Tajima Ramen College Heights

Food was below average to be honest. We got 2 bowls of tonkotsu ramen and a ground pork on top of fries. The fries were average, the meat on top was kinda dry but the sauce saved it. The ramen is little disappointed, the broth is not rich and flavorful enough for a tonkotsu ramen, Pork Chashu was really dry, the egg was mid. The Service is great, the place is clean. This good for locals but for food taste can’t compared to other ramen places.

Tajima Ramen in San Diego offers a consistently delightful dining experience for ramen lovers. With several locations across the city, including Convoy, East Village, and Crown Point, this ramen spot has become a staple for both locals and visitors alike. The highlight of Tajima Ramen is undoubtedly its rich and flavorful broths, which cater to a variety of tastes. Whether you prefer a hearty tonkotsu, a lighter shoyu, or a spicy miso ramen, there’s something to suit every palate. The noodles are perfectly cooked, with a satisfying texture that complements the savory broths.

I just paid almost 24$ for chicken noodle and.katsu.. and thats what i got.. the chicken is ridiculously small portions.. there was no utensils.. and when I tried to call them.. it wont let me the talk to them..and it tastel like Marochan they are definitely scam!!!

Kiera was our server. Upon coming into the restaurant at 9:20PM, when they close at 10PM, the look on some faces when we walked in, was not very welcoming. Unfortunately, our dining experience was overshadowed by how we were treated near the end of our meal. As we were still enjoying our dinner, the staff began putting chairs up around us, clearly signaling they wanted us to leave — even though we hadn't finished. We felt rushed to pay, and the overall atmosphere became uncomfortable very quickly. I did have to use the restroom towards the end of dinner, and when I came out of the restroom, I noticed my guest I was with was no longer in the restaurant. The doors to get out of the restaurant were also locked, and one of the staff members said "Oh, I forgot you were in there." My guest should have been able to comfortably wait for me to finish using the restroom, rather then being put outside. It's understandable that restaurants have closing times, but the way it was handled came across as rude and unprofessional. A polite reminder or gentle indication would have been much more appropriate. This experience left a disappointing final impression on what could have been an enjoyable evening. I come to Tajima often and have never experienced service like this in all of my years of coming here. It was not acceptable and it needs to be fixed immediately.

Before you order food from this restaurant, I think you shouldn't come directly to the restaurant. You need to have your food prepared the day before. Because when we go there, you'll be waiting a whole day for nothing, as if they're bringing the food from outer space. Even though there aren't many customers, it's incredibly slow. And what's the big deal? I don't even know what they're talking about. Please think twice before going here. They're probably trying to make themselves look busy and attract customers by being late

Two entrees, two appetizers and a drink all for 40 bucks? I don't know, you can't beat that! Tajima, specifically this location, is one of my favorite ramen spots. I also think they have the best chicken ramen out there, which is great for people who don't eat pork. I've had the location in North Park and in Convoy, and this one is just better. The service is excellent, and the atmosphere is super cool. The seating is a little cramped, and some of the chairs are super uncomfortable, but nothing to get mad over. You can definitely hear the person next you when they have a conversation. Other than that, this is one of the best ramen spots in the city.

My lil sis took me to try tajima's. I had the carnitas ramen, very delicious. I left with a full tummy. Very happy customer. I also had karaage fried chicken with a spicy mayo, that was also delicious. Chicken meat was juicy and the outside was fried and crunchy. Spicy mayo was a good dipping sauce. Great portions. The staff was friendly and very on point with customer service.

The ramen here is really good! I’m a picky eater and it took me a while to find a place around the SDSU area that has ramen I enjoy. The chicken ramen was very good and picky-eater friendly in my opinion! The service is good but very quick-paced and seemed a bit like they just wanted to get through us as fast as possible. The inside of this place is very cute as well, however the seating is quite uncomfortable! All the chairs are wooden stools with no backing and there was limited booth spots available so this was something I wasn’t a fan of.

Have been to this location before and genuinely love all my Tajima visits The crispy tuna rice wasn't the best I've had but a good start to the meal, went with my usual spicy sesame ramen but due to my lack of clarification received marinated tofu instead of boiled which I usually like to help cut the richness of the broth. My partner and I both agree the broth was lacking some flavor and depth today but since we both enjoy Tajima we will still return, service was great and prompt as usual!

