Gaijin may be a small restaurant, but it makes a big impression the second you walk in. The dining room 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. read more

Gaijin - Pork Belly Yakisoba - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

There are few places in general across the US that serve up okonomiyaki, so I was thrilled to find this 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%. read more

Gaijin - service charge 3% added, plus the tip calculation was off of the total including this default service charge... - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

It's a cute space, with a great bar right when you walk in. Exposed brick on one side, and a long counter/griddle with seats on the other. We sat at the counter and enjoyed the show. The staff was friendly and helpful. We ordered the tuna starter. Sesame coated and seared beautifully. The sauce was light and citrusy. A great starter. We ordered some yakisoba with octopus. It was delicious, with crunchy fresh vegetables, along with the soft noodles and octopus. We got to watch them make it right in front of us! We then had the pork belly okinomiyaki. Again, nice crispy vegetables cooked into the pancake with the oorke belly. Covered in a delicious sauce. They also have a Hiroshima style, which combines the vegetables and protein with a pancake, on top of yakisoba noodles and finished with the fried egg. A bit of everything, and something to try another time. We also tried the mochi donuts for dessert. We were deciding between the matcha-citrus and coffee. We chose the matcha. They bring the freshly fired donut with the matcha-citrus sauce on top, with a donut hole perched in the middle. They also brought 3 donut holes with the coffee sauce for use to try. The donut was hot and delicious, the sauce not too sweet: we rarely order dessert, but this was worth it: I would definitely recommend Gaijin for a unique and fun experience. read more

I had such an amazing birthday dinner experience at Gaijin. The Osaka style okonomiyaki was very tasty and paired nicely with my drinks (Toki highball and Mint Julep). The Orlando and the rest of the staff were great! The birthday desert was unforgettable! In addition to serving my birthday cake (that my daughter brought), a Red Panda (made from shaved ice) with ice cream with a candle, and a mochi donut was part of the celebration! So many goodies:) The vibe was lively. Loved the colors of reds, dark wood, and glass. Such a perfect location near a train station. I was blown away. I can't wait for my next visit! read more

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Our little fam had such a great, cozy weekend lunch here. The restaurant wasn't busy or packed, and the host and staff were so friendly. We really enjoyed the Beef Osaka and the pork belly soba noodle stir-fry - both were yummy and satisfying. The red panda shaved ice with ice cream was also a huge win for our toddler. Overall, we had a really nice experience and will definitely be back. read more

Gaijin - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Wow! What an incredible experience this place was. We were taken here by our friends while visiting from out of town. This restaurant is such a unique and delicious experience. I have a picky eater for a wife. She is hesitant to try almost anything new. So cabbage mixed with batter and meat and maybe noodles? Non-starter. No way! This was so highly recommended though, that she took a risk and dove right in. She loved every one of the three okonomiyaki flavors that we ordered! Picky eaters, have no fear! It's such a unique menu. Places like this do not exist in America. So it was exciting from the onset. On top of that though, it was one of the most delicious meals I've ever had -- easily in my top 5 restaurants I've ever been to. The restaurant's decor evokes the feeling of pictures that I have seen of Japanese streets as well. It's both subtle and effective. The noise level was maybe a bit high, but I was also able to hear my friends for the most part. I don't like my restaurants to be too quiet, so it was a nice level. The service was very kind and attentive as well. My water glass never went dry! Go there! ASAP! What are you waiting for?! No excuses! Get in line! Get a reservation! Get me a reservation! I want to go back!!! read more

Gaijin - Hiroshima Style Okonomiyaki - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Wow! My friends took us to this restaurant while we were visiting Chicago, and it was amazing. We had a reservation and did show up about 15 minutes late. The hostess said we could still be seated but another reservation was coming an hour later. I had never had okonomiyaki before, but I got to try three different kinds plus some yakisoba. We ordered four dishes and shared them among the four of us. We got the pork belly yakisoba, pork osaka style okonomiyaki, shrimp osaka style okonomiyaki, and the mushroom and yuba Hiroshima style okonomiyaki. My favorite dishes were probably the pork ones, but I really liked trying all of them! When our waiter asked if we wanted dessert, we said how the hostess told us we would need to leave by a certain time for the next reservation. However, he said we could order dessert anyway. I thought it was weird the hostess was being so finicky about the time, since usually 15 min late is within reason. We did get the red panda. It's mostly ice and a little ice cream, but it was very good and so cute! I would definitely come here again! It is a bit loud if you have anyone in your party who has trouble hearing. You are also quite close to other people in the restaurant. read more

