Mediocre. Disappointing. My fiends and I were very excited to try Motts after so much hype. We spent over 200 dollars, trying to enjoy the various options (shared) plates. We asked for some more rice to accompany our dish that was to be eaten with the rice. The person delivering the food was going to "let our server know" then our server return with "we are checking about extra rice" only to finally be told an extra tiny bowl of rice would be a 3 dollar charge! This was the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen. Your patrons are spending a lot of money at your establishment. Give them some extra rice that is probably the least expensive item in your restaurant. It's clear that Motts is not geared for customer satisfaction. This left a bad taste in our mouths. We won't be returning. The food wasn't all it was hyped up to be either. read more

Pretty darn good Asian fusion in a cozy spot. Had the wings to start - super flavorful and meaty. The burger is very very good, but is only served at the bar, so there is often a bit of a wait, but worth it, as it's just a bomb of creamy deliciousness with the egg and all the flavors blending together perfectly. Decent drink selection, nothing crazy. Even when busy the food comes out fast and the service was great. read more

We were so excited to try Mott St for the first time tonight. Sad to say it left much to be desired. Perhaps we got unlucky with our menu choices, but everything aside from the beef short ribs, was underwhelming. We started with the oyster mushroom which were pretty tasty but be ready for them to be drenched in butter. Up next was the "Szechuan" shrimp. When the shrimp arrive we were confused because they were essentially plain breaded tempura shrimp with some Szechuan peppercorns at the bottom of the dish. The dish name and description is very misleading, this dish had not even a hint of Szechuan flavor. After this we had the kimchi cheese empanadas - just no. This fusion is nice in theory, but was poorly executed. The empanadas were very heavy and the creme fraiche dipping sauce did not add to the dish in any way, just made it heavier. Next up was the bone marrow - it was tasty and flavorful, but oddly served over rice (instead of with crackers or crostini). The cap to our meal was the beef short rib which was delicious and excellently done. The vegetables were perfectly cooked and the beef was tender and flavorful. The service was also good and the wine was nice. We chatted with a couple seated next to us who offered to have us try the stuffed Napa cabbage, which was delightful! We got recommendations from them to also try any noodle dish, the chicken wings, and the Brussels sprouts. Hope to get another opportunity to try some different menu items. read more

Mott St was amazing! We got udon mentaiko with kimchi flavor, pork belly with shrimp and Korean short ribs. I also got a cotton candy whiskey drink which was very unique. I also love the decor and the art surrounding the restaurant. read more

Excellent flavorful food! My favorite was the black cod with the furikake rice! Their indoor space and patio is super cute!

One of the best meals I've ever had! I've tried the black cod, which was cooked to perfection, perfect flavors, and went super well with the sauces they brought and leafy greens to eat it with; I've also had the calamari which is probably the best calamari I've ever had - the breakfast potatoes actually go super well with it. I've tried the udon noodles which are so yummy and unique. I love udon and roe and they work great together in this dish. I came to Mott Street a few years ago and loved it so much and finally revisited it tonight and it did not disappoint! I like that they have a separate menu that divides up the menu by pescatarian options, gluten-free options, etc. I will say I wasn't crazy about the cauliflower (the butter was too heavy and the fennel sauce didn't work for me) or the brussels sprouts (again the butter was too heavy). Would recommend this place to anyone. read more

Mott St was tight for a large birthday table. Crispy and flaky fish with encouragement to get multiple of dishes. read more

First visit, huge fan. Food was fantastic, from the dumplings to the scallops to the stuffed cabbage, but service was even more impressive. Big thanks to Michal and Nate especially for making our dinner such a memorable experience. We'll be back soon! read more

Oh my God!!! Asian-American Comfort food, so good! The Mussells were so spicy and flavourful, Salt and Pepper Shrimp danced on my tongue. Drinks were awesome, but the bar needs help with being more efficient and expeditious...waited WAY too long for booze!!! The atmosphere was industrial, hip reminded me of RiNo in Colorodo..very cool. I enjoy the communal dining...you get the opportunity to meet some really rad people! Some of the menue items were ÜBer pricey..but if you're game to taste some really good food, its worth the dinero read more

