Buta Japanese Ramen

The ramen was spot on. The broth was filled with flavor and the pork melted in my mouth. I had the garlic chicken karaage and takoyaki as well it's a happy place especially if you like garlic. Everything was well balanced with amazing flavor.

This place had a great ramen, a lovely atmosphere and a wonderful staff. I will definitely come back.

I’m the type to drive anywhere for a good bowl of ramen so I had to try out Buta. I got their version of garlic tonkotsu, and the quality of the broth and the chashu pork are truly top shelf! Been a bunch of places in San Diego and this one easily makes my top 3 (only under 1. Ramen Ryoma in PB and 2. Underbelly in Little Italy). Draft sapporo was on special for $3 on a Thursday! Service was great, food came quick even with a packed house. Gyoza was solid too especially if you like a good crunch. If you’re looking for a spot for tonight, go here!

Attentive and friendly staff. The broth had such an authentic taste but the chashu was unforgettable! That pork was slow braised and had that fall-apart-quality when chewing it. Delicious!

Not sure why it took me so long to review this place. My wife and I actually enjoy this Ramen shop more than Menya Ultra. Always seated immediately, extremely friendly staff, and great overall atmosphere! Highly recommend!

Shoyu ramen was so good! I’m used to a thin salty broth and this one was unique. So flavorful and slightly sweet. The pork was so tender! I got take out and the service was amazing!

LOVE this place! The service is awesome and the Ramen is SO good! I've been here for lunch at least 5 times and every time, it did NOT disappoint. Such a great vibe too. ✨️

Wow! This place is amazing for ramen and appetizers. My friend and I had a great time, and the service was 10/10. Definitely looking forward to coming back again!

I love this ramen joint it's top tier for me. It's pretty small but has a chill ambiance. The door comes out fast and the service is great. I always order the curry ramen and the karagae. Something about the karagae and the Krispies are just t perfect! Need to go back when it's cold!

I ordered takeout and the ramen was great! They have a deal on Doordash where if you spend $15+ you get a free creamy green tea which is what I did. Tahini Old School - 9.5/10, ramen was a bit salty for me but I do appreciate it being flavorful. Everything was good and the pork was very tender Creamy green milk tea - 10/10, super good drink! Would come back here again to sit down and try, the takeout itself was already good so I'm sure it'll taste even better in person! Service was quick and nice as well.

Not a bad spot for ramen if in the area. It is in the same plaza as J&Ts Thai and Sharetea, also very close to the USD campus and the Moreno trolley station. Came here around 12:30pm on a weekday with another friend and it wasn't busy at all. We both got the garlic ramen ($16.95) which was pretty tasty, and had lots of garlic pieces in it. My friend and I also shared some edamame as an appetizer. The noodles and broth were really good, although a little on the saltier side for my taste. Service was extremely fast, and the restaurant was very clean, low-key and cozy. Parking can be kind of hard to find - this plaza isn't the best and the plaza is very tight with a lot of marked 20-30 minute spots (do they actually check though? IDK). If unable to find parking, there's plenty of residential parking around the area -- it just might require a little walk.

Came here per Yelp review recommendations and i'm SOO glad I did! I got the gyoza app w Crazy Garlic ramen. Let me just say, this ramen is amazing!! I am an avid garlic lover, if you zoom-in into the picture you can see big chunks of fried garlic in the broth Ugh.. just delicious. Service was great! everyone was so friendly & there was no wait when we went. My friend and I both agreed this is our new favorite ramen spot, you need to try it for yourself :)

Ordered the spicy red buta. Pretty good! The broth is flavorful, noodles well cooked, and toppings go well with the bowl. The chasu was tender and flavorful and the egg had a nice runny yolk. Would come again!

The charm and the service are off the scale but the food leaves something to be desired. I got Golden Curry ramen which tasted more of sweet coconut than curry. It wasn't bad, but the flavors didn't really work, and it's not something I would ever order again. Thursdays they have a $3 draft Sapporo beer deal which was really nice. Another party member got garlic ramen which again was good but not something worth ordering again. It was all decent but nothing besides the $3 Sapporo beer would bring me back.

Located in a really small plaza, parking can be difficult. A lot of the spaces are 20-30 minutes spots and so we were lucky to grab an unmarked spot. Our server was very friendly and attentive throughout the meal. The Agedashi Tofu was a nice starter. The batter was crispy and the dipping sauce was very light. The Crazy Garlic ramen was a good punch of garlic flavor. I got the Spicy Red Buta which seemed like a mix between a Tantanmen and spicy tonkatsu. It's topped with minced pork and also comes with two huge pieces of pork. The broth was perfectly spiced and the noodles were nice and chewy. Parts of the pork were more dry than others but overall the texture was alright. However it didn't have it's own marinated/standalone flavor. So I opted to dunk them in my broth to coat some of the flavor. I appreciated the Spicy Red in how different it was.

I've been on a quest to find the best ramen in San Diego and decided to give this highly rated place a try. Overall, it just wasn't it for me. I had the spicy red ramen. Good portion size, the pork chashu was very tender and a perfect soft egg. But the broth, arguably the most important part, was spicy but somehow lacked flavor, richness, and depth. The noodles also were a little tough. I also tried the pork gyoza. I liked the dumpling itself but the dipping sauce was strangely very thick (almost the texture of a hoisin sauce) and kinda bitter. I was disappointed I didn't like this place more and sadly don't think I'll be back.

Service was excellent. It was just one lady, but she was quick, tidy, and to-the-point. Food was prepped fairly quickly, we didn't wait that long for a Saturday, around lunchtime. I didn't waste any time, and ordered the Chicken Karaage (+1 for garlic). Get the extra crispy garlic topping, sooo worth it! The chicken was breaded crispy, not doughy, which I appreciate. Hubs enjoyed it as well. He got the Crazy Garlic, and I got the Curry Ramen. He said his was pretty good, and I got the Curry Ramen (comes with thick ramen noods and a Chicken ) bc another reviewer said it tasted like Khao Soi. And lo and behold, it really did! Wasn't like the Japanese Curry, which I might have thought it would be like, but nope, Khao Soi was a great description of it--a lighter curry broth, with a slight sweetness to it. And then walk a few doors down to Rose's Donuts for dessert

Always looking for good ramen and Buta was next on our list. Cute spot, parking available (always a plus, and friendly staff. The agedashi tofu was so good! Crispy outside with such a soft inside that melted with each bite. The dipping sauce was subtle in a good way. The crazy garlic ramen was very flavorful. The garlic didn't overpower the rest of flavors. Noodles had a good bite and the meat was tender. The broth was really good on its own, it was creamy and decadent. This was a great find and a very central location!

Flew in on a delayed flight from SFO to SAN on a Friday night, exhausted and on my way home, I called in two orders of their Golden Curry and Chicken Karaage. I was afraid I'd have to wait but the order was ready for me to pick up! I've been going here for a few years now, and it's my go to when I'm passing by this part of San Diego. The Golden Curry with the taste of spicy coconut is rich!

Have been on the search for the best ramen in San Diego and conveniently, this ramen shop is 10 minutes away from my wifes work. In this little discreet plaza off the 5 Freeway Exit hides this hole in the wall gem. This is definitely now on my top 5 ramen places here. From the moment we entered, this sweet lady sat us down and remained attentive throughout our visit. We ordered the appetizer fried calamari which consisted of the tentacle part of the squid which was very tender and crispy. We also ordered the Crazy Garlic Ramen which was incredible if you love garlic like us. The broth was rich, flavorful, and had garlic chips adding more garlicky goodness. The noodles were thin and had an amazing chew. I wasn't even finished with my bowl yet, but I was ready to order another bowl because of how addicting the broth was.

