The Izakaya at Momotaro

Review summary

1. J

   Jack

   Chicago

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on December 21, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Hands down the best place to go if you want a fun upbeat Japanese restaurant with 10/10 food. The staff was incredibly hospitable and knowledgeable on the menu. I’d recommend this to anyone.
   

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2. C

   Catherine

   VIP

   Chicago

   3 reviews

   5.0

   3 reviews

   Dined on December 21, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Perfect date night / birthday spot! All the food was exceptional and the service was excellent. One of our dishes took a bit longer because it’s prepared upstairs at Momotaro, but it was delicious. Staff even apologized for the wait time! (I’d wait for crispy beef fried rice again any day!) They brought out a dessert with a candle for my boyfriend’s birthday which was a perfect treat. Can’t wait to come back! ;)
   

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3. F

   Franco

   Chicago

   2 reviews

   4.0

   2 reviews

   Dined on December 21, 2024

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 4

   The Momo Royale is what initially drew us in and made us stay. The Japanese sweet potato fries compliment the double stack smash like yin ‘n yang. Easily the highlight. Only downside is the Wings came out and they were so hot we simply just had to stare at them for 15min for them to cool down-still delicious though. We also ordered the Pirikara Gyu and was a sneaky spicy that underlyingly lingers, but in a good way. Downside it was also super hot so the stare at the plate continued. Great vibes but a lil loud, was kind of agreeing with whatever the waitress said. Also, really great ranch
   

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4. C

   Christian

   Chicago

   5 reviews

   5.0

   5 reviews

   Dined on December 19, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   It’s unfortunate I couldn’t hear the name of our Waitress. She was very personable and I could tell she really enjoyed her job. She was very helpful and simply pleasant. I’ll definitely be back for the king crab hand roll and burger. Splendid!
   

   The Izakaya at MomotaroResponded on December 20, 2024

   Dear Christian, Thank you for the fantastic review! We’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed your experience and that Claire, your server, made such a positive impression. She truly loves what she does, and we’ll make sure to pass along your kind words—they’ll absolutely make her day! We’re so glad you loved the king crab hand roll and burger (great choices!). We can’t wait to welcome you back for more splendid moments soon. See you again soon! Merissa White General Manager Momotaro & The Izakaya
   

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5. S

   Stephen

   Chicago

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on December 18, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 5

   Fantastic meal overall. Music was a bit too loud, and it was quite cold downstairs for a good portion of the meal, but that did not take away from the tremendous food.
   

   The Izakaya at MomotaroResponded on December 20, 2024

   Thank you for the kind words! We’re so glad you enjoyed the tremendous food—it means the 🌎 to us. As for the chilly vibes in our subterranean hideaway, we’ll work on turning up the heat 🔥 (both literally and figuratively) to make your next visit even cozier. We’ll also keep an 👂 out to ensure the music strikes the right note next time. Your feedback helps us fine-tune the experience, and we can’t wait to welcome you back underground for another fantastic meal! Cheers, Merissa White General Manager Momotaro & The Izakaya
   

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6. K

   Kalen

   VIP

   Chicago

   5 reviews

   5.0

   5 reviews

   Dined on December 15, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 4

   Excellent food and drinks. Uni pasta and the burger were fantastic.
   

   The Izakaya at MomotaroResponded on December 20, 2024

   Thanks for the review, Kalen! We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed our food and drinks, especially the Uni pasta and the burger. It's always a pleasure to serve our guests at The Izakaya at Momotaro. We appreciate your kind words and look forward to serving you again soon. Cheers, Merissa White General Manager Momotaro & The Izakaya
   

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7. t

   ted

   VIP

   Greater Boston

   1 review

   4.0

   1 review

   Dined on December 15, 2024

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 3

   Fun time with a very energetic, youthful crowd. Great service and the recommendations we spot on. Share the awesome Burger and the spicy Chicken Sandwich. Chicken dumplings are also amazing
   

   The Izakaya at MomotaroResponded on December 20, 2024

   Hi Ted! What a fantastic review—thank you! 🎉 We’re so glad you had a great time soaking up the energy of our youthful crowd. Our team will be thrilled to hear their recommendations hit the mark! You’ve got excellent taste, by the way—sharing the burger and spicy chicken sandwich? Genius move. And those chicken dumplings are definitely crowd-pleasers! 🥟 We can’t wait to welcome you back for more good vibes and amazing bites soon. Kanpai! Merissa White General Manager Momotaro & The Izakaya
   

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8. D

   Dan

   Hawaii

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on December 14, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   The atmosphere was perfect! The Japanese themed Izakaya, was beautifully decorated. The room with the cherry blossoms on the ceiling and the twinkling lights was enchanting. We can hear each other talking. The lighting was perfect, we were able to actually read the menus without additional lighting. It was exquisite. The food was amazing. Not too spicy, absolutely not bland. Delectable and succulent. The presentation was mouth watering. The people there were helpful, bright, delightful, and attentive. From explaining the dishes to exploring options on the menu. Definitely a place to return for a savory, delectable and scrumptious meal.
   

   The Izakaya at MomotaroResponded on December 20, 2024

   Hi Dan! Wow, your review just made our day! 🌸✨ We’re beyond thrilled that you loved every detail of your visit—from the enchanting cherry blossom ceiling and twinkling lights to the perfect lighting (menu-reading bliss!) and, of course, the delectable dishes. 🍣 Hearing how much you enjoyed the flavors, the presentation, and our amazing team has us grinning from ear to ear! 🥰 It’s so wonderful to know that the atmosphere and food hit all the right notes for you. We can’t wait to welcome you back for more scrumptious bites and magical vibes. Until next time! 🎉 Cheers, Merissa White General Manager Momotaro & The Izakaya
   

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9. N

   Nicholas

   Las Vegas

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on December 4, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   One of if not the best burger in Chicago… and from a Japanese place. Best bun easy at least
   

   The Izakaya at MomotaroResponded on December 20, 2024

   WOW!! 😱 You just made our day (and maybe even our entire week) with that review!! Thank you for calling us one of the best burgers in Chicago—and from a Japanese restaurant no less?! 🤩 That’s an accolade we never saw coming, and we’re absolutely loving it! We are beyond thrilled that you loved our burger (and the bun—thanks for noticing the bun, it’s a true superstar 🍔✨). Who knew our Japanese twist could rock the burger world like this?! We’re doing a happy dance over here! 💃 We can’t wait to have you back for more juicy bites and maybe a little more burger magic. 😎 Thank you so much for making our day—you're the real MVP! Kanpai! Merissa White General Manager Momotaro & The Izakaya
   

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10. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Chicago

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 1, 2024

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 3

    Our server was great, but clearly struggling with a lack of support. At one point we got our own drinks from the service well after watching the runner mill around and pass them several times. Food was good, nothing amazing. Cocktails were a little overwrought. No real reason to return.
    

    The Izakaya at MomotaroResponded on December 3, 2024

    Hello Robyn, Thank you for sharing your feedback with us. We're glad to hear that you found your server to be great, and we truly appreciate your understanding of their hard work. I apologize if there were any delays or moments where the service didn’t meet your expectations. Our goal is to provide seamless service, and we’ll certainly review your comments to ensure we’re always improving. We’re also sorry that the cocktails and food didn’t quite exceed your expectations, and we’ll take your thoughts into consideration as we continue to refine our offerings. We’d love the chance to welcome you back in the future and provide an experience that better aligns with your preferences. Best, Merissa White General Manager Momotaro & The Izakaya
    

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