Order: Tonkotsu ramen, izakaya small plates, craft and Japanese beer $14–$28
Combines Tajima's well-known ramen with a full izakaya menu and a rotating craft-beer and sake list.
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San Diego Food Guide
San Diego's izakaya and Japanese-curry scene is concentrated almost entirely in the Convoy District and Kearny Mesa, where ramen shops, curry houses, and small-plates-and-sake bars sit blocks apart. Here's where to go for a proper izakaya night or a curry-rice lunch in 2026.
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Quick answer: For a full izakaya experience with small plates and sake, Izakaya Sakura and Tajima Convoy (Tajima Ramen & Izakaya Bar) both combine ramen with a real izakaya menu. For Japanese curry specifically, CoCo Ichibanya on Convoy is the reliable build-your-own-spice-level option; Monsta Ramen Curry is a smaller local take on ramen-curry combos.
Combines Tajima's well-known ramen with a full izakaya menu and a rotating craft-beer and sake list.
Menu leans into a wide curry selection alongside standard izakaya small plates — good for a group ordering a spread.
The Japanese curry chain's Convoy outpost — reliable, customizable spice level, good for a quick solo lunch.
Generously portioned Japanese comfort food pairing ramen with curry — casual, value-focused menu.
Convoy District / Kearny Mesa
Almost every izakaya and curry house in the city sits within this corridor — Tajima Convoy, Izakaya Sakura, CoCo Ichibanya, and Monsta Ramen Curry are all a short drive apart.
Izakaya spots are built for grazing — order a few small plates plus a bowl of ramen or curry rather than one large entrée each.
CoCo Ichibanya lets you pick a spice level from 1 to 10; anything above 5 is genuinely hot, not a gimmick.
Convoy District parking fills up fast on weekend evenings — arrive early or plan to walk between a few spots.
Pair a curry lunch with a stop at one of Convoy's boba or dessert shops afterward — the district is dense enough to string together a full afternoon.
Tajima Convoy (Tajima Ramen & Izakaya Bar) and Izakaya Sakura are the two most complete izakaya experiences, both combining ramen with a broader small-plates-and-drinks menu, and both in the Convoy District.
CoCo Ichibanya's Convoy location is the most reliable dedicated Japanese curry spot, with adjustable spice levels. Monsta Ramen Curry and Izakaya Sakura both also serve curry alongside ramen or izakaya plates.
The Convoy District has been San Diego's main Asian food corridor for decades, with a dense mix of Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Chinese restaurants clustered within a few blocks — making it the natural home for the city's izakaya and curry scene.
Start with a few small plates (yakitori, karaage, gyoza) plus one shared ramen or curry bowl, and a Japanese beer or sake — that's the standard izakaya-style meal rather than one large single entrée.
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Published by the Sandi Spots Editorial team at Sleep Coast LLC. Guides combine local perspective and source research. Check the individual guide for firsthand observations and follow official links to confirm current details.