For Ramen it is all about the broth. And it is goooood. Take your pick of the rest and fill your belly. If possible eat in experience is the best way to have Ramen read more

Chicago Ramen - Open kitchen - Ramen Near Me - Des Plaines, Illinois

They lie about wait times. They told us it would be 15 minutes to keep us there and then forty minutes later we ended up leaving because there was no end in sight for a table. read more

I came to this place with great expectations. I ordered what looked to be an amazing Japanese hotdog off the menu. What I end up getting is a small piece of rice wrapper, two pieces of chicken, some cream and some teriyaki sauce. No hotdog to be seen. When I questioned the waiter, he tells me this is how they are. I wish I took a pic. NEVER COMING BACK. GO RIPOFF SOMEONE ELSE. read more

Had a nice dining experience to try their tsukemen and it was delicious! We also had their pork bau bun that was also yummy. You can hard pass on the homemade matcha tea cold drink as it has no flavor. We'd like to come back to try another ramen bowl. read more

Chicago Ramen - Tsukemen with egg. - Ramen Near Me - Des Plaines, Illinois

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We found this place by chance, and I'm so glad we did! I ordered the spicy vegetarian ramen, and my boyfriend ordered the spicy red miso ramen. Both were delicious and quite flavorful! We will be back! read more

Chicago Ramen - Spicy Vegetarian Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Des Plaines, Illinois

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Pros: Amazing Broth. Atmosphere (in-terms of cultural exposure). Professionalism. Cons: Noodles are not freshly made. Seating. Pricing: 3/5. read more

Covid-19 has made dining out very different. Thankfully. I've never really been one to scoff at eating in my car. Dare I say it's sometimes just as fun as being in a dining space. The aux is own and you don't have to worry about what anyone thinks of your loud chewing (or slurping in the case of ramen). This the way a friend and I experienced this spot for the first time, and despite it being very different from a traditional dining out experience, we really emoted the quality of the food and service! Their house ramen was packed with umami, and had the creamy consistency that ramen is famous for! You can definitely that their putting a lot of love into their broth. My friend had the veggie ramen and noted that veg broth was satisfying (unlike previously veggie ramens that she had) and that there was a good amount and variety of veggies/noodles. The service was perhaps the most noteworthy, though. We intended to sit our car, directly in front of the restaurant. After placing our order, we were kindly told that they would actually bring the order out to us. They did so in a timely manner, and brought us complimentary waters when they realized that we were eating on site/in our car. It may seem like a small gesture, but it's usually the smalls things that make a good restaurant great. Simply caring about your guest's experience, even when they're not right of you, is one of those rare things. It just makes you feel welcome. We will most certainly be back to dine here again! read more

This is definitely one of the best Ramen spots in the Chicagoland area. I truly like the food here the only issue with them is that they are so popular that there's barely any space to sit. I actually reframe from telling people I know about this place so that I don't go there to eat and take up the space. I'm not sure how authentic it is but based on my studies with different food and culture, it seems very authentically made the cooks and servers are really good as well. The cooks are very very hard-working people. read more

Went here today for lunch. Highly recommend for anyone who wants a salty and savory bowl of ramen or tsukemen. If you love ramen and are outside the Chicago limits near the north/northwest suburbs, give this place a try. I got the spicy miso tsukemen (noodles served separately to dip in broth) and it was so delicious. The flavors were on point. Miso, garlic, chili, pork, menma, bean sprouts, fat and salt. Others might say the noodles were too thick or "linguine-like" but the thick wide noodles allow more surface area for broth to stick to. I think they were great. They had an excellent chew and flavor. Just know they are served cold (unless asked otherwise). For the ramen I think they use Sun Noodles which, if you eat a lot of ramen, you'll know are top notch and standard around ramen ya. I loved that there were condiments sitting right in front of each seat. I added more spice and garlic. I also tried the chicken bun and shrimp bun. Both were good, but the shrimp more so than the chicken. This place was everything great about a ramen ya. Small, compact and meant to be efficient so seats are turned quickly. Ramen in my mind is not a conversation dish - so I love eating it solitary so I can focus on the flavors. The counter orientation helps this all come together. Also the cooks are in the center and your order is made in front of you (and everyone). No time wasted running it out from the kitchen - it's just laid out on the counter for you. It really is efficient so I don't recommend coming if you want to have a long conversation about life. Focus on the food, savor it but then let the other people waiting eat too. Id say a tip is there is a sign in sheet to your right when you get in. Don't let a line hold you back though. Again it's efficient, you'll be seated in no time. The overall experience was nice. It's awesome to feel like you know a little secret ramen joint in town (even though there are other locations). It feels homey, non-pretentious and I'll add extremely friendly. The staff were nice and attentive and there are signs here and there that either guide newbies on how to eat tsukemen or just make you feel good to be a customer. I like it. It was worth the 24 min drive. I'm coming back as soon as I can! read more

This is one of real Japanese ramen shop. I tried "tsukemen" and it's very good. I would like to try again! read more

Food is delicious. Get their loyalty card to get a stamp on every visit! It does feel a little cramped; if you sit at the counter with tables behind you, there is barely any room for the waiters to walk in between. read more

Chicago Ramen - Chicken Ramen with egg - Ramen Near Me - Des Plaines, Illinois

They actually close at 10:00pm on Wednesday I made a 30 min drive to be greeted and told kitchen is closed. They stated they closed at 10:00 but their open sign was on at 10:15pm and doors were unlocked. read more

Ramen broth was amazing, but ramen noodles by default was served very hard and almost raw-like. Highly recommended - need to specifically ask for softer noodles as they will be served hard solid. Karrage and charsui on rice were amazing and at a great bargain. Service was meh. Totally recommend this resturant to you guys, just beware of the hard noodles which can be mitigated by asking initially. read more

We eat here at least once a month. Love this place and will continue to come here. Service is fast despite having a line most of the time we come. Place is small but serves its purpose. read more

True authentic Japanese miso ramen! The ramen is the best I've had in Chicago. The base/soup is super flavorful! Flavor is off the charts, yet well-balanced in all its aspects. Very hard to find ramen at this level quality anywhere! All ramen toppings were fresh and delicious! The service was quick and friendly. We also had the chicken buns. As you can see from the pictures it is packed with deep fried chicken. So good! Definitely show up hungry! read more

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Best ramen shop in Chicago, red miso is highly recommended, the noodle is so chewy and the broth is thick and delicious

We got seating right away and the food was really good. But our waiter ignored us the whole time, didn't give us water cups, and avoided eye contact when speaking. I get that it's packed and there's plenty of customers to serve, but a check up once in a while would probably make a better experience. Or at least not to let us die of thirst from the spicy food. read more

Chicago Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Des Plaines, Illinois

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The ramen was good BUT they allowed a group of 12 to come inside. It was very uncomfortable inside that small space. This is very concerning and they put us in a situation where we had to rush out of there read more

Chicago Ramen - Too crowded! This place allowed a group of 12 to dine in. Plus there was another group of 5 and another 2 who came in. - Ramen Near Me - Des Plaines, Illinois

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My daughter and I tried this place for the first time and maybe last. Waited for a long time. Which Is expected on a small establishment. A bit tight when finally seated. We waited for about 5-10mins to get our order taken. We had to-go as well in our order. It took another 10-15mins on getting our order. In which gave me the time to observe the workers "Ramen Guys" Why are the uniforms so dirty? Need to have a good presentation when it comes to workers that do their jobs in front of the customers. The sides made it to us first. We ordered chicken karaage for an appetizer/dine in and for order to-go. That never made it to the table. So we mentioned it to the main guy (boss?) Nothing happened. Karaage never made it. When we about to leave. We had to ask the ramen guy to give us to-go containers for our leftovers. We got the order to go and we are still missing the 2nd karaage. ‍ we had to talk and mentioned the missing karaage until the 4th guy. The ramen we ordered was at least good. Spicy red miso ramen. Yah it will be 1st and last for this place. read more

Chicago Ramen - Chicken Karaage - Ramen Near Me - Des Plaines, Illinois

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I remember when this place opened up and I'm glad they're still in business and expanding. There's a reason they survived Covid and why more locations are opening up. By far the best ramen I've had and the menu keeps expanding. I'd eat here everyday if I could! read more

This is an incredible ramen shop! Good ramen joints are hard to come by in the chicago suburbs, and this place really did the trick. I got the spicy red miso ramen and it was absolutely delicious. It was made fresh in front of me, and all the ingredients were high quality. The broth had the perfect blend of spice and earthy umami flavor. The price was very good as well. I can't wait to come back! read more

Chicago Ramen - spicy red miso - Ramen Near Me - Des Plaines, Illinois

I would give this spot a thousand stars if I could. This is the best Ramen around. I adore ramen, and I have tried a lot of places, in a lot of cities. I can wholeheartedly say, the Red Miso Ramen is a masterpiece. It has a thicker base than many ramens, but the flavor is out of this world. A bit spicy for sure, but so so good. The space is small and has counter seating, but the food is quick and the staff is like lightning. I can't wait to go back! read more

Updating my review from before. The story behind is that I got ramen to go. They used to have black plastic containers that were at some point changed to light white ones. Last week when I got it from the heat the container was deformed. I refused to eat the food. When I tried to take it back - I was told they would not take it (left it anyways) Forget the money - I drove back to make a point that they should not be giving melted plastic to people! So new verdict - you get: awesome ramen inside, plastic infused ramen to go, bad customer service read more

This ramen is place is amazing. The ramen is really authentic, don't let the name fool you. It may not have a traditional Japanese name, but the food is. The best dishes that I tried were Spicy Tsukemen, Mano Tofu and Maze Soba. If you go with a big group, I would recommend you to share the dishes. So, we can try as many as possible. Mano Tofu is a ramen with an amazing smoky tofu that will melt in your mouth. The flavors are unique and indescriptible. Maze Soba is delicious, although a bit greasy for my taste. I went on a Sunday at 11:50 AM and it was already crowded. If you are reading this I will recommend you to go earlier during the weekend. Otherwise, you might need to wait at least an hour before ordering your food. read more

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What a treat. Stumbled upon this place when my wife and I were in the area. This is top notch ramen served in an unpretentious way. According to the menu, this ramen shop is one of a handful of American locations of one of the most famous ramen restaurants in Japan. While I haven't yet been to Japan, everything about this place felt authentic. The staff were mostly Japanese and seemed to take the craft of making ramen seriously. The broth was rich and full of flavor. The noodles were delicious and homemade. Everything in the soup was high quality, especially the delicious pork. I had the spicy red miso and my wife had the regular white miso. Both were excellent. The spicy was definitely spicy, but completely tolerable and tasty. The shishito pepper appetizer was also lovely and perfectly cooked. The service was fast and no frills. You order with a server and your ramen is served directly to you from the counter. It's a functional approach that may not make you feel like they're your friends, but my wife and I couldn't help but feel special eating there because of the quality and efficiency of the entire experience. You won't go wrong stopping here and I would enthusiastically recommend it to anyone in the area. read more

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Really impressed by this place the service was great and fast and the ramen was so tasty I was extremely impressed for a strip mall place. I will definitely be back. read more

Not my first choice if you're feeling Ramen. The food is decent but there is almost no room to sit down and have some space during lunch. Service is decent. Better place to Grubhub or order takeout than to dine in. read more

This place is amazing. Chef Ikehata brings authentic , amazing ramen to the Midwest ( seriously, google this place and the chef). Simply put, the ramen is so incredibly good. The tsukemen (not tonkotsu, had never heard of it either) is next level good. Thick, perfectly chewy noodles, thick, flavorful broth and perfectly cooked chasu . The chicken ramen is so , so good. The broth is clear and light, but packed with rich flavor. I crave it, especially on a cold night, or when I'm feeling under the weather, or really any day. Yes it's that good. Most recently I tried the tuna bowl, and it's like having a bowl of sushi. Yum. Go to Chicago Ramen, you won't be disappointed. read more

Finally checked off my yelp bookmark list! I've been meaning to try this place out! Upon entering, they greeted me and checked my temperature. Once I got seated, they brought out a water bottle which is absolutely awesome during this pandemic #safetyfirst. Then they brought out napkins and disposable wooden chopsticks. After, they brought out a tray of condiments including seaweed powder (AO NORI), homemade spicy powder (onikasu), fresh minced garlic, black pepper, soy sauce, and sriracha. Everything looked very clean and organized. The server wore a mask and gloves. They have outdoor seating but if you sit by the bar table, you can see the chefs cooking which was very entertaining to watch . A lot of people came to pick up their orders. I went a little before 6pm and it was just me and two other people. When the two people left, the waitress cleaned and sanitized the area. For the meal, I ordered a spicy miso tsukemen and chicken karaage. I've been always wanting to try tsukemen but all the ramen places I've been to either didn't have any or ran out so FINALLY I got to try it and I LOVED IT! So rich in flavor and absolutely delicious. It's different than a regular ramen bcz instead of noodle coming in the broth, it comes out separately. You dip the cold, chewy noodle in the hot broth. The texture of the noodle and the pork that comes with the noodle was fantastic!!! After you finish the noodle, you can ask for "soup wari" to the chef and they'll give you some light broth to finish the soup. I couldn't finish but it was so delicious, I had to take it to go. Chicken karaage was also scrumptious. So tender and battered perfectly! Definitely my #1 ramen place in the suburbs and I am SO HAPPY I DISCOVERED THIS PLACE can't wait to go back! read more

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Food was great service was fast. I got the dipping noodles which was highlighted in the menu and it did not disappoint. I recommend checking them out. read more

This is the best spot for authentic Japanese ramen! Portion size is perfect and the flavors are absolutely delicious. Service and quick and incredibly welcoming. Definitely coming back here again! read more

Chicago Ramen - Red Miso Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Des Plaines, Illinois

Best ramen I have ever had! Quick service and very friendly service. Will return many times! read more

Chicago Ramen - Chicken Ramen with egg - Ramen Near Me - Des Plaines, Illinois

We went there recently and I noticed. It changed. Chashu wasn't what it used to be compared to when they opened. Quality went down sadly. Only chef making ramen looked like he hates his job the whole time. That was hard to see. It used to be so good but it was still good but not like I want to go back sadly. read more

So far the BEST Ramen in Chicago. If you are looking for authentic Ramen, this is the places def need to come back again to try out more. read more

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Food taste delicious every time I visit and even though they are typically busy, we don't have to wait long. read more

Chicago Ramen - White Miso Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Des Plaines, Illinois

Great service, food out in a minute. Great place. Great food, good music, it is so easy to see where it is.

I've only had the spicy vegetable ramen because it's delicious and it's all I want. Lol. Delivery is always fast and hot.

Ordered the veggie ramen and really enjoyed it- steaming hot and very flavorful. Seating can be a challenge so get there early.

A great place to go for Ramen I'd recommend it to everyone and my mother. Enjoyed the vibe as well.

If you're looking for a no-frills, solid dining experience that will leave you fully satisfied in the northwest suburbs, look no further than this nondescript little strip mall spot whose humble exterior houses some of the most authentic ramen I've had. Chef Ikehata brings years of experience from the Tsujita ramen chain in LA to Illinois and we are definitely the beneficiaries of that move. You won't find a heartier bowl of noodles or tastier rice bowls with a bustling, cheery atmosphere and a pleasant staff looking to make sure you enjoy every moment of your dining experience. I'm particularly fond of their red and white miso ramens with a side of white mapo tofu. But the chicken shoyu and curry rice are a very close second. It's hard to go wrong with so many great choices. read more