United States · Illinois · 6 places
Ramen in
Chicago.
Chicago's best ramen suits the weather: concentrated broths, muscular noodles and kitchens with enough focus to stand apart from general Japanese restaurants.
Tonkotsu · Chicken paitan · Midwest comfort
The essential list
6 bowls worth the journey.
01
IllustratedHigh Five Ramen
Order: Signature spicy tonkotsu ramen
Down a discreet stairway in the West Loop, High Five is known for an intensely spicy, silky pork broth and thick noodles. Its small basement counter turns a ramen stop into a focused, high-heat experience.
Order this
Signature spicy tonkotsu ramen
Why it matters
Down a discreet stairway in the West Loop, High Five is known for an intensely spicy, silky pork broth and thick noodles. Its small basement counter turns a ramen stop into a focused, high-heat experience.
Before you go: Choose spice level conservatively; even the standard signature has real heat.02
IllustratedRamen Wasabi
Order: Tonkotsu ramen with black garlic oil
Ramen Wasabi helped establish Logan Square as a destination for ramen, with a rich pork-bone broth and a more neighborhood-scaled room than downtown chains. The menu's Japanese foundations sit alongside a distinctly Chicago local following.
Order this
Tonkotsu ramen with black garlic oil
Why it matters
Ramen Wasabi helped establish Logan Square as a destination for ramen, with a rich pork-bone broth and a more neighborhood-scaled room than downtown chains. The menu's Japanese foundations sit alongside a distinctly Chicago local following.
Before you go: Try the house broth before extra condiments and check current hours for the Logan Square address.03
IllustratedOiistar
Order: Tikkamen, the chicken ramen with masala spices
Oiistar is one of Chicago's more inventive ramen counters, crossing Japanese noodle technique with flavors such as masala and French- or Italian-influenced toppings. The Tikkamen is the most direct example of that playful approach.
Order this
Tikkamen, the chicken ramen with masala spices
Why it matters
Oiistar is one of Chicago's more inventive ramen counters, crossing Japanese noodle technique with flavors such as masala and French- or Italian-influenced toppings. The Tikkamen is the most direct example of that playful approach.
Before you go: Order the Tikkamen if you want the signature twist; choose classic tonkotsu for a more familiar bowl.04
IllustratedChicago Ramen
Order: The house tonkotsu or current miso ramen
Chicago Ramen gives the city's northern suburbs a dedicated noodle-house format, built around hearty soup, generous toppings and a broad range of broth styles.
Order this
The house tonkotsu or current miso ramen
Why it matters
Chicago Ramen gives the city's northern suburbs a dedicated noodle-house format, built around hearty soup, generous toppings and a broad range of broth styles.
Before you go: Check the current branch menu and choose a broth style before adding extra toppings.05
IllustratedRamen Takeya
Order: Chicken paitan ramen
Ramen Takeya is the Fulton Market sibling of Ramen Wasabi, with a lighter chicken-focused direction that broadens the group's broth range. The compact menu makes it a useful contrast to the pork-heavy Chicago classics.
Order this
Chicken paitan ramen
Why it matters
Ramen Takeya is the Fulton Market sibling of Ramen Wasabi, with a lighter chicken-focused direction that broadens the group's broth range. The compact menu makes it a useful contrast to the pork-heavy Chicago classics.
Before you go: Start with the chicken broth and confirm the Fulton Market address and hours.06
IllustratedMenya Goku
Order: Tantanmen
Menya Goku is the Wasabi team's North Center restaurant, built around tantanmen: sesame, pork and Sichuan peppercorn create a nutty, gently numbing bowl rather than standard tonkotsu.
Order this
Tantanmen
Why it matters
Menya Goku is the Wasabi team's North Center restaurant, built around tantanmen: sesame, pork and Sichuan peppercorn create a nutty, gently numbing bowl rather than standard tonkotsu.
Before you go: Choose tantanmen for the restaurant's defining style; ask about spice if you are sensitive to peppercorn heat.
Food & city experiences in Chicago
Put the city's ramen in context.
Some cards link to an exact Klook activity verified for this city. Others offer a city-specific Klook search or a self-guided local food trail; neither is presented as a confirmed booking.
Verified Klook city food tour
Chicago architecture and food tour
A Chicago-only guided route pairing the city's architecture with characteristic local food stops.
Verified Klook tasting tour
Original Chicago pizza tour
A direct Chicago booking page devoted to the city's pizza traditions and neighborhood food identity.
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