Gaijin

Name: Gaijin
Address: 950 W Lake St, Chicago, IL, United States, 60607
Telephone: (312) 265-1348
Price range: $30 and under
Rating: 4.7

4.7

111 Reviews

$30 and under

Japanese

Make a reservation

2 people

Feb 17, 2025

7:00 p.m.

Booked 39 times today

Experiences are available.

Neighbourhood gem
Innovative
Charming

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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Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Japanese, 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
Website
https://gaijinchicago.com/
Dress code
Casual Dress

Location
950 W Lake St, Chicago, IL 60607
Neighbourhood
West Loop
Parking details
None
Public transit
Morgan Green Line

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Experiences

Valentine's Dos
US$40.00 - US$70.86 per person
Feb 17, 2025 only
For everyone who worked hard to create a Valentine's Day experience for everyone else. For industry workers, retail folks, healthcare, and essential workers. For everyone who DID celebrate 2/14, but can't get enough. Enjoy a second installment of our five-course Valentine's Day tasting menu, with some extra special treats from Misguided Spirits and Branca USA! Menu $70 / beverage pairings $40 (prior to tax and gratuity) ---As a special thank you for service workers with proof of employment, beverage pairings for the menu will be only 86 cents!---
Chef Collaboration Night: Hisanobu Osaka
Feb 20, 2025 only
Gaijin is thrilled to welcome Chef Hisanobu Osaka of Miru in on Thursday, February 20th, for the sixth installment of our Chef Collaboration series! Chef Osaka 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
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!

Offers

Try Our Happy Hour Specials Starting At $5!
Multiple dates available
Mon - Thu - 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
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.

What 111 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
4.5Ambience
4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Gaijin offers a delightful dining experience with "delicious food and great cocktails" in a "fun atmosphere." Known for its "unique twist on delicious Japanese food," the restaurant features standout dishes like okonomiyaki and a "fantastic whiskey collection." The "kind and welcoming" staff enhance the "authentic" dining experience.

111 Reviews

J
Justin
Indiana
9 reviews
5.0
9 reviews
Dined 1 day ago
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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J
Jennifer
VIP
Chicago
114 reviews
5.0
114 reviews
Dined 4 days ago
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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N
Nina
Chicago
60 reviews
5.0
60 reviews
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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P
Pranaya
VIP
Chicago
13 reviews
4.0
13 reviews
Dined on February 8, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 4
It was alright! Food was fine, not too loud, service was okay.
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J
John
VIP
Chicago
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on February 8, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Good date spot. Great service. Something different to try if you’re feeling adventurous.
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A
Anshika
VIP
Detroit
1 review
1.0
1 review
Dined on February 7, 2025
1. Overall 1
2. Food 1
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 1
We were vegetarians and having seated near the chef's table, we could see how meat was used even to cook veg dishes. The taste was just awful. We ended up ruining our stomach and also wasted the whole food.
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R
Rominna
Detroit
8 reviews
1.0
8 reviews
Dined on February 1, 2025
1. Overall 1
2. Food 1
3. Service 1
4. Ambience 2
Mushy mealy lackluster meal. The chairs were uncomfortable and bulky. It’s hard to mess up okonomiyaki and yet…
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S
Sam
Chicago
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on February 1, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Food was wonderful. We had the tuna starter, pork yakisoba, and beef okonomiyaki and all were extremely delicious. We finished with the mochi donut which was also perfectly cooked. Drinks were also great and service was great too. Highly recommend for a casual date night or group outing.
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P
Paulo
VIP
Detroit
56 reviews
5.0
56 reviews
Dined on January 31, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 3
A very pleasant experience partaking of a variety of dishes in their tasting menu.
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R
Rachel
Washington DC
3 reviews
4.0
3 reviews
Dined on January 30, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 4
Was a really great experience. Only issue was they were a little behind so we had to wait a bit past our reservation time
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FAQs

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Gaijin is rated 4.7 stars by 111 OpenTable diners.