Chicago’s sushi scene may not garner the same breathless coverage as that of its coastal counterparts, but don’t be fooled: The city is home to a crew of formidable chefs and experts who know Midwesterners are just as hungry for top-quality maki, nigiri,
and sashimi at all price points and levels of formality. As omakase restaurants from other parts of the U.S. scurry to launch Chicago outposts, they’re building upon a foundation built by local leaders in the genre such as chefs B.K. Park (owner of Juno, Mako, and Tamu) and Sangtae Park of Omakase Yume.
We’ve added six spots to the list — Noriko Handroll Bar, Omakase Box, Jōtō Sushi, Casa Madai, Shō Omakase, and Hiro Bar + Izakaya. Whatever the style — an all-you-can-eat sushi haunt, an elegant omakase palace, or a laidback neighborhood spot — the city has numerous exciting contenders to explore. Find these restaurants and more great recommendations on the Eater app, where you can create your very own maps and guides or trade notes with fellow restaurant fans.
— Additional reporting by Naomi Waxman and Jeffy Mai
Sushi Plus Rotary Sushi Bar
2131 S Archer Ave, Chicago, IL, 60616, US
312-929-2446
Conveyor belt sushi isn’t generally considered a pinnacle of the form, but adherents argue that what it lacks in artistry is counterbalanced by fun. Sensory overload is part of the charm. Local mini-chain Sushi Plus dominates the local scene with locations in Chinatown, Northalsted, and suburban Aurora. Its newest location in the South Loop is an all-you-can-eat spot should you be so inclined. The style, which involves eagle-eyed diners snatching plates off a conveyor belt, is an interactive option for families with kids.
312 Fish Market
2105 S Jefferson St, Chicago, IL, 60616, US
(872) 222-7288
Tucked away on the second floor of Chinese grocery emporium 88 Marketplace, this sushi bar has mostly flown under the radar since opening in 2020. Unlike typical food court vendors, 312 Fish Market gets products fresh from Japan. Former Sushi-san chef and co-owner Joe Fung delivers premium bites of fatty otoro, A5 wagyu, and uni alongside other highlights like hotate scallop seared in truffle oil and Canadian spot prawns. The party platters are also a popular option as they contain an assortment of maki, nigiri, and sashimi. There’s limited counter seating, but customers can take their orders to-go or eat in the common dining area. To get up close with a whole tuna-cutting demonstration followed by free samples, follow 312’s Instagram for announcements.
Casa Madai
2023 S Racine Ave, Chicago, IL, 60608, US
(872) 342-2105
Pilsen might not be well known for sushi restaurants, but chef Ismael Lucero Lopez is working hard to change that. Trained in Osaka-style sushi, Lopez combines his fish-cutting expertise with his Mexican heritage to create a cuisine that’s all his own. There’s a 15-course omakase served at the intimate 12-seat counter as well as a smaller one for tables. Subtle Mexican flavors can be found in the specialty rolls, including the Baja, which pairs shrimp and tuna with avocado and jalapeño. There are also straight-up Mexican dishes like fish tacos and scallops with mole. The cocktails reflect both cultures with ingredients ranging from sake and mezcal to yuzu and mango puree.
Omakase Yume
651 W Washington Blvd, Chicago, IL, 60661, US
(312) 265-1610
Korean chef Sangtae Park helms Omakase Yume, the uncluttered, blonde wood-filled omakase den in the West Loop. Expect a series of 16 seasonally changing courses focused on Edomae-style sushi. This type of sushi originated in Edo, the old name for Tokyo, and is based on various curing and preservation techniques. In 2023, Sangtae and his wife Kate Park unveiled Bonyeon, Chicago’s (and possibly the nation’s) first dedicated beef omakase restaurant. Looking for a more casual experience? Head to the couple’s neighboring Ten Goku Aburiya, an izakaya that features sushi, yakitori, and grilled dishes, in addition to a number of easy-on-the-wallet lunch specials.
Tamu
804 W Washington Blvd, Chicago, IL, 60607, US
(312) 248-8833
For an intimate meal in West Loop, Tamu provides a unique dining room with a feel different from B.K. Park’s other restaurants, Juno and Mako. Here, Park has partnered with fellow sushi chef Joon Kim to create a neighborhood restaurant. The main dining room is outfitted with a 10-seat counter where chefs serve temaki (hand rolls). The eight-seat backroom is reserved for omakase during lunch and dinner, and abbreviated meals are available for customers in a rush. It’s not as fancy as Michelin-starred Mako, or as splashy as Juno was when it first opened in Lincoln Park. But Tamu complements those two restaurants in the sense that it feels more approachable in an elegant space for diners who don’t want any fuss.
Jōtō Sushi
564 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL, 60661, US
(312) 707-8780
Located inside CH Distillery (the maker of Jeppson’s Malört among other spirits), this sultry spot specializes in dry-aging its fish, which imparts deeper, nuanced flavor to its nigiri, sashimi, and maki. Start with crispy tuna bites and wagyu gyoza before moving on to fatty tuna with black truffle, Spanish mackerel, and uni. There’s an equally extensive selection of rolls with ingredients like seared scallops, sweet wasabi aioli, and fried salmon. Omakase menus are available at the bar and tableside. Come at lunch, and you’ll be rewarded with a 10-piece omakase for $60. Fitting its location, cocktails are stellar too.
