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Name: Oiistar
Address: 1385 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL, 60622
Telephone: (773) 360-8791
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 3.81

Oiistar

1385 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL, 60622

(773) 360-8791
Store is closed

Oiistar Menu

Buns

Pollo

Goki

6 Hrs Pork Shoulder

Pork Belly

Duck Breast

Tempura Cod

Tempura Shrimp

Mushroom

Saltimbocca

Tonkatsu
Ramens

Oiimen

Spicy Veggimen

Musclemen

Tikkamen

Pozolmen
Seasonal

Spicy Zzolmen

Zzajangmen

Kimchee Chow
For Sharing

Oii Salad

Sauteed Haricot Vert

Fried Garlic Chicken (Sambal Or Sweet)

Bruschetta

Duxelle

Portobello & Avocado Tempura

Togarashi Mussels

Pan Seared Portobello Mushroom

Tuna Carpaccio
Sweets

Creme Brulee

Bao Donut

Poached Pear
Sides

Kimchee

Spicy Paste / Suicide Spicy Paste

Pork Loin / Pork Belly

Oiistar Garlic Baguette
House Cocktails

Oiistar Sangria

Oiimoji
Beers On Tap

Allagash White

Two Brothers Domaine

Lagunitas Ipa

Metropolitan Krankshaft

Left Hand Milk Stout

Sapporo
Beer On Bottles

Krombacher Germany

Original Sin Cider

Ska Modus Hoperandi

Avery Ellie's Brown Ale

Lagunitas Pil

Two Brothers Prairie Path (gluten Free)

Victory Golden Monkey

Lagunitas Little Sumpin
Wine - White

Copper Ridge Chardonnay '08 Ca

Rocca Pinot Grigio '11 Italy

Waterbrook Reisling '10 Colombia

Clifford Bay Sauvignon Blanc '12 Nz
Wine - Red

Copper Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon '08 Ca

Chianti Cecchi '10 Italy

Bouchard Aine Pinot Noir 10 France

Alta Vista Malbec '10 Argentina
Wine - Rose

Wild Rock Rose '08 New Zealand

Healthy Meal suggestions for Oiistar

Buns

Pollo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Goki [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

6 Hrs Pork Shoulder [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pork Belly [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Duck Breast [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tempura Cod [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tempura Shrimp [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mushroom [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Saltimbocca [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tonkatsu [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Ramens

Oiimen [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Spicy Veggimen [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Musclemen [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tikkamen [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pozolmen [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Seasonal

Spicy Zzolmen [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Zzajangmen [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Kimchee Chow [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
For Sharing

Oii Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sauteed Haricot Vert [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fried Garlic Chicken (Sambal Or Sweet) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bruschetta [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Duxelle [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Portobello & Avocado Tempura [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Togarashi Mussels [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pan Seared Portobello Mushroom [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tuna Carpaccio [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Sweets

Creme Brulee [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bao Donut [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Poached Pear [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Sides

Kimchee [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Spicy Paste / Suicide Spicy Paste [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pork Loin / Pork Belly [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Oiistar Garlic Baguette [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
House Cocktails

Oiistar Sangria [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Oiimoji [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Beers On Tap

Allagash White [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Two Brothers Domaine [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Lagunitas Ipa [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Metropolitan Krankshaft [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Left Hand Milk Stout [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sapporo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Beer On Bottles

Krombacher Germany [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Original Sin Cider [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ska Modus Hoperandi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Avery Ellie's Brown Ale [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Lagunitas Pil [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Two Brothers Prairie Path (gluten Free) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Victory Golden Monkey [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Lagunitas Little Sumpin [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Wine - White

Copper Ridge Chardonnay '08 Ca [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Rocca Pinot Grigio '11 Italy [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Waterbrook Reisling '10 Colombia [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Clifford Bay Sauvignon Blanc '12 Nz [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Wine - Red

Copper Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon '08 Ca [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chianti Cecchi '10 Italy [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bouchard Aine Pinot Noir 10 France [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Alta Vista Malbec '10 Argentina [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Wine - Rose

Wild Rock Rose '08 New Zealand [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant blood pressure menu details.

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Write An Anonymous Review

Brian W.

After 4 trips i'm ready to make my review. The ramen has tasted different even tho i've gotten the same thing each time. Either the egg wasn't done right or the noodles seemed off. But finally I went and it all seemed spot on. Now I know why people rave about this ramen spot, but i just hope they could repeat the bowl each time i've been. On the other hand, the buns are amazing. For sure order one and try. You can't go wrong. Share it if you're not super hungry but make sure to order one. If i'm in wicker park area i'll come by. Waitstaff is friendly and resourceful.
(4)
Cat H.

Carried out and dined in once. First time I got the veggie-man, tuna carpaccio, and the mushroom, and pollo buns for dinner for my friend and I. Everything was great except the tuna carpaccio was packaged in an aluminum container??? Made it taste like metal. Gross. The next morning I woke up with swollen eyes and face. I figured it was just because of the sodium in the ramen. I did take out another time and got the pollo and mushroom bun again just for myself (no ramen this time) and about an hour later, I got the same reaction, expect worse, my cheeks, lips, eyes, and hands were extremely swollen! For 23 years now, I have no known food allergies at all, eat all kinds of mushrooms all the time. Coincidence?
(1)
Mohammed H.

One dish to rule them all - crispy fried chicken. Simply awesome! The sauce in this dish has so much flavor, you have to try it. It's a hip place, with fusion foods. I had the kimchi and it was both delicious and filling - I had to take some home because you get a lot of it! The staff were really nice. The scene was a little too dim for me and the space can be tight depending on when you go. I recommend this place to anyone who wants to try fusion food. It really is worth it.
(4)
Oluwatope F.

We got the garlic chicken, the avocado and portobello fries and the Olimen soup. The avocado fries were great but the mushroom slices were way too thick and didn't have any seasoning. The soup was delicious, perfect flavor balance, stuck to the perfectly cooked noodles, no complaints, but skip the appetizers... The fried garlic chicken isn't really my style, the sauce was great but the meat was not the fried consistency that I like, I like the meat to be moist not just super soft and squishy.
(3)
Mingjia L.

I tried duck breast buns and pork belly buns, duck breast buns was good. But pork belly was too sweet to me. However, the best of my order was creme brÃ»lÃ©e, it was really good. Must try this. My friend tried the ramen. She said it was too disappointing. So, in conclusion, I only can give 3 stars.
(3)
Stephen R.

I love ramen Ippudo in NYC is by far the best I have had and the benchmark. Next closest are some places in Vancouver. I had the classic (Oiimen). BTW Oii means pickle/cucumber in Korean...so this isn't Japanese owned..just saying. I also ordered the pollo bun. This place is good..solid...a very solid 3. The bun was ok, the bun was ripping when you folded it. It was over dressed with too much sauce. The ramen was tasty, the broth was ok. I think this is a great add to the neighborhood but its a decent place. My issue is the price, seems steep relative to what you get and for me alone 1 bun 1 ramen 1 diet coke 23 bucks Its a light 3, fighting its way out of a 2.5
(3)
Gar A.

I passed by this restaurant so many times thinking what it would be like once the restaurant opened. Although I missed the highly anticipated opening night, I got to try the restaurant this past weekend with my friend. Let me start by saying.. OMG! Is this the IPPUDO or MOMOFUKU of Chicago? The noodles.. the buns.. it was crazy good and I couldn't believe that I was sitting in the middle of Chicago neighborhoods eating the kind of buns and noodles I had back in New York City. Chicago really needed a place like this and now we finally have it. Thank you Oiistar. So.. here is the breakdown. As we entered the restaurant, we were greeted by the entire restaurant staff. That's right.. the entire staff! They all shouted "Welcome" in Japanese (so I think.. ) I thought it was fun and cool to be noticed right away. As we sat down, I realized how open the kitchen was and how lively the staff, music and the atmosphere were. The wait staff were so friendly that they made us feel comfortable right away. I also noticed their good beer selection on tap. So, we ordered some beers and started out with the oii salad and tiger shrimp. The Oii Salad was delightful and the shrimp was big and full of flavors. The sauce on the shrimp was made with salsa and pesto(cant remember what kind..) but it was really good. Sooo good that you can dip just about anything in it :) Then we ordered DA' Ramen. I had their signature oiimen with pork loin. The taste and the complexity of the broth were amazing. The quality and the texture of the noodles were so good that even after 4 days I can still vividly remember the taste. It really shows the amount of hard work and efforts the Chef put in to make oiistar work. I read some where that he even traveled to various parts of Japan to master his ramen making techniques/skills. That's pretty cool! My friend ordered the Musclemen, which is a bit spicier than Oiimen. The musclemen had just the right amount of heat (thanks to the red hot chili peppers.. :)) and perfectly cooked muscles (very generous portion). We also tried their duck and pork buns and they were both very good. I really can't say one's better than the other because they have very different tastes. The greens they put on the buns also complimented the meats very nicely. As we were finishing our meals, I saw the people next to our table having some kind of fries. Fries? How did we miss that! So we asked and ordered it. It was the Portabello and Avocado Fries!! Wow!! That is some good stuff. It was perfect with the beer I was drinking (Lagunta IPA? something like that..). By the time I tried to remember the name, I had one drink too many...ahah So, all in all, my friend and I had a fabulous time and enjoyed everything we ate. There are lots of ramen shops in Chicago but nothing really pops like this one. It's contemporary, vibrant, and has great tasting/memorable foods. Next time I go back I really want to try the French Kimchee Soup. I am a fan of kimchee (took me a while..ahah) and this sounds superlicious!
(5)
Fran Z.

Seriously knocked out my soup craving. Yes!
(5)
Miss O.

This is between A-Ok and a 4 star. Best noodle dish was the veggie option. Great spicy broth. Side dishes weren't much to brag about. Wish they were open for lunch - especially in the winter.
(3)
Alana K.

I just ate here for the 2nd time in 4 days and both times we had wonderful, delicious meals. The 1st time we popped by and had the tuna carpaccio (AMAZING) and the duck breast buns (also great) with some beers at the bar. The tuna had a delicious crust on it and was served with a quail egg on top, a really nice combo. The duck breast buns had some zesty wasabi microgreens that made the dish for me. You can sit at the bar overlooking the kitchen. Everyone there is friendly and makes the time to talk to you- a really welcoming place to eat a meal. On our 2nd visit we got the tuna again (it was that good), tried their avocado and portabella fries, and shared the musselman ramen. The fries had a great batter on them, a nice compliment to a dark beer. The ramen was so so good. It had the perfect spice, the noodles werent overcooked and the mussels were just right. We left feeling full and excited to come back! I am very happy to have a low key, affordable place in the neighborhood.
(5)
Chris M.

Had the musclemen ramen. It was too salty. Server was inattentive, and acted like she was doing us a favor by waiting our table. Won't be back.
(2)
Dean S.

this place makes momofuku's noodles look like Nong Shim
(4)
Sean Y.

The pork belly bun, Ramen, and chicken wings (both flavors) were amazing! Everything was fresh and flavorful.
(4)
S L.

we've visited a handful of japanese ramen joints in the chicagoland area and by far oiistar always has me wanting to come back. my husband and i both agree that their broth has a depth of flavor thats rich and flavorful. if you haven't been in a while go back and try some of their new menu items. my personal favorite is the chadolmyun which has pieces of juicy beef in the broth. i believe all their other broths are pork base while the chadolmyun is beef based...so tasty!! i also like how they make their noodles in house and has a nice snap to it. interestingly, the noodles do not get soggy or soak up the broth which is nice. other items we always get are the pork buns which is always a winner. i really love their creme brÃ»lÃ©e but i wish it came in a bigger portion size! overall a great joint for japanese noodles!
(5)
Terra Z.

I LOVE noodles and this place its amazing!!!!!! EAT HERE!
(5)
Karl B.

Went here tonight on a whim. Ordered a sickly sweet pork bun, followed by overly greasy deep fried avocado tempura, and mushroom tempura misleadingly called "fries" on the menu. The pork ramen entree was piss poor, and left a strange fermenty-miso film in the back of my throat that made me nauseous all night. The staff was nice, but wanted too much feedback on the food. It was uncomfortable because I would have felt terrible being frank with them. We ended up paying $75.00 for a meal that my date and I agreed was one of the worst we had eaten in recent memory. Stay away...seriously.
(1)
Khloe K.

I came here without any high expectations because i'm normally more of a traditionalist when it comes to my ramen ie. Santouka, Ippudo nyc, Sansotei toronto. However i was open to giving this a fair try and came out pleasantly surprised. My friend and I arrived around 6:30pm on a sunday night and it was surprisingly packed although our wait wasn't long, only 10 minutes. The atmosphere is simple with bar seating in addition to tables and an open kitchen. Music which was on the louder side but i didn't mind it consisted mainly of alot of rap and top 40. Our food/drinks came out in good time and service was consistent. Drinks: Oiimoji (cucumber vodka mojito): large ice cold cucumbery and refreshing! Apps: Duck breast buns: super soft and fresh bao bun, succulent and tender duck breast, well balanced flavours with jalopeno chutney, not spicy though - This was our favourite app and would return for this Sauteed Tiger Shrimp: it was ok, shrimp well cooked however the shiso almond pesto was dominated by garlic , would of been better if there was more spice and/or citrus maybe Portobello Mushroom Avocado Fries : tempura mushroom and avocado slices - good tempura, not greasy. It came with a side of shiso pesto mayo which was too bland for me. I dipped tempura in the side of hot sauce Oiimen: white milky broth which seems to be the base broth for their ramens. I appreciated the fact that it wasn't oily or greasy and not overly salty. I wish there was more depth of flavour in the broth, it seemed alittle on the bland side, good but i've definately had better broth. I ordered the side of spicy sauce at $1.50 however and put the entire thing in my bowl but it didn't add the level of spice that i wanted....oh well. Noodles don't seem to be handmade however they were just toothsome enough. I liked how the pork loin was tender however the ramen had maybe 3 pieces of pork or so and for $14 i would of expected alittle more. Pozolmen: my friend had this and i definately preferred the seasoning of this broth and it also had a medium spicy kick which was nice. Overall if i were to return here i'd probably order this ramen or maybe try another flavour. I'm happy that this city finally has a ramen place, hopefully this place does well and encourages more to open.
(4)
Stefan H.

Nice buildout, tasty and fresh food, excellent service...I hope they survive and I will certainly do my part. My concern stems from their curious lack of signage. Oiistar you need to remember how slow we humans are to change habits. Be proud: show off, remind us all that you are there. Bright lights are called for in the big city! I am rooting for you...
(5)
Jeff C.

Stellar. We weren't crazy about the pork belly buns that we ordered but everything else was fantastic. I had been wanting to visit for quite some time and it did not disappoint. We will be back.
(4)
Emma S.

Great place to stop in for a hot bowl of ramen. Yummy broth with good fresh vegetables. The buns were also wonderful with really interesting flavors. Will definitely be back.
(4)
Walter D.

Was very excited about trying it out after a delayed opening. Got signature dish of Oiistar Ramen. By all means a meal I enjoyed, but not one I would crave on repeat visits.
(3)
Sony A.

came here with a friend on opening night and were surprised to see that the place was packed! there was a short wait but we didn't mind as we sat at the bar drinking the amazing sangria and enjoying the atmosphere. the restaurant is very trendy and has an exciting but comforting vibe to it. once we were seated we ordered the oiimen with pork, pork buns, cucumber salad, shrimp appetizer, and tuna carpaccio. everything was EXCELLENT! the ramen noodles are made fresh daily and were the perfect texture and consistency. the broth and pork were amazing as well. everything we tried was fresh, tasty, and creative. i especially loved the pork buns, tuna, and shrimp apps. for dessert, we ordered the creme brulee with espresso caviar and that was to die for! definitely the best ramen place i've been to and will be going back to try more of their unique appetizers and for more ramen with homemade noodles!!
(5)
Lily T.

Goood stuff at Oiistar. To sum it all up: huge portions, huge spoon to go with it, nice fatty slabs of pork belly, soft boiled eggs, homemade noodles, and delicious pork belly buns. #GDFR Located in the Wicker Park area so there's a couple of hipster-y bars around there that you can walk to after dinner.
(4)
Elisa G.

Definitely far from my favorite buns and ramen in Chicago. Although there is a huge selection, I didn't enjoy the flavours at all. The ramen was ok. The portions was gigantic. But the buns were pretty bad. If I had to compare to Yusho, which I consider to be one of the best in Chicago, not the ramen not the buns are comparable. There is a strong Korean influence in the flavours that was a little unexpected. Service was fast but quite bad. The waiters were always running at the point that one of them spilled a ramen on the floor and on my feet since i was wearing sandals...
(2)
D F.

Food is great. Chef is visible in the kitchen and what comes out is awesome. Male lunch server is a complete jerk. If I go back in and I see him, I'll just walk out. Huge jerk. Condescending and rude as can be. Food is great. Too bad server is a complete jerk.
(2)
Bonnie H.

Despite the negative yelp reviews, service was very prompt and friendly. We walked in at 6pm on a Wednesday. Were the second customers. 3 stars is for the ramen. We had the pork buns per the suggestions on the site. They were good! I had the traditional ramen with no spicy oil and easy on the garlic. It's hard to get ramen right. The broth was o-kay. I wasn't a fan of the texture of the noodles. The noodles were not soggy but they were not chewy and bouncy. Another place with ramen in the wcker park/bucktown area is Enso. I would say I prefer the noodles in their ramen more.
(3)
Stephanie G.

Great Buns. Service is inconsistent. I don't know who owns this place but they obviously aren't routinely checking in on how things are run. Most evenings the staff try to wrap up early and are clearly annoyed if you want to order more if they are even an hour before close time. Ive been unimpressed with their Ramen. Urban Belly has WAY better Ramen. The buns are really good and the creme brulee is good. The space is often empty but clean and neat.
(3)
Esther S.

TLDR: The decision, the vibe, the pork belly. We came here on a semi-spontaneous decision after seeing good reviews and awesome pictures. Being kind of late on a Thursday night, we were able to be seated right away. Since it's almost the end of summer, we decided to sit outside and soak in the nice weather while it lasted. We opted to sit near the gate since the tables closer to the restaurant were right next to some of the inside tables and we thought it would be weird to be that cozy with some complete strangers. There wasn't much space between the tables and my chair was right up against the corner of the fence...I was trapped to try the food, for better or for worse! The vibe of the place was awesome. It was dimly lit to give it an urban modern feel. It was a little strange that they were playing the final fantasy movie on the projector though. The outside seating again was a little small, but very cozy. Our server was super friendly and asked if it was our first time. We said it was and he gave us some of his favorites and his suggestions on what to order. We decided to order the tuna carpaccio and a pork belly bun to start with and the classic ramen for our main dish, per our server's suggestions. The tuna carpaccio was awesome. The pork belly bun was TO DIE FOR. There was a perfect balance of ingredients that made every bite drool-worthy. The pork belly wasn't too fatty and had a ton of flavor. The ramen here was good. It wasn't the best I've ever had, but it was definitely worth coming back for. One thing I noticed was that it was a very generous portion. Our server told us that they had recently added some different types of the noodles, but the hakada ones that we got were the original (made in house!). The pork belly in the ramen was AMAZING. The noodles? Also AMAZING. The soup was pretty good, but was a little too salty for my liking. The eggs were slightly runny, indicating a good solid ramen place. As we were about to leave, another server or manager or someone came up to us and asked how everything was. The staff here are all super friendly and personable, but know how to give you space to enjoy the food. Overall, we really enjoyed oiistar, ambience and food and all. Pork belly buns, I'll be back for you!
(4)
Rosa J.

Wicker Park, in general, has a vibrant nightlife all year round. However, we Chicagoans know that summer time is our "prime time." It's especially fun to cruise near the CTA Damen Blue Line station at our 60-degrees-Fahrenheit midsummer night. Oiistar isn't too far from the Damen Blue Line station; its approximately ten (10)-minute walking distance southbound along Milwaukee Ave. Eating ramen is analogical to be covered by my favorite blanket or snuggie. In other words, a great bowl of ramen gives me a sense of security, comfort, and belonging. Ramen in Oiistar might not be, by definition, the most authentic, yet I thought whatever I had was one of the better "fusion" ramen I've encountered in the city. I knew that Oiimen appeared to be a popular choice, but I noticed that Chaldomen received many accolades as well. I went with the Chaldomen, for it showcased ground pork, bean sprouts, and pickled veggies in the spicy broth. The level of greasiness of Chaldomen was acceptable. In my recollection, I thought the ramen in Strings and Wasabi were grease-heavy. I believe the presence of fresh bean sprouts were helpful to reduce the greasy sensation in my stomach. Hubby's spicy veggiemen contained many vegetarians' favorites: tofu, avocado, and zucchini. Most ramen joints in Chicago offers at least one (1) vegetarian option, so I would say Oiistar could be vegetarian-friendly. My first impression on Oiistar was positive. Obviously, it's a friendly spot for youngsters to hang out. It's also intimate, but not over-the-top romantic. Thus, it's an appropriate first-date dinner place in my opinion. Of course, the food hubby and I had this evening was delicious! I will certainly spread the good words of Oiistar to others.
(4)
JJ L.

Their food is def the STAR of Oiistar!! We ordered: 1. fried chicken with chili sauce - the chicken was kinda dry but the chili sauce was amaziiingggg!! If you don't like spicy, I would recommend trying he sweet sauce instead. 2. pork belly bun - must try!! No words can describe the feeling of eating it! 3. tonkatsu ramen - the ramen was good, but wasn't as flavorful as other ramens I've tasted in the past. 4. zhazhanmun - MY FAVORITE!! It's a twist on a traditional Korean noodle!! Def. a must try!! Has both indoor & outdoor seating! Most tables are for 2, so come early so you don't have to wait :)
(4)
Sharon C.

5-star buns, 3-star ramen. I made the trek here with a friend on a particularly muggy day (not a great ramen day) and we decided to share three buns (pork belly, duck breast and shrimp tempura) and the Oiimen ramen. The buns were great, especially the pork belly, which was so tender and flavorful and came with a delicious sauce. (If you're looking for instagramability, I would recommend the shrimp tempura bun.) The ramen, on the other hand, was pretty average - I didn't find it particularly flavorful, and the noodles were a little limp and soggy for my personal taste. Overall, would come again, but probably just for a snack.
(4)
Lindsay M.

Ok, so I was a skeptic about raman... There! I said it. This was my first time diving into my own bowl, and... I LOVED IT! Why the heck have I been waiting for so long?! I ordered the spiciest bowl, because, I like spice. It was actually not TOO spicy as some people had told me prior to my visit. Just the right amount. We sat up at the bar area and enjoyed our bowls with some brews. My knock off the 5-star rating would be the feeling of being pushed out of the restaurant. Our waiter seemed more concerned about eating his meal in the back and getting out of there. I would have enjoyed each bite a bit more if I didn't feel like I had to slurp it down and get the heck out. Excited to come back!
(4)
Amanda N.

Oiistar is a wonderful date night spot or even a get together hang out spot with friends. There is outside, inside, and bar dining. We chose the bar. The waiter was very helpful and helped us decide on a few items to try. The fried chicken (sweet)- it was crispy, and falling off the bone. It sat in a thick sweet spicy soy sauce. Oiistar sangria- served in a cool mug that looks like it's sitting on a candle holder. A little sweet. Mashed potato bad- my favorite and the most unique. I've never had mashed potatoes on a nap before and I've had a lot of different kinds. Mushroom bao- I liked it but the mashed potato was better. There was a lot of things going on with this one. Not a bad thing though. Oiimen- the broth was not too salty and I almost ate the whole thing. I would've ate it all but I was extremely full. It came with pork, and a sliced egg. I do think I will be back in the future.
(4)
Leila T.

This was very good. I got the modern ramen with thin noodles - I WISH I GOT THE WAVY NOODLES! They looked and tasted soooo much better. The buns were good, the shrimp one was nice and crispy while the pulled pork needed a crispy element it was too mushy. Fun experience and good food!
(4)
Kara H.

Came here on a Friday night at 8pm, no wait which was unexpected and great! This was my first time having both the asian buns & ramen. The asian buns were fine, nothing life changing. The ramen was delicious, however one thing they do not tell you on the menu is that the ONLY broth that is not made with pork is the vegetarian option. Being someone who does not eat pork, this was extremely disappointing to me as I was looking forward to the chicken ramen (which the rest of my group got and enjoyed). The veggie ramen was still delicious though- and I'd order it again! The drinks are extremely cheap ($3-$4), so you get great bang for your buck across the board. Overall our bill was ~ $50 total and we had 3 buns, 2 ramen, and lots of drinks! My biggest complaint is that our waiter literally disappeared once he had brought us our check, and after waiting 25 minutes we finally had to flag someone else down to close us out? But, I`d come back if someone in my party was craving ramen.
(4)
Michelangelo V.

Honest review: best ramen place i been too been here twice. If u come here get this for buns get: shrimp tempura, pork belly garlic fried chicken and musclemen! Crembule! The dexelle was ok, saltembocca was ok oiimen i did not like at all donuts were good not great there jus the buns with sugar n cinnamon on it Shrimp tempura bun- its so fricken amaizing like u will order more and more of it get extra sauce on the side and you can dump your fried chicken in it and any other appetizer u get so good u wont regret it! Pork belly bun-omg this is the best thing on the menu its so deliocus its not supper fatty as u would think n the condiments on it are great Fried chicken sambal- very crispy the sauce it comes with is great not spicy at all wish it was but u can put hot sauce on it make sure u get the shrimp tempura sauce extra on the side so u can dip ur chicken in it! U will thank me later! Musclemen- this is the best ramen i ever had its so delicious and they put so many muscles in it like alot its not supper salty either Crembule- its really small but it was delicious i never had i like that ever it was so unique and not supper sweet Oiimen- this was gross like there was nothing special about it at all there was no wow factor like the broth didnt taste good Chadolmen- it was good better then oiimen but the musclemen was alot better though thjs did come with alot of meat though Duck breast bun- this i did not like at all it was gross didnt really have any pop it was jus like a sausage and pepper type of thing thought it was gonna be crispy duck breast it wasnt Saltinbocca- this was good not great it was drenched in a sage like alot alot of sage so much so thats all u could taste it was good though but not something id order again Duxelle- this was good its like a fried meatball it was good nothing special i wouldnt order it again it did have caviar on it though Tempura mushroom and avocado- good but it needed salt and the dipping sauce wasnt that good the shrimp tempura sauce on the side saved this dish though Bao donut- it wqs good not great jus the buns with sugar and cinnamon Oiimiji drink- its a mojito really refreshing jus need more alcohol there was none in it
(5)
Tracy X.

Came here for a light dinner. The environment is pretty minimalistic - simple wooden tables and wooden "chairs" that don't even have backs. I mean I didn't really expect anything fancy so it was alright, I just felt a little awkward having to sit on my coat instead of hanging it off the back of the chair. I had the Oiimen and my friend had the Chadolomen. Both had a very thick and flavorful but not too spicy broth, which I highly enjoy. The noodles were very fresh and the ingredients all blended together very well. My only complaint is that the soft boiled egg in my noodles were quite cold - is that just how it is? Since I have been to another ramen place that did that.
(4)
Mike M.

We stopped by Oiistar when we were looking for a place to grab dinner on a Saturday night and the wait at Umami Burger was too long. While the place was pretty small, it wasn't too busy at all. This place had a trendy feel to it, with oak walls and bar top. There were tables lining one of the walls and then there were a bunch of stools along a super long bar. We grabbed a couple stools at the corner of the bar near the front. Food: I've been on a huge ramen binge trying to hit up all the best ramen spots in the city and burbs. Oiistar had some pretty good reviews so we decided to check it out. Pork belly bun - It had a good amount of pork belly on it, but the texture of the meat was a little off for me. I would've preferred them to crisp the fat a little more. Oiimen - Maybe I had some high expectations coming in, but I thought the ramen here was only okay. The size of it was pretty good and there was a standard amount of pork belly in it. But the main thing for me was the broth. I like really rich and deep flavored broths and this ramen was very light and just didn't have the more intense flavor I was looking for. I think I read that the noodles were handmade, but they were on the thinner side and I thought they were pretty forgettable. I mean it wasn't a bad bowl of ramen, but I just don't think it's one of the best I've had. Fried garlic chicken - I can't resist Asian style fried chicken whenever I see it on the menu. This was just as good as I was expecting. The chicken wings were pretty good and it had a nice crisp skin. The sauce had that great sweet, spicy, garlicky combination that I love. Zzajangmen - This was kind of a last minute wildcard order for us. None of us have ever heard of jajangmyeon before, but the description sounded pretty good so we gave it a shot. The dish consisted of a bed of al dente noodles topped with a really thick, salty, bold flavored black bean sauce. There was also chicken, pork and cashews in there too. All the components just worked really well together. This dish was one of the favorites of the night. It was pleasant surprise. Overall we had a pretty good dinner, but the main reason we even came here was for the ramen, and I wasn't really blown away by it.
(3)
Ly N.

Oiistar is fantastic! Loved everything I had there. Ramen was great! Service could be better though. When I went there was one server on the floor, but it wasn't busy at all. There were 2 or 3 other small tables. The server just dropped off our drinks, food, and check when requested. Nothing else.
(4)
Mindy H.

I've been constantly on search for delicious ramen in Chicago, and was finally in the Wicker Park area this past weekend, so I dropped in for a late lunch. My friend and I both ordered the pork belly bun as an appetizer, which was extremely delicious. I was initially afraid it would be too salty, but the seasoning was great and the meat was extremely tender. I also had the Oiimen ramen, which includes pork, tree-ear mushrooms, bamboo shoots and an egg (of course). I was excited to try the ramen here at Oiistar since they handmake their ramen daily, but the noodles were actually... a little boring, in both texture and flavor. The broth was ok, slightly on the salty side. At $14 for a bowl, it's definitely on the pricey side and to be honest, I would rather save the money and continue my search for the perfect ramen. However, I would come back here for the pork belly buns again! Also hoping to try out some of the other buns, especially the duck breast one. :)
(3)
Vicky N.

Came here for lunch with the sole intention of eating the pork belly ramen. But we ordered 3 buns for the hell of it and were impressed with how well they turned out. These bao buns seemed to be a hit with everyone at our table. They are aesthetically pleasing, the meat is richly cooked, and the flavors of veggies and sauces are combined to give an all-around delicious appetizer. My favorite out of our 3 (goki, pork belly, and tempura cod) was the cod because of how crispy it was, but honestly, I don't think you can go wrong with any of these choices! Definitely recommended to pick out any of buns that sound good to you. The ramen came out in a sizable bowl. I actually split it and still ended up really full. The broth was really flavorful and what I would expect in my ramen -- not salted up so you can't taste the more subtle porky and garlicky enhancements. I should say that I'm not very picky about how ramen should taste, as long as it has plenty of hot broth and plenty of toppings. Consequently, it always saddens me when such a large bowl comes out with only 2 teensy slices of pork belly... And don't get me wrong, they can COOK pork belly well here! Just saying that my bowl would feel more complete with a little more meat ;) But overall, this place is fantastic! I would come back here for just the buns alone. Slowly making my way around Chicago's ramen scene, but this one isn't too shabby.
(4)
Rebecca N.

Good ramen but not my favorite in Chicago. Good service. I didn't like the chairs/ no backs.
(3)
Darren L.

I've had this restaurant bookmarked for several weeks now. Since I'm on winter vacation, I finally had time to make my way over here tonight. I was very excited because I love soup and noodles as well as buns. After searching for parking for about 20 minutes, we found a spot 3 blocks away. However, as soon as my cousins and I entered, a large group just left thus allowing for us to be seated right away. We ordered shortly after. Most of us got the Oiimen ramen. It was a nice portion size and it tasted decent. I must say I've had better ramen. However, the chicken wings and the buns were very tasty. I tried the pork shoulder, pork belly, and the Goki. So sooooo so good! The chicken wings were filling and super flavorful. If I were to come back, I'd probably only get buns and appetizers. The atmosphere was not very much of my liking: just too loud and too dark. The service was okay as well which is why I took off one star. With that being said, I would recommend this place for buns, appetizers, and chicken wings. The ramen is average and the service is decent as well. The food is the only thing that made this place worth it. Yummmm.
(3)
Rog J.

Went here to try some ramen because I am a big ramen fan. Been to santouka in San Jose, and daikokuya ramen in LA. This place isn't compare able. The buns although heard were good but didn't try. Ordered the oiimen ramen. Wasn't that great.... Noodles were ok but soup didn't have that good traditional taste. Service was ok to. Tried asking one of the people what there was to do and he kinda one worded us. If you want good ramen I heard "Wasabi" is a better place. Haven't tried it, wanted to but when we found the place it was closed and couldn't make it before our flight the next day :(
(2)
Amanda M.

More of a 3.5. Waited about 40 minutes Friday evening for a table of four. I got the pollo bun and the musclemen. My bun was pretty tasty, but as with others at the table, felt like there was too much going on. Felt like less was more in that case. Really didn't understand why the bottles of hoisin and sriracha on the table would even be needed. The ramen noodles were fine, but the broth was disappointing. Texture was good and while it was somewhat tasty, it definitely didn't taste like it had been cooking for hours. It tasted simply like soy sauce and chili oil or something simple. The numerous chili peppers did nothing to the ramen and virtually had no spice, as with the oiimen. Sister thought her veggimen was too salty. I did, however, enjoy the mussels, which were numerous and properly cooked. The abundance of green onions on top were also great, It was also nice that all portions were larger than I expected. Service was pretty good. Overall, probably wouldn't come back, as flavors were two dimensional and rather basic.
(3)
Scott K.

Got in reasonably early on a Saturday night, so the place wasn't too crowded yet. The ramen and buns were both awesome. I can't find the bun I had on the menu (seasonal?), but it had mashed potatoes beef and was soft and savory and delicious!
(5)
Alex M.

Good atmosphere / food. The only thing I would recommend they do is make sure a host seats the guest.
(5)
Aimee H.

In my top 3 favorite Chicago ramen spots, next to High Five (West Loop) and Wasabi (Wicker Park). Oiimen is the best ramen based on its broth profile and spicy garlic. 6hr Pork Shoulder and Duck Breast Buns are exceptional. (Seasonal) Kimchee Chow is good to share as an addition and won't disappoint. Save room for a Bao Donut! Respectable draft list.
(4)
Kathy T.

My favorite ramen in this city. The modern ramen is the way to go. I've enjoyed the dine in experience as well as take out.
(5)
Misty S.

Ramen used to be something quick, cheap and easy that I make at home when I was feeling lazy. Ramen was never something I went out and ordered at a restaurant. Then one day, I found myself in Canada where a local suggested we have Ramen for lunch. How long has ramen shops been a thing? I have no idea, but I found myself trying different ramen places in Canada after that. Fast forward to today, and someone made a ramen dinner suggestion. How long has ramen shops been in Chicago? I guess it's still not something I think about going out for. I was looking forward to trying the ramen here since it's been a while since I went out for ramen. $14!! For ramen?!?! It better be good and you know what? It was the BEST damn ramen I've ever had. I debated between the modern and the classic and ended up ordering the Oiimen (classic) ramen. The broth was creamy, flavorful and amazing. The noodles were exquisite. I wanted to eat until my stomach burst, but my stomach is tiny and I took what I couldn't finish home (and it was still good the next day!). I subtracted a star because this was also the most expensive ramen I've ever had. I also tried one of their buns, which is made in open face style atop the most deliciously doughy buns I've ever had. The buns are about $4 each. Pay street parking was easy to find in front of the restaurant on a week night.
(4)
Jennifer V.

My first time trying out ramen in Chicago so my best friend brought me to this joint. I grew up in Chicago pretty much my whole life but never really explored much of the city. My best friend is a foodie so she knows one of the best foods around. Wicker park is definitely a place Id like to come back to for food and drinks. Upon entering the restaurant we were greeted by the friendly servers and told us we could sit anywhere we want. Our server was friendly and attentive. We ordered the pork belly buns, sweet fried garlic chicken , oiimen ramen (pork belly ) and my friend got the musclemen ramen( mussels). Everything we got was very delicious packed with full flavors. I loved the broth of the ramen and the freshly made noodles. I enjoyed the sweet crunchy garlic chicken and the yummy pork belly buns. All in all I enjoyed my food here. I would definitely come back here. I gave 4 stars because parking was a pain to find. There's no parking lot so you'll have to find street parking.
(4)
Nancy T.

I've been on a ramen excursion from coast to coast and while living in Chicago, I had it in my list to check out Oiistar. Fate brought me here when I was stuck at a bus stop, and it started raining. As the Ramen Gods willed, today would be the day I tried Oiistar because it was literally right across the street from the bus stop. I sat at the bar. They started playing, "rolling down the street, smokin' indo, sipping on gin and juice..." and I knew I was home. Fun, hip atmosphere with a great playlist. The server was quick and efficient. A little too quick and overly anxious at times, but nevertheless he was attentive. I started off with their red wine sangria, which was perfectly refreshingly. I skipped the apps, which I regret because all of their sliders looked amazing. When my Oiistar Ramen came out, I was so pleasantly surprised at the perfect presentation of the ramen. The egg was runny (score!) and that speaks volumes about an authentic ramen establishment. The porky broth was good, but more on the lighter side than what I prefer. I ordered a side of house kimchi which was to my liking! However, if you put it inside the broth, it dramatically alters the taste of the ramen so tread carefully in those waters, my friends. The reason why this place doesn't contend as one of the top spots is because of the noodle! It was thin and didn't have enough of a chewiness to it. Overall, the ramen was still good, but it would have been way better if the noodles were up to par. I'll stick to my NY and LA ramen.
(4)
Wai C.

Ordered the Chadolmen and my friend ordered the Oiimen ramen. The kimchee on top of my chadolmen was some of the blandest kimchee I've ever eaten, the noodles tasted more like spaghetti than ramen noodles, service seemed inattentive and like they were pushing us out, and it was expensive. The broth was somewhat good but definitely not a traditional ramen broth. I'll stick to Wasabi in the future
(2)
Gina V.

I love this new Asian fusion trendy restaurant. The drinks are also delicious. The service is excellent.
(5)
Rawlins R.

Oiistar is a trendy ramen restaurant in Wicker Park. They provide a twist on ramen which is nice. You will get a huge serving of ramen with a few ingredients that are slightly different than normal. This comes from a Korean chef who spent time in Japan that chooses to add a French twist to ramen. You will not find this only in the ramen selection but also from the starters. They offer buns of all kinds that can be shareable between two people. They have a good amount of other items that you can also share. I had the Oiimen which was great and spicy like I like it. We came on a Friday night so it was busy. I would imagine this place is busy during regular peak hours. They have seating for four throughout the restaurant with a bar area for eating a drinking. There is also an extended bar area that can accommodate slightly bigger parties. They also offered traditional Japanese drinks, beer and sake. Finally, they had a dessert menu that followed the same trend as the rest of the menu. It didn't stick to a strictly Japanese theme and offered a wide array of unique dishes. We had the bao donuts which were amazing. Service was extremely slow for us but our server recognized this and took care of us. Our orders must have been skipped over a couple times. Luckily for them we were enjoying our night so we didn't have an issue with waiting a little longer.
(4)
jae p.

