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Name: Wasabi
Address: 2115 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL, 60647
Telephone: (773) 227-8180
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 4.16

Wasabi

2115 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL, 60647

(773) 227-8180
Store is closed

Wasabi Menu

Small Plates

Edamame

Homemade Dumplings

Fried Chicken

Goma Ae

Shrimp Shumai

Soft Shell Crab

Agedashi Tofu

Mushrooms

Tempura

Tuna Tartar

Calamari

Mussels

Lemon Butter Scallops

Pork Belly And Kimche Spring Roll

Hamachi Kama

Carpaccio

Ceviche

Oyster Shooter

Uni Shooter

Fried Octopus Puffs (takoyaki)
Soups And Noodles

Miso

Syou Tonkotsu Ramen

Miso Ramen

Tempura

Niku

Zaru
Salads

House

House With Fried Tofu

Seaweed

Wakame Su

Kani Su

Tako Su
Grilled Skewers

Chicken Meatball

Chicken Thigh

Chicken Breast And Big Negi

Chicken Gizzard

Chicken Skin

Chicken Wing

Berkshire Pork Belly

Asparagus

Beef Short Rib

Shishito Pepper

Shiitake Mushrooms
Fried Skewers

Berkshire Filet Pork

Brie And Berkshire Filet Pork

Shiitake Mushroom

Sweet Onion

Shishito Pepper

Japanese Eggplant

Japanese Sweet Potato

Asparagus

Mushroom & Chicken Meatball

Whole Prawn

Scottish Salmon
Nigiri & Sashimi

Maguro

Toro

White Tuna

Super White Tuna

Sake

Smoke Salmon

Hamachi

Madai

Kani

Amaebi

Ebi

Wagyu Aburi

Uzura

Uni

Ikura

Hotate

Tako

Ika

Saba

Unagi

Anago

Tobiko

Wasabi Tobika

Tamago
Signature Maki

Crabby Wasabi

Meat Lover

Pike Place

Cubby Bear

Artmex

Logan

Mag Mile

Le Japon

Hot Yogi
Maki Mono

Dragon

Rainbow

Shrimp Tempura

Spicy Shrimp Tempura

Negi Toro

Tekka

Spicy Tuna

Spicy Tuna Crunch

California

Spicy California

Real California

Boston

Alaskan

Futo

Philly

Spider

Spicy Scallop

Spicy Octopus

Una Kyu

Ana Kyu

Ebi Kyu

Super White Tuna Kyu

Unagi Avo

Ebi Avo

Super White Avo

Hotate Avo

Hama Avo

Negi Hamachi

Nagi Maguro

Salmon Skin
Vegetable Maki

Shiitake

Oshinko

Asparagus

Goma Ae

Asparagus Tempura

Sweet Potato Tempura

Ume Shiso

Kappa

Avocado

Kampyo
Teriyaki Entree

Rib Eye Steak

Portabello Mushroom

Salmon

Chicken
Donburi

Chirashi

Tekka

Hamachi

Sake

Unagi
Sides

Steamed Rice

Sushi Rice

Any Extra Sauce

Any Extra Dressing

Kimchee

Oshinko Mori

Sliced Dried Seaweed

Fresh Wasabi
Desserts

Mochi Ice Cream

Mini Cheesecake And Ice Cream

Chocolate Lava Cake

Ice Cream

Healthy Meal suggestions for Wasabi

Small Plates

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

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

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

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

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

Soft Shell Crab [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lemon Butter Scallops [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fried Octopus Puffs (takoyaki) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Soups And Noodles

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

Syou Tonkotsu Ramen [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

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

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

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

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

House With Fried Tofu [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

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

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

Tako Su [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Grilled Skewers

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

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

Chicken Breast And Big Negi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

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

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

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

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

Beef Short Rib [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

Shiitake Mushrooms [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Fried Skewers

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

Brie And Berkshire Filet Pork [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

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

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

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

Japanese Sweet Potato [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

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

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

Scottish Salmon [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Nigiri & Sashimi

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tamago [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Signature Maki

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hot Yogi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Maki Mono

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Salmon Skin [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Vegetable Maki

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Kampyo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Teriyaki Entree

Rib Eye Steak [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Any Extra Sauce [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Any Extra Dressing [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

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

Sliced Dried Seaweed [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fresh Wasabi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Desserts

Mochi Ice Cream [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mini Cheesecake And Ice Cream [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chocolate Lava Cake [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

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Write An Anonymous Review

Jimmy R.

Get all the add ons. The ramen is some of the city's best. While the wait might be lengthy if you come at the wrong time, it's worth it. BYOB doesn't hurt either.
(5)
L L.

I've been wanting to try this place so my Asian friends and fellow ramen lovers, and I finally made it here. We were immediately seated upon arrival. I ordered the Spicy Garlic Miso Ramen and it was very flavorful with large chunks of well cooked pork belly. The broth was delicious, but a bit salty. Being Asian, I would prefer the broth to be of hotter temperature instead of lukewarm. We also had a maki roll topped with jalapeÃ±o peppers which was outstanding. Service was attentive and quick. It was nearly full for Sunday lunch with capacity for maybe 55. They also have a sushi bar area where you can watch the sushi preparation.
(5)
Sandy T.

This place is more like a 3.5. Would have probably given this place a 4.5 if they just let us drink our bottle of Hennessy! Thought it was BYOB and as soon as we started taking shots, they said BYOB is only for Sake, Beer, and Wine. What is that nonsense! Got the Tonkatsu Bowl which was $13. Was good but I had food envy looking at the Spicy Miso Ramen Bowl. YUM. Also tried the pork belly buns which were yummy. I think the price is decent for city ramen but my favorite ramen place will always be at Mitsuwa. I will be back here though and try to bring another bottle.
(4)
Sarah C.

Heard Wasabi had the best ramen in Chicago so came for dinner with a friend. We had the pork belly buns for appetizer. Was a little messy and I've had better, but good flavor and came in a cute bowl. Ordered the Spicy garlic miso ramen. Broth came hot and was flavorful, not too salty, and had the perfect amount of spiciness. Ramen noodles were thin and cooked well. The pork meat in the soup was soooo tender and melted in your mouth and still had that little crisp to it. And the best part- the egg! Wasn't overly cooked and still orange and gooey! Def the best ramen I've had in Chicago- left satisfied =]
(4)
Wai C.

This place serves up the most delicious ramen ever! I had the tonkatsu ramen with grilled pork belly on top. The egg was perfectly soft and runny and the broth was so full of flavor. I went with a Japanese exchange student friend who recommended this place as the most authentic ramen she's able to find in Chicago. The BYOB policy is also awesome - really helps cut down the cost of your meal. There's a CVS half a block away. Had to knock off a star because the yakitori, at $2.5-$4 per skewer, were seriously underwhelming. I think I even chuckled a bit when my grilled zucchini skewer came out - It was $2.50 for what was possibly 1/6 of an actual zucchini
(4)
Chyanne C.

Went with the recommended pork belly small plate, comes with just 2 but cooked perfectly. Sushi tasted so fresh, and Man that Spicy Garlic Ramen- the pork cooked perfectly and so much flavor. Our waiter was spot on, super friendly. Note: leaving around 6th they were Packed and a line of 20 people put the door. So just go early or a weekday. Totally worth it. $30 for sushi, big bowl of ramen, and pork belly Mm mm
(5)
Jessica B.

Love, love, love WASABI
(5)
Donna C.

Music clashes with ambiance. Not sure if it was an off night based on everyone's reviews but the signature rolls were nothing special. I wish it was better, really I do.
(2)
Anastasia A.

Simply delicious! I had the tempura, Syou Tonkotsu Ramen and ginger ale. I can't think of a better place in Chicago to have ramen.
(5)
Rachel R.

Let me just start by saying that this place had the best ramen that I've had in years! The waiter, Seth, was awesome. He recommended the Spicy Roasted Garlic Miso Ramen which was delicious at every bite. A little spicy, so don't order this one if you don't like a kick. We also ordered the sweet potato tempura rolls as well as the terriyaki chicken which were a hit as well. For dessert we ordered the green tea and mango mochis - which was a pleasant delight. Another point to note is the fact that this place is BYOB! A nice touch to great food. Definitely coming back here for more!
(5)
Maricela N.

Not only did I find a hair in my ramen soup but my friend also found one in her spring rolls! The lady who was helping us was friendly but the rest of the people had staring problems. Like no I'm not going to stay quiet if I find a hair in my soup! Never coming here again
(1)
Marcos C.

Best ramen I have tried outside of Japan! Try the tonkatsu ramen or the spicy garlic if you are feeling a bit more adventurous.. a little piece of heaven in a bowl :)
(5)
Charlee G.

The ramen here is authentic....not your college ramen noodles that your parents have to you in packs of 10. It's delicious and very filling. I liked the dark, woodsy atmosphere here. It was chill and laid back, yet I still felt ok walking in dressed up. Friendly wait staff but not overly attentive during my experience.
(4)
Amoli P.

Spicy garlic miso ramen is hands down the best ramen I've ever had in my life. Beware that it IS actually spicy. Like make your nose run constantly spicy...and this is from an Indian girl who can't eat bland items unless they are drenched in Sriracha. But it's a good spicy and the flavor is so good, you won't care.
(5)
Jim A.

I'm updating my review based on my last visit. The garlic ramen was legit. I definitely agree with other reviewers to add the pork belly to your ramen. Additionally, our waiter this time was great.
(4)
Veg L.

Wow, we were traveling in Chicago and I found this place on Yelp, and it blew our minds. So delicious! We were worried that it may be packed, but on an early Saturday afternoon, it wasn't bad at all (we were seated immediately), though by the time we were leaving there was a line of people waiting. The ramen broths were so flavorful and rich, I felt sooooo bad leaving some behind; I would've asked for a box if I weren't traveling. Their skewers were great, and the buns were superb as well. I had a blast. I'd definitely come back next time I'm in town.
(5)
Tiva T.

The food here is delicious. The service, however, is not very good. Be prepared to wait a long time before being served your food. Our waiter tried to calm our grumbling stomachs by ensuring us the food would be "worth the wait," but it almost wasn't. I can forgive delays in the kitchen when a restaurant first opens, and the staff is getting used to the customer ebbs and flows, but this is now the second time I've been at Wasabi and experienced excruciatingly slow food service. I'm not sure what's going on behind the scenes, but it's time to re-organize. If you need more wait staff, hire more wait staff. If you need more help in the kitchen, hire more help!
(3)
Jill H.

unfortunately, i have to update my review and take away all the stars i gave this place, if only because they seriously let down many, many of their regular customers. as of about a week ago, wasabi no longer does delivery and only serves their ramen for customers who are able to dine in. i have been ordering take-out delivery here literally since the week they opened, once or twice per week religiously, because the food is so good. now i will not be able to do so. its a real shame because so many regular delivery customers like myself are a big reason this little restaurant has become so successful. i talked with management and it was really sad the way they spoke to me, how disrespectful they were and how much they disregarded my loyal business. sure, a restaurant may be busy for awhile, but usually they will only stay busy in the longterm due to the support of regular customers like myself. really sad to see the management there doesnt see that. sorry wasabi, you have lost at least one loyal customer here. i will get my ramen at slurping turtle and my sushi at arami from now on. so sad :(
(1)
Curran F.

We came on Black Friday and had a similar experience to Steve W. The service was really poor. We were seated and then nobody came back to our table. We got our own menus and then when we were ready to order we flagged down the host. They were apparently very understaffed. They did feel bad about the service and gave us a free dessert. The ramen is great and I think we would have had a good time if the service hadn't been so poor. The ramen is authentic and the pork cheek is a great touch. Probably a fine place to go if you live in the area and they are properly staffed.
(2)
Felicia H.

I've been in the city for 11 years now and I've tried many sushi resturants. Sushi Wabi was it for me for a very long time until I found Wasabi. This new resturant is clean, great atmosphere, excellent food and the service is great. I have no desire to try anywhere else and it's BYOB which is a huge plus. I love it so much that I go pretty much every week.
(5)
NO C.

We really enjoyed the rolls we had at Wasabi. The service was great. Cute interior. You can't beat BYOB! Happy to have it in Logan Square.
(4)
Sean M.

Very slow service, but food more than made up for it. Really enjoyed all the yakitori options and the ramen was excellent. Didn't try the sushi, but one of my guests enjoyed the roll she had. I plan on going back.
(4)
Amelia S.

BYOB, good sushi, friendly service, standard prices. I'll definitely be back! Really looking forward to trying their ramen soup next time.
(5)
Anj S.

This place has great sushi, is BYOB, and you get a table here on the weekends....what more could you want? p.s. you must get the artmex if you come here, it is fantastic.
(5)
natalie b.

This was my first time here! It was wonderful! I liked the decor and the food was amazing. The mag mile roll was the best! I highly suggest you get it! The service was good and everyone was very friendly. Its byob so thats always nice. Great spot with friends or a date! I will be back.
(4)
Sam R.

Went twice to Wasabi, both on weeknights. The first time was really good, unfortunately the second visit left much to be desired. The first visit my date and I had the Syou Tonkotsu ramen, Tonkotsu ramen, Edamame, and the Mag Mile maki (we were really hungry!). The ramen was delicious - broth clear and flavorful, noodles cooked perfectly, all the toppings just really complimented each other. The maki was excellent as well; great quality, good presentation. Edamame was good... but it's hard to make Edamame outstanding (I mean, it's Edamame - really good but still just Edamame). The service this visit was pretty good. They brought the Edamame first, gave us a few minutes then brought out the sushi. Then brought out the ramen. We didn't feel rushed nor did they ignore us. The only complaint about the particular visit was that the forgot to bring my date's green tea but did not remove it from the check (we had it fixed when we were paying). If I had written a review after this visit I would have given Wasabi 4 stars. I mean, I really enjoyed my meal there. I enjoyed it so much that we returned again within a week. The second visit left much to be desired unfortunately. For this visit I had the Miso ramen, my date ordered the Teriyaki Entree (rib eye steak, miso soup), I had the Miso ramen, we ordered Edamame again, as well as the Dragon maki. This time around the service was terrible and the food was ok. For the food... the Rib-eye Teriyaki left much to be desired all the way around. According to my date, the teriyaki glaze was way too sweet (especially when coupled with the sweet potatoes). Unfortunately, the glaze was a bit runny and way puddles around the entire plate, so everything tasted of teriyaki. The asparagus was chewy and over cooked, the sweet potatoes - meh. The miso soup was alright, but nothing to rave about. As for me, the Miso ramen left much to be desired. The broth was cloudy with this weird gritty texture, the noodles were overcooked, and in general the whole thing was way too salty (definitely would never order that again). Actually, now that I think of it I'm almost positive I was served the last bowl of a giant ramen batch - not good. The maki was pretty good, nothing to rave about though. And the Edamame was just that, Edamame. The service this time around was not so hot. First of all, they brought my date his miso soup but didn't serve any other food. So, he was stuck with either letting his soup go cold or eating without me. Then, after a few minutes, they served the Edamame, maki, ramen, and entree all at once! It was insane. One of the busboys were literally standing by for us to finish eating something so he could remove dishes. Needless to say, I was not pleased. First you don't bring food for the both of us, then you plop everything down at once and expect us to inhale it? I don't think so. Oh, I almost forgot, don't expect a knife if you order the Teriyaki entree, we had to ask for one and got a butter knife (more like a cheese spreader than anything). I found it quite amusing to watch my date try to cut through steak and overcooked asparagus with that knife... probably the most enjoyable part of the meal. All in all I must say that I will not be going back to Wasabi for a long time, this location needs time to mature and learn how to run efficiently.
(2)
John M.

one of my favorite places in chicago and possibly my favorite japanese restaurant of all time. great variety on the menu. the yakitori are all fantastic. i couldn't stop smiling after trying the pork. the noodle bowls are comparable to takashi. loved the atmosphere and ambiance. the staff was extremely knowledgable and accommodating and were very diligent with our drinks (byo). the only sore spot was the calamari, but it serves us right for ordering that in a japanese place.
(5)
Amy O.

Came in on a weekday for lunch. We all ordered ramen and they were all really good. I ordered the tonkotsu ramen, I forgot what my friends ordered but mine was definitely the best ramen I had in the city. Since it was weekday the wait wasn't long. We waited maybe like 10 15 minutes and we were seated. All the waiters where really nice as well. Definitely going to go back sometime!
(5)
William Q.

The food here is good. The only reason I give this place two stars is the music is too damn loud, the hostesses are rude and the seating is sooooo uncomfortable - think wooden benches!!
(2)
Rawlins R.

This is one of the best places to have Japanese Ramen. I have been here numerous times and I have never been disappointed. I have eaten every ramen dish they have to offer and they are all excellent. Wasabi does not take reservations and is a popular spot so make sure you plan your night accordingly. They are only open for dinner after 5 pm. They do not serve alcohol and I believe it is BYOB, though I have never participated. I strongly recommend coming to Wasabi for a good traditional Japanese meal and without a doubt if you want amazing ramen.
(4)
Sarah Y.

Good ramen has infiltrated Chicago in the dining rooms of places like Wasabi and Oiistar. I would rank Oiistar slightly ahead of Wasabi, but the ramen here (along with their other asian fare) is quite good. I love the tonkotsu broth here. It's a deep flavored, smooth, and milky porky broth for sure. The noodles are the crimpy kind. I, however, am not a fan of the chashu pork here. It has been consistently very fatty and oversauced. Also, the cut of the meat appears to come from the shoulder/butt vs my preference, from the belly. It's best to come with lots of friends, so you can eat ramen and sample a lot of other offerings, like their good sushi menu. I've had the yakitoris several times, and the skewered meats are good, but perhaps not worth the price for the portion.
(4)
Adam K.

I really loved this place. Delicious. Full of flavor. Homemade dumplings were great, as were the miso ramen. I want to come back to this place, they have a large menu, so I want to try other things. I do like the variety and all things seem to be highly received from what I overheard others saying in the dining room. I would have given 5 stars, but the service here is pretty awful. They have a large indoor area for you to stand, but the host VERY RUDELY asked us to wait outside this winter. NOT OK -- I hope someone tells him to wait outside next time.
(4)
Kelly S.

Pretty good. One vegan/vegetarian option, in which the seitan could have used a bit more flavor. A little expensive for a bowl of noodles, seitan, and bok choy (vegan option), but it is also BYOB and cozy setting.
(4)
Yiminh Z.

Went there with homies. Two of us ordered Ramen and I ordered Umagi Bowl. The food there is ok for me. Not quite special compared to other Japanese restaurant I've tried before. There are always people waiting outside the restaurant. The waitress was not very nice to us. She tried to make us checked early, that made me feel not so comfortable.
(4)
Kristina W.

Being an SF Bay Area native, I'm pretty picky about my ramen. So, after living in the Chicago area for 2 years, I think this is the best option here. I came on a Wednesday around 5:45pm and Wasabi was completely empty besides 2 tables. Over the course of the meal, though, the restaurant filled up quickly - so COME EARLY if you don't want to wait. My friend ordered the Tonkatsu Ramen, while I ordered the Spicy Garlic Miso Ramen - both were delicious and I have absolutely no complaints about the ramen. 5 stars. The reason for -1 star is for what we ordered besides the ramen - the side of mustard greens and the chicken skin skewer. Both were overpriced (given the portion) and did not taste good at all - the mustard greens being dry and flavorless, and the chicken skin being way too salty. I actually laughed when I saw the chicken skin skewer because it was the tiniest bite-sized piece. So... I only recommend THE RAMEN. Also, BYOB! I can see myself coming here very often this winter...
(4)
Marissa D.

The wait for this place was not bad. It is a little nerve wracking walking over and seeing a groups of people waiting, but there system works really well. The food was scrumptious. Everything we ordered was great! Best calamari in town. The service was good but, our server was clearly really busy. I feel like she must of had 9 tables. This place is BYOB, which makes it even better. My suggestion if you plan on coming, come with a friend and order a few things together. These plates are great for sharing.
(5)
Vik K.

Wiki on pork belly: A 100-gram serving of pork belly typically has about 520 calories. The calorie breakdown is: 92% fat (53 g), 0% (0 g) carbohydrates, and 8% (9 g) protein.[2] Got the yelp email couple weeks back for Chicago's top ramen spots, and decided to try it with a friend on a cold and snowy thursday night. There's a CVS pharmacy that sells beer and wine, easy to pop out while waiting for a table. First seated at the bar, stools were not really comfy, so I asked the wait staff to move me to a booth, which they promptly did. So this is a BYOB ramen / sushi spot. The sushi as okay, I've had better. But the spicy garlic ramen was knock your socks off good!!! It was my first intro to ramen, and I loved it. Chef take note - Would be nice if you had chicken broth. Don't want to eat 92% fatty pork belly just because some a**hole chefs thinks the "meat of the day" and a bunch of mindless lemmings follow suit. What's next? Pork testicles?!! F** you man
(4)
Holly C.

Glad I got to try this place! We started off with the pork and kimchi spring rolls. It came in 4 pieces (2 cut in half) and were good. The tonkotsu ramen was great! The broth was rich and flavorful. I really enjoyed the noodles. The spicy garlic miso ramen had a kick though. I couldn't finish it because it was so spicy. I'd probably get the tonkotsu or try something else next time because it was burning my mouth the entire time. If you order this, be prepared or make sure you really like spicy food. I'm not sure if they can make it less spicy since it's mostly in the broth. We had the mini espresso cheesecake, and while it was decent, it wasn't worth the $3.50 price tag since it was the size of a small cube. I'd go back for the tonkotsu ramen! I also heard the sushi was good so maybe I'll order it next time!
(4)
Paige E.

It's good ramen. Definitely was not disappointed in the food at least. I'm from LA, so I didn't think it was anything outstanding, but I also have to realize that this is probably as good as it's going to get in Chicago. The pork is extremely tender and the flavors are all great. However, the noodles are a little harder than I would like them to be and I didn't think anything about the broth was out-of-this-world. Plus, it's a little annoying that they don't offer a tofu version (my stomach is bad with pork... I can usually do the pork broth alone but not the pork belly on top of that). Again though, if you have never had legit Japanese ramen, this is probably the best ramen you will ever have. I recommend the Tonkatsu and the Spicy Garlic. My friends had the pork bao buns and they said they were really delicious, but nothing that a good home Chinese cook couldn't make. So onto the bad. Wasabi provides you with a water jug so you can refill yourself without them having to do it for you constantly. Which would be nice except that it was approximately 90 degrees in there yesterday when we went (no A/C! just one big fan!) and the four people in my group went through the bottle pretty quickly. It took twenty minutes to get a new one the first time, and we only got it when my SO basically shoved the empty one in our waiter's face (actually I don't think it was even our waiter, because our waiter went MIA for 20 minutes at a time). The second time our bottle was empty, we didn't even try to get more because we had mostly finished eating at that point. I was still very thirsty though and it would have been nice to get more water. The service was probably the slowest I have ever experienced. We were at Wasabi for TWO hours. That would have been fine if we wanted to stay and drink and talk, but we honestly just wanted ramen quickly. My friends and SO all had things to do early the next morning and we did not want to spend that long eating ramen. And like I said, we never even got water refills or anything like that. It also took them about 20 minutes to check back on us after they gave us a dessert menu. Of the two hours we were there, probably only 20-25 minutes of it was us actually eating or looking at the menu. So all of this could have been excused since the restaurant was pretty packed (not sure why... it was late on a Sunday but good for them) and I think they are possibly short staffed since they have a "Help Wanted" poster in their window, but toward the end, our waiter just kept going MIA even though there were other waiters just standing around. And to top it all off, we paid with FOUR credit cards, just splitting the total between us (we didn't make them do specific amounts on specific cards or anything) and we were only brought back TWO of them. It took us another few minutes to track our waiter down to ask for the other two credit cards, and he insinuated that we were lying to him and that he brought back all four. Uh, why would we lie about that? We finally got our cards after a little more waiting, but I don't think we really got an apology. 2 stars only because the food was good. Otherwise would have been 1. I mean, to lose our credit cards, make us wait for large chunks of time, and to not give us water when your restaurant doesn't have A/C? Wow. Bad.
(2)
Linh L.

BYOB, BEST RAMEN IN CHICAGO, BUT IT DOESN'T COMPARE TO L.A.'s (San Gabriel), AND THE HOST IS A SNOB. Out of all ramens I've had here, the spicy garlic is the best. Too bad they don't have spicy miso for me to crank it up a few notches. Maki rolls are good. I tried their raw octopus. That was different. The price is right at this place. It's not expensive and I love that it's BYOB. I had half a bottle of Tyke Sake. Talk about cheap! The host is also a real snob. He asked me and my party to wait outside when there was room to stand and wait. Then I asked another waiting guest to pass me the menu. He was so kind, but the host told him that he needs to ask the host first since they're running low. WOW! They had plenty!! I gave him the one menu back in case they can out... which they never did.
(4)
Tess M.

My faaaavorite ramen in the city. Everything from the appetizers to the sushi to the ramen was incredible. You really can't go wrong. I've converted every friend and family member I've ever taken here. If you want to avoid the line, come here during later lunch hours (3ish), if you can, especially during a weekday. You won't hit a wait. Be warned though, after 5:30, you will easily wait an hour or more. But it's WELL worth it!!
(5)
Abby Z.

Crowded fun little spot on a rather desolate block of Milwaukee. We came on a Saturday and there were sushi counter spots available so we sat there. My only complaint is that there was no coat rack to be found in the restaurant and with all this winter gear it was awkward to try to find anywhere to stash our stuff and wound up sitting on our wet snow covered jackets. On the recommendation of tons of Yelpers, I went with the spicy garlic miso ramen and Alex got the tonkatsu ramen. First things first, I love the bounce of their noodles and was impressed overall. However, when did I become the person complaining about heat?? The spicy garlic miso ramen was like eating a bowl of fire! It was so spicy I wound up not eating too much of it and was disappointed they left my egg off but couldn't track down a server anywhere to ask about it. C'est la vie. Alex's tonkatsu was spot on. We also got a scallop roll which was so fresh but we were mostly impressed with how well seasoned their sushi rice was. Happy to have a new favorite ramen spot close by since Slurping Turtle is too far of a trek most nights.
(4)
Princess B.

Holy ramen. The spicy garlic ramen was fantastic and very spicy. The pork belly melts in your mouth. The restaurant is BYOB and will put your beer in the fridge and there isn't any "corking" fee that byobs sometimes have. So tip extra!
(5)
Tenzin P.

Hands down favorite ramen place in Chicago! The worst thing about this place is the lines on weekend nights since they don't take reservations. Plan to wait about 30-40 minutes, but it's worth the wait. I recommend the spicy miso ramen, the pork belly is amazing in the sauce. The portions are fairly large. It's BYOB!
(5)
Lucy C.

My favorite ramen place in Chicago! Get the tonkotsu ramen-- the broth is rich and milky, without being too salty. The noodles have a nice bite and I can never say no to pork belly. I've also tried the pork belly buns, which were tasty, but the bun fell apart en route to my mouth, giving me no choice but to eat like with chopsticks like a civilized person. The seating at wasabi can be strange though. The largest tables in the middle of the restaurant can seat up to six. There are booths along the wall and banquette seating along the window. Don't get stuck at the last window table in the corner; it will literally be impossible to get in and out from there, especially if you have longer legs. BYOB! There are few things I love more than hot ramen with cold beer.
(5)
Sue C.

Had a high expectation but it was just ok - had the tonkotsu ramen, pork belly bun, gotta, artmex roll. Price wasn't bad but the flavor was nothing special.
(3)
Evie H.

I came here on a Saturday night during prime dinner hours and the wait for two people was about 25 minutes. Not too bad considering it was packed inside and outside in the waiting area! I like that they give you a call when your table is ready because it was certainly warmer to venture into the CVS next door than wait outside in the deathly cold. We started off with the Agedashi tofu which unfortunately, I wasn't impressed with. The tofu was harder which doesn't work well for agedashi tofu and the outside wasn't crispy enough. The kimchi egg rolls were definitely much better. There's so much flavor packed into each bite. Although the portion size was small, it was very enjoyable to eat. Then my ramen came and it took me to my blissful happy world. Per my friend's recommendation which he swears by, I got the Tonkatsu ramen with the two add ons - the extra pork (+$5) and the spice umami (+$3). Besides from being the MOST expensive bowl of ramen I've ever had ($21 before tax.....oh god) I absolutely loved it. The pork belly is the best I've had anywhere. The taste and texture were both so authentic and so flavorful. This is what all meat in ramen should taste like! Also, if you've never tried the extra pork, I would urge you to do so as it's different from the pork belly that normally comes with the ramen. It's only an additional 3 pieces of meat but it's like serious heaven in your mouth as it melts. The noodles were very bouncy and "Q" which is a texture I really like - some may think it's a bit hard though so just watch out for that. I think I can do away with the spice umami for next time. The soup still tasted great as you mix the spice in but I'd like to try the original broth without the added flavoring. 5 stars for being my absolute favorite place for ramen in Chicago!
(5)
Steph P.

If you're looking for good ramen .. like David Chang style ramen .. then this is the place to go. The other food is good too, especially the pork belly buns. Make sure to be aware that it's BYOB, they don't take reservations, the place is small and the only spot to wait is outside. Oh, and it's usually packed .. because it's awesome.
(5)
Natasia O.

SPICY GARLIC RAMEN Perfect noodles with bite. Thick, tasty broth. Go early or you'll be waiting for a seat.
(5)
Raymond S.

Uni Shooters = amazing Chicken Drummettes = bland Sushi = good Pork Belly buns = disappointing Lighting = low Prices = Relative Return? = Unlikely
(3)
Lulu R.

The Ramen scene has exploded in California. Outside of Japan, it is hard to find some worth while Ramen. Enter Wasabi. A breakthrough in Chicago Ramen, it can definitely hold a candle to many of these veteran Ramen spots, most definitely! Located in Logan Square on Milwaukee Avenue, the place has street parking available (metered). The place itself is cozy but not too small where you are cramped. It's a weird shaped restaurant but definitely cozy. They have a modernist Asian zen to the dÃ©cor. Simple. As we arrived, the place was 80% full and the wait was not long at all. As we were seated, I gave a gander and saw people talking about the Tonkatsu (Creamy broth, pork belly). We ordered the individual chicken skewers, tonkatsu ramen, pork belly buns, and the Shoyu ramen. Those pork belly buns were to die for! I highly suggest it, you will not regret it. The pork belly sliced is perfectly seasoned in a hoisin sauce , served with a sesame paste, and scallions nestled in a Chinese bun (the same buns the serve mooshu with). I cannot get over how delicious it was. The Tonaktsu Ramen was absolutely delicious. The flavors that were developed in the broth was a feat on its own, add the rest of the Ramen fixins in there and you got a dynamite meal. The Soft Boiled tea egg just worked with the ramen so well and the pork belly slice in there was generous and cooked perfectly. The noodles were cooked perfectly and it wasn't too creamy either. I sprinkled some of the hot pepper flake in there to make it perfect. The chicken Skewers were good too. How can you hate grilled meat on a stick? My friend had the Shoyu ramen and I heard silence, which is code for- "this so awesome I am not speaking". They also serve sushi which I did not partake of but looked great and super fresh. The service was fast and courteous. The pricing on the food is a smidgen above the amount I think it is but I guess times are a-changin'! I hope to return for a repeat of an amazing meal esp. those pork buns!
(4)
Monica M.

One of my regular spots. super solid choice for ramen. my fav is the spicy garlic one! the noodles have great texture and dont get soggy. the broth is nice and full without being too heavy. and its nice and spicy. i like their house salad dressing, no dairy in it. pork belly buns are a must. sometimes i go for the pork belly spring rolls. I like their rolls. they have a vegan ceviche roll on the the specials list thats prob my fav, i think the artmex is the fish version (on the regular menu). dragon and spider rolls were good, but i also really like eel and crab in general. sashimi and nigiri are good, but nothing to write home about. ive had some things off the grill too, but i dont opt for those items often. i love that its byob. either go earlier or later on thu, fri or sat since its packed.
(4)
Chet M.

The ramen broth is the best in the city. The overall bowl of ramen is definitely in the top 3 for the Chicagoland area. Chicago is finally getting it! The room is cool but can use a lot more light. It'll be nice to be able to read the menu and visually enjoy the food presentation. And music (if sitting under the speaker) is too loud.
(4)
Shelby B.

I will be surprised if I ever have ramen this good as long as I live. The ambience, the service, the food, it all is spot on excellent. BYOB too, which is a huge plus if you plan ahead. Line gets long if you have more than 2 or so on a weekend night, so plan ahead or go with just a date.
(5)
Ryan L.

I am totes addicted to their ramen. It's great. All of them. Be careful though, if you inhale the ramen too quickly like a vaccuum your face might get red and you might look like you're gonna vom. Not gonna say that happened to me, but just watch out. I've tried a few of their ramens, and my favorite one is the spicy garlic miso ramen. A deep, great broth that comes with noodles with an excellent texture. The noodles separate them from Oiistar, in my unimportant opinion. Good amount of tender pork belly as well. They will even take the heat level down a tad if it's just too much for you. Not gonna say that was me again, but uhh, let's just say it happened to a "friend" of mine. Although the location is awkward, it's a lot closer and convenient for me to get to. A little more parking is available in this area for those who drive. BYOB, and if you don't feel like blitzing, they have the Goose Island sodas (spicy ginger and one more I can't recall) available.
(5)
steve L.

The ramen was delicious with a full flavored broth without the overt saltiness. The best ramen in Chicago. Noodles were al dente and the pork belly was melt in your mouth delicious. The pork buns had the same prefect pork belly but seared nicely. Nice that it's byob too.
(5)
Wendy L.

I've been here several times and I have loved everything about this place. Food is on point and the service is always great even when they were really busy. The only downside is that if you have to wait for a table - you'll be doing that outside. That only matters when they're busy and it's cold out! The white tuna crunch roll is delicious. The crunch is light and the roll is very fresh. The dumplings are perfectly fried. It's hard to describe the texture, they're crisp on the outside, soft on the inside, so that when you bite into them you come away with a single bite with the remainder still in tact. The vegan ramen is even more flavorful than the traditional miso ramen. Agedashi tofu broth is flavorful, perfectly prepared. Everything I've ordered has been a total hit. You can't go wrong here. I love that it's BYOB with a liquor store nearby. The atmosphere is warm, casual but trendy. You can feel comfortable in jeans or something a little dressier. Delicious food, great service and a fun atmosphere, this place is one of my regular spots now!
(5)
Yi Y.

Tonkutsu Ramen is super duper gooooood!!!! Best ramen I've ever had in my life (so far). Everything in the bowl is just amazingly delicious, the soup, the pork, the bamboo shoot...literally everything. Surf N' Turf sushi is also mind-blowing. The line could be a bit long but this place definitely worths the wait!
(5)
Robby K.

again, never fails. best ramen, no B.S. well rounded Japanese fair with vegaterian options and meat on a strick. phenomenal sushi rolls and sashimi. however my favorite "surf and turf" roll is getting Smaller :(. but I still can't knock it down a star. the chicken gizzard skewers were not that good. but that was my mistake for thinking they would be 1/2 as good as Ju Rang. our bill was a bit steep @ $98 but we ball so hard whenever we eat here. including $5 uni and oyster shooters = mind blowing mouthfuls. worth it. byob (which we always forget). get wet.
(5)
Diana T.

A for ramen, B for service. Let's focus on why I am really here for: ramen. I got the spicy roasted garlic miso ramen ($14). The broth tasted really good although it was a little sweet and could have been a lot spicier. The pork belly was pretty fatty and tasted amazing. I wish there was more! I thought the noodles themselves to be one of the best I've had in Chicago. But perhaps my favorite item was the agedashi tofu. I would say 10/10. If you like tofu and you like fried things, please order this. Perhaps it wasn't traditional agedashi tofu that I'm used to but outer shell is deep fried perfectly and is super thick and crunchy. I would go back for the tofu alone. They don't take reservations but when you get there you can party information there. They only seat full parties. When my name was called, I told the host that I was still waiting for my friend but my host was nice and gave me a table anyway since it wasn't that crowded on a Monday night. Unfortunately, my waiter was not as nice and he made me feel rushed and guilty. He questioned why I was seated without the other half of my party--as if I had just strolled into the restaurant and sat wherever I pleased. As soon as they took away our main dishes, he asked us if we wanted dessert. We said no because we were so full from our dinner and within seconds, not having moved from our table, he had the check ready for us. Efficient, but rude and presumptuous. I had barely digested my food! Not the way I want to be treated at dinner. I felt like he was just trying to get us out of there so he could make room for the next party. Fortunately for him, there was still a line of hungry diners as my friend and I were leaving. I just hope they get the agedashi tofu if they are waited on by Eric every again. Other useful information: difficult for groups as they only have a few large tables (+6 seats) and don't take reservations. It was about a ten minute walk at the very most from the Western-O'Hare stop.
(4)
Michelle B.

Delicious tonkotsu Berkshire pork ramen. Added the umami flavor, so worth it! The broth is thick and incredibly flavorful. The short rib skewer is very garlicky, super delicious. The uni is pure heaven.
(5)
Fan W.

So good, I went there every time I want to eat Ramen.
(5)
Christopher M.

We came to Wasabi for the ramen after they were featured by Yelp. Unfortunately I think this feature by Yelp may have contributed to them running out of ramen! We arrived on a Sunday night at 7:30pm and the wait was half an hour. They took our phone number to call us. I love when restaurants do that. That alone may bring me back somewhere. We sat down and it took our waitress a very long time to come over - again, due to Yelp I think they were way more busy than they expected. She told us they were almost out of ramen and to order soon, which we did, but they still didn't have enough ramen for all of us. That's disappointing, but my oh my was the food fantastic. The ramen we got was amazing - so perfectly done. We also got some sushi rolls which were also fantastic. I would come back for both the sushi and ramen, just earlier in the night. 68/365
(4)
Lisa H.

Wasabi is a hidden treasure in Logan Square for good authentic Japanese ramen. I searched high and low in Chicago for ramen and this is definitely the place to go. The place isn't too big, but I never seem to have a problem getting a seat no matter how big of a party I have. They offer a variety of different entrees, but their ramen is the star of the place. You can choose from miso, syou tonkotsu, spicy garlic, or vegetarian. Whichever flavor you choose, you will find that they are all delicious. I especially like the spicy garlic ramen. The cook on the noodles is perfect, giving it a perfect chewiness texture. The pork is also cooked great. It's lean with slight fat that just melts in your mouth once you bite into it. I'm not a big fan of anything else they offer here. The prices are a little high for the amount of food you get. Also you can barely taste the freshness of the fish in their makis because they pile it with other filler ingredients. But if you have a love for ramen like I do, then you need to check this place out. Wasabi offers a great atmosphere, service, and outstanding ramen.
(4)
Thanh L.

We were greeted the moment when got in and seated. The place kinda felt hipsterish not in a bad. It didn't look like the typical Ramen place that I been to. Tonkotsu Ramen was delicious. It had the right combination of proteins to the other Ingredients. I would come back if I was in Chicago
(4)
Anthony L.

Incredible ramen. The wait on a Saturday night for two at 8pm was about 30 minutes. Not bad, especially since they didn't stop us from drinking our beers in the little canopy they have outside the front door. Service was great. We got grilled beef skewers, a Logan sushi roll, and ramen. I had the spicy/garlic, which was pretty spicy, but delicious. Had no problems with the place and will hopefully be back.
(5)
Sarah S.

Wasabi is known for their ramens but I went a different route on my visit last night. I went the maki way and I was happy with everything I ordered. I had an Alaskan roll for $6.50 - 6 pieces with fresh salmon, avocado, sesame seeds and a tempura sweet potato roll for $5.50. I have this insane obsession with sweet potato rolls and this 6 piece little doozy did not disappoint. The sweet potato had just the right crunch and a yummy sauce on it! The Alaskan roll has huge chunks of fresh salmon and avocado. Plus both of my rolls came out quickly. While I sat eating my rolls, my poor buddy waited for quite a long time for his ramen. The restaurant was busy but not packed and I really tried to eat as slowly as I could so he wouldn't be dining alone. We also ordered a special that was amazing with pork, cheese and yuzu sauce for $3. Our docile cutie of a waitress recommended it and I'm so glad she did~yum! Overall, I liked Wasabi but didn't fall in love with it.I will absolutely be back to try their ramen!
(4)
Ramona G.

Food; 5/5 Service; 3/5 Decor; 3/5 Came here right around opening time during the week, the place gets packed quickly! Had the pork ramen and chicken teriyaki and it was delicious, the ramen was a little strong in flavor but still was unbelievably good. However our appetizers didn't show up until AFTER we have finished eating, our server only check on our table a couple times and although at one point he said he was going to check on them, they still didn't come till the end. Also we got seated at the tables in the middle of the restaurant and the table was not even, had to keep pressure on the table to keep the table from moving and spilling our drinks.
(4)
Yoel J.

I was on the hunt for a great Chicago ramen spot and was directed here on the recommendation of a friend. We went with their spicy garlic miso ramen with extra pork belly. The broth was rich and spicy. The extra belly I ordered was well-cooked and unctuous, but I think $4 for 2 pieces is a little overpriced. The actual ramen noodles were okay but I've had much better. Also tried was surf and turf maki. It was a crab roll topped with wagyu tartar. This was really disappointing. It sounds interesting, the flavor and texture notes are just all wrong. We also ordered the bacon kimuchi spring roll. It was crispy and pleasant. But I would say the mayo they put it in was mistake because it came off as a little too salty. Even though the maki we tried was super disappointing, I would be definitely going back to explore some of the other items on their menu. Just avoid the sushi menu. We were here for a Sunday lunch and this place was pretty packed. We were lucky but I can easily see a line forming during peak hours. Overall experience was decent with an ambience that is cool, casual and cozy.
(3)
David A.

I have just started a new kick on Ramen restaurants and I feel like I missed all the good months to do it in the city of Chicago. I will be back to this place, even when its warmer. The waiting area was not so great, but once inside, very warm, cozy restaurant.
(4)
Tawny S.

Finally got a chance to check out Wasabi last night and satisfy my ramen craving that I had for 2 weeks straight. We ordered two bowls of ramen, spring rolls, and octopus skewers. You can't go wrong with any of the ramen dishes. They are all slight variations of each other. The spicy ramen is for champs. Too hot to handle for my palate. The only bummer is that this place is so poppin that it's usually a minimum of a 45 minute wait anytime after 6pm on the weekend. BUT it's byob so bring a bottle opener and drink a beer while you wait to be seated!
(5)
Annie Q.

I've been here quiet a few times and i'd have to say this is so far one of my favorite ramen place in the city. The prices are decent for the amount of food they give you and it's close to where i live. I've tried the Tonkotsu Ramen & Spicy Roasted Garlic Miso Ramen and both are recommended. Tonkotsu Ramen- is my favorite & I always order this. The broth is just right and not to salty or bland. Spicy Roasted Garlic Miso Ramen- this one is super spicy (if that's what you're looking for then get it) very flavorful but you will find yourself sniffing while you're eating this. Def recommend this place for anyone looking for their ramen fix!
(4)
J R.

One of the best Ramen houses in chicago. Everything is authentic and of the highest quality. The menu can be a bit intimidating so I recommend the Tonkotsu Ramen (get both upgrades : braised pork and flavor boost, to with the extra money) and Pork Belly Buns. You can't go wrong with that. They only have soda (it's byob) so keep that in mind when visiting. Try the ramune soda, it's bubble gum flavored and comes with a crazy carbonation system that involves slamming a marble into your drink. Also, they have really weird hours, closing for several hours mid day and reopening at 5pm. Usually there's a line out the door anytime after five and you may wait up to 30-60 minutes to actually sit down and be eating your food but you WILL NOT regret it.Its worth the wait every time.
(5)
Frank L.

It's unfortunate that this place serves "ramen" because many people might hear this and be turned off by the idea. But hopefully this review will help slowly rewire the way you (and we, collectively) think about ramen noodles. While never having the benefit of eating ramen in Japan, I have never turned down a good ramen shop, be it NYC, Chicago, or Hawaii. and WASABI in Logal Square ranks at the very top. I had a Tonkatsu Bowl ($13) with the braised and torched pork belly (an extra meat for $4.50) Let's break it down by component: 1. Tonkatsu Broth - very smooth, a little creamy. I say a little because I don't want you to think it's heavy. The texture is extremely elegant (if you could describe a liquid this way). Full of flavor - something you won't know unless you try it yourself. When you compare this broth to other ramen shops, it comes out ahead because it is not as salty, not watered down, but also not too heavy. It is frankly, spot on. 2. Noodles - ok, here is where the confusion begins. Ramen noodles here look like the instant ramen noodles you unwrap and throw in the microwave or on the stop top, but the similarities end there. My buddy loves to eat, so he actually ordered a second bowl of noodles with his bowl because he ate them all so quickly. I tell you this because we had the benefit of tasting the noodles MINUS the broth. And what a world of difference. Swimming in the elegant pool of deliciousness, the noodles assume the character of their liquid companion. You don't miss a beat when you bring the noodles to your mouth either by chopstick or floating in your giant wooden spoon (a fun little eating utensil). The naked bowl of noodles demonstrated to me that the noodles to have their own distinct taste. The noodles have a good bite to them and are nice a squiggly like you expect them to be. 3. Pork Belly - the pork might be the real star of this show. So succulent, and fall apart at the bite delicious. I really like pork belly and this was one of the best pork belly experiences I have had. Again, cast against a strong broth that is not too salty or overpowering, you can still taste the uniqueness to the pork. 4. Braised and torched pork belly (the kukuni pork) - two additional piece of pork, while might seem expensive, were well worth the added cost. A very different taste and texture than the regular pork belly. The kukuni is equally as soft and gentle to the bite, but must be bitten with the grain to get that fall-off-the-bone experience. There is a little sweetness to the kukuni and it really shines against the other elements to the dish. 5. Half of a hard boiled egg + bamboo shoots: Wife: "oh my gosh, these bamboo shoots are delicious" Friend: "OH MYGOD. These bamboo shoots really are good!" Me: "wow, this egg is soooo good" Here's why: the bamboo shoots are very tender. As someone who has had the unfortunate pleasure of eating a lot of Chinese food accompanied by the panda's favorite snack, I can safely say these are the best bamboo shoots I have ever eaten. and let me tell you something:; no one likes bamboo shoots..but you will when you eat these. The egg: I don't know how this was prepared, but the yolk is not hard, it's runny. I popped the whole thing in my mouth. Full of flavor and silky smooth. My wife didn't think it was as good, but she took it in bites, and I think eating it all at once is the better option because you experience every part of the egg all at once. if this hasn't convinced you to go and try this place, I don't know what will. Go, stop reading. Get on your Divvy bike or hop in the car. You won't be disappointed.
(5)
Jannice P.

Get in muh bellllyyyyyyyy!!! Ha! The pork belly in this place is phenomenal; Wasabi is definitely the place to go. My husband and i usually do a date night here about once a month. It's sooooo good! Our meal in a nutshell and in this exact order: Pork Belly buns('Wow Bao' should Bow Down to this deliciousness) Fried Chicken Lollipops The Artmex roll And we share a bowl of spicy garlic miso soup I just can't tell you enough how bomb this place is.... Our last visit(tonight) was exceptional, despite being served a raw chicken wing. Yea yea yea, I know that sounds bad, but hey it happens(actually we've been here several times and this is a first) and when we told them, they were more than apologetic... Our server (Eric) quickly gave us the option to switch the order for something else and gave us a free dessert. It just goes to show you how much they care... I'm impressed. 'Till we meet again Wasabi!!
(5)
Shirley W.

Broth is good, very filling. Around $14 per ramen dish. If you like spicy try the spicy garlic ramen it's very tasty. The place is spacious but depends when you come in it can be busy. Waiters are very nice. They also have sushi here and a sushi bar. If you are into ramen definitely come and try.
(5)
Jeff H.

This place is legit. Been there 3 times now, still haven't tried their sushi. the fried chicken lollipop is very good. had short rib skewer and the chicken thigh skewers, both were good but not extraordinary. pork belly bun is nice, but not exactly the real thing (try the one at Vora--still not quite right, but it's almost there) But folks, the ramen is the real thing. Get it. service has been very good. the crowd can be kinda hipster-ish. Feel a little uncomfortable without facial hair, flannel shirt, or visible tattoos. but I forgot about it after the first slurp of the ramen.
(5)
Chris F.

I really liked this place and just recently got to meet with the owner and found out they are having a second location opening up pretty soon. The food here is somewhat inconsistent but not so much that it tasted bad. Love they pork belly bun and the ramen. Their brussel sprouts were on point and I don't even like brussel sprouts. Can't wait to try their new location its so much closer.
(5)
Jonathan C.

Well the ramen was a little pricey, but ramen is a rarity in Chicago and I was willing to pay an extra buck or two. Between a friend, my wife, any myself we got the following: tonkotsu ramen: Porky, full of flavor, thick and silky. The noodles were chewey (in a good way), and add texture to the soup. The pork was thick, nicely marbled, and in good quantity. The egg, oh the egg.... not the best egg I ever had in a ramen, but it was up there due to its consistancy special, spicy, garlic, miso ramen: All the glory of tonkotsu with the added flavors listed. Spicy tuna roll: This was a solid roll. Most places used crappy bits and pieces swimming in 'spicy sauce' in their rolls. However this had actual pieces of tuna with some spicy sauce added into the roll. I would be a happy man if this became the new standard. Shooters: My wife got a uni (sea urchin) shooter and an oyster shooter. They're not in booze, but various flavors. I tried warning my wife that neither of us like uni, and that she never likes oysters that are 'dressed up' (she likes them raw with a little lemon). So she tried them and wasn't crazy about these. But this is no slight against Wasabi as both of these were outside of her preferences. I will definately be back to have much more ramen and explore the menu further.
(5)
Phoebe W.

I was completely unaware about the ramen hype of Wasabi, so obviously my eyes (and stomach) lit up after seeing tonkatsu ramen on the menu. Overall, I was happy that it wasn't ridiculously fatty and came with two generous chunks of pork belly and a perfectly soft boiled egg. However, I think it's a bit pricey for ramen in my opinion. Friend #1 wasn't crazy about her sushi, I had a couple of bites and wasn't impressed. Friend #2 recommended the kimchi egg rolls and we were all happy campers. I usually have to trek to Mitsuwa in the burbs to get tonkatsu ramen, so I'm pleased as pie that I can trek to Logan Square to get my carby porky fix. Parking was easy and the wait wasn't too bad, so I'll probably be back soon.
(4)
Dennis R.

First off, the staff was wonderful. I was in a hurry to see Umphrey's McGee at the Riviera and my 25 minute wait turned into an hour because 2 women took their time chatting over wine. The hostess apologized, our waitress was accommodating and took our order before seating us elsewhere, and the kitchen moved fast without compromising our meal. People, if you're dining at a busy restaurant at peak hours PLEASE don't take your sweet time because there are others waiting to be seated. The food lived up to expectations and was worth being a few songs late to the show. We started with the pork buns and fried chicken. The buns were nice and soft and nicely proportioned between bun and meat. The fried chicken was outstanding, they were hot and moist with a tasty dipping sauce. Man I could take a bucket of those things to go. For the entree I had the Spicy Garlic Miso Ramen, and oh boy what a Ramen. Sure it's $15 but it's worth it when you realize the care put into it. The pork was tender and had very flavorful fat that melts in your mouth, the noodles were incredible and properly cooked, and the spice was balanced so you could enjoy a bit of heat without holding you back. I'm a heat fanatic and can tolerate much spicier but the general public would be perfectly satisfied. Seriously guys, put this place on your restaurant 'to do' list.
(5)
Anne M.

Went here for lunch with the family...disappointed by the service. There was a guy by the pick up area wearing glasses, khaki shorts and leg warmer underneath, and black t shirt who was rude. Tone of voice while he was talking to the people behind the counter was unprofessional. I'm glad there are other places coming up I can choose from. Service needs to improve.
(2)
Ming F.

The wait is shorter than expected, originally the guys said it would take 45 mins but we got in after 10 mins. The food is all right. I read so many good reviews about this ramen place and so eager to try it, but the food is not as good as expected. I like the one in the Japanese market better.
(3)
iddells E.

When temperatures are freezing and I can see my breath but can no longer feel any fingers or toes, there's no place I'd rather be but in a cozy restaurant with a hot steaming bowl of soup. If I'm in Logan Square, that place would be Wasabi, where I would be having a beautiful, well-put together bowl of ramen....spicy garlic miso ramen to be exact. I love spicy, I love garlic, and I love miso...combine those with ramen and perfection is created. I've been thinking about this ramen even more ever since this premature winter rolled around. The broth is flavorful, the ingredients are of great quality, and the presentation is so picturesque! Now...when will my next visit to Wasabi be? Hopefully soon!
(4)
Erica L.

Foodie friend and I met up here for an early dinner last week. Arrived right when they opened at 5pm and were seated immediately. For appetizers, we started with the lollipop fried chicken accompanied by a garlic dipping sauce. It was a tasty appetizer that was portioned perfectly for 2 people (4 pieces). The pork belly buns came next. The buns are in the style of Baohaus, where the meat is sandwiched in the middle of the bun like an open pita. The pork was amazingly tender, juicy, fatty, and flavorful. I just wished they served more per order (2 pieces). For the main course, I ordered the shoyu ramen while friend ordered the spicy garlic miso ramen. The broth was rich, tasty, and the bowl felt bottomless. I dared not try my friend's since it looked spicy and it was almost too spicy even for her taste (and she loves spicy!). We weren't able to finish our respective bowls but were able to take the remaining ramen home. Nothing really leaped off the dessert menu and by that time we were too full anyway. Overall, nice ambiance, decor, background music, friendly servers, timely and tasty food, and clean washrooms. I will be bringing hubby, who is a ramen connoisseur, back for his critique. I'm also excited to try their grilled/fried skewers and sushi.
(4)
Anh N.

I came here to try their ramen and boy am I glad I did! There are only about 4 varieties of ramen - I tried the Tonkotsu for $13. It's high for ramen, but since there isn't a large market here, that's pretty typical. The broth was made from simmering pork bones for 48 hours and it was perfectly milky and flavorful. The ramen included generous amounts of pork belly, bamboo shoots, and a hard boiled egg. The noodles were perfectly cooked and had a slight chewiness to them. Amazing! The service was great - Wasabi is a pretty small restaurant, but we came on a weekday and were seated right away. The lighting is dimmed and very comfortable for date night or just having dinner with a friend. Plus they're BYOB! We brought some beers to go with our ramen. Highly recommend for ramen lovers in Chicago...or if you're new to ramen and would like to see what it's all about!
(4)
Joe S.

The ramen bowls are a family favorite. Good for kids if you go right when they open (chicken meatballs).
(5)
Jack M.

Cool place in a trendy location, everything was up to par but did not exceed. The oyster shooters were good, the ramen was good, it's BYO, which is good. Everything was just good. I will say that the fatty tuna sashimi special was amazing, but that's not enough to put it over the top. Nice place to check out if you're in the mood for a decent bowl of ramen, but there are far too many places to experience to go back to Wasabi.
(3)
Helen Z.

Overall a good experience. I had the Tonkotsu. The noodles were very good - a nice chewy texture. Better than Slurping Turtle's, in my opinion. The broth was good, but not as flavorful as I had hoped. They do add an egg though, so that was nice. The pork belly was SO GOOD. Very flavorful and juicy. They also give you quite a decent amount of it, like 4 slices.
(4)
Lisa B.

Best ramen in Chicago, hands down. Very tasty & authentic!
(5)
J P.

First the pros: there were a ton of legit Asians here (as opposed to the non-legit ones -- you know who you are. Ha.), so you know that the food is decent. I had the spicy roasted garlic miso ramen, my partner had the tonkotsu ramen. The broths were as rich and creamy as advertised, and the soft-boiled egg and pork belly were cooked perfectly. My spicy ramen was REALLY spicy, which hit the spot for me but I'd advise against it for the average Joe. The cons: everyone raves about the broth and pork and yes, they both lived up to the hype. But the noodles? They were maybe two steps above instant ramen. They didn't have the chewy, hand-rolled density you'd expect from a premium ramen shop. But the biggest con that's resulting in these 3 stars is the terrible service we received. We showed up at 1pm for lunch. The place was packed, but we were able to get a seat immediately at the bar. We chose to sit outside instead. BAD IDEA because: flies. Lots and lots of gross black flies hovering over your food, your head, your water. Also: hot, burning midday sun that blistered our skin as we waited FIFTY minutes for a bowl of noodles in broth. I finally went inside to ask about our order, which then magically appeared 2 minutes later. The waitress blamed the long wait on the fact that "everyone showed up at once" and "we can only make so many bowls of ramen at once." Oh really? Shouldn't those "so many bowls" account for the fact that you might, I don't know, have a lunch crowd?? Do you expect customers to wait 50 minutes for their bowl of noodles because the restaurant actually has a lot of other customers? I mean, isn't that the goal of all good restaurants? To have lots and lots of customers (who actually expect to get their food in a reasonable amount of time)? My guess is that the waitress forgot our order. Ok, so this is a rant because I had a bad experience and your mileage will hopefully vary. But the ramen here wasn't so uniquely outstanding that I'd personally risk such service again.
(3)
Maritza Z.

This place was great. Went on a Sunday night with my brother, and we waited about 20 minutes but it was definitely worth it. Service was great, our server recommended some dishes since this was the first time we went. We has the Spicy Miso and Tonkatsu ramen. Both were amazing. Rich flavor, all of the ingredients went perfectly together. Definitely going back there again.
(5)
Anna L.

Oh where, oh where can I find some ramen? Oh where, oh where can it be? With it's broth so rich and its noodles so springy. Oh where, oh where can it be? Right here at Wasabi! RAMEN is the only thing you need to know here. I had the spicy garlic miso - really garlicky that you'll ward off vampires, but so delicious that you'll finish every last drop of broth. Well I probably wouldn't pick up that heavy bowl and chug it down - it's not very polite. I'm sure I got my salt craving fix after that. $14, a bit steep for a woman-sized portion, perfect for me, but not for my gentlemen guests. They always want extra ramen noodles till their belly bursts. But I love the ramen soup spoons - it's like a ladle to pile on the noodles, scoop up the broth, and take your chopsticks to pile on the pork belly & veggies. Once you're done, you probably won't need to reapply that lipgloss. There's enough moisturizer from the soup base that it'll give you that shine you need. Intimate-upscaly + good ramen = perfect for date/double dates (just be ready to pull out that wallet though and not experience receipt shock)
(4)
J L.

This place frankly fucking rules. I'm scared to talk about how good it is because I think even more douchebags will show up and make me wait longer when I want to go here. My first experience was showing up with a friend, also a Japan nerd, because we couldn't stand the wait at Lula and we both like ramen. I lived in Japan a long time and they don't know what the fuck "vegetarian" means. I just asked the nice waitress to leave the pork part out of my ramen and she was like "Oh, do you want the vegan broth with Upton's seitan 'meat?'" FUCK YES, I DO. They moved and got bigger and more popular. The best secret to this place is going for brunch on the weekend. Why I am confessing this I don't even know, i guess to make my majority other negative reviews seem justified by saying something is awesome when it is awesome? Do you want to wait an hour and a half for an okay brunch? Great, go put your name in at Lula. Do you want to BYOB to a killer ramen brunch cuz no one else is smart enough to figure out ramen and beer fucking rules for a late breakfast with no wait? WASABI, bro.
(5)
Hang N.

My family and I came here last night for dinner to escape the Chicago cold. We read a lot of mixed reviews between the spicy miso ramen and the tonkatsu ramen being the best and we tried both items along with some starters. My ratings: Service: 2.5/5 - very very slow and understaffed. Our waiter was nice but he only came by once and after seeing us waiting for awhile, the bust boy came and took our order and related it to our waiter. Ambiance: 4/5 love that it's modern and love the wood decor. Food: 3/5 nothing was amazing. - pork buns, I've definitely had better. Nothing special about I those. Buns weren't homemade and pork was just drenched with a teriyaki/hoisin type sauce. -sashimi cevhice- so so - chicken lollipops- probably my favorite starter. If you want to try any of their appetizers, I'd recommend this one. Good batter and texture -tonkatsu vs spicy miso- I'd go for the spicy miso. Tonkatsu was good but it was salty. Spicy miso had had good flavoring. Overall, their ramen is so so. Noodles aren't homemade and the pork belly was too much on the fatty side. I had 2 slices of pork belly in my bowl, one of which was completely fat. Plus side: Byob!
(3)
Michelle C.

Great BYOB Japanese joint. The ramen is spot on. I ordered the Tonkatsu ramen with Umami. It was delicious and the pork was soft and tender. I loved it and am salivating as I'm describing it to you. My companion ordered the Spicy Garlic Miso ramen which was tasty but not as good as the original. The join has a bit of a hipster vibe but they promptly shut that down by placing a nice looking, old Japanese man in back of the counter. The open kitchen gets hot so think twice before you get a seat by the bar.
(4)
Emily C.

Best ramen I've had in the city. The pork is so tender and definitely the best part. They actually have excellent, fresh sushi too! There's always a line, but it goes really fast so don't be deterred. BYOB
(5)
UE C.

- their house special ramen with pork, bamboo shoot, soft boiled egg, etc $13 - love the broth, very rich and creamy but cannot taste any MSG (another spot for good quality of ramen in Chicago beside Santoku) - Hamachi Toro $4 - fresh, melted in your mout
(4)
Erin Y.

Having been to Misoya and Oiistar, I've had some pretty good ramen in Chicago and the surrounding area, and I've been looking forward to trying Wasabi for almost a year now. I finally made it out, and thankfully it lived up to the hype! Wasabi was excellent! I came for lunch on Saturday with two others around noon and there was no wait! We started with takoyaki and fried chicken lollipops because they were out of the grilled chicken skin (ugh!). But the chicken we got was good, crispy and juicy and had a nice creamy dipping sauce. The takoyaki was very good, hot, crispy, and melt in your mouth, with delicious sauces and smothered in bonito flakes. Yum. I also LOVED the oyster shooter. Raw oyster, ponzu, quail egg yolk, a pinch of caviar, and a little fizz. It was absolutely delicious when I downed it in one gulp. One of the best little things I've had in quite some time. Now, on to the ramen. We all ordered tonkatsu ramen and added the charred pork belly. The ramen is beautifully presented, and I love the spoons you get with the bamboo handle. The broth is delicious, very rich and flavorful, yet still light enough to eat the whole bowl. (This was one of the flaws I found with Oiistar--the first bite was nirvana, but it was so heavy and rich that I could not finish the bowl. At Wasabi, I drank every last drop of soup.) The noodles were perfectly al dente, egg perfectly soft-boiled. The other fixings like bamboo shoots, green onions, and mushrooms complemented the dish. Both pork bellies were phenomenal and melt-in-your-mouth delicious. The Berkshire pork belly that already comes with the ramen was excellent, although one of my two pieces did not have any fat and was a bit on the chewy side. Nonetheless, it tasted amazing. The charred pork belly (kakuni?) was fantastic as well. I got two good pieces. Perhaps it could have been a little more charred, but I still ate it all. Both meats were a little cold. They warmed right up after being in the broth for a while, but the first bite was indeed cold. Like most Asian restaurants, Wasabi suffers in the dessert department. We shared a couple ice cream mochis which could have been a little more thawed out, but I certainly won't dwell on that. Of the ramen restaurants I've been to so far, Wasabi is my favorite, and I can't wait to come back. It is most comparable to Oiistar, but I'd give Wasabi the edge because it's got the "full package." Not only the best tonkatsu, but the best appetizers. Aside from the ramen, the menu is extensive and the few appetizers we tried were very, very good. I can't wait to come back for a bowl of ramen and an assortment of small plates!
(4)
Farrah S.

What an amazing experience!! I had the Le Japon and it was one of the most amazing and fresh sushi rolls I have ever had. My friends ordered the spicy roasted garlic miso and tonkotsu ramen, and that was also phenomenal. So much flavor, large portions, quick service. I highly recommend these dishes! Our server Ana was wonderful and such a positive spirit. If I lived in Chicago this would be a weekly spot! It is also BYOB and they have a wine opener.
(5)
Raymond M.

My friends and I were craving for some really good ramen. The best Ramen I know is Santouka at Mitsuwa Marketplace; but, it is really far from here. We decided to try Wasabi instead Oiistar. We started off with a Dragon Maki and Grilled Beef Short Rib Skewers with Ponzu and Garlic Chips for appetizers. The Dragon Maki was delicious. It was creamy from the avocado. The shrimp tempura gave it a crunchy bite. The eel with the eel sauce was sweet and bold. The beef short rib was really tender and juicy (medium-rare); however, I would like the meat to be seasoned a little more. The taste was slightly more subtle than I expected. I wish I had more. I had the Syou Tonkotsu Ramen. The noodles had the spring, firmness, and bite I was expecting in a good ramen. The tonkotsu broth was delicious; it is rich, creamy, and slightly salty without being greasy and oily. The ramen was topped with Berkshire pork toro, spinach, soft boiled egg, marinated bamboo shoot, scallion, sesame, and seaweed. I'm not a fan of the eggs served in ramen; however, the pork was tender, fatty, and delicious. The other toppings added a variety of textures; however, the tastes were from the rich broth. Compared to Santouka, this broth is slightly behind in richness and depth. The dining room is overly dim; it was difficult to see the menu. I couldn't see clearly what I was eating. The taste speaks for itself. The service was pleasant; however, it was slightly difficult to hear her. I highly recommend this place if Mitsuwa Marketplace is too far of a drive. I will try Oiistar next time, but Wasabi has set my expectations high.
(4)
Maria L.

I vow to embark on a Chicago ramen quest this winter and what better place to start than Wasabi. The food is amazing with added bonuses of a great vibe and music. I'm more of a milky creamy broth kinda gal so I had the tonkotsu ramen. It was beautifully silky and flavorful, with great accents of fatty pork and marinated bamboo. I wanted something vinegary on the side and our waitress made a great recommendation of pickled mustard greens on the side. Next time I might try the shoyu since the tokotsu is very rich. My man had the spicy garlic miso and that is definitely a great option if you're into da spicy shit. It was reminiscent of a kim chi miso broth a little bit. We also tried a spicy scallop roll and it was super fresh. Although kind of in a random location, I highly recommend Wasabi for the ramen and great vibe!
(5)
G. S.

REALLY good! Fair price, outstanding ramen and perfect size bites makis. Great service, can't say anything more than STELLAR in all ways. Just wish the place was a bit bigger to reduce waiting times
(5)
David S.

One of the best places for Ramen in the city. I was a little skeptical because of their hipster vibe but overall it was amazing. The broth was very flavorful and everything was very balanced. The bowl size was just rnough to make you want more, but filling enough to prevent you from ordering another. This place ties the ramen from Mitsuwa for me, but if you want a nicer environment to hang out, and grab a drink Wasabi is your place. Wasabi is my standard when comparing Ramen.
(5)
May L.

Pork-Belly-Buns...those are the only words you need to know when stepping foot into Wasabi! If you appreciate a fatty, tender, melt in your mouth pork belly you won't be disappointed. Whether its in the ramen, in a bun or even in a spring roll you need to have a taste of this pork belly before the end of the night. We ordered the spicy ramen which was good but not over the top. The broth had a good flavor to it but unfortunately it doesn't come with the pork belly which you have to order extra on the side to go with your ramen. The kimchi spring rolls were deep fried goodness and the kimchi was not overpowering. The rolls were ok, nothing spectacular or anything to rave about. The pork belly buns stole the show, it's beyond delicious and it will leave you craving for more!
(4)
Liam M.

This place has some of the best ramen I've ever had. I've tried ramen from many places from NYC to Chicago and I can say hands down that this is the Best. The Tonkotsu broth is very very tasty. It's some of the best I've ever had. Also the Berkshire pork belly is so tender. I'm a big fan of how they do pretty much everything. The noodles are al dente unlike so many that are too done. They provide the right amount of "crunch" against the broth and other veggies. This place is a great BYO. They're even really quick. We were quoted a wait time of 30 minutes on a Friday night, but the wait only ended up being 15 minutes. This place was packed. I highly recommend this place if you are near the wicker park/ buck town neighborhood even if it is a little north of there.
(5)
Kathleen M.

Fantastic Ramen, great sushi, byob... How can you go wrong. I absolutely LOVE this place. Add Kakuni (blow torched pork belly) to your ramen, well worth the $4.
(5)
Nina P.

The service here was horrible! We were waiting outside for forty minutes and when we checked to see how much longer it would be they couldn't find our name on the list because of the hosts bad handwriting! We ended up sitting at the bar which was fine and our food came quickly. The chicken lollipops were great as was the pork belly skewer. The ramen was just average and the menu claimed it came with pork belly but the pork in there was definitely not pork belly. We got the white tuna crunch roll and that was very good. And the price for everything was very reasonable.
(3)
Donald M.

Ok...after reading great reviews and seeing tasty looking pics on instagram I was greatly disappointed. I got the spicy garlic miso Ramen (I don't remember the exact name but that was close to it) and it reminded me a lot of shin Ramen. You know the instant Ramen that you get from the Korean market and can pick up a case for about the same price as one bowl from Wasabi. Maybe my spice level is higher than most; but, spicy it was not. My son cannot handle a lot of spice and he could handle this without much problem. Even the noodles reminded me so much of instant noodles, which I like but expect from a vending machine not a restaurant. All in all if you like Ramen and don't mind paying extra for it than give this place a try other wise hit up the Korean market a pick up some shin Ramen and don't forget to drop an egg in it.
(3)
Chantal M.

Music needs work. It's just noise. I heard good things about this place from friends. However, I was a little disappointed since the sushi was just OK.
(3)
Carolyn E.

The ceviche, agedashi tofu, and sushi were good. 2 stars because of the service and because the ramen, which is supposedly their most famous item on the menu, is mediocre at best. The waiter said about the broth, "We boil the meat for 36 hours!" ....So what? that's what you HAVE to do to make meat broth that does not mean anything towards the quality of your broth.... Like that was anything extraordinary, little Eastern European, Italian, every grandma has always done that. IF YOU WANT QUALITY RAMEN THAT AT LEAST RESEMBLES WHAT YOU GET IN JAPAN GO TO STRINGS! !! SERVICE: Strike 1) We showed up at around 5 or whenever they open to eat dinner. There were 3 people in my party, 2 of them were outside paying the meter so I went in to get us a table. There were about 5 other people in the place sitting down already. When I told the hostess "3" she said, "We can't seat you until your whole party is here" I was like, "But they're just parking..." And she was just like nope. EVEN THOUGH THE RESTAURANT WAS EMPTY and remained fairly empty until later when we were leaving. So I went back out to get the other 2 people. As we were walking in one of them got distracted looking at something in the short hallway, and the hostess didn't immediately see her, so she was about to deny us a table AGAIN until she saw the 3rd person... ridiculous. 2) *This is the worst part* next we were introduced to this guy, I think he was a bus boy, white guy with glasses, who was SO RUDE. He slammed our water glasses down, later when he came to take dishes away he asked us if we were ready for them to be taken and we said "No" but he started taking them anyways. One of the people with me said "You were just going to take them whether we said yes or no?" and he was just like "Yep" wtf??? Finally, one of my party was getting up to go to the restroom and this same dude came running past with a tray of food and LITERALLY knocked her back into her seat, and didn't say anything. strike 3) It was generally just too difficult to flag down a waiter, they were all too busy talking among themselves to notice us customers VERDICT: There is MUCH BETTER QUALITY ramen at Strings so that is a good reason to skip Wasabi. As for the other food, it was good but there are so many other quality sushi restaurants in Chicago that there is no reason to put up with the rude/bad service. Will not be coming back.
(2)
Jacqueline B.

First time trying ramen and I'm in L O V E! I ordered the Spicy Roasted Garlic Miso Ramen, it was spicy but I enjoyed every bite I took. They also have sushi!! It was so good I ordered three plates of Spicy Shrimp Tempura .
(5)
Rick F.

Sake Salmon Toro Sashimi excellent. Brussel Sprouts just ok. Spicy Garlic Miso Ramen excellent. Service ok. Atmosphere is cool, retro vibe. Place is filled with hipsters. This neighborhood has changed from years ago. Glad to see the revitalization
(3)
Eunice J.

Suuuuuuuper slow. We got lucky and came like half an hour after it opened and were seated almost right away but 15 minutes later there was a huge line that seemed to suck to wait in. But even though we were seated quickly the service was lacking and our food took forever to come out. That aside, the food was okay, it was just your average ramen though a little overpriced like $13 a bowl compared to the $8-9 average in LA. I guess since this is like one of the few ramen options available here, can't complain but its just aiight.
(3)
Beanbag M.

This review reflects my own opinion, as something as contentious as the best ramen surely merits debate. Having said this, I would declare the tonkotsu ramen here to have been the best ramen State-side I've encountered. The milky bone broth glistened with fatty drops, cooking the fresh ramen noodles to a nice al dente. The ramen's garnishes - soft egg, scallion, bamboo shoot, mushroom - nicely complemented the bowl. The pork was unbelievably tender with a comforting smoky finish, absent any "porky" flavor that lesser quality meat might bear witness to. I had two pieces of nigiri - yellowfish tuna and shrimp - and both were delightful. I've never been to Jiro's sushi restaurant in Tokyo, so I allowed myself to pretend this was the next best thing. And as good as the food was, the service staff - one shout-out to Anna in particular - made my visit all the more special. They were considerate, quick and friendly to this lone diner. I look forward to returning to Wasabi the next time I am in town.
(5)
Patty D.

This place impresses with their food. The ramen was really delicious, I had the spicy garlic ramen, which had the right amount of spice, the pork belly was amazing. We also had the sushi which was very fresh and tasty and didn't dissapoint. Wasn't crazy about their roasted brussel sprouts, too much char on them so the bitterness stayed. It's BYOB so saving on liquor is a huge plus! The negatives: get there early because the wait can extend to an hour or more depending on how busy they are plus they don't take reservations. This place is small so the seating is limited and they will ask you to finish up if your there mingling over 2 hours or more. Which is understandable. It's really noisy so if you plan to go there on a first date foreget about talking over the loud music because it will be hard to hear the other person. Go with friends who want to sit and eat and not talk much. The biggest gripe I have about this place is the toilet situation. For a place that has so much business I would think they can afford to install a toilet that properly flushes all the way---there is a sign that tells you to hold the lever all the way down until all the water flushes but who wants that inconvenience---certainly not me! Not a very good sight to walk in and see what the previous person left because the toilet didn't flush all the way. No good, please install a proper toilet. Overall good food, I'll visit again if I'm near the area however, I hope that toilet is better next time I visit.
(3)
Kateryna G.

I've been there about 6 times now. It's now my go to for ramen and tuna poke.
(5)
Amy L.

I NEVER give out 5 stars, but hot damn. I hate here freakin' 4 times the first week I discovered it. Best Ramen in Chicago. Hands Down. SCREW MIYOSA. Double up on the pork belly and get an extra egg as well as chili oil. The vegan ramen is damn good too. BYOB. That's wassup.
(5)
Allison S.

The best ramen in Chicago. Period. I recently moved from nyc and this is even better than the ramen I've had there. Give this place a try and get the skewers as an appetizer, so good.
(5)
Chien W.

Finally found yakitoui in Chicago! Ramen soup is rich! Do try their fried chicken lollipops, very authentic :)
(5)
Betty D.

All I can say is YUM! On Saturday at 5:30 pm we had about a 20 minute outside. We cracked open our wine. The bartender kindly gave us the 2 glasses I requested so we did not have to take swigs from the bottle. Once the 4 of us were seated, the waiter explained the favorites are the 2 ramen soups. We ordered dumplings(which were good but not crazy like some of the other foods we tried), spring rolls (which were fried and served in a thick spicy sauce) and Brussels sprouts. I don't care if you think you like Brussels sprouts or not... You have to try these. I could have just had 2 orders of these and been perfectly elated with my meal. Three if us had the spicy garlic ramen. We savored every bite. My husband said the bill with tip was under $100 fir 4. Remember that does not include the byob. Please watch where you park. We got a $75 parking ticket on a side street. None of us could find a sign near where we parked warning of this ... So, beware.
(5)
Liliana M.

TON-KAT-SUUUUUU! Holy crap, hands down best ramen in the city. The sushi doesn't follow too far behind. The uni shooters are where it's at! Kind of hard to seat a larger group, but if you're down with passing a bottle while waiting for a table (thank you BYOB!) then this is the place for you! I'll keep coming back until I get sick of it or find a reason not to :D
(5)
Fumie K.

(Not to be confused with 'Wasabi Cafe'...) Two years later and this is still my favorite ramen place in Chicago! I'm in love with both the 'tonkotsu' and the 'spicy roasted garlic miso' ramen. Their broth and noodle texture = perfection. $13 for a bowl is a bit pricey for just ramen but I'm willing to pay only because it is just SO good. If you're still hungry after one bowl, you have the option of getting a 'kae-dama' (adding extra noodles to your leftover broth) for only $2.5 more. Totally worth it.
(5)
Jennifer G.

I cannot believe that I have not had this ramen sooner, however now that I have I am going to have one major problem trying not to think about it constantly. We had the spicy version which was wooooonderful! We also had the pork buns, Brussels sprouts and 2 rolls. The rolls were good but they were up against such tough competition it is hard to honestly review them. I am scheming to make up any excuse to come back for the ramen
(5)
Jing M.

Ramen tastes good especially the pork, but too little to get full. Price is high but worth it I guess.
(4)
John S.

Ate dinner here tonight with my wife. We were seated immediately and the food came out very quickly. Recommend the tonkotsu ramen and the pork buns! :D
(5)
Christie P.

This was a nice place to get some better-than-average sushi and go out with friends for dinner. But definitely docked a point for rude host stand service (after we checked in, he said, "Ok, you can wait outside, thanks.") BYOB so definitely bring what you want for beverages - there is a CVS down the street if necessary. Very tiny places, so expect a wait for dinner even on a weekday, but booths are big enough for four. Not a great place for a larger group. Sushi is super yummy and creative.
(4)
Aurore L.

To keep it simple, tonkotsu ramen is basically the best thing that can happen to your month. At least, to mine. To add to the short list: briny, buttery oysters from the Atlantic coast of France, and a deep kiss with Bradley Cooper (even if they are equally attractive, the options listed are hopefully two very distinct experiences. I mean, come on. They must be. Look at the man. Nothing breathes "low tide" about him, right?) Digression. Let's keep focused on the prize. Fatty pork. Milky broth, born from the 36-hour boiling of bones. Noodles. A soft-yolked soy-sauce tinged egg. Sliced green onions. Black garlic oil. It's happiness - BLISS - in a bowl. The best part is that it only costs you $12 to push the entrance to paradise. The bad news? You are not the only one at the gate, and St Peter doesn't take reso. No biggie when you are in L.A. dealing with the sunshine on your back, but no need to explain what unpleasantness can entail on a Chicago winter day. Be warned, arrive early, imbibe adequately, do something smart. But go and get your bowl of wonder, even if, like me, you think you are not a fan of porky pork (yes, we do exist and deserve some respect, too). Magic happens in the process, and the divine protein that graces your ramen is magnified. Do it. In July, to be safe.
(5)
M Y.

We were looking for "new" place to try and I remember reading about Wasabi. I called to see how long their wait was, luckily for us - no wait. We arrived at 6:30 on a Saturday night and got a table outside. I sent the boyfriend for a bottle of wine at the nearby Walgreens while I study their menu. We ordered 2 skewers - off the special menu, the signature Ramen, the garlic spicy Ramen, the surf and turf roll, the artmex roll, the espresso cheesecake, black sesame mochi and cookies and cream mochi... I would skip the skewers next time and order extra ramen noodles in my bowl. I would skip the special rolls (surf and turf) and order off their regular maki menu. The artmex was more generous portion and the surf and turf fell short. Skip the dessert and just order the mochi ice cream. A plus for BYOB and outdoor seating (it's tight so be friendly with your neighbors). The service was okay. We often waited around too long to order more food, get more water or asked for ice, etc. Overall, the better ramen house compare to all the others popping up in Chicago.
(4)
Mary B.

Be ready to wait. Maybe try going on a week night. I got the Tonkotsu Ramen and substituted the meat for the "ultimate" option. Do THAT. I don't know how to praise this dish enough...it was just so good. One of those meals that you never want to forget. My only criticism would be that the broth was a little too salty, but, hey, that's Ramen.
(5)
David C.

Really need to ease the salt on the soup base, other wise so far the best ramen place in Chicago
(4)
Dianne J.

Love this place . Can't get enough of their tonkatsu ramen, spicy garlic miso soup , chicken potstickers and the list is on and on... I will eat here everyday if I can .
(5)
Dan H.

Wasabi's food is the bomb! Service was average and environment was contemporary. I ordered the calamari as a appetizer, the Rainbow Roll, Unagi Avo Maki Roll (pretty much eel and avocado rolled up), and one beef skewer. My friends ordered a variety of noodles and my sister ordered salmon teriyaki, so I was able to try all of it. Wasabi is definitely known by their ramen based on how many people ordered it, and the ramen was definitely tasty and rich. The broth is a pork-based broth that is pretty rich in flavor. The maki rolls, like the rainbow roll and the eel Avo roll (Unagi Avo), were simple yet effective. It was nothing special but still tasty. The beef skewer was cooked perfectly and was full of flavor. My only complaint was that one skewer was $3 and it was the size of my finger. The salmon teriyaki was so good and so big! It was well cooked and the teriyaki sauce was amazing. Overall, order some ramen and you won't be disappointed. The other items that are in the menu are definitely not bad, but ramen is definitely their specialty.
(5)
Minh D.

Very good ramen noodle. So happy there is an awesome ramen shop in Chicago so I don't have to drive to that other place in the western burb (Ramen misoya). Between the two, this place reigns supreme! People may find the price to be a bit on the high side, but that's what you get for not having a worthy ramen contender in city. They do make quality ramen here. i.e. one can tell their eggs are perfectly cooked - temperature closely monitored, eggs have a soft yolk. The pork is sooo good, it melts in your mouth. I can envision coming back here many more times. I like the spicy miso ramen - the best!
(4)
Ngoc H.

Went on a Sunday evening. Got a table right away although we had to flag down our waitress after 10 mi nuts of wondering who was going to take care of us. Pretty nice decor but the location.. not a huge fan. Seeing what the neighborhood looked like, I wouldn't have imagined the interior to be that nice. We ordered the Spicy Garlic Miso Rame and the Tonkotsu Ramen as our mains, with the Pork belly buns and Chicken "Lollipops"? (I believe that was the name). Pork Belly Buns: EH. I've had better. Not slices or pork belly, seemed like butchered pieces or pork belly instead. $6 for two buns Chicken Lollipops: Fried, Crispy, Crunchy, Juicy. Really good and not messy. Paired with what seemed to be a garlic dip, maybe an aioli? Perfection. $6 for 4 pieces Spicy Garlic Miso Ramen: Good portion. Broth was a little heavy but delicious, a little spicier than I anticipated but it was a good spicy, not the kind where you're sweating trying to finish. I didn't like how the pork was displayed. I had chances of meat, like the end pieces -_- in my bowl. I'm more geared towards the sliced pieces where I can see the oh so goodness of the pork belly beauty. The semi boiled egg was perfect. $14 Tonkotsu: Again, good portion. Rich broth but maybe a little on the salty side. Again, I got chances of meat as opposed to the slices that I obsess over. $13 All said and done, this place is really good, but maybe not great. I'll admit it, I feel a little biased towards this review because of the pork belly I received. Overall flavors were good. Service was just ok. Prices are a little more than what I would expect to pay. Parking is easy street/meter.
(3)
Amanda M.

Obviously, this is better than your 25 cent packet stuff. But from experience, this is far better than Slurping Turtle and friends say it is also better than Oiistar and other ramen places in the city. I had the spicy garlic miso ramen and a beef short rib skewer. That beef short rib was delicious. I'm not a big meat eater but that piece of meat was so flavorful and juicy and melted in my mouth. Now for the ramen, the noodles tasted fresh and were cooked perfectly as they weren't too mushy and overdone. The broth was also very good. It had a nice spicy flavor, even for me as an addict to spicy foods. There were a few pieces of pork belly that were of course very flavorful even on its own along with bamboo shoots. The soft boiled egg was also cooked to perfection. All in all, the ramen was very tasty. I just wished there were more toppings or options for them. Portions were okay. Definitely not big but not super tiny. Recommend ordering a few skewers or some sushi to go along with the ramen for a complete meal. Service was quite slow throughout. Came here on a Sunday evening and place was packed but was seated rather quickly. Our server took awhile to come to us, though he did apologize for the wait. Also, took a long time for us to get the check. However, our waters were constantly filled and I love that they give you personal pitchers. I liked the atmosphere of the place. Lighting is rather dim, giving it a cozy feel. The place is pretty spacious, considering the narrow-esque layout of the place. The long seated bar area is also quite nice. I enjoy the look of the booths but don't find them to be very comfortable or practical. Definitely can't sit all the way back an be able to reach the table. Would definitely come back and try many more skewers and other dishes too...and of course will return for their ramen.
(4)
Natasha F.

Love this restaurant. By far the best Japanese restaurant in Chicago. The wait is pretty long, I wont recommend anyone to go on a weekend. I always try to go on a week day around 6 pm before it gets busy and most of the time there is no wait. I've been here more than 5 times and what ever I order everything is very good and authentic. I feel like I am actually at a Izakaya in Japan. Love their Tonkotsu ramen. It is addictive.
(5)
Jenny Y.

When I rave to others about Wasabi's ramen, they think it's crazy to pay this kind of money for what you can buy in a instant packet you may remember from your college days. Do not get confused that these are the same thing - these noodles are delightfully soft and chewy with a favorable broth so unforgettable you'll want to drink every last drop of it (as I do)! It is perfectly topped with half a runny egg and slices of fatty pork that just melts in your month. I've tried Oiistar and appreciate their handmade noodles, but Wasabi definitely trumps any ramen destination in the city right now!
(5)
Kermit D.

I love this place!!!! I love their ramen. Heck, I'd eat it everyday, if I could! Their pork buns are delicious too. The ceviche, yum...everything I have tried has been great. The wait is huge. Just go in, put your name on the list and go buy beer.
(4)
Andrea R.

Wasabi is our new favorite ramen spot in Chicago, having gone twice in the last couple weeks since the weather turned. On a cold Chicago winter night, there isn't anything much better than a big bowl of ramen! In the colder months, there tends to be a line out the door on weekend nights, but I can't speak to weeknight or warmer months as I haven't been during those times yet. This past Friday, we thought we would beat the dinner rush getting there around 6, and there was already a line of people out the door & a full restaurant inside. Not sure what time you need to get there to beat the rush. There is no space to wait inside the restaurant, but they do have a covered area that can fit about 10 people in it- just something to be aware of if it is really cold out. The line seems to move pretty quick, and I am not sure if they take reservations as I have not tried. This is a BYOB restaurant, beer and wine only I believe as I overheard a waitress letting another table know they can't drink the liquor they brought in with them. Now onto the food. If I were rating this for the ramen and appetizers alone, I would rate it 5 stars, but the sushi was just average, so giving this 4 stars overall. Standouts: - Spicy garlic ramen-- AMAZING -- Awesome flavor with just the right amount of spice & garlic - Tonkotsu ramen- This was great also, but I personally prefer the spicy one - Pork belly buns-- also amazing-- meat is so tender & flavorful, and I love the mayo that comes on it - Skewers-- Tried a number of these, but the short rib & meatball were the best Just okay: - Crabby Wasabi roll- this was just okay, didn't love the way the soft shell crab was cooked/ tasted - Spicy tuna- I don't know if perhaps we got the wrong roll, but this was very plain & didn't have much spice or flavor to it We will definitely continue to go back for the ramen to get us through the brutal Chicago winter. Will give their sushi another try, but as it stands, there are better places in the area for sushi.
(4)
Lucy L.

Amazing ramen! We had to wait an hour to get in but it was worth braving the cold and the weird drunk guy wandering on the street outside. My friends liked the miso ramen, tonkotsu, and niku niku soup. I loved the spicy garlic miso ramen. It wasn't too expensive and the portion size was just right. Highly recommended to any ramen lovers!
(5)
Yen L.

New location! Thankfully. We tried to find it the other day without knowing it moved and nearly went into mourning when we thought it was gone. Glad it's still around. I'm no ramen expert, but this is delicious stuff. The texture of the noodles and the flavorful broth (without being salty) and the succulent slices of pork belly just make for a very comforting and tasty experience. The pork belly buns are also a great way to start off the meal. The only thing about the new location is bar seating. We didn't mind being seated at the bar. It's fun to watch people behind the counter work. What made it tough was that the seating was rather snug. We had to keep our elbows in rather tight, and the people to either side of us had to do so as well. It didn't destroy our experience. We will come back again, but it is with the hope of not having to sit at the bar again. It was also a bit loud, but the restaurant was fairly busy, so maybe that's why. Our visits to the previous location weren't nearly so busy or loud, so this was probably the luck of our draw for a Wednesday night. I can't comment on their sushi. We have another spot in the city that we like for sushi. :)
(4)
Arisa T.

My boyfriend I went there early on a Wednesday night (around 5:30PM) because we saw that this place didn't take reservations. We were seated immediately though, and it was great. By the time we were leaving there was a huge wait so I'm guessing it's pretty popular every night. The location was a bit inconvenient but the food was well worth it. We had Tonkotsu Ramen (with added Kakuni), Oyster Shooters, Negi Toro, Wagyu Aburi, Beef Short Rib Skewer, Brie & Fillet Pork Skewer, Carpaccio, Chicken Meatball Skewer, Mini Cheesecake and Mochi Ice Creams. The food was so good I saved the receipt. I feel like only someone who grew up in Japan would really notice the inconsistencies in the food. The broth of the ramen was a bit lukewarm and the noodles were on the short side. However, for something you can get in Chicago, it was mind blowing. The tonkotsu tasted really authentic and so did a lot of the dishes. While they had the typical "Special" Maki stuff, we tried to order things that they would actually have in Japan. I was a big fan of the Wagyu Aburi (great ponzu sauce) as well as the Brie & Fillet Pork Skewer, Oyster Shooters and the Ramen. The restaurant is ran by a Japanese person and the sushi chef behind the counter is also Japanese. That's really hard to find in Chicago, and I am really really glad I went!
(5)
Ni V.

I've had this place a couple of times with my friends. The pork belly buns is to DIE for. The first time I had the tonkotsu ramen which I thought was good, but wasn't AMAZING. The second time I had the spicy roasted garlic miso ramen which I thought was definitely better than the tonkotsu (I like my ramen not so rich, otherwise I can't eat a lot of it) We ordered pork belly buns again along with kim chi spring rolls. Buns, never disappoints and the spring rolls were DELICIOUS. Must haves when you come! I give the appetizers more of the 5 stars then the actual ramen.
(5)
Angie K.

Took me a while, but I finally came back for the famous ramen and it was definitely better than the sushi I previously had. I had the veggie ramen which had actual piece of seitan and everyone else had the tonkotsu which is the must-have for meat-eaters. Everyone loved loved their ramen. I personally feel Yusho's veggie ramen is #1 in my heart but this is definitely #2. The broth is great, packed with veggies and the noodles are yum. I was again surprised that they took the time to include seitan. Definitely a plus for any non-meat eater but the seasoning wasn't as strong as Yusho's. BYOB is also the best. A tiny frustration is that they close around 3 or 4 on Sundays and then reopen again later, at least the day we went they did. Because of this, we were slightly rushed to eat and drink quickly. We made the most of it and chugged for Sunday Funday. I walked by here on another weekend night and the lines wrapped outside the door. Beware! Get here early or go during the week in the winter. It's not a secret wasabi's ramen is the bomb.
(4)
Aimee H.

In my top 3 favorite Chicago ramen spots, next to High Five (West Loop) and Oiistar (Wicker Park) based on quality of its broth, ramen and atmosphere. Wait time can be excruciating and had a poor experience when the host forgot to call our name and then became curt with us, blaming us for not hearing him - even though we were right by the door and he certainly wasn't projecting his voice as he should with its very large crowd of people talking outside on a busy street. Syou Tonkatsu (definitely add the extra cost umami) and Miso are my favorite.
(4)
Kendrick W.

So wow. They really do it all very well. While their ramen is what folks come for and is certainly worth the trip over to Logan Square, there is simply nothing they do poorly. The sushi is top notch. That alaskan roll was divine. The sticky buns....I don't know what's in that sauce but it's like crack and I had to fight the urge to order more. The Ramen...I had the miso and it was fabulous. The broth was just right (not too bland, not to salty) the noodles were cooked perfectly and the pork was very tender. I thought it was unusually thick, but I mean when is that really a bad thing unless you have dentures. Not the quietest place and it can get a little cozy inside, but absolutely worth it. The prices were comparable to other places, which is unfortunate for those other places because Wasabi was clearly superior.
(5)
Laura C.

This place is my favorite to go to for Japanese tonkatsu style ramen. They have a broth that is just so savory and gives you that warm feeling. Also, their other small plate dishes are great such as the pork belly buns, oyster shooters, and sushi items. And to top it off...wait for it...its BYOB! Hands down one of my fave spots in Chicago. Only thing is you will wait for a table so come prepared for that. If you're looking for a good ramen and small plate restaurant this place is it!
(5)
Ariel H.

On par with some of the best ramen joints in NYC. Love the spicy garlic miso ramen but it may be too spicy for some (ESP if you like to drink a lot of soup). Would love to come back and try the miso or tonkatsu. Portion is very good even without the add on, but it's hard to resist getting the kakuni (tender braised pork belly).
(5)
Coleen K.

This is hands down my favorite ramen shop in Chicago, and I've been to most of the big ones. Each of their ramens are equally flavorful, just depends on your preference. I love their tonkatsu, while my boyfriend loves the spicy garlic. The pork in each of their ramens is next to none-- much more flavorful, less fatty/chewy than other ramen spots. On top of having absolutely amazing ramen, the atmosphere here is great as well. It's BYOB and is really warm and inviting. Wait staff has always been attentive, and if you arrive before about 6 or 6:15PM, there hasn't been a wait in my experience. Definitely my favorite of the ramen shops in Chicago!
(5)
Rosa J.

Hubby and I went on a chilly Friday evening. The line was present, but it wasn't awfully long when we put our name in to reserve a spot. However, by 1930 hour, the line was extended outside of the entrance. So what did I think about this place? I liked it, but not loved it. The food wasn't at all disappointing, but I didn't think it was worth the hype that everyone was raving about. Let's dive into the details. We waited for approximately ten (10) minutes and then were promptly seated. The waitress gave us enough time to browse through the menu. Other than the ramen, they have other Japanese specialties that I'm fairly familiar with, such as sushi, sashimi, donburi, and some other maki rolls. However, we determined to try the ramen, so we picked the spicy roasted garlic miso ramen and the vegan ramen, since he's a vegetarian. The food was delivered with ten (10) minutes. The presentation of the ramen was pretty spot on, using authentic Japanese ramen bowls and the wooden spoons. That was a good sign. The spicy roasted garlic miso ramen wasn't spicy, yet was bold in flavor. The highlight of the dish was the roasted pork, which was tender, melting into my mouth, and just heavenly. Nevertheless, as I was finishing up the last few slurps, I felt the greasiness on the bottom of the bowl. I understand that a moderate amount of grease in a bowl of ramen is typical, but I thought the grease was a bit much to my liking. On the other hand, hubby enjoyed the vegan ramen and was thankful for having an item to accommodate his dietary restriction. Will I come back? Yes and no. With less than ten (10) waiting time, I was satisfied with the service and the quality of food we received and consumed tonight. It's a nice place to hang out with friends since it's in the heart of Logan Square; it can potentially be a launch point to everything else "fun" for the night. However, my mind is saying "$30 for two (2) average-sized bowls of ramen...there's got to be other places better than this!" Based on our experience, everything we received was a solid four (4) quality, which I can't deny.
(4)
Brian M.

Best ramen I have had in Chicago - thus far! Ordered the spicy miso ramen with their mustard greens. The flavor of the broth was amazing and the mustard greens (recommended by staff) is the perfect compliment to the ramen. I took a friend here is is not a ramen nut and even he was blown away with how good it is. The fried chicken popsicles are a killer app to get (highly recommend). My only knock on the place was the pork bun was just ok to me. Its taste preference and I am being picky about that (so I get it). This will be a place I will visit quite often during the winter.
(4)
AA L.

Tried all the ramen places in Chicago and Wasabi is still the best! Go with tonkotsu ramen and upgrade the pork belly with their braised one (you won't regret it). The ramen places in NY could not compare to Wasabi. Great service too, Amanda rocks!
(5)
Nikki C.

Still tops in my favorite ramen joints. Perfect portioning of everything. Spoons fit well into the bowl, but not necessary as the stick your face in the bowl and suck method is still the only way to properly respect the ramen. Broth well balanced and soul satisfying. Staff friendly and chill tuneage on the overhead speakers. Even the sushi kills. Sunday specials are nice, but the daily specials even better. They change as the market does so do ask for the updated menu. Free street parking on Sundays.
(5)
Eunice O.

It's a prefect place to go for dinner for two. Any more than that amount of people, get ready to wait for a while. But hey, it's BYOB, so you can definitely drink while you wait outside :) I came here last night for the second time, and ordered the Agedashi tofu first. It's basically fried tofu, and it's pretty straight forward. Nothing specatcular. It would taste better with a side of teriyaki sauce. After, we ordered the Chirashi bowl. Now, the bowl may look small, but don't be fooled. It is deep and FULL of great quality sushi on top, and lots of tasty rice on the bottom. I shared it with my boyfriend, and it's the perfect size for two. I would have died and not had enough room for the ramen if I had it on my own. And finally, we ordered one Spicy Roasted Garlic Miso Ramen to share. The noodles were perfectly cooked: not too soft, not too aldente. You could feel the texture of the noodles in your mouth, and it's just perfect. It also comes with a lot of bamboo shoots and very tender pieces of pork. Again, it's a great dish to share between two. So I'd definitely give the ramen a thumbs up. Next time, we'll definitely be coming in just to try the sushi rolls!
(5)
Jason J.

Awesome ramen! I tried the Tonkotsu & Spicy Garlic. Broth was very rich, a bit too much salt, but overall very good flavor. Ramen was fresh, and the pork was just succulent, soft and tender, but a bit salty as well. Staff was very nice, overall ambiance was good, a bit loud, but what can you expect from a great ramen joint. Recommend greatly, especially for these silly cold nights here in Chicago. PS. Go away Polar Vortex!
(5)
Felix C.

Excellent ramen - almost as good as we've had in Hawaii. The broth was excellent and the pork belly was so tender. We're definitely coming back for the spicy garlic ramen.
(5)
Yaeko M.

Finally we made it to go to eat Wasabi's representational Tonkotsu ramen. Yes, the rich creamy tonkotsu soup is tasty and noodle was cooked just right. The chashu was thick and tender. But the price is way too high for the ramen. Ramen is categorized in casual and inexpensive food (in Japan). Making good ramen and offer it in reasonable price is the challenge for the ramen restaurant. However it's tasty ramen, $13-$14 is over the ramen range. It should go down under $10.
(3)
Tiffany L.

What did Sushi A say to Sushi B? You know you love corny jokes as much as I love ramen. Sadly, Chicago does not have great ramen. It is a travesty. But Wasabi probably currently serves the best Tonkotsu ramen in the area. It's not perfect, the broth is a little salty for my tastes, and the noodles are perfectly al dente when served, but get soft too quickly in the hot broth. For the price I'd probably still rather go to Mitsuwa. But when I need my ramen fix, this is my go-to place. Other small plates are decent, but I'd skip the sushi here.
(4)
Keith A.

Wasabi happened just from randomly picking a place. My friend is just starting to get into sushi and he spied Wasabi, so in we went after realizing that Longman&Eagle was closed. We started off with some skewers. We got a duck skewer and a chicken breast skewer. The duck skewer was really good. I also liked the chicken skewer and the sauce that came with it. We then moved onto the rolls. I had to get myself 2 pieces of hamachi. I liked these, I mean it's hamachi and I love hamachi, but it wasn't great. My friend ordered a meat lovers roll. I liked the idea and it was pretty good even though it was a bit weird to be eating "meat sushi" in a sense. An alaskan, crabby wasabi, and salmon rolls. The alaskan was very good and what I wanted. I really liked the crabby wasabi as well. The salmon was very good, but was the least of the rolls. I have to say, I did like Wasabi, but it almost felt like sushi with training wheels. The presentation and service was very good. The food was pretty good too. There's a lot of options in the area, so it may take a bit to come back, but I would like to give Wasabi another try and really try some of their ramen.
(3)
Fei W.

Hmm... best ramen in Chicago? Quite possibly. Far superior broth to Slurping Turtle. It's a little on the rich side, and I wish there were more of it, but good nonetheless. I wish they had slightly more options-- maybe beef broth? The pork broth is rich and heavy. The slices of pork cheek weren't the greatest, but the broth certainly made up for anything lacking in the meat. I think maybe the noodle to broth ratio was a little high, but that's me being a diva again. I also added Toro and Hamachi Nigiri. Both were adequate, though unimpressive. The slices were huge and the fish tasted fresh enough but not really a place I'd come for sushi. I like more artistry with my Nigiri. Both pieces could've used some wasabi tucked in between the rice and the fish and possibly some ponzu? I felt like I could've gotten some sushi grade fish, sliced it, and threw it on some rice for a very similar result. For the ramen though, I'd definitely come back.
(4)
Alla D.

The best Ramen in Chicago and I LOVE that it's BYOB. Everything is fantastic, I'd go there everyday if I could. The best pork belly I've ever had.
(5)
Matthew F.

My wife wanted to try this place. We both got the pork ramen along with some gyoza. It was good, and in my opinion probably the second best ramen I've had in Chicago. I've been to Japan and had enough ramen there to say that this place definitely comes close. The price was pretty high for ramen and while it was good, it didn't blow me away. I still think the ramen king in Chicago is Santouka in Arlingotn Heights.
(3)
Jane W.

Delicious and great service! Shared the Ceviche, Spider sushi roll and the Vegan Ramen and it was all very, very good!! Highly recommend and I will be back!
(5)
Jun F.

Food quality is always very good and flavorful. The only 2 down side of this restaurant are; 1. Inconsistency of the ramen which sometimes is warm rather than being hot, and noodle could be too cooked. Cooking ramen noodle are very difficult so understandable. 2. Wait staff can be bit short with you when they are busy. but overall very pleasant. 1 of the top 2 ramen restaurants in Chicago so far.
(4)
Lily L.

Great ambiance and attentive services. Don't come around rush hours. Street parking is kind of suck plus this place opens late, so come any times after 9pm is perfect. The ramen is okay. I'm in love with the kimchi pork belly spring roll.
(5)
Eumi C.

I was wanting to try this place for a whole since Id heard how yummy it was. It was pretty good! We had the pork buns, pretty yummy! I think we got suckered into the chicken lollipops because we love the lollipop idea but they were just mediocre. The mag mile roll was really good. The spicy octopus was good texture. The spicy garlic miso ramen was good. The noodles were chewy and fresh. The broth was good, very subtle perfect spice. Two big pieces of pork. Now. My one complaint. They forgot our egg. Our soft boiled runny egg was missing. I didn't even realize until we were done but we brought it up to our otherwise good server, he apologized. But man. I missed the egg.
(4)
Nicholaus H.

Tonkotsu. Extra umami! Do it. For real. You will be cured of all ailments and achieve inner peace. Great sushi too. Very friendly staff and quick service. So happy they put one in my hood. I need this place.
(5)
Ana A.

Once I learn to like sushi, this will definitely be my go-to sushi place! But even those who (like me) still have to talk themselves into eating raw fish, will find something tasty to nibble on here. There was a good selection of non-boring veggie rolls, and the ramen was delish! Great for groups, too! The menu includes plenty of small plate dishes- perfect for sharing. I also give points to the server for dealing with our rowdy, sake-soaked party of 10.
(4)
Leanne A.

I'm sad Wasabi moved farrr down Milwaukee. I love their menu. They have a couple ramen choices, and a large sushi menu. But my favorite stand out items are the small skewer treats. They are very reasonably priced, and you can try out quite a few in one sitting. They come with delicious sauces and they all taste great. The hamachi collar is amazing. I am basically a cat, though, and anything tuna is like heaven to me.
(4)
Rajat S.

This place is simply awesome. Great ramen and perfect sushi. The wait is long if you are there at the wrong time.
(5)
Denise L.

I've had my fair share of ramen from New York and Boston but I must say, this is definitely up there as one of my favorite places! I ordered the tonkatsu ramen ($13) which was amazing and hit the spot especially on that cold day I went. Their broth is made with berkshire pork bones, which made it so flavorful and creamy. The berkshire pork belly that comes on top just melts in your mouth. I also tried their pork belly buns ($8) which were fantastic. My only regret is that I do not have a bigger stomach to try more dishes on their menu. I'd highly recommend this place! I was hesitant at first since it was a trek from downtown Chicago where I was staying, but the trip was so worth it. The restaurant has a great atmosphere and you can tell a lot of thought goes into the menu and the plating. The wait could get long so go with a small group. Also, it's BYOB.
(5)
Robert B.

Pork belly buns six stars, quality and freshness of sushi (hamachi toro nigiri and uni sashimi) five stars, for a reasonable price. If you're a fan of the texture of raw squid sushi, and ponzu sauce, you'll probably like the raw baby octopus Shoyu ramen broth being too salty keeps the ramen from being five stars in my book, but I prefer the additional veggies over the tonkatsu ramen, which is supposed to be less salty
(4)
Minh-An C.

Moving out to Chicago, I was a little nervous about not being able to find good quality Asian food compared to Southern CA. When all my Asian friends keep recommending Wasabi for ramen, I just know I have to give it a try. Less than a month of moving out here, I decided to satisfy my ramen craving. My friend arrived a little before they opened on Sunday for brunch. We were the first party of the day so service was excellent. For appetizer, we got the Brie And Berkshire Filet Pork skewers. I think this is a bit overpriced for just 1 skewer. It is a fried skewer with oozing cheese after you bit it so be careful or you might drip the cheese everywhere. I did not really like this and I wouldn't recommend. For the ramen, my friend got the Tontoksu Ramen ($13) while I got the spicy miso ramen ($14). The broth of the Tontosku is very creamy but in comparison to the spicy miso, hands down the spicy miso is wayyyy better. But be careful, if you cannot handle spicy, this one might be a bit spicy for you. I love crunchy hard noodles and the noodle here was perfection. The pork meat was so soft and it just melts in your mouth. You get a pretty generous amount of pork, too. The egg looked delicious and I was just a little sad that it was not as runny as I would have wanted it to be. And the bowl consists of a good amount of bamboo and bean sprout, which I thoroughly enjoy. I finished my bowl feeling very satisfied and my mouth was a bit on fire but it was totally worth it. The final bill came out to about $42 for 2 bowls and 2 skewers + tax and tip. It is about average price for a normal bowl of ramen. This is as good as it gets for ramen in Chicago, I'd have to say!
(5)
Amy S.

Waasssabi! This place had the best ramen I've ever had in my life. Seriously! Sorry Takashi, sorry Slurping Turtle, sorry Ramen-San! The Spicy Roasted Garlic Miso Soup is my favorite. Yes it is super spicy, but the flavors are so built up and so incredible. I didn't realize this broth only took 45 hours to make, but now it all makes sense. The broth alone is glorious, but paired with the right garnishes and perfectly cooked noodles made this unbelievable. All the ramen broths are pork based but you can opt for a vegan dish as well. The sushi is fresh and they have some creative flavors. I only tried the tuna, but it was delicious. Chicken Lollipop - perfectly crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. It comes with an aioli, but totally not needed! Mochi - Mochi is mochi but this one tasted extra delicious, probably because it was the perfect bite after this scrumptious meal.
(5)
Mike M.

After waiting almost 2 hours on a Wednesday to get a bowl of ramen at High Five, I was prepared for the worst when I decided to check out another popular ramen spot in Chicago. We arrived around 6 on a Sunday night, and there was already a line out the door. We put our name down and was quoted about a 30-40 minute wait, which wasn't that bad relative to what I was expecting. The only problem is they don't allow you to wait inside, and they didn't take down your phone number so you couldn't really go far. Everyone pretty much had to wait outside in the cold. We decided to hang out in the car for a bit, and after checking in again after 20 minutes, I found out they already called my name and skipped over us. I panicked for a second and thought they'd drop us back to the bottom of the list. Luckily they were super cool about it and said we would get the next available seats. After waiting a few more minutes, the hostess felt bad we waited so long and just straight up gave us a whole booth just for the two of us. Score! I knew exactly what I wanted to order once I saw the word garlic on the menu. I ordered the spicy roasted garlic miso ramen and I took our waitress's suggestion and added the aburi kakuni, which was described as charred pork belly. Best. Decision. Ever. Hands down, this was the best pork I've had in any ramen I've tried so far. I couldn't tell which was the aburi kakuni and which was the berkshire pork belly bowl, but all I know is that every piece was damn delicious. The pork belly was torched on the outside to crisp the edges of the fat, and it had a fatty center that just melted when it hit your tongue. Whenever I eat ramen, my judgement of whether I like it or not probably comes mostly from my opinion of the broth. After trying High Five a few weeks ago, I didn't think any other broth in Chicago could compare...but Wasabi comes pretty damn close. It seriously matched the extreme richness and deep flavored, meaty essence that I was looking for. On top of that, it had both a mild spice element AND a dominant garlic flavor too. Pinch me. I can't really ask for much more than that. They seriously took everything I love and combined them into a single bowl of glorious ramen. Between the euphoria caused by the pork belly and the rich broth, I almost don't even remember what the noodles were like. I'm sure they were also pretty solid. The ramen was finally topped with roasted garlic chips and a perfectly cooked egg that had the most liquidy yolk. My only knock would be that they only gave half an egg. Really? You can at least afford to give us the whole egg. Overall, I can't say enough good things about Wasabi. Seriously one of my favorite bowls of ramen ever.
(5)
Tiffany L.

Having come twice in the past week, I think this warrants a review. The miso ramen is the best bowl of ramen in Chicagoland area--the miso broth had a nice, strong taste of miso, the pork tender, the egg done pretty close to ajitama-style. My favorite appetizer would have to be the tuna tartar--a tower of fresh tuna sashimi topped with avocado, though to be honest, all of the appetizers I've tried were pretty good. My only qualm is the location, which is slightly hard to get to, but the food is always worth the trip.
(5)
Ly N.

First time here at Wasabi. I arrived at around 8pm I believe and there was a wait at the door. I waited for about 30 min. I didn't mind. I could tell it was a popular restaurant and it was Friday night. I ordered a few dishes. The spring rolls were phenomenal!!! Anyone reading this and planning to go, please please order the spring rolls. You will not regret it. Ramen was good too, at least better than South florida, which is where I'm from.
(4)
Jennifer E.

All of the food was great...except the ramen. The ramen was ok. I came here specifically for ramen and I was kinda disappointed. But the sushi was sooo good and fresh. My daughter loved the chicken meatballs. We also shared a tempura which we enjoyed. A star off the ramen and another off for the hostess. I came in with my 1 year old daughter right before 6 pm with plenty of tables open. For some reason, I waited 10-15 minutes to be seated because the hostess couldn't figure out where to sit us... I was a hostess/server during my high school and college days. It's not rocket science. If you are scared to seat my 1 year old next to child-less diners then that is sad. My 1 year old is not an angel but Barney on my iPhone and some food in her mouth and she's fine. But thanks for judging my daughter and my parenting right when we checked in the door. I understand that people don't like eating with kids around them for the most part. But we did come early enough so that the "romantic couple" diners could enjoy their dinners around 7pm and later.
(3)
Rowena N.

I would give this place 4.5 stars if I could. Service was generally great. Also BYOB and we brought a case. The servers were very attentive and helped us put the beer in the fridge. They came by often to check if we needed few more bottles. He also asked us if we needed to split our bill at the beginning of the dinner which made the ordering/paying easier. We got the chicken gizzard skewers and they were delicious. Perfectly tender and mildly charred. We also got the boston roll, which was meh. To be honest, I probably would not order rolls here again and save it for the grilled skewers (they have pork belly, beef, octopus, chicken, among many others). We got the tonkotsu ramen and spicy garlic ramen because i love me some heat. We also got that option to blow torch our pork slices to give it some extra texture and flavor (additional $4.5 each). The spicy broth was delicious, it was perfectly spicy. The soup was little more dense than ramen I had before, which I enjoyed. These bowls are pretty pricy ($13-14) but they also fill it with a lot of noodles. I ate half my bowl and needed to sit it out a couple minutes before finishing the rest. They also load it with decent amount of bean sprouts and other veggies. The Tonkotsu was also good. Soup was also thick but more miso flavor. It was milder in the salt department but was also very tasty. I preferred the spicy version. Our soups came with the noted pork belly and slices, and half an egg. To be honest, I probably wouldn't have paid extra for the "torch" version of the pork again, as I couldn't even taste the difference. Cons? This place is "dim" (if you can call it that) as hell. I had to use the flashlight function on my phone like a ghetto crazy woman to read the menu. Also, be prepared to wait. In the cold. They have no waiting area so you are stuck hanging around outside. Go loiter at the CVS down the block. Or the fruit market across the street. Whatever it is, be prepared to wait 15 to 30 minutes pending when you come. Seating is a bit tight, as in you can smell the person next to you. You claustrophobic peeps probably wouldn't like it here. Overall, we end up spending like $30 each here but I had a great experience, lots of bubblies, and left flushed and full. Will be back.
(4)
Lin H.

Prior to visiting Chicago, I had a list of recommendations of where to eat. From there, as soon as I heard ramen, I was sold. On the very first night, we headed to Wasabi! I must say the concept of BYOB at any restaurant is amazing to me (no one openly allows that in Ohio). So I suggest any out-of-towners to take advantage of that when going to Wasabi. As for the food, ended up trying the spicy roasted garlic miso ramen, miso ramen, and sashimi ceviche. As for the ramen, so good!! Especially since I had a cold and needed something comforting. My sister really enjoyed her spicy ramen dish as well. The sashimi ceviche was just mediocre though - would not recommend since the serving size and flavor is not worth the steep price. On a different note, service was decent. There was a wait to be seated but fortunately as a small group it was short. Oh, and parking is a BITCH. A very very expensive bitch...
(4)
Jeff H.

HYPERBOLE ALERT! Had THE BEST bowl of Ramen ever here. At least it was the best bowl of Ramen I have ever had. Spicy Roasted Garlic Miso Everything about it was perfect. I could not recommend it enough. Have actually had several dreams about this bowl of Ramen in the past month. Next time I am in Chicago I will absolutely be back. Also tried a bit of my friend's plain Miso Ramen and it was also exceptionally. Their broth is well and truly perfect. Next time I go I think I will also try some of their sushi as well, which looked lovely.
(5)
Dianne S.

Best ramen in Chicago. They don't take reservations nor will they seat you if your party isn't complete so make sure to show up early. This spot definitely rivals some of my favorite ramen spots in NYC: Ippudo & Totto Ramen. BYOB, outdoor seating, deliciously authentic ramen...all this place was missing was air conditioning...seriously so hot especially if you're ordering the spicy garlic miso on a warm August night! Service if ridiculously prompt and friendly. I got a bucket of ice for my wine a minute after I asked for it and our server offered to open the bottle for me as well. I ordered the Tonkotsu Ramen ($13) that came with an egg, richy fatty berkshire pork, bamboo shoots, etc. I suggest sharing a bowl of ramen and maybe a skewer or two for variety. These bowls are huge!
(5)
Laura C.

Had the Shoyu Ramen and OMG the broth and the pork belly... So good. Will be back to this tasty little BYOB with lightning fast service.
(5)
Danny W.

You'd think opening a Japanese noodle place in Chicago came with a happy ending or something the way they've been popping up lately. They're the latest food craze, but there definitely weren't any ramen rubdowns when Wasabi opened it's doors back in 2010. They were shellin' out Shoyu before it was the cool thing to do, and in my opinion it's probably the best even in the midst of all the latest options. Why? Their broth is undeniably delicious. It's made with 100% Heritage Berkshire Pork bones and takes up to 45 hours before it's ready. Match that will excellent egg noodles, proteins, veggies, and a soft boiled egg and you've got a meal that would make the Top Ramen people toss in the towel. They've got a sushi bar and are BYOB too which makes it a pretty awesome and affordable date. Do yourself a favor and if you're all aboard the ramen train get here before you do some of the others.
(5)
Sharon G.

My friend and I walked into the restaurant and got seated right away at the bar around 7:30pm on a Friday night. The interior had a great ambiance with lots of wooden furniture and the service was extremely fast. We ordered the pork belly buns, spicy miso ramen (both mine), ceviche and tonkotsu ramen (my friend's). The pork buns were delicious and came in a beautiful wooden container - divine. The spicy miso ramen, unlike many so called "spicy" foods I've seen on menus, was actually spicy!! And just right. It was an extremely fitting and satisfying meal and our server was very attentive, asking us several times how we were doing and refilling our waters about 8263 times. I'll definitely be coming back in the future...and will take advantage of the BYOB for sure!
(5)
Olivia H.

The prices are a bit high, but the ramen here is solid. And this place is BYOB! No wonder this place gets crowded on cold Chicago evenings. The wait can be a bit long though, and there is no indoors waiting area. If you can't make it right around opening time (5 PM), you might as wait about a hour for that first wave to leave. We also ordered a side of brussel sprouts in an attempt to feel healthy and those were well executed as well. Overall, the experience was enjoyable and exceeded my expectations.
(4)
Mawie T.

It's a little pricey, but SO SO SO SO WORTH IT! If I could live in this ramen, I would. It gives me life, then food coma death, then life all over again. The broth is so rich and hearty. I prefer the spicy miso ramen, but the original tonkotsu broth is phenomenal. The sushi is alright, but I don't see why anyone would go purely for the sushi when their ramen is so on point. It's also BYOB which is so great to keep the night cost efficient. The staff is really nice. I went there and got stood up on a date, but the staff at the bar still made it a very enjoyable.
(4)
Cheri K.

Loved my spicy garlic broth ramen! If your tastebuds are sensitive to super salty food, then i suggest you ask for less sodium! It was still very flavorful with less salt, and I felt like the normal amount was way too much. Also, don't hesitate and get the special pork add-on! It's amazing!!!
(4)
Angelo L.

The ramen here are the best in Chicago. Tried miso, shoyu and tonkatsu and all were excellent. I would say miso then shoyu then tonkatsu but they are all very very good. The egg inside was perfectly moist, the pork belly was very tender, the noodles springy and the soup very very creamy and flavorful. I also had the grilled pork belly and that was phenomenal. I didn't enjoy the torched beef and the beef short rib as much but I would reorder the shortrib. Next time I'd like to try the tartares.
(5)
Kathy Z.

This is a great place for good vibes and good food. I went with my friend after work on Friday. They seated us immediately at the bar, but there was a wait for regular tables. We got the pork belly buns, sashimi ceviche, tonkatsu ramen, and spicy garlic ramen. There were two buns and lived up to the hype, and the ceviche was average. The tonkatsu ramen was very flavorful, though I thought the broth was too rich. I took home the leftovers and diluted the broth. My friend finished everything and enjoyed all of it. PS it was a bit dark and rather loud, but a fun vibe overall.
(4)
Dhruv P.

Ever since having the best ramen in my life in Japantown (SF) in 2012, I've been waiting for good ramen to come to Chicago. And I'm pretty specific, I was looking for vegetarian ramen. Since then I've been getting my fix at Oiistar and it was quite acceptable. Needless to say, I'm always scouting for new ramen places that would work for me. So when my best friend told me about this place, I was excited and we met soon after 6pm so to avoid some of the waiting. Before I get to the negatives, which I would say will keep me away from here, I will say that the ramen was delicious and deserves a solid four stars. Personally, I found it a little high in salt. When fresh it was great, but reheated the next day, the broth was a bit salt intensive. A few negatives. We put our name on clipboard, but the waitress skipped us for the next two party. We were in front and she never called our name. We let her know. Everyone makes mistakes. We got seated next. While waiting under the enclosed area, we were freezing. They had a heat lamp there, but it wasn't functional. Must be an ironic statement. Ramen was great and we enjoyed our food. We asked it to be spicy. Little did we know that they actually charge more to put more oil in the ramen. The spicy oil didn't come one the side; they put it in the ramen and served it. But they still charged extra for it. To our annoyance, the server dropped off our bill without even asking if we wanted dessert. Sure, he wanted to turn the tables over, but we weren't even there that long, and not to ask a basic question seems rude. Between the server and the other people that work there, I got the impression they don't really care too much about the customer as much as trying to get their job done fast. Which is fine for a fast food place. But this is more than that. Most people would not be deterred with my negatives. Which is fine. Because the food is good. But I wouldn't go back as I find service equally important as the food depending on the type of establishment it bills itself to be.
(3)
Thomas P.

I've been looking for a great soup in Chicago and I have found it! The Tonkonstu is damn tasty. The hearty portion is creamy but not heavy. In addition to the soup, I had the tuna tartare, which is also tasty and a good item to share. The spicy tuna crunch roll was alright. The menu has many more options. I will be going back and I will definitely be inviting friends along to share it with me.
(5)
Tom Y.

The ramen is out of this world. Service is great and a cool atmosphere. The sushi is mediocre but that's not why you're coming here.
(5)
Anya A.

This popular restaurant lives up to the reviews! We had to wait outside for about 20 minutes to get in the door, but it was so worth it. While my entire experience was wonderful, I have to rave about the food. I ordered the Spicy Garlic Miso Ramen and it was the best ramen I have had. The broth was flavorful and meat was nicely cooked and had much less fat than other restaurants I have been to. My friend ordered a Spider maki roll and the homemade dumplings. The maki is good, but go here for the ramen. The restaurant is BYOB, so you can spend more on the food, rather than drinks!
(5)
Brent E.

BATHE ME IN THAT RAMEN AND CLEAN MY SOUL!!!! I was absolutely HONORED to have visited this sanctuary of food. I was visiting from Colorado where I am solely accustomed to phÃ³ restaurants. They're good, don't get me wrong, but this place changed the game. CHANGED THE GAME AND MADE IT WEEP LIKE A CHILD! First off, our waitress was an absolute DELIGHT! Which always adds to the experience. After the wonderful appetizers of fried dumplings, the holy of holies was presented. One sip of the broth and I was erect.... Thank the good Lord above I wasn't wearing sweat pants! But honestly nothing would have stopped me from finishing that bowl of orgasm. IT WAS THE BEST SOUP/ RAMEN I HAVE EVER HAD. AND THAT'S THAT AMIGO!
(5)
Karen L.

I had never heard of Wasabi because everyone kept recommending Slurping Turtle, but my boyfriend found this place when he was searching for ramen in Chicago. Although both places are good, I much prefer the broth at Wasabi! Tonkatsu - the broth was super creamy and the pork was so tender that it fell apart as you grabbed it. Spicy roasted garlic miso - I got this one because I can't resist the words "spicy" and "garlic" ... I loved it! There was beautiful golden flakes of garlic on top. I wish there were more, but it might have overpowered the ramen. The eggs in the ramen were pretty good -- you could definitely taste the marinade, but I wish it had a more subtle flavor and a slightly runnier yolk. I also tried a piece of salmon nigiri. The salmon wasn't impressive... definitely stick with ramen here. Although a bit expensive, I think it's worth a try.
(5)
David P.

Its Ramen time! Its been two weeks since I have had any and Im feeling deprived! Welcome to my newly found pilgrimage for Chicago's best ramen. Wasabi was on the docket and looking to knock off Oiistar as my favorite. So I get seated at the counter and order the Spicy Roasted Garlic Miso Ramen. While I wait I have some Edamame which is always delicious. After about 10 minutes that beautiful big-ass bowl of awesomness arrives. Just a quick sniff already has my nostrils running wild, NAPKINS PLEASE! Not only am I ready to get my slurp on but this Slurpster has even got the wardrobe to go with it, beanie hat and vintage t-shirt under a plaid long sleeve...BEAST! Slurp, slurp, slurp, slurp, wipe my nose, drink water, slurp, wipe, drink...Yep, this was the routine for the next 12-15 minutes or so. So how'd it go you ask? Better than Oiistar ya? That was an extremely awesome bowl of ramen, I loved it. The flavor was very robust and hearty. Add the pork belly, a delicious egg and other toppings, this made a slurpster very happy! However, the spice was just a tick too spicy for me, but after all, this is SPICY Miso Ramen so I do not blame them. I am an absolute pansy when it comes to heat and while this was not real hot it was just a smidgen above my comfort levels. So for that reason Oiistar remains my favorite bowl of ramen to date. But make no mistake if the heat was just a tad less it would equal or maybe even better Oiistar. Overall this was extremely close to being my favorite bowl of ramen if it wasnt for the heat. Very flavorful and curly thick noodles made this a delight to eat. Combine this with a very lively crowd, you Wasabi have earned yourself a new customer. 4.4 stars!
(4)
Gabriella P.

I'm a super picky eater when it comes to Sushi places. I stalk the comments section of every place I see that looks interesting because I want to make sure of three things, cleanliness, flavor, and ambiance- in that order. I might have estigmatism, but I eat with my eyes first and this place was beautiful. I was going to order the maki, but I wanted to try something new so I went with the teriyaki chicken entree and what a wonderful food induced orgasm that was. The chicken was tasty but not salty. It was perfectly marinated. The entree came with sweet potato mash that honestly, I don't even know why I'm not mentioning first, but figured I would elaborate on second. It was fucking delicious. So creamy and had the perfect amount of flavor. The asparagus was grilled to the point where I actually liked this particular vegetable I detest. Overall I would come back, and with more people so they can spread the word on how great this place is.
(5)
Jimmy G.

I visited Wasabi on a recent trip to Chicago. I had just met up with a couple of friends living in the city and we had taken the blue line up. The place was pretty packed on a Thursday night, which means that the food here must be solid; and it was. I had the Shoyu Ramen and for appetizers our group got some chicken lollipops. The food arrived quickly, but for 14 bucks a bowl, the ramen was almost guaranteed to be a let down. In my experience, ramen should be a cheap yet filling meal, not an mid-priced entree. While the ramen itself was ok, there was nothing special about it that warranted its price. If i were in the area again I might visited this place again, but there's just nothing pulling me back.
(3)
Tian Y.

Wasabi... Since my last review I've gone here countless times, taken all sorts of friends here for different occasions, sometimes to Liquid Fusion (my other favorite spot in the Chicago area) afterwards like a ritualistic pilgrimage. It's still my go-to restaurant for good food with friends (and BYOB no corkage fee!) But ever since this spring, quality has gotten a lot more inconsistent. I used to be able to say with 100% confidence to friends I take here that this will be amazing and delicious. When it's good, it still is. But now, I have to preface with "hopefully we go on a good day." When it's mediocre, it's still delicious and comforting and flavorful, but not of this world and makes you think this is as good as ramen could possibly get. Basically, only go on Fridays and Saturdays for good ramen! And expect really slow service on those days (like food just takes forever to come out) :\ As for the small plates and sushi... they are yummy and interesting, but expensive for the portion. We used to often split a couple of rolls depending on hunger level, but on weekends they sometimes come out AFTER waiting forever for the ramen. What's the point in those appetizers then... Also, their wait quotes are often ridiculously high (we hear 45 minutes, go to next door CVS to get some drinks for BYOB, and when coming back after 10 minutes they tell us they gave away our table. Almost every damn time) - so a) take a chance with the wait time b) don't walk away, apparently... So even though for a year or so I had been meaning to update Wasabi to 5 stars and shower them with more praise, it's time to take them down a peg for inconsistencies :(
(4)
Sally Y.

For the price and the food you get, Wasabi is phenomenal. I went there for dinner with a few girlfriends, which of course means we took advantage of the byob and shared a bottle of wine. Overall, the food is great. The ramen wasn't the best, and I would actually recommend not getting it since there are numerous other places in Chicago you can go for delicious ramen. However, the sushi and ceviche were awesome. You can't go wrong with any of the options, and I would definitely recommend focusing on those areas of the menu. We went on a Wednesday night and it still was packed and bustling. Be prepared to wait in line or go early or later in the night if you're looking to avoid the wait. Overall, I thougth this place was great and definitely would recommend going there.
(4)
Jennifer C.

Came here over a week after coming back from Tokyo and was in the worst post-holiday food depression yet in a long time. Had takoyaki and the spicy miso ramen. The egg was between soft and hardboiled, which is what I liked, but my partner prefered a completely liquid yolk. Anyway, the miso was porky and spicy, no complaints there. The noodle however, was suspiciously curly and I initially thought they were using packaged instant ramen, but it also had the al-dente chewiness of ramen that the processed ramen didnt have. I was pretty impressed and this was as good away from tokyo as it would get, right under Strings though. I wouldn't put anything past Strings. The takoyaki is a must try, they really don't skimp on the octopus chunks inside these savoury skillet-cooked dough balls. They struck the perfect difference between the crisp texture on the outside and a soft, goopy texture of just-cooked dough inside.
(4)
Lawrence W.

Dear Lord have mercy, I love this place probable a little more than I should .There's a few things on this earth as good as a hot bowl of Tonkotsu Ramen and my favorite place for said Ramen is Wasabi in Logan Square! The entire place is set around the perfect bowl of ramen but, everything the kitchen puts out is good enough for Sultans and Kings! The broth is rendered down for 45 hours to arrive at the perfect bowl of bone white perfection, with the steam wafting off the top like a mysterious siren. I can't explain it better than saying, get your butt there now and be prepared to have the best meal of your life.
(5)
Sheena P.

BEST RAMEN I'VE EVER HAD! Omg I seriously died and went to heaven. My favorite ramen place was Monta Ramen in Vegas but it's now Wasabi! This place doesn't have many reviews probably because it's located pretty far from downtown Chicago and in an area kind of run down and not so cute. But do not be fooled! Tonkotsu borth is amaze balls. Noodles cooked so so perfectly al dente, egg a beautiful shade of orange, bamboo soft, and pork belly soft and melts in your mouth PERFECTION! Tip: substitute for the braised torched pork belly!!!! Soooo worth it!!! Also ask for chili oil mmm
(5)
Zihao T.

I am a noodle guy, I went to lots of Ramen restaurant at California and Indiana, but this is the most impressive one that I ever had! I would strongly recommend you guys go try it if you want try some ramen!
(5)
Lizzy C.

My favorite ramen. A Japanese guy recommended me here.
(5)
Jason M.

"What's up, B?" is how I greet the hostess every time I enter Wa-sa-bi. I think it's a good joke. My party always gets seated in the back near the restroom, so then I question how funny it is. I've been here a lot. Too often, actually. There's a lot of risk when it comes to taking visitors to get ramen. You stick with what you know, and I know that Wasabi is at least decent. There's been a couple times when I wanted to venture out and try other ramen, but even then, I psyche myself out and think, "Okay, I can go to this other place and wait for food. What if it sucks? Yelp reviews on ramen don't help because, lezz be honest, the vast majority of people can't really tell. So let's say we go and it's great, then awesome. And if it sucks, then bye-bye credibility. I'm going to lose all my friends over noodles and soup. Dear lord. Please don't forsake me. Okay let's go to Wasabi." But with this review, I'm making a pact. The next time I get ramen, it's not going to be at Wasabi. So I took all of that to say: Wasabi is pretty decent, sometimes even good. One time I went and the broth was saltier than the Atlantic Ocean, so I fear it might happen again but it hasn't yet. The longest I've waited was 20-30 minutes. Wasabi is a safe choice. 4 stars for a safe choice? Shiet. But that means a lot in the ramen world.
(4)
Emily K.

I've tried several ramen restaurants in Chicago and this is my favorite. The Tonkotsu Ramen is perfection, even down to the boiled eggs (which I'm extremely picky about). My favorite item on the menu is the Pork Belly Buns though! It's one of the most delicious things I've ever eaten. We had a party of 4 and ended up waiting about 45 minutes on a Saturday night. They could have seated us a little bit sooner at the bar, but we wanted a table so that it's easier to have a conversation. The service was great and our waitress was very attentive, even though it was extremely busy. I also love the BYOB policy!
(5)
T H.

Best Ramen I have had to date. I have Ramen almost once a week in California so my friend took me to this great Chicago noodle stop. There was a bit of a line on a Wednesday night, but it was worth the wait. The appetizers were delicious and the Ramen was top notch. Luckily I was with a regular and he knew to BYOB! It was a great night. If you love Ramen, you will love today restaurant.
(5)
Stephanie L.

IIIIiiiiiiiiiii'mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm BBBBBAAAAAAACCCCCCCCCCKKKK And let me tell you...be prepared for Logan Square hell in this place...but I think its worth it. Def will have a wait...almost always...expect it. There is zero waiting area inside so dress for the weather because they have you sign in on a clipboard and then shuffle your ass outside til your table is ready. The service...meh. I wasnt super impressed but what do you expect for a ramen joint that is BYOB in LS? Our girl was super nice, but not always could be found. Although there was also a lot of food runners that we could ask for things that we needed. Order the pork belly buns...YUM! I love these open faced things! Chicken lollipops were also delish! I wish they came with a side of spicy sauce in addition with the creamy ranch type dip The spicy garlic ramen is DEFINITELY where it is at. HEAVEN! The best ramen I have ever had. Skip the tonkotsu...whatever We also had some sushi...but to be honest, I wasnt that impressed with it. I prefer the other things here.
(5)
Vanessa G.

What can I say that hasn't already been covered off on by the billions of other positive reviews? What a truly wonderful place, hands-down the best ramen in Chicagoland. This, internet people, is how you run a joint. Sure, the endless line of jerks waiting to get inside will make even the best of us feel murderous, but now I know to never, ever come here at a reasonable time on the weekends. I'm just too old and too impatient to wait in line with a bunch of 21 year-olds giggling and making peace signs in their 50th "selfie". Anyway, don't be a lunatic--order the Tonkotsu Ramen. Just do it, stop trying to be original. Literally all of the starters were delicious too, especially the Hamachi Kama, the tartar (obviously) and the Fried Chicken Lolipops (what is this sorcery). This place makes Ramen San, Slurping Turtle, Furious Spoon, etc. seem like a waste of time.
(5)
Jeana C.

You can't go wrong with the Spicy Miso Garlic Ramen! Sooooo good. The pork belly was great. It wasn't disgustingly fatty; very lean for a pork belly. Thumbs up! Friend got the Terriyaki Salmon. Said it wasn't overcooked so yes, highly recommend!
(5)
Chris M.

In my 35 year old family man suburbanite opinion, the atmosphere would receive one star and the service 2.5.....it's probably jam packed crowded all the time here so there's a bit if a wait.... However, all black rimmed glasses and tight jeans aside, this hipster hole of a Ramen place has the best Ramen I've had to date. The fave stars is for the pork belly ramen only. I didn't have the stomach space or wallet space to spend on small plates or shooters. The Yelp reviews told me all I need to know about the pork belly ramen. The rumors are true, folks. This bowl of soup was incredible. I didn't think I could find bowl of ramen better the the Cha Shu pork ramen at Ramen Mitsoya in Mt. Prospect. But the pork belly ramen at Wasabi took the cake for me. I'd wait an hour in line and hang out with hipsters all day long if it leads me to scoring a bowl of this Ramen!!!
(5)
Emily H.

Basically everything here is aesthetically appealing. The sushi was pretty. It came out very nicely presented and the fish tasted fresh enough. The pork dumplings were about the same, pretty-looking and savory. We tried various things that came on sticks, all nice-looking and very edible. But the tonkatsu. Lord, I don't know if this place was just having a bad day or what, but what I tasted was not pork broth. It tasted like shio miso that might have had a gym sock floating in it for a while. I'm willing to give Wasabi another shot, but from what I've tasted so far, this place doesn't know what they're doing with tonkatsu ramen. I used to live in Logan Square, and if they had managed a fair imitation, I would have been practically swimming in their soup pots every day. But so far...just eh. Go for everything else besides the tonkatsu.
(3)
Julie O.

Everything was delicious. Service was very fast and friendly. BYOB. All the food was great. We had chicken lollipops, seaweed salad, pork belly spring rolls, and ramen (spicy garlic) and we ate every bite. The place fills up fast. We got there at 7:30 on a weds and by the time we left there were 20 people waiting outside. So go early or expect to wait.
(5)
Shambavi K.

For Chicago, this is a go-to spot for ramen. Been here twice and my friend and I can't seem to order anything other than ramen especially on a cold winter night. The other menu items of sushi just seems to be fillers to give people choices. I do recommend that you go on a random time or day if you want a shorter wait...unless you don't mind splitting up your party, which defeats the purpose of eating together. I felt bad when I saw families with little kids waiting for 2 hrs since Wasabi only has 2 big tables that can accommodate large parties (6+). The ramen itself is enjoyable though I feel I kept getting very fatty pieces of pork. Broth can be a little flat as times. I wish it had more add-ins in the bowl as I've seen in other spots in NYC. It's a solid place but I feel as there are more ramen joints opening up, there may be some serious competition soon.
(3)
Jenny P.

SOSOSOSOSOSO GOOD. Best ramen I've had in Chicago (in comparison to Strings and Slurping Turtle) IMO it's also better than the ramen I had at Totto in NYC. I usually never finish my ramen but I finished the entire thing and didn't feel sick afterwards. (I have a sensitive stomach and usually get stomachaches after eating ramen) Highly recommend the spicy garlic miso ramen! (My friend got the donkatsu and said it was really good as well)
(5)
Rachel W.

Love love love love love Wasabi. Tons of options for vegans, vegetarians, pescatarians and people who eat everything :) They change up their specials all the time, but always have a vegan ramen, as well as really creative vegan options like vegan sashimi and my favorite vegan roll in the city: the hot yogi vegan roll. I mean, if that's not a cliche, I don't know what is, and I don't even care. This place is BYO and gets busy! go on an off night, or early if it's a weekend. I love to sit up at the bar by the giant pots of vegan broth simmering away...it's super toasty in the winter. They also have great grilled vegetable skewers off their robata grill (the crispy ones aren't vegan, FYI).
(5)
Mike R.

Cool interior and pretty good quality ramen too. Also had the sushi, which portion-wise was a little interesting. Good cut on the salmon nigiri, but skimping on the ikura. They need to work on that, but nonetheless ...good quality ramen for sure.
(4)
Jane W.

I have a LOT of places to get japanese ramen back at home (Orange County), and I've also had the real deal in Japan, so I'm pretty picky. I've tried Japanese ramen at two other places in this area so far - one at Sea Ranch in Evanston (2 stars - tastes like it came out of a package) and one at Slurping Turtle in downtown Chicago (3 stars - just okay). I've been wanting to make my way out to Wasabi for a while but it's pretty out of the way. SO when a fellow foodie offered to drive a few friends and I to Wasabi, I naturally couldn't resist. I ordered the Tonkotsu ramen, and it was solid. The broth wasn't as rich as I typically like it, but I think that's more of an issue with preference. The noodles had a good consistency and what was especially stand-out good was the charsiu pork! Rich, fatty, and amazing flavoring. Yum. There was a wait, as expected, but we spent that time by going to a local grocery and picking up some alcohol (yay for BYOB!). I think the prices are a bit ridiculous - I can get a bowl of equally good, if not better, ramen at home for less than $10. But whatever, that appears to be the norm around here. Worth a visit, definitely better than any other ramen I've had in this area.
(4)
Todger ..

Like! Really cool and helpful staff. These people are seriously into ramen, and they are proud to tell you all about it! The food is rightiusly good, inexpensive, and quite satisfying. Oh! And it's BYOB. Even better! Fun spot. Go at an off-time, and go with two people only. The you MIGHT sit with only an extended wait. As opposed to a Herculean wait, especially if it's cold outside (where you'll be waiting).
(4)
Christina S.

Let me just start by saying that I'm a huge fan of ramen. I seek it out on a regular basis. I daydream about it on more occasions than I'm willing to admit. So when I say this place is a ramen lover's dream come true I'm not exaggerating. When I say you will have a mouthgasm I'm not exaggerating. And when I say you will think of this ramen every time you eat at another ramen place I'm not exaggerating. It's THAT good! I ordered the tonkatsu ramen and my boyfriend ordered the spicy roasted garlic miso ramen. Both were phenomenal. You can't go wrong ordering either. I'm salivating just thinking of our meal. Please note that there is a long wait at all times. We were fortunate enough to arrive exactly when it opened. Within 5 minutes of opening there was a long line outside. Get there early or you'll have to stare longingly for at least 30 minutes at the happy people inside enjoying their food. We had our orders placed at roughly the same time as the tables next to ours. We got our food shortly after but the tables next to us didn't get theirs until we were almost done with our meal. Yikes. So just keep in mind that order tickets do get messed up here (and seems to happen regularly). Now stop reading this and go enjoy the best bowl of ramen you will ever have in Chicago!
(5)
Brett F.

Finally got myself to Wasabi. What took so long? For someone so devoted to ramen it was a shame it took me years. YEARS! Loved that it was BYOB especially because of the beer tasting that Ryan L. set up for us to go with our bao, sushi and ramen. It's a well-developed menu, indeed. Loved that despite Wasabi's strong ramen focus they still set you up to have a holistic experience that can involve robata, maki, sashimi, buns and even my favorite, uni nigiri. All praise the sea urchin. It was velvety perfection. But back to the ramen. It was delicious. Went with the spicy garlic miso ramen and devoured every last drop. Loved the full flavor of the rich broth, the perfect soft boiled eggs and generous portion of pork belly. Mmmmm pork belly. Lots of attention and care has gone into this ramen. Something like 45 hours worth. You gotta appreciate. Going early is certainly the key to ramening at Wasabi because shit gets busy, yo. Blue Plate special it or earlier unless you like to stand in line for your eeeeeats.
(4)
Amy W.

Great ramen and sushi. Expect to wait on the weekends but well worth the wait. BYOB is a nice bonus.
(5)
Jared P.

Sorry, Wasabi. You get a big "meh" from me. I've been getting all this hype. "You went to Japan? You must be craving ramen. Check out Wasabi. Cocoro? Ramen-san? Check out Wasabi." I've actually been to Wasabi before. It was back in their old location days. I ended up getting some soba noodles and sushi, all incredibly overpriced, especially for the area. The place was incredibly dark and cramped. We didn't care as my wife, whom I was dating at the time, and I were hungry and wanted to sit. But, I had to come back because of all the hype about the ramen. Well, finally getting a car to come out here helped. Let me start out with the wait. If you live in the area, I would see no problem waiting to get a seat. For sure, they have some okay ramen...for the area. I would expect all locals to be swarming the area and waiting in lines. However, I was not a local. I'm from downtown. As I sit in my highrise, I ponder, "shall I go to Chinatown, where there are a million restaurants that you can choose based off of wait time, or chance this place, where I know this will be one of the only options?" Reservations? Would be nice for a "top ramen" joint. Good thing it was 70F on an April afternoon. I couldn't imagine coming here in February and chancing a seat with an indeterminate wait time. At least downtown, there are other places in which to duck, whereas here you're on the edge of a slowly gentrifying area. Even High Five Ramen, which I haven't been able to check out due to ridiculous wait times, has a waiting area...inside...downtown. My advice? If you want to bill yourself as a top restaurant in this city, throw your business on OpenTable or at least have a waiting area for people to escape from the elements, panhandlers, and riff raff. We sat at the bar to get served immediately. Next, allow me to introduce my biased section of the review: I hate onions. The ramen I got was covered with green onions, as was my wife's. I mean, not just sprinkles of tasteless onions. They threw in an entire ladle. I can handle some onions (don't tell my mom), but even my wife, who enjoys them, was picking them out. I know, you're thinking, "Jared, how could you base a review on a place's ramen just because they put onions in the dish?" Well, Ramen-san doesn't pollute their ramen and neither does Cocoro. Here comes the retort, "but, this is authentic ramen and you're just not used to having 10 lbs of onions in your soup because the other places aren't as authentic." Yeah, that's a big bunch of BS. Although I may skim the tops of other places, I never had to dig through the bowl to extract onions that were polluted throughout the bowl. Additionally, I have learned how to say in Spanish and Chinese, because of my travels in those speaking regions, that I don't want onions in my dish. In Japan, I never had to resort to Google Translate to figure out how to request no onions and inadvertently call the waitress's mother a whore (I love you, Google Translate, but keep working). Matter of fact, I walk in, look at the pictures, feed the machine yen, and wait for my ramen. Never had an onion problem. So, down to brass tacks, how was the food? It was okay. How was the food in regards to paying $40 for 2 bowls of mediocre ramen and driving a 20 minutes to Logan Square? Nope. It wasn't salty to the point of me gasping for water. Well, the best ramen I ever had in Japan was, so there goes that theory. Sorry people. It's not worth it, unless you live nearby.
(2)
Matt D.

Located in a rather odd spot on Milwaukee Avenue, Wasabi is one of the most popular restaurants in its neighborhood, and it's not hard to see why. Beginning with the lively, casual atmosphere and continuing through the large and varied menu, I've yet to have a bad experience here. The ramen, while not the best in town, is very solid and leans toward the authentic, and the wide variety of small plates are almost uniformly worth ordering. The prices of the small plates are a bit high for what you get, but not so much that I can resist ordering more than a few. The restaurant isn't always perfect, and service can suffer when the place is swamped (when isn't it?) It's not uncommon for a dish not to make it to the table, or for a server to disappear for awhile. Still, the servers generally have a great attitude and work hard, and seem generally upset Special praise goes to the large selection of vegetarian options, including a vegan ramen that is not listed on the online menu. There are also more vegetarian maki rolls than I've seen at just about any other Japanese restaurant. The biggest downside is that it's hard to get a table without a wait, and the restaurant - for better or worse - does not take reservations. Even at 5:15 on a Sunday night, just 15 minutes after opening, no tables were available at a recent visit. Still, there are often seats at the bar available for solo diners or parties of two, and the wait for a table rarely gets unreasonable.
(4)
Douglas B.

So I am definitely going to agree with some who have reviewed here and say that this place needs a 6th star. Wifey and I came here after hearing many great things. It was a small wait, but it gave me enough time to head over to CVS to get a bottle of wine. It is BYOB! Luckily CVS was open and selling booze :D The place is cozy and rustic. Service was great, they are courteous and answer any questions you may have about the menu! The place isn't too big, I would say a party of 4 is fit comfortably, more than that you're really squeezing your party in there. I'm sure they can accommodate, but it seems tight. That's OK with me, its usually a party of 2 anyway. Speaking of the menu, I want to eat every single thing on it! They have an extensive selection and something for everyone! They have skewers, all sorts of appetizers ans shooters, sushi and of course ramen! We started off with an order of the pork belly in steamed buns and tuna tartare. The buns were amaaaaaazing! I would go there to just eat a bag of those and a couple beers. delicious! the meat was flavorful and the sauce on top sealed the deal. The tuna was light and great quality! It was mixed with avocado and a light dressing. We tried the chicken thigh and shitake mushroom skewers. The mushrooms were so tasty, I don't know how they got so much flavor into those things, but they did it. Now the ramen... I think i dream of this ramen nightly. Its one of those things that lingers in my brain when I want something to eat that is spicy and hearty. I need to go back for this. I had the spicy garlic ramen. I have to say that if you ever need a good pick me up meal, this is it! The pork broth had so much flavor, it was spicy, full of garlic and just hit the taste buds right. The pork belly it comes with looked bland at first look, but once you bite into it.. oh my God! It was full of great flavor, you can tell that they put a great deal of time into that meat. I also added a torched porkbelly that was nice and crispy and same great taste. Over all this place is amazing, I would go there every weekend if I could. You must go there to experience the great care in their food. It is not disappointing at all. You must really not like food to not like this place. Do it!
(5)
Edward M.

I had the spicy roasted garlic ramen. The wait on a Saturday at 5:25 pm was about an hour for 5 of us. I was told the ramen was really good here so I figured I'd give it a shot and compare it to some really legit ramen places from LA run by Japanese ramen masters. The base - a nice spicy, not overwhelming, a lotta nice flavor but much saltier than it needed to be but I did enjoy it, though i craved water non stop after drinking it. But it was a very good base. The noodles - seriously tasted like the stuff you get from maruchan packets, and that's not good, it's like those 25 cent ramen things in the grocery store. There has to be better noodles than this. The pork - mmmm so tender yet very solid pork. You get only 2 pieces of meat. It has a great texture and I could still taste the pork even though it was soaked in the broth. It was among the best pork I've had in ramen places. The egg - perfectly cooked soft boiled egg. You get half of one. It very good! Service - quite overwhelmed and slow, I bet they would get a lot more tables through if they could take orders faster and put out orders faster. Was it worth the wait? I would say no. It was good but not worth an hour unless it's your first time. I would go back if there was no wait but definitely not if there's more than a 10 minute wait.
(3)
Shelly G.

Oh my ramen. Wasabi is the baby bear for all you ramen Goldilocks who complain that the soup is always either too bland or too salty. Everything about the spicy garlic miso ramen was just perfect. The broth is flavorful and spicy without being too greasy. The pork belly tastes like God slow-cooked it himself. If you're looking for the meaning of life, start with the pork belly and kimchee spring rolls and then submerge yourself in noodle heaven. Oh, and just when you thought it couldn't get any better? It's BYOB. Aww yeah.
(5)
Vincent C.

This restaurant is overall a pretty good restaurant. First, the ramen is amazing! It isn't the best I've ever tasted, but it's pretty close to the best. Service here is also really fast. I was immediately seated, my waiter immediately took my order, and I quickly got my check! Despite the qualities of the food and service, I felt this place was slightly overpriced; or at least that's what I thought of their sashimi.
(4)
Connie L.

Be prepared to wait for a table. I came here on a Wednesday for dinner and there were people waiting to be seated all night. If you are coming with a group of people, keep in mind that the largest tables seat 6 people. The service was great--our waiter was attentive and gave great suggestions. The bf and I both ended up getting the tonkatsu ramen. The ramen noodles were decent but the pork belly in the ramen totally hit the spot. The bf added smoked pork to his, which he thoroughly enjoyed. The kimchi spring rolls (comes with four) and pork belly buns (comes with two) were SO GOOD. However, they were overpriced in my opinion ($8 each).
(5)
Young P.

Checked into Wasabi as my first Chicago ramen destination since I was too lazy to drive to Santouka near Arlington. Lucky for us, it was fairly busy for a Friday night, but we got seated right away, also right before it became packed. We didn't know that a good amount of Chicago restaurants in the area practice BYOB and I definitely would have taken advantage of that had I known. We didn't hesitate to order the Tonkatsu ramen as the fatty, oily style broth is one of my favorites. What surprised me about Wasabi was the number of other dishes not related to ramen like sushi dishes and grilled/fried skewers. Popular watering hole style tapas or "yakitori" sticks. We ordered a pair of beef short ribs (w/ ponzu & garlic chips), chicken gizzards, pork belly, eggplant, and a fried brie & filet pork stick. Any dish or stick that includes the Berkshire pig is a MUST!! Like the Pork Belly wraps is so money! I would also recommend the pork & kimchee egg rolls. The pork belly stocks were my favorites, then chicken gizzards, eggplant, and last the short ribs, not my favorite. The ramen was good. The broth was amazing, I just didn't know and was turned off by the egg noodles. It's a personal preference. And I prefer the traditional kansui noodles. Got an order of the traditional oshinko mori, assorted japanese pickles (delish.) on the side. Perfect ramen compliment. I would definitely drop by here again, next time with some brown bag 40's and champagne. Unfortunately, pass on the ramen and stick with the appetizers and skewers.
(4)
Sangeetha R.

Agh. Why do places I love screw me over like this? Wasabi has the absolute best vegan ramen and I am so so so sad that they ruined my experience of it. As a vegetarian(from birth) I am so careful about places I go to eat at because many restaurants don't understand that serious vegetarian means perhaps being grossed out and even not able to process meat protein. I ate at wasabi two days ago and got their vegan ramen and my friend ordered the spicy pork one. She found that they had given her one too many meat pieces with a lot of fat on it and fished it out on to her side plate since she did not want to consume it. We had a great dinner and I was very excited for my doggy bag lunch the next day with my left over vegan ramen. I open it up hungrily and I find the piece of pork fat that my friend had discarded onto HER side plate in my vegan ramen left over. WHHHAAAAAT! I am Glad I knew that it was meat to begin with and thankfully did not consume it. phew! Dodged a bullet but It is so annoying when restaurants violate my trust like this and throw meat in my food. I had to waste all of it - and remained hungry and feeling mad about the money wasted. WTH Wasabi! You disappointed and broke my heart! :-(
(3)
Tina L.

I came here again for a late night snack the other night. It's still a 4-star review from me. I just wish it weren't so expensive! Added extra cha-su, and also tried the uni shooter (I've been craving some good uni these days). They give you A LOT of uni in the shooter, so it's well worth the $5 for it in my opinion. I recently moved to the area, so I'm super excited to have this place in walking distance. I have a feeling I'll be frequenting this place a lot...
(4)
Kara E.

I love Wasabi - I've been here several times and have had sushi and ramen. Their sushi is fresh and decent. Definitely not bad to order a few bites. Their ramen though is where its at. I usually get the tonkatsu ramen with pork belly. The broth is so rich and complex. It is delicious. The pork belly is tender and amazing, and the noodles are as ramen noodles should be.
(5)
Yvonne B.

M has been a self-proclaimed ramen aficionado ever since her trip to Japan several years ago. She recently told me that ramen isn't really Japanese. It is originally Chinese and it was improved upon in Japan where it was a fad - similar to the fondue craze in the United States. M continued that ramen is no longer popular in Japan. Now ramen has made its way across the Pacific Ocean to the U.S. of A. We purposefully went to Wasabi for their infamous ramen. It was delicious. We shared the Tonkotsu Ramen for $13. There was definitely enough for both of us and we slurped it right up. At first M was skeptical that there wasn't butter in it like her exemplary experience in Japan; however, she quickly got over that expectation. The Tonkotsu Ramen was a model of savory and the broth was rich, a little thick, and a tad creamy. We also shared $7 House Made Dumplings (they were alright) and $4 Edamame. I think it's fair to say that the ramen is Wasabi's shining star. It might be noteworthy that the ramen section of the menu was pretty small compared to their large amount of sushi and maki rolls. In fact, the sushi and maki rolls took up an entire side of the laminated menu! We've tried about six rolls (including our server's favorites) and none of them were good. They were pretty bland and the fish was mediocre quality. Our server was cute as all get out. We really enjoyed her personality and appreciated her descriptions of menu items. It was plain to see that she was serving a large portion of the restaurant and was possibly frazzled. She had to be reminded of a couple of things and even forgot our check. Our entire bill was $30 for the two of us! One interesting observation was that there was a lot of ethnic diversity in Wasabi. The front of the house staff were Americans (white and black) and the chefs were Mexican and Japanese. The guests were just as diverse and we enjoyed hearing at least four languages while we ate our food at the bar. Wasabi is most assuredly casual and good for groups and individuals. The decor was artistically industrial - more functional than eye-catching. At first we were seated at a small table closely neighboring another one with children. We opted instead to sit at the bar and we're glad we did! Wasabi was bustling and it was nice to have a seat buffer between us and the next guests. There was a line of people when we left on Sunday evening.
(4)
Terry N.

I tried Wasabi on the recommendation of my sister and cousin who claimed it was the best Ramen in town. It's as good as advertised and what makes this a great choice are the small plates that you order as either appetizers or additions to your ramen. The kitchen is right behind counter seating so there are large kettles of boiling water steaming less than 10 feet away. This is probably great for the winter, but it makes for a warm meal in the summer. Wasabi is an excellent choice for ramen and more.
(4)
Andrew E.

In my opinion, this is the best tonkotsu ramen broth in the city. I could complain about the wait, the way too fatty pieces of pork that sometimes find their way into my soup, or the price, but let's be real here. My main complaint is that I couldn't fit more of that in my belly. More noodles, more pork, more egg, more soup!! If I'm after a bowl of tonkotsu ramen in Chicago, this is where I'd go.
(5)
Cat B.

The stars are really only for the food...which is really very delicious. It's the only reason to go again and again because the service is Logan square pretentiousness at its worst. And their main goal is table turnover. So try not to plan to hang out and chat too long with your friends or you might get glared at and have your bill moved closer to you after you haven't paid it in due time. Yes, and hear "are you doing okay" twelve times as a hint to get you to leave. No offense, but I didn't go out to dinner with my friend I haven't seen in months to stuff my face and leave. They have no space to accommodate anyone waiting for a table (and there is almost always a wait) so even in the rain you're forced to wait outside. And if you try to wait inside you will be swatted away. Byob is a bit restricted. Make sure you don't plan on sitting for longer than a bottle for two people or a six pack for two people. I would think they would want you to drink and order tons of food, but, again, the goal is table turnover. Also plan to be whispered about behind the bar in ear shot of other customers if you complain about anything. It's partly the reason I didn't tell the guy waiting on us behind the bar to try and smile, treat his paying customers with some decency and leave him without a tip. And I ALWAYS tip well. But for delicious ramen and Sushi this place is amazing. I will keep going back, but I might consider doing take out to avoid the snotty hipster attitude. And I LIVE in Logan square. It's really a great place, but the scene at this place is a bit inflated.
(4)
Jenna K.

Afraid of the dreaded usual long line, my boyfriend and I decided to venture there at 1:30pm on a Saturday. We ended up having to wait two minutes to be seated. And then it was surprising to find our server to be extremely courteous. (Considering some of the negative reviews on the service here) We started off with some chicken lollipops that were really enjoyable. They appeared to be more like extra crispy, fatty chicken wings/legs to be dipped in some delicious sauce than lollipops. Next came the ramen. I've never experienced real-life, not 2 minute-ramen-I-made-in-college before but I will say that I ended up stalking so many photographs of ramen that I had no choice but to get it. I went with the Tonkatsu Ramen & my boyfriend ordered the Spicy Roasted Garlic Miso Ramen. And oh man...were they fantastic. The Tonkatsu ramen was exactly what I wanted it to taste like. It was creamy, the pork was a melt-in-your-mouth quality. Half way through my boyfriend & I switched bowls and I was more than surprised by how spicy the Spicy Garlic Miso ramen actually was. While I thought both Ramens were supberb...I'd definitely suggest if you want more flavor & a kick to get the Spicy Garlic. Overall...I have officially decided that I want to eat ramen every day of my life until the end of my life.
(5)
Sandra May L.

Good ramen! It also has BYOB which is also the best! Very hipster like and cozy! I tried the sushi and pork belly fat ramen, it tastes a lot better from most ramen places but I'm glad I tried this place :) There is no parking lots, so you have to park your car on the street but it is also cta-ble
(4)
Greg G.

We got the brussel sprouts, pork belly buns, some fried balls of octopus, and the Tonkotsu ramen. Everything was drop dead good. I swear... especially if you aren't a huge ramen/asian food fan, this place is real treat cause you really do explore flavors you wouldn't normally. The brussel sprouts were literally out of this world, the octopus was extremely interesting but delish, the pork belly buns were little bites of heaven, and the ramen was spot on... its broth was to die for! Overall, great place that'd I go to again. Don't feel it deserves a 5 more one main reason... I really do wish all plates cost a little less. It's not an 'expensive' restaurant, but I feel they could afford having a little cheaper menu.
(4)
Rich M.

To me this is the best Ramen in the city! My favortie is Tonkotsu Ramen with the added boost of seared pork belly! What I was not expecting was their amazing sushi it is super fresh and just delicious. Try the artmex roll it it is one of the best rolls in the city.. Way to go Wasabi! FYI: BYOB and no reservations
(5)
Megan M.

Really epic dinner. Small space, so come at an off time, or plan to wait. Ordered the garlic miso ramen, extra braised pork belly- it was incredible. Complex flavors and textures, fresh and aromatic. Two rolls, ArtMex, and the one with Mango (that was the favorite of the night) Great server, though our host did rush us to leave after finishing the meal (due to the line of folks waiting) Well worth every penny, though my cousin didn't like the chicken skin appetizer, which I didn't try.
(5)
Dannie C.

5 stars purely for the quality of ramen. I got the Tonkotsu Ramen, which was amazing!!! (Personally, I don't really dig miso or shoyu ramens in general; I only eat tonkotsu ramen...) The Fried Chicken Lollipop was fun. Can't go wrong with fried chicken usually, and the dripping sauce was excellent. The seaweed salad was good too, although the portion was a little bit small. Will definitely be back for more when my ramen craving returns.
(5)
Diana W.

My favorite ramen place in chicago Awesome broth, awesome noodles. What more can I ask for?
(5)
Stephanie H.

I stopped by here Saturday for lunch. I ordered the spicy roasted garlic miso ramen, which was delicious. The broth is a little richer at Oiistar, but the ramen itself was super tasty. We also ordered the Surf and Turf maki, which I really didn't enjoy. The service was good otherwise, and I'd definitely like to come back to try the other ramen.
(4)
Jaquie K.

Sushi great,ramen great, chicken lollipops amaze balls, dumplings out of this world and service great I love this place
(5)
Saba A.

Authentic. Finding that is not easy--but once you find it you feel like you have entered another country. Please- GET THE RAMEN! Try to go right when it opens on a bad weather day to grab a table- especially if you're coming with friends like I did. And bring a favorite bottle of wine- or don't! I enjoyed my HFCS soda from Japan which opens in a cool way. I also got the mochi ice cream and a beef skewer from the creative menu. Very casual environment with a hipster trend and a fun night to grab dinner with the girls. Also perfect for a place to catch up with a friend or go to for a casual date. I haven't been that many places for Ramen but I couldn't help myself to the how perfectly tender the noodles were, to how flavorful the sauce was without it being so salty. If you're going for a Ramen hunt- don't think twice about Wasabi. The service was not the best as it was hard to grab their attention- but for the price- totally worth it!
(4)
Shereene M.

I love this place! It's a cute small spot that was pretty packed when we got there but we luckily got seated right away. What we had: - Spicy Roasted Garlic Miso Ramen- SO DELICIOUS! Literally perfect! - Fried chicken lollipops- I loved it! Wished there was more and I could take the sauce home - Tunar tartar- Tasty but not my favorite We had a bite of something else that was whatever. Bottom line.. chicken lollipops and ramen are perfect.
(4)
Tim H.

I thought the ramen here was very high quality and something I would come back for. The brussel sprouts are flash fried and very tasty. The pork belly & kimchee fried spring rolls were well fried and came with a very complimentary sauce. The only dish I had here that I would not order again is the fried chicken lollipops.
(4)
Aimee C.

Highlights: BYOB, Doesn't take reservations. But that makes no difference because it is the BEST. RAMEN. IN. CHICAGO. I am by no means a ramen connoisseur, but I'd like to think I've had my fair share of ramen in the city (i.e. Strings Ramen in Chinatown) and outside the city (i.e. Daikokuya in LA). When I first moved here a little over a year ago, I was on a mission to find the best ramen in town. Today, I am confident in saying that I have completed that quest of finding ramen nirvana. Look no further, because the secrets of the universe can be found while your glasses fog over this simmering bowl of pork goodness. The Tonkotsu broth is touted for delicately marinating over 45 hours and is classically served with all your favorite ramen fix-ins, including the added bonus of garlic oil. Each slurp (yes, slurp. The broth alone will make you forget all sorts of table manners) fires up those taste buds with rich flavors that will make you feel like an infant pressed against your mother's bosom. Essentially, each spoonful transports you to a place of familiar comfort and unadulterated joy, where everything is right in the world. Channel your inner Benjamin Button and venture here for the completion of your own ramen quest. Or better yet, don't. Maybe that'll mean I can get to the front of the line faster :)
(5)
Liz K.

I have been here twice, once when it first opened, and then again tonight. The service has vastly improved, but the sushi is still terrible. Their signature rolls were awful. There were two of the worst that I have had. And the rice, it was hard! Rice is the key ingredient, how do you screw that up? I love going to restaurants in the neighborhood, but this is officially on the black list. I will never stray again from Hachi's Kitchen.
(1)
L R.

I'm not sure what the craze is about on their ra-myun. Based on great reviews, I went with a friend and ordered ra-myun.The service was pretty slow and had to wait awhile for our food. When the food came out, I was pretty disappointed with the taste. It was much creamier than what I anticipated and didn't have any great flavor. Will not be returning...
(3)
Dana G.

Okay this is evil but we love this place so much that we're going to give it a 4 star rating just so it doesn't start BLOWING UP! But for the diligent that actually READ the reviews, this is actually a 6 star restaurant for those who know sushi! My husband and I have gone around the world looking for the best sushi, and let's not kid ourselves, Chicago isn't quite Japan but this is probably the best sushi in Chicago if you're not into weird cream cheese rolls with sparklers coming out the top ;). Best things to eat here: - Art Mex Roll - (I know I just made fun or rolls but this is something else). Clean, refreshing, spicy, fab - Miso ramen - best in Chicago... like a tiny notch below Ippudo but right there - Unagi Brie - actually great - Yakitori - try that grilled pork belly, yum! - all the sashimi - need to go before they sell out each night Not so good: Turf and turf roll - sounded promising with truffle oil, but just too weird (and sort of bland). Finally... wait for it, wait for it... BYOB! Okay, I'm done. 6 STARS!!!
(4)
Elizabeth V.

If I could give Wasabi more than 5 stars and eat there every day I would. It has become my favorite place to get sushi...I won't go anywhere else. What sets this place apart is the great service and the wonderful tasting sushi. Oh and it's BYOB!! You have to try the Logan roll and the ramen.
(5)
Karen M.

Seriously waited over a 1 1/2 for Ramen noodles. All it is noodles so how long does it take but that is what happens when you bring BYOB everything is finish eating but taking their sweet time. If you see people waiting you would think you give up your table but of course not. Ramen noodle is such a small bowl.
(2)
Kong C.

Good food, nice decor. The ramen was alright, though a couple dollars more than Mitsuwa (I guess you're paying for the ambience). The sushi roll that we ordered was fantastic, and I loved the pork belly bun dish as well. The lowlight of the meal were the chicken gizzard skewers that we ordered, which were puny and really tough. Chicken gizzards are supposed to be chewy, but not so tough that its too difficult to get off the skewer. The decor of the place is really modern and cool. Got really crowded on a Friday evening. BYOB, so saw a lot of tables bring wine. Service was a bit off in that the server was nice enough, but they kept bringing our orders to the table next to us. The pork belly bun, which I considered to be an appetizer, came out when we were almost done with the meal. Not cool, Wasabe. Not cool.
(4)
Michael P.

Excellent sushi
(5)
Rits T.

Try their roasted garlic ramen. Its wow me. Another dish I would recommend is wasabi baby octopus. I ordered it twice. its a small portion place but in reasonable price. :)
(4)
Emily C.

I really really loved my visit to Wasabi. It is a great place for a date or just to go with a group of friends. They take reservations but the night I was there with a girlfriend we were one of only five tables. The fish is fresh, super fresh. The rolls are good sized, fair price, and super delicious. BYOB!!!! Which cuts down on the bill. The wait staff is super friendly and very attentive. The prices are moderate and There is street parking and conveniently located near the Logan Square blue line stop. I will certainly be back.
(5)
Luna Z.

the ramen is pretty good. i had the tonkotsu ramen and the broth was really good. not overly salty, but very flavorful. the egg was also really good, the yolk was still soft. like the reviewer below says, something about the bamboo shoots are really good. i only wish they gave more. my only complaint would be that they seem a bit skimpy on some of the toppings. but overall, legit ramen. not like slurping turtle who puts bok choy in their ramen..
(4)
Becky C.

This used to be our go-to sushi place. The food is excellent - but we stopped going here because the service is SO god-awful. They really screwed us twice on take-out orders. They took our order on grub-hub and as I was driving to the restaurant to pick it up, they called to say that the system shouldn't have accepted the order and that they were just too busy to fulfill the order. I explained that I was already a block away ready to pick up my food, but the guy refused to accommodate me. He blamed grubhub, but I'm sure he just screwed up - either way, when you take an order, you need to follow through, not offer excuses. Will never go there again.
(2)
Josh M.

Best sushi in Chicago! I've tried quite a few places in the city for sushi and Wasabi has it beat. Be sure to try the spicy garlic ramen if you're not a big sushi fan. Haven't tried the yakitori and danburo yet because I'm vegetarian, but they look amazing. All of the special rolls I've had, and would reorder them all! The LeJapan and Logan are two of my favorites. The service is impeccable and the owners are always there if you need to speak to someone directly. Everything I've had I would order again! I've come in for a month straight every weekend and could continue to do so for as long as I can imagine! 10000 Stars!
(5)
Dan B.

Nice place to grab dinner due to the variety of choices... If you're in the mood for sushi, you're in luck. If you're in the mood for a bite-sized seared duck breast, you might be in luck if they are featuring it as a special. If you're in the mood for RAMEN, you're truly gonna be in luck! Their ramen is one of those concoctions that you just can't stop eating - even if you're full. So bring some wine, bring some beer, or sake or whatever else you have at home. Nothing like a great BYOB place to enjoy on repeat visits to explore their diverse menu... Pleasant service and chill music help round out the final product here, too.!
(4)
Tammy K.

I went on a really cold and snowy day so my friends and I were all trying to rush out. I totally forgot to write the tip and total amount after I swiped my card. Yes, it is totally my fault. However, when I checked my credit card statement, they charged me 22% tips all on their own. I did feel bad for forgetting to write tip money and wouldn't complain if they took 15-18% tips but 22%?! Really?! I don't even think their service was all that great like all the other reviews said. Lastly, my friends and I didn't even think the ramen was as good as how everyone said it was. We have had same or even better ramen some place else. I'm definitely not going back.
(1)
Sus K.

it was cold outside. It was a fourty minute wait. The lady wouldn't let us make reservations on the phone. But it was well worth it. The salmon roll we got was good but what really knocked us out of the water was the ramen. It made my boyfriend the happiest I have ever seen him when he tasted it for the first time and he couldn't stop raving about it after. The service takes a while but if you have the time for a long drawn out dinner, it's definitely worth the wait.
(5)
Gabie C.

All I can say is wow. My friend and his boyfriend are regulars at this place and they've brought me here on 2 occasions and both times I've been impressed with the quality of food and service. I was just here for my 2nd time this past Saturday for lunch and ordered the Sashimi platter....it's the best $16 I ever spent. The fish is so fresh and delicious. There are so many things to love about this place: great food, easy street parking, BYOB and awesome service. I will definitely be going back soon for more sashimi.
(5)
Wendy W.

I have been here many times and enjoyed it. The ramen is one of the best I've had in Chicago. However, my 2 stars is for the horrible service I received during my last visit. My boyfriend and I decided to come here for dinner before a movie, we had about an hour and a half before it started. I walked in and sat at the bar. It took about 25 minutes before a waitress decided to come and see if we were ready to order. Nobody paid any attention to us even when we tried to get their attention. They didn't even give us water until 5 minutes after we ordered, I also had to ask them for it. Already annoyed that we had to wait so long to even order about another 30 minutes our sushi finally came. We waited another 10 minutes and our ramen still did not come. The waitress said that the ramen was ready when she came to take away our sushi plates. With only a little bit of time left we had no choice but to ask to take it to go. This took another 15-20 minutes to pack what was suppose to be ready ramen. Coming in during dinner time I knew that service wouldn't be fast, but I wasn't expecting needing to wait almost half an hour before someone bothered to take our order. I've came here many times and never have ever I waited so long. Every visit even when I came with a large group of 6 during dinner hours, we were in and out in under an hour. When I spoke to the owner she spoke to me like I was an idiot and told me I should've known they were not a fast food restaurant. She was very rude and did not even apologize for the super slow service.
(2)
Jenny R.

While attending this weekend's Milwaukee Ave Art Fest, we were warned against ordering from overpriced food trucks parked down the block by other festivilians. We'd always been meaning to try out Wasabi & since our friend had been there & loved it, we all went in. We remembered to BYOB at the liquor store across from the L station ahead of time. Our waiter, Chris, was wonderful-we were brought ice water & beer glasses immediately. Between his and our friend's suggestions, we had a plan. We opened with the assorted pickled vegetables and the pork belly kimchi spring rolls. Both were fantastic-the pickles were a great palette cleanser & were yummy enough to just snack on. We destroyed spicy tuna roll, Artmex, Mag Mile & our fave, Le Japon! All were super fresh, flavorful & perfect for sharing on a double date. A wonderful way to try alot of different dishes. We also tried one of the specails, unagi with brie. YES, brie. I wiould never have thought to try those together, but it works-and deliciously so! Would love to try some of the cooked dishes next time. We finished off the meal with the lava cake4, which it clearly states on the menu that it takes 20 minutes to make. We let Chris know when we were ready and it arrived at just the right time. Excellent food, amazing service, and a great location. Will definitely be back for more.
(4)
Rebecca R.

Spicy garlic miso ramen. Tako wasabi. Any of their yakitori. Honestly, I haven't been let down by anything I've consumed at Wasabi. Waitstaff are wonderful, food is fantastic, atmosphere is awesome! When they were located by the Rocking Horse, my boyfriend and I would walk over far too often; now that they're a bit farther down Milwaukee, we've cut back a bit. Sigh.
(5)
Anisha A.

Wined and dined my bro here for his bday, while trying to sway him to write prescriptions for a highly controlled substance (for a friend of course). He said no, something about medical integrity, and I stopped listening. So I drowned my sorrows in Wasabi's homespun soy while our vigilant server detailed how everything we wanted to order required 15 or 20 minutes preparation because it was either slow cooked or handcrafted by nuns. Considering the build up, the homemade dumplings and Hamachi collar were fine, not great. The art mex and mag mile maki were suave yet disguised with mayo, and the salmon belly sashimi special slid down like a fine butter (versus Pam). Can't go anywhere these days without bumping into ramen, too bad it always catches me wearing the same outfit. The spicy roasted garlic miso interpretation here was ok, evidently short on chutzpah. While Wasabi is oddly stingy when it comes to its namesake, the menu is pervasive and the spot is nondescriptly pleasant. Regardless, four stars would only have been realistic had I left with the pills.
(3)
Bethany H.

Get that low brow 6/$1 stale noodle definition of ramen out of your head, and go to Wasabi! Their spicy garlic miso ramen is excellent! We enjoy their sushi and pork rolls from time to time too. My only complaint is that the pork in te ramen is really fatty. I wish it was leaner.
(4)
Julie I.

The uni shooter was delicious!! I love their ramen (Spicy Garlic & Miso)! The skewers are average and kind of pricey. Overall, it's one of my favorite ramen place. 4.5 stars!
(4)
Penny L.

Service was very good. Nice atmosphere. Had a late Sunday lunch. Garlic spicy miso ramen ok. Grilled food ok. Sashimi ok. This place is better than Slurping Turtle. Sorry. Won't come back.
(3)
Mark S.

We went on Saturday early afternoon. I believe I was the only patron of non-Pacific Rim descent. Older Japanese chef. I had the sushi brunch platter. The sushi was as good as any I have had. My wife had the miso ramen and it was very good. Nicely spiced and hearty. Please note that no matter what the yelp map says, this place is about half block southeast of The Congress Theater on Milwaukee. Apparently BYOB which is another thing that is fantastic. Not a quiet place. Open and fairly loud. That didn't bother me but it might be some information you'd like to know. I thought this place was terriffic and am looking forward to my next visit, B-ing my OB.
(4)
Jason A.

This place is pretty good, especially for the mid-west. Whether you want a Japanese or American experience, this place delivers. The Hamachi Toro was probably my favorite thing there. I had to wait a while because I went a Saturday night, but that just means this place is popular. Right now, Wasabi is still under the radar but not for long! I give this place 5 dragon kicks!
(4)
Moe f.

I love me some BYO sushi so of course we had to try this place. Brought a Sauvignon Blanc and didn't even have to ask for the wine chiller. Started with miso and seaweed salad that were both adequate. Had to try some skewers and the pork belly was amazing but chicken skin wasn't for me. Moving on we got the Artmex roll that was fantastic and a spicy tuna. And then onto Tuna(good), SW Tuna(good), hamachi(meh), Salmon Belly(awesome), Hamachi(meh), and butter scallop(awesome). But the rice under the fish wasn't staying together. And they make their own soy sauce that was very good. The cooked items looked interesting as well so need to come back for some of them.
(3)
Tom A.

I have had two solid experiences here. Mostly ordered veggie rolls and a few fish rolls and some apps. We've liked everything, with the fried mushrooms being the one standout. It is a large menu. With BYOB, got stuffed for about $30 a person, though half that would be adequate. The "fresh wasabi" is worth getting ( one $2 order will cover 2-4 normal people's needs), even though it seems to be (as is always the case) fresh horseradish. Still, it adds a nice increase in spicyness if that is your thing. As with every sushi restaurant I have ever been to there is no accountability of fish in the "red list" sense. I assume much of what they sell is not sustainable, but I don't actually know what most of it is, since they use the Japanese names. I took a to-go menu and will look into it myself. Anyway, I'd love to see some indications of the menu, even if it is just showing that a couple fishes are from sustainable sources, because I would order those.
(4)
G P.

The ramen is delicious!
(4)
Lindley E.

Arguably the worst service experience I've ever had. And there's a lot of competition for that title. I've been twice and twice I've been disappointed. Really disappointed. Less with the middling food but with the service, which could really use a rethinking. The first time we were promptly seated and waited 15 minutes to be acknowledged. Acknowledgment not forthcoming, we left. We chalked it up to inexperience. Strike one. The second time was similarly sloppy. Bumbling kitchen errors and some misjudgments resulted in a remarkably poor dining experience, one they could have salvaged with humility, but instead made us angrier with their non-solution to their errors. Strikes two and three. Sorry Wasabi. We're through.
(1)
Eric V.

Huzzah! Call me Indiana Jones on my Last Crusade cause I just found my Ramen equivalent of the Holy Grail. This bowl of Ramen might not give you everlasting life, but it will give you the best Japanese Ramen experience this town has to offer... For the longest time I've griped about how difficult it is to find a really good bowl of Hakata-style Ramen that compares to my experiences on the west coast. After hearing that Wasabi and their Japanese-born chefs were featuring ramen on the menu, I knew I had to stop in to give it a try. The menu featured two ramen options, Syou Tonkotsu and Miso. The waitress gave the Syou Tonkotsu her highest recommendation so I followed her lead. Once the bowl hit the table, my wife and I took a look at the color of the broth and instantly had an inkling that this was the bowl of ramen that we had been looking for. I took in one spoonful of broth and my jaw almost dropped. It was light on oil and the flavor profile was perfect. Porky, rich, and savory without being too heavy or salty. From there my experience only got better. The ramen noodles had just the right firmness, and the slices of Berkshire pork cheek were tender and packed with porky-good flavor in every bite. The bowl also featured bamboo shoots, spinach, and a hard boiled egg with a creamy golden yolk for some added richness. Simply delicious. Either one of their ramen options will set you back $14, which is nowhere near cheap. I've taken issue with expensive bowls of ramen in past reviews, but the high quality ingredients (along with the time and care that surely goes into building the flavors in this bowl) make the up-charge worth it, particularly when I can't find anything close to this good in the city. We had the opportunity to speak with one of their managers (might have been an owner) and she mentioned future ramen specials inspired by her trips back to Tokyo. I'm beyond stoked to try those specials, and will definitely be back for the Syou Tonkotsu.
(5)
Michael F.

Wasabi is reasonably priced and the food is very good. The miso soup is excellent and a bargain at only $2.50. Ours was actually complementary either because we were there during their soft opening or because I am strikingly handsome; it's probably a little of both. I ordered the Pike Place maki which consisted of crab, salmon, and avocado. It was not also free as I had hoped, but $15. Still not bad! I was also hoping to knock back some ramen as good ramen is hard to find, but they did not have it that night. I'll update the review after my next trip there, as this could have a profound influence on civilization as ramen is the tastiest of noodles. There were many vegetarian options on the menu. From what I tried, I would recommend the asparagus maki and the sour plum maki. The latter was very complex and may not be for anyone who has ever eaten at the Olive Garden. It's also important to note that Wasabi is BYOB, which if you're like me will save you about $50.
(5)
Jill M.

Hands down the best ramen in all of Chicagoland! Absolutely love this place. Sushi is always fresh and I have never had a bad meal here. It's byob and one of my very favorite restaurants. And I am very glad that it i right across the street!
(5)
Emily R.

Love this restaurant. GREAT ramen. I'm talking lick the bowl AND chopsticks when you are done kinda deliciousness. The kobe beef nigiri thingy was out of this world as were the dumplings (order them TWICE in one sitting!) It is 90 degrees outside and I am STILL stopping by Wasabi to get some hot, savory, ramen action.
(5)
Danny C.

I ordered the tonkotsu ramen and it was delicious. And the $4 extra for the pork belly was worth it. My friend also ordered the same thing and said that it was authentic, like ones found in Japan. It was very filling and I almost didn't finish the sushi. The sushi was okay. There weren't that many pieces and it was somewhat expensive. We had the Philly, Spicy Super Tuna, and the Special Surf N Turf roll. The Philly roll had too much cream cheese, the tuna roll was ok, and the Surf N Turf (lobster and beef) didn't have that much taste to it. However, this is the best ramen I've had in Chicago.
(5)
Jean C.

Gods be good! I finally found a restaurant in Chicago that serves ramen! Real ramen! I came here last night with my husband to get a quick bite before heading to a game. We were the only table but at 6pm, most people do not venture out to eat then. The space was zen like. The dark wood tables, the long booth and the sushi bar was beautiful. Nice clean lines and minimal decor. As usual, I already looked at the menu online and knew I was going to order the Tonkatsu Ramen. The hubs ordered shrimp shumai, grilled asparagus skewer and spicy tuna crunch roll. He loved his meal. But I REALLY loved mine. The bowl arrived. I inhaled the scent. The noodles. Perfect. The broth was succulent and had just the right amount of saltiness and the pork melted in my mouth. I instantly stopped talking and ate the entire bowl. Perfection. Everything was so lovely that I can not wait to go back. I am so happy to have finally found a place that serves good ramen and bonus for it being in my neighborhood. I'll be getting my ramen fixes weekly from here. Huzzah! Huzzah! Huzzah!
(5)
Meghan B.

The food here is great and reasonably priced and I love that it's BYOB (although they didn't have sake glasses, which seemed odd for a sushi restaurant.... ) The otherwise stellar experience is marred by the super slow service I've received both times I've eaten here. Riding the chillwave, I guess.
(4)
Tiffany K.

Came here with some friends on a Saturday. The sushi was great (got the fresh salmon maki and the salmon skin maki) but the service is SO. SLOW. The food is relatively cheap and affordable, but it took us about 40 minutes to get our food. There were three waitresses (and this place is tiny) and the tables were full, but nothing insane. I like this place, but the wait staff is so spacy! What's up with that?
(3)
megan s.

I've given this place a whirl two times, both times delivery. First occasion: Called to place an order. The woman on the phone was very snippy. When I asked if any vegetarian dumplings were available, she asked why I didn't just order on Grubhub. Thanks for the answer. Food came. I had a sweet potato tempura maki roll, the boyfriend had a real sushi roll. I can't remember which. Either way, we both decided the food and portions were mediocre. Second occasion: Used Grubhub this time so that I wouldn't have to deal with another snippy person on the phone. I ordered the sweet potato tempura roll - again. But, when the food came... I opened up my box to find an asparagus tempura roll. Womp womp. Again, flavor/portion = mediocre. Maybe the dine-in service is superior to the delivery service, but I certainly won't be ordering delivery from Wasabi again.
(2)
Jennifer S.

My husband and I visited Wasabi for dinner tonight... again. This time we tried the Ramen. I had the Syou Tonkotsu Ramen, and my husband had the Miso. We started out with a couple asparagus skewers (because I am in love with them), and also tried the scallops - holy cow, they were good! I loved my Ramen bowl, and tried so hard to finish all of it; but it was huge, and I was completely stuffed! We had a delightful waitress on our first visit, and the server tonight was just as pleasant and welcoming. Two visits, and two very positive experiences.
(5)
Ben N.

Best ramen in town!
(5)
Lauren G.

Fantastic Pork Belly and Kimchee Spring Rolls and Sushi and it's BYOB. Sushi Suggestions: Logan Le Japon Cubby Bear Enjoy!
(4)
cam i.

I ordered miso ramen,edamame. My friend told me that sushi wasn't that great , and I was going to order those skewer but as soon as few seconds later, I saw other table ordered those skewer. They looks good but the portion is quite small with high price, so I didn't ordered it. It's little expensive to eat there, but I think the ramen is worth to try!
(4)
Katie R.

still just as delicious and fresh as ever. i don't know what was going through my head before, but i love the decor now whenever i visit and the BYOB is wonderful.
(4)
Numnum M.

Ask your waiter about the ramen noodle soups. If the process of how they make their soup doesn't win you over then you'll just have to trust me and order a bowl for yourself. Be Warned! unless you are a lumberjack, a large bowl of soup will satisfy any appetite. Then again... if the sushi rolls weren't wrapped in a delicious pillow of rise i would advise you to heed my warning. But since those tricky bastards in the back ad just the right amount of sesame seeds to the rice in their sushi rolls, I must insist that you at least order one. The place is nice but you won't be asked to leave if you show up in gym shoes. because of the size of their seating area, i would advise avoiding prime dinner times.
(4)
Victoria W.

I normally don't get excited by the prospect of Japanese food, but I ate so much at Wasabi last night I almost exploded. I felt like a person with a gambling addiction in a casino -- I just could not stop myself. Everything was so tasty and fresh, I can't wait to go back! We spent ~$70 per couple and had some of the small plates (nice tastes of different flavors and textures), a bowl of the Syou Tonkotsu Ramen and 5 different rolls. But if you're on a budget you could just get a bowl of ramen for ~$12 and leave satisfied. The only disappointing thing is that they don't have any to-go containers yet, so we "had" to eat most of the ramen that my husband planned to take home for a lunch. Service is friendly and helpful, but it's a relaxed pace so don't go if you're in a rush.
(5)
Sarah D.

We originally came here for the ramen, but then were pleasantly surprised with the sushi and appetizers. All the food was delicious and very reasonably priced. Our favorite part of the meal was probably the pork belly spring rolls. Also the BOYB was pretty great too.
(5)
Thomas L.

I think I'm turning Japanese. No, I'm not just jackin' it and about to...get there. I love sushi, I enjoy tea and sake now, and I've learned that Ramen is way more than just a brick of solid carbohydrates that college kids microwave in water and to which one then adds a flavor packet. Firstly, the atmosphere, staff, and wait time were amazing on a Wednesday night. We went yesterday on the 19th because my friend and I are Ramen fiends, and apparently this was the only Ramen place in the city. The establishment radiates freshness, and I'm not saying anything further, which tells you the staff is awesome. We walked right into the place. Now I've heard the line is literally out the door on weekends, so that's why we chose to dine on a weeknight. Keep this in mind. Secondly, and this really should not be any less meaningful because it is listed second, the food is SO GOOD. The pork belly is so perfectly cut, tenderized, and prepared, that it nearly just falls apart. They make their pork-and-miso-based broth fresh and in-house. The soft-boiled egg for the Ramen had a gelatin-like quality to the yolk, which improved the texture from your standard egg in addition to the taste. The noodles were also freshly made, so this place really is a true Ramen house. My friend had the spicy garlic Ramen, and it was also out-of-this world. I will be back to try their sushi just based upon the perfection they exhibited in the Ramen. And at only $13.00 for the Ramen, it is priced perfectly. As for other dishes, they do small plates. We ordered what was essentially a Dim Sum style of sticky bun with, yes, more pork belly. (You know, we may have a slight problem come to think of it.) In fact, the place is so good that the side dish we had made me want to just go there and order just ALL sides even one time. The asparagus side was grilled to perfection, chopped and served on a skewer. It had just enough solidity that you want in a vegetable--not mushy at all, that is. Thirdly, it's BYOB. That's a statement, neither being a plus nor a minus. Lastly, it's nearly all Asians eating there. That's not racist; that's a compliment. Having indigenous patrons at a restaurant is one of the highest compliments to the restaurateur because it means that her or his cuisine is so good that the native culture embraces it as authentic enough to substitute it for a night at home. In other words, even the Japanese think it's good Japanese food, and they're in a superior position to judge it. This is true Ramen, and you will know this when you walk into the place. Awesome. Just go to this place. Your stomach will thank you.
(5)
Heather L.

Nice atmosphere in this otherwise hipster wasteland. But the service and the food just doesn't cut it for me. There were three of us and we ordered a large variety of items to share but nothing was really that great. We ordered the shish kabobs first and they came last. Service was very slow and not paced at all. Just not a great experience. Worked out to $32 per person and I wasn't that full. BYOB at least.
(2)
Lala S.

Similar to the other reviewers I've been waiting for this place to open for a few months since it was originally supposed to open in October and was very excited to finally see the OPEN sign on last week. We had the tempura starters (nothing special), the hot beef soba bowl (good and generous portion!), two kinds of chicken skewers (good, but not as good as NYC yakitori), a spicy tuna roll (not mind-blowing but just as good as any other sushi place) and the Artmex roll (pretty outstanding... as good flavorwise as rolls at Coast I would say). The check came to just under $50 for the two of us and we were stuffed. I am giving this place a 4 star because Wasabi is definitely more than just another sushi place. Their menu is more extensive than most Japanese restaurants (lots of small plate options) and the non sushi items really didn't suck!!! Their signature rolls are interesting and if the roll we had were any testament to how the other taste then we have our new casual go-to sushi place. This place is also steps away from where I live so that is an automatic half star for me. Regardless, the food is good for the price, the decor is cute, the servers are attentive AND it's BYOB with no corkage fee (yay!) which I hope is how they continue to operate. For now they are cash only.... so if you are planning to try this place out don't forget to hit the ATM before you go.
(4)
Rebecca P.

This place is kind of going down hill. I LOVED it the first couple times I went, but each time I go back it gets consistently worse. Sadly after how bad it was the last time I just won't go back. The sushi doesn't taste fresh, nor do any of the other ingredients...not even the ginger which is saying a lot. I want to like it because it's right in my neighborhood. But for way less I can get Jaiyen delivered to my door which is hands down better fish.
(3)
L L.

Was at Wasabi tonight and last Tuesday for special occasions. Great service, great menu and great addition to the hood - I don't live in this hood but I imagine this is a win/win/win. Looking forward to returning!
(5)
Lauren A.

The most authentic ramen in Chicago, but man alive is it crowded. Somehow Wasabi went from being a neighborhood joint to a destination restaurant, and even though they have moved down Milwaukee to a larger space it is always PACKED. Plan accordingly!
(5)
Shayna N.

Been back a few times now. Always super fresh fish, delicious, a little pricier than I like, but the closest sushi place to my house makes it an easy dinner option. remember to byob!
(4)
Suz C.

if u want japanese ramen, come here. that is all.
(5)
Reyer M.

First time at Wasabi was good and fun. We ordered many things and most of it was very good! The dumplings (pot stickers) were the best I've had so far in Chicago (3 months; I get them everywhere; I'm on a mission). The specialty rolls are good, but the more traditional rolls are nothing special. Ramen was also good. Pork belly is prevalent and is better than I've had at most places. I wish they offered ramen with chicken! The Mochi ice cream balls were good, standard. Service was good. We will be back! Very convenient to the Blue LIne - Logan Square. OMG, I totally almost forgot the best part - It's BYOB, bitches! But seriously, it's BYOB.
(4)
Kaman T.

Yay! Finally a good ramen place in Chicago! This place is in Logan Square so expect to see hipster yuppie's. We ordered the tonkotsu ramen, tonkotsu ramen with the braised pork belly, and a grilled short rib skewer. The skewer was good. A bit salty but you can really taste the yummy fattiness from the beef. The ramen was really good compared to the ones I've had in America. The broth is very savory and has the sweetness from the pork bones. The half boiled egg, on the other hand, was pretty dang salty. Kinda hurt my tongue haha. The meat in the ramen was off the chain. The meat itself is a little cold but damn son. It melted in my mouth and it was so damn tasty. You can tell that it's definitely cooked slooowllly. The ramen itself could be better. Kinda reminds me of the maruchan ramen. The ramen came in a rather small bowl compared to the ones in Japan. It also has a lot less broth which I'm not use to seeing, but overall this was a winner. The broth and meat was the star. Definitely will come back for ramen. Best part is that it opens late too! Late night ramen, here I come.
(4)
Kat L.

I love that there is a good sushi place so close to my place. I can't speak for the ramen, which everyone seems to love, but the sushi is fresh and tasty. Head's up, though, they hide wasabi in their nigiri. Can't say I'd seek the restaurant out if I didn't live in the neighborhood but I sure am glad they're here!
(4)
Jim T.

I will be back. Not only is this excellent sushi, they have daily specials of very interesting items. To note I had the Kobe beef nigiri, seared slightly under a torch with some special sauce. It was top notch and a great addition to the toro I ordered. I am a sucker for BYOB and they delivered. I really like how this is no ordinary sushi place, with a large list of tapas style goodness. Dumplings, crab, oyster shooters, mussels, tuna tartar, just to name a few. It would have given another star if not for the inexperienced wait staff. They are nice and attentive, just a bit clumsy and shy. Also, it's called Wasbi but they only have the powdered type? How about some fresh or pure wasabi? I'm sure it's opening pains, correcting in the coming months through experience.
(4)
M C.

Loved the simple, yet elegant decor, as I'm always a fan of Chicago's brick walls. The appetizers (skewers and pork buns) were excellent. The dragon roll was delicious. Server was very attentive. Overall, nice experience.
(4)
Hazel W.

I dislike a place that says "Ramen is only for dine-in." That's ridiculous. The one time we did dine in the other food was mediocre.
(1)
Luke E.

I like it here, skewers, really nice people, AND THE MUSIC IS GOOD. I don't even remember the food as much as the music.
(4)
Hua X.

The ramen here is very good. Thicker, more strongly textured noodles than the typical stuff served. The tonkotsu ramen had some good soup -- not too salty.
(4)
chyanne h.