Momotaro
820 W Lake St, Chicago, IL, 60607, US
(312) 733-4818
Boka Restaurant Group made a big splash with its foray into Japanese dining. Decorated chef Gene Kato not only carves into prime seafood, such as fatty bluefin tuna belly and spot prawn, but also uses a robata to produce succulent pieces of lamb, duck, and more. Downstairs, a Tokyo street-inspired izakaya serves more casual dishes like uni pasta and tonkatsu. There’s also an impressive sake and Japanese whisky collection. In early 2023, Kato and Boka introduced Itoko, an intimate new Japanese restaurant in Lakeview that shares the former Southport Lanes building with Little Goat Diner and GG’s Chicken Shop.
Noriko Handroll Bar
401 North Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60654, United States
(312) 313-2467
There are a lot of lovely surprises at River West’s Noriko beyond its hidden location underneath big sister spot Perilla Korean American Fare. Tip: Head towards the rear of the restaurant and walk down the short staircase. The purple-hued lighting along the stairwell is an early hint this isn’t business as usual at this sultry sushi spot. Inside, the 21 seats at the triangle-shaped sushi bar offer front-row views of the hand roll production, led by co-chefs Billy Lim and Rhan Whang. Rather than focus on the more familiar cut maki, the duo spotlights hand rolls, both classic (California, yellowtail with scallion) and more premium (bluefin tuna, Hokkaido uni). A carefully curated list of sakes and Japanese spirits is at the ready, but so are Asian-leaning cocktails.
Sushi-san
63 W Grand Ave, Chicago, IL, 60654, US
(312) 828-0575
Sushi-san’s motto is “hip hop and hand rolls,” which should give some indication of the casual vibe at Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises’ ocean-oriented sibling of Ramen-san. While chef Kaze Chan is serving a full slate of izakaya bites, from crispy tempura to grilled miso salmon, the restaurant’s sweet spot is its “San-sets” — a combination of maki rolls and traditional nigiri and sashimi. Daytime diners can take advantage of the $21 express lunch, which features hot and cold dishes as well as rolls. For a more intimate and upscale meal, patrons can snag a spot in the Omakase Room, a 10-seat restaurant-within-a-restaurant offering an 18-course menu for $260 per person. There’s also a location inside the Willis Tower and in Lincoln Park.
Kai Zan
2557 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL, 60622, US
(773) 278-5776
At Kai Zan in West Town, it’s best to sit back and let chefs Melvin and Carlo Vizconde do all the work by choosing the omakase menu, which starts at $90. The twin brothers meticulously assemble inventive creations, such as Angry Crab (spicy crab wrapped in tuna and topped with tempura crunch) and Orange Rush (seared scallop wrapped in salmon with a citrus glaze).
Yuzu Sushi & Robata Grill
1751 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL, 60622, US
(312) 666-4100
Sushi becomes edible art at this neighborhood favorite in West Town. The jumbo maki are stuffed and presented on boards beautifully decorated with sauces. These vibrant drawings, which feature everything from dragons to the Chicago skyline, add a fun element to the food that will inevitably end up on your Instagram story. Specialty jumbo rolls include ingredients like spicy tuna, shrimp tempura, seared tuna, and flying fish roe.
Hiro Izakaya
1600 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL, 60622, US
(312) 600-6336
Part izakaya and part modern sushi bar, this West Town spot offers plenty of twists on both. Hand rolls come filled with pork belly, micro cilantro, and pickled pineapple, as well as miso salmon with fried scallions. There’s a tight selection of traditional maki and nigiri, too, along with items fresh from the robata like A5 wagyu and shrimp. The large U-shaped marble bar, leftover from former tenant Porto, provides a perfect perch to watch the chefs in action.
Sushi Taku
1904 W Division St, Chicago, IL, 60622, US
(773) 252-8258
For the best bang-for-the-buck, it doesn’t get much better than Sushi Taku. The all-you-can-eat option — priced at $25 for lunch and $32 for dinner — includes unlimited appetizers, nigiri pieces, and maki. Come hungry and go all out on salmon, spicy tuna rolls, and much more. Dine-in service is limited to 75 minutes. There’s a second location in Logan Square.
Shō Omakase
1533 N Wells St, Chicago, IL, 60610, US
As its name indicates, this Old Town spot specializes in omakase. The twist here is the modern approach it takes both for the global influences of its food and the overall vibe. The Kaws figurines and hip music provide a clue. Well-known Chicago chef Mari Katsumura (Yūgen, Cherry Circle Room, Acadia) features a 10-course seasonal tasting menu that balances traditional sushi and hand rolls (hamachi, trout, and king crab, among others) with creative hot dishes. Recent ones included a milk bread grilled cheese and chawanmushi with bouillabaisse dashi and potato espuma. Befitting her pastry chef background, dessert isn’t an afterthought. Vegans feel the love too with a new plant-based omakase inspired by the ancient cuisine of Japanese Buddhist temples.
