Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Hiro Izakaya

    4.2 (49 reviews)
    Open 5:00 pm - 12:00 am (Next day)
    Updated 2 months ago

    Hiro Izakaya Photos

    Business Info

    HIRO IZAKAYA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Hiro Izakaya

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Ankit S.

    This place is definitely hidden. Once we were inside we were led to the back which was so nice and you could see everything being made. Once we walked in we were welcomed by every single person that e walked by. This is the best service to see. There is a selection of food but wished they had Maki rolls on the menu. The happy hour is such a great deal. We got their handrolls which are open and the short rib noodles which was good and the spicy crisp rice. I would say the Otoro handroll was a little fishy for me. The fries was really good and tasted like the McDonald's version. We didn't get drinks but looked like they had some good options.

    Volcano Roll
    William P.

    Great spot for Japanese food. The ambiance was amazing, perfect lighting and style. The service was very quick and attentive. The food was overall really good.

    The amazing salmon crispy rice packed with flavor
    Stacey G.

    I wish I knew where to begin with Hiro ... but I can't tell you because Everything was perfect !!! Hiro is a vibe that takes you to another place even though they're located on a busy city corner because of the privacy shades .. you can see out a little bit but the average Person driving by can't see in. The staff is diverse and extremely warm- more importantly whether it was your waiter or not ... EVERY water glass was kept full and EVERY dirty dish was removed from the table instantly. It was noticeable and that it felt like it was everyone's job whether they were serving you or not. Our waitress was amazing ( shorter haired AA) was friendly, not too overbearing, and gave invaluable suggestions. She was also able to get my guest into the spirit of Hiro to take in this foodie experience. The Hiro of this restaurant is the smoke and flavor. I Guarantee you - you've never had a grilled flavor and aroma that is found here. The menu offerings are different in person than what's online ... which was a great surprise. Nothing here is "average". Even if you're never interested in the corn nibs or sweet potato or tuna crispy rice elsewhere -- please try them here. For instance .. my crispy rice wasn't too hard or dried out under my tuna. Nor had the tuna been sitting on the crispy rice. The miso soup was nothing like I've ever tasted before. It was rich and packed more flavor than I could've imagined and I eat miso soup frequently. On one hand - I wish there was a warm sake but the sake I did try had notes of black cherry and was light but complex in flavor. I also noticed that every dish that came out was the perfect temperature. I didn't have to blow on the soup or wait to continue my food journey. I think the icing on the cake was Ethan .. offering us more insight into Japanese cooking and what we were tasting. Two more things stood out. He suggested a dessert that wasn't our first pick... the banana foster. We felt like we've had it before .... WE DIDNT !!!!! That dessert changed my whole outlook on adding toasted coconut to items. Flambé bananas is one thing but the smoky flavor was in the caramel and then over the coconut gelato was chefs kiss. And finally the most amazing thing was reheating my left overs while writing this. The smokiness and flavor is still there !!!!!!!! My food today tastes exactly how it did the night before .... Astounding !!! I actually felt like I should've ordered food to go just because it was gonna be this good the next day smh.

    Lana T.

    Wow stepping inside, it felt you were taken to a different place. Such a hidden gem deep inside the restaurant where there is seating in the back as well. It was so nicely decorated and once we walked inside we were greeted by every single person with a smile on their face. The food menu we though there would be sushi rolls but it seems only handrolls and a couple of other things. We got their toro and hamachi jalepeno handrolls which was good but I would skip the toro as it tasted a little fishy to us. The ribs noodles was good and creamy and the crispy spicy tuna rice was good. The fries were so good tasted just like McDonald fries, they have a spicy mayo sauce on the side. They have a lovely happy hour key will definitely be back to try their drinks.

    Amazing food! Highly suggest all of the wagyu dishes, the Brussel sprout salad is a classic and the fried rice & the sobayaki are must orders!! I need their playlist

    Marissa P.

    Why haven't I heard of this spot before? It's GORGEOUS interior the front room I was blown away by how cool and beautiful it was. We sat in the back room. Servers were really good and fun. We had the Brussel sprout salad, shishito peppers, shortrib noodles, crispy rice spicy tuna and salmon, shortrib skewers, and toro handroll. All of this was easily shared by 3! my favorite was toro handroll just the best and salty savory and toro was so fresh and had wasabi I can't wait to go back and have another!! Then my next fav was the shortrib noodles it was so creamy and good I will def be back, the only bummer was we were seated next to a food influencer (all respect) BUT used a very bright light that was on and off for most of our meal so a bit uncomfortable and distracting Otherwise all good things!

