Disclaimer: I'm a New Yorker who's moved to Chicagoland so maybe I'm a bit snooty but the regular Yelpers in the Midwest should always be viewed with a star and a 1/2 less than what is expected normally. Any bar with Yamazaki 18 is good in my book. We had lunch at Chubby Cattle so couldn't eat that much .: no skewers. The Sushi taco was good, pretty impressive with the thin seaweed that had a great crunch; didn't feel greasy at all. The seafood udon was decent; just a tad bit too salty is all. If you're into kushiyaki and what's presented here, definitely give it a try. read more

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Good food! Love the concept and you can order on the same QR code two different phones at the same time. The food is fresh made and full of flavor. My favorite thing was the fish cake skewer and the squid. Service was great and people keep checking on you if you need more things. They were havung a karaoke night the saturday at 10pm, but we were packed for other activities after dinner so we missed that out. The only down side that we found, it is some of the plates used to serve, they are chipped or damaged, and that bother a little the presentation. read more

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The food at Izakaya Shinya was worth a try! I love how you can order so many smaller dishes to share, but I do feel it is a little pricey for what you get. The chicken and onion was our favorite since it was juicy, and the green onion paired with it so well. The presentation of the dishes was very nice as well since they come out individually and sometimes even on a grill. The service was decent; they greet us right away and brought out the food relatively quick. It was very cramped in the restaurant, so it's a little hard to come here in a big group. The ambiance was absolutely beautiful inside though! It gave off a Japanese bar decor, and I loved how they were playing Naruto and Demon Slayer on the tvs. read more

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Cute small place with private booths. It's definitely shareable tapas style, so you can try a variety. Scan the QR and order on your phone. My favorite was the unagi skewer. Very tender and flavorful. The spicy edamame was my least fave. It didn't have much flavor and lacked seasoning and heat. Prices are a little high, but that's to be expected. I would return if I wanted a lot of shareable with a group. read more

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Had our new years eve dinner here and we got seated quickly and the vibe was great! We ordered a few things off the daily specials menu and was pleased to see the discounts at the end. Everything was good, but my favorites were the chicken skewers as the chicken was super tender and the smokiness/sauces on the skewers were really flavorful but not overwhelming. We got drinks and ended up ordering a decent amount of food, which was a little pricey but we decided it was worth it for the holiday. read more

Izakaya Shinya - Popcorn chicken and 19. Yakisoba - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Everything comes out pretty quickly after you order! Well seasoned and you can taste the grilled flavor really well. read more

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This place is a great late-night spot if you're craving Asian food. The restaurant itself is cute and I was pleasantly surprised that they're open late and they have a pretty broad menu including some pretty interesting cocktails You order everything from your phone, so you don't really interact with servers much--mine only came by a couple of times just to drop off the food. If you like a more hands-off approach, it's pretty convenient. The portions were good, the prices were reasonable, and they offer daily specials and happy hour deals, which makes it both affordable and tasty. So if you're looking for a good late-night Asian food spot with a wide menu and solid prices, I definitely recommend giving this one a try. read more

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Food and portions were good. The menu online is a bit outdated, I really wanted to try the cold soba but they don't have it anymore. The Wagyu beef skewers were mixed quality - some were super fatty and not really eatable. The shiitake mushroom and oyster mushrooms flavors were great! The seafood udon was good as well. Service is busy but nice. There's only street parking available. read more

Izakaya Shinya is one of the few kushi-ya (skewer shop) that I know of in Chicago. The atmosphere is excellent, and going to the outdoor patio feels like a little adventure. The staff is super helpful and kind. The food is delicious and has the exact flavor you'd want. It's been so long since I've had umeboshi, so I was thrilled with the chazuke. The one thing is that the pricing is quite high, so keep a close eye on how much you're racking up on a night out! read more

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Typical karaoke bar with slightly better food, never had wagyu sliders while singing John Legend. It's a really cool atmosphere, everyone participated and no one hogged up the mic. Its a pretty wide range of songs to chose from as well, overall I'd say it's worth stopping by. Even if it's just for the food and entertainment of others. read more

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Me and my girlfriend enjoy going out and trying new restaurants. On this particular night, we decided Izakaya Shinya was our best option, especially due to the fact that we have not been to an Izakaya together yet! The biggest selling point was that they are byob and have many different bites to choose from. When we arrived it was a total vibe - the restaurant is compact and cozy and the decorations were super fun. The staff were super chill, the decorations were beautiful and as previously mentioned, there was a nice variety of food available. read more

