First time here we were seated immediately! It was Thursday night around 10ish I'll say. The staff was super friendly and helpful! Very welcoming and attentive, but then again it's a hidden little ramen spot where everyone's huddled up at a bar pretty much lol The food was absolutely delicious! I got their signature ramen and the pork just melted in your mouth. Noodles were 10/10, broth even better.! Will be coming back for sure. Hopefully we have a similar experience with waiting and dining read more

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I never leave negative reviews, but this experience was unacceptable. On 7/18/2026 at approximately 9:30pm-9-45pm My friend and I were waiting for our ramen, we watched one of the kitchen staff check the noodles by reaching into the bowl with his bare fingers, pulling out some noodles, and putting them directly into his mouth to taste them. Then wiped his fingers on a dirty rag and proceeded to finish making the bowls. A short time later, we were served that same bowl of ramen. Watching an employee use their bare hands and mouth on food that was then served to a customer was extremely concerning and completely unacceptable from a food safety and hygiene standpoint. It ruined the experience and made us lose confidence in the restaurant's food handling practices. I hope management takes this seriously, retrains their staff on proper food safety procedures, and ensures this doesn't happen to anyone else. read more

High Five Ramen - Noodle,egg,pork,onion - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We were seated immediately, but also came at 6PM on a Monday. Servers and the team were very nice, and the ambience even more so. It definitely lives up to the speakeasy reputation. Prices were definitely on the higher end. Shio bowl: broth was nice and light, yet so flavorful! The addition of mushrooms were a perfect fit. The pork could have had more flavor, but that may be because the broth was light. Tonkotsu bowl: really packs a punch! Unfortunately, I found it very salty with the black garlic oil. The pork in this one was perfect, though! Overall, a great experience and I would come back to try their other options! read more

High Five Ramen - Shio Bowl - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Actually the best ramen I've had in the city!! Such good service and I'm so glad we were able to get in! I've heard it was so hard to get a res but we only waited 20 mins, so happy. It's tiny in there so I can see how this would be hard to get, downstairs of green street smoked meats in the cut. Highly recommend! read more

High Five Ramen - Tonkotsu Bowl - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This place was such a vibe and def deserves all the hype! For my roommates birthday is 3 girls went here for a bday dinner. Luckily, we got there on Wednesday at about 6pm. It was a rainy day so guessing that's why we got sat immediately. The tonkotsu was truly amazing and I couldn't stop myself to even talk while eating it. I'm not a ramen master by any means but know that this was great ramen. The broth was so flavorful and the noodles were perfect texture and taste. I will for sure be going back here soon. + crispest Diet Coke presentation. One thing to note if you go - keep your group small since there are only ~15 seats in the restaurant. They are on doordash too! read more

High Five Ramen - Tonkotsu Bowl - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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After all the hype, the taste was overall a bit lackluster. There are only 4 bowls to choose from, so you'd imagine all 4 would be spectacular. The waitress explain the bowls in detail and I picked The Shoyu ramen, with half spice. But ended up needed a few extra spoonfuls of chili oil to give it some kick. There was more of a "briny" taste rather than deep, rich flavor. The noodles tasted more like packaged ramen. The pork was indeed very tender, and cut like butter and added some slight smoky richness and fattiness to the dish. The one redeeming quality was The ambience; calm and inviting, and a great place to go with a few friends, or just by yourself. But expect a long wait time, as there aren't many seats available. read more

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Took me way too long to try High Five. On a cold and snowy Saturday, I decided it was time to finally get a bowl of what many call the best ramen in town. It lived up to the hype. After waiting about 20 minutes for a seat, I bellied up to the bar and ordered the Tonkotsu. Love at first sip. The rich broth warmed my soul. The egg was perfectly runny. The pork belly had a deep smoky flavor and melted in your mouth. Perfect ratio of noodles to broth. Hands down one of the best bowls of ramen I've ever had. It's a cozy space. No frills. Small menu. It's only about 20 seats so you may have to wait. But it's worth the wait. read more

