50 Best Japanese Restaurants in Chicago

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

“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.“

“We enjoyed everything whatever we ordered“

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

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

“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!“

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

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

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

“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!!“

“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.“

“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!!“

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

“The Sushi was absolutely delicious .“

“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.“

“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 .“

“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.“

“Been going here for years. It’s very consistent and the sukiyaki is my favorite. One time I accidentally put too much garlic powder on it because the shaker bottle was too loose and they replaced it- no questions asked. They have real leaf green tea and the decor is charming.“

“Amazing sushi and amazing service. Literally every bite is somehow better than the one before. You haven’t had sushi until you experience this. This is the best sushi in Chicago. Chef Zac and bartender Tayshawn made us feel so welcomed. They gave great recommendations for food and drinks. We are big fans of Sushi by Bou but Tayshawn made this experience extra special. The atmosphere is intimate and fun. It feels like at your own privet party.“

“Truly delicious! We stopped to pick up dinner and were pleasantly surprised. Poke bowls were impeccably fresh and tasty. Kuromon had salmon, scallops and shrimps; Osaka - tuna, salmon and shrimps.
Came again for lunch and were not disappointed - excellent quality, quickly prepared.
Highly recommended. Go for medium spicy... just perfect.“

“California man says Yes, and highly recommend here“

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

“First time here, and it was incredible!
Chef Pete is the absolute best. He takes such amazing care of his guests, and the omakase was outstanding—the presentation was beautiful.
Thank you so much! I can't recommend this place enough.“

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

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

“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!!“

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

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

“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.“

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

“Friendly server, delicious food, affordable.“

“Best food ever and service love“

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

“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.“

“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.“

“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!“

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

“Delicious food and fabulous service!“

“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.“

“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!“

“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.“

“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.“

“Owner is extremely friendly and the food was exceptional! Loved the ramen and Loved the soup, the fried pork was very crispy too. She is also super hospitable and kind. I saw she was eating some 皮蛋century egg dish for herself, after commenting on it, she was kind enough to give me a sample dish that is off the menu for free. I wish I lived in Chicago so I could visit this restaurant more often.“

“the best sushi in chicago 😍 everything super delicious and very good service, 🥰“

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

“Nice atmosphere, good sushi“

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

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

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