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    Gaoku Izakaya

    4.5 (26 reviews)

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    Hand rolls
    Marlene S.

    Came for dinner on a Thursday. At first, we thought we were interrupting a private event, but we were good. There was just 1 employee so service was very slow. Our food was pretty tasty and the matcha tiramisu was really cool.

    Chirashi don
    Irina G.

    Dude. Best place I've eaten in Chicago in a while!!! Everything was exceptional - no joke! We had a lot of diff things but a few highlights: - wakamono sour: literally my idea of a PERFECT cocktail! It's like a yuzu sour - so freakin good. - the salmon and tuna hand rolls: these are worth every penny and alone will be the reason I come back over and over again! - chirashi don: not a thing I normally order but all the fish was cut so thick and was so tasty!! Plus they make their own tamago and it's like eating a soufflé dessert!! - the khao soi ramen: best fusion of Thai and Japanese ever! Spice was HOT and on point and it came with karaage chicken that was crispy and tender and amazing Please come here!!! Best food ever!! And love the owners too!! Maru was so nice and the chef is one of faves! The vibe is also amazing - really chill.

    Mocktail
    Henry D.

    This restaurant was absolutely unbelievable. My wife and I eat at every new sushi and izakaya place that pops up in Chicago. The harder it is to get a reservation the more determined we are to try it. This new Izakaya joint is truly remarkable, is fairly easy to get a table for now, and I hope that the Michelin folks visit it soon. They are doing very innovative changes to traditional Iazakaya dishes. Karaage chicken toasted in yellow Thai Curry with Red curry paste dip. Grilled hamachi with chimichurri. Internationally imported sashimi selections for extremely reasonable prices, at least for now. Very high end cocktail making that will stand next to the best cocktails in West Loop and The Loop. This was my wife's second time here and she insisted I try it. So glad I did and we'll be coming back for more. The service was impeccable. Incredibly friendly and fully knowledgeable of the menu.

    Scallops in coconut curry and lemongrass

    If you want top shelf sushi this is your place! Hands down the best sushi Ive ever had! we did the nigiri chefs pick and it was just outstanding- as well as scallops in coconut lemongrass, then Toro and soft shell crab rolls! My cocktails were mixed perfectly. You can spend a lot or you can do a ramen bowl or rice bowls. Casual,not stuffy, quiet, and ok parking. It was my 2 nd time being there and I am definitely going back!

    chirashi don
    Cecilia X.

    this place was great but definitely on the pricier end. it reminds me of ikigai but more expensive and better quality. my favorite thing we got was the Sakura pork, and my partners favorite was the mackerel. the chirashi don was very fresh and so were the scallops. we were the only people eating dinner when we went which was strange but the bar was full. I got a tom khalada and I really liked it.

    Ramen
    Eugene F.

    A must! Our favorite were the hand rolls, ramen, and the tiramisu! Service is amazing with everyone super nice and and food came out super quick. Great spot for friends dinner or even a romantic night! Also some of the best drinks in the city!

    Scallops
    Shoshana C.

    Amazing seafood! Obsessed with the oysters and the SCALLOPS! Wished that the pork dish came with a carb to eat it with. Great dessert, very unique drinks especially if you like dark liquors! Great place to share plates

    Tom Khalada

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    1 year ago

    Not very authentic Japanese food, but pretty good in taste! good quality for fish and oyster! Nice to have a drink though.

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    2 years ago

    wonderful food and service. drinks are top notch. nice atmosphere and that tuna is amazing. as is the oyster omelette!

