16. Slurping Turtle

Slurping Turtle is not quite the noodle nirvana that Yagihashi promised—and we all expected—but it's so much better than the rest of the izakaya/bincho competition. The bright and industrial-chic bi-level space, hidden on the bottom floor of a boutiquey River North office suite, overflows with minor treasures like a wonderful octopus salad, a duck-fat-fried chicken with crispy skin that melts right into the meat, and, yes, a substantially good udon of thick noodles in a deep-flavored soy-dashi broth. Awkward service and overcrowding can't ruin fun desserts like a hulking but smooth coconut cream puff or something called Cyndie's Egg Shooter. Instead of a classic, Slurping Turtle qualifies as a pleasant diversion.

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