Table To Stix Ramen

Overpriced much? $ 7 for 2 buns, $ 15 for tonkatsu ramen, not to mention if you want add ons your noodle can end up costing over $ 20.
I got the soy sauce ramen and it was good, but not worth $ 13, could easily get the same thing else where for like $ 9.
The calamari people posted on here looked might good, so if I ever catch the chance I will go back and try it. The pork belly buns are ok, but for 2 buns, not worth it. The execution is more asian fusion than authentic. The pot stickers if you get the vegetarian ones, they come out green. Fillings are not bad, but I wouldn’t say the pot stickers were very memorable.
Nice, clean, fairly good service, modern. It can get hot in there in the summer I guess because so many pots are going on in the kitchen and circulation is not that great. Overall, if you want ramen and you are around the area it’s good, otherwise, I wouldn’t say there is anything special about this place, just like any other place in Evanston.

I have driven past this place many times and never knew it was there. This place isn’t obvious from the street as the only signage is transparent lettering on the window. The modern interior is small with about 6 – 8 tables and acoustically horrible. A boisterous table will give others a headache as this tiny place (but not intimate) can get loud.
The ramen is expensive at $ 15 and I feel smaller than other joints. 2 pork buns are $ 7 — tasty but not worth it. The Tonkotsu ramen’s broth wasn’t as rich as other ramen joints and actually greasier. They also put canned corn in it and the texture just threw it off. If you really like Oiistar or Jinya, you will be disappointed with this place.

Most importantly, ramen is really good as well as the portion. I’ve tried them all… all good. Service is delightful and décor is clean and somewhat hip but the prices are a bit high. I know evanston rent is high but we are not in chicago.

Wait, how does this place gets a 4-​star? If Oiistar down at Wicker park is a 4-​star ramen shop, this place is 2-​star at most.
Damn Evanston, you just need some freaking free-​market competition.
Service is fast and friendly, but the noodles and meat were disappointing.
I got their Tonkotsu ramen, the noodles were really soggy — not even chewy anymore for the type of noodles they’re using. The pork belly was not cooked through and lacked rich flavors in general.
Just go down to Chicago/​Wicker Park for some dope ass ramen. This place is not worth your dough.

Delicious ramen noodles and broth. A little pricey, but worth it. We had the spicy pork ramen, vegetable ramen (made vegan) and the Brussels sprouts (also made vegan). Everything was super flavorful and perfectly cooked. I will be back when I’m in the area.

Showed up 15 minutes before close and they couldn’t have been more accommodating. The food was delicious. They invited me to stay as long as I wanted, but certainly didn’t want to hold them up too much.
I wouldn’t hesitate to go back.
No liquor license, but they hope to have it shortly.

Awesome place to get your ramen fix. Noodles were just bouncy enough to slurp well, and the flavor profiles are absolutely on point. Their calamari app awesome too! Baby squid makes for easier chewing. Overall an awesome experience. Definitely coming back.

I ordered the Spicy Miso Ramen without any additional ingredients. The noodle had great texture and soup base was good.
The place is a little bit away from NU campus, and the price ($ 15) is a little high for students without Wildcard discount. However, they do offer Stamp Card to exchange for free meal after 10.
The restaurant decoration is simple and the environment looks clean and comfortable. They use stools for seating to save space.

Shiw: ShiwDou reviews here, and this time we’re at Table To Stix Ramen in Evanston!
Dou: So we’ve said it a bunch of times but we’re huge Ramen fans. When we were living in the Loop we’d go for ramen all the time, and we’re really glad this place opened in Evanston.
Shiw: So we went late on Thursday night. Got seated right away and ordered pretty quickly. We got the Spicy Miso Ramen and the normal Tonkatsu. The pros of this place was the texture of the noodles, nice and chewy. However, the broth wasn’t quite as good as some of the other chicago places.
Dou: I’d agree, I think it tasted too «normal», and didn’t really have a zing that made it stand out. The pork was also a bit overcooked and dry, not as juicy as you would like in ramen. It was also a little too lean.
Shiw: Yeah for $ 15 bucks a bowl I feel like it should’ve been better. Thanks for reading, and see you next time.

As someone who’s not a fan of thick, meaty broths, I was happy to find a vegetarian broth on their menu here. I’ve only been here twice so far, but each experience has been very tasty and satisfying.
I’ve also tried the Shoyu ramen which had the crispiest shrimp tempuras!
The interior is very nice and hip. The restaurant is fairly small though, so I would imagine their are long waits over the weekends.
Portions are big and service is great as well. The only reason I gave four stars is the price. It’s not cheap for a bowl of ramen, but when I’m craving a nice, hot bowl of tasty ramen, I’m happy I have a local ramen place to come to in Evanston.
Meter parking can be found on the streets or there is garage parking close by on Davis as well. The first hour is free in the garage, which is awesome!

