Ramen deserves a dissertation. Most people are only familiar with the msg-laden shrinkwrapped brick sold to poor college students and eaten with a bizarre sense of pride. I won't go into detail at this moment (but I sure will soon) but that point of comparison is exactly like dismissing Italian pasta because you have only tried Ravioli-O's.
This time of year a huge bowl of ramen, with sheets of nori and wakame (both wonderful seaweeds... don't flinch like that) half an egg, fishcake... yes the Japanese stole gefilte and made it better, beads of glistening fat. It's awesome.
Ginza, so far, is above and beyond anything else I've had in Chicago... Won't somebody let me know where else to go!
(Yeah Ginza again... where the curry rice is also good. And again for Udon)
Ginza (in the Tokyo Hotel)
19 E. Ohio St.
I think this is my new favorite blog post. It made me laugh and quickly crave Ramen at Ginza!
Posted by: Mandy Z. | October 26, 2009 at 04:18 PM
Have you tried Urban Belly? That place is pretty tasty.
Posted by: Thom | October 26, 2009 at 04:24 PM
You need to visit the food court at Mitsuwa in Arlington Heights
http://www.mitsuwa.com/tenpo/cica/eindex.html
Posted by: Ken | October 26, 2009 at 08:19 PM
I second the nomination of Urban Belly. Quite tasty and I understand they've now opened a new, different name, place near by.
Posted by: Pursuit | October 26, 2009 at 09:22 PM
Ha! Didn't read all the new entries before commenting....I see you're on to the new Urban Belly place!
Posted by: Pursuit | October 26, 2009 at 09:24 PM
The new Bill Kim (Urban Belly) place is called Belly Shack. It is Asian-Latin fusion ramen place under the Western Blue line. Haven't been yet, but I hear it is also good.
Posted by: Thom | October 27, 2009 at 12:18 PM
Mitsuwa is great. It was one of my very first posts on Chicago Foodies! Also go to the giant Mega Mart on Oakton... there's some good food court options there too!
(The UrbanBelly Ramen has a pho broth but I shouldn't pretend to know the differences... Had a pork/chicken blend with garlic and salt in NY at Minca so as for what's traditional, your guess is as good as mine)
Posted by: Josh | October 27, 2009 at 01:36 PM
went to Ginza last night and had the tonkotsu ramen. It was pretty tasty, which is saying something considering I was just in Tokyo! Mmm, milky, rich pork broth...
Posted by: Crystal Cun | November 20, 2009 at 01:31 PM
Ah! The world is not good.
Posted by: air jordan | November 12, 2010 at 08:06 PM