Gyuro Ramen — Restaurant in West Chicago Township

I recently had the pleasure of enjoying a fantastic lunch at this incredible ramen shop, and let me tell you, it was an absolute delight! From the moment I stepped foot inside, I could sense that I was about to embark on a truly special culinary journey. The ambiance exuded an authentic Japanese beef broth ramen experience, instantly whisking me away to the lively streets of Tokyo.

Upon entering, I was warmly greeted by the friendly staff, who welcomed me with a heartfelt "Irasshaimase," a traditional Japanese greeting. They efficiently handled the seating arrangements, ensuring a smooth and seamless experience from the start.

Now, let's delve into the highlight of my visit – the food! I treated myself to the premium wagyu ramen, and although it came at a slightly higher price, I can assure you that every mouthful was worth it. The broth was an extraordinary revelation, boasting the finest aspects of beef, right down to the marrow. It possessed a delicate balance of richness and subtlety, with a gentle hint of saltiness that harmonized impeccably with the umami flavors of the beef, charshu, noodles, egg, and bamboo shoots. Among the different varieties, the spicy garlic miso ramen emerged as my personal favorite. Its spice tantalized my palate without overpowering the miso base, gracefully dancing across my taste buds and leaving a delightful reminder of its presence as it caressed the back of my throat.

In addition to the exceptional ramen, I also had the pleasure of sampling the delectable beef bowl and the mind-blowing premium wagyu katsu curry. The chicken karaage featured a perfect balance of crispy exterior and tender, juicy interior, while the takoyaki, despite lacking a noticeable piece of tako (octopus), delighted my senses with its supple texture and the added umami punch of bonito flakes.

When compared to other ramen shops in the area, this establishment unquestionably stands out as a top contender. After just one visit, it has secured its position as one of my go-to dining spots. The atmosphere beautifully captures the vibrant energy of a fast-paced downtown Tokyo ramen shop, and the staff's warm and approachable nature further enhances the overall experience.

If I were to suggest an area for improvement, it would be the appetizers. While they were good, they didn't quite reach the same level of excellence as the ramen itself.

It's worth noting that the shop only provides street parking and lacks an outdoor patio, making it unsuitable for those with furry companions. However, the BYOB policy adds a nice touch, allowing patrons to bring their preferred beverages to accompany the meal.

In summary, I wholeheartedly recommend this ramen shop for its phenomenal ramen, immersive atmosphere, and the genuine hospitality of its staff. It truly captures the essence of authentic Japanese beef broth ramen, transporting diners to the bustling streets of Tokyo...

✨GOLD FLAKES ON WAGYU RAMEN 🍜 @gyuroramen in West Loop, Chicago

I don't know about you, but I've never had beef brothed ramen in my Life. And I've been to Japan and lived in Hong Kong 😂 it's incredible how much flavor and umami this place has and even a slight sweetness from the bones & marrow #sponsoredpost

I'm drooling 🤤 just thinking about it.

Their menu is new for only a few weeks, especially the garlic Everything was made to perfection, including the truffle wontons & the sweeter tamago egg that's marinated super well

even the gold flakes on top 🪙 💰

Biggest highlights were: 🍜 The premium gyukotsu - wagyu, chasiu, beef tongue, truffle wagyu wontons, tamago egg, and added fried shallots + corn 🦀 Soft shell crab bun - small-sized whole crab , fried fresh with a zesty spicy mayo on top & okinonomi 🐮 Domestic wagyu appetizer - so so good, the marbling, the spicy garlic yuzu 🍹Mocktails - raspberry rose soda and matcha black sugar latte (2 of my server Patrick's favorites!)

Also got the wagyu misuji spicy garlic ramen with the thickest & largest piece of wagyu beef in a noodle I've ever seen. Not spicy at all but more of a fragrant kick from a Sichuan pepper

And the Sakura mochi with red bean and cherry blossom leaf . Really nice and light, and a fantastic finish to the meal!

Edit March 2023: I'm just drooling thinking about their ✨gold flaked✨ medium rare wagyu slices, premium wagyu ramen, wagyu truffle wonton, spicy miso wagyu ramen, and wagyu truffle shumai 🤤

More on the food 🍜 Gyukotsu aka beef broth ramen made with so much love. This Premium Wagyu Ramen comes with ✨ gold flakes ✨medium rare sliced wagyu, wagyu chunks, wagyu chasiu, beef tongue, truffle wagyu wonton, tamago (super tender jelly egg), nori. What I love about it is the broth is nice and rich, but not too overpowering and it's packed with toppings. This ramen makes me feel like a queen 👑

🍜 Spicy miso garlic is another favorite of mine. It literally comes with a large dollop of garlic which boosts the flavor of the soup so much more in addition to the miso + garlic chilli oil that's homemade. We chose wagyu misuji and it comes with fish cakes.

🥟 Truffle wagyu shumai - I love the chewy bite of this siu mai, they really put some arm strength into it when mixing the meat. Love the truffle flavor!

🦀 Soft shell crab - super crunchy and fried on the spot with a spicy garlic mayo which is perfect to pair. As you can see it's a pretty big crab too!

🍹 non-alcholic cocktails - loved both the yuzu mojito and strawberry rose refresher. Yuzu is on the less sweet side which I loved, and gently lifted by the mint. Bit into the freeze dried yuzu as well, super sour and is a nice palette cleanser between the rich food

More on Instagram:...

Takeaway: My favorite ramen spot in Chicago - excellent food with a fun, unique atmosphere atmosphere

Context: Dined in for dinner. I've eaten a lot of ramen and ramen-adjacent food before, but never gyukotsu

What I Got:

Wood Ear Salad (7/10) Wood ear mushrooms with pickled scallions tossed in a soy sauce / vinegar / jalapeno sauce. Refreshing, simple winter salad with the wood ears obviously being the star of the show here. It was a bit sweeter than I expected - not in a bad way. Overall though, was very light and the ingredients seemed to be high quality, but nothing really to write home about

Chicken Karaage (8/10) Japanese-style fried chicken. Relatively light batter, which I was a fan of here. Not a ton of crisp to it as a result of this, but not something I had too much problems with. Chicken was cooked perfectly - super tender. Overall just a really great, light karaage.

Steam Bun w. Crispy Soft Shell Crab (6/10) The only thing here I would definitely not get again. Bun was good and the soft shell crab was okay, but it really just didn't go that well together. The texture of the soft shell crab and its relatively subtle flavor was just completely overwhelmed by the bun

Beef Chashu Signature Gyokutsu (9/10) Beef broth ramen with truffle wonton, menma, nori, scallion, and an egg. Honestly just some of the best ramen I've ever had. The beef broth makes this pretty unique compared to most ramen, which are pork-based. It feels a lot less fatty and oily - a perfect soup for a cold day with that incredible umami you can only find with beef broths. The egg, noodles, and menma are great - just the right amount of bite to everything. I wish there were even more truffle wontons, haven't had it before, but was overall just a very solid wonton with (a not overpowering amount of) truffle. The beef was really interesting - I'm not sure how they prepared it and again a lot less fatty than the meat slices you typically get with ramen. Tender and relatively thin pieces of beef - again, I wish there was more.

Overall, by far the best bowl of ramen I've had in Chicago. Definitely a bit different compared to most ramen, so be prepared for that, but I'm thrilled to...