    Nolan F.

    I ordered: Ribeye Kushiyaki - prime ribeye, yakiniku sauce Chicken Yakitori - chicken, tare, braised leeks Toki Tres Leches - black sesame dark chocolate cake, toki whiskey soak, miso whipped cream, black sesame tahini cajeta Butter Burger - 8 oz tri-blend patty, miso butter shokopan, Japanese honey mustard, black garlic onion jam, arugula, heirloom tomato, sweet pickles, American cheese, onion aioli Ghost Orchid - Sipsmith Gin, Elevate Vodka, Lychee Eau De Vie, White Tea Cordial, Lemon, Lychee Pearls Ghost orchid was refreshing. Skewers were sizeable, tender, and tasty. Butter Burger was perfect medium rare, decadent, and fresh. Tres leches was the weakest part of the meal. It was basically a wet dark chocolate cake; not bad but nothing more complex than that and I couldn't taste the black sesame. Service was very nice and engaging. I liked the ambience of the restaurant.

    Gyoza
    Shannon M.

    This place was great for a sharing-plates experience. My fiance and I went for dinner and had a variety of dishes: pork belly bao (rich and delicious), gyoza (the weakest thing we ate; not bad but everything else was excellent), chicken yakitori and beef yakiniku (the latter two grilled on the charcoal robata grill -- wonderful!) For drinks we both had the sudachi mocktail, very tart but it helped to cut some of the fattiness of things like the pork belly. The dessert of lychee creme brulee with miso whipped cream was a perfect ending to the meal, and a balance of fruity, creamy and savory accords. Our server Ethan was on the ball, but our busser was an absolute machine! Great job. Be aware if you're in the back room: the ceiling is some sort of corrugated plastic, so if it starts pouring rain (as it did when we were here) there can apparently be leaks! Overall, awesome food and great service. Hiro is one to remember.

    As a total sushi girl with very high expectations, I've been on a serious mission to find the best sushi in Chicago--and let's just say, it hasn't been easy. But Hiro Izakaya? They absolutely delivered. From the moment we walked in, Alex, Eric, and Griffin made the entire experience feel effortless and elevated--Alex especially went above and beyond to make sure everything was perfect. The hospitality alone is enough to bring me back. Now let's talk about the food... fresh, beautifully presented, and exactly what you hope for when you're craving top-tier sushi. Every bite reminded me why I'm so picky in the first place--it was that good. The ambiance was the perfect balance of lively yet intimate, making it such a vibe whether you're going out with friends or for a date night. Safe to say... I've officially found my go-to sushi spot in Chicago--and yes, I'll absolutely be back (probably sooner than I should admit).

    Edamame
    Kate R.

    Amazing ambiance. What a cool looking interior that really brings the vibes! The staff were all incredibly friendly, helpful, informative, and service was fantastic. Standouts for the food were the miso soup--some of the best I've had, made with a five-mushroom base that gave it so much depth of flavor--, edamame--charred and seasoned in a way that had me saying out loud it may be my favorite edamame I've ever had--, and the corn ribs. The cocktails are imaginative and delicious. We particularly loved the ghost orchid and the kiwi chu highball. I look forward to coming back and bringing my friends to enjoy the atmosphere and have a great time at the bar, and try some more of their food.

    Crispy spicy tuna
    Emily T.

    Honestly, such good vibes??? Everything was solid all around in the standouts were definitely the brussels sprout salad, the desserts and the edamame. Truly immaculate service- We were celebrating three birthdays, and they gave us a complementary dessert and glasses of Prosecco. The atmosphere was really cool and it was just a fun spot. I would definitely come back for drinks or shareable again!

    Rob L.

    Phenomenal!! Great service and ambiance with elevated dishes and presentation. A group of 6 of us shared a bunch of appetizers, chicken sando and noodle dishes. Everything was delicious and our server Gary kept checking on us and made our dinner wonderful.

    Molly C.

