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Great free street parking. Small place so make reservations. The loaded gyoza were a-freaking-delicious! I loved the egg in the Shoyu Plus and I'm not a huge egg eater. Bowls are monster size as the name implies. Can't wait to go back.
Beef based ramen was perfect for our friend who cant eat pork! We came wednesday night and it was packed! We had no reservation but when i checked the latest was 7, so Im guessing this is a popular late night bite. We waited about 40 minutes for a table of 5. Was slightly disappointed that two party that came after us got seated first at the bar. There were a lot of seats open as the dinner rush died so I wished we were asked if bar over table was fine because our 5th seat at the table ended up being a stool anyways. Miso Ramen: I could taste the difference between pork base and beef base for sure. I prefer pork, but if you like beef flavor this will be great. The beef was tender, but not too flavorful. The egg was PERFECT. Noodles are thin and while thicker noodles are my preference they were cooked just right. 7.3/10 the chili oil is made with ghost pepper FYI! I know they try to warn us with 3 spice sign but my friends were not ready and wish we were told this before and not when it hit our table. Overall not my taste profile and a bit more expensive than I like, I can see myself coming back for friends who cant eat pork.
Sorry, I'm not getting the hype here. This was a very underwhelming meal especially for it to be so pricy. Hubs is an Amex holder so we get quarterly credits for resy restaurants and Monster was on that list. Tbh if it wasn't for resy we wouldn't have tried it. We like to think that this meal was 'comped' so we didn't feel too bad for and would probably not try again. It's been on my radar just because I heard great things about it but for me this was a downfall. House Shio - $17 mid asf Broth was unmemorable. Barely any eatable toppings and this was recommended by the server Monster Ramen - $33 most expensive ramen ever. Better than shio but also not great Also not understanding why there's red onions in this. Noddles were too thin for my liking.
I wanted to love this place so bad, especially since it has been on my list for soooo long. It was good, but I was just very underwhelmed. Maybe I have to give it a second chance? Not sure. Before the ramen, we ordered the beef gyoza to share. The gyoza was actually very delicious and melts in your mouth! My friend and I both ordered the miso wagyu and I got the chili oil on the side. The menu states the chili oil is supposed to be x3 spicy but it was not spicy whatsoever - I even put like 4 spoonfuls in my ramen. The chili oil did make the broth more flavorful though. The restaurant itself is lively yet small with limited seating. Parking is a little difficult, especially on the weekend. Definitely make a reservation cause it gets cramped inside with people waiting by the door.
A friend and I decided to try the location out for lunch at 12pm. I do recommend if you are going later try to get a reservation as the location is not extremely big. Parking is located everywhere so it's pretty easy. Since there was just two of us, we were sat at the little bar area where you can see the staff making your food. Waters were brought right away. Drink menu sit at the table along with the menu. My friend ordered the Monster Ramen and I got the House shino. They do charge for the chili oil which my friend said was decent along with a can of coke. The food came out fast and hot. Personly I found it to be a little pricey for what you get vs other Ramen places we have been to that offer alot more without having to pay extra. But the staff was friendly, the location was clean, and light music was playing.
Almost every video of ramen rankings in the city Monster Ramen seems to always be in the top five. So you can say my expectations were pretty high. My favorite ramen is definitely Akahoshi but I wasn't expecting it to be similar since Monster Ramen seems to specialize in beef. Between four, we both ordered the shoyu plus and the miso wagyu. The shoyu plus was waaaay better in my opinion in terms of flavor and taste. It almost didn't taste like a chicken based broth but more of a beef. It was really comforting and I loved how thin the ramen noodles were. Unfortunately, I wasn't a big fan of the miso wagyu. I was expecting a flavor bomb from the miso and Wagyu but it came short as it was super bland. I ended up taking some of the broth from the shoyu plus into the miso Wagyu to give it the oomph it was missing. I also did not enjoy the Wagyu as it was very chewy and cut in big chunks. Overall, I wouldn't say this makes my top 5 ramens in the city but if you're craving a good hearty bowl of ramen and there's open reservation, I'd say why not. They do have unique options that you can't really find elsewhere.
Tried out Monster Ramen tonight with some friends. Made a reservation beforehand, which was a good idea due to it being busy when we arrived. Service was quick and waiters attentive. I ordered The Monster ramen, broth was delicious and the noodles were really good! Also ordered the fried gyoza, it was tasty! Even tried Japanese beer called Tokyo White, I enjoyed it. Place was very clean. It's a small space but it's very cute!
