Miru is fine dining restaurant situated in St.Regis in Chicago. We got a chance to try it during…read moreour stay at St.Regis for breakfast and for Christmas Dinner. I would say I loved their breakfast more than dinner probably coz I am vegetarian and they don't have many vegetarian options. But the food is very very good

We really liked the location and the views. We were lucky to get a table overlooking Navy Pier,…read morewhich made the experience even more enjoyable. The fish was exceptionally fresh, the sushi rolls were delicious, and the service was friendly and attentive. Overall, we had a wonderful experience and celebrated a very enjoyable birthday here. Just don't expect a large, filling meal - this is more of a place to meet with friends, enjoy good conversation, and have a light bite.

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

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

I've been coming here for years and I can't believe I've never written a review! This place, is…read moreprobably the best Japanese food in the Chicago area. The food they prepare uses fresh ingredients. The uni they serve is huge, creamy and sweet. I always order their uni toro tartare because it's the best! The food is innovative yet stay grounded in flavors. Hospitality is top notch and the decor is warm and inviting. I've never had a bad dish there! Highly recommend for date nights or small group gatherings!

Had a great experience at Kai Zan, was looking for my first omakase and came across them, very…read morehappy with the choice. The service is dedicated to each party inside, small but functional space where you genuinely feel taken care of throughout. Each course was explained in detail before every bite which I appreciated, and the craftsmanship behind each piece showed in their open kitchen. The kind of flavors you reminisce on shortly after finishing, wishing for more. The yellowtail stood out the most had me order an extra piece after the omakase wrapped up, highly recommend. No old fashioned on the menu but the beer I had alongside served as a solid palate cleanser between bites. Finished the night with the lava cake warm, fluffy, paired with ice cream and just enough to top it all off. -Mr.

Food was amazing and the service was great. It gets pretty packed in there but it was also a…read moresaturday night. Other than it being a little packed and tight, the location is great as well as the food, service, and ambiance .

Found Momotaro through Bilt. Reservations were easy to make online. Moody Japanese, mid century…read moremodern design inside. Great spot for date night. It was packed inside! I got the chamomile tea, miso soup, Broccoli Goma-ae, and a few orders of nigiri. If you want freshly made-to-order, I would avoid the rolls as I saw them make a bunch ahead of time on trays. For dessert I got the Satsumaimo Taruto. All of the dishes were yummy! Portions were just right. Service was attentive and professional. In terms of quality, I can't say it's the absolute best sushi I've had, but it's still good and it's on par with the price and ambiance. Solid dinner spot. I would come back again!

Kitchen open till 2 Great Sake Selection…read moreNew staff was great personality wise, needs some training but the food carried. Killer meal.

Disclaimer: I'm a New Yorker who's moved to Chicagoland so maybe I'm a bit snooty but the regular…read moreYelpers in the Midwest should always be viewed with a star and a 1/2 less than what is expected normally. Any bar with Yamazaki 18 is good in my book. We had lunch at Chubby Cattle so couldn't eat that much .: no skewers. The Sushi taco was good, pretty impressive with the thin seaweed that had a great crunch; didn't feel greasy at all. The seafood udon was decent; just a tad bit too salty is all. If you're into kushiyaki and what's presented here, definitely give it a try.

My husband went to Sushi-San on a work trip. He enjoyed the experience so much that he recommended…read moreI give the place a try on my trip to Chicago. Candidly it wasn't on my to-do, but the restaurant happened to be on my route back to my hotel and I hadn't had dinner yet. I walked into the restaurant, and there was a spot open right at the bar waiting for me. I think it was meant to be. Loved the vibe of the restaurant, which was casual but trendy. Best part of all was the music. My ears perked up when I heard Hieroglyphics - The Who... A Plus Remix. Instantly felt "at home" with the underground, old school hip hop. Compliments to their curated Pandora playlist. I ordered the the spicy scallop roll, super san roll, and sawara (Spanish mackerel) nigiri. The spicy scallop roll was my favorite. The super san roll was a mix of their toro with varying fattiness. I appreciated that you could order half rolls at Sushi-San, which came out to 5 pieces instead of 10. This was more than enough food for me. The sawara was buttery and fresh. If you don't like the "fishiness" of saba, you'll enjoy sawara. Lastly, overall customer service was great. The food came out incredibly fast. The bartender who assisted me was awesome. He was attentive and personable.

Solid sushi spot in River North that does the job and has good ambiance, but doesn't blow me out of…read morethe water as the best sushi ever. I came with a friend for lunch during the week and they have a somewhat decent lunch special (for today's standards when factoring the cost of living and inflation). We took advantage of that and ordered the 3 combo platter per person so we got 6 total items since there was two of us. The highlights for us were three yellowtail yuzu sushi as well as the salmon rice bowl. The miso soup that came out first wasn't that great. It was overly salty. My friend who is from Japan that I ate with said this place was ok for American standards but not at all great compared to anything in Japan lol.

Ann was incredibly helpful with the service and made the experience here even better!…read moreMany thanks!

Roberto was amazing, made our night so much better, food came out quick and good, celebrated with…read moreus when the world cup was playing. Love that guy!!

I live in LA and have eaten at 20+ omakase restaurants, so I was curious what Chicago's scene had…read moreto offer. Omakase Shoji more than answered that question. The restaurant houses both an omakase counter and an izakaya, but in completely separate spaces. The omakase side is an intimate, beautifully designed counter with around 10 seats. We were the only guests that evening, so the whole experience felt wonderfully private -- just us, Chef Shoji, and the fish. Chef Shoji opens the meal by presenting the actual fish you'll be eating, all flown in twice a week from Japan or Spain. It immediately signals what kind of meal you're in for. The 20 courses were well-paced and the quality was consistent throughout. Nigiri and sashimi were pristine, but the hot dishes were equally impressive, which surprised me. Both sides of the menu showed real craft and attention to detail. Service was fantastic -- warm, attentive, and never stuffy. At $210 per person, it's a special occasion meal, but one that genuinely delivers on the price. As someone who eats a lot of omakase back home in LA, I wasn't sure what to expect. I left genuinely impressed. Highly recommend if you're looking for a serious sushi experience in Chicago!!!

Professional chefs. Comfortable space. Fresh seafoods. Delicious Omakase. Reasonable prices. Plenty…read moreof seats. What is imperfect here?