This is a fantastic spot to try ramen if you're new to it. The staff is welcoming, and they even offer a free appetizer if you shared your meal on social media. If you love spice, they have a Hell Ramen challenge where if you finish Level 5 in 20 minutes you win a gift card and t-shirt. I've only made it up to Level 3 Shogou. read more

Finally tried this Lakeview gem, and it was worth the wait!! I appreciate all of the fun ramen variations on the menu. The curry ramen was perfectly executed, and I really enjoyed my hellfire ramen (added an egg). I found the protein options unexpected (pork and clam was the baseline... a new combo for me!!), but it turned out really well! I enjoyed both the flavors and textures. I will definitely keep an eye on the specials when I return in the future. I also tried the ume cider - I enjoyed the tart flavor but it was overall too sugary for me. Online ordering was super easy, and the food was ready on time!! A little pricier for the area, but overall I found it to be worth it. read more

Strings Ramen - Hell Ramen Level 2 - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The service was amazing , the ramen was tasty too! And because we went on 12/24 eve, we got seated real quick ! Will Go back again Estela was so so cute! She was warm and suggested the right things in the order for us! read more

Strings Ramen - Hell 2 ramen! Was so good couldn't wait! - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Strings is a midwestern, ramen chain, offering soup that tastes pretty much like a bunch of white, midwesterners got a Maruchan ramen packet from the grocery store and decided to make it slightly better. The stores themselves have a sleek aesthetic, and the servers have always been pretty on top of things; however, the ramen is simply always mid. It's watery, with not a lot of flavor, and not a lot of substance. It's also the same price as other ramen shops that are far better, which feels a bit like an insult. If you really need ramen, like asap, I'd say it's a fine place to go (get the tonkatsu though; do not get the miso broth). But if you're looking for a really good bowl, hit up Ramen Wasabi, High Five, or Oiistar read more

Strings Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I gotta admit, I only came here bc Wasabi was closed today--and it definitely was not Wasabi. The Tonkotsu broth wasn't bad; it was fatty and flavorful, definitely had some depth--but it just wasn't Wasabi-grade good. The server was fast and friendly, it's really just the quality of the bowl. The pork belly had an inconsistent texture, and was just sliced too thickly. In Japan, the chashu is usually sliced thinly if it's not a kakuni (block of pork belly). I just had a difficult time chewing through the chunk. The toppings were great, the bamboo shoots, kikurage, and soft boiled ajitama were spot on. The overall bowl just had much to be desired. read more

Strings Ramen - Tonkotsu with Kuro Buta - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Yum! Most important: many ramen options are nut-free/potential cross contamination is minimized/"safe" for those allergic to peanuts and tree nuts Tight seating and pretty noisy but nothing better than a bowl of their Ramen on a cold night! Note: Prices are a little higher that I was expecting, but staff was attentive. read more

I first went to a different Strings location and my ballsy self had ramen that was (gasp!) too hot for me. Then I moved away for a while and never thought about Strings again... Until today. I was in the neighborhood looking for a place to eat dinner and saw there was a Strings nearby. I decided to pop in and try it again. I got the Hell Ramen but only went for the Level 1 because I still had PTSD from several years ago. The Level 1 was mild so the guy brought me a side of chili oil to boost the heat up a notch. OMG, the chili oil is delicious! The ramen was nice. Good amount of ingredients and soft, thin noodles. I added an egg because it's not a complete bowl to me without one. Yes! The egg is fabulous. Nicely seasoned with an amber-golden transparent yolk inside. Perfection! I ordered a tonkatsu with kurobota pork belly to bring back to the husb. All in all, I'm glad I tried it again. They have a large list of ramen styles and this location is BYOB so I'll probably be back if I'm in the area again. read more

Strings Ramen - Hell Ramen + Ajitama - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

The space itself is super tiny but the food is delicious. I had the Shoyu Prime and it was so flavorful! The portions are very good. I usually don't get to finish the entire bowl of ramen but I drank every drop of soup. It's also BYOB, next time I'll have to bring a bottle of Soju or sake to pair with my ramen. I highly recommend! read more

Strings Ramen - Shoyu Prime - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Ramen was okay but then I found a half white and half brown colored curly strand of hair in my food today. Luckily Grubhub was able to refund me! read more

This ramen gave me an existential crisis. I really thought I could handle spicy, but sheeeeesh, the hell ramen sure does serves its name, even after it digested and parted with my body. I love spicy food, but the level one made me feel like I've reached menopause. I had to take off layers of clothing because I was getting hot flashes. I started regretting being lactose intolerant because I feigned for milk to coat my GI track. Numerous times did my friends ask me if I was okay - numerous times did I actually ask myself if I was okay. I even asked the waitress to clarify if level one was what I intentionally ordered. There is just NO way that there were other levels beyond number one that are even hotter. I also questioned my existence, if the ramen did indeed, bring me to hell. Would I get it again? Absolutely. read more

Good meal overall! We started with the veggie gyoza which were very tasty and had a nice sweet soy based sauce that complemented the gyoza very well. I had the tonkatsu ramen which was good but not amazing. It was also my first time having ramen so maybe I set my expectations too high and have nothing to compare it to. The service was great and the space is small and cozy. The ramen felt nice and warming in a cold winter day. I would return and try the miso based ramen next time. read more

Strings Ramen - Tonkotsu with Kuro Buta - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Strings has been one of my fav Asian places to get ramen/dumplings at for a while now. Yesterday we went and got the best host to serve us with such kindness and humour. The ambiance was amazing and very quiet and a great place to catch up with friends. The food as usual was amazing, my friends got the hell ramen, while I got the maze soba and pork gyoza. All of which were amazing and we couldn't stop slurping on the noodles! Strongly recommend if someone is craving good ramen and Asian food! read more

See all

What's better on a chilly, wet night with the thermometer hovering in the low 30's than a steaming bowl of spicy Ramen? I can't think of anything better than that! Here's the rub; there are so many highly rated Ramen Houses within a 3 mile radius of our condo, how do you pick one. I suggested to my wife to flip a coin. She 86'ed that stupid idea, pronto. She did "the work" on YELP, Chicago Eater and Infatuation and somehow her Algebraic equation came up with Strings Ramen on Belmont Ave. in Lakeview. So off we dashed at 8:30 p.m. It wasn't so crowded at this late hour, but there were a few college students still mulling around, and I'm assuming they were from DePaul. We got seated, scanned their QR code for the menu and jumped right in. We both ordered a bowl of their Tonkotsu ramen which is creamy pork bone stock, with black mayu oil, garlic oil, crushed garlic, sesame seeds, scallions and menma all complimenting their lovely thin noodles. I added a beautiful slab of pork belly to my bowl and my wife had it hers with a cut of pork loin. They were both delicious. But then, after we added a few spoons of their chili oil to each bowl, that extra heat warmed us down to our souls. It was the perfect dinner on this perfect (soon to be winter) night. All we needed was some snow to make this a Hollywood Movie dinner. read more

Randomly found this Ramen shop while walking around earlier in the day. Looked promising with a spicy dish called Hell Ramen. Went in for dinner, it was a small but popular shop. We were seated right away and the server was super nice, and told us all about the menu. We had the baby octopus salad, chicken gyoza, and hell ramen (all pictured). Everything was delicious and arrived quickly. The hell ramen comes in 3 different spice levels - enough to satisfy anyone's taste. For dessert we got the Sakura and Sasa Dango mochi. Both were clearly homemade and nice and soft, great flavor. Glad we found this restaurant - very fitting after the mochi donuts we had for breakfast. read more

See all

Best ramen in Chicago! They have options for vegan and vegetarians. Very flavorful and delicious broths! read more

Strings Ramen - Tonkotsu Premium - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Was looking for lunch and stumbled upon this little hole in the wall; It's super tiny inside. Ramen menu is definitely unique and I went out of my classic comfort zone and tried their "hell fire ramen." It's very Americanized but they're not kidding on the spice level. Noodles are solid and the broth has a unique blend of flavors. I am of the opinion chashu is the best ramen topping so I got this pork belly on the menu. I was greeted with this massic slab which, while difficult to eat was pretty damn good. Honestly, my only complaint was the topping selection for this bowl. If I come back, probably just getting some spicy miso. Very good, just unremarkable. May stop in again if I'm off Belmont in the future. read more

See all

Delicious ramen with smooth and tasty broth, perfectly cooked pork belly, and delicious vegetables to pair. Service was excellent and I received my meal promptly. The interior of the restaurant looked a bit empty, but this can be attributed to most people taking their food to go. I would dine here again! read more

Have heard so many good things about strings and it definitely lived up to the hype. The meat was so tender, and everything about the noodles and broth were so flavorful! The soup wasn't that spicy since I ordered no spice, and overall it was exactly what I needed on a cold day. The service was really good and the people were really helpful in figuring out what to order. Definitely recommend strings, and I'll come back soon! For the price point, I think it's one of the best cheaper ramen places I've ever been to. read more

