I was excited to try this place because I saw it all over instagram! the menu isnt limited nor overwhelming - plenty of appetizers and a few rice dishes if ramen isnt your thing but your friends dragged you out haha I got the sukiyaki with add on poached egg. the ramen was perfectly cooked and chewy. I loved that it was a thicker ramen noodle than the thinner ones you see at some ramen shops. the sauce was super tasty! I also got the takoyaki which was piping hot with tons of chunky octopus bites! service was great! we got our waters refilled quickly and food came out quickly. read more

Kajiken - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Service was good, food came out on time. I think the vibes were pleasant too, very aesthetic. I had the Tori noodles, I think it's expected to add condiments to allow the noodles to soak up the flavor. I have two separate ratings, as someone who's traveled to Japan. Japan: 3.5/5 American: 4.5/5 Average Rating: 4.0/5 read more

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It was good. Not too salty and it was $15.00. It was enough to get an idea of the ramen. I also tried their brothless ramen which was very tasty. The noodles were chewier. Service was quick and friendly. read more

Kajiken - Tonkotsu Shoyu - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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After coming to Chinatown on a Friday night with no reservations and seeing the long lines at the other spores my friend and I decided to check out this new spot. It was pretty full that night but we still managed to get a seat immediately. The spot was cute, giving very Asian noodle restaurant vibes. We ordered the squid appetizer to start. It may look small but honestly there were like 6-8 pieces which was a pretty decent portion to split among 2. As for the main, I ordered the original, a soba dish featuring pork belly, bamboo shoots, seaweed, and green onions. The restaurant also offers a variety of different toppings, from chili oil, white pepper, garlic powder, to sesame seeds which you can add on top. I added a dash of each and it was quite delicious. If I could make any suggestions, I wish there was meat! Haha Overall, very yummy! The service was also very fast. Would come again! read more

Kajiken - Original - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Very cute place and very friendly staff. Services was quick and they're quite attentive, making sure water was filled and came if you needed anything. I forgot to get a picture of my order of the ORIGINAL - Soba. I feel like it could've definitely used a little more sauce but I can't complain, it wasn't bad. Would try again, maybe a different type. We also got takoyaki, which was not pictured but my husband said it was great. However, Gyoza and Tonkotsu were quite disappointing. The Gyoza was actually a little cold.. the part that was hot was the seared side, but the top wrapper was cold? So it was a bit odd. The Tonkotsu was a on the bland side, wasn't much flavor there, wouldn't get again. read more

Kajiken - Gyoza - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Heard a lot of good things about Kajiken and I'm so glad I got to try it out! This is my first time trying Abura Soba and it's now an official favorite! I tried the Homura soba which was just the right amount of savory, spice, and umami. The noodles were perfectly chewy and delicious. My friend had the Tori which was also delicious! Zesty and savory. Chicken was seasoned well and overall a refreshing soba noodle to eat. The service was amazing! everyone was friendly and it felt like I was eating in Japan. I cannot wait to tell my friends about this place and to come back to try more flavors! read more

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Came in 7 on a Sunday! Expected it to be packed, but there was only one other table! By the time we left however there was a slight wait. Can see this place slowly getting more and more popular! Original - my favorite, even as a curry fan. The sauce was flavorful and adding vinegar made it even better. Chashu wasn't anything special, but it wasn't bad. 8.5/10 Curry - tasted just like Japanese curry! Can see myself craving this sometimes. The poached egg was a nice texture mixture and flavor. 7.8/10 Fish - not the biggest fan of fishy taste and the powder did this. The chili oil amount was also a little too much for me. I felt it lost what the original flavor had instead of trying to add on to it. 6.8/10 Overall for ~$13 a bowl I thought they were very solid! If I was closer to chinatown I would be coming a lot more often. read more

Kajiken - Takoyaki - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I enjoyed the original noodles here! It was flavorful and a the pork was crispy yet tender. The service was fast as well. The restaurant is decorated very nicely! read more

Kajiken - The Original with Kon - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The place is decorated cute! I really enjoyed the broth less noodles. Very flavorful. However, the ramen I wasn't such a fan on. Had to add some more seasonings to it and it still was a bit bland. But I would definitely come back for the aurora again! read more

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First trying soupless ramen and overall it was good! It's nice not having to worry about sweating while eating hot soup during the summer time! I would prob add more spice to mine next time but towards the end of my meal I felt like it was a bit too salty for my liking and had to drink a lot of water lol. Decent spot to check out while in Chinatown for sure! read more

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Really flavorful Aburasoba spot in Chinatown! I tried the Homura, which comes with spicy minced pork and poached egg. I felt like the portion size is on the smaller side (compared to other Chinatown restaurant ramen/noodle places) but would recommend it to anyone who wants to try something new! I liked how each table came with condiements (white pepper, chili oil, vinegar etc.,) to customize the flavor. The service was quick and efficient. read more

Kajiken - Homura - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Was seated pretty quickly. The lanterns are a nice touch and provide comfy lighting. We had the Sukiyaki and it was incredible! It was filling and flavorful but also not nearly as heavy as typical ramen with broth. Also really good for the price. Will be back again to try more things for sure. read more

Kajiken - Sukiyaki - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Perfect spot for a quick lunch. They have table dividers to accommodate group sizes which was a nice touch. Food was delicious, highly recommend the dry ramen options! read more

Kajiken - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Amazing!!! Loved the "homura" soupless ramen. Had the just right amount of spice and I slurped it up so fast! The ambience inside was great and made me feel like I was in Japan! The service is super fast and the bathroom is clean too. read more

Kajiken - Homura - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Nice to see a new ramen place that specializes in brothless ramen! Overall the flavors r good - I would recommend the original and getting a side of chili oil (75 cents) if you like it spicy. The noodles were well seasoned and delicious. The pork was prob my fav bc it's grilled and had a nice charred flavor to it which really stands out in a broth less ramen. The portion size is relatively smaller given you don't have broth to fill you up so I would wish they add some extra things in there or higher amount of noodles or offer a larger portion size for those that are more hungry and can opt to pay for that accordingly versus just adding on a ton of extra things. The homura was ok - not a fan of ground pork and the flavors made it a bit too salty and not spicy enough. Cons: Service was a bit lacking the female server we had didn't even say a word to us during the whole thing. Literally didn't even say hi or welcome so kinda off putting. Of note the biggest thing I didn't like was when I got the soft boiled egg it only came with half an egg!! It was $1.50 too so would that mean I need to pay $3 for a whole egg?? Seems a bit excessive and also it was soaked in soy sauce so too salty and cold as well. I think the menu or staff should let the customer know that it is only half an egg up front as I would not pay 1.50 for half an egg or if the management can consider just giving a full egg since it felt very petty. read more

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The ramen is soup less with so many toppings to choose from. The appetizer were amazing as well. This place was so cute and such a perfect meal for a cold months. The service was quick. I really liked how it was family friendly and such great options to choose from. read more

Kajiken - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This is my first time trying soupless ramen and I was thoroughly impressed. I ordered the Homura, which had spicy minced beef, scallions, and a poached egg on top. The noodles were thick and the portions had just the right amount. They also have options where you can build your own soupless ramen bowl. The interior was really nice and it wasn't too loud inside. It was not too busy at 6:30pm on a Sunday either and the service was really quick. I will definitely come back or order take out from here! read more

Kajiken - Homura - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

They sat us quickly and were really efficient. The food was great. The sukiyaki tastes like bulgogi with noodles and homura was very creamy with the egg and sauces on the bottom. It's really bright inside. They have vinegar and sesame oil that you can add into your dishes afterwards. read more

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Kajiken truly has my heart. Thick, chewy, bouncy noodles in the most flavorful sauce. I don't have cravings for a specific restaurant often, but this is a spot I find myself craving all the time. Noodles are warm, and even though there's no soup, the flavor is all there. It's not overly creamy, but there's definitely some creaminess to it so that each strand is coated in sauce. The Japanese decor is a huge plus! They really nailed the aesthetic so well. read more

Kajiken - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Great place for saucy soup-less ramen noodles!! The noodles are chewy with great texture, and the sauces are very flavorful and savory. My favorite is the homura! It is mildly spicy and has minced pork that reminds me of mapo tofu. read more

