Menya Ultra
The first US shop of Akita's Menya Ultra (here since 2017) and the Michelin Guide-listed ramen most people mean in San Diego — rich tonkotsu, black sesame tantanmen and huge Nagoya fried chicken in a small, Japan-feeling room in Kearny Plaza. Join the waitlist before you go.
- Ramen $15.95–24.95
- Parking: Medium: usually a spot at lunch and before opening, tighter at the dinner rush
- Details checked Oct 2026.
8199 Clairemont Mesa Blvd Unit M, San Diego, CA 92111
Menya Ultra is a mid-priced ramen spot in Kearny Plaza on Clairemont Mesa Boulevard in the Convoy District in San Diego's Kearny Mesa. Regulars order the Tonkotsu Ajitama and the Black sesame tantan, or tantanmen with paiko pork. Parking is medium.
Parking at Kearny Plaza
Medium- Cost: Free for customers
- Fills up: Fri–Sat 5–8pm · Easiest: weekdays 11am–1pm
- Shared with: SOT BBQ
Free Kearny Plaza lot shared with SOT BBQ — usually a spot at lunch and before opening, tighter at the dinner rush.
Lot full? Zion Marketplace is rated easy and about a 6-minute walk. It's for that plaza's customers, so pair it with a stop there.
Park once, walk to
- Brother's 3 Mexican Food Mexican · 3 min
- Zion Market Grocery · 6 min
Kearny Plaza guide Every lot on Convoy
Fill times estimated from Google's Popular Times for the spots in this lot. Walk times are estimates.
Good to know before you go
Diet & allergies
- Vegan miso ramen is on the menu, and a cold soup noodle returns in summer
Cost & paying
- You fill in a paper order sheet while you wait, so food comes out fast once you sit; pay at the register
- Listed in the Michelin Guide California (2021, 2023, 2024); watch Yelp for specials like $2.50 off ramen
Waits & timing
- Join the waitlist on Yelp or Google before you leave — waits run from a few minutes to over an hour at weekend dinner, and no-shows slow the line
- Arriving by 10:30am for lunch or 4:30pm for dinner usually means little or no wait; closed 2-5pm daily
- Small room with close tables and no outdoor seating; a cigar lounge next door sometimes leaves a smoke smell inside
At the table
- Ask for low sodium, spicy on the side, firm noodles or extra noodles — all on request
- Recent reviews note the plain bowls now come with one thin slice of chashu and no egg; order the Ajitama or Chashu bowls for more toppings
Dessert or tea after Menya Ultra
Nothing sweet in the plaza or right next door. Closest option:
- 3CAT Handcrafted Beverage Get: Mochi Mango — the signature; order it less sweet
Menya Ultra vs other Convoy ramen
| Spot | Order | Price | Latest close | Parking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Menya Ultra | Tonkotsu Ajitama | $$ | 9pm | Medium |
| Tajima Ramen Convoy | Carnitas ramen | $$ | 11:30pm | Medium |
| RakiRaki Ramen & Tsukemen | Oxtail ramen | $$ | midnight | Brutal |
| Nishiki Ramen | Smoke Bomb Black | $$ | 11pm | Medium |
Menya Ultra: quick answers
What should I order at Menya Ultra?
Regulars order the Tonkotsu Ajitama ($17.95 — the egg is extra on the plain $15.95 tonkotsu), Black sesame tantan, or tantanmen with paiko pork, Negi miso ramen.
Is parking easy at Menya Ultra?
Parking is rated Medium for this lot at peak times. Free Kearny Plaza lot shared with SOT BBQ — usually a spot at lunch and before opening, tighter at the dinner rush.
What should I know before going to Menya Ultra?
Join the waitlist on Yelp or Google before you leave — waits run from a few minutes to over an hour at weekend dinner, and no-shows slow the line. Arriving by 10:30am for lunch or 4:30pm for dinner usually means little or no wait; closed 2-5pm daily. You fill in a paper order sheet while you wait, so food comes out fast once you sit; pay at the register.
Where can I get dessert or boba near Menya Ultra?
The nearest is 3CAT Handcrafted Beverage, 0.3 miles away (about 9 minutes on foot).
Does Menya Ultra take reservations?
Join the waitlist on Yelp or Google before you leave; waits run from a few minutes to over an hour at weekend dinner, and no-shows slow the line.
Menya Ultra hours
| Mon | 11am–2pm, 5pm–9pm |
| Tue | 11am–2pm, 5pm–9pm |
| Wed | 11am–2pm, 5pm–9pm |
| Thu | 11am–2pm, 5pm–9pm |
| Fri | 11am–2pm, 5pm–9pm |
| Sat | 11am–2pm, 5pm–9pm |
| Sun | 11am–2pm, 5pm–9pm |
How to find it
Details checked October 2026. Wrong hours, closed, or changed? Report a problem