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Gaijin is a fantastic spot for okonomiyaki. The location is super convenient, right off the Morgan stop. The service was great and our food came out quickly. We tried both the pork and the shrimp, and while both were good, the shrimp was definitely my favorite. The pancakes come with a lot of sauce, which is authentic, but it was a bit much for me personally, so I'd probably ask for the sauce on the side next time. We finished with the black sesame strawberry kakigori, which was delicious. It's a pretty sizable portion, so perfect for sharing! read more

Gaijin - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Great food place for okonomiyaki (Japanese cabbage pancakes) and kakigori (shaved ice). We got the octopus Osaka-style, traditional Hiroshima-style, Gaijin salad, and black sesame kakigori. read more

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Tad overpriced. A welcome dish amongst the typical Chicago dishes. Star of the show was definitely the accompanying garlic. Served piping hot which I loved but be prepared to wait for it to cool down. If seated at the counter there is a substantial amount of heat so in the summer this can be annoying l. Drink was decent, was their version of a manhattan. read more

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This place is special! Immediately transported me back to Osaka when I walked in. Was at Taste of Randolph with a big group of friends and had to sneak off for a solo mission to get Okonomiyaki! Even though everywhere was insanely busy the host at Gaijin was so accommodating and sat me at the Chef's table. I was on a slight time restraint so I wasn't gone too long before my friends realized I was missing. The waitress was so nice and I was able to put in an order for a Highball and Pork Okonomiyaki very fast. Sipping on a Highball while watching the food cooking up in the kitchen captured the exact vibe I missed from Japan. The Pork Okonomiyaki was unreal! A taste and quality I never thought I would be able to get back home. Sweet, Savory, Umami, all the flavors that make them so addictive. I can't wait to return and bring friends. They have Hiroshima style with the yakisoba which I also miss from my travels there. We are going to have to order multiple of everything. & MUST try their donuts, they look dangerously good. read more

Gaijin - Highball & Pork Okonomiyaki (Osaka Style) - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Amazing food! Loved everything, especially the pork belly yakisoba and traditional Hiroshima. Everything was so flavourful and fresh! Service and ambience were pretty good too. Definitely a must try if you're in the Fulton Market area. read more

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Food and service were great. My cousin is local and he said the food got smaller? The pork is too dry and the bok choy kinda tastes like nothing. read more

Gaijin - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My first time at a Okonomiyaki restaurant and it was pretty good. The service is great and the vibe is lively with a good positive energy flowing through this packed Fulton market spot. Okonomiyaki I learned is Japanese pancake . We had the octopus one which was good ( possibly slightly undercooked?) and paired it with a bunch of small plates which I enjoyed a lot more than the actual pancake ( we feasted on roasted garlic , bok choy , salad , mushrooms , tuna , chili ribs ) . Shared everything and that's definitely the way to go . Overall really unique menu and loved trying something new . Recommended for an adventurous eater who wants a fun dinner out in Chicago . read more

Gaijin - Octopus Osaka - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Gaijin was a pleasant surprise, especially from a vegetarian perspective. We visited as a group of four during Chicago Restaurant Week and ordered the three-course lunch menu. As vegetarians, we're often cautious with Restaurant Week menus, but here the options felt intentional and well thought out rather than limited or secondary. Gaijin's focus is okonomiyaki, a Japanese savory pancake built with layers of texture and flavor. The Osaka-style tofu okonomiyaki, which was made vegan for us, was easily one of the best dishes of the meal--crispy, comforting, and satisfying without feeling heavy. It's the kind of dish that really shows what the restaurant does well. Another standout was the twice burnt garlic. It sounds simple, but the execution was bold and addictive, and it ended up being one of those plates everyone kept going back to. The bok choy was nicely cooked, though a bit mild for our taste. We also tried the veg yakisoba, which didn't try to be fancy--it just quietly disappeared from the table. Sometimes that's exactly what you want. Dessert was mochi in three different flavors, which was a fun and light way to end the meal. From a value standpoint, this was a strong experience. The three-course lunch came out to about $30 per person, which felt very reasonable for the variety, portion sizes, and overall quality. The space itself is casual and lively, making it great for groups. One small tip: if you can, try to grab a table with the hot plates--it really helps keep the food warm throughout the meal. Overall, Gaijin is a solid choice in Chicago if you're vegetarian and looking for something a little different, especially during Restaurant Week. Definitely worth visiting again, even outside the Restaurant Week menu. read more

