Great ambience sitting outside on the pavement... Awesome service with our server dressed kimono-like. The food was outstanding and presented beautifully! Will definitely return as the overall experience was super chill & with Japanese music which added authenticity! read more

This place is so cute inside and there is a fun little speakeasy attached. Our server was very nice but I will say the food took forever to come out. We got two appetizers and one came out and then it took about 30 minutes for next one to come out so the timing was definitely off, especially as the one that took 30 minutes longer was a cold appetizer. Our food was good and they have good drinks read more

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I thought I'd stumbled upon a hidden gem, unfortunately, the experience was not bedazzling. It comes down to a question of balance so thoroughly across the board this applies even to their service. I was able to try the Crabmeat Wontons [crab rangoons], Ronin Maki, and Unagi Nashi. What I liked about the Wontons was that they were fresh from the fryer, and there was a fair amount of adequately crabby filling, seemingly sans-pollock. For those who like their rangoons with sweetness, they are served with a side of marmalade; a respite from tired jarred sweet and sours! However, the dough was thick and dense, effectively replacing something thin and delicate with a Japanese tortilla! The Unagi Nashi was the favorite from the night. The rice, eel, and pear slices all worked wonderfully together! The flavor notes were savory and sweet, and I could have sworn it was a little toasty too. 10/10, no notes. I cannot say the same for the Ronin Maki, for this roll was Wakamono's undoing. A little lemon with its a bright jab of acid and zest, too much and everything is overpowered while the unsuspecting eater makes sour faces, me in this case. When it comes to what remains, it was nothing special. The fish was okay, but the combination was uninteresting and uninspired. It wasn't great that the roll had seemingly a double-helping of rice. This experience showed a flaw with the service. Yes, the server worked diligently so that my cup would never go empty, to the point of being borderline overbearing. Now, when I was asked how I was liking the Ronin, and I said I wasn't, I found it wasn't as simple as sending it back. If I change it to something more pricey, I pay the difference - fair enough. However, if I go for a lower priced item, the bill doesn't lower. I understand the moral hazard, but it's a *curious* strategy instead of removing the item, and letting the customer order something (or nothing) else. Closing notes: The vibe inside is dark and intimate, with music playing at a reasonable volume - add some white tablecloths and we've entered romantic territory. The prices are reasonable relative to the quantity of product, only unfortunately not the quality. Final verdict: Wakamono's seeming obsession with carbs and lemons results in a product which doesn't agree with my taste. Good prices and service get credit, but the product was lackluster and poorly executed. read more

Wakamono - Crabmeat Wontons - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Very cute and cool spot for a Friday night. Went with friends, and had a great time! Service was spectacular, and the vibes were good. Nestled in a cute walkable community next to a ton of other amazing spots, bars, clubs, etc. The food was good! Not the most authentic sushi Ive had, but not bad. The appetizers were absolutely delicious. The drinks were fire! And the service, again was on point. Better for a good "sushi experience". read more

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I'm visiting extended family from out of town and Wakamono is within walking distance. We were seated right away and the restaurant wasn't too crowded. For appetizers, we had edamame and veggie gyoza. Gyoza were good but we felt the edamame could have used more salt. Even though we asked for more salt, we still couldn't taste it once it was brought back to us. I've had edamame many times and I've definitely had better elsewhere. My uncle and I wanted the Kani Chung roll but unfortunately they didn't have any kani. :( I got the wakamono roll and don't remember what he got. Aunt had the hot honey chicken, which was a big portion. We also had some wine. They brought out mini taiyaki - so good! Hopefully they'll have the Kani Cumg roll next time and I'd try other items on the menu. They have lots of options for sushi and non-sushi lovers alike! read more

Wakamono - Edamame, veggie gyoza, & wine - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Food was good Wish I got ramen but I got the turtle thing Everything else was good Got seated next to fish Got dessert at the end read more

Wakamono - Food - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We came on a weeknight and had no trouble getting seats. The ambience is really cool and modern. We shared: - spicy trio - wakamono - maki Mexicano - lobster rolls (appetizer) - vegetable gyoza (appetizer) - salmon roll Everything was really good. The salmon rolls were my favorite though. read more

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This is a casual cute place. There's a koi pond in the restaurant. Their butter mushrooms are to die for. Everything else is alright. Their mocktails are also really good. Quick service. read more

I happened upon this place while looking in the local area for a sushi place that was open after the game. This restaurant blew it out of the water with delicious sushi. My family could not get over how delicious everything tasted. I wasn't in the mood for sushi so I went with yakisoba. You can definitely tell it was hot and fresh because the yakisoba was steaming hot and it was delicious. The bowl was packed full of noodles, chicken, and sauce. Our server was very quiet, but friendly provide provided great service to our table. After all the sushi was ordered our boys wanted desserts. Our server even brought a free platter of desserts for us as to share since it was close to choosing time. Bookmarking this place to come back again when we're in town. read more

