50 Best Japanese Restaurants near Winnetka

“Great fresh sushi and the owners are amazing!!! Everything I tasted was delicious, and some things I had never tried before“

“Jimoto is a true gem in Winnetka, and Kai's service elevates the entire experience to something extraordinary. Every time I visit, I'm reminded why this place stands out from the rest. Kai's attention to detail and genuine warmth make dining here feel less like a restaurant visit and more like being welcomed into someone's home. Their consistent excellence in service - always attentive without being intrusive - shows a real understanding of what great hospitality means. What makes this place special isn't just the delicious food (though that's certainly part of it) - it's the way Kai and the team create an atmosphere that keeps you coming back. They remember preferences, make thoughtful recommendations, and ensure every guest feels like a regular. If you're looking for a dining experience that combines excellent Japanese cuisine with truly outstanding service, Jimoto is the place, and if Kai is your server, you're in for a treat. Consistently the best indeed.“

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

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

“I really like this place! I had the Tantanmen ramen and chicken karaage and both were bomb. Great service too. We were seated quickly and our food came out in under 10 mins. 5/5 stars in my book!“

“Excellent Ramen. Excellent bartender in Helen Try the Mango Tango Vegi Roll.“

“Manooben is the cutest little hole-in-the-wall! It's cozy, homey, and owned by the sweetest Korean mama and papa. The kind of place that makes you feel at home. The name of the restaurant is an acronym for maki, noodle, and bento lol. So cute.

I tried the hand roll combo. Two massive hand rolls, packed with fresh ingredients, and a bowl of homemade udon that hit all the spot. The broth was simple but flavorful. It was clean and refreshingly light. The hand rolls were absolutely perfect. I'd go weekly for this combo if this place was near my workplace.

I also tried the spring train maki. The texture and flavors were solid, but those rolls are so fat and hearty, it will fill your whole mouth with every bite. You can really feel the love from the papa chef with those fat cuts.

Lastly, I tried the sashimi rice (Hwedupbap). The bowl was massive, and I wanted one at home so bad. This dish is also very simple, fresh sashimi over rice, drizzled with their homemade sauce. I love a good homemade sauce. I ended up squeezing that sauce onto every bite cause I love my food saucy.

Such a small place, full of love! I can't wait to go back.“

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

“Insanely delicious and fresh sushi.“

“Great food, fresh ingredients… worth every penny!“

“First time here! Everything was delicious.“

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

“fantastic tiny place but the food sushi huge selection and ramen are great. I have such a nice experience Everytime I go there. The owners Akira and Kathy are THE NICEST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD. REALLY PLEASANT! I go next door for a pedi and I just feel so relaxed and nice going in this mini strip mall. I really recommend both. if your having a crappy day go get a pedi and enjoy some great sushi or ramen. it's a counter place but it has its own charm and coziness. they use to own the restaurant in Wilmette but downsized. so help keep this gem and go often.😀“

“have eaten here for many years. I am aware of the new management but we will continue to come to the eat at RengaTei“

“We liked very much. We strongly recommend“

“The widest selection of Sushi grade seafood Ive seen on a menu in a Long time- all very fresh and very generously portioned! Octopus and salmon Sashimi were the dessert orders from our kids 😂 We will definetly be returning, and highly recommend. Servers, Host, Owner, entire staff was extremely attentive- and to top it all they were happily and safely able to accomodate my childs severe dairy and peanut allergies (first sushi experience for him, and we Love seafood, so huge win for the whole family 🙌🏼)“

“Awesome vibe, the atmosphere is spectacular and the service is exceptional! We got ramen which was very nice. You can add or take away from any of your choice ramen. We also got a cucumber salad, their fried chicken and kimchi, all very good.You order everything via an iPad, even order water. Very cool services. We will definitely be coming back for the sushi next!“

“My family and I got several bowls from Koya. We loved all of the customizable toppings it offers as well as the complimentary miso soups and cookies that come with the bowls. The ingredients were fresh, and portions were pretty large. The food was very reasonably priced.“

“We had a fabulous dinner last night at Chicago Kalbi with Cummins Peru, Komat'su, and the VPs from Antimina copper mine.

Such a great place, where you cook the wagyu & kobe beef at your table. The food was delicious ?

Isao Tozuka, the chef and his wife Chiyo-san, are fabulous hosts, very friendly, and really happy to help and show you how things are do e.

I would definitely recommend coming here. It's a unique place. Make sure you book though ad it can be busy.“

“Good food with good asmosphere. I really recommend this restaurant if you are in a mood of craving yummy food!“

“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.“

“I am not local, this is a regular go-to place for a friend, so when I visit with her, she wants to bring me. I had a Chinese Eggplant with chicken dish, flavorful and spicy. Also had some nigiri sushi, all very good. The Black Tobiko was plentiful and fresh. The Tamago and Inari, which are types of sushi that are deceptively simple seeming but really show a chef's knowledge and artistry, were excellent. I'm sure I will go again.“

“Absolutely delicious! Kind and cozy atmosphere. Wonderful staff. Highly recommend to anyone visiting Chicago 🍜🍣🫶🏼“

