We got great service from our waitress. Unfortunately, the food is average and over-priced. Don't get me wrong, nothing was bad, but nothing really stood out as good either. Firstly, this is not a Japanese ramen house if that's what you are thinking. It's a Korean/fusion based joint, so don't come here expecting Japanese ramen or dishes. With that said, their house specialty Oiimen Ramen is still a pork based soup though. Unfortunately, there was just too much going on in the soup. The spicy oil is a nice touch, but too much. It garlic is a distraction and it seems like they put too much soy sauce in the base. Again, not bad, but not that good either. We also got a bunch of apps. The buns were highly recommended and I thought they were under-whelming and over-priced. Flavor was ok but there was too much bun, the ratio should be less bun and more filling. Overall this place reminds me of a little bit of Slurping Turtle and Urban Belly. It's a place I would go to if I have no where else I really want to go, but it's not a place I would frequent for the price they charge. There are other places I would rather spend that cash. read more

Definitely value for money! The portions of their ramen is huge. If you have a small stomach, would recommend you share one among two people. Ramen tasted awesome, one of the best ramen in the Chicago area I would say. The pork belly buns were superb, you could top it with some chili sauce to cut off the fat. read more

Oiistar - Pork belly bao - the chili sauce goes well with it ! - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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By far, my favorite ramen ever. The broth is like a meal in itself. Get a bao bun before the ramen and then take home half your ramen. The broth is like jelly in the morning. Great sake choices here too. read more

Was in Chicago for a long weekend and had a bucket list of restaurants to try. Where I currently live lacks a happening restaurant scene. Oiistar was not originally on my list, but a friend recommended it and boy was it good. Had two kinds of buns: one duck breast and the other was vegetarian with shitake mushrooms. Also ordered the spicy veggie ramen. That was good too, but I didn't find it to be spicy at all. read more

I was excited to try this place because I heard it was a fusion between korean and japanese. My friend and I ordered the pork belly buns, oiimen, and musselmen. Pork belly buns: (5/5) these were delicious. Maybe because I love pork belly buns to begin with. However, the pork belly was chewy and perfectly flavored with the right balance of salty and sweet. Oiimen (4/5): I actually don't think I really like the "korean" influence on ramen. I think I prefer regular japanese tonkatsu ramen broth haha Musselmen (4/5): I like the concept of adding mussels to ramen! read more

Just came back from dinner with my sister. We shared the pork belly buns, tuna carppacio, portobello mushroom & avacado fries, and Oiimen ramen w/ pork belly. Of the appetizers, the tuna carpaccio and mushroom fries turned out best, while the pork belly buns and avacado fries were a little disappointing. I've had better pork belly buns from Chairman Bao (SF) and BaoHaus (NYC), and I think its more about the meat not tasting like heavenly butter. The avacodos in the fries were a little bit harder and perhaps not optimally ripe, so while you can taste the fattyness of the avacado, you don't get the rich flavor that is achieved with ripening. The Oiimen ramen turned out pretty good, and the noodles had an interesting chew not normally found at other ramen joints. read more

their ramen is sooo good! it never disappoints. large portions and many different menu options

I went here early Saturday evening. it wasn't crowded at all. The buns were excellent. I had the duck breast (spicy but tasty) and the mushrooms. I was thinking thinly sliced duck breasts, but it was actually chopped breasts. More like taco meat, I guess. Loved the mushrooms! I enjoyed how the food wasn't timid with the spice. Duxelle thingies were really good too. Crunchy on the outside, moist and rich in the inside. It's like a meat falafel. I'm not sure if the sauce did anything to it. The balls were good by themselves. I did find the seasame oil in the veg ramen a bit too much. I wish it was on the side, so I could add the amount I prfered. My friend had their regular oiimen with the pork dashi. It's REALLY rich!! And a bit too salty for my taste. The noodles for both of the ramens were the same. It's non-curly and it lacked a bit of character. I guess maybe that's why the broths were so aggressively seasoned? It was good, for sure and I would definitley have the veg ramen again (tho with oil on the side!). The bartender/server dude was efficient, friendly, and a super hard worker. read more

Definitely one of the better ramen places in the city, as far as I know. I tried most of their ramen dishes and their ramen with duck is one of my favorites. It's always a great time, when I come here and I wish I could eat here more often. read more

