meats. Overall, I was quite disappointed. I just expected a better ramen experience...and certainly some decent amount of meat in my ramen. Frankly, I felt a bit ripped off at the end of our meal. I'll probably try them at least one more time before giving up on them...and maybe try one of their other locations next time we visit San Diego?

Their ramen is soo good, it's full of flavor and their service is great! The place is clean and fun! I would totally come back!

First time here at this location since we weren't satisfied with the one in Convoy. Not sure which dishes earned its Michelin Star because Tonkotsu Ramen or Karage Don sure didn't gave me the 5 star flavor/ Wow factor. I've been to numerous Ramen restaurants and Menya Ramen is just average. Broth was okay. Tonkotsu Ramen ($17.95) didn't have enough decent chasu pork (only 1 slice) so order Tonkotsu Chasu Ramen which is $3.00 more if you expect 3 slices at least. I prefer the karage on the crispy side. My wife had to ask me multiple times if the chicken was done because we're not use the way it's cooked. Gave another shot at Menya Ultra and probably our last one. Service was great but we were expecting more!

Been to all 3 locations, they all hit at 100% This location is larger. The ramen is exceptional and very authentic, they offer braised Chashu ends to add in which are a must. Service is swift, and I believe all locations have Sapporo on draft and a selection of beer and sake. Definitely my #1 spot overall for SD county.

I guess this was a highly rated ramen shop so we decided to try it! Perhaps we didn't get the right things, but also I'm not a fan of dandan style ramen. I thought the broth and noodles were okay. My husband enjoyed his bowl tantamen with pork katsu? I learned later on, we should have probably gotten the chicken karaage and this black sesame tantanmen. Ah well! Next time! The service and restaurant itself was very clean and friendly. No wait on a friday afternoon.

MICHELAN STAR RESTAURANT! Menya Ultra has been on my list to try, and I'm a huge ramen person. This location is conveniently located at UTC La Jolla, right by the parking lot, next to other restaurants such as Board & Brew and Somi Somi. The service lost a star from me, no one greeted my group and I as we walked in and had to order right on the spot. They weren't super helpful if you ask questions, it's more like you need to read the menu yourself. There are no servers or waiters, you order your food at the register, pay, then find a seat. Luckily my group and I got there at around 5:25, 25 minutes after they opened. They provide water cups and do indeed bring the food to you. People also left their bowls and everything at the table, pretty inconvenient because there aren't many chairs and tables in the place, so those workers need to clean immediately. The ambiance was however bright and welcoming. It felt like I was in Japan again with all the small details they created. The environment was beautiful, and the food it was delicious. It is not worth Michelan Star, it tastes quite like allot of other ramen places i've had. I decided to get the Tonkotsu Ramen for a whopping $15. Pretty solid place.

We were walking around looking for a place to get dinner. It was around 8pm and restaurants would be closing in a few hours. We came across Menya Ultra. There is a large selection of ramen dishes to choose from. Walked up, ordered and found a table. Immediately you notice the manga on the walls. After a short wait, our order was brought to our table. I am not a ramen expert, but I thought the ramen was delicious. The temperature of mine was warm but my daughter's order was hot for here so she had to wait for it to cool. Would definitely consider coming back.

I was so excited to try this place as a ramen lover and was a little disappointed by the quality of the ramen and service. Despite it being a Michelin Star restaurant, I felt like it was nothing particularly special. The pork was very fatty and the toppings were not my favorite. However, the broth was very good, hot, and flavorful. The service was decent. You order at the front and find a place to sit. We got there 20 minutes after 5pm (opening) and to our surprise was already busy. Overall, the service could have been better and the ramen was pretty comparable to other ramen restaurants. One bowl was $17, making it more on the pricey side for ramen, so I would rate the value for the your money as low.

Prior to coming here I didn't know that Menya Ultra had Michelin recognition. But it definitely lives up to it! I got the tonkotsu ramen and it was mouth watering. The noodles were very smooth and the broth was rich in flavor. My friends and I really enjoyed it. The service was good too, you order up front and then they bring your ramen to the table you're sitting at. Additionally, the food comes out relatively fast. The ambiance is nice, well decorated and interesting wall art. The only issue is if you try and come during the regular eating hours, finding a table is a PAIN. You should definitely come and try this place out. They are Michelin recognition for a reason, if you want to avoid traffic then come earlier in the morning or non busy eating hours!

Fast service for good ramen. The broth is delicious and they give you lots of mushroom, pork, and onion. It's a busy place, but I got my food in a few minutes.

