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    Friends Ramen

    4.0 (480 reviews)
    Open 11:30 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

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    FRIENDS RAMEN ATMOSPHERE

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    Kangni X.

    Came for a quick dinner nearby. Service was fast. The food came out hot. The ambiance is nice, cozy feeling. It's a sister restaurant and connect with the friends sushi and muan jai thai kitchen and hot pot (collectively called Friends Station), so you could actually order off any of their menus. We ended up at a table in the back of the sushi side. The okonomiyaki was good. Nothing crazy special but flavorful. My mini spicy miso ramen came in a tiny clay pot. It had a good amount of toppings. Less soup to noodle ratio. I was satisfied after.

    On the go ramen
    Isabel R.

    Ambience is the only thing that saves from this restaurant. Very cute and good service Food: overcooked noodles that I don't think are actually ramen noodles, the pork belly was disgusting, half not eatable and not even seasoned the Japanese way, the egg was overcooked, broth had a weird taste, especially mixed with pickled ginger. The only reason I tried to finish it is because I hate wasting food. Value: 18 usd a big bowl of ramen, you can find better for that price. The small size seems way too small

    Dining area
    Sarinah V.

    This is such a cute and unique place. The food was top notch too! I am in love with the pork buns! Definitely coming back again to try the noodles next

    Spicy Miso Ramen TOGO.     Very Good.
    T J.

    Tried Friends Ramen for the first time and we were pleased. We ordered it TOGO. The restaurant looked very nice inside. They give you the option of SMALL or LARGE sized bowls. I ordered the small ramen and large noodle & soup. Both were good. The only issue that I had was when I was ordering online, they don't offer the Noodle & Soup. I had to then call my order into the restaurant. It would be great if they'd just add this to the online menu. It's a great option for kids who like ramen without all the extra things in it.

    Mia H.

    I came here for ramen with friends one evening and it was alright. The inside of the ramen shop is cutely decorated with posters of their food items, wooden seats, and dim lighting. The only complaint that I have is that the space of the tables we were seated at (at the front of the restaurant) was VERY tight and uncomfortable to sit at. We ordered a number of ramen and appetizers. Everything was pretty good, but I would say that there are better ramen shops out there. The broth wasn't very deep and the egg wasn't properly soft-boiled, like how traditional ramen shops do it. Overall, I thought that it was okay!

    Fried Tofu Buns 2pcs TOGO
    Divya V.

    My friend and I decided to randomly stop by at Friends Ramen for hot and piping ramen on an extremely chilly night. We ordered Fried tofu buns and small veggie spicy miso ramen bowls. The tofu buns were good but the hoisin sauce isn't my favourite and I have had better buns before! The spicy veggie miso ramen was an absolute hit though! It was perfectly spiced. If you don't like spicy broth, ask for a medium spiced ramen rather than regular ramen! The portion size at first seemed too less but it was actually pretty good and my friend and I were full and satiated by the end. I reduced few stars only because the service maybe could be better. My friend and I were in the middle of a conversation and the server just stormed to us to pick up the empty plates and even asked if she could take the spoon. How do you expect someone to have soup with a spoon? It was honestly a bit weird. Overall, a great spot, like most ramen spots it has fewer seats so I can see this place having space issues during rush hours!

    Karaage Chicken Ramen
    Vignesh S.

    A very ramen spot that's a hole in the wall. It's open late, which makes it a great spot for some drunchie vibes. The ramen was good, not the best I've had, but very good. The employees were so nice and courteous! There's a decent amount of seating, and the vibes of the place are so fun. Also decently priced for what you get

    Spicy miso ramen
    Rahul G.

    Excellent food and service! Their spicy miso ramen is heavenly and I came back for the same food after a few days.

    Natasha L.

    Yummy!!! I love me some Ramen so when we were in Chicago we had to make a stop. This place was perfect, make your reservation online because it does get packed and it's small. The apps were great loved the salad to start and potstickers so delicious and flavorful. Now the ramen, perfect flavorful broth, great noodles, I for a side of Kimchi for some Added spice. They do have levels of spice and also two sizes of ramen the large bowl and the smaller which I really liked. The smaller with apps was just enough for us. Definitely will be back when I'm in the city!

    Niku Ramen Geso Karaage
    Shannon K.

