After spending nearly two years trying--and failing--to secure a reservation at Tsuke Edomae in Austin, I learned that the restaurant is connected to Kyoten through chef Otto Phan. Kyoten Next Door offers a more casual and relatively affordable way to experience that style of omakase, with a focus on classic, straightforward nigiri. I made sure to book a New Year's Eve reservation while visiting Chicago, and the experience did not disappoint. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant is quiet and intimate, with a graceful atmosphere that allows you to fully focus on the food.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Each piece of nigiri was carefully sliced, seasoned, and assembled right in front of us. What stood out most was the precision behind each piece. The fish was cut and prepared in ways that felt noticeably different from other omakase experiences I've had, bringing out distinct textures and flavors with every bite. Each course felt thoughtful without being overly complicated. Overall, Kyoten Next Door absolutely deserves a place on any sushi lover's bucket list. It was a memorable experience from start to finish, and now I'm even more excited to try Kyoten. read more

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We've been to pretty much every omakase in Chicago, and Kyoten Next Door is the best. Honestly, it's not even that close. We've gone three times now, and every meal has been just as good as the last. That's what really stands out. A lot of places can be great once. This place is great every time. The fish is incredible and obviously sourced with a lot of care, but the rice is what really separates it. They use a rice you won't find at any other restaurant in Chicago, and you can taste the difference immediately. It changes the whole bite. We've had a lot of very good omakase in this city. Some great ones. But this is the one we keep comparing all the others to. Best omakase in Chicago. No question. read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Beautiful omakase in a refined setting with amazing service.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] My friend and I came for dinner at 8pm on a Friday and we had an incredible time. The chef was outstanding and really excellent at balancing conversation and pace. Every bite was clearly balanced and incredibly fresh. Even the items I'm not a particular fan of, like uni, were lovely and enjoyable when created with this expertise. We were very full at the end, it was a great amount of food. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The space is comfortable and classy, staff were excellent, and we will definitely return![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Nice wine and sake list as well read more

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Had a lovely experience here overall. [[HIGHLIGHT]]You enter via an unmarked papered-up door and into the small dining room.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The man that greeted us seemed to be a bit frazzled upon arrival. Some people were already sat (we were a few mins early) but we had to wait while the man set up the rest of the place settings. It seemed they split us up into two groups even for the same dining time which I found a little odd. I really enjoyed the more casual, straightforward take on omakase here. It felt unfussy, relaxed and engaging in an authentic way. The main sushi chef was soft spoken but friendly and it was nice just chatting with him in between courses. All the fish we had was fresh and delicious. I loved the variety they provided with items like a hand roll thrown in. This isn't some sauced-up, overdone omakase option though, they truly showcase the fish in its simplicity. I find the price point here to be more than fair for what you receive. We had a great experience and will absolutely be coming back soon. read more

Kyoten Next Door - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]Such a beautiful space! Super intimate and the design was stunning.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The sushi chefs were so friendly and personable and they made the experience very welcoming. The nigiri was very fresh but there wasn't a ton of diversity between the various fish. Would have love to see some additional flavors. I also unfortunately wasn't a huge fan of the rolls and there were quite a few. With two drinks our bill did come to $500 which was a bit expensive for me just not loving the entire meal but was still a wonderful experience! read more

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We had the most incredible experience at Kyōten! My husband surprised me for my birthday, and it was one of the best nights we've had together. [[HIGHLIGHT]]From the service to the atmosphere, to the food- it was nothing short of amazing.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Our chef made the experience personal as well, telling us a lot of history and facts behind each piece of the fish and where it was from. I can't wait to go back! read more

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The food was amazing! The service was great! Our chef knew his stuff. He was telling us where the fish was from, had great conversations with the chef. He was also able to cater according to our personal preference. I didn't want too much rice with my meal, he was able to cut down the amount of rice for me. Very nice. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It was also hard to find the front door. Since they did not put their name on the door.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]But the ambiance was nice. Not too loud, can carry a conversation easily.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Would go back. read more

