Umaka Ramen — Restaurant in Niles Township

UMAKA Ramen is a true gem in Skokie, Illinois! From the moment I walked in, the warmth of the proprietors made me feel like I was stepping into a home away from home. Their friendliness is unmatched, and their passion for creating exquisite dishes shines through in every bite.

I had the pleasure of trying a variety of dishes, and each one was a masterpiece. The Chicken Katsu was perfectly crispy yet tender, while the Chicken brought a burst of flavor that was both bold and unique. The Miso Soup had a depth of umami that was comforting and satisfying, and the Tonkotsu Ramen was rich and creamy, with noodles cooked to perfection.

To top it off, the Milk Tea Bubble Tea and Thai Tea were deliciously refreshing, providing the perfect balance to the meal. And here’s the cutest detail that made my visit even more memorable—my rice was shaped like an adorable kitten! It's little touches like these that make UMAKA Ramen stand out from the crowd.

Every dish was crafted with care and precision, delivering a top-tier dining experience. If you’re looking for incredible food and warm, welcoming service, UMAKA Ramen is the place to be. This restaurant is truly a slice of culinary heaven....

Rating: 3.5 stars I really wanted to give this place 4 stars, but it just falls short at 3.5. The location is convenient, the staff is attentive, and the prices are very reasonable. The food, however, could use some improvement. The ramen noodles lacked that satisfying bounce you’d expect, and while the broth was decent, it could use a bit more depth of flavor. The house salad was good, the miso soup was tasty, and the veggie tempura was nicely done—crispy and flavorful. The chicken katsudon was just okay; my daughter even said my husband’s homemade version is better. Would I come here specifically for ramen? Probably not. But for a quick, affordable meal, it’s a...

Stopped here for lunch. We started with the 3 peice shrimp tempura, and they were crunchy and tender. I had the Unagi Don (Japanese grilled eel). It was similar to eel I had elsewhere. My friends had the Yakiniku Rice Bowl (Japanese grilled beef) and shrimp fried rice. I tried the Japanese grilled beef, and it was delicious and tender. My friend thought the shrimp in the fried rice were huge and well worth it! The waitstaff checked in on us a couple of times. The only issue we had was that the interior of the restaurant was very warm. It was probably the change of seasons, it being one of the first warm-ish days...