Izakaya Shinya - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I saw on reddit this place serves up the best omurice in Chicago. Spoiler alert - agreeeeeed!!! I ordered for delivery since I felt a little lazy to cook or go out for dinner. They came in 1 hour which is pretty reasonable time of delivery. It was still semi hot and yummy but FULL TRANSPARENCY.. I found the flavor a bit underwhelming. I even asked for extra ketchup, which you can see just a small dab of on the side. it was not enough.... So I added my own ketchup and it was perfection. If you want it to taste like the omurice from Japan, ask for extra extra extra ketchup lol. I also got the unagi don. The fish was super flavorful already, the bed of rice was great. I'd also highly recommend this. I will be coming back to try this in person!! The vibes look immaculate through pictures. read more

Izakaya Shinya - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Izakaya Shinya specializes in Japanese street food. The vibe feels like you are dining in Japan with the Japanese style tables and decor. They have a full bar area stocked with great Japanese whiskeys. The menu feature a wide variety of items like chicken skewers, fried rice, yakitori, and other small plates. Overall the food was delicious. There are QR codes placed on the table and you order everything through the app. read more

This spot has a very cool atmosphere and overall made for a fun experience. The service was great -- friendly and attentive, which definitely added to the vibe. The food was decent, but I did leave feeling a bit hungry, so portions could be better for the price. It's worth trying at least once for the ambiance and experience, but I don't see myself coming back regularly. read more

Izakaya Shinya - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Cozy late night eats and drinks. No frills but good flavored food. We sat at the bar for a 9:30pm dinner on Sunday and enjoyed our time. Wait staff was pleasant and the food and sake came quickly. The ramen was very average and they only offer chicken and vegetable as the options. I really enjoyed the pancake and beef tongue stew starters. The house sake was strong but decent -- not the smoothest I've tried. Overall love the concept of late night eats and drinks in this area. They were packed. read more

Izakaya Shinya - Beef 4. Tan-Shichu (Beef Tongue Stew - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Such a cool spot. We were fortunate to sit in one of the "booths." It's fun and more private. We ordered a bunch of items to share, but my favorite had to be the grilled shrimp. Everything was incredible and bursting with flavor. The scallops were a little too overwhelmingly garlicky. We finished off with the Green Tea Cheesecake, and it wasn't too sweet, but we thought the chocolate drizzle was unnecessary. There's a full bar, and it's open late. read more

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We just returned from a concert gig & needed a late-night bite around 11pm within 3 miles from our location. Stumbled upon this place that reminiscent of the many restaurants we checked out in Japan. The vibe, the tunes & esp the food! It's definitely one of the most authentic Japanese spots in Chi & affordable, too! This place effectively utilizes a compact design, mirroring the layout commonly found in food venues across Japan. Love the scallops & wagyu skewer (tho a little small, it's very flavorful & not burnt) & their udons! I didn't grab pics of everything we ordered, but with 7 of us, the bill was only $200 before tips. We'll definitely be back! Lucky we got seats right away, probably because it was late, a Sunday, & the weather was a freezing -15°F! read more

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this place was convenient bc it was open late but food wasn't great and service was quite slow. nothing was bad per say but I wouldn't come back again - everything was pretty heavy. overall disappointing :( read more

Izakaya Shinya - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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One of the best Izakayas in Town! This place absolutely hit us right away - lanterns, parasols and lively vibes. all the skewers were perfectly grilled and full of flavors, especially the beef and chicken yakitori. the fried rice and okonlmiyaki were also delicious! Friendly service, great drinks, and cozy ambiance, definitely coming back again! read more

Izakaya Shinya - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I got the beef tongue, okonomiyaki and the takoyaki. Everything was mid. The beef tongue was flavorful but for some reason it was room temperature over the fire. I was super confused. The okonomiyaki was tough and super crunchy. I probably would not get it again. The takoyaki had little octopus. Service was a bit slow and our group had to ask for waters. I probably will give it a try again but order different things as their rice bowls look a bit better. read more

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I had the gyudon (beef over rice) and the sweet potato. Both were great! The sweet potato has an excellent brûlée to it. The gyudon was seasoned well and the beef was tender. However, if I were to make a suggestion - the gyudon had a ton of rice and not enough sauce and meat. I had a lot of plain rice left over. The ambiance is fun and quirky, especially the umbrella ceiling! It truly feels like you're in Japan. I visited Japan recently so not just saying this! read more

Izakaya Shinya - 42. Satsumaimo (Sweet Potato) - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Be ready for the most mid meal of your life. This review is solely for the food. The wait staff is friendly and prompt and most of the ordering is done on your phone. It can be confusing at first but you'll get it. Anyway the ramen itself is not bad nor good. The broth is watery but the pieces of pork are good. The meat skewers have too much cumin. Soba was too salty. There's no real depth of flavor in any of the dishes. It's open late so it works in a pinch but dont expect gourmet dining. It's really more like cafeteria food. read more

