MIKAMI IZAKAYA & RAMEN

Now I can't really compare M.I.R. to the joints in Japan because the food is still somewhat Americanized to some degree, but there are a few things that makes M.I.R. stand out more than the others. It is under the Izakaya category, so the tempura, tonkatsu and ramen are a must try. Let's run this down... The NAGAIMO ASAZUKE 長芋の浅漬け was on point, I have never had it with passion fruit before, it was very refreshing but the sweet and sour taste was a little bit too strong for me. But it is supposed to be a pickled dish and it is ok. The TEMPURA PLATE 天ぷら盛り合わせ was good, the panko was not too thick but it was fried just a bit too long and it soaked up too much oil, it got soggy when it cooled down. The portion was large but they charge you $1.50 if you want just a little more sauce, dashi is expensive these days. The soft shell crab was standard and quite tasty. Crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. Now about the Tonkatsu, the pork was one of the most perfect fat/lean balanced cut of pork that I have ever had in Chicagoland. Perfect breading, but the sauce is not the regular Tonkatsu sauce, it is a little too sweet for me, and they serve it on top of the pork as it comes out. So make sure you get it on the side so you can enjoy the pork by itself before deciding to add the sauce or not. The Chicken Katsu was bigger than the pork, thigh cut so it was more tender. But personally I prefer the pork version since I like the chew. The curry was the best amongst any Japanese curry place in Chicagoland, and I have tried them all. The flavor is intense and bold, in puree form without being too thick. This is exactly how you should make Japanese curry. The Tonkatsu Ramen was legit, I love the fried garlic bits, the Chashu was perfect, not too thick, same fat/lean ratio as the Tonkatsu. Everyone knows that the broth makes the Ramen Bowl, and the broth here is thick but not oily, you can taste the cartilage and marrow in the thick broth. The type of ramen used was not my favorite, I personally prefer the thick and curly noodles over the straight thin Hakata style, but it will do. This is a solid bowl of Ramen. We will definitely come back and try the other dishes, such as the 一品料理 Entree and the Robata items. Strongly recommended.

I’ve been wanting to try this ramen spot since it’s close by. We finally dropped by with a reservation around 2:30 pm. There was only one other couple the entire meal. The service was fast, and the place was nice. I would say this mess more of a 3.75 star rather than 4. For the food: We started with the Okra Asazuke - oh my gosh, this was sooooo good. The sesame dressing was so so so delicious. I could eat this every day. I also chose the agedashi tofu - I wanted to try it for me tofu is hit or miss, I’ve been vegetarian for many years but I’m very picky when it comes to texture. Although it was fried it literally felt like it was slimy and liquid-like. It was a definite no for me. The sauce may have been okay but I can only remember the gross texture. Again I’m very picky with texture especially in tofu so if that doesn’t bother you you may like it. My partner had the chicken karrage- he really enjoyed this. He also had the chashu bun I believe and he said it was okay. We had entrees, just to try, but neither of us were impressed at all. I had the vegetarian ramen and sadly was so underwhelmed. Had barely any flavor and had a lot of white onion which I couldn’t imagine having a place in that dish. Sadly I didn’t enjoy it at all. It did come with a side of vegetable tempura which was a good addition (I hope it was fried with vegetables only but will never know 🥲). My partner had the chashu tsukemen (dipping ramen noodles) also sadly was not impressed. Overall, I’d recommend at least for the appetizers and drinks, but not the noodles. Perhaps that’s not meant to be the specialty.

One of the highlights of our trip, the food was excellent. Everything we tried was superb. To top it all, the service was amazing. Rarely do you encounter servers that know the menu really well. We took every recommendation he shared. Very glad we did as some of those we wouldn’t have ordered on our own. Looking forward to coming back!

I was impressed by the interior design as I walked into this restaurant. They have a lunch special that comes with a side dish and a soup of your choice at the price of $21.95. The tonkotshu ramen was good. The vegetarian ramen comes with vegetable tempura. The batter was light and perfectly crisp. I had fries as the side dish. The fries were just okay, as they were not as flavorful. The vibe and service are great.

absolutely a cute spot in southloop with great happy hour, delicious cocktails, and serious ramen. We love our cocktails blossom gin and midori by moonlight. The skewers portion are big and definitely worth a try. Our most favorite to least are sirloin, beef wrapped shishito, mashed shrimp, pork belly, and squid. Chicken karage is a must try. Their fire ramen is true fiery with a thich broth. The only thing i wish for the ramen option is to substitute the cubed pork shoulder with thinly sliced chashu!