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Stopped in on a Saturday night and the place was lively. We sat near the window where there is a small koi pond which is fun, the fish kept swimming by hoping for a handout. We tried the: - Peter Parker Roll - Chicken Katsu Curry The curry was flavorful and filling. The chicken was crispy and the vegetables were cooked perfectly. The Peter Parker Roll was great as well, you get a good portion. The bar next door is next on our list to check out. read more

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Some of the best, flavorful sushi and fried calamari I've ever had! That's hard to say after living in Japan for 5 years too!!! My boy's ordered plate after plate of the nigiri. We all favored the salmon the most. My wife's yakisoba looked delicious as well. The two servers were very friendly, but I'll admit the dark atmosphere made it very hard to read without my glasses. We are definitely bookmarking this restaurant to visit again when we come back into town. read more

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There were some hits. There were some misses. The salmon crispy rice on the specials list wasn't crispy at all. It was mushy. Don't get that one. Also the wasabi noodles are missing something. I get that they're probably on the menu for a vegetarian option but even the addition of some crispy tofu would have made them delicious. The sushi rolls we had were all very good. Stick to those! I'm wishing I had tried the lobster roll situation because that sounded so good. Maybe next time! read more

Love the vibe in this place - especially wangs attached, you can get dinner and walk right into the cocktail bar. Food was delish- before you eat you receive a warm towel too! The sushi tastes fresh - one of the rolls was a little too chewy with the seaweed though, I think it was the spicy trio roll. Still recommend going to this place! Fun vibe as a date or with friends! read more

Wakamono - tuna cucumber roll, spicy trio roll, moby dick roll (bottom) - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The sushi is absolutely beautiful. I loved the presentation with the little flowers. The flavors were well balanced and the fish tasted fresh. The service was also great, our server promptly answered our questions about specials and ingredients. For an early fall dinner, we sat outside, which was still very enjoyable. read more

Wakamono - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

So I was debating whether this place should get a 5/5 rating as we had to wait good 15 mins for our table despite reserving a spot in advance, however, the food and hospitality of this place totally stole the 5 rating from me! I visited this place with a friend for dinner and drinks and the experience was great! As soon as you are seated, they offer warm napkins to get refreshed and also offer complimentary sesame seed beans for tasting. For drinks I tried the Pear Martini and my friend ordered a black Manhattan, drinks were definitely good! I loved eating the pear slices that were added in the martini in the end! For food, we ordered scallion pancakes to share. I ordered a mushroom yakisoba for my mains and my friend ordered a vegetarian sushi! I love Yakisoba noodles and very few places offer it, so I was glad to find a spot that serves good yakisoba! Overall, the place has huge seating space. They have booths, tables, bar seating as well as private intimate cozy spots! I have been a fan of asian restaurants in the Lakeview area since a while now, the list just keeps getting better! read more

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First visit in February was very sstisfying with friendly, good service and food. In June, during a 4 pm visit, the staff was visibly indifferent, milling around each other waiting for someone else to take our order. read more

Wakamono - First visit to Wakamono in February three of us enjoyed an evening meal which was delicious. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I love a good ramen place and I wasn't disappointed! The chic Japanese styling around the restaurant and attentive service made it a welcoming experience! The food itself was delicious! The broth was well balanced, and paired with the chili oil ($2 extra, insane), it had a great kick! The eggs were nothing outstanding by any means. The biggest gripe I had was the pork belly! I live the crunch it has with the seasoning and all. However, when I think of pork belly, I am thinking of a melt-in-your-mouth piece of meat. Unfortunately, it didn't have that crucial piece. I'd love to come back here later on and try the pork belly again, but there are many other ramen restaurants to explore as well around Chicago! read more

Wakamono - Yo Yo Ramen - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Rude girl. The waitress/waiter- unsure of their gender as always they are so haggard-hagrid(?) ointed-pointd* the knife at me and whoever the people are were very rude boring and water tasted like fish. Shite service. Ugly decor and weird windows. People ask is that a shed? read more

This place is amazing. Ambiance is 10/10. Food is 10/10 and the service is far above par.

