Top Best Japanese Restaurants in West Loop

"For an incomparable Omakase experience, KAI ZAN is a Michelin-starred Japanese restaurant in Chicago specializing in wholly authentic and traditional Omakase dining. The restaurant is the brainchild of the notable sushi twins Melvin and Carlos Vizconde, who wanted a creative space to invent intricate dishes."

"Description: Kai Zan is a sushi bar with an omakase menu in a small, BYOB space (woohoo!). Be sure to try the "Kai Zan Favorites," such as the Fiesta Maki, a roll consisting of tuna, salmon, jalapeño, avocado, cilantro, masago, chili oil and lime juice. It is a literal ~party in your mouth.~"

"Granted, omakase has become a massive part of most sushi joints. However, not all of these places are easy on the wallet. Kai Zan is an exception because the omakase experience is affordable without compromising the taste at all."

"Serving some of the city's best sushi, this warm, cozy room in West Town seems to encourage you to stay for hours, sipping sake and Japanese whisky. Start with appetizers like the chrunchy chicken karaage or the decadent roasted bone marrow served with ribeye tarare before moving on to sashimi, nagiri and maki selections. You'll find everything from bluefin tuna to Alaskan king crab on the menu, along with speciality items that can be accompanited by optional caviar supplements."

"Arami is the rare Japanese restaurant that offers a wide ranging menu, yet somehow, expertly maintains the quality of their food. There are sushi, ramen and even robata (charcoal) grilled items on the menu to choose from. Thanks to having two executive chefs, Arami is able to focus both sushi and hot food from the kitchen."

"After recouping from a recent fire, Arami is back in business serving fine sashimi, nigiri, and maki, as well as tasty ramen, and other large and small plates. Presentation is not an afterthought here; each dish is beautifully plated. They recently received a Michelin Bib Gourmand nomination for the fifth year in a row."

"The specialty of TAO Chicago is that the second floor is the windy city’s hottest nightclubs with an amazing atmosphere, whereas the first floor features one of its top Asian restaurants. Hence, once you’re done dancing your heart out at the club, you can step down for a hearty meal of lobster wontons, Peking duck, and more. Besides the disco ball and towering murals, a 10-feet-tall Japanese bell will grab your attention."

"Restaurants Pan-Asian River North. You've likely heard about Tao because of its 1,000-person capacity club, but the venue's posh restaurant is not to be overlooked. Snag a table in the dining room or saddle up at the sushi counter, where you can order sea-kissed treasures a la carte or through a decadent omakase menu."

"The atmosphere of Tao Chicago is electric, as it is both a restaurant and a nightclub, with interiors designed to excite. You can choose to eat in the main dining room or ask for a..."

"Sushi The beautiful interior and the equally beautiful presentation of sushi by Chef BK Park are the obvious reasons that Juno is always on Chicago’s best sushi list. However, just like that pretty girl you have crush on happens to be also kind, smart and funny, you’ll pleasantly discover that Juno’s food is also amazing from their appetizers to the omakase menu. The Omakase requires a 24 hour advance reservation, but you are in for a treat."

"Description: While I have never been to Juno Sushi, the Chicago Tribune describes this restaurant as one that "presents sushi and other seafood dishes with a precision and sophistication that few other restaurants even attempt, much less pull off." Their signature dishes are the smoked sashimi, where the fish arrives under a dome filled with applewood smoke."

"Juno frequently ranks on top sushi joint lists because of its sleek decor, fish quality, and excellent staff, including sushi chef BK Park. You can opt for an a la carte meal, or splurge on the omakase (chef’s choice) menu for $150 per guest (and an additional $75 for wine pairings)."

"The main focus of Ron of Japan Steakhouse is top-quality steaks and seafood prepared teppan-style at the table-side by showman-like chefs. Entree options include steaks, chicken, a..."

"With its all-white, retro-futuristic decor and reasonable prices, Friends Sushi encourages diners to enjoy sushi at any time, not just for special occasions. Yet the quality of fis..."

