One of the best sushi establishments I've been to! Let me start by saying I recommend making a reservation. They have about 10 tables and were busy the entire time we were there. They are BYOB for alcohol and soft drinks. There is a liquor store right down the street that also sells soft drinks and bubbly water. I recommend trying various negiri and the muscle appetizer. I have no ordered anything I didn't enjoy. Their tuna is fantastic, the fatty tuna is basically butter that melts in your mouth, and the spicy scallops are very flavorful. The last time we were there, we sat at the sushi bar. Not only was it a great experience, I also feel like our food came our much quicker than sitting at the table. Looking forward to my next dining experience. read more

In a city filled with great restaurants, this is truly one of the best!!! It's the only place I'll eat eel.

New location is beautiful and sushi is as excellent as always! Such a great addition to the north end of Clark.

I loved Ora!! What tasty, salivate-worthy food. Front and center is their oyster motoyaki. That was all the umami flavor you could ever want, in a single dish. So good we almost ordered it twice, when I decided against it because I didn't want to spoil the magic of trying it the first time :p I got the nigiri set, which was well flavored and seasoned. The salmon in particular I liked. The style isn't that of some other traditional Japanese restaurants; instead flavors are amped up and I do quite enjoy that as well! Partner ordered nigiri a la carte and particularly enjoyed the uni - it was super fresh and had just come in in the morning. We also got the chirashi roll which was so good! The fish was seasoned well and the rolls were topped with other sauces and toppings that in combination just blew me away with flavor. We found out that it was similar to what's served in the ora-rashi bowl (that's definitely what I'm ordering next time)! Lastly, service was friendly and solicitous, our server was great, and I'm honestly ready to go back tonight to try a couple of different things! read more

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Absolutely stunning food. Delicious and definitely worth a repeat. Service was good, attentive but never annoying. Ambiance was super nice, the place seemed popular so the noise level was a 7/10. read more

Ora - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We were disappointed in the sushi here. There are many better places for sushi in Chicago. The rolls are listed as "10 pieces" on the menu, but that's just because they are sliced so thin. The service was excellent however, and we did appreciate that it is BYOB. But we'll keep looking for a better sushi restaurant in this area. read more

my favorite sushi place in chicago. the rolls and nigiri are consistently creative and well balanced. highly recommend the chef's choice, and to take their advice not to add your own soy sauce as the fish is perfectly seasoned when it comes out. nice atmosphere with good art. read more

Great tasting food as always. Would've been 5 stars if our reservation was honored. Had to wait for a table even with a reservation. Service was slow even with less patrons than usual. Still a great atmosphere and everything on the menu is delicious. Don't let me review prevent you from coming. I think it was the service tonight that put us off a bit. Hope they improve! read more

Ora - Oyster Motoyaki - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We had high expectations for Ora based on all the previous reviews...and for the most part they were def met. Our server was very welcoming and knowledgeable so we took his recommendations and started with the oyster app which was delicious. We then received the special of the day which was lean red tuna nigiri and also ordered some salmon belly nigiri. The salmon belly is to die for but red tuna on the other hand was meh and slightly fishy tasting. Then we received our 2 rolls - the dynamite roll and salmon avocado maki. Let me start by saying I normally love baked / seared big rolls but always do wonder if they're really putting the ingredients they say they are since they're always covered with so much sauce and other toppings. Most people ofcourse put the whole roll in their mouth and wouldn't think twice. I decided to bite into half to see if there was spicy tuna in the middle as noted on the menu. Instead I find imitation crab... We look at the menu and is crab stick an ingredient in the roll? No! We told our server about this and he apologized. We then get our check and he mentions that he comp'd one of the rolls - so I thought that was nice of him! Well he comps the CHEAPEST roll instead of comping the roll that was falsely advertised! So if we come back to this place...let's just say we'll be sticking with the maki rolls where you can't falsify the ingredients... read more

Ora - Oyster App - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Yay they're back and closer to us now. The new space is huge and aesthetically pleasing. They're still doing a soft opening so the menu is limited. The food was delicious as always. One of the highlights was the oyster motoyaki! I'd never had that before but it was really beautifully presented, delicious and creamy. The service was solid and food came out pretty quickly. They're still byob so bring that wine/beer or pickup at the nearby liquor store! read more

Ok, I absolutely loved this place. Went here for dinner before heading to the Chicago magic lounge for a show (it is like a block away). It's a cute cozy place, with not a lot of seating so I would recommend reservations. It got pretty much full by the time we left which was around 715 on a Tuesday evening. The ambience is cute and the wait staff was so friendly and informative. The place is BYOB. The sushi was so good. We got a special, I think it was called masu from the fatty part of the fish- a nigiri not sashimi. It was uh-mazing. They have an appetizer of baked oysters and it was soooo soo soo good. Two come so it's a bit pricey but definitely worth it. The sushi we got was really good. Got a dynamite roll and a snake eye that were both very good but I preferred the dynamite since I like baked rolls and it had a good kick of spice to it. read more

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Now that I'm back on my Chicago stomping grounds after many months away, I needed to get my Ora fix. I came here with a friend yesterday (a Thursday at around 6:30p) and it was super packed. We didn't have to wait, but it's probably safe for you to make a reservation if you plan on coming here. The restaurant itself is pretty small so it fills up quickly! The place is BYOB, and my friend had brought a bottle of wine, which our servers uncorked for us and offered us a wine cooler. My friend and I started with the Beef Tataki appetizer, which I'd had several months ago when I was last at Ora. It was delicious; the thinly-sliced beef were so juicy and flavorful. We then ordered two maki rolls: the Unagi Avocado and Cucumber roll and a Wasabi Tail roll. No matter where I go I know I'll rarely be disappointed by an unagi roll, and this wasn't an exception. I really liked the flavor of this simple tool. The Wasabi Tail roll was a little adventurous, as it had bacon salsa and yellowtail on it, and it was really good! Definitely a unique smoky flavor from other rolls I've tried, and I highly recommend it! The service was overall fantastic and our server was very cordial. I've missed this place! Parking situation: street read more

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Enjoyed a great after work dinner here at ORA. Popped in to check on the wait and was greeted kindly and told there was only a 10 min wait. Not a problem, totally forgot it was BYOB so was able to pop over and grab a bottle of wine at the corner store. Came back and was pleasantly surprised the seats were ready. We were sat at the sushi bar, which I highly recommend if available. Note, there is no appetizers on the menu other than a few small sides. My boyfriend and I shared 3 rolls - spicy tuna, nooky, and the dynamite. All were DELICIOUS. I'm a plain Jane type of gal when it comes to sushi and the spicy tuna was my favorite!! I haven't had a roll that tasted so fresh like that in so long. I will definitely be back and probably ordering take out. The ambiance of this place is casual, easy going and an averagely loud sound. I will recommend this place for sure! read more

Ora - Sushi bar! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Simply the best, freshest most delicious sushi in Chicago or anywhere. My kids who live in Brooklyn head straight from O'Hare to Ora. We dream about Ora. read more

The menus that are available online are not accurate. They do not have vegetarian options. I couldn't eat here and wanted to let others know. I'm still giving Ora 5 stars because I don't want to impact their reputation. I just thought other vegetarians and vegans would want to know. read more

BYOB with no corkage fee!! My friend took me to Ora for dinner on a Thursday night, and I LOVED it! We were seated right away at a table near the door. The place filled up quickly, and there were people waiting at the door making a "human wall" between our table and our waitress. I had to make some vivacious hand gestures to get her attention. We ordered three food items. I think 3-4 items for two people is a good starting point, then you can order more if you'd like. Beef tataki: My favorite of the night!! So tender, so juicy, so flavorful, so good. It was a perfect, light appetizer. Unagi avocado cucumber roll: This was one of their "basic" rolls, but the flavors were anything but basic. You can't go wrong with an unagi roll. Wasabi tail roll: This was so good. Highly recommend if you like yellowtail. The waitress told us that the chef recommends no soy with this roll, and I could see why. It tasted light and refreshing, and it went perfectly with the Chardonnay we brought. read more

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Even during a pandemic, Ora continues to execute quality sushi. Their basic nigiri presentation is wonderful, with the rice cooked correctly and vinegared to complement the fish. The fish droops over the optimal amount of rice. The twists on traditional sushi work so well with the fish, not overwhelming or attempting to hide the flavor. Orders to try: mebachi big fin, benitoro, hamachi toro, medai, shiro maguro, seven spice escolar, botan ebi, hotate. Hopefully we can all soon see our favorite wait staff. Support this local business. The execution is much better than many of the overpriced places in River North. read more

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Several friends and I decided to visit Ora for dinner on a Saturday night. We made reservations pretty last minute and they were nice enough to accommodate our group of 6 at 6 pm, provided we leave by 8 as another large party was arriving. This was totally done by us, but I am not sure that point was communicated to our server because he brought our last course out at 8. We didn't end up leaving until 815, so we felt bad for the table after us. Other than feeling slightly guilty, our overall experience was good. The sushi was pretty decent overall. The wasabi roll had a nice freshness to it and I would recommend this. The scallop volcano was a heartier roll, but good nonetheless. The Nooky was ok, as the garlic chips overwhelmed the rest of the roll. Also worth an order were the Scottish Salmon and 7 spiced escolar nigiri (one piece/order). The show stealer was the baked oysters. The buttery garlic goodness rendered us silent because of how tasty they were! This place is definitely one of the better sushi joints on the Northside! read more

Ora - Baked oyster appetizer! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Came here for the first time and got blessed with the best waiter, Jason(JP). Ambiance was moody and such a great place for a date night, also, who can complain about BYOB. We knew what we wanted but JP knew what we needed, his recommendations were 11/10. The sushi was absolutely phenomenal, I mean just look at it! read more

Ora - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I live in the neighborhood so we'd walk here when the sushi craving hit. Enjoyed their nigiri every time. One time, they had uni, and it was amazing, had to get another. Makis are a pass for me; they were okay, none were worth reordering. Nigiris are their strong point. One "meh" experience though was on our third visit. I bit into a metal strand in my salad, looked like it came from a metal pan scrubber. When we brought it to the attention of our server, she asked if I wanted a new salad.. I feel like the level of customer service didn't match the price point of Ora. Wasn't impressed by the service. Afterwards, we had their amazing uni, one of the best I've tried in Chicago, ordered another, still great. And while I think back on the uni from that dinner, we end up going to other places for uni and sushi cravings, more further and less convenient, but with better service and providing a happier dining experience (Juno, Kai Zan). read more

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Stunned by the poor reviews... Finally made it over since their renovations and it's very cute inside. Fabulous wood finishes, stools, art, etc. Without naming, there are plenty of sushi options in the area...and this is the best! The staff was over the top attentive and friendly. Chef made a point to speak to customers. Everything was just fantastic! This will be a weekly visit! read more

I let our server know that I have a gluten allergy. I had eaten here previously and they were able to accommodate very easily and was told only 3 items on the menu they cannot accommodate. So I was coming back for sure. This time my server told me it's impossible to accommodate, that there are 12 items on the menu gluten-free and the chef would not accommodate me at all. That they don't make substitutions. 2 completely different experiences. I was so looking forward to the amazing sushi that I previously had. When I told the server that we're not going to stay, he said, "that's great, bye" read more

Over the years, Ora has become a soft spot in my foodie heart slowly, but surely. First time we went, we weren't just sure if this place was the place- too crowded, small, and bring your own beverage. However, this place allowed us to make intimate memories and we always end up craving Ora if we had not been there for some time - must be withdrawal!. We always get their oyster appetizer, which is buttery soft and has amazing texture and flavor. We love their scallop maki, beef maki, and basically all of their nigiris, but especially their white fish nigiris. All their makis are flavorful and creative, with refreshing combination of texture and consistency. They really leave me craving for more. I would come here again and again in a heartbeat. read more

Best sushi in Chicago hands down! The restaurant is extremely cozy and clean. Truly, everyone here is so friendly and caring! You all rock!! read more

This place is delightful. It's a small, intimate spot in andersonville with street parking. It's very unassuming which may make it less intimidating for the sushi novice or those of us who aren't particularly fond of stuffy restaurants. I was there for a party and we had reservations. If you're going in a group, I definitely suggest reservations. Now the food...it was fantastic. This is the best meal I've had since my Indonesian dinner in Amsterdam three weeks ago! We started with the oysters and seaweed salad. I ordered the beef tataki but was bummed to find out they were out of it. I couldn't be too upset considering it was 30 minutes til closing at a restaurant that prides itself on freshness. The seaweed salad was interesting but the star of the appetizers were the oysters. Let me tell you, they were phenomenal. My mouth is watering just thinking about them and that is saying a lot because I do NOT like oysters. I've had them fried, baked, raw, broiled, sauteed, etc and have never liked them. But that delightfulness they served me in those little bowls were like no other. Sweet, savory, tender, complex and salty, with a little crunch. Mmmmmm We also ordered the scallop vulcano, spicy tuna, dynamite, albacore tataki, and a few others. I didn't taste the spicy tuna because I'm not a big fan of spicy food but everything else was fresh, flavorful, and filling! I was completely satisfied after about three pieces but continued to stuff my face. The only critique I have is the bathroom leaves a lot to be desired. However, the food was so good and the service attentive, that I have overlooked the bathroom and give Ora five stars (not something I do often). I am excited about returning! read more

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Literally freshest sushi I've found on the north side from Foster to Devon! Definitely on the pricier side, so I typically order on special occasions. Even then, it's so fresh and the nigiri especially is such a delicious way to actually taste the yumminess of the different kinds of fish! Would highly recommend any of the rolls with scallop and the fatty salmon nigiri!!!!! Also Re COVID practices, I've both ordered and picked up in-person and they were good about taking one customer at a time when exchanging food and checks. read more

The best sushi I've ever had. The quality, freshness and atmosphere was well worth the price. The server was super friendly and knowledgeable, and the chefs were kind and clearly worked hard to deliver an excellent experience. I recommend making reservations ahead. Thanks to the crew and chef Dalbert for an amazing dinner!!!!! read more

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A friend took me here saying that it was thejr favorite sushi spot in the city, so lets just say that I had high expectations coming in. Food: GET.THE.OYSTER.APP. even if you're like me and don't even like oysters all that much. Every bite was mouthwateringly good. We also got the Snake Eye, Dynamite, and Albacore Tataki makis. All in all, the maki was very yummy but not mindblowing. My fav was the Snake Eye. If I came back I would probably stick to their sashimi or omakase to really enjoy the freshness of the food. Drink: BYOB with no fuss which is fantastic. Service: This is where they lose a star. We went at 8 on a Monday night so no wait and it wasnt too busy. The server was pretty available, I just dont know why but it takes an awkwardly long time for them to make the food. Even with alcohol it was a very noticeable amount of time before our apps were out. Hopefully they can work on this cuz I can only imagine it gets worse when it's busier read more

Ora - So good! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I dropped by here for quick takeout. The door was locked and they took five mins or so to come to the door to give me my order. The food itself was good. I got the dynamite, the scallop volcano, salmon avocado roll and salmon sashimi. I also ordered a size of beef tataki and edamame. It all tasted great but all the sushi was crammed into one container with the wasabi and ginger. Overall I'd come back if I reaaaaally wanted to eat sushi but I'd definitely be looking into other places around me. read more

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We had dinner last night at Ora on Clark, having picked the restaurant with no idea what to expect. It was terrific. The sushi and sashimi were very fresh, the Nigiri were imaginative, as were the rolls. For an appetizer we had the Oyster Motoyaki, which was special. I had not previously tasted anything like it. In addition, the staff were excellent, well informed and very friendly. We will be back. read more

Big fan of this place. Very good prices for quality sushi in the city. Only started ordering from here the past few months but it's probably become my favorite spot for sushi in the city. Really nice botan ebi, fresh cuts of nigiri/sashimi, and the spicy tuna roll is actually spicy. Generous portions of fish in each maki roll. It's rare to find a spot where every item is equally delightful but I think it's true in the case of Ora. Their covid-19 protocols seem solid (no dine in, locked front door and you need to call them for them to bring out your order) and they've always had my order ready on time. read more

The best sushi I've had in so long! And the vibe is cozy and romantic, with low lights and lots of wood and moss paintings. So lovely and considered. And the service was quick and friendly. Incredible prices too. Will absolutely be a staple for us! Very underrated place!!! read more

The roomies and I came here for dinner a couple of weeks ago. We ordered the mixed sashimi and nigiri platter as well as a bunch of other rolls and dishes. Overall, the food was good but it all started to meld together after a while. The quality of the sashimi was good and I particularly liked the white fish. The simpler rolls were delicious as well and didn't seem like an afterthought. After tasting practically all of the rolls, I didn't have anything that would want me coming back for more. If I lived in the area, it would probably be my neighborhood sushi spot but there are plenty of other places for sushi I'd visit first first. read more

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The Dynamite Roll was amazing, along with the other signature rolls. BYOB is a plus as well.

Best sushi in Chicago. So delicious and so pretty to look at. I love this place! Chef Dalbert will make everything so good. You will enjoy every bites on everything they serve. Its best service with best tasting sushi in Chicago. read more

Saves the day with excellent delivery during quarantine! I miss the restaurant and hope to be back soon bc it's really cute and the service is awesome, but in the meantime I am especially grateful for their delivery! The quality of their fish is great, the staff are awesome and helpful, I've literally never eaten anything here that wasn't amazing, this is the best sushi spot I've found in Chicago. Equal to or better than a lot of places I've gone while actually in Japan. read more

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Ora is one of our go to places in the neighborhood. Anytime we have sushi loving friends visit, we always take them to Ora and everyone loves it. We normally order the chef's selection and are never disappointed. In normal times, I'd recommend calling ahead to make a reservation as they do get busy. Also, it's BYOB! read more

Came by after work for an easy dinner, and was not disappointed. When we walked in, there was a short wait, so we grabbed some wine near by. By the time we came back, there were two seats at the sushi bar waiting for us. We ordered the beef tataki and a few of the signature rolls and a couple more traditional ones. We were amazed at how perfectly executed every single piece of food was. Even something as simple as a spicy tuna roll was mind-blowing. The staff were all so kind and helpful explaining all of the different offerings. It's super comforting knowing that these guys aren't slinging sea urchin and trout belly without knowing anything about it. We had four rolls and an app, and left feeling full. It all came in fairly inexpensive for the quality of the food. I'd recommend grabbing a bottle of white wine, and stopping by as soon as you can! read more

Amazingly fresh nigiri, unique and yummy sushi rolls and equally delicious plates. This place is byob and is perfect for a date night or just hanging out with friends. The place is always packed, weeknights or weekends doesn't matter, so better make a reservation ahead. I think this is my favorite sushi place in town. Really sweet staff and very friendly service, so glad it's close to our place, we can easily get our sushi fix. read more

Ora - Scallop volcano - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Great sushi. Nice ambience. Please note the new number is (708) 769-8956. They notified Yelp but it is not updated yet.