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Stopped here for dinner on Thursday during our first night in town. Located in the downtown area, there are several places nearby. We had a reservation for 8:30 and checked in at 8:10. The hostess, who seemed like she was having a hard time negotiating it all, informed us that it would be closer to that reservation time. They pump loud hip hop which was fine. We were sat about 10min late at a center high top table. We ordered drinks and some buns. I also had a wild hair and added a salad as well. The bao bun was seriously the best I have ever had. No exaggeration at all - the meat was tender, not chewy, and the outer skin still had a perfect crisp to it. Wow. MUST HAVE, The salad was also incredibly good with the carrot ginger dressing. The ramen was solid - but I wish bamboo shoots were listed on the menu so I could ask them to hold them. Ramen was standard. Only issue was the wait time between ordering and items coming out. I noticed people who came in after us being served very quickly - not sure if our waitress wasn't putting in what we ordered or not picking up our orders. In a wild turn of events - I ordered dessert at a ramen house - the Cinnamon Toast Crunch sundae which was pretty good. Overall - very good place.
Stopped in for a quick snack to join friends who had already finished dinner. I ordered the chili crunch cucumbers and the sticky Thai wings. The cucumbers were covered in an addictive, garlicky crunch topping. It was only mildly spicy, but I wish there was way more cucumber to balance out all those extra yummy bits. The wings were excellent--the batter seemed like it might have rice flour, giving them a perfectly airy and light crunch. I was desperate for vegetables after eating out for a few days, so I ate the radish expecting it to be a throwaway garnish, but it was actually a delicious pickled radish soaked in sauce. It was a welcome bite. I also tried the rose mallow mocktail, all of the ingredients are ones that I like and it made for a nice refreshing drink.
ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS PLACE! My wife was craving ramen one night for dinner and this place was recommended to us. I'm super glad we stopped in, because it was just what we were after. The place was rather dimly lit, which actually made for a nice dinner-time ambiance. It's relatively small inside, so the fact that it was busy led us to just take two seats at the bar. The service at the bar was fantastic and, while the bartenders were quite busy, they were very good about repeatedly checking in on us. I ordered the chicken shio ramen, and my wife ordered the kimchi and fried chicken ramen, which the waitress/bartender told us was the most popular. Both of these dishes were absolutely incredible, and both were large, but not overly filling portion sizes. It was $17-$18 per ramen bowl, which isn't cheap, but it's also not too expensive for being right in the middle of the city. This is my new favorite ramen place in Chicago, and it comes highly recommended by me for anyone who is wanting to try it!
Came to Ramen San after seeing good reviews on Yelp and wanted to try it out! We were quickly greeted and told there was a 25 min wait but the hostess pointed out 2 seats at the bar and said they were open if we wanted to sit there. So we decided to sit down! The server was super friendly and on top of it, and we ordered quickly as we were getting hungry. Unfortunately the food took a bit long to come out, probably 20-25 min but we eventually got our food. I got the kimchi & fried chicken ramen bowl and Omg it was AMAZING!! It definetly had a kick, so if you don't like spice this isn't for you. The ambiance was very moody yet still well lit, and there were searing options inside and out. I definitely will be recommending to my friends
We came to Ramen-San for lunch with my boyfriend, and wow... the food was unbelievable. I had the shrimp caldo ramen, he got the 10-hour tonkotsu, plus mantou with pork and fried chicken (which I forgot to take a picture of ). Everything was incredibly delicious, honestly, I was shocked at how good it was. It brought me so much joy I almost wanted to cry. The service was amazing, the atmosphere and interior are beautiful - truly a full package. Definitely recommend, and we're already planning to come back on Thursday with friends!
