RAMEN-SAN image

RAMEN-SAN

Restaurant Japanese restaurant Asian restaurant Noodle shop Ramen restaurant

One of the Most Reviewed Japanese restaurants in Chicago


Address

59 W Hubbard St #2, Chicago, IL 60654, United States

Website

www.ramensan.com

Contact

+1 312-377-9950

Price rating

$$ $$

Rating on Google Maps

4.40 (4K reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Friday: 11 am to 1 pm
  • Saturday: 11 am to 1 pm
  • Sunday: 11 am to 11 pm
  • Monday: 11 am to 11 pm
  • Tuesday: 11 am to 11 pm
  • Wednesday: 11 am to 11 pm
  • Thursday: 11 am to 12 pm

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: ramen (41) great (27) delicious (19) good (15) Chicago (12) pork (12) broth (11) chicken (9) service (9) music (8)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 Phoxay R. 2 years ago on Google
    I’ve been meaning to post but got busy. My husband and I stayed in Chicago with some friends on New Years. We were craving ramen and found this cute place. It has such a great vibe as soon as we walked in. The music was on point and the food was amazing. We loved it so much that we went back for our husbands birthday a couple weeks after. I highly recommend this place!!!
    9 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 P. F. 2 years ago on Google
    I had the lunch set which is definitely a good deal. It’s a good portion of noodle soup, side dish and a salad. The taste of the Ramen soup was okay, but it missed the refined taste that I like in Japan. The “background” music is rather bass heavy and it eventually started to irritate me. But I guess it’s all about taste. No Apple Pay or wireless payment excepted.
    7 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 April K. 2 years ago on Google
    We were visiting Chicago and my boyfriend came across Ramen-San completely by accident. Since we both LOVE ramen we decided to give it a try. I ordered the tonkotsu ramen and a rice plate of the karaage chicken and for dessert we ordered the hot donuts. Everything was delicious. The place was great, the atmosphere was great, and our server was amazing! If we visit Chicago again, we will be going back for sure!
    6 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 D S. 5 months ago on Google
    The only ramen bar in downtown Chicago, this up-and-coming, bustling establishment plays loud hip-hop music. The food was amazing! The ramen is perfect for a cold night, although I would've preferred the soup to be hotter; it was just lukewarm. The broth, while very tasty, was a bit too salty for my liking. However, the customer service is excellent, with attentive staff who ensure you get what you need. The hot donut and matcha cream puff were interesting. My kids enjoyed them. The tofu bao was a great start to our ramen experience. I highly recommend this place
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Aashutosh S. 2 years ago on Google
    The place has a good ambiance and decent seats for customers on weekdays. The kimchi fried chicken ramen is delicious. The servers are kind and always there to tell you more about the dishes. Definitely worth visiting.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Ankit C. 2 years ago on Google
    Well words cannot describe how good their ramen is. I have been to all the locations in chicago area and every time its a treat. Only tried kimchi and fried chicken ramen paired with a sake of servers choice. Insanely good food!
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Vy H. 1 year ago on Google
    Great place for lunch!! Randomly came here Monday for lunch and luckily there were high top tables available. Food and service was awesome. They offer a lunch special for $15.95–served with your choice of main dish (3 ramen choices) and one rice plate with small salad-san & marinated cucumbers—such a great deal! The Tonkotsu Ramen was a bit bland so I added sesame chili (extra $1) which made it more flavored—the chasu pork was reasonable size and I also got it with added corn (extra $1)! Also tried the Kimchi & Fried Chicken Ramen—it was delicious, quite unique and well flavored. The Hot Classic Sake (kirinzan) was okay, not sure if it was worth $23 though.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Annalena H. 4 months ago on Google
    The best Ramen we’ve ever had!! The food is unbelievable delicious and the atmosphere was matching the food. The service was okay. The drinks were a little bit pricey and there was definitely too much ice in the drinks. But besides that, we would definitely recommend!!
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Fernanda Nunes R. 2 years ago on Google
    Delicious food, great service and vibrant atmosphere! We came in for early dinner. Brendan was our server and he was great, super nice and friendly and always checking in. We had the raw tuna for appetizer, which was incredibly delicious, and I had the tonkotsu ramen… super tasty broth, the pork was cooked perfectly! Definitely coming back!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 FuserAgent 2 years ago on Google
    A wonderful and delicious place to have your ramen fix. The lunch specials have generous portions, great variety and delicious. The chicken Karage is specially good as well as the shrimp and pork dumplings. Staff is extremely friendly and when you add the great music it creates a great atmosphere. Highly recommended.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Cory D. D. M. 2 years ago on Google
    This was the first time I ever had real ramen and it was BANGING!!! Absolutely loved this place great vibe and overall great atmosphere. Everyone who we went with had a great meal and it came out super tasty. When I am back in Chicago I will be stopping by there again.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 Emmanuel L. 7 months ago on Google
    After going to three different Ramen-San places, I'm still confused by the good reviews because their ramen just doesn't measure up. Chicago has much better choices. I returned because my friend wanted to give it a try. The chicken ramen tasted like chicken noodle soup, which isn't authentic ramen. The trendy setting and friendly staff are positives, but the ramen always falls short.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Hung T. 4 months ago on Google
    90s hip-hop, fun atmosphere, delicious food and good drinks... What more can you ask for? The roasted edamame was so simple yet so delightful. The pork belly buns were juicy and the perfect compliment to the ramen.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Maria E. 7 months ago on Google
    We had the edamame hummus and had to order a second batch- it was incredible!! A must have. We also got the Avocado Tuna Tar tar and it was also delicious, although not enough for a reorder like the edamame. I had the Tonkatsu ramen and everything about it was perfect: broth on point, not too salty like in other places, and creamy! The noodles perfectly cooked, too! I’m beyond satisfied; even the drink was amazing- Yuzu Margarita. The donut puffs did not disappoint either! 😋🤩
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 J A. 6 months ago on Google
    Now this place is fun with amazing ramen. I think this is my favorite ramen place in Chicago. This is great for the younger crowd and a group of friends. I had a sumo bowl, it was amazing. I also had a pork bun. Delicious. Go after 9pm and have the late night fried rice.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Nelson M. 4 months ago on Google
    This is definitely the best ramen I've had in Chicago! The customer service was great the food was beyond delicious. Tie the ramen in with the beer and the sake is just a great experience for a group of friends. And don't even give me started on the great music they played here! classic hip hop it was awesome!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Marisol R. 1 year ago on Google
    This place is a vibe! Great music selection and staff is incredible - great service. I tried the limited edition ramen and it was delicious with just the right amount of heat to it. We ordered both of the wings and the spicy Thai are the best. The margarita from here is so unique and delicious. Order the hot donuts for dessert.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Warongvat W. 1 year ago on Google
    Not the most authentic ramen or Japanese restaurant. Many good fusion options to choose from. But a great vibe inside. Perfect for drinking and hanging out with friends or on a date
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Bradley B. 1 year ago on Google
    The best Ramen I have ever had! It was delicious. The wait staff was also very friendly. They brought us a free order of donuts at the end. I would have never ordered them but they were so soft and a delicious dessert!

  • 5/5 Sylvia L. 1 year ago on Google
    This place is very busy! Do make reservation before you come. Dinner on Friday or the weekend needs to be book at least a few days earlier. Ordered the traditionally "tantan-san" ($15). The broth is good. The pork is a lot sweeter than typical Ramen style one. Usually in most ramen place I would be very stuff with the food but this place has the right portion for me.

  • 5/5 Joshua D. 6 months ago on Google
    Absolutely delicious and flavorful ramen. The portions are great. The pork belly bun was a tasty starter. The sumo bowl is great for the starving, I almost couldn’t finish it. The service was great and the food came out fast.

  • 5/5 John N. 1 year ago on Google
    Definitely a wait if you don't have a reservation. Service was great. Food came out fast. The tonkotsu broth was flavorful and the donuts were light as air.

  • 4/5 Karen H. 1 year ago on Google
    Tried going for dinner, on a Sunday, and there was a minimum of a 1 hour wait. Went back, for lunch the next day. The tables near the door get a healthy blast of cold air, every time the door opens (it opens a lot). The music was good but a little too loud for having an easy, enjoyable conversation, which made it feel like you were in a bar, on a weekend night. Service was okay, nothing noticeably good or bad. The menu is QR code, so kind of a pain... I want to see pictures of everything, without having to tap-open, for each item, only to have it closed when I tap on the next item. Had a lunch "express" meal which was perfect! A nice serving of ramen, a serving of rice with salmon, a small salad, and a snack portion of spices cucumber. The salmon was delicious and the pork on the ramen was heavenly! Would definitely go back for that!

  • 5/5 Rashonda H. 7 months ago on Google
    The food is absolutely delicious. There's a little something for everyone, and it's very flavorful with just enough heat that you can still enjoy your meal.

  • 5/5 Megan N. 1 year ago on Google
    I’m a pretty frequent customer at Ramen-San, and I love recommending this place to other people! The staff are always incredibly friendly and super attentive. I’ve tried a good amount of the menu from their ramen, to the kaarage and buns, to the matcha cream puffs. Every time I come here the flavor, quality, and service are always consistent. They provide a decent range in options for ramen and the flavors are quite creative. I will say- if you are a vegetarian, your choices are more limited as they have one vegetarian ramen. I highly recommend giving the yuzu lemonade, tonkotsu ramen, and matcha cream puff a try! There is ample indoor and outdoor seating; although once it gets closer to dinner time it will fill up more. The ambiance has a cozy vibe with the brick interior, wooden tables, and dimmed lights. The flow of hip hop music underlies the hum of conversation and it makes for an overall great dining experience :)

  • 5/5 having h. 7 months ago on Google
    Came here with my family for a birthday outing. Tonkotsu was great. Good broth, firm noodles, the pork strips were incredibly tender (like rib meat.) Everyone else seemed delighted with their food as well. My mother ordered the Tantan-san, which was very good by her admission, but a little too spicy for her. Had a matcha puff for dessert and left happy. Fun place.