I’m certainly not an expert in Japanese cuisine or ramen but compared to the ramen I’ve had in Japan and other places, this spot hits the mark. The cocktails were just ok. If you want the full experience you may want to stick to a Japanese beer or whiskey only. But the ramen was tasty and very filling. I had the vegetarian version but I just wish it had more mushrooms and veggies but the broth was excellent and they didn’t skimp on the noodles. I also had the miso soup- perfect. My friend really enjoyed the chicken meatballs and the lamb chops entree. This was my 2nd time here and I’d probably go back because all told it was a tasty and satisfying meal.

UPDATE: A few more visits and we stand by our original review. ❤️ Wanted to add some more photos, and let people know that their Set Lunch ($21.95) is a screaming deal🔥 We both had ramen (full-sized), gyoza and miso soup. Adding additional photos - you don’t want to sleep on this place. ORIGINAL: Consistently delicious food served fresh. In addition to food pictured, we’ve tried the curry rice, and 2 ramen dishes that had flavorful broth with perfectly cooked noodles and toppings. Thanks to the staff for providing excellent food and service.

Good vibes but food quality so bad for Asian standard. It’s like Japanese food cooked by white ppl. Service sucks. I asked a server “Miso soup is too salty” he was like basically “so what”. I’d never recommend this restaurant. Only good thing was the vibes.

I am a regular customer here. Best Tsukemen ever in my life. Superb service. Highly recommend.

This was my first time dining in here with my boyfriend on a late Saturday night. The restaurant's ambiance was calming, peaceful and had a welcoming experience. The host at the front quickly greeted us and sat us. They filled our drinks with water and our waiter Quinn came over and greeted us. He helped us with the menu and I ended up getting the Don Eggplant and my boyfriend got Ramen. We both loved our meal and our drinks! Quinn was so nice and helpful. We will be back soon!! 10/10 would recommend. :)

I noticed Mikami a few months ago when walking through my neighborhood. As someone who loves ramen and izakayas in general, I decided I needed to try it, but it did take me until now to finally try it. My friends and I walked in on a Monday evening and the place was, much to my surprise, practically empty! The space is really elegant and very (unusually) fancy for a ramen spot. The wait staff were very attentive and explained the menu selections quite well. For the three of us, we ordered a chicken karaage appetizer to share. Restaurants in Chicago offering chicken karaage typically give just a few pieces as an appetizer (maybe like 5 or 6) but we got a full plate of it, plenty to go around! The chicken was juicy and tender while the batter was light, some of the best karaage I've had in Chicago. For the mains, I got a beef sirloin robatayaki and the tori paitan ramen. The beef sirloin was a full skewer of beef and tasted fine, a bit dry for my taste. I really enjoyed the tori paitan ramen, which had an incredible amount of toppings from the tender chicken breast to the chicken tsukune skewer to the egg. The broth was comforting, perfect for the winter. For the amount of food we got, the prices are very reasonable (perhaps with the exception of the robatayaki). I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Mikami and am looking forward to the next visit when I can try their other ramen! Food: 4.5/5 Service: 4.75/5 Price: 4.75/5 Ambiance: 4.75/5 Overall: 4.75/5

Tried this new place with friends today. Nothing can beat a warm bowl of ramen on a freezing cold day. Takoyaki and Tonkatsu are my to-go items, but often time, they are acceptable or disappointing. However, their food is surprisingly good! Takoyaki has crispy shell with decent size of octopus chunks inside. Chashu on Tonkatsu is moist and flavorful. Although the broth is a little thicker than what I prefer, the food is very tasty overall. Matcha tiramisu is more like matcha cake. I like the light texture and sweetness level, but can't accept something be called tiramisu without espresso lol The place is also roomy and quiet. I'll revisit when i'm in the neighborhood.

