Every year, Bon Appétit releases its list of best new restaurants around the country and, every year, we scour the outlet's pages to find a Chicago mention that we agree with.
Today, we're delighted to report that Akahoshi Ramen—one of the very best restaurants in Chicago—is included in Bon Appétit's ranking, and we couldn't be more proud.
The restaurant is the brainchild of home-cook-turned-chef Mike Satinover, who first came to prominence as "Ramen_Lord" on Reddit. Satinover hosted pop-ups around the city for years before opening Akahoshi last November in Logan Square.
"Online, Satinover collected fans for his highly detailed postings as a home cook eager to learn more. At Akahoshi, he’s mastered his craft and found a home for his precision and finesse," writes Bon Appétit editorial operations manager Kate Kassin.
During our visit, Time Out Chicago editor Jeffy Mai praised the namesake Akahoshi Miso ramen, a soulful bowl of rich broth teeming with homemade Sapporo-style noodles, bean sprouts, green onions, bamboo shoots and chashu. The menu also features monthly specials inspired by Satinover's extensive knowledge of ramen styles from around the world.
Although the restaurant accepts walk-ins Tuesday-Saturday starting at 5pm, we suggest you make a reservation to secure yourself a table at the uber popular joint (reservations go live at noon on Mondays). The line can be long—a sign that Chicagoans clearly love a properly prepared bowl of ramen and will gladly wait for hours to taste some.