Japanese
The Hillcrest branch of the Tajima Ramen chain, which Roger found surprisingly better than the original Clairemont/Kearny Mesa locations, with more generous portions, real flavor in the broth, and cheap late-night drink specials.
Tajima Ramen's Hillcrest location on 6th Ave is listed as closed on Yelp; the chain still operates other San Diego locations. This page keeps Roger's 2015 review as a record, not as a place to visit.
Yelp — Tajima Ramen Hillcrest listed as closed (2026-09-18) ↗This page is kept as part of the dated record. The order notes below describe the place as Roger recommended it, not as it operates today.
Source-backed notes
Checked in 5 times on Yelp, most recently Nov 1, 2015. See the check-in log
“the ramen here is actually quite decent and the broth had some real flavors”
Stumbled onto this location by accident with a group of friends despite Tajima ranking low on his list of SD ramen spots overall; stayed for cheap late-night drink specials ($1-2 sake and beer). Found the broth and presentation better and the portions more generous than the original Clairemont/Kearny Mesa locations, and recommends the thin noodles. Kept returning over several months since it's rarely packed and stays open until at least 11pm.
Stay in the neighborhood
Roger's Hillcrest cigar-bar pick, run by an owner (Raul) he calls the friendliest in town, open later than most local lounges with a strong Belgian beer selection on tap and bottle.
A Hillcrest Chinese restaurant Roger says declined after the pandemic, dropping from a two-star review to one star, after an earlier visit he'd already called just okay and Americanized.
A Hillcrest location of the Nishiki Ramen chain -- a separate address from the site's existing Kearny Mesa entry -- rated a middling three stars by Roger.
Keep exploring
Browse the Japanese page, or continue to another place with a matching cuisine.
One of the two omakase counters Roger named when asked where to take a visiting friend for sushi in 2022.
Roger's University Heights omakase recommendation from 2022, paired with Tadokoro as his two go-to sushi counters.