“I can't believe I never tried Torino until now! We live walking distance and I placed an order for pickup. Wow, the freshness and quality of the food was fantastic. Loved my tuna avocado roll! The space is warm and inviting and it looks like a nice bar, too. Will definitely be back to dine in!“
“We had lunch on a weekday so there were plenty of seats, but also a couple other customers. We were seated in a festive booth that has coat hooks and a sense of privacy without feeling too enclosed. I asked what ramen was recommended for the first time eating at their shop, and ordered the recommended Spicy Tonkotsu ($18), a pork bone broth with red chili mixed in to a medium degree (my friend ordered the regular Tonkotsu ramen, $17). We also ordered the kurobuta (Berkshire) sausage ($7), which comes with a spicy mayo, as well as a couple of melon cream sodas ($4), which were ectoplasm green and served with a cute, cartoonish glass and straw.The service was mindful, friendly, and fast, getting our order early on, giving me a recommendation when asked, describing the spice level, bringing out the food and checking on us a couple times. Everything was done with a genuine looking smile and demeanor, and was just right.The food portions were as expected, and the ingredients were above par. The ramen noodles are thin, served slightly al dente with a good bite and chew. The bowl was also extra-packed with the noodles, which are delicious, but also absorb the broth over time, so I would focus on eating at least half of the noodles in the beginning when having ramen there, and then enjoy the second half with the toppings like the hanjuku egg, chashu pork, nori, etc. The appetizer came with five good-sized sausages, and it was easy to cut the last one to share, since they were perfectly crisped on the outside and juicy on the inside. The melon cream soda was surprisingly refreshing and not-too-sweet to cut through the heavier flavors in the ramen to reset the palate.Overall, having tried ramen at a number of places around Chicago, as well as Japan, I would say Kohoku-Ku Ramen is a solid choice off the beaten path, and deserves a visit when you have an urge to try something new, or go back for more.“
“I'd wanted to come to a place like this for a while. Saw places like it online but didn't know there was one in Chicago. Went with my daughter and had a great time. Friendly service, really great sushi options, and grabbing your own plate is just so fun. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.“
“Very chill, casual ramen spot. The service was pretty good. Know that they are a bit small, so I'd recommend getting in there early for dinner! We tried 2 ramen types: the Goku Tonkotsu and Goku Miso. Both were great, but I liked the Miso broth slightly better. I'm looking forward to going back and trying their appetizers as well!“
“This was my first time here and the food was overall good I think the all you can eat is definitely worth it. The staff was very friendly, knowledgeable, helpful and attentive. It was very loud the day I went the were tables put together for a big party that had kids at it and it was really annoying and not very enjoyable to be there with all the noise. Food: chicken karaage was my least favorite I wasn't a fan of the batter and the texture/flavor was not what I expected. I really enjoyed my sushi rolls and the ramen was good for the most part it was basic and I added some additives (fish cakes (upcharge to add), corn and bean sprouts)“
“The absolute best sushi I've had anywhere. Not only is the sushi fresh, hence the name, but the chef is a true master of his craft. The owner and staff couldn't be more genuine as they provide the most welcoming atmosphere. Do yourself a favor and give this place a try, especially if you are unsure about sushi. This place will have you hooked within the first bite.“
“Ordered Tonkotsu ramen, Kaarage, Gyoza and avocado sushi.The ramen consistency was great, Broth had a distinct but wonderful flavor and it was frothy which I liked. The toppings were also great. Eggs soft boiled to perfection and I didn’t have much of the chashu but it was also good.The Karaage was also good. Breading was great and they use dark meat which was a pleasant surprise.Gyoza was good too. Less crispy then most and I like that but maybe some might not.Sushi was also top notch. For some reason its not on the online menu but I highly recommend.I also had a taste of someone else’s katsu don and It was good.The staff are incredibly nice and considerate and there was not much wait for our food (Infact, some of the ramen came before the appetizers!)I only give the atmosphere a 3/5 because the sun glares through the window and it can be quite annoying.P.S. Big portions on the ramen so be prepared for leftovers!All in all, HIGHLY RECOMMEND for ramen lovers in chicago.“
“So glad we found this place. Landed in Chicago from Hawaii and was greeted by snow all day. Looking for comfort food, we found this place. Wonderful staff and I believe he was the owner, made us feel so welcome. The ramen was great and so was the Thai food. Highly recommend. Much aloha to the staff there. The flower girls!“
“Had a fantastic time with my teenager, my brother, and brother in law. We all lived our food. The Dynamite was DYNAMITE tasting!! The Ramen bowls were huge and so yummy! Our server was lovely and atmosphere was cool. They served cans of soda with glasses of ice, but we were happy to have fresh pop. It was all very affordable and I can't wait to go back!“
“We were in the mood for ramen and stumbled upon this charming neighborhood eatery. The service was excellent, and the staff was incredibly friendly. We ordered the Fried Pork Cutlet Curry Rice, Tonkatsu Ramen, and Miso Ramen. Each dish was incredibly tasty, with generous portions and reasonable prices. The Fried Pork Cutlet Curry Rice was particularly outstanding--I would definitely return for that!“
“Randomly found this Ramen shop while walking around earlier in the day. Looked promising with a spicy dish called Hell Ramen. Went in for dinner, it was a small but popular shop. We were seated right away and the server was super nice, and told us all about the menu. We had the baby octopus salad, chicken gyoza and hell Ramen (all pictured). Everything was delicious and arrived quickly. The hell ramen comes in 3 different spice levels - enough to satisfy anyone's taste. For dessert we got the Sakura and Sasa Dango mochi. Both were clearly homemade and nice and soft, great flavor. Glad we found this restaurant - very fitting after the mochi donuts we had for breakfast.“
“Got some pretty great sushi from this place on Broadway. It's tiny inside, and makes sense they limit dining in. Nano has mostly things for takeout. Especially at lunch. The prices for the fancier rolls can get expensive but are still pretty good it seems. Came to get a few things to go. It's only open for takeout at lunch. They open the inside for dinner though. Only a few tables are inside. Really cramped so not sure I would even want to. It's about $14 for the specialty rolls. Some of these are vegan. One is the Black Forest Maki. This is asparagus, avocado, cucumber, oshinko, and spinach wrapped in fried tofu. Good big roll filled with lots of vegetables and fresh. This was a pretty impressive one and was worth the kind of high price. Has lots of great sushi to choose from. It's only open for takeout most times. There's a few of the specialty rolls that are okay for vegans and vegetarians.“
“The poke bowl was a flavor-packed delight, boasting an abundance of fresh fish meat perfectly balanced with vibrant ingredients. Every bite offered a harmonious blend of flavors, leaving me craving more. With its generous portions and impeccable taste, this poke bowl is a must-try for any seafood enthusiast.Parking: Up to 4 empty spots during pick up“
“This may make sense to those who are of my generation and perhaps even older; have you ever experienced wanting a good old fashioned simple and greasy hamburger or cheeseburger but have found it difficult to find one? Too many places you go, they have created 'gourmet' burgers with 'inspiration' from various places. While these are good/decent, you just want your good, old, original, simple hamburger! That out of the way, imagine the same for Japanese food.I'm not a Japanese cuisine specialist by any means however I do know some flavors since I grew up in Tokyo. I so miss the tori no karaage (chicken karaage) but everywhere I have been to (not too many to be fair), it's way too Americanized which is ok but come on, someone's got to have authentic or close to authentic chicken karaage.I honestly gave up on Japanese food (Japanese curry rice, ramen, chicken karaage and takoyaki) in the US till I came across Rakkan Ramen.The founder, Ryohei Ito brought the idea of Rakkan Ramen with one goal in mind; bring authentic Japanese food to the world. Is the chicken karaage exactly how I remember having it in Tokyo growing up or on my various trips back there? I'd say 98% yes. The 2% is probably the type of chicken available here, the oils, water, etc. No nonsense specially made aolis drizzled on top and topped with tiny things to make it pretty; Rakkan Ramen's chicken karaage is as close as it gets to what you get in Japan.So let's get on with it. It was about 2 or 3 months ago, a friend and I visited Rakkan Ramen based on reviews and I figured let's check it out.You enter and you are transported to Japan with the word, Irrashaimase coming out of the staff's mouth within the first 2 seconds that you enter the door. OMG. I AM LOVING IT SO FAR.We are seated way back in the corner (which I don't mind. I'm an introvert anyway). We ordered the takoyaki which was outstanding. We also ordered a side of the chicken karaage (which I have already described above).We each ordered a ramen. I ordered the Amber. The broth was a BOMB. While vegan, the flavor profile it had was so Japanese and outstanding. The seasoned egg was PERFECTLY done. The bamboo shoots, hmmmm, that crunch in your mouth and lastly the chachu (grilled pork). The chachu I will say I've had better at other spots in the US. The actual noodles too I think there are spots that have better ones. Overall, this ramen HIT THE SPOT and I felt like I found a JACKPOT.Fast forward a while later, I went in solo for a lunch special on a Friday afternoon and ordered the Pearl ramen AND of course, my chicken karaage. The karaage again was exactly how it was the first time I had it. The ramen too was so amazing. Salty (not too salty but just right) and truly umami.One additional thing I wish Rakkan would do is to start adding wakame. This is the wet/soft seaweed that is a common ingredient across Japan in ramen, udon and miso soups. I have yet to come across a Japanese restaurant in the US that serves wakame (again, I have probably tried at most 50 Japanese restaurants in the US and I know there are thousands)I am so glad to have found this place. Now that I'm back, I plan on having my ramen fix every other week for a Friday lunch.“
“Great food very fresh and plenty of protein!I've had beef and chicken bulgogi Only bad side no banchan sides at allHad to order a small side of Kimchi for $3 .. considering the plates are $15 or $16 it should be included otherwise everything else is great, have been here 3 times now during my lunch time“
“The food delicious , sushi was very tasty . The desserts were pretty good . My family and I enjoyed the atmosphere here as well as the delicious sushi rolls . We got spicy salmon, spider roll ,caterpillar ,kamikaze ,chili mango . All very delicious .“
“Easily the best tasting ramen in Northside Chicago. I tried many places and this is my favorite. I come at least once a week for their outstanding spicy tonkatsu ramen. Comfort food at its best. Owners are very nice and accommodating people! Highly recommend!!!“
Sushi • $$
“If you want quality sushi and sashimi, then this is the place to go! Don't let the "hole-in-the-wall" ambiance restrain you from experiencing great and healthy food. The service was very good and the owner and sushi chef were quite warm and charming. Many locals go to this small but delightful restaurant.“
“I stumbled into this gem of a restaurant by accident and has been a patron 1-2 times a month. I have brought friends and visitors and they all loved the food, service, and ambiance. Everything that I have tried is delicious and you will not regret dining in this restaurant.“
“Really good small ramen restaurant. Sat in here on a rainy sunday evening by myself. Very kind staff, incredible chicken katsu ramen with a rich and beautiful broth. Stylish japanese style seating and lighting. Music plays quite quietly which makes it a great place for people who are easily overwhelmed or wish to eat somewhere that music doesnt overpower their voice when they chat with a companion. The green tea i ordered came in a large and pretty cup i enjoyed sipping on, and the egg rolls i ordered to go were very crispy and delicious. I definitely would like to go back and try more of their menu soon, and hopefully with one of my ramen enjoying friends!!!“