Pleasantly surprised! I'm a ramen snob and generally get offended when restaurants stray from tradition. Oiistar has quite a few ramen variations, and I opted for the modern, which was rich with a touch of spiciness. Perfect on a cold night! Minor quibble: the egg was a bit flavorless, even with the rich broth. If they could flavor it before adding to bowl it'd be even better! Also had the 6hr pork shoulder bun, which was excellent. Pork was super-tender & juicy and good texture contrast with the other condiments. Be sure to pick up your bun and start eating as soon as it arrives, otherwise the bun gets soggy and sticks to the plate, and you'll be reduced to eating it with a fork. Not cool. read more

I've heard about this place few times from friends who came here before or had friends who came here before. My girlfriends and I normally try out any new ramen place in Chicago. We heard about Oiistar and decided to try it out. There were 4 of us and they couldn't take our reservation because we need 5+ people, so we just winged it and hoped it wouldn't be a long wait. My friend put our name on the board to wait for a table on Friday night around 730pm. It was a short wait. We were seated 10-15 min later (this is a small restaurant and it gets packed). I ordered their french kimchi soup..pretty much a french onion soup with kimchi. It was okay. I love kimchi so that was why I ordered it. I love the ciabetta roll that came with it but it is oily and greasy. I also had the ponzumen ramen which was ramen with pork loin, jalapeno peppers, and something else. It is a spicy broth. The noodles taste okay, nothing special. Wasabi is still better...but this place does beat Slurping Turtle and Takashi's other restaurant called The Noodle at Macy's. I would prefer the noodle to be a different texture..not my favorite. My husband ordered their duck roast bun. I had some, too, and it was really good. The bread was moist and the the duck was moist and tasty! I really like it, way more than the ramen. My husband ordered the oiimen ramen. He said the broth was too salty. He was still hungry after finishing his ramen. Two of my girlfriends ordered the same as we did..they said it was okay but agree that Wasabi still the best so far. Our waitress was very friendly. She's also pretty! Sad we didn't get her name so she can get some props for giving us nice service. What's cute about this place is their spoons are so big! In a way it seems impractical to use them to eat but they are very cute. Food came out pretty quickly, so that could explain the short wait time. Menu is limited. I wish there were more options on the list. My husband says this place is pretty expensive for the type of food we ordered. Our two ramen with 2 appetizers came out to be $56 with tax and tip. My girlfriends only ordered ramen and their tab was $20/each. It just seems expensive for the type of food we ordered here. Popular restaurant, I must say! And loud! read more

The pork bun was awesome, pretty authentic tasting. I liked it more than the duck breast bun because the duck breast bun had corn in it which threw me off. I had the oiimen which was alright. There was too much black pepper and green onion for my tastes. The peppery burn and the onion aroma overwhelmed most of the other flavors in the ramen for me. I'm more of a traditionalist when it comes to ramen and I would have liked shichimi instead of black pepper in the ramen. Sorry! On the bright side, the broth was good, the pork loin was very tender, the soft boiled egg was perfect and the noodles had good bite. There was also too much black pepper in the tuna carpaccio but otherwise I liked the tuna as well. The sangria was tasty. The green tea is a tazo tea bag. You can make of that what you will. Atmosphere wise: I enjoyed the music choice but it was way too loud with way too much bass. I had trouble carrying on a conversation with the person next to me without yelling. The server was also not very attentive even when the restaurant was half empty. However if you're in the area, give it a shot. If you're looking for a more traditional japanese ramen joint, this is not it. I didn't know it was a korean-fusion place until i got here. You might like it better than me. I'm thrilled ramen shops are making inroads here in Chicago, but I'm still questing for my go-to ramen shop because this isn't it. read more

They have vegetarian ramen. And it is delicious! It is available all the time! To be honest, that's all I really cared about to write them a 4 star reviews. It's also 2 min from my place. So ok, the one time we went, they kinda forgot one of our orders so we waited a bit, but they comped us with delicious dessert, so everything was cool. Will definitely come again. read more

This is my favorite ramen place in Chicago. Their broth is hearty and the noodles are freshly made. They also have a good selection of Japanese and American beer on tap. I give it three stars for now, (my review can be amendable) because on two occasions my husband got food poisoning from this place. The first time we believe it was from the sprout garnish in the baos. The second time from the eggs. We want to come back and be regular patrons again, but food handling may be an issue. Please note, owners and managers. read more