Best veggie ramen I've ever had and a few days later I'm daydreaming of it. Open up a location in SF? Our ramen scene needs you!! The broth was flavorful and not salty, the noodles were perfect and I loved all the veggies in the ramen - it was basically an awesome salad on top of the ramen with mixed greens, huge blocks of tofu, green and yellow peppers, zucchini and some delicious roasted seaweed. SO GOOD. Thank you for making the vegetarian option not just an afterthought!
(4)
Kori E.

Yummy, yummy, yummy! We came on a cold night and this is exactly what we needed to warm up! We started with the Chicken and Pork Shoulder buns and both were seriously delish! Tons of flavor and a good size, too! For my ramen order I had the Chadolmen and it had great flavor and a nice kick to it! My boyfriend had the oiimen, and he liked his, but noted there wasnt a lot of heat. He added some Sriracha and that helped a bit. Both were obviously huge portions that either of us could finish. If you're in the mood for a big bowl of ramen - definitely check this place out!
(4)
Neel P.

Oiistar is serious fusion done right. They took Asian food and added a modern presentation to it. Aside from pure looks of the plate, the flavors are fierce which allows you to enjoy more and more of your plate, bit after bite. I had the Pollo bun which was amazing. We jay stopped in for small dishes but man, try whatever, you'll love this place. We definitely don't have food like this in Dallas.
(4)
Linh L.

The wait was terrible!!! How long does it take to bring us a bowl of ramen? You have the broth ready! Just add noodles and toppings! Ok now the ramen, ew. Bland. Noodles were good though. The pork belly was also not up to par at all. It tastes like boiled pork belly and then sliced then dropped into the bowl. I know because I make that to dip into fish sauce with my rice to eat with veggies. Don't waste your time here. I wish I went to Wasabi instead!
(1)
Elina S.

I came to Oiistar with my hubby on a Sunday afternoon around 3pm and I'm happy it was that time of day since it was 85% packed and we were lucky enough to snag a little wooden table because I can imagine the wait being a little ridic if we were to come on a Friday or Saturday night since it's not huge. They also have a few communal like tables so I'm happy we were able to get our own little private one. I've heard so many good things about this place and especially their ramen so I knew I wanted to try it out especially since I loved the ramen at slurping turtle. First things first, the atmosphere is really cute, all wooden has that asian feel to it that I really like, simplicity does it better as I've learned. I had to order their talked about sangria in those fancy mason jars, it was bomb! I mean, it was the cutest way I have ever drank sangria in my life, I absolutely loved it. So they get a star for ambience and a star alone for that sangria because other people should get those fancy mason jars on a glass stick. Now onto the food, we had to get the buns because they look amazing on the pictures. We ordered three different types to get a good variety of them on our plates and I have to say I didn't like any of them. They really lost me with those buns. I mean I felt like they were over done, the pork belly bun had way too much of this soy like sauce that it was almost drenched in it, and I wish they just kept it simple and clean with regards to a bun and the piece of meat. The tempura shrimp one was probably the best of the three we tried and again, over done with all these fixings that I would never order them again. I get they want flavor but I felt like it was over flavored and they should have stuck to one additional ingredient instead of like five. I like simplicity I should add. Furthermore, the duck one was just not doing it for me either so its a shame I didn't love any of the three buns I tried. Okay, onto the ramen, we got the modern spicy one and it was awesome. Thank you for redeeming those buns. The noodles were delicious, it was a large portion that could easily be shared between two people and we gobbled it all up. The broth was what made it fantastic, I couldn't stop drinking it so they get another star just for the ramen. Our server was pleasant so that's always a plus. Overall, I loved the ramen and sangria but appetizers are sooo important to me so that is why they don't get my additional two stars. Also, a tad pricey for what it is in this place. Overall, slurping turtle has my vote yet I haven't tried Wasabi yet but I guess I just like these places to also have sushi for a little more variety. Not sure if I'll be back unless I just carryout that ramen.
(3)
Christine H.

For some reason, Chicago has been awfully chilly in September, which however makes it the perfect weather to enjoy ramen at Oiistar. My friend and I came one Sunday evening. The waiter recommended ordering a bun and a ramen, so I ordered the Duck Breast Bun and the Oiimen. To be honest, the duck breast bun was a bit disappointing. The meet was kind of dry, and not really flavored. In addition, it was hard to figure out whether to eat the buns with your hand (like you would traditionally) or to eat the buns with forks and spoons. The sauce soaked through the bread part of the bun, making it very soggy, and almost unedible. The ramen, however, is divine. The broth was made perfectly. The egg had the traditional soft center. The noodles were the right texture. The only negative was that the pork belly was a bit dry, and not strong in flavor. Would I come back? Probably if I were in the neighborhood. However, I'll definitely skip the bun.
(4)
Sarah S.

Came here for an early dinner with a friend in the area. Interesting atmosphere. Modern but somewhat generic decor, rap music overpowering your conversation. Want to eat ramen and listen to 50 cent? Then this is your destination. We were promptly welcomed and told to sit wherever we wanted. The space is small but well laid out. We looked at the menus and then... waited... and waited. We waited for approximately 15 minutes, then when we were getting ready to leave someone finally came over. There seemed to be only 1 person working there - he apologized and explained that they were training staff. He seemed extremely irritated that no one was taking our order. He took the order and didn't write it down, came back a few minutes later because he couldn't remember. We tried the tonkatsu bun - pretty good. I prefer bao that is actually stuffed, but this bun was tasty. Also tried the pollo bun which was a big disappointment. It was kind of bland, and difficult to eat. Wouldn't order that again. Ramen camed out promptly. It was the same guy who originally took our order, who then proudly announced that he would no longer be our server. Unfortunately, we never did figure out who our server was supposed to be. We tried the traditional and the modern ramens. Consensus was overall that the ramen was good, but not great. Oiistar, it was an interesting experience but I won't be back. The noodles are decent,but not good enough to outweigh the hipster (lack of) service.
(3)
Paul C.

Came here after having some sore throat during my visit to Chicago. I needed something soupy, so I came in here for a bowl of ramen. Their food items are mostly fusion-styled, which I thought was really interesting. Anyways, I ordered a tokansu bun as an appetizer and a bowl of Oiimen. The tonkatsu bun was just so delicious! It was sweet, crunchy, chewy, and tender altogether. It was a perfect food to boost up some appetite before my ramen came out. The Oiimen was quite nice too! The broth was delicious - not too salty, just smooth. The toppings they put in blended really well, so it was an enjoyable meal. :) The complaint that I had was the price. Although this is Chicago that we are talking about, I thought $13.90 for my ramen was a little steep. I was honestly expecting $12 at most. But I still had an enjoyable meal, and I thought it was worth it!
(4)
Bao L.

This review is for the ramen only. I'm a bit biased when it comes to ramen, as I've had some of the best ramen (IMO) on the West Coast - from Santouka and Orenchi in Northern California to Daikokuya and Shin-Sen-Gumi in Southern California, to name a few. I always keep this in mind whenever I try to review or compare a new ramen place. I went here for lunch on a Tuesday. We walked in around 12:45 pm and there were 3 other tables of 2, so the place wasn't crowded at all (although when we left about an hour later, it was half full). My friends had been here before, so I was the only Oiistar newb in the group. I looked over the menu and decided to go w/ the Oiimen ramen. -Oiimen ramen: aside from the broth, I really wasn't too impressed w/ this. The broth is very clean and light, yet maintains a rich flavor. It's not too salty and was definitely the star of the dish. However, I was disappointed by everything else. The noodles were thin and stringy and lacked the chewiness that most of the other highly-touted ramen places have. Although I prefer thicker, chewy noodles (see Orenchi), I can appreciate thinner noodles, but I just wasn't a fan of these noodles at all. The Oiimen doesn't come with a lot of meat, so if you're a carnivore like I am, order extra. It comes w/ a scant amount of ground pork and only 2 pieces of small pork belly (I had to order an extra serving - 2 more pieces - of pork belly just to satisfy my meat requirements). However, I must say that the pork belly was delicious and had a great char to it. I love eggs with a runny yolk (again, see Orenchi), so I was ecstatic when my friends said that the eggs here had a runny yolk, too. However, the eggs here are already cut in half when they're brought out. This makes mixing the ramen together very cumbersome, because you run the risk of flipping an egg and losing all that yummy yolk-ness into the broth. My friends had the Chadolmen and the Tikkamen ramen. I tried their broths and they were very solid as well. If I come back, I'd probably order the Chadolmen ramen because the broth had a nice slight kick to it from the kimchi. Overall, I think Oiistar's ramen is just okay. Their broth is good, but everything else leaves much to be desired.
(3)
Mad I.

Oh. My. Gaaaaassshh! My new fav restaurant!!!!!!!! This place KILLS it!!! I wasn't sure after my disdain for Slupring Turtle, how this ramen would work out, but holy cow!! You have got to get it!!! The egg, in all of its -almost runny but not- glory, paired with perfect pork and a broth that is phenom! And those noodles! Yum! You could prb share one order, but why!? Onto the bao, oh man, best E-V-E-R! Tried the duck and the pulled pork, to die for!!
(5)
Yuri H.

Oiistar was a lovely place to celebrate an anniversary. It's a small and intimate place with great, friendly service. The oiimen was just all right. Maybe I had too high expectations, but the broth wasn't as flavorful as I thought it would be. I expected the noodles to be chewier. I was more impressed by the shrimp tempura bun. It was really flavorful, almost too flavorful. To sum up, I would come again but maybe try the chadolmen.
(4)
Angie K.

I'm turning Japanese, I think I'm turning Japanese. I really think so. Eating enough of Oiistar's yummy ramen and you'll be singing this song in no time. I see Oiistar as the spot for Japanese ramen without having to leave the comfort of hipsterville. You don't need to be experiencing Chiberia weather or feeling sick to crave the cool concoctions they whip up in these massive bowls. While I didn't look my most ladylike maneuvering chopsticks and slurping noodles off huge ladles, I enjoyed every minute of it. I had the veggiman (spicy veggie) and it was jam-packed with peppers, zucchini, tofu, avocado, lettuce, noodles and perfectly-spiced broth. It definitely cleared out all my sinus issues and even woke me up a little. Hubby had the oiiman (original) and couldn't even finish it. Portions are big, hungryman big. If you plan to have a whole bowl, you don't really need an appetizer. Or you can easily share a bowl and get something else on the side. I was being as greedy as a baby with a lollipop on my first visit but next time, I might share so I can explore more of the menu.
(4)
Vanessa Y.

It's a little bit pricey for ramen, but seeing that it's fusion in a super trendy part of town, I guess I get it. I'm used to really authentic ramen at $9.50 a bowl in LA though, so I'm spoiled. I got the Oiimen (classic) ramen, which was excellent! The broth was rich and salty, but not so much so that you can't get all the way through it. The pork and egg are perfectly cooked/seasoned and you definitely don't get the feeling that you've been shafted on pork, which totally happens at ramen places. I also tried a couple of the buns, which were also very tasty. Come early, or wait a long time!
(4)
Kelly R.

I was with my family in the middle of winter when we were looking for something to warm us up. We stumbled across Oiistar and decided to give ramen a go. Our waitress was really helpful and gave us newbies some recommendations. I personally really enjoyed the bun we tried and the ramen. Really quality place. Excited to go back soon!
(5)
Kim L.

We sat at the community table for dinner. It was a little loud and noisy but the food was amazing. We tried 3 buns : 6hr shoulder, pork belly and mushroom The 6hr shoulder and mushroom were the winners tho we did find the mushroom to be a tiny bit too vinagary The modern ramen?- broth and noodles were great, egg was perfectly poached Tuna carpaccio - heavy on the truffle oil, was amazing And duxelle- reminded me of a spin of a scotch egg for some reason loved the flavors and the avocado helped balance the flavors of the meat The atmosphere is a more trendy Izakaya, with loud music, reminds me of the days id eat in the oc Food was a 5, ambiance took one star away, overall great meal!
(4)
Nathan M.

I really liked the food at Oiistar, but unfortunately I got sick from eating the food today. Not sure there is ever an excuse for that happening, so I am forced to warn others & leave 1 star.
(1)
Eileen H.

Really don't care for this place and I don't suggest going out of your way to make a visit. I've tried the Oiimen ramen, Musclemen, duck breast bun, tempura mushroom and avocado, and fried garlic chicken. The ramen was decent but the broth was kind of meh and I would have liked the ramen noodles to be firmer. Duck breast bun was dry and the fried garlic chicken was so soggy from the sauce. Tempura was too heavily coated and the dipping sauce couldn't save it from the flavorless mess that it was. Oh, and, apparently 3's a crowd. I've brought 2 friends each time I've visited, and they always placed us at a tiny table for 2. At the last visit, we decided to request a table change since there were plenty of empty spots and we were so cramped from our shopping bags. The manager would not let us take a different table and insisted that we "wait to see if there was an evening rush". There was no rush, no one came in for another 15 minutes... and the next couple that walked in was placed right next to our table (presumably so they had an excuse not to push the 2 dinky tables together for us). If you want awesome ramen, I'd recommend Wasabi. It's the best ramen I've had in Chicago so far, although nothing beats the stuff from LA!
(1)
David P.

My new found quest for great ramen brought me to Oiistar...When I say new found quest I mean NEW! High-Five Ramen (H5) was the only ramen shop i have ever been to, while that was good the broth was too strong for me (salty?). The first thing I noticed was that it had a creamier appearance than H5 ( I had the classic Oiimen Ramen). When I started my slurp I knew right away I was going to like this. Slurp slurp slurp slurp slurp!, dude tried to come over to ask how is everything, "what...slurp" go away your f'n up my slurp...My head was buried in this bowl, thats some good shit...I remember at H5 i couldnt do that with the broth so I was on my phone, staring at the girl behind the counter's ass, who was coming and going everything but my ramen. Not the way it should be!!! I was digging my slurp and fearing I was becoming a slurpster! Do I dress the part? Act the part? Is this a new responsibility im taking on, I just dont know...Im going back into the bowl!!!The noodles were good, they seemed more wirery than H5. The only thing that wasnt as good was the pork belly, it was good but not H5 good. But its still the broth that does it for me, making this the best ramen ive ever had. In addition to the ramen I had a Goki Bun. WTF was that, some bbq pork on a bun with cream on it. Blech! Wasnt feeling that at all. But I came for the ramen just hoping it wasnt going to be so damn salty and I left a slurpster, thats a good thing. The atmosphere was modern and I had no complaints with the service. Overall Im sure there are many that do not have Oiistar at the top of their list for ramen. However this place just makes a really good bowl of ramen. Considering its on that popular stretch of Milwaukee in Wicker Park, which lacks ramen shops this place should be a heavenly refuge from Chiberia.
(4)
Sara T.

I've been to oiistar twice now. The first time I had gotten the oiimen which is their house pork belly ramen. It was good but not great. The only reason I came back was because it was the closest thing at the time and we were famished. Got the chadolmen the second time round which is their Korean kimchi style ramen. It was basically a Korean soup with noodles thrown in... Flavor was ok but I wouldn't call it "ramen." Pork belly buns are ok. Everything I've tried on the menu was just ... okay, nothing special.
(3)
Bill O.

We've been doing a lot of barbecuing as of late, and me and the Mrs. wanted to try something totally different. I was going through Wicker Park and I thought about an article regarding ramen. After being at the Emporium Arcade and Bar, my friend recommended Oiister to me. Good reviews on Yelp, so I headed over there. It has a fairly classic restaurant area with a small alfresco area. Service was very good, but the restaurant was pretty much empty. I was going to drive it back to La Grange Park from wicker park in Chicago, so no drinking for me, but it look like they had some good selections of macro beers micro beers and sake. When I got home we unpacked everything and took a look at our first Ramen presentation. I had the! Muscleman, and Ms. X a Tilkamen. I did think that Ramen would be like Japanese udon soup, but it wasn't like that at all. It is truly Japanese comfort food, and the muscles onion in the hot chili Pepper in the muscleman made me damn happy. X got the chicken Ramen and trust me, the breaded chicken thighs with the end with the bean sprout Nori and egg made her happy as well. The takeout was awesome, and we hope that in the near future we can go to Oiister and enjoy it's circuses as much as the food.
(5)
Tavi J.

4.5 Stars When my friend told me she was going to treat me out to dinner here I looked up the site and thought "wow were moving on up from those packs of Ramen noodles" and we sure did :) When we enter we were told to sit anywhere. I should have taken a pic of the table seating cause it's hard to explain. Sort of like wooden square box chairs with no backs. Totally not uncomfortable, but not the most comfortable either. We started with 3 buns to share (Tempura Shrimp, Goki, and Duck). All of them had very good flavor, but my favorite was the Goki. For our main entree we each ordered the Oiistar Classic Ramen. Okay.....so not like the package noodles at the store (not that my sophisticated self was expecting that) but I wasn't sure why grown people were paying $13 for some Ramen noodles till now. First off the noodles are made fresh and the garlicky broth was AMAzing! It was good on it's own, but of course I load it with hot sauce. When given the option I go crazy. The portion size was rather large, but I'd rather leave full than hungry. I plan to go back soon to relive my college days...or start my adult ones. lol...either way I'm hook!
(4)
Darren T.

Oiistar is a really good ramen place, I have been here maybe about 10 times in my life and I have enjoyed it every single time. I haven't had much here but the ramen, i do need to try their buns next time. Oiistar has a couple of different varieties of ramen, a "classic" with beef(?) and a "modern" with pork(?) (I might have mixed up the two types of meat, sorry) a ramen called the musselmen, which is self explanatory with mussels in it. Today my party ordered 3, the classic, the modern and the one with chicken in it (sorry I forgot the name). Per usual this place never fails me with it's quality of slurp. The ramen itself I think, even though I am no ramen expert was really good. The soup was not too salty, which I like because it will only make me super thirsty afterwards. We also came in right before they were about to close for at afternoon break (3pm), and the server Alex was such a good sport. I genuinely love going to this place, it's in a nice neighborhood with lots to do. The only thing that I cannot do is afford this ramen as much as I like. It isn't "cheap" the noodles range from $13-14.50 a bowl...compared to other ramen places this is a little expensive, maybe because of it's location...nevertheless this is a place I recommend.
(4)
Taylor R.

Finally went. My friend and I tried the pork buns and chicken wings (spicy), those were pretty good. Wings had a little too much sauce. Had their staple ramen, I was not impressed. Broth had little to no flavor... Disappointed.
(2)
Airen J.

Each time I have been to Oiistar I have had a great experience. It is great spot for the Wicker Park neighborhood, and I think worth the trip if you live else where in the Chicago area or in from the 'burbs visiting friends or family. Warning... there are slim choices for you vegans/vegetarians. Met eater will love it. I've dinned both inside and outside and bot are on par. Service was quick, but they do not make you feel rushed. As a fan of Ramen it is a great spot and if you have friends who have only eaten the 10 cent ramen package or "cup 'o noodles" from the vending machine it is a good way to impress! Oh! I personally did not drink them, but I am told by my guests that the house cocktails are excellent! Enjoy!
(4)
Christine C.

the buns weren't soft and chewy. the ramen was okay. the noodles were the perfect consistency. the service was good, staff was friendly. don't get the pozelman unless you like your face kicked with spice. it had too many peppers. and ramen shouldn't taste like that. it's clearly a non traditional ramen house. the classic ramen was alright. not delicious, not terrible. probably not going to come back here..
(2)
Natalie C.

Based solely on the food Oiistar would be getting a 3-star rating from me, however they have phenomenal service so I'm bumping them up to a 4-star dealie. Came here on a Friday at 630ish with a larger group (of 8). They had told my friend who had called to make a reservation that they were fully booked for that Friday night, but that if we got there earlier (before 7), we shouldn't have a wait. Ten minutes before the first of us started arriving, one of the girls called ahead to let the restaurant know we were all en route. I got there first, and saw that half of the communal table in the back had been 'reserved' for us (cute little VIP signs). Off to a good start. I was promptly greeted and brought my drink order (good selection of affordable beers and wines). While the rest of us trickled in, servers came and took drink orders promptly and professionally. One of my friend's even got the server to charge her iPhone in the back while we were eating (going above and beyond - thanks guy!). I got the Oiimen (traditional ramen) and an order of the duck buns. Both were good, however neither knocked me out of the park. Probably because I am biased towards the Spicy Miso Ramen at Wasabi, but what can ya do. At the end the server was AMAZING and let everyone charge their own items on separate cards. Eigh separate checks. Huge props to him - he was the best.
(4)
Regina J.

My gfs and I tried the pork belly bun, goki bun, and shrimp tempura buns for starters. I would definitely recommend the buns and would go back for them! They were so flavorful! I tried the chadolmen ramen as I like spicey dishes and my gfs tried the Oiimen ramen. I liked my ramen but my friends thought theirs was just ok. The homemade noodles are thin compared to other ramen places (but was ok for me), and one gf thought her soup base was bland. But I loved mine. I would definitely go back. I only gave it 4 stars based on my friends input of their Oiimen ramen dish. I can't wait to go back to try their avocado portobello fries and garlic chicken.
(4)
Mickey B.

I went there to try the ramen and left a huge fan of the spicy fried chicken. The oilman ramen lacked flavor all the way around from the pork to the broth and the noodles appeared to be angel hair pasta, not ramen. The service was not great. I made a mistake and asked about the fried chicken wings and the waitress told me they didn't have wings it wasn't until I showed her the pic of the fried chicken that she advised "like I said we don't have wings, we have fried chicken parts" and the male waiter ignored me until I kept calling him and yes he was aware that I was talking to him. I'm giving them a 3 star however because the spicy chicken was the best fried chicken I've ever tasted. It wasn't disgusting but it was a surprise based on all of the rave reviews. I was not impressed with the ramen or the service.
(3)
Raymond S.

Amazing. Came right after work and was empty, but started to fill after a few minutes. Ordered: Pork Belly buns BBQ Chicken buns Fried Chicken Ramen The buns were good but a little skant on the protein. The fried chicken wasn't amazing but better than the chicken I've ever gotten at places like this. The Ramen was good. Was my first restaurant ramen so I can't compare it to anything, but I'd get it again. I'll definitely be back, I just wish they had sushi.
(3)
Shereene M.

I wish we didn't order so much so I could remember everything. I do remember leaving FULL! I made a reservation because we had a big group and they were able to get us in the day of. Street parking isn't too bad on Milwaukee. Service is not the best but they are a small spot and very busy. We got both types of wings, some buns and ramen. The wings were ok. The two different sauces honestly tasted similar. The buns were all very good. None of them really stood out but it might have been because I was already stuffed. I got the original ramen which I had a few spoons of and then felt like I was going to burst! I wish I didn't eat so much because it was SO good. The server encouraged us to order wings and buns but I think it was all too much. Overall, the food was great but don't get pressured to order a ton!
(4)
Seth W.

A great meal for the price. My friend and I went on a Friday at 7:30 and got seated right away. We got big bowls of ramen, and three delicious appetizers including a particular memorable fried chicken dish, all for about $25 per person; overall, we had an excellent meal for that price. The restaurant has a cool atmosphere, with old Betty Boop cartoons playing on a loop on the wall as a nice, fun touch. I'll only deduct a star because, as other reviewers have noted, the ramen itself wasn't great. Good, filling, and ultimately satisfying, but not great. On food quality alone Slurping Turtle has this place beat.
(4)
Sarah Y.

Oiistar is my favorite ramen place in Chicago. It's a bit on the pricey side, but the product is good. Tonkotsu broth is fantastic, and the noodles are wonderful! These are straight egg noodles, with the perfect toothiness and alkalinity. On top of fantastic ramen, the cocktails here are super good! I had a mojito that tasted like summer in liquid form. I can't wait to come back to try more items!
(5)
Ajahnae H.

We came here based on a personal recommendation from a friend. After dining here, it's the best Ramen I've had in the city (compared to Slurping Turtle and Strings) and the price point is great. Service was great and our waiter was great to talk to and interact with. He provided all of our suggestions that night. We had a few things to eat, the Goki bun is a must try, the fried chicken (spicy) and two ramen bowls. We ordered the Tikkamen ramen and the Modern (sub out Pork) and everything was delicious and flavorful. The Flickr profile of all the dishes, particularly the Ramen is why I say it's the best I ever had. For all of that food, our bill was $52 and we were full with leftover Ramen;). I can't wait to go back but when this place gets more popular, I'd imagine a short wait for a table.
(5)
Lauren G.

Oiistar lacked passion, comfort and taste - the things a good $14 bowl of ramen should have! The buns we ordered (duck and 6-hour pork) were underwhelming and not cohesive. It tasted like someone doused the meat with sesame or peanut oil right before serving. The ramen was not deep or flavorful... It tasted like it needed more time on the stove. We got the classic and the mexican (VERY spicy) ramen. In all fairness, the pork was cooked nicely. It just didn't satisfy like we wanted it to on a cold Saturday afternoon. Oh, and the service was bad enough to mention. Our hungover server was fairly nice to us, but seriously rude to the three Asian guys sitting next to us at the bar. When one of them pointed out that his ramen was incorrect, the waiter loudly repeated over and over "Trust me dude, you didn't order that. I promise, you ordered what you got". Wow, hows that for customer service? To make matters worse, my boyfriend was up half the night with stomach issues. After all that, we won't be returning to Oiistar. I think other reviewers are right when they say this is probably a more American version of ramen. Who wants that?
(2)
Marilynn P.

Came here for our second #newjointcity meeting, and it was pretty cool- I'd actually give it a 3.5 star rating. Our group of 7 was seated at a long table adjacent to the bar. I ordered the tempura shrimp bun and the veggie ramen. The tempura shrimp bun was splendid- although I wasnt a huge fan of the doughy buns. The veggie ramen was just average- nothing special. The rest of the group seemed to enjoy their ramen and everyone seemed to enjoy the chicken wings. Note* the portion size of the ramen is quite large, so you could definitely share between two-three people.
(3)
Kitty R.

So we took a sabbatical from Oiistar - not due to the food, but because we got a *sigh* when we wanted to place a carryout order. I admit it. I'm slightly agoraphobic and I enjoy eating on my cute backyard patio under the myriad lights we have strung throughout the yard. But I had a hankering for their food and convinced my husband that we should try it again despite the fact they were lukewarm about take-out on previous occasions. They happily took our order over the phone (step 1) and 15 minutes later - we were back at home savoring all of their yummy offerings. New this time for us was the Tikkamen ramen which blew us away. Thank you, Oiistar, for welcoming us back to the fold. Even if I never see the inside of your restaurant, I heart your food always!
(5)
Teresa C.

Definitely one of best spots to have ramen in Chicago. Sad that I just discovered this gem.... I ordered the Oiimen. The broth was flavorful, and the noodles perfectly cooked. I love gooey eggs, and they did a great job with that. The ramen also had something crunchy that was delicious. I think it was fried garlic or something that made the ramen extra tasty. Paid about $15 in total for one bowl of ramen. Pricey, but hey, good enough ramen for me to be willing to pay that. I ordered take out, and the service was great. I was approached by multiple waiters to ask if someone took my order already. They provided water while I waited at the bar since they told me that the ramen will take some time. I did notice that they give you generous portions when eating at the restaurant, and so I was disappointed when I opened up my takeout bag and realized that what I got appeared to be less than the big bowls served in the restaurant. I do appreciate the fact that they separated the broth and the noodles. Not many other restaurants think to do that. I'm definitely coming back.
(4)
Jen K.

I have nothing but good things to say. Our wait was really long, but we did have a big group go. Lucky for us the location is solid so we went to the bar around the corner and had a few drinks during that time. Once we got there, I could appreciate the bright clean feel. The music was ridiculously good. We time warped with 90s hip hop the whole night. The service was great. Since there was a lot of us, it would be easy to lose patience but our server was incredibly nice. We ordered most things on the menu. I went for a lot of buns, which were prepared like no bun I've seen previously. Each one was delicious but my favorite was definitely the duck. Most of the people in my group were hungrier than me and went for the ramen, so I had no problem trying all of their dishes. My favorite was muscle one. Prices were fair and they were nice enough to help us split up the bill.
(5)
Dan P.

Pretty good overall. The bao were tasty but nothing earth shattering. The ramen was also tasty but it was mostly noodles and less of the more interesting items that could have really made the bowl stand out. The desserts were good. The creme brÃ»lÃ©e wasn't overly sweet and the donuts were pretty tasty and still warm with a nice little dipping sauce that made the dish.
(3)
Emily P.

The good- food was ok. Basic Ramen , the buns were pretty good, Sangria was fine. The food came fast which was great and our server was super funny. The bad- it is so loud it's almost unbearable. I guess that's good if you want to bring someone there you don't like? Around 9:45-10 we are wrapping up dinner when the staff starts breaking down the place and proceeded to mop. Lysol stank does not pair well Musclemen ramen. It was really uncomfortable since they don't close until 11. We felt very rushed and that part sucked. Would go back, maybe.
(2)
Dennis R.

Yelp needs half stars because 4 feels a bit low Came in on May 1st, it was rainy and cold, perfect weather for some hot soup. Well maybe a few other things too. Started off with the 6hr pork shoulder bun, the bun was nice and soft and it was overflowing with pork, onion, etc. The fried garlic chicken came highly recommended so we split the sambal style, what a hit. It came hot from the fryer, nice and crispy with the proper amount of sauce to dip it in. By this time we were worrying about being able to finish our soup. The oiimen arrived soon after, and since I'm a lover of all things hot I ordered a side of the suicide paste to add to it. I was a little apprehensive about spending $1.50 for a side of chili paste but it's highly concentrated and served two more uses after taking it home. :) It gave the soup the punch I needed, damn was it good. Did I 'need' to order the chicken? One may say no, but had I not then I wouldn't know to have more room next time.
(4)
Miranda W.

Great Ramen! I had the Tikkoman, which I thought seemed the least spicy of the ramen flavors. It turned out to be quite spicy for my taste, but I am a baby about spicy food. Buffalo Wild Wings honey bbq is the most spicy I can handle and enjoy, and this was spicier. The meat was crispy and I did not expect that. It was a great surprise. My fiancÃ©e had the original and he loved it. It was also very spicy. We also had the pork belly bun and it was amazing!! The sauce was so good! I wished it was larger Next time I want to try the donut Bao and I plan to ask for mild ramen.
(4)
Lee L.

Ooistar is an awesome gem on Milwaukee Avenue in Wicker Park. This absolutely delicious fancy Ramen joint offers up some really great food, and it also has a lot of aspects that I enjoy besides the food including charm, an open kitchen, and an owner with a great attitude. Ooistar has about 12-15 small tables, about 8 bar seats, and about 8 seats looking into the kitchen. The bar area is along the southern side of the restaurant, and the kitchen takes up the majority of the back half of the restaurant and is open for all to see. We ordered two buns, which were open face style, and they were exceptional. There was a nice smoky char on the duck, and I could've ordered whole set of buns as my entire dinner. Hehe. For the ramen, I ordered the modern (beef) and my partner ordered the traditional (pork). It was awesome to look into the kitchen and see the GIGANTIC stock pots simmering. You could watch them piece your bowl of noodles together, including a soft boiled egg topping off the artistic bowl of soup. The broth is extremely flavorful, and it's so jam packed with slow simmered care and goodness that the broth is opaque. I live up in Andersonville and I frequent the strip of Pho restaurants in Uptown at least once a week, and although I will always love Pho and it will be a frequent choice of mine for dinner, Ooistar has inspired me to add fancy and comforting Ramen to my repertoire for soup night. There is a fun energy about this place that is exemplified by the owner. Sunny Yim is the owner and the head chef, and when we walked in his hostess was a bit busy, so he came out and seated us. It's great to see a detail-oriented and obviously proud owner. We will be back. By the way, Ooistar is not an expensive restaurant. The cocktails are $7. There is no bottle of wine over $30. The most expensive Ramen is $14. People who would make the comparison that ramen is the cheap food of college students are also forgetting that McDonalds hamburgers cost $1 but they would gladly pay $14 for a good one at a fancy restaurant.
(4)
Nancy H.

Oiistar has been on my list, and we recently saw them on an episode of "Chicago's Best." On the show, Sunny Yim made house made ramen noodles from a very expensive electric machine! We had to try it now. We came in on a Wednesday night around 6:30 PM, and the restaurant was more than half empty. By the time we left, it was full. We ordered the tuna carpaccio, fried avocado & portobello, kimchee rice plate, and oiimen ramen. The first three items were good but nothing to rave about; however, we really came here to seek the ramen. If you're used to Santouka's thicker noodle and fattier broth at Mitsuwa, Oiistar's is different. The noodles are thinner (apparently is Hakata-style) although cooked correctly to a slightly firm/chewy texture, and pork fat is skimmed from the tonkotsu broth several times throughout the 18-hour process resulting in a not-as-milky broth. Read Kevin Pang's article here: articles.chicagotribune.â€¦ . The result is an overall lighter bowl of ramen soup, but it still maintains a really full flavor. It was very enjoyable! Bravo!
(4)
Anita M.

I came here for the first time last week and it was pretty busy on a Sunday night. We got lucky and were seated right away. I ordered one pork belly bao and for ramen, I got the Oiimen. Loved both! My only wish is that I should've ordered another bao because it was super melt-in-your mouth tasty as far as pork belly goes. Although it's a lil pricey in my opinion, it's still worth the try though! My bill was about $20 -24 ish for those two items and a soft drink but I did leave full. I loved the broth and thought the noodles were just the right thickness. Both important factors that ramen places need to succeed but don't always do. Our server was also super friendly, had good suggestions and full of energy which we loved. Will be back hopefully sooner than later!
(4)
Pueblo Y.

great staff, great service, great decor, food was excellent! the porkbelly bun melt in your mouth goodness. duck bun has a sweet spicy salsa to take it up a notch. OII classic ramen was excellent!!! Freshly made noodles
(5)
Jackie G.

The buns is where it's at! I have been wanting to try this place for awhile now. Food: Buns. we started with the goki and tempura shrimp buns. The goki bun was soooo delicious! We thought it was much better than the shrimp. I felt it was worth $3.95 a piece. Tempura battered portobello and avocado. This is where I think their service shined. I thought they were too crunchy and browned and without saying anything the server noticed and immediately had them get us a new batch. This didn't help me liking them though because I felt they were too "clunky" and bland. The pieces were waaaaaay too big so it was like eating a chunk of raw avocado. Not my favorite. Avoid! Musselman- my boyfriend felt this was good. Mussels were kind of on the small size but good. Kimchi chow- this was described to me to be like bibimibop. It was ok. I felt it was enough food for 3-4 people honestly and was kind of a "hot mess". Not my favorite thing. Overall, my impression was everything was average and if I went again I would stick to those buns! Maybe try the 6 hour pork one the server said was amazing.
(3)
May Z.

Oiistar is by far one of my favorite ramen places in Chicago. The environment is great and the staffs are really friendly. Their buns are exceptional! I tried the tonkatsu, pollo, and duck breast bun and they were all so delicious! If you're gonna come here to eat, make sure you order at least one bun! I've also had the chaldomen ramen. It is the perfect ramen to order on a cold night.
(5)
Sonya L.

This is one of our favorite places to bring guests who come to our neighborhood. Everything about the experience meets our hopes for a nice dinner out. Ambiance is clean and modern with some bar stool seatings and regular low tables. Get the buns. We eat the mushrooms buns given we are vegetarian. The sauce is so rich and flavorful. It is hard to find tastes with that much depth for vegetarians. We are also love that they meat all dietary restrictions. Veggie? Check. They have a veggie broth. Gluten free? Check. They have rice noodles. Meat eater? Check. Lots of animal options. Finally, I like the drinks that come in the cute glasses. All that mixed with your favorite peeps, you can't go wrong.
(5)
Ashley M.

Loved their take on Ramen, huge portions, great selection, broth was also savory. Service was excellent on an incredibly busy night, atmosphere was also great! Overall can't wait to go again!
(4)
Yen V.

The atmosphere is nice and the server was very friendly. I would give a 4/5 for their service. However, I was a bit disappointed in their ramen. I ordered the classic (pork belly)and wasn't impressed. The broth was okay but I really didn't like their noodles. The pork belly was okay but I preferred it to be a bit softer. I also had the pork belly bun, which was good but I would go easy on the mayo.
(2)
Meredith A.

Yum! I just finished an amazing bowl of tikkamen my belly is full and feels great. I enjoyed that there was a variety of different dishes on the menu. The staff was very friendly and nice. I'm happy there is a great noodle spot I'm wicker park! I will be back.
(5)
Stefanie B.

Best Ramen I've had in Chicago so far. The noodles make the restaurant stand out from all the others. It makes it different. I had the Oiimen Ramen and even all the different colors in the broth make this place unique. I also had a porkbelly bun that was yummy too! Only complaint is that the water taste like swamp water here so order a drink and don't drink the tap water. And the service was too laid back
(4)
Di R.

The BEST ramen in the city and the buns (which are more like deconstructed bao) are AMAZING! The beer pints are smaller than usual, but I'm a sipper so I don't mind. The pozol-men marries a rich and spicy pozole broth with ramen noodles. Must try!
(5)
Jessica A.

Cute, hipster neighborhood with lots of small shopping stores nearby. I'm from LA and a big fan of Japanese ramen and I must say I was pretty impressed with the ramen here. I ordered the classic ramen, full of flavor and spicy which I loved, this might be my new favorite ramen place ever. The pork belly bun was also amaaaazing I could have eaten endless amounts. The duck breast one was so-so, tasted more like lime and cilantro more than anything.
(5)
Andrea M.

What is all the hype about Ramen?!! I've made $1 express noodles in my microwave and slurped them down like a drunk person devours midnight tacos, getting them all over my face and hoping that no one is watching and wondering how many washes it will take to get the lurid fake turmeric coloring out of my clothes and face. So why should I pay $10 and sit in a nice restaurant for the same thing?!! So I launch into ramen world with trepidation. I am not disappointed and I have accepted that I will not get an oscar for my delicate eating of soup noodles but I will consider it a lifetime achievement if I avoid spraying my dining companions with beef broth. This kind of pressure is not welcome after a long day but I am determined to understand what all the fuss is about! Well here at Oiistar you will find a small but select menu, offering tapas style plates, ramen and steamed buns. I went for the Modern ramen and a pork belly bun. It arrived in a HUGE bowl with huge enthusiasm from our ginger-haired server who couldn't do enough for us even though he probably was wary of getting sprayed and covered in bean sprouts as I began my attack of the ramen! Delicious sliced beef, chillies, ground beef, bean sprouts and coriander hang out in what can only be described as the Florida keys of flavour. Thank goodness, my soul is restored from the cold wind and weather and this bowl of yum goes down great! Fabulous flavor, plenty of garlic, spices and a lovely touch of a perfectly boiled egg with a soft centre -delish!! My pork bun was an after thought. FATTY pork belly with meagre bits of meats slapped onto a flat bun with a too sickly sauce. It was left behind as an inferior companion to my newfound love of RAMEN!!! Niggles I would improve -the coriander came in big stalks and was a pain to slurp. I love the stuff so don't kill me when I don't have my trusty companions the knife and fork by my side. The music was also too loud. I love Snoop Dogg, but he put me off pace of ramen slurping and chatting at times. My eardrums and tastebuds banging at the same time is too much! I will definitely be back - bringing my own bib and face wipes! One day I hope to successfully eat it on a date... until then long-suffering and soggy broth splashed friends roll on up!
(4)
Pete B.

