The second visit was better - upgraded to 4 stars. Still, food is delicious but service could be improved. Earlier Review: 5 for food. 1 for service. 3 for average. The food was really delicious - everything we got was great. The service on the other hand was really poor. It seemed like instead of focusing on service quality the focus was on "diversity" and "coolness". We asked for wine to be cooled while we waited - it wasn't. We asked for food recommendation and the response was dismissive - like "eat whatever you want - I don't care". We were never asked how our food was and always had to the attention of the waiter ourselves to get things. read more

Came in around 8:30pm on a Tuesday. We were seated within a couple of minutes. I started with their sesame cocktail which was great. We tried the takoyaki, pork buns and the nuggets (karage). The takoyaki was the winner, it was very hot (burned myself but my fault) and delicious. There was mayo dressing, Japanese bbq sauce and bonito flakes over the balls and they were very soft and creamy on the inside, I recommend this app over the others. I ordered the Spicy Roasted Garlic Miso ramen. I didn't love the noodles but the broth was just perfect. I would order this again. The pork belly was tender and tasty, they were sliced thick, too. All of the toppings melded together nicely. We also had some chocolate mochi which tasted just like a choc milkshake to me. I tried my companions Hakata Red ramen and it was too spicy for my liking. Service, food and ambiance combined this place is worth more visits in the future. Keep in mind that they don't take reservations so timing your visit during slower hours will get you seated sooner. read more

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Wait : none for Saturday noon time. Ambience : nice and roomy Service : okay. Well she kept coming to us saying is everything okay for 4 times while our bowls are still half full. I wish I was left alone to enjoy the food. Food : I had spicy pork belly ramen. The broth is thick, creamy and full of flavor. Noodle is well cook, not too soft or hard. I enjoy the food Overall: don't mind coming back but I hope to get a better service read more

The wait here can get long especially if you're a bigger party and it's freezing outside in the middle of December. For a party of five, we had a 40-minute wait and since the restaurant is small, there really isn't anywhere you can stand to wait inside. There's an outside waiting area with a rooftop that can fit maybe 10 people at max. It really needs a heater because you might as well be standing in the cold. Speaking of a party of five, you would be charged 20% gratuity for parties of five or more. Yikes! I only usually see 18% so 20% was a bit much. They offer BYOB which means you can bring your own booze to Wasabi. They limit it to your own wine or two cans of beer per person but no hard liquor. That's a pretty nice option seeing as alcohol at restaurants can be a bit pricey and there's a CVS just down the block if you wish to grab a six-pack of your own. TONKOTSU RAMEN This is probably the best ramen in town Chicago-wise. I thought it was very good although the broth and ramen was not the standout to me. My ramen seemed to be completely covered with a lot of scallions. But what blew my mind was the pork belly. PORK BELLY HEAVEN, it was fatty and tender and super delicious. It made me wish I tried the pork belly buns. As for the broth, I think I do prefer spicy broths since I tasted my friend's dish which was the spicy garlic miso ramen. read more

Ramen Wasabi - Tonkotsu ramen - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

There is a very long wait here and they don't take your phone number, which is fairly annoying. They told us it'd be an hour wait so we went down the street to a taproom (which is so convenient) and came back within an hour. Unfortunately we still had to wait for about 30 minutes, it would have been nice to have them call us when the table was ready so we weren't waiting around in the busy front of the restaurant. The steamed pork belly buns came with sesame mayo, scallions, and romaine. Very tasty! The pork buns come on plates served with 2, but they were so nice to give us 5 and not make us buy 6 since there were 5 of us. The ramen was soooo good and the perfect amount of spice! I love everything spicy and it was definitely spicy and the right amount. The Hakata red was great and they did it without mushrooms for me. I had the wind rises as my cocktail and it tasted just like a spicy margarita! Totally recommend this. read more

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I have eaten here dine-in before Covid, and yesterday ordered take-out! The ramen comes packaged with soup separated from the rest of the meal, and the ramen container says microwave safe! I was worried about take-out ramen but the experience was great and well thought out. The food itself was just as good as in the restaurant, which is the best prepared pork belly I've ever had in ramen (melts in your mouth!). I highly recommend. read more

