Reviews of High Five Ramen (Restaurant)

Vincent Gau

Amazing ramen with great noodles and an amazing broth. Tried both the Full Spice and had a taste of the No Spice broth and is so great. Taste: A Price: B- Would very much recommend it's an excellent experience. Be early (stay and drink beer upstairs!)

Jordan Kaye

Full spice = full NICE! This place rules. Get ready to wait in line though.

Hexu Wang

I only had ramen in three places in Chicago, string, santoga and high five. And this is my most honest review I think high five is the best among those three. The egg is just perfect, in both temperature and state. And the soup, tho I ordered half spicy signature, is just delicious, while string is way too salty. Good vibe down stairs as well, the drinks are just so so. I don't know if I can order drink upstairs and then take em downstairs.

Tyler Ody

The best ramen I've had yet by a mile. My only minor complaint is it was too dark to read the smaller print on the menu, but I also get that they were going for a certain asthetic and I loved it.

Matt Hoelting

The ramen is definitely good, but not the best I've had in the Chicago area. The prices are reasonable, the service was great, and our order came out very quickly. Waiting an hour or so to get in isn't bad in this neighborhood, but the normal lines are way too long due to the very limited seating. It has a cool atmosphere, but it's very difficult to talk over the music.

Sarah Cullen

High five ramen is a great spot to have ramen in Chicago! Get there early, there isn't a lot of seating and the wait is long if you do not get there right when they open. However, the wait is worth it no matter when you get there though! Truly delicious!

Jordan Wear

Worth. The. Wait. The half-spice signature bowl is all you need. The vibe is too cool. After waiting an hour with our name in, we finally sat at the only bar in the whole place, got our food pretty quickly and it was so fresh and flavorful. I don't typically order Ramen - but the selection here is good and they do all the choosing for you. Trust them when they say the Signature is why you waited in line....

Syaqinah Harun

Went on a Tuesday evening right before it opened at 5pm and there was already a long line. I was seated immediately as I came as a party of one. Being probably the 12th person in line, I heard the people in front and at the back of me had a wait time of 30-50 min for a party of 2+. Ordered the full spice signature bowl and it was good, as in mediocre. The dish wasnt really spicy (for hardcore spicy lover like me) as its not your typical thai kind of spiciness but more of a numbing spice which masks the taste of the tonkatsu broth. The noodles were cooked nicely and the portion size was big. Giving 4 stars because I feel like the signature bowl would have been 100x tastier with half spice.

yusaurus

My favorite ramen joint in all of America. Their broth consists of a gazillion layers of flavor. Get there early and you will not have to wait forever. But it's convenient too to have green street smokehouse bar right upstairs

Jace Malone

They offer a large range of fresh food. I like dining here. Employees are always helpful, rates are convenient and the place is always kept clean.

MsBreeze101

Great food, customer service, prices, music, and atmosphere! I highly recommend this little gem but the wait time is ridiculous it's a small restaurant so it comes with the expectation of a long wait time. Other than that it would have received 5 stars.

Alex De Guzman

The half spice signature bowl and the vegan maitake are AMAZINGGG. the vibe of the restaurant is dark and chill. They always have good music playing as well. Highly recommend.

Matthew Zetouna

The place is a tight fit and an incredibly dark ambiance, really funky and cool. I ordered the signature high five tonkotsu ramen with no spice. It came relatively quickly and was a great temperature. I noticed they forgot my egg and had to let them know and it was immediately obliged. The broth was a rich, heavy, deep broth with a delicious hint of “smoked” from the wok hei, as well as a sweet taste from the caramelized onions. What a strong personality! The more I ate, the saltier the broth tasted. It was definitely bold. The egg was cooked to the right amount and the pork was a medium cut in thickness and came apart as I ate it. The noodles were wavy noodles. Finally, I had an unwelcome interruption when I bit into my noodles and found eggshell. It’s an understandable mistake as the eggs are hot brined and harder to peel, but would you want to bite into eggshell? I would give the ramen a 7/10 or 4 stars based on my experience. If that wasn’t my experience, they’d get a 9/10 or 5 stars :)

Wenqi Gui

Definitely one of a kind experience- first of all the ramen place is very hidden. And it’s in the basement with no lights - only some candles on your table. We got there on a Saturday at 5:10, and there were already a line waiting to get on the list. We sat down and start eating around 6:30. The ramen was very flavorful with generous amount of chashu meat. Like other ppl said, the place is very small and only about 16 ppl can sit down and eat at the same time.

Christy Kaye

The best ramen in all of Chicago! I've tried my fair share of ramen and have adventured all around the city to try different types, but High Five is the best I've had. Order the High Five Signature Ramen. It is named that for a reason. Don't even bother with anything but that ramen. The broth is rich, savory, and full of umami. The noodles and soft boiled egg are perfect Everytime, but the kicker is when you add their bold spice. The kicker is really their amazing pork belly though. Expertly cooked, High Five delivers every single time. I'll also add a quick plug for their coconut pain killer which add the perfect sweetness and cold to counteract the hot and savory ramen. The one caveat is there are only 16 seats in the entire restaurant so prepare for a lengthy wait if you don't get seated immediately. Still worth it though. Just Go!

Mark Rosenberg

Best ramen in Chicago.

Stephan Gruessner

Honestly my favorite restaurant in all of Chicago. The wait is long, but the atmosphere is wholesome and intimate. And during the wait, it's nice to just waste time in the ground floor southern BBQ restaurant with a good draft beer. The food is fantastic and comes out fast. The music is obscure and hipster, but inviting. Love everything about high five ramen.

Daniel Wisehart

This ramen is quite tasty. If you like your ramen to be completely traditional, you will be disappointed. But if you are willing to try a Hipster's take on what good ramen might be, I think you will like it. The flavor is better than traditional ramen, the textures have great mouth feel and portions are large. Personally I order an extra seasoned egg and extra pork belly with mine: yum. The only reason I give four stars instead of five is that the music is too loud for me. But I can put up with it for this ramen. Show up at 4:45 to avoid the long lines or 4:30 to be in the first seating.

Thomas Lawson

Awesome Ramen and location, wait was long but worth it!

Luis Contreras

Great service, cool atmosphere, funky music and staff. I just did not like the food at all....

Daniel Wolf

Convoluted and Oppressive Environment! If I were to try to picture the most annoying chore ever and let my imagination run wild it would not come close to the reality of eating at this restaurant. There are labyrinths that are easier to escape than this place is to find. It's located in a dungeon underneath a complex that I can only describe as combining the worst attributes from a shopping mall and a dance club. You know when you see something cruel and obnoxious that somebody posted on some social media platform? And you think who would do something so depraved? That person probably visits this place frequently. They're probably here right now. So if you're a sociopath and you want to be surrounded by other sociopaths then this is the place to be!

Benny Dale

Ignore the bad reviews about long wait times. People who show up here with a group of 5 and then complain just don't get it at all. I'd love to see them try waiting for a popular spot in Osaka or Tokyo lol. Anyway, GO HERE! It's everything a ramen joint should be. Down to earth, thoughtful service, and small batch bowls that are, as they say, "the good good". I've tried almost every bowl of ramen offered in Chicago. This definitely makes the top 5 list.

Father Neil Bakker

AMAZING Ramen! Flavorful, complex, intrigue, with depth and personality. The half-spice was enough for me. The eggs were cooked perfect...soft boiled. The staff was helpful, courteous to newbies, friendly, and fun on a busy Thursday night.

Mallory Kern

So. Worth. The. Wait. I loved this place so much and can’t wait to come back. The ramen is probably the best I’ve ever had and their rendition on a painkiller cocktail is almost as good as the original. The nice thing about this place is that even though you’ll likely need to wait for a seat, you can hang out upstairs at green street.

Brandon Bruner

The best ramen in the city, the only ramen spot that embraces traditional Japanese ramen culture, from simple menu to tight spaced dining area.. as the months get colder expect 1-2 hour waits.. Never go full spice

Nick Reese

Super hard to get a table or a spot but really worth it if you can get in. If you're more than one person, you'll need to either (1) be at the door right when the place opens or (2) be willing to wait up to 3.5 hours. No joke. If you're just one person, you can slip in after about 30 minutes.

Renato Sierra

Nice place a great spot if u like a kind of cozy and underground culinary experiences

Jonathan K

2.5 hour wait times, and ramen is not worth the wait! Amazing atmosphere, but difficult to find (door before green street meats somewhat unmarked).

Ahsan Ali

Best vegetarian Ramen I've had so far. Seats a small amount of people and the wait times can exceed two hours at peak times. Would recommend going alone to get seated faster at the odd single seat left.

Harald Ringbauer

Hands down, best Ramen place in Chicago. Hipster flair and music, which works pretty well for that kind of restaurant. Beware, it can have a long waiting line! But it is worth it.

Joe Crane

Long wait, hard to see, good service though. Maybe I just got the wrong ramen, but there's definitely better in the city for cheaper and with less of a wait.

Greg Peczkowicz

High Five has some of the best Ramen in Chicago. I had the signature ramen with full spice and it was amazing. The pork belly was the most tender and flavorful pork I've ever had in any dish and the egg was perfectly cooked. Show up an hour before they open and be the 1st to be seated, but I wouldn't wait 2-3 hours for it.

Tara Alonzo

Incredible hole in the wall place. If you have to wait, it's worth it.

Matt Quinn

Best ramen I have had. Be prepared to wait for a bit but it is worth it.

Martin Vizcarra

I come here at every opportunity! This place is so delicious!

Nadia Alexandra

SPICY. very good.

arenita nava

Great food and staff. One of the best smoke house I’ve been.

Grant Humphrey

Absolutely delicious, worth the wait for the intimate experience!

AJ U

So i have been here quite a few times and it is one of my favorite places to go. The staff is awesome, very friendly and they act like real people instead of most drones that you call a waitress. They aren't in it for the tip, they are all great friends, tell jokes and really get personal if you want to initiate conversion with them. It is a small comforting area and the food here cannot be matched to anything else. I will continue to go here once a week.

NiJaal Mottley

Delicious ramen. The broth is very rich, coating the noodles perfectly. I got 1/4 spicy but it was more numbing from the Sichuan pepper than it was spicy. Nice flavors. Small menu. Don't think you can go won't with any of the options (besides maybe the face meltingly spicy ramen). They have a vegetarian option that is possibly vegan if you sub out the egg. Lastly, this is a tiny place. It's likely you will have to wait. Be prepared for that.

