The ambiance felt like I imagine a place in a busy Japanese city might feel like. Our server was outstanding and informative. The food was very satisfying and delicious and was enough for two hungry people. Chef Paul knows how to entertain the senses with a the guiding hand of one who lives for the full culinary experience. read more

Gaijin is possibly some of the best Japanese food I've ever eaten. I've been here multiple times! We did the restaurant week menu once and that was awesome. All the vegetarian options were fantastic and I couldn't be more thankful. Love the cute and comfy seating! All the flavours of the mochi donuts are absolutely amazing. And the okonomiyaki is out of this world. Couldn't believe that the vegetarian option would taste so good. Service was great, we got some cocktails and a bottle of wine too! Can't wait to go back. read more

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This was not what I expected. I found it on the Michelin star guide for Chicago. I think the best part of dinner was my friends Octopus pancake it was very flavorful. I also think they specialize in Japanese pancakes so that's probably the better choice. I picked the katsu curry plate because I saw it being advertised online. The katsu seemed like it was reheated, the breading was soggy and the meat was slightly rubbery. I also ordered the tempura and mochi donut. The tempura was the worst thing I ever saw! I was immediately disappointed when it was placed in front of me. OVERCOOKED! The batter was way to dark the vegetables were mushy and I think the oil was old! Send help! PLEASE! The mochi donut was really good maybe a little to much glazed but the texture was really good! If I ever came back it would be for the donut! The Octopus pancake was also good but it looks like a sauce heavy dish and that isn't something I usually like but it was nice to try. read more

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Gaijin in Japanese translates to "outsider" or "foreigner" so I did not know what to expect from such an establishment. I was part of a group visiting the establishment and left pleasantly surprised and full. An okonomiyaki place, most dishes were good and tasty, a few not quite authentic, but a good interpretation of Japanese cuisine. I sat at the bar and in addition to the food, enjoyed the show behind the bar as they mixed different cocktails - Gaijin does carry a wide variety of libations to include Japanese whiskeys! Something I have never seen is a Toki tap (Suntory blended whiskey) dispensing tasty highballs. For dessert, the kakikori (shaved ice) was humongous and flavorful. Gaijin's atmosphere is festive - a bit tight in space because it's crowded. I would visit again when visiting Chicago. read more

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Food: 4.5/5 Service: 5/5 Ambiance: 5/5 I've been to Gaijin 10+ times in the last year. That's for a reason: it's just so consistently good and is the perfect place for a casual dinner or date. Reservations recommended. Food: Their signature item is okonomiyaki, which is a Japanese savory pancake. They offer two styles: Osaka (mixed) and Hiroshima (layered). All are good, but my favorites are the beef and octopus (Osaka) and Mushroom Yuba (Hiroshima). I usually split one with a friend because they're so hefty. Reserve counter seats, and you can watch it being made in front of you. Of all the times I've had okonomiyaki here, only once was it undercooked. Tables have heated grills to keep them hot, which is a nice touch. Their other menu items are fine, but I tend not to order them a second time. The yakisoba and bok choy are a bit oily. Veggie tempura is okay but nothing to write home about. The kakigori (shaved ice) used to look kind of scary, but they fixed the designs so now they look like cute bears. The matcha kakigori is well done and not too heavy. Their drinks are great, especially the sake flights. They use good quality sake, and several of the drinks feature brands that are uncommon to find. I met the bartender who created most of the drinks on the menu, who was incredibly friendly. Service: Good. Water is always filled. Waitstaff are consistently friendly and accommodating. Chairs can be a bit clunky to move and close to each other by the counters, but you can store your belongings under the chair seats. Ambiance: Casual, modern, cool. The neon sign says "Gaijin," which means "foreigner" in Japanese. It's a fun name since the restaurant owner himself is a foreigner. read more

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I love Gaijin so much! During my first visit here a couple of months ago, I arrived in the early evening and sat at the bar area near where the chefs are. Reservations are also accepted online. To drink, I started with the 1919 cocktail (whisky and sake based). This cocktail was really well balanced. I only ordered one, but was tempted to order a second one. The Kimchi is a good appetizer if you don't want anything too heavy, but there are many other appetizers to pick from as well. I've had both the Osaka style Okonomiyaki and the Hiroshima Style. I personally preferred the Hiroshima Style (includes the addition of noodles on top), but both variations are really good. I ordered beef as my meat both times, but my waitress had mentioned the shrimp as being a favorite among customers. Both styles are very filling, but I could not finish the Hiroshima Style Okonomiyaki in one sitting when I had it. You are pretty much guaranteed to have leftovers with this one. I was skeptical of how well it would reheat, but it actually reheated very well in the microwave the next day. read more