I've been to this location a few times and the service quality differs each time. The first time I went, the service was great (even when it was busy). Our food came out fast and the waiter was available. The second time I went, it took over 40 minutes for our food to come out and our waiter wasn't as accommodating (it was empty). The third time I went, the service was good again. Their ramen is good and I would recommend their black garlic flavor. Ask for the pepper flakes if you like a little kick to your ramen.

This was my first time trying this Tajima location, and we were seated right away with prompt service to follow, a great start. We kicked things off with the spicy tuna crispy rice, which was delicious. My only drawback? It only comes with three pieces. Next time, we're definitely doubling up. For our main, we both went with the spicy sesame ramen. While I've had deeper, more flavorful broth at other Tajima spots, this one fell a bit flat and needed some doctoring to match my usual taste. It could've just been an off day. That said, I know what Tajima is capable of, so I'm definitely giving this location another shot.

Leaving yet another positive review for this place because it always exceeds my expectations. Today I was here for happy hour which is SUCH A DEAL! $3.50 beers is what really got me, along with $3.50 apps and other select items. I had the spicy garlic edamame and the carnitas ramen and it was soooo yummy. Stephanie was behind the bar today. She was so friendly, she made me feel like we've known each other for years. I even got a second beer to just chat with her a little longer. Love this place and their crew! See ya next week.

Ordered Uber eats because I'm suffering from Laryngitis, I have no voice and I'm sick. I wanted to order something comforting and warm but only to have something completely off sent to me. It's pretty annoying because I can't even call to complain about my order, my voice is completely gone. I paid extra for pork and got chicken, which the quality and quantity was horrible. I can't believe you guys put this quality of chicken in your food. It's so thin and super dry. I definitely would never recommend. You shouldn't even offer it. My ramen was good, per usual. All I have to say is take extra care when packaging. We pay extra fee's for convenience expecting what we order. Now I'm stuck with food I didn't want, and will not eat. Generous 2 stars because I still liked my ramen.

Great food and service! Nice date night spot, can get a bit busy but it's worth the wait!

Always a great ramen experience at Tajima. I went for happy hour so it was cheap beers on tap, good apps and as always, delicious tonkatsu ramen. It was nice to walk in without needing to wait. Everyone was very polite and helpful. The place wasn't too busy yet which was nice. As always, the ramen was the highlight of the meal. Can't beat that amazing broth. I'm glad it was a chilly day, because it was perfect weather for a trip to Tajima.

We loved our visit had the spicy ramen and it was amazing, the garlic edamame is also amazing. We brought our toddler they sell noodles and broth sides so we got her that and she loved it. Servers were so attentive and even brought my daughter training chop sticks.

Delicious & service was great! You can never go wrong with tajima. The spicy sesame ramen is the best with some added pork belly.

Love the ramen here, so good and less busy than the Claremont location. I will be coming back here next time

I was here this evening and I normally never ever write reviews but I feel leaving this one is adequate for the business as a whole to have a learning moment. Our server Kiera brought us our check mid meal... I have worked in food service and know that THAT is a number 1 no no. Please do better the food is too good not to come back because of poor service!

I've never really had to do this before, but this is a terrible meal that was sent by Tajima. Usually, when I order a chashu bowl I get plenty of pork with my rice. This time I got three measly pieces of fat. This is the first time I've been disappointed with them in a long time.

Food: Always tastes fresh, deeply well seasoned hot broth. Pork gyoza is my fav, tender & tasty. Carnitas-braised pork- was über tender. Wine & Beer are served here.. Service: Unparalleled upon entering, easily answering questions. Team works harmoniously with genuine respect for one another.Before I could ask for water, To Go bagged carefully with zero. leakage. Ambiance: Small but not overcrowded area, simply decorated. Strip Mall Parking is ample with a Handicapped Space nearby. Highly Recommended!

Great ramen! We got the Tonkatsu and Birria and the Karage Chicken- all excellent. Service was quick and the space was clean. Small parking lot, but plenty of spots.

I absolutely love this ramen spot. As an SDSU student, it's so close to campus and the waiters and waitress are so nice. You are greeted very welcoming and they promptly take your order. If there's a wait, they have a link to see your queue so you can check it live time! The ramen is fantastic and all the appetizers are amazing. I would recommend the garlic edamame and the Tajima White Ramen from here!