  • 3/5 Shefali K. 1 year ago on Google
    The place was jammed pack on a Monday eve. 15-20 mins wait time. Not 4 star because food take a long time to serve and chicken fry came cold. I am not a ramen fan but my husband loved it. We asked to substitute pork broth with chicken and they accommodated it. They have lettuce eats if you use it to earn some points. The highlight was the matcha cream puff, it was cold but it delicious

  • 5/5 ashley 1 year ago on Google
    This ramen spot just hits the spot for me! It was perfect for the cold weather when I went. The flavor of the soup were incredible. They had lots of choices in their menu. The bao buns were prepared perfectly. Soft pillowy bun, with crispy pork belly inside. I am definitely coming back when I visit Chicago again!

  • 5/5 Amy 6 months ago on Google
    We’ve been to 2-3 other ramen-San locations and all have been amazing. The service is wonderful and even when they’re busy, they’re attentive of us. The ramen is delicious, karaage is a must have, and the yuzu sake bomb is a perfect pairing. One of our friends got the kimchi sake bomb and didn’t enjoy it, and the server was nice to take it off the check since it was something she recommended/liked. Small detail but we also liked the small bag hooks under the table to hang our bags; makes it convenient instead of having to wear it or place it on the table/chair.

  • 4/5 Officer Paw P. 2 months ago on Google New
    My wife and I enjoyed this ramen spot while visiting Chicago. Walking in the door it has a really neat, eclectic, urban vibe to it. Our waitress was super friendly and bubbly. She even helped walk us through some of the different drinks and sake they had available. We got a couple different types of ramen and both were super good. The fried dumplings were next level though. Only knocking a star because of the price. Even for Chicago/Downtown prices, it was a little hefty.

  • 3/5 Danny M. 3 months ago on Google New
    Had the tonkatsu, idk it tasted stale in a way that made me wonder if they reheated it in a microwave. The noodle quality was the most noticeably poor quality. Rest was ok but just really disappointed. Wayyy overpriced overall especially considering the quality. I forgot to ask but the frosted Asahi is either 10 or 12oz which for $8 which is too much. Rest of the drink menu is overpriced as well. You're paying for the business's location taxes here, not quality food.

  • 4/5 Gwendolyn E. 3 months ago on Google New
    We really enjoyed our lunch at Ramen-San. I am always a bit skeptical of ramen, as all too often it is more salt than depth of flavor and saw reviews to that effect, but if you order right that is not an issue. We started with the shrimp and pork dumplings. The filling was nice, but the dumpling wrapper was too thick and heavy. Overall, not bad, but I wouldn’t get these again. 10 Hour Tonkotsu - this is wonderful. Not at all salty, great depth and creaminess in the broth, the noodles were perfectly firm, and that Chashu - OMG, it has a firmness to it but melts in your mouth. Highly memorable, definitely recommend!! Kimchi & Fried Chicken Ramen - another great bowl of flavors. The kimchi was just the right age to blend with the slightly spicy broth and the chicken which retained its texture well even after floating in the broth for awhile. Highly recommended! We’ve saved this in our favorites list for our trips downtown. A huge thank you to the chef for NOT serving a typical salt-forward ramen broth.

  • 5/5 M Shelly C. 2 months ago on Google New
    One of my absolute favorite restaurants! I try to eat here every time I return home to Chicago for a visit. Amazing ramen. Although not as spicy as I recall from past visits (and yes, I ordered the spicy).


Call +1 312-377-9950 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Parking
    • ✓️ Paid parking lot
    • ✓️ Somewhat difficult to find a space
  • Payments
    • ✓️ Debit cards
    • ✓️ Credit cards
    • ✓️ NFC mobile payments
  • Offerings
    • ✓️ Beer
    • ✓️ Wine
    • ✓️ Coffee
    • ✓️ Alcohol
    • ✓️ Spirits
    • ✓️ Cocktails
    • ✓️ Quick bite
    • ✓️ Comfort food
    • ✓️ Small plates
    • ✓️ Healthy options
    • ✓️ Late-night food
    • ✓️ Happy-hour drinks
    • ✓️ Vegetarian options
  • Popular for
    • ✓️ Lunch
    • ✓️ Dinner
    • ✓️ Solo dining
  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible toilet
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible seating
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible entrance
  • Dining options
    • ✓️ Lunch
    • ✓️ Dinner
    • ✓️ Dessert
    • ✓️ Seating
    • ✓️ Catering
  • Service options
    • ✓️ Dine-in
    • ✓️ Delivery
    • ✓️ Takeaway
    • ✓️ Kerbside pickup
    • ✓️ Outdoor seating
    • ✓️ No-contact delivery

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