Diners' Choice: Japanese restaurants in Chicago

OpenTable

Updated December 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Japanese cuisine in Chicago? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyzes more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favorites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Tanoshii

4.8

4.8 (371)

$30 and under

Japanese

Andersonville

About the restaurant

The BEST way to experience Tanoshii for two people is to order signature "fish and chips" appetizer and 3 Mike's special rolls. (Chefs choice)

Tanoshii is often referred to as serving the best sushi in Chicago for over 13 years, crafting fresh Japanese classics in its bright eatery. For delicious starters signature appetizers "fish and chips" and "truffle rose" are highly recommended.

Tanoshii’s owner Mike Ham who's also a master sushi chef offers dishes renowned for their deft of fresh ingredients, and omakase dishes. Omakase in different words means chef choice. Chef uses fresh fish for the day and uses their creativity to deliver you the best sushi experience.

Tanoshii has been reviewed in the Our Chicago Food Blog and the Chicago Reader. Its welcoming setting features a sushi bar and take-out services

Top review

Richard

Dined 1 day ago

Food was excellent as usual. Service was slow due to lack of help.

Sushi Mura

4.7

4.7 (33)

$30 and under

Japanese

Lakeview / East Lakeview

About the restaurant

Sushi Mura is located in Chicago, Illinois, and serves Japanese cuisine in a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Enjoy one of the restaurantÕs specials named after a regular customer and youÕll see how Sushi Mura cares for the diners. The menu for lunch and dinner at Sushi Mura contains a mixture of the traditional dishes youÕll find in many Japanese restaurants and many unusual ones as well. Some of these include sweet jalapeno, DannyÕs super awesome roll, white dragon roll, temptation roll, shumai, gyoza, seaweed salad, bi-bim-bop, katsu, ramen and yaki soba. Desserts like the tempura ice cream are a perfect ending.

Top review

ScottVIP

Dined on Nov 2, 2024

Great sushi, friendly staff, and quick service. They’re very generous in the size and number of rolls (most are 10 pieces) so we often have leftovers. It’s one of our neighborhood favorites

The Omakase Room at Sushi-san

4.9

4.9 (73)

$50 and over

Japanese

River North (Chicago)

About the restaurant

The Omakase Room at Sushi-san is a culmination of Master Sushi Chefs Kaze Chan and Shigeru Kitano’s combined experience defining the Chicago sushi scene. While the menu and service are informed by tradition, guests can expect a transcendent experience that breaks down the formality and austerity usually accompanying omakase dining. Each dinner in the warm, modern, and intimate ten-seat space features luxury ingredients from around the world. Sophisticated and carefully curated beverage pairings are available to complement the meal.

Top review

Nicole

Dined on Dec 11, 2024

Always an amazing dinner… Michelin please give these people a star!

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Experience

Omakase Reservation Deposit

SUSHI-SAN - River North

4.8

4.8 (1303)

$30 and under

Japanese

River North (Chicago)

About the restaurant

Sushi-San serves up the best sushi in Chicago made with the freshest ingredients they can find, all served with a side of old-school hip-hop and ice-cold beer. The bar is kept stocked with rare Japanese whisky, sake, wine and inventive cocktails. Join them for lunch and dinner.

Top review

Patrick

Dined 6 days ago

The food was excellent, atmosphere was really nice and the staff was very attentive! Would like to go back :)

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4.8

4.8 (18)

$31 to $50

Japanese

Lower West Side

About the restaurant

Hidden inside 88 Marketplace is 312 Fish Market -- a sushi lover's dream. We take great pride in improving upon your favorite nigiri, sashimi, hand rolls, sushi rolls, and party sets in new and creative ways.

As we do not compromise on quality, our chef sources the best fish from all over the world including Tuna, Madai, Kanpachi, Uni, Caviar, and more.

312 Fish Market is a BYOB establishment.

Closed every Wednesday.

We are also available for pickup, delivery and catering.

Please reach us at 312FishMarket@gmail.com or 872-222-7288.

Top review

Mike

Dined on Dec 14, 2024

Incredible food and service! Highly recommend this place and will definitely be going back!

Akahoshi Ramen

4.8

4.8 (361)

$30 and under

Japanese

Logan Square

About the restaurant

Akahoshi Ramen is a humble ramen shop in the city of Chicago. Everything is made in the restaurant, including all soups, seasonings, toppings, and noodles.

We are not an authentic ramen shop, though we value the history of ramen, and our ramen is influenced by its past and its future potential. The dish, popularized in Japan after World War 2, is symbolic of both struggle and perseverance. It is both a simple dish, and a fantastically complex one that we treat with reverence and respect.

Roughly translating to “Red Star,” the name “Akahoshi” is a love letter to two cities; Sapporo, Hokkaido, where red stars adorn city monuments, and Chicago, Illinois, where the red star decorates the city flag. Our ramen is influenced by Japanese and American ideals in cooking.

We hope you will join us to enjoy a bowl of ramen, made with the respect and passion it deserves.

Top review

Ernesto

Dined 4 days ago

One of the best ramen spots in the city. Limited ramen menu (4 standard and 1 special) but delicious flavors. We tried 3 of the 5 on menu.

Itoko

4.8

4.8 (489)

$31 to $50

Japanese

Lakeview / East Lakeview

About the restaurant

Situated in Lakeview's iconic Southport Corridor, Itoko is a neighborhood Japanese and robata restaurant from Gene Kato, Executive Chef of Momotaro. “Itoko” meaning “cousin” in Japanese, refers to the connection with Momotaro, located in the Fulton Market District. The menu features the high level of ingredients and technique that Chicago has come to expect from Chef Kato, alongside a beautiful interior curated for the Southport neighborhood. The menu itself features uniquely interpreted sushi rolls that allow the high-quality fish to be the star of the sushi experience. In addition, an innovative beverage menu with a focus on cocktails & highballs highlights the relationship between the technique of the food created by the kitchen and how this is complimented by the beverage selection.

Top review

Jeff

Dined 1 day ago

An amazing place, the food is unusual and delicious. Service outstanding.

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RAMEN-SAN Whisky Bar - Fulton Market

4.7

4.7 (730)

$30 and under

Japanese

West Loop

About the restaurant

Ramen-san is a bold and energetic neighborhood joint that slings hot noodles, ice-cold beer and rare expressions of Japanese whisky all to the tune of the best ’90s hip-hop in town. It respects the traditions but keep things uniquely untraditional in its yuzu sake bombs, crispy dumplings, spicy kimchi fried ramen and more. The restaurant is open for lunch, dinner and late-night dining seven days a week.

Top review

Johanna VIP

Dined 4 days ago

Me and my friend decided to enjoy a friend's anniversary dinner date . It was pleasant the abundance was nice.

RAMEN-SAN - River North

4.8

4.8 (239)

$30 and under

Japanese

River North (Chicago)

About the restaurant

Top review

Lizette

Dined on Dec 2, 2024

My first time here and food was delicious! Our server was also great despite how busy they were.

Raisu - Chicago

4.7

4.7 (335)

$31 to $50

Japanese

Irving Park

About the restaurant

At Raisu, the focus is on providing the freshest fish and excellent costumer service. Our fish flown in from Japan twice a week. On a level comparable to other high end sushi restaurants, yet for an affordable price. Traditional nigiri (served with freshly grated wasabi) comes with signature toppings. Reserve ahead of time for Omakase, which is available in limited quality.

Top review

GreggVIP

Dined on Nov 24, 2024

Terrific as always. My favorite Sushi in Chicago.

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