Strings Ramen Shop Lakeview

The service was friendly and attentive, with our server offering great recommendations based on our preferences. Plus, the prices are reasonable for the quality and portion sizes. String's Ramen Shop has quickly become one of my favorite spots in Lakeview. Whether you're a ramen aficionado or just looking to try something new, this place is sure to satisfy your cravings! Highly recommended!

Once my go-to lunch spot for over two years, has sadly lost its magic. Recently, I’ve noticed the broth (soy sauce, curry, and miso) has become watery, and the noodles are far too soft. The service is still fantastic, and I truly appreciate the staff, but as a Japanese person who has loved ramen since childhood, I find the watery broth and soggy noodles disappointing. This isn’t what we’d call ramen. I love this place and sincerely hope it can return to the high standards it once had. Addendum April 2025 I visited again and ordered the soy ramen lunch special. It was much better than when I wrote my original review. The pork loin chashu was beautifully done—the flavor, texture, and presentation were all excellent. The noodle-to-soup ratio was perfect, and the noodles had just the right texture—not soggy at all. Overall, it was a really satisfying bowl. I’ll definitely keep coming back.

I tried the gyoza here as a takeout snack, just to sample it, but unfortunately it didn’t hit the mark. It came pre-drenched in soy sauce, which left the wrapper soggy and eliminated any chance of crispiness. That said, the ramen menu looks a lot more promising—especially the spicy options. I’m tempted to come back and try the Level 4 ramen before deciding whether I’m brave enough to tackle their Level 5 challenge. If you can finish it in 20 minutes, you get the meal free, plus a $50 gift card and a t-shirt. Definitely a fun gimmick that adds some personality to the place.

Craving something warm and satisfying? This ramen spot delivers. The broth is rich and flavorful, noodles perfectly chewy, and toppings fresh and generous. It’s great for a quick meal with cozy vibes and fast service.

I got there just before close. They took my order and got it ready in good time. It was excellent. Of spice levels 1 through 5, I ordered level 4. Spicy as heck. Don't mess with this if you can't handle spicy foods. If you can, by all means give this a shot. Find a level that's good for you and get your order in. I enjoyed my meal at Strings.

Everything we got was sooo good omgsh definitely recommend! Most tender pork belly I've had in ramen, lots of flavor and noodles. Gyoza was also delicious! I will say we both didn't want the clams that came in our ramen so we planned to just eat around those or take them out, but neither of us saw them in our ramen so it wasn't an issue.

i went here around a week ago and all the staff were amazing. they put on such amazing groovy music and danced. the food was also amazing, i got tontoksu premium . highly recommend !!!

I’m sad I’ve never even been inside this restaurant BUT I have ordered takeout from them times upon times and I am always going back. Strings Ramen is at the top of all my delivery apps 🤣 Real talk though - they have the best ramen around. And what’s BEST is you can order sides of their broth. THEIR BROTH IS THE BEST! It’s so good that I drink a cup a day at work to keep me warm in the winter. Yum. One day I’ll actually step foot in here!

There may be better ramen restaurants in Chicago but I'm not taking that chance. Strings is my go to pre-marathon carb loading place. No matter what location, Strings is consistent in quality and quantity. Can't go wrong with colorful umbrella lighting and service with a smile either. Educational menu and spicy food challenges, too!

Leaving two stars for a few reasons. I ordered vegetarian ramen via Uber eats. The food was well wrapped & still warm when it arrived. Great. When I opened the bowl, the tofu had been severely over cooked and was very suspicious... I tried it and it was a super weird texture and did not taste good. I cook tofu frequently and I feel as if this was old tofu that was reheated. Also, there was a congealed substance floating around... I thought it was kimchi, but it's quite fatty. Overall, the broth was good but the toppings were lackluster and disappointing. Perhaps it was too late in the evening for quality control. I did not eat my meal and feel as if though it was a waste of $19.

My bf and I came here for dinner before a show in the area and were looking forward to a warm bowl of ramen. He ordered the pork and clam ramen and I got the Hell Ramen Level One with a side of the egg. The egg was perfectly cooked and so flavorful. The ramen had a generous amount of noodles and the soup had a nice numbing spice to it. The unfortunate part of the meal was that my bf got food poisoning from the seafood in his ramen and ended up throwing up in the middle of the night. Please make sure your seafood is fresh. This is the main reason for the low rating. In terms of service, they were very prompt and efficient. The cups for water were tiny and required refilling a few times during the meal. The inside of the restaurant was pretty warm as well. The restaurant felt tight but cozy. We came around 5:30 pm and were seated right away. It did get busier later in the night and people had to wait 20-30 minutes for their tables so I would recommend making a reservati

Everything was GREAT! Stopped by before a show & we loved it, too far we live far away from the city... otherwise we would be there often. Ramen was great, staff was extremely friendly & food came out FAST! Edamame was very salty, but not the biggest deal at all. Thank you for an amazing meal :)

Ramen was just not good. We went here because of the rave reviews and had high expectations, but the broth was watery and overall lacking in flavor. Mushrooms were undercooked, broth was lukewarm, and I had several whole cloves of uncooked garlic in my broth. Service was good and it's a cute spot but I'd go elsewhere if you're craving ramen.

It was raining all day here in Chicago today so it was a perfect day to have ramen! This place is so small but it is very busy. You scan the QR code to get yourself on the waiting list and they alert you when the table is ready. We waited about 30 mins The parking is horrible so just take Uber/Lyft. All the ramen we ordered were good and the portions were good. The service was ok

Small cozy ramen shop that does the job. Tonkotsu: Get! This one had an amazingly rich broth that was a tad top oily/fatty for me. It was still tasty but my preference is a little bit cleaner for this. The noodles were great with a good bite and firmness to it. The pork belly was a big chunk of meat which I wasn't used to but meh it did the job. It's like $18 bucks though so it's definitely not that casual Service was super attentive and friendly and as a quick ramen stop... I was in and out in like 15 minutes. There's not that many tables or space though so it can get super crowded during meal times. At 2pm though it was quite easy and empty. Food: 7/10 Service: 8/10 Atmosphere: 5/10 Value: 6/10

Cute little place with very personalized service. Very kid friendly. The bathroom is tiny. The portions are normal size so you can actually finish if you're hungry. My miso loving daughter got the miso turkey broth and felt like it wasn't miso enough, so did not prefer it. And the standard Ramen was delicious and wasn't spicy. Next time I'll kick it up to a hot level since I love spice. Fantastic and will definitely be going back.

By far my favorite ramen in Lakeview, it's been solid every time I've been here both for dinner and lunch. It's nothing special inside but it's nice enough. Service has been great every time, even when it's been really busy. The tonkatsu clam and pork ramen is great, something special that you don't really see at other places. I'm not sure this is worth a special trip from outside the area, but really really solid if you're in the neighborhood.

Strings serves up a solid bowl of ramen! I paid a solo visit on a weekday evening and waited for about 30 minutes before being seated. The place is small and packed, so it's more of an eat-and-leave establishment. Staff was efficient but not overly personable as it was extremely busy. I ordered the Tonkotsu ramen, which was so flavorful! The noodles were perfectly cooked and the broth was incredibly rich. The pork was melt-in-your-mouth tender and the marinaded egg was perfectly soft boiled. Overall, great quality at a fair price- will definitely be back!

I told myself that I would stop ordering spicy ramen. I love spicy food, but I have to start trying other things. I saw a lot a lot of pictures with the Hell Ramen, so I got suckered into ordering the Level 1. There was only one other part when I arrived for a midweek lunch. Our server was very welcoming. She sat me down right away and got my ramen out quickly. As for the ramen, the broth was very delicious. The Level 1 did pack some heat and I enjoyed the pork rinds that they added to this dish. It came with bean sprouts, woodear mushrooms, spicy pickles, spicy ground pork & baby clams, green onions, shredded chili strings and sesame seeds. My only complaint is the noodles themselves. Let's just say they definitely tell it all in the actual name of this place. They were strings. Very thin. Although I didn't enjoy the ramen, I've definitely had better and not sure if I'd come back here anytime soon.

Love their lunch deal!! Potstickers, ramen and a soda all for 15$. The ramen is authentic and delicious. The space is small but the service is great!

Tried Strings Ramen for the first time and enjoyed the maze soba with pork belly. My entree was saltier than I would have liked but flavorful and the onsen tamago was perfectly prepared. The shoyu ramen was also flavorful and seemed less heavy than the maze soba.

The service was amazing , the ramen was tasty too! And because we went on 12/24 eve, we got seated real quick ! Will Go back again Estela was so so cute! She was warm and suggested the right things in the order for us!

Was looking for lunch and stumbled upon this little hole in the wall; It's super tiny inside. Ramen menu is definitely unique and I went out of my classic comfort zone and tried their "hell fire ramen." It's very Americanized but they're not kidding on the spice level. Noodles are solid and the broth has a unique blend of flavors. I am of the opinion chashu is the best ramen topping so I got this pork belly on the menu. I was greeted with this massic slab which, while difficult to eat was pretty damn good. Honestly, my only complaint was the topping selection for this bowl. If I come back, probably just getting some spicy miso. Very good, just unremarkable. May stop in again if I'm off Belmont in the future.

Ramen was okay but then I found a half white and half brown colored curly strand of hair in my food today. Luckily Grubhub was able to refund me!

Wonderful experience. Courteous and kind service by our server Marvin. We ordered the hells ramen level 2 and pork belly tonkatsu ramen which were equally delicious:) He Kept checking in on us to make sure we were happy with our food and that the experience was great! The restaurant was packed with patrons and we can see the reason why!

The best ramen I have had in Chicago. Delicious broth and quality toppings and good prices.

Finally tried this Lakeview gem, and it was worth the wait!! I appreciate all of the fun ramen variations on the menu. The curry ramen was perfectly executed, and I really enjoyed my hellfire ramen (added an egg). I found the protein options unexpected (pork and clam was the baseline... a new combo for me!!), but it turned out really well! I enjoyed both the flavors and textures. I will definitely keep an eye on the specials when I return in the future. I also tried the ume cider - I enjoyed the tart flavor but it was overall too sugary for me. Online ordering was super easy, and the food was ready on time!! A little pricier for the area, but overall I found it to be worth it.

I was looking for a place to grab a quick bite to eat before going to the Vic Theater. I saw that there was Ramen and thought "what the heck", I like Ramen. This place was pretty good and seemed authentic. I started with the gyoza which was swimming in a spicy sauce. I wish they would have told me this, but either way, it was very good. They were the pork version which I would be happy to get next time. I kept it simple by going with the plain ramen. Broth of your choice, fresh noodles, and scallions. I might have gone a little TOO simple as I was hoping for more spice. I probably could have gotten some extra stuff, but thought I would just get a move on and eat. It seemed to have grown on me. Noodles were excellent. Nice portion too! The service was fine, but the dine in was a bit on a smaller side. They also had high top tables so I do not think its really handicapped accessible. It seems like most people got carryout here. Either way, I thought it was good and will stop by again when I go to a concert. Its a nice change from the (awesome) chains in the area and is a little more "upscale", but still casual for the area!

We have been wanting to come to Strings Ramen for sometime. On a Sunday, we decided to come here. So glad we did! Fortunately, we got seated quickly. As many customers flock here and we see a line building up around the entrance. I ordered the Miso Vegan / Vegetarian ramen. It came with The seaweed soy sauce broth, trio miso paste, egg white noodles, bean sprouts, bamboo, and sweet corn, green onion and tofu. I felt a five star chef prepared the ramen for me. It tasted amazing. The ramen came with a large piece of seaweed sheet. I savored every morsel. I did not want it to end. Joseph ordered the Maze Soba Kuro Buta (Berkshire Pork). He said he liked it. We did not have to wait long for our food. It came pretty fast. While waiting for our food, I noticed the restaurant looked and felt cozy. Located in Lakeview, take the Red, Brown or Purple lines to Belmont. Or take the 77 bus to Belmont. Come to Strings Ramen. Bring friends, family or a date.

Went there at 7:45 on a Monday night and was told that they were out of noodles. Let me repeat that: the ramen place was OUT OF NOODLES.

Strings has been one of my fav Asian places to get ramen/dumplings at for a while now. Yesterday we went and got the best host to serve us with such kindness and humour. The ambiance was amazing and very quiet and a great place to catch up with friends. The food as usual was amazing, my friends got the hell ramen, while I got the maze soba and pork gyoza. All of which were amazing and we couldn't stop slurping on the noodles! Strongly recommend if someone is craving good ramen and Asian food!

What's better on a chilly, wet night with the thermometer hovering in the low 30's than a steaming bowl of spicy Ramen? I can't think of anything better than that! Here's the rub; there are so many highly rated Ramen Houses within a 3 mile radius of our condo, how do you pick one. I suggested to my wife to flip a coin. She 86'ed that stupid idea, pronto. She did "the work" on YELP, Chicago Eater and Infatuation and somehow her Algebraic equation came up with Strings Ramen on Belmont Ave. in Lakeview. So off we dashed at 8:30 p.m. It wasn't so crowded at this late hour, but there were a few college students still mulling around, and I'm assuming they were from DePaul. We got seated, scanned their QR code for the menu and jumped right in. We both ordered a bowl of their Tonkotsu ramen which is creamy pork bone stock, with black mayu oil, garlic oil, crushed garlic, sesame seeds, scallions and menma all complimenting their lovely thin noodles. I added a beautiful slab of pork belly to my bowl and my wife had it hers with a cut of pork loin. They were both delicious. But then, after we added a few spoons of their chili oil to each bowl, that extra heat warmed us down to our souls. It was the perfect dinner on this perfect (soon to be winter) night. All we needed was some snow to make this a Hollywood Movie dinner.

This ramen gave me an existential crisis. I really thought I could handle spicy, but sheeeeesh, the hell ramen sure does serves its name, even after it digested and parted with my body. I love spicy food, but the level one made me feel like I've reached menopause. I had to take off layers of clothing because I was getting hot flashes. I started regretting being lactose intolerant because I feigned for milk to coat my GI track. Numerous times did my friends ask me if I was okay - numerous times did I actually ask myself if I was okay. I even asked the waitress to clarify if level one was what I intentionally ordered. There is just NO way that there were other levels beyond number one that are even hotter. I also questioned my existence, if the ramen did indeed, bring me to hell. Would I get it again? Absolutely.

I gotta admit, I only came here bc Wasabi was closed today--and it definitely was not Wasabi. The Tonkotsu broth wasn't bad; it was fatty and flavorful, definitely had some depth--but it just wasn't Wasabi-grade good. The server was fast and friendly, it's really just the quality of the bowl. The pork belly had an inconsistent texture, and was just sliced too thickly. In Japan, the chashu is usually sliced thinly if it's not a kakuni (block of pork belly). I just had a difficult time chewing through the chunk. The toppings were great, the bamboo shoots, kikurage, and soft boiled ajitama were spot on. The overall bowl just had much to be desired.

I first went to a different Strings location and my ballsy self had ramen that was (gasp!) too hot for me. Then I moved away for a while and never thought about Strings again... Until today. I was in the neighborhood looking for a place to eat dinner and saw there was a Strings nearby. I decided to pop in and try it again. I got the Hell Ramen but only went for the Level 1 because I still had PTSD from several years ago. The Level 1 was mild so the guy brought me a side of chili oil to boost the heat up a notch. OMG, the chili oil is delicious! The ramen was nice. Good amount of ingredients and soft, thin noodles. I added an egg because it's not a complete bowl to me without one. Yes! The egg is fabulous. Nicely seasoned with an amber-golden transparent yolk inside. Perfection! I ordered a tonkatsu with kurobota pork belly to bring back to the husb. All in all, I'm glad I tried it again. They have a large list of ramen styles and this location is BYOB so I'll probably be back if I'm in the area again.

Randomly found this Ramen shop while walking around earlier in the day. Looked promising with a spicy dish called Hell Ramen. Went in for dinner, it was a small but popular shop. We were seated right away and the server was super nice, and told us all about the menu. We had the baby octopus salad, chicken gyoza, and hell ramen (all pictured). Everything was delicious and arrived quickly. The hell ramen comes in 3 different spice levels - enough to satisfy anyone's taste. For dessert we got the Sakura and Sasa Dango mochi. Both were clearly homemade and nice and soft, great flavor. Glad we found this restaurant - very fitting after the mochi donuts we had for breakfast.

Best ramen in Chicago! They have options for vegan and vegetarians. Very flavorful and delicious broths!

I got the Tonkatsu with kuro bata. The ramen and broth itself was not bad, but the pork belly I think could have been better. Not as tender as I would like. The egg was spot on though! All in all, just kind of mid. Not the best or worst I've ever had

Good meal overall! We started with the veggie gyoza which were very tasty and had a nice sweet soy based sauce that complemented the gyoza very well. I had the tonkatsu ramen which was good but not amazing. It was also my first time having ramen so maybe I set my expectations too high and have nothing to compare it to. The service was great and the space is small and cozy. The ramen felt nice and warming in a cold winter day. I would return and try the miso based ramen next time.

The space itself is super tiny but the food is delicious. I had the Shoyu Prime and it was so flavorful! The portions are very good. I usually don't get to finish the entire bowl of ramen but I drank every drop of soup. It's also BYOB, next time I'll have to bring a bottle of Soju or sake to pair with my ramen. I highly recommend!

Cute little spot with friendly staff. The gyoza was fantastic, definitely a must. The pork belly in the ramen was thick, tender, and super flavorful. The broth and other components were solid.

Have heard so many good things about strings and it definitely lived up to the hype. The meat was so tender, and everything about the noodles and broth were so flavorful! The soup wasn't that spicy since I ordered no spice, and overall it was exactly what I needed on a cold day. The service was really good and the people were really helpful in figuring out what to order. Definitely recommend strings, and I'll come back soon! For the price point, I think it's one of the best cheaper ramen places I've ever been to.

I was finally able to try the Shoyu Prime Ramen that comes with filet mignon and it DID NOT DISAPPOINT @midwestmunching on instagram They have multiple locations across Chicago, new York (east village), and Madison Wisconsin. This spot is easy to park at (meters around) or easily accessible by the Belmont station It was so good I was truly thinking I could eat it everyday. Nice and light, comes with medium rare filet mignon, poached egg, bamboo, and scallions all in a light and umami Shoyu broth. I ordered the noodles chewier as usual NEW APPETIZER ALERT! baby octopus salad that comes with a seaweed salad. The octopus is marinated in a sweet soy, nice and crunchy & great balance of flavors (just like it would be in Japan) TONKOTSU PREMIUM, this is their "ultimate bowl" as @stringsramen would say. Lots of toppings: pork cubes, tenderloin, spicy ground pork, little clams, filet mignon, bean sprouts, marinated soft egg . This is my usual order in ramen spots but theirs is really different with a slightly sweeter broth + mix of meats & seafood. Don't forget, the tonkotsu also comes with a douban sauce 豆瓣醬 and black bean sauce. Making it extra tasty with more depth beyond the pork bones. You can always add their hell chill sauce containing Tian Jing, Szechuan and Thai Chilis Last but not least, you need a refreshing drink! I wanted to try their Japanese Cider. Comes in both a plum wine flavor and yuzu flavor. This comes in a can, like a lightly sweet soda (.. a tenth sweet vs cream soda/sprite) without alcohol. The yuzu flavor was Bomb you have to try it. I also usually order their dessert, the sasa dango. A rice cake filled with red bean paste, wrapped in bamboo leaves. My favorite! I was just super full

Great little spot for ramen. Interior decor is warm and lovely. Service was fast and food was delicious. Prices seemed reasonable. Really happy about this ramen spot in the neighborhood. Chicken gyoza were pretty outstanding I enjoyed my Shoyu with Kuro Buta ramen bowl Edamame was fine, could have had more flavorful seasoning I thought Spicy cat rice donburi was really tasty and the iwanori seaweed seasoning was unique and a smart add to that dish

While i don't eat Ramen often and when i do it's always been at another establishment. Came here with friends and it was delicious! Space is small and just a good vibe for dinner. Service was friendly and efficient. I had the Miso Turkey. It was flavorful and while it was dark meat Turkey, it was tender. Edamame is salted and spiced just right, served warm. Chicken gyoza were steamed perfectly and not soggy.

This place has such a nice moody atmosphere. Wait staff was very pleasant and fast. We got in, ordered and finished eating all within half an hour. The ramen was superb. The Shoyu was super rich and flavorful. The tonkatsu ramen was very generous with the pork belly - it was a very thick cut of meat. The broth was more soy sauce than cream but was still really good. Both were generous portions for the price. Will definitely be back!

Great ramen. Love that their hell ramen even at a level four is actually tasty and not just spice. Hit the spot perfectly in a cold and snowy Chicago day

Great little spot in Lakeview! Went to try Strings Ramen on a Wednesday at 4pm and they were pretty busy. The entire shop was full, so I had high expectations! We ordered the Tonkatsu with Kuro Buta Pork Belly Ramen and the Spicy Cat Rice. The Spicy Cat Rice was delicious! Tons of tuna and the rice to tuna proportion was perfect. The sauce that the tuna was tossed in was very tasty! Although it wasn't really spicy imo. My sister had the ramen which had mushrooms, bamboo shoots, green onion, half an egg, sheet of nori, and the pork belly. She mentioned the ramen broth could have used more flavor, and that we've tried better ramen in Chicago. The one thick slice of pork belly was good, but was hard to eat. There is a bathroom in the back of the shop which you have to pass through the kitchen/stock area and it was extremely tiny and a bit dirty. Service was good and the workers were making sure we were doing alright! Prices here are comparable to other typical ramen shops in Chicago. I would definitely come back for the Spicy Cat Rice bowl!

I just love strings ramen, ugh! Service is always great and the broth here is so rich, creamy and perfect. Noodles are great texture and the variety of ramen options is solid

Tried the premium bowl with heat level two and a side of hell sauce. Absolutely delicious with deep rich flavors and the hell sauce is liquid crack (if I knew what crack was like). Went to the hip and fun Belmont location and i totally recommend!

We are a frequent visitors to Strings Ramen. This was probably our 15th time here. This place is always busy and hard to get a table with out a wait. We ordered two Ramens Vegetarian Hell Ramen and Kinoke Ramen. They never disappointed us and Ramen was always great and flavorful. The portions also very big and come with lots of items in it. If it's any other restaurant I would have given a 4 stars due to Flies and Tables being uncomfortable to sit but not Strings. They are the best Ramen we ever tried and I am highly doubtful if we ever find a better one. Needless to say, We will be back.

If you follow my saga, you'd know my 8 year old never lets me get Ramen. It's always sushi for her. Well this time she wasn't available to order for herself so I got her the Tonkotsu Ramen. And? She loves it!!! Nice job! She loves the seaweed salad too. Now we can get Strings even more.

I have been to strings many times and they never disappoint! The noodles are super fresh and the broth/ingredients in my go-to dish (the Tonkotsu with Kuro Buta pork belly) is always delicious. On my latest visit here my partner got the Hell Ramen Level 2 vegetarian version, and it was probably the best vegetable based ramen broth I've ever tasted. We also ordered the Sakura Mochi for dessert which was fine but nothing to write home about. However, I can't recommend the ramen here enough!! It's definitely my favorite ramen place in the city so far.

I've been here a few times now, but came today to introduce a friend to real ramen. I got the hell ramen level 1, I swear it was hotter than usual but not a problem for me. I also got a melon cream soda to help tap down the spice, always a tasty addition. My friend got, and loved, the tonkatsu ramen with pork loin. The staff are great here, always helpful and friendly. It's my first visit post-covid and everyone had masks and gloves and the place was nice and clean, even the bathroom. The only reason its not a 5 star visit (it usually is) is the fact that they didn't have hot tea or the manju I wanted for dessert. For me, this place is top notch ramen done right with friendly and fast service. If you've never had real ramen I encourage you to start here so you know what quality your looking for, this place is the benchmark.

The best ramen in Chicago (personal opinion)! The broth is rich in flavor. The service is great and super quick. The space is small but feels personal.

FABULOUS. Tonkotsu. Tonkotsu. You don't know what to try? It's the tonkotsu! Also get extra quail egg, so good. If you don't eat pork, I am truly sorry about that.

So far Strings Ramen has been my favorite ramen spot in Chicago. I went to the Lakeview location once and I also got them delivered! I got the seasonal cheesy ramen, with pork belly, crispy onions and toasted garlic. My boyfriend got the hell ramen 3, and he is a big spice lover and wanted to take it up a notch so he got a side if the hell sauce level 4, which was definitely packing some heat. The cheese in the cheesy ramen made the noodles so creamy and the broth was rich and delicious. I'll be sad when they take it off the menu. Additionally, I like how they give you a cup when you order a side. 10/10!