Gaoku Izakaya

Dude. Best place I've eaten in Chicago in a while!!! Everything was exceptional - no joke! We had a lot of diff things but a few highlights: - wakamono sour: literally my idea of a PERFECT cocktail! It's like a yuzu sour - so freakin good.- the salmon and tuna hand rolls: these are worth every penny and alone will be the reason I come back over and over again! - chirashi don: not a thing I normally order but all the fish was cut so thick and was so tasty!! Plus they make their own tamago and it's like eating a soufflé dessert!! - the khao soi ramen: best fusion of Thai and Japanese ever! Spice was HOT and on point and it came with karaage chicken that was crispy and tender and amazing Please come here!!! Best food ever!! And love the owners too!! Maru was so nice and the chef is one of faves! The vibe is also amazing - really chill.

Stumbled upon this place while in the area catching up with friends at a local bar. We ended up basically having dinner here.It was during early in the week, maybe Monday or Tuesday. The place was empty (a group of people had just walked out before we walked in). We were served by Emmeline. She was nice and a little quirky.We were given some complimentary small drinks to start off which was a nice gesture. We ordered the chicken karaage which I found surprisingly larger as an appetizer and not bad for the price point. The hamachi Kama was not what we were expecting but it was ok.We ordered all drinks each plus a plate of fresh nigiri to chose from and found it to be fairly fresh and good. The bill was quite expensive, especially for the area, so I'd keep that in mind.

Love this place. It's a hidden gem. Definitely wasn't expecting to see such creative and delicious cocktails here - it was an unexpected surprise to find what I believe to be one of the best mixology programs in all of Chicago. The miso hot buttered rum is amazing - and anyone who says the miso flavor is too much obviously prefers bland, boring drinks. It's so good I could have it year-round. Marco was friendly and helpful, taking great care of us both times that we visited. Food-wise, I really like the karaage chicken and the sakura pork salad. My partner liked his chirashi-don. If this place was in our neighborhood, we'd definitely be regulars.

A must! Our favorite were the hand rolls, ramen, and the tiramisu! Service is amazing with everyone super nice and and food came out super quick. Great spot for friends dinner or even a romantic night! Also some of the best drinks in the city!

this place was great but definitely on the pricier end. it reminds me of ikigai but more expensive and better quality. my favorite thing we got was the Sakura pork, and my partners favorite was the mackerel. the chirashi don was very fresh and so were the scallops. we were the only people eating dinner when we went which was strange but the bar was full. I got a tom khalada and I really liked it.

Amazing seafood! Obsessed with the oysters and the SCALLOPS! Wished that the pork dish came with a carb to eat it with. Great dessert, very unique drinks especially if you like dark liquors! Great place to share plates

Awesome, intimate spot for small bites and great drinks. Really enjoyed the Sakura Pork (which we were redirected to as they had sold out of the Karaage). The omakase was a very surprisingly awesome value for the quality. Looking forward to the next time we drop in already!

We had pork salad appetizer and chirashi sushi for lunch on Saturday - the sashimi was fresh, varied and delicious.The Asian-style pork salad was also tasty.

Really nice ambiance which includes seated tables and a large bar area. Tom Khalada and tuna tartare were incredible!!!

wonderful food and service. drinks are top notch. nice atmosphere and that tuna is amazing. as is the oyster omelette!