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Gaoku Izakaya

4.5 (26 reviews)

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Hand rolls
Marlene S.

Came for dinner on a Thursday. At first, we thought we were interrupting a private event, but we were good. There was just 1 employee so service was very slow. Our food was pretty tasty and the matcha tiramisu was really cool.

Chirashi don
Irina G.

Dude. Best place I've eaten in Chicago in a while!!! Everything was exceptional - no joke! We had a lot of diff things but a few highlights: - wakamono sour: literally my idea of a PERFECT cocktail! It's like a yuzu sour - so freakin good. - the salmon and tuna hand rolls: these are worth every penny and alone will be the reason I come back over and over again! - chirashi don: not a thing I normally order but all the fish was cut so thick and was so tasty!! Plus they make their own tamago and it's like eating a soufflé dessert!! - the khao soi ramen: best fusion of Thai and Japanese ever! Spice was HOT and on point and it came with karaage chicken that was crispy and tender and amazing Please come here!!! Best food ever!! And love the owners too!! Maru was so nice and the chef is one of faves! The vibe is also amazing - really chill.

Mocktail
Henry D.

This restaurant was absolutely unbelievable. My wife and I eat at every new sushi and izakaya place that pops up in Chicago. The harder it is to get a reservation the more determined we are to try it. This new Izakaya joint is truly remarkable, is fairly easy to get a table for now, and I hope that the Michelin folks visit it soon. They are doing very innovative changes to traditional Iazakaya dishes. Karaage chicken toasted in yellow Thai Curry with Red curry paste dip. Grilled hamachi with chimichurri. Internationally imported sashimi selections for extremely reasonable prices, at least for now. Very high end cocktail making that will stand next to the best cocktails in West Loop and The Loop. This was my wife's second time here and she insisted I try it. So glad I did and we'll be coming back for more. The service was impeccable. Incredibly friendly and fully knowledgeable of the menu.

chirashi don
Cecilia X.

this place was great but definitely on the pricier end. it reminds me of ikigai but more expensive and better quality. my favorite thing we got was the Sakura pork, and my partners favorite was the mackerel. the chirashi don was very fresh and so were the scallops. we were the only people eating dinner when we went which was strange but the bar was full. I got a tom khalada and I really liked it.

Scallops in coconut curry and lemongrass

If you want top shelf sushi this is your place! Hands down the best sushi Ive ever had! we did the nigiri chefs pick and it was just outstanding- as well as scallops in coconut lemongrass, then Toro and soft shell crab rolls! My cocktails were mixed perfectly. You can spend a lot or you can do a ramen bowl or rice bowls. Casual,not stuffy, quiet, and ok parking. It was my 2 nd time being there and I am definitely going back!

Ramen
Eugene F.

A must! Our favorite were the hand rolls, ramen, and the tiramisu! Service is amazing with everyone super nice and and food came out super quick. Great spot for friends dinner or even a romantic night! Also some of the best drinks in the city!

Scallops
Shoshana C.

Amazing seafood! Obsessed with the oysters and the SCALLOPS! Wished that the pork dish came with a carb to eat it with. Great dessert, very unique drinks especially if you like dark liquors! Great place to share plates

Tom Khalada

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2 years ago

Not very authentic Japanese food, but pretty good in taste! good quality for fish and oyster! Nice to have a drink though.

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wonderful food and service. drinks are top notch. nice atmosphere and that tuna is amazing. as is the oyster omelette!

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4.4(126 reviews)
2.5 mi•Fulton Market, West Loop, Near West Side

One of my favorite cocktail bars in the city, I just learned a secret-- visit on Sunday afternoon…read morewhen there isn't a line out the door and it isn't slammed inside. Really creative cocktails, unusual wines, great snack list (and the complimentary olives and cheese made us able to stay longer add have another round!). If you sit at the bar, one of the very talented, friendly mixologists will guide you to your perfect drink progression-- that's right-- you're not just have one thing. Too hard to choose so why should you? There are low and no ABV options as well to balance out the martinis and other spirit forward offerings. I love the decor and overall vibe--classy, French-y, fun not stuffy. Great on your own, with a date, a small group. Special shout out to Hannah but everyone we interacted with was great.

Of course when in Chicago, I had to check out Bisous, ranked #30 on North America's 50 Best Bars…read more2026, climbing from #39 in 2025. With an intimate ambiance, in Chicago's Fulton Market, Bisous brings the vibe of a 1960s Parisian cocktail lounge. Since they don't take reservations, I had a short wait at the door. Somehow, they knew exactly what I wanted, which was a seat at the bar. My favorite place to sip, exhaole, and chat with the bartenders. The cocktails were delicious, and the service was warm, attentive, and welcoming. My tongue-clicking sips for the evening: PASTRY WAR Pistachio Cream, Agricole & Jamaican Rums, Grappa, Almond, Egg White, Lemon, Nutmeg BAIT & SWITCH Blueberry Cordial, Mezcal, Blanche Armagnac, Baking Spices COUNTERPOINT Fig Leaf, Armagnac Duffau Napoléon, Yellow Chartreuse, Oscar.697 Rosso Vermouth Mmmm... #BonAppetit! Cheers! Enjoy!

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Sparrow - Bar area Hotel Nacional

Sparrow

4.3(349 reviews)
3.5 mi•Near North Side
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Right before starting writing this one, I wrote a review for Kibbitznest, another phenomenal…read moreChicago bar with a totally different theme and vibe. That is to say: I am not throwing words of praise like "one of a kind" and "phenomenal" around lightly. Both are different and still amazing. Sparrow has a vibe straight out of the 1920s. The decor, signage, use of color, and absence of screens or TV's all contribute to the theme. The music is also appropriate and plays at the perfect volume to be pleasant without forcing one to raise their voice. I tried the Green Daisy and a House Old Fashioned. The Green Daisy was boozy and had some herbaceous notes. A little tartness and a little sweetness helped balance the drink out and make for a phenomenal sipper. I loved the creativity with this one! The House Old Fashioned was also well done, assembled with quality ingredients in balance with one another. Nothing wrong with a well-executed classic. The prices are more or less reasonable considering the location and overall market, with bevies costing around $16. The bar staff is excellent! Very friendly and welcoming! Final verdict: A spot where I can say come for the drinks and stay for the vibe. It's the kind of place where walking in you are transported a century into the past. Everything about the experience, including the atmosphere, drinks, service, and prices, is calling me to return and bring some people with me.

This might be my favorite rum bar in the country. If you want intimate spaces, moody lighting,…read moreextensive rum selections, and drink specials come here. Monday nights are my favorite because they offer a different specialty rum in special. It's a great way to try different kinds. They also serve beer, wine, and every other spirit you can imagine. Cocktails are on point. Seating options are varied: bar seats, small tables in back, bench seating with tiny tables up front. Quiet and comfortable.

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4.5(94 reviews)
1.2 mi•Wicker Park, West Town

Cute little vibe with an intimate setting and good drinks. Service was attentive and seating was…read morecozy. We made a reservation but we didn't even need it, we were able to sit anywhere we wanted. I tried the We Love Lychee & Midnight Espresso. Both were delicious!

I came here on my own to check out their happy hour because I have heard good things but I was a…read morebit disappointed. I came in right around 5pm so it wasnt very busy yet. I ordered the horchata 2 ways cocktail which was $12 for haply hour and is typically $16. $12 is the highest amount for a happy hour cocktail that I have ever paid and I dont think it was worth it. The 1st sip was good but it was a very sweet drink and I was over it by the end. The drink also was half a very heavy cream so when you drank it you were drinking the liquid but not getting much of the cream. So you either had to lick the cream off the top or drink on the liquid and then either leave the cream or somehow scoop it out with your tongue so not really a well conceived cocktail. One of the fun and unique things about the bar is they bring out free tapas every once in a while similar to bars in Spain. They brought out edamame to the people at the bar right around 5pm and a group next to me asked at around 530pm if more tapas would come out and the bar person said the come out every 45 mins. I was there til around 630pm and another round of tapas never came out so do not expect that if you go. They did not give you water unless you specific ask for it which I though was odd, I heard 3 groups besides myself at the bar who had to ask for water, especially since this is supposed to be a nice cocktail bar and this is just one of my pet peeves but the water did not contain ice and was closer to room temperature which is not how I enjoy my water. Despite not being super crowded I had to ask for the check from 2 different people and it took 15 mins for them to bring it so if it is crowded I expect they will have pretty slow service. They do bring you a fortune cookie woth your check where you can potentially win a discount on your check or other prizes which is fun. Unfortunately the fortune cookie tastes a bit stale. I would say that this place is not worth it for happy hour but it had a cool but very dark vibe in there so it might be good for a romantic date depending on how good the food is.

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Valedor - Strip Steak Katsu Sandwich

Strip Steak Katsu Sandwich

Valedor - Crispy Cilantro Lime Rice with spicy salmon

Crispy Cilantro Lime Rice with spicy salmon

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Truce - The cocktails are legit

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4.8(54 reviews)
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Coffee and cocktails. Do we really need anything else? With standard hours ranging from 8 AM to…read moreMidnight most days, Truce has got you covered, whatever the mood. Very clever drink list. With mixology being all the rage for the last 20+ years, I almost feel like it's hard to come up with a new drink concept these days. Truce shows that creativity in the world of booze is alive and well, and I count myself lucky to have had a taste. The 'Peas + Carrots' was a surprise win. Scotch, blanco tequila, sochu, carrot, snap pea, ginger, and kukicha. Sounds bizarre as hell, but it absolutely works. I also had a 'Final Say,' a spin on a classic featuring gin, clementine, fino, galliano, turmeric, black pepper, and lemon. The 'I Can't Believe It's Beer' has everything from mezcal and rooibos tea to guava and an aperitivo. I could ramble on about their menu, but I'd say just check Truce out yourself. You get what I'm saying. Their creative juices are clearly flowing, and they switch the menu up seasonally. They have some light bites too, but I really recommend them for cocktails and coffee. I wouldn't come here for dinner. They do drinks, so come here to drink. Plenty of very savvy-sounding N/A options, too. It's sleek, intimate, sexy, relaxed, and fun. Come through at 8 AM for a cocktail, roll through at 11 PM for a coffee, there's no judgment here. I'll be keeping an eye on Truce.

Wow, Truce is my ideal concept of a space. It's a coffeeshop by day and cocktail bar by night. I…read morecame in during the day on a Thursday to get some work done, and it was such a cool environment. The ambiance is dark and moody inside, but I liked the music they had playing, and there was plenty of seating. They also had free Wi-Fi and outlets! Everything on their menu looked insanely good. I went with the B-A-N-A-N-A-S--it was very tasty, and the banana taste was very strong. It was definitely on the sweeter side so more of a dessert drink, but I enjoyed it. Everything on their menu looked so delicious and well thought out, so I definitely hope to try their other drinks! The service was very fast and friendly. I recommend this spot--will need to be back to try out their drinks in the future! FYI, they become 21+ after 5pm.

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Gaoku Izakaya - izakaya - Updated October 2026

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