Ton-Ichi ramen — Restaurant in Downers Grove

A few service problems. Ordered two drinks, two bowls of ramen, and one extra piece of karage that I pointed to. Ended up getting a full order of karage instead somehow. which is fine. Our drinks didn't show up till the very end of the meal, but she did comp one of them. They list things as punch and it's actually a tea drink. single server that was struggling their best, so was just understaffed. we did still tip them decent.

Food was a mixed bag. ran out of water drinking super spicy ramen.

Both the pork and vegan ramen broth was decent, the bamboo shoots were very good, the fry on the karage was good, the karage sauce was really good.

However, both bowls massive clumps of semi-cooked noodles, they were parboiled but didn't get separated for the final finish. Honestly, noodles were a little weird too. The karage wasn't karage, it was more a katsu style or chicken finger style white meat. which is fine if they called it chicken katsu. they were not using potato starch in the outside, so not what we expected. the nori was the wrong type, so didn't really go with everything else. the chili oil they used was not integrated because it was added last minute. the chashu was paper thin so it didn't contribute at all.

there are better ramen places out there, sadly. was disappointed because this has such a...

We had the Tonkatsu Rich Garlic Raman and it really lives up to its name with plenty of garlic and a bowl filled with extra ingredients like the marinated eggs, tender bamboo shoots, sweet corn, seaweed, and savoury chashu pork.

We also tried the brand new Korean fried chicken wings, and they were fantastic as well! The spicy chicken wings are extra spicy and definitely not "white people spicy" - leaving a fine, lingering burn on your lips and tongue that brings out the flavour of everything you eat after them. My fiancée who couldn't do that level of spicy really enjoyed the Korean garlic soy chicken wings.

The owner guaranteed the deliciousness of the wings, offering to take them off our bill if we didn't enjoy them, a bold and rare offer to make indicating her confidence in how very good they were. She was very hospitable, welcoming and willing to spend a lot of time with customers explaining drinks and dishes.

As with all restaurants in the area, there's been a dip in numbers of customers since Covid and she kindly asked if we would be willing to give this place a review if we enjoyed our dinner there and I was more than willing to do so. Would be terrible to see this fantastic Raman place disappear, so I hope this review convinces at least some of you to check out the Downers Grove Ton-Ichi Raman...

Ton-Ichi Ramen in Downers Grove is a must-visit for ramen enthusiasts seeking authentic Japanese flavors. Located at 74 Ogden Ave, this cozy spot offers a warm and inviting atmosphere, complemented by attentive and friendly service.

During our visit, we started with the chicken buns and pork gyoza. Both appetizers were exceptional—the chicken buns were tender and flavorful, while the pork gyoza had a perfect crispy exterior with a savory filling.

For the main course, I opted for the spicy beef ramen, and my wife chose the wagyu ramen. The spicy beef ramen had a rich, flavorful broth with just the right amount of heat, and the beef was cooked to perfection. The wagyu ramen was equally impressive, featuring melt-in-your-mouth wagyu beef that added a luxurious touch to the dish. Both ramen bowls were among the best we've ever had, showcasing the restaurant's dedication to quality and authenticity.

To accompany our meal, we tried the lychee drink and matcha boba drink. While they were refreshing, they didn't quite match the exceptional quality of the food. Ton-Ichi Ramen delivers an outstanding dining experience with its delicious food and excellent service. Whether you're a ramen aficionado or new to Japanese cuisine, this restaurant is...