Mako

I came here for a birthday dinner and it was a wonderful experience. To note, the front entrance is very easy to miss. It seems like a back door because it really blends in with the wall. And the door is so heavy. If you don't pull hard enough, you might think it is locked. If you're at a heavy, black door, and you see "Mako" etched in the wall next to the door, you're at the right spot.When we entered, the atmosphere was very relaxing and elevated. It reminded me of a hotel lobby. We were seated at the sushi bar, with a good view of all 3 chefs that were preparing the food. Each course came out with a little paper guide that helped you keep track of what you were eating. It seemed like the courses would never end. We tried so many types of fish. All of the fish was very fresh. One of my favorite pieces was the striped jack. It had a terrific texture. I was also pleasantly surprised by the mackerel. Usually, I'm not a huge fan of the strong, fishy flavor profile. But the mackerel here wasn't like that. I enjoyed it.At the end of our meal, they gave me a signed menu as a birthday "gift",which was cute. I've kept the menus from other omakase & tasting experiences, so I appreciated the keepsake.For the price point, this is not a spot I would come to regularly. I am not sure how the price/value differs from other Michelin-starred omakase experiences. But I think it was worth it for a special occasion.

It was enlightening to eat here at Mako during my first visit to Chicago. Embarking on an exquisite Michelin-starred dining experience at a premier sushi restaurant in Chicago was a journey that was unparalleled to any other culinary experience. When you arrive to the location the place is obscure. The entranceway is a heavy doorway that blends into the dark color of the building. If you weren't paying attention you could easily miss it. But depending on your reservations, the random couples standing outside exiting from their fine dining experience gave it away for us. Once you enter their doors, you feel transported to another place. You instantly feel the calm and soothing essence of their decor. We were one of the first to arrive for our reservation time blocks and we were instantly seated right away front and center at the sushi bar. There were 3 sushi chefs working simultaneously alongside each other showing their artistic craftsmanship as they displayed their culinary talents. There was so much precision in their execution to each dish that they prepared. We ordered 2x of their Omakases and we couldn't resist getting their wine and sake pairing to essensuate the experience even more.The omakase menu unfolds like a carefully orchestrated symphony. It features a succession of delicately curated sushis with each piece blooming with flavors and textures. Our dining experience was elevated to new heights because of the seamless pairing of sake or wines that enhanced everything to another level. Every detail, from the presentation of the dishes to the attentiveness of the staff, creates an unforgettable culinary journey that celebrates the art of sushi and leaves a lasting impression of excellence and sophistication.The experience felt beyond any other because their impeccable service anticipated our every need before we even asked for it. This night was a memorable night especially because all the sushi chefs and the staff personalized a menu by signing it for my husband's birthday. I hope to return again soon.

Is there negative score? Read this experience carefully before heading to this place. Not sure who is giving them 5 stars? Typical omakase place will feed you until you feel I need to stop. This place give you tiny pieces of a few little sushis, you feel half hungry when you leave, and get stomach pain from whatever they fed you with. You pay $200 to make a reservation, and after eating those tiny pieces of not so different sushis, they charge you $450 more on top of the $200 you already paid. I didn't understand how they arrived at the $650 bill. Beware, and stay away.I emailed saying how unsatisfied I was, and how I felt nauseas after eating there, no reply, they don't care. Save your money and go somewhere else!

Easily one of the best restaurants (sushi or non) in Chicago. The best comp for Mako is Nakazawa in DC but Nakazawa gets the slight edge - in overall taste, authenticity, price, and experience. The omakase boasts very tasty and thoughtful items, but if I'm being nitpicky, it lacks that little extra that Nakazawa had. Mako's wagyu for example was probably most memorable dish but not at the level of Nakazawa's 3-way tuna which to this day is something I still think about. The hear Omakase Yume is the other premier sushi restaurant. I have not tried so cannot compare, but if and when I do I will update.

Wooooow! Came here for my birthday dinner and all I can say is wow! This place was honestly my first Michelin star omakase and it totally lives up to its status. We made a reservation for 8:30pm and went in early at around 8:15pm. I have a crustacean allergy and really do not like uni, so I was able to have a modified menu. I was so grateful that they could accommodate (uni on a short notice). We waited until 8:30pm, when all the other tables and bar filled up. We were immediately served with a light soup and some tuna. I was very hesitant to eat the monkfish liver but it was honestly one of the best pieces. I was also worried that I had so many mackerels (don't like the taste) but I was told that since Mako's mackerel is cured in house, the fishy taste is not present. I loved the scallion toppings. There was a deep sea fish that was unbelievable. It was charred in a scallion oil. There are countless other courses that were delicious as well. Overall. I had a great time celebrating my birthday. There was coat check, rounds and rounds of courses, table cleanings, extravagant platings, and a quiet atmosphere. One thing I wished was for the bathrooms to be cleaner. For being a Michelin star restaurant, I expected a higher standard.

Food is stunning and delicious and on point. It is pricey but it is a fine dining intimate Michelin star experience.Service is top tier and you are constantly being taken care of.I love the ambiance as the place as it feels very intimate as I said before. I'm only able to tag 10 of the pics of the dishes so I posted my favs! We also had a complementary starting dish which was nice

My GF and I came here for our anniversary to try out their omakase spread.All the photos are the various different things we tried along with an example of one of the sets of sushi menusThe experience was amazing. Something we've always wanted to do and I'm glad Mako was able to deliver. It's an interesting experience and definitely one that makes you appreciate the work that goes into preparing quality fish and sushi.The restaurant, staff and food was all amazing. And we might just come back for our next anniversary to experience this amazing 15-16 course meal. One more time.

What an excellent Omakase experience in Chicago. The fish was delicious and tasted so fresh, best I've ever had. The cod in particular was amazing and was accompanied with a deep broth- I could've had ten times the serving!!! While there were 20+ courses, I did leave feeling a little hungry as you're served over 2 hours... I'm only giving 4 stars as I thought the service, given its a Michelin star restaurant, was not up to par as other places. An example would be servers spilling water when pouring and not great explanations on the food/origin like we've seen at other Michelin restaurants.

I came here on 6/11/23 with my family to celebrate my sister's graduation. This was only my second time ever having an omakase experience. I walked in with realistic expectations, nothing too lofty. It was definitely better than the omakase I had in Austin, TX.The restaurant is tucked away on a quiet street and sized perfectly for the exclusivity of omakase. The night we went there were 3 other parties, two also at the bar with us and one couple was seated at the back. I thought the inclusion of a few non-nigiri courses was super special. I really liked the black cod, and like other reviewers mention - the fatty tuna. The dessert was also quite refreshing and palate cleansing after all the seafood! My family also shared a kettle of tea and it was great for our tummies as the weather that evening was chilly.

A one star Michelin experience that will have you leaving with four flat tires.I was excited to try this place out but it was such a let down. I've never paid so much money only to leave still hungry and unsatisfied. Setting money on fire is more entertaining.We were told to arrive 15 minutes before our reservation time. Makes sense since not everyone is punctual. However, we didn't get served until 15 minutes into our reservation slot. So we sat down for a half hour without any sort of amuse bouche. Like edamame would have helped. We just sat there hungry for a half hour.Once the food was being served it just continued. The dishes are very instagrammable for sure. They say a picture is worth a thousand words but I'd hope it would be a thousand bites.The bathroom situation is pretty terrible. There's only one for the entire restaurant. You could tell it was a distraction for guests as people were constantly looking over to check the line to the bathroom.If you are thinking of coming here just don't.