Love everything about this place! Had the delicious Satsumaimo cocktail, highly recommended. The Veggie Korokke for appetizer were so good, crispy in the outside and soft in the inside. Had the Shrimp Yakisoba but the Mushroom and Yuba Hiroshima was my favorite!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Hiroshima Style
Emil Herrera
This place is excellent! Loved the Pork Belly Yakisoba, Hiroshima Style Mushroom and Yuba Okonomiyaki, and the Kiro Kuma Kakigori. Everything we had was great.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Gloria Ha
I was excited to head to Gaijin for my first dinner in Chicago during this visit. Our table took a bit of time to get set up so we ended up ordering drinks at the bar while we were waiting.
We ordered the three sweetest drinks: the Hi-Chew drink and the two shaved ice drinks. The shaved ice drinks were quite a spectacle -- it starts as a pile of shaved ice and some flowers, then they pour on the liquid which melts the ice and creates the cocktail. I got the frozen rose drink which was honestly very delightful. It was the sweetest of the drinks we tried and I'd definitely get it again. The other shaved ice drink was quite floral and good and then the Hi-Chew drink wasn't as sweet as the other two. We really enjoyed the cocktails -- definitely a highlight.
We then got two okonomiyaki. The best one that we had was the Hiroshima style okonomiyaki which has yakisoba, bacon, cabbage, and some batter. It was just the perfect blend of flavors and textures. I especially enjoyed the yakisoba component so I'm sure that the yakisoba dish would also be great. This is one of the better Hiroshima style okonomiyakis that I've had in the US, and I'd definitely get it again.
We also got the shrimp Osaka style okonomiyaki which I wasn't as big of a fan of. The flavors were reminiscent of elote, and it didn't really feel like an okonomiyaki. While the shrimp was good, I didn't like the combination of the other ingredients and the cabbage tasted a bit bitter. This was an interesting fusion dish but I preferred the Hiroshima style okonomiyaki vastly more.
We also got the twice cooked garlic after I saw some rave reviews online. I personally really liked it because I love savory flavors. This dish was bursting with umami with the soy-glazed crackers and extremely smooth garlic that was cooked in oil and soy sauce. The dish was a bit one note but it was a note that I liked so I was very okay with it. I would get this again.
Lastly, after seeing the dish at another table, we had to try the black bear kakigori (shaved ice). My favorite component was the dark chocolate eyes as well as the salted caramel ice cream. I thought the chocolate ice was a bit too sweet -- I found myself looking to have more of the unflavored ice inside. Overall I think this dish is super cute but I probably would not get this again. I would go for a more traditional shaved ice like the matcha.
Overall this restaurant has great vibes. The servers are very friendly and attentive and we got some really great drinks. The twice cooked garlic and Hiroshima style okonomiyaki are dishes to come back for but I wasn't as big a fan of the Osaka style okonomiyaki or the black bear shaved ice.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Hiroshima Style
Sylvia L
Lovely birthday dinner at Gaijin. Our favorite was the octopus okonomiyaki. My favorite sweet ending with the kakigori. Even got to meet Mr. Virant who was so friendly and kind.
Extremely poor food. It’s not Japanese. Probably Ampanese or Jamerican food. Never again would I step inside that place unless they serve Japanese food.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 3
Hilton Prentiss
Great place
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Sungjin Park
Really good experience
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Osaka Style
wtosh
Both our shrimp and pork yakisoba were noodles from the instant noodle packs. The kind where you spend 25 cents per pack from Walmart.
amazing! I had the octopus okonomiyaki and it was so good! also the house lager was great! my friend got the special collab with haisous and said it was amazing as well! also our server and all the workers were very attentive and friendly! will be going back to try the yakisoba!
Dietary restrictions: shellfish allergy
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Octopus
Jocelyn Costea
Our mistake was thinking that five girls could eat five separate portions, we could not hahah
Two of us chose the Gaijin tasting experience, which is for sure the best move if you’re someone who likes to try multiple things at a new restaurant. (The Osaka flight also realllly caught my eye) That being said it does not include my favorite, so I’d recommend getting the HIROSHIMA-STYLE OKONOMIYAKI along with whatever else you order here.
Delicious experience, would definitely recommend this as a perfect date spot <3
Amazing, friendly environment ,excellent food and drinks..
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Joanne P
They're super filing and yummy!! Get the one with the noodles in it, it's so GOOOD ??
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Anastasia Fatima
Food was delicious. We had the flight which gave us the option to try 3 types of savory pancakes. The yakisoba was very good and not too heavy. The shaved ice was not too sweet and was a perfect finish for our dinner.
No Better Bartender in Chicago than Stella!
Love everything about this place! Had the delicious Satsumaimo cocktail, highly recommended. The Veggie Korokke for appetizer were so good, crispy in the outside and soft in the inside. Had the Shrimp Yakisoba but the Mushroom and Yuba Hiroshima was my favorite!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Hiroshima Style
This place is excellent! Loved the Pork Belly Yakisoba, Hiroshima Style Mushroom and Yuba Okonomiyaki, and the Kiro Kuma Kakigori. Everything we had was great.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I was excited to head to Gaijin for my first dinner in Chicago during this visit. Our table took a bit of time to get set up so we ended up ordering drinks at the bar while we were waiting.
We ordered the three sweetest drinks: the Hi-Chew drink and the two shaved ice drinks. The shaved ice drinks were quite a spectacle -- it starts as a pile of shaved ice and some flowers, then they pour on the liquid which melts the ice and creates the cocktail. I got the frozen rose drink which was honestly very delightful. It was the sweetest of the drinks we tried and I'd definitely get it again. The other shaved ice drink was quite floral and good and then the Hi-Chew drink wasn't as sweet as the other two. We really enjoyed the cocktails -- definitely a highlight.
We then got two okonomiyaki. The best one that we had was the Hiroshima style okonomiyaki which has yakisoba, bacon, cabbage, and some batter. It was just the perfect blend of flavors and textures. I especially enjoyed the yakisoba component so I'm sure that the yakisoba dish would also be great. This is one of the better Hiroshima style okonomiyakis that I've had in the US, and I'd definitely get it again.
We also got the shrimp Osaka style okonomiyaki which I wasn't as big of a fan of. The flavors were reminiscent of elote, and it didn't really feel like an okonomiyaki. While the shrimp was good, I didn't like the combination of the other ingredients and the cabbage tasted a bit bitter. This was an interesting fusion dish but I preferred the Hiroshima style okonomiyaki vastly more.
We also got the twice cooked garlic after I saw some rave reviews online. I personally really liked it because I love savory flavors. This dish was bursting with umami with the soy-glazed crackers and extremely smooth garlic that was cooked in oil and soy sauce. The dish was a bit one note but it was a note that I liked so I was very okay with it. I would get this again.
Lastly, after seeing the dish at another table, we had to try the black bear kakigori (shaved ice). My favorite component was the dark chocolate eyes as well as the salted caramel ice cream. I thought the chocolate ice was a bit too sweet -- I found myself looking to have more of the unflavored ice inside. Overall I think this dish is super cute but I probably would not get this again. I would go for a more traditional shaved ice like the matcha.
Overall this restaurant has great vibes. The servers are very friendly and attentive and we got some really great drinks. The twice cooked garlic and Hiroshima style okonomiyaki are dishes to come back for but I wasn't as big a fan of the Osaka style okonomiyaki or the black bear shaved ice.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Hiroshima Style
Lovely birthday dinner at Gaijin. Our favorite was the octopus okonomiyaki. My favorite sweet ending with the kakigori. Even got to meet Mr. Virant who was so friendly and kind.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Very accommodating staff
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Hiroshima Style, Style Okonomiyaki
Extremely poor food. It’s not Japanese. Probably Ampanese or Jamerican food. Never again would I step inside that place unless they serve Japanese food.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 3
Great place
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Really good experience
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Osaka Style
Both our shrimp and pork yakisoba were noodles from the instant noodle packs. The kind where you spend 25 cents per pack from Walmart.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 3
Restaurantji Recommends
amazing! I had the octopus okonomiyaki and it was so good! also the house lager was great! my friend got the special collab with haisous and said it was amazing as well! also our server and all the workers were very attentive and friendly! will be going back to try the yakisoba!
Dietary restrictions: shellfish allergy
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Octopus
Our mistake was thinking that five girls could eat five separate portions, we could not hahah
Two of us chose the Gaijin tasting experience, which is for sure the best move if you’re someone who likes to try multiple things at a new restaurant. (The Osaka flight also realllly caught my eye) That being said it does not include my favorite, so I’d recommend getting the HIROSHIMA-STYLE OKONOMIYAKI along with whatever else you order here.
Delicious experience, would definitely recommend this as a perfect date spot <3
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Hiroshima Style, Octopus, Osaka Style
Amazing, friendly environment ,excellent food and drinks..
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
They're super filing and yummy!! Get the one with the noodles in it, it's so GOOOD ??
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Food was delicious. We had the flight which gave us the option to try 3 types of savory pancakes. The yakisoba was very good and not too heavy. The shaved ice was not too sweet and was a perfect finish for our dinner.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Osaka Style Okonomiyaki Flight, Sesame Yuzu
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