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Food: 5 [[HIGHLIGHT]]Decor: 5[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Service: 4 Came here for dinner after making a reservation a few days prior. Overall, one of the best omakases I've been to and would definitely return. 17 pieces total (16 + 1 extra) Salmon Masu Madai Shima Aji Hamachi Buri Akami Toro Wagyu Scallop Sawara Uni Gindara Futomaki Temaki Seared salmon Tamago All the pieces were delicious, but my favorite were the Toro, Wagyu, Hotate, Uni, and Futomaki. Service was good. read more

One of the BEST omakase experiences I have come across in Chicago. The service was phenomenal, sitting at the Chefs table we were able to have a great conversation with the Chef who shared with us the details about every bite and history of the establishment. Fatty tuna was out of this world ( I am always biased towards fatty tuna) and so was almost every bite we had. The sake recommendations were spot on. If you love omakase and want to splurge a little for a wonderful experience I would highly recommend this place. On my price to quality ratio this place is right next to Oriole and I will definitely be back many a times for the flavors, experiences and the service!!! read more

This was honestly a perfect meal. There is not a single thing I would have changed. 11/10, amazing, I'll be recommending to everyone. We came to Kyoten Next Door for my husband's birthday. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It's a very small and intimate space, with about 10 seats at the sushi bar.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]They split us in half and each side of the bar had our own chef that prepared each course directly in front of us.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We got to watch him cut the fish, roll the rice, place the wasabi, place the fish, brush on soy sauce...and then place the bite directly onto our plate. The whole time, he was talking to us about the food and restaurant, and anything else we brought up. The chefs are MASTERS. Everything was absolutely perfect. They were accommodating of food preferences. I don't eat red meat, so they gave me something else during the two wagyu courses. Neither my husband nor I eat egg, so they let us do a second bite of any of the fish instead of the tamago! And, we left full. It was not stingy portions, and the 16 courses overall was a perfect amount. read more

Kyoten Next Door - Menu from our visit - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We came here at 4pm omekase. It was incredible. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It only seats 10 people so it is calm and quiet with a beautiful minimalist decor.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We started with the salmon which was incredibly mouth watering and melted in my mouth. We then had the Masu trout which was so tender it made you wonder if it was really trout. Next was the Madai which had lemon rind which was so refreshing. Next we had the shima aji which was super buttery. The hamachi was next and was my favorite because it was so flavorful. The kanpachi came next and was so soft and smooth. The Alamo mackerel came next and was nicely paired with a vinegar soaked. The toro came next and was lightly seared and my husbands favorite. The wagyu beef came next and was exceptionally soft and lightly seared as well.. The were next scallops which were spiced and refreshing at the same time. The entire meal was fantastic. The chef were kind and attentive. The service was excellent. If you like high quality Sushi, you should come here as soon as possible read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Edomae omakase tucked away near Logan Square.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] So glad we were able to snag a reservation while visiting Chicago. This is Kyoten Next Door, which is under the same ownership of Chef Otto, but the main difference from the flagship, Kyoten, is the fish at Kyoten Next Door used, are a mix of wild-caught and farm-raised. Kyoten will use Japanese wild-caught only. Chef Jorge gave us a wonderful experience. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It's an intimate 10 seat omakase with 16 courses.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] All pieces were absolutely delicious. It's hard to choose, but my favorite bites are the different pieces of the blue fin tuna - akami and otoro. But everything was devine ranging from Hokkaido scallop, A5 Wagyu, and uni. We're definitely going to return when we visit Chicago next. read more

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Unbelievable good sushi , this place has some of the most amazing sushi bites I have had. This place is for people that like More traditional sushi you're not going to find a Cali roll here . Highly recommend for work or date night! read more

We went again last night for our second meal at Kyoten Next Door and it was just as excellent as our first visit. Its a beautiful space, the chefs are attentive (Jorge is great) and the food is sublime. Highly recommended for a special occasion. read more

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Wow! What a great omakase experience for the price! This was definitely the highlight of our recent trip to Chicago. I've been wanting to try Kyoten for a while but didn't want to spring for a $500 meal. Luckily we saw this abbreviated version open and were excited to try Kyoten Next Door. The omakase is $160 per person and consists of 15 courses. Our entire meal lasted about 90 min and each piece of of nirigi was served promptly. There's only 10 seats giving the restaurant an intimate feel but the interior is sleek and sophisticated. The nigiri consisted of traditional cuts paired with interesting flavor combinations or smoke. We had the staples of salmon, tuna (akami, chutoro, and otoro), mackerel, hamachi, and A5 wagyu but each one was unique in its own way. I loved the lemon paired with the mackerel and the otoro was of course amazing with a light torch. We were also served lightly smoked black cod which was the first time I've had cod served nirigi style. It was an interesting take in lieu of anago and absolutely delicious! Everything was perfectly paired and I loved some of the additions including a scallion ginger sauce that our chef brushed on a couple of pieces and the light smoke on the trout and hamachi. Our chef also showed us the wasabi root he was using and gave us a taste of the wasabi on its own. We ended the meal with a twist on tamago which was turned into a corn pudding. At the end we could add on an add pieces a la carte with most pieces being $7 (with the exception of the A5 wagyu and otoro). We were full but couldn't resist getting another piece of the black cod so we went for another round. Definitely worth the price to add on if you still have room left. The service through the meal was exceptional and our chef was friendly and chatted with us on the sushi and the unique rice they use which is mixed with an aged vinegar that you can really taste. I'd say it's probably one of the strongest vinegars I've tasted in sushi rice. After having tried many omakase restaurants in Chicago and elsewhere in the US, I'd say Kyoten Next Door is absolutely worth a visit! It's perfect for both sushi lovers and first time omakase diners alike and casual enough for a simple date night. read more

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Top tier Omakase in Chicago. What more is there to really say? [[HIGHLIGHT]]The interior designer and artist of Kyoten Next Door is a friend of my partner's, so we decided to come check out her work and enjoy some fresh sushi.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]The interior kind of gave me Parasite house vibes or like Wrightwood 659 -- which I really like -- a minimalistic modern feel (all 3 places are designed by Asians too).[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I have only had Omakase a few times, but felt that there was something different with Kyoten. The fish was fresh, our chef was attentive and skilled (Jorge was great), and I never felt like we were rushed. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Seating is limited yet very roomy feeling.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] My favorite was the Ocean Trout (honorable mention to the Scallop). So good and a unique menu item that I had to get an extra order of, which ended up being on the house. Reservations can be hard to come by; best to book right when they release that day's bookings. While the price is up there, it's a wonderful spot for a special occasion that comes with a special experience. read more

Kyoten Next Door - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Loved the atmosphere (apparently done by the same interior designer as its sister restaurant, Kyoten), the intimate nature of the dinner, and the explanations that the chef had to give us.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The food was great, as expected. My favorites were the Shima Aji, Saba (can you tell I like mackerel), and the Uni (which was from Hokkaido and unbearably fresh). For the price point, I can't recommend a better omakase in Chicago. read more

I heard a ton about Kyoten as well as Kyoten Next Door and thought Next Door would be a perfect place to celebrate an anniversary with my lovely wife. The location was beautiful in it's simplicity and limited seating, so that was a real plus starting the meal! Also Mugi was a great sushi chef, patiently explaining what we were about to eat as well as how they prepared ingredients, including their rice, and his favorite Korean restaurant in the city (it's Cho sun Ok)! I'll just list out what I remembered the menu consisted of and provide some accompanying pics before I give my overall thoughts. -New Zealand salmon -Madai. Red snapper -Golden eye snapper -Shimaji. Strip Jack Makeral -Hamachi -Buri. Mature hamachi -Alamo. Blue fin tuna. Cold smoked -Otoro: My piece was tendony -A5 wagyu. Chewy -Hotate. Scallop cured in salt -Aji. Makeral. So tender -Saba. Black cod -Fudomaki -Shirashi tamagi. -Tamago. Maple syrup. Corn.  Extra: -Uni Overall, I really enjoyed the meal, although the two things that prevent me from making it a 5 star experience are: 1) would have loved to see more creativity with what could be done with the fish/sushi. I know the style of sushi at Kyoten focuses on the simplicity, but with this many pieces, I personally would have appreciated a few that took the fish to another level 2) this is the bigger issue regarding the two sushi pieces that should have been the stars of the meal, the Otoro and the Wagyu. Instead of perfect pieces, mine's were marred by tendon in the fish and the less than buttery texture in the meat. Given this experience, I'm hesitant to shell out for the full Kyoten meal given its astronomical price, but I was happy this is meal, for the most part. read more

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The last course was a HUGE surprise This is the sister restaurant of Kyoten , that's $440/$490. Kyoten is known for their rice, one of 3 chefs in US using a unique imported Japanese rice. They are also known to use ONLY wild caught & imported fish (that's why it's so expensive ) Kyoten Next, is much much more affordable at $159 for 17 courses (yes I counted). Sometimes they have 20ish courses depending on what's seasonal and fresh They opened in April 2023 I remember moving here and trying to figure out why sushi was so expensive yet have such a small selection here. In Hong Kong, I can have a whole sushi meal for $20 Then I had to remember, we don't live next to the sea. So it's going to be harder no matter what. To fly fresh fish from the sea here! Highlights of Kyoten Next Only 2 seatings per night, not too rushed huge pieces of fish Fantastic for first-timers , they explained everything really really well Imported selections from New Zealand, Japan Intimate beautiful decor very affordable for Chicago at this quality Scored fish to maximize surface area for soy sauce Whole meal King salmon from new Zealand Smoked ocean trout from New Zealand Japanese red snapper with lemon Shima aji (between Amberjack or white trivoli) Young yellow tail dry aged for one week Fully mature yellowtail wild caught , leaner & more Umami . Dry age for 1.5 week and cold smoke Wild caught blue fin from Boston Akami Otoro (w/ red vinegar rice aged 5 years ) Aged a5 Miyazaki Wagyu Hokkaido scallop , shito dashi, lemon juice, yuzu kosho, Aji Uni from Hokkaido Gindara sable fish Futoomaki "High end kimbap" Sushi roll, yellow tail tuna avocado The best Tamago egg custard I've had in my life. If you like Flan or Japanese Egg Custard, you're going to be BLOWN AWAY by this Book on Resy Kyoten Next 2513 W Armitage More food @biteswithbessy on instagram read more

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UPDATE: Photos are from a separate occasion from the one that was mentioned in the previous review, taken by a friend. I won't write a new review for the pieces since I feel it's a pointless endeavor considering how seasonal the menu is. NOTE: The second menu listed "Aji", but we had Uni instead. The Aji was available as a substitute for those who did not like to consume Uni. read more

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There are other better omakases in Chicago. Having formally studied in Japan, I prefer my sushi to be very traditional. The sushi was too wet with vinegar. The rice, which is such an important part of sushi, needed more care. However, each portion of fish was very generous in size. The most disappointing part to me was the service. The chef was not very hospitable or cordial. He would start talking about a dish without first drawing the party's attention to him. If you asked him to repeat something or for a clarification, he would respond in an annoyed tone, "As I stated before..." The service lacked the showmanship that you would typically receive with an omakase. read more

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I'll be dreaming about this for a while tbh. What a great experience and perfect spot to celebrate something special. Everything was delicious, fresh, (and more importantly for me with omakase), super filling. read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Great cozy environment; seats limited amount of guests and is a 15 course sushi tasting.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Best sushi i've had in a while. High quality selection of fish and meat. Lots of thought put into each piece. Friendly host and chefs. read more

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Over the weekend (in below freezing temps) we had the pleasure of dining downtown at Kyoten Next Door and enjoying the beauty and simplicity of Chef Otto Phan's 15-course Omakase. He not only walked us through each bite, but his knowledge and passion for his pure ingredients was evident. We thoroughly enjoyed our experience and his personal anecdotes and conversations with us made the evening even more memorable. The flavors, presentation, and attention to detail make this $159/person culinary experience more than worth it (that's basically $10.60/course, not including our dessert bonus course)! read more

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Kyōten Next Door delivers some of the best sushi in Chicago. The omakase is thoughtful, balanced, and beautifully executed -- each bite showcases incredible technique and the freshest ingredients. Flavors are clean, bold, and deeply satisfying. If you're serious about sushi, this place is a must. read more

Fantastic Omakase in Chicago. I had been wanting to go here for a while and went for a friend's birthday. [[HIGHLIGHT]]More laid back vibe than other omakase I've been to but still attentive service.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Fish was good quality and fresh the day I went. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Very minimalistic inside.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Definitely want to come back and try the main Kyoten as well. read more

