It was a truly remarkable culinary journey. From the moment I entered, the ambiance was serene and sophisticated, setting the tone for an intimate and immersive experience.
The chef’s skill and passion were evident in every course. Each dish was a work of art, with perfectly balanced flavors and textures. The progression of the meal felt thoughtful, starting with delicate pieces of sashimi and moving toward more complex and bold flavors. The highlight for me was the uni-topped toro, which melted in my mouth and had an incredible depth of flavor.
What made this experience even more special was the interaction with the chef. Watching them craft each piece right in front of me, while explaining the origin of the ingredients and the inspiration behind each dish, added a personal touch that elevated the entire meal.
Overall, is a must-visit for anyone seeking an authentic omakase experience. It’s not just a meal—it’s a beautifully curated adventure that leaves you appreciating the artistry of sushi on a whole new level.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Lexi Schroeder
Great sushi. Fun flavors. Food was 10/10. The only problem is that it all felt rushed. It was piece after piece in very quick succession. Based off the time stamps from my photos, from the first piece to dessert it was 50 minutes. It is hard to quickly eat that much food without feeling uncomfortable. Not really what I expect at this price point.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Scott Gryder
Are you taking reservations for New Years Eve? Thanks!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Soo Lee
Amazing experience. Very clean, intimate, and esthetic. Chefs and host were all very accommodating, personable and knowledgeable. Everything tasted fresh and perfect. Highly recommend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: 14 Course Omakase Dinner
Kiera Tiongco
Delicious and a good time. The service and atmosphere was great. I will be coming back
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sushi
Brandon Capalad
Super friendly staff and amazing food. Atmosphere is amazing truly a mind blowing experience!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: 14 Course Omakase Dinner
Christian Carbajal
It breaks my heart not to leave a 5 🌟 review, but I just want to be realistic about a place to which I went with extremely high expectations. First and foremost the good things: The chefs are very friendly and engaging, the food is delicious (especially a couple of courses that really stood out) and the drinks are good. I particularly loved the yuzu margarita. It was out of this world for me! However having tried omakazes in several major cities and this one being priced and reviewed as a top tier one I did find a few shortcomings: 1. They use commercially processed Wasabi that is more spicy and horseradishy than real freshly ground Wasabi root, which should be used in a high end omakase like this one. 2. I found the rice to be ever so slightly mushy. It was by no means bad, just not as perfect as I expected for this level of place. Being the base ingredient for every single course they should strive to make it the perfect consistency. 3. I might be guilty of having a salty palate but felt almost all the nigiris lacking a bit of flavor. This is in contrast to another review that mentioned that they used too much soy sauce. Perhaps they overcorrected? I felt they all could use a bit more salt whether it be soy sauce, salt or any other dressing they are using in order to bring out more the different flavor of each fish. 4. While I did love the yuzu margarita and would recommend it to anyone who loves margaritas, yuzu or both like me, I found the lychee martini to be too sour. Interestingly enough it was more sour than the margarita. I believe a good lychee martini should highlight the lychee flavor and only have a hint of lemon to balance it out. 5. Finally as I said everyone was very friendly and engaging. However, while Christian (I believe the manager) is also friendly, engaging and very professional he did come across to me as being tense or stressed. I may have misread the situation, but I especially noticed this when one of the chefs dropped one nigiri. He did not seem happy about it. But that was just my personal perception and I might be wrong. As I said, he was still friendly and engaging, even addressing me by first name which I found very thoughtful and I appreciated. All in all this is a very good place that I would still recommend but would love at some point to come back and found they have achieved excellence in the points I mentioned.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
R O
This was one of my favorite restaurants in Chicago. Service was outstanding. Fun and not stuffy. Food was fresh and delicious. I'll be recommending Aji to my friends. Such an intimate and special dinner. Chefs were outstanding!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Loc Nguyen
Nice spot for sushi, we had a good time and the service was good.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: 14 Course Omakase Dinner
Yuan Zho
Just went there tonight for a birthday dinner. Very cool, tucked away spot. Definitely worth the trip.
My fiancé took me here for my birthday and it was TRULY one of the best dining experiences I’ve ever hard. Each course deepens in flavor, texture, and presentation which creates an exciting experience. The food is just one part of the experience, what stands out is how everyone treats you like family. They create an atmosphere of care and attention unlike any other place.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: 14 Course Omakase Dinner
Pedro
Superb. Great atmosphere, chef Nick shows a true mastery and respect for the ingredients. Simple, elegant, delicious. If you’re looking for a good meal, great service and experience without all the flair and extravagant presentations this is the place for you. On par with many Michelin star Omakases that we have been.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sushi
Sumit Som
Fantastic experience. The team was extremely friendly. The space is great. And the Raspberry Mule mocktail is fantastic. Fish across the board was fresh, prepared perfectly. 10/10.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: 14 Course Omakase Dinner
Rolen Santana
Amazing food and atmosphere
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Dan.Inspires
Top notch service, food, and atmosphere. Christian was a great host and the main chef was polite and welcoming. Great place for people experiencing omakase for the first time. Had all the classics with added flare.
It was a truly remarkable culinary journey. From the moment I entered, the ambiance was serene and sophisticated, setting the tone for an intimate and immersive experience.
The chef’s skill and passion were evident in every course. Each dish was a work of art, with perfectly balanced flavors and textures. The progression of the meal felt thoughtful, starting with delicate pieces of sashimi and moving toward more complex and bold flavors. The highlight for me was the uni-topped toro, which melted in my mouth and had an incredible depth of flavor.
What made this experience even more special was the interaction with the chef. Watching them craft each piece right in front of me, while explaining the origin of the ingredients and the inspiration behind each dish, added a personal touch that elevated the entire meal.
Overall, is a must-visit for anyone seeking an authentic omakase experience. It’s not just a meal—it’s a beautifully curated adventure that leaves you appreciating the artistry of sushi on a whole new level.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great sushi. Fun flavors. Food was 10/10. The only problem is that it all felt rushed. It was piece after piece in very quick succession. Based off the time stamps from my photos, from the first piece to dessert it was 50 minutes. It is hard to quickly eat that much food without feeling uncomfortable. Not really what I expect at this price point.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Are you taking reservations for New Years Eve? Thanks!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Amazing experience. Very clean, intimate, and esthetic. Chefs and host were all very accommodating, personable and knowledgeable. Everything tasted fresh and perfect. Highly recommend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: 14 Course Omakase Dinner
Delicious and a good time. The service and atmosphere was great. I will be coming back
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sushi
Super friendly staff and amazing food. Atmosphere is amazing truly a mind blowing experience!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: 14 Course Omakase Dinner
It breaks my heart not to leave a 5 🌟 review, but I just want to be realistic about a place to which I went with extremely high expectations.
First and foremost the good things: The chefs are very friendly and engaging, the food is delicious (especially a couple of courses that really stood out) and the drinks are good. I particularly loved the yuzu margarita. It was out of this world for me!
However having tried omakazes in several major cities and this one being priced and reviewed as a top tier one I did find a few shortcomings:
1. They use commercially processed Wasabi that is more spicy and horseradishy than real freshly ground Wasabi root, which should be used in a high end omakase like this one.
2. I found the rice to be ever so slightly mushy. It was by no means bad, just not as perfect as I expected for this level of place. Being the base ingredient for every single course they should strive to make it the perfect consistency.
3. I might be guilty of having a salty palate but felt almost all the nigiris lacking a bit of flavor. This is in contrast to another review that mentioned that they used too much soy sauce. Perhaps they overcorrected? I felt they all could use a bit more salt whether it be soy sauce, salt or any other dressing they are using in order to bring out more the different flavor of each fish.
4. While I did love the yuzu margarita and would recommend it to anyone who loves margaritas, yuzu or both like me, I found the lychee martini to be too sour. Interestingly enough it was more sour than the margarita. I believe a good lychee martini should highlight the lychee flavor and only have a hint of lemon to balance it out.
5. Finally as I said everyone was very friendly and engaging. However, while Christian (I believe the manager) is also friendly, engaging and very professional he did come across to me as being tense or stressed. I may have misread the situation, but I especially noticed this when one of the chefs dropped one nigiri. He did not seem happy about it. But that was just my personal perception and I might be wrong. As I said, he was still friendly and engaging, even addressing me by first name which I found very thoughtful and I appreciated.
All in all this is a very good place that I would still recommend but would love at some point to come back and found they have achieved excellence in the points I mentioned.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
This was one of my favorite restaurants in Chicago. Service was outstanding. Fun and not stuffy. Food was fresh and delicious. I'll be recommending Aji to my friends. Such an intimate and special dinner. Chefs were outstanding!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Nice spot for sushi, we had a good time and the service was good.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: 14 Course Omakase Dinner
Just went there tonight for a birthday dinner. Very cool, tucked away spot. Definitely worth the trip.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
My fiancé took me here for my birthday and it was TRULY one of the best dining experiences I’ve ever hard. Each course deepens in flavor, texture, and presentation which creates an exciting experience. The food is just one part of the experience, what stands out is how everyone treats you like family. They create an atmosphere of care and attention unlike any other place.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: 14 Course Omakase Dinner
Superb. Great atmosphere, chef Nick shows a true mastery and respect for the ingredients. Simple, elegant, delicious. If you’re looking for a good meal, great service and experience without all the flair and extravagant presentations this is the place for you. On par with many Michelin star Omakases that we have been.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sushi
Fantastic experience. The team was extremely friendly. The space is great. And the Raspberry Mule mocktail is fantastic. Fish across the board was fresh, prepared perfectly. 10/10.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: 14 Course Omakase Dinner
Amazing food and atmosphere
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Top notch service, food, and atmosphere. Christian was a great host and the main chef was polite and welcoming. Great place for people experiencing omakase for the first time. Had all the classics with added flare.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: 14 Course Omakase Dinner
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