Who hasn't walked by Chika a million times? Maybe leaving Pulse Nightclub after a date night, or turning the corner after SoulCycle, or walking out of a glutinous Harp and Crown brunch, you—and I—have probably glazed right over Chika many times. I certainly never paid much attention to its bright lights on Sansom Street, the neon spilling out onto street level from the underground bar. But Chika is a lot more interesting than it appears on the surface—or rather, below the surface.
I’m emphasizing Chika’s underground setting because it’s an important part of the restaurant's story. In Japanese cities, many restaurants and bars set up shop under the street. Space is highly limited in most urban areas, especially in Japanese cities, so owners often get creative with basement spaces. The name "Chika" is a nod to this tradition, meaning "cellar" in Japanese. Descending the stairs to Chika is meant to replicate that authentic experience, even oceans away in Philadelphia. These basement bars and restaurants can be transformed into beacons of hospitality and warmth—and offer hours late into the night.
Walking into Chika instantly transports you to another world. Beams of warm neon streak across the colorful bar and high–energy music blasts from every corner. The lighting is dim and blue, the countertops glow, the both are cozy. Chika is a concept from the minds of Glu Hospitality, who are responsible for many Philly food scene favorites like Figo and Royal Izakaya & Sushi. The restaurant's futuristic look was modeled after the noodle bar from the 1982 neo-noir film Blade Runner, and the drink menu is also filled with references to the classic film (An Electric Sheep, anybody?). But while the space might be out of this world, the food quickly transports you back to a lovely reality.
Executive chef Dean Leevongce trained in Japan to learn authentic ramen and sushi techniques, and Chika aims to bring those traditional practices to their Philadelphia customers. Their most famous ramen dish is the “Tonkotsu Chashumen," a hakata–style “tonkotsu” where the pork bone broth is boiled over 24 hours. It came with three pieces of marinated chashu pork, shiitake, menma, red pickled ginger, sesame, scallions, and finished with a drizzle of roasted garlic and sesame oil. Simply put, it was delicious. The pork was tender and flavorful and the pickled ginger added a welcomed tangy flavor into the mix to cut the richness of the pork. The soup was hot and comforting, while also providing a peppery flavor to the bowl.
The tonkotsu was great, but the entire menu impresses. The yakitori with chicken was a massive hit. It was hot and juicy with a sweet yet rich and lush glaze. However, the sushi and the fish were a bit more ordinary. I had high expectations for the spicy tuna rice crisps, and while they tasted delicious with jalapeño and tobiko, the rice was less crispy and the fish didn’t take my breath away. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the "SET A" three–hand–roll set, which came with a tuna, salmon, and yellowtail hand roll. It was very reasonably priced, especially for the amount of fish on each roll. The yellowtail roll was definitely a stand out here; it was paired with cucumber, which balanced the flavor and added a crunch.
While an unfortunate reality of the American food landscape is that Japanese quality fish is harder to emulate here, especially at a reasonable price, Chika does an excellent job at providing authentic and delicious meals. If you find yourself in Center City looking for a late night bite, definitely head to Chika for their late night food offer of half–off appetizers and hand rolls. I will certainly be returning with friends for the atmosphere and the particular quality of their ramen. The restaurant's decor might take you to an otherworldly bar in the distant future, but the ramen takes you right to Japan. When you walk out of a meal at Chika, it’s hard to believe you’d been in Center City Philadelphia all that time.
TL;DR: Chika Ramen Bar serves up good food and good vibes for the perfect late night indulgence.
Location: 1526 Samson St.
Price: $$
Hours: 4 p.m.–10 p.m. on Tuesdays–Wednesdays, 4 p.m–12 a.m. on Thursdays, 4 p.m.–1 a.m. on Fridays–Saturdays, 4 p.m.–10 p.m. on Sundays, closed on Mondays