After watching a play at the Goodman Theater, we were looking for a place that was still open near our hotel and came across Ramen-San through Yelp's guidance. Although the place was busy we were seated right away. Interior was nice with its lighting Our server, Yvan was very welcoming and answered any question I had. We started off with the Late Night Fried Rice (only served after 9pm) and a Pork belly bun. If you like Pork Belly like I do, you will love the fried rice that had tender pieces of Pork Belly. It was delicious! If you're having Ramen, the Fried Rice could be shared by 2. We then had the 10-Hour Tonkatsu Ramen, which was also good. It's a huge bowl, I added an extra molten egg for me so we could split the rest with my buddy. It mentioned to Yvan that we were celebrating my birthday and he surprised us with complimentary donuts that were warm and with a Miso Caramel dipping sauce. It was a great dessert! Highly recommend if ever in Chicago! Ask for Yvan for exceptional customer service!
Ate at Ramen san twice recently - once for lunch and again for dinner. Both times of day were pretty busy, even during the week (lots of offices around river north, so people may frequent this place during lunch breaks). If you're not one of those within walking distance, the street parking may be limited, so plan accordingly Each time I come its always a vibe with the hip hop beats bumpin (can be pretty loud tbh) if youre into that. Besides forgetting our salad, the staff is overall pretty attentive and service is good for how busy it can get. The seating and smaller tables can be pretty tight especially with larger parties The broth from the sumo bowl was pretty light and was on the blander side - although I liked the variety of toppings, def wasn't my favorite but could be good for the right person if they prefer ramen that's not as heavy (ironic given that its the largest bowl offered lol). I will say that the wontons were good and did enjoy them! On the other end, the broth from the 10 hour tonkotsu was rich and creamy, with the savoriness from the pork really pulling through - def aligns more with my preference for ramen. The pork itself from ramen san really hits the spot, in both the ramen and the pork belly bun, super tender and juicy
The vibes were great overall. Lively, casual, and a fun spot to hang out. 8/10. The kimchi & fried chicken ramen was good but honestly a little overhyped to me. I liked how crispy the fried chicken was and the flavor was solid, but the chicken itself had a bad oil taste. The noodles were fine and I enjoyed the broth. 6/10. The bao buns were okay. The fried chicken bao was decent but I didn't love the mayo sauce on it. 5/10. The pork belly bao was pretty average and nothing really stood out. 4/10. The sticky Thai wings were definitely the best thing we ordered. Super crispy with a really good sauce, and I loved the radish underneath too. 8/10. Service was fine. It was super casual and we sat at the counters so they didn't check up on us as much. 6/10.
We've been on a real Lettuce Entertain You kick recently. We spent the morning at the spa and decided to try ramen for lunch. This is the first time we've had ramen and came here because it had been recommended by friends. They were bumping late 90s hip hop which I can rock with. There were long tables that provided community style seating as well as some booths. I ordered the express lunch which is a great deal. I got the 10 hour Tonkotsu, beef and rice, side salad, and edamame hummus. That hummus was banging and they need to sell it in stores. Everything was really tasty. My wife got the special lobster and crab ramen which was really rich but super delicious. We also had some really strong yuzu margs. The service was excellent! It was a wonderful experience. We also had the sticky Thai wings which were good and we shared a fried chicken bun.
