Roka Akor - Chicago
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Some stand outs and some misses! Honestly, kind of random spot in river north that I literally never noticed. The service is excellent and truly so kind. The interior is a bit stark and feels kind of like a hotel lobby in a way and pretty outdated. They have a grilled kitchen and a sushi kitchen. I would highly recommend getting things from the grill kitchen side because those items were clearly the best. We tried the chicken skewers, the crispy spicy tuna rice, The crispy pork belly, some Nigiri, a sushi roll and the Matcha cheesecake! The pork belly and the crispy spicy tuna rice were the clear winners of the night. The lychee martini was also excellent- probably one of the best ones I've had and I loved the cheesecake! Good place for some nice Japanese food, just outdated. I'd skip the sushi tho because I've had better for way cheaper.
I've been here for their happy hour twice within a month and will definitely be coming back. The happy hour deals are definitely a steal as they have a nice variety of dishes and cocktails for a great price! My favorite cocktail is the lychee martini, it's refreshing, not too strong, and not too sweet. I ordered the pork belly both times. The second time I went it was quite fatty, however, the first time it was very meaty. So it's not very consistent but still delicious. The sashimi was AMAZING it almost melted in your mouth and had a buttery taste . Wished we had ordered more. Honestly, you can't go wrong with any food items. Our servers both times have been wonderful.
We had a great time trying this restaurant for Restaurant Week. We made a reservation for 9pm, they were running behind when we got there so it took us about 15 minutes to be seated. We ordered off their Restaurant Week menu. To our surprise, when you choose the menu you actually get to sample all 3 of the dishes in the first course. That was a great way of getting to try some of the dishes they offer. I really like the Wagyu and kimchi dumplings, they had a little kick to them. I ordered black cod for my entree. The miso sauce was very flavorful and I loved how the fish was cooked. Lastly the chocolate cake for dessert was like a molten lava cake. Very very good. The waiters were SO friendly! And check in on you quite often. The restaurant was romantic but also a great place for a girls night. There is valet parking. It's $16 for the first 3 hours and $22 for anything after that. I recommend getting a reservation if you want to visit on the weekend.
9.2/10 A restaurant ask must! We were very excited to check this place out for restaurant week. Big tip snag a reservation early as it gets quite busy. I will say the only small feedback is to optimize reservations so that tables are ready on time as our was ~10 mins behind schedule (not a huge deal). I will say our server and the GM checking on us was a great touch on their excellent service through as course came out one after the other. I love that their restaurant week menu lets you try all three of the starters as they are all amazing my favorite might be between the yellowtail and the waygu dumplings that had a nice kick of kimchi spice. I will say the prime filet was so great with the aroma of truffle butter to top it off. Finally, the warm chocolate cake was so rich with ice cream and nuts it was the perfect way to finish off a great meal. I also enjoyed their NA raspberry mule to pair with the meal. Check them out as they are worth a try!
Roka Akor is probably one of the best happy hours in the city. They have a full food menu, tons of seating, and on Mondays it's all day happy hour. The waiters are super friendly and everything comes out quickly even when it's busy. I will keep coming back here!
Roka Akor has consistently been one of my fav Japanese restaurants in the city. The ambiance is chic, classy and overall has a good vibe serving a perfect setting for dinners. On my recent visit, my friend and family enjoyed dinner with crispy fried eggplant, spicy tofu, veggie tempura sushi, and crispy cauliflower tempura. We enjoyed each and every dish a lot! We also ordered the japanese mushroom pot rice which honestly is my fav dish at the restaurant and I end up going back for it! My dad, friend and I also ordered a carafe of floral sake to accompany with the meal. The only reason I am deducting one star is because of the service being a bit slow. We had to wait for quite some time to get our drinks served and the server wasn't always available increasing the wait times. Do give this place a try if you like asian cuisine and are in the river north area!
At these rates?! If I am paying all-around premium prices, I would hope to receive an all-around premium experience. It pains me to say this wasn't it, though there were some highlights! I ordered the Hi No Onna to drink. This was a perfect blend of earthy, tart, sweet, and acidic notes. Even though I am someone who typically doesn't like hibiscus (I find it too tart), in this cocktail it worked absolute wonders. It added a wonderful level of acidity that worked well with rather than fight the lime. The mezcal was quality stuff, too, smooth and adding a lovely booziness. Finally, points for the spiced salt on the exterior. I am not 100% sure what it is, but it added flavor without being straight sodium! I also greatly enjoyed the Flame Seared Salmon Nigiri. This is a case where something is executed such that it needs no additions (neither wasabi nor soy sauce). The fish was quality and seared to perfection. Meanwhile, the Yuzu Shallot topping added a new kind of dimension I haven't seen much in sushi/nigiri. While $14 for what is essentially two pieces of seared salmon is too high, in my opinion, this is also something I would order again. Life is like that sometimes, plus I am a sucker for properly seared fish. Where it comes to the Hamachi Serrano Chili Roll, this one missed the mark. I hate to say it, but this felt more like something one might get at a nice grocery store than a restaurant with "$$$$" attached to its name. It's not that it was bad, but that other than the wasabi aioli it was uninspired. The fish, rice, and veggies were all okay, the serrano slice added a little heat, and the aioli a few light savory wasabi notes. Again, if this were a 'classic' like salmon/avocado/cucumber, I wouldn't be complaining. However, something which is purported as both a "signature" roll *and* "signature" dish, it fell short of any and all expectations. Something that also fell short of expectations was the service. While I liked that the food came out quickly, and our water glasses were kept full, I found the service was otherwise inattentive. There was no check-in with us on how we were liking our items, nor did the server come by when we were done to offer us dessert or the bill; rather, we had to call them over. Finally, I want to award some points for the modern and sophisticated vibe. Now, while I can't fault them for being loud due to the many simultaneous conversations, I feel as though the music was just a smidge too loud and punchy for a place of this caliber. I tend to categorize sushi places that I patronize regularly in two categories. The first is one that makes simpler items for lower prices. Something you could call "everyman's sushi," like the aforementioned, tried-and-tested classic of salmon avo-cu. The second category is one that makes premium, interesting, inspired, heavenly rolls. They cost more, but you get your money's worth. As I experienced with Omakase recently, there is more art that goes into such pieces. Based on this experience, other than the nigiri, Roka Akor makes everyman sushi at art prices. The last thing I want is to feel ripped off when the bill arrives, and this was the case here. As such, I do not feel as though a return visit is in the future for me.
10/10 I'll def be back. I'm a creature of habit and typically stick to some of my favorites when it comes to Sushi but my boyfriend insisted we try somewhere new. Roka Akor did not disappoint! David was our waiter and he was amazing. He gave us some suggestions after we shared with him that half of the table (me included) didn't favor raw sushi. We ordered the wagyu and kimchi dumplings, edamame, the seared salmon roll, scallop roll, lobster roll, crispy prawn roll, wagyu roll, and a California roll. Everything was delicious! The lobster roll was my favorite. But all the others tied for second. The California roll was super light in the best way. It wasn't dowsed in mayo. And of course with got it without the roe. For drinks us ladies ordered a lychee martini. Also great! Very fresh. The ambiance makes this for a perfect date night spot or cool place to come with friends!
This is currently one of my top happy hour finds for our summer in Chicago. It is also the most expensive, due to the variety and quality of their wine selection and dinner options. Actually to be fair, if you stick to the happy hour food and drink selection, other guests could walk away with reasonable prices for very good food, drink, and service. The outdoor patio as well as the bar area was very inviting and comfortable. The happy hour menu is actually quite extensive with most of the food at $10 or less. They have varied alcohol on the happy hour menu, sake, shots, beer, wine, and cocktails. Unlike some other happy hour places we have visited this summer, the portion on the happy hour menu is not smaller than what they offer on the regular menu. So the prices on the happy hour menu are real deals and my rating reflected that I appreciated that. We ordered a Hamachi Serrano roll, assorted sashimi taco, prime beef skewer, Robata grilled pork belly, Saki Steamed mussels, escolar tataki and wagyu & kimchi dumpling. All were very good. My favorite of the night was the Robata grilled pork belly, which was excellent. My husband loved both the pork belly and the assorted sashimi taco. The escolar tataki was our least favorite since the fish didn't have the Lucious mouth feel as others I have eaten in other restaurants. Although we already ordered ALOT of appetizers, we loved the Robata grilled pork belly appetizer so much we wanted to try the Robata grilled prime filet. It was slightly charred on the outside and the inside was melt in your mouth soft filet. It was so tasty that I even forgot to take a picture. . This was my husband's favorite of the night. The grilled prime filet went very well with my second glass of red wine. Jordon Cabernet is one of my favorite red wines but cost $29 per glass. This is the reason that our bill was high compared to other restaurants. I could have kept our happy hour bill more reasonable if I had ordered any of the drink selections on happy hour menu. Even with all the appetizers and dinner, we had to try dessert here. The server suggested to try the Ube pot de crème, since it's using an ingredient that is not used a lot in other restaurants. The dessert had the purple coloring of the fruit, and was very creamy. Great choice to end a very good night. The server was very attentive and provided great recommendations. He did not rush us throughout our meal even though we have been there for quite awhile enjoying the food, and the ambiance of the outdoor patio.
Really beautiful upscale ambiance and a decent sized bar. Came with a friend and we both had the spicy house margaritas and sushi, one was a scallops the other crab with tuna. Bartender was courteous and greeted us promptly, food came out pretty quickly and there was plenty of seating. Only negative is the host seemed really clueless and not very welcoming. Please employ friendly front of house staff for such a nice establishment.
All day happy hour on Monday including food, yes please! Came here asking for a table for 1 since I missed my team dinner after a late flight arrival (and being stuck on the tarmac for 1.5 hours T_T) and best believe I maximized my dinner - Treat Yo'Self! But also, I was staying down the street from Roka Akor and the reviews looked solid, especially since Chicago's known for amazing eats (probably better than SF imo, there I said it!!!) I ordered the Modern Nigiri Selection (7 pieces) and the fish tasted very fresh. Honestly, I'm always down for omakase, but I'm terrible at remembering any of the names for the types of fish and cannot be bothered to write them down unless they're explicitly named on the menu. The seared salmon nigiri was also very good, and you can't go wrong with the shishito peppers or crispy eggplant. Service was quick and attentive, I do wish the lighting inside was a bit brighter for dinner (note the dark photos).
We went there for their all day Monday happy hour. If you do go for that, just make sure you tell the host before they seat you because otherwise they will move you to the bar. The happy hour items are well priced. I enjoyed my white wine (which I think was a riesling). The tuna roll was utterly forgettable and tasted just slightly better than grocery store sushi. The chicken teriyaki was underseasoned. However, the escolar tataki was really unique and excellent. The wagyu dumplings were solid as well. May come again for happy hour but still undecided about a full meal.