3.5 Pretty decent ramen, but slightly overpriced at $14 a bowl. A good addition to the ramen scene though. Pros: ramen! It's hard to find good ramen in Chicagoland! It's actually pretty decent. Menu looks interesting. Has a cool vibe. Lots of wood everywhere. Very Avec inspired. Cons: service was poor on a not busy Sunday night. The broth was not very hot, temperature wise. $14 a ramen. Come on, you are not Ippudo NY The ramen didn't fill me up
(3)
Peta K.

Overall, the food is pretty original and very flavorful. I was looking very forward to trying the vegetarian ramen which is piled with greens and looks great. I was pretty disappointed though to find red and green peppers and zucchini pieces as the veg of choice. Ramen? Classic vegs for ramen are classic for a reason...where were the bean sprouts? Bamboo shoots? Mushrooms? Nori? Huh? This was more like a ratatouille in broth than a ramen. Nice vibe and presentation.
(3)
Teddy X.

Classic ramon is the bestï¼
(4)
Tina L.

Wicker Park never fails for good eats. And this lover of ramen is usually not disappointed with a nice big hot bowl of slurp able ramen! Started out with the fried garlic chicken (sambal sauce, which is spicy). For those of you Koreans out there... It's basically ("yang nyam") chicken. Can't go wrong with that as an app! Beware it's quite spicy, which I love. But if you can't handle the heat, Don't say I didn't tell you so. So tried the classic Oiimen bowl. The pork belly was amaZeballs. So tender and juicy and perfectly soft and chewy. My favorite part was the broth: it's so thick and savory and just what you imagine pork broth ramen soup should taste like! Also tried the Chadolmen ramen. "Chadol" is the word for beef brisket in Korean. Wait, are we at a Korean place? I guess the owners are Korean so they're bringinga little Seoul fusion into a Japanese staple. Anyway back to the brisket ramen. It reminded me of "jjambbong", which is a spicy seafood noodle dish as Korean-Chinese restaurants. So refreshing and spicy but a little more substantial broth since it's a beef broth and not a seafood broth. They have cilantro in it too so it have am interesting kick to the overall flavor of the dish. If I had to choose between the two ramens that we tried tho...I'd have to go with the classic Oiimen bowl. There's just something about that thick, savory broth that is unparalleled.
(4)
Nathan G.

Just incredible went with the Oiimen, the classic ramen, for my first Oiistar experience and was blown away. So much flavor in such a light broth. The fresh ingredients, pork belly and noodles meshed so perfectly with the broth it was stunning how good it was. I also had the duck bun which was also very good as well as the Sambal Garlic Fried Chicken. I could ramble endlessly about how fantastic the chicken was, it's tough to decide whether that or the ramen was better. Cannot wait to go back!
(5)
Parth S.

Excellent vegetarian ramen! Very flavorful and filling. Better than many of the ramen places in Chicago. Highly recommend it
(5)
Chris F.

Definitely some hit or misses here but not bad overall. Okay Dishes: Chaldolmen - ramen with korean fatty beef flavor, supposed to have kimchee in it for some reason it was missing. This ramen was a bit too modern for me. If you enjoy Korean BBQ with your ramen, then you will love this one. Oiimen - this is your typical Japanese tonkotsu ramen (fatty pork broth). The ramen was good but there was just something missing that I can't point out what exactly. Its very close to a perfect tonkotsu but just missing that one thing that will take it there. Overall good product. Best Dishes: Musclemen - the spicy seafood ramen. This one is where Oiistar shines if you enjoy a spicy seafood broth. Will definitely come back for this one again. Oii Salad - arugula and cucumber salad with almonds and cheese in a super flavorful asian sesame dressing. The sauce was a bit overpowering but the combination of all the ingredients was on point. Definitely a HIT Misses: Duck Breast Bun - I like my food with some flavor and fat but this one was a bit too bland and lean for me. It dash of BBQ sauce would have made this dish so much better. Dessert: I have had all 3 desserts and I liked them all. Sorry not a big dessert guy.
(4)
Susan C.

I have been reading about this ramen craze in the west coast so I got excited to discover that we have ramen places in Chicago, so I dragged my old mother to try this trendy home made noodle ramen at Oiistar. We both had Chadolmen. It was too greasy for our liking, good fresh noodles though. All in all we had a good time people watching while slurping noodles, sitting by Milwaukee Avenue.
(3)
K B.

Very solid spot...4.5 stars, if available.
(4)
Jim L.

The decision to go to Oiistar: The line at Wasabi was too long so my friends and I decided to take the 10 minute drive down Milwaukee Ave to Oiistar. Wait time: The three of us came here and waited only about 10 minutes with 2 parties of 3 ahead of us. Atmosphere: When we sat down, the number one thing that irritated me the most was the super loud rock music that they had playing in the background. I know that having music played is OK, but please, I actually want to listen to what my friends and I have to say about what to order without shouting at one another. What we ordered: We decided to try from each category. For ramen, we ordered Chadolmen (Modern) and Oiimen (Classic). For bun, I ordered Pork Belly. For group sharing, we ordered Fried Garlic Chicken (Sambal). The review: The portions of the ramen were better here than Wasabi. They used a big bowl, gave us a big spoon, and a lot of soup. The Chadolmen has kimchi so it was a bit spicy. It got more spicy with every sip of the delicious soup. The Oiimen is the normal comparable salty soup ramen with pork meat that you get at Wasabi, Strings, etc. It was not bad, but I liked Wasabi more their ramen and chunky pork meat. The bun was small portioned and really give me a WOW experience. The Fried Garlic Chicken was spicy because of the Sambal sauce, but it tasted really well. Pro: A different type of ramen compared to the salty soup ramen everywhere else Cons: Super loud music, nothing really super extraordinary
(3)
Winnie L.

My friend suggested this place so I thought it is worth to give it a try. We were greeted by one of the servers and told us to sit anywhere we want. We picked a table not too far from the door. Server asked is shortly after we sat down if were want something else to drink other than water... were just picked up the paper thin menu. I politely told her that we didn't get to look at the drink list. She smiled and asked is to take our time. We ordered three different buns: pork belly, duck and shrimp. The tempura shrimp bun was greasy and the shrimp was overfried and loaded with chopped green onions. Will not order again. The duck bun was okay, also very greasy. Will not order again. The best out of the three was the pork belly bun, good flavor and not greasy. Not really sure why they serve the buns flat. I was not prepare to eat the bun like flat bread. We both ordered the oii ramen. The broth was good with just enough flavor but it is not rich enough in my opinion. I do not particularly like the texture of the ramen, it is stiff and not chewy. My stomach actually hurt for couple hours after eating there... unsure if it is indigestion from the stiff ramen. The pork belly is dry and firm, doesn't taste slow cooked to me. Again, There's a ton of scallion or green onions with the ramen. I prefer other ramen places over oiistar and do not believe we will return again.
(2)
Van C.

I had the musclemen ramen and it was great. It was mildly spicy which made it better. The muscles were small, but the overall ramen fills you up. The service is pretty good, too. If you don't want cup noodle ramen, this is the place to go.
(4)
Selena L.

First time here over the weekend with a friend. We shared the Sambal Fried Garlic Chicken and a Ramen, but I don't remember which one. Both were DELISH and flavorful. The portions here were bigger than other comparable restaurants. I would definitely go back.
(5)
Renee S.

The ramen was great. The service has much to be desired. Staff was nowhere to be seen entering at 5:45 ish (a non busy time) and we sat ourselves. Then no one came to our table to take our order for at least 15 min. The rice was overcooked that they gave us with hard pieces from the rice maker;( gross. I probably would only order take out.
(3)
Robert B.

Went in with three other friends. Two of us got the Oiimen ramen, and the other two got the ramen that starts with "chan" (forgot the name). We also shared the sambal fried garlic chicken. None of us really loved the ramen. The noodles weren't the usual ramen noodles. The taste was decent but for the price of $14, I would not come back again for it. The fried garlic chicken for $11 was also decent. Each of us had about 2 pieces. At one point it somewhat tasted like it was taken out of the freezer and microwaved.
(2)
Shari B.

This is one of my favorite ramen joints in Chicago. I had the oiimen ramen and it was creamy and delicious. The bf had the musclemen ramen and he was a happy camper. The buns were also great. I'll definitely be back to try out some of the other ramens and also to try the creme brulee.
(4)
No N.

The best spot for Ramen. Everything was very good in fact AWESOME! We sat on the stools watching the chefs make everything look so good! I went with 3 people and everyone is still talking about it! Can't wait to go back, cant wait to try the craft beers!
(5)
Mark C.

This place is stellar. There's like this Japanese-Asshole American fusion going on. There are only two cocktails so it's really easy to choose, if you're like me you know how daunting choices can be, who will I marry? who will I vote for? Turn down for what? I went with the vodka mojito drink instead of the sangria one. Water carafe was never refilled, servers seemed more interested laughing at the gay one, will deff be back. They let us split checks, was well worth it.
(5)
Ana B.

Ok price. Ok food. Didn't wow me. The place had a nice vibe.
(3)
angela h.

So much yum. Went with a friend and started with a bottle of wine, which they kept chilled on the table in a beer pitcher--works! We shared a couple buns (shrimp tempura and the goki). Both were so tasty. Then we had the chaldomen ramen. SO good! It was even better the second day. :9 Great staff, cute interior, nice patio with open windows to the inside. I'll definitely go back.
(5)
Sara H.

As a part Asian American, I'm always looking for new ramen shops to try. Oiistar did not disappoint with their large portions, and flavorful broths. We also started with the fried garlic chicken, which was so good I swear I have reoccurring dreams about it. It was slightly spicy, crunchy, and the almonds on top gave it a perfect nutty flavor. I'll definitely be back here before Summer.
(4)
Mark H.

You can dress a pig up but after all it's still a pig. Ramen is fast food like hot dog for the Asian culture. It's usually been a lite snack or a late night meal not a center point of a dinner. So, how this ramen joint is showcasing it amazes me. I guess if you can sell $ 10 Mac and cheese in other places why not. So, the decor is eclectic enough and slides well into Wicker Park community. Had their signature chadol ramen. The ingredients were fresh and of quality stuff but average in taste. A bit oily for me. But the most mentionable of this dish is...the price. It was quite alarming and almost highway robsville. Hard to justify when there are several tastier spots at a fraction of the cost. Also tried their beef buns. Actually a clever and tasty creation of a truly Asian taco fusion. Well made. I enjoyed that. Sadly, this will be a one timer for me. The wooden stools were also painful for me. The sangria thing was weird but interesting. The Sapporo on tap was proper but the beer glass size was a happy meal size for kids. Maybe I'm a bit harsh on this review but those of you that have been to the ethnically driven places where English is the second language... you already know where the amazing food and the value for the buck is at. Good luck oiistar. Heard you won awards on your freshly made noodles. Hope you reconsider the price points.
(3)
Rachel W.

Ugh the garlic chicken was so delicious I could have cried. The sauce was just the right kick of sour to the crispy chicken and j think the almond slices on top were a great touch. If you thought Slurping Turtle's chicken was good, well Oiistar's garlic chicken is out of this world. I had the Oiimen ramen as well and it was top notch. The broth, which I think is probably pork marrow of some kind, was complex and sooo fantastic. The pork belly was also perfection--the kind of meltiness that tastes like heaven. What a great dinner! I'm craving it again already
(5)
Rebekka T.

i'm a fan of the ramen, it's pretty good and a generous portion. a bit spicy, and thick, fatty broth. everything tasted fresh. however, the size of the tap beers was total bullshit. $5 for a 12oz Sapporo. the weird part was that the water glasses were 16oz and looked huge compared to the beer. why would put a tiny beer next to a giant water? also, the sangria comes in a totally ridiculous ugly glass which was a mason jar glued onto top of a crystal candle stem. i will give the ramen 4 stars, but the drink situation is wack.
(3)
Danny M.

On a weekend, we waited forever for a table. I was smarter this time and came on a weekday. The result? There was no wait at all and we were seated right away! What we ordered... Appetizers: -Duck Breast Bun: This was actually pretty good and my favorite one. I didn't really taste the duck to be honest, but it still was yummy. -Pork Belly Bun: This was good, but I am not a big fan of pork, and the pork is a fatty pork. Hence, it wasn't my thing, but still good for the most part. I perfect the duck. Ramen: The Oiimen is the only one I have tried here, so I can't really compare it to anything else. I got the Oiimen with the Pork Belly, which cost extra, but again, it was fatty meat...more fat than I expected. I end up switching with my gf who ordered the regular Oiimen with the Pork Loin, which has almost no fat. I like this more and in the future, I will stick to the regular Pork Loin. Anyway, as far as the broth goes, it was really good and it did not lack flavor. My only complaint was that they did not give everyone an equal amount of broth. My gf Oiimen had very little broth compared to ours and she ended up taking some of mine because she was out. Overall, this place is pretty good for ramen, but I had better. Also, the price, almost $15, is steep for ramen. It was worth a try, but for that price, I could get a really good meal elsewhere.
(4)
K R.

As parents, my fiance and I rarely get out for a date night, and when we do, we usually end up at the same places simply because we like to have a good time and the usual spots never disappoint. Last night, we decided to try Oiistar and we were not disappointed! Atmosphere: The decor is really simple, but perfect for a casual evening, or a dressy date night. Really chill and unpretentious. We ordered the sangria, which came in a nicely-sized mason jar atop a crystal pedestal for extra umph. Made for fun photos. The music was a mix of hip hop and alternative tracks and anime was projected right by our table. The servers all seem to do team service, which is nice if you want another drink on the fly. The food: Presentation was gorgeous. Prom the placement of the egg in my Oiimen, to the delicate placement of greens on the duck breast bao - it welcomes you to the plate. The flavors were well balanced with every bite. When I go to ramen shops, I tend to take half of the bowl home. This time, there was none left. Portions are also really great for sharing. My fiance's plate (I don't remember the name, bit it was a kimchee fried rice with pork belly, topped with spinach) was twice the size of what we anticipated it would be, so much so, that we were happy that the 2nd bao we ordered never came out. I can't wait to go again. This would be a great place to go with a large group if you want to have a food party and try everything on the menu. I also love that it's situated further southwest of all of the high-traffic Wicker park action. Thank you Oiistar!
(5)
Fei W.

Pork belly bun was well flavored and didn't feel too fatty. Properly cooked pork belly is definitely a treat. The oiimen ramen broth was delicious and the soft boiled egg was perfectly cooked. The pork was superior to Wasabi, though I prefer the noodles at Wasabi. There's something a bit off about the noodles in the ramen. Too thin or something? Still a good bowl of ramen and worth stopping by for.
(3)
Helen Z.

I came here with 2 friends and was a bit disappointed by the ramen. It wasn't as good as some other places around Chicago, like Slurping Turtle or Wasabi. We ordered the Fried Garlic Chicken, Oiimen, and Chadolmen. The Fried Garlic Chicken was amazing! It came in 6 pieces and tasted like Korean fried chicken. The sauce was really good too. I ordered the Oiimen, which was ramen in Tonkatsu broth. It was less flavorful than I expected. It definitely doesn't match up to Slurping Turtle's Tonkatsu in terms of flavor. It tasted kind of bland, to be honest. The noodles themselves weren't too great either. I don't think they were the classical Japanese ramen noodles. They were thinner and not as chewy. The noodles weren't as good as the ones from Wasabi. My friend described them as pasta noodles. My friend ordered the Chadolmen, which was ramen in miso broth. But she said she couldn't taste the miso and the more she ate it, the more it tasted like bibimbap in soup. There was kimchi and other vegetables normally found in bibimbap in the Chadolmen. We found out later that the owner was Korean, which would explain the Korean influence in the food. I wouldn't recommend going here if you're looking for authentic Japanese ramen. The service was pretty good though. The servers were all very cheerful and friendly. There's plenty of space and it wasn't crowded when we went around 6:30pm on a Tuesday. The lights were way too dim for me though. I get that they're trying to create a hipster atmosphere, but it was just too dark.
(3)
Rakesh M.

This was a nice find. The buns are tasty and my wife tried the ramen, it was pretty good. Decent beer selection, and the creme brulee was very tasty - which was surprising since this isnt the type of place you would expect to find that type of dessert. Very affordable.
(4)
Holly O.

I'ma be real here: this place is pricey and I don't get the concept... It feels hip/trendy, but they play old fashioned cartoons on the wall? I don't understand. Also, it's really pricey for ramen... BUT... it's REALLY good. So whatcha gonna do? Go back, is what I did. A few times now. The Pozolmen is great, but my fave is the Oiimen with pork belly. Yum-o. Good drinks - in cool glasses, good beer, etc. So yeah, they got me.
(3)
Mink L.

Went to NY recently and visited Totto and Ippudo and this place goes head to head. Noodles were a little different than ramen noodles I am used to but needless to say, it was good . Friends and I ordered the musclemen, oiimen, and the chadolmen. All were very good. Our appetizers , which included 5 buns, tuna carpaccio, and fried pork were all tasty. Duck buns were my favorite but my friends loved the shrimp tempura bun. This place is a must try! Ambiance, service, food all five stars!
(5)
Annemarie S.

Excellent food. I ordered the Tikkimen and it was so flavorful. The noodles were spectacular. The chicken in the entree was the star of the dish. My friend had the ramen with the kimchi and she said that it wasn't as spicy as she expected which she said was a pleasant surprise. Our server had a bit of an attitude towards me, but was absolutely pleasant to my friend. Oiistar is great for smaller groups, but not so great if you plan on packing it in.
(4)
Brian L.

I was seriously craving ramen this weekend so I had to get it twice! It had a lot of good recommendations from my friends. Its definitely located in an awesome location too (especially if you are a hipster) in the middle of wicker park. I knew I liked it the second I walked it. It has a cool ambiance with modern/minimalist furniture. Apparently its a Korean owned Japanese Ramen shop, so you can see hints of Korean in the menu. Maybe the biggest surprise is the huge jug of Sangria that is sitting on the counter. Highly Recommend. ^_^b I got the classic ramen and the pork belly bun from here. I appreciated the pork bun, but it was a bit messy. The bun was pretty much falling apart by the time I got it. The sauce had soaked through the bottom, BUT it also meant that they gave me a lot of pork belly. Always a plus. I wasn't overwhelmed by how awesome the ramen was. The soup base was good and the ingredients were fresh. The noodles are the straight ones, which I am not a huge fan of. I think the curly ones are able to hold more soup in them, and are usually more springy. Maybe I'm just getting picky because it was my second bowl in 2 nights. The spicy seafood ramen that my friend got.... now thats a different story. Flavorful and unique! highly recommend. All in all, yes I would recommend this place. If I was in the area, I would for sure go.
(4)
Patty C.

I got in right before the lunch rush, literally. I walked right in and got a seat, and then 15 or so ppl came in to wait by the door. The food is pretty good, but the service was a little slow. I had the pork belly bun and the Oiistar ramen. Both exceeded my expectations as I've been terribly disappointed by Wasabi, and a whole slew of other recent pop-up ramen places.
(4)
Yan L.

Love this place! It's just down the street from me. The ramen is delicious and perfect for the usual Chicago winters. I've tasted every bao in the menu and they're all good. My favorites are the pork and the cod. My only gripe is that the desserts could be better and bigger so that they're shareable.
(5)
Nguyen L.

I enjoyed both the modern and traditional ramen a lot. Good broth, good noodles, good toppings. Hip place and atmosphere, of course, since it's wicker park. A little pricey for noodle soup imho, but it seems that all the ramen places cost as much.
(4)
Brian R.

I am giving this 5 starts because of the food. It is not as thick as Udon I have had from Tokyo. A little sweeter. I am a big fan of Taiwanese (korean?) infused contemporary Japanese cuisine. I can't wait to take my friends from around the globe here to see if they like it. For me, it was flavorful fun. slurp slurp on...
(5)
Leslie O.

Good food but unfairly charged on hot tea. It is our first time there. The buns and noodles were tasted great. But be careful how they charged a cup of hot tea. We ordered two cups of hot tea. Then we asked for more tea. We thought the waitress would add hot water to our tea cups. Wrong! She brought us another two cups of tea. We were wondering why did she add hot water. It turned out they charged us double. $10 for 4 cups of tea!!! Despite of this issue, we definitely will go back.
(3)
Jennifer P.

My +1 suggested this as a dinner locale, as he'd been here on previous occasions. I have to admit I was stoked for fresh ramen (never had it)! At 7pm on Saturday, there were two table choices: directly in front of the door or by the front window. I chose the latter. There wasn't a draft or chill as other reviewers mentioned. The place is pretty cramped. A server (who ended up being OUR server) buzzed in front of me as I was returning from the washroom and then leaned over the table/bar area, sticking out his foot into the aisle. I accidentally bumped into his leg and apologized, but he gave me a seriously dirty look. For starters, we ordered the Tempura Cod and the Pork Belly Buns. I didn't try the pork, but enjoyed the cod. It was thick, juicy, and steamed, but only crispy on one little end. Not quite what I expected as far as "tempura," but good nonetheless. My date ordered a sangria and I had hot green tea. It was very weak and was never refilled. The ramen was HUGE! My date ordered the Oiimen ramen and commented about how much he enjoyed the milky broth. I had the Spicy Veggimen but didn't find it spicy at all. It was hot and delicious with lots of veggies, though! The tofu was a little underwhelming, only having being seasoned liberally with pepper. I did have enough for leftovers, which they boxed up for me. Needless to say service left much to be desired. We were checked on once and asked about desserts, but I would have rather had my drink refilled. My date commented that our server was kind of rude and seemed to have an attitude. In all it was pretty decent first time "real" ramen, but not the mind-blowing experience I was hoping for.
(3)
Keith S.

I'm usually pretty liberal when it comes to any Japanese restaurant that isn't a sushi joint. It's great to have more options for ramen and other non-sushi dishes. That said, I wasn't very impressed with the food. I had the Goki & Pork Shoulder buns. They looked great. They tasted ok. Not bad. Just ok. Most everyone else ordered various ramens. Again, they looked great yet we all agreed there was just something off about the noodles. They were far too pasta like. I did really like the interior/atmosphere. They could stand to put a curtain up at the door to prevent the arctic breeze from rushing in on everyone. Service was great. Also of note, they offer beer/wine only. No spirits.
(3)
Kyle D.

The good: Amazing food. The buns were great, and the ramen was delicious. Extremely filling and tasted great. Service was friendly and knowledgeable. The bad: Bad lighting. Was basically eating in the dark. Not BYOB. The prices are pretty steep for what you get. $22/per for lunch is a little high in my opinion. The menu is good bu there could have been more choices. Overall: Very good ramen spot in Wicker Park. Not the best I've had, but it's pretty great tasting. A little pricy though. Atmosphere: 7/10 Service: 8/10 Food: 8/10
(4)
Amanda P.

Things you should consume here: -Sangria -MUSHROOM AND AVOCADO "FRIES." So effin' good. Don't ask me about any of the other things there. The above is all that matters to me. Cool little spot.
(4)
Lily Z.

I came here today with a friend. We ordered -Duck buns: soft bread but needs a kick of flavor. The micro greens were nice, but would have liked some heat or something. -Spicy pork spare ribs: flavorful but overdone. It was pretty tough to eat and I was really hoping for some floss after the meal. -Musselmen: noodles had a nice bite, which I expected since they're homemade. It was decently spicy which made me really happy. The portion would have been enough for 2 small bowls. The mussels were chewy and I was a bit worried that they were going to be overdone, which they weren't. Broth wasn't too milky/creamy as compared to other ramen places. -House mimosa: the big jar by the bar is impressive but it didn't wow me. Friend ordered the veggie ramen which looked quite good. It wasn't a cop-out ramen dish. Overall, we enjoyed ourselves. I wished the music was a little softer because it was hard to hear the person in front of me. Also, the service could have been a bit more attentive. Maybe it was because we came right when they opened? If I wanted seafood ramen, I would go here. But if I wanted a milky pork ramen, Wasabi is still better. Total meal was $64.
(4)
Sach M.

A big fan of the Ramens here but not too much of the service - not that it is the worse, but could certainly be improved. In all the different Ramen that I have tried here, I love the soup base they have. Oiimen is my most fav.! I've a special love for Spicy Veggimen and Tikkamen too. Besides the Ramens, the chicken wings and the buns are good too. And a special shout to their good beer collection. Will continue going back :)
(4)
Sara P.

Sunday late dinner with my boyfriend. Oiimen(classic) was what we ordered. We also had duck breast, Pork belly and portobello mushroom for the appetizers. We Love duck breast the most. I also like the music here! I give 4 stars because of we were standing out there, waiting to be seated for a while. Until our server ( Richard) beckoned us to get seated. Credit to him! He was nice and patience to us. The food was actually quick though. I would go back again!
(4)
Johnny R.

Absolutely fantastic food. I've gone here a number of times and tried just about everything on the menu. Every bun we've gotten for apps were outstanding and the ramen is unbelievable. My favorite ramen is the musslemen but you can't go wrong with any of the dishes. The only bad thing about Oiistar is the service which is unbelievably slow and all around awful.
(3)
Jeremy P.

Clevelander in Chicago over the weekend. I had the Spicy Veggimen and it was amazing! Fresh veggies and the tofu was on point. I was with a friend who has a gluten allergy and they were able to substitute the noodles with rice noodles. I will definitely be back.
(5)
Sarah J.

Just yes. Everything was unreal. You must try the Berkshire pork belly bun! The goki bun, pollo bun, and the classic oiimen ramen were also incredible. Music is also fun and upbeat, wait wasn't horrible.
(5)
De Ann W.

I am from the Bay Area so I've had some of the best ramen in the U.S. (I think). I also love noodles and was curious to check out the different ramen spots around my area. Here is what I've come up with: The baos are good, we ordered the duck and the beef bao and the beef was definitely better. The duck was maybe too greasy so the bun itself sort of fell apart but the flavors were there. The beef was just better overall. We also got the traditional oiimen pork belly ramen, which probably should've been named "untraditional ramen". The noodles are a bit thinner and not as chewy as traditional ramen noodles. The broth was good-- not overwhelmingly salty, thick or fatty. I prefer a thinner ramen broth though, so it just depends on what you like. I do wish the noodles were the traditional thick, chewy ramen noodles. Service was alright, we didn't get a friendly greeting upon entering, actually the staff working that night seemed annoyed we even came in. I thought it was because we came in close to closing time but it was only about 7:30 and it wasn't busy. Regardless, our actual server (who kept us waiting for a little longer than I was happy about) was okay. Nothing to complain too much or brag about.
(3)
Yoel J.

There are so many ramen spots in Chicago lately. My friend found out about this place, so we gave it a try. The first impression was of a cute cozy interior. The problems began after we were seated. The floor was very dirty and one of our chairs wasn't even wiped with food bits still stuck to the surface. The floor really looked like it had not been mopped in awhile. The menus they gave us were all stained. I don't mind grease pits that boast great food, but if a place if going for an image of clean, it should be. Completely unappetizing way to start a meal. I tried the fried cod bun as my appetizer which was edible, but not much more. For my ramen, I tried theoiimen (classic). The broth was nice and I liked that they seem to use house-made noodles. But the noodles were, unfortunately, undercooked. They had topped it with sliced pork that was too thin to be appealing. The soft boiled egg was a little off. Kinda like it was par-boiled and set aside for 15 to 30 minutes before use. This place has so much potential to be good, but this last visit was a fail.
(2)
RJ W.

OK, I am slowly falling in love with this place. Just really good food, service has always been kind and attentive. Pricing is what it is and we are good with that now. If only they could upgrade their wine options......
(4)
Andrew V.

To echo what others have said: * Very good ramen * Good buns * Sub-par service... We tried both classic and modern oiimen and were not disappointed. Pork belly buns were good too. A couple people on the wait staff seem almost annoyed by the presence of customers. The service wasn't particularly bad, just borderline New Jersey hospitality. Cooks were friendly. I'll likely return for the ramen!
(4)
Erin Y.

The ramen here is pretty decent. The tonkatsu broth is delicious- so rich, creamy, and flavorful. Tonkatsu ramen is my favorite, and Oiistar does not disappoint here on the soup. The noodles are just okay. A little too thin and soft for my taste, but some people prefer this. I like mine thick and chewy. The soft boiled egg was perfectly cooked and the mushrooms were a nice touch. The pork belly that came with was delicious, but I had the same meat at Ramen Misoya and it was much, much better. However, the spoon they give you to eat the ramen is awesome. It's a small ladle, but it's perfect! We also shared some buns for the table, but I wasn't impressed with these. The bun itself was just okay, not very fluffy or soft, and there wasn't enough meat inside. Overall, it's worth coming to Oiistar for the Tonkatsu broth. I was underwhelmed by everything else.
(3)
Lisa H.

A newly opened ramen place is a must try for me. I'm guessing it was also for a lot of other people because the wait was over an hour. The place was pretty small, so you couldn't blame them for not being able to accommodate the large weekend crowds. But I do appreciate the host taking down our name and number so we could walk around until he called us to inform us our table was ready. My friend and I ended up sitting at the bar. The menu was small and pretty straight forward. Our waiter was very nice and attentive, even with the large crowds. We started off with some sangrias and duck breast buns. The sangrias was nothing special, but the duck breast buns were amazing. The texture of the duck wasn't dry or chewy, it was just right. The different ingredients complemented everything well. For our main entrees, we decided to split two different ramens: oiimen (pork, egg, and tree ear mushrooms in a garlic broth) and muscleman (muscles and onions in a spicy chili broth.) The noodles in both was cooked perfectly by having the right enough chewiness. I enjoyed both ramens, but if I had to choose only one I would recommend the muscleman. It had enough spiciness without overpowering the natural flavor of the muscles. Overall I enjoyed Oiistar, but if you are looking for traditional Japanese ramen then this isn't the place for you. The ramen here does not offer any of the authentic flavors Japanese ramen does. Oiistar took ramen and gave it an American spin to it. Also, this is one of the most expensive bowl of ramen I have ever eaten. So I wouldn't be coming here often, but I would still recommend to give this place a try if you haven't yet.
(3)
Regina M.

Like! Really cool place and delicious food! I would give them 4.5 stars (: The buns are phenomenal! I've had the oiimen ramen and the musclemen and they were both amazing!
(4)
Hana Y.

I see people walk by this restaurant and consider going in...my advice to you: TRY IT! I love Korean food, and this fusion option is just amazing. The ramen is great, the kimchi is out of control good, and the buns are all must haves. Especially the bbq chicken bun. The prices are also amazing! When I went for the first time, my fiance and I actually ordered seconds of everything because it was all so fabulous. You can't beat Oiistar!
(5)
Sam M.

First a caveat to this review: the star rating is a combined score on two experiences. The dining-in experience was great (4 Stars). The take-out experience was absolutely awful (1 Star). First the dining in experience: We ordered the oiman ramen, mushroom and avacado tempura, and a couple of buns. Overall the food was great; The ramen is fantastic, some of the best I've ever had, and the portions are huge. It was a nice casual environment that would be great for a date. Service was a plus, too. Overall a very good experience dining in. After my first experience I was craving ramen and decided to order for takeout. Unfortunately, it was one of the worst take experiences I've ever had...ever. The ramen was a much smaller portion, was packaged poorly, and spilled in the bag. I also ordered a tempura dish and the ahi tuna. Both had a cold rubbery texture. It's so bad they'd be better off not offering take out. In summary, if you are going out to eat, this place is worth a shot. If you are looking for takeout, avoid at all costs.
(3)
Mike K.

By far the best ramen I've ever had and my favorite restaurant in the city. No kidding, I typically try to get me some Oiistar on a weekly basis. I can not tell you how devasted I was one night to go get some ramen to find out the restaurant was closed that week for vacation. So here is what you do when you get there: -- Beer (or hot Sake in the winter) --Tempura Cod bun --Chadolmen ramen The Chadelmon is absolutely incredible... particularly the broth. I cannot reccomend it enough, and all other ramen bows to it.
(5)
Bonnie L.

Delicious ramen! I enjoy going to Oiistar when I crave Japanese miso ramen. I went to other places and think this place by far is great and not that salty. I think that the appetizers can be a little expensive but usually we go for the ramen. It can be a little messy even if you get a large soup. I recommend wearing someone that it dark or something you don't mind getting spots on.
(5)
Claire S.

Best and most creative ramen I've had yet in the city. To be fair, I've only tried Slurping Turtle and Ramen-San, but the mussel ramen I had a Oiistar definitely surpassed those I've tried at the other two (chicken at Slurtle and crab and mushroom at Ramen-San, respectively). I had a take out order and I also got a mushroom bun. It was extremely flavorful and quite filling--I ended up eating that and about a third of the ramen before getting full and still had a great heaping of ramen (nicely packed by Oiistar in separate containers, which I now understand is standard!) for lunch a few days later and just as delicious. Great garlic and scallion flavor with a kick. Granted, I love mussels, but I think this would be a great dish to try for someone who doesn't necessarily consider themselves a traditional mussels person. Will definitely be back during the cold season! Caveat-agree that it is pricer (bun and ramen came to around $20), but if you are in the market to spend that much and get 2-3 meals out of it, the food quality is really good.
(5)
L S.

my fav soup place in the city, hands down!
(5)
Olivia D.

Went here for a lunch date today and had a great dining experience. We started with the Duxelle which was decadent and delicious, I could've eaten this for my entree it was so good. Next we tried the duck breast bun, which the boyfriend really like. We each got ramen bowls for the main course. The broths for both dishes were rich and flavorful!! Mine had chicken and his had pork belly. The chicken was crispy in the broth and his pork was tender. I thought I couldn't eat anymore but then the desert came. The donuts were fried and came in a paper bag full of sugar so you shake the bag and dip your sugar donuts in a creme fresh sauce. It tasted like new Orleans beignets. Overall it was a great lunch experience, I will definitely be back!!
(5)
Bart T.

I had their latest noodle dish (can't remember what it was called but it was the first item under the noodles section) and it was fantastic. I liked it better than anything I've had at Urban Belly and I really like Urban Belly. We also had the Tuna Carpaccio which was perfectly seared and I had a side of the kimchi which was very good as well. For dessert, we split the poached pear. That was good also but the highlight was definitely the noodle dish.
(5)
Eric S.

Absolutely fantastic ramen. I've been here several times and had all of them (never tried anything else on the menu) but am always amazing by how flavorful the broth is. My favorites are the musselmen, tikkamen, and spicy but I've loved them all. They are also an incredibly good deal, $10-14 for a giant, filling bowl and they don't skimp on the ingredients. I've seen some people call this place expensive, which makes zero sense to me. The ramen bowls are just about the best deal in town. And the executive chef is really friendly. He always says hi to me and asks how things are when I'm at the bar.
(5)
Emma S.

While Fat Rice is getting all the hype right now, it is a mystery to me why it is not Oiistar making all the headlines instead. They beat them in originality, service, and most importantly flavor. The flavor in every dish is amazingly intense and everything works well together. The buns are all a great example of how well these guys know how to pair flavors. The ramen and cold noodle dishes are also equally delicious. I will definitely be frequenting this place all winter long.
(5)
Addie P.

Decent ramen, good buns, tasty sangria. The service was meh. The place was pretty much empty and it took forever. Finally when the food came, my boyfriend's food came about 7 minutes before mine. And my bowl had twice as many noodles. Just generally inconsistent. I thought it was overpriced as well. Not worth $60. Won't be returning.
(3)
Gideon B.

Just finished a great dinner. Try some of the sticky buns. I had Tempura Shrimp and it was fantastic. My wife had the Oiimen Ramen noodle. The soup was sweat and tasty. I had the Pozolem and it was hot and maybe a little too salty. The noodles were good but not the best. This is a place to go on a cold night.
(4)
Lexie V.

All I wanted was a go-to ramen place in Chicago. I'm a huge ramen fan. I am obsessed with Daikokuya and I also love Shin Sen Gumi, Ippudo, Santouka and Toto. I was so happy when my mom told me about the Tribune article about Oiistar. Chicago was not only FINALLY getting a good ramen place, but it was opening right down the street from me. Unfortunately, Santouka in Arlington Heights is still the nearest place for a great ramen experience. The service was AWFUL. I mean AWFUL. I felt bad for our waitress because she seemed overwhelmed, but there were so many rookie mistakes made that I couldn't overlook it. The people who sat at our table 15 minutes after us got their drinks and water about 15 minutes before we did. WTF? How does that even happen? Service was excruciatingly slow and out of order. We finished out appetizer before we even got plates or silverware. My boyfriend got his ramen 10 minutes before I got mine. At that point I just wanted to leave, so I asked for a to-go container. That was another 20 minute commitment. The busboy took away all of our dishes before I was done eating. It felt like hours before we got our check and were able to get out of there. Our waitress apologized, but I just wanted my $54 dollars back and wished it never happened. Oh, yeah, $54 for 2 people to have ramen, an appetizer, 1 tea and 1 sangria. I can think of at least 20 places within a 5 mile radius that would be much better to spend that kind of money at. Additional complaints: -I ordered the Oii white tea thinking it would be something special considering the name. It was Tazo. -I normally don't mind communal seating, but I literally had to listen to three women shrilly scream about the dog from the Real Housewives the entire length of time it took to eat our appetizer. Not even a main character, but the dog. Their oppressively inane conversations were so loud that I found it nearly impossible to focus on anything except for their consistent word vomit. They only ceased their idiocy for a moment, which was when I (finally) got my ramen. They all stopped and stared at me and talked about me and my food as if I couldn't hear them. I felt like I was the subject of the worst David Attenborough episode of all time. 2 stars because the food wasn't bad. Ramen is really easy to fuck up, but the veggie ramen I got was quite good. By the way, it is not that spicy. This is coming from someone who couldn't handle the tanginess and spice of ketchup until I was 13 years old. If you can handle Frank's Red Hot Sauce you can surely handle the spice in the 'spicy' veggie ramen. Still, I will never crave that ramen the way I crave Daikokuya or Santouka. I really wanted to like this place but I will never feel compelled to spend that kind of money for that kind of experience again. I was so disappointed that I let my friends know not to even waste their time at Oiistar.
(2)
Melissa H.

Chef Sunny Kim read my mind when he opened Oiistar! Ramen + Hip Hop. From what I've read, this is the only ramen shop in the city that makes their noodles in house (on a $65k machine imported from Japan no less). We are going back until we have tried everything! Only wish it were a bit bigger to accommodate all the people that are going to be lining up to eat here!
(5)
Di L.

My search for the best ramen in Chicago is over. I got the Musclemen and found it to be on par with the best ramen I have ever had (in San Mateo, California). Chewy noodles. Rich, flavorful broth that was nice and spicy (reminded me of Sichuan cooking). Muscles were tender and fresh. Will definitely be back to try the rest of the ramen. The service was not well timed, but they gave us a free round of sangrias to make up for it.
(4)
Suzy D.

