Oni maki / the matcha bar has been on my list forever, as a long time fan of kurimu. Unfortunately I live on the north side so it's a bit of a schlep to get down there but I had a thing at UIC and stopped by. Parking is kinda a pain -- almost all paid in the area. Lots of options for handrolls! The specialty ones were only $4.50 each. I got the fatty salmon and avocado and the spicy tuna and they were both delicious. I got the mango sticky rice matcha which was $$$ (8.50) but very good. I'm not a huge matcha fan because of the bitterness but like it when it's on the sweeter side. This was definitely sweet but not overpowering (for reference I like sweeter coffee drinks but have to order bubble tea at 25% sweetness). They do give you the option of ordering at less sweetness if you'd like. They give you the handrolls immediately but the matcha takes a little time. The place was pretty busy when I went and more fast casual vibes. I quickly ate my handrolls at the counter -- definitely better for takeout than eating in. Will definitely come back when I'm in the area! Would be great if they expand to the north side like kurimu! read more

Oni Maki - Mango sticky rice matcha -- so yum but so pricey ($8.50) - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Food: NOWW imma be real. The food is decent, nothing different from your typical roll. If you order the bougee or the more expensive roles it does bring more and it's more filling! However their normal hand rolls, are a bit expensive and not that filling if your looking for lunch. I def recommend getting a premium or boujee roll over the normal handroll if your really hungry. For a treat it's good doe, but like it's the same as going to hmart or anywhere else. If your coming for the food, just pay a little bit more and get something interesting fr. Otherwise, just go to hmart and get the same thing for cheaper fr. 4/5 stars Drinks: I got the mango matcha and it was really good! I definitely would recommend to come here for the drinks over the food. 3/5 stars Service: The staff is friendly, however I just didn't really like seeing a bunch of people standing around doing nothing while other people were working. I'm not sure if they were being trained or not. But I felt bad for the workers who were actually working lol? Additionally, expect your drink to take a while. When I came in they barely had anyone and it took 20 minutes for my drink to come. Which is a bit odd to me, since they weren't that busy compared to other places like gathers. But like I said I think they were training people when I went. Rating 3/5. read more

Oni Maki - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Finally got to try the hand rolls! I enjoyed eating the Spicy Tuna Avocado roll. It had a good level of spice and flavor. It was like I was back in Japan's convenience store eating a very easy and light lunch/snack. I definitely want to try the rest of the options here and I just love the convenience of how easy it is to just buy the roll at the counter. The cashier was so nice and made the transaction extremely easy. Cafe was very clean, and actually a bit empty when we went on a Sunday late afternoon. read more

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Omg this matcha was soo good! The hype is real. I went on a weekday during the day and there was little to no line. I'm sure the lines get long so Ive heard. The mango matcha latte was super refreshing and so good. Beautiful presentation. The matcha was the perfect shade and flavor. The handrolls were good too. Good combo. They also have a bunch of snacks on display for people to buy once you walk in. read more

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First time for a matcha. It's not all I thought it would be. I like black sesame so I tried the black sesame matcha. It was strong in matcha and the black sesame cream was next to tasteless. It wasn't too busy later in the afternoon on a Saturday. But I could imagine it's packed during the week or earlier in the day. I like matcha and really wanted to like this place. Maybe I'll have to try the food next time. The staff wasn't too friendly. The cashier I ordered from didn't smile or was welcoming. There looks to be a big staff. Maybe I'll try another matcha next time. The mouth opening is open. The lid isn't completely closed. Meaning you have to drink it at purchase or put it in a sealed cup to save for later. read more

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Came here to say Friday at noon and no line! Big space, didn't feel too crowded! They had my drink out very quickly! I got the iced mango matcha. This was good, but I fear it didn't live up to the hype it receives. The mango chunks all sit at the bottom and you can't really get them, and you just don't get that mango sticky rice flavor. The matcha quality was good though! I got five hand rolls. I loved everything about these! The size is perfect and the quality of the fish is great, very refreshing! My favorites were tuna avocado, spicy salmon and crab! read more