Kyoten Next Door spotlights quality ingredients without adding any unnecessary extras. As a more approachable alternative to its neighbor, the 15 course meal was delicious and well rounded. Chef Jorge was friendly and attentive and paid attention to detail with each course. The otoro was the overwhelming favorite but I loved the variety of fatty and lean fish and the twist on the tamago as well. The interior is simple, but trendy and sleek, and only seats about the 10 total. Oh and the bathrooms were also lovely with the Japanese toilets. Some of the people in my group are so obsessed that they've become regulars. Highly recommend! read more

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Kyoten Next is one of the best experience you can get without spending $500 plus. All the pieces are kept at a very high standard and portion is great. The interior design and ambience is incomparable. Will def come back! read more

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More of a 3.5 but certainly not a 4. The fish relationships of Kyoten was there, with quality and texture galore. But the experience misses Otto immensely, it is just a stiff presentation, while the technique is solid but not outstanding. I get this is a more traditional sushi experience but this omakase tries to stand on ingredient quality and nothing else. It's just boring. I wasn't surprised by anything, no unique flavors outside of the lemon juice scallop. I missed salt, surprises, and adjuncts. For the price of $225 per person, it's a rip-off of epic proportions. Especially after the meal you can buy pieces for $6 a piece, but in the meal they would average closer to $18 per. read more

It was an okay meal comparatively. A lot of the things we like we "out" so they seemed to be improvising a lot. Also I found the main chef a little bit arrogant and off putting. He barely spoke to us. read more

I've dined at Kyoten Next Door a few times now and it has always been a wonderful experience. I've had chef Mugi each time, he is excellent. The sushi is simple, elegant, and the highest quality. Now any time I have sushi elsewhere, it leaves me wishing I was at Kyoten Next Door instead. The reservations go quickly and it isn't cheap, but it is absolutely worth it. I'm already looking forward to my next visit! read more

Amazing sushi classics! Refined tasting menu, top tier ingredients, and delicious. Chef serves on Sundays and I it's a treat to watch him work his craft. read more

Quite simply one of the best dinners I've been to. Certainly in the top 5. I would describe both the food and atmosphere as elegant simplicity. Not stuffy, helpful staff that engage as you want to engage and offer the right balance of descriptions and context for what you are about to eat. The food was phenomenal even though it doesn't appear to try to wow you. It's all about the fish with just the right touches of subtle pops that elevate the fish without diverting attention away from it. Case in point was one with lemon zest tucked neatly with the wasabi between the fish and rice. You will also leave feeling very full. I think the number of courses exceeds what you normally get from an omakase. Very well done and I look forward to coming back. read more

Amazing sushi! 8-10 seats in the restaurant at the bar. The chef makes everything fresh right in front of you and tells you about all the cuts. They also let you add on additional pieces at the end of the meal! If you love sushi you need to go! read more

Kyoten was the best omakase experience I've had in Chicago. Kyoten Next Door makes that incredible experience a bit more approachable without sacrificing any of the quality or expertise we experienced at the flagship. 10/10 would recommend. read more

Service was good and attentive. Place itself is standard but huge downside is the door opens up directly to the bar where you're sitting to eat, which I find quite strange. The sushi chef seemed like an amateur and I wonder if they do that on Sundays to test out new people. The quality of the fish was just terrible. It had that awful aftertaste that you get with poor quality fish. For the price, I definitely wouldn't return. Now I probably won't try Kyoten either out of fear that the even higher price tag may have equally bad quality. read more

I love this place. Everything about this place is amazing. The store (kyoten) is also phenomenal place. This place is a gem in Chicago.

An awesome experience that really highlights great ingredients and great fish!! It's a real treat to get to watch the sushi be made right in front of you as well as hear about how it's made/sourced. read more

Still dreaming about this dinner weeks later. The food and atmosphere were such high quality, but still so approachable. I loved the artwork and sleek design of the space and having such small seatings meant we got unbelievable service. Our sake glasses never got close to empty. We were also honored with Chef Otto's presence the night we came in and had so much fun learning about sushi from him. It was impossible to pick a favorite course although we did order seconds of the salmon. read more