I've had Japanese food all over the world, including in Japan, and Itoko ranks near the top of my experience. Exquisitely seasoned, and very fresh -- their salmon preparation is superb -- I appreciate that they put their own inventive twist on traditional dishes and that they offer some that you don't typically see in the US. My favorite Japanese restaurant in Chicago hands down. read more

The restaurant was very cute and the service was great! The food was the star and everything was amazing! The brunch menu was so unique and all eight dishes we ordered were phenomenal. The lox bagel was one of the best I've had recently. The thin bagels with fresh salmon was *chefs kiss* and they give 3 thin bagels per order. I actually ordered one to-go for my family to taste. The shishito peppers were covered in something very yummy that I tried to add to eat of my dishes. The honey butter toast was the perfect sweet treat to end the meal. The crunchiness of the toast with the strawberry and Chantilly compost was decedent. read more

Itoko - Shishito Peppers - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We tried the new Friday lunch menu and it was amazing! Gorgeous atmosphere and delicious food. Our server, Alan, was extremely helpful and kind. We got the handroll bento and the maki bento, along with hamachi nigiri and delicious cocktails. Will be back soon for happy hour! read more

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Overall a really great experience at Itoko: Value (quality & cost): 4.3 Food (taste & portion): 4.5 Ambiance (atmosphere & cleanliness): 4.3 Service: 4.4 Return (Y/N/MB): Yes Menu Highlights: "TCD" Tuna Toro is a must get, in addition to the shrimp/scallop uni and the chicken Katsu. Debrief: I was originally drawn to this restaurant because of the Hand rolls, but was slightly underwhelmed. The Ebi Tom yum had a unique and vibrant flavor, but the king crab was so heavily covered in mayo/sauce that it took away from the natural sweetness of the crab. The chicken Katsu was perfectly breaded and fried, though I wish it had less of the mayonnaise sauce - I'd personally suggest a traditional version with just the cutlet and the normal Katsu sauce, but maybe that's just me. The TCD was hands down AMAZING and a large reason why I'm going back again. The freshly grated wasabi (for a few bucks extra) was also a great addition. Overall, sashimi was really fresh, ambiance was good (nicely decorated and clean), though slightly louder than I usually appreciate, and service was friendly. read more

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Great food, the service was very fast and the ambience was really calm for a weekday. read more

Itoko - Miso Soup Shishito Peppers Yama - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

5/5 on everything. Sasha took care of us tonight and was so knowledgeable on everything + was loaded with suggestions (even though we could have eaten everything). For being so full the place really still was intimate and easy to hold a conversation in! We sat at low tops in the middle (where the action was) and both the chair and the booth were very spacious and cozy. Even though chair side gets a bad wrap Itoko makes it better by adding mirrors behind the booth side so now both chair and booth get to people as a team #couples #power #creeping Okay. Food. Wow. Blue fin tuna was our favorite and though we only ordered 2 pieces we want to come back and just order like 10 to share.. the mushroom/roe toppings were mind blowing. Get them. Pls? I was Surprised most with how much I loved the shishito peppers. The shredded fish flakes melted like Parmesan- I.. mowed through them. 5/5 Drinks were excellent, for sure go for the dragons milk cocktail if you're drinking, otherwise if you're sober the soy sauce was good enough to drink. Service was top tier and everything was absolutely worth it for a wonderful night out. Can't wait to come back again soon read more

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Such a beautiful restaurant with a delicious brunch! I enjoyed everything I ordered in the gorgeous ambiance here. read more

Itoko - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This is American Japanese. If you are looking for a Japanese food experience this is not it. Sat at the sushi bar and wasn't greeted. No point to it. Waste of time read more

Went on a Tues night via reservation. This place is gorgeous! Dinner time is cozy and loud but not unbearable. We were seated in a booth next to the wall which was so nice. Host and servers were great - super kind, knowledgeable and helpful. Food (in order of my favs) - enough for 2 people and left full: 1. Chutoro Nigiri - so fresh and melts in your mouth 2. Akami Nigiri - so fresh and melts in your mouth 3. Shiitake Robato - the best mushrooms I've ever eaten! 4. Momo Jr - tuna was so fresh (not a fan of octopus but took this off and my fiancé loved it) 5. Beef Chahan - bigger than photos shown, great presentation and beef had a ton of flavor. Plenty of beef too. 6. Ramen - came out hot, lots of flavor, and plenty of noodles. There was some ground pork is at the bottom. 7. Spicy tuna - was good but I think the nigiri's really are more worth it to experience the flavor and freshness! My fiancé ordered Yama roll and loved it I will dream about the nigiri and shiitake robato. Overall had a great time. Some of the reviews made me rethink my reservation but we personally are glad we followed through and had a great time. read more

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It was a girls' night out with an old friend on a Monday evening. We decided to try a new spot and made a reservation just a couple of hours before dinner. Luckily, I found free street parking just a block away. The hostess checked us in promptly and seated us on the first floor near the private dining room. The space is beautifully designed--modern, warm, and inviting. Both the food and service were excellent. We shared the Edamame, Ebi Dango, Spicy Tako Maki, and A5 Beef Maki. Every dish was artfully presented and absolutely delicious. This isn't your traditional Japanese fare--it's creative and elevated in the best way. We also loved the Yuzu Lemonades we ordered--refreshing and perfectly balanced. To finish, we shared the Piña Colada Kakigori for dessert, which was a fun and flavorful way to end the meal on a high note. Highly recommend for a stylish night out with great food and ambiance! read more

Saturday night dinner was at Itoko on Southport. For the longest time I was on the hunt for sushi in the city that makes me not miss AO sushi in Wilmette, and Itoko does that for me. It was such a sweet surprise Max brought me here because he's not the biggest fan of sushi, but we're making progress. That being said we got more of the meat dishes this time which I haven't tried yet. Even at 5:15pm, every table is seated. A perfect Valentine's Date night dinner. The skirt steak robata is juice, tender, flavorful. And being Celiac I always feel safe eating here as they're really good with asking about allergies and pointing out which items have cross contamination and which ones don't. read more

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Amaru is a great new spot for sushi in Southport! I highly recommend stopping in for a date night or meeting with friends! The nigiri and sashimi menu has a lot of great choices, all of which are excellently prepared. The fatty tuna melted away the second I ate it. Shishito peppers were also a great starter, the portion should be plenty for 4 people. We also had some hand rolls that we enjoyed very much. We had a couple rolls as well, both were well put together and were excellent in taste. The fish here is very fresh! Service is also great and very punctual. Make sure to make a reservation or you may be waiting for a bit! read more

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I recommend coming here during happy hour. There are a lot of menu items that are discounted during happy hour. I tried the robata salmon and chicken katsudon. I liked the food, but I don't think it would be worth it to pay the regular price which is why I would suggest coming during happy hour. The service was fine. Though there must have been some confusion because a food runner kept bring us the wrong dishes. It happened a few times and became a little comical. On the plus side, the ambiance is really nice. It would be a good place to bring a date. read more

This happy hour lives up to the hype!! So many different options. My fav were the lychee martini, scallop sushi rolls, and the mushroom skewers. Everything we got was fresh and delicious! Our waiter was also so helpful! read more

Seafood was good but some of the non-seafood things were miss, and having so many hit or miss food items for such a hyped up / expensive restaurant was really disappointing. I think I agree with the other reviews that talk about people are paying for the experience - it's stylish and modern, but the food is just not that good. My friend specifically mentioned that because the people behind Itoko are the same folks behind Momotaro, we were hoping it would be good because he loved his experience at Momotaro. Unfortunately, we were disappointed. read more

Excellent. Fresh shrimp, scallops, & prawn. I ordered the: *Botan ebi (prawn nigiri) *Hokkaido hottate (scallop nigirizushi) *Yama (shrimp/crab maki) *Shaken kato (fried chicken) Yama was a little spicy. I liked the lower than low-sodium house-made soy sauce - a nice touch. I had a little issue with the chicken, but the manager gracefully took care of & replaced my order. I selected the "original spice" and it's perfectly paired with a crispy tempura coating. Understated. Quieter on the 2nd floor. Captures a minimalist, earthy Japanese aesthetic perfectly. read more

