Itoko

Name: Itoko
Address: 3325 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL, United States, 60657-1417
Telephone: (773) 819-7672
Price range: $31 to $50
Rating: 4.8

4.8 (622)

$31 to $50

Japanese

3325 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60657-1417

Make a reservation

2 people

Jul 16, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 84 times today

About this restaurant

Neighborhood gem
Good for groups
Fancy

Situated in Lakeview's iconic Southport Corridor, Itoko is a neighborhood Japanese and robata restaurant from Gene Kato, Executive Chef of Momotaro. “Itoko” meaning “cousin” in Japanese, refers to the connection with Momotaro, located in the Fulton Market District. The menu features the high level of ingredients and technique that Chicago has come to expect from Chef Kato, alongside a beautiful interior curated for the Southport neighborhood. The menu itself features uniquely interpreted sushi rolls that allow the high-quality fish to be the star of the sushi experience. In addition, an innovative beverage menu with a focus on cocktails & highballs highlights the relationship between the technique of the food created by the kitchen and how this is complimented by the beverage selection.

Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Japanese
Hours of operation
Daily 4:30 pm–10:00 pm Sat, Sun 10:30 am–2:00 pm
Phone number
(773) 819-7672
Website
http://www.itokochicago.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
Executive chef
Gene Kato
Private party facilities
We welcome you to explore our Private Dining options, perfect for any occasion.
Private party contact
Event Sales Manager: (773) 819-7672

Location
3325 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60657-1417
Neighborhood
Lakeview / East Lakeview
Cross street
N Southport Ave + W Henderson St
Parking details
Street Parking
Additional
Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Wine

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Private dining

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Popular dishes

Cucumber^$12.00
seaweed, sesame seed, onion, spicy dressing
Crab Salada$18.00
sweet crab, endive, kaiware, tempura onion
Tako Kato$18.00
sliced octopus, shiso, red onion, ponzu
Bluefin Tuna*$18.00
apple, soy, ginger, puffed buckwheat
Scallop*$16.00
serrano, avocado, nira oil, citrus
Spicy Salmon Dip*^$14.00
salmon, perilla, fried garlic, spicy mayo, nori rice cracker

Hot

Edamame$8.00
Miso$8.00
fried tofu, maitake mushroom, scallion, wakame
Gyoza$16.00
foie gras and pork filling, soy dipping sauce
Shishito$12.00
black garlic mayo, bonito, lemon
Shaken Kato^$16.00
crispy fried chicken wings, choice of original spice or fire spice
Hamachi Kama$26.00
aka miso glaze, daikon-shiso oroshi *subject to availability

Robata

Cooked Over Japanese Charcoal

Shiitake$14.00
shiso, lemon
Negima$14.00
chicken thigh, scallion, shiso
Salmon*$15.00
teriyaki marinade
Slider*$16.00
beef tsukune, bao bun, miso mustard
Skirt Steak$18.00
citrus ponzu, wasabi

Kazoku

Family Style Dishes

Whole Branzino$32.00
shiso and shichimi crust, pickled bamboo shoot salad
Prime Striploin**$38.00
8oz prime striploin, watercress salad, sukiyaki sauce
Tantan Ramen$22.00
chicken broth, spicy pork, bean sprout, gailan, sesame seed
Oshima Ramen$22.00
ginger miso broth, porkbelly, scallion, soy egg

Rice

Steamed Rice$4.00
Beef Chahan*$22.00
wagyu beef, kaiware, maitake, soft poached egg
Chicken Katsu Don$18.00
crispy chicken cutlet, pickled carrot-daikon slaw, ginger mayo, katsu sauce, rice

Temaki Hand Rolls

Momo Jr.*$9.00
tuna, spicy tako, pickled daikon, sweet soy
Shio Koji Salmon*$10.00
avocado mousse, crispy salmon skin, trout roe
XO Scallop*$10.00
diver scallop, xo sauce, scallion, puffed soba
Ebi Tom Yum^$10.00
tiger shrimp, makrut lime, cilantro, crispy shallot
King Crab
ginger mayo, tempura shallot, lemon
- Half$12.00
- Full$24.00
Mecha Kucha*
bluefin tuna, uni, kaluga caviar
- Half$12.00
- Full$24.00
Three Piece Set*$26.00
momo jr, x.o scallop, shio koji salmon