5 days ago
Watery Ramen with basic flavors. This was the most disappointing tonkotsu Ramen I have had. The shrimp dish was decent, but overly sweet. Gyoza was supple and delicious, however, the Ramen had lost the battle by this point. The basil old-fashioned was a nice turn on the traditional drink, but not as flavorful enough. Prompt service and lively ambience. read more
27 days ago
Sooo good! Loved the 10 hour tonkatsu and the chicken and kimchi ramens. Came out supper fast. Super fun and chill vibes inside. Bartender was fast and friendly. A little pricey but typical for the area. They have purse hooks at the bar which is always appreciated. read more
Stopped here for dinner on Thursday during our first night in town. Located in the downtown area, there are several places nearby. We had a reservation for 8:30 and checked in at 8:10. The hostess, who seemed like she was having a hard time negotiating it all, informed us that it would be closer to that reservation time. They pump loud hip hop which was fine. We were sat about 10min late at a center high top table. We ordered drinks and some buns. I also had a wild hair and added a salad as well. The bao bun was seriously the best I have ever had. No exaggeration at all - the meat was tender, not chewy, and the outer skin still had a perfect crisp to it. Wow. MUST HAVE, The salad was also incredibly good with the carrot ginger dressing. The ramen was solid - but I wish bamboo shoots were listed on the menu so I could ask them to hold them. Ramen was standard. Only issue was the wait time between ordering and items coming out. I noticed people who came in after us being served very quickly - not sure if our waitress wasn't putting in what we ordered or not picking up our orders. In a wild turn of events - I ordered dessert at a ramen house - the Cinnamon Toast Crunch sundae which was pretty good. Overall - very good place. read more
2 months ago
Stopped in for a quick snack to join friends who had already finished dinner. I ordered the chili crunch cucumbers and the sticky Thai wings. The cucumbers were covered in an addictive, garlicky crunch topping. It was only mildly spicy, but I wish there was way more cucumber to balance out all those extra yummy bits. The wings were excellent--the batter seemed like it might have rice flour, giving them a perfectly airy and light crunch. I was desperate for vegetables after eating out for a few days, so I ate the radish expecting it to be a throwaway garnish, but it was actually a delicious pickled radish soaked in sauce. It was a welcome bite. I also tried the rose mallow mocktail, all of the ingredients are ones that I like and it made for a nice refreshing drink. read more
I had the kimchi and fried chicken ramen and thought it was REALLY good! The flavor of the broth was just the right amount of umami and saltiness, compared to most ramen spots. My friend got the tonkotsu and thought it was standard. The service is really good! Our waiter was super friendly. read more
20 days ago
I decided to pop in during my lunch break! The staff were very inviting and welcomed me in. The service was quick and the vibe was funky. They had old school hip hop playing which paired nicely with my bowl of ramen. I ordered kimchi fried chicken ramen and it was delicious. read more
ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS PLACE! My wife was craving ramen one night for dinner and this place was recommended to us. I'm super glad we stopped in, because it was just what we were after. The place was rather dimly lit, which actually made for a nice dinner-time ambiance. It's relatively small inside, so the fact that it was busy led us to just take two seats at the bar. The service at the bar was fantastic and, while the bartenders were quite busy, they were very good about repeatedly checking in on us. I ordered the chicken shio ramen, and my wife ordered the kimchi and fried chicken ramen, which the waitress/bartender told us was the most popular. Both of these dishes were absolutely incredible, and both were large, but not overly filling portion sizes. It was $17-$18 per ramen bowl, which isn't cheap, but it's also not too expensive for being right in the middle of the city. This is my new favorite ramen place in Chicago, and it comes highly recommended by me for anyone who is wanting to try it! read more
2 months ago
Came to Ramen San after seeing good reviews on Yelp and wanted to try it out! We were quickly greeted and told there was a 25 min wait but the hostess pointed out 2 seats at the bar and said they were open if we wanted to sit there. So we decided to sit down! The server was super friendly and on top of it, and we ordered quickly as we were getting hungry. Unfortunately the food took a bit long to come out, probably 20-25 min but we eventually got our food. I got the kimchi & fried chicken ramen bowl and Omg it was AMAZING!! It definetly had a kick, so if you don't like spice this isn't for you. The ambiance was very moody yet still well lit, and there were searing options inside and out. I definitely will be recommending to my friends read more
