You would think I wouldn't want a bowl of ramen on an 84 degree summer day, but here we are. Monster Ramen in Logan Square specializes in shio and shoyu broth bases. Shio is a light, clear broth made from chicken, fish, or vegetable stock. Shoyu broth is a bit of a darker, heavier broth. I typically always go with the tonkotsu (pork broth) ramen option, but I'm always curious to try a new broth here and there. The service at Monster Ramen was great. Our waitress was incredibly sweet, and did a good job guiding us through the menu.
https://monsterramenchicago.com/
Yaki Beef Potstickers and the Oshinko Moriawase: The Yaki Beef Potstickers had good pretty good flavor, but weren't as crispy as I was hoping they would be. Oshinko Moriawase was an assortment of pickled vegetables. We loved the pickles that had a hint of miso, and the daikon that had a strong sesame flavor to it. It was a refreshing appetizer before a heavy bowl of ramen, but not one I'd be rushing to order again.
Miso Wagyu and Shio House: Monster Ramen makes their noodles in-house, and the noodles were delicious. I thought the Miso Wagyu bowl was quite good and had a good flavor to it. However, at the price point of $26, I don't think it is something I would order again. Sadly, the Shio House ramen was a little disappointing to me, too. I thought the broth consistency was good, but didn't have as much flavor as I was expecting.
Sadly, Monster Ramen wasn't one of my favorite bowls of ramen in the city. While the shop itself, the homemade noodles, and the service were all great, I felt like I have had better bowls of ramen in Chicago - especially at the higher price points some of their bowls are listed at.
