This is now my favorite sushi place! Everything was so good. Loved the escolar pearls, red snapper special, orange Rush! And the mochi!!!! Service was great! It's a small place. We will be back here every time we can. read more

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Wow, where do I even start? I went to Kai Zan last night and opted for the omakase, and it was hands-down one of the best dining experiences I've had in Chicago. Every single dish was a masterpiece--fresh, flavorful, and perfectly balanced. From the melt-in-your-mouth sashimi to the creative small plates (those scallop shooters? Unreal!), each bite was a surprise that somehow kept getting better. The chefs clearly know what they're doing, and you can taste the care in every course. My advice? Don't even bother looking at the menu--just go straight for the omakase. read more

The service was pretty fast and everything tasted great! My brother and I did the omakase and we both thought it was worth the price. read more

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Definitely at the top of the list for best sushi in Chicago. Hard to get a reservation as it is quite small, and booked far in advance. Great signature items, but they will make you almost anything you want if they have the ingredients. Not Cheap...$$$, but worth the money for a great dinner. You will be exposed to eating sushi at a proper pace. Not a giant platter set in front of you all at once. read more

Perfect spot for an affordable omakase experience. The fish is fresh and you have extremely well executed dishes with a nice variety as well. The preparation was on point and the pacing was perfect. It's hard to pick any favorites each course was hit after hit. The service was fantastic and very friendly. This is a must try for sushi and a really solid omakase experience if you don't feel like dropping $200+ a person read more

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If you are looking for another cool sushi place in the neighborhood then you may have to give them a try. Yes all you can eat sushi is an option, and from the presentation to the flavors you won't be disappointed. I suggest setting a reservation if you are coming on the weekend because it can get packed quick here. Me and my family had a great time and I'm sure yours will too! read more

KAI ZAN - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I don't know if I can add significant value when a restaurant has almost 1200 reviews with an avg. 4.5 stars already. That said, what I can say is for all those Omakase virgins or those on the fence, go today. Why you may ask, and it really boils down to experience, quality, creativity and value. Kai Zan checks the box on all these criteria. I celebrated my birthday last night and to treat myself, I wanted to do an Omakase somewhere any my original reservation elsewhere would have cost more than double the $90 at KAI ZAN. I was seated at the sushi bar with a prime view of the kitchen. 5 chefs worked the counter and they each has assigned items so there was no chaos and it felt like an orchestra. Service was quick and it felt a little rushed even though there weren't totally full. That is perhaps my only ding. I also observed that 80% of diners order the Omakase and to manage this demand, they do prepare ahead. I upgraded and got the A5 wagyu and it was the best thing I ate last night as it just melts in your mouth. That said, everything that was presented to me for great. If I had to pick my lease favorite, it was perhaps the dynamite mussel and the shooters. There is a lot of food that I left full and remained full the rest of the evening. I am just disappointed that I didn't discover and visit Kai Zan sooner but can't wait to put this on my roster of special occasion meals. read more

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As a sushi connoisseur, I am always on the lookout for my next favorite Japanese restaurant. Thank you for the consistent 5-star Yelp reviews and the wonderful photos, we discovered Kai Zan at the west side of Chicago city. It is a sushi paradise, offering creative, fresh sushi / seafood dishes and grills. It is a small cozy restaurant with decent service. We get frequent water refilling. We got seated at the sushi bar so we can admire everything the chefs are making. It was hard to secure seats. We secured a 5pm reservation when booking 3 weeks ago. Each dining spot has a 1.5 hour window, which means we need to finish our meal and turn the seats back before 6:30pm. We were late for 15 mins due to traffic, but didn't feel too much of a rush to finish savoring our orders. Even though I understand Kai Zan tried to limit the dining time to fit in as many customers as possible, I took off one star because a high end restaurant should not rush their diners through their meals. What we love here: * Green monster roll: Creamy avocado with sushi rice, crunchy shrimp tempura and eel wrapped inside, with sweet sauce drizzled on top. It's really unique and phenomenal. * Orange rush: Highly raved dish in Yelp reviews. It's scallops wrapped inside grilled salmon. Delish and very special, but I feel the scallops is slightly overcooked. * Grilled mussels: charcoal grilled mussels, topped with fish roes and carviar. Devine! * The hand rolls is my favorite. I haven't had anything similar before. It comes with uni, fatty tuna, rice and fresh wasabi, along with seaweed. We were provided with seaweed to hand wrap on our own. What a delicious, fun experience!! What we are not recommending: * Kaarage is good but nothing that stands out. I love the phenomenal Japanese food quality. Despite the slightly rush dining experience, I am already planning to take my family back here again. read more

