Chicago Ramen Annex

Restaurant · Palatine

Chicago Ramen Annex

Restaurant · Palatine

1

1608 E Algonquin Rd, Schaumburg, IL 60173

Photos

Chicago Ramen Annex by null
Chicago Ramen Annex by null
Chicago Ramen Annex by null
Chicago Ramen Annex by null
Chicago Ramen Annex by null
Chicago Ramen Annex by null
Chicago Ramen Annex by null
Chicago Ramen Annex by null
Chicago Ramen Annex by null
Chicago Ramen Annex by null
Chicago Ramen Annex by null
Chicago Ramen Annex by null
Chicago Ramen Annex by null
Chicago Ramen Annex by null
Chicago Ramen Annex by null
Chicago Ramen Annex by null
Chicago Ramen Annex by null
Chicago Ramen Annex by null
Chicago Ramen Annex by null
Chicago Ramen Annex by null
Chicago Ramen Annex by null
Chicago Ramen Annex by null
Chicago Ramen Annex by null
Chicago Ramen Annex by null
Chicago Ramen Annex by null
Chicago Ramen Annex by null
Chicago Ramen Annex by null
Chicago Ramen Annex by null
Chicago Ramen Annex by null
Chicago Ramen Annex by null
Chicago Ramen Annex by null
Chicago Ramen Annex by null
Chicago Ramen Annex by null
Chicago Ramen Annex by null
Chicago Ramen Annex by null
Chicago Ramen Annex by null
Chicago Ramen Annex by null
Chicago Ramen Annex by null
Chicago Ramen Annex by null
Chicago Ramen Annex by null
Chicago Ramen Annex by null
Chicago Ramen Annex by null
Chicago Ramen Annex by null

Highlights

Chicago Ramen Annex serves up bold Jiro-style ramen and a range of comforting Japanese dishes in a cozy, welcoming atmosphere.  

Featured in Eater
Placeholder

1608 E Algonquin Rd, Schaumburg, IL 60173 Get directions

chicago-ramen.us

$10–20 · Menu

Information

Static Map

1608 E Algonquin Rd, Schaumburg, IL 60173 Get directions

+1 847 907 4755
chicago-ramen.us
chicagoramentky
𝕏
@chicago_ramen

$10–20 · Menu

Features

payment credit card

Last updated

Mar 6, 2025

Powered By

You might also like

Terms of Use • Privacy Policy • Cookie Policy
 © 2025 Postcard Technologies, Inc.
@eater

"One of the Chicago area’s most celebrated ramen experts is making waves in the local Japanese culinary scene with his new suburban restaurant that features Jiro ramen, an aggressive style with a cult following that isn’t offered anywhere else in town. Chef Kenta Ikehata on Thursday opened his third ramen-ya, Chicago Ramen Annex, at 1608 E. Algonquin Road in Schaumburg. A Tokyo native, Ikehata has developed a devoted following at Chicago Ramen in Des Plaines where he serves tsukemen, also known as dipping ramen. With his new restaurant, Chicago Ramen Annex, Ikehata is bringing diners a dish from his hometown. Created in the late 1960s at Ramen Jiro, a restaurant that has since grown into a chain in Japan, Jiro-style ramen draws on Chinese culinary influences for its porky, garlicky, and rich profile. Also known as “Jirolian style,” the subgenre is characterized by firm, udon-like noodles and a sumptuous, fatty shoyu-tonkotsu broth, all topped with a tall pile of shredded cabbage, bean sprouts, and lots of raw chopped garlic. Jiro-style can be an acquired taste, so Chicago Ramen Annex is offering alternatives such as beef curry ramen, shrimp wonton ramen, and white mabo tofu ramen. The menu is also stacked with appetizers like takoyaki, kaki fry, and chicken karaage. In Japan, Ramen Jiro has cultivated a reputation for brusque, some might even say rude, service. On this particular issue, Ikehata has veered from Jirolian tradition and will prioritize patrons’ comfort at Chicago Ramen Annex. He’s gone so far as to build out a 40-seat restaurant with booths, tables, and counter seating along the open kitchen. The attention to design highlights a dramatic shift from the original Chicago Ramen, Ikehata’s first Illinois restaurant, which opened in early 2020. Despite pandemic obstacles, Ikehata’s momentum has remained strong: in spring 2022, he opened a sister restaurant, Chicago Sushi (also in Des Plaines), and by the fall he launched Chicago Ramen Lab in Rolling Meadows. Once Ramen Annex is running smoothly, he hopes to open two more ramen shops in the Northwest Suburbs later this year." - Naomi Waxman

