Chicago is one of the largest cities in the United States. It is also a cultural melting pot due to visitors from around the world and within the country. From traditional and heritage cultures to modern marvels such as architectural gems, dynamic entertainments, and world-class museums, all of these things are ready to make your visit to Chicago exciting and memorable. All of the attractions are complemented by the residents’ welcoming and friendly traits. Plus, they are also inclusive and heart-warming. It’s not hard to feel at home right after arriving in Chicago. Moreover, the culinary scene is filled with award-winning restaurants and comfort food. One of them is Japanese ramen, which is famous as the ultimate comfort food for many people around the world. Find out the top ramen restaurants in Chicago, Illinois in this article to locate your perfect comfort food space in the city.
1. Futatsuki Ramen
Tonkotsu Ramen with thin original tonkotsu noodle. Add sweet corn and spicy miso paste.
Posted by Futatsuki Ramen on Thursday, 13 October 2016
Originating in Downtown San Francisco back in 2015, Futasuki Ramen has now opened a new store in Chicago. The ramen place instantly became a favorite among the people in the city and those who work nearby. Along with a new place in Chicago, they also brought the delicacy of tonkotsu ramen to the city and introduced customized toppings to new customers. Their spot is considerably small, and people mostly come to order, enjoy their ramen, and leave. Many of their customers would return to try another combination of ramen toppings or request other options on the menu.
Futatsuki Ramen
Address: 4621 N Broadway, Chicago, Illinois
Website: Futatsuki Ramen
Opening hours: Mon - Tue: 5:45pm - 8:30pm; Thu - Fri: 5:45pm - 8:30pm; Sat: 12:30pm - 2:30pm, 5pm - 8:30pm; Sun: 1:30pm - 5:30pm (closed on Wed)
2. Ramen Wasabi
This is a place you’d love to visit if you want to try several Japanese food and desserts. Ramen Wasabi is famous for serving rich and tasty broth combined with chewy and excellent noodles. You will also love the toppings — the pork slices are fatty yet so silky and the eggs are boiled to perfect softness. You can also try out the other menus such as the pork belly buns or karaage. Ramen Wasabi adopts a hipster vibe and a laid-back atmosphere, but the service is professional and attentive that you wouldn’t have a hard time enjoying yourself at this place.
Ramen Wasabi
Address: 2101 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, Illinois
Website: Ramen Wasabi
Opening hours: Tue - Thu: 11am - 2:30pm, 5pm - 11pm; Fri - Sat: 11am - 2:30pm, 5pm - 11:30pm; Sun: 11am - 2:30pm, 5pm - 10pm (closed on Mon)
3. Kizuki Ramen & Izakaya
Kizuki lunch special kicks off in Wicker Park and Lincoln Park shops for weekday only! Lunch combo starts from $11 with...
Posted by Kizuki Ramen & Izakaya on Wednesday, 19 February 2020
If you’re looking for a traditional and delicious Japanese ramen with an authentic taste, then you should drop by to Kizuki Ramen & Izakaya. The restaurant prepares its signature menu just like how it is done in Japan — by using a unique method of roasting the bones before boiling it. This produces a rich broth with a flavor that you couldn’t say no to. Kizuki Ramen & Izakaya imports most of its ramen ingredients straight from Japan.
Kizuki Ramen & Izakaya
Address: 1482 N Milwaukee Ave Chicago, Illnois
Website: Kizuki Ramen & Izakaya
Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 11:30am - 2:30pm, 5pm - 9:30pm; Fri - Sat: 11:30am - 10pm; Sun: 11:30am - 9:30pm
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4. Oiistar
Posted by Oiistar on Thursday, 2 January 2014
With serving comfort food in mind, Oiistar created a concept that brings its traditional Japanese ramen one step further. By preparing it with French and Italian touches, the ramen place is producing one of the most significant dishes that people always search for. They use the freshest ingredients and home-made noodles to make four signature ramen menus. The atmosphere inside the restaurant is excellent and friendly and the service is good and efficient.
Oiistar
Address: 1385 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, Illinois
Website: Oiistar
Opening hours: Tue - Wed: 12pm - 3pm, 5:30pm - 10pm; Thu: 12pm - 3pm, 5:30pm - 11pm; Fri - Sat: 12pm - 11pm; Sun: 12pm - 10pm (closed on Mon)
5. RAMEN-SAN
Travel back in time to the 90s by visiting RAMEN-SAN. You will feel the strong influence of the era at this place and the ramen they serve is also one of the best in the neighborhood. The atmosphere is hip and funky, with old-school rap and hip-hop music playing in the background as the staff helps you with your order. Their ramen is delicious and is perfectly accompanied by the Japanese beer that they also have on the premise. The broth that is served with the ramen is tasty and rich — whether you order the spicy one or the salty one.
RAMEN-SAN
Address: 59 W Hubbard St, Chicago, Illinois
Website: RAMEN-SAN
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 11am - 12am; Sat: 11am - 1am; Sun: 12pm - 12am
6. Ramen Takeya
Ramen Takeya is one of the most favorite ramen places in the winter for the people of Chicago. Imagine slurping their hot and tasty broth to fight the cold weather. One of the signature menu in Ramen Takeya is the Miso Bold and Spicy Ramen, which can be customized depending on your taste for hot food. You will love the flavorful miso broth and the chewy noodles, as they both create a fantastic combination that you will definitely enjoy — even though it’s not winter.
Ramen Takeya
Address: 819 W Fulton Market, Chicago, Illinois
Website: Ramen Takeya
Opening hours: Tue - Thu: 11:30am - 2:30pm, 5pm - 10:30pm; Fri - Sat: 11:30am - 2:30pm, 5pm - 11pm; Sun: 11:30am - 2:30pm, 5pm - 9:30pm (closed on Mon)
7. KINTON RAMEN
KINTON RAMEN originated in Toronto. It was the first authentic Japanese ramen place in the city. Later, they expanded their business to other cities in North America, including Chicago. They pride themselves as a ramen restaurant that serves rich, flavorful, and sophisticated broth made by mixing pork bone and chicken stock, vegetables, and filtered water. The broth is boiled for more than 20 hours, creating a distinctive flavor that’s synonymous with the word, “umami”. The ingredients used at this place are all fresh, making the noodles and other menus extraordinary and giving a spectacular experience to its customers.
KINTON RAMEN
Address: 163 N Sangamon St, Chicago, Illinois
Website: KINTON RAMEN
Opening hours: 11:30am - 10:30pm (daily)
8. High Five Ramen
Posted by High Five Ramen on Friday, 3 July 2015
High Five Ramen also has a signature style of their own that features the traditional tonkotsu-style ramen with rich and creamy broth. What also brings out the taste is the combination of miso, sesame, pepper, nori, and dried Japanese chili. You would love how their High Five Ramen taste. Even so, you might prepare yourself for the queue that occurs at this place. Being one of Chicago’s favorites, it’s only natural that people would swarm this place for a bowl of ramen or two. If you aren’t lucky, the queue could take hours before you finally get a table. However, once you got to taste their ramen, the waiting will be worth it.
High Five Ramen
Address: 112 N Green St, Chicago, Illinois
Website: High Five Ramen
Opening hours: Sun - Wed: 5pm - 11pm; Thu - Sat: 5pm - 12am
9. Strings Ramen
Wednesday can’t get any better than this! Chinatown location is open till midnight! . @pauleatseverything
Posted by Strings Ramen Shop on Wednesday, 4 December 2019
What makes Strings Ramen unique is how they make their noodles daily by using their dough mixer that is directly imported from Japan along with a noodle maker. They understand that noodles play a significant part in a bowl of ramen after the broth. Another trait that makes this ramen place unique is how they keep the Chinese philosophy of ramen. The Japanese adopted this Chinese philosophy until the ramen became their traditional food. They keep the character of Chinese noodles while blending it with Japanese flavors. Surely enough, their ramen is famous due to the dedication that they give to their ramen. In Chicago alone, Strings Ramen has several branches that will make it even more convenient for their customers to have a nice bowl of ramen. You can find them in Chinatown, Lakeview, and Hyde Park.
Strings Ramen
Address: 2141 S Archer Ave, Chicago, Illinois (Chinatown, Chicago)
Website: Strings Ramen
Opening hours: Sun - Thu: 11am - 12am; Fri - Sat: 11am - 2am
10. Tanaka Ramen
This ramen restaurant got its name from a skilled Japanese ramen chef who’s also the inspiration for the restaurant. Tanaka Ramen is committed to serving affordable Japanese ramen to people around the area, as well as to visitors who have traveled to Chicago just to try their menu. They are also committed to keeping the process of creating traditional Japanese ramen as accurately as possible to its origin using only the highest quality ingredients. As such, they make the noodle and broth daily within the restaurant.
Tanaka Ramen
Address: 553 W Diversey Pkwy, Chicago, Illinois
Website: Tanaka Ramen
Opening hours: 11am - 10pm (daily)
Find your favourite ramen in Chicago

There are many places where you can enjoy a bowl of ramen, but there are not many that will give you a delicious bowl of ramen with character and atmosphere bringing perfection to your dining experience. Here, you can find excellent ramen restaurants in Chicago, Illinois, which will redefine you conception of this classic noodle dish.
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