Wax Vinyl Bar and Ramen Shop

I LOVE this place! The music is always amazing. I haven’t had all of the food but I and tell you for sure that the wings and shrimp are delicious! The bar is so comfortable, you just don’t want to leave. They serve the highest quality food so it is more expensive than J & J, but that’s one of the things I love about them. Also, you really never know who might pop up at the bar! I went one time and met the Mayor of Chicago. Another time and met Chuck D! They are a true gem in the Chi! I recommend you check them out!

Was visiting Chicago (my home town) a few months ago and stopped by because I heard it was a great spot for music, food and cocktails. Did not disappoint!!! Everything was top notch. Especially the atmosphere and the DJ. The fried rice was delicious! For good vibes, food, drinks, fun and great music this is the spot to hit!

I’ve wanted 2 check this place out 4 a while, having tried once B4 only 2 find it was 1 of their closed nights. Finally made it, just 4 drinks, after a bomb Yahzarah concert at City Winery. Simply opening the door was the start of a great experience. The place is beautiful. Looks good, smells good & the sounds were perfect. No matter the genre the live DJ was playing, the selection was on point and they crossed several genres while we were there. Loud enough 2 grooves 2. Quiet enough 2 still have a civil conversation without screaming over each other. Vibe perfection. I started off drinking bourbon straight & was pleased with the selection. Then, after watching the bartenders craft a few cocktails, I had a sip of my friend’s drink. It was bomb and prompted me 2 order my own. That turned N2 us ordering food, of course. I got the vegan-friendly egg rolls filled with greens. Could’ve used more seasoning but will still good. My friend had a mixed tempura something (This is a late, procrastination-fueled review. It’s been a few weeks) that she really enjoyed. The good vibes stayed high. A few of us danced a bit. The service was attentive and on point all night. & the music??? It’s all about the music & their selection made it worth thee stay alone. So pleased that that was the after concert suggestion. Absolutely looking 4ward 2 going back soon. Thank U 2 owners & staff of Wax 4 elevating an already great night even more.

This is the most unique place to blend my love of good drinks, cool vibes and light bites. The owners pay particular detail to keeping the right size crowd and introducing folks to all genres of music on the turntables!! Great for after work!!

Can you say, A VIBE!!! A perfect night out spot to grab a drink! The wings were 🔥 too!! I haven’t seen a DJ use real vinyl in forever.. this little spot is like a modern day vibe from 20 years ago! The service was excellent!

WOW. This place is just AMAZING. The food is healthy and flavorful and delicious (get the Soul Rolls and the watermelon poke bowl to start…you’re welcome. 😆). The ramen was spicy and so warming on a freezing night! The best part? An amazing live DJ while you are eating!! I hope they open one of these in my home town soon….everyone needs this!

Wax Vinyl Bar and Ramen Shop nails it—perfect vibes, outstanding service, and next-level food. The ramen was flavorful and comforting, and the music fit the night perfectly. Whether you're there for the records, the drinks, or the food, it's an experience you won’t forget. Can’t wait to go back!

The Ramen is so flavorful! The array of beers stole my heart as well. I've been here 3 times, and the DJ is always super dope! The museum of vinyl records is highly impressive.

This felt like coming home. My wife and I took in all the details of the space first. Very nice ambiance and amazing lighting concepts. Not many places you can go to see people spinning actual wax anymore. The music was on point. That GOOD house music. That was dope. Not too loud so we were able to speak to each other easily though we could see that they could bang it out if they wanted. The waitstaff was kind and attentive. We don't really like fake and phony service. We prefer to connect with real people. We had the wings. Good flavor and texture profile. They were ample too. More than we could eat sharing. I appreciate a whole wing too. I need that little nib piece. That's the best part. The sauce was great but in the sauce there were ingredients you might miss or take for granted. There were these small bites of pineapple that reminded me of something my mom used to do. I feel like there maybe was some ginger infused in them. Definitely a flavor burst though. And the cocktails! #6 was a great cocktail. That allspice dram is a rare treat. We love a good cocktail bar and this didn't disappoint. I like the simplicity of the names in theme with the wax bar concept. I like to sit at the bar so I can see how a place operates. This is a good bar program. Efficient and effective. I realize now that I didn't pay much attention to the prices. That means it must have been in line with what I expect to pay at a place like this. This is an adult establishment yet still reasonable. I appreciated that.

Great concept with a great blend of music, drinks and Ramen. I've been quite a few times to never be disappointed. Watching the deejays spin on that rotary mixer is a testimony to true skill and artistry. The owners Lee and Gina are awesome, and have been in the place everytime I've been digging in. There have been celebrity sightings each time I've been, and curious who I will run into next time. Epic memories made, I can wait to get back.

What an incredible time!!! Real DJs that can spin with Vinyl! I haven't seen Steve Miggedy Maestro in years! If this is where he's gonna be this spot will be my new cheers! Oh and the wings were !! The service was speedy and kind and I even met the owners; a cute couple really wanting to keep the Chicago pure music scene alive! Kudos for bringing this kind of vibe to the city!

The ambiance is nice, I loke the vibe, grown and sexy. The drinks were decent but pricy. I didn't care for the vegetable fried rice, it was on the sweets side. The wings weren't cooked to my liking and lacked flavor. I plan to give them another try. I want to taste the Romen. I went here unexpectedly.

Loved the live vinyl djing! Took a group of 8 on a friday & was seated quickly. We had light appetizers & beers while enjoying the music. It was definitely a more older crowd here but would love to see this place with more of a dance vibe. I felt like because it is a ramen shop first its not as much of stand & watch the dj spin. The environment was well decorated & lighted. The screens all showcased the dj which was cool. The drinks are $$$ so we only got beers. I would love to see this place host something bigger!

Amazing atmosphere and amazing wings! Couldn't have had a better time, love the vibe this place offers

Ahh! This used to be Spicy Fingers, remember that? Lee Farmer who is a well known DJ and Event Producer is one of the people behind this. They have rotating DJ's weekly. I had one of their cocktails and it was very good. The staff and service is excellent.

If you like live DJ spinning wax this is the place to be, cool vibe. Drinks are decent- although they have a low pour of alcohol if you are a real drinker it could get pricey- lol Overall, cool place, good atmosphere. didn't get a chance to try the food, but it smelled really good.

Dj Lee farmer forever 3 degrees Gina Ramen Incredible ambiance Straight outta Tokyo

There's no other place in Chicago like this. Aren't we all tired of the regular sports bar? Hipster joint? This place brings a whole new vibe. Let's start with the decor, now I've never been to Tokyo, but it's a bucket list destination, I kinda feel like I got a taste of it here with its dark lighting, perfectly manicured interior and menu. Second, the music is dope! DJ's spinning cool remixes of old school hip hop, R&B and other classics, sets the mood. Food is good! I enjoyed the disco rolls and fries. Cocktails on point with a wide variation of things you won't find anywhere else. If you're looking for cool date night vibe, a casual late night cocktail or comforting ramen, check Wax out! Right now, it's the best kept secret but it won't be for long!

I don't even know how to articulate what an uncomfortable experience we had at this restaurant last night. We had the most humiliating and uncomfortable time specifically with the server. He was absolutely drunk and continued to share extremely sensitive and unprofessional information about his sex life, his trauma, and growing up with a pedophile. Uncomfortable and unappropriate things that I learned from the server cannot even be described here. He put his leg on our table, spilled a drink on someone, and got my order wrong. The DJ was incredibly terrible. The music was way too loud. AND we were the only customers there. God it was so bad.

I cannot recommend this place enough. The ambience, the vibe, the food, and the cocktails make for the perfect night out whether it's for a date night, a celebratory group outing, or a girls night out. But then you add the music!!! Wax has all the ingredients for a memorable evening. Be sure to check out their website to find out the DJ lineup for the week. If you're into music, this is the spot. My preference is the house DJs, but I know they have featured other musical genres as well. It's a great concept and I definitely recommend adding this to your list of places to hit up in Chicago.

Summary: Food was overpriced and not good. Staff was very nice and friendly. Context: I feel horrible with this rating but I feel that the staff may not have any giving candid feedback at this point in time. As someone who has eaten at 20+ Ramen focused restaurants in the city of Chicago, I can say that in my experience this was the worst non-traditional ramen I have had.

Very over priced menu. The Ramen was not good at all. There was about 2 pieces of shrimp in the ramen. There fries were literally frozen French fries cooked with seasoning on it. On another note the staff were very nice and friendly.