The low lighting and earth tone colors really help give the restaurant a moody, evocative vibe. This was our first stop visiting Chicago for the first time for an event, and it did not disappoint. We tried walking into a few other restaurants nearby, but they felt claustrophobic and chaotic, whereas Momotaro immediately made us feel like we could breathe again. Everything we ordered was absolutely delicious. The portions are deceptive, you think one or two choice dishes wouldn't be enough, but everything was extremely filling with every bite. This was probably my favorite version of mapo tofu I've had in a long time, and the bao bun sliders were so delicious, we almost ordered another plate of them! read more

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Dined here for my birthday and it so happened to be the beginning of CRW 2026 as well. The vibes inside are upscale and classy. They printed a birthday menu for me to keep which I think is cool! Every single course was outstanding. Definitely worth the $60 pre fixe CRW meal!!! You might think you wont be full because of the small portions but I left here feeling comfortably full and satisfied! I'll let the pictures do all the talking! read more

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This place is incredible! Love the ambiance - moody, dark and elegant space. Upscale Japanese dining at its best. They are considerate of dietary restrictions and offer a full vegetarian menu, which I thought was awesome. My friend and I shared: - Chefs Sashimi Selection - 16 pieces of sashimi hand picked by the chef. The fish was extremely fresh, and was clearly of very high quality. I enjoyed the Salmon, Amberjack and Flounder the most. - Salmon Avocado Mousse Roll - this is a must try! Melts in your mouth. Absolutely delicious. - Chicken Dumplings - unique presentation, served with a soft poached egg. I thought these were just OK. We were too stuffed for dessert and didn't try their cocktails this time around. I'll definitely be back on my next visit to Chicago! read more

Momotaro - Chef's Seasonal Sashimi Selection* - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I was really excited to eat here. I'd heard such incredible reviews, and truly the food was good. I would 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. read more

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A very cute date night spot in West Loop! The lighting and decor is beautiful! We went in on a Wednesday evening for an early dinner and the place was still packed. The restaurant gets busy so recommend making reservations ahead on Open Table. I ordered the Old Fashioned which was solid, smooth but not overly sweet! Would definitely order the next time too. The place offered a ton of options for vegetarians. We ordered the Cucumber Avocado Maki roll, Veggie Udon and Veggie Chahan, and all the preparations were delicious and bursting with flavor! Would definitely come back for those again! The dessert was delicious too! The servings are generous and the prices decent. Our server was very attentive and friendly. Overall a 10/10 experience and this will be our new Japanese go to spot in the city! read more

Momotaro - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

First of all, the vibes are amazing. Intimate candlelight, but slightly too-loud music, making it hard to hear your server. The service is some of the best I've ever experienced, with people cleaning up and switching plates at the perfect time without any interruptions. The pace of the dishes coming out is perfect. The food was good. I'd recommend getting the Nagiri and chicken dumplings. The nagiri was fresh and light. Dumplings kept you feeling warm inside. read more

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We went for lunch on a Friday since they have the burger from the izakaya. Lunch set portions are small. Not very filling but the fish quality is good. We got two lunch sets ( chirashi and nigiri) and split a burger and were comfortable. The burger was definitely the highlight. Sweet potato fries were crispy. It was an expensive lunch but we were able to use our Chase reserve credit on the meal. Not sure if we'd come back and pay full price. read more

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A great vibe, friendly staff, and a lively atmosphere. We ordered: - Tsukane Dango - Beef Tsukune Sliders - Chef's Seasonal Sashimi Selection - Kani Jomaki - Satsumaimo Taruto - Forbidden Murasaki If you're looking for a non-alcoholic beverage, I definitely recommend Forbidden Murasaki. It's delicious and the Ube/coconut is always a tasty mix. For the main course, if you're looking for a bit of everything then you can't go wrong with either chef selection. The fish is extremely fresh and surprisingly filling. Ending with Satsumaimo Taruto for dessert felt a little overwhelming but we found room to finish it off. read more

