KOHOKU-KU RAMEN CHICAGO

I discovered the most cozy little ramen spot today — and wow, did it deliver. The Spicy Tonkotsu Ramen was everything I hoped for: creamy, rich, and perfectly spicy without overpowering the flavors. The noodles had great bite, and every spoonful hit just right. But here’s the surprising twist — the desserts are equally impressive and truly deserve your attention. The space is small and warm, with a friendly service. I’ll absolutely be back — and you should go too. This place is a hidden gem for ramen lovers. 🍜

Went here a little after they opened at 11:30 for lunch. Small little ramen shop that reminded me of when I visited Japan. The menus are on a QR code at the table. The server was friendly and quick. The ramen was really good. I had the spicy tonkatsu ramen it had some kick to it but not the "my mouth is on fire" type spice. I also ordered the gyoza and they were perfectly cooked. I've made gyoza from scratch before and can't cook it that well... I have gyoza envy. 😀 I also got the green tea ice cream, 3 generous scoops. This shop is the most authentic ramen shop I've eaten at it Chicago. I can't believe it is in my neighborhood. I will definitely be back. It wasn't packed but there were several tables full. They had j-pop music playing.

The curry is too thin and has no flavor profile, I ordered the curry ramen and while the beni shoga was fantastic, the rest of the dish was incredibly bland. I have yet to try their tonkotsu or other ramen but the impression was not great. The service was excellent and the atmosphere is very cute, but that's about it.

I was born and raised in Sapporo, so I keep my expectation pretty low when I go to ramen places in the US. I was pleasantly surprised here. It’s definitely not authentic (and I don’t think they’re trying to be) but it’s a good fusion ramen. Ramen here has boil choy instead of traditional ramen toppings. Ebi ramen is basically a tom yum kung with ramen noodles. Again, not the kind of ramen we see in Japan, but I thought they tasted great! The restaurant decor is cool, it’s not something I’d see in Japan, but I think it’s fun and very stereotypical Japanese like!

KOHOKU-KU RAMEN CHICAGO is such a unique and delicious find. Their ramen is rich, flavorful, and perfectly balanced, while their pizza has a fresh, crisp crust and tasty toppings. It’s rare to see both done so well under one roof, but they’ve mastered it. The atmosphere is cozy, and the service is attentive without being rushed. Definitely a spot I’ll be coming back to when I want the best of both worlds.

Don’t know how this place has to many great reviews. Spending your money is not worth at this place. I dined in a couple weeks ago and was very disappointed. I tried again (I ordered pick up this time) and gosh it reminded me pretty well why i didn’t like it the first time. TINY PORTIONS not relative with their pricing. Your ramen comes with the thinnest pork slices I’ve ever seen in my life. The 2 times I tried their squid was like RUBBER. We also got undercooked chicken Karage. SALTY SALTY SALTY edemame :(. Half an egg in your ramen mind their $18 bucks. Barely any broth. And the takoyaki was just so sad. They are 3 massive balls of dought with like 2 or 3 bits of octopus. The place looks so pretty. But their food it’s sad.

Lovely little restaurant. I was immediately pleased to have come here after entering and seeing the decorations, which were just like being in Japan. The food was very good. We got some appetizers like chicken and edamame, and a delicious ramen. It was all great! This is a hidden little gem in the neighborhood.

Hip place but underwhelming tonkatsu to my taste buds. I don't eat ramen often but the thick broth tasted starchy when I was expecting something more collagenous from a 48-hr pork bone broth.

My fiance picked this spot for lunch when we'd be in Edgewater. In a word, amazing! This tiny restaurant restaurant has quite a selection of ramen offerings, and based on our experience it seems like you can't go wrong no matter what you order, since three of us ate three different dishes (the Kumamoto Ramen, with black garlic tonkotsu broth; the shoyu ramen, with karaage fried chicken and a couple more dumplings; and the chashu Curry ramen, with pork and a curry broth) and they were all awesome, as were the gyoza we had for an appetizer: pan fried bottoms and perfect texture of the filling. Our waiter was so nice and the vibe of the restaurant is fun, with little booths decorated with Japanese toys and Showa-era-looking advertisements. We all left full, satisfied, and wanting to come back!

Reading some of these reviews, this was supposed to be at least a rock-solid ramen place. It's not far from me, and I decided to stop in. Unfortunately the experience was abysmal, and I do not see myself returning. Chicago has no shortage of excellent ramen places, this isn't one of them, not even close. I ordered the Chashu Bun and the Spicy Tonkotsu Ramen. Well, the Chashu Bun might as well be called Kewpie Salad. This thing was massive, and difficult to pick up without making a tragic mess. Somehow, using a fork, I was able to make some sense of this. The piece of pork inside was tiny, not larger than a half-dollar coin, maybe two if I am to be generous. Otherwise, it was lettuce and scallion sliced lengthwise that has a tendency to get stuck near the throat if not chewed thoroughly. This was combined with an overload of Kewpie mayo, which was layered on heavy and thus overpowered everything. Then came the Spicy Tonkotsu Ramen. Credit where credit is due, the broth was pleasant, savory, and had the right amount of heat. This is the only good thing I can say about this bowl. Pork? The amount was meager, and the quality was inadequate, it felt more boiled than melt-in-your-mouth and savory. Vegetables? The same scallions-sliced-lengthwise, and two large pieces of Bok Choy. Noodles? These felt more like spaghetti than something ramen-esque. The Menma (bamboo shoot) was pleasant, but I wish there was a little more, as it wasn't enough to restore a balance. Then, we come to the atmosphere. The interior was oppressively hot and humid. So much so that the floor was wet and slippery. I am trying to eat some ramen, not go on a tropical vacation! Adding to the discomfort, the seating was severely uncomfortable. The wooden stools are bad enough, but those who sit on the narrow bench with a coat hanging behind... I feel sorry for you. In terms of value, the Pork Bun was $5, and the Ramen was $18. I could be a little lenient, but given the scanty amount of pork and low quality, I felt somewhat ripped-off when the bill came. Where it comes to the service, I will give them some points for politeness and professionalism. However, it felt slower than in other ramen places (ramen is a kind of fast food, after all!) Also, when a server came up to ask how everything is, and I said "so-so", there was no reaction or response other than smiling and walking away. Finally, there is the question of cleanliness... the dining area was clean, and I didn't notice any red flags while walking through the kitchen to the bathroom. However, the door frame in the restroom looks like it hasn't been cleaned in years. A little 409, maybe a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser is all it would take. Oh yes... I will spare you the details, but, a little after waking up my body couldn't wait to get rid of whatever was left, with vigor! I can't say for sure it was this place, but it is the most likely suspect! Thus, we are left with a quadruple whammy! Poor Food, atmosphere, value, and [possible] cleanliness. With all of this, a return visit isn't something that'll take place.

I've been jonesing for good ramen ever since returning to the US, so I gave Kohoku-ku, a surprisingly hidden little ramen shop in Edgewater, a try. I ordered the Kohoku-ku Ramen, which is advertised as very spicy. It actually wasn't that spicy at all, and I would actually recommend it if you're trying to train yourself on spicy foods. It has good flavor, the spice neither lingers nor has build-up. The soft-shelled crab is always a yummy bonus. I also got the gyoza which was totally fine. I assumed the melon cream soda was an actual cream soda, but it was just melon cream flavored soda :) The decor is filled with lots of Showa-era vibes. It's very cute and gives it a bit more "authentic" vibes. Otherwise, a very solid ramen shop.

I stopped in like a week ago and I'm still thinking about that ramen!! it was so filling and flavorful. the service was fast but efficient, S/O to Sandy she was soooo sweet and attentive. honorable mentions: the vanilla taiyaki dessert, perfect way to wrap that savory meal. If you're in the Edgewater neighborhood, DEFINITELY check them out!!

Solid ramen in a small kind of mom and pop feel space. I got the kurobuta sausage, Kumamoto ramen, and red bean paste taiyaki. All super tasty and would order again!

Kohoku-Ku is the a call back to nastaligia for me. I haven't found anywhere in Chicago that has reminded me as much as noodle shops in Japan until I stopped here. The service was perfect and the atmosphere was warm and welcoming. Tonkotsu and Chashu Curry ramen were both amazingly balanced with the broth. Highly, highly recommend stopping here.

Cute little spot with nice decor for really good ramen...The tempura ramen is fantastic and my go to...Yum!

I can't say enough good things about this place! From the moment I walked in, the cozy atmosphere and warm service made me feel right at home. The broth was incredibly rich and flavorful -- you can tell it's been simmered for hours. I had the tonkotsu ramen and it was absolute perfection: tender chashu, perfectly cooked noodles, and a soft-boiled egg with that just-right jammy center. They also have great vegetarian options and delicious appetizers -- the gyoza and karaage are must-tries. Portion sizes are generous and prices are super reasonable for the quality. Whether you're a ramen connoisseur or just craving a comforting bowl, this spot is a gem. I'll definitely be coming back!

You can get a good bowl ramen in many places in Chicago, but it's hard to find a ramen shop that is more fun than Kohoku-Ku Ramen Chicago. The thing that immediately struck me is the how different the interior of this ramen shop was from others I've been to in Chicago or all over the world. Walking in here felt like stepping into 1960s Showa Era Japan. They have a lot of retro decorations like signs and posters, a wall of sake barrels and even dagashi hanging from one of the walls. It's a small restaurant, with not to many seats, but they definitely have made the interior fun. Also, the food was excellent. I ordered Gyoza, the Kohoku-Ku ramen, their house made pandan leaf custard taiyaki and a melon cream soda. The Kohoku-Ku ramen was delicious. One word of warning, it's spicy. If you don't like spicy ramen, then this is not for you. It's a bit expensive, $25.00, but worth it. You get a ton of tempura seafood, including soft shell crab and shrimp. You get a big bowl worth a lot good making it a decent value, despite the high price. I also enjoyed the pandan leaf custard taiyaki. All of their taiyaki is made in house, so it came out piping hot a fresh. It also had a very good pandan taste. The service was amazing too. My food came out super fast and hot. Also, the staff were was friendly and responsive. I also like that it's right off the redline, the 36 bus and there is plenty of parking in the neighborhood. So, getting to and from there isn't an issue. In sum, this is must visit ramen shop in Chicgao.

Ramen is the macaroni and cheese of Japan. In Edgewater, there are several options. A new entrant is Kohoku, a hole in the wall conveniently located next to the red line. The place is clean and tidy with nice little stalls for four people. One person took our order and did the cooking. The menu is what you would expect and slightly pricier than other ramen places. The ramen was good and well executed. Give this place a try.

Cute, quiet, and intimate shop with japanese comfort food like ramen and curry. Got the curry with rice and chicken. Chicken was tender and lightly fried. Curry was decent. The sushi rice was perfect. The service here was very polite and friendly. Will try the ramen next time.

I love ramen. One could say I'm borderline obsessed. I want nothing more than an irresistible ramen joint on the Northside. When I saw this place pop up as a new restaurant with strong ratings, I was excited and hopeful. I ordered delivery, so I know to take some things into consideration as a result. I ordered gyoza, karage chicken, and the spicy tonkatsu ramen. The gyoza was solid and a recommended appetizer. I am not going to judge the lack of crispness of the chicken due to delivery, but I will comment on the flavor. The chicken was well-seasoned and juicy. The mayo sauce was a little too thick, and I did not enjoy dipping the chicken. I think where I felt the disappointment was the ramen. While sufficiently spicy, the broth lacked depth. It didn't have the rich pork broth flavor that makes a good ramen. It felt like watery, spicy, soup. I will, however, commend the quality of the noodles and the char siu. Those were both great. Hopefully, they will work to perfect the broth soon.

Seeing the reviews online I was excited to try out a new ramen spot in the city. Me and my girlfriend had the spicy tonkatasu and miso ramen. The miso ramen was good 8.5/10. The spicy tonkatasu was bland with no flavor. When we asked our server if we could add some flavor to our ramen she misheard us and added plain hot water to our dish. This diluted the flavor even more to something even tasteless and we told her again we wanted to add some more flavor. She took back our dish a second time with little to no change. When we asked again she just brought us salt. The meal was honestly laughable at how terrible it was and we (mostly my girlfriend) felt bad on returning the dish as we have already ate a good portion of it. It was not only the worst ramen I've ever personally had but probably the worst food I ever had at a restaurant ever. Would not touch the spicy tonkatasu ramen here with a ten foot pole. Food: 1/5 | Service: 2/5 | Atmosphere: 4/5

I love that this spot is so convenient. Right off the redline at Thorndale and it's super close if you reside on Sheridan. My boyfriend and I have been scouting this spot in the neighborhood for a while now so we finally took the chance to try it out and it did not disappoint. We came on a Sunday evening. This place is still kind of new from my understanding so the place wasn't full which I loved. Once Chicagoans get ahold of a new ramen spot they flood in. My boyfriend and I got to enjoy a nice evening here without all the raucous from other customers. We started off with chicken karage. You can never go wrong, but I would've definitely liked a lemon to squeeze on them just for added flavor. When it came to ramen I got the miso while my boyfriend got the shio. Both were soooo good. *inserts mouth watering emoji*. It's that season for ramen so it all just felt right. The broth on its own is amazing. And I really liked that the shio ramen contained chicken potstickers (at restaurants I've tried they're usually pork by default). It really made for a very nice meal. We were good and full so we opted to take our leftovers to go. We were kind of sad because we wish we had more room in our tummies to finish it right then and there. Lol even after getting home and settling in it was still good to eat. I really like the atmosphere of this ramen spot. The Japanese candy and toys on the wall make very nice for decoration and gives the eyes something cool to look at. Thumbs up for service too.

This little ramen place really exceeded my expectations with the quality and taste of food and the service. We ordered spicy tonkatsu ramen, veggie tempura ramen, and katsu w/curry, chicken kaarage and tako yaki for four people. The portions were very generous especially the veggie tempura and everything tasted fresh and made to order. The space is a bit on the small side so may be more challenging to accommodate a bigger group but party sizes of 2-4 is probably ideal. Really enjoyed our dinner here and definitely coming back to try the $25 shrimp and soft shell crab ramen.

Food Service Ambiance! I would recommend you try it out. It felt like being in Japan.

We came here for vegan food, and they have delicious and impressive vegan options. Started off with the blistered shishito peppers, they were delicious - excellent texture, perfectly seasoned, salty and sour from the yuzu. We got the vegetable tempura ramen, which includes tofu, enoki mushrooms, zucchini, corn fritter, sweet potato, and onion, rested on a dish situated atop a simple bowl of ramen with a flavorful soy sauce broth and topped with green onion and lots of pickled ginger. The atmosphere is nice, the little booths are sweet and great for a more intimate experience among a group. We'll definitely be coming here regularly.

Delicious food, good atmosphere and its BYOB had the spicy ramen it had the right amount of heat

Massive portions, well cooked noodles, and fluffy, light tempura makes this my favorite ramen joint in Edgewater. I've had the vegetable tempura and the house special ramen, and both were absolutely phenomenal. Noodles were cooked well, and the personalized details of screen printing / food safe labeling on the seaweed was a cute touch. Service was quick and out of your face. Come in, sit down, order, and eat. They won't bother you (which I love). And they have a great Japanese melon cream soda that you have to try. Grab it to go and enjoy a chilled melon soda as you walk to the beach. Great date place and for solo eaters. Seats are pretty tight and small, but I doubt it'll detract from the experience.

Just off the Thorndale stop, you'll find this kitschy little slice of Japan. Super cute aesthetics and a great menu. The ramen is the real deal and it actually spicy. Excellent chashu with a light sweetnees. Noodles are a thinner style but of a solid quality My only beef: they have very poor ventilation and fans. On a hot day the restaurant is unbearable; I came once before and left before ordering. Ultimately, glad I came back but please fix your AC or something!

Ambience 5 Service 3 Price 2 Food - presentation 4 Food - taste 2 So cute! The decoration and the ambience are so nice! It's retro Japan. I love the theme. I had a miso ramen $18 and my friend had a Tonkotsu ramen $17. I think ramen quality needs to be improved. Those are not like kohoku-Ku ramen in Yokohama at all. The price is set too high for the ramen quality.

This ramen is exceptional--one of the best I've ever had. It's a perfectly balanced spicy seafood ramen. At first, I was unsure how to eat the crab, but the staff recommended that I could eat it whole. After trying it, I was amazed. I highly recommend this dish; it's a must-try! And, so cute place.

This place is great! It is a shame that the store is so small because the ambiance is where place shines the most. There are cute Japanese details all over. The dishes, the art, the utensils, the seating, the menu: All Fantastic. Our server was also very kind. Outside of this, the Ramen was great! We got the tonkotsu ramen and were big fans. Great but simple broth and maybe some of the best ramen pork I've ever had. I think some of there other options would've been even better and can't wait to return.

delicious steaming hot ramen and miso, gracious service and decent trendy music. Veggie tempura ramen had delicious pickled ginger slivers and the tempura had enoki mushrooms, onions, eggplant, corn, zucchini and tofu! Miso ramen had great noodles and half an egg that was delicious!

We came here on a Sat night, the restaurant was quite empty maybe due to the hot weather outside but still perfect weather for us to enjoy ramens. Restaurant is well decorated and as cute as a small ramen shop in Japan. Staff was friendly and attentive, they made us feel comfy. We ordered fried squids, two ramens, and two drinks. Fried squids were crunchy and cut into small pieces, eat with mayo mixed sweet chilli sauce. With traditional Tonkotsu, the broth is silky and tasty like it was made from bone and nothing too complicated, it could be a little different from other places but Im a fan of simple delicious broth so I really enjoyed it. For spicy ebi ramen, the broth tasted kinda like tom yum but non sweet and less sour, shrimps were fresh and juicy. Fyi, this ramen was spicier than I thought so be careful when you order. Overall, great experience, will come back!

The restaurant is cute, but unfortunately the ramen is just ok. The pork was tasty, but you only receive a few very thin slices. The broth was very bland and had a strange consistency like a cornstarch slurry. The ramen egg was the perfect consistency. We probably won't be back as there are other really great ramen options in the area.

This is a small, cozy, cute Ramen spot in Edgewater that seems to have opened recently and I'm so glad we found and tried it. The vegetarian Ramen broths were delicious and the ingredients were fresh. Prices were reasonable and the hostess was gracious in changing our online order to a dine in one due to a snafu with their online ordering system (which seems to be a work in progress by the way). The lone person waiting tables was kind and attentive. The interior is clean and nicely decorated with Japanese style paper (?) lamp shades. They don't yet seem to have an alcohol license. We'll definitely be returning here for takeout or dine in.

Super happy that Kohoku opened recently - this neighborhood really needed a good ramen place. Unlike the other local options, their tonkatsu broth has that richness that is the most important part of the dish. I am excited to explore more of their menu - the karage and gyoza a neighboring table ordered looked great.

The spicy tonkatsu ramen was delicious! Had the perfect level of spice, ramen noodles were the perfect texture, and the pork was cooked perfectly! The staff was very attentive and while the location is smaller, the inside is very cute with some closed off booths. Perfect for a date night, highly recommend!

Lovely little ramen shop with delicious and flavorful food. We had the curry rice and spicy tonkotsu! Love it. Will be back soon.

We tried this ramen place for the first time last night, unfortunately it will also be our last time going there. The store is really cute I have to say! We got the fried squid tentacles for appetizer which was okay, it comes with Mayo and Thai chili sauce. We ordered that signature Kohoku-ku ramen, which has tempura shrimp, soft shelf crab, enoki mushroom in it. The tempura enoki mushroom and soft shell crab are decent, the shrimps are a little hard ! And the broth is very salty. For spicy tonkotsu ramen, the char siu wasn't bad. The noodles were overcooked, it's salty. And I am not sure if it's something they put in the broth or the noodles they used, I felt really sick half way through. I couldn't even finish it, and we had to leave. And the place is kinda warm inside, they need better air circulation inside. The server is very nice and attentive though. We wouldn't be going back, I never felt so sick after eating ramen. I don't usually give bad reviews, but this place I just can't give anything above a 2.

Broth is terrible. Thick but no flavor other than salty. Overcooked Soggy Noodle tastes so bad. Not a real Japan Ramen. Better call it "disgusting noodle soup" ------------- Edit: Your ramen makes your ancestor cry. Those fake reviews won't help your business for the long run. I suggest you to learn how to make ramen broth, and how to boil ramen first before opening a ramen shop.

29$ for a pre-made ramen and stuck MSG on the bottom. Very bad. Tempura feels like childrens toy, bought from cheap store and is definitely not made by them.

This place is perfect. From when you walk in the atmosphere hits you like you entered Japan. The menus even look cool! Had high expectations for food since this was my first meal after having lakep. Holy cow, it blew me away!!! Delicious Vegetable tempura which I haven't seen elsewhere, Perfect presentation, portions, and toppings for the spicy sauce and Soup veggie ramen. Friendly staff and warm atmosphere. Treat yourself and come here!

The tonkotsu ramen was quite good with a rich creamy broth. The shio ramen was okay. The biggest problems are that it is definitely overpriced, and the seats are super uncomfortable. They don't have chairs, just tiny stools. Good service though, and the hard boiled eggs were delicious. I wish there were more veggies in the ramen. The pork chashu was fine. I would give it 4 stars if they would knock $3 off the price and give me a real chair.

Great food, great service, & lovely ambiance. I highly recommend it. The ramen is fantastic and delicious.

