Best sushi in Lakeview. I wish I took a picture! They have some really unique rolls and appetizers. Everything I tried was great. But the price reflects that so be prepared. I think this place would be great for a date but also a fun night out with friends. The cocktails are super fun. And you can start or end with drinks in the dark and vibey cocktail lounge. read more

Wakamono - Tiger blood cocktail - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

One of my favorite places in Chicago. The sushi is fantastic, and I'd highly recommend the agedashi tofu. The lighting is the right amount of moody and the servers are friendly and kind. read more

Wakamono - Ramen, Buddha Roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Worst service experience. Hostess was rude.. should have left.. stayed and it got worse.. I asked about the toro grade and they said are no such thing as toro grades. They wanted to charge me for bad, stringy tuna. When I asked the manager about the inedible tuna, they asked if I'd ever eaten tuna in my life before. Literally offended by servers, hostall around bad experience. extremely racist and offensive definitely not a recommended location. Ownership, service staff extremely condescending, racist & insulting. 1 star for the seaweed salad being almost ok. Wakamono roll was blah... crispy rice wasn't crispy ... lobster roll was unimpressive.. better places to spend your money read more

Wakamono - Bad tuna - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Hands down the best restaurant, while visiting Chicago! When we arrived at the restaurant we were immediately sat, and greeted by our server Sarah ("Spicy Sarah"). Sarah was pleasant and attentive which made it for a fun, delicious dinner. Drinks: The restaurant has an extensive bar menu made by the bar next door. I had a few drinks, but I left it up to Sarah to pick them for me, and did not get the names of them all. The drinks were fantastic, and original. Highly recommend trying maybe 1,2, ok maybe 3. Food: We first started with an order of edamame which was delicious and had some great spice on the each piece. We then shared an order of Crab Rangoons which had robust flavor, and not overly fried. Now the Miso Soup, was seriously the best Miso Soup I have EVER had!! I strongly you suggest trying the delicious taste that made me want to have more. My friends and I then shared various roles and Bulgogi which was so tender, and delicious. Overall, this place ROCKS! The dinner, ambiance, and the stellar service by Sarah I will for sure be coming back when I visit Chicago. read more

See all

This is one of my favorite restaurants in the neighborhood. Some of my favorite menu items: Pear martini Lychee martini Scallion pancake Crab wontons Spicy trio roll Spicy tuna maki Green tea cheesecake Heaven and earth lava cake read more

Walked to this place from my daughter's apartment for her birthday dinner. Let me start this by saying that they had both indoor and outdoor seating. Staff is dressed in kimonos and very friendly and professional. My daughter and I started with the geisha cocktail which was delicious. We then got special edamame, and a couple specialty rolls. Everything was super tasty and they kept coming back to make sure everything was OK. When we first got there we were the only people inside with some sitting outside by the time we left it was filling up. Still socially distanced and everyone was wearing a mask. They also took your temperature before you sat down. This is being posted during Covid which is why I'm giving this extra info. read more

See all

Nice night for one last outdoor meal. We enjoyed being able to sit around the fire. We ordered a lot of apps including sushi rolls,Goyza, Buddha rolls and coconut shrimp. It was all wonderful and the staff were very nice. read more

Wakamono - Outdoor dining around the fire with lots of happy hour appetizers - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This was the worst experience I've ever had at a restaurant- and I don't say that lightly. It took an hour to get an appetizer that was only two bites. Our server admitted she forgot to put it in (after I reminded her twice over 45 min that we didn't get our appetizer) Then she brought our sushi rolls and one of them was not the roll we ordered. At this point I told her, we are already late for an event, we don't have time to wait for a remake. So we will just eat this roll we didn't order, but to please take it off the bill. It was at this point that the waitress snatched the plate right out of my hands and insisted that, if we eat any of it, we have to pay for it. Which is just insane. No restaurant would say something like that. I asked to speak to the manager. She insisted she was the only manager on duty which I found very hard to believe. She wound up bringing us the bill at FULL PRICE - didn't knock a thing off. I explained once again that this was unfortunately just a terrible experience all around and would she at least take one roll or the appetizer we waited an hour for off. She looked me dead in the eyes, smiled, and said no. I don't know who is running this place but my entire evening was ruined and I have never in my life been treated so horribly. I can't believe I paid someone for that experience- it was so unpleasant. Do not go here. Ever. read more

This place was great, I was surprised by the lower overall rating it has on Yelp. The staff is very accommodating, the ambiance is on the quieter (yet still buzzing) compared to next door, Wang's. We had the veggie and chicken gyoza, the salmon tartare, bugoli bowl, yakisoba noodles, curry bowl, spicy tuna maki and the maki mexicano. All were awesome but the bugoli bowl stuck out the most. Also their geisha martini is soo yummy, it's like a creamy/smooth pineapple/passion fruit martini. However, it is served with one of those little umbrellas (in a martini glass??) which doesn't make a lot of sense to me but obviously just remove it. I would definitely recommend trying this place and then heading next door for a nightcap. read more

Service and the ambiance is what you're paying for, as far as the quality of the food for the price. it's not worth it in my opinion. they do have some options for happy hour cocktails for a reasonable price! read more

Had edamame and spicy ramen with tempura shrimp. The ramen was delicious. Edamame were a little overcooked but edible. The atmosphere is cool but very noisy inside. I'm not a sushi lover and they don't have many cooked option. I will try this place again sometime. read more

Wakamono - sushi bar - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I absolutely love Wakamono, and it has become one of my go-to spots for sushi on various occasions. First, the atmosphere in the evening, is dimly lit, cozy, and romantic. I love the vibe at night, so I try to frequent for dinner. Second, the food is great, too! I usually always order rolls and liked almost all of them -- except for Lobsterdamus, which I thought was bland and expensive. You can't go wrong with sushi here! Third, the drinks are great and strong. I do think they might be a little overpriced, but the stiffness of the cocktails offsets that. Overall, this is a great place for sushi. Pro tip: make a reservation ahead of time - even if you don't think you need one! This place can fill up quickly. Message to the owner: please make contactless payments and the use of Apple Pay available at your restaurant. In this day and age, this is important to a lot of people and the tech is there to make it work (e.g. receipts with QR codes to pay on your phone with Apple Pay). This would be a nice touch. read more

service isn't great, waitress were eating in front of us while we waiting for the food. Ramen isn't hot enough, I order spicy miso ramen however it's nothing close spicy read more

Wakamono offers a wide variety of hot/ cold entrees, sushi, and fun cocktail menu. We loved the Maki Mexicano and Katsu curry was average, curry itself lacked flavor. It is a smaller space so it was a bit hard to hear others but overall experience was good. read more

Wakamono - Yo la mango and maki Mexicano - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Wakamono is the big sister to naughty little Wang's, and you'll find the same warm and charming hospitality along with a similar cocktail menu ('natch). The food is tasty and you can't go wrong with ordering a bunch of smaller plates or a main entree for yourself (or both!). On my last visit we enjoyed the corn tempura, spicy tuna roll, and pork gyoza. I then had the chicken katsu curry. The chicken was tender and super crispy, but the curry could have used a bit more seasoning and spice. But overall solid and yummy. Wonderful server, as usual. :) read more

Stumbled here on happy hour - great menu ! Clean , light food ! Great atmosphere ! By the way - great cocktails as well as non alcoholic drink choices read more

Wakamono - Vegetarian Soba Noodle Plate - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great service, food, and atmosphere. The prices are reasonable and I've never been let down. Highly recommended!

Amazing every single time .. I LOVE Waka. 10/10 every single time. Always the freshest and best rolls

We have decided that this is our go to for sushi in the neighborhood. Have tried a lot of the spots around and am never wowed. Wakamono sticks out! The sushi is tasty and fresh. We also love the koi fish pond and always ask to sit by it. Those fish are savages! Interior is warm and cozy. It's also open late on a Sunday, though I think most of the business on Sunday might come from take out. It's connected to a sake bar. I also believe Ping Pong across the street has the same ownership. read more

See all

This is one of my favorite sushi restaurants in Chicago. They have a lot of variety on their menu and they are open until 11pm - 7days a week!!! I love their Spinach Gomae - I've ordered this same dish at so many restaurants and theirs is the BEST! They also have a Vegan Roll which is really good (Buddha). Honestly - I've never had anything I didn't like from them. Update about credit card charge... After seeing my credit card statement, I noticed that the amount charged was over the amount I approved at the time of purchase. I called to talk to someone - thinking that perhaps the person adding the tip made an error. It took awhile for someone to get back to me - but they did confirm the error and credited back the amount. Overall, they were very honest, caring and they way they handled it made me love them even more! read more

