We initially booked the tasting experience for two through OpenTable. It required payment upfront, which asked for a tip, but it turns out that they’re already included a 20% service charge, which was not made clear to me before I paid the additional 15%, making it a total of 35% in gratuities that I paid in the end. This part feels not at all transparent to the customers.After we got to the restaurant we were told the tasting menu we pre-paid was not available and had to be book 24h in advance (which was not mentioned prior to our booking through the app or through phone) so we had to switch to a la carte. Note: if you don’t do the tasting menu, there isn’t a lot of choice for food.The service could also be improved. Our server was not very attentive and we waited quite a bit after each request while the server was chatting away with other staff. This level of service was subpar given the price point; this would have been completely fine at a fast food restaurant or pizzeria, but if I’m paying $400 for two, I would expect better.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
Michael Shen
Wow - an absolutely perfect bar experience. If you like Bar Goto in NYC, this is like turning that experience up a couple of notches. Flawlessly executed cocktails, bar food executed with great precision, and an ambience that would easily have me believe this was transported straight from Japan.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Grace
Unlike any experience I've ever had! The level of knowledge and service from this team was unreal. Maddy was an excellent server as we sat and enjoyed some cocktails and a small bite at the bar. Her recommendations based on our preferences/flavor profile were spot on.The cocktails were so carefully crafted and the depth of flavor was unmatched! The servers also brought you over the bottles to look at while enjoying your libation. It was very high-end service with a lot of little touches that really contributed to our experience. The environment was very relaxed/laid-back despite how fancy everything else felt!We enjoyed the Karaagé (always a favorite) and the texture on this was phenomenal.Also met and enjoyed conversation with some people at the bar which is one of my favorite reasons for sitting in a shared space! We ended up going somewhere after enjoying some sake together.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken Karaage
Cody
I'd heard nothing but good things about Kumiko for a while, and I can see why! The drinks, food, and service were all outstanding. The roasted sunchokes with whipped tofu and wasabi stand out as a unique and creative yet also undeniably delicious dish. The Unabridged was like cross between a whiskey sour and an espresso martini, another unexpected and very tasty creation. I will definitely be back.
K Kraft
We had a phenomenal time. We are from Detroit and work at one of our top cocktail bars; our GM set up our reservation for Kumiko and suggested it highly. We came in on Sunday the 25th around 8:30pm.The cocktails and the food were lovely. We both really enjoyed the up in the clouds but my chocolate cherry milk punch was beautifully balanced with the campari that was in it. My co-worker also got a hot toddy sort of riff which he said he didn't know he needed until he got it lol.We had had dinner earlier so I just did dessert and they were both delicious. The one with truffle on top seemed off but fit with the dish well and the sweet to savory balance was on point. I liked the gooey-ness of the the sweet potato mochi; can't choose a favorite. My co-worker got karaage and he was still talking about it on Tuesday lol.I can't quite remember the bartender who took care of the rails name but she was very kind and sweet; had an envious shake! We liked the touch of the main spirit being brought to you to look over.Rachel helped us out a lot and she was a gem; really helped make the visit. Thank you Rachel!The atmosphere is very calming and serene despite the restaurant being full. All the staff was very knowledgeable on the product they were selling.If I ever am back in Chicago I'd definitely make a stop here again. Kudos to the staff and owner, keep it up, you're doing it right lol!
Hugo L
Great place, best old fashioned in the
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken Karaage, Japanese Potato Salad
양리디아
@lydieats ? My favorite cocktail bar in Chicago They are so deserving of their spot as the best bar in Midwest. Truly a special experience elevated by the gentle, quiet energy that’s often hard to find in West Loop. Kinda tough to snag a last minute reservation but bar seatings are first come first serve!Prepare to be charmed by Kumiko’s extensive cocktail menu filled with delicate names. Loved the milk punch Clear to the eye but milky to your taste buds. It tastes bright and has this subtle sweet & creamy flavor that masks the alcohol taste. From the signature, try the sea flower - zesty, salty and fun. Ask for recs too bc the servers light up to share their favs!Food menu is limited but has the essentials. Treat it as a complement to your drinks, especially the pickles and nuts!! Do not leave without getting the truffle milk toast ? Perfectly toasted Japanese milk bread topped with fermented honey ice cream and truffle shavings. It’s sweet and tastes so expensive. The perfect way to end your night.? Sakura Milk Punch $20*? Sea Flower $19*? Otsukémono $4? Shiso Nori Cashews $7? Karaage $13? Japanese potato salad $6? Truffle milk toast $15*My favorite cocktail bar in Chicago. Comfortable yet luxurious. As the #1 bar in the Midwest, you must reserve a table in advance, but walk-ins are allowed at the bar! The cocktail list is huge and the names are extremely romantic ? If you tell us your taste, the servers will enthusiastically recommend it. For snacks, we recommend tsukemono and nuts to enhance the flavor of the drink! Enjoy a light meal and finish with truffle toast.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Mitch Fitzpatrick
Drinks were okay, don't understand the hype to he honest. They over dress all the drinks to mask the base which is quite disappointing for using such nice liquors. Food was over seasoned and over salted but brought out quickly. Presentation was okay.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 4
KumikoEvolves
Kumiko is best known in Chicago (and the world) as a bar. Technically, they describe it as a Japanese Dining Bar. With the addition of their tasting menu, Kumiko has evolved to one of Chicago's best restaurants -- with amazing crafted cocktails. Call it whatever you want. Just go. My wife and I went to Kumiko recently for the tasting menu (with saké pairings...cause we love saké). The meal was spectacular -- starting with a trio of bites: 1) raw scallop crudo, 2) a kampachi nigiri, 3) an oyster that was one of the best oyster bites we've every had. Second was a prawn set that raised the already lofty bar: 1) raw spot prawn, 2) blue prawn with torched lardo and 3) a pork gyoza-filled crispy prawn head (edible, like soft-shell crab). Making a crunchy gyoza with prawn shell in lieu of dumpling was genius. The menu kept on rising. All through the evening, expert and caring service guided our night. It was such a lovely evening. My point is that the food / glorious food at Kumiko is what Chicago should be talking about -- since we love our food in this town (hats off to duo chef team Alex and Josh). But, back to Bar Kumiko's claim to fame...the drinks. Yes, you must start with a cocktail at Kumiko. They were suberb of course, cause drinks are why Kumiko exists. But, my wife and I loved the perfectly paired saké. We learned about the range and versitility of saké and we learned about brewmasters in Japan that Julia and team love...and why. Food, drinks, service, atmosphere. Our night at Kumiko had it all. If you've been to Kumiko; go again. If you haven't been to Kumiko; go.
LilFizz33
A must try for drinks, but the food left a lot to be desired. The drinks are expensive, but they have something for everyone, even though the whiskey option is limited they still make good drinks selections. The food; however, was some of the most salty food I have ever had. Would not recommend eating here, but a must try for drinks.
Absolutely incredible experience. Easily one of the best bars in the United States. Exceptional service and attention to detail. Inventive cocktails and extremely accommodating for any dietary or drink preferences. Be sure to try a cocktail component flight!
Kevin
went there twice in a week, visited Chicago for vacation and my birthday. received a birthday card with staff signature, which was nice. first time sit at a table for 4, and 2nd time at bar for 2. Drinks are great, each very unique. I like the component flight. the only thing I wish would be better is the 1-hour time at the bar when I made the reservation. So I had to rush 6 drinks for 2 people in 1 hour to try the drinks I was curious of. Granted they did not kick me off the bar, but with gentle reminder the service time was up.
EnriqueC
Outstanding cocktails and service. The place has a nice ambiance and the staff is extremely knowledgeable. I would recommend sitting at the bar. Didn't try the food but will definitely be going back.
Miranda Scalabrino
Amazing experience. The cocktails are some of the best we’ve ever had and elegantly crafted. Super interesting combinations that are just delicious. Food was also top notch and a great accompaniment to the drinks. Service was phenomenal and incredibly knowledgeable.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
ChrisG
It's simply the best. No one comes close to how inventive and delicious the cocktails are at Kumiko. My date and I opted for mostly Spirit-Free and you really don't miss the booze. The food was incredible - don't sleep on the potato salad - all around. We sat at the bar and received incredibly gracious service and loved watching the bartenders work with grace and precision. Cannot recommend this place enough!
We initially booked the tasting experience for two through OpenTable. It required payment upfront, which asked for a tip, but it turns out that they’re already included a 20% service charge, which was not made clear to me before I paid the additional 15%, making it a total of 35% in gratuities that I paid in the end. This part feels not at all transparent to the customers.After we got to the restaurant we were told the tasting menu we pre-paid was not available and had to be book 24h in advance (which was not mentioned prior to our booking through the app or through phone) so we had to switch to a la carte. Note: if you don’t do the tasting menu, there isn’t a lot of choice for food.The service could also be improved. Our server was not very attentive and we waited quite a bit after each request while the server was chatting away with other staff. This level of service was subpar given the price point; this would have been completely fine at a fast food restaurant or pizzeria, but if I’m paying $400 for two, I would expect better.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
Wow - an absolutely perfect bar experience. If you like Bar Goto in NYC, this is like turning that experience up a couple of notches. Flawlessly executed cocktails, bar food executed with great precision, and an ambience that would easily have me believe this was transported straight from Japan.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Unlike any experience I've ever had! The level of knowledge and service from this team was unreal. Maddy was an excellent server as we sat and enjoyed some cocktails and a small bite at the bar. Her recommendations based on our preferences/flavor profile were spot on.The cocktails were so carefully crafted and the depth of flavor was unmatched! The servers also brought you over the bottles to look at while enjoying your libation. It was very high-end service with a lot of little touches that really contributed to our experience. The environment was very relaxed/laid-back despite how fancy everything else felt!We enjoyed the Karaagé (always a favorite) and the texture on this was phenomenal.Also met and enjoyed conversation with some people at the bar which is one of my favorite reasons for sitting in a shared space! We ended up going somewhere after enjoying some sake together.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken Karaage
I'd heard nothing but good things about Kumiko for a while, and I can see why! The drinks, food, and service were all outstanding. The roasted sunchokes with whipped tofu and wasabi stand out as a unique and creative yet also undeniably delicious dish. The Unabridged was like cross between a whiskey sour and an espresso martini, another unexpected and very tasty creation. I will definitely be back.
We had a phenomenal time. We are from Detroit and work at one of our top cocktail bars; our GM set up our reservation for Kumiko and suggested it highly. We came in on Sunday the 25th around 8:30pm.The cocktails and the food were lovely. We both really enjoyed the up in the clouds but my chocolate cherry milk punch was beautifully balanced with the campari that was in it. My co-worker also got a hot toddy sort of riff which he said he didn't know he needed until he got it lol.We had had dinner earlier so I just did dessert and they were both delicious. The one with truffle on top seemed off but fit with the dish well and the sweet to savory balance was on point. I liked the gooey-ness of the the sweet potato mochi; can't choose a favorite. My co-worker got karaage and he was still talking about it on Tuesday lol.I can't quite remember the bartender who took care of the rails name but she was very kind and sweet; had an envious shake! We liked the touch of the main spirit being brought to you to look over.Rachel helped us out a lot and she was a gem; really helped make the visit. Thank you Rachel!The atmosphere is very calming and serene despite the restaurant being full. All the staff was very knowledgeable on the product they were selling.If I ever am back in Chicago I'd definitely make a stop here again. Kudos to the staff and owner, keep it up, you're doing it right lol!
