Diners' Choice: Japanese restaurants in Chicago / Illinois

OpenTable

Updated December 05, 2024

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

Tanoshii

4.9

4.9 (370)

$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

Varda

Dined on Dec 13, 2024

Our favorite neighborhood sushi restaurant. Truly a gem!

Nabuki

4.8

4.8 (1495)

$50 and over

Japanese

Hinsdale

About the restaurant

Located in historic downtown Hinsdale. Chef Juan and Nabuki are committed to creating edible art. Offering a fusion of innovate dishes. Chef Juan exhibits his mastery of the art of Sushi by creating traditional Japanese dishes with a Latin flare.

Top review

Kyle

Dined on Dec 12, 2024

Everything was delicious and our server was wonderful. One thing we found strange was the seating. We were sitting at a 2 top perpendicular to the sushi bar. The hostess kept seating other 2 tops directly next to us even though most of the tables surrounding us were empty. This happened twice. I understand if it is super busy but we were the only two tables on that side of the restaurant. It felt very uncomfortable and even the people that sat down next to us made a comment that 1/2 the tables were empty but they were sat essentially on top of us. Just something to think about. It definitely changed my experience

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

Tenjin

4.9

4.9 (76)

$30 and under

Japanese

Lincolnwood

About the restaurant

Renga Tei is Tenjin Restaurant now.
Tenjin restaurant serves everyone’s favorite Japanese dishes from yesteryear, and Chef Naoki has developed many contemporary dishes to keep your taste buds happy and satisfied.
We hope that Tenjin will become one of your go-to Japanese Restaurants.

Top review

GYVIP

Dined 5 days ago

Food was excellent. We were there for lunch & ordered Chicken Katsu curry, Chicken Katsudon, fried oysters & futomaki. Our server Nina always provides great service.

SUSHI-SAN - River North

4.8

4.8 (1301)

$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

Rita

Dined 1 day ago

Came for our sons birthday dinner. They all wished him a happy birthday and gave great recommendations. The rolls are good but the highlight of our meals was the Nigiri and crispy rice! Delicious!

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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 7 days ago

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 3 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.

Kansaku

4.7

4.7 (479)

$30 and under

Japanese

Evanston

About the restaurant

Whether you seek familiar sushi preparations, traditional Japanese cooking or unique and innovative contemporary cuisine that blends Asian and Western cooking styles, Kansaku's seasonal cuisine, comfortable décor and knowledgeable service will provide you and your guests a dining experience that is both entirely satisfying and highly memorable. Kansaku opened its first location in the heart of downtown in Evanston on November 13, 2006. Kansaku delivers the concept of contemporary Japanese fine dining at its best leaving you with an experience that will have you coming back for more.

Top review

RhondaVIP

Dined 2 days ago

We had the best time and enjoyed everyone if our selections. Everything was delicious and always is! Our server provided the best unobtrusive service!

Itoko

4.8

4.8 (488)

$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

Amy

Dined on Dec 8, 2024

Wonderful restaurant. Excellent customer service and delicious food.

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