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    Joto

    4.3 (41 reviews)
    Closed 4:00 pm - 9:00 PM
    Updated 3 months ago

    Joto Photos

    JOTO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Outdoor seating
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - Joto

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    Dessert menu
    Bonnie W.

    I love the infused malort and the binchotan. Atmosphere is great especially in the bar area, very fun. Food is delicious but can be pricey. Great happy hour options. Grilled steak kabobs over marinated, hamachi collar good just lightly cooked. Margarita was sour but the Malort is well treated. I enjoy every visit here but it can be overpriced. The sake pudding dessert- $9, 2oz pudding.

    Cocktail
    Eric R.

    Great service at the bar last night. In town on business and was just looking for something close to the hotel. Whiskey Flight, a couple cocktails and some bangin' Tuna in various forms.

    Tuna carpaccio and prism roll
    Clara S.

    We came here for an impromptu happy hour and enjoyed our meal at the bar. The sake was refreshing with our setto- this was so delicious and all pieces of fish were very fresh and flavorful. The prism roll was also excellent. I asked if they had any side salads, and I was recommended to order the tuna carpaccio but this was a little salty. I wish they had some sort of salad on the menu but otherwise the happy hour deals and quality of the fish were amazing.

    DRY-AGED KURASHI SETTO and DRY-AGED BLUEFIN SETTO
    Todd K.

    Took my wife here for her birthday and was blown away by the quality and service. Their Dry aged fish focus really elevates the experience and adds new depth to familiar bites. We especially loved the different nigiri sets you can order to try the variety of fish at a better value. Salmon and Otoro were our favorites. We will be coming back for omakase and their malort cocktail special.

    Jamie B.

    Went for omakase for a birthday, had an amazing dinner, the chef and waitress were very nice and the food was delicious! Can't believe this place doesn't have more reviews it's so good! One of my new fav sushi spots for sure, I will be back!

    ube-be baby was fantastic. time after time was decent but watery
    Lucas W.

    We did the omakase experience. The omakase is done in the back of the restaurant and you can also see the dry aging racks for aging the fish. Every piece was prepared with great care and there were some pieces that had some unique twists, I especially liked the king ora salmon and the wagyu with unagi. That said, my favorite was the last piece which married dry aged otoro with egg yolk and caviar. Incredible flavor and creative combination with a beautiful presentation. Cocktails were quite good as well as the restuarant is housed within CH Distillery. I had the Time After Time which was a whiskey based cocktail but drank a bit watery, especially with such a large ice cube. Conversely the ube-be baby was fantastic. Really cool, delicate flavor and great presentation. Would definitely get the ube-be baby again but probably not the time after time. Overall though, it was a very expensive meal. Two cocktails plus the omakase, tax, mandated 20% tip, totaled solidly over $200 / person which felt like a lot for the experience.

    Prism maki Ryuu maki
    Mark L.

    We came here for dinner and ordered a lot to share. The inside had a really interesting vibe, it was modern but super comfortable. The service was really good throughout the night. Pretty much all the sushi was really good. The salmon crudo was delicious and refreshing. I got the ube-be baby drink was super interesting, it was sweet but not overpoweringly so. The chicken karaage was really juicy, though otherwise pretty standard. The crab bites were delicious, and both the dry aged tuna setto and dry aged jack fish setto tasted super fresh and really well done. For rolls, the prism maki and ryuu maki were great. Additionally, both the otoro with caviar and chutoro with truffle was super good and definitely worth ordering. Overall, a great sushi place in the city, would highly recommend.

    Cease and desist
    Sean Y.

    I've been coming to Joto Sushi since when it was still called Jinsei Motto and it's one of my favorite sushi spots in the city. The fish is fresh. No need to touch the soy sauce provided, the chefs brush on the right amount of tare (sauce) for each nigiri. The small bites are each excellent and I love that they have a Robata grill to round out the experience. The cocktails are unique and exciting, and I'd come just for those. The menu is priced well, competes around the cost of Momotaro around the corner. The vibe here is more energetic and clubby, perhaps caters to a younger crowd. In the summer you can eat outdoors and avoid the loud music if you prefer. Service is excellent and attentive. Overall I'd say if you ever considered Sunda or Roka Akor definitely avoid those and come here.

    Sake
    Crystal Z.

    Ambiance - cute sushi spot behind distillery, casual/upscale depending on your group, they have dining tables and omakase counter seating Service - chef took his time to prepare each piece of our sushi, didn't feel rushed Food - fish was overall fresh, their dry aged fishes definitely stood out

    John K.

    Service (5/5) - We were fortunate to get Peter as our server who was extremely knowledgeable about the menu and also had great tableside manner. One thing that caught my eye about Joto is their teamwork. This place does a great job supporting one another in keeping drinks filled and tables clean. I think it speaks a lot to their training and professionalism. Ambiance (5/5) - From what I heard they recently renovated their space and it looks amazing. Music isn't too loud and it's a perfect spot for date nights and small celebrations. Food (4.4/5) - We got the tableside omakase, some appetizers, and a couple sushi rolls. Overall, the quality of everything was solid and there wasn't anything I ate that I thought was bad. I was also surprised to eat some pieces of fish (like mackerel) that typically tend to taste fishy but didn't here. I'd give this place an extra point for their cocktails (they are amazing).

    Tuna bites
    Angelina P.

    Definitely never coming back here. Insane prices for okay food and on top of that, they'll scam you. I am not sure why any standard sushi rolls like spicy tuna need to cost $15-20 or even 4 pieces of tuna bites. It all tasted like standard sushi restaurants items to me. The interior gives you more of a bar feeling with high tops instead of a formal dining experience. I am so glad I checked my statement a couple days later because the server apparently changed my tip amount. I caught it and called the restaurant and all she said was she'll refund the incorrect extra amount and "talk to the server." Unbelievable.

    Vivian L.

    If you're looking for affordable but high quality omakase with the added benefit of interesting cocktails and malort, this is the place for you! FOOD: We came here on a Monday night (the 2nd ever) to try their all day happy hour and omakase industry night prices. The fish was absolutely incredible... they dry age everything which makes things not only sustainable but also gets rid of the fishy taste that some people don't love about sushi. I personally really appreciate the "fishiness" but for those of you who have friends who don't like sushi because of that point then this is the place to bring them!! The table side omakase is 13 courses plus a dessert and I think the last 4 that came out (ootoro, chutoro, wagyu, etc) were the absolute most amazing of the bunch. DRINKS: We ordered a couple cocktails and one sake bottle through the course of our meal. The cocktails are quite interesting given that they use their own distilled spirits for a lot of them including Malort so it wasn't our favorite but they were all fun to try!! All in alll, if you're looking for an affordable yet high quality omakase to try this is the place for you! One caveat is that we tried their 14 course option on Sunday Tues Wed ($125pp) but their Fri Sat option is 19 courses ($195pp).

    Kurashi Setto (with third serving added)
    Heather F.

    Checked out Joto with some friends on a Tuesday evening. The vibes were low key and our server was very helpful and attentive. We started with the crispy tuna bites, which were fine, but a bit underwhelming compared to similar versions I've had elsewhere. The tomato salad with seaweed I really enjoyed; it included white seaweed, which I've never tried, as well as red shiso/perilla. We had the Kurashi Setto next--a tasting of the aged nigiri offerings; it was delicious. Our server offered to increase the setto to accommodate three people, which we really appreciated. We concluded with a couple of rolls (Futo and Prism), which were also good. If you want to drink sake or wine, there is a selection, but the sake in particular felt really overpriced (having purchased some of these bottles before). All in all, a nice evening though. I would definitely focus more on the nigiri and unique dishes for maximum satisfaction.

