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Izakaya Shinya

4.2 (203 reviews)
Closed 5:00 pm - 2:00 am (Next day)
Updated 1 month ago

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IZAKAYA SHINYA ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Divey
Intimate
Happy hour specials
Outdoor seating

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Recommended Reviews - Izakaya Shinya

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40. Shishito Togarashi (Shishito Pepper)
Jonathan B.

The food at Izakaya Shinya was worth a try! I love how you can order so many smaller dishes to share, but I do feel it is a little pricey for what you get. The chicken and onion was our favorite since it was juicy, and the green onion paired with it so well. The presentation of the dishes was very nice as well since they come out individually and sometimes even on a grill. The service was decent; they greet us right away and brought out the food relatively quick. It was very cramped in the restaurant, so it's a little hard to come here in a big group. The ambiance was absolutely beautiful inside though! It gave off a Japanese bar decor, and I loved how they were playing Naruto and Demon Slayer on the tvs.

2. Karaage
Karissa M.

Cute small place with private booths. It's definitely shareable tapas style, so you can try a variety. Scan the QR and order on your phone. My favorite was the unagi skewer. Very tender and flavorful. The spicy edamame was my least fave. It didn't have much flavor and lacked seasoning and heat. Prices are a little high, but that's to be expected. I would return if I wanted a lot of shareable with a group.

50. Wagyu (Wagyu Skewer)
Amanda P.

Everything comes out pretty quickly after you order! Well seasoned and you can taste the grilled flavor really well.

Angelina P.

This place is a great late-night spot if you're craving Asian food. The restaurant itself is cute and I was pleasantly surprised that they're open late and they have a pretty broad menu including some pretty interesting cocktails You order everything from your phone, so you don't really interact with servers much--mine only came by a couple of times just to drop off the food. If you like a more hands-off approach, it's pretty convenient. The portions were good, the prices were reasonable, and they offer daily specials and happy hour deals, which makes it both affordable and tasty. So if you're looking for a good late-night Asian food spot with a wide menu and solid prices, I definitely recommend giving this one a try.

Nergal M.

Izakaya Shinya is one of the few kushi-ya (skewer shop) that I know of in Chicago. The atmosphere is excellent, and going to the outdoor patio feels like a little adventure. The staff is super helpful and kind. The food is delicious and has the exact flavor you'd want. It's been so long since I've had umeboshi, so I was thrilled with the chazuke. The one thing is that the pricing is quite high, so keep a close eye on how much you're racking up on a night out!

Yosef M.

Me and my girlfriend enjoy going out and trying new restaurants. On this particular night, we decided Izakaya Shinya was our best option, especially due to the fact that we have not been to an Izakaya together yet! The biggest selling point was that they are byob and have many different bites to choose from. When we arrived it was a total vibe - the restaurant is compact and cozy and the decorations were super fun. The staff were super chill, the decorations were beautiful and as previously mentioned, there was a nice variety of food available.

Jordan D.

Typical karaoke bar with slightly better food, never had wagyu sliders while singing John Legend. It's a really cool atmosphere, everyone participated and no one hogged up the mic. Its a pretty wide range of songs to chose from as well, overall I'd say it's worth stopping by. Even if it's just for the food and entertainment of others.

Carly M.

I saw on reddit this place serves up the best omurice in Chicago. Spoiler alert - agreeeeeed!!! I ordered for delivery since I felt a little lazy to cook or go out for dinner. They came in 1 hour which is pretty reasonable time of delivery. It was still semi hot and yummy but FULL TRANSPARENCY.. I found the flavor a bit underwhelming. I even asked for extra ketchup, which you can see just a small dab of on the side. it was not enough.... So I added my own ketchup and it was perfection. If you want it to taste like the omurice from Japan, ask for extra extra extra ketchup lol. I also got the unagi don. The fish was super flavorful already, the bed of rice was great. I'd also highly recommend this. I will be coming back to try this in person!! The vibes look immaculate through pictures.

Sung L.

This spot has a very cool atmosphere and overall made for a fun experience. The service was great -- friendly and attentive, which definitely added to the vibe. The food was decent, but I did leave feeling a bit hungry, so portions could be better for the price. It's worth trying at least once for the ambiance and experience, but I don't see myself coming back regularly.

Beef 4. Tan-Shichu (Beef Tongue Stew
Charissa F.

Cozy late night eats and drinks. No frills but good flavored food. We sat at the bar for a 9:30pm dinner on Sunday and enjoyed our time. Wait staff was pleasant and the food and sake came quickly. The ramen was very average and they only offer chicken and vegetable as the options. I really enjoyed the pancake and beef tongue stew starters. The house sake was strong but decent -- not the smoothest I've tried. Overall love the concept of late night eats and drinks in this area. They were packed.

7. Tsukemono
Tracy L.

Such a cool spot. We were fortunate to sit in one of the "booths." It's fun and more private. We ordered a bunch of items to share, but my favorite had to be the grilled shrimp. Everything was incredible and bursting with flavor. The scallops were a little too overwhelmingly garlicky. We finished off with the Green Tea Cheesecake, and it wasn't too sweet, but we thought the chocolate drizzle was unnecessary. There's a full bar, and it's open late.

Wish restaurants stop using styrofoam. It's toxic esp when you put hot dish like the karaage in it.
Donna F.

We just returned from a concert gig & needed a late-night bite around 11pm within 3 miles from our location. Stumbled upon this place that reminiscent of the many restaurants we checked out in Japan. The vibe, the tunes & esp the food! It's definitely one of the most authentic Japanese spots in Chi & affordable, too! This place effectively utilizes a compact design, mirroring the layout commonly found in food venues across Japan. Love the scallops & wagyu skewer (tho a little small, it's very flavorful & not burnt) & their udons! I didn't grab pics of everything we ordered, but with 7 of us, the bill was only $200 before tips. We'll definitely be back! Lucky we got seats right away, probably because it was late, a Sunday, & the weather was a freezing -15°F!

Megana V.

this place was convenient bc it was open late but food wasn't great and service was quite slow. nothing was bad per say but I wouldn't come back again - everything was pretty heavy. overall disappointing :(

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Shinya I.

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Izakaya Shinya Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Izakaya Shinya

Byob? U guys don't have good wine. Can I bring my own

Yes, you can bring your own wine, but there’s a $5 per bottle of wine charge since we need to keep up our license taxes and fees.

Is the Izakaya kid friendly?

Yes, we also have high chair and booster seats provided.

Is Izakaya Shinya in Chicago part of a chain which includes Izakaya Sanpei in Canton, Michigan?

No, Izakaya only means Bar in Japanese, our name is “Shinya”

Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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Ikigai Sushi & Izakaya

4.5
(100 reviews)
2.5 mi

So pleasantly surprised! Came in on a Friday night for a 6:30 reso and the place was empty BUT it…read morewas packed, seemingly by regulars, by the time we left. Service was a little slow at time but they got slammed very quickly and and we weren't in a rush. What we got: - chuturo nigiri - so buttery - hamachi nigiri - good flavor and cut - chili hotate - love the flavor - negi toro maki - good flavor - unakyu- fine a little on the sweeter side - Amai - not my favorite and I think the tuna had a strong fishy flavor Overall, good meal and pretty reasonable bill. Will definitely be coming back to check out the rest of the menu!

Such a wonderful spot! Fantastic happy hour. Everything was made fresh and tasted delicious…read more Service was super friendly, and they even brought out a free birthday mochi for my friend. We got the karage, three of the skewers , and the spicy salmon and tuna rolls. This place, along with the entrance is a bit hidden, so would love to see them market themselves more as I think it's a spot people would really love, especially for more affordable sushi in the River North area. Quiet and cozy ambiance for casual outings but also cute enough to be a date spot. Got seated immediately. Service was a bit slow, but that's only because they seemed to have one host/server working at the time, who was working super hard and kept a super pleasant and attentive vibe. I will definitely be back!

Photos
Sushi bar area
Sushi bar area
CHIRASHI
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Gaijin

Gaijin

4.3
(797 reviews)
2.4 mi
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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%.

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Gaijin
Pandan-Coconut Donut
Pandan-Coconut Donut
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Kaido Sushi

Kaido Sushi

4.8
(200 reviews)
18.1 mi

This is some of the best sushi I've had anywhere, including in Japan. Perfectly cooked and…read moreseasoned rice, fish that's been carefully chosen and prepared, and a menu that reflects tradition but also elevates it beyond the mundane. They've put the same level of attention and care into their selection of sakes. Service was warm and friendly, but never pushy or bothersome. They sent me a free dessert when they overheard my wife mention it was my birthday, it was a complete surprise. They also very thoughtfully asked if I'd like them to sing (I did not). That kind of thoughtful service reflects the comfortable, laid back atmosphere they've maintained, a welcome change over many high end sushi establishments that can be too stuffy. If you love sushi, you owe it to yourself to visit Kaido.

Ambiance is really cozy. Comfortable seating, nice mood lighting. Doesn't feel like you're in…read morerestaurant that's in the middle of a strip mall. Sushi was excellent. A few chewy seaweed pieces but I won't let that knock the freshness of the sushi. Service is where I have to drop a star. Not friendly, just pointed to the bar and told us to have a seat. When she came to take our order she didn't greet us or ask about anything besides "what would you like". We ordered 4 rolls which came out fairly quick...one at a time and the last two together. We then asked for 2 more rolled after flagging her down. She kept coughing which was a bit off putting. Assuming she was sick and maybe wasn't feeling well. Eeeeek. I'd go back as the place is close, cozy and quality of sushi was better than others in the area. I also like the options they had which were not the standard as we find around most places in this area. Usually they're similar rolls with different names.

Photos
Bar area. Very cosy!
Bar area. Very cosy!
Hand-roll- delicious!
Hand-roll- delicious!
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Izakaya Shinya - ramen - Updated July 2026

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