Gaijin - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Went here for my bestie's birthday. Excellent service (shoutout to Christian!!)...food (A++)...location (by the Morgan Green line stop)...happy hour deals...cool vibes!! The kakigori was something so different and can't stop thinking about it. Will be back!! read more

Came here with some friends and was not disappointed. The pork okonomiyaki was very flavorful and delicious. My partner tried the shrimp okonomiyaki which had corn on it which was an unexpected but not unwelcome combination. The desserts were mochi donut holes and a matcha ice with some jelly. Flavor wise everything was great, but as is the case with many things in Chicago I thought it was a bit too expensive to be worth 5 star rating. Service wise, our server was very attentive and checked up on us multiple times which I appreciated. The ambiance is designed to be very modern, and I think overall the experience is something I'd be open to trying again. Like I said would be 5 stars but just a bit too expensive in my opinion. read more

Gaijin - Dessert - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Gaijin was another one of those restaurants where there was little interest to try but could live without ever knowing. We ended up spontaneously dining here on a Friday night. First impressions is that it is much bigger than it seems, looking from the outside at least. When we were seated, I felt that it was giving dirty. The utensils and table were a bit oily and I understand they do clean the stove in between patrons, but I just feel like I don't want my food on that stove after seeing how they clean it with the towels.. doesn't seem too sanitary. I much rather just eat it on plate. Anyways, I did look past that because I wanted to enjoy the full experience. Between two, we ordered a lychee IPA, hi chew highball, veggie tempura, octopus with udon okonomiyaki, beef with crispy rice okonomiyaki. The tempura was pretty standard but I did enjoy the batter because it was light and airy. I also never had green onion tempura so that was unique and i ended up really liking it. The broccoli tmr put tho in was too thick so the batter didn't fully cook through so there were bits of raw batter in between the broccoli. Both okonomiyaki fell short for me as they were not crispy at all (because the pancake was way too thick) and had this sweet teriyaki flavor on both so it got beyond sickening. I prefer my savory food to be savory not sweet. Between the two though, I think the beef was better than the octopus (mainly because the octopus wasn't crispy and had no flavor) and the udon and rice are pretty much on the same level. There were some bits of udon that were really crispy and burnt. Man.. those were good. It was rare though. Overall, I felt the food kinda gave me the ick (from the stove to the oil to the flavor) so I ended up picking around my plate and not really eating at all.. it is definitely a heavier meal so 2 people definitely could share one. I can see a group of friends coming here after a night of drinks but for a good meal or nice dinner date, I'd pass. Don't mind my opinion though, I can see a lot of people do enjoy Gaijin and it was really popping off on Friday so I'm glad! Maybe it's just not my cup of tea. read more

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Good food! It was fun to sit at the bar and watch them make our food (and everyone elses). The Okonomiyaki was what I came for and 10/10. The menu is pretty small otherwise. read more

Gaijin - Octopus Osaka Style Okonomiyaki and Short Ribs Plate - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Knocking off a star because they downsized the kakigori. Food still tastes very good and so was the service. read more

Gaijin - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My friend and I came during the weekend and didn't make reservations, but we were able to sit relatively quickly at the bar. I would recommend making reservations as it is a smaller restaurant and gets busy rather quickly. Once seated, we ordered the Osaka style okonomiyaki. It arrived pretty quickly, and we were sort of surprised by how small the dish was compared to the price. The okonomiyaki was extremely hot and had a great blend of flavors. The outer edges were nice and crispy, but the insides were fluffy and soft. The only downside to the dish was that we wished there was more after we finished. For dessert, we got the kakigori kuma, and it was the cutest thing ever! The ears of the bear were made by cookies, but they got pretty hard because we decided to eat those last. The inside/bottom of the bear had red beans, and the nose area was vanilla ice cream. It was a nice way to wrap up our meal here. read more