Strings Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

With so many ramen places in the area, sometimes it's tough to tell which one stands out. I wouldn't say this place is head and shoulders above the rest, but it's definitely at the top of my list. The place is very small but they have a nice, large outdoor tent that you can sit in. We chose to do that. They are BYOB which I did not realize until we sat down. Luckily there is a liquor store just a block away that you can grab some wine or beer from. The S/O is vegetarian and she was very happy with all of the vegan/vegetarian options! We both got the "Hell Ramen", she a level two and I a level three. They were both very flavorful and just close enough to too hot that they were delicious! I absolutely cannot imagine what the level four and five would be like. Bottom line; Friendly staff, delicious food, nice atmosphere, and great dietary options! read more

Strings Ramen - Hell Ramen Level 3 - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great ramen. Love that their hell ramen even at a level four is actually tasty and not just spice. Hit the spot perfectly in a cold and snowy Chicago day read more

Strings Ramen - Hell Ramen Level 3 - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

When they call themselves the best ramen in Chicago, they are not kidding! Excellent service, a small space with a nice atmosphere that works beautifully for what you want out of a top tier ramen shop! Definitely stop by, but make a reservation for a table of more than 2! You will be glad you did! read more

Great little spot in Lakeview! Went to try Strings Ramen on a Wednesday at 4pm and they were pretty busy. The entire shop was full, so I had high expectations! We ordered the Tonkatsu with Kuro Buta Pork Belly Ramen and the Spicy Cat Rice. The Spicy Cat Rice was delicious! Tons of tuna and the rice to tuna proportion was perfect. The sauce that the tuna was tossed in was very tasty! Although it wasn't really spicy imo. My sister had the ramen which had mushrooms, bamboo shoots, green onion, half an egg, sheet of nori, and the pork belly. She mentioned the ramen broth could have used more flavor, and that we've tried better ramen in Chicago. The one thick slice of pork belly was good, but was hard to eat. There is a bathroom in the back of the shop which you have to pass through the kitchen/stock area and it was extremely tiny and a bit dirty. Service was good and the workers were making sure we were doing alright! Prices here are comparable to other typical ramen shops in Chicago. I would definitely come back for the Spicy Cat Rice bowl! read more

See all

I just love strings ramen, ugh! Service is always great and the broth here is so rich, creamy and perfect. Noodles are great texture and the variety of ramen options is solid read more

Strings Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Overall: Authentic, flavorful ramen at a budget The good: Compared to other fast-casual ramen options in the city, I'd have to say that Strings is my favorite. The noodles and broth are more flavorful and authentic than say, Furious Spoon (which I still enjoy, by the way), and those two ingredients are key to any great ramen. The remaining, typical toppings are all fine, but nothing out-of-this-world. The service was fast and friendly and the restaurant has a fun vibe to it. The not-so-good: The atmosphere is charming but a little cramped, and the seating wasn't exactly comfortable. The bathroom is also tiny AF. Food: 8.5/10 Atmosphere: 8/10 Service: 9/10 read more

Strings Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I moved to this neighborhood a year ago, and Strings has always been on my mind as a place to try. My partner had it when family was visiting and mentioned it was good, so I knew I finally had to try it. It's located right by the Belmont Red/Brown/Purple L station, so pretty convenient if you hop off here. We came in on a weeknight around 8:50pm, and apparently were the last party they could take. It said their hours are until 10pm, but I guess they stop seating people at 9pm. Kind of weird if you ask me. A full hour before your posted closing time? The business loses a lot of late night income because of this decision for sure. Our server wasn't super friendly or anything. A bit serious and didn't go out of her way to make us feel welcomed really. I didn't really care.. just wanted to eat. We both ordered our ramen, and it came out within 5 minutes. That to me is a red flag. It's not fresh if they can whip it out of the kitchen that quickly.... And I was correct. The noodles were off, and although the pork tastes good, I could tell that we were just getting the remnants of what they had in the kitchen. I will say hat the spice level I asked for was exactly how I wanted it. I love spicy food, and I don't mind sweating from eating my food, so I'm glad the level I got authentically matched what came out. Will I come back? Ehhh it's close by my place so it's convenient... think I might give it a second chance. There's just so many other places to try though. read more

The best ramen in Chicago (personal opinion)! The broth is rich in flavor. The service is great and super quick. The space is small but feels personal. read more

