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Gaijin, Chicago, IL

Gaijin

4.7
4.7
118 Reviews
$30 and under
Japanese

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2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 40 times today
Experiences are available.
  • Innovative
  • Hot spot
  • Neighborhood gem
Gaijin by Chef Paul Virant is Chicago’s first okonomiyaki restaurant, offering both Hiroshima and Osaka styles of the savory Japanese pancake. A self-described gaijin, or “outsider” in Japanese, Virant playfully embraces this perspective and honors traditional preparations and techniques, as well as his well-known passion for pickling and preserving.

Designed to deliver a lively and interactive culinary experience, the 60-seat space is anchored by a custom 12-foot griddle and chef’s counter and offers individual Hiroshima teppan griddles for table service.

The dessert menu features kakigori, a shaved ice dessert, along with mochi donuts and other Japanese-inspired treats. The bar program showcases highballs and a focused selection of beer – including a Moody Tongue-Gaijin collaboration house lager, sake, Japanese whisky, and wine.

We can’t wait to see you at Gaijin!

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Private dining

Private dining

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Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Japanese, Okonomiyaki, Asian
  • Hours of operation
    Mon–Fri 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Sat, Sun 11:00 am–10:00 pm Happy Hour Mon–Thu 5:00 pm–6:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (312) 265-1348
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
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Experiences

  • Sunset Soundscapes - Monthly DJ Night

    $5.00 per person

    Prepaid

    Mar 19, 2025 only
    Our monthly DJ night is back! This month, we're thrilled to have DJ Shon Dervis spinning a killer mix of city pop, funk, and soul from 6pm-9pm. Come early for happy hour deals from 5pm-6pm and stay for the vibes. Plus, enjoy half-off sake bottle all night long. A $5 deposit per person secures your reservation and will be applied to the final bill. See you there!
    Sunset Soundscapes - Monthly DJ Night Photo
  • Chef Collaboration Night: Brian Jupiter

    Mar 20, 2025 only
    Gaijin is thrilled to welcome Chef Brian Jupiter of Frontier and Ina Mae Tavern & Packaged Goods in on Thursday, March 20th, for the seventh installment of our Chef Collaboration series! Chef Jupiter will be in house from 6 - 8 p.m. to showcase his unique osaka-style okonomiyaki special. This is a one-night-only opportunity you won't want to miss!
    Chef Collaboration Night: Brian Jupiter Photo
  • Chef Collaboration Night: Christian Hunter

    Apr 17, 2025 only
    Gaijin is thrilled to welcome Chef Christian Hunter of Atelier in on Thursday, April 17th, for the eighth installment of our Chef Collaboration series! Chef Hunter will be in house from 6 - 8 p.m. to showcase his unique osaka-style okonomiyaki special. This is a one-night-only opportunity you won't want to miss!
    Chef Collaboration Night: Christian Hunter Photo

Offers

  • Try Our Happy Hour Specials Starting At $5!

    Multiple dates available
    Mon - Thu - 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
    Join us Monday through Thursday, 4 p.m. - 6 p.m., for selected highballs, sake, draft beer, starters and share plates, starting at $5. Reservations are recommended, but walk-ins are also welcome.

    Try Our Happy Hour Specials Starting At $5! Photo

What 118 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7
4.7 based on recent ratings
  • 4.6Food
  • 4.6Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4.5Value

NoiseModerate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Gaijin delivers an outstanding culinary experience with "delicious food" and "amazing drinks." The Japanese okonomiyaki and mochi donuts are "a must-try." Patrons praise the "friendly service" and "inviting atmosphere." Although some feedback highlights seasoning concerns, the restaurant remains a top choice for adventurous diners seeking authentic flavors and diverse menu options.

118 Reviews
  1. Adriana VIP

    Chicago1 review

    5.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great food, very different from any Asian cuisine, very specific and nice. The place is small, always full with great atmosphere. The servis is very efficient, helpful and fast. Great experience.

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  2. Joanne

    Chicago40 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Such a fun and delicious dinner! Great food and great drinks and stellar service. I have been before and have been hyping this place to my friends. It definitely lived up to the hype and we had a blast! This place is not to be missed!

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  3. OpenTable Diner

    Chicago1 review

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Food was amazing as always I tried the duck and it was great 😊

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  4. Hanae

    Chicago1 review

    5.0

    Dined on March 3, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I had a business dinner with customers from Japan. But I wanted it to be a nice casual occasion, so Gaijin was just the right fit. Good Japanese choices and good drinks. The Okonomiyaki was pretty good but they enjoyed the atmosphere so much that they went for seconds on the highball. My boss joined us later in the night, the staff was super-flexible and friendly, the night got better and in the end, we all enjoyed the evening :)

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  5. Cody

    Unspecified1 review

    3.0

    Dined on February 23, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I have been wanting to try this place for a while now, I was exited to step in for brunch! The host was very kind, the ambiance was nice, and the noise wasn’t too loud. My server happened to be the bartender and I sadly didn’t get to catch her name(she was working the brunch shift on 2/23 and she was amazing! She helped me pick a drink, wasn’t intrusive, and had a warm bubbly and inviting personality. Sadly that’s about where it ends, everything was much so overly salted, I couldn’t finish my rice dish because the amount of salt that was on the food was aggressive. I didn’t complain nor ask for my money because it’s not worth the trouble, but please focus on bringing the flavor out in the food without needing to pile on the salt.

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  6. OpenTable Diner

    Washington DC1 review

    5.0

    Dined on February 17, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    One of my favorite places in the city. It’s the only place I ever willingly visit west loop to eat at. Worth it every time.

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  7. Justin

    Indiana9 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on February 16, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We're very impressed with the unique flavors of an otherwise authentically created dish. The service was very friendly and prompt. The atmosphere was positive and inviting with a pleasant buzz among all the customers without being overly loud. While visiting Chicago, this was a great stop on our itinerary and the location has such easy access. For okonomiyaki regulars who have roots in the city of Osaka, we were very impressed! Don't forget the mochi donuts and the kakigori for dessert!

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  8. Yunho

    Guatemala1 review

    3.0

    Dined on February 15, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    Good Japanese Okonomiyaki, but I hope we can get more sauces option next time!

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  9. Jennifer VIP

    Chicago115 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on February 13, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3
    We ordered from the Chicago Black Restaurant Week menu. A fabulous & delicious selection and a great value. So tasty and you totally won over my friend. Huge fan.

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  10. Nina

    Chicago60 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on February 9, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    This was a delightful experience from start to finish.

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FAQs

You can order delivery directly from Gaijin using the Order Online button.

Gaijin is rated 4.7 stars by 118 OpenTable diners.

Gaijin does offer gift cards which you can purchase here.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 40 times today
Experiences are available.

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for Gaijin

950 W Lake St, Chicago, IL 60607

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Neighborhood
    West Loop
  • Hours of operation
    Mon–Fri 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Sat, Sun 11:00 am–10:00 pm Happy Hour Mon–Thu 5:00 pm–6:00 pm
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Japanese, Okonomiyaki, Asian
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    None
  • Public transit
    Morgan Green Line
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