35 Ramen Restaurants in River North

Eating Ramen in River North, Chicago

One of the densest dining districts in the country, packed into the blocks just north of the Chicago River and steps from the Magnificent Mile.

I built this page by pulling every ramen restaurant within about 1 miles of River North's center, so what you see above is genuinely local to this neighborhood — not just Chicagoin general. Right now that's 35 spots, and the map at the top of this page keeps the list live: enter your ZIP or tap "Use my location" and it re-sorts by distance from exactly where you are standing in River North.

Right now, Hokkaido Ramen Santouka Chicago West Loop is the highest-rated ramen spot in River North at 5.0 stars, with 82 Kimbap close behind. I'd still open both listings and skim the most recent reviews and photos before deciding — a rating is a good starting filter, not the final word. You can read our full review of Hokkaido Ramen Santouka Chicago West Loop for more detail.

How I pick a bowl in River North

My rule of thumb anywhere, including River North, is to favor shops that specialize in one or two broths and clearly obsess over them, rather than a long menu that does everything adequately. I also weigh a strong rating that holds up across hundreds of reviews more heavily than a perfect score from a handful. From there it's about matching the bowl to the moment — something rich like tonkotsu on a cold night, something lighter like shio or light & clean ramen for lunch.

Narrowing down what you're craving in River North

If you need something serving right now, jump straight to ramen open now or ramen open late. Craving something specific? Try spicy ramen, vegan ramen, or vegetarian ramen. And if you're heading out on foot, the "Delivers" and "Takeout" filters on the map save a trip to a spot that can't actually get a bowl to your door in one piece — I cover exactly how to pack ramen for takeout in what ramen noodles are made of.

Ready to look outside River North? Browse all ramen restaurants in Chicago, IL or every ramen restaurant in Illinois.

Frequently Asked Questions