They expanded their menu and raised the price of Tonkatsu ramem from 13 to $ 15. They changed from giving 2 slices of meat to 3. The taste was a lot better than the first time I had it; the broth was more thick, less salty, and the noodles were less soggy.
The interior is chic and has a cozy vive to it. Chairs are uncomfortable (wobbly stools) and hard to keep your coats and belongings in check during wintertime.

So happy to have a ramen shop here in Evanston! My table ordered the brussel sprout and Gyoza to start, and I ordered the tonkotsu ramen. I could eat the brussel sprouts every day! Very rich, delicious broth.
They also have a punch card system, in which after your tenth ramen you get one free!
However, the seating is super uncomfortable: all high tops. Also, each additional topping is $ 1+ dollar, which kinda sucks because an additional topping is like ½ an egg, a piece of bok choy, etc, very minuscule.

I had a fantastic experience here!
I came in with a group of 10 and with our reservation, they took care of us right away and served the food all together.
We ordered the Chicken Karaage, Brussel Sprouts, Tonkotsu Ramen, and Shoyu Ramen.
The appetizers were wonderful and definitely got our appetites ready for our ramen! The Tonkotsu was rich and incredibly flavorful! The Shoyu ramen was perfect for that chilly night and the Shrimp Tempura that came with it was sooo crispy and delicious! Even with different additions to the ramen and take aways, our server was very on point and got all of us what we ordered!
I will for sure be back again!

I was so excited to get a Ramen joint in Evanston so I wouldn’t have to trek into Chicago to get my fix! Unfortunately, I was pretty disappointed with Table To Stix. I got the Tonkatsu Ramen. Service was pretty fast and it looked delicious when it arrived at the table but then as I started slurping the broth, I couldn’t get over the fact that it tasted a bit burnt… I’m not sure if they burnt the corn or what but the taste was pretty overpowering. I normally slurp up every last drop of the broth but I just couldn’t get over the taste. It’s a shame too because the pork belly, egg and noodles were pretty good. I really wanted to love this place but it looks like I’ll have to continue venturing south to get some good ramen.
I’m hoping my 2 star experience is not representative but unfortunately the broth was bad enough where I probably won’t be giving them another shot again to know.

This winter I’ve been trying to explore the Ramen scene. This is a new spot, close by me so I had to check it out. the place is pretty small, theres only a few tables. Came here around 30 mins before they closed. It was obvious our server wasn’t happy, but we made it quick. I got the tonkotsu which was creamy and rich. My buddy got the shoyu which was a little smoky and savory. Both were great. The pork belly buns were decent, I’ve had better. Overall decent spot for a quick bowl of ramen.

My bf summed up our experience best: well I’m glad we tried it but I don’t see why we’d ever go back.
Our meal was… Fine. Like just okay. As far as specialty ramen shops go it might be my least favorite of the ones that have been popping up in the Chicagoland area the past few years. And even though it wins some points for the convenience of being in Evanston and so close to me nowadays, it’s also pretty low on my list of hot comforting soup spots to hit up near home.
The menu is nice and compact and makes ordering really easy. 3 broths: shoyu, tonkotsu, and vegetarian miso. A handful of appetizers. Extra toppings optional, though we felt no need to add any since the standard had a nice variety.
We tried tonkotsu and shoyu and an order of karaage. Karaage was pretty good. Both breast and thigh meat present, which is cool. The broths for the ramen though… Lacked seasoning except for a heavy hand on the sesame oil (which I felt took away from the already bland unporky and not creamy tonkotsu broth). And something about it just didn’t feel like something that would warm me up or comfort me on a cold winter day, and not just the fact that the served closer to lukewarm than piping hot. Out of the 2, we liked the shoyu broth more for flavor and better shrimp tempura than the pork on the tonkotsu ramen. And karaage best.
The service was really friendly and I’m sure they’ll get a lot of business for their location. And maybe improve after understandable growing pains. Maybe I’ll stumble in here some day again but right now if I’m in the area, I’d rather go back to sea ranch for undoubtedly packet broth+noodles and California roll. Or hot yuk gae jang from Koco table.

This thanksgiving I’m thankful for this new ramen spot in Evanston. Usually I need to make a trek downtown to Chicago just to get a bowl but now it is in E-​town! Service is very friendly and it’s a very clean store.
I came here with a friend and we both got the Tonkatsu ramen and it was pretty good! It came with corn, bamboo, egg, pork, and some other goodies. I thought that the ramen itself was done perfectly (al dente). The soup could use a little more pork bone flavor but the sodium was pretty well controlled. We also got the fried calamari and I thought it was pretty average — it does come with a spicy mayo sauce though. The bula soda came out a bit too sweet for me but my waitress offered to add more soda to balance the drink out. Want to try the other ramens and the brussel sprouts next time!