Specialty Maki Rolls

A5 Beef*$24.00
maguro, asparagus, pickled onion, yuzu kosho
Momomaki*$22.00
big eye tuna, spicy octopus, pickled daikon
Yama$22.00
crispy shrimp, snow crab, cucumber, sweet soy
Harumaki* ^$22.00
(served riceless, wrapped in rice paper) lettuce, pickled daikon, hamachi, maguro, spicy shiso dressing

Chirashi Don*

Fish Over Rice

"TCD" Tuna Toro$35.00
kaluga caviar, pickled onion, sushi rice, nori
Jewel Bako "Chirashi Don Style"$58.00
chef selection - 12 pieces of seasonal fish and caviar, with myoga salad, pickled watermelon radish, pickled ginger, nori sheet

Nigiri | Sashimi

Hamachi*
yellowtail
- Nigiri (1 Piece)$6.00
- Sashimi (2 Pieces)$10.00
Madai*
sea bream
- Nigiri (1 Piece)$6.00
- Sashimi (2 Pieces)$10.00
Hirame*
ikejime flounder
- Nigiri (1 Piece)$6.00
- Sashimi (2 Pieces)$10.00
Sake*
faroe islands salmon
- Nigiri (1 Piece)$6.00
- Sashimi (2 Pieces)$10.00
Akami*
bluefin tuna loin
- Nigiri (1 Piece)$7.00
- Sashimi (2 Pieces)$12.00
Chutoro*
medium fat bluefin belly
- Nigiri (1 Piece)$10.00
- Sashimi (2 Pieces)$18.00
Otoro*
fatty bluefin belly
- Nigiri (1 Piece)$12.00
- Sashimi (2 Pieces)$22.00
Saba*
mackerel
- Nigiri (1 Piece)$6.00
- Sashimi (2 Pieces)$10.00
Aji*
horse mackerel
- Nigiri (1 Piece)$6.00
- Sashimi (2 Pieces)$10.00
Botan Ebi*
spot prawn
- Nigiri (1 Piece)$6.00
- Sashimi (2 Pieces)$10.00
Yari Ika*
Japanese hokkaido squid
- Nigiri (1 Piece)$6.00
- Sashimi (2 Pieces)$10.00
Hotate*
scallop
- Nigiri (1 Piece)$8.00
- Sashimi (2 Pieces)$14.00
Uni*
sea urchin
- Nigiri (1 Piece)$10.00
- Sashimi (2 Pieces)$18.00
Ikura*
marinated salmon roe
- Nigiri (1 Piece)$8.00
- Sashimi (2 Pieces)$14.00
Unagi
barbecued freshwater eel
- Nigiri (1 Piece)$6.00
- Sashimi (2 Pieces)$10.00
Tamago
sweet omelet
- Nigiri (1 Piece)$4.00
- Sashimi (2 Pieces)$6.00

Nigirizushi

Seared Japanese Mackerel*$7.00
with daikon shoga ponzu
Seared Fatty Tuna*$14.00
daikon, yuzu, sudachi ponzu
Hokkaido Hotate*$11.00
scallop, uni, ikura
Kumamoto Beef To Hotate*$22.00
garlic sauce, fried shiso

Makimono Classic Rolls

Cucumber$8.00
Avocado$8.00
Kanpyo$8.00
Crispy Shrimp$10.00
Tuna*$12.00
Spicy Tako$12.00
XO Scallop$12.00
Baby Shiitake Maki$12.00
Spicy Tuna*$14.00
Negi Hamachi*$14.00
Unagi Cucumber$15.00
Negi Toro*$16.00
King Crab California$21.00

What 622 people are saying

Itoko reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.8

4.8 based on recent ratings

4.8Food
4.7Service
4.8Ambience
4.3Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Chicago / Illinois
Japanese
Chicago
Japanese

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Itoko offers an "amazing dining experience" with "phenomenal food" and "excellent service." Known for its "creative menu" and "high-quality sushi," the restaurant is a "favorite spot" for many. While some find it pricey, the "ambiance" and "delightful happy hour" make it "worth a visit."