Gaijin - Okonomiyaki - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

So fun! Great atmosphere and decor, it was super busy but the wait staff was in top of everything, our food arrived timely and all together (we had a party of 8 so that can sometimes be challenging to time speciality and regular dishes) Dinner, dessert and apps! Everything was great! We had an excellent experience. read more

Gaijin - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This is definitely one of the best dishes I've tried in the city! It's so unique and bursting with flavor, and surprisingly quite filling too. They make it fresh right in front of you if you end up sitting along the kitchen/bar area. The restaurant itself is kind of cramped and it can get busy, so definitely get a reservation! The service is nice and it's a great meal. If you can save enough space for dessert they have the cutest shaved ice! Highly recommend this spot! read more

Gaijin - Shrimp Osaka Style Okonomiyaki - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I've been to Gaijin a couple times and we've enjoyed it! As far as I know, it's the only restaurant in Chicago that specializes in okonomiyaki and kakigori. First the service is great. Water glass was always filled which is a barometer for me on how well the servers pay attention to their tables. The waitress also took time to explain the menu and recommended some items. Next the food was delicious. We got a lot of different dishes and every one is spot on. The only thing I wish we could have done was make the okonomiyaki and yakisoba ourselves. When we visited Japan and went to an okonomiyaki, we got to make it ourselves at our table which was fun. I guess it's not as popular for US customers. Overall great restaurant and love the decor and vibe of the place. There are bar seats located in front of the cooks making the okonomiyaki which would have been fun to watch. read more

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Live in the neighborhood but first time visiting! I'm a big fan of bok choy and this didn't disappoint. The garlic was a little different, you really have to like garlic to like this dish. The beef OKONOMIYAKI was very, very good. We sat at the bar and the bar staff were very attentive. We're doing dry January and they do have n/a options. Give Gaijin a try if you're in the area (the door is somewhat blocked by the Morgan L stop)! read more

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A few years ago (pre-pandemic), I came here on a sister date during the holidays for an early lunch. We were going to see a show in downtown so we stopped in to grab a bite to eat. I made a reservation for Saturday and didn't have to wait at all. Between the two of us, we ordered the Okonomiyaki Flight, which is trio sampler of mini pancakes. We had shared an appetizer of bok choy sprinkled with tons of garlic crisps (yum) and the pork belly yakisoba. Gaijin is a fun, hip spot for savory Japanese pancakes and shave ice in the West Loop, right by the Morgan CTA stop. I heard about this place from a friend, and she was bringing her out-of-town visitor to eat here. I thrive off of restaurant recommendations (it's also how the Yelp world goes 'round) and so my sister and I went here as soon as we could find a reason. The sampler, bok choy, and yakisoba were plenty to share between 2 people. The experience was so unique because I haven't tried okonomiyaki before, and this made me want to visit Japan and go on a food tour even more. Since then, I've come back once more with my partner for outdoor dining on their front patio. Nothing beats dining al fresco in the West Loop when the weather is nice. Whether you've dined here before or it's your first time, Gaijin is a one-of-a-kind restaurant that's great for intimate dates. read more

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Such a unique concept and definitely a great place to take out of towners! I've always loved okonomiyaki so to find a place that specializes in that was super exciting. I love how they make it right in front of you at the bar as well. I will say I wasn't a huge fan of the appetizers, they were really worth the price tag. The okonomiyakis were good but honestly the dessert blew me away! The sesame yuzu kakigori is a must try! Refreshing and not too sweet but creamy from the sesame ice cream, it was my favorite thing there and I'm not really a dessert person. read more

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Came here for restaurant week and really enjoyed it! I had never had okonomiyaki before but it was great. Really unique dining experience with a warm plate in the table that all the food is served on. A lot of options for seafood lovers and vegetarians alike. read more

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We came here for the first time in October and it was amazing! This weekend my husband and I were craving Gaijin so we made the trip from Indiana! The food is always super fresh and delicious. The drinks are also superb! My husband had the tradition Highball and I had the Hi Chew. The staff is very friendly and tentative. Since it's December, they had it decorated nice and cozy like! We will definitely be back! read more