Chicago Ramen Annex Brings a New Style to Schaumburg - Eater Chicago
View Postcard for Chicago Ramen Annex

Gavin Novales

Google
Spectacular!!! The takoyako was superb - a well balanced concoction of flavors, The star of the show of our dinner adventure was the Spicy Red Miso Ramen. We love our Ramen and we travel a lot to sample the variety of ramen houses in the Chicagoland area. Having said that we have 3 different ramen places we consistently go back to fornour ramen fix. And then we tried the Chicago Ramen Annex in Schaumburg. Oh Em Gee! Did this set the bar so much higher! The broth is THICK and packs a powerful punch of flavors with every drop of soup in the bowl. The broth is where th magic is. The ramen noodles are pretty good (I am spoiled with Los Angeles' Shinsengumi's noodles that are flown in from Japan). The pork chashu was tender but somewhat lacked flavor. The broth, however, makes up for that. Our server was very attentive despite working all the tables by herself. The food was served sooner than expected and brought our table all at the same time - it was perfect!!!

Trae Brown

Google
Shrimp tempura and chicken karg was very very good. Definitely best tempura I’ve had; the ramen was unfortunately not the best it was very bland and wasn’t packed with any flavors. I was quite disappointed. Neither me nor my partner enjoyed it. The service was also subpar our food took forever even though the people that were seated next to us after we ordered, ordered the same items and received their food first. Our server wasn’t very knowledgeable about the menu and would tell us he had to go ask.. overall won’t be back here again was a first and last visit.

JL Cudi

Google
As someone who doesn’t like to travel far for his food, this ramen spot is the EXCEPTION Seriously, Chicago ramen annex is better than most ramen places you’ll find (yes, even better than downtown) Personally, I had the beef curry with egg ramen & my fiance had the tsukemen (ramen you dip) Not only were they both extremely flavorful but the portions were huge (enough for us take home for a second meal) We will definitely be coming back again & again (they have more ramen options too!) Overall, the service was friendly & helpful. You could tell that locals love this place too. 10/10 you have to try this place

Talgat Syzdyk

Google
We came to eat, ordered two chicken ramen, but they prepared them to go. We asked the waiter to transfer the soups into standard bowls, to which the waiter took the bag and went to the kitchen. There, I could clearly hear the waiter and the chef speaking to each other in Russian, where the chef said, “Let them eat it like that, I’m not going to transfer it.” The waiter came back and said, “The chef refused,” leaving the bag on our table. So there we were, sitting in the café, pouring chicken broth from one container into another with noodles. This is the face of the establishment; this is what they call service. P.S. I’d like to add that this wasn’t our first time eating at this place, but the quality of service and food has definitely declined.

Andy L

Google
Usually go to the original chicago ramen location but we felt like trying a different location and boy do we regret it. The tsukemen that came out lacked flavor and the pork that came out tasted like it was very old. Only one waitress for the whole location and she spent most of the time on her phone. The cups we were given for our drinks were old and crusty, and the soup spoons were not clean. Do yourself a favor and just go to the original location because it never disappoints. We are definitely not coming back to this location.

Celina Lim

Google
Loved the noodles , perfect with all the ingredients. Most of all love the pork with rice. My go to place whenever around.

Yana Lobosok

Google
Red miso ramen was not as I expected it to be. Too fatty broth, couldn't enjoy it at all. Noodles too hot, but meat was cold in the ramen. How? Gyoza was great! Loved the sauce served on the side. And orange rooibos tea was nice wrap for the visit!

Cody Nieves

Google
Great small Ramen place. Photo is of red miso. Broth was so rich! The noodles very tender and it came with a whole egg! I highly recommend!!

Sonam P.

Yelp
Was quiet for a Saturday afternoon lunch. They have a lot of ramen options to choose from. Not my favorite ramen spot but it was tasty ramen and a decent size. Definitely enough for 2 meals if eating it for lunch and you are not starving. Not sure that adding an egg should cost an extra $3 but other than that reasonable prices. I didn't think the ramen was that spicy and wish they had more seaweed inside to build a traditional flavor. It was nice for a cold afternoon but I wanted a bit more flavors on the toppings. Maybe some jalapeños and mushrooms would have made it taste more social. I do also think they should have better chopsticks that aren't the wooden kind as it takes away from the ramen experience and I don't like the woody flavor of non plastic chopsticks. Service was good as they same to check in on us a few times if we needed anything additional etc... they have tables and booths and you can get seated pretty quickly as it was not too busy. Parking is also easy as it's inside a small shopping complex.

