Cheap Ramen Restaurants in Santa Monica, California — 4 Spots
Every spot we track for cheap ramen in Santa Monica, ranked by rating and review volume. Search by name, or switch to the map.
4 restaurants on this page
4 restaurants
Kai Ramen Santa Monica
729 Montana Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90403Closed — 11:30AM–9PM
Kai Ramen Santa Monica is a ramen restaurant serving the Santa Monica area.
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Takuma IZAKAYA JAPANESE
2627 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90403Closed — 11:30AM–3PM, 5–10:30PM
Traditional storefront izakaya serving up sashimi & seaweed plus a wide selection of sake.
JINYA Ramen Bar - Santa Monica
2400 Main St Suite D, Santa Monica, CA 90405Closed — 11:30AM–10PM
Japanese noodle-soup specialist serves up hot bowls in a bright, casual setting.
Silverlake Ramen
1319 3rd Street Promenade, Santa Monica, CA 90401Closed — 11:30AM–9PM
Silverlake Ramen is a ramen restaurant serving the Santa Monica area.
Cheap Ramen Restaurants in Santa Monica, California
When I am after cheap ramen in Santa Monica, the list above is where I start. It is already filtered toward cheap ramen, so it is easy to compare ratings, hours, and photos and pick the bowl you actually want — or switch to the map and tap "Use my location" to sort the same list by distance.
What makes great cheap ramen
Cheap ramen is not lesser ramen. A bowl under about $15 in Santa Monica is usually the sign of a shop that keeps its menu tight and its overhead low — one broth done properly, a couple of toppings, no table service to pay for. Some of the most respected shops in California sit squarely in this price band, because a long-simmered pork or chicken broth costs far less to make than it tastes like. This map filters Santa Monica, CA down to budget-friendly bowls, sorted so you can find the cheapest good ramen closest to you rather than just the cheapest.
How I find the best cheap ramen in Santa Monica
My approach is simple: I favor shops that specialize rather than do a little of everything, and I trust a strong rating that holds up across plenty of reviews over a perfect score from just a few. In Santa Monica, I open a couple of listings, skim the most recent reviews and the photos, and go with the bowl that looks carefully made. The map keeps everything sorted by distance, so you are never trading quality for a long drive.
Tips for ordering cheap ramen
- •Sort by distance once you set your location so the nearest cheap ramen in Santa Monica is on top.
- •Open a few listings and read the most recent reviews — fresh, specific praise is the best signal.
- •Use the Filters button to stack on what matters: open now, price, or dietary needs.
- •Ask the shop for noodle firmness and spice level so the bowl arrives exactly how you like it.
Prefer to widen the search? You can browse all ramen in Santa Monica, CA or jump to cheap ramen near you nationwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find cheap ramen in Santa Monica?+
The map above filters Santa Monica, CA to restaurants in the budget price range — roughly under $15 a bowl. Enter your ZIP or click "Use my location" to sort by distance and find the closest affordable option.
How much should a bowl of ramen cost?+
Most markets run about $14 to $20 for a standard bowl. Anything under roughly $15 counts as budget, and under $12 is genuinely cheap. Prices climb with premium toppings like extra chashu or a marinated egg, which are usually a few dollars each.
Is cheap ramen lower quality?+
Not usually. Price tracks overhead — rent, service model, decor — more than broth quality. Counter-service shops with a short menu often make excellent ramen precisely because they do one or two bowls extremely well instead of a long menu adequately.
How do I eat cheap at a ramen shop in Santa Monica?+
Order the shop's standard bowl rather than the loaded special, skip extra toppings, and drink water instead of a beverage — that alone often saves $8 to $12. Lunch service is also frequently cheaper than dinner for the same bowl.
What is kaedama and does it save money?+
Kaedama is a refill of noodles added to your remaining broth, usually $1 to $3. At shops that offer it, ordering a standard bowl plus a kaedama is almost always cheaper than ordering a large or a second bowl.
Also browsing: Cheap Ramen Near Me · Ramen in Santa Monica, CA · Ramen in California
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