The Izakaya at Momotaro

Name: The Izakaya at Momotaro
Address: 820 W. Lake St, Chicago, IL, United States, 60607
Telephone: (312) 733-4818
Price range: $31 to $50
Rating: 4.8

4.8

488 Reviews

$31 to $50

Japanese

Top Tags:

The Izakaya is located on the subterranean level of Momotaro. The Izakaya and its shared-plates pub-inspired menu echoes the Yokocho street scene of Tokyo. Narrow lounge-inspired ‘alleys’ around a central bar bedecked with hand-painted Japanese menus, moody neon lights, and vintage Tokyo street signs set the scene for the Izakaya’s direct nod to Tokyo’s most famous post-war black markets. Dark, energetic, and ripe with expectation, the Izakaya additionally offers a 30-seat bar featuring crafted cocktails, sakes, and a quality selection of Japanese whiskeys.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

May 22, 2022

May 2022

Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

7:00 PM

Booked 26 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

(312) 733-4818

Delivery

Order online

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Cuisines
Japanese, Sushi, Seafood
Hours of operation
Dinner Wed, Thu, Sun 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–11:00 pm
Phone number
(312) 733-4818
Website
http://www.momotarochicago.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
Executive chef
Gene Kato
Private party facilities
The Izakaya is available to reserve for both private and semi-private events. The lounge can accommodate a maximum of 150 guests for a full buyout. Smaller groups ranging from 10 - 75 guests can reserve semi-private space.

Location
820 W. Lake St Chicago, IL 60607
Neighborhood
West Loop
Cross street
Green
Parking details
Valet is located on the corner of Lake & Green
Public transit
#8 Halsted Bus at Lake Street. Green & Pink line at Morgan stop.
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Featured in

Popular dishes

Edamame$8.00
Japanese sea salt
Baby Green Salad$12.00
mizuna, carrot-citrus dressing
Uni Deviled Egg$12.00
curry spice, chive, shiso
Miso Soup$8.00
house tofu, wakame, honshimeji mushroom
Scallop 'Nikkei Style'$14.00
sashimi scallop, sudachi vinaigrette, basil shiso oil, black lime
Blistered Shishito$12.00
bonito mayonnaise, togarashi
Tuna Tostada*$16.00
crispy nori, tuna tartare, avocado, pickled red onion, lime
Gyoza$14.00
pork & chicken filling, soy dipping sauce (6 pieces)
Satsumaimo Fries$8.00
Japanese sweet potato fries, miso mayo
Shake'n Kato Wings$14.00
kaarage chicken wings (choice of ramen or fire spice blends)
Mishima Skirt Steak*$15.00
robata yaki, seasoned with Japanese sea salt
Kohitsuji (Lamb)*$24.00
robata yaki, 2pc bone-in chop, spicy miso

Iza Classics

Uni Pasta$23.00
uni, rock shrimp, shiso
Hamachi Kama (Collar)$14.00
"kalbi" marinade, red miso crust, garic aioli
A5 Cup Noodle*$38.00
sliced A5 tenderloin, pickled shishito, umami paste, soft-poached egg, shio tare
The Momo Royale$18.00
double-patty burger, house-made bao bun, satsumaimo fries

Tonkatsu by Sakusaku

Berkshire Pork Ribs$18.00
8oz baby back ribs, curry spice, white kimchi, ponzu, Asian chimichurri
Jumbo Shrimp$20.00
2 giant tiger prawns, ginger tartar sauce, white kimchi, ponzu, Asian chimichurri
Chicken Katsu$24.00
crispy panko-crusted chicken thigh, sweet and savory curry sauce, pickled turnip

Rice

Yakitori Don*$14.00
grilled chicken thigh, chicken tare, soft-poached egg
Chahan*$22.00
stone bowl beef fried rice, wild maitake, soft-poached egg
Tamaki Gold$5.00
steamed short grain rice

Nigiri / Sashimi*

subject to availability

Kampachi$5.00
wild amber jack
Hamachi$5.00
yellowtail
Shima Aji$5.00
striped jack
Madai$5.00
snapper
Ishidai$7.00
striped beakfish
Hirame$5.00
ikejime flounder
Sake$4.00
faroe islands salmon
Akami$6.00
bluefin tuna loin
Chutoro$9.00
medium fat bluefin belly
Otoro$11.00
fatty bluefin belly
Kohada$6.00
gizzard shad
Saba$5.00
mackerel
Aji$5.00
horse mackerel
Botan Ebi$5.00
spot prawn
Yari Ika$5.00
Japanese Hokkaido squid
Baja Uni$8.00
purple sea urchin
Hokkaido Uni$10.00
bahun urchin
Ikura$4.00
marinated salmon roe
Unagi$5.00
barbecued freshwater eel
Tamago$3.00
sweet egg omelet

