Good, more like an average good chicken soup to me though. maybe i'm 'that american' about ramen tho

Not the best ramen. Chicken and hells spice vegetarian option was meh flavor Friend told me ramen takayasu is better for vegetarian ramen broth has more flavor read more

This place is absolutely delicious. The waiters are always very attentive, sweet, and patient. The noodles are very diverse. You should visit this place!! Ps...the spicy crab meat rice bowl? Amazing. read more

Strings Ramen Shop - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Oh, Strings... where shall I begin? Located right in Chinatown, and having heard that it has been voted best ramen in Chicago, I was super excited to check out this ramen joint. We came on a Saturday afternoon and were seated right away in their little patio area. Lots to choose from on their menu, not only limited to ramen! However, I'm sure that's what the majority of people come here for. They offer 4 different types of ramen broth: shoyu, shio, miso, and tonkotsu. All of those sounded enticing, but I went with the hell ramen level 3. Came with a shoyu based broth topped off with clams, ground pork, crispy pork skins, and 5 different types of hot peppers. It had a good amount of spice but wasn't too spicy. I'm sure if I went any higher, I wouldn't have enjoyed it as much. The broth had good flavors but it was a bit too oily for my taste. Wasn't the biggest fan of the crispy pork skins either. My friend decided to try the Hell's ramen challenge (level 5), but didn't end up finishing in the given time. You could literally smell all the peppers once it got to the table. I couldn't even imagine eating it. I was tempted to try a bite but didn't want to suffer the consequences after seeing what she went through. One of the major aspects of strings is their noodles. They are freshly made everyday and have a nice bite to them. The prices here are on the steeper end. Cost me about $20 for a bowl of ramen w/ tax & tip. And they don't include an soft boiled egg in the hell ramen, which was kind of disappointing (especially with the high price). Decent ramen, overall but wouldn't say that I was really "wowed". Also, the vibe we got from our waitress was a bit awkward/uncomfortable at times. Not sure if she was new or what. read more

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Loved the cozy ambience that reminds me of somewhere in the motherland. I loved the red and white lanterns garnishing the ceilings above the open kitchen of chefs busily making broth and noodles. I felt really sick in the Chicago cold and really wanted a nearby ramen place in chinatown. This place did the trick. Quick service. Bonus for the pitcher of water that complemented the hell ramen spice (best and favorite part). The quality of tonkotsu should be based on the pork belly, noodles, and the broth. My favorite part was the savory broth which sadly left my lips dry for hours afterward. The noodles were on the harder side, and the pork belly had a little more fat than I preferred. I think the ratio of meat to fat was 1 to 2. Overall I still stick by my first point that the soup did the trick for my sick needs. Higher rating for the broth and a little less for the noodles. Didn't quite take me to Japan but good for the experience. And I'd come back if I were sick in need of hot ramen. read more

Personally I was hoping for more out of this experience because I've heard such great things from people's whose taste I trust. I thought my dish was just okay, the broth left much to be desired. I will say this place is cute and just overall fun to eat at but that can't really carry it on its own. I will try for another location before I resign completely read more

Strings Ramen Shop - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Here with my boyfriend and decide to get ramen for dinner. We are in Chinatown so decide to check out this place. I would say not bad...love the broth and it was noodle is chewy. I would recommend friend and family to come here to have the ramen. There is street parking. read more

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It wasn't fresh. I got the. I try ramen bowl with filet and I couldn't even finish it. The service was great and the ambiance was cute...but the ramen was not great. read more

It's good ramen. I definitely want to return to this place. The soup/broth is tasty. The lava egg is a must. I ordered the miso broth and the waiter was nice enough to mention it doesnt come with an egg. So I got one on the side. It came with corn tho...which i wasnt a fan of. Service is good and they have outdoor seating. Be sure to get a pinch card to earn a 11th free bowl after 10. The ramen came out pretty quickly. My only qualm is the ramen itself isnt as soft as I would like. I'm torn between this place in Mitsuwa where the wait is long and the drive out there is a pain but the ramen itself is tastier... read more

Strings Ramen Shop - Miso pork belly ramen...kind of salty... doesnt include an egg - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Ordered the Tonkotsu Ramen with Kuro Buta and the broth was so bland. Tasted like it was missing so much seasoning. The shrimp dumplings on the other hand were sweet but sour? Super good!! Can't comment on service because I picked up my order to eat at home. Wouldn't come back for the ramen. read more