Gaijin - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Came here late in the evening to grab a snack and dessert. Ordered the Beef Okonomiyaki, Pandan Donut, and 2 Kakigori. The okonomiyaki came out first. It had one texture throughout, which made it less satisfying. It was a bit saucy for us. The Pandan donut came out next, and I agree with those who had it calling it dense in the middle. The Pandan Kakigori was good but a bit messy. I like the subtle hint of yuzu in the sesame one. Maybe since there were few people sharing it, I wish there was more condensed milk. Overall, it was not too bad. Maybe I got the wrong savory item. The restaurant itself is unique with the flat grill in the middle of the table for okonomiyaki. read more

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I want to be very clear in the service of Gaijin was impeccable, and the overall vibe of the store really well done. I found the food to be really underwhelming. To me a Michelin Guide restaurant should have something that wows and I really didn't feel inspired by any dish here. The Chicken was boring deep fried food, disappointing compared to even stores just within two or three blocks. The main course was a mish mash of food that didn't really come together in my eyes even if authentic. And the mochi doughnuts were a bit stale and not that delicious chewy texture covered in a bit of a sickly sweet sauce. I really could've ordered wrong, but the taste of Gaijin felt like it was the right way to go but nothing really connected for me. The Hi chews at the end of the meal were honestly what really saved the day for me, I always get gotten with a fun gimmick with the bill! read more

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Fantastic okonomiyaki experience outside of Osaka. The food was delicious and the service was great. Happy hour drinks were fabulous and reminded me of my travels to Japan. Must visit. read more

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Visited for Black Restaurant Week. We sat at the bar and was able to watch them prepare the food and it was such a cool experience The food was excellent, four courses salad, appetizer, entree, and dessert. Flavorful. Robust options that fully palate and introduced me to a new fusion. Salads we tried: KOMBU MARINATE VEGETABLE - TSUKEMONO TRIO - HOUSE-MADE KIM-CHI - Appetizers: HEAD-ON SHRIMP GLAZED PORK RIBS CHICKEN KARAAGE Entrees: PORK OSAKA-STYLE OKONOMIYAKI - BEEF OSAKA-STYLE OKONOMIYAKI - SHRIMP OSAKA-STYLE OKONOMIYAKI We each had a different flavor of the mochi donuts. read more

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So happy with the vegetarian options! We tried the fermented vegetables, which weren't as veniger-y as we were expecting. And the vegetarian noodles, which could take a bit more seasoning but the vegetables were crunchy. The Japanese pancakes were awesome - filling, rich and indulgent. We ordered the chili paste to balance the sweetness of the plum sauce. The highlights though were the spirit-free cocktails and the lychee martini. We did fine but they were certainly short on staff as the servers doubled up as bartenders and ran around overwhelmed. read more

The food is delicious, the service very efficient and professional at taking orders, filling waters and clearing plates often. The warm griddle in the middle of the table is s nice touch, you feel like you might be in Japan. The pricing seems okay until you start eating and then you realize the apps are really small and $20 to $30 for what is basically an omelette - filled with noodles is not a great value. The drinks are on the pricey side too so you are not getting out of here for less than $85 a person if you are imbibing. Despite the pricing it is a really good change of pace from sushi spots or ramen joints! Our favorites were the tofu and beef Osaka style okonomiyaki. The short ribs are delish but the serving is way too small. The simple shaved ice dessert is really interesting with contrasting textures and very tasty. The green tea iced mochi donut was very warm and too dense for me to enjoy any more than a tiny slice of it. Because of the interesting dishes you don't find at other restaurants I do highly recommend it. If you only drink water (or at most beer) you can get out of there without feeling overcharged. read more

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What a great night at Gaijin! The food was delicious and service phenomenal. It was a treat to experience the chef collaboration with Chef Andrew Zimmerman. Both Chefs Andrew Zimmerman and Paul Virant were on the line cooking. Chef Paul made his way through the restaurant and checked in with the diners. He was so kind and generous! He provided us with some pandan donut holes which were delicious. The mochi doughnuts are made to order and come pipping hot. They are slightly crispy on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside. The restaurant was very busy especially for a rainy Wednesday night. Service was efficient and everyone was so kind. I highly recommend sitting at the counter! It's so much fun to watch the chefs cook and as a bonus, the chair seat lifts so you have a place to store your purse. You can't go wrong with any of the okonomiyakis. We had to try one of the chef collab okonomiyakis, we chose the braised lamb Osaka style. What a flavor bomb! It was full of umami: salty, sweet, sour. It was topped with tomatoes and herbs which gave a freshness. My daughter said it was her favorite. We also ordered the traditional Hiroshima style okonomiyaki which was delicious as always. We ended the night with a ujikintori (matcha) kakigori. It was cold and refreshing with the perfect combination of flavors of matcha, red bean, sweetened milk and ube. Gaijin never disappoints and is one of our favorite restaurants in the city! read more

