Best Cheap Eats Ramen Restaurants in Chicago
13 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Kajiken
Soupless abura soba noodles bring a lesser-seen Japanese style to Chinatown.
Notable Picks
#1
Kajiken
8.1
Kajiken introduces abura soba—soupless ramen—to Chinatown, with chewy noodles tossed in garlicky house sauce and topped with chashu, egg, or keema curry. Part of a small Japanese chain, the Chicago outpost leans casual and affordable, making it a distinctive alternative to broth-heavy ramen shops nearby.
Must-Try Dishes:
Original Abura Soba, Keema Curry Abura Soba, Takoyaki
What Makes it Special: Soupless abura soba noodles bring a lesser-seen Japanese style to Chinatown.
Worthy Picks
#2
Kameya Sushi
7.9
Vibes:
Hidden Gems Heaven
Comfort Food Classics
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Kameya Sushi is a family-owned Webster Avenue spot that combines a full sushi menu with ramen and izakaya-style starters in a cozy, low-key space. It’s a flexible neighborhood choice for casual dates, takeout rolls, and comforting bowls when you want Japanese without a scene.
Must-Try Dishes:
Kameya Sushi A Platter, Jalapeño Tuna Appetizer, Kameya Ramen
What Makes it Special: A family-run sushi-and-ramen shop with a broad menu, relaxed setting, and pricing that makes weeknight sushi feel attainable.
7.9
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Hidden Gems Heaven
Quick Bites Champions
Family Friendly Favorites
On Jackson near Greektown, Tamashii is a cozy ramen shop with a broad menu of pork, chicken, and veggie broths plus yakisoba, donburi, and fried rice. It’s a flexible everyday option where build-your-own bowls and generous portions appeal to students, office workers, and locals.
Must-Try Dishes:
Tonkotsu Ramen, Black Garlic Tonkotsu Ramen, Classic Chicken Karaage
What Makes it Special: Wide ramen menu plus donburi and fried rice at approachable prices.
7.9
Vibes:
Quick Bites Champions
Business Lunch Power Players
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Healthy Haven
Taste of Japan is a fast-casual Japanese counter in the Loop balancing affordable sushi, hand rolls, ramen, soba, and curry. Downtown regulars use it for build-your-own sushi orders and chef’s “trust me” boxes that travel well back to the office.
Must-Try Dishes:
Box Max chef’s sushi and sashimi set, Lightly Grilled Salmon Hand Roll with Yuzu Sauce, Lobster Japanese Curry Rice
What Makes it Special: Counter-service Japanese spot where sushi, ramen, and curry share equal billing at desk-lunch prices.
7.8
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Comfort Food Classics
Quick Bites Champions
Family Friendly Favorites
Part of a small ramen chain, this Kyuramen location delivers big, customizable bowls in a narrow, casual space just off Hubbard. High recent review volume and steady lines at peak hours show it’s become an affordable noodle stop for office workers and late shoppers.
Must-Try Dishes:
Kyushu Spicy Tonkotsu Ramen, Honeycomb Platter, Super Bowl Ramen
What Makes it Special: Busy ramen shop offering customizable bowls at accessible downtown prices.
7.8
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Family Friendly Favorites
Hidden Gems Heaven
A casual Western Ave spot that blends Thai comfort and ramen without turning it into a gimmick—broths lean bold, and the menu rewards sticking to a tight ramen + one Thai side plan. Come hungry but order strategically: one ramen bowl as the anchor, then one small plate if you want a second act.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pork slices ramen, Spicy ramen, Mango sticky rice
What Makes it Special: Thai flavors applied to ramen in a straightforward, casual format.
#7
E Ramen
7.7
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Comfort Food Classics
Family Friendly Favorites
Quick Bites Champions
On the Bridgeport side of 60616, E Ramen offers a broad, value-focused menu of tonkotsu, chicken, and kimchi ramen alongside rolls, fried snacks, and rice bowls. Locals use it as an all-purpose weeknight ramen and Japanese-comfort stop where portions are generous and pricing stays accessible.
Must-Try Dishes:
Tonkotsu Classic Ramen, Spicy Chicken Ramen, Chicken Ramen
What Makes it Special: Neighborhood ramen shop balancing a large menu with friendly pricing and portions.
7.7
Oishii Asian & Ramen Hub is a newer Clark Street spot where miso, shoyu, and spicy garlic ramen share space with poke bowls and fried rice. With frequent deals and surplus-food partnerships, it leans value-first while still delivering satisfying, topping-heavy bowls.
Must-Try Dishes:
Shoyu Ramen, Spicy Garlic Ramen, Chicken Katsudon
What Makes it Special: A budget-friendly ramen shop layering generous toppings onto classic broths.
7.7
A food-court ramen counter inside Gangnam Market that stands out by leaning into turkey-based broths and toppings instead of the usual pork-heavy playbook. It’s best as a focused, fast order: one ramen plus one side, then keep moving through the market.
Must-Try Dishes:
Spicy miso seafood ramen, Shoyu turkey ramen, Turkey karaage
What Makes it Special: Turkey-centric ramen bowls in a market food court format.
7.6
A value-tilted Uptown sushi stop that wins on quick, affordable rolls and a menu designed for repeat takeout orders. Treat it as a ‘pick your favorites’ spot—two simple rolls plus one snacky side—rather than a destination for pristine nigiri.
Must-Try Dishes:
Godzilla roll, Miami roll, Seaweed salad
What Makes it Special: Budget-friendly rolls that make sushi nights easy and casual.
#11
Poke Burrito
7.6
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
Sweet Treats Escapes
Poke Burrito’s Western Avenue outpost is a quick-service spot where sushi burritos and build-your-own poke bowls share space with tonkotsu, shoyu, and spicy miso ramen. It’s a practical option for casual noodle cravings when you want something fast and customizable with bubble tea on the side.
Must-Try Dishes:
Tonkotsu ramen, Spicy miso ramen, Jimmy's Creation sushi burrito
What Makes it Special: Poke-focused counter that also serves customizable ramen in casual digs.
#12
Tacos El Pichiiz
7.5
Vibes:
Quick Bites Champions
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Hidden Gems Heaven
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
A small, newer counter with a playful menu that includes birria ramen noodles alongside taco-shop staples, best approached as a quick, hot pickup rather than a long sit-down. Order one ramen bowl as the anchor and keep add-ons minimal so the broth stays hot and the noodles don’t over-soften in transit.
Must-Try Dishes:
Birria Ramen Noodles, Quesabirria + consomé, Tacos
What Makes it Special: A budget-friendly birria ramen option in a fast counter format.
#13
Touhy Fruity
7.5
A food-court counter best known for sweets and drinks, but it quietly offers ultra-casual noodle bowls that work as a quick, low-stakes ramen fix between errands. Treat it like a grab-and-go stop: simple broth-and-noodle comfort, fast turnaround, and pricing that makes it easy to add a snack or dessert after.
Must-Try Dishes:
Spicy Ramen Noolde Soup, Udon Noodle Soup, Tom Yum Noodle Soup
What Makes it Special: Food-court noodle bowls plus dessert-and-drink options in one stop.