The Best Ramen in Chicago

Chicago has always been referred to as the "Second City," but when it comes to travel destinations, it's a hard place to top. It's a big city with a small-town feel - where else can you enjoy a day at the beach, a hike on the 606 urban hiking trail, live comedy and world-class art, all without breaking your budget? The city is also known for its culinary treasures. It gets a lot of hype for hot dogs, deep dish pizza and Italian beef sandwiches, but Chicago also has plenty of amazing Japanese food if you know where to go. We've asked the savviest foodies in the nation where they are going these days so we could put together this list of where to find the best ramen in Chicago. Grab a table and enjoy!

The OpenTable Team

12 Restaurants

Updated February 26, 2020

Restaurants:	SUSHI-SAN, The Izakaya at Momotaro, Juno…
Price Range:	$$$ - $$$
Cuisines:	Japanese…
Neighborhoods:	Chicago, West Loop, Lincoln Park…

SUSHI-SAN

$$$$

Japanese

Chicago

4.7

794 reviews

Sushi-San is an upbeat, bright and lively sushi joint that serves up lots of fresh fish and other Japanese specialties in a boisterous environment with live DJs. It’s a convivial space with seating in the communal section and at the sushi bar but they also have seats in the large wooden booths in back if you’re looking for something a little more low-key. Locals love this place for the sushi, and their other specialties, which include Sizzling Rice dishes, vegetables, skewered beef, noodles and more. They use top-notch ingredients to make sure that every dish tastes ultra-fresh.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

The Izakaya at Momotaro

$$$$

Japanese

West Loop

4.8

551 reviews

The Izakaya at Momotaro is tucked away down on the subterranean level of Momotaro in the vibrant Fulton Market District. The restaurant is focused on chef driven concepts of tightly executed cuisine and highly personal service and they win on all accounts. It stays true to the Izakaya concept with lots of shared plates, a central bar with little nook and cranny tables all around and bright neon lights throughout. They also have a selection of Japanese whiskeys, cocktails, sakes and beers. Check out some of their amazing ramen alternatives, like the house miso soup, the Donburi Bowls, and the Chef’s selected sushi.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Juno

$$$$

Japanese

Lincoln Park

4.6

1254 reviews

Juno is a quiet and refined Japanese restaurant in the heart of Lincoln Park. Executive Chef/Owner BK Park heads the team here and cultivates a combination of quality and consistency in food and overall service. The restaurant has a vast array of raw fish with innovative touches, like salmon topped wtih scallop and potato crunch and hot treats like honey-glazed quail. They have a smattering of tasty small plates like seared scallops and miso soup, too. But the real star here is the Mushroom Ramen, a piping hot bowl of noodles with trumpet mushrooms, napa cabbage, egg and rayu.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Experiences available

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Serai

$$$$

Malaysian

Logan Square

4.6

169 reviews

Serai is a casual, budget-friendly restaurant in Logan Square that features a wide selection of Southeast Asian items plus a number of dishes from Singapore and Indonesia. Don’t let the simple storefront fool you - this place is the real deal. In fact, many locals insist that they have the best ramen in Chicago. You’ll find a number of noodle soups here, like the SERAI Curry Laksa and the Wonton Noodles soup, but if you’re hungry for the best thing on the menu, try the Seafood Tom Yam Ramen. It’s a bowl of mixed vegetables, shrimp, squid and rice vermicelli noodles served in a savory, spicy lemongrass and tamarind broth.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

True Food Kitchen - Chicago

$$$$

American

River North (Chicago)

4.6

2277 reviews

True Food Kitchen is a bright, lively and open restaurant in River North that is one of the best places for a healthy food option during week. In fact, many locals claim it’s the best ramen in Chicago because it doesn’t have a heavy broth - which means you can just eat more of it! The space is massive so it’s easy to get a seat and they serve a handful of beers and wine by the glass, too, so you can indulge in an after work or after work-out chill and refuel session.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Sunda - Chicago

$$$$

Contemporary Asian

River North (Chicago)

4.7

6691 reviews

Sunda is the fancy “New Asian” spot opened by the same team that did Rockit and Underground. It’s a trendy scene here and locals love it. The space is gorgeous, with all wood floors and long communal dining tables running the full length of the long dining area. There are also seats at the sushi bar where you can watch the chefs whip up your fresh sushi orders. But if you want something hot, order one of their delicious noodle bowls, like the Dandan Noodles, the Pho with bone marrow and rice noodles or one of the miso soups with either Enoki Mushrooms or Roast Duck.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Union Sushi + Barbeque Bar

$$$$

Sushi

River North (Chicago)

4.8

2104 reviews

There’s no shortage of great Japanese food in Chicago, that’s for sure. But Union Sushi is one of the first names you’ll hear real foodies recommend if you’re looking for the best ramen in Chicago. Located in River North, it is a high-energy, creative and cool atmosphere with a lively bar featuring delicious cocktails, carefully selected sakes, beers and wines. Start out with one of their delicious hot appetizers and then take a close look at the ramen menu. They serve 5 different varieties, including the Beef Cheek Ramen, Spicy Pigtail Ramen and Seafood Ramen.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Little Goat

$$$$

American

West Loop

4.8

5436 reviews

Little Goat opened in 2012 and Chicagoans have been flocking here in droves ever since. It has a cozy and familiar feel and a perfect West Loop location that makes it an easy stop for locals and tourists looking for one of Chicago’s best meals. The only problem with Little Goat is that they have such a wide variety of cuisines on the menu, it can be hard to narrow down your selection to just one thing. That’s why they make it easy to order a smattering of small plates and share with your whole table. But make sure to try their delicious take on ramen - the Shrimp noodles. The bowl comes with crispy pork belly, fideo noodles, veggies and tamarind vinaigrette.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Takeout available

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Roka Akor - Old Orchard

$$$$

Steakhouse

Skokie

4.6

1386 reviews

Roka Akor is tops when it comes to Japanese fine dining. The restaurant itself is beautiful, featuring thoughtful design and a very sleek, serene setting. Roka means gathering place by the fire in Japanese and that is exactly what you’ll find here. The main dining room has the beautiful robata grill at the center of it but you can also dine of the private patio or in the bar. They have a full menu of Japanese specialties and delicious soups that make a great alternative to ramen.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Untitled Supper Club

$$$$

American

River North (Chicago)

4.6

2278 reviews

The Untitled Supper Club, located on West Kinzie in the River North neighborhood, is a modern take on the traditional supper club. Open since 2012, they have received tons of acclaim and many consider it one of the best restaurants in Chicago. It’s the perfect combo of award-winning dining, excellent entertainment and dancing and a world-class selection of whiskey. It feels like a prohibition-era speakeasy and you can take a seat and feel whisked away by the magical experience. While they don’t serve ramen, the other noodle dishes, such as the Mushroom Linguine, are a great option for a delicious, filling dinner.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Experiences available

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BITES Asian Kitchen & Bar

$$$$

Chinese

Lakeview / East Lakeview

4.7

762 reviews

Located in the Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago, BITES is a casual, stylish restaurant and bar that serves Asian-American comfort food. The menu shows off both familiar midwestern flavors of the Chicago region and Asian ingredients to create totally new and unique dishes. They also have a variety of cocktails, beer and wine on the menu and a super fun environment that you can enjoy on a date, with a group or with family. Tuesday night is their Half-Off Ramen daily special but they have a Creamy Tonkotsu Ramen, a Five Spice Duck Ramen and a Shiitake Shoyu Ramen on the menu every day of the week!

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Gyu-Kaku - Chicago, IL | Streeterville

$$$$

Japanese

River North (Chicago)

4.6

2135 reviews

Gyu-Kaku is a DIY barbecue chain that has taken Chicago by storm! There are locations all over the city and they all fill up with locals, tourists and Japanese ex-pats every night of the week. Traditionally called Yakiniku, the Japanese BBQ style means you order a plate of raw beef, veggies and other selections, turn on the personal grill at your table and cook everything up to your liking! They have plenty of other offerings besides BBQ, including a selection of ramen bowls that make a great accompaniment to the grilled meats and veggies.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

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The Best Ramen