I had heard great things about Monster Ramen from multiple people so I went to check it out. The inside is cozy - definitely smaller than I was anticipating. I get why people say to either come early or make a reservation! We went for lunch and got there within an hour after opening and were seated immediately. Our server was so sweet and attentive, checking in on us regularly and refilling our waters. We ordered the edamame, pickled vegetables, and spicy loaded gyoza for our apps. Edamame was crisp and well salted. The pickled veg was a nice change of pace and had a good bite to them. The loaded gyoza had good flavor; they're soft, not crispy, which was unexpected. The ramen portions are sizable, as to be expected from a ramen shop. I split the Monster with one of my friends and that was plenty. You can also order an extra serving of noodles to go with your ramen. The broth is rich and beefy for sure. That's not to my taste but I would recommend it to a beef lover. They make their noodles fresh in house. The taste and texture of their noodles is more akin to angel hair pasta than typical ramen noodles, which doesn't appeal to me. They're very generous with the toppings! All in all, I can see why other people enjoy this place, but I wouldn't go again.
I ordered The Monster - Wagyu rib roast, wagyu chashu & beef Jam, gyukotsu, garlic miso tare, ajitama, menma, kikurage, wakame, corn, chopped leeks, red onions, sesame, nori. My friends got the Shoyu Plus and Miso Wagyu. Top ramen spot for sure. I love that they make their own noodles although I prefer thicker noodles for more chewiness. Everyone liked the broth of their ramen. Egg was cooked perfectly. All the different beef cuts in my monster ramen were excellent! Prices are quite steep. I can understand the hard labor that goes into this quality but the portion of noodles should be more in my opinion. Especially for $30+ monster ramen, you should get a double portion of noodles; not pay extra. Service was good and efficient.
The food was mid the flavors really didn't hit the way I expected . Though the broth portion was decent size I felt for the price the beef could've been slightly bigger portioned and not just based on its location. The service was friendly but the servers didn't look too happy , nor did the stewards. The ambiance is nice but kinda cramped they got the whole vibe from Japan just right though lol . Overall it was a decent meal if I was in a rush to eat before bed. I'd try again another time of day .
This place has been on my to go list for the longest time and I finally came here on a rainy day just to have some ramen. I wasn't super impressed with the broth or noodles nor the portions. I felt like the portions were a bit small because I still felt hungry afterwards. I did take advantage of the specials they were having because it's summer which was spicy summer shio. The spiciness gave it a good kick and the toppings were ok. I don't think I will return even though I really want the Monster Ramen with wagyu rib roast after experiencing something a slightly lower tier. Overall, it was a meal I had just to check the box that I've been here.
I'm sitting here in my living room, mired by an early, uninvited awakening. It was not a thud. No alarm. Just a gentle frazzle of sunlight stealing me from night. In no way had my body rested. Donned in dawn, my underwear-pajamas slightly slid down revealed a sad vision of man, sloppily tangled in ruffled sheets. Exposed. There is nothing pretty about me, I thought, as I pondered if the sunlight were judging what it saw. Before reaching my current perch on the living room couch, I sat in bed flicking through news in search of something good, but simultaneously only pausing on the bad. Glorifying in the doom, really. It was the pinch I needed to prove I was indeed awake. All day I seek the pinch of pain to prove I am not dreaming. Coffee, cats, clothes, splashof water, and 20 steps later I find myself in the planning pose, here in the living room. The planning pose is very much like the wake-startle, sans the sheets and exposed crack. It involves me laying here on the couch actually reading the articles I perused earlier. I like to rationalize that the information gleaned is to set me up for a day of human interaction. Perhaps it is a study session to get up to human-social-speed. Right now it is dawning on me -- my second uninvited dawn of the day -- that perhaps behavior isn't responsible humanity, it is prolonged self torment. The tighter pinch. The proverbial purple nurple of challenging my awakened state. Cats gather around me. One at my feet and the other curled beside my thigh. Am I king to them? They are fed. Surely they are not here in need of something. Have I done something to warrant this attention? My affection toward them is inconsistent. It ebbs in startling fits of overly attentive playing or petting followed by long droughts of disregard. My ambivalence as their king gives me this luxury, and supports my theory that they may think I am indeed king. This is the type of cyclical example loop I am using as evidence to propel me from the underwear'ed fat man the sun observed moments ago. Evidence that says: "See, Sun, I am more than the larva you spotlighted. I am a god! The cats are evidence! And they sleep in your sun-puddles in undisputed, recognizable perfection, not the ugly crack-exposed heap you found me in. You love them. They love me. So, pinch yourself, and stop judging me!" Obviously the coffee is working, or maybe the cats are doing their trick: making me feel accepted in the universe. Whatever the case may be, I pet my cat. Dander floats into the sun's beams and crystallizes in the air. If you've ever seen dust in a thinly sliced light beam at dawn you know: Hope is the accidental luck of shadows bouncing off of the chaos but always cutting through. Always meeting a surface. Penetrating the thickest of atmospheres and colliding on flowers and alleys, on well planned solar panels, on potholes, through any crack, on my crack, projecting obtuse triangles, acute bi-angles, and isosceles quad-tangles, even while penetrating deep into the sea, revealing all the magnificent details of art, and occasionally falling on me. Trees bend to it. I give the cat closest a good scratch behind the ear and look out the window at the trees greening in spring. A dog walker pauses to pick up excrement. A squirrel cowers behind a branch. The ramen restaurant on the corner is cut through by light warming empty tables; tables preparing to slurp up hungry, hopeful lunchers into the belly of contentment. Dark, seemingly an antagonist to light's hero demeanor, sheepishly slinks away, humbly realizing it is not the opposite of light, but the absence. "Beautiful," I think as I see the spicy broth of life warming in the sun glow beyond the glass. Yes. It is beautiful. It really is. I couldn't see how much in the dark but the rhythm out the window is now clear. I turn to my cat, who is winding down a purr. We share a slow-blink gaze at one another as the last sliver of dawn is replaced with shadow in my house. He moves to the window sill to soak in every second as it departs. "Welp, buddy. Nothing left now. Time to bend to the light"
This place is who most of the ramen places in Chicago think they are! The inside is so cute and intimate. The staff is very sweet and patient to explain things on the menu. We were seated and served very quickly, even though we did not have a reservation. The food portions are large, and they have something to fit everyone's dietary restrictions. The food itself was amazing! I can't wait to come back and try the food here again.
This is a unique ramen spot that specializes in beef-ramen! You don't find many spots like that, since many ramen shops tend to have pork broth or char siu (pork). We didn't come in with a reservation, but were seated very quickly (within 10 mins) at the bar. It was very cool to be able to watch the chefs cook up your ramen while you were seated! It has a fairly dark and intimate dining area, making it a great place for a date night. The Shoyu Plus had a unique depth to its broth, with delicious flavors within each bite. Something that I noticed was that it had a lighter broth compared to your traditional tonkotsu (pork broth) ramen. The Miso Wagyu is a smaller version of the Monster Ramen (their specialty). This was a decent size with again, lots of flavor. The broth was a little thicker (not too thick, but due to the miso). But it was just as good as the Shoyu Plus. If I had to choose between the two, I really liked the Shoyu Plus. But if it's your first time, try their speciality! Good depth in their broths, and an amazing place for those who cannot eat pork to still enjoy ramen here read more
I was skeptical when I first heard the name Monster Ramen. All my previous personal experiences have always proven to me that restaurants with names that don't represent their culture in distinct ways are generally subpar. For example, I would usually never even think to step into a restaurant named Best China House, Sushi Bistro, or Mom's Korean Restaurant. (Apologies if your shops are named as such. These were meant to be generic examples) Oh, how times have changed. I would have never thought having a bowl of ramen at a Monster Ramen would give me this much pleasure. Part of it will (in fact, most of it) be on me and my general philosophy on fusion cuisine and outdated gemerational gap. There was definitely a time when avoiding agorementioned type of restaurants may have been deemed smart. But I feel the new generation of restaurant owners and chefs have up'd their games in not only at better food making, but also accepting of a bit more irony. Anyone who knows me knows how much I stay away from trying anything "fusion." It's kinda funny to myself how hypocritical it is that I would be totally okay in substituting an ingredient or two when I'm missing some when cooking, but when it comes to paying money to sit and eat that I would judge chefs by thier style of cooking. Yes, a big part of it is based on a large pool of personally gathered data, but I do acknowledge that I need to open myself up a bit more. Case in point. I was recommended MR by a fellow Yelper and I decided to give it a whirl. I happened to have a friend and his son with me, so I was able to do small tastings of 3 different ramen. And boy, was I pleasantly surprised. We collectively had bowls of shio, shoyu and miso specials. Plus, I ended up getting the Summer Special bowl to go for my wife. All of them had their individual charm to them but more importantly, each of them were made to perfection when it came to broth seasoning and noodle texture, which are THE two most important aspect of ramen, in my opionion. Not too salty nor bland soup. Perfectly dense noodles. I just loved all four! It wad when I tasted the yuzu in tgeir shio ramen that my wife would love it. Even though I brought her the spicy Sunmer version home, I still think it'll be worth bringing her and our daughter back when we get a chance to. Our server Dionne (I think) was most pleasant and helpful. The atmosphere of the restaurant was great, too. It helped that I came before the dinner rush, although, I can also see more lively vibe being nice as well. Will be back with the fam definitely! read more
Was very excited to try this place since I've heard a lot of good things. We had a reservation so we were seated pretty quickly but since the restaurant was small, we were placed at a 4-person table where me and my friend had to sit next to 2 random strangers which I wasn't really a fan of. Our server was very nice and attentive though, we knew what we wanted so we placed our order and received our food quickly too. I enjoyed The Monster ramen that I got, the broth was super flavorful and perfectly creamy. I loved the beef jam and Wagyu chashu, Although, I will say the noodles themselves didn't really stand out. I enjoyed my ramen but I'm not sure I would get it again. I would definitely come back to try their other ramen though. read more
Great free street parking. Small place so make reservations. The loaded gyoza were a-freaking-delicious! I loved the egg in the Shoyu Plus and I'm not a huge egg eater. Bowls are monster size as the name implies. Can't wait to go back. read more
Beef based ramen was perfect for our friend who cant eat pork! We came wednesday night and it was packed! We had no reservation but when i checked the latest was 7, so Im guessing this is a popular late night bite. We waited about 40 minutes for a table of 5. Was slightly disappointed that two party that came after us got seated first at the bar. There were a lot of seats open as the dinner rush died so I wished we were asked if bar over table was fine because our 5th seat at the table ended up being a stool anyways. Miso Ramen: I could taste the difference between pork base and beef base for sure. I prefer pork, but if you like beef flavor this will be great. The beef was tender, but not too flavorful. The egg was PERFECT. Noodles are thin and while thicker noodles are my preference they were cooked just right. 7.3/10 the chili oil is made with ghost pepper FYI! I know they try to warn us with 3 spice sign but my friends were not ready and wish we were told this before and not when it hit our table. Overall not my taste profile and a bit more expensive than I like, I can see myself coming back for friends who cant eat pork. read more
Sorry, I'm not getting the hype here. This was a very underwhelming meal especially for it to be so pricy. Hubs is an Amex holder so we get quarterly credits for resy restaurants and Monster was on that list. Tbh if it wasn't for resy we wouldn't have tried it. We like to think that this meal was 'comped' so we didn't feel too bad for and would probably not try again. It's been on my radar just because I heard great things about it but for me this was a downfall. House Shio - $17 mid asf Broth was unmemorable. Barely any eatable toppings and this was recommended by the server Monster Ramen - $33 most expensive ramen ever. Better than shio but also not great Also not understanding why there's red onions in this. Noddles were too thin for my liking. read more
I wanted to love this place so bad, especially since it has been on my list for soooo long. It was good, but I was just very underwhelmed. Maybe I have to give it a second chance? Not sure. Before the ramen, we ordered the beef gyoza to share. The gyoza was actually very delicious and melts in your mouth! My friend and I both ordered the miso wagyu and I got the chili oil on the side. The menu states the chili oil is supposed to be x3 spicy but it was not spicy whatsoever - I even put like 4 spoonfuls in my ramen. The chili oil did make the broth more flavorful though. The restaurant itself is lively yet small with limited seating. Parking is a little difficult, especially on the weekend. Definitely make a reservation cause it gets cramped inside with people waiting by the door. read more
5 months ago
A friend and I decided to try the location out for lunch at 12pm. I do recommend if you are going later try to get a reservation as the location is not extremely big. Parking is located everywhere so it's pretty easy. Since there was just two of us, we were sat at the little bar area where you can see the staff making your food. Waters were brought right away. Drink menu sit at the table along with the menu. My friend ordered the Monster Ramen and I got the House shino. They do charge for the chili oil which my friend said was decent along with a can of coke. The food came out fast and hot. Personly I found it to be a little pricey for what you get vs other Ramen places we have been to that offer alot more without having to pay extra. But the staff was friendly, the location was clean, and light music was playing. read more
1 year ago
Almost every video of ramen rankings in the city Monster Ramen seems to always be in the top five. So you can say my expectations were pretty high. My favorite ramen is definitely Akahoshi but I wasn't expecting it to be similar since Monster Ramen seems to specialize in beef. Between four, we both ordered the shoyu plus and the miso wagyu. The shoyu plus was waaaay better in my opinion in terms of flavor and taste. It almost didn't taste like a chicken based broth but more of a beef. It was really comforting and I loved how thin the ramen noodles were. Unfortunately, I wasn't a big fan of the miso wagyu. I was expecting a flavor bomb from the miso and Wagyu but it came short as it was super bland. I ended up taking some of the broth from the shoyu plus into the miso Wagyu to give it the oomph it was missing. I also did not enjoy the Wagyu as it was very chewy and cut in big chunks. Overall, I wouldn't say this makes my top 5 ramens in the city but if you're craving a good hearty bowl of ramen and there's open reservation, I'd say why not. They do have unique options that you can't really find elsewhere. read more
Tried out Monster Ramen tonight with some friends. Made a reservation beforehand, which was a good idea due to it being busy when we arrived. Service was quick and waiters attentive. I ordered The Monster ramen, broth was delicious and the noodles were really good! Also ordered the fried gyoza, it was tasty! Even tried Japanese beer called Tokyo White, I enjoyed it. Place was very clean. It's a small space but it's very cute! read more
7 months ago
10 months ago
I had heard great things about Monster Ramen from multiple people so I went to check it out. The inside is cozy - definitely smaller than I was anticipating. I get why people say to either come early or make a reservation! We went for lunch and got there within an hour after opening and were seated immediately. Our server was so sweet and attentive, checking in on us regularly and refilling our waters. We ordered the edamame, pickled vegetables, and spicy loaded gyoza for our apps. Edamame was crisp and well salted. The pickled veg was a nice change of pace and had a good bite to them. The loaded gyoza had good flavor; they're soft, not crispy, which was unexpected. The ramen portions are sizable, as to be expected from a ramen shop. I split the Monster with one of my friends and that was plenty. You can also order an extra serving of noodles to go with your ramen. The broth is rich and beefy for sure. That's not to my taste but I would recommend it to a beef lover. They make their noodles fresh in house. The taste and texture of their noodles is more akin to angel hair pasta than typical ramen noodles, which doesn't appeal to me. They're very generous with the toppings! All in all, I can see why other people enjoy this place, but I wouldn't go again. read more
I ordered The Monster - Wagyu rib roast, wagyu chashu & beef Jam, gyukotsu, garlic miso tare, ajitama, menma, kikurage, wakame, corn, chopped leeks, red onions, sesame, nori. My friends got the Shoyu Plus and Miso Wagyu. Top ramen spot for sure. I love that they make their own noodles although I prefer thicker noodles for more chewiness. Everyone liked the broth of their ramen. Egg was cooked perfectly. All the different beef cuts in my monster ramen were excellent! Prices are quite steep. I can understand the hard labor that goes into this quality but the portion of noodles should be more in my opinion. Especially for $30+ monster ramen, you should get a double portion of noodles; not pay extra. Service was good and efficient. read more
The food was mid the flavors really didn't hit the way I expected . Though the broth portion was decent size I felt for the price the beef could've been slightly bigger portioned and not just based on its location. The service was friendly but the servers didn't look too happy , nor did the stewards. The ambiance is nice but kinda cramped they got the whole vibe from Japan just right though lol . Overall it was a decent meal if I was in a rush to eat before bed. I'd try again another time of day . read more
This place has been on my to go list for the longest time and I finally came here on a rainy day just to have some ramen. I wasn't super impressed with the broth or noodles nor the portions. I felt like the portions were a bit small because I still felt hungry afterwards. I did take advantage of the specials they were having because it's summer which was spicy summer shio. The spiciness gave it a good kick and the toppings were ok. I don't think I will return even though I really want the Monster Ramen with wagyu rib roast after experiencing something a slightly lower tier. Overall, it was a meal I had just to check the box that I've been here. read more
6 months ago
I'm sitting here in my living room, mired by an early, uninvited awakening. It was not a thud. No alarm. Just a gentle frazzle of sunlight stealing me from night. In no way had my body rested. Donned in dawn, my underwear-pajamas slightly slid down revealed a sad vision of man, sloppily tangled in ruffled sheets. Exposed. There is nothing pretty about me, I thought, as I pondered if the sunlight were judging what it saw. Before reaching my current perch on the living room couch, I sat in bed flicking through news in search of something good, but simultaneously only pausing on the bad. Glorifying in the doom, really. It was the pinch I needed to prove I was indeed awake. All day I seek the pinch of pain to prove I am not dreaming. Coffee, cats, clothes, splashof water, and 20 steps later I find myself in the planning pose, here in the living room. The planning pose is very much like the wake-startle, sans the sheets and exposed crack. It involves me laying here on the couch actually reading the articles I perused earlier. I like to rationalize that the information gleaned is to set me up for a day of human interaction. Perhaps it is a study session to get up to human-social-speed. Right now it is dawning on me -- my second uninvited dawn of the day -- that perhaps behavior isn't responsible humanity, it is prolonged self torment. The tighter pinch. The proverbial purple nurple of challenging my awakened state. Cats gather around me. One at my feet and the other curled beside my thigh. Am I king to them? They are fed. Surely they are not here in need of something. Have I done something to warrant this attention? My affection toward them is inconsistent. It ebbs in startling fits of overly attentive playing or petting followed by long droughts of disregard. My ambivalence as their king gives me this luxury, and supports my theory that they may think I am indeed king. This is the type of cyclical example loop I am using as evidence to propel me from the underwear'ed fat man the sun observed moments ago. Evidence that says: "See, Sun, I am more than the larva you spotlighted. I am a god! The cats are evidence! And they sleep in your sun-puddles in undisputed, recognizable perfection, not the ugly crack-exposed heap you found me in. You love them. They love me. So, pinch yourself, and stop judging me!" Obviously the coffee is working, or maybe the cats are doing their trick: making me feel accepted in the universe. Whatever the case may be, I pet my cat. Dander floats into the sun's beams and crystallizes in the air. If you've ever seen dust in a thinly sliced light beam at dawn you know: Hope is the accidental luck of shadows bouncing off of the chaos but always cutting through. Always meeting a surface. Penetrating the thickest of atmospheres and colliding on flowers and alleys, on well planned solar panels, on potholes, through any crack, on my crack, projecting obtuse triangles, acute bi-angles, and isosceles quad-tangles, even while penetrating deep into the sea, revealing all the magnificent details of art, and occasionally falling on me. Trees bend to it. I give the cat closest a good scratch behind the ear and look out the window at the trees greening in spring. A dog walker pauses to pick up excrement. A squirrel cowers behind a branch. The ramen restaurant on the corner is cut through by light warming empty tables; tables preparing to slurp up hungry, hopeful lunchers into the belly of contentment. Dark, seemingly an antagonist to light's hero demeanor, sheepishly slinks away, humbly realizing it is not the opposite of light, but the absence. "Beautiful," I think as I see the spicy broth of life warming in the sun glow beyond the glass. Yes. It is beautiful. It really is. I couldn't see how much in the dark but the rhythm out the window is now clear. I turn to my cat, who is winding down a purr. We share a slow-blink gaze at one another as the last sliver of dawn is replaced with shadow in my house. He moves to the window sill to soak in every second as it departs. "Welp, buddy. Nothing left now. Time to bend to the light" read more
This place is who most of the ramen places in Chicago think they are! The inside is so cute and intimate. The staff is very sweet and patient to explain things on the menu. We were seated and served very quickly, even though we did not have a reservation. The food portions are large, and they have something to fit everyone's dietary restrictions. The food itself was amazing! I can't wait to come back and try the food here again. read more
8 months ago
Fabulous experience! The menu had detailed info and if you have any questions, the staff are very knowledgeable and helpful. The miso/ beef bone broth is rich and flavorful. The wagyu was so tender I kept finding pieces in the broth which had flaked off of the slices. We went right at 5pm and had no wait. The food was ready so quickly. Overall wonderful experience. The portion was so big, I couldn't finish it. We will be back. read more
1 year ago
This was an impressive bowl of ramen! I enjoyed the food here and the bowl was a great value. I would like to see some more variety in the menu but what was there was of great quality. The seating was a bit uncomfortable so it's not the place to linger for a long meal, but the service was great which made our visit enjoyable. read more
2 years ago
Don't sleep on this place--Bucktown has a real gem here! Visited based on a friend's recommendation, and it did not disappoint. We kicked things off with Musashino beers, a cucumber & wakame salad, and the Yaki Beef Gyozas--the perfect combo to start the meal. Since they're known for their Wagyu ramen, there was no way I was ordering anything else. I went for the Miso Wagyu Ramen, which comes with Gyukotsu, beef chashu, garlic miso tare, corn, wakame, red onions, sesame oil, and sesame seeds--and let me tell you, the hype is real. The beef was so tender, so flavorful, yet perfectly balanced. The place is small, and not sure if you can RSVP, but definitely calling ahead is a good idea. A must-visit for ramen lovers! read more
Omg love this place! The ambiance is quaint and cozy, tho a bit packed. They have bar seating or communal table options. We got the spicy loaded gyoza and monster ramen. Loaded gyoza was good but it wasn't spicy and it was a bit sour. It also wasn't crispy. Most gyoza have a crispy exterior and these did not. I feel like a crispy exterior, more spice, and less acidity would take these to the next level. The monster ramen was next level! The broth was meaty and umami. The mushrooms, veggies, soy egg, and meat were cooked perfectly! Nice and tender and so succulent. It was defintely a 9/10! To make this a 10/10 I wish the noodles could be cooked a minute or two longer because they were a bit al dente. Plus the broth was just warm. I wish the broth was piping hot. Lastly, we got the green tea mochi. This 'mochi ice cream was so good! Tastes like they make the mochi and green tea in house. I highly recommend! Overall, we absolutely loved this place and will be back again! You should defintely visit whenever you get a chance! read more
After visiting Japan, good ramen is always welcomed and Monster Ramen meets the quality of an authentic Japanese ramen. Bold flavors, great noodles, and hearty ingredients. Our server was so helpful and explained the different ramens they offer. I ordered the miso wagyu ramen and it was very good. The beef had a sweetness to it which wasn't my favorite but still quite delicious. If you like true spiciness, make sure to get a side of chili oil. I had to ask how spicy it is for white people to know I would need to add some spice. It's a smaller restaurant so I believe it's likely very busy for dinner but it was more open for lunch hours. It's a nice, clean and modern vibe. Overall, great lunch and a good experience. read more
This place was on the list prior to its appearance on Food Network and the hype was justified. The staff was friendly and I personally enjoy all the vegetarian options that are done well! I'm looking forward to coming back to try other menu options. read more
Upon entering Monster, it was very reminiscent of the ramen places in Japan. Having just gotten back from Japan a while ago, I could see that Monster modeled itself off of the traditional ramen spots there. Everything from the design of the restaurant to the water pitchers was very authentic. The service was incredible - for a Friday night, we were greeted right away. It was a bit crowded, but the line moved quickly. We were told we would wait about 30 minutes for a party of two, but actually waited about 15 minutes. Our service was great, we were able to order quickly, got some recommendations and our drinks and appetizers came out pretty quickly after that. We did have to wait a little longer for our actual ramen, but that was fine. We tried the spicy gyoza to start, which was very flavorful. As for the ramen itself, we both got the chili oil on the side as we are fans of spicy ramen. The wagyu meat was very fresh and tender, the broth was good too, but I think Monster stands out here the most for an authentic ramen experience and the service. read more
2 years ago
I was here for a weekend lunch and Monster Ramen did not disappoint. This small, locally and woman owned business definitely knows how to throw down! At max capacity this establishment seats 38 and does not offer outdoor dining. There is paid street parking close by. My husband and I arrived around 1ish and were seated instantly. At that time the place was probably at 80% capacity. If you are a party of 1, 2 or maybe even 3 - be open minded with how they seat their tables. We were seated next to another couple (who we don't know) to fill the table completely. Not a deal breaker for me, in my opinion it made me think that this place gets packed and they are utilizing the space as best as they can to accommodate everyone. As far as service everything was consistent and quick. All of the staff members were friendly and helpful to answer any questions and give suggestions on their favorites. I really enjoyed that chef Katie was the 1 to bring out/serve each table with their ramen. I tried the monster ramen and my husband had the waygu miso ramen. On their menu they have the allergens for each ramen, which was very helpful. Pricing is on the higher side, but waygu in ramen? It's not exactly cheap! The monster ramen and waygu miso ramen are fairly similar to each other in taste but the monster ramen is larger in portion. I preferred the monster ramen to the waygu miso ramen but both were incredible. The broth is creamy and full of flavor. The noodles are fresh and straight long noodles vs curly long noodles. All of the ingredients in each ramen bowl went well together. Even though the portions are generous I did NOT have anything to take home, it's that good! read more
1 year ago
Came in on an unusually cold day in May. The restaurant was small and cozy but we were able to be sat right away at the counter. Service was great and the staff were attentive. We ordered the Monster ramen and the Miso Yasai. As someone who has had ramen in Japan, this ramen was phenomenal. All the ingredients in the ramen tasted fresh and delicious. I will definitely be going back to Monster Ramen. read more
8 months ago
1 year ago
Had the Waygu miso ramen and the veggie gyoza - and what an experience - absolutely delicious! Great atmosphere, kind and accommodating staff, nice prices. read more
2 years ago
This place made it to my top ramen spots! We got the Miso Wagyu Ramen and The Monster Ramen. Loved the taste of the noodles and meat. Service was also really friendly. When you walk in all the workers greet you in Japanese. Also recommend coming here early. We came on a Saturday around noon and were worried we wouldn't be able to secure a spot. When we arrived we were the 2nd group there but seats started to fill within the next hour. The bigger tables are communal so another pair will sit with you if there aren't any other spots and there's only 2 of you. read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
We came on a Friday evening and luckily got a table for 4. The place is small and tables are limited. I got the miso wagyu and I didn't expect the bowl to be so big. It was delicious, broth was creamy and flavorful. The beef was also very tender. One of us got the monster and it was double the size of mine, but perfect size if you're planning to share or have a really big appetite. I recommend coming early to get a spot because it was really small and we got really lucky! read more
2 years ago
Monster Ramen? More like Master of Ramen. Katie Dong flexes her noodle skills in a winning formula that delights from the bowl to the plate. Wagyu Donburi and Spicy Gyoza were perfectly paired with our ramen dishes, which featured an unbeatable combination of flavors, including a bone broth. Service was wonderful, and the menu was explained in a very consumable and friendly way. Come hungry and come prepared to have your expectations for ramen raised to dizzying heights. read more
Came here for some Ramen, but I honestly didn't expect that huge of a wait time. We were told an hour wait for two people, and we were planning on doing some breweries after our dinner here, but ended up doing those in the hour we had to wait. So at the end of the day, no time lost but damn... an hour? Not sure if it's exactly worth the wait, the place is tiny and most of the people waiting for the table crowd the entrance up so it makes it difficult to get in and out of this place. Once seated, the customer service was friendly, but I felt the ramen took a little longer than usual to come out. The place is small, so there's not a huge amount of tables to have to be served, so I didn't quite get the lengthy wait time. We did start out with an order of their Yaki Beef Gyoza. You get 5 pieces and they were pretty tasty. They did disappear fast though. My wife ordered their House Shoyu and I ordered their Shio House. Both were pretty tasty and overall very filling. The shio was saltier but more flavorful. Unlike other Ramen places, Monster Ramen appears to only offer beef as their protein. So all their offerings are definitely on the higher side. You'll definitely be paying a premium here. They don't offer pork or chicken, which usually tends to be on the cheaper side. Overall I really enjoyed my meal. Yes, it's expensive. Yes, they have a long wait time, but they do serve some damn good tasting ramen. I can definitely see myself returning here often. read more
2 years ago
Monster Ramen is a hidden gem! The restaurant itself is very clean and intimate. There's not many seats, so it's best to come here early. We got dinner at 5 and only waited about 15 minutes for a table for 3. The menu has a very beef based approach, but there are still vegetarian options. Started with edamame and loaded gyoza. The Gyoza has a heavy balsamic vinegar taste. The plant-based Shoyu was okay, not much protein and the flavor was mild. The Miso Wagyu was good. The noodles were cooked well and the broth had a lot of flavor. The Beef Chashu Don was good as well, everything tasted fresh. Service was friendly and helpful. All of our entrées came out at different times which felt a little awkward. Overall recommend this place. read more
Came on a rainy Thursday evening and was seated immediately with no wait. The restaurant is small and cozy, so if you're seated at the bar you will be seated closely to others. I liked sitting at the bar, since I was able to watch the kitchen process. I ordered the shio tokusei and my friend ordered the miso wagyu. Both broths were great, but I preferred the taste of her miso wagyu as my broth became a bit too salty as I ate my bowl. It was an okay bowl of ramen, and I found the chashu beef a little lean / not tender enough for my tastes. My friend really enjoyed her bowl. Service was really kind and attentive! read more
Busy spot but we were able to get a table in less time than we were told to expect and we sat at the bar so we got full view of all the blowtorch action. We got a few appetizers and split a bowl of ramen and everything was both delicious and enough for us both to be happy. A few fun drinks topped round things out and we were happy campers. Perfect spot for cold Chicago evenings. read more
1 year ago
There was a bit of a wait in this small restaurant but it wasn't too long. We got seated at one of the bar seats. The seats are definitely very close and you can hear most conversations around you but it didn't bother us much. The ramen was really rich and delicious. Maybe a little bit too much for me. The gyoza was very good. read more
1 year ago
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More info about Monster Ramen
Ask the Community - Monster Ramen
Do we have to make a reservation?
Nope they don't take reservations! We just went in early
How much is the Omakase menu?
I don't think they offer it since sushi isn't part of the menu.
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