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Ambiance - intimate, dark, sushi/makis are made in the middle of the restaurant Service - our server was super nice, polite, and gave us a rundown of the menu Food - fish quality was good, highly recommend the maguro for cold appetizer read more

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Amazing food and great service. I really enjoyed dinner at Momotaro. There were a lot of creative dishes and everything we ordered was delicious. I really liked the steak and the kaki to buri. The restaurant itself has a nice modern esthetic and it would be a good spot for a special occasion. read more

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Love their beef tongue skewers If you love tuna belly, they have chutoro and otoro. Highly recommended otoro, soft and sweet, it is melting in your mouth. Gluten free available read more

Momotaro - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Momotaro was SO delicious. The place is dimly lit and the ambiance is perfect for an intimate night out. My bf & I went to celebrate our anniversary :) Everyone was so kind, from the hosts at the front to our lovely server. We got the Momo To Buri and the Kamo Rosu to start. That peach ponzu was so bright & paired SO perfectly with the fresh fish which melted in my mouth. I'm STILL thinking about that bite! The Kamo Rosu was fragrant - smoky and tender, pairing perfectly with the greens on the side. We had the Demon Slayer and Wild Blossom to drink. I am the biggest fan of anything sour and I LOVED Wild Blossom. Sour like a lemonade and super refreshing! Demon Slayer was smooth and sweeter than the other sakes I've had before, delicious! On to the main rolls, we ordered the Aji Yakusugi and normally I don't like mackerel for its more pungent oceanic flavor but this was amazing. Smoky, while the mackerel flavor does shine through, it was not unbearably fishy. We ordered 4 rolls, the Momomaki, Una-kyu, Karai Tuna and the Shio Koji Sake. They were all amazing. The Momomaki had spicy octopus in the middle, but the spiciness was quite mild. it paired perfect with the piece of tuna on top. The Una-kyu was one of the better unagi pieces I've had in a roll - my biggest issue with unagi is typically when I feel bones while eating and I barely felt any bones with this roll! It also wasn't drenched in eel sauce which I appreciated. The Karai Tuna was more on the spicier side and built up over time. I love spicy food so this was still not super spicy, but definitely a step up from the Momomaki on the spicy scale. Paired perfectly with the tuna! Lastly, I really enjoyed the Shio Koji Sake, the salmon skin mixed in gave each bite a satisfying crunch and it definitely was an elevated twist on a salmon avocado roll! The hokkaido hotate was my favorite bite of the night. Sweet scalllop paired with the umami and fresh uni. I was amazed. I truly took the time to savor that bite! They also included a dessert for our anniversary and it was a mouthwatering combination of chocolate pieces, miso, and caramel. Not too sweet but so flavorful. Overall, we would definitely recommend this place, everything was delectable!! :) read more

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Recommend sitting upstairs if you are looking for a more quiet atmosphere. Kyushu Kosho: Served on the rocks, it's a solid option for those looking for a slightly smoky, spicy option. Highlights of the night - Chahan: Fragrant rice that was also crispy and solid prices for the portion - Chutoro: nice and buttery and closer to Otoro. - Aji yakusugi: Nice, smoky flavors and the fish was very tender Solid options: - Shio koji sake: the salmon skin gave a nice crispy texture. Misses of the night: - Tako Su: flavors were nice, but texture was very chewy and not tender. - Beef sliders: I think I was expecting a more tender piece of meat, but this tasted more like a bratwurst with a slight sour aftertaste. Desserts: playful, but flavors were not special. Maneki-Neko Taiyaki Sundae read more

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Stopped in to try Momtaro while catching up with a dear friend. You step into a very chic atmosphere, a stunning bar, and low ambient lighting. Between the two of us, we each had a beverage and split four dishes (two sushi rolls, scallops, and the bao buns) plus dessert, which we mostly wanted because we saw the taiyaki (cute fish-shaped pastry) sundae walk by us mid-meal and immediately fell in love lol. This was just enough food for us to split, which came out to about $90pp. These are small dishes as expected of fine dining, though, so a fair warning that some may leave wanting for more. I think the sushi is their strong suit, I think in a future visit we would do one of the "create a platter" options instead and picked a variety of sushi. If you do really want something on the warm side, I think the bao buns were very flavorful and I liked the spice blend in the meat. The service was impeccable, sharp, and professional. They were very attentive to clear plates quickly. I loved that they brought out our cold dishes first and then our warm dishes as another "course" together. It's a very cool spot, great for a girls night or an intimate date night. I'd definitely come back again. read more

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Momotaro took me on a ride of elegance, taste and upscale modernism. Inside you walk into a dimly lit space with vibey music. My server, Spencer, was phenomenal as he explained the menu in great detail helping me to make the best selection. I started with the Mishima Skirt Steak served as a skewer which was out of the world. It was my one of my favorite things I tried. I also had a variety of sushi where you can tell this one area this restaurant really shines in. All the sushi I had was so tasty in their own right. Great dining experience and will be back for sure. read more

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Exotic and aesthetic japanese restaurant in Chicago. The food was unbelievable. I was a bit skeptical on how the food might be but exceeded my expectation and the prices were very reasonable. The sushi and the dumplings were my favorite. Chicken rice and scallop was good as well. Service is really quick and extremely polite staffs It's hard to find a reservation here but I found a walk in at around 5pm fortunately. Definitely look forward to come back and try rest of the dishes. I also ran into Singer Mark Ambor at this place so looks like a clear celebrity spot. read more

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I visited friends in Chicago who have wanted to go to this restaurant for over a year but can't seem to get in. They booked Reservations and I was blown away when I walked in at 6:45 however every table was filled. I sat at the bar and had club soda. The bartender was attentive, and I was able to observe all the many delicious plates coming out. As you can see, we sampled almost one of everything. There was nothing we didn't like everything was fresh and each dish as good or better as a one before. When they bring out the check, it's a QR code to scan you can say if you want to split the check or pay in full, which is such a nice option. While I don't live in Chicago my friends do and they will certainly return soon! read more

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If I win the MegaBall of PowerMillions (yes, the transposition is intentional), I won't tell anyone, but there will be signs. While at Ramen-San Whiskey Bar a couple doors down, I ended up sitting next to Keisuke (Momotaro's head sushi chef) and Merissa (GM). After a little conversation and finding out what Keisuke does, you can bet your chopsticks I would be stopping in, and they booked me a reservation then and there. I was initially going to go for the Chef's Seasonal Nigiri Selection, but Keisuke asked if I wanted to do Omakase instead. I'd never done Omakase, wanted to, and "you only live once," so I said, "Let's do it!" So you don't end up making the same mistake I did, as I understand it, their Omakase is not a limited number of courses, but the chef makes food until you say you're done. I kept the plates coming until I was comfortably full (with room for dessert, as always). As someone who can EAT, I ended up running up a large bill. With that said, the big question is: "Is it worth it?" To that, I can confidently say, "Yes!" (assuming you are as big a sushi lover as me). There is a Russian proverb: "Good meat needs no mustard." Every piece I had spoke for itself and needed no additional soy sauce or wasabi. It was perfection already, and anything on top felt like an adulterant. Every piece was a mini-edible work of art. The flavors, textures, all amazing. Everything, from the fish to the ginger, was of the highest possible quality. I'd also like to call out the dessert I ordered, the Maneki-Neko. This was like the pieces I had as part of Omakase. If split into individual components, you get something that's just good, but together, it is much greater than the sum of its parts in flavors and textures. With this, it too was a fantastic dish with balance of everything, plus temperatures! The service was all around fantastic. From recommending an excellent Sake (Demon Slayer) to keeping my water glass full and making sure I was happy without being overbearing. Amazing service from Keisuke too, with items coming out in quick succession. Everyone was friendly and kind--hospitality at its peak! Finally, points also to their vibe. It was something I think can best be described as "Modern Japanese." It goes without saying that the restaurant is comfortable, roomy, and something a lot of places get wrong was done right: the music was playing at the ideal volume to be heard, but not such that it caused any interference or annoyance. Thus, Momotaro is beyond terrific. If you are someone who, like me, eats akin to a vacuum cleaner, it may cost a pretty penny. At the same time, I can confidently say every penny is worth it. Especially as their menu isn't cheap but also not covered in dollar signs, Momotaro makes for a terrific place for a special occasion or when the mood strikes for something truly excellent. read more

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Not one bad thing to say about this place!! Food, service, and overall restaurant is beautiful!!! Server gave great recommendations as it was our first time dining in. Portions were great size. The spaghetti was a pleasant surprise with rich curry flavors. The beef slider was my absolute favorite, if you like bao buns you have to try. I even wanted to take some togo, they were that good!! Sushi was to die for, super fresh, light and delicate!! I was dining with my mom who isn't that adventurous with sushi so we played it safe. I will have to return to try more of their sushi menu as everything looked and sounded incredible. read more

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Returned for restaurant week. The menu was about the same as last year's. Service is a little spotty. The setting is always nice though. The music seemed like it came on half way through the meal. read more

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Loved it! We went for a friends birthday and had a great time. The steak skewers and tuna flight were my favorite! Shishito peppers and edamame we split I also got a tuna roll and it was really good The matcha drink was also my favorite read more

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Had a fantastic dinner at Momotaro this past weekend. This trendy sushi spot did not disappoint overall in abundance of options on the menu and deliciousness. Make sure to get a reservation because it was busy even on a Sunday night. I highly recommend the yellowtail Buri for cold and the Shio Koji Sake and momomaki sushi rolls. Portions are relatively small and prices are not cheap so come prepared for a nice but pricy meal. Everything is extra if you want more bread or a refill on your soda. The sushi was fresh and flavor combinations were very unique. Service was good but sometimes slow due to how busy the restaurant looked. For sure a destination on my next trip to Chicago! read more

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My bad for ordering off the hot and cold dishes instead of sticking to sushi all night. The wagyu nigiri was A plus, I want to eat that everyday! The bluefin was also excellent - rich, fatty, and worth a second helping. The salmon and eel also made the honor roll. The mapotofu on the other hand, lacked any spice. The pork belly in it tasted greasy and rather old. We hoped the wagyu sliders would redeem Momotaro's reputation, but they were disappointing as well - hot dog sausages with hints of wagyu and mustard sauce, in bao buns, is not my idea of a slider. Overall though, they know how to make a birthday feel special. They bring out a special birthday menu and a complimentary cream puff. The staff are attentive and a pleasure to have around. I'll be back, and next time I'll know better than to order anything that's not sushi! read more

Momotaro - Mapo Tofu - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Wow! Hands-down one of the best sushi restaurants in town and I understand the hype. When you step in it's setting is dark and elegant although it is super loud inside of the restaurant to the point that I could not hear anythjng the host was saying especially with his mask on. The service was excellent, attentive, and detailed with the full explanation of each dish being served. The sushi was fresh with creative twist with different hint of flavors. My high light of the meal was the spaghetti with spicy curry beef. It is hard to geg a reservation herr but so worth the try. read more