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You may be coming here because you've heard it's the new Boka group opening from Gene Kato (of Momotaro). You should then be pleased to hear I believe Itoko lives up to the same standard of Momo, which is one of my faves in Chicago. The menu is less traditional and more trendy/ pushes boundaries, such as with the Wagyu roll (which was delicious). The fish here was all of great quality. Compared to Momo, however, the robata aspect falls short in the spread of their selection. I wish they will add more offerings in the future. Also, the service, while terrific, was not quite as streamlined or professional as what I'm used to from Momo, although I expect this may be related to their recent opening. Overall, this is definitely a great addition to Lakeview. If you are looking for a trendy Japanese spot, this is the go-to for 2023. Great for dates. The tables are rather close together (tables next to ours was ~1 feet apart) so if you are looking for an upscale/ after-work experience, Momo is probably a safer bet for now. 5/5, loved it. read more

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We ordered: 1. Whole Branzino - shiso and shichimi crust, pickled bamboo shoot salad 2. Handrolls: Momo Jr - tuna, spicy tako, pickled daikon, sweet soy / Shio Koji Salmon - avocado mousse, crispy salmon skin, trout roe / XO Scallop - diver scallop, xo sauce, scallion, puffed soba / Mecha Kucha - bluefin tuna, uni, kaluga caviar / King Crab - ginger mayo, tempura shallot, lemon 3. "TCD" Tuna Toro - kaluga caviar, pickled onion, sushi rice, nori 4. Orange Kakigori - soy and mascarpone mousse, orange gelee, freeze-dried satsuma 5. Donatsu - matcha semifredo, maple flakes, sansho chocolate ganache Our favorite new Itoko dishes were the whole Branzino and the desserts. Branzino was completely deboned, perfectly cooked, and great flavors from both crusts. Great textures and flavors in both desserts. Most handrolls didn't stand out but our favorites were the king crab and tuna caviar rolls. Shishito peppers, shiitake mushrooms, and beef chahan from Momotaro were delicious as expected. Place was pretty packed so the service was slow. Employees were polite at least. read more

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Loved spending an afternoon lunch here. They were serving the brunch menu when I walked in. Everything sounded delicious but just wanted to try some sushi rolls so we got 2. They were delicious, fresh and filling. Light ambiance in the restaurant. Service was great and accommodating to food allergies within the party and our server recommended a roll off the brunch menu to ensure we'd both be able to enjoy the selections. Looking forward to going back and trying other menu items. read more

Itoko - Sushi rolls - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Wonderful brunch, wonderful service. Having the option of shashimi, perfectly crisp katsu and a couple glasses of Malbec all during brunch is all I could ask for at the sushi counter on a cold Sunday. Highly recommended read more

Itoko - Assorted Shashimi - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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A group of us made a reservation for lunch on a Saturday, and I do recommend doing so! The dining area was quite loud and lively with patrons, but the staff remained friendly even if the service was a bit slow. My original plan was to order the "Steak and Eggs" but to my surprise, the side of kimchi fried rice it comes with contains fish. Additionally, the steak itself has a marinade that has fish. As a non-fish person, I had to pass. Instead, I ordered a green tea (not listed on any menu, you have to ask about teas), Miso, and the Chicken Katsu Don. Green Tea: Specifically a kuchicha tea. I was surprised when it came out in a mini pot rather than a single cup. The pot is enough to steep 2 cups of tea. Had our table known that in advance, we wouldn't have gotten one order for each of us! Very clean, light flavor. Miso: I got the vegetarian version because (I assume) the original has fish in it. This was my first time having a miso soup with tofu that wasn't silken. The tofu looked to be fried (?) Not terrible, but I do prefer silk tofu in a miso. Lots of seaweed and good flavor, though! Chicken Katsu Don: This had a banger taste, but I wish the dish was on a plate rather than in a bowl. The piled individual ingredients made it difficult to cleanly select what I wanted to eat. I also wish there was more chicken just because it was so wonderfully crispy with a flavorful sauce. The ratio of chicken to everything else was lacking. read more

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Went during restaurant week so there was a little bit of a wait past our reservation time, however the hostess and staff overall were very kind and friendly. I really liked the decor as well as the vibes of the place; cozy, dimly lit, yet lively at the same time. You really can't beat what you get for the $42 dinner here. I ordered the miso soup, crispy shrimp maki, chirashi don, and the apple pie kakigori. The tuna, salmon, and scallops in the chirashi don were so fresh. They practically melt in your mouth. The kakigori was another favorite of mine; sweet, crunchy, and refreshing. I would definitely come back to try other things! read more

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I've been to Itoko many times because the food is fantastic, but unfortunately the service has consistently been disappointing. On every visit, the staff rarely checks in, which makes it difficult to order additional items or drinks. Plates are left uncleared -- sometimes pushed aside just to make space for new dishes -- and basic requests like extra soy sauce take multiple asks before they arrive. Last night we ordered at least 7 different dishes and still had dirty plates stacking up on the table. It's frustrating because the food truly is excellent, but the service takes away from the experience every single time. I really hope management takes this feedback seriously, because with better service this place could easily be one of the best. read more

Made reservations for a Saturday night and im glad i did because the place was packed ! It's a cute restaurant, carefully laid out and designed that makes for a lovely atmosphere. It being so small, it was full and the place was pretty loud. We started with the Shishito peppers - A light snacking appetizer, the black garlic on them paired nicely with the mild spice to the peppers (be warned they are very sticky!). We also got the bluefin tuna - I was blown away at the sheer quality of the fish. I have never had such a buttery, smooth piece of tuna and the ginger/apple contradiction made it that much better. We then got the three piece set of the temaki hand rolls - momo jr was my favorite of the 3 but all 3 were great. i loved the avocado mousse that came on the shio koji. We then got 2 pieces of nigiri to try - the uni (sea urchin) and seared japanese mackerel. The uni was soft and savory, i'd get it again. the japanese mackerel was very fishy, it reminded me of tinned fish. i probably wouldn't order it again, although that's more a testament of the taste of mackerel than the way it was served. the cuts of the fish were average in size. For entrees, we got the chicken katsu and beef chahan. The chicken katsu was what you'd expect - the chicken cutlets had a nice crust and the chicken was juicy. The carrot daikon slaw was okay but lacked flavor. The dish had a bit more rice than i'd like as well. The beef chahan on the other hand was fantastic. it's served table side in a really hot bowl and they mix the dish up in front of you. It was so fresh, flavorful and the beef was high quality. Both dishes were a one person serving for the most part but if you get other stuff, you could split them with someone. Our waitress was friendly, and attentive to our table. The place is on the pricier side, and the food portions are a bit smaller. The ingredientes were fresh and the dishes are interesting and I think this place is worth a shot! read more

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This review is for Itoko brunch. Sometimes you fancy a girls brunch on a slow weekend and you want to be pampered a bit. You want the sweet AND the savory and everything to be as good as their dinner service, or better. There were some hits for brunch but also some misses. We loved the smoky, thinly sliced lox and sweet miso cream cheese. Egg soufflé was not as fluffy as I had hoped for but the sweet & sour tomato jam was fire. Kambocha pancake could have been less dense; I was hoping for a wobbly jiggly Japanese pancake. So glad they had the Yama roll which is one of my faves from the dinner menu. Although I love sipping a hot cup of tea in the morning with a friend in this inviting space, I will stick to dinner here because I prefer the regular sushi & robata offerings! read more

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Overall delicious and elevated food options in a really lovely Japanese style environment that's got oak wood lining practically every surface, plus a price tag to match. I would recommend the dinners for a special night out, but unfortunately it's a little pricey to be something I'd frequent very often. Honestly, for the price, I'm inclined to go somewhere else--I'm not convinced the dishes are at the level they should be both in flavor, uniqueness, and portion size. BUT the interior decor is quite exquisite. The service is pretty standard, no complaints there. I've been for both brunch and dinner, and both are great. For brunch we really liked the deviled eggs, which had a slightly meaty smokiness; the honey butter toast, in particular the honeyed caramelization that was delicious; and the chicken katsu don. If you like lox, then definitely try the steamed bun and lox. read more

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the service brought the rating so far low. We made reservations for 8:00 and didn't get seated until 9pm!! To put this into reference, they close at 9pm -_- We had the restaurant week menu which included appetizers, main course and dessert. We had to order all at once. Even after we put in the order they came back at the end of the dinner and told us they ran out of the desserts that we ordered. It was an upsetting experience. In terms of the food, the only items recognizable were the nigiri and sashimi which was exceptional. read more

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They were pretty busy for a Tuesday night. Went in with 7pm reservations and finished by 9:45. If you're looking for an unhurried meal this is the place to go. Our wait time for food was so long and the cocktails were not strong enough. Although both were delicious the pace in which our dishes came out was unfavorable. Our server was backed up and Rachel the manager stepped in to take care of us. Thankfully she striked out one of the hand rolls that was last to arrive since the kitchen was backed up. Overall the experience was underwhelming and overpriced. What we ordered, Beef chahan (wanted to take a picture with the egg but they mixed it hurriedly), BlueFinn tuna (delicious), Yama (good), special nigiri (tuna cheek) with caviar (amazing) and the 4 temakis 1. Tuna, spicy Tako, pickled daikon, sweet soy 2. Shio koji salmon with avocado mousse, crispy salmon skin with trout roe 3. XO Scallop, scallions and puffed soba Scallops were my least favorite. Slimy in texture and flavorless. And last and late was King Crab Temaki (not pictured) which was delicious. Good for a taste but I don't think I would return. We just spent more time looking for someone to tend to us as did the other patrons seated nearby. If they can iron out that kink I'd give it another shot. Until then perhaps strike the 3% surcharge. read more

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Went for brunch with a friend and it was definitely busy! We made a reservation on OpenTable which I'd recommend although I'm not sure if it's still as busy as it was a month ago. The restaurant has a very calming and beautiful vibe to it. I'm not sure how to explain it, but everything was clean and welcoming and warm. Onto the food. The bao bagels with salmon was absolutely incredible and you have to get it. So much flavor. My only complaint was it only came with 3 bagels. Would've loved one more. The egg soufflé was good as well. Just some toast and some yummy fluffy eggs. The pancakes were my favorite thing however. The pecan praline and the pumpkin butter my goodness so good in the fall and winter. Like a warm hug. I could've ate another stack . I would definitely order the bagels and the pancakes again if I go back. The soufflé was good too, but I don't think it's a must get for me. Overall was a very positive experience. read more

Atmosphere is great and the restaurant is beautiful, but I'm not sure if I'd return. Service was quite slow, food/drinks were expensive (all cocktails are in the $17-20 range), and pretty small portions for the price. I ordered the three piece set and was still pretty hungry after I finished, so be prepared to either order a lot of food and have an expensive bill or plan ahead and have a big lunch. I think it would be worth it to come Thursday-Sunday to try the 3 course set menu, which seems like a little more bang for your buck. read more

Itoko - Moon on the Water - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

a cute spot for brunch! the service was v nice and consistently checking up and the food came out at a short wait time the highlight was definitely the bagels and lox! the bao bagels were so soft and well seasoned with the miso cream cheese and smoked salmon. we loved how it also tasted citrussy and we hadn't tasted anything like it before. a great pairing and would come back for it again! the temaki was v good and we enjoyed it the soy sauce. the mazeman was also tasty with its numbing spice, but it's not true spicy. the tuna and avocado was generous in the bowl! our total was around $83 so a bit on the pricier end in terms of the how much food there is, but we left satisfied! read more

Itoko - bagels and lox, salmon and avocado temaki handroll, lychee spritz - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Food is great selection of sushi and it's the baby sister of momotaro in the west loop Great bar area that's swanky and cool a neighborhood spot. Seating is well spaced and enough tables for all party sizes Service was impeccable and this place is a neighborhood joint with downtown feel and prices! Love the place and highly recommend! read more

Review is MORE like 3.5. The sausage & egg was good & a unique way to eat a breakfast sushi hand roll. The Ebi Tom Yum/shrimp hand roll was tasteless. Hard pass imho. The Honey Butter Toast was enjoyed. Extremely well balanced flavors in this dish as well as the mimosa which featured black tea but had little to no alcohol content. For two hand rolls, some deviled eggs, a dessert & a cocktail I paid $80 which was overpriced in my opinion. read more

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Arguably, the best restaurant in Lakeview! We had the shishito peppers, skirt steak, beef chahan, momo jr, and one other dish. Everything was amazing! The bar has fun Japanese inspired twists to classic cocktails which are enjoyable as well! The service was among the best I've seen in Chicago. Friendly, approachable, and they seemed to genuinely want us to enjoy our dining experience. The ambience is extremely tasteful, well thought out, and sophisticated. Location is central to the Southport corridor- easy to get to via CTA, driving, or walking. Definitely a restaurant that should be on everyone's list of places to try. read more

I've been hearing about Itoko for a while now and after finally visiting, I get the hype! Everything was fresh and flavorful. We opted for the patio but the inside has such a cool and relaxed ambiance that I would opt for indoors next time. Our server was helpful giving us recommendations and the food came out fast. Some things are a little on the pricey side but I honestly didn't mind as I could have kept on eating for hours. Overall, amazing meal. Would love to go back. read more

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Came here for brunch!! Gorgeous place and super attentive waiters!! They fit us in without a reservation for brunch and it did not disappoint! We got the egg souflee, salmon hand roll and tuna dip! I loved everything and want to come back for dinner! read more

Itoko - Egg souflee, salmon hand roll - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We've been wanting to dine at Itoko since it first opened and finally got there this weekend to celebrate our anniversary. The restaurant is very attractive, the service is very attentive, and the food was all very good. My only two complaints/notes are: 1) the music selection needs improvement (a cool, curated playlist would go way better with the swanky vibe of the restaurant than listening to Espresso by Sabrina Carpenter-ugh) and 2) everyone wished us a happy anniversary and it was even printed on the menu (which we really appreciated) but we didn't get a Polaroid and that bummed me out. Nevertheless, we'll go back on a non-celebratory occasion with hopes of another good dinner and better music selection. read more

Went there for lunch. Pretty decent food. The steak and eggs was good, the Japanese breakfast was basic-ish - it was lacking the elaborate Japanese-ness and only had a few ingredients. Ambiance is fine. read more

Such an amazing meal at Itoko. As a big fan of Momotaro I was super excited to try their new Southport place and was lucky enough to secure an opening night RESERVATION!! The staff was well trained and you could tell that they were excited to be working there and had a passion for the food industry and the restaurant. They were knowledgeable and led us in the right direction in terms of ordering. Everything we ordered was amazing. The fish was incredible and fresh, and it was definitely a more approachable menu than Momotaro and similar but also different and had its own flare. I'd highly recommended securing a reservation if you can. read more

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been meaning to try this place for a hot minute and glad i finally did! i came here on a date and the vibes were just right. the interior is chic and welcoming & the service was on point. our server recommended the shinjuku garden to drink & it was amazing. if you like mezcal, definitely get this! for food, we ordered the seasonal special soft shell crab, branzino, chicken katsu, and the TCD tuna toro. i think 4 plates were appropriate for 2 people. i couldn't possibly pick a favorite dish - they were all splendid! everything was cooked to perfection and seasoned very well. i thought the chef did an excellent job with adding a pop of freshness to the fried dishes by incorporating pickled veggies and peppers. i will certainly return! read more

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