This was our first time dining at Nobu, and unfortunately, the service really disappointed us. The food was good and the drinks were good, but we waited about 40 minutes for our drinks. When I politely asked our server, Savannah, to put in our food order once the drinks arrived, she rolled her eyes as she walked away, which my friend noticed. She then came back and asked, "Are we on a time crunch?" in a very passive-aggressive and disrespectful manner. I completely understand that restaurants can get busy, and I'm very patient when it comes to waiting. What bothered me was the attitude and lack of professionalism when I addressed the delay politely. It was my friend's birthday, so I chose not to make an issue of it at the time. The food and drinks were enjoyable, but unfortunately, the service left a very poor first impression of Nobu. read more

Nobu Chicago - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Come here for the raw bar! We lucked out and got to enjoy the brunch buffet that is available only on weekends for $80. We made reservations online and were able to enjoy our feast. We had to try a lychee martini which was so smooth with that delicious sweetness from the lychees. Be sure to chase it down with a crispy tuna bite! The tuna is $11 on the regular menu, but here you can fill up your plate. I wouldn't say the rice to fish ratio is a bit much, there quite a bit of rice. The fish quality seemed just okay to me, however this is a buffet. The stars of the show were the miso cod in the hot bar, the yellowtail nigiri, the cocktail shrimps and the oysters! The shrimps were large and succulent while the oysters weren't too briny. We felt well attended to and enjoyed our meal. We were particularly excited for the beignets at the dessert bar but they never refilled . All good, leaves more to try next time! read more

See all

Came here for the $80 brunch buffet, and it was solid. The selection is a bit small, but makes up for it in the quality. All of the food was great, especially liked the oyster bar, miso cod, and French toast with berries. The desserts were all good, highlight was the chocolate tart. Service was very attentive, they refilled our waters and cleared our plates quickly which was appreciated. read more

Outstanding food and very expensive. Have an overdue girls night out. Loved the sushi choices here and the lamp chops were so amazingly tender. Every dishes were about the bite size for sharing. Yuzu cheesecake and bento box were so delicious. Our server was amazing too. Taking one star away because of the price. read more

Nobu Chicago - Bento box - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Came here for the Saturday brunch buffet. Make sure you make a rez! For $80, I think this brunch buffet is a pretty good deal. We got there early and the room got fuller w each passing moment. The food is really good for a buffet, I think it's a great value. They had all sorts of sushi, sashimi, maki rolls, crispy rice spicy tuna. Then they also had breakfast items like chicken and waffles, different salads, fresh toast sticks, soba noodle soup, bfast sandwiches. The dessert table was also great. The strawberries and cream was my favorite. I will definitely be back for this brunch buffet. The servers are so helpful and quick too! Excellent service. The ambiance is also welcoming and warm. This restaurant is on the ground floor of the Nobu hotel read more

See all

My daughter treated me to a hotel night in the west loop. You walk into the hotel and you don't see any of the amenities until you pass through a side door. The room was beautiful, and loved the industrial design. Rooftop bar and views of the city were amazing. Our waitress was very friendly attentive. We shared some edamame and sliders. Very tasty! In the evening, we went to the main restaurant/bar for a cocktail. It is amazing how a space changes so much from day to night. read more

See all

I stopped by Nobu for happy hour and grabbed a seat on the rooftop, and it was the perfect way to spend the afternoon. It was a hot day, but the breeze on the rooftop made it incredibly comfortable. The views of the Chicago skyline...including the "Willis" Tower were beautiful. I ordered the Brussels sprouts, shrimp tempura, and a lychee cocktail, and every single item was excellent. The cocktail had the perfect level of sweetness, and the food was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. The space itself is modern, chic, and aesthetically pleasing, with warm wood finishes and darker tones that create a sophisticated atmosphere. The service was just as impressive...everyone was friendly, attentive without being overbearing, and happy to answer questions and offer recommendations. Between the food, drinks, rooftop views, and exceptional hospitality, this is easily a place I'll be coming back to. It might just become one of my regular happy hour spots. read more

See all

Definitely one of the best Nobu's. Great service, amazing food. Had the weekend brunch this time!! Loved!!! read more

Nobu Chicago - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Celebrated my friend's birthday at the rooftop at Nobu Hotel Chicago Rooftop and overall it was such a fun girls' night spot! The vibes were super cute, the rooftop atmosphere was really nice, and the energy definitely felt more like happy hour/girls night than an intimate date night. They had a DJ playing while we were there, which made it fun, but it was honestly a little hard to talk sometimes because of how loud it got. One thing to know they are VERY strict about reservation timing, so definitely make sure you arrive on time. Once we got seated though, the service was honestly incredible. Our server checked in on us multiple times throughout the night and was so friendly and attentive the entire experience. For drinks, I got the "Liar Liar" cocktail because the coconut cream sounded good, but it ended up being a little too bitter for my personal taste. My friend ordered the espresso martini and wasn't really feeling that one either, BUT my other friend got the lychee martini (which I think is one of their popular drinks) and she was absolutely obsessed with it. The real standout for me was the dessert. We ordered this espresso martini-inspired dessert and it was honestly TO DIE FOR. Probably my favorite thing we had all night. So rich and delicious. I also really appreciated that when making the reservation, we mentioned we were celebrating a birthday, and they actually acknowledged it by bringing out a cute little dessert plate with mochi ice cream and strawberries. Small touches like that always make the experience feel more special. Parking was actually pretty doable for the area, which was nice. Overall I'd give it a solid 4/5. Cute rooftop, great service, fun atmosphere, and definitely somewhere I'd come back to for another girls night or happy hour. read more

See all

Wow. Came here for their famous weekend brunch and this was THE best brunch experience I've ever had. The restaurant is located in the NOBU hotel downtown which also has a rooftop. The interior is so classy and the service was wonderful. But the food!! Like I said...wow. NOBU showcases a fresh sushi station, a seafood section, and brunch section which is phenomenal imo. I almost sampled everything which totaled 6 plates. And then there was their dessert island. My gosh. I just have to say that this brunch is so worth it. Definitely not your average brunch spot but the beauty is that if you just felt like French toast or chicken n waffles...no problem! Such a beautiful atmosphere and an incredible dining experience. I'll DEFINITELY be back! read more

See all

We came for the buffet. They've increased the price so not sure if it's "worth it" but I enjoyed. The sushi was decent, the carving station was surprisingly good, however the dessert was not the best. I enjoyed the ambiance though. read more

See all

(Kari's Rating 8/10) TLDR -Filling Chef's Selection -Relatively Busy -Nothing crazy special Came in around 7pm on a Sunday and it was relatively packed. We were deciding between the Omakase and the chefs pre-made dinner selection. We ended up going with the chefs selection and gave our preferences to the waitress. We were then greeted with 4 cold dishes and 3 hot dishes. At this point, I was relatively full, but they kept coming! We ended up cutting out the sushi and going straight to espresso and dessert! I really glad they took our preferences because my friends and I had gratefully varying selections. read more

See all

The omakase experience at Nobu was SO delicious. If you've never had good sushi, like real high quality fish, you absolutely need to do yourself a favor and give this a go. We chose the sushi bar for our seating and got to watch the chef make every piece and explain it carefully to us. The chef was very skilled and obviously took great pride in his work. Each piece was SO good. The fatty tuna was the obvious winner nonetheless. I would say the omakase is perfect for when you're hungry but NOT if you're starving starving--you might walk away feeling a bit unsatisfied. The food is still amazing, the restaurant ambiance and atmosphere are elegant and beautiful--happy to see Chicago get a Nobu! read more

We're obsessed with the Nobu brunch! Perfect for when you're in the mood for a boujie brunch. It's such a fun way to sample everything they do best. You get a decent selection of salads, rolls, and sashimi, plus a hot section featuring the iconic miso cod bites. They're a bit different than the main dinner version, but still very tasty. The restaurant is tucked inside the hotel and has the most gorgeous dessert setup--definitely take your friends here when they're in town! read more

See all

It's a pretty nice restaurant, but when I went, I found the service was lacking. The food and drinks took forever to come out and they accidentally added 2 items to our order (they corrected our bill, but this just shows the lack of attention by the servers). The black cod was amazing, but the sushi was mediocre for the price you're paying. I've had much better sushi for cheaper elsewhere. This was my first time here and had a disappointing experience, so I'm not sure I will come back again anytime soon. read more

See all

We did the brunch buffet and it was $60 a person which doesn't include any drinks. The sushi was amazing, specifically the crispy rice, but everything else was pretty mid and kinda stale from sitting out. I don't know if $60 is worth it because the sushi was really the only great thing. Ambiance was beautiful however and probably the best bathrooms I've ever seen at a restaurant. read more

Nobu Chicago - Brunch buffet - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I always get a lychee martini when I go to Nobu. No one can make a lychee martini like them. read more

Nobu Chicago - Edamame, Crispy Rice with Spicy Tuna, Lychee Martini - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

If this were half the price it would be five stars. For the money, however, the quality simply isn't there. If you prioritize sheer quantity over all else, you may get your money's worth. However, some of the sushi is rather dry and the "hot bar" was lukewarm at best. The dessert section was fairly generic, though the passion fruit panna cotta was truly the standout of the meal. Ambience was not exceptional but not poor. Just somewhere in the middle. It very much felt like what it was - a hotel restaurant on a slow day. Service was great. Our waitress was lovely and attentive. read more

Friends in town and we were hanging out in West Loop. Without a reservation, we thought we'd try our luck on Saturday around noon. They were able to seat the 3 of us right away even though it did look busy inside. Atmosphere is hip, music is kind of too loud. The brunch buffet selection was very disappointing unfortunately. There were only 3 different options of nigiri + few very basic roll options. The prime rib at the carving station was over done, didn't even finish the small piece I got. Desert table was okay. Overall, it was a very lackluster dining/brunch experience, not worthy of $75. read more

See all

Finally got the chance to check out the famous Nobu while in Chicago over the July 4th weekend. We took our kids here with us to experience it and overall, it did not disappoint. It is a very hip and upscale type of place - good for a date night and/or dinner with friends before hitting up the bars in the area. We ordered a variety of things and everything turned out to be very fresh and full of flavor. The Japanese A5 was very good and tender. All of our sushi and raw dishes were good. I'd say the winner for the night was the black cod miso. It was very soft and tender and the miso flavor really brought out the best in the dish. It was so good that we ordered a second one since my kids liked it so much. Overall, it was a great experience at Nobu. I'd love to go there again in the future and recommend everyone checking it out at least once. Be prepared to spend a bit of money though. This meal turned out to be a bit on the pricey side. read more

See all

Sophisticated ambiance, umami flavors, with remarkable service is what I experienced here at Nobu Chicago. Exceptional services, from the hostess checking me in to be being seated at my reserved reservation at this top tiered restaurant. Nobu had such a private and intimate atmosphere it screamed elegance with the vaulted ceilings that had lighting chandeliers across entirely and huge white columns that also aligned the classy restaurant. My waitress was awesome. Her named was Kay. Immediately, being seated she waited on me and took my drink order and insisted she could assist with the menu once returned if requested. Kay was great! I did have a few questions about the menu and Kay took charge and knew exactly what entrees were popular and what ingredients certain entrees had. As allergens and non allergens were strongly aware for the chef! For starters, I ordered the Nobu old fashioned whiskey with the shrimp and octopus Nigiri rolls. The Octopus Nigiri Roll was interesting, kinda tough with a tasteless texture. It was palatable not too bad. Not sure what it is exactly supposed to taste like but it was edible!!Hahah! For my entree, I had the Ribeye Truffle Butter, with cauliflower and potatoes! UMM, UMM, GOOODT! Steak was tender deliciously that bursted in flavors! Veggies were perfectly cooked with the perfect crunch! Even the veggies sauce just enhanced the dish that made it even more savory. And for the night cap, I had the Miso sesame banana for dessert and WHOOAA BABY! One word, SCRUMPTIOUS! It was presented warm with a dollop of ice cream! The Chefs definitely did their thang! Hahaha! Great food, good company with dope service! Can't beat it! Check em out! read more

Nobu Chicago - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

I came for happy hour with a friend and decided to get our eat on a Nobu. The restaurant is very pretty inside. Clean, elegant and a place to be seen. You for sure feel fancy and big time as you wait for your food. I like the vibe. I decided immediately upon sitting down to order that lychee martini. Absolutely amazing. Light, pear forward, juicy-just what you want on a Wednesday or any day really. Who are we kidding? Bites are super small. Like microscopic small for the price point. I get it folks, we are at Nobu. But you may need to order more of these to be satisfied. I had the jalapeno yellowtail and was very disappointed. The roll tasted like cat food and was super microscopic. They accidentally brought the rock shrimp tempura over and it was tasty. My friend order the wagyu slider and she wasn't happy with it. It only comes with one slider. I would go back for the cocktail! It was great. I am not a fan of the food here. I don't think it's worth the price point and I can't imagine what dinner would be like. Glad I tried it for happy hour! read more

Upscale brunch with a little bit of everything Brunch at Nobu Chicago was definitely an experience from start to finish. The ambiance alone sets the tone--very trendy, upscale, and perfect if you're looking for a more elevated brunch vibe. I loved that it's buffet-style because you really get to try a mix of everything. I started with sushi and lighter bites, and everything was fresh and beautifully presented. The rolls, nigiri, and even the smaller sides were all solid and easy to go back for seconds. From there I tried some of the hot dishes--everything from crispy bites to steak and potatoes--and it balanced out the meal really well. You're not stuck with just one type of food, which makes it feel worth it. And the desserts... honestly one of my favorite parts. There were so many options, all small enough to try a few (or more than a few ), and they looked just as good as they tasted. Service was attentive, and overall it felt like a full experience--not just brunch, but something you'd go to for a celebration or a girls day out. That said, it is definitely more of a "treat yourself" type of brunch, but if you're going for the vibe, variety, and experience, it delivers. Would come back for the atmosphere alone. read more

See all

My husband & I came in for our first Nobu experience. The restaurant was beautiful inside. Our waitress was very kind & soft spoken. She knew the menu pretty well & gave us great suggestions on the food & drinks. We decided to do their 5 course Omakase which showcased Nobu's signature items. We paired the food with Nobu's Junmai Ginjo 71 sake. Everything was so delicious & we were very full by the end of the course. I barely had room for the last two items, which were the ribeye & dessert. 10/10 we would come back! read more

See all

We do a brunch Buffett here and it was pretty good. Food was amazing. They have a great assortment of sushi, breakfast items like chicken and waffles or French toast, and also sashimi. They also had appetizers like clams, salads, and cooked shrimp. Service was good, very friendly. They were not too busy for a Sunday. The restaurant is very pretty but very dark. Honestly it was so dark at the time that I could barely see. About half way through our brunch they turned the light on brighter which was nice. Honestly although it was good, I think it was a bit overpriced read more

We have eaten at Nobu in Los Angeles, Vegas, and Tokyo and have always had amazing meals. Staying at the Nobu Hotel in Chicago we decided to try the restaurant and ordered the omakase dinner with sake pairing. The fish was incredibly fresh, but overall we were not impressed with the meal as an omakase experience. The cooked dishes were uninspired. The food felt indifferent. The sakes seemed very random to the dishes and did not feel special. And the service, though polite, was rushed and distracted. Overall, not what I have come to expect from Nobu and certainly not a true omakase experience. read more

See all

The brunch buffet sadly wasn't it. Service was surprisingly slow for a buffet - our table of 2 waited 10 minutes for water and another 10 minutes for our drinks. The food selection was disappointing- half sushi (about 10-15 nigiris and rolls), with roughly 10 hot items that mainly included a breakfast sandwich, chicken and waffle bites, and beef loin. If you don't like/can't eat sushi, then you'd be limited on options. Overall, the food tasted underwhelming and didn't feel worth the $75 price point. I honestly think Sushi Taku's AYCE tastes better. read more

Nobu Chicago - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Came to Nobu Chicago for their Christmas Day brunch buffet. As expected, the restaurant itself is stunning - dark interiors, moody lighting, and high-quality finishes throughout. The space feels upscale and polished, very much in line with the Nobu brand. Service was decent overall, though a bit slow at times. It often took a while for servers to come around to refill water glasses. As for the buffet, the selection was fairly small. There were only a few fish options - tuna, salmon, and I believe yellowtail, offered in different formats like carpaccio, nigiri, and a handful of rolls. Outside of the Japanese offerings, there were chicken and waffles, roasted salmon, and some type of steak (I believe hanger steak). Unfortunately, the food itself was very mediocre. The salmon and steak were quite dry, and it felt like you were mostly paying the high price for all-you-can-eat sushi. Given how limited the sushi options were, I'm not sure that alone justified the cost. That said, part of what you're paying for is the ambiance and overall experience -you are dining at a Nobu restaurant after all. In that sense, it was still a worthwhile experience. When else are you going to pay around $90 per person at Nobu? Would I come back? Probably not. Am I glad I tried it? Absolutely. read more

Ambiance - modern, upscale, offers $75 weekend AYCE brunch Service - attentive server, staff came to collect our finished plates frequently Food - for the steep $75 price point there wasn't a lot of variety, the miso cod bites were fairly dry, dessert tart shells were also soggy upon biting read more

Nobu Chicago - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

The food was amazing, but the service and overall hospitality was far from it. Our Lovely 4 year Anniversary turned out to be a big let down. We arrived and we seated promptly and proceeded to the brunch buffet. The food was remarkable and fish so fresh and vibrant. When we got back to the table, a server (I assume) stopped over and gave us water. She didn't introduce herself, welcome us, or even offer us a drink menu or ASK. She did wish us a happy anniversary but that was it. As the meal was coming to an end, we went to the dessert table. The desserts are in a separate room over by the bar. There were several employees hanging out with a gentlemen who I found out was an off the clock employee. He was wrestling with another employee and almost knocked into my wife. I also heard another employee shut it down and heard him using EXTREMELY inapropriote language. This made us VERY uncomfortable. I gave him a look and he seemed to stop, but then he came over to her and proceeded to ask what her favorite dessert was. He then proceeded to be loud and honestly ruined our afternoon. The icing on the cake was that when we returned to our table after getting some dessert, the staff had cleaned our table and were resetting it. At that point, I was over it. We asked for the check. When I Asked our server who the gentleman at the bar was, she informed me he was an employee of the restaurant/hotel. 5 min Later, someone came to the table (not sure if they were a manager, they never introduced themself) and comped the meal. Overall the food was excellent, however the anniversary we had in mind was ruined. Off duty staff should be held to the same standards as if they were clocked in. We did not feel welcome at all. We were considering staying the evening at the hotel, but quickly changed our minds after the encounter, lack of service, and unprofessionalism. read more

I enjoyed getting to try Nobu, a bucket list item. The food was great, but overall was overpriced compared to other nice sushi spots with similar quality food. Tried: yellowtail hamachi, yellowtail & scallion roll, salmon toro sashimis, truffle lobster amazu, roasted baby corn, mocktail Loved: the truffle lobster amazu was absolutely amazing, I just wish there was more lobster. Also really loved the yellowtail hamachi and roasted baby corn, really great dishes. The restaurant is beautifully decorated and unique. Liked: the price for what we got was just too much compared to other high-end sushi spots. The service was okay. read more

See all

I love to go to Nobu restaurants and this one was a vibe also. I was staying at the Nobu hotel so it was nice to just go downstairs and hit the happy hour or for a quick dinner location. I had the yellowtail and a couple rolls. The lychee martini is always a go to favorite!. My service at happy hour my first night was a bit slow but the second night was very attentive and it was a busier time. read more

See all

Went for the brunch, as it was hyped up all over social. It was fine by all means, but I wasn't blown away. The brunch cost $75 which is a bit steep for brunch, but it's Nobu so I wasn't overly surprised. We somehow made a reservation before brunch was ready, so we had to wait outside until they were ready. It was also quite busy, so expect a longer line at the buffet. The rock shrimp and black cod miso were the stars of the show. I went back multiple times for those. The cripsy rice spicy tuna was a let down for me as it was dry and the rice was almost too thick. The ceviche was too cucumbery for me too. The panna cotta in the desserts was 10/10 and that was by far the best dessert. I would not go back to brunch here, but would go for drinks or a meal on the rooftop. This would be a good way to figure out what you like from their menu before you come for lunch or dinner. read more

Nobu Chicago - Dessert spread - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

When I think of NOBU i think of elevated dinning experience. My expectations were a bit too high. For happy hour the drinks are priced far beyond happy hour price of $10, my food and drink was ok. Two drinks and two appetizers for happy hour would be around $68 plus gratuity. My waiter was EXCELLENT. He gave me a candle and mochi ice cream for my bday but on the reservation it said not to expect Any free cake lol- thats inviting. The restaurant walls are dirty and need a good cleaning. I've tried Nobu and don't need to return. It's better happy hour deals in the neighborhood. Nothing sets them apart from anyone with subpar cleanliness. read more

See all

Really enjoyed this place. The food was great, the service was on point, and the whole experience felt worth it. Definitely somewhere I'd come back to. read more

A great experience. Service was attentive and helpful. We shared and ordered in shifts. All the food was delicious Sushi and sashimi were super fresh. Not an everyday day place, since it is very pricy, but a great spot for a special night. read more

I went here to celebrate my 9th anniversary! We came for their happy hour (tanoshi hour) which is only in the bar and lounge area. They have tables over there, and if you make a reservation you can just ask the server to be seated in that bar and lounge area. We got a cozy couch next to the window which had a table, perfect for two. The highlight for cocktails was actually not the lychee martini but the market margarita! The margarita had such a nice depth of flavor and spice with the serrano peppers and cilantro sea salt rim. The lychee martini was worth a try since it's so famous, but it's mainly vodka and lychee. Nothing too crazy. The matsuhisa martini is super dry and liquor forward. The black cod miso lived up to the hype! It was a good portion and super flaky and tender. The sweet miso marinade was delicious. You'll just have to make sure not to let it sit for too long, it's best eaten hot. The shishito peppers were delicious and had a nice sauce. Of the bar bites my favorite was actually the wagyu slider. I didn't take a photo but it's a small burger that comes in a bao bun. Really flavorful and highlights the wagyu really well. During tanoshi hour cocktails are $12 which is a great price in this day and age. I love that they have a happy hour at such a fancy establishment. Everything was clean and the service was really attentive but not too in your face. One of the best happy hours I've been to in Chicago. read more

See all

I came here with my partner for our anniversary during their Friday happy hour. We were both really excited to check it out given all the hype, and what we tried did not disappoint! We originally made a reservation but we didn't realize that happy hour was only served "at the bar" which doesn't require or take reservations. When they seated us at a table and we asked for the happy hour (tanoshi) menu they said we would have to move to the bar if we wanted to order happy hour. We decided to move because that's the menu we had planned to try (and the prices were significantly lower). We also planned to order stuff from the regular menu and they confirmed we could still do that at the bar. Well, "the bar" has much more space than it sounds! It's more of a lounge area than just countertops facing the bar. They also had some freestanding high tables with chairs and some loungey chairs and regular height tables so you can comfortably enjoy your meal solo, with a friend, or group. The ambience was honestly cozier than the other side of the restaurant and we preferred it. They sat us at one of the loungey chairs and table (it could seat 4 people! Though we were only 2). Service was great and attentive throughout the night. Happy Hour Highlights - crispy rice with spicy tuna - shishito peppers den miso - yellowtail jalapeno - wagyu slider - market margarita (MUST order! One of the best cocktails and most uniquely refreshing that I've had) From the full menu we ordered the black miso cod and WOW it just melts in your mouth and has a lovely buttery texture. The sweet and savory flavors were so good. Definitely worth the hype! Given the happy hour prices, the comfy space, attentive service, and the quality of the food, I highly recommend this spot for happy hour! read more

See all

Truly an incredible experience. The ambience was beautiful with elegant touches and a serene environment. The service was incredible, very friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. The food was delicious, fresh, well portioned, and perfectly cooked and plated to meet all your foodie needs. Would highly recommend for a special night out read more

See all

Headed to the rooftop for happy hour. Happy hour is not included on the rooftop. Our waitress poured us water and we asked if we could check out downstairs for hh. She said ok and took away our waters. I went to check while my friend stayed it was full, no biggie we will stay on rooftop. Our waitress was not friendly and quite rude when we asked for hh seating. To drink I got a lychee martini, very good. The tuna tacos and Brussels were amazing. The Brussels were some of the best I have had. The wagyu dumplings were not good. The wagyu did not taste right. Would not recommend. Overall food was good, service was a let down. read more

See all