Under normal circumstances I would rate Ramen Takeya a 5. I am an extremely loyal customer, but was very disappointed with my last visit. Unfortunately during quarantine, I would give Ramen Takeya only 2 stars. Before heading over we gave them a call to place an order: -1 spicy chicken ramen paitan - regular chicken ramen paitan All of which we wanted with Tokyo noodles - 2 chicken buns (at the moment I forgot the name, but thought it was self explanatory). What we got (see pic): We got 3 different ramens with the wrong meat for one (we don't eat pork) and a ramen we never asked for. Also no chicken buns :( Over the phone I repeated the order twice and the person taking my order sounded annoyed to have to take my order. He didn't bother explaining the pick up process and just said "it will be ready in 30 min" and hung up. When we arrived the pick up area was very small and it made it hard to distance myself from the person giving me my food. They weren't wearing face masks and grabbed my credit card with no gloves. It also took them at least 3 min to even acknowledge that I had walked through the door. No greetings or anything, as if we were intruding in their space. Very odd procedure since all other restaurants normally bring the food out to the car and are wearing gloves and masks. They also take credit card info ahead of time to avoid more contact. I tried to check my order but was rushed out as another employee was entering the restaurant and I was forced to leave due social distancing. Overall I just think it would be nice if the employees didn't treat customers as such a nuisance and took the time to repeat the order and go over the pick up procedure. Disappointed since we were looking forward to ramen for some time and picked Ramen Takeya as we wanted to help support a local restaurant. read more

Ramen Wasabi - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Takoyaki surprised me! It was really good and crispy. Tokyo shoyu one, the soup was light for me, but I love the noodles and the meat. I preferred another one, which is spicy one. It was quite spicy but I love it! Really strong favors. Meat was so good too! The only thing is the sign said that we should wait at the door, but no one was going to receive us. Many people stuck at the door. Until I went to ask a server, and we was told to find the seat by ourselves. Anyway, food was delicious ! read more

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We came with a party of 4 and the host was super friendly and they seated us right a away. We started with their edamame and fried chicken pork buns, which were super delicious! I had the classic ramen and it was amazing. The broth and the noodles we're so satiating during a cold night. I would highly recommend this place! read more

Ramen Wasabi - Tokyo classic shoyu ramen with no Pork Belly - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Oh my goodness, we found our new favorite ramen place in Chicago. We were hesitant at first because it's situated in the heart of Fulton Market and were suspicious about its authenticity. We got back from Japan just a few months ago so wasn't sure what to expect. The takoyaki we ordered was delicious. We've never had takoyaki in the States with a similar texture to what we had in Japan - doughy, steaming goodness. Then the ramen - we got the original and spicy Chicken Paitan. I had been craving spicy noodles for days and this hit the spot. I generally don't like chicken-based broths (prefer pork) so I wasn't very excited, but the richness and flavor of the broth blew me away. The spiciness was different from what I usually get at noodle places - it's not spicy for the sake of being spicy, rather it complemented the broth to create a combined unique flavor. Noodles were slightly chewy just the way I like them. The portions were sizable (we were comfortably full at the end of the meal) and only $13 per bowl. Already dreaming about coming back. read more

My wife and I set out to find our favorite Ramen place in Chicago at the start of the pandemic, and we unanimously decided this is it. The most interesting part about this selection is that our favorite order is the vegan ramen. Before you stop reading, I'm not a vegan, but my wife is a vegetarian, and the first time we ordered from there I ordered the Chicken broth, then I tried the pork broth, and neither were as good as the vegan one somehow. I've tried her vegetarian/vegan broths at other establishments, and usually they are sub-par at best, which is why this is so surprising to me. Anyway, I now order the vegan ramen and add meat if I want, but sometimes I leave it out because the Upton's Seitan is really good in there. All of the appetizers are very high quality, and when you can eat in there again, it has a vibrant atmosphere that reminds me of some NYC and SF ramen spots I've been to. read more

I had the Osaka Shio and tried the Tokyo classic for $12.50 each. Both are Berkshire pork broth based. With the Osaka, you can really tell that it was pork based. With the Tokyo classic, you can't really. The Tokyo tasted more like miso. They were both really good. The portions was like any other ramen place. The ingredients were pretty much the same. Although it is really good, there wasn't really anything special to it. The service was great. They were quick and came often. They were also friendly. When you come here, it is a smaller venue so their policy is that everyone in your party has to be present in order to be seated. They don't do reservations when I called--walk-in only. I'm not sure if i would come back again but I recommend it. read more