We came to Ramen-San for lunch with my boyfriend, and wow... the food was unbelievable. I had the shrimp caldo ramen, he got the 10-hour tonkotsu, plus mantou with pork and fried chicken (which I forgot to take a picture of ). Everything was incredibly delicious, honestly, I was shocked at how good it was. It brought me so much joy I almost wanted to cry. The service was amazing, the atmosphere and interior are beautiful - truly a full package. Definitely recommend, and we're already planning to come back on Thursday with friends! read more
After watching a play at the Goodman Theater, we were looking for a place that was still open near our hotel and came across Ramen-San through Yelp's guidance. Although the place was busy we were seated right away. Interior was nice with its lighting Our server, Yvan was very welcoming and answered any question I had. We started off with the Late Night Fried Rice (only served after 9pm) and a Pork belly bun. If you like Pork Belly like I do, you will love the fried rice that had tender pieces of Pork Belly. It was delicious! If you're having Ramen, the Fried Rice could be shared by 2. We then had the 10-Hour Tonkatsu Ramen, which was also good. It's a huge bowl, I added an extra molten egg for me so we could split the rest with my buddy. It mentioned to Yvan that we were celebrating my birthday and he surprised us with complimentary donuts that were warm and with a Miso Caramel dipping sauce. It was a great dessert! Highly recommend if ever in Chicago! Ask for Yvan for exceptional customer service! read more
Ate at Ramen san twice recently - once for lunch and again for dinner. Both times of day were pretty busy, even during the week (lots of offices around river north, so people may frequent this place during lunch breaks). If you're not one of those within walking distance, the street parking may be limited, so plan accordingly Each time I come its always a vibe with the hip hop beats bumpin (can be pretty loud tbh) if youre into that. Besides forgetting our salad, the staff is overall pretty attentive and service is good for how busy it can get. The seating and smaller tables can be pretty tight especially with larger parties The broth from the sumo bowl was pretty light and was on the blander side - although I liked the variety of toppings, def wasn't my favorite but could be good for the right person if they prefer ramen that's not as heavy (ironic given that its the largest bowl offered lol). I will say that the wontons were good and did enjoy them! On the other end, the broth from the 10 hour tonkotsu was rich and creamy, with the savoriness from the pork really pulling through - def aligns more with my preference for ramen. The pork itself from ramen san really hits the spot, in both the ramen and the pork belly bun, super tender and juicy read more
The vibes were great overall. Lively, casual, and a fun spot to hang out. 8/10. The kimchi & fried chicken ramen was good but honestly a little overhyped to me. I liked how crispy the fried chicken was and the flavor was solid, but the chicken itself had a bad oil taste. The noodles were fine and I enjoyed the broth. 6/10. The bao buns were okay. The fried chicken bao was decent but I didn't love the mayo sauce on it. 5/10. The pork belly bao was pretty average and nothing really stood out. 4/10. The sticky Thai wings were definitely the best thing we ordered. Super crispy with a really good sauce, and I loved the radish underneath too. 8/10. Service was fine. It was super casual and we sat at the counters so they didn't check up on us as much. 6/10. read more
We've been on a real Lettuce Entertain You kick recently. We spent the morning at the spa and decided to try ramen for lunch. This is the first time we've had ramen and came here because it had been recommended by friends. They were bumping late 90s hip hop which I can rock with. There were long tables that provided community style seating as well as some booths. I ordered the express lunch which is a great deal. I got the 10 hour Tonkotsu, beef and rice, side salad, and edamame hummus. That hummus was banging and they need to sell it in stores. Everything was really tasty. My wife got the special lobster and crab ramen which was really rich but super delicious. We also had some really strong yuzu margs. The service was excellent! It was a wonderful experience. We also had the sticky Thai wings which were good and we shared a fried chicken bun. read more
Ramen-San in downtown Chicago was a great experience from start to finish. AJ, our waitress, was personable, attentive, and made us feel genuinely welcomed. We didn't have to wait long at all between ordering and receiving our food, which was a huge plus. The menu is simple but still offers a nice variety, so it's not overwhelming but gives you solid options. The pricing is about average for downtown--definitely not too expensive for the quality and portion sizes. The ramen itself was excellent. The umami-based broth was rich and packed with layers of flavor. I also liked that you can customize your bowl with additional protein, veggies, and toppings for an extra charge--it's a great option if you want to build it exactly how you like it.One of my favorite parts of the experience was the music. They were playing 90s and early 2000s hip hop, and it really elevated the vibe and made the whole meal even more enjoyable. Overall, I really enjoyed it and would definitely come back. Highly recommend if you're in the downtown area and craving flavorful ramen with a great atmosphere. read more
Was here for a work trip and decided to be lazy and pick up some ramen for dinner. Found this spot and so glad I tried it! When I went to pick it up, the restaurant was packed AND there were 5 other people picking up at the same time. Popping! I ordered the 10 hr tonkatsu ramen and the yuzu lemonade. The ramen was exactly what I needed! The packaging for a to go meal was pretty great, the broth was still hot. Really great spot! read more
Great atmosphere, great service, great food. All around a very solid spot. We started with the karaage chicken nuggets and the tuna avocado tartare. The nuggets were cooked to perfection, juicy and crispy. The tartare was made well, but I did feel that the avocado overwhelmed the tuna a little bit. For my main, I got the 10 hour tonkotsu with sesame chili, which came out looking beautiful. The chashu was a sweet and savory melt-in-your-mouth savory pork that perfectly complimented the lighter components of the dish. Between splitting the 2 appetizers and the big bowl of ramen, I had to take half of it home- and then ended up finishing the rest of it at midnight before bed. Highly recommend, great spot. read more
2 months ago
This ramen was delicious! I got this miso mix, I will say it was quite spicy but very flavorful. The restaurant was packed so you know it's good! They had a really great apps and this was an affordable ramen option in Chicago! read more
I made a reservation for a large group of 20 for dinner about 2 weeks in advance. For a group of that size it's obviously a necessity, but I would highly recommend reservations regardless of party size. On the day of, the restaurant was packed - not only were all the tables full, but there was even a crowd at the host stand. We saw several couples and parties leaving and choosing to go elsewhere instead. Since we had a reservation, we just had to wait a few minutes for our table to be prepped and then we were seated in 2 groups (most of us at high-top tables with bench seating, and a handful in a 3-sided booth). The high-top tables did fortunately have hooks under the table top for bags and coats, which I appreciated. The menu is relatively short, with an obvious focus on ramen and not much else (besides appetizers). There's a QR code on the table that shows pictures of each dish, which I loved - you can use it to pay or split your bill as well, though you still order as typical through the server. To be honest, the reaction to the food was mixed. I ordered the tantan-san, the vegetarian ramen option. I was initially skeptical since I don't usually enjoy vegetarian ramen, but this item looked great in the photos and I was really glad I chose it. There is a "spicy" sign next to it on the menu, and it definitely had a bigger kick (in a good way) than what I was expecting. On the other hand, there were a few responses of "it's alright" and one person who definitely did not like their ramen. We also shared some appetizers and desserts. I tried the crispy tofu mantou bun. The crispy tofu was decent itself, but there was wide agreement that the bun was not worth eating at all. For dessert, we tried the hot donuts and the matcha puff. The hot donuts were decent but didn't stand out as especially unique, while the matcha puff was very pretty, but the puff was bland and the amount of matcha cream seemed excessive to me. For a busy restaurant, it's unrealistic to expect that every experience will be perfect. The food took quite a while to come out and weren't necessarily timed to come out together for the table or in a certain order (for example, the ramen came out before the appetizers). It was also hard to flag down a server later during the meal, such as when we had a question about paying online. But when a restaurant is clearly in the wrong, to me, the response is much more impactful than the mistake itself. Two ramen bowls that we had ordered were accidentally delivered to another table, and another bowl had a worker's hair in it. That meant that all three needed to be re-made after an already-long wait. But I think the staff handled it beautifully. The server was extremely apologetic, immediately stated they would correct the issue, and offered a dessert on the house. A manager came over to again apologize and check in on our experience, and they ended up comping the dishes that needed to be re-made. I have nothing but praise for the team at Ramen-San for how they handled the situation, and I was more than happy to tip 25% (for a tip screen that, interestingly enough, indicates this is their "most popular" tip percentage!). read more
