If someone asks me where I had best service, it's Roka. I'm writing 5 stars review for the waitress who was working on 5/12 around 9-11pm who provided yum brûlée when my friend mentioned it was her 23 rd birthday when she asked our ages (somehow led to that conversation while talking about alcohol tolerance level). Not only because of that unexpected service, she had great spirits and funny! Me and 2 of my friends went for sashimi set and a bottle of sake. Food and the sake tasted good of course. I don't know what your name is but hopefully Roka recognizes this! read more

Roka Akor - Chicago - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place does a lot well, and there's a few things that need some work - 4 Stars is very honestly generous they're much more of a 3.5 at best. Squid tempura is just rings....WHERE'S THE LEGS!? Those are the best part and whenever they're missing it screams frozen bags of battered unfreshness. I wouldn't order these again they were flavorless and served with a mayo sauce. Sushi was very good - overpriced but tasty and we were ultimately happy with our choices. Brussel Sprouts needed seasoning and we ended up asking for ponzu sauce. Mushrooms were good roasted with garlic. I was so excited to try the bone marrow....until it came to the table with nothing to spread it on - WTH?? We sent that back.. Overall decent meal. read more

As much as I love this place I don't know if you fully get enough for what you pay for. The food is good but small portions for the prices. I recommend trying the chef selection of sashimi, always super fresh! I also highly recommend beef tataki. read more

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Roka Akor was a fabulous pick for my birthday dinner. I had made an 8:45 reservation for which my whole party arrived on time. We waited near the bar and ordered some drinks in the mean time. I asked for a custom lychee martini and it was incredible! We were probably waiting upwards to a half hour for our table to clear when a gentleman walked us back to their private room area which we would be seated at instead for the inconvenience. Everyone in my party really enjoyed the food and ordered for the table. My best friend and I who are vegetarian found the vegetarian items to be delicious. There was a mixup in some of my friends orders and so they provided an appetizer on the house. Sarah our waitress was very kind and accommodating! We had a great time. There was no rush at all and the staff was very patient with my small but rowdy party. A fabulous cake was provided as well. Will most definitely be back. Roka would make a great place for a date! read more

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After close to two years living in Chicago, I can finally say I have a favorite restaurant. Y'all. I can't believe it took me this long to actually try Roka Akor. I never ever cook, and as many of the restaurants Ive been to in Chicago, I can confidently proclaim that Roka Akor has stolen my heart and the #1 spot on my favorites list to dine in the city. Location: Roka Akor sits right in the heart of River North on the corner. Its very close to a plethora of hotels, bars, other restaurants, salons, etc. Consequently, you'd think that it would be a tourist trap and/or busy at all times. It is not. Which is a definite shame. Decor: Very modern. Very sleek. Very chic. My favorite part about the decor in Roka Akor is the dining room near the grill where you have "lit lighting" my definition for when you have the perfect lighting for selfies and/or fancy food photography. In addition to great lighting, the views of the street are spectacular thanks to the floor to ceiling windows. Service: Impeccable. From the second you walk through the door, to the second you exit, A+mazing customer service all around. HUGE shout out and thanks to my server Seung. He was very informative and extremely pleasant and attentive, but not to the point that it seemed as if he was hovering. Just great. Food: I will dream of this food. I will dream of the displays. I will come back time and time again. I ordered a few items and each and every dish was spectacular. Wagyu Beef and Kimchi Dumplings: These are not your average potstickers. The quality of the wagyu mixed with the acidity of the kimchi, wrapped in a homemade dumpling, and crisped to the heavens, I downed all of these bad boys. Thank the gods I decided to dine alone. I would have been sad had I been coerced into sharing. They were tender, juicy (overflowing with juice), and succulent. Please order these. Chef's 3 Sashimi Platter: The freshest fish I've had thus far in Chicago! Truly. This was my first time ever trying sashimi. I have been on a mission to truly expand my palette to things ordinary folks might not enjoy: raw fish is one of those things. I was absolutely blown away by the beautiful display on which they were served, but I was even more infatuated by how different each fish tasted. My favorite was the tuna, then the salmon, then the yellowtail. But all were good. The Brussels Sprouts: Fan. tas. tic. I inhaled these babies. The sauce that they were tossed in provided the ultimate kick and zing to the earthy essence of the sprouts. And because they were crisped, the crunch was such a treat to the moist chewy consistency of the fish and the dumplings. Get them. Thank me later. The Prime Ribeye: HEAVENLY! DIVINE! No other words. I am a steak snob. I get seriously angry when a steak isnt prepared well. Definitely not the case at RA. Each and every single bite, the cow melted in my mouth. Bursting with flavor and spices, each bite had me terrified I was about to finish the plate. When I did, I almost cried. But then I realized I still had dessert coming. The Warm Chocolate Cake: Decadent. High quality chocolate. If you have room for dessert, do yourself a favor and end your meal on a high note. This did not disappoint. 5 stars. In each and every way. I am thankful for restaurants like Roka Akor. read more