    Favorites from the Omakase menu!!

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    4 months ago

    The sushi was amazing and Adam our server was on top of everything Saturday. 10/10 will definitely be coming back!

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    3 months ago

    so yummers the hostess isabel was soooo freaking kind and wonderful ik its not normal to tip hostesses but you should tip her!!!!

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    Joto Reviews in Other Languages

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    Momotaro

    Momotaro

    4.1
    (1.4k reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$$

    By far some of the best sushi I've ever had and the way it just melts in your mouth is absolutely…read moreexquisite. The interior is divine and the service was impeccable. I came here to celebrate my anniversary, and they even gifted us champagne for the occasion. Our server was so attentive, always on top of what we needed, and everything came out right on time. One of my favorite dishes on the menu is the Momo Maki. For nigiri, I absolutely loved the hamachi (yellowtail) and the akami (bluefin tuna). I also tried the Yakitori Don, which is a grilled chicken thigh over rice with a soft poached egg and it was so flavorful. Another must-try is the Tsukune Dango: chicken dumpling mochi rice topped with a soft egg and truffle mustard, it was so delicious! I also had the Mishima skirt steak on skewers and it was tender and cooked perfectly, though the flavor was a bit mild for my taste. Overall, an unforgettable dining experience and I cannot wait to come back!

    I was really excited to eat here. I'd heard such incredible reviews, and truly the food was good. I…read morewould say I think it's slightly over hyped a bit but very clearly a spot that's loved since it's ALWAYS busy. The fish was fresh and I did enjoy my bites. I will say for what you get it's pricey and might leave you a little hungry if you're just ordering the sushi/nigiri. But again very good bites. Definitely make a reservation. I will say the server helped me pick gluten free options and asked if I was celiac (they have a GF menu so ask for that). The service was pretty slow, but again it's always packed. For reference I went on a Monday evening alone. It's for sure a vibey place. Great for birthdays or groups that are looking to have a fun night out. It's loud inside with music bumping so not exactly a place to sit and have conversations. Will say wish I could give this 3.5 stars because it wasn't bad just maybe not my vibe.

    Photos
    Momotaro
    Momotaro
    Momotaro

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    SUSHI DOKKU Japanese Restaurant

    SUSHI DOKKU Japanese Restaurant

    4.2
    (694 reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$

    If you're looking for some great nigiri combinations, Sushi Dokku is the place for you! Recently…read morecame back for their restaurant week menu, and it was great! I chose the Deviled Eggs, Tuna Truffle nigiri, Hamachi nigiri, Sake nigiri, Crispy Maguro roll, and mochi (we tried all the flavors - espresso, salted caramel, passion fruit, and strawberry). Every bite was amazing - but beware, the Crispy Maguro definitely packs on the heat. I also recommend the Snow Maiden sake if you like a sweeter sake. We dined in the Booze Box section and it was super vibey, but not too loud where we had to yell over the music or anything. The servers were attentive, will definitely keep going back (especially for Restaurant Week)!

    We decided to try a new spot while downtown last week. We've heard many good reviews for Sushi w…read moreand decided to give it a shot. We got: Tuna nigiri: 6.5/10 it was fine for the price I was expecting a much fattier tuna. Kaarage: 7.5/10 loved the salt and guchuyang but I wish it was boneless. Okinomiyaki: 6.5/10 would have been better if all the pieces had the sauce. Dragon roll: 6/10 very basic almost like grocery sushi roll Blue crab roll: 6.5/10 it was fine wish there was more portion wise Fuji fu: 7.5/10 it was good but he gave us forks which made it very difficult to eat. The service was fast and everyone was nice. The restaurant is small and good for couples since they have a lot of seating for 2. It is pretty dark and romantic but very noisy.

    Photos
    SUSHI DOKKU Japanese Restaurant
    Dumplings
    Dumplings
    SUSHI DOKKU Japanese Restaurant

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    Tamu

    Tamu

    4.5
    (94 reviews)
    0.3 mi

    Came here for a date night and overall had a nice experience. The ambiance is great, very clean,…read moreintimate, and perfect for a night out. Service was solid, and our waiter gave thoughtful recommendations that helped us decide what to order. We ordered the sashimi sampler and the ninniku crudo to start. My husband got 6 handrolls and I had 4. We both had the otoro handroll for the premium temaki options. The handrolls came out at a really good pace, which we appreciated since it let us enjoy each one fresh. The fish itself was definitely fresh and everything was well prepared. My favorite handroll was the spicy hotate. The otoro temaki was good, but we have had better otoro elsewhere. My husband also got the sake temaki and mentioned that the salmon was a bit chewy. Overall, nothing really stood out as particularly memorable. Our bill ended up being close to $200, and while the food was good, it was not quite mind blowing for that price point. Overall, a solid spot with nice ambiance and fresh fish, just not necessarily a standout for us.

    Cozy, contemporary spot with a handroll bar at the front, a middle dining area, and an omakase bar…read morein the back. We opted for the middle section to try a mixture of available items. Service was friendly and attentive. Note that nigiri is only available via omakase. I'd describe the food here as a very sophisticated and innovative take on Japanese izakaya cuisine -elevated flavours and thoughtful presentations make it stand out. Hamachi Carpaccio?: 8/10 not much to say here. simple yet refreshing and satisfying Hew Dup Bap Kaisendon: 8/10 A great way to sample various sashimi options. Everything was fresh, and the cuts were generously thick. Ankimo Appetizer: 9/10 Probably the most unique take on ankimo I've ever had. It looked like a work of art, and the (potato?) chips added a fun texture. Super flavourful and memorable. Temaki: 8.5/10 I don't remember the exact ones I ordered, but they were all really good. I loved the creative toppings, something I rarely see at other temaki spots, and they paired with the fish beautifully.

    Photos
    Omakase Bar
    Omakase Bar
    Crunch Spicy Akami
    Crunch Spicy Akami
    Tamu Hand Roll Bar

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    Tamu Hand Roll Bar
    Mako

    Mako

    4.4
    (193 reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$$$

    We went for my birthday dinner this year and wow did it ever over impress! The restaurant is TINY…read moreand we were seating at the counter with 3 other couples. The ambiance is reserved but comfortable and people were dressed from casual nice to more formal. The chef in front of us chatted a bit and was very friendly, happy to answer questions while he was prepping our next course. We had the matched wine courses as well and every one of them was a perfect hit for the course served. The service and the food were simple amazing. I would suggest this to anybody looking for the best Omakase experience in Chicago!

    If Mako is the benchmark for Michelin-starred restaurants, the bar has been set monumentally high…read more Beneath the chaos of the Pink Line lies the intimate setting Chef BK Park so carefully envisioned. Upon entering, you are greeted and warmly escorted to your seats. They suggest arriving a few minutes early so as not to disrupt the timing. I opted for seats at the sushi bar to get the full experience of an omakase. The service was impeccable and methodical, with each dish presented in perfect harmony. The carefully curated menu rose in a crescendo of umami-rich bites--each course striking a delicate balance of anticipation for the next bite and savoring the lingering flavors on the palate. It is nearly impossible to select our favorites, but the standouts were the scallop, miso cod, and the otoro. We came here to celebrate my girlfriend's birthday, and the staff commemorated the occasion with a personalized menu, signed by the entire team. This was truly an unforgettable experience and I would recommend Mako to anyone seeking the same.

    Photos
    Wall behind the chef area
    Wall behind the chef area
    The very first appetizer, not on the final food list
    The very first appetizer, not on the final food list
    Sakuramasu (cherry salmon)

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    Sakuramasu (cherry salmon)

    Joto - japanese - Updated June 2026

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