My husband and I came here for dinner after massages at the Pain Stop down the street. We came around 5:30 on a Saturday and we had the whole place to ourselves. We started with 4 baos: duck, 6 hour pork shoulder, goki, and the fried shrimp. I really enjoyed the bao, especially the pork shoulder and the fried shrimp. Then we each ordered the oiimen. We had high expectations when they brought out our ramen, but sadly the ramen did not blow our minds. The broth was not as rich and porky as the broth at Santouko (in Mitsuwa). Also the onsen egg was kinda blah, not as rich as usual. Also the slices of pork were a little too lean. The noodles were decent and still had good bite, but still we found the ramen to be just average. However, this ramen is definitely better than the ramen at the Slurping Turtle. We still haven't tried the ramen at Wasabi, so we will have to try that because our friends have been raving about it. However, so far, our favorite ramen that is driving distance from Chicago is the ramen at Santouko. Service was very friendly and we liked the layout of the restaurant. We would like to come back and try some of the other dishes, besides the ramen.
(3)
Amanda P.

duck bun.
(4)
Daniel A.

Positives: Decent vibe, friendly staff, clean kitchen where food is prepared right in front of you (i'm a sucker for that), and solid sangria Negatives: Food was just meh - isn't that the most important thing? The broth was ok, not very spicy, and the noodles were either undercooked or just not that tasty. I thought the pork belly ramen at wasabi was better. I would have given 3 stars until I checked my bill and noticed they added $1.50 for some spice that I requested to make the broth spicier. I think it's unacceptable that they charge for something like that in the first place (i kind of equate it to red pepper flakes at a pizza joint), but they didn't even tell me there was a charge! Poor form, Oiistar.
(2)
Grace E.

Oiimen, Tikkamen...ohhhhh men so delish!!!! Espresso Caviar creme brÃ»lÃ©e so unique!! The tonkatsu, saltimboca, pork shoulder and 6 hrs pork shoulder on a white bun gets you filled and wanting some more. The ramens are nothing that I have ever tasted before. Better than slurping turtle. Love the ambiance.
(5)
J H.

The food here is pretty good, the service is so-so. I had the modern and my kids had the oiimen. I think the broth is delicious, but for some reason, I found the noodles to be not as "al dente" and exciting as I like. Ippudo in NYC is by far my favorite ramen place, and I think this place is a good addition to the Chicago ramen scene, but I'm not sure it's in the same conversation with a place like Ippudo. The buns were fine except I hated the fact that the buns kept breaking. We had three of them (Kogi, pork belly and the 6 hour). Kogi had the best flavor, but the breaking buns were the worst. We will return, but I am not sure if I would necessarily go out of my way to dine here.
(3)
Sam C.

so freaking good! i need a ramen fix, and remembered hearing about this place. started off with pork buns, really yummy. veggie and oiimen were equally good - flavorful broth, tons of noodles, perfectly cooked. had creme brulee and donuts (kinda random) - but were both great as well this is waaay better than making ramen at home!
(4)
Sunil D.

First off, the background music was a best of mid-90's hip hop mix probably still playing off of a maxwell tape. Real music....no Lil Twist bragging about smoking with the Beibs, no one shouting 2 Chainz in the background, and no rapper who used to play a wheel chair bound tween on Canadian TV. Real music - 2pac (Dear Mama was playing when I walked in. Arguably his second greatest song ever behind "I get around"), Biggie, Nas, Chronic-era Dr. Dre....the type of music where if you said the wrong thing (right thing?) you'd end up catching a bullet. Ok enough reminiscing about "the days when music was good" (I am officially f'ing old). The place could serve undercooked pink slime and I would still give it 3 stars on the music alone. Thank goodness they don't. The food was perfect for a cold winter day. The menu is somewhat limited (although there are a decent selection of appetizers), but I prefer to think of it as streamlined and includes just the necessities. The duck buns were excellent. David Chang and his Momofuko empire always get credit for bringing Asian buns to the mainstream, I've had them and the ones were as good (if not better...). The other appetizer we got was the Tuna Carpaccio which was very good, although the portion size was a little on the small side. I would opt to try some of their other apps before ordering this one again. The main focus of this place is obviously the soups which were excellent. The broth for the Musclemen was awesome, probably my favorite. The oiimen was also really good and was more of the traditional Ramen, a little too much pepper but other than that it hit the spot. Tons of noodles, ample amount of meat. Really everything I was looking for in a good bowl of soup. Really cool soup spoons too, elongated so they won't get buried when they slip into the broth. I would skip their spicy signature pace ($1.50 extra), it was relatively bland and didn't pack too much of a punch. I thought the soups all stood very well without them.
(4)
Kristina D.

I'm really glad you can take leftovers home. The portions are huge. Their veggie ramen is super delish and all the staff were so nice and helpful. Only thing that I really didn't like about this place (and this is my own issue; I'm pretty sure most everyone else loves these things) are the mason jar wine glasses. Why can't the cocktails just be served in regular glasses? There is nothing cool about making poverty (i.e. the reason people started drinking out of mason jars) kitsch and funny.
(5)
Ed J.

It was ok. I had the spicyveggimen ramen which was pretty good, I'd say 3.5/5, and I really loved the duck buns 4/5. I think what really turned me off about the place was the price. I mean I really don't mind paying up for something truly delicious with badass service and badass ambiance, but Oiistar was just not there to be charging me $9 buns that were the size of tacos, and $13-15 for ramen? Seriously, it is....ramen at the end of the day. As for ambiance, nothing special, they were blasting some euro-techno music which drove my friend n I crazy so my friend actually told them to switch lol. I'm in my late 20s so maybe a younger drunk pill-poppin crowd would enjoy that hahaha..jk :/ I did receive really good service tho, the food came on time, and was good, and I came with really good company so I had a pretty good time. Speaking from a value for money aspect tho, there's so many other places in Chicago that offers way better for that price range. I do vouch for those buns tho!
(3)
Eugene C.

I really wanted to like this place, as I'm a huge ramen fan. My party of 4 was seated and had our drink order taken. I just asked for water, as I wanted to really taste the food. The water was clam water. Not actual clam juice, but the water, or glasses, or something was tainted by clams/shellfish/old rags? One other person at my table had the same clam water problem. It was disgusting and I couldn't get the taste out of my mouth. The server was very apologetic (and later comped a dessert). Regardless, I was there to eat, so I forgave. We had the garlic fried chicken and portobello mushroom buns. The portobello mushrooms had that muddy liquid coming out of the buns - no sauce. Was not tasty, dry, and wish I didn't order that. The garlic chicken was best described by a friend as, "tastes like what you get from panda express...but worse." When the ramen came, I could've looked past it all if it was good. But it failed. We collectively had one veggie ramen, one pozolramen (take on Mexican style ramen) and the oii ramen (traditional tonkatsu ramen). Upgraded the pork loin to pork belly, since good pork belly is a MUST for great ramen...but they sliced it paper thin. Why? Maybe b/c it was dried out, or to give the illusion that they were giving you more than 0.01oz of pork belly. The oii ramen broth was extremely salty and one dimensional. No deep rich flavor, except for msg. But then I tasted the pozolramen and went into sodium coma for 30 seconds. It tasted like someone poured a bunch of salt and msg in a bowl, then added some water. My friend couldn't drink the broth and just ate the noodles. Then the server (who was nice, the one thing that made this review a 1.5 instead of complete 1), brought the dessert. Meh, a small espresso cup of stuff for one guest. We asked that the check be split (2 couples) for the several drinks one couple ordered. The checks brought were split up, and split up incorrectly. One of the drinks was charged incorrectly for a more expensive drink. The incorrect split showed each item on both checks with an odd split between the two ($3.42 and $4.58 for an $8 bun) and even showed an alcohol charge for the couple not drinking. After calculator action, the non-drinkers were charged $6 too much that should've been charged to the drinkers, but didn't matter as we're all good friends. An improvement in your POS system would be good Oiistar. Overall, I really really really really wanted to like this place, but couldn't. Food quality poor, service not great, and I really hope I don't get sick from the two gulps of clam/dirty rag water. Do yourself a favor and go to Wasabi instead.
(1)
Dan R.

We really enjoyed the food and service was very friendly!
(5)
J K.

Such a good food, good place, good staff. I definitely coming back to OIISTAR. Trust me, It's definitely more than 5stars!!!
(5)
Tom K.

I had the muscleman ramen dish which was really flavorful and filled wit mussels. I wasn't expecting much since traditionally ramen places in Chicago haven't been that great but this place was great. Definitely coming back soon
(5)
Amisha D.

I went there for the first time based on a positive yelp review, and loved the idea of ramen that day. The food was decent, but I think a little too fusion for what I expected. We got the tempura avocado and portabello. They were ok. The mayo dipping sauce was a little strange and weak, but the actual tempura was nice and crispy. The ramen was pretty good, let me say better than I expected. The negative review is for the service, or lack thereof. First of all, we were ignored when we walked in, until someone ran over and told us to "sit wherever". The waiter was inattentive at best. Everything was going ok until I decided to try one of the sauces in the squeeze bottles. The bottle was not screwed on properly at all, and when I squeezed the entire bottle blew up all over the table, me, my husband, our food. Everything! My attentive waiter didn't even notice, and when I desperately called for his attention it took him a while to figure out the best thing to do was give me a soaking wet table rag to clean myself off with. Let's clean off some food with more food, don't we? Anyways, terrible service. He didn't even apologize. I had to run to the bathroom and steal a fresh napkin on the way over just to clean myself off. In the end, not even the ruined appetizer was comp'd, and the bill was HIGHER than it should have been. When we complained he told me it was because we moved tables. I'm sorry we had to move tables! Oh no...what jerk customers we are. We sprayed sauce all over ourselves on purpose. Never going back.
(2)
Sep E.

I checked out Oiistar on its opening night with a friend, and I was surprised at how tasty it was! We grabbed a seat at the bar along the kitchen and got to watch the action on opening night. I have to say things looked like they were going smoothly for the most part! Service was a bit spotty, but I can't really be too harsh on the first night. Now the food! We started with the portabella mushroom buns, and the mushrooms had some great flavor. The buns, however, were more gummy than I expected and they really paled in comparison to the awesome buns I had at Belly Q a few months ago. I think next time I would try a different appetizer out. My friend had the mussel ramen and raved about the broth the noodles were in. I had the veggie ramen, and the broth and noodles were divine! The noodles got even better as they sat in the broth, which was nicely spiced but no overly spicy. The veggies and tofu could have been cut a bit smaller so it would be easier to eat, but I managed just fine. As someone who loves ramen noodles, this is a great addition to the neighborhood. I will definitely be back!
(4)
Daniel K.

My first visit to Oiistar today, had ramen, and it was outstanding. The broth is so rich & flavorful, noodles perfect, I devourved it all.
(5)
Y M.

AWFUL. Long wait. Food is NOT worth the wait. Also, the DJ is way too loud. Do we really need to yell over our food to hear each other?
(1)
Violet W.

Disappointed, the noodle is not good at all, there are pretty much place with much better Japanese noodle in the area.
(2)
Scott M.

Awesome ramen. Simply awesome. Best I've ever had. This was the first non-25-cent-a-pack ramen I'd ever had, but since eating here I've been to several other places, including two in LA's Little Tokyo, and this is still the best. Not a light meal by any means, but delicious. I had the ramen, if you couldn't tell, but my oldest daughter got one of the orders of buns and really enjoyed it. My dad-bite revealed a very tasty dish, but I'll stick with the ramen just because if I'm going to drive here, I'm driving here for the ramen. Now about the noise/music level. WHAT?!?!? WHAT?!?! My. God. It's. Noisy. In. Here. Average for a disco, but "holy crap" for a restaurant. Took a star away for that, and almost took two. The food and service are worth 5 stars. The noise/music level, not so much. Good thing I can't stand talking to my wife and daughters, or I'd have been upset . . . Oh, wait, I do like talking to them. I was upset. My God, people, turn down the music and give my stomach and vocal cords a break.
(4)
Sarah D.

I can not excuse poor service for amazing food. The ramen was pretty good, probably the best I've had in the Chicago area. However we waited over an hour for our food. They were not that busy (Severl empty seats inside and out) and the waitress was pretty useless when we asked our order. We ordered an appetizer that didn't come til 15 minutes AFTER we got our main dish. It was, by far, the worst service I've had in a long time.
(2)
Jimmy C.

Food was solid! Had the pork belly ramen, and it was good. However, I personally like instant ramen noodle texture better. The broth was delicious! I also got the pork belly buns. They were awsome! I only gave it 3 stars cause of how expensive it was. My solo meal was $26 for a noodle soup and 2 buns, I could of had a sushi meal for that.
(3)
Nelson T.

Good attempt - a nice addition to the ramen scene, but here are the ways the Oiimen can improve: * Broth needs more pork fat and salt. * Noodles need to be thicker. * Egg needs to be completely redone. It's fucking terrible as is. Cut it the right way and marinate it in the tare like you are supposed to. * Chashu could be a little fattier and more tender. Thanks!
(3)
Chris D.

I recently read a review about Oiistar and boy it wasn't good. It mentioned how the stools were square and uncomfortable and how the 90's rap music was blasting. It also compared it with Momofuku, one of the most influential restaurants in America. Now wait. I thought that was a bit unfair. So with an open mind, I decided to try this place myself. I had the duck breast and pork belly buns (what Momofuku is known for), and the Oiimen ramen. The buns were amazing. Great mix of sweetness and texture. The ramen was very good and the ramen noodles were on point. I think the stools gave the place character and yes, thought I truly dig House of Pain, they were played a bit loud making it hard to compare reviews with your lunch buddies on how good the food were. I came out a fan. In fact, I will spend this summer seeking ramen in out fair city maybe using Oiimen as my standard.
(5)
Stephanie C.

Before heading here for dinner on a Sunday night I checked out others' reviews to help guide me on my dinner choices. We opted for the duck steamed buns which were pretty solid as a starter and the oiimen ramen dish. The ramen portions are HUGE. The flavors were good and we had the pork belly with ours. I had the sangria which was tasty but then changed over to a beer. I was so stuffed by the time I finished my ramen I literally had to get up and walk out of the restaurant so that I didn't bust a button on my pants. Since I can't go to Takashi any more for noodles on Sunday and Slurping Turtle is a hike to get to this place isn't bad, but they could offer a few more items.
(3)
Jessica M.

Let me start by saying, I was so looking forward to a new ramen joint in the neighborhood... I would gladly had given it a fighting chance, HAD I NOT WAITED FOR 20 MINS WITHOUT A SINGLE EMPLOYEE TO EVEN TRY TO GET A TABLE FROM. I felt bad for them, but seriously, this is a real quick way to sink a new restaurant. We got there early (as I had heard it had been busy) so you figure, 6pm, Saturday night, probably buzzing but not insane. And that's precisely how it was, tables were full, but nothing crazy. Except for the 10 people standing aimlessly in the doorway... We come in and realize everyone, from those standing at the door, to those at the tables, are looking around for ANYONE to help them. Seriously, a busboy, a hostess, a waitress, a bartender, ANYONE! There are people with empty drinks/water, nothing. People practically begging for their tab, nothing. Empty tables filled with dirty dishes while people waiting in the doorway multiply, nothing. It was beyond absurd. To make matters even worse, there was no hostess, just a clipboard which we wrote our own names on, and then I realize... There are literally 3 staff running the whole place. No hostess, no busboys, just 3 poor waitresses who are serving all roles (although hostess fell by the wayside because we were never even acknowledged). Needless to say, we left, and went down the street to Antique Taco and had the best service ever! Considering you buy your food at the counter and sit family style, we still had 4 different people come check to make sure we were ok and ask if we needed anything else. They even timed our horchata milkshake to come after we finished our food so it wasn't just melting while we ate. THAT is how you run any establishment (and yes, I've worked in the industry, for years, so don't bite my head off that I don't know about service). Oiistar, take a cue from your restaurant neighbors, beef up your staff, and you better cook some damn good food otherwise you'll be outta there in 6 months flat. I wish you luck.
(1)
Coll P.

The ramen is HUGEEEEEE but I ended up getting one that at first had broth that tasted kinda greasy mixed with hot chilis. :( I luckily wasn't all that hungry after eating the pork loin bun (YUM!) and some salty haricot verts so I took it to go and after reheating, viola! The flavors melded and it was SO MUCH better.
(3)
Huby P.

Oiistar got great write-ups in the Chicago Tribune and with Hungry Hound, so we made a pilgrimage to eat there. We arrived ten minutes before opening and we were the third group waiting. There were four of us and we wound up sitting at the Kitchen-facing bar where we could watch the magic. Not so good for conversation but the view was worth it. We like variety so we ordered the Tiger shrimp, the sizzling pork ribs, and both the duck and pork belly buns, along with our ramen bowls. Everything was great - and so much fun to see the food cooked in front of us. We all ordered double noodles for the ramen, and so we had plenty to take home. The ramen was excellent. The machine definitely helps. The buns and appy's were great - I think the pork belly ones were the best thing I ate that night, flavor-wise, but its hard to say, because EVERYTHING was great. We were happy to take home our leftovers which Britanny nicely packaged individually and labelled with marker. She even knew to separate the noodles from the broth. A couple of notes: - A nice, uncommon beer and wine menu, but I did not partake. Really yummy looking Sangria pitcher. - The place was packed (Sunday night) by 5:50, so get there early or wait. - Despite ordering a lot, it came out to $30pp with tip. - Reservations for groups are a MUST (5+). A lot of bar seating, a lot of small tables, but its a tiny place. chicagotribune.com/featuâ€¦
(4)
Mawie T.

I thought the broth was pretty good, but nothing like the broth I had at Daikokuya in LA. The avocado fries were delicious and the aioli it came with was fabulous. The portobello buns were alright, I guess. I liked the ramen, but the noodles were definitely not the ramen noodles I expected to be eating. I didn't feel like it absorbed the flavor of the broth as well as I wanted and it kind of felt like I was eating angel hair pasta. I don't think spicy paste should be an extra $1.50 if I still had to put a healthy amount of sriracha in the ramen either. But then again, I'm asian and picky when it comes to Asian food. For a place in Wicker Park it's not bad at all. The ambience is pretty good. However, I thought $5 for a beer was pretty steep for the size of glass they give you. Don't expect your beer glass to be the same size as your water glass.
(3)
Tan K.

Very cool small place. The cuisine is a mix of korean/japanese, and they have some very nice specialties. They have this sangria that is served in a jar glass. Their best dishes are in the appetizers. The pork or duck buns are very flavorful and tasty, I would also definitely recommend the spicy pork ribs. The avocado and mushroom fries are just okay, but unique enough for a try. Was not very impressed with the Ramen, ive had better, but the place is definitely worth trying. Cool environment and unique dishes
(4)
Robert M.

try the duck breast bun and tuna carpaccio....soooooo good!!!
(5)
Jung H.

I've been here twice - the first time it was packed the second time only 4 tables were occupied. The first visit: We sat at the bar, ordered some drinks and a oii salad to begin. The sangrias were just ok, nothing special. The mojito was okay but slightly better than the sangrias. Granted, oii means cucumber in Korean, but I had no idea that it would literally be 98% cucumber and 2% arugula and parmesan. For those who can't get enough of cucumber it might be worth it, but I felt it was a waste of money and stomach space. Water and utensils were not provided until we specifically asked for it and mind you, I had to ask for water more than once. The ramens took forever, so the manager comped us with three dishes while we were waiting. A nice gesture, but there's no reason it should take 45+ minutes to prepare three bowls of ramen unless you're prepping the broth as the ramen is ordered - which is definitely not the case. We asked for extra napkins and had to gently remind the manager that she still owed us napkins before they were given to us. The oiimen, musclemen and pojolmen were all very tasty. I think the latter two were better than the oiimen, but that's because I prefer spicier and lighter broths. The oiimen is more of a richer and savory broth and if you substitute the pork belly for the pork loin it gets even heavier. It's too meaty for me, but I could see how it would appeal to others. Because the ramen was good and because the manager went to great lengths to satisfy us we left the place thinking we would come back, chalking up the inept service to its growing pains - the place had opened just recently. The second visit: Not much was going on as it was a weekday and now that the place has been open for almost a quarter we expected service to be more responsive and speedy. We knew from last time that the garlic chicken was good so we ordered that and a oiimen and a vegimen. The server came back a few minutes later to confirm what we had ordered. (Please use a memo pad rather than memory to take orders.) The garlic chicken was promptly served but there was a long hiatus between the conclusion of that meal and the arrival of both our ramens. The vegimen came 5 minutes before we were done with the chicken but the oiimen only came 10 minutes after we had finished the chicken. I had to ask for a pair of chopsticks as our server had taken mine away while retrieving the small dishes on which we ate the chicken. I flagged her several times before I could get a hold of her so I waited for another couple of minutes while my ramen lay on the table getting cold. It's hard to imagine how service can be so slow and inattentive when there are as many servers as there are customers in the restaurant. There are only two things that were consistent in our first and second visits to Oiistar - the deficient service and the adequacy of the ramen dishes. Were I to judge this place on the ramen alone, I'd easily give it 4 stars, but a dining experience divorced from service is only half of the story. Given the lack of ramen options in Chicago, I will probably give Oiistar another try sometime down the road. Hopefully, it will have ironed out its service issues by then.
(2)
Claire D.

Recommended by the restaurant owner neighbor. Very good ramen. Good spice. Will certainly be back!
(4)
Joseph C.

Ever since I was introduced to the myriad of choices in the L.A. area, I've become a bit of a ramen aficionado (which pretty much just means I'm a fatass that likes noodles- lol). At any rate, as the ramen scene in Chicago is not nearly as mature as it is in L.A., I've always had to fall back to Santouka in Mitsuwa (Arlington Hts.) for my ramen fix. Which leads me to Oiistar. I'm happy to report that the ramen here is pretty legit. I tried the Oiimen this time around, and it's delicious: the broth is savory, the noodles have a nice snap to them, and the pork belly is very tender. And while it's still not quite as good as Santouka (their pork belly is pretty much unmatched) and it's a bit on the pricier side ($14 for the Oiimen), I can totally see myself coming back here for a quick ramen fix when I don't feel like making the trek to the suburbs. The fact that it's located in the lively Wicker Park area also makes it an attractive option on a Friday night when you want to hit the bars afterwards. I'll definitely be back.
(4)
Sean A.

Special shout-out to our server tonight, Lily. Extremely friendly and attentive. Made for the kind of service that brings all the elements together. (Oh, and she packed the noodles and broth separately for us.) Seriously, she was outstanding. Came here on a strong recommendation by roommate and his girlfriend. Really great place with some amazing flavors. We split an appetizer of buns (duck), which had the softest bun and a really nice, subtle flavor to it. Then we both got a bowl of ramen: I had the Oiimen, which had a perfectly cooked egg and a great savory broth. I actually didn't remember until the very end that there was pork loin in there since it had sunk to the bottom of the bowl--no matter though. My dad had a bowl of the veggie ramen. Tons of veggies, and he was wowed by the broth, layers of savory and sour to it. The ghost-chili paste (off the menu) was outstanding. I would have gone to town on it but only used a few dabs because I didn't want to overwhelm the complex flavors here. (Part of me wishes they could just build it in themselves, but that's really tricky to do with varying spicy tolerances.) It's a 4/5 for me because of price. This is food I absolutely could not approximate at home, so it's worth paying for. It's just a couple bucks too expensive for me to return except as a night out. That said, when I go with my girlfriend, I'll split a bowl of ramen with some extra noodles and probably feel it's a very good value. Solid music too.
(4)
Brett F.

It's kind of my favorite ramen in the city. I know, I know. Wasabi is wonderful, too. But there is something about the Chadelmon ramen at Oiistar that keeps me coming back. And back. And then back again. And sometimes even twice in one day. That just happened once though. The Chadelmon just has the most flavorful, punchy broth on earth. Fueled by spicy kimchee and bulgogi it's not exactly traditional but boy is it tasty. I love it long time. Adding a few of Oiistars buns (i.e. bao) isn't a bad idea either. Get the Goki, Pork Belly and Tempura Cod buns in you immediately. Your mouth will thank you for it.
(5)
Lindsay H.

After watching Mind of a Chef, I was fiending for some ramen and this place hit that noodly spot. The broth is rich, more of a tonkatsu style but with a twist. The noodles were chewy and picked up the broth with every bite! Of course the egg was perfect, just slightly soft yolk. The chasui was soooo tender and full of flavor. Really all of the essentials of a good bowl of ramen, done fantastically well.
(4)
Jennifer C.

Offensively bad faux ramen. The "spicy veggiemen" ramen tasted like it was made by a raw vegan on a cooked-food binge. The actually-rice-noodle-soup came with mesclun mix on top, underneath this bland wilting mess was large chunks of raw tomato and sliced white mushrooms and avocado chunks that didn't mix well with the soup. They could have tried with wakame or kombu bamboo shoots. Instead of ramen they gave me vermicelli (thin rice noodles). The broth was clear, salty, and nothing special. For what it's worth, nothing was done to season or marinate any of the topping ingredients to justify paying the inflated price of ~$10 for this dish. I could have made this better just by seasoning with sesame oil and mirin cooking wine at home. The ambience seemed pretty hostile as the manager was playing Red Hot Chili Peppers and Sublime so loud that I had to yell at the three other friends sitting across from me. I used to serve ramen, so I guess I felt worse for the servers. Sighhhh
(1)
Austin Y.

Oiistar does ramen better than Slurping Turtle, but I'm still on the hunt for great ramen in Chicago. I liked the unusually trendy/dark atmosphere for a ramen joint. Classic ramen ($14) came in a very large bowl and although it was definitely tasty, it wasn't outstanding. The chashu was decent, noodles and egg were perfectly cooked, but unfortunately the broth was just ok. Its flavor definitely came more from the fattiness of the chili oil, not the usually creaminess of pork bone, and it wasn't spicy at all - had to doctor it up with some sriracha. This pork broth is almost as light as a paitan chicken broth (Totto-style), but without the same complexity and richness. I thought my friend's veggie ramen was one of the best I've tried, the broth was appropriately salty, spicy, and rich and it was positively loaded with vegetables.
(3)
Jeffrey C.

Oiistar came recommended by my friend as her favorite ramen spot in Chicago, but it was a thorough head-scratcher for me. Like Slurping Turtle, Oiistar does trendy-fusion, overpriced ramen. That means ramen with mussels is called musclemen (get it?) and the chicken ramen has masala in it, for whatever reason, in order to call it tikkamen. That's all fun and games, but what I wanted to know: does it taste good? My wife got the chicken broth, and I did the traditional Oiimen. I found both to be thoroughly meh. The broth is relatively bland, and not in the "lightly salted but wonderfully aromatic" way that Totto makes its broth, nor in the "it just tastes like salt" way that most other regular ramen places decide to butter their bread. It's just flat out bland, with not much taste at all. The noodles are also thoroughly forgettable. They're stringy like Strings in Chinatown, without the spring that gives each bite a delectable taste. I failed to take a picture, but didn't feel like I missed on much. At lunch, we discussed a place that hadn't even popped up on my radar, the nearby Wasabi. Apparently, they make a heck of a traditional ramen. It's on my list.
(2)
Diana J.

I have my reservations with Asian fusion restaurants- they can be a huge hit if done right but most are misses. This place is pretty good! I think it's much better than Arami, High5 or Strings and probably on par with Wasabi. I had the Modern ramen: love the combination of scallions and kimchee with the noodles. Broth was good albeit not spicy as described. Also, I wish the broth was piping hot rather than lukewarm and that they gave me more of it. Overall I'd return!
(4)
Shamoon K.

So the food here is a 3 but the service bumped it up to a 4. We ordered the pollo bun akin with the tikkamen and the modern ramen. First the pollo was good, after we added the siracha and the hoisen sauce that was on the table. With the combo of both those sauces, the pollo was spectacular. The tikkamen and the modern were both good, but noting like amazing. But we got both the broths veggie since we don't eat pork. If you're looking for a great non pork broth, go to urbanbelly for their ramen with beef broth. The service was outstanding. It seemed like everyone was there looking out or each other and helping refill waters or clearing plates. The staff was polite and welcoming, a great plus to this restaurant.
(4)
Connie L.

I was recommended this ramen joint by a few friends of mine so I was super excited to try it out. I ordered the oiimen ramen, which has pork belly, ground pork, egg, and spicy garlic oil broth. I thought the broth was decent, but the bf thought otherwise and he is not a picky eater (he claims there is a strong ginger flavor in the broth). I was not impressed by the pork after trying the ramen at Wasabi. The portions are also smaller than I expected--the bf ordered more food after finishing his ramen because he was still hungry. I tried a bite of the tempura cod bun and all I could taste was the sauce. Overall, I thought the ramen was just okay and if I had to choose, I would much rather go elsewhere to get my ramen fix.
(3)
Rafia J.

Excellent food and great little eatery!! Their crispy fried garlic chicken (sambal) was finger licking good and so were their buns! Their vegetable ramen was good with delicious broth! Will definitely go there again!
(4)
Dan P.

The wife says "mine was delicious." She had the mussel ramen. I had ramen as well. Service is excellent. Broth was delicious.
(5)
Saba A.

Very Crowded Ramen place with wooden high top tables. We came in for a birthday dinner and it was 7 of us on a Saturday night. The Ramen wasn't the best I have had--- we got the Chicken one and there was hardly any chicken. We also got some appetizers that were great. I would recommend taking a look at the menu before going and strongly suggest sharing. I wouldn't say this for all the Ramen restaurants I've visited, but the portions at Oiistar is huge but just not as delicious. Customer Service was good but I felt bad for our waitress. She seemed like she was working a long shift and too many tables to herself for a weekend night.
(4)
Allison R.

I think that the food was 5 star.. my only reason for 4 star was that the ramen bowl prices were about 4-5 dollars too expensive. Hits: THE BUNS! Wow. Each one that we tried was phenomenal. The duck breast, goki, and mushroom buns were unbelievable. Such unique flavors. The duck breast had golden raisins in the bun and it really just cut the fat and savory portions and was such a perfect balance. The mushroom one was complex and the mushrooms were so well marinated. The ramen bowls were fantastic, but at 13-16 a bowl, far more expensive that competitors that are just as good. That being said, the Tikkamen bowl - Fried chicken in a curry broth, was very unique and so unexpectedly excellent that perhaps it was worth a few extra dollars. The wine prices are great, though! Great experience - I actually went twice in 2 weeks. I hope to go again soon!
(4)
Angela G.

Great food and great service! I love the restaurant too, it has outdoor seating and a cool long bar.
(5)
Matt L.

Small hole in the wall restaurant that I prolly would have passed along Milwaukee if it wasn't for yelp. Within walking distance of the blue line this restaurant is among the top ramen locations to go to. Along with an order of duck sticky buns it is the perfect thing to compliment a rainy day in Chicago with this restaurant. We seem to have them more and more lately in Chicago and I will be back to eat here again. The service and seating is good. A dim lit restaurant but sitting bar side where the chefs prepare your meal is good seat if you come by your self or with one other. They have tables for people who are wanting to seek shelter from the rain and want to stay and warm up from outside depending on the time of year. But if you're looking for a quick bite and have ramen in your hearts content than this is the place to go when in wicker park.
(4)
NuttyKnot P.

Mediocre ramen. We ordered oiimen and chadolmen. Both look nice and their portions are big enough. I like oiimen more maybe because it's more traditional. Chadolmen is kinda sour. Nevertheless I feel like the execution is not good enough. The ramen is a little overcooked and a little too soft. The egg is cooked just right, but lack flavor. Of all ramen places in Chicago, I'd prefer Misoya and Wasabi more. But I'd rate this place better than Slurping Turtle. My other nitpicks are that the spoon is too heavy and their speaker is too bass heavy and it's overpowered.
(3)
David B.

DELICIOUS!! Sorry if I don't complain about the seating .. It was different but not uncomfortable . The fried chicken wings were AMAZING and the ramen I had was a little bit of a play on curry .. VERY delicious would ABSOLUTELY go again .
(4)
Dalia M.

Super tasty duck bun and delicious ramen. Got their basic ramen. I also like the decor of the space. We did a work group lunch here on a Friday. Plenty of seating available. They can't seat super big groups so keep that in mind. They had one end bar spot for our group of 5 but I think that's the only spot that can accommodate a group that large. The portions are large and I was stuffed when we left. If you like ramen, I recommend this spot.
(4)
Reggie R.

I had never tried ramen until my visit to Oiistar, and it definitely did not disappoint. The food was delicious and the atmosphere was lively, a bit loud, but not enough to upset me. I ordered the Oiimen and would highly recommend it!!
(5)
Kristina W.

Came on a Saturday at 6:30pm, and fortunately, was able to snag a table for 4. Still, I recommend coming early, because many of the empty seats were reserved for 7/7:30 seatings. The service, though friendly, was slightly disorganized. A waiter came to take our order, and then 5 minutes later, another waiter came to our table unaware that we had already ordered. As for the food, I was able to try: The Classic Oiimen - Sadly, just average. Though the noodles had a good texture, the broth was very bland, the meat was tough, and there weren't many extra ingredients in the ramen. Tempura Shrimp Bun - Okay, not really memorable. I did enjoy the thai chili mayo, but felt that there could have been more shrimp & fennel slaw. Fried Garlic Chicken (Sambal) - My favorite dish of the night. Great spicy taste and the chicken was perfectly crispy, with the fried skin separating from the meat (sounds weird, but you'll know what I mean if you try it). Overall, the meal was enjoyable, but not memorable. I prefer the ramen at Wasabi, and the chicken at Dak or Crisp. I'd say, if you're in the area, it's a safe bet for a good meal, but if you're looking to be blown away or really craving the BEST ramen/chicken in Chicago, choose another option.
(3)
Jennie C.

Pleasantly surprised! I'm a ramen snob and generally get offended when restaurants stray from tradition. Oiistar has quite a few ramen variations, and I opted for the modern, which was rich with a touch of spiciness. Perfect on a cold night! Minor quibble: the egg was a bit flavorless, even with the rich broth. If they could flavor it before adding to bowl it'd be even better! Also had the 6hr pork shoulder bun, which was excellent. Pork was super-tender & juicy and good texture contrast with the other condiments. Be sure to pick up your bun and start eating as soon as it arrives, otherwise the bun gets soggy and sticks to the plate, and you'll be reduced to eating it with a fork. Not cool.
(4)
Morganne B.

For me, this place was on point. Immediate seating at 9 pm on a Thursday, and at our choice of tables, even during what looked liked a busy time. The service was perfect--whenever we needed the waiter, he appeared, but he was never overbearing or annoying. To drink, I had the Oiistar version of a mojito, the Oiimoji. Made with vodka, some mint and muddled cucumber, it was really refreshing and delicious. And then there was the food! Apparently the pork belly buns are good... My boyfriend's vanished within seconds of its arrival to the table. He ordered a huge bowl of ramen, which he doused with the yummy hot sauce at the table, and proceeded to consume almost every bit. I had the tuna carpaccio, which was enhanced by a quail egg on top. I wish the egg would have been cooked a little less, but the dish was great. I also ordered the seared portobello mushroom. It was also served with an egg, and drowning in a salty/sweet sauce, but I loved it because the dish contained a whole lot of ginger... Which I could probably eat a pound of every day. We also each got a side of kimchi... Nothing too special there, but it was solid. The atmosphere here is cool. Very dark, relaxed, and intimate. And the bill was only $50 for the two of us. I could definitely see myself coming back!
(5)
Elaine L.

Amazing atmosphere. The menu is diverse and the sangria is delicious. The ramen is full of flavor and not heavy. This spot is one of my favorite in the city. Get a bun and chicken wings to share but get your very own bowl of ramen. Worth every last slurp!!
(5)
Jialing L.

Came here for Sunday lunch with a friend last summer. We got there just as they opened so we got seated right next to the open window. It got really hot from the sun but it was bearable. There also happened to be a festival going on in the streets so it was a little noisy but I imagine that this is usually not the case. Now onto the food, I ordered the duck breast bun and the oiimen ramen that was very flavorful and filling. The pork loin was very tender and the spicy oil and garlic broth reminded me of the spicy miso broth in shabu shabu. This is one of the few places that I was actually able to drink the broth after I finished the ramen since it wasn't too salty. I'd definitely come here more often if it was closer to me.
(4)
Anne W.

This place is only all right. There's nothing offensive or bad about it but it definitely doesn't wow me in any way at all. It's good for a ramen fix when Wasabi has a line out the door. In fact, that's actually been the reason why I have gone the past two times... Overall, it's good when you're in a pinch, really want ramen, but don't want to wait in line for Wasabi. It's definitely not a palce that is worth venturing out for.
(3)
Julie T.

OMGEE Oiistar had really good ramen and yummy buns! I had the Goki Bun and it was so tasteful. The meat that it was marinated in, was so flavorful. The lettuce, cilantro, and onion was able to balance out the flavorful taste of the BBQ beef. I also had ramen and it was so delicious. I love how amazing the broth taste and the noodles were just perfect. However, customer service was really bad. It took them so long to get our order and they would take orders from guest the arrived later than us. Note to self: Try not to go around dinner time because it gets pack and especially with a big party like 5 people, it takes awhile to be seated.
(3)
Meg r.

Superfantastic night to walk down and pickup some soup. I ordered over the phone before heading down and the suggested Olimen ramen was delicious. I like how they kept the broth separate from the soup stuffins, so i was able to dump them both in a huge bowl back at home. The Pollo bun was really tasty and I am glad I didn't get more than 1. This meal was filling and I have a pretty full container of soup for lunch tomorrow. Really courteous staff and the place was 1/2 full at 6:30. Seems like a good place to dine in on a Sunday if you don't want to wait fir a table or counter spot. Ill be back!
(5)
Joceline T.

First time coming here last Friday night. Easily became one of my new favorite spots! There was half an hour wait, which wasn't bad for 8pm on a Friday, a worker took our name down and texted us when our table was ready which was cool. We had the chance to go grab a drink at a nearby place since there's no waiting area inside Oiistar. A friend and I wanted to try something new and this place did NOT dissapoint. Everything was delicious. We shared 3 different buns(like appetizers): duck breast, goki and tempura shrimp. I'm a picky eater and I scarfed those down with no hesitation. We also split the garlic fried chicken and the garlic baguette, and it was also delicious. We were so full but couldn't stop eating. Seriously so impressed with this place! Servers make or break a restaurant no matter how good the food is.. everyone that worked there was so nice! I can't wait to go back. Oh, also the sangria(which I don't usually like) was really good too!
(5)
Gina S.