Ramen Wasabi - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

romantic, amazing music, lovely atmosphere, kind servers!! we both got the tofu crunch rice bowl (or something like that). to die for!!! perfect portion size with the right amount of spice would definitely come back for another date night! read more

Ramen Wasabi - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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In and out in 45 minutes! I've been thinking about Ramen literally from 12:00am until about 2:00am (is that a craving or what?) Because of my racing thoughts of Ramen swirling through my head, I needed to quench my thirst and went in at 12:00pm on a Tuesday afternoon! I started with the Fried Chicken buns which were very good. The order came with 2 buns and each bun had two pieces of extremely juicy chicken. The pieces were a little big for the bun but who ever complained about having too much fried chicken. Next was this fantastic Ramen that I was thinking about for much of the morning. I got the Miso bold and spicy. It was really great and it definitely holds a big fire to my favorite Ramen spot, High Five. You get half a perfectly cooked molten egg, two pieces of mouth watering pork belly, bamboo shoots, bean sprouts and some threads of chili. This was a great start to my eating today and I will definitely be back! read more

Ramen Wasabi - Miso Bold and Spicy Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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My friend and I came here because we were craving ramen and it did not disappoint! To start, the restaurant is offering extended seating outside into the street in the Fulton Market District and the set up is so cute. Lots of string lights and cute plants make up the decor. We started with the crispy shrimp appetizer. The shrimp was tempura and glazed with a bang bang sauce. It tasted delicious but my only complaint was that the portion was pretty small for the price. Our ramen however was AMAZING. The portions were huge and I had to take half of it home for leftovers. We both got the Bold & Spicy Miso Ramen and added Bok Choy and corn. The ramen was super flavorful and very spicy so be sure to ask about the spice before you order. Also be sure to get some sides of spicy mayo to add! Overall this place was amazing and the food was incredible. I will definitely be back sometime soon! read more

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Awesome ramen shop in the heart of the Fulton Market district! Walked in at 8:00pm on a Saturday night for dinner and was seated at the Ramen Bar, which faces a glass-enclosed kitchen. Our waitress, Rachel, was friendly and eager to offer her recommendations. Every dish was spot-on delicious. We started with the Big Eye Tuna poke ($13), which was fresh, beautifully plated, and divine. It was enough to share among two people and so flavorful. Next, we ordered the gyoza dumplings ($10), which include shredded pork and cabbage, lightly pan fried and so fresh! My date had the Miso Bold and Spicy Ramen ($14), made with chicken broth, pork belly, soft boiled egg, bamboo shoots, and fire bean sprouts. I ordered the Chicken Paitan ($13), which had chicken broth, egg noodle, pork belly, egg, mushroom, and diced onion. They were each so tasty, and we watched the bowls be prepared. Can't beat fresh ramen! Save room for the mochi ice cream ($4)! The atmosphere is pretty chill and intimate with bulb lighting in the dining room and strung lights over the ramen bar. While the bar corridor is tight with server traffic, we still had plenty of room for two. read more

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Best ramen in Chicago? Possibly. Of the three reputable Chicago ramen bars I've visited, Takeya takes the crown by a mile: hand-made noodles, pork chashu with a hint of sweetness and just the right fat-to-meat ratio. They specialize in Paitan (chicken broth) which I don't typically prefer, but these folks do it right. The Miso Bold & Spicy: broth was rich, full of flavor and spicy. An added surprise was the generous portion of bamboo shoots in the ramen waiting for me towards the bottom of the bowl. Tucked away around the corner from Ramen-San, there was zero wait time for 2 on a Sunday evening around 7pm (compare this to a two hour wait at High-Five). If you're looking for ramen in Chicago- this is your spot. Order the Miso Bold & Spicy. My single critique is the egg: Half an egg is included, not a full egg (the menu doesn't specify this). While the yolk is golden and cooked nicely, the egg itself is not marinated for long enough. read more

