The Best Sushi and Japanese Restaurants in Chicago 2026
Chicago Dining Guide
Why we wrote this guide
Chicago is a steak-and-deep-dish town at heart, but its Japanese dining scene has quietly grown into something serious. From robata grills sending up smoke over the counter to hand rolls built to order at a sushi bar, the city now has rooms that treat Japanese cooking with real intent.
This is a focused guide, not a phone book. This list is short on purpose: we are starting with the two Japanese rooms in our Chicago book that we would send a friend to without hesitation. Momotaro is recommended in the Michelin Guide (recommended, not starred), and both sit in the neighborhoods where Chicago goes out to eat. More Japanese venues are on the way as we expand the Chicago collection, so treat this as a strong opening, with more to come.
Last updated September 2026.
The guide
Momotaro (Fulton Market)
Momotaro is Boka Restaurant Group's modern Japanese flagship, and it works on two levels, literally. Upstairs is a multi-level room with sushi and robata counters; downstairs is a subterranean izakaya that runs later as a lounge. Chef Partner Gene Kato splits the menu between the robata-yaki grill and globally sourced sushi, so a table can move from smoky skewers to clean nigiri without leaving the room. It is the pick when you want range and energy in one seating.
Signature dishes: Jidori Kimo chicken liver pate, beef tsukune bao sliders, and the spicy beef curry spaghetti.
See Momotaro.
Best for: a lively group dinner that wants both robata and sushi, with a late-night izakaya to slide into afterward.
Sushi-san (River North)
Sushi-san is the sushi bar for people who do not want a hushed room. It is a hip, minimalist space with exposed ductwork and an old-school hip-hop soundtrack, run by Master Sushi Chef Kaze Chan. Beyond the fish, it pours one of the largest Japanese whisky lists in America, and there is a 10-seat omakase room upstairs for when you want to hand over the reins. It is the everyday sushi pick that still feels like a night out.
Signature dishes: Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice, the spicy tuna hand roll, and the Mr. Maguro San-Set.
See Sushi-san.
Best for: a sushi-bar dinner with a great whisky pour, or an omakase seat in the side room.
How the booking works
Both of these rooms take reservations through OpenTable, and that is the fastest way to lock a table. The nightlife side is where we come in: the after-dinner plan and the table service for wherever the night goes next. Book the sushi through OpenTable, and let us handle the rest.
FAQ
Is the sushi in Chicago actually good?
Yes. Chicago is not on the coast, but rooms like Momotaro and Sushi-san source their fish globally and treat it seriously. Momotaro carries a Michelin Guide recommendation.
Are Momotaro or Sushi-san Michelin starred?
No. Momotaro is Michelin recommended, which means the inspectors rate it worth a visit, but it does not hold a star. Sushi-san is not currently in the Michelin Guide.
Which one should I pick?
Go to Momotaro for a bigger modern-Japanese spread with robata and a late izakaya, and Sushi-san for a focused, high-energy sushi bar with a deep Japanese whisky list.
Where are they?
Momotaro is in Fulton Market at 820 W Lake St; Sushi-san is in River North at 63 W Grand Ave.
Are there more Japanese restaurants coming to this guide?
Yes. This is a focused opening list, and we are adding more Japanese venues as the Chicago collection grows.
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