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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.
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.
Had our new years eve dinner here and we got seated quickly and the vibe was great! We ordered a few things off the daily specials menu and was pleased to see the discounts at the end. Everything was good, but my favorites were the chicken skewers as the chicken was super tender and the smokiness/sauces on the skewers were really flavorful but not overwhelming. We got drinks and ended up ordering a decent amount of food, which was a little pricey but we decided it was worth it for the holiday.
Everything comes out pretty quickly after you order! Well seasoned and you can taste the grilled flavor really well.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
4 months ago
2 months ago
Disclaimer: I'm a New Yorker who's moved to Chicagoland so maybe I'm a bit snooty but the regular Yelpers 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. read more
Good food! Love the concept and you can order on the same QR code two different phones at the same time. The food is fresh made and full of flavor. My favorite thing was the fish cake skewer and the squid. Service was great and people keep checking on you if you need more things. They were havung a karaoke night the saturday at 10pm, but we were packed for other activities after dinner so we missed that out. The only down side that we found, it is some of the plates used to serve, they are chipped or damaged, and that bother a little the presentation. read more
7 months ago
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. read more
23 days ago
3 months ago
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. read more
9 months ago
Had our new years eve dinner here and we got seated quickly and the vibe was great! We ordered a few things off the daily specials menu and was pleased to see the discounts at the end. Everything was good, but my favorites were the chicken skewers as the chicken was super tender and the smokiness/sauces on the skewers were really flavorful but not overwhelming. We got drinks and ended up ordering a decent amount of food, which was a little pricey but we decided it was worth it for the holiday. read more
11 months ago
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. read more
4 months ago
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! read more
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. read more
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. read more
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. read more
11 months ago
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. read more
Business owner information
Shinya I.
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience with…
11 months ago
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. read more
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. read more
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! read more
11 months ago
One of the best Izakayas in Town! This place absolutely hit us right away - lanterns, parasols and lively vibes. all the skewers were perfectly grilled and full of flavors, especially the beef and chicken yakitori. the fried rice and okonlmiyaki were also delicious! Friendly service, great drinks, and cozy ambiance, definitely coming back again! read more
I got the beef tongue, okonomiyaki and the takoyaki. Everything was mid. The beef tongue was flavorful but for some reason it was room temperature over the fire. I was super confused. The okonomiyaki was tough and super crunchy. I probably would not get it again. The takoyaki had little octopus. Service was a bit slow and our group had to ask for waters. I probably will give it a try again but order different things as their rice bowls look a bit better. read more
Business owner information
Shinya I.
Hello Joseph, our grills only serve to keep certain food items warm.…
I had the gyudon (beef over rice) and the sweet potato. Both were great! The sweet potato has an excellent brûlée to it. The gyudon was seasoned well and the beef was tender. However, if I were to make a suggestion - the gyudon had a ton of rice and not enough sauce and meat. I had a lot of plain rice left over. The ambiance is fun and quirky, especially the umbrella ceiling! It truly feels like you're in Japan. I visited Japan recently so not just saying this! read more
1 year ago
Poor service Waiting for sever take order over 10min Ask for the bill over 15 min I order Don menu show up come with miso And when i ask server he say don not come with miso soup read more
Business owner information
Shinya I.
Hi Earn, It is true our entrees do not come with miso soup any…
The restaurant has the appearance of an izakaya but lacks the lively atmosphere typically associated with one. While I expected a more vibrant and fun vibe, it feels more like a traditional sit-down restaurant. The space is small and cozy, with tables packed closely together. Service was attentive and efficient. They were able to accommodate a group of 6 in their booth. There's a great variety of yakitori to choose from. I enjoyed the chicken lantern, chicken gizzard and beef tongue. A must have is the omurice, which stood out for its delicious flavor. The matcha dorayaki with ice cream was a highlight. read more
Truly takes my back to my days in Japan. From the seating to the atmosphere it really did have that vibe of the local izakayas in some places of Tokyo. The umbrellas on the ceiling are a bit more of the restaurant flair, but definitely adds to the overall Japan feel. Their menu offers things you'd see in Japanese restaurants like the gyudon, omurice and the staple yakitori. If you're interested in going to Japan I'd highly recommend you check them out and try some of the simple bar foods. Skip the wagyu because it falls short from what you'll see in Japan. Things can get pretty busy so trying to get the staff for the check was tough. Street paid parking, only indoor seating as far as I know (probably no pets/dogs), read more
4 months ago
I thought the hibachi chicken fried rice was super fresh and well done! This place is open till 2 am so it's pretty ideal for a late night dinner with friends or last min plans. Service was a bit spotty since they were busy on a Friday night read more
2 years ago
We have a last-minute group dinner at Izakaya, and it was perfect. The team was very accommodating and the food was delicious. I ordered the kaarage chicken and a couple spicy margaritas. Our server Diana had great recommendations and was very hospitable. Perfect late night spot. read more
Had high hopes for this place after seeing all the great reviews but left pretty disappointed unfortunately. We were pleasantly surprised when we first walked in and were able to get seated right away since it was pretty packed, but that was where our service ended. We had to flag down a waiter after 20 minutes of waiting to order and again to request plates and silverware after our food had already arrived. They were busy and I could see friendly service provided at a nearby birthday table so it may have been just our table. Overall, decoration and ambiance in the restaurant were super cute although menus were very strangely faded to the point you couldn't read the bottom items. Most importantly though, the food left a lot to be desired. The grilled food was all extremely salty and oily and definitely caused some heartburn shortly after the meal. We got the chicken + leek, eggplant, pork sausage, and chicken skin. My favorite was probably the eggplant but still not amazing. The oyakodon was a nice hefty size and not bad, but also not super flavorful. Overall fun vibes to hang out with friends, but wouldn't go back just for the food. read more
1 year ago
Business owner information
Shinya I.