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Specialization in Chicken Ramen? Say What? Not gonna lie, I love my Tonkotsu (pork-based) ramen but I wanted to give this a try. I got the Chicken Paitan which comes with pork belly or chicken, a soft-boiled egg, bamboo shoots, bean sprouts, mushroom and onions. To my surprise, the chicken broth had a good, rich depth of flavor. The egg noodles are homemade and has a nice springy texture. Pork belly cuts are pretty generous. The soft-boiled egg is actually cooked properly, as compared to many other ramen shops that tend to overcook the yolk. Had a few bites of my friends spicy chicken paitan and boy was that spicy! Coming from a guy who doesn't eat too spicy, I'd steer clear of the spicy option. My friend also replaced the pork with chicken which is an accommodation that they can make here. The chicken was moist and tender but a bit too sweet for my liking. Ambiance: It's a small, intimate place with cute japanese latterns and lights. There's also a ramen bar towards the back where you can watch the chefs make your ramen! The restaurant is a bit smaller though and I wouldn't recommend it for parties larger than 4 people. Service after sitting was friendly and decently fast. However, when we walked in, the servers were a bit slow to acknowledge and sit us even though there were only a couple customers inside at the time. This recurred for subsequent customers too who arrived during our meal service. Note: wait patiently at the front and someone will eventually help you. If you ever want chicken ramen, this is definitely a top contender to hit up. read more

Ramen Wasabi - Chicken Paitan Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This is my absolute FAVORITE place to get ramen on a cold day. This place is a short walk away from where I live, and a quick call can determine if the place has a wait or not. The times are a bit funky, but it's easy to plan around. The Shoyu Ramen with chili oil and an extra egg usually hits the spot for me. The best thing about the broth is that its light but is still just fatty enough to feel warm and comforted. There is also a selection of appetizers and poke bowls that I have not tried but I will try out soon! This is one of the best places if you want a chill atmosphere with a truly Japanese aura. You will not leave with any complaints, just a happy stomach. read more

Ramen Wasabi - Shoyu Ramen! yum~ - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I've been all over the United States and Canada trying ramen restaurants everywhere I go and this is still my #1. I find myself comparing every new bowl I try to my beloved Osaka shio with extra egg, mushrooms and chili oil from Takeya. It's not a coincidence that my #2 is Takeya's sister restaurant Wasabi. The flavor of their broths are spot on, the chili oil adds the perfect spice and all the toppings are very well executed every time. I would eat here everyday if I could. read more

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Takeya is a really fun restaurant with a great atmosphere and solid food. I've been in twice and had a positive experience both times. Their buns are absolutely delectable, they have Asahi on tap, and they have a lot of bar seating, which makes it a great place to walk in casually. The Miso Bold & Spicy ramen is my favorite here. It honestly doesn't pack a ton of heat so don't be afraid to order this one if you're not into super spicy food. The broth is chicken-based, but it still has a creamy and rich quality. There was enough fatty opacity to it for me to come back even though I tend to go for the richest and spiciest pork broths. They have a lot of bigger tables here, so if you have a group of 6 or 8 they can likely seat you all together. Just know they absolutely will not seat you unless your entire party is present. I have seen people waiting on the rest of their groups both times I walked in. My most recent visit was on a Friday night at around 7:15, and despite it being peak time my wife and I got a seat within 15 minutes. It's definitely always busy, but not swamped. read more

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Ordered for delivery and the ramen arrived clumped together. The soup wasn't hot enough to separate the noodle. It was okay. I am sure the reman would have tasted much better if the soup was still hot. We stayed at a hotel so there was no way to heat it up. We both took a few bites and trashed it. The delivery time was pushed back over and over again, not the restaurant's fault. This is a grub hub issue I have experience multiple times. read more

Ramen Wasabi - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

AMAZING. The food was so good!! The place is super cute too. The service kind of sucked tho, it was hard to order drinks or get water. I ordered the spicy chicken paitan ramen and pork belly buns. Both were so good. The ramen had so much flavor and was such a large serving!! It had a good amount of pork belly in it too, and it was perfectly cooked. Definitely the best place I ate in Chicago this weekend. read more

Ramen Wasabi - Green Geisha - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This is my second visit and the quality of the ramen stays the same. The noodles were al dente and the soup is not to thick and heavy (it's expected cuz i ordered the one with chicken broth). The char sie slices were thick but tender. Would definitely come again. read more

