Kitakata Ramen was so good that I ended up eating there four more times during my one-week stay. That's probably the highest compliment I can give any restaurant. The standout for me was their Jiro-style ramen. It was every bit as good as some of the bowls I've had in Osaka--rich, satisfying, and packed with flavor. As someone who has spent plenty of time eating ramen in Japan, that's not praise I hand out lightly. What impressed me most was the consistency. Every dish I tried was on point, and every visit left me looking forward to the next one. Whether you're a ramen enthusiast or just looking for a great meal, Kitakata delivers. I'd go back in a heartbeat. read more

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The fried chicken appetizer was really great! One of the best that I've had in the Chicagoland area (5/5) The yuzu soda was also very refreshing and the perfect complement to the chicken. However, I would say that the ramen (broth and toppings) (3.5/5) was good but not the best that I've had in Chicago. read more

We had such a great experience at Kitakata Ramen Ban Nai! This place feels incredibly authentic--the noodles are made in-house, and you can truly taste the difference in every bite. Everything we ordered was simple, comforting, and full of that real, authentic flavor you want from a ramen spot. And most importantly... it's totally kid-approved, which is always a win for our family! If you're looking for legit ramen near Yorktown, this spot is definitely worth checking out. We'll absolutely be back! read more

This is a pretty unique ramen shop, something I haven't had before. The mapo tofu ramen was very rich and filling! I enjoyed the how calm it felt in the restaurant despite it being nearly full. The staff was kind of stressed but they were professional throughout, and I respect that a lot. Good stuff! read more

Kitakata Ramen Ban Nai - Lombard - Tonkotsu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Lombard, Illinois

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Great place to go and catch up with friends! Food was really good and affordable. I haven't had ramen in a while so I was excited for it. We all got the spicy ramen and had fried chicken, gyoza, and takoyaki for sides. Also all bought some beer for the chit chat. The ambiance is pretty chill for a small shop and shout out to the service of the staff, really relaxing to talk to as well. I definitely recommend a visit! read more

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I was craving for a spicy ramen so I opted for the Spicy Miso Ramen and added egg! Just what I needed for the cold weather. Take note that this ramen has 3 chilis for its spice level so beware! I can't put what it is I tasted but I feel that there's like a lemon-y after taste. It wasn't off putting but just a tartiness at the end. My brother enjoyed the spice level of the Green Chili Shio Ramen. The other ramen that's spicy is the Spicy Tan Tan Ramen. Highly suggest getting the spicy cucumber salad as it's like a palate cleanser... very refreshing. The wait wasn't too bad as they call out the names on th list really quickly. If you're not there, you snooze, you lose! read more

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So, we decided to come here since it's been awhile. I didn't know they had a Hawaiian menu available. For this menu only, I'll give it a 4. I've been to Maui as well as tried Hawaiian food in Houston. I would love to see more Hawaiian dishes like kalua pork, loco moco, etc. The portions are huge so you do get your money's worth for about $18-20. They give you 3 scoops of white rice and a heaping portion of macaroni salad. The bbq chicken was very moist and tasty. The chicken katsu was also very tasty. Service was friendly. read more

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This is one of our go-to lunch spots. They offer a variety beyond the basics while maintaining a decent balance between flavors and quality. With that said, we have enjoyed and tried several items: Juicy fried chicken Kitakata ramen Kitakata miso ramen Tan tan noodles Ban nai curry Hawaiian barbecue chicken platter Matcha latte Food quality is consistent and portions are generous. The fried chicken is crispy. The ramen broth is rich. The barbecue chicken retains tenderness while having a good char. We normally dine in for weekend lunch and it is generally quiet and not busy. Food delivery and service was efficient even if they only had one wait staff on the clock. Restaurant is clean and organized. read more

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Ranks in my top of ramen places in Chicago and luckily one location is tucked away conveniently in a strip mall in Lombard just based on how the noodles and soup base taste in terms of authenticity from the best ramen I've tasted in Japan. The noodles are (I'm pretty sure) freshly made in house from the taste of it and generous portions of Char Shu is given. Lunch special on weekdays gets you an appetizer along with an entree for a few extra bucks. You will get your food relatively quickly as well even though there's usually only one person working. read more

Kitakata Ramen Ban Nai - Lombard - Lunch special Chashu Ramen and Juicy Fried Chicken 2 pc - Ramen Near Me - Lombard, Illinois

Ambiance - modernized, Japanese ramen spot that also offers Hawaiian food (?????) Service - service was fairly slow, seems like there was only 1 server on a Sunday night, we weren't given utensils and also didn't get enough after I asked Food - fried chicken was super crispy, tonkatsu ramen wasn't as rich Overall I still prefer their Hoffman estates location read more

Kitakata Ramen Ban Nai - Lombard - Juicy Fried Chicken - Ramen Near Me - Lombard, Illinois

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Stop what you're doing right now and go get the Umakara Tan Tan Ramen. You will not regret it. Takoyaki Spicy Miso Ramen Umakara Tan Tan Ramen read more

Chose this place bc of their vegan ramen but sadly never got to try it... Supposedly they reopen at 5pm.. but not the day I came. We arrived at 5 waited outside till 525 a worker came to the front you turn on the open sign and but they didnt unlock the door ????? We weren't the only ones waiting either. Oh well read more

Kitakata has to be one of my favorite ramens around the suburbs! I love how bouncy the noodles are and how deep the flavor is in their tonkatsu broth!! AND their kaarage with the dipping sauce is to die for! I love the atmosphere inside! They greet every customer as they walk in. They also have a Hawaiian plate lunch menu that is fantastic! Such a great option if you are indecisive or just in between choices; also great if you have a partner who's willing to share LOL read more

Kitakata Ramen Ban Nai - Lombard - Tonkotsu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Lombard, Illinois

Favorite ramen spot in the suburbs! They cater well to vegetarians and have a good spice level for their ramen. I usually get the spicy miso ramen and it's 10/10 with a good mix of tofu and vegetables. We also love the cucumber appetizer! Definitely recommend this spot for solid ramen. read more

In this neighborhood I wasn't expecting a solid ramen place that sold something other than miso or shoyu ramen. But I was thoroughly impressed when this ramen place showed up as a result the morning after a wedding when we needed hearty broth. I thought the space was very well decorated and the ramen was spot on. I do wonder if this is a chain but even if so, I thought that the branding was polished where you would think that it's an independent small restaurant with a creative presence. read more

Kitakata Ramen Ban Nai - Lombard - Ramen Near Me - Lombard, Illinois

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So me and my wife use to love this place came in to day and got treated like complete shit waiter took are order all was fine said I will be back with your chopsticks and never came back took 15 min for them to bring us a single soda and when we asked for the chopsticks that should have been in the table he proceeded to talk shit to the cook 10 feet away from us never coming back here again read more

I just have to start this off with I came in right before they were closing and I feel horrible for doing that but there would be no other time for me to eat lunch and they are very nice. They still let me eat and the food was phenomenal. I really enjoyed their vegan miso and it was to die for and the waitresses very nice and friendly and super fast and the whole design of the place is super cute and I love it a lot. read more

Kitakata Ramen Ban Nai - Lombard - Vegan Miso Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Lombard, Illinois

Don't bother. I ordered pork ramen to go and they only gave me broth and noodles--leaving out the pork, bean sprouts, onions, etc... This is the second time I've had ordering issues from this store. The first time, I went for dine-in and while the server was attentive, the cook forgot about my food because they were loudly talking about some mythical promotion they were owed. read more

20/10!!!! I had the spicy miso ramen and it was magnificent! This is my new favorite place to get ramen for sure! As soon as I walked in I was greeted and immediately given my order. I decided to take it to go and eat in the car on the go and they made sure to keep the noodles warm for me. (When you take it to go they chill the noodles to maintain their texture.) The noodles are made in house!! I love that I can get away from the "factory" noodles with this business. The ambiance was warm and welcoming, I will be coming back when I have more time to dine in. read more

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Nice staffs amazing food Great location spacious dining place plenty of parking in front read more

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I was so happy to get back here this week; this is my favorite ramen place in the area! Love their noodles and the Kitakata Ramen broth is mild if you don't want something too soy-forward, or too rich (as much as I love I love tonkotsu, need a break sometimes). The pork is meltingly tender and the only other topping is green onion, though you can add others. On a week night it was pretty quiet but picked up before we left. They have added a Hawaiian BBQ menu, but it's the ramen that will always draw me back!! read more

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Michael, Michael, Michael. Our server was professional, courteous, and super friendly. Very knowledgeable and understanding. Thank you Michael for the great service. The food was extremely high quality, the meat in particular. Kind of cool they had both a ramen and a hawaiian BBQ restaurant in one, so we ordered off both menus. The chicken from the hawaiian BBQ menu was amazingly and surprisingly juicy. read more

