Fab Happenings: Top 5 Sushi Spots in Chicago

Sushi is my favorite food to eat. I find myself craving it all the time, and I would eat it everyday if I could. Although the sushi scene in Chicago is not as vast as the coasts, there is a decent amount of Japanese restaurants that do it right.

I’ll admit…I am picky when it comes to sushi. I grew up eating a lot of sushi and even worked at several Japanese restaurants from high school to college, which earned me the nickname Soo-shi. I am more of a purist when it comes to sushi. I don’t like anything with cream cheese, mayo, or heavy sauces. The perfect bite for me is a piece of sashimi or nigiri with a dab of wasabi and a dollop of soy sauce.

Here are my Top 5 Sushi Spots in Chicago…

5. Arami

Arami is an upscale Japanese restaurant in Ukrainian Village with a super laid-back vibe. The atmosphere has a garden feeling with exposed sunlight, soft green walls, and bamboo accents. The menu is traditional Japanese with a focus on great quality fish and excellent cooked fare. The menu is broken out by zensai (hors d’oeuvres), robata (grilled), nigiri/sashimi, special nigiri/sashimi, maki, and noodles & donburi (rice bowls). The Chef’s Choice Omakase is based on market price and varies depending on the ingredients brought in that day.

Highlights:

Suzuki Sashimi
The suzuki was fresh and generously cut. The savory mushrooms balanced out the delicate tartness of the ponzu.

Spicy Tako Spring Roll
The Spicy Tako Spring Roll is a low carb lovers dream. The spicy octopus, Thai basil, mixed greens, pickled apple, and sweet-spicy glaze wrapped in soy paper has no rice. It’s healthy and delicious.

Spicy Tako Sake
I am a big fan of seaweed salad so I was pleasantly surprised to see it on top of the Spicy Tako Sake roll. The maki had spicy octopus and oshinko (Japanese pickle), then topped with salmon, wasabi mayo, and seaweed salad. It was light even though there was mayo.

Nigiri at Arami
The nigiri pieces are outstanding. I ordered the Smoked Sake, King Sake, Suzuki, Aji, and Botan Ebi. The sushi rice was perfectly cooked and the fish was remarkably fresh. Expect the chef to use ingredients like truffles, Asian pear, garlic, Japanese pickles, and sweet soy to enhance the flavors of the fish. Usually, no more than five ingredients are used in one bite.

you had me at sushi. {smoked sake, king sake, suzuki, aji, and botan ebi @aramichicago} || #aramichicago #chicagorestaurant #fabfoodchicago #🍣

A photo posted by Soo Park (@fabsoopark) on Jun 17, 2015 at 8:16pm PDT

FAB TIP: Gluten free, vegan, and vegetarian options are available.

{Location}
Arami
Ukrainian Village || 1829 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL || P: (312) 243-1535

{Price Range}
$$$ ($36-$65)

{Fab Ratings: 4 Fabs}

4. Momotaro

Momotaro, from the Boka Restaurant Group, is a trendy spot for fine Japanese fare and boasts three levels of dining space including the main dining area, lower-level izakaya lounge, and upper-level private event space. The menu is extensive as its space. Choose from snacks, cold, hot, hibachi, rice & noodles…<breathe>…sushi, nigiri, sashimi, maki, donburi, etc. You get my point. I get it. It’s a lot. Don’t worry, though. The service is fantastic and the staff is very helpful.

Action shot of “the Sushi Master” as captured by @vkalathil. #momotarochicago #sushi #🍣 📷: @vkalathil

A photo posted by @momotarochicago on Nov 6, 2015 at 7:46am PST

Highlights:

Nigiri Omakase
The sushi and sashimi omakase starts around $50 each and showcases a selection of the Chef’s choosing.

Yum! Nigiri Omakase 🍣

A photo posted by @momotarochicago on Mar 24, 2015 at 3:57pm PDT

Sashimi Omakase
The presentation is artfully crafted and meticulously placed on the plate.

Sashimi Sunday! Or join us after your shift for Industry Night in our @izakayamomotaro 🎌🎐🎏

A photo posted by @momotarochicago on Mar 15, 2015 at 2:11pm PDT

Nigiri Pieces
Individual nigiri pieces range from $3 to $25. I highly recommend the uni.

@thrillist @eater #momotaro #momotarochicago #chicagogourmet #chicagoeats #chicagofoodauthority @chicagofoodauthority @bokarestaurantgroup #bokarestaurantgroup @momotarochicago

A photo posted by Lisa Nguyen (@nlisa726) on Jul 4, 2015 at 9:03pm PDT

FAB TIP: Reservations book up fast so make sure you plan ahead.

{Location}
Momotaro
West Loop || 820 W Lake St, Chicago, IL || P: (312) 733-4818

{Price Range}
$$$ ($36-$65)

{Fab Ratings: 4 Fabs}

3. Katsu

It’s not very often you find Japanese restaurants owned by Japanese people. Katsu is the real deal. Chef Katsu Imamura and his wife have won the hearts of locals and Japanese businessmen for over 25 years at this West Rogers Park location without any advertising or marketing. Chef Katsu standards are high and only sources the highest quality ingredients from all over the world. This doesn’t come at a cheap price, though. The Chef’s Choice Sashimi ranges from $80 to $160, Chef’s Choice Nigiri from $65 to $95, and Tasting Menus from $128 to $188. All the dishes are simple, traditional, and extremely fresh.

Highlights:

Nigiri and Sashimi Omakase
The presentation is so stunning that I stared it for a few minutes to take it all in. The slabs of nicely cut fish are exquisitely plated with much attention to detail and proportions. Did I mention the caviar and gold flakes? You’ll feel like a million bucks.

FAB TIP: Attire and ambiance are super casual but reservations are highly recommended.

{Location}
Katsu
West Rogers Park || 2651 W Peterson Ave, Chicago, IL || P: (773) 784-3383

{Price Range}
$$$ ($36-$65) Regular Menu
$$$$ (Above $65) Tasting Menu

{Fab Ratings: 4 Fabs}

2. Kai Zan

Melvin and Carlo Vizconde, twin brothers and chefs, opened Kai Zan in 2012. I’ve been obsessed with the food since. Their innovative and imaginative creations provide a modern artistry in sushi making, which for me has a slight edge over Katsu. The menu includes classic Japanese appetizers like Agedashi Tofu, Takoyaki (fried octopus dumplings), and Karaage (Japanese fried chicken) as well as contemporary variations of sushi, sashimi, maki, charbroiled skewers, teppan (iron grilled), and desserts. The Chef’s Choice Omakase is $60 and up and Premium Omakase is based on market price. The restaurant is small but charming. The sushi bar sits around 8 people and the dining area has simple tables and cozy booths.

Highlights:

Oyster Shooters
If you love raw food, this shooter is for you. The fresh oyster served in ponzu sauce and quail egg is highly addictive. And, yes, you shoot it like a shot. They also have an Uni version which is just as amazing.

Uni Toro Tartare
Either people love uni or hate it but I LOVE it. Good uni just melts in your mouth. Now imagine pairing it with fresh toro. The combination is outstanding. The DIY Uni Toro Tartare hand rolls are a must-try. The uni and toro comes over a bed of sushi rice and is topped with a quail egg, scallions, and pickled wasabi. Mix all the ingredients together and scoop a spoonful onto a piece of seaweed. I would be happy eating this as my meal.

I highly recommend trying all the items under “Kai Zan Favorites”. You won’t be disappointed. The flavor profiles are perfectly created by the chefs so no soy sauce is needed. Quite honestly, I rarely use any soy sauce when I am at Kai Zan.

Orange Rush
Almost everyone I’ve dined with that has tried the Orange Rush says it is their favorite on the menu. Fresh sushi scallops are wrapped in salmon and lightly seared with a citrus glaze. One order is two pieces.

Chef’s Special
The chef created this escolar dish for us when I visited with friends but due to its popularity it is available on the regular menu. Black garlic dashi polenta is wrapped in seared escolar and topped with toro, crispy kale, and mushroom sauce.

Angry Crab
Another popular item is the Angry Crab. Spicy crab is wrapped in fresh tuna and topped with tempura crunch. One order is two pieces.

Speciality Roll
If you are in the mood for a maki roll, try one of their specialty rolls. The Spicy Toro maki has avocado, spicy mayo, and tobiko. The Fiesta Maki, Flaming Tuna, and Green Monster are also very good.

FAB TIP: New hours starting in 2016. Closed on Sundays and Mondays. Extended hours on Saturdays.

{Location}
Kai Zan
Humboldt Park || 2557 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL || P: (773) 278-5776

{Price Range}
$$$ ($36-$65)

{Fab Ratings: 4.5 Fabs}

1. Juno

Best known for its raw fish preparations and creative Omakase, Juno is my favorite place to go in Chicago for quality sushi. Chef B.K. Park, former head sushi chef of Arami, exhibits remarkable skills and the food is beautifully presented. He has a high-level of attention to detail and precision. Chef B.K. shops for the seafood himself, using various distributors, to ensure the finest ingredients are used. The environment is casual and the service is impeccable.

Highlights:

Toro Tartare
The toro tartare may be small in size but packed with flavors. The Asian pear puree adds a mild sweetness to the dish.

Sashimi
The quality of the sashimi is exceptional and the cuts are substantial.

Nigiri
The nigiri has the perfect fish to rice ratio. A lot of restaurants pack nigiri with too much rice, and I end up not eating half of the rice…not the case at Juno.

getting a piece of the action. {nigiri platter @junosushichicago} || #junosushi #chicagorestaurant #fabfoodchicago #🍣

A photo posted by Soo Park (@fabsoopark) on Apr 8, 2015 at 5:09am PDT

I highly recommend the Omakase. It is an experience like no other in Chicago. Chef B.K.’s originality and knife skills are something you don’t want to miss. The nigiri series was my favorite part of the Omakase, which is eaten with your hands as you do in Japan. Check out my full review of Juno here.

FAB TIP: Juno requires 48 hours’ notice for Omakase and ranges between $100-$150 per person, based on market price. Limited seating.

{Location}
Juno
Lincoln Park || 2638 N Lincoln, Chicago, IL || P: (773) 935-2000

{Price Range}
$$$ ($36-$65) Regular Menu
$$$$ (Above $65) Omakase

{Fab Ratings: 4.5 Fabs}

Oh, one more thing…
When I want a quick and easy sushi fix, I order from Lawrence Fish Market. They offer a variety of sushi and party platters at affordable prices. Don’t expect anything fancy for it is a tiny fish market with no seating. Call ahead. Takeout only. Cash only.

if you can think of a better fish pun, let minnow. {$50 party platter} || cash & carryout only. || #cheapeats #lawrencefishmarket #fabfoodchicago #🍣

A photo posted by Soo Park (@fabsoopark) on Aug 30, 2015 at 5:09pm PDT

Where are some of your favorite sushi spots? Let me know below.

Live the Fab Food Life,
Soo-shi

Note: These meals were not complimentary. The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the writer.