622 Reviews

B
Brooke
Chicago / Illinois1 review
2.0
Dined 2 days ago
1. Overall 2
2. Food 1
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 3
for the prices, food should’ve been spectacular and it was just so so. I’ve always heard never to go to a sushi place on a Monday night so maybe that’s the problem.
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K
Kazuhisa
Chicago / Illinois1 review
5.0
Dined 7 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
The quality of the sushi toppings was appropriate for the price. I believe they used good-quality tuna. The appetizers were served quickly, but the main sushi took about 30 minutes to arrive, which was the only downside. Other than that, I think it was a satisfying experience overall.
ItokoResponded 4 days ago
Hi Kazuhisa - Thank you for sharing your experience. We're glad you enjoyed the quality of the sushi and found the meal satisfying overall. We appreciate your note on timing and will review this with our team to ensure smoother pacing on future visits. Looking forward to welcoming you back soon! Best, Rachel Evaristo General Manager
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C
Caroline VIP
Chicago / Illinois37 reviews
5.0
Dined on July 6, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Always a great experience @ Itoko! Food was beautifully prepared and delicious. Service wonderful
ItokoResponded on July 8, 2025
Hi Caroline - Thank you for the 5-star review! I'm happy to hear you enjoyed your experience with us and that food and service was on point. We hope to welcome you back for another great meal soon! Best, Rachel Evaristo General Manager
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P
Philip VIP
Chicago / Illinois30 reviews
3.0
Dined on July 5, 2025
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 5
The Tom Yum Handrolls can’t be beat. They alone are worth a visit. However my charcoal grilled chicken thighs were not cooked through (or barely cooked? I don’t think chicken should be pink) and were unappetizing. The place looks great but it’s too pricey for a simple night out in the neighborhood.
ItokoResponded on July 6, 2025
Hi Philip! Thank you for taking the time to give us feedback, so happy you love the Tom Yum Handrolls, we do too. We have a strong commitment to always improving, and hearing back from you is a vital part of that. We appreciate the notes on the grilled chicken thighs and have passed them on to our culinary team; we’ll respond directly to you to pass on more information on it, cheers! - Jeremiah Duncan, AGM
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P
Pamela
Chicago / Illinois6 reviews
2.0
Dined on July 5, 2025
1. Overall 2
2. Food 1
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 3
Food was not great. Sushi maki was not good. Quality of rice and seaweed was bad for the price.
ItokoResponded on July 6, 2025
Hello Pamela! Thank you for your notes on your recent experience with us. We’re lucky to have a team who truly listens and grows with feedback exactly like this. We’ll connect privately to get more details so we can work on what you mentioned. Cheers! - Jeremiah Duncan, AGM
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M
Mike VIP
Chicago / Illinois2 reviews
3.0
Dined on June 28, 2025
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
$300 dinner for 2 , came with plastic in one of the sushi dishes. Not great
ItokoResponded on July 2, 2025
Hello Mike - Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us. We're thrilled to hear that you found our service to be excellent, as we always strive to provide excellent service to all our guests. I understand that your experience with the sushi dish wasn't up to par. We appreciate your feedback and will certainly look into this matter. We hope to have the opportunity to serve you again and provide a better experience. Best, Rachel Evaristo General Manager
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G
Gabriel VIP
Chicago / Illinois5 reviews
5.0
Dined on June 28, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Mesha our waitress was phenomenal! She knew what we wanted before we even had to ask.
ItokoResponded on July 2, 2025
Hi Gabriel - Thank you so much for your kind words! We're thrilled to hear that you had a great experience with us at Itoko and that Misha provided you with exceptional recommendations and hospitality. We look forward to have you join us again soon! Best, Rachel Evaristo General Manager
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m
marti
San Francisco Bay Area13 reviews
5.0
Dined on June 20, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Been here so many times but never for lunch. We took advantage of their new Friday Bento Box lunch and it was really good. Everything looked delicious so it was hard to choose but we ended up with the Itoko Bento box and the charcoal burger. Both were seriously amazing. We will be back for lunch again soon!
ItokoResponded on June 21, 2025
Hi Marti - We're over the moon to hear that you enjoyed your Friday lunch with us! It's fantastic to know that our Itoko Bento Box lunch hit the mark for you. We're thrilled that you loved everything about it, from the food to the service. We're looking forward to your next lunch with us. Thanks for your continued support! Best, Rachel Evaristo General Manager
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L
LOREN VIP
Chicago / Illinois10 reviews
5.0
Dined on June 16, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
everything was fabulous. Food was always good. Our service was great thank you for everything.
ItokoResponded on June 17, 2025
Hey Loren - Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your experience at Itoko. It's always a pleasure to hear that our food and service met your expectations. We truly appreciate your kind words and look forward to welcoming you back soon! Best, Rachel Evaristo General Manager
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L
Leo VIP
Chicago / Illinois5 reviews
5.0
Dined on June 10, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Great high end Japanese food. There is nothing close to this quality in the Chicago outside the main dining area in the west loop and river north
ItokoResponded on June 19, 2025
Hi Leo - Thank you for visiting us! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed our Japanese cuisine. It's wonderful to know that you found our quality to be on par with the main dining area in the west loop and river north. We appreciate your high ratings and look forward to welcoming you back to Itoko soon! Best, Rachel Evaristo General Manager
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FAQs

Itoko is rated 4.8 stars by 622 OpenTable diners.

Itoko does offer gift cards which you can purchase here.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

Jul 16, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 84 times today

3325 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60657-1417

Dining areas

Additional information

Cross street
N Southport Ave + W Henderson St
Neighborhood
Lakeview / East Lakeview
Hours of operation
Daily 4:30 pm–10:00 pm Sat, Sun 10:30 am–2:00 pm
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Japanese
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
Street Parking
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Executive chef
Gene Kato
Additional
Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Wine

Website
http://www.itokochicago.com/
Phone number
(773) 819-7672
Private party facilities
We welcome you to explore our Private Dining options, perfect for any occasion.
Private party contact
Event Sales Manager: (773) 819-7672

Gift card

Send gift cards instantly by email or print to present in person.

Send a gift card

Itoko

Make a reservation

About this restaurant

Dining areas

Additional information

Gift card

The Kinjo Room

Fully Buyout

Yume Atrium

Custom inquiry

Sushi Set

Shishito

"TCD" Tuna Toro

Cold

Cucumber^$12.00

Crab Salada$18.00

Tako Kato$18.00

Bluefin Tuna*$18.00

Scallop*$16.00

Spicy Salmon Dip*^$14.00

Hot

Edamame$8.00

Miso$8.00

Gyoza$16.00

Shishito$12.00

Shaken Kato^$16.00

Hamachi Kama$26.00

Robata

Shiitake$14.00

Negima$14.00

Salmon*$15.00

Slider*$16.00

Skirt Steak$18.00

Kazoku

Whole Branzino$32.00

Prime Striploin**$38.00

Tantan Ramen$22.00

Oshima Ramen$22.00

Rice

Steamed Rice$4.00

Beef Chahan*$22.00

Chicken Katsu Don$18.00

Temaki Hand Rolls

Momo Jr.*$9.00

Shio Koji Salmon*$10.00

XO Scallop*$10.00

Ebi Tom Yum^$10.00

King Crab

Mecha Kucha*

Three Piece Set*$26.00

Specialty Maki Rolls

A5 Beef*$24.00

Momomaki*$22.00

Yama$22.00

Harumaki* ^$22.00

Chirashi Don*

"TCD" Tuna Toro$35.00

Jewel Bako "Chirashi Don Style"$58.00

Nigiri | Sashimi

Hamachi*

Madai*

Hirame*

Sake*

Akami*

Chutoro*

Otoro*

Saba*

Aji*

Botan Ebi*

Yari Ika*

Hotate*

Uni*

Ikura*

Unagi

Tamago

Nigirizushi

Seared Japanese Mackerel*$7.00

Seared Fatty Tuna*$14.00

Hokkaido Hotate*$11.00

Kumamoto Beef To Hotate*$22.00