I feel pretty awkward giving this place two stars, but then again, it was a rather awkward meal. If it hadn't been I believe Wasabi is fully capable of four stars at least. I would give it another chance, but delicately. First off, it's the day after the blizaster of 2011. Fair enough the place was relatively empty. Fine by me. I'm a single diner, they sat me at the bar to chit chat with the guys. In said chit chat they asked me if it was cold - outside? yes very. Inside you meant? Oh the heater's broke? That would've been nice to know before sitting down. Well, it's so chilly, let me order a nice cup of hot tea. Which I had to remind them about half way through my meal. No charge, but it came with a quip that the waitress was so busy with the other tables. I didn't really find it funny. Menu. It's pretty extensive and has lots of tasty sounding options. I came here for sashimi. I'm a big fan and am well versed with options and price points. This place was a little high in my book used to downtown prices for 17-18 bucks for a platter. At first glance and I didn't see any platter groupings or bento box options that typically come in 6-8 piece orders with a roll. I did see the Donburi and asked about those, they sounded close enough but the waitress couldn't tell me how many pieces and instead rattled off a list of the types of sashimi they offer and told me I wouldn't be disappointed. Ok, I was not disappointed with the amount of food. It was $24 bucks for a big bowl of rice and assorted sashimi. The clam was fantastic. So was the scallop. And the white fish was the best I've had. It was rather awkward to eat, but maybe I've just never seen it done that way. I was enjoying the atmosphere (which was enjoyable unto itself), reading a book after my meal, finishing my tea. The check came to 26.22, I threw down $40. The waitress came back with $23 even and said they didn't have change. Well, I might not be the biggest math wizz, but I would assume you'd round down at .22. So unfortunately it came out the tip. I know it's sushi, but I left this place with a funny taste in my mouth, figuratively speaking.
(2)
Michelle P.

I love Wasabi's vegan ramen. This dish has me looking forward to autumn--nothing sounds better on a chilly evening than a bottle of wine and bowl of piping hot ramen.
(5)
Janice W.

The best ramen I've had outside of Japan and Vancouver. I'll be coming back to taste the skewers and sushi I'm sure! BYOB is a bonus!
(4)
Maria h.

First time here, like it! Order the Ramen, not bad, only the soup is little salty, Chicken Gizzard, Chicken Skin, Chicken Wings very very good, and the rib eyes not bad too! Want to try the other dishes, but full already, will go again soon with more friends
(4)
Ei B.

I was here the other night, quite the delight I must say! They had about 2-3 sushi chefs on staff and the rolls they created were beautiful and tasty. Bathrooms were in excellent shape, and the space had an almost cozy/relaxing atmosphere to it. Our server was patient with us and helpful. I highly recommend the spicy tuna crunch, spider and dragon rolls here. Oh and it's a BYOB, that's always a plus!
(4)
Jessica S.

This dining experience was ecstasy. BYOB - awesome! Service: Fantastic and friendly. Server knew about everything on the menu and had PERFECT recommendations. Decor: Minimalist and beautifully designed. Seating is great, none of that too-close-to-your-neighbors business. Food: I recommend everything I had. Wagyu Aburi: Kobe beef sushi piece thing. It cost five dollars for one bite, and probably endless amounts of energy to fly that tiny piece of beef from Japan to my mouth, but WOW WAS IT THE BEST BITE OF ANYTHING EVER. Avo White Tuna roll: Melted in my mouth. So far, the best sushi roll I've ever eaten. Mag Mile roll: Delicious, but didn't blow me away as much as the Tuna roll...would try a different specialty roll next time. Skewers: Cheap! Chicken skin and the fried Pork and Brie. Both were absolutely fantastic. The Pork and Brie came with an amazing sauce. Dessert: Also cheap! Tiny Cheesecake and tiny Creme Brulee. Fantastic, with deliciously decadent berries. Just enough dessert, without overdoing it. They have a fabulous menu full of other delicious looking things, such as Miso Ramen, Pork Belly and Kimchi spring rolls, Calamari... Love it. Go there.
(5)
Gamaliel E.

I came here on a Saturday night and it was pretty busy. They had a large party which took up a ton of room that night, and made it a tight squeeze for the servers to get by. Wasabi has a nice trendy interior, and could totally see it being a decent date option. It did take a little while to get my order taken...which was okay because the server ended up being very helpful in suggesting a special. I ordered the monk fish foe gras which was very different, but also very delicious. I also ordered the dragon and spicy white tuna crunch. The rolls were very good, but I think I've had better ones at a nearby sushi spot. Anyhoo...I really like the diverse and interesting menu and specials. I'll definitely be back.
(4)
monica m.

This is my 1st resturant review, ok that already says alot.. for me to spend time to say this place was ACE... Went after the Renegade Craft Fair on a September Sunday evening.. the place was nice and airy, maybe 3 other tables were occupied. Server was nice and explained all the top pics of the menu. A close Los Angelino-move to chicago friend of mine reccomened that I go here, and you know~ LA knows RAMEN, and asian food in general. This has to be the best Tonkatsu (+Spinish) ramen I've had in chicago... I've been here for a year and even moved close to Mitsuwa to help ease with the fact that my hood had a lack of local asian towns here in the NW burbs (J Town, K Town, Chinatown, Little Siagon...) We also tried the Spicy Miso Ramen, although it was nice and spicy, it wasn't as special as the Tonkatsu.. They got the key elements to a truly tasty ramen: - creamy broth- it was not too overly salty - thickness and the tenderness of the pork- just fell apart ! - soft yolk egg- it was perfect, still a bit runny- the way it should be. I will be going back to try some of the other appitizers as ther were alot ot choose from..
(3)
Ken S.

Best Japanese restaurant ever!
(5)
Chris M.

Best vegetarian/vegan ramen I've had in Chicago. The vegan option is not on the regular menu, but it is on the "Specials" menu. It has a miso-mushroom base, with your choice of either buckwheat or egg noodles. The broth was very flavorful without being too salty. My only criticism is that they put too much bok choy in the soup. Another vegetable in the mix would have been nice. Boyfriend had the tonkatsu (pork-based) ramen, and thought it was very flavorful as well. We'll be back!
(4)
Mimi D.

Just like other reviewers, I too am rejoicing for this new addition to the hood! My friend and I went on Friday night, part of their soft opening. Let me start with what's good: - Interior was nice with exposed brick, high ceilings, red walls and dim lighting. - It's BYOB...what's not to love about that! - HUGE menu...lots of options for everyone! - Friendly staff - good customer service always makes the experience better! Now let's get to the food. I really, really wanted to love the food...but I have to say it was just ok. Granted, this was one of their first nights and I did not try everything on the menu. My friend and I tried the fried squid balls. For $5 we thought we could be adventurous and not feel like we were breaking the bank. It was nothing to rave about. The staples were fine - we had a dragon roll, spider roll and seaweed salad. They were good, but I've had better. We also ordered the grilled yellow tail. I actually liked that. They served it with this tempura-sauce-like sauce. Now I can't speak for their sashimis & nigiris since we didn't order them. This review is based on this one experience and I hope to go back and try other things on the menu like the ramen (my current obsession) and the skewers. They're supposed to have a delivery service soon, so that will come in handy during the blistery months ahead. For now, I give it 3 stars. I hope their other offerings will change my rating to a 4 or even a 5. We'll see.
(3)
Celine K.

I cannot comment on the sushi. I had the tempura appetizer and the tonkotsu ramen. The tempura had way too much batter. The ramen was overly salty and oily. The service was slow--it took over 25 minutes after ordering before the tempura arrived. The portions were generous, but the quality of food wasn't great. .
(2)
Jim D.

You must have the ramen! It's supposed to be the best. I loved it. Great place, nice atmosphere if you're looking to relax. We loved it.
(4)
Kevin T.

There are not many Ramen places in Chicago. I've been to a few and this is probably the best I've had. Can't speak much more for the rest of the food, but the Ramen is excellent. BYOB and I'll definitely be back!
(5)
Aaron D.

The food is terribly over priced for what you get. I ordered several skewers, each came with 1-2 inches worth of skinny meat, that was VERY dry. The mushroom skewer had 3 mushroom pieces on it, barely the size of a nickle each. I would expect more meat / veggies on a 6-8 inch wooden skewer. The sushi was mid grade at best, and their sweet potato mash was bland. Took over an hour to have delivered (from order confirmation to door and I live near Diversey & Central Park). Maybe the food / experience would be better in the restaurant itself. $45 meal that felt like I had only eaten $8 worth of food.
(1)
Stephanie D.

Good sushi in Logan square and Byob to boot. Try the pork belly spring rolls or the Le Japon or artmex roll. A little on the pricey side, but worth it. Everything I've gotten here has been solid.
(4)
Amy M.

Ramen-Awesome for Chicago Yakitori-Pork Belly Yummo!! Chicken Gizzard-Good Uni- Shipment did not arrive so was not able to try this
(4)
nic d.

There was a piece of glass in my food. Sure, it's a cute spot and the service was decent, but there's no coming back from that.
(1)
S K.

Really enjoy the sushi, ramen and mochi here! The rolls are fantastic - favorites include the Artmex and spicy tuna crunch. We've had the ramen noodles as well - also very good. The mochi is the reason we keep coming back - green tea and chocolate are my favorites. Mango and strawberry are my partner's. So good!
(5)
Mary Beth K.

I'm so excited for great new additions to Logan Square! This place is cute and cozy. Nice decor, lively on a Friday night. We had no trouble getting reservations early on a Friday night (at 6pm) but we weren't the only people there either. Our server was very nice and knowledgeable. We had the sushi this time, but I want to go back for the ramen which looks very good. We tried the Artmex and agree with other reviewers that that was our favorite roll. Everything was yummy and fresh. Maybe a little heavy on the mayo on some of the rolls... We didn't try any sashimi so we'll have to go back for that too. BYOB. Overall a great restaurant addition to the square!
(4)
Keoni H.

This place was pretty good! The sushi was better than average, the ramen was quite yummy, the appetizers, were decent. I would of given this place 5 stars for the food alone but the service suffered a bit. Maybe because it was towards the end of the night (70 minutes before closing) but we were slightly rushed. The server kept trying to take our bowls that were not empty. He kept walking by looking at our food and then "huffed" when we asked for the bill to be split. "WIsh you would of told me before hand!" But the Spicy Garlic Ramen was super yummy! LOL
(4)
Kelsey K.

OMG, WASABI. Wow... this place is amazing. We've driven by here a bunch of times and there has always been a prohibitively long line. We finally went here a while back and we've been there several times since. I get why there's a line and I'll gladly wait for this place. I won't wait for many places, but this one... you bet your ass I'll patiently stand there and shut my mouth. Get the ramen and sushi that your server recommends. You'll be happy and you'll be glad you sucked it up and waited.
(5)
Sara T.

They had an off day last time with undercooked noodles. Glad I gave it another try - everything was spot on! Still #1!!
(5)
John R.

I definitely would love to return back to Wasabi when I'm back in the Chicago area. I was told to go to this spot by my friend specifically for their ramen (by the Sous chef of Eataly). I love my ramen spots and when I landed in Chicago, a gloomy day in August made me feeling a little under the weather. I knew I had to have a big bowl of hot soup to cure my symptoms. I sat down at the bar with literally no wait since I was by myself on a Sunday. I went with the pork belly buns to start off and thought they were cooked to perfection. The bao came out steaming hot and had the perfect airiness/fluff to it. The pork belly was so tender that I could barely tell that it was an actual slice of pork. The pork melts in your mouth as you bite into the bao bun. As for the ramen, where do I start. I almost wanted to give 4 stars because they didn't give me enough broth. Almost.... :) The broth was so flavorful and was definitely one of the best tonkotsu broths I've ever had. I went away from my stereotypical spicy preference and got the tonkotsu. The portion and thickness of the pork included was more than enough to satisfy my craving. I definitely could've gone for the thicker piece that gets torched to perfection. I would like to say this is definitely up there in my top 5 ramen places I've eaten at in the states. All in all, I'd love to come back to Chicago to try some of the other flavors of ramen, as well as the thicker portion of pork belly. The Japanese yakitori looks so tempting as well.
(5)
Vu Q.

Swung by on Saturday afternoon around 1pm and it was crowded! Everyone's faces seemed eager to receive food or already digging in. I was super impressed with the decor, dim lighting tables suitable for smaller groups and a long bar area for single or couple dinners. what a KAWAII PLACE! Now for the food: House Made Dumplings: Good consistency of the outer wrap and yummy filling. Came with two sauces that were both good. Overall pretty average. Probably wouldn't order it again as there's better things to consume Pork belly and Kimchi Spring Roll: WOW THIS WAS GOOD! Nice presentation. Came out hot and crunchy. Had this delicious white sauce at the bottom that I would slurp by itself (ew I guess haha). Do it, order this. Tonkatsu Ramen: Love the spoons they provide. Broth wasn't overly salty and a air of sweetness that I look for in ramen was there. Sushi: The girl friend got spicy tuna crunch and salmon skin rolls. She commented that it wasn't bad but fairly standard. Salmon skin roll would win out between the two. Spicy roasted garlic miso ramen: Eating with the good ppl, MotorCityMunchers! good spicy flavor and the garlic isn't overwhelming. Definitely recommend for those heat lovers cuz it IS spicy.
(4)
Kyle D.

Overall: Arguably some of the best ramen I've ever had. Wasabi is up there with the best of the Chi. The good: Amazing ramen, both in terms of broth and fillings. The pork is amazing, from the pork in the ramen to the pork buns. All of the small plates were delicious. The ramen was hot and fresh. The service was fast and friendly, and the food came out quickly. Fun and interesting atmosphere. BYOB The bad: The chairs weren't very comfy and not a ton of seating. The brussel sprouts were good, but not as amazing as everything else. Atmosphere: 9/10 Service: 10/10 Food: 10/10
(5)
Henry T.

We ordered the pork buns, shoyu ramen and spicy miso ramen. The pork buns were excellent. For $8 you get two, so it is rather pricey for buns. They were great and I'm glad I got them--no regrets. However, I'm still indecisive on whether or not I'd get them again. Either way, the slice of pork you get has the perfect amount of pork in it. It's not too small like most places. They have some cabbage and sauce on the bottom of the bun which is okay, but the sauce overwhelms the flavor and taste of the pork. Plus the liquidy sauce ruins the integrity of the bun and one of the two we had fell apart as a result. The spicy miso ramen was good. The broth was a little spicy, the pork belly (2 slices) was a decent amount for the bowl, and the ramen noodles were a good consistency--not too hard, not too soft. Overall, I didn't get a "it's too salty!" feel after I finished my bowl. I tasted some of the shoyu ramen broth, and I'd recommend that over the spicy ramen broth. It's not as overwhelming and it's the right amount of flavor needed to complement the pork and ramen noodles. I wouldn't mind coming back... It's pretty popular...expect a wait!
(4)
Lindsay M.

Womp Womp. What a disappointing last visit. I was really excited to take my boyfriend so he could experience what I did my last visit, but it was very subpar. First of all, our service was really... weird. It took a while for the server to come over, which was fine, we are pretty indecisive... but she kept apologizing for the wait to the point where we really started noticed how long everything took. Each course was slow and she just made the wait even more awkward. Not really sure how to explain it, but I started to feel uncomfortable. Nice girl, just a very weird service experience. Second, the food was very mediocre and was very "fishy." I would consider myself somewhat a sushi snob as someone who's worked in multiple sushi restaurants and this was NOTHING like the first visit I had here. I'm still disappointed. The Sea Bream appetizer was still the best thing we had, but the three rolls we ordered were poorly constructed - falling apart and loaded in spicy may, super fishy, and lacked that OOMPF in flavor that I was hoping to get again. We were thinking about ordering more, but decided to grab the check and go after the disappointing taste and service. Sorry Wasabi... not sure we'll return. Hoping that when the Ramen season kicks in that you get back into your swing.
(3)
Soyoung S.

I've tried their sushi here before and it was pretty tasty and fresh! I stopped back to try their ramen this weekend and enjoyed that as well. I tried their Shoyu Ramen and it was well rounded, tasty, and all of the ingredients tasted very fresh. My friend had the Miso Ramen and she didn't like it at all because it was too salty for her, but that was also her first time having Japanese Ramen so I don't think she knew that ramen is usually on the salty side lol. The service is very friendly and the place has a very lively neighborhood feel, plus maybe because it's byob as well! I thought the portion size was a little on the small side though! We stopped by on a Saturday night without reservations and although there was a wait line, we didn't wait for more than 5 minutes for a table for 2, so that was very nice! :)
(4)
Ashley C.

Wasabi is now in my rotating wheelhouse of favorite restaurants. After a handful of times here, we were always happy. It is BYOB which is great. There is usually a wait at peak times and it is not a great spot for large groups for dinner. Spicy miso garlic pork ramen. Amazing! The berkshire pork broth makes it so rich and delicious! It can be spicy but can be adjusted to taste. The ramen is certainly one of the highlights and I just can't get enough. However, everything has been tasty from the pork belly and kimchi springroll, tuna tartare, and even the chicken lollipops. I also love that it is ramen AND sushi spot which pleases both me and the hubby. The sushi is fresh and is reasonably priced. My favorite roll is the Art-Mex which has a nice balance of heat but it doesn't overpower the fish. Service has been good. While sometimes it can be a bit slow, our servers have always been friendly and helpful. For two people, we're usually out of there for about $80 with tip (and we're stuffed).
(5)
Vanessa Y.

Tasty! I got the panko-breaded salmon kabob to start, which was really well cooked and seasoned nicely. The spicy miso ramen followed and while it was really good, I still think Oiistar in Bucktown is better. The service was really lovely though, and they were super helpful about showing my boyfriend the gluten-free options (of which there are a lot - mostly sushi though). BYOB. Cute interior. A wee bit on the pricey side, but I don't regret it.
(4)
Kimberly T.

BYOB? Coming from VA where this option isn't even available, this concept was so foreign to my friends and me. While we didn't exercise this option, it was nice to know it is available. Decided to come here for lunch on Sunday at 11AM since it's free parking on the streets. I ordered the miso ramen since I typically order shoyu or tonkotsu from other ramen places. Since Ippudo has raised the standards of ramen for me, I personally still like Ippudo better. In comparison to Wasabi, I felt full mid-way which normally does not happen with Ippudo. The broth was flavorful and filling, the noodles were consistent with typical ramen noodles except more authentic. I give bonus points to Wasabi for their berkshire pork belly. Normally I'm not a fan of the pork that comes with the noodles, but this was cooked perfectly and not too dry or fatty! Don't think you can go wrong with the four ramen options offered on their menu, just pick which one you are in the mood for! If I come back to Chicago, I would love to try their spicy roasted garlic ramen. After sampling it from my friend, I realized I should have tried this instead. Recommend avoiding the pork buns, I was not a fan. Too much sauce was added to the meat, which was overly sweet and the meat was lackluster. I've had better pork buns from other ramen places. If you're looking for a ramen in the Windy City, come to Wasabi, you will not be disappointed!
(4)
Ryan C.

Had the lunch special sushi platter today and everything tasted fresh and real good. Also had the spicy garlic miso ramen and it was also very good - just the right balance and not too salty. 5 stars for the good food and good service.
(5)
Mimi T.

After trying so many different ramen restaurants Wasabi is officially my favorite. The service here is on point. The last time we came here we got the tonkatsu ramen and the spicy roasted garlic miso ramen, the spicy ramen was not that spicy for my bf. However, he asked them to make it extra spicy which definitely hit the spot! Now, for people who are real spicy enthusiasts ask them to make it EXTRA SPICY! You will love it!!
(5)
Monica H.

Legit. As a californian asian, I started to just give up on finding comparable asian food in the midwest. Sorry, I'm just keeping it real. However I heard this place was good so I hauled my desperate ass over there asap. I'm officially pleased to have a yummy ramen place at my disposal. For reference, my favorite ramen places are Ippudo (NY), Chuko (NY), Tsujita Annex (LA), and Santouka (mitsuwa). I ordered the tonkatsu (holla!) with spicy umami ($2 extra). If anyone loves broth bursting with flavor, spice, and fat... all the good stuff.. get the umami!! My first taste of the broth without the umami was that it is good. With the umami.. it hit the spot. Worth the extra fee if you're all about the flavorful broth. I was surprised at how jam packed the bowl was with noodles, meat, and toppings. This is great if you want a hearty meal but I'm all about the broth so I wish there was a little more of that. It's probably better without the additional 200% sodium intake for the day though. The pork was fatty thick and tender and given in the perfect amount. Sometimes I feel like restaurants skip out on the meat.
(4)
Diane T.

I was craving ramen, even on a 90F day, and came here at the recommendation of a friend. I planned on flying solo or with a friend, but 5 coworkers came along. We waited a long time but duh, not really the place for groups. I saw spots at the bar and a few 2 tops open up and wanted to sneak in. Next time! We squeezed into a booth and starred with pork buns all around. AMAZING. I had the tonkotsu ramen boosted with mustard greens. The broth/noodles/everything was perfect. If anything I would love to boost win extra pork belly! The spicy garlic ramen was also very good. The bar looked great for taking yourself out on a date and watching the fun behind the bar. I'll definitely do that next time. Everyone was super happy with our meal and staff - from the hostess to server were so friendly. Worth a ride up from downtown.
(5)
Mallory S.

Dude yes. Extremely fresh, adorable sushi! I loved the hamachi toro (fatty yellowtail) nigiri. They give you a big slice of fish. I also got a fresh spicy tuna roll for a mere $7. The kimchi and pork belly spring rolls are to die for. I'd definitely recommend sharing plates and getting a variety of food cuz it's so good!! You definitely gotta get some ramen, but never overlook their bomb sushi. This is gonna be my go-to spot for sushi and ramen alike! Wasabi is perfect to bring those who don't like sushi cuz there are so many other delicious options for those crazy people. I will be back tomorrow
(5)
K N.

I love Wasabi! I've been to Japan multiple times and when I'm in Chicago it's my go to place. Their Tonkatsu is sooooo good. I can definitely finish one of those bowls in less than 5 min -- like you're supposed to. The pork belly is melt in you mouth. The bamboo shoots have so much flavor! Another reason why I love it here is because not only is their ramen good but their sushi is delicious, the yakitori is great and I love their agadashi tofu! I've moved to Denver and all I can say is that I really miss this place! Also BYOB!
(5)
Gin G.

Why do they not take reservations?!?!? Please!! Went on a Friday around 7 for date night with my hub. Waited a good 45 min. to be seated...at the bar. Not a big deal. But if you are here when it's really hot outside or really cold outside your screwed! You basically wait outside or if your lucky in an itty bitty covered space they provide. There's a clip board you write your name on with the number of ppl in your party. Then a girl comes out once in a while when space is available n calls your name. Food is great tho! Ramen is the way to go! The broth is amazing! A bit salty for me (but I eat my food a bit on the bland side) but nice and creamy n you can totally taste the flavor of those pork bones that have been brewing for 2 days!!! Noodle texture was great!! I hate over cooked noodles!!! Oyster shooters we're good and we loved the sushi! Can't wait to go back but maybe next time right when they open. There will prob be a line anyway cuz it's that good. Would be a 5 star but the wait n where you wait looses a star.
(4)
Danielle C.

Fit! A place that serves ramen that actually has a vegan ramen option (that's actually decent). Amazing vegan ramen had Upton's seitan in it and was full of flavor...also doesn't hurt that this place is byob! First time for me here and I'll be back!
(5)
Jullie C.

Came here while visiting a friend in Chicago, the food and service is great! Appetizers: kimchi spring roll with creamy sauce- great flavor, great texture not too oily from the fryer but great crunch. I'm usually really skeptical about kimchi dishes because I always have high expectations, especially coming from a traditional Korean family. But it wasn't too overwhelming and mixed right with the other flavors. Dishes: Tonkotsu ramen- great broth! Just the right amount of fattiness, umami, and seasoning. The noodles can use a little work though. I dont think they used alkalized noodles so they weren't as chewy. The meat was great, had great flavor and good portion. Sushi- Tuna roll, salmon roll; Alaskan roll- the sushi was pretty standard but I know that Chicago isn't known for it's seafood so it wasn't drop dead amazing or anything. It was really pricey for the portion. Coming from Florida where we have AMAZING seafood, it wasn't something to rave about. Would definitely go back as the decor and the service were superb! I would recommend this place to anyone interested in experiencing cultural fusion.
(4)
Mohammed M.

A good place for sushi. Service is good, quality is excellent. Portions are good and pricing is pretty nice.
(5)
Jasmine A.

Every time I visit Chicago I make a point to stop at this place. Their Tonkotsu Ramen ($13) is hands down the best I've ever had! The pork belly melts in your mouth, the broth is packed full of flavor, and the portions are quite generous. In addition to their killer Ramen, Wasabi also has a multitude of other delicious small plates and sushi to choose from. They don't serve alcohol but allow your to BYOB which is pretty sweet. Also, If you want to avoid a lengthy wait time, be sure to arrive as soon as they open at 5pm because they fill up fast.
(5)
Matt Y.

Came here on a friday night. There was a pretty long wait, but they said that for a party of 2, we would be seated pretty quickly. Wasabi has been on my list of to eat places for quite some time so I was excited to finally get to try it. We waited around 35 minutes and then we were promptly seated at a nice table. Its BYOB so we brought some beer to have with our food. We ordered quite a lot of food. Chicken lollipops, pork belly buns, taokoyaki and the cold raw wasabi octopus dish, as far as appetizers went. When it came down to ramen, I had the spicy garlic miso ramen while my friend ordered the tonkotsu ramen. We were blown away by the appetizers, each one was as delicious as the next. The Chicken lollipops and pork belly buns were our favorites though. The ramen soon followed but I must say that I was just a little underwhelmed. The broth lacked strong pork flavor as well as salt but the rest of the ingredients made it almost borderline salty. Especially the pork belly that was in the broth. When eaten in combination with the soup and noodles and other ingredients, I would almost dare say that it was too salty. All in all not a bad ramen shop, a little bit overhyped for me but will come back again!
(4)
Natalie C.

After all this time and so many ramen restaurants eaten at, Wasabi is still my hands down favorite. Their ramen is top notch and all the appetizers I've had (hello pork belly buns, my delicious little babes) are fantastic. I can't speak to their sushi as much (I think I've sampled one or two of their sushi options), but this is definitely my go to place for good heart warming ramen. My favorite is probably the Spicy Miso Ramen, however I've been getting the Tonkotsu and adding a healthy dose of chili oil recently, and let me tell you, it is LEGIT. Will be coming back time and again for more deliciousness.
(5)
Diane W.

Many people have told me about this ramen place to be one of the best in Chicago so I had to come check it out, and I must say- they were right! There was a wait even on a Tuesday, but the 15-20 minutes is worth it. We got sat down rather quickly. I ordered the tatuyasaku (squid balls) as an appetizer and the spicy MISO ramen. The squid balls were good, except the squid was a little too overcooked and chewy. But the ramen was just the perfect amount of spice, and the meat was so soft it melted in your mouth. The food was delicious and I would say the best ramen I have ever had. The only thing was that the busboys kept hustling I felt rushed through my dinner, but I guess that's reasonable for trying to turn table time down.
(5)
Mink L.

My top place in Chicago hands down! We orders the tonkotsu and miso ramens and both were perfect in every way. Tonkotsu was balanced, the noodles perfectly al dente, and flavors spot on. The server recommended the Kimchi pork egg rolls, which initially, I thought, I don't know ended up becoming the appetizer highlight of our meal. We ordered a couple of signature sushi rolls as well, but those weren't the greatest sushi, but it was still very good. I would recommend ordering the ramen for sure! Wasabi is definitely one of my top picks for ramen in Chicago!
(4)
Jialing L.

Hands down best ramen I've had in Chicago. Came for lunch on a Sunday and got seated immmediately. My friend and I ordered the pork belly bun to share and each got a tonkotsu ramen as well. The pork belly bun was packed with the pork belly and cabbage; it had amazing flavor too. The tonkotsu ramen was delicious; the noodles were the perfect amount of chewy and the broth was rich and exceptional. I added the kakuni to my ramen and it was such a good decision. My friend added the spice umami to her ramen and she enjoyed it. The service here is also amazing. We noticed our table was a little wobbly when we first got seated; the waiter noticed and immediately came over and helped adjust it. Definitely wish that the location was easier to get to but I'll be back.
(5)
Karen U.

Hands down the BEST Tonkatsu ramen I've ever had. The broth was creamy, fatty, and everything you want on a cold day in Chicago. My other fave is the pork belly bun. The pork belly is cooked perfectly all the time, soft and melt in your mouth, seasoned just the right mouth that pairs perfectly with the cloud soft bun. They are BYOB.
(5)
Kimmi D.

Some of the best Ramen I've ever had. We tried two ramens the spicy roasted garlic miso ramen and the tonkotsu ramen, both were fantastic. I personally prefer the tonkotsu ramen. The pork was so tender and the broth was to die for. I wish they had a location in Houston, TX!
(5)
Kavita S.

Found out about Wasabi from a friend who says it's hands down the best ramen in Chicago. Being a ramen lover, I decided to give it a try. We got there a few minutes after 5pm, and had a nice 45 minute wait in the frigid temperatures on Saturday. Their waiting area is small, so be prepared, and put your name on the list. The ramen was worth the frozen appendages. We got seated and the service was good and super fast. The entire process of being seated to paying for our meal took under an hour. We immediately placed our orders for the pork belly buns (think wow bao, but the heavenly version made with berkshire pork belly and amazing sesame mayo), and house made dumplings (very good as well). The buns do a get a bit messy to eat, so don't say I didn't warn you. I'll slip a Michael Scott "that's what she said!" reference here. You're welcome. :-) I got the tonkotsu ramen and added some chili oil to it. They do not lie, ladies and gentlemen. The broth was pure, creamy, and absolutely divine. I liked the succulent pork belly and although there were fatty pieces, it was the perfect ratio of fatty goodness to pork belly. The mushrooms and bamboo shoots were delicious. Since Wasabi is BYOB, either bring some with, or try the spiced ginger ale. It was so good! I'll definitely be back for more ramen (gotta try the spicy roasted garlic miso next time)!
(5)
Stephanie S.

This was a great find in the Chicago area. It has been difficult for me to find good ramen places in Chicago after moving here from California but I have to say this place has really tasty ramen! I ordered the spicy miso garlic ramen and t had just the right amount of spice and was the broth was extremely flavorful. I ordered some sushi as well - the surf n turf and the artwell, and wasn't thrilled. The sushi was just alright, nothing special and I left most of it on the plate. The service was great, and our server was very attentive. Overall... 4 stars for the ramen and service, just lacking on the sushi.
(4)
Anli C.

Enough said about Wasabi's ramen, consistently great! Who would have any expectation for a teriyaki combo on menu? As an Asian, I often laugh at people who walked into a good Japanese restaurant and ordered teriyaki dish. C'mon! I only ordered it because I can share the miso soup, salmon and sweet potato mash with my two-year-old. And it ended as a huge mistake! My two-year-old loved it so much that I didn't get any. The salad is very fresh, salmon in just right tenderness and nice crusty skin. The salty sweet sauce perfectly combines all the elements together. I can't blame him for finishing my dish, can I? For lunch special, you get a scoop of green tea icecream to help you win your kid. Couldn't be better than this.
(5)
John L.

This place is great. Good food and good ambiance. Price- Decently priced. You can get a lot of good food for a fair price. Quality- Great food. The fried chicken and ramen are super amazing Quantity- Pretty good actually. The broth from the ramen is very filling. Atmosphere- Very modern. Looks like a place filled with a good crowd looking for good food. Lots of low lighting and modern wood furniture. Staff- Very friendly and attentive. It's highly rated for a reason.
(5)
Nivedita B.

I've always been a pretty patient gal when it comes to waiting for good food. However, the food has to REALLY impress me if I've waited over 2 hours for it on a rainy Sunday night. It almost nearly did. I recommend you come at odd times or with a small group (2-4 max). I waited with my party of 6 outside in the rain and then in the cramped covered space - I'm glad I'm not claustrophobic. The hangers set in, then the delirium. Eventually we gave up hope and asked the host to split us up. Four of us sat at the bar and two got a table. However, the second we sat down two spots next to us opened up. I ran up to the host and asked if we could grab those for our two friends but he said they were already getting taken by new customers. Really? Hrmph... Despite service being rather lacking the rest of the night, food was delicious. The pork belly buns (2 for $8) were absolutely divine. Pork belly is my BFF. I ordered the simple Tonkotsu ramen ($13). The broth was perfect - flavorful and rich without being greasy. The noodles were delightfully eggy and had a great texture. The pork belly, again, was scrumptious. I have a love affair with pork belly, really. Then I tried my friend's spicy roasted garlic miso ramen, and instantly became jealous I didn't order that. While my ramen was delicious in its simplicity, I liked the zesty flavor of the spicy ramen even more. Overall, ramen = perfection. Be prepared to wait.
(4)
Suzanne Z.

I chickened out in ordering ramen. All I'd known in my life is the salty packet/cups from college, but I wish I hadn't! I tried some of my date's- the Miso ramen- and was majorly impressed. He let me try the pork belly which was flavorful, but a little bit fatty, and the savory broth and noodles- YUM. I also tried their crispy brussel sprouts. HOLY HECK... I never liked a brussel sprout until I tried these! What a winner. I ordered the dragon roll, which was just ok. It was large, topped with nice slices of avocado, but the tempura shrimp was skimpy and not crispy. I've had better elsewhere for sure. It's BYOB, y'all so plan accordingly! It's also pretty crowded on the weekend, with a big line to get a table, so maybe bring some extra BYOB for while you wait! ;) The inside is dark, trendy, and definitely hipster. It was a fun experience overall, and I would definitely return for my own bowl of ramen next time.
(4)
Victoria W.

The interior of the restaurant was not as impressive as it looked on the default picture used. It was not nearly as well lit. There were tables open but the hostess would not seat me until the other person in my party arrived, which means I can't even begin ordering appetizer while I waited. The interior had a rustic hippie feel rather than modern. I ordered the tonkatsu ramen, the broth was very rich. Overall it was good, the half boiled egg was nothing impressive, but the ramen noodle was authentic ramen noodle, the best part is the braised pork belly, OH SO GOOD and tender. Just the right amount of fat with the meat, I can eat that all day and I am not even a huge fan of meat. The bamboo shoots are nicely pickled, the wood dried mushroom ears was sliced and crunchy. Overall a good dish. Still not comparable to NYC and California ramen joints, but I'd say this place came pretty darn close to being one of the very best ramen places in Chicago. A bit over priced, $13 for a simple bowl of ramen. My friend ordered the $17 lunch sashimi special, 6 tiny pieces of fish, with a bowl of rice but honest, just rice...A small scoop of ice cream green tea/red bean and a soup or salad. mehhh not very worth $17. They could have at least made it into a chirashi. I did not try the pork belly buns but I thought $8 for 2 buns is a bit over priced.
(4)
Jeffrey C.

Another win for Logan Square. If Wasabi isn't atop your "best ramen in Chicago" list, you're doing it wrong. Somewhat incredibly, I hadn't heard of Wasabi before a month ago. My best friend's sister's boyfriend's brother's girlfriend heard from this guy who knows this kid who's going with the girl who said that Wasabi's ramen was the only ramen she would eat in Chicago. Sold. The Tonkotsu ramen: Legit. Authentic. Delicious. Rich, creamy broth. Springy, slurpy noodles. Perfectly soft-boiled egg. I recently had the pleasure of eating at Orenchi over the summer, and Wasabi's ramen is as close as it gets in Chicago. The broth is a little too salty, and the pork not quite tender enough, but other than that, Wasabi's ramen is a dang fine replica. It's not cheap, and there's even an "upgrade your meat" option that gets your bowl into Andrew Jackson range. Pay for quality, I guess. The rest of Wasabi is pretty neat, too. It's got an awesome "trendy casual Asian" vibe with plenty of hall and counter seating for ramen slurpers and sushi downers alike. It's also BYOB, so feel free to splurge on the fish without ringing up the alcohol expense. We ordered a boatload of sushi and such in addition to my ramen sample, and everything was good. I particularly liked the ArtMex roll, a spicy tuna, salmon, and hamachi roll with a kick. All the nigiri was tasty and fresh, as were the crudos we ordered as appetizers. Our Roman style indulgence led to a hefty bill, even sans alcohol, but I count it amongst the best sushi meals I've had in Chicago. That ramen, though. Worth it.
(5)
Donna L.

Delicious ramen! Great service! Came here on a Saturday night and got seated at the bar right away. I got the miso ramen and it came in less than 5 minutes! The ramen was so good! The soup was flavorful, the meat was tender, proportion is good.. just perfect! Servers were great and attentive. You are able to BYOB! a nice touch! Would definitely come back again the next time I'm in Chicago!
(5)
Somchai S.

Becoming quite a ramen connoisseur, I would put Wasabi after Santouka in Arlington Heights. I had the tonkotsu ramen and it was quite filling. The tako takoyaki was less than amazing, the inside was very mushy and the ball was not crispy. Best part was BYOB and the waitress was nice enough to put our 6 pack in the fridge. However, we probably had the worst seat in the house, right in front of the restrooms, hubby had quite a variety of activity to view and not quite good for your appetite. I would advise they put some type of screen/curtain up. Last, while we were looked after pretty well, our main waitress was very gloom and doom. I hate being served by unhappy people, it kind of puts a damper on the meal.
(4)
beth w.

I live down the street from this restaurant. Have been multiple times. Sushi is really just so so. I love that its BYOB. The seating is limited and kinds of tight. Also, during prime eating time (read: not 5:30 pm like me and my toddler) there are many people waiting outside. However, the ramen lives up to the hype. It took me about 8 months of attempting to go there to finally try it because its closed on Monday (whoops, tried to go twice on Monday) and there is frequently a long wait. I had read about the delicious ramen on Yelp and attempted to take it to go, but they don't even allow it! They say its meant to be served hot, in the restaurant and wouldn't budge. Recap: BYOB, long waits/small tables, blah sushi, awesome ramen (that they wont let you get as carry out if you dont want to deal with the long waits/small tables)
(3)
Michael B.

Well I may have had better ramen when I lived in Japan but I really don't recall having better ramen in recent memory. Wasabi is the real deal. I went with four "Ramen Masters" (see photo) who take their ramen very seriously and they also could not say enough good things about the ramen as well. I had the house favorite Tongkatsu. The pork belly was amongst the best I've ever eaten. Not sure what they do to it, but it appears they do something special to get that flavor and texture. The broth was deliciously creamy and savory. I thought the overall color and presentation of the ramen bowl was a little muted, but I'm not sure if that was by design. In general the visual, eye appeal is a critical competent of the ramen bowl presentation and eating experience. The best I've eaten in Chicago. The lines outside at 5 pm when they open attest to this belief as well.
(5)
Cedric A.

Best ramen in the Chi. Tonkotsu ramen is so flavorful, and well priced (not cheap, not expensive... think Goldilocks). Pork buns are excellent (when they haven't sold out of the pork). The brussels sprouts are SO good. I have not been able to deconstruct the ingredients so that I can make them that way at home, but the sauce is tangy/tart with a little sweetness (and not thick). Their sushi LOOKS good, but let's be honest - I come here for the ramen. A note to those that have not been here yet - be prepared to wait. The faithful will go even when there's a blizzard out, and they will not seat unless you're all there. Best to go solo or in SMALLER groups (first available seating as well - don't be picky).
(5)
Anthony J.

This place is the real deal. At first, seeing some of the negative Yelp reviews, I was a little skeptical - in a healthy way - but Wasabi delivered. Not sure why they call the place "Wasabi," and not "The Awesome Ramen Shop," but no matter. The tonkotsu ramen was incredibly deep, very rich, vibrant, and bursting with flavor. The pork in the ramen was only the best pork I've ever tasted. The only thing I can liken it to is the nectar or manna of the gods, whatever food the ancient Greek gods ate. Truly eye-opening. The server was very competent, and the prices were reasonable. BYOB is just gravy. It's a ramen shop - get the ramen. I didn't waste time with sushi or seaweed salad, though my dining companions seemed to like theirs. I knew what I wanted and I wasn't disappointed. My wife loved her spicy garlic miso ramen. Just the right amount of spice. 5 stars!
(5)
Kelly S.

Easily one of my favorite spots in Chicago. Love the ultimate tonkatsu ramen as an entree -- individual or to share. Small plate favorites include the pork belly buns, chicken lollipops, seviche, and hamachi kama. Sushi go-tos are Mag Mile, Art Mex, and Le Japon. Kid friendly with the chicken meatballs and grilled skewers. AND BYOB! What are you waiting for?!
(5)
Skater D.

AMAZING RAMEN! You absolutely must try the delicious Ramen at Wasabi! it is truly amazing and you will not be let down. First off, EVERYTHING about Wasabi is incredible. the service and staff are the friendliest people, so it is always pleasant walking in (i have been 3 times.) Then there is the Sushi! really excellent sushi. the last roll i had was a Surf and Turf Roll, not your traditional roll by any means, this had Wagu beef and Lobster. It was absolutely excellent, the best of BOTH worlds. The hardest part about Wasabi is deciding WHAT to get, you cant go wrong, but you want it all. You MUST, an absolute MUST, get the Ramen at some point. This has pork belly marinating in it for 48 hours!!! This is a two handed Ramen soup, not that lousy 10 cent college junk. chop sticks in one hand for the pork belly and noodles, while you have a spoon in the other to handle the garlic spiced broth with Egg. This is a meal in itself, even leftovers possibly. It will be the best Ramen you will have and it will make you wonder why that other "stuff" is even called Ramen ;) Do your stomach and taste buds a HUGE favor and get on over to Wasabi immediately.
(5)
Kristina A.

If I could afford to eat here on a weekly basis, you'd better believe I'd do it. I can't really talk about most of their menu because this is one of these places that, whenever we go, we can't not get our favorites. It's just impossible. I am so in love with their spicy roasted garlic miso ramen - it's comfort in a bowl. The broth is so incredibly flavorful and so well-rounded, I would put a straw in my bowl if it wouldn't burn my throat. It's spicy, garlicky, and so satisfying...even on a warm, summer day. Along with the ramen, we like to share some nigiri and a maki roll. We're not terribly crazy about adventurous maki rolls, so we usually stick to something simple like a spicy tuna roll - theirs is solid. Where they really shine is the nigiri - the fish is always so fresh, the cut is generous, and everything holds together like a dream. Favorites include...hamachi, toro, sake toro, unagi, and squid. I've never had a bad experience with Wasabi, from food to service, and always leave extremely happy and wondering when the next visit will be. And it's also BYOB, so sometimes we leave a little drunk, too.
(5)
Sera J.

Delicious vegan ramen! Not a fan of seitan but the Uptown's Breakroom ragu was delicious. Considered getting the egg noodles, but the buckwheat noodles were very tasty. Loved that noodles came in ceramic, beautifully painted bowls. Friendly servers.
(5)
Mila G.

Amazing choice ox authentic Japanese cuisine! Ramen was full of flavors and noodles deserve some special praise too. Also don't hesitate to try their pickled veggies!
(5)
Donn D.

It was our first time to Wasabi and we chose to try it because we were specifically looking for a good Japanese ramen place. The other reviews were helpful in narrowing down our decision. We had to wait in line for a bit but just as I overheard someone say on their way out..."that was worth the wait." We shared the spicy roasted garlic ramen, pork belly buns and agedashi tofu. Everything was better than any Japanese food we've had in a while. Next time, I'd like to try the more traditional miso ramen. BYOB. If it's also your first time and you see the line stretch outside, make sure you put your name down on the clipboard hanging just inside the first door.
(4)
Kat A.

I had heard great things about this restaurant so I was very excited to try it. We started off with chicken thigh and pork belly skewers. The chicken thigh was good...pork belly was a little too tough for my liking. Then we had the pork buns which were absolutely amazing! I got the tonkatsu ramen. The broth was great and the portion was generous. Definitely glad I finally got to try it and can't wait to go back soon!
(5)
Vik M.

This place was spot on. Being originally from Toronto and traveled all over Asia, this place knows how to prepare and serve Ramen. It was delicious from the starters right the desserts. I got the Game Ma (cold), then the Pork Buns, and the Spicy Ramen dish. The price is right. The service is great. All is well at this place. Don't miss out. By the way, I arrived around 6pm ...no wait. We left around 7:30...line-up outside the door. If you decide to come alone..there's plenty of room at the bar. Enjoy!
(5)
Raoul C.

Small plate deliciousness, served up fast and fresh. Took my coworkers here for the spicy ramen + pork buns, neither of which should be missed! Thick, fragrant broth, perfect half-runny egg, slurpy noodles, oh my! Their take on cerviche is aight, and the tuna tartare is straight-from-tsukiji fresh. Ninja tip: no reservations, but you can usually be seated at the bar within 2-5 minutes.
(4)
Katie L.

I love this restaurant! It's BYOB with no corkage fee, the menu is huge and the food is delicious. The one odd thing about this restaurant is the process of getting a table when there is a wait. There is a host, but not in the traditional sense. You have to fight your way through a bunch of people, to write your name on a clipboard. There isn't anyone there to quote you a wait time, so you just have to guess and hope for the best. But, the wait seems to go quickly, especially if you are in a small group and willing to be flexible in where you sit. Onto the food- The menu is so big it can be a bit overwhelming. But, everything I have tried was delicious. AND since its BYOB you can order a ton of food, and still spend a pretty reasonable amount of money. Definitely a good place to check out.
(5)
Jenn C.

Yay... love the ramen here... Love the wooden spoon to help slurp this smooth pork flavored goodness down! But I have to knock off half a star for terrible presentation on the ramen! Really?... everything would have been perfect except you done the ramen wrong by dousing it in broth and not showing the beautiful ingredients like Ramen is supposed to be presented! Otherwise, its a place I would love to come to when ever I'm in the city with a hankering for ramen! The broth was definitely a full flavored, almost creamy, and a good level of spice (I got spicy)... I have an iron stomach, so I personally could have gone spicier, but I know my level of spice may be over kill for a traditional ramen and most peoples tastes buds (or stomachs)... we also ordered the braised pork belly (skewer) and the pork belly and kimchi spring rolls. The pork belly skewer was very good. Nothing super fancy, but it was definitely good. The pork belly and kimchi spring rolls were Great... a definite order again. I think the flavor of the kimchi and pork belly and fried with the sauce they use on top made it very tasty. If you come here during the day or early evening, just a note, its a Dark place inside... a little too dark for my taste, I don't know why these days it seems many food establishments want to keep the inside so dark that you can barely see anything!
(4)
Sara S.

Other than the wait, this is my favorite ramen place. I always get the spicy ramen, along with uni shooter. The Pork Belly is super fatty and juicy, noodles are cooked just right and chewy, and broth are good.
(5)
Carleen E.

Ever since my last review, I get very nervous going to Wasabi. I can't go there and NOT have pork belly buns and ramen! I just can't. But, they haven't disappointed since then! The spicy miso garlic? ramen has so much flavor. I tried ramen at a very popular NYC spot, and I think Wasabi is still way better. The pork is super tender and the buns are so fluffy. I wish the order had more than just two..I don't like sharing this appetizer! Thank you for actually having food each time I've gone back since my last review. Mwah mwah mwah for your existence!
(5)
Susie C.

Came here with few friends on a Friday night for dinner. The wait line wasn't too long even when we came after 730pm. We waited for 15 minutes or so. Street parking. They also don't let you wait by the door since the waiters walk around with ramen bowls to serve to customers. My friends and I all ordered the spicy garlic miso ramen and two sushi rolls - spicy white tuna and surf and turf. The ramen was delicious. All three of us loved it! We savored every parts of it. All three of us finished the entire bowl along with the two rolls of sushi. Sushi was okay, we couldve gone without it but ramen is a definite. We will definitely be going back! Love Wasabi. I've been on a ramen hunt since coming back from Hawaii and have been looking for ramen places to eat!
(4)
Raquel D.

Winner, Winner Chicken and Ramen Dinner! Wasabi has great food with a great atmosphere and great prices. And its BYOB. Woot! Woot! They don't have the best ramen though. They do have a creamy thick tonkatsu broth that I dig - the noodles, not so much. It's OK because the other food items more than make up for the lack of noodly goodness - too carby for me anyway. Things to try: pork buns! lollipop wings! white tuna anything rolls! wagyu beef and lobster roll! tonkatsu and garlic spicy ramen. And brussel sprouts. I'm sure everything here is good, but those are my staples. So I say grab a group of friends and a few bottles of wine and enjoy a fattie night out! Be prepared to wait on the weekends though - it gets pretty crowded!
(4)
Jerry V.

I never knew ramen could be so good. The vegan option that was recommended probably wasn't the best choice for me but it was still very tasty.
(4)
Oluwatope F.

This was delicious, everything we had was flavorful. I don't remember exactly what I had lol but I mean it was Ramen soup and it was delicious so you won't lose choosing one of those. I prefer the more gravy consistency broths that stick to the noodles and a little spice. It would be nice to have more chicken options but whatevs, I enjoyed my food.
(4)
O O.

I love their Tonkotsu ramen and their pork belly buns. The ramen is delicious and savory, it includes delicious fatty pieces of porkbelly, mushroom, bamboo shoots, a delicious egg, and of course noodles. This is not the ramen that you buy for a dollar at the grocery store. I can't decide if the ramen or the pork belly buns are the best thing on the menu. The buns are so delicious with a slighly sweet sauce. Their sushi is good, my favorite roll is the art mex. It includes salmon, tuna, and jalapeno for a little kick. It is also byob which saves money. The drawback is the crowds. You basically have to go their at opening in the evenings to make sure you get a set. This is not a place for big groups but a couple can usually get a seat at the counter without too long a wait. I love that I am walking distance to this place.
(5)
Monica Z.

Just went to their new location and it wasn't as good as their previous one. We waited about an hour on a Friday night for 4. We knew we would have to wait since there is a lot of hype around this place now plus the staff was very nice so we didn't mind . Ramen didn't taste as savory and flavorful as the other location. We got the tonkatsu ramen. The spicy tuna roll had way too much rice and they were out of hamachi kama. The chicken lollipops were great. I would come back but on on a Fri. BYOB, which is a plus!
(4)
Luis A.

Wow, I never write reviews, but this place deserves many. We sat at the bar, and the kitchen staff were great, hard-working, and offered amazing recommendations. Don't leave without trying the PorkBelly Buns!
(5)
Jen A.

Everything from food to service was amazing. Definately worth the 30 min wait (Saturday night) and my money. The tonkatsu ramen is the BEST in Chicago and their appetizers were unique and flavorful. We spent about $95 for food and tip for 2 people. This is not the place for you if you're looking for a cheap meal in big portions and bland flavors. I'm telling you, it was worth every penny.
(5)
Marion T.

One star minus because of the service. It was a busy evening, but our server completely forgot us after we had our ramen in hand. We reminded the server twice for the bill (waited about 20 minutes in between). The ramen is as good as everyone has said here. Personally I think the flavor is not as heavy as some of other ramens I had in the past (in a good way). We tried the Japanese skewers: steak and chicken gizzard. I will recommend everyone trying them because the (yummy) Japanese skewers are a rare find in the U.S.. They are as good as the ones that I had back in the local bar in the dark alley in Japan. These skewers are perfectly grilled and seasoned to my taste.
(4)
J K.

We came around 5:00 PM on a Saturday and were seated promptly. We ordered pork belly buns and a spinach dish to start. As expected, the pork belly buns were excellent and with a hint of spice. The spinach dish we ordered, Goma Ae, was nothing special. It came as a small mound of boiled spinach with sauce over it. Onto the ramen. I ordered the tonkatsu ramen. Compared to ramen I have had elsewhere, I will commend Wasabi for having a large variety and decent quantity of toppings. However, upon first inspection, the noodles scared me a bit. They had the scraggly look of instant noodles. The first few bites of my ramen were pretty good. The noodles were well cooked and the pork was well flavored (I must say that for the amount of time it took for the ramen to come out, the pork was unexpectedly cold). The big spoons are nice for getting a nice mixture of broth and noodles, but are not particularly attractive to eat from. Hehe. Anywho, less than halfway through the ramen-eating, the saltiness from the broth became more apparent. The saltiness and subsequent discomfort caused by the ramen will prevent me from returning anytime too soon.
(3)
Steven M.

I would say this is the best place for ramen in Chicago. I gave then 4 stars because their sushi isn't the greatest. I ordered a few rolls and I wasn't impressed; I would say the sushi is on the average side. Go somewhere else for sushi, best sushi places: Kai Sushi or Umai. BUT definitely come here for the ramen.
(4)
R. S.

Excellent Food, Okay Service. Wasabi never fails to exceed our expectations by way of its cuisine, namely the ramen the eatery is so well-known for. I'd dabbled in a few other broths, but after trying the Tonkatsu I'd never turn back. Rich, creamy, and flavorful, it is by far, the best ramen I've had in the city. The small plates also deserve mention as they are just as delicious - I'd highly recommend a side of flash fried Brussels sprouts and pork belly buns. Perfect compliment to a steaming bowl of ramen, especially during Chicago falls and winters. For sure this place deserves 4+ stars if not for the decline in customer service I've experienced as of late. I remember first walking into Wasabi when at it's original location (closer to Kedzie). They were pretty busy even back then, but super kind and accommodating. Back then on busy nights, we'd be greeted by a smiling host who'd offered to take down our names and phone numbers so as to give us a call when our table was ready. As of late, there's just been less of that genuine touch. During a recent visit, we approached the host station requesting a table for two, only to receive a pointed, "didn't you see the sign?" There is a sign instructing to folks to go outside and write their name down. Sure, it's fine, things are busier now, and this sounds like a little nit...but the response of the host and the disinterest in speaking to customers was just a far cry from what we once experienced. Frankly it confuses my perspective on the purpose of a host, as a very large part of the role is to greet guests and make them feel welcome. Again, it's a smaller nit, and the excellent dishes Wasabi offers outweighs our less than stellar greeting by far. But honestly, it makes the difference in the amount of times we choose to frequent the place and adds slight hesitation when asked for restaurant recommendations from friends or colleagues.
(3)
Rachel K.

If I could give this place zero stars I would. This was the worst dining experience I have ever experienced. Let me start by mentioning the positive points of this place: --The pork and kimchi small bite roll was pretty good --BYOB! Fantastic! --Loved the tiny raspberry cheesecake dessert --My friend and I got seated right away because we came on the earlier side, but as the other yelpers mention, there may be a long wait (outside) Okay, now to discuss the reason I highly do not recommend this place to anyone and do not plan on ever returning: --The tonkotsu ramen was flavorless. The ramen noodles themselves tasted like the kind you make at home and the broth was just meh. --The fried pork belly and brie skewer had no meat in it. They may as well have called it fried brie on a stick. Beware, the cheese explodes everywhere when you bite into it. Quite a messy dish. --The service was ATROCIOUS!!!!! The server came over to our table at first and politely asked how we were doing. When we cordially asked in return he sighed and said he was doing better now that his last table that sat there for 2 hours had left. I work as a server myself and found it rather odd that he was complaining about this considering the average table turnover time is 2 hours for a table but I just brushed it off. As the evening progressed, he kept asking us for the next dish, what he can get us, and if we were done. Normally this sounds like reasonable questions for a server to ask but he kept coming over and asking this every 5 minutes. It was no longer a matter of being prompt but rather nagging at this point. I get it, sir, you want us out and on with life. But this constant nagging was incredibly stressful. My friend, who has a lot more patience than I do even took note of it. When we kindly mentioned to him that we will let him know when we pick our next dish he informs us that the host is telling him that he needs to close out his tables for the next round of guests. Listen bud, that's really not my problem so not only do I not want to hear you venting to me about it, but I have no solution for you either. I'm not done with my meal so don't be rude and try to force me out. It was absolutely ridiculous how stressful this meal was. How would you feel being constantly nagged about what your next dish is going to be and having your server vent to you? I'm fairly certain I would get fired if my manager ever found out that I spoke to a guest like this. --As the meal was coming to an end, we ordered dessert. This adorable tiny raspberry cheesecake. Before the dessert even came over the server brought us the check (without asking). We ate the dessert and enjoyed it so much that we asked for another. He sighed, took away the check and the plate, got us another dessert and YET AGAIN brought over the check. This man is out of his mind!!!!!!! I haven't experienced such terrible service in a very very long time! WE ARE STILL EATING! YOU DO NOT GIVE US THE CHECK UNTIL WE ARE DONE!!!!!!! We were at our wits end at this point. We closed out the bill, and were finishing up our last sips of our bottle of wine that we had brought with us when the manager comes over. He asks if there's anything else he could get us in a rather snarl tone. I lost any ounce of patience I had left in me. I explained to him that the experience was very unsatisfactory and the feeling of being nagged and rushed was incredibly stressful and distasteful. Most managers at this point would apologize and try to do something to ensure the guest leaves happy. Instead, this gentleman tells us that he has over an hour wait out the door and is trying to clear and turn tables as fast as possible. Coming from someone who works in the service industry, you never, I mean NEVER say this to someone. I was in shock. At this point, you have forever lost me as a customer. I will never return with this kind of terrible service and attitude. --You would think what I wrote thus far was bad enough but no, it gets worse. I got HORRIBLE FOOD POISONING from this place. I was sick for a week. You couldn't pay me a million dollars to return to this place. Okay, maybe a million ;)....but, you know what I mean. If what I wrote doesn't deter you from eating at this place then let me make myself clear, DO NOT GO HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(1)
Jeoly M.

The line wasn't long during lunch time. One bowl can make you full with an appetizer! The soup base was pretty decent. I'm definitely going back there again!
(5)
Chai-Ling C.

My husband and I went on a Tuesday night at 8 PM in mid October to celebrate our anniversary. And there was a wait (about 20 minutes)! It was chilly but luckily not too cold to wait outside. The tables are packed almost too close together. The service was good. They ran out of Pork Belly Buns!! Disappointed... We had the Pork Belly and Kimchee Spring Roll instead for appetizer. It was delicious, quite an interesting combination of taste. We had the Tonkotsu Ramen and Spicy Roasted Garlic Miso Ramen, the 2 popular ramens that everyone raves. They taste really good, but almost too salty towards the end. I was super full! This place lives up to the popularity, but 1 star off for running out of your most popular appetizer by 8PM! And most likely won't go back too often because I dislike waiting in lines...
(4)
Zach A.

Good, but not great ramen. The place was packed on a Tuesday night, I like the BYOB idea, price was too high for what you get. Either they increase portions or reduce the price. Probably won't go back!
(3)
Jennie C.

I've found yet another ramen heaven in the city. Yay! Had the spicy roasted garlic miso ramen, glad I took my friend's advice and ordered it mild, coz that broth had a kick! But it was also rich, creamy with a lovely roasted garlic perfume. The meat was melt-in-your-mouth tender and the noodles had perfect toothsome texture. The humble-looking soft boiled egg had a silky yolk that was richly seasoned with soy sauce. Also tried a bit of friend's tonkotsu ramen, the broth was lighter than the miso but had luxurious pork bone flavor. I can eat this every day! On a second visit, I had some of the rolls: spider & ana kyu. These were not as mind-blowing as the ramen and rather loosely rolled (i.e. threatened to fall apart when picked up). But I did try the raw wasabi-marinated octupus and liked the refreshing taste. Service was almost too attentive...the server checked on us a few too many times on my second visit, but at least it was friendly. Music was very loud, making conversation somewhat challenging. This was a bummer because the atmosphere was quite romantic and would have made it a good date spot. Bonus points for being BYOB.
(4)
Jamal A.

I felt like I was in the Maldives. I was very happy. The food was great, customer service was great, and the atmosphere was great. A+++ Will go back again just like going back to my country. I like it the pork belly, very very good like my wife.
(5)
Tim S.

I have to say I'm a huge fan of this place. My girlfriend and I visited on a weekend trip to Chicago and both got vegetarian Ramen bowls and a side of seaweed salad. The food was absolutely incredible and very filling. The atmosphere at Wasabi is hip and minimalist (though at times it felt a little crowded because of guests trying to escape the cold). We got in before the line and were able to get a seat at the bar. The staff was friendly and it was one of those rare places where watching the food be prepared actually made it more appetizing. The Ramen bowl was a good size portion and was filled with delicious tastes. It was spiced perfectly and was a perfect way to warm up from the bitter cold. My only reason this place isn't five stars is because I thought it was a bit on the pricey side. I would still be a regular if I lived closer, though.
(4)
Vincent Y.

$20 a person--we ordered three ramen bowls, two pieces of salmon nigiri and some extra noodles. I ordered tonkotsu and it was incredibly delicious. Beautiful, soft-boiled egg laid on top of bamboo, creamy broth, and deliciously chewy ramen noodles. There was a good amount of meat that I wasn't missing any pieces and on (really any Chicago day not between June and October) it was incredible. Clearly, slightly pricy even for the relatively big portions (I was pretty full), but best ramen I've tasted in Chicago yet (coming from a Bay Area native).
(4)
Noy And Alan T.

I've been searching for a good ramen place and I think I've found a decent one for chicago! I ordered the Spicy garlic miso ramen with pork belly. The pork belly was so juicy and tender. I just wished there were more of it. The noodles were perfect. The only down side was that they forgot to put a boiled egg in it. In addition to the ramen, we ordered the Sashimi platter which had yellowtail, salmon, flounder and tuna. I thought it was fairly good for the midwest. Decently priced. To finish it off, the red bean ice cream. Delish! I would recommend the ramen. Sushi was alright. I've had better but for the price, you can't go wrong.
(3)
Lauren D.

Get your freak-on for comfort food at Wasabi. They have a great variety of Ramen choices. My top favorites are (1) Spicy roasted garlic Miso and (2) Tonkotsu. If you want to try a fantastic appetizer with a prodigious flavor, order up the pork belly and kimchee spring rolls. The amalgamation of the house tarter sauce and the pork belly and kimchee spring rolls is exceptional. Their homemade dumplings are made fresh daily and are worthy of 5-stars. Crack open that bottle of wine (or whatever you end up bringing) and enjoy it because your wait may be long. We usually come during off-peak hours so we've never had to wait that long for a table. Service is hospitable. The crowd is interesting and made up mostly of the 20 and 30-something crowds. Of course, there are people beyond the age of 40 who go here and enjoy the experience. My niece, who is 28, introduced me to Wasabi. She always knows exactly where the "great" food and fun vibe seem to be in the city. We have eaten here more than 10 times. Obviously, with over 500 mostly favorable reviews I was hesitant to write a review. But what the hell, why not add to the reviews and keep it going for Wasabi. We went here last week, because I was craving their Tonkotsu Ramen. The food is always consistent. I love the fresh quality ingredients which are superb! I am rating Wasabi with 4-stars because parking can be a bit challenging in this area of the city. If you are seeking comfort food this winter, definitely check it out. We usually end up spending any where between $30 to $45 (it depends on what we order). Of course, appetizers push up the price-point, but the pork belly spring rolls and home made dumplings are definitely worthy of 5-stars!
(4)
Tracey M.

Been here a couple of times and the ramen is very good IMO. I usually get regular miso ramen while my SO gets the spicy miso garlic (which is SOO good but a bit too spicy for me). My friends thought it was mediocre, which I can see where they stand because the price of ramen is always kind of up there in Chicago and the ramen honestly isn't mindblowingly good, but still good.. Nowadays I need to get a side of extra noodles to satisfy the crave, and maybe share a roll of sushi and we're good (sushi roll is not very big). Very filling and the food tastes great.
(4)
Kris R.

finally, a great place to get ramen in the city. TRES excited about this. i've been here twice now, awesome both times. my first time, upon a friend's recommendation, i tried the spicy garlic miso. it was effing huge, so i think that the price was reasonable. the 2nd time though, i PIMPED out my ramen so hard. lady balls hangin' out. and if Xhibit were there, he would've pinched my shirt and brushed my shoulders off. tonkotsu ramen - with EXTRA pork belly, and SPICY stuff. did it cost me like, $18? yeah. but was it awesome? YES. no doubt. and i had leftovers. why did i pimp it out, you might ask? because that night my bestie and i were supposed to go to santouka (a great ramen joint) in schaumburg but didn't make it in time. i SO was sad. so we BYOB'd classy white wine, and i ate the crap out of that ramen. some honorable mentions: short rib from the grill. homemade dumps were okay - nothing to write home about. also, there is usually 1 asian at every table. look around you. i think it's mandatory. so if you need one, bring ME.
(4)
Peter R.

Chicago is a culinary mecca. This is the truth, and not a statement. I can say with confidence that we have one of the best places for Ramen in the country. I can't say the world because I have never had the pleasure of eating ramen in Japan. Well I did eat ramen from Narita airport during a layover, but that doesn't count. The place that I speak so highly of is Wasabi in Wicker Park. The tonkatsu ramen here is amazing! The broth is so rich and flavorful, and the pork is so AMAZEBALLS. I say that word perfectly captures just how incredible the pork is. The pork belly buns here are also on par excellence with the others that I have had. I don't really need to drag out this review any longer, that plus I have writers block. Just go here and try the ramen. I would assume the sushi here is also awesome, but Peter does not do sushi. Ok, bye...have a great day!
(5)
Rachel G.

The ramen here is seriously the best in the city. It's the broth that absolutely makes it perfect. Creamy but light, flavorful but not over seasoned. I was craving another trip to Wasabi right after I walked out the door. Pork buns were yummy and the sushi looks delicious, although I've never tried. Always a sucker for the ramen bowls and the 40+ hour broth. Mmmmmm!
(5)
Stan A.

If I could do 3.5 I would. It's really good, but urban belly gets the nod from me. I do like the interior better though!
(3)
Judy H.

Their ramen is fantastic. My boyfriend and I went last night for dinner and left with a new favorite restaurant. First, the wait was relatively fast for a Saturday night. We got their around 8 and were told for two people it would be a 25-35 minute wait. There was space already available at the bar, but we preferred to wait for a table. Since this place is byob, we used our wait time we walked down to Bucktown liqour and bought a bottle of wine. No corking fee is also a huge plus. The broth for their ramen is cooked for 48 hours with pork bones. had the spicy garlic miso ramen with bamboo shoots, scallions, half a soft-boiled egg, and two slice of pork belly. Really, you've never had ramen like this before. My broth was enjoyably spicy and slightly creamy, and the pork belly melts in your mouth. My boyfriend got their signature ramen so he could fully taste their unique broth. His broth was much creamier than mine and equally recommended. We also shared the sashimi tartare. A bit small for the price, but it was fresh and incredibly delicious. Will order again. We saw a lot of small plates go by that looked interested - the pork belly buns being one of them. Def coming back to try those. All in all, loved the feel of the place, service was wonderful, meal was delicious. Everyone should go.
(5)
Angela L.

Best ramen I've had in Chicago thus far! I've tried my fair share of ramen places in the city of Chicago but nothing beats the Spicy Garlic Miso Ramen! The broth and noodles are just amazing with the perfect amount of spiciness. The pork belly just melts in your mouth! The pork buns were good also but I don't think I would go back for the sushi because it was a little overpriced for the amount you get. But overall, great ramen!
(5)
JKirby T.

Went here with a group of 8 and waited for an hour for food but when we got it, we couldn't get enough. The ramen was on point and the sushi was fresh and tasty. Overall, the restaurant itself was very inviting and you can tell so much thought goes into every single detail, from the decorations to plating.
(4)
Tim L.

Wasabi was recommended to me by a friend who proclaims himself as a ramen connoisseur. Although this restaurant serves all different types of Japanese cuisine, he said the ramen was the star of the show. Being somewhat of a ramen snob myself I put Wasabi at the top of my list of things to do when I visited the Windy City. And boy, am I glad I did. The ramen here isn't cheap. In fact, I don't recall ever spending as much for a bowl of ramen than I did at Wasabi. Starting at $14 for a bowl of Tonkotsu Ramen they're more expensive than Ippudo. Adding other things to your bowl will set you back even more and you'll soon find yourself closing in on a $20 bowl of noodles. At this price range you're Wasabi is basically proclaiming that they should be in the top echelon for ramen. After my experience I must say that I agree 100%. The Tonkotsu Ramen was really rich and packed a lot of flavors. The broth super thick to the point that you could see the broth coagulating if you let it sit for a while (I had to take pictures!). Sounds a bit much, but I can assure you that it was probably the best broth I've ever tasted. The ajitama was good, but I would have liked it to be soaked in the soy sauce for a while longer for a stronger taste. The yolk was cooked perfectly to where it was extra gooey. The noodles were cooked well to the point where it was still bouncy, but not tough to chew. The strands are long and wavy so I'm guessing they were hand pulled? Don't quote me on that, but I'm almost positive about that. And finally the Berkshire Pork Toro. WOW! Pork belly is always good because of the fact that it's so fatty and tender, but the pork they serve here is by far the absolute best I've ever eaten. Well seasoned, perfectly marbled and tender to the point where the pork disintegrates in your mouth as you chew I challenge someone to find a better piece of pork on this side of the world at this price range. If you're a fan of pork belly you definitely need to make sure to order a extra side of the pork belly. The bamboo shoots, seaweed, sprouts and scallions add a crunchy texture to the entree to keeps it interesting. You have no reason not to order the ramen here. Unless you're vegan, of course. By the way, I noticed that a lot of reviewers are using the term Tonkatsu (breaded fried pork cutlet) instead of Tonkotsu. Easy to mix up, but still very wrong. I did get to try other things on the menu as my friends ordered other things. Suckers. I will say that their rolls were good and priced competitively. I was not a fan of the salmon teriyaki, especially with a $18 price tag. You get very little and the salmon was a bit overcooked. However, the sweet potato mash that comes with that dish was pretty delicious.
(5)
Kat D.

I came here on valentines day with a group of 5 couples. They don't take reservations but we were still able to get a table instantly on a very busy Friday night. The service was great, we understood it was busy and it took a little while to get things, but the restaurant gave us a free appetizer to make up for the wait. All in all it was a great valentines day at wasabi. Looking forward to coming here again.
(5)
Neema P.

Came here for dinner. Byob! Home made ramen! They also have vegan ramen. Was really good. In order to really embrace this experience you have to be starving all day. It's hard to consume apps and ramen all at once! Will def return. Who can't love ramen and byob. I hear this place gets packed so be sure to come early.
(4)
Roxy A.

If you're looking for a legit ramen place in Chicago. Wasabi is the place to go!!! The miso ramen is on point! I've been quite a few ramen places in Chicago and the miso ramen broth here is delicious. Very flavorful and slightly creamy with fatty chashu goodness. It's not too salty like other ramen joints. I also appreciate that they stick to the main ingredients that are found in ramen and don't add in a bunch of random ingredients. Bamboo shoots, nori, sprouts, chive, soft boiled egg and chashu is all you need! Definitely hits the spot during the bitter cold months here in Chicago! If ramen isn't your thing (you're missing out btw! just sayin') the sushi and grill dishes are tasty as well. Aside from ordering ramen, I definitely recommend trying the uni shooters! It's uni with ponzy sauce, chive, and masago. The uni aka sea urchin is always very fresh and melts in your mouth! I also love the Hamachi Kama! Not all Japanese places here in Chicago have it. I feel like the legit Japanese places have it on their menu, unlike many of the other Japanese places that have so many crazy rolls doused with eel sauce and cream cheese. The hamachi kama is a grilled yellowtail collar and its really tasty!!! wasabi doesn't take reservations and they do get pretty busy as they are only open for dinner, but its definitely worth the wait.
(5)
Connie Y.

One of the best ramen places! Their broth is absolutely delish! Their noodles are also cooked to perfection as well with ample pork belly slices and their black wood ear mushrooms that are an awesome complement to the ramen! I've made several trips here and typically just order ramen, but on one my most recent visits my friends and I ordered other side items: fried chicken lollipops, pork belly buns, and their chicken thigh skewers. All were great and quite tasty.
(4)
Kika W.

Their ramen are to die for! I tried them all and all are good with their own different character. The pork belly OMG...especially on those cold wintery nights...ahhh...slurp...slurp... Their sushi is just mediocre tho'...I've had better ones somewhere else. Can get long lines on weekend nights...but is totally worth the wait
(4)
Ceal P.

3.5 stars.. debated a while about whether or not to give 4 stars, but with the high price, i'll stick with 3.5 stars. Wasn't aware that they had a strong following for their ramen.. recently just reopened at a new spot along a "not-quite-logan-square-"avondale"" stretch of milwaukee. We live a stone's throw away so thought we'd check it out. the space is very cool -- reminds me of a duplicate of the Yusho space. dinner service only and at 5pm on a weds night, it got busy, quickly! The menu is all inclusive of all that is japanese -- hence why i feel their ramen is good enough for the type of restaurant.. if this was a ramen-only restaurant, i'd say their ramen is just good enough but for a restaurant that has all sorts of other japanese offerings, it's pretty good. Tried the tonkotsu and the spicy miso. The tonkotsu was the better of the two, but the miso could contend.. the miso-special ramen spot in arlington heights is by far the best, but this miso ramen had good enough strong flavor and a great level of spice. In general, for the price, i felt the servings were a bit small although honestly, i probably shouldn't be eating more than is served. the offerings in the ramen include pork belly (2 pieces), menma and half an egg. there are additional add-ons including more pork belly chasu, kimchi, etc. Overall a good bowl of ramen, wouldn't say the best in chicago -- Oiistar make their own noodles and i felt oiistar broth was deeper. Santouka and Misoya are both better options IMO but are not chicago proper technically. We also tried the pork belly buns which were really big, nice char flavor, sauce a bit too sweet and tasted too much like teriyaki -- should be more like hoisin flavor. Overall, for being close by, with nice ambiance and BYOB, def a spot to leave on our go-to, although can't frequent too often due to $15 bowl or ramen sans add-ons. welcome to the neighborhood.
(3)
Adj F.

Among of one of the best ramen places in Chicago. Get the Tonkotsu Ramen -- the soup base is what you would expect in a good ramen, rich flavor but not overwhelmingly grease, the poached egg was cooked perfect, bamboo shoots were fresh, and the pork belly, those was one the best pork bellies I've had - good ratio of fat/lean portion, amazingly tender, you can pay 4$ additional to get more pork belly and I recommend that. Sushi was somewhat an disappointment. The fish quality is good but the over quality of the sushi is not that great. The ones I had, the rice was loosen, and just overall not that impressive. I didn't have one of those fancy rolls so I can't speak for those. But I will probably skip sushi next time I visit here (hence the -1 star). The service was friendly, however gets crowded easily. Difficult to find seating if you have a large group. They don't take reservation.
(4)
Jim L.

Came here on Halloween night with a friend. It was packed with people waiting outside. If you come during dinner time with a group of 4 or more, expect to wait quite a while. I got the Shoyu Ramen. The ramen was good. Not too soft. The several slices of pork meat were delicious. The soup was salty, but not too salty. Do NOT get sushi here. Ordered a dragon roll and spider roll. The brown sauce (asumming it is unagi sauce) they used tasted like chocolate. I personally do not like those two things mixed together. Do NOT get calamari here. It's $8, only a few pieces, and it does not taste good. Pro: Ramen Con: Everything else on the menu
(3)
Laura L.

Perfect, perfect ramen. I came with four friends for brunch on a Saturday at 11:30 a.m. and found the place relatively empty. Our table had a large basket on the side for our coats -- very thoughtful! There isn't a huge selection of ramen, which I suppose allows them to get the few items just right. I ordered the tonkotsu ramen ($13) and was definitely impressed, especially considering there doesn't seem to be a big market for ramen in Chicago (yet!). The broth was milky, rich and perfectly balanced AKA not overly salty. The noodles were the wavy kind, which I prefer. Instead of the typical chashu, it came with two generous slabs of pork belly, which upped the overall decadence of the dish. And it had lots of bamboo shoots, yum! The portion is a good size; we were all stuffed after licking our bowls clean.
(5)
Montserrath M.

This is my new go to place for Ramen! It's delicious. There are many varieties of Ramen, I got the original one and my boyfriend had the spicy garlic one. I tried his and I wished I had ordered it. If you're a spicy lover, this dish is a must! I usually sit at the bar so I don't wait for seats which is about a 20 minute wait on a Saturday evening. I love their servers, they are very attentive. Highly recommended this place!
(5)
Kelly P.

I can say this place good for ramen only ramen. The sushi here is just ok some fish has smell. I only recommend for ramen.
(4)
Herman C.

Best Ramen in Chicago, hands down
(5)
Allen G.

This was my go to spot for tonkatsu ramen in Chicago but ever since they have moved, their ramen has taken a nose dive. I have tried their sushi and a few apps but i've had much better elsewhere. The broth used to be rich and the noodles used to be soft yet chewy and springy. This time the broth was thin, the noodles were over-cooked and the pork slides were rubbery and inedible. I hope next time it will live back to it's expectations. Note: i've had many bowls of tonkatsu ramen in the past 3 years across the us and tokyo.
(2)
Melinda L.

Very good experience! Only a 5 minute wait on a cold Saturday night an there was about 6 names in front of ours. We had the short rib and chicken skewers, which were a nice snack. The spider roll was different because there was crunchy carrots in the roll but it was good. Then we had their signature ramen and that was the best I've had this far. The service was fast and friendly. Would definitely recommend to anyone craving ramen.
(5)
Jason R.

This review is about ramen. I admit, living in Japan for 4 years completely spoiled my and has turned me into an insufferable snob. I've been struggling to find ramen that approaches what my lucky tastebuds became accustomed to, and it has not been easy. I was pretty pleased with Wasabi - I've had miso, shoyu, and tonkotsu ramen. Tonkotsu is the toughest to nail, I think, and Wasabi's is really underdeveloped. The miso ramen though, was pretty spot on. I've been to quite a few spots now, and this is the clear winner so far. I'll still keep searching, but int he meantime will be coming back to Wasabi for sure.
(4)
Diane G.

BEST RAMEN IN CHICAGO. I had the Spicy Garlic Miso Ramen--SO GOOD, SO BOMB. (The garlic miso ramen is also available non-spicy). My bf had the Tonkotsu Ramen, which is also amazing here. (If you've never had ramen, I would recommend the Tonkotsu a.k.a. pork bone broth since it is the traditional version of ramen). *Appetizers we ordered were also great---I'd recommend both the brussel sprouts and the Pork Belly & Kimchee Spring Rolls. *Vegans and Vegetarians, rejoice because they have VEGAN RAMEN here too, which my lactose intolerant roommate said, and I quote: "This is the best meal I've had in Chicago!" **note: This 5-star review is for the RAMEN, NOT for the sushi. I had the Cubby Bear, and was deeply disappointed and unimpressed. Yuzu still wins my vote for best sushi in Chicago. *Note #2: There is typically a long wait (30-45 mins), and they do NOT take reservations. I'd come with the expectation of a wait. You can always walk down the street to a bar or cafe while you're waiting. Or the nearby liquor store since Wasabi is BYOB! =)
(5)
Luke S.

I like this spot better than Hi-5. MMM
(5)
Denise A.

Very very tasty. Spicy roasted garlic miso ramen was perfect! Everything we ate was well developed for sure. We sat at the bar, great view of all the "action". Fun to watch :)
(5)
Andrew K.

Pretty tasty ramen. I had the tonkotsu. Everything was done really well. The noodles were firm, the pork was tasty, the marinated bamboo had a delicious flavor, the broth was rich. Just wish I had a little more noodles which is an add on. But for 13 bucks a bowl I wouldn't think a little bit more would be a problem.
(4)
Chi H.

Great ramen, would definitely come back
(4)
Regina F.

My favorite ramen place in Chicago, and I've been to many ramen places both here and in NY. I've been here at least a handful of times and is definitely my first choice for ramen here. If you are a vegetarian or vegan, you are familiar with many chefs using salt as flavor, leaving your entrees and whatnot with sodium overload. However, that is not the case with Wasabi. I get the veggie ramen every time, and the homemade shitake broth is delicious! After I finish the generous amount of yummy noodles, baby bok choy and other toppings, I drink all of the broth till my bowl is dry. True story. Needless to say, I always leave stuffed! Recently though, they added seitan meat to the veggie ramen, which I personally think it's unnecessary. But, I definitely appreciate them not forgetting about us veggies. Thoughtful, indeed. Also beware, there are always long lines and waits, especially on the weekends for dinner. But hey, there is a reason! YUM YUM YUM
(4)
Katie K.

This place is great! I went here with 5 of my friends. We had a great time. We tried a variety of the menu and really enjoyed ourselves. It's BYOB too, which is always a plus! I really love the style of their menu, it's really meant for sharing which can be a lot of fun in a group. We got a few skewers. The brie/pork skewer was delicious. We also tried pork belly buns, YUM! And my friend got the ramen, apparently, it was quite delectable. I shared a variety of sushi which was tasty and fresh. I thought there was a bit too much rice in it, but I think that's more of a "me" problem then the restaurant. I tend to think that at a lot of sushi places. The service was great, our waiter was friendly, the food came out quick. We ordered probably 3 rounds of food, it's a fun time.
(5)
Mikey M.

I like ramen. A lot. So in keeping with my fancy for good ramen eats, I try out every place I come across that offers them on a menu. I heard about wasabi recently and tried it out for just the ramen to see how it holds up with the rest of the places I'v tried in the past. Pros: ramen -specifically the tokatsu and shoyu ramen bowls- are put together well and taste great. The ingredients are well seasoned and the ramen quality is great. Extra ramen cost about 2.50 and together with the standard serving (about 13 bucks), is a satisfying meal. Cons: Wasabi isn't a large place so you may rub elbows with the folks next to you if you are eating during a peak time of the day. Now at 13 bucks a pop, the Wasabi bowl of noodles isn't exactly a cheap eat and I don't mind forking over 15 bucks for a good ramen bowl now and then if a place puts in the good work to make the ramen taste good. The broth is well made and is not overwhelmingly salty like some of the places I've come across. However, I'd eat more at this place if the ramen cost less. For the size of the bowl that is served (there are no large, small or medium portions), I'd like a larger portion if I'm spending 15 bucks on a bowl of noodles. I haven't tried the sushi yet but it looked good.
(4)
Sherry S.

With this cold weather lasting a little longer than expected, my windshield washers weren't working so I went to Bill Jacobs BMW for some assistance. Adam Hrubec and Mike couldn't have been more attentive and helpful with my plight. While I enjoyed a cup of Starbuck's coffee and caught up on some emails, they performed magic. Within 30 minutes, I was on my way with a clean windshield and a full washer bottle. Adam and Mike sure let you know why they are in "the service department." Thank you.
(5)
Angelica M.

My bf and I went to this place trying to find a new Japanese restaurant with good sushi; to our surprise, the rest of the food took the center stage. The place re-opens at 5:00 pm for evening service and we got there at 5:08 to our surprise it was nearly full so we sat at the bar. So, if you do not want to have to wait be sure to get there as soon as they open. We left an hour later and there was a bunch of people waiting. Wasabi is decorated in a simple but cozy way. The service was great and fast considering the fact that they had full house within 15 mins of opening. The food was by far the tastiest we have had in a while, at least from a Japanese restaurant. Nevertheless, since we came for sushi we did order a shrimp tempura roll. However, as said earlier the other food items: Pork belly buns and Spicy Roasted Garlic Miso Ramen were the winners as far as flavors go. We will unquestionably be back for the ramen, buns, and will most definitely venture into other hot items from the menu.
(5)
Julia B.

Food was great. The only reason I am not giving this place five stars is because of how rude their host staff is. I walked in with 2 friends, all of us coming here for the first time. Walking in we were greeting by a hostess and asked the go back out and sign in and wait in between the outside door and restaurant. I have never heard anything so ridiculous and told the host I would rather wait inside as it was 10 degrees outside. She then proceeded to tell me how dangerous it was to stand in the restaurant as the serve ramen (what?!). I told her I didn't think it was dangerous and preferred to stay in. The issue was really in her tone and attitude. RULE #1: the customer is always RIGHT! I had to tell the hostess to stop talking to me because it got so heated. I've never experienced such rudeness! I am the customer. How dare you. I would recommend they address this with the hostess as a training opportunity.
(3)
Jin Joo L.

Well, we ordered a bit of ramen and appetizers to share... most of our food was sushi. MMM great sushi! Fresh and well done. BRAVO!!! This place wasn't the typical Japanese restaurant with Asian servers. All the servers were caucasian and they knew their stuff! I was happy about her recommendations and ever since that time, we've been wanting to go back. The prices are a bit comparable to most places. The ramen seemed to be a commonly ordered item. It was good. Too bad I had to share it with 3 other ppl. LoL. Just plan on waiting a while if you go, I don't think they take reservations, maybe they do. We waited about 40 min and were going crazy. They had a leak so two tables were unavailable since it was raining when we went.
(5)
Kavi P.

Came here to try out the ramen. Ended up getting some sushi as well (wasn't too much of a fan). Can't say that it was anything too impressive or note worthy, but I'd be willing to give the place a second try
(3)
Christa Lei S.

I'm not a huge fan of Wasabi's new location-- but at least their food quality is great. You will be good with any of the ramens-- as (other than the shoyu ramen) ramens have the same base: a tonkatsu base. Tonkatsu is a pork-based broth, so vegetarians beware! Sometimes they'll have a vegan tan-tan ramen in their specials, so ask about it. I'm going to stop being bitter about the change in location. I still come here more often than I did before. I love their ramen. The ramen is decently priced for the amount, quality and the stuff you get with it. I recommend any of the miso ramens-- but add aburi kakuni and an extra ajitama (shoyu egg.) The aburi kakuni is perfectly marinated, fatty, delicious, braised/torched pork belly! It's so yummmmmy. As for the ajitama... I'm a huge fan of soft boiled eggs. It's soft boiled egg marinated in soy sauce. The yolk is silky and custardy and not too salty. It is best part of the ramen and I always get extras. Besides the ramen, get some of the special sushi slices. I always get the wagyu sushi special. It's perfectly torched and seared, with a bit of garlic and ponzu. Yum. I also love the unagi and brie sushi. It sounds disgusting... and as a sushi purist, I couldn't believe it either. However, the brie adds a new dimension of creaminess to the unagi. It highlights the sweet flavor of the unagi kabayaki sauce that is drizzled over the slice. I'd suggest getting it if they have it. The service is great- though they're ALWAYS busy. They're also BYOB. Try Wasabi though. It's a liiiiiitttle pricy for your everyday, average dinner. But I'd go as a treat.
(5)
Bryant S.

It's a shame, because I really do enjoy the food. The Spicy Roasted Garlic Ramen is the best I've had in the city. But the service is just so poor. Tonight, I called ahead to ask them if they could seat a large part (15). They described the seating for me, took my name, and told me they would hold in. 10 minutes later, we show up and they had given away our tables. They then shared their "no reservation" policy with us. The staff was either unwilling or not capable of addressing the issue. When I tried talking to one manager type, I could see the words just passing him by. No food is good, but not worth the terrible customer service.
(1)
James P.

I actually really do like this place, some really decent ramen in the city. HOWEVER, I am writing about my experience on 3/8/2014, lunch time. We waited 25 minutes to get 5 dumplings and than we waited till the hour mark...and still never got our ramen. The thing that made me so mad was....they served a table beside us the EXACT SAME ramen before us...even though they arrived after. When we said we were going to leave...they happily brought us the bill....I mean come on really?! They also did apologize that they only had one chef there..I wouldve been ok with that...but serving ppl that arrived after us and when we ordered the same dish??? Please....get your act together
(1)
Keith R.

Giant slice of hamachi cheek? I'll take 3, thank you veddy much. This low-key BYOB in Logan is my most awesome discovery thanks to Yelp, and a great replacement for my formerly favorite and now full Friday failure fest that shall remain unnamed, at this time. Came here with my wife, my best friend and his girlfriend who were visiting me for my birthday from L.A., which is known for having some pretty sweet food and drink establishments, especially of the Asian persuasion. That being said, I felt a little nervous taking them anywhere in our great city, even if he used to live here. I just wanted to make sure there were no frowns after dinner. I think it went well! Between the four of us, we ate about half the menu, no joke. We were pretty hungry after running around playing tourist and doing Chicago exclusive activities, such as taking pictures with and of The Bean, formally known as Cloud Gate, attempting to get a Rainbow Cone at Park Cafe(which unfortunately put the kibosh on ice cream the day before we got there), eating deep dish, and various other activities. Dinner time was approaching and we hadn't figured out a plan for eating when I pulled out my trusty cellular telephone with newfangled Mobile yelp app! Searching for a place to satisfy a few requirements...seafood for my wife who recently became mostly pescatarian, a hamachi kama app for me, and ramen and/or maki and/or other small plates. Wasabi stepped right up and knocked one out for me. Brown paper packages tied up with strings These are a few of my favorite things... Spicy Roasted Garlic Miso Ramen. SRGMR. OMG. WTF. All my favorite things along with pork for good measure? And a soft cooked egg? Dude...... Hamachi Kama. Generous portion with a good sear. Fish oil permeates every layer of meat. Worth the price. Eat it with the ponzu. Spicy Super White Tuna Crunch. Fresh fish, a handsome and expertly crafted maki roll, perfect balance of spice to not overpower the taste of the fish. Really though all the rolls are awesome, this just happens to be my favorite. Any of the skewers. But especially the short rib, the pork belly, and chicken thighs. Everything they serve is made of love. Or maybe the Care Bears stare the hell out of the food. The flavors, balance of salt, freshness, the menu and the value? Nothing can be beat here. At the moment, this is my favorite Japanese restaurant in Chicago. My stomach hates me for reminding myself of this awesome meal! I want to go back right now... There's so much more I loved but I need to end here before stops typing, grabs car keys and drives to Wasabi
(5)
Momo N.

This place is so good!! Its a smaller place so its easy for them to have a line out the door. Coming in here in a group might take a while to get in. Its BYOB. So remember to stop by the liquor store to get some, might be good if you have to wait in line. Everyone must try the ramen here, at least one. The spicy ramen is really good and favorful. And for those sea urchin lover out there, they have the best here. I never taste a better uni anywhere else. Its just too good!!!
(5)
Debbie F.

We ordered a great deal of items that resulted in a $88 bill, almost everything was fantastic, but the item that made the biggest impression was my Tonkotsu Ramen! The broth tasted the way its supposed to taste (read Tim L.'s review for more), like it was brewed for hours. The melty egg yolk was good, but I've had better, so don't bother ordering extra egg. Pork ratio was 60:40 meat to fat. Noodles didn't really taste handmade, they had a springy, light texture that some might find lacking. Also, their ikura sashimi was served in a half-cut green fruit (sorry, I'm really not sure what it was, it was the size of a lime but had the texture of an avocado). Anyway... going back to Tonkotsu... last time I had ramen this good was in NYC. Last time I had Tonkotsu this good was in Seoul. Can't believe this gem exists in Chicago, but because it DOES, I can sing: "I've got sunshine on a cloudy day... when it's cold outside, I've got the month of May... I guess you'd say... What can make me feel this way?! RAMEN! Ramen! Having great ramen!!" --Original song 'My Girl' by the Temptations
(5)
Laleh A.

The ramen is definitely what wasabi does best. Ordered the spicy garlic ramen, had a nice kick and the garlic wasn't overpowering. The pork was very moist and had a nice balance of fat and meat. My mom ordered the tonkotsu ramen. The broth was amazing. Can't wait to come back here in the winter
(5)
Anastasia N.

Amazing ramen! Spicy garlic miso ramen actually had saffron on top. Byob, no corkage fee. Cozy atmosphere. Luv the baskets at the end of each table to throw your outerwear. Service was also fantastic!
(5)
John K.

ramen ramen ramen ramen ramen Tonkotsu Freaking Ramen!!!! Chicago offers so many outstanding places to eat that i occasionally forget this little piece of heaven is right in my backyard. This time i brought a couple of visiting guests for the outstanding Tonkotsu Ramen. We brought a bottle of wine to enjoy with out appetizers ( pork belly skewer, some sushi and a sashimi salad -which was way too small, if flavorful- ), and had outselves a grand time as usual. The staff are friendly and as prompt as possible (it's always a madhouse in there. Of course we all ordered the Tonkotsu Ramen, which is damn, damn, DAMN good.
(4)
Reuben H.

As I steadily watch my weight increase, seemingly by the day, it saddens me to finally find a restaurant that has "accessible" ramen (BYOB, reasonably priced, casual atmosphere, doesn't seem to have a wait for a seat, and relatively close to home/work) that is absolutely delicious... I mean- I've heard of soup diets, but I don't think it includes a hot bowl of noodles swimming in an unctuous, rich pork broth and a heaping pile of pork belly and other delicious things. Tonkatsu Ramen- you are that new friend that mama told me about. The one I should stay away from. Intriguing, appealing and drawing me back for more, and yet I know it isn't what I need. Bad for me, even. A guilty pleasure that I will soon find ways to justify keeping around. "Well... I can always run it off tomorrow..." "But I ate a salad for lunch..." "Honestly- this is ONLY the fourth time I've been here this week..." Oh, and the spicy, garlicky bowl of ramen is also really tasty. It packs a punch upon the first bite or two, but your palate will get used to it, and crave it, and give you that tremendously conflicted schizophrenic sense that you are enjoying it so much, and hating yourself for it all at the same time.
(4)
Laurie N.

I had been wanting to try out this place for the longest time and I finally had the chance on my birthday. The Spicy Miso Garlic ramen was delicious and the Pork Belly Kimchi rolls were, pardon my french, f*cking amazing. Best combination I have ever tried, it was mind-blowing. The only problem I had was that it took our waiter FOREVER to acknowledge us, probably around 20-25 minutes. The it took another 10-15 minutes to bring us our drinks. We got 1 appetizer first, then our meals, and then another appetizer towards the end of our meal. It was just weird how we got our food. Usually it's appetizers first then meals. It was also Wednesday and we got there around 5:15pm, they open at 5pm, so it's not like it was extremely busy at the time. I am willing to look past those issues because I will definitely be trying it again. Hopefully the second time around the service is a tad bit better.
(4)
Derrick T.

After an disappointingly unsuccessful business meeting in Logan Square, my wife and I decided to stick around in the city on this rainy night so that traffic would die down before we headed back to the burbs. (It took us 2 hrs to go from burbs to Midway to Logan Square... seriously, someone fix 90/94). Spotting a place called Wasabi, and not having had sushi in awhile, we headed in and checked Yelp reviews to find raves about ramen... I was excited about trying ramen (and yakitori after finding out they had skewers!) and she was excited about having sushi! After a roll, two pieces of nigiri, and one bowl of ramen, we decided to try one more bowl since we didn't plan to come back anytime soon... here's the skinny: Cubby Bear Roll - Nice flavor combination, all in all enjoyable and great presentation. Super white tuna nigiri: Smooth tasting, and good. One of our favorite nigiri, but not exceptional here... They were out of chicken meatballs (must be good), so we tried the following instead: Chicken skin skewer: Personally I like my skin crisp.. like near shatteringly crisp. This wasn't quite there. Good flavor, skins were cut into perfectly shareable squares, but not as crisp as I would've liked. Chicken thigh: This was very good. Being thigh, it's far more forgiving and far harder to overcook, but even then, this was tender and delicious. Japanese Sweet potato: Coated and fried and skewered... it's perfect bar food. If only it wasn't $2 for two skinny pieces, I'd be more excited about it. But it was tasty, no doubt. And now we get to the part of the menu that really shines... Tonkotsu Ramen: The broth was packed with richness and flavor, the half an egg was perfectly cooked, the ramen was springy and done to a perfect tenderness. Wow, this is hands down the best ramen I've had in Chicago. My only complaint would be that I expected the pork cheek to be more tender, but even then, it was quite good... hard to beat... Spicy Roasted Garlic Miso Ramen: If you want something spicier in the Chicago cold, here's a top choice... miso based broth also packed with lots of spice and flavor, this could easily be a contender for the Tonkotsu. The pork cheeks we received in this bowl were fattier and more tender, and while it didn't fit the theme of the ramen, it was still a great add. Verdict: Seriously, perhaps the best ramen I've had in Chicago. Sushi is tasty but nothing to write home about, yakitori seems like it has good potential (we didn't explore this side of the menu enough), but the ramen... oh the ramen. If only they weren't so far away from where we live!
(4)
Daniel L.

Good Ramen! Get it with the extra spice! Awesome oyster shooters! Bad bad bad kimchee and pork belly spring roll. That ruined the meal.
(4)
Abby T.

I was referred by a co worker who knows her stuff. Despite being scared upon entering Logan Square, Wasabi eased my mind and belly. We ordered the pork buns which were sooo good. The hamachi kama was not what I expected but it was still tastily grilled and had lots of meat. We shared the tonkatsu ramen and it was delicious. As I had been warned, the sushi is sub par....although I wouldn't be opposed to trying a different roll next time. BYOB + good food + cute dimly lit small space = come early or expect a wait.
(4)
Adrianna J.

a really cute place. tonkotsu ramen, pork belly buns, tempura, ginger beer. loved everything, so far the best ramen place i've been to in chicago,
(5)
Michael J.

They take their food seriously and it shows. Garlic ramen was phenomenal.
(5)
Stefanie A.

The 5 stars is solely for the ramen. Definitely amazing. The sushi is pretty good, too. The tuna tartar appetizer was okay. I did have to ask twice for water, and someone seemed to be dropping and breaking something every 10 minutes; however, the ramen was sooo worth it.
(5)
Helen K.

The food was good but the service was awful. The server rushed us from the moment we sat down. We ordered dinner and desert and asked them to open our bottle of wine, AFTER we paid for our parking, and they informed us there was time limit. If your looking for a quick meal with rushed service, go to McDonalds, but if you're looking for a nice, relaxing dinner with friends, choose a different restaurant.
(1)
Kirs M.

Oh, I want this now! I'm always craving a good, authentic ramen experience. My family is a family of foodies, which means we love to eat, and we love to eat well, especially on our travels. I've only travelled to Japan once, but we ate a range of foods, from tiny tucked away ramen shops, to high class sukiyaki houses, and I can tell you that Wasabi has their ramen DOWN. I've been twice now - I ordered the tonkotsu ramen the first time, which has a creamy miso broth, no spice and the ever rich fatty pork slices, bamboo shoots, quail egg, seaweed, fish cake, and more! The second time, I ordered the spicy garlic ramen, which ooooh my god, was so good. A little spicy for me, but the broth was absolutely perfect, flavourful and so so perfect for a stormy or cold day. They are BYOB so no sake is served here. The music is also a bit funky since they play an indie playlist, but it's enjoyable! I haven't tried any other dishes, but I definitely plan on exploring the rest of the menu when I get over my ramen phase!
(5)
Sofia L.

This place has been my new spot for sushi and noodles. It has gluten free items on the menu which i LOOOOVE! Favorite dish on the menu (that i hope it becomes PERMANENT) are the vegan noodles. All of their noodles are in pork broth EXCEPT the vegan noodles. The noodles are made from buckwheat and they are bathe in a mushroom broth with lost of veggies and buck choy. Sushi is divine, very meaty fresh cuts of fish. Make sure to bring your favorite bottle of wine - BYOB!
(5)
Lori L.

The best Maki and Ramen I've had in Chicago! Their signature Maki are just, speechlessly good! The broth of the Ramen was rich and the noodles had a good texture. Waited for 45 min on a Friday night. It's a small place so it's kind of crowded.
(5)
Michael C.

I'm not a ramen fan, but heck I found myself enjoying the dish my wife ordered and I shared. Sorry, don't recall the name... Also, the pickled cucumber salad dish was quite good. From what I saw, folks really like this place and it has a good vibe. If I weren't quite so spoiled from eating sashimi back home inexpensively, I might give it a whirl here.
(4)
Rochelle L.

I stumbled upon Wasabi when looking for a late night bite to eat. The food was delicious but the portion sizes were pretty small. Top marks for tasty maki rolls! Next time I'm in town I'll definitely try the ramen.
(3)
Stacy K.

I really like this place - good food, location is great and parking is typically ample. But today after my third visit I realized what it was that was off: its the acoustics. It can distract from an otherwise good meal. Hope they put some effort into upgrading their sound system.
(3)
Angie M.

BYOB sushi. That alone is worth 3 stars (as long as the fish is fresh), right? In the ever-trending neighborhood of Logan Square lies a little sushi joint that's comfortable, moderately chic, brimming with friendly service and attractive patrons. It's called Wasabi and it's pretty great. I can't say 5 stars great because while I LIKED everything we ordered, I don't fall head-over-heels in love with anything, either. So let's do a roll break-down. Crabby Wasabi - soft shell crab, shrimp, kaiware, avocado, wasabi tobiko, wasabi mayo, sesame. OK for me. I'm not a huge fan of fried crab in sushi rolls, but you know... when in Rome. Logan - eel, shrimp tempura, cream cheese, masago, lettuce, avocado, eel sauce, spicy sauce. WAY better than expected and one of my faves of the night. The avocado is so creamy and gives a nice texture to the roll. Spicy Scallop - hokkaido sea scallop, spicy mayo, masago, sesame. Basic, but not bad! Super White Kyu - super white tuna, cucumber, sesame seeds. Healthy, lean n' mean and packed with fresh flavor. A winner. And the winner of the night? ArtMex - spicy tuna tartar, salmon, yellowtail, avocado, cucumber, sesame, cilantro, jalapeno, lime, black tobiko, spicy mayo, chili oil. Admittedly, this sounds, for lack of a better word, gross, but for some reason it all comes together and works. Insider tip: Wasabi gladly puts spicy mayo on the side so those watching their waistlines can enjoy their favorite rolls and add just a touch of the spicy mayo for flavor. Fair prices - Four ladies, 2 apps, 7 rolls (majority of which were specialty rolls) and a few rogue meat skewers totaled up to about $30 each. We ate like queens! Street parking, pretty easy, metered.
(4)
Raph V.

Great place.....gotta try their pork belly bun and lollipop chicken!
(3)
Hanee L.

Spicy garlic miso ramen was good. I had better but we thoroughly enjoyed it. They had kimchi which is a plus. Chashu pork was good.
(3)
A N.

Pretty good spicy garlic ramen however it was pretty overpriced. A ill on the salty side but hey it's ramen. Not too many decent ramen options with cute decor, so I kinda see why they charge a lot. I'll come back again to try another ramen option. This place gets crowded after 7pm and they only seat full parties so plan ahead! BYOB too!
(4)
Kate M.

Wasabi is a gem. I came here with a LARGE group of people on a Friday night. We went late - around 9:30 - so as to miss the dinner rush and get a table. Though I could tell (and heard it proclaimed to the hostess) our waiter was a bit disappointed to have such a late table, the food was great. It's BYOB so we all brought wine and beer. My roll was very fresh, and everyone loved their Miso soups. Some opted for the spicy garlic miso soup and their tongues were on fire - in a good way - I think! haha Overall, it was fairly priced, had great art on the walls and is good for a large group!
(4)
Amy X.

Great sushi. It was all very fresh. Place is kind of small. You could seriously hear what everybody around you are saying, which means they can hear what you are saying as well. BUT I am here for the food. The ramen noodles are very good. I believe the top chef is actually Japanese so food are more traditional. I love their salmon and white tuna. Will absolutely come here again.
(5)
Starry X.

This place gotz nothing on "Bone Daddy Noodles" in Soho London. If you really want REALLY GOOD authentic ramen base soup go there! It's a bit far but so worth it! hehe A bit disappointed about the ramen here at Wasabi. I think i built this place up in my mind because of my memory from delicious ramen noodle soup from bone daddy. First impression of the place was over crowded maybe because the place was so small. Didn't get seated where we wanted already negative! Had Spicy ramen and Tonkotsu. The soup itself was good but what ruined it was the noodles that taste exactly like the ramen noodles you get from instant ramen. Not cheap. *** Was looking at the specials and contemplated the wagyu beef tartar however we sat at the sushi bar and saw that the sushi fridge was disgusting. fish all un-wrapped and mixed together and generally covered in debris. The sushi chef was using the same piece of kitchen towel to wipe everything for over 90 minutes and didnt change his water bowl for icing his hands very often. The cherry on the cake was when he blew his nose into this kitchen towel, didn't wash his hands and continued preparing sushi and wiping things with the same paper towel. GROSS. Service was slow, it took them 30mins to get water to us but the staff were friendly. I would go back but stay the hell away from sushi.
(2)
FoodLover Z.

Went to Wasabi for lunch over the weekend to try out their ramen. I had their popular spicy garlic ramen while my wife had the vegan ramen. Both were good, but nothing to write home about. I think the ramen at Oiistar is better.
(3)
Ashley V.

I've been hunting for a good Ramen place in Chicago and had just about given up until I came across Wasabi. The restaurant is really cute and they're open really late during the weekends so that's a huge plus. Came in at around 11pm on a Saturday night and they still seated us even though they were closing in 30 minutes. Service was great and the food was delicious. I got the Tonkatsu Ramen which is a pork-based ramen that came with pork belly and soft-boiled egg and it definitely hit the spot on a cold Chicago night. The soup was very tasty, the ramen noodles cooked just right, and they give you a fair amount of pork belly. A minor complaint is that some parts of their pork belly was a little tough but overall, the meal was very good. Also got the pork buns which was really soft and crunchy! I thought it was weird that they had mayo in the pork buns but other than that, it was delicious. I will definitely be coming back here for my Ramen fix in the future and try out their sushi menu.
(4)
Steven N.

Last time I was here was nearly 2 years ago, so my wife and I decided to give this place another try since so many people rave about them on Facebook. The good news is that their tonkotsu ramen improved. Still not as good as Santouka yet, but definitely better. It's very similar to the Slurping Turtle flavors, but I would suggest going easy on the sesame oil. The sushi, however, was very disappointing. We would have given this place 4 starts if not for the poor quality sushi (one scallops nigiri had mold on it) and the high price they charge. We were overall pleasantly surprised by the ramen improvement, but unfortunately we would only be back here if we have no other options to go with.
(3)
Jane Y.

way overpriced, don't get the hype yelp first of all its about 14 without tax/tip for a bowl of ramen they don't give you a lot and i've definitely had better i ordered the recommended tonkatsu ramen, service was slow it was crowded, however, it seemed that there was plenty of servers maybe kitchen was backed up? people were friendly, but in my opinion, thats why people ever write positive reviews on yelp, the EXPERIENCE, and not the food, or quality of it to me, that is FIRST and foremost other factors come into play unless the service is downright awful. the broth was kinda of bland meat was okay. tasted mediocre and the noodles, well lets say they didnt seem like ramen noodles but the INSTANT ramen noodles maybe they ran out and gave us that instead because thats seriously what it seemed like i feel like the only thing i really enjoyed about it was the egg but eggs are pretty much always good wished they had the traditional japanese cute pink yummy fishcakes but they didnt. This place is so dark too, btw i feel like regular instant ramen (like mi goreng, spicy korean kind) would have been better and less than a fraction of the price the other friends i went with said it was okay and i'm just sorry yelp but what am I missing? because it certainly was NOT that good. BUT service was nice and friendly, i'll give it that but i WONT be back
(1)
jaime m.

My favorite sushi joint on the northwest side. Always good.. always fresh. Service is always friendly and perfect. I've yet to have one bad experience and I frequent this place at least once a month since they've opened. The UNI is top grade and delicious. The Ramen is CRACK!!!!! The specials never disappoint. I haven't had too many rolls here, I ususally go for the sashimi, specials, and or the Ramen. Great value overall and it's BYOB. LOVE!
(5)
Doe L.

This has probably become my favorite ramen in Chicago now. The tonkatsu broth is creamy and delicious. Unfortunately for me, I always convince myself that I want a kick (despite my low tolerance of spicy) so I got the spicy garlic ramen. It wasn't that I couldn't handle the spiciness but it was the type of spicy where it goes straight for the back of your throat. I had a hard time swallowing which sucked. Other than that, the noodles were chewy and delicious. The pork cheek was /droooooooooooool beyond tender and delicious. When I first got my bowl, I was like, "Who would get extra noodles?? There's so much!" and then I ran out before I finished my meat... D= The horror... My only thing is that it's pretty darn pricey and the place can get really cramped.
(4)
Ryan J.

I have been to Wasabi at least 5 times. Every time I go in, there is something new to try. This is the most authentic Japanese dining experience that I have been to in Chicago. They have so many dishes that are straight from Japan. I love the takoyaki (fried dough octopus balls with fish flakes). The chicken gizzard skewer is good, and they always have different skewers to try. The staff is incredibly friendly, and after a few visits recognizes you. I love that about any establishment. Chris was our waiter the last time, recommended some fantastic dishes that they had special that day. The chef prepared special mozzarella takoyaki (sans octopus). It was amazing. Ramen is delicious. Uni (sea urchin) is the freshest I have had in the city. Oh and the wagyu beef sushi was a surprise treat. Everything I have tried has been very well prepared and equally delicious. BYOB. Have not tried the desserts, too much main course.
(5)
Chris W.

After reading the glowing reviews on Wasabi's ramen. I decided to stop by and try it. This review is only about the Tonkotsu ramen. If a Japanese restaurant put Tonkotsu Ramen on the menu, it'd better be good. Tonkotsu ramen is one of those Japanese food that take a lot of heart to make. Traditional Japanese chef treats it with love and care. Wasabi's Tonkosu ramen is only ok. I was very underwhelmed by its lack of pork flavor, poor quality noodle (ramen). The soup tastes more like miso than pork. It tastes exactly like the frozen Topknots ramen you can get from a Japanese store. The pork belly was tough and lack flavor. $13 for a bowl of mediocre ramen. It would be more reasonable for $6. On the plus side, the decor is chic. Waitresss and waiters are courteous. I gave 4 stars for their service. 2 stars for the ramen. 1 star for value 3 stars for services.
(3)
Jeff S.

Hey Chicago, I'm glad that you're getting into some more ramen places; but I remain skeptical of the various chefs jumping on the bandwagon; ramen is notoriously difficult to get right. You know what I'm not skeptical of anymore? Wasabi. Hands down the best ramen that I've had in Chicago. I've only had the chance to try to Tonkotsu Ramen, but the broth was the right bit of salty without being overbearing and had that just-about-right consistency to it. Great noodles, great pork belly, and good garnishes. Wasabi definitely gets 5 stars for the ramen and deservedly so. They also serve other Japanese fare, and I tried a few pieces of sushi nigiri - escolar and maguro. They were fine; not the freshest I've had and the rice was a bit warmer than you'd expect, but it was fine. Good, even. But I don't know if I'd pick this place for the sushi, you come here for the ramen. So let's just leave it at that.
(5)
Anna M.

A group of friends and I stopped by Wasabi a couple weeks ago and it was a lovely experience. Setting: The building and area surrounding is very nice. Street Parking. The interior is decorated tastefully with dark colors and giving off a young and trendy feel. Service: Our waiter was on point and courteous. He did his job very well and properly. Food: We ordered the ramen along with a few other items including rolls, the specials and the chirashi. Everything aside from the chirashi was excellent! The ramen, broth and all ingredients inside the soup were delicious and everything that I want in a classic Japanese ramen dish. The handrolls were tasty as well. The chirashi was not presented well. Whoever cut the sashimi did a hack job of it and just piled the cut fish on top of the rice with no care what so ever. Quality of the food was good, presentation needed work (chirashi only) Regardless of that, we are definitely coming back because that ramen was damn good!
(4)
Jonathan M.

i dont like sushi, but like japanese food.. lucky for me there is more delicious japanese food to choose from.. for one thing the ramen , and noodle soups, and wasabi makes it good.. but i really enjoy there Teriyaki Rib Eye Steak!
(3)
John K.

Trendy place with beautiful people eating and serving. Fusion Japanese ramen place. Meh food. When I don't hear people slurping and schlepping their ramen I know I'm in the wrong place no matter how beautiful my environment is.
(3)
Jeanie P.

I have long lamented the lack of good Japanese ramen in Chicago (with many disappointers like slurping turtle and takashi etc). But finally, a ramen worthy of even LA or NYC!! I highly recommend you go ... like NOW... and order the spicy garlic miso ramen. As all ramen eaters know, it's really the BROTH that can make or break the ramen. This broth has amazing depth and complexity-- mostly I'm guessing to the high saturated fat content, but wow amazing. The pork is tender and flavorful. WITH AN EGG (I hate ramen places that don't give you an egg!). I've been here a few times now, and it's been consistently good. I liked the pork buns as well-- flavorful and good texture of bun. The sushi was standard and just alright. Just come for the ramen!! The secret is really not out yet since there are usually plenty of weekday tables open.
(5)
ning j.

When you've been spoiled by the ramen in NYC, it's quite difficult to compare all subsequent ramen. However, I would say the ramen at Wasabi was very very good and had I not tried places like Ippudo or Totto Ramen in NY, this place would get a 5. The husband and I got the tonkatsu and spicy roasted garlic miso ramen. The garlic ramen is quite spicy so beware! I had them make it more mild and it was still a bit too spicy...which I resorted to adding a bit of the broth from the tonkatsu and water :) The garlic broth was quite nice and had a very unique flavor. The tonkatsu broth was delicious as well. The reason for the 4 stars instead of 5? They both lack the thickness and deep flavoring that Totto and Ippudo had. But the pork belly and egg inside were super nomy, except the fatty pieces of belly. The star of the meal was the pork belly buns. My husband and I love love loved them at Ippudo. The ones at Wasabi I found were equally good, but the buns themselves were rather small. Overall I would definitely come back again. This place is much better than Ginza and Santouka in terms of the food and ambiance. Parking was easy to find and the service was great. I'm so happy to have found my go to ramen spot in Chicago!
(4)
Kendal K.

Awesome, awesome, awesome! This is one if my favorite places to get vegetarian sushi in the area. It's got charm, good service, and delicious food. It's always hard to find sushi restaurants with a variety of vegetarian options, but this place has it! My only compliant about this restaurant is that is ALWAYS so busy. I've never not had to wait for a table. Doesn't matter what day of the week you go, expect a wait. On weekends, the wait tends to be about an hour, during the week about 20-30 mins.
(4)
Jennifer R.

Went with a group of friends Saturday night. and ordered the homemade dumplings (which were amazing with soy and sesame dipping sauces).The service was great, and our waitress was super attentive and friendly. Unfortunately, the seating was a little awkward and uncomfortable for a larger group. It seems like it'd be more comfortable with a group of four seated in a booth.
(4)
Robin W.

Loved it! Not sure how I managed to wait 2 years to eat here! I love the interior; it's much larger than it seems from the street. Modern, sleek. Super hipster clientele. I had the vegetarian ramen and my husband had one of the traditional pork ramens. Delicious! And filling too. We also shared some rolls. The ArtMex roll was awesome. I did order delivery from here a couple times; a little pricier than the other delivery sushi spots in the area. I think they recently stopped delivery here anyway and you can only get ramen if you dine in. It's worth it! Take your time to enjoy your ramen; slurp it up. Mmmm.
(5)
Melissa G.

The Ramen here is delicious. The ingredients taste very fresh and the Pork belly is so tender and full of flavor. I had the miso Ramen and loved it, next time I will try their spicier version. Came here on a very cold week night to warm up and try something different in Logan Square, definitely coming back again. The sushi was ok, not bad, but I would probably stick to the Ramen for future visits. The atmosphere is cozy, it did start to feel packed around 7:30/8pm. BYOB always fun.
(4)
Trinidad H.

This place rules! my favorite Japanese restaurant in the chicagoland area. The place is small so don't try to bring a large group of people. Come for the raman and stay for everything else.
(4)
Emily Y.

Seriously, the best place ever. Tonkatsu ramen is amazing. Chirashi is fresh. All the skewers are cute and delicious. The Hamachi Kama is to die for. Side of Kimchi with all of the above, a winning dinner. Plus its BYOB. You can't lose.
(5)
Dinah G.

Actually good vegan options? Byob? Great service? Consistantly amazing food? shut up and take my money, Wasabi. take it all. real talk, though: get the hot yogi roll. and on a cold, rainy day the only cure is their vegan fried tofu soup.
(5)
Alex V.

Best ramen I've had in the city. And who knew vegan ramen tasted so good- I almost didn't believe the mushroom broth wasn't meat-based because it was so flavorful! The shrimp tempura was also delicious. This will definitely be my go-to spot for ramen in the city.
(5)
Sam K.

The ramen has nice portion, and I personally tried the spicy miso ramen my first time. It was absolutely delicious. Highly recommend the kimchi egg rolls and of course a serving of gyoza to go with your ramen. Service is also very nice!
(4)
Josh G.

I went here with a group of 4 for Dinner and we were seated promptly. The Maki was incredible, can't speak for the ramen but my friends who had it enjoyed it. Only reason this place doesn't get 5 stars is service wasn't great, 2 our dishes came out 30 mins before our friends Ramen.
(4)
L B.

My friend and I came here for dinner on a Saturday night and we got to the restaurant just a hair before 7pm and I was surprised that there were only a few people on the list before us. Cut to 7pm when 20 people came in within the span of about a minute. Lesson: try to get here at 6:55pm if you can. We ordered the pork belly buns, the spicy garlic ramen, and a skewer of beef short ribs.The short ribs were amazingly tender and delicious, the pork belly buns rivaled anything ate in Asia, and the spicy garlic ramen was a perfect revelation. It came with thick, curly noodles that were delicious. I highly recommend all of those items. Our waitress was also incredibly helpful and passionate about the food and took the time to describe dishes in detail. All in all, it was an excellent meal and I look forward to returning.
(5)
Edwin N.

After visiting Wasabi 7-8 times and really getting into their menu, I thought it past time to give them their dues. The interior is clean, modern, with a good eye for design, down to their spoons. The restaurant's ambiance is good for either a large group, or a date. I would recommend for dates to visit on the weekdays as the weekends can be packed and loud. A couple of standouts that I would recommend: the beef short rib with house ponzu - it is a sushi size or little bit bigger of perfectly cooked medium rare short rib that, if it was a steak, I would order the 28oz. Seasoned with ponzu sauce and garlic flakes, it is fantastic. For uni lovers - the uni shooter is the way to go. Fresh, meaty, and firm pieces of uni served up with their house ponzu sauce as well. I order this typically with a little less ponzu sauce so it doesn't drown in it. And the ramen - doesn't matter which one, you will enjoy them all. I honestly think Wasabi has the best ramen in town, over Takashi as well as Mitsuwa. Do I think it can be cheaper? Yes. I cant really complain because everybody sets their ramen around the same price. But the broth is perfect, the fat on the pork belly melts in your mouth, and the meat nearly does too. As one of the few Japanese owned and manned restaurants in the town, it really shows in their food and quality. Their sushi is excellent and is given great care by chef Hiromichi Sasaki. I think one of the prime examples of a sushi restaurant that really cares about what they put out is their spicy tuna maki. There are too many places that scrape the leftovers of the tuna after dressing it, or using saku tuna, and mix it together with their own spicy mayo sauce. But for those that truly care, the maki is rolled with cut tuna and the sauce is added, so you can actually taste the tuna. My only minor gripe was that service had been pretty spotty at times, but it has improved as they have added more staff. Solid, consistent food, and BYOB to boot...you can't go wrong.
(4)
Jason P.

Great BYOB!! Delicious food...both Ramen and sushi! Cute decor is a plus too! I always try their specials when I am feeling spontaneous and continue to be impressed. But I always find myself going back to spicy ramen, really spicy if you like spicy it's a must try!
(5)
Mike T.

We heard A LOT of good things about this place and decided to head there early on a Sunday evening. We were able to get seated immediately and by the time we left the place was full. Pretty impressive for a Sunday night. The ambience is great! Things we ordered: Super White Avo Maki - Yum! Logan Maki - ehhh. Why did I order sushi with cream cheese? Tonkotsu Ramen - Very Good! Pork Belly Bun - Bun cracked when I picked it up. Good filling, but maybe a stale bun? Hamachi Toro - Fantastic So why the three stars? At the end of our meal I poured myself a final glass of water and it there I found a bug. I told the waitress who felt really bad and offered free dessert. Unfortunately I lost my appetite by that point. Up until that point I would of given them 4 stars.
(3)
Teri Y.

This places gets big stars from me. It's one of those places where you probably don't expect much from it but holy moley it exceeds your expectations. And... a very good sushi place in the most unsuspecting neighborhood of Chicago? It's worth the trek there. Important notes: 1. Arguably the best tonkatsu ramen I've had in the city. 2. Also one of the best hamachi kama I've had in awhile. Broiled to perfection and underneath the crispy skin was very moist fish. 3. Extremely fresh sashimi. My husband and I judge a sushi place by their sashimi quality. We never judge the quality of the fish from specialty rolls in any sushi places. With so much going on inside a roll (all those fancy sauces and toppings), the true quality and taste of the fish are masked and you won't be able to tell if the fish is really of premium quality. Our sashimi selection was so fresh that each bite we took, we looked at each other and say Mm mm. Also, each slice of sashimi was huge. Wowza. With such good quality of sashimi and other foods, they still managed to keep their prices low. It's probably because rent in the area is cheap? It's a no brainer if we'd be back.
(5)
Sue Janna T.

Best ramen this side of town. The kimchi is surprisingly good too! (Kimchi snob)
(5)
Brenda G.

This was my first trip to Logan Square, and I picked Wasabi because of the excellent Yelp reviews. Let me tell you, the reviews were right, Wasabi is great! BYOB restaurants are always fun. Unfortunately they have a one bottle/2 people rule... but out waiter snuck us an extra :-) One of my girlfriends doesn't like raw fish, and wasabi had plenty of non-raw options. The skewers were delicious! I also would recommend the Art Mex roll, a spicy roll with tuna, yellowtail, and salmon.
(4)
Hyun R.

I'm an Asian guy in his 20 10's and I've been going here for years. Add the numbers for my bday. Common now. Any who, this place is a great date night spot and a place with good sushi. It has gotten worse over the years but still a worth the price. Plus can't go wrong with B.Y.O.B.
(3)
Rhonda P.

I don't care what anyone says the Ramen will change your life. You will know what Ramen is SUPPOSED to taste like. Try the Tonkotsu you will not be disappointed. Add lots of white pepper, thank me later
(5)
JR W.

It was surprisingly busy for a Tuesday night at 9pm, so there was about a 40 min wait on the food, no wait on the table however. The ramen is as everyone else stated, divine, highlighting the broth. They're moving soon though!!
(5)
Sabine K.

This is me jumping on the bandwagon. TRY THE RAMEN. It's seriously out of this world. This was a second date occasion, first eating situation. I know, not ideal, but we quickly lost our inhibitions. The ramen comes out with a pair of chopsticks and this adorable little ladle that's basically fashioned out of a small bamboo stick and some twine. After a little awkward laughter and some polite pretending that the food wasn't in fact sitting under our noses, we tentatively dug in. My side of the conversation went something like this: "Oh this is cute... how do you think we're supposed to?... Oh is that how it works? I see.. yeah.. oh okay. Oh wow.. yeah.. that's delicious.. oh holy cow. This is nothing like the Top Ramen-oh damn. I didn't know it could BE this way - Oh yeah? You're in marketing? Don't care. You love Amanda Blank too? Don't give a f--k. How are you still talking?! Can we have a moment of silence because I can't be bothered to talk or pay attention to anything besides this bowl of steaming deliciousness in front of me right now." So yeah, apparently they serve sushi too. Nobody talked about that too much, so we didn't bother (this time). This place is also BYOB. Lucky me, I'm centrally located in BYO Heaven :) Our server was incredibly attentive and very polite. The restaurant itself is pretty standard, which is not to say it's not well done. Dark finishes, low lighting, they play cool trip hop - think Portishead, Sneaker Pimps, etc. It's a little dated, but whatever, who cares. My beef with interior finishes is not going to keep me from coming back for a gigantic bowl of food nirvana. Especially at is heads into fall. OMG I can't wait!
(5)
Aloysius T.

Best Japanese Food in Chicago. There I said it. I've been meaning to update my review of the restaurant for quite some time. I wanted to make sure i really had a better idea of the place second time around. I can honest say I've been going here at least once a week if not more. I've been taking all my friends here. Everyone has enjoyed it so far. So what new morsels of information can I impart. Well first off, they are reading reviews, they are really listening to their customers. They are continually making improvements. Disclaimer: Japanese food is best in Japan...obviously Then SF/LA, then NY/NJ. In fact, Chicago is pretty damn low on the totem pole. So it's really stupid to compare this place to anywhere else but in Chicago. I mean if I used Tokyo or Osaka as my reference for Japanese food; well then only a handful of restaurants in America would hold a candle. Keep in mind unlike those other cities I mentioned before Chicago does not have any restaurants that specialize only in ramen or yakitori. It's really tough for one restaurant to dish out good ramen, good yakitori, and good sushi. What to order: Ramen: if it's your first time get the Shio(Syou), get a better idea of the essence of the dish. Great for a cold winter's day, and such an eye-opener when many of us think of ramen as 10 cent college fare. Though I feel maybe the broth can be a little more reduced and concentrated. Once again, the effort to devote to amazing ramen broth is very labor intensive. A lot of ramen joints will have a big vat that literally just boils day and night. Yakitori: Personally I think chicken breast is a waste. Thigh is better, but I think there are even better choices than thigh. Pro-tip: Due to food safety they are required to cook the bird pretty well done. But the slightest bit of char really overpowers the delicate nuances of the sauce and meat itself. Ask for them not to overcook it. I was amazed by the difference. Went from "bleh" to "the best." Personally, and maybe it's just my peasant blood. I think the best choice is the chicken skin and the gizzard. Squirt a little lemon juice on it, it's magnificent; and they happen to be the cheapest cuts. Win-win. Karage (Fried Chicken): I used to eat this stuff pretty often when I was studying in Japan. It's the best I've had in Chicago.It kinda gave me one of those Ratatouille-esque memory jolts to my study abroad days. Their rendition gives it a bit of a modern twist with a nice accompanying mayonnaise. Definitely nothing like KFC, it's different, but in a very tasty way. The quality of sushi has gotten much much better than when I was there last. Though bear in mind, this is no Arami, Mirai, Katsu etc. Generally if you want to do sushi right, you have to be a sushi place. This is not a sushi place. It's not to say their sushi isn't good, but they don't focus 99% on sushi like those places above do. Now if you want some amazing life-changing sushi. Do it properly and spend the appropriate money. Order only sashimi and nigiri. Order an omakase and plant yourself at a sushi bar. Don't use any soy sauce or even wasabi. Cleanse your palette with the ginger between pieces. Otherwise the sushi here is definitely good for the price point. I complained of gummy rice last time, but apparently they swooped in and grabbed an ex-Japonais sushi chef. I could taste the difference immediately. They are sourcing some of their fish directly from Japan. The monk fish foie gras was rich and decadent, like...well duck foie gras. I hope they aren't force feeding these poor fish too. Then again monk fish are hella ugly. I'll definitely have to come back to try omakase sometime. Order at least something off the special menu. Everything is really interesting, and it's a special because it's indeed special. Not because they are trying to get rid of some fish that's gonna go bad or something like that. The service continues to be polite and attentive. My drunk idiot friend not only spilled her water, but also broke a glass. No eye rolls, no stink eyes; they were very gracious and helpful. Closest liquor stores: (1) is next to El Cid right across from the Logan Blue Line station. There's another one right across from the California station (amazing beer selection). The closest one is gonna be the convenience store connected to the auto shop. Beer selection isn't terrible considering its connected to an autoshop. And if you don't get lit up enough during your meal (BYOB Policy: 1 bottle per 2 people or 1 6-pack per 2 people) You can always swing by the Rocking Horse bar next store. This place is probably gonna get super busy just as soon as people realize just how good this restaurant is. Try this place before the bum rush. *sigh* i remember when I could get a seat easily at Longman & Eagle. I miss those days...
(5)
Ben C.

So last night marked my 7th dinner at Wasabi and I decided it was time to finally submit a review. Let me start off by saying this place has the best ramen in Chicago - I have tried others, including Slurping Turtle, and nothing compares. Apples to potato chips if you will... My favorite dish at Wasabi is the Chirashi, or Chirashizushi, which essentially a bowl of mixed sashimi over a bed of rice. The fish is always fresh, it's a super value and the whole shrimp keeps the meal entertaining. My second favorite thing about Wasabi is that it's BYOB! Coming from Milwaukee where it's illegal, I really appreciate a good food spot that allows me to supply my own beer, wine, etc. Finally, this place has great atmosphere. It's dark lit and has a warming texture. You can get away with a suit or blue jeans. The staff works hard and is always friendly. Best of all, it's CONSISTENT! So many places are hit-or-miss. This places has been 100% 7/7 times!
(5)
Kiki A.

My friend took me to this hole-in-the-wall of a treasure on a friday evening, around 5:30-6ish. We were seated right away. The decor was kinda urban and artsy- I really liked it! And the atmosphere seemed very cozy. They had a variety of things on their menu, including tempura and sushi. But I chose the Tonkatsu pork ramen because my friend told me it was really good. It arrived in a timely manner and was presented, in all its glory, in a nice bowl with a bamboo ladle and chopsticks. The broth was by far amazing- it had a creamy umami miso taste. And the noodles were choice, I think they must have been made in house. And the PORK! The pork was to die for, it was so tender and melt-in-your-mouth perfect. I hadn't had ramen this amazing since I was in Japan. I'm definitely coming back here!
(5)
Bonnie H.

