I live in LA and have eaten at 20+ omakase restaurants, so I was curious what Chicago's scene had to offer. Omakase Shoji more than answered that question. The restaurant houses both an omakase counter and an izakaya, but in completely separate spaces. The omakase side is an intimate, beautifully designed counter with around 10 seats. We were the only guests that evening, so the whole experience felt wonderfully private -- just us, Chef Shoji, and the fish. Chef Shoji opens the meal by presenting the actual fish you'll be eating, all flown in twice a week from Japan or Spain. It immediately signals what kind of meal you're in for. The 20 courses were well-paced and the quality was consistent throughout. Nigiri and sashimi were pristine, but the hot dishes were equally impressive, which surprised me. Both sides of the menu showed real craft and attention to detail. Service was fantastic -- warm, attentive, and never stuffy. At $210 per person, it's a special occasion meal, but one that genuinely delivers on the price. As someone who eats a lot of omakase back home in LA, I wasn't sure what to expect. I left genuinely impressed. Highly recommend if you're looking for a serious sushi experience in Chicago!!! read more

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Professional chefs. Comfortable space. Fresh seafoods. Delicious Omakase. Reasonable prices. Plenty of seats. What is imperfect here? read more

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We did the omakase dinner. Food was absolutely delicious. So fresh, unique and beautifully presented. Service was remarkable. It's a little gem. Small cozy place. read more

Omakase Shoji - Desert served at the end of the chef's dinner. Perfect amount of sweetness. Matcha ice cream was very good. - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

One of the best Omakase experience I've ever had. I booked last minute during a Chicago business trip and was able to get a seating for one: I came at my time and had a drink alone at the bar and had an awesome conversation with the bartender Brandon who shared some stories about Japan with me. I was seated at the sushi bar shortly and to my surprise I had the chefs table all to myself! It was very beautifully decorated and clean and got to meet Chef Shoji. I was well taken care of by both the staff and Chef Shoji and he meticulously explained every dish and we chatted about everything from his time in America, Japan, and even shared some of my life stories. All in all the dinner service was about 90 minutes with maybe 12-15 or so dishes? I was absolutely satisfied and more. Definitely a once in a lifetime experience having personalized service! read more

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We didn't eat at the omakase, only the main dining room, but the food just wasn't great. The service was amazing and the restaurant itself was very pretty but the food was pretty bland. The wagyu katsu was like an over cooked hamburger patty, the sushi lacked flavor and the nigiri (though the portion was significant) had zero rice and some bones in the fish. I don't know if we came on an off night but this was definitely not the quality or taste of food we would have expected. read more

Omakase Shoji - wagyu katsu - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We heard about Omakase Shoji as one of the newer Omakase restaurants in Chicago. The omakase bar is at the back of Izakaya Shoji, the regular restaurant and bar. The back omakase room is very minimalist and clean, with up to ~8 people. The chef told us they did three seatings a day, including 5pm and 7pm (peak). Although they were booked on the day of, reservations were easy to get a week in advance. The chef is very engaged with the process and clearly likes to chat with the guests and talk about his life and the relationship to the sushi. Service is very attentive and there were at least three other staff changing courses and cleaning between courses. The omakase is advertised as 20 courses although it wasn't really clear what each of the "courses" were. Regardless it was a Lot!!! of food, and I definitely felt way more full than a typical omakase experience. This was probably one of the most aesthetically pleasing sushi experiences I've ever had. In comparison to places like Kyoten or Omakase Yume, there is a lot more effort on the presentation, garnishes, and visuals of the actual foot. The result is every course is beautiful in addition to delicious. Although the fish itself wasn't as exotic or different in selection vs a place like Kyoten, the presentation and focus on making the dishes actually delicious made up for that. The cocktails were creative and more sugar forward. An amazing addition to Chicago sushi selection - would absolutely recommend. read more

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We had a great experience, we were able to make a dinner reservation an hour before for the bar and still got a table hehe. The pic I posted of the interior is for the bar and izakaya menu that I posted. Such a beautiful and clean interior. There is a separate room for the omakase chef experience! Very cool seeing the different types of whiskey and learning about them. We ordered a ton of different rolls and split them but my favorite was spicy tuna and the negi toro. I am not a huge nigiri person but I wanted to try something new - the amount of fish (quality was good) was too much for me personally but such great portions and quality for nigiri enthusiasts! Service was good and quick, it was cool to peek in the omakase room too on the way to the bathroom. Will definitely be back again and maybe try the omakase sometime! read more

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One of my favorite spots in the west town area for a bite and a delicious cocktail. We sat at the bar and enjoyed amazing service and delicious foods. Everything felt and tasted fresh, Fatty tuna sashimi is a must. Great conversation with the bartendar made the experience a memorable one. Solid choice for a Friday cocktail and supper! read more

* Izakaya Review For Restaurant Week* (omakase experience reviewed earlier) The restaurant week deal was amazing. Every bite we had was so good. Starters: the octopus salad had a great smokey flavor to it and was cooked to perfection. We got a lobster tail tempura that gave us a nice portion of lobster tail and the tempura was not too oily or overpowering of the meat. We also got a wagyu beef appetizer that was rich and a nice little bite. Entrees: Their sushi selection on the menu was fresh and their rice is so tasty. Make sure you add in the fresh wasabi because it is so worth it! Their miso soup is my favorite - it's not too salty and they add clams in it to add to a richer broth/flavor. The chicken katsu was cooked to perfection and we got a nice portion of chicken. We added Uni as a la carte and the Uni they have is some of the best in the city. It took my husband and I back to the first time we had tried Uni in Japan. Dessert: I am in love with their Matcha tiramisu. SO good. Drinks: Their whiskey drinks are always a hit. I tried something off menu which was a scotch drink that had ginger and honey in it - such a great balance of alcohol with flavors! (Mind you, I am not a huge whiskey or scotch drinker). The space overall is super cute and small; everything looks modern yet welcoming. The whole staff is so nice! I would come back here in a heartbeat to try the Izakaya outside of Restaurant Week. read more

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We didn't try the omakase at the chef's counter, but made a bar reservation through Resy and ate in the main dining area. The food was really good, fresh and tasty throughout. The Maguro-Don was a standout and reasonably priced too. Great atmosphere and friendly staff. Our server was even wearing what looked like traditional Japanese clothing, which added a nice authentic touch.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ read more

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Did the omakase for my bday and it was AMAZING! I've done omakase at omakase yume, sushi by scratch, sushi suite, jinsei motto and I think this is up there in terms of fish program quality, experience and service. Shoutout to chef shoji, ito (?) and Sarah for a great experience! There were barely any skips but I think our favorites were the maki mono, both "sushi 4 kind" especially the otoro, bluefin tuna and wagyu bites, the chawan mushi and the yaki mono. The highball and old fashioned cocktails were nice and the clear ice was a great touch. Little things matter! Will definitely be back to do another tasting and try their a la carte menu. Also shout out to the host who gave us a Japanese whiskey shot to celebrate my bday. read more

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We had a wonderful dinner at Omakase Shoji last night. This could be our new favorite Omakase, perhaps even better than Kyoten Next Door. Every course was lovely, plenty of food and a nice atmosphere. It felt really authentic, it was like being in one of those places in japan where you take an elevator up 5 floors and discover a tiny but amazing restaurant. My wife loved the sake pairing and I thoroughly enjoyed the wine pairing. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED read more

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One of the best omakase places that I've tried in Chicago! Better than Scratch! I would definitely come back. It's an intimate experience while also casual in a way. I think it's super unique to be able to see the owner of the restaurant be making you the food. He deserves all the praise! read more

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Delicious food delicious experience, amazing tasting food love the experience love the staff love the fine dining

One of the authentic Japanese places in Chicago. We came here for Izakaya ( small plates, a la carte ) and they never failed to amaze us. I personally loved the chili garlic crisp on edamame and the maki roll. I also recommend Takoyaki because they were not deep fried. The cocktails and sake selections were nicely curated and thought for. Service was not pretentious but friendly and courteous. We will definitely come back for the Omakase experience. read more

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We came from stl and stopped by at Omakase Shoji for dinner. We were surprised by street parking availability on Sat evening. We parked in the back street. It seems you have to make advanced reservation. We couldn't get time for omakase room so we sat in the bar area. There are about 6-7 tables total. The restaurant is on a smaller side making it feel cozy. Service is good. We really enjoyed summer roll and nigiri. Overall good sushi but not outstanding. Uni is a little fishy which is a bit disappointing. Tuna and salmon are outstanding. read more

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This is our absolutely favorite omakase restaurant in all of Chicago. We bring all our friends here when they're in town and we have been here more than 10 times. The sushi transports me back to Japan. The service is attentive and top notch. The drinks are glasses of happiness. Shoji-san pays a lot of attention to his craft. We always come here for a good time and to forget about everything else in the world for 2 hours. Even as I type this we're going back again tonight! read more

Quaint little place in West Town with a separate tasting menu counter in the back! The front is more of an izakaya vibe and the decor is nice and spacious. We came on a week night and it was 70-80% full which is a good vibe. Food is very good! Only complaint is everything took a while to come out. We'll definitely be back to try the omakase! read more

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Food: soooo many courses. Worth the prices everything was delicious and high quality Service: our party was the only one that day so we got VIP service. Ambiance: super peaceful. One of my fav omakases in the US! read more

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Really good omakase, fish was often cut 3+ courses in advance... making it almost 15min sometimes from the second fish is cut until it is served... volume focused operation. 30 seats a night read more

The omakase experience was absolutely fantastic! A 20 course meal with an amazing chef. Chef Shoji was so interactive and fun. Every course was explained perfectly and I personally enjoyed each one. I highly recommend read more

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I've only tried their omakase experience which for $210 per person fell well below my expectations. The fish was not as good as I expected though the aesthetics were there--but then aesthetics alone can't make for an exceptionally tasting nigiri. I've had other more spectacular nigiri for far cheaper prix fixe pricing in Chicago. Also their beverage selections are very limited. Example: I had ordered a vinho verde and 10 minutes later the server tells me they had no bottles of it chilled and I would have to wait another 15 minutes to get a glass when I had only 4 courses left to the omakase. I would try other places if I were to spend this much for omakase. read more

Probably the best omakase experience in Chicago. Period. I almost dismissed this place coz I thought it would just be like any other typical (and overpriced) Chicago 'omakase' . Then my husband sent me this article ...saying this place is run by 2 Japanese chefs and is more kaiseki like that they are not just X individually coursed nigiris, there are chef made dish components and artful presentation. I am sold! I still don't quite understand the distinction between omakese and kaiseki, but the whole evening experience was truly different from any Chicago 'omakase' scene, it also reminded us a bit of our experiences in Kyoto! We lucked out with small and intimate seating as well so we also got to talk to the chefs and our fellow diners a bit. They said they are still working out some kinks but I don't see any! Lol. They also seem to have big plan with the patio space etc! Hope to go back for all of this again! read more

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Ate at the bar. Had a tuna roll, octopus salad, and the mezcal cocktail. Everything was great. Definitely 5-star! I'll be back soon Lots of options to have an economical or expensive meal read more

Omakase Shoji - Octopus salad...delicious - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We went here for the first time and it was a beautiful experience. The fish was fresh and it tasted amazing.

120% highly recommend! Food, service, ambiance all above expectations! Food - I personally love that the 20 courses is more of an omakase+kaiseki mix, because I prefer this range of nigiri, sushi, hand roll, etc. The ingredients are top notch fresh and of course the rice in the sushi is 5 stars! fresh wasabi and perfectly balanced flavor profile. Warning: you wont get soy sauce and if you ask for it, don't. Service - we arrived early and had drinks at the bar first. I accidentally spilled my drink (party foul!), and the bartender offered to make me a fresh one on the house. Every time my sake cup was empty during the omakase meal, more would immediately appear. The chefs explain each course and its ingredients in detail and are careful on timing (for example, if you step away they will hold your course until your return). Very caring, thoughtful service. Ambiance - the bar outside in the lobby felt warm and inviting. Cocktail selection was extremely reminiscent of typical bars in Japan. I loved my special Passionfuit Highball! The 10 seater omakase is just like those in Tokyo, perfect! Love it here, might be my new favorite omakase in Chicago. read more

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WOW WOW WOW! That is all that came out of my mouth when I was eating at this place! The sushi was so fresh and the tuna melted in my mouth. I had the 5 piece assorted sushi, the octopus salad, the wagyu katsu with an amazing sauce, and the matcha tiramisu from the restaurant week menu. Our server was really cool and we were well attended to. The restaurant itself is such a vibe I loved all of it! read more

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I could say a lot, but all I'm going to say is that this food is genuinely life changing. I would have a piece and have to sit back and genuinely process and think about everything for a few minute before taking another bite. This is worth... any amount of money. A must go in chicago. read more

My husband and I celebrated our anniversary here. We booked the chef counter/kitchen table about a month before our reservation. Our meal was at a bar like area where two chefs made the sushi in front of us. Our reservation was at 7pm; they wait for everyone to show up before they start serving. The room has about 9/10 seats so they'll wait for all the reservations to show up before they begin. There was a party of 5/6 ladies who showed up 15 minutes after the reservation time, so we had to wait for them to show up. The food itself was delicious! Both my husband and I enjoyed every dish that was served for us. The staff was really nice and helpful explaining what each item were. Love the presentation and the experience. They also have a few non-alcoholic drinks on their menu which were very tasty! My husband and I enjoyed our time and were full at the end of it! Easy street parking outside. read more

The Omakase experience was absolute perfection. The intimate setting, awesome service, incredible food made by two sweet and incredibly talented chefs made this an unforgettable meal for me and my mom. It was such a pleasure to watch their beautifully skilled hands turn carefully sourced ingredients into something so magical tasting. 11/10! read more

Omakase Shoji - Wagyu nigiri - Japanese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I miss the 606 but this place is doing it justice. I had the tuna carpaccio - fresh and vibrant. The Summer roll is to die for. Seaweed salad wasn't artificial. And the fatty blue fin tuna did not disappoint. The Japanese old fashioned was a nice palette cleanser. I love this place is down the street from our house. It's not a frequented place but definitely in rotation. read more

The best omaksae this side of Japan I've yet to enjoy. Thank you Shoji-san. Looking forward to next time!!

Service was great! Everyone in the restaurant hand has on the table and worked well together. The restaurant was very minimalist but clean. Of course, food was great and the server made great recommendations. read more

First visit Omakase shoji today. Me and my wife are sushi lovers. This is our first omakase experience. We are excited after reservation booked. We have so many regular sushi experience. But this is totally different. A chef with over 20 years experience making for us. We don't know what we going to eat before we get into the dining area. After we get in to the dining room. The staff show us today menu are 20 courses and gave us a house drink to start. Each course seem small. But it will fill you up at the end. I keep looking at the chef some course I didn't took picture. Wasabi are fresh and soy sauce is homemade. Sushi ginger is different from what I see outside it tastes excellent. I believe it house made also. Everything is so fresh. May not able to eat this every time but it totally worth to experience. At the end the owner explained the name of shoji. Mr shoji is the chef and he is also owner. shoji also means door . A door to experience omakse great fresh sushi! They will have rooftop bar soon. read more

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Really solid, authentic omakase offered at a reasonable price. Chef Shoji is friendly and attentive. The server was also friendly and patient. The omakase room is at the back and is clean, neat, and private. I found this experience much better than some of the other omakase offerings in Chicago that has twice the price tag that are not prepared Japanese chefs. 100% will come back again! read more

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A wonderful new kaiseki addition to Chicago. There's too many omakase places popping up and competing with each other by having the same kinds of fish but Omakase Shoji has the most authentic dishes from Japan. The service was impeccable and the interior looks exactly like a kyoto restaurant. We would definitely come back for the set menu and izakaya as well. read more

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This review is for the izakaya. Visited for the second time this weekend and it was just as tasty as the first visit. I wish the sushi samplers were a little less expensive (mainly so I can justify coming more often!) but all the food here is so good, it really doesn't matter. We ate at the sushi bar twice and both times the bartender/server was very attentive and friendly. Quickly becoming our go to local sushi spot. Can't wait to try the omakase read more

This is possibly the best, authentic, Edo-style omakase in Chicago. Fantastic service. I've been twice now. The first time, the cocktails were also amazing. The most recent time, the cocktails were a miss, but the sushi paired great with some nice sake. read more

We came in for a really late dinner, so it was very quiet inside. The service was great sitting at the bar. The staff was very friendly and attentive. We ordered a couple rolls and sushi from the izakaya menu and everything was delicious! Can't wait to go back again to try the omakase! read more

Omakase Shoji was the most incredible omakase experience I've ever had. Coming from NYC, I've had my fair share of omakase, but Omaka Shoji was next level. The ambiance was perfect - a cute bar outside with dim lighting, and the omakase room was clean and spacious. Chef Shoji was extremely personable - you can hear his passion for the food just by the way he describes each cut of fish. Finally, the servers and staff were extremely professional and made for a warm and comfortable environment. Food wise, the meal was perfection. Every cut of fish melted in your mouth, and the kaiseki dishes were purposeful and flavorful. Even the plating and the cups were something that my girlfriend and I noticed, which just shows how much intent this restaurant puts into the small things. Omakse Shoji is about providing the perfect dining experience for its customers - and this restaurant did just that. If you're looking for a cheap Omakase place, look elsewhere. What you get out of Omakse Shoji is the most ideal blend of freshness, flavor, and a curated dining experience that made for one of the most memorable meals I've ever had in my life. read more