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    Sushi by Scratch Restaurants: Chicago

    4.7 (76 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 9:30 PM

    Sushi by Scratch Restaurants: Chicago Photos

    SUSHI BY SCRATCH RESTAURANTS: CHICAGO ATMOSPHERE

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    Sushi
    Kailey M.

    Wow! We came here to celebrate a birthday and we had an amazing experience. Tucked away inside of a burger restaurant is a hidden omakase experience. We arrived 30 minutes early to take part in their canapé service. They brought us out oysters and hand rolls - both were great. The staff here were incredible and made the whole night memorable. There were 17 courses and we were allowed to order extra pieces at the end which was a nice touch. With only 10 seats per reservation this is a very intimate dinner and you might end up making some friends. Overall, it's definitely a splurge, but we had a great time and will be coming back soon!

    Wagyu
    Anna T.

    I am obsessed. My boyfriend and I came here and were blown away. This was such a cool experience! It is located inside of NADC. We arrived 30 minutes early to receive complimentary appetizers and a cocktail which was phenomenal! It is such a cool area, you are in a basement and it is small with about 8 other people! The highlight of this was the staff! Head chef Naomi was great! She was funny and explained everything so well! The other servers were very attentive! They all made this such a fun experience! The sushi was all unreal. The creations were amazing and every bite melted in your mouth. The wagyu, kamachi and escolar were my favorites!

    Carly M.

    Woww where to begin. When you first arrive, you might be a bit confused about where Sushi by Scratch is actually located. But there'll be staff to help you find the door to sbs. We were instructed to arrive 30 mins earlier to grab free snacks and drinks but had to wait about 15 mins, due to lack of staff that day. It was worth going early. The snacks opened up my appetite and I was so ready for some omakase!! Simply put, I was extremely satisfied with the taste of each piece. I wish I could have double if I could lol. Each piece was packed with flavors and so buttery smooth. Some of the freshest fish you will find in Chicago. Paired with some excellent entertainment and conversation from the sushi chefs (special shout out to chef Song), I think I really enjoyed this place and would come back for what it has to offer. Even the dessert was a masterpiece in itself. Now for what I would do differently next time... I would SKIP the truffle and caviar. That alone was about $125 per person. Granted we should have asked how much it was before agreeing to it. Before I learned of its upcharge, I felt the truffle was super underwheming and added nothing. I loved the caviar but it was a small amount for a few pieces. If I were to go again, I would not get this option again. Ambiance was sooo interesting. The music was a choice. Not sure what they were aiming for, but I'm glad it didn't take away from the food experience.

    Salmon
    Nathalie F.

    Incredibly unique and intimate omakase experience tucked below a burger joint in West Loop. My partner brought me here for their special Valentine's Day omakase, and I still think about it to this day. We received a code used to unlock the door before the reservation and were greeted by the friendly staff. My seat was already decorated with my name and a drink was already prepared for me. The chefs went straight into preparing the sushi with all the ingredients laid out in front of us. The team made the experience amazing and intriguing as they explained every ingredient and how it is used to prepare the final sushi dish; they get their fresh fish from all over the world, and you can tell because the fish melts in your mouth and is very flavorful. Each dish was creative and innovative! We had 17 courses, and I was so stuffed afterwards. My favorites were the toro, king salmon, unagi, and uni! Highly recommend for sushi-lovers! I'm excited to come back and also try their other locations!

    John O.

    It's always a great experience at Sushi by Scratch--you're guaranteed to have a good time. The chefs are both funny and informative, which makes the meal even more enjoyable. I've been here a couple of times now and will definitely keep coming back. The ambiance is friendly and casual compared to other omakases I've tried, which makes it very approachable. The food is always amazing, and while it's hard to choose a favorite, the mainstays like bone marrow and unagi never disappoint.

    Kathia H.