I really liked many aspects of this restaurant. The flavors were great in all the buns and ramen dishes we ordered. And our ramen dishes were also generously portioned. I also appreciate the cool style of the interior of the restaurant. The service was also good and prompt. Minus two points for uneven quality of a couple dishes, however. First, the fish bun that my friend ordered was raw in the middle. This could be a health hazard, even. We asked if we could get a more cooked version of the same dish and we were promptly given a new one that was cooked ALMOST all the way through, but there was still a small portion of the dish that was undercooked. Also, for whatever reason, they forgot to put eggs in the ramen dish that my friend ordered. We all got the same ramen, but hers had no eggs. That wasn't as big of a deal, but it seemed like a significant miss. I would come back here because of the great flavors and ambiance, but make sure to be vigilant about the quality of the food and send anything back that did not meet the standards. If something like this happens next time, it will be my last time there.
(3)
Erika K.

I was actually surprised as to how good the Ramen was for a midwest ramen joint. The pork belly was really delicious and tasty. Although, I prefer simple ramen's because of my Japanese upbringing, my desperation to eat ramen on a chilly day made me pretty excited to find this place. The flavors are definitely strong and spicy, which I find pretty typical for Korean owned Asian restaurants, so I asked to keep the spicy sauce out of my ramen.
(4)
Elizabeth S.

Easily one of the best Ramens in the city. After devouring the Oiimen ramen and two tempura shrimp buns, I was instantly hooked. I have returned several times since my initial visit and still order the same menu items; they are so delicious that it's nearly impossible to try something new. The decor is sleek and modern and the music is played just a little too loud that at times conversation is uncomfortable. The food is definitely what keeps me coming back.
(5)
Jaci Y.

My friend and I finally got to have Oiistar. I have heard so much about their ramen and pork sliders that I had to go there at least once to check it out. We went to eat around 5:30 p.m. and the place was pretty empty. We were glad because we know how this area can get packed with crowds after 7:00 p.m.. For sure when you walk in you realize this ramen shop has a Korean influence to the cuisine and the dining experience. There is Korean style kimchi that is added to the appetizers as well as the ramen broth which wasn't at all super spicy but i can taste the hint of it. I had their traditional Oiistar classic ramen it was delicious. It was a Tonkatsu based broth and it had pork belly slices a whole egg and plenty of noodles. I loved their 6 hour pork shoulder buns it was $3.59 for 1 bun it was very delicious but the food is novelty for or me because you pay so much for only a bite or two of the dish. The noodles I felt were enough and the broth wasn't too salty. Overall i give it four stars because the service is friendly and the food was delicious. Would I return, perhaps with my husband and other friends but it isn't my go to place for ramen.
(4)
Belle L.

Excellent value for $$. Noodle dish serves 2 with a scary Korean slurping ladle. Sangria -- light, fruity and delicious with a clean taste. For $7, plenty of room for a pitcher. Saltimbocca (lunch only) -- sauce drizzle complements the dish. More protein than light fluffy carb. Chadolmen (Modern) -- medium spicy soup. Sparse meat. Lots of noodles. Chili flavor overpowers the broth and its ingredients. Experience texture than flavor. Creme BrÃ»lÃ©e -- the espresso cup portion is worthy of its $5 tag due to the complexity of the gastronomy-inspired espresso caviar. You gotta have it! Service -- informative, knowledgeable, quick and prompt. Venue -- clean and clutter-free. NOTE: Congratulate Alex, the principal to Illinois Lottery Commercial. Online menu is slightly different from current menu. I shall be back for more to taste the rest of dishes.
(4)
Jake C.

If there's one thing I always come back for, it's the ramen at Oiistar, specifically the soup base. Oiistar has the heartiest, stockiest, most substantial soup base out of every ramen I have eaten here in Chicago. It is best described as a bear-hug for your tongue. It is not the delicate semi-cordial "hi long time no see" side-hug. No, it's the "dude come the F here because we just rocked that presentation so hard our boss' boss' boss is flabergasted" group hug. The other components to the ramen are delicious too. Noodles have just the right amount of bite and the pork is tender and flavorful (though not as melt-in-your-mouth as the pork at Wasabi). In other words, the ramen here at Oiistar is a bromance for your palate.
(5)
Jessica A.

Everytime I come here I become more and more addicted. Pork belly bun is incredible! Tiger shrimp bun-outstanding! Any ramen bowl is off the chart. Simplicity at it's finest! If I could move to Wicker Park just to be close to Oiistar, I would. Thanks for being so awesome!
(5)
Adrian G.

This isn't your cup noodle ramen. Rock solid. Some of the best ramen I've had and a nice variety too. Some fusion flare to their menu but their classics also available and great. Check out the buns too... I recommend the pork belly. I'll be returning and trying some of their other items for certain. Tea was good; albeit it was a cup with a tea bag but good overall. Service was prompt if not too fast. If you're looking for rest ramen, a fun atmosphere and some place perfect for a few friends, you'll not be disappointed.
(4)
Esther A.

Went here last night with a ramen craving and some concerns about trying to get a table on Valentine's Day. Fortunately, we beat the crowd to the last table in the joint that was open without a wait. Ha! We weren't looking for romance, only ramen, but I will say that although the room is very handsome and attractively lit, it was ungodly noisy the entire time we were there. At least on a Saturday, it's not the place for an intimate dinner where you'd rather not shout at your companion. Seats were low and backless. Husband grumbled a bit about that, but was soon distracted by the food, which was terrific. We started with a couple of the buns apiece. They came so generously loaded with toppings that they were almost impossible to pick up. The two that I ordered were absolute salt/fat/sweet bombs of pure lusciousness. Eying the enormous bowls of ramen at the next table, I started to wonder if we had over-ordered by each getting our own bowl of soup to follow the buns. Spoiler alert, we totally did! Which didn't stop us from practically licking our bowls clean, because the ramen was that good. The broth was definitely the standout--so rich and silky and comforting. Afterward, the attentive and friendly waiter asked if we wanted dessert, but we begged for mercy. Too! Much! Food! We had drinks too, so the bill was around $70, which was fair for how unbelievably full we were. We will definitely return!
(4)
Kevin F.

Arriving to Chicago on the heels of a bizarre September Polar Vortex, ramen sounded like the perfect lunch. Oiistar did not disappoint. The space is nice in a minimalist/austere sort of way. Hip to death. Service is fine -- nothing over the top. We got some hot sake ASAP to begin the warm-up process and then got the food going. To start, I had the Tempura Cod Bun which was really delicious -- basically the asian version of a fish taco. There was a lot of sauce and it was a bit of a mess, but it was super tasty. The "Spicy Veggimen" was really good. It's always nice to have a vegetarian option at a ramen joint and this was definitely one of the better ones out there. Lots of fresh veggies and a handful of greens. An apt proving ground for my lacking chopsticks skills. Overall it was a very good experience. Highly recommended.
(4)
Nini K.

I've been here twice and would definitely go back. First night was a typical Wednesday night, so it was not crowded at all. Second time was a Saturday night and was super crowded. I believe 1 hour we waited. We just went across the street to Emporium to kill time. It was worth it, though compared to eating time and waiting time, some say it wouldn't be worth it. I've had the Oiimen and Chadolomen. Oiimen was delish and flavorful, Chadolomen was a little too Kimchi-y for me. Maybe I just ordered wrongly on what I was feeling! A plus that they make their own noodles. I also had the Tonktasu Bao and that was just lovely. Must try the Oiimoji cocktail too (that is if you're feelin' minty). 4 stars because it can get pricey, music can also be lowered just a tad (maybe only loud on weekends)!
(4)
Tera D.

First and foremost, the portions are obscene. Like truly just outrageously big. Cheesecake Factory big. So when you're looking at the menu and the prices, remember that you are looking at easily 4 servings of food for the entrees and 2-3 for the ramen bowls. Even our $9 fried chicken small plate was nearly half a bird! Sheesh, it's a lot of food. So then the question becomes, is it any good? YES! I really really enjoyed what we got. The beef bun (goki) was probably my least favorite, not that it wasn't good flavor, I just thought the meat was kind of chewy - a major pet peeve of mine. Then the fried chicken came out, and we ate WAY too much of it, especially once we saw the size of our entrees. My husband had the zzajangman, which is sort of like jap chae, with gummy (in a good way) noodles, meat and a thick sauce, plus lots of spinach. I got the "modern" ramen, which was really yummy. Perfectly cooked noodles that soak up the broth, which is thick and creamy and fatty. Yum. We got the vast majority packed up for home, and they even separate the noodles back out of the ramen broth so they don't get soggy in the fridge. Very nice touch. I'll definitely be back, although I might just focus on tackling one dish next time instead of 4!
(4)
Derek C.

We came for lunch on a hot Friday afternoon. Ramen was probably not a very good idea on a day like this, but we heard great things about it and had to try it out. We were not disappointed at all and I do not regret getting a hot bowl of ramen on a 90 degree day. I ordered the Oiimen Ramen and my wife got the Modern Ramen bowl, not sure if that's what it was called, but it had kimchi and was pretty spicy. we also ordered the 6 hr pork shoulder bun to try out. the pork bun came out almost immediately and the ramen bowls shortly after that. I thought we would spend over an hour in there, but wow, were they quick in bringing out the food, which is awesome! I loved the 6 hr pork shoulder bun, pork was tender and the bun was soft with great flavors on top of it. My Oiimen ramen bowl was phenomenal! LOVED the broth that it came in and the pork belly was delicious. the broth had almost a milky consistency to it and I just could not stop sipping it. the noodles were good, but it seemed odd to me that they were so thin. My wife's Modern Ramen bowl was ok, I was not really a fan of it. The broth was just not as good as the Oiimen. We had swapped bowls to try each others out and I could not wait until I got my own bowl back so I could keep sipping at the broth. overall, a good 1st experience, so we'll definitely have to come back and try other things on the menu, like the chicken wings!
(4)
Francis R.

Not bad, not bad. -$5 tap beers yet limited selection! -Good service! -Pan seared portabella mushrooms! Excellent value! -Oiimen ramen. Broth was delicious but I think it would be more enjoyable with traditional ramen noodles. Still pretty good though! -ZZAJANGMEN. Interesting. Asian Italian fusion. Think jjajangmyun & spaghetti hybrid sort of dish with the thicker noodles and it gets topped off with parmesan. Tasty! Worth a stop if you're in the area! Cheers!
(3)
Shardool P.

Me and a friend visited Oiistar off a friend's recommendation on a chilly August summer night (only in Chicago). We picked out some seats but it took a good 10 minutes for any server to make an appearance. Throughout the meal we couldn't tell who was our server either because different people kept stopping by, they forgot our spoons, didn't check up on us much, and the service just lacked attention or care for our accommodation. That's the bad of Oiistar. The good is the ramen is pretty delicious and it's fairly affordable. We both ordered the highlighted Oiimen (classic) ramen and we split a duck breast bun. The duck breast bun came out fairly quickly and was amazing in flavor! It somehow gave me a sense of some sort of Indian/Asian fusion flavor and I highly recommend trying this just to try it. If you're not big on duck, it's OK, you won't even notice it's duck, just do it! Perfect blend of citrus, savory, and it was almost kind of light, besides the bun. The ramen took way too long to come out, almost 40 minutes. The broth was awesome, it was super creamy and had a chili oil in it. The flavor was really strong from the broth without diving too deep into the salty side, so another big up on that point. I enjoyed the noodles but have had better, but satisfying nonetheless. We did think the addition of ground pork was kind of strange and later discovered it resting along the bottom of the bowl, to which end neither of us could finish the healthy portion so it was kind of lost. I thought the addition of the tree-ear mushroom was a nice texture touch, but added little in flavor, though the pork belly itself was real nice, not overly fatty, and had a nice subtle flavor to it. Overall I would definitely return as there are more menu items I'd like to try, especially on the buns menu, but I wouldn't stop by if you're hoping to get in an out in less than an hour.
(3)
Christina L.

my gf and i came here on a week night, looking for ramen that rivals wasabi's. we needed to venture out a bit from our comfort zone! this place is pretty cute, and in the summer they open the windows. we got - fried garlic chicken (duh), togarashi mussels, and a bowl of ramen each. the fried chicken was definitely the stand out for me, but i dont like mussels. the ramen is okay, not as much depth of flavor in the broth, but the ingredients are all very unique! i also had their seasonal sangria which was light and refreshing. price per person was very reasonable and the portions are rather large - so a great deal! i'd be open to coming back here for sure.
(3)
Evie H.

I'm not a huge fan of the ramen here - mostly because of the thin noodles. They are not chewy at all and there's not much texture to it. It honestly tasted like noodles you can buy at any Asian grocery store. The one thing that propped up my bowl of ramen was that the broth was developed well. I had some issues with it though after taking back leftovers. The broth completely clumped and hardened which unfortunately alerts you to just how fatty it really is compared to other locations where the same does not happen! For ramen, I much recommend Wasabi down the street by a mile or so. I did not have a chance to check out Oiistar's appetizers but that'll be on the list for next time as I'll be skipping over the ramen!
(2)
Dan G.

This place is one of the best cures for the Chicago winter blues. Of course the star here is the ramen. The majority of the ramen is a pork based broth that is layered with flavor and is the stuff dreams are made from. Really, once you have it you will be craving it on a cold -10 below day in our fine city of Chicago. Besides the delicious ramen soup they also have a great selection of Chinese buns. A rice flour bun filled with delectable ingredients. My favorite has to be the tempura shrimp. And for desert that have a creme brÃ»lÃ©e with espresso soaked caviar that is outta this world. A strange pairing that works like gangbusters. Good and friendly service a nice selection of beer and booze and a soup you won't forget. Fantastic, and I will be back.
(4)
Allegra H.

I didn't order anything but the Oiimen Ramen, but it was yummy! Loved the broth, the noodles were so-so, and the rest of the ingredients were good. My biggest complaint was with the actual dishes/utensils that the ramen came with. The chopsticks were on the shorter/smaller side and the bowls were huge, which meant that my chopsticks (when resting atop the edge) kept falling into the bowl or falling off onto the table. The spoons, if they can even be called spoons, were ENORMOUS. Honestly, I thought they were ladles and asked the server for an actual spoon, thinking that she'd give me the standard Asian soup spoon. No such luck. The ladles were meant to BE the spoons. The problem with the ladles is that they can't fit in your mouth. So when you try to put a little bit of broth, a little bit of noodle, and a little bit of egg or meat into the spoon for that perfect bite of ramen, you can't. You are forced to separately eat solids with chopsticks or broth with a spoon. Frustrating when you want to taste the ramen all together. I certainly would have enjoyed the flavors and textures more if I could have combined them. The waitress did, however, offer me a Western teaspoon & soup spoon. The problem with these utensils is that they can't pick up any liquid from a bowl of that shape and size. There was a lot of dairy on the menu, and as someone allergic to dairy, this made it harder to find something to eat. Usually Asian restaurants are dairy-free and I was bummed to see half of the menu disappear as an option. The service was good, and very speedy. The ambiance was also good. All in all, I enjoyed my dinner. I just wish I could have enjoyed it more had it been served in unpretentious dinnerware. Function wins over style when it comes to getting food in my face.
(4)
Kyle P.

Great food and really cool atmosphere. I have eaten at all the pho places in the area and this one is best. also remember to get the garlic bread it is very good and the bao's were fantastic. sit at the bar it is more fun to watch them cook
(5)
Isabella J.

It's all about the buns at Oiistar. We meant to go there for the ramen, but the buns stole the show. It's a fusion restaurant, so it's something to keep in mind if you're seeking something totally traditional. As mentioned, the buns pack a punch- with combos ranging from BBQ, to cod, fried shrimp, pork belly and more. You can make an entire dinner out of these! My personal favorite was the Goki, although I really think the entire bun menu offers a ton of options for all tastes. I'm no ramen expert, but I found the ramen to be A-ok, average. The portions are huge so I don't think they're overpriced considering two people can easily split a bowl. I ordered the classic. The broth was rich and flavorful, but the noodles didn't do it for me. They were more like angel hair pasta. We also ordered a big plate to share- it was a smorgasbord of flavors. And j found it was overboard on the fusion. From the noodles with blackbean sauce and cotija cheese with pork, chicken, spinach and peanuts, it was just to much. Those plates don't really add much to the menu. There's ready so much going on that I'd recommend not serving them at all. They simply don't make sense to me. I'd return here for the buns, hands down.
(3)
Xiangyi Z.

This is the best Ramen I ever had even compared with the ones I had in Japan!! I ordered the pork classic, it totally blows me away! The pork shoulder bun has a juicy flavour, it's quite nice and not a usual bun you see everywhere else. I'll definitely come back!!! The only thing that could be improved is the restriction of one bun per order!! I'll have to come back LOL
(5)
Allan C.

Trendiness is the first word that comes to mind when hanging out here. BUT... whatever let's talk about the food. I liked the noodles themselves. They were really tasty in their own right and the Q-ness was there. The Zajianmien. I'm going to have to be a stickler and say that I prefer the traditional stuff. This was like something my mom would make when she'd go on one of her "experimenting" streaks. The pickled veges were good, but the parmesan cheese and slew of spinach was offputting for me. The Oiimen broth is not too salty, which is a good thing. I'd come back just for this. However, seriously, what's with the super loud music. The waiter could barely hear us and thought we ordered extra drinks. It was annoying but I was like what the heck and drank the stuff anyway. This is entirely not the waiter's fault at all, just the fault of the damned music. Nobody likes having to raise their voice to someone across the table for dinner. Oh right we had some Bao. I'm not paying for that stuff again. It was good, but c'mon. People should be catching up on how cheap that stuff is now.
(3)
Ile M.

Tired of the same old tired Asian stuff? This place is good and no hints of Thai, which makes me happy! Definitely some Korean and Japanese influences. Everything was really very good. Loved the chicken and noodles were good too. Everything was tasty and the prices were very reasonable for the level of cuisine. Definitely worth going to with a group to share in the dishes. Our group all said they would be back. I'm glad I found this place.
(5)
Morgan R.

This review is about the service, not the food. My friend and I had Oiimoji cocktails and ramen. That was great. Our experience with the waiter was particularly awful. When we come in we see that all the tables are taken. We ask the waiter at the door how long the wait is and he says 10 minutes. That's great, we say and he tells us to wait at the bar. We do. About 10-15 minutes goes by and we see a table opened up. The waiter gives the table to a couple that walks in at that moment. What about us? We've been waiting as we were told. We ask the waiter and he says he forgot about us. Then he tries to say, oh actually I didn't forget. I just thought you decided to eat the bar. And then he tells us that we should have sat at the open table when we saw it. How were we to know we could seat ourselves. That's not the practice at every restaurant and there was no signage stating we should seat ourselves, especially with the line of other people waiting. ALSO if you thought we were eating at the bar, why did no one come by to take an order or at least give us water??? We get the next table that opens us. The waiter apologizes for the confusion and my friend and I just decide to let it go. Then the waiter gives us a jug of water but no cups to drink out of. This same waiter proceeds to serve every table around us, including people who sat down after us. Is he deliberately not serving us? We wait for another 10minutes and finally have to ask for the manager. She gives us cups - great. I express to her my concern and frustration. I did not fail to notice that my friend and I were the only African Americans eating at the restaurant at that time. Is that the problem? Or are we being reprimanded for not seating ourselves? Basically, what the fuck is going on? I felt so mistreated and humiliated. It seemed as if this waiter had something against us and refused to serve us because the manager had to make our cocktails and take our order herself. It was a terrible beginning to my evening with my friend. We were trying to celebrate her new job offer. And the experience left me on the verge of tears. I've never felt so discriminated against in wicker park.
(2)
Anna P.

The service and eats at Oiistar are enough to earn it five stars in my book. I have been three times, and each time the service has been attentive and quick, the food has been hot and delicious, and the music has been fun. I recommend getting a few things to share if you have never been to Oiistar before. Think French/Japanese inspired salads, steamed buns (the best!), and interesting takes on ramen. I have not tried anything that wasn't delicious, so pretty much anything you pick out will be a winner.
(5)
Steve B.

Stopped by today with the wife and had the Oiimen ramen, side of kimchi, pork belly bun, and the shrimp bun. The kimchi was perfect and the buns were absolutely outstanding. The sauce on the pork belly was scrumptious and the shrimp was so perfectly crispy. The ramen was also very good, but I don't think I can say it tops Wasabi down the street. The noodles have the perfect bite and the ground pork and pork belly in the soup are very good. The flavor of the broth did not have the same depth as Wasabi, but was still very good. The music here is a bit too loud for my liking, but we sat at the bar and were served by the chef who was friendly and it was also very cool to watch him cook and use his torch.
(4)
George L.

The guabao is juicy and prolly the best I had in the states. Fried chicken is perfectly cooked but has too much vinegar in it. The muscleman ramen has really good soup base, it is not like your traditional ramen but it's pretty awesome.
(4)
Lily L.

This place is 70% American and 30% Japanese restaurant. I had the classic "people choice" ramen. Very disappointing! People made bad choices all the time including food. The broth is too salty (American). I had three appetizers/sides. Shoulder pork had too much Parmesan cheese. Tempura shrimp got lost in the green (took me 3m to find the shrimp). I liked the baguette side the most. You can't go wrong with toasting baguette. Unfortunately, my search for good ramen is on still. Sorry tummy!
(3)
Amy D.

Bottom line: Comforting food. Time: Grabbing an early Thursday night dinner with my sisster Service: So-so - It wasn't even that busy to just get mediocre service. - Although our waitress warned me, she made it sound like the spicy ramen was going to be difficult to digest. Food: Yummy in my tummy - We each started out with their buns. My sister got the pork belly and I got the pork shoulder. Very much enjoyed the layers of texture. Every bite was different. - For entrees, we each got ramen, of course! The bowl of ramen was huge! I tell you the noodles were endless. My sister went traditional and got the oiimen which she completely devoured. I guess it's save to say she enjoyed it. As for me, I went for the spicy ramen, Chadolmen, which apparently was very spicy according to the waitress. Let me tell you, if you like spicy, GET IT! Warms your tummy right up and isn't even that overpowering. The spice, the tangiest from the kimchi, and the meat, all complimented each other very well. It is actually my second time here and it won't be my last. Good comforting food and with the winter coming, why not stop in and get a huge bowl of goodness to warm you right up! Service could be better, but it really depends on the day you come in.
(4)
Richard Y.

A small group of us tried Oiistar for the first time on a late lunch run. First, the ambiance is terrific-- modern and warm with great seating options. We sat at the communal table. Notable food was classic ramen (great broth), shrimp baos, haricot vert, and oh the wings-- the Korean savory sauce drunken variety that requires utensils. Good service too and the staff seemed happy to serve us minutes before closing at 3.
(4)
James L.

The chicken small plate was pretty good. Tastes like Korean Ggangpongi but not as good. Too much on the sweater side and not spicy. The Ramen. It was alright. Noodles were thin and chewy, not as good of a snap. Broth was tasty but not as savory as I like. At least it wasn't super salty like 90% or the ramen that i've tried. Plus! Might be back to try some other dishes, maybe another ramen. Prices are kinda on the higher side too for what you get.
(3)
Lisa D.

Great dishes all of giant portions! Tried the classic ramen and a plate both excellent! The pork in the ramen was cooked to perfection!
(5)
Vishal K.

Probably the best ramen in Chicago!! Their broth is one step over all the ramen joint in Chicago(wasabi, slurping turtle...). And the buns r a must have!!
(5)
D O.

I love their veggie noodles so much, every appetizer I've ever tried is delicious, and sangria and mojitos rock! Oiistar is a great place to hang out on a summer day when the windows are wide open.
(5)
Will G.

Had the modern ramen, was excellent. Short wait for a table on a weeknight, this place is popular.
(5)
Reah R.

A fantastic place for authentic Japanese ramen! I ordered the tikkamen, which was very good. The broth was on the heavier side if you are into stews then this dish will be for you. Overall the staff was friendly and welcoming. I will defiantly be back to try their other ramen dishes!
(4)
Kate G.

In regards to a recent review that claims this restaurant is expensive, I disagree. On the one hand, if you go by the logic that Oiistar serves ramen, which is known for being the cheap meal of choice for college students nationwide, then yes, it is much more expensive than those ramen noodle packets you can pick up at the store. But this restaurant doesn't serve your typical ramen noodle packet (thank goodness because that would be a stupid concept); Oiistar serves delicious ramen noodles made in-house and cooked in a savory broth with meat, vegetables, egg, spices, etc. Also, yes, it would be expensive if you bought FOUR bowls of soup for only TWO people, as the previous reviewer says he did, but that is rather ridiculous. Each bowl of ramen is HUGE! On the two occasions that I've gone to Oiistar, I've been very hungry but haven't been able to finish my bowl. My boyfriend is a big guy, and he can just barely finish the bowl. It's a giant portion, so there's no need to order more than one bowl of ramen per person. For two people, you can go here and get one or two drinks, an order of buns, and two orders of soup for around $50, which I'd say is a good value for a trendy Chicago restaurant with high-quality food. Speaking of the food at Oiistar, the ramen is excellent. After my first visit, I started craving the ramen and wanting to go back for more (which I ended up doing last night)! I've tried both the Tikkamen and the Chadolmen "modern" ramen. The Tikkamen included chicken, masala, and bean sprouts and was reminiscent of Indian cuisine. The Chadolmen was perfectly spicy (i.e., it had a definite "kick" but wasn't so spicy that I couldn't handle it). The Chadolmen contained a tasty mix of the following: beef brisket, kimchee, spicy miso, garlic, bean sprouts, cilantro, and egg. And of course all of the soups include generous portions of the house-made ramen noodles. Both soups had an addictive quality; once you start to get full, you still don't want to stop eating it! Oh, and when the soup comes out, all of the ingredients are partitioned to their own side of the bowl. I recommend mixing them all together! As for the buns, I've tried three of them and think they are good but not great. That might just be because I've eaten amazing buns in New York and not much seems to compare. Each time I've gone to Oiistar, I've been so excited to try the buns, but they've failed to live up to my expectations. For one, the buns are tricky to eat. I feel like you should be able to pick them up and eat them like a taco, but instead, I always end up eating them with a knife and fork, which seems strange. Also, I think that when you order these buns, it would be nice if they'd give you more than one per order. They're tricky to share. I will say, though, that if you want to try the buns, the best one I've tasted so far was the pork belly bun. In regards to drinks, they offer house-made sangria. My friend ordered it and let me take a sip. It comes in a cool mason jar glass and was quite good. I plan to order it for myself next time I go! As for ambiance, the restaurant has a "hip" feel and is fairly small. Both times I've gone, I've been seated at the bar area where you can watch the chefs cooking your ramen and buns. My main complaint as far as the seating is that the seats at the bar are tall wooden chairs that aren't very comfortable. The service is fine. Nothing to really rave about, though. One plus is that on both occasions that I've gone to Oiistar, the chef, Sunny Yim, has been there. I like that. Sometimes, you go to a restaurant, and the head chef isn't even there. Last time we went, he thanked us for visiting before we left. I thought that was a nice gesture, and it's always cool to meet the head chef!
(4)
Sam Y.

Definitely the best ramen place in Wicker. The servings are large, the food is delicious, and the vide is great. To start off, this review is based off of a visit at an odd time of day, approximately 3 in the afternoon on a Sunday, so I may be able to attribute some of my gripes to that. Upon arrival, my girlfriend and I were told we could sit wherever in an extremely empty restaurant (only one table seated). We opted to sit outside, and waited about 5 minutes before our server came and dropped off some menus. Another 5 minutes elapsed before he came to get our drinks orders, when we found out they not only don't have lemonade, but no iced tea either. I get not having some specialty drinks, but some staples like that seem almost essential to any restaurant. Anyway, about 15 to 20 minutes passed already by the time our drinks hit the table, and we waited a bit longer for the waiter to finish up whatever he was doing in the back before he took our food orders. We ordered 3 buns; a Pollo, a Pork Belly, and a Duck, along with an Oiiman and a Pozolmen Ramen for the two of us. The buns came out quickly, and were eaten with equal haste. They were succulent and delicious, making both my girlfriend and I consider ordering more. But, we were then met with 2 giant bowls of Ramen. The Pozolmen was spicy and wonderful. The broth was delicious and the noodles themselves had great texture. The Oiimen also had awesome noodles, but I much preferred the broth in the Pozolmen, as the Oiimen seemed bland and tasteless overall. The pork in both was great! Overall, it seems, from my experience, that this restaurant shines with their food. The service we had seemed poor, but the food will make me consider trying them again.
(3)
Kateryna G.

Food & drinks: 3/5. I'm a bit on the fence on this place. While I enjoyed the food, I thought it was very overpriced as my ramen barely had any chicken or anything else in it. I felt that paying $14 for a bowl of ramen that's mainly noodles is a bit too much. Sangrias and buns were also overpriced. Service: 4/5. We had a very attentive waiter, but when the place got busy we barely saw him. They were clearly understaffed on one of the busiest nights of the week. Overall: 3/5. Overpriced, but I'd probably give it another try, not any time soon though.
(3)
Jane W.

Delicious! Fabulous staff! Don't miss the top rated Sambal fried chicken and the beef BBQ! Can't wait to return! Psssst...heard this is the place a lot of Wasabi employees go to dine!!!
(5)
Jon M.

If you know anything ramen you know the magic is all in the broth. Smooth, salty and silken. Fantastic. Hard boiled egg with a perfectly runny yolk. Jackpot. Add house made noodles which have just enough bite and it gets even better. Aside from the ramen, some interesting Asian fusion options. The kimchi fried rice salad was huge, delicious and unexpected. All in all, a legit addition to the burgeoning Chicago ramen scene worth trying.
(4)
Grennan K.

Hot asian buns. Better than wow bao. Did have the pork shoulder (6yr) *blah* bland not so cray about the texture of jelly but the Duck Breast bun was so tasty. It had a nice balance of crunch and full flavor. We also had had mussels soaked in this yummy broth. Can't go wrong with seafood. I'll definitely bring my game face appetite for the ramen, though I can't imagine ramen being so crazy original. Anyway, came here for lunch around 1pm & surprisingly not dead. I liked their super casual choice in mixing up kind of alternative rock with r&b baby making music. Better if they played snoog dog. If i'm back in the Wicker P, i'll definitely recommend this spot as a asian food spot. BEST PART! Someone yells "GAM SAM NI DAH!" Korean for "Thank you" Wham bam thank you m'am.
(4)
Jesse T.

For the price, the quality and quantity of food is very impressive. Powerful flavors with great textures. Lighting is not this place's forte, nor are large group spaces, but the deco is very cool. I'd definitely recommending testing it out with a few friends when you get the chance, because you'll be happy and full afterwards.
(4)
Thomas L.

This review is based solely on the food. Yelpers had great things to say about the ramen so I was walking in with high expectations. Came here on a Saturday night and it was pretty busy but the staff were very attentive and notified us via NextMe when our table was open within 20 minutes. Duck Breast Bun arrived first. The amount of protein was quite sparse and the jalapeno chutney drowned out any taste from the duck meat. The bun had okay consistency but was not anything special. I had ordered the Oiimen (Classic) and a friend of mine ordered the Chadolmen (Modern). When the bowls arrived, the first thing we noticed were the noodles. They were thin and spaghetti noodle-like. This is different from the usual ramen, but unfortunately it was not for the better since there was no texture and they lacked the springiness of a well made Ramen. The broth and ingredients were okay but again, nothing memorable. They were very generous with the scallions on both bowls of ramen which overpowered the the remainder of the dish. Lastly, the pork belly was flabby without much flavor given the $14 price tag. I stepped out of Oiistar on a brisk winter evening after finishing my noodles, a duck breast bun, and a beer. Yes, I was full since the noodle portion was large, but it didn't leave me feeling like I would return for more compared to places like Takashi or Misoya.
(2)
Peter R.

The mere thought of a good bowl of Ramen gets me drooling like Pavlov's Dogs...ding! I just love that something as simple as broth, noodles, and pork can conjure up so much delicious memories. I heard some rumblings that there was a spot in Wicker Park that offered up some delightful ramen. Oiistar was the name of said place, and Peter hads to try it. I have to say that I came in with high expectations, and I was not disappointed whatsoever. I ordered the pork belly buns on the strong recommendation of our server. Let's just say I gave him a hi five after I was done eating those bad boys. I went for the Oiimen ramen, and I have to say that the broth and the pork are both exceptional. This place is easily one of top three ramen spots in Chicago for me. So I will just get to the point. You like ramen, get your pork belly buns down to Oiistar.
(4)
Lauren W.

I'm afraid to yelp about this hidden gem. I don't know why it doesn't have more stars. I've been here twice now and have had good experiences both times. Food is always amazing, and the service on Friday was just OK. We had the hostess though serving us, I'll downgrade them if she forgets to put in an appetizer order again. I've had some great sangria, and we love trying the little bao rolls before our main courses. The ramen options have always been delicious and distinctively flavorful. Our favorites: Tikkamen & the signature one. On my last visit I had a spicy cold noodle dish that was also delicious. I can't wait to see what happens as the menu changes. It seems like a good place for groups, casual dates, and also families. It's on my "easy nearby" list as it's SOOO good! And for now, you don't need a reservation :)
(5)
Michael S.

Ramen was super delicious. Their buns are a godsend. Garlic baguettes are to beg for. Great experience great and quick service too.
(5)
Anastasia N.

We wanted to try a new spot and we happened to come across Oiistar. We came in and out our names on a wait list. Luckily you don't have to stay there while waiting. They text you to let you know that your table is ready. Be careful and make sure you text back appropriately. Luckily I came back in time and checked in with the host because I accidentally replied to cancel. We got to our table and was immediately greeted by our server. Don't remember his name but he was so nice. Ordered our food and drinks. Next thing we knew our food was on our table. It came out so quickly. Started off with pork belly buns. They were delicious, but wish they were more of a melt in your mouth delicious. Then came the garlic fried chicken. Omg. Wasn't expecting how good it was going to be. The almonds give an already crunchy dish extra crunch. Then came the ramen. We got it to share. Oiimen was satisfying. especially on a cold night. It had a richness to it that can't really be described. Def should give this place a try.
(5)
Nick A.

So do yourself a favor and warm yourself up during one of Chicago's countless polar vortexes (vortices?), with a steamy bowl of Oiistar ramen. The ramen rocks. Seriously. A five star bowl of meaty, salty, noodle-y goodness. The service, however is so incredibly slow. I don't really care, but I can't give five stars with service this slow. I've been there three or four times and it's always the same in terms of dragging service. Enough of the downer stuff about the service. If you have a lot of time and want some awesome ramen, come here. I'm a fan of the chadolmen. It's super rich and has the right amount of spice. It also features kimchee, which brings the funk. The broth is like the essence pork. Truly awesome. I've brought my parents here who are super Mediterranean and never go to restaurants. When they do, they're mad if there isn't bread and olive oil. Even THEY loved this place. So please, come indulge at Oiistar.
(4)
Christa Lei S.

To preface this review, I need to admit that I'm still not buying into the trend of hakata-style noodles. They're just not for me. I admire Oiistar's homemade noodles, but I'm just not a fan of the noodles. (The noodles themselves taste amazing, but with ramen, I want the curly egg noodles that I so often crave when I think about ramen.) Also, another full disclosure: My companion (cousin) and I are regulars at another well-known ramen joint off Milwaukee... so our opinions were a little biased by nature, but we tried our best. Whoever described Oiistar as Changsian in nature was correct: buns and ramen. Very Momofuku-y. In any case, Oiistar actually has really good ramen. Is it the best in Chicago? Nah. And whoever gave it that title obviously hasn't had authentic ramen-- but Oiistar is more of an exercise and practice in pushing ramen to different forms. It is fusion cuisine, and you shouldn't come here if you want to want authentic ramen. My cousin and I both had the oiimen here-- and opted for the spicy garlic oil on the side, since we weren't sure how spicy it would be. Color us shocked that when we both added a liberal amount of the spicy garlic in our soups, it wasn't as spicy as advertised. It actually colored and flavored the broth into a harmonious blend of richness and umami flavor. However, my cousin felt that the ramen was too salty for her taste. Also, for poached eggs-- I wish they could also have them flavored. The best thing about ramen is the aji tamago (or soft boiled eggs seasoned in sake, soy sauce, sugar and mirin I think? I'm not sure.) And the eggs here suffered from the lack of seasoning and disrupted the flavors of the oiimen. The buns here are pretty good. I had a tonkatsu bun, while my companion had the shrimp tempura bun. She enjoyed hers so much that she got a second. We split a pork belly bun and were underwhelmed. It was good, but we've both had better. I'd recommend the tonkatsu bun though- lots of bang for your buck. Over all, Oiistar is good-- just a little pricy for what you're getting. It's worth a try and I'd come back for some of that nontraditional ramen.
(3)
Jamie B.

Service was just ok on this Sunday eve at dinner time. Our waiter was fumbling around a lot and forgot one of our orders. The ramen was just ok. It's broth with stuff in it, don't really get it. The buns were great, definitely the winning items- the BBQ beef, chicken, and tempura shrimp were each marvelous. I'd come back for the buns.
(3)
J T.

Crushes belly (shack, q, urban). I was shocked also. A total sleeping giant of ramen places. Here's what we had: Tonkatsu bun Pollo bun Duck breast bun Shared: oiiramen. Stuffed for 27 bucks. Awesome and such amazing presentation. I'm impressed!
(5)
Ethan R.

My fiancÃ© and I were seriously blown away by this place. We shared the modern ramen and the Kim chi chow (I think that's what it was called) and both were fantastic. Very flavorful and savory, and the portions were huge. Service was friendly and fast. Atmosphere of the place was quite energetic and you have to talk loudly, so if you want a quiet date then this might not be the place for you. However, if you want a lot of really good food for a good price, then you've found the right spot.
(5)
Kevin N.

Oiistar, I wanted to give it 4.5 stars, but I guess that's not possible so I'll put down a 5 star review here. Service: 4 stars, pretty good service, but once it gets busy service dips a little. Understandable. Atmosphere/decor: 4.5 stars, I like the way this place is set up, great for small groups of friends relaxing over dinner. Food: 4.5 stars, the two house special drinks are great! the mojito was refreshing, and the sangria... well, it was good sangria! I don't know about you but I always like eating the fruit in the sangria, haha. A slight disappointment was only having one bun per order. Thought we would get two, bummer. Tried the Chadolmen (modern) and Oiimen (classic), and both were good and in generous portions. I'm not much of a ramen connoisseur but if I leave full and satisfied, that's a good sign! Conclusion: I already know that I'll be back, their food is very satisfying on a cold Chicago winter!
(5)
Jessica L.

Oishii oishii! I haven't been to many ramen-japanese joints in Chicago area (only some sushi-japanese restaurants) and so I was definitely excited to visit Oiistar, and indeed I was impressed! First of all, parking is a little annoying since you're limited to street parking in the residential area, and on Milwaukee if you're lucky, but come on, you're in Wicker Park...you should be used to this. I was with three other people, and we ordered 4 buns (pork belly, 6-hour slowroasted pork shoulder, fried cod, and duck) The duck was rather sweet, however the cilantro (I believe) definitely made up for the sweetness. I was looking forward to the pork shoulder, but was rather disappointed...It had a weird aftertaste/some spice that I didn't like... The cod and the pork belly was ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. juicy, fresh, hot, yumyum! NOW FOR THE RAMEN. I love japanese ramen. I mean it. Maybe it was the fact that I was also very hungover at the time, and ramen is always the best cure to a hangover, but the oiimen ramen was delicious! It's easy to make japanese ramen too greasy or too salty, but the oiimen was just right - the pork inside was perfectly cooked, and the perfect soft boiled egg that just naturally infused itself with the broth AHHHH. No, but really, best hangover food ever. Not as good as Ippudo in NYC, but ive yet to taste ramen that could battle ippudo's... Too bad I was so hungover - the sangria looked amazing - must try next time!
(4)
Ardin L.