Ramen Wasabi - Salmon Roe Mini Donburi and Chicken Karaage Nuggets - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We came for a late night bowl of ramen after a hard day of cleaning and working. We ordered the spicy chicken ramen (I think they gave me the non spicy version because I could not taste any spice whatsoever), fried takoyaki (I liked it and the sauce was good), fried chicken bites (loved the crispyness. Could have gone for a stronger dipping sauce). The restaurant was pretty much empty the entire time. Service was a little bit of a hit or miss. But overall, it was nice to check off another ramen spot on my list. read more

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My second time being at Ramen Takeya. First time I went, I left thinking the place was average and nothing to come home about. Second time however, which was this past weekend, really solid place! Got the Asahi Super Draft, Karaage chicken, and the Miso Bold and Spicy. Let's start off with the drinks. They are charging you a premium for light Japanese beer. The Asahi Super Draft was $8. I've had Sapporo, Asahi, no way this should be $8. But oh well, I guess they are catering to a market that doesn't know about Asian beer. Sigh...the greed. Anyways beer is solid. Cocktails seem interesting but is unfortunately not a compliment with your ramen. Karaage chicken was delicious. I love karaage chicken. It's so juicy and tender and the chicken here was no different. I would say though the best karaage chicken I have had in Chicago is from Kizuki both in quality and quantity. The Miso Bold and Spicy was spicy so beware. I love spicy food so it was nothing for me. I would say the ramen was extremely refreshing and the perfect amount of spices and salt for the ramen to go down so well! I loved it. Really solid. First time I came to Ramen Takeya I left never wanting to come back but I'm not sure what happened from then to now but it's a solid place and I would come back if I'm in the area and not willing to go to Wicker for my favorite ramen spot. read more

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Located in the lively Fulton Market area, I decided to stop by this place after the restaurant we initially wanted to go to was closed. This place was totally worth it! Came in on a Wednesday night, and were seated promptly with no wait. As many describe in their reviews, the interior of this restaurant was intentionally made to look like the alleys of Tokyo; I totally see it! This place was more than just a meal, the inside of the restaurant is a unique, worthwhile experience in and of itself. As far as the food goes, we ordered the Seaweed salad appetizer, Spicy Chicken Paitan, and the Miso Bold and Spicy. The Seaweed salad appetizer was pretty good and tasted like your classic seaweed salad, but at $5 was overpriced for the quantity. The two ramen bowls we ordered were, however, amazing! Both had a hearty chicken broth base, and had a nice but not overwhelming amount of kick to it. I personally liked the Miso Bold and Spicy ramen bowl a bit better, as it was a bit spicier than the spicy chicken paitan. However, both were flavorful and I would definitely order it again. The one thing I don't like is how expensive the ramen is, but considering the location and how expensive ramen items generally are at restaurants throughout Chicago, the prices here are relatively standard. Definitely check this place out if you're craving ramen and are in the West Loop area! read more

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I've been dying to try this place after having such an amazing experience at their sister restaurant, Ramen Wasabi in Logan Square. Lucky for me, I found myself in the West Loop this weekend for morning coffee with two friends. We decided to head over to Ramen Takeya for lunch. We got there around 2:15, and they let us know they were closing soon, so we should order quickly. No worries because I'd already had my eye on a particular ramen, and even though they were close to closing, we never felt rushed or pushed to hurry our meal! We got the takoyaki for an appetizer. Do yourself a favor, order this! If you've never had takoyaki, you're missing out. And if you have, this is some of the best I've ever had. They came out super hot, and the breading was crispy and not overly heavy, and held the octopus together. I took the miso bold & spicy ramen, and WOW talk about flavor! The broth was thick, yet still clean with the perfect amount of spice! I love spicy, and this broth provided the perfect balance of spicy while still retaining rich flavor. The noodles were the winner in this dish though. Cooked perfectly! With that light crunch I am always searching for in my ramen. Pork belly was melt in your mouth tender, and there were two large pieces. One friend took the spicy chicken paitan, and the other the Tokyo classic shoyu. Of course I had to try each, and both were delicious as well. Although I believe mine was still the winner ;) Couldn't rave more about Ramen Takeya! The interior is also absolutely adorable. Styled after Yokocho Alley in Tokyo, you really feel you are there! Our waiter, who may have also been the owner, was super nice and attentive. read more