4 years ago
We started off the meal with grilled pork belly and fresh Tataki served with the shaved truffle and daikon Next, we had a rich, creamy mushroom rice alongside the best lamb dish we ever had. The Korean spiced lamb cutlets singlehandedly changed Mo's view on lamb We closed off the meal with A5-10+ Takamori that quite literally melted in our mouths read more
5 years ago
Came here with my girlfriend and two friends for a double date during their restaurant week dinner, and we were all completely blown away. The ambiance and service were great, and the dishes and cocktails were all deliciously and beautifully put together. For restaurant week, we all got the 3-course dinner ($55) with their cocktail pairing ($25 for 3 cocktails, one for each course!) which was beyond an amazing deal. For restaurant week, each customer gets a portion of each of their 3 tasty appetizers: - Wagyu beef and kimchi dumplings: juicy, packed full of beefy flavor with a little bit of heat form the kimchi, so good it doesn't even need sauce - Hamachi serrano chili roll: fresh and tasty with a nice but not overpowering kick from the chili and sauce - Escolar tataki: fresh, delicate, with an addicting yuzu shallot sauce Entrees: - Wagyu sirloin with truffle sauce: juicy, well seasoned and so meaty but tender with an addicting truffle infused sauce - Korean spiced lamb chops: grilled perfectly, savory, spicy, and sweet with a delicious spicy korean dipping sauce - Yuzu miso black cod: slightly caramelized, flaky tender fish with a refreshing dip and pickled onions for some acid to cut through the seafood and sauce - Grilled corn: shoutout to this amazing corn slathered in their spicy, savory, creamy butter; came with every restaurant week entree, super addicting Diesserts: - Ube pot de creme: rich and creamy but super light and refreshing, the wafer/crisp adds a nice crunch - Warm chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream: as good as it looks ands ounds, not much to say here Cocktails: - First one (forgot the name): lemon and sparking water based, it was light and paired perfectly with the appetizers - Blood orange margarita: sweet, citrusy, refreshing, and held up to the strong flavors of the meat - Roka fashioned (basically an old fashioned): packed a punch, glad they saved it for last! Overall, we were impressed with everything we tasted here, not a single dish was disappointing or went unfinished. The restaurant week was an amazing deal for $55 (considering the entrees already run at ~$30-40 or up), and thei rmenu is definitely more fun than some classic, old school boring steakhouse. read more
2 years ago
Super pretty inside. Good service. Food didn't wow me but it was good. Of visiting Chicago again I probably would try something different read more
It was my first time coming to Roka Akor. I had heard amazing things about the ambiance, food and diversity in the way the cooking was done. All of these things were beyond my expectations. From the moment you walk in, it feels like a luxurious fine dining. You walk past the grill and ambient lighting to find seating that pairs well with the mood in the room. We started with an edamame and vegetable tempura appetizer. The edamame was firm and warm with speckles of sea salt, very tasty. The lightly battered tofu paired well with the avocado and wasabi spread and I highly recommend it. The veggie tempura is a unique taste. Next was the Hamachi Serrano Chili sushi, a favorite. It was very smooth and rich in taste, paired perfectly with the spicy mayo. The main entree was the skirt steak, ordered medium and the meat was juicy and tender at the same time. It came with a pairing of soy glaze and was melting in our mouths. Very good! Last was the pairing of a latte and the chocolate molten cake. This was epic for two reasons. It came with a dusting of roasted hazelnuts and the mini crunchy chocolate balls as very rich in taste and color. There is so much precision that goes into every dish here and I highly recommend this place to anyone for an experience. To add, the customer service was extraordinary. I will be back very soon. read more
2 years ago
Had been here for a team dinner with colleagues. Enjoyed their vegetarian options! The waitress came across a bit rude in how she talked to us. Ignored easily as we enjoyed the food, company and the ambiance. I would be upset if I was visiting with family for a special occasion. read more
3 years ago
Strawberry mule- 3.5/5 (sweet & tangy, not bad) Vegetable maki- 2/5 (super average ) Crispy prawns -3/5 (bland, but not bad) Brussel sprouts -3.5/5 (decent) The food was very average, not sure what the hype is about. read more
OMG you guys! Roka Akor totally nailed this pandemic Covid thing. We didn't want to miss our annual anniversary dinner night, so we got Roka to go. That's right - we took home Japanese A5 wagyu in little boxes through curbside pickup, and ate it on our own dining table. They even have dinner packages that you can buy - you can choose from Steak, Seafood or Wagyu. How amazing is that?!? Thank you to the wonder people at Roka for helping us through these strange 2020 times. Without further ado... Steak Package includes Heirloom Tomato Salad, Wagyu Beef and Kimchi Dumplings, Spicy Tuna Maki, 6 oz NY Strip Steak with Truffle Aioli, and Fingerling Potatoes. At the time of this review, it costs $35/person. *** The Steak Package was a bargain for all the food you get. Everything was delicious, individually packaged, and fresh. The truffle aioli is EVERYTHING! I dipped anything I could in it. So so good. The manager allowed us to sub the wagyu kimchi dumplings for chicken skewers (we are not kimchi fans), which we are very appreciative. Wagyu Package includes Wagyu Beef and Kimchi Dumplings, 4 oz Japanese A5 Takamori Drunken Wagyu, Brussels Sprouts, and Fingerling Potatoes. At the time of this review, the price is $99/person. *** Again, the Wagyu package, although expensive, was a downright bargain for what you get. The steak alone would have been almost double the price!! The meat was melt in your mouth buttery smooth and we loved that it came with all the dipping sauces and salts. The smoked salt was my favorite! We also ordered the Yellowtail Sashimi, Toro Tartare, and Escolar Tataki appetizers. Each one was AMAZING. The only thing we didn't think traveled well for carryout was the Japanese Mushroom Rice Hot Pot with Fresh Shaved Truffles. The truffles and garnish were all wilted and steamed in the box. It would have been better if they separated the truffles and garnish in a separate container for you to put on top yourself. And of course, we got an Ube Pot to go. These purply puddings are soooo delicious! I could buy a vat of this and just eat it all day. Great job on everything Roka Akor!! Appreciate your efforts in keeping us safe! We did not try the Seafood Package. read more
Classy and vibrant atmosphere where our group enjoyed their signature Omakase complemented by Blue River sake. Service by Gary and others was outstanding throughout dinner and we never felt rushed. The Omakase opened with a whitefish sushi dishes in a soy-based sauce followed by an upscale snow crab roll topped with fresh scallop. It was followed by a burrata with sesame bread and a beautiful sashimi platter with pristine hamachi, tuna, salmon and black sea bass. The yuzu miso-marinated cod combined with the sauce and picked onions was amazing and only topped by the snake River wagyu beef combined with roasted bone marrow, truffle aioli and creamy mushroom rice. The meal ended with a variety of desserts and fresh fruit, which was a refreshing way to close out a terrific meal! read more
SO good!! Get the omakase experience. You will not walk out still feeling hungry. It was such great value - my partner and I were so full, we had to take some leftovers home! So come hungry. This is a great place to celebrate a special occasion, as the staff makes an effort to make you feel appreciated. Everything was so fresh and delicious. Portions were great and the food kept coming. Drinks were good - very strong lol. Definitely would come back. It's so worth it! read more
4 years ago
3 years ago
It was an experience... a great one! We did the Signature Omakase and it was awesome. So many delicious things to try... we left so full! Each dish was gorgeous. I wish I could recall our servers name. She was wonderful. The whole staff worked as a well-piled machine for great service. Very trendy and fun atmosphere. Would definitely recommend! read more
2 years ago
got the restaurant week menu. great service and overall experience. I was a bit disappointed in the tuna roll and dumplings, they were really yummy but just didn't think they particularly stood out. The sashimi taco was really good and fresh and we really enjoyed both the entrees we got. Would definitely recommend and go back again for any special occasions! read more
Business owner information
Mirnes M.
Annie,…
I cannot say enough good things about my first experience at Roka Akor. We had Yura as our server and she was AMAZING. The food was flavorful, Yura recommended what would pair well with our meal and little tricks as far as what garnishes would be best with our fish! Roka Akor is for sure an experience especially with Yura! The vibe was fun and moody, the food was excellent, and I obviously can't say enough about the service. I would highly recommend for an elevated night. read more
Get a reservation here immediately this is not a drill. We got the decadent omakase for 145 per person, which came with about 9 dishes total. In hindsight, maybe the signature omakase is the way to go if you're not as hungry(?) not sure if it correlates with number of dishes or the types of ingredients used. TLDR it's a lot of food. So maybe fast for 24 hours prior. Because it is so worth it. The tartare came with a little basket of taro crisps, the yellowtail and beef tataki were so complex in flavor profiles with the shallot and truffle, respectively, not being too overpowering. Next was the sashimi selection and actually the yellowtail was my favorite! I'm usually a salmon gal. I think the lobster tempura was okay. Exciting to see but at this point I was getting a bit full so I don't think I had too much of it. The steak was obviously cooked perfectly and the bone marrow was underwhelming. Sea bass phenomenal and cooked so well- probably one of my favorite bites all night. BUT ... They had saved the best for last. This mushroom pot (I wish I took a picture of it before they mixed it for us) was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. It came in this Japanese pot and had so many different varieties and so aromatic. The rice was almost a risotto consistency and I honestly wish I had this towards the beginning so I could actually eat all of it. It had pieces of tofu and green beans and I cannot describe how good this dish was. Hence my grasping at words here as I write about it for a whole paragraph. The dessert was on a large stone bowl which I honestly want to take home with me. The ube creme brûlée was sublime. So smooth and silky and so rich in ube flavor and obviously the color! You can't see it in the photo but it's that perfect purple ube color. The ice cream and sorbet were underwhelming. I actually liked the vanilla one next to the lava cake the most. TLDR. MUSHROOMS. UBE. Must come back! read more
3 years ago
Great food, great service, lavatory super clean, great quality for the price. Outdoor seating was a bit too dark, needs more lighting, specially for the level of restaurant that this is. Overall I highly recommend it. Great atmosphere. read more
4 years ago
We visited Roka for the first time but unfortunately it was slightly disappointing. We tried several popular items, most were ordinary, some were overpriced, and It was especially pity that the wagyu sirloin was less impressive than normal beef cuts from the store. The wagyu was tough and the pairing mushroom was too salty. The bill came with a mysterious 2% processing fee. And table of 5 were "requested" to give 20% gratitude, even though the waiters were hardly around because they were looking over too many tables at once. Sadly this was not the place for us. It is not difficult to find many more restaurants in Chicago with more impressive food with the same price but better service. read more
The dining experience overall was fabulous! Before being seated at our table and while waiting for our entire party to arrive, a couple of us enjoyed extra cocktails and apps at the bar with ease. Once seated at our table, we ordered family style so we could try as many things on the menu as possible. You must try, in my opinion, the Wagyu Beef and Kimchi Dumplings + Grilled Pork Belly for the table! Gary, our server, was top-notch and had amazing recommendations for us to try. He was very knowledgeable about the menu! read more
4 years ago
Yummy sushi place, definitely get the lobster!! It will melt in your mouth. Great ambiance with indoor and outdoor seating. Seems to be a hot spot for groups to meet. They do a great job of seating folks. Wonderful service and attentive to refills too on drinks. read more
4 years ago
Roka Akor was a great experience our waiter Gary was amazing as well and very kind. My water was never below half full at this place. Food was absolutely amazing, probably some of the best sushi I've had in the city. The dumplings are a must try dish. Though the yellow tail sashimi was probably the most notable thing I had that day. The chocolate cake was the best way to top it off. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was because They charged me twice over which was a slight inconvenience that i haven't experienced at a restaurant before but i will definitely be back. read more
5 years ago
On a recommendation from a good friend, my son and I made reservations for Roma during our most recent visit to Chicago. Fortunately they were able to accommodate us and we had a great table by the window across from the kitchen. The restaurant is super trendy and packed with a cool mix of people. Our server had great energy and we were overall pleased with the environment and atmosphere. We started off with the wagyu and kimchi dumplings, followed by the dynamite scallop roll, followed by the wagyu filet mignon and asparagus. The food was exceptional especially the dynamite scallop roll. Our server let my beer go dry and fortunately a young lady who was working the room (not sure what her role was) brought me another. It was also a little odd that the appetizers came out before the beer. Maybe our server was busy as the place was packed. Nevertheless I teetered between four and five stars because of the service issue but went with five stars because of the quality of the food and the atmosphere. Definitely a place to check out if you're in Chi-town read more
Stopped in after work and was seated at a high top and ordered an old fashioned. The drink was good. Ordered the crispy squid and loved it! They aren't kidding when they say crispy! Has a nice lingering heat that I love. Not spicy, but it lets you know it's there. For dinner I ordered my favorite, skirt steak, and paired it with brussels. The meat was cooked perfectly but lacked flavor. Like they forgot to salt it. There was a dipping sauce with it, which I had to use to get past the blandness. The brussels were ok. Not the best I've had and definitely not the worst. I'll try Roka again and make sure the season the meat prior to cooking. read more
A beautiful, high-end restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating inside of the River North DORA. While the prices are higher here, you definitely get what you pay for with no light pours or filler foods. PROS: -Food was absolutely delicious. The portion sizes are small for the prices, but the food itself is really well-made and very perfectly cooked and spiced. -The drinks were delicious as well. I highly, highly recommend the Tiki drink if you're looking for something fruity. Not only does it taste like fruit punch, but it also is served in the most unexpected glass for this restaurant. It was a very fun experience. All of the cocktails are beautifully garnished as well. They just look pretty. All of the drinks are very heavily poured too; you're getting a lot of liquor. -Interior is beautiful too. It gets a bit cramped and hard to navigate when the place is packed (I'd have a hard time seeing where anyone wheelchair bound could easily make it to the bathrooms without needing a ton of people to move their chairs). But the interior is beautiful and the bathrooms are as well. -Our server was really fantastic and very knowledgeable about what was on the menu. When we had a food snafu, he was extremely apologetic, got us another version of the food, and brought out a complimentary dessert to apologize. A+ service here. Very professional and formal but still very friendly. -Waigu beef dumpsters were heavy on the waigu and light on the kimchi - which was perfect for him. -The outdoor seating has heat lamps! Zero idea how Chicago went from 95 degrees one day to 60 degrees the next, but those heat lamps saved us. It made the outdoor patio tolerable. CONS: -No fault of the establishment, but definitely dress up to come here. It's not "formal", but it's definitely not the t-shirt and running shorts I happened to be in. That being said, the server did not treat me any differently despite that. -Roka Akor is located in the River North DORA area. This means you can expect a ton of noise, foot traffic, and talking right next to where you're eating. This can be a pro or con, but just something to be aware of. read more
3 years ago
We were pleasantly surprised by how creative and delightful the sushi was here. Each signature roll was more delicious than the next. The staff was beyond wonderful as well, especially Aliyah, our waitress. The pork belly was perfectly soft and crispy. We left beyond satisfied. read more
Business owner information
William F.
Jessica,…
2 years ago
this was one of the best meals i've ever had. service and ambiance was amazing and the food was DIVINE. I will be back read more
Business owner information
Mirnes M.
Sofia,…
I was in Chicago for the weekend to celebrate my birthday and we decided to eat here for my birthday dinner- so glad we did!! We made a reservation, which I definitely recommend doing on a weekend as they were quite busy. Couple things to note- service was amazing. The staff is so, so friendly and so quick to serve you and clean up the tables after plates are empty. I honestly had no idea what to order- we just looked at the Yelp photos/reviews and asked our waitress for recommendations. But honestly, I don't think you can go wrong with anything here- everything we ordered was delicious!!! Also, if you're there with a group, I definitely recommend getting the dessert tray. It comes with a small sample of various desserts, sorbets, ice creams and fruit!! AND they added in an extra dessert for my birthday- so sweet!! I saw almost every single table order this so definitely recommend!! This is a perfect restaurant for a date night or a celebration or just a nice night out with friends! read more
4 years ago
For the price point of the menu, I expected a lot better from this place. While the shishito peppers with bonito flakes weren't bad, the Chilean sea bass served on the creamed corn left a lot to be desired. The fish was underseasoned and not very flavorful, nor was the corn it was served on. My friend ordered the steak and it was overcooked and underseasoned. I've giving it two stars just for the lively ambience and amazing wait staff. read more
2 years ago
7 years ago
Likes - amberjack nigiri was amazing - lamb cutlet were medium rare and tasty despite the fattiness - dynamite scallop maki was better than the hamachi jalapenos maki - crispy brussel sprouts are good but could be less saucy and salty -seared scallop appetizer was very juicy - night in Kyoto cocktail was tasty -i had a bite of the chocolate cake, banana cake, and strawberry yuzu sorbet. The sorbet and chocolate cake were the best of the three Dislikes - waiter misheard our lamb cutlet order for ribs and have us major attitude when we sent back the ribs. Later the manager came back and gave the ribs on the house. It tasted ok. It was not seasoned on the sides just the top and bottom and then cut after cooked. - mushroom and corn sides were just ok. I'd skip next time Next time: I wanna try the green tea custard read more
3 years ago
My husband and I have been to many Michelin 3, 2, and 1 restaurants and none have even come close in food, service, and atmosphere. The whole Roka team was amazing. Best service we have had anywhere and they really go all out for special occasions! Great job Roka on making my husbands birthday so special. read more
A tasting menu that's worth it! Tried the decadent tasting menu for a birthday celebration and it was definitely worth the praise. All of the ingredients were quality and beautifully presented. The service was excellent as well. I would suggest to try and request a room in the main dining room area as we were stuck in a rather sterile looking back room that really did not have a great environment. If you're looking for more secluded table that might be an option for you but just don't plan on much ambiance. That back room also gets rather loud with echos if there is a rowdy table next to you. read more
3 years ago
Exceptional restaurant week menu! The best item was the Escolar Tataki, that was Michelin quality and one of the best things I've eaten in my life. 3 courses including a Waygu steak for $59 was a steal. Advice for your visit: ask for a non high top, they put you at a long shared table and it's a little uncomfortable read more
Had an incredible experience at Roka last night, with giant thanks owed to our server, Gary, who started our special evening off with a celebratory champagne toast. The restaurants specialty is Japanese cuisine prepared on the 12 foot robata grill. The open air kitchen fills the restaurant with rich, mesquite charcoal -- fitting, as the name "Roka" translates to "to gather around the fire". We started with a round of fresh shigoku oysters with a lime garnish and charred shishito peppers in a light ponzu sauce. The smokey flavor of the grill really comes out in these. Next we shared the yellowtail sashimi, which also rests in that delicate ponzu to compliment the peppers, and the lobster maki. Dipping these in soy sauce would be practically criminal -- the flavor is perfect exactly as prepared! Lastly, we shared the grilled pork belly with miso mustard & pickled cauliflower. It was incredibly flavorful and rich -- the 1900 degree flames from the robata grill didn't nearly dry out this amazingly moist cut. But my favorite dish of the night was the Yuzu Miso marinated black cod (which, Gary explained to us is not actually cod at all, it's a sablefish!). This fish has an amazingly smooth, velvety texture with a high oil content which makes it ideal for smoking. The thick but delicate flakes hold in all the flavor, and then melts apart like butter in your mouth. I swear, I had an existential experience with this dish. Finally, an additional toast compliments of our wonderful server, our evening closed with the fluffiest, creamiest, smoothest sorbet I think I've ever had. We had such a great time that we had to take a moment to speak with assistant GM and sommelier, Neal Sage, to offer our praise for the entire experience. We can't wait to gather around the fire at Roka again! read more
More info about Roka Akor - Chicago
456 N Clark St
Chicago, IL 60654
River North, Near North Side
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(312) 477-7652
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https://www.rokaakor.com/chicago/?utm_source=ExtNet&utm_medium=Yext
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Ask the Community - Roka Akor - Chicago
Can anyone give an estimate for how long the omakase would be?
Hi Claudia, I would say give yourself 1-1/2 to 2 hours to enjoy the experience properly.
Do they serve Halal beef steaks?
Hi There - All of our Prime Steaks, Lamb and Chicken Teriyaki are certified Halal.
Do you still offer happy hour?
Unfortunately there is not a happy hour offered at this time. Please email me at ekoss@rokaakor.com if there is anything else I can assist with.
Is the outdoor dining away from the street? Is there heating if it gets cold?
Yes they have outdoor seating and heaters are used during the cold weather.
Is there valet parking?
We chose to walk there. Do believe there was Valet Parking. Great place. Great
Is there a dress code,? Would I feel out of place if I wear jeans,flats and a nice top or should I make more of an effort?
No dress code but always try to make an effort :)
Headed there tonight. Khakis shorts and a polo ok? Or pants needed??? It is HOT out!
Jon, Khakis shorts & a polo will be just fine. We totally understand on days like today!…
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Roka Akor - Chicago - sushi - Updated September 2026
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