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High Five Ramen is an experience more than just a meal. Tucked away in Fulton Market, it gives off serious speakeasy vibes the moment you step inside--dark, intimate, moody, and somehow transporting you straight to a tiny ramen bar in Japan. The space is very limited, so expect long wait times, but honestly? Totally worth it. Get there early if you can! Once seated, service moves fairly quickly. The menu is small, but the customization options are great--you can tailor your toppings and spice levels exactly how you like. I got the signature tonkatsu ramen with 1/4 spice and... wow. Legit one of the best bowls of ramen I've ever had in my entire life! The broth was rich, earthy, and deeply flavorful. The noodles had that perfect chewy consistency. Every topping hit perfectly, and the pork was absolutely delectable--tender, juicy, melt-in-your-mouth good. The ratio of noodles to broth to toppings was just chef's kiss. I'm not kidding when I say I might actually dream about this bowl until I'm back! 10/10. A must-visit for anyone who loves ramen or just wants to feel like they've slipped into a hidden corner of Tokyo for an hour! read more

High Five Ramen - Tonkotsu Bowl - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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There's a few spots in the west loop for ramen, but high five is the 1 you should actually be checking out. GET THERE EARLY! This ramen joint is located in the basement of green street smoked meats. It's limited seating, like 10 people at max and people wait hours to have it. Even on a random Tuesday with it being 90+ degrees it was still packed the entire time. Service is quick and prompt. I tried the signature tonkatsu with 1/4 spice. I like that they have very specific amounts for their heat. Apparently I'm weak bc at 1/4 it was pretty spicy for me. Now the broth? That's where it's at. There is so much love and flavor to it. Noodles were fine, good, just nothing 'danggggg Gina' for me. read more

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Do I recommend this business?!!? HELL YEAH This is my all time favorite ramen spot. Honestly, it's a must to visit monthly. I am unapologetically, a fiend. The ramen is incredible. The spice, the broth, the flavor, the pork belly!! I always add bok Choy as it makes me feel like I've made a healthy choice lol Now it's important to note that this place has literally 15 seats and the wait can be 2+ hours. I tend to go alone in hopes of scoring something. I don't need anything holding me back from this bowl of euphoria!!! I also love getting the mixed slushie drink. Everything is perfect here. Very dimly lit and super intimate, this place is perfect to just vibe and get your slurp on. read more

High Five Ramen - Mixed slushie - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We finally got a chance to try High Five Ramen and it was worth all the hype! We have been recommended to try this spot for the longest from our friends and even coworkers. We got: Tokyo Sazerac: 4/5 really good pretty strong though so be prepared! Cherry Blossom Slushy: 5/5 pretty good and alcoholic! The flavors also good. I wish the size was a tad bigger! Tonkotsu Ramen: 5/5 noodles were wonderful. The egg was perfectly runny and the pork is nice and tender. Broth was deep with wonderful flavors. I got mine 1/4 spice which was perfect for me. Shoyu Ramen: 5/5 my partner got it full spice! We were warned it would ruin the flavor of the broth and make it hard to really taste it. She was for sure correct as he said it was numbingly spicy! He did have fun eating it but will be getting it 1/2 spice from now on (as a big spice lover himself) Mochi: 5/5 we got matcha and strawberry and it was a wonderful dessert after mochi. One thing my partner did say was that instead of having it named full, 1/2, 1/4 spice it should be based on levels. Since he first interpreted it as "full experience" haha. The service was great! We got there and put our names down the wait was about 40-50 mins for 2 people so we got sat around 6pm on Thursday night. The bar is nice and cozy and it doesn't sit many people so if you want to try it make sure to come early! I will for sure be coming back when I crave a nice bowl of ramen! read more

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Where shall I start? The time it takes to get one of the 16 seats they have is incredibly long. But...there's a reason for that. This place is so worth the wait. Man oh man! The smells inside this place are unreal. We ordered the mushroom ramen(veggie). Spice level: medium Smells are good, tastes are good and everything in between. The broth starts the journey. You get a dark, thick and flavorful taste with hints of mushroom and vegetables. The spice level hits and make sure you know what you can handle. The option for an egg is there and the toppings that come with it add a crunch and a touch that makes it balance out the warm broth. I really like the texture of the noodles and they hold as al dente so it is not too squishy. The ambiance is unmatched with only 14 seats and no actual lights, just candles. Overall, 10/10 experience. Unmatched! read more

