Itoko

Posted on May 24, 2023 by steve

Three piece handroll set: scallop, salmon, spicy tuna

JEWEL BAKO "CHIRASHI DON STYLE" — JEWEL BAKO “CHIRASHI DON STYLE”

"Donatsu" (chocolate filled) with matcha semi-fredo — “Donatsu” (chocolate filled) with matcha semi-fredo

***** (5 stars)

Toko is a fantastic addition to the area’s sushi scene. It’s a “cousin” to Momotaro, but I actually think it is better.

Everything we tried was a home run, so it’s hard to pick favorites. Certainly the shitaki robata is the best mushroom you will ever eat. The way the Jewel Bako was served was remarkable: like a chirashi on rice, but as a kit with nori so you could assemble your own hand rolls. The three-piece hand roll set was a good way to experience the variety of what they can do, and the horizontal handrolls are so much more complex, yet easier to eat, than the conventional cones. I’m not normally a big fan of gyoza, but the presentation and flavors here were amazing.

Service was great. A particular shout out to the bus staff, who were very knowledgeable, and extraordinarily attentive.

The only downside is the noise level. Even at half full, this is a boisterous space, so don’t plan a romantic night out here. But for great sushi, it’s hard to beat.

Itoko
3325 N Southport Ave
Chicago, IL 60657

https://www.yelp.com/biz/itoko-chicago-2

SUSHI-SAN

Posted on December 21, 2022 by steve

***** (5 stars)

It's been a few years since I tried Sushi-San, and on a cold winter day we weren't in the mood to go out, so we decided to order delivery, even though it's about 30 minutes away.

We were super impressed with the condition everything arrived in, thanks to wonderful packaging. Everything came in its own tray, soup was hot, sushi was not, and best of all was the deliver box, which looked like a 80s boom box!

SUSHI-SAN
63 W Grand Ave
Chicago, IL 60654

https://www.yelp.com/biz/sushi-san-chicago

Tanuki

Posted on June 4, 2022 by steve

***** (5 stars)

Wow, I have no idea why I hadn't tried this place sooner, since it's so close to us. Their sushi, sashimi, and robata are all great, and I'm looking forward to going back and trying some other hot dishes.

Everything coming out of the kitchen is a work of art; just look at my photos. That's the prettiest carpaccio I've ever seen.

The seared shishito peppers were also the best I've had, doused in a very light, slightly sweet sauce to counteract the moderate heat.

Tuna tartare was a nice, summery take on the dish with lots of pineapple bits mixed in.

The salmon skin roll was also the best I've had anywhere, a delightful combination of crunchy and creamy.

Service was great (we went at a weird time, so it was not at all busy, but still, it was great).

It's BYOB. If their wine glasses are like their water jars, you may want to BYOG, too!

Tanuki
3006 N Sheffield Ave
Chicago, IL 60657

https://www.yelp.com/biz/tanuki-chicago

Yoshi’s Cafe

Posted on November 13, 2021 by steve

**** (4 stars)

I really like the interior design of this place, which, depending on where you sit, is an airy cafe, a bar, or a fairly intimate restaurant.

Like most "fusion" places, they're not really doing a fusion of cuisines, but just offering more than one, in this case, Japanese and French, with a bit of American thrown in.

My favorite dish was the mussels, which were served in a wonderful somewhat spicy broth that made a great soup, too.

The tuna tartare was also excellent quality, and the tempura was light and not oily.

The wine list emphasizes French wines, with some nice selections, but no bargains.

Service was friendly.

Yoshi’s Cafe
3257 N Halsted St
Chicago, IL 60657

https://www.yelp.com/biz/yoshis-cafe-chicago

Ukai Japanese Restaurant

Posted on June 28, 2021 by steve

***** (5 stars)

Excellent sushi in a nice atmosphere. Byob, so you can take a nice Champagne, the perfect sushi match, without running up the tab.

The fish quality is excellent, and the sushi chefs were very fast here.

Rolls are quite large, so bring a healthy appetite and a big mouth!

We liked the hamachi jalapeno appetizer and the Sox roll the best. You can also get certain rolls in half portions. The Cubs roll was a nice way to finish.

Ukai Japanese Restaurant
1059 W Belmont Ave
Chicago, IL 60657

https://www.yelp.com/biz/ukai-japanese-restaurant-chicago-2

Ora

Posted on February 23, 2020 by steve

Dynamite, albacore tatami, snake eye — Dynamite, albacore tataki, snake eye

***** (5 stars)

Very good creative rolls. We liked all of them, but I think my favorites were the wasabi tail and the snake eye.

It’s BYOB, but their glassware is pretty clunky.

Ora
5143 N Clark St
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 506-2978
https://www.yelp.com/biz/ora-chicago

Bites

Posted on February 21, 2020 by steve

***** (5 stars)

Most Asian Fusion places aren't really doing much fusion, they're just serving a variety of Asian cuisines, but at Bites there is some true fusion going on.

Edamame turned into gyoza was an interesting starter, and the Thai chicken wings were deliciously sweet and spicy.

