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Excellent service but average food. A but of a miss for me. Do experience their wine and whiskeys.
Kumiko has easily become one of my favorites bars. Andrew and Brandon were both professional, knowledgeable, and personable. While I'm not a big whiskey drinker myself, there were plenty of other options to enjoy. The seasonal Pineapple Fizz was excellent. My husband loved exploring the whiskey program, from the highballs to the lychee martini and the seasonal strawberry Old Fashioned. Each drink was well crafted and balanced. We also shared the Japanese curry with karaage, which was outstanding. The curry was so clean and flavorful without feeling heavy. The whiskey bar downstairs offers an intimate setting with bar seating, making it a great spot for a date night or a relaxed evening. Each drink is around $20, but the quality, service, and overall experience make it well worth it, especially for a special occasion. We can't wait to come back.
I loveee Kumiko. They were just announced N. 11 on the 2026 North America's 50 Best Bars list (one spot down from last year). I've lost track but this is maybe my 5th or 6th time here. I've been here for food, desserts, drinks, their basement whiskey bar, everything... and I'll keep coming back whenever I'm in the neighborhood. This time, we came to check out their spring menu because I remembered them having a sakura themed menu last year. We also intended on checking out their new desserts but completely forgot lol, so now I'll need to come back again. Off their seasonal menu, we ordered Pastel and Lights in the Clouds. The Pastel was very light and a little tart. I loved the pretty pink color too. I didn't get it this time, but my absolute favorite cocktail from here is the Cloud Hopper off their regular menu (starting to crave it rn as I'm writing this, it's so good). When you're seated, you're given a warm towel to wipe your hands. The staff is also super knowledgeable, and the quality of the food and drinks is amazing. It's been awhile since I've eaten here so I can't speak on the food, but based off my memory the karaagé is really good and seems to be popular. I need to come back to try more of their food. Reservations are recommended if you want a table or to go to their whiskey bar in the basement, but we've had plenty of luck coming in right when they open and being able to sit at the bar. This time, we came in about an hour after opening and had to stand, which was fine because we just wanted a drink.
It's been years since I've last visited Kumiko when they first opened. Last week we were lucky to snatch a last minute reservation since it's a lot hard to get one with all the James Beard and Michelin awards they've been getting, and I could see why. Their cocktails are so smooth and creative. I had a Lychee Martini and it's probably the best I've ever had. A lot of places use the canned lychee syrup that's overly sweet. No, not this place. You can still taste the lychee without being sugary sweet, and it goes really smooth. But their food is on a different level. Their Japanese curry is probably the best I've ever had. The pork was sou vide and then fried. When you bite into it it was so soft it melts in your mouth. And the homemade curry was so flavorful. You can tell they make their own curry instead of other places they either used premade or store bought. Their service is impeccable. The staff is very polite and knowledgeable. The interior is warm and inviting, and intimate. Highly recommend this for a date night!
Kumiko was recommended to me by a bartender from a local Michelin star restaurant. I decided to stop by Kumiko on a whim and hoped for the best. It was my lucky day as there was one bar seat available at the time of my arrival. That said, the place was packed for a Wednesday evening around 6pm. The bar staff was awesome. Highly professional, friendly, attentive, and very helpful with the recommendations. One of servers was genuinely stoked about the food I ordered, which hyped me up. I got the wagyu as my main. The meat was soft and tender like butter, and the dish was an amalgamation of wonderful flavors. Loved the dish and savored every bite. The guest next to me said I had to get Kumiko's Truffle Milk Toast, and one of the bartenders second that. It was fantastic. Loved the caramelization on the milk toast, and it had a good balance of savory and sweet. Last but not least, I enjoyed one of their cocktails. It was called "Winning Element" and was found under their "Cocktails for a Cause" section of the menu. So cool that the proceeds ($5 of the cost of the cocktail) goes to a trusted organization. Kumiko was easily my favorite food and drink stop of my entire Chicago trip.
Great cocktails with a ton of selection. Very uniquely made and the blends worked well. I enjoyed the highballs. The bites were good and the rice bowl was decent. The food choices are light as it's much more of a cocktail lounge. Still filling. Overall enjoyed the experience and pecan dessert.
Kumiko was out of this world! I am fully convinced on why it is on the list for top 50 bars in North America. We had a prior reservation. The outside of the restaurant is non conspicuous, I have passed by this area multiple times yet never knew Kumiko was here. Upon entering, they greeted us and took our coats. They escorted us to our seats. We chose to sit at the bar since we were there just for the drinks. They even gave us warm towels. The ambience was very upscale Japanese. The bar had a HUGE collection of liquor bottles. The bartender was none other than one of the owners. She was super sweet and explained each and every cocktail in detail, all the way down to where the alcohol and the other ingredients of the cocktails were sourced from. We ordered the old fashioned and the sea foam cocktails. Omg the cocktails were out of this world, literally felt like we were drinking nectar. We also got the milk toast, didn't really like it so much but it's wasn't bad. Overall, we had an amazing experience and I will definitely be back. I have already recommended this place to all my friends.
I was brought here as a surprise....my god. I've never been anywhere like this. Kumiko calls itself a "dining bar," but that doesn't really do it justice. It's this seamless mix of food and drink, everything designed to complement each other perfectly. The vibe is classy af. Dim lighting, intimate, and romantic. It feels special the second you walk in. The drinks? Out of control good. We went all in, sake flights, cocktails, the works!! And not a single miss. And the food is delicate, refined, and clearly made with a ton of care. You can tell every detail is deliberate, from flavor to presentation. It totally lives up to Japanese standards. If you're in Chicago, do yourself a favor and book a table here. Kumiko is something else. And if you're debating Kumiko or another restaurant for a special occasion splurge, definitely here.
After my recent visit to Kumiko, it's clear why it's consistently recognized as the best bar in the midwest. The ambiance here is chic but comfortable. Dim lighting and stylish interior with hints of Japanese influences make it a great spot to catch up with friends or enjoy a date night without having to shout over loud music. There's a great selection of cocktails and they are beautifully presented and it also taste excellent - we all liked what we ordered. While I only came for drinks this time, I am already looking forward to trying their food in my next visit. Reservations are definitely recommended as they fills up quickly.
Kumiko lives up to the hype. Reservations are tough to get, so set an alarm and do your best to snag one -- it's absolutely worth it. We sat at the bar and ordered snacks along with a few rounds of drinks, which was the perfect way to experience the space. The bartenders were incredibly attentive and genuinely knowledgeable, happy to walk us through drinks and make thoughtful recommendations. The food was excellent -- and this may seem odd but my favorite item was their potato salad which I still crave and haven't found one that compares since. Overall, a fantastic experience and very well deserved spot on all the "best bar" lists. Highly recommend.
The drinks were amazing. It is worth the hype of being voted best bar in chicago. The service is also amazing . Speedy and polite, as expected from a good notch restaurant. The ambience is perfect for dates and even small parties of adults. Not very family friendly. The food was good, not amazing. Almost feel like a bit of street food except served in a fancy restaurant. But good jap street food is not really avail in the US at a reasonable price anyways. Mash potatoes: taste great with some veggie mix for crunchiness Curry pork let: very refined take of Japanese curry but nothing too special Oyster caviar - excellent ...
Second time at Kumiko and I'm still impressed by the sheer depth of the cocktail menu and the level of thought put into each drink. Yes, it is on the pricier side, but the ambience makes it perfect for a date night or special celebration. Staff was very accommodating and made sure we were aware of portion sizes when ordering. There is a good variety to pick from and I'm always a sucker for seasonal specials. That night they had a duck soba featuring duck prepared three ways in a rich, comforting broth. We also enjoyed some pickled veggies and olives on the side, and ever drink we ordered was beautifully crafted (different coaster for each drink too). There are also some unique sake options if you're into that as well. Overall, the cocktails and experience is worth the hype if you are willing to splurge a bit.
I was lucky enough to book this via Chase Sapphire Reserve and get 3 seats at their Whiskey Bar. It was intimate and our server was super knowledgeable about the different drinks and food items available, and was able to make really great recommendations. Big food highlights were the Wagyu Sando, and the curry rice (one with karaage and one with tonkatsu). Everything we had was freaking delicious!
Came in on a weekday evening, perhaps one of the only ways to get a reservation here on a short week's notice. This place. Is a gem. Not a place to visit frequently unless money is not an issue. Nonetheless this establishment is one I would recommend to anyone. Disclaimer - I came for the drink menu and did not order any food. If you're on some sort of budget, I'd recommend coming here after dinner. Drinks (9/10): Take a look at the drink menu. It's extensive and creative. I'm not well-versed with "fine" drinking as a student so will not go into details or specific recommendations. But the beauty of this place is that the service here allows you to venture aimlessly in. The servers will ask you questions and give you recommendations. It will take multiple visits to properly explore the menu to your heart's content. The component flights I found were the most fun. In that you are served 3 small glasses. 2 are served as the components as is while the 3rd is the final mixed drink. Value (8/10): Very satisfied with the prices here given the service and quality this place has to offer. Drinks can range from $16-50. $16 is a price point anyone should expect to be happy with at this quality. Ngl the alcohol content hits well here. I was worried I would have to sample without a buzz. Ambience/service (8.5/10): Again the servers are accommodating, helping you navigate the menu and suggesting drinks to your liking. A patron had dropped their phone and someone came to swoop it up. Servers also pull out chairs for patrons. If the bathroom is occupied, someone can tell you when it is open while you are at your seat. Ambience wise it is an intimate setting great for conversations and dates. Dim and candlelit. Moderate noise volumes. Tables are a bit close to each other in that you may have to shuffle sideways when leaving your table to give your neighbors some space. This has definitely allowed them to fit an extra table. It is what it is. read more
1 year ago
Came here in March and it was super amazing! Loved every part of it - the food items & the drinks (and I'm not even a huge drinker). I will say there was one drink that tasted like soap - I think it was the Citrus Medley cocktail but can't remember the name. The Cloud Hopper cocktail I would 200% recommend though. It's SO good! I also thought the Umeshu flight was fun. For food, I really liked the karage, the potato salad, and both rice bowls - maitake don and gyudon. I also tried the Iberico Katsukare, the curry sauce was really good and I don't really eat pork but I had 2 pieces and it was super tender! Overall, great ambiance and a nice fancy place to go with a friend or on a date! It's quite small so make sure you make reservations ahead of time. read more
Zen vibes, impeccable drinks and genuine service. Thank you Rachel for welcoming us with open arms and knowledgeable love of the menu. We are grateful for the experience of delicious drinks we were able to experience. The genmaicha old fashion was incredible, best drink we have ever had. Lily was such a kind person and recommended the rhubarb colada that was 10/10. Thank you Lily and Rachel for the extra touch on an amazing evening. We'll be back! And can't wait to recommend the place to everyone we know. read more
3 years ago
The hubs and I came here last night for a late dinner with the craziest craving for sushi and this place happened to be seating past 9pm on a Thursday night. Unfortunately as soon as we walked through the door, we found out they weren't carrying any fish due to supply chain issues and we were already so hungry we decided to stay despite the irony of why we decided to go there in the first place. My first impress walking in was firstly, the decor and ambiance here are very cozy, intimate, yet elevated, and secondly, the drinks here are PRICEY after perusing the extensive cocktail menu for awhile. Service is top notch however, even though I feel the drinks were definitely underpoured/a little stingy for the price. My small martini with a ton of glass left to the top was $20, while my husbands Old Fashioned with a HUGE ice cube was also only filled part way. Anyways, moving on from that, the food itself is worth mentioning here as well. We ordered the kusshi oysters, karaage, nikumaki, gyudon and their truffle milk toast and LOVED the gyudon, karaage, and milk toast especially. The gyudon was very savory with pops of crunchy meat and sweet sauce to balance it and the karaage was both very crunchy with some bits highlighting a great mochi like chew beneath the crunchy exterior. The truffle milk toast took a moment to adjust to before realizing how delicious this party in your mouth is, very unique and surprising! read more
You HAVE to get the truffle milk toast!!! Probably the best dessert I've ever had. The top of the toast was crunchy and perfectly caramelized, while the bulk of the milk bread was soft and slightly sweet. The fermented honey ice cream on top added extra sweetness and moisture, and the truffle topping added depth and brought everything together. I didn't expect truffle to taste great on a sweet dessert, but OH MY GOODNESS it was so good!!! It was an incredible experience and I will bring people to Kumiko just to try this dish. Of course, the cocktails here are also fantastic. There's several starter and signature cocktails on the menu and they're all unique. I got the New Wave cocktail, which interestingly smelled like Japanese curry rice but tasted like a slightly fruity tea. Cocktails: 5 stars Ambience: 5 stars Truffle Milk Toast: 100+ stars read more
