Award-winning

Kumiko

Name: Kumiko
Address: 630 W Lake St, Chicago, IL, United States, 60661
Telephone: (312) 285-2912
Price range: $50 and over
Rating: 4.8

4.8

620 Reviews

$50 and over

Dining Bar

Top Tags:

Kumiko is a Japanese Dining Bar (ダイニングバー)* where food and drink are treated with equal reverence. Located in Chicago’s West Loop, Kumiko boasts incredible cocktails and spirits with exquisite food to pair.

Owner and mixologist Julia Momosé blends Japanese ingredients and techniques to create an elevated menu of beverages and bites.

Whether you come to savor some of Japan’s finest saké or walk in for a lovely dinner with friends, Kumiko welcomes you with warmth and gratitude.

Kumiko is currently 18+ and does not offer a BYOB option. Sign up for our mailing list to receive occasional updates and news.

Our staff is fully vaccinated and masked during service. For the safety of everyone, we respectfully ask guests wear masks when not seated at the table or bar. We will adjust this policy as the situation evolves in Chicago.

* pronounced dainingu bā

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Dec 3, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 23 times today

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Price
$50 and over
Cuisines
Dining Bar, Japanese, Bar / Lounge / Bottle Service
Hours of operation
Dinner Wed–Sun 6:00 pm–11:30 pm
Phone number
(312) 285-2912
Website
http://www.barkumiko.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Smart Casual
Owned/operated by
Asian and Pacific Islander, Women
Executive chef
Noah Sandoval

Location
630 W Lake St, Chicago, IL 60661
Award-winning
1. MICHELIN Plate 2022
Neighborhood
West Loop
Cross street
Desplaines
Parking details
We do not currently offer valet parking, however there are several metered spots directly outside the restaurant on Lake, as well as our side street, Desplaines.
Public transit
Clinton, Green Line
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Wine

Featured in

Popular dishes

Shiso Nori Cashews$7.00
Otsukémono$4.00
rotating selection of Japanese style pickles
- each$4.00
Oysters$26.00
charred shishito ponzu, lemon horseradish, purple seaweed
Golden Kaluga Caviar$80.00
add 1 oz. caviar to any dish
Hiramasa Crudo$17.00
kombujimé, tomato and marigold vinaigrette, wasabi oil, compressed grapes
Japanese Potato Salad$6.00
Yukon Gold, quick pickle carrot, shio-kōji pickled cucumber, ham
Yuzu Kosho Karaage$13.00
Japanese fried chicken, kanzuri mayo, sudachi
Kani Kuri-mu Korokke$20.00
red crab and corn béchamel croquettes, served with cabbage salad
Side of White Rice$5.00

Savory

Chilled Seafood Somen$35.00
our chefs' selection of sashimi and shellfish served over thin Japanese summer noodles in a matsutaké citrus dashi, with seaweed salad and ginger
Nasu no Agebitashi$17.00
Japanese eggplant and white beech mushrooms marinated in smoked shoyu dashi, served chilled alongside grilled red radish and pickled ramps
Misoyaki Sakana$26.00
our chefs' selection of fish marinated in garlic scape miso, flash-seared, and served with daikon oroshi and ponzu
Wagyukatsu Sando$90.00
A5 Miyazaki wagyū, beef taré, truffle honey, Japanese milk bread

Sweet

Truffle Milk Toast$15.00
fermented honey ice cream, périgord truffle

What 620 people are saying

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

4.7Food
4.8Service
4.8Ambience
4.3Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Chicago
Innovative

620 Reviews

a
alim
Chicago
37 reviews
vip
4.0
37 reviews
Dined 1 day ago
overall4food3service4ambience5
Drinks are smaller than before. Potato salad is delicious! Service is great and the place is very quiet. Hoji hi had a strong tea flavor. I would recommend this place
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
Chicago
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined 2 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Each and every cocktail and sake we had as a group were fantastic. All the dishes were delightful and the staff was amazingly attentive & knowledgeable. Will definitely come back.
Is this helpful?
AL
AngelicaL
Los Angeles
24 reviews
vip
5.0
24 reviews
Dined 7 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
It’s a vibe. I’ll definitely go back. The drinks and sake are amazing. The food is just perfect. It’s a great place to go with someone or alone.
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HL
HLL84
Chicago
16 reviews
vip
5.0
16 reviews
Dined 7 days ago
overall5food5service4ambience5
Kumiko was amazing! Very unique and interesting. The cocktails were creative and delicious. The food was exceptional! Couldn’t get enough of the ponzu sauce. The room is beautiful and has great ambiance. We will definitely be back.
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Y
Yevetteb
London
21 reviews
vip
5.0
21 reviews
Dined 7 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Absolutely delicious! The drinks were amazing, the atmosphere perfect. A bit pricey, but it was a lovely experience.
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
Chicago
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on November 20, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Absolutely wonderful meal, very special place, service impeccable.
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
Atlanta Metro
2 reviews
vip
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on November 18, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Exceptional would go again. Highly recommend Kumiko.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Milwaukee
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on November 18, 2023
overall5food5service4ambience5
Our second visit at Kumiko and it was better than the first. We ordered dinner this time and every bite was perfect. 10/10 drinks and dinner. I cannot recommend this restaurant enough!
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S
Susan
Columbus
4 reviews
vip
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on November 18, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great food and cocktails that are Japanese inspired. Sat at the bar and bar tenders made great recommendation.
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
Montreal
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on November 17, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Kumiko is a true gem, the food, the cocktails, the service were exceptional. I’m still dreaming if that potatoe salad ….!!
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PB
PBundV
Chicago
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on November 16, 2023
overall4food5service5ambience3
Thank you to our server for offering not to re-up the incense closet to our table. I’m allergic to incense and it aggravates my asthma. I also appreciated being able to taste and smell the cocktails and food better because there was less competing fragrance.
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V
Vegitoboi
Chicago
16 reviews
vip
4.0
16 reviews
Dined on October 29, 2023
overall4food5service5ambience5
Still good and worthy of being on the Top 100 of the 50 World’s Best Bars in the world. But they did get rid of some food items I go to every time I come here. Also, I’ve practically had every signature drink on the menu. Time for an update.
1 person found this helpful
OT
OpenTable Diner
Chicago
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on October 28, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The drinks were great, lots of different kind of cocktail options. The cloud hopper was my fav
Is this helpful?
RP
RP2015
Chicago
12 reviews
vip
5.0
12 reviews
Dined on October 27, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Loved it! Drinks were awesome. Specially recommend the Gimlet. Food was wonderful as well. Loved the scallops and the fried chicken (!). Will be back a few more times. Getting through the drinks menu will take a few visits :)
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on October 27, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
From the moment you step into Kumiko, you know you are in for a treat. My date and I made a reservation and were seated at the bar. We received several great drink recommendations based on our preferences. We were offered a cute little chopstick holder to rest our chopsticks on, and we thought that was such a nice touch. We ordered the karaage, rice balls, and wagyu sando. The wagyu sando was the best thing we have ever eaten. It completely melted in our mouths. The service was excellent and we loved the whole aesthetic of the restaurant. We will definitely be back again.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Portland
2 reviews
2.0
2 reviews
Dined on October 26, 2023
overall2food4service1ambience2
Overall a terrible experience for something we were looking forward to for months! When we walked in we saw the plaque for the 2023 list of the top 50 best bars. I asked the host what number they received and she did not know. When I asked the female bartender with an afro her response was " I don't know, we're all here just to work and have fun." What an awful response for a bar that has supposedly made it on the Top 50 list.... multiple times. What she should have done was ask another employee or maybe even Julia who was on the floor that night. When we sat down at the bartop we received only one oshibori for the both of us to wipe our hands. A couple that sat next to us was given two. Again, unacceptable for an establishment like this. It seems like there is a huge lack of training of the staff. Cocktails were metiokre and did not have that wow effect for us. Service was very slow. The female bartender with the afro neglected us our entire time there. She was very uninviting and did not make us feel comfortable while we were there. She did not ask us if we wanted to order any food. I had to flag one of the food runners to put in our order. She also prioritzed other guests at the bar and treated them differently then how we were treated. She would go in depth when talking about the cocktails or food but, when were served ours no explanation whatsoever. I had to ask for another drink rather than her asking me. It was as if she didnt want to serve us and wanted us out of there as fast as possible. Luckily, Julia stepped in a few times and asked how we were doing. Thats the only reason I am leaving a two star review. Overall you would expect something a little more elevated for an average of $25 a cocktail. We have been to 10-15 bars on the Top 50 list. This was the WORST one we have been to. I hate to say this but, Kumiko does not deserve to be on that list! Don't spend your money here.
1 person found this helpful
AB
AmandaB
Fort Lauderdale
16 reviews
5.0
16 reviews
Dined on October 21, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
My husband and I went to Kumiko for some snacks and cocktails before a dinner reservation and we honestly should have just stayed for dinner at Kumiko. The cocktails that we ordered were so refreshing and delicious. The Sea Flower and Cloud Hopper cocktails were our favorites. The few snacks that we had were full of flavor and composed beautifully. We both loved the fun detail of picking our own chopstick holder. We would absolutely recommend and go back to Kumiko!
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G
Gill
Chicago
14 reviews
3.0
14 reviews
Dined on October 21, 2023
overall3food3service2ambience3
I understand that there’s a time limit (i.e. 1 hour for drinks) but my friends told me they never got reminders about time limit when they dined here before. If you have the limitation, please apply that to every group/party. Also, when I asked questions about the drink menu, the server had an attitude of “oh you don’t even know this?” which made me feel uncomfortable. People have different knowledge about drinks. Drinks were good. It’s very, very noisy on a Friday evening.
1 person found this helpful
RS
RachelS
Chicago
9 reviews
5.0
9 reviews
Dined on October 15, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Very cool vibe, small and intimate space. Food was delicious but portions were on the small side. Cocktails were very good, but pricey.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Philadelphia
2 reviews
vip
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on October 15, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
We loved sitting at the bar and learning about the Japanese influences on each drink- lovely, kind, and knowledgeable bar staff
Is this helpful?
AP
AlexP
Washington DC
5 reviews
2.0
5 reviews
Dined on October 15, 2023
overall2food4service1ambience3
Exceptional food and drink, but the service was really cold and distant. I had to flag them down to order another round twice. Which, when it takes 10 minutes to make one of their drinks is quite annoying. It left me sitting with empty dishes in front of me most of the night. The real issue was the end. I was told the reservation was for 90 minutes, so no issues there. But instead of asking if I wanted anything else before my time was up, the bill was unceremoniously dumped in front of me. I paid and quietly left, without a “thank you” or “have a nice night”. They clearly know what they’re doing on the food and bev side, but they need to work on their warmth. If I’m going to $25 -$35 dollars a drink I do expect to be catered to a bit more.
2 people found this helpful
S
Sakura
Chicago
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on October 13, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Absolutely amazing dining experience. It’s definitely more on the luxury side, but they do an amazing job at intersecting the comfort flavors of Japan. Much of it reminded me of my own mother’s cooking and you can tell they take immense care into their craft. Their drinks are so good, as well. This is the first Japanese restaurant in Chicago I’ve been to where it tasted like the flavors I grew up eating as a Japanese immigrant. I’m gluten free and they had extensive options for me to choose from, and were very knowledgeable. The staff is so kind, as well.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Orange County
2 reviews
vip
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on October 12, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Excellent cocktail bar. You will be glad you went.
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
Mexico City
3 reviews
vip
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on October 7, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Was an incredible experience, no doubts they really deserved being a 50 Best in Chicago.
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
New York Area
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on October 6, 2023
overall5food5service3ambience5
Our server (who introduced the drinks) was pretentious and condescending when we asked about the drinks
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PV
PatrickV
Los Angeles
8 reviews
5.0
8 reviews
Dined on October 5, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience4
Kumiko is a real treasure. The cocktails I had were creative, refined, and sometimes adventurous (which I love!), but the best part was how carefully the servers explained what each element provides. I especially enjoyed the Component Flights, which allow you to taste the base liquors alongside the full cocktail. I'm not well-versed in sake at all, so I really loved trying the unique sake that went into each drink. I also enjoyed several of the food items including the Chilled Seafood Somen (best Uni I've ever had?!), the Karaagé, and the Truffle Milk Toast (I totally get why people would come just for that). When I first arrived the noise was so loud I couldn't hear the server too well. (I was seated at the bar.) But it eventually settled down and allowed for lots of Q&A. They knew so much about every ingredient. I loved learning as much as I truly enjoyed the food and drink.
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R
Ryan
Omaha
27 reviews
vip
5.0
27 reviews
Dined on October 4, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Legendary cocktails and small bites. If you’re a fan of top tier mixology and culinary perfection this is your place. You won’t find a more refined place for truly unique and incredible drinks. Read up on the executive chef and mixologist. This place lives up to every bit of hype and ever accolade. Cheers!
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
Chicago
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on October 1, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
My favorite restaurant to date in Chicago! Food portion is just right and drinks are exceptional
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TK
TerKT
Chicago
23 reviews
vip
5.0
23 reviews
Dined on September 29, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Unique and superb take on Japanese. Eli was fantastic
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
Chicago
3 reviews
vip
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on September 29, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Awesome experience. Will go back again and again, and I’m super picky about places I frequent.
Is this helpful?
MC
MarcoChavez
Chicago
10 reviews
vip
5.0
10 reviews
Dined on September 28, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience4
Service was absolutely perfect. Great ambiance. Highly recommended.
Is this helpful?
S
Scotty
San Francisco
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on September 27, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
An absolute must stop when in Chicago, service is amazing, drinks are complex yet thoughtful and the food is spectacular
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
Chicago
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on September 23, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
We love the cocktails and experience at Kumiko. This was our second time there for cocktails and light eats. We felt the cocktails were delicious, however felt the size/amount has diminished from the first time we visited there a year ago.
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AR
AudrayR
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on September 22, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Perfect experience. Amazing place, the food and drink are incredible
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E
Em90
New York Area
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on September 21, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Beautiful attention to detail from barware to service to food & drinks.
Is this helpful?
AB
AnnieB
San Francisco
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on September 16, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Always a delightful experience, staff is wonderful.
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
Kansas City
1 review
vip
5.0
1 review
Dined on September 16, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Amazing cocktails and milk cake! Unique experience and the bartenders were very nice and helpful.
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
Chicago
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on September 15, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Best dining/drink experience this year. “Wow” was the word of the night. “Delicacy” was the second. Thank you Kumiko team!
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MK
MelissaK
Atlanta Metro
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on September 10, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Fantastic experience from beginning to end! The attention to detail to the quality of the food was phenomenal. Can’t wait to be back!
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VR
VilmaR
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on September 10, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
We came to visit from LA. This Place was recommended by another bar director in Chicago (milk bar). The food here was AMAZING! The lady that helped us was very nice, polite and helpful. Everything she recommended was out of this world from drinks to food to dessert. We Absolutely loved it and if we are ever in Chicago we will definitely be back. Also they have the CLEANEST bathroom I have ever seen. Even the bathroom was an experience. Thank you for a great last night in Chicago.
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Safety precautions

Cleaning & sanitizing
- Surfaces sanitized between seatings
- Digital, disposable or sanitized menu provided
- Common areas deep-cleaned daily
- Sanitizer or wipes provided for customers
- Contactless payment available

Screening
- Sick staff prohibited in the workplace
- Staff is vaccinated
- Contact tracing information collected

FAQs

Kumiko is rated 4.8 stars by 620 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Dec 3, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 23 times today

630 W Lake St, Chicago, IL 60661

Additional information

Award-winning
1. MICHELIN Plate 2022
Cross street
Desplaines
Neighborhood
West Loop
Hours of operation
Dinner Wed–Sun 6:00 pm–11:30 pm
Price
$50 and over
Cuisines
Dining Bar, Japanese, Bar / Lounge / Bottle Service
Dining style
Casual Elegant
Dress code
Smart Casual
Parking details
We do not currently offer valet parking, however there are several metered spots directly outside the restaurant on Lake, as well as our side street, Desplaines.
Public transit
Clinton, Green Line
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Owned/operated by
Asian and Pacific Islander, Women
Executive chef
Noah Sandoval
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Wine

Website
http://www.barkumiko.com/
Phone number
(312) 285-2912

Kumiko

Make a reservation

Additional information

Asian-Owned and -Operated Restaurants to Support Near Chicago

Women-Owned and -Operated Restaurants to Support in Chicago

Wagyukatsu Sando

Truffle Milk Toast

Potato Salad

Snacks

Shiso Nori Cashews$7.00

Otsukémono$4.00

Oysters$26.00

Golden Kaluga Caviar$80.00

Hiramasa Crudo$17.00

Japanese Potato Salad$6.00

Yuzu Kosho Karaage$13.00

Kani Kuri-mu Korokke$20.00

Side of White Rice$5.00

Savory

Chilled Seafood Somen$35.00

Nasu no Agebitashi$17.00

Misoyaki Sakana$26.00

Wagyukatsu Sando$90.00

Sweet

Truffle Milk Toast$15.00

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Cleaning & sanitizing

Screening

FAQs

How is Kumiko restaurant rated?

Is Kumiko currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Additional information

Featured in

Asian-Owned and -Operated Restaurants to Support Near Chicago

Women-Owned and -Operated Restaurants to Support in Chicago