FOODITOR’S TOP FIVE RAMEN BOWLS IN CHICAGO:

1. Ramen Misoya
2. Furious Spoon
3. Strings Ramen Shop
4. Yusho (Logan Square)
5. Ramen Takeya

FOODITOR’S CURATED LIST OF THE BEST RAMEN IN CHICAGO:

NORTH

Arami—Eclectic, generally very good Japanese restaurant whose offerings range from sushi to cooked foods from a bunch grill to ramen (with a smoky pork flavor).

Cocoro Japanese—Slick decor (if a little 90s-dated), but underneath it’s basically a homey Japanese restaurant, one of the last in River North, with sushi as well as pretty good ramen and other cooked dishes.

Four Belly Asian Street Food—Asian street food place whose standouts are the varieties of Asian soups, including ramen and udon.

Furious Spoon—Amazingly rich, slow-cooked tonkotsu broth is the star of this hip, cramped Wicker Park ramen joint from Shin Thompson, of the late, Michelin-starred Bonsoiree.

High Five Ramen—Two hour lines every night attest to Brendan Sodikoff’s ability to gauge the zeitgeist and then make it wait to get in, in this case to a tiny hip ramen bar specializing in a spicy-hot, funky version of the Japanese soup.

Jinya Ramen Bar—Many different kinds of ramen on the menu, though what we’ve tried wasn’t up to the depth of flavor of others. Still, good for the neighborhood and fairly priced.

Kameya—Korean-owned Japanese restaurant offering food reflecting both countries (such as the beef ramen); not city-class ramen, but pleasant and not too hectic as a neighborhood spot.

Oiistar—Ramen bar that makes excellent broth but sometimes overdresses it with toppings like garlic oil.

Ramen Takeya—Spinoff of Wasabi specializes in very nice chicken broth-based ramen, in a fun Tokyo street-like atmosphere.

Slurping Turtle—Busy cooked Japanese food spot downtown, with several types of good ramen utilizing housemade noodles.

Strings 2—Thick porky tonkotsu broth is the star of this ramen shop, but deserving equal billing are the springy housemade noodles, at this spinoff of the original in Chinatown; this location has a wider range of cooked dishes as well.

Wasabi—Hip Japanese spot with well-crafted ramen and some pretty good Japanese cooked foods.

Yusho (Logan Square)—Hipster version of a Japanese bar, with interesting cocktails, old whiskeys and lots of drinking food, as well as a ramen brunch (the main Logan Poser ramen has improved since Harold Jurado joined as chef). Also in Hyde Park.

SOUTH

Strings Ramen Shop—Thick porky tonkotsu broth is the star of this terrific ramen shop, but deserving equal billing are the springy housemade noodles (courtesy of a fancy machine imported from Japan). Second location in Old Town.

Yusho (Hyde Park)—Flashy hipster Asian bar arrives in Hyde Park, bringing Logan Square-style bar snacks and cocktails, including their take on ramen.

NORTHWEST SUBURBS

Ramen House Shinchan—Strip mall ramen bar in Palatine, similar to (if a notch below) Ramen Misoya with its several types of ramen, speedily put together in front of you.

Ramen Misoya—Stellar ramen bar in a suburban strip mall in Mount Prospect, offering half a dozen styles of ramen, all made textbook-perfectly.

Santouka—Japanese ramen chain has an outpost in the Mitsuwa mall food court; very authentic ramen, not as thick as some, but be sure to order the fantastic, unctuous pork cheek as an add-in to your tonkotsu ramen.

Sozai Banzai—Fast food-like authentic Japanese place in a northwest suburban strip mall, with solid, bargain-priced Japanese dishes including ramen.

List compiled by Michael Gebert, 11/10/2015.