Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Sushi by Bou- Gold Coast Chicago @ Claridge House

    4.5 (84 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 10:00 PM

    Sushi by Bou- Gold Coast Chicago @ Claridge House Photos

    SUSHI BY BOU- GOLD COAST CHICAGO @ CLARIDGE HOUSE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?

    You might also consider

    More like Sushi by Bou- Gold Coast Chicago @ Claridge House

    Recommended Reviews - Sushi by Bou- Gold Coast Chicago @ Claridge House

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Sparkling yuzu lemonade
    Jacqueline L.

    LOVED IT! Great service. The sushi chefs are nice and kept a good pace. Every piece was exquisite and tasted fresh. It is a cute place. Small with a lounge feel. Will be back 10000%

    Stacey W.

    Great first omakase experience for myself at this Sushi by Bou location. There was one other couple that had a reservation for our seating so it was a small group experience with the chef. The menu was posted and also at the table so you could know ahead what you were getting. There was a good variety of nigiri to try for the omakase. Everything was done well and you had a good description of each dish and could see the chef making each one. The inside was quaint and darker interior with a soft feel from the bar stools to the mini couches.

    Sandy P.

    AMAZING! Each piece crafted and delivered equally beautifully and divine. Hamachi, hotate, & toro were our favorites of the night. The chef we had was amazing and took care of us the whole time and explained why each piece was crafted the way it was. A great omakase place and after dinner, you'll be able to hang out at the sidelines with drinks if you're not ready to leave yet.

    Jacqueline F.

    For someone that has mostly had sushi at AYCE restaurants, Sushi by Bou absolutely blew me away! My brother and sister in law took me to my very first Omakase experience and I loved every single bite and piece. First off, the venue is beautiful. The ambiance is dark and sexy and a perfect date night setting. We got the 12 course experience for $65. You get an intimate setting and are seated right in front of the sushi chef. You are up close and personal and get to see first hand how the chef meticulously crafts each and every sushi piece while he seasons it and rolls it for you. It is amazing and every single bite melts in your mouth. All pieces are delicious! Some of the best sushi I have ever had in Chicago! I highly recommend it. Our chef was amazing and even got me and my group a birthday shot on the house. I can't wait to come back and try the other locations.

    Bincho (albacore)
    Eric S.

    PIECE BY PIECE The omakase experience at Sushi by Bou is tailored for connoisseurs. I can already see people warming up their throwing arms based on that comment alone, but before you hurl an empty sake bottle in my direction, read on. There are tons of chill, budget-friendly sushi spots around the city (hundreds, probably) while a few of them, like SBB, offer something on a higher level. Sushi by Bou is a small operation at the back of the Claridge House on Chicago's Gold Coast. You can get a 12-course ($65) or 17-course ($100) omakase, which means "chef's choice". They ask about food allergies beforehand, but apart from that there are no options to pick from. No side dishes, no substitutions. Here's how it goes down: a highly-trained sushi master prepares one item at a time and *hands* it to you, as most items are a single bite. You're given a small mound of pickled ginger as a palate cleanser, however there's no wasabi and more importantly, no soy sauce. I don't recall what 5 additional items we were given as part of the 17 courses, but the 12 were as follows: Hamachi (yellowtail), akami (lean tuna), botan ebi (prawn), ikura (salmon roe), bincho (albacore), maguro (chopped tuna), hotate (scallop), gindara (miso cod), toro (fatty tuna), sake (salmon), wagyuni (surf 'n turf), and unagi (bbq eel). The prawn was my least favorite--I've had cooked shrimp nigiri plenty of times before, but I wasn't ready for the natural sliminess of raw prawn. I could describe the texture to you in greater detail, but I'd have to pause briefly to heave into a trashcan (sorry). The only other bite that didn't sit well was the "wagyuni", a piece of gently cooked Wagyu beef with uni (sea urchin) on top. The uni's strong, briny taste overshadowed the Wagyu to the point where I couldn't taste anything EXCEPT uni. This was the first time I'd tried urchin and, well.....not a fan. Whose bright idea was it to eat the insides of a spikey ocean ball?? Whether due to the limited counter space, placement of my cocktail, or the fact my wife was seated to my right, I wound up using my left hand the entire meal and never once picked up the chopsticks except to admire their design. The sake flight ($44) were 3 decent pours of high-grade 'junmai' sake. As others have said, the Roaring 20's vibe gives the venue a Great Gatsby feel, which seems more sensible than the flashy hip hop digs of West Loop's Sushi by Bou. We came here to celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary but staff never said anything or congratulated us. Not that I expected a sparkler in my tuna, a simple mention would've been nice. * TL;DR * I haven't tasted fish this fresh since that time I fell off a Lake Geneva jetty. If you're the kind of person who enjoys a Philadelphia roll and miso soup, keep looking because SBB doesn't have either. You won't find edamame on the menu, nor will you see cute wooden boats packed with colorful maki. Sushi by Bou strips away all the chaff and what's left is a beautiful, solitary piece of nigiri intended for aficionados. Yes, this place is meant for sushi lovers who are OK with ditching the bells & whistles. Casual sushi fans may leave frustrated and hungry thinking, "is this it?", but bear in mind that Sushi by Bou is less about filling your stomach and more about fulfilling your sense of adventure. To that end, they succeeded. Come here to appreciate sushi in its truest, purest form.

    Carolina C.

    I was excited to come to Sushi by Bou and tucked in in the back of the Claridge house is this great pop-up. The venue is stunning. It's dark and moody, just reeling you in it. While waiting to sit at the bar, we sat around the corners, got our drink orders taken, and just kind of started opening up our pallette.We got the 12 course experience for $65 and you're seated at the bar with the chef, so they're basically preparing and serving you each course at a time explaining through each dish. All the pieces are delicious, super fresh and melt in your mouth. Truly appreciating sushi and it's pure form, the fish with some easy toppings would definitely come back, you should try too.

    Monica N.

    We came here for their 5th anniversary celebration month and it did not disappoint!  The staff overall is so nice and super welcoming! You can tell they all love working together and really appreciate making the experience for the diners a fun experience.  The space itself has a speakeasy Great Gatsby vibe to it with the decor, velvet couches, and colors used.  The sushi was honestly better than I had expected! We opted for the 12 course instead of the 17 course. I love that each bite had a big piece of fish without having the rice overpower the fish bite itself. My favorite was the toro and spicy tuna. We ended up getting a handroll of the spicy tuna at the end of the meal. I wasn't super full after the meal but I also was not left starving or hungry.  The cocktails were all great. They were featuring a Matcha Spritz which was super refreshing. We were the last to be seated on a Sunday and we were given complimentary sake with our experience. The sake was nicely flowing and tasty.  I would love to try the different locations for their different vibes! The experience is definitely one of the more affordable omakase experiences. It isn't as formal as true omakase which was a great chance up from what my husband and I are used to.

    Jessica C.

    Sushi by Bou delivers a sleek, speakeasy-style omakase experience that feels both intimate and fun. The neon-lit bar, moody mirrors, and upbeat energy set the tone for a night that's as much about the vibe as it is about the food. The cocktails are a standout--beautifully presented and well-balanced. From crisp martini-style pours to vibrant, fruit-forward drinks, they're the perfect complement to the experience and great for photos too. The omakase itself is paced well and thoughtfully curated, with fresh fish and creative bites served right at the counter. The chefs keep things interactive, making the experience engaging without feeling rushed. Overall, Sushi by Bou is ideal for a date night, celebration, or a stylish night out with friends. Come for the sushi, stay for the atmosphere--and definitely don't skip the drinks.

    Jasmine C.

    Excellent experience here !! Chef young was soooo attentative and made the perfect sushi! I had the best experience here!! Everything was perfection!!

    Eileen Z.

    it's a very weird vibe -- omakase in a 1920s speakeasy style room. by far the cheapest omakase i've had at 65 per person, and with that comes the drawbacks. none of the fish was exceptional, some of the flavors had a strange modern twist, and the rice was too vinegary. i would rather pay more for better omakase. however, the chef and servers were all super sweet and gave us sake shots on the house! overall a cool spot for some cheap sushi,as you only get what you pay for

    Chef preparing a bite
    Brittney W.

    Sushi by bou is located on the ground floor of the Claridge hotel. We were immediately greeted by the hostess who was super friendly. The interior is dimly lit and swanky. It was a bit 1920's style and well decorated. We were a tad early, so we waited in the front waiting room and ordered drinks. We both got the sparkling yuzu lemonade with vodka. It was refreshing though a bit sour. We were seated shortly after at the bar which was about 10-12 seats all in a row. Our chef was nice and explained what each dish was. I liked watching the chef create each bite. My favorites were the: Hamachi (yellowtail) Botan Ebi (prawn) Hotate (scallop) Gindara (miso cod) Toro (fatty tuna) The star of the show was a piece exclusive to the location that wasn't on the 12 course menu. The Bou of Chi was UNREAL! One of the best bites I've ever had. It was wagyu, scallop, mayo, pickles truffle, regular truffle and fried shallot. A MUST GET!

    Melanie T.

    This is the third Sushi by Bou location I have been, and it was quite good! Like the other locations it's on the ground floor of a hotel. Vibe is intimate and modern, and the wait staff and sushi chefs were friendly and attentive! My partner and I made reservations for a Wednesday night using the deal that was 2 people for the price of one, and the seating was filled! Which makes sense because it was an amazing deal! Made for a fun ambience too. I think several others were also using the deal. We came several minutes late and it appeared that the chefs were waiting for us to start. Very considerate! We felt bad for being a bit late but everyone seemed okay with it and I'm glad they waited the few extra minutes. It made our experience more positive. Pro tip: make sure you get to your reservation a few minutes early if you can! Since the whole group will wait to start. We ordered the typical omakase set and it was all so fresh and delicious! I love the variety of flavors and textures. Every bite is truly a treat. We also ordered a few cocktails which were refreshing, and a spicy hand roll to finish off the meal. Highly recommend Sushi by Bou (at any location) for those who want to eat bougie on a budget! It's consistently good and affordable quality :) I will keep coming back!

    Julie T.

    Always a great fun place to visit. Not my first and not my last visit at sushi by Bou. I've visited all the locations in Chicago and always have an incredible time. The chefs are always very personable and friendly. Even gave us one on the house and a special one not on the menu too!

    See all

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Gabriel G.

    Gabriel G.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Gabriel G.

    Gabriel G.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    22 days ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Gabriel G.

    Gabriel G.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Gabriel G.

    Gabriel G.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Gabriel G.

    Gabriel G.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Gabriel G.

    Gabriel G.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Gabriel G.

    Gabriel G.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Gabriel G.

    Gabriel G.

    Helpful 10
    Thanks 5
    Love this 8
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Gabriel G.

    Gabriel G.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Gabriel G.

    Gabriel G.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jessica C.
    249
    38
    67

    8 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Gabriel G.

    Gabriel G.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Gabriel G.

    Gabriel G.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Gabriel G.

    Gabriel G.

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 3
    Love this 3
    Oh no 1

    11 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Gabriel G.

    Gabriel G.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Gabriel G.

    Gabriel G.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Gabriel G.

    Gabriel G.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Gabriel G.

    Gabriel G.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Gabriel G.

    Gabriel G.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Gabriel G.

    Gabriel G.

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 2
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Sarah R.
    255
    48
    10

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Gabriel G.

    Gabriel G.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ruth L.
    266
    525
    2558

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Gabriel G.

    Gabriel G.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Gabriel G.

    Gabriel G.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Gabriel G.

    Gabriel G.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Gabriel G.

    Gabriel G.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Leonardo C.

    Leonardo C.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Gabriel G.

    Gabriel G.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Steve D.
    181
    40
    41

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Gabriel G.

    Gabriel G.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Conor S.

    Conor S.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Cat T.
    419
    363
    2396

    4 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Tashi Y.

    Tashi Y.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Tashi Y.

    Tashi Y.

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Gabriel G.

    Gabriel G.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Brian N.
    229
    39
    10

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Gabriel G.

    Gabriel G.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Leonardo C.

    Leonardo C.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Gabriel G.

    Gabriel G.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of K C.
    0
    15
    0

    11 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Gabriel G.

    Gabriel G.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 3

    Sushi by Bou- Gold Coast Chicago @ Claridge House Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Sushi by Bou- Gold Coast Chicago @ Claridge House

    You might also consider

    Gaijin - Strawberry Donut

    Gaijin

    4.3(798 reviews)
    1.7 miFulton Market, West Loop, Near West Side
    $$

    Gaijin may be a small restaurant, but it makes a big impression the second you walk in. The dining…read moreroom isn't huge, but it has this lively energy that makes it feel exciting instead of crowded. I even was able to watch the chefs cooking just a few feet away. I could hear the sizzling from the grill, smell the food cooking, and by that point I was more than ready to eat. Our server was really nice and gave us a bunch of recommendations. Everything sounded good, but I ended up going with the Pork Belly Yakisoba. This dish was packed with flavor. The noodles had that smoky, slightly charred taste, and they were coated in just enough sauce to make every bite rich. The sauce brought a nice balance of savory, a little sweetness, and plenty of umami that soaked into the noodles. The pork belly was easily the best part. It was incredibly tender and juicy, with just enough fat that it practically melted in your mouth. Every piece had those caramelized edges that added even more flavor. Then you get the crunch from the cabbage and bean sprouts, the freshness from the scallions, and the little nutty flavor from the sesame that tied everything together. Hahaha I'd definitely come back. This is one of those dishes that sticked with me long after I left.

    There are few places in general across the US that serve up okonomiyaki, so I was thrilled to find…read morethis spot near my office. Ultimately, the food was just ok. I got the pork okonomiyaki lunch set and added a fried egg to it. I like that the table has a built in grill to keep it warm (I'm a slow eater, so this is extra beneficial for me). The bacon was quite salty, compounded by the okonomi sauce. Hoping the kombu vegetables would offset this, I mixed them into each bite to no avail. The pandan coconut mochi donut holes I chose were probably the highlight. They were crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside, and there was ample sauce for dipping. I think some people would find the service top notch here--constantly checking in on me and keeping water refilled. I guess that came with a cost: 3% service charge automatically applied, and the server proactively brought over a digital payment system, so the 18% tip I selected calculated off the total leading to what was essentially a tip of 23%.

    Photos
    Gaijin
    Gaijin - Pandan-Coconut Donut

    Pandan-Coconut Donut

    Gaijin - Old fashioned

    See all

    Old fashioned

    High Five Ramen

    High Five Ramen

    4.0(1.1k reviews)
    1.8 miWest Loop, Near West Side
    $$

    First time here we were seated immediately! It was Thursday night around 10ish I'll say. The staff…read morewas super friendly and helpful! Very welcoming and attentive, but then again it's a hidden little ramen spot where everyone's huddled up at a bar pretty much lol The food was absolutely delicious! I got their signature ramen and the pork just melted in your mouth. Noodles were 10/10, broth even better.! Will be coming back for sure. Hopefully we have a similar experience with waiting and dining

    I never leave negative reviews, but this experience was unacceptable. On 7/18/2026 at approximately…read more9:30pm-9-45pm My friend and I were waiting for our ramen, we watched one of the kitchen staff check the noodles by reaching into the bowl with his bare fingers, pulling out some noodles, and putting them directly into his mouth to taste them. Then wiped his fingers on a dirty rag and proceeded to finish making the bowls. A short time later, we were served that same bowl of ramen. Watching an employee use their bare hands and mouth on food that was then served to a customer was extremely concerning and completely unacceptable from a food safety and hygiene standpoint. It ruined the experience and made us lose confidence in the restaurant's food handling practices. I hope management takes this seriously, retrains their staff on proper food safety procedures, and ensures this doesn't happen to anyone else.

    Photos
    High Five Ramen - Entrance into the restaurant, located in the basement

    Entrance into the restaurant, located in the basement

    High Five Ramen - Ramen

    Ramen

    High Five Ramen - Orange slush

    See all

    Orange slush

    Tanoshii West Loop - Hamachi, Sake and Hon Maguro Nigiri Spicy Tuna Special Roll Negi Hamachi Makimono  Shishito Peppers

    Tanoshii West Loop

    4.2(378 reviews)
    1.6 miWest Loop, Near West Side
    $$$

    I have had nothing but the best of times here. I am surprised it has taken me this long to write…read morethis wonderful review for the wonderful team here. It starts with the service, Michelle and her family do a phenomenal job in making sure they try to accommodate anyone and everyone and their preferences. They offer so much good advice on what to order based on what your likes and dislikes are. The ambience inside is subtle and has a nice dimmed lighting with greenery/plants galore. They have indoor and outdoor seating as well as boots that stretch into the back of the restaurant. It's a very nice date spot or family spot because they do have picnic tables outside as well. Now for the food, the quality of ingredients here is beyond exceptional. They use fresh ingredients and you can tell immediately. The fish is fresh and the combinations for the specialty rolls are out of this world. The rice is nice and soft and doesn't feel old like most places. The quality the fish is very fresh and does not smell. They have come up with great specialty role selections and pairings and even do customer specific rolls. They end each meal with a serving of mango, which is very unique and lovely to end your meal with as a pallet cleanser. This place is a hidden gem tucked away on the busy street of Randolph within West Loop. I need to say this more than once the food and quality of service here is beyond exceptional and everyone needs to make it out here to give them a shot. They also have a happy hour lunch that is worth checking out, which has Bento boxes. Love everything about this place and will definitely be coming back here for years to come

    I popped in for dinner. Was going to try omakase but it was pretty quiet so i decided to grab a…read morecouple snacks instead. The miso was good, a bit salty. The ginger house salad was delicious! Zesty and flavorful! This was the highlight of my visit. The squid nigiri was good. I would have preferred it not be torched but it was still good. I added the ponzu sashimi appetizer because the sauces sounded delectable. It wasnt quite as loaded with flavor and texture as Id hoped but it was still good. I would have loved a stronger essence of the accents of chili oil and sesame oils. My server Kaylie was a sweetheart, very warm and attentive. It was nice that they offer happy hour specials.

    Photos
    Tanoshii West Loop
    Tanoshii West Loop - Salmon & Avacado

    Salmon & Avacado

    Tanoshii West Loop

    See all

    TenGoku Aburiya - Chawanmushi
 OR
 Salmon Carpaccio

    TenGoku Aburiya

    4.1(155 reviews)
    1.7 miWest Loop, Near West Side

    The soba is savory/umami style. When it comes with a bottle of seaweed vinegar by the bowl, I know…read moreit won't disappoint me. The ground meat, chopped chive, chopped scallion, dry sea weed all attach to the soba noodle aided by the egg yolk, one spoon floods different flavors into your mouth. The toro maki is fresh, the flavor is balanced even without dropping any soy sauce.

    The staff are nice, the interior is clean but uninteresting, and the food is disappointing. The…read moremenu is also formatted badly, the udon lunch set comes with a standard "plain udon" that isn't even on the menu as far as I can tell. The way it's written implies that you can choose an udon from the udon section, not the case. Minor gripe, but annoying nonetheless. The maki is fine, spicy tuna was bland but decent quality and the shrimp tempura maki was good but also lacking. Personally I prefer a spicy tuna with more tuna texture and this is basically puree, personal preference I guess. The udon is where my meal fell apart. For a lunch menu focusing on udon I expected a more flavorful broth and noodles that weren't overcooked. It's not like the underlying flavor is bad or anything, it's just barely there at all. The dashi is very weak and one dimensional, and the noodles taste like plain flour with a spongy overly soft bite. The toppings are extremely basic, I can't even comment on them because I'm not sure if I hallucinated them having any flavor or not. They might as well not exist. The shredded cabbage side salad is also mediocre. Dressing was weak and the cabbage could've been cut thinner. People I went with told me "maybe you just got the wrong things" but I don't think a chef should have losing items on their menu to begin with. Overall quite disappointed considering the name attached to this place.

    Photos
    TenGoku Aburiya - Interior

    Interior

    TenGoku Aburiya - Green Tea Sesame Pudding
 OR
 Ice Cream w/ Senbei

    Green Tea Sesame Pudding OR Ice Cream w/ Senbei

    TenGoku Aburiya - Lollipop wings

    See all

    Lollipop wings

    Mako

    Mako

    4.4(197 reviews)
    1.6 miWest Loop, Near West Side
    $$$$

    We went for my birthday dinner this year and wow did it ever over impress! The restaurant is TINY…read moreand we were seating at the counter with 3 other couples. The ambiance is reserved but comfortable and people were dressed from casual nice to more formal. The chef in front of us chatted a bit and was very friendly, happy to answer questions while he was prepping our next course. We had the matched wine courses as well and every one of them was a perfect hit for the course served. The service and the food were simple amazing. I would suggest this to anybody looking for the best Omakase experience in Chicago!

    Masterclass in sushi, but the hospitality falls flat…read more I booked Mako for a special occasion, landing a rare 6:00 PM spot. The 23-course Omakase ($890 total for two, including two drinks) was culinary perfection,exquisitely crafted, beautifully presented, and fascinating to watch from the bar seating. The restaurant's interior is clean, moody, and Zen-like with dramatic lighting on the prep area. It starts off pin-drop silent, but as the night progresses, the room warms up into a pleasant communal energy. Unfortunately, the service did not match the quality of the food. The atmosphere among the staff was cold and stiff. Roles were confusing (asking for a oaper napkin resulted in odd glares), and when my guest unrolled their wet towel (oshibori), a staff member scolded them for not "pinching" it correctly. Furthermore, after calling ahead regarding a birthday, I was told they couldn't accommodate a candle or small dessert. Handing out a signed paper menu at the end of the night feels like a cheap substitute for real celebratory effort at a Michelin-level price tag. The chefs are brilliantly trained, but the awkward hospitality and rigid micro-aggressions meant we left without that warm, satisfied feeling you expect from fine dining. Great food, but the overall guest experience needs work.

    Photos
    Mako - Wall behind the chef area

    Wall behind the chef area

    Mako - The very first appetizer, not on the final food list

    The very first appetizer, not on the final food list

    Mako - Sakuramasu (cherry salmon)

    See all

    Sakuramasu (cherry salmon)

    Sushi by Bou- Gold Coast Chicago @ Claridge House - sushi - Updated September 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...