Happened to make last minutes reservations. Was looking forward to trying their house made mochi dessert but was so full I didn't order it this time. Ended up ordering their chicken karaage appetizer and seafood udon. The chicken karaage was delicious. Very crispy chicken bites. Some places overdo it with their breading but Mikami got it just right. Honestly had plans to order their ramen but last minute ordered the seafood udon. Mistake! A bit on fishy side and wasn't palatable for me. I'm Korean so I was expecting jjampong (spicy seafood noodle dish) but this was not anywhere near it. But this is my personal preference. Wouldn't mind coming b k to try the ramen and dons. Oh yes of course purse the house made mochi dessert. The venue on the other hand was very classy and elevated . Was underdressed so felt very bad.

We made a reservation for 2 on a Friday night. The restaurant is spacious and the tables are nicely spaced out... which is refreshing. I feel like restaurants put tables so close together these days, to try to maximize the seating. The restaurant is pretty nice, trendy decor, but you don't need to dress up. They were pretty busy and there were a few families with young kids. We were seated quickly. A few minutes later, the server came by and asked us if we were ready to order. I was caught off guard, because there was no welcome, no introduction. She didn't ask if we had questions or if we've dined there before. We asked for recommendations and told her needed a few more minutes. They have a pretty extensive menu, a lot more than just ramen. For appetizers, we had the soft shell crab and prime beef short rib robata yaki. Both were great and I'd definitely get them again. The soft shell crab was nice and crispy and the accompanying sauce provided a good boost of flavor. We both had the Tonkatsu ramen as the main course. My husband got his spicy, which means his came with a side of spicy seasoning... a little goes a loong way. I think he used less than a teaspoon. Overall, the ramen was good. We have had better broths, but the toppings and ingredients were high quality. We had the mochi ice cream plate to finish and enjoyed it very much. The mango was pretty sweet. The strawberry was surprisingly my favorite flavor. Overall, we had a positive experience. The food was good and came out promptly. I'm definitely interested in trying other dishes. Everything was solid, but nothing was so good that I can't wait to come back. It was an easy dining experience and would prob come back with my toddler or a bigger group.

Once again- this place was amazing. So delicious. I want to eat here everyday. I got the tonkotsu ramen which was amazing, it came with a spicy paste so I could make it as spicy as I wanted. The pork belly Japanese chashu don was so so good. Lychee martini for the win. The only down side was they took a really long time to come to our table initially but it was a really busy night.

I'm so glad that I can now find quality ramen within walking distance from my home. I've been here twice for weeknight dinners and it was pretty easy to grab a table without a reservation. I highly recommend the Tonkatsu ramen and the Miso Kale salad. The homemade mochi dessert is also very unique, as it comes with different toppings that you can use to decorate the dessert with. I've had great service both times, and the ambiance and decor are lovely. Mikami is an amazing new addition to South Loop, and I can't wait to come back for the izakaya menu items.

Tried the ramen here last week. The broth was rich but too salty. Noodles were decent, but the pork was tough. The egg was overcooked again. Service was quick, but the ambiance was noisy. Not sure if I'll come back.

Wow, should we all be excited about Mikami! This beautiful elegant Japanese restaurant is without question my new favorite. I popped in during a quiet Thursdy lunch hour, where the spacious dining hall was all to the wait staff and myself. I especially want to highlight our service Lorenzo for going above and beyound in hospitality service and sharing his knowledge in the food and drinks menu. Lorenzo passionately explained the stories, flavor profiles and the kitchen team who put together the menu. I learned that Mikami is the second iteration of a Japanese establishment in Hyde Park and a joint venture with the owner of Taipei Cafe, Mikami is reinforced with the Chicago Asian restaurant moguls. I am deeply touched by the amount of joy and passion Lorenzo has in the food, and genuinely want us to experience Japanese cuisine to its fullest, I would definitely be back for just his company and Victor's chicken karage alone. I am definitely in awe by the elegance, beauty and huge potential of this restaurant blowing up over time. I would love to keep this as my secret, but they definitely deserve recognition by everyone.

Ambiance - super cute intimate restaurant, great for dates & small groups Service - exceptional, food also came out in a timely manner, server came back to check on us often Food - portobello mushroom was grilled to perfection, soft shell crab was the right amount of crisp, beef short robatayaki was moist + tender, shoyu ramen was super rich in flavor, the star of the show was the house made mochi (super innovative a must get!)

