Sushi was good but not worth the price. While you get many courses, I’d prefer they serve fewer courses and give higher quality fish. King salmon, fatty tuna, uni, and eel were the standouts.
Servers were attentive, but the description of each fish was rushed and I could barely hear them most of the time. Not very personalized.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 4
Loriane Duplessis
The food is good. We were seated at the bar so we could watch the different chefs cooking in front of us, which was nice and made for a very Asian experience. We chose menu plus wine pairing and the chef's special. Basically we tried everything. Even if the food is very good, the value for money is not there (almost 800 dollars for 2) and the service is very far from a 1 star restaurant. When we arrived, no one offered to take our coats and bags. I had to put my bag directly on the floor and my long jacket was dragging on the floor ... nobody to pull the chair or to accompany us to our departure, which for me are classic service for a star restaurant. The service didn't respect the customer's rhythm. I'm a slow eater, but they kept sending out dishes and glasses of wine. Until I found myself with 3 different glasses + water and 4 plates. Ridiculous. Even in a classic restaurant, I've never had my cocktail served at the same time as the wine, or been served my dish while I was still eating the starter... doesn’t worth your money!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: Sushi
Max Dennard
Absolutely phenomenal dinner. To date, my favorite meal I’ve ever had. Amazing care taken into preparing each course, fantastic service, and just overall an amazing time.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Nigiri, Sushi
joon k
Best sushi in town. Well balanced traditional sushi and innovative hot dishes. recommend for a date night!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sushi
Peter Nozicka
Delightful experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Betty
Mako is NOT worth the money they charge. The food was mediocre at best and they give the thinnest slices of fish possible. We left hungry and I usually get full after a few bites so… yeah. The chef and the ones bringing food to the bar spoke so softly we couldn’t understand half the things they said. Therefore, it was nice that they provided a mini written menu of the dishes that we were getting beforehand. They also had a problem with the pay machine and we had to get up to go pay and couldn’t even get a physical receipt. I am truly shocked that this place has a Michelin star. I’ve had much better omakase experiences for cheaper. Anyways, I would spend a little more money and go for a three star restaurant in the city.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 2
Peter
If you come here just for the food I imagine you may leave pretty happy I have complaints but only because I've lived in Japan it would be unfair for me to tell a regular chicagoan that the food here is bad. The only thing that I'll say bad about the food is that the rice here is hard and not good (because it's easy to fix). But the service here is not great and is why I leave a poor review today. When you enter the restaurant the door is incredibly heavy and feels locked and there is no one to greet you. You are asked to provide a deposit and arrive 10 minutes early as if you are the unreliable one but they will ignore you for around around 30 minutes before the even bring you water. The blonde female waitress quietly reads off the wines and dishes like she's upset you came. She did brighten up when I made a joke to her so maybe try telling one at the start of your meal. At one point when they served me negitoro maki (the cheapest maki in Japan) I took a bite and asked for soy sauce (mainly out of curiosity because they didn't provide it normally and not even the most expensive sushi restaurant in Japan wouldn't have it) and the waiters first words to me were "the food is actually pretty seasoned." But he was clearly an intern so I let it slide. There is one bathroom here that has a theme and design but is not super clean. This amount i paid ($470 for two) with a pre-included 20% gratuity probably should have bought me much better service in addition to food.
I came here for my own birthday for nostalgia but I left feeling that if I ever took a Japanese client here the experience would probably really sour the relationship by a lot. So overall I think I cannot recommend Mako.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 2
Talia Simon
The food was truly incredible and I really mean outstanding - one of the best gastronomical experiences I’ve had. The service was however inconsistent, some of the staff seemed not interested in being there, didn’t know what they were serving, mumbled it, or read off of the little paper notes on the tables. The non alcoholic cocktails were an afterthought, as someone who doesn’t drink I would have expected more subtle or nuanced drinks, the passion fruit drink I had was basically just juice with ice, no garnish, and two cocktail straws which was just weird. One of the drinks was taken before it was done, the other was left empty after more than 5 courses went by. It may seem nitpicky but for a place that expensive, with a Michelin star, the service left me a little underwhelmed. Also the AC was blasting so bring a sweater.
Food: 5
Service: 3
Yifan Chen (Peter)
Mako in Chicago is where sushi dreams come true! This sleek and intimate spot offers an omakase experience that’s as much a show as it is a meal. Every dish is like a work of art, with top-notch ingredients and creative flavors that make you savor every bite. The chefs here are masters at what they do, crafting a sushi journey that feels exclusive and unforgettable. If you're ready to treat yourself to some serious sushi magic, Mako's got you covered.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tamago, Salmon Sashimi, Mackerel, Wagyu, Uni
Justin Ramos
Food: High quality. Wasn't stuffed by the end but was a decent amount of food. Favorite was the "off-menu" salmon/white truffle. Least favorite was the squab dish (not bad but just felt out of place). Could've also used another dessert.
