Tanaka Ramen & Izakaya — Restaurant in Lake View Township

Lakeview's Mile High Tanaka Ramen: where Shinzo Abe would like to eat, and I'd like to invite him (and if he ever finds these messages, consider these words a real invitation to you, if he reads it and finds it). The reason is I'm working on a children's book called Abe Lincoln: Land Surveyor from Illinois, and I'd love to hear his constructive criticism, and likely incorporate all of the feedback. For Abe and Abe, despite the pronunciation variance, have the same high classic style of multilateral diplomacy: they know their foreign relations, or knew. Shinzo, I haven't eaten here yet, but it's a real invitation, and then I could dedicate the book to him, although there's a lot of people that would share the list with him. Lung Chu-Chen already did the leg work to get into my dedication page, but Shinzo Abe; well, I can't dedicate it to him with integrity. I do like him though, and let's face it: not all Heads of State know their diplomacy, but Japan's does these days, right up there along with the German Chancellor.

I haven't eaten here yet, but I already know it's going to be good. There's two vegan options here, although the first is labeled vegan. I walked in there after having passed by with interest many times, and I remember: it really was for investigatory purposes: I'd probably be picking up some food there and not only was there one meal option: Tanaka Ramen in Lakeview has two. The best part of course was that I think the girl I talked to was Japanese, and having been outside all day rolling in the mud with my Shiba Inu, I wasn't expecting to pass by that ideal type of Japanese new friend, that you know everyone at work or school is competing to be friends with, we circled and passed, communicated under pandemic masks, which in my day of research at a few places, does add another barrier, but this Japanese beauty and I seemed to figure it all out in English in a few moments. There's two vegan options at Tanaka Ramen, for meals, clearly labeled, and a lot better than most places or nearly everywhere. The second vegan option is label vegetarian which is actually true and accurate, for it's vegetarian and vegan. And I think we were looking briefly at the ingredients, and confirmed: "There's two vegan options at this place: Tanaka Ramen." All I can say is that one person left Tanaka Ramen thinking, "This place is the Athenian Candle Shop of Lakeview's restaurants: 100 Years more, I hope, and always called Tanaka Ramen for continuity. I remember clutching my Shiba Inu: a difficult breed in some ways, but also the best, and the right dog I knew I had to have a few years ago. Who is the new "It" girl at the University of Chicago? I was wondering what her subjects are, but it's better not to ask and just hope they are Linguistics, Romance Languages & Law. I mean, she also may not necessarily have been a University of Chicago student, but she just seemed to do everything right. Well, the person who stumbled in there today, the guy who desperately hopes to meet Shinzo Abe one day., where I'd probably just say nothing, but who knows: if he asked me questions about what I loved in Hiroshima, and the Japanese man who took me to the baseball stadium briefly and train station. Literally, a person who saved my day, for I only had a day there, and the Japanese being the smartest, I can't even remember how he helped me find the place, or who he was. I must have asked someone for directions or looked lost. The person I'd really want to tell Shinzo Abe about is the Japanese girl on the blue trolly car. For this many years after the trip, I'm wondering, "Did I add her on after?" I'm pretty sure I didn't, and there was one girl in particular, who seemed to be checking me out, just as I was her. I'd tell Shinzo, "I think she understood the Nirvana shirt I wore, not only a Kurt Cobain tribute." And the colorful cranes, of origami from the book about the girl with a name like Sadaku. I usually cite my trip to London, England, as my first encounter with the foreign, but I had Japanese...

I was visiting Chicago and we love Ramen so we decided to order Tanaka Ramen pick-up. The good: Ramen was tasty and overall the food tasted good. The bad: We had ordered 3 Ramens and 2 appetizers (Tofu and Rock Shrimp). When we were first given our order, it seemed like we were missing items. Then, as we were leaving, the worker gave us the Tofu app. Even so, seemed like there was food missing but I figured how can the mess this up, especially after initially forgetting the Tofu. Well we get to the room and the Rock Shrimp was missing. I was so upset but whatever, mistakes happen. That is not the worst part. When I call, the guy offers for me to walk back and pick it up. No apology at all. That is what got me steamed. How hard is it to say " sorry for the mistake". Nothing. Nada. Well, I told him I didn't want to walk back so please give me a refund for the app. He said he would try and abruptly hung up. Again, no " my bad" or anything. How rude. You would think that business being slow, they would appreciate the business. I will never return to that restaurant. Now am awaiting the refund. Time will tell. I recommend that if you do decide to visit, make sure to check your order. If you want good customer service,...

So disappointed with the quality of the food. We ordered two ramen bowls (one Spicy Tori Chicken and one Tanaka Rich Garlic with extra noodles) for take-out, which totaled nearly $40 (without tip). We were expecting professional-style, gourmet ramen dishes from a restaurant that claims to have “the best ramen in town”.

Instead, we received bland, tasteless noodles coupled with watered-down soup that left us feeling rather dissatisfied. There were barely any garnishes or spices added to the soup base. The overall quantity of food is very small considering the very high-end prices. I wish I had just microwaved a $1 cup of noodles instead of purchasing food from Tanaka Ramen.

I definitely recommend other ramen stores (Musashiya Ramen and Kameya Ramen) that will actually care about the quality of the food they serve you. We only ordered from Tanaka because every other good ramen place was closed on Monday. Mistakes were made.

Other ramen restaurants I have been to have far better prices and offer larger and tastier portions. The overall quality of other local ramen places far surpasses that of Tanaka Ramen. You have a better chance of making tastier ramen at home - even if you...