Went for lunch on a Friday and were able to immediately order and sit. Service was friendly and quick on taking our order and getting our food. I got the regular Tonkotsu ramen (#1) which came with a piece of chashu, green onions, and wood ear mushrooms. I thought that the noodles were nicely cooked and the broth had a nice pork flavor. The chashu was very thin and tender. The flavor basically was the same as the broth and so it was good. We also got the Miso ramen (#5) which is a lighter flavored style but we both also enjoyed that one as well. I really enjoyed the Nagoya Style Fried Chicken! The flavor was amazing on these and they were extremely juicy and tender. Very black pepper-forward but I think these are definitely a must-get. Overall Menya Ultra is a solid bowl of ramen. We are lucky to have an abundance of great ramen spots in California and so I think for a first-timer, this is a great introductory bowl of clean tonkotsu flavors. But personally there's not that special depth of flavor or "wow" factor that only few ramen places can truly capture.

This is some of the best ramen I've had since I left Tokyo. I had the black sesame ramen ( with spicy pasted added for $1), and my daughter had the tonkatsu chasu ramen. They were both delicious, the ramen was fresh, and the portions were standard large bowls full of deliciousness. They have a combo option for lunch so we opted for that, it comes with the ramen, 2 pieces of karaage, and a fountain drink. We placed our orders at the counter got our number and sat down. The service was super fast, and very friendly. Our chicken and soups were out in just a few minutes. The walls are decorated with some fun manga style artwork. I actually got a little swept up into reading all the fun quotes all over the walls. It was very entertaining. I loved my entire experience. It was VERY, VERY authentic. I will be back for lunch again soon, and often. Oishikatadesu yo!

I came here after work on Tuesday October 14 because it was raining and ramen sounded amazing. Me and my boyfriend both ordered 2 bowls of the tantanmen with paiko and it was bad! The soup was way to creamy and had nothing that cut through it. The chicken was good but not worth paying $80 for everything other than the gyoza. Don't come here for ramen.

Menya Ultra's UTC location is a good spot to get ramen, however, in my opinion, there is nothing that stands out too much to me about the food here. I ordered the Tonkatsu Ajitama Ramen ($19.50) and I thought it had a good flavor, but it was lacking that "something" that differentiates Menya Ultra ramens' from other ramen shops. The portion size was good, however I had better ramen for a lower price. The service here was nice and friendly, but the layout of the establishment was more of a fast food experience. You order at the counter and they will call your number when your food is ready. You then take your food to your table, so interaction with workers are limited. The seating area was nice, resembling a fast food ramen spot. Overall, Manya Ultra is a nice spot to go to if you're looking for ramen as a mall food.

Two orders of Spicy Miso level 1, edamame, plus another ramen arrived by grubhub. One order of chicken karaage not received. Level 1 was plenty enough spicy for me so I'm pretty sure probably level 2 and 3 would feel the burn the next day. Texture of noodles were different and good almost like bo bun hue noodles. The edamame was also cooked perfectly.

I am not a die hard authentic ramen fan. I usually just go to Tajima and Underbelly. White people ramen. Menya Ultra destroys all competition. The broth is SMOOOVVEEE. The topings are plentiful and flavorful. Pasta was slightly overcooked but we took it to go and have a 15 minute drive home. Customer service was solid. Nice guided advice. Line took maybe 10 minutes + 15 minutes waiting for food. Very worth it.

4.5 stars rounding up to 5 because I felt it was a little bit pricey but I also don't frequent ramen places enough to know for sure. I got the basic tonkatsu ramen and I thought it had great flavor. It was perfectly salted so that all the flavors melded together and came through in a cohesive way and the broth itself was very rich. I feel comfortable saying the broth itself was the best I've ever had, although the meat held the overall experience back from being perfect. Will definitely be back if I ever have a hankering for ramen again!

Skip the lines!Perfect for queue-haters--head straight to their UTC branch. This place packs serious credentials: Michelin-recommended and reigning ramen champ！ Flavor Bombs: Broth:Chicken + dried fish simmered 18hrs = umami explosion! Noodles:Custom thick-cut, springy texture that clings to every drop of broth! Egg:Marinated soft-boiled--ooze that molten gold yolk Chashu:Low-temperature pork belly... gushes juices when bitten! Pro Moves: Add yuzu pepper (citrus-spicy kick!) Heap on free-refill mountain of chives

I had heard great things about this ramen place, and figured that the stars aligned since there was a new location in UTC, and I.. happened to be in UTC. Can I just say, the ambience is immaculate - with manga panels dotting the walls and Japanese music faint in the background, it's such a cozy little spot to get a bite to eat amidst the crazed shoppers. To start, you order at the register and pick your own seats - the food is brought out to you. I ended up getting the Tonkatsu Ajitama (pictured). I would agree with some of the other reviews that the broth is just not rich and full of flavor like its counterparts. I had to add some chili oil for some more kick. The bowl felt like more noodles than anything else, and I was left wanting more. It felt like a quick ramen fix, rather than the full sit down experience. I would probably try something else if I came back!

Our first time trying Menya Ultra as we eat our way through San Diego. While their lunch special is a fantastic deal and the service was wonderful - the ramen itself was more on the average side. Nothing too complex in the broth, just a plain tonkatsu broth with thin noodles that could have been a bit more al dente. Meat was okay but really quite plain. Overall we're a bit disappointed given all the other reviews for a highly rated ramen shop. Not a bad place to stop in for a quick ramen but definitely not a stand out place.

Super good and fast eat! It's slightly not as good broth as the location in convoy imo but it's very close and this one doesn't have a huge wait time to get! The inside felt like you are actually in Japan and it's a good bite to get if you're in the area! Overall 4/5

[ Food ] I ordered #2 Tonkotsu Ajitama and it was good. It was probably not worth it though, there was only one slice of chashu and a small portion of noodles. [ Service ] Customer service was good, the girl who took our order was nice.

New one is pretty good. I find the broth different from the other locations but still good. I do like that you have the option of choosing your own sauces. Service is friendly. You order and pay before eating. The restaurant is nice and you can also sit outside.

Very hectic trying to get a table inside. It's first come first serve and servers don't help you. When we finally managed to snag a table we ordered ramen and chicken katsu. Ramen broth was good and noodles had a good texture. Hit the spot. It is on the slightly salty side. Kids like the crispy chicken. Once we ordered the food was served quickly.

The appeal of Michelin star... it can make you to detour from your straight home drive just to try it because the restaurant chain has received one. It is located in the posh San Diego UTC mall and the restaurant has an interesting fusion ambiance of traditional Japanese ramen store with modern manga wall drawing. The menu was easy to understand and the ordering process was automated and painless. I ordered Tonkotsu Ramen. The broth was rich without being oily. The noodle is slightly on the soft side but still firm. The egg was perfectly boiled with still runny yolk. The chashu was tender without too much fatty part. Definitely it was worthy the detour ... well deserved Michelin star.

The Menya staff is always so hospitable and friendly. They are ranked in our Top three for outstanding service in San Diego! We love being your customers. The Chashu Ramen was perfect for today's cold weather. We'll be back again and again.

Menya Ultra now has a location inside the UTC mall! The new location is located in the newer section of the UTC near the Towne Centre Dr entrance. The menu is very simple that you select the ramen option you want and any other add-ons. Order at the counter and they bring the food to you. When we visited on a Saturday night, the line wasn't long. We were able to find a table to sit right the way. Overall, the quality of the ramen is what you expected in other locations. The noodles were well cooked and the broth's flavors are strong. My black tan tan has strong black sesame flavor. Great to see they have a store in UTC.

I've moved their clairmont location since it first opened. I've declared it as my favorite ramen in america! The wait can be gruesome at times so after finding out that this was an order at the counter, find your own table type of service, I wanted to see if it were just as good with less of the wait time. It was really good! I would say it is 98% almost just as good as the original location. Just missing that extra chew when I chew on my broth.. some of you might know what I mean.. other than that.. it's so fatty and milky and creamy.. the noodles are perfectly cooked and the broth clings to it.. the chasu is just so thinly sliced yet tender and fatty.. the crunchy wood ear mushrooms... so good.. I would go again! Pros: -indoor and outdoor self seating -self serve plastic cups, lids, straws for ice water -self serve chili sauces, oil, powder packets and utensils -self serve takeout containers and bags -order at the kiosk -toast rewards system -free mall parking the first 2 hours -located in a nice and bougie mall -clean restroom -no wait Cons: -none :)

Came in on a random chilly night. It was before dinner and my first time here. I've heard raved reviews about "Menya Ultra" being the best and top ramen places. I came in to try! The menu was simple.. you order first and then have your seat. I chose the tonkatsu ramen with Chashu and a 5 pc Chicken Karaage. Both were good, but I was a bit let down about all of the hype. It wouldn't be something I'd stand in line for, since there are a lot of delicious ramen joints around. I actually preferred the broth here at my local ramen place in Chula Vista. The chicken was good, and they used be pieces. Overall, my ramen bowl and chicken and tap water came out to $30! I thought it was definitely overpriced... the chicken was about $10 and ramen was $20.. I've gotten more food elsewhere and for cheaper. Otherwise, it's okay, wouldn't be my first choice.

I've been to Menya's other locations. But this was my first time to this location. As always this ramen restaurant never disappoints. The ramen was amazing. Next time I'll have more self control and take a picture of my food before I just devour it! I'll be back to this location.

Ramen (3/5) is extremely overpriced for the taste and quality you get. The dish is decent at best. Small karage don (4/5) at $8-$9 a bowl is worth the portion size and delicious karage. My only gripe is that the rice didn't feel fresh and had a slightly rubbery texture.

This is where Sears used to be in the UTC mall. Came here for an early dinner with my mom on a Friday afternoon. UTC has a 2 hours free parking. Walked in and at the entrance, they have a touch screen where you can place your order. It was dirty considering the place wasnt busy yet. You pay there as well and you just add a table number to your order. They have table number signs by the touch screen. My mom ordered the miso spicy 1 and i ordered the tonkatsu. Server brings the order to your table. They were pretty fast. The tonkatsu was delicious. Broth was very tasty. I tasted my mom's miso spicy 1 and it was pretty delicious as well. I just cant handle too much spice. Overall, it was pretty delicious. I will definitely come here again.

Delicious broth with everything cooked to perfection. So glad they're newly located at UTC because it's fun to walk around if you're waiting for your table. The wait wasn't long on a weekday night. Yum!

Grabbed a weekday lunch at Menya Ultra within the UTC mall and it was quick and tasty. The Nagoya Fried Chicken was crispy and moist, but so soft when you bit into it. It was seasoned so well too, all the flavors were packed into that breading. I ordered the Miso Ramen as is and it was bean sprouts, wood ear mushroom, green onions, and a slice of pork chashu. I really enjoyed the miso flavor coming through, it wasn't over powered by any of the additional oils in the broth. The noodles had a good bite, they were chewy and there were a good amount of noodles too. There are a lot of good ramen spots in San Diego and this one deserves a shot if you're in the area.

Food rating is subjective, so take this review with a grain of salt. Or maybe a few grains of salt. First few times I had the Tonkotsu Chashu, it was pretty good. Flavor was on point, the noodles were cooked perfectly, and the broth was good! And then the quality kinda dropped. Maybe new chef? Maybe due to bigger crowds? Dunno. But the broth and the karage this time was salty. Chose the less sodium option for the broth and even then it was still a little bit much for me. Besides that, the restaurant is still nice and well maintained. Does it out-do the other two ramen shops in the same mall?.... Perhaps not anymore. Overall rating: Food: 7/10 Service: 10/10 Menu: 8/10 Restaurant Vibes: 10/10 Price to Overall Dining (POD): 8/10

I've eaten here three times and it's always great! I always get the Vegan Miso Ramen. The noodles are bouncy and fresh with great texture. The veggies are plentiful and the cabbage adds a nice crunch. I loved the fresh cracked pepper on top of my ramen today. It really brought the flavors together. The portion size is generous and the miso broth is creamy and packed with umami! For my carnivorous friends, you can add a side of fried chicken and a drink for $2 as part of their lunch special.

Having been to the Mira Mesa location, this is an order at the counter, find your table format. They will bring your food to your table, which has indoor and outdoor seating. It's more casual dining. The employees were on top of it. They greet you as you enter, one of the guys helped push a table for us, and they picked up our bowls after we were finished eating. I love their vegan ramen!!! It is likely my #1 favorite of all that I've tried. It is a creamy broth. I added an egg, and the bowl of ramen was finished completely! Even if you're not vegan, I highly recommend it. I added some of their spicy packets, including the togarashi and Sriracha.

First time trying Menya at this location, this is much different approach, you order at their counter and then wait for your good to come. You self serve yourself (napkins/utensils/sauces). I think it's comparable to their other locations but this place was noticably less busy to the other Menya locations. If in the UTC mall, I may prob choose Ramen Nagi over Menya in this case but not by a big margin. I got the same usuals (Ajitama ramen tonkotsu) and chicken karage. Both were good.

tonkotsu ajitama was mediocre but at the same time it was a good light soup with no msg! noodles were chewy and eggs yommy as usual the nagoya karage was a bit on the oilier side but still crispy outside and soft inside

I have been wanting to visit Menya Ultra forever but I wasn't going to wait in line for 2 hrs. I finally went to their newer location in UTC and when there was no line, I knew the stars aligned and my day had finally come. I had the Tonkatsu Ajitama and the Nagoya Chicken Karaage. Ramen broth was very flavorful and a smokiness to it. The Ramen eggs are well seasoned and had the perfect jammy yolks. The Nagoya Karaage looks spicy but it's actually savory and sweet. Crispy outside, tender and moist on the inside. When I don't have to wait 2 hrs at the Kearny Mesa location, I'll go there next. But I'll definitely be back to this new location soon.

Quality wise I would say that this place is on par with the rest of the menya ultras. What this place lacks is the service. In the other locations, you have at least 6 staff at any given time. Here there is only 3 and that's during busy lunch hour too. As a consequence, ordering takes forever, the food takes forever, and the tables are never clean/cleared. Please hire some more staff!!