Kitakata Ramen Ban Nai - Hoffman Estates

Me and my friends come here at least twice a month, ramen hits every time. Always insanely flavorful and just amazing, 10/10. Also included some pics of some of the times i’ve gone.

Simple review. I've been going to this location since it opened up. The place has stayed the same atmosphere wise, always trying to greet all customers. The menu has stayed the same but at the same time they have added things as well. My wife and I truly love going here, it's always a treat and the people who've worked here have always been nice.

The last time I was at this superb ramen “chain” was before the pandemic. And I should make it here more often but its in suburbia. Nonetheless, what I luv about this place is the staff and its warm and welcoming atmosphere. Their ramen is some of the best in all Chicagoland. Starting with a pork belly bao (chashu bun) was wonderful. Fatty, crispy and sweet teryaki porkbelly in a soft & chewy bao bun was perfect beginning. Followed this up with a juicy fried chicken bowl with rice and special dipping sauce. The fried chicken was similar to karrage. Their ramen here is exceptional from the porky broth, the great chew on their noodles, the fatty and flavorful pork squares (chashu) and vegetables; makes for a great meal. The spicy miso has a good amount of heat, its got bite so might want to have spice on the side. The umakara tan tan ramen was also very good with a seasoned egg added. The spice was put on the side so could enjoy the broth a bit more. Still a wonderful experience from what I recall almost 6 years ago. They continue to provide superior food and service even after so many years!!

Kitakata ramen is one of the famous ramen in East Japan, that has a clear soy source base mild soup with curly wide noodles. For me, the taste was too salty, especially Chachu (Tender Pork belly). The noodles were too soft and had no texture for me. This is authentic real Kitakata ramen but I like creamy pork backbone base soup (Tonkotsu) ramen

We came from out of town and visited this location based on google review and availability of vegetarian dishes for my friend. The ramen was so good! I had the Umakara Tan Tan ramen with a small side of chicken and my friend had the creamy vegan ramen and appetizer of Yamitsuke egg. Everything had a great depth of flavor. The texture of the noodles was nice and the pork melted in my mouth. Will definitely go back when traveling through the area.

Updated: food and service were as good as last visit. We got a chance to try their summer limited hot and spicy Raman with rich broth. Our new findings. Comfortable seating and attentive services. Soft and chewy Raman is slightly thicker and bigger than most of others. Clean and flavorful broth with mild chashu on point. Al dente edamame, Gyoza and soft boiled egg were good. One of the best juicy fried chicken served pipping hot. Their takeout comes with warm up directions. Their dumpling chashu Raman only serve on the weekend . Highly recommended.

Really delicious ramen! We ordered the gyoza appetizer which was so good. Then I ordered the regular size Kitakata Ramen. It had very tender pork and a nice rich broth. The noodles were very good too, and there were a ton of them! Very nice staff and clean restaurant.

Second favorite ramen place in Illinois! First is Misoya in Rolling Meadows. I love the thick noodles at Kitakana

The spicy miso was fantastic and they give you a big portion. I could split it into two meals. The matcha latte was good . Servers were kind and attentive. The bar seats were comfortable, the music was nice, and the decorations were traditional. Best spicy miso ramen I've eaten so far.

The miso broth was INCREDIBLE!! It truly reminded us of our travels in Japan. It was flavorful and rich and I like how perfectly cooked the tofu was. The portion was huge (we shared 1 bowl between two people for lunch). I definitely want to go back to try the curry. The only reason I wouldn't give it 5 stars is because they had very limited vegan/vegetarian options- only one ramen and possibly one curry.

Good place for ramen on a cold day! This is my first time trying this type of ramen with their curly flat noodle type. I was very excited to try this place when I saw this place was known for their chashu, pork broth, and that they top their dishes with lots of green onions. We had to wait a bit given it was a Friday night and cold outside. They have a iPad out front that has a yelp waitlist you could put your name and number in. Next time, I would try to put my name down using the yelp waitlist on the app before getting to the restaurant. The staff were very friendly and took our order very fast. I got the Green Chili Shio Ramen that had a pork broth base topped with lots of Chashu and green onions as the name suggests. The soup was a good temperature for immediate eating and the broth was thick with a rich pork flavor. The noodles had a decent bite texture but I wish it had more because it was a bit soggy like. The Chashu were very lean cuts that did not have much fat. I really appreciate the amount of green onions and corn that they topped the dish with. The restaurant was relatively quiet even though they were fully booked. It is cozy and a great place to eat with friends and family!

Soup season is here and kitakata is a very necessary ramen spot to add to your list! This is one of the rare spots that offers broths other than pork. You also have the option to have a regular sized ramen or large. They do have an up charge for items added to your ramen. It can get pricey so keep an eye on what you add. Ex: egg is not included in any of their ramens. =( My fiancé and I were here for a late lunch and service was quick. We were seated right away and had waters on our table within minutes. To start we had the juicy fried chicken and a side of rice. They were pretty stingy on the sauce so make sure to ask for more, it is very good. I had the vegan miso ramen and it was delicious. Noodles are fresh and broth was tasty. My fiancé got the kitakata ramen and he wasn't impressed the way I was but he enjoyed it. This establishment can sit about 40-50 people. There are seats around the kitchen, similar to a bar setting and there are tables for a more intimate experience. Tip - they do have a live waitlist on Yelp so keep an eye on that to avoid a long wait time.

We have been back quite a bit since last review. Food is pretty consistent now. I love their noodle. It is so fun and satisfying to eat them. Broth is good, meat is good, egg is good, all good. I think takoyaki is too smothered with sauce that make it soggy, but next time im just gonna tell them to put the sauce and toppings on the side. Everything pretty decent.

This is the incorrect location. My husband & I dined at the new branch in Lombard, IL. Once it shows up in Yelp, I'll be able to give a review.

I love this ramen chain very much so I visit and slurp whenever I have chance. I usually drink beer or sake along gyoza or fried chicken first then finish up with their house made noodle ramens. Each time I tell my server, "I want ramen after I finish beer and appetizers". I did same yesterday, made sure don't bring ramen too early. All because already few times ramen came with all other food. Yesterday, gyoza first and beer is forgotten until I tell them. Then ramen came at my first bite of gyoza. They have great food and shops but need some more education for servers. I give 3 stars today because at least their foods are excellent. Server service no star.

I love the kitakata in Lombard a lot so I decided to pay this one a visit. The menu is pretty much the same but the food has a few differences. Quality- overall the fried chicken and ramen is good. The fried chicken is very crunchy in the outside and moist on the inside. The fried skin has a nice peppery taste. The peanut sauce compliments it well but I wish they gave more of it. The ramen is also very similar. The main difference was that this version was quite a bit spicier with less vegetables. I prefer less chili oil with more vegetables to balance the flavor out. Quantity- a good amount was given for the cost. 5 pieces for 8 bucks is not bad. Atmosphere- this location isn't as lively or welcoming as the Lombard location. It is a bit gloomier and with less open spots to sit. At the Lombard location everyone yells something in Japanese when someone comes in which makes it more authentic. Service- I had an server that wanted to get us outta the table as fast as possible. Other than that it was good service.

Spicy Miso and Kitakata ramen were both great Juicy Fried Chicken and Juicy Fried Chicken you can get for lunch was also delicious.

Came in around 4pm on. a sunday! It was mostly filled so it would have been a wait for a party larger than 2 but it was only 2 of us so we got seated right away. Waitress was quick to get our order as well. Takoyaki - a little bit more expensive than i'm used to for takoyaki, but one of the better ones for sure. Cooked perfectly and had enough filling! 8.1/10 Ramen - A very simple ramen. Clean tasting soup. Lots of flavor for sure. Chashu could have been a little better. Noodles very good texture! I very much enjoy the soup of this place. Always take home the left over and make my own noodles for it! 8.7/10 Ban bowl - the pork belly was surprisingly VERY soft! I loved it. The small was enough to get a taste while being able to enjoy my ramen. The sauce was also not too overpowering and complimented the pork belly as well. 8.9/10

The food was amazing stopped here for a quick bite after the mall and it did not disappoint. You scan a QR code to see the menu and pay when they come to take your order. Food was out within 10 minutes of waiting. The restaurant itself was very clean and everything flowed smoothly.