    Stopped by on a Tuesday afternoon to no wait. The store was mostly empty and got my order taken quickly. I got the niku ramen, the special geso karaage, diet coke, and a side of kimchi. I liked the niku ramen, I wish it came with other toppings. It was a good flavor, but it was one note and very rich so I ended up getting a side of kimchi. The geso karaage was good! I'd definitely recommend it if it's still on the menu. Soon after getting my food I was given the bill. I hadn't even finished half of my food and I felt rushed. I ignored the bill to finish eating more and got asked twice if I was doing okay. I ended up just getting a togo box since it felt like I was being rushed. Even after just trying to finish the soda I bought before leaving I felt like I had to chug it. Overall a decent ramen spot, wish the toppings of the ramen had more variety and felt rushed to get in and out quickly

    Niku Ramen Pork Belly Rice Bowl TOGO Chicken Gyoza 6pcs TOGO
    Yum Y.

    Portion sizes are really small, especially for the price. The soup for the "ramen" was really salty and you can taste the soy sauce in there. The noodles themselves don't really count as ramen either even though they called it ramen, there was only noodles, soup, meat, and some green onions. Where was the chashu, the garnish, or the egg? It was something that you could make at home for yourself for much cheaper and tastier. Would've been only barely worth it if it was only 1/3 of the price. The gyoza tasted like it came from a frozen package. Really disappointing. The rice bowl was definitely pre-made, it was cold, and not very good. One star for the handsome server.

    Mayuri A.

    My friend and I swung by Friends Ramen on a cold windy night. We were amazed to see the small ramen bowl option. I often can't finish my ramen and I am not too keen on eating the leftovers the next day, so this option was perfect! It was just enough for a one time meal, and very economical too. We also ordered eggplant Bao.The eggplant Bao was decent but I have had better. I ordered the medium spicy medium ramen and it was good but not my favorite. One thing to note is that regular ramen is spicier than medium ramen, which is odd but that's how this place works I guess. Overall, the food wasn't that great but decent enough for a casual dinner. The waitress was kind of weird though. She tried to take away our cutlery while we were eating. Also, while I was taking a bite from my ramen, she started asking me questions and I couldn't reply back since I had my mouth full, she kept on asking the questions over and over again. I mean, don't you have any customer service sense? The place is also really small which is typical of a ramen place. I don't highly recommend this place but I might still swing by with low expectations.

    house salad
    Lynna T.

    This was not my favorite ramen experience in Chicago. When I get ramen, i look for a soft boiled egg and chewy ramen noodles. The noodles they used didn't really seem like ramen noodles and it wasn't chewy :/ the egg was also hard boiled. our ramen overall didn't have much flavor or spice despite getting medium spicy. the meat in the niku buns were good but some parts of my bun was hard, maybe from being reheated? takoyaki was good though! service was efficient. cute little booths inside not a ton of seating so better for smaller parties!

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Cute interior and good service and food, but on one visit we weren't sure the ramen was made with the proper noodles.

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    2 years ago

    One of the best ramen joints I have visited!! Loved the small size ramen options. I will come back!!

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    Page 3 of 12

    Friends Ramen Reviews in Other Languages

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    RAMEN-SAN

    RAMEN-SAN

    4.0
    (3.3k reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $$

    I had a quick work trip to Chicago and came across this ramen spot since it was near the hotel I…read morewas staying in. I stopped by around 2pm, and the restaurant was a bit empty. The decor in here was nice and the dessert and cocktail menus were SO CUTE! I tried the 10 Hour Tonkotsu ramen, the xoxo shrimp and pork dumplings, and the spicy kimchi. The kimchi and dumpling combination was to die for!!! It had the perfect balance of flavor and spice. The dumplings were so crispy and juicy, and the kimchi was packed with lots of flavor. 10000/10 The ramen on the other hand, was just okay in my opinion. I asked if they could make it a bit spicy and the waiter said that the only way to add spicy was to order the sesame chili. I ordered that and mixed it into my ramen but it was still missing something, not quite sure what. I'd rate the ramen a 8/10. Nothing crazy but not bad. Overall would stop by again (if im in the area) to try other items on their menu. 9/10

    Watery Ramen with basic flavors. This was the most disappointing tonkotsu Ramen I have had…read more The shrimp dish was decent, but overly sweet. Gyoza was supple and delicious, however, the Ramen had lost the battle by this point. The basil old-fashioned was a nice turn on the traditional drink, but not as flavorful enough. Prompt service and lively ambience.