Ruth L.

Yelp
I had high expectations for this place but it just wasn't good in the end. Service: 2 - server was nice but there was a language gap, she didn't seem to understand what we were asking for. The little yogurt they give the kids are a nice gesture. Cleanliness: 5 clean tidy restaurant Food: 2 - ramen was so salty and the broth so thick it was like eating sauce and noodles. I didn't continue to eat it and didn't bother asking the waitress because she messed up the appetizer and didn't really know what to do to fix it. Sadly, we won't return bc the food wasn't good at this location. I had gone to the Chicago Ramen in Mt Prospect/Des Plaines and it was a good experience there with the food. Not sure how this place fell short.

Aaron A.

Yelp
I ordered a spicy red miso ramen. It was salty. The texture of the broth was sandy. In my opinion it's too thick almost egg-drop-soup-like. It wasn't a satisfying slurp. My egg was also overcooked. The noodles were too wide like fettuccine. On top of that, they ran out of chicken karaage 1 hr into the open. How can you run out of chicken at 11 in the morning. Place was clean though. Ramen Wasabi which is truly located in Chicago is still hard to beat. It was nice to try other styles. But wouldn't be coming back unfortunately.

Phil Y.

Yelp
One night in the Chicago area. Where to get dinner? We decided to try the Chicago Ramen Annex. This one is located in Schaumburg. It looked kind of good. The prices were good, cheaper than California. It was one of the meals that my wife wanted as takeout. We ordered 2 of their Jiro ramen. The Jiro ramen came with thick noodles in a tonkotsu broth. The thick flat noodles reminded me of the thick yellow egg noodles found in Cantonese restaurants. I thought it was okay, but, my wife hated their ramen. Service was okay. I'd give them another chance, but, I'm not sure if my wife will.

Sarah Y.

Yelp
Went during Memorial Day at around 4:15pm and I was surprised at how busy it was. There's around 8 tables and every table was seated except one- it is quite a small restaurant. There was also only one server so the service was a little slow but understandable. I thought the ramen was a little pricey but it was good! I like how there's a book that helps you choose the ramen you want based on how thick you like your broth. I like a lighter brother so I opted for the chicken ramen and it was great! My mom got the spicy white miso ramen and said it was a little salty. The best dish was the chicken karaage!

Garvin C.

Yelp
The style of ramen here is excellent. This Jiro-style ramen is a bit different than the ones you find at Mitsuwa or other Chicago Ramen locations. This ramen has thicker noodles and thicker broth. It is comforting, delicious, and very filling. When you come to this ramen location, be sure you are aware of this because if you are expecting the more familiar style ramen, you may be disappointed. But, if you are willing to try something a little different, I think you will really enjoy this place.

Oliver Y.

Yelp
Visited here a little pass 12am half packed with other hungry hungry ramen seekers! Vibe was a live! My first time trying the Jiro style ramen, it didn't disappoint, the broth a little more fatty and ramen a little more thick! Yummy. Always have to order a side of Kim Chi. Coming back to try those Japanese Hot Dogs!!!

Zoe B.

Yelp
Seriously some of the best ramen we've ever had! We decided to come to Chicago Ramen late one night because it's open until 2 am and did not regret it. The servers were extremely kind and helpful. They provided excellent recommendations and were very knowledgeable of the menu. The restaurant itself was very clean and well lit. We ordered the tonkotsu ramen with egg and red miso ramen with egg. Both bowls were equally delicious. The red miso ramen was definitely more rich, heavy, and fatty (in the best way possible.) The red miso ramen comes with thick noodles while the tonkotsu comes with thin noodles. The toppings are slightly different as well. Both broths are very flavorful and slightly salty. We also got the chicken karaage, which was excellent. This was a wonderful meal, and we will definitely be back!

Amy Z.

Yelp
Stopped by this spot on my short work trip to Chicago. I ordered the jiro ramen because it was a tontkotsu broth. I honestly wasn't sure what I was getting myself into as I've never had jiro ramen. The broth and noodles tasted like butter, it took me a while to figure out how to describe it. The noodles were different from what I expected and was thick and chewy. I was surprised that the thick pork was fairly tender. I loved the amount of veggies that came with the ramen. I forgot to add an egg, which would have enhanced this. Overall, a good bowl of ramen for the price. I had almost half a bowl leftover to take back. The inside was spacious. Parking lot with ample space. Service was good, I went around 3pm so it wasn't crowded.

