Noodles By Takashi Yagihashi

Loved this place for lunch! It's not fancy - you order at the counter or a kiosk - sit in a small food court - pick it up at the counter when your buzzer lights up. BUT - the food court was festively decorated for the holidays, the staff was so nice, and the food was fresh and DELICIOUS! We ordered the tonkotsu ramen and the vegetable (mushroom & tofu) ramen. Large servings, tasty broth, yummy pork and vegetables in the tonkotsu ramen, lots of vegetables and tofu in the other bowl, and oodles of noodles in both. We'll be back!

Shoyu Tonkotsu Ramen 🍜 - It wasn’t the prettiest looking ramen I’ve had, but the broth was tasty and it was overall delicious. The noodles were a bit overcooked but it happens, no biggie!

The food was delicious and the wait time was short. Interesting venue on the 7th floor of Macy's. Great views up and down the atrium. Full of light!

I used to love this place and would have lunch there several times a week. It was one of the best kept secrets in Chicago. The food and service were always great. I was addicted to the Mushroom Tofu Ramen! Unfortunately, they removed it from the menu and replaced it with a vegetable ramen which is not nearly as good. Takashi: Please bring back the Mushroom Tofu Ramen!!

Was excited to be able to have Ramen in a convenient location in the heart of Downtown and the exterior of this foodstall was so promising. However, the Ramen was quite a let down. Besides saltiness, there isn't much to write about. It is true that Ramens are salty, but theres an infusion of multiple layers of taste that comes with it as well. Unfortunately for the Ramen at Tabo Sushi... the layers of flavors from the pork tonkotsu broth or the Miso broth are MIA. The upside is the generous portion and warm soup for a cold day. Verdict: enjoy your own instant ramen at home.

Best place in the Loop for vegetarian ramen (in my humble opinion). I believe I've tried all the ramen places downtown. Their mushroom tofu ramen is really yummy; even includes eggplant. Very affordable, too. This gem is hidden away on the 7th floor of Macy's; worth a trip if you are downtown and a fan of ramen.

hidden gem alert! admittedly in a super random location on the 7th floor of Macy’s, Tabo’s ramen was super flavorful and packed with quality ingredients. I can’t believe this place doesn’t have a line out the door— both the chicken and mushroom ramen were delicious.

Tucked away on the 7th floor of Macy's on State, Noodles by Takashi is a hidden gem for a quick, satisfying lunch in the Loop. Dropped about $16 on the Shoyu Ramen combo with a half tuna-avocado roll. The broth was rich, noodles had a nice chew, and the sushi was fresh. Perfect spot when you're craving something warm and flavorful without breaking the bank.

In the words of my coworker: "this is decent ramen for a food court". Located on the 7th floor of Macy's, Noodles by Takashi Yagahashi offers ramen bowls, sushi, and various sides. I got the lunch combo with a full bowl of miso ramen and half order of potstickers. All said and done, it came to about $14. The ramen portion was huge and I actually couldn't finish all my noodles but slurped down all the broth. The one part of the bowl I really didn't enjoy was the cut of pork and the way it was prepared - just wasn't up there. Neither was the service - the workers appeared to be mostly confused with orders and that really slowed down the line. Once you do get your order though, try to find a table by the window to enjoy your meal with a view of downtown

Was excited to be able to have Ramen in a convenient location in the heart of Downtown and the exterior of this foodstall was so promising. However, the Ramen was quite a let down. Besides saltiness, there isn't much to write about. It is true that Ramens are salty, but theres an infusion of multiple layers of taste that comes with it as well. Unfortunately for the Ramen at Tabo Sushi... the layers of flavors from the pork tonkotsu broth or the Miso broth are MIA. The upside is the generous portion and warm soup for a cold day. Verdict: enjoy your own instant ramen at home.

STILL coming here for affordable, satisfying Ramen on a cold Chicago day! Plus, Rewards Program available. COMBO is rightly priced. Half portion for half price. $15 full SHOYU RAMEN with 4 pcs (half) of freshly made TUNA AVOCADO roll. Beautiful $8 nigiri's and rolls are also available. THE WAY of the Noodles, Japanese Style: tasteless noodles must be consumed with salty (okay, a tad salty) broth for balance. It's the same method in properly enjoying Soba Noodles. Noticed the tinted broth? Very Japanese! In old France, you drink the tinted broth as a prisoner in shackles that we now call French Onion Soup (you only get onions). Food Preparation is a reflection of culture! Note that the Ramen is made as Takashi intended the flavors, and textures should come together as ONE perfect bowl. Noodles and Bowls may constrict and expand, but the precise ingredients are consistently the same. The healthy side effect of SALTY FOOD? Drink more water. NOW, you are properly hydrated. :-*

Still love this place!!!! My favorite ramen. The pot stickers are delicious and the cabbage. Can't go wrong with this place! The miso ramen broth is really good and not too heavy.

Restaurant Review Nothing like noodles on a cold winter day! In a two day period we went to Takashi's slurping turtle restaurant and noodles above Macy with the latter being superior IMHO. Prices are better than his sit down restaurant and the food is just as good. Why the three stars you ask? The one thing about classy ramen is after all it is ramen and you are paying a lot for soup and noodles. I will have to say that his staff cooks the noodles to the prefect consistency. The miso ramen broth was well balance, full of flavor and not salty at all. The braised pork was sparse but had great flavors with a healthy helping of ramen noodles. The side of gyoza with this combo was delicious as well! All and all, highly recommended just wish it wasn't as pricey (10+ dollars) Pro- great noodle dishes cooked to perfection Con- pricey for noodles, limited hours 11 am to 3pm m-sat Hidden deal- Obtain a frequent Macy diner punch card to earn free meals. I believe free meal after 8 purchases

According to Yelp, three stars = "A-OK" so the three-star rating reflects my sentiments about their ramen. This place is located on the 7th floor of Macy's (7th on State) and is only open during lunchtime. Be prepared to wait because the line during lunch rush can be quite long. Their noodles are standard, but not mind-blowing. I am no ramen conoisseur but I've had my fair share. This place is INDEED better than 25-cent packs of Maruchan or the instant Chicken flavored cups that are ready in five minutes. It's a notch above Shin Ramyun (spicy Korean instant noodles) too. So call me preposterous for comparing Takashi Yagihashi's noodles to the instant kind, with packets of sodium and preservatives! The two are not on the same level.... worlds apart, actually. But the taste/service/quality at this establishment is impacted by the fact that it's located in a food court, with people calling your number when your order is ready. You shuffle-right, shuffle-right until your bowl is placed on your tray at the end of the line, kind of like elementary school lunch. Hate me if you must (but I have yet to try Takashi's stand-alone restaurants.) I've been here twice so far and have ordered their Shoyu Ramen and the Miso Ramen. The noodles are chewier since I think they're made by hand. I preferred the Miso Ramen, with lots of sweet corn. The broth is tasty and they give you plenty of garnish to liven up your bowl... seaweed, bamboo shoots, fish cake slices etc. depending on what you order. It's about $10 per bowl which will leave you full. Nothing beats a steaming bowl of noodle soup when it's cold out. Sometimes their ratios are off, like more noodles with less soup... or more pork with less ramen, but nothing of major concern. Tip for spicy food lovers: ask for a drizzle of spicy chili oil on your noodles. All in all, if you asked me to meet there for a meal I'd say YES because they're generally consistent, they're decent and places for a hearty bowl of ramen are hard to come by in the Loop. This place offers grab-n-go convenience and is "A-OK."

$12 for a not-so-traditional bowl of ramen. I tried the shoyu ramen with a chicken and soy sauce-based broth, braised pork, bamboo shoots, egg, boy choy, seaweed, and naruto. The broth was pretty light but tasty. The chicken flavor was a bit weak though. The braised pork were generous slabs and tender. All of the other contents were also pretty standard. I was just a bit surprised to find a piece of boy choy in there although I didn't mind the addition. It's a little pricier than the usual lunch selection and I'm not sure if I will return.... If I do return, I will probably try the chicken tatsuta-age.

I came here Wednesday around 1pm and I could easily find a table.This time I tried Vegetable Ramen. I normally don't order Vegetable Ramen because I feel like it's tasteless but my friend recommended me so I gave it a try which was the right decision! It had a lot of vegetables and the soup had a depth of flavor. I really liked it! It was a little bit salty for me but it's good to have a lot of vegetables with tasty ramen!

Everything was tasty but I felt it was too salty. It is located in the 7th floor of Macy's, so if you go with people that enjoy other kind of food they can buy next to it. Gyozas are very tasty!

Came here after being recommended for lunch while doing a brief online search for spots in the loop. Got the mushroom tofu noodle and was very satisfied. Flavored were balanced and the portion left me full. Good for a cold day. Price was 10.50(?) which I felt was respectable. Also got the spring rolls which came with a chipotle mayo sauce. Not bad but not great. Only 3 bucks for 3 but gave ur meal some variety.

I work in the Loop and when I discovered the 7th floor of Macy's, i was in food heaven. It's a great quiet spot for lunch alone or with co workers. Cafeteria style with restaurant quality food. I particularly like this ramen shop, the food here is consistently good. Price is good, $11 for a sufficiently sized bowl of miso ramen which i sometimes get leftovers of depending on my hunger level and around $7 for their yummy karage (friend chicken) dish that's served with some cabbage. Two of my usual go to dishes. The pork in the miso ramen is a good cut and always cooked perfectly. I do have to say the karage (chicken dish) can be a little too salty but it tastes so good i overlook that flaw. The service staff is also very friendly, often offering a glass of water with your meal and pointing out utensils, extra sauces etc. They have a frequent customer card program at the food court so if you plan to eat there often, make sure you ask for one of those cards. I believe ten meals get you a free one. As a disclaimer, i tend to rate according to how my overall experience is for the level of business. So i can't say that this is the best ramen i've ever had but for the price point, atmosphere and food quality, i give it a solid 4.

My boyfriend and I were wandering around Macy's and decided to head up to the 7th floor for a snack. We quickly ordered a bowl of ramen before closing (3PM). I was disappointed that they do not serve the typical tonkotsu ramen but settled for miso ramen instead. The toppings were alright (pork, corn, bean sprouts, naruto, and seaweed) but the broth was seriously lacking flavor and the noodles were soggy. FYI: Noodles by Takashi is located in the food court of Macy's

I should have known better because I read the Yelp reviews ahead of time, but I just couldn't help myself for a few reasons: 1) It was freakin cold yesterday and a hot bowl of ramen sounded warm and delicious 2) I've been wanting to try Takashi's high end restaurant for about a year now and figured I could get a taste of it at fraction of the price. While Noodles by Takashi is much less expensive than the Takashi in Bucktown, $10 for a bowl of miso ramen seemed pretty expensive to me. However, it was a very large bowl of soup...almost big enough for me to jump in and go for a swim among the broth, corn, grounded pork, ramen noodles, and other veggies. As far as the taste of the miso ramen...I didn't really like it nor dislike it. With all those noodles it was a pain in the ass to eat and the pork kind of grossed me out, but that's my own fault for not realizing there was pork in the entree. One day I will get myself a pair of glasses so I can actually see the menu! In this upscale food court there are so many good options that I probably wouldn't order this again....

Ok, after having read most of the yelp reviews, I was prepared. Ok, so it won't be like SF or NYC. I'm ok with that. Ok, so it's a little more expensive. I'm ok with that. No worries. It was awesome!!! I ordered the miso ramen special combo with the spring rolls and my friend ordered the shoyu with dumplings. I thought my ramen was dead on. Better than my last experience in NYC! The broth was excellent, very rich in flavor. Cloudy, as expected for miso. The noodles were perfect. The pork slices, although not plentiful, were delicious. And truthfully, I would have been fine just with ramen sans rolls, as I was quite full afterwards. The mayo sauce that accompanied the rolls was very lackluster. But I'm glad they had sriracha available. Ok, so I spent close to $15 for my noodles, rolls and green tea. But you can get away spending less. Just get the ramen, and that's enough. $10 for lunch is not crazy and the average for the loop. I say, go for it! Live a little. I am so glad I found this place thanks to fellow yelpers. It will give me an excuse now to leave the office. And whenever I'm hankering for ramen, I have a place to go that's easy to get to. The location is perfect. Thanks Macy's.

Note: If you're going to Macy's for the sole purpose of getting ramen (a la myself), make sure you hop on the Express elevators. They take you straight the 7th floor and you bypass all the insane shoppers/tourists. Look for 'em by the Randolph street entrance, by the purses. After waiting in line for a good 10 minutes (helllo, madhouse), I had time to research Yelp reviews and thoroughly examine the ingredients in each of the ramen dishes. I opted for the Shoyu (egg, fish cakes, pork, bamboo shoots, bok choy) and thought it was pretty delicious! Nothing compares to that salt ramen broth I had in LA, but this broth was very flavorful! Great for a cold winter day. You can also ask for hot sauce if you're looking for an extra kick. I definitely want to try out the other types of ramen here! They all looked pretty good, especially the one that gets topped with corn and seaweed! And, these dishes are a little cheaper ($9) than the one at Takashi's restaurant, so that's a bonus!

Finding a good ramen-ya in Chicago is seriously like finding a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. I was feeling rather blah today so I decided to go in search of ramen. I yelped "ramen" and chicago and found Noodles by Takashi Yagihashi. Having eaten at his restaurant in Bucktown and impressed by it, I thought I would give this place a shot despite the mixed reviews. I ordered the shoyu ramen - which I wouldn't normally order but it was the only one with 'braised pork' - and the half order of pot stickers (called the noodle combo). The other miso and shio ramens had minced pork. What's up with that? Anyway, the shoyu ramen was salty and it tasted one-dimensional - just soy sauce and water. The noodles were actually cooked al dente and were pretty good. In addition to noodles and broth, shoyu ramen has braised pork, bamboo shoots, and baby bok choy. The pot stickers were actually decent. Add I appreciate a chef who provides a pot sticker sauce that does not solely consist of soy sauce. There was a little vinegar in the pot sticker sauce. Yay! I make pot stickers from scratch at home and his filling was pretty tasty. Not to mention, that it included a little salad with a carrot-ginger dressing to break things up a bit. The braised pork was meh, with no taste. Sadly it can't even compare to the ramen places in Cali or Tokyo. The only reason I give this place two stars instead of one is because I admire the effort of Takashi Yagihashi for putting a "noodle" place in MACY's food court on State! That's bold. Plus I would probably eat here again if I really needed to satisfy my ramen craving.

After our friends couldn't stop raving about the ramen at Takashi (http://www.yelp.com/biz/takashi-chicago#hrid:NaNOKH2SP8-opfvb9lwf9w), we were pleasantly surprised to Yelp-stumble upon "Noodles by Takashi" while searching for lunch spots. Noodles is actually located in the Macy's 7th floor food court, so don't go looking for it on the street. So, first things first. This won't be the best ramen you've ever had. It's a little strange that Takashi reserves his authentic ramen for Sundays only (at Takashi), but lets Macy's farm out his ramen any day of the week with a minimal kitchen (where's the gigantic soup base and noodle water pots?) and non-Japanese cookers. But for what it is, fast food ramen, it's pretty good. It's nice that they offer the gamut of soup bases: you can get chicken or veggie if you're not into shoyu. There's also a pork miso base. The chicken and veggie are decent, but pork broth is clearly the way to go with ramen. The noodles aren't the best (again, no gigantic noodle pot), but still pretty good. There's actually a multitude of toppings here rather than the traditional set, so no complaints at the variety offered.

Once again we made a trip to the 7th floor at Macy's for a change of pace lunch (and a little splurge). Last time I went with delicious mexican at Frontera Fresco and now I wanted a big bowl of ramen from Noodles (especially after visiting Takashi last June). The menu is very simple - four ramen choices, a few rice plates and sides of dumplings, etc. I can't seem to find the menu anywhere online so I don't have all the options and details. I didn't know which ramen to go with, and even though I was more in a mood for a fried rice dish, I figured a first trip required a ramen bowl. The cashier recommend the Shoyu Ramen the most. It looked the most interesting and unusual. A quote from a fellow yelper states, "It is simple and classic. A big steaming bowl of noodles dressed with fish cakes, pork belly, bamboo shoots, sheets of nori, and baby bok choy." While I did appreciate the fascinating and flavorful broth, there was just a little too much going on besides noodles for my taste. Even if the Shoyu is a traditional favorite, next time I'll try the more basic miso ramen. If the picture doesn't show, the bowl is huge. You pay $8-9 for the bowl but you get more than enough food for one meal. I'd say all in all it wasn't my favorite bowl of noodles but maybe I don't like super traditional japanese ramen? I hope not. I will return to try the other dishes, namely a rice combo. Someone tried an order of dumplings and said they were fantastic so one dish on one visit might not be a full sample size. Next visit to 7th on State might be to Marcus Samuelson's Marc Burger. I've already passed it up twice, three times in not likely.

Service is not the greatest, and $10 for a bowl of ramen is not a particularly good deal either, but we frequent this joint because the vegetarian ramen is such a treat! We especially like going to Macy's on a Saturday and enjoying the ramen without the usual weekday craze. It's not everyday that you find a ramen in vegetarian broth (the only other ones we are aware of are Oii Star and Yusho), and Takashi's veggie ramen is flavorful with just the right amount of heat. The noodles are more like soba than true ramen, but they're not bad. I wonder why he doesn't serve vegetarian broth at his Slurping Turtle restaurant? Remember to ask them for a frequent diner punch card! Buy 7 entrees and get 1 free

I always enjoyed going to Macy's 7 on State. For a food court, it is spacious, airy, and offers great windows overlooking all sides of the Loop. Being a fan of Takashi, I'm glad that there is a noodle outpost conveniently located downtown. The appetizers are pretty unremarkable. The potstickers tasted ok, but so are ones from Trader Joe's. I must say though that at Takashi's, they do have a nicely seared crust. A lot of places get potstickers wrong. People... the bottom should be properly browned. That's why it's called a pot-sticker! On to the ramen. Here they offer 3 varieties: Shoyu, Miso, and Shio. The 3rd is sort of a hybrid of the first 2. I like the Shoyu Ramen the most. It is simple and classic. A big steaming bowl of noodles dressed with fish cakes, pork belly, bamboo shoots, sheets of nori, and baby bok choy. The broth has a good flavor. My only complaint is that it doesn't have much depth. And then, I thought, well, this is fast food. Perhaps if they would add a poached egg, it might make the broth a little more special. The pork has a good braise. Not exactly fall off the bone, but nice taste. The bamboo shoots have a good bite. It's not directly out of a can, thank goodness. Finally, the sheets of nori, softened by the hot broth, brought a shot of umami to the bowl. Why 3 stars? There are better ramen to be had in Chicago. But if you want convenience in the Loop area, with an inviting atmosphere, give Noodles by Takashi a try.

A co-worker and I came here for lunch and had a very enjoyable meal. Décor: It's in the Macy's food court (7th floor) so of course it is pretty nice. Everything about the actual stand is very clean and you can see everything laid out right in front of you. There are plenty of tables everywhere so finding a seat is not an issue. Additionally, the ambiance and atmosphere is very casual and relaxed - you actually don't feel like you're eating with a bunch of shoppers or tourists. Bathroom: unknown (I'm sure Macy's has bathrooms though) Staff: The cashier was very friendly and the cooks made the food rather quickly. Food: We both had the Noodles Combo (pork w/ pot stickers) and it was delicious! It came out hot and the ramen was perfect. The pot stickers too... wonderful! On the side they gave Sriracha and some kind of chili sauce and, for the first time ever, I liked the chili sauce rather than the Sriracha! The combo was pretty good sized as well. I left "not hungry" but I wasn't "stuffed" - in fact, we swung over to McDonald's for an additional snack after... Value: The combo is a solid deal but you're still walking out paying around $15 for lunch. I'd like to see the prices a bit lower. This was a nice change from the normal spots and I will certainly keep it in mind for future meals.

It's better than instant ramen but really won't do it for me. I've ordered the miso ramen, generous bowl but it looks like it's put together on a cafeteria assembly line. Not enough depth of flavor. It's prime location in the loop makes it a great spot to meet up friends on their lunch breaks but there's better choices out there. Waiting's never been an issue for me, because I've shown up right as they open but I could see the lunch crowd filling this place up.

I've been coming here for years, since they opened at Macy's. They have changed their name now to Tabo Sushi and Noodles by Takashi. Onto the ramen: I have had their shoyu and miso ramen. So far, it's pretty good. A little salty for my taste, but not unpalatable. The noodles are cooked well and the price reasonable for the heft. The staff definitely inspired me to write this. When they realized I have been waiting for them to start (they had a 30 minute delay due to a registry glitch), they comped me my drink. For a food court style dining, that's good service for me.

Best part about the weather turning cold again is I feel like less of a freak heading over to Seven on State to pick up a big piping hot bowl of ramen. Don't get me wrong, I still frequented this place in the summer, I will just feel less weird doing it now. The broth is very flavorful and I slurp up every last drop. The ramen is hit or miss. When it's on, it's great. Off days, I've had clumpy under cooked noodles that break my ramen loving heart. The off days are few and far between. I'm sure a big part of that comes from the volume they turn over during the lunch rush. Overall, it's a filling, hearty bowl of soup. The Shoyu and Miso are delish. And the fried rice is great to change things up every so often.

Was shopping at Macy's on my lunch hour and decided to give this place a try because I love ramen and try to get it at every opportunity. I got the combo of Miso Ramen and potstickers for $13.50 which wasn't too bad for the amount of food. The potstickers were pretty good and tasty. The ramen was ok but I much prefer a few other spot in the city. It's not bad if you're looking for a quick ramen fix in the loop. The pork was pretty tender and tasty. His place is only open during lunch from 11-3 and is located on the 7th floor of MACYS

When I first tried Noodles I was so excited that I found a ramen place so easily accessible and somewhat comparable to ramen in cali. I went there again this past week and its not as good as it used to be. I feel like now they give you less noodles. Towards the end i'm fishing for more noodles because I'm not that my happy full yet. They charge you extra for half a slice of egg now which they didn't do a couple weeks ago. And the broth seems to get saltier and saltier every time I go. I probably won't go back. I feel like its slowly becoming one of those restaurant where a well respected chef slaps his name on it and forgets about it. Maybe now I'll finally try the other restaurants on the 7th floor in Macy's.

I had the tofu and mushroom ramen bowl. Best ramen noodles in downtown so far. The broth was exquisite, generous portion, high quality ingredients and perfect balance of flavors and ratio noodles to broth. They don't skimp on the mushrooms either. Comfortable seating in the food court at Macy's 7th floor overlooking the atrium. Good job!

2 words: not impressed. Takashi is supposed to be one of the best, I can never understand why these chefs throw their names away by opening up in food courts. The ramen tastes exactly like ramen...not the authentic Japanese kind...I'm talking about it tasting like the 50 cents ramen packages you buy at the grocery stores. I ordered the ramen combo with pot stickers, and the pot stickers were cold. My friend ordered the spring rolls, and they are not even cooked! I'll upload some pictures for everyone to see for themselves. Takashi - do youself a favor, you're killing your name with this place. Close it down and refocus on quality control.

not good. Salty, w/o any good flavors. Poorly done gross hard cooked egg. Couldn't really eat it. Sadly, worst ramen I've had in the city.

I really enjoyed eating some ramen at this place. They seem to be quite limited in their ramen selection. I think there were only 4 choices, but the shoyu ramen that I selected was delicious. I ordered the combo which included the potstickers. The potstickers could have been better. They were lukewarm with this very heavy diping sauce. Also, we ordered some rice which was over the top. They douced lots of pepper and salt which really killed the taste. Therefore, they only thing I recommend is what they are named for: the noodles.

I came here once with my co workers for lunch. At that time when I ordered their shoyu ramen it was pretty tasty... This place is located on the 7th floor food court at Macy's. Few weeks later I went to try Slurping Turtles which I heard was also a Takashi Yagihashi restaurant. The noodles there was bad. Anyway I took my husband here for lunch on a Friday thinking it was the same as the first time I came here with my co-workers. I was a bit disappointed that it wasn't as good anymore. The noodle texture was the same as the noodlese at Slurping Turtle. It is like boiled spaghetti. The broth was okay. My husband ordered their fried rice and was a bit disappointed. He rather pay the amount for two rice boxes at Sixty Five restaurant or some other Chinese restaurant. He also ordered some gyozas which were average. He could make them better. Overall it was a not-so-great experience...because the food didn't taste good.

Definitely not the place if you want good ramen noodles. I love shoyu and miso ramen, had in Japan and in the US, and they have all tasted the same. Except this one. I ordered the miso ramen, and I was disappointed. For one, you usually get sliced of pork in your bowl. Here...minced pork? I couldn't really get a good amount of pork in each spoonful. Also, I barely tasted any miso -- this was straight up broth with chives. I ordered the combo, which included either spring rolls or dumplings. I opted for the spring rolls, and although the chili-mayo sauce was great (and side salad looked gorgeous), the first bite of the spring roll was just oil. It wasn't until the 3rd bite I got had actually filling. The prices here are decent. I wouldn't complain about that -- but if you were looking for authentic or just good noodles, this place is definitely not place for you. Haven't tried out the rice dishes -- but they looked okay from what I saw.

As others have mentioned, it's not the fastest place but there was no one in line ahead of us so it wasn't too bad. The lady at the counter was very friendly and helpful. The bowls of ramen were large and the ramen, broth, and veggies were quite good. I wasn't a big fan of the chicken in my ramen though. It was quite dry and tough.

I've ate here a couple of times and tried the shout ramen and miso ramen, but they are just too salty. The broth is sloppy and I can't finish the soup. Definitely a damage to Takashi's name in my opinion. Recommend other places in the area for ramen.

On the 7th floor of Macy's. Not a bad lunch option in the Loop, but there are much better places for ramen in the city. They don't have tonkotsu, so you're stuck with miso and shoyu. I got the shoyu because it was one dollar cheaper than the miso. Pretty standard ramen, the pork was actually good. The biggest downer was that the broth was super salty, much saltier than the average ramen bowl you'll find in Chicago. The workers here are real nice.. if that counts for anything :)

It was cold out and wanted ramen. Convenience dragged me here. Ordered Shoyu ramen and gyoza combo. The gyoza were cold so I put them in my soup. The ramen broth was so salty and just not good. About a step up from Maruchan. Noodles were meh. Only upside, there was alot of pork. $16 of regret. There are way better ramen spots downtown.

Not too pleased honestly. The ramen was OK, but i was expecting more based on how this place was written up on websites. It's definitely not bad food or bad ramen, but I'd say it is average and one should not come here expecting much more than that. The egg was overcooked. The noodles lacked bite (e.g. a little overcooked). Soup was not bad. Might try it again some day, but it was not a memorable experience.

Wow. I generally don't call into question my own taste in food, but after reading so many one star reviews... well, let's just say I'm feeling a little insecure. I've eaten here a couple times and had the pork ramen both times, both on chilly days that called for a big, heaping bowl of soupy goodness. And both times, I thought it was good. Not mind blowing, certainly not inexpensive (although it IS an enormous serving), but good and warming. True, it is pretty salty and it does have it's fair share of scallions, but the veggies taste great and the pork is tasty. My biggest complaints are the price and the size. It's too big and too expensive for what it is, but on a cold day, sometimes it hits the spot.

It's Mid May. It's STILL cold in Chicago. Just an excuse to have more soup. Pretty decently flavored noodles, done al dente. The soy sauce based soup flavor I chose isn't complex at all, so don't expect it to be a tiny Tokyo mom and pop joint in Macy's. But it'll suffice for downtown Chicago especially if you're trying to get a quick fix during your lunch hour. Pork was decent, veggies pretty standard. Swift, helpful service.

It seems like someone was so desperate in trying to figure out how Takashi made his noodles, that they flew to Japan and stole Takashi's noodles as he was eating. That person then decided to fly back to Chicago and tried to replicate it. It tastes as if it went through an American-Japanese think tank, and the result is a rather filtered, American interpretation of that bowl of noodles Takashi had that day. I bet Takashi didn't even get to sit down before he noticed his bowl of ramen was missing. Poor Takashi =(

Not gonna lie, this ramen becomes something I crave on a gray, dreary day. It's hot, comforting, and filling. It's pricey for my usual lunch fare (over $10 even without a drink), but I allow it. Tucked away on the 7th floor of the Macy's food court, it (along with Frontera Fresco) can pack quite a line. Go a little bit before noon or a little after one to avoid the lines. They can be crazy long, and this can take a bit longer than the usual food court fare. I have done the special where you can get a half-order of the potstickers or spring rolls in addition to your ramen which is a good deal, but I have found that I can't hardly eat all of that food. My order? Miso ramen, all day long. Seriously. The braised pork in the savory broth with the noodles and corn...it just gets me. And you eat the real ramen when you want your lunch to get you, right?

Didn't realize my ramen would come with a show. I ordered the chicken ramen with a half order of pot stickers. The pot stickers were okay. The ramen came with large pieces of chicken breast and bok choy. Both were tasty. I found the noodles to have a little firmness to them which was good. Not mushy. At first I was really digging it, but then after having more broth, I found it to be way too salty for my liking. Oh...as for the show.....the kitchen was in the weeds, and a manager stepped in to replace one of the cooks. The cook went off on the manager in front of a line of customers. Drama. Anyhoo, the food court employees were super friendly and were offering refills on drinks for people. I went through some large glasses of water trying to take the salt out of my tongue. Not sure if its worth coming back for the price.

So happy to have a ramen spot downtown! I had no idea this place existed until recently, it's located on the 7th floor of Macy's in the food court. Noodles by Takashi is a great spot for lunch if you're doing some shopping on state street. I ordered the Miso Ramen which was loaded with lots of noodles & accompanied by traditional ramen ingredients (chasu aka pork, seaweed, corn, sprouts, bamboo shoots, etc.) The broth is pretty flavorful & the portions are pretty big as well, though I think they could have added more broth. There are also other sides that you can order like potstickers & tofu salad. The tofu salad was so-so..it was just chopped tofu topped with greens & veggies. Coming from LA where there are plenty of popular ramen spots (Daikokuya, Shin Sen Gumi, etc.) I have definitely had better tasting ramen, but because of Takashi's location I'll probably still come back here because it's hard to find decent ramen places in Chicago! Service is pretty friendly and the wait time isn't too bad, but the dining area in the food court definitely needs to be taken better care of because there were alot of dirty tables.

Eh. Takashi Yagihashi = moderately tasty + overpriced. Soda + bowl of ramen in broth with a couple slices of pork = $12? I probably won't come back for this. The food was alright, with a reasonably tasty broth, and some relatively al dente noodles. The bowl is well garnished, with some delicately sliced radishes, scallions and a bunch of bamboo shoots. Still, for $12 I could almost get two bowls of pho, each of which would beat the hell out of this meal.

I usually lower the standard when I go to Japanese restaurant in foreign countries. Though this Ramen shop is not quite up to the Japanese local standard particularly the quality of noodle, the rest is more than acceptable as Japanese. The broth is authentic and that should be reason that I felt the quality is high. I went this place twice in a week. I had Shoyu and Miso. Both were good.

It was a foggy and cool day in Chicago. After spending several hours shopping in Macy's. We decided to check out their food court. One of my friend heard good things about Noodles by Takashi. So we decided to give it a try. All four of us thoroughly enjoyed the Shio Ramen, ramen noodles in soy-miso broth with pork. The broth was tasty and perfectly seasoned. We definitely would go back again for a quick lunch, when we are back in town.

I've never really had true Ramen before I came here. I mean, I lived off Ramen Noodles in College and law school, but that doesn't really count. The line was pretty long, but don't worry, it moves quickly. I had the Chicken Ramen, and my gf had the Miso Ramen. Both come in huge bowls with a good amount of meat. The broths are delicious with fresh cut green onions and seaweed. It was about $9 a piece for a bowl of soup, but the bowls are really huge and very filing.

--- Executive Summary --- For ~$17 (noodle combo + drink) I expect more. - Bland miso ramen with broth that is not nearly thick enough - Three tiny gyoza that taste like they came out of the freezer section - Slow service (not sure how given they had like 8 people working behind the counter) - Small amount of noodles --- Food --- After traveling around Japan this summer I had some truly amazing ramen experiences (the Fujiyama GoGo chain's Kanazawa location of all places was by far the best). Ramen, miso ramen in particular, is supposed to be very rich and very thick. Your lips are supposed to stick after the meal because of how rich it was. My lips did not stick, and the broth was thin. The pork was just an average serving and also somewhat bland and lacking that deep char sui flavor you expect. Veggies were plentiful and they were more than happy to toss in the tea egg and some large pieces of nori for no charge when I asked (make sure you ask--ramen without the tea egg is blasphemy). I also asked for the togarashi pepper flakes, but they only had what looked like straight out of the jar chili sauce--that might work for pho, but this is ramen. Seriously. The three tiny gyoza that came with it as part of the combo were not worth it and did not add anything to the meal. --- Service --- There appeared to be two main cooks, and then four or so people in the front of the "kitchen" finishing prep and putting ready orders on the counter. I don't know why but it took a good few minutes for someone to come over and ring me up when I went to place my order and the place was nearly deserted when I was there (after peak lunch hours). I will say there was a very nice lady (not sure if she was more a part of management of the general food court or this place in particular) who helped grab me some chopsticks and had them give me some extra condiments. That was a nice bit of extra service that I wasn't expecting and appreciated. --- Price --- I'm sorry, but this meal should cost no more than $10 including a drink and tax. The combo itself was like $12, and the green tea bottled drink I had was around $3. With tax everything came to around $17 which is insane. If they can offer cheap ramen of higher quality in NYC and LA of all places, there is zero excuse for this other than being a tourist money grab. --- Final Thoughts --- The Chicago Loop area is in desperate need of a REAL ramen joint and Noodles by Takashi is definitely not it. Unfortunately, neither is his other restaurant near the Merchandise Mart, Slurping Turtle (their tonkatsu ramen is somewhat decent but even more overpriced). Another poster summed it up nicely when they said that Takashi has mastered the art of charging insane prices for what is considered street food in other parts of the world. I can't fault him from a business perspective if it is working for him, but as a foodie, and one who loves Japanese street food above most things, this fails my test big time. Ramen should not be this expensive, not even top-end ramen, which this was most certainly not. I will continue my hunt for a regular ramen spot near my office that passes the quality/price test although I'm not hopeful that I'll ever find one (Cocoro up in River North was great and I was a regular, but am now too far away).

A bowl of ramen in vegetable soup with tofu sounds quite good! It was good but not as good as everyone makes it out to be - maybe I'm just spoilt because I lived in Singapore and have had ramen noodles off the street vendors there!