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    Bisous

    Bisous

    4.3
    (118 reviews)
    2.5 mi

    The Chicago food tour commences... First stop, drinks at Bisous! This cocktail bar was listed no…read more 39 on the top 50 bars in North America for 2025. It was no wonder when we arrived that there was a line out the door. We waited around 45 minutes, and the bouncer was a really nice fellow who kept track of the numbers and people at the door. Upon entering, we were immersed in a dimly lit retro-style lounge. It was quite loud inside and packed as we walked to our seats. The server was great at taking our orders and offering suggestions. I opted for the French 75, which featured sparkling wine and mixed gin, brandies, and citrus. The drink was delicious, but STRONG. I don't know what they put in the cocktails in America, but I am always finished after one drink. Needless to say, we were all struggling to finish our own drinks. My favourite touch was the coasters, I ended up keeping all of them so that I can reuse them at my galentines event next year. The 'bisous' with the kiss on the other side is a perfect touch! I think the drinks are fairly priced for USD. I would love to return someday to try other drinks and bar bites, and also try their sister bar, Sparrow.

    My boyfriend and I were visiting Chicago (from Las Vegas) 2 weeks ago, and were very excited to…read morecheck out Bisous, as it looked nice inside and had good reviews. Imagine my shock when we didn't even make it past the bouncer because he was so rude, AS OTHER RECENT REVIEWS HAVE MENTIONED AS WELL! We had dinner nearby and walked to Bisous after, and saw there was a line of 5 or 6 people outside. We expected this as we knew Bisous is a first come, first serve bar. We were curious what the wait time would look like, so we approached the front door to ask a host or employee inside (we assumed there'd be a desk with an employee working it who could give us a wait time). We had no problem waiting, just wanted to see how long they estimated it would be! Before we could even fully open the door, the bouncer swung the door open from the other side and hit me with the door. I stumbled back a few steps and he looked at us and said, and I quote, "What do you want?". I laughed at first because I thought he was joking and putting on a tough guy act. He was not. We quickly explained we just wanted to see what the wait time was, and he said "don't you see there's a line outside?" We said yes, and explained we just wanted to know a rough estimated wait time. He just blankly stared at us while ushering us out. Both my boyfriend and I have worked in customer-service roles for a very, very long time. This encounter was not only extremely rude and unprofessional, but he also hit me hard enough with the door to send me stumbling back, and then said nothing about it and continued to address us in a tone that was nothing less than annoyed and irritated. We didn't end up going inside because that encounter left such a bad taste in our mouths. I don't believe in spending my money at establishments that don't treat their customers with the bare minimum respect they deserve! Bummed we didn't get to experience it, as I'm sure it was lovely inside and I can only hope the rest of the employees were much more kind and accommodating, or at least able to answer a simple question. Fire your "bouncer" (??) and hire someone with some basic customer service and communication skills!!

    Photos
    Interior bar
    Interior bar
    Inside
    Inside
    Interior

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    Interior
    Le Mistral

    Le Mistral

    4.9
    (14 reviews)
    3.5 mi

    The service is just incredible. That's what stands out the most. We came after having a superb…read moredinner at S.K.Y. and out waitress transferred us to Le Mistral for dessert as we were hoping to end the night with another cocktail. The transition was seamless, the walk through the kitchen was very cool, everyone was very friendly and excited to see guests. Our dessert came quickly to Le Mistral instead of S.K.Y. and was superb. Our waiter at Le Mistral was very friendly, gave some good advice on the cocktails, and was consistently attentive. My cocktail was just OK - sherry-based martini. I don't normally like a martini but all the ingredients actually seemed very much up my alley - the sherry, benedictine, rose vermouth. But the olive just overpowered. And definitely not worth the price of $24... Would definitely return and try the food next time as well.

    We popped in on a Monday night for a nightcap after finishing up at Mon Ami Gabi across the lobby…read more Our experience was meh. I don't know if every Monday is Metal night, but it was that Monday - Black Sabbath, Nu-Metal, everything but the live goldfish. Perhaps they should advertise "Monday Metal at Mistral" if that is to be a regular thing. It does flow off the tongue. To be fair, there was a full house and the other patrons did not seem to mind. We were not looking to feel the noize, however, and so stayed for just one cocktail. Mine was a Sazerac adjacent mix, and it was very high quality. The decor is very low light, but the vibe is pretty basic - more Paint Your Dorm Room black than Parisian Opium Den black. A bit of a missed opportunity for romance.