Maitri S.

Yelp
One of the BEST veggie ramens in the Chicagoland area! First of all, the portions are huge- I never end up finishing mine, so it's perfect for sharing. They load the bowl with noodles and veggies and the spicy sauce is a great addition. Totally elevates the flavor of the broth. I also appreciate how fresh minced garlic, additional hot sauce, and other toppings are available at the table. I've been to two different locations and the food has been excellent.

Nolan F.

Yelp
We ordered: 1. Jiro-style, Tonkotsu Ramen 2. White Mabo Tofu Ramen 3. Tsukemen (dipping noodle) 4. Chicken Ramen I really liked the tsukemen at the Des Plaines location so I was excited to try more variety at this new location in Schaumburg. It did not disappoint. I tried my friend's jiro style ramen and chicken ramen broths and they were flavorful. For myself, I wanted to try the unique Mabo Tofu Ramen and it was delicious. I think Chicago Ramen is top 3 or 5 in Chicagoland. The noodles are tasty but would be perfect if they made their own in-house. I hope they open a location in the city of Chicago someday. Service was good and there was ample seating inside.

Hiro I.

Yelp
I tried there right after they opened a few years ago. They are over priced for the quality of food. Rather disappointed than satisfied. "Mashi Mashi" (additional veggies) option was $5.00 and the added veggies was JUST a little bit more than normal portion that is not even worth $0.50 (mostly only sprouts). I compared the added veggie option and normal veggie option by ordering each of them. That's how i kow the difference and why I was very disappointed by the rip off ramen. Other menus were also over priced.

Sherwin C.

Yelp
Another great Chicago Ramen spot! We're getting spoiled in the Chicago suburbs with an abundance of delicious Japanese food options and the red miso ramen delivers here with delicious slurpy noodles, a flavorful but not overwhelming broth, and just the right amount of spiciness. This location also seems to have a bit more hot food options than some of the other locations I've seen nearby as well. The pork cutlet curry is super delicious with a mix of tender pork and crispy breading in a curry that's just the right amount of sweet, savory, and spicy. This reminds me a bit of the addictive food court pork cutlet curry options available in Hong Kong. The spicy chicken karaage is loaded with flavor and a bit more spicy than it first appears. The marination is done well though and this is quite flavorful. The takoyaki is also done quite well with a generous amount of bonito shavings on top and a slightly molten center. This is a good version to introduce others to this delicious food though I would've preferred a little more sauce on the top. Service here is super friendly and frequent. Even when they're busy they can serve everyone at a reasonable pace. The interior itself is nice and cozy and a good size to keep a more intimate ambiance. Parking is fairly easy in this shopping center as it typically doesn't get extremely busy. Overall, any of the Chicago Ramen spots are a solid option to enjoy some delicious Japanese food (definitely get the red miso ramen), and this location continues the standard of excellence.

Edward M.

Yelp
Tonkotsu is excellent overall, Jiro Ramen is better broth but less favorable noodles. You will need to decide your noodle preference to see if you like this place. Traditional noodle lovers, go for the Tonkotsu, its a great texture ramen with a nice fatty soup. FYI, the bowl looks like a lot but the middle/bottom is quite small. Pork is melt in your mouth, no smokiness since it's not torched but soooo tender. Jiro Ramen is even creamier soup, but the noodles are chewy. I don't like that type of noodle. This is the noodle they normally serve with all their other ramens. Spicy Karage was dry, flavorless, and tiny. don't get it. Stick with the ramen.

Mark N.

