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    Sanjusan

    4.4 (340 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 10:00 PM

    Sanjusan Photos

    SANJUSAN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Sanjusan

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    Reviews With Photos

    Squid ink pappardelle
    Ally M.

    Such a fun a cozy little spot in the north loop! It's definitely small, but they have a patio outside, and inside is bright with high ceilings. The staff were great, providing recommendations & never making us wait. The food is amazing. Expensive, but amazing. We had the Hiramasa crudo & Duck tataki to start, both super light and refreshing but still very flavorful. Then the chicken skewers & squid ink pappardelle for our mains, both great as well! The portions are small, so keep that in mind. I loved the toasted breadcrumbs on the pasta, it was a fun texture with the al dente noodles. I want to come back to try the pizza!

    Chicken thigh yakitori
    Brett K.

    Wife and I went to Sanjusan for my birthday and overall it was a very positive experience. Tip #1 is use valet here. It's only $10 + tip for the valet and street parking around here is very stressful and the ramps around here cost just as much if not more. From the time we arrived staff were kind, and our server was very friendly and made us feel welcome. The interior of this restaurant was also gorgeous, simple, refined and minimalist. The menu can be a bit hard to navigate since so many menu options are unique but the server expertly guided us through. We ordered the Maitake Karaage, Duck Tataki, Mentaiko Lumache, chicken thigh yakitori, and a wagyu yakitori. Likes Vs Dislikes: LIKE the Maitake Karaage - this was the best dish of the evening. Fried mushrooms with scallion mayo, gave the texture and flavor of fried calamari but it's actually mushroom. LIKE the Mentaiko Lumache - this pasta was incredible. Perfectly al dente noodles with a unique almost cup shape that gave a nice bite of noodle and sauce together. The sauce was delicious! Dislike the yakitori - felt like there was little to no value here. You pay $7 per skewer which contains barely 3 bites of chicken. It was pretty average tasting too. Wouldn't waste the money. Like and dislike the Duck Tataki - delicious in flavor, nice and fatty, ponzu and mango added a great flavor. Disliked that for $22 you get hardly 4-5 bites of duck. Tiny tiny skinny bites mind you. Felt like the value wasn't there for this fish given how good it actually tasted. I'd look elsewhere on the menu. Overall, given what we liked, the ambience and staff, I am giving this a 5/5. If money isn't a factor then come here and go crazy, but if value matters then stray away from the yakitori and Duck Tataki, just my 2 cents.

    Seasonal dessert... pudding with apples, ginger, and candied almonds
    Suzy R.

    The food offerings were unique and very flavorful! The restaurant theme is Japanese and Italian, and options are creative and all sound very delicious so it was very hard to choose. My friends and I ended up sharing a pizza and each had our own pasta main, of which GF was an option and a good pasta made in house! I would go back.

    Squid ink pasta
    Neha I.

    I liked the maitake karaage and the non alcoholic kosho kola I got! The squid ink pasta was ok for me and the yakitori skewers were really small for the price we paid.

    check
    Millena S.

    This might be long so I'll put a TL;DR.... atmosphere was very cool and the presentation as well, but the food didn't meet expectations and everything was expensive for the portion. There were some hits and misses, but overall unique experience for a Japanese-Italian fusion! Okay so to begin we were sat on the fourth floor which we had a slightly awkward elevator ride up with one of the hostesses. This is when I realized that there's no kitchen upstairs, so all food is brought up in a cart and stays in the elevator basically, so that was a bit unusual but I can get behind nuance!!! The layout and decoration of the place was definitely modern and minimalist, but the font size on the menu was so small that my parents had to grab their glasses to read it, no biggie though I accept the challenge. I loved the light wood contrasting the dark accents and ambient lighting, once the sun set it was moody and unique in a great way. I personally love architecture and interior design, so that's where some of my stars are coming from. The rest of the stars now. Alongside the design was the presentation of the food. Honestly 1000/10 presentation and descriptions, the workers explaining the food spoke a little bit too fast for me to remember anything but they were busy so I understand. The food was very delicious looking, but I hate to say it didn't taste like it looked. It was still good chicken and mushroom, but no WOW factor that made it unique enough to be expensive or japanese-italian. It was paired with this very spicy sauce, some seasoning, and a few veggies which didn't taste that good. I don't have the palate for Asian food, I'll be honest, but there was a vinegar taste to the veggies that I didn't appreciate. The mushroom was good, juicy but not too moist, it kind of fell flat at that though with no other flavor. The other skewers were great, wrapped with some sort of green stuff and conjoined with other vegetables. Overall 6/10 for the food, nothing overwhelmingly tasty thought which was disappointing. The service was great! A bunch of ladies running around making sure we're taken care of, I appreciated it all. It was my birthday so I had the two desserts offered. The fruity one was DELICIOUS with the apples and nuts and moist texture. The chocolate pastry with ice cream was a bit too much for me. It was a unique blend of chocolate, sesame, and ice cream which I liked in theory but the outside was overwhelming which made me dislike it. I was sad though because the ice cream was sooooooo good, I just wished the pastry wasn't as crazy. My siblings got pizzas, parents got pastas, everyone finished their food except for the pizzas. I think they were a little disappointed with the turn out of the pizzas because of the thick crust and dry toppings. I can't speak for them though so I'll leave it there!!! We got four drinks, the japanese lager, the yuzu NA drink, the red NA drink, and a sake flight. The lager was good, but not far from a regular beer. The yuzu citrus drink was BOMBBBBBB, it tasted like a refresher from a drink place you know!?!?! We loved that but there wasn't a lot of it to drink in the large wine glass so it was consumed quickly. The red NA drink, I don't remember the name, but it was cute and tasty, a bit bitter but that's my own palate. The sake flight was explained too fast for me to pick up anything other than the second one is "robust". The one in the clear glass tasted like mineral water and I loved it. I'm not a big drinker so I wasn't looking for a hard flight to choke down. The robust sake was in a cute grey cup and tasted like if a century old tree could produce liquid on tap. It packed a punch and reminded me of a dense, untouched forest. Now the last one, in the brown cup, was HARD. This tasted like something I would get at a bar to start the night. I personally didn't like it as much, it had a stinging taste that was difficult to drink. I gave that and the robust one to my brother and he took them like shots. Although Im not accustomed to the Japanese palate, I can appreciate what tethered my taste buds and what didn't. There were some hits and some misses, which I accept fully for a style that I've never had before. This place has great potential and is honestly a good spot to go, but I don't think it has replay value, meaning you go to try it out and then you say you went there. I had no idea what to expect before arriving until I heard the hostess mention that the chef was awarded the prestigious James Beard, which is cool but I don't know what that is so I figured that this was a fancier, more put together menu. The menus were paper and got wet because of the water glasses, which might've been a tad too small.

