Sushi by Scratch Restaurants: Chicago

Sushi was good but the vibe is WAY better... if you love a non stuffy experience then this is it. The table had good vibes the chefs were good vibes... the experience is pricy though so be prepared to spend some change.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 5

The best omakase experience in Chicago

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Amazing, we went there earlier for free drinks. I love all of the experiences of services and each bite, the best for me is Madai.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Tasha, Roger, yang, jenhan… the best experience.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

A stylish place with very fresh and delicious sushi, where each plate looks like a small work of art. An excellent choice for dinner with company or a special occasion, with a great combination of taste and presentation.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 4

Hands down one of the best omakase spots in the city

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

This was my second time coming and my husband's first time. we went for our anniversary and it was FANTASTIC. Chef Naomi is a true artisan who brings flair, creativity and personality to make such a wonderful experience. There was one of the additional chefs (cannot remember his name but I know he is Korean) that also created such a fun experience (he is so funny) but watching him was like watching a sculptor craft an edible piece. It was WONDERFUL

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

A phenomenal first omakase experience for both me and my partner. The food was spectacular, well-refined, and matched beautifully with the personality of our chef hosts. The Korean chef on our side of the table was an absolute blessing, truly elevated the night by a thousand-fold with his craftsmanship and humor. The chefs are all incredibly focused and proud of their work, while also displaying such kindhearted and cheerful attitude throughout the 2.5 hr experience. You can truly feel their passion for their craft and can taste it too, as every mouthful is an incredible journey. The speakeasy nature of getting into the actual dining area and the moody atmosphere make it a true one-of-a-kind experience.

Could not recommend this enough… if you’re looking for a nice evening with great company and unique but delicious sushi offerings, you’ve found the right place.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Memorable, fun night. The food was excellent and we especially enjoyed our conversations and banter with Chef Sung.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Sushi by Scratch Restaurants: Chicago offers a refreshing twist on the traditional omakase experience, standing out from many other spots in the city. What truly sets it apart is the thoughtful use of flavor enhancers—infused oils, special salts, unique spices, and other subtle touches that elevate each bite with surprising layers of depth. Every piece feels intentionally crafted, not just in technique but in the way flavors are built and balanced.

The ambiance is beautiful and intimate, setting the perfect backdrop for a memorable dining experience. But the real highlight is the service. The chefs are incredibly interactive and entertaining, bringing personality and storytelling to each course. Their engagement transforms the meal into a fun, immersive journey—something you don’t often find at more traditional omakase counters.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

I wish this experience on everyone I love. It was phenomenal. The food is soooo good, but the whole thing is amazing. It's an intimate setting, only 8 people at the table. You can see them make everything, from the rice to cutting all the fish to making the fresh Wasabi and all the plating. In fact, it's hard to catch up and talk with your party because there's so much to follow along with and talk to the chefs/staff about. And they are all so friendly and tolerated our rowdy group very well. I'd love to do this again! Highly recommend!!! Just know that it's INSIDE the burger joint. After you walk in, a few yards to your right is a panel that looks like a wall but it's got a keypad on it; that's the entrance, no signs otherwise.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Perfect.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Chef Naomi gave us an incredible experience. Everything was perfect from the taste to the presentation. The whole crew had great chemistry and really helped make the dinner feel like a one of a kind experience. Do yourself a favor and go here immediately.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Sushi by scratch Is hands down the best Omakase experience I’ve had living in Chicago so far and the most expensive $500 for two people without ordering drinks. The space is beautiful & intimate. The service was extremely professional and descriptive in terms of the pairings and omakase flavors that were experienced. The fish was delicious and super fresh!! (flown in from Japan) and the toppings on the nigiri were incredible unique. Sushi by scratch knows texture, knows taste, it's great smells of each piece, it's the char, it's the vibes, it's the environment of this place, it's the chefs creativity every thing about it is exquisite!! Prior to coming, we were asked to come 30 minutes early to enjoy the canapés complimentary drink tuna roll and oyster, I am more than happy to have made it in 30 minutes before our reservation. That complimentary drink? Wow. Ginger, yuzu, jwhiskey, and sake made me turn my head bc it was phenomenal. One of the many things that I love the most about Sushi by Scratch is that they announce the sushi that they're giving you also describe it to give you key things to look out for. And then all of the sudden, it just makes sense. The symphony of flavors, it's by far the best omakase experience I've had here in Chicago(2nd time I’ve said that) It's a really great and personalized experience. They even have your names on the board which is adorable. It was my niece‘s 21st birthday and her first omakase experience and she loved it!
I set the bar high for her going here haha but we had so much fun with the sushi guys Highly recommend this restaurant to everyone, especially since it's such a unique surprise making your way to a sushi speakeasy hidden inside of NADC burger basement!! Oh and don’t forget to give your code!! 100%recommend!!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

I was a Japanese major in college, lived in Japan for 3 years, speak, read, and write Japanese, and over a 40+ year career traveled to Japan over 150 times. I KNOW sushi and this was GREAT sushi. The ingredients were fresh. The preparation flawless. The presentation amazing. I particularly enjoyed chatting with Chef Naomi about her approach to sushi and how she used her knowledge of traditional Japanese sushi to improve it.

Make no mistake, this is not traditional Japanese sushi. It is also decidedly NOT mass market, street corner, Thai-Chinese-Supermarket sushi. This is sushi which has benefited from American creativity and ingenuity by trained chefs. Japanese may turn their nose at that, but any serious gourmand will recognize the improvements and applaud their use. For some reason, Japanese trained in kaizen, ( 改善）continual improvement, should be applying this to food but they don't. This, however, is the beauty of American culture. We are a melting pot of ideas and a foundry for taking ideas from the old world and reshaping them to meet the present.

I highly recommend Sushi by Scratch. It is expensive, but entirely worth it. This is not just food on a plate. It is and experience. Before going, learn as much about Japanese cuisine as possible. Sample other sushi restaurants, then be prepared to be blown away!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5