Mott St. I've actually never heard of it. But because a family member was in town, one of my cousins whom had never been here either suggested we give it a try. Honestly looking over the menu before arriving I wasn't impressed but it wasn't my pick so I had to roll with it. There were four of us. We had a reservation and good thing because even though it was a Wednesday night, this place was packed. Always a good sign. I only have one bad thing to say about this place so I'll just get it out of the way. This is more like a tapas, no large plates so I wasn't exactly full when we left. Now all the wonderful things I loved about Mott St. Service: STEVE sir you were a rock star. Knowledgeable about the restaurant, the menu, and the beer. He greeted us promptly, friendly and was just an overall person who gave us a great experience. He checked on the table the right amount of times and did everything he could to make us comfortable and went out of his way to accommodate whatever we needed. I wish every server could be more like Steve. This is also a team effort joint. Plenty of others helped out by bringing out our different dishes. This made the night run so smoothly and I really appreciated it. Atmosphere: Quaint, comfortable, except a little cold but we were by the door. Dim lit and although crowded it wasn't loud. Roomy, as the tables were spaced out perfectly. Great for an evening with friends or a great date night. Food: EVERYTHING was absolutely delicious. There is nothing that I wouldn't order again. I wish I could have ordered more but we just decided on the few. I am a devout carnivore but my favorite dish was the Brussels sprouts, savory, well seasoned and the right amount of crunch. We also ordered calamari that was tender and tasty, steamed dumpling that were pillowy and soft. The cauliflower was crisp an buttery. We also has the everything wings that were amazing, sweet, juicy and cooked just right. The Kimchi empanadas are a must have, including the sauce that went with it, and the mussels were amazing. The broth had great heat but not too much. And I have to say, the ricotta donuts, I could bucket those and eat them all day and night. Thanks for the recommendation Steve :) So my recommendation is to make an appearance at Mott St. I can't wait for the weather to clear so I can enjoy the patio. read more

Communal tables, larder lined walls filled with provisions, corrugated metal ceiling. Its "chic" on budget without looking like a room from an IKEA gallery. Specialty cocktails are crafted from unique combinations of flavored bitters , herbs, and fortified liquors. The "Crimson Coast" was a combination of Campari infused with rosemary, champagne , citrus and thyme. Really tasty. The dinner menu is "eclectic " Asian. Most of the dishes begin with an Asian theme and may include any number of cultural twists. (Ask to see the menu delineates gluten free and vegan). We shared everything . However, some dishes were executed better than their counterparts. The outstanding dishes we ordered included sweetbreads with an orange marmalade sauce, sautéed Brussels sprouts with pancetta , & kimchi empanadas. "Fusion" of ingredients and cultural cooking technique worked well with these dishes. Not so with the pork stuffed kimchi & sticky rice and the rabbit dish (which sounded much better on paper than on the plate). While the "Everything Wings" were solid, they wouldn't be the best Vietnamese/ Korean style fried chicken wings I've ever eaten. Ours were almost "soggy" and didn't have that "crunch". My guess is that the oil they were fried in wasn't hot enough. Not unlike their sister restaurant Ruxbin up the street, Mott Street does wonders with vegetable dishes. Service on a busy weekend night was professional and congenial. Our server was very knowledge about all the items and beverages being offered. Be prepared to be served your selections in the order most convenient for the kitchen. Def worth a trip . read more

Finally made it, they have a great outdoor patio. Great atmosphere and tapas so great for groups. Waiter was great at explaining the menu and the drinks, and man they were strong. So the food between 2 people this was plenty of food, I was so full after. Brussels Sprouts, crispy and with a maple brown butter so a savory and sweet flavor. Highly recommend. Grilled Cauliflower, smothered in a sahmjang sauce, it was spicy, and had a nice almond taste. We also ordered the steamed dumplings which we're really delicious and savory with the pork. Last we order more pork with the pork jowl which was savory and spicy but a nice finish. Overall for 2 people I would go back and skip the dumplings this time. A great spot in the wicker/bucktown area great for a small group dinner. I look forward to going back and trying some different things on the menu. read more

Date night must. Asian fusion at its finest. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu. The drinks are also great and the staff is fantastic. They change up the artwork on the outside of the building and it's always something fresh. Big love to Mott St. read more

Sharing dishes were perfect. I love variety. The black cod was a bit too sweet. Brussel sprouts are best. Bone marrow cooked well. read more

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We had brussel sprouts, catfish hot pot, short ribs, scallops, and the empanadas. Everything was great. Service was friendly.