Ambiance was very good and the place is very nicely decorated. The actual sushi is mediocre though. Would give 3.5 stars if I could read more

Food is tasty, but be careful ordering online. The photos are not always accurate. We ordered the special yuzu glazed salmon nigiri and chicken teriyaki bowls. The online menu did not provide a description of the nigiri but did show a photo of three pieces. When we got the food, we only got two pieces. Called the restaurant, and they said the dish only comes with two pieces and their online menu was wrong. Disappointing that the menu photo was misleading. Also found hair in one of the teriyaki chicken bowls. The teriyaki bowls are generally good but couldn't finish after pulling a strand of hair out of the rice. read more

cute and intimate dining room. staff were very knowledgeable about menu and gave good recs. food highlights included the lobsterdamus and wakamono rolls, as well as rolls on the daily special menu. i don't quite remember what i got from there (i think it started with an r... renault? rothko? ronin?) but it was the highlight of my meal! i think it had yellowtail, salmon, and tuna. honorable mention to the shrimp soba, which had a lot more shrimp than we expected. read more

Wakamono is always a 10/10 for me. I've suggested this local Lakeview sushi spot to everyone I know because it's THAT good. The service is always great and the ambiance is a perfect mixture of lively and laid back. read more

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Feels like stepping into Japan town with this lovely authentic Japanese interior design, tables seating, and very professional, friendly and courteous waitresses. After wiping your hands with a moist towel, your taste buds are immediately satiated with appetizers like buttered mushrooms, fresh gomae, perfectly made gyoza and many main dishes, like my favorite sho yu ramen pork belly. A little pricier than expected, and was surprised a service charge was automatically added to our bill with only five people. read more

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I really debated whether to give Wakamono 3 or 4 stars. For the price point it's pretty good sushi. It's not exceptional though especially when compared to some of the best sushi restaurants in Chicago. I would go back for sure. You'll get a good meal here but don't expect you're going to have the best sushi of your life. read more

This sushi was so delicious. There were a lot of options for rolls and plates. The names of the rolls and drinks were all creative and fun. The tempura on this roll was absolutely perfect. Staff was all super attentive, and really felt like they were working on a team. We had multiple people clearing plates, filling waters, and bringing food. The place is small and intimate and connected to a super cool bar. There's a coi pond there too! Lowly lit and super pretty aesthetic. We had 8 people and we were sat in a really cute secluded bump out. We'll definitely be back. read more

Wakamono - Rock n Roll and Peter Parker - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This weekend I got to try Wakamono and it was such a treat! I loved the creative takes on sushi in their menu, and the presentation of everything was so beautiful. The ambiance inside is EVERYTHING! I especially loved the koi pond. Here's a breakdown of everything we tried: -Lavender Lemon Drop - $15 -Brazil Maki Roll - banana tempura, albacore tuna, asparagus, red tobiko, top with tamago, avocados and spicy sauce - $16 -Crabmeat Wontons - $10 -Aloha Roll - A tropical Hawaiian-inspired roll with lean tuna, lettuce, mango, avocado, cucumber, topped with shichimi coconut flakes - $16 -Fuji Snow - albacore white tuna, avocado, ap, fuji apple, cream cheese topped with super white tuna - $18 -Salmon Nigiri - $9 I'd highly recommend checking this place out! They have the coolest bar attached to the restaurant that serves super strong & good drinks as well (shoutout to Wangs!). Super super fun vibes here! The only odd thing was the service - our waitress was wonderful, but our plates were taken almost exactly as we were taking our final bites. It would be nice to feel like I wasn't being watched the whole time...but it was still an overall really enjoyable dining experience! read more

Wakamono - Lavender Lemon Drop - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I came here with friends that I was visiting. I've been to Wang's for drinks before, so I was excited to try Wakamono. It did not disappoint. We ordered Sake and the Tuna Flight to start, both were delicious. I ordered the Spicy Trio roll as my main course. The servers were attentive and the ambiance of the space was very calming. A great spot to have dinner with friends. read more

Wakamono - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Incredible Japanese restaurant serving sushi delicacies and izakaya and ramen dishes Food: Fried calamari - 5/5 - beautiful presentation and crispy, unique, delicious taste Mini lobster sliders - 4/5 - good but not outstanding Crab Rangoon - 4/5 - good but not outstanding Lobsterdamus - 5/5 - beautiful and tasty succulent lobster roll Three headed Godzilla - 5/5 - delicious filled with multiple tasty treats Peter Parker - 5/5 - delicious taste loaded with spectacular textures in a bite Soft shell crab Maki - 3.5/5 - mediocre Ambience: Absolutely charming, romantic with dim-lighting. Very traditional Japanese decor and all the staff are dressed in traditional Japanese garments/outfits. Service: Fantastic- attentive and friendly. The servers/waitresses and staff are also very pretty and/or cute. Definitely eye candy here!!! read more

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Felt like a very traditional Japanese restaurant with homemade soy sauce, koy pond and running water. We sat next to the pond, but if you didnt I feel the space might feel a bit empty. Right next to the bar that was loud, though it didnt impact the sound on the restaurant. Food and drinks were great. Definitely recommend the mango mojito and three headed godzilla sushi. Would have had an extra star except for that the staff continuously asked us for our plates that still had food in them, like they were rushing us to be done and leave. I appreciate the staff taking plates away, though it felt a bit too much this time. read more

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Super cute inside and they give you wet wipes to wipe your hands when you get there. The lychee martini was yummy. I got the soft shelled crab roll (not pictured) that was my favorite it was sooooo good. The spicy trio roll was okay but next time I would just get more of the soft shelled crab plus it was cheaper read more

Wakamono - Spicy trio roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Everything about Wakamono is exceptional. From the enriching atmosphere to the decadent cuisine. Authentically Japanese and absolutely phenomenal!! The best Japanese cuisine in Chicago. とてもおいしいです read more

Wakamono is all around an incredible culinary experience. This is the kind of place that you'll want to come back to over and over again. My partner and I frequent here and consistently bring out of town guests for a nice sit down meal with incredible cocktails. From their sashimi, to their house edamame, this place does it all so well. Try the calamari and house edamame. You won't be let down. read more

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Appetizers | Chicken Teriyaki | Seating (COVID) Appetizers: The Appetizer list is impressive, and we dabbled with a few. The edamame, dumplings, and Corn Fritters were all pretty good and were filling. Chicken Teriyaki: I had the Chicken Teriyaki. The chicken was pretty average, but the rice and sauce were next level. They had Seating: Their seating is ok for COVID. The issue I had is that you are on the street; therefore, a lot of people walk past you are just walking on the street. Consequently, it is slightly annoying when people are walking past you and your waiter, and it makes for awkward when you get up from your seat and do not look both ways because you will probably run into someone. Pro Tip: Parking is surprisingly do-able. There were a lot of spaces around the restaurant in three directions for 1-2 blocks. Therefore, you do not have to uber. read more

Wakamono - Menu... slightly wet. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Perfect neighborhood sushi spot! Such a calm and elevated vibe when you walk in, or casual if you sit outside. Regardless, the staff is kind, clean, and welcoming. If you've read my Ping Pong review, you will know the ginger martini is a must! Benefit of Waka and Ping Ping having the same owner, so if there is a wait and you really want sushi, pop over to get the martini at Ping Ping or vice versa. So amazing! Oh and bonus points if you only want that, go to the back of Waka and there is a super dark and sexy room to drink with your pals! Back to food, we normally get the shashimi classic platter, add a roll and today that was the red catapiller, then get the spicy edamame and miso soup. All amazing. Spicy edamame does have some heat but it's got great developed flavor through their grilling process. Huge portion, such a must! My friends have gotten the burgers, chicken curry, and butter fried rice...big smiles on their face. Tonight I looked around the restaurant and saw the ribeye hibachi that looked incredible. Pretty sure we will be back and will deviate from our standard order to collect on these options! Keep it up! read more

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My man and I went out on a Monday date and our waitress was so attentive. The food was amazing, this was our second time there and we were not disappointed. We set in the cut at a bench table, it was romantic and felt secluded. read more

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Such an amazing staff and space! Wakamono has some of the best fish I have had in Chicago. I was fortunate enough to try some of their weekly specials along with two rolls, and a sashimi assortment. The service was quick, and nothing less of great. After enjoying our meal, we stopped at the bar to enjoy their beautifully crafted cocktails. I recommend all sushi lovers to try Wakamono! Definitely will be returning to try the ramen and other menu items. It is also BYOB, which is great for big groups of people! read more

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Food was delicious! Our cousins brought us here and the food just felt really inspired and just so delicious!! Got some fried rice to go and was so yummy!! read more

First of all I have been here a few times and they get a A for presentation. I went here for the first time since the hamburger bbq place wasnt seeing customers because of a private event. I mean I'm not about to move in but the place is comfortable and clean... I have this annoying habit of asking for items that dont appear on the menu. Especially when it comes to Sushi They have a bar area but they dont appear to want to serve you sushi in there. Is this because it has two different licenses one for food and one for drinks. God forbid should you want sushi and a glass of wine or martini..Maybe I have to control my impulses better. Ha When the quarrantine is over I cant wait to go back to make them make the salmon skin sushi roll that was not on the menu read more

Wakamono - Quick change of pace - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This is a must try spot! Such a beautiful ambiance that gave the restaurant a warm feel. The waitresses were wonderful and their food was fresh and flavorful! I loved that their complimentary water had cucumbers in it. Absolutely would come back here again! read more

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