Coconut shrimp were huge, with a delicate, not oily coating.

My favorites were the two elaborate sushi maki rolls we tried, the Maki Fresco and Crazy Dragon. Both were unique, and I'm not sure which I liked better.

Banana Wontons were a great way to finish.

There are some very creative cocktails, served with spherical ice and thoughtful garnishes. They take their bar work seriously.

I'll definitely be back to this great find.

Bites
3313 N Clark St
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 270-5972
https://www.yelp.com/biz/bites-chicago-2

Yugen

Posted on October 13, 2019 by steve

*** (3 stars)

This is a beautiful restaurant in the former Grace space. It’s difficult to avoid comparisons with Grace, since the owner is the same (but not the chef or GM) and the room is mostly unchanged. It’s soft and welcoming.

I was never a huge Grace fan, so I really wanted to like Yugen. The first impression was good, in that the service was cordial and professional, but not the affected robotic dance that Grace was.

The problem is the food. This is one of those restaurants that prepare a ten-course tasting menu of astonishingly beautifully plated dished, but where the plethora of ingredients rarely adds up to more than the individual components. Highlights were the mussel dish and the dessert, and there was nothing that was bad, just a lot of meh.

This is a huge problem, because Yugen is at a similar price point to two and three-star Michelin restaurants like Alinea, or the amazing Oriole, which is just a few blocks away. But there is simply no comparison in the resulting product.

The wine list is good, if expensive. The wine pairing didn’t particularly match the courses, and was one of those comprised of wines sommeliers love because they are made from unusual grapes at good wholesale prices. I’d rather have half as many actual quality wines.

The cocktail list is cute. It’s currently themed to the films of Hayao Miyazaki, and was probably the highlight of the evening.

The nearly empty dining room on a Wednesday night doesn’t bode well for the future of the restaurant, and I just don’t foresee a lot of return business when there are so many high-end options at this price point.

Yugen
652 W Randolph St
Chicago, IL
60661
(312) 265-1008
https://www.yelp.com/biz/yugen-chicago

Mako

Posted on March 19, 2019 by steve

Exterior

Interior

Chef B.K. Park

Real wasabi

Fluke, pickle, king crab

Abalone in a smoke-filled bowl

Sashimi: Bree’s, kanpachi, salmon, otoro

Mushroom and crab custard

Scallop nigiri

Golden eye snapper

Fluke with truffle sea salt

Horse mackerel with ginger and chives

Sea bass

Ora-salmon

Otoro

Blue mackerel

Duck

Uni

Flaming red prawn from Argentina

A5 Wagyu

Soy marinated sea water eel

Soy marinated tuna roll

House made Kamago

Marinated Asian pear, kumquat, shiso

Japanese sweet potato with whisky miso cream and caramel

Sake and wine

***** (5 stars)

Even though the restaurant had only been open a few days, Mako provided an amazing food and beverage experience. Easing into it, Chef B.K. Park (Juno) and one other chef worked behind the counter to provide a 21-course omakase for nine lucky guests.

The meal focused on nigiri sushi, presented one piece at a time, but there was also sashimi, a hand roll, and several cooked dished.

Highlights included salmon, fluke, kanpachi, A5 wagyu, a delicious mushroom and crab custard, duck, and an amazing Asian pear and ice kumquat intermezzo.

While the omakase was not cheap, it was well worth the price, and the accompanying wine and sake pairing was masterfu–and an excellent deal.

An auspicious start indeed for this terrific dining experience.

Mako
731 W Lake St
Chicago, IL
60661
(312) 988-0687
https://www.yelp.com/biz/mako-chicago

Radio Anago

Posted on March 15, 2019 by steve

Warm miso scallops

Uni flight – Hokaido and Santa Barbara

Fluke sashimi special

Salad Handroll

Interior

**** (4 stars)

I held off going to Radio Anago because early reviews said it was very loud, and I want to have a conversation over a meal. But the sound has been lowered to appropriate levels and, as my server put it, “We’re now the restaurant we intended to be.”

And it’s a good restaurant. If you want sushi, and don’t want to sit in a bright space or at a sushi bar, Radio Anago is what you’re looking for. Lighting is subdued, it’s a surprisingly intimate space, and just quite different from other sushi restaurants.

That said, you’re not going to have the best sushi of your life here. A few years ago, this might have been the best sushi in Chicago, but a lot has happened in the past year or two, with impressive omakase experiences opening seemingly every week. So there are lots of higher end sushi offerings, but if you’re looking for an intimate place to have good sushi, Radio Anago is probably the best choice.

Radio Anago
226 W Kinzie St
Chicago, IL
60654
(312) 796-3316
https://www.yelp.com/biz/radio-anago-chicago

Forking Chicago

Restaurant reviews from Chicago and beyond

Category Archives: Japanese

Itoko

SUSHI-SAN

Tanuki

Yoshi’s Cafe

Ukai Japanese Restaurant

Ora

Bites

Yugen

Mako

Radio Anago