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

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Enjoyed this little gem! I love the cozy atmosphere and the upbeat 90s rap, which created a great, relaxed energy between the booths and the communal seating. The food was excellent. We particularly enjoyed the crispy tofu buns and the dumplings. The vegetarian ramen was a highlight (I thought) , the creamy coconut broth was delicious and very flavorful. I also appreciated our waiter, offering a child portion when I felt nearly full as it was the perfect size to finish the meal. We also tried the classic Ramen with all the toppings which was equally impressive. The service was quick and friendly throughout the evening, and I would love to experience the nightlife there. My only suggestion for improvement would be to consider installing a curtain around the front door. We visited during a particularly cold day in February and the draft each time the door opened was quite noticeable for those of us in the dining room. Overall amazing experience! read more

RAMEN-SAN - Tofu bun & dumplings - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The foods are not good. The appetizers had no taste. The soup is made of MSG and tastes almost like the MSG soup bag comes with Nissan Instant Noodles. They are busy and care more about carry out and delivery. Servers are friendly initially but you can't find them after they take your order. We placed our order at the same time as the lady sitting alone next to us. She got hers, ate with one hand with the other hand texting while eating, finished, and left. We still did not get ours for another 20 minutes. We could not find the waiter and asked the hostess. The waiter then came and changed to a not so friendly person. He found excuses. Then in five minutes we got ours. As soon as we finished we were rushed to pay the bill by using a credit card machine. I did not have a chance to see the bill and did not use my expiring Lettuce rewards due to the rush. The waiter's mood changed - first friendly, when he appeared after 40 minutes - not friendly - friendly again when he gave me the bill and stood in front to see how much tips he got. The foods are so easy to prepare, and it takes only 3 minutes to boil the noodles, pieces of chickens and boiled egg are already cooked, and it took 45 minutes to get the noodles. read more

Amazing ramen and pork buns. Dim and calm ambiance. Hot sake was pretty good too. Would come back!

Sushi-San was so good that I decided to try Ramen-San since it seemed like the two are under the same ownership. I had the tan tan ramen bowl which was a veggie ramen. The broth was so creamy and delicious. The bak choy, mushrooms, and ramen were also incredible. Additionally, the dessert donuts were so sweet and the perfect amount for our party of 4. The ambiance of this restaurant was cozy. Lastly, our servers Alex was quick to take care of us and seamless with the water refills. read more

RAMEN-SAN - Tan tan ramen - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Love Ramen- San. Was the first place I came back to once moving back to the city. The lunch special is a really good bang for your buck and the appetizers are good as well. The ramen is always fresh and service is always good! read more

Ahh Ramen-San, a place where the lighting is so low, I (honestly) used my flashlight to get a better view of my ramen. As with all the Lettuce Entertain You Restaurant Group experiences I've had thus far, it was a little shy of excellence, yet scrumptious nonetheless. I had the opportunity to try the Pork Belly Mantou Bun, the 10-Hour Tonkotsu Ramen, and the hot donuts. The Pork Belly buns were excellent! While I am typically not a fan of spicy mayo 95% of sushi places use, the tobanjan mayo had mild, noticeable heat, and didn't go overboard on the acid as with Kewpie. The pork itself was cooked perfectly, with the ideal combination of fatty and tender-yet-meaty. Meanwhile the pickles gave some freshness and a little bit of acid. All in all, great! Then we come to the 10 hour Tonkotsu ramen. What's this bowl mind blowing or revolutionary? Still, the broth was incredibly flavorful and not over-salted. The pork was also the same excellent stuff that was in the pork belly buns only having absorbed some of the broth's divine flavor. As for the noodles, these were cooked well and I did enjoy their wavy texture. For the other ingredients, no complaints. My only note is that the amount of pork was small, with two thin strips. As such, the balance was thrown off somewhat. Now, let's talk desserts. You know how they say that if dessert sucks, the meal sucks because that's the last thing you try? Well, the dessert didn't suck. The donuts were fresh, hot, airy, and delicious. They're bad for me, I know. I don't care. My doctor's gonna give me some grief. Let him. Finally, I wanna talk about the service. The service was friendly, but seemed to be a bit slow, especially since ramen is kind of Japanese fast food. Thus, while Ramen-San did not make my list of top ramens ever, this place does their shtick very well, and it is a place l am open to returning to occasionally. read more

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The best ramen in River North. Plenty options and tasteful food - pick the Tonkotsu Ramen and a Pork ban! Service is usually quick, even in peak hours. Indoor only, and cozy environment. Reservations are recommended. read more

RAMEN-SAN - Pork ban - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I love so much here the gyoza " chicken & vegetables " and I recommend also the dumplings "xoxo shrimp & pork " , " pork belly " mantou buns , and the tantan san ramen. For the lucky hour , I like to snack "karaage chicken nuggets" .The staff it's very nice and the service quite fast. The ambiance it's lovely you can stay indoor and for the lovely warm weather it's nice to stay on the terrace or in the front where it's the window because they open it . read more

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Not sure why this place is so highly rated. The tonkotsu broth lacked flavor despite having a thick consistency. Even Shin Ramyun (I know it's not the same as ramen) is probably more flavorful. I will say the chashu was decent though it could have been a larger portion. Don't bother coming here if you're a ramen person. read more

RAMEN-SAN - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We are vegetarians and not big fans of Ramen in general but this place changed our opinion. While vegetarian options are limited here, preparation is amazing. We got the edamame hummus and vegetarian ramen on our server's recommendation. Both of them were delicious. Sesame in edamame hummus stood out brilliantly. We were pretty hungry after spending the day walking around Chicago so ended up finishing two full orders of the ramen. As mentioned above, recommendations our server provided worked out perfectly. Entire staff was friendly and kept checking on us as we were sitting outside. Reservation is a must if you want to sit inside otherwise wait time can be over an hour. Definitely coming back here when we visit Chicago again! read more

RAMEN-SAN - Edamame Hummus - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Good food. The 10 Hour Tonkotsu is A-ok Got the lunch option so I got to try a bit of everything for $18, not a bad deal. Servers are kind and friendly and explained things on the menu. Cozy ambiance read more

RAMEN-SAN - Fatty Ramen 10 hour tonkotsu* miso salmon* Edamame Hummus Salad-San - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Lovely ramen place with cozy setting indoors, and perfect for groups, large or small and families with kids alike. The service was quick and friendly although the place was absolutely packed. The apps and the ramen that we all ordered were all top notch and flavorful. I would recommend this place to anyone who is looking for good food and good vibes. read more

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Restaurant was perfectly lit and was seated immediately at the of our reservation. Waitress was attentive throughout dinner and attended to all our needs. My go to order has always been the kimchi and fried chicken ramen subbed with chicken broth. Was flavorful! Tried the edamame hummus for the first time and it might become an addition to our daily order. read more

RAMEN-SAN - Kimchi & Fried Chicken - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Ramen-san was very charming! It was definitely packed for a Friday evening, so I'm glad we had a reservation and would recommend getting one. I loved the environment! While noisy, it was a cozy, low-lighting, and modern atmosphere. The food was overall good, but I'd say nothing to rave about. The karage chicken had great flavor and breading, but was fairly dry. I really enjoyed my Shibuya Shuffle drink! I also got the carbonara seasonal special, which was incredibly flavorful. I'm one who can handle a lot of flavor, but even I felt it was a bit too salty. You can't go wrong coming here, and there is certainly a dish that anyone can find, but nothing incredibly memorable. read more

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Solid ramen spot if you're craving it! We came here lunch and were seated without issue. The space felt pretty modern and clean - we got a hightop and our server was pretty friendly, she was efficient at taking our orders and knew the menu well when we asked questions. Their lunch menu was solid and we ended up getting a few items - everything was tasty and came out fast. Portions were decent as well. Overall, not a bad experience and I wouldn't mind coming back if in the area again. read more

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The food and service were both incredible. The fried chicken appetizer and the sauce that came with it were simply amazing. The margarita was one of the best I've ever had. We came at about 6:00pm on a Friday, and they had the lighting turned low, which gave it a really cozy atmosphere. read more

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This ramen spot radiates a hipster vibe--the kind of place with eclectic décor, warm lighting, and a curated style that feels both modern and nostalgic. The staff were incredibly welcoming and attentive, and the cocktail menu was creative and fun. With Chicago being such a renowned food city and the high ratings this place has earned, I walked in expecting something truly legit. That said, coming from California, I found the ramen itself to miss the mark on authenticity. The broth and chewy noodles leaned heavily toward an egg-forward sweetness, which created richness but left the bowl without the deep, layered savory resonance that defines standout ramen. The accoutrements--while flavorful and thoughtfully presented--added notes that helped round out the dish, but they still didn't fall within the traditional ramen flavor wheelhouse. To me, ramen should have a broth that delivers a harmonious backbone of savory depth. Here, while the dish was rich, that backbone of deep, layered savoriness was missing, leaving the overall experience feeling more sweet and flat than soul-satisfying umami. Also the noodle:broth was way too noodle heavy. Overall, this spot is worth visiting for the atmosphere, drinks, and hospitality--but if you're chasing that quintessential ramen experience, it may not quite deliver. read more

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My review is for a door dash order. Ramen. * Delivery was great! The broth was packed separately from the noodles and everything else so nothing was soggy. However the broth was lacking.. I expected since I ordered the 10-hour broth. * The chasu was thick, thicker than it should be and wasn't as buttery soft as some other places. * The egg was cooked ok, almost overcooked Matcha puff. * If you like matcha, get this. It is the best matcha puff I've ever had! Tofu bao. * This one has kick! I was not expecting any spice so this really threw me off. Sadly I couldn't eat the rest. I'd come back just for the matcha puff and try a different ramen dish. read more

RAMEN-SAN - Matcha puff - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

4.5 stars. Good ramen but pretty spicy, and the menu doesn't warn you about that! I tried veggie ramen and Tonkotsu ramen. Both were very rich and flavorful. Veggie was very creamy, while Tonkotsu was richer in flavor and also less spicy, so I could tolerate that bowl well, whereas veggie was a bit too spicy for me. The restaurant was busy on a Wednesday night. It seemed to be understaffed that night, but service was nice and did their best, and we didn't wait long for our food. read more

After being outside in the cold for hours, we came across this ramen spot in the city. We both ordered the 10 Hour Tonkatsu and loved it! The broth is nice and rich. The atmosphere is very laid back with lots of classic hip hop tracks playing in the background. It's a very cozy spot especially during the colder climates here in the city. The service is also very pleasant. Our waiter was very kind and attentive which made the experience feel great. I'll have to make a trip back to the city for this spot. read more

RAMEN-SAN - 10 Hour Tonkotsu - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I made a reservation for two at 8:45 PM. When we arrived a little early, I noticed that the restaurant was listed as closing at 9:00 PM, so I asked what that meant for our reservation. The response I received was essentially, "I don't know." Since I had a reservation, I was then asked for my name. After I gave it, I was told that they couldn't find it and couldn't pronounce my name, so I should look for it myself. I was honestly quite taken aback by the way the situation was handled. I tried to be understanding, thinking that the staff may simply have had a long and busy day, but I'm leaving this review in the hope that the next guest has a better experience. If, when I first asked about the closing time, someone had simply said, "We're sorry for the confusion. We stop accepting new customers at 9:00 PM, but we will continue serving guests with reservations," the whole situation could have been resolved pleasantly for everyone. And before telling a guest, "I can't pronounce your name and I can't find your reservation, so you find it yourself," it would have taken very little effort to scroll down just a little further. My reservation was there. read more

Visited Ramen-San in Chicago while in town for a work conference, and it did not disappoint! The ramen was incredible--rich, flavorful, and they offer special ramen of the month options, which is such a fun touch. The crab Rangoons were hands-down the best I've ever had, and every drink we ordered was spot-on. So glad we made a reservation because even on a Wednesday night, the place was packed! We wrapped up the night with sake bombs--always a fun way to end the evening. Only regret? Not saving room for dessert. Definitely trying those next time! read more