I was craving ramen so I decided to give Oiistar a chance. I went for lunch and I got the Oiimen. It was delicious. I loved the house made noodles and then pork loin. The broth was savory. I did think that the price was a bit high for a single bowl of ramen. Compared to Ippudo in New York City, I think this place is just a good. It was surprising that the restaurant was nearly empty that day. I really like their set up. The server was very friendly and my food came out very quickly.
(5)
Cole G.

Very good ramen. I would recommend the Kim chi chow. It's a rice bowl, not ramen, but very good. Prices are a little high, but great for a cold night in as well.
(4)
Winnie C.

The soup is very rich but a little heavy for my taste. Their porkbelly and duck breast is quITE fatty, took me a while to walk it off. Moderm decor and good ambient though.
(3)
David L.

Oiistar. I pasted it once randomly one night and could not tell what it was, but I told myself "that looks like a pretty cool place. I'll stop by next time". Next thing you know, my friend is taking me to this place he claims is popular for ramen, and BAM, right in front of me was Oiistar. The only thing that could pop up in my mind at the moment was "man, I have a knack for stumbling onto trendy foodie places." So we went in for lunch, and fortunately, it was on a slower side of business, so there was plenty of places to sit. We sat right up close to the chef. Looking at the menu, I can definitely see how this place is popular. The menu consisted of different type of buns, each with a gourmet-like twist. Right in the middle is a decent selection of ramen, some I believe have hints of Korean flavors while others are Japanese-American fusions. Right below are some interesting appetizers, with a few that seems more like Asian-European fusion. I went for the traditional pork belly bun, shared a plate of duxelle with my friend, and wrapped it up with the pozolmen ramen. The pork bun was great, with a nice tender texture topped with their signature sweet glaze. Though I have to admit, the duxelle was the center of my attention. Originally, it reminded me of an arancini (just a fancier version topped with caviar). But once I took a bite into it...man, it sure is not an arancini. The siracha-mayo mixed with avocado puree added a nice, subtle refreshing kick to the mushroom-pork belly stuffing. Very welled seasoned and perfectly cooked, with the outer layer being the main crispy texture needed to match the tenderness of the meat. Definitely worth it. Finally, onto the main dish. The soup was full of flavor and spicy. There was a good amount of ramen and meat, making it a perfect portion after our apps. But ironically, nothing too memorable about the ramen. It was great ramen, and it reminded me a bit of home cooking, but perhaps the exotic duxelle overshadow the ramen for me. Regardless, it was still one hell of a ramen dish. Overall, a great place with some great asian fusion dishes. The ramen is obviously what they are popular for, but if you get a chance (and have some extra cash) try sharing some of the smaller plates. I think that the smaller plates are where you will be able to see more of their artistic culinary skills. Do I recommend this place? I think my writing speaks for itself.
(4)
Arpit B.

Absolutely amazing buns..especially the duck breast and goki!! We tried musclemen ramen...the gravy and the mussels were simply awesome. On the whole a really kool place for dinner...though service could be a bit better and the music a Lil less loud
(4)
Monica Z.

Ramen was delicious!!! Very friendly service, location looks clean and very modern, open kitchen so you can see the cooks in action and awesome music (90's). We had the following: -Chicken Bun - AWESOME and a must try -Pork belly bun - It was OK -Shredded Pork bun - Not bad -Fried Garlic chicken - GREAT -Oiistar Salad - very refreshing and another must try -Oiistar - THE BOMB! Very good spicy broth with mouth melting pork.... VERY Delicious! I will
(4)
Mike L.

It's not bad. They try hard. There are better ramen places nearby. If you charge like $15 for a bowl of ramen it should be amazing. This wasn't. Again, not bad not great.
(3)
Linda SingaSong S.

Oiiiiiin't you happy to see me again Oiistar? Rolled in Friday night to a pretty relaxed crowd at this lovable joint. Started with the usual beverage: ~2 OiiMojis! [gets my buzz going just off of one drank, hey-Ohhh!] Appetizers: ***They made some recent changes to the menu from last time. For the buns, they've changed to individual portion sizes. ~Goki == marinated korean bbq beef [INCREDIBLE FLAVOR!!! tastes like authentic korean bbq] ~Pork Belly == micro rainbow, cucumber, oiistar signature sauce [yummmm!] mini Nom's: ~DUXELLE - new menu item. I don't want to sound too mushy goo about this new dish, but I have developed a relationship with these delicious balls. [get yo Mind outta da gutter! hah] - lightly breaded and fried, similar to a texture of a Falafel ball. Stuffed with shredded pork belly, spicy mayo, caviar and surrounded by a beautiful spread of avocado puree. - hot damn. What a great addition to the menu! Never ever get rid of it, pretty please!!!! When our server, Erin, told us that the kitchen closed 10 mins ago, we were pretty bummed because we wanted to order another round of Duxelle. She was sweet enough to talk to manager, and the gracious kitchen staff (thank you!!!) whipped us a fresh batch. ~We topped off the night with Golden Monkey brew, which really filled us up good! Big thanks to our server, Erin for her sweet and efficient service, Chef Yim, and the staff.
(5)
Marie B.

This just may be the best Ramen in Chicago! Their tempura cod bun is delicious, they have a French green bean dish (can't remember the name) that is absolutely phenomenal, and their classic pork belly ramen is amazing. I gave them 4 of 5 stars simply because I've gone many times and there is a slight inconsistency with the portions given (soup - sometimes more, sometimes clearly less) and my frequent trips in the evening, during lunch the string bean dish tasted recognizably different (I preferred the chef and dish from in the evening).
(4)
Alicia M.

I think this is a hidden gem in Wicker Park. It's great for cold nights when all you want is comfort food. The soft buns are really great. Fluffy and flavorful with a little bit of kick. I've ordered the veggie ramen which is good, but the Oiimen ramen is my favorite. They bring out a huge bowl of noodles, amazing broth and veggies/egg/meat etc. I always end up taking some home. This is a tiny spot, but great for a low key night when you want comfort food that won't make you feel super gross afterward.
(4)
Stacie J.

Normally I avoid any place that has the word "fusion" in the description, but I love this place. It is my go to for a comfort food meal or if I have a friend that I want to impress. Their food and service are excellent, not too pricey and always a great bet. I usually get the muscle man ramen bowl and a side of kimchi. My boyfriend, who is Chinese, loves their buns and swears they are as yummy as anything he gets in Chinatown. The take away point is that this place is great and won't let you down.
(4)
shawn c.

The food is good here but the service sucks really bad. I keep putting up with it because i like the food but after my last visit and waiting 20 mins just to get my check only to have me actually get up and walk over to a waitress to ask her for one....i think i'm done here. The place wasn't even packed and one of the waitresses was on her phone.
(1)
Kris R.

i've been wanting to come here for a minute, and i was craving asian like cray (who doesn't), so i thought this would be a good idea. well guess what. i'm a genius because this was the best idea sunday's ever seen. we got: BUNS. awwwww yeah. the mushroom one and the 6hr pork shoulder one. they were both awesome. i could eat 10 of these. ok 2. but srsly. we "FOR SHARED" the haricot vert (that TOTALLY rhymed). that was pretty good, too. when i think about it, it was pretty covered in sauce or oil. tasty but maybe slightly heavy. nothing crazy though. RAMEN. we split the oiimen. pretty good, again. i wasn't a huge fan of the noods - i'm a big wasabi and santouka fan - but to each her own. tasty though, it shouldn't disappoint. we ate all of these things outside. which was another great idea by me. our server was very knowledgeable (he mentioned about 5 times about how long he's been working there) and friendly. he made great recommendations.
(4)
Ashley C.

We dinned here after reading the good reviews on Yelp and in the Tribune. My thought is that it is a little overrated, but this probably more like 3.5 stars with the food. However, given that we ate our meal like we were seated in an igloo, I knocked it down to 3 stars. The food was solid. We ordered the pork belly and goki buns to share. I preferred the goki because there was more dimension and flavor. The sriarcha gave it a nice amount of heat. Also tried the tuna carpaccio. The tuna was good but was overpowered by the oil. The quail egg helps balance the dish to a perfect bite, but there is not enough for the whole dish. I thought the pork belly was a little too simply and bland. I ordered the Modern Ramen (medium spicy) - I really liked the broth and thought t had good flavor. My biggest complaint is the atmosphere and lack of heat in the place. We were seated by the window. I understand that Chicago winters are cold, but it was so cold I had to keep my coat on. I give them A for effort for trying with the space heater, but it was not enough. The guests at the communal bar seating near the window similarly had their coats on. At first, I thought this was limited to the window area. However, when leaving, I noticed that guests in the main seating area also had their coats on. One woman sitting in the middle of the restaurant looked like she was shivering. For the $100 tab (w/ drinks and tip) and with many other options in the city, I find this unacceptable and it ultimately affected the rating. The place seriously needs to look into new windows/better heating. I can say that we won't be back in the cold weather and by the time it warms up, we might be on to something "hotter."
(3)
Roby L.

Came here with a friend of mine, the music was a bit loud so couldn't hear half if our conversation but the food was great. I enjoyed mostly the Oiiman Ramen it was very tasty and ghost good. Also had as couple pork buns, but was nit a fan of the pork taste, tasted like it had been sitting on a steam table away too long. Did enjoy the sangria, great drink and also loved the creme brulee and bao donut for dessert!
(4)
James L.

Oiistar's ramen lacked flavor and passion. The noodles were also cooked a little too long. I was really disappointed after having tried this place. The service was ok, nothing outstanding outside your regular waiter/waitress service. I don't recommend this place for ramen or their buns. You should just stick to being traditional when it comes to ramen. sorry Oiistar!
(1)
Thomas L.

You are in Wicker Park, parched, and famished. Weary from the onslaught of cause-head Hipsters touting the day's fashionable cause cÃ©lÃ¨bre (e.g., food labeling standards, fur, etc.), you conclude soup--preferably Ramen--is the only answer. Panic washes over you as you realize, though, that you will once again need to weave through the bearded & tattooed unwashed masses to make it back either to Wasabi or onto the elevated to get to go Noodles by Takashi. Luckily, now there's Oiister. I ordered the "Oiistar (Classic)" because, well, one would want the namesake dish of a place bold enough to name itself after its signature item. To compliment that and help quench my thirst, the place has the PERFECT LUNCH BEER LIST. I, of course, had one the better beers in this world: Krombacher. True, alcohol ultimately dehydrates, but a cold beer on a warm August day just works...if only for immediate gratification. Getting into the Ramen: this place simmers its broth for 22 hours according to the waiter. (Yeah, it was a skeech hipster before you ask.) The Oiistar has a thick miso-based broth that has a silky, buttery texture and just melts in your mouth without the "fishy" seaweed taste. It also has a more subtle mushroom flavor that adds to something else rather than heavy-handedly forcing you to taste mushrooms. The pork belly is of excellent quality, falling apart in your mouth without much effort. They did a different take on the hardboiled egg, too, in which the yolk remained a liquid and gave you the option of just eating the egg halves or simply mixing the yolk right into the broth. Overall, it was the soothing deliciousness I needed that day, and the broth reminded me of good phÃ¶. But let's get real: the buns are what distinguish this particular Ramen restaurant. Yeah, they do "from-scratch" Ramen, but I cannot even describe how good their simple delicate steamed buns with various stuffing and filling types are. Clearly made in-house, these are the true stars of the menu. The buns will go good with anyone seeking to eat small bites or "tapas" style. HIPSTER FACTOR: Bifurcated! No, seriously, there were two levels at this place: the staff and the customers. The staff were hipsters, but other than one table in a place that has easily twenty, I only saw one pair of hipsters at that table of approximately 15 people eating lunch. In that neighborhood, such is considered a huge, almost unimaginable win! I will return any time I'm in the neighborhood and need a calm soothing meal that's virtually hipster-free.
(4)
Shelly A.

The Ramen bowls at Oiistar put most others in Chicago to shame! Everything I've had here has been really, really great. The atmosphere and service were solid, as well. I felt like our servers were a little awkward/confused because several tried taking our order, but it wasn't the biggest deal in the world. The steamed buns were fantastic, as were the other appetizers we tried. I didn't love the veggie Ramen as much as I've loved others I've had in NYC, but it was still really good and probably the best I've had in Chicago.
(4)
Kevin Y.

I've been to Oiister 3 times within a week for their ramen. After living out in the bay area for 1.5 years, finding good ramen in chicago is tough. There's a place in bucktown called "Wasabi" and their ramen is definitely solid. However, I thought it was a little bit pricey for what it is. Oiistar's ramen is on point. The broth is flavorful and not salty like many places. Definitely give it a shot
(4)
Raymond M.

After trying Wasabi a while ago, my friends and I decided to try Oiistar. We started off with Portobello & Avocado Tempura, Pork Belly buns, Fried Garlic Chicken (Sambal) for appetizers. Surprisingly, I enjoyed the Portobello tempura more than the avocado tempura. The tempera was crispy. I could taste natural flavors and texture of the mushroom; however, the taste of avocado was lost. The dipping sauce (parsley, parmesan, and shiso pesto mayo) was slightly salty and creamy; it complements the tempura well. The Pork Belly Bun was delicious, reminiscing of Peking duck bun. The pork belly was tender, flavorful, and sweet; the Oiistar signature sauce tastes similar to that for the Peking duck bun. I would like some crispiness for textural contrast that Peking duck bun has. The Fried Garlic Chicken (Sambal) was not my favorite appetizer; it was a little too sour for my taste and a few pieces were dry and tough as they were over-fried. I would definitely get the Portobello tempura next time. I had the Oiimen Ramen (Classic). In order for me to make a review about their ramen, I have to compare it to Wasabi's Syou Tonkotsu Ramen. I was not particularly fond of their noodles. It didn't have the spring, firmness, and bite I was expecting like Wasabi's and Santouka's. The broth was delicious; it is rich and slightly salty without being greasy and oily. Compared to Wasabi, this broth is slightly ahead in richness and depth. However, the the broth was not as creamy as that of Wasabi's. The ramen was topped with pork belly, egg, scallion, tree-ear mushroom, spicy oil and garlic. I'm not a fan of the eggs served in ramen, but I like this egg more than that served on Wasabi's ramen. I was disappointed in the pork belly even though it was tender and chewy. It really lacks flavor. The pork toro in Wasabi is tastier. I felt like Wasabi has more toppings added, which add more variety of textures. I did enjoy the abundance of scallion. Disappointingly, there was not that much heat from the spicy oil. Despite the broth being richer in Oiistar, I still prefer the ramen in Wasabi. The dining room was dim. The tables are very small. Despite the restaurant being bigger than Wasabi, it felt cramped. The service was pleasant. The waiter made an error in our receipt, charging us with a different table's order of lesser total price. Being honest people, we notified the waiter and he immediately corrected this problem. It would be nice if he offered a small dessert for our honesty - a $30 honesty. Ahaha. I'm kidding. Overall, this place was okay.
(3)
Chao Z.

I admit that I might think too much. The bun is good flavored but a little too soft. The ramen is ok, the noodles are good, but the soup is a little too salty for me. Again, it is really my personal view. The service is really good.
(3)
Hana B.

It's decent for an Asian-fusion/Japanese ramen spot in the city (I personally find the ones out in the 'burbs to be much much better). Overall, the food was good, but for a $15 bowl of ramen...ehh, it wasn't that amazing (though, I will say that the portion size was very generous). I ordered the shrimp tempura bun for an appetizer, musselman ramen, and the house sangria, which all came out to around $30+ tip. The house sangria was actually pretty good, and I did enjoy the ramen broth as well; but, I probably wouldn't go out of my way just to come eat here again.
(3)
Valerie Yvonne B.

Step in the place and it's packed on a Saturday afternoon..or was that a Sunday? Can't remember. Anyway, it was packed with trendy folks who now can afford much more than 10cents a pack for their ramen noodle dinners. Coat rack is located right behind you, in the corner, near the door. Yes, there. Put your coat there just in case you can't find a booth and need to sit on one of the stools in the back near the kitchen. The chefs are working their butts off because business is good. Its fun to watch them while you chit chat with your friend. Even more fun to half watch while the blonde sitting next to you listens in on your conversation about your opinion of the movie Spring Breakers, your last date and how to add kinky extensions to your hair. I mean, really.. (why is she paying so much attention to me? her boyfriend was handsome. smh) Yes, so we ordered a crap load of appetizers first. The Portobello & Avocado Tempura with parsley, parmesan, shiso pesto mayo. I wanted more of that mayo although I probably didn't *need* it. It was crunchy and not full of flavor but that's what tempura is. This alone was enough for two people. Also ordered the spicy bbq chicken bun. I love the presentation and the fact that i wasn't sure how to eat it. I figured it out quickly and it was good. The bun was soft and chewy, slightly sweet while all the flavors the the cilantro and bbq went perfectly together. The main dish was the ramen. You get a big bowl of good eating. I ordered the chicken. All I can say is that it was tasty and even better the next day coming out of my fridge. I think because all the flavors had more time to hang out in the bowl for me. I will definitely come back. My girlfriend actually introduced me to this spot even though this is one of my favorite Chicago neighborhoods I probably wouldn't have stopped here so soon. Next time I'm ordering dessert and trying one of the salads.
(5)
Lori S.

I decided to try Oiistar out again, this time for lunch. While we did not dine during peak lunch hour, the service was still as poor as it was the first time, but this time there was no excuse that it was bustling and busy. The pork belly buns were very average, no carmelized crispiness that I usually get when ordering a dish like this. Also, when two people are dining, you would think the waiter would let you know that an order of buns consists of ONE bun, not two (pretty hard to split). When we ordered the ramen, I requested that it be served 1. with warm sharing bowls (last time they were served with freezing bowls which made the ramen lukewarm) and 2. without cilantro. Why should I feel like warm bowls are an absurd request when your main entree is soup!? The waiter looked at me like I was crazy, to which he responded " I'm not sure how to provide you with warm bowls". I would think restaurants have plate warmers, clearly this one doesn't, so I suggested a microwave?? Figure it out guys, please. When the ramen came out, it was overflowing with cilantro and when the waiter came back 20 MINUTES later to take our food away, I reminded him we asked for it with no cilantro. He had a pompous reply along the lines of "I remember you saying that but I forgot to write that down for the kitchen, it's a good thing its easy to pick out of the soup". It's actually pretty annoying to fish through an enormous bowl picking every piece out you can see, but thanks for reminding me how easy it is. Flavor of the ramen is great, I will give it that, but there were really really fatty pieces of beef all throughout. At $14 a bowl, I'm determined to find better with a nicer waitstaff. I did give it another try though!
(1)
Karen T.

I came here on Monday, but alas it was closed so we went to Del Seoul and had a great meal. Then tonight, I tried to go to Fat Rice but THAT was closed... so we ended up coming here. Finally. I love Slurping Turtle but I find Takashi's Sunday noodle dinners to be severely lacking. There's probably only one or two places in this city I think of with decent ramen, and finally, Oiistar has come to fill the void. Thankfully my two compatriots are serious eaters so we got to try a big chunk of the menu. The duck breast buns were good, reminded me of korean bbq and salad with that perfect amount of spice and sweet heat. The pork belly buns were my favorite. I loved the microgreens that lightened it up. Then we tried the haricot verts with egg, panchetta bacon and creme fraiche. The "oiimen" ramen was fantastic. seasoned well and filled my tummy with enough warmth to combat the winter ice storm outside. Our server helped us select extra noodles and an extra egg so that it could be split perfectly amongst 3 people. The fried garlic chicken with almond and chive sauce was tasty, but not my personal favorite when there were so many other good dishes on the table. But my friends happily polished off the extras. The pork ribs with mozzarella, garlic and onion chips and lemon creme fraiche were great. i'm not usually a big ribs girl, but my share disappeared off my plate in record time. For dessert, the creme brulee with espresso caviar and almonds was served in an espresso cup-sized teacup. It was just enough sugar for 3 asians after devouring half a menu at oiistar. And it was executed with perfect technique. I was even pleasantly surprised by the caviar. It feels like I've seen the sodium alginate trick a million times, but the texture was definitely different. All in all, i'm so glad fat rice was closed tonight. oiistar more than stepped up to the challenge in sating 3 asian bellies expecting a good asian meal.
(5)
Timothy T.

Oiistar makes the best Ramen I've ever had. The buns are incredible too. If you get both, you'll likely take some of the ramen home which is fine because it makes for awesome leftovers heated up the next day. The oiimen broth is something of magic. The sangria is also very good, and I recommend sitting at the bar to watch black and white cartoons while you dine.
(5)
Kavi P.

We were on a ramen roll and ended up choosing this place one of the times. Wasn't satisfied at all. The menu sounded really good but the taste was kind of a let down. We tried whatever our waiter had recommended to us. I don't think I'd come back here.
(3)
Joan K.

Went there with a friend last week. We both shared the oiimen and got a bun each. Definitely filled us up! The service was good and fast. It's probably just me but I definitely do prefer this place over Wasabi. I have yet to try Misoya though! It's nice because they have a small out door seating too! Perfect for summer time.
(5)
Stephanie H.

Holy yum, this place is amazing. I don't venture into Wicker Park as often as I should, but I went here after going to a friend's place one night. I shared the pork belly and duck breast buns and the oiimen ramen with a friend. Everything was DEE-LICIOUS. If you like Slurping Turtle in River North, I'd venture to say this place is even better. The broth was so RICH. Ahh, must end this review now to stop myself from drooling. Just do yourself a favor and go :)
(5)
Iris L.

I went to Oiistar last night around 7ish. For a table of 3, it took a little over an hour to get seated. Pretty typical, so you can't complain. When we sat down, our server sat down with us and described the menu. Our food came out in good time, but we strangely did not get a lot of water refills. My friends got sangria, which is served in these delightful mason jar stem glasses. It is super classy, let me tell you. For apps, we got the portobello mushroom bun and portobello mushroom avocado fries. The bun/taco was tangy and seared and delicious. I did enjoy the fries more, especially the dipping sauce. I ordered the spicy veggiemen. I'm gonna say it: this is the best vegetarian ramen I have had in Chicago. Ramen is my ultimate comfort food, and I was definitely impressed by Oiistar. The broth is spicy and made separately so it actually is vegetarian. My first bite was greens covered in sesame seeds and it was absolute perfection. The veggie ramen had a little bit of avocado similar to Totto Ramen in NYC, but it could have used a little more. The tofu was done really well--smoked and seared. Oh, I'm drooling. One of my friends ordered the oiimen, and she said she was not impressed when compared to Slurping Turtle or Wasabi. She definitely wanted to go back for the musclemen next time. Pork belly is everywhere these days. I will, without a doubt, return to Oiistar in the near future. The bill was reasonable, and the music is enjoyable when paired with old timey cartoons. And like I said, the veggie ramen is the best I've had in Chicago so far.
(5)
W C.

After reviewing Strings, I realize I never reviewed Oiistar! It was a long time through so I will put what I remember. Loved the ramen here! Had the spicy kimchi one and I love the runny egg in it. Such night and day compared to Strings. The concept is more fusion ramen so not really traditional ramen flavor profiles here. Did not like the: Pork belly buns: I didn't think this was anything special, same as white buns with meat you can get in chinatown. Certainly the meat type is not the same but taste wise it's pretty similar. Creme Brulee - This was TINY a size of a toy teacup for little tiny children, and the best part of it was the espresso balls. The creme brulee was made using vanilla flavoring and not real vanilla. However the waiter did forget about this (I waited 45 minutes?) and gave this to me for free since my take out order was done and I still didn't get the dessert. The service was good too for the most part. The take out packaging was also done very well and tasted just as good as eating it in the restaurant. The broth and ramen also still tasted super delicious the next morning (my other brother never showed up so we had an extra one left). Why strings couldn't you be more like this? Or at the very least consistent. At $14 dollars a bowl, the extra $2 dollar gets you much further at Oiistar.
(5)
Adam S.

Went here for lunch on a Sunday afternoon. I was craving Ramen and saw this reviewed on a TV show. It hit the spot. It was a trendy little restaurant with a few nice beers and wines. Service was just ok. It seemed like they were training a few new people, so I'm not holding it against them. Food came out very quickly (within 6 min of ordering). I had the classic ramen. Decent broth, tender pork, and perfectly runny eggs. I will revisit. Although I will still be in search of a comparison to the late night small back ally ramen joints I love to stumble upon while visiting Japan.
(4)
Ha V.

Great little spot - My friend and I stopped by on one of the first of sunny days in Chicago this year, which was great as we were able to sit by the large window that opened up. As soon as we sat down, we were helped by someone immediately. We started out with some sangria and some vodka green tea slush. Although very cute in their little glasses, the sangrias didn't stand a chance against the vodka green tea slushes - they were so fresh, so delicious, and we just kept ordering them. My bus stops and drops off in front of Oiistar, everyday, and I do actually want to have a slush every single time I pass by. To start, we ordered the Herb Ciabatta, which was just fine, and we followed with some buns. We had the duck bun, the pork belly bun, and another one that was recommended to us. We loved the first two, but the last one (once Oiistar puts its menu back online, I will update with bun name) was a miss. We also had the Musclemen Ramen, which is regular Japanese ramen with mussels in it. I really enjoyed this one, and I took some home to finish later, too. Chicago doesn't have too many Japanese ramen places, so I am glad that one of the really good ones is in my neighborhood only a few steps from my home.
(4)
Amy Y.

They have vegetarian ramen. And it is delicious! It is available all the time! To be honest, that's all I really cared about to write them a 4 star reviews. It's also 2 min from my place. So ok, the one time we went, they kinda forgot one of our orders so we waited a bit, but they comped us with delicious dessert, so everything was cool. Will definitely come again.
(4)
Shruta S.

I'm surprised how I haven't written a review for only my favorite place in Chicago?! So this place is incredible - good loungy music, good ambience, huge portion sizes, and quite possibly the best ramen I've had. What makes this interesting is that they have several several options for vegetarians and all are absolutely delicious. So much so that they even make a vegetarian ramen complete with a veggie broth! Which is just as tasty! And did I mention that they make their ramens (the actual noodles) in-house fresh daily?! Simply wow.
(5)
Casey F.

Solid 4 star place! As a neighbor, I was anxiously awaiting the opening, as I do most new restaurants in the 'hood. I went to check it out a few weekends ago and loved it. My husband and I both ordered the sangria, which was good but a little fruity for my taste. I don't want to feel like I am getting ripped off with a too-high ratio of juice to wine, but that's just me. We started with the duck buns, which were phenomenal. I ordered the Oiimen Ramen and my hub got the Musclemen Ramen. We both loved our food. I know virtually nothing about ramen other than what I ate in college at 2am, so if you are a ramen snob I can't promise you will love it as authentic but the flavors are dynamite. There were a ton of mussels in my husband's dish, and for the price you couldn't ask for better. I love pork in any form, and always order it. I couldn't help but think the pork in my Oiimen was a tad overdone but I guess that happens when it continues to cook while submersed in hot liquid. I see that they now offer pork belly in it, which I can't wait to go back and try. Our service was outstanding. The servers you could tell were really excited about the place and were super helpful without being too in your face. Price was pretty cheap for the quality of food and the amount of food you get. I think we will be frequenting this place so we can check out more of the menu!
(4)
Kathy S.

Service was friendly but I was not impressed by the food at all. Out of the ramens, I tried the oiimen, musclemen and pozelmen. They weren't bad but compared to my usual spots for ramen (Wasabi and Santouka in Mitsuwa), they were okay. Also be prepared that they do not use the typical noodles used in ramen. I also tried the pork belly buns and the grilled spicy pork ribs. Once again, they were pretty average (and I love pork belly buns and were really hoping to love them). The highlight for me was the creme brulee dessert so the meal ended on a higher note. I also do hope that they reconsider their carryout policy as I feel that customers should have the option of taking any leftovers home.
(3)
Rebecca R.

I was really looking forward to eating here. Ramen is one of my favorite meals and it was a cold rainy perfect weather for a big bowl! The set-up was a little strange, the service was a little off, and so was the food. It was...ok. Not good enough to come back for. There are a few other places in the area that I would like to try before giving this place another shot. Just not much flavor, not a great vibe, and lacking friendliness.
(3)
Benjamin D.

Back for the fifth or six time, they have added a new ramen to the menu called the Chadolmen. Made with with beef instead of pork belly this new one trumps everything else. I should also state since I didn't in my original review that the servers are very friendly too! Go and enjoy!
(4)
Marlene A.

It was amazing ramen buttt service was pretty bad which killed my first experience - il Deff go back and give it a chance but just to try the rest of the menu :)
(4)
Jessica G.

So we came in for dinner tonight - it was a pretty good experience. First of all, call ahead. It's a small place, not a ton of tables and at 6:30 on a Saturday night, there were plenty of people waiting. So make a reservation if you want to get in without having a wait. We were seated in a timely fashion and our drink orders were taken quickly. The service was above average, in my opinion. Our server was, if we remember correctly, named Mario, and he did a really nice job. He was absolutely on top of beverage refills and being there to get orders taken without being in our faces. Good sense of humor, too. The only issue that we had was that of the 5 of us, everyone but me ordered the Oiimen. Apparently when there are several orders of the same thing at a table, they all get glopped together and served in a batch. My veg ramen came out before everyone else's, so that is something that could use some work because I was half way done before their food came out. I could have waited for them but I don't know that it would have been good if it was not hot. In terms of the actual food, we thought the duck and pork buns were pretty good. We also tried the garlic fried chicken and that had a really good flavor and a nice coating on it. I rather liked the Veggiemen. The broth is supposed to be spicy but I found it to be on the mild side. I added the spicy paste and that came pretty close to melting my face off - this is a good thing but add it at the onset so it has something to stick to besides broth. It's a bit much for the broth by itself. The noodles, themselves, are tasty - not sure I could tell that they came from a special noodle machine but they were good. The Oiimen seemed to be a hit at our table, as well. Noting that we came in with a person from Japan who had just moved to the US and two people who have lived in Japan. It's not your average Japanese ramen and this is something to keep in mind. It's definitely a fusion of several different cuisines. Otherwise, we did notice that the beer pours were 12 ounces for $5ish - maybe a little pricey. The portions overall for the price seemed acceptable. The noise level is a bit high and the timing needed a little work. It's worth a visit and I am pretty sure we will go back to try some other items.
(4)
Ryan L.

I don't know, it's really between 3 and 4, but I'll round up because everyone was very friendly there. I like the idea of eating ramen with a beer at the bar. I like the idea of another ramen place in the city. Wicker/Bucktown needs a place like this (yeah, I know Takashi has/had ramen, but only on Sundays). All the 90's hip hop and rap that was playing was a good touch. It's been awhile since I heard Ain't No Fun and early Tupac. The Musselmen ramen was very good. Not overwhelmingly spicy, but definitely had a nice kick. The broth was good. Most of the mussels had fallen out of the shell and settled to the bottom. The pork belly bun was delicious, I was very impressed. The mushroom and avocado fries were larger than I expected and not fry-like, but nonetheless were very enjoyable. Having the sangria out and visible in a giant jug was a nice touch. It tasted good too, so the effort isn't wasted. One thing of note is their leftovers policy. They do not have boxes if you don't finish your food and would like to take it home. I get they don't feel the ramen would hold up in a container, but there's lots of food in the apps or buns section that could be eaten later. It's a waste of food if you can't take leftovers home you could eat later, only to be disposed of by the restaurant. Their policy is clearly stated in the fine print. My advice? Order what you think you can finish. Order too much and it'll just become waste. I'll be sure to come back as ramen is one of my favorite things to eat.
(4)
Amy M.

I've been here twice so far and have thoroughly enjoyed my meal both times. I have to admit I've eaten the same meal both times (the Mushroom Avocado Fries and the Oiimen ramen), so I can't comment on the rest of the menu but friends I brought with me enjoyed their meals as well. Sure, its not the most authentic of ramens, but it sure is delicious. For a city as cold as Chicago, there is a distinctive lack of good noodle shops (yeah yeah, Slurping Turtle, I'd rather just eat at that joint in Macys) and Oiistar comes out swinging. It's quickly becoming my friday night post-shitty work week meal. I totally recommend sitting at the kitchen bar so you can watch them cook. The atmosphere is great (90s hip-hop? Yup!) and the service is super friendly. I cant lie -- I have a huge crush on one of the servers. Overall, Oiistar is a great addition to Wicker and it's enough to pull me all the way from Buena Park for a Friday night meal. Edit 01/07/2013: After going here on Saturday for yet another delicious meal (and trying the Spicy Veggimen) this place has officially become 5-Star in my book. I'm pretty sure it's my new favorite Chicago restaurant.
(5)
Mr C.

Delicious, to say the least. been here several time. When a 6yr old child request the mussels ramen. your doing something right.
(4)
Andrea C.

My fiance and I really really like ramen, so when we saw the menu for Oiistar, we were pretty psyched to try it. We decided to head over early on a Saturday night (around 6pm) and were greeted by a large already-waiting crowd. Our experience was definitely hit and miss, but mostly hit. Misses: -The cluster F that is the waiting area. People were putting their own names on the list, stealing bar stools when they opened up and open tables were not being seated. We waited over an hour- and when we were finally seated, it was at one of the tables that had been open since we walked in. The waiting area isn't exactly large, either- so prepare to have your personal space invaded. -The sangria is fine...but super sugary sweet- and I love a good, sweet drink. I would probably go for a glass of wine or a beer next time. Hits: -The food! pork belly buns- YUM! super tender and delicious- with a little bit of spice at the end. We both got the Oiimen ramen (I got w/pork belly, he got w/loin...get the belly) and it was really tasty. -The soundtrack! Basically, it was a 80's/90's/early 2000's rap music extravaganza...I found myself singing along to every song (much to my fiance's chagrin). When they played Wyclef Jean's "Stayin' Alive", I almost died. Definitely made the hour-plus wait more tolerable If Oiistar can get their act together with their seating/hostess service, I'd happily bump them up to 4 stars, but standing around for over an hour, having no clue about what was going on really kind of sucked.
(3)
Saina B.

There were two guys working (servers) on thursday night. They were acting strange! Must be on drug or something... Stay away from this restaurant. There are way better ramen places in Chicago!!! This whole restaurant smells gross like animal feces!The worst service and ramen period!
(1)
Rebecca R.

Really more like 4 1/2 stars but I think it's a little over priced personally. Ordered the oiimen & avocado portobello fries to go, both were hot and delish even after walking it back to my place. Everything was packed really nicely for to-go. It's a must try
(4)
Susie C.

I've heard about this place few times from friends who came here before or had friends who came here before. My girlfriends and I normally try out any new ramen place in Chicago. We heard about Oiistar and decided to try it out. There were 4 of us and they couldn't take our reservation because we need 5+ people, so we just winged it and hoped it wouldn't be a long wait. My friend put our name on the board to wait for a table on Friday night around 730pm. It was a short wait. We were seated 10-15 min later (this is a small restaurant and it gets packed). I ordered their french kimchi soup..pretty much a french onion soup with kimchi. It was okay. I love kimchi so that was why I ordered it. I love the ciabetta roll that came with it but it is oily and greasy. I also had the ponzumen ramen which was ramen with pork loin, jalapeno peppers, and something else. It is a spicy broth. The noodles taste okay, nothing special. Wasabi is still better...but this place does beat Slurping Turtle and Takashi's other restaurant called The Noodle at Macy's. I would prefer the noodle to be a different texture..not my favorite. My husband ordered their duck roast bun. I had some, too, and it was really good. The bread was moist and the the duck was moist and tasty! I really like it, way more than the ramen. My husband ordered the oiimen ramen. He said the broth was too salty. He was still hungry after finishing his ramen. Two of my girlfriends ordered the same as we did..they said it was okay but agree that Wasabi still the best so far. Our waitress was very friendly. She's also pretty! Sad we didn't get her name so she can get some props for giving us nice service. What's cute about this place is their spoons are so big! In a way it seems impractical to use them to eat but they are very cute. Food came out pretty quickly, so that could explain the short wait time. Menu is limited. I wish there were more options on the list. My husband says this place is pretty expensive for the type of food we ordered. Our two ramen with 2 appetizers came out to be $56 with tax and tip. My girlfriends only ordered ramen and their tab was $20/each. It just seems expensive for the type of food we ordered here. Popular restaurant, I must say! And loud!
(3)
t t.

Ok, I'm adding one star for the DJ (whoever they are should get raise!). Please wait for change in movie wall for last star.
(4)
Timothy L.

O-M-G...came back for more and this time ordered the fried chicken for an appetizer! Get it sambal style. The best fried chicken I ever had!!!
(5)
Johnny W.

Greeted with a hearty "irasshaimase" upon entrance is always like a little surprise party and I LIKE IT. Staff was very friendly. Sat in front of the kitchen and everyone for the most part was pretty sociable. Throwback hip hop playing through the speakers was a nice touch. Something about Dre and pork ribs just goes together for me and not to mention they are pretty tasty as well. Duck bao was delicious and the golden raisin jalapeno chutney was good combo. I tried the Oiimen ramen and I am a fan. Good peppery broth, fresh noodles and all around pretty awesome, Thumbs up. Then there's the espresso creme brulee which for one is a personal favorite of mine. The espresso caviar to top it off is a nice touch and a nice balance when combined on your palate. Well done guys I will be returning. My only complaint is that I have to wait til they open at 5:30pm...sometimes a dude just wants to eat ramen early.
(4)
Justin B.

We had to wait almost 70 minutes for our group of seven to get seated on a Thursday evening, so lesson #1: show up with a small group. If we had 2-4 peeps, we would have been seated essentially right away. The hostess was cool about it and took down my cell so we went to a bar nearby to get drinks while we waited. When we actually did get seated, Brittany (one of the servers) took care of our unruly posse for the next 90 minutes, and we ordered literally almost every dish on the menu. We tried all three types of buns (two per serving); very tasty, small-ish for $9, but solid. The ramen bowls were great; personally, I don't think you need the extra noodles that can be added for $2, as the $14-$15 bowls are freakin' huge to begin with (and they better be, for that price!). To me the real winner was the pork ribs appetizer served in a skillet with mozzarella and crispy onion bits...maybe the best thing I had last night. $18 bottles of cab made up for the fact that this place looks like it should be BYO. Staff was fantastic, and they set their Pandora station to what was obviously "Justin's Greatest Hits"; it was all 90s and 00s hip-hop right in my wheelhouse (even if it was mostly edited, Dre, Cypress Hill, Naughty, BONE, Snoop, Tupac). This didn't add a star for this review, but it did put a huge smile on my face all night long.
(4)
Jorge j.

no. the ramen is either mealy (if you order the ground pork ramen) or weighted down by too big pieces of pork loin (if you order the other meat based ramen on the menu). the broth is nothing special and the noodles are fine but not served in generous amounts. add to this the insult of black and white hipster films being projected onto one of the walls and you have yourself an overpriced, pretentious place to eat an average or below average bowl of ramen! perks: the servers are very nice and the food comes quickly.
(2)
Fletcher M.

While the buns are pretty tasty with lots of plum sauce. The Ramen is definitely Korean, with a more industrial taste and burnt BBQ bits, the oiimen was not what I was looking for. Good place for something different, but don't come here looking for authentic Ramen.
(3)
Mindy C.

We ordered three dishes and they are all very tasty. The price is very reasonable and affordable. Lots of people we're coming in while we're eating. The music was really loud for me. But I'd go back here again sometimes.
(4)
Wei G.

Had lunch there just minutes ago with family. Delicious. We all had noodles and they all tasted wonderful. I had the vegimen ramen. The veggies were fresh and the noodles were just perfect. The most amazing thing was the soup. It is out of this world good. Some of the best noodles I had in my life.
(5)
Jimmy C.

I have visited this restaurant for dinner and seating was available with no wait. Tried both modern and classic ramen on different visits and both were delicious. Also the spicy chicken plate is great. Great food and friendly staff. I will definitely continue to visit.
(4)
Amy D.

Oiistar is overall a poorly thought out and confusing Japanese & Korean fusion place. For a place that serves ramen as its main entree, and has Japanese infused decor, the menu is distinctively Korean and Chinese in its flavors. The staff even calls out in poorly pronounced Korean as you enter and leave. On that note, I am strongly of the belief that unless you have staff who have some language training, you should ditch the welcome and thank you for coming calls in foreign languages--it just ends up sounding butchered. I went with a friend, and we both ordered the oiimen (original) ramen, and shared two buns (pork and duck) and the mushroom and avocado tempura. --The buns were odd, to say the least. The buns themselves looked like they were purchased frozen and reheated. The duck was overly spicy and heavily sauced, to the point where you couldn't even taste the duck. The pork was heavy as well, over-sauced, and very bad chinese food tasting. --The mushroom and avocado tempura was underseasoned, and generally underwhelming. The mushroom actually worked OK with tempura, and the battering + frying was done well, the batter being light and crispy. However, the avocado was bland and flavorless. We both agreed that it tasted like fat on fat. Even just some salt and pepper would have improved things dramatically. --The ramen choices were interested to say the least. The first one, the new beef one is very korean inspired, with Kimchi and other non-traditional ingredients. We both decided to go with the original, which ended up being a let down. Ramen breaks down into two main components: the noodles and the broth. The noodles were definitely not ramen noodles. They lacked entirely the springiness that is distinctive of ramen noodles, and just fell flat in texture and appearance. The broth was overly greasy, and the flavor not rich enough to pull together the simple dish. The grease was so heavy that when left alone for a few moment, the top layer would congeal. Ramen is supposed to be a light meal, but this dish heavy and lacked finesse. An extra star for the decent decor, and the solid service. They were also nice enough to let us stay after to just chat after we finished, the place not being tremendously busy for lunch on a weekday. I won't be back, and would suggest that those looking for ramen go out to that place in Arlington.
(2)
Stella W.

We like the ambiance of the restaurant, the service was pretty good...except when the server packed my leftover noodles all in one container...hmm....no big deal...since i didn't really expect anyone here would know to pack the noodles separately from the broth so that the noodles don't get soggy sitting in the broth till you heat it up.... on to the food...hmmm...it would have been a 4 stars if i didn't go in expecting a true japanese ramen...so it was a somewhat let down... We had the oiimen and musclemen, the pork belly buns and the kimchi soup The noodles itself is actually pretty good...i like the not-so-soft/soggy type of noodles, some would argue that it doesn't soak up the broth as much...but maybe that's why my leftover noodles was still ok even though it sat in the broth for a few hours before i got to separate them :) the broth were a bit on the salty side and is not as flavorful as some other places'...but still ok. I would pass up the pork belly bun for other stuff like the kimchi soup which is probably my favourite the whole night. it's just very comforting to have a warm bowl of spicy soup with melted gooey cheese. i think it's pretty clever twist of the korean staple...
(3)
Amy W.

What a delightful experience at Oiistar! The decor was minimalist and industrial, which I think fit the style of the food and service--no frills but just classy and simply GOOD. The pork and duck buns were absolutely great; loved the flavors and soft fatty textures. I also loved enjoyed carpaccio appetizer, particularly with the braised artichokes and black sesame paste (didn't quite like the plating as much, though). The ramens are HUGE portions. My boyfriend and I split a musclemen (I I have to be honest, I wanted to order it just for the name, heehee!) with an extra portion of noodles, and we could barely finish! I was so amazed by the broth, which was rich and savory and had an extra little kick of spice. I am not exaggerating when I say that this was probably the best ramen broth I've ever had. My only complaint about the creme brÃ»lÃ©e dessert was that it wasn't bigger! ;) Love love loved the espresso caviar with it!
(5)
Sonia S.

I love Oiistar! It's my guilty pleasure and their Raman is fabulous. If you like spicy, the Pozelman Raman is where it's at. I live in the West Loop but I still make the trip to WP to get their Pozelman pretty often for takeout. Only downside is that often when I try to order for takeout it takes a few tries for someone to pick up the phone to take my order.
(4)
Jane G.

The best ramen in Chicago,,, great flavor, texture aand the ramen looks appealing making me even hungrier...
(4)
Dom. S.

The buns are the most amazing thing there !!! we would come with my hubby and order all of them they are amazing !!!!!! Will come back soon !!!!
(5)
Becky C.

The Zzajangmen alone makes Oiistar 5-star worthy. It is one of the best dishes I have ever had in Chicago, and that says a lot, considering I have eaten at some of the most legendary restaurants, local favorites, and hidden gems that this vibrant city has to offer. Albeit on the salty side, its flavor profile is simply mind-blowing. Savory, rich, and bold balanced with hints of acidity and freshness with its thoughtful inclusion of pickled daikon slices and spinach leaves throughout. The Korean BBQ chicken and roasted peanuts are scrumptious little gems in an already amazing entree. Top it off with a sunnyside egg - perfection. The portion is huge and the price reasonable. Oiistar needs to add this to its regular lineup, off its seasonal bench, and it'll keep me coming back time and time again. Can't beat its casual, laid back, and cool vibe. Option to sit at the bar for a nice tall beer or in front of the kitchen to watch the chefs work their magic is available as well. Street parking is readily open. Diners looking for a quick bite can indulge in its list of yummy appetizers and baos. For those looking to cure the winter blues, their ramen is the way to go.
(5)
Eric Y.

I was eagerly anticipating the tonkatsu ramen after Kevin Pang's sterling review in the Tribune and from other Yelpers including Huby P. We made the trek to Wicker Park from the burbs at about 5:30 on a Sunday night. We were bracing for long wait but lo and behold, there was no line and lots of empty tables! What? I think maybe because it was 85 degrees outside, who in their right mind wants to eat a steaming hot bowl of ramen? Anyhow, for an empty place, the service was kind of slow and not terribly helpful but it's got that hipster vibe going, so I guess most people just figure it out. We had a few appetizers, a couple of buns (duck and pork belly), the spicy fried chicken, and the stir-fried haricots verts. The buns are smallish sandwiches; steamed buns served taco style, filled with meat, sauce and micro greens. They're pretty good but nothing to write home about. The meats were just meh. Kinda pricey, about $4 for about 4 bites each. The chicken was pretty good - crispy breading, juicy meat, spicy tangy sauce. Crack. The haricots verts were too big (probably were actually green beans) and were stir-fried in a garlic sauce with bits of ham, a fried egg, and a puddle of creme fraiche. Interesting and tasty. Ok, moving on to the main attraction, the thing that brings everyone in, the tonkatsu ramen. This ramen is all about the soup. It's an incredibly rich emulsion of slow cooked proteins, fat and water, so gelatinous to be creamy in color. This is stick-to-your-ribs stuff. A soup this rich almost doesn't need anything else but there are some goodies lurking in that murkiness. Of course, there are the ramen noodles; these are thinnish noodles, house made using their custom imported ramen-making machine. The noodles are perfectly al-dente. Three slices of pork belly, a bit of seasoned ground pork, some seaweed, a soft boiled egg and scallions. That's it. It's served steaming hot in a large bowl. There's also a small ladle, think small bowl with a handle, that is perfectly sized and designed for eating ramen - you put some soup then some noodles in the ladle, a few seconds of blowing to cool that sucker down, then slurp that whole puppy down. Almost perfect. I have to say that the soup is so rich that it actually got tiresome after a while. It's a large bowl of soup! I think it needs a bit of vinegar, or maybe some pickles or ginger to give it a bit of zip. Perhaps the pork belly could be made more tasty too. Chef Curtis Duffy (Grace) has a philosophy on food that says for anything you eat, the perfect number of bites is 6. A couple of bites to lure you in, a couple of bites to savor. That's all. This bowl of ramen is more like 60 bites! I was very happy after slurping 6 ladles down my gullet, not so happy afterwards.
(3)
Callan C.

Beyond the pulsing music and hip branding this place has some pretty good ramen and buns. At the recommendation of our server I got the goki bun (beef) and really enjoyed it. It was a sizable portion and packed with interesting flavors. The ramen runs about $14 but the portions are large. Two people could easily split a ramen and some buns and be satisfied. I tried a modern take with beef and spicy miso and loved it. I wish I had tried this place earlier in the winter because the ramen is a perfect cure for the chill.
(4)
L C.

Excellent!!! It's easy to tell that all the dishes are made with care. The creme brulÃ© with espresso "caviar" beads for dessert was a surprising, and delicious finale.
(5)
Jerry W.

Delicious but expensive. That's the short and sweet review. We saw this one on Chicago's Best and my wife wanted to go. We are big soup fans and we thought let's try their Ramen. So we started by ordering the Buns. We got the 6 Hour Pork Shoulder for $3.75 for one bun stuffed with pork shoulder, sauerkraut, napa pickle, cojita cheese and crisp onion. It was really good and flavorful. Next we got the Pork Belly Bun for $3.95 for one bun stuffed with pork, micro wasabi, cucumber and oiistar signature sauce. another really flavorful and delicious bun. Finally we tried the Duck Breast Bun for $4.50 for one bun that was stuffed with Duck, micro wasabi and golden raisin jalapeno chutney. This one was just average, it was light on the flavor. We also got an order of the Bruschetta for $10 dollars. The order came with, pickled baby shrimp, fennel, balsamic vinegar and kalamata olive. Again it was another strong item from the menu. It was very flavorful and went fast in our group. For our main items, we ordered the Ramen soup. I tried the Chadolmen for $13.90 for one huge bowl. And we also got three orders of the Oilmen for $41.70 for all three huge bowls. The Oilmen was, pork belly, egg, scallion, tree-ear mushroom, spicy oil and garlic. We all truly enjoyed our ramen, even though it was very expensive. We did get drinks at $2.50 each. For a total bill of roughly $92 dollars. The service was average, friendly but not overly friendly. And there were times we could not find our waiter Ross. So I think overall we enjoyed our meal and were glad we tried it but we are not planning on rushing back anytime soon. Just remember if you go make sure you bring plenty of money, as it is expensive for Ramen.
(4)
Jane Y.

overpriced, and it didnt even taste that amazing didnt care for the noodles or the salad i had AND i dont know if it was the soup or the meat or combination of both i had the spicy one, and not too long after i was in the bathroom for the longest time and it was so disgusting, didnt think so much could come out of me definitely food poisoning or something
(1)
Ila L.

Solid, delicious, affordable and casual. I have had the mussels with ramen (Muscleman if I remember correctly) a couple of times and I enjoy it quite a bit. I wish they had more miso based dishes.
(4)
Traci T.

Was in Chicago for a long weekend and had a bucket list of restaurants to try. Where I currently live lacks a happening restaurant scene. Oiistar was not originally on my list, but a friend recommended it and boy was it good. Had two kinds of buns: one duck breast and the other was vegetarian with shitake mushrooms. Also ordered the spicy veggie ramen. That was good too, but I didn't find it to be spicy at all.
(4)
john a.

The noodles were as good as others have stated. The cost was very reasonable. It is a small restaurant and music was loud. It was like eating dinner in a bowling alley, as the restaurant is a long rectangle shape. However, I really enjoyed the food and service.
(5)
Hilary T.

It makes me mad that I can only give this place 3 stars. The food at the restaurant is amazing and I was so excited to try it again. Unfortunately when I ordered take out the food was awful. The appetizer we got was soggy and the ramen was half the size it was when dining in. It was a disappointment. I will be back to try it again but will not get take out.
(3)
Miki Y.

I went here early Saturday evening. it wasn't crowded at all. The buns were excellent. I had the duck breast (spicy but tasty) and the mushrooms. I was thinking thinly sliced duck breasts, but it was actually chopped breasts. More like taco meat, I guess. Loved the mushrooms! I enjoyed how the food wasn't timid with the spice. Duxelle thingies were really good too. Crunchy on the outside, moist and rich in the inside. It's like a meat falafel. I'm not sure if the sauce did anything to it. The balls were good by themselves. I did find the seasame oil in the veg ramen a bit too much. I wish it was on the side, so I could add the amount I prfered. My friend had their regular oiimen with the pork dashi. It's REALLY rich!! And a bit too salty for my taste. The noodles for both of the ramens were the same. It's non-curly and it lacked a bit of character. I guess maybe that's why the broths were so aggressively seasoned? It was good, for sure and I would definitley have the veg ramen again (tho with oil on the side!). The bartender/server dude was efficient, friendly, and a super hard worker.
(4)
Zimin M.

excellent ramen noodles and they even have draft beers! But I have to say Wasabi's ramen broth from Berkshire Pork is still my favorite. Again, Oiistar ramen is just excellent.
(4)
Bonnie A.

Absolutely love the broth. The noodles..are fresh and I am impartial to it. I have been accustomed to instant ramen for most of my life so fresh ramen's texture was really odd to me. The buns were good, but not out of the world good. I think it's a nice place to stop for a quick meal. Although the broth was good but very salty and loaded with msg. I drank 5 glasses water at the restaurant and was thirsty all night.
(3)
Nicky W.

Love the mussel ramen!!! The hot tea was great and their ramen are different than traditional ramen..they are more American style but tasted really good tho !! Nice decor looks very cozy
(5)
D H.

Sorry made no pic's. You will have to see for your self. Food was gone before I remembered I would write this. Had 4 buns ( tempura cod,great flavour little to generous beetroot; 6hr pork shoulder , succulent ; tonkatsu, so tasty ; Goki, wish I could eat more). Then musclemen; wow the puffed fried bread sticks could really sole up the wonderful broth. In short wel worth any walk, drive or plane ride. Must visit.
(5)
Alexandria T.

I've been to Oiistar twice--once when they first opened and just last week for dinner. We sat outside on the patio, which offers much better ambiance than the inside. On both visits, I ordered the spicy veggimen. It was delicious both times. It has really great flavors with the perfect amount of spice. It's the perfect place to grab a bowl of ramen on a chilly night.
(4)
Tina P.

I ate here for lunch today, and I was very very pleasantly surprised! I had the classic ramen and man oh man, the broth is definitely the star here!!! Still not as good as Ippudo in NY, but the best ramen I've tried in Chicago thus far! I will be back!!! Alex, our waiter, was also very helpful and knowledgeable. Loved his rec for the poached pear for dessert!
(4)
Lucy N.

I came here with three of my friends last weekend after getting a tip from someone I work with. He said they had good cocktails and ramen, so i figured why not give it a try on a cold rainy night in Chitown. My boyfriend and I loved our musclemen and pork shoulder ramen dishes, however my sister and her friend did not enjoy their salad entrees. I would give this place 3 stars because I had to ask our waitress 3 times for 1 sangria and she was very lackadaisical about it instead of apologetic. Whatever not a big deal. The duck and pork belly buns are good and definitely worth trying if you have never had one of these interesting bread creations. If I lived in Wicker Park I could see myself coming here often for Ramen, however I don't so I will not be back anytime soon.
(3)
Hannah N.

So I woke up one morning craving noodles. Ramen, Jjajangmen, Pho, I didn't care what kind, but I just knew I had to get my noodle fix. So that's how I ended up here... because Santouka is impossible to get to on time a work weekday and Ippudo NY is too far away. There was no waiting, mostly because I showed up at opening time on a Tuesday. There definitely is a lot of homage-paying to Momofuku in both decor and menu. It is also super obvious from the menu that the owners are probably Korean. Service was attentive and non-obtrusive. Food was totally three stars across the board for everything I ordered. Pork belly buns were good, I would prefer a lil more hoisin sweet and less... almost miso-y flavors? Love the bite of the microgreens, but wish the cucumber was a lil more quick pickled. It probably does not help that my gold standard is the momofuku bun... basically setting myself up for failure. The garlic chicken was almost like a hybrid between korean fried chicken (yangnyum chicken) and adobo. Not bad, not bad. Love the Sambal flavor. Made me crave some rice for sure. The Oiimen was not the worst ramen I've had, definitely not traditional. Noodles were pretty good, super thin but nicely al dente. Broth was not nearly as rich and intensely concentrated as the usual donkotsu that I'm used to, but was clean and almost sullungtang-like (Korean ox-tail soup). Egg was perfect, soft boil. Pork loin was fantastically tender, but the thinness of the cut also echoed the feeling that this was more of a sullungtang (completely different meat, I know) than a ramen broth. Also got the bibimen, which was not my favorite. I'm obviously biased given I've prob had too many bowls of Jjajangmyun in my life. Very traditional tasting Jjajang base (black soy paste) with very non-traditional fixings: cilantro, fresh cheese, fried egg, and spicy chicken. The individual components tasted pretty good and the chicken was perfectly tender, and I'm a sucker for eggs on anything, but the combination was somewhat jarring and confused. The whole effect was not really helped by the thin ramen noodles, didn't really fit into the taste profile of the sauce. Totally topped off the whole meal with some Makguli... which made the whole meal taste much better. Overall, will probs return when I'm having intense noodle cravings and can't make it out to Mitsuwa. Otherwise I'm beginning to feel like Ramen is my white whale of Chicago dining.
(3)
Mark B.

A must on your list of Chicago restaurants. You will return. Chef Sunny is the bomb. Top five best Chicago restaurants we have ever eaten at. Excellent value as well.
(5)
Kaylen W.

My husband has been on a ramen kick lately, and since we're from STL and there are no places to get good ramen, whenever we travel we hit up a LOT of ramen places. Oiistar was our first stop on our recent Chicago trip. I immediately loved the atmosphere (exposed wood everywhere, an open kitchen, a projector with old-timey cartoons playing, high bars with strong comfortable stools, smaller tables). The five of us sat at the extension of the bar and were greeted immediately by our server who brought us a carafe of water. He briefly went over the menu, we ordered, and waited. The music was REALLY loud. Like it was hard to talk over it to hear the person sitting eight inches away from me. But I got a kick out of listening to the music and imagined it working in tandem with the old-timey cartoons on the projector behind us. We ordered pork buns (delicious) as an appetizer, and two people ordered actual ramen, I got a seasonal special that had a crazy awesome name that I don't remember, and the two others ordered another seasonal special. I wish I had asked the server more questions, because my dish was not actually ramen. BUT it was delicious - I should have just read the menu a bit more carefully. My husband got the Oiimen ramen - the broth was good, but the fresh house-made noodles really took the cake.
(5)
Char Y.

we made reservation for a sunday night and were seated immediately. we ordered duck breat buns pork belly buns oiimen musclemen pozolmen fried garlic chicken the food was good but the wait was crazy! we were told that the noodles had to be cooked 1 bowl at a time, so we waited almost 1 hour for our ramen. that's crazy! not worth the wait!
(2)
Minh D.

We show up at 9:30 and they inform us their kitchen closed! The hrs say open till 10:00. Thats is mess up. We work in the business when you say you close at 10 you close at 10. F#cken A! Ni star for u!
(1)
Anne N.

A more accurate and honest rating for this place would be a 3.5, because I really loved the buns and thought the service was fantastic. I left my hat and umbrella there (be sure to check the under-the-seat compartments before you leave!) and they graciously caught them and held on to them for me for a couple of days. My dining companion and I weren't charged for our hot tea because it was so brutally cold outside. Solid. The ramen, I thought, was a little too oily (I got the modern), and I think it does the buns a huge disservice to have only one per order - being able to share would be the only thing I could think of to make them better. My friend found her ramen lacking as well: the musclemen relied too much on the mussels and too little on other flavors. In all, though, a cool spot.
(3)
Brij P.

The best Ramen place I've found so far in Chicago. Great food and good service.
(4)
Francesca B.

Any place that turns a mason jar into a goblet is pretty bad ass. The mojitos.......is all I have to say- the mojitos (MUST TRY IT). The Bibimen entrÃ©e was huge, fresh, and fulfilling. Don't forget to order the buns.....I like Oiistar buns and I cannot lie!!! I shall be back!
(5)
Mariah V.

Super empty on a Thursday night at 10pm. Then again, most people don't eat dinner that late... "Sorry the kitchen closes at 10:30." "It's 9:50?" "Uhhh" Clearly, they have issues with changing their clocks and faking me out by saying I can't eat all of the ramen. Ptsh. The beer list is small but has some standard, good craft beers - Lagunitas IPA, Two Brothers Domaine DuPage, etc. For starters, the duck buns were alright. On the recommendation of my waitress, I went with the Oiimen. When presented with the choice between pork loin and pork belly, do not be a cheap bastard. Upgrade to the pork belly. The ramen was good - nice broth and such, but the "spoon" is actually ladle-sized. Yet the spoon is still not large enough to be comically large, it's just awkwardly large. Oiistar did pull the comically gigantic card with their ridiculous jug of sangria, which was really full for being a slow night. The Momofuku inspiration is apparent and nearly extreme from the menu to the decor to...everything. Also, there are weird old cartoons projected on the wall in case you have little to no desire to pay attention to your dining partner. My dining experience at Oiistar did make me wonder: Did the creator of Adventure Time watch Betty Boop? There is no way two creepy, floaty bearded wizard-like men are coincidentally THAT similar.
(4)
Veronica H.

Went to dinner here on a Friday night (+ 1) and was quickly seated. They have cheap Allagash White's on tap-awesome! I absolutely loved there baos aka buns. I had the cod bun and my bf had the duck bun. Mine was better. It had pickled veggies and jalapeÃ±os with some sort of sauce, full on drooling now... Get that! We also had a mussel and sausage dish, which we shared. The broth was delicious. Make sure you eat the green charred chiles and onions in the broth also! My bf wanted a bao on the side for the broth, but they brought us baguettes with butter, Parmesan, and I'm thinking cayenne on it. They were good, but seemed out of place. We ended the meal with ramen. We are obsessed with ramen and these noodles are made in house-awesome #2-but the broth was missing something, not sure what, maybe some heat? We like spicy. Wasabi in Logan Square still takes the #1 Ramen spot in our taste buds! Our bill came out to about $55 not including tip, super affordable. All in all, cool place, great food. Will totally go again!
(4)
Mary P.

What I got: pork belly hot bun, kimchi, and vegetable ramen. What I liked: (1) the ramen came with an abundance of vegetables, the most notable was the portabella mushrooms; (2) the tofu was well cooked; (3) the bun was perfectly steamed; (4) the sauce on the bun was tasty; and (5) the kimchi was divine - some of the best I've had. What I did not like: (1) the soup was WAY too greasy -you could see the oil pooling on the top as you ate - yuck; (2) the vegetables were too crunchy (except for the lettuce which was a surprisingly nice touch); (3) the broth was underwhelming in taste and spice - very forgettable; (4) the pork belly was too fatty (some might say that it is supposed to be but I have had and liked good pork belly (thank you Avec!) and this was not good pork belly; (5) everything made you want to drink a TON of water - not a good sign of sodium intake and it makes a girl feel bloated - a no no; (6) too expensive; and finally and most importantly (7) the noodles stuck together - you expect that as the dish is served but as you chop and scoop away at it, the noodles should gracefully separate. To see more reviews on other Chicago restaurants, visit my blog at: thesahmreview.blogspot.câ€¦
(2)
Jennifer J.

Excellent service & great food all around. Of the 7 appetizers ordered (for my small party of 3), I loved the pork shoulder and goki buns, their spin on bruschetta (pickled shrimp instead of tomatoes -- trust me, delicious), and their buxelle. Now the entree. We shared the Oiimen ramen and I have to say this is probably the best ramen I've had in Chicago. The noodles were nice and thin and cooked to perfection! I was eyeing the Tikkamen ramen on the menu which has bean sprouts, curry, and nori...must try this on my next visit. We capped it all off the the poached pear dessert and the bao donuts. The donuts arrive in a paper bag filled with cinnamon sugar and you shake it yourself to mix all the goodness. This. Was. Amazing. My boyfriend nearly licked the plate clean. With 7 appetizers, 1 entree, 2 desserts, a glass of wine and a coke, everything (including tip) came under $100 which is extremely impressive for the quality. I will definitely be returning to this gem.
(5)
Jeff C.

In response to Nelson T. from Seattle. Who ever said this place was traditional by any means? Did you look at the menu? I'll have to disagree on everything you've said. Broth is great. Noodles are perfect for the broth selection. Doesn't need to be thicker or thiner. It's a good balance with the tonkotsu style broth. I think the eggs here are perfectly cooked 6-minute eggs. "Cut the right way?" I didn't know there was a correct way to cut eggs. And I'm sorry but I've seen many restaurants that don't marinate their eggs.
(5)
Carl G.

Really wanted to love this place, but just didn't. There isn't much better than a good bowl of ramen, especially on a cold night, or as an attempt to rejuvenate after a long night out - but I wasn't impressed enough to choose this again over trying somewhere new. We walked in and quickly found a seat at the bar, which was nice given that there was a wait 30 minutes later. We sat in kind of an odd location, next to the giant sangria pitcher and the server station. The layout really left a lot to be desired, it had a couple of cool features, but was just a little weird - and it seemed as thought the kitchen took up way more space than it needed to (adding to the normal wait of course). We ordered three things, a bun, mushroom and avocado fries and a bowl of ramen, just to try a little of everything. The buns were the star, while everything else was kind of flat. The buns had a great texture, thick and fluffy, and the ingredients inside were well seasoned and cooked. The "fries" were greasy, but what did we expect with breaded and friend pieces of portobello mushroom and avocado? The ramen was just ok, it came with a nice grease sheen on top, and just didn't stand out. The service was a little slow, which is surprising given the expected wait times, and the food didn't stand out. Nothing in particular was wrong, just not the top of the line ramen we expected from a ramen store.
(2)
Adam K.

Trudged over here on a cold and snowy Thursday night to get some ramen and have a bidness meeting. I had been meaning to try this place for awhile as it looks intriguing with the weird old cartoons playing off a projector on the wall. And the large glass container of what i found out was house made sangria. I walked in to loud ass top 40 rap music being blasted, and while this is obviously a "cool" restaurant, with "cool" employees who shout something indiscriminately asian at you when you walk in for that authentic feel, it is quickly shattered because Nelly is playing on the speakers. So this is a biz meeting, right? And there was one other person in the place when I walked in. So i asked politely, can you please turn down the music a little? She kind of regressed and was like "I will see what I can do, the music has to be at a certain level." What? Cmon bro, there's nobody else in there, the employees outnumber the patrons 2-6, just ask the boss, but no, she just gave me a passive aggressive non answer and turned the music down a few decibels, not even really noticeable. Normally this kind of thing would give me reason to spank them with a 2 star review, but the food, man the food. Its good. Fried Avocado & Shrooms - This was tasty, a new take on traditional tempura, with a wonderful dipping sauce and some other hot sauce. I loved this, the presentation is cool also in a little deep fried dipping basket. Veggimen Ramen - OK, so I have been to Japan and had the ramen off the street so I kind of new what to expect, a big bowl of hot soup with tons of noodles, and this was for sure that. I really enjoyed slurping this stuff really loudly in my biz partners face as he yelled at me about how he created his biz from nothing, because of what he did. Acutally it was probably a good thing the music was up loud at the end because this dude was on painkillers from breaking his ribs and yelling like a hippo tied to a windmill. The ramen was devine, lots of good veggies and noodles, and a wonderful bright red hot sauce to bang your colon against. Wanted to try the desserts, but they all ate already, so it was table of 4 with 2 dishes. I will be back. They are open pretty late.
(4)
Danielle J.

The Musclemen Ramen is awesome. I have tried a few other dishes; the mushroom bun, the vegetarian ramen, the tempura avocado/mushroom app, and they were good as well. The most charming thing about this place is they project old cartoons such as Popeye and Betty Boop on the wall near the front bar. There are a couple of strange things about Oiistar though. When any customer enters or exits, the staff shouts some sort of greeting. It is a little disarming to new customers and a bit annoying if you're dining there. Secondly, they serve their cocktails in mason jars that have stems, like goblets. This wouldn't be a problem if they gave you a standard sized straw to drink with. Instead, the gigantic straws leave you feeling a little crazy every time you try to take a sip. I will stick to their beer menu from now on.
(4)
Kaman T.

As much as I wanted to hate on this place, I really liked it! Came here around 6:30pm on a Saturday right before the crowd. What we ordered: - Fried Garlic Chicken: Came with five good size pieces. The skin was deliciously flaky and I liked that the sauce was sweet, but not crazy sweet. Sprinkle of sesame seeds and almonds slivers sealed the deal. It also came with two pieces that seemed like big chunks of chicken breast. I prefer the wings better (less dry and more flavorful). Overall, very good. - Oiimen + pork belly: I knew from words of friends not to expect authentic Japanese ramen before ordering the ramens and I agree to approach the ramen with that attitude. The broth, although milky, is not like the super white rich thick Japanese tonkotsu broth. Instead, I found it less salty and more pork-boney taste similar to the Korean soup Sol lang tang. The noodles were great! They had a bite to it. Not soggy or overly hard. I really enjoyed the super soft boiled egg. The egg yolk was amazingly runny. I recommend dipping your ramen in the egg yolk. The pork belly was good, but not the best I've had. Good portion. Overall, I really liked the oiimen and would definitely order it again. - Oiisangria: Came in a mason jar on a stick (that's the best way I can describe the glass itself, hahha). I loved this! It was garnished with a big slice of fresh orange. Delicious and easy to drink especially for girls. The interior feels very open but intimate. There are communal tables and also private tables. We got to sit by the kitchen bar and watch the chefs do their thing which was really fun cause we got to see what the other dishes that we didn't order looked like. Our waiter was very nice. He gave us a great rundown of the menu and recommended his personal favs. Gave us other people's opinion on the dishes and was very attentive, quick, and not overly pushy. Overall, I would definitely come back to this place. Next item I would love to try is the avocado fries!
(4)
Emily K.

YUMMMMMM!!!! Went here with a group of 9 for my birthday dinner and had an awesome experience. The menu was extensive and offered something different to satisfy everyone in the group. Standouts included the Oiistar ramen, fried chicken, and the pork shoulder bun. We all left stuffed and I got mad props for showing my friends a great restaurant in the city.
(5)
Jimmy Z.

Generally a very pleasant experience. Got here around 9 o'clock on a Friday night, but there was seating right away. We actually picked this place because wasabi had a 1 hour wait. Atmosphere was relaxed as we sat at the bar. Their beer is so so but no one comes here for the beer. I highly recommend the fried garlic chicken and classic ramen. The fried chicken rivals most speciality korean fried chicken places and the ramen is very authentic.
(4)
Shawn S.

Skip everything else and get the ramen. Service is mediocre and slow, beer is expensive, appetizers are pricey, but this gets five-stars for the ramen I keep coming back for. The classic is excellent: homemade noodles, perfectly textured meat, top quality ingredients, and a broth that bursts with flavor. I'll quibble on the saltiness, but it's fantastic. All of this, in a giant bowl with a serving big enough to fill most people up. Which means, that if you can wait, you get a full meal. I like to come with a friend and split two ramens so I can sample flavors. The vegetarian and the chadolmen are also excellent. I'm not a fan of the pozolman whose more delicate flavors(?) are lost under an assault of spice as well as a lean piece of meat which tastes dry.
(5)
Jeff W.

Came here again and tried some different things off the menu because I was dining with a vegetarian, still excellent. One of the best noodle spots in the city, thought I'd update for future visitors wondering what to order. Portobello Mushroom Buns Thick cut mushrooms topped with micro wasabi and a balsamic reduction... I was pleasantly surprised that mushrooms were a good replacement for a protein and really enjoyed these. Still prefer the pork belly, however, but definitely try these if you're not a a meat eater. Portobello Mushroom Avocado Fries Never seen tempura battered mushroom and avocados like this before, most Japanese places tempura sweet potatoes and cheaper veggies. Not bad at all, but should probably just call this vegetable tempura rather than fries. I thought I was getting fries with toppings! Sauteed Tiger Shrimp Probably the only thing I've tried so far that I didn't love. 4 pieces of tiger shrimp that weren't huge and came out lukewarm. The diced Okra and pesto had a good kick, but not worth $8. Probably skip this. We didn't get it, but the standout app here is still the Grilled Spicy Pork Ribs. So incredibly good. RAMEN Veggiemen We both don't like really spicy food, so we got this not spicy. Chef Sunny was happy to accommodate. Which is why Natalie G's review confuses me. If you hate spicy food so much, why don't you order these NON SPICY rather than not being able to eat any of your food and then blaming the restaurant?? Anyways, I had a few bites and noticed the broth was a bit sweeter than my Oiimen. Lot of veggies - Mixed Greens, Tofu, Peppers, Mushroom, and Avocado. As someone who doesn't love veggies, I could have eaten a entire bowl of this. Oiimen Delicious as usual, I ate my whole bowl before she was done with half of hers. I would definite recommend substituting Pork Belly instead of Pork Loin for a more tender, yet fatty, protein to go with the salty broth. Really great as usual and not overly spicy. There's still a few things to be worked out here. The waiter was new and Chef Sunny was training a new cook. He was looking over his shoulder the whole time and would make him recook dishes that he didn't think were up to par. I thought this was great that he was maintaining his level of standards. Happy Noodle Month all, go try this place out!
(5)
Jayson F.

Try the pork buns! Amazing food, and amazing service. I loved the laid back atmosphere. I was initially baffled as to how to actually consume the noodles, but that confusion was allayed when one of the sous chefs, upon seeing my confusion from the kitchen came over and gave me instructions!
(5)
Joe N.

Food was pretty good, but the service (which everyone rants about) was not that great. Don't get me wrong-- our server Mario was friendly, but he also only checked up on us twice over the course of our meal. More importantly, one of the chefs behind the bar ( the one who makes the salads and creme brulees) is a dick. We asked him for a knife and he refused to give one to us, saying that "you should really just ask your server". Secondly, he eavesdropped into our conversation and had an attitude while responding to a comment that wasn't even directed to him. Really dude? Just make my damn food and shut up. Overall, food was on point and relatively large portioned, but I'm not goin back b/c of him. Wish I caught his name.
(3)
Mei.jun L.

An okay experience, but I was not convinced to come back. First off, I'm not quite sure why this place is labeled as American.. more proper would be to say it is "Asian Fusion." Going to Oiistar, I had imagined the "Oii" to be a reference to "Oiishi," which in Japanese means "Yummy." My boyfriend and I, however, went in to be welcomed in Korean. Slightly surprised me.. still not entirely sure the reasoning behind this, to be honest. Overall, the food was okay. While the price was comparable to other Wicker Park locations, it just wasn't up to what I was hoping for. We had the Pork Belly Bun, which seems to be a derivation of the Taiwanese Dong Po Rou, a flavorful bun usually with sauce, peanuts, cilantro, and pickle. The pork belly bun here is catered to more Americanized taste buds. While the meat was well prepared, the milder toppings with the bun made for a blander dish not worth the price tag. We also ordered the Oiimen and Spicy Veggimen. Overall, both ramen were just okay. They had an interesting and unique flavor, but not enough to really leave a lasting impression. The Oiimen, while spicy, was on the blander side, not necessarily in lack of salt, but moreso with a "lack of flavor." Admittedly, this is a vague description.. I can't exactly put my finger on it, but my tongue, used to Santouka ramen, was not satisfied. Okay food was one thing, but the tipping of the scale came from the ambiance. While the decor was nice, the noise level (visited on a Friday evening) was not. Loud music, leading to loud conversations. Notably, my review is slightly unfair as I was seated at the bar, but the set up needs to be fixed. Because clientele can wait at the bar to be seated, it became very crowded and I was constantly being nudged. Yes, we had agreed to seating at the bar, but I was not expecting the experience we had, having bar seating plenty of times at other locations. For those who are visiting, do try to make a reservation beforehand and wait if you have to for table seating. With the price of the meal I did unfortunately expect a higher quality of taste and ambiance. There are other places for good ramen and a better experience. 2.5/5
(2)
Abaan Z.

Tasty food. Very authentic ingredients. One of the best Asian fusions in Chicago. The garlic chicken sambal is something you should try
(4)
Brian L.

Just came back from dinner with my sister. We shared the pork belly buns, tuna carppacio, portobello mushroom & avacado fries, and Oiimen ramen w/ pork belly. Of the appetizers, the tuna carpaccio and mushroom fries turned out best, while the pork belly buns and avacado fries were a little disappointing. I've had better pork belly buns from Chairman Bao (SF) and BaoHaus (NYC), and I think its more about the meat not tasting like heavenly butter. The avacodos in the fries were a little bit harder and perhaps not optimally ripe, so while you can taste the fattyness of the avacado, you don't get the rich flavor that is achieved with ripening. The Oiimen ramen turned out pretty good, and the noodles had an interesting chew not normally found at other ramen joints.
(3)
Ed R.

Oiistar will definitely be my go to ramen place from now on, but I'm hoping they can improve on a few things moving forward to become more of a well-rounded restaurant. In terms of the star attraction, we have tried 3 out of the 4 ramens, the Oiimen, Muscleman, and Pozolmen. First 2 are our favorite by far with both offering rich flavorful broth and ample servings of pork loin and mussels respectively. If you ever wanted to know how broth made from liquefied pork bones tastes, you're in luck. On the Pozolmen, I appreciate the effort to provide a twist, but shredded pork doesn't lend itself well to ramen. You end up getting a mushy, lumpy component that interferes with the aesthetic of the broth. The upside to all the ramens is the portion size, which is by far the most generous i've seen in Chicago so far. 1-2 appetizers and 1 ramen should comfortably feed most couples I know. For those of you who want to test this theory and go for 2 ramens + apps + drinks, just know that your gluttony would disgust even the likes of Kirstie Alley (and i'm talking kirstie from Veronica's Closet folks; chew, slurp, and guzzle on that harsh reality) The duck breast and pork belly buns are solid, but nothing to get overly excited about. The flavor and toppings are similar to what I've had at many other places. Other highlight/lowlights of the appetizer menu are the garlic fried chicken and the french kimchi soup. The chicken is fried perfectly and the almond-chive glaze is a great balance of sweet/salty. Unfortunately, the kimchi soup is just a mess and a confusion of ingredients that doesn't work. The broth is bland and lacking any real kimchi flavor, the addition of andouille sausage is a forgettable throw in, and the cheese just doesn't complement chigae like it does with traditional onion soup. Most disappointing item we've had so far. The last comment I'll make is with regard to the drinks. When I order a beer from the tap, I expect regular size pint glass for basic brews like allagash, sapporro, lagunitas IPA, etc. What Oiistar has done is shrink their drinkware rather comically to the point where your friends will have no choice but to ask if the glasses are actually smaller or if they quietly wonder to themselves whether a vengeful strain of gigantism has suddenly afflicted their grubby mitts. I'd be surprised if the drafts offered are more than 10 ounces, which I wouldn't mind if I were downing double IPA's or imperial stouts. Overall, I'm happy to have a legit ramen place for the frigid nights ahead. not everything is a hit here, but I will say Oiistar has staying power based on the strength of its main attraction.
(3)
Allyson S.