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This was a place that I wouldn't mind coming back to. We sat outside so we didn't see if it was small inside. I loved the food. We ordered shrimp Osaka style okonomiyaki, traditional Hiroshima style okonomiyaki, and matcha mochi donut. We also shared a kakigori. Portion size was ample for two people, we had more than enough. Both of the okonomiyaki's were very delicious. Shrimp was soft and fresh. The Osaka style was quite nice with the cabbage pancake, corn, and shrimp. The traditional Hiroshima style had cabbage pancake, yakisoba noodles, bacon, and egg. It was very filling. Matcha mochi donut had a crispy outer layer, matcha flavor was more subtle, and chewy on the inside. Kakigori is big enough for 2-3 people. In the past they got really creative with the designs. read more

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I went there for the lychee martini and it did not disappoint; very nice touch that you can pick between vodka or gin. read more

Gaijin - Menu - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Gaijin, located in the West Loop, below the Morgan Street CTA Station, specializes in Okonomiyaki - a savory Japanese pancake traditionally made on a hot metal cooking surface called a teppan. Okonomiyaki aren't the only standouts on Gaijin's menu. Salmon and beef rib starters were delicious. And chef-owner Paul Virant authored a book on preserving called The Preservation Kitchen, so don't miss the pickled veggies. Not in the mood for savories? Gaijin is a destination restaurant for dessert! Kakigōri, shaved ice dessert with flavored syrups, and chewy satisfying mochi donuts are the stars of the dessert menu. The glazed rice flour donuts are crispy outside and fluffy and chewy inside. And you can enjoy dessert with a steaming aromatic cup of Sparrow Coffee. You can imagine my surprise when shaved ice in the shape of a bear hit my table, because I misheard the server, so I was expecting it to be shaped like a pear. The tart cherries inside were a beautiful complement to the chocolate and caramel flavors. Gaijin is totally unique in Chicago's restaurant scene, and worth a visit. Come for the Okonomiyaki, or just for dessert, and again, don't skip the world-class pickled veggies. GAIJIN BY PAUL VIRANT 950 W Lake St, Chicago read more

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After a long, chilly walk, my friends and I finally reached Gaijin, and it was worth every step. The warm ambiance and moody lighting made it feel welcoming. The staff moved us from the bar to a table when a reservation opened up, which was thoughtful. The appetizer steaks were tasty, though three-bites small, and the beef okonomiyaki was hearty and comforting--just what we needed on a cold winter night. The real highlight, though, was dessert. Every element was intentional and perfectly balanced. It began with pouring evaporated milk over shaved ice, turning the first bites into textural heaven. The nuttiness of the black sesame crumble paired beautifully with sweet strawberry compote, while shy hints of sour yuzu kept each bite refreshing. Reaching the black sesame ice cream at the core was the ultimate reward. Easily one of the best desserts I've ever had. Though a bit pricey, Gaijin is perfect for a date night or celebration. That cold walk? Absolutely worth it. read more

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This was a cool place and entertaining to visit. I'm not a fan of seafood so little did I know the moving flakes on top were made of dried tuna so maybe I lost my appetite with that even though I specified so seafood of any sort. The rest of my friends enjoyed their meals so I just didn't want to ruin the mood. Not sure if I personally will go back but I do still suggest others to give it a try! read more

Gaijin - Ice cream - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We sat at the counter at this unassuming little place tucked in behind the L stop. It felt very chic without too much attitude. The cooks (the counter is parallel to the grill) and servers were lovely and attentive, and the dishes we ordered were excellent. The flavors were generally mild, but complex. The only complaint I would have is that they're pretty heavy handed with the scallions. I ordered a dish that was about 75% scallions. read more

Gaijin - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Have been to Gaijin a couple times before but this was my first time sitting at the counter - I felt like being able to watch the chefs make the Okonomiyaki was super fun and added to the experience a lot, would recommend! We ordered the shrimp Osaka style and beef Osaka style - here's where I have a bit of a hot take, I think their Okonomiyaki is just okay. It's fun to eat but after the first bite everything starts to blend together and imo it needs some extra salt or flavor, I saw another table ask for extra sauce which I should have done. The kakigori, however, I loved!! Super good sharing size and beautiful Yuzu flavor. Overall Gaijin is still a West Loop staple and great for bringing guests from out of town. Food: 3.5/5 Service: 4/5 (our server was kind but we waited a long time to order, kept walking past and saying he would be back) Price: 4.5/5 Ambience: 5/5 read more