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I ordered: 1. Ube Matcha Latte 2. Rolls: Spicy Pork, Tuna Avocado, Kimchi Bulgogi Surprisingly not impressed with the watery matcha altho the ube cream was on point. Handrolls were decent. Flavors were fine but too much rice over little main ingredients. Honestly, I'd still come for a quick snack bc I live nearby but not a place I'll generally recommend for either category of matcha or sushi. read more

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Oni Maki is the latest sushi place to receive lots of buzz and for good reasons. Not only do they have affordable hand rolls, but they have a full matcha bar making this place quite busy. The sushi here is made in a hand roll style so you'll have to unwrap the plastic and DIY your roll together kind of like the rolls you would get at a 7-11 in Asia. The rice is seasoned well, but the ratio of rice to filling is a bit unbalanced. I prefer less rice, but for the price, Oni Maki is reasonable. The staff are churning out matcha drinks constantly here doing things the right way with matcha whisks and making cream from scratch using KitchenAids. This place is convenient, but it took a half hour for my order of nine rolls. I'd say they have some kinks to work out, but if you're looking for a trendy spot for sushi to go, Oni Maki is decent. read more

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Visited on a Tuesday around noon and a line forms pretty quickly. We ordered two spicy salmon avocado, one spicy crab mayo, and one soft shell crab. For drinks we got a matcha latte and a jasmine matcha latte with oatmilk which came to a total of about $42 with tip~ Handrolls are yummy but feel a bit too simple. Matcha is really good! Just downside if you are in a rush, they hand-whisk by order so it can take a while. read more

Oni Maki - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Don't know what it is but sushi roll and matcha combo is so good! They are usually super packed with a variety of customers (mostly college students on lunch) but the line to pay is fast. Drinks can take a bit and certain rolls but it also depends on when you come in and what is in stock. However, they have a decent amount of seating if you can grab one. There's some comfy couches, tables and chairs and some barstools by the entrance. Sushi rolls are filled with a decent amount of filling and not too much rice. The way it is packaged keeps the seaweed nice and crispy too! I've tried about five to seven drinks at this point and they're all really good! read more

Oni Maki - Rolls and drinks - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The A5 Wagyu hand roll had really good steak but way too much rice. The onigiri tasted good but same issue, too much rice and not enough salmon (lowkey like Japan 7/11 better). The uni hand roll just wasn't for me. Vibes were cool though. I liked the projection on the wall showing how to fold hand rolls and onigiri, it reminded me of Japan. read more

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Staff really need better training in professionalism and customer service. I genuinely like this place, which makes this more disappointing to write. One evening around 8 PM, I came in and the person at the front didn't communicate what items were still available until I had already started ordering. Her tone felt dismissive and rude throughout the interaction. I returned again after a couple of day on May 1st at 12:30 and greeted the same staff member with a "hi," and received no response, just an unfriendly look. When I began ordering, she responded with "What?" in a harsh tone, and I had to repeat myself. I was going to order more handrolls and a matcha but felt the encounter was really not good so I had to refrain. Even after I said thank you, there was no acknowledgment. It was not busy at all today to receive this encounter. I understand that working late or being busy can be exhausting, but basic courtesy goes a long way. I hope management emphasizes friendliness and communication at the register, because it really impacts the overall experience. read more

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Waited about an hour on a sunny, warm Sunday morning, and honestly - we think it was worth it. The line felt a little chaotic, and drinks took a while since each matcha is hand-whisked to order, but you can tell that care goes into it. We tried the mango sticky rice matcha and the sesame matcha - highly recommend both. The flavors were unique, well balanced, and definitely the highlight of the visit. The musubi/makis were good, but nothing that really stood out compared to the matcha. If it's your first time, we'd say stick with the drinks. Next time, we're definitely coming back to try the ube flavor. read more

Oni Maki - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I've seen this place on social media. As expected, it was busy on a warm sunny Sunday. There's limited seating but my friend and I were able to sit down. It may take about 5-10 minutes for them to make your drink. I ordered a strawberry matcha latte with whole milk. I don't typically drink matcha or caffeine but this was good! The strawberry flavor blended well and didn't overpower the matcha. The matcha is definitely strong here. They have a variety of handroll selections. I didn't order any but will have to try in to the future. They have one bathroom and a code is needed. Parking can be hard to find because Taylor street is always busy. read more

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I constantly complain about the lack of good matcha, so I was SO excited to see this place open up! I went during the first week they were open, and they luckily had not yet blown up-there were very few people there, and we didn't have to wait in line to order which was such a blessing. The drinks were PHENOMENAL. I absolutely loved everything we ordered. The Mango Sticky Rice Matcha was definitely my favorite of the ones we ordered, but it's a sweeter, dessert-like drink. I also really enjoyed the Earl Grey Matcha; the earl grey flavor complemented the matcha well without being overpowering. The Black Sesame Matcha was also very nutty and well balanced. Overall, all of the drinks were amazing, and I liked that the matcha was really good quality and strong. The only drawback was that it took a bit of time to receive our order since they hand whisk everything to order. I will definitely hope to be back, hopefully after the hype dies down and the lines become more reasonable. Overall, I very strongly recommend this place for any matcha lover out there! read more

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Came because they have Matcha Bar by Kurimu inside too. And got two maki for lunch. The service was a bit slow but they have a sign that apologizes for it. They make the maki and oni in batches so if you pick one that hasn't been made yet or ran out, then it might take a little longer to prep. You can also see them whisking individual orders or matcha which can definitely be time consuming. All the options are great combinations. Most of the maki are just avocado + a meat option. The seaweed is separated by plastic wrapping to stay crispy until you eat it. Very authentic to how Japanese convenient stores would sell it but a bit wasteful packaging. The matcha options are all fun Asian flavor combinations. No options for tapioca or toppings but I think it's great that they focus on the matcha itself. The mango sticky rice matcha seems to be their most popular. I think it's whole milk base or maybe rice milk, seemed too thick to be rice milk. It says can't be adjusted to oat milk. The mango was ripe but a bit hard to drink through the straw. The matcha was vibrant and smooth and I feel like there's probably 3-4g of matcha in each drink. They also had coconut cream on top of the matcha for that mango sticky rice flavor. They also sell their own matcha at $30 for 30g. I'm excited to come back and try their matcha with pandan or ube. read more

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Came here for lunch on a Tuesday and was pleasantly surprised that the line was short. The space felt pretty spacious when we went and it wasn't too crowded, although I could see it getting tight during peak hours. A few more seats would definitely help. They had a good amount of handroll options overall, but I do wish there were more choices with raw fish. Also, heads up: the premium options are only available on weekends. When we got to the cashier, we were told that only the handrolls in the display case were available. I really wish they had a menu at the counter showing what was actually in stock because we had to walk to the other side to check the display before ordering, which felt a little inconvenient. We ordered the three handroll + matcha special (around $20) and added the $5 matcha upgrade. Our handrolls came out immediately, and the matcha followed shortly after, which was great. We tried the salmon and avocado, tuna and avocado, and spicy salmon and avocado. The flavors were good and the fish tasted fresh, but there wasn't much avocado in any of them. Overall, the handrolls were pretty standard. Solid, but nothing super standout. One thing that really confused us: they gave us soy sauce and wasabi, but no sauce tray. It definitely hindered the experience because we were worried about spilling the soy sauce packet everywhere. We ended up pouring it directly onto the handroll, which wasn't ideal. Not sure why sauce trays wouldn't be available. I did appreciate their packaging. They separate the seaweed from the rice so the nori stays crisp until you're ready to eat it. That was a nice touch. I was most excited to try the matcha since so many people rave about it on TikTok, but I found it a little underwhelming. It had a beautiful green color, but the flavor could've been stronger. It tasted more like matcha milk than a bold matcha drink. Overall, it's a decent spot for a quick lunch, but it can add up if you're trying to make it a full meal. I wasn't super full after three handrolls and a drink. I would probably come back for convenience, but with adjusted expectations. read more

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The matchas are good, but the hand rolls are mid. Too much rice, not enough flavor. I understand the hype for the drinks, but the maki will leave you wanting to go to another restaurant after. read more

Oni Maki - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Came here on a Saturday morning, and it was super packed as expected. I do wish they had better organization as people were confused where the ordering line was or having a hard time hearing the workers call out the number. Otherwise, the spicy salmon hand roll and mango sticky rice matcha were both delicious. They call your number first for the food, then again for the drink. I would come back, but I wouldn't crave it. There is some seating, but I wouldn't recommend studying here due to how crowded it gets. There's also a bathroom! read more

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Ambiance - casual, convenient street parking, really structured ordering/waiting area Service - handrolls and drinks came out fairly quickly Food - highly recommend the toro handroll (weekends only), jasmine matcha latte (you would really taste the jasmine, matcha flavor was also really strong) read more

Oni Maki - Jasmine Matcha Latte - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

On our return visit, our rolls were available immediately. The wait for the matchas was a few minutes longer but well worth it. read more

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I've never had a good mango sticky rice matcha latte before. Oni maki does it really well! I love the handrolls too. My favorite was the toro handroll which is only available on weekends. Definitely try this place out! read more

Oni Maki - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Matcha is very good! They have lots of specialty matchas that are very delicious and still have a strong matcha flavor, not overpowered by any syrups. The space is pretty nice, not too much seating. read more

Oni Maki - Matcha - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I arrived here around 7pm and I was excited to try the rolls and matcha, I saw the menu and waited for my turn which was 15 min with 4 people in front. I finally get there - look up at the menu and they say no rolls left. Totally disappointed. I was left to order the black sesame matcha, which took 30 min after I place the order. Drink was rich in matcha and tasty but I got no hint of any black sesame. There are plenty of people inside and patiently waiting for their drinks. read more

As soon as the store opened there was a line. But to my surprise the line went by extremely fast and we ordered after waiting for 5 minutes. The wait for the drinks was also not that long either. I ordered the raspberry matcha and it was pretty good, but the raspberry was a little too sour to where it overpowered the matcha even after mixing. I definitely will go again and get a different flavor! read more

Oni Maki - raspberry & mango matcha - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I went because someone recommended it for their matcha. When you walk in, it's very bright. The place has a few chairs and areas to seat. Seems like a decent place to socialize over matcha. The young lady who took my order was nice. I didn't know what to expect because they don't have a website. So not only couldn't I look up the menu prior I also couldn't order ahead. I know they opened last month but that's no excuse. They have a buy 3 sushi rolls and get a soda for free or +5 for a matcha drink. It's actually a good deal. All the rolls are about $4. They offer specialty rolls on the weekend. I had the special. There's a possibility the rolls on the menu may not be available. They have a case to your right that will display the rolls they have that day. I ordered the spicy tuna avocado, salmon avocado, and spicy crab mayo with a mango matcha latte. The rolls come in a wrapper and you have to wrap it in the seaweed yourself. The rolls are prerolled so not freshly made. My rolls actually tasted dry. The ones that were suppose to have avocado in it didn't. Not sure if it's a spread in it or very small pieces but I didn't see or taste any avocado. I just wasn't impressed with the mango matcha. You can see they whisk the matcha right there. Which is nice to see it's freshly made and some workers who aren't wearing gloves when they do it. They only offer 1 size in their drinks. It's not on their menu but I'm unsure if they offer milk alternatives. read more

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The line was absolutely heinous don't get me wrong. I think this place has blown up on social media (but for good reason). It was my first time trying panda matcha and neither flavor overpowered which I really enjoyed. The strawberry matcha is very comparable to gathers down the street. Very very limited seating. read more

Oni Maki - Pandan matcha, strawberry matcha - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

First time having matcha at 6 pm.... And I'd do it again!! I understand the hype around this place. The mango sticky rice matcha is my absolute fav !! Loved the cream too and the mango was so fresh and blended so perfectly with the matcha. Not to mention the green color of the matcha is *chef's kiss* and so yum! Not sure if I would try the rolls again. They're decent but not life changing and you can only order the ones they have available (lowkey it defeats the purpose of having a menu). read more

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We came here two times already and their mango sticky rice is amazing. You can't really taste the matcha because it's so creamy. Tbe service was around a 30-40 min wait but definitely worth it. We also had their handrolls and I loved their spicy tuna avocado which was so cream. Seems like they rotate their handrolls and seems like it's only in the glass window you see not things on the menu. read more

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I would rate this place somewhere in the middle. The drinks are definitely heavier in the matcha flavor rather than the ube which I didn't really taste much of. Also tried my spouses mango sticky matcha and the same applied to that drink as well. Service a bit slow too. read more

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Always quick. For the price, honestly pretty good handrolls. Sometimes a little rice heavy though?

Cute new restaurant with a matcha bar!! If you come through the main entrance on Taylor St, you'll see the handroll menu and the side entrance from the courtyard is straight to the matcha bar ! Seating is limited but very comfortable couches throughout, a couple tables in the back, and some bar/counter seating. Tried their yuzu matcha and was pretty good, could be stronger but they do have an extra matcha option! Yuzu flavor was present too which I enjoyed. Didnt try the handrolls but will be back to try them and their mango sticky rice matcha! They do have a deal where you can buy 3 handrolls and get a free drink (or matcha latte for $5 extra). They have wifi and are open late so a great late night non-library spot in Little Italy! read more

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Just so so. Nothing wrong and I hate to be a sushi snob, but I'm just used to fresher fish. Staff was nice. Don't love that tables were all the way to the entrance of bathrooms. read more

Love! I got the viral mango sticky rice matcha at 25% sugar. And it's so good! My friend got the Jasmine matcha and it was really refreshing. There's so many more on the menu I want to try! read more

YUM! If you're picky about your matcha, this is THEE place to go! Tried their regular matcha latte w oat milk. The powder they use had a bit of a floral/jasmine profile to it. I personally prefer a nuttier/umami matcha, but this floral profile was really delicious and refreshing. Also tried the ube and strawberry matcha. Smoothly whisked & not too sweet, matcha flavor shines through the fun flavored lattes. read more

Oni Maki - Iced matcha latte w oat milk - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Really affordable, fresh and yummy hand rolls. The spicy crab mayo is a winner every time and the service is very quick -- makes it easy to walk over for a quick lunch. My only criticism is they often have listed rolls that are routinely not in stock. I've been trying to buy the jalapeno soft shell crab roll for weeks now and it never seems to be available! But this place is good enough to keep trying. :) read more

Absolutely disgusting I don't understand the hype for this place the strawberry matcha was smashed strawberry not a syrup or any flavor. The wait is ridiculous for a drink. 30 min wait on a Sunday we ordered an 11:30 our drinks were ready at 12:00 on the dot. The color of this matcha was also not bright green. read more

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Tried the Mango Sticky Rice Matcha at Oni Maki and it was actually really good. The matcha flavor came through nicely, and the mango sticky rice combination was unique and delicious. Unfortunately, I broke out in hives afterward, so I'm not sure if there was an ingredient that didn't agree with me. The drink itself was great, but if you have food allergies or sensitivities, you may want to ask about the ingredients first. read more

Oni Maki - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Heard there was a new matcha & hand roll place in town so I had to visit! I enjoyed the strawberry matcha latte a lot! That said, I do like sweet drinks and it is quite sweet. I got my drink pretty fast, and I was pleasantly surprised because it was really busy. Definitely need to go back to try the mango matcha latte! read more

Oni Maki - Hand rolls - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The mango sticky rice matcha is so worth the hype! Be prepared for a long wait time which is expected since they whisk every matcha order but worth the wait. read more

Oni Maki - Mango sticky rice matcha - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois