High Five Ramen

Should You Book High Five Ramen?

If you've been to High Five Ramen before, the question on a return visit isn't whether it's still good — it's whether the late-night window still holds up as one of Chicago's more reliable options after 9 PM. It does. Brendan Sodikoff's ramen spot on Green Street in the West Loop has earned back-to-back recognition from Opinionated About Dining's Cheap Eats in North America

What to Expect

The room on Green Street is the first thing you notice: a compact, counter-forward setup that signals function over flourish. This is a place designed around the bowl, not the backdrop. For a date or a low-key celebration, that works in your favor — there's no ambient noise problem from an oversized dining room, the visual focus stays on what arrives in front of you. The bowls are the point, the setting doesn't distract from that.

High Five Ramen sits in the West Loop, which means it shares a neighborhood with some of Chicago's highest-profile dining rooms. That context matters: this is a deliberate, casual counterpoint to the tasting-menu density of the surrounding blocks. If you're planning a night that mixes dinner with bar-hopping or a late start after an event, the kitchen runs until 10:30 PM Sunday through Thursday and until 11 PM on Friday and Saturday, later than most of the neighborhood's serious kitchens. For the ramen category specifically, that late-night access is genuinely useful. Compare that to Akahoshi Ramen, which draws longer waits and closes earlier, High Five Ramen is the more accessible call when you need noodles after 9 PM without a queue.

The OAD Cheap Eats credential matters here more than it might at a pricier venue. For a special occasion that doesn't need to be expensive, an anniversary dinner for two who'd rather spend on wine elsewhere, a birthday dinner before a late bar crawl, High Five Ramen delivers a credentialed experience without the $150-per-head commitment that most of the West Loop demands.

Ratings and Recognition

• Opinionated About Dining Cheap Eats, North America: #540 (2025), #526 (2024), Recommended (2023)

Booking and Practical Details

Reservations: Walk-in friendly; booking difficulty is low, making this one of the easier gets in the West Loop. Hours: Monday–Thursday and Sunday 4–10:30 PM; Friday–Saturday 4–11 PM. Dress: Casual, this is a ramen counter, not a dress-up room. Budget: Cheap Eats-tier pricing; expect to spend well under $30 per person for food. Getting there: 112 N Green St, Chicago, IL 60607, in the West Loop. Leading for: Solo diners, dates, pre-bar dinners, or anyone who needs a late-night kitchen that's actually open.

How It Compares

Comparing High Five Ramen to the West Loop's tasting-menu circuit is a category mismatch, but it's worth doing because they compete for the same evening. Alinea, Smyth, and Kasama are all $$$$ commitments that require planning weeks or months out. High Five Ramen is the same night, same neighborhood, walk-in friendly, a fraction of the price. If your evening calls for something credentialed but casual, there's no close competitor at this price point in the West Loop.

Within the ramen category, Akahoshi Ramen is the more talked-about name in Chicago right now and arguably the higher-ceiling bowl, but it's also harder to get into and closes earlier. High Five Ramen is the better call for late arrivals, walk-ins, or anyone who wants a nationally recognized bowl without the planning overhead. For ramen outside Chicago, Afuri in Tokyo and Chinese Noodles ROKU in Kyoto represent the benchmark the category is measured against internationally, High Five Ramen earns its OAD placement by holding up well in that broader context.

Pearl Picks: More Chicago Dining

• Oriole, Progressive American, for a full special-occasion tasting menu
• Kasama, Filipino, for a daytime-to-evening format with serious credentials
• Akahoshi Ramen, if ramen is the goal and you can plan ahead
• Our full Chicago restaurants guide for the complete picture
• Our full Chicago hotels guide
• Our full Chicago bars guide, useful if you're pairing High Five with a late-night bar stop
• Our full Chicago experiences guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Can High Five Ramen accommodate groups?

• Seat count isn't published, but the counter-forward layout typical of serious ramen spots in Chicago suggests this works well for parties of two to four. Larger groups should call ahead to check availability, walk-in logistics get harder above four covers at busy hours.

Is lunch or dinner better at High Five Ramen?

• High Five Ramen is dinner-only, opening at 4 PM daily, so there's no lunch service to compare. Dinner early in the week (Monday through Wednesday) is your safest bet for a quieter room; Friday and Saturday evenings will be busier and the kitchen runs an extra 30 minutes to 11 PM.

Can I eat at the bar at High Five Ramen?

• Counter seating is likely available given the format, which makes this a strong solo-dining option. Bar or counter seats at ramen spots in Chicago are generally first-come, first-served, arriving at 4 PM on a weeknight gives you the clearest run at a counter spot without a wait.

How far ahead should I book High Five Ramen?

• Booking difficulty is rated easy, so same-day or next-day is realistic for most nights. Friday and Saturday evenings are the exception, a day or two of lead time is sensible then. This is a notable contrast to the West Loop's $$$$ neighbors like Smyth or Alinea, which require weeks of planning.

Is High Five Ramen good for solo dining?

• Yes. Counter-format ramen spots are built for solo diners, High Five Ramen's late hours make it a practical option if you're eating alone after an event or meeting. The price point, Cheap Eats-tier, well under $30 for food, means solo dining here doesn't carry the value-dilution problem of booking a tasting menu for one.