Still very strong, but when I came in for lunch last Thursday, I finally tried the ramen...the Original Tonkotsu was very good and that broth was cash. I liked the ramen quite a bit, although I thought the meat was a little too fatty for me. There is so much in the bowl that I brought half of it home and made my wife even happier than she already is here at home. (At least, that's what she tells me!) The brussel sprouts were also great and it's a good-sized bowl for about $8. The space here was comfortable as well for lunch; I'm told it still gets crushed at dinner time but parking and getting in here as a walk-in is quite easy. It sounds like the sushi portion of Wasabi is going to be open in 6+ months, so pairing this with the ramen joint and the izakaya coming in means most of my Japanese needs are covered! read more

I am in an official relationship with the Spicy Roasted Garlic Miso at Wasabi. RAMEN love with it. I've tried a handful of ramen shops in Chicago, and this place comes out on top. (Please shoot me a message with your favorite Ramen Shop because I am dying to find other ramen spots.) This place is a trend setter. It's hip, trendy, indie, polished, zen... whatever you want to call it; it's great. A large amount of detail went into the business model, and it shows. I wouldn't mind spending a summer night here (done and done) or a cold winter morning (looking forward to it). A lot of birthday parties, dates, and dinner parties go down here. Every time I go here, I try to order something different because it's an attractive menu. However, I find myself gravitating towards the Spicy Roasted Garlic Miso. It's milky, savory, spicy, and has that rich pork broth I cannot live without. If you want less milky, try the Original Tonkotsu or the Hakata Red. I also always order the pork belly bao buns as an appetizer. If you haven't had a bao bun, this is a great place to start. Fast service despite the long wait for a table. Lastly, forever and ever, Ramen. read more

One of my biggest pet peeves is named Poor Service. On this occasion, PS came in a couple different forms. Form 1: I walk in after the lunch rush (after 1pm), and it literally takes atleast 5 minutes for someone to acknowledge me and/or ask if I need to be helped. No eye contact from any of the waitresses floating around, bus boy breezes by, and guy at the corner of the kitchen and touch screen for ordering are all in their own world. Poor. Form 2: service was incredibly slow, while half the restaurant was unoccupied. For example, if our table requested 3 orders of pork belly steamed buns (the only reason for the second star), why did the first one arrive 5 minutes before the others? Piss poor. The ramen tasted good, and the broth was comforting and savory, but that's not enough to bring me back. read more

Ramen Wasabi - Pork belly steamed buns - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Ordered the spicy spring rolls as appetizers, and they had the right amount of sauce and crunch. For the main course, I ordered the spicy miso and my SO ordered the tonkotsu. Both were great! Come in if you want to have some great ramen! read more

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Authentic, rich, layered ramen and decent Japanese cocktails. Loved the complex flavor of the soft egg and the pork belly was exceptionally tender and bursting with flavors. Happy to have stumbled upon this little gem. Just wish it had wi-fi! read more

Ramen Wasabi - Smoke screen - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I went with a friend to Ramen Wasabi right when they opened at 1100 on Sunday. Service was great. No issues there. I ordered a seaweed salad and a spicy roasted garlic miso. So what are my thoughts? Seaweed salad was very uneventful. I've had better from AYCE places and that's something to be said. Portion size was really sad. What is this? Seaweed salad for ants? The ramen was better a lot better than I expected, but I felt it was hyped up by my friends and didn't deliver. The broth was flavorful, but lacked in body. The toppings were delicious. That pork belly was fatty, but soooooo flavorful. Overall, I thought it was a decent meal. Not sure if I would go again because it's out of the way for me, but I would go if someone else wanted to go. read more

Ramen Wasabi - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Tried this place on a whim and it's probably one of the best ramen places I've been to. I was sat quickly and the service was amazing. Would highly recommend reservations if you want to sit on the side patio, as all socially distanced tables were filled. Definitely try the Margasashi, unlike any cocktail I've had before! read more