Great place, best old fashioned in the
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken Karaage, Japanese Potato Salad
@lydieats ? My favorite cocktail bar in Chicago They are so deserving of their spot as the best bar in Midwest. Truly a special experience elevated by the gentle, quiet energy that’s often hard to find in West Loop. Kinda tough to snag a last minute reservation but bar seatings are first come first serve!Prepare to be charmed by Kumiko’s extensive cocktail menu filled with delicate names. Loved the milk punch Clear to the eye but milky to your taste buds. It tastes bright and has this subtle sweet & creamy flavor that masks the alcohol taste. From the signature, try the sea flower - zesty, salty and fun. Ask for recs too bc the servers light up to share their favs!Food menu is limited but has the essentials. Treat it as a complement to your drinks, especially the pickles and nuts!! Do not leave without getting the truffle milk toast ? Perfectly toasted Japanese milk bread topped with fermented honey ice cream and truffle shavings. It’s sweet and tastes so expensive. The perfect way to end your night.? Sakura Milk Punch $20*? Sea Flower $19*? Otsukémono $4? Shiso Nori Cashews $7? Karaage $13? Japanese potato salad $6? Truffle milk toast $15*My favorite cocktail bar in Chicago. Comfortable yet luxurious. As the #1 bar in the Midwest, you must reserve a table in advance, but walk-ins are allowed at the bar! The cocktail list is huge and the names are extremely romantic ? If you tell us your taste, the servers will enthusiastically recommend it. For snacks, we recommend tsukemono and nuts to enhance the flavor of the drink! Enjoy a light meal and finish with truffle toast.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Drinks were okay, don't understand the hype to he honest. They over dress all the drinks to mask the base which is quite disappointing for using such nice liquors. Food was over seasoned and over salted but brought out quickly. Presentation was okay.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 4
Kumiko is best known in Chicago (and the world) as a bar. Technically, they describe it as a Japanese Dining Bar. With the addition of their tasting menu, Kumiko has evolved to one of Chicago's best restaurants -- with amazing crafted cocktails. Call it whatever you want. Just go. My wife and I went to Kumiko recently for the tasting menu (with saké pairings...cause we love saké). The meal was spectacular -- starting with a trio of bites: 1) raw scallop crudo, 2) a kampachi nigiri, 3) an oyster that was one of the best oyster bites we've every had. Second was a prawn set that raised the already lofty bar: 1) raw spot prawn, 2) blue prawn with torched lardo and 3) a pork gyoza-filled crispy prawn head (edible, like soft-shell crab). Making a crunchy gyoza with prawn shell in lieu of dumpling was genius. The menu kept on rising. All through the evening, expert and caring service guided our night. It was such a lovely evening. My point is that the food / glorious food at Kumiko is what Chicago should be talking about -- since we love our food in this town (hats off to duo chef team Alex and Josh). But, back to Bar Kumiko's claim to fame...the drinks. Yes, you must start with a cocktail at Kumiko. They were suberb of course, cause drinks are why Kumiko exists. But, my wife and I loved the perfectly paired saké. We learned about the range and versitility of saké and we learned about brewmasters in Japan that Julia and team love...and why. Food, drinks, service, atmosphere. Our night at Kumiko had it all. If you've been to Kumiko; go again. If you haven't been to Kumiko; go.
A must try for drinks, but the food left a lot to be desired. The drinks are expensive, but they have something for everyone, even though the whiskey option is limited they still make good drinks selections. The food; however, was some of the most salty food I have ever had. Would not recommend eating here, but a must try for drinks.
Restaurantji Recommends
Absolutely incredible experience. Easily one of the best bars in the United States. Exceptional service and attention to detail. Inventive cocktails and extremely accommodating for any dietary or drink preferences. Be sure to try a cocktail component flight!
went there twice in a week, visited Chicago for vacation and my birthday. received a birthday card with staff signature, which was nice. first time sit at a table for 4, and 2nd time at bar for 2. Drinks are great, each very unique. I like the component flight. the only thing I wish would be better is the 1-hour time at the bar when I made the reservation. So I had to rush 6 drinks for 2 people in 1 hour to try the drinks I was curious of. Granted they did not kick me off the bar, but with gentle reminder the service time was up.
Outstanding cocktails and service. The place has a nice ambiance and the staff is extremely knowledgeable. I would recommend sitting at the bar. Didn't try the food but will definitely be going back.
Amazing experience. The cocktails are some of the best we’ve ever had and elegantly crafted. Super interesting combinations that are just delicious. Food was also top notch and a great accompaniment to the drinks. Service was phenomenal and incredibly knowledgeable.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
It's simply the best. No one comes close to how inventive and delicious the cocktails are at Kumiko. My date and I opted for mostly Spirit-Free and you really don't miss the booze. The food was incredible - don't sleep on the potato salad - all around. We sat at the bar and received incredibly gracious service and loved watching the bartenders work with grace and precision. Cannot recommend this place enough!