I visited yesterday (Sunday) evening with my son. We wanted to try a new ramen spot and I read a lot of good reviews along with the menu sounding appetizing especially since I was craving something really spicy. Parking can be tight since it's in a shared lot with other businesses in the strip but manageable. I did park in front which does say 20 minutes but although we were not on a time crunch, we were in and out pretty quickly since I got full and couldn't finish my ramen. Service was quick and efficient but nothing special. We ordered the fried calamari for appetizer and then we both got the spicy red buta. It came with the thin noodles but I substituted my noodles for the thick which was $1 up-charge. Honestly it wasn't too far off in texture from the thin. I thought the broth tasted great by itself with no additions and was not salty. I've been to plenty ramen shops where their broth is so salty that it's inedible. I did need a little more kick so I asked for extra chili oil and they brought out 2 small containers which I added both in and it gave it the perfect kick! I also liked how it wasn't plain flavorless chili oil! The chasu pork belly was super tender. The seaweed added a nice umami flavor once dunked inside the broth. The wood ear mushrooms gave it a nice crunch in each bite. There were tons of ground pork inside. The egg yolk was amazing consistency. The portion was filling but could've been more for the price point. Omg the calamari was the first thing we ate and we were taken aback! We've had plenty of fried calamari elsewhere but never that big and juicy and the breading didn't fall off once bitten! It was 6 pieces but they were large hearty pieces. Their dipping sauce was amazing as well. We were a fan of everything we ordered. We really enjoyed our dishes but I would say they are on the pricier side being close to $20/bowl. While we were there we smelled the curry which we want to try next time and also bringing my husband along as well! Also read a lot of good reviews about the crazy garlic I want to try next time!

One star for the sweet service. That's it. We came here because of the good ratings. My rating will be for the foodies, experienced with good ramen. Having gonzo in Carlsbad and ramen nagi at UTC, this is no match and far fetch. The promoted Karaage in the reviews were totally off and we didn't finish the ramen. Wouldn't recommend. The curry wasn't ours too. Overall not a great experience

Friends took us here as it's their favorite ramen spot in San Diego & it was all so tasty! We got the chicken kaarage, garlic chicken kaarage, agidashi tofu, tonkatsu (pork) curry, and house ramens. The ramen had great flavor to it and the kaarage was nice and crispy. The ambiance was simple and in a smaller strip mall. The service was good and they were helpful and friendly.

Has to be the best ramen in SD!! Staff is incredible and the price is hard to beat. Enjoy!!

This place was conveniently located near the hotel we were staying at. The waitstaff are very friendly and attentive. They were a little short staffed once things got busier but still able to flag down after a little while. The parking is strange since there is a parking lot but almost all the spaces directly in front of the restaurant say 20 minute parking only so we ended up parking further. The food was good, nothing amazing but considering we were craving Asian food it hit the spot. We ordered edamame, chicken karaage, ramen and curry. I ordered extra noodles not realizing how large of an extra portion that would be and basically ended up with another meal to take home. If you're craving a piping hot simple bowl of ramen and are in the area this is worth checking out.

Went for a second visit and again, their flavors delivered. The place is obviously consistent and if you're hungry for some good tasting ramen, this is definitely a place to go. I ordered the Tahini Old School ramen and my gf ordered the Golden Curry ramen. Both tasted fantastic and we will definitely keep coming back! Tip: order the black garlic oil and chili oil on the side so you can spice up your broth to your liking!

We stopped in here randomly after a long day at the beach. We wanted something comforting and easy. The service was fantastic. Our server was so sweet and gently and she was also very helpful making suggestions. To our surprise, the ramen was amazing. We expected a basic ramen experience but it was wonderful. Hand-pulled noodles and the yummiest broths. The ambiance was also nice. Not too big of a place but enough seating all. I would absolutely return next time I'm in town

YUM!!! Checked out the place for the first time tonight and so happy I did! It's a cute spot with dark chill vibe. Nice r&b music on the speaker but not too loud. The lights were a little bright for me but I'm sensitive to that stuff so I won't knock them for that. We had the crazy garlic ramen and the tahini old school. As well as gyoza for a starter , the gyoza was so crisp and light. It came with a little sauce on it and chopped green onions. The garlic ramen was delicious creamy broth. I sub ed the vegan duck for my meat and it was quite nice. The consistency was like real meat and it went well with the ramen. Service was great. Kind helpful staff!

Very good little ramen spot Tasty and felt authentic Service was great Went there on a Sunday night and it was pretty busy Be aware the parking lot is a mess and the spots are very tight

Having a ramen shop right down the street from USD seems like a great idea with many nearby students. Business at Buta Japanese Ramen has appeared to be steady even after the pandemic. We came to get a late dinner and did not have to deal with the headache that is normally the parking situation in The Presidio Plaza. The remodeled interior could seat 32 customers in the main dining area with two more seats adjacent to the service counter. The staff was very engaging and pleasant. Our order consisted of the Chicken Karaage, Crazy Garlic Ramen, and the Golden Curry Ramen with chicken. The last item was mine which I asked for an extra portion of noodles to be added for $2.50. The karaage was nice and crispy with about eight fried pieces of chicken in the dish. The Golden Curry Ramen ingredients were a braised chicken drumstick, creamy curry broth, crispy noodles, lime, green onion, and chili oil. The curry flavor was strong, but it made the broth too thick for my palate. What was more disappointing was that the noodles were mushy instead of light and springy. Perhaps I chose the wrong style of house ramen out of the choices that were available on the menu. The prices seemed reasonable, but the quality of my product was subpar. This was one of the rare occasions in which I did not finish all the contents in the bowl, and I also did not take home any leftovers. I rounded the rating of my dining experience at Buta Japanese Ramen down to three stars.

Stopped by here for lunch and it didn't disappoint! Staff were attentive and friendly. Highlights - Garlic Chicken Karage (4.8/5) must get here - Tonkastu ramen with Chashu (4.5/5) the broth is delicious and they are GENEROUS with the meat!! I loved it Inside, the restaurant was bright and well kept. I'll be back to eat some tasty ramen!

Buta Japanese Restaurant is named as one of the Top 100 Ramen Spots in California by Yelp in 2024. Their motto is "The Only Way to Cook Good Ramen is to Love What We Cook". I ordered their: - Crazy Garlic Ramen - Pork Bone Broth with minced garlic, garlic oil, garlic chips, chashu pork belly, bean sprouts, and seaweed - Calpico Drink My bf's daughter tried their: - Golden Curry - Creamy Curry Broth, chicken, crispy noodles, green onion, and chili oil - Milky Green Tea Food and drinks were delicious. We both loved what we ordered. Service was fast and efficient. Ambiance was casual. ENJOY!

The noodle texture and broth were good, and the calamari was pretty tasty. However, I didn't like their dried garlic... it was stale tasting and didn't have a nice crunch that you would get from a recent fry... it got stuck in my teeth and the flavor was really lacking. A big turn off for their garlic ramen. Their soyu ramen broth is way too sweet IMO, and I would definitely pass on that option. Also, their hot sauce / chili pepper is Chinese and not Japanese....l'm guessing this is a Chinese run ramen shop? Service was friendly and the restaurant is nice and clean. I'm just not sure if I like the "fusion" taste, and I probably prefer something more authentic.

Don't let the 20 minute parking scare you away. You can slurp your ramen slowly with no fear, in the spots out front. The karaage chicken is crunchy and light, and so delicious. Crazy Garlic ramen has an incredible broth, fresh noodles and you'll want to keep eating it long after you're full. Service is fantastic. Water is kept topped off and we were checked on several times. This is a darling little ramen shop with comfortable seating and great vibes.

4.5 stars. My friend and I finished working out around the corner, and of all the options nearby, I decided I had to check out Buta. It was empty during lunch, and the interior design is super cute. Service is friendly. I was debating between spicy broth OR chashu pork belly, but I was bummed to see there wasn't an option for both on the menu. Ended up with the Spicy Red Buta which was tasty and filling. I learned after the fact that it was voted one of Yelp's top 100 ramen spots in California. Would come back again and try both the Tahini Old School and Crazy Garlic ramen. It was a great place to catch up with my friend and savor our lunch before continuing about our day.

First time coming here and it won't be the last!! This is by far the best broth I've had in San Diego and closest to the ramen I've had in Japan. The restaurant is tucked away on a small strip mall. Parking may be a little hard to find but worth the wait. We ordered the Tahini Old School Ramen and Golden Curry Ramen; both with pork belly. I asked for a side of chili oil to add spice to the tahini ramen and let me just say a little goes a long way! We ordered the garlic chicken karaage as well. It was flavorful, but I do wish it had more of a crunch to it. Don't pass this place up! It's for sure a real hidden gem.

Small menu--but delicious food. The beers are also good! The staff is also really receptive and helpful.

