Lazyhead wrote:I was thinking I might need to take a drive to Mt. Prospect.

That's not a bad idea, either.

My go to for tonkotsu is usually Ginza. I find the broth pretty flavorful. Sometimes the pork leaves something to be desired, sometimes it's pretty good. It could just be that I work in the area and a huge bowl of ramen with a rice ball stuffed with either plum, salmon or shrimp tempura for $9.99 is a great deal. I usually go with a buddy who use to live in LA and he loves it. So there's that? Still haven't had Santouka, plan on it one of these days. Off subject I absolutely love Ginza's Nabeyaki Udon with perfectly poached egg. Mix that in with the broth and you got one helluva bowl of noodle soup.

That being said, I went to Slurping Turtle a few weeks ago and don't ever plan on returning. I had a horrendously bad bowl of their spicy tan tan men ramen. It was completely bland and the noodles were stuck together and clumpy. I first ordered a a drink that was $12 and was basically soda water. Sent that back. And I'll never be back after walking out paying $30 for a lunch.

All this ramen talk and a cold coming on made me want a nice big, comforting bowl. Working a lil further west than usual, I went with my ramen buddy to Ai Japanese on Ontario. We went on Monday also but I opted for the bento box, which was ok but is alot of food for a bento actually and quite a good deal. Ramen buddy got tonkotsu and I thought it looked pretty good so I had to try it today. Actually came out sort of impressed. Milky broth was really porky tasting and quite good. Even had a small layer of fat around the edge of the bowl, in a good way. Noodles were pretty good, thin, toothsome but def probably packaged. Additions of togarashi, black pepper and Da Beef will like this, chili oil brought to the table upped the broth even more. Pork was fatty, maybe even a little too much but didn't bother me. $9.50 a bowl, not massive but a good size. $5 for add ons of soft shell crab, extra pork, shrimp shumai. Buttered corn is $1 or $2. Space is "hip" so don't expect atmosphere. It's pretty empty at lunch which is nice cause you can either talk or have a nice quiet lunch by yourself. All in all I thought it was a pretty good bowl. I expected nothing and got something pretty tasty.


Ai Japanese Restaurant
358 W Ontario St
Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 335-9888

The power of suggestion....

Santouka today ( and the prices went up today)

I was at Santouka today, too. Spicy miso was just so fantastic -- the tokusen toroniku version (that's with the plate of pork cheeks etc, right?).
My other favorite soup this winter has been Xoco's Pork Belly Vermicelli (Fideos). Both have noodles, luscious pork hunks and some great spicy broth. They are the soup brothers from different mothers.

Lazyhead wrote: My daughter and I tried out Santouka when we were in the area and I checked Yelp for a place for lunch. I am both delighted and sad that this seems to be the best place in the area for ramen. Delighted that we had the chance to eat there, and sad that there isn't better yet to come.

It's posts like these that make me ecstatic that I live within walking distance of Mitsuwa/Santouka.