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The Izakaya
Authentic Japanese street food and cocktails in a vibrant basement bar atmosphere.
4.4(5 reviews)
$$
japanese
izakaya
japanese
About The Izakaya
Located in the Lower Level of Chicago's West Loop, The Izakaya offers an immersive dining experience with a focus on Japanese small plates, fresh sashimi, hand rolls, and signature burgers. Known for its cool, dark vibe and friendly service, this spot is perfect for casual dates, small groups, and food enthusiasts seeking high-quality, unique dishes. With a 4.8-star rating, it's a beloved gem for both locals and visitors.
Business Info
Location
Lower Level, 820 W Lake St, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
Services Offered
Japanese Small Plates
Authentic street food and appetizers like sashimi, chicken, and unique bites in a shareable format.
Signature Burgers
Highly acclaimed burgers with premium ingredients, a standout menu item praised in reviews.
Craft Cocktails
Creative drinks including mocktails and tropical options, perfect for pairing with meals.
Fresh Sushi and Hand Rolls
High-quality sashimi and hand-rolled sushi made with fresh, flavorful ingredients.
Private Booth Seating
Intimate booths available for small parties, offering a cozy dining experience.
Bar Service
Friendly and quick service at the bar, ideal for walk-ins and casual visits.
Reviews
4.4(5 reviews)
Rating Distribution
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Maleri Ward
via Google
12 days ago
I took my partner here to eat for his birthday dinner. We ordered our meal / drinks at the same time and before we even received our drinks the expo came to our table twice with meals that didn’t belong to us. (SUPER sweet expo btw. She was great!) They talked to our server about what the problem was and he came up and took our order AGAIN?! Because he had lost it and never rang it in. On top of this being unprofessional after we have already waited 30 minutes with no drinks, they didn’t seem to be apologetic of their errors. We finally receive our drinks and eventually our food. When the food came out, the server had yet again messed up our order. We felt so bad for the expo (food runner). The fish was mediocre. We have had a lot of sashimi and it was just OK. I ordered a second drink and never received it. The vibe is cool, hostess was nice but unfortunately the experience overall was lackluster.
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Michelle Rodriguezvia Google
30 days ago
The burger alone is worth coming here for! But the drinks are great and the atmosphere/music are vibey. I live out of state but make it a point to come here every time I'm in town. 10/10 would recommend.
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Michael Damatovia Google
about 1 month ago
Amazing basement bar atmosphere with small bites, japanese street food and cocktails. This is located under momotaro and there's usually a good amount of bar seating and some private booths. As long as you're in a party of two it's pretty easy to get seating. All of the food and especially the burger we got were great. Service was friendly and pretty quick.
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Omar Mustafavia Google
4 months ago
Absolute gem in the city. Will come again and again. I had no reservation but they still got me in where I was sat at the bar. The milky mocktail was absolutely amazing. The other one I forgot the name of was tropical, just delish! The appetizer I got some slices of sashimi which were fresh and AMAZING! Especially the otoro my god. Now the star of the show, the burger is all I had as an entree there but it’s all I will get again and again. Why? Because it’s perfect in every bite. Also the service was astounding they made sure everything was tip top shape!
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Fiona Chenvia Google
10 months ago
Izakaya is so delicious! I came here for my friends birthday and every single dish I tried was unique and mouthwatering. The sushi and fish was so fresh, and I especially loved the hand rolls. The chicken was also perfectly seasoned, cooked, and was amazing. The burger was so unique with the bun and the meat was awesome. Desert was so amazing and I especially loved the ice cream, you can taste how high in quality it is. I think the pricing is reasonable for such a nice restaurant, quality food, and great service. I also love the atmosphere, it has a cool and welcoming dark vibe. Such great options for all types of eaters. An amazing food spot in Chicago!