Pretty good Ramen! Broth actually had flavor, which is hard sometimes with veggie Ramen. The vegetable Gyoza was also very good. Good service as well. read more

Best Ramen Egg I have ever tasted!! But not the best ramen.. They do not do ramen take out, no matter how much you beg and plead they won't let you order ramen to go. I was feeling a little hungry after a blackpink concert and decided to try this establishment before heading back home and well as impressive as the time the food came out to the time I was able to finish it the egg was the highlight of my entire Chicago trip... I just wished I had another! The noodles are cooked with crunch, in my opinion the correct way to pair noodles to broth. But the broth was just not the best I have tried but it was still tasty. They offer 4 different categories of types of ramen, going from least flavorful to most: Shoyu, Miso, Tonkatsu, and the Hell Ramen levels ranging from 1- way too spicy!!! read more

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Actual rating: 3.5 stars Located in Chinatown, this ramen shop does the job when you're craving ramen. They have a decent selection of different types of ramen and different meats that you can add. They have "hell ramen" with 5 levels of spicy - something for the brave souls and something I'll definitely have to try when I go back to Chicago. I got the tonkatsu ramen with kuro buto (Berkshire pig). The ramen wasn't anything too special, just a typical tonkatsu ramen. The kuro buto in my ramen was 100% the highlight of my meal - melted in my mouth. SO GOOD. The atmosphere has some character, with the decorations. My favorite part was being able to see them prepare your ramen. They even had the large pots with the chunks of meat that they use to make the delicious broth. Check this place out if you're craving ramen in Chinatown! I hope I can stop back there when I'm in town again. They had a ramen special with a variety of different mushrooms that I wanted to try, but I had to go with my favorite tonkatsu ramen. read more

Strings Ramen Shop - Tonkatsu Ramen - Kuro Buta - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Pretty good ramen restaurant. The miso broth was delicious. I'm happy they offered pork loin or pork belly instead of just one. The service was fast. Chili oil is supplied on the table so you can make your own spice level. I enjoyed the corn, bamboo shoots and other free added toppings. In my opinion a bit overpriced for not anything super special, especially for being in Chinatown read more

Strings Ramen Shop - Miso ramen with pork Kuro Buto Loin - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Very very small location! There is a limited number of tables so definitely make a reservation ahead of time or get there early. My boyfriend and I came to eat here New Year's Day around 5 pm before our flight back home and we had to wait about 45 minutes for a table. You can enter the wait list through text but once your table is ready you have to arrive within about 5 minutes so stay close! There is a waiting area on the side of the restaurant but it's very small as well. I had the premium tonkotsu ramen while my boyfriend had the super premium tonkotsu. They were both super good! The broth was super rich and flavorful. There was a ton of meat. We couldn't even finish our bowls and we normally eat a lot . We also had a side of level 3 spicy to add to our ramen and the server told us it had some ghost pepper in it. It wasn't too overwhelming; however we are Asians who love soups that pack a punch. I would definitely come back here next time to try the special which was a curry ramen if they still have it! read more

Strings Ramen Shop - Premium tonkotsu - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Not bad! We came here to Strings to meet a friend while we were in Chinatown. Being a ramen fiend, I had no problem stopping in and trying this place out! We ordered the following: Edamame ($2.95 (but free...)) Wood ear salad ($3.95) Royal Milk tea ($2.95) Miso Kuro Buta Ramen ($13.95) Miso Seafood and Kuro Buta Ramen ($16.95) Tonkotsu Kuro Buta Ramen ($13.95) kae Dama ($1.95) Pop x 2 ($1.95 each) I personally tried the Tonkotsu Kuro Buta ramen, which is a pork based ramen, and came with crushed garlic, sesame seed, scallion and egg with your choice of a type of meat (pork belly for me) and noodles. To me the dish was kinda salty, and the tonkotsu ramen was just a little too rich for me, if that makes any sense. The star of the show for me was the wood ear salad, which is a cold mushroom salad. Refreshing for a hot summer day, but I liked the chewy texture and flavor of the mushrooms. Edamame was also pretty tasty, and as a perk, you got your edamame dish free if you posted a photo on social media AND showed it to them. Nice dish as well. One thing that threw me for a loop was the Royal Milk Tea. I was kinda expecting, well, Milk tea in a glass. I wasn't really expecting a can of milk tea. Was it great? Eh, it was okay. Would I order it again? Probably not. Interior was on the smaller side, yet there was some outdoor seating, but we did have to wait a bit for a place to sit. Customer service was nice, informative, and were more than happy to check and see if I was in trouble with my seafood allergy (thanks guys!). I don't know the ramen scene in Chicago, but while I know i've had both pretty bad and pretty phenomenal ramen. Strings falls square in the middle of the pack for me. Worth a visit? Sure! Just keep your eye out on all the other amazing restaurants around read more

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I've been here 3 times now & it's such a nice atmosphere! I love the ramen & the broth it's in. The tables come with a chili spice as well as crushed red peppers to add your own level of spice. They provide forks as well for those not used to using chopsticks read more

Do it. Just do it. This place is amazing but I didnt expect anything less being in Chinatown. The menu is a bit different and foriegn but ask the waitstaff and they can explain most items. We ordered 2 Japanese ramen with the snack added in...not sure on the name but it was soooooo filling. loved it! read more

Strings Ramen Shop - Soooo good. Ogden Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I have come here many times and I am rarely disappointed. I usually get the kura buta tonkatsu ramen and add some chili flakes to up the spiciness. The broth is so warm and comforting on a cold day and the toppings are fresh and flavorful. The reason I downgraded it a star is simply because some days the broth was so rich to the point where I would have a stomachache later in the day, but perhaps this is my fault. I look forward to exploring the menu and maybe branching out to some non-ramen dishes. read more

Strings Ramen Shop - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Whaaat... a ramen shop in Chinatown!? I was instantly curious. When I came here on Sunday afternoon (during the Lunar New Year Parade) this place was bustling, as were all the Chinatown establishments during the parade. But for Strings, they just had their grand opening a few days ago. Since it was only Day 2 of their opening, they did not have a credit card machine, but our waiter gave us fair warning of that. Luckily I brought cash that day (and a good general rule if you plan to dine in Chinatown, especially the hole-in-the-wall and smaller establishments along Wentworth... bring cash!) It will save you so much hassle. The restaurant was sleek and modern, with great lighting on the walls, smooth wood paneling and lots of clear glass "walls" with printed words, to separate the cozy space of the seating area from the kitchen. Guests were seated at a mix of bench-like tables and booths. The menus were uniquely horizontal, a long laminated placard that simply listed the ramen options. There were four types of ramen soup on one side and on the other side: rice bowls, drinks and other options: simplicity when ordering. Our waiter was nice and attentive, despite the fact that it was busy and explained the menu for us. There were 4 types of ramen: 1) Shio Ramen 2) Tonkotsu Ramen 3) Shoyu Ramen 4) Miso Ramen I opted for the Tonkotsu Ramen (Kuro Buta - pork $12.95), which the waiter explained was the heavier broth, with the bones boiling for 48 hours for the pork flavors to infuse. True to his word, the broth was rich and tasty, the noodles were a great texture, made in-house daily. I'm going to cut them some slack because I am excited that new types of Asian cuisine are popping up around Chinatown... just a few blocks away from the CTA's Cermak-Chinatown Redline. Around the Archer/Cermak/Wentworth crossroads, the options range from Phoenix (dim sum) to Saint's Alps (Hong Kong-style food & teas) and Ajoohmah's Apron (Korean) to Cafe Hoang (Vietnamese). And now.... a Japanese ramen shop. You'd think there was one in Chinatown sooner, no? It's easy to be super critical at the on-set, but the "three stars" is considering the fact that literally, they just opened their doors to the public and turned on their stoves to accomodate an unusually large number of people trekking around Chinatown that weekend. While the quality of the food/experience for this particular experience got three stars, I really want to root for this place. They add a diversity of cuisine to Chinatown and I noted the diversity of their staff as well. Like any restaurant that just opened, they are smoothing out the kinks. But I would definitely come back, and by then I know their restaurant would channel more synergy and be on top of their game. read more

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Got there around 8:30 pm but still had to wait for quite a while to get seated, everything on the menu looks so good but we were starved so we ordered fast. They are BYOB so bring ur fav sake to pair with the ramen! The pork in my ramen is so damn good, tender and melts right away in my mouth, the crispy pork skin is so flavorful, so crunchy, you can eat as it is or put it on top of your ramen and eat with soup! I always eat dumplings at Japanese place, most of times they are potsticker styles and not good at all, but the pork dumplings here are so authentic, the sauce is a little spicy but so good!!!!!!!!! The space in between each table is very small so it gets a little uncomfortable, but overall it's great! read more

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I used to visit Strings before it became a tourist go to. I'm a native Chicagoan and had gone recently for a nostalgic feel from its earlier days. Unfortunately the was bland and lack its authentic essence. I don't have very many words but I figured why I'd stopped visiting in the first place. Used to be a solid 4 but now a 2.5. Atmosphere is still cozy and chill but the food just isn't there anymore. read more

Popped in here to escape the rain and luckily there wasn't much of a wait. The servers are all very friendly. I ordered the pork yakisoba, and I was pleasantly surprised by all the flavors complementing each other. I've never had yakisoba with pepperoni as a topping, but it went well with the dish. I also enjoyed the miso soup on the side. The portion was large enough to feed me for another meal, and it reheated well. Service was great, and they didn't charge us for green tea! read more

Strings Ramen Shop - Pork Yakisoba - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This is my second ramen restaurant visit in Chicago, but I only have two other ramen restaurants for comparison (Wasabi in Chicago and Totto Ramen in NY). My first impression upon entering the restaurant was that it had a nice modern look inside. The tables near the front of the restaurant are incredibly small though, so try to avoid headbutting your friend or significant other if you sit across from each other. The "booth" tables can seat about four people comfortably, but 5-6 was a little bit pushing it. TIP: When you check in on Yelp through your phone, you get an offer for either a free Japanese soda or oden! I ordered the Tonkotsu ramen Kuro Buta for $12.95 and spicy bamboo on the side. When I asked the server about the free Japanese soda choices, he mentioned orange, grape and American soda choices (I forget if it was Pepsi or Coke). I was surprised he didn't include Ramune, which is what I had in mind. When he brought out the Japanese orange soda can, I couldn't help but stare at the ceiling full of Ramune soda bottles as decoration. When I asked the server if Ramune was included in the free Japanese soda offer, he said yes. Ah ha!! Needless to say, I opted for Ramune. Okay, enough rambling about the Japanese soda. So back to the Tonkotsu ramen. My first bite was extremely disappointing because it tasted so bland. It wasn't until I just dumped all my spicy bamboo shoots into the ramen, that it made a HUGE difference. We ended up having to order extra noodles for the remaining soup for $1.95, but our soup was lukewarm by the time we got the extra noodles. Definitely order extra noodles in the beginning. The service was good in the beginning but went downhill towards the middle because the poor server had to cover double the tables than when we first arrived. We didn't even get a "thank you" when we got our check. I'm guessing he was overwhelmed. When visiting a ramen restaurant, here's my personal checklist: - Spicy ramen - Ramune soda - Kleenex to blow your nose Overall, I'd recommend this restaurant. read more

Strings Ramen Shop - Tonkatsu Ramen Kuro Buta - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Awesome flavors we tried the Hell 2 - mildly spicy but not as bad as we were expecting. Noodles were average but flavors of the broth made up for it. Only downside is majority of ramen is pork based with little vegetarian options. read more

Good ramen in an awesome setting in Chinatown. The lanterns above, the sound of the chefs yelling, and the decor with plants and wood make this an intimate and cozy place to enjoy your food. As other have stated, the biggest complaint is the consistency of the noodle (too hard, not easy to slurp). However, the flavor of the broth and the other ingredients are enough to still give Strings a full five stars. For many, this will be a life-altering experience as good ramen made from high quality ingredients is nothing like the cheap instant noodle packets you buy from the store. Oden Shoyu Ramen: Great mix of different seafood and mix on skewers, which were cooked perfectly and really add some variety to the dish. The broth is nice and light, savory but not too salty with some bonito and ginger to help add some depth of flavor. Turkey Shio Ramen: Nice lighter ramen with organic chicken and somi paitan as the base of the broth and served with fish cakes, bean sprouts, egg, corn, bamboo shoots and a touch of garlic and ginger. Kuro Buta Tonkotsu Ramen: Nice rich ramen with very nice slices of berkshire pork (slightly crisp on the outside but melt-in-your mouth soft meat on the inside). The broth is made from berkshire pork bone stock and flavored with garlic, garlic oil, and scallion for an extremely flavorful experience. Surprisingly, this dish is not too salty despite being very aromatic. Kamo Yaki Soba: Nice grilled noodles with a good amount of "wok-hay" on them. The runny egg mixed with the crispy fried egg do add a nice touch to this simple dish. If you're in the area and craving Japanese ramen, I don't think you'll find a better bowl anywhere else (there's still a wide gap between this and the other highly rated ramen places in the suburbs). Definitely worth a visit for the ramen enthusiast. read more

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I was hesitant to try Stings after hearing/seeing all the mixed reviews from the bumpy opening. My patience paid off, because I was in a happy place trying their Tonkatsu ramen. They make their noodles in house with the help of a ramen noodle machine. The noodles are straight, not the traditional curly kind that many are used to seeing. This is the chef's preference, and I'm fine with that! The broth tasted like it was cooked for many hours and well developed in character. It was a tad salty, but then again, it's supposed to be. It's not as salty as I've had in other places, but it's certainly not mild in this area. If you're having reservations about ramen being salty, go to Japan or ask any Japanese person. I was drinking all the soup, and stopped short of polishing it off. I tried my best to behave! The pork belly that I specified was incredibly tender and soft. Oh it was delicious! Typically I find the pork in ramen is a bit dry, but this really felt like it belonged. It must have been cooking with the broth for a little time and I appreciate that! I also tried the street food like the berkshire sausage, fish cake, and fish balls, which were a bit bland in flavor. I am a bit biased as I lean towards Korean street food, which is similar but more flavorful. For 99 cents a pop, it's not bad, but I'd focus my attention on the star of the show - the ramen. My only complaint was that my server was about as excited as a piece of cardboard. I'm being a little picky, but seeing some signs of life would be nice when visiting a restaurant. A smile at least? Service was fine, but I guess I'm looking for something to nitpick. Hats off to the chef and the staff for addressing what seemed to be a rocky start in their opening months. read more

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Redemption points: I revisited after a week and had oden (new menu item) and tonkotsu ramen with kuro buta. Definitely better than my first visit, although I must say my first bad experience was partially due to my ignorance. After doing a bit of research and inquiry, it seems Strings Ramen Shop offers a style of ramen influenced from southern Japan. The broth is evidently greasy (not so much compared to my first experience) and the kuro buta, Berkshire pork, is pleasantly fatty. Being rich and unctuous, it's by no stretch of the imagination healthy but instead soul-satisfying like the American comfort food, fried chicken, mac and cheese, etc. Another factor to point out is, bowls of ramen will be served as they're completed. Therefore, it's highly possible that one will receive their bowl faster than others seated at the same table. Just go ahead and slurp away while your friend(s) waits. It sounds rude but it isn't for several reasons: 1) The soup might cool off. 2) The noodles might soften. 3) It's a sign of appreciation and respect to the chef when you eat without hesitation once the meal is served. With that said, keep an open mind and enjoy your ramen! read more

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Despite being labeled the best ramen locale in Chicago by Thrillist, I'm still not convinced Strings is worth its considerable hype. I went in with my father just this morning at around 11am, ready for some rich broth to soothe our chilled bones. The interior decor is really quite wonderful, lots of warm wooden seating lit by an array of red and white lanterns posted on the ceilings near plenty of suspended, potted plants. The kitchen is semi-open, allowing customers to peer into the inner workings of broth making and sizzling meats. I ordered the Level 2 Hell Ramen which came out in record time. Aesthetically, the bowl was gorgeous, a tubular white bowl containing strings of pepper, steamed veggies, pork, pickles, and plenty of hot pepper flakes. However, what really disappointed me was the quality of noodles. For such a high price point ($13.95), I expected higher quality noodles. The noodles here are actually handmade, but rather the yellow-ish standard you see in stores; chewy and pleasing, but not as satisfying as other handmade noodles. The broth for Hell Ramen is quite rich, though pretty spicy as the name implies. You get plenty of pickles, steamed veggies, and pork pieces though, can't complain about the quantity. Service is super prompt and friendly. Our server was very patient with us as we looked over the menu. She explained all the dishes perfectly, and we made informed decisions on the dishes we decided on. Fantastic! read more

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

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Love the pork dumplings so yummy. The hell ramen 3 was perfectly spicy. It's BYOB and no extra charge for my drinks. Service was great, very attentive and the location was a cool low key vibe. Surrounding neighborhood is in China town. So much to see and do. read more

Food is amazing! From appetizers to entree. Everything is great. Not to mention service, they are so attentive and kind! They are quick to bring your order out! read more

Strings' oden ramen is the best cure for supreme hunger on a cold winter day. Seriously. I loved my experience at Strings Ramen. I had the shoyu oden ramen which was amazing. The broth was very flavorful and complimented the oden and pork very well. Oden itself were cooked nicely and the portions given were very substantial. The ramen noodles, however, were a bit too hard for my taste, but I didn't quite mind since the rest of the soup was so delicious. My friends ordered the tonkatsu which they said was amazing as well. Finally, we ordered two desserts -- tiramisu and pistachio gelato -- which gave a nice final touch to our lunch. I really enjoyed the atmosphere of this cute little ramen shop in Chinatown. The decor is modern and welcoming. Service was very friendly and quick. However, we came before the rush and it looks like it could get frustrating with huge crowds and waiting for a table. One other aspect I liked here at Strings are their promotional deals. If you post on social media, you get a choice of a free side/ramen-add-on. And don't forget to check in on Yelp for another free item! read more

Strings Ramen Shop - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I LOVE Strings Ramen. I order the same dish every time - the level 2 Spicy Ramen. It's a level of spicy that enhances the flavor of the dish without being an intolerable amount of spice. (I haven't tried higher levels because I'm kind of risk-averse but maybe I'll advance to the level 3 next time I go. But the higher the level, the more expensive it gets so then again maybe not lol). They're generous with their portion of noodles, so I feel satisfied after just one bowl. If I'm feeling like a high-roller that day I might add the Sashimi bowl with uni and ikura to my order but they skimp on the uni and I usually don't have the capacity to finish both so I feel like it's #notworth. Regardless, Strings has now become my go-to ramen restaurant in Chicago. It's delicious, affordable, and has a nice ambience. What's not to love? Cons: They don't deliver their ramen. But why would you want your ramen delivered anyway? The noodles become hard and stick together and the dish doesn't even come close to what you'd get in the physical location. Might as well brew a cup of instant ramen if you don't feel bothered to leave your home. read more

Strings Ramen Shop - Level 2 Spicy Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I walked in around an afternoon and their whole front seating area was open. The first thing I noticed was the decor and whole seating arrangement in the restaurant. I thought that it was very minimalist and kind of sleek. Although if you are a heavy-set person then you wouldn't be able to get around the tables around the front of the restaurant because they are kind of close together, but the booths are pretty big. The servers were very attentive and would come to our table and fill our water cups even though they left water with us. I thought that was nice. A downside is the menu. Part of it is in Japanese. My friend and I only speak Chinese so we had to ask for help. We didn't know that Kuro Buto meant pork, but the servers were helpful and ready to answer our questions. Also, the menu I got was different from the pictures of the menu here on Yelp. We got a little second menu with another kind of ramen. Also they only listed Turkey underneath the Shio Ramen and the second menu we got had the Oden Ramen choice listed on it. You have a choice of spicy or not spicy with your ramen. I got the non-spicy turkey Shio Ramen and my friend got a spicy Oden Ramen. The Shio Ramen was really good. The broth was fatty so watch out for that. I couldn't finish it and had to take it to go (because now they offer that) and it ended up being another meal. The Oden Ramen came with little meats on sticks. One of them was an Octopus made out of Chinese sausage. If I come back, then I would definitely get the Oden Ramen. I also overheard someone order the Kuro Buta ramen with lean meat. I'm very glad that I overheard this because I might do this next time. It's also nice that the restaurant offers a lean meat version. I'm happy that someone decided to make a high-end ramen shop in Chinatown. I would come back here if I'm craving ramen. The ramen isn't like any other ramen I can get in any other place in Chinatown. read more

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I had the Tonkotsu Ramen with pork belly & duck. Meat was good. Broth was decent, but a bit more saltier than I'd prefer. Noodles weren't as chewy as I've had at other ramen places, but props to homemade noodles. As for the service,Our orders were missing a number of things that we had requested so our orders had to be restated to a different wait staff than who we started with. It also seems like there is a lacking in proper communication between the staff because we were offered the same bowl of ramen that we didn't order twice. The table seated next to us were asked 3 times if they were ready to order when they had already placed their order. I found it quite amusing, actually. The atmosphere was modern, but super cramped. That part was really not enjoyable. My boobs barely fit squeezing inbetween tables to be seated at our table! Overall: food was okay- meat was very good; service was meh; atmosphere was not enjoyable. read more

Strings Ramen Shop - Tonkotsu Ramen with pork belly & duck (Ignore the bubble tea! That is not served here) - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

When Strings first opened, I heard many negative things about the food through word of mouth so I was very hesitant to come here. However, it seems like String has improved over time. I came here with a group of friends on a Saturday night and there was a line forming outside the restaurant. The wait was probably 30-45 minutes. The tables are a bit cramped and some of the people waiting to be seated kept bumping into us since we were sitting by the entrance. I ordered my go to ramen (tonkotsu), which came with pork belly. I was slightly disappointed that the soft boiled egg was not included and was an extra charge. The pork belly was on point but I wish the broth was creamier and less salty. Overall, I would come back but probably on a weekday when it is less crowded. read more

Strings Ramen Shop - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place put a bad taste in my mouth, but it wasn't from the ramen. I came here solo for a quick bowl of ramen. When the waiter went to seat me he put me at a corner high top table without stools, only bench seating. Now, I'm not a small girl, but I'm not huge.... regardless, I could not squeeze my big behind between the tables in order to sit down. They were busy, and a few people saw me try to fit & fail, which was embarrassing, but I brushed it off. I grabbed an unused stool from the table next to me and sat down on the outside. The waiter then comes up to me & loudly exclaims that I can't use the stool. When I try to tell him that I don't fit between the tables he has the nerve to get annoyed with me and show me how easy it is for him to fit, and tells me all I have to do is squeeze! The man did not believe me until I stood up in front of the dining room full of people, who were looking at that point, and demonstrated that it was physically impossible to squeeze my lovely lady lumps between the 5 inch table gap! How embarrassing!!! FINALLY the waiter believes me and sits me at a more accommodating booth.... I ordered the tonkatsu style ramen with kamo (duck breast) and kuro buta (Berkshire pig). The noodles were thin, and cooked perfectly. The broth was delicious, and I loved the pork. The duck breast was good, but it seemed to have more fattier pieces rather than meaty. The ramen was good, but was it worth the embarrassment and rude service? Not for me. I'd pass on making the drive to the Chinatown Strings a 2nd time. read more

Strings Ramen Shop - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Tonkatsu super premium dish was on point. Came here with my dad who had miso with turkey and chicken bone broth. Loved mine. Dad liked his. I liked his. Mine was a bit salty but I added water and it was perfect. Hip off the beaten path vibe. Great place for a date. Not a great place for big parties. Special shout out to the yogurt and melon flavored crepe sodas too! They were on point! Great recommendation :). read more

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a little small but still so cozy and cute inside. ramen is served hot and fresh. they even have a vegetable ramen which is wonderful for those with with certain food allergies/dietary preferences, just as savory spicy and delicious. i ordered the hell ramen and the flavors and textures completed each other so well, i almost inhaled this and wished i had more upon finishing hahah ! read more

Strings Ramen Shop - Edamame, Hell Ramen ! - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I finally had an opportunity to visit another ramen place in Chicago. Ramen is probably on of my top 10 favorite things to eat. With that being said, my expectation on ramen is pretty high. If I'm being too critical, please be understanding to my pickiness. The service was super on point. One of the servers, Chelsea, was knowledgeable and suggested the vegetarian-friendly ramen to hubby. Hubby had the seafood shuyo, since it contains fish oil in the broth. On the other hand, I had the seafood miso. They had very delicious chasu (Chinese-style BBQ pork slice). That probably was one of the best I've had for a long time since I moved to Chicago. Other seafood components were also flavorful. The only minor complaint I had was the amount of grease in the broth: it was a tad too greasy for me. I still consumed it all. After all, greasiness is the best cure for the cold (lol). Hubby said his was a bit greasy as well. Nevertheless, we both enjoyed what we ordered. The yelp check-in offer was pretty nice; I received a complimentary bottle of Japanese marble soda. The funny thing is that I always ask hubby to open this for me since I'm totally incompetent in opening any kind of bottle. Don't laugh, please. Offering the hot tea was also a comforting touch. The entire place was small, but it was cozy and relaxing. They do get really busy on a Friday during dinner hours. I was glad that we came a little early to beat the rush. The paid street parking is convenient. The CTA Cermak/Chinatown Red line station is one (1) block north to Strings, so if utilizing public transportation is what you have in mind. read more

Strings Ramen Shop - Seafood miso - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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