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We just had lunch here and I could not have been more satisfied. For someone who doesn't eat pork it's hard finding a ramen that's done well. This place was on point! I got the bold and spicy miso ramen with chicken and added mushrooms and corn. The broth was just spicy enough. It wasn't too spicy where your mouth is on fire. Because it was a miso broth it was a bit more filling. The noodles were perfectly cooked. They weren't mushy or overly thick. It did t have as much chicken as I thought it would but I didn't miss it, the other ingredients made up for it. When I think of ramen I think of this! I also had the silk coffee. It comes in an aluminum can. It was lighter than most coffees. If you're in need of quick caffeine boost I'd recommend this. Over the place is really cute, the service is great and the portions/prices is very reasonable. Will definitely be returning. read more

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Short: Stopped by while visiting, probably one of the best Ramen I've had so far. The place is a bit small, so big groups are hard to accommodate. Service was decent. Long: While visiting Chicago, we walked around the city for the morning, by the time lunch came around, we were starving. It was a cold morning, so we felt like some type of soup. My friends did some research and found this place, I was just along for the ride, wasn't exactly sure what to expect. I've always had the mentality that ramen was "ok," but I was surprised when I tried this place. I got the Spicy Chicken Paitan, the broth is incredibly rich. It tasted amazing. The noodles here are home made, you can definitely tell the difference. The place is definitely a little tight. We had a group of 6 people and that was a little hard to accommodate. We were squeezed into the corner where it made it awkward to get up and move to the restroom without hitting the person behind us. The service is decent, nothing crazy. Overall, this place is great and I recommend it to anyone, whether you already live here or you are visiting. read more

Ramen Wasabi - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Came here on a Saturday night and was seated immediately, very lucky! We actually got the last table! This place has such a cool vibe! We got crispy brussel sprouts to share, which had the perfect balance of tartness and sweetness from their "special sauce". I ordered the miso bold and spicy which has a good kick, but I think they could make it even spicier. Either way, it was delicious. I'm definitely gonna be coming back! read more

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I'm not a huge tonkotsu fan so the spicy chicken paiten was right up my alley. I did wish that it was slightly more spicy but overall the broth was absolutely amazing. It's not the first time I've had chicken ramen and I think my usual complaints in the past were that its either too watery or flavorless but this one was just perfection. Perfect thickness and amount of salt. We also tried the karaage and it was pretty good: the lightly crispy skin you'd expect from a true Japanese fried chicken. I will definitely return again!! (though probably by myself since most of my friends still prefer pork based broth...) read more

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This is a review of only the vegan tan tan men. In summary, it was fine, but nothing to write home about. Here's why: - Replacing the egg noodles with soba is a little weak sauce. If you want a good example of vegan ramen noodles done right, go to Jinya Ramen. - The broth was somewhat creamy as opposed to watery, which was good. And I liked the spice. However, I think the spicy flavor was pretty much the only flavor, which probably is just trying to mask the blandness. - The seitan was fine and I liked the texture, but there wasn't a lot of it and it wasn't amazing. I would probably prefer tofu. - I liked the inclusion of sauteed bok choy. I don't think I'd ever crave or find comfort in this ramen, but it wasn't terrible. read more

Ramen Wasabi - Vegan tan tan men - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

First off, I was pleasantly surprised that my friend and I were able to snag seats without waiting on a Saturday around 5:45. It did start getting busy right after that, but the waiting time didn't seem too horrible. Chicken kaarage - 5/5 I really enjoyed the kaarage here! What made the dish for me was the dipping sauce of mayo covered in (I think) Japanese seven spice. The chicken was tender and the meat to breading ratio was done well. Osaka shio ramen - 3/5 First, the appearance. The ramen looked very plain, with the ingredients just kind of sadly placed in the bowl. This could be forgiven obviously, but the flavors recapitulated the presentation. Don't get me wrong -- everything tasted pretty good and I still scarfed down the entire bowl plus the broth (because who doesn't like ramen??). It was just extremely unmemorable. Everything tasted rather one-dimensional, like something I could could easily make at home. I've tried my fair share of ramen in Chicago. Ramen Takeya could be a good option if you're in the area and you don't want to wait in an insanely long line, but it wouldn't be my first choice. read more