Ramen is my favorite food and Strings did NOT disappoint. I'm actually angry I took so long to come here. The service here is super quick and the servers know the menu well. It is a tiny space so there can be a wait, but they really churn parties out at a good rate. As for the food, they have so many options and ways to customize a bowl that even the pickiest eater (i.e. me) is sure to find something. Start your meal the spicy edamame (free with a yelp check in!) before moving on to delicious ramen. The ramen itself is completely on point with the famed high five ramen in west loop in both taste and quality. The broth is traditional and flavorful - even the vegetarian broth is incredibly flavorful. You can order anything spicy, but there are plenty of spices and oils available on the table to help you spice it up to your liking (although this is a rare case in which I think the ramen is amazing even without spice!). I've only had ramen here, but a friend of mine swears by the tuna rice bowl - so there are options is ramen is not your thing. I cannot recommend Strings enough. I look forward to many many meals here in the future. read more

Strings Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I was finally able to try the Shoyu Prime Ramen that comes with filet mignon and it DID NOT DISAPPOINT @midwestmunching on instagram They have multiple locations across Chicago, new York (east village), and Madison Wisconsin. This spot is easy to park at (meters around) or easily accessible by the Belmont station It was so good I was truly thinking I could eat it everyday. Nice and light, comes with medium rare filet mignon, poached egg, bamboo, and scallions all in a light and umami Shoyu broth. I ordered the noodles chewier as usual NEW APPETIZER ALERT! baby octopus salad that comes with a seaweed salad. The octopus is marinated in a sweet soy, nice and crunchy & great balance of flavors (just like it would be in Japan) TONKOTSU PREMIUM, this is their "ultimate bowl" as @stringsramen would say. Lots of toppings: pork cubes, tenderloin, spicy ground pork, little clams, filet mignon, bean sprouts, marinated soft egg . This is my usual order in ramen spots but theirs is really different with a slightly sweeter broth + mix of meats & seafood. Don't forget, the tonkotsu also comes with a douban sauce 豆瓣醬 and black bean sauce. Making it extra tasty with more depth beyond the pork bones. You can always add their hell chill sauce containing Tian Jing, Szechuan and Thai Chilis Last but not least, you need a refreshing drink! I wanted to try their Japanese Cider. Comes in both a plum wine flavor and yuzu flavor. This comes in a can, like a lightly sweet soda (.. a tenth sweet vs cream soda/sprite) without alcohol. The yuzu flavor was Bomb you have to try it. I also usually order their dessert, the sasa dango. A rice cake filled with red bean paste, wrapped in bamboo leaves. My favorite! I was just super full read more

Strings Ramen - Baby octopus salad - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

I'd give strings a solid 3.5 stars if I could. Starting with the gyoza, big fan. Small bite sized morsels. Not too small definitely not too big. Juicy and flavorful pork. Little sweet little salty little spicy. Wonderful way to start the meal. Followed it up with the tonkatsu premium ramen with multiple meats and premium sauce. Honestly, wasn't that impressed. The broth, which really is the soul of the dish lacked complexity and didn't have that deep umami tonkatsu broth should have. The meats were good, with the steak and pork bring extremely soft although doled out in small amounts. Not sure why the ground pork was even there. The noodles had good bite but didn't hold the broth well. Not the best ramen I've had. Not the worst. Would go back for the gyoza. read more

See all

I've heard a lot of good things about Strings Ramen and wanted to give it a try while I was at Lakeview. Definitely check-in if you've never been here! Free Edamame! I got the premium tonkotsu ramen which included a lot of ingredients. I would say the ramen was pretty good, however, I'm giving it a 4/5 star as I think Wasabi is a little bit better in terms of noodle texture. read more

Strings Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Wow, this place is delicious + efficient. Though it was completely full when I walked it, t took about 10 min to get a table. They take your # so they can text when ready. Don't forget to do your yelp check in for the edamame! The servers were so on it. I was sitting next to the bus station and they're really working hard and doing a great job! The tonkotsu ramen with the kuro buta (pork belly) was sooooo good! I loved how the broth was so flavourful but not too thick. The noodles were great too, they had a great texture and felt very gourmet. Pork belly was delicious. Need I say more? It's nice that they give a small water pitcher at the table. That way you can pour more water for yourself if needed. Can't wait to come back again - I'll remember to bring my stamp card. read more

I've been here a few times now, but came today to introduce a friend to real ramen. I got the hell ramen level 1, I swear it was hotter than usual but not a problem for me. I also got a melon cream soda to help tap down the spice, always a tasty addition. My friend got, and loved, the tonkatsu ramen with pork loin. The staff are great here, always helpful and friendly. It's my first visit post-covid and everyone had masks and gloves and the place was nice and clean, even the bathroom. The only reason its not a 5 star visit (it usually is) is the fact that they didn't have hot tea or the manju I wanted for dessert. For me, this place is top notch ramen done right with friendly and fast service. If you've never had real ramen I encourage you to start here so you know what quality your looking for, this place is the benchmark. read more

See all

We are a frequent visitors to Strings Ramen. This was probably our 15th time here. This place is always busy and hard to get a table with out a wait. We ordered two Ramens Vegetarian Hell Ramen and Kinoke Ramen. They never disappointed us and Ramen was always great and flavorful. The portions also very big and come with lots of items in it. If it's any other restaurant I would have given a 4 stars due to Flies and Tables being uncomfortable to sit but not Strings. They are the best Ramen we ever tried and I am highly doubtful if we ever find a better one. Needless to say, We will be back. read more

See all

So far Strings Ramen has been my favorite ramen spot in Chicago. I went to the Lakeview location once and I also got them delivered! I got the seasonal cheesy ramen, with pork belly, crispy onions and toasted garlic. My boyfriend got the hell ramen 3, and he is a big spice lover and wanted to take it up a notch so he got a side if the hell sauce level 4, which was definitely packing some heat. The cheese in the cheesy ramen made the noodles so creamy and the broth was rich and delicious. I'll be sad when they take it off the menu. Additionally, I like how they give you a cup when you order a side. 10/10! read more

Strings Ramen - Cheesy Hot Ramen and Hell Ramen Level 3 - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Super delicious, spicy and gets ur sinuses running. We stopped here after going to a concert and even at 10pm the wait was 20 minutes.. we had the hells ramen with veggies and and another soba noodles ended with Tiramisu which calmed the palette. Tight communal seating, with a unisex bathroom which is tiny as well but the food will rocket your sense to the moon with flavor and spice . Definitely a must try for the foodies!!! read more

Strings Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

While i don't eat Ramen often and when i do it's always been at another establishment. Came here with friends and it was delicious! Space is small and just a good vibe for dinner. Service was friendly and efficient. I had the Miso Turkey. It was flavorful and while it was dark meat Turkey, it was tender. Edamame is salted and spiced just right, served warm. Chicken gyoza were steamed perfectly and not soggy. read more

Strings Ramen - Miso Turkey - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great little spot for ramen. Interior decor is warm and lovely. Service was fast and food was delicious. Prices seemed reasonable. Really happy about this ramen spot in the neighborhood. Chicken gyoza were pretty outstanding I enjoyed my Shoyu with Kuro Buta ramen bowl Edamame was fine, could have had more flavorful seasoning I thought Spicy cat rice donburi was really tasty and the iwanori seaweed seasoning was unique and a smart add to that dish read more

See all

This place is fine, the ramen isn't bad but there are many other options in Chicago for better and more authentic ramen. The space is small, but I like the seating and how cozy it is. I got the Tonkotsu Ramen with pork belly. The ramen was decent, but not something I would rave about. The broth is nice and salty, I wish it would have had richer flavors beyond the salt and oil. The consistency of the noodles is different than what I usually prefer for ramen, they are thinner and firmer here and I don't think it pairs as well to soak up all the flavors of the broth. The piece of pork belly and the egg, however, were delicious. We also got a pork gyoza appetizer. It was good, and I really liked the spicy ponzu sauce it came with. This place is decent, but Chicago has so many options for better ramen I wouldn't necessarily come out of my way to get ramen here. It's still a pretty good meal though and I wouldn't mind coming again if I was in the area and wanted a nice meal. read more

Strings Ramen - Tonkotsu Ramen with Pork Belly - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

This place has such a nice moody atmosphere. Wait staff was very pleasant and fast. We got in, ordered and finished eating all within half an hour. The ramen was superb. The Shoyu was super rich and flavorful. The tonkatsu ramen was very generous with the pork belly - it was a very thick cut of meat. The broth was more soy sauce than cream but was still really good. Both were generous portions for the price. Will definitely be back! read more

Strings Ramen - Kinoko Shoyu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

I hate being let down when I go out, and that's what happened at Strings. It is extremely bright in the restaurant, the service was below average, and the pork belly I received in my ramen was not chewable. The positives are it's BYOB and the gyoza is pretty decent. But I won't be back unless I am forced. read more

Strings Ramen - Pork Belly - GET THE TENDERLOIN - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all