Service: Some minor-ish mistakes by our waiters (opened a sparkling water bottle and it fizzed everywhere, an incorrect drink order, napkin was not folded after using restroom). They did give us handwritten birthday cards at end of service which was nice. For a Michelin star, I do expect better (perhaps an off night).
Atmosphere: Intimate seating but wow was it cold in there. The thermostat must have been <69. Bring a layer. I enjoyed the playlist a lot.
Possibly the best culinary experience I've had the pleasure to partake in. Can't recommend it to everyone because of the price ($200-$300), but if you can afford it then it's a once in a lifetime kind of meal.
Dietary restrictions: I let them know I was pescatarian and did not drink alcohol ahead of time (in case of pairings). Had a wonderful tea with the meal and they replaced seared wagyu beef with a delectable seared fish for me.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sushi
Vanya Boranova
Service was subpar for a Michelin star restaurant, the check came back incorrect with additional items we did not order. The servers were not attentive. One of the courses was over salted.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 1
Emily Choate
Might be the best sushimi in Chicago.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Avi Ferris
amazing sushi! some of the best i've ever had! service was incredible too!
Msjuliepeach
Ok Mako, you are Michelin star rated, please start acting like it! There is a certain lack of respect towards your guests - let me explain. When you have a guest, please introduce yourself. I am coming to you for an experience, not for you to just put food and drinks in front of me. This goes for all staff: host, servers, chefs and anyone else present during service. The lack of human connection is up front. I feel like another dollar. After a $700+ tab, for 2 people, I would like human connection. Also, I can really taste the SHRINKFLATION. Just slightly less fish to same amount of rice can be felt in each bite AND on each plate. Please, give your customers what they paid for. I know that running a profitable restaurant business is not easy, but having customers whom want to come back for seconds and thirds and who will tell their friends is where you succeed. I don't believe that you deserve a Michelin Star! Better service received by Benjamin after asking for his name. Chef at the counter - no engagement in conversation from him, all engagement from us. Host and Female server- no name, no engagement in conversation. Cold and sterile environment from all staff. I am not coming to you for a funeral, I am here to have a good time and celebrate life, eat great food and make new memories. But your rules make me feel like I am in a museum. This is absolutely ridiculous and against HOSPITALITY! There is nothing hospitable about serving a stranger and ZERO engagement. I would leave a bigger tip if you and I connected, if you made me feel like a welcome guest. But you made me feel like another customer, like another number on a Friday night. I will give 3 stars for quality of food, preparation, execution and wine/ sake pairing.
Sushi was good but not worth the price. While you get many courses, I’d prefer they serve fewer courses and give higher quality fish. King salmon, fatty tuna, uni, and eel were the standouts.
Servers were attentive, but the description of each fish was rushed and I could barely hear them most of the time. Not very personalized.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 4
The food is good. We were seated at the bar so we could watch the different chefs cooking in front of us, which was nice and made for a very Asian experience. We chose menu plus wine pairing and the chef's special. Basically we tried everything. Even if the food is very good, the value for money is not there (almost 800 dollars for 2) and the service is very far from a 1 star restaurant. When we arrived, no one offered to take our coats and bags. I had to put my bag directly on the floor and my long jacket was dragging on the floor ... nobody to pull the chair or to accompany us to our departure, which for me are classic service for a star restaurant. The service didn't respect the customer's rhythm. I'm a slow eater, but they kept sending out dishes and glasses of wine. Until I found myself with 3 different glasses + water and 4 plates. Ridiculous. Even in a classic restaurant, I've never had my cocktail served at the same time as the wine, or been served my dish while I was still eating the starter... doesn’t worth your money!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: Sushi
Absolutely phenomenal dinner. To date, my favorite meal I’ve ever had. Amazing care taken into preparing each course, fantastic service, and just overall an amazing time.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Nigiri, Sushi
Best sushi in town. Well balanced traditional sushi and innovative hot dishes. recommend for a date night!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sushi
Delightful experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Mako is NOT worth the money they charge. The food was mediocre at best and they give the thinnest slices of fish possible. We left hungry and I usually get full after a few bites so… yeah. The chef and the ones bringing food to the bar spoke so softly we couldn’t understand half the things they said. Therefore, it was nice that they provided a mini written menu of the dishes that we were getting beforehand. They also had a problem with the pay machine and we had to get up to go pay and couldn’t even get a physical receipt.