Nigirizushi*

chef's selected sushi

Aji Yakusugi$12.00
sugi smoked aji, wa yakumi (2pcs)
Aburi Beni Toro$6.00
salmon belly, karashi miso, battera konbu
Aburi Otoro$11.00
daikon, yuzu, sudachi ponzu

Makimono*

sushi rolls

Karai Tuna$16.00
bigeye tuna, gochujang, sesame oil, togarashi, honey
Una-Kyu$14.00
barbecued eel, cucumber, unagi sauce
Kanpyo Roll$8.00
traditional sweet braised gourd
Momomaki$19.00
Big eye tuna, spicy octopus, pickled daikon. Each month, we will donate $1 from every Momomaki sold to a different organization that benefits those in need. Please inquire with the team for more details
Kani Jomak$16.00
snow crab, unagi, tamago, cucumber, shiso
Shio Koji Sake$14.00
salmon, avocado yuzu mousse, salmon skin
Tekka Maki$10.00
bluefin tuna roll
Negi Toro$15.00
fatty tuna belly, Tokyo scallion
Negi Hamachi$12.00
chopped yellowtail hamachi, Tokyo scallion
Baby Shiitake Maki$11.00
baby Washington state shiitake tempura,

What 488 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

4.8Food
4.7Service
4.8Ambience
4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Chicago / Illinois
Japanese
Chicago
Japanese

