Really delicious, and great atmosphere. The bao buns are filled a little too much though which makes them messy and difficult to eat.

Server Gustavo was wearing no mask, just a face shield hanging 2 inches away from his face. Ramen was okay, not the best. Very salty broth.

I have eaten at Oiistar multiple times now and my experience there is consistently excellent. The ramen is AMAZING and the service is great. I always order the Oiimen ramen. The pork belly that comes with this dish is the best pork belly I have had paired with ramen. As an appetizer, I'd also recommend the pork belly buns! read more

recently tried their "oiismen", it was okay. What I love is their appetizers! Their wings r amazingly good and tasty!

This is one of my favorite ramen joints in Chicago. I had the oiimen ramen and it was creamy and delicious. The bf had the musclemen ramen and he was a happy camper. The buns were also great. I'll definitely be back to try out some of the other ramens and also to try the creme brulee. read more

Oiistar has the best vegetarian ramen in the city in my opinion! The broth is excellent !

My 1 st time trying Ramen & I have to say it was an amazing experience. I can't wait to go back & try other flavors. Highly recommended!

I got in right before the lunch rush, literally. I walked right in and got a seat, and then 15 or so ppl came in to wait by the door. The food is pretty good, but the service was a little slow. I had the pork belly bun and the Oiistar ramen. Both exceeded my expectations as I've been terribly disappointed by Wasabi, and a whole slew of other recent pop-up ramen places. read more

We came for lunch on a hot Friday afternoon. Ramen was probably not a very good idea on a day like this, but we heard great things about it and had to try it out. We were not disappointed at all and I do not regret getting a hot bowl of ramen on a 90 degree day. I ordered the Oiimen Ramen and my wife got the Modern Ramen bowl, not sure if that's what it was called, but it had kimchi and was pretty spicy. we also ordered the 6 hr pork shoulder bun to try out. the pork bun came out almost immediately and the ramen bowls shortly after that. I thought we would spend over an hour in there, but wow, were they quick in bringing out the food, which is awesome! I loved the 6 hr pork shoulder bun, pork was tender and the bun was soft with great flavors on top of it. My Oiimen ramen bowl was phenomenal! LOVED the broth that it came in and the pork belly was delicious. the broth had almost a milky consistency to it and I just could not stop sipping it. the noodles were good, but it seemed odd to me that they were so thin. My wife's Modern Ramen bowl was ok, I was not really a fan of it. The broth was just not as good as the Oiimen. We had swapped bowls to try each others out and I could not wait until I got my own bowl back so I could keep sipping at the broth. overall, a good 1st experience, so we'll definitely have to come back and try other things on the menu, like the chicken wings! read more

Yes, just yes. The buns and the ramen are amazing. The place itself is small so call ahead for the big table in the back or go with max one person. I always get a couple buns and one ramen between two people and it's the perfect amount. My favorites are the Tempura Shrimp Buns and the Oiimen Ramen. Enjoy! read more

Beat ramen in town. The Berkshire pork belly melts in your mouth. The other stuff / appetizers aren't too good.

It's the best ramen I've eaten in the city. Flavorful, savory, even the mushrooms were delicious. The hot buns starter was awesome as well. Too bad I don't live closer! read more

Oiistar is one of our favorite Ramen spots in the whole city. We come here regularly and can't get enough of their buns and Ramen. A few of their buns that are particularly wonderful are Pollo, Goki, and Mashed Potato. Chadolmen Modern is our absolute favorite Ramen - my boyfriend and I typically order one with extra noodles and share; it's the perfect amount of spice and the meats are delicious. A few buns and bowl of Ramen are the perfect amount of food for 2 people. I have tried a chilled noodle plate there before and was not impressed but would highly recommend Oiistar to anyone, especially in regards to their buns and Ramen. read more

The food was soooo good. The broth was perfect and the pork was so amazing. And the noodles were great. The only downside was the server. He was extremely rude and very snippy. He kept getting really smart with us, which we were a group of four, and it was uncomfortable. I'd come again but I'd have to be sure he isn't our server. read more

I've been to Oiistar twice--once when they first opened and just last week for dinner. We sat outside on the patio, which offers much better ambiance than the inside. On both visits, I ordered the spicy veggimen. It was delicious both times. It has really great flavors with the perfect amount of spice. It's the perfect place to grab a bowl of ramen on a chilly night. read more

My +1 suggested this as a dinner locale, as he'd been here on previous occasions. I have to admit I was stoked for fresh ramen (never had it)! At 7pm on Saturday, there were two table choices: directly in front of the door or by the front window. I chose the latter. There wasn't a draft or chill as other reviewers mentioned. The place is pretty cramped. A server (who ended up being OUR server) buzzed in front of me as I was returning from the washroom and then leaned over the table/bar area, sticking out his foot into the aisle. I accidentally bumped into his leg and apologized, but he gave me a seriously dirty look. For starters, we ordered the Tempura Cod and the Pork Belly Buns. I didn't try the pork, but enjoyed the cod. It was thick, juicy, and steamed, but only crispy on one little end. Not quite what I expected as far as "tempura," but good nonetheless. My date ordered a sangria and I had hot green tea. It was very weak and was never refilled. The ramen was HUGE! My date ordered the Oiimen ramen and commented about how much he enjoyed the milky broth. I had the Spicy Veggimen but didn't find it spicy at all. It was hot and delicious with lots of veggies, though! The tofu was a little underwhelming, only having being seasoned liberally with pepper. I did have enough for leftovers, which they boxed up for me. Needless to say service left much to be desired. We were checked on once and asked about desserts, but I would have rather had my drink refilled. My date commented that our server was kind of rude and seemed to have an attitude. In all it was pretty decent first time "real" ramen, but not the mind-blowing experience I was hoping for. read more

the buns weren't soft and chewy. the ramen was okay. the noodles were the perfect consistency. the service was good, staff was friendly. don't get the pozelman unless you like your face kicked with spice. it had too many peppers. and ramen shouldn't taste like that. it's clearly a non traditional ramen house. the classic ramen was alright. not delicious, not terrible. probably not going to come back here.. read more

Oiistar - the classic ramen & their large ladle. - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Big serving size and big flavor. Can't wait to go back! Beef bao bun (goki) was by far my favorite. So much flavor!!! I could eat this all day... Pork bun was good but not my fave. Fatty crab in NY is still my #1 pork bun love. Duck bun was covered in micro wasabi which gave it a kind of chemical taste. I wish it could be switched out for micro cilantro... Spicy ramen - ah so yummy!!! So big! So filling! It is legit pretty spicy tho so if you're not into spice get the regular... You can always add hot sauce to it Place is small. Service is friendly and fast! Pretty decent beer list. read more

I went here with a friend last weekend and really enjoyed it. I've heard great things about Oiistar and had to try it for myself. When I arrived we were able to be seated immediately for a party of two. We started with two buns: tempura shrimp and pollo. Both were delicious. Then I ordered the pork belly classic ramen which I was happy with. It's actually large enough to share between two people. My friend and I were going out afterwards and did not want to carry around leftovers or waste food so it ended up being perfect. The ramen was tasty, but I've tasted better IMO. I feel like it was tasty but I honestly prefer other places. I would come back if I was going to be in this area for drinks or something afterwards but I don't think I would seek it out. read more

Delicious...great sangria and amazing ramen. They never forget or mix up the spicy level you ordered. You will be very thirsty afterwards :-) read more

first impression: WOW their portion for ramen is HUGE. likes- ~korean influence in their cuisine. I love kimchi and i love korean food. So i was really happy to see how they blended korean cuisine and ramen together. ~pork belly. even though it was FAT but it did't taste greasy at all. ~overall quality of their buns ~service was fantastic. servers are funny and genuinely cares about your opinion. ~noodles are definitely handmade and had the chewiness to it dislikes- ~the duck breast was too smokey for me. I prefer it with a lighter and sweeter tastes ~the HUGE portion makes me tired of eating it after a while...which sucks because it reduced my overall happiness for this place read more

Oiistar - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

very busy spot for very good ramen. we went there at 8:30 on a friday night for 2 people, and luckily we were able to grab 2 seats by the bar as they do not take reservation for party less than 6 people. the ramen is good, not authentic, but taste very good. after all, they are advertised as asian fusion, not ramen shop. everything is greasy (OILstar :P) but tasted so good :D read more

Oiistar - sumo wrestler and the big waterdrop shaped glass jar - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Pretty good. I think I need to give it a 2nd run. I wasn't blown away, but I did enjoy it. Oiistar was recommended as a good friends favorite Ramen in the city. I trust his taste, but they didn't really do it for me. I think off that basis alone its worth it to give it another go. To be continued.. read more

Great ramen place. Had the Oiimen classic ramen and Berkshire pork belly bun and they were both great. Highly recommend!

Checked this place out with a friend after we once again couldn't get in to fat rice (geez I hate that)... Likes: The Sangria was fantastic The service was quick, and our server was knowledgeable The portobello mushroom and avocado fries were fantastic The duck breast buns were scrumptious The not so much... We tried a fried chicken dish that was a bit dry (not enough sauce on the plate to help that out).... The oiimen ramen with pork belly instead of pork loin was disappointing. The chairs were incredibly uncomfortable and even though the restaurant was not busy, it was so loud in there that it was hard to have a conversation. Not sure whether I would go back here when there are so many other places to try in the City. read more

I ate here for lunch today, and I was very very pleasantly surprised! I had the classic ramen and man oh man, the broth is definitely the star here!!! Still not as good as Ippudo in NY, but the best ramen I've tried in Chicago thus far! I will be back!!! Alex, our waiter, was also very helpful and knowledgeable. Loved his rec for the poached pear for dessert! read more

Came here on a Friday night at 8pm, no wait which was unexpected and great! This was my first time having both the asian buns & ramen. The asian buns were fine, nothing life changing. The ramen was delicious, however one thing they do not tell you on the menu is that the ONLY broth that is not made with pork is the vegetarian option. Being someone who does not eat pork, this was extremely disappointing to me as I was looking forward to the chicken ramen (which the rest of my group got and enjoyed). The veggie ramen was still delicious though- and I'd order it again! The drinks are extremely cheap ($3-$4), so you get great bang for your buck across the board. Overall our bill was ~ $50 total and we had 3 buns, 2 ramen, and lots of drinks! My biggest complaint is that our waiter literally disappeared once he had brought us our check, and after waiting 25 minutes we finally had to flag someone else down to close us out? But, I`d come back if someone in my party was craving ramen. read more

I had dinner this past week at Oiistar, and I have to say - I really enjoyed it! The place has a lively atmosphere- with great ramen and great buns. The service was attentive and friendly - and there was only a minimal wait at 7PM on a Friday night - which was handled really efficiently. I'd definitely come back and eat here again. I'd advise on asking for a table away from the front door ... as it gets packed with people waiting for their table and creates a lesser enjoyable experience if you happen to be sitting there like we were. read more

Always worth the wait on a Saturday night! I love the Classic Oiimen ramen and the creme brûlée with espresso caviar is my favorite desert in town! The portions are large, be ready to take some home. The service is always fast and fantastic! One of my favorite restaurants in Wicker Park to be sure. read more

First time here and the meal was very enjoyable! I got Berkshire pork belly and tempura shrimp buns, both buns were very yummy. The umani ramen was also very delicious, just the right amount of spices. The staff is also very kind, a great spot for lunch l. read more

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The buns are FIRE, the ramen is AWESOME. I got the original which is more traditional, my boyfriend got the umami which was ridiculously great, highly recommend the umami!!! Pork portions were huge compared to all other ramen shops in Chicago. Favorite bun was the shrimp tempura and the pork shoulder! Great vibe, great menu, great portions, great pricing! read more

I've been here a few times and really enjoyed it. The portions are huge and the broth is usually flavorful. This last time I went, it seemed that the quality had dipped. Broth was not as powerful and it was just meh. Probably won't return read more

Oiistar is overall a poorly thought out and confusing Japanese & Korean fusion place. For a place that serves ramen as its main entree, and has Japanese infused decor, the menu is distinctively Korean and Chinese in its flavors. The staff even calls out in poorly pronounced Korean as you enter and leave. On that note, I am strongly of the belief that unless you have staff who have some language training, you should ditch the welcome and thank you for coming calls in foreign languages--it just ends up sounding butchered. I went with a friend, and we both ordered the oiimen (original) ramen, and shared two buns (pork and duck) and the mushroom and avocado tempura. --The buns were odd, to say the least. The buns themselves looked like they were purchased frozen and reheated. The duck was overly spicy and heavily sauced, to the point where you couldn't even taste the duck. The pork was heavy as well, over-sauced, and very bad chinese food tasting. --The mushroom and avocado tempura was underseasoned, and generally underwhelming. The mushroom actually worked OK with tempura, and the battering + frying was done well, the batter being light and crispy. However, the avocado was bland and flavorless. We both agreed that it tasted like fat on fat. Even just some salt and pepper would have improved things dramatically. --The ramen choices were interested to say the least. The first one, the new beef one is very korean inspired, with Kimchi and other non-traditional ingredients. We both decided to go with the original, which ended up being a let down. Ramen breaks down into two main components: the noodles and the broth. The noodles were definitely not ramen noodles. They lacked entirely the springiness that is distinctive of ramen noodles, and just fell flat in texture and appearance. The broth was overly greasy, and the flavor not rich enough to pull together the simple dish. The grease was so heavy that when left alone for a few moment, the top layer would congeal. Ramen is supposed to be a light meal, but this dish heavy and lacked finesse. An extra star for the decent decor, and the solid service. They were also nice enough to let us stay after to just chat after we finished, the place not being tremendously busy for lunch on a weekday. I won't be back, and would suggest that those looking for ramen go out to that place in Arlington. read more

The ramen here is pretty decent. The tonkatsu broth is delicious- so rich, creamy, and flavorful. Tonkatsu ramen is my favorite, and Oiistar does not disappoint here on the soup. The noodles are just okay. A little too thin and soft for my taste, but some people prefer this. I like mine thick and chewy. The soft boiled egg was perfectly cooked and the mushrooms were a nice touch. The pork belly that came with was delicious, but I had the same meat at Ramen Misoya and it was much, much better. However, the spoon they give you to eat the ramen is awesome. It's a small ladle, but it's perfect! We also shared some buns for the table, but I wasn't impressed with these. The bun itself was just okay, not very fluffy or soft, and there wasn't enough meat inside. Overall, it's worth coming to Oiistar for the Tonkatsu broth. I was underwhelmed by everything else. read more

Yummy, yummy, yummy! We came on a cold night and this is exactly what we needed to warm up! We started with the Chicken and Pork Shoulder buns and both were seriously delish! Tons of flavor and a good size, too! For my ramen order I had the Chadolmen and it had great flavor and a nice kick to it! My boyfriend had the oiimen, and he liked his, but noted there wasnt a lot of heat. He added some Sriracha and that helped a bit. Both were obviously huge portions that either of us could finish. If you're in the mood for a big bowl of ramen - definitely check this place out! read more

Excellent food and great little eatery!! Their crispy fried garlic chicken (sambal) was finger licking good and so were their buns! Their vegetable ramen was good with delicious broth! Will definitely go there again! read more

Oiistar - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Stopped by today with the wife and had the Oiimen ramen, side of kimchi, pork belly bun, and the shrimp bun. The kimchi was perfect and the buns were absolutely outstanding. The sauce on the pork belly was scrumptious and the shrimp was so perfectly crispy. The ramen was also very good, but I don't think I can say it tops Wasabi down the street. The noodles have the perfect bite and the ground pork and pork belly in the soup are very good. The flavor of the broth did not have the same depth as Wasabi, but was still very good. The music here is a bit too loud for my liking, but we sat at the bar and were served by the chef who was friendly and it was also very cool to watch him cook and use his torch. read more

I've been here twice and would definitely go back. First night was a typical Wednesday night, so it was not crowded at all. Second time was a Saturday night and was super crowded. I believe 1 hour we waited. We just went across the street to Emporium to kill time. It was worth it, though compared to eating time and waiting time, some say it wouldn't be worth it. I've had the Oiimen and Chadolomen. Oiimen was delish and flavorful, Chadolomen was a little too Kimchi-y for me. Maybe I just ordered wrongly on what I was feeling! A plus that they make their own noodles. I also had the Tonktasu Bao and that was just lovely. Must try the Oiimoji cocktail too (that is if you're feelin' minty). 4 stars because it can get pricey, music can also be lowered just a tad (maybe only loud on weekends)! read more

This is a neighborhood ramen/izakaya restaurant. We've been here 3 times before, but this is the first time I'm writing a review for them. The past times we've been to Oiistar was before all the other ramen shops opened up in Wicker Park. I used to think Oiistar was tastier but now I put them at 3 star relative to the other ramen shops. Their ramen menu is a bit confusing. They've definitely changed their ramen menu since the last time, but this time there was tons of ramen that was fushion with other falvors, such as masala flavors. We tried the classic last night - but they did something to it that it tasted funny. It was supposed to have pork flavors but they threw in beef cubes. We were there late at night - so part of me thinks they just tossed in whatever they felt like - but still the ramen was just meh. The soup was decent but the pieces of food in the soup just didn't go very well together. We also got two buns. One was the Mashed - has potatoes, mozarella and beef. It was a heaping pile of food over the bun that you have to eat it with knife and fork, and not with your hands - you can't pick it up because of how much toppings there are in the bun. The other one I got was the duck one - which didn't have that much on top, it was 1/3 of the size of mashed, which is odd. They were just not proportional between the two buns. The Duck one - still you can't eat with your hands because the sauce just dripped all over the bun and the bun is mushy and turn into two pieces already so it's not really a bun but two round pancakes of mush. I was quite disappointed throughout - and again it might be because we were there really late at night before they closed, but I would expect the food to still taste consistent and tasty and that was just not the case. Oh and my fork had some food on it when I arrived, so again 3 stars for the cleanliness as well as food flavors. read more

If you are craving a soup that is rich, silky, flavorful and just plain delicious; this is the place to come. Warning: should you go without your spouse, don't tell them you went unless you brought home some soup. It will be a very awkward and uncomfortable evening... just saying. read more