My friend was visiting from out of town and we decided to try AJI for omakase. The co owner introduced each dish and the atmosphere was relaxed. Even though omakase can feel intimidating or uptight, it felt comfortable. Most of the dishes had a hint of lemon which I'm not a fan of, but I understand it helps balance the fishiness for others. When there were a few pieces without lemon, just the fish itself, I was blown away. The fatty tuna with caviar and uni tasted like a million bucks. The dessert was also incredible sooo rich and full of flavor. Overall, I highly recommend AJI and would definitely come back again. read more

See all

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. read more

See all

My wife and I went here for a date night and this place was amazing. The only downside is the seating on the corner has a little bit of difficulty seeing the board which is where they would list the item you were having with the main ingredients. However the owner was accommodating by ensuring he explained it well and stayed by our area because of that. Every item was extremely delicious and there were event a few items that surprised me because I traditionally don't like it. They did have one non-alcoholic drink and went asked if they had any other the owner quickly offered options of alcoholic drinks with alternatives to the alcohol to make them non-alcoholic. My wife is not a huge Sake fan, but was willing to try. The owner was able to offer some suggestions based on wines my wife normally drinks. He offered tasting of both and while my wife ended up sticking to her mixed drinks we appreciate the willingness to give my wife samples. This is an amazing date night place. I would suggest letting them know during your reservation if you do not eat meat as one of the items was beef. However that did not take away from the overall experience we had which was amazing. read more

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! read more

See all

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 read more

See all

Everything from the food to the owner of the restaurant was perfect. The lychee martini was So Good. We also had the white maiden sake and one other sake. The chefs were very kind and the ambience was amazing. Our favorite sushi was the scallop and unagi. I've been to omakases before but this was a first where we felt at home and very comfortable. :) thanks for an amazing experience in Chicago we will definitely coming again. read more

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! read more

See all

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!! read more

See all

The fish was fresh and everything was so delicious. My party and I were running late but the staff was accommodating and friendly with plating the pieces that the chef had already put together. I appreciate that they have a changing menu board. It was one of my friend's birthday so they were able to customize the message board to say happy birthday to her. The dessert was one of my favorite parts. It's homemade vanilla flavor and has a unique touch with the frozen Japanese fruit - one of the fruits reminds me of captain crunch berries! A spot worth checking out! read more

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' read more

See all

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! read more

See all

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. read more

See all

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. read more

See all

AJI is a Korean-owned omakase restaurant, located in the Lakeview 'hood - they offer 3 seatings on the weekends, and 2 seatings throughout the week. The omakase includes 15 courses, which, as other omakases, include nigiri and a homemade dessert. Our set included Hotate scallops, Hirame, Kanpachi, Ika, Madai, Hon Suzuki, Sake Toro, Hon Maguro, Unagi, Saba, Kinki, Ama Ebi, a Toro Temaki handroll, and A5 Japanese Wagyu, finishing up with vanilla ice cream. We felt that the sushi could have been more fresh, as there were some pieces that had a slight 'fishy' taste to them. Service was kind and friendly, and the place definitely seems to be a favorite for date night. +make advance reservations for omakase seating +friendly service read more

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. read more

See all

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

See all

15-course omakase to try! The outside is unassuming but the ambience and decor is really sleek with the natural wood paneling, sliding door, and playing some r&b and other old school jams. I was loving the vestaboard in the back that changed with each course so you knew what fish you were having and all the complimenting add-ons to it. Made it engaging to see the board change and saves paper not paper menus (we love clever sustainability options) Each course was really balanced and creative with something savory like hibiscus salt, to citrusy/sour like yuzu aioli or pickled garlic, and even sweet like honey pearls and grape mustard and all the seared gives the slight smokiness and the flame entertainment. Pieces change based on what's in season and what they get flown in! The pieces we received were: 1. Hotate scallops 2. Hirame (Fluke) 3. Kanpachi (Amberjack) 4. Ika (Squid) 5. Madai (Japanese Sea Bream) 6. Hon Suzuki (Striped Bass) 7. Sake Toro (Salmon Belly) - one of our favorite bites! 8. Hon Maguro (Blue Fin Tuna) 9. Unagi (Fresh Water Eel) 10. Saba (Blue Mackerel) 11. Kinki (Shortspine Thornhead) - another favorite piece and my first time trying this type of fish! 12. Ama Ebi (Sweet Shrimp) - I really liked the addition of sea grapes on here 13. Toro Temaki Handroll (Tuna Belly) topped with Uni -of course delicious 14. A5 Japanese Wagyu (from Hokkaido) 15. Vanilla Ice Cream - some of the best vanilla ice cream I've ever had! Also topped with a wakamomo peach which was another first for me too! Definitely recommend! read more

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. read more

See all

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!! read more

See all

Omakase. Chef's Choice. Two chefs. Arnold + Christian. Ingredients great. Experience fantastic. Uni scooped. Wagyu seared. Truffles shaved. Sake chilled. Stomach full. Palates satisfied. Make res. Go now. Horse mackerel. read more

See all

A birthday dinner here with my children was a fantastic experience. The excellent quality of the food was enhanced by the delightful staff, especially the owner. Creative, tasty sushi, great sake in a relaxed setting conveniently located. Enjoyed the sign above the bar detailing each offering. Higholy recommend this restaurant. read more

An absolutely wonderful experience and a huge step up from the typical sushi experience. Coming from California this is pretty exceptional and on par with what we experience there. read more

Treated myself to dinner at Aji on a business trip and I really enjoyed it! All of the seats are around the sushi counter and both the sushi chef and the owner were funny and engaging. It felt like a really intimate experience. The sushi was delicious. I loved how much thought and care was put into preparing each piece. The combination of flavors were delicious. The downside which didnt affect me much is that its a fast meal. We were done in just over an hour. It's perfect for a weeknight meal but if you are looking for a slow paced date night, you may want to plan for drinks after. Regardless, dont skip out of Aji. Its an omakase that I plan to return again. read more

Tucked away in an unassuming alley is Aji, a great omakase place. It's a small establishment without many seats, but it serves fresh fish presented well. That being said, Aji did not blow me away as far as the food was concerned. Every dish was well-crafted and full of flavor but I wouldn't consider it a "must-go." The staff were extremely friendly and informative, though. It's also pretty low-key as far as omakases go, if that's your vibe. read more

See all

After walking past the unassuming exterior of AJI countless times, I decided to make a reservation and try it out. I am very happy I did- absolutely amazing omakase meal. We were served 14 courses in an intimate 8-10 person dining room. Each course is delicious with the perfect balance of flavors. The sake I had paired perfectly with the meal. The staff were very friendly, engaging, attentive, and professional. The restaurant is beautifully designed and offers an intimate aesthetic. The location is in a safe area, easily accessible by CTA with easy street parking available for those who prefer to drive. I hope more restaurants of this caliber move into the neighborhood because it is a delight to have it next door. The quality of Food justifies the higher price point but diners should expect the meal to run 150-250 per person depending on drink orders. read more

Where do I start, my first Omakase experience. It was truly an amazing experience for me. It's Omakase meaning "leave It up to you." As in the menu up is up to the chef at random. So there will be something's you might not like because it may not be your cup of tea. They opened 6 weeks ago. Aside all things all of it was truly delicious. Started with the Mezcal Negroni and my partner had the Okinawa Ice Tea. Both very good. They have a Sake...Im not going to be the one held responsible for giving the name out, but it is sssoooo good like very good if you like sake just trust me tell them you want the really good one and they will know what I'm talking about. Lol I DID NOT MENTION THIS LOL. So our rolls in order: -Sweet raw shrimp with yuzu pearls- very good start really liked it -Hokkaido scallop with Japanese aioli- also very good forgot to take a photo, it's the one being torched. -Hirami one of my top faves very lemony/limey loved it. Squid with plum mustard - didn't really like this one texture wise, I felt like it was chewy again my opinion but, the plum mustard went very well with it. -Bluefin tuna with a walnut mustard- another one of my top favorites, the Bluefin was extremely and so good, not a fan of mustard honestly, but it tasted only like walnut so if went so well. -Scottish salmon- love salmon but, didn't really like this one to me it had a very vinegary taste couldn't pin point the flavor honestly. -Santa Barbra uní with a compressed caviar chip- My first time having Sea Urchin, it was good however the buttery texture of the uní felt like raw oyster and I don't like that texture for some reason, but it was still really good not going to lie. -Mackerel with wasabi and Puzo salsa- love it also a top fave. The mackerel was very Smokey and I will say the wasabi was not like super spicy so it went really well with each other. -Eel unagi with salted butter on top- omg! I can order a plate of this! This was my absolute favorite of all. It literally was the perfect tasting roll. All the flavors together were so good I can't even begin to describe it, sweet, savory, buttery oh so good. -White tuna with a shiso butter and fresh squeezed yuzo I feel like it was very simple but very good. -Yellow tail hamachi with wasabi sauce also very good. -Salmon belly with truffle oil toasted sesame seed- I liked it but the texture definitely felt very fatty. -Hamachi belly with caviar- I'm really not a fan of caviar this was my least favorite honestly. Again fatty texture did not like. -Fatty tuna-I did like this one texture wise it was very good -A5 Japanese waygu with caviar and black truffle- oooommmmmggg so this is up there with the eel. It was so good, like so good, don't like caviar but it went so well together with the black truffle. Definitely would order a plate of this if possible. -Tuna hand roll- really enjoyed it, I'm very picky with seaweed but this, so delicious. -Golden kiwi with balsamic and black sesame- honestly I would have never though this mix would ever taste so good. I loved it so much. Everything here was amazing and I'm so thankful they gave me such a great experience. It's definitely a must and I will for sure be back again. read more

See all

First time having omakase in Chicago and Aji set the standard. The atmosphere was modern, sleek, & personable. The chefs and host were engaging and answered all of our random questions. The food experience felt innovative in flavors & freshness. I really appreciated the use of the vestaboard to read the flavors touching my tongue & understanding how they flow together. I believe from my research, this was on the lower end of omakase experiences: 15 course meal for $150. read more

See all

Aji is young talent rolled into an omakase course. The restaurant seats 10 persons at the counter. It's dimly lit, but not too dark as there are spotlights directed towards the counter and also to the chef's workstation. The omakase itself was fast-paced - expected about a course every 5-10 minutes. All things considered, the experience lasted about 1.5 hours. Service was excellent. The meal started off with cuts of white fish before advancing to fattier cuts of red. Overall, the flavors were delicate and soft - the complements that came with the nigiri never overpowered the flavor of the fish, although I would have like to see a little more heavy-handed use. It felt like I was peeking into a wonderful flavor profile, but never actually reaching in to grasp it. Some of my favorites were maguro with walnut mustard, the unagi with shisho butter, and of course the toro with uni, caviar, and gold flakes. A note on the latter: you'd think that it'd be an overpowered mess of creaminess, but this over-the-top nigiri ended up tasting quite savory without overpowering the flavor of the fish. I had ordered a cocktail to go with the meal, but in hindsight the flavors were all so light, the cocktail would sometimes interfere with the dishes. I would recommend just water, or some tea. The entire restaurant is constantly improving. The experience still feels a little rough around the edges - but it's apparent that they are constantly thinking of ways to better the experience. For example, they recently purchased and mounted a split-flap display to showcase each course and ingredients that went into each dish. Many of the more established omakase places feel like they have dug their niche within the city - Aji seems like it's still looking to make its name. I can't wait to see what they have in store for the future, and I'll be back to check it out again. read more

See all

Long overdue review. I was excited to see what Aji had to offer since great food is hard to come by in Lakeview. We all ordered the 14-course omakase dinner, which included dessert. This was my first omakase experience and the service and attention to detail was great. It was a cool experience to sit at the sushi bar and watch the nigiri being prepared one course at a time (I still have the urge to buy a blowtorch). Overall, it was a delicious meal and after 14 courses, plus dessert I left quite full. It was nice not having to leave the neighborhood for an excellent dinner. read more

See all

Aji is beyond a meal, it's an experience. The staff as well as the host, Christian, were incredibly attentive. Each piece is thoughtfully and dutifully carried out. Fabulous environment. This was our first omakase experience and will be hard to beat. We will most definitely be back! read more

My omakase menu: Madai - honey caviar Ika - plum jam Hotate - uzu aioli, bonito Hon maguro - walnut mustard Hamachi toro - pickled Asian pear Sake - Kombu salt, negi, ikura Kampachi Toro Uni ikura chirashi - smoked char roe, shiso leaf Unagi - shiso butter Shima aji - smoked soy Aji - wasabi kizamu Escolar - Kombu salt, lemon juice Chutoro - golden beluga caviar Australian Wagyu - Australian winter black truffle, Kombu salt, golden beluga caviar Golden kiwi - balsamic glaze, dehydrated mandarin, dehydrated lychee Mallorca Melon Tea - cantaloupe, pineapple, honeydew, hibiscus Chef Christian did an excellent job with the quality of fish, rice, and flavors. Nigiri held together well. Squid's texture was a little firmer than it should be and scallop's flavor needs to be more pronounced. Dessert was tasty but maybe not omakase level. If I remember correctly, they're still playing around with the menu, going to hire at least one more chef, and possibly adding hot food/skewers to the restaurant in the future so we'll see how the dining experience and quality changes. Service was good. I had a nice time and would come back. read more

See all

$150 omakase with : Toro, Wagyu, Truffle, Caviar & Gold Flakes? Thank you Kristian & Arnold for an incredible evening, celebrated my boyfriend' s birthday with the most unique , approachable, & intimate omakase I've seen so far Super intimate: - 2 seatings per weekday (6/8pm) - 3 on weekends (5/7/9pm) Very cozy & chill, each seating is 2 hours HUGE bites no skimping! Rare & unique fish + meat + pairings imported from Japan, Korea like Shortspine Thornhead, Okinawa Sea Grape, Yuzu Pearls Nice menu on the wall that switches each dish, so you know what you're eating Perfect for celebrations: We celebrated 3 birthdays! Lychee Martini $15 (most popular) Smoking Fresh $14 - mezcal, watermelon, + lime (exec chef's favorite) 15 courses: Hirame fluke - ingawa , sea salt & lime zest brushed with Ika squid - flew seared with light soy and grape mustard Kampachi - amberjack, soy, yuzu pearls, hibiscus salt Madai - sea bream, soy, lemon zest, kombu salt Hon suzuki - striped bass - soy, umeboshi (plum), dried Shiso Kin media - Golden eye snapper, soy & honey pearls Unagi - fresh water eel - flame seared with shiso butter Horse Mackerel - smoked soy, grated ginger, chives Hotate scallops from Hokkaido - soy, smoked trout roe, yuzu aiolo Kinki - Short spine thornhead , soy, and poached garlic (seasonal, hard to find) Ama Ebi - sweet shrimp with soy, lemon, Okinawa sea grape Escolar - white tuna- lemon, truffle butter, kombu salt, soy . Sashimi course with 4 pieces + (just brought it back) Toro uni gunkan - blue fin tuna belly, soy, Santa Barbara sea urchin , golden Kaluga caviar , compressed caviar shaved (Bessy best piece) A5 Japanese Wagyu - soy, golden Kaluga caviar, sea salt, black truffle Vanilla ice cream - bubu arare, black sesame, freeze dried raspberry, mandarin orange, & wakamomo peaches Follow @biteswithbessy for more read more

AJI - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Wow, what an amazing perfectly curated experience. I went there this weekend for a friends birthday dinner and we try to do a high-end experience anytime we have a celebration and this exceeded all expectations. The sushi was super fresh and as mentioned in other comments went from slightly lighter creations to more rich flavors. My favorites were probably the first and last bite! Don't want to spoil for anyone but definitely something to try! Cocktails were tasty, and perfectly balanced the meal. Service and attention was fantastic as well! We were the first reservation of the night and with the limited seats, it felt very intimate almost like a private chef experience. Will definitely be back! read more

See all

This restaurant is amazing! We had their omakase 15 course dinner and it was hands down the MOST delicious meal I've ever eaten. Paired with their sake, it was nothing short of perfection. read more

See all

I surprised my sister with this Omakase experience for her birthday and could not have made a better choice. The nigiri was beautifully presented and the thoughtful additions, like honey pearls and walnut mustard, beautifully accentuated the fish. The sushi chef, sous-chef, and owner also engaged in such a fun, thoughtful manner throughout the night! Without hesitation, I'd recommend Aji to anyone looking for an Omakase experience in Chicago. read more

5/5 stars I've been to a few Omakasa and this was by far the best experience I've ever had! The atmosphere was beyond amazing! The quality of the fish was super fresh and you can taste how much love and care they put into every course. They treat you like family! The service was on another level! Would definitely recommend everyone to try this place! read more

AJI - Toro-uni with caviar - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Everything about this place is amazing. The sushi is fresh and delicious. The service was above and beyond outstanding. The place is intimate and very clean. Definitely a unique experience. read more

AJI - Absolutely the best art work - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Fabulous omekase well made fresh and well presented. Service is impeccable. They are quite personable and fun. Best omekase I had in Chicago so far. read more

See all

Not really traditional Japanese sushi, little bit of fusion added But all ingredients are top quality even to ginger and fresh wasabi Only 10 seating, very cozy and great service Kristian and chef Arnold gave us awesome taste of sushi and great experience read more

Honestly would give it a 10/5 stars but Yelp won't let me. Best Omakase in Chicago. Been to many others but Aji is the one always come back to. Portion size of all the nigiris are decent size compared to most smaller bites. The toppings are refreshingly different and unpredictable. The rice is seasoned perfectly balanced with the fish. Great craftsmanship and hospitality from two great chefs in the city. Happy to continue my support for this local underrated Omakase spot in the heart of Boystown. read more