High Five Ramen - Veggie - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Was super excited to try the ramen here to only be disappointed. I didn't get any flavor from the broth besides just a bunch of chili no actual flavor. The egg was super salty not sure where the seasoning part went just salty. First time having ramen with an egg this cooked... noodles felt like from an insta noodle packet. Pork slices are very thick doesn't compliment ramen very well being that thick. For being the price it is and having such a hype it was very disappointing. Definitely not a high five ramen.... Also the silverware for to go orders useless. The spoon is so little and the quality is horrible! It's cheap! Focus more on quality vs aesthetics. read more

High Five Ramen - 3.99 for this egg that too salty - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Hidden inside an alley that hosts Green Street Smoked Meats and the ever popular Trivoli Tavern, it's easy to pass by this inconspicuous ramen spot. After being discouraged by the two hour wait time on my first couple visits, I was able to secure two seats at the bar. It is a very small venue with only a few tables and some seats along the bar. Our waiter was super knowledgeable on the menu and gave an in depth explanation of the different broths and spice levels. I ordered the High Five Signature Bowl, which was exactly as the staff described. The pork belly was extremely tender and the broth was packed with flavor. The only reason this wasn't a 5-star experience is that we were basically rushed to finish our meal. Also, the ramen was warm, but not hot. It seemed intentional so as to get patrons to finish as quickly as possible. I understand the need to service the endless line of patrons, but rushing people through their meal isn't great. We were asked three separate times if we're done when we clearly still had ramen in our bowls. Given the wait time, expedited service, and temperature lacking broth, I would opt for other surrounding ramen spots. read more

High Five Ramen - Tonkotsu Bowl - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This is a regular stop for The Queen when it comes to Ramen. For me, she is the Queen of Ramen as she lives that dish almost every other day, either making it at home or eating out. So on one of The Queen's Saturday's visits down to High Five Ramen (H5R), I asked if I could go with her to try out the ramen. If you are wondering why I asked, me and The Queen love hanging out with each other as well as other folks, we also enjoy spending time with ourselves. So I wanted to make sure I would not be trespassing on her "me" time. She was so excited to have me join her as she loves introducing me to new Asian experiences. Knowing her, she is very respectful of Asian culture and the foods, and loves to share that experience with her mom. H5R is the basement of Green Street Smoke Meat (GSSM). They open at noon and do not do reservations, so The Queen said we should get down to GSSM at 11 am so we could have drinks at the bar and then make our way down the stairs to get a place in line for seating. H5R does have a small bar, but The Queen mentioned that we could order bubbles and take them down with us to eat. To get to the restaurant, you have to do through this entrance that is very non-descript. I honestly did not notice it as I was focus on the hustle and bustle of folks getting BBQ (that is info for a different review, coming to your Yelp page in 2026). But as the time got closer to 11:45 am, The Queen wrapped up our tab and proceeded to the entrance way. There were already folks in line going down the stairs that also had drinks in their hands from the GSSM bar. The physical space for H5R is very small...I want to say it can hold maybe 20 people. There is seating at the bar and them seating along the wall. Me and The Queen were lucky we got in line when we did as we were the last two admitted. Sitting along the wall, there are a LOT of stickers from different bands, businesses, slogans, etc. I was so surprised as I was looking them over to see one from Tamarkin Camera. Dan Tamarkin is a good friend of The Doctor's and fellow Lecia lover. I took a photo of the decal and sent it to Dan and his wife to let them know they are everywhere! Now to the establishment. The menu is small but mighty. There is a H5 signature bowl (Tonkotsu), Shio (chicken dashi broth), Shoyu (a blend of shoyu and chicken dashi broth) and Maitake (mushroom miso broth). For your bowl, you have the option of adding spice to your bowl: no spice, 1/4 spice, 1/2 spice and full spice. The level five spice is called Kanado Spice and it is described as being "face-numbing, tear-jerking, unbearable spice. Please do not order without careful consideration". And there is a charge of $2.99 for this experience. I know I have mentioned in other reviews that The Queen loves spicy/hot stuff, but she said the highest she has ever gone is full spice. She said she is "askeered to do level five". HAHAHAHAHA! That right there is enough to keep me in check. There are also extras you can get with your bowl such as noodles, seasoned egg, menma, bok choy, pork belly, Maitake mushrooms and marinated Shitake mushrooms. I got the H5 signature bowl as I am a big lover of Tonkotsu broth and this did not disappoint. I got extra pork belly and asked for 1/4 spice to be brave. Man the pork belly comes from upstairs from GSSM and Lawdy lawdy lawdy! That meat was tender and just melted in my mouth! It was sooo good! Now the 1/4 spice was another thang. It was weird as it was a little too spicy for me and had me sweating (which spicy food does), but it enhanced the flavor of the noodles. So I am torn as I am not a fan of spicy food or sweating in public, but I loved the taste. So I am going to have think about that next time. I was so glad I had gotten a glass of prosecco to go downstairs with me, as that helped to cut the heat of the spice from my tongue. Next time I will ask if I can get the spice on the side so I can just a touch. As I mentioned H5R has a small bar and they do offer a selection of highballs made with Japanese whiskeys, Oka Gin and Vodka, and a nice selection of Japanese whiskeys. There are also a few beer selections as well as sake and some cocktails/slushies. The day we were there, there were offering a Cherry blossom Frozen drink in a skull, which was so cute but nice and strong. Very good flavor, the cherry did not taste artificial. Meals move pretty quick, but I would not say you are rushed. Our server, Arshak, was absolutely adorable and so much fun to chat with with. He was constantly checking in on us, even though the place was at capacity. This was a good experience and I would definitely go back with or without The Queen, but she was saying that next time she wants to take The Doctor so he can try it. I will be there as well. read more