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Came to Gaijin during restaurant week for their lunch special and was not disappointed! Their okonomiyaki (Japanese savory cabbage pancake) was delicious and unique. The Osaka style is more traditional but the Hiroshima style comes with yakisoba noodles in the pancake. Our server was super helpful in walking us through the different menu options. Definitely ask for their expertise if you're not sure what to get. Would highly recommend making a reservation ahead of time to guarantee a seat. Would also recommend getting a seat at the counter if you want to see the pancakes being made! My boyfriend and I mentioned it was our anniversary in our reservation and we got a scoop of ice cream on the house. Awesome experience, would definitely recommend. read more

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I was intrigued by this restaurant's unique menu and dessert options, so I suggested it to my husband, and this may have become his new favorite restaurant. We arrived for lunch on a weekend day in the winter, so it wasn't too crowded, and we were able to get in without a reservation. We started with an order of the Twice Cooked Garlic (shoyu / rayu / senbei crackers, $9) along with the Gaijin Martini (roku gin or haku vodka / sake vermouth / orange bitters, $14) for myself and I believe my husband had the Neon Magic Orchestra ($15). The garlic is certainly a bold start to the meal, and my martini was very strong. They have a few different Okonomiyaki choices on their menu, so we went with the Mushroom and Yuba Hiroshima-Style (yakisoba / mushrooms / egg / yuba / shio kombu, $19). It was so delicious, prompting my husband to declare it the best thing he's ever eaten. It is a good amount for two people, and we made sure to save some to take home with us, so we would have room for dessert. The Kuro Kuma Kakigori (chocolate syrup / salted caramel ice cream / macerated cherries / chocolate cookie ears / feuilletine crumbles, $17) is a work of art, and it is pretty darn tasty as well! Space inside feels a bit tight, and it definitely seems like it could fill up quickly. read more

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I have been wanting to try Gaijin for the longest of time and I finally got the chance to go! I went on a Tuesday night, and was seated immediately upon arrival. The staff was friendly and accommodating. The restaurant itself had a great ambiance, it was very personable. For food, my partner and I ordered the Shrimp OSAKA-STYLE OKONOMIYAKI and the Octopus OSAKA-STYLE OKONOMIYAKI. The shrimp okonomiyaki had a sweet and savory taste and the octopus was had more of a bbq taste. We truly enjoyed both! My only gripe is that the okonomiyaki texture can get boring over time and it would have been nice to have more protein in the pancake for balance. The portions were huge and one could be shared between two people. But I personally finished mine with an empty stomach. We also ordered desert - the pandan-coconut mochi donut - this is hands down, the best desert/donut I have had. From the glaze to the chewy texture of the dough, my mouth is watering just thinking about it! I definitely recommend this place if you are looking for something unique to try and especially if you are craving a good chewy donut! read more

Gaijin - Mochi Donut - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Another great dinner experience @gaijin, group of 8 vegetarian folks.....I didn't miss the seafood or meat. Drinks are always spot on and service is super attentive. We will keep coming back to this trendy Fulton Market restaurant. read more

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What a unique and delicious dinner! Everyone loved their dish (never ever happens) Cute atmosphere, enjoyed sitting at the counter to watch the food preparation. Can't wait to return to try other dishes but will definitely get the same dessert - kuro kuma - so so cute and yum! read more

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I don't know what to say. Because there is so much to say. A culinary fusion of Asian and crazy scientist. Their specialties are three different types of Asian pancakes topped with your choice of entree. Oh man who knew how good a pancake could be. I managed to get a picture of the bacon egg and tuna over noodles. The presentation was amazing as the plate seemed alive and steaming as it was placed on the table. After the first taste it was like a race to get as much as you could on your plate making sure you were not cheated of any delicious bites. I don't know if foodgasm does this menu justice. So unique and creative. Truly a one of a kind experience not to miss in the West Loop. Drinks were even creative and presented with a variety of flowers making the presentation and attention to detail duly noted. For dessert we had to try the crispy rice donut and it did not disappoint. Does a donut ever really? Well this donut went to 11. Topped with a fresh strawberry creme sauce and a raspberry donut hole. We were stuffed but dessert stomach kicked in The noise from the train and the dust can be unsettling but they are making up for it with service and food. read more

Gaijin - Traditional Hiroshima - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

It has been a while since I had okonomiyaki and it has been an even longer while since I had okonomiyaki served on a grill (last time was in Osaka, December 2019). This place specializes in 3 types of okonomiyaki (Osaka, Negiyaki, and Hiroshima), and if you are seated at a table, you will get your okonomiyaki placed on top of the heated grill. There is also function on the seats - to ensure a good dining experience, you can put your bags and jackets inside the seats - just lift up the seat and there is a giant box for storage! There were 2 of us and just to be safe, we made reservations as it got busy over lunch time during the Labor Day. We each ordered a different style of okonomiyaki (octopus Osaka style and traditional Hiroshima) as well as the strawberry mochi donut for dessert. Octopus Osaka style: there were generous amounts of octopus and not too much filler ingredients like cabbage. It is a well balanced dish with a lot of bonito flakes. Traditional Hiroshima style: I liked this more as there was also yakisoba - while the yakisoba was not super rich, the texture is great and this makes for a very filling dish, especially because there is also bacon and egg in the dish. Strawberry mochi donut: definitely a different take on the usual, easy to tear apart, mochi donut I have had from Mochinut, Dochi, etc from Seattle. This is more similar to the ones I had from Third Culture Bakery in the Bay Area, as the texture is very chewy. Instead of dried up frosting, the frosting here is wet, and it was interesting to see that there is a nice donut hole on top (awesome, no food waste). Service is lacking - we were finished with the food and we ordered the strawberry mochi donut but we had to ask for it to be delivered, which it took another 10 minutes. What was worse is that they didn't even give us new plates and utensils for the dessert, so we had to use the used ones that are a bit salty from eating the okonomiyaki to eat the donut. read more

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All around wow! I had heard about Hiroshima Okonomiyaki and was curious to try it. I thought it would be a long shot to find this traditional Japanese dish, and was ecstatic when I found Gaijin (which means foreigner in Japanese). I booked a reservation in front of the flattop. Which gave us a front row seat to watch the chefs layer these mouthwatering sweet and savory creations. Dinner and a show! The Hiroshima Okonomiyaki was unlike anything I have ever put in my mouth. Such a variety of flavors, that combine in a new and interesting way. And the presentation of it is incredible. Great Food, Great Service, Great Ambiance. Will be returning. read more

Gaijin - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We ordered a wide assortment of dishes to share at this restaurant including the short ribs plate, traditional Hiroshima okonomiyaki, the shrimp okonomiyaki, octopus yakisoba, Mochi donut, and the bear shaped shaved ice. 1. Short ribs plate (4.5/5 small portion but tasty flavors) 2. Shrimp okonomiyaki (4/5 nice flavor combo of the shrimp and the underlying pancake ingredients, I preferred this okonomiyaki to the other one that we ordered) 3. Trad Hiroshima okonomiyaki (3.5/5 I didn't like the texture of this one as much as the shrimp okonomiyaki) 4. Octopus yakisoba (4.5/5 really enjoyed the taste of this dish, probably my fav of the night, and the octopus was cooked to perfection and tender) 5. Matcha Mochi donut (4/5 nice chewy Mochi texture) 6. Bear shaped shaved ice (honestly a 5/5 just because of how adorable it was!) read more

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Super cool menu and it's not that expensive. Love the authentic okonomiyaki flavors. It's a bustling interior and you probably need a reservation even on a weekday. Would want to come back and explore the different variations. read more

Gaijin - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I've heard so much about okonomiyaki, so when I found Gaijin, I knew I had to try it. Okonomiyaki is in the simplest term - a Japanese flavor-bombed pancake. It's really the sauces that make it the best experience. The tabletops have a grill to keep the food warm. You cannot end the meal without trying the dessert! I mean, just look at the Cubby Kuma, can you get a cuter looking dessert? Flavorful and even though it's shredded ice, with that ice cream, it's a sizeable dessert! read more

I recently went to Gaijin to catch up with some friends. It was my first time trying Okonomiyaki and it was overall a great experience! The tables are setup as hot plates to keep your food warm which I found very cool. The portions sizes were also pretty large and very shareable if you wanted to try multiple things. Overall would recommend if you're looking to try something new in west loop read more

Gaijin - Vegetarian Hiroshima Style Okonomiyaki, veggie yaksoba - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Service was good. Food was not the best for me personally. For appetizer, I had the twice cooked garlic. The garlic was good but the rice cracker and garlic do not compliment each other well for me. For main, I had an Osaka Okonomiyaki. This was probably the best tasting item I got, however I'd still give it a 6/10. read more