Vegan Ramen at UnderBelly

Ramen exists beyond the sodium-laden “Top Ramen” consuming college crowd which I used to be a part of? Why, yes, yes it does, & vegan versions to boot!

I drive by UnderBelly, a newish“traditional Japanese ramen bar” daily while in commute to my office job, yet didn’t pay much mind until my buddy Derek, co-founder of LOVELIKEBEER, “tweeted” about their ramen. Knowing Derek is vegan, I asked for clarification. “UnderBelly serves vegan ramen?” I asked, “Yes! They have two vegan options,”  he replied. I knew then & there that I would have to try it out, stat.

As I am on spring break from my school job, & working full days my family business office which happens to be a few blocks away, we decided to step out for lunch on a sunny Monday to slurp up some ramen & see if UnderBelly lived up to the hype.

Located in San Diego’s Little Italy neighborhood, UnderBelly sits below a super swanky apartment building. Upon entering, patrons are greeted by a 15-foot tall version of Andy Warhol’s portrait of Mao Tse-Tung, beautifully brought to life with 3,200 succulents. (Obviously, the full image wasn’t captured here!)

Proper protocol is to grab a menu, make your selection(s) order at the counter, then take a seat..

As is the trend in San Diego of the moment, UnderBelly boasts an impressive line-up of international draft beer, with a 27-handle draft brew list featuring rare finds, as well as draft wine from Sonoma Valley vineyards.

The 1,000 square feet space is intimate, with bar-side  & open-air seating, & an ultra-simple urban decor. With chopsticks only policy, spoons are no where to be found so don’t bother to ask. You are encouraged to slurp from the bowl, so leave your “western manners” at the door.

The 1,000 square feet space is intimate, with bar-side  & open-air seating, & an ultra-simple urban decor. With chopsticks only policy, spoons are no where to be found so don’t bother to ask. You are encouraged to slurp from the bowl, so leave your “western manners” at the door.

The menu consists of appetizers, a variety of house ramen offerings, & add ons, which are primarily meat-based. The ramen is served in a pork broth, with the exception of two veggie based options, which can be made with a vegan broth upon request. Edamame is the only veg-friendly appetizer, & one of my favorites, so we started with that….

We each ordered a version of the vegan ramen…

Now, I must admit that I am not well-versed in ramen speak, so whether or not this stacked up to authentic Japanese ramen, I cannot say for certain. My cousin Taj, who dined with me & my Mom, is a bit more ramen savvy. While she highly enjoyed her order of “Vegetable Ramen,” she did define it as a bit “hipsterfied/americanized.” Knowing nothing better, what I can say is that I thought mine was delicious, not to mention that I am super grateful for vegan options offered anywhere. As Derek recommended, I ordered the “Spicy Kimchi Ramen” & added the “Eggplant Wrapped Tofu.” In my humble opinion, the soup was abundant with tender noodles & vibrant veggies, while broth was rich & flavorful. My only regret was adding the ghost pepper chili sauce a bit over-zealously. Go easy on it, trust me!

 

I like things spicy, but yowza, this was a bit much, so I’ll go easy on it next time. And….the portions are huge, so bring your appetite. All in all, a great experience for me at Underbelly. Vegan options, large portions, friendly service & the urban atmosphere were the highlights. The only real draw back? It’s a bit pricey.  Yelpers will give you a mixed bag of reviews, so if you are a fan of traditional Japanese ramen, come with an open mind & don’t set your expectations too high. If you are newbie like me & enjoy vegan food with a flavorful ethnic flare, check it out & let me know what you think!