50 Best Japanese Restaurants in Chicago

“"This is my new favorite thing." -Dr. A. Haller“

“Stopped for a quick bite and couldn’t have been happier with our choice. The ramen was rich, flavorful, and beautifully prepared. Alex took the time to walk us through the menu and made excellent recommendations that really elevated our meal. Fantastic service and delicious food! We will absolutely be back!“

“The food was great. A terrific interpretation of Japanese favorites for the local neighborhood.“

“Amazing sushi... unique offerings, and ultra delicious. i seriously think about my next visit waaaay too much...“

“Wonderful service and excellent rolls!! Overall great experience“

“Ora is a fantastic sushi restaurant with FRESH fish and excellent service. Definitely a go to for date night.“

“Nice and cozy sushi bar. Great food!! Recommended“

“I called ahead on a Tuesday for their dinner reservations, we were told they weren't busy that night so we went ahead and made the one hour drive just for their sushi and their great reviews. We had the best experience and their sushi was truly top notch. We basically ordered everything on the menu from sushi, caviar to desserts and drinks. they did not disappoint, customer service was superb. The owner even came outside to attend us, he showed up with his own bottle of sake. I truly appreciate the great experience we had at this beautiful and clean restaurant. I have nothing bad to say, the food was high quality and extremely delicious. I definitely recommend this location, even if you have kids which I did. We left so happy and satisfied, loved it.“

“This is one of my favorite places ever, for a succulent , mouthwatering , epic , divine , romantic , dining experience suitable for everyday or very special events . Very romantic , intimate atmosphere .The steaks will transport you to another dimension . The staff is very professional , yet warm , welcoming , very attentive and devoted to making sure you are taken care of . An exquisite sensory experience ,engaging all of the senses , and exceeding my expectations in spades .“

“I tried the non- soupy ramen. It was not bad, but definitely not too special.

I ordered the traditional one and the curry one. Both orders seemed a bit salty, likely due to the sauce. Presentation of the dishes looked good.

Service was good as well.

I’m not sure I would be excited to return.
In a h mall“

“We went here for our anniversary this year! This omakase is unique compared to other ones we’ve done. There’s a mixture of hot dishes, sashimi, nigiri, and custards. All were really delicious and meticulously presented and well thought out. We also did the sake pairing which was fun and really good. On top of all that the service was phenomenal and Chef Shoji was so kind and wonderful and it was amazing to watch him work. Highly recommend!“

“This is more of a pickup type of place, there's not a lot of space to sit, and kind of cramped. The poke bowl was really good, and the lady who was taking the order at the counter asked if I wanted it spicy, so I said yes. They got the poke bowl together in probably like less than 5 minutes. I did not eat inside because it was too cramped, but overall everything was really good.“

“We enjoyed everything whatever we ordered“

“30 years I’ve been going to Sai Cafe. Quality has never changed. Always the best.“

“Delicious food. Great variety of sushi, beautifully plated. Great service as well.“

“Our waiter Kong was so attentive and very helpful with choices from the menu since this was our first time eating at this restaurant. The sushi was amazing! We had the Crab Wontons, Tokyo Tonkotsu Ramen, the Lobster fried rice, Rock N Roll, Spice Girl, and the Spicy Cowboy rolls. The atmosphere, staff, and food will definitely have us coming back when we are in town!“

“The dragon roll delicious also the Spicy tuna yum.. and I had the Lychee tini 🍸 it was also great my new spot for sushi“

“First place I ate dinner at when home shopping in the neighborhood. Been a regular for years now. Sushi is great, especially for the price. The owner is super nice. Really kind to my family and would ask about how my kids are doing when i did takeout during Covid. Will keep coming back.“

“The Sushi was absolutely delicious .“

“My favorite place for sushi. A hidden gem of the neighborhood. Nice and hard working people. Food is very good. Highly recommended!“

“So much to love. Many tasty options and it's BYOB!“

“Really enjoyed this place. Ramen seemed priced fine for the amount you get, very flavorful. Nigiri was very fresh, buttery soft. It was more expensive but well worth it. Some of the specialty sushi dishes would be more doable with a group of people so can try a little of everything for a more reasonable price. Definitely would come again.“

“We had an incredible experience at Casa Chi. The food is impeccable, the presentation is stunning, and the service is top-tier. The Yuzu Cheesecake and Aburi Salmon are highly recommended.“

“Amazing time! Danny was my server! He is the best very attentive very helpful. the hostess was great also and sweet“

“Very nice place . Owners are really good people , very warm and friendly . A large selection of drinks and great hang out place . Love it ! Highly recommend!!“

“I had such a great experience at Chubby Cattle Chicago! Our server, Zaid, was incredibly kind, attentive, and friendly the whole time. He made sure we had everything we needed and explained the menu so patiently. It’s rare to meet someone who genuinely makes your dining experience better — thank you, Zaid, for being so nice and making our dinner extra enjoyable!“

“The Sushi was fresh, the flavors were bold and the rice was fluffy. Will be back for sure and the staff was so friendly and welcoming.“

“Friendly server, delicious food, affordable.“

“We were in the area and happened to stop by here completely by chance. The place is okay. Unlike other spots where you already have “pre-assembled” ingredients for a poke bowl and just choose which one you want (so-called signature bowls), here you have to build it yourself. The poke was fine. The ingredients are fresh, and since I picked what I like, of course I enjoyed it. The place feels cozy and interesting, with lots of plants inside. My only complaint is that the low white tables are very close together, so you literally can’t move. They need to be spaced out a bit.“

“California man says Yes, and highly recommend here“

“Some of the best sushi my girlfriend and I have had in Chicago. Never had a bad meal!“

“Hiro Izakaya is an absolute gem. The ambiance is on point—stylish, welcoming, and the perfect vibe whether you're out for a chill night or a full dining experience. The food? Outstanding. Everything came out hot, fresh, and beautifully prepared, with flavors that clearly show care and quality. The drinks were strong (just the way they should be), well-crafted, and balanced perfectly. What really sealed the deal was the service—impeccable from start to finish. Attentive, professional, and genuinely warm without being overbearing. If you're looking for great food, a lively atmosphere, and top-tier service, Hiro Izakaya delivers on all fronts. Can't wait to return. 🍣🔥🍸“

“Nice atmosphere, good sushi“

“Amazing freshest sushi , best in the town , great service , and nice ambiance.“

“The food is delicious and the drinks are great!! The atmosphere was amazing!!“

“Every time I leave this place I look forward to coming back.“

“BEST RAMEN! i dream of it sometimes. something about the coconut milk broth ramen piqued my interest last night, and I'm glad I listened to my intuition. Oh my goodness. whoever's recipe that is, please give them a massive hug for me right now and say thank you because that was the most delicious thing I've had in so long. What a TREAT! these folks have somehow managed to incorporate happiness as an ingredient in their food, so when you eat it, All the happiness particles travel through your body for 24 to 48 hours and you feel extremely satisfied and fulfilled. you might miss the ramen afterwards, and you might end up having dreams about it like I do but trust me, they're pleasant dreams.“

“We didn't realize our show at the Ramova a block away was cancelled until we got there.... So we had dinner at Kawa. Everything was delicious and very fairly priced, and I've been daydreaming about the Avocado Poppers ever since! I wish this place wasn't over an hour away from me.“

“Voor de 5e keer hier gegeten. Heerlijke pokebowl en sushi. Ruime keus.“

“Their Ramen is absolutely delicious!! 5 stars.“

“Good shusi and also lots of other Japanese dishes. Pleasant service.“

“Wonderful, authentic, beautiful Japanese sushi & food with a fantastic, hands on owner & exceptional service.“

“First time here with my son. We love it!! So fresh! Definitely coming back.“

“First time here! Everything was delicious.“

“Best food ever and service love“

“I can not say enough about this great sushi spot! They have super fresh ingredients, efficient staff, above average standards and the greatest part is they are more than accommodating. I came in 15 minutes before close, they made my order with a smile and everything was spotless in the restaurant. I came home and the food was fantastic 👏
They sushi chef is Amazing and awesome to watch.. if your in the area stop by and give them a try! They are BYOB“

“My boyfriend and I LOVE the food here! The nigiri is absolutely delicious - melts in your mouth and so fresh! We’ve been here several times before going to zanies or second city. It’s now become our go-to sushi restaurant! We tend to sit upstairs, which is a quaint place to sit for privacy. We seem to always get the same server, Yord. He is SUPER helpful and kind! He helps us pick out different foods when we are feeling adventurous. Now that I know his name, I’m going to ask where his section is so that I can be waited on by him! 😁 finally, the manager came by our table to ask how everything was tasting and how the service was. That was a great touch to an already impressive experience. 5 out of 5 ⭐️!“

“The food was awesome!!! I definitely recommend! 🙂“

“Sakura was a cozy restaurant with really good Sushi, we enjoyed our time there! 😊🙏🏻“