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Came into this and it was like walking into a Japan noodle house. I was honestly not wanting any food but my girlfriend insisted thankfully. Had the kalbi beef one and it was indescribably delicious. The handmade soba was soft and delicate. Garlic flavor....not overly soy sauce...delicious ichimi paste oil on the side. I could down 5 bowls of this easily. I seriously loved it. Service was nice also and the ambiance was excellent. No complaints at all if you're looking for excellent noodles that are not all ramen broth based. read more

Kajiken - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The dessert here is highly underrated. If anything it's up to par/better than surrounding dessert places. The mango crepe cake was soft and not too sweet. The taiyaki was filled with red bean and the icecream was very smooth. I wasn't able to take a photo, but the original ramen was very flavorable and homey. Each bite seemed to be better than the last. It tasted homemade especially the broth. The service was great and the workers were very friendly. I waited around 10-15minutes for the desserts and ramen. So I would say they were pretty fast. read more

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The last time I had Abura Soba was in Japan several years ago. My Japanese friend introduced me to Abura Soba and I was hooked. I found Kajiken was in Chicago Chinatown and so I had to try it out. I ordered The Original and after mixing all the ingredients together, it was delicious. The noodles served were firm but chewy, so it had good consistency! And the chashu was tender, the way it should be. This is a chain store and the other two in the US are in Baltimore and the Bay Area. If you're in any of those three cities, definitely worth going to eat some Abura Soba! read more

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So I am on the fence because flavors, pork belly and noodle texture were fine, but it felt like something was missing. And I don't just mean broth. While tasty, the soupless ramen seemed to be lacking dimension and complexity. I mostly tasted salt; I would have loved a little sweet, spicy or sour notes to balance it out. Kiddo inhaled it so I am glad we came to try. read more

Kajiken - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Best dry ramen in town! Service is fast and good. The restaurant is always clean. Highly recommended! read more

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Kajiken caught my eye because of its unique interior and simple menu. Inside is cute that gives you a glimpse of the Japanese dining experience. Service is welcoming and very quick as well. The Homura had the perfect amount of spice and the poached egg was my favorite addition. The Takoyaki was really good--- actually better than expected. I would recommend this place if you're in Chinatown looking for some ramen. read more

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Let me just say this place was hands down amazing! I loved the ramen I had and honestly I wished I could have it every day! read more

Really cute new place in Chinatown square serving Abura soba. I came by around 8:30 PM and it wasn't super busy. The service was decent. I ordered the Homura which the waiter warned would be really spicy. I found it just slightly spicy but not to the level she made it seem like it would be. The flavors were nice and I especially enjoyed the poached egg. On the side at every table there is vinegar, hot oil, onion powder, and white pepper for you to season your noodles to your liking. Overall it was solid. The people I went with ordered either the Keema curry or the OG, and everyone liked everything. I would return to try the OG, the appetizers, or other unique dishes this place has to offer. read more

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I got the homura and it was so delicious! Definitely has the spice that I wanted compared to the original! If you want to get a spicier noodle I would recommend! read more

Kajiken - Homura - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The food was really good and the atmosphere was really nice, quite quiet for Chinatown. They are still in the soft opening phase, so they are still getting accustomed to customers-- but the customer service we received was great and no complaints. The three dishes we ordered had very distinctive flavors despite having most of the same basic ingredients. I just recently had aburasoba at a different restaurant at my introduction to the dish and this really blew that out of the water. After mixing, the ingredients mix with the sauce and the dish becomes very cohesive. Note that the "poached egg" option is extremely soft so it might not be for everyone. Every table included a tray of condiments (a mild chili oil, sesame seeds, black pepper, vinegar, and garlic powder). read more

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Karage was really solid, chicken was super juicy and meat was tender to the bite. The breading could use a little more work though, it was not quite crispy enough but still does the job Takoyaki was good, sauce really enhanced the flavor profile adding a soy taste to the dough. The interlaced squid added a lot of texture to the mushy dough Noodle overall has two ratings, one with condiments provided at restaurant and one without. I added a combination of garlic, white pepper and vinegar to mine which made it really solid 4/5. Base noodles was a 3/5 though, on the blander side. Roasted beef was a little salty and not soft enough read more