Delicious food, wide variety on the menu. Would definitely recommend trying the cocktails! They were very sensitive to my food allergy and we enjoyed the ambience of this space. read more

Mott St is a must try. When I walked in, the aromas from the kitchen hit me like a ton of bricks, and I wanted to start eating right away. They have a great selection of delicious options made to share, a great specialty drink menu, and a full bar. Please note, they have a drink that is garnished with Garrett's popcorn; yes Garrett's popcorn. I should be able to stop writing now, but I'll tell you a little bit more. It's a pretty small space, so there's lots of communal seating, which I love. If you're going with a larger group, be sure to make a reservation. The waitstaff is really friendly, and they provide really helpful recommendations on the number of items to order, and which items are especially delicious. It's reasonably priced, but I honestly think it's best to go in a group of at least 3 so that you can taste more of the menu. Never have I ever had such a wonderful and creative pan-Asian meal. I went with four of my friends, and we ordered lots of different things including the crab brain fried rice which is amazing. The wings are a MUST; they are just sticky, and sweet, and amazing. Oh and the empanadas are cheesy, and flavorful with a shell that tastes like it's made from fresh tortillas. The beef shank noodles are also very good, especially with the little sauces mixed in. The only thing that I wasn't crazy about was the kimchi stew, but that doesn't mean that it's not worth a try if you like kimchi. It just wasn't my thing. Everything else was fantastic. I can't wait to go back. read more

I'm probably not adding anything new since there's so many reviews but I wanted to at least add my support. My friend brought us here and ordered all his favorite things. The brussels sprouts came out first and really set the bar high. The everything wings were finger licking delicious. The kimchi udon was so unique and absolutely delicious. I didn't try the lamb belly because I hate lamb but everyone else loved it. In fact, my husband said it was the best thing he ate there. There was so much more but since I didn't order, I have no idea what came out but everything was pretty awesome. When we got there before it opened, there was already a line of people waiting. Make a reservation if you can. read more

It was fine. About half the food was under seasoned, but the other half was perfect the cocktails were pretty good. The service was also just okay and the food pacing was much too quick. The patio is absolutely beautiful and I do think the food is pretty solid, but overall I'll never go back. read more

I have been trying to make time to visit Mott St for probably two years now! So glad I was able to make it there last weekend. The burger was easily the best I've ever had - and it's somewhat niche in terms of flavor. It changed me. Great cocktails (I had the Persephone-something one - enjoyed) and lots to choose from on the menu! We had the dumplings, boat noodles & cheese/kimchi empanadas. The dumplings were pretty good; I found the boat noodles to just be alright. Maybe we should've doctored them up more with the flavor accoutrements and spices but it seemed as though the meat and seafood in the soup lacked flavor on their own. Empanadas were a standout & so was the burger, obviously Ambiance was so lovely! The place was packed. I'll be back :) read more

One of the best meals in Chicago and reasonably priced. I am gluten free and they have a very extensive gf menu. My table got the bread, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, empanadas, pepper shrimp, cod, pork jowl, stuffed cabbage. The only thing I couldn't eat was the bread. Everything was amazing however we could have done without the brussel sprouts, they were the least special of the dishes. Highly recommend everything else. Took a little while to get seated but the food made up for it. The outdoor patio was great. All around a wonderful, memorable meal. read more

2.5...I would like to bump this up to 3, but I am dissuaded by yelp's A-OK description. I am not really A-OK with my overall experience. This is a review for Sunday Dinner. I went last night for this menu: Whole Roasted Fish with Tamarind Sauce Mussels Soup Fennel and Apple Salad Baby Red Potatoes with Dill Spring Root Vegetables Dessert This is what they served: Whole Roasted Fish with two different sauces (neither of them Tamarind) Fermented Cabbage Soup with Clams on the side Brown Rice/quinoa citrus pilaf Kale Salad (which in all fairness did have fennel and I believe pears in it) Spring root veggies (zucchini, leeks, onions) Banana Bread/cake with whipped cream Pros: The meal was intimate and we got to see the kitchen/meet the chef The people sitting next us (a really cute dentist and the Mott St. bartender who looks like John Krasinski) were so much fun to talk to and made the meal a very enjoyable experience The ambiance was great Everything that we ate was well prepared (the fish was juicy, the kale salad was flavorful and interesting, the dessert was good, and the clams were perfectly cooked. I did not personally care for the brown rice pilaf,the soup was a little bit salty, and my drink was too sweet for my taste, but they were not poorly prepared) The staff were very kind and welcoming One of the people sitting next to us let me taste a passion/coconut soda--i would go back and just get this drink, it was really delicious (though not not last night's menu). Cons: At $45 not including tax, tip or a drink, this was not a good value--at all. There was a mix up with my bill at the end and my friend ended up paying the tax on my meal, but with tip and one drink, I paid a total of $65. I always hate eating a meal and feeling like I could have cooked the same thing at home for half the price and I definitely had this feeling after this meal. Like i said, nothing was bad about the food, it just was not particularly delicious or memorable.Overall, I had a good dining experience, however this did not have a lot to do with the food. I also think my friend and I got lucky with who we were sitting next to. At the other end of our table was a couple that was barely talking to each other; had we been forced to engage with them more, I think the entire experience would have been, Meh. They did not stick to the menu that they sent out in advance....This is a BIG no no. I wanted to come to this event because I liked the menu that they sent out in advance and changing a significant portion of the meal with no advance notice/option to opt out was just not cool. I prefer mussels to clams and had had clams for dinner the night before, so as well as the clams were prepared, this was a bummer. I also try and avoid grains, so swapping rice for potatoes was also a bummer. I love tamarind and was looking forward to the advertised sauce; another bummer. I know the Sunday dinner events are new at Mott Street, so I think they may get better over time. I wouldn't be comfortable paying for another full meal here any time soon, but a year from now when they have figured out logistics a little bit better I could definitely see myself going back. For now, I think it's overall probably a hit or miss experience and last night was more of a miss for me. read more

This place was great! It is a cross between Asian fusion and mid-west. Lots of meaty and hearty options but plenty of lighter, Asian-inspired dishes. The atmosphere was fun. We sat at a communal table and the place felt very hipster-y. We started off with a signature cocktail and glass of white wine. The cocktails were really interesting and well made. I wished that there had been more wines by the glass offered but the two I chose were very good. We also finished the meal with a yummy port and sake flight. For food we tried the shrimp, dumpling, pickle plate, chicken wings, and brussel sprouts. The standouts were dumplings (4 pieces) and brussel sprouts. The portions were really good for the price that you pay and ordering that many dishes for a party of 2 was more than enough. The pickle plate was the only let down but only because there were no pickles. In fairness the waiter told us that it would be mostly pickled veggies but even the veggies did not have a pickled taste. We also saw some kind of burger pass us twice that look amazing. If I could go back I would definitely order it. Overall great place and would recommend it! read more

I really wanted to like Mott St--the menu sounded well thought-out and creative, and the ambiance of the restaurant was great. However, I found the food pretty underwhelming for the most part. Boat noodles--fragrant, rich broth, and hands down the star of the night. The beef was tender, and while I wished they used a thicker noodle rather than rice noodles, I loved this dish and found it delicious. Kimchi & oaxaca empanadas--I enjoyed this dish for the most part. The spiciness and slight tang of the kimchi was a nice balance to the rich cheesiness of the filling, but I thought the empanadas themselves were deep fried too much--it almost felt like I was biting into a slightly oily pita chip. Black cod--delicious miso sauce on the cod, but wished the fish was marinated in the sauce so that the flavor was consistent throughout. I found the dirty rice a little too grainy and didn't really see how the flavors of rice with the sesame leaves added to or complemented the miso flavor in any way. Stuffed cabbage--my least favorite dish. I thought the kimchi flavors could have been stronger to balance out the rich butter, and I really wasn't a fan of the pork butt, which had a strong and somewhat unpleasant meaty flavor. A little bit on the pricier side, but the portions are pretty generous. Service was great as well. Overall, though, I have to say I was somewhat disappointed by the food but loved everything else. read more

I guess I'm not a fan of their fusion cuisine. I absolutely love Korean food, so this is lost on me. I do appreciate the effort to make something different, but I'm not sure they have succeeded. I like the large, interesting front door and the space is fun. We ordered the stuffed cabbage, the crispy shrimp, the chicken wings and the dumplings. I had a difficult time understanding the lady who dropped off the food. She kept describing the food and ingredients, but her accent was so thick and the room was very noisy. read more

Burger is good, but everything else is just over priced. $24 for 4 chicken wings which were mediocre at best. I've wanted to love this place, but this place loves its idea of itself more than its execution. read more

Love love love this place....the eclectic, pan-asian cuisine is no joke. The chef here is seriously legit. Went here for actual dinner one night, and another time for a benefit. Great service, very welcoming. Go here! Try the brain dish....and anything else you think is weird. You won't be disappointed. read more

So the long story short, I had a reservation for 6 pm on a Saturday but the person who took it forgot to write it down. Our group stood in front of the hostesses while they interrogated me about out reservation for 10 painfully awkward minutes while we stared into the tables behind them which were completely empty. I had to show them my phone record until they finally sat us down. The food was good except to say that I prefer their winter menu. Berkshire pork & hamachi collar was totally different from what we had back in January but not as scrumptious. We did really enjoy the calamari bokum and brussel sprouts this time around. I have to give kudos to our waitress who was very attentive, helpful and friendly. It almost made us forget our initial reception which I have to say left a very bad impression. By the time we left Mott St it was starting to fill up but still there were empty seats available. Oh the irony. read more

If you have a chance to go to Mott St. I would recommend sitting at the bar so you can get the burger (it is only offered at the bar). It is an amazing high quality burger. I would also recommend the brussel sprouts. If you like whiskey, they serve quite a few different kinds and the bartender is very knowledgeable. This is a great place to go with friends. Note: They have an awesome patio in the summer. Be sure to check that out as well. Currently, as of yesterday, it was not opened. I am sure they are waiting for warmer days. read more

The Brussels Sprouts!!! The best dish we had all night. The udon noodles are fairly underwhelming, but overall the meal we had was solid. The largest seating area they have is a shared communal table, so more than likely that will be where you are seated as well. You can request the smaller tables they have around the restaurant but the wait is sometimes longer for those. In the summer they have outdoor seating which increases the capacity, so if you're planning on going in the winter, I would make sure you have a reservation in advance just to guarantee your seat. It's a little out of the way from the heart of downtown, but a quick ride on the L will get you there in 20 minutes. read more

We came here to celebrate a friends birthday and we had a wonderful experience. The place is definitely on the pricier side but the food is great and definitely unique. The service was friendly although they can be pushy about how and when to order. Sometimes you just want to hang out and have a cocktail before having to put your WHOLE order in, which is what they make you do. You can't just put a couple orders in at a time so be prepared but hey, take your time if you need! Don't let them rush you! Enjoy the experience and the ambiance. The decor is hipster-esque and fun! The cocktails are marvelous and the beer selection is great. My favorite plate was the stuffed cabbage! That's definitely a must! Although it was fun going as a large group, I think I'll go back on a one on one date or a even on a double date. I think it's easier to make decisions on shared plates with a group of 4 or less. read more

Other reviewers got it right: (a) high-end Asian fusion with (b) an outstanding patio and (c) good service. You can't go wrong if you're looking for a + b + c. However, my experience of the food here was less enthusiastic than other reviewers. The crispy shrimp itself was delicious, but dressed with a kind of thin, twiggy vegetable that was almost inedible; it felt and tasted like straw. It seemed like a miss. Steamed dumplings were delicious, the flavors very familiar. Our favorite choices were the short ribs and an outstanding punch. Overall, very solid and very fun. We'll be back for the patio and cocktails, but might skip a full meal in the future. read more

Mott St has one of the cutest patio spaces ever. On my first visit, I was so excited to finally eat outdoors after a long winter, but my always-cold dining companions vetoed my preference. But it's okay! It's summer now so al fresco all the way. Bonus: There's a fence separating the dining area from the sidewalk/street so while it's still possible to people watch a little, I don't feel like any street dust or debris is floating into my food. The food itself is kind of hit or miss. I am obsessed with their chicken wings. They're beautifully glazed so it feels totally wrong to use the tzatziki sauce. I would recommend the Brussels sprouts as well. The other dishes I've tried were not nearly as memorable, and some were even a bit bland. Oh. The snapper had a huge thing of lemongrass stuck in its mouth. That was pretty memorable. I'd say this is a good spot for a casual dinner with friends on a nice day-- the kind where you just want to sit outside and enjoy a nice cocktail with plate of wings and chat the night away. Cheers! read more

Amazing service. Awesome drinks with talented bartenders. One of the best burgers I've ever had. Not a ton of space to wait if you can't be seated right away. read more

Pros: - cool setup / ambiance - loved the warm cider cocktail - the dumplings were good - pork neck was tasty Cons - stuffed cabbage was dry and was mainly just chewy rice - crab brains fried rice. Couldn't taste much outside of the rice flavor... rice dishes weren't their forte the night we went. read more

I have come out of Yelp retirement for this review. I sat out on the patio after ordering a drink at the bar (shave ice cocktail! exciting in prep, only half decent in taste - just not enough going on, too mild). Our server was bubbly and full of energy, and just a pleasure to talk to. She was thrilled to provide suggestions on food, which I always like! None of that "it doesn't matter what I like, it matters what you like" crap. If the server loves a dish, I will probably trust it to be delicious. And she proved trustworthy. Among her recommendations were the stuffed cabbage, oyster mushrooms, brussels sprouts, and a baguette filled with egg that was on special. The brussels sprouts were good, especially the lamb pancetta, and the stuffed cabbage was fantastic... but the star of the show was the oyster mushroom dish. The server explained that she'd seen people repeatedly complain of only one thing - that the sauce on the mushrooms was so fantastic that they needed something with which to scoop it up. For that reason, she suggested the bread. Though the bread itself was great, served with (I think?) miso butter, its main purpose was obviously to sop up the extra oyster mushroom sauce. Sadly, the bread is only on special for a short time, so I suggested a BYOB (bring your own baguette) policy. In summation: order the oyster mushrooms. And Bring Your Own Baguette. read more

I've been here for a Sunday dinner and for the regular menu and I'm definitely more a fan of the regular menu. Don't get me wrong, the Sunday dinner was fun and the food was good... but as my dining companion pointed out, half the menu wasn't as advertised. Not a big deal to me, but I could see it as off-putting to others. The regular menu is more than worth coming for. Brought some uppity foodie friends here and we all agreed, bangin' flavor, decidedly Asian, very opinionated. They said it reminded them of Momofuku, but maybe even better. Food wise, the stuffed cabbage was incredible. We also got the crab brain fried rice (do it!) and some greens. Everything will make a true Asian palate happy. Our server was really nice, but we were happier not following any of his recs. What can we say, we Asian, we know what we doing. read more

So you enter into Mott Street and this feeling hits you: your home. There's this air of familiarity to the place that you really do feel like everybody knows your name. On to the food, it's tapas/family style and each has its own complexities of flavors. The Stuffed Cabbage, the bread special, the whole fish of the day, the fried rice, the empanadas, the oyster mushrooms, some kind of crisp rice dish, and some kind of papaya-like salad were all excellent dishes. The bread special was probably the least of my favorite of these dishes. The fish and the crispy fried rice were probably my favorite. They have great pairings with every dish. So be sure to ask what goes with what. I will definitely return! read more

Will definitely be back. Everyone from our server to the host staff and manager were incredibly nice and energetic. Thank god the food was also amazing so we can come back lots of times! My favorites: Kohlrabi salad with chicken and candied shrimp Chicken wings Oyster mushrooms Brussel sprouts Hamachi collar My not so favorites but still favorited among others in my group: Whole fish Bread (to eat with oyster mushroom's miso butter sauce) Stuffed cabbage Not recommended: Short ribs - not bad but just kind of blah compared to everything else Dumplings with pork read more

This place went well beyond my expectation! Everything we had was absolutely delicious. The brussels sprouts were one of my favorites. They were bursting with flavor. We also enjoyed the empanadas. They mostly had this wonderfully cheesy flavor. If they have the burger on special, its a must! Every bite melted in my mouth. They are also open till 12, perfect for late nights. read more

Mott St - The burger special - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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