Best ramen in Chicago

164 people recommend, 17 warn against itvia r/chicagofood, r/ramen, r/AskChicago, X

Most diners recommend this Logan Square shop, and many single out the noodles for their texture. Diners praise the miso bowl, the broth and the pork, and the brothless tantanmen gets mentions too. Many mention long waits or hard-to-get tables, and a few were critical of the black garlic special. Some find it good but overhyped, and some found it too salty.

Logan Square

126 people recommend, 7 warn against itvia r/chicagofood, r/AskChicago, X

Most people who weigh in recommend Ramen Wasabi, and many call it a favorite. People single out the tender meat, the vegan ramen and the spicy garlic miso ramen. Some people prefer Akahoshi or High Five to it, and one suggests grabbing drinks nearby when there is a queue. Two people say it has slipped in recent years.

Logan

69 people recommend, 7 warn against itvia r/chicagofood, r/AskChicago

Many people recommend Oiistar as a favorite, and several single out the Wicker Park location. Diners praise the pork belly and the tikka masala ramen, and some say it has been consistently strong for years. Several found it lacking: one found the noodles overcooked on both visits, one found the classic bowl middling, and one found the spicy garlic option less spicy than at another restaurant.

Wicker Park

64 people recommend, 8 warn against itvia r/chicagofood, r/AskChicago, X

Most people who weigh in recommend Rudy's Ramen, and many name it among the city's top ramen spots. Diners praise the tantanmen and miso bowls, one calls the vegetarian ramen unusually flavorful, and one liked the buns and atmosphere. Opinions on the broth differ: one calls it light and not too salty, another says it has rich pork flavor, and a third finds it forgettable. Some find it bland or overrated, and some weigh it against Akahoshi with opinions split on which is better.

Wicker Park

64 people recommend, 20 warn against itvia r/chicagofood, r/AskChicago, X

Most people recommend High Five Ramen, and one commenter finds the broth richly flavored with excellent chashu and noodles. Several commenters describe the heat as strong, though some say you can pick a lower spice level. Many find the bowls too salty, many mention long waits, and many say the quality has slipped or varied. One commenter enjoys the ramen-shop setup.

West Loop

54 people recommend, 22 warn against itvia r/chicagofood, r/AskChicago

Commenters say Monster Ramen in Logan Square focuses on beef-based ramen, and many people call the food good or delicious. Several say the noodles are made in-house, and most people who weighed in recommend it. Several found it mediocre or underwhelming: one called it the worst ramen they have had, and another found it flavorless. One notes the wait can run long because the space is small.

Logan Square

49 people recommendvia r/chicagofood, r/AskChicago

Most people who weigh in recommend Menya Goku, and a few visitors place it in Lincoln Square. Two call it overlooked, and one says its shoyu ramen is close to flawless. Two note the place is small and can have a long wait, and one cautions that bigger groups face long waits.

Lincoln Square

41 people recommend, 9 warn against itvia r/chicagofood, r/ramen, r/AskChicago

Many diners praise the bowls, and two single out the fried chicken and kimchi ramen. People recommend it across its Chicago outlets; those who name a location mention River North, Lincoln Park or Fulton Market. Several call the ramen middling or not top-tier, and some are unimpressed overall. Two other diners found specific bowls let down: one by undercooked noodles, another by an overly strong wasabi flavor.

River North

35 people recommend, 8 warn against itvia r/chicagofood, r/ramen, r/AskChicago

People who weigh in recommend Strings Ramen, with one diner who only visited the Chinatown branch loving the duck tsukemen and another calling the kinoko shoyu rich and creamy. Strings also had a Lakeview location, which one commenter says has closed. The spicy hell ramen comes up: one says the top heat levels taste mostly like chili and the flavor falls short, while another found it very good despite sweating. Others push back: one wants the shop to buy its noodles rather than make them, another finds the large pieces of fat a texture problem, and one places it mid-tier.

Chinatown

18 people recommend, 2 warn against itvia r/chicagofood, r/AskChicago

Most commenters recommend DaiFuku Ramen, and a few people praise its spicy garlic ramen. Many Chinatown diners recommend it, and one of them says every visit there has been great. One commenter says the broth felt a bit watery and off on their worst visit, and another advises skipping it. Two commenters call it fine rather than special.

Chinatown

13 people recommendvia r/chicagofood, r/AskChicago, r/ramen

Most commenters recommend Rakkan Ramen, and among those who name the Uptown location, a few call the food amazing or phenomenal. Several commenters point to its vegan dishes, and one names the vegan spicy garnet as the bowl they keep going back to. One diner found it good, though short of excellent.

Uptown

12 people recommendvia r/chicagofood, r/ramen, r/AskChicago

Many commenters recommend Gyuro Ramen, and some of them praise its beef ramen. One diner calls the duck ramen a standout, and one commenter describes it as having more Chinese spices. A diner who visited the West Loop location praised the food, the generous portions, and the atmosphere.

West Loop

9 people recommend, 2 warn against itvia r/chicagofood, X

Most people recommend Shinya Ramen House, and several who name the Bridgeport location back it, with one ranking it among the best bowls they have had in the city. One person says it now has stronger ramen than an older favorite. One person says the ramen tasted like packaged instant noodles, and another suggests skipping the ramen for appetizers, drinks and dessert. Others are mixed: one found the ramen poor when it opened but likes the rest of the menu, and one finds the servings too small.

Bridgeport

7 people recommendvia r/chicagofood, r/AskChicago

People recommend Kohoku-Ku Ramen, and one diner calls the bowl excellent. Two commenters call the location near the Thorndale Red Line stop their favorite, and one recommends its signature bowl of tempura shrimp and softshell crab.

7 people recommend, 3 warn against itvia r/AskChicago, r/chicagofood

Many commenters recommend Kyuramen, and one diner calls it very good and notes its combo meal options. Another finds it pretty solid, one calls it great and says it serves omurice, and one says its downtown Tokyo-style flavor is better. In River North, one visitor came away disappointed and advised steering clear, while another lists it as a good option there. A few commenters are less enthusiastic or warn others off.

River North

6 people recommendvia r/chicagofood, r/AskChicago

People recommend Tanaka Ramen, and one diner calls its Spicy Creamy Vegan Ramen their top pick in the city. Two diners are enthusiastic about it, and one counts it among their go-to ramen spots. One diner singles out its pork soboro as a top-rated pick. Another finds the build-your-own vegetarian bowls pretty good, close to another vegetarian ramen they name.

5 people recommendvia r/chicagofood, r/ramen

People recommend Kameya Ramen, and one commenter ranks it in the second tier of ramen spots. One diner calls the chicken katsu ramen excellent and mentions a spicy garlic option, while another says the kimchi and fried chicken ramen is really good. Commenters don't always say which Kameya location they mean, and each of those dishes comes from just one diner.

5 people recommendvia r/AskChicago, r/chicagofood

People recommend Tamashii Ramen, and one visitor names the Edgewater location among their go-to ramen spots. One diner says the tonkotsu broth is unbelievable, though they cannot say whether it is the best or the most authentic. One enjoys it a lot for being walkable and does not expect it on top-ten ramen lists.

Edgewater

5 people recommendvia r/AskChicago, r/chicago, r/chicagofood

People recommend Musashiya Ramen, and one diner calls it a small place with great ramen. One says its menu is solid and simple, though not the city's best. Another calls its build-your-own setup spectacular, and another includes it among amazing go-to ramen spots.