Ramen Wasabi - Original Tonkotsu Ramen, Margasashi - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I've always had good ramen but this place made #1 on my list. I got the spicy miso ramen and mai tai drink and I can't even describe how good it was. I like my ramen pretty spicy so I added the spice Unami flavor booster and it was just perfect. The Mai Thai drink was refreshing. My fiancé tried their Tokyo Spicy Wings and wow their sauce was amazing. Recommend you try this place if you enjoy eating ramen, you'll be satisfied. read more

Ramen Wasabi - Spicy Roasted Garlic Miso Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Changing my 5 str review to one star for your terrible post covid18 take out system. The first time we placed carry out was on 5/31. We got there at the time on the email and then we waited. We waited outside for 25 minutes to be exact. Given the tough situation, I obviously did not think too much about it but also obviously still gave a tip for Carry out. The second time, we ordered was on 7/30. Given the last experience, we called ahead and asked if our food was ready. I'm guessing that Alejandro(guy in the yellow neon sneakers)! picked up and he said to come at the scheduled time. We asked if he would check and he said he's busy and NO. When we got there a few minutes after the scheduled time our food would be ready, I stood at the front door. The waiter (Guy in the yellow neon sneakers I'm assuming named Alejandro which was on my receipt) was taking the order of a dine in guest and after I stood for 5 minutes, he acknowledged me. He said he would check and that it's still going to be a while for my food. 10 minutes go by and the table that ordered food when I got there received their ramen. 20 minutes go by and I ask again and he says he can give me a refund and they are busy. 32 minutes go by and he brings my bag and says Here. Not once did he apologize or say I'm sorry for the wait. Seriously the worst experience I've received all of 2020. read more

I came back here and they have really upped their game. Got a highball: ginger syrup is an amazing touch. Got the tonkatsu ramen: good broth without being too heavy. Noodles have their chewy spring back in them. Right amount of additions. The tuna poke bowl: OMG. super umami. ****Best poke bowl in the city.**** Ikura bowl was the only thing that wasn't a 5/5. The rice could have been a little more sushi riced. Don't eat at Aloha Poke (they don't serve poke bowls. They serve garbage bowls with corporate bullying. See my reviews) definitely come here for your poke cravings. read more

Ramen Wasabi - Tonkatsu ramen. Poke bowl in the back. OMG so good. - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Hubby and I went on a chilly Friday evening. The line was present, but it wasn't awfully long when we put our name in to reserve a spot. However, by 1930 hour, the line was extended outside of the entrance. So what did I think about this place? I liked it, but not loved it. The food wasn't at all disappointing, but I didn't think it was worth the hype that everyone was raving about. Let's dive into the details. We waited for approximately ten (10) minutes and then were promptly seated. The waitress gave us enough time to browse through the menu. Other than the ramen, they have other Japanese specialties that I'm fairly familiar with, such as sushi, sashimi, donburi, and some other maki rolls. However, we determined to try the ramen, so we picked the spicy roasted garlic miso ramen and the vegan ramen, since he's a vegetarian. The food was delivered with ten (10) minutes. The presentation of the ramen was pretty spot on, using authentic Japanese ramen bowls and the wooden spoons. That was a good sign. The spicy roasted garlic miso ramen wasn't spicy, yet was bold in flavor. The highlight of the dish was the roasted pork, which was tender, melting into my mouth, and just heavenly. Nevertheless, as I was finishing up the last few slurps, I felt the greasiness on the bottom of the bowl. I understand that a moderate amount of grease in a bowl of ramen is typical, but I thought the grease was a bit much to my liking. On the other hand, hubby enjoyed the vegan ramen and was thankful for having an item to accommodate his dietary restriction. Will I come back? Yes and no. With less than ten (10) waiting time, I was satisfied with the service and the quality of food we received and consumed tonight. It's a nice place to hang out with friends since it's in the heart of Logan Square; it can potentially be a launch point to everything else "fun" for the night. However, my mind is saying "$30 for two (2) average-sized bowls of ramen...there's got to be other places better than this!" Based on our experience, everything we received was a solid four (4) quality, which I can't deny. read more