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Pros: great space, nice variety on the menu, good sake choices and tons of gluten free choices which I appreciate as I have a gluten allergy. They even have a designated GF menu and food servers made a point to say dishes were gluten free when they brought them. Cons: 1) had three glasses of the same wine. Every glass was different and the pours ranged from about 2 oz to 5 oz (!!) which I find unacceptable at a nice place. 2) we ordered the chef seasonal nigiri which is 9 pieces but neither the food runner or the server could tell us what they were and couldn't be bothered to go ask the kitchen (!) despite our asking. 3) food was okay but not good enough for the price. Duck and steak skewers were overcooked, sushi was underwhelming, and fried beef rice (chahan) wasn't flavorful. The only outstanding thing we had was the octopus appetizer. At $200/person I expect at least average and this fell below. I'm honestly shocked by all the positive reviews. See my others reviews for plenty of other outstanding restaurants in Chicago to go to. read more

I visit every time I go to Chicago. Always been a good experience. Lots of small plates and options for everyone to share.

Good place. Not my favorite for sushi, but still very good. Staff was super friendly and also sent us a desert for our anniversary! The desert was sooo good. Big place but still nice and staff was attentive. read more

Momotaro - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Honestly, it was such a disappointing experience. We've dined at Momotaro a few times in the last few years, but we don't get out there much now since we live in the suburbs. We were so excited to eat there before our show at United Center. Our experience was underwhelming from the beginning. The hostess had no personality and didn't even greet us. It took a while for our server to come up to the table. Once he arrived he was helpful and friendly. We ordered martinis which were tiny. The appetizers were yummy (especially the chicken pate) Our sashimi and the sushi rolls were just not good. The roles were super dense and had no flavor. Overall, I was very disappointed with our experience and I don't think we will be returning. read more

Momotaro - Lychee martini - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I just sat at the bar for a drink but I loved the vibes and the service was great! I had wanted to get a mocktail but add rum to it and the bartender was super helpful and easy to talk to! I loved my drink and would go again! read more

Momotaro - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This Japanese spot was so fancy and tasty! Located in a busy area of Chicago, I recommend coming later in the evening and also checking out their speakeasy below the restaurant. Then going next door to the hotel rooftop bar. It was a perfect place to start my trip to Chicago. The menu is a bit pricey, but the quality of food was excellent. Standouts would be the Hokkaido nigiri (comes at $11 per piece for scallop and uni with roe on top) and the chicken liver pate. The pate was unexpected but I don't see that served at many other places. It was paired with toasted bread, honey, hot mustard , and it was a delicious bite. We even ordered more bread after to pair with it. The best filling dish would be the chahan (beef fried rice), this was by far the biggest dish and good to share among a party of 4. We also got the momoyaki roll with octopus, which also had a fresh and light flavor. read more

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Our praises to the (pastry) chef! Of all places we expected to meet our favorite dessert, it wasn't a supposed to be a sushi place. We ordered the kashisu, which was not too sweet, not too acidic, beautiful design, and multiple textures and temperatures - what a feat! The meringue was bright but earthy, and balanced the tartness of the colder ginger frozen yogurt and blackberry mousse very well. We also ordered sushi (tamago nigiri, unagi nigiri, fatty salmon nigiri, hokkaido hotate nigiri, and a tuna maki). Mapo tofu was our main course. The mapo had excellent crispy pork belly, which is a bold claim because it's hard to deliver on - and they delivered. The sushi was also very good, but surprisingly not the star of the show because the rest blew us away. read more

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One of my favorite sushi spots! Love the space. Our waitress wasn't the best, not very friendly which was a bummer because my past times have been great! I got a lychee martini- this was mostly vodka, could use a bit more lychee. I then got a lemon drop and this is the best lemon drop I have had! For apps we got the Tsukune dango and edamame. Cant go wrong with edamame. The dumpling was fine. For rolls we got the shio koji sake, una Kyu, negi toro and negi hamachi. All so refreshing! The shio koji sake is my favorite. The mousse is amazing! read more

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The team reached out to me regarding the incident that took place so I appreciated that. Like I said the food and service was closer to 4/5 (other than the sushi) but overall eating and dining experience was great, would definitely recommend this spot. read more

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