Oscar Ortiz

Worth the wait!!! My favorite was the vegetarian bowl with a side of pork belly!

ethan szpara

Some of the best ramen I have found in Chicago so far. Super small place but definitely worth the wait.

Cori Sims

5 stars is an understatement. BEST TONKATSU BROTH IN THE CITY! I travel here for work and have hit up every rumored ramen spot and High Five takes the cake. Underground, limited seats, DOPE music all the time, great customer service, small menu means only ramen. If you are into modern or fusion this place is not for you...go to Oiistar

Carlos Burciaga

Best Ramen. That's it . Grab a drink upstairs it's worth the wait .

hugues orozco

Totally worth the wait. Try coming before they open and put your name on the list. Very well made ramen. Tip: if you thing you can handle medium spicy ask for low and then adjust the spicy level with chili oil available on the table. The suggested bowl is always the best, creamy, rich and toasty with one of the best pork chashus I’ve ever tasted, literally melts in your mouth. If it’s your second or third time, shio ain’t a bad idea just be ready for a LOT of soy sprouts and a rather tangy taste. Overall the best spot in town by far + the atmosphere is awesome, so bad you have to leave right after you finish ( because its the right thing to do since there’s such a long waiting list ).

yoshi yuan

Cant definitively say that this is the best ramen in town since I haven't been to all the shops but this is the second best ramen I've ever had, second only to a little well-known place in Vancouver. Incredibly rich and delicious broth, with three tiers of spice (mild to gut destruction). The meat that is served with the ramen is pork but eats like thinly sliced duck breast that makes the bowl that much more complex.

Rishabh Krishna

The best ramen I have ever had in my life, and trust me, I have had a LOT! The best part is they have a vegetarian / vegan option as well, and the ramen is fairly priced for the quantity. The only thing I would suggest is an online queue system to be on wait list, as one needs to physically go to the restaurant and then get their names down and wait on an average of 45 mins to 1 hour 30 minutes. Nonetheless amazing Ramen :)

baden hunt

Absolutely delicious food (best vegetarian ramen I’ve ever had) but very poor service. They clearly wanted to kick us out after we ate, which is completely fine if you make that clear when we are being seated. Being handed the bill and told to get out of our seats when we still had a drink in our hand is not cool.

Sal

Best ramen I tried so far. Must eat if you are in Chicago.

Ivee L

Oh my gosh! I haven't been back here for a few years, they had gotten so much better!!! We went a little after 9 on a weekday, didn't have to wait at all. Got the tonkotsu ramen added maitake. SERIOUSLY, IT'S THE BEST BROTH IN CHICAGO!!! It has so much flavor but (very importantly) it was not just salty like almost every other ramen places here. The noodles were cooked to perfect consistency. The meat melt in your mouth! The only non perfect part was the egg, it was cooked with perfect liquidy yolk but it wasn't marinated enough. The Yuzu slushy was a very nice add on too! Whoever made those ceramics cups is an amazing potter, but they didn't leave their signature on it. My goodness, even my burp was yummy Haha!!

javier T

Good ambient. Try the signature ramen. It's usually hard to get a sit. Prepare for long waits or go super late.

Payal Amin

HIGHLY recommend and spot by Green Street upstairs for a drink while you wait!

Jeffrey Dorwart

Excellent vegan ramen among the obvious others. There are only 26 bodies allowed in the "restaurant" so you will probably have to wait. All seats are bar style. The portions are reasonably large and lend themselves to sharing. The staff was kind enough to offer and provide additional bowls for that purpose. Don't get lost, just head into the Barbecue restaurant and down the stairs. If you have a wait you can wait there. They will text you when your sit is available. In our case they even came looking for us in the BBQ place.

Brian Andrasek

Best ramen in the city! Dont be soft, get kanobo spice.

Marco Rodriguez

Its delicious ramen. I believe I got the house broth and i got it medium spicy. It was perfectly spicy and i actually added a little bit more chili oil. It's small and dark - I'd rather go here than upstairs. The pork is softer and basically melts in your mouth. I like that they have water pitchers and napkins at the sit up counter all you should need. It's also fairly priced. They also have large spoons which is nice.

Tiago Moura

OK ramen for the price (I paid ~$20 for a bowl of ramen?!) Just go to Ramen Takeya down the street if you can as it is much better quality all around, the ramen options are much more varied, and everything costs considerably less than at High Five. This gets 3 stars at least because the pork belly is super tender.

Abhinav R

It’s an experience that’s well worth the wait.

Roberto Andaya

Really good ramen. The broth is very thick and different from standard Ramen restaurants. The atmosphere is interesting and hip. The only drawback is that the wait is usually 2-3 hrs even on weekdays. You have to go in person to make the reservation as well. I have gone in when I am in the area and gotten a 10 minute wait because I lucked out or someone did not show up to their reservation.

Phil Davis

Top of the ramen food chain in Chicago. Classic bowls are clutch in the exclusive physical setting, for which you’ll probably have to wait a little to get in to. But it’s 100% worth that wait, and you can just grab a drink upstairs at Green Street Meats while you do. Points for obscure post-punk playlist as well.