Poor service Waiting for sever take order over 10min Ask for the bill over 15 min I order Don menu show up come with miso And when i ask server he say don not come with miso soup read more

Izakaya Shinya - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The restaurant has the appearance of an izakaya but lacks the lively atmosphere typically associated with one. While I expected a more vibrant and fun vibe, it feels more like a traditional sit-down restaurant. The space is small and cozy, with tables packed closely together. Service was attentive and efficient. They were able to accommodate a group of 6 in their booth. There's a great variety of yakitori to choose from. I enjoyed the chicken lantern, chicken gizzard and beef tongue. A must have is the omurice, which stood out for its delicious flavor. The matcha dorayaki with ice cream was a highlight. read more

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Truly takes my back to my days in Japan. From the seating to the atmosphere it really did have that vibe of the local izakayas in some places of Tokyo. The umbrellas on the ceiling are a bit more of the restaurant flair, but definitely adds to the overall Japan feel. Their menu offers things you'd see in Japanese restaurants like the gyudon, omurice and the staple yakitori. If you're interested in going to Japan I'd highly recommend you check them out and try some of the simple bar foods. Skip the wagyu because it falls short from what you'll see in Japan. Things can get pretty busy so trying to get the staff for the check was tough. Street paid parking, only indoor seating as far as I know (probably no pets/dogs), read more

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To start, our crab rangoons were ice cold when we received them. I had already taken a bite out of one when I realized. They preceded to go back and refry the rangoons, including the one I had already taken a bit out of. Huge health violation. Then, after they refried my cold Rangoon with a bite taken out, they were leathery and not crispy at all. The other food was ok, nothing to write home about. Definitely do not recommend. read more

Kitchen open till 2 Great Sake Selection New staff was great personality wise, needs some training but the food carried. Killer meal. read more

I thought the hibachi chicken fried rice was super fresh and well done! This place is open till 2 am so it's pretty ideal for a late night dinner with friends or last min plans. Service was a bit spotty since they were busy on a Friday night read more

Izakaya Shinya - Hibachi Fried Rice (Chicken) - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We have a last-minute group dinner at Izakaya, and it was perfect. The team was very accommodating and the food was delicious. I ordered the kaarage chicken and a couple spicy margaritas. Our server Diana had great recommendations and was very hospitable. Perfect late night spot. read more

Izakaya Shinya - The decor is so cute! Love - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Had high hopes for this place after seeing all the great reviews but left pretty disappointed unfortunately. We were pleasantly surprised when we first walked in and were able to get seated right away since it was pretty packed, but that was where our service ended. We had to flag down a waiter after 20 minutes of waiting to order and again to request plates and silverware after our food had already arrived. They were busy and I could see friendly service provided at a nearby birthday table so it may have been just our table. Overall, decoration and ambiance in the restaurant were super cute although menus were very strangely faded to the point you couldn't read the bottom items. Most importantly though, the food left a lot to be desired. The grilled food was all extremely salty and oily and definitely caused some heartburn shortly after the meal. We got the chicken + leek, eggplant, pork sausage, and chicken skin. My favorite was probably the eggplant but still not amazing. The oyakodon was a nice hefty size and not bad, but also not super flavorful. Overall fun vibes to hang out with friends, but wouldn't go back just for the food. read more

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What happened to this place? It used to be so good. Service, food, and drinks all left much to be desired. Something has changed - management or ownership maybe - because this restaurant's quality was stellar a year ago. Now, with declining food quality and service, weird and cheap happy hour rules, and watered down drinks, I left disappointed. Furthermore, there are a million fake reviews on Google - a very bad sign for a restaurant. The "happy hour" drink deal limits you to one drink at $7, anything after is full priced, and the drinks are watered down. They do not tell you about the 1-drink special rule until after ordering - it also isn't listed on the menu or deal placard either. This was the first happy hour I've ever experienced in my life where a posted price is not honored throughout the duration of the stated "happy" hours. The food is okay/meh - some items, like the Wagyu skewers, are definitely not actual Wagyu, and the portions on the grilled items are smaller than they used to be. The mushrooms and vegetable skewer items were pretty good. The entree items, like fried rice, were average - do not recommend. Management also cheapens out on small things like not including miso soup with some entrees now, even though the menu still states that it's included. Moreover, some servers are inattentive and it felt like we were bothering them when we flagged them down. I used to love coming to this place and recommended it, but now I won't be back until I see some improvement. read more

This is an izakaya restaurant located in Wicker Park. Surprisingly, street parking was easy. The place opens from 5pm to 2am with happy hour starting from 10pm. That said, this place seems popular among younger folks and Instagramers due to Instagram friendly interiors. First glance at the menu, the place seems to overweigh Japanese street food rather than grilled items. They do have a decent selection of sake and cocktails with Japanese twists. We ordered a bunch of appetizers. Karage and wasabi octopus were good except they were too salty...not a fan of their takoyaki. You can find $15 for $25 Groupon deal at the moment, which makes the meals a lot more affordable. read more

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New Japanese Bar/Restaurant in Wicker Park. Restaurant right off North with street parking. Restaurant is decorated so nice. Interior is intimate so if large party then get reservation. We came on Thursday evening without reservation at 6:30pm. Our service was great. No issues at all. 5.0 stars. For food: Hibachi Rice, Yakisoba, Gyoza, Karraage, & Chicken Screwer. Food was seasoned well but I thought it was salty. Biggest reason that downgrading to 4.0 stars. I would order Hibachi Rice and Gyoza again. The Karraage was good but luke warm. Drinks were good. My husband got Old Fashion made with Hennessey and I got a specialty vodka cocktail. We were thrilled with our drink selection. I would come back here. They do have Happy Hour (starts at 10pm). This place is open late and even on Christmas and Christmas Eve. Nice selection of sake here. Definitely would come back to try the Japanese beer and hard yuzu seltzer. read more

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Why haven't I been here before?! Their food is so good, ambiance is very cute and the service was great. The wagyu came over a fire which was fun and it tastes so tender and flavorful. I always like to order Takoyaki when it's on the menu and for the price, it did not disappoint. The Takoyaki came out so hot and fresh. My partner opted for the rice with egg on top and it was the first time I had ever tried it. It was chefs kiss! If you're looking for an izakaya type vibe with karaoke, this spot is the place for you. They are also BYOB with a little fee or you can opt to buy the drinks they serve there and they have plenty of options. read more

Izakaya Shinya - Omuie rice! - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

What a fun vibe at this izakaya! A bit of a smaller, crowded, lively space, but that made it feel even more like an izakaya. The decor was so aesthetic. Just came for quick drinks at the bar but stayed a few hours for karaoke and lively atmosphere! Some people were there for the food, and some to drink. The cocktails were reasonably priced and tasty! Lots of Asian-inspired cocktails/flavors. The drinks were strong! We were at the bar for a while and at some point, they started opening up the place for karaoke. People could sign up and they played the songs in order of sign-up finding the karaoke version on youtube. At times, random songs would play in-between and everyone was passing the mic to strangers who seemed to want to sing and were feeling it! Had such a fun night! read more

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Pretty bummed ngl, I've been here a few times in the past and it's always had a nice atmosphere and yummy food, but this last time we went was completely different. You now have to ORDER on the website on your phone, and pay through there as well. Having the menu be through a QR code is one thing but having to figure out paying online and not being able to just give your order to a waiter is a complete vibe killer. The food was also extremely mediocre, nothing like in the past. Unsure what is going on, if there's new ownership or what but I'm not going to be back unless I hear things are back to normal read more

Food was great but the service SUCKED!! Ambiance is really nice and comfy. Again. Service was pretty bad. Our server wasn't attentive and took 20 minutes to take our order after we ordered appetizers. My partner ordered the hibachi fried rice and I ordered the Omurice. The fried rice came out pretty quick but I had to wait another 15-20 minutes for my dish. We asked for the manager to let them know about the overall experience and we were told "Sorry". TL:DR - Food is great but the service was horrendous read more

A new and aesthetically pleasing Izakaya (Japanese-style pub) in Wicker Park off of Division. I've been to some Yakitori-type places before (mostly in LA) so I know what to expect. This place has obviously more than just skewers, but it's good to see a Japanese skewer place open up in the area. Our server was friendly and took care of us the entire evening, although I will say you could tell some of the staff/servers seemed a bit annoyed with the owner and his interactions with them or with tables. Anyways, the food was pretty solid. It is not the absolutely best Yakitori place I've been to, but overall decent! For Chicago standards, it's above average for sure! They have beer which is a must for me when eating this type of food! Would return! read more

Izakaya Shinya - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Excellent food, karaoke nights, great service, and plenty of parking. They also have extra seating in the back. read more

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What a fun late night spot! Got a hankering for a 10 PM bite and came by Izakaya Shinya. The place was bustling but we were able to get seated right away. Folks kept the karaoke alive all night with a wide range of songs. The food was also fantastic. Ordered two skewers: Shiitake and Chicken with Onion, as well as, Omuie Rice and Salmon Chazuke. I recommend everything, with the chazuke being a more unique experience and the shiitake skewer possibly being the best mushroom I've ever eaten! read more

Izakaya Shinya - 46. Shiitake (Shiitake Mushroom), 31. Negima (Chicken And Onion) - Ramen Near Me - Chicago, Illinois