This is a secret that I just will need to share as the chef/owners deserve the credit. Was sad that living 5 years in the city and I still couldn't find a decent place in Chicago. Best ramen in Chicago and suburbs! I've been going to Mitsuwa in the burbs for ramen. So happy when I found not only a contender, but the best! Tonkatsu broth - Definitely most hearty out of the broths - very creamy as others have said. Can be considered too salty for some. First timers should try this one though as it's the original broth. If it's too salty, you can try other broths. Shoyu broth - I have a bit of a salt allergy. This is just right for me! I usually get this broth. Haven't tried the sushi. Only thing is the decor. I feel that it's a little too dark for my taste. I understand it's supposed to be romantic etc. I prefer to see the person sitting across from me and my food. They are still worth 5 stars!
(5)
Grace S.

The atmosphere here is very modern and clean, definitely an upbeat young vibe. I shared a pork belly bun appetizer and the spicy garlic miso ramen. The pork belly appetizer was fatty and delicious, however I would not get it again simply because it came with only 2 buns at $4 each. My spicy miso ramen had a very spicy and flavorful broth, I couldn't help drinking it in my spoon. The egg had a soft, runny center and all the sides (bamboo shoots, pork, seaweed) were perfect in my bowl. I actually craved it again 2 days later so I ended up having Wasabi twice in 3 days! The tonkatsu ramen is equally as delicious, although does not have as strong of a flavor. Both times the service was exceptional. The broth on my second visit, however, was lukewarm when I was hoping it would arrive piping hot. So far it's the best ramen in Chicago, but be prepared to shell out a little more $ for it.
(4)
Christina X.

The ramen is just okay. TOO salty. We ordered potstickers and that was salty as well.
(3)
Kevin A.

BEST RAMEN IN THE CITY It boggles the mind that Chicago is such a ramen desert given the climate here. Thank goodness for Wasabi's tonkostsu (not tonkatsu people, that's fried pork) ramen. They get everything right here from the broth, to the noodles, to the critical and difficult to execute egg. Truth be told, they do the egg much better than Santouka in Arlington Heights. The price is a bit steep, but considering it's the best in the city who am I to argue?
(5)
Cyn D.

My faves there: Spicy garlic miso ramen, pork belly, kimchee spring rolls and pork belly buns! Consistency is key - so please stop changing the broth Wasabi! I love it the way it is. I've been here at least 10 times and only one of the ten times I had a bad experience - when they ran out of ramen.. what?! It was the Sunday after St. Patty's day, so I guesssss it was understandable. :)
(5)
Sarah D.

Always great service. This place is my go to for sushi. After reading other reviews, I have no excuse to not get some ramen! Looking forward to my next visit.
(5)
Courtney C.

By far the best ramen I've found in Chicago.. & I've been to quite a few places. I had the Spicy Garlic Ramen & a friend of mine had the Tonkotsu Ramen.. Both fantastic. We had a few other great dishes as well but if you're looking for deliciously good ramen, look no further!
(4)
Dan Y.

Our favorite spot for ramen in the city. Tip: you can get vegetarian versions of the ramen. I'm not a vegetarian but don't need all the meat. And it's still so delicious. I get the extra noodles. Incredible and filling. Our favorite roll is the ArtMex
(5)
Eric S.

I love this place. Best ramen I've had in Chicago, great sushi (not quite on the level of Arami, but close) and a fantastically well rounded menu besides. Never had anything less than a great meal here.
(5)
Jon M.

Hands down the best ramen in Chicago. While some places are overrated (Slurping Turtle) and others are too far from the city when you have a quick craving (Mitsuwa), Wasabi hits the spot. Not exactly cheap like Mitsuwa but for quality here in the area, they are spot on.
(5)
Raymond W.

Trying to find a good bowl of Ramen is quite challenging. The folks at Wasabi takes their Ramen very seriously. From their broth, noodles and pork belly, everything is spot on. It is a must try !!!
(5)
Katrina L.

The Tonkotsu Ramen was delicious! The pork belly just melts in your mouth. I enjoyed a spicy tuna roll as well. The fish seemed very fresh! The wait wasn't too bad for the weekend and you can never go wrong with a BYOB. PS- there are many vegetarian options available.
(5)
Trinity N.

This place is a great gem! The special pork belly ramen is as good as, if not better than the one from Ippudo NYC without an hour long wait and for only $13. Despite the understated neighborhood, the inside is quite chic and cozy. The side dishes are unfortunately smaller than expected but the ramen is more than a good enough reason for me to make a one-hour commute.
(5)
Ashley M.

The best ramen in Chicago. Hands down. Great service, great apps. Tonkotsu and spicy miso ramen are better than anything I've had in San Fran (including Ramen dojo) and NY (ippudo).
(5)
Fred S.

I am just rating the sushi, and apparently need to order the ramen. Since Friendship can't seem to get their act together (new owner) and replace the great sushi chef they had, we decided to give wasabi a shot. The sushi is good, but no wow factor. Fish was very fresh and rolls were well constructed, but not inventive or original. Miso soup was excellent as was the seaweed salad..... I'll revisit the review once I try the ramen and other non-sushi items.
(3)
Stephen J.

What can I say? I love this place. I've been here several times and I've never had a bad experience. The service is great and friendly. The inside decor is easy on the eyes and the music is easy on the ears. I'm pretty certain they're set to Phoenix radio on Pandora. BYOB makes it easy on the wallet. THE FOOD: I'm on board with almost everyone here. They have THE best ramen I've had anywhere in the city, but if you're there for the sushi you won't be disappointed either. My favorites: Pork Belly Kimchi Spring Rolls Art Mex Rolls Flounder Sashimi
(5)
Linda M.

DON'T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER. I live near this place and pass it frequently, and from the outside looking in it doesn't ever really look open. It actually looks like a shuttered down place. But I heard the raves about the ramen and had to come try it out. Now I hope they never close! I love, LOVE, LOVE ramen. I will go anywhere and everywhere for it. Most recently I have been to Noodles by Takashi and Slurping Turtle and neither of these places can compare. BEST ramen in Chicago! - just the right serving size, just the right amount of flavor.... will leave you wanting for sooo much more. My boyfriend isn't really a ramen lover, but after dinner there he's become a believer ;) We tried the pork buns too, so YUM! I stopped eating pork for awhile and the dish is the kind that makes me regret those pork-free months. I didn't try the sushi, but I am assuming its ALL GOOD! One downfall about the place is that we went there early on a Friday night and there were a lot of kids in the place, of course with their parents. I am not a kid-hater, but sometimes you just want to be in an adult only zone, especially if you're with your boo. WHATEVER, that's what I get for going out to dinner at 6:00PM. Did I mention the ramen was good?!
(5)
Josh S.

By far the best Ramen in Chicago and only a block from my house! Have been there 6-7 times in the last month after discovering it and have never been disappointed. Docking one star as they're a little unfriendly when it comes to seating parties that are incomplete. I'll show up at 5:30 and three out of 4 people are there and restaurant is completely empty and they won't let us sit down when we say that the fourth person is 5 min away. If it's full and busy, I can understand but when there are only three tables sat, that's a little overkill! Otherwise great food and service!
(4)
Allie M.

Yes!!!!!! I've been searching for good ramen in Chicago after I crave it constantly from Ippudo in ny / Japan. I've tried Urban Belly, Takashi, noodles by Takashi, Oiistar, etc. And I've liked this the best. I had the Super Tonkatsu
(5)
Tim E.

We had a great time here and I would go again. I recommend the pork buns! We also got some sushi which was also made with artistry. As good as it looked, it tasted even better. It was BYOB so we brought in a tasty beer to go along with out food. Finally we ordered some of the ramen noodles because we were very curious. It was interesting - at first I didn't really like it, but as I ate it more and more of it, I started to really like it. The staff was very friendly and I would definitely recommend this place to anyone.
(4)
Maxim L.

I thought I would write an update on Wasabi since it has recently become one of my favorite restaurants. They really have the BEST ramen you can get around here. I've set aside the fact that they served me undercooked chicken on my first visit and come here many times since. The ramen is really THAT good. I could probably eat a Tonkatsu ramen once a day for the rest of my life and be perfectly fine with it. Again..it's THAT good. The broth is heavenly, the noodles are perfect, the egg is always a perfect soft boil, the pork is never dry. What else is there to say? If you haven't been here yet, go now!
(5)
Shawn S.

I should have known when I saw the breadth of the menu that Wasabi was not going to do anything really well. For the price, it's mediocre. I'll start with the plain bad: the nigiri was improperly thawed so the texture was an utter fail. The signature ramen was decent, and the spicy ramen was better. But for the price, sub-mediocre. The noodles were not fresh (crinkles indicate reconstitution), the broth was tasty but lacked depth, the slices of pork were not prepared with care, and the serving size was disappointing. If you want good ramen, go to Oiistar: fresh noodles, broth bursting with flavor, better ingredients, and a much better price. I will say this, the spicy ramen here is better than Oiistar's spicy ramen (the pozulman). The flavors are fairly balanced, whereas the pozulman seems to throw all it's flavors under an assault of spiciness (plus their worst slice of meat). The tapas style and prices has this sitting on the edge between $$ and $$$, but the byob saves it.
(2)
Joseph G.

Wasabi was highly recommended by my brother and my brother-in-law. They absolutely love the place. So, I decided to check it out with a friend. I love love love Ramen and was looking forward to finally having some good Ramen. We arrived kind of late (around 8pm). It was full and super noisy, but the wait wasn't long at all. We got a table in about 15 minutes. We sat down and got our menu's. The wait staff is very busy, running around with orders and such, which is a good thing. It's nice to see that the restaurant is doing well. Nevertheless, the treatment we got from our waiter was not warm and friendly, more like robotic and routine. The place is super LOUD! It is hard to have a conversation in there. So if you want to take a date, better bring your personal FM system with you. The menu is a bit overwhelming with a lot of things on there I did not understand. A quick explanation would have helped and I would have asked if I didn't feel so hurried to order. So my friend ordered some traditional maki rolls (tuna and yellow tail), I ordered the Tonkotsu Ramen and as appetizers we ordered the Edamame and the gyoza. We drank water. I should have checked and didn't realize it was BYOB. Again, I love Ramen. The best, of course, was when I was in Tokyo, Japan. In America, I had yet to find a decent third place and, after being recommended, thought Wasabi would be it. Disappointed yet again by another American restaurant trying to make a good Tonkatsu. The serving size was perfect.. a nice big bowl. The broth was the right color and the ingredients all there. Finally, I tasted it... meh, it was ok. I really wanted to like it, but the broth left so much to be desired. The pork had awesome flavor, the noodles where fine.. but the broth, which is supposed to bring the smile to your face, lacked so much flavor. It was, like I said, fine. If the restaurant decides they want to make tastier and has a new version, call me up and I'll taste it happily and let you know :) . Yes, I admit, I am a Ramen snob and it may be fine for those who haven't ever tasted true Tonkatsu Ramen. True Ramen makes you feel all tingly and smiley. There is something in the broth that brings out all those feelings. The sushi, my my, it was not good at all. The rice was very bland. I've had better at the local grocery store. The gyoza was very good! I loved it and had a lot of flavor. And the edamame, well, it's edamame. All in all, for my first experience there, I was not impressed at all. Just another hipster type joint that is getting great success because everyone jumped on the bandwagon.
(2)
George L.

Awesome awesome ramen. They could get 5 stars if they replace their clueless waitresses.
(4)
Ali C.

Having dined here several times at lunch and dinner with groups and on dates, I can happily say I have never been disappointed! Sushi: Fresh and cold, served no frills but very tasty. With the exception of the spicy shrimp which was not cold, but rather tasty and crunchy and grilled tasting! So good! At lunch they have a fabulous sushi special with miso and ice cream, which comes with a very very small portion of ice cream and an even tinier spoon so you don't finish it too fast and it really hits the spot. Also had the garlic-spicy ramen which makes your nose run and flushes your cheeks and really warms up a belly. The soft boiled egg is my favorite, so creamy inside. The pork cheek did not impress me, but it was still good. Scallions, bok choy, pork broth. All tasty. We always get the same waitress every time we go and she is awesome and never obtrusive. Even got my boyfriend and I mini bowl and spoons so we didn't have to hit heads slurping over the same bowl of ramen. Awesome BYOB but the goose island GingerAle is great for lunch!
(5)
Patricia J.

Amaaaazzziiinnggg ramen!! You gotta check this place out. Probably one of the best ramen places in Chicago. Try the tonkotsu and you definitely won't regret it. Reasonable prices. Easy parking. Attentive waitstaff.
(5)
Alexandra M.

Three stars because all the food I ate tasted good, especially the skewers. Also, the hostess was very nice, only the server was rude. Otherwise: -Our server was almost comically unhelpful and condescending -All our food came at random times (that's ok by me if you are sharing and are warned beforehand, but this way some people were totally done eating before others got their entrees) -The maki were rolled so loosely that they were open on the bottom and everything fell out when they were picked up. -We were a party of 5 and so a mandatory tip of 20% was added to our check - a bit cheeky, since the service was pretty awful Good luck, don't say I didn't warn you!
(3)
Ro C.

Hands down, favorite ramen joint in Chicago. The tonkotsu ramen and spicy miso ramen are out of this world. I've never tasted ramen broth this good!!
(5)
Chenfei L.

Best ramen in Chicago. Best noodles, best broth, best eggs. The only downside is that the place's dark and trendy decor seems at odds with the sound of me slurping at the volume level of a John Deere tractor.
(5)
Aditi G.

This place wasn't really all that great. It took a good HOUR to get my food and all I ordered were 2, 6-piece rolls, calamari, and one little chicken skewer. Everything there was also very overpriced. Even the rolls that were $10-$12 were only 6 pieces and pretty dry. I would have liked to see more spicy mayo or some type of sauce on the rolls. I've had better-don't waste your time and money on this place.
(2)
Gina F.

In case you don't have time to read the whole review: food is a 4, service is a 2. Had dinner here tonight with friends. One of the other couples in our party of 6 loves this place, though I don't know if they have ever gotten anything but the ramen, to which they boast a serious addiction. They were already seated when we arrived, and within a few the 3rd couple arrived. Our server came up right away to see if we needed wine glasses for the bottle that had been opened before we arrived. She was also back in a reasonable time to take our order. That is where the service pretty much broke down. Now, I know sushi comes as it's completed, but our food came a ridiculously long time apart. About 10 minutes after ordering, one person in our party got his agedashi tofu & short rib skewer. He waited a while hoping others would get their food, but after 5 minutes the only other thing that made it to the table was my zucchini skewer (tasty, but only 2 coin-sized slices). We encouraged him to eat before everything was stone cold. He did say everything was tasty. He was long-finished with his food when my husband and I got our sushi maybe 15 minutes later. We again tried waiting for the rest of our party to get food, but after a few minutes caved and started on our maki. My husband really enjoyed the meat lover maki & spicy scallop rolls, & I thought the spicy vegan roll was very good. About 5 minutes after we finished, the other 3 got their ramen. Since I'd had a fairly light meal, I decided to risk ordering another item & hoping it would arrive before the meal's end, but we didn't see our server till she came to clear the (giant) empty ramen bowls much later. After a while she checked back a final time to see if there was anything else we wanted and brought the check. In fairness, they did seem to get a few bigger tables at the same time, but at least some effort should have been made to allow our party to eat together. It's awkward for one person to eat while 5 people are still waiting, and the length of time between the arrival of our entrees was crazy. It was literally over 35 minutes between the 1st person getting his food and the last 3 getting theirs. Additionally, I really dislike disappearing servers. We're still your customers after we get our food.
(3)
Angel C.

Decent food but horrible service. The long wait was expected, but there is no waiting area, and we also got the sense that they did not want us to wait in line and did not really value our visit. After waiting for 50 minutes and coming back to the store to check if there was a free table, we realized that the restaurant was pretty much 50 percent empty,and yet no one bothered to call us to let us know that there were free spots. My friend ordered a tonkatsu ramen whereas I ordered one with extra braised pork belly. When our orders arrived, The waiter confirmed with me that my order was indeed the one with the extra pork belly. After we started eating, we realized that our orders were mixed up and asked out waitress for help. She then simply asked us to switch our ramen, which we had already started eating! We told her that it would not be acceptable, and she ended up taking our ramen back to the kitchen saying that they would need to make new ones. She came back after a few minutes and said that they would just cook another order of braised pork for me to add into my ramen. I later wished that I just let go of the issue since the pork belly was extremely fatty with more than 60 percent fat... I honestly feel like this place is overrated given the long wait and lack of quality service. The soup is also a little too thick for my taste although it could be suitable for people who prefer really creamy and fatty meat.
(1)
Wealtz Z.

I'm always on a hunt for a great Japanese Ramen, specifically Tonkotsu. I consulted Yelp and it did not disappoint! True to its claim of fantastic ramen in Chicagoland (and I have visited two other places). I never had the real dish (in/from Japan), but I've had this dish in all major US cities I've visited and thusfar, this is my 2nd favorite (1st is Tamaya in Hacienda Heights, CA). 2 pieces of the berkshire pork is served on top cold, so don't be surprise. Very tender and nicely flavoured. The bamboo shoot was surprisingly yummy too, fully marinated. The soft boiled egg the same. And not to mention the rich broth! The noodles were perfectly cooked al dente, with small dash of black sesame oil. One thing I did not taste in my ramen was the kikurage mushroom, which was the last ingredient indicated on the menu. My husband ordered the Miso ramen. To be honest, I didn't taste the difference, perhaps his didn't have the sesame flavor. Very nice ambient, great for date night. When we visited this Sunday evening, there was no wait, and the place was 90% full. All in all, the 20-minute drive from the south loop was well worth it.
(4)
Dawn L.

Thus far, Wasabi makes the best ramen I've found outside of Japan (in all fairness, ramen in Japan is a tastebud-altering experience that nothing in the US can quite match - it's just amazing). That said, Wasabi's ramen was one of the best things I ate this year*, and it's something I regularly crave. Their tonkotsu comes with egg noodles, berkshire pork cheeks, soft boiled eggs, marinated bamboo shoots, scallions, sesame, and kikurage mushrooms. And it's only $13. Get the side of braised pork belly ($4) to go with it - it's well worth the extra money. All the ramen varieties are good, though thus far my favorite seems to be the tonkotsu. I've been to Wasabi four times, and I've been eating my way through the rest of the menu too. Some quick rundowns of other samplings: - Teriyaki beef: I can't speak to the sauce since I sampled this from a friend's plate, but the meat is cooked perfectly, with great flavor - it's far better than the sad dishes that many other restaurants serve - Sushi: delicious, though nothing particularly special - Chocolate lava cake: lovely plating, and this will impress most, but I'm biased - I make a better version at home (chocolate is one of my obsessions and specialties) - Mini creme brulee: definitely mini, but with a good custard and the perfect sugar crust - Yakitori: disappointing (if you're craving yakitori, the best place in Chicago I've found so far is Chizakaya) I've always had excellent service here, and the staff are great about explaining menu items and answering questions. In summary: come here for the ramen. I once came twice in a week, it's so good. Let's make sure they're open for a long time.** * If you're curious what the other ones are, here's the list: kitchenlore.com/2012/01/â€¦ ** But don't make one of my favorite restaurants so crowded that I can't get a reservation! :-)
(5)
Q Y.

Authentic Japanese food. Highlight: Ramen and octopus wasabi shot
(5)
Erin B.

When you're the only carnivore in a sea of veg-heads, sushi is almost always the best compromise for dining. When with you're a group of ladies on a budget, BYOB is a best bet. BAM! Wasabi for the win! The calming/trendy atmosphere marked high in our books, as well as the charming server who immediately helped us out with our wine glasses and bottle. We started with the grilled asparagus and grilled zucchini skewers (both awesome, but the zucchini was our fave), then went straight into maki. Favorites included the Logan (I know eel is so bad but tastes SO GOOD) Hot Yogi and, the Sweet Potato Tempura. I also heard a rumor that the ramen is fantastico! (Not to self; *MUST GO BACK*) We didn't hit up dessert (we had Hoosier Mama Pie plans), but everything about our dining experience was grand. Oh dear Sushi Gods, you've done good. You've done oh so good.
(4)
Cymen V.

Really good ramen. Sushi is variable but usually decent. The menu is a bit all over the place so if you have fussy eaters, you might want to look it over before going here. The noise level is a little high but not too bad. It is dim if you're not seated up by the front windows. BYOB is always nice (if you remember to BOYB).
(4)
Valerie C.

I have been here 3 times and the first 2 I wasn't overly impressed, but this last time was really just wonderful. I finally got the ramen--which is what I should have done from the start. My friends and I ordered 3 different ramen and my favorite was the Spicy Roasted Garlic Miso Ramen. I would say their sushi is just okay. I think what really made the difference this time was our server Eric. He helped guide us, make recommendations and overall made it a fantastic night out.
(4)
Katie J.

Wonderful experience. Great food. Wonderful staff and service. Also a plus that it's byob. I wish I would have known that before we got there!
(5)
Nicole S.

So I don't think I really need to write a review for a place I"m a regular and has a ton of amazing other reviews. But here goes. This is a total catch 22. I love Wasabi. Everyone I take or tell about Wasabi, loves Wasabi. Ergo the number of people who are now Wasabi converts and lovers has grown exponentially. This is fantastic. I want my favorite servers & business to continue to stay busy. But I hate waiting for at table now. It's a little bit louder than it used to be in their new space but it's still BYOB and the food has NEVER disappointed and is always worth the wait. Their vegan ramen is the #1 reason I bring my veggie friends there and they keep going back. We all love the ramen and it does rival the ramen I've had in Tokyo. The fish is fresh, tasty and the rolls are creative and mouth watering. I guess I'll resign myself to the wait for a table knowing that I'll still get my favorite Art Mex and sashimi hamachi at Wasabi.
(5)
Grace F.

I'm sad! Tried calling in to make a reservation for a birthday party with a large group of 23 people. They can't take me in. I spoke to the manager if he would make an exception for this one time. Since, A, I love this place so much that i wanted to spend lot's of $$$ with my precious friends who have never been here before and therefore, B, I am trying to promote this place since it's so good!!! I tried to make this reservation for a thursday evening at 630pm. He recommended me to come as early as 5pm and will not guarantee seating if we show up later than that. Well.... most people get off work at 5 or later, soooooo... I'll bring my people some place else then. My heart is truly broken. So long, wasabi. I need a real good reason to come back to you...
(1)
Anny N.

YUMMY! It was my first time in Chicago and this was the first restaurant we ate at and IT WAS DELICIOUS. I got the spicy garlic miso ramen and he got the tonkatsu. The broth was very flavorful and I definitely would go back here. We also ordered pork belly buns which was to die for. It nearly melted in your mouth. I was highly impressed with this restaurant!
(5)
Ann Z.

My friends and I have been frequenting different Japanese restaurants in Chicago in search of the best ramen. This place is it. They had the perfect tender fatty pork, just the right springiness to the noodles, tasty delicious broth, and the authentic type of bamboo shoots. You can tell if the ramen you're eating is legit when the bamboo shoot is the bendy, slightly chewy but still crunchy kind, not the bland rectangular crunchy kind you get in fast-food chinese take out. They even offer kaedama, where you can have a second serving of noodles added to your broth bowl once you finish the original noodles. Although the noodles were a bit too chewy for the kaedama. Maybe they'll work on that.
(5)
Michelle M.

Ramen Ramen Ramen. It's delicious and I've had every one. The miso and spicy ramen are my faves, and you can ask for less spicy if it's too much for you. And the sushi is consistently awesome. Wasabi and Coast are my go-tos. Ask your server for recommendations, too. This place has more than your typical sushi restaurant, espec in the pork department, and it's all amazing.
(5)
R J.

Sooo good...... drool
(5)
Jennifer R.

Recently my boyfriend took me to Wasabi for my birthday. Neither of us had been here before and we were quite impressed. It's BYOB so we brought a few different bottles of sake and the server was very nice to keep the other bottles in the cooler until we needed them. Three stand out items that still haunt my dreams are the chef's special pork belly buns (not sure how often they have them since they are not on the regular menu), the surf and turf roll (a delectable roll of poached lobster and beef tartar with truffle oil), and their spider roll (delightfully crispy crab which I could eat all day long). From what I've heard about the ramen I have no choice but to come back.
(5)
Callie J.

As a relatively new sushi lover, I don't have a ton of comparisons to make, but this place is now known as my favorite sushi spot. I'm no connoisseur when it comes to raw fish, but this stuff was fresh, tasty and unique. Oh, did I mention it's BYO? My friend and I arrived around 7:30 pm on a Friday and were able to sit right away. Luckily my friend had dined at Wasabi before, so she made some suggestions for us to share that I will happily tell you about while I salivate as I type: Edamame: Isn't this a staple? Zuke Sashimi: Usually the word sashimi is enough to turn me away, but this piece of salmon was scrumptious. Wagu: This is a single piece of steak and packed with tastiness. Spicy Super White Tuna: Amazing. Our neighbors told us to try the tempura version next time, but I was perfectly content with our less crunchy version. Hot Yogi Vegan: My favorite of the night, and I never go for the vegetarian or vegan option. The roll is loaded with fresh veggies and beyond flavorful and delicious. Real California: Remember: new sushi lover, so we threw in a soft ball. But it was still great. I would highly recommend this place for those who consider themselves less adventurous sushi eaters. Typically I end up having bland rolls when I eat sushi with my friends because I just don't go for massive amounts of raw fish or rolls doused in fish eggs. Wasabi's food was tame enough for me to feel comfortable eating, yet packed with flavor. I cannot wait to eat there again, and I think you should too.
(5)
Carol Ruth K.

Ordered salmon there one night, and it tasted pre-cooked, then warmed up in the micro-wave. The Japanese sign-board in the front window read "closed". When I pointed it out to them, it was clear that no staff member in the restaurant that night could read Japanese. Not really a Japanese restaurant.
(1)
Mina M.

The wait is long at times, but it is worth the wait. Their braised pork belly is outstanding. Get an extra order of that. It's all about their ramen. The spicy miso ramen is outstanding, but you have to really love spicy.
(5)
Zimin M.

oen of the best Ramen noodles I have ever had. The soup was delicious. But it's a bit pricy. After tax and tip, it comes to $20 a soup noodle.
(4)
Amy L.

Came here a while ago and didn't get to review it but just passed it again today and got reminded to do it. Very good ramen here, as others have already repeated said. I also got to try their sushi here, not bad but I would go with the ramen if I were to go again. The food came out relatively fast for us and the ramen was just the right flavor. Their noodles tasted very fresh, unlike some of the other spots I've tried for ramen and had the right consistency, wasn't soggy but was chewy. Definitely my go to spot for ramen in Chicago!
(4)
Anna T.

Service sucks, they keep you waiting forever and they don't refill your water unless you flag them down! Took forever to order, get the food, and get the bill. Don't order the udon noodles, the beef was dried and gross like it was yesterday's leftover beef. The ramen noodles however were yummy and the texture just perfect and chewy! The broth to the noodles though was super salty! If you add a lot of chili flakes it kills the salty taste and will make it better. The lollipop fried chicken appetizer was meh, the sauce was gross and didn't compliment it at all. The portions were just right, but the price::portion, yikes.
(3)
Amie M.

This place is really delish. Fresh ramen & sushi, byob & great knowledgeable waiters!
(5)
Coll P.

MMMMMMMMMM, what to eat in Chiberia? Ramen! I got a spicy roasted garlic ramen that was so so good and not overly spicy for me, but it took the breath away of my dining companion. Also had some delecious tempura but a roll that was unmemorable. BYOB!
(4)
William Y.

If this place is closer to downtown chicago, I would have given it a 5 star. Food taste and service are both 5 star quality. The ramen was very good, and the pork was very tasty. We also got a lunch sushi combo, which was also fantastic.
(4)
B B.

My sweetie and I stop by a few times a month, always for the miso ramen. The spicy pork ramen is delicious. It's SO SO SO good. But, the portion keeps getting smaller and the price keeps going up. At first, I could order a bowl of ramen and have leftovers sufficient lunch or dinner the following day. Now, the bowl-size is smaller, and there isn't quite enough to take home. The broth to noodle ratio is all thrown off. Too many noodles! Not enough broth! For the price, the portion size is just too small. Bummer. But, the service is great. Just the appropriate level of attentive--I never felt like our servers intruded on our conversations. Our last waiter was wonderful about rushing our BYOB beer straight to the fridge to keep it cold. Go for good service, don't expect a huge heaping of ramen.
(3)
Colleen C.

Slightly on the pricier side for a bowl of ramen but it was delicious. The broth was just the right richness and the ingredients tasted very fresh. Want to try the other appetizers at this place.
(4)
Sophia K.

I was actually a bit surprised that I liked it this much. I got the tonkotsu ramen, and I'm generally used to being mildly disappointed because I love Daikokuya so much. Their broth was quite good, and I pretty much just drank the soup. The egg and noodles were good too, I'd say the noodles were a bit thin for my taste, but that's really just splitting hairs. The soup got a bit grainy towards the middle-end which I didn't care for but the flavor was excellent, which is really all I'm looking for when it comes to tonkotsu. My friends got the Spicy miso garlic ramen which was good, but when they say spicy they mean spicy. I liked the friend chicken lollipops (the sauce is great) and also they were very friendly in holding our luggage when we came in. I would have liked to try other items on the menu, and maybe I will another time.
(4)
Noanna M.

Good sushi best part is BYOB
(4)
Barry C.

Nice ambiance, and very yummy. Deserts are okay too. Who would imagine that this is here! Definitely coming back. Come early, because they don't take reservations. Parking on the street seemed to be quite easy, and free on Sundays!
(5)
Erin S.

The first time I went, I would have given it three stars for being a bit mediocre, but a year later, I came back and loved it! VEGANS TAKE NOTE::: the vegan ramen is out of this world good and an incredible alternative to all the pork belly. And our server, Eric, was fantastic. Even though it's a BYOB, he poured and refilled our wine glasses. He made great recommendations and was overall a wonderful server. Great time!
(5)
Lesly C.

Awesome place! Our waitress was amazing and had great knowledge of the menu and specials. I will definitely continue going here and hope the Asian girl is my waitress all the time. Great job!
(5)
Paul L.

I like having options in Logan Square. It's *almost* like having a Butterfly(sushi) in our neck of the woods.
(4)
Viv C.

The second visit wasn't a great experience because it ran out of Ramen on that Saturday noon and other food is just ok. (or disappointed) We were so happy and enjoyable last time for Ramen. Ramen is so far the best; however, their food other than ramen is way less than other average Japanese food restaurant, I mean price wise and food quality wise. Chicken Teriyaki-- Not special, come with salad served on the same big plate; salad dressing goes anywhere around the chicken.. (served with white rice, but the taste of rice is so cheap...) Sashimi-- $16 for little 8 pieces of assorted fish, it's sort of smaller slice but the meat is very tender. it melt in my mouth. (served with sushi rice) They charged everything, a cup of green tea costs $2, a dice of wasabi costs $1.5 I was glad that the sashimi cames with wasabi; otherwise, I will just swallow the raw fish and soy sauce.... Atmosphere, it's quite weird; they play some weird heavy music loud during Saturday noon time; we are pretty awake from last night's hangover, okay?! So and so, this is only for ramen place and appetizers. other than that, it's not worthy.
(3)
Sheridan R.

Their Ramen is orgasmic..... you'll never leave this place disappointed! Also make sure you try the brussel sprouts you don't know what you're missing till you do!
(5)
Deborah M.

After an especially long work week I was craving a steak but I really wanted to check out Wasabi. I sat at the bar with a view of the sushi chefs and enjoyed a perfect ribeye, with a mound of sweet potatoes, grilled asparagus, rice, and salad. Great flavors. Delicious. Then for dessert ginger lemon crÃ¨me brÃ»lÃ©e and green tea. Also delicious. What a pleasant evening and only two blocks from home. Next time I'll try the sushi.
(5)
Christina G.

What a cute little spot. First of all I've been there twice and it was super easy to make reservations both on Saturday nights. The service is good. The food is good. It's BYOB. I thought their rolls were really really good and yes the Artmex is awesome as some of the other reviews note. And the prices were really not bad at all. Also they have these awesome fried octopus puffs which are probably really not healthy but really really yummy. Will definitely be back soon!
(4)
Steve W.

Worst service ever I have experienced! Wanted to have some ramen so we headed there for dinner on Black Friday. We waited 30 mins to be seated even though there were at least four tables empty. Dont get me wrong saying those tables were reserved, they didn't even clean up one of those! Waited another 15 mins until we ASKED someone to get us iced water after being seated. It took them 10 mins to get us our waiter and finally iced water. We were like whatever let's enjoy the food anyway. But 10 mins after ordering, our waiter came back and told us all ramen was sold out! Should've told us when ordering! We left right away. Yes, this is Wasabi where service is as pungent as their name.
(1)
Jake D.

Super RUDE waiter. They apparently sacrifice their service because of their recent popularity. Will never try again
(1)
Daina B.

My husband and I stopped in on a Friday evening right before a show at the congress. We arrived around 6:00 and the place had one other couple seated and it worried me a little, but that worry didn't last long. The food was delicious and I felt satiated after finishing my meal. Although I would say the appetizers are a little small for their cost.I ordered a Goose Island Ginger Ale and really enjoyed it(i've never had it before). Lots of Ginger flavor. Prices aren't too bad either (but it seems like people are saying that it is getting more expensive) Service was stellar, the decor was great (I really enjoyed that it was so dim in there for some reason). People started to trickle in around 7 and by the time we left about 730 other groups came in so I am guessing this place gets busier around 8. Next time i'm in the neighborhood I'd probably stop by.
(4)
Daniel B.

Been here twice now. Extremely fresh sushi, great presentation. The kind of sushi that can be appreciated by a purist and a novice.
(4)
Khloe K.

Came here on a chilly sunday night to specifically try their Spicy Garlic miso Ramen and it did not disappoint! Firstly, i was quite surprised by how busy and buzzing they were on a sunday night so that was a good sign. It was my first time there. The wait was like 5 minutes and service was good. Our server was friendly and just attentive enough. The ramen broth was really well seasoned and flavorful, not too salty and not oily at all which was nice. However i absolutely love spicy food and my tongue is probably so insensitive to spice that i actually didn't find the broth spicy at all, however i'm sure the average person would disagree. Noodles were just perfectly cooked, not overly chewy or soft. Ramen portion was just perfect, however if i came super hungry i would liked a slightly larger portion. The Berkshire pork belly was solo tender and scrumptious. The soft boiled egg, bamboo shoots, bean sprouts, scallion were perfect accompaniments in the dish. This is my idea of a perfect "go to" noodle soup on a chilly Chicago day
(4)
Carrie A.

The food was phenomenal!!! I will definately go there again with my girlfriends for our girls night out cheatmeal! It has a relaxing and romantic atmosphere, and a large yet affordable menu! I absolutely LOVED it and can't wait to eat there again!
(5)
Kelly H.

So happy this is so close to home. Every time we come, we are greeted with smiles and friendly service. The highlight here is the ramen. THE best I have ever had! The primary reason it's so special is the broth. They use Berkshire pigs (the Kobe of pork) which are raised on small farms in Iowa with very high quality control standards. They braise the bones for over 45 hours and include slices of the juicy meat in the finished presentation. They have a spicy version that is fantastic and will definitely help clear your sinuses if you're feeling under the weather. However, my favorite is the mushroom based ramen (the name escapes me, but the flavor does not). Perfectly cooked noodles and soft boiled egg, wood ear mushrooms, bamboo shoots. It tastes as wonderful as it looks. This dish is craveable, especially during this brutal winter!!!!
(5)
Mike M.

loved it! pork belly and kimchee spring rolls were a favorite, the sushi and nigiri were also really good. We "main coursed" the meal with Tonkatu Ramen and sides of mustard greens. A great dinner and we'll definitely be back...next time with a chilled bottle of sake in tow.
(4)
Jennifer R.

Wasabi is modern, clean, and a great chill place to grab some sushi. My server was friendly and attentive. The maki rolls I ordered arrived in a timely manner and tasted very fresh and delicious. The ambience is laid back and this location is BYOB. The prices are fairly moderate, but it more or less fits the atmosphere. The location is also great because it's close to the blue line. However, if I didn't live so close to this option I'm not sure if I would eat here more often. It's very nice, but if I didn't already live in this neighborhood, there are plenty of other places to get sushi that offer the same level of great sushi, great service, and nice atmosphere in the same price range. I mean, we are downtown after all. If you're in the neighborhood and jonesin' for some sushi, this is definitely your go-to joint.
(4)
Megan G.

I've been to Wasabi with big parties of my closest, most gossipy girlfriends and I've been there on intimate dates; it's been perfect for both. You can spread out and cackle up a storm and you can get close and share some rolls. It's byob so bring it on. As long as you are cool they don't charge corkage fees although the menu states one bottle per 2 people. The staff is always really nice and accommodating. They didn't even judge when I rolled up to meet my friends with a cube o wine (fancy word for box). But hey, when a situation arises you need to be prepared! As for the food, well the food is the star here. The fish is fresh, there's plenty of sushi and rolls to pick from and everything has always been mouth watering. The Artmex roll... There are no words. Just try it.
(4)
Temi C.

My first take-out experience was disappointing. I almost wrote off Wasabi, until we dined here for a bday dinner. I obviously ordered the wrong items!! Ramen perfection. The broth is rich, not salty, and the noodles are perfectly al dente. Al dente ramen noodles are key. The marinated bamboo shoots provide an extra depth of flavor. I have to disagree with those that say the portions are small. On multiple occasions, one bowl has been enough to provide a tasting portion for 5-6 ppl. Plus, you want to save room for everything else. Pork belly skewers are a must! Squeeze the lemon over it. Sooo good! I'm also a fan of the fried zucchini skewers. They come with the most delicious sauce. Sushi- Do not, I repeat do not, order the basic rolls. If you've ever been to Macku, you'll understand. It's just not their forte. Art Mex, Mag Mile, Crabby Wasabi, and Pike Place are all good choices. Unagi brie nigiri sounds weird, but it's surprisingly damn good. There's one roll with cooked beef and a variety of veggies. Kim bap anyone? I haven't tried it, but I think I'll stick to the fish options. Which I must mention has been super fresh and then not as fresh. I think it depends on the day that you go. I love that it's BYOB. Also, note there is an error on the Yelp page. They are open on Sundays.
(4)
Artur O.

Really Love the Ramen great maki and chicken lollypops Ambiance is nice really great place all around Thanks !!! For being in chi-town
(5)
Tracy R.

A friend of mine recommended Wasabi to me and I'm so happy I found this hidden gem! Ate here on a Sat. night and everything from the food to the staff to the cool environment was a great experience. It's also BYOB! The only thing that was a little annoying was the wait. I waited about 30 min for a table in their cold waiting area. They make you write your name and party info on a clipboard that they hang outside their front door until the host comes out and shouts out your name one by one. Wish they used services like NextMe to manage their wait list. I know Oiistar, another ramen shop in Wicker Park, uses Nextme app and text people when my table's ready. Despite the long wait, the food was def worth it. I highly recommend the spicy garlic ramen if you can handle the heat. The pork belly is also hands down one of the best in Chicago. The pork literally melts in your mouth. The staff was also very nice. I'll be back but definitely not on the weekends or when they've got a wait.
(4)
Cameron R.

Delicious ramen. Cool vibe. Packed at 9pm on Sunday because people need their ramen. We had the tuna tartar the steamed buns and the Tonkotsu Ramen and added the pork belly. Everything was yummy and creative. The service was great, our waiter was fast and knew the menu well so was able to answer our questions and make some solid recommendations. I love ramen and they do it well here, plus it is BYOB which always keeps the tab down so you can order the extras! I loved the tartar!
(4)
Katie B.

The ramen was SOOOOO good!! It was perfect for a blustery night in Chicago. It's kind of on the way to Logan Square, but not quite there. Though it's off the beaten path a little, you can tell when you've made it by the groups waiting outside. They don't take reservations, but they were pretty accurate with their approximated wait times. We waited about 40 minutes on a Friday night around 7pm. I loved the vibe inside--small space, loud, kind of NYC-ish but not as crowded. Great service, BYOB (my fave!), and a pretty extensive menu. There are only a few ramen dishes to choose from, all of which I'd highly recommend adding the charred pork belly to. The pork belly was out of this world good! Also notable are the brussel sprouts and sushi menu! If I had to go back, I'd pass on the fried veggie skewers. I prefer the tempura-style veggies, and though these were good, I'd prefer tempura with my sushi! Overall, I would definitely mark this as maybe my favorite ramen ever! Can't wait to go back again!
(5)
Stefanie B.

I came with a large group for a party on a saturday night and there wasn't a wait to this popular restaurant which was a bonus! Street parking was also easy to find which is always a worry of mine. I got the pork belly buns and chicken wings which were excellent starters. For my main dish I ordered the spicy garlic ramen which was a little too spicy for me to eat so I didn't finish it. The pork belly in the ramen was so juicy and soft though I had to finish them cuz they just melt in your mouth! I tried other people's ramen and thought they were way better than what I ordered. I liked the tonkatsu broth one. Everyone got the cool spoons except for me who got a plastic white one and so I had to ask for the cool ones to make my experience authentic and COMPLETE!
(4)
Cat G.

So while I was standing outside in the -17 wind chill weather waiting (for almost an hour) for my table, I started mentally writing my Yelp review in my head, skeptical that this place was really worth it. First things first - we arrived 15 minutes after they opened on a Saturday night and the waiting "area" (which is all outdoors, btw - come dressed for the weather because there's almost no waiting room indoors. Also, they won't take your number and call you when your table is ready - if you're not there when they call your name out, you lose your table.) was already packed. My advice to you, if you don't want to wait, is to arrive BEFORE they open (which is 5pm for dinner most days) - as in, be at the door by 4:45. This was our initial plan, but we were a little late and in my mind I was thinking "oh, I'm sure 5:15 will still be okay". Nope. I waited a solid 50 or so minutes despite arriving 15 minutes after they opened. If you don't get there before they open on a weekend, expect an hour wait. And on that note, it's not a good idea to bring a party of any more than 4 or so people, probably 2 if you want to play it safe - there was a party of 8 (?!?) ahead of my party, and they got skipped over at least 10 times because the chance of 8 seats opening up at the same time is basically nil (they have two larger tables, but as you can imagine, larger tables take longer to free up and etc etc...) I will say that I think their sign in process is a bit outdated, just in the sense that you walk in and put your name on a list and join the people in the waiting area being shuffled around like cattle every time someone needs to get through the walkway and hope that *eventually* your name is called. No one is there to greet you or give you an estimate of the wait time; the employees in charge of monitoring the list/calling parties in are in and out and unlikely to be accessible. I know they're popular, but I find this system to be a little snobbish. That being said, I generally don't fault a restaurant for having a wait time - if they have a wait time, it probably means they're doing something right. On to the important part: the food! My review is 5 stars, so I'm sure you know what's coming at this point. We started with the pork belly buns and the gyoza, along with two of the skewers - the short rib and the pork belly. Pork belly buns are totally the trendy thing for Asian restaurants to serve these days, and my disdain for the trendy is canceled out only by my love of all things pork belly. In other words, I'm completely okay with this since they're freaking delicious. Wasabi's interpretation was no exception - tender yet crispy pork belly, fluffy bao, and a delicious sauce that wasn't too sweet. We enjoyed the gyoza as well - cooked perfectly with a nice pan seared bottom. Finally, the skewers were delicious - nice char on them and great flavor, though they're pricey for the amount of food you get (2-4 dollars for 2-4 bites of meat). As for the ramen itself, my boyfriend ordered the spicy roasted garlic miso ramen and I had the tonkotsu. I liken ordering tonkotsu the first time you visit a particular ramen shop to ordering a cosmo the first time you go to a particular bar - it's a classic, and a very good way to gauge how good that establishment is. I lived in Japan for six years, so my standards are pretty high, and I'm happy to report that Wasabi kicked all my standards in the ass, and then some. Our server recommended that we add kakuni to our noodles (which I, admittedly, have never heard of) - from what I gathered, it's marinated and blow-torched pieces of pork belly in addition to what's already included in your ramen. Read: amazing. The fact that it's blow-torched makes it super crisp on the outside, but the inside is still tender and flavorful. Highly recommend getting this. The tonkotsu itself is quite good - I think I've had better broth at other places, but the texture of the noodles really did me in here. Springy and perfect (I don't know how they make their noodles - by machine or by hand - but I'm pretty sure I'd be convinced if you told me it was the latter). I tasted the miso ramen as well, which was nice - I appreciated that the spiciness was actually a flavor, as opposed to just heat, which is an issue I have with a lot of spicy dishes. Service while we were dining was great - server was friendly, helpful with suggestions, and just present enough that we didn't have to chase him down, but also not breathing down our necks. A+! Has this review gone on long enough? (Is anyone even still reading? I hope so.) For any ramen-lovers in Chicago, get thee to Wasabi (at least 15 minutes before they open on any given night).
(5)
Ali L.

Gosh, everything I've had here has been amazing. Absolutely no complaints. Like probably everyone else in the free world, I recommend the ramen. BYOB is a great touch- lets you spend more on things like sake toro (aughhh so good, might only be a special though?) and all those amazing skewers. No matter what, get the pork belly. Always get the pork belly. My only gripes are tiny and really unnecessary, but I would give a whole new set of stars if Wasabi would take reservations (wait times can get super long, I just get angsty during indeterminable waits). The food is also served in a sort of disjointed fashion, which can make the experience weird when one person has food in front of them and the other doesn't, or things come out of order, orrr all at once when it shouldn't have. You see what I mean. BUT. Hopefully your company is not a bunch of jerks and you'll figure it out because the food is just so good. It is sooo, so good.
(5)
Hersh A.

For my first visit here, I give it a 3.5 stars. The food and service were good. Prices are moderate. Menu has a good variety. It's a small place and when busy & crowded, gets very loud/ noisy which I didn't enjoy. I came here for Ramen noodles. They were tasty. I liked them. I had their Spicy Garlic Miso Ramen (extra spicy). Note: the regular is spicy as it is (4/ 5 levels of heat) and by asking for extra spicy, it was twice as much and boy did they delivered the heat. It was too my satisfaction and more. The broth, toppings like egg, mushrooms, pork belly meat etc were delicious. The pork belly meat was really good. I couldn't decide on whether the noodles were good or just decent. They weren't soft but little al dente if you will. I also tried the Tonkatsu Ramen and it was good tasting too. We tried other items like panko breaded Scottish Salmon, Pork Belly Spring Rolls and some sushi rolls. Liked all of those items. Very tasty. Didn't like their Mochi ice cream taste. It was sticky & gelatinous in texture. I didn't check to see that this place was BYOB so not having some drink like wine was a bit of a bummer. But anyway, a place with checking out at least once. I have had better Ramen noodles elsewhere but these were good tasting. So go here if you haven't yet.
(3)
Claire C.

Best ramen place in Chicago. Love their ramen, only bad thing is that their line is usually long and seating isn't that comfortable. Their tonkotsu ramen is so yummy! Also pork belly bun is to die for.
(4)
Yen L.

My boyfriend and I dove into a ramen Sunday's phase about 4 months ago, and Wasabi has been our most frequent choice. He gets the tonkotsu ramen and I get the spicy garlic, and we always share a few appetizers. Always extremely happy with the ramen dishes (seriously.... If you're a garlic lover like me, try this ramen) and the raw fish apps (hamachi carpaccio, sea bream carpaccio etc) are always great. Also FANTASTIC that they are BYOB. Because I love it so much, I wish I didn't have to take a star off, but I do have to highlight my biggest issue with them because it makes me super annoyed: they will not allow you to get the ramen for pickup. They will do the REST OF THE MENU for pickup, but not the ramen (the only thing I want on Sundays), and their reason is the most infuriating part: "they don't want to compromise the integrity of the dish" ..... Come on. I love your food so much. Please let me take it home and eat it.
(4)
Nick L.

Great food, terrible service. I've always seen the lines outside of Wasabi because I drive by so often, so I was thrilled to finally get to try it. We brought two bottles of wine for the two of us and were seated at a two person table by the kitchen. Our server greeted us and poured us some wine. We ordered a roll to start and then each ordered a ramen bowl. The roll came out fairly quick, give or take 7 minutes, and as we're pouring our soy sauce, the ramen bowls come out. Not a good start, but we didn't complain, we were still going to enjoy ourselves. The roll and ramen was delicious! I added the upgraded pork belly and umami to the ramen, and just a heads up, the umami is not THAT hot, comparable to siracha. At one point, while our glasses were empty, the waitress lifted the wine bottle to see if we had finished it, which we hadn't, and put it back in the chiller without filling up our glasses. At another point, when we had finished eating I asked her to wipe off my side of the table because it was wet and there was food all over (I'm not necessarily the cleanliest when it comes to eating) and she noticeably gave me this "really?" look, which both of us clearly noticed. So we finished our meals and then ordered dessert. After dessert the waitress came by more frequently and gave that unspoken "nudge" about finishing up. I was a server for 6 years, so I notice these things and completely respect them. With our wine not even finished, the host came over and asked us to move along because "people were waiting". We had been seated for about 2 hours and there was NO ONE waiting. Literally. NO ONE. I understand servers need to flip tables to make money, but really? Did you just ask us to leave?? I have never seen anyone asked to leave a restaurant because they sat for 2 hours. As a matter of fact, the only time I've ever seen people asked to leave was when the restaurant was closing, like shutting off the lights. Anyways, I'm still giving 3 stars because the food was great. But the server and host really spoiled our experience.
(3)
Dax R.

They have one of the best Ramen in Chicago. My wife and I went around 6:30 pm on a Saturday night....any later, we would have been waiting in a 75ft long line. We stepped out of the restaurant around 8:30 pm and couldn't believe how many people were outside waiting. The Tonkotsu Ramen broth was flavorful and not oily. My wife had the vegan Ramen and she loved it. They are very veggie/vegan friendly. I also had the Artmex Maki roll. It was good too. I can't wait to come back.
(5)
Darren F.

my friend took me here because i never ate ramen from a restaurant before.. only had the ones from the stores where you have to cook at home and comes with a packet of seasoning haha.. anyways.. i had the... Spicy Roasted Garlic Miso Ramen - egg noodle, rich pork broth, berkshire pork belly, soft boiled egg, marinated bamboo shoot, bean sprouts, sesame, scallion, roasted garlic, garlic chips, chili pepper, sesame oil... and added pork belly and extra noodles.. it was delicious! the noodles, meat, and egg was cooked just right .. broth was flavorful Pork Belly Buns - braised berkshire pork belly, organic romaine, sesame mayo, scallions.. it was good. the pork belly is well seasoned and has the right amount of fat and meat on it. gizzard on a stick - first time trying gizzard.. it was good.. the texture was a little weird to me when i was eating it.. but it was good haha..
(5)
Nancy H.

The stars were aligned for us. Sunday = free parking in Chicago (for now), and we arrived right when they opened at 11 AM and were their first customers. The restaurant didn't get busy until around 12:30 PM, but by then, we were leaving with happy bellies. Great service, pretty good food, and not overpriced. For appetizers, we had the pork belly & kimchee spring rolls (egg rolls), fried brussels sprouts (a special), and the fried chicken lollipops... they were just ok... stick to the ramen! Ramens are $13-14 and come with fatty Berkshire pork slices (if you're familiar with Santouka in Mitsuwa, this is more like the premium pork you get there), 1/2 of a soft boiled egg, and other typical accompaniments (bamboo shoots, scallions, etc). The tonkotsu ramen is always a staple and a benchmarker of all ramens. The broth was naturally creamy (from simmering pork bones for hours), not too salty, and the noodles were cooked just right. I also had the miso ramen, which was equally good on broth and noodles. You can upgrade to "ultimate" if you want torched pork belly and hot sauce (similar to Korean gochujang). The torched pork was nothing special. Downfall: We noticed that some of our pork slices were mostly fat, while others had no fat. They need to slice the pork differently so that each cut has the right ratio! Thus, not a perfect ramen experience.
(4)
Pita Von C.

First timer to this place. All the tables were full, so I sat at the sushi bar. I prefer to watch the masters at work. Older Asian gentleman behind the sushi frig greeting me with a soulful smile. I came here for sushi and amazing sushi is what I got. Octopus puffs, mag mile maki, and hotate avo. Very clean and colorful presentation. My server was very bubbly and sweet. Definitely coming back after seeing those ramen bowls.
(4)
Stacy D.

Note to self: The perfect ramen consists of flavorful broth, noodles with the right texture, and good additions of menma, eggs and pork. Wasabi hit the spot on everything with their ramen. Would not recommend getting sushi here. Runa Japanese just a little over a mile away is much better to get nigiri. Fish slices are thicker, rice does not crumble apart, and a much better texture for the fried amaebi head.
(4)
Esther A.

Love love love this place. The ramen is bomb.com and the other dishes are pretty delicious also - the pork buns and the brussels sprouts are amazing!
(5)
Alan G.

In Chicago, I've also eaten at Strings, Oi Star, High Five, Jinya, and Furious Spoon. Also, two ramen places near schaumburg - one in a japanese mall and the other in a Strip Mall. Wasabi is the best. Really. It's awesome. Not too oily, well-marinated pork. The spicy garlic miso ramen is my favorite. Perfect level of heat, nice complex flavor. Not as overly salty as some ramen you may find. I've also had ramen at ten or so very good ramen restaurants in Japan and Taiwan and honestly Wasabi holds up. I've probably been here ~20 times. It's that good.
(5)
Steven W.

I am a pilot for an airline and I've actually flown with the co-owner of this place when she was still a flight attendant. That fact didn't alter my review of Wasabi at all and it certainly didn't get me a table here any faster. I will preface this review by saying that I eat a vegan diet and this review is solely for those menu items. The wait for a table on a Saturday night was well in excess of an hour and we had tickets to see a band play that night. Thankfully we were able to sneak into a spot at the bar and get served quicker than that wait time. If you are coming with a larger group during peak times, be prepared to wait. We started with a Hot Yogi Vegan roll from the sushi menu and it was incredible in both presentation and taste. It's not an inexpensive roll, but there's a lot of bites there and it's a nice appetizer for the main course, especially spilt between two people. If you're a vegan or a vegetarian, there's really not a great amount of choice on this menu for you, but don't let that scare you off, the Vegan Tan Tan Men (vegan ramen) is LIFE CHANGINGLY good. The broth is so savory, the spice level was perfect, it instantly became one of my Top 5 meals in Chicago. The ramen has delicious chunks of Upton's seitan in it and it gives it that meaty bite and rounds out the flavor. There are volumes written in these reviews here, but I had to add my voice, especially from the vegan angle. If you can handle the wait, give this a go, you won't be disappointed.
(5)
Sharita R.

Why did I not try this place during our horrible winter???? The ramen here is perfect for a cold, blustery day. When you walk up to this place, it looks like you are about to eat in a converted Pepe's or something. The floors are unfinished concrete. The ceiling is patched together with reclaimed wood. However, it's all quite charming. It's actually a small-ish restaurant. When waiting for a table, you have to wait outside. There is just no room inside to stand. However, there is a nice weather tent thingy to stand in so you are protected from the elements. It did not take long for us to get seated. The tables are pretty close together, and you can sit at a bar too. I was cool with it. My husband ordered the tonkatsu ramen and I got the spicy roasted garlic ramen. We also split a simple salmon avocado sushi roll and I had an oyster shooter (they ran out of uni, argh!). I don't think the oyster shooter was worth the price. The oyster was small and the shooter was tiny. The flavor was good though. The ramens were hot and AMAZING! The tonkatsu ramen was sooo creamy and flavorful. I actually liked my spicy garlic ramen better because the pork was leaner and it felt like my lips weren't gonna slide off with the fat in the broth. The spice was perfect. The sushi roll was fresh tasting and was rolled nicely. This place is BYOB which is also great. We will definitely be back to this place!
(4)
Jeff B.

Definitely not worth the hype--incredibly mediocre. Overpriced, and not particularly good. Actually, the best thing about our trip here was discovering another nearby restaurant, Turbo Taco, which was a pretty awesome way to save our night.
(2)
Amy L.

So here is what we ordered: Grilled skewers- chicken gizzards, chicken skin, pork belly Fried pork and Brie skewers Uni shooter Oyster shooter Pork belly buns Kimchee and pork belly spring rolls Calamari Sashimi ceviche Chicken lollipops Spicy scallops roll Tonkotsu ramen Spicy miso ramen Phew! Yes we are pigs but love to try everything that looks good when we go to a new restaurant. One big highlight of the night was their Berkshire pork belly. It was so good in the ramen and the pork belly bun. I knew Berkshire pork is high quality but never tried til tonight. It is really at another level. It was a big chunk without being dry and tasted fatty without showing fat! My favs out of the appetizers were the pork belly buns, calamari and the kimchee and pork belly spring rolls. The squid was a little too tender but breading was perfectly crisp and I really liked the sauce. Personally I would order these three apps again. The others I could do without. The chicken gizzards and skin were too smelly of innards, ech. Ceviche was so small in quantity and I only liked the scallops and avocado in there. Chicken lollipops were very meaty, score!, but wasn't the best thing we tried out of the apps. I like mayo thankfully because many of the appetizers used that within the dip or was used in a sauce to drizzle on top of the app. But some may not appreciate that. Hubby slurped down the shooters and said it was the best shooter he has had. He said others he had were too salty in the past or felt the burn from the sake which he didn't enjoy. Here he didn't feel the burn. Spicy scallops roll. I liked just the raw scallop. No fishy taste and like butter in your mouth. Ramen. I would try the plain miso ramen next time. I didn't like my tonkotsu ramen as much as I thought I would. Broth was a bit too bland and the noodles were too chewy, undercooked? The spicy one had good flavor and noodles cooked well but it was too spicy for my palate. I was fascinated at their soft boiled eggs because it's hard to cook! So yummy. The spoon was cool. Service was decent. Not very friendly but at least she was always around somewhere as we did wave her down a lot. They were really good about pacing the appetizers on us since we did order so much stuff we only had about 2 plates on the table at a time which was great because table for 2 is really small. Us two got seated very quick on a Friday night at 6:30pm. They do make sure your party is there to be seated or at least is parking.
(3)
Rollothomas R.

Seems like the customer service is subpar. Was running a little late which is sadly to admit a chronic problem. Ordered our sushi and ramen at the at the same time got our sushi orders first no problem with that. It was good not over priced but not cheap. While eating asked for the ramen togo
(2)
Arushi B.

Wow I mean WOWWWWW! Just what you need on a chilly winter evening in Chiberia, when a constant snow is falling outside and the chill has permeated into your bones. Don't fear! Ramen is here to save the day. Unfortunately they don't take reservations and we had to wait an hour for a party of 4 but it was SO worth it. I had the miso ramen which hit the spot and my hubby had the spicy garlic one which was too garlicky for his taste. Excellent wait staff, food came out quick and most importantly, the broth is to die for.
(5)
Marka L.

One of my favorite restaurants in Chicago. The Ramen is fantastic, much much better then Oiistar. The service is always great and very helpful if you have questions about the menu. Trust me when I say it's worth the wait, in my opinion it's the best ramen in Chicago!
(5)
Joshua C.

I don't like ramen. I don't know what it is about ramen, but while everyone I know enjoys the occasional cup noodles, I found myself looking at disgust at their "food". Then I had a chance to try the famous Daikokuya of L.A., with high expectations of the genuine Japanese ramen experience, and once again found myself disappointed. So when my girlfriend suggested last night, that we try a restaurant primarily known for their tonkatsu ramen, I was not terribly excited. In fact, I fully expected to taste the ramen and experience another disappointing hyped up dish. Oh how wrong I was. See, Wasabi doesn't serve ramen - they serve the nectar of the gods over noodles. The broth is rich and flavorful without being too heavy and served with noodles that bear almost no resemblance to their dry-packaged brethren, I experienced ramen in a way that opened my eyes to the possibility that ramen might be something that I enjoy rather than than look upon in disdain. Every other item on the menu that I had the pleasure of trying that night was absolutely delightful. Pork buns, short rib skewers, a delicious seared tuna roll, and even something as simple as calamari were all prepared excellently. The meal was so good, that I found myself there again tonight, with different company, and the chance to savor another bowl of ramen in addition to a few pieces off the nigiri special menu, which were indeed specially spectacular. Overall, 10/10 would do again. And again. and again. (Maybe tomorrow? JK, no seriously maybe.)
(5)
Anjan G.

Great distinct ramen. Huge chunks of Berkshire belly. Try the vegan ramen and add in Berkshire pork. That'd be my go to. Ps: the candles are small, napkin caught on fire. Dinner and a show.
(5)
Julie G.

The vegan ramen is hands down the best vegetarian ramen available in chicago. It's not on the regular menu but is a staple on the specials list. The sushi is great too, if you're not in the mood for ramen. My meat eater boyfriend also loved the pork belly spring rolls. I love the intimate atmosphere and BYOB. I dine here regularly and I would recommend it to everyone!
(5)
Jason B.

Serviceable ramen. The broth is really good along with the service. The restaurant has great style and it is nice place to sit down and eat. Also being BYOB is also a plus. However, I suspect they don't make their own noodles in house. For a place where I'm going to drop $40+ for me and my wife I expected more. They boast about their broth taking 45 hours or more to make, why not take the time to have better noodles?
(3)
Chad C.

Delicious spicy garlic ramen. Not sure if the pork belly or the boiled egg was the best part.
(4)
David H.

The place is awesome. Real ramen. Real great sushi. In Vegas Monta is my favorite ramen place and Soho my favorite sushi place. Here it's like the two had a baby. I will go back to try it again, but the first meal was amazing. The broth was rich and hot. The pork super yummy and the noodle the perfect texture. You will have a line on the most popular nights. And they only open for luncheon sat and sun. But it's BYOB and oh so worth it!
(5)
Leo S.

I love this place, I think this is one of the best ramen place in Chicago. I like the soup, the noodle, the meat, the everything. My favorite is the spicy miso ramen. It just taste divine. It beats string, slurping turtle and all those other fake ramen places by thousands of miles. I feel bad I even have to compare this awesome place to those shit holes. lol I am probably going to piss a lot of people because of this but whatever! worth it! There was one time, a couple friends and me went in and pretty much ordered 1 of each item from the menu haha all I have to say is, everything tasted great. Literally, the consistency is incomparable. The brussel sprouts are SO AMAZING! I don't like vegies, I don't hate them, but these I can eat for days. The spicy miso is really really good! (I would really want to see them try their hands on the shio ramen but even without this place is amazing) ....I don't know why I am writing reviews at 12 am...I am so hungry...someone delivery me a bowl of ramen from here please lolol anyway....this place is medium sized. The waiters look cute...nice...I mean professional lol I swear they are not the main reason why I like this place! Seriously tho, if you want a ramen joint in Chicago, go to this place. Even if you have to wait the wait is never really long because people who eat here has knows about dining etiquettes unlike the people who goes to high five ramen!
(5)
Cynthia A.

This place is my pick for the best tonkatsu ramen in the city. Runners up are Ramen Misoya and Santouka at Mitsuwa. Every time I've been here, service has been great. Had to wait a couple of times, but the ramen is consistently great. The menu says the broth is rich, creamy, and that it takes up to 45 hours and special attention to cook. They're not kidding, and one can taste it in their broth. The bite of the noodles are just right, and I keep saying that the thing that puts me over the edge must be that garlic oil! Now when I taste other creamy tonkatsu ramen, I'm looking for that flavor that elevates it just over the top. Way to ruin other ramen for me, Wasabi... but that's OK, I forgive you.
(5)
Polly S.

It's a narrow, cozy space in the interior and was a full house on a Saturday night. Our party of 3 had the option of being seated right away at the counter which had just opened up or waiting 25 minutes for a table. We opted for the former. Important to note: there is a vegan option for their ramen noodle bowl. It's not on their regular menu but it exists! I'm vegetarian / pescatarian, so I asked for that bowl with egg noodle and soft boiled egg. It was incredibly tasty, I'm a fan - 45 hour pork broth be damned! We had the mag mile roll to start with our BYOB beers. Really good but the octopus has a chewy texture that I don't prefer so next time I might get a different roll - all of them looked delicious. Speaking of rolls, I want to give it up for the Asian chef with the bifocals that I observed carefully crafting each roll - you need to be featured on Eater or something - the focus in such chaos! I could see how there could be some unsatisfactory comments about the service. If we weren't sitting by the counter, it would have been difficult to flag someone down as readily. Luckily we had no trouble so I'll say that service sitting by the counter worked out!
(4)
Christina L.

wasabi is definitely the most authentic ramen experience i've had in chicago. it's pretty damn good - it's even good in the summer, which says a lot i think. the place is BYOB, which i loveeeee. wish san fran had more byob places. really keeps the cost of dining out down! the wait can be quite a bit sometimes, but we got lucky and were seated immediately in the back on a week night. the four of us ALL ordered the spicy roasted garlic miso ramen, but my friends say the tonkotsu is pretty good as well. i ate my entire bowl. it was insane. hahaha, i usually ask for half noodle and dont even finish those. but this bowl was damn good. wasabi is also an izakaya - so dont forget to order a variety of small bites! we got the hamachi collar, kimchi, lots of skewers, and several nigiri to try. all were on point. i would definitely come back here!
(4)
James L.

From what I've tasted in Chicago and looking back, i'd probably would have given Wasabi 5 stars in their old place. Now I've finally tried their new place and it wasn't the 5 stars I was hoping for, but still was excellent at the end of the day. Couple things. The noodles were a little too crunchy. I think they mellowed out after sitting in my broth for a bit but still. I'd expect it to be perfect when served. My friend's noodles weren't even cooked through so that sucked for him. He got a new bowl though and he said it was perfect... The new place is definitely bigger and they now have outdoor seating, but the 5 of us were sat in a booth and was a bit uncomfortable but oh well... Service was solid and the rest of the small plates were still tasty! I'll always come back to this place just hope it wows me next time to update to a 5 star review! Till next time, Wasabi.
(4)
Doug L.

I've traveled to Japan and have lived there for two years. I can confidently say that the ramen at Wasabi stole my number two spot on my fave list. The wait was long, expect at least an hour wait on high traffic days/hours. The service was great, our server was perky and cute.
(5)
Stephanie B.

Came here again with a group and actually tried the ramen. Totally worth it! Definitely recommend to anyone craving decent ramen. Only bad part the host was super rude regarding us leaving our table even before we received our check to tell us that another group was waiting. wasabi management needs to understand when a group spends over $100 on ramen and sushi they should be more polite about a group using a table for over an hour. Makes me think to come back, at least our server wasn't rude. I would give them 4 stars but have to dock some due to their hosts lack of manners.
(3)
Michael B.

Bottom line for me with this place was that I thought our server was great and the atmosphere was neat (+1 star), but I've had much better Japanese food at other restaurants. We tried everything, 8 pcs of nigiri sushi (most had a hint of fishiness to them), pork belly buns (way too much sauce, not that great) and two bowls of their ramen (spicy garlic and tonkotsu). With regard to the ramen, the noodles were fine, but we just didn't enjoy the flavor combos in either dish and have had much better pork belly in ramen before. My advice if you want to try this place is to definitely skip the apps and sushi, go straight for the ramen and bring a nice six pack of beer as it's BYOB. Also, if there is a line, there is a sign in sheet at by the door where you put your name on the waitlist. So just be aware of that, so you aren't waiting forever!
(2)
Lauren S.

The space is huge, so the wait isn't ever outrageous (although, I've only ever gone on weekdays). The vibe is very intimate--sets a nice scene for a casual dinner. The ramen is absolutely spectacular as well. I've never been gung-ho about ramen (eep!), but I would gladly go to Wasabi on a weekly basis (if location was not an issue!). The broth is so flavorful, and the portion is very large. The second time here, I took half of my order home, and it was very good warmed up the next evening! Just imagine that--delicious ramen (not from a package!), in the comfort of your own home. The location is a little hard to get to, however, it's not too far from a 73 bus stop. But if there's any way you can make it out there, I would highly suggest you do!
(4)
Partha A.

A 5 star for food. A 1 star for service and management. I am quite a regular despite the complaints. Check out the spicy miso ramen and pork belly. You will keep coming back. Here are examples of what might stop you. Occasion 1: had told the server to make the spicy miso a bit more spicy- and i had reiterated - a tad bit spicier. We received two bowls with the full wrath of all the heat the kitchen had to offer. It was inedible because i would fall sick if i ate it. Failure 1-They did not acknowledge that the server failed to communicate the spice level. Failure 2- the server failed to communicate the spice level. Failure 3- the chef thought it was an appropriate amount of spice for ingestion. Nonetheless we ordered ourselves two bowls of regular spice level ramen and got out of the place fuming. Occasion 2- reached for dinner direct from the airport. Waiting for a friend who is also delayed at the airport to join. It is appropriate to refuse incomplete parties. I asked if i could wait at the bar. They refused. I question the presence of the bar and the judgement to refuse given it was empty. Nonetheless, i am waiting outside while typing up the rant. Lest i forget.
(2)
Allie D.

Get the tonkatsu ramen with seared pork belly! Worth the $4 upgrade! Maki rolls are good too.
(5)
Fiona W.

Been there for twice now. Really like their Tonkotsu Ramen, but if you add the extra meat and spice umami sauce, it is gonna be about $20 for a bowl of ramen, kind of pricy. In terms of their signature maki, my favorite is Artmex! Also, I really like the Pork Belly Buns, Fried Chicken Lollipop and Tuna Tartar. The Kishiyaki (grilled skewers) are nice, and my favorites are wings, asparagus, mushrooms, and the beef. If you have a large party, they would automatically charge you 20% for gratuity. I saw a lot of 18%s elsewhere, so that one is kinda expensive given that we did not actually receive some good decent services during the last visit.
(4)
Rahul G.

This was one of the first places I went to when I moved to Logan Square. And it is still one of my favorites. Just went to the new location for the first time and love it. Much bigger and great feel and vibe. I love the Spicy Ramen Noodle bowl. The regular one is great too, but if you like spicy, get the bowl with the extra kick. Very worth it, amazing flavor.The pork in the bowls is so so good, and I love the egg. Last time I went, I "upgraded" the pork to a torched (?) one I think. I forget exactly what it was called but the waiter sold it to me and I'm glad he did. Even more tender and flavorful. The brussels spouts are a great appetizer and the house salad with their own dressing is delicious. And you can't go wrong with the sushi there either. BYOB, what more can you ask for? Great new location on Milwaukee too.
(5)
Shruti M.

I've been on a ramen binge the past few weeks, determined to find the best ramen in the city. I'm a soup lover, and ramen is the ultimate soup! Hot, creamy, spicy, salty, with delicious toppings. I have been to high five ramen, ramen san, strings, and now Wasabi. Wasabi outshines them all. I went on a Sunday night , dreading an hour long wait as I walked up because there were many people waiting outside. Luckily, I was by myself and seated right away. I got a skewer of pork belly and the spicy miso ramen (asked for a not-so-spicy bowl) and was blown away. The soup came out hot, which is many times overlooked, but sooo important. Who wants a bowl of lukewarm soup on a freezing chicago winter night??!! The pork belly is the juiciest in the city!! Ramen san's pork belly is chewy, hard and tough. (although their pork belly buns are superb). Wasabi is completely the opposite!!!! SO GOOD. The noodles are soft and cooked to perfection, and get a nice coating of broth on them. I found Ramen San's to be too firm. High five is pretty good, but wasabi is better. The one negative I would say is that the egg is not as runny as I would have liked. Also I would have liked to have a glass of wine with my meal, but typically BYOB is a plus. Long story short, if you're craving ramen, this is the place to go. Talking about it is making me want to go back again now hehe.
(5)
Lissy T.

My favorite ramen shop in Chicago, hands down. I've come here several times and never got around to writing a review so here's a list of what I've gotten here. Appetizer: - Edamame (pretty standard edamame) - Pork Belly and Kimchi Spring Roll (OMG I LOVE these. The pork belly and kimchi are wrapped in a deep fried roll and served with a really good sauce poured on top of it. With every bite, I try to get as much sauce as I can on it. Lol it's so good. My mouth is watering just thinking about it! My friends didn't really feel the same way as I did about it, so to each is own for this!) - Pork Belly Bun (nothing really wow'ed me but it was good!) Ramen: - Tonkotsu Ramen (yum!!!! I can't really eat spicy foods, so this was my obvious choice. I added in the toasted pork belly-- I could have done without it. The pork belly that's already in there literally melts in your mouth. I can't even right now. OMG so good. And the broth??? Slurping goodness. The best ramen ever and their boiled egg is just right!) - Spicy Roasted Garlic Miso Ramen (my boyfriend got this and it was spicy. Lol. I could only take about two sips of it but the flavors were amazing! I'm building up my spicy tolerance! Hopefully I can slurp up this tasty goodness soon?) Signature Maki: - Le Japon (it was good, lots of flavor, although I felt like there was too much cream cheese for my liking. It was good, nonetheless. Not sure if I would order again though.) Dessert: - Mochi Ice Cream (there are two per order and you can order diff flavors, so we got two orders of it and tried all four flavors. They were all good, I don't have a favorite. It's basically a ball with Mochi as an outer layer, and ice cream in the middle.) It's also BYOB so hellooooo wine . I love this place. Haha
(5)
Eric Y.

This Japanese owned Japanese restaurant is known for ramen, especially the tonkatsu ramen, which is killer. This ramen has a perfectly rich (but not too rich) creamy pork bone-based broth and nicely toothsome noodles, as well as some beautiful pork belly meat and a soy soft boiled egg. This noodle soup is truly "Mmm mmm good." You can add some additional pork belly too... it's worth doing but my pork belly add-ons were cold. The broth supposedly takes 45 hours to make and their pork is Berkshire (kurobota) so it's super high quality. Wasabi has a lot more than ramen though. They also serve a large number of small plates (Izakaya-style) including sushi, sashimi, hot and cold appetizers, grilled skewers, fried skewers. We had oyster and uni shooters - sooo delicious. The takoyaki (octopus ball) is tasty. The fried chicken lollipops are also super yummy. The place is BYOB which is nice if you remember to BYOB. Service is slow and it gets very chaotic when there's a long line of people (this place does not accept reservations). Note to manager: if you get the food out faster, the line will move more quickly!
(4)
Kat C.

My two friends and I came here for lunch after a long night for them (yay for being dd forever!). Thankfully the workers were kind and patient because they were struggling to make decisions. After coming back a few times, the waiter was finally able to get our order. We started with an order of the agedashi tofu and two rolls. I've only had agedashi tofu once before this and it not a good experience. But this one was much better, not mind blowing, but good. The rolls though were amazing. The fish was really fresh and there wasn't too much rice. I got the Spicy Garlic Miso Ramen and asked if it was really spicy to which she responded yes. I really wanted it though so I ordered less spicy. Thank goodness because that spice kick is no joke. But the broth flavor, noodles, meat, everything.. were all just awesome! It was one of the pricier bowls of ramen but pretty worth it I think.
(4)
Sheryle I.

Per boyfriend's request, we traveled about an hour by train to come to Wasabi on a hot, humid summer day. And quite honestly, it was worth it in my opinion. Transplanted from Hawaii, I have seen my fair share of ramen. We had tried the slurping turtle on a previous visit and I felt that it was mediocre at best. Wasabi seems to be a little more "legit" if you're looking for something authentic. At about $12-14 a bowl, this place can be considerably pricy...but what isn't expensive in Chicago? I guess by city standards, this is a steal. I had the Spicy Garlic Miso bowl and scarfed it down in what felt like a matter of minutes. It wasn't overwhelming spicy, but it certainly had a kick. The pork was so fatty and just fell apart. Amazing. Highly recommended.
(4)
Michelle M.

My loving husband and sweet boy took me for Mother's Day. We ordered the Tonkotsu Ramen, the Tempura with Udon noodles and the Zaru with Soba noodles. Lucky for me I was in amazing company because the food is glorified packaged ramen. Seriously. I could make these things better for you in my own kitchen. I wanted to love it. But... meh. It's dark lit and the seating wasn't the most comfortable. Our waitress was super nice and helpful but I'm not sure that's enough to bring me back. Although I might return to simply try the sushi. I don't know... Maybe.
(2)
Jacki A.

Brother texts sister, "Hey, where do you wanna go to eat?" Sister responds, "I'm not sure, let me look on yelp!" *5 minutes goes by* Brother asks, "So, have you found anything?" Sister responds, "...talk to me in like 20 minutes" This is when I find Wasabi on Yelp. I had never had Ramen and knew it was my time. Upon arriving at Wasabi, we were seated quickly at a two top. So since I had never had ramen before, I had no idea what the difference was between any of the dishes because they all seemed to have the same things... I ended up getting one with pork belly, bamboo shoots, black mushroom, soft boiled egg, and a few other things. There was one just like this but instead of black mushroom, it had spinach. My brother got the garlic/spicy one. To start off our meal, my brother and I ordered the pork belly and kimchee spring rolls. Talk about delicious. To my surprise, however, they were more like egg rolls instead of spring rolls. Regardless, they were delicious. The flavors were clear and fresh and flavorful but not the least bit overpowering. We get our Ramen and of course I quickly start eating because it's calling my name. Everything about the dish was very fresh and of great quality. The noodles weren't too soft, just right. There was nothing I found wrong about Wasabi, hence the 5 stars. I will definitely be returning and bringing my friends to bond over some Ramen :)
(5)
Mondo -.

Sadly the food was hit or miss, it was either really good, or bad... and we ordered a bunch. Having experienced that, I might have gone back and just ordered the things that were good, but unfortunately we also had the combination of TERRIBLE service. We had a waitress who was also covering the bar (and not sure why, it wasn't packed or anything), so we kept trying to get the others to help us, but they'd just go get her, and then we'd get attitude. Sorry Wasabi, bad first impressions last.
(2)
Michael K.

I've never had real legit Ramen. Only the cheap Cup Noodles stuff from college. I had the Tonkotsu Ramen (the signature Ramen) and it was amazing. Great noodles, the Pork Belly was delicious. This place is BYOB, so watch out for that. I went on a Friday night and it was extremely crowded by 7, so try going during the week or during off hours. The interior is about the same as any conventional new place along Milwaukee. I would definitely go again.
(4)
Brian O.

Great service! LOVE LOVE the spicy garlic ramen! The chicken lollipops are amazing! I dig the decor, it is pretty rustic with prefect lighting Great casual place to bring a date & I love that it is BYOB.
(4)
Stephen C.

Really excellent ramen. I got the spicy miso ramen, and finished every last drop of the broth. Actually, I had to restrain myself from licking the inside of the bowl clean. We also had the surf and turf roll and mochi ice cream, which were fine. However, the ramen is really the highlight of the meal. As everyone said, it is BYOB, which is nice. Also, I thought the price of everything was really reasonable considering the amount of food we got.
(5)
Rose P.

Best ramen ever! Their spicy garlic ramen is absolute perfection. This is the place to go for real ramen. There is always a wait bit it is worth it!
(5)
Helen S.

I came here for dins on a Friday night around 6pm. They don't seat you until your whole party arrives, so we waited a bit before we could sit down. I tried the fried brussels sprouts and the spicy miso ramen. The brussels sprouts were decent but could be fried to be a tad crisper (I guess it's good that it wasn't because it's likely more nutritious this way, but I like my fried veg). The ramen was great -- reminded me of ramen I had from Takashi from a couple years back, which I thought was one of the best ramen I've had. This was flavorful and spicy, and the broth was very rich. Two people can get by here with sharing one bowl of ramen with extra noodles, and you'd be pretty full (even more full if you add a side). Service was decent, and byob but only beer/wine -- no hard alcohol (I don't know if it's usually this way at all restaurants?). My friend had some fireball whiskey, and the waiter gasped and told him to put it away lol. The waiter probably thought he was serving some crazed alcoholics since our group pulled out two bottles of wine instead... but service was still good.
(4)
Joceline T.

Came in on a Sunday afternoon around 4, perfect timing because a little bit after we got there the line was out the door and down the street. So keep that in mind. I had sushi here only because I had never had ramen and wasn't sure I would like it. I tried the Pike Place roll which was delicious. The Alaskan King Crab, Salmon tartar and mango blend so well together! HIghly recommended. Also had to get shrimp tempura which is probably one of the best I've had in the city. Also, BYOB :) I would give this place 4 stars but the staff is what makes it go down a star. Not horrible but also not the most attentive.
(3)
Jaci Y.

Wasabi, Wasabi what do I think of you now? Well we were originally told we'd have to wait about an hour and a half for a table for six. We didn't it was more like 10 minutes which was GREAT! However, we get a table and the food takes about 45 minutes before we get the food. So there is the waiting game but it's worth it for the delicious broth and noodles. There are down side to this new location of Wasabi. I have to say I don't like their new location or the vibe. It's stuffy and humid inside the dining room and super noisy and busy. I know a restaurant is good if it's busy but in a way that you can't relax at this restaurant. the place is pretty cramped and I feel I'd never be able to my kids here because it's not kid friendly. I love their ramen hands down they make a mean bowl of tonkotsu broth and noodles. I probably would go back there but not for a long while.
(4)
Aj A.

We ordered the crispy Brussel sprouts , the hot yogi and grilled eggplant skewers. All were delicious. The vegan ramen bowl was slightly underwhelming. I have had more flavorful vegan ramen bowl in the suburbs (like misoya ramen). Not worth the long wait.
(3)
Joanne F.

Ramen was OK I've had better for sure. The pork belly bun i thought was really good. The waiting area was ridiculous. They need to do something with that especially winter time. Its too cold to wait outside for hours and packed with other customers in a small heated tent. Maybe it was just a bad busy saturdday night and I need to come back to try the ramen again. When I got my ramen it wasnt even HOT, very minimal flavor to it which i was very surprised because the other places I've been to was very rich and flavorful. I usually get the tonkatsu broth ramen and it was nothing i ever had before. Oh two thumbs up tho because this place is BYOB. love that as always!
(3)
Michelle P.

I came for the ramen and I knew I should have BYOB. Why? Because the tonkotsu ramen is SO GOOD that you /want/ to clean your palette so it doesn't get accustomed to the creamy richness that comes only from a long prep time of broth and noodles. (Trust me, I make pho, broth from scratch is intense and complexly layered through the long process, this care and cultivation of quality broth is not exclusive to the Vietnamese culture as seen here.) Took a friend from out of town here and lucked out to get a bar seated area for two right away (9 PM on a Saturday night like what?!). Anyways, since I didn't try anything aside from the ramen I can't comment on the sushi, but from my experiences working in a sushi restaurant their guys have technique and quality fish, so that's a sound start. Long story short, if you like Maru-chan... go away. Just no. If you like deep flavors and a hearty bowl of love for a cheap price (Berkshire pork is not cheap honey) come here. NOW.
(4)
Phuong H.

Over the past few months, I feel as if I've been enlightened--RAMEN enlightened! Up until several months ago, my ignorance led me to believe that ramen came in a flavorless package and sat in one's cabinet until one is desperately famished and is in possession of nothing else that can be categorized as edible. For 28 years of my life, ramen always served as a last resort. In the Spring of 2014, I took a trip to NYC with some besties and naturally, we took on the city one bite at a time. We came across a ramen shop and I had REAL ramen for the first time...thus began my obsession with Ramen! Wasabi here in Chicago only confirmed the deliciousness that is ramen! I've been here too many times to count. My absolute favorite is the Tonkotsu ramen. The broth is always perfectly seasoned and the portion is a pretty good size. I also LOVE their kim chi pork eggrolls, which are served on a bed of flavorful creamy white sauce. The line is always ridiculous so come early for dinner if you can! They also open for lunch on weekends and it's not as crowded then.
(5)
R. Vance B.

We live right around the corner from here and hadn't ever been until a week ago. Freakin love this place! Be warned: there is a wait every single night. We first tried to go on a Tuesday and were turned off by the people waiting outside, so we didn't even try. Went back the next day, line again. Intrigued this time (instead of Hangry), we signed up and waited. We were seated at the bar which was great, our server was literally in front of us for the entire meal. Every 5 to 10 minutes we got a gentle, unobtrusive check in from him, making sure we were enjoying the food and doing OK on water and tea (it's a BYOB). We got the Tonkotsu Ramen and Spicy Roasted Garlic Miso Ramen and they were out of this world. So rich and amazingly flavorful. Best Calamari and Soft Shell Crab apps either of us had ever tasted. We went back last night and had an amazing starter of Crispy Brussel Sprouts but were disappointed by the lackluster flavor and veggie profile of the Vegan Ramen. The ambiance is nice, mild chatter all around, not too loud. Service is pretty quick and friendly, considering there's not an empty seat for longer than 5 minutes ever. We spoke in slightly above home volume voices. Cannot recommend this place enough. You gotta go. But until we either try some different dishes or they improve the Vegan Ramen, I don't recommend it for hardcore vegetarians or vegans. Also, I don't eat sushi typically, so I doubt I'll ever try any of that.
(5)
Rick D.

Been here several times, this is no doubt the best Ramen in Chicago! Authentic! Japanese! and Yummy! I tried several others like furious spoon, string, umai,xxx. They are not even comparable. Will try High-Five some time later
(5)
Lily Z.

Tonight was my third time at Wasabi with friends. We all ordered spicy garlic ramen and two orders of pork belly buns. During a previous visit, I ordered the regular tonkatsu ramen. Who was I kidding? I love spicy food! Stick to the spicy garlic! Your taste buds will thank you for it! The pork might be a bit salty, but it was still flavorful that it gave the noodles a nice flavor. Seriously, one of the best pork belly buns I've ever had. Better than Saigon Sisters or Oiistar. It's not full of fat. The lettuce had a nice crunch and it wasn't bland. I am oh so thankful that their new location is closer to the boy's apartment! Thank you! *Side note, they won't seat you unless your entire party has arrived!
(5)
Christina M.

I salivate at the very thought of their spicy garlic ramen soup. It's the right ammount of spice and garlic. Not overwhelming. The aroma alone will let you know that this ramen has been simmering for hours. I LOVE IT, It's beautifully plated with a soft boil egg and pieces of pork belly. The pork belly just falls apart as you bite it. With that said.....I think it's absolutely something everyone should try once!
(5)
Zsiberian N.

Absolutely 100% worth the wait. BYOB. Yappy-ish crowd. On my top 5 Ramen places in North America.
(5)
Jefferson L.

This is currently the only place I worship when it comes to tonkotsu ramen outside Japan. I have been a fan before they moved; and still is.The only recent observation is the serving is getting smaller when it comes to the ramen. It may be the change in bowls, but even my cousins observed the same thing. Nevertheless its still good at the current price point. Recommendations: Pork belly buns; All ramen in Ultimate mode. (Go for the ramen. only the ramen)
(5)
Ashley M.

Out go to spot for Ramen when you don't wanna wait long, and you want a casual vibe. Their ramen is a hefty portion, always consistently great. Love the broth and noodles. Not to mention their sushi is fantastic. But what really gets is coming back is the awesome Oyster Shooters. I could probably have three shots! Spicy, and full of flavor. I truly enjoy everything Wasabi has to offer.
(4)
Chris T.

I used to eat Ramen weekly back in Cali (and had the love handles to prove it), but since moving here I didn't know where to go so I gave up my weekly tradition. But this place has me tempted to pick it back up... muffin-top be damned! What's good: The ramen, duh. I liked the Tonkotsu ramen, and I added extra pork belly to it. Would have been perfect if it was a little spicier (the red pepper spice at the table didn't cut it). You can probably request some spicy miso to add to it though. The Vegan ramen was impressive too! The Spicy garlic ramen was suuuper spicy. Had my forehead sweating! Can't wait to go back!
(4)
Xiaolang W.

Of course their ramen is great, while their toro sushi is the best~~
(5)
Melody Y.

Wasabi is much better than Oiistar or Slurping Turtle, and shines even in comparison to Totto Ramen in New York. I got the spicy garlic ramen and it was delicious. I was pleasantly surprised by the noodles - they actually looked and tasted similar to standard ramen noodles, but higher quality. Broth was flavorful without being salty, and the meats and veggies were very fresh. It was $13 or $14 for a bowl. However, there was a long wait (~1 hour at 7PM on a Saturday, and the line was even longer when I left around 9PM...) and the booths are very small, so I wouldn't recommend going with a large group (5 or fewer people should be okay....just make sure you all like each other). Also, this place was the dimmest restaurant I've ever dined in.
(4)
Diamond J.

Loved this place it's perfect for a night out with friends. The food was delicious and I like that they are byob.
(5)
Evelina L.

I think its about time that I update my review for Wasabi, mostly based on the amazing food (especially ramen) that I have had there the last few times. Its absolutely perfect to come here on a cold night and grab your own (no sharing!) bowl of ramen. It doesn't matter which one you get, they are all amazing! Even though they suggest a few extra things to add to the ramen, it has never been necessary. I can seriously bathe in it...on a cold night, that is. They almost always have uni and if you really want to indulge - order the super fancy donburi bowl that will have uni and king grab (among other deliciousness) on top of rice. Stick to their sushi and sashimi specials, but get the ramen - whatever you do!
(5)
Davin L.

Seriously? No naruto? You have the perfect consistency for the noodles, a rich and delicious shoyu broth, scallions, menma, nori, a perfectly soft-boiled egg, even kurobuta that's not too fatty, but forget the naruto? Sigh...Even though a truly authentic bowl of ramen is incomplete without naruto, the rest of the components here are in perfect delicious harmony. I'll give it a pass. It's nice to know I don't have to drive all the way out to Santouku in Arlington Heights for a solid bowl of delicious ramen. I'll be back. And I'll bring my own naruto.
(4)
Nina V.

Amazing, Amazing, Amazing. My friends and I went here on Valentine's Day evening and the trek in the freezing cold was well worth it. We started with the tempura (I'm not a big tempura fan, but my friend who is loved it) and the pork belly buns (absolutely amazing and I will probably order it everytime I go there). After that my friends got the Spicy Roasted Garlic Miso Ramen and I got the Tonkotsu Ramen. Hands down, some of the best ramen we have ever eaten -- the broth was flavorful and the pork belly was perfect -- amazingly tender. Other bonuses: waitresses were very good and it's BYOB. Only negative is that there was a bit of a wait, but that just shows how popular they are. I'm definitely going back.
(5)
Sharon C.

I was here with a group of five friends for ramen after church - it was my first meal in eighteen hours (the horror) and so I was literally beyond excited to eat. I had the tonkotsu ramen (two of my friends also ordered the tonkotsu ramen, one had the shoyu, and one had the spicy garlic miso), and I also ordered one short rib skewer and one fried salmon skewer. The short rib skewer was so, so good. It was dripping with light, flavorful sauce and just so incredibly tender. I would definitely get this again. The fried salmon - unfortunately, the reason that this is not a five-star review - was a tiny piece of flavorless salmon. It was flaky and tender, but it tasted like nothing. My tonkotsu ramen, though... as someone who was in Japan about a month ago, I can tell you that it was freaking delicious. It was so good. Like, so good. The noodles were cooked to perfection, the pork belly was tender and bursting with flavor, the broth was light and similarly flavorful. Service was great and they split our check into four, but they added a 20% gratuity.
(4)
Ryan H.

Amazing! I love their ramen; it is SO delicious. Worthwhile every time. Sushi rolls are good too. Two drawbacks: there is usually a long wait 30-45 minutes for party of 4, and you must wait outside. It's such a packed restaurant that they don't have much space for a waiting area, and the vestibule only fits 2-3 people. If you go on a chilly evening, bring a jacket.
(5)
Rebecca O.

I have been coming to this place for a long time, since they were in the old location. The sushi is quite good, and I am not a huge ramen person, but I have been told it's outstanding. The service is unremarkable, which is fine in my book. The decor in the new place is modern and very fun. I just wish there was more seating... The waits are verrrryyyy long.
(4)
Bailey U.

We started with the spicy crunch tuna roll, which was pretty average. The rice was tough and the tuna was a tad fishy. We then had the ArtMex roll which was decent. Honestly this place wasn't known for their sushi so I can't be too surprised that it didn't blow me away. We ordered the spring rolls which were delicious. The sauce was amazing. I would definitely recommend these. Lastly, we had the Tonkotsu ramen which was pretty good. I was honestly expecting more hearing that it was so much better than Furious Spoon, etc. the broth was almost luke warm and my noodles were on the chewy side. The ramen was okay but I've definitely had better in the city.
(3)
Hannah N.

The past 3-4 times I've been here, the line was longer and the restaurant was busier but the quality was really inconsistent. It was only sometimes good. The broth felt extremely watered down the last time I was there and I consequently haven't been back in a couple months. Sad story :(
(3)
Roman F.

My favorite place for a bowl of ramen in the city. I wish I could say that in my 4 visits here I tried something besides the tonkotsu ramen, but I can never bring myself to pass on it (get the ultimate, torch braised pork + umami). It comes out very rich and creamy, and the noodles are delicious on their own. Haven't had better bowl or ramen yet. The staff is great and always seem to be upbeat. I should note that the other items look delicious as well. Hopefully one day I will try something besides the ramen. But man oh man, the ramen is good.
(5)
Naomi K.

I've tried Daikokuya in LA, Ippudo in NY, Daikaya in DC and now Wasabi in Chicago. Hands down Wasabi has the best Japanese ramen. I had the spicy roasted garlic miso ramen and it was perfectly spicy, great roasted garlic flavors, super rich, perfectly cooked noodles, and the best pork. The pork just melted in my mouth. The egg was beautifully cooked with the yolk nice and jammy. The heat lingered but wasn't overwhelming. Sadly I got to try Wasabi on a business trip so I can't enjoy this amazing meal every day. Along with my ramen I tried the kishiyaki beef short rib, pork belly kimchi spring roll, and the pork belly buns. I've tried pork belly buns at Ippudo and they were delicious. Wasabi just had an amazing sauce and beautifully cooked pork that made it the best pork belly bun. The kishiyaki was tasty. I could eat a couple of those. The pork belly kimchi spring roll was awesome. The sauce reminded me of the typical hibachi yum yum/shrimp sauce. The filling almost tasted like the Korean kimchi pancake. Mind you, I ate all of the above. That's a lot for one girl but I seriously enjoyed every bite of it. I will purposely drive/fly back to Chicago just to eat Wasabi.
(5)
Tricia D.

One of my biggest pet peeves is named Poor Service. On this occasion, PS came in a couple different forms. Form 1: I walk in after the lunch rush (after 1pm), and it literally takes atleast 5 minutes for someone to acknowledge me and/or ask if I need to be helped. No eye contact from any of the waitresses floating around, bus boy breezes by, and guy at the corner of the kitchen and touch screen for ordering are all in their own world. Poor. Form 2: service was incredibly slow, while half the restaurant was unoccupied. For example, if our table requested 3 orders of pork belly steamed buns (the only reason for the second star), why did the first one arrive 5 minutes before the others? Piss poor. The ramen tasted good, and the broth was comforting and savory, but that's not enough to bring me back.
(2)
Glo K.

I am a newcomer to this "elevated" ramen scene, and my oh my, its time to ditch those Maruchan packets from my college days! I regret not experiencing this bowl of savory goodness much sooner. Wasabi's tonkotsu ramen has satisfied not only my cravings but all my senses. My eyes couldn't stop admiring the perfectly composed ingredients of braised pork, fresh green scallions, and sunshine-yellow egg, that was resting atop of a sea of hot, steamy noodles. As I glaze over the steam-billowing noodles, my nose couldn't help to enjoy the great aroma coming from the broth. As I take my first slurp, my tongue couldn't stop dancing to the great mixture of flavor, as it alternates from bites of pork, egg, and noodles. However, what holds this savory and pure bowl all together is the broth which gives life to the ramen, The noodles were perfection, and the broth was rich and creamy. I can't wait to come back and try the other ramen noodles on the menu. My dining companion and I also shared the pork belly buns which is a popular item on Wasabi's menu. The pork belly was tender with a nice crispy edge. It was delicious! I am definitely making Wasabi my go-to ramen joint. The food is great, there's BYOB with no BS service fee, great atmosphere, and great service. I recommend going on a weekday when there's not much movement in the dining space. It makes the meal much more enjoyable, especially with a nice bottle of wine. Thank you Wasabi for the wonderful ramen experience! I look forward to adventuring more into your menu! :)
(4)
Tina D.

So far this is the best ramen I've had in the US. I live in the bay area at the moment but they just can't seem to do the broth and noodles like wasabi. They have a nice selection of food to choose and a decent size restaurant. Went I'm on Sat during the dinner rush and was seared in less than 30 min! In sf there is a place called Ken Ken ramen and it doesn't compare to Wasabi. If I come back to Chicago I'll def come here to eat any time (prob be my go-to place.)
(5)
Samantha G.

This review is for their soup. The soup with the weird name that I can't pronounce. The soup that every patron has taken a picture of and posted the same damned thing on yelp. Because it really is that good. Except I wish I snuck in my cholula Mexican hot sauce to get an extra kick. Yeah, I live life on the edge like that ;)
(4)
Amanda V.

This place is the best. The service is friendly and attentive. I usually get the uni shooters, oyster shooters, spicy roasted garlic ramen, pork belly buns, kimchi, surf and turf roll, and the cubby bear sushi. Everything here is so delicious... You can close your eyes and pick anything off the menu and be satisfied. The only down side is there is usually a wait to get a table... Go with a small party, you'll be better off.
(5)
Vivi W.

This place deserves a six star Good variety of authentic Japanese goodness, byob!!! Gets crowded The chicken lollipops, soft shell crab and grilled pork belly are my favorites
(5)
Maggie Z.

ãŠã„ã—ã„ãƒ©ãƒ¼ãƒ¡ãƒ³å±‹ã•ã‚“ï¼the tonkotsu soup is so delicious I drank them all! Pork belly bun is also delicious! Love the meat!
(4)
kevin C.

This place is very good.... so be prepared to wait in a line. Also its BYOB.... so maybe crack a beer while youre waiting? Shhhhh our server aaron was excellent. very personable and knowledgeable of the menu w/ great recommendations. Ordered a few things and all of it was great. Beef short rib skewer, lollipop wings, and the garlic ramen with a pork booster! So good i could go back and eat it again tongiht. also would not recommend coming here with anything more than 4 people tops. (due to waiting in line)
(5)
Sarah S.

This was my first real deal ramen experience. I trusted the reviews of many before me speaking to the authenticity and tastiness of Wasabi and I wasn't disappointed! I had the vegan mushroom broth version and my only complaint is that I only got 1 brussels sprout in my dish, what a tease. The vegan hot yogi roll was superb as well! Tip for management: add the vegan ramen option to the online menu to boost veg business. I heard about the vegan ramen via word of mouth, otherwise I would have likely never visited and what a shame that would have been!
(4)
Vrati D.

The 50 min wait was well worth it! Terrific vegetarian options for sushi (the vegan roll yum yum)! I appreciate the effort to dress it up like a regular roll. The plum/mint leaf roll was very different than any vegetarian roll I've had! Didn't even need spicy mayo! The vegan ramen was delicious and big enough for 2 to share. The veggie skewers were also great! We got the grilled mushrooms and zucchini which were equally good! The fried asparagus and eggplant were pretty good too! And how can you beat a BYOB place??
(5)
Amy F.

Last weekend was my first time going to Wasabi and I will definitely be visiting again! The tonkotsu ramen, pork belly buns, and sushi are all delicious. I've lived in Japan and this is the closest I've found in Chicago to the real deal, check it out!
(5)
Tunaidi A.

Wasabi... freaking legit! Apps. Pork belly buns. Best (only?) in town. Delicious, but slightly skimps on the meat. Takoyaki. Must try. It's made of more batter than squid, but it's a rare delicacy. Ramen. Tonkatsu and spicy garlic. These are the broth bases to gun for. Can't decide? I'll give the tonkatsu the edge, but tack on the option for ultimate. The soft boiled egg? Perfect. Bamboo shoots? Plentiful. Meat? Can't beat it. You'll get two slices of braised pork belly (fatty) and two slices of thin pork belly (tender) -- very generous. Intangibles. Decent amount of space for a ramen shop. Modern decor and great atmosphere. Waits are significantly less than those in LA and NYC, sometimes even non-existent.
(5)
Stacey T.

I was told to go away when I arrived on a Saturday night at 10:59pm. Hours of operation said open till 11:30pm but the skinny kid who looked like he could be in Flock of Seagulls told us that they are already closed. When I said hours say until 11:30 -- get a load of what he said... he said that means we let our diners stay until 11:30 but our kitchen closes at 11:00. Then, I pulled my cell phone out and it read 11pm and when I pointed that out the punky kid ushered us to the door saying to us to have a nice evening. And all i wanted was take-out but he didn't care about that either. We told the folks coming in on our way out to not bother. Maybe they had more fortitude than us and escalated to a manager. Simply put, horrible customer service and downright baloney.
(1)
Nathan E.

Never tried ramen before I went to this place and now I can't get enough of it. This place is legit! I recommend this place to everyone!
(5)
Kimberly K.

I'm a big fan of this place. They have some really interesting appetizers, solid sushi rolls, and good Ramen. The wait can be a little long, but that's because it's worth it! Some of my favorite things on the menu are the Tonkotsu Ramen, Sashimi Ceviche, and Mag Mile Maki.
(4)
Carrie L.

I had the spicy roasted garlic miso ramen. It was awesome! I've heard that the wait time is pretty crazy sometimes. There were a few big groups outside & the place was packed on a Sunday evening. My friend and I got lucky and only had to wait for about 15 minutes for a couple spots at the bar, so definitely e prepared for a wait if you're planning on going on a Friday or Saturday. I think it's worth the wait though!
(4)
KaSha W.

It's my favorite sushi restaurant in Logan Square I love the atmosphere and the food is amazing. My favorite server is Amanda she's always there with a smile and will recommend great sushi.. This place is always pack so get there early. BYOB is always a bonus. Wasabi is known for their ramen so you Know I'm going to say it's the best ramen I ever taste. Spicy Ramen is my fav. Logan Rolls are awesome.
(5)
Sophia Z.

I've been here for more than 30 times. This time is the worst experience ever. We arrived at 9:30pm on a weekday, got a seat pretty fast. Our server didn't come for almost 15 minutes..... During the meantime, there is no water supplied. We sat at very back right next to the restrooms. DO NOT SIT IN THE BACK. They would totally ignore you. I ordered tonkatsu which came in with two half sized broken meat on top. Usually they gave two full pieces. Broth is not hot. I guess it's because of getting closer to the end of the day? Anyway won't go there at this late anymore. Here it comes the check out. After we were done, the cleaners took plates/bowls away, we just sat there with nothing left on the table, for almost 10 minutes. Our server passed us several times, either went to restroom or greeted other tables, but just not us!!! Finally, we grabbed a cleaning guy and asked him to call our server. She finally came, we put on our credit card. This time, we waited for another loooong time..... And guess what she is doing? chatting with the other waitress at the front!!! She looks like a Japanese so I guess she is also the co-owner? If she can not treat this as a job then don't do it! We really don't want to give her any tip but still did. She should probably feel the anger from the low tipped amount. As a loyal customer, I guess this won't stop me from visiting again. But you can't hire someone like her to ruin your too successful to fail business. You never know someday wasabi II may generate. Overall, really disappointed about the service.
(2)
Luke C.

Best Ramen in Chicago period. I've tried the following places: Misoya, Slurping turtle, ramen san, Oiistar, and Santouka. Always come back to Wasabi for Ramen and the appetizers. The pork base broth is out of this world. Appetizers such as the kimchee-pork rolls and pork buns are melt in your mouth. BYOB is also great.
(5)
Jake L.

I started watching Season 1 of Mind of a Chef. It was a great series and David Change explained all things Ramen so I was thrilled to find out one of Chicago's best Ramen restaurants was right here in logan square. I'd give it a 3.5 but I'll round up cause it's local. Also I went there for lunch on a Saturday. The bad: Uncomfortable booths- Seriously why do they have booths that leave enough space for a person of jaba the hut like girth? Service took 10-15 mins to get water and 15-20 for our server to great us and take our order The so so: The chicken lollipops: I had read so many "these will be mind blowing" reviews (including the reviewer for the Trib) I expected to have my mind blown. They were OK. Really just chicken wing drums fried in tempura with an OK dipping sauce. Not really earth shattering. The good/great: I've never had real Ramen before, and this stuff just knocked my socks off. So creamy and salty. Super filling too. Overall: Worth a visit and the wait just to find out what you've been missing all your life. I'd definitely go again but don't see this being a mainstay in my eating-out repertoire.
(4)
M H.

Sometimes I drive all the way to mitsuwa market so I can have a bowl of santouka ramen. My gas tank hates me every time, especially when I go the long way to avoid tolls. But now, I can drive a few miles and eat this delicious bowl of ramen. I'm actually excited for winter this year, so I can eat hot ramen when my legs are frozen numb. The broth is milky and delicious the way god intended it to be. The noodles are thick and wavy, the way most people are used to. And the egg is cooked perfectly. Not too runny and not hard boiled. The only reason I'm not giving more stars is the toppings on the ramen were too sweet for my taste. And also I ordered a oyster shooter but it was way too vinegary for me.
(4)
Mike W.

This place is awesome. The menu is very inventive but also somewhat true to japan. The only thing I didn't like about it was the specialty maki are pretty small, only 6 pieces on average, and our waiter was def trying to rush us out the door. Not sure why, we were at the table maybe 1hr and some change before he just dropped the check. Maybe I'll sit at the bar next time, or just avoid that guy...
(4)
Noel S.

Wasabi's ramen was soooo good there almost aren't words to describe it. I read about Wasabi from an article a friend sent me about ramen places in the City. Because Wasabi's review said they prepare their ramen in the traditional manner with Berkshire pork bones cooked over a long time, this is where I wanted to go. We were not disappointed at all! Service was excellent (of course, we DID go at 5:00 because we were on staycation and COULD go that early!) but our waiter was attentive, answered our questions and said that we were in the right place for "real" ramen. I had the Tonkotsu ramen and my husband had the spicey ramen. We were both in heaven and had mochi ice cream and a little square of cheesecake, both were divine and a perfect ending. Yes, the area is "iffy" and the CVS where we went looking to maybe buy some mixed drinks in bottles (which except for the obligatory wine coolers, they had none) is the dirtiest CVS I have EVER been in! Parking is on the street. We will definitely go back!
(5)
Kari A.

LOVE this place. Great a la carte menu for skewers and the specials are always on point. If you go, getting one of the miso ramen soups is the way to go- incredible.
(5)
Danny M.

I went here at 6:30 pm on a Thursday night. There were only a couple of tables so we did not have to wait. We ordered the pork belly buns to start. I only had one and I almost wanted to give up my Tonkotsu ramen for another order of these. They were THAT good! Then my ramen came and I wish I never ordered the pork belly buns so I can eat 2 bowls of ramen. Both dishes were full of flavor and left me wanting more. I am awaiting my next trip here. I noticed the restaurant was almost full when we were leaving at 7:30 pm, so I will make sure to get here early to avoid lines.
(5)
Sabrina J.

My friend and I have been searching for a decent ramen place in Chicago for a very long time and we finally found one! The pork buns are TO DIE FOR. And the ramen is so creamy and delicious. I no longer need to make trips out to New York to have amazing ramen. I love this place. It can be hard to get a table, though, so I recommend getting there early.
(5)
Melanie V.

Tonkatsu ramen? You just changed my life! I've been on this search for the perfect ramen ever since Annabelle C. introduced me to the salt ramen at in LA. Nothing ever lived up to my expectations in the Chi since then. So when my friend organized a dinner at Wasabi and I found out that they had ramen on the menu, I was pretttttty stoked to try it out. At $13, I admit that I was at first in a huff at how steep the price was for a bowl of ramen. (Hello, $7 in Chinatown!) They offer either miso, shoyu or tonkatsu broth. The tonkatsu (aka pork bone)broth is so effin' good. The ramen is topped with pork cheek, bamboo, egg, mushrooms - um, best combination ever! Perfect for a cold winter's day. We also tried the pork belly and kimchee spring rolls. They were pretty good and an interesting conbination, for sure. You couldn't really taste the spiciness of the kimchee, but you could tell there was cabbage in the spring roll. Their sushi selections looked awesome and my friend enjoyed his super tuna roll. This place is also BYOB and our super nice waitier didn't have a problem storing one of the wines in the back (since they didn't have a bucket for us to store it in at the table). Oh, and extra shout-out to the waiter who had no problem splitting the check among different cards and cash. Always appreciated!
(4)
Eddie L.

One of two sushi restaurants with a classically trained Japanese chef manning the kitchen. The fish is always cut right using only the freshest of ingredients. Their fare is more along the traditional than the fusion or decorative but that's exactly what I like. The only thing missing is that their noodles aren't made fresh. Freshly made noodles would make this a getaway to a sushi restaurant in Japan!
(5)
Ashley L.

Tonkotsu ramen & spicy garlic miso ramen!! I die every time. Good service, cool decor and even better food = 5 stars!
(5)
Khadijah L.

Reviewing for their new location. The service was curt and borderline rude. we were first told to sit at the bar while we wait for the rest of our party and our table. A few minutes later, we were shoo'd away from the bar area and told to wait by the door. The vegan ramen was surprisingly very good. It has a mushroom based broth, slightly spicy, and loaded with baby bokchoi, and seitan. Please feed your staff, they look emaciated.
(3)
Lauren G.

Wasabi is legit. Amazing ramen bowls heaping with perfectly cooked noodles, soft-boiled egg, pork belly, crunchy stuff (I realize these are not technical terms), and the delicious time-consuming, silky broth. I ordered the Spicy Garlic last night and it was perfect spicy and warming for a cold winter night. Sushi, house salad, pork buns are all good extras, but extras. Ramen is the star of this show. Nice servers, great new stylish space, just wish they would pace the food better (that's the reason I knocked a star... we basically received all of our food at once which i don't like when you're paying more than $20 for dinner. Oddly it took forever to get the bill once plates were cleared.) BYOB, delicious, do it!
(4)
Jenny H.

Best ramen in the city? This girl had to check it out. Friday night was crazy y'all. Luckily we got a table before the large crowds started trickling in (seems like everyone started getting hit with the ramen bug). We got their fried chicken lollipops and pork belly buns to start. Who doesn't love fried meats slathered in a rich dipping sauce? It was our favorite out of the two. The buns arrived lukewarm...almost cold but still had some good flavors. This is where our meal hit a lull as we were informed of the backup in the kitchen. For the next thirty minutes, we sat twiddling our thumbs. Until finally our bowls of tonkotsu ramen arrived. I got mine with extra braised bellay ($4). While it was a nicely dressed bowl, I thought the extra meat wasn't worth the added $. Our noodles were a touch undercooked. If I lived in the area, I would be a regular. Despite its trendzy interior, solid bowls of ramen, and expansive fusion offerings, it didn't warrant the repeat commute from my 'hood. For now, I think I'll stick to the quiet comforts of Cocoro.
(4)
Lauren W.

Living so close to here I've tired a little bit of everything. First off their vegan ramen lives up to its name and then some. Vegan or not you should try some! Seth and Eric are wonderful. They help you break down the large menu and Seth is kind enough to remember me every time I come. I'm happily a regular here (or at least they make me feel like one)
(4)
Lisa C.

Dave's Pet Project in the West suburbs. THE BEST! Dave and his excellent service provides me with peace of mind when I am not home to take care of my dog. I had a particularly trying day today when my dog got skunked as I needed to run and catch a train. Upon texting Dave to give him a head's up, he rearranged his entire schedule and then offered to bathe and care for my dog so I didn't have it hanging over my head all day waiting from me when I arrived home. I cannot recommend Dave and his personal service enough! davespetproject.com/homeâ€¦
(5)
Jin Y.

foods a bit salty but not bad
(3)
Laura G.

This is my second time here. Absolutely loved it the first time, and our server was fantastic. This time around I went with all my cousins (eight of us) and our waiter was less than satisfactory. Our food was taking forever, and when we finally did get served we were given a different table's dishes. Our waiter was confused and when he finally figured it out he scolded the food runners in front of everyone, which was awkward for us. Then he said, "I'm sorry. It was my birthday last night so I'm not all here." Umm..okay? He repeated it no less than six times throughout the night, and I heard him say it to a table next to us. And during the food confusion he put his hands in his hair and gave a look of all hope lost and said, "just tell me what to do." It took everything in me to not say "get a new job." But moving past the disaster that was our server, the food is delicious. I loved their tonkotsu ramen with the braised pork belly. SO GOOD. I also had the ArtMex roll. I enjoyed that as well, but I wouldn't go here if I was looking just for sushi. I say if you're craving ramen as the main course, this is the place.
(4)
Kelly P.

LOVE LOVE LOVE Staff is awesome Sushi is awesome-never disappointed Must try the Spicy Tuna Crunch My only complaint is that they don't open until 5!!!!
(5)
Julia S.

I've spent a good portion of what I'm suppose to be saving for retirement here. I can't say I feel guilty. On the contrary, it's a wonderful culinary experience and life enjoyment. Love that every time I come in, there are Asian families dining here. Says something about the place.
(4)
Raphael C.

Very cozy atmosphere. The food is amazingly authentic. My friend and I both ordered Tonkatsu Ramen. The broth of the Ramen is well balanced. The temperature of the Ramen is just about right. It gives the noodle the best chewy taste but no soggy stage. The eggs in the ramen is cooked the way that the center of the egg yolk is taste creamy and delicious. And it won't melted into the ramen and ruin the broth. Overall, it is what authentic Japanese Tonkatsu Ramen should be prepared. We also ordered Karage Tofu. The tofu is crispy on the outside. Soft in the inside. Well seasoned and the broth is freshly prepared. It complimented the tofu well. Overall, the food is awesome and the service is friendly! Can't wait for the next visit:)
(5)
Bridget C.

Great ramen, pretty good sushi, INCREDIBLE pork belly rolls. BYOB! Had a 10min wait at 7 on a Sunday...it's bound to get longer as word gets out about this place. Definitely recommended!
(5)
Narida W.

Just went to Wasabi for the first time a few days ago! I got confused with Wasabi Cafe which located 10 minutes away. I ordered Tonkutsu ramen and pork belly buns and they were delicious! Would definitely go back! Highly recommend those two dishes
(5)
Rolando M.

First time around the food was exceptional, but the service wasn't noteworthy, and I would have gone with 4 stars, but the second time around, I called to place an order for carry out and was told by the man who answered the phone that they were so busy that their staff was not taking carry out orders for two hours. I may not know much about running a restaurant, but you don't tell that to people at dinner time. How can you turn business away?!? I won't be taking my business there again. I'm sure there are other quality joints willing to take my order.
(1)
Joseph B.

Ramen Ramen Ramen ... It's out of this world. And try the pork buns, trust me just try them you won't be sorry. Oh did I mention this place is BYOB!
(4)
Jack F.

Hands down the best sushi I have ever had in Chicago. You want some good ramen? Come here. The Maki is amazing and you come out of this place full every time. The Beef Short Rib skewers were surprisingly phenomenal. The only issue I have is with the atmosphere. Lots of hipster types working there. It would be PERFECT if the atmosphere was more authentic Japanese.
(5)
Lisa C.

Every time I go to Wasabi I leave irritated. Why, then, you might ask, do I give them 4 stars? Well, basically, it's because their tonkotsu ramen causes my taste buds to have five-star worthy orgasms, but their service is worth 3 stars at best. Sometimes even less. I feel like they are busy enough that they figure they don't have to treat their guests with much more than the barest courtesy & attention. First example: a few months ago we went for dinner & went in for a table. Our companions were literally *outside the door* locking up their bikes and they still would not escort us to the table to sit down until they came in. Second example: today we went in for lunch and ended up being seated at the bar. No big deal except it's not very big and the women in the party next to me had a sushi appetizer. They giant rectangular platter on which it had been served was never cleared, so it was sitting awkwardly on the bar between us, making elbow space a little cramped. I mean, it was there when I sat down, remained there as I ate, and was *still* there when I put my coat on. Sure I get that you are busy, but clearing dirty dishes from a crowded space seems like service one-oh-one, no? I mean, I can't say that we won't go back, because their ramen really is that good. I can't, though, in good conscience give them the rating their food deserves until they bump up the service a few notches.
(4)
Kathy S.

My hubby loves ramen. Therefore, we hit up any place that is known for good ramen anywhere we go. We tried a ton of places in Chicago and even seeked out ramen spots in L.A. and Hawaii but there was never one place that was a true homerun for him. His favorite out of all the places used to be Santouka in Mitsuwa but after having the spicy roasted garlic miso ramen at Wasabi, it is now his absolute favorite by far. And even for a not-huge-ramen-freak like me, I thought it was really really good. We also tried the pork belly and kimchi spring roll (okay but not enough kimchi flavor for me) and pork belly buns (so yum!). We are going back tonight and I can't wait to try other items!
(5)
Chezther S.

Been here twice with the wife tried the different Ramen evrytime and never got dissapointed awesomeeee Ramen I would have given them 6 star if the place was bigger, and it needs it with all the customers lining for 1 hour if the group is 4 and above never the less its worth the wait.....
(4)
rana c.

the fish maki, sashimi were great. the rice is on the mushy side, and the vinegar was ok. wasabi is freshest-tasting in town. ceviche with fried lotus was one of the best in town, delicate and flavorful. the broth was wonderful, though the noodles could be a bit more al dente for my tastes. service was excellent and prompt. they played golden oldies when we were there.
(5)
Melissa A.

This is my favorite ramen in the Chitown area! I know ramen is the new cool kid in town and there are a bunch more ramen shops opening this year, but as of now Wasabi is the best! I've eaten here a handful of times and it has never disappointed me. I usually order just the tonkotsu ramen since it's plenty filling but if I'm feeling extra greedy I'll have an appetizer to split with whoever I'm dining with. The pork belly buns are the bomb and you should try them at some point. The bun is super fluffy and the pork belly is flavorful and oh so tender. As for the ramen, I've only ordered the tonkotsu but it was THAT good that I haven't bothered trying the others! The broth is creamy and not overly salty, the pork belly is succulent, and the noodles are cooked perfectly (with just the right amount of bite to keep the textures interesting). Once you are done with your ramen and want more noodles to eat with the broth, you can order another set of noodles for an additional $3. I highly suggest checking Wasabi out if you want to see what everyone is raving about! Also, Wasabi isn't the biggest space so there will be a good wait on weekends. It's a good idea to go during lunch or do an early dinner so you don't have to wait forever.
(5)
Cathy K.

Awesome spicy garlic ramen! My husband had the shoyu ramen and loved the rich flavor. I left very satisfied! It is pricey, but that's the cost of good ramen places in the city. If you want mediocre ramen that's cheap go to Chinatown. Tips: On the weekend I would come in before 630pm or expect to wait awhile (they do not take reservations). It's byob!
(5)
Cynthia R.

I'd been itching to try this place since I've not found exceptional ramen in Chicago. San Francisco ramen has spoiled me. Anyway, the spicy garlic ramen was pretty great, though the pork was super fatty, which is gross. Still not as good as SF, but I'd return to Wasabi for it. The miso ramen was respectable. The sushi was pretty good as well. We got several rolls and liked them all! The reason for the 3 stars and not 4, was the service. Our waiter had a bit of trouble multitasking, it seemed. He was slow, seemed overwhelmed and was basically unfriendly. He also appeared a bit annoyed that our 4th friend hadn't arrived until later. He kept asking us, "do you know when your friend is coming?" I mean, what difference does it make to him? It's not like all the tables were full and there was a wait. In fact, it seemed relatively slow that night.
(3)
Alison Y.

Came here on a Saturday night around 6pm (they open at 5pm) and there was a already a line for the tables so my date and I decided to take a seat at the bar. My only qualm about this is there's no place to hang up your coat or put your purse in the restaurant :( We ended up sitting on our coats and putting my purse inside the car (good thing we drove otherwise this would not have worked out very well). We ended up ordering 2 appetizers - the pork buns and fried chicken lollipops. The pork buns were delicious. There were two in an order and it was more like an open faced sandwich. The bread that they used was slightly sweet - the same as what the Chinese restaurants use for peking duck. It worked beautifully with the marinated pork belly meat and green onions that they packed inside! The chicken lollipops came in four pieces and had a side of garlic mayo. The chicken was fried well and the sauce was good but I didn't think it was very impressive - the batter wasn't very unique or especially flavorful. For main courses, we ordered chicken terriyaki and spicy garlic ramen. The chicken terriyaki came with a side of asparagus and a huge serving of sweet potato and of course a bowl of rice. The chicken was grilled skewer style and was a little salty. The sweet potato was relatively bland but went well with the terriyaki sauce. Overall, this dish wasn't a highlight but it was a safe choice. The spicy garlic ramen was a good choice! Albeit a bit salty as well (I was chugging water later that night like a camel), it had really great flavor and the two pork slices were heavenly. For next time, if I didn't order appetizers, I might've ordered extra slices of the Berkshire pork cuz it's THAT good. The egg that also came with the ramen was surprisingly good - the inside of the yolk was milky and very light and delightful! The noodles and broth ratio were perfect and made for a delicious meal! Overall a great experience and I'm so glad I came to try it out!
(3)
Rio S.

Delicious ramen OMG! I had the spicy garlic roasted miso ramen. The pork broth was very rich and tasty. Next time I want to try their Uni shooters!
(4)
Joan K.

I like this place but I don't love it. Personally I prefer Oiistar better but that is just my opinion. I ordered their pork belly bun which I LOVE and for their ramen I ordered the tonkatsu one and my boyfriend ordered the spicy garlic one. I didn't like my boyfriends ramen at all but my tonkatsu one was okay. Wasn't the best I've had but it was OKAY. Service was good and fast though! We sat outside which is always a plus for me since I love outdoor seating for restaurants.
(4)
Ron S.

Highly recommended ramen and sushi joint in the land of hipsters. They recently moved to the new space and I'm a big fan of the minimalist aesthetic inside. Chicago is largely bereft of high-quality ramen places, and is relatively new to the trend unlike SF and NYC. The tonkotsu ramen is the main event and is creamy pork perfection--must-try. The maki rolls are simpler in composition (which I actually appreciate), nothing too spectacular, but honestly one comes here for ramen and they compliment the ramen perfectly. The cherry on the sundae: B-Y-O-B....B-A-B-Y!
(5)
Saina B.

First time tried their ramen and loved it! I had spicy miso ramen and some signiture maki which i wasnt a fan of it. This place good for ramen not for sushi for sure. I had same server the first and second time i have been there. Service is not really attentive.
(3)
Suzy D.

Came here with friends on a Saturday night. We had a party of 6 so we showed up around 5:30 so we wouldn't have to wait (they don't take reservations). I'm glad we came early because they got really busy later in the evening. This place is byob so be sure to bring some Asahi or Sapporo with you to enjoy with your ramen! I had the tonkotsu ramen which was so delicious and porky. I finished the whole entire bowl all by myself. I tried a little of my husbands spicy miso ramen but I preferred the tonkotsu ramen. I think that Santouko (in Arlington Heights) has better spicy miso ramen but the tonkotsu ramen here is great! We also had a few starters like the chicken lollipops, fried softshell crab, and some skewers of pork belly. Everything was good but the main star here is the ramen. I will be back as the weather gets chillier.
(4)
Young S.

When I was craving really good ramen.I found this place when I looked at the menu my reaction was " Whoa" 15$ for 1 bowl but now I know why. The ramen was sooooooo good. I'm a real foody and love the pork belly.
(5)
Julie R.

The spicy ramen is to DIE for
(5)
Daine S.

The ramen here is particularly delicious. Lots of unapologetically flavorful and delicious dishes. It's not cheap, but it's also not overpriced for what you're getting. It's slightly more expensive than places in the neighborhood with similar dishes (Hachi's Kitchen, Goku), but the food is undeniably unique, high quality, and delicious. It won't replace the other restaurants in the neighborhood entirely, but it will certainly make it into a fairly regular rotation.
(5)
Bri A.

How have I gone my whole life without trying traditional ramen? The Tonkatsu ramen was so rich, delicious and full of flavor. I need to try their other varieties! Sushi menu has some tasty sounding options that I want to try next...and this place is BYOB!
(4)
Raymond M.

Favorite ramen joint in the city! Like BYOB option! Great place to bring guest as it is not tourist filled and the crowd is friendly :)
(5)
Alison G.

Well what should i say cause my friends said it has the best ramen, but the thing is I could get better ramen in Arlington heights. It's just average I would say. Everything else there was average to me. I have been to Tokyo so I know how japanese food should taste. We did not order sushi (was told hot items were better in wasabi) so my review was only for the ramen and skewers. Best part is you can BYOB
(3)
Chelsea B.

My husband brought me to Wasabi for my birthday today and it was absolutely delicious. Perfect for having a slight sore throat and stuffy nose. Delicious and soothing Ramen noodle soups.
(5)
Diana L.

Love this place. I think one of the best ramen places in Chicago. The noodles are perfectly chewy - never overcooked. Tonkotsu ramen - the broth is really spot on and very flavorful. The pork belly also never disappoints. The spicy garlic miso ramen is also very good if you want something spicy. The chicken lollipops are amazing - a definite must have! So glad wasabi is my neighborhood - I'm definitely a frequent visitor.
(4)
Stella W.

This is my second visit to the place. My last visit was over a year ago when the place first open, and to be honest, that meal wasn't too memorable, so when my friend suggested coming here for dinner, i wasn't expecting much.... I tried my friend's tonkatsu raman, which was really good...well, the ramen is really good, soft and chewy...this is huge...coz i don't usually like ramen!!! the pork cheek is soooo tender and the egg yolk is perfectly boiled to be semi-solid.... My order of nigiris was superb! They had o-toro special, it melted in your mouth...the only time i had better was in SF, but it was almost twice as expensive. The sea urchin was really sweet, and it has a hint of fragrant note which indicate how fresh it was! The fried pork w/ brie is def a skewer to die for. i wanted to try a few other skewers....I will def go back next time with an empty stomach... The cost is similar to most of the sushi places in lincoln park/lakeview area anyway, but the quality is way better, byob is def. a huge plus. I am adding this to my other favourite japanese restaurants list :D
(5)
Ashley B.

I've been here a couple times, once just for sushi and once for the ramen and everything was great! We definitely had the pork buns both times and oh my goodness, are they good! It's a special so I'm not sure how long they'll have it, so go soon and try them! As for the sushi, they were pretty great. I went with three of my girl friends and we split a ton of rolls. I think my favorite was the Cubby Bear. Suuuuuper yummy! The next time I went with my boyfriend and we split a roll, some pork buns and a bowl of ramen, the spicy garlic miso ramen to be exact. I personally loved it but I think he thought it was way too spicy to be enjoyable. So maybe next time we'll try something else. The other downer was that there were two REALLY noisy/drunk tables next to us and we were stone sober and forgot to bring something to drink (it's BYOB) so it kind of put a damper on our visit. Other than that, I think the service was pretty good, a couple times it took a little too long to get our food, but it was worth it. The atmosphere is nice too!
(4)
Lisa Z.

Bad customer service results from telling your customers an approximate wait time of 30 minutes, only to cause them to wait 60+ minutes and to wait outside in the Windy City weather because there isn't enough room for you inside. And to add to that, the spice level of the spicy miso ramen far exceeds the norm for Japanese ramen. Coming from someone who can tolerate spicy foods, this ramen leaves a burning sensation in the back of your throat. I am very disappointed in my experience at this restaurant and will strongly reconsider coming back.
(1)
Boon K.

I love the pork belly buns, it was a little sweet, salty, and just melted in your melt. The spicy garlic miso ramen was spicy and had a really great kick. The noodles were chewy. The pork was tender. I like my friend's noodles too which was the open favor but still tasty, shoyu ramen. We also like the lolipop fried chicken too. I thought the meal was well price.
(4)
Esther K.

I'm not a huge fan of Japanese ramen (one of my biggest life failures is going to the top rated ramen restaurant in Tokyo and leaving half my bowl behind...) but I must say that I actually quite enjoyed the tonkotsu ramen I had at Wasabi. The egg noodles had the perfect chewy texture, I loved the flavor of the marinated soft boiled half-egg, and the pork cheeks were melt-in-your-mouth tender with just the right amount of fat. And the broth-ohhh the broth! Amazing. Plus, the portion was enough to leave me pleasantly full (although that might also have had something to do with the goodies we snacked on while wandering thru the Logan Square Farmer's Market on our walk there). So why four stars and not five? Because the service was absolutely horrible. Our party of three all got the tonkotsu ramen and it took a solid 45 minutes before the food came out. Not cool, but we counted ourselves lucky- the party a few tables away arrived before we did, and got their food after. I'm going to cross my fingers that this was just an off day though- it looked like our server was literally the only one on the floor, and my heart went out to her. She did apologize as we left for the poor service. So four stars overall BUT I would definitely, definitely return for the ramen!
(4)
Kenny Y.

good tonkatsu ramen! rich milky, not very oily and salty, it is a good balanced bowl of ramen. is it traditional ramen like what i tried in japan, not so much, it lacks a bit of a wow factor, when you go to ramen shops in japan, each one of them would have its unique character(flavor) added into the soup, like dried fish, shrimp or kunbu(seaweed). egg is good, bamboo shoot is good, it has all the elements for a good bowl of ramen. the spicy miso ramen is also good, not great but good. the spice-ness is under controll and not too salty, a little too spicy for me. next time i will try other dishes too, but ramen wise, wasabi does a good job, will definitely be back from time to time.
(4)
Kira R.

The ramen is really good! We've tried the Spicy garlic, Tonkotsu, and Shoyu. The Spicy Garlic Miso was our least favorite as we don't care for miso. The Tonkotsu and Shoyu are creamy but very similar. We had a Shrimp Tempura roll and it was warm and delicious, we wanted like 10 more but had to save room for ramen. I really love the fixin's in my ramen, I'm not too into eggs unless there's a strong bbq flavor which this one didn't have. Unfortunately it is $13 a bowl but for a different ramen once in a while it's great. Mitsuwa still the best sorry not sorry.
(4)
Jewel L.

