Diners' Choice: Japanese restaurants in Chicago / Illinois

OpenTable

Updated September 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!

Sushi Mura

4.8

4.8 (29)

$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

Anita

Dined on Aug 10, 2024

We could have done without the music and also, without the dog barking at the table next to ours (at outside tables). Otherwise, it was great!

Tanoshii - West Loop

4.9

4.9 (772)

$31 to $50

Japanese

West Loop

About the restaurant

Try our unique omakase where our chefs will work around your restrictions to course out a mix of traditional, and non-traditional, fare. With signature dishes like our fish & chips and bluefin truffle sashimi, dressed nigiri pieces, and our off menu "special rolls", let our chefs take care of you. Otherwise, order from the menu with many small-bite options, nigiri/sashimi, maki, entrees, or order the chef special rolls à la carte. We pride ourselves on our fish quality. We also have vegetarian off menu special rolls and many vegetarian options!

We have a full bar, which features a full selection of Japanese whisky, sake, cocktails, and more.

Also, since this comes up so often, all of the (many, many) plants throughout the restaurant are real!

We have no affiliation with any other Tanoshii and Sushi Mike

Top review

Reneevip

Dined 3 days ago

The sushi here was some of the best sushi I’ve had in years - and I unashamedly consider myself to be a sushi snob. But Tanoshii was a complete surprise. The omakase rolls were creative, original and outstanding. Our waitress was extremely knowledgeable about the food, and how our palates would be satisfied. I’m so sorry for not remembering names! And the sushi chef was amazing at creating omakase-like rolls, which I’ve never seen before, whether it be San Francisco, LA and New York. I highly recommend getting to Tanoshii & be open to exploration. Prices were reasonable but most importantly, the quality of the fish & the preparation was fabulous.

Kansaku

4.8

4.8 (454)

$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

abby

Dined 6 days ago

Excellent service, delicious food and presentation, enjoyed sitting outdoors!

Nabuki

4.8

4.8 (1466)

$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

Kerri

Dined 3 days ago

Angel is the best server. We only go there to have him wait on us. Everything is always fantastic!

The Omakase Room at Sushi-san

4.9

4.9 (62)

$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

Claire

Dined on Aug 30, 2024

Perfect for a special occasion. Top notch experience for sushi lovers and foodies. Recommend the cocktail pairing- we did the wine and the non alcoholic and both were totally unique and interesting. We also tried some Japanese whiskeys that were incredible. Next time I’d love to do the sake. Pro tip- ask for recommendations - Daniel Bennett is amazing, as is the rest of the staff.

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Experience

Omakase Reservation Deposit

Blufish Sushi Robata - Vernon Hills

4.8

4.8 (1193)

$30 and under

Japanese

Vernon Hills

About the restaurant

WE ARE MOVING RESERVATIONS TO TOCK ON MONDAY AUGUST 26TH.

Please be advised that we are switching our reservation system to Tock starting on Monday August 26th. You will still be able to book through OpenTable until this date. If you are looking to make a reservation and can't find us here on OpenTable, please check Tock
https://www.exploretock.com/blufishvernonhills?tock_source=tock&tock_medium=search_nav
or call us at the restaurant directly.

Top review

Amanvip

Dined on Aug 25, 2024

We love the food! I have been here many times and will continue to come. Great for sushi

Tenjin

4.8

4.8 (58)

$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

Sara

Dined on Sep 7, 2024

Tenjin is the quintessential Japanese restaurant. Owned and operated by a Japanese family and one can tell by the quality and care that is taken in everything from the service to the quality of the food itself. I have been to many different restaurants in Chicago, New York and elsewhere. I’m happy that there’s finally a restaurant that concentrates on food rather than show. Excellent!

Gyu-Kaku - Chicago, IL | Lakeview

4.7

4.7 (512)

$31 to $50

Japanese

Lakeview / East Lakeview

About the restaurant

Founded in Tokyo in 1996, Gyu-Kaku has become the world’s #1 Japanese BBQ brand! Thanks to our devoted fans we have reached over 700 locations worldwide. Each day, hundreds of thousands of people gather around the table-top smokeless grill, a centerpiece of our dining concept, enjoying selections of premium meats, just off the grill, and other freshly prepared foods from our kitchens, inspiring laughter, conversation, and a magical dining experience.

Our authentic yakiniku (grilled barbeque) dining experience crowns you the chef. Share a variety of delicious appetizers and premium cooked meats over a flaming grill, paired with Japanese sake, frosty cold beers, or other alcoholic and non-alcoholic options of your choice. We're the perfect spot to enjoy time with friends and family, organize an office party, or to spend quality time with your significant other!

Before you go, don't forget to taste our best-seller Harami Skirt Steak or Prime Kalbi Short Rib among other must-try dishes!

Top review

Emma

Dined on Sep 1, 2024

Meat is always spot on! Pork dumplings are my favorite!

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Experience

Prix-Fixe Yakiniku Courses for Everyone!

Akahoshi Ramen

4.8

4.8 (294)

$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

Kellyvip

Dined 4 days ago

Fabulous! Meticulous attention to flavor & composition! So slurpable & fresh drinks to pair

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