    Photos
    Chili oil, low sodium soy sauce, chili flakes and furikake on each table
    Chili oil, low sodium soy sauce, chili flakes and furikake on each table
    Honey fried Shrimp
    Honey fried Shrimp
    Express lunch

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    Express lunch
    Ramen Wasabi

    Ramen Wasabi

    4.2
    (2.3k reviews)
    3.6 mi
    $$

    I love Wasabi Ramen. Stopped in for a late lunch and was greeted with the familiar smell and…read morescenery. Had the tonkotsu with spice umami (it's always a hit), the sesame mai tai, and my husband had the spicy chicken paitan ramen and naked & famous. I was surprised at how tasty his ramen was! I may get it next time as it was as (if not more?!) delicious than my tonkotsu! I can't wait for next time.. this place has held up for years and I'm extremely confident it will continue to do so for many more.

    A great spot to grab a bowl of steaming ramen on a rainy Sunday afternoon in Chicago. Note they…read moreclose sharply @3pm probably for a lunch break for the staff. The Alaskan cod sandwich was served on a bed of cabbage covered in a sweet teriyaki & brown mustard sauce with maybe a squeeze of kewpie sprinkled in between. The Berkshire pork eggrolls had microgreens & shaved radish on top of a crema type of sauce that balanced the heat of the kimchi nicely!! For the main attraction I ordered the spicy garlic ramen that was such a delightful mouth experience it really hit all the taste buds! The noodles were perfectly bouncy with the right amount of chew. The jellied egg was perfect and rounded the soup very well! The red chili threads enhanced the spicy miso broth just enough to slurp all the delicious goodness down! My husband ordered the Sapporo miso soup which had more of a creamy type of broth vs the spicy garlic. The noodles were also thinner than regular ramen & had a bouncy springy texture that just hit the spot! Since it was kinda chilly outside we also ordered hot green tea to accompany our spectacular ramen dishes. This place also offers delicious seasonal cocktails on the menu or hot sake if that's what you are hankering for. Definitely try this ramen joint if you are in the Logan square area your tummy will be so happy that you did!!

    Photos
    Spicy Roasted Garlic Miso Ramen
    Spicy Roasted Garlic Miso Ramen
    Inside
    Inside
    Tokyo Spicy Wings Small Plate

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    Tokyo Spicy Wings Small Plate
    Kyuramen - Downtown Chicago

    Kyuramen - Downtown Chicago

    4.2
    (626 reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $$

    First time having Ramen and we LOVED it…read more The seating is very unique and private. We will be eating there again.

    Came here as it was close to where I was staying downtown. I went on a Sunday and there were only 6…read morecustomers in the restaurant at 545pm. I was seated at a table and they brought out water right away. But that's where the service stopped. I was handed 3 menus... food, drinks, cocktail. It took forever to get one of the servers to come over and take my order. They were all huddled by the kitchen and hostess stand chatting with each other and on their cell phones. Finally one of them walked by my table and I had to get her attention and told her I would like to order. She brought out the iPad then looked around seeing if someone else should probably take the order. I felt I inconvenienced her. Got the tonkatsu shoyu ramen with black garlic and the takoyaki. Food came out fast. Takoyaki after the ramen but the takoyaki was delicious. Soft and creamy on the inside with the octopus was very tender. It was topped with plenty of katsuoboshi. Ramen was another story. Noodles had a really good chew as they advertised using sun noodle company. However the broth tasted very watered down and did not have the rich flavor and usually fat globules that make the soup. Cha siu was charred beautifully and portion size was good. Hopefully they can focus on the front of house service and the team can pay attention to customers. Maybe this is why there were only 6 customers at prime dinner time.