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LOVE this spot! The food is so delicious and savory and it has a really great vibe! A great spot for groups to eat family-style and service is excellent. I came here with my partner and we ordered short rib for an appetizer and the mushroom and yuba Hiroshima style okonomiyaki. The short rib was 2 thinly sliced pieces and the flavor and tenderness was incredible!! Highly recommend. The okonomiyaki came out sizzling fresh and they slide it onto the tabletop tray which keeps it warm as you eat! The flavor was very savory and I love all the mix of flavors. You get a little serving/cutting utensil which is helpful and the perfect size. I've been here a few times before and it's consistently delicious! I do like sitting inside much better than the patio because it's nice and vibey, while the patio tends to be very loud because it's right under the El train. Highly recommend this spot! It's hard to find okonomiyaki and this place does it so well! read more

Gaijin - Short rib! - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Authentic okonomyaki restaurant located in Chicago. I was pleasantly surprised by the taste and options available at Gaijin. They serve Osaka and Hiroshima style okonomyaki. I personally like the Hiroshima style due to the addition of noodles that adds a bit more structure and flavor to the pancake. Don't miss out! My friend and I shared 2 which we honestly couldn't finish, so for serving size I'd almost say 2 for 3 people seems good plus some apps! read more

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Was excited to see an okonomiyaki and kakigori spot reminiscent of what you'd find in Japan! The setup is cute, and the food came out fairly quickly. Unfortunately, the service didn't quite meet expectations. We tried the beef okonomiyaki (Osaka-style), which had good flavor but felt a bit small for the price. We also ordered the ujikintoki (matcha) kakigori. While the presentation was nice, the matcha flavor was pretty mild. I was hoping for the flavor to be layered throughout the shaved ice, but it was mostly just drizzled on top. The condensed milk helped add some sweetness and richness. Not my fave but I wish them well! read more

Gaijin - Beef Osaka Style Okonomiyaki - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Had a great experience here. We walked in on a Friday without a reservation and were able to sit at the bar with a full menu. We got two drinks each and had a great time watching the bartenders make them and serve everyone, you can also see the kitchen which is always fun - especially in a Japanese place. The space itself is super cool and feels very authentic, it's a long little building with a glass roof in the main area. They have real okonomiyaki tables and serve them with the special shovels. I got the only one I could - Tofu okonomiyaki. I am disappointed they didn't have any vegan mayo and their okonomiyaki sauce must not be vegan since the tofu version is very much lacking in any type of sauce. It was a little soggy from all the spinach which I picked around but it was otherwise good, not the best I've had but my boss said her Hiroshima style was the best she'd had outside of Japan - it looked amazing and to say I wasn't jonesing for a bite would be an outright lie. We started with the tempura as the other app I wanted wasn't vegan due to fish sauce and since I was being a good little veg-head I ordered the tempura instead which was very fresh, crisp and tasty - no dipping sauce needed (though it came with a side of aioli and they subbed soy sauce for me which I didn't end up using). read more

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Food (4/5) - Got two types of okonomiyaki to really try what they're famous for. Both were amazing, the noodles especially weren't too crisped up or smashed despite being wrapped up in all the other ingredients. Pandan mochi donut - don't sleep on those. We were too full to have a shaved ice so opted for one of these and was the perfect, slightly filling but not too much, sticky and sweet without being sickly ending to the meal. Service (4/5) - seated us despite without a reservation on a Saturday at the bar. Recommendations given without being pushy. Ambiance (4/5) - nice and cozy, dark but could still see the food. Trendy and chic and the bar area was nice to see the rest of the restaurant too Price (3/5) - average for the area. Definitely pricey for Chicago but fun and an experience! Also fairly unique. read more

This place was really good. Stopped in for our third restaurant week destination and it was definitely the right choice. The vibe was really chill w/ a slight Japanese essence. We did the lunch menu, it was super bomb and the portions were nice sized. The service was a little slow due to the supposed "storm" and Saturday lunch rush I guess. We sat at the cook counter and the drinks were tasty. The mochi donuts went crazy too, the coconut flavor best one hands down read more

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Food was pretty good and service was quick. Nice place inside and friendly staff. Good spot for lunch. read more

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Appreciated the friendly and efficient service. My husband and I sat at the bar and ordered the okonomiyaki flight, marinated beef short ribs (not pictured) and the shaved ice. We came here more for snacks than a meal. The savory food was good, but quite overpriced for the small portion sizes. The shaved ice though is worth a try. I like that they stuff the black sesame ice cream in the middle. I would come back to try their other flavors. read more

Have been looking forward to trying Gaijin out for a long time, especially the kakigori so this might be why I felt a bit let down. The service was great. We went right at opening on a sunday for a brunch. They were still setting up but got us seated quickly. It's cool that the seats also double as storage for your bags and jackets. The tables all have a hot plate to keep the okonomyoki warm after it's brought to the table cooked. They brought sharing plates for each dish without us having to ask. This is definitely a good place for large groups to try different okonomyokis. We got the traditional Hiroshima style since we wanted to go for a brunch vibe. This had eggs and bacon. We were interested in the yakisoba that wasn't in the Osaka style. And all the ingredients are layered instead of mixed into the batter. The batter ended up forming a thin layer on the bottom that kinda felt like you were eating a wide rice noodle. One was enough to split with a friend with some dessert or apps. Their drink menu is also extensive and interesting. My friend got a lychee martini. They were generous with the alcohol. I got the sakura loose leaf tea. The aroma was floral but the brewed tea was quite bitter despite pouring it out of the pot early, especially after we started on the kakigori. The kakigori was okay. All the flavor stated were there but they didn't blend well together. The sesame was toasted and had a peppery flavor when mixed with the yuzu ice. There wasn't much strawberry to get most bites. I think there need to be more of a creamy flavor to bridge the two. I was most excited for this and was a bit disappointed. I would probably try their mochi donut instead. read more

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Love gaijin! I highly recommend making a reservation as they get quite busy. I made a reservation, arrived on time, and they seated us immediately. I love how their chairs have built in storage if you lift up the seat cushion. It was big enough to fit my long coat that goes to my shins! Food - I love okonomiyaki, so it's nice to see a place here that does it. They're really good about letting you do substitutions so if there's something you don't like/can't have, you can just ask them to sub it out. I especially love the Hiroshima style okonomiyaki, since I'm super indecisive of whether I want okonomiyaki or yakisoba but the Hiroshima style is both in one! So yummy We got our food fast and service was excellent. I've been more than once and will continue coming back here! read more

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Food is tasty and service is great! We tried the short rib appetizer and the Hiroshima style okonomiyaki Their sesame yuzu shaved ice might be one of my favorite desserts in the city. The interior is well designed and there are options to either sit at the bar or at a table. Great place to have dinner in West Loop. read more

Gaijin - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Fun place to eat! Beef Okonomi Yaki was great! Wish they had monzayaki The mochi donut was delicious! Shaved ice was lacking its flavor... Service was meh- Host came up to our table to give up the seat, when we were sitting for less than an hour. Seems like the server had too many tables..? Fun place to hang, but probably not my cup of tea:) read more

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Came here on a Thursday evening right after work so it wasn't too crowded when I got there, but it started to fill up while I was eating. I got the Gaijin Passport Experience ($45) and choose the Kombu marinated vegetables, chicken karaage, shrimp okonomiyaki, and the matcha mochi donut holes. The veggies were nice and pickled, the karaage had a good crunch and marinade. The okonomiyaki was so good, crunchy edges with savory sauces and plump shrimp. The matcha mochi donut holes were decent as well. The tables are like flat cook tops to keep the food warm while you're eating them. I wondered if you cook it yourself, but you don't. Lol. Was a great experience and would come back. read more

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A delightful array of Japanese traditional Osaka and Hiroshima food. I really enjoyed the yakisoba with pork belly, flavorful and balanced. There's plenty types of okinomiyaki so I suggest getting a couple to try if with a group. The short ribs and chicken karage were delicious. Service was super quick and almost overly attentive with coming to check on us. read more

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This is a casual restaurant by a Michelin star chef! I had the vegetarian okonomiyaki and it was fabulous! So much flavor and a great texture. The chef stopped by to greet our group and make sure we had anything we could possibly want. This was part of a food tour and our group thinks this was the best stop, though the competition is tough in this area. We ate outside, under the train, which was a little loud but spacious on a beautiful Fall night. read more

