Nicely designed restaurant. Food was very good! Fresh, Tasty and hot! Service was very graceful and inviting. Definitely recommend it. read more

Beautiful restaurant and experience! The decor and lighting is really warm, inviting, and the vibes are just so good. The gyozagrid appetizer was awesome! The presentation was cool and the flavor was bursting with each bite. Excellent cocktails! The Mikami old fashioned is one of the best old fashioned cocktails I've ever had. I loved the cardamom and black peppercorn in it. The Koh-Hee was delicious too, with Licor 43, coffee liquor, and chocolate bitters. We really enjoyed the ramen too. I very much enjoyed my vegetarian ramen. The mushroom broth was very nice and I loved the tempura veggies that came on the side and I could dunk them. My boyfriend really raved about his tonkotsu ramen. For dessert we had the matcha panna cotta and it was really creamy and flavorful. I love matcha so I'm glad I ordered this. We experienced fantastic service. Everyone was very kind and attentive. This was a lovely date night and we will definitely return. read more

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We got there right when they opened so we had the restaurant to ourselves. The restaurant was very clean and spacious with a great downtown location. We were lucky enough to get some free street parking nearby and only had an 18 minute walk to the Field museum afterwards. We were there for lunch and they seem to draw in the downtown business lunch crowd since they have a lunch specific menu. Because it is upscale and elegant, we could see it being a very nice place for a dinner date. They had very authentic offerings. The presentation of the food was very elegant. They had beautiful decor and dishware. The food was also expertly prepared and allowed you to eat with your eyes before you ate with your mouth. All of our senses were quite pleased with this experience. They also have a pretty cool light feature by the booths. The pop music was kind of a strange choice for the ambiance, but we were still there for it. We ordered the seafood udon and the whole soft shell crab on top was perfectly cooked. The pork tankatsu had some very tasty pieces of grilled pork belly. Everything was clearly expertly prepared - even the miso soup. The shishito pepper skewers were exactly what we wanted then to be. Very flavorful all around. read more

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This ramen spot has a really nice, vibey interior and felt like a cool place to check out. We originally wanted to try it because we saw they had fresh mochi, but unfortunately when we went, they told us only their manager knows how to make it and the manager was not in, which was disappointing. As for the food, the ramen was just okay. The broth could have used more flavor, and the dipping ramen in particular would have been much better if the broth was hotter. It came out lukewarm, which really took away from the experience. One highlight was the chicken karaage, which was nice and crispy. Since the mochi was not available, we ordered the matcha panna cotta instead, but that was also disappointing. There was barely any matcha flavor, and even the color seemed off. It was more of a mint green than an actual matcha green. Overall, the space is great, but the food did not quite live up to expectations. read more

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This is a slightly more upscale yet still affordable Japanese restaurant located in south loop. They have a nice lunch set - for $21.95, you get a main, a side, and a drink/miso soup. We got the kare katsu raisu (pork katsu curry rice) and tonkotsu ramen. The kare katsu was amazing - the curry was so buttery and thick, and the katsu was fried perfectly and cut into smaller pieces. The tonkotsu ramen came out a lukewarm, but we loved the broth and the generous ingredients. The karaage (fried chicken) side was SO good - probably one of the best I've ever had. The inside was sooo juicy/coated in a light layer of chicken fat, and the outside was super lightly fried. The bacon tomato skewer was also great!! The warm tomato bursts in your mouth and the bacon was nicely charred. The miso soup was the most generous with ingredients I've ever seen in America! We also got a side of the gyozagrid - I accidentally chipped one side of it, but it's a perfect circle out of the pan! Their house-made mochi desert is viral on social media! This is a super glutinous goop served with black sesame sugar and a ginger syrup. So aesthetic! Overall, while they were a tiny bit understaffed the day after Thanksgiving (and understandably so), the were so kind and efficient with us! read more

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Great food, good service! We walked in and were sat immediately. We each ordered a drink and a rice bowl and they came pretty quickly. The highballs were ~ strong ~ but good. I really enjoyed my fish (though it was a bit saltier than I anticipated it paired with really nicely with the plain rice). We had mochi ice cream for dessert (3 pieces, split in half with 2 rice wafers). I tried the strawberry and matcha mochis and they were good! read more

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Mikami has a great selection for happy hour. I would recommend the Midori for something refreshing. Their happy hour ends at 6 so it's great for those who actually get off at 5! read more

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The takoyaki was crunchy. I had kare raisu with pork katsu and it was good. My friends had the geki fire miso ramen and it was too spicy for me and I think it felt a bit oily. Another friend ordered the dipping ramen which they said is their signature. I did not try it but he said it was really good. They said the regular miso was too salty though. The mocktails were ok. I didn't really like the limeade. The guava pop tasted better. Kinda watered down after a while tho cause lots of ice so gotta ask for less ice. read more

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Food was borderline disgusting. Maybe it's our fault for not getting ramen at a ramen place, i can admit. The chimchurri on top of the lamp chops wasn't good & it looked old, the side that came with (cabbage salad) was just sliced cabbage in a bowl. No sauce or nothing. My entire plate was disgusting and plain!!! Spent $80+ for all this. Will never be back. read more

Mikami Izakaya & Ramen - Lamp chops and grilled calamari - Izakaya Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Met with a couple of friends here for dinner at 7:30 on a weekday. The restaurant was about half full when I arrived. The interior is modern and spacious, with a bar located at the back. I ordered the Tori Paitan, a chicken bone broth ramen. The broth was rich and full of chicken flavor, and the noodles were cooked perfectly. The bowl came with four pieces of chicken cutlet and one piece of chicken sausage. There was also corn on the side and a soft-boiled egg, all garnished with green onion and seaweed. I also had a bite of the tsukemen. The noodles were a bit firm--another 30 seconds of cooking might have made it ideal for my taste. That said, the firmer texture might be intentional, designed to pair better with the dipping broth. All in all, we had a great time here and are looking forward to coming back to try more dishes. read more

Mikami Izakaya & Ramen - Tori paitan - Izakaya Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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food: i got the ramen and it wasn't anything super special, not the best ramen I've had in Chicago Service: pretty slow service unfortunately Ambiance: nice vibe, good interior read more

Mikami Izakaya & Ramen - Karrage - Izakaya Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I am so disappointed with this restaurant. We came here to have a filling dinner before the Blackpink restaurant. Too bad, I won't be able to try the food at all. Service was slow. Several attempts to flag down a server are needed even though the restaurant was only half-full when we arrived. Servers first took the orders of the customers that came in after us. We even had to remind several servers that we were ready to make an order. My boyfriend ordered the karaage bun while I ordered their bestselling ramen. The bun took around 20 minutes to arrive. The ramen though never arrived even after we followed up. It was funny how my boyfriend took 20 minutes to finish the small bun because he didn't want to finish eating before my food arrived. We followed up my ramen probably 30 minutes after our orders were taken. Five minutes later, someone told us that that the ramen would take an additional 10-15 minutes. 15 minutes later? Still no ramen. I think they just forgot my order. We just decided to close the bill and leave. No remorse from any of the staff either. Will not come back. If you want to try flavorful authentic ramen with fast efficient service, try Oiistar in Wicker Park. read more

Mikami Izakaya & Ramen - Izakaya Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Tried the pork ramen, tofu dunburi and dipping ramen with my family. Everything was delicious. The restaurant itself is stunning. The service was excellent and everyone was welcoming to my kids. This was a great first dining stop in Chicago and we'll be back! read more

Allow me to set the scene... As is often the case in the Windy City, the day carried a chill on the wind. Hours of traveling had taken a physical toll upon my body. I yearned for the comfort of a nourishing meal. I could write a soliloquy to describe my experience at this restaurant but alas, I shall save your valuable time and summarize: I found God in a bowl of ramen. The entire menu promised a variety of delicious options and I eagerly began my exploration of it starting with a staple: shoyu ramen. I really can't say it enough. Simply delicious. I ate it hours ago and I'm still thinking about it. May the memory of it comfort me in my darkest hours. A warning to those among you whom may consider themselves light eaters, the portion size may overwhelm you (I can only speak for the dinner menu portion). Beyond the food, the atmosphere and vibes were great, very clean (including the restroom), and the staff were friendly and extremely attentive. My water glass never emptied. In my opinion, every staff member in this establishment deserves a forehead kiss. My only complaint, my request to have the chef baptize me in the broth was politely denied. read more

Mikami Izakaya & Ramen - Shoyu Ramen - Izakaya Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Tried this new place with friends today. Nothing can beat a warm bowl of ramen on a freezing cold day. Takoyaki and Tonkatsu are my to-go items, but often time, they are acceptable or disappointing. However, their food is surprisingly good! Takoyaki has crispy shell with decent size of octopus chunks inside. Chashu on Tonkatsu is moist and flavorful. Although the broth is a little thicker than what I prefer, the food is very tasty overall. Matcha tiramisu is more like matcha cake. I like the light texture and sweetness level, but can't accept something be called tiramisu without espresso lol The place is also roomy and quiet. I'll revisit when i'm in the neighborhood. read more

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I ordered the Katsu plate and it was super juicy and crispy on the outside. I wasn't a huge fan of the sauce but other than that it was fine! I really liked the presentation and the servers were very accommodating for a group of 10+ people. read more

Mikami Izakaya & Ramen - Vibe - Izakaya Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Good location, nice decor and friendly staff. I ordered chicken wings as an appetizer, and a tokasu ramen. I felt very thirsty afterwards and I think they contained too much MSG. The wings taste good though. The noodle broth is too creamy and greasy for my taste (some might prefer it this way), so it didn't sit well in my stomach. 3 stars because the food i ordered is a bit disappointing. read more

Mikami Izakaya & Ramen - Izakaya Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I noticed Mikami a few months ago when walking through my neighborhood. As someone who loves ramen and izakayas in general, I decided I needed to try it, but it did take me until now to finally try it. My friends and I walked in on a Monday evening and the place was, much to my surprise, practically empty! The space is really elegant and very (unusually) fancy for a ramen spot. The wait staff were very attentive and explained the menu selections quite well. For the three of us, we ordered a chicken karaage appetizer to share. Restaurants in Chicago offering chicken karaage typically give just a few pieces as an appetizer (maybe like 5 or 6) but we got a full plate of it, plenty to go around! The chicken was juicy and tender while the batter was light, some of the best karaage I've had in Chicago. For the mains, I got a beef sirloin robatayaki and the tori paitan ramen. The beef sirloin was a full skewer of beef and tasted fine, a bit dry for my taste. I really enjoyed the tori paitan ramen, which had an incredible amount of toppings from the tender chicken breast to the chicken tsukune skewer to the egg. The broth was comforting, perfect for the winter. For the amount of food we got, the prices are very reasonable (perhaps with the exception of the robatayaki). I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Mikami and am looking forward to the next visit when I can try their other ramen! Food: 4.5/5 Service: 4.75/5 Price: 4.75/5 Ambiance: 4.75/5 Overall: 4.75/5 read more

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This was my first time visiting Mikami and it did not disappoint! I came for the lunch set menu and it was an amazing value with high quality+ portions. $21.95 for a main dish, side and drink/ miso soup. Service was also great! Our waiter Bu was tentative, kind and warm. Not to mention the ambiance inside was beautiful. Will definitely be back! read more

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Delicious skewers, miso soup and tonkatsu ramen! My coworker and I went there for a quick bite that turned into a proper dinner because the food was so good. The ramen is rich and flavorful. The skewers were perfect. Service was super friendly and on point - 5 stars for all the wait staff! Beautiful and chic interior that gives off an upscale yet earthy vibe. I would 100% go there again! read more

We made a reservation for 2 on a Friday night. The restaurant is spacious and the tables are nicely spaced out... which is refreshing. I feel like restaurants put tables so close together these days, to try to maximize the seating. The restaurant is pretty nice, trendy decor, but you don't need to dress up. They were pretty busy and there were a few families with young kids. We were seated quickly. A few minutes later, the server came by and asked us if we were ready to order. I was caught off guard, because there was no welcome, no introduction. She didn't ask if we had questions or if we've dined there before. We asked for recommendations and told her needed a few more minutes. They have a pretty extensive menu, a lot more than just ramen. For appetizers, we had the soft shell crab and prime beef short rib robata yaki. Both were great and I'd definitely get them again. The soft shell crab was nice and crispy and the accompanying sauce provided a good boost of flavor. We both had the Tonkatsu ramen as the main course. My husband got his spicy, which means his came with a side of spicy seasoning... a little goes a loong way. I think he used less than a teaspoon. Overall, the ramen was good. We have had better broths, but the toppings and ingredients were high quality. We had the mochi ice cream plate to finish and enjoyed it very much. The mango was pretty sweet. The strawberry was surprisingly my favorite flavor. Overall, we had a positive experience. The food was good and came out promptly. I'm definitely interested in trying other dishes. Everything was solid, but nothing was so good that I can't wait to come back. It was an easy dining experience and would prob come back with my toddler or a bigger group. read more

Mikami Izakaya & Ramen - Mochi Ice Cream Plate - Izakaya Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Wow, should we all be excited about Mikami! This beautiful elegant Japanese restaurant is without question my new favorite. I popped in during a quiet Thursdy lunch hour, where the spacious dining hall was all to the wait staff and myself. I especially want to highlight our service Lorenzo for going above and beyound in hospitality service and sharing his knowledge in the food and drinks menu. Lorenzo passionately explained the stories, flavor profiles and the kitchen team who put together the menu. I learned that Mikami is the second iteration of a Japanese establishment in Hyde Park and a joint venture with the owner of Taipei Cafe, Mikami is reinforced with the Chicago Asian restaurant moguls. I am deeply touched by the amount of joy and passion Lorenzo has in the food, and genuinely want us to experience Japanese cuisine to its fullest, I would definitely be back for just his company and Victor's chicken karage alone. I am definitely in awe by the elegance, beauty and huge potential of this restaurant blowing up over time. I would love to keep this as my secret, but they definitely deserve recognition by everyone. read more