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Tasty ramen and gyoza. Authentic Japanese style. Sit at the bar or get a table. Fresh sushi is also available but I recommend sitting at the bar and watch your sushi being prepared. read more

First time eating ramen! The food was delicious and the service was great! Our only feedback was we wished there were more servers, our server did his best but he was all alone so it took some time to get things. read more

Great, unique ramen experience. I've been to the store in Hoffman Estates and the quality is consistent. My miso broth was flavorful, good chew on the crinkly noodles, and egg was cooked perfectly. Chashu was fatty and tender. Although the bowls are pricey, the additional toppings, even extra chashu, are reasonably priced. Service is good and there's plenty of seating available. read more

Kitakata Ramen Ban Nai - Lombard - Ramen Near Me - Lombard, Illinois

If you like this place, you'll love their Hoffman estates location! Good local ramen.

Absolutely delicious and filling. We have been 3 times now, and it has been consistently amazing. Things move a bit slower there, but we have never minded as the flavor far outweighs any impatience we may feel. Service always comes with a smile... read more

The staff are great and very friendly. The place is clean and inviting, and you can see what the kitchen is doing. The ramen is good, though the broth is a bit on the salty side. I do appreciate the variety of ramen options available. Great place for a cold night meal. read more

Legit delish!! 6 stars! We had the spicy miso and the tan tan... I have had ramen several times and always found it underwhelming... that was not my experience today! I will be back. The tan tan was ahh maz ing! I am sold! It was incredibly delicious! The restaurant was fairly steady, clean and straightforward... albeit it felt a little warm inside. The food was quick and the service was good! I do have a tiny suggestion if the restaurant happens to see this.. I would suggest listing possible allergens on the menu. It seemed as though the tan tan may have contained peanut?? Honestly! This place was fantastic! I will be back! Thank you for the delish food! read more

Kitakata Ramen Ban Nai - Lombard - Umakara Tan Tan Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Lombard, Illinois

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This authentic Japanese ramen shop had place in New York as well but unfortunately closed during pandemic. Still a few in Chicago area and CA locations doing great. I just wanted quick ramen dinner but ended up with a draft beer and gyoza in addition to kitakata ramen. I asked to make ramen after I finish beer and gyoza and it did exactly as I asked. House made gyoza tasted great but small size looking a little poor, so I wish to make it a little bigger. Ramen looks as I liked, and not too salty soup but noodle was a bit over cooked. Possible cooked noodle held until I'm ready. Soup was hot though. read more

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Noods noods noods... The only kind I want in my DM's LOL This spot has pretty consistent food. Service can be spotty which is similar to the other location in Hoffman Estates....but for the most part ok. Enjoy the crispy chicken and grilled pork to eat as apps or with my ramen. On my most recent visit tried the curry katsu and it had a lovely flavor...not too salty, bland, or spicy. Ample parking since it's in a strip mall. read more

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I'm sorry but kitikata isn't the way it used to be with the cold noodles to the staff and wait. It's all so weird and the food doesn't bring back memories this was my favorite spot when I was little and now it's just a chain. read more

Have been a frequent customer of the location in Roselle and the food and service was spot on. Edwin is awesome and took great care of us. His previous kitchen experience combined with his great people skills makes a great combination. read more

Wow - I love this place and we've been back three times in 2 weeks. The ramen and gyozas are really good. Be prepared for some really fatty pork in the noodles however it really adds to the flavor. Gyozas are one of the better ones we've had in the area. The juicy chicken was good but what was phenomal was the sauce that came with it. I couldn't really tell what it was but some miso type sauce. It's in a strip mall so parking was plenty. We took bar seats the first time we were there so we didn't have to wait Overall a fantastic place to dine with great customer service read more

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I'm a fan of Kitakata ramen and was so excited that one opened up closer to home, rather than going all the way to Hoffman Estates. I've been to the HE location plenty of times so I had high expectations. I really wanted to give more than 2 stars but then I'd be lying. The gyoza was pan fried with a yummy crispy bite but lacked flavor. Fried chicken and dipping sauce was really disappointing. Though it lived up to its name "juicy fried chicken," that's all that it was. It LACKED flavor big time. The sauce normally has this umami flavor and it was just missing something. I even added the gyoza sauce to spruce it up and it was just meh. I ordered the regular size Kitakata ramen with a soy sauce egg, and an extra 5 pieces of chashu. Again, disappointed in my meal. The broth tasted like it could have used hours and hours of more simmering. Instead it tasted like a light pork broth that just wasn't ready to be served just yet. The service could have been a little more attentive all around, and not just at my table. I noticed people had been sitting there for a while waiting to put their order in, while a table needed bussing. Though they could've been short staff too, regardless they were kind and did their best. It was really cold in the restaurant too. A couple walked in, sat, and left right away at how cold it was in there. You had to eat with a coat on. I'm indifferent about coming back to the Lombard location. This is the 2nd time and it hasn't been consistent. Hoffman Estates has been true to their flavors every time. read more

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Came here with one of my girl friend and omg so glad we did. Perfect for a cold night in Illinois. They seated us even though the kitchen was closing in 20 minutes which was so kind of them. Ordered: spicy miso ramen with a side of corn Portion: amazing size Flavor: delicious, flavorful, good amount of spice Noodle quality: their noodle is different than string noodles. The noodles were bouncy and kinda thick. Service: quick and kind They do give a good potion of pork belly and of course vegetables. read more

Kitakata Ramen Ban Nai - Lombard - Spicy Miso Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Lombard, Illinois

Kitakata is a must try for ramen in the area. Chicagoland has been slow in the diversity of ramen shops that are so prevalent on the East and West coasts. Here we have something beyond the basics. Noodles are made fresh in-house, and you can taste the difference! Also the different broths also stand out from other places which tend to lean on the salty, over developed side. If you try the Kitakata or chashu ramens, you'll see what I mean immediately. Same for the miso stock! Don't sleep on the chicken appetizer either. It's a must, and can be shared! Don't overlook the don bowls, which have lots of umami as well! Kitakata is one of my new, favorite ramen spots! read more

Kitakata Ramen Ban Nai - Lombard - Ramen Near Me - Lombard, Illinois

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10/06/22 - I met up w/3 of my buddies/former co workers for lunch today. It's been just about 1 year since we met up. One of my buddies had never eaten Ramen before? Go figure? Talk about a sheltered life. I suggested Kitakata for Ramen in Lombard as 2 of da guys work out in Oakbrook. I had never been to this Kitakata in Lombard but had eaten at the Hoffman Estate location on numerous occasions and knew that they had excellent ramen. I called to make reservations and was told they don't accept reservations by a young lady named Akiko. From the first time I spoke to her on the phone w/her Japanese sing song voice I had a gut instinct that I was going to like her. When I arrived 2 of my buddies were already there. Our forth friend arrived and we proceeded to order some Sapporo beers while we perused the menu. As my instinct told me Akiko greeted me at the door & she was such a cute Japanese lady so friendly & likable a perfect person to be a greeter & server. I ordered the large chashu/pork belly ramen which comes w/large portions of tender succulent pork belly. The texture & flavors are excellent so delicious tender w/just the right ratio of pork meat to fat. 3 of us ordered the large portions which are very generous portions. We brought home enough for another meal The food as expected was excellent. Kitakata has become my favorite place in Chicagoland for ramen. They have excellent ramen & service. The restaurant is spotless & clean. Kitqkata Ramen Ban Nai originates from the northern part of Japan. Kitakata City in Japan where the Japanese love their ramen & Ban Nai in particular. With a small population of 54,000 people Kitakata has over 130 ramen eateries. Kitakata has more ramen shops/capita then and other place in Japan where ramen is king & part of their daily staple. I will be back when I'm in the area, but alas I live 24 miles away in Chicago. Highly recommend for excellent food & service. Thanks Akiko for making the meal much more pleasant. read more

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I have been wanting to try ramen since moving to the burbs and Kitakata DID NOT DISAPPOINT!! First of all - the service is above and beyond. We entered and they were so kind and encouraging and then the server provided a very detailed explanation of the menu and recommendations. It was definitely a wonderful experience just based on encounters with the staff. Tried the vegetarian ramen and it was incredible. The portion sizes are so large, the taste was savory and the tofu captured the flavor of the ramen. The other dishes we tried were also quite flavorful, large and enough to have for a second meal. The ambiance, quality of food and location is great. Definitely recommend coming here for your next Ramen experience! read more

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With only a hand full of locations in the US at this time (and growing) and a decent number of locations in Japan, this place is legit! Been here several times over the past year and their business is growing. Use the waitlist feature in Yelp to save a spot during weekends! My daughter is a picky ramen connoisseur and this is her favorite spot in the country so far. Great value for the money, great appetizers, and also the list of addons for your ramen. Veggie, meat and chicken options. Water and hot tea are served automatically. Heck even their hot tea is good by itself! read more