Yelp
We had read about Chicago Ramen for sometime and decided it was time to try it. We drove up to Chicago Ramen Annex and we stepped into a modern restaurant - a bit small - but clean and tidy and nicely decorated. A nice young gentleman greeted us, brought the extensive menus, and we began our journey into their offerings. Now, hub-hub knows his ramen - being from Hokkaido, after all, the man KNOWS what he likes. His go-to is Santouka at Mitsuwa Marketplace a short distance away- and as it's his hometown ramen, all other ramen is measured against this high bar. Now, when we moved to Schaumburg 7 1/2 months ago, he gave me three tries to find good local Ramen restaurants. This was one of my 3 tries - and the chef's experience in Tokyo and on the US West Coast gave me reason for hope - that this Ramen would be acceptable to my husband! So - we began by ordering the gyoza - which came fried and with what appears to be fry sauce. No, we normally prefer Gyoza that is pan fried in water and not fried - but one bite with the delicious dipping sauce turned us into believers! I am the sake expert in the house, and we ended up ordering the house, hot sake. - Unfortunately, the brand of sake I ordered was out of stock - boo! And when the hot sake was delivered, it came in a beautiful tiny teapot with tiny teacups. Beautiful, but my hubby was confused because sake should not be served in a teapot. Still, it was cute - and it turned out really well - the house sake was absolutely perfect! Hubby tried the Jiro Ramen with egg. At first he wasn't sure of the taste, but the more he ate the more he loved it. He announced - with some fanfare - that we will return and that it was really good tasting Ramen.! Yay! I chose the Hakata Tonkotsu Ramen - the taste was definitely acceptable, and the Chashu - for both of us - was amazingly thick and very lightly, but tastefully, seasoned - a pure win! OK. The reason for the four stars has nothing to do with the food. We felt sorry for the young man who served us because he had a young female helper who was not helping. He did the greeting - took the orders - did the cooking and serving - as well as presenting the bill at the end of the meal. She seemed to be mere decoration and did not provide much help to him at all - thus the service was slower than it should have been. We truly felt sorry for him as he was working his butt off. We don't know if they were short staffed because it was a Tuesday night - or if she was new - but it was obvious that he was doing all the work. He deserves a raise! And we did enjoy his service and tipped accordingly! We hope to see that he has good coworkers with him next time we come. And we will return- yes!

Pam C.

Yelp
I absolutely love jiro ramen, and was really excited to try Chicago Ramen Annex. I've been to Tsujita in LA which is by the same chef, so wanted to drop by and check this one out. Takeout was securely packed with noodles, soup and toppings in separate boxes. This jiro experience was decent. I think if you are craving the style, which is hard to find in the US, it can scratch that itch but didn't blow me away. The broth was adequately fatty but mostly just very salty. I added in an order of extra back fat and veggies which gave extra richness to the both. The veggies came in a generous serving, but the green cabbage in the soup were in large, stem chunks. It was very hard and didn't taste like it had been cooked through. The ramen comes with a generous serving of thick sliced pork, but it was very dry despite being in the fatty broth. The flat noodles were fairly generic, and held up in the broth well. I think I would have preferred a thicker round or more square noodle instead of a flat noodle. Definitely excited for the variety that the Chicago Ramen team brings to the Chicago ramen scene.

Ryne D.

Yelp
Chicago Ramen has been having unprecedented for a new chain. We've been to their original spot in Des Plaines, but now they have seven locations with two more on the way. We've also been here a couple times, and the menu's just as good and unique, and roomier to boot. Their speciality is the tsukemen, which is what I usually order - it'like ramen but the noodles are served separately and the broth is thicker like a sauce. You then dip the noodles, which stay chewier longer since they're not sitting in liquid. Once you're done you can ask for them to pour hot water into the sauce to bring it back to being like a soup you can finish off. For people looking for more traditional ramen, they have that, along with some unique versions of it like curry ramen and mabo tofu ramen. They also have rice bowls and even Japanese hot dogs. Service has never disappointed; they accommodated our toddler well and even gave him his own miniature Calpico drink. They have huge tables so it's great for large groups, and we didn't wait unreasonably long for any of our food. Overall there's a large variety of choices, everything tastes great, and it's obvious why Chicago Ramen is slowly taking over every Chicago burb. Now if only they'd do the same expansion plan for their excellent Chicago Sushi restaurant... Protip: Check their social media! I found offer for a free pork bowl on their Instagram before we came last time.

Daniel M.

Yelp
I came here when they had a grand opening and till this day, have not been disappointed with this location. The ramen is among my favorite when it comes to Ramen. Loved the soup, the noodles and the portions. I usually have come here for lunch during work hours and they are very quick so I can get back to work on time. Excellent place. Will be back again.

Carmelita B.

Yelp
I've had ramen before, but this is my first time at this particular ramen spot. When I saw that they offered an 'otaku level' ramen, I knew I had to give it a try. I'm glad to report that it did not disappoint!

Brigid C.

Yelp
I've been a regular here since I moved to Schaumburg. The food is delicious, the vibes are immaculate, the staff are all so friendly and great. My boyfriend and I come here almost weekly for ramen and gyoza.

Jessica W.

Yelp
I'm sorry to say but I was disappointed with my visit here. The broth was not as flavorful as I had hoped. The half-boiled egg seemed like it didn't marinate long enough. Not much to say other than I expected more flavor than we got.

ChateroMex ..

Yelp
Delicious highly recommended. The spicy red ramen is JUUUUUST PERFECT. Spicy enough for the flavor and taste of the spices.

Collin M.

Yelp
Best ramen I have ever had! Definitely saving this place to come back to when I am in the area.

饶

Yelp
Very good tast of beef,large amount of beef beef rice blow,need some time to eat,drinking water free

Mike V.

Yelp
Was really hyped to finally try a Chicago Ramen spot, but was kind of let down. Choices were limited compared to what I'm used to. I had the spicy red miso ramen which was alright. Was hoping to get a tankatsu but didn't see an option on the menu. Unfortunately our server got a couple of our orders wrong, which wasn't a big deal if she didn't have one headphone in her ear. As a former server I usually give the benefit of the doubt, but there was no excuse here. Hoping for better experiences at other Chicago Ramens.

Kainani K.

Yelp
Service was absolutely amazing!! The restaurant was really busy but we were able to be seated immediately after arriving. I ordered the peach flavored PU-ERH tea and it was so fragrant and flavorful.. absolutely delicious the ramen and gyoza was also delicious.. I added fresh minced garlic to it and it kicked the flavor up to another level. I will definitely be back before I leave Chicago!

Osiris R.

Yelp
Authentic ramen restaurant with a variety of options and toppings! Will definitely return to try more ramen and appetizers! 10/10

Kelly C.

Yelp
I went here in sometime in the summer of 2023 and loved it. I also love that this place is open late for night owls like me. But when I came back during a cold winter weekend, I was extremely disappointed in the service. My partner and I were seated right away as there were two open tables left when we arrived. I understand it was cold outside and really busy. I have a lot of patience especially with people who work in customer service roles. But I draw the line when two other couples, both of which arrived after my partner and I got seated, receive their food before we do. I admit we had a different waitress who took our order, but when we're sitting around for an unexaggerated 40 minutes with no food, my patience grows thin. The waitress that took our order did so without writing it down, which is fine if she actually remembered to send it to the kitchen to be prepared. She also seemed to be helping out in the kitchen too, so I really tried to be patient. The waitress that helped those other couples also just walked past us without acknowledging us. I understand she didn't take our order, but we were clearly and visibly just sitting there so long without food, the least she could have done is come to ask if we have ordered/been helped. I did not bother to ask anyone for help because I was giving them the benefit of the doubt that they are just busy and our food should be at our table soon. But by the time I saw a second couple, who ended up waiting to be seated for a table AFTER my partner and I were already seated, receive their food before we did, I really had no patience to complain. I came to the restaurant after a 12 hour shift at the hospital and I just really had no energy to complain and remind them that we never received our order (that was probably never sent to the kitchen) and wait even longer to eat. My partner and I ended up leaving with empty stomachs. It's such a shame, because the food is really good here, but it's not worth a 40 minute wait.

Bryce S.

Yelp
Came here for a late dinner with my boy and I had to do a double take - "Did I drive here or fly all the way overseas for this bowl of ramen?" Food was authentic and ambiance was on point. The service and music greatly added to the atmosphere as well. There are two framed bogos binted in the entryway containing articles which talk highly of the establishment. After my delicious bowl of red miso ramen, I couldn't agree more.

Kirk M.

Yelp
My daughter & I were hanging at Woodfield Mall. Hungry, we googled "ramen" and decided to give Chicago Ramen Annex a shot. (Kura Sushi is our go to but we'd been there recently). Open till 10pm, 5 min drive--perfect! We arrived about 8:45pm. Customers sat at tables--a young lady served them. An elderly lady sat us down, gave menus & water. The menu has pics of the bowls--labels, pricing, etc, along w/ extras. I ordered the Jiro Ramen w/ Pork Chir-Shu. Picture had no egg so I asked to add an egg. My kid ordered the Spicy Chicken Ramen. Picture shows an egg, therefore no need to request one. We eggs! First off, the food at CRA was really good! Looked appetizing & their flavors were decent but the experience after our food came, declined. A young man brought over my kid's ramen. He walked away & we noticed the egg missing. When he brought my ramen, I pointed the missing egg out. Stunned, he replied that he'll let "them" know. After talking to the kitchen, he said he was told the egg is not included in that dish. I said, "Really? It's in the picture." I grabbed a menu from a stack nearby. The young man did not like conflict. "Sorry, " he said, "I just started working here." Sure enough, the menu shows an egg in the Spicy Chicken Ramen. The young man brought the opened menu to the back where the elderly lady seemed to be already talking to people around the corner. He returned & confirmed, "Egg is not included with that bowl." "That's not cool to show an egg in the picture if it's not included. Could we please order an egg for her anyway? Thank you." I said. He walked away, happy confrontation was over. Time passes by and the egg still hasn't been served. The young man is sitting in a staff chair as if waiting for the restaurant to close. I ask him, "Can we get that egg?" to which he replied "The egg does not come with that bowl." Still politely, I said "I asked you if we could order an egg anyway." A light switch clicks with him and I hear him ask the kitchen for an egg. As my kid and I continued with our meals, customers left and take out orders were picked up. We are about 4 feet away from the register. One customer of note was obviously a regular. He said to the young lady with a positive attitude, "Hey, you gave me the wrong food last night. I came back at 10 and you guys were already closed..." The young lady confirmed that she had realized her mistake after that customer had left and was very sorry. "It's fine," he said, "it was nice to try something different." That customer left still with a positive attitude. I got the sense she rolled her eyes afterwards. Time passes & I picked up my water for a drink. Unfortunately it slipped from my grasp & spilled onto our table; my fingers got oily from my ramen and I didn't realize the danger. The young lady gasps at the spill and rushes over to help. I'm already using disposable napkins to catch what I can. Simultaneously, the young man comes over with my kid's egg in a small dish covered in a napkin. I can see his conflict on where to place the egg. It becomes a team effort to dry my spill. At one point, the young lady's rag pushes water onto my kid's lap. "I'm so sorry" she said genuinely to my kid. As we continued to get things under control I asked her, "Would it be okay to move to another table since this is wet?" The young lady replied, "No, it would not be okay." She & the young man continued drying the table and then he finally places the egg next to me. So far, this dinner experience hasn't been going well. We continue eating and eventually I see rolling eyes from another older lady in the back. I can feel the pressure of the staff wanting their shifts to be over. The young lady starts stacking all the chairs while the young man starts mopping the floors. He goes on to test his skills at sliding over the newly mopped floors. It's the same sensation as wearing new fluffy socks on a wooden floor. I get the feeling the young man might actually be a teen. I saw new people starting to open the entry door. The young lady rushes over and talks to them. I can't hear what is said but they turned around and walked away. The two young staffers began giggling and seemed to mock them behind their backs in a their native tongue. I couldn't understand what they were saying but their body language and facial expressions said plenty. It wasn't even 9:30 yet. I dunno. I think this place has good intentions but the executions were rough. The staff could use a bit of etiquette training. I understand it's a small restaurant but, that's even more reason to give your best to the customers that keep your business going. CRA is an hour away from us but I visit the Schaumburg area quite often. If I'm going to buy dinner, there are PLENTY of other places in the area that I'd rather spend my money where I leave full, happy & with positive vibes--who also care about my experience. Unfortunately, I don't plan on returning to Chicago Ramen Annex anytime soon.

Aaron T.

Yelp
The ambiance was relaxing. The service was superb. The food is delicious. We had a wonderful time there.

Omar A.

Yelp
They are better than the stars. We came as a try for the first time and was delighted The staff was very friendly, food was fresh, and everything was super tasty. We wanted more than a "strip mall take out" so we found this place because it looked like a nice ambiance.... And it was Come try it. Enjoy it Nothing fancy, just a really nice local place with good food and a welcoming decor.

Jeremy D.

Yelp
It feels authentic. Broth is fatty and rich which is delicious. Pork belly is very generous as well and the egg is perfect. Tsukemen is also flavorful Would return.

Dave Y.

Yelp
Pretty sure they are going to be popular in this location, but I will say it's not really my type. I've had good ramen all over Japan but not familiar with the Jiro style. Although I like a somewhat chewy noodle, the extra thickness, extra firmness, and chewiness of this one wasn't for me. Also, the soup, while crafted well, was just too deeply flavored (ie salty). The Chashu tasted great, but the portion was not like the menu photos. And the egg, well, sometimes things just happen to eggs when they are curing. They did bring out a better one though. I've had their white mabo tofu ramen before and thought that was just killer.

Alex H.

Yelp
Maybe it's because I got it delivered, but super bland. Nothing packed any flavor. Broth, nothing. Meat was tender, but no flavor. Noodles just average. Thankfully I had my own chili oil paste at home to make it taste somewhat decent.

Toshi L.

Yelp
I visited here for the first time. I am a huge fan of Jiro style ramen, and the Jiro style with Negi was so good!! I'm not sure if people like the signature thick noodles, but they were so perfect for me. The broth was rich and flavorful, and you can put garlic and their home made spicy flakes. Our server was super nice and friendly. Nice decor with traditional Japanese music.