I've been to Ramen San many times but finally got around to reviewing! The ramens are solid and the hot donuts are divine. I tried the fried tofu bao and it was good but the bun definitely felt pretty flat/gooey to eat? The Szechuan chicken wings were really disappointing - I was hoping for a lot of flavor but ended up getting very oily chicken wings..so I'd stay, stick to the ramen and the desserts at Ramen San. read more
Short review: Food was really great, but I won't come back because I didn't enjoy my experience sitting in the restaurant. Very uncomfortable seating, and a bit too expensive for me to deal with that. I would recommend the food to someone on a slow day or for takeout. Long review: (This was a Friday night for reference) Food was delicious. That I will never contest. But would I ever come back? Probably not. Maybe for takeout, but I don't think any place should only be good as takeout. I usually would like to make reviews solely based on that, but I just can't. The restaurant had fun music, but it was a bit loud. Not a major complaint, but it is a fact. There was pretty dim lighting, and very little space. I was placed on the benches and was miserable. I am disabled and almost left due to how uncomfortable and excruciating the benches are. I will be frank, if you are plus sized, you will probably not have a good time sitting on those benches: they do not move and the bench itself is very small. Even my straight-sized friend was uncomfortable. I was also so close to another family (due to the seating chart) that I could hear everything they were speaking about. We had a reservation booked days in advance as well so it's not like we were squeezed in as a favor. I also felt like everything was based on turning over as many customers as possible, which I understand, but when you have a QR code to pay your server you meet one time, what am I supposed to think? Feel? Experience? I was just disappointed. A couple at a booth below us was ignored many times when trying to pay because they didn't know they paid through the QR code. Had to explain it to them because their server refused to walk by their table after being called (politely I may add) many times. This place is a feast for the eyes, but it comes at a price for comfort ability and price. read more
I am a huge ramen fan (and I'm Asian), so I can be judgmental when it comes to Asian food. That's why 5 stars for this place really means 5 stars! My friends and I came here for the first time on a Thursday evening. We made reservations and I'm glad we did bc there was a long line when we arrived. One friend and I got the fried chicken and kim chi ramen. My other friend got the traditional tonkotsu ramen bc he wasn't sure if he could handle the spice of the kim chi. Let me say that the highlight of the night was the fried chicken and kimchi ramen!! Wow! Wow! Wow! I will definitely get it again. Remember - there is some heat. But I would say is a solid 2.5 (maybe 3) on a scale of 5. The chicken was so crispy and good. Even after it got soggy from being in the broth for a long time it still tasted very very good! read more
Perfect day for ramen but it's been a while since I came back but I got their chicken ramen and the soup was really bland, there was grilled chicken and the corn was not buttery at all it was a little chewy and hard. We got seated by the window and this place does get crowded. Service was good but wished they were more attentive in filling up our waters. The pork dumpling was good. There's lot of seating inside and by the bar but overall this place was okay. read more
Ramen-San became our first dinner spot when we reacher downtown Chicago. To our surprise, there was a long line of people waiting outside. There are seating available inside and outside; therefore, once we checked in with the host, we let them know that whichever table comes first, we are good with! Luckily, the table we sat at while waiting became our table to eat at! We were ecstatic as I really wanted to eat ramen that night. We ended up getting the 10 hr Tonkotsu with two sake bomb glasses (one was original and the other was with Yuzu). We loved our dinner and one ramen bowl was enough to fill me and my partner! read more
3 months ago
following up on this review- i am now realizing they charged me twice for my meal! really disappointing after the already bad experience. Now wishing I never went. read more
Such a great spot for fast sushi and ramen and very affordable for the area. I ordered some kind of lunch bento that had edamame, two rolls and gyoza. It also came with a nice miso soup. They have a super convenient QR code system to order and pay if you are in a hurry. read more
Very good! The ambiance and vibe is sexy but fun. They were playing a collection of 90's r&b when we came on a sat night. Had a reservation and was running late. They goodness they were able to accommodate cause it was busy. The pork belly bun was fire! Got the fried chicken ramen and it was good but had some spicy to it. Def not for the weak. Cocktails are good! Very good and would recommend! read more
