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

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

One of the top 50 bars in North America and didn't disappoint. The service here is top notch;…read moreeveryone is super pleasant , never a crumb left or napkin out of place. It's a small venue but that complements its intimacy. I only came to sample a cocktail but the food that people ordered around me smelled really good, so that counts for something lol. I really loved that they brought a warm towel infused with what smelled like lemongrass when I arrived, it was such a calming but invigorating touch to set the tone. The cocktails were really well balanced, they have a nice range of Japanese whiskeys and sakes, the servers were not shy about allowing me to taste a sample of a few that caught my eye until I landed on one I liked. As an old fashioned drinker, I ordered the Ichigo Old Fashioned which has all the makings of your traditional drink, but it has strawberry infusion which made it very unique and tasty. I recommend this place as a nice nightcap or starter to your evening; also nice for a good date night.

Kumiko was out of this world! I am fully convinced on why it is on the list for top 50 bars in…read moreNorth 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.

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

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

Obsessed with Sushi-San. Their rolls are so fresh, and select ones are only $6 during HH! The spicy…read moretuna and the avocado crunch are both a 5/5! Thoroughly enjoyed their crispy rice as well, solid 4.7/5. Only thing this restaurant could use is a patio! Dim lit dining area. Service was just okay. Busy Thursday HH!

Great spot for sushi!…read more Came here to celebrate my birthday while in Chicago and had the best experience. Reservation was easy to make through Open Table and I would request booth seating as it can get chaotic in the main dining room. Lychee cocktail (5/5): really enjoyed this, perfect if you love lychee and a strong drink. Banana milk punch (3.5/5): this was a little too sweet for me but it was good. Food (5/5): we got the seaweed salad, yellowtail carpaccio, mixed tuna set, 12 piece assorted nigiri, and some additional à la carte pieces and everything was fresh and delicious. Butter Cake (5/5): omg this is a MUST, one of the best butter cakes I've had. Will definitely be back the next time I'm in Chicago!

Probably one of my favorite sushi spots in Chicago! The fish was super fresh and the service was…read morereally kind. The sushi itself was honestly really good - like the spicy tuna roll?? So solid!! It was unique but also really savory and packed with umami. Definitely one of the highlights for me. I also tried the mentaiko udon. It was a bit salty for my personal taste, but I can totally see why it's popular. It's one of those dishes that's definitely worth trying at least once, even though I probably wouldn't order it again myself. Overall though, the quality of the fish really stood out. Fresh sushi, good service, and a great spot if you're craving sushi in Chicago.

South loop mediocrity strikes yet again. I was desperate & I deeply regret it. After spending $60 I…read morewas infuriated. One of the rolls was disgusting, the truffle one. No shrimp detected in the shrimp roll. This is exactly why I'd gladly drive an hour to the north side in rush hours. Let me be frank, this is some of the worst sushi I've ever had. Reminiscent of gas station sushi.

By far some of the best sushi I've ever had and the way it just melts in your mouth is absolutely…read moreexquisite. The interior is divine and the service was impeccable. I came here to celebrate my anniversary, and they even gifted us champagne for the occasion. Our server was so attentive, always on top of what we needed, and everything came out right on time. One of my favorite dishes on the menu is the Momo Maki. For nigiri, I absolutely loved the hamachi (yellowtail) and the akami (bluefin tuna). I also tried the Yakitori Don, which is a grilled chicken thigh over rice with a soft poached egg and it was so flavorful. Another must-try is the Tsukune Dango: chicken dumpling mochi rice topped with a soft egg and truffle mustard, it was so delicious! I also had the Mishima skirt steak on skewers and it was tender and cooked perfectly, though the flavor was a bit mild for my taste. Overall, an unforgettable dining experience and I cannot wait to come back!

I was really excited to eat here. I'd heard such incredible reviews, and truly the food was good. I…read morewould say I think it's slightly over hyped a bit but very clearly a spot that's loved since it's ALWAYS busy. The fish was fresh and I did enjoy my bites. I will say for what you get it's pricey and might leave you a little hungry if you're just ordering the sushi/nigiri. But again very good bites. Definitely make a reservation. I will say the server helped me pick gluten free options and asked if I was celiac (they have a GF menu so ask for that). The service was pretty slow, but again it's always packed. For reference I went on a Monday evening alone. It's for sure a vibey place. Great for birthdays or groups that are looking to have a fun night out. It's loud inside with music bumping so not exactly a place to sit and have conversations. Will say wish I could give this 3.5 stars because it wasn't bad just maybe not my vibe.

A great spot to grab a bowl of steaming ramen on a rainy Sunday afternoon in Chicago. Note they…read moreclose sharply @3pm probably for a lunch break for the staff. The Alaskan cod sandwich was served on a bed of cabbage covered in a sweet teriyaki & brown mustard sauce with maybe a squeeze of kewpie sprinkled in between. The Berkshire pork eggrolls had microgreens & shaved radish on top of a crema type of sauce that balanced the heat of the kimchi nicely!! For the main attraction I ordered the spicy garlic ramen that was such a delightful mouth experience it really hit all the taste buds! The noodles were perfectly bouncy with the right amount of chew. The jellied egg was perfect and rounded the soup very well! The red chili threads enhanced the spicy miso broth just enough to slurp all the delicious goodness down! My husband ordered the Sapporo miso soup which had more of a creamy type of broth vs the spicy garlic. The noodles were also thinner than regular ramen & had a bouncy springy texture that just hit the spot! Since it was kinda chilly outside we also ordered hot green tea to accompany our spectacular ramen dishes. This place also offers delicious seasonal cocktails on the menu or hot sake if that's what you are hankering for. Definitely try this ramen joint if you are in the Logan square area your tummy will be so happy that you did!!

Surprsing no one, I love Ramen Wasabi, which is why I keep coming back! Before heading to Wrigley…read moreto see a friend's band play, stopped into RW for dinner, and although the wait was an hour just due to the sheer volume of people who wanted something warm on a very cold and snowy night, the wait was worth it. I always go basic tonkotsu with warm sake, and it always hits. HOWEVER, this time I also did the espresso cheesecake, which is this tiny, little, bite-sized thing, which I loved. Ol' reliable

So pleasantly surprised! Came in on a Friday night for a 6:30 reso and the place was empty BUT it…read morewas packed, seemingly by regulars, by the time we left. Service was a little slow at time but they got slammed very quickly and and we weren't in a rush. What we got: - chuturo nigiri - so buttery - hamachi nigiri - good flavor and cut - chili hotate - love the flavor - negi toro maki - good flavor - unakyu- fine a little on the sweeter side - Amai - not my favorite and I think the tuna had a strong fishy flavor Overall, good meal and pretty reasonable bill. Will definitely be coming back to check out the rest of the menu!

Such a wonderful spot! Fantastic happy hour. Everything was made fresh and tasted delicious…read more Service was super friendly, and they even brought out a free birthday mochi for my friend. We got the karage, three of the skewers , and the spicy salmon and tuna rolls. This place, along with the entrance is a bit hidden, so would love to see them market themselves more as I think it's a spot people would really love, especially for more affordable sushi in the River North area. Quiet and cozy ambiance for casual outings but also cute enough to be a date spot. Got seated immediately. Service was a bit slow, but that's only because they seemed to have one host/server working at the time, who was working super hard and kept a super pleasant and attentive vibe. I will definitely be back!

One of the best Omakase experience I've ever had. I booked last minute during a Chicago business…read moretrip and was able to get a seating for one: I came at my time and had a drink alone at the bar and had an awesome conversation with the bartender Brandon who shared some stories about Japan with me. I was seated at the sushi bar shortly and to my surprise I had the chefs table all to myself! It was very beautifully decorated and clean and got to meet Chef Shoji. I was well taken care of by both the staff and Chef Shoji and he meticulously explained every dish and we chatted about everything from his time in America, Japan, and even shared some of my life stories. All in all the dinner service was about 90 minutes with maybe 12-15 or so dishes? I was absolutely satisfied and more. Definitely a once in a lifetime experience having personalized service!

We didn't eat at the omakase, only the main dining room, but the food just wasn't great. The…read moreservice was amazing and the restaurant itself was very pretty but the food was pretty bland. The wagyu katsu was like an over cooked hamburger patty, the sushi lacked flavor and the nigiri (though the portion was significant) had zero rice and some bones in the fish. I don't know if we came on an off night but this was definitely not the quality or taste of food we would have expected.

Ive been here more times than I can count and its easily one of my favorite sushi spots in the city…read moreI was just there last Friday with a friend and once again everything was perfect from the attentive seamless service to how beautifully each dish was presented Every bite was delicious I also love the modern design of the restaurant and the incredible views of Chicago it really adds to the whole experience The space has an intimate relaxed vibe that keeps me coming back Definitely one of those places I will be visiting again very soon

3 of us back for a marvelous dinner with great views, beautiful decor, great service, and of course…read moregreat food. The quality of the food is very noticeable. We wanted to have some sake and asked for help. Their sommelier was very helpful and recommended the Snow Tiger Yuki Tora which is unfiltered and looks like milk, but it went beautifully with our food. We started with Edamame which had a perfect char. The grilled Avocado was a pleasant surprise with the char flavor and great spicy sauce. You get a spoon to scoop out the avocado and it's sliced so it works with chop sticks. By the way everything is great for sharing which gives everyone a chance to try the wonderful menu. Then we attacked the main menu. The Wagyu Nigiri, the must have Bluefin Tuna Crispy Rice, Crispy Spring Rolls and I drank the juice with the Hamachi and Lemon. Now it's time to figure what's next! spicy Tuna roll, triple tuna roll, the incredible Wild Mushroom sizzling rice bowl and it is sizzling! We're nearing the end! The Unagi and the Black Cod couldn't have been any better. It melted in our mouths. Think we're finished, we saved room for dessert! The Miru-Ishi and Black Sesame Mochi. We're finished! Maria was a great server and was very attentive!