Shinya Ramen House - Midnight Diner — Restaurant in Chicago

Open LATE! (1:30 AM), Take-out, Social distance appropriate, masks required, great menu diversity, good drink selection, presentation great.

Appearance: Even during a pandemic, towards the "end" of a quarantine, this place looked great inside and out. Definitely enjoyed just walking in.

Seating: PLENTY of seating, especially outdoors. There's enough outdoor seating that IS SOCIALLY DISTANCED. Big ups there. Only gripe is that the outdoor seating is more akin to a lounge chair and not a dining chair, no back support there, BUT great to sit back and relax and enjoy the outdoors. There's a small amount of indoor seating which is to be expected. Plan accordingly!

Service: Service was A+. Extremely nice individuals working there. Some, not all, don't wear uniform which is neat, I enjoy seeing workers give their own style. However, sometimes I just didn't know who I could call upon for a waiter/waitress. But that's okay, they come around enough for you to know who is who by the middle of your dining experience.

Menu: If you're coming JUST for Ramen, you should definitely try to hold off and try some variety of dishes Shinya serves. It is a Ramen house, but they have great appetizers and other main dishes that may pique your interest.

Drinks: Piña Colada, and Sprite.

Food: Ordered Agedashi Tofu, Tamagoyaki, Chicken Karaage, Cha-shu Pork Don, and Umeboshi Chazuke (Pickled Plum).

Agedashi Tofu $4.99: Extremely crispy tofu exterior complemented with soup, bonito flakes and green onions. The soup is hearty and the tofu is soft inside. Oily flavor but tasty. EAT QUICK, it'll become soggy by the end of the meal!

Tamagoyaki $5.99: Sweet, Soft, Savory, Buttery, rolled egg complemented with sesame seeds. The egg is extremely soft and it honestly is very sweet compared to the other dishes ordered. If you want to give your mouth a break from saltiness, this is the dish to go for!!

Chicken Karaage $5.99: Fried chicken with Japanese spicy mayo, a classic. Chicken breading extremely crispy, the panko bread crumbs can be tasted. Japanese spicy mayo went well with it. Even without it was still very juicy inside. A must have for chicken food lovers.

Cha-shu Don $8.99: Chashu pork extremely soft, broke apart with ease, egg a nice cold contrast, sesame seeds good for flavor, hearty meal. Only gripe was there was only two piece of Cha-shu Pork. Loved it, tasted great though. For the price, it is extremely worth it still.

Umeboshi Chazuke (Pickled Plum) $7.99: Interesting flavor, green tea poured over the rice dish, many dried vegetables and rice inside, with different flakes spread atop. There's a gimmick with this dish that engages you to eat it. You get a kettle of some tea that you actually pour over the dish! The tea broth infuses the flavors together and the flakes really draw the flavor in also. It feels slightly akin to a miso taste. A definitely experimental dish if you're feeling up for something different! Great for the price too.

Overall: 5/5 definitely would come back and try OTHER DISHES too! Jump right in to the other dishes if you're not feeling just...

The seating in the place is very limited and the tables are so close together. When we walked in we weren’t greeted or asked if we had a reservation. She literally just told us to sit where we wanted beside the “booth”. I wanted to tell her we had a reservation but she looked annoyed and unfriendly. We never have been to a place where you scan the table to order. Which is fine but asking about tipping is wild. Especially when nobody came to anybodies table to check to see how things were going. Also that lady that was there the night of December 7 late night needs to work on some people skills. She asked us 3 times if we were ready to leave. Which was so annoying even rolled her eyes after the 3rd time she asked us if we were ready and we literally had to tell her we are waiting on a beverage we ordered from the bar and she proceeds to roll her eyes. I could understand if it was almost closing time but it wasn’t. So we chugged our drink and left. But regardless from that incident the rest of the staff was actually nice and we still tipped. The food is very mid at best. Everything was warm and not hot. The crispy chicken wings had so much breading and the chicken was bland. Ebi yaki shrimp had way too much marinade or sauce on it and kinda felt mushy when eating it. The enoki mushrooms came out cold and no flavor. Not only that they were overcooked. We ordered 2 different types of ramen dishes both so disappointing. Absolutely lacked flavor and small in size for the price you pay. The chicken that put in the ramen looked like dark and white meat almost like they shredded a rotisserie chicken to put in the ramen. I could be wrong but that’s what it looked like to us. The broth was watery and had the after taste of ramen packet seasoning. The same goes for yuzi ramen but that one didn’t have any type of citrus flavor what so ever. The steak skewers would have been good, but whatever seasoning they put on top overpowered the whole dish. To the point where we actually took off a lot of the seasoning because that’s literally all you could taste. The Japanese cheesecake tasted like poundcake it wasn’t great, but it wasn’t bad, but I wouldn’t order it again. The best part of the food experience was the spring rolls they were crispy and nice size filling and the sauce that it came with was good too. The vegetable fried rice had really nice flavor, crunchy vegetables and wasn’t too greasy. Then the mochi(strawberry) was really fun to try it was good. We also had boozy lemonade and passionfruit Mojito those drinks were great would definitely come back for those drinks and the food we did enjoy. Just hope not to be rushed next...

Shinya Ramen House offers a delightful dining experience that effortlessly blends Japanese charm with modern comfort. From the moment you step inside, the ambiance envelops you in a cozy yet stylish atmosphere, perfect for a solo meal, a gathering with friends, or a romantic dinner with loved ones. The decor seamlessly marries traditional Japanese elements with contemporary touches, creating an inviting space where you can unwind and savor every moment. During my recent visit, I decided for the Kanto Shoyu Ramen, a classic choice for first-timers like myself. The dish arrived beautifully presented, a symphony of flavors and textures waiting to be discovered. The chicken broth, delicately seasoned with soy sauce, formed the heart of the dish, infusing each spoonful with rich umami goodness. The egg ramen noodles were cooked to perfection, providing a satisfying chewiness that complemented the broth exquisitely. Topping the ramen was a generous portion of grilled pork belly, or chashu, adding a savory depth to the ensemble. Accompanying the chashu were a variety of traditional garnishes, including seaweed, seaweed paper, bamboo shoot, black wood ear mushroom, green onion, fish cake, and a half soft-boiled egg. Each element contributed its unique flavor and texture, elevating the dish to a culinary masterpiece. The half soft-boiled egg was a highlight, its creamy yolk blending seamlessly with the savory broth, while the bamboo shoot provided a refreshing crunch with every bite. The black wood ear mushroom added a delightful earthiness, while the green onion imparted a subtle freshness to the overall palate. My experience at Shinya Ramen House was nothing short of exceptional. From the inviting ambiance to the exquisite flavors of the Kanto Shoyu Ramen, every aspect of the dining experience was thoughtfully crafted to leave a lasting impression. Whether you're a ramen aficionado or simply seeking a delicious meal in a welcoming setting, Shinya Ramen House is sure to exceed your...