Absolutely disgusting. The fish is not fresh and you are not getting the fish you chose on the menu. I requested a refund and told them it was bad, they said they knew?! Worst sushi in Chicago read more

They have a cute space and are close to the laugh factory, which is why a friend and I stopped by for dinner before seeing a show. The food was fresh, but the portions were really small and left us hungry. Overall, good food but don't go hungry or make sure to order more than usual :) read more

Delicious food and drinks with a great atmosphere and friendly service. This is one of my favorite spots to take friends and visitors!

This place was awesome. We went with our newborn and parents and the staff was very accommodating. We sat outdoors which was a draw to this spot in the first place but the food did not disappoint. We ordered: Hachi Ribeye Specialty Tiger roll Wakamono roll -Awesome house roll Butter grilled rice (fried rice) Ramen Miso soup Edamame Super white tuna roll Tuna flight Obviously a lot of food but great price made it worth it. Drinks were also amazing. We got their premium sake, Mango Mojito and opium haze. Great drinks during happy hour so apps and drinks were super affordable. The (shrimp) fried rice could have used a little more flavor but no complaints, it was good. Maybe ask for your favorite sauce on the side to mix in. Sorry no pictures! The food was too good and I had my baby in one hand. Lol. read more

In a city and neighborhood inundated with Asian food and sushi options, I can never decide on a spot because I'm overwhelmed by the choices. I was taken here and I'm glad someone else made the decision to go, because now I have my go-to spot in the city for nice sushi. We had the three headed dragon roll and the spicy tuna roll. Both were sensational. I'm used to traditional maki being about the same wherever I go, but the spicy tuna was the freshest tasting I've come across! I could've ordered another and eaten the whole thing myself. Sake was $10 a flask, which I shared with my date, and I enjoyed (but admittedly have no idea what makes sake good or not, so... probably not the best person to take advice from). They also had sparkling sake off the menu when I asked for it, which was tasty and sweeter- I recommend that! Great atmosphere, very dark and tastefully decorated. The place was packed on a saturday night, so reservations would be helpful. I saw some folks going to the adjoining bar to await their table; would love to try the bar out sometime too- it looks fun all lit in red. If you're tired of the other Lakeview options and have never tried this spot out, I highly recommend it. read more

One of our favorite local restaurants! So easy to make a reservation on their website, you can choose inside or patio. Make sure you get a ginger martini, that are best! We went our own way and skipped the sushi this time, ordering the katsu and the burger. our friends ordered sushi and it looked and they said tasted amazing! As for the burger it was perfectly cooked and had a nice spicy kimchi on it, and the fries were also spicy and delicious. The katsu was also delicious! Great curry taste with crispy chicken. We will be back very soon! read more

Wakamono - Kalbi Burger - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

My go to restaurant for late night sushi and ramen, tons of veggie option. I love coming here by myself with a book and having dinner. read more

Wakamono - a bowl of food on a table - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

After seating us they offered a warm wet towelettes for our hands. We ended up ordering Wakamono roll, The Mexicano roll, Spicy Trio roll, fresh tofu with sesame peanut chili and yellowtail ceviche for dinner last night. read more

See all

This place is a gem just around the corner from where my boyfriend and I live! First of all, the drinks are fantastic and a great deal at happy hour. Only $5 per drink and only $10 for assorted food. Even outside of happy hour their prices are comparable to the surrounding area. Service is amazing even though we only got drinks and the Sushi Sampler B from the happy hour menu (amazing quality caterpillar and Chicago roll). Not to mention the atmosphere, which is somehow earthy, cozy, and modern - while providing floor to ceiling windows (and outdoor seating when weather is good) and a small koi pond. Definitely come here, enjoy sushi and strong drinks while you watch the lakeview residents stroll by with their adorable dogs! Update: the prices are now $6 for drinks and $12 for food at happy hour. I am happy to report that the food off the happy hour menu is also great! The hibachi steak was tender and juicy, and the ramen was flavorful. They have consistently amazing service. read more

Wakamono - Sushi Sampler B! (And the green tea martini in the background) - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place is such a vibe and the food + service was excellent!! Perfect for a chill night w friends or an intimate date night.