Ramen Wasabi - spicy roasted garlic miso ramen - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The restaurant usually gets packed fast so it is not ideal to come here with a big group, unless you do not mind waiting at least 30 minutes. Tonkotsu ramen ($13) - I usually get this every time I come here. Portion is perfect for 1 person or IF you have a very small appetite/aren't as hungry or would like to order appetizers as well (good to share amongst 2 ppl). It's delicious and so far the best Japanese ramen that I have tasted in Chicago [slightly biased since I haven't tried all the Ramen restaurants yet]. Perfectly seasoned, but probably has msg in it since I usually knock out or partake in a nap after eating ramen here. Hits the spot on a rainy day! Atmosphere - good for dates or just with a couple of friends...dim lit restaurant and the spaces are pretty close to each other depending on where you sit....you can almost hear the conversations going on around you so if your eyes like to wander, don't come here with 1 friend because then.. I would feel bad for your friend.. Parking - plenty of street parking available in the area...and yes it is free during the weekends. Public transportation - not that close by...you gotta walk a little.. Waiting - yes you will most likely have to wait a little.. and there isn't a great waiting space inside so be prepared if you come here on a rainy/cold day... Yes I would come here again on a gloomy day when I'm craving Japenese Ramen!! read more

The ramen is absolutely scrumdiddly. I like the low lighting of the inside and the outdoor seating is cozy too. I will say I don't understand how the water is always warm. It sits in a fridge yet I have never had a cold glass of water here. I feel like the cups are always smudged too - not sure if the staff carries them by the lips or something but it's something I notice every time I am here. Some staff are also not very welcoming. They just look kind of judgy sometimes, but I shan't hold it against them. read more

The food is flavorful every single time I go! The service is also fantastic. The ambiance is a chill and chic vibe.

This is the best Ramen spot in Chicago hands down. I've been to all the "top" ramen places in Chicago and this one tops them all. My server Aggie was great! She was nice and funny. Overall, I was impressed my experience today with Ramen Wasabi. read more

Ramen Wasabi - Beer - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

One of the best bowls of Tonkatsu ramen in the state-I have eaten at a multitude of ramen houses and this one has top Quality ingredients! The thick broth is perfectly simmered for hours & the char siu is tender and amazing. Adding a pat of butter and chili oil truly amps up the flavors! I highly recommend getting the chicken Karraage as an appetizer-Perfectly crisped chicken with a cool tangy dipping sauce. 10/10! read more

Ramen Wasabi - Tonkatsu ramen bowl - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I came here to meet up with two friends for lunch. Ramen after a night of drinking...great idea! haha We were told we wouldn't get seated until our whole party was present sooo HAVE YOUR PARTY PRESENT! I liked how I would get the ramen where the soup wasn't super intense and it was enjoyable. I also ordered a sashimi from them..oh man it was good...I definitely debated whether to get the Tontoksu or the Vegetarian option. No, I'm not vegetarian but the ingredients they had made it sound really good. The meat here just melts in your mouth since it's super soft. I only ate half my ramen, cause you know silly me...can never finish my order cause my stomach wouldn't let me. I ended up giving my friend the leftovers. IF I COULD I WOULD FINISH IT ALL RIGHT THERE..but I couldn't... Anyways, there's street parking around especially before 11am. Right after lunch, the street gets busy so watch out for that. Thanks Wasabi for the yummy food. read more

Ramen Wasabi - Sake toro $4 - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Had this on my way out of Chicago a few weeks back. A solid solid ramen spot, very busy spot and cool vibe. Super easy access from the train stop. The tonkatsu broth was very flavorful and the chashu was cooked really well. Overall a good traditional tasting ramen. I'd recommend it. Also they had a cool selection of beers and that's always appreciated. read more

Ramen Wasabi - Original Tonkotsu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place is pretty damn good. My friend and I are on the hunt for the best ramen in Chicago and we were both very impressed. I got the Hakata classic and it was perfectly balanced. Not very salty but without sacrificing flavor. One of the things I really liked was the meat was NOT fatty - some people may like fat but I prefer less since the broth itself is already creamy. While I enjoy some of the newer places that try to be creative with their ramen, I appreciate the simplicity of an authentic bowl of ramen which Wasabi provides. My bowl didn't try to dazzle me with overflowing toppings but instead had all the traditional aspects. The one and only small complaint I have is I wish the broth was hotter or could stay warmer. It was fine at first but I felt like it cooled very quickly. My favorite place in Southern California (shin sen gumi) also seems to have this problem so idk if that's normal. We have to try High Five ramen in the west loop before we make our final decision but Wasabi will be tough to beat! read more

Ramen Wasabi - Hakata Classic - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Quite literally the best ramen I've had in my entire life. A friend recommended that I venture out of the city and check this place out and I am SO glad I did. Cute little interior, nice wrap around bar and some nice minimal decorations. I got a glass of the Sauv Blanc and ordered some edamame while I looked over the menu. Of note the restuarant next door is NOT the same. While owned by the same people, they are BYOB and only really serve sushi. The bartender described it as a great place to go drink a bottle of wine and sushi while waiting for a table. I enjoyed the edamame - SO HOT and had nice large sea salt chunks on top. I chose to go with the Tonkatsu ramen even though I really do NOT like pork belly. It just is gelatinous and gross. NOT HERE! This tasted like BACON in the soup. Everything from the creamy and rich broth to the bacon belly and the perfectly chewy noodles was a slam dunk. I sat and savored every single bite - it was seriously killer. I will be dreaming of this ramen for many moons. read more

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Love the ramen! Very flavorful absolutely recommend the spicy miso pork buns and the spicy wings

Hubs and I went in to have dindin. Good ambience. Not uber trendy or old. Just right and on the casual side. I liked the music. Maybe it was jazzy R&B? I can't recall. The original tonkotsu ramen is pretty good. The noodles were el dente. The broth is very rich, almost creamy. Good bamboo shoots, mushrooms, etc. All good in that bowl. The beef bowl, gyudon. Don't ever order it. It isn't awful but most definitely not worth the $10. I've paid more for less portion with no regrets when it's good. This bowl is not worth that. Very overly sweet. Not really a kyudon bowl. Almost tastes like bulgogi but not even the good bulgogi with complex flavors. Tastes like cheap food court bulgogi that tastes like sugar. On the whole, would come back. Very easy walk from our place. We'll stick to sharing a ramen with some extra noodles for $2.50. read more

Ramen Wasabi - The Original Tonkotsu Ramen. Good stuff. Not the best I've had but pretty darn good. - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The first time I ever tried this place I was hooked. I always get one of their delicious cocktails, maybe an app but always the spicy roasted garlic miso. It's hard to describe a perfect bowl of ramen but Wasabi comes dangerously close. The broth is the perfect balance of sweet, savory, salty and umami and the garlic is just a nice addition to all of that. Their noodles are the perfect thickness and they allow the broth and toppings to shine while still being chewy and slurpable. The toppings themselves are delicate yet they add so many more textures to the bowl that it just leaves you satisfied and satiated. The garlic for this specific bowl is fried and adds a crunchiness you don't normally get with ramen but I think it is genius. The best part about this bowl is that every element is perfectly executed and works beautifully together but you could eat any of it individually. The ingredients don't rely on each other to taste good, they shine on their own. Ramen Wasabi is the sister restaurant to Takeya which happens to be my only other favorite spot in Chicago to this level. I make it a point to go to one or the other every time I'm nearby. read more

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Ramen wasabi does NOT miss. I've had it plenty of times and it comes up in not only my but plenty of my friends and even strangers top 5 if not number 1 when we discuss Chicago's best ramen. I've been going since it opened and it's still a prolific spot I'd take people to introduce them to or just grab a bowl of rich broth and karaage read more

Ramen Wasabi - Hakata Red Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Got it 2000 Always love coming here for the spicy miso garlic ramen. Place is always consistent and definitely one of my favorite places to eat during a cold day read more

Ramen Wasabi - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

im not usually a big fan of pork in general, but this place has me wanting their pork belly to an obsessive amount. the pork belly buns are truly out of this world. all of the ramens are amazing too! i tried their sapporo miso, spicy garlic miso, and tonkatsu. the broths were so so flavorful without being too oily, fatty, or salty!! i will dream about their pork until i die! read more

Best Ramen in Chicago! We love their Spicy Roasted Garlic Miso Ramen. They also have great cocktails and sake. Best eaten on cold snowy days, felt very covid safe as well. 11/10 recommend! read more

Ramen Wasabi - Spicy Roasted Garlic Miso Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The best ramen I've had in Chicago so far! Lines form quickly, so try getting there before the dinner rush (I got there around 5:35 on a Friday night and was able to get seated right away). I started with the pork belly buns ($8) - a complete must have! It's like biting into the softest cloud-like bun filled with yummy, braised berkshire pork belly topped with a tangy sesame mayo. They're so good, you might want to pass on having to share these flavor pillows. For the ramen, I ordered the Spicy Roasted Garlic Miso ($14), which was honestly everything I had hoped for. It came out surprisingly quick too! The rich broth was super flavorful and the spice level was just right. The egg noodles were really chewy and had that good, slightly tougher texture I look for in ramen. The perfectly-cooked pork was also very savory and enjoyable; I had to stop myself from eating it all at once. The soft-boiled egg was expectedly good and the roasted garlic floaters were a nice addition. Currently making plans to eat here again! read more

Ramen Wasabi - Spicy Roasted Garlic Miso Ramen - so good! - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We came here at around 6pm and lucky we got the last table prior to the wave of patrons strolling in I ordered the tonkatsu ramen and they are milky creamy rich as always. Their pork bun are pretty too and great starter to have while you wait for your ramen. However, kind of wish they were still a single restaurant with sushi bar so you could order sushi + robata read more

Ramen Wasabi - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Hot soupy ramen is the best during a cold outdoor seating day. They also now take reservations. We all ordered the original tonkatsu ramen and it was perfect. The broth was a bit too oily but overall tasted really delicious. They gave two very generous portions of juicy pork. Remember to eat quickly if you're eating outdoors because the ramen is not enjoyable once it cools down quickly after 15 minutes. I went on Halloween day and they played very spotty slasher metal music - I wish they either left the device playing music nearby the speakers so the music wouldn't cut in and out every 30 seconds or turned the music down so we could hear the conversations at the table. The staff use handheld devices for checkout. The waiter came to our table for payment as we were halfway finished with our ramen. Not the most ideal, but would be nice if they waited until we finished our meal. read more

Ramen Wasabi - Original Tonkotsu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

An authentic ramen place combines with modern alcoholic drinks and Asian fusion tapas. Easy to access, about 6 minutes away from Western stop of Blue line. Loved the house special umami chili oil. The roasted pork belly was phenomenal! Little heads up: the AC wasn't working when I was here, didn't know how long will it be... but good luck! read more

Ramen Wasabi - Spicy Roasted Garlic Miso Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Bruh da food fiahhh. The soup be soupy and the food be foody. I would recommend to all my fellow Americans and travelers.

Ramen has definitely changed since I ate here last, the food gave my friends and I food poisoning. The ramen meat was chunky and very tough to eat and the rice was dry and bland for the gyu don. Not sure if I'll be back again, the trips to the toilet are still fresh in my mind. read more

I've heard a lot about this ramen place so I had to check it out. I picked up some food to go and I got the pork belly buns and the spicy miso ramen. It was so freaking good. The pork was so tender and flavorful. One of the best bowls of ramen I have had - 10/10 would get again. read more

Ramen Wasabi - Pork Belly Buns Small Plate and Spicy Roasted Garlic Miso Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois