I've been wanting to Yokocho for the longest time! I finally got out of work early enough to catch them for lunch before they close and reopen for dinner. I got the Set of 3 Sandos - Spicy tuna, Chicken Katsu, and Match Strawberry. The spicy tuna was definitely holding up to the "spicy" part of its name, if you like spicy, you'll love that sando. It was a little too much spicy for my preference, but it still had a good amount of Tuna in it. The chicken katsu was pretty good too, I was hoping for the chicken to be somewhat warm, but it was on the cold side for sure. I did feel like one half of the sando, the chicken was a little too thin, and the other half the chicken was a good thickness. And finally, the matcha strawberry sando, my absolute favorite! I'm not a huge match fan myself, but the pairing with the sweet cream and fresh strawberries, you just can't beat it. I'm looking forward to coming back and trying their donburi bowls! Service was pretty fast as well, this came out in less than 10 minutes. read more

Yokocho - SANDO Spicy Tuna, Chicken Katsu Sando, Strawberry with Matcha Cream Sando - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I haven't had the sandos here but the sushi isn't great here. The rice falls apart and the uni... tasted like none of the uni I've ever had in a bad way. The rice seems to be missing rice vinegar or just not made right. The salmon was good and probably the only thing I'd eat. Wagyu was fine but honestly after watching them mince the meat and scoop it, it did turn me off from their food. I was expecting an elevated katsu sando and then I got some $100pp sushi place. It was super cold and they left the door wide open the entire time. It is dark here. Service is nice but the food just wasn't that good. read more

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Found this hidden gem in the West Loop as we were turned away on a busy cold Friday night from other places with long wait times. Sat at the bar watching craftsmen make drinks and hand rolls in front of us. The fixed price restaurant menu was great albeit pricey. Always a concern if I will still be hungry after a dinner like this but I was not. Each item for dumplings, hand rolls, etc., were works of art and wonderful. My favorite was the scallops hand roll. And, the strawberry desert was amazing. Small place felt very cozy and service was awesome. read more

This is my favorite handroll bar in Chicago. I almost want to gatekeep this, but there are select rolls for only $5 during happy hour. Seats are already limited and fills up fast. They have chefs who will make your roll in front of you which is a different experience than your usual sushi restaurant. They're really quick with it! I feel there are no bad options ordering there. I have tried most of their rolls and there are definitely some top competing ones like blue crab roll, spicy salmon roll and truffle hamachi. You're gonna have a hard time picking which ones to try. But trust me, they're all 10/10. I like the vibes of this place. It's dim, and they have loud (chill) music. Overall, I really highly recommend this place for some classic handrolls! read more

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I've only visited for happy hour, but Yokocho is a happy hour staple for me after work. Along some of the freshest fish in Chicago, their happy hour special is one of the best in West Loop. A fun time, I've always had great service even when the place is packed. Each hand roll is brought one by one to ensure quality. My favorites are the hamachi and spicy salmon. Overall, a cool spot to hangout with friends after work or a great place to pass time while waiting for a table elsewhere. read more

Came here for lunch and was impressed! I love its hidden location and how small it is. I sat at the counter where you can see them making the dishes. I ordered the Unagi bowl which was delicious and a few hand rolls. My favorites being the sea scallops and the truffle hamachi hand rolls. Excited to return and try dinner! Pricing was decent too! read more

Yokocho - Unagi Donburi Bowl - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I am so happy that we were able to come here for lunch. The sandwich trio was SO worth it. The egg sandwich is perfectly made and it reminded me of the egg sandos from 711 in Japan (just an elevated spicier version). The chicken katsu was my favorite! The chicken was perfectly crispy and didn't feel oily at all & the sauce that is used for this was so good. The matcha strawberry sandwich was not too sweet, perfectly airy, and absolutely delicious. I would love to come back here for dinner one day, but if you get a chance to stop by for lunch, it is 100% worth your time read more

Yokocho - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I came here for my second round after eating ramen. I ordered a set of three sandos (chicken katsu, deviled eggs, and matcha strawberry). Nothing was really special, but it was a place for a quick bite for lunch. The place was pretty small, and it did get busy, whether dining in or taking out. read more

Yokocho - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Came for happy hour and loved it!! Quick service, amazing hand rolls served fresh. Love how they space out the hand rolls so they don't get soggy. The place is small but it makes sense if they're dishing out hand rolls one by one from a small team of chefs. The chefs are all stationed behind the bar so you can literally see them prepping your hand rolls right there if you're at the bar. So cool. And accomodating for shellfish allergy! read more

Have only been for happy hour but fantastic hand rolls for $5 each. They also have beers and highballs for happy hour as well. read more

Yokocho - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We went for their restaurant week dinner. Good vibes inside but honestly wish we had better lighting at our table! My favorites from the menu were the chef's choice shiromi nigiri, truffle hamachi hand roll, and the strawberry matcha cream sando. I was hyped for the hand rolls but I wasn't too impressed with many of them. I usually love scallops but the additional pickled topping they had within the hand roll was too overpowering. I ended up loving the truffle hamachi though and ordered more of it off the happy hour menu! We also tried blue crab and negi hamachi but they were only ok. The strawberry matcha sando was the perfect way to end the meal. The matcha cream was super light and airy with the right amount of sweetness. I thought the bread would be soft and fluffy like the sandos in Japan convenience stores, however they are a bit firmer. Still very good Japanese milk bread though! I'd come back to try more of their sandos. The hand rolls? Probably only during happy hour. read more

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Absolutely a 10/10 meal AND experience! The chefs omakase coursed meal was incredible. The chef walked us through each dish that somehow was even more delectable than the last. Cocktails were wonderful and the matcha sandwich for dessert is a must! read more

very cute and vibey inside, get the matcha sando!! omakae experience was delicious as well

It's really like 3.5 stars for me. It's the first time I've been to this food alley on Green Street. Yokocho was pretty easy to locate on the left side from the entrance. They had both indoor and outdoor seating. We chose inside as it reminded me a bit of the narrow food streets in Tokyo and Osaka. However, I do think the lighting is a bit too dark, and the blue instead of yellow light throws it off a little. Now the food, it was okay, pretty average. We ordered the sandwich trio to share. We picked spicy tuna, egg salad, and strawberry matcha cream sandwiches. The spicy tuna and egg salad sandwiches were pretty forgettable. I actually prefer the egg salad sandwiches from the Japanese 7Elevens better. But the strawberry matcha cream sandwich was very good. We also got a truffle hamachi donburi bowl, and it was overpriced and just okay as well. I also got a spicy salmon handroll just to try, and it was again just average. As for service, our server was very friendly. She checked on us and came around whenever we needed her. So that's good. Not sure I'll be back, but I think it's worth trying. Here's something I hope their management sees, those thick gauze like napkins are an overkill and cumbersome, regular napkins would be fine. And it would be more helpful to provide a wet napkin or hand towel so we can wipe our hands before we touch those sandwiches and handrolls. read more

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For those that want to try the Japanese milkbread sandwiches, they are ONLY available for lunch Tuesday to Thursday. We went here for Thursday lunch and opted to sit in the tables instead of the counter as we mostly tried the sandwiches. We got the 3 for $30 deal with deviled egg, chicken katsu, and strawberry matcha. We also got one handroll per person and I personally opted for the truffle hamachi. The sandwiches were pretty good and fairly satisfying. The deviled egg one has lots of egg and fairly creamy, and the katsu one is decent, not as much meat as I hoped. The strawberry matcha had generous amount of matcha cream and the strawberries were fairly fresh, so I liked that one the most. The handroll, most of what they offer during all hours, is a bit underwhelming. Despite eating it immediately, the seaweed was a bit soggy and a small handroll was $9, (some of the others were $7-7.50 but still fairly high priced). So I would skip the handroll and only recommend the lunchtime sandwiches here. read more

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I'm a fan! came here for lunch on a weekday and got the sandos for takeout. I got the set of three and chose the chicken katsu, the spicy deviled egg (but I got mine non spicy so with no chili oil), and the strawberry matcha cream. it was honestly better than I expected it to be! all the sandos were really good, nothing ground breaking but very tasty. I will say it is pretty expensive for what it is, but you kind of know that going in for a spot in West loop. sandos are kinda small but not egregiously so. overall I would definitely get these again as like a little treat! read more

Yokocho - set of three sandos - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I've been here a couple times for happy hour - I love the hand rolls! The ambiance of the restaurant is nice. Small space so you may have to wait. The last time I came for happy hour (earlier this week) - we waited 20 minutes to be seated & felt like they were rushing us out since we didn't order drinks. We only had our table for 30 min before they just gave us our check. I do like the happy hour but beware if you aren't spending money on drinks - they will rush you out. Didn't have this problem the other times I came (and bought drinks). read more

delicious! went for the omakase tasting with some friends and had a blast! such great good and good service! read more

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We ordered off the takeout menu and had a yummy lunch in the middle of the workday. Strawberry matcha sando is a MUST. I don't even like sweets very much, but I ate my entire half and could've eaten more! The cream is very light and not overly sweet. And they're packed with good ratio of strawberry. Katsu sando was good, it was my second favorite. Spicy tuna sando was surprisingly very spicy. Flavor is good, but wouldn't recommend if you're not great with spice. The donburi bowls have a good amount of fish and felt like a satisfying quantity for lunch. Everything is takeout, but there is a decent amount of seating outside under the shade. read more

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Absolutely LOVE the strawberry matcha sando. So so good. Definitely get this! It's light and airy, with the perfect amount of sweetness! (Not overly sweet) I have tried getting the chicken katsu sando like 2-3 times but they never seem to have that available when I'm there. Maybe has to do with timing. Hoping to try that soon as well! (: read more

Yokocho - Strawberry with Matcha Cream Sando - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Came her for date night with my wife. Had amazing sushi and it didn't break the bank either. Nigiri and hand rolls were phenomenal. Service was fantastic. Definitely will be back! read more

If you're considering going for restaurant, please do! A hidden gem. The spicy tuna hand roll was amazing. I have also had nothing like the strawberry and matcha sando. read more

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Not pictured is the strawberry matcha sandwich I brought to go. The spicy tuna donburi bowl was delicious, but overall the bowl felt a tad dry. I was given some soy sauce, but I felt as it ruined the dish when added. I would love to come back & try some much sandwiches. The vibe inside is very neo Tokyo, probably works better for the dinner menu. read more

Yokocho - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Really enjoyed the dark intimacy of this small Japanese alleyway bar & the host sat us quickly because of our rsvp! The drinks were quite good from what I remember and the food was even better. The Strawberry Matcha Cream Sandos were actually the HIGHLIGHT of the whole night. Would actually just come back for those sandos only. And although the entrees: mini uni don, wagyu don, hamamchi tartare & nigiri were of high quality, they were quite small portions for the price. My boyfriend joked and said "is this for ANTS?" But all jokes aside, we really enjoyed this place and will visit again but will have to save some money. read more

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I really wanted to love this place as I had high expectations especially with the hype over the sandos, but the sushi was so so. I did the $59 restaurant week menu with an extra order of the tuna hand roll since happy hour was still going on until 6 pm. I enjoyed the cucumber starter and ebi dumplings. I really liked the truffle hamachi hand roll as well. I wanted to like the sea scallop hand roll, but the spice in it had a weird aftertaste. The nigiri had a good fish to rice ratio, but definitely had better quality fish elsewhere. The strawberry matcha sando tasted good, just hard to eat and falls apart easily. Overall vibes and atmosphere was great especially if you're with a group of friends. It was intimate with dim lighting and had decent background music. Service was really good as well! Happy hour might be more worth it. I'd still go back to give the other hand rolls a chance and maybe go during lunch to try the other sandwiches. read more

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Happy Hour is ok - also if you are gluten free you have limited options as they put soy sauce in all of their sauces including spicy mayo! If I wasn't gluten free I'm sure I would've had a better experience. read more

As soon as you enter you transfer to a cute Japanese village, dark and cozy atmosphere. We tried sushi flight and it was amazing. The place is pricy but the quality you get is totally worth it! read more

Yokocho - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Delicious pretty food. I tried the Wagyu Don - A5 beef, Ossetra caviar, and egg yolk and it was the perfect bite. I also tried the ONE of each either nigiri or sashimi and went with nigiri. My favorite were the sea urchin and bluefin tuna. Rounded out the meal with the strawberry and matcha cream sando. Excellent food and great service. read more

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The yuppies of west loop are gonna LOVE this!!! Yokocho is cool, hip, and posh. Very nihongo decor and style. Really modern sushi place, bar style seating and mini 2 people booths, so recommend for solo dining or dates. It's only a lunch counter during the day, and they're working marketing like a dog bc yokocho is all over tikkytokky and insta reels. The guerilla marketing campaign is what got us here today, but instead of eating those sandos that we saw in the video, we sat for dinner. Okay it's pricey but the quality is amazing, we got nigiri and hand rolls and you know what, fk it we ball, I also got the spicy tuna sando. The hand rolls are good value and delicious, the slices of fish for the nigiri are generous and buttery. The sando was delicious the bread was so pillowy and the spicy tuna is pretty spicy, they really committed. Tbh it's so pricey that I don't think I'll roll through that often but I did enjoy splurging bc it was so decadent and yummy. read more

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Great food and friendly staff. The food was amazing - some of the best Japanese in Chicago. Ambiance was great - cool music played at a not-too-loud volume. Happy to have a spot like this in Chicago. read more

Went here for a weekday lunch and got the chicken katsu sandwich for takeout. The portion sizes were on the smaller end, so I recommend the set of 3 if you're feeling hungry. The sandwich was really good though! Great flavor and texture. The service was nice, and the space is dark and cozy. read more

Went during restaurant week and it was so good! The strawberry matcha dessert was AMAZING. All of the hand rolls were very yummy too I would definitely come back read more

This is a spot definitely worth checking out. The overall space is small but nice and intimate. I came here for a birthday dinner and really enjoyed myself. I would say the handrolls were the highlight! For the handrolls I got the spicy shrimp, truffle hamachi, and the toro. All were supper delicious but definitely recommend getting the hamachi and the toro! The cocktail I got was the persimmon side car which was super balance and really refreshing being not too sweet or too bitter. Definitely will be coming back to check out the omakase they offer! read more

Yokocho - Mini uni don - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Amazing neighborhood spot!!!! Such good happy hour deals. Menu changes weekly. Highly recommend this restaurant. The vibe is amazing, the food is even better. All of the nigiri is absolutely delicious. Service ALWAYS 10/10 read more

Finally was able to come in during lunch to try the sandos here. The service was great. I ordered the set of 3 sandos (strawberry matcha, egg, katsu) and a couple hand rolls. All of it was delicious. The katsu had a strong onion taste which I didn't love since I am not a fan of onion so I'd probably opt for a different sando to try next time. I wish they served these sandos on the weekends so I can go more often. The limited hours makes it hard for me to be able to go. read more

* this review is specific to the sandos offered at lunchtime, so can't speak to the ambiance or service * I really cannot say anything critical about these sandos! Though the days + hours that they're offered are limited, you MUST make it a priority to check these out. The bread was so thick and fluffy. Some time passed from when the sandos were ordered til I got home and finally ate them, so I was worried that the bread might become soggy and clumpy, like with typical bread from the store. This was the not the case here and the bread held it's composure much to my delight. They were generous with the fillings, and at $30 for all three they were definitely pricer than your average sandwich, but well worth it. The spicy tuna definitely had a kick, and the strawberry matcha was so creamy and not too sweet :) the hallmark to most Asians of a great dessert. 11/10 recommend! read more

Yokocho - Chicken Katsu Sando; Spicy Tuna Sando; Strawberry with Matcha Cream Sando - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Was very excited to try this place and try the Japanese Sandos. I had the spicy tuna, the chicken Katsu and spicy deviled egg Sandos. My favorite was the spicy tuna. It was so spicy it may have been one of the spiciest food I've ever eaten. The truffle himachi donburi bowl was a little bit of a letdown, but I scooped some of the spicy tuna from the Sando into the bowl and it was incredible so I would recommend the spicy tuna bowl. The bread of the sando was light and fluffy, and the service was fast and friendly. read more

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We had the "Trust the chef" 16 course omakase for $175 the 8 pm slot. The food was overall pretty good and the plating was done well. However, our reservation was at 8 and we got seated a little after 20 minutes past. We were provided a complimentary drink to make up for the wait time. In addition, I documented every piece we got and only realized later that we only ended up getting the 15 out of the 16 pieces, which is sad considering the price that we paid for the course. read more

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This place is a WHOLE ass vibe. Quaint, intimate, tasteful interior, phenomenal food. Kinda off the beaten path of west loop which I love. The courses were delivered in a timely manner and their mezcal cocktail (forget the name) was delicious. read more

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Is there some type of coordinated social media marketing and review push for this place? Seen all over Instagram, and reviews are stellar here, but the reality is quite different. Nigiri with sushi rice that falls apart into a mess at first touch, messy hand rolls that might as well have been crushed together in a fist, and Faux Waygu Don with poorly fried rice. Also we were going to order the signature Strawberry sando you've probably seen all over social even after all of that until we saw the bagged white bread with a twist tie. Overhyped underdelivery. read more