After 4 trips i'm ready to make my review. The ramen has tasted different even tho i've gotten the same thing each time. Either the egg wasn't done right or the noodles seemed off. But finally I went and it all seemed spot on. Now I know why people rave about this ramen spot, but i just hope they could repeat the bowl each time i've been. On the other hand, the buns are amazing. For sure order one and try. You can't go wrong. Share it if you're not super hungry but make sure to order one. If i'm in wicker park area i'll come by. Waitstaff is friendly and resourceful. read more

Oiistar - Empty oiiman! - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Immediately when you step through the door, you are greeted in Korean by the staff-cute. My friends and I sat at the bar and amused ourselves watching the chefs cook and chat with them a bit. The duck breast bun was the highlight of my night. The duck was perfectly cooked/flavorful and the golden raisin jalapeno chutney made this dish perfection. The pork belly could not compare to the awesomness of the duck breast bun, but was still pretty good. Due to an issue of miscommunication, we were able to get the portobello mushroom bun as well, for no charge. Recommendations for the buns would be as follows: 1. duck breast 2. pork belly 3. portobello. I ordered the Oiimen ramen with pork belly substitution per the chef's suggestion. Overall, it was pretty good. My only critique would be that the soup was a bit too salty for my taste and I felt a little skimped on the serving of the pork belly. This is not the best ramen I have had. I would recommend this place, but be warned it is a bit overpriced. read more

Really wanted to love this place, but just didn't. There isn't much better than a good bowl of ramen, especially on a cold night, or as an attempt to rejuvenate after a long night out - but I wasn't impressed enough to choose this again over trying somewhere new. We walked in and quickly found a seat at the bar, which was nice given that there was a wait 30 minutes later. We sat in kind of an odd location, next to the giant sangria pitcher and the server station. The layout really left a lot to be desired, it had a couple of cool features, but was just a little weird - and it seemed as thought the kitchen took up way more space than it needed to (adding to the normal wait of course). We ordered three things, a bun, mushroom and avocado fries and a bowl of ramen, just to try a little of everything. The buns were the star, while everything else was kind of flat. The buns had a great texture, thick and fluffy, and the ingredients inside were well seasoned and cooked. The "fries" were greasy, but what did we expect with breaded and friend pieces of portobello mushroom and avocado? The ramen was just ok, it came with a nice grease sheen on top, and just didn't stand out. The service was a little slow, which is surprising given the expected wait times, and the food didn't stand out. Nothing in particular was wrong, just not the top of the line ramen we expected from a ramen store. read more

The Zzajangmen alone makes Oiistar 5-star worthy. It is one of the best dishes I have ever had in Chicago, and that says a lot, considering I have eaten at some of the most legendary restaurants, local favorites, and hidden gems that this vibrant city has to offer. Albeit on the salty side, its flavor profile is simply mind-blowing. Savory, rich, and bold balanced with hints of acidity and freshness with its thoughtful inclusion of pickled daikon slices and spinach leaves throughout. The Korean BBQ chicken and roasted peanuts are scrumptious little gems in an already amazing entree. Top it off with a sunnyside egg - perfection. The portion is huge and the price reasonable. Oiistar needs to add this to its regular lineup, off its seasonal bench, and it'll keep me coming back time and time again. Can't beat its casual, laid back, and cool vibe. Option to sit at the bar for a nice tall beer or in front of the kitchen to watch the chefs work their magic is available as well. Street parking is readily open. Diners looking for a quick bite can indulge in its list of yummy appetizers and baos. For those looking to cure the winter blues, their ramen is the way to go. read more

Oiistar makes the best Ramen I've ever had. The buns are incredible too. If you get both, you'll likely take some of the ramen home which is fine because it makes for awesome leftovers heated up the next day. The oiimen broth is something of magic. The sangria is also very good, and I recommend sitting at the bar to watch black and white cartoons while you dine. read more

Went to Oiistar last night, as I have been hearing good things about the place. There were two of us, and we sat at the bar. We instantly were greeted by our server who took our drink order... He explained to us that Chef Sunny had been working for a year on the place. He made the bar stools himself and even the AWESOME glasses the drinks came in (he took mason jars and glued them onto candle sticks for a "lifted mason jar," if I had to give it a name). You can really get a sense for the passion Sunny put into the place, and it's great that you can see him and his chefs doing their magic in an open kitchen format. For dinner, we ordered: Duck Breast Buns, Mong Bean Caprese (App.), Tuna Carpaccio (App.) each got a Ramen Bowl and finished with the Creme Brulee. I got the Oiimen bowl. I am no stranger to the classic steamed bun in Asian cuisine, and I have to say that these were the best steamed buns I have ever had. The duck breast was cooked to perfection, there was a blast of flavor from the assortment of micro greens, and the jalepeno compote was fantastic. Great balance of flavor, not over salty, an awesome pick to start the night! The Mong Bean Caprese was equally as amazing - a refreshing and modern twist on a classic Italian dish. It had a mong bean jelly square topped with a Roasted Roma Tomato, Edamame, Kalamata Olives and White Truffle Oil. Great acidity in the dish with a nice "tang" that got balanced out by the mung bean jelly and edamame. Additionally, the balance of textures were a wonderful marriage on the palate. The Tuna Carpaccio was also spectacular... *** I should mention, the appetizers were the perfect size. Not a fan of restaurants that call something an appetizer and then bring you an entree-size portion. I love food, so I would much rather be able to try a number of different dishes at a restaurant vs. getting full off of one or two. To each their own, I guess. Anyway, I digress... Back to the food! The TC had - Artichoke, Quail Egg, Black Sesame Paste and Daikon Sprouts. Is it just me, or is everyone a fan of a dish where you can cut into an egg and get a yolk to ooze over the top of everything, making for a delicate and delicious texture and taste to any dish. As with all the dishes to that point, the TC was well-seasoned, with the perfect balance of flavor and texture. Totally on point and one of the better TCs I have ever had, no doubt. The Ramen Bowls - their only "entrees" - all sounded great, so it didn't make for an easy decision. We actually both went with the Oiimen, which had - Pork Loin, Egg, Tree Ear Mushroom, Spicy Oil and Garlic. Really nice portion size, for starters. The pork loin was super tender and succulent. Seemed like it was cooked in a liquid base (maybe poached?) just based on how succulent it was, but I may be wrong. Great flavor, as well. The BROTH...oh the BROTH...it was ahhhhmaaazzzzing. Perfectly seasoned, not too salty, a good kick of heat. The spoons they serve it with are over-sized and meant for you to use in unison with the chop sticks. Big fan of this noodle bowl. Big fan of this restaurant. I will definitely be going back, sooner than later. For me, this is the type of place I could eat at a couple of times each week. Despite all of the food we ate, I didn't feel stuffed after the meal - pleasantly full yet still light on my feet. Service was outstanding, food was better than outstanding and I, personally, enjoyed all of the old school hip-hop playing. It is a bit loud, so beware if you go with a big group. Nevertheless, I would still take a big group there in a heartbeat. See you again soon, Oiistar. Thanks for the great meal!!! read more

Any place that turns a mason jar into a goblet is pretty bad ass. The mojitos.......is all I have to say- the mojitos (MUST TRY IT). The Bibimen entrée was huge, fresh, and fulfilling. Don't forget to order the buns.....I like Oiistar buns and I cannot lie!!! I shall be back! read more

Loved everything we ordered one of each of the buns and two of the bowls everything was awesome, wonderful flavors beautiful presentation read more

Oiistar - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I was excited to try a new ramen place since I literally only like one place downtown. Anyways, I read some reviews & asked what was good. I ended up getting the Fried Garlic Chicken (Sambal) & the Spicy Garlic Shoyumen. The chicken was good and the sauce was tasty. Just wish the serving was bigger. The ramen on the other hand was a big serving, but I did not like the way the pork belly tasted, and that ruined the ramen for me. Overall it's a decent place, but I personally won't be coming back, especially after the upset stomach I had after eating half of my food. read more

Tonight was the second visit to Oiistar for myself and my spouse. The last visit was in a larger group setting. Both visits were great in every aspect. Great food, awsome service and a shocking low price structure, for this level of dining?? If I had one suggestion for chef "sunny" it would be to tone down the music just a few decibels but then again I'm an old man, at 53 :-). However I know that most younger patrons within the Wicker Park / Bucktown general area probably enjoy that style and at that sound level. Will I return despite the minor required sound adjustment to a fun atmosphere? YOU BET I WILL!!! In fact I spoke to our CEO and we will be having our corporate Holiday outing there, this week!! read more

I am a huge ramen fan, and I have to say that out of 7 other top ramen places I've visited, Oiistar is still my favorite place hands down. My husband and I always get a pork belly bun to share, and our own choice of ramen. My favorite is the modern ramen with kimchi. Augh, so GOOD!! Keep up the good work! read more

Ok, so I was a skeptic about raman... There! I said it. This was my first time diving into my own bowl, and... I LOVED IT! Why the heck have I been waiting for so long?! I ordered the spiciest bowl, because, I like spice. It was actually not TOO spicy as some people had told me prior to my visit. Just the right amount. We sat up at the bar area and enjoyed our bowls with some brews. My knock off the 5-star rating would be the feeling of being pushed out of the restaurant. Our waiter seemed more concerned about eating his meal in the back and getting out of there. I would have enjoyed each bite a bit more if I didn't feel like I had to slurp it down and get the heck out. Excited to come back! read more

Oiistar is a wonderful date night spot or even a get together hang out spot with friends. There is outside, inside, and bar dining. We chose the bar. The waiter was very helpful and helped us decide on a few items to try. The fried chicken (sweet)- it was crispy, and falling off the bone. It sat in a thick sweet spicy soy sauce. Oiistar sangria- served in a cool mug that looks like it's sitting on a candle holder. A little sweet. Mashed potato bad- my favorite and the most unique. I've never had mashed potatoes on a nap before and I've had a lot of different kinds. Mushroom bao- I liked it but the mashed potato was better. There was a lot of things going on with this one. Not a bad thing though. Oiimen- the broth was not too salty and I almost ate the whole thing. I would've ate it all but I was extremely full. It came with pork, and a sliced egg. I do think I will be back in the future. read more

Honestly, it was good. But I've had better broth. It's a cute little place, perfect for a date. I expected more flavor but it does the job read more

Oiistar - Pork Belly - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I've often walked past this Japanese ramen restaurant but never ventured inside mostly because the hours weren't convenient so today I made a point of rushing here before they closed their lunch hour. First I'd love to talk about all the positive aspects of dining here today. The main reason for stopping in was to try their ramen and enjoy something spicy. I picked a decadent and generously portioned bowl of ramen with freshly steamed mussels and incredibly spicy ramen broth that was extremely flavorful. I'd advise friends come here no later than an hour before their closing time at 2pm and share an appetizer and a bowl of ramen because you'll definitely have a second serving for leftovers. I took note that the restaurant itself was incredibly clean, organized and immaculate. I phoned the manager at 2:15 before heading over and asked him if I could dine in today and he said as long as I place my order by 2:45pm I could enjoy my ramen on the premises. My uber was a bit late but I made it just in time. I'll be honest though; I felt like my server/manager was hoping I'd order and slurp down everything quickly because all of his actions from bringing me a bowl of ramen within minutes to handing me my final bill 6 minutes later indicated to me that he was pushing me out the door. Before I even got to a quarter of my portion he wanted to know if I needed dessert because the kitchen was closing. I was able to take a few shots of the beautiful ramen; but it was challenging because the lighting here is so dim. I took a few photos, tried to eat as quickly as possible and at 3:20 pm I was reminded that the restaurant officially closed 20 minutes ago and he needed to head to his second job. I spent $15 on soup $2 on a coca cola with no refills and I could clearly tell my server was harried and agitated the whole time from start to finish. I'm not a petty person so I'm leaving Oiistar four generous stars because my ramen was perfection. In conclusion I do not suggest anyone visit here too close to closing time because they definitely don't let you relax enough to enjoy your meal and finish it. I rushed at the very end to finish the ramen because I truly enjoyed it; but I regret not waiting patiently till 5:30 PM when they reopen for dinner. I feel I spent a lot of money for a huge bowl of ramen that I was rushed into finishing so my server could leave. read more

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Litteraly come in here 2 or more times a month. All of the ramen is amazing. My favorite is the pozolmen. It is pozole inspired, but ramen infused! It is hands down one thing that you can't get anywhere else. Everyone I tell about this ends up going and getting it and they couldn't be happier! They have some great appetizers with fried or pan fried mushrooms that will knock your socks off. Don't forget the buns as they are great to share if you're in a date or with a friend. read more

Soon as I received my pork belly bun I was already contemplating my review. I let the ambiance set in and I wafted the sweet scents of slow roasted pork. Before my first bite a passerby said "Oh have you been here? It's really good." to his friend. It was at that instant that I knew it didn't matter what the food tasted like because I know how to trust people. It all started at an early age when my baby brother killed my mother in child birth. My dad said "It's going to be alright son." But it wasn't alright, I was hurt, confused, and abandoned. I took it out on my brother for 16 years, making his life a living hell until he committed suicide in 09. My father took his life shortly after leaving $3.95 worth of inheritance. I used that $3,95 to buy a pack of twizzlers and a lottery ticket. I won the lottery and I finally valued my father's words. It was then that I decided to trust people when they told me something was going to be a certain way. Anyways now I'm using this money to buy all the hookers and blow I can muster. Ramen was delicious, thanks random stranger for making my decision for me. read more

This is one of my favorite ramen place in town.yummy home-made noodle and the juicy thick Pork belly..The price is very reasonable among those popular ramen place. And the portion is very good. The Pork shoulder bun is juicy and full of favor . read more

Cannot give this spot enough stars! Over the last year or so I've become a huge ramen fan and ever since I've stumbled upon this restaurant I haven't been anywhere else! Love the environment but the food is just AMAZING! From the buns to the ramen, there isn't anything I've had that has disappointed me. Plus the portion size of the ramen is enough for two meals! I always recommend this place to anyone looking for ramen! read more

Amazing ramen. Caution: it's really hard to eat the entire bowl because the size is huge! Good for taking the leftovers home, for a rainy day. :) read more

Oiistar - Beef brisket and kimchi ramen - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I think that the food was 5 star.. my only reason for 4 star was that the ramen bowl prices were about 4-5 dollars too expensive. Hits: THE BUNS! Wow. Each one that we tried was phenomenal. The duck breast, goki, and mushroom buns were unbelievable. Such unique flavors. The duck breast had golden raisins in the bun and it really just cut the fat and savory portions and was such a perfect balance. The mushroom one was complex and the mushrooms were so well marinated. The ramen bowls were fantastic, but at 13-16 a bowl, far more expensive that competitors that are just as good. That being said, the Tikkamen bowl - Fried chicken in a curry broth, was very unique and so unexpectedly excellent that perhaps it was worth a few extra dollars. The wine prices are great, though! Great experience - I actually went twice in 2 weeks. I hope to go again soon! read more

This was the very first place that I have ever tasted their spicy, garlicky, seared & charred pork belly Ramen on Sept 28, 2019. I came back again tonight and tried it again with a glass of beer. It is by far the best Ramen place after trying several other Ramen restaurants. The place does get packed. I was fortunate that I only waited 15 minutes. I believe the seated and waiting crowd would agree with my assessment of the food and atmosphere. read more

This is my favorite Ramen place in all of Chicago. I also don't typically like buns but the buns here are so great. The best one is the Cod. As far as the ramen, the musclemen and classic are good but my favorite is the modern. As far as the bowls, the kimchi chow is OK, I didn't like that it had peanuts and was definitely a little too fusion, whereas I would've preferred a more traditional kimchi rice bowl. read more

Visited last night for the first time and three words: O.M.G.! The ramen classic we had was delicious! I still can't get over that perfectly cooked hard-boiled egg =) and the creme brulee I devoured tasted just like my abuelita's budding...delish! The service here was great! Everyone here (from the wonderful hostess to our smooth operator of a server) was phenomenal for the busy night that it was. Shout out to the aforementioned hostess who was able to get us seated pretty quickly at a cozy table overlooking Milwaukee Ave. Overall fantastic experience and we can't wait to go back! P.S. - I read some reviews on here and I think it's funny how some people highlight that it's an intimate vibe / tight seating (which is a good thing) yet complain about being asked to move a handbag so its not blocking space. Haha... hypocrites I tell ya =) read more

What a delightful experience at Oiistar! The decor was minimalist and industrial, which I think fit the style of the food and service--no frills but just classy and simply GOOD. The pork and duck buns were absolutely great; loved the flavors and soft fatty textures. I also loved enjoyed carpaccio appetizer, particularly with the braised artichokes and black sesame paste (didn't quite like the plating as much, though). The ramens are HUGE portions. My boyfriend and I split a musclemen (I I have to be honest, I wanted to order it just for the name, heehee!) with an extra portion of noodles, and we could barely finish! I was so amazed by the broth, which was rich and savory and had an extra little kick of spice. I am not exaggerating when I say that this was probably the best ramen broth I've ever had. My only complaint about the creme brûlée dessert was that it wasn't bigger! ;) Love love loved the espresso caviar with it! read more

Oiistar is my second spot for Ramen in the city. One thing I noticed is their portions are pretty big and the server pointed that out lol. I tried their buns which were pretty good. went with the mashed bun and the tonkatsu bun. The tonkatsu hands down was my favorite. wish i would have taken a pic. Also the Oiistar red sangria is really good I recommend it if you stop by. For Ramen I went with the oiimen classic and added the beef brisket. I love the broth it has loads of flavor and the beef brisket that I added was amazing so tinder and juicy will be coming back. read more

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