I am truly shocked that this place has a Michelin star. I’ve had much better omakase experiences for cheaper. Anyways, I would spend a little more money and go for a three star restaurant in the city.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 2
If you come here just for the food I imagine you may leave pretty happy I have complaints but only because I've lived in Japan it would be unfair for me to tell a regular chicagoan that the food here is bad. The only thing that I'll say bad about the food is that the rice here is hard and not good (because it's easy to fix). But the service here is not great and is why I leave a poor review today. When you enter the restaurant the door is incredibly heavy and feels locked and there is no one to greet you. You are asked to provide a deposit and arrive 10 minutes early as if you are the unreliable one but they will ignore you for around around 30 minutes before the even bring you water. The blonde female waitress quietly reads off the wines and dishes like she's upset you came. She did brighten up when I made a joke to her so maybe try telling one at the start of your meal. At one point when they served me negitoro maki (the cheapest maki in Japan) I took a bite and asked for soy sauce (mainly out of curiosity because they didn't provide it normally and not even the most expensive sushi restaurant in Japan wouldn't have it) and the waiters first words to me were "the food is actually pretty seasoned." But he was clearly an intern so I let it slide. There is one bathroom here that has a theme and design but is not super clean. This amount i paid ($470 for two) with a pre-included 20% gratuity probably should have bought me much better service in addition to food.
I came here for my own birthday for nostalgia but I left feeling that if I ever took a Japanese client here the experience would probably really sour the relationship by a lot. So overall I think I cannot recommend Mako.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 2
The food was truly incredible and I really mean outstanding - one of the best gastronomical experiences I’ve had. The service was however inconsistent, some of the staff seemed not interested in being there, didn’t know what they were serving, mumbled it, or read off of the little paper notes on the tables. The non alcoholic cocktails were an afterthought, as someone who doesn’t drink I would have expected more subtle or nuanced drinks, the passion fruit drink I had was basically just juice with ice, no garnish, and two cocktail straws which was just weird. One of the drinks was taken before it was done, the other was left empty after more than 5 courses went by. It may seem nitpicky but for a place that expensive, with a Michelin star, the service left me a little underwhelmed. Also the AC was blasting so bring a sweater.
Food: 5
Service: 3
Mako in Chicago is where sushi dreams come true! This sleek and intimate spot offers an omakase experience that’s as much a show as it is a meal. Every dish is like a work of art, with top-notch ingredients and creative flavors that make you savor every bite. The chefs here are masters at what they do, crafting a sushi journey that feels exclusive and unforgettable. If you're ready to treat yourself to some serious sushi magic, Mako's got you covered.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tamago, Salmon Sashimi, Mackerel, Wagyu, Uni
Food: High quality. Wasn't stuffed by the end but was a decent amount of food. Favorite was the "off-menu" salmon/white truffle. Least favorite was the squab dish (not bad but just felt out of place). Could've also used another dessert.
Service: Some minor-ish mistakes by our waiters (opened a sparkling water bottle and it fizzed everywhere, an incorrect drink order, napkin was not folded after using restroom). They did give us handwritten birthday cards at end of service which was nice. For a Michelin star, I do expect better (perhaps an off night).
Atmosphere: Intimate seating but wow was it cold in there. The thermostat must have been <69. Bring a layer. I enjoyed the playlist a lot.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 2
Restaurantji Recommends
Possibly the best culinary experience I've had the pleasure to partake in. Can't recommend it to everyone because of the price ($200-$300), but if you can afford it then it's a once in a lifetime kind of meal.
Dietary restrictions: I let them know I was pescatarian and did not drink alcohol ahead of time (in case of pairings). Had a wonderful tea with the meal and they replaced seared wagyu beef with a delectable seared fish for me.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sushi
Service was subpar for a Michelin star restaurant, the check came back incorrect with additional items we did not order. The servers were not attentive. One of the courses was over salted.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 1
Might be the best sushimi in Chicago.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
amazing sushi! some of the best i've ever had! service was incredible too!
Ok Mako, you are Michelin star rated, please start acting like it!
There is a certain lack of respect towards your guests - let me explain.
When you have a guest, please introduce yourself. I am coming to you for an experience, not for you to just put food and drinks in front of me. This goes for all staff: host, servers, chefs and anyone else present during service.
The lack of human connection is up front. I feel like another dollar. After a $700+ tab, for 2 people, I would like human connection.
Also, I can really taste the SHRINKFLATION. Just slightly less fish to same amount of rice can be felt in each bite AND on each plate. Please, give your customers what they paid for. I
know that running a profitable restaurant business is not easy, but having customers whom want to come back for seconds and thirds and who will tell their friends is where you succeed. I don't believe that you deserve a Michelin Star!
Better service received by Benjamin after asking for his name. Chef at the counter - no engagement in conversation from him, all engagement from us. Host and Female server- no name, no engagement in conversation. Cold and sterile environment from all staff. I am not coming to you for a funeral, I am here to have a good time and celebrate life, eat great food and make new memories. But your rules make me feel like I am in a museum. This is absolutely ridiculous and against HOSPITALITY! There is nothing hospitable about serving a stranger and ZERO engagement. I would leave a bigger tip if you and I connected, if you made me feel like a welcome guest. But you made me feel like another customer, like another number on a Friday night. I will give 3 stars for quality of food, preparation, execution and wine/ sake pairing.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Sushi
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