Kumiko has a masterful attention to detail that is unmatched by most other restaurants. While the primary draw are beverage director Julia Momose's cocktail menu, the food pairings also stand out as equally noteworthy. You will simultaneously taste each component flavor and the harmony of these individual elements. Although many of the dishes may sound like "familiar" Japanese cuisine, they utilize novel ingredients with subtle tweaks to the traditional preparations. The staff is highly knowledgeable about what drinks to pair with the food. During most of our dinner, I simply mentioned the flavor profiles I liked to our waiter, and their recommendations were always fantastic. Kumiko is truly culinary excellence elevated to an art form. If you want phenomenal drinks or a unique take on Japanese food, this is the place to check out! read more
I wanted to like this place so much, but was sadly disappointed. Cocktails - 5/5 - the flights are strong and fun. I assumed the complements would be flavors or syrups, but they were the liquor components. To start cocktails were light and refreshing. Creative, approachable takes on classics. Ambiance - 5/5 - light and airy, but intimate. Clearly popular and packed, but not too loud. Loved the decor and always a sucker for a fancy bathroom. Food - 3/5 - such high hopes, but mixed dishes. Potato salad was very onion and Mayo heavy. Karaage was delicious and I loved the truffle milk toast (but the table did not - more for me!) tempura was heavy on the seafood and ended up being a mystery with every bite. Tonkatsu sando was a bit dry and lacked flavor. Would go back for cocktails, but not a meal. read more
5 years ago
This was a truly unique experience. You might need a few visits to try everything on the menu. My favorites were the oysters, miso soup, fried chicken, wagu sandwich,and dessert! They also served an interesting beef sushi roll. The yelp "check in" asked if it were dressy or casual. I think the answer is smart casual. This place is fun! Definitely a great place for a date!!! So, it is late and I am tired. My pictures will tell the story. Do not miss this restaurant!!! read more
There is a reason that Kumiko is voted one of the top 50 bars in the world! I was thrilled that we were able to get a reservation here for my last night in Chicago. From the moment we entered, we were treated with the utmost respect and were asked for our food preferences and restrictions so that the menus we were given were specific to our preferences (I am a pescatarian and my friend is a carnivore). The atmosphere is very, very zen-almost felt as though you were entering a Japanese spa. The service was impeccable. My friend and I shared the nori cashews and I ordered the scallop salad, while my friend had the Tonkatsu Sando, which she said was delicious. The scallops melted in my mouth; very similar to Crudo style, perfectly prepared, and beautifully presented. I would like to commend the staff; every single person we interacted with was outstanding and went above and beyond to make the experience memorable. read more
3 years ago
Great speakeasy and cocktail bar. Cocktails are great and small bites are delicious, however, the small bites are pretty small. Ambiance and service is 10/10, it's a very Japanese vibe and you really feel like you are living a Japanese experience. read more
The food here is extremely inauthentic. This place is notoriously hard to get a reservation at, so I was super excited when my husband managed to snag a Saturday night reservation just 2 weeks prior. However we were both utterly disappointed by the food. The drink list was pretty extensive and interesting and contained both alcoholic and non-alcoholic choices. My husband got "New Wave" which smelled funky but tasted decent while I got the "Hibiscus Matcha Latte". I actually found mine light and refreshing so no complaints there. Prior to dining here, I read a lot of reviews that criticized a lot of the dishes for being too salty, but I figured it could have just been an off night for them; so we were extremely disappointed when we also found every dish to be too heavy and salty. I was chugging my water and could barely finish our food. The maitake don was so salty and the rice it was on top of was already seasoned so the whole dish was overkill. The Iberico pork set was the worst. The texture was too chewy, super fatty and again, so salty I couldn't finish it. The tonkatsu sauce tasted like BBQ/worchester and not even close to the Japanese version. We also ordered the A5 sando for $90. The bread was too sweet, salty and buttery so when paired with the heavy A5 meat, it was just too much. We didn't finish this either! The Karaage and potato salad were the only decent dishes. Definitely would not recommend and won't be back. read more
2 years ago
The wagyu sando is amazing. Worth it even if that's all you get. Service was excellent. Attentive and there when you needed them. read more
This place does live up to the hype. We came for what we thought would be just 1-2 drinks but then didn't want to stop trying the food it was so good and unique! The ambiance is very cool with the bar giving a glimpse to the kitchen and all the Japanese sake. The flights are a very cool idea. When our budget allows we will definitely be back for the full dining experience and try more pours. read more
3 years ago
We just left Kumiko and had the most lovely experience. The cocktails are nihonshu based and so smooth and delicious (we bought the book). The deconstructed sazerac was so complete and delicious and being able to taste the junmai and the whiskey separately gave me an appreciation for the whole drink. The food was wonderful. The karrage I'll be dreaming of for some time as well as the Japanese take on potato salad. We had 2 items from the special food menu and what a surprise in the truffle shokupan dessert! Umami, sweet, and savory. The staff was delightfully attentive and they gave us a lovely card to commemorate our anniversary. We also got the cocktail book they offer. Such a perfect night! read more
Great vibes, service, and bites with really innovative cocktails. Kaarage, pork tonkatsu, and dessert were favorites and our waiter gave great cocktail recommendations. Pricy but worth it. Definitely want to come back to try more of the cocktails. read more
This place was such an experience. We sat in their new secluded bar. Our bartender was so knowledgeable and answered all of our questions with ease. Our drinks were amazing. & the katsu sando was so good we ordered it TWICE and even thought about a third order to share between four people but already had a dinner reservation later that we needed to save room for. If not for that, I think we would have sold them out of their sandos for the night LOL read more
4 years ago
Ok finally we got to try Kumiko! The good The drinks! Amazing! We were lucky enough to sit next to some OG's that kind of told us their favs. The cocktail and mocktail menu is IMPRESSIVE! You definitely have to try. I did cocktails. The hubby did mocktails. Both I would recommend! The food! Excellent! I wished the fried chicken came out with the pickles for that crunchy, salty....but really the fried chicken was DELISH. The crab was great. I liked the mushroom dish BUT I would say, it was a tad too salty for us however still really great. Oysters fresh and yummy. Dessert was different BUT amazing! The ambiance! Love the vibe! I absolutely loved the space...minus the front area crowdedness The bad The front area...what a cluster. It's tight, small and uncoordinated. It was really hard for them to handle anything more than 2 people at the front with coat check and seating. When we left at 8p, it was like a massive game of Tetris. The time issue...so we arrived at 635p for our 630p reservo. We sat at the front waiting to be checked in for another 7ish minutes. Not a big deal but what is a big deal was that the front of the house told us they needed the table at 8p that there was another reservation. We sat at our table waiting on cocktails and food and just normal dinner stuff, but I have to say, the comment about needing the table really threw us both off. We felt rushed and rude if we weren't going to be out right at 8p. We are a full meal...so it really wasn't enough time for us to enjoy. We didn't ask questions about the menu because I felt like we had to get our order in. Didn't ask questions about the drinks because we felt rushed. It just kind of ruined the overall vibe for me there. Listen, I would go back...I would just like a later seating so I didn't feel like I was being pushed out. read more
3 years ago
5 years ago
We got there on a Saturday night at ~7pm without a reservation and the hostess told us that it was a 1.5h wait. While we were deciding where to go to kill some time, she had offered us a reservation at 8 that had just been cancelled. It's a small restaurant with cozy and mellow vibes. I particularly liked the vining plant on their in-wall shelf and the flowers that are placed in the tubes on the wall. I love sweet & citrus-y cocktails so I ordered Walk Softly and it did not disappoint. Moonshine Daiquiri was ordered as a flight, which was served deconstructed in 3 glasses of the components in the cocktail. Karaage portion size was small but each piece was big. Nikumaki beef had a perfect balance of fatty & meaty bits although it was a bit too salty for me; the carrots were soft and cooked through. The bill came out to be ~$90 for 2 cocktails & 2 appetizers with 20% gratuity included. P.S. The restaurant is very close to the L station but we almost missed the entrance since there was no restaurant sign and the name was on the other side of the door. In case you're wondering, we went to Time Out Market Chicago for some heat & seat while we waited. read more
1 year ago
I'm glad my husband's birthday gave us an excuse to splurge, or I'd never have in my right mind ordered a $90 wagyu sandwich on an ordinary night out. Sure this place is expensive, but it is far from overpriced. The food: we ordered the wagyu sandwich, Iberico pork set and uni toast. The first was a generous slab of A5 wagyu sandwiched between two perfectly toasted milk bread, crunchy on the outside and yet when you bite into it melts along with the wagyu creating this fragrant buttery marshmallow in your mouth. The iberico pork comes a little pink inside, but let go of your previously held beliefs about how pork should be cooked, because this is the most flavorful, fatty, juicy piece of tonkatsu l've ever tasted. The uni toast was another marvel, because while we expected something like an uni sushi on bread instead of rice, it came with combinations like grape and dehydrated egg that undoubtedly enhanced the flavor and texture. The former two dishes highlighted the excellence of the ingredients, while the latter showcased the kitchen's creativity. The drinks: we're not big drinkers, but since Kumiko is known for its drinks, we did get a couple of cocktails. The component cocktail flight I admit is a wee bit gimmicky, but delicious nonetheless. Special mention goes to the citrus-infused hojicha they served us in the lobby. The service: impeccable. None of the dreaded "how are we doing" every 2 minutes you might typically get in a fine dining establishment, but our water's always mysteriously full, we felt comfortable in spite of our jeans and t-shirts, and nobody tried to make us spend more than we wanted to. Note that they include 20% tip in the bill so don't get surprised. Don't listen to the haters and give this place a try, preferably on a special occasion so you don't feel bad for spending too much. read more
I have been looking forward to trying Kumiko so I was please to find out that they were reopening in August. My table was not quite ready at the designated time, but we got in maybe 5-10min after the stated time. The entryway is beautiful, full of plants and light. We were greeted by the host and were given tea which was quite refreshing. We ordered the maitakedon, the iberico pork secreto set, and a side of the Japanese potato salad. The pork was cooked perfectly and very juicy and flavorful. However the dish overall was a bit salty and the maitakedon had great mushroom flavor but was extremely salty. The potato salad was delicious and had a bit of spice to it. We ordered a side of rice which at $5 is a bit steep, but to be fair it was a perfect bowl of rice. Now onto the drinks, we tried the highball, kyushu carre, new wave, cloud hopper, and had one dealers choice cocktail. I thought the standouts were the cloud hopper and the new wave. The flavors were truly unique and the aromas were complex. The cloud hopper is almost a fancier take on something like a yogurt soju cocktail you would find in South Korea. The drinks we ordered were definitely on the lighter side so I may try something stronger on my next visit. The service was fantastic! read more
3 years ago
Just an absolute adventure for the tastebuds, so many delicious flavors and complex textures in every dish. Very intimate mood with very low lighting and low talking. The wait staff was extremely helpful and well informed on the menu, making suggestions and answering questions at every course. A must-try dining experience read more
Kumiko is my new obsession! I can't even explain how much I loved this hot, new spot. Is it a little over the top? Yep. But once you get used to the Alinea-level-service (which isn't necessarily a bad thing), you can appreciate the cool atmosphere, delicious food and creative cocktails. I've been to a few tearooms in my day and Kumiko completely captures their essence, but on a very upscale note. Behind the bar, it looks like a traditional tea room counter and the adorable windows found around the restaurant - all is aligned well with what they're going for. Cocktails. My goodness they are pricey but they are delicious. I take slight issue that the non-liquor filled drinks are priced at $15 each, the same or just a couple dollars less than the liquor cocktails. I had two and though incredibly tasty and beautiful, paying $30 for my two non-liquor drinks was painful. I had the Pepperberry Tonic which tasted a lot like grapefruit to me and the Hoji Hai which was a pomegranate dream. The food was phenomenal. They started us with Nori covered cashews. Seemingly so simple but I was in love with these, could not stop popping them in my mouth. Incredibly addictive! One berkshire pork belly bao was $8 and lovely with a soft & tasty bao. I liked this dish but not to the point of absolute love in which I'd get it again. Then came the short rib ($28). I'm not a big red meat person and I just fell in love with this dish. I was nearly begging my friend that we order a second serving of this! The only thing that stopped us was Kumiko limits your table time to 90 minutes. That's a kind of interesting thing that we don't see much in Chicago so I'm curious how that will play out. It's great for turning tables but also when we wanted to order more, it was not really an option for us. Anyways, back to the meat. Perfectly cooked with perfect accompaniments, pickled plums, puffed beef tendon and beef fat hollandaise. I just couldn't get enough of any of it! And the presentation was clean, cute and chic. We ended with the Japanese Milk Bread ($8) which was light & tasty, served with fermented honey ice cream and shaved truffles on top. Fun and fit for a king! They have the coolest chopsticks ever! Super lightweight, thin and beautiful. I want them! We asked our server where they are from but he forgot to get back to us...help a girl out! I need them in my life. Kumiko was one of the best meals I've had in awhile, from start to finish. My hope and dream is they lower the price of the spiritfree drinks a couple dollars to entice me to order more. However, I'll definitely be back for that short rib, holy goodness, yes! read more
This brilliant new cocktail bar combines drinks from creative director Julia Momose (GreenRiver, Aviary, Oriole) and food from chef de cuisine Mariya Russell (Oriole). Also involved, of course, are Noah and Cara Sandoval from Oriole, which is almost around the corner. Oriole earned its Michelin stars in a flash, and I wouldn't be surprised to see some impressive awards coming to Kumiko soon, too. As at Oriole, your first challenge is to find the place! The unmarked door is at the corner. Your experience begins with a warm greeting and a welcoming beverage (herbal tea the night I was there) at the host stand. Then you are ushered into the intimate dining room with its limited table seating and eight spots at the bar. The atmosphere is welcoming, refined, and calming, with Japanese influenced simplicity that immediately puts you at ease. The focus is definitely on cocktails and spirits, with an emphasis on sochu and Japanese whisky. There are also some very interesting rums, and a whole world of aperitifs and exotica. Patrick, my bartender, was a charming host, and it was a delight watching his meticulous preparation of each drink. The main cocktail list offers a wide range of styles, so I had no trouble finding the bitter and complex flavors I favor. Patrick also helped me choose selections to match the food I ordered. Speaking of food, the offerings are currently limited to three types of small bites (oysters, prawns, and steam buns), an eggplant dip, and two entrees (loup de mer and short rib). I started with two of the tempura prawns, which seemed pricey at $8 each, but when they were served I realized we were in Michelin territory. They looked like something you'd find at Oriole, perfectly coated in a delicate tempura and artfully graced with yuzu, mint and edible flowers. Fabulous. I also had the eggplant dip, which was nothing like I was expecting, but was also excellent. It was served in warm miso, and the primary flavor was of the fresh herbs--especially mint--topping it. The accompanying rice crackers were also wonderful. My entree was the loup de mer, a delicate fish served with its crispy skin in place, and already sliced into manageable bites perfect for combining with the accompanying ponzu and bok choi. A crunchy mix of furikake (a mixture of dried fish, sesame seeds, and salt) added a great texture. For dessert I had Japanese milk bread, which is essentially a caramelized French toast served with truffle flakes and ice cream. It was delicious. The night I was there the omakase tasting was not available, so I wasn't able to try that, but I'm just as glad I had a chance to explore on my own. Because there are so many interesting spirits on offer, it's an ideal place for people who like their drinks neat. I particularly suggest you try the El Dorado 15 year rum aged in dry Madeira casks; it's a very complex treat. The combination of great ambiance, perfect service, divine food, and meticulous mixology make Kumiko a winner, for sure. read more
3 years ago
After many recommendations from friends and family, I finally made it into komiko for dinner. When we got seated and browse the menu, we quickly realized that this place was very well known for their cocktails, but we were also there to have dinner. Their dinner menu wasn't very big. Therefore, we asked our server if we could have one of everything and she said that she thought that was too much food and would recommend for us to order up to five items. Every plate we received was very small and by the end of dinner, we had ordered everything on the menu with room for dessert. With so many cocktails on the menu, I do wish we got some direction from our server on what to order. We ordered two of the specialty cocktails and I definitely think we could've gotten better cocktails if we knew more about their wide selection. The ambience is very zen and not too big. I think this is why it is a little difficult to get a reservation and or longer waiting times for walkins. read more
Put Bar Kumiko as one of the top reasons I will keep Chicago in my regular rotation for getaway cities. I didn't realize it was a sister restaurant to Oriole until our Oriole dinner that night, when we noticed they used the exact same chopsticks. But as good as Oriole was, the two things we are at Kumiko were better and more memorable than anything we had at Oriole. There was some salmon roll wrapped in Magic and topped with crack I'm sure. So so good. The truffle milk toast was also pretty life changing. Their deconstructed cocktail flights are so unique, and the fact that they have a pretty legit list of spiritless cocktails is equally special. If they have any openings for their omakase next weekend I might make a quick flight to Chicago just for that. read more
This is what unique dinning & drinking experiences are all about! I can't speak highly enough about Kumiko after spending 5 days in Chicago trying all the "Best Of" recommendations. Incredible drinks. Just so damn creative! And the food... my goodness. It's a tiny menu but it's packed with creativity and perfection IMO. This is where you should go if you only have one night in the city or if you're looking for the perfect date night OR if you're just a solo guy like me sitting at the bar. Skip the Milk Room, come here y'all. read more
3 years ago
the vibes here were great! there's only a few tables and feels very intimate. The server was quite attentive. We really enjoyed the drinks. They had pretty unique tastes and was very tasty. The seafood somen was okay. for the price, i would've preferred a slightly larger portion. read more
So impressed with Kumiko - great overall experience and some of the best cocktails I've ever had! Our drinks were interesting, unique, and enjoyable. I loved the component flight idea, and the moonrise daiquiri may have been my favorite cocktail I've ever had! We also ordered the cloud hopper, the sazerac component flight, and the sake explorative flight. We also ordered the honey nori cashews - I really liked these, I had been worried they might be too sweet or have too strong of a honey taste but they were perfectly balanced. The only thing I didn't really like was the truffle milk toast, which had a strong honey flavor that I felt overpowered the truffle. I am usually slightly disappointed by places with pricey cocktails, and was pleasantly surprised to find that was not the case here. I felt the prices were reasonable for the quality (although I didn't try any of the $50 cocktails!). read more
4 years ago
While searching for things to do for our girls trip in Chicago, Kumiko came up multiple times so we knew we had to snag a reservation while we were in the city and it was an experience that didn't disappoint! We were running about 20 minutes late for our reservation and they were super accommodating and let us know that we'd still be seated but we'd just have to be mindful of when their kitchen closed to order everything we wanted beforehand. The ambiance was amazing and one of the best I experienced throughout my trip! We ended up getting the moonrise daiquiri and cloud hopper. Our server attentively asked us about our flavor preferences and had great recommendations for each of us to suit our person palettes! Both drinks were amazing and unlike any other cocktails we've had elsewhere. The moonrise daiquiri was fruity and bright but had an aftertaste of tea that was delightful and something I've never had with a cocktail before. The cloud hopper was tastefully fruity, but also somewhat rich and savory from the oak milk and yakult which was an interesting contrast. Food wise, we ordered oysters, Kanitamadon, and the truffle milk toast. The oysters paired really well with the pickled melon that was served with it and added a somewhat fruity contrast to the strong saltiness of the oysters. The kanitamadon was delicious and very generous with the crab and tamago. It was much more filling than we expected and the flavors blended together really well. The truffle milk toast was definitely my favorite food item that we tried. It was similarly sweet and decadent to other milk toasts I've had before, but the addition of the truffle made it mouthwateringly savory in a way I wasn't anticipating. I'd definitely recommend anyone going to try it if you like truffle! read more
the food 4.7/5 the ambiance 5/5 the service 3.8/5 decided to stop by here on a whim with my bf since we were both in the office today (Thursday). no reservations available so we walked up a few minutes before opening and waited in a short line to be let in. we snagged two seats at the bar for drinks and bites. beautiful space -- and the attention to detail from the stunning woodwork in the inner "windows" and the intricate work in the partitions between bar and kitchen was outstanding. the glassware was beautiful and suited the cocktails very nicely. the overall service was pretty good, though unfortunately hit a bit of a snag with the bartender when i asked a question about the taste of my first cocktail: i liked it, but it tasted pretty neutral -- until i reached the bottom sip of the drink where the flavour of the citrus cordial was totally concentrated -- i felt she thought i was telling her she prepared it wrongly but i was just curious as to whether that was the desired effect or not (as i've had other cocktails where flavours are meant to build). anyway, she seemed slightly defensive and asked if i wanted another one, which is not really what i wanted nor was i fishing for a free drink. i told her that wasn't necessary but she made one anyway. (turns out the second one was actually mixed well and had a more complex and interesting taste.) only bringing this up because it did contribute to drop in overall review, and honestly expect a little more conversation and understanding from a bartender of "one of the top 50 bars in the world". however, the rest of the experience and service from everyone was fine. the food was incredible. highlights: wagyu tartare special, tonkatsu sando, maitakedon (i don't like mushrooms but this was really great), and the truffle milk toast (though i would have preferred it with something else replacing the truffle, but my bf thought the flavour combo was interesting and liked it). one last snag was that we ordered the otsukemono, the pickles, which were noted as $4 each, but even though we just ordered one, three pickled veggies came out and we were actually charged $12, which seems both odd and purposefully vague on the menu and/or from the person taking our order. not a huge deal, but seems like a miss. would definitely return to try some more cocktails, hopefully the small menu gets some new additions throughout the year to keep things interesting. read more
Julia Momose is a talent not to miss and when we walked up to the window to enjoy a drink on the patio she greeted us at 2pm on a Saturday afternoon. I recall enjoy her creations at GreenRiver (Which has since closed and had a michelin star and perhaps one of the best cocktail programs in Chicago) so there was no question I wanted to try Kumiko. Unfortunately the time never came before we moved from Chicago over a year ago and I lamented this -- following her on Instagram and imagining what some of these drinks might taste like. Fast forward to just a month ago & we had a wedding in Chicago --- would this be it? Might I taste that elixir of the Gods? Well folks I made it a point to have a drink on her patio and try what she had to offer. While I still want to sit inside the establishment some day and enjoy some food and several drinks, this order at the window and sit on the patio more than satisfied me and has me thinking about the next time I'll be in town. Truly beautifully curated drinks and thoughtfully presented even in plastic cups. I adored her thoughtfulness in pairing flavors and this is a must not miss cocktail program in the city. I already can't wait to be back!! read more
3 years ago
Wow! This is one of my favorite dining spots in Chicago. One of the owners is the cocktail creator for Oriole, so if you are here, you must try their Japanese inspired drinks. Their food is equally as good as their drinks and they complement each other very well. My favorite dishes of the night Loup de Mer and their lightly battered shrimp with head mayo, mint, and yuzu. Ambiance is dimly lit, small and intimate- perfect for a date night. read more
Really delicious cocktails. I would suggest for the average person not even attempting to read the menu too much in advance. The bartenders are great and will you navigate all the foreign spirits and mixers. It's a unique experience and delicious! read more
More info about Kumiko
630 W Lake St
Chicago, IL 60661
West Loop, Near West Side
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(312) 285-2912
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http://www.barkumiko.com
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Kumiko - japanese - Updated September 2026
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