I've been wanting to check this place out since I found out that they had vegan ramen. We came on a Thursday afternoon for late lunch and it wasn't busy. Very impressed by the service and cleanliness of the place. We ordered the vegetable gyoza, shishito peppers, the vegan ramen, and the old school. Vegetable gyoza was fried and shishito peppers themselves were cooked how we like (but sauce wasn't hitting for us). They offer thin and thick noodles. The vegan ramen broth felt "buttery"/creamy and wholesome, but the toppings were not my usual choice (lettuce tomato avocado). Overall it was unique in its buttery broth but not much of a stand out. More of a "yo each their own" moment. I'm open to coming back to try the other vegan option (curry) with thin noods since it peaked my curiosity.

Stopped by this cute little ramen spot on a Sunday afternoon, and it wasn't busy at all. The place has a cozy vibe, and we were seated right away. The waitress who greeted and sat us was super nice. We started with the Shishito peppers--easily my favorite! For ramen, we got the Tahini Ramen and the Curry Ramen, and both were so good. I was impressed by how flavorful the broth was. The service was awesome too. Both servers who helped us were super friendly and made the experience even better. I'll definitely be back!

The Golden Curry with Mock Duck was amazing. I'm not vegetarian but I will definitely be ordering it again! It had a Thai Curry flavor ramen with the crispy mock duck and fried wonton. The staff was very attentive and welcoming. Can't wait to go back!

This was our first visit and what struck me most about this restaurant was the incredibly kind, beautiful and joyful woman who tended to us throughout our visit. I originally selected this restaurant because of other reviews that mentioned the 3 great vegan choices on the menu. We first got a fried avocado appetizer that was so fresh and delicious. I ordered the Soul You bowl and it was wholesome and delicious. Another great thing about this place was that it was festively decorated for Halloween. We really appreciated that and I hope to come back near another holiday to see what they do there. Overall, this place had excellent service, food and ambience. We left happy and full. I highly recommend it!

Super delicious! The edamame was fine. The potato croquettes were delicious, crispy, light, flavorful. The Curry Ramen with crispy chicken was perfect. Spicy, creamy, and addictive. We left completely full but literally could not put down our spoons. The staff was friendly, welcoming, and attentive. Will definitely return.

I LOVE this ramen. It's been my go to and it has been for years, I've tried new places and I just know this will ALWAYS hit the spot! Everyone I take to this place and gets my order always loves it. The broth is spicy but not so much painful, more like flavor. Also our waiter was so attentive, her name was Fai and She was very sweet, filled me and my friends water literally every time it got to half full. Exceptional service and the environment was so calm and welcoming. LOVE LOVE LOVE

Had the Golden Curry Ramen - it's more like a thai style curry (Think Khao Soi) with ramen noodles - but I really Really liked this one, it's like the best of both worlds. The chicken karaage appetizer with garlic was decent as well! But I think if I were to go again, I would get two orders of the Golden Curry Ramen, it's just that good!

We love this place. The Sapporo on tap is fabulous. Then the tempura avocado, soooo good! Ramen review: I would kill or die for the chili curry ramen (add egg and chashu). Spicy red was very delicious and not too spicy! The tahini old school was omg so good. Place is seriously amazing. We came back, and we don't live close by.

!!! WORTH THE 2 HOUR DRIVE !!! I live in Orange County and always commute to this ramen place because it's THAT GOOD. The workers are so sweet and attentive. Plus the food always comes out so fast. My go to order: * Curry sub thin noodles w/pork belly & crispy noodles on the side * Agedashi tofu (I know the sauce is traditionally poured on top the tofu but I prefer dipping it) * Green milk tea (not pictured ~ taste exactly like seasides green thai tea from OC iykyk) honestly you won't be disappointed ! :D

We found Buta shortly after it first opened and it's our favorite spot in San Diego.... and beyond. (We've been to Japan a few times for comparison.). My daughter wants to eat here at least once a week. The Old School is so flavorful.... I'm by no means a vegetarian, but decided to try their vegan ramen one night and it ranks right up there with the Old School. Amazing broth! Love that it has a bit of a kick to it. And those seasoned eggs. I always order at least one extra if not more, as do my kids. I love that their menu isn't overdone. They offer enough variety to not compromise the quality. The best ramen around!