John Sorci

This is a ramen place that CAN’T be passed up. The flavors and spice are so unique and delicious it’s hard to describe. I’ve eaten ramen all over the world (including in Asia) and I’ve never tasted anything quite like it. Is it my all-time favorite ramen? Maybe not...but it’s absolutely worth it. The staff is very friendly, and the food comes out very quickly. It’s a very small dark place, but they’ve PERFECTED their craft, and they get you in and out fast.

Violeta Ordonez

Tender meat. Nice spice. Great drinks.

Ray Li

This place makes the most perfect eggs I've ever tasted! Ramen was ok, the portions are small.

AJ M.

So the “high five ramen” was bomb! My boyfriend got the shoyu ramen and it was seafoody, which we didn’t expect. The place had a dark, cool, hipster vibe. I got the half spicy and it wasn’t spicy at all for me. Would go with full spicy next time

Emmanuel Beltran

Best ramen in the states

Brendan Callaghan

High five ramen is a very cool ramen shop located in a basement below green Street meats. I got the high five bowl with half spice and it was very good but maybe a bit too spicy. Only 16 seats so I'm sure the place fills up quickly. They have great frozen slushie type cocktail drinks, I recommend the coconut ones. Servers were very friendly and knowledgeable of the menu. Reminds me of ramen places I've been in Tokyo with the way they have it set up. Definitely recommend.

Erik Riggenbach

Cool place. Got in right away on a Wednesday night. There ramen was tasty. The pineapple slushy was delicious. It was a flavor of ramen we haven't had in Chicago, which is a great change of pace. The music was loud with a good beat, but we were still able to have a conversation. Dimly lit with stickers all over the wall. There wait staff was helpful and friendly. We'll be back!

Eve Qiao

Ramen there was very delicious.If you don't mind waiting for about an hour/prepared to wait a bit, then I would definitely recommend this place. One of the best ramen places in Chicago.

Eric Hansen

Every time is the best time. You can't go wrong here. This is the best ramen I've ever had. The pork belly in their ramen is incredible.

Latoya Martin

Ramen, yeah, so tasty. Had a friend come into town and asked me to take him here again. Prices were fair for the quality of the food. Food and atmosphere reminds me of Kansas City.

Matt Drab

Delicious ramen, in a cool little basement. You choose your heat levels, and they are not messing around - medium is pretty spicy (I can't imagine the hot option). I'd recommend spicing down a level if you're at all concerned. Overall, totally worth the long wait. Just like Au Cheval, your best bet is to show up early, put you name in, and go get some drinks in the neighborhood. You can text their system and check your place in line while you're out.

Valoria Robinson

Best Ramen in Chicago, hands down!!! Love the underground speakeasy atmosphere!!!

Max Grossman

Wow! This place is great!! Second time I've eaten meat since December 2013. Breaking being vegetarian. It's hands down the best Ramen place I've been at! Full of flavours, beautifully presented, so fresh! Great!

Galaxy Neko

Came here to try out the amazing High 5 that I keep hearing about. But lemme tell you, if you don't show up before doors open or make a reservation. You'll be stuck waiting forever. The place just so happens to be underneath another location. So it's more like a basement setting with the lights being a bit dimmed. Unfortunately the location is very small with maybe about 10 seats inside, which accounts for the lines. I got the Shio Ramen, everything about it was delicious except that their pork is very thinly sliced like a piece ham. A little disappointed about that. My boyfriend got the Shoyu Ramen with half spice. The spice gave it a nice little kick & it honestly even tasted better then mine

Mona Patel

Best place I've had ramen in chicago. Long waits but the drinks upstairs make the time pass quickly.

Graeme W

Pretty good. Not worth the hype.

Leon Voskov

One of the best spots in the city, but get ready to wait. Like an obscene amount of time if you don't plan ahead

Vidhi Saratio

This place is SO OVERHYPED!!!! I had been wanting to try out their ramen for some time now after hearing from several friends how great it is but kept avoiding it due to the long wait. Well I finally made it here and we were told the wait would be 2.5 hours so we got drinks elsewhere while waiting. Luckily the actual wait ended up being about 1.5 hours. High five is tucked away in the basement of green street smoked meats. The ambiance is super dark with interesting decor. The place is tiny with only 14-15 seats, no tables, all bar stool style seating. I got the regular High five ramen bowl ($14.95) with half spice. I was expecting the ramen to be out of this world after everything I'd heard from others but it really wasn't. The main positive was that I liked the texture of the noodles which were not too soft but more kinda crispy. But as far as the actual broth goes, it was really just meh. I'm Indian and can handle a good level of spice and I thought the half spice was just right. Anything more would've been too much and all I would've tasted would've been just spice and no other flavors so I don't recommend getting anything stronger. I really didn't think there was much complexity to the broth which is the main reason I even like ramen - for the broth. In the past when I've had phenomenal ramen, when I'm done eating everything else and all I have is the broth left I'm usually tempted to keep sipping on the broth cause it's THAT GOOD. But this one I had no desire to do so after I had eaten the noodles, meat, egg, etc. Also the music here is way too loud. I won't be back, this place is not worth the wait.

Duncan

Really good ramen, but very Amercanized, so I wouldn't go for a traditional Japanese meal or anything. I went in bent on getting the "full spice" bowl but was talked out of it by the hostess. Thank God. I can handle very spicy stuff and the half spice was still pretty spicy. It was really delicious without being too overwhelming. Unless you have an extremely high spice tolerance or are trying to prove something, do not get the full spice. You do not lose out on any flavor and gain an actually enjoyable meal. The only reason I have given 4 stars is because the wait is insane. We arrived at 5:15 on Thursday (15 minutes after opening) and had to wait 1.5 hours. The place only sits like 16-18 or something. The food is really good, but just MAKE SURE you are on time.

Ronnie Danger

Superbly delicious!

Aishwarya Patankar

The ramen is good but not worth the wait at all. The restaurant isn't any bigger than a public restroom and not exactly cleaner. If it wasn't so dimly lit, then you would probably exit immediately. And the wait is 2 whole hours! Again, not worth it. You can get better ramen somewhere else and not have to wait two hours and eat in the dark.

Vanessa Lopez

I had a horrible experience at my first ramen joint, so I’ve been on the searches for better tasting ramen in Chicago. This place blew my mind. It’s small so come on non rush hour time. THE FOOD however, is soooo worth the wait. As soon as the broth touched my tongue this huge burst of flavor instantly ignited fireworks. Everything about this ramen is to die for❤️

Faraz Khan

This is an awesome place that does ramen right. It’s hard to get perfect but they are there. I had the hottest version which wasn’t that hot for me, but I am seasoned at eating extreme spice. So tread carefully. They also have vegetarian ramen. Very important if you are halal eating, or just not into swine. Enjoy this on a cold winter night.

Eloi Maduell

Good ramen in an interesting underground place.

Steven Eikenbary

Summary: 6 out of 5, fantastic ramen. If you’re so into ramen that you watch ramen documentaries on airplanes, you will enjoy this. Don’t come here looking for broth that isn’t as rich as Scrooge McDuck (I’m already sorry for that reference)! __ My wife and I moved to Chicago recently. One of the first foods we started researching here was ramen, because we’re obsessed. High Five seemed to be the pretty unanimous recommendation across multiple sources, so we put it right at the top of our list and went as soon as we could. As soon as we could was our very first evening in town, on a Monday. We went looking for the restaurant and we were just a little lost/confused at first, because High Five is underneath the inside part of Green Street Smoked Meats. You need to walk down the alley past the first few outside tables at Greenstreet, and then there is a door on the left with a handprint marking the entrance for High Five. You immediately turn left and go down the stairs to get to High Five. So on this Monday, we arrived at 5:25pm, and were told it was going to be a 2 hour+ wait already, even though they open at 5pm. Psyche! So…. take two! We go back the next day, Tuesday, and get there at 4:40pm. There was a small line already, about 12-14 people ahead of us. We ended up being the last party in the first round of seating, because there are only about 16 seats in the restaurant. If you choose to wait, you can sit in the bar area of Green Street upstairs, get drinks, and wait for your name to be called. We ordered almost immediately upon being seated. I went with the Full Spice Signature Bowl and my wife ordered the Half Spice. We waited about 30-40 minutes for the food and then the deliciousness arrived. I was in love after one bite/slurp. The broth is rich and cloudy. It’s entirely opaque but for the little bubbles of fat. The pork was tender and perfect; it had a little bit of roast/char/smoke flavor and fell apart in the chopsticks. Eating this ramen felt like how I imagine McDuck felt when he swam in his money (I’m sorry again… relapsed while reimagining the ramen). The spice was exactly right for both of our preferences. The half spice is still pretty spicy, so if you’re not into spicy food, I wouldn’t recommend even the half spice. The full spice really builds up in intensity as you go. For me it was approaching the enjoyableness frontier by the end, so I would never consider getting the Kanabo spice. The menu says with the full spice, there may be sweating followed by pure euphoria, and, I can confirm this is a true statement. There was sweating, and there was extreme enjoyment. The portion was very large. I can eat a lot and I left very full, and the bowl only cost $14. Best value in America?? This was the best ramen I have had that was not in Japan and, yes, I know how obnoxious I am for making that statement. I mean this as a major compliment though, because it transported me right back to some of the best ramen I had in Tokyo, and it might be in my top 5 best bowls of ramen ever. It’s just hard to find such a rich, cloudy, spicy broth combination over here. For what it’s worth, I have a friend here in Chicago who regularly entertains business clients from Japan, and they always request High Five ramen if they can fit it into their schedules because it’s the only place in the city that meets his clients’ standards.

Mike Giordano

Awesome, better get there an hour early to wait in line when they open though

Neha Sharma

Suggestion: here is a rule that can help reduce the wait time. When they come in, if they can tell customers to stay not more than 5 minutes after they pay the bill, it would be much helpful. If they can have few coat hangers behind , it is also helpful. Otherwise place Is good!

Chaz Hinkle

Loud, dark, kinda spooky, entirely awesome. You gotta really want to find this little place (and I do mean little)... we walked by the door maybe a half dozen times before we realized what it was. Then we walked down into a hot, packed, claustrophobic dungeon and... well it was fantastic! Really awesome delicious ramen. I loved it, my kids loved it. I would highly recommend.

Abby Nierman

Spicy ramen and frozen drinks. What an ideal combination. I got the half-spice because I’m a wimpy baby but it was perfection. Order one of their frozen cocktails (try the painkiller) and you’re good to go. Sweet staff and great music!

Evan Schenkus

They have ramen.

Neeraj S. C.

Go early. 4:30pm get in line. Or if you're up to grabbing a drink upstairs in green street, just don't be later than 5pm otherwise you'll probably wait more than 90 minutes. Great ramen though, definitely unique in its flavor and experience

Morgan Lewis

The ramen here is some of the best in Chicago. Located right below Green Street meats, this place is always packed so, since it has so few seats. Arrive early drop your name and go grab some beer upstairs. The high five signature bowl is a delight but the maitake ramen is just as wonderful if you want some a little less rich/spicy.

Ricky M

Honestly, Best ramen in the city in my opinion. I always get the Signature Bowl, full spice and it seems to just gets better and better each visit. Yes, some frown upon the difficult parking and the long wait time, but it's definitely worth it. Just plan ahead, bring along some good company, and take your taste buds on a journey in this super chill laid back hipster ramen bar.

oluseye carrena

Best ramen in Chicago! Hands down

Aqsa Tahir

The spicy is spicy- they don’t mess around. My favorite ramen spot in the city. You can taste how fresh the noodles are.

Turkey Hungryy

Don’t over think it! Get the signature bowl and a painkiller. Certified happy boy after this meal Here’s a haiku: Tommy wait long time Longer wait makes Tommy hungry Tommy likes Ramen

Nicholas Eaton

Best ramen ever. Had ramen in top places in a Tokyo Japan, and High 5 is a tier above. Must go when in Chicago. Love it!

Marcia Chou

Be prepared to wait 2 hours for this stuff, but it's so worth it. The great part is the bar upstairs where you can chill and order drinks with your friends until you are called.

Ankur Rathi

The maitake ramen is hands down the best vegetarian ramen I've ever had. I've gone multiple times with non-vegetarians and they claim it's the best ramen they've ever had hands down!

Shonda Wheeler

Omg you have to go. The ramen is so good and good portions of everything.

Jamie Chambers

Great ramen but expect a long wait. I always recommend people get their about half an hour before opening, grab a drink upstrais at the bar at Green Street Smoked Meats, then get a spot in line. The first 16 people in line get to sit down immediately when they open at 5 (there are only 16 seats), then the wait jumps to 45-60 minutes after that first group sits so make sure you get their early and you can sit right away. The spiciest soup they have IS EXTREEEMELY spicy, and don’t say they didn’t warn you because they will not make you a new bowl if you can handle. And it’s not because their jerks, it’s because of the time limit they have for dining because of the small size of the establishment. Get the mushroom ramen though, it’s incredible!!

Alfredo Lopez

High Five Ramen is by far the best ramen spot in Chicago. I've tried many other ramen places and sadly nothing comes close. The consistency of the noodles is perfect. The broth is savory and spicy. Great for the cold Chicago winters. I highly recommend the signature bowl. Be sure to add some level of spice if you're into spicy food. It takes it to a whole other level. It is still fantastic without spice! My only gripe with this place is the wait times. If you arrive after opening hours be prepared to wait for at minimum 1 hour. There have been times that I've waited 3 hours, but in the end it is well worth it. Do yourself a favor and try this place at least once. You'll be hooked .

Robert Cutler

The wait was shorter than estimated. The atmosphere is definitely warm and intimate. The broth is well constructed and you can tell both time and heart went in to making it. However it suffers from West loop curse of being overpriced for the same experience you could get at other locations in the city. I personally suggest Wasabi for a shorter wait time and a cheaper meal with a superior broth

JOSEPH COHEN

Intensely cool, intimate environment. Super friendly staff. Ramen is as good as it gets. Another Hogsalt gem!

Layla Bejanpour

Amazing food and super cute intimate atmosphere. Felt like we were right in the tiny kitchen, in a good way.

Gaurav Purohit

Tried Maitake broth over here (dietary restriction - vegetarian). Absolutely splendid !!! I'd advice half spice for first timers. Worth the wait.

Kathryn Maxwell

Amazing ramen with a trendy underground atmosphere. Put your name in and get a drink at Green Street Meats while you wait. I got the signature full spice. It was very spicy, especially once you get to the bottom of the bowl, but exactly what I wanted on a cold day. You sit at the bar (only 16 seats), so this is a great place to eat if you're traveling solo like me.

Jared Cohen

Great spicy Ramen, very cool vibes. Get the Maitake.

Patrick Dorsey

The broth is really good, super thicc.. gr8

Injung Lee

Very hard to park, waited for almost two hours, but not as expected. The taste was pretty weird, not a traditional type of Japanese ramen. The broth was very thick, and they put too much black pepper and I couldn’t feel the true taste of the ingredients. Not worthy to wait for a long time. (Could be great for non-Asian people or novice ramen eaters... but not for Asian taste. )

Clark

Just totally incredible ramen. Small place. Get there early. Get a drink at the above bar/ restaurant. Opens at 5. Really killer ramen.

Ammaar Ansari

Excellent customer service and great quality food.

Toasty Pie

Visiting Chicago, wanted to try Ramen. Saw reviews for this place and decided to give it a go. Two hour wait but worth it for the best ramen I’ve ever had. I work at a ramen restaurant and I’m just blown away with how good this ramen was. My buddy never had ramen before, totally out of his comfort zone and he loved it. Will be back.