    The ambiance here is cool--a thoughtfully designed space with perfect mood lighting. Unfortunately, the kitchen doesn't live up to the decor. The food was uninspired, lacking any real depth of flavor, and felt unjustifiably expensive. Our main course cuts were parched and chewy, making the entire meal a letdown. With so many stellar izakaya restaurants available in Chicago, you can easily find better value and execution elsewhere.

    See all

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    23 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    26 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    24 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kate R.
    2
    35
    15

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Rob L.
    268
    589
    1269

    7 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Vivian L.
    257
    26
    59

    6 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2
    Photo of Shon S.
    5
    79
    284

    7 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of D S.
    5
    72
    1

    6 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Natasha C.
    383
    30
    43

    10 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    11 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Paul F.
    25
    25
    70

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Hiro has great service, great drinks, great food, great vibes. Will go again! Ethan was the best!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Melissa P.
    475
    38
    23

    9 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Hiro Izakaya

    You might also consider

    The Izakaya at Momotaro - Every Monday, enjoy a choice of burger or ramen with a beer for only $15.

    The Izakaya at Momotaro

    4.2(323 reviews)
    1.2 miFulton Market, West Loop, Near West Side
    $$$

    Wowowow Izakaya did not disappoint!!! It was pretty small on the inside so makes sense why it's…read morehard to get a reservation. The inside was dark, but full of energy, super lively and fun. We ordered the burger and chicken sandwich and they were both AMAZING. The homemade bao bun was sooo soft and the chicken was very crispy. I loved the japanese sweet potato fries it came with and loved the aioli sauce they came with even more. There were definitely more items I wanted to try & can't wait to go back!!!

    food: okay i get the hype the burger was really good. i was surprised how no frills it was pretty…read moremuch just 2 juicy patties. i really like the cocktails too. the scallop hand roll was yummy and the tuna tostado was alright but i will say they both had similar taste profiles with a background heat that clouds other flavors. tostado was also hard to eat in the fact it was hard to rip. now the worst part unfortunately is the uni pasta. the flavor overall was so good but the uni pieces we got were bitter which means they are bad or treated with tons of chemicals. really disappointed one of the mains was used with bad ingredients and not caught by the kitchen service: nice staff but the servers seemed to be all over the place. not just because it was busy but seemed to barely check in as well. ambiance: coolest part, really like the vibe but very intimate and hard to hear

    Photos
    The Izakaya at Momotaro
    The Izakaya at Momotaro
    The Izakaya at Momotaro

    See all

    Gaijin - Strawberry Donut

    Gaijin

    4.3(788 reviews)
    1.1 miFulton Market, West Loop, Near West Side
    $$

    Wow! My friends took us to this restaurant while we were visiting Chicago, and it was amazing. We…read morehad a reservation and did show up about 15 minutes late. The hostess said we could still be seated but another reservation was coming an hour later. I had never had okonomiyaki before, but I got to try three different kinds plus some yakisoba. We ordered four dishes and shared them among the four of us. We got the pork belly yakisoba, pork osaka style okonomiyaki, shrimp osaka style okonomiyaki, and the mushroom and yuba Hiroshima style okonomiyaki. My favorite dishes were probably the pork ones, but I really liked trying all of them! When our waiter asked if we wanted dessert, we said how the hostess told us we would need to leave by a certain time for the next reservation. However, he said we could order dessert anyway. I thought it was weird the hostess was being so finicky about the time, since usually 15 min late is within reason. We did get the red panda. It's mostly ice and a little ice cream, but it was very good and so cute! I would definitely come here again! It is a bit loud if you have anyone in your party who has trouble hearing. You are also quite close to other people in the restaurant.

    Our little fam had such a great, cozy weekend lunch here. The restaurant wasn't busy or packed, and…read morethe host and staff were so friendly. We really enjoyed the Beef Osaka and the pork belly soba noodle stir-fry - both were yummy and satisfying. The red panda shaved ice with ice cream was also a huge win for our toddler. Overall, we had a really nice experience and will definitely be back.

    Photos
    Gaijin
    Gaijin - Pandan-Coconut Donut

    Pandan-Coconut Donut

    Gaijin - Old fashioned

    See all

    Old fashioned

    Hiro Izakaya - bars - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...