Sort by

Filters

B
Bowl
Chicago
6 reviews
5.0
6 reviews
Dined 3 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Oh amazing as always. Their burger is superior😊👍🏻
HE
HappilyEverDining
Chicago
6 reviews
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on May 8, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
It was wonderful. The cocktails and food was delicious.
M
Mszc
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 7, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Fantastic. Had the before and after cocktail, hamachi collar, steak skewers, uni pasta, burger, two of the chef’s special sushi, and dessert— everything was outstanding. Each dish blew us away. Burger competes with au cheval for best in the city per husband. Have to go back and try everything else immediately
WM
WillM
Chicago
6 reviews
vip
4.0
6 reviews
Dined on May 5, 2022
overall4food4service4ambience4
Cool place, sushi isn’t really all that great though, kinda boring. the meat is fire though, lamb chops are crazy good.
M
Micheats
Calgary
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on April 29, 2022
overall5food5service4ambience5
Tha kanpachi and sake and yellowtail nigiri was the best I’ve had in ages. We Kept ordering more because it was so delicious. Great atmosphere, cool vibes - wanted to come again on my trip here but it’s all booked up and I understand why- highly recommend!!
DB
DennisB
Chicago
1 review
vip
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 29, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Wow! One of the best meals I have had in a very long time. I will be coming back here again!
OT
OpenTable Diner
San Diego
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on April 24, 2022
overall4food5service4ambience5
Great food
A
Anything
Minneapolis
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on April 23, 2022
overall3food3service4ambience3
Sashimi was ok Hamacha Kama too sweet Scallop ceviche tasted weird Sweet potato fries were really good
OT
OpenTable Diner
Chicago
30 reviews
vip
5.0
30 reviews
Dined on April 22, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Enjoyed this place many times and it never disappoints. Chahan is to die for...fantastic.
L
Lisa
Chicago
6 reviews
vip
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on April 22, 2022
overall5food5service4ambience5
Terrific experience. Great ambiance, wonderful food.
CH
ChelseaH
Chicago
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 21, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Our server Melissa was great! Loved the burger, lamb chops and deviled eggs!
NA
NicoleA
Chicago
3 reviews
4.0
3 reviews
Dined on April 16, 2022
overall4food4service5ambience5
Curry was not as good as we had hoped it would be. My son wanted Japanese curry for his birthday, but I didn’t feel like driving out to Mitsuwa. I guess now we know. The ramen was delicious, though, as were the rolls we ordered. We ended with a chocolate dessert that was very, very good!
SA
SamanthaA
Orlando
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on April 9, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Fantastic experience! Loved every second. Highly recommend
S
Stephanie
Detroit
8 reviews
vip
5.0
8 reviews
Dined on April 6, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great ambiance- was very intimate in the location we had - perfect for talking to your date or friends. Great food and service was phenomenal and very friendly.
RD
RDH2
Charlotte
27 reviews
vip
4.0
27 reviews
Dined on April 4, 2022
overall4food4service5ambience5
Service was exceptional. Chicken Katsu was disappointing. The breading was a bit soggy and didn’t have the nice light crunch like I’ve enjoyed in Japan . Among the best sushi quality experienced in the USA. Both chutoro and otoro were on par with Tsukiji Market in Tokyo. Miso was exceptional!!
OT
OpenTable Diner
Chicago
3 reviews
4.0
3 reviews
Dined on March 28, 2022
overall4food5service3ambience5
I had a wonderful time celebrating my friends birthday. The Ambiances and music Fantabulous ! and the food was amazing. The only downside to the evening was it took 30 to 40 minutes for them to bring out any food from the kitchen , and when they did they brought everything out at the same time. Other than that we had a wonderful evening..
OT
OpenTable Diner
Chicago
4 reviews
vip
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on March 27, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Good food and fun crowd
JP
JamesP
New York Area
23 reviews
5.0
23 reviews
Dined on March 27, 2022
overall5food5service3ambience5
Food on the pricier side but delicious fish. Would recommend but wish you got more food for the value.
B
Baosepher
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on March 26, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Had the best time here for my birthday. Almost felt like I was in another country.
S
Soso
Chicago
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on March 25, 2022
overall2food3service2ambience4
Fun ambiance but poor service at the bar, only one notable dish out of four ordered (skirt steak) and ridiculously high price point for the overall quality.
D
Diner1435
Chicago
50 reviews
vip
4.0
50 reviews
Dined on March 24, 2022
overall4food5service5ambience4
The menu is reasonably priced and provides many options. Everything we ordered was excellent and many of the items were shareable. We will be back.
p
peterm
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on March 24, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Ambience immediately hits you as you enter a refuge from the busy streets one floor above. Less formal & more relaxed than the upstairs dining room. Perfect spot for when you want to enjoy someone’s company while savoring a fantastic menu. Service is attentive & knowledgeable without being stuffy, happy to dispense recommendations or let you wander the menu. The food frequently went beyond words, the sashimi was perfect, & you need to get an early spot to make sure you can get one of the Hamachi Collars. Least & last, the bill seemed beyond fair at the end of the night considering the meandering path I took my palate through.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Chicago
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on March 18, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Birthday dinner
OT
OpenTable Diner
Chicago
6 reviews
vip
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on March 12, 2022
overall5food5service4ambience5
We celebrated my friend’s birthday. The food was fantastic, as were the drinks. The restaurant was very accommodating with a last minute addition. Highly recommended.
K
Katybetty
Chicago
4 reviews
vip
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on March 9, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Everything was delicious! Great sushi options, great sake, good cocktail list. Loved it!
OT
OpenTable Diner
Chicago
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on March 6, 2022
overall3food3service3ambience4
The menu was very little and disappointingly uninspiring. There were only 2 robata dishes and almost nothing truly or even inspiringly izakaya The Ambiance is amazing no doubt on that. The Sake collection is great too. Would recommend it for a superficial date or chill night with frnds at the bar.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Chicago
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on March 4, 2022
overall5food4service5ambience5
The burger was amazing, the only thing that we didn’t like was the fries, the were to sweet. But everything else was awesome!!!!!!
SJ
SarahJ
Chicago
2 reviews
vip
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on March 2, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great service, fun ambiance and superb nigiri. Always have the most amazing meals here!
OT
OpenTable Diner
Chicago
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on February 27, 2022
overall5food4service4ambience5
Very delicious sashimi but the portions of fish were soo small for the price
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on February 25, 2022
overall3food3service5ambience4
Experience was alright, service was awesome our server was on point even though our main meal took awhile to get to us. We may come and try it again but not any time soon
CP
CPoz
Chicago
4 reviews
vip
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on February 24, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
What a fantastic evening! All the food was delicious, and the atmosphere was relaxing but still buzzing. Loved everything.
OT
OpenTable Diner
New York Area
4 reviews
4.0
4 reviews
Dined on February 24, 2022
overall4food5service5ambience5
Our reservation was at 6:15pm. The Izakaya is on the lower level and the decor took me back to Japan. Dark wood beams, red lanterns by the bar, comfortable seating around. Now for the food, we had tuna tostada, scallop derviche, salmon and chutoro nigiri, uni pasta and chicken katsu. Desserts was very good too! All the food was spot on, sushi was very fresh. I would definitely return here.
A
Alicia
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on February 19, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Dining here is literally always a treat. The drinks were superb (my husband doesn't drink alcohol, so anywhere that has a great balance of cocktails and quality NA options is always a home run for us), and every single bite was sensational. Chef Gene and his team are truly the best in the business. Plus, the ambiance and overall vibe are stellar for a date night, and the banquette table we were seated at felt intimate even as the room was high-energy.
VR
VictoriaR
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on February 19, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Experiencing the Izakaya is a must always love the ambience and the food is and service is always top notch.
MH
MatthewH
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on February 19, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
We had an extremely good dinner there this weekend. They helped us celebrate our first night out without our new baby with free champagne, and the service overall was just right - the perfect amount of attention without overdoing it. The food was all outstanding - not a single dish was sub par (we had the Hamachi collar, scallop ceviche, tuna tostada, some chef selection sushi, and several rolls, which were good but maybe not up to the scale of the other items). Oh, and the dessert of roasted banana ice cream banoffee was also delicious. We will definitely go back.
JS
JennaS
Chicago
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on February 13, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
I loved the Izakaya at Momotaro and would definitely go back. The food was delicious, the service was great and the vibe was really cool and intimate. I think I might like the ambiance of the Izakaya more than the upstairs. Everything on the menu is about $15-20+ so it wasn't cheap but it was worth it. I recommend the Izakaya for a special night out.
J
Jennifer
Chicago
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on February 5, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
The food was fantastic and the service even better. We eat out quite a bit and were blown away by the warmth and level of service of every single person that approached our table. I don't think we've ever had better service than at The Izakaya and Momotaro - it's truly a pleasure dining at these two establishments.
SL
StephanieL
Chicago
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on January 30, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Immediately when we walked in Casey was very attentive and helpful. The food was amazing! We will definitely be going back!
OT
OpenTable Diner
Chicago
31 reviews
vip
5.0
31 reviews
Dined on January 29, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Fantastic food, service and experience. Authentic Tokyo. Great vibe.. a true Izakaya.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Chicago
1 review
vip
5.0
1 review
Dined on January 28, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Amazing. The food is exceptional and optimal sake selection.

Safety precautions

Cleaning & sanitizing
- Common areas deep-cleaned daily

Screening
- Sick staff prohibited in the workplace

FAQs

You can order delivery directly from The Izakaya at Momotaro using the Order Online button. The Izakaya at Momotaro also offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (312) 733-4818.

The Izakaya at Momotaro is rated 4.8 stars by 488 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

May 22, 2022

May 2022

Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

7:00 PM

Booked 26 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

(312) 733-4818

Delivery

Order online

820 W. Lake St Chicago, IL 60607

Additional information

Cross street
Green
Neighborhood
West Loop
Hours of operation
Dinner Wed, Thu, Sun 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–11:00 pm
Cuisines
Japanese, Sushi, Seafood
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
Valet is located on the corner of Lake & Green
Public transit
#8 Halsted Bus at Lake Street. Green & Pink line at Morgan stop.
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Executive chef
Gene Kato
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.momotarochicago.com/
Phone number
(312) 733-4818
Private party facilities
The Izakaya is available to reserve for both private and semi-private events. The lounge can accommodate a maximum of 150 guests for a full buyout. Smaller groups ranging from 10 - 75 guests can reserve semi-private space.

The Izakaya at Momotaro

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

Delivery

Additional information

Discover the Best Sushi in Chicago

The Best Places to Eat in Chicago

The Best Ramen in Chicago

Hirame

Gyoza

Chicken Katsu

Small Plates

Edamame$8.00

Baby Green Salad$12.00

Uni Deviled Egg$12.00

Miso Soup$8.00

Scallop 'Nikkei Style'$14.00

Blistered Shishito$12.00

Tuna Tostada*$16.00

Gyoza$14.00

Satsumaimo Fries$8.00

Shake'n Kato Wings$14.00

Mishima Skirt Steak*$15.00

Kohitsuji (Lamb)*$24.00

Iza Classics

Uni Pasta$23.00

Hamachi Kama (Collar)$14.00

A5 Cup Noodle*$38.00

The Momo Royale$18.00

Tonkatsu by Sakusaku

Berkshire Pork Ribs$18.00

Jumbo Shrimp$20.00

Chicken Katsu$24.00

Rice

Yakitori Don*$14.00

Chahan*$22.00

Tamaki Gold$5.00

Nigiri / Sashimi*

Kampachi$5.00

Hamachi$5.00

Shima Aji$5.00

Madai$5.00

Ishidai$7.00

Hirame$5.00

Sake$4.00

Akami$6.00

Chutoro$9.00

Otoro$11.00

Kohada$6.00

Saba$5.00

Aji$5.00

Botan Ebi$5.00

Yari Ika$5.00

Baja Uni$8.00

Hokkaido Uni$10.00

Ikura$4.00

Unagi$5.00

Tamago$3.00

Nigirizushi*

Aji Yakusugi$12.00

Aburi Beni Toro$6.00

Aburi Otoro$11.00

Makimono*

Karai Tuna$16.00

Una-Kyu$14.00

Kanpyo Roll$8.00

Momomaki$19.00

Kani Jomak$16.00

Shio Koji Sake$14.00

Tekka Maki$10.00

Negi Toro$15.00

Negi Hamachi$12.00

Baby Shiitake Maki$11.00

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

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Cleaning & sanitizing

Screening