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I'd go back for round two! Don't let the 3 stars fool you, this was an excellent experience and I would absolutely go back again. The lunch value is your best bet and it's a beautiful establishment. The 3 stars is more in comparison to other ramen places that have better developed flavor profiles to their broth. We ordered some drinks which were made well and it's always a bonus to sip while you wait. Parking in this area can get sticky depending on day of the week and time of day read more

Mikami Izakaya & Ramen - Izakaya Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Amazing food! Everything was absolutely delicious, would love to go back!!! The 3 appetizers we got were especially wonderful- the okra, the tofu, and the ponzu. read more

Mikami Izakaya & Ramen - Izakaya Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I randomly went here with a coworker for lunch after a yelp and google search. The ambiance inside was BEAUTIFUL! I can imagine coming here for a date night. They decorated the place very nicely. When I went for lunch, there was only one server, but she was very attentive. We were not waiting long to order or to receive our food. For lunch, they have a lunch menu. For $21.95, you get an appetizer, and entree, and a drink. It was a good deal for the amount of food in my opinion. I got the chicken karaage, tonkotsu ramen, and a ginger ale. I added the spicy oil to the ramen, and it was very spicy to me! Additionally, I tried the short rib skewer. The food was really really good. I definitely recommend this place! read more

Mikami is such a gem -- especially for lunch. Their $19.95 lunch special is incredibly generous and comes with an appetizer, entrée, and either soup or a soft drink. For the quality and presentation, it feels like one of the best lunch deals in the city. I ordered the Karaage Raisu (crispy, flavorful fried chicken with rice), a Bacon Tomato skewer, and a soft drink. Everything came out fresh and well-seasoned, and the portions were just right. The service was personable and attentive, which made the experience even better, and the decor/ambiance is beautiful -- chic and calming, the kind of space that makes you want to linger a little longer over your meal. Whether you're grabbing a quick lunch or planning a relaxed dinner, Mikami is worth the visit. I'll definitely be back to work my way through more of the menu. read more

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Ambiance - super cute intimate restaurant, great for dates & small groups Service - exceptional, food also came out in a timely manner, server came back to check on us often Food - portobello mushroom was grilled to perfection, soft shell crab was the right amount of crisp, beef short robatayaki was moist + tender, shoyu ramen was super rich in flavor, the star of the show was the house made mochi (super innovative a must get!) read more

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I made reservations two days in advance, and it was a breeze. When we arrived, they quickly found out about our reservations and seated us. They gave us water while we browsed the menu. We had to hunt down a waiter or waitress to order our food, which took a while. The waitress asked if we wanted everything at once, and we said yes. The ramen came first, followed by the katsu, and then the appetizers. This was a bit confusing because appetizers usually come out first, but in this case, it was the reverse. The gyoza took the longest and was the last to arrive. I ordered tsukemen, and it was good. The broth was a bit thicker than I'm used to, but the noodles were tasty and chewy. The broth could've been a bit hotter since the noodles and toppings were a bit chilly. I tried a bite of the chicken katsu, and it was crispy and the sauce was delicious. The chicken was a bit dry, though. My favorite dessert was the homemade mochi. The best part was dipping it in the black sesame dipping sauce. Overall, the food was good, and I'd definitely go back. But the service was terrible. We had to wave for someone to come over multiple times. The reason is that they only stood near the waiter or waitress stand and looked towards the front of the restaurant and didn't pay attention to the people behind them. It's a decent-size restaurant with tables everywhere and a bar. I wish they could better situate where they stand so they don't forget about certain customers. read more

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A beautiful restaurant with really attentive and quick staff. It was pretty chill and quiet in the restaurant but that might've been because I came in at an earlier lunch time. I ordered the Tori Panko Raisu with fried gyoza and a bottled water from the lunch set and both the main and gyoza were amazing. The gyoza was fried perfectly and it was delicious. And the Tori panko raisu was also cooked perfectly and dressed in a great sauce. read more

Randomly stumbled upon this restaurant for a late lunch, and when we went it was super quiet inside, but the decor is really pretty and modern. I think this would be super nice as a date night spot. We got karaage to start and it was delicious! The breading was really unique. I liked the takoyaki too flavor-wise, but it didn't have much octopus in it -- mostly batter. For my main I got the chicken katsu curry, which was a massive portion! It came with a huge chicken cutlet as well as a side of rice, cabbage, and salad. I would have preferred more curry (it was a rather shallow plate of curry), since I used up a lot of it before I finished half the chicken. The curry was too salty for my liking but it had a nice buttery flavor that was unique. Chicken was not dry at all! Service was pretty good -- the waiter seemed new and didn't know the menu too well but everyone was friendly and the food came out really quickly. read more

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I've been about four times since this place has opened up and it's pretty good. The happy hour menu is robust with lots of small bites and grilled options. All the small bites are fried, so if you're looking for something lighter you might want to opt for the regular menu. The standouts for me on the happy hour menu are definitely the chicken karaage and teriyaki wings. The drinks we got were okay, nothing that blew me away. This would be a great place for dates or even casual lunches. read more

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Walked into Mikami unbeknownst since we were on the lookout for a happy hour in our neighborhood. Loved the atmosphere and decor, very well lit inside. Only had 10 minutes before HH ending, out in drinks and small plates orders. Loved all the drinks and appetizers, especially the chicken robata. The only qualm we have is we ordered the fries without ground pork and unfortunately was brought with the pork. We weren't compensated or apologized for the mix up. Aside from this mistake, definitely want to give it another chance read more

Mikami Izakaya & Ramen - Izakaya Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Don't be surprised that South Michigan Ave has some hidden gems. Mikami is one of them. Service 5/5, food portion, taste, and presentation 5/5, and environment was light and friendly. Parking on either side of the street for blocks. My girl was very happy with the tiramisu, give it a try! Thx Mikami! read more

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So delicious! What a great addition to South Loop!! My husband and I stopped in for lunch today. I believe their grand opening was just last night. It's GORGEOUS inside. So chic and elegant without being over the top. I ordered the tonkotsu ramen and my husband order the chashu pork don. We both were so blown away with the pork, it's marinated so perfectly. We can't wait to come back. This will definitely be in our regular neighborhood rotation. The staff was nice and you could tell they were excited for the opening! read more

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I'm so glad that I can now find quality ramen within walking distance from my home. I've been here twice for weeknight dinners and it was pretty easy to grab a table without a reservation. I highly recommend the Tonkatsu ramen and the Miso Kale salad. The homemade mochi dessert is also very unique, as it comes with different toppings that you can use to decorate the dessert with. I've had great service both times, and the ambiance and decor are lovely. Mikami is an amazing new addition to South Loop, and I can't wait to come back for the izakaya menu items. read more

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A bit overpriced, but the food is very good and the bartender is a very generous. ... Also for a neighborhood spot in South Loop. It's very very posh. read more

We went during the soft opening and enjoyed ourselves. Service was learning, but so kind. Management stopped by to tells us they'll be expanding the menu at official opening. The food was tasty and reasonably priced. We didn't love the crispy bao (prefer softer), but it was flavorful. The ramen was solid and noodles seemed fresh. Drinks were a great value and a nice selection. The space itself is really lovely and we will definitely be back again! Great addition to the area. read more

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This place you cannot complain about. The environment is very chill with some decorations. The food was top tier and even though the price is pretty high the food is worth it. I feel like you cannot find with better ramen due to it price. I would recommend getting a reservation for this place, but wasn't really packed for me on a weekday. They were pretty nice checking on with me every once in a while. While I didn't have to beer, based on the other reviews it seems ok. But yea this place is a must try read more

Once again- this place was amazing. So delicious. I want to eat here everyday. I got the tonkotsu ramen which was amazing, it came with a spicy paste so I could make it as spicy as I wanted. The pork belly Japanese chashu don was so so good. Lychee martini for the win. The only down side was they took a really long time to come to our table initially but it was a really busy night. read more

Mikami Izakaya & Ramen - Lamb chops- amazing and perfectly cooked - Izakaya Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We're visiting from the east coast and honestly chose this place because we were in the mood for Izakaya and it's in close proximity to the Wintrust Arena (about a 20 min walk). My husband and I were pleasantly surprised at how great the food was and were impressed by the cocktails as well. My husband ordered the Tonkatsu ramen which he loved and I got a host of grilled meats and mushrooms which were perfectly flavored. We literally were so impressed with this place and honestly plan to come back. Not one dish was bad and the service was great as well! The food was so good we only took one picture We'll have to take more when we come back! read more

Mikami Izakaya & Ramen - Grilled sirloin, seaweed mozzarella crunch wrap, and grilled portobello mushroom - Izakaya Near Me - Chicago, Illinois