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Best sushi ever!!!!!! Make sure you come here and get it! I love this place and come with my mom. Support Kaizan! read more

We went to Kai Zan yesterday, and this was my first time come here also recommended by my friend. It was sooooo goooood, We love it We tried Omakase, which was the tasting menu. It came with lots of foods, and you can see it below those pics. Beautiful, fancy, aand excellent customer service. We also ordered the Waygu fried rice. Omg, it was so good! Fabulous! BUT the fried portion was quite small and it needs to be $31little bit precy I will definitely come back to this Japanese restaurant with my friends and family. Oh, one more thing want to add, they only have ONE RESTROOM, and it was so tiny. I don't really like that because I need to wait...people need to wait Other than that, everything is good! And i recommend you guys go eat and try read more

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Bites were good but they rushed our meal at every turn, often receiving the next plate before the last one was removed or before we were finished chewing the last bite (we are both very polite/kind and were caught off guard by this atmosphere in the restaurant) Not sure we'll go back. read more

After a year living in the city, I can say Kai Zan remains to be our favorite restaurant. Every time our friends or family come visit from California, we like to take them here to try the best bite of their lives.. the polenta bites. I've been here about 4 times now and everything has been consistent in both flavor and quality. My top favorite items include the polenta bite, oyster shooter, escolar pearl, and toro maki. I promise you'll have a great experience if you order those items. The quality, flavor, and play on texture in the dishes have surpassed my expectations. I also love have they have little private booths for bigger parties (4-6). Very intimate and fun! Don't miss out on the dessert as well. They are a bit on the smaller side but they are made with the same thought and quality. My favorite is the lava cake with the black sesame ice cream. Honestly can't say enough good things about Kai Zan. read more

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Hands down, best sushi in Chicago. Everything is fresh and delicious! Brian is an outstanding waiter , so helpful! They are accommodating to allergies. Highly recommend. No where in Chicago comes close to quality and service. read more

Visited Kai Zan in Chicago's Ukrainian Village and was seated on time. The place has a nice decor, especially the tables for large groups. I enjoyed the Sorry Umami IPA, a nicely hopped beer with an eye-catching can design. Highlights of our meal included the Escolar Pearls and the Flaming Scallops--both dishes were exceptional. The Spicy Toro Maki was also impressive, though the SOS Maki was just average. The Hamachi Nigiri offered a nice journey of flavors, but the Otoro Tuna and Shishito Peppers were underwhelming. The Lava Cake was okay. The staff were friendly and the prices reasonable. Will return for the pearls and spicy maki. read more

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We have been visiting Kaizan throughout many years and their food is always at the top quality. I can easily say this is the best sushi place in Chicago, forget Momotaro, forget Juno. There is a reason why it is being featured in Micheling Guide due to excellent food experience. Kaizan is not a big restaurant and requires a reservation well in advance and there is a 1.5h time limit for the party of two. The service is so excellent that this time is perfect to have a nice dinner. They used to be BYOB place but not anymore since they are serving only their alcohol. Kaizan`s chefs always serve Omakase experience beside the regular menu. Escolar OR Maguro pearls--one of our favorite, great blast of flavor with hint of truffle oil. Tako Yaki--one of the best you can have. Traditional Japanese plate. Orange Rush--I could literally eat those everyday lol. The quality of fish is always superb and the flavors are ideally orchestrated. Spicy Toro Maki--Definitely worth the price, absolutely delicious and the crispy Kale on top was amazing. We also took a bottle of Sake and some special rolls in the shape of icecream cone and they were OMG. Thank you Kaizan for ALWAYS great experience and the most delicious sushi. See you next time :)) read more

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Love the the omakase experience . It was the best . Now next time I will do it per person haha because I was still hungry after but it's a must . Cozy and small restaurant. read more