    We came to Sushi By Scratch to celebrate our anniversary and my husband's birthday, and it was overall a memorable night. The omakase menu was great, each course was thoughtfully prepared, fresh, and beautifully presented. The chefs were personable and interested in getting to know the guests, which made the intimate atmosphere feel special. That said, given the $450+ per person price point, we expected a smoother and more polished experience. Our dinner began later than scheduled, which made the end of the night feel rushed. Unfortunately, the team also forgot the final drink from our drink pairing package (separate from the omakase) and only brought it after we had paid and asked. At that point, we were moved outside the main area to quickly finish 1 shared beer (no extra glass just a bottle) which the manager mentioned was normally just a taste (which is why we only got one). It was disappointing to end such a special evening on a rushed note. Still, the food and creativity truly stand out, and I would recommend Sushi By Scratch to others looking for a unique omakase experience, with the hope that next time, the pacing and attention to detail match the premium price.

    Menu
    Ozzie T.

    Our 3rd time dining here and this time we celebrated a dear friend's birthday. This was the best experience yet! They changed up the welcome bite and I am so glad they did! Every bite of the 16 piece omakase was perfectly crafted. The space is intimate, the cocktails delicious, the staff is fun and entertaining. Best omakase in town!

    Jack A.

    Wowsers!! Sushi by scratch Is hands down the best Omakase experience I've had living in Chicago so far and the most expensive $500 for two people without ordering drinks. The space is beautiful & intimate. The service was extremely professional and descriptive in terms of the pairings and omakase flavors that were experienced. The fish was delicious and super fresh!! (flown in from Japan) and the toppings on the nigiri were incredible unique. Sushi by scratch knows texture, knows taste, it's great smells of each piece of nigiri, it's the char, it's the vibes, it's the environment of this place, it's the chefs creativity every thing about it is exquisite!! Prior to coming, we were asked to come 30 minutes early to enjoy the canapés complimentary drink tuna roll and oyster, I am more than happy to have made it in 30 minutes before our reservation. That complimentary drink? Wow. Ginger, yuzu, jwhiskey, and sake made me turn my head bc it was phenomenal. One of the many things that I love the most about Sushi by Scratch is that they announce the sushi that they're giving you also describe it to give you key things to look out for. And then all of the sudden, it just makes sense. The symphony of flavors, it's by far the best omakase experience I've had here in Chicago(2nd time I've said that) It's a really great and personalized experience. They even have your names on the board which is adorable. It was my niece's 21st birthday and her first omakase experience and she loved it! I set the bar high for her going here haha but we had so much fun with the sushi guys Highly recommend this restaurant to everyone, especially since it's such a unique surprise making your way to a sushi speakeasy hidden inside of NADC burger basement!! Oh and don't forget to give your code!! 100%recommend!!

    Menu for the night, plus a dessert course.
    Becca ..

    Fantastic sushi experience! The fish and rice were delicious, hitting all the right spots, but what made this omakase stand out were the flavors and garnish. Every piece had a different, vibrant flavor profile that made this a unique experience. This is definitely different than a traditional omakase experience, but I would strongly recommend it nonetheless. My husband is a bit of a sushi snob, and he said this had some of the best pieces he's had. The service and ambiance were also top notch! You are given a code to enter through an unmarked door inside NADC, walking down into the basement. We arrived early for the canapé, which included two appetizer dishes and a drink. Following this, we headed down another flight of stairs into a high-ceiling basement sushi bar. The intimate bar sat 10 total. The chefs were very friendly and talkative, making the service fun and informative. This was one of my first times with a female head sushi chef, and I was solidly impressed with her work and creations. The drinks were also good - we enjoyed the yuzu cocktail (Bee's Japanese) and mocktail the most! Overall, a great time! We will definitely be returning with our other sushi-snob friends.

    Tiffany C.

    Five stars for service, food, experience & even management for this Sushi by Scratch location! I cannot even begin to express how great this restaurant is and how I'll continue to recommend them to anyone in search of a great experience. I made a reservation for my parents to have their first Omakase tasting and wanted to purchase a gift card to ensure their bill was taken care of. After facing some issues with the gift card website, I frantically called and emailed the restaurant in attempt to get this resolved before the meal (as I'm located in a completely different state.) I received a prompt response from their GM Alex, who even followed up with a phone call to ensure my parents were taken care of during their birthday dinner. I was walked through the extensive liquor list and pricing and was thoroughly taken care of, providing peace of mind that dinner would go smoothly. Needless to say, my parents loved their experience here. From start to finish the experience & food was top notch, and the chefs provided such amazing insight and detail behind how they prepared the food. To top it all off everything was personalized, with me telling the restaurant their names prior to dining, and even my parents getting a birthday dessert surprise at the end! Highly recommend this restaurant to everyone, especially since it's such a unique surprise making your way to a sushi speakeasy hidden inside of a burger shop!