Review Update! I became a regular here with my coworkers going quite often for lunch. I'm happy to say that five years into their existence, Kitakata is still the go to spot for ramen in Schaumburg! This was exemplified when I was back in town this week, had lunch with coworkers, but also randomly saw 3 other friends dining in. It's the Schaumburg hot spot! The food at Kitakata is still amazing. My go to is usually their dipping ramen with it's clear, smooth broth. But don't sleep on the Fried Chicken Bowls. I can't eat very much in one sitting (I'm the queen of leftovers!) and when I don't want to take food to go, I go for the small Juicy Fried Chicken bowl. Just $6, it's perfect for me with plump pieces of protein covered in their light but perfectly crisp breading. Obsessed! And the thing that really puts them over the top? Their amazing staff! Some people have been there for ages! I miss some of the older ladies who used to be there, but still! Those who are still there are amazing. So friendly, so helpful, so willing to assist customers. Kitakata is STILL simply the best~!!!!

Favorite ramen spot so far! Been to many and always come back here. Their other dishes are great as well such as their gyoza. I like the seating area by the kitchen. Small spot but worth the wait and the servers are always very nice.

Love the spicy Miso ramen and TAN-TAN. New found love of soup! The fried chicken was also very good!

I will be giving 4 star for today's visit. We had a 45 minute wait before we were seated. My mom tried this place for the first time and she really loved the Ramen. Only thing that was little off this time was the servers were a little confused with anything customers were asking. They were not giving the right order, keeping someone else order on someone else's table. But it's totally fine. Its a simple human error. Its one if my favorite Ramen Place. Love their Spicy Miso Ramen. We were charged an extra $1 for each bowl for making miso ramen spicy. This has happened for the first time and the server didn't tell us while taking the order - just for someone to make a note of

Ordered Ramen, noodles a bit soggy and pork slices were too salty. Broth salty too and didn't taste that it was cooked for a long time. I've tasted better Ramen.

10/10, 5 Stars, would go again!! Experienced super fast and attentive service. Order Gyoza and Ban Nai Bun as apps and they were both scrumptious. The Bun Nai Bun was both savory and sweet just wish they would add two pieces of the Toro Chashu. Miso Ramen is a good basic and the Green Chili was very flavorful with a good kick of spice.

I'm Chinese food Lover I ordered Spicy Miso Ramen and Food was too good and much spicy as I ordered I got some extra spicy paste to make it spicy . Soup was very yummy and flavourful I had to wait for forty five minutes. There was no space to sit during wait . Waited sitting in my car . There was less space and more people. It needs some bigger area .

Lately, I've been going to other Ramen places because I usually come here every week. I have to say I missed coming here! The service is always friendly. The food is always hot and delicious. I love my ramen here and I love the fact that I can pick two different sizes, and as of yesterday, I noticed a new Ramen added to the menu. The place is just the right size and they use the Yelp waitlist which I love. Love, love, love their gyoza. My friend always gets the spicy miso Ramen with a seasoned egg, and I always change out my Ramen because all the others are so yummy but yesterday I went for the spicy Ramen and had them put the spice on the side so that I can determine how spicy I wanted mine, and it was heaven! This place will always be my number one, love you, Kitakata!!!

Last night it was cold and I was wanting noodles! Despite the travel from the restaurant to my office, I really got a decent bowl of Tsukeman Ramen. The bun was pretty hard when I went to eat it so I was disappointed with that. It should not have gotten that hard just traveling to my office. I've had enough food both delivery and dine in I know this is unusual.

We had a nice meal at Kitakata Ramen on a weekend evening. We joined the walk-up waitlist when we arrived and it was about a 30-minute wait. The restaurant itself is quite small, but they were efficient at getting orders and food so it was quite speedy. The server we had was a little slow to take our order and check back in, but our food was delicious. We did edamame and chicken as appetizers and they were delicious. The ramen I got was also delicious, but way too much food for me- I could have had half the portion and been completely full. The restaurant had kind of a "lunch feel" even though it was dinner- but was very clean and well kept. I don't think I'll rush back to this location, but if I was invited out here again I would happily come back.

I have been looking all over my area for the best ramen place, this is it. I always order the Green Chilli Shio Ramen and it never disappoints. The noodles and broth are like Batman and Robin, and pork tonkotsu just melts in you mouth in the most satisfying way. I have never had a problem with the service and the food always comes out quickly. All the veggies are always fresh. I wish I could give this a 11/10

Authentic ramen place with delicious broth & noodles! I always come here after an anime con because of how close it is to the Rosemont convention center. Plus the servers are very kind and considerate and check in constantly. Ambiance is very bright and reminds me of a real Japanese ramen shop.

This place is really popular so definitely put your name on the Yelp waitlist prior to showing up to minimize your wait time. We ordered the Aburi miso ramen and the Spicy Miso ramen. Overall, I liked the flavor of the Spicy Miso broth better than the Aburi miso ramen (which I thought was a little bland), but I liked the ingredients within the Aburi bowl better than the other bowl. The perfect ramen bowl would be a spicy version of the Aburi miso ramen in my opinion! We ordered the fried chicken as an appetizer and this was delicious! Not too much breading, very tender chicken which was complemented well by the dipping sauce. The service was super attentive and courteous as well. I would definitely come back here again in the future!

This place is incredible. I've been here twice and almost no matter what time you go it's busy. My suggestion is to add your name to the wait-list. We didn't and showed up 10 minutes after they opened. We got lucky, but the place was nearly full, and for good reason. I got the Spicy Miso Ramen, the small Fried Chicken, and Shishito Peppers to start. The noodles here are homemade and it shows. Tons of flavor and a LOT of punch in the spice so if you don't like it VERY spicy get the spice on the side and mix it yourself. The Shishito Peppers were excellent. Not much to go on about but a nice compliment to the meal. And finally, their Fried Chicken is insanely good. It might be the best fried chicken I've ever had. If you question this possibility I suggest trying it for yourself. It was so good that I got a separate to-go order and I was already full. I've had lots of ramen in the area but this is by far my favorite. 5 stars!

My partner and I were seated promptly when we came in at noon on a Sunday. The staff were very kind and welcomed us too! The menus are already available at your table when you sit down. The restaurant has very limited options for vegans, vegetarians, and people who don't eat pork. We don't eat pork, so the only ramen option was the vegan ramen. I'm glad they had a chicken katsu with curry option too! I got the chicken katsu, and my partner got the vegan ramen. We were told you could substitute vegan ramen broth for any of the other ramens, but all the other ramens had pork so I didn't see the point of that. Our food came promptly, and the portion sizes were generous. Chicken katsu: The chicken was very crispy, and for me it came with the perfect amount of rice. While the menu said the curry was medium spicy, it wasn't spicy to me (which was a good thing :)). I wish the curry came with veggies in it... it was just the curry sauce. For $18, I thought it was pricey. Vegan ramen: My partner liked that the dish came with a lot of veggies, and the noodles were delicious. While the broth wasn't spicy, he was glad there was chili sauce at the table to add to it. While the ramen was vegan, I think it'd be nice to include an egg for those who are vegetarian free of charge if they order vegan ramen. He was also hoping the restaurant had a chicken ramen option or he had the option to add chicken to his ramen (they didn't give him that option). Ramen was also pricey ($18). Overall review: Great and prompt service. Decently sized portions. But if you don't eat pork, find another restaurant to eat at

Long ways from our original Kitakata in Costa Mesa, CA. Definitely great to have this ramen place with authentic taste of broth and noodles after moving back to Chicagoland. Everything hit the spot and we'll be back for our weekly fix ;D

All servers were polite. The green chili can be VERY spicy, but that's why it's nice that they can add it on the side. I got my usual again.

I love Ramen and I feel that I have found my favorite Ramen in all of Illinois that I will now share with my readers. The name is Kitakata Ramen Ban Nai in Lombard. The moment you walk through the door you are greeted as royalty There are only six locations that serve this style of Ramen. These locations are in Illinois and California. The intense labor to make the special broth that goes into these Ramen dishes is awe-inspiring. The noodles are all handmade there is a video playing in the restaurant showing how the whole process is done. I have tried many things on their menu; everything is a 10 out of 10, in quality, and taste. My go-to Ramen is the spicy miso Ramen. They are also known for their juicy fried chicken that can't be paired with rice. The chicken is super tender and juicy absolutely delicious My Ramen had such a robust flavor. I could taste the bone broth in the pork belly was so tender. The noodles were perfectly springy which shows how fresh they were. I have tried Ramen all over the country; this is the best I've ever had in the states. Trade their Gyoza for an appetizer. The Gyoza is pan fried and it was absolutely delicious and perfectly cooked. The restaurant is also very clean it has a see-through kitchen where you were able to see all of the cooks preparing your dishes. While I was dining with them when they first open around 11 AM. I noticed that they start to get busy and have a pretty popular takeout. I would say to get there early if possible because I could imagine this place can get very busy. This is one of the rare times that I will ever award a 10 out of 10 ratings. I will say truly make this a priority to go check them out there that's good.

Probably the best ramen I've ever had. Great options, lots of great ala carte options for add ons and appetizers. Be warned, this place gets absolutely packed so plan on waiting or come early

Green Chili Shio Ramen warms your soul Great service I love the Japanese culture and how the place is setup

Food is tasty and helps that you can put your name on the waitlist ahead of time through the app.

If you want something quick and easy, yet delicious this it! The chicken appetizer is crunchy!

Not understanding the hype of this place. I really was not a fan of this ramen joint. Interesting choice of ramen toppings in a weird way. Overall not my type of ramen and not as kid friendly as we brought our newborn and it was very tight to get into with a stroller.

Solid place to get a ramen fix. Not the biggest fan of the style of noodles. Their chashu is solid, but it doesn't necessarily rank at the top. Appreciate that they don't market their pork broth as "tonkotsu" Miso ramen is solid, but I prefer elsewhere. Their green chili shio ramen is unique to me and is my go to when hitting kitakata up. Not too impressed with their sides/appetizers. They aight. Lots of aight in my review.

First time here and I will definitely be back. I love spicy food and the spicy miso ramen was the perfect amount of spicy. The broth was delicious. Pricey but the portion is huge.

I came in when they opened and by the time I left, 75% of the tables were filled for the lunch hour. As a single diner, I love that they have individual seating at the counter. I ordered the spicy miso ramen in a regular which was plenty for me. I loved the quality of the Chashu as it has the melt in your mouth feel. Flavorful, not so overly greasy broth. Has a kick to it. While I did enjoy this, the flavor of the broth has a bit of a tang to it which if you've read my previous reviews across the board, it's just not a favorite flavor amongst my tastebuds. That being said, I'd 100% come back and try something else. Nothing great about service but also nothing bad. Quick to bring the check which was much appreciated.

Love the green chili shio ramen, great spice! Add egg that is cooked to perfection. Best gyoza EVER!! Everything is consistent. Very helpfull! Can't wait to return!!! Yum!

I think my server was Daniel and he was amazing! I was in Schaumburg IL for a couple of days and got a taste for ramen. The atmosphere was so welcoming and homey like. The Food was amazingly authentic and fresh. I love to eat my meal before I actually taste it and this food did not disappoint visually. I would absolutely go back! The drink and the korean fried chicken were the icing on the cake. Check out my link below for the visual. https://vm.tiktok.com/ZTdXB9kku/

This location is always good. I recently visited their Lombard location and I didn't enjoy it but it was during their grand opening and I think they just need to iron some kinks. But the Hoffman Estates location never disappoints. This time I got the spicy ramen but asked for the spice on the side so I can control the level of spice and it was delicious. The tako yaki was also very delicious and tasty. I would recommend if you like octopus. We also got the juicy chicken which is always good.

Today my husband and I had a taste for our favorite Ramen noodle place. My husband had the regular size Chashu Ramen and it was really delicious as usual. I wanted to try something new so I ordered a regular size spicy miso Ramen and I loved it. I love eating spicy foods, the only thing that really bothers me is when it is too spicy and the temperature is too hot then it's almost impossible for me to eat. This spicy miso Ramen did not burn my tongue (as far as seasoning hot) so it was so enjoyable! I highly recommend it and so glad I gave it a try! This is my favorite menu item so far!!

I was looking for some good ramen while visiting Chicago for work. Kitakata popped up on yelp and I dropped in for a bowl. Started with some boiled gyoza. They came out piping hot and I dunked them in spicy miso paste mixed with soy sauce. I chose the boiled gyoza since I try to limit excess oil and you get all the flavor with much less grease. I highly recommended, very yummy. I then got the vegan bowl with added seaweed, bean sprouts, and cabbage. Added a little spicy miso in there and scarfed that baby down. I'm super full and gonna sleep like a rock with all this delicious food in my belly. If I would have had more room in my belly, I would have ordered everything again, or maybe some desserts. This place is great, yum yum num num

Visited on Father's Day and was a bit disappointed with the ramen. The juicy fried chicken and gyoza were excellent, but the eponymous ramen I ordered missed the mark. Even the umami chili bomb and shredded green onion couldn't save the soup. The noodles were different. The broth was weak. Service was still spot on, and the restaurant is clean. Maybe the chef on ramen duty had a bad day?

Atmosphere: Someone else on Yelp mentioned that you need to plan on a long wait so we went at an off meal time which allowed us to get in right away. In the entryway, they have a tablet where you sign in and they call to let you know when your table is ready. Due to the time we went, they just had us come in right away. The dining area was clean, comfortable, quaint and quiet. Excellent place to take someone for conversation. Suggest sitting at the bar style seats unless you would rather sit across from your company. Food: The food was excellent. Not the best Ramen I have ever had but certainly good. The broth was flavorful, and the noodles had the right texture. The chashu was cold but after sitting in the broth warmed up quickly. The soft boiled eggs were also cold but after sitting in the broth warmed up as well. The only thing I would have asked to be different would have been to have some char on the chashu which some places use a torch to do before putting it in the broth. Service: EXCELLENT! The staff was the highlight of our visit. They were extremely nice, friendly and welcoming. The food was good but certainly the service put this place over the top. Overall: Good food, comfortable atmosphere and exceptional service. I will definitely be going back.

Solid ramen place. The bowls are big. It's a small venue in a strip mall, but the ambience is nice and it's a perfectly good place to dine in. Service was good.

Delicious! Such a cozy atmosphere, very nice service, and soul-warming food. Came here for some late night ramen, had a great time.

Okay I'm officially done ordering from this place. Every time I order from here I have something missing and it's disappointing. Do not order delivery from here unless you constantly want something missing. I ordered the 2 small fried chicken bowls today and it's supposed to come with their house sauce which makes the whole meal.. without it, it's just plain. No house sauce for either one.. it's not enjoyable to eat without it so this whole meal is ruined. They definitely still continue to deal with quality control issues. I'm honestly upset that this still continues to be a problem for me.. and of course I can't call them because they are closed for the midday.

Very convenient place, tastes great and cost affordable. Very great service. Good place for friends, company meetings, or family enjoyment.

This place is packed most of the time. Even if you don't like ramen, you will after visiting this place.

Quick and good service. Went with the Yelp waitlist , only took a few minutes to get seating. The ban nai bun is a must from the appetizers. The bun is fluffy and met with the appropriate amount of sauce. Went with the miso ramen. The broth was lacking but the toppings and chashu made up for it. Went with a miso spicy paste to give it a kick. Overall it was nice dinner and date spot