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This was my second time coming to Kai Zan. Since there was 4 of us, we sat in a private booth. It was very spacious and even had coat hangers on the sides. Last time I came, I was 10 minutes late for my reservation and wasn't able to get the omakase. We made SURE to be on time this time lol. This was probably the most filling omakase course I've had. There were 10 courses. From small bites to fresh sashimi, every course had it's own uniqueness. Some of my favorites included the scallop shooter, orange rush, and sashimi. My only complaint is that the rice on the nigiris had a texture similar to sticky rice instead of the usual sushi rice. It wasn't bad, but was a bit heavy paired with the fish. We also decided to try out the waygu fried rice because it sounded so good. It was very buttery, but could have used a little more seasoning. Lastly, we got the matcha crème brûlée. It tasted more like a mousse, but was still a yummy end to a delicious meal. read more

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The food always best quality. New items on the menu were marvelous. One of my favorite being a date place Quaint setting and great staff. read more

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I recently went to Kai Zan for the omakase experience after seeing good reviews online. Honestly, for the high price, it was very disappointing. We were expecting much more actual sushi and nigiri, but there were many other dishes that could have been good and creative, but just ended up being unpleasant and greasy. The multiple tempura dishes were overly greasy, and the shooters dish used entirely too much tabasco, ruining the dish entirely. The menu was not cohesive, overly filling, and didn't include any kind of desert which was pretty surprising. Not the worst sushi out there, but disappointing for the high price point. Don't waste your money here. Also very small and crowded read more

absolutely bangers all the way around. I'd heard good things about Kai zan but I honestly was scared it wouldn't live up to the hype but it definitely does. the omakase was so good, every course came with multiple pieces which I was not expecting and each piece was so flavorful and innovative and just tasty. it was sooo much food, and I also like that they mix it up and give you some cooked food as well. they also end on fresh sashimi which I thought was very fresh so it feels like you get an incredibly well rounded experience. the service was quick, almost too quick sometimes? I will say the person I was with and I were taking our sweet time and really dragging out each course and they would start bringing out the next course but maybe we were eating too slowly. we got sat in a cute little booth, the table was higher than expected but overall a cute ambiance. read more

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Kai Zan has been on my list for quite some time but every time I think about going it's always too late to snag a reservation especially during a holiday. But finally when I saw that they were offering early omakase dinner, I thought this might finally be my chance and luckily I was able to snag a reservation. When it comes to parking there isn't an issue and you can find one right in front. Upon arrival they were able get us seating in a booth which was great since we had an infant with us so it gave us some privacy especially not to bother other guest. I will say when we tried to inform our server about what we saw on Instagram he was also wasn't sure what it was called since it was a new thing it was rolling out. To be honest, nothing stick out to me or awed me. The nigiri were mostly smoked which I'm not a fan of and it's not allowing the actual fish to shine. We even got an extra hand roll which I felt was very different for it to be wrapped what I believe is taro versus an actual seaweed. Surprisingly the salad was pretty good. The pearls didn't seem to stand out to much either compared to other places I've been to. When it came to dessert I saw there was a black sesame ice cream souflee which the ice cream itself felt chewy. Overall it was just an okay experience and I can finally check this off my list but not sure if I would come back. Food was mediocre at best while service was good. read more

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I'm so happy I was able to score a reservation. Reservations are made through Yelp. It is worth the hype! Initially, no reservations were available, I set a notification alert and a spot opened up. Went on a Wednesday night. Street parking was easy, parked right across the street, but maybe because it was a Wednesday night. Loved the chill vibe and it wasn't loud other than one person seated next to us. When I first walked in, I was surprised almost every table was a booth which adds to intimacy of the space. Would make for a great date night. My date was my daughter. :) Had to get the Omakase which is a bargain at $85. I felt everything on the a la carte menu were reasonably priced. Everything was fresh and delicious. The Escolar & Maguro Pearls and Orange Rush were our favorites. When our server brought out the shooters, she told us not to forget to chew. Well, my daughter forgot to chew! Service was impeccable! I forgot our server's name, but she was so sweet! A pet peeve of mine is when the bill shows a tip calculator and it is calculated post-tax. Tip is pre-tax. Other than that, it was a lovely evening and delicious experience. Best sushi I've had in Chicago! Will definitely return, if I can get another reservation. :) read more

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Our server gave the couple next to us a birthday dessert but didn't give my fiancé one. They knew it was his birthday at the host stand but there was no greeting from the server or birthday dessert. Also, we bought omakase for him, and because I can't eat fish, I asked for the chicken appetizer and a side of fried rice. She told me they cannot give me fried rice. The food was good but the service wasn't great, especially for a birthday that we spent a good deal of money on. read more

An incredible high quality Japanese restaurant. Hidden in West Town, this location offers an intimate vibe. We opted to try the Omakase ($90 each - but soooo worth it!). We've heard the hype of the Sushi Twins (Melvin and Carlo) and they definitely lived up to the hype. They were incredibly creative, and each dish brought a new delicious blend of flavors. As shown in the photo, the omakase included: - Madai Carpaccio - Escolar & Maguro Pearls (personal fav!) - Angry Crab - Shooters - Orange Rush - Baby Octopus - Main - Nigiri - Dynamite Mussels - Sashimi We paired our meal with the Knicker Brick bottle of wine. It was very refreshing! Overall - experience was 10/10, we loved every portion and walked out beyond full. The employees are very informative, yet understandably strict on the time limit, so be sure to keep an eye on the clock to make time to enjoy each course. Go check it out! read more

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My fiancé and I tried the omakase. If you're skeptical about not being full, my fiancé said he was stuffed afterwards. I won't mention all of the menu items, so I'll just highlight the ones we really enjoyed...in no particular order haha Angry crab: it's pretty simple spicy crab wrapped in tuna and topped off with tempura crunch, but it's the simplicity of this that makes it interesting. Shooters: it's actually our first time having an oyster and scallop shooter. we actually prefer the oyster over the scallops cause we didn't have to chew. I thought it would be too much, but surprisingly the flavors of ponzu and tobasco helped with the oyster and quail egg. Carpaccio: there were so much flavor in this and it was a very exciting first bite to start off the menu tasting. The fresh tasted fresh and the accompanying ingredients complimented it well. The char su (pork belly) from the main selection was also amazing! So tender and juicy, the taste of it being lightly grilled and torched. Wish there was more of that. The takoyaki from the main was also really well made. Perfect ratio of dough to protein (squid). The only reason this didn't get a 5 star was because I felt like the sushi pieces, despite being how fresh it is, felt like it was too chewy. The fish were also warmer than I would have liked so it made it a little difficult to eat. Over all, for the price, I would probably come back if they change up their tasting menu. But seems like their a la cart seems decent as well. read more

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We sat at the counter looking into the kitchen which has its perks. Food was delicious and service impeccable. The attention to detail in every dish is amazing including the mochi which seemed molded to an actual fruit shaped casing! read more

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Honestly what can I say that hadn't been said? So I'll keep this short. We snagged a 4 top for a Thursday night dinner and ordered a TON to try as much as we could. We had no bad bites! I will say, I wish the food runners would be more vocal and tell us what was being dropped off. There were a few dishes we wanted to order seconds of but weren't 100% sure what was what. I'm mad it took me so long to come here because it was phenom! Will certainly return for a nice night out. read more

The good: - lots of booth seating even for 2 - inexpensive - easy to reserve The bad: - over-reliance on spicy Mayo - tables were too short relative to the seat - felt rushed and impersonal Okay: - medium quality fish - variety but not too much - decent portions read more

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What is not to love about Kai Zan?! This is hands down my favorite sushi restaurant in Chicago! The fish is always fresh! Flavors of some of the dishes are out of this world! Some of my favorites are the toro uni tartare, dynamite mussels, escolar pearls, and waygu fried rice. And for the price, this has to be the best place to get an omakase dinner! What I love most about Kai Zan is how they have been able to stay so consistently good with their food! read more

What a magnificent meal all around. I went in with an idea of what I wanted to get based on everything I've read! We decided to opt out of doing omakase and basically form our own ten course meal from the a la carte menu! We were seated at the sushi bar and kitchen area and got to see them making everything in front of us. It's always exciting to see the action! They have booths on both sides of the restaurant as well depending on what kind of experience you want. We got the oyster shooters, dynamite mussels, polenta bites, flaming tuna maki, orange rush, char siu skewer, spicy toro maki, wagyu nigiri, otoro sashimi and lava cake. Everything was so so good! My favorites were the oyster shooter, the spicy toro maki and the otoro (I'm a sucker for a some food fatty tuna). Every single plate was so jam packed with flavor and everything melded so well together. The fish was so fresh and melt in your mouth. The lava cake was the perfect finishing touch. It had a warm moist chocolate cake topped with black sesame ice cream (love love love black sesame ice cream) Overall my expectations were definitely exceeded. Definitely not super affordable sushi, but I would say it's more affordable than many *good* sushi places. I would 100% recommend anyone to come here for a special occasion or if you're just looking to treat yourself! read more

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4 to 4.5 stars for the fall omakase. The current menu (which just came out) has strong dishes like salmon with shiso & puffed quinoa and short rib yake. However, there were a few weaker courses (dashi & hamachi). The final "dessert" course was a tasty shrimp tempura hand roll that left you feeling full and satiated. I would love to return to sample the rolls which looked appetizing & tempting! Service was quick and super efficient. Strict adherence to the allotted time. read more

KAI ZAN - Fave of the trio is the short rib - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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TLDR; Flavorful and filling on a decently priced Omakase Price: $75 / person for Omakase. I don't think you will be able to find as affordable of an Omakase than at Kai Zan (but DM me if you know of a good one in Chicago). It doesn't have the "traditional" rice / soup numbers incorporated, and is all fish. Vibe: Unassuming location tucked away on the west side. The atmosphere was just right and what I was expecting - not as "upscale" as other Omakase experiences, but I like that about Kai Zan! We had a semi private seating area in the new extension of the restaurant. Semi secluded, and definitely felt safe dining here. Let's talk food. Highlights: -Angry Crab: generous amounts of crab and it was perfectly executed -Char Siu: reminds me of how my parents like eating this (mmmmm drool). Tender, juicy, and flavorful -Sashimi: 7 pieces, and this alone made the Omakase price fair. Meh: -dynamite mussel is satiating, but the notes aren't as delicate (probably because it's a mussel) Fish are sourced from all over the globe, and it to have these flavors in Humboldt park is something else! read more

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Magnificent. Masterful. Marvelous. Those are just a few of the adjectives that come to mind when eating at Kai Zan. The craftsmanship is on another level. Kai Zan is a quaint and very small restaurant, with around 5-6 tables and maybe a maximum of 8-10 seats at the bar. Despite its size, the atmosphere is cozy and intimate. You can't tell by the exterior as there's no visible signage, but once inside, you'll be treated to an experience that's truly unforgettable. I highly recommend sitting at the bar, where you can watch all the magic happen as the chefs expertly craft each dish right in front of you. The level of skill and precision that goes into each plate is truly a sight to behold. We didn't opt for the omakase option as there were a couple of pieces that my partner and I were reluctant to try. So we settled for a la carte instead. We kept some of the adventurous aspect and tried the shooters, still. Below is a list of all our entrees and I'll do my best to describe their greatness to do them justice. Special hand roll - This is where their creativity shined. I have never had a hand roll as delicious as this one. It's wrapped in a special fried taro wrapper. That's right, a fried taro wrapper. It was crunchy, yet flaky and complemented all the fish it held on to. There was even a small delicate brussels sprout on top. I can't imagine anything more elegant. Fiesta maki and Sos maki - To be honest, these were really good but because of the other dishes we had, they were not the most memorable for us. Wagyu fried rice - The most expensive dish at our table but also the most delicious. It is accompanied by quail eggs on top. The most amazing experience was watching our chef cook this dish in front of us, and I was mesmerized by the creation process. Every ingredient was there for a reason, and they enhanced the flavor with every bite. Orange rush - Softly seared salmon on the outside hugging a scallop on the inside. It's a beautiful and buttery creation. Scallop and oyster shooter - the adventurous journey that you need to embark on while you're here. I took several gulps of hesitation to mentally prepare myself, only to be dazzled by the most tasty concoction. Dynamite mussels - a different take on your usual dynamite mussels. They created a special mayo and eel sauce to bring out the flavors of the mussels rather than drowning them in spicy mayo. Green monster - a huge surprise of the night! It's wrapped in avocados on the outside! I have never loved the taste or the texture of unagi, but this one transformed my experience. Every bite was bursting with scrumptious buttery avocados, and a hint of unagi. Char siu - The pork was equally on par with the sushi and wagyu fried rice. It's smoky, fatty, and salty, and is covered in a delicious sauce. Kai Zan takes you on a journey that tests your taste buds and brings them to appreciate the different combinations of food around you. I have never felt the love through food as I did here. I tasted the mastery and the dedication that poured into each dish. Every dish challenged me to be open to new ideas, to savor each bite, and to trust in the chef's vision. I'm so happy to have witnessed such moments at Kai Zan, and I hope to be back here once I step foot back to Chicago. read more

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One of the best sushi spots in Chicago. I always go for the omakase - it's an insane amount of food and they use amazing ingredients. I like the omakase bc it includes things I probably would never think to order. Last time I was there I did end the meal w a few extra pieces of nigiri and I'm so glad that I did! WOW! Love the decor/style of the place. Comfortable booth seating for most tables. Fast service and beautifully designed dishes. read more

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Delicious sushi, reasonable price. The sheer volume of reviews should speak for itself. Try the takeout platters! Great for a small dinner party and a variety of fish, all incredibly fresh and perfect. read more

My friend recommended Kai zan and sure enough it was not a disappointment. Choices of food were great, service was friendly. And the atmosphere was also nice. Highly recommend. Recommend making appointment prior. read more

Don't miss the omakase! Reasonably priced and SO delicious. Every bite is worth it. The service is always excellent. It's a fairly quick meal for 2 (90 minutes) but manageable. One of my favorite restaurants in the city. read more

Food: 6.5/10 Service: 9/10 We decided on the omakase for dinner. The first carpaccio dish with pesto and olive oil was amazing. Unfortunately the rest of the dishes were under par. The flavors were good but the quality of the fish was poor. Even the aburi(torched) pieces were not smooth. Typically the torched pieces are my favorite but the fish was tough to eat. The fish, especially the tuna felt fibrous in texture. The only fish that seemed of good quality was the salmon and the Madai at the beginning. They serve alcohol but I wish they had cocktails. The ambiance was good, just wish the quality of the fish was better. Great price point for the omakase but I will probably not visit again. read more

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This place has a lot of hype and reviews. Parking around here seems much more manageable than west loop. I recommend getting reservations. I saw online some byob mentions but didn't follow up on it. Worth looking into. Food (7.5/10) (adjusted for expectation of tier): Went with the omakase. The first half was awesome: carpaccio, escolar maguro pearls, angry crab, and shooters. Unique and scrumptious. Second half was anticlimactic. The nigiri and sashimi were very mid tier, just above buffet quality imo. The octopus salad and mussels were very standard. Ordered some sake which came in a beautiful carafe. Service/Ambience (8/10): Small venue with around 6 booths and bar seating. Decorations and lighting were nice. Noise control was standard. Not a super intimate spot but standard. Standard service relative to expectation of tier. Value (7.5/10): $75 for omakase per person, check comes out to around $100 per person. I think the pricing is reasonably value. Would be 8+ value if the sashimi was a bit higher quality as it was not quite up to par. If money is not an issue I would say this place is an awesome high mid tier restaurant spot. read more

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My friends raved about the Omakase here, so I had to check it out when I was in town. Burst of flavors right from the start. I'm a sucker for truffle, anything herbaceous, and, of course, fried. This omakase had it all 3. The downside for me was some of the cuts of fish were massive (and kind of warm) and uneven from plate to plate, the shooters were a little off putting (the texture of oysters and a raw quail egg together was hard for me eat), and the baby octopus was extremely tough and chewy. But the other dishes were lovely! Our server was attentive and explained every dish with so much detail and I could tell he really knew the menu and why all the ingredients complimented eachother. Overall it was a fun experience, but I would definitely just order from the menu next time rather than do the Omakase. read more

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