Long overdue critique as I've been going to his Tajima's location for 1.5 years. The atmosphere, service and food are all consistently excellent. The food is priced very nicely, in our times of menu item inflation. While the ramen is great, Tajima's has many other items other than ramen, in case you don't eat ramen in the summer. I always feel welcomed by the staff right when I walk-in. They have some great craft beer selection, kombucha with alcohol. The sake is very good. Their happy hour menu sports excellent prices! Three servers who are very sharp and have attention to detail, service with a smile, are in alpha order--Brandon, Kiera, & Stephanie. I let the general manager, Jackie, know I was appreciative of their consistency in good care there. Thank you!

I've had Convoy Tajima before and I remember loving it. This one was good but not great. Food as good, service was a bit lacking but the ambiance is great, the inside is nice!

Came in to pick up some ramen today around 2:00pm. The female waitress did not even acknowledge us at all yet passed by us like 5 times but actually asked the guy behind us if he's waiting for an order. Yet the man behind us came after us and was waiting just like us. The female worker was wearing a black shirt with some denim jeans. Also another man came and she stood infront of us asking that man if he had been helped yet. She did not even look at us. The male waiter was great tho. He was the only one that acknowledged us at all but he also did forget to give us an update on our order after we asked the first time. When we got here they told us there was one item missing yet we ended up waiting like another 20min for the one item? That didn't really make sense.

Just wanted to update my review to share that their Truffle Ribeye Ramen is a must try!! The truffle oil is not over powering and compliments the ribeye and broth perfectly. Definitely recommend getting it while it is still around (I think it's a limited time item).

Soooooo yummy. The waitress was super nice and took the time to answer our questions about the menu. We didn't feel rushed at all which was nice. The chairs are a bit uncomfortable, but it was still a nice dine-in experience!

Service We were seated right away. And from there we were treated with a good server. Everyone who came to our table was so nice and helpful. Food Fantastic. We had garlic edamame and crispy rice tuna to start. DELICIOUS. I had vegan ramen and it was amazing. He had miso ramen which he loved. It was all very good. Ambience The place is great. Not too crowded not too loud. Clean. Exactly what you expect from any establishment.

I love coming here! Good Parking...when it's not crazy busy...and friendly staff! I also like when I bring students who have never been. My favorite is the carnitas ramen....soooo good! I always order extra noodles! I also introduced them to karaage chicken which I like to dunk into my ramen. We had just gotten there before the lunch rush and we got a great table near the back where we can be obnoxious! Much laughter ensued!

I came here last week with my husband, we both got the black Tajima ramen and also got a couple appetizers and drinks. Food and service was quick and great as usual, we have been here a handful of times before and have never been disappointed. However this time we came it was INCREDIBLY warm inside the restaurant. It was a hotter day, however when coming to a restaurant me and my husband agreed that it should feel comfortable inside and be inviting to eat their food, but the heat inside made us reconsider wanting to be there at all. The heat felt even worse when I walked past the kitchen to use the restroom. I'm not sure if their AC is broken or if they just don't have any but I felt bad for their workers having to run around in that type of heat especially if me and my husband were sweating from just sitting and eating. Hoping they resolve this soon because we will definitely reconsider coming here again during Summer days.

I visited once long ago when they first opened and I didn't recall it being fabulous. For being Tajima and in my area at the time, I was super bummed. We were in the area and decided to give it another try. It was not bad, but not great either. We came in around dinner time and it was not super packed, but we opted to eat at the bar. I wasn't super hungry, just wanted something to warm up. We ordered to share the following items: - Gyoza: these were good and typical of other locations. - Karaage: these were for the most part good, slightly over battered. I don't care for the spicy mayo and didn't have the other kind... but was able to get plain mayo. - Tajima ramen: it was good. They didn't have many extra topping options at this location which is also a bummer... not even fried garlic!?! Who doesn't love fried garlic?!? Must be the area it serves. Overall not bad for a quick dinner. Complete college scene. Staff were nice. Small parking lot shared with Smash Burger and Big 5. It was a Monday night so there was no issue parking. 2024: 9

The #1 Ramen Spot - Better Than Menya Ultra and Underbelly. I've tried every big-name ramen place, including Michelin-starred Menya Ultra and Underbelly, but Tajima Ramen takes the crown. Their Tonkotsu broth is the creamiest and most flavorful I've ever had. The toppings are next-level--better than any other spot, with way more variety and quality. The pork bao buns are out of this world incredible. The service is amazing, and the interior is beautiful. They even have a manga wall featuring Bleach, my favorite anime, which blew me away. I wasn't even a ramen fan before Tajima, but now I'm hooked. If you're looking for the best ramen experience, this is the place to go!