This establishment has faults -- it is tiny, fat people shouldn't risk the booths, and the seats are hard little wooden backless benches. You'll forget all this when the food arrives. Before the food arrives please enjoy the decor, one booth with Japanese kitsch toys and another with a hand-brushed sushi diagram. The entryway wall of sake barrels is impressive. Even the bathroom has cute surprises. In two visits I have tried three kinds of ramen and the ramen here is as good as Wasabi Ramen on Milwaukee, minus the snooty Bucktown service, and as good as MiSoya Ramen, minus the long drive to Mt. Prospect. They do magic in that kitchen. I fear writing this review for crowding the place up and preventing a return visit on my part. We only saw one server, but boy was he friendly, helpful, and accommodating of special requests. The tempura ramen is particularly memorable and filling -- includes in the perfect batter the usuals plus enoki mushrooms and even corn. The noodles properly soak up the soup flavor. Even the little pile of pickled ginger hits the spot. All the appetizers were equally yummy. I'm getting ready to try the non-noodle items on the menu -- during our last visit my friend ordered mackerel over rice and the sliver she gifted me was delicious. If I lived anywhere in the north side I would eat here weekly. Edgewater is very lucky to have this place.

Very good. On my first visit had Mackeral Ramen. Nice to have a protein other than pork in Ramen. Broth was pretty simple, not a lot of depth. 1/2 an egg, asparagus, nori, mushrooms were in the bowl. Noodles were ok, but didn't taste homemade. Simple decor in such a small 12 table storefront. Only three customers a mid-afternoon weekday lunch, and excellent service. As a neighborhood Ramen joint, I'll go back.

The Ramen noodle soup was very delicious & tasty! Not too spicy or salty. The temperature was nice and warm and not too soggy. I ordered for pick up and was ready on time. The price is reasonable and affordable for the food. There is a nice variety of Ramen noodle soups & appetizers on the menu. Great place for a tasty Ramen!

Gyoza amazing. The curry the most similar to what I enjoy in Tokyo! Will definitely visit again.

This is the best ramen I've had in Chicago. And the best service! So many sides to choose from, and the hand made dessert was amazing.

Some of the best ramen in the Northside! Very authentic and flavorful options. Close to Thorndale L station.

Wow! My partner and I were walking by this place and thought we may as well give it a chance. So glad we did. We were both surprised that this little shop gave us some of our favorite ramen in Chicago thus far. I ordered the Kumamoto Ramen and everything in it was delicious. Normally when I order ramen with black garlic oil I find that it gets too salty over time, but this broth was so nicely balanced. The chashu had clearly been prepared in some kind of marinade and was delicious. The marinated egg also had so much flavor! The best chashu and egg I've had in Chicago. I can hardly ever finish a bowl of ramen but it was so good that I finished my entire bowl! Give this place a shot! :)

I'm very love spicy tonkotsu here. It's so good. Kara-age was amazing too. A great ramen restaurant. Service was good.

Its closed wrong hours. Im mad been walking here for 20 minutes in this rain to get some ramen

I just had their spicy Ramen noodle. The soup is thick but really don't have much taste other than salty flavor. The noodle is very thin The quality of the noodle is not too much better than the 20 cents per bag instant noodle from grocery store. To be honest. I hate to say this. I mean my bowl of ramen cost 20 dollars. The price does not match the quantity at all. I have been to Japan and had different kinds of ramen noodle. But this place can no where compare the noodle I had in Tokyo. Unfortunately my first time is my last time going there.

Great ramen and karaage. cute shop. Server was really friendly. Would definitely go again! Yep.

On behalf on my partner: I would like to begin by saying that because of the abysmal service, I didn't get to try the food. As I sat down, I was informed that to see the menu I had to scan a QRL code and look for the menu online. That already sent out red flags because I am not comfortable with the technology, but as the server had sat back down behind the counter with her phone, I decided to give it a shot. Either due to my ineptitude or because this technology is often unreliable, as i have been told, I was unable to complete the task. I looked for the server to give me some direction or assistance, as we were the only people in the front of the restaurant. The server was too distracted with her phone to notice my growing humiliation/frustration at my failed attempts. While I applaud the paperless approach, a simple board with menu listings might be an alternative. Otherwise, if this intrusive technology is absolutely necessary for a bowl of ramen, perhaps the establishment could provide service that is prepared and willing to provide some direction and assistance on how to use it. Lunch should have been about a bowl of soup, not about my ability to navigate the latest technological trends. This was one of my worst diner experiences ever.