Kitakata Ramen Ban Nai - San Diego (Kearny Mesa) — Restaurant in San Diego

Eating out with little ones could be stressful for parents at times, and this particular occasion indeed turned out to be one of those times. However, it wasn't due to screaming babies.

Our group consisted of 2 families, including 4 adults and 2 babies under the age of one. We came in during Sunday lunchtime. The restaurant was not excessively busy, though we did have to wait for the only table that could accommodate the size of our party, not a problem at all. While waiting near the entrance, my wife, who was holding our 9-month-old boy as we awaited our turn, gently walked around with the baby to keep him content. The receptionist promptly approached, requesting that she remains near the entrance to "avoid disturbing other diners". While I comprehended the consideration for fellow diners, I found the request to be somewhat excessive. My wife complied, and stood near the door, awaiting our turn. Probably 30 seconds later, we were asked by the same receptionist to relocate outside the restaurant, supposedly to prevent obstructing the entrance. This was perplexing as there was NO influx of diners coming or going at that point, and the heat outside was quite uncomfortable for adults, not to mention for babies. Although I proposed that we stay indoors due to the sweltering weather and assured we'd make way for any diners entering or exiting, the receptionist didn't show any empathy. Thankfully, our table became available and things did not escalate.

Our table is comprised of three small tables, one side featured a couch, while the other served as a walkway. The third end of the table rested against a wall. To accommodate our babies, we opted to place one baby on a high chair by the walkway and the other on the open end of the table. Here again, our interaction with the receptionist turned sour. She insisted that both babies be seated on the walkway side, fearing their presence might "disrupt diners at a neighboring table". This seemed unreasonable as there was ample space between tables, and our babies were exceptionally well-behaved. In my attempt to explain that placing both infants on the walkway side would result in an uneven adult-to-baby ratio, I was met with resistance. These encounters collectively fostered a sense of discomfort, suggesting our party's presence wasn't entirely welcome, despite our minimal disruption. We asked the neighboring table about our perceived disturbance; their response indicated they had no issues with how we were seated, nor with the babies' behavior.

Thankfully, our interactions with the receptionist were limited thereafter. Unfortunately, the combination of less-than-stellar culinary offerings and the unwelcoming attitude from the receptionist has led us to decide against revisiting this...

Update 4/2025:

My husband and I have been back here several more times and tried many different items including seasonal dishes (like tonkotsu, mapo tofu, mazemen, tsukemen) and everything is delicious. You can't really go wrong with any menu item. Chashu rice bowl is another favorite.

The quality has been consistent, dining is spacious and cleaning, service is prompt and friendly, food comes out fast and hot!

My personal favorite is the classic kitakata ramen. Even though it's a shio (salt) ramen, the broth is so tasty and comforting. Because it's shio broth, it doesn't feel heavy or unhealthy. The curly kitakata noodles have a very nice chewy texture.

Highly recommend this ramen shop.

————————————- I have been a fan of Kitakata Ramen in Irvine and Buena Park so when I heard that there's a new Kitakata in San Diego opening the next day, I had to cancel my next day plans to try them out!

Kitakata has the best clean tasting shoyu and shio ramen that isn't as heavy as the Hakata or tonkotsu ramens. Kitakata noodles also have a nice firmness and chew to them. I anticipate this ramen shop to be a popular busy place.

It is located in the Costco business shopping center next Target. Parking is ample and free.

Service - very friendly servers, food came out quickly

Juicy fried chicken - very moist, flavorful chicken with great crisp. The batter is thin and light so it's not too oily. It came with a sweet mustard-like dipping sauce. Highly recommend!

Kitakata ramen - asked for less salt and hard noodles. This was so delicious with a little spicy sesame oil added on the side.

Umakara Tan Tan ramen - asked for less salt and hard noodles. My husband & I both thought it was too salty when we had this in the past, so the modification of less salt made it perfect. Tan tan has a nice sesame flavor and a kick from the spicy sesame oil. It's my husband's...

I dined at Kitakata Ramen last Saturday, unfortunately, the experience was far from satisfying. As someone who has explored various ramen places, including those offering Japanese fried chicken, I was genuinely disappointed by the food.

I ordered Spicy Miso Ramen, only to be met with noodles that resembled instant ones in terms of texture and taste. The lack of authentic chewiness and depth in the noodles was quite noticeable, making me question the attention to detail in their preparation.

Also, the extra spicy option only led to further disappointment. The spicy paste tasted to be reminiscent of a Korean variety, which was a stark contrast to the expected Japanese flavor profile. This deviation from authenticity left me questioning the restaurant's commitment to delivering the promised experience.

Even more disheartening was my experience with the Japanese fried chicken, an item that should be relatively straightforward for an establishment focusing on ramen. Regrettably, the chicken's exterior was sticky and lacking flavor, while the meat itself was dry.

Considering the wealth of outstanding ramen restaurants in San Diego, I would strongly suggest exploring other establishments for your ramen fix. With a variety of choices that provide both delectable flavors and an authentic dining atmosphere, you can definitely find a better match for your craving outside of...