Thank you for taking the time to share such detailed feedback — we…
This is an izakaya restaurant located in Wicker Park. Surprisingly, street parking was easy. The place opens from 5pm to 2am with happy hour starting from 10pm. That said, this place seems popular among younger folks and Instagramers due to Instagram friendly interiors. First glance at the menu, the place seems to overweigh Japanese street food rather than grilled items. They do have a decent selection of sake and cocktails with Japanese twists. We ordered a bunch of appetizers. Karage and wasabi octopus were good except they were too salty...not a fan of their takoyaki. You can find $15 for $25 Groupon deal at the moment, which makes the meals a lot more affordable. read more
Business owner information
Shinya I.
Hi Winnie, we would like to know more about your experience and how…
3 years ago
New Japanese Bar/Restaurant in Wicker Park. Restaurant right off North with street parking. Restaurant is decorated so nice. Interior is intimate so if large party then get reservation. We came on Thursday evening without reservation at 6:30pm. Our service was great. No issues at all. 5.0 stars. For food: Hibachi Rice, Yakisoba, Gyoza, Karraage, & Chicken Screwer. Food was seasoned well but I thought it was salty. Biggest reason that downgrading to 4.0 stars. I would order Hibachi Rice and Gyoza again. The Karraage was good but luke warm. Drinks were good. My husband got Old Fashion made with Hennessey and I got a specialty vodka cocktail. We were thrilled with our drink selection. I would come back here. They do have Happy Hour (starts at 10pm). This place is open late and even on Christmas and Christmas Eve. Nice selection of sake here. Definitely would come back to try the Japanese beer and hard yuzu seltzer. read more
1 year ago
Why haven't I been here before?! Their food is so good, ambiance is very cute and the service was great. The wagyu came over a fire which was fun and it tastes so tender and flavorful. I always like to order Takoyaki when it's on the menu and for the price, it did not disappoint. The Takoyaki came out so hot and fresh. My partner opted for the rice with egg on top and it was the first time I had ever tried it. It was chefs kiss! If you're looking for an izakaya type vibe with karaoke, this spot is the place for you. They are also BYOB with a little fee or you can opt to buy the drinks they serve there and they have plenty of options. read more
What a fun vibe at this izakaya! A bit of a smaller, crowded, lively space, but that made it feel even more like an izakaya. The decor was so aesthetic. Just came for quick drinks at the bar but stayed a few hours for karaoke and lively atmosphere! Some people were there for the food, and some to drink. The cocktails were reasonably priced and tasty! Lots of Asian-inspired cocktails/flavors. The drinks were strong! We were at the bar for a while and at some point, they started opening up the place for karaoke. People could sign up and they played the songs in order of sign-up finding the karaoke version on youtube. At times, random songs would play in-between and everyone was passing the mic to strangers who seemed to want to sing and were feeling it! Had such a fun night! read more
11 months ago
Business owner information
Shinya I.
Thank you for sharing your feedback — and for being a returning…
1 year ago
A new and aesthetically pleasing Izakaya (Japanese-style pub) in Wicker Park off of Division. I've been to some Yakitori-type places before (mostly in LA) so I know what to expect. This place has obviously more than just skewers, but it's good to see a Japanese skewer place open up in the area. Our server was friendly and took care of us the entire evening, although I will say you could tell some of the staff/servers seemed a bit annoyed with the owner and his interactions with them or with tables. Anyways, the food was pretty solid. It is not the absolutely best Yakitori place I've been to, but overall decent! For Chicago standards, it's above average for sure! They have beer which is a must for me when eating this type of food! Would return! read more
Business owner information
Shinya I.
Andrew, we have made a lot of changes since your first visit with us.…
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More info about Izakaya Shinya
2255 W North Ave
Chicago, IL 60647
Wicker Park, West Town
Directions
(312) 880-8133
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http://Izakayashinya.com
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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”
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