Did a mobile order and couldn't be happier with my experience. I will definitely come back in again and eat in. Online order process was easy. Food was ready when I arrived. Staff was super nice. Store seemed clean and well taken care of. Food was great. I got the Katsu Chicken. SOOOO good. They also have a variety of sauces to add. The breading is super light and the meat was cooked perfectly. Definitely a 5 out 5 star establishment. read more

Katsu-Shack - Katsu (Single Item) Tray -Chicken - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The shrimp sando and chicken karaage are pretty good, but the price is pretty steep for what it is. The pork katsu sando was dry and tough unfortunately unlike the ones in Japan which are tender and juicy. 2 sandwiches and side of chicken and tiny cup order pickles set me back nearly $80. I do like how you can order on the kiosk and look at all the pictures to decide. Service is kind of slow and inattentive, but that's fine. read more

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Ordered the Katsu-Shack Bento box with pork to-go and it was decent. I would've appreciated it better if I also got the miso soup that it was supposed to come with the meal. I even asked about it, but the guy who worked there said "no, it doesn't come with it." Then why does your menu say so then? The bento box comes with miso, it's all over their website and on DoorDash, etc. Either update your menu or don't falsely advertise. I may give this place another chance, but so far, not the best first impression. read more

Chicken katsu was very good ! First time there and I definitely will be back. Thank you Katsu-Shack : ) read more

Definitely one of the most authentic, legit katsu in the city. These cuts of katsu are THICK. You are getting a lot of meat here. No nonsense place where you order, get your food in quick fashion and sit down at a simple table to eat. Good food, clean place, casually one of the best katsu in town! read more

Katsu-Shack - Black Katsu Curry Meal Set - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Absolute dogshit. They forgot the tonkatsu sauce on my order so I had time to fully appreciate how bland, tough, and downright unpleasant their premium pork tonkatsu was. read more

I placed an online pick up order from here. I arrived early but it wasn't done any sooner but still on time. The inside is small, but their staff is friendly. I ordered three sandwich. Two of them with chicken, one with miso katsu sauce and the other with sweet chili sauce. The third sandwich was a pork sandwich with tonkatsu sauce. All three sandwiches were really good and couldn't really pick out a favorite one. Both the chicken and the pork were very juicy and the sauce were all really tasty. The rest of my family really enjoyed them and we all cant wait to come back. read more

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I really wanted to like this place because I love Japanese curry, but unfortunately this place missed the mark. Considering the many positive reviews, I'm unsure if we caught them on an off day. We stopped by in the late afternoon, and the gentleman at the counter was very friendly. I overheard something about him having a connection to the Chicago Cubs and it sounded like he might be a writer. The walls had signed Chicago Cubs memorabilia which was pretty cool. We ordered the Black Katsu Curry Meal Set and the Katsu Sando with fries. Unfortunately, the pork was overcooked and tough, making it hard to enjoy. The curry itself was just average, and the fries didn't seem fresh. I do plan to give them another shot in the future. read more

Katsu-Shack - 4. Black Katsu Curry Meal Set - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I'm a huge katsu fan, so I was excited to spot this place driving around the city. I ordered delivery for dinner later that day and got the pork katsu set, which was the katsu, shredded cabbage, rice, and miso soup. The katsu was juicy and cooked properly, with a thin but crispy coating. I got the traditional katsu sauce on the side, which was on point, and the rice was fine. But overall I was disappointed for two reasons. First, the pork cutlet was overly fatty; I expected some fat but I ended up trimming off quite a bit. Also disappointing was the very, very small amount of shredded cabbage that came with it. In Japanese, you normally get a large pile of it, which provides freshness to go with the fried cutlet. The cabbage lasted only a couple katsu slices by stretching it. Maybe the portions are better in the restaurant, or something went wrong with my delivery order. Katsu-shack is worth a try, but I would manage your expectations. read more

Delivery Review Only: I have not visited Katsu-Shack in person yet, but I was highly impressed by the Japanese black curry order I received from Katsu-Shack. The flavor was robust and I am eager to try additional items from this restaurant. read more

Chicken katsu burnt Two lame pieces of croquette and barely any edamame for $22. Never ordering from here again. The rice is embarrassingly undercooked. read more

Katsu-Shack - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Amazing katsu sandwiches! Great customer service. I liked both the chicken and pork katsu Sandos. The pork was a bit thick but very tasty. I think I liked the pork more but both were very good. This place is legit! Real Japanese food!! I can't wait to come back and try the other items on the menu. read more

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Had a really fantastic experience here today. The service was quick and convenient, and everything was really easy to see on the menu. We popped in for a quick bite and ate a Katsu Sando Set with chicken instead of pork. The restaurant itself is beautiful! Open floor with a good amount of tables and seats for its small area. The drinks were easy to see and spot. Super clean dining area, and there was not a single spot out of place. The food was delicious. The katsu was the perfect texture--crunchy but somehow fluffy when you bite into it. The sauce was excellent, not too much on the sando either. The fries were great, too! I was especially happy to see a good selection of drinks. They have Ito-en unsweetened green tea, which was a nice addition to my meal, considering how most places have really sweet teas instead. All in all, I'll definitely be back. Staff is nice, the restaurant is beautiful and clean. I had a nice time! read more

