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    AJI

    4.9 (95 reviews)
    Ultra High-EndSushi Bars
    Closed Closed

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    AJI ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Classy
    Good for groups

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    Wagyu
    Mariya G.

    10 seat omakase so definitely need a reservation. This was my first time at an omakase and it was so much fun! One of the owners was talking with everyone discussing the menu and making drinks. Typically not an eel eater I thoroughly enjoyed the eel here! Little touches like the honey pearls on top of the rolls were so good!

    Zach C.

    Everything was fantastic. Every piece of sushi was better than the last, nothing was disappointing. Good variety of sushi, and the flow of the selection felt intentional and smooth. The quality of the fish itself was top notch. The vibes of the room were great the whole evening, everyone there seemed to be thoroughly enjoying the food and the experience. Staff was friendly and very knowledgeable - the chef happily answered multiple questions about his knife selection, the sushi itself, and more. My partner has a gluten intolerance and they were perfectly accommodating, only switching out one piece of sushi entirely for another and modifying one more. The primary soy sauce they use is already gluten free, so I'd highly suggest this place if gluten is an issue for you. The cost was very fair for the quality of the experience. The full omakase course for two people, plus two cocktails each and a 25% tip ended up around $525. With no tip and no drinks it would've been closer to $300, but the service was worth the tip and the drinks were also very good and not expensive given their quality. We also both felt reasonably full afterwards, which is saying something for a higher end sushi spot. If I had to pick an area for improvement, the dessert (a (a special ice cream with a few interesting toppings) was our least favorite part of the meal, though it wasn't bad. Just didn't blow us away. But I don't go to an omakase spot expecting mind-blowing desserts anyways, so it really didn't detract from the night at all. Would highly, highly recommend giving AJI a try, especially for birthdays or other special occasions (I won't spoil everything, but they do a great job of making it feel special). They also are happy to let you take all the pictures and videos you want, even moving moving things closer to you as they're prepared to give you a better view if they notice you're filming. Just very accommodating and nice people who deserve all the business they get. 5/5 easily.

    Victoria C.

    Went for my partners birthday and boy did this place blow us away! the service was spectacular and the sushi was out of this world. Chef Nick was soo friendly and we really enjoyed our conversation as we ate our delicious meal and enjoyed a Lychee Martini (highly recommend). Dessert was light and flavorful. Pricing was affordable for omakase. This spot is a little hidden but once inside the atmosphere is really nice. 10/10

    Jane R.

    Wow!!! An amazing omakase place! Fresh fish and a great presentation of all the nigiri sushi! I loved how the chef walked through each course before we ate it. Everyone was so friendly and attentive! The lighting and layout of the restaurant felt so intimate and modern with the wood finishing. The service, food, and ambiance were top notch! Worth every penny!!

    My partner and I celebrated our anniversary here this past weekend, and Aji did not disappoint! Kristian, Nick, and Jarot were fabulous hosts and it was obvious they cared about their work and the guest experience. I use my left hand to eat chopsticks and all the Chefs seemingly noticed and made sure they placed the sushi in the direction that made it easy for me to pick it up. This small gesture just goes to show their impeccable attention to detail. The drinks and food were equally fantastic. The lychee martini is the best martini I've had in Chicago and the sushi was fresh, light, and flavorful. My partner and I also enjoyed a nice bottle of sake that paired well with the meal. I definitely plan to go back!

    Interior
    Steph H.

    This is a very easy 5-star to give. My husband & I eat nigiri on a very regular basis but have never had a full omakase experience. The space is unassuming from the outside for sure but inside it's intimate & thoughtful. The chefs were friendly, engaging and helpful. Even knowing this was our first time, one of the chefs (could be the owner), really helped guide our journey. We gained so much knowledge from him while we were there. The courses start on the lighter side and they work up to the more rich offerings. It was such a treat to watch these guys at work, the talent is apparent right away. Such a lovely experience. Everything we ate, we enjoyed. Even their cocktails were great, as well as the raspberry mule (non alcoholic) was delicious. Loved the changing menu board to explain each course.

    Erica K.

    We had a blast at Aji! Expect a close, intimate setting with all the chefs when you get that reservation. They serve up quality omakase with interesting flavor combinations that really bring out the best in the fish you eat. It shows how much research and care has gone into their dishes! The chefs were also so friendly and funny and we had a great time talking to them. Highly recommend booking this experience for a great time and meal'

    Munsanje M.

    Quite literally my favorite dining experience of the YEAR. We visited Aji for my 30th birthday and I don't think I can top off this experience. It was a small intimate space with only about 10 seats which made the service 100x better, our bartender and server that explained each course was so personable and welcoming. They were so kind and sang happy birthday and even put our names on the board! Every single course will blow your mind away. The fish was SO fresh but always had a unique twist to it to differentiate from just regular nigiri. The lychee martini is now in my running for one of the best in city and I highly highly recommend for any special occasion. Worth every single penny!

    Lydia Y.

    The only omakase in Lakeview! With only 10 counter seats, the dinner feels intimate and the team puts a lot of effort to guarantee a satisfactory experience. Service is friendly without being excessive and thats what gives Aji their good rating The sushi itself tastes fine, but nothing extraordinary. I thought their shari temperature was a bit warm in the beginning but cools down eventually. Their neta was kinda bland and too soft but that's just my personal preference ‍ I think Chicago sushi has a loooong way to go and from the spots I've tried, Aji had the fairest price-to-quality! Omakase $150 적당한 가격대의 미들급 스시야. 시카고 스시는 갈길이 멀다 스알못인 나도 느낄수있는 아쉬운 퀄리티. 여긴 그나마 가격대가 괜찮은 편이다. Yume랑 비교해도 가격 차이 만큼의 다름을 못 느낌. 구글리뷰가 진짜 좋은데 아마 백인 동네라서 그런듯...? 굳이 찾아갈 필요는 없음.

    Cute chopstick holder
    Chloe L.

    Amazing place! We're visiting Chicago and saw this recommended multiple times. This blew our already decently high expectations out of the water. It's a more contemporary interpretation of omakase. The staff is incredibly friendly. The food was great.

    Wow. Amazing. Favorite thing was the Eel and the hand roll. Must try! Kristian is very nice!

    Sushi bar table
    Su E. G.

    My husband and I closed on our house earlier in the day and went to AJI omakase dinner to celebrate this amazing milestone. 14 course traditional Omakase experience focused on nigiri sushi. On weekdays, they do 2 seatings per evening while weekends are 3 seatings. The seating is sushi bar only with 10 seats (sometimes up to 12 if needed). No tables available. Drinks, we got the old fashion (Japanese whiskey) and Yuzu margarita (Yuzu Citron was refreshing and slightly sweet). 13 courses are mainly seafood ranging from different fishes, shrimp, eel, and squid. Last final bite is A5 wagyu. My favorite was fatty Tuna with caviar and 24k gold, and the A5 wagyu nigiri with caviar and black truffles. 14th final course is dessert: homemade vanilla ice cream over Japanese rice crackers, freeze dried lychee, mandarin, and raspberry. Definitely recommend visiting. Meter Parking was easy and available but be sure to pay appropriately as towing trucks make routine routes in the area. On Thursday evening, dinner was about 2 hours and even had the option to order additional a la carte pieces as add on at the end, before dessert.

    Janice K.

    I've ate at Aji a few times already and everytime it has not disappoint! From their ambiance, drinks, sushi, and service, everything was so thoughtful so delicious and chefs are amazing~ Thank you Arnold and Kristian for always making our experience so wonderful. Highly recommend to try this place out ! Oh and their lychee martini is highly recommended as well!!

    a piece of sushi on a black plate

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    SUSHI-SAN - Truffle Shiitake Maki

    SUSHI-SAN

    4.3(1.3k reviews)
    4.3 miNear North Side
    $$$

    The express lunch deal is so good! You get to choose 3 items from a nice list of options for $21!…read moreIt's really nice if you want to try multiple things or are indecisive. I got the salmon bowl, the salmon avocado maki, and tuna crispy rice. The salmon bowl was definitely my favorite. The salmon was cooked very nicely so that it wasn't dry, and I loved the miso glaze that they put on top. It added a very nice sweetness to the salmon and created a very nice char. It was pretty small portion size though. The salmon avocado maki was solid too. It was the most filling! You get 5 pieces :) The tuna crispy rice was just alright. The rice part was good, but there was a bit too much mayo in the tuna. The miso soup that came complimentary with it was good too! I like how generous they were with the seaweed. Such a nice vibe inside! It's definitely a nicer spot, but still casual enough for lunch. I wanna come back for dinner! Service was quick and server was kind.

    genuinely one of the worst service experiences i've had in chicago…read more my friends and i were seeing each other for the first time in almost a year, so we came in excited and talkative. somehow, this was interpreted as us being excessively intoxicated. we weren't. the alcohol itself was NEVER the issue. restaurants should refuse service when someone is visibly intoxicated. the issue was an assumption about our table becoming a game of telephone among the staff. there appeared to be a staff or shift change, and whatever concern existed about our supposed "intoxication" was passed along rather than independently assessed. we were told we needed to get "food in us" before ordering drinks. we ate, asked again, and ultimately had to ask at least THREE times before being served. even then, our server made a pointed comment about how we finally had "food in us." i've eaten at sushi-san before and ordered drinks before food without ANY issue, so the contrast was jarring. then, when my friend finally received her drink, she was specifically told, "it wasn't you." if it wasn't her, who exactly at our table had been designated the problem, and based on what? apparently there was plenty of communication ABOUT us, just none WITH us. meanwhile, patrons who appeared FAR more intoxicated continued to be served normally. i also experienced an explicitly racist interaction with another patron in the bathroom who appeared considerably more intoxicated than anyone at our table. obviously sushi-san cannot control another customer's behavior, but the contrast was hard to ignore. they eventually brought us a sake bomb to make amends, but it was delivered with such visible reluctance that the gesture felt almost insulting. by that point, we ordered considerably less than planned because we wanted to leave. if someone is genuinely too intoxicated to serve, address them directly and respectfully. don't pass assumptions between employees, make a table repeatedly ask for drinks after meeting your "food in us" requirement, and tell one person "it wasn't you" while leaving everyone else to wonder who had been singled out. we came in excited to see each other after almost a year apart and left early because of the service. for a restaurant at this price point, the way this was handled was embarrassingly unprofessional.

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    Sushi Plus Rotary Sushi Bar

    Sushi Plus Rotary Sushi Bar

    4.3(558 reviews)
    6.8 miChinatown
    $$

    Rotary Sushi! Yes! Was so excited to go and treat Hubby for a pre-birthday lunch date after a day…read moreat the Japanese Botanical Garden:) The restaurant is nice and clean. The service was awesome, friendly and welcoming. We did plates off the belt and it was a good experience for us! Looking forward to going back again!

    What to Get/Not to Get/Do: All the food is great. What my complaint would be the poor customer…read moreservice, unfortunately Customer Service: Worst possible experience. I have recently got a gift card at Printer's Row location for my birthday. It clearly is for all their locations. Unfortunately, here at Chinatown's location, when they attempted to scan the card, the staff said it does not work and only works at the Printer's Row location. I ended up calling the Printer's Row location and had the team talk to the manager at the Chinatown location, and the manager at the Chinatown location kept their stance that it does not work, stating Printer's Row location does not know why the gift card does not work at the Chinatown location, and will not make any exceptions to accepting the gift card. Thankfully at the Printer's Row location, they are stating it's due to their system being new as they are a new location, and reason why the gift card is not working at all the locations yet which they are now working on to fix so it does not happen to any other customer moving forward. I just wish the Chinatown location showed some compassion to address the issue and still accommodate the inconvenience instead of us having to go back to the Printer's Row location to use the gift card Price: Approximately $20, not including tip for 2 people. There are lunch specials! Ambience: Indoor Seating Overall: Worst experience, especially to follow up my birthday celebration

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    Sushi Plus Rotary Sushi Bar - May no longer be on the menu

    May no longer be on the menu

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    Miru

    Miru

    4.3(336 reviews)
    4.7 miThe Loop
    $$$

    This place is expensive but the views and service make up for it…read more We each got to order our favorite drinks. Mine was a highball which really tasted like Tokyo, I was taken back on the first sip. We ordered the little gems, miso cod, edamame, duck yakisoba, hamachi sashimi, and chicken kaarage. Everything was good, and we didn't leave hungry so that's the good thing. I think you can go up there to get a drink and enjoy the views just the same, we went outside briefly for pix but recommend eating inside due to the windy conditions.

    Ambiance is really the entire concept here. The right seat at Breakfast and you see a glorious…read moresunrise in the Fall. Always a view to the Lake and The Chicago River. The best wait staff in the City of Chicago. I recommend the Tokyo Breakfast and a glass of Dom Perignon for starters. For those more interested in a traditional Midwestern breakfast they have plenty of eggs and always perfectly prepared to your liking. The best seating for cocktails is actually their rooftop lounge that is literally on top of the Chicago River and again looking at Lake Michigan and Navy Pier. It is so Chicago I expect Abe Frohman might just be sitting next to me at dinner. Next time you need a day off work to play bookie, begin or end your day at Miru or in a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder. Make sure Sloane Peterson buckles up and Bon Apettit !

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    Jinsei Motto

    Jinsei Motto

    4.6(150 reviews)
    4.6 miWest Loop, Near West Side

    Came here for the lunch omakase, which features dry-aged fish. Overall, the fish was fresh and…read morewell-prepared--nothing particularly mind-blowing, but definitely good quality, especially for a more affordable omakase option. My only critique is the pacing. Since the chef already had the fish sliced and prepped, I expected a smoother flow, but the meal took about an hour and a half for 14 pieces of sushi. It felt a bit slow, especially for a lunch service. That said, if you're looking for a reasonably priced omakase with quality fish, this is a solid choice.

    Went for restaurant week with friends. Got there early after work and was able to hit the happy…read morehour which is a decent deal. Got the snow maiden sake and the spicy scallop hand roll. Both were great. Our bartenders were lovely and very friendly. Found out this is a Malort tasting room and we were able to sample some different Malorts (the cocoa one was good!). Then we were taken back to our table for dinner. Our server was super friendly as well. Started with the miso soup and crispy tuna bites which were probably my favorite dishes. The taki yoki fritters weren't bad either. We saw people getting omakase, so we ordered a yummy looking piece they were receiving. It was just okay (chutoro truffle). The nigiri was also okay. The tuna piece was the only I really loved. The fish quality wasn't as high as I was expecting. The sushi was decent. A little too much truffle in the spicy blue fin tuna and a little too vegetable forward in the hamachi serrano. All in all, the atmosphere and amazing service pushed this up to a 4 for me.

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    Sushi by Bou- Fulton Market Chicago @ Emily Hotel

    Sushi by Bou- Fulton Market Chicago @ Emily Hotel

    4.5(133 reviews)
    4.4 miFulton Market, West Loop, Near West Side

    This was an amazing experience, I cannot wait to attend one of their limited seatings when I get…read moreback to Manhattan. 12 course omakase tasting menu and they played old school hiphop and rap from the 80s and 90s all night! My personal fav. Grafitti all over the walls and plush velvet furnishings. 1. Yellowtail 2. bluefin tuna 3. Salmon roe 4. Albacore tuna 5. Chopped toro 6. Scallops 7. Miso cod 8. Fluke 19. Uni 10. Otoro 11. Wagyu with uni 12. Tuna Hand Roll Sushi by BOU Fulton Market was perfectly intimate sexy and cool. The fish was fresh and delicious, and the chefs are so fast, and knowledgable! I love sitting at sushi counters and getting to see them work, I love the stimulation. Service was outstanding the chefs made wonderful reccomendations including their secret menu item ' The BIG MAC' Ambiance was killer and its a small space with limited seatings every night. Perfect for a sexy date night experience and great for talking !!

    This rating is SOLELY on how I perceive the dollar value of the experience. There's too many…read moreamazing omakase options in this city to where this one I'm still left a little hungry, a little wanting for more unique flavors rather than just nigiri, and a little more broke!! I've been here 2-3 times and each time it's just because I've gotten such a strong omakase craving and my other go-to spots are full for the night but this one just doesn't do it for me. There's other less expensive, more innovative omakase places in Chicago, I promise Upside: Chefs are absolute gems. The vibes are chic, cool and intimate, so my boyfriend and I have gone as a date spot. We got the upgraded "bougie" package and a few additional rolls cause again, basic menu doesn't hit the spot. Taken a friend there before too also opting for "bougie" because we wanted more rolls, but we split some dumplings on the way home if you catch my drift lol. For a slimmer 5'4" gal (my friend being literally a 4'10" gal) with a pretty decent appetite but nothing crazy, that shouldn't be happening consistently!

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    Sushi by Bou- Fulton Market Chicago @ Emily Hotel - The Big Mac

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