cit的y’s ramen scene has grown significantly over the past decade but it’s a suburban Palatinestrip mall restaurantthat’s churning out some of the finest tonkotsuin Chicagoland. A 15-hour cooking process yields a rich and intense pork broth that’s good enough to drink on its own. It’s paired with chewy egg noodles imported from the West Coast and tender braised pork. The kitchen also serves a spicy Taiwanese-style ramen featuring chicken broth, ground pork, garlic, scallions, bean sprouts, and green chives. Ramen House Shinchan offers indoor and outdoor seating, and takeout or delivery via third-party services. There’s a second location in suburban Vernon Hills.

Hailing from the city of Kitakata,this Japanese chainhas a busy local outpost in Hoffman Estates. The signature shoyuramen is soy sauce-based and made with pork, while the flat wide-cut noodles are “hand crumpled” in house, giving them a distinct mouthfeel. It’s all topped off with slices of chashu, braised pork belly marinated in soy sauce. The restaurant is open for indoor dining,takeout, anddelivery.

Noodle enthusiasts journey to the northwest suburbs for what might be the best ramen in the area.This outletof Hokkaido’s popular ramen chain, tucked away inside Japanese mall Mitsuwa, has a devoted following. It’s not unusual to see a long line of people snaking through the food court during lunch hours. Wait it out, though, and the reward is shio ramen topped with toroniku chashu — tender pork cheeks that practically melt in the mouth. Santouka offers indoor seating and takeout or delivery via third-party services.

Despite its name,this ramen destinationis actually located in suburban Des Plaines. Acclaimed chef Kenta Ikehata, who helped open Tokyo-based chain Tsujita’s first stateside outpost in Los Angeles, whips up an incredible version of tsukemen. The cold, thick noodles from Sun Noodles are meant to be dipped in a chicken-vegetable-pork broth that’s mixed with miso pastes. On the less traditional side, there’s a white mapo tofu ramen that pays homage to the Sichuan dish with a chicken broth, silky tofu, and lots of spicy peppers. Chicago Ramen offers indoor seating or takeout and delivery via third-party services.

ThisLakeview restaurantdoesn’t always get as much recognition as some other noodle specialists in town, but its efforts are nevertheless deserving of praise. The ramen includes topping choices like pork belly, bulgogi beef, chicken katsu, and seafood. Kameya offers indoor and outdoor seating, and takeout or delivery. There’s a second outpost in Lincoln Park.

Ramen is a labor of love and atRamen Wasabi, it shows. Though the menu offers a selection of Asian small plates, ramen is the main attraction. Rich and creamy tonkotsubroth is slow-cooked for days and served with Berkshire pork belly, soft-boiled egg, bamboo shoots, scallions, sesame, wood ear mushrooms, and garlic oil. To dial up the heat, opt for the spicy roasted garlic miso ramen loaded with chili peppers. The restaurant is open for indoor and outdoor dining andtakeout or delivery.

Bill Kim’sfast-casual restaurantdeploys a range Asian flavors in exciting ways. Noodles are a big part of the menu and the non-traditional ramen has been a longtime staple, featuring a pho-like soup base with braised pork belly, radish, mushrooms, and soft-boiled egg. Urbanbelly is open for indoor and outdoor dining, and takeout or delivery via third party services. Kim also has a ramen stall at the Time Out Chicago food hall in Fulton Market.

Ramen’s spike in popularity in Chicago has drawn a number of Japanese chains to the local market. One of those imports isKizuki, a shop offering choices that range from garlicky tonkotsuand light yuzu shio ramen to traditional tsukemendipping noodles. Kizuki is open for indoor dining, andtakeout or delivery. A second location is in Lincoln Park.

Lettuce Entertain You’sdedicated noodle shoptouts both traditional and unorthodox varieties. Slurp tonkotsuand shiobroths, or go with the kimchi and fried chicken ramen. Ramen-San offers indoor and outdoor seating, and takeout or delivery via third-party services. Fans can find additional outposts in Fulton Market and Streeterville.

Ramen Takeya, a sister spot to Logan Square favorite Ramen Wasabi, specializes in a different type of ramen than its well-known sibling: the signature light broth, called paitan, is chicken-based and complemented by Berkshire chashu, soft-boiled jidori egg, bamboo shoots, kikurage mushrooms, diced onions, and scallions. Non-meat eaters can enjoy the vegan tantanmen, which is composed of buckwheat noodles and seitan ragu in a mushroom and seaweed broth. Ramen Takeya offers indoor and outdoor seating andtakeout or delivery.

Boka Restaurant Group’scontemporary Japanese venueis an impressive tour de force. Whether it’s immaculate nigiri or indulgent meats cooked on the robata grill, diners can sample some of the city’s most luxurious bar snacks. On the building’s subterranean level, the Izakaya offers a more laid back experience that echoes Japan’s bustling bar scene. The pub-inspired menu leans heavily on comfort, featuring tantanmen ramen (chicken broth, ground pork, sesame). The restaurant is open for indoor dining and takeout or delivery via third-party services.

Hogsalt Hospitality’ssubterranean ramen lairis an appealing experience for spicy food fanatics. The tonkotsu可以增強與kanab和蘑菇味噌拉麵o spice, described on the menu as “face-numbing, tear-jerking, unbearable.” Just make sure to get there early or be prepared to wait in line as seating is limited.

Noodles are a vital component of the best ramen and few take it more seriously than thisChinatown shop, which makes its own noodles daily, using a Japanese machine to impart a firm and chewy texture. There are five different broths available, but the bravest eaters can earn a free bowl, T-shirt, and $50 gift card by finishing the level five “Hell Ramen.” This fiery dish is packed with Chinese Tianjing chili, Sichuan chili bean sauce, Thai chili, pequin chili, ghost peppers, and scorpion peppers. Additional locations are in Lakeview, Hyde Park, New York City, and Madison, Wisconsin. Strings is open for indoor dining andtakeout or delivery.

South Siders head to thisBridgeport izakayato satiate their ramen cravings. The menu covers a variety of styles, including black garlic tonkotsu, curry chicken, tomato vegetable, and tofu miso udon. There are also several types of noodles to select from: egg, matcha, rice, yam, soba, and udon.