I've eaten at this restaurant since 2011 and I have loved it. When I lived in Lakeview I would dine here once every 10 days or so, that's how tasty it is. The cocktails are some of the most creative, refreshing, and potent in the area. The staff has always been nice, courteous, creative, and welcoming. The ambiance is lovely and changes seasonally, but the koi fish pond and all the water plans are a staple of this lovely restaurant. You cannot go wrong with their maki creations, especially Peter Parker, Wakamono, and Tiger Roll (it's not always on the menu, but if you ask they will make it for you). I cannot recommend this place highly enough. read more

Wakamono - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

The sushi was very good and the staff was very accommodating. They separated shellfish from regular fish to accommodate allergies at our table. Highly recommend the sister bar next door as well. I will be back again! read more

I like this place a lot. It's charming inside with its high ceilings and floor to ceiling windows and simple sophistication. The people working there are welcoming and efficient. The food was fresh, authentic and more classic than over the top in terms of presentation, which is how I prefer my Japanese cuisine. We had about an hour to eat before we needed to leave for a show, told them so and they delivered for us, providing delicious food quickly, yet in an unrushed manner. The reasonably priced decent sized servings of warm saki was a real treat and was only surpassed but the fact that my visiting 21 year old neice who just graduated college and has her first job picked up the bill. Another life millstone achieved! read more

See all

Fabulous environment, loved the food, had delicious wine. Great roles, fast service and trendy experience. We had Godzilla role and some nigiri and edamame that was outstanding. Loved out evening here! read more

See all

Surprised this place is only 3.5 stars as of this writing! The cocktails we tried were interesting and good, and the ramen was just the right amount of salty and flavorful. The sushi was quite good for Chicago too. We will definitely be back here! read more

This is the worst experience I've had and I've been coming here for years if not the worst dining experience I've EVER HAD. ... My friend and I came in for sushi and apps. She chipped her tooth on what the manager "GOF" says is "corn" .. it was a rock. He then brought out a dish of what he says was in the sushi. I have a picture of it it is not what he brought out. We couldn't even finish our sushi and then we got a bill for the total amount. They weren't apologetic about this situation. And the manager "Gof" handled this horrible. I am never coming here ever again and I will tell everyone not to come here anymore. DO NOT COME HERE! read more

Wakamono - This is what they brought out to show us that it was corn kernels in our sushi. Who puts corn kernels in sushi??? - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Cute little spot with some delicious sushi! We sat outside, since the weather was perfect. Table was tiny, but we didn't need a ton of room. The service was very prompt and attentive, even for us being outside. The sidewalk traffic did not bother us, either. The wine was a little pricey, but decent enough list. The tiny bean dish we were given when we sat down was SO GOOD. We ordered 4 rolls - 2 specialty and two standard. All were very very good. Tasted fresh and great flavor. I wish we could have tried some sashimi, too.. but we were SO full. I'd totally come back! read more

Good sushi and ramen for a very good price! Loved the interior and the aesthetics of the restaurant. We got the Yo Yo Ramen, Peter Parker, and Moby Dick. Everything was delicious! They also had a nice happy hour menu of drinks and food. Would definitely visit again! read more

See all

I had my eye on this sushi place from a while and I finally made it! The ambience of Wakamono had always eluded me- dim, candlelit, bamboo interiors and the sound of flowing water- very serene. Since it was a breezy summer evening, we decided to sit by the patio. We had the three headed dragon roll and the wakamono roll with some yellowtail sashimi pieces to go with it. Both rolls were very well made and I enjoyed the food a lot. However, I wasn't expecting the wakamono roll to have cooked fish inside- I didn't like the taste of fresh sushi grade fish mixed with cooked fish. They could do without it and still be an excellent roll. Service was great, overall food was great as well. I would definitely come back. read more

Wakamono - Top- three headed dragon Bottom- wakamono - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

We've come here several times and it's always been pretty good. Tonight, the waitress was clearly trying to "flip" the table and hurry us along. The last drink we ordered were expresso martinis. They were absolutely terrible and we told the waitress to just take them off the bill as we barely drank them. They said they couldn't take them off the bill but they would give us a credit. At that point, the 3 of us had already ordered many drinks and food, to the tune of $270. Really?? You could t take two terrible Martinis off the bill and give us the check. Yeah.....not going back here anytime soon. read more