    Garrett K.

    6/5 stars. Honestly, don't have the words to describe how spectacular this meal was Start to finish---- amazing fish, with a creative/ unique/ flair You could feel and taste the fire and passion that each nigiri was crafted with (figuratively, and literally) Staff were dope, adding to the flavors of the night (Bonus props to head chef, Naomi, who gracefully conducted the meal as that of a passionate orchestral conductor, leading her sushi musicians through a beautiful symphony of flavor) (Apologies for the delayed review, as this meal was about a month ago---- but the flavors have been delicately seared into the souls of my tastebuds)

    Stefano R.

    Food was 10/10, experience was 12/10. From the secret entrance to the cool sushi bar that only seats 10 guests at a sitting, this was a different experience and really really cool. It's prix fixe ($185+tip), with add-on options and drinks that can max out the final bill per person in the $500 neighborhood - so obviously quite expensive. The room is in the basement of a burger bar, is painted all black with a high ceiling and cool lighting. There are about 18 courses, each consisting of a single piece of sushi. You leave content, but not over stuffed. The sushi chefs prepare each piece in front of you while you talk with your party and/or those seated near you in this fun but intimate setting. Given they don't accommodate vegetarians or people with mushroom allergies, I would not recommend this to anyone that isn't willing or able to eat what they prepare for you. Our group of three had an amazing time, thought it was incredibly unique, loved each piece of sushi, and felt it was worth every penny for the special occasion we were celebrating. Highly recommend.

    Andrew P.

    Had a phenomenal experience here. I have not been to many omakase experiences prior to this one so I didn't know what to expect upon walking in, but everything was absolutely amazing. My partner actually brought me here as a surprise for my birthday so the fact that this place is very hidden and in a spot you would never even guess was also very very cool. My partner and I both have had plenty of great sushi in California as I'm from there and he's been living there for over 10 years, but we were both very surprised at how good/fresh the quality of the fish was here given than Chicago tends to usually have less fresh options because of its location. He even mentioned that it might've been one of the best Omakase experiences he's ever had, and mind you, he's been to handful in both LA, San Francisco, and even NY. Our main head chef, Naomi, was absolutely incredible, super real and down to earth, and funny. She definitely made the experience more memorable, and the bartender and chef we had in front of us were also very professional and friendly. I loved everything about this place and would highly recommend it to others.

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    Soooo good. Great service and food, definitely worth the price. Ambiance was amazing as well, very beautiful

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    Sushi by Scratch Restaurants: Chicago Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Sushi by Scratch Restaurants: Chicago

    How long is the omakase experience? If you need to get somewhere else on time?

    Hi, Our omakase experience lasts about 2 hours. If your reservation is for 5pm, you will be out the… Read more

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    You might also consider

    SUSHI-SAN - Truffle Shiitake Maki

    SUSHI-SAN

    4.3(1.3k reviews)
    0.7 miNear North Side
    $$$

    This is an excellent sushi place - great vibe, young crowd, and terrific food…read more We started with the roasted edamame and the tempura shrimp, followed that with three rolls, and finished with sashimi - it was all excellent, the beers were very cold, and the service was solid (not excellent but very good for the price point) Prices are not cheap but not as crazy as some other places (Juno is better, but it can get really pricey). Sushi-San is Defintely on our regular list

    I came here on a weekday for lunch and highly recommend it. It was not too crowded and food came…read moreout pretty quickly after ordering. I like the modern vibes of this location. Seating was comfortable. I tried their express lunch menu, which is a great option if you're here during lunch time. You get to pick 3 items from the list and I chose tako taco (a little spicy but highly recommend- one of my favorite things that day), salmon avocado (I'm not a personal fan of the Meyer lemon sauce), and tuna avocado rice bowl. Each item is smaller portioned but all together it's a substantial lunch set. I also tried the express sushi and sashimi lunch set, which comes with a delicious seaweed salad which I would order on its own as an appetizer. The lunch set comes with their "oh-my-kaze." This includes salmon, hamachi and tuna. One piece of tuna was substandard and had a big piece of sinew in it. Our server quickly switched it for another piece. The only dish I would skip is the Peking duck sizzling rice. The taste was fine- a little on the sweeter side with the hoisin sauce but the portion was more of an appetizer size. It's also not a true Peking duck, which focuses on a crispy duck skin and this dish just featured duck meat.

    Photos
    SUSHI-SAN - Seating

    Seating

    SUSHI-SAN - Togarashi Chicken Nuggets

    Togarashi Chicken Nuggets

    SUSHI-SAN - Happy Hour! Spicy Tuna and Avocado Crunch - very simple and perfectly refreshing. 5/5

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    Happy Hour! Spicy Tuna and Avocado Crunch - very simple and perfectly refreshing. 5/5

    Miru

    Miru

    4.3(311 reviews)
    1.4 miThe Loop
    $$$

    Ive been here more times than I can count and its easily one of my favorite sushi spots in the city…read moreI was just there last Friday with a friend and once again everything was perfect from the attentive seamless service to how beautifully each dish was presented Every bite was delicious I also love the modern design of the restaurant and the incredible views of Chicago it really adds to the whole experience The space has an intimate relaxed vibe that keeps me coming back Definitely one of those places I will be visiting again very soon

    3 of us back for a marvelous dinner with great views, beautiful decor, great service, and of course…read moregreat food. The quality of the food is very noticeable. We wanted to have some sake and asked for help. Their sommelier was very helpful and recommended the Snow Tiger Yuki Tora which is unfiltered and looks like milk, but it went beautifully with our food. We started with Edamame which had a perfect char. The grilled Avocado was a pleasant surprise with the char flavor and great spicy sauce. You get a spoon to scoop out the avocado and it's sliced so it works with chop sticks. By the way everything is great for sharing which gives everyone a chance to try the wonderful menu. Then we attacked the main menu. The Wagyu Nigiri, the must have Bluefin Tuna Crispy Rice, Crispy Spring Rolls and I drank the juice with the Hamachi and Lemon. Now it's time to figure what's next! spicy Tuna roll, triple tuna roll, the incredible Wild Mushroom sizzling rice bowl and it is sizzling! We're nearing the end! The Unagi and the Black Cod couldn't have been any better. It melted in our mouths. Think we're finished, we saved room for dessert! The Miru-Ishi and Black Sesame Mochi. We're finished! Maria was a great server and was very attentive!

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    Miru - Inside

    Inside

    Miru - Tempura Rock Shrimp

    Tempura Rock Shrimp

    Miru - Cherry Blossom G&T

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    Cherry Blossom G&T

    Jinsei Motto

    Jinsei Motto

    4.6(150 reviews)
    0.4 miWest Loop, Near West Side

    Came here for the lunch omakase, which features dry-aged fish. Overall, the fish was fresh and…read morewell-prepared--nothing particularly mind-blowing, but definitely good quality, especially for a more affordable omakase option. My only critique is the pacing. Since the chef already had the fish sliced and prepped, I expected a smoother flow, but the meal took about an hour and a half for 14 pieces of sushi. It felt a bit slow, especially for a lunch service. That said, if you're looking for a reasonably priced omakase with quality fish, this is a solid choice.

    Went for restaurant week with friends. Got there early after work and was able to hit the happy…read morehour which is a decent deal. Got the snow maiden sake and the spicy scallop hand roll. Both were great. Our bartenders were lovely and very friendly. Found out this is a Malort tasting room and we were able to sample some different Malorts (the cocoa one was good!). Then we were taken back to our table for dinner. Our server was super friendly as well. Started with the miso soup and crispy tuna bites which were probably my favorite dishes. The taki yoki fritters weren't bad either. We saw people getting omakase, so we ordered a yummy looking piece they were receiving. It was just okay (chutoro truffle). The nigiri was also okay. The tuna piece was the only I really loved. The fish quality wasn't as high as I was expecting. The sushi was decent. A little too much truffle in the spicy blue fin tuna and a little too vegetable forward in the hamachi serrano. All in all, the atmosphere and amazing service pushed this up to a 4 for me.

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    Jinsei Motto - Madai

    Madai

    Jinsei Motto - O toro

    O toro

    Jinsei Motto - Akami

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    Akami

    Sushi by Scratch Restaurants: Chicago - sushi - Updated May 2026

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