Tony G.

Yelp
Wow. Delicious and savory Ramen. I showed up a bit later during the night, so there weren't many customers. The minute I walked in, I was greeted by a young fellow who seated us in one of the booths. The booths were large, meaning they could fit 4-6 people on one side. I ordered the beef curry bowl. It had a very delicious broth, and the ramen used at this location is much larger than the other locations. Price: 4/5 Food quality: 5/5 Service: 5/5

Izzy C.

Yelp
Everything about this place is spot on. I'd have to say this is the best location out of their chain of restaurants. The food was amazing, the service was consistently great and the ambiance is amazing. Not to mention the owner came out to talk to me and my husband and welcomed us into the new location! I ordered the chicken ramen, jiro ramen, and chicken karaage; all super delicious but I have to say the chicken ramen is THE best option on the menu.

Jason C.

Yelp
This is just a short walk away from the Schaumburg convention center and the food is great! The ramen servings are huge. I barely finished my bowl. The jiro ramen is so tasty and extremely rich. The gyoza was crunchy from the perfect fry. I would definitely come back. The food is filling and service was attentive. The atmosphere is casual and quiet. Perfect cold weather comfort food.

Ag C.

Yelp
It's ok Nothing to brag about Went for a late eat almost 10pm The soup broth was not hot hot just warm The fried oysters was weird It's breaded on the outside n is cooked but the oyster was raw on the inside Not sure if it's intended to be that way I'm sure they use the oysters that come in a tub n not fresh oysters N that oysters are meant to be cooked n not eaten raw Took a bite n didn't eat any of it

Alisa P.

Yelp
Very good and quick. Ordered the spicy ramen with egg but when it came, it wasn't the right order. They provide pepper and garlic on the side and the lady said I can just put the pepper on it to make it spicy. Noodles had a good texture, egg was perfectly runny. The broth was much richer than expected. Smaller shop since it was the annex. I was by myself so I sat at the bar to eat. Very clean space.

RB C.

Yelp
Got a chance today for ramen. This is an offshoot of Chicago Ramen in Des Plaines. More room and the place was clean. Food wise, cant go wrong with ramen if you're looking for one. Jiro spicy ramen for the hubby and i got the shrimp wonton ramen. Flavorful broth and it fills you up quick! Cannot go wrong with this place for ramen.

Victoria M.

Yelp
Amazing ramen!!! Pork broth is so light and refreshing. This is a must try and I love their use of thick noodles. Will def be back.

Pedro M.

Yelp
I Love Chicago Ramen I Love The Staff I get the spicy veggie ramen with no noodle every time And they never miss. I don't mind getting made fun of for not ordering noodle Hahaa I Love You Chicago Ramen! Thank You For Keeping Us Warm ‍

shinee a.

Yelp
Really bad service, the server was rude and arragont! Brought wrong order and told us we ordered it wrong! Keep correcting my husband yes we cannot speak english fluent like u but there is no reason for u to be that rude. Ok lets say we did order it wrong but there are better ways to handle that telling us our menu is just 2 pages i have been working here over 2 years etc....why do we have to know that?! When we told him we dont eat chicken ramen he said well how do i know u guys dont eat chicken! I have never seen a server who argues like that to his customers! If you are reading this there are so many other better and nicer way to handle that! And DO NOT ever correct the way that other people talk! Not everyone was born here!! Be better!

Calvin C.

Yelp
Service was disappointing and ended up sitting in the restaurant for far longer than needed while waiting for service. Food was a bit disappointing in authentic flavor and portions of calamari appetizer.

Van K.

Yelp
If you want to support a small business around the area, go ahead and try this place! I love the fact that the condiments supplied looks fresh and not oily. The place is immaculately clean and the employees are so polite. They have both types of noodles so if you are not a fan of the thick noodles they have the regular ramen. The broth is super rich. I also like the fact that there are more choices than ramen itself. Like today I don't have time to eat the noodles and opted for the salmon bowl. Simple and nutritious! Yummy! Pricing is average not on the higher end. Location is great! Close enough to all the shopping areas and a drive away from 53 highway.

Maho I.

Yelp
The ramen was not my favorite ramen. But you can try it. We ate Tsukemen and Jiro ramen. Jiro was no taste.

Maddie S.

Yelp
The best ramen that I have ever had! Good place for a date night takeout! The service is really great!