Nearly each month, Yusho (2853 N. Kedzie, 773-904-8558) has held a Ramen Battle, in which local chefs battle show off their creations. For the restaurant’s seventh competition, chefs Charlie McKenna of Lillie’s Q and Lee Wolen of Boka will go head to head from 4-9 p.m. Nov. 16.
Yusho general manager Timothy Koenig said the restaurant’s weekly Sunday Noodles ($20) program that they started a couple years ago inspired the competition. He said it gives chefs from other restaurants the opportunity to be creative outside of their respective restaurants’ fare.
Yusho provides the house-made ramen. “Everything else is up to the chef. They make their own stock and add their own accoutrements,” said Koenig.
With the Ramen Battle, guests taste both ramen preparations and vote for their favorite. “We give the guests a score card, and we ask the guests to pick the best one,” Koenig said. “We ask the guests to decide which chef achieved the best flavor profile.”
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The winning chefs get bragging rights and Koenig said sometimes the competitors have some friendly smack talk on social media. Yusho plans to hold a battle among all of the winning chefs.
In addition to tastings of both ramen entries, guests are served soft serve ice cream and a draft cocktail. For the November competition, the drink will be a take on the daiquiri. Instead of fresh lime juice, Yusho will use calamansi, a tangy citrus fruit from the Philippines. The concoction is then put in a keg, carbonated and pulled from a draft.
Tickets are $35 and can be purchased by calling the restaurant (773-904-8558) or reserving on Open Table.