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Super delicious food! It's a new place in Chinatown that serves soba and apps! For those not familiar with soba, it's kinda like ramen without the broth (but when you mix it up there's sauce and flavor at the bottom that will given the noodles a saucy/creamier texture). There are Sobas you can choose from but you could also build your own bowl! Would recommend trying the Original if it's your first time. Get it with a poached egg and corn! I got the Homura, which had spicy flavors and minced pork, giving extra texture. There's a sauce bar at each table so you could always add hot chili oil and other seasonings to your liking! Service is friendly and fast. It's a very nice, clean, aesthetic place. Looking forward to going again and creating my own bowl next time! read more

Kajiken - Homura Soba - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Noodle is chewy and food is good, yet portion is slightly small, need improvement on this read more

Kajiken - The original - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

If you're looking for hangover food that will wake you up, Kajiken is the place to be. With generous portions and affordable prices, it definitely hits the spot. This was my first time trying soba, and based on a friend's recommendation, I wasn't disappointed. The only reason I'm not giving it five stars is that I had to add some condiments and spices to my bowl. Personally, I believe that a truly great dish shouldn't need anything extra to enhance its flavor. That said, I can see myself coming back soon. I highly recommend Kajiken to anyone looking for a good meal in Chinatown Square! read more

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Very authentic Japanese dry noodle, definitely was as salty as some of the Japanese food can be. The ingredient was fresh and the food was served quickly. The place is medium size and has that ramen alleyway vibe. read more

Kajiken - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

A gem in the newer Chinatown! It has an irresistibly cute ambiance and lightning fast service. The ramen here is an absolute delight - both the broth less ramen and the regular ramen. The best part about Kajiken is the service that ensures you get your steaming bowl of goodness in a short length of time. A must visit for anyone craving a great ramen place and a charming experience. read more

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Such a great new noodle spot in Chinatown! Really convenient location in the main plaza and I'm a big fan of soupless noodles especially in warmer weather, so the abura soba here was right up my alley. The interior is clean and modern and the price was reasonable! Also loved that you can customize your noodles with all of the vinegars and other condiments at the table. Would come again for sure! Food: 4.5/5 Price: 5/5 Ambience: 5/5 Service: 5 read more

this is one of the most underrated spots not only in Chinatown but maybe in the whole city?? the sukiyaki bowl is literally probably my perfect bowl of noodles-- chewy and perfectly cooked, unctuous meat+acidity from the vinegar. every time I walk in here there's like no people which is a shame but also makes it a great last minute dinner spot cause you'll never need a reservation. every person I've brought here has really liked it, and it's a cute clean space! read more

Kajiken - sukiyaki - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I came here for dinner on Monday night and was intrigued to see a Japanese dry noodle spot open up thanks to Chinatown Chef Tony Hu. We ordered potstickers (good filling to wrapper ratio), fried octopus legs (good, standard) and I ordered the original (noodles were too soft/prefer to be more al dente, lack of a textural component in the dish so overall it felt very one-note, pork was very thinly sliced, there wasn't enough sauce or it wasn't flavorful enough). You know how when you're starving and the first bite you taste, you're so happy to eat that it automatically tastes good? Not really. I tried augmenting with adding hot oil but still wasn't enough. Unfortunately, the Japanese need to look towards Vietnamese or Thai cooks because they have better dry noodle dishes. But I will say our server was very nice and provided very pleasant service. The interior was nicely decorated and it was bittersweet because I was just in Tokyo 4 days prior. read more

I had low expectations for soup-less ramen but I was pleasantly surprised at how delicious everything was! SUNOMONO - cucumber salad w seaweed and octopus. Loved this! In general it was a refreshing appetizer as the seasoning was vinegar based. There were plenty of octopus and they were pretty large chunks. Only thing is that the seaweed is a little bit fishy, so if you're not a fan of that maybe ask for this without the seaweed. TAKOYAKI - big fried batter balls with a little bit of octopus inside. Topped with a creamy sauce and Bonita flakes. It's a mix of sweet from the sauce and savory from everything else. These are always good and a great appetizer for the table! HOMURA - noodles with spicy minced pork. This came out looking like just dry noodles with toppings, but once you mix everything, there's actually some sauce at the bottom and it gets a bit creamy from the egg yolk. Noodles were perfectly cooked and chewy. It's sooo good and actually quite spicy. I'm still thinking about these noodles LYCHEE OOLONG TEA - this is actually bottled tea but it was delicious. Quite sweet and tasted just like lychee jelly read more

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