Stacked upon grocery store shelves in plastic packaging, instant ramen has become a staple in American culture. The allure of a tasty, flavorful bowl of noodle soup that can be cooked in three minutes has led to dozens of instant ramen varieties. Yet, those quick bowls do not taste quite the same as those freshly prepared in a restaurant. 

Ramen is a traditional Japanese noodle soup dish consisting of wheat noodles with toppings of nori (dried seaweed), menma (bamboo shoots), scallions, corn and a hard-boiled egg served in a broth. 

Four categories of ramen are each distinguished by their broth. Shoyu ramen features chicken and vegetable broth flavored with soy sauce, resulting in a translucent brown broth that is tangy and light. Shio ramen contains a thinner chicken broth that gives the soup a clearer appearance. Miso ramen consists of a thick and hearty miso broth that gives the dish a nutty flavor. Tonkotsu ramen is made from simmering pork bone on high heat for many hours that results in a creamy and fatty translucent white broth. 

The type of noodles also distinguish the type of ramen. Noodles are made from wheat flour, salt, water and kansui, an alkaline mineral water of sodium carbonate and potassium carbonate that gives ramen noodles their characteristic yellow color and chewy elasticity. The noodles range from thick and straight to thin and curly. Typically, the thicker noodles are paired with heavier broths.  

As a winter dish, ramen is perfect to provide a satisfying, hearty meal. Just one bowl will provide much-needed warmth in rough Chicago winters and leave your stomach satisfied. For a comforting and delicious meal at a decent price, check out these three ramen restaurants with locations across Chicago. 

Gold: Kyuramen

Dish: Chicken Ramen

Kyuramen has an energetic and bustling atmosphere in downtown. The River North restaurant opened in January and is the first in Chicago for the chain with 14 locations across America. Their chicken ramen has a tangy, sweet broth that has just the right balance of flavor and sodium, with straight noodles providing a firm bite to complement the light broth. The best part is the toppings, which bring different and distinct flavors to the bowl. The bamboo shoots add a nice pungent taste to the aromatic broth and the uber-delicious marinated egg provides rich creaminess. Additionally, nori and wakame (algae) sprinkle in a taste of the sea. The slices of grilled chicken in the dish are strangely served cold, but they help cool the palate against the warm broth. While it’s certainly not cheap, Kyuramen delivers a tasty meal — just make sure to book a reservation as seats fill up fast. 

Price: $16.99 

Rating: 5/5

Silver: Strings

Dish: Shoyu Vegetarian Ramen

With fresh noodles made daily in house, you cannot go wrong ordering at Strings Ramen Shop. Strings uses specially imported dough from Japan for its noodles and offers all four different types of ramen in its Hyde Park, Chinatown and Lakeview locations. The vegetarian shoyu ramen bowl has a light, earthy broth with just the right amount of sodium. Wood ear mushrooms and seaweed help accentuate the soy sauce-based broth, and the addition of pickled ginger gives a pungent aftertaste. The straight, doughy noodles taste similar to Chinese egg noodles, adding comfort to the bowl. The texture combination of the tender bamboo shoots and soft bean sprouts complement the chewy noodles to give the bowl a satisfying feeling. Additionally, the sprinkles of corn add a much-needed crunch. The different ingredients work well to provide a tangy, earthy and healthy bowl of ramen. 

Price: $13.95

Rating: 4.5/5

Bronze: Ramen San

Dish: Tonkotsu Ramen 

Ramen San has a relaxed and chill atmosphere that is perfect for a weekend night out. Locations in Lincoln Park, River North, Fulton Market and Streeterville offer a wide variety of tasty Japanese dishes on the menu besides ramen. Their tonkotsu ramen has a rich, hearty but excessively salty pork broth. Adding water might be required to dilute the sodium-heavy broth. However, the lardy broth combined with the soft Tokyo wavy noodles makes for a filling meal. The thin-cut pork belly, succulent and butter-like, provides an extra richness. In addition, other elements such as molten egg, bamboo shoots, wakame seaweed and fresh garlic come together well to make a fulfilling dish. The only downside to this hearty, fragrant bowl of ramen is the overly salty broth. 

Price: $16 

Rating: 4/5