If you're looking for a quick ramen fix in the area, this will do the trick - if you're looking for the best ramen experience in the city I'd say maybe go elsewhere. What this place has excelled in is their ambience and "date night vibe" which makes for what feels like a an upscale experience at a pretty decent price point for the location. We popped in for lunch on a Monday and street parking was located on the same block, good start. The menus looked like they had a great offering for any taste interest and the server was kind. Now on to the ramen, the veggie ramen broth was just okay but the toppings were great - the temperature of the ramen could stand to be hotter and I even opted for the $2 up charge for their "spicy" oil which left a lot to be desired and added not much flavor or heat to the dish. Compared to other places that specialize in ramen the broth lacked layers. I'd say still an enjoyable place but at the price point I'd expect the ramen to be a bit better.

I made reservations two days in advance, and it was a breeze. When we arrived, they quickly found out about our reservations and seated us. They gave us water while we browsed the menu. We had to hunt down a waiter or waitress to order our food, which took a while. The waitress asked if we wanted everything at once, and we said yes. The ramen came first, followed by the katsu, and then the appetizers. This was a bit confusing because appetizers usually come out first, but in this case, it was the reverse. The gyoza took the longest and was the last to arrive. I ordered tsukemen, and it was good. The broth was a bit thicker than I'm used to, but the noodles were tasty and chewy. The broth could've been a bit hotter since the noodles and toppings were a bit chilly. I tried a bite of the chicken katsu, and it was crispy and the sauce was delicious. The chicken was a bit dry, though. My favorite dessert was the homemade mochi. The best part was dipping it in the black sesame dipping sauce. Overall, the food was good, and I'd definitely go back. But the service was terrible. We had to wave for someone to come over multiple times. The reason is that they only stood near the waiter or waitress stand and looked towards the front of the restaurant and didn't pay attention to the people behind them. It's a decent-size restaurant with tables everywhere and a bar. I wish they could better situate where they stand so they don't forget about certain customers.

Randomly stumbled upon this restaurant for a late lunch, and when we went it was super quiet inside, but the decor is really pretty and modern. I think this would be super nice as a date night spot. We got karaage to start and it was delicious! The breading was really unique. I liked the takoyaki too flavor-wise, but it didn't have much octopus in it -- mostly batter. For my main I got the chicken katsu curry, which was a massive portion! It came with a huge chicken cutlet as well as a side of rice, cabbage, and salad. I would have preferred more curry (it was a rather shallow plate of curry), since I used up a lot of it before I finished half the chicken. The curry was too salty for my liking but it had a nice buttery flavor that was unique. Chicken was not dry at all! Service was pretty good -- the waiter seemed new and didn't know the menu too well but everyone was friendly and the food came out really quickly.

My friend and I visited here before the rush hour on a Friday night. This is a new restaurant with very modern and classy design and set up. The service was nice and food was quick. We order the chicken cutlet with curry, prime ribs skewer, soft shell crab, chicken gizzards, and shishito pepper wrapper with beef. Overall the food was decent. My favorite was the chicken curry it has a balanced flavor in the curry and the chicken was fried to perfection. We forgot to try their dessert which we were initially really excited about! But hopefully I get to return to try other items and their dessert next time!

Immediately seated up on arriving and the restaurant itself is very classy looking. There is a bar immediately in front of you upon entering with the dining area nearby. Ordered the Tsukamen and Tonkotsu Ramen and both were delicious. The Tsukamen could've been a little less salty but both dishes had great tasting ingredients with the Chashu being very tender. Didn't get to try any appetizer or desserts but from what I saw on other tables, they looked like a must try as well. Price point was a little on the higher side but I had no complaints for it with the food that I got. Will come again!

So delicious! What a great addition to South Loop!! My husband and I stopped in for lunch today. I believe their grand opening was just last night. It's GORGEOUS inside. So chic and elegant without being over the top. I ordered the tonkotsu ramen and my husband order the chashu pork don. We both were so blown away with the pork, it's marinated so perfectly. We can't wait to come back. This will definitely be in our regular neighborhood rotation. The staff was nice and you could tell they were excited for the opening!

I can't believe I waited this long to check out this place, despite multiple friends raving about it since they opened. The hype is real! We wanted to order everything on the menu (and almost did, the waitress had to warn us about portion sizes!). Service was impeccable: two of us wanted to share the ramen and the waitress separated it into 2 bowls for us, with the toppings on the side for us to add to the bowls. The rich tonkotsu broth was perfect for a cold windy day, and the egg was so custardy I'd order a plate of it for myself if they offered it on the menu. We enjoyed everything we ordered, standouts were the whole grilled calamari,chicken karaage, Japanese yam with passionfruit and unagi don. I usually don't go for grilled skewers as they're not good value but these were delicious and I'd gladly order next time. Both the karaage and grilled chicken skewers were tender & juicy. The unagi was melt in your mouth fatty and full of flavor, although I was so full I had to doggy bag it but look forward to enjoying it next day. Really appreciate they include a small salad with the rice dishes as green veggies are not that common in Japanese cuisine. So glad we now have good Japanese comfort food in the city. Heard they'll be adding new menu items soon so we'll be back for sure!

We went during the soft opening and enjoyed ourselves. Service was learning, but so kind. Management stopped by to tells us they'll be expanding the menu at official opening. The food was tasty and reasonably priced. We didn't love the crispy bao (prefer softer), but it was flavorful. The ramen was solid and noodles seemed fresh. Drinks were a great value and a nice selection. The space itself is really lovely and we will definitely be back again! Great addition to the area.

Outstanding sushi and ramen restaurant, offering upscale dining and excellent service. The ramen was very tasty and had excellent flavor. The katsu that we had was quite delicious, but the sushi was fantastic. Fresh, well prepared and with great flavor. The bar area is wonderful and the entire restaurant is very well done.

The BEST new addition to the South Loop and dare I say my new favorite Ramen spot! Everything about Mikami Izakaya was great! We had a 6pm Thursday reservation and we were greeted and seated immediately. For a Thursday night it was pretty lively and most tables were filled. So for safe measured I do recommend a reservation. Our server made us feel welcomed and helped us navigate the menu by answering some of our questions and giving some recommendations. Everything on the menu sounds so yummy so it's hard to narrow it down lol (even more excuse to come again). My friend is a pescatarian and was nudged to try the Seafood Udon, I happily settled on the Tonkotsu. For starters we had the Tempura Sampler. EVERY BITE HAD US SMILING AND HUMMING. The tempura sampler had the perfect tempura crunch and we enjoyed the bites of shrimp, sweet potato and onion I loved the sauce it came with for dipping. Both of our Ramens were made with very rich and flavorful broth that made you feel warm and PACKED with lovely ingredients from veggies, spices, eggs and meat. The seafood udon came with an entire fried crab?!? You certainly get your bang for your buck here. We stuffed our mouths until our belly's ached lol. I absolutely cannot WAIT to get back to my new favorite ramen spot. Welcome to the neighborhood, Mikami Izakaya

Tonkotsu ramen was absolutely delicious. Also loved the ambiance. Karage as an appetizer was a good choice.

Food, service, and ambiance were terrific. Will definitely be coming back to try some other dishes.

Beautiful restaurant with delicious food!!! Went during the soft opening as well as grand opening, consistently great experience. My highlights are the golden wings (such a unique twist on a traditional asian flavor), tonkatsu ramen (hits the spot every time), and chicken tsukune robatayaki (flavor is immaculate!) Staff is a little inexperienced but everyone starts somewhere! No complaints either way :)

The ramen was fantastic. Really rich and delicious broth. We went for a late lunch so it wasn't busy at all.

This place was so clean inside. I went early and could smell cleaning supplies lol. The esthetic is cool and there is plenty of seating. I also loved the vibey music. The servers were kind and attentive. The ramen was absolutely delicious, the apps were good.

This place is so cute! Definitely want to come back for drinks one day because the cocktails sound great. The karaage was perfectly fried, highly recommend trying it. We all agreed that the ramen was good but nothing too special, maybe like a 6.5/10. Now the matcha tiramisu ... spectacular. A perfect 10/10 dessert. Very light, nice portion, great flavor. Didn't try it but my friends say the panna cotta was a 5/10, not very sweet. Overall, this is a great addition to South Loop!