    Photos
    Le Mistral
    Le Mistral
    Le Mistral

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    Valedor

    Valedor

    4.5
    (86 reviews)
    1.2 mi

    Happy hour daily 5-7pm to seat at the bar…read more Reservations are for the tables Happy Hour menus- food for $8 Tuna poke taco $13- salmon is soft. The taco shell is nice and crisp. Al Pastor Gyoza $12- good flavor on the meat. The Gyoza could be more crispy. Quesabirtia roll $12- great flavor. It comes with mole sauce that I would skip. Chicken and Mushroom karaagr $14- actually very good. Good portions. Crispy chicken and mushroom. Nice side dipping sauce. Crispy rice- very disappointing. It is not crispy. Drinks- happy hour $12 drinks. Tamarind sour $16- decent sour. Nice mix. Mano de sol $16- excellent flavor, blood orange, tequila We love lychee $16- great flavor with lychee. Midnight espresso $16: pretty good coffee flavor. Sakreita $15- strawberry- prob bed drink I had. Served in an aluminum can. Pretty cool

    I was lowkey nervous about writing this review because I know this place is already popular... and…read morepart of me wants to keep it a secret. But Valedor is easily a 10/10. From the moment you walk in, everything just clicks -- the atmosphere, the door host, the staff, and the overall level of service. It's one of those places where you can tell the team takes pride in the experience they create. What I really like is how versatile the space feels. It works for a birthday celebration, dinner date, or even an after-work happy hour. No matter the occasion, it fits. If you're thinking about checking it out, make the trip. You won't regret it.

    Photos
    Strip Steak Katsu Sandwich
    Strip Steak Katsu Sandwich
    Crispy Cilantro Lime Rice with spicy salmon
    Crispy Cilantro Lime Rice with spicy salmon
    We love Lychee

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    We love Lychee
    Truce

    Truce

    4.8
    (52 reviews)
    1.6 mi

    Wow, Truce is my ideal concept of a space. It's a coffeeshop by day and cocktail bar by night. I…read morecame in during the day on a Thursday to get some work done, and it was such a cool environment. The ambiance is dark and moody inside, but I liked the music they had playing, and there was plenty of seating. They also had free Wi-Fi and outlets! Everything on their menu looked insanely good. I went with the B-A-N-A-N-A-S--it was very tasty, and the banana taste was very strong. It was definitely on the sweeter side so more of a dessert drink, but I enjoyed it. Everything on their menu looked so delicious and well thought out, so I definitely hope to try their other drinks! The service was very fast and friendly. I recommend this spot--will need to be back to try out their drinks in the future! FYI, they become 21+ after 5pm.

    Came here after hearing and reading great things. The drinks were good and very spirit-forward. We…read moretried the in full bloom, peas + carrots, and uma off their spring 2026 menu. We also tried the mango no. 5 off the classics menu. My favorite was the mango no. 5--it was very smooth with a hint of spiciness. We sat in the corner at the bar behind the coffee machine, which was nice because it felt somewhat private. Bartenders tended to leave us alone and not really check on us unless we made direct eye contact with them. The vibe inside felt cozy and intimate, with very low lighting and a few couches to sit. We wanted to try the "cosmic brownie" I read reviews about, but unfortunately they no longer have it. I was excited to hear they are planning to bring it back sometime soon though. Don't know if I'd go out of my way to come back here again, but maybe if I'm in the area and want to check out a new seasonal menu. I'd also consider coming during the day for coffee.

    Photos
    Cortado
    Cortado
    Truce mix and cocktails
    Truce mix and cocktails
    Truce

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    Gaoku Izakaya - izakaya - Updated June 2026

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