“I am a frequent diner at Wabi Sabi - it is a great place for dine in or takeout. Good selection of appetizers, sushi rolls, and entrees. Everything I’ve had on the menu has been fantastic, but I especially recommend the gyoza. Definitely affordable for sushi in the area. If you are picking up, food is usually ready 15-20 minutes after you call in even if the place is super busy.Parking: Paid street parking in Kedzie. Surrounding neighborhood streets have some free parking usually but be sure to check permit signs.“
“Throughly enjoyed my food. I created my own ramen with a spice level of 3, which the gentleman cautioned me was hot, however I enjoy spice and loved it. If you don't like spice you probably should stick with a 1 if you are not use to it. When they say spice, they mean it. We ordered the fries and the spicy chicken karaage and everything was made to order and fresh. The person I was with ordered the spicy ramen. Again, we love spice. It is a small business and those folks are working hard in the back. I hope that they continue to expand their staff to help with the carryout, which they seem super popular for. I will definitely be dining again.“
Bubble Tea • $
“Love the Shoyu ramen with pork belly. Very generous. I can never eat all of the noodles. Sometimes I order extra broth to have with my left over noodles. The staff is very friendly and professional. I've only had the hot black tea with ginger and it Really helped when I had a cold. I've done takeout and delivery. Next time I have a guest in taking them there. Gonna order right now! ?“
“We already love the food here. My teenaged daughter’s number 1 pick of places to go for dinner. But wow, last night we went there as a treat to celebrate her birthday. I happened to mention that on the phone when reserving a table. And wow…the servers were so nice and after we were done with dinner, they had the robot come out with bday music and an adorable gift, which she LOVED. (Not spoiling the surprise). It was so thoughtful and special. THANK YOU for your surprise and kindness!!! :)“
“Hands down my favorite sushi spot around! Everything we ordered was beautifully plated. The salmon flight is my favorite plate. Every bite is an explosion of flavor! But the reality is, I can say that about everything we ordered. Not to mention how attentive the staff is. Highly recommend for sure!“
“Chef Son might just be the kindest, warmest, and loveliest human being on this planet. Dining here with his hospitality really just made the day brighter and sunnier. And of course, food he cooked was really good. Definitely coming back and recommending to all of my friends.“
“No frills ramen and zensai. Decent, filling, but not worth going out of the way for. Very consistent in flavor and what you would expect. They had a fun selection of sake and their house sake was mild and easy. Great for a cold Chicago evening.“
“So this place got the best Crab Rangoon in the city and that I ever had quite frankly. It taste so good and I’m mad other restaurants don’t make it like they do! The Crab Rangoon is so good from here that I never order anything else. I tried the wings and they weren’t bad. I’m curious how the shrimp fried rice is. But I’ve always just made this place my go to spot for Crab Rangoon. No other restaurant compares to how good it is. Please try them.“
“From the massive gift shop to the real Japanese people baking the sushi in the kitchen. This place was phenomenal. My friends talked me into this because I was really skeptical about eating raw pork and chicken however I was not disappointed. I have never had such good Chinese sushi, and pierogis in my life. I felt like I was in a time machine that took me back to 1941 such a vintage location with historic sentiment. Don’t forget to try the special verde sauce. This place is for the whole family.“
“Don't be fooled by the appearance! Behind the modest dining area with 3 tables and a narrow counter is hiding an amazing Japanese chef who is not only brilliant in delivering the highest quality of sushi and sashimi, cooking delightful hot dishes but also pays close attention to the presentation of his creations. My sashimi selection was delightful and miso soup very tasty. The nice nod to the classic Japanese cuisine was a delicious assortment of Japanese pickles. My husband loved the incredible dressing of the house salad, the right consistency of the egg rolls, and the freshness of the shrimp tempura roll. He was particularly fond of the rich flavor of his gyoza. Kelly made us feel very welcome at her restaurant. We cannot wait to be back at this hidden gem! Bravo, Akira-San! Save our table“