Service (5 / 10): This will affect 0% of the number of stars I give this place, but we arrived ~ 3 minutes late, and we waited an additional 25 minutes to get seated. Tho would be nice to get seated right away (esp for a birthday dinner for my sister), I understand if there is in convince. Will mention if anyone else experience, but might be a 1 off. Marinated Beef Ribs (3 / 10): I feel like you can recreate this while getting like 2 ingredients from H-Mart. I would not recommend getting this food item; tho it wasn't bad, just not worth the money. Octopus Okonomiyaki (9 / 10): Favorite Entre Dish of the night. It tasted pretty authenticate, pretty balanced, and everything was well cooked. Traditional Hiroshima Style (5 / 10): Felt a little fatty imo. Too much oil + I didn't like the mixture of bacon inside of this. Didn't feel too traditional. Sesame Yuzu Ice Cream (10 / 10): I would personal just come here for the shaved ice. I was expecting the ice to taste like ice, but it's flavored ice, which kinda shocked me. They decorate it in a pretty cute way, and the ice cream in the middle was amazing. Mixed with the condensed milk, it was amazing. Overall rating is a 4 / 5. It's a good restaurant, but not a must go to restaurant. read more

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Wow this place really impressed me! This is such a fun dining experience!! We got the beef Osaka style okonomiyaki (Japanese cabbage pancake) and the octopus yakisoba. For dessert, we had the matcha kakigori. They have either counter seating so we'd be able to see the chefs making the okonomiyaki's or you sit at the actual tables which have hot grills on them (though they still make the food in kitchen), so you can keep your food hot. The okonomiyaki was so delicious with perfectly cut veggies! The octopus was also so tender and with a generous portion! The matcha kakigori is rly authentic and quite strong! It tasted a lot better after pouring condensed milk in, as it was super bitter before that. Our server was very nice and our food came at a speedy time! read more

Gaijin - Traditional Hiroshima Style Okonomiyaki - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I thought Gaijin might be a good option for some okonomiyaki. Sure, they offer Osaka and Hiroshima styles. We were deciding between shrimp and duck, Osaka. Next time, I'd opt for the duck, seeing as their shrimp version is not faithful to their menu description. It was decidedly not tempura shrimp, although the shrimp itself was just fine--succulent, not mushy. Additionally, for their shrimp version, the result was excessively salty for some reason. Not the shrimp, but the okonomiyaki. It didn't have that amazing grilled cabbage flavor. Instead, the flavor was dominated by the brown okonomiyaki sauce that was doused on top. Yes, that sauce is necessary, but it should applied in moderation if it has been made so salty. The excessive amount took a significant amount of enjoyment out of what should be a very simple, enjoyable cabbage pancake. The corn and little fried balls were welcome. But the saltiness was not. However, I believe that if the saltiness were toned down, the okonomiyaki would be enjoyable. The okonomiyaki is served on a mini cast iron plate; they provide a cutting implement. Additionally, we ordered a side of their Tsukemono Trio, which happened to be a small plate of pickled radish, pickled cucumber, and more pickled radish (another way). For the gluten free version, the pickled cucumbers are replaced with pickled beets. Each pickling has its own variant on taste (adjust sourness, saltiness, and sweetness). I was partial to the pickled cucumbers. The radishes, well, they were most slightly sour-salty, but with slightly different flavors that I don't remember. I think they would be better off with a larger amount of variation in their choice of pickling flavors. Diversity can be interesting. We also ordered the Twice-Cooked Garlic. It came with 10 crispy rice crackers. You can either put whole pieces of garlic on the crackers, or you can smear it on. I wished their garlic had a better flavor. The savory flavors that probably should have been present were quite weak, no matter if smeared or whole, though whole was slightly better than smeared. The staff member assisting us was very kind and accommodating, explaining the menu, as well as pointing out what was or wasn't gluten-free. One other thing I found nice about the restaurant is that, at least for the counter seating, the seats flip up, revealing a storage compartment for you to place any bags or jackets. Pretty convenient. On the flip side, if you do choose counter seating, you will be warm due to proximity to the cooking action. You can watch them cook. I did notice them prepping okonomiyaki. Unfortunately, I saw them cheating quite a few times, poking a hole in the center of the okonomiyaki to see if the insides were done using the spatulas. Not cool to deface the surface with a crater like that. Anyways, you might also see folks prepping desserts. One is shaved ice decorated to look like a panda, which was kinda neat. Overall: nice concept, not very good execution, friendly service, and at least one misleading menu description. read more

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