Fab Review: Jellyfish Chicago

With the constant opening and closing of restaurants in the Gold Coast, it is hard to keep track of which ones are still there. Jellyfish is a restaurant that was established in 2012 and has been a little gem in the neighborhood ever since.

Many celebrities have frequented Jellyfish and you’ll see their pictures adorned on the walls near the elevators. The entrance may be a little hard to spot since the door is fairly small in the front. You will realize the space is actually large once you get up to the restaurant.

{Ambiance}
Jellyfish has a very modern interior. With blue and purple colors around the restaurant, it feels like you are in an aquarium. Quite fitting of its name, if you ask me. No wonder so many celebrities visit this space.

You instantly feel cooler once you step into Jellyfish. The crew is upbeat and friendly. If you’re lucky, the chef may even personally pay you a visit. They have a number of tables for you to choose from so you don’t have to worry about finding your perfect seat. They have a lot of booths so for those of you that like comfy and plushy seats…rejoice!

{Food}
Jellyfish
When at Jellyfish, you have to try their special off-the-menu jellyfish dish. It wouldn’t be a complete experience without it. The color and texture is very unique. The texture is very similar to raw squid or octopus. The jellyfish is transparent but due to the blue lights, it has an electric blue hue to it. The chef mixes the jellyfish in a savory and slightly sour mixture for taste so definitely try it if you get a chance.

FAB TIP: Ask and see if they have any jellyfish dishes that day. It will most likely not be on a menu.

Avocado and Crab Meat
I went with a few friends and we ordered a couple of appetizers. First, we tried the avocado and crab salad appetizer. This was a filling and delicious choice. The avocado and crab meat combined together created a slightly sweet taste. The presentation of the fish was also very beautiful. They served the mixture in half an avocado shell and an orchid flower. The contrast of colors resulted in a very vibrant and colorful dish.

Jellyfish Ceviche
Next, we tried the jellyfish ceviche. This dish is also not on the menu and should be requested. The dish came with wonton chips that were light and crunchy. There was a citrusy bite to the mixture but it was pleasant. It is a very refreshing dish that can act as a palate cleanser if you have it between courses. The wonton is fairly addictive, though. You may have to ask for extra chips to finish off your ceviche.

Shishito Peppers
We also ordered the shishito peppers on the side. This was such a popular item that we had to put in a second order. They mix the shishito peppers in teriyaki sauce and then top it off with bonito flakes. It was such a simple dish but so addictive. The peppers were not spicy but remember 1 in 10 shishito peppers are spicy so just be careful if you cannot take spice.

Sizzling Stone
The next thing that we tried was the sizzling stone. This dish comes with slices of wagyu and a side of ponzu sauce. The stone comes very hot so be careful when it is set on the table. You can cook the slices of meat on the stone and it only takes a minute so don’t let it sit for too long. Dip it in the ponzu sauce for more flavor. This is a very popular dish in terms of the aesthetics and delicious meat.

FAB TIP: Cook the meat right away when the stone is brought to the table.

Maki Rolls
The chef sent out a couple of sushi rolls and we were pleasantly surprised. We were treated to the Kiss of Fire and a maki topped with uni. The rolls came with black rice instead of the traditional white rice. Personally, I enjoyed the rolls, although the other dishes made more of an impression on me. I like spicy foods but I generally do not like jalapeños in my maki rolls. I also enjoy uni on its own, though perhaps others may enjoy it on top of maki.

Braised Beef Baos
We were curious about the soy braised beef bao so we ordered it. For this dish, you need to assemble your own bao so you can decide how much of each ingredient you would like. The buns comes out warm. If you’ve ever had peking duck before, it is a similar bao that’s offered for this dish. I enjoyed the kimchi and daikon radish on the side more than on the meat. The braised beef was tasty and tender but I personally enjoyed the pickled veggies more.

Fried Noodles
Our last entrée was the Jellyfish fried noodles with beef. Anything with a fried egg on top immediately gets some favor from me. I enjoyed the dish since it was packed with vegetables. It is a very filling dish so if you want something that will leave you full, this would be a great choice. It’s also a very great dish to share with friends if you want to try other entrées as well.

Dessert Platter
For dessert, we were treated to a full platter featuring Jellyfish’s most popular items. We tried the taro rice pudding, banana donuts, green tea panna cotta and two of the seasonal sorbets. The panna cotta was my favorite since it was green tea flavored. The donuts and taro pudding came in a close second. Since my sweet tooth isn’t as big as it used to be, I enjoyed the green tea panna cotta the most.

{Experience}
Overall, my experience at Jellyfish was fun. The staff is very engaging and the chef has a great sense of humor. We were treated to some very delicious off-the-menu items but the most enjoyable part for me was the space itself and the company I was with.

It is a great place to catch up with friends. If you’re looking to get a good picture, go during lunch and have a seat by the windows. It feels like you’re sitting outside with the floor to ceiling windows. It is a great place to just lounge and have drinks with your friends, too.

FAB TIP: Ask the bartender for a specialty cocktail. They will recommend the best one suited for you!

{Location}
Jellyfish
Gold Coast || 1009 N Rush St, Chicago, IL || P: (312) 660-3111

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

{Fab Ratings: 3.5 Fabs}

Have you been to Jellyfish? What did you think? Let us know in the comments.

Until the next venture.

With love,
Van

Note: This meal was complimentary. However, the views and opinions expressed herein are those of the writer.