Well, it seems another event has slid to a different time of year. In this case, it is Ramenfest. This used to be in November, but for 2018, it is slated for Sunday, 18 February. It is still @ Urbanbelly {1400 W. Randolph St.; Chicago, IL. 60607}. If you did not click through back there, it will cost $78.62, and start at 12:01 pm.
Another element which also has not changed is that its twenty-three participating restaurants are not ramen shacks, or even Japanese cuisinal restaurants.

1. Barry Sorkin | Smoque BBQ
2. Giuseppe Tentori | GT Prime
3. AJ Walker | Publican Anker
4. Stephanie Izard | Little Goat
5. Julie Warpinski | Big Star
6. Dan Snowden | Bad Hunter
7. Christine Cikowski & Joshua Kulp | Honey Butter Fried Chicken
8. Pat Sheerin | City Mouse
9. Nick Lacasse | Half Acre
10. John Manion | El Che Bar
11. Jimmy Bannos | Heaven on Seven
12. Mathias Merges | Gideon Sweet
13. Dan Salls | Quiote
14. Eric Michael | Regards to Edith
15. Jimmy Papadopoulos | Bellemore
16. John Shields | Smyth
17. Mark Steur | Funkenhausen
18. Mike Brockman | Woodstone Ovens
19. Brenton Balika | Margeaux Brasserie
20. Jason Hammel | Lula Cafe
21. Toni Robertson | The Peninsula
22. Carrie Nahabedian | Naha
23. Rick Ortiz & Diego Cruz | Antique Taco

(I wonder: Are ramen shacks even invited, or do they need to apply to the organizers?)
Oops. I forgot to buy a ticket for this. However, I think they will release a second batch of General Admission tickets before 18 February.

We were at Oiistar a couple weeks ago for dinner and really enjoyed the spicy veggimen ramen and the mushroom buns.

It was a crazy cold night and the ramen really hit the spot prior to heading to the Den Theater.

Maybe it was because I'm 2 weeks into a cold, maybe it was because I like salt way more than most people, but I thought the Oiistar classic was lacking a little flavor. The broth was great on its own, but the noodles were bland and dragged the bowl down for me. I sat at the counter by the kitchen and used some of the hoisin and sriracha which helped, but to me it specifically lacked salt. I don't have a high spice tolerance, so I don't think going to the spicy bowl would help.

The plusses: the pork belly was silky, the egg was still runny. (Not sure if it went into the bowl hot or not, I tend to save them til the middle - end.) I got the upgrade of fried chicken thigh which was terrific - especially with a dab of hoisin. The waiter was friendly and recommended the Forbidden Root ginger beer, which was great. (It's actually beer brewed with ginger rather than a soda-type ginger beer.)

I tried to finish the bowl, couldn't quite do it. I'll go back, but bring more people with me so we can try the buns too.

WhyBeeSea wrote:Really wanted to love kizuki as it's one of the few places in the area w tsukemen, but thought it was just ok

I agree. I ordered the Garlic Tonkotsu Shoyu Ramen and thought the broth was one-dimensional -- mainly a strangely acrid and unpalatable garlic note. The pork chashu was just plain tired and chewy, and tasted like old meat. I thought the noodles had nice flavor and chew, though. Overall, the the bowl was so disappointing, I cut my losses after a few spoonfuls and hoofed it a block south to Oiistar, where I enjoyed a far more righteous bowl.

=R=

ronnie_suburban wrote:

WhyBeeSea wrote:Really wanted to love kizuki as it's one of the few places in the area w tsukemen, but thought it was just ok

I agree. I ordered the Garlic Tonkotsu Shoyu Ramen and thought the broth was one-dimensional -- mainly a strangely acrid and unpalatable garlic note. The pork chashu was just plain tired and chewy, and tasted like old meat. I thought the noodles had nice flavor and chew, though. Overall, the the bowl was so disappointing, I cut my losses after a few spoonfuls and hoofed it a block south to Oiistar, where I enjoyed a far more righteous bowl.

=R=

Have y'all tried Strings in Chinatown? Hell Ramen and (when on special) Curry Ramen can be really nice, while I'm so satisfied with duck chazuke - half the price, still a generous portion - that I hardly ever go ramen.

However, the tsukemen quality is excellent, and perhaps even more than all of the above I recommend the Oden. 95 cents an ingredient - get daikon, maitake, kurubota sausage, age tofu, and you get a big bowl of dashi with ingredients and a side dipping bowl of sweet soy and pungent wasabi for $3.80. That's getting to Ghareeb territory for quality-value ratio. Or, while apropos of nothing, the kalua pork tacos and a bowl of pozole (the latter now sadly out of season) at Aloha Wagon.

Santander wrote:

ronnie_suburban wrote:

WhyBeeSea wrote:Really wanted to love kizuki as it's one of the few places in the area w tsukemen, but thought it was just ok

I agree. I ordered the Garlic Tonkotsu Shoyu Ramen and thought the broth was one-dimensional -- mainly a strangely acrid and unpalatable garlic note. The pork chashu was just plain tired and chewy, and tasted like old meat. I thought the noodles had nice flavor and chew, though. Overall, the the bowl was so disappointing, I cut my losses after a few spoonfuls and hoofed it a block south to Oiistar, where I enjoyed a far more righteous bowl.

=R=

Have y'all tried Strings in Chinatown? Hell Ramen and (when on special) Curry Ramen can be really nice, while I'm so satisfied with duck chazuke - half the price, still a generous portion - that I hardly ever go ramen.

However, the tsukemen quality is excellent, and perhaps even more than all of the above I recommend the Oden. 95 cents an ingredient - get daikon, maitake, kurubota sausage, age tofu, and you get a big bowl of dashi with ingredients and a side dipping bowl of sweet soy and pungent wasabi for $3.80. That's getting to Ghareeb territory for quality-value ratio. Or, while apropos of nothing, the kalua pork tacos and a bowl of pozole (the latter now sadly out of season) at Aloha Wagon.

Have not tried Strings yet because mixed notes on it have tempered my urgency but your enthusiasm and specific recommendations have certainly moved it up the runway for me.

=R=

A few weeks ago, I went out one Sunday afternoon. I headed for the Halsted | Randolph corridor. For an early dinner, went to High Five Ramen.
This time, I went for the full-tilt, full-spice, full-heat bowl.
Oh dear.
This is a mixed report.
I am glad to relate I finished the bowl. But it did a number on my stomach. I will not order the full-heat bowl ever again.
I did not have to wait long at all. I got there 15 minutes after it opened. There was a stool along the bar. Here are photographs I shot. I apologize that, at times, in dim light, my Canon camera does not want to focus properly. The remedy for the turmoil in my stomach was going over to Cruz Blanca Cerveceria and having a couple of house beers (Only $4 on Sunday. )
High Five Ramen remains a solid ramen shack for Chicago. I just urge you to consider carefully if you want to go for the full-heat bowl.

Chicago’s booming ramen scene is getting multiple additions from up north. Kinton Ramen, a popular Canadian chain that began in Toronto in 2012, is planning to open multiple Chicago restaurants as well as some in the northeast in early 2019

https://chicago.eater.com/2018/12/19/18 ... -park-2019

To bring this significant thread back to page 1, I mention this intriguing offer I got in my E-Mail box a day ago {alert: .pdf file} from Furious Spoon.
If you can fill up this {bingo } card between today and 30 November, you are entitled to one free bowl of ramen a day, per person, throughout the month of December 2019.
A glimpse of the card reveals squares I fancy my chance to fill up. I typically order the gyoza ("starter"). The ramen is what I enter for. The beverage spots could be fulfilled on one visit. It appears I would have to order an additional "starter" on two visits. That won't be difficult.
The difficult part for me would be venturing out of the abode here every day in December 2019, to have my free bowl of ramen. Venturing out of the abode here every day in May (2020), for comparison, would seemingly be easier.
Anyhow, I refer this in here. It is under a few layers on the Furious Spoon World-Wide Web site, so you might miss it otherwise. Furious Spoon's ramen is in the Top 10 of ramen shacks in metropolitan Chicago. The previous warnings about explicit hip-hop music playing in the background are still valid.

I'm curious - are bowls of ramen in Japan as huge as they are here? I went to Oiistar and got the Oiimen and while it was very good, I was about done 75% of the way through. I wonder how much of that is the American super-size tendency and how much is traditional. I've found that when places offer a smaller size, I take it (Santouka is the only one I can think of that does this).

In the meantime, I think I'm going to work my way through some of the offerings in the city - I hit Santouka and Misoya semi-regularly, and now I've gone to Furious Spoon, Ramen-San, High Five (twice) and Oiistar. I need to try more places so I can figure out what I like!

From my experience in Japan, bowls are not any bigger in America and a lot of places in Japan will even offer you more noodles if you want. American places do focus on piling on toppings more, but that is also not unheard of in some styles of ramen in Japan.

Kid Charlemagne wrote:I was about done 75% of the way through.

I remember a visit to Tank Noodle (I know, off topic) and was watching the ethnics there would eat most but leave an amount in the bottom.

I was thinking they were not eating what had settled. Maybe you get more to compensate for the dregs?

Just my observation.

Panther in the Den wrote:

Kid Charlemagne wrote:I was about done 75% of the way through.

I remember a visit to Tank Noodle (I know, off topic) and was watching the ethnics there would eat most but leave an amount in the bottom.

I was thinking they were not eating what had settled. Maybe you get more to compensate for the dregs?

Just my observation.

Ethnics. Cool....

Panther in the Den wrote:I remember a visit to Tank Noodle (I know, off topic) and was watching the ethnics there would eat most but leave an amount in the bottom.

smh, wow

Panther in the Den wrote:watching the ethnics

Like an episode of National Geographic.

Am I being challenged?
I have taken photographs of the dimensions of ramen bowls. I do not discern a difference in the sizes used between Japan and Chicago.
Now, as for toppings of ramen, the pre-eminent pinnacle in Japan is Ramen Jiro [no link by me - there are thousands if you search for it]. I ate at the Ramen Jiro in Jinbocho in December 2012. It nearly ended horribly, but not for reasons to do with the ramen. (You can ask me about the snag.) Finishing a bowl of Ramen Jiro is a requirement. If you don't eat it all, you won't be served in the future.
I finished the bowl. {Phhhhtttt}
Here are the photographs illustrating my accomplishment. Do not challenge me like this again, OK?

In the expanded sense of Chicago, Kitakata Ramen Ban Nai in Hoffman Estates is a very nice add to the lunch options in the area. Part of a Japanese chain, their base ramen is Kitakata style, with a lighter, clear broth when compared to tonkotsu or other styles. In fact, I find is is one of the few ramens I crave even in warmer weather. On the flip side, some who have joined me have been slightly disappointed if they expected a super rich broth. There is a plain and one with chile and green onions, which I prefer, as it has a bit more flavor. They later added a few other versions, and I have tried the miso, which was fine but I don't think their specialty.

gnarchief wrote:From my experience in Japan, bowls are not any bigger in America and a lot of places in Japan will even offer you more noodles if you want. American places do focus on piling on toppings more, but that is also not unheard of in some styles of ramen in Japan.

Strings Ramen is expanding into Hyde Park soon, and I’m a fan of the Chinatown location, particularly the often gratis extra toppings or noodles the kitchen sends out. I admit I like the duck chazuke, broccoli, and oden (age tofu) more than the ramen, plus royal milk tea. Their togarashi is exceptional (so orangey) and on every table with house chili oil. I find the broths simple, but the basic dashi itself really nice, and the toppings well-prepared. Santouka is still my gold standard / happy place but really a different animal.

Santander wrote:

gnarchief wrote:From my experience in Japan, bowls are not any bigger in America and a lot of places in Japan will even offer you more noodles if you want. American places do focus on piling on toppings more, but that is also not unheard of in some styles of ramen in Japan.

Strings Ramen is expanding into Hyde Park soon, and I’m a fan of the Chinatown location, particularly the often gratis extra toppings or noodles the kitchen sends out. I admit I like the duck chazuke, broccoli, and oden (age tofu) more than the ramen, plus royal milk tea. Their togarashi is exceptional (so orangey) and on every table with house chili oil. I find the broths simple, but the basic dashi itself really nice, and the toppings well-prepared. Santouka is still my gold standard / happy place but really a different animal.

They will occupy the space at 1453 East 53rd Street, which was filled by Hiro Sushi until it closed earlier this year.

https://www.chicagomaroon.com/article/2 ... ngz-ramen/

Faced with jury duty in Rolling Meadows, I had lunch today at Ramen House Shinchan. I'd been once before and enjoyed it, but don't recall what I had, but this time I had the tonkotsu and it was a mistake. Instead of a rich broth made creamy via a long boil, I was served a weak broth with cream added. I've never heard of this, and the only other time I've seen it was at Strings in Chinatown. Is this a real thing? It seems like a cop out to me, and wasn't something I'd ever order again. On the positive side, the egg in the bowl was perfect, so I might go back for a different broth, but buyer beware.

I have had the tonkatsu at ramen house sinchan in Vernon Hills and I thought it was great. It was very rich and I assumed that the creaminess was from the cooking process....I cant imagine that cream was added, though I am not sure how I would tell. Did you ask them or how did you know?

-Will

WillG wrote:I have had the tonkatsu at ramen house sinchan in Vernon Hills and I thought it was great. It was very rich and I assumed that the creaminess was from the cooking process....I cant imagine that cream was added, though I am not sure how I would tell. Did you ask them or how did you know?

-Will

This seemed pretty obvious, as the flavor is much sweeter, but I also asked the waitress at the end - I didn't clarify cream versus milk, however. Strings actually states it on the menu, or at least it did. The one online now isn't explicit.

Chicagoland is in the midst of what I call Ramen Boom 2. I like to keep my eye on recently opened restaurants in the Chicagoland area and it feels like every other opening right now is a ramen shop. Plus more are coming. That said most of them are crap. When ramen got big here so did figuring out ways to make it faster and easier. It's possible quite a few of these new spots get the same broth from the same factory. I don't know that for sure I just know it's pretty easy to pick out the places worth checking out. So far there's two worth mentioning.

The easiest way to tell if a ramen shop is serious about their craft is by looking at the menu. The more crap the less likely it is to be special. That and at this point anyplace doing something other than Tonkotsu should be given a visit. If for anything bc they're not following the flow which is how ramen is supposed to go. Japan is a super traditional country especially with food but ramen is the one dish where chefs are supposed to be original and stand out in some way.

The first of the two worth visiting is Menya Goku which opened right at the beginning of the year. It's located on Montrose across the street from Welles Park two doors down from the venerable Taqueria El Asadero. They're an evening only operation and the space is pretty small which makes it feel like a real Ramenya. Goku is owned by the Ramen Wasabi team which also runs Ramen Takeya in Fulton Market. Good for them for not opening a bunch of Wasabi's. We needed a spot like Goku badly. They specialize in Tantanmen aka Spicy Ramen. Basically Japan's take on Dan Dan noodles. It's great. I love the numbing Sichuan peppercorns and the pork based broth with a dash of sesame oil topped with ground pork and green onions. It all really works well together. Like many respected ramen shops across the country they're using Sun Noodles here which are comparable in quality to the noodles in Japan. They also make a stellar shoyu ramen.

The other ramen spot worth your time is the just opened Chicago Ramen. Not to be confused with this here Chicago Ramen thread. Though the name of this place is pretty generic the guy behind it is very well known on the ramen circuit. Kenta Ikehata became known running the popular Tsujita in Tokyo before opening their Los Angeles location. Now he’s here in Des Plaines hoping to break into the Midwest market. This should be easy if my first visit is any indication.

Tsujita is known for their tsukemen aka dipping ramen. But if I’m being honest I didn’t love it in LA. That said Chicago Ramen also lists Tsukemen first though the crowds seem to be favoring the miso ramens (red and white) early on. Not sure what happened in LA bc this was much better. Guessing it’s kind of it’s own thing since this isn’t a Tsujita. Sun Noodles are served cool. Spray them with a lime and dip the noodles into the hot and thick pork stock that’s cooked for more than 40 hours in-house. The chasu (house sliced pork) was perfectly tender and when it and all the noodles are gone you get a few scoops of hot light broth in your dipping stock which turns it into a delicious bowl of soup. I suggest braving the crowds and going now while Chef Ikehata is running the show. You’ll get 20% off for their grand opening special.

Menya Goku
2207 W Montrose Ave
Chicago, IL 60618

Chicago Ramen
578 E Oakton St
Des Plaines, IL 60018
(224) 938-9982

Agreed on menya goku. Really enjoyed the tantamen, and I'm excited to try the chicken shoyu

Nice. Can't wait to try out Menya Goku. Weird it doesn't even appear on Google maps yet. Chicago is definitely upping the ramen game since i've moved here 8 years ago.

Da Beef wrote: The easiest way to tell if a ramen shop is serious about their craft is by looking at the menu. The more crap the less likely it is to be special.

While I agree with this 99% of the time, I will say that Kinton Ramen, a Japanese chain that entered the US market by way of Chicago, is currently making my go-to Tonkatsu right now. This is the platonic ideal of a bowl: creamy and unctuous without overwhelming. Everything else here is fine--and disconcertingly chain-y--but that broth is killer.

I'm so glad that we now have a tsukemen-focused ramenya. There are a few places with it on the menu in the city (Wasabi being the best probably), but there seems to be a hesitance to deliver the aggressive punch that the dipping broth should have. I want to be blown back by umami and fish flavor in a thick broth, not just eating a deconstructed bowl with the broth concentrated a bit.

gnarchief wrote:I'm so glad that we now have a tsukemen-focused ramenya. There are a few places with it on the menu in the city (Wasabi being the best probably), but there seems to be a hesitance to deliver the aggressive punch that the dipping broth should have. I want to be blown back by umami and fish flavor in a thick broth, not just eating a deconstructed bowl with the broth concentrated a bit.

Couldn't agree more. I know tsukemen will be a niche dish at best, but I wish there was a place I could regularly get a bowl. Hopefully this new place is it.

Akahoshi ramen had a pop up this Sunday and Mike offered a tsukemen. It was the only really good tsukemen I've ever had in the states. Definitely rivaled the bowls I had in my visit to Tokyo.

Strings Hyde Park is now open and I like what they've done with the space. There are some interesting menu tweaks vs. Chinatown - turkey rather than duck chasuke, no oden, and the additions of (frozen but self-made, I'm told) gyoza in bowls of ponzu and a fairly simple sushi bar. All of the ingredients were high quality including their togarashi blend, my personal favorite.

I tend to like these peripherals even better than the ramen at the other Strings locations, but friends have found the ramen consistent across their spots so far; it's a reliable, modest effort, which is not damning with faint praise with so much apathetic or ambitiously bad takes abounding.