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This is a super late post since we ate here before celebrating New Year's at the Drake Hotel. The restaurant had a New Year's omakase dinner special. It was nice since we didn't have to choose anything out of their huge menu. The hostess and waiter explained everything that came out and gave us a very personable experience though I can't remember everything writing this 7 months later. Everything that came out was amazing! They had this red miso soup with chunks of lobster, a tuna tartare with quail egg, fresh sashimi platter with freshly grated wasabi root, wagyu beef with truffle butter, king crab in chili lime sauce, a seared fish, beef appetizers, and molten chocolate cake with green tea icecream... can't remember every detail but my taste buds were happily dancing. I was spoiled with an amazing experience. Highly recommend! read more

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I enjoyed the ambience and food. Steak and sushi both unpretentious my done. Some options halal. Would go again!

Roka Akor was AWESOME! First of all, our waiter was top notch. He could explain all of their dishes in great detail. You can tell that he really took pride in his job, and the restaurant. We went on a Tuesday, and they had $1 oysters! They actually used Shigoku oysters that are usually pretty pricey. Needless to say, we each had a dozen ;p. I usually am not a big fan of fusion type food, but they did a really great job with it! Escolar tataki- excellent. It came with white asparagus Yakitori- wouldn't get it again. Was a bit too sweet for my taste. Oysters- as I mentioned earlier, we had a dozen each. Lol Shishito peppers- were ok Assorted Sashimi- Awesome. We opted to make our own assortment of more "exotic" fish Wagyu Sirloin with bone marrow- excellent. Originally was brought out overcooked, but our waiter had it fixed right away (again, excellent service) Mushroom risotto- was really good. I was full, but kept eating it... Yuzu miso marinated cod- two thumbs up Tuna tartare with caviar- was good. Not my fave, but still good. Dessert- waiter brought us a house special (not on the menu) I think it was made with ube. Was really good! Definitely will be back! read more

Roka Akor - Chicago - Ahi Tartare - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

In town for a trade show after calling various restaurants we were able to score a stop at Roka and it did not disappoint . Food was fresh, presentation on each dish was top notch, just amazing the dessert was for 3 people and it was 5 of us and more that enough. I could not say which was my favorite because each one was different must say one of the best deserts I have ever tasted.. satisfied beyond words read more

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Sprout and Watercress Salad.. good but the chips on it felt like chips from a bag.. but all in all good (8 out of 10) Shrimp and lobster dumplings very good (8.5 out of 10) California roll .. ook.. I felt the crab was chewy (7 out of 10).. pic attached Crispy prawn roll was really good.. the best thing was the "wasabi aioli" with it... (8.5 out of 10) Lamb cutlets very good (8.75 out of 10) pic attached read more

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Best food and service in town! Our company was in town for a conference and needed a great spot to impress our VIPs. Erin, the Event Manager, was extremely professional and accommodating with our large group (18 people) and made sure our event was memorable. Our lead server Christos was exceptional! We had a vegetarian in our group and she was actually moved to tears because the chef created a special menu just for her. Recommend 10/10! read more

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What a cool ambiance and vibe to this place. Tasty heirloom tomatoes, King crab Cali rolls. Wagyu beef with kimchi was tasty to all that ate and tried it. I was beyond impressed by Aaron, he was our waiter, very attentive and even replaced the white napkin for my friend, who was wearing a black cloth dress to avoid getting lint on her dress, that was really impressive to me, love the attention to detail. read more

The food here is phenomenal!!!! Flavor, flare, and fun! I was expecting it to be a sushi restaurant but was pleasantly surprised roka is more of a Japanese grill. Don't get me wrong they have some great sushi rolls but their entrees and sides are even better. I pretty much loved everything I ate. Some of my favorites were Salmon teriyaki which fell apart because it was cooked so perfectly, scallop appetizer, jalapeño roll, shrimp roll, and my most favorite of the night was the black truffle rice. Someone will come to your table to mix up the rice and put some truffle shavings in. Needless to say I was stuffed when I left because I ate so much. Luckily I had a few friends to help. The service was also top notch and our waiter was great at dividing the check evenly. Will definitely recommend this place to friends! read more

Roka Akor - Chicago - Sushi!! Really good rolls - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Great for Japanese infused foods. Wonderfully prepared and full of flavors. Great cocktails too!!

This place is a really cool fun vibe but is super dark. The entire place smells like Smokey food and you will leave with the smell. Service was fine. The food was just okay for the price. Tried the pork belly and a sushi roll read more

Came here for a birthday party , was not disappointed. Everything was tasty and the ambience was nice . Great lighting . We got a great seating area for our large group yet the service was not bad . Cause big groups usually are lol read more

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Excellent food, service and ambiance. Steak was fantastic as was the appetizer! Chocolate lava cake was one of the best desserts I've ever had. Highly recommend! read more

From the attentive service to the outstanding food - our evening was perfect! Christos gave us excellent suggestions and they are were perfect. Must have the wagu dumplings and dynamite scallops. The Black cod melted in my mouth. The corn!!!! Crazy good! The dessert was a perfect way to end our meal. Can't wait to go back. read more

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Slid in here late one night after having the chance to see Hamilton. Glad they were open until midnight. We were impressed with the service even though we were in late and it was getting close to closing time. Staff was very friendly and helpful even though you know they probably wanted to break things down and get home. We ordered quickly - red miso soup, robata grilled scallops, some tempura, marinated black cod, and a bunch of nigiri. Personally, I love it when sushi places have a Tsukiji menu or a menu of stuff not typically found on the standard menu (sorry - tuna, salmon and shrimp get boring and I'm generally not a fan of most over sauced maki), but it didn't look like Roka Akor had something like that. That being said - I would say that this place was pretty solid and is definitely a great place to go for a sushi fix. read more

The food is pretty good and they have happy hour which is important. Its very smoky smelling in there and it'll make you smell like a campfire. Today we got restuarant week lunch special, the steak had a nice flavor but it was very fatty. Waygu dumplings were amazing! read more

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Roka Akor truly cares about ensuring that their diners have a great experience. The manager and regional manager (Ben and Steve, respectively) wanted to make sure that I also had a wonderful experience. They put together a menu of their favorite items and as a result, I had the opportunity to try some new dishes. My favorite dish of the night would probably have to be the nigiri flight. It was beautifully presented and the fish was fresh. I would have to say that the Prime Filet tasted much better than the Prime Rib Eye I had the first time I came here. It was much more tender and closer to that "medium rare" texture that I had expected. I noticed that several of the side dishes--the Shishito Peppers and Brussels Sprouts in particular--left a rather sour aftertaste that I was not fond of so I will most likely refrain from ordering them again in the future. I will also say that although I am not much of an oyster person, the oysters we were served were exceptionally fresh and briny, a flavor which I appreciated greatly. Ben and Steve made my second experience at Roka Akor much more enjoyable. Thanks again for a great night! read more

Beautiful spot. Staff was attentive, food was delicious.....although they could expand their vegetarian offerings. Loved how we weren't rushed out after the meal, and the server kept our drinks full. Also, they had great music that wasn't too loud. read more

I'm a fatty. Or at least I'm becoming one thanks (in part) to Roka Akor's business lunch special for $24. I got four dishes and a bonus amuse bouche. All delicious and all included in that $24 price tag. That's right. I got: 1) Amuse Bouche: some sort of seared fish with a garnish that was yummy yummy yummy. 2) Red Miso Soup with Lobster: that's right. REAL lobster chunks. It was delish and my new favorite way of eating miso soup. 3) Spicy Crispy Butterfish Roll: It had a jalepano on top but it wasn't spicy. It was creamy with strong flavors of rice and avocado. 4) Robata Grilled Prime Skirt Steak: I died! It was so good! There were three portions all sliced into strips that I could easily eat with my chop sticks. I loved the seasoning on those strips. I also loved and completely consumed the white rice that came with it. It had dark flecks of seasoning on top that were ah-mazing. I'm spoiled now. The guy who was busing our table didn't need to ask how the food was. He saw my face and his own grew into a silly grin. He said, "That's what it's all about! When I see that face and know that you like the food!" He wasn't joking. My friend Jen R somehow managed to stop her indulgence and bring home leftovers but I kept going until I ate it all. What's really neat about Roka Akor is that it's an uber classy place for lunch. It has high ceilings, expansive windows that flood the space with natural light, and simple decor. Although it's so nice (and everyone else was dressed nicer than me) I felt right at home in my jeans and button-up shirt. The only thing that I'll mention is that the host was a little weird. My friend and I stood there for a solid minute chatting while he tooled around his desk. Another woman stood off to the side. He didn't acknowledge any of us and I didn't know what was going on. Then he asked if I had a reservation and I started to say yes, but then the phone rang. Of COURSE he had to answer it and attend to the person on the phone. When he did give me his full attention he was terse, but I didn't care. I was spending time with my friend and excited about the lunch special. read more

Went here for restaurant week deal (3 courses for $48 + $22 wine pairing). Everything was very good. Genuinely had 0 complaints about the food - it was all really good. The service was good and the atmosphere was lively. This is a good place if you're looking to go to a nice restaurant for a special occasion. It's definitely a bit pricey and the portions aren't very large. Between the table, we got the following items from the restaurant week menu and I would recommend them all: - Escolar Tataki: awesome, very light / citrusy and refreshing - Shrimp tempura: it was good and light, but nothing super unique. The sweet chili aioli that was served with it was nice - Lamb cutlets: nice and juicy and I really enjoyed the dipping sauce with it - Wagyu sirloin steak: probably about 6oz of steak that was tender and good. The truffle aioli pairs well with it Side of Brussels sprouts: they are cooked with a lot of the mustard vinaigrette, which mask the taste of the Brussel sprouts themselves a bit but they're good. They have a nice tangy flavor - Warm chocolate cake: so good and not too rich. The chocolate crisps add a fun crunch when you put the cake / ganache / ice cream and crisps all on the spoon together. Really enjoyed it - Ube pot de creme: it's beautiful. So colorful. The taste was also very good. It essentially tastes like creme brûlée without the caramelized top Overall, enjoyed everything we got and the restaurant week deal is good. It's still a pricey experience, but I recommend it read more

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Roka Akor. A palindrome that the server explained to me that means "home". Well, whatever it means, this cool. contemporary place that just opened up on Illinois and Clark (a chain with locations in Scottsdale, Hong Kong and London) impressed me with it's decor, it's food and it's service. First, the space. The set up reminded me a bit of the now defunct Blue Water Grill with a large casual bar area in the front and the dining room wrapped around the open kitchen with the Robata grill in plain sight. The use of wood lent a casualness to the place that allows for dressing up or dressing down. Large windows run along the side of Illinois. We were seated promptly and our server, Brad, was great with suggestions and in explaining the menu. We started with some sashimi and a maki roll. The food was beautifully presented (seemed almost overkill for the two thin pieces of sashimi to be in such a beautiful bowl) I also liked the presentation of the fatty tuna as they grated fresh salt onto a plate right at the table. We also had the "burnt tomato" salad (just okay). But then our main courses came. I stayed the sushi route having one of their signature rolls (soft shell crab) as well as a spicy tuna roll. But my friend? He went with the filet cooked on the Robata Grill, and I have to say I have not had a more tender and tasteful filet anywhere. They also cut it into bite sized pieces so that you can continue to use your chopsticks to eat it. For dessert, we went with the warm chocolate cake with peanuts and coffee ice cream. Rich, decadent, all the things a desert should be. The only thing I wasn't crazy about was the bathroom set up. They are almost "communal" in nature as you enter a common door with the sinks and mirrors open to both sides (no primping, ladies) and the stalls in behind. My suggestion is to watch how much you drink of their delicious cocktails or you may find yourself on the wrong side! Roka Akor is a little on the pricey side. Dinner for two ran a little over $200 (the steaks are in the $35- $45 range) and valet parking will set you back another $13. One other thing. At a couple of points during our dinner, we all swore that we smelled someone smoking pot. So much so that all the tables around us were commenting on it. When we asked our server about it, he said, "Oh, that's just the mesquite wood on the grill". Right. So that's what the kids are calling it these days! Check it out for yourself. And take a deep breath of that "mesquite wood". It will make your night! read more

I was originally enticed by a friend to try this cool spot in River North for dinner a few months back. I walked in to a very welcoming staff that told me how awesome their bar was while I waited on my friend. I checked out the scenery and it had a very fresh, cool spin to it. I always like a place that puts a little effort into its decor. My dining pal finally showed her face and we were seated instantly. We started out with appetizers: Tuna Tataki (superb), Veggie Tempura (meh) and the Spicy Tuna Maki (just ok). For my entree, I went with the Black Cod which was decent along with asparagus. The service was pretty cool,but slightly overwhelming. It seemed as overtime me and my friend engaged in deep convo, the servers were right there asking if we needed anything or giving additional info on some of their drinks and dishes. I guess I shouldn't complain as they were attentive. I came back again not too long after as I had an out of town colleague come to town and she wanted some good eats in a nice place. I was feeling like meat so I went with the RibEye and it was delicious...very tender and well seasoned. My side was the sweet potatoes...simple marvelous! We also did some damage on a bottle of their finest Malbec as well...good stuff. We wound up pending a good 4 hours here on a semi secluded Monday night. Nice mixture of people frequenting this joint which makes for good people watching. Good spot to hit up for some fine dining. read more

Roka Akor has hands down the best service when it comes to sushi. There is some tough competition across the street but I'm here to tell you that Roka is where it's at. I've been here three times and each time they have rolled out the red carpet for us. The sushi is fresh and the drinks are strong. Roka Akor does have a Robata Grill, so if you are in the mood for a steak instead of sushi you can have that here. I also noticed that there are couples, friends out for a night and even families having dinner here. It's a place that fits all. I came here tonight with a friend of mine to kick off the Summer of Sushi in Chicago and we were able to get TWO Serrano Hamachi rolls for the price of one! We even got some champagne compliments of the manager. Our server Bryan kept coming to see if we were doing well and was very attentive. I have to say I really love having someone who is attentive. It isn't like this across the street and I've been there twice. If you have not been you have to come here. I brought my husband here for his birthday and we had the best time ever! read more

Best. Sushi. Ever. Seriously. My group was so impressed with Roka that we I all joked about coming to Chicago again, just to have Roka, then heading back to Minneapolis. It would be worth the 6+ hour drive one way. I am salivating even writing this review. My group of four gals headed her for our first stop on our girls weekend, we made reservations, but it wouldn't have been necessary at 1pm on a Thursday afternoon. At one point we had the place to ourselves. Our server was excellent, giving us plenty of time to decide without rushing us, and giving great suggestions and explanations on the menu items. We all decided to go with the Business Lunch, but with different selections. We also ordered a couple rolls to go with our meals. First, the rolls - Unagi (my absolutely favorite) and Dynamite Scallop. Absolutely divine. The unagi is hard to beat for me, but the scallops were so perfectly made, beautifully presented, and amazingly tasty that I may have a new favorite (at Roka anyway). First course : -Lobster Miso - miso is miso, right? Nope. This Miso was more delicious with the added delight of lobster. -Wagyu Beef and Kimchi Dumplings - I don't like kimchi, it grosses me out, but these dumplings were the perfect combination of beef and kimchi and I gobbled them up with no problems at all. The dipping sauce was also delicious and probably cut the taste of the kimchi. -Spicy Crispy Butterfish Roll - this roll was amazing and a close second to the scallops. I had never had Butterfish before, but it was really light and refreshing, paired with the spice of the wasabi cream on top, just delicious. Second course: I chose the Roka Sushi Set - flame seared Salmon Nigri (2 pcs), Hamachi Sashimi (2 pcs), Spicy Tuna Roll. The Salmon was amazing and I saved one for my last bite of the meal. Hamachi was a first for me, I was surprised at how creamy and light it tasted. The Spicy Tuna was a tad too spicy for my taste, I had to dose it with quite a bit of soy, but it was very tasty nonetheless. One of my counterparts had the steak as their second course, it was amazing, cooked perfectly and spiced to perfection. Another at our table had the salmon, which was crispy outside and perfectly cooked with the same care as the rest of the meal. Just wonderful. We also all had drinks and desert, but I can't remember what they were called. Regardless, they were all delicious. Each course was served at the perfect interval, giving time in between each, but not too much that you were waiting for it. I really don't even know how to put into words how wonderful this meal was, from start to finish, amazing at every turn. The presentation was absolutely stunning, too; I have never seen such attention to detail and you could see the love put into every plate. My only complaint, the server was unable to split the check by seat, so we ended up a little uneven on the bill - but it was so perfect none of us cared if we had to pay a little more than the other. Be prepared to drop $100 on a single meal with drinks and tip (if you pig out like we did...). Do yourself a favor and go here, now. Leave whatever you are doing and go. read more

Roka Akor - Chicago - Delicious sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I love GNO since I have some of the craziest/most fun girlfriends. Roka Akor has a lovely ambiance for our fun-filled dinner. The food: Robata Grilled Scallops with Yuzu Shiso and Wasabi (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/roka-akor-chicago?select=jgjfb4zC7PO5-zqcE06sBA#F2mVL4RhKCwkmNgxKLCXgg) was tender and a big juicy scallop that you wanted to slowly eat so you can savor the taste. A fave! We ordered a few oysters (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/roka-akor-chicago?select=jgjfb4zC7PO5-zqcE06sBA#MdW9Yi61Y1q2ckDozSm10g) that were small in size, but packed with various flavors and freshness, some were better than others. Wagyu beef and kimichi pot stickers (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/roka-akor-chicago?select=jgjfb4zC7PO5-zqcE06sBA#jKkrBxDd4Bt2Qmid_YxoIw) weren't as exciting as it sounds. Not a lot of flavor, pretty much your standard dumplings. Summer roll (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/roka-akor-chicago?select=jgjfb4zC7PO5-zqcE06sBA#_uNXLzu31drvQ7-z63v-Pg) isn't something to dive in for but the Hamachi Serrano Chili roll (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/roka-akor-chicago?select=jgjfb4zC7PO5-zqcE06sBA#OXJOauuEmu-0tA4Qrl80kQ) is definitely a go-to with it's refreshing ingredients. Wagyu beef (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/roka-akor-chicago?select=jgjfb4zC7PO5-zqcE06sBA#fU8gTUMe1zHB0hSAX4RsuA), two way duck (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/roka-akor-chicago?select=jgjfb4zC7PO5-zqcE06sBA#MfIuVpR4qwUWNEQ0q6FvDQ), and pork belly (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/roka-akor-chicago?select=jgjfb4zC7PO5-zqcE06sBA#jbhdZekVjj5lBntHzxZG7Q) instantly became favorites at the table. Everything was seasoned well and cooked perfectly. The beef and pork had a melt in your mouth feel with it's tenderness. The two way duck had great flavors. The Japanese Wild Mushroom Rice Hot Pot (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/roka-akor-chicago?select=jgjfb4zC7PO5-zqcE06sBA#kHGa1v3vz386nlj12F5Yhg) was disappointing. The truffle smelled delicious, but the overall dish lacked flavor/seasoning (salt). With the food alone Roka Akor could of went 4 stars in my book with it's outstanding entrees, but the service wasn't up to par. I had to ask 3 times for a water re-fill, in a good restaurant a water glass should never go empty. There was also an incident where one of our servers knocked a glass of wine over and it spilled all over me and I received a simple apology yet the server constantly apologize to my friend (who's wine he knocked over) and give her a comp drink (which is great), but for the one that smells like wine (me) for the rest of the night I was simply ignored. They also need to "talk" to their valet guys. My cousin paid for her valet right before me and she paid $12 and right after her I gave him my ticket and he told me $17 and I even read the sign and knew it was $12, yet my slow brain didn't click and I had to ask my cousin for cash because this valet driver insisted that he couldn't take "card." Upon asking my cousin she told me it's only $12 and as soon as the valet guy heard it, he correct his "mistake." What a bunch of bull. Well, that ruined a nice dinner meal. read more

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It's a nice trendy place with very good sushi. After reading all the reviews I thought I prepared myself enough for an encounter with a pushy waiter. Although our server was very friendly and very helpful, I did feel like I was dealing with a car salesman at one point. I'm pretty good with saying no but he sure made us spend much more than we were planning. All his suggestions were excellent though so I can't quite hold his pushiness against him. It's just that the many times I've been eating out, I've never felt like I wasn't in control of my ordering like I did that time. Now for the food. We had the Beef Tataki with Shaved Black Truffle and Truffle Jus, plus the Butterfish Tataki with White Asparagus and Yuzu for starters, both suggested by our server. I have to say that both appetizers were excellent! We enjoyed the appetizers with a nice bottle of Crazy Milk Sake. We ended up going for the Deluxe Sashimi Platter which included 8 different sashimi selected by the chef. It was $45 per person and as expensive at it was, I have to admit it was worth it. Beautiful presentation I must say. It's like one of of those dishes that's too pretty to eat. I can't quite remember which fish exactly it came with but there were 5 kinds of the freshest sashimi I've ever had, Oysters, King Crab Nigiri and a Kobe beef sushi of some sort that was just melt in your mouth good. The server suggested that two of the sashimi be eaten without soy sauce and be dipped in the grated Himalayan Rock Salt instead. Perfect combination indeed! Our server even gave us the Robata Grilled Scallops with Yuzu Shiso and Wasabi for us to try. I think that gesture was very nice of him. I was kinda glad we didn't order it since as crazy as I was for scallops, this appetizer did not quite excite my palate. Scallops were fresh, but I thought the dish was a little bland. Since we were there, we had to try the Robata. So we had the Prime Rib Eye which was enough for the 3 of us to have room for dessert. Ah, the dessert. Wanting to try many things, we ordered the dessert platter good for 2 people. Although there were 3 of us, I think it was more than enough. 7 different fruits, 1 sorbet, 1 ice cream, 1 slice of cake, and a custard of some sort, all beautifully arranged in an ice-filled giant bowl. Overall, food was excellent! Everything was fresh and presented beautifully. Sure you can have sushi as fresh in your favorite neighborhood sushi restaurant for a lot less but it's the whole outstanding dining experience you're getting here. I Would definitely be back! read more

Roka Akor - Chicago - Roka Akor Deluxe Sashimi Platter - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The food was really good, the service not so great, but the worst part was the noise level. Way beyond tolerable. Really uncomfortable. Recommend only when under half capacity, otherwise it's annoyingly loud. read more

this place was AMAZING! went here for my 21st birthday, the service was amazing, wine was great, food was amazing!! they brought us free champagne to our table and even a birthday dessert! the place was perfect read more

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this place made me mad. Staff are layers, I was lied by manager and other staff member. I bought a gif certificate online and supposed to receive email with it within couple of hours and I didnt. Called the restaurant the lady said she will look into it and call back. I explained I need next day, I am going to a birthday, its a gift. I was assured everything will be fine. so next day nothing happens, no one calls or emails, no one literally cares. I call again, the lady call manager to speak to me. So the manager tries to find laim excuses and promises to call me back with the updates same evening and guess what again no one called. Today I have to call them again read more

Came to celebrate an old HS friend's 24th! The waiter was absolutely incredible. We were treated like queens, and that might have been my favorite part of the experience. The food for lunch is a great deal. I ordered the $22 bento box sushi set. It came with 4 pieces of really incredible maki, 2 waygu dumplings, and 1 small cup of miso soup. The quality of the sushi was very good though not the best I've had. The hamachi was incredibly tender that it melts in your mouth. The texture sushi should be. I didn't like the tuna roll as much since the quality of the tuna was unimpressive. But what I LOVED was the salmon nigiri. Only two slices but I could easily down a plate of that. My friend's mushroom risotto was INCREDIBLE! For something vegetarian, I didn't think it could taste SO good. Also, the skirt steak was so tender, savory, and cooked to a nice medium-rare. I loved the umami flavor of the sauce on the side though it looked very small. read more

Very hip place that stays super busy and loud. Food was good and service was good. If you're looking for a quiet place for dinner, this is not the place to go. Very high energy. read more

5 star service. Steven, thank you for offering a special meal after the broken phone incidence three weeks ago. My friend and I definitely appreciate both the food and the service. I ordered my favorite Brussels sprouts, as always, and found it slightly cold. I would recommend ensuring that all dishes are hot when they are delivered to the customers. However, the sweet potato grill was neither too soft nor too raw, and I consider ordering it again next time. While my friend and I were enjoying our food, a RED BOOB was dropped in front of us - the first LOBSTER TEMPURA I have ever seen in my life. Although I am allergic to lobster and cannot enjoy the lobster myself, my friend really enjoyed it and thought both sauces went with the lobster well. I would recommend sharing this dish with several friends in the future. Overall, my friend and I had a great time, and would definitely come back to Roka again. Food: 4.5 (0.5 star off for the cold Brussels sprouts) Service: 4.5 (0.5 star off for the take-away box not well secured and was opened within fifteen minutes after we left the restaurant) Decor: 5 read more

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It's been awhile since I've been to Roka Akor but not knowing which place to choose for a business dinner, I chose Roka as I believe it should be solid and at the end of the meal I had everyone raving about it. We ordered the decadent tasting menu and truffles on steak tartare, truffles on mushroom risotto, truffle dipping sauce for crab tempura which was oh so good. The steak we got with the foie gras butter was very very delicious although it could have used a little bit of salt. The brussel sprouts were so good that my colleague said they were the best she's ever had. Tons of sashimi, nigiri, and the food just kept coming and coming and coming. For the money we paid, the food was definitely a great value. read more

I've been here few times for lunch and dinner at both location (Old Orchard and Downtown). I prefer the downtown location because there's more variety in the menu, minus the dishes are few bucks more in comparison to the suburban location. For a chain, I'm very proud there they serve quality and good food. The price is on a higher end and smaller portion, but the service and food makes up for it. I would not recommend this place for large group, bu perfect portion size for max of 4 people. Ask for the oyster special - certain days,there is happy hour for oyster or $1 on weeknights. Chef's selection - Typically, it's average fresh nigiri. There was one experience that it was exceptionally good (reminiscence the fresh and good nigiri i had in japan) and the top notch nigiri was served (snapper, madai, yellowtail, and etc) Robata grill - the steak is a must -order. My preference is med-rare, but the medium would give a more flaming charcoal taste. Robata favorites - corn, brussel sprouts, and sweet potatoe (very flavorful with the charcoal taste and sauce) Grilled cod and grilled salmon - cook to perfection and not overdone. beef tataki - very tasty and fresh seared beef. Oh i wish this wasnt a bite size portion. Scallop - it comes in 5 pieces? with a wooden stick on top and the scallop was a generous size (considering how much it shrinks when it's cooked) dessert - the chef pastry comes in every morning and prepare the dessert fresh. My favorite would be the chocolate cake with peanuts. Next time, I would try the wagyu steak which is about $30 per ounce. This is probably one of the restaurant in chicago that serves wagyu and I have faith that Roka will do a good job! read more

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Went there with our team to enjoy a good get together and were definitely satisfied. I have to say that the waiters were very smart in making suggestions to my manager (who's paying right?) and we were served a great sequence of exquisite dishes. A must in Chicago read more

The food here is always amazing and this evening was no exception. The staff were very informative and those special unedited complimentary tasters from the kitchen were a nice surprise. The tuna tartare chips , octopus and sashimi were all excellent . Our final highlight was the amazing desert platter that pour server arranged for us / Asian inspired desserts with some great ice cream and sorbet flavors to give a final experience to our taste buds! Looking forward to coming back again soon. read more

Roka Akor - Chicago - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois