This was an amazing start to for Chicago dining. Fresh off of a 10-hour flight, this spot was an…read moreoasis. Not only was the hospitality midwestern aloha, the food, service, and attention to details was spectacular. You are greeted with a cocktail to get things started. It was 94 degrees outside, so that treat was refreshing, bright, and bubbly. My boyfriend opted for the non-alcoholic version without the fizz and he gulped it down in two sips. We were then whisked off to the dining room and presented with an array of beverage options as the chef began preparation for the omakase. The music was so good, I found myself using shazam to find the names of different tracks. The chef noticed and said they post their evening playlist on IG. BONUS: Get the Tanjiro drink. It is a green monster inspired by an anime character. You get extra points if you know which one. The lychee is subtle and whoever is behind the bar is a genius. Sean had a no-alcohol red bean cocktail that was beyond creative and way beyond delicious. The hospitality didn't end there. The servers, (you will enjoy multiple) when we asked them for recommendations on where to go in Chicago, presented us with a handwritten list of things that they enjoy and continued to verbally add tips throughout the night. Everything from dive bars to Broadway made the list. This place ranks as some of the best service I have ever received. The chef was kind, thoughtful, and so was every person in the space. The starter trio included an okonomiyaki croquette, japanese egg salad served in a cone, and a milk bread tea sandwich with herbs. I will dream about that egg salad. . .and the milk bread sandwich had an herby-tang that was cut with butter. Delicious! Each course, as with any omakase, comes with guidance and instructions. No ginger, but a delightful pickled apple, shiso leaves, and mizuna with wasabi, yuzu salt, and an umami "dropper" rounded out a playful series of hand rolls. Different and I enjoyed the vegetal touches. The Norwegian Trout was a stand-out and the anago was surprising. I don't like anago, but this was very good. That trout though. . .drool! The chawanmushi was exceptional and surprising with a pea puree and so many additional elements. The taste changes as you move toward the bottom of the cup. It was very unexpected. The somen was ridiculous. That broth had the rich and velvety texture of tonkotsu, but was miso, soy-milk-based and vegan. The somen noodles were perfect. This was a fantastic way to end the savory courses and head into dessert. While the butter mochi cake and small bites were good, I think time stopped for my boyfriend when he started eating the strawberry soft serve with buttermilk, candied lemon peel and bits of freeze-dried strawberry. It reminded me of some flavors from the crack-seed store, but the chef said the strawberry was like what you might get from a box of Special K. It made me want to send him a few bags from the crack seed store. :-) . The texture and flavors were perfect and balanced. This is a special place. You should go. (Lifting you by Jungle is now playing)

From entering the front door to exiting the front door, this was nothing short of outstanding. The…read morewarm welcome cocktail was a soothing first touch. The bar is your first landing point so you get to have a nice intro with the bartender (El is absolutely brilliant). The cocktail menu is curated by bar lead Pepe and it did not disappoint. The chosen ingredients are bold and beautifully placed in a way that the flavors are enhanced and highlighted. It's hard to translate through photos how visually captivating the dining room/bar is. The colors and lights are tasteful and not too minimal and not too busy. The music throughout the space also felt dialed in just right. I really appreciate how the seats allow for perfect view of the "prep line" for lack of better words. Chefs Mari, Adam, & Cha move elegantly behind the bar, the chemistry is quite apparent. Staff is wonderfully knowledgeable as well. Kim and Preston walked us through the dishes with succinct yet thorough detail. The way they move in and out of the space feels like a dance. The meal itself was impeccable. Warm and cool bites with pops of color and contrasting textures-not one forgettable course. Pacing was comfortable and considered. The choice of cutlery and plate ware needs to be applauded- some aspects felt like little pieces of art positioned to elevate the composed dishes. Start to finish. exceptional.

Ohhhemmmgeeee. What an amazing experience! This was the best end to a crazy week: I turned 50,…read morebought a condo in Chicago and THISSSS Omakase experience. Hands down- the best. We took an Uber from a few blocks down agter closing on our house, so I cant speak on parking. This was a surprise set up by my cousin/bestie so I had ZERO idea of what we were about to experience. We walked into the building to the aroma of grilled burgers. I'm not mad at that either. My cousin then punched numbers on a door and we walked down a dark staircase. I almost tripped in excitement. We were seated and given oshibori to cleanse our hands before food. Our host then served up aperitifs and a small bite before we headed yet further down into the building. Walking down another dark staircase, the room opens up to such an intimate space that sat about 10. The host gathered our jackets and bags and safely stowed them away. The mixologist and three chef before us are masters in their craft. Period. The beverage menu consists of Japanese beer, sake, Japanese whiskey, and Scratch signature drinks. I went with the drink sampler (‍). I can't tell you what I had, but that it was a mix of the precious mentioned and they were all amazing! The drinks and sake were timed and paired perfectly with each bite. Chef explained each piece before it was presented and gave us tasting notes. No one in my party had allergies. But my cousin had no interest in uni. They had no issues substituting a different piece for her. Of note, the couple seared beside me also had some food preferences and requested no alcohol, and the staff easily provided alternatives. The banchan of puckered cucumbers and mushroom were great palate cleansers in between each bite and sip. Sitting front row watching the chef meticulously prepare each piece was amazing. The craft amd skill involved... chef's kiss. Chef had a great point: they don't advertise so they don't know how their seats get filled each night. I'm not sure how we got so lucky, but if someone wver invites you, you must go. Full transparency: 3 people, additional bite (×3), ×2 drink samplers ($100+/ea), and a cocktail... with gratuity: Roughly $1k. Be prepared. This was definitely a treat. But so worth every hard-earned penny!

I had Sushi by Scratch on my list to try and my friend and I got lucky that it was only us two and…read moreanother couple during our meal. It is a lovely quiet place and you would be shocked at how tall the ceilings are when you walk down to a couple levels down. The staff made sure to refill our drinks and explained each of our courses thoroughly. One thing I was shocked was how fast the omakase went. It seemed pretty fast pace as our reservation was at 5 and we were done a little after 6. We had missed the complimentary bites as we couldn't leave work early to get there at 4:30. I was hoping we could still get it as we arrived10 minutes early and received the tea, but I guess not. The food was all delicious and my favorites were the bone marrow, mackerel, otoro, and wagyu. We enjoyed our meal, but we felt that it was very quiet. We wanted to have a good time with the meal and we coincidentally knew the couple dining with us. We felt that the chefs were very formal and a little serious where we felt a little awkward trying to talk to them. Other than that, we had enjoyed the meal, but felt hungry after the omakase.

After spending nearly two years trying--and failing--to secure a reservation at Tsuke Edomae in…read moreAustin, 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. The restaurant is quiet and intimate, with a graceful atmosphere that allows you to fully focus on the food. 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.

We've been to pretty much every omakase in Chicago, and Kyoten Next Door is the best. Honestly,…read moreit'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.

Our foodie adventure continued this evening in Chicago at a family run restaurant that was an Asian…read morefusion flavor paradise. The owners are a married couple (He is Lebanese and she is Mexican) and they have created such a fantastic place for any lover of amazing sushi, Japanese cuisine with a Latin flair. Warm and inviting service and eclectic art from local artists adds to the vibe here. Can't decide which of the paintings are our favorite This was a culture fusion place I never knew I needed in my life. If in Chicago- please check this place out!

Food was delicious! Seafood Ramen was on point! Very surprised the amount of scallops in one dish!…read moreThe broth was so delicious I wanted to lick the bowl clean...lol Sushi rolls were tasty and just a bit of a kick. They had alot of flavor and the freshness was definitely there! Creme Brulee for dessert was perfect. Overall such a great concept and fusion of Japanese and Mexican flavors! Jessy the Co-owner was so sweet and a delight to converse with during my meal. Looking forward to visiting again and inviting my colleagues! Best Regards, Louie Delgado Bon Appétit

I had the absolute pleasure of dining at Atsumeru in May 2026 to celebrate my wife's birthday, and…read morewe continue to rave about it daily. We checked in for our reservation, and the host politely wished my wife a happy birthday and mentioned our night would start off downstairs. We followed her to the basement. -- The basement was dimly lit, intimate, and cozy. The music was an upbeat jazz playing behind the bar, making it feel like a cozy living room with a private chef. The wine list was decent. They don't have cocktails yet as they just received their liquor license, but the Burgundy we chose paired well with our night. We cheersed our glasses, and the event started. Watching the chefs prepare the dishes behind the counter was like watching artists paint a picture, silent and beautiful. Our first course was crab, woodruff and apple. The crunchy texture and burst of flavor was the perfect start. Next was the wagyu, chestnut and katsuobushi. As a big fan of beef tartare, this was my favorite bite downstairs. The final bite downstairs was gjetost, onion, which was my wife's favorite. It tasted exactly like French onion soup in a single, decadent ball, with the onion and beef front and center. After this, we grabbed our drinks and were escorted upstairs to the main dining area. -- The room upstairs was upscale but not stuffy or pretentious, with calming music that set the mood. The chairs were incredibly comfortable, which I noticed right away. We were presented with some complementary champagne to celebrate my wife's birthday, which was a really appreciated touch. As we clinked our glasses, we started the main meal. The sablefish with corn silk and miso was fantastic, melting in your mouth with a great balance of savory flavor, a touch of heat, and a bit of crunch. Our second course was chawanmushi, trout, prawn and saffron, which was gorgeous to look at and had a welcoming mix of textures. The third dish was scallop, sudachi and fennel. I usually feel like scallops are overplayed at these types of restaurants, but boy, was I proven wrong. This was perfectly tender and probably my favorite dish of the night. The white wine sauce and citrus gave it a light feel, while unique bits of fried chicken added flavor and crunch. It might be the best scallop dish I've ever had. We also added the optional course of caviar, banana and beef. It was well worth the add-on, bringing a great harmony of salty caviar pops, sweet banana, and rich umami. The next course was mushroom, rice, yeast and egg yolk. You could really taste the Japanese and Nordic influences here with a full burst of umami. It wasn't my personal favorite, but my wife loved it, showing how subjective tastes can be. Next was the wagyu, koji and jus. They let you choose your own custom steak knife from a selection, which was an awesome, upscale touch. The A5 Wagyu had great flavor and was incredibly tender. The desserts were a phenomenal progression from savory-sweet to fully sweet. The foie gras, krumkake and cloudberry was rich, salty, and sweet, easily a favorite of mine. Next was the milk and pine dish. I usually roll my eyes when foodies say a dish transports them, but my tastebuds have been opened. With one bite, I closed my eyes and felt myself standing in a quiet, snowy pine forest. It was breathtaking. Our next course was sobacha, yuzu and cocoa husk, featuring a smooth ice cream over a nutty financier. The final course was three plates presented together: an explosive sea buckthorn bite with a fully liquid center, a Christmas-inspired ginger and speculoos cookie, and a meringue with hoja santa that my wife loved. Overall, these desserts were the perfect send-off. -- I'm excited to see this restaurant grow. I think they'll truly hit their stride once they have a full time sommelier and some cocktails on their menu. Thank you, Chef Devin, and your entire staff for an amazing experience for my wife's birthday. You are truly deserving of that coveted Michelin Star, if not two.

We've been wanting to try Atsumeru since it opened a couple of months ago, so my birthday seemed…read morelike the perfect excuse. Service was friendly and low key, with lots of information about the ingredients of each of the many courses. The setting is intimate, with perhaps 8 tables, the noise level was perfect. The decor didn't strike me as particularly Nordic or Japanese as I was expecting but it was pleasant. The first three "bite sized" courses were my favorites of the entire meal, the morsel of wagyu with mushroom was particularly good, The other standouts for me were the sea trout course and the mushroom course. The rest of the meal was very good (my wife enjoyed it more than me, she thought it was excellent) but I felt that many of the courses were too rich for my taste buds and had too many ingredients for any to stand out. I think I'm getting a bit jaded over multi-course chefs tasting menus, so take that in mind when reading the review. The only major disappointments of the meal were what should have been the stars; the wagyu and sun choke dish, the beef had amazing flavor from the Japanese seasoning but it was very chewy and the supplemental caviar course, the flavor of the roe was totally overpowered by the other ingredients. The krumkake with foie was a bit too much for me to handle (the richness) and the krumkake wasn't authentic (my wife's family is Norwegian, we eat krumkake often) but it still tasted good. Currently the restaurant is BYOB but they did email us ahead of time to remind us, so that wasn't a problem. My wife had informed them that it was my birthday and I received a lovely card with a keepsake origami crane. I certainly recommend giving Atsumeru a try, I'm certain my wife will go back.