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One of the best ramen spots in Chicago. The downstairs vibe is so fun and cozy. It felt like an authentic Japanese place read more

High Five Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Huge fan of this ramen place. Great spot to go by yourself or with a friend, as there's not much seating. Vibe is super cool, funky music playing in the background, dim lights. Most importantly, the ramen is quite delicious. Love the creaminess and texture of their tonkotsu broth. read more

High Five Ramen - tonkotsu ramen - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The restaurant has a cozy, intimate setting that makes it a nice spot for a quick meal. I had the tonkotsu ramen and thought the noodles and egg were cooked well, and for Japanese whiskey fans, the expanding whiskey menu is a nice highlight. That said, I found the toppings underwhelming. The bowl came with pork belly, bean sprouts, and egg--the bean sprouts, in particular, felt a bit out of place. While additional toppings are available, they come at an extra cost. The broth came across as one-note and had a slight bitterness that threw off the balance. Overall, I think there's room to refine the flavors and toppings to really elevate the experience. read more

High Five Ramen - Tonkotsu - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We arrived shortly after they opened on a Sunday morning and had to wait about 45 minutes to get seated. We walked around the area for a bit and even got some coffee upstairs as Sawada while we waited. The place is very small inside. So the long wait is understandable. My wife and I both ordered their High Five Signature Bowl with Tonkotsu. Their menu is very small, so there wasnt really many choices to choose from. We were originally going to order both with no spice, but our server highly recommended to at least try it with 1/4 spice. And it extremely thankful for her recommendation. That hint of spice definitely elevated the dish. My wife went without spice and there was a noticeable difference. The broth was very flavorful and the noodles were perfect. It also came with an egg, pork belly, black garlic oil, bean sprouts and scallions. Definitely one of the best ramen I've had in a long time. And definitely worth the wait. We will definitely be returning. read more

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Worth the try, but not worth returning. Now I love ramen and usually all of it. I had the maitake (vegetarian option) and it was good! The broth was rich but the flavors in the rest of the bowl didn't come out very strongly. They had 4-5 main options with different broths but all the same protein. It could be a more inviting place to have a variety of proteins available in their different bowls. Nevertheless, the whisky menu looked pretty good even though I didn't try anything from there this time. The place is actually quite small with seating for maybe 20 people so it does feel very intimate and on brand with the speakeasy vibe they're going for. We went at 5:30 on a Thursday so we got seated pretty quickly but as we were leaving, there was a wait for a spot. It's going ramen, but you can get better ramen. read more

It's probably been over 1.5 years since I've been here. I remember when they first opened and it still remains the same great taste as I remember . I usually would opt for the tonkotsu ramen but decided to go with the Maitake Instead but added the pork belly which was delish! $19.90+5.99 for the belly. Not too bad consider it's 2025 and ramen prices are usually $20 a bowl! Our server was super sweet and give us bibs to wear since me and my friend both had light colored clothing! I got the sazerc 13.95 for a regular glass . No happy hour here I think but def a staple of Chicago ! read more