Ramen Wasabi - Osaka shio ramen - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I have been in search of the best ramen in Chicago and was finalizing my list, this place was the last joint I needed to try to complete the list. I was actually very excited to try it because they are the sister restaurant of Wasabi, which is my favorite ramen place. The place is fantastic, speaking in the ambiance perspective. I love the decor, it made me feel like I was in the streets of Japan enjoying a bowl of ramen. It was cute. I got the following: Brussels sprouts, takoyaki, pork belly buns, Tokyo classic shoyu, and spicy chicken paitan. Let's start with the Brussels sprouts. They were fantastic. The special sauce they were tossed in was amazing. There was a firmness to the sprouts, perfectly cooked. I had this at Wasabi (but it was too toasted there), I liked them better here at Takeya. Now, I've been in search of where I can get good Takoyaki...boy oh boy, was it great here. I can't even explain this, it was just an explosion of flavors. The batter was perfect and the crispness of the balls, just wow! Party in your mouth goodness, but not like a regular party...an uncontainable party cause everyone is having a good time and could not control themselves party (that party). The pork bun, oh, bun of porks!!! Will I say that it was good? Yes, it was good! Will I say that it's the best pork bun I have ever tasted? No, I can not. But, it is a very good pork bun. The flavor was there, the pork was cooked well, the bun's consistency was top notched. But, I wasn't really blown out of the water by it. It is not to say that it was a bad bun, it was still a great bun, you should definitely try it...I enjoyed eating it. Now the ramen...the broth of the shoyu was clean. It was flavorful, but a bit toned down compared to its sister restaurant and High Five. But nothing taken away from the broth, it's still legit. I asked for a side of the chili oil to make it spicy. It was good ramen bowl, but nothing that seemed to really wowed me like Wasabi and High Five...less rich and full-bodied in comparison. The spicy chicken paitan was forgettable, though the waitress did mention it was one of their more popular dishes. I just wasn't feeling it. Though, the broth I must say was good...above average. I say it's a nice alternative to High Five if you're in the West Loop. It's a decent bowl of ramen, for sure, my number 4 in the list of ramen places...definitely worth a try. read more

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I ordered takeout and even tho I was late to pick up my food, it was still delicious and hot! Fried Chicken Buns: the bao bun, fried chicken, and Sriracha mayo paired beautifully and it was exactly what I wanted! Chicken Parian: my husband ordered this ramen but of course I had to steal a few bites (and by bites I mean messy slurps). The chicken-based broth was very flavorful and I kept wanting to go back for more! Vegan Tan Tan Men: despite being a meat eater, I decided to try the vegan option and it was so good! The broth was still rich with flavor and I didn't feel like I was missing out on meat! Even the seitan was super good and I'm picky about meat substitutes tasting odd. read more

This is probably my favorite ramen place in town now. I love the Tokyo Classic Shoyu. They use a chicken based broth, combined with delicious and tender pork belly. It is absolutely amazing and the price is reasonable for West Loop. I also love their buns, especially the pork belly bun. read more

Ramen Wasabi - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Awesome customer service! Delicious food. What more could you ask for? We got the nuggets, gyoza, shoyu ramen, and the miso bold ramen. Everything we ordered exceeded our expectations! The kids devoured two orders of the nuggets! I'm craving the ramen as I type this. Cannot wait to go back! read more

Ramen Wasabi - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Best ramen in the city! I usually get the miso bold and spicy with a yuzu boost and fried garlic. Never forget the fried garlic! I like the brussel sprouts- sometimes they come on the salty side, but they're still good. We also share the Ebi Chili Bun, and chicken karaage and leave super full. We have never had a problem with seating, but have shown up on a Monday (when they are closed). read more

Awesome flavor, spicy chicken paitan wasn't too spicy so you can taste all the melded flavors. The egg ramen noodles are whatever the Japanese word for al dente is aka cooked to perfection The pork belly falls apart in your mouth and is sooo delicious. Don't skip out on the fried chicken buns. The sauce, greens. and the soft buns make it the best bite. They come with two and is great for an appetizer. Would def come back read more