Delicious! Lovely setting and ambiance. Service and staff were great. Whether you are a local or in town visiting, you will want to enjoy a meal at Mikami. We enjoyed two cocktails (Gin Blossom and Lychee Martini - both perfectly made), kare raisu (curry rice with chicken katsu served with rice and side salad), tofu donburi, and mochi dessert (three flavors). It was OUTSTANDING! Some of the best Japanese food we have ever had. Wish I had taken photos, but we were too busy enjoying the libations and gobbling up the food! We expect to be back and look forward to trying the ramen next time.

I was waiting for this ramen place to open in the neighborhood. The place is amazing, open floor place with a modern Japanese aesthetic. The light fixtures were mesmerizing and rotate a bit. So the place set the mood for some good ramen. I got the tonkatsu ramen and it was such a well balanced broth. I gamble on getting ramen because of the saltiness but this was the one for me

I stopped during the soft opening and was pleasantly surprised at the portions, price and quality of the food. Definitely recommend it and going back. Great addition to the south loop community!

This used to be Sanctuary Music & Aesthetics, remember that! I had the Chicken Karaage Bun and Shishito Peppers. The staff and service is wonderful.

loved the ambience and service !! lorenzo and david let us borrow their maserati !! thanks man !

Nice and cozy! Just what you want in an Izakaya. Good food and very efficient service.

We enjoyed our dinner at Niu B. The Ramen was terrific and the cocktails were very good.

This place is a gem. The food was fresh and tasty. I couldn't believe how good it was. We ordered the Chicken Karaage Bun, Japanese Chashu Don and another chicken dish (don't recall the name). The mochi dessert was excellent. Drinks are good, but pricey. Can't wait to go back to this restaurant.

Ambiance and service were both outstanding. Lorenzo is clearly a master of his craft. The passion fruit and yam appetizer was something I've never had elsewhere!

Ramen was great and the golden wing appetizer was wonderful. lychee martini warmed me up on cold night

Food is delicious. The Ramen is very good. The appetizers short ribs and pork belly are tasty.

had great experiences at Mikami several times. It's a perfect place to enjoy a wonderful time, whether with friends or by myself, any day.

Chicken Karage and Tempura were excellent. Their fry game was on point! Beer was cold but skimpy on the pour. Ramen was tasty and probably a seven out of ten. The atmosphere is very elegant but we felt rushed to finish our meal. Wait staff seemed very impatient to get their money and get us out the door. It's too bad because it could really be a spectacular place if they were not so uptight. Hoping it will improve with time.

Nice environment, friendly employees. I love their fried chicken, which is tender, juicy blended with rich flavors. Noodles are way too salty, some of my colleagues couldn't finish theirs.

Fantastic food and cocktails! Service was great and it's easy to hear/talk. Definitely will return soon!

I'm genuinely surprised by the high reviews on Yelp and Google--this was easily one of the worst meals I've had in a long time. My expectations weren't high to begin with, considering the generally subpar quality of Japanese food in Chicago, but we were hoping to find a reliable local spot nearby. Unfortunately, this place missed the mark. Service: The service was underwhelming, especially given the upscale look of the restaurant. We had an awkward interaction with the host when we arrived, and we saw our waitress once while there (when we ordered our food). Another server eventually brought our bill, but overall, the service felt disjointed and inattentive, considering the ambiance. Drinks: The only highlight of the meal was my cocktail--it was solid and well-made. Food: We ordered various items, including Yakitori: Negima, Tsukune, Tsukemen Ramen, and Tori Paitan Ramen. The Negima skewer, which should include green onions (since "Negi" literally means green onion), had none, and the chicken pieces felt like random bits skewered together. The Tsukune was dry and gritty. There was no effort to Yakitori. The Tori Paitan ramen was a major letdown. It lacked the signature milky color, flavor depth, and umami. I get that it's not supposed to be as rich as Tonkotsu ramen, but it was missing key components that make for a decent bowl (tare, aroma oil, milk color). The chicken was overcooked and bland, despite being sous-vide. As for the Tsukemen, I'm not sure what they were trying to do with this--it was just plain odd and disjointed. I can't say for sure, but it felt like some of the ramen components were from pre-packaged products that restaurants can buy from wholesale food distributors. If you've been to places like Chicago Ramen, Wasabi, or Akahoshi Ramen, you will likely be disappointed here. I almost want to say: save your time. This restaurant needs to put as much effort into its food as it did into designing the space.

Went here with a friend on a monday evening for an early dinner ~530P. It started out great with a great happy hour menu (good selection of cocktails, including a more than decent old fashioned, served with the right block ice cube!), and Asahi on tap - always a good accompaniment to ramen). Ordered the karrage as part of the happy hr menu as well to get us started - was good, standard... but then the ramen...I ordered the shoyu but spicy (1.50 dollar upcharge for the pepper oil to make it spicy -- I've been to other ramen places where that is sitting on the table for you to add, so that was less than impressive to charge for it). We placed the order for the ramen (mine spicy, my friends w/out), then almost 40 min later, we were wondering where the ramen was at that point (haven't ever waited that long for ramen), the waiter at least picked up on our situation of having no ramen on the table after a more than usual time frame and there being folks that 30+ min arriving/ordering after us got their entrees (including ramen) before us - the waiter said there was an issue with the POS. An issue that only seemed to impact our table it seemed. We carried on our convo since luckily in no rush, then finally the ramen came out, delivered by Lorenzo, 'you guys ordered the shoyu ramen right?' and blindly placed the bowls on the table as I explained I have the spicy and the friend has the not spicy - to which he replied (as if I should have known this naturally) - 'oh the spicy oil comes on the side.' (ok why didnt it get brought out on the side with ramen when delivered late to the table). He then comes back with the pepper oil - asking 'who wanted the spicy?' After I clearly asked for mine to be spicy b/c my friend who didnt want that clearly specified that, and 1 minute prior I made the point to make clear that that option was for me. It hit as if he was purposely being difficult at that point or he didnt listen to the concern -- bc I didnt want my friend who didnt want the spicy option to accidently getting mine and have an adverse reaction. Unfortunately in the end, spicy or not, neither of us liked the ramen, didnt seem like the noodles were freshly made, had an 'instant ramen' overly salty taste. I cant recommend the ramen based on this experience (at least the Shoyu). When the check came, there wasn't going to be any offer of compensation for the 40-50 min wait for our ramen or an apology for the delay or the POS missing our order. We had to ask for the manager to consider some sort of action for a clearly longer than usual wait. The manager, at least after we pointed out the issue was willing to take off 10% which I think is redeeming, they do want to make it right - and again, its a newer place so maybe working out the kinks/processes, even if early on a Monday evening. I hope to be back, again as a SLoop resident just hoping for those good dining options in the neighborhood. I will say again, the happy hr menu is pretty good (until 6P) - cocktail/beer wise and appetizers - lots to select from. I was also impressed with the selection of the Japanese whiskey.

Food was good but portions were way too small. Overall ambience is minimalistic and clean modern. Service was good but kinda felt like we being rushed even tho the place was empty. And their music was latest house music which we enjoyed but it kept stopping and there was silence in the restaurant for awhile.

I went yesterday with 3 other friends. we arrived at 7:10pm and it was not busy. We sat down and got our drink orders taken and appetizers. Once our appetizers and drinks came, we did not see our waiter for another 30ish minutes but a different server came up and asked us for our orders. Around 8:10 our waitress came back and did not know we placed our entree orders. The server who took our order came back to our table and told us there was system error or something and when he took our order it didn't process. We finally got our entrees at 8:43pm. When the waitress came back she offered us a free desert. i asked for something sort of discount on our bill because of how long we had to wait. This was a little after 9pm. The waitress kept going back and forth until the manager came over. They were very reluctant to compensate anything but our drinks (only 2 out of 4 of us got drinks). i asked for our appetizers to be comped because we were there for 2 hours and they finally said they can do that. I'm dissapointed because i was excited for a new ramen place, and the food was really good. Service was awful. If you want to try them, do a pick up order but don't waste your time going in.

ramen was flavorful and matcha tiramisu was delicious! lorenzo and david provided excellent service, they hiked to japan, collected authentic mushrooms and hand made my noodles from scratch, would definitely go again!

This is a great hidden gem in the South Loop. Beautiful space- very modern and understated Japanese design. We started with the Chicken Karaage and robata- both great and the aoli sauce with the chicken is amazing. Tonkotsu Ramen was rich and delicious. Great service, too. Try it out.

Outstanding. The food was excellent. Service was great. Love the decor. Can't wait to go back.