Brooke Lopeman

WORTH THE WAIT!

Niketa Shah

The mushroom broth was amazing. The portion size is massive but they bag it up to take home for the next day.

Elam Lai

super delicious pork and eggs! but half spice is still too spicy for me to enjoy....

Chris Krolczyk

Don't let the darkly lit hipster vibe of the basement fool you; the spicy ramen will practically have you glowing in the dark after you devour it, but there's more traditional, less nuclear trad ramen forms available as well. You'll wait a while, but if you can do it it's worth it.

Louis Khor

Nothing special. Their broth is sub-par, and their use of chillis is mystifying.

Francis Manuel Caparroso

Simply, amazing ramen! Very savory. Must try!!!

Vicky Gu

Ordered full spice, high five bowl. It did not disappoint. It’s the right amount of spiciness, great portion, the broth is both flavorful and with the right amount of salt. Some ramen broth tends to be so salty and I ended up having to drink so much more water afterwards, not this place. When you finish, they will serve hot hand towel and a piece of green Macha candy, Which is a very nice touch. I enjoyed the food, service, love how easy it is for you to serve yourself: water, napkin, spice, utensils are all within reach. Highly recommend it.

Robert Tiojanco

I'm actually at Green Street meats next door (they're awesome). High five is always a 3 hour wait! Maybe someday....

Bernardo Ruales

Worth every minute waiting. The place is kinda hidden so you'll have to ask around but after eating you'll feel sooo good.

Lauren Bargas

This review does not reflect the food at this location. Although we were told by the host that it would be a 3 hour wait, I was very understanding, what I could not deal with was how utterly rude and cold she was towards my friend and I. The look of distain on her face for even breathing the same air as her was very obvious. She proceeded to treat and talk to us as if we were the scum on her shoe, she was not helpful as in explaining the best times to come, or if next time we should make a reservation, she had this why are you here and please leave attitude. As a bartender who works with the public I know unprofessional and this young lady screamed it. I will not be going back, and I will also not be recommending this place.

Tad Jones

A little hard to find since we were looking for an entrance separate from green street meats. Didn’t know they shared a door. It was dark. It was loud. It was different. Regular ramen was spicy and delicious. Still not sold on the greatness of ramen but this bowl is better than any other I’ve tried in Chicago

Simeon Pratt

Pro tip: get a drink across the street at fox bar while you wait for your table.

Henry Nieberg

Easily some of the best ramen you'll find in Chicago, period. The broth has every flavor, from spicy, sweet, salty, umami, etc. I also really loved the coconut slushie drink. The line is long, so the move is to go at 4 and get some drinks before the opening at 5.

Gary Nishida

Had the half spice signature bowl. Great complex flavor. Spicy but not too spicy. Delicious down to the last drop

Angela Tylka

Worst service ever. I’ve eaten at many amazing restaurants over the years. Sadly this doesn’t make the list. There are so many better places in Chicago to eat ramen with so much less hassle. Don’t waste your time and money! If it gelatinizes in the morning, it’s probably not very healthy!!

Michael Doolin

Very tight space so you have to wait awhile once you put your name down, but it's well worth it. They use the nicely smoked pork belly from upstairs which gives their signature bowl that amazing flavor.

Eric Holland

Some of the best ramen I've ever had. Be sure to get there when they open to ensure that you can actually eat there; There's usually a line that forms for the list. If you end up on the list, there's luckily a bar/restaurant upstairs that is also great. I usually get the specialty bowl without spice, but get the half spice if I'm in the mood for some heat. I love spicy food, but not sure that I'd ever get the full spice bowl.

Ray

Great food. If your looking for a place at lunch. Stop by here you won't be disappointed

Ryan Fee

Feels like what I assume and underground ramen shop in Japan would be like. The ramen is awesome but I have trouble justifying the loooooooooooooooong wait.

Akshay Patel

I drove 2 hours to downtown Chicago, waited 1.5 hours, ate for 0.5 hours, drove back another 2 hours. Well guess what? It was worth every second. High Five Ramen has ruined other ramen places for me!!

ッKyle

My best dining experience in my time in Chicago! Despite its inconspicuous location, this place is anything but a hidden gem. It seats 16. My party was there about 45 minutes before they open and just barely made it in the first group. Atmosphere: a dark basement with industrial styling. Almost like a coldwar nuclear bunker. There are two long bars to sit at. (Not ideal for groups or children). Stickers are all over the walls. Really has a punk Rock bar appearance. Service: The hostess was pleasant. She was able to arrange the seating so our party (of 4) could stay together. Our server was great. She kept our water pitchers full and was very friendly. The food came out quickly. No complaints. Food: The ramen was SO GOOD. I've been to dozens of ramen places in the US and this is by far my favorite. I ordered the Full Spice Signature Bowl. This level of spice is about the maximum I can handle without it becoming unpleasant or detracting from the dish. I'd recommend Half Spice to most people. The broth was what really set it apart from the rest. The generous portion of pork belly was smoked to perfection. The egg was soft boiled with it's yolk having a creamy custard texture. Overall the dish was divine. I enjoy large portions and was pleased with the amount of food. Drink: We had the Coconut Painkiller. Be aware, the drink is served in a tiny glass. It's about 4 ounces. It was great though! It had plenty of liquor in it but was still delightful. Only wish the serving size were a bit larger. Tips: Wear the bib. The full spice is quite spicy. Don't order the Kanabo unless you're a sadist. Arrive early.