Kyōten
2513 W Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL, 60647, US
(312) 678-0800
Ambitious chef Otto Phan left his restaurant in Austin, Texas, to come shake up Chicago’s sushi scene in 2018. His eight-seat omakase showcases deft techniques and top-quality fish imported from markets in Tokyo and Fukuoka. The nigiri is composed of premium delicacies, such as Ossetra caviar and fatty toro, and larger-than-standard rice grains seasoned with aged red vinegar. Kyōten’s menu is currently priced at $440 to $490 per person, inclusive of service. In 2023, Phan opened Kyōten Next Door, a sister restaurant with slightly more casual omakase at $169 to $179 a head.
Omakase Box
3038 W Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL, 60647, US
(773) 234-5302
This Logan Square spot embraces two of-the-moment Japanese sushi formats — omakase and hand rolls — and does both really well and at prices below the competition. At the counter, choose from a 15-course omakase ($112) that includes 10 nigiri, four composed plates, and dessert, or the 11-course option ($59), which gets you 10 nigiri and a hand roll. At the tables, you can do omakase tableside ($65) or go freestyle with the a la carte menu with hand rolls like spicy tuna, unagi crunch, and ginger salmon. Nigiri sets with the option of hand roll add-ons are available too.
Nomonomo Sushi
2096 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL, 60647, US
773-697-3651
Polished enough for date night yet sufficiently casual for a weekday meal, this sister spot to izakaya-style Nomonomo Japanese Pub makes for a happy addition to Chicago’s neighborhood sushi scene. Snag a spot at the counter for a 70-minute omakase meal for $79 or try the a la carte and combo lineup of maki, nigiri, sashimi, and more in the main dining room. Vegetarians will appreciate the extensive selection of veggie maki and hand rolls.
Jinsei Motto
2456 N California Ave, Chicago, IL, 60647, US
(312) 884-9602
What started as a pop-up-turned-permanent restaurant inside CH Distillery has since moved to a standalone location in Logan Square. (To make matters even more confusing, the original location from one half of the team has rebranded as Jōtō Sushi.) The culinary team sources fish from Tokyo’s Toyosu Market and other top global purveyors and experiments with dry-aging, which adds complexity and deepens flavors. Nigiri options range from sea bream and mackerel to super fatty bluefin tuna belly. There’s a handful of creative maki rolls, too. The wood oven turns out dishes like gomae broccolini and shio koji-marinated sablefish.
Raisu Japanese Fine Dining
2958 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago, IL, 60618, US
(773) 961-7299
Oversized maki take a backseat to minimalist nigiri at Raisu, where chef Simon Liew uses some of the highest-quality fish in the city. The Irving Park restaurant’s modest dining room has a six-seat sushi counter dressed with hanging lanterns. Products, such as seasonal Hokkaido uni and botan ebi, are sourced weekly from Japan.
Lawrence Fish Market
3920 W Lawrence Ave, Chicago, IL, 60625, US
(773) 267-6838
The dollar goes a long way at this popular carryout joint in Albany Park. Favored for its budget-friendly prices, Lawrence Fish Market turns out commendable maki, nigiri, and sashimi. Customers can order pieces a la carte or enjoy a sushi feast with one of the party trays, which start at $25 for 31 pieces and go up to $160 for a 146-piece spread. Yellowtail and salmon collars are available, along with onigiri. It’s cash only, so bring some bills. There’s also a location in Bridgeport.
Tanoshii Sushi
5547 N Clark St, Chicago, IL, 60640, US
(312) 207-8894
Those in the know visit Mike Ham, affectionately referred to as Sushi Mike, for his masterful maki. The signature chef’s choice rolls are popular and can be customized to diners’ tastes. They’re packed with tuna, shrimp tempura, soft-shell crab, chile truffle honey, and other exciting flavors. Ham has also created original dishes like “fish and chips” (spicy tuna, pico de gallo, avocado, tortilla chip) and a “tuna truffle flower” (seared tuna sashimi, chive sauce, truffle honey). Equally thrilling: The restaurant is BYOB. Ham also offers an omakase where you specify any dietary restrictions and spice level, and he lets his creativity roll.
Tensuke Market and Food Court
3 Arlington Heights Rd, Elk Grove Village, IL, 60007, US
(847) 806-1200
Store-bought sushi varies widely in quality and doesn’t tend to excite. But this Asian market in suburban Elk Grove Village punches above its weight by using fresh ingredients imported daily from overseas as well as wild-caught fish and seafood from the U.S. The cafe in the back of the market produces made-to-order maki, sashimi and nigiri sets, poke, chirashi, and more. It’s all affordably priced and manages to hold its own against traditional sushi restaurants. Customers can also purchase sushi-grade tuna and salmon to slice at home. Non-sushi lovers can opts for ramen, udon, tempura, and more.