Best place. I'm here 4 times a week. So delicious, great service and atmosphere. Would highly recommend here!

Terrible! Waited long for our food to arrive. Restaurant was prioritizing online orders instead of serving ones have who have been seated. Waited over 45 min and no food; just left.

My family loves coming here and the service is always excellent and prompt. My only wish is that they didn't change the pork chashu bowl!

TL;DR: decent spot to get a quick fix of ramen and some sides Ordered: - Karaage (4/5): unexpectedly large pieces of chicken which was a plus since we were sharing - otherwise just good chicken - Shishito peppers (1/5): wayyyy too salty and charred - hard pass - Edamame (-/5): it's edamame - Tajima Ramen '23 (4/5): ok broth with a large piece of pork on top. Good flavors but wish the broth had a deeper flavor - Creamy chicken Ramen (4/5): deeper broth than the Tajima ramen but really lacking in substance otherwise. The toppings (spinach, onions, marinated bamboo) didn't really mesh well with the creamy chicken flavorj Service was quick to start but dropped off after apps. Waited nearly 15 minutes before flagging another server to find ours to get the rest of the order Be back soon next time the ramen bug bites Cheers, Tajima!

There was no wait when we got here. The service was friendly and offered some great recommendations. Food was hot, fast and delicious. I was impressed by all the flavor in the vegetarian ramen, sometimes it can be a little bland. Would totally recommend this spot.

My boyfriend and I came in around 8pm on a Saturday so obviously they were pretty busy, but there was just enough room for us at the bar without needing to wait for seats. Service was quick, casual, and friendly. There's a pretty lax vibe here, so despite it being almost a full house, I didn't find myself being too overwhelmed- maybe the Sapporo helped too :) I got the Tajima Black, different from the other 2 Tajima house ramens because the broth is infused with black garlic oil. I've never tried black garlic before, but as a garlic lover I knew it was time to try. I was definitely not disappointed! The noodles are pretty good, but the extras and the broth are the stars of the show. Each table has some spicy chili sauce (as well as salt) to use as needed, and I ended up with about 4 spoonfuls that gave the soup a really great spice that hits you in the throat. The chashu pork was cooked perfectly, so tender and despite me not normally being too big on meat in general (especially pork), it was my favorite part of the meal. You get a huge piece of it too! The egg was marinated beautifully and has a slight but bold sweetness. Next time I'll add an extra half. I've gotten Tajima on Doordash, and honestly, I wasn't the biggest fan. I'd recommend coming in for the full experience so it's hot and fresh. After eating this yesterday, I was still dreaming about it all day today hahah. Will definitely be back!

Impeccable service. Little to NO wait times to be seated. Staff is super friendly, and are always around to ask if you need anything. Food was delicious, literally everything on the menu is good. Prices are GOOD for the area. Online/to-go service is top notch as well. Amazing overall. Thank you.

Food was good but the service was the worst ! Our server took about 15 minutes to initially greet us. After that, we did not see him again. No plates were provided to us for our wings so we improvised with napkins. My water sat on the edge of the table, empty, for 40 minutes and was never refilled. We tried to ask staff for plates but no one would even come over to check in. The food runner who brought the wings didn't even stay long enough for us to ask for plates. Really poor service and unprofessional staff.

Get the ramen, skip the broccolini. They charge $1 to add it on, and I feel so ripped off because they don't specify it's literally one tiny piece you're paying extra for. When I called to voice my concern, they didn't care and said I was out of luck. No wonder this location has less than 4 stars

I love this place! Their chicken fried rice and karaage are to die for! Everyone here is so friendly and personable too, I really can't say enough good things! I love the food and the vibe! The Tajima Black ramen is also a symphony

Love Tajima. Thai location is definitely better than the North Park. Got wontons, edamame and carnitas ramen. Super delicious. Quiet on a Tuesday Afternoon. There were maybe 5 people in there. Definitely seemed to rush me and my friend...

