Tajima
Ramen, japanese, noodle · San Diego
About Tajima
At Tajima, we're passionate about serving San Diego's best ramen bowls, crafted with love and care. We take pride in our industrial-chic design, where rich textures and exposed brick walls create a unique atmosphere. Our menu features a variety of toppings and options, including our signature Tonkot...
At Tajima, we're passionate about serving San Diego's best ramen bowls, crafted with love and care. We take pride in our industrial-chic design, where rich textures and exposed brick walls create a unique atmosphere. Our menu features a variety of toppings and options, including our signature Tonkotsu Ramen, made with rich pork broth and springy noodles. Customers rave about the flavorful dishes, generous portions, and attentive service that makes us feel like home. Come experience the authentic taste of Japan in the heart of San Diego - we can't wait to share it with you!
What Customers Say About Tajima
Tajima is a popular ramen spot known for its flavorful and creamy tonkotsu broth and quick service. Many reviewers praise the ramen, especially the Tajima Ramen and Carnitas Ramen. Some find the portion sizes small or the seasoning light, but overall, customers enjoy the experience.
Popular Dishes
Best For
Tip: Try the Tajima Ramen or Carnitas Ramen. Some reviewers suggest the pork rice is better than the ramen.
Features
What to see nearby
Data from Wikidata
Explore the area around Tajima
Tajima is located in San Diego, surrounded by cultural and historical points of interest. Here are some of the most notable places nearby.
Historical Heritage
- Edificio Watts (San Diego) (A 336m) — historic building in San Diego, California, United States Lugar inscrito en el Registro Nacional de Lugares Históricos
Other Points of Interest
- Maryland Hotel (A 243m) — building in San Diego, California, United States
- John D. Spreckels Building (A 262m) — building in California, United States
- Colonel Fletcher Building (A 279m) — building in Downtown San Diego
- Sheldon Block (A 299m) — historic building in San Diego, California, U.S.
- Fletcher-Salmons Building (A 301m) — historic building in San Diego
- Samuel I. Fox Building (A 315m) — Historic building in San Diego, California, U.S.
- George Hill Building (A 317m) — Historic building in San Diego, California, U.S.
- Nesmith-Greely Building (A 335m) — Historic building in San Diego, California, U.S.
- Hubbell Building (San Diego) (A 342m) — architectural and historical description of building
Data from Wikidata
Frequently asked questions about Tajima
Tajima San Diego Reviews
We came in from out-of-town for my son's graduation. He wanted Ramen Noodles and Google suggested this place. Our server Saida was awesome. She had some great suggestions and the Carnitas Ramen was amazing. We called it Liquid Tamales. Delicious!!!
First and foremost, I want to thank the staff for such an incredible first experience. Sam and Edris welcomed me with big smiles and a warm greeting. Even though the restaurant was busy, Sam went out of his way to clear and prepare a place for me to sit. The professionalism and promptness were outstanding. Lauren was my server, and she was absolutely incredible. Since it was my first time, she guided me through the menu and curated some great recommendations before I ordered. I ended up starting with the crispy tuna rice cakes and finishing with the Tajima White—both phenomenal. Throughout the meal, Sam periodically checked in to make sure I was having a great dining experience while Lauren was tending to other guests. It genuinely felt like they were working in perfect harmony. If it wasn’t Lauren, it was Sam—always attentive, always thoughtful. Their service went above and beyond my expectations. I truly felt like the only guest in the restaurant. The service is a 10/10, the food is a 10/10. I will definitely be coming back.
I love this place. They’re in the Top 5 in California. It’s a Friday evening so it was a little busy. I got seated fast. The wait staff are really nice. The inside is nice and cozy. The food is always on point. I got a quick bite. Spicy edamame and Tajima ramen. The ramen is cooked well and it tastes really good. The edamame is delicious. I come here like every other week.
Dinner meals were excellent! For the flavors, I can say the family was satisfied and impressed, especially with the presentation. Spicy Sesame Ramen was quite enlightening as the corn and broth accentuated the Ramen noodles and the rest of the bowl. The same can be said of the traditional Tonkotsu broth bowl with pork. One interesting item was the chicken chashu fried rice - uniquely flavored and adding the spicy sauce a little at a time, provided a subtle kick to the plate. Each bowl or plate is more than enough to feed and fill you. I am recommending myself and others to come back and try other items. Although the soda drinks were a bit watered down, and the authenticity of Japan was nearly there (one of us just got back from Osaka & Kyoto), the dining experience was tops.
Got the carnitas ramen and the spicy tuna crunchy rice. Both were delicious. The broth was delicious. Got an extra egg which was slightly overcooked (30 seconds over). Atmosphere was very quiet for a Saturday. Maybe amp up the music a bit, fitting with the Mexican-Asian fusion atmosphere. Would come again.
I’ve had ramen all over—Phoenix, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, even Mexico—but this spot in San Diego serves the best tonkotsu I’ve ever had. The broth is rich, creamy, and packed with flavor, the kind that lingers in the best way. You can tell they take their time perfecting it. The noodles have just the right bite, and the toppings are fresh and well-balanced. Beyond the food, the atmosphere is inviting, and the service is on point. Whether you’re a ramen enthusiast or just looking for a great bowl, this place is a must-visit. If you’re in San Diego, don’t miss out!
Damn good ramen! We found this place a few blocks away from Petco park. We started with edamame and dumplings. Really good starters. Dumplings were tender and really tasty. Edamame was soft and good garlic flavor. For the ramen my son had the cream chicken ramen. It was good in flavor and chicken was soft and overall really good. I tried the carnitas ramen. It had the ramen flavor and pork was really good! It also had a pozole flavor. Really really good! My wife got the spicy pork ramen. Really good. Not too spicy but had a little bit of heat. But if your use to spice then it’s for you. All three ramens were really really good. For dessert we got the matcha cheesecake. Never would have thought to mix the two but it was good!! It was pretty good size slice. Staff was friendly and helpful. We sat outside and it was a nice ambience. They had heaters to keep warm. Over all experience was A+++ definitely will be back.
I dined here on the recommendation of a friend. The service was quick and courteous. The atmosphere is very authentic. I had a pork ramen dish that was the special for the month. The egg with the ramen was slightly sweet and the broth was great. Overall a good option for ramen/Asian food in San Diego.
Ramen - 5/5 - spicy broth was lightly spicy, very thick and creamy. The noodles had a slightly thick feel to it. The ground pork was very flavorful. Ordered extra pork belly for $3 Chicken karage 5/5 - perfectly fried. The meat was tender and juicy. Battery was crispy. Service 5/5 - everyone was super polite and service was quick. My only "complaint" is I'd rather not order and pay as I enter the store, but that's a preference. It forces you to tip before you've eaten, tasted the food, or actually gotten service.
We had a great lunch here. We had the Carnitas Ramen and the Chicken Ramen. Both were great and budget friendly. Recommended!
Tried the tajima red ramen that comes with a beautiful onsen egg, sesame seeds, beautiful chashu, shredded green onions and Bokchoy Priced beautifully at $15-$17, quick and easy fast dinner in a quiet dining area a bit of an extra walk from the Gaslamp area. Also tried the crispy tuna rice, solid presentation but without the sweet sauce. The rice was charred and crispy and the tuna was of good quality. Also priced around $8 was a nice little appetizer. Thanks to Mark for attending to me this evening 2742 bathroom code
I went here years ago and had a life-changing vegan ramen with truffle and tofu katsu. I came back recently and was sad to see these flares gone from the vegan ramen. However this ramen is still great: flavorful, good portions and essential woods ear mushrooms.
Had the carnitas ramen and the spicy tuna crispy rice! Both were delicious so I definitely recommend, and I’d say it’s also quite a hearty serving (I dined alone and ended up taking half the ramen home) 😋 The service was also great. Overall a nice and casual dining experience, I’d come back!
As a huge ramen enthusiast, I decided to give Tajima Ramen East Village a try and ordered the Carnitas Ramen. This spicy ramen was a delightful experience! The flavors were rich and the spice level was just right for me. The industrial-chic design of the place added a nice vibe to the meal. I’d rate it 4 out of 5 stars—definitely worth a visit for ramen lovers!
Tajima is a solid lunch spot for ramen, but don’t expect to be blown away by the flavors. I come here regularly with my coworkers, and I think lunchtime is when they shine most. The ramen broth is creamy but leans light on seasoning. For example, the Tajima Red had a nice umami and spice profile, but not much salt, which might explain why they provide salt on the side. It seems like they intentionally underseason. The pork chashu was a standout, nicely charred and slightly sweet, which added a great contrast to the broth. I wouldn’t choose Tajima if I were craving the best ramen in San Diego, but it's a reliable and consistent choice for a midday meal.
It’s definitely nice to have a ramen spot in East Village and the location is close enough to the Gaslamp, but distanced enough to give you some peace from the hectic crowds. I’ve eaten here many times over the years, and have not had any issues with finding street parking. It’s unfortunate the adjacent streets are riddled with so many homeless people, but they stay on the other side of the street. The interior is charmingly decorated and cozy, much preferred to the other Tajima locations. Service here is overall good, but not as good as it used to be pre-pandemic. The ramen is pretty good, but the temperature of the soup is inconsistent. There have been times where it’s nice and hot, but sometimes it’s like warm. No ramen is enjoyable when the broth isn’t hot. My usual go to is the original Tonkotsu ramen, which they’ve now named: Tajima Ramen ‘23. My partner ordered the Creamy Chicken Ramen, which is pretty good considering it’s chicken broth based. The noodles have a good bounce and bite to them. I always order a Chili Bomb to accompany my ramen for that lovely kick of spiciness. Chicken Karage is usually a fave of mine, but the Karage here is just alright. Its seasoning is on the light side and the spicy mayo is bland. Overall a decent ramen restaurant that you can always get a quick ramen fix at.
Cute little joint, great atmosphere but the ramen is just ok. I am a flight attendant and on most of my layovers I look for Ramen places. I may try this place again and try another Ramen because I really did like the ambiance. I had the Spicy Ramen and the spicy cucumber appetizer (the app was really good)had to add salt.
Waited nearly 30 minutes for a disappointingly small portion of tonkotsu soup, on an obviously slow (Monday) night. Nearly non-existent pork meat (~1-1.5 oz); I will go to bed feeling hungry again. Service was polite, but insincere. Won’t return - just too many other ramen places, with far better value.
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About Tajima
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901 E St, San Diego, CA 92101
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901 E St, San Diego, CA 92101
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