4.5 stars rounded up to 5 stars.
I was really excited when I found out a new ramen place opened up closer to home (I love Ramen Misoya, but Mount Prospect is quite a drive just for a bowl of ramen). My husband and I decided we had to give it a try… and we’re so glad we did.
LOCATION.
There was no wait on a Saturday night at around 5:30 p.m., which was great. We found meter parking (2 hrs max) nearby. The restaurant itself is decorated nicely. It has a modern vibe with a slight eclectic touch. I liked the overall dark monochromatic color scheme, cute Edison bulbs, and beautiful ash gray benches for waiting customers. Although Table and Stix is small, I could see a lot of attention to detail everywhere.
FOOD.
The Chicken Karaage (fried chicken tenders with spicy aioli and a lime wedge) was good. It tasted freshly made and the sauce + lime were a good compliment to the chicken. The Pork Belly Buns (soy braised pork belly with mesclun greens & spicy aioli; $ 6 for 2 pieces) were delicious. The buns were soft and fluffy, the pork was cooked well and the sauce was a great touch. The Tonkatsu ramen with go chu jang was delicious. Now, here’s where it gets tricky because everyone has a different opinion on what makes «good ramen.» I read complaints on the broth lacking thickness/​flavor. Sometimes I want a very flavorful, thick broth as well. The problem with this is that I can’t drink up the broth after I have finished my noodles because it begins to get really salty. I think T&S’s ramen has a good level of flavor. Plus, I really enjoyed the chewiness of the noodles. I took one star off because although the yolk of my Ajitama Egg was done well (underdone and delicious), I prefer a seasoned egg like the miso egg from Ramen Misoya. It might be harsh to take off half a star for an egg, but hey… I like my seasoned eggs! :)
Overall, I will definitely be returning to Table and Stix for more ramen soon!

I pass by Table to Stix everyday on the walk home, so it was very exciting to see that this place is open at last! I went with a friend around noon on a Sunday during its grand opening weekend, and the place was pretty packed. However, it wasn’t too long before we were seated. Table to Stix has a small menu, with a handful of appetizers and three flavors of ramen (shoyu, tonkatsu, and veggie miso).
We ordered the fried brussel sprouts with Japanese mustard and wafu dressing, two bowls of tonkatsu ramen and one serving of the green tea ice cream dessert to share. The brussel sprouts were quite tasty (coming from someone who usually doesn’t enjoy them), and came topped off with the same flakes that takoyaki usually comes with. The tonkatsu ($ 13) came in a pretty big bowl with an assortment of veggies (bamboo shoots, corn, bean sprouts, etc.), half a soft-​boiled egg, and two slices of pork. The broth was on the salty side for me, but, the pork was flavored well and kind of just melted in your mouth, which made me wish I had more than just two slices. The ice cream was refreshing and had a pretty strong green tea taste to it, which is always good.
Overall, the experience was all right, and I’m sure I’ll be back again (occasionally — $ 13 seems a little steep for a bowl of ramen to me, but I’m beginning to think that’s how all ramen is priced in the Chicago area), considering how this is the first ramen addition to downtown Evanston. If you have the time though, I’d suggest going to Wasabi or Ramen Takeya.

Evanston finally has a ramen place!
We arrived at 5:20 and were seated right away (made it in just before a huge crowd of people, whew), and ordered by 5:25. Then we waited 25 minutes for our food, which felt like a really long time. They had run out of bok choy already, which was kind of surprising given that it was still so early, but they let us substitute somethings else in its place.
We ordered the Tonkatsu Ramen ($ 13) which consists of delicious noodles, a creamy pork broth with soy braised pork belly, ajitama egg, sweet corn, bean sprouts, menma (bamboo), and scallions. They ran out of naruto fish cakes too, but did not offer us any substitutes. This was pretty interesting tasting, since the corn flavor was pretty strong. I am a fan of corn though, so I enjoyed it.
We also got the Shoyu Ramen ($ 12) which is a soy based broth with two prawn tempura, ajitama egg, mema, scallions, and wood ear mushrooms. It was also supposed to come with kamaboko fish cakes, but they were out of those too. The broth of this was very flavorful and the noodles were very good as well. The portion was smaller than the Tonkatsu.
Service was okay, but we felt rushed despite our food taking so long to come out. About 5 – 7 minutes after we received our food, they put our bill on the table, not even giving us the option to order dessert. We were only ²⁄₃ done with our ramen. They have green tea ice cream and mochi ice cream, but apparently they would rather seat people than give us the opportunity to get dessert. Oh well. Then, after we paid, they came to get the bill before we were even able to sign it. We didn’t really appreciate being hurried so much, especially when the table next to us was already finished eating when we got there, and were still chatting and sitting until 5 minutes before we left. We were out by 6.
Normally I would give three stars, but given that it is their opening weekend, I rounded up to 4.
Hopefully they will stock up on ingredients better in the future! By the way, you can pay extra for additional toppings:
— Braised pork belly, seasoned ground beef ($ 2)
— kimchee, ajitama egg ($ 1.50)
— Bok choy, bean spourts, nori, corn, mushrooms, kamaboko, menma ($ 1)
— Gochujang (spicy sauce), minced garlic (50 cents)
It’s worth a try, but be prepared to wait! It was packed and had a steady flow of people.