We got to try the viral sensation, the Sushi-Zza Box from Tanuki Sushi & Grill…read more Your choice of sixteen eight sushi rolls are packaged in a pizza box! Such a clever idea and so adorable! It's a delicious mix of maki and specialty rolls of your choice. For dine-in or take out, this easily feeds 4- 6 people. These are the rolls that we ordered for our Sushi-Zza Box: Poseidon Pearls of the East Skunk Sex on the Beach Fire Dragon Crunchy Okani Climax Rampage The sushi was delectable, fresh and the service was A+

Visiting Chicago and wanted to go to the best rated sushi restaurant there. We found this place on…read moretik tok and was not disappointed! This place met ever expectation EXCEPT for the fact that they don't have any alcohol not even sake which was interesting especially for me as I am from Miami; alcohol is served at almost every sushi restaurant here. The service was good. Sushi: 10/10 (I forget what I ordered) Calamari: 8/10 Gyozo: 9/10 ***see pictures***

Our server Paul Michael was incredible and made our experience so special! I brought my family to…read morecelebrate my graduation and had a delicious meal and attentive service, better than I could ever ask for. The drinks were delicious (Ube Espresso Martini) and the Yama roll was to die for! We were given complimentary celebratory champagne that truly made my graduation weekend.

Excellent food, fresh sushi, and outstanding service. Everything was delicious, the atmosphere was…read moregreat, and the staff was very friendly. We will definitely be back. Highly recommend!

I have been wanting to try this place for a couple years and glad I was finally able to and for my…read morebirthday! It is very cute and intimate inside as it's your party with the chef. Our chef was a lot of fun and was great at giving us good food, presenting the food, and having fun with us. All the food was delicious! It was a 17 course omakase and I felt pretty full at the end. We did add the wagyu at the end which was $28 a piece. It was great! My favorites were the toro with caviar and truffle. I know people get nervous about whether they're full after the omakase, but with a drink and a shot of sake, I felt pretty full. I wanted to order more but I knew I was full. I can tell by how tight my belt is, and I wanted to move my belt down one. Overall, I highly recommend this spot as it's delicious and such a great time! Chris was great!

Sushi Suite 202 is a completely unique experience, unless you're someone that's dined at an omakase…read morestyle restaurant before. My wife and I have eaten plenty of sushi in our lives, but this was our first omakase experience, and it was wonderful. IMO, for many reasons, this is a special occasion type of dining experience... a date night, a birthday, anniversary, etc... First of all, it's intimate to the extent that the restaurant itself is in a renovated suite in the Lincoln Hotel. There's no sign. If you don't have a reservation, you're not eating there. The space itself only holds 12 or so people plus the three staff members which consists of a mixologist, a maetre d' and your sushi chef. The room itself is designed to make you feel like someone dropped a sushi bar in your living room. It's clean, homey and comfortable. The service was impeccable, as it should be when you've got maybe up to 8 people to take care of... the mixologist (Ivan?) and maître d' (sadly, I can't recall her name) were both friendly and helpful, and only engaged when you needed them. My wife and I were celebrating our anniversary, and purchased a "Date Night" package - which included the 17 course meal and a drink flight. It was $150/pp but it was worth every penny. It was a perfect amount of food, and the three drinks we were served (vodka, tequila and gin based) were all delicious. The wife and I each ordered one more drink, and when they presented us with the bill, it was exactly what we expected. They even included the gratuity on the bill, and we both agreed it was well worth the money for the whole experience. Our sushi chef, Ken, was awesome. Again, I've sat at sushi bars a million times, but to have a chef prepare each piece by hand, just for you and 5 others, while explaining the process, the fish, etc.... was a pretty amazing. The sushi was delicious, even though I couldn't tell you the names of all of it.. Ken was hard to understand at times, but the wife and I got the gist of what we were being told, even if we didn't quite catch the names of all the pieces. Scroll through my pictures... I tried to fill in some of the blanks. All-in-all, it was an amazing time. Plan for a whole evening because even though there is inherently a time limit due to the nature of their business, you never feel rushed. It was relaxing and laid back and allows you the time to really enjoy every sip and bite of your meal.