I didn't find the food here to be anything noteworthy. It was good, but not great, and a little pricey in my opinion. Service was great though! read more

Ramen Wasabi - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Came here for the uni/toro donburi but it wasn't available so that was a huge bummer. My bf ordered the ikura donburi instead & he loved it. I got the salmon crunch poke donburi and it was decent. I asked for a side of Yuzu and it made it taste a lot better! Food came out really fast, we were in & out in 20 minutes. Next time we're in town we'll def try the ramen & hopefully they'll have the uni/toro! read more

Ramen Wasabi - Salmon Crunch Donburi - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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When I was most recently in Chicago, I was really craving ramen. This wouldn't have been a problem if I wasn't craving ramen on Christmas Eve. Luckily, Ramen Takeya came to the rescue! They were open for lunch on a cold snowy day, and I am glad my parents and I came. The place is tucked away in West Loop, away from most of the more busy streets and restaurants in the area. When we came in, I asked the server if we could sit by the window to watch the snow. Luckily, the small space was fairly quiet, so we got a chance to look out at the snow while we ate. Our server was kind and knowledgeable too. To start, we split the Ikura Mini-Donburi, and I got the Osaka Shio ramen. My parents got the Vegan Tan Tan Ramen and the Tokyo Classic Ramen. The Ikura Donburi was quite good, and the sushi rice was nicely flavored, with an added hint of soy sauce to flavor the salmon roe. It's a nice dish to split since the dish is pretty homogenous. The Osaka Shio ramen was good. You could really taste the chicken in the chicken & pork broth, which was clear and light. The pork belly char siu was a little bit too fatty for my tastes, but the thick cut added an extra depth of flavor to my dish. The rest of the toppings (soft-boiled egg, naruto (fish cake), bamboo shoots, and green onion) were well-balanced with the wavy noodles. I wished that the broth had been a bit more robust, but luckily I got a chance to add some of my dad's vegan broth to mine and that added the kick I was looking for. I also got the yuzu boost to my dish for an additional $1.50, and the yuzu-based sauce added a much-appreciated lightness to my dish. From what I heard and sampled, the Vegan Tan Tan Ramen was quite good. The mushroom and seaweed broth got a hint of heat from the chili oil and was overall a very full-bodied and rich dish. The fact that it was vegan was a plus! The Tokyo Classic, on the other hand, felt a little bland in comparison. Without the added perk of the yuzu boost or the robustness of the vegan broth, I'd say that it was probably the least standout of the three dishes. Don't get me wrong, it's not that it was bad, but it definitely was missing something a little richer, maybe in the broth or toppings. I'd be happy to come here again. Next time, I hope I get a chance to try the Calpis Hi cocktail! read more

Ramen Wasabi - L to R: Osaka Shio, Vegan Tan Tan, and Tokyo Classic. - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This places is DEFINITELY as good as its sister restaurant wasabi. Their vegan is excellent! Expect a bit of a wait on the weekend- but the ramen is well worth the visit. They also deliver on caviar for those days when it's too cold to think about stepping outside read more

Great food, service. Very typical Japanese style. Beautiful environment and attention from everyone. Worth coming and trying it. 5 stars read more

Ramen Wasabi - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I have never experienced such unfriendly service at a restaurant before. It was my first time going to this restaurant so I'm pretty disappointed and won't be coming back. As soon as I walked in I could tell our server, Grace, was not happy to see us. She couldn't even pretend to smile or just generally be nice to my boyfriend and I. I work as a waitress and a bartender myself so I kept a close watch on her on why she was treating us so poorly. It seemed that she was attentive and friendly with her white customers. Since my boyfriend and I are not white I'm guessing she assumed that we would not tip her so she did not care enough to be friendly to us. Unlucky for her, we would've probably left her 20% but we left her nothing because she was unfriendly and we believed she was stereotyping us. I also noticed that the moment an Asian couple walked in she immediately told them to get their temperature checked but failed to do that to the white customers that came in and even to my boyfriend and I. Given the circumstances of the Asian hate that is going on because of COVID, I found that extremely racist. As a Japanese American, I am embarrassed for this "Japanese" restaurant to have a sever like Grace. I wish this restaurant the best of luck. read more