Oiistar

If you've got a taste for ramen, Wicker Park's Oiistar is your place. This casual comfortable eatery combines Japanese ramen noodles with both Italian and French influences to create a flavor all their own. You'll find 5 different types of ramen including: Oiimen (pork belly, egg, scallion, tree-ear mushroom, spicy oil and garlic), Spicy Veggimen (mixed greens,tofu, peppers, mushroom, avocados), Musclemen (mussels,onion, chili pepper, scallion, bonito miso), Tikkamen (chicken, masala, bean sprout, nori, roasted sesame) and the Pozolmen (pork loin, jalapena pepper, red onion, tomato).

But Oiistar isn't limited to just ramen. They also feature seasonal dishes like ZZajangmen (bbq chicken, pork, egg, spinach, cashew and black bean sauce) which is excellent, appetizers, salads and steamed buns. One of our favorite items on the menu is the Tempura Shrimp steamed bun with tiger shrimp, thai chili mayo, fennel slaw and roasted sesame seed. The blend of the flavors is just perfect and the steam bun is light and fluffy (pictured above).

Oiistar is a great little gem of a spot on Milwaukee Avenue and they've recently expanded their hours to include lunch. Feeling the chill in the air? Warm up with a little ramen right in the neighborhood.