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    Honeycomb pods
    Honeycomb pods
    Matcha Pudding W. Red Bean
    Matcha Pudding W. Red Bean
    Thai Iced Tea

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    Thai Iced Tea
    Monster Ramen

    Monster Ramen

    4.3
    (189 reviews)
    4.8 mi
    $$

    I'm sitting here in my living room, mired by an early, uninvited awakening. It was not a thud. No…read morealarm. Just a gentle frazzle of sunlight stealing me from night. In no way had my body rested. Donned in dawn, my underwear-pajamas slightly slid down revealed a sad vision of man, sloppily tangled in ruffled sheets. Exposed. There is nothing pretty about me, I thought, as I pondered if the sunlight were judging what it saw. Before reaching my current perch on the living room couch, I sat in bed flicking through news in search of something good, but simultaneously only pausing on the bad. Glorifying in the doom, really. It was the pinch I needed to prove I was indeed awake. All day I seek the pinch of pain to prove I am not dreaming. Coffee, cats, clothes, splashof water, and 20 steps later I find myself in the planning pose, here in the living room. The planning pose is very much like the wake-startle, sans the sheets and exposed crack. It involves me laying here on the couch actually reading the articles I perused earlier. I like to rationalize that the information gleaned is to set me up for a day of human interaction. Perhaps it is a study session to get up to human-social-speed. Right now it is dawning on me -- my second uninvited dawn of the day -- that perhaps behavior isn't responsible humanity, it is prolonged self torment. The tighter pinch. The proverbial purple nurple of challenging my awakened state. Cats gather around me. One at my feet and the other curled beside my thigh. Am I king to them? They are fed. Surely they are not here in need of something. Have I done something to warrant this attention? My affection toward them is inconsistent. It ebbs in startling fits of overly attentive playing or petting followed by long droughts of disregard. My ambivalence as their king gives me this luxury, and supports my theory that they may think I am indeed king. This is the type of cyclical example loop I am using as evidence to propel me from the underwear'ed fat man the sun observed moments ago. Evidence that says: "See, Sun, I am more than the larva you spotlighted. I am a god! The cats are evidence! And they sleep in your sun-puddles in undisputed, recognizable perfection, not the ugly crack-exposed heap you found me in. You love them. They love me. So, pinch yourself, and stop judging me!" Obviously the coffee is working, or maybe the cats are doing their trick: making me feel accepted in the universe. Whatever the case may be, I pet my cat. Dander floats into the sun's beams and crystallizes in the air. If you've ever seen dust in a thinly sliced light beam at dawn you know: Hope is the accidental luck of shadows bouncing off of the chaos but always cutting through. Always meeting a surface. Penetrating the thickest of atmospheres and colliding on flowers and alleys, on well planned solar panels, on potholes, through any crack, on my crack, projecting obtuse triangles, acute bi-angles, and isosceles quad-tangles, even while penetrating deep into the sea, revealing all the magnificent details of art, and occasionally falling on me. Trees bend to it. I give the cat closest a good scratch behind the ear and look out the window at the trees greening in spring. A dog walker pauses to pick up excrement. A squirrel cowers behind a branch. The ramen restaurant on the corner is cut through by light warming empty tables; tables preparing to slurp up hungry, hopeful lunchers into the belly of contentment. Dark, seemingly an antagonist to light's hero demeanor, sheepishly slinks away, humbly realizing it is not the opposite of light, but the absence. "Beautiful," I think as I see the spicy broth of life warming in the sun glow beyond the glass. Yes. It is beautiful. It really is. I couldn't see how much in the dark but the rhythm out the window is now clear. I turn to my cat, who is winding down a purr. We share a slow-blink gaze at one another as the last sliver of dawn is replaced with shadow in my house. He moves to the window sill to soak in every second as it departs. "Welp, buddy. Nothing left now. Time to bend to the light"

    Was very excited to try this place since I've heard a lot of good things. We had a reservation so…read morewe were seated pretty quickly but since the restaurant was small, we were placed at a 4-person table where me and my friend had to sit next to 2 random strangers which I wasn't really a fan of. Our server was very nice and attentive though, we knew what we wanted so we placed our order and received our food quickly too. I enjoyed The Monster ramen that I got, the broth was super flavorful and perfectly creamy. I loved the beef jam and Wagyu chashu, Although, I will say the noodles themselves didn't really stand out. I enjoyed my ramen but I'm not sure I would get it again. I would definitely come back to try their other ramen though.

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    Seating
    Seating
    Miso Wagyu
    Miso Wagyu
    Menu as of 9.20.25

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    Menu as of 9.20.25

    Friends Ramen - ramen - Updated June 2026

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