RAKIRAKI Ramen & Tsukemen
Ramen restaurant · San Diego ·
Classic & creative ramen, rice bowls, sake & beer, stylish environs
Classic & creative ramen, rice bowls, sake & beer, stylish environs
"Most Japanese restaurants are notorious for being closed Mondays. If you’re craving ramen and other dishes, Rakiraki breaks tradition and is open at the beginning of the week with normal operating hours from 11 am to 11:30 pm for both their Convoy and Mira Mesa locations." - darlene-horn
"After switching up its long-running India Street restaurant in early 2020 to dedicate it to the Yasai, its vegan sushi spots, RakiRaki is bringing its well-known ramen back to Little Italy as part of a revamp of the space that will also incorporate the new brands that owner Junya Watanabe has been rolling out at RakiRaki’s flagship location in Kearny Mesa over the course of the past year. Now called RakiRaki Commons, the restaurant will be offering four distinct menus starting in early December. Though it’ll still feature vegan sushi from the Yasai, executive sushi chef Hajime Matsuoka will also be showcasing his menu from Matsuoka, which debuted this summer on Convoy Street with seasonal kaiseki bento boxes plus nigiri, sushi rolls, and temarizushi, a traditional ball-shaped sushi. And in addition to his full range of ramen, from tonkotsu to spicy miso, Watanabe is serving his eponymous fried chicken, which he launched in early 2021 under the moniker Junya’s Crispy Karaage or JCK and features shoyu-marinated, double-fried karaage combos and sliders. Scheduled to grand open on Monday, December 6 with various drink deals and half-off takeout orders placed through the restaurant’s website or over the phone, RakiRaki Commons will offer ongoing daily specials like 99-cent Sapporo draft beer and sake after 10 p.m. with purchase of any food item." - Candice Woo
"RakiRaki is a Japanese restaurant known for its ramen and tsukemen, sharing space with Matsuoka Pure Sushi and The Yasai." - Candice Woo
"Tokyo-born owner Junya Wantanabe now has four San Diego locations— the newest in Mira Mesa, one in Little Italy, one in Liberty Station and the original, on Convoy. Known just as much for their proprietary kaarage fried chicken and playful rolls as they are for their decadently porky ramen offerings, all locations continue to command large crowds of hungry eaters. Try the curry ramen for something a little different." - darlene-horn
"At his Convoy Street ramen shop, Junya Watanabe is launching Junya’s Crispy Karaage (JCK) later this week, a brand he’s created after years of perfecting Japanese-style fried chicken and recipe development in Tokyo with his mentor, chef Kazuhito Higuchi of the two Michelin-starred Higuchi. The chicken is marinated for 48 hours in organic fermented soy sauce, garlic, ginger and other seasonings, coated in 22 spices, double-fried, and served with ponzu as well as a house sauce based on Kewpie mayo. The JCK menu offers original or spicy karaage across sliders, curry rice, ramen, and sets ranging from an eight-piece Super Jumbo Box to the Dream Come True Bento Box — which includes karaage, gyoza, Yokohama takoyaki, a Rakiraki Roll and Watanabe’s signature sauce. To start, JCK will be available at Rakiraki Convoy in limited quantities for dine-in and takeout, with rollouts at Rakiraki locations in Mira Mesa, Liberty Station and San Francisco planned for a later date." - Candice Woo