Trying Zaru Soba at Friends Ramen 🍜

Was invited to try new items at Friends Ramen — but rest assured, all thoughts are honest and unbiased! 🥢 Zaru Soba (Cold Buckwheat Noodles) – The main reason I accepted the invite! So few spots in Chicago serve soba. The noodles were softer than traditional, likely adjusted for American tastes, but flavor was authentic. Came with tempura shrimp — good value. 🍹 Non-Alc Drinks – Honolulu: pineapple-based, add a dash of grenadine if you like. Tinky Winky (yes, from Teletubbies!): blackberry + lemon + Sprite — lighter and more refreshing. 🍘 Okonomiyaki – Pretty standard, similar to Outsider’s version. 🍛 Japanese Curry Rice with Fried Pork – Not tonkatsu — small fried pork pieces. Not super crispy, but meant to be mixed into curry anyway. Could use more curry sauce! 🍜 Niku Ramen – Tasted like Gyudon (beef bowl) over noodles — comforting but noodles were overcooked (a theme here). More chew would improve it. 🍵 Matcha Tiramisu – Strong matcha flavor, but too soggy — soaked a bit too long. Still a decent sweet finish. Located near downtown schools, Friends Ramen fits its audience: office workers and hungry students. Not quite on par with Chicago’s top ramen spots, but a solid lunch option if you’re in the area. 📍 Friends Ramen 808 N State St, Chicago, IL 60610 #FriendsRamen #ZaruSoba #ChicagoRamen #JapaneseCurry #ColdNoodles #DowntownEats