    Jack G.

    Dining here was a sensory delight. The pasta dishes were exquisite, especially the Mentaiko Lumache with pistachios. Our pizzas were excellent; true Napoli style. Being seated at the kitchen counter allowed us to watch the chefs ply their art. That itself was almost as enjoyable as the tasty desserts. Strongly recommend.

    Squid ink pappardelle
    Shell J.

    After great experiences at the other sister restaurants, Kado no Mise, Kaiseki Furukawa, and Gori Gori Peku, I came to Sanjusan with high expectations, and it absolutely delivered. My visit wasn't even planned; it was a weekday evening, fairly full, but I was able to grab a seat at the bar. The staff at and around the bar were incredibly friendly, and they helped me explore a few sake options to pair with the Duck Tataki. That dish was an absolute wow. Duck is notoriously hard to cook well, and I honestly can't name many great duck dishes even in high-end Midwest restaurants. But this one? Perfectly seared, paired with turmeric ponzu, chickpea, and mango, giving it a texture reminiscent of seared tuna but with richer flavor. Truly exceptional. Because the Duck Tataki impressed me so much, I went for a second dish: the ink pasta. Another wow. I've had squid ink pasta before, but never as pappardelle, and I loved how the flavors were layered into the pasta itself. Another strong 5-star dish. Both dishes really showcased Sanjusan's Japanese-Italian fusion at its best. I'll definitely be back--many more times.

    Marcus O.

    Very unique cuisine of Japanese-Italian fusion in a chic area of North Loop. Standout appetizers -- lamb, which looks like tuna ... so good! The croquette and mushroom kaarage are also very memorable. My pasta was superb, creamy with a bit of heat. Can't say much for the space as we sat outside... but the interior I did see was really cool. Definitely a spot to check out.

    Shelly H.

    Everything about this place was absolutely perfect - the food, the service, and ambience were all 5/5. Pork gyoza with foie gras and wood ear mushrooms was incredible, I could have eaten 20 of them. Duck tataki is a must for duck lovers. Arancini was delicious and gorgeous presentation. We also got the squid pappardelle - amazing. You can't go wrong with anything you order here. Drinks were all beautifully crafted as well. It was the perfect date night and we can't wait to return!

    Jeremy S.

    Simpling amazing. We tried a Japanese fusion pizza, the Calabrian. It had a Japanese sausage with Ricatto. The cocktail creations were super delicious.

    Old fashioned
    Laura S.

    I went with a girlfriend at 645 on a Tuesday. This restaurant is very small, so although they do accept walk ins, I would make a reservation to ensure you get a table. Food 5/5: We went in with the concept of sharing and had the old fashioned, pork gyoza, mentaiko lumache pasta and the Isaac Becker pizza. All of our food came at the same time, so if you want things at different times I would be explicit about that. The gyoza was the perfect balance of flavors and I'd absolutely go back for. The pasta was the perfect umami balance and is elevated with the crunch of the pistachio. The pizza was definitely more than MN spicy, so if you're not a spice fan it would be a no go. Overall well balanced, and the pizza crust was light and fluffy! We were all given a zeppole and it was the most amazing mix between warm and cold! Very well balanced. Service: 4/5. We did have to wait a bit for drinks and food. The waitress thoroughly apologized, and overall it wasn't a huge issue because I had a lot to catch up on with my friend. Other than that, the service was great. The waitress explained the menu to us and was otherwise attentive. Ambiance: 4/5. This is a very small space. If you don't like dining close to other people, this would not be your place. We sat at the chefs counter which was fun to see all the food being made. I was sitting next to someone who was left handed, and I'm right handed, and we bumped into each other a few times. He was very friendly, so overall not a big deal. The plus of sitting close, our neighbors didn't finish their dessert and shared with us. The other thing that felt a little misplaced was the paper menus. It felt very cheap for this elevated space in my opinion. Overall the food was absolutely amazing.

    Fettuccine with crab and saffron butter
    Claire L.

    I have been here many times and think the food and service is very good! The miso pesto pizza is genius and one of my favorites but last night I had the fettuccine which is most expensive pasta on their menu clocking at $47. It is worth every bite. Its a sizable portion and did not leave me completely hungry by the end. The sauce is not like an Alfredo but still creamy. It's very light but yet rich with a generous portion of crab that you can taste the sweetness. Their patio is nice and not too noisy. It had really filled up on a Tuesday night, so please make sure to make a reservation!

    Fettuccine Ai Uni
    Jay S.

    Years overdue, but one experience was able to define my entire impression of this establishment because the food was really good. Some of the items in my pictures no longer exist on the menu, but I have faith that whatever they have decided to replace those items with must be great as well. It is also cool to see some of the items that I had in 2021 are still around! I am honestly really happy to see it. Pretty much everything was a hit in my opinion. The A5 wagyu nigiri resulted in one very pleasant bite because the wagyu beef, which was supposed to be fatty in texture, did it work in providing the rice with a rich flavor as well. The panzanella had multiple ingredients such as cucumber, avocado, and serrano pepper, and having a bonito mayo giving it additional flavor made the dish work but in terms of flavor and texture. The stracciatella was interesting because I have never seen salsa verde and wasabi together in one dish, and it tasted pretty good. I wasn't used to it, but I could more than tolerate it for sure. The pork gyoza was really good as well, not only because the wood ear mushrooms provided a layer of texture that the dumpling didn't have, but also because the foie gras provided some richness to the gyoza. In terms of pasta, both the squid ink pappardelle and the fettuccine ai uni were great! The pasta was al dente. There was enough crab and bolognese in the dish. And the pecorino romano cheese in the squid ink pasta provided extra creaminess texture since I mixed it in with the sauce. Both dishes were super solid. It seems like prices have increased drastically since I was last here in 2021, which I understand is because of inflation, but it makes the dishes way less afforable now. The squid ink pasta, which is still on the menu, went from $23 to $32.5, and that's quite a bit. Because of that, I don't think this is one of those places one would visit all the time. For a special occasion, though, based on the food alone, worth it.

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    Stef T.

    Thank you, Stephanie!

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    Thank you, Tiffany!

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    2 months ago

    One dish was cold. When we brought this to the waiter, she argued. They did end up removing the charge but not graciously.

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    Page 1 of 9

    Ask the Community - Sanjusan

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    Nope! We walked in and had a great time

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    Annona Gourmet

    Annona Gourmet

    4.7
    (20 reviews)
    3.2 mi
    $$

    Stopped in mid-morning on a Saturday, specifically on the hunt for a certain olive oil flavor…read moreneeded for a recipe. I was a little confused at first because the place still has signage or references from its previous name, but it all worked out just fine. As soon as you walk in, you're immediately hit with the amazing smell of garlic (I think the owner was roasting it that day--heavenly). My friend and I took our time browsing all the different olive oils and goodies. The shop has a really nice balance--part store, part cozy café. We ended up chatting with the owner for a bit, and she was welcoming. Overall, it was a really pleasant experience. We ordered the tomato mozzarella panini and a coffee each. I'll be honest--a tomato mozz sandwich wouldn't normally be my go-to, but it was surprisingly flavorful, light, and still filling (half was enough for me). Everything we had was delicious. There's seating inside.... tables and even a comfy couch--giving it that laid-back, neighborhood vibe. Also appreciated that there's a parking lot, which made things easy. If I'm in the area again and need olive oil (or just a chill spot for a coffee and bite), I'd absolutely stop in again!

    I've been wanting to visit this spot for years-- their new name is Curiouser Foods. What a charming…read morelittle oilery tucked away with a curated selection of balsamic vinegars, olive oils, teas, and rare ingredients that food lovers dream about. The moment we walked in, the scent of garlic filled the air. The owner let us in on the secret: she was prepping garlic for their sandwiches. Naturally, we had to try the caprese sandwich, and it did not disappoint--fresh, flavorful, and that garlic? Incredible. The whole place gave off relaxed European vibes, and the staff couldn't have been friendlier. I'll definitely be back.

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    Sanjusan - pizza - Updated July 2026

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