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!“

“First time coming out to try this type of experience. Everything was great and our server (Ryan) did a great job explaining things to us. He even gave some great recommendations on what to order. I’m a carnivore by nature so this was my kind of place. I forget what the rice dish with the egg was called but I enjoyed the crispy texture at the edge of the sizzling bowl. I went into a mini-meat trance after all was said and done but it was worth it.“

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

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

“We enjoyed everything whatever we ordered“

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

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

“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.“

“California man says Yes, and highly recommend here“

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

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

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

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

“Authentic omakase artfully created and presented. The fish melts in your mouth and the flavors are so wonderfully balanced that you have to wonder how you tolerated anything less beforehand. Worth every penny!!“

“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 .“

“The Sushi was absolutely delicious .“

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

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

“Absolutely amazing. I want my poke flavorful and I don’t want a spoonful, I want two, and that’s what they delivered! Loved their mild beef ramen soup too, just what my tummy required, soothing, better than Panda or Chipotle, enjoy!!! What a great price point on this end of 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“

“This is a super delicious spot that's absolutely worth visiting. The restaurant is on the smaller side, but its cozy atmosphere only adds to the charm and makes the experience feel more inviting.

The food was amazing, full of flavor, and clearly prepared with care. The service was just as impressive, with friendly and attentive staff who made us feel welcome throughout our visit. Between the outstanding food and excellent hospitality, this place is well worth checking out. I highly recommend it to anyone visiting the city.“

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

“1st omakase and was so much fun for the both of us! The sushi itself was unique and exciting but the service takes the cake. It seemed like the entire staff was very comfortable and each other and all worked toward creating the best possible experience for us. When a promos running you can't beat the cost to quality ratio.“

“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.“

“Ana was so great! We would come back and request her!!! The Michigan ave location is iconic but employees like Ana make it even better. Thanks Beni and ANA.“

“This BYOB sushi spot is awesome, very modest, super fast service with affordable prices for all the artists out here! The sushi has more filling than just a ton of rice packed around it & the miso soup is stellar. They provide complimentary cucumber water which is super refreshing in the summertime. I came here during prime time Saturday evening and it was VERY chill. If you’re in Bridgeport I highly recommend! I love supporting businesses that value both good food & good service. I will be back for sure!“

“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!!“

“Ive been here before for the sushi and yakisoba and enjoyed it. This time I got the teriyaki beef half veg half rice bowl but wouldn’t really recommend. It came with 3 pieces of vegetables. The beef was a bit chewy with a piece or two of gristle, and it was kinda drowned in teriyaki sauce. Most everything else i had from here was good, just wasnt as big a fan of this.“

“The food was delicious. Interesting experience. Waitress was very personable“

“Very savoury ramen broth! I also enjoyed the Gesokara (fried squid tentacles)/calamari & fried oysters - they weren't exemplary but not bad as appetizers. My only qualm is the abundance of fried food options for appetizers, and more importantly how little chashu pork I got with my spicy tonkotsu ramen: I had 3 tiny, extra-thin slices which felt skimpy. 🍜🦪🦑“

“Stopped by One More Sushi Express for lunch and man this spot is such a gem. Used the self order kiosk which was super easy and got the King Boss roll a Salmon Coco drink and my friend got the Godzilla roll plus a Matcha Coco. Both rolls were packed with fish not just rice and filler and everything tasted so fresh you can tell they prep it right when you order. The space is cozy and clean. Staff was nice checked on us once without hovering at all. Already planning to go back after class.“

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

“Best food ever and service love“

“Highly recommended👍 delicious“

“Friendly server, delicious food, affordable.“

“This is one of the best restaurants I’ve eaten in in the past five years Chef Luis truly has interesting. Take on unique flavors. The combination of Japanese and Latin cuisine atmosphere is great. The staff very educated and fun Beverage program top-notch I’ve taken several of my friends here and we have always had a great experience.“

“The best omakase experience I have ever had. The wine/sake pairing was perfection, the staff are welcoming and knowledgeable, the chefs are outstanding. The food is stunning and delectable of the highest quality. There are not enough superlatives or adjectives to express how much I enjoyed my meal and the entire experience.“

“First time here! Everything was delicious.“

“Delicious food and fabulous service!“

“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!“

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

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

“10/10 experience at Sushi by Bou! We did the 12-course Omakase and everything was absolutely delicious.

From the moment we walked in, Chelsea greeted us with so much enthusiasm and made us feel right at home. Chef Poam was incredibly friendly and amazing at his craft. He explained every course so thoroughly and described each bite perfectly. You could really tell how much care went into everything.

Melissa, the bartender, was also so friendly and joyful! Her drinks were amazing - we had the “Tokyo Nights” and loved it.

The rest of the crew were wonderful and welcoming as well. Great food, great service, and an amazing overall experience. Definitely a 10/10, and we’ll be back!“

“Wow, amazing lunch, just amazing!❤️😃“

“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.“

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

“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 ⭐️!“

“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 had the pleasure to eat here today and everything was GREAT. The atmosphere was nice and homey.They have some new customers. Thank you guys so much!“