“Excellent food and service!! Highly recommend!“

“Best kosher sushi in Chicago.“

“A Big Shout Out to Happi Sushi in Highland Park. We were lucky enough to try a number of their apps and rolls. Every single thing we got was SO delicious 😋. Their sushi was fresh, tasty, and so yummy. The apps are unique and full of flavor. We just love this family owned restaurant. The staff goes above and beyond for each patron. Please try Happi Sushi, Friends. You will not be disappointed!!“

“Love this place. Very fresh sushi!“

“Good food for a great price. Service was fine, not friendly, not rude, but very quick and competent.
Trust me on this, get the noodles, oh yes yummy. And add veggies, very satisfying. Hubs agrees.
I was happily surprised by the amount of well made food for the price. And made quickly.“

“I cannot say enough good things about Koya. I was so happy to find this restaurant. Everything we ordered, tempura, tempura udon soup, kids bento boxes, and sushi was incredibly good. Can't wait to go back!

Kid-friendliness: The bento box options for the kids were great! My 2 and 5 year olds loved it.“

“I absolutely LOVE this place ! I love the staff . They make me feel welcomed every time I come and the food is delicious! Best sushi , noodles and soups I’ve ever tried. Even the smoothies are amazing. This place deserves more than 5 stars.“

“Nice vibe on a Saturday night, pretty busy. The restaurant is very nice looking inside. Our server was great, but very busy. The food was OK. We had several different things and some better than others. The tuna crispy rice was pretty good. The potstickers were also pretty good. The spicy deluxe funeral was very good, but the noodle dish we had was not something we would order again. It was thin noodles with vegetables and beef. The beef was very small and very dry/overcooked. The noodles didn't really have enough sauce. Overall, I would like to come again and order more sushi and try other items. I think it's worth another try. Some things we saw at other tables looked good, but it was our first time eating there and we didn't know what to order.“

“Yummy food and good service.“

“First time going here was amazing, staff was great and very respectful, and don’t even get me started on the ramen, everything about it was amazing from the taste to the look. But yeah honestly great place to grab ramen.“

“Fresh, Fresh, Fresh Seafoods! Great Service! Tasty foods.“

“Akai Hana has been in business for over 30 years, and the steady traffic means the sushi is fresh and safe, offered at a good price. However, the ambiance is lacking, with an outdated, cafeteria-like vibe and cheap-looking menus. It’s a solid spot for a quick, no-frills sushi meal, but not the place for a special dining experience.“

“Love this place, the food is delicious! Anything I’ve ordered has been amazing and my friends say the same!“

“Great place to hangout and good sushi“

“The Food Was Delicious. I Got The Mad Spicy Steak Bowl Yakisoba Style ? (Highly Recommended For My Spicy Lovers & Spicy Lovers Only) The Steak Was Flavorful And Texture Was Cooked To Perfection. My Partner Got The Chicken Spicy And He Loved It, I Tried His Chicken And It Was Sooo Good! I Highly Recommend Getting The Combo Meal To Try The Delicious Eggroll With The Signature Sauce (I Ended Getting An Extra On To Go) 10/10
The Energy Was Amazing And The Guy On The Register Was So Kind & Accommodating. 10/10

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“Over the years, Indie Cafe has been amazingly kind and thoughtful in their service, and their food preparations and presentations always go above and beyond all of my expectations. From quadruple-checking whether or not a menu item is gluten-free, to recommending the best wine/sake pairings for an entrée, their staff have always ensured that I've left their restaurant knowing that I was appreciated as a customer. And welcomed as a friend. Maya is hands-down one of the most excellent servers I've had the pleasure of dining with. She always goes above and beyond with her level of professionalism and attention, and her personality is lovely as well! Given the quality of their sashimi, the creativity behind their menu, and the warmth in their hearts? I look forward to dining with them for many years to come.“

“Had a great time last night. Thank you so very much!! Excellent!“

“The food was awesome!!! I definitely recommend! 🙂“

“We had a great meal here! The food was super fresh and tasty, and the staff was really nice, suggesting dishes that fit our diet. It's a family-friendly spot, and we left feeling really happy. We'll definitely be back! Thank you!!“

“Wonderful dining experience. Excellent food and fantastic service. Service was top notch for a large group (12).“

“The best sushi spot in Evanston. They flew in a 200 lb tuna from Japan.“

“My first time at a hibachi restaurant and it was amazing and such a great experience, Food was Delicious!!!!“

“My favorite sushi place! Love their Spicy Salmon Maki! Nice cozy place.“

“Food was excellent. Highly recommend.“

“Great food and beautiful restaurant ambience.“

“Tantan noodles was delicious.
Surprisingly, I didn't expect that tasty soup bowl at a food court restaurant.
The broth was rich and full of taste.
The greens were fresh, noodles were cooked well, and even the ramen egg, which I normally skip, was good.
I really enjoyed my lunch bowl.“

“Parking: There is a parking garage directly under the restaurant, taking the elevator up brings you right next to the patio. There were plenty of parking spots.

Wheelchair accessibility: The two sets of doors into the restaurant are not automatic, but the restaurant is very wheelchair accessible otherwise, and parking in the garage below, you're able to take an elevator up easily.“