Ramen in cold weather is always a good idea. And I thought I had found the perfect ramen for me with tajima years ago. See, I don't eat pork. And not many ramen spots have chicken on their menu (if you know of one plz share). And I was surprised when I saw they had a special of ribeye, I was considering getting that one. But I opted for the one I came in craving which was the creamy chicken. This ramen came with sweet corn and green onions. So when I received my bowl (after quite some time too) and I saw white onions, I was very confused. And when I went to stir it up and there was no corn, I knew I made a terrible mistake. I didn't like the white onion no corn combo. Don't know why they changed it up but I won't be ordering that again. RIP to the only good ramen I ever knew.

Stopped by today to satisfy a lunch craving and as always ... spicy sesame ramen spot on delicious

This was pretty good ramen. Service was ok considering they don't have much to do. Industrial chic decor, but clean. Will totally eat here again.

when I'm not out riding my motorcycle. I'm dreaming about food and drinks. enjoying this location because it's between work and home

Wait was way to long, restaurant was nearly empty and overhead they were prioritizing online orders. The waiter didn't even check in with us at all, waited about an hour before we decided to leave. By far the worst Tajima location in San Diego.

Incredible Happy Hour for both drinks and food! Very friendly staff. Lightning fast service.

The ramen is very tasty here, service was attentive and the menu covers all the bases of traditional Ramen flavors even a vegan option. The vegan option is good but you cannot substitute the pork flavored Ramen because it's a home run! Another dish that is delicious here is the We chicken karage for the appetizer The parking here can be a little tight, I usual park near the pizza place that is adjacent to this location. I've been here at lunch and it's not as busy as the dinner time. The wait is not though. The drink selection here actually has some depth to it. Service was attentive and the menu was easy to follow. There's a lot of choices in the shopping square and this is one of my go to spots especially during the fall and winter!

Great service every time we go. Pineapple cider first time trying definitely recommend some music is at a good level. Still able to hear the people around you talk but still able to sing along to the songs.

great ramen for a local chain. the service is always quick, i do tend to order online - but the food is always ready when i come to pick it up. my kids love the creamy chicken ramen and spam musubi. i love the carnitas ramen and tajima black. we also always get the pork gyoza and wontons. the inside is roomy, but does tend to fill up quick. there's always sports on the tv, which is fun! the only downside is the parking lot is really tiny and cramped, so it can be an issue.

Service is always extremely friendly and welcoming. The food is delicious each time. Great place to sit around with family and friends, the atmosphere is always warm and inviting.

Love ramen from Tajima. One of our favorite spots. Will be back soon. Everyone is so nice and helpful.

Why does everyone in this place look like they hate their job? No one in this place had a smile on their face, not very inviting if you ask me. Walked in, inside dining wasn't too busy and there was a few people waiting in line for take out orders. It's a walk in and order type of place which kinda caught me off guard I was hoping to have a second to look at the menu but instead was put on the spot and kinda stress ordered as there was other people waiting in line behind my party as well. Ordered drinks 2 drinks, an appetizer and 2 ramen bowls which came out to around $50 which is pretty reasonable. Also, when we ordered everything we asked for waters, had to ask for waters from 3 different servers before we even got those. Overall, food was pretty good it did take a while to come out about 25ish minutes or so. I would say service wise they could be better maybe hire some people that are more inviting.

My friend was visiting from Sacramento and suggested this place as her sister highly recommended it to her. Can't say no to ramen! Funny thing is that I can't remember if this is my first time trying this ramen or if I've tried it back in 2016 (according to my friends) LOL. If I did, I'm giving it another try! The location that my friend and I went to is located next to Big 5 Sporting Goods and Tofu House SDSU on the intersections of El Cajon Blvd and College Ave near SDSU. There's a parking lot with ample stalls. I got the Tajima Ramen, and wow! It was much better than how I remembered it. The flavor of the broth was rich with a delicious amount of umami. It wasn't overly salty either. The noodles were al dente which I really liked. I also loved how many different vegetable toppings there were. My friend got the Spicy Sesame Ramen which was basically a tantan ramen with the ground pork. Delicious flavor too! It wasn't too spicy either. For the whole night, my friend and I were only checked on once. The waitress offered to refill our waters who then disappeared without coming back after offering... She walked by us multiple times and never glanced back to our table. We had to call another person to help us refill our waters after 15 mins. It wasn't too busy of a night so I wondered where she went. Overall, I'm glad I gave this chain another try even if it's after 5+ years LOL. Definitely will be back to the other locations if I'm around when craving ramen.