John Oldani

High five ramen had the most accommodating servers ever. Seriously, I just handed my phone to a server while they were closing up and she was kind enough to write this review for me! Insanely good service. They should all get tipped 100 percent every time.

Keith Cross

They get pretty Artful with the noodles. Would be a lot better if there were tables for two or four people. That will not stop me for coming back for more. I usually take pictures of my food but it was too dark so next time just bring my camera perhaps.

Star Lazar

Best ramen spot in Chicago. I've only tried like 6 other places, but hands down closest taste and experience to Japan that I've seen so far in Chicago.

Hector Dox

The half-spice signature pork belly bowls was great, however a lot of the flavors are lost in the excessively salty broth. The service is good and I liked the dark ambiance. The hour wait was worth it.

Briar Voy

Absolutely incredible. I crave their ramen and even made a trip to Chicago for it.

Dan Yoder

The broth is out of this world. Great Ramen. Cool vibe, good music, nice staff.

Brian hill

The broth in the high five ramen bowl was delicious, and it got tastier the deeper into the bowl you got. Why does it have to be that dark in there? The Coconut Painkiller was good, but I wish it was a little bigger. The service was great, and the cold towel at the end is a nice touch.

Mike Wolfgang

Love the food but can’t get past the 2-3 hour wait. The atmosphere makes you feel like you’re apart of an exclusive club of true ramen fans. It’s dark, the music is loud, and the ramen is so spicy and flavorful. One of my favorite spots to eat ramen in the city. The full spice signature bowl is body numbing spicy, but leaves you so satisfied and almost accomplished after eating it.

Kasey Mathews

The bowl of Ramen I had here was magical. Every bite was heaven in my mouth! Try to get there close to opening time to avoid a wait. I tried to go alone on a Tuesday night: 90 minute wait. Went the next day right when they opened at 5 pm and sat right down!

Joseph Helbing

Oh my god. So good. So so so effing good. 6 stars? Can it be 6 stars. I give this place 6 god damn stars.

Fernando Valtierra

Best ramen I've ever had!!! definitely recommend this place

Nina Monroe

Probably one of the the best soups I ever ate, ramen or otherwise. So much flavor! The hidden underground scene makes it even better.

Tyler Engh

Hands down the best ramen I’ve ever had to date. Absolutely love the ambiance and music!

Christie Jeung

The business makes awesome use of the tiny, intimate space! I ordered the tonkotsu ramen. While it was saltier than I was hoping for, the broth was still rich and full of meaty flavor. The rest of the bowl was well-executed as well. Definitely worth trying out once for dinner if you're eating solo.

Joy Kim

The ramen here is literally insane. It is honestly so amazing with the super thick broth and thick slices of pork. The ONLY downside is the wait. We waited 3 hours which sucks but the food was worth it! If you have the time, do stop by!!

Cortney Scharenberg

Still my favorite ramen. Get the half spice if you're a first time. The wait doesn't bother me since I know what to expect, but wish I could go more often. Ain't nobody got time to wait that long for soup on a regular basis.

kurian joy

Really great atmosphere, Gear food, and really great service. The wait can be a bit long if it’s prime time but it’s worth it.

Mingxia Lim

I've had ramen in many places in Chicago and this is hands down the best ramen in the city. The broth is rich and satisfyingly spicy (both half and full spice have that kick), the egg yolk oozes out when you bite into it, and the meat literally melts in your mouth. The only challenge is the long line - come early before they open to wait in line, or expect to wait upwards of an hour and a half. Service is brisk, and they do try to turnover quickly, but it's not bad and the food is well worth it anyway.

Thomas B. Myers

Is supposed to be great but I never got the chance due to the 4.5 hour wait. Meh. Not really sure what to rate it.

Peter Aiura

Kinda disappointed with the experience. It was incredibly hyped, but the broth tasted burnt and the noodles were unimpressive. I'm willing to try it one more time, but it's an expensive gamble; it might just have been a bad batch. As it was, I'd say its not worth the $25 for a bowl and a beer. The ambiance is great, though, and it looks pretty authentic inside.

Anna Jablonski

Loved the food. Too dark to see the menu. New visitor would have difficulty in finding. Lucky that we were with local to assist.

David Wilson

Most amazing ramen ever.

J Amanda

This is a very interesting ramen store. I ordered their medium spicy signature noodle soup, and the soup is SPICY! The quality of the noodle and soup is nice, will go back again but the thing I don’t like is I have to eat in the dark, like they try to save money from electricity bill...... they also play loud hard metal music in the background and the store is extremely tiny. It’s good for people who is looking for a quick meal, doesn’t care about eating in the dark, doesn’t care about the service too much, ( the waiter was kinda cold but he was polite) and doesn’t care about being touched by neghibors because of the limited space.

Siddarth Reddy

Probably one of the best ramen places in chi town

Yvette Boles

This is one of my favorite places to go, although the wait can be rough. I find it’s best to go with friends who can make the waiting easier. The ramen is absolutely amazing and the service is friendly. I would definitely recommend this place!