First time visit so I asked our waiter for help choosing items for our table. Chose ramen,tempura veggies, soft shell crab, short rib skewer and a shrimp maki. Ramen was tasty but probably won't make me return. Everything else was just ok to not so good. I was disappointed that our waiter couldn't offer a replacement item since we let him know that we didn't enjoy 3 of the items we ordered with his input. Even if they'd offered to replace one of the three I would have felt better about our experience but as it turns out. Sadly,I won't return to Wasabi.
(2)
Justine L.

We had the tonkotsu and spicy garlic ramens. The broth in both were so rich, which was great because that's what makes the dish! The ramen itself was of good texture - soft, chewy, and right thickness. We both agreed that this ramen was better than any other in Chicago. It is a contender alongside NYC's famous Ippudo. This will be our go-to ramen place!
(5)
Kevin W.

If you ever want to be able to enjoy packaged instant ramen again... I would advise against eating at Wasabi. But, if for some unavoidable reason you MUST eat at Wasabi and you still wish to enjoy packaged instant ramen at a later point in life, simply don't order the spicy roasted garlic miso ramen. One sip of this heavenly broth will ruin Maruchan (or any other brand for that matter) noodles forever. Gone forever are the days of 30 cent ramen. You'll sit there, daydreaming about Wasabi's ramen, desperately trying new brands of instant ramen in a feeble attempt to fill the void, but it won't work. Nothing will. You're screwed. Should have listened to Kevin W. - you'll say to yourself. And it's true, you should have. Yes, it's that good. This umami-packed, perfectly spicy, slow simmered, rich silky broth is some of the best I've ever had. The supporting cast is good (if not great by any other standards): juicy berkshire pork, soft boiled egg, and tender noodles are the perfect accompaniments - but make no mistake, the broth is the clear star of the show. Oh. My. Gootness. Apparently there are other items on the menu as well, and supposedly they're pretty good, but it's too late for me. I drank the kool aid, I'm brainwashed. I only wish somebody would have warned me. You're welcome. Overall Grade: A
(5)
Britnie P.

This was my first time at wasabi but I had a wonderful experience! When I got there, they said it was a 25 minute wait as it was packed in there, not an empty seat in the house. I don't mind waiting, especially if I'm told there is much to anticipate. But we ended up waiting only 10 minutes!! So that was great! Then our waitress was really helpful on the menu choices, she recommended the spicy roasted garlic ramen, which was amazing and truly spicy (which I love!!!!) not to mention this place is byob!!! Not only is it byob, but they provide wine glasses, and open and pour the wine for you!!!!! Now THAT is awesome service :) they also brought us a carafe of water as well. All in all I had a wonderful experience and I am definitely going back very soon!
(5)
naila t.

Since this location I moved it has not failed me! What delicious dishes! The rolls and the ramen was amazing!
(4)
Robin G.

Delicious vegan ramen. Fun atmosphere, nice staff and a reasonable wait for a Thursday at 7:30.
(4)
Wayne H.

My friend suggested this place for a group get together. I love being surprised, and boy was I? I never heard of this place and it was quite delicious. The spicy garlic ramen was the best! It was so good I wanted to bring one home so my girlfriend could try it. They normally don't do take out for the ramen, but our waitress let me order it then repackage it to go. The pork belly buns and pork belly and kimchi spring rolls were also amazing! This place is also BYOB, another plus!
(5)
Ken G.

Soup first or noodles first? First, observe the whole bowl. Appreciate its gestalt. Savor the aromas. Jewels of fat glittering on the surface. Shinachiku roots shining. Seaweed slowly sinking. Spring onions floating. Concentrate on the two pork slices... They play the key role, but stay modestly hidden. First caress the surface with the chopstick tips to express affection. Then poke the pork. Eat the pork first? No. Just touch it. Caress it with the chopstick tips. Gently pick it up...and dip it into the soup on the right of the bowl. What's important here is to apologize to the pork by saying..."See you soon." -From the movie Tampopo It's a perfect, albeit exaggerated look at how Japanese view and treat ramen. And this is why you will never be allowed to take out ramen from any reputable place. It is served perfectly, and you must eat it immediately. Wasabi's tonkotsu is easily the best tonkotsu in the city and area that I've eaten thus far - granted there are a couple more for me to try. But heck, it's the best bowl of ramen I've had in the US in some time. (Japanese mother approved too!) Broth is silky and full of luscious pork flavor. You can taste the care. Noodles are the perfect thickness. Cooked to perfection - just a little bit on the hard side. Chashu cuts were on the generous side. Moist pieces of wonderful Berkshire, salted nicely and tender. I finished every last drop. And yes, I drank from the bowl. And no, drinking from the bowl is not impolite. Rather the opposite - much like slurping noodles, you do it to show appreciation and enjoyment of the dish. The only real gripe is that it wasn't served piping hot. In Japan, the ramen comes out hot, like just under boiling temp hot. Also ordered a side of gyoza. To be honest, it was one of the better gyoza I've eaten in a while from a restaurant. Fried to perfection, slightly crisp on one side, soft on the other. Meat is nicely seasoned, heavy on the garlic. Interestingly, it came with a spicy goma sauce to dip as well. Wasabi also offers shoyu and miso ramen - though keep in mind that these aren't the true versions of these ramen, but rather with a tonkotsu base. They all tasted unique and delicious. Out of the three, tonkotsu is #1, shoyu #2, and miso #3 for me. Though truthfully, I'm not a huge miso ramen fan anyway, as tonkotsu is my fave. Prices are on the higher side of ramen, with tonkotsu being $13 (gyoza was $7), but about right for the location. With one taste and you can appreciate the preparation and ingredients. I only wish they were closer, as it took about an hour to drive on a late Saturday morning. It certainly wasn't a disappointing ride home.
(5)
Jaime J.

the ramen was everything i imagined. We ordered the pork buns and I was pleasantly surprised. If it was closer, I would come here everyday if I can.
(5)
Eric S.

Outstanding ramen and meat skewers.
(5)
Debbie L.

The one ramen place in Chicago that is actually comparable to New York. However, just order the ramen. Skip the sushi and bring your own liquor because it's BYOB.
(5)
Claudia S.

Oh man, I'm pretty sure I could eat the spicy garlic ramen every day and be happy. The pork was so tender and flavorful and while I would have preferred it being spicier, it definitely hit the spot. Came here with 6 other people and was able to convince others to try the veggie tempura. Nice amount of crunch, some veggies were softer than I would have liked, but it wasn't bad. I wouldn't order it again though, simply because I've had better and I'd rather try something else instead of something that was simply "fine". On the other hand, I took a bite of the chocolate covered cheesecake and was pleasantly surprised. I'm not a cheesecake fan, at all, but this was tasty. I love that the dessert portions are tiny though! As far as the service goes, our waiter was just eh. He was going to split the bill and didn't. Not a huge deal, but considering it was one of the first things asked and he agreed to, it was slightly annoying. He also had a tendency to walk away before people were done ordering. My dish was the last thing to come out and it would have taken longer had I not caught him. To be fair, I was expecting worse service based on other reviews, but the only real downside was the fact that he would take off without making sure everyone had ordered. I'll definitely be back though. I was very happy with my choice of ramen and others around me commented about how they should have ordered that as well.
(4)
Yoshinaga N.

It was our first time here and I have to say, so far it's pretty great. Service is friendly, but the atmosphere is pretty loud so you're going to have to raise your voice when you talk to the server. I also love the open kitchen layout. I think being able to converse with the chefs are a major plus in any restaurant. The tonkotsu ramen is pretty good and I like how they use thin noodles. The bamboo shoots in the ramen were surprisingly sweet. I asked the waiter and he told me they marinate the bamboo shoots and the marination brings out some of the sweetness out of the bamboo. For sushi, I got the wagyu aburi they had on today's special and it was amazing. I also ordered the ArtMex maki roll and it was deliciously spicy. I will definitely be coming back next time around.
(5)
Edz L.

Best tonkatsu ramen ever!!!!! Add spice and it's the bom dot com! Ambience was great, awesome servers too!
(5)
T K.

This is really a 3.5 stars review. The decor is nice. The service is nice. The food is also "nice". But we were really looking for "OMG BEST RAMEN IN CHICAGO" based on so many reviews. I guess those people haven't had ramen at Santouka at Mitsuwa yet or been to ramen places in Cali or NY. We ordered the Spicy Miso and the Tonkotsu. The spoon is kind of cool, but it makes it hard to capture enough broth and noodle in one spoonful. The broth is pretty good. The egg is AMAZING. The meat is just ok. We didn't upgrade to the more expensive pork, but really for $14, I shouldn't have to.
(4)
David F.

Won't come here again. Arrived as a party of 1 and put my name on the list. They sat a party of 2 and a party of 3 below me in the list. I get that 2 or 3 is more $ than 1. But if I'm not important to them, then I'll take my business elsewhere.
(1)
Juan E.

Maki was pretty average. Ramen is where its at.
(3)
Jeni B.

I've eaten here for years! WAS one of my favorite places to eat. I love their food but the service is the worst!! I will never eat there again and would NOT suggest it to anyone I know. If I'm going to pay that price for good food I want good service as well!
(1)
Lucifer S.

NOT THAT GREAT i met up with two of my minions for a night out, expecting great things based on the yelp reviews. i did feel at home here because the air conditioner wasn't on, but that was really the only plus. i know the restaurant can't help how many children are in there, but there were so many children in here. they were yelling, kicking the back of our booth, throwing toys all over the place, GO TO BED. the waiters kept trying to take our plates of $15 sushi before the food was finished. towards the end, our main waiter even told us that there was an hour wait and that the host was kind of on his ass about it. we had maybe been there for 40 minutes at this point. so, we took our time finishing out of spite and noticed that there's no way there was an hour wait since there were several empty tables in the restaurant and outside. plus, this is wicker park on a saturday night, of course there's going to be a wait. the sushi was not that great, either. so yes, maybe wasabi is a cool and fun place to eat if you like rushing through your meal and sweating while you're eating it. womp womp
(2)
Lance M.

I guess I went here with very high expectations, being a ramen connoisseur I have to say that I have definitely had better. We went on a Saturday afternoon and were seated right away. We ordered the 2 short rib skewers, the pork belly bun, lollipop chicken, the tonkatsu and spicy garlic ramens. To sum it up the short rib skewers were ok at best, pork belly was good but greasy and fatty, the lollipop chicken was good but nothing special, I personally enjoyed the spicy garlic ramen but thought it was lacking ingredients. The tonkatsu was good as well but almost tasted like a mushroom soup and again lacking a few ingredients. The service was on point, nothing special. I think that when I want ramen in the near future I will be heading to river north for Slurping Turtle or driving to Arlington Heights for Mitsuwa. Our bill for 3 people for lunch came to $80 with no drinks......
(2)
Kat L.

TOURIST REVIEW* This was my first place to get food when I visited Chicago. I had taken the blue line from the airport, the city just got dumped with snow, and I was fighting an awful cold. A hot bowl of ramen sounded perfect, and this was very close to the subway station. Pros: -Super friendly staff. They even offered to hold my huge luggage at the hostess podium. -Nice ambiance. Low lights, very relaxing. Cons: -The ramen was just OK compared to what I can get at home. Plus it was overpriced for the quality & quantity. I can't compare to other places in the city, but where I am from, places that try to appear to be more upscale can't get things like ramen right. The best Japanese ramen is cheap and found in dingy hole in the walls with sub-par service. *I was visiting from Seattle.
(3)
Sity H.

The ramen is good but the service is very bad. We waited for at least 10-15min for the waitress to take our order. When finally our order came out, my sister and I got our ramen. But my brother in law's ramen which was the same as mine never came. When we asked the waitress, she said the order was mistaken and the kitchen was making it. Several minutes later she came back and apologized for it and asked if we would like miso soup or rice while waiting. This happened at least twice. After about another 15minutes, he still didn't get his ramen and decided to cancel. I'm very disappointed on the service level for what we have to pay for the ramen. The restaurant could have brought out sushi on the house instead of asking if he wanted miso soup or rice. They could have done something better than that. They need to have more waitress to take order and improve on their efficiency in taking order and cooking.
(1)
Jing H.

Not that authentic like I had in LA. Their ramen is more like a fast food king of noodle than manmade thing. And the interior is more of American than Japanese.
(3)
cindy k.

2 stars is probably a bit generous. I'd give it more like a 1.5. We have dined here a handful of times in the past 9 months. The first few times was at the old location, just a little north on Milwaukee. The service and food was great. They had a decent gluten free menu along with gluten free soy sauce which is always a plus in our books. We enjoyed our first several visits. The next time I went with my girlfriends and again, the service and food was delicious. We want again today and will never go back again. We got in early enough when the bar was wide open but we sat at a table, all the way in the back. If you get this option, don't so it. You'll never see your server which is quite inconvenient when your sushi rolls take a long time to come out. (More to come on that.) We ordered the kimchi and pork belly spring rolls - extra delicious in my book. It's the perfect appetizer to start off your meal with a nice moderate kick of spice. And we had he special toro pieces. They came with a little bed of rice. I took a bite and the rice was hard. Now I have visited quite a lot of sushi restaurants and have never had rice like this. It was undercooked and hard to chew. But I dismissed it because we just started our meal. Immediately after, our udon soup came out. It was delicious. And then we waited. And waited. And waited some more. We didn't see our server once in that time so I asked another server if they could get our server. Then, I saw a couple who sat down after us and ordered after us receive their sushi roll. I was very irritated at this point. Either Wasabi should have have timed it out better and had the soup come later or informed us that it was taking a while. So our server came and I asked about our sushi and she said they were working on it. And so we waited some more. Finally our 2 easy rolls came out - spicy scallop and a real California roll. Our specialty roll took another 10 min to come out. The rice was hard on all 3 rolls. I spat some of my rice out and just opted to eat the scallops without the rice because the rice was so inedible. I'm shocked that the sushi chefs would serve such horrible rice. Otherwise the rolls would have been delicious. Oh and what good Japanese restaurant has green tea in a tea bag?! At least brew it in the back and serve it. Unfortunately, Wasabi you won't be getting our business anymore. It's not worth the wait when the restaurant is half empty nor the uncooked rice.
(2)
Sarah S.

2.2 A resounding meh. We ordered delivery from here tonight and was not impressed. Nothing was exceptionally terrible, it was just all very blah. I usually try and take into consideration when something is delivery. Tempura that might be fresh if you eat in, may get a little mushy if you order delivery, but all of the issues had to do with flavor profiles. The miso ramen soup was bland. If you had blindfolded me and asked me the ingredients (Egg noodles, berkshire pork toro, soft boiled egg, marinated bamboo shoots, bean sprouts, sesame and scallions) the only indication of multiple ingredients would be the texture, not the flavor. The old ball and chain ordered the Chicken Teriyaki (Served with grilled asparagus, sweet potato mash, rice and your choice of side. He chose miso soup as the side). I had one bite, and that was enough. Chicken was cooked okay, but again, no standout flavors. Boringgg....
(2)
Glenn K.

Go here for ramen! Don't waste your time at any of the other handful of places that you've heard about being 'almost as good as Wasabi' or 'just like Wasabi without the wait.' There's a reason why there is always a wait at Wasabi: because it's worth it. This should be the benchmark for how good ramen can be.
(5)
Winston G.

I've been here twice now in the last couple of weeks, and I can safely say that this place has the best ramen I've had in Chicago thus far. Significantly better than any of the places that you've probably been to, and I've been to them all. I've tried the Shoyu Ramen and the Spicy Roasted Garlic Miso Ramen. Both are very good. Adding the Aburi Kakuni is not necessary, but the pork belly is pretty good. I just don't like how it cost $4, which is 1/3 the cost of another bowl of ramen. Basically, great ramen and some good appetizers too. Cost for the ramen is a bit of a drawback, but if you are really craving a bowl of decent ramen in Chicago, then come here.
(5)
Marco H.

Yes the Ramen is indeed good and flavorful. But first you must order the perfectly cooked pork buns. Then try either the Miso ramen or the Tonkotsu Ramen. The miso ramen is a little lighter and a tad bit saltier (but not too salty) than the Tonkotsu. Both have the same basic ingredients, the difference being the flavor and mushrooms. The pork is so well cooked that it can be easily torn apart by your chopsticks. And if you're not too full, get the chocolate mochi ice cream to finish.
(4)
Rita W.

oh Wasabi, how you made me and my stomach so happy!! I am so excited that there is a good ramen place in Chicago! Finally!! And it's not that far from me, which is even more good news for my stomach!! I went here with two of my girlfriends. We ordered the garlic ramen, tonkotsu, and miso ramen. They were all so so good. I loved the spiciness of the garlic ramen broth, it was so not what I had expected. The pork was so tender and the soft boiled egg was perfect. As for the miso and tonkotsu, I have never had such creamier broth. We also ordered the pork kim chee spring rolls which were really good as well. This place made me really happy!! Prices are really reasonable for terrific ramen!
(4)
Racheal C.

We've been repeat customers, my boyfriend loves their Pho, however, we had to knock down stars due to the insensitive request by the wait staff to stand outside in the rain (for 45 mins) while we waited for our table. At least get a bench outside with a decent sized awning for everyone waiting...
(2)
Helen Z.

This place was surprisingly good! A bit hard to find parking tho. But sushi was good and they offer sea urchins here. And no wait far as week day nigh goes. Def worth to give it a try!
(4)
Dana I.

My friend's dresser didn't fit in his room, so I took it off my hands and all I had to do was take him out to dinner. I would fill my entire apartment with furniture if I could keep going to Wasabi. I've walked by its quiet exterior countless times and always glanced at their specials sign with its neon-writing, but I've usually be on my way to meet someone who is not as cool off the internet at The Rocking Horse or go eat an entire fish by myself at Las Islas Marinas. So I was glad to brave the snow a few weeks ago and go to Wasabi to warm up with some ramen. I'm no ramen expert, but I like pork, noodles, fat, eggs, miso, and spicy things, so I can report back on how Wasabi's food compared on those familiar categories. Favorably. I was so happy to be eating the Spicy Garlic Miso Ramen that I kept switching between my chopsticks and soup spoon, resulting in many stains on my recently-washed sweater. These stains have not come out after doing laundry. While I really enjoy this sweater and need to eventually remove the stains, whenever I see them I remember this wonderful bowl of soup and the excellent service my friend and I received at Wasabi. Eric, our waiter, was attentive, prompt, gave great suggestions, and kept us well hydrated as we slurped down our soup with more enthusiasm than is polite. The broth is meaty but not garish, fatty but not gluttonous, the noodles soft but not feeble, the garlic sharp but not raw, the miso earthy but not fetid. There's a whole egg that you keep loosing in the thick, swirling broth and then get to discover again and again! I would highly recommend getting yourself a bowl of Wasabi's ramen, even if there's no exchange of bureaus involved.
(4)
Char Y.

another ramen place that needed to be eaten and tried. we ordered edamame - ok tonkotsu ramen - too salty the ramen was just ok for what $14.
(3)
Courtney E.

This is one of the better sushi places I've been to in Chicago and various other cities. The first time I went, I was ordering carryout in a hurry while in the restaurant. I ordered three rolls from the menu without paying much attention to what they were. When I got back home, I wasn't sure what was in them so I was a little weary. All three were amazing! Since then, I've been back a good 5 or so times. It's a nice close walk in Logan Square, and a couple minute walk from the blue line stop.
(5)
Cintya P.

My bf and I are ramen crazy! Since I moved to Chicago from Los Angeles, it has been hard to find a good ramen spot to calm my ramen urge. From Oak Park to this place it did take awhile to get here but I think it was worth it. The ramen broth was very flavorful and beautifully presented. The cost of it was perhaps $4 dullards more than I would of gotten in Little Tokyo in Los Angeles; however, being 1,500 miles away it was worth to tame my ramen urges!
(4)
MC S.

Very yummy and rather authentic japanese ramen and grilled skewrs. Not very good vegan hot yogi roll. The desserts are not made in house. As for the atmosphere, I love the decoration and the design, but not the loud music.
(4)
Peter H.

I'm a ramen fantatic and Wasabi doesn't disappoint. Their ramen is hands down the best Chicago has to offer no matter what others tell you. The tonkotsu ramen with aburi kakuni is a taste of the heavens. The broth is rich yet balances the flavor with the right amount of oil base. Their pork is super tender and cooked to perfection. Words cannot express how much I love this place. However, ramen preference can be very subjective. Different regions in Japan prepare and cook their soups differently. I'm not a fan of the super oily types such as Ippudo nor the super salty types like Daikokuya or Santoku. Wasabi, in my opinion, does a great job of not making their soup so oily and flavorable that it becomes nauseating after the second sip. There are downsides to Wasabi, however. For instance, the consistency of their ramen goes way downhill if you come on a busy night such as Friday night. Their sushi isn't so spectacular either (the nigiri rice falls apart before you even pick it up). I personally like coming to Wasabi during weekend brunch hours since it's not as busy. Also, if you like indie music, this place plays great music ranging from Phantogram to Empire of the Sun - the place has a vibe of Silverlake in LA to it which was where I once called home. Great music + great food = a happy customer. Hope this review is helpful.
(5)
Loan V.

Their ramen was very rich and tasty and their sushi was pretty good. Overall I like this place.
(4)
Hauwei L.

Yes, this is the best ramen in Chicago. After trying Slurping Turtle (pretty good), Arami (pretty good), Cocoro (good, not great), Mitsuwa (pretty good), Ginza (mediocre), Oiistar (disappointingly bad), Noodles by Takashi (mediocre), Gyu-kaku, Union Sushi, and a few other places, Wasabi stands out as the best. I should revisit the ramen at Gyu-kaku, Union, and Arami and try Yusho to truly confirm this judgement, but I'm pretty confident about Wasabi. For those of you from the coasts who want to pull out your favorite noodle shop in NY or SF, I agree there's better out there, but I'd say Wasabi deserves a place in the top tier. While some of you may prefer the spicy garlic miso ramen, I actually find that it's a little overpowering and there's too much going on (like Oiistar). I prefer the tonkatsu ramen. The broth is rich and flavorful with perfectly cooked noodles and delicious pork. Wasabi's status as the go-to ramen place is further enhanced by the fact that they are BYOB and the rest of their menu is good to great. Some favorites include the uni shooters (when not sold out) a great blend of sweet and salty, the agadashi tofu (yes, I know you're skeptical, who orders agadashi tofu, but try it, you will be glad), the pork buns, and the artmex roll. Go to Wasabi, you will like it.
(5)
Jackson H.

I was referred to Wasabi from a guest of mine who lived in Asia. She swears that this is the best place for sushi in Chicago that is authentic. I would have to agree. I give 5 stars because the service was good and on point. We never felt rushed. It is BYOB so that makes it much cheaper. The rolls are amazing, the Ramen is amazing, everything is amazing. We dined on a friday at 9pm and were immediately seated at a table. The bar was open but we opted for the table instead. Very happy. We ordered 2 app rolls, 1 ramen, 1 maki roll, and 3 regular rolls off the menu. Our bill with tax was $95. Not bad at all. Cant wait to go back!!!
(5)
Emily B.

The ramen. Although I am (usually) a vegetarian, I order the ramen every time without hesitation. SPICY GARLIC MISO EVERY DAY. Order it early, they run out sometimes. Other favorites include their Brussels Sprouts (OMFG just trust me), and the Art Mex roll. They do have kind of weird rules here. For example, you can't ever take ramen to go under any circumstance (and we've tried many times). Also, they won't seat you until your complete party has arrived (example: while my boyfriend parks the car, I have to stare at our empty table because I'm not allowed to sit in it yet). And if there's a wait, you aren't allowed to wait IN the restaurant. But I'm perfectly ok with their ramen-nazi dictatorship (Seinfeld anyone?) because I'm a shameless addict. If they want me to scrub their floors while I wait for food, I might do it.
(5)
Yi M.

BYOB. Greatest thing as being in chi. In&out quick kinda of spot. Chitown just doesnt have great ramen overall but wasabi has the Best ramen without going too far out. Sushi is not good at this place. The problem is the rice. Fish was fresh. Just a tip, don't order the skewers, not worth it at all. My friend had a shiitake mushroom skewers for 3 dollars and there was two bottle cap sized mushroom on it. Go to Chinatown and get a bag of them for 5 and BBQ them urself. So as chicken breast and whatnot. U gotta be dumb to pay $4 for one skewer of little bit of chicken and some sauce on it.
(4)
Jing C.

I can't help but feel had when we go to Wasabi - ramen dinner that comes out to $20 a person? Whhaaaa? Here's one area that NYC is actually more affordable than Chi. We ordered the spicy miso and tonkontsu ramen. Both were fairly authentic, deep flavors in the broth and good noodle texture. Just lacked a special element that makes you crave it (ie, blow torched pork belly, special ingredients). That paired with the steep price tag makes me doubtful we'll be back.
(3)
Zoey N.

Just went there today for the first time and tried the Shoyu Ramen. My friends had the Miso and Tonkatsu Ramen. Overall we liked the flavor of the ramen even though the soup was a bit too salty. What we didn't like was the wait for our food. We got there at 12:30 on a Sunday afternoon and didn't get our food till 45 minutes later. We were all starving. Prices were high too, at $13-15 per bowl of ramen and it wasn't even filling enough. When we asked our server to check on the food he just said "there's a lot of people ordering ramen so the wait will be long." He didn't even apologize for the wait just told us that was the way it is. We also arrived there before the rush so ours should've come out already. I might go back again maybe on a less busy time...
(3)
Vivian A.

this is my go-to spot for sushi when beau and i are on a date. great sushi, great service, plus its byob with no corkage fee. i've never had anything else but the susi so i can't comment on other selections. be prepared to wait in line during dinner time rush, but its not so bad, and its definitely worth it. great, mellow ambience, and just a few minutes walking from blue line. will definitely be returning, maybe for my next date night!
(4)
Allan C.

You really can't get more well executed than Wasabi. From sushi, to ramen, to grilled stuff... I haven't had anything here where I was disappointed in quality. The ramen (regular or spicy garlic) with pork belly and pork cheek is pretty freaking delicious. Until this place, the only other place in Chicagoland where I've had ramen was at the Mitsuwa cafeteria. Ok so that ramen is loads cheaper but the jump in quality is just too awesome. The hamachi kama is perhaps the most generous cut I've ever had at a Japanese restaurant. Because it was bigger, you got more... cartilaginous goodness? Whatever. If you're a fan of fish neck, you know what I'm talking about. This place is definitely at the top of the must-go places for whenever we're in the area.
(5)
Hallie L.

Uff, this place was so good. Unfortunately they didn't have half the sashimi that I wanted, which was slightly annoying, but luckily, their delicious daily specials made up for all that! I had this seared scallop sushi that was so amazing I had to order more, and this divine piece of wagyu beef that I find myself craving randomly to this day. The spicy garlic miso ramen, which my companion ordered, was also delicious. Two thumbs up, and come early for dinner to ensure you're not waiting forever.
(4)
edgard k.

Coming from Houston, this place is a bit pricey; but then, everything else is a bit pricey in Chicago. Great tonkotsu ramen, creamy with generous amount of chashu. The chashu here is fattier than the other places I've ever tried, but it's better for me that way. We also ordered the grilled Berkshire pork belly skewer which is good - this is basically just the chashu being grilled. It's street parking, so you may have to allocate more time to find parking in this area, which has few busy bars and restaurants. The place itself is kinda lounge, dark with music. Be aware that it's open for lunch only on weekends.
(4)
Kevin M.

We had several appetizers and the ramen. The soft shell crab, chicken skewers, pork buns were all awesome. But the ramen? I ordered the Miso Ramen purely based on other yelp reviews. It was a complete let down. I really don't get why people like it so much. It had a couple pieces of greyish pork floating around, and the noodles were only a slight step up from noodles you find in those infamous Ramen packages at the grocery store. I was really let down. And service was simply adequate to slightly sub-par.
(3)
Bob D.

This is the perfect place when you realize any brunch joint in Logan square is so dang crowded you will have to eat somewhere else while waiting. The Yellowtail (Hamachi) cheek is something I dream about. Wasabi's version is fantastic. If you order it and don't take the time to suck the collagen from between the facial joints you are a bum and a loser and you should never read my reviews again. On a lighter note, the roasty toasty pork ramen is excellent, I really wish there were more casual places to slurp Japanese noodles but oh well. This broth was described by my 9 year old as "silky" what a little food snob. He was correct though and if you are not used to these broths stay close to the turlet. Not that they are poisonous, but rather they are so full of awsomeness that your lower GI will celebrate with much rejoicing. The sashimi platters for lunch are priced very fair, I prefer my sashimi a bit thinner, but they were very fresh. The menu is a bit daunting, and I think there is some dead weight in the nigiri and skewer options. If the place pared down the menu and streamlined a bit I would go 5 stars.
(4)
Celine I.

Ok wasabi, after giving you many chances, you are about to lose me as a patron. This is really sad for me, since once wasabi was my favorite sushi restaurant in town, and being a fan of sushi, I have been going there as often as once a week for the past three years. I loved their previous location, especially because it was super close to my home, and it was way more spacious and relaxing. However, since they moved, things have been on a downhill. As I wrote before, their service quality is not as good. I really like a lot of the people who work there, but the fact remains that they are understaffed and it effects your dining experience. Also, since the new location is actually much smaller, now there is always a wait-it is no longer a place that you can just go to and have delicious food, but it has to involve inconvenient parking and long waits, no matter what day of the week it is. Oh, last and not least, the new host with the huge beard is quite rude and obnoxious. After multiple not-ok encounters where he either forgot that we were on the list or tried to get us to sit at the bar after a long wait (where we had actually specified that we want a table) I really dread seeing him.
(2)
Harmon W.

Been coming to this place for a while, even back when they were at their old location. Until today, they were a 3 star place in my opinion but had several redeeming qualities like the fact they were byob and had excellent oyster shooters on the menu. Now they're really pushing 5 stars after my visit today because lo and behold, they had vegan options on their daily specials. Maybe it's because the new location is in hipster wicker park/logan square but whatever the case I love the additions. Got the vegan ceviche maki which in my opinion taste better than rolls made from seafood. My friend who lived in Japan and is an avid sushi eater loved how crisp and refreshing the maki tasted. The shitake mushroom skewers we got tasted even better than the beef short rib skewers and the sauce that came with it was just amazing. As a barbecue loving Texan, I will take those grilled shitake mushrooms doused with sauce all day long. And then finally: ramen. Whoever said only pork based broth could create an excellent ramen? False. The vegan ramen broth was absolutely epic. Felt great after finishing it unlike when you down pork belly based ramen. This vegan ramen blows away the veggie ramen at oiistar. I've decided I will never go back to meat based ramen after discovering this gem. I had an egg added to mine, it's still vegetarian! :) The broth wasn't too spicy but was flavorful and the copious amount of bok choy they add? So healthy! You'll get your protein don't you worry with the seitan ragu which blends masterfully with the ramen and broth. Seriously, Wasabi, make the vegan maki and vegan ramen permanent additions to your menu, you'll win a fifth star and my patronage on a weekly basis
(4)
Cecilia A.

Omg! Ok first time I have ever tried real ramen, but seriously lived it so much we went 2 more times! My favorite is the spicy garlic miso! To die for! The sushi is amazing as well! Deffinetly recommend this place!!
(5)
Nik O.

I had the tonkotsu Ramen and my oh my was I in for a surprise. The broth is freaking fantastic! After I finished I opted for the order of extra noodle, which no single person needs because it's so much food. This is probably the best Ramen I've had in Chicago. In addition, they have a lot of side items and appetizers to choose from, so be sure to show up hungry!
(5)
Magda Z.

Don't really see the hype. Came here with a friend and the wait was only 10 min. We sat down and the waitress asked us what we would like to order even before she handed us the menus. The spicy garlic ramen was ok, not spicy at all and almost lukewarm, I was pretty disappointed as I like my ramen piping hot. Was really excited to try this place but there are so many better ramen places in Chicago, when we were leaving the line was 1.5 hours deep, definitely not worth the wait in the cold!
(2)
Ivy L.

Disappointed it! The ramen was ok. Not too special. We were 5 of us (two adults, 7 yrs old and two 2.5 yes old). Our kids are well behaved and neat. Our bill was over $110 without drinks. Yes, we like to eat and tip well. Hubby wasn't happy about that they charged gratuity on us. He said that we will not come back.
(2)
Alex S.

The best ramen ive ever had in my entire life!!! The spicy miso ramen is amazing. The decor inside is super cute and i love that its byob. Service was awesome as well and thanks to Connor for reccomending the spicy ramen because it changed my life. I didnt get a chance to try the sushi but being torn between the cleverly named items like the logan roll etc... I will definitely be coming back. A MUST TRY!
(5)
Tatiana T.

The food was great! Way better than some ramen I tried in NYC but every time I got a bowl of noodles, they were lukewarm. They have very good sushi and if you sit by the bar you can watch them prepare everything from the sushi to the grilled eats. Unfortunately the service is really slow and if your hungry it gets frustrating waiting to give your order. Also, Im not sure why, but the tables are kinda sticky with the menu. I'll go back for the food but they really need to step up their service game.
(3)
Meridith E.

Came here for my birthday dinner and so glad I did. The atmosphere was casually romantic with dim lighting...ok, I was on a date. So maybe everything would have been romantical. However, I can tell you that the dragon roll I had was delish and the vegan roll that the server suggested was awesome. My date had the spicy ramen, and it was really good. He'd never had ramen before and said he'd be ruined from that dried packet crap from now on. BYOB, people. Stop in and enjoy. So so so good!
(4)
Amanda C.

Great BYOB Sushi! The service has always been great, and they always offer to put your additional beers in the fridge behind the bar. The ambiance is nice and cozy for a weeknight date. I like how smoothly paced the courses are. We ordered salad, an appetizer, skewers, sushi and dessert. All came out seamlessly. The spicy tuna and soft shell crab have never disappointed, super fresh. The green tea mochi ice cream is to die for! New fav sushi place!!
(4)
M K.

I've been coming here for over a year for the Tonkotsu ramen. I've had the sushi but the ramen has always been the standout at wasabi. I started noticing for a bit that they replaced the pork cheeks with belly, and now the cheeks have finally returned! They were a crucial component of the best ramen in Chicago. However, I also noticed that the pork cheek is also WAY fattier than ever before -- when I went this past Sunday, half of a piece was all fat - I had to take it out of my broth and basically remove it...I was really hoping that the quality wouldn't go downhill once everyone found out about this place....
(3)
phillilp c.

I went for lunch on a Saturday with my 3 kids, all under 10. I wouldn't say Wasabi is exactly kid friendly, but it was certainly a nice change from the usual suspects in Logan Square. The kids each had miso soup and a kapa maki roll. I had the "real California" roll which was made with real crab and sans mayo. We also tried a couple of the skewers. Everything was good and the service was quick. It was about 40 bucks for the 4 of us. I'll definitely be back there with my wife who's a vegetarian since they have lots of good looking veggie rolls. It's a good addition to the hood.
(4)
Be F.

Great place for ramen in the city - though it can be on the fatty/salty side. Great maki rolls, nothing too fancy but it definitely satisfies the sushi cravings. Great food for a great price. Don't pass it up!
(4)
Molly A.

every sushi fan needs a go to place in their 'hood. for the time being, at least, this is ours. we have had tasty, fresh and inventive sushi every time we have ordered from here (we've never dined in, only ordered out). it's pricey, of course, but par for the course for sushi in the city of chicago.
(4)
E S.

Love love their ramen there!!!! I love al dente noodles and this place hit it perfectly. Had the pork buns - delicious!!!! Fried tofu was good, but I can skip that next time.
(5)
Kevin T.

Really love this place. The food is amazing and pretty well priced. I think it's even cheaper than some of the places I've been in the suburbs! Service is good everytime I've been here. Last night the waiter even put our extra bottles in their fridge so they wouldn't get too warm before we drank them.
(5)
Hope K.

I might have found an awesome go-to Japanese Restaurant. A girlfriend and I visited Wasabi for the first time. Thursday night around 9pm and it wasn't too crowded. Which was a plus for us since we were both super hungry... Found out that they've only been open since December of 2010. Decor was slick and modern. Nice contemporary vibe. Our server Kali was Awesome! She was very friendly, attentive and very knowledgeable! She was so helpful and had some "special" recommendations for the evening. If we could have, we wanted to order everything on the menu, but it was just us two girls, so we had to study the menu for a while before ordering... We put a bottle of wine on the table, and next thing you know, Kali comes by with two wine glasses and pours our wine! (BYOB - you can only bring wine/beer, and there's a limit based on the size of your party) Just so we'd be able to try more items on the menu, we decided to split everything. Starter: Just arrived today. Wagyu Kobe beef Grilled Skewer (not on the regular menu and not always available since they get it delivered from Japan) LOVED the flavor!!!! Yum Yum Yum! It was pricey since one skewer was $6 but definitely worth it since it's not your average beef from the land of America) We both had a piece of nigri. My friend had a piece of Unagi, which she loved (she's a huge unagi fan). I had a piece of Scallop Aburi, which was on the "special" menu board and not on the regular menu. All I can say is "just SUPER AWESOME!" It's a must TRY!!! Main Course: Hama Avo Maki and Unagi Avo Maki I really loved how they've seasoned the sushi rice! Just perfect! Also, they didn't use too much rice which was great! Spicy Garlic Miso Ramen was just awesome! Very flavorful soup! Dessert: Kali sold us (again) with the Creme Brulee. Just made fresh today and also not on the regular menu... It's a mini size. Just $4. It was a wonderful meal for both of us. We spent about $30 per person. I can't wait to come back and try all of the other items on the menu. Also, definitely recommend this Japanese restaurant for non-sushi and fish eaters since they can explore other non-sushi/fish items on the menu. WILL BE BACK VERY SOON!!!!
(4)
Jay P.

This place is firing on all cylinders. By far the best ramen I have had in Chicago and the sushi is pretty damn good as well. I would highly recommend the spicy garlic miso ramen to anyone on their first time, the calamari they do is an excellent appetizer as well as the sweet chili dip it comes with is amazing. The Scottish salmon tempura skewer is amazing as well and the specials they run like the surf and turf roll ( Kobe beef and lobster) or the pork belly sweet bun are out of this world. The only thing that could be improved upon is the take out service which has screwed up my sushi order twice now.
(4)
David A.

Wasabi went far above and far beyond courtesy to rectify a pick-up order that was mistakenly ordered. Not only is their food excellent, they made the effort to have my order delivered and replaced well beyond satisfaction. We loved their food beforehand. Now I'm a loyal patron. Thank you, Wasabi.
(5)
Law S.

They do a nice job, albeit some of the rolls were a bit loose. Love that it is BYOB and a great alternative to Coast and all the screeching girls that go there en masse. A great addition to Logan Square which has really been pumping out the new cool restaurants in the last year.
(4)
Cassandra S.

My boyfriend & I have actually been pretty big fans of Wasabi up to this point, but I don't know that we will be returning. The restaurant was fairly full tonight when we tried to get a table. The hostess rearranged some of the tables to accommodate the large family that walked in before us. We asked for a two-top. There was one available right next to the bathrooms & kitchen; it was almost IN the kitchen. We asked if there was another table, noting that there were at least 3 open 4 tops & 1 table that could fit 8 people that was actually 2 four tops pushed together. The hostess said that we could not sit at a 4 top because if 4 people came in, they could not sit at a two top. There was not anyone directly behind us. She said we could sit at the sushi bar, but that would not accommodate my coat/scarf/etc. We sat for a second, but then left as I'd rather not eat at a restaurant in the middle of all of the busser/server/bathroom traffic. We walked directly passed the hostess, who did not ask us why we were leaving or try to be accomodating. At this point there were still no other parties coming into the restaurant. Basically I have trouble supporting an establishment that is ready to accommodate 3 parties of 4 that aren't there & 1 party of 8 that has not come in yet or expressed a desire to dine at Wasabi, but cannot accommodate a party of 2. Because other larger parties *MIGHT* show up. We went to Telegraph down the street instead. They accepted our money as a mere party of 2 at 6:30 on a Friday night. It was fabulous, even though it wasn't what I'd had in mind from the outset.
(1)
Paul S.

I would talk specifically about noodle soup. Santouka Ramen's soup is probably better, but wasabi is very well balanced noodle. If you have noodle soup once a week, go to Santouka. If you are going to have it more often, wasabi's balanced soup is probably gonna hold longer. It is sorta like coke as to pepsi, while pepsi is Santouka, and Wasabi is coke. Everything else is quite expensive, sushi is just so so. Noodle is around $18-19, it is not cheap, but probably worth the price regardless. It is definitely a restaurant I would constantly return for more noodle soup :)
(5)
Peter S.

Coming from Asia, I'm kind of picky about noodle soup. I heard good things about this place. It turned out just ok. Broth is ok, nothing special or stands out. Not worth 13 or 14 dollars, judging by the broth and content in the soup. Most items are overpriced. Won't go back but won't opposed to go if my friends want to go.
(3)
Sonja S.

Sushi Bars can scare me, who knows from whence this fish came? Or rather from when? Freshness and quality are always a question for me at Sushi bars and honestly a question that this fussy ol broads stomach does not want to answer. Over the last few months I was persuaded by a little angel to try Wasabi , not once, not twice but three times. Every time was satisfying - but this last time,I finally had that glorious aha moment where the chopsticks parted and true , true Nirvana was achieved. (Not that it wasn't delightful , delicious and thanks to the BYOB - affordable- before); But when one wanders in , freezing and looks up at the fresh board and it says ANKIMO PONZU, my GAWD - tears well up in my eyes.... Ankimo is Monkfish liver , properly only served in the winter, it is a time consuming complex dish to prepare, if not done properly it has an odd texture - when done correctly it is a rich, not fishy amazing delight. One I crave and look for , but rarely find. Sort of like being on Match.com - only looking for food, not datable men over 45. Oh sorry - too personal? Come on now I am just kidding - ask Betty White, us old ladies can kid like that. Feeling adventurous, we had Hirame Sashimi with truffle oil and jalapenos and tobiko , fried oysters , a roll or two, a bottle of champagne (that we provided) Oh I was SO HAPPY. I need to try the Ramen, and the pork belly egg rolls. I am getting hungry here...taxi!
(5)
Alex M.

I have eaten here twice and love it. I just moved to Logan Square, and am not ashamed if this is the place I eat out at once a week. The first time I came for dinner and had their ramen and it truly was the best thing I have eaten in a while. Maybe ever. I swear every night I crave it. I've had the spicy one and the garlic one, I would recommend the spicy one, only because I'm obsessed with spicy food, but the garlic one was still good. They use long, curly egg noodles that are delish, pulled pork, an egg, fresh herbs, bamboo shoots, and other yumminess! You have the option to add more of pretty much any ingredient to your ramen as well, of course with extra charge. The second time I came here I decided to try their sushi and ordered the ArtMex which was fantastic, but because I've had the ramen I was a little disappointed, and was totally jealous of my bf's. Oh well, won't be getting sushi again, I'm sticking to the ramen. P.S. it's BYOB, no corkage fee. Another perk!
(4)
Inter A.

I love this place. Some people talk bad of the ramen based on the fact that it is not the best ramen in the entire country. I agree, it's not -- but I still think it's top 5 in Chicago. Certainly better than the poor excuse for ramen at nearby Yusho. Also, their sushi is outstanding. But one of my favorite things on the menu is the hamachi collar.
(5)
T V.

We always pass by Wasabi and always wondered what it was all about. We came to the restaurant on a Saturday evening around 6pm. It was pretty empty. We ordered the scallop maki and spicy white tuna hand roll. The sushi was good and fresh. They have about four or five different kind of ramen soups on the menu. We opted to go for the spicy garlic ramen. The soup was very flavorful and yummy! Although, I didn't think it was spicy at all. I've been searching the city for the best ramen noodle soup and I believe I found it! I've tried ramen at slurping turtle and urban belly and hands down Wasabi is the best!
(5)
Hume A.

I'm giving this place 3.5 stars. I've had ramen billed as authentic at four places prior to coming to Wasabi: in SF's Japantown (I think at a restaurant called Mifune), at another place in San Francisco, at Porter Square in Cambridge, MA, and at a nondescript Japanese place in Fort Lee, NJ. Of those four places, the place in SF Japantown was far and away the best. The broth was full-bodied, deep and hot; the pork was thick cut, ample, and meaty; and the sprouts and other accoutrement helped reveal the subtle and hidden depths of the broth and pork. The second best was the place in Fort Lee, the third was the other San Fran place, and the fourth was the Porter Square place. The other three were good - the Fort Lee place was even quite good - but each was a successively paler and ersatz version of the exemplar I had in Japantown. Ever since I've returned to Chicago in 2005, I've sought out a place where I could get ramen that would be up to par. The rave Yelp reviews were encouraging, so my wife and I were excited to come. But before I get to the ramen, let me quickly touch on the other aspects of our experience. I'm going to start with what I liked: -Our server was friendly. -The place is BYOB; our server even offered to put our beer in the fridge so she could bring us a cold one when we were ready for it. -Two of the appetizers we had were excellent: the fried asparagus and the pork belly and kimchee spring rolls. Fried asparagus sounds unappetizing to me, but it turns out that deep frying asparagus and pairing it with a delicious dipping sauce works out (who knew!). The pork belly and kimchee spring rolls were excellent. There are a few things that I liked but could have been better: -The soft shell crab was okay but I've had much more flavorful, tender and fresh examples of it at other places. -The digs were underwhelming. They felt a bit rough around the edges and had a somewhat unfinished quality. -The service, while friendly, took a while to get us the kimchee we had requested and a few times tried to give our order to another table. Now about the ramen - the main reason we were there: It was good, but it wasn't great. I think the pork should've had more time to reduce in the broth. The broth could've had more depth and flavor. The noodles, while okay, could've been thicker and chewier. The pork could have been fattier and more generous. I mean, I enjoyed it while I ate it, but at the end of the bowl my jonesing for authentic ramen had been mitigated rather than satisfied. In the final analysis, I would come back to Wasabi. The ramen is good enough for a second taste. Don't get me wrong - eating the ramen was in and of itself a pleasant experience, but I guess my disappointment stems from my comparing it (perhaps unfairly) to that perfect bowl I had in Japantown.
(3)
chris c.

I didn't care for the sushi roll we had, but all of the cooked dishes were pretty darn good. It's BYOB so it's a plus as well. A good value all around.
(4)
Katie N.

Oh how I love this place! I would give it 10 stars if I could. I came here a year ago for the first time just to have ramen because a lot of my friends said they have really good ramen and they did not disappoint me. And I had seabream sashimi which was their special fish of the day and it was soooo good. But that's all I had, two pieces of sashimi and a bowl of ramen and both were superb. But then I didn't have a chance to go there again since I live in the burbs I don't go out to Chicago very often. But last weekend we came here because my husband wanted some ramen and I wanted some sushi. I ordered some sushi, some ramen, cold appetizer, hot appetizer and some yakitori and Gosh every single thing was so delicious!! Where else can you get excellent sushi, excellent yakitori and excellent ramen in one place??? No where but Wasabi. And the service was great too. Even though the place was packed we didn't have to wait for our food that long. Love you Wasabi and thank you.
(5)
Jessica B.

I think this is the best sushi place I've found west of the river. The service wasn't amazing, but the food was worth it! My favorite roll is always tempura sweet potato, and they do it well. Also had eel and avocado and california roll, both of which were really great. My only complaint was that our waiter seemed to forget about us a little!
(4)
Kimberly P.

Great place to go for sushi. Comfortable atmosphere with great food. The service can be spotty at times. We've had great service one time and then the next time it's horrible (that's why I didn't give it more stars). Bring a date, bring your friends and bring a bottle-it's byob!!
(3)
Angela H.

pretty solid ramen in a city that has very few legit ramen choices. this actually may be the best ramen i've had in chicago - good, full bodied broth, chewy noodles, tender meat, nothing more left to desire. got some steak skewers that were the night's special. was a little skeptical when i saw some fake looking grill marks. pleasantly surprised, extremely tender & flavorful. walked away very full/completely satisfied and didn't spend a ton! will have to come back and byob!
(4)
Amelia S.

Not that there are many to select from, but this is by far my favorite sushi place in Logan Square and probably a 5 mile radius. The service is good and the specials are always new and unique. I have been here at least 7-8 times and have never had a bad experience. I like the dark quiet atmosphere and it is BYOB.
(5)
rachel j.

Just went here for my husband's birthday with about 18 or so people- this place is great! What is cool about this place, is apparently they specialize in Japanese street food, hence their extensive menu (which has a TON of stuff on it) We had the skewers to start- chicken skin, pork belly, pork and brie were all awesome, the scottish salmon was pretty good, (but the others were better) but overall, they were very tasty. The pork belly and kimchee spring rolls were excellent too. We ordered the Syou Tonkotsu Ramen soup- and you can get it "souped up" w/ extra stuff (don't remember what exactly) but waitress recommended it and it was amazing!!!! Our friends had the sushi/maki and all really enjoyed it as well as everything else they seemed to order. The service was great too- they were really excellent at accommodating our large group. We will definitely be back- there is so much more of the menu we need to try!
(5)
Missy S.

This place is a gem in Logan Square! My husband ordered mango salmon sushi. Wow, mango meets salmon? At first, I had no idea how would it taste like, but it melted in my tongue. YUM! Vegetable tempura was excellent. I have never had such a crispy tempura. I even wanted to ask the chef how did he make it. Definitely best tempura EVER. Vegetable teriyaki plate which I ordered was good too. There was zucchinis which I don't like on the plate, but I had no problem eating it because super delicious teriyaki sauce was on it. I definitely recommend this one and vegetable tempura for vegans and vegetarians. Servers were polite and all the meals were served in timely manner. Price is a bit pricey, but definitely worth it!
(5)
Micro R.

Ordered Pick-up The best thing was the Sour Plum Sushi, Great bright flavor Everything else was Meh They forgot to give us soy sauce & chopsticks One roll had blackened avocado Miso soup was watery Next time I will try something from the other side of the menu, not the sushi.
(3)
Jonathan C.

Finally thank god a sushi place close to my house. Every time I've eaten at Wasabi, I've recieved very friendly service and eaten some delicous food. I love love love the grilled pork belly skewer, so perfect with a little bit of rice. The Ramen with pork was excellent too. They have some very japanese dishes here , and I've found all of them prepared excellently. A very welcome addition to the neighborhood. The dining area is subdued, but makes for a good place to eat with friends. Go there, eat there.
(4)
Lindsey R.

Wasabi is outstanding. The staff is very friendly and our waitress, Jill, could not have been more welcoming or knowledgeable. We started with the Miso Braised Short Rib roll which was on special. It melts in your mouth. We also had the Pork Belly and Kimchi Spring Roll...again delicious! Then we had the Artmex signature maki, which was such a pleasant marrying of unusual but fantastic flavors. It was my favorite roll of the night. We also had a Surf and Turf roll on special and the Hotate Avo roll. I think I uttered the word, "wow" at least ten times during dinner. It's also really great that it's BYOB. I am only upset it's taken us so long to to dine here...
(5)
Oscar C.

Wasabi rocked my world tonight. We had the kimchi/pork springrolls (could have eaten 30 of these suckers) and chicken lollipops (yum!) to start. The ramen and unagi avo roll were both delicious. The mini chocolate dipped cheesecakes were tastefully amazing. Our server was sweet and attentive. So happy that I finally checked this place out. We will be back soon.
(5)
Mariella C.

This place was good, but not anything to write home about as far as sushi goes, although they get an extra star for inventiveness. They absolute do not skimp out on the fish, you get whole mouthfuls with every bite into a piece, in this case sushi and salmon. They have fried and grilled vegetables, for instance I got asparagus on a stick with a mayo type sauce, it was delish. They are BYOB, which unfortunately I didn't realize until after we arrived. Nice ambience, but it doesn't stick out much from all the other restaurants popping up in Logan Square.
(4)
Mary M.

I highly recommend going to Wasabi if you haven't been there already. I went here to celebrate my birthday with nine of my friends on Friday night. They don't take reservations but they were very accommodating. We had a table set up for all ten of us at 7:30 (did I mention that it was a Friday night?). Everyone in my party was very pleasantly surprised and pleased with the interiors, ambiance, music volume/selection and food. The hostess (that I spoke to on the phone earlier) was very warm and welcoming; she came to check on us a couple of times throughout dinner. The sushi and ramen were flavorful and fresh. Our server (who was nice and attentive) recommend the ArtMex roll; I loved the flavor and texture. Towards the end, he brought out chocolate and strawberry mochi ice cream with a candle in the center! I was totally surprised! This restaurant is contemporary yet comfortable. It has a laid back vibe and it isn't super loud with people shouting over each other or pretentious. And it has no TV, which is very hard to find in Chicago! I feel that I can come here on a romantic date with my boyfriend or with a group of girlfriends or even with my parents. I think Wasabi is exactly what Logan Square needs; I will definitely be coming back for more!
(4)
Kim W.

takoyaki = too much going on, overwhelmed by the "japanese barbeque sauce" tempura vegetables = YUM! dragon roll = can't go wrong the go-to spot for logan square sushi lovers.
(3)
Miguel V.

Get the ramen!
(5)
Briar B.

Ordered delivery from here and was not at all impressed. Food was just ok, but the portions are SO TINY! If I am going to spend nearly $50 on delivery then it better be awesome. I ordered two maki rolls and several skewers. The skewers are half the size they should be. I am usually pretty forgiving as I am in the industry but, I will not be ordering from this restaurant any time soon. Far better thai and sushi to be had elsewhere in this town for a much better price.
(2)
Jennifer D.

Great addition to an eclectic block! My husband and I have been looking forward to eating here, so we went the first night of a soft opening. Of course some kinks are still being worked out, but they were few and didn't detract from the fantastic food, nice ambiance and friendly, helpful staff. I'm pleasantly surprised at the price range, with plenty of inexpensive small plates and a la carte skewers and maki. I was also impressed by the variety of the menu, which besides maki and sashimi also included salads, teriyaki plates and noodle bowls. There were more vegetarian options than I've seen at comparable restaurants, and I thoroughly enjoyed the asparagus maki and daikon maki, as well as the sour plum maki, which was especially complex in flavor (sorry I can't remember the actual names of items!). My husband raved about the Pike place maki he had. This place is byob, so grab some wine or beer on your way over! We will next time, which will probably be soon as I've already decided what to try next on the menu!
(5)
Becky C.

Wasabi definitely did not disappoint! I'm happy to say that I've found a new place to satisfy my ramen cravings, one that's much closer to home. The tonkotsu broth was rich, porky, and delicious. The ramen noodle was cooked beautifully, just the right amount of chew. I only wished there was more pork belly! The bf got the spicy garlic miso ramen, and the broth was flavorful and complex, and had a serious kick to it - I suspect kimchi in the mix. Now he normally doesn't touch the broth (Who doesn't gobble down the broth, right? Strange, I know.) but tonight was not the case. He cleaned house the entire bowl of ramen! That's how good it was! Having found parking right in front of the restaurant (Street parking at $1.75/hr), beating the crowd by mere minutes (around 6:30pm on a Saturday night), and getting great service from our bubbly waitress made our first dining experience here darn near perfect! We'll be back soon, Wasabi!
(5)
Nelson T.

So from the decor and signage, this place looks like a crappy best-of-Japanese cuisine run by Korean dudes. Don't judge a book by its cover. Best ramen in Chicagoland. Chicago was a third rate town until this place brought us Tonkotsu ramen. All I can say is thank you, thank you, thank you. Better than a lot of places I ate in Tokyo.
(5)
Saren F.

BYOB, huge menu (almost overwhelming), nice atmosphere. Went with a large group and had a good time. Our waitress was a little flighty (forgetting who had what and a bit slow to respond to requests), but she was friendly and pleasant enough. I didn't get the sushi so I can't speak to the freshness of the fish, but several of their skewers were good and the pork belly kimchee rolls were to die for. I would be interested in going back to try the sushi since some of the rolls looked really interesting.
(3)
Mark R.

Yummy yum yum! Great service, great decor, great locale, SUPERB sushi! Wasabi hits it out of the park. We will definitely be back!
(5)
Rob Z.

As always, it is my policy not to review a restaurant until I've been there 2 times or more. Wasabi is just not my idea of a good place. I am going to keep my comments on the service separately. In terms of the sushi, it is really really overpriced for the portions. I do realize restaurants all have a "style" and perhaps this is a style that may work for some but not for me. All I can say is that if wanting to have good portions of raw fish is not considered "ideal", then this is not a good place for you. They have paltry amounts of fish and each of their "fancy" rolls are all 15.00 or more. And the lesser-priced rolls are just beyond paltry. You're better off buying pre-packaded sushi at Jewel. The service, well I was never into the hipster scene and can understand that what some people consider tacky, others might think it's "welcoming". As long as you're friendly and attend to my needs I will be OK. However, the service was slow and I really don't think the waitress really was paying attention to what I was asking (of course I had questions). I got the vibe that she was reading a script and was simply "selling" me on the rolls she had to sell. There were also a few mixups with the bill as well but that can happen to anyone, I will not take that into consideration when reviewing Wasabi. First impressions are everything but even then, Wasabi is not my kind of place. It's such a shame because I live so close to it. At least I still have Sakura! I had also forgotten about their "rules" for BYOB until someone reminded me recently. The front of their menus have a ridiculous amount of rules. You can only have one six pack per two people and I forget the rest. How pretentious, so you can't sell alcohol but want to monitor what and how people drink? Fork over the money for a license and hire a bartender then! So there, strike 3
(1)
Eugene C.

This place may have the best ramen in the city (close to Takashi's Sunday brunch). The noodles are al dente, the broth is rich and flavorful. Pork cheek was tender and the braised pork belly was absolutely delicious. The kimchi and pork belly egg rolls were good, as well as the one roll we tried (octopus). Give this place 4.5 stars, and will definitely come back. We'll see how the new Slurping Turtle will compare!
(4)
Glenn H.

Relatively small inside, but the two times I've visited Wasabi it wasn't very busy. It's hard to tell why though, as the prices are fair, the sushi is tasty and the service is great. If it stays secret, I won't mind never having to wait for a table, but I doubt it'll be secret for long.
(4)
Joe V.

I really wanted to like this place. A sushi place w/in walking distance? But having gone, I can only really say one thing. I was underwhelmed. First of all it was way overpriced. They had all these weird rules about the BYOB. Like only 1 bottle per table, and you can only bring beer or wine. The rolls we had were nothing to write home about. Just very blah. When my bf asked if the menu was going to change, we were told the owner spent eons perfecting it. Blah blah. To top it off our waitress screwed up our bill. We asked to split the bill on two cards, and she ended up running 1 card twice! Took forever to get resolved too on our end. Overall a bad experience. The decor was cool and it's in a great location. But that's about it. If you want good sushi in Logan Square try S@kura it's fabulous!
(2)
richard p.

Very good restaurant, at an attractive price point. While I do enjoy sushi, I am more focused on "warm" Japense dishes/entrees. The ramen is authentic/legit and the small plates are attractively priced and very tasty. The kimchee/park belly, dumplings, and gizzards were all solid. Also, the staff is very friendly and the atmosphere is laid back. Will surely be going back again....nice music by the way.
(4)
Tara A.

The food here is fantastic, and reasonably priced. Always has interesting specials. Homemade ramen is fantastic, as well as the sushi! The skewers were underwhelming, but everything else we've had was fabulous.
(5)
Joshua E.

Without doubt the best ramen in Chicago. Great sushi brunch.
(5)
Kathy C.

Friend got some appetizers, I got sushi. Sushi was fresh and tasty. I think my friend liked his as well. We ordered a side of kimchi, which was actually really good. Our server was attentive and gave good suggestions.
(3)
Emily O.

Love the ambiance. The set up is great. Small tables situated in a medium sized rectangular long room. Dim lighting, candles, dark walls, nice decor. Its a perfect date night restaurant.
(4)
Natalia D.

Finally had a chance to check this place out last week for a dinner with the bf and overall had a great food experience. The only real complaint that I had was with the service, which was very slow on a less than busy weeknight. When it came to the food however, we were very happy with our choices and how everything tasted. For our appetizer we started with the evening's special pork belly steamed buns and ordered a few small plates to share, which included the grilled chicken gizzard skewer (my bf's choice as they were out of the chicken skin), the fried berkshire pork and brie skewer, and a spicy scallop roll. The steamed pork buns took a while to come out but were worth the wait as the perfectly steamed buns wonderfully absorbed the richness of the pork belly and spicy mayo. I was not a fan of the chicken gizzard skewer as I personally have a dislike towards certain textures, but my bf thought it was well cooked and tasty. The pork and brie fried skewer was a bit disappointing as it was poorly executed and most of the Brie ended up bursting onto our fingers after each bite so it was difficult to appreciate the skewer as a whole. The spicy scallop roll was fresh and had the right amount of scallop and spicy sauce, neither of which overtook the other and blended perfectly into a well prepared sushi roll. For our entrees, we both went with the ramen, my bf having the tonkotsu and me the spicy garlic. Both of our ramen had tender pieces of pork cheek and soft boiled eggs in it, with mine being topped with fried garlic chips, which I thought were an awesome addition and just the right amount of heat in the broth. Overall, our experience at Wasabi was a good one, and for the price it is definitely worth a try.
(4)
Elite S.

Okay...review a little late since I was at Wasabi with friends several weeks ago! I think about this place so much because I think about..guess what...EATING!! So right away what pops in my head is great food - great ambiance - AND I want to go back!! This place is awesome; first time visit for my entire party and we all loved it. The waitstaff was very busy, however attentive! Every dish that we tried was delightfully good and fresh...Go here and get some...period.
(5)
Jen P.

excellent service. must try the kimchi-pork spring rolls for appetizers. had the spicy garlic ramen...YUM! havent tried their sushi yet but i'd definitely go back. really nice, kinda sexy atmosphere.
(4)
ChrisWinnie M.

We went there end of June around 5:30pm on a Friday evening. It was a hot summer day and as soon as we walked into the restaurant, we immediately noticed that the AC was not working properly. There were only one other customer there and the hostess took us to the table right next to it. We found it a little odd since there were all these other tables opened. I guess we could of ask for a different table but we felt like we should not have to ask... it is kind of a common sense type of things. We order some salmon sashimi which we were not impressed with. The skewers were okay and not outstanding. We went there for the ramen and was also disappointed. The pork cheek that came with the spicy garlic miso ramen was just too fatty for me to eat. The broth was not rich at all... which they claimed to take 20+ hours to make on their website. I have tried Ippudo in NYC and this is nothing close to it. I would not come back or recommend this place but my boyfriend is opt to give them a second chance. We are not going back until the weather is cooler because we do not want to be sweating while eating our ramen like last time.
(2)
Andrew R.

My girlfriend and I were craving sushi last night (wednesday) and finally decided to try Wasabi. We were excited to try since we had read such good reviews - we were NOT disappointed. Had a great meal. For a Wednesday there was a decent crowd. Staff was very accommodating and service was great. The sushi rolls were excellent. BYOB so the bill was very reasonable. A lot of other options on the menu for non sushi eaters. We will definitely be back. Could be a good spot for a group too.
(4)
J H.

good portions, very delicious ramen. good selection of appetizers and desserts.
(5)
Jamie B.

The first time I went here I thought it was pretty good. The second time I went was not very good. They had a food photographer shooting different plates, which would be fine and well, except for when my shrimp roll sat on the counter for 5 min, then was taken by the photographer and photographed for 15 minutes, set back on the counter for 5 min, and then served to me. I politely sent the dish back, and then it was returned. They said they were photographing takeout orders before they went out, and there was a mixup. Maybe I'm crazy, but I sent it back again. I also have to say if I ordered carryout from a restaurant I wouldn't want it sitting on a table under lights for a half hour. Then they took a half hour to remake the roll. The only upside was no charge. Probably won't be returning. Shame though, some of there food is quite tasty.
(1)

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Address : 2115 N Milwaukee Ave
Chicago, IL, 60647
Phone (773) 227-8180
Website https://www.wasabichicago.com
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Specialities

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

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Wasabi

2115 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL, 60647

Wasabi Menu

Small Plates

Soups And Noodles

Salads

Grilled Skewers

Fried Skewers

Nigiri & Sashimi

Signature Maki

Maki Mono

Vegetable Maki

Teriyaki Entree

Donburi

Sides

Desserts

Healthy Meal suggestions for Wasabi

Small Plates

Soups And Noodles

Salads

Grilled Skewers

Fried Skewers

Nigiri & Sashimi

Signature Maki

Maki Mono

Vegetable Maki

Teriyaki Entree

Donburi

Sides

Desserts

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