Edamamaster rates it’s restaurants much like you would expect: using edamame itself as the grading scale. When you reach for a piece of edamame you pull up one of three things, a pod with a single bean in it, a double pod with two beans, or, everyone’s favorite a triple pod with three beans in the shell.

The lowest rating a restaurant can receive is a single pod rating. Just like pulling out an edamame pod with only one bean inside of it these restaurants will leave you wanting more from them. However it is important to note that just because a restaurant only receives a single pod rating it still serves edamame and is therefore league’s above those restaurants that don’t.

The double pod rating. Right in the middle of the edamame scale, this is for restaurants that leave you feeling satisfied with the overall edamame experience, but, may not go above and beyond the standard fare.

The triple pod rating is reserved for restaurants that really stand out from the competition in the cut throat world of edamame. These restaurants are among the best places in Chicago to get your fix of edamame.

Legend tells of certain edamame shells coming with 4 beans in a single pod – the fabled quadra pod. Such rumors can only be taken with a grain of salt however as there has yet to be any evidence of this mythical edamame breed.

In order to be rated on the edamame scale, restaurants will be judged on several criteria including presentation, tenderness, salt/seasoning distribution, as well as other characteristics about the restaurant like alcohol options, environment, and other items beside edamame on the menu, because, after all, edamame is about more than just the edamame itself edamame is an experience, a journey.