9 months ago
Where to begin? I'm a soup kinda guy, I like my soup and I'm told soups likes me. I like Ramen, few things beat a good bowl of ramen style soup on a chilly evening. Enjoying a bowl of ramen on a chilly night in the heart beat of the city on the hustle and bustle of Chicago's Streeterville neighborhood on is even better. I got to Ramen-San at early evening just in time to beat the line that would form outside. By the time I sat there were folks waiting to get a seat and several waiting on the sidewalk for their pick up orders. Pick up seems a huge business for them. The place was jumping. Not a surprise for this Lettuce Entertain You joint. I was seated at the open inside/outside seat facing street side, the sidewalk and their cool patio. I got to sit inside but enjoy the outside fresh air. The hostess was really friendly and accommodating to my seating preference. I can't imagine how hard it is to keep this crowd happy. I noticed she greeted everyone who walked through the door. The server, I believe his name was 'Yvan', was exceptional and knew his menu and helped me along with my choices and had a few great suggestions as well. His service style was warm and welcoming. Great service can make you even hungrier. The decor is really cool and open spaces so you don't feel crowded in at a table. The menu, straightforward with concise descriptions on the items you are ordering. Their cocktail and desert menus are really fun, unique, Japanese anime style comic book like designs that make the ordering attractive and fun. Super smart! I wanted dessert but I could barely finish what I had ordered. As for the grub, their offerings are excellent. I like a good ramen and Ramen-San makes eating ramen fun. I ordered an iced green tea. I'm an iced green tea maniac, I always have one in front of me. Ito En Japanese green iced tea is their go to and it is excellent. The presentation of the can alongside a glass of with ice and a classy packaged straw gives you a feeling of authenticity. Let me first say the like the beverage choice the presentation of all of their offerings is excellent and makes anyone unfamiliar with Japanese style cuisine feel right at home. They make it fun. I started with two Mantou Buns, the fried chicken and the pork belly. Both really good with a soft bun and a healthy portion of protein inside, though the pork belly was epic. I could eat ten of those buns in a sitting. But let's not be a glutton right? The server assisted me in educating me with the spice and condiment rack and what each was all about and how to apply them. Great choices from him. Now for the ramen! WOW not a small bowl. I chose their house specialty the 10 Hour Tonkotsu. A traditional broth with chashu pork and molten egg. Opting to add bok choy, buttered corn, and an additional molten egg was the right choice. I'm also a garlic guy, and the server talked me off the ledge from ordering additional garlic as he informed me my choice already had a good amount in it. A good choice as I would have likely been persona non grata around anyone had I gone for me. Thank you! My raman bowl was a healthy sized wet dream loaded with plenty of Tokyo wavy noodles from Sun Noodle Co. and generous amount of everything added. I'm glad i didn't order extra chashu pork as they give you enough to compliment your ramen. You really cannot go wrong at Ramen-San. Well worth your money. The server informed me of their bomb lunch special for under 20 bucks. Ramen-San was an excellent all around experience. Service excellent and menu offerings equal to that. You can pay from your table by Qcode. It makes it simple. I'm pretty suer you can also pay by car but not positive. So check in first. I did use a gift car I had received for this excursion. Unlike many spots you can tip off of the amount of funds on your gift card. However, please remember that tipping appropriately and even a bit extra if you can afford to never hurts as these folks make their living on their service skills and they deserve every dime they get. Yes, they also take cash tips so don't be shy. I gotta say Ramen-San is a no brainer, if you like soups and ramen you gotta try it out. You won't be sorry. Don't be shy give it a try! read more
4 months ago
Stumbled into Ramen-San while wandering Chicago and honestly... it called our name. We were originally waiting for a table at Gus's Sip & Dip, but this spot completely stole the moment. The yuzu margarita? Unreal. Truly the drink you didn't know you needed -- bright, citrusy, and unlike anything I've tasted before. We started with the bao and wings, and both were a solid 10/10. Perfectly done, flavorful, and the kind of small plates you end up talking about the rest of the night. Sometimes the best meals are the ones you never planned. Chicago did not disappoint read more
8 months ago
