Strings Ramen Shop

"If you text your friend from Chicago asking about Strings Ramen, they’ll probably sigh and share a fond memory of eating spicy ramen during the dead of winter back in 2015. This chain’s East Village location opened up just a few weeks before restaurants had to close down, and they’re back open for takeout and delivery online." - hannah albertine

"All three Chicago locations of Strings Ramen (Chinatown, Lakeview, and Hyde Park) make their own straight, square-cut noodles. They’re a little on the thicker side, and have a very strong, firm bite. But, aside from their noodles, what sets Strings apart from the other places on this list is a large ramen selection. They have tonkotsu, chicken, and turkey based miso, seaweed based shoyu, as well as some vegetarian and vegan options. And if you’re a thrill-seeking spice lover, then you can try their Hell Ramen: a fiery bowl packed with numbing spice, scorpion pepper, and ghost pepper that requires a signed waiver before consumption. If you finish the entire bowl in 20 minutes, you’ll get a $50 gift card and a free t-shirt that doubles as a rag for your sweaty face. " - john ringor

"The best place for ramen in Chinatown. They serve four different types of broth (shoyu, miso, shio, and tonkotsu), and the tonkotsu super premium (with pork belly, loin, shoulder, beef tongue, clams, and duck) is the best thing on the menu. If you like things extra spicy, the “Hell Ramen” has five different spice levels, the highest of which is hot enough to warrant an “eat this and get a T-shirt” challenge." - adrian kane, john ringor

"Noodles are a vital component of the best ramen and few take it more seriously than this Chinatown shop, which makes its own noodles daily, using a Japanese machine to impart a firm and chewy texture. There are five different broths available, and the brave diners who finish bowls of the level five “Hell Ramen” are rewarded with a free bowl, a T-shirt, and a gift card. The fiery soup is packed with Tianjing chili, Sichuan chili bean sauce, Thai chili, pequin chili, ghost peppers, and scorpion peppers. Additional Chicago locations are in Hyde Park and Lakeview where the company is moving to a larger location. Additionally, Strings operates a West Loop location call Gyuro. It specializes in gyokotsu." - Naomi Waxman

"Strings is one of our favorite ramen spots, and under normal circumstances doesn’t do delivery or takeout. But nothing’s “normal” anymore, so now you can get the delicious ramen delivered to you. There are four different types of broth (shoyu, miso, shio, and tonkotsu) with fantastic hand-pulled noodles, and a bowl is around $15." - adrian kane