High Five Ramen - Sazerac - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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My party (2 people) got seated right away but it was New Year's eve. It is downstairs from Sawada coffee and a bar. The restaurant is very small so not a lot of seating. It is all bar seating (there is no table seating). The worker was super friendly and helpful. She started it off by explaining the menu in depth. My boyfriend also has an allergy and she made sure the cooks didn't cross contaminate which was really nice because most restaurants don't pay attention to detail when it comes to allergies. I got the tonkotsu with 1/4 spicy and it wasn't spicy at all (but that's my personal spice tolerance). I will have to say, it was extremely salty which is the only reason I am giving the 4 stars instead of 5. However, the pork belly did melt like butter. The service was over the top! I just wish the ramen wasn't so salty. read more

High Five Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I had a great experience here! It's quite literally a hole in the wall. The staff here were very friendly! This place is known to have long wait times but it's definitely worth it. You can spend the wait at surrounding restaurants/bars. I got the maitake with 1/4 spice but I would've gotten the 1/2 spice next time. Also tried the coconut painkiller. It was a little too sweet for me so i probably wouldn't get that next time. The matcha flavored mochi were delicious though! It was the perfect end to my meal. High recommend this place if you have the time. read more

High Five Ramen - Matcha mochi - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The ramen was a bit lack luster for me. The waitress cautioned us about spice levels so I ended up going with half spice but ended up needing to add so much chili oil to compensate. Overall, it was very ok but not worth the long wait times in my opinion read more

High Five Ramen - Shoyu Bowl - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I think this is the best ramen in the city. The environment is sexy and romantic. The playlist is exceptional. The service is warm and clear. I love this place. The wait is serious, so plan on grabbing a drink somewhere else while you wait. We have been here several times and High Five is extremely consistent. We have also tried their carry out and it is wonderfully packaged. A practically perfect dining experience. read more

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Cozy vibes, delicious japanese ramen, & high energy service. Finally checked out this neighborhood gem and so glad I did. First off, loved the cozy basement vibes..perfect for winter season. I had a hard time deciding which ramen to get so tried SHIO this time. Delicious & perfect size! Person next to me was having the Tonkotsu which looked amazing so going for that next time. The Shio paired perfectly with the Night Swim Sake.. Cant wait to come back! read more

High Five Ramen - Bar seating - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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High Five Ramen is not authentic at all. Their Tonkotsu Ramen broth is just Pork and Chicken bones water. Made with boiled Pork Fat and Pork Belly Scraps. There's little to no vegetables to bring out any flavor in their signature Tonkotsu Ramen Broth. It's a basic ramen anyone could make at Home. Would probably be more flavorful if made at home. It's ok the first time. But if you keep going it's nothing special. The same with the rest of the bowls. They are heavily influenced by the BBQ Green Street upstairs. They only have Pork Belly as a Protein for there bowls! Most Ramen places have more than just one. Their staff doesn't wear gloves when putting your toppings on your bowls. Which is disgusting and unsanitary. There's a review on here already calling them out on that. That staff employee also has hygiene issues and smells like BO. Wash your pits man! Health Inspectors should really check this place out. Go to Wasabi Ramen, Gyuro Ramen, or Hokkaido opening up soon. If you want an authentic and clean Ramen Bowl. read more

This place is sooo overrated. I don't understand all the 4-5 stars. If I could, I would give this 0 star. Service was bad - food was a disappointment. Service: The hostess has no clue how to work the waitlist. She literally blamed it on the internet when in fact she just seats people as she likes. I checked in and saw I was next on the list but she sat 2 different parties of 2 before us. We sat at the bar and waiter at the bar was rude taking our order. Food: We got the signature tonkatsu broth with 1/2 spice and it was gross. The broth is more curry consistency than broth. It was literally just chili flakes with noodles and the pork belly is BBQ meat cut from the sister restaurant upstairs. Yuck! Nothing about this was ramen. None of us finished our ramen. read more

Very cool place! It kind of feels like a New York Ramen bar and has a gritty, unassuming vibe. My boyfriend and I walked in on a Sunday around 5 PM and only had to wait 15 minutes to be seated at the bar. I don't eat a ton of Ramen, so this was good! We both got the classic signature Ramen and it is definitely a very heavy bowl. I will say I wish it had more vegetables or just a larger flavor profile overall but they give you a ton of Ramen. The service is good and overall, it's another nice addition to the hog salt restaurant group. read more

High Five Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

So worth the wait! I had heard great things about this restaurant and expected the food to be similar to Ramen-San, but I was pleasantly surprised--it was even better. When we arrived, we were told the wait for a table for two was over an hour. Fortunately, they text you when your table is ready, so my partner and I grabbed a drink at a nearby bar while we waited. The menu is limited, and as someone who doesn't eat pork, I was skeptical about the Maitake Ramen, especially since there were no chicken options. I assumed the ramen might be a bit boring without meat, but they completely proved me wrong. The broth was incredibly flavorful, and the fresh noodles, egg, and mushrooms made for a surprisingly filling meal. I ordered the 1/4 spice level, which was perfect for a first try, but I'll definitely go for the 1/2 next time. The service was quick, and our server was friendly and happy to answer any questions. Overall, I really enjoyed my meal and would definitely come back! read more

High Five Ramen - Tonkotsu Bowl - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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High Five is a very specific type of ramen, and it happens to be my favorite ramen ever. The vibe inside is 10/10, dimly lit, tastefully decorated, really cool vibes. The music is incredible - really funky, tasteful curated music that makes the experience fantastic. There are not many seats, maybe 15 in total, so there's almost always a wait. The earlier you go, the better. You can put your name on the waitlist and then head upstairs for a drink at the bar, or you can walk around on Randolph and do some shopping. The ramen is amazing, the broth is very rich and creamy. This is definitely not for everyone, but if you like a rich, flavorful broth, you will love this ramen. The bowls definitely trend towards the spicy side, I always get the quarter spice tonkotsu which is the perfect level of spice for me to be able to add a bit of chili oil in. The pork belly is barbecued and sooooo tender and delicious. The egg is always molten and cooked to perfection. And the noodles are perfectly chewy. I can never finish a full bowl, so I always end up with half a bowl's worth of leftovers for the next day :) The service is great too, servers are all friendly and prompt with orders. I always get a coconut painkiller when I go, which I find to be a perfect compliment to the ramen. The painkiller is frozen and slightly sweet, which helps to offset the spice and richness of the ramen. I will forever adore high five read more

High Five Ramen - Tonkotsu Bowl - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I had such an amazing time here tonight! Madeline served us, and she was very knowledgeable of the menu. She gave really good descriptions of the food, and went the extra mile to help us. Everyone here is so kind, and the vibes are on point. I had the tonkotsu, the pork was soooo delicious!!! Make sure to ask for it with shiitake, it's such a great addition to the meal! I've been here before, and I will certainly come again. read more

High Five Ramen - Tonkotsu ramen - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I came here alone at like 8:30 on a weeknight. If you don't come early or alone, prepare to wait. I was thankful that the Ramen gods and the hostess told me to put my name on the list and grab a beer. It was supposed to be an hour but it was only like 30 minutes tops. This ramen was SO GOOD. I can't get over the spice. It was perfect. The egg was also deliciously gooey and tasty. There is very little seating so again this is a treat yoself date night to yourself kind of place. Luckily my work is nearby and I will definitely be going again when in town. Dreaming of that pork belly.... Also loved the hot towel at the end of my meal. My face and hands needed it, because I didn't mess around. read more

High Five Ramen - Intimate space with great ambiance for a solo dinner - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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OMG, totally lucked out!! Walked by this place on a whim and got seated in 10 minutes; something I've been hoping for years; thanks to the usual crazy wait times. They've got only 16 seats and a super limited menu, which honestly makes it feel even more exclusive. I ordered the maitake mushroom bowl with 1/4 spice and marinated shiitake mushrooms. The broth was rich, incredibly flavorful. It def hit it out of the park. This is their only veg option. $18 was really good price for ramen and 100% worth it. Lived upto to all the hype and exceeded the expectations. Spice WARNING: I went for 1/4 spice (which was great for me) and my dinner companion got 1/2 spice. I took one spoon from the 1/2 and nearly died. If you can't handle heat, proceed with caution. Lastly a huge shoutout to Vesper, our server. She's pretty new and doing amazing. Super kind, super attentive and made the whole experience even better. The place has a very date night kinda vibes. Chill, unpretentious, speakeasy-ish. Try walking in on weekdays and hopefully with lesser crowd, you might just get lucky. For ramen lovers this spot is a hidden gem and the absolutely the BEST ever in the bustling Chicago. A Must visit!! read more

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It was OK, but not great. I lived in Seattle for many years, so I've had a lot of ramen. The tonkotsu was decent, but the BBQ from upstairs seemed to influence the flavor. It didn't taste like traditional tonkotsu ramen. read more

The ramen here is very good, but not the best I have had. I will have to say that the meat in the ramen was pretty special. It had great flavor and had a great texture with a slight chew, which I enjoyed. Typically when I order ramen, any meat served with it is soggy or extremely soft. I really liked the meat here, and I wonder if it done in partnership with green street meats upstairs. The noodles and broth were good, but I think I desired a more intense flavor. At my favorite ramen spot in California, you can choose your sodium level. In all fairness, that probably makes the high five ramen healthier. In this small and intimate setting, I sat at the bar and the staff were very attentive and took the time to discuss the menu. I really appreciated the staff's hospitality, genuine care for any feedback, and relaxed demeanor. I would come here again if the wait isn't too long. read more

High Five Ramen - View of the bar - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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High Five Ramen has less than 20 seats and doesn't take reservations, so if you want to eat here, it's going to take either luck or some planning. I stopped by on a Monday and came before opening. I was first in line at 3pm, but people didn't really start showing up until 3:30-3:40, if you don't want to wait that long. The staff were attentive and friendly, no complaints there! The hostess was also a great help in giving information on when the best times to come are (Monday through Wednesday, and especially Super Bowl Sunday!). I ordered a tonkatsu ramen, their specialty, and got it at 1/4 spiciness since thicker broths hold spiciness better. I think that ended up being a good choice. The spiciness was a nice buildup, and it didn't linger for too long after the meal. The serving size was perfect, and the pork belly is definitely the star here. The soft boiled egg was also cooked perfectly, even after it had been sitting in the hot broth for a few minutes, the yolk was still golden and gooey when I bit into it. The only mochi flavor available at the time was matcha, which was a just fine little dessert at the end. Highly recommend this ramen shop, if you can time your entry right! read more

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My date had recommended this place and I heard a lot about it as well. The last time, I tried ramen was in Hawaii and it was 80s temp so didn't really enjoyed it much at that time. I visited this place on a chilly Nov Saturday and we walked in at 5 pm - there was already 2.5 hr wait time so we put our name down and went upstairs for drinks. By 7.30 pm, we got a text that our spot would be ready. As I walked in, I realized it is very small place (around 15 people can be seated in). We got spot at main counter table. We ordered sake and shio ramen with half spice and it was delicious. I enjoyed it very much - it also opened up my sinuses. LOL. We tried their mochi mango and ube - both were excellent too. Overall great place and not too pricey either. I want to come and try their mushroom one next time. read more

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Great hole in the wall ramen spot! It's pretty small and has about 15 counter seats so there's usually a wait but the ramen is so good. The spot is a little hard to find, we walked right by it and had a hard time finding the entrance. Look for a sign that says High Five Ramen with Japanese kanji in the alley with picnic tables at Green Street Smoked Meats. We put ourselves on the waitlist and the estimated time about a 40min wait on a Tuesday night. We got some drinks and BBQ from Green Street as an appetizer while we waited. They texted us when our table was ready and their estimated time was pretty accurate. The ramen restaurant is in the basement so it has a dark and moody vibe. I got the Signature ramen bowl that had a tonkotsu broth which was pork and miso based. It was very savory and flavorful! The pork belly was so tender and overall it was a tasty dish. read more

High Five Ramen - Signature bowl - Tonkotsu - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Stopped by for dinner & it's a small ramen shop with bar seating! Ambience : 10/10 Service : 10/10 our server was 'mads' I'm not sure if I got her correct name but she was GREAT!! Very knowledgeable and made this experience enjoyable! It was my first time visiting and she was kind and explained the menu & I did not feel rushed Food: 7/10 the ramen was tasty however , it was salty. The pork belly is not the traditional meat I usually get when I order a tonkotsu which was different yet favorable. It's a pretty thick slab of pork belly ! I ordered 1/2 spice which in my opinion was more of a medium spice , definitely will go for the full spice next time! read more

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