Katsu-Shack - Katsu Sando Set (Fries not pictured) - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Absolutely loved Katsu Shack! We ate in and the service was great, although there isn't someone behind the counter at all times, so it might be a second if you need something! We got the Katsu sandwich with fries, and the traditional Katsu set. The fries were super fresh and crispy. Definitely get the sauce on the sandwich not on the side - the sandwich tastes a little plain without it. The quality of the Katsu is great, good balance of fatty and lean pork and cooked perfectly. There's a good amount of seating inside, and lots of cubs paraphernalia which is pretty cool, including signed jerseys from Japanese players! read more

The poke was thick, juicy, and perfectly crispy on the outside, pairing beautifully with the rich, authentic curry sauce. It was truly a top-notch katsu curry. The handy ice cream afterwards was also amazing. A perfect finish to a satisfying meal! On top of that, the staff's service was excellent!! read more

Katsu-Shack - Black Katsu Curry Meal Set - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Katsu-shack was a fun nice find. If you go, you should try their habanero sauce. Their miso soup was good but I thought it would come with the tofu chunks. The service was really welcoming and attentive to our needs. The ambiance was quiet. Perfect place for catching up with friends! read more

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I love sandos and was excited that there's a new sando shop in Chicago. We came on a Sunday afternoon for lunch and dined in. There's only a few small tables inside but most of the customers were taking food to-go. I had the ebi-katsu sando and ordered the tonkatsu rice bowl for my toddler. Hubby had the tonkatsu sando and matcha shake. There is a water dispenser inside but you have to ask for cups which they don't have readily available. We waited for some time until our food came out. The ebi-katsu sando was just okay and lacked seasoning. I got tartar sauce on the side but didn't think it paired well with the sando. I asked for the sauce on the side for my toddler's tonkatsu rice bowl but it was still drenched on top. I was worried she wouldn't eat her food since it was pretty saucy but she dug around it and mostly ate the rice. The matcha shake was decent and I ended up taking more than a few sips. Overall, food is just okay but we also came about a few weeks after it opened. read more

Great Katsu sandwich and Katsu curry rice. My wife & I really enjoyed them. And what is more important, when we brought Katsu Shack food to Cubs game, Cubs won!! Katsu = Win in Japanese(^^) read more

Katsu-Shack - Katsu sandwich & Katsu curryrice - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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My friend and I sent to Katsu Shack when they opened. I will say it was a good experience. The service was kind of slow but the quality of the food made up for it. I did enjoy the evil katsu sando. The tangy cabbage really hit the spot and I could taste how fresh it was. The tornado potato Could have been cooked a little longer since it seemed really oily and could have been cooked a little longer. The only other thing was the menu was kind of complicated since the screen kept changing. read more

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We have walked pass here many of times. We decided to try it out. We ordered the Katsu bento and the traditional set. Both got the pork. Katsu portion and thickness was great. Fresh, tender and hot. The egg in the bento was cold (refrigerator temp). Cucumber was good. Service was good and fairly quick. Would try the chicken next time. read more

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I had the chicken and am definitely going back for the pork and shrimp. They allow for custom sandwiches which are absolutely perfect for every individual's palate. read more

Katsu shack is really just that, it's a little spot that serves Katsu. They have chicken, pork, shrimp, and karage as well. Their signature is with the black curry (either with rice or as a sandwich dip) and comes with decent sides. It's very pricey for what it is though and I will likely not be going back but if you love Katsu and curry, come here for it! Food 4/5: The fries were overly salted and slightly undercooked. Wish they had more bite to the outside and not so much on the inside. The shrimp Katsu was good. The pork Katsu was good but the crispy layer falls off very easily. They cater to take out only but I think that's part of the reason. Maybe they need to add holes for moisture to escape. It wasn't cut against the grain so it can be chewy on some pieces. The Katsu sauce and miso soup are both probably store bought but they were delicious and I'd go again just for those. The cabbage that comes with the set meals don't have dressing. Ambiance/service 4/5 Its quiet since no one really eats in. There is no water available. The folks are very nice. No complaints. I would dock a star for the price. I wouldve expected to pay closer to 25 - 30 range for my meal and not 35 - 40 range. For that price I could've gotten hot pot or something that I can't do at home myself or is much more annoying to. read more

As a Japanese tonkatsu lover, I'm so happy to find this fast-casual restaurant which serves great tonkatsu! read more

Katsu-Shack - Tonkatsu Tuesday - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Friendly, professional, fast service. The dining area is small but clean. Chicken Katsu Sandwich was executed precisely, and was ready in approximately 5 minutes. The cabbage was crisp and fresh. I could tell the chicken had just been cooked fresh to order. The chicken would have benefited from more seasoning and the sandwich would have benefitted from some acid or heat. read more

This place is GOOD! Authentic, Japanese-owned. The pork katsu is classic and it does not disappoint. The meat is so juicy and fatty, perfectly fried. I like mine with more cabbage but you can get more cabbage on the side. The bread is a little forgettable and thin but in general; this is a very good addition to the neighborhood. Highly recommend! Also their fries were crispy and delicious. read more

i agree with the other reviews, the pork was very tough to eat, but otherwise it was pretty good! read more

Katsu-Shack - Katsu Don - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Delicious! I've had the chicken sandwich, chicken black curry, and vanilla shake. All of it was top notch. The shakes were thick and had slight ice crystals in it, which I love, while still rich and creamy. The black curry sauce was very flavorful and the chicken katsu was nice and crispy. The space is cute and the gentleman that helped us was warm, friendly, and helpful. I'm excited to have this place in the area! read more

Katsu-Shack - Black Katsu Curry & Rice - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I did not want to write this review because I was expecting this place to be good from the reviews. I went to Japan last year and this place's Tonkatsu just doesn't compare. You can tell it was fried in old oil and the batter they use wasn't light and crispy. The rice was also old and dry. I ordered the traditional tonkatsu set. Only thing was good was the miso soup and shredded cabbage. read more

We needed a place to quickly eat before our show and this was the perfect place. The pork katsu was soooo good. Authentically Japanese and crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. We got the bento and the sandwich. Also the owners/workers were very nice. read more

Solid food, really big portions, very tasty. Lots of flavorful sauces, getting though them one at a time.

I was very excited to try this place but was disappointed. They Forgot the katsu sauce I paid $1.50. Chicken karage piece was $4, yet was the size of my thumb. Pork katsu was at least 20% fat more like 30%. Black curry and Japanese pickles were both okay. Only redeeming factor is the cabbage, which was pretty good. read more

The pork katsu here is thick and juicy. It's worth a visit to try the food but also a good place to come and see some japanese cubs players signed jerseys. It was a cool spot with decent food. Would go again. read more

Katsu-Shack - Jersey - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Passed by saw the grand opening sign. Has free parking next to Domino. This place is run by Japanese. The pork chop is thick, juicy and tender. Inside is clean and cozy. Definitely will come again. Wish them a great success in business. read more

Katsu-Shack - Katsu Curry. - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Went here while visiting chicago for pride. I wanted food and my girlfriend, who is prone to heat exhaustion, needed a spot to sit down with air conditioning for a moment. I got the curry. My girlfriend was not hungry so she did not get anything. The food was good but as I was sitting eating it the woman who took our order told us that every person must order or they have to leave. She kicked my girlfriend out for having her head down before I finished my food. She told us if my girlfriend needed to cool down she should go to the emergency room down the street. It was extremely rude - I've never heard of a policy like that in a restaurant. We were there for less than half an hour. I've never written a negative review before but I was really insulted. read more

Katsu Shack is an authentic Japanese restaurant run by Japanese people. That's a rarity in downtown Chicago as not many Japanese restaurants are. I'm from Japan and I highly recommend this place if you want to see what real katsu tastes like! Both pork and chicken are thick yet tender. My favorite is the shrimp katsu. I also love the matcha shake which comes with a couple of matcha pocky sticks. Rich and flavorful. The restaurant also have a great selection of Japanese soft drinks. There's a free parking lot right next to the building. It's within walking distance to Wrigley Field. A convenient location. I can't wait for their katsu curry that's coming soon! read more

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We ordered a bento box and a katsu sandwich, both with pork. The food consistently lacked flavor. The fries I had were soggy and tasted like they were frozen and not made in-house. The miso soup lacked a good fishy flavor. The only flavor in the sandwich was the bit of sauce, but the pork cutlet and breading were disappointing and didn't taste seasoned. There was also quite a bit of fat that wasn't trimmed on the cutlet, so there were unpleasant chewy pockets. This place just opened, so it may just be growing pains, but we were disappointed with our first experience. read more

Overall, it's pretty good! I liked the katsu sandwich, but the bread tasted like wonderbread which I'm not a fan of. If they would level up with their choice of bread they use for the sandwich, it could be really good. The fries were good, but they didn't have any condiments out. Not even ketchup. As another review mentioned, there's no water available but one of the employees got me a cup of tap water from the back when I asked. read more

I enjoyed katsu sandwich very much. The Katsu is delicious and the bread is soft, just like Katsu sand I used to enjoy in Japan. Service was friendly and fast. The price was reasonable too. I highly recommended if you want to taste Japanese style katsu. read more

Food is delicious and I will certainly be going back for their onigiris and pork katsu!

Wow! Just came back from a trip and this place just opened. It's amazing really. Saku might be the most personable and funniest individual I've ever met. The ambiance is just perfect. The vibe is so calm, clean, and the colors are perfect. Now talking about the food. The curry was so nice, the portions are HUGE for the price. So thick and tender. Overall, I completely suggest you go here rn! read more