Great new addition to the neighborhood. Went for a few happy hour drinks/early dinner on a Friday. We were one of the only groups when we arrived around 6pm, but the place was filling up by the time we left. We shared the duck buns and fried chicken, which were both delicious. Our group also had the muscle ramen, the pork loin ramen, and the pork belly ramen. All were great, but my favorite was the musclemen. Wild definitely recommend and go back for more.
(5)
Rachel M.

TLDR: Amazing food and I loved our server. Solid atmosphere and serviceable drinks We'll be back. We've been wanting to try Oiistar for awhile, and we finally went for it on a busy Friday night (we waited across the street with a beer at Emporium for about 40 minutes until the hostess called us). The hostess is very nice, though communication was a little off the three times we interacted with her. The place has a fun, lively ambiance and can get pretty loud. It has that minimalist wood sauna look going on. The sangria was served in mason jar wine glasses for a surprising turn to the kitsch; everything else is modern. About the sangria, as well: Oiistar needs a cocktail list, please. I know, ramen goes with beer (and they have a fine beer list), but every other hipster restaurant manages a bitter whiskey drink and a refreshing gin or two. Not a big deal. We had a bottle of riesling, and that did just fine. The food is amazing. Between the three of us, we got the tonkatsu bao, goki bao, and mushroom bao. The bao is great (flat bao topped with ingredients, instead of filled bao). The goki bao and mushroom bao were the faves. Tonkatsu is tonkatsu, it was good but the goki and mushroom were great. They all balanced sweet-savory-spicy-acidic-soft-crunchy. Vegetarians: there is a lot of meat on the menu, but the veggie options are well considered and way more delicious than most of the token items you find at most non-vegetarian places. My wife said it's one of the best vegetarian meals she's had a non-vegetarian specific restaurant. We also got the Oiistar salad, which our server cautioned was more of a dressed cucumber than a green salad. No fear. It is a delicious vegetable. The Japanese cucumber was sauced with typical sesame-citrus and then seasoned with much less typical coarse black pepper, fresh dill, and grated hard Italian cheese (romano? parmesan?). Amazing. Oh yes, and a pause for our server. She was awesome. Friendly, helpful, real, non-intrusive, and seemed genuinely nice. According to our check, her name is Monica. And a pause for our check: it was about $100 for three people (after tax, before tip) for 3 bao, 3 ramen, 1 salad, 1 tea, and 1 bottle of wine. Super reasonable. Back to the food. There are so many good ramen options, but I decided to go with the Classic Oiimen ramen. My sister got the Modern ramen (I forget how it's listed on the menu), and my wife got the vegetarian ramen. They were all wonderful, but again, the vegetarian option was the surprise of the bunch. Zingy light broth, wonderful tofu (seriously, so many Americans have never had *good* tofu...), and, again, a great mix of textures and flavors. The classic ramen had a pork broth like milk, scallions, tree ear mushrooms, pork loin, and a soft boiled egg to make the broth yet more creamy. I liked the modern ramen best-- slightly lighter than the classic ramen, with a nice bit of spiciness (hot sauce on the table helps too). Noodles are fresh made, thank God. Portions are large, but I drained my bowl like a hero. The other two had to take half their bowls to-go.
(4)
Yen D.

DAMNIT OIISTAR I LOVE YOUR FOOD SO MUCH BUT I HATE YOU I HATE YOU SO MUCH. That caps-lock ridden sentence sums up how I feel about oiistar. Love the flavors, I think they get the food very, very right. The oiisalad is a surprisingly pleasant crunchy-salty-sweet mix of cucumbers etc. with peppery arugula and savory parmesan. Also loved the sauteed haricot vert (funny story later about that), definitely recommend it (likely all the share dishes are great). I also adore the ramens. I love the savory richness of the oiimen (standard ramen) while he preferred the kimchi-spice of the spicy one we had. Not as impressed with the summer cold ramen dish, but I'd love to try all of them! First time we went: loved the food, got violently ill for the next day. He was fine, so it was likely one single piece of cucumber that hit me. Second time we went: as I was sitting down, I asked the waiter if they could be quick as we were in a rush to go to a show at 7 (it was 6 at the time). He said ramen is fast, so we ordered three bowls of ramen, and some green beans (he corrected me to "haricot vert" which made me laugh. Yes I would like a single green bean, please.) When we came in, the restaurant was pretty empty. By 6:30 it was hopping, and many people had received their food before us. We were hangry, very hangry. I said as much to my companions, and he overheard me and "apologized" saying there had been a "mixup" and that he knew we were in a rush. Did you really know that? I suspected you didn't as I watched you pause from slowly wrapping up the ramen we couldn't scarf down within five minutes to chat with another server. Thanks for obviously not really being sorry. I'm still angry. I wouldn't be if I hadn't said specifically when we sat down that we were in a rush (it's ok, mix ups happen) but geez. I want to eat the food at oiistar so bad but I don't want to deal with it at all. I think it's going to be takeout from here on out.
(2)
Steven N.

We got great service from our waitress. Unfortunately, the food is average and over-priced. Don't get me wrong, nothing was bad, but nothing really stood out as good either. Firstly, this is not a Japanese ramen house if that's what you are thinking. It's a Korean/fusion based joint, so don't come here expecting Japanese ramen or dishes. With that said, their house specialty Oiimen Ramen is still a pork based soup though. Unfortunately, there was just too much going on in the soup. The spicy oil is a nice touch, but too much. It garlic is a distraction and it seems like they put too much soy sauce in the base. Again, not bad, but not that good either. We also got a bunch of apps. The buns were highly recommended and I thought they were under-whelming and over-priced. Flavor was ok but there was too much bun, the ratio should be less bun and more filling. Overall this place reminds me of a little bit of Slurping Turtle and Urban Belly. It's a place I would go to if I have no where else I really want to go, but it's not a place I would frequent for the price they charge. There are other places I would rather spend that cash.
(2)
L T.

Awesome food and excellent service! Great portion size, Ramen enough for two. My favorite is the modern Ramen. Everything I've ordered from here has been great so far!
(5)
Jennie T.

My friends and I dined here a week after it opened. We're all food enthusiasts and we were excited to hear that a new ramen place opened up in Wicker Park. The chef is Korean, but that shouldn't deter anyone from trying this place out. The food was pretty decent, and this is really a 3.5 star review. It's not just "okay," it's a little better but I'm not a fan of it (yet?). The chef even came around to our table to ask how the food is, and he seemed like he genuinely valued our comments about the food. This is always a good sign. Most of us ordered the oiimen while my boyfriend ordered the pozolmen. The oiimen is perhaps Oiistar's take on the traditional shoyu ramen. It had a decent broth; I just thought it lacked the flavor of pork, which is a little strange. There was also too many spices at the bottom of the broth. I found myself having to constantly stir the bowl with an oversized spoon (it was pretty much the size of a ladle, and it's the largest "spoon" I've ever used for eating ramen with. It was very awkward). The pork loins were also a little too thick and dry. There wasn't enough fat on it. I was really hoping to bite into a fatty, soft piece of pork loin. I liked the wood ear (black fungus) and the egg in the ramen, and I think that was pretty much it. I wasn't expecting thin Chinese egg noodles in my ramen; these are traditionally used for Chinese fried noodles or in wonton soups. I think that had the chef used a different type of noodle, it'd soak up the flavors of the broth more. I also thought there were too many sliced green onions. Half that amount would have been sufficient. I liked the broth of the pozolmen more because I could actually taste the pork flavor in it. I thought they did a pretty good job with fusing together pozole and ramen, but I'm not that fond of the chopped bell peppers. I'd probably come back here to give it another try after they've been opened for a while longer.
(3)
Michelle T.

The pork bun was awesome, pretty authentic tasting. I liked it more than the duck breast bun because the duck breast bun had corn in it which threw me off. I had the oiimen which was alright. There was too much black pepper and green onion for my tastes. The peppery burn and the onion aroma overwhelmed most of the other flavors in the ramen for me. I'm more of a traditionalist when it comes to ramen and I would have liked shichimi instead of black pepper in the ramen. Sorry! On the bright side, the broth was good, the pork loin was very tender, the soft boiled egg was perfect and the noodles had good bite. There was also too much black pepper in the tuna carpaccio but otherwise I liked the tuna as well. The sangria was tasty. The green tea is a tazo tea bag. You can make of that what you will. Atmosphere wise: I enjoyed the music choice but it was way too loud with way too much bass. I had trouble carrying on a conversation with the person next to me without yelling. The server was also not very attentive even when the restaurant was half empty. However if you're in the area, give it a shot. If you're looking for a more traditional japanese ramen joint, this is not it. I didn't know it was a korean-fusion place until i got here. You might like it better than me. I'm thrilled ramen shops are making inroads here in Chicago, but I'm still questing for my go-to ramen shop because this isn't it.
(2)
Kelsey W.

holy holy wow im down with this spot. pork belly, duck, soft boiled eggs, im in the gamee!!!!
(4)
Kara V.

Went here last weekend on a double date. Fun place for a double date - food is great to share and interesting. For what it is, a ramen bar with good apps and some drinks, I'd give it a 4-5, but I'll round up. Highlights of the night: Pork ribs - FANTASTIC. And Musselman ramen. We did also enjoy the pork buns, but the ribs and musselman were the standouts. The avocado and portobello mushrooms "fries" were pretty good (I definitely wouldn't mind eating them again), and the Oiiman ramen was okay. The dessert was good, not great. I also liked the Sangria, it was refreshing. I think the restaurant would get a trendier/more upscale vibe if the wait staff was more professional and less like college bartenders. But don't get me wrong, they were very friendly and helpful! Overall, we really had a great time at this restaurant! It's inexpensive and laid-back enough where we left happy and will return.
(5)
E. K.

Went there on a week night at 5:30. It was pretty empty. Our waitress was nice. We ordered 3 appetizers and 2 entrees. The waitress brought out our first appetizer and we had a good 5 minutes to enjoy it before she consecutively brought us our other 2 appetizers and our 2 entrees within the next 5 minutes. We had a table FULL of food and couldn't leisurely enjoy it because everything was getting cold. The food was all just okay. Not bad, not great. We got the Portobello Mushroom Avocado Fries...okay. Pork Belly Buns....good but too salty in my opinion. Fried Garlic Chicken- Sweet...good. Oiimen...decent but not the best ramen I've had. Zzajangmen...I did not like this. If you go there and order several appetizers in addition to your entrees like we did, you might want to make sure they don't bring it out to you all at the same time.
(3)
Charlene S.

Ok. I really wanted to like this place. I ripped a page out of the time out mag that had the Asian chicken wings. I saw crisp and great sea on there. The usual favorites. But wanted to try this joint out since we lived so near. The staff was great. They were friendly and knowledgable and accommodating. We went with our 15 month old early on a Friday night. Ordered the garlic chicken, avocado/ mushroom tempura and muscleman ramen. The chicken was dry. Especially the breast. The sauce was delicious but didn't penetrate the dish or add moisture to the meat. Definitely didn't hit the spot. I wanted to drive the 30 minutes during rush hour over to great seas to satisfy my palate. It was because of this dish that everything else just fell a bit flat as well. The tempura was crunchy. But nothing really that special. Just battered avocado and portabella. Not seasoned or incredibly tasty as other reviewers had boasted. The muscleman ramen was ok. The broth was good. Had over a dozen red chiles in it and I expected it to be spicy but was pleasantly not as spicy as it looked. The muscles were cooked well too but the noodles did lack a bit of bite to them. There were no real vegetables in the broth either. Just cooked onion and raw green onion. Maybe that's the simplicity of the dish. But I wanted a bit more texture and freshness in the dish. The ambiance... Smelled a bit like cheese or puke in the front area. Dark. Playing loud ass hip hop. Maybe too loud. But again the great staff is what really deserves the stars in this review
(2)
Christine L.

Immediately when you step through the door, you are greeted in Korean by the staff-cute. My friends and I sat at the bar and amused ourselves watching the chefs cook and chat with them a bit. The duck breast bun was the highlight of my night. The duck was perfectly cooked/flavorful and the golden raisin jalapeno chutney made this dish perfection. The pork belly could not compare to the awesomness of the duck breast bun, but was still pretty good. Due to an issue of miscommunication, we were able to get the portobello mushroom bun as well, for no charge. Recommendations for the buns would be as follows: 1. duck breast 2. pork belly 3. portobello. I ordered the Oiimen ramen with pork belly substitution per the chef's suggestion. Overall, it was pretty good. My only critique would be that the soup was a bit too salty for my taste and I felt a little skimped on the serving of the pork belly. This is not the best ramen I have had. I would recommend this place, but be warned it is a bit overpriced.
(3)
Robert P.

Pork buns 8/10 better than the last time I tried Momofuku. Pozzelman (sp) Ramen was a really pleasant surprise. No carryout policy is slightly absurd to me.
(4)
Jessica H.

I've eaten here a couple of times now. The tikka marsala ramen is amazing. And I LOVE the buns. The second time we visited, an order for our friend's food wasn't placed and she ended up having to take to go, but I think it was the server's fault and not the kitchen. Otherwise, the service is good and the food GREAT. The sangria is also really delicious.
(5)
Michelle M.

So three stars means A-OK. I guess my true rating is a 3.5. Food was good, service was good. I had the Oiiramen w/ pork loin, my friend had the muscle ramen. We also split the portabello avocado fries, which they should probably call tempura, but they were good too. The atmosphere is pleasing, but it was a little cold from the draft. We waited a really long time for a our ramen, it was surprisingly packed on a Thursday evening. We were starving, but waiting 45 minutes for ramen is a bit long. I will go back to try the buns, some other dishes and the drinks. I thought it was a little on the over priced side. 2 ramens, 1 app and tip was $50 for 2 people. Its nice to have a ramen spot in the neighborhood, with a bar too. If our order didn't take so long and we weren't about to eat our own hands, I would probably give it a 4.
(3)
Debbie S.

Checked this place out with a friend after we once again couldn't get in to fat rice (geez I hate that)... Likes: The Sangria was fantastic The service was quick, and our server was knowledgeable The portobello mushroom and avocado fries were fantastic The duck breast buns were scrumptious The not so much... We tried a fried chicken dish that was a bit dry (not enough sauce on the plate to help that out).... The oiimen ramen with pork belly instead of pork loin was disappointing. The chairs were incredibly uncomfortable and even though the restaurant was not busy, it was so loud in there that it was hard to have a conversation. Not sure whether I would go back here when there are so many other places to try in the City.
(3)
Susan B.

This ramen place had been on my list for a while, and I'm so glad we finally stopped in. Place was bustling for a Tuesday night, grabbed the only open table (whee, no wait). Decent beer list, also sampled some of the house sangria which was tasty, albeit a little sweet for my taste. We started with the buns, the beef as well as the pork belly which were so tasty. Pork Belly was a standout with the perfect blend of savory and acidity, only downside is they fell a part and were a bit tough to eat. Next up, we tried the Classic and the Modern Ramens, both were delicious. The Classic was tangy, yet creamy and had ground pork, pork belly and more noodles than I could handle. I also love that it was served with a serious slurping spoon that rested on the side of the bowl, rather than falling in like most! I will be back again, can't wait to try what else is on the menu!
(5)
Sir C.

Came here to try the ramen with the gf. I genuinely love ramen! I've had ramen from daikakou to Ippudo to ramen all over Tokyo. To start we ordered the mushroom/avocado tempura. It was served with spicy mayo and I thought it was on-point. The avocado however was not ripe enough yet so it was not as good. We also tried the pork belly buns. Something about the sauce just did not hit the spot. It tasted to sweet and had a Cantonese flavor to it. The main event was the tonkotsu ramen. It was average in terms of Chicago-authentic style ramen. The soup was good but seem like it was lacking a bit more flavor. The cha-su was sliced a bit thin in my opinion. The egg was cooked perfectly. It was however missing the usual bamboo shoots. The noodles I did not like very much. They did not have any bounce to the bite - which is what a really good noodle should provide. Overall it was average. I don't think I would crave it though.
(3)
S P.

This place is AMAZING!! A definite hidden gem. The homemade noodles put this place over the top! I went this afternoon with my family and we all loved it! We had 3 Buns (Goki, Duck Breast - my favorite, and the Shrimp Tempura), the Fried Garlic Chicken (delicious!), and a couple of the Ramen (Chadolmen and Musclemen). Like I said, the homemade noodles were fantastic. If you think Ramen is anything like a hotdog (maybe if you are eating Maruchan, but not with these noodles!) - you don't know what you are talking about. That's like saying a steak is the same thing as a hamburger. Trust me when I say that you will not regret trying OiiStar!!!
(5)
Megan K.

Really enjoyed this place. Great set-up and overall decor. Wait staff was very nice and on top of it, always greeting patrons as they walked into the restaurant. We tried the pork loin and duck buns and while both were very good I enjoyed the pork the most, it had more flavor going on in it than the duck - but I would still recommend if you are a duck fan. The ramen is what I really went for and I was not let down! I ordered the Tikkamen ramen - Indian style ramen dish. The chicken was breaded and fried unlike most indian dishes but it had a good flavor and it was very tender and moist. The broth was also a winner! Can't go wrong with this place!
(4)
David E.

Went to Oiistar last night, as I have been hearing good things about the place. There were two of us, and we sat at the bar. We instantly were greeted by our server who took our drink order... He explained to us that Chef Sunny had been working for a year on the place. He made the bar stools himself and even the AWESOME glasses the drinks came in (he took mason jars and glued them onto candle sticks for a "lifted mason jar," if I had to give it a name). You can really get a sense for the passion Sunny put into the place, and it's great that you can see him and his chefs doing their magic in an open kitchen format. For dinner, we ordered: Duck Breast Buns, Mong Bean Caprese (App.), Tuna Carpaccio (App.) each got a Ramen Bowl and finished with the Creme Brulee. I got the Oiimen bowl. I am no stranger to the classic steamed bun in Asian cuisine, and I have to say that these were the best steamed buns I have ever had. The duck breast was cooked to perfection, there was a blast of flavor from the assortment of micro greens, and the jalepeno compote was fantastic. Great balance of flavor, not over salty, an awesome pick to start the night! The Mong Bean Caprese was equally as amazing - a refreshing and modern twist on a classic Italian dish. It had a mong bean jelly square topped with a Roasted Roma Tomato, Edamame, Kalamata Olives and White Truffle Oil. Great acidity in the dish with a nice "tang" that got balanced out by the mung bean jelly and edamame. Additionally, the balance of textures were a wonderful marriage on the palate. The Tuna Carpaccio was also spectacular... *** I should mention, the appetizers were the perfect size. Not a fan of restaurants that call something an appetizer and then bring you an entree-size portion. I love food, so I would much rather be able to try a number of different dishes at a restaurant vs. getting full off of one or two. To each their own, I guess. Anyway, I digress... Back to the food! The TC had - Artichoke, Quail Egg, Black Sesame Paste and Daikon Sprouts. Is it just me, or is everyone a fan of a dish where you can cut into an egg and get a yolk to ooze over the top of everything, making for a delicate and delicious texture and taste to any dish. As with all the dishes to that point, the TC was well-seasoned, with the perfect balance of flavor and texture. Totally on point and one of the better TCs I have ever had, no doubt. The Ramen Bowls - their only "entrees" - all sounded great, so it didn't make for an easy decision. We actually both went with the Oiimen, which had - Pork Loin, Egg, Tree Ear Mushroom, Spicy Oil and Garlic. Really nice portion size, for starters. The pork loin was super tender and succulent. Seemed like it was cooked in a liquid base (maybe poached?) just based on how succulent it was, but I may be wrong. Great flavor, as well. The BROTH...oh the BROTH...it was ahhhhmaaazzzzing. Perfectly seasoned, not too salty, a good kick of heat. The spoons they serve it with are over-sized and meant for you to use in unison with the chop sticks. Big fan of this noodle bowl. Big fan of this restaurant. I will definitely be going back, sooner than later. For me, this is the type of place I could eat at a couple of times each week. Despite all of the food we ate, I didn't feel stuffed after the meal - pleasantly full yet still light on my feet. Service was outstanding, food was better than outstanding and I, personally, enjoyed all of the old school hip-hop playing. It is a bit loud, so beware if you go with a big group. Nevertheless, I would still take a big group there in a heartbeat. See you again soon, Oiistar. Thanks for the great meal!!!
(5)
Ryan C.

My wife brought me, her mother and aunt here on a Friday evening. I was excited to go, but wasn't expecting anything mind blowing, but my expectations were blown out of the water. We started off by getting the Tempura Shrimp Bun, and the Tonkatsu Bun. You only get one per order, so we just cut it up into 4 bites. They were both awesome as hell. I could have just eaten a bunch of those and been finished. So good. We also go the Portabella and Avocado Tempura Fries. I don't eat mushrooms, so I just had the avocado fries. There were really good, nice and crispy, and then creamy on the inside. I had the Chadolmen Ramen, my wife had the Oiimen, and shared it with her mom, and her aunt got the Spicy Veggimen. Holy crap were they all delicious. The Chadolmen was my favorite. The broth had nice heat that went well with the beef that was tender and juicy. The portion is huge and there is more than enough noodles in there to fill you up. It absolutely hit the spot on a cold night. The broth on the Oiimen was excellent as well, and would be the absolute perfect thing if you were home sick with a cold and needed some soup. I couldn't stop drinking the broth from all three. I just wanted a glass of each. The chef came out to our table to see how we liked his food, which I thought was a nice touch. I made sure to tell him how awesome it was. Overall, this place was way better than I was expecting, and I can't wait to go back again.
(5)
Tiffany L.

I was sooooo excited to hear a ramen place had opened up down the street from where I live. We ordered the pork belly buns, the Oiimen, and the Pozolmen. The pork belly buns were just ok. Although it was a generous portion of tender pork belly, I feel like it was overly gelatinous and a bit of time on a grill would have been nice. When I think of ramen, very specfic flavors and textures come into mind. I was really hoping for a bowl of Tonkotsu ramen, with the milky, porky broth. I thought the Oiimen would be close. Upon my first bite, the ramen snob in me scoffed at the noodles. Although handmade, these aren't ramen noodles, they're more like noodles you'd find in a Chinese noodle soup. Which isn't bad. But just not ramen. The egg, however, was very nicely soft-boiled. The pork loin was overcooked, but there's an option to upgrade to pork belly. The broth was completely overspiced. Although I love pepper, if they had dialed back on the pepper grinder a few notches, I would have enjoyed my bowl tenfold. I feel like broth tasted like a really good version of packaged ramen -- which I secretly kind of love. But sadly, no Tonkotsu ramen to be found here. (Go to The Aviary, if they're still serving it. Else Wasabi. Else Mitsuwa.) The Pozolmen, as expected tasted like a version of Mexican Pozole. Interesting. And actually pretty tasty. So, come here for a bowl of ramen? Nay. But come here for a pretty good bowl of noodles? Sure.
(3)
Joe K.

Well done sirs! Tried various buns, the fried chicken, the ribs, various ramen/noodle dishes and the donuts. Service was prompt and friendly. The weakest dish was the zzajanjmung (sp? The black bean noodle dish) - didn't understand the interpretation and would rather have the original at Great Seas. Overall, a very fine meal.
(4)
Lauralee O.

Stopped in almost accidentally and were delighted! We were looking over the menu in the window, debating whether we should give it a try when a restaurant supply gentleman who was making a delivery interjected to say that he highly recommended the place. So we tried it, and every single dish was delicious! Loved the buns and the haricots verts. The tempura cod bun was fabulous, and the 6 hour pork shoulder was delicate, with all the classic merits of a long roasted pork shoulder and some surprising flavors as well. Highly recommend indeed. Since that fateful night, I have stopped back in on a dozen occasions. Now it's my favorite place to get take out too. It's so reasonably priced, as well. I'm almost afraid to put this review on Yelp, because I kind of want to keep the place to myself. :)
(5)
Luke H.

Amazing ramen. The buns are are so delicious and creative. Really tight crew there and they are open for lunch! If you haven't gone, you're stupid
(5)
Matt M.

A haiku: Eat real good ramen And listen to the soundtrack From Dangerous Minds
(4)
FoodLover Z.

I am a huge ramen noodles fan, and have unable to find good ramen noodles in Chicago, particularly after tasting Totto Ramen and Ippudo in NYC. Oiistar is by far the best ramen noodles I've been able to find in Chicago. I've heard their pork buns are pretty great though, although I've never had them. They lose two stars due to terrible terrible service and for being a bit pricey. When my wife and I went there yesterday, the place was less than 50% full, and yet the server took forever to get our food, drinks and even the check. And to top it off, she forget to hand me back my credit card when giving us the check. The place is priced like it were in NYC, with all the ramen noodles being upwards to 13 bucks. Oiistar should fix these two problems if they want to be the Totto Ramen or Ippudo of Chicago.
(3)
Oceans L.

Went on a Tuesday night and was seated right away at the bar, which was fun since it's reminiscent of the ramen places in Japan where seating often is bar style. Ordered the duck bun and the oiimen. Duck bun - 2 in a order. i had bigger expectations for this but ultimately it was just okay. If you get it, don't expect a Peking duck style bun, which is actually fine since this is a fusion style restaurant. But the duck meat was pretty plainly done, overall it was fine as in meat consistency was fine, flavoring was okay, just didn't hit it out of the park for me. The bun that it came on was deliciously steamed though. Big ups on that. They were out of pork belly when I went so I'd like to go back and try that. Oiimen - noodles are the skinnier straight type (hoso-men style) they were cooked to a perfect consistency, so that they were chewy and had a good bounciness in your mouth. The soup was a pork base I'd guess, flavored well, not too salty, and matched the noodles well. Pork meat was also tender and juicy, it did match the noodles well and was not too salty which can sometimes be a problem. Our server was Patrick, who was friendly and helpful. We ordered the oiimen with extra noodles for 2 ppl to share, but when the noodles first came, it was clumped together as in not cooked well. When we let our server know, he immediately brought our bowl back to the chef and let us know how sorry the chef was and that a new bowl will be prepared. The 2nd bowl came out well and was a satisfying bowl of ramen. Big ups to the server and the chef for the quick save. Would definitely like to come back and try some of the other dishes!
(4)
Raph V.

Their Shrimp Bun and the Chadolmen Ramen is AMAZING.
(5)
Jenny Y.

Small place, friendly service. -Had their classic ramen, noodles was pretty good, the soup was too salty and heavy, too much flavor added, just not what a ramen broth should be. -Pork Belly Bun was pretty good -Mussels was okay, the sauce was way too salty and felt like they added too much stuff in it. Overall, this place is just okay. Probably won't come back unless i'm really craving for ramen and don't want to go far.
(3)
Alice L.

the jjolmyun was so good!
(5)
Gary R.

I was there around a week or two ago, so this post is a little late. By far Oiistar has been one of the best ramen places i had so far. I've been recommended to go try wasabi and misoya, but oiistar was pretty close and it was worth the trip to get some excellent ramen. The only reason why I gave this place a four star was because we were seated right next to the door and I was really uncomfortable while trying to enjoy my bowl of ramen since there were chills of wind blowing in from every customer who comes in and out of the restaurant. Anyways, the service was attentive and friendly. He even had time to chat with us even when it was busy and the food was very delicious! I would recommend this place for a good bowl of ramen anyday!
(4)
Josh K.

There is not a single item on the menu that I do not want to try at some point, so I'm really glad it's fairly affordable and right by my apartment. The spicy veggiemen ramen is divine, the noodles cooked perfectly and the broth so full of delicious, slurptastic flavor. Will return time and time again, fantastic concept and great execution so far.
(5)
Natalie G.

I am writing this review after visiting twice to Oiistar. The first time I came I shared the avocado tempura and the muscles ramen. I thought the avocado tempura was pretty bad, but was pumped to bite into my ramen. I asked the server if the muscles ramen was really spicy and she said no. I'm not terrified of spice, but if I try to eat a super spicy broth for a soup I pretty much can't get through it. The ramen came out and was so spicy I couldn't hardly finish any of it. I got it togo and my boyfriend confirmed that it was some of the spiciest ramen he had ever had. A little dissapointing after you spend almost $30 on a meal (the ramen, and iced tea, splitting an appetizer + Tip). We went again the other night and I was prepared to order a less spicy ramen. I ordered a glass of pinot noir and had to send back the glass of white wine the waiter brought out. We got the pork belly buns, and those were very good. I really enjoyed the original ramen with pork loin. I finished almost all of it. My boyfriend ordered the Pozolmen and once again he could hardly finish any of the broth because it was so spicy. The waiter didn't even know pinot noir was a red wine, let alone which of the ramens were spicy or not spicy. We also orderd the creme brulee and the waiter was so confused when we ordered it as to if it was on the menu or not and I'm positive its on the menu every night. One of my biggest pet peeves is when a restaurant doesn't train the waiters as to what is on the menu. I used to work at a restaurant that had 100's of items on the menu, so its disappointing that a restaurant with 4 types of ramen can't train their staff on what is what. 2 types of dessert, but he had to ask if that is what they carried. It makes the experience overall pretty awkward and uncomfortable, and when you are paying $58 (plus tip, so around $68) for 2 bowls of ramen, 2 drinks, 1 shared pork belly put and a creme brulee... then I would expect some fine dining service. It's really expensive for what it is.
(3)
David M.

My favorite ramen place. Better then Wasabi, fantastic broth, good appetizers. This is a regular stop. My favorite is the Bellyman, ramen with a lovely slice of pork belly. The appetizers are fantastic though for some reason they discontinued the fried chicke which was a favorite. This will continue to be a once a month stop for me.
(4)
Brittany S.

If some Honey I Shrunk the Kids / Mike Teavee shit ever happened to me I'd hop on the back of the nearest pidgeon, I'd grab hold to a bike tire, screw it I'd even walk my newly miniscule self right to oiistar just for the off chance I'd be able to finagle my way into a bowl of ramen with their pork broth. I would shower in it if given the chance. I'm 99.9% sure that the old lady in Patch Adams who's last wish was to swim in a pool full of noodles was actually specifically talking about these noodles. My server, Jess (who ruled), told me it takes the chef at least 18 hours to make the broth. What?! 1. Really? Just for me? Aw, you didn't have to do that! 2. When do you sleep? 3. When's your birthday? I want to get you something nice. Thanks so much oiistar for not only showing me why pork belly is A Thing (both in the oiimen and the pork belly buns). The only thing better than eating the pork belly buns is reciting every word to Ginuwine "Pony" while eating the pork belly buns. Plus they have Golden Monkey AND Two Brothers Domaine DuPage. Be still my heart.
(5)
Ryan H.

Oof. My experience here was a lot different than what I read about. I was excited to try this place since I live so close and love ramen. We went on a Sunday night at 6, because we have a child. We were greeted nicely and the waiter/bartender/busser (role never established) rearranged things nicely for my party of 4 with 2 infants. We were waiting on the other 2.1 people so he took our drink order after about 10 minutes. Tap selection/beer selection was average to below for the neighborhood - we are spoiled with excellent craft. The sangria looked good, but we didn't try any. Our party arrived and honestly we sat there for 20 more minutes before the same guy that seated us took our order. He bounced all around the table, apparently wrote something down, but then got the entire order wrong when reading it back. He was such a space cadet. He brought back the beers and proceeded to spill one on my friend, and she had to ask for a towel to clean up - he didn't offer. Then we played the waiting game for 20-30 more minutes. The wives got their buns (pollo and goki, both very good), but the husbands just plain didn't. My wife ordered the garlic chicken appetizer as an entree - we made this clear when ordering. It came out 20 minutes later, alone. We hadn't seen our waiter since ordering, so we flagged someone else down to figure out what's up. He ran off to figure out where the boys' pork belly buns were and why the entrees weren't out. Came back and basically blamed us because the chicken is an appetizer, so it comes out first. Sigh. Next came the buns we ordered, at the same time as the ramen dishes. We got the modern, the classic, and the pozolmen. They were pretty good. The pork belly buns were pretty good. But honestly, we were ready to get the fuck out of the there. We got there early because we have children, our orders were totally butchered, we got spilled on, we were blamed for slow service, and we waited for 90 min for food. Honestly, I don't care how good the food is - when the service is that bad, there's no way I'm going back.
(2)
Mike D.

Holy Sh*t!!!! the food here is great! admittedly, I've never lived in Asia or the West coast, so maybe my perspective is off... but this place is seriously good and at a good price point. The ramens seem well price and the portions are huge! the buns are hit or miss. the beer list is small but good and they have a mad scientists sized beaker of sangria that could feed the whole place for a week. give it a try, well worth it. 5 stars for sure
(5)
Chrissie C.

recently tried their "oiismen", it was okay. What I love is their appetizers! Their wings r amazingly good and tasty!
(5)
Jack B.

Great Ramen and Buns. I got the POZOLMEN spicy pork ramen which had great flavor but I was sweating by the end of it. The g/f got the OIIMEN, which I actually preferred over mine, but both had really good flavor.
(5)
Prashant S.

We tried the Goki, Veggiemen, Mushroom and Avocado Tempura and the Creme Brulee for desert. Each item was exquisite, full of flavor and taste. The ramen was fantastic, with fresh veggies, generous helping of tofu and avocado.
(5)
Daniel L.

I've been to quiet a few ramen shops, from Japan to NY to LA. I've even resorted to making my own Tonkotsu broth for 24 hours when I was stuck in Indiana for 2 years, so I like to consider myself a ramen nut. This places broth was amaze-balls. The tonkostu broth was not over whelming, a great balance of porky goodness that doesn't take over the whole dish. There is a bit of smokey/charred flavor like some bones might have been roasted or scorched to give it this BBQ quality. It was great! A twist I haven't had before. The noodles were good, not my favorite, Wish they were a tad bit meatier. I'd go back and recommend this place to anyone looking for a good bowl of ramen. The app sliders were great too. Staff was hipster-ish and nice and polite, in that hipster "I'm helping you, but you're kind of bothering me, you poor un-knowledgeable fool" kind of way but weren't at all rude or disrespectful.
(4)
RJ B.

I've been here twice. First was with a group of 5 where we ordered buns, apps, ramen, and dessert. Yes we were beyond full that night. Second time was with a friend and we ordered buns and ramen. This was a much more sensible dining choice. I've had about half of the appetizers and they were all good. The buns however, are on point. I haven't had the duck buns because I don't like raisins but I highly recommend the pork belly and mushroom. The stand out to me is the actual bun. The dough is soft and fluffy and the outer layer is firm enough to not stick to your fingers. If I could buy a pack of the buns for less under $2 I wouldn't buy El Milagro corn tortillas anymore. I've had the oiimen, and pozolmen, and tasted the musclemen. All were good but I liked the oiimen the best. I think the flavoring is just right, not too salty or strong, and the broth wasn't oily. I'm not a ramen expert but I prefer it here over Slurping Turtle. The spoons they give you are much larger than what you're probably used to but it's not hard to adjust plus we noticed they're weight balanced pretty well. Rest the top of the handle on the side of your index finger and you only have to lightly hold it in place with your thumb. There isn't a blatant sign so you may pass the it up. As others mentioned, you get greeted in Korean when you walk into dimly lit place. The bar has a pipe for those under 7ft to rest their feet on. Best of all they play dope hip hop to nod your head to.
(4)
Timothy S.

Almost a five star ramen place but the amount of vegetables and meat in their ramen dishes isn't that great for the price. They have some good apps too, the fried chicken is ok, it's hard to compete with Crisp in that area. I've only ever seen one person working the floor so if it gets busy that turns into a problem. That being said this is still in my top 3 ramen shops of the city, with a little improvement it can maybe become #1.
(4)
Tom K.

My wife and I love ramen, so I found this place and wanted to try it. Following the server's suggestions, we got the garlic chicken, duck bun, and the oiimen. The garlic chicken was alright, duck buns alright as well. My wife really enjoyed the ramen as they were somen style, thinner, and chewy to her liking. Overall, the service was good, but beware!!! The refills ARE NOT FREE! That was kind of annoying.
(3)
Thyra D.

Good. Fresh. Interesting combination of flavors.
(4)
Jonathan C.

Why is this one of the best restaurants in Chicago?....because they love Momofuko and pay tribute to it and maintain their own style as well. I like a place that has a menu that you can fold in half and put it in your back pocket. It means that they are mean and lean with their offerings and flavors. Oiistar is both....Mean and Lean. Alex waited on us and was casually attentive, love the vibe right off the bat. We ripped through the menu and did not find a single bummer. We started off with the Sambal fried Chicken, 3 words...sweet, crispy, garlic. It was killer. We did 3 buns, Saltimbocca, Goki and a Fried Cod....awesome and so perfectly done. We then stuffed more food into our gullet and became even fuller and happier. The Tikka...the Veggi....the Kimchi....all were amazing. I am glad Oiistar is in my hood and I plan on going there frequently.....Thanks Oiistar!
(5)
Michelle R.

They had an interesting fusion of food. Tried the japaghetti noodle dish. It portion was too big and it wasn't bad but it was that good either. The ramen was good. Have had better.
(3)
A M.

The ramen was EXCELLENT. Everyone was happy with their food. However the atmosphere sucked. We sat by the door and froze, people were standing all around us (waiting for tables). The service was some of the worst ever. They seemed to be waiting for us to serve ourselves and were not very nice. I agree with the comment about the tiny beers...they were tiny and expensive. Music was so loud we couldnt even told a conversation. The waiter took our appetizer away before we even finished.... there we so many things wrong with this place. They need some work. I would find a non busy time to partake at Oiistar. You will love the food and can maybe get some better service.
(3)

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Address : 1385 N Milwaukee Ave
Chicago, IL, 60622
Phone (773) 360-8791
Website https://www.oiistar.com
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Specialities

Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Accepts Bitcoin : No
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Trendy
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No

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Oiistar

1385 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL, 60622

Oiistar Menu

Buns

Ramens

Seasonal

For Sharing

Sweets

Sides

House Cocktails

Beers On Tap

Beer On Bottles

Wine - White

Wine - Red

Wine - Rose

Healthy Meal suggestions for Oiistar

Buns

Ramens

Seasonal

For Sharing

Sweets

Sides

House Cocktails

Beers On Tap

Beer On Bottles

Wine - White

Wine - Red

Wine - Rose

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