It's Lenten season, so I've been making more of an effort to explore restaurants with solid vegetarian options throughout March. This time, I checked out Strings Ramen Shop at 2141 S. Archer St. in the heart of Chinatown. You really can't go wrong with a good miso ramen, and Strings is a cute, cozy spot surrounded by so many great Asian dining options. I was looking for something quick and comforting, and this place delivered. I was seated right away, and the waitstaff was very knowledgeable and accommodating throughout my visit. The space offers a mix of individual seating and booth-style tables at the perfect height to sit back and enjoy your meal. I ordered the miso ramen with a side of kimchi. The bowl came packed with mushrooms, noodles, corn, and other vegetables, with the option to add a boiled egg (which I skipped this time). I also tried the veggie boiled dumplings, and they were just as delicious. The ramen was flavorful, satisfying, and exactly what I needed. In fact, I've already been back twice, which says a lot. While I'm looking forward to trying some of their chicken and beef options in the future, their vegetarian offerings definitely hold their own. If you're looking for a cute, quick ramen spot, Strings is a great choice. 4.5 out of 5 stars. read more

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We (two adults, two older teens) went to Chinatown for a weekend of being a tourist in our own state. We planned our restaurants carefully and hit the city. We invited our two adult daughters who were living in the city at the time. Our original plan was to eat dinner someplace else but that plan fell through when we found out our reservation didn't stick and there was a two hour wait. We walked down a street a little bit and found Strings Ramen Shop. My family was glad we did! I am a pretty small eater; I usually do not order my own meal and take bites of what my family orders. I think I am lucky because I usually get to try so many different things. The hubby ordered some appetizers and everyone ordered a ramen of some sort, except for my son, he ordered the Kani Don and STILL talks about it being of the best meals he's ever had. The restaurant was pretty crowded... we were there on a very cold winter night; all the coats and people made it a little claustrophobic.... No big deal though, the food was a hit! read more

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Excellent ramen! Lots of choices. Great service. Atmosphere is casual, but thoughtful. Went with a Girl Scout troop + some moms on the fly when our plans changed. Our troop loved trying different foods & there was something for everyone... Moms had a great time too. I would definitely return and many Moms were excited to add a new place to their roster. I was most impressed with our server, who smiled and accommodated the questions, allergies, fussy eaters. All with a smile in a very busy restaurant. read more

Just had a delivery. Hot and delicious!!! Miso ramen and pork goyza was so good in the sauce.

Bowl was packed with so much meat. It was really good and definitely worth the price. We got sat in the back which is not as aesthetic as the front part of restaurant, but service was still fast and we got our food at a reasonable time. J definitely recommend trying this place. read more

Strings Ramen Shop - Meat Lover Don - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Love Ramen Noodles and Rice Bowls? You've got to go to Strings Ramen! Love fresh ramen noodles? Strings Ramen makes fresh ramen noodles daily, in-house. We started our meal with fabulous Sui Gyoza (boiled dumplings). Both Pork and Shrimp. For drinks, we have the refreshing and delightful Stringria and Summer Passion Fruit Stringria. The seafood and Kura Buta was simply amazing! The Duck Chazuke was incredible! (Only available at their Chinatown location). But the favorite of the meal was the Belly Buster Bowl, trust us, it's really delicious! Make plans now to go to Strings Ramen asap! read more

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Absolutely loved this spot. The vegetarian ramen options were flavorful, comforting, and perfect for a cold day. The Hell Ramen had a great level of spice without overpowering the flavor, and the dumplings were so good. Everything tasted fresh and well made. Even the Japanese sodas were a fun touch. Such a cozy place for cold weather and definitely worth checking out. I would 100 percent come back. read more

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ON A CHILLY WINTER NIGHT, the Tonkotsu (creamy pork bone broth) ramen dish feels just right! Made with 100% handmade egg noodles, the most popular Ramen option is the TONKOTSU RAMEN. The slice of pork belly or pork loin is quite thick. We usually order the pork belly as it has more flavor. The broth could be a bit more flavorful, but we usually add a few condiments. PRO TIP: the egg noodles tend to be a bit firm, so we asked them to cook the noodles longer. The pork dumplings are good, but you could probably also buy it at a Chinese market (frozen), and make it at home. It's the sauce that makes the dumplings special. PRO TIP: once you're done with the dumplings, feel free to pour the remaining sauce into your Ramen dish to add more flavor. The Customer service is always pleasant, the wait time is not long for the food, but there may be 15 to 20 minutes wait time to be seated as it's quite popular. Please note that this restaurant does NOT validate for the Chinatown parking lot which gives you three hours for three dollars. Their fruity drinks are nice, but the dried fruit bits are a bit odd. read more

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From One Piece* can't wait to go back to this place!! Will update when I go back, but wow why would I say Naruto xD I still remember how great their ramen is! read more

Strings Ramen Shop - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I wanted to try the hype about Hell ramen since a while now and I finally was able to get my hands on it! My friend and I visited Strings on a weekday. Despite being a weekday it was pretty packed and we were asked to wait for 15 mins to get a table. We ordered a vegetable gyoza for apps and shared a vegetarian Hell ramen (level 2) The gyoza was served in a bowl and dipped in soy sauce. It was definitely my favorite, it had soy filling which was healthy as well. My friend and I thought we could not handle level 2 spice however we were wrong, it wasn't that bad at all! The ramen had wood ear mushrooms, baby-corn, bamboo shoots and green onions. The broth was based of seaweed which was quite different than the ones I've had before! Overall, a great ramen place in the city and everyone should give it a try! The ambiance is kinda small, but typical like any other Ramen place. They seemed pretty short staffed as our server was juggling multiple priorities, but nothing too bad in terms of our experience! read more

Strings Ramen Shop - Vegetable Gyoza - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Visited this location while in Chicago for work. Very small restaurant but it was cute and quaint. I started with the veggie dumplings..they were fantastic! Moved on to a steaming bowl of Ramen. It was satisfying but the pork could've been a bit more tender. The broth had good flavor. Nice, no frills place to grab a quick, hot bite. There's street parking as well as lot parking across the street. read more

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This is a cute little ramen shop. Ill start off by saying if you have an allergy please confirm with them. They helped me not get "dairied" since I have an intolerance. The service was quick. The food is pretty delicious. The only weird thing is that they do not have chicken. They have turkey instead. The ramen was still flavorful and you get a decent amount. I would eat here again, but it wouldn't always be my first go to. The only downside about this spot is that there are a lot of ledges. We had a stroller with us so it made it a bit challenging. The inside is also rather small so definitely not a bring a stroller kind of place. Now I know for next time. If you want tasty ramen I do recommend giving this place a shot. Even their boba type drinks are tasty! read more

Strings Ramen Shop - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Stopped in here after arriving at O'Hare. Definitely hit the spot as it was cold out and late in the evening. They have a good selection of ramen and other options as well. Small spot but good amount of seating, so we did not have to wait. The food came out quickly too. read more

Strings Ramen Shop - Miso Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This is hands-down my favorite ramen spot, and I will never stop coming back. From the moment you walk in, the vibe is warm and welcoming, and the food somehow gets better every single time. The broth is next-level rich, flavorful, and clearly made with so much care. The noodles have the perfect bite, and every topping tastes fresh and intentional. You can tell this is the kind of place that takes pride in what they serve, not just going through the motions. Portions are generous, prices are fair, and the quality is consistently amazing. Whether you're a ramen lover or trying it for the first time, this place will absolutely set the standard. If you're even thinking about coming here, do it. Best ramen. No debate. read more

Solid place to satisfy your ramen cravings on a cold winter day! The service is fairly fast. It wasn't crowded at all when we went, and we were able to get our ramen in less than 15 minutes after we ordered. I ordered the black garlic tonkotsu ramen. They will ask you to choose between pork belly or pork loin, and I opted for the pork belly option. As for the ramen itself, the broth was creamy, the noodles were chewy, and the black garlic added that extra punch of flavors. read more

Strings Ramen Shop - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We had a craving for warm soup on this frigid night and this was an excellent choice! Seating was tight (and firm), but service was fantastic and very friendly. We ordered the turkey with bone broth and shredded turkey. It was flavorful and we also added a side of pickled items to really finish off the great soup. Portions are large and prices are very fair. Will continue to be in regular rotation! read more

Strings Ramen Shop - Shio Ramen with Turkey - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My husband and I love coming to this ramen shop. We always order the same thing (we're boring people hahaha) but when we crave ramen, this is the place we go to. Staff is always super nice. Place is very cute and I like that it's not a super big place. Food is also delicious ! read more

Strings Ramen Shop - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Strings Ramen just keeps impressing. Their fresh-made noodles are perfectly chewy and pair beautifully with rich, flavorful broths that hit all the right notes. The edamame is simple but well-seasoned, and overall the ramen options are some of the best I've had in Chinatown. With consistent quality and delicious flavors, this is definitely one of my top choices for ramen in the area. read more

Strings Ramen Shop - Veggie Hell Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I came here on a late Friday night with two of my girl friends. One of them had been here before & raved about the ramen. It wasn't too busy -- we only had a 10 minute wait despite it being a Friday evening and a small restaurant in general. We all order the pork gyoza and I would go back just for that. They were served soft and in a really good sweet/spicy/tangy sauce. So delicious. We each got a different ramen. I got the Shio Ramen with Turkey but because it was the day after Thanksgiving, I subbed Turkey for pork belly. It was super delicious. The broth had so much umami flavor. The pickled ginger added such a good flavor and the toppings all worked so well together. The only thing I wish would have been better was the pork. It was pretty dry, but they did give a lot of meat so it was nice. One friend got the Tonkotsu black garlic, which was also very flavorful. The other got the Tonkotsu with pork (which was my least favorite but still very good). All of the ramens had lots of umami flavor and did not disappoint. The noodles were perfectly cooked, as well as the egg in it too. (Wish ramen places would give the whole egg tho). Overall, I highly highly recommend!!! read more

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My son and I had a quick dinner here on a gloomy day. The restaurant is cozy and moderately loud. I tried the Kuro Buta ramen and my son had the Kokujou hell ramen. We both r salt enjoyed our ramen. Very flavorful and perfectly spicy. We also tried some drinks that were being advertised on the table. Both the strawberry and passionfruit were really good and refreshing. Overall experience was great and will be back. read more

Strings Ramen Shop - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

One of my favorite ramen places! I got the shio ramen and recommend their other ones too. read more

Strings Ramen Shop - Shio Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I just can't believe that this restaurant only garners a 3.8 review. SMH. I give it 5-stars because of speed of service, extensive menu, food presentation & portion, and staff friendliness, among other qualities. I'm unsure what people want. While there is often a wait (doesn't that say something?), the tables turn quickly. I highly recommend Strings for its tasty offerings. Try it, you won't be disappointed! :-) Sincerely, Patrick Shaughnessy Chicago, IL PS: no pics as we ate everything! :-) read more

Came in right when Strings Ramen shop opened at 11am. Definitely the right call, since it looks like right at 11:30am the line started to form outside. Inside it's very hip and had a Tokyo style feel. There's also a small seating area strip if you want to sit outside. You scan a QR code to see the menu, but still see a waitress if you decide to sit and take your order. The service was very quick. We had the Hell Ramen - Level 1 (not brave enough to try their challenge!), Tonkotsu, and the Pork Belly Buster rice bowl. I have to say that the Pork Belly Buster was definitely my favorite dish, it's a huge slab of pork belly cooked to be tender on the inside and with a nice brown sugar crispy crust on the outside - perfection! The noodles were all really fresh, and the broth was not super thick, very tasty. They also give you the option to order extra noodles if you find you want more to add to your broth. If you do that, then easily the one dish could feed two people. read more

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The ramen was pretty good. Not the best I've ever had, but good. I'm vegetarian so keep that in mind. My parents enjoyed their meat based ramen. Ambiance is hip and cute. HOWEVER, very inaccessible restaurant. If you are a larger person, good luck squeezing behind the booths. If you use a wheelchair, you literally can't eat at this place. Additionally, my father and I are both insulin-dependent and sometimes prefer to opt for lower carbohydrate options - you could MAYBE achieve this with a couple sides. read more

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I truly love being in the big cities because the options for good Asian food is unlimited! Chicago's Chinatown is no different. I immediately asked a friend for a recommendation for good, spicy ramen and I found a gem! What a lovely place! I opted for the level 2 spicy hell ramen (aptly named) but I think I could have done a level up :) The pork was crunchy, the soup was spicy and perfect on a rainy day like I had. I would highly recommend!! read more

Strings Ramen Shop - He'll Ramen! With pork :) - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I was happy to see that they had at least two vegetarian options listed on their menu and they can actually replace many of their ramens with the vegetarian broth. My husband enjoyed his non-vegetarian option much more though. The place is cute, service is attentive and prices are reasonable for the amount of food they serve. read more

Great place in cute location. I personally do not enjoy ramen from restaurants but this place was genuinely good. The prices were fair too. There is only one vegetarian option on the menu for those who are. I'm not though, so I was fine with plenty of options. read more

Great food, great ambiance. Went for lunch with friend. Noodles had great texture, broth delicious

This was my first time eating at Strings. The ramen was delicious but if you want to be full, you'll need to order either an appetizer or another bowl of ramen. One ramen bowl doesn't really fill up an adult male. Prices were standard and fair. Service was okay. I like that they're open late on the weekends but if you want good quality food that fills you up, look elsewhere. This is a 3 for me. Food was decent but not memorable. There are many other choices in Chinatown. read more

Strings Ramen Shop - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Got in right away at 3:30 on a Saturday. Sat in side room & the stools were so close to the table behind us we felt like we couldn't move. I know tables are maxed in here but it's too tight for comfort. So unfortunate my family was stressing the whole time. The server was quick with taking order and bringing a pitcher of water which was great! Food came quickly. I enjoyed my seafood bowl. I got 2 extra shrimp vs meat since I don't eat meat. The bowl was $20 which is pricy but I was okay with it. The goyoza was really nice with a spicy sauce and was perfect for us each to just have one. Order comes with 6 so we spilt the extra 2. As for the size of the bowls and taste, I would give a 5 star. My 3 is because my family did not love their Turkey bowls and the table was too hard to deal with. This would be a great place to order and pick up if you live near. read more

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I love eating at this location. they have great service and the food is always really good.

Amazing Ramen!!! It's hard to get ramen wrong, but it's even harder to get it this right! Never had a bad experience here and the staff is amazing! read more

One of our favorite ramen spots. Took the girls out for ramen today. Our first stop wasn't that great so we hopped over to tried and true Strings. We had: SUI GYOZA Boiled dumplings with spicy ponzu sauce - so good Edamame Shoyo Turkey Ramen - very flavorful Shoyo pork ramen - yummy with the lava egg. SHIO RAMEN with turkey - delicious Everything was great! We loved it and the girls used chopsticks the whole time which started out hilariously. Good vibes. Hot spot. Get there early. read more

Strings Ramen Shop - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Ordered in the tonkotsu ramen. It was okay- nothing to write home about. There is no spice so glad I got the spice on the side and that did have a good flavor to it. Meet was not as succulent as I was hoping and I believe there was just one small piece of meat in mine. Prob won't order from here again honestly- there are a lot of better places for ramen read more

Delicious vegetarian ramen and great service! We got the hell ramen and asked to make it vegetarian and it was absolutely delicious! I added corn for some extra sweetness and loved the addition. I had never had seaweed broth before so was a little skeptical but it did not disappoint and would definitely come back! read more

Strings Ramen Shop - hell ramen - vegetarian - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place was highly rated in Chinatown for their ramen ,unfortunately it's like furious spoon the ramen was gross. The service Was good though I'm upset that they tried to either make fusion or whatever crap they call this ..but this is a slap in the face if your Japanese. read more

Strings Ramen Shop - Tonkotsu Black Garlic Ramen NEW.. bland gross - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Last time I had it, it was a 6.5/10. The quality does vary from time to time. However, it is a good size ramen and a reasonable price. I think it's definitely a place to try, especially when you are already in China town. read more

I visited this place sunday morning. They opened at 11 am My second time here I was the first coustoumer I ordered a ramen level 1 And the tiramisu The ramen was good, and the tiramisu was ok Too much cocoa powder Service ok read more

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My favorite .... Anytime I visit home I always stop at strings and eat. The ambiance is nice and clean and service is great

I expect a lot more of big city ramen - this place's tonkotsu broth isn't any better than what I can find in Montana, hardly the ramen capital of the world. It has plenty of congealed fat when cool, yet very little flavor besides salt. read more