Akahoshi Ramen

"Akahoshi Ramen evolved from a hard-to-get-into pop-up into a full-fledged, hard-to-get-into restaurant. Reservations are booked five weeks out, and a line forms outside 30 minutes before they open. But once you’ve finagled your way into a seat and had your first taste of their ramen, it’s clear why. Each of their four bowls is distinct, with only a handful of toppings, giving every ingredient room to showcase its flavor. But the must-order is their namesake dish, the Akahoshi Miso. Without even factoring in tasty wok-fried bean sprouts, pork chashu, and springy housemade noodles, we’d happily wait in line just for the rich garlicky broth. Reservations are released five weeks out at noon every Monday. If you can’t get one, you can set an alert on OpenTable. But we've also had success just walking in and snagging a seat or two—just be prepared for about a 30-45 minute wait." - adrian kane, john ringor, veda kilaru

"Arguably Chicago’s most impactful new ramen restaurant in years, Akahoshi’s debut in late 2023 rippled throughout the city as chef and owner Mike Satinover put his online reputation (on Reddit, he’s known as Ramen_Lord) to the test in Logan Square. After more than a decade of study, practice, and sharing what he learned on social media, Satinover opened Akahoshi with a tight lineup of miso ramen, shoyu ramen, tantanmen, and aburasoba, along with chashu and ikura rice bowls. It was a near-instant hit, with reservations booked out through the end of the year — a pattern that has extended into 2024. But the team welcomes walk-ins, too, at the 55-seat restaurant." - Naomi Waxman

"Mike Santinover grew a fanbase on Reddit, sharing is love of Japanese food, and trying different ramen recipes. His fanatical approach to perfection manifested into Akahoshi Ramen, a shop that often gets so busy that you’ll need a reservation. The menu is unique, it’s not just the generic pork or miso broth and Sun Noodles; that’s not a knock — but sometimes diners want something unique. The noodles are made onsite, and the varous specials — including truffle shoyu, spicy garlic paitan, and buttercorn crab — are worth seeking out." - Ashok Selvam, Eater Staff

"Famous for its spicy decadent monthly special ramen bowls." - Ashok Selvam

"The Verdict: Do whatever you need to do to get in. It’s not surprising that this Logan Square spot has been packed the minute since opening. Its owner, a Redditor-turned-chef known as "Ramen_Lord", has a large following and his past pop-ups sold out instantly. But eating is believing—bowls of rich and creamy Akahoshi Miso and soupless tantanmen flavored with tingly Sichuan peppercorns are delicious and worth racing to grab a spot at a booth or the communal table. Chances are, reservations are all booked when you’re done reading this. But they allow walk-ins, so you can probably snag a spot if you get there before they open at 5pm." - adrian kane, veda kilaru, john ringor, nick allen