The Izakaya at Momotaro

Review summary

1. E

   Esther VIP

   Chicago113 reviews

   5.0

   Dined 1 day ago

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

   AMAZING restaurant and hidden gem. Burgers are next level. The waitress is we super nice. Live that they have karaoke on Monday nights.
   

   Is this helpful?

2. S

   Shaan

   New York City4 reviews

   5.0

   Dined 7 days ago

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

   Have been coming here for all 3 years, the food quality and taste is amazing
   

   The Izakaya at MomotaroResponded 6 days ago

   Hi Shaan! Thank you for your loyalty over the past three years! We're thrilled to hear that you continue to enjoy the quality and taste of our food. We look forward to welcoming you back for many more amazing meals! 🍣✨ Cheers, Merissa White General Manager Momotaro & The Izakaya
   

   Is this helpful?

3. B

   Brian VIP

   Chicago12 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on March 2, 2025

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

   The wings were amazing and the burger just jumped to a top 2 in all of Chicago. Could be the best, it’s a toss up. Can’t wait to go back.
   

   The Izakaya at MomotaroResponded 5 days ago

   Hi Brian! Wow, what an incredible compliment! We're thrilled to hear you loved the wings and that our burger made it to your top 2 in all of Chicago—that's some serious praise! We'll be ready to welcome you back anytime for round two (or maybe to claim that #1 spot 😉). See you soon! Cheers, Merissa White General Manager Momotaro & The Izakaya
   

   Is this helpful?

4. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   Greater Boston3 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on March 2, 2025

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

   Amazing food! Highly recommend the burger and rice
   

   The Izakaya at MomotaroResponded 5 days ago

   Now that’s a duo we can get behind! 🍔🍚 So glad you loved the food—great taste in recommendations, by the way! Hope to see you again soon for another round! Kanpai! Merissa White General Manager Momotaro & The Izakaya
   

   Is this helpful?

5. E

   Eric

   Chicago6 reviews

   4.0

   Dined on March 1, 2025

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

   Solid spot every time! Great vibe going on, food is always top notch, bar spots when open are a good grab!
   

   The Izakaya at MomotaroResponded 5 days ago

   Hi Eric! Consistency is key, and we love hearing that we deliver every time! 🙌 Glad you’re enjoying the vibes, the food, and those coveted bar spots. Hope to see you again soon for another great visit! Cheers, Merissa White General Manager Momotaro & The Izakaya
   

   Is this helpful?

6. OT

   OpenTable Diner VIP

   Chicago1 review

   3.0

   Dined on March 1, 2025

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

   Food was delicious. Service was attentive. The only issue was where we were seated. After booking a month in advance I just expected that our table would be in a dining area. Instead we were sat in what appeared to be a small waiting room which was more like a throughout where people entered and exited fro/to the upstairs restaurant. When the door was opened we also caught cold gusts. It was also close to the check-in area so when tables weren’t ready it turned into a default waiting area. It felt very invasive due to the traffic. I couldn’t help but feel like we were on display. I know the feel is supposed to mimic something different but instead it just felt strange and awkward. I’d return again but in booking stress a table in another area.
   

   The Izakaya at MomotaroResponded on March 1, 2025

   Thank you for sharing your experience with us! We’re thrilled you enjoyed the food and attentive service, but we’re sorry that your seating didn’t meet expectations. The Izakaya is a lively and energetic space, and we understand how the flow of guests in certain areas may have impacted your experience. Your feedback is truly valuable, and we’ll keep it in mind as we continue to create the best possible atmosphere for our guests. Thank you again, Merissa White General Manager Momotaro & The Izakaya
   

   Is this helpful?

7. L

   Lucy

   Nashville2 reviews

   3.0

   Dined on March 1, 2025

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

   Our cocktail were bad, not very flavorful, weak, definitely not worth it at $15. Service was extremely inconsistent and we never really got an explanation of the menu. Food was a mixed bag, The hamachi collar and burger were both good but everything else was forgettable. We won’t go back
   

   The Izakaya at MomotaroResponded on March 1, 2025

   We’re sorry to hear that your experience didn’t live up to expectations. We always aim to deliver flavorful cocktails, attentive service, and memorable dishes, and it’s disappointing to hear that we missed the mark. Your feedback is truly appreciated, and we’ll be sharing it with our team to improve. We’d love the opportunity to make things right and give you a better experience—if you ever decide to give us another try, we’d be happy to welcome you back! Cheers, Merissa White General Manager Momotaro & The Izakaya
   

   Is this helpful?

8. B

   Brittany

   Chicago1 review

   5.0

   Dined on February 28, 2025

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

   Service and food was wonderful! Can’t wait to go back.
   

   The Izakaya at MomotaroResponded on March 1, 2025

   Hi Brittany, Thank you so much for your kind words! I’m thrilled to hear you enjoyed both the food and service. We can’t wait to welcome you back for another great experience soon! Kanpai, Merissa White General Manager Momotaro & The Izakaya
   

   Is this helpful?

9. S

   Saul

   Chicago1 review

   4.0

   Dined on February 27, 2025

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

   We got the burger, edamame, and chachan rice as well as two sake flights. All the food was amazing. We personally were fans for the dreamy clouds drink but the other two were good. I did have to ask 3 servers for utensils until we got something so service wasn’t the greatest. We were also say under a speaker at a table in the back corner of the restaurant. Not the greatest spot so it affected the experience as this was a date we were trying to talk and it wasn’t the easiest to hear each other but I imagine it could be better at another table. Overall was a nice experience. A bit on the pricey side and not as decorated as I imagined but I would recommend for the food.
   

   The Izakaya at MomotaroResponded on February 27, 2025

   Hi Saul, Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us! We're thrilled to hear you loved the food—great picks on the burger, edamame, and chahan rice, and Dreamy Clouds is definitely a fan favorite! 🍶✨ We truly appreciate your feedback on service, and we’ll be sure to address that with our team to ensure a smoother experience. As for the atmosphere, the Izakaya is definitely a lively and energetic space, especially on busy nights, but we completely understand wanting a quieter setting for a date. If you ever join us again, we'd love to find a table that better suits the vibe you're looking for! Thanks again for your thoughtful review—we appreciate the recommendation and hope to welcome you back soon! 😊 Cheers, Merissa White General Manager Momotaro & The Izakaya
   

   Is this helpful?

10. s

    stephanie

    Chicago11 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on February 22, 2025

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

    We felt very rushed by our server. A large man with gloves cleared our plates before we finished eating and kept walking by the table to see what he could take away, including our weak cocktails. The music from the speaker that was above our table was so loud. The sashimi and burger were delicious. They obviously knew what they did and brought us a cocktail on the house, but unfortunately it was during dessert.
    

    The Izakaya at MomotaroResponded on February 26, 2025

    Thank you for sharing your experience. While we’re thrilled you enjoyed the sashimi and burger, we’re truly sorry you felt rushed during your meal. That’s not the experience we aim to provide, and we appreciate you bringing it to our attention. We also hear you on the music volume and will be mindful of that moving forward. While we’re glad we could acknowledge the issue, we understand the timing wasn’t ideal. Your comfort and experience matter to us, and we’ll use this feedback to do better. We’d love to welcome you back for a visit that feels just right. Hope to see you again soon! Thank You, Merissa White General Manager Momotaro & The Izakaya
    

    Is this helpful?