Ordered 2 spicy ramen, 1 garlic ramen, and chicken katsu curry with rice. Ramen was decent. Love the pork belly, pretty big slice. The tonkotsu broth may be bit too rich for me. The curry sauce on the katsu was okay. Portion for all decent. Indoor ambience was nice. Only 1 restroom available. Service was 5 stars - Friendly and courteous staff! =)

This spot is so highly ranked on yelp, so when some friends came to SD to visit we decided this looked like a great option to try. Parking is pretty difficult, the spots were small and most had a short time limit and the entire lot was full on a Thursday for lunch. The interior is also small, service was alright. To start, the appetizers were good. The calamari and karaage were both very nice and started the meal on a high. Unfortunately, more than half of us were disappointed with our bowls of ramen. We ordered the Crazy Garlic, expecting it to be similar to a black garlic ramen at other spots, but the salt was so overpowering and there was no other flavor to it, no rich tonkotsu broth, no garlic flavor. The pork belly was very tender and the best part. But this was hard to finish for someone who can eat nearly anything. A friend ordered the shoyu ramen and the broth was a very dark brown, as if it was pure soy sauce. She noted that it was VERY salty and was only able to eat a few bites before it became too much. The Golden Curry was not bad, the thick noodles were nice, chicken was alright, but the spice was too much at the end. Tonkotsu was not notable, it was mentioned to be a little watered down. With such positive reviews we expected more, and unfortunately we're extremely disappointed with a $100+ meal. Especially since 2 out of 4 people couldn't finish their food. There was no wow factor that makes us desire to return.

I believe that flavors have greatly improved since my last visit to this place. The crazy garlic ramen was very garlicky. I think it could use some smokeyness from black garlic oil but it's good. I love mock duck so I had to try the curry ramen. It's was outstanding. I feel like I'm eating Thai food in a Japanese restaurant. The curry I think is slightly sweet. The crunchy fried wontons was a good addition to the dish. And of course the mocha duck was fried to perfection.

Food was delicious! Tasted fresh, great flavor and excellent consistency on the noodles!

I think I'm addicted to the golden curry ramen, there's nothing like it and I don't think I can live without it. It's truly that special, it's creamy, delicious and soooo flavorful. The mock duck, scallions and crispy wontons are a nice touch. The only thing that's missing is the egg.

pretty good food for the area it's in! parking and traffic is terrible because the streets are so small and the lot is tiny, but if you can get a spot it's worth it. the garlic karaage chicken was ok. it had a different batter than what I'm used to and didn't really have that much garlic. the chicken was a little tough too, like they used pieces without removing tendons. the tonkatsu pork curry was good. the pork was really crispy, even for takeout, but the curry lacked depth. the garlic ramen was very garlicky, which was good. I'd recommend upgrading for the thick noodles. ramen with thin noodles doesn't hit the same.

Consistency. Crispy garlic. Karaage. I've been coming to Buta Ramen since they first opened back in 2019. As a still returning customer five years later I can't recommend this place enough. Everything I've ever ordered from here is delicious. Service, to-go and dining in, has also always been five stars. I recommend the garlic ramen and their karaage is honestly one of the best I've had in the area. Also, their prices are reasonable (no $20 ramen here; looking at you Baikohken..)

SERVICE: 5 out of 5 stars Waitress was sweet and attentive our entire visit. I appreciated her keeping our water glasses full and making sure we were enjoying our dining experience. FOOD: 4 out of 5 stars This is purely based on the chicken Katsu dish only. I'll start off by saying how yummy the curry is. Wow. Maybe one of the best Japanese curries I've tasted in San Diego hands down. What docked a star off for me was the chicken. It was somewhat chewy in some parts, as if it was over cooked, but I don't think it was. Maybe it was the kind of chicken they used? If I got this dish again, I'd give the shrimp tempura a try or ramen. Ambiance: 5 out of 5 stars The restaurant is very clean and quiet. I'll be back to try some of their other dishes.

Are here today. Tahini old school ramen. It was astonishingly delicious. Rich, not cloyingly creamy broth, delightful thin but toothsome noodles, melt-in-your mouth chashu. The milky green tea was also above-and-beyond. It's been a long time since I felt the need to post my lunch on social media but dang, this meal was worth sharing!

Food 5/5 Service 5/5 Ambience 5/5 I came here on Thursday night and had coconut curry ramen. Omg it was sooooo good!!! The broth was very creamy and flavorful! Honestly it was one of the best ramen I've ever had! I'd def come back