"With five stars out of 246 reviews on Yelp, the sushi bar, Japanese and Korean spot has proved to be a local favorite."

"With three locations, Coast is known for its high quality sushi coupled with outstanding service. Weekends can get loud and very busy, especially at its city locations. The Bucktown hotspot (BYOB) features a warm and sexy interior while its South Loop locale is a bit more stark and modern in ambiance."

"A relative newcomer to the Chicago sushi scene (2010), Wasabi wasted no time becoming a darling among local and out of town visitors. One of only a handful of Japanese-owned Japanese restaurants in Chicago, it also has Executive Head Sushi Chef, Hiromich Sasaki, one of original Japanese sushi chefs in the Chicago area, at the helm. Most places know not to bother trying to appease everyone but Wasabi does and it does it right."

"Japanese restaurants in Chicago, Wasabi attracts not only the Japanese, but anyone in search of authentic Japanese comfort food. Their ramen is made from scratch using heritage berkshire pork from Iowa for their broth and for their juicy tender chashu. Known also as Kurobuta, Berkshire pork is as highly regarded in the pork world, as Kobe beef is for beef, thanks to its beautiful marbling and flavor."

"And if other Japanese small plates make their way into the mix, then all the better. Find these favorites and more at this Logan Square restaurant, where eight kinds of ramen are on offer, from the hakata red (with Berkshire pork belly and scallions) to the spicy roasted garlic miso (complete with a soft-boiled egg). Match them up with other menu-musts, like pork belly buns and Tokyo spicy wings."

"Just off Erie and Orleans in the heart of Chicago’s historic River North neighbourhood you’ll find one of the cities prime spots for rooftop cocktails. Bernie’s has been whipping up some of the best drinks and bites in Chicago since 2015 and is famous for their attention to detail and friendly atmosphere. Whether you fancy a few drinks after work or are looking for a prime date night location, Bernie’s is the place to be."

"The staff aims to provide guests with a unique and memorable experience whether you are on a date, gathering with friends a..."

"Luxbar is a neighborhood saloon in the Gold Coast neighborhood that evokes an elegant simplicity. Decorated in stone, glass, brass, and wood and bathed in tons of natural light, it..."

"The National Museum of Mexican Art in Chicago is home to more than 5,000 pieces by Mexican, Latino, and Chicano artists. It is considered the largest Latino cultural institution in the United States and the only Latino museum to have received accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums. The National Museum of Mexican Art is perhaps best known for its annual Día de los Muertos exhibit."

"Located in Pilsen, the National Museum of Mexican Art is the only museum dedicated to Latino culture that’s a member of the American Alliance of Museums. The museum has over 9,000 examples of Mexican art from ancient Mexico to the present as well as special exhibitions. While technically free, they do ask for a donation if you can spare it."

"Now open This unique museum, dedicated to work by self-taught artists, has reopened to the public. Intuit has taken several new precautions, including directional signage, reduced touch points, and enhanced sanitation. They’ve even re-installed their exhibition Outsider Art: The Collection of Victor F. Keen to increase spacing and allow more distancing."

"This is a term coined by its founders to describe art created by self-taught artists or those without any formal training. The focus here is on artists who for any number of reasons exist outside of mainstream art. The permanent collection features artists including Minnie Evans, Miles Carpenter, and William Hawkins."

"Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art features a large number of artworks presenting intuitive and outsider art. They have been featuring various artworks since 1991. Their world-class exhibitions give an opportunity for the public to explore this kind of art."

"Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Roman Boed used under CC BY 2.0. Bloomingdale’s needs little introduction. One of three such sites dotted around the city, the store at 900 North Michigan Avenue is well-placed in downtown Chicago for those looking to pop in while sightseeing or visiting the lake front."

"Many of Chicago’s most historic buildings are located in the loop. The Willis Tower was the world’s tallest building until 1998. Including the antenna, it is 1,730 feet tall."