Ramen-sans lunch special is one of the best in the city! I love the variety. You basically get a bento box with ramen and a rice bowl. If you can't decide between rice or noodles, this is for you. The sleeper hit is the salad for me though. The dressing is savory and addicting. I prefer ramen-san during lunch because of the special and because it's way less crowded. Same vibey ambience and speedy service but with some more room to breathe. read more
2 months ago
I randomly decided to try this ramen spot after a long day work, and wow... I'm so glad I did. From the moment I walked in, it had that cozy vibe that just makes you want to sit down and stay a while. I ordered a 10 hour tonkotsu ramen and honestly, it was everything I needed. The broth was rich without being too heavy, super flavorful. The noodles were perfectly cooked, not too soft, not too firm, and the pork was so tender it basically melted. Service was also really friendly and relaxed, not rushed at all. Definitely one of those places I'd come back. 10/10 would recommend if you're craving a solid bowl of ramen. read more
Identical vibes and set up to the West Loop location. Good R&B music. Quick wait before seated. Love how they ask if there's any dietary restrictions prior to ordering! Ordered spicy Szechuan wings which were perfectly sauced with the right amount of heat. Tan tan ramen (veggie) and kimchi/fried chicken ramen. They have options for veggie, chicken, and pork broth available. Still one of my favourite ramen spots in Chicago! read more
Delicious place to go for some late night bites! This place was busy at midnight on a Saturday night but we were able to get a table right away at their long, sharing tables. We were greeted quickly by our server and given drinks. We ordered a pork and chicken bun and a sumo* ramen with an added molten egg. I am a huge ramen fan and this is one was delicious. The music was 90's hip hop and rap and provided a perfect late night vibe. We will definitely come back! read more
Coming from Bay Area, I guess we shouldn't have too high hopes when it comes to ramen in Chicago! As expected, this place was ok. I got the kimchi ramen with regular chicken (in lieu of fried) and the noodles were a little clumpy. Corn also looked sad. They advertised the noodles being from Japan but we felt they were a bit meh. Broth was also a little too spicy and salty for our liking. The menu was limited so there weren't many substitutions allowed for our vegetarian friend. Service was okay. The place looked amazing in the photo but the actual vibe was a little underwhelming. We also felt that the place could be a bit cleaner. read more
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Ask the Community - RAMEN-SAN
Is easy to place a Togo order without a long wait?
On weekends there is waiting for togo orders.
Is staff required to complete annual diversity and inclusion trainings?
Hi Karena, Thank you for your question and for reaching out to us. Your inquiry is genuinely… Read more
Is the fried chicken one dank?
It's good to start but can get soggy as you eat it! Definitely recommend trying it!
What are your happy hour specials?
Hey there! We are actually getting ready to launch our happy hour today! It will be every Monday - Friday from 3pm - 6pm. We are offereing $4 Asahi, $5 Sake Bombs and $6 Yuzu Margaritas! Happy hour specials are available on our patio or in the… Read more
What is the Nutritional Value of a bowl of Spicy Miso Ramen with chasu instead of ground pork?
Prateek, Unfortunately, we do not have those values calculated out for the menu. If you are… Read more
Which ramens are vegan? Also any pork free options?
Shio is vegan with our gluten free/vegan) noodles. Shrimp Curry doesn't have pork and the Kimchi fried chicken can be made without pork. Any of the bowls although not recommended can be modified to not contain pork
Are there any gluten-free options?
Yes Sydney we offer gluten free options. I recommend the Shio Ramen
Is chicken broth an option with your ramen dishes?
Susan, Yes, we have a double chicken broth that is delicious. You can substitute it in for any of… Read more
Do they have ramen to go?
Sandy, yes we do! You can order carryout over the phone: 312.377.9950 or order delivery as well through our website: ramensan.com.
Are all locations open on the 4th of July?
Kayla - our River North and Streeterville locations will be open on the 4th.
Are reservations taken?
Yes! You can make reservations through Tock: https://www.exploretock.com/ramensan/
What kind of broth goes into the fried chicken ramen ? (tonkotsu, Shio, chicken broth). Just trying to understand if there's any pork in that dish.…
Hi Toaha, We serve our pork broth with our Kimchi and Fried Chicken Ramen. Let us know if you have… Read more
Do they serve shirataki /carb free noodles?
Aditi, What we have to offer is shredded cabbage in place of our regular Tokyo wavy noodles. We look forward to having you try it this way.
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RAMEN-SAN - ramen - Updated June 2026
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