Karasu

Simple. Unassuming. One and done kinda spot, only if you can't find reservations anywhere else. That's where I found myself. On the cusp of hungry and starving not yet hangry searching like mad for a spot. As we were about to leave the location because we couldn't find the restaurant but we asked the hostess of Walters and were brushed off toward the back area. Luckily we found the exact door thanks to a waiter.On to the food. As mentioned it was just ok. Nothing was better than what the neighborhood has to offer or worst. There was no flavor packing umph (umami) in anything that was ordered. The scallops were drowning in a sauce that I could have done without all the same. The fried whole fish was proportionately odd (very wide and large head with a short and slender body...). The salmon don was as any that one can get from a quick spot such as a deli. Overall everything was purposefully made simply to help sustain you with no frills.

Yelp asks why did you give 4 Stars? What went well? Everything! This cozy Japanese restaurant behind Walter's on Dekalb is dark and sweet. We made a reservation and were seated on time. When 2 friends arrived the staff put 2 tables together which was very kind.We ate Hamachi, clams & Tonkatsu. They were very good and the timing between dishes was right on target.The best part of dining at Karasu was the cocktails. I had 2 Forte Greens which was probably was 1 too many, My goodness, but they were fabulous.I can't wait to go back!

I'd rate Karasu four and a half stars.It's a Japanese speakeasy located at the back of Walter's. They have a dimly lit full bar with a focus on Japanese products. Nice offerings of Japanese whiskies, sake, and a couple Japanese beers. I saw one of the special Japanese beer machines which makes the texture of the beer come out creamy, but I'm not sure which bar utilized the machine. We started with the tuna tataki. It came out quickly and offered a flavorful umami bite. It was plated on yuzu shoyu adding elements of sweetness, sourness, and more.Next came out the eggplant served in a dashi shoyu. This was one of my wife's favorite dishes. Eggplant soaked up the sauce adding a lot of flavorful.Third dish was broccolini boiled in a dashi. Very interesting preparation to me. I've typically had broccolini either charred or pan fried with butter or oil. Boiling it gave a soft texture but immersed it with a very different flavor from what I'm accustomed to. For the main course, we shared the market fish which was a fried black bass. I highly recommend it. It was the best preparation of fried fish that I've had. The fish was super juicy on the inside and ultra crispy on the outside. I think this dish was prepared on Walter's side as the breading and oil flavor seemed reminiscent of fried chicken. Service was attentive and they were very diligent in keeping our water glasses full. It's a small and dimly lit area making it intimate and romantic. There was one gender neutral restroom on the Karasu side. The was a handicap accessible restroom just through the door on Walter's side.

This speakeasy restaurant is hidden at the end of the hallway at Walter's so it can be difficult to find. The space is somewhat small but the ambience is quite nice and feels like a good date spot. In terms of service, everyone was nice but the food did take some time to come out. The oysters and the katsu sandwich on the happy hour menu were great and reasonably priced. That said, I was highly disappointed with the Ikura Don dish. It was mostly rice with a drizzle of soy sauce and very few pieces of raw salmon. It felt a bit salty at times and was honestly way too overpriced for what it was. The karaage was tasty but again felt overpriced for the portion. Overall, the food and atmosphere were great but I don't think I would return for the food. It just didn't feel worth it for the high price point. That said, I may return for the happy hour menu and drinks.

Came here for dinner on a Sunday night and enjoyed the quiet, cool atmosphere it had, very laid back. The food itself was very good and definitely worth checking out.

Secret-y speakeasy in the back of a bustling Americana restaurant? Interesting!The room is pretty dark (and loud) but I found it really elegant- the decor was really nice (think Japanese izakaya but art deco-y.) Vibes gave me the sense it would be a good place for an intimate dinner or nice date.We were there for a casual double date- our party of 4 was promptly seated (we had made a reservation via Resy ahead of time, which was definitely a good idea.)The drinks: STRONG AND DELICIOUS COCKTAILS- 5 stars for the creativeness, deliciousness and awesomeness of their drinks! Check out the White Lotus, Olive Branch, Umeshu Tonic.The food: Pretty good- we had a vegetarian guest so we got a lot of vegetable heavy dishes (grilled shishito peppers, a nice chicories focused salad, Maitake udon) to share. All were very good! For omnivores, recommend the karaage (fried chicken)!The service: Friendly! Our server was very knowledgeable about each dish (we had a few questions as our friends were vegetarian and we wanted to makes sure about our orders) and took the time to explain. If you don't know, ask- they will gladly inform you.They seem to have some seasonal specials (they had a cold noodle dish when we went) so interested to see what they have in the other seasons.

Meh, nothing too special. Would I come back? Probably not, but the ambience is nice and the whole speakeasy thing is cool....maybe for drinks.My friend and I split the udon and the steak; the udon was vegetarian and kinda reminded me of pizza without tasting like pizza. I didn't hate it but I also didn't love it. The steak was also just ok, which was disappointing. I've had $100 steak before, and this one just wasn't worth the price tag. I don't mind blowing money on food, but I didn't love anything I ate that night.I will say though, the service was good and they were really polite when my friend and I were running late. We appreciated that they called us asking how late we'd be rather than cancelling + charging the cancellation fee.

You know you have places that you just keep going back to, because it's comfortable, homie, and makes you feel good every time you leave? Thanks Karasu, such a hidden gem behind Walters. First off, the staff is so sweet, every person that works there including the chef is beyond accommodating and caring. The ambiance is so cute, not so small you feel like your sitting on top of each other, which i like a lot compared to some other speakeasies. The food is incredible, I have literally had everything on the menu. I used to be obsessed with their chicory salad, which isn't on the menu anymore but i can forgive them because everything else is amazing. The the Kaarage chicken is a CAN'T MISS. Crispy, juicy, perfectly fried. The Steak is actually one of the best steaks i've had in the city, so i highly suggest to get it and share it with your party. I have been back at least 8 times....I know, i have a problem lol :) But it's delicious so go try it!

It's a beautiful speak easy, I love it. I think it's nice for 2 people, it's easier as the dishes are very small like tapas. The foods feel clean, cocktails are delicious!

Excellent food, excellent sake, very friendly service, wonderful atmosphere! Really just about perfect!