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    Indie Cafe

    4.0 (842 reviews)
    Closed 11:30 am - 3:30 pm, 4:30 PM - 9:30 PM

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    INDIE CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Trendy
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Indie Cafe

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    Papaya Salad
    Paul J.

    If you're looking for good Asian food near Thorndale, get yourself to Indie Cafe for some real authentic eats. First, you'll get a flavor of the place from the funky art on the wall. This place really has atmosphere. We got the papaya salad (crisp, fresh ingredients with lots of flavor), the drunken noodles (deep flavorful noodles with plenty of shrimp) and the Panang Curry (creamy, sweet and spicy). The waitstaff are more than happy to go through the menu and help you decide what you're in the mood for. Just be warned - when they say it's spicy, it's *really* spicy, which is great if that's what you want (I do!). Good to have authentic Asian fare in the Northern reaches of the city. Stop by and try Indie Cafe, you won't be sorry!

    Monte Carlo and Bangkok rolls
    Audrey E.

    Good experience overall at Indie Cafe! We started with crab rangoons - always recommend but I especially recommend here they were so good! Then I shared the Bangkok roll and Monte Carlo roll and both were tasty. I think I liked the Monte Carlo roll since I prefer some more fresh fish flavor and this one packed a punch. The service was great, they refilled our waters a lot and checked in occasionally. Restaurant looked nice, patio would've been fun if it wasn't so hot!

    Monte Carlo
    Mark T.

    You know the good thing about sushi? It's great when you want to eat a little, and aren't in the mood for Tapas and/or hot food. Yelp steered me towards Indie Cafe (though my phone's compass has me going in circles for a bit. I started with the Trio Carpaccio. I enjoyed that there were three different kinds of fish, and the sauce was a lovely blend of sweet, salty, and savory. The fish wasn't *the* best quality, but I'll give it an A-OK. Then there was the Monte Carlo. One question: why is it chewy? Turns out it is the spicy salmon filling! Unfortunately, this isn't the only way the roll missed the mark. The quantity of said salmon was low, and as for the white tuna up top, this otherwise beautiful ingredient was ruined with a heavy-handed use of sauce. The rice also did not blow me away, but that may have to do, at least in part, with the decision to mix it with tempura. Final nail in the coffin: seared fish adds a remarkable deliciousness, alas it seems only one piece had kissed the flame. Then there was the question of value - while the prices are more or less in line with what I would expect, the quality wasn't there in my opinion. Finally, where I can give them credit is the service. Polite, friendly, attentive, and reasonably fast. Thus, the sushi and carpaccio were forgettable at best. While I may not go for this part of the menu again, I am not necessarily against trying some of their Thai options.

    Wayne D.

    Cute indoor design, food is mediocre First the food is much later than promised. Seems for lots of other people as well Fried chive dumpling: not much filling. Either add some meat or more chive Ramen: soup is bland. Nothing like tonkatsu. Noodle texture is doughy, chashao is not cooked long enough, too chewy. Pad Thai : way too sweet Coconut glazed pork : this one's actually pretty good flavor and texture Would not come again

    Inside
    Rahima J.

    My friend and I came here for north neighborhood restaurant week and it was so cute. The inside is very vibey and intimate - low lighting and soft music vibes. The food itself was delicious and they had great offerings for their restaurant week menu. The service was very prompt and kind in explaining. I'd love to come back and try more of the sushi next time!

    Shrimp Shumai Crab Rangoon
    Katrina M.

    Our service was really quick which was nice. I got the peachy no. 14 cocktail and the jellies inside definitely made it different and fun. The shrimp shumai were not my favorite since they were mushier than shumai I have had at other places, but that may be personal preference. The crab rangoons were a little bit cold in the center, but had they not been they'd be really good. They were still good I just wasn't a fan of the colder part. The chicken pad Thai was definitely good. Ours had no spice but you could add some. I would come back to try the sushi since I saw they have amazing presentation, but so far I'd say the pad Thai was the best item we got.

    Crab Rangoon

    Amazing service and amazing food! The food came out quickly and tasted very fresh. The ambiance of the restaurant was very pleasant and perfect for a late night dinner.

    Steve B.

    Indie cafe sushi + Thai really is a different experience. The ambiance really is nice it is very peaceful when you come in and sit down. The food is very good. I will recommend the chefs omakase really quality fish and you could taste how fresh it was.

    Samurai Seven, Saba Sashimi

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    Iggy A.

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    Iggy A.

    Thanks for your support a small business.

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    2 months ago

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    4 months ago

    I like this place because it's always consistent and in the neighborhood. Friendly staff that are eager to answer questions.

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    7 months ago

    Always a good experience. Excellent choices in sushi, soups, curries, etc. Fast, friendly service. Fair prices.

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    We’re truly grateful for your support.

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    Page 1 of 22

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    Miru

    Miru

    (312 reviews)

    $$$

    The Loop

    Ive been here more times than I can count and its easily one of my favorite sushi spots in the city…read moreI was just there last Friday with a friend and once again everything was perfect from the attentive seamless service to how beautifully each dish was presented Every bite was delicious I also love the modern design of the restaurant and the incredible views of Chicago it really adds to the whole experience The space has an intimate relaxed vibe that keeps me coming back Definitely one of those places I will be visiting again very soon

    3 of us back for a marvelous dinner with great views, beautiful decor, great service, and of course…read moregreat food. The quality of the food is very noticeable. We wanted to have some sake and asked for help. Their sommelier was very helpful and recommended the Snow Tiger Yuki Tora which is unfiltered and looks like milk, but it went beautifully with our food. We started with Edamame which had a perfect char. The grilled Avocado was a pleasant surprise with the char flavor and great spicy sauce. You get a spoon to scoop out the avocado and it's sliced so it works with chop sticks. By the way everything is great for sharing which gives everyone a chance to try the wonderful menu. Then we attacked the main menu. The Wagyu Nigiri, the must have Bluefin Tuna Crispy Rice, Crispy Spring Rolls and I drank the juice with the Hamachi and Lemon. Now it's time to figure what's next! spicy Tuna roll, triple tuna roll, the incredible Wild Mushroom sizzling rice bowl and it is sizzling! We're nearing the end! The Unagi and the Black Cod couldn't have been any better. It melted in our mouths. Think we're finished, we saved room for dessert! The Miru-Ishi and Black Sesame Mochi. We're finished! Maria was a great server and was very attentive!

    Jinsei Motto

    Jinsei Motto

    (150 reviews)

    West 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.

    Indie Cafe - sushi - Updated May 2026

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