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4/5 for pretty average ramen, cute interior, and friendly staff. I ordered the 10 hour tonkotsu and enjoyed the thick, tender chashu. My partner ordered the kimchi & fried chicken and really enjoyed the flavor and crispy chicken. Both bowls were about $17.50 each which seems expensive for a bowl of noodles. Overall, good tasting ramen but not a restaurant I will visit frequently. read more

RAMEN-SAN - 10 hour tonkotsu - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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First off, this is what every ramen place should look like. Dimmed lighting and bar height seating for the most part with a bar in the middle of the restaurant. I split a 10 hour tonkotsu ramen and the late night fried rice. Both were very good and tasty. I would reorder the late night fried rice again however it's only available after 9PM till April 2nd. Friendly and helpful staff read more

RAMEN-SAN - Late night fried rice - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I had the Sumo ramen entree the other day. Definitely a hardy bowl with a colorful amount of ingredients that should satisfy a hungry soul. I did take issue with the chasu that turned out to be cut up into tiny pieces. I'm more acquainted with broad slices. I won't bore you with the numerous contents but will say that one received plenty of noodles. Sometimes at other restaurants I end up ordering extra noodles on the side. I had the Shibuya Shuffle cocktail that I thought had too much egg whites and not enough legitimate ingredients. It visually was pleasing. Don't be stingy with the chasu ! It was noisy inside the restaurant with music blaring and a young crowd present. They did excel at presentation of both items I ordered. read more

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Restaurants sat us fairly quickly and we got our food pretty quick as well. It was a late night event and we stopped by to get some drunk food and it really hit the spot I would come back. I just don't think the Ramen was anything spectacular but it did the job. read more

RAMEN-SAN - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Woah. Ramen-San is a game changer for us. We literally crave this on a bi-weekly basis. I get the tantan-san and sub the tofu for crispy chicken (trust me on this) also I load it up with the pepper seasoning they have available on the table. My mouth is watering just writing this. My girl gets the kimchi & fried chicken and I will say she slurps it up happily. It does give her the stank breath as it is loaded with garlic, but hey garlic is supposed to be good for you. We also do fried brussels on occasion and depending on the time of night we make it to ramen-san we'll grab the late night fried rice. My girl always gets asahi cold draft and always wishes it was just a bit colder. Overall I really cannot recommend this spot more, it truly is by far my favorite Lettuce Entertain You restaurant, and without a doubt my favorite ramen spot not only in the city, but in the country. read more

Big miss for our group. We were recommended this place by a local and had high hopes considering the countless positive reviews on Google. 4 of us stopped in for lunch on the last day of our Lollapalooza trip, around 12:30pm on a Monday, and ultimately left unimpressed. Service was fair in the beginning - we were sat quickly, our server was kind and thorough with her explanation of the menu, and our orders were taken in a reasonable amount of time. The interior was clean and modern, with a fun open floorplan. Unfortunately, we waited over an hour for our express lunches. The best thing about the meal was the yuzu lemonade, which was perfectly tart and crisp. Most of us ordered the 10-hour tonkatsu ramen, but all felt that we'd had much better ramen broth elsewhere. Nothing in particular stood out about the quality of the ramen noodles or the chashu either. The chicken karaage wasn't bad, but again, we've had much better quality karaage elsewhere. Overall, this wasn't the worst meal, but this isn't a place I'd come back to again. As a native San Franciscan, it's possible I'm spoiled with higher-quality ramen and perhaps my expectations were too high. read more

Came here on a Friday with no reservation & the wait was about 45 minutes. I ordered the chicken gyozas & the kimchi & fried chicken ramen. The ramen was decent but it could've used more seasoning. The service was pretty good, the waitress was very attentive. read more

RAMEN-SAN - Kimchi & Fried Chicken Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Absolutely amazing. An unassuming store front makes this easy to miss, but I'm so glad I didn't. I was able to try the 10 hour tonkatsu, karaage chicken, salad, and marinated cucumbers via the lunch special. Everything was so good. Ramen - rich flavor, great noodle texture, and the pork quality was some of the best I've had (and I've had a lot of pork ramen). Karaage - Again, great quality. It's rare to find karaage chicken that is crunchy/crispy, flavorful, and not stringy/fatty, but this was that rare find. Salad and cucumbers - Both so simple yet refreshing when eating the rich ramen. 10/10 On top of all that, the interior was aesthetically pleasing and had great vibes. Shout out to Ramen-san! read more

RAMEN-SAN - Lunch Special/Express - 10 hour Tonkatsu, Karaage Chicken, Salad-San, marinated cucumbers - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

there are not enough words in the english language to describe how amazing this place is. like oh my god my mouth is still watering just thinking about how delicious this ramen it tastes. she's got the umami, the depth of flavor, the way the pork melted in my mouth. absolutely scrumptious. this is a place for legends henny read more

RAMEN-SAN - 10 Hour Tonkotsu - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We had the 10 hour tonkotsu and a shrimp ramen. I wasn't a fan of the shrimp ramen, the broth was similar to the buttery sauce in a seafood boil. I could absolutely see others liking it, but it wasn't for me. The 10 hour tonkotsu was good but not in my top 10 of the best ramen I've had in Illinois. I also tried their wings which were perfectly crispy and spiced extremely well! We ordered through DoorDash so we didn't get a chance to see what the service or ambiance was like. I definitely recommend trying everything for yourself as we all have different taste. read more

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We visited on a Friday night and without a reservation only waited about 20 minutes. The service was excellent, the ramen was incredible and the sake was tasty! Cute dine in area, high top tables and not too noisy. Great variety in ramen types, we would visit again! We tried: the crispy chicken and pork belly mantou buns, kimchi, 10 hr tonkotsu and yuzu sake bomb. The buns were maybe a 7/10- the bun itself was not warm and my pork was slightly well done. read more

RAMEN-SAN - Side of Kimchi - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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A cozy, tasty spot for ramen--perfect for a quick, satisfying lunch. Things we tried & verdicts * Karaage Chicken - Spot-on crunch with a great dressing. Juicy inside, crisp outside. Must-try. * Express Lunch (great value!) * Veg Fried Rice - Flavorful and comforting; nicely seasoned and not greasy. Would order again. * Tantan-style Veg Ramen - Rich, nutty broth with gentle heat; springy noodles and balanced toppings. A standout for vegetarians. * Edamame Hummus - Creamy, fresh, and unexpectedly addictive. Highly recommended. Ambience & service Casual, clean, and welcoming--ideal for a quick bite or a relaxed catch-up. Staff were friendly, food came out fast, and everything was served hot and well-presented. Conclusion If you're around Chicago and craving ramen, this place delivers on flavor, speed, and value--especially the Express Lunch. I'll definitely be back! read more

RAMEN-SAN - express lunch - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My husband and I ended up at this amazing spot on a whim over the fall--We were in town for our son's college football game. After the game we decided to take romantic evening stroll through the streets of Chicago and ended up at Ramen-San. Everything about this spot was top tier! The music selection was great and the Ramen we had was excellent. The dimmed lighting created an even romantic ambiance while we enjoyed our dinner. The service was prompt and efficient! Thank you for a wonderful experience! read more

RAMEN-SAN - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Stopped by the River North Ramen-San -- the vibe is cozy and the menu feels similar to their other locations, just a bit smaller. I went with the Tan Tan San and it was super tasty -- rich, flavorful, and definitely hit the spot. Overall, a solid spot for ramen in the neighborhood. Consistent, reliable, and great when you're craving a comforting bowl without fuss. read more

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The food was very tasty, fresh, and beautiful presentation. The ambiance was very intimate and sexy with some great R&B tunes playing lowkey. We sat at the bar and had great service. Definitely a great experience. read more

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Great experience and great food! Everything ordered meet our expectation and the service was great. Friendly staff who also spoke spanish for some of my friends visiting. Great tunes playing while you enjoy your meal in the dimmed light setting. Almost giving you bar vibes. read more

RAMEN-SAN - Amazing! - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Restaurant was very very busy but we were still seated immediately. Had the 10 hour Tonkotsu ramen after a long day of travel. Broth was v tasty and chashu was good. read more

RAMEN-SAN - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois