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Name: Itto Sushi Restaurant
Address: 2616 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL, 60614
Telephone: (773) 871-1800
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 3.84

Itto Sushi Restaurant

2616 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL, 60614

(773) 871-1800
Store is closed

Itto Sushi Restaurant Menu

Appetizers

Asari Miso Soup

Sashimi

Maguro Tataki

Kanisu

Takosu

Mixed Sunomono

Ankimo

Nuta

Gomaae

Oshinko

Tsubugai

Salad

Potato Salad

Seafood Salad

Avocado Tuna Salad

Kaiso Salad

Tempura

Tatsuta Age

Hirame Baiko Age

Wakasagi Karaage

Kawaebi Karaage

Soft Shell Crab

Kaki Fry

Hotate Isobeyaki

Kani Motoyaki

Seafood Motoyaki

Asari Butter Yaki

Negi Maki

Kushiyaki

Kushikatsu

Yakitori

Gyoza

Yakko Tofu

Yudofu

Agedashi Tofu

Nameko Tofu

Ika Shogayaki

Ika Maruyaki

Edamame

3 B Rice
Entrees

Sashimi
Tempura

Shrimp And Vegetables

Squid And Vegetables

Assorted Vegetables

Combination (vegetables Fish Squid And Shrimp)
Fry

Pork (tonkatsu)

Shrimp
Teriyaki

Beef

Chicken

Chicken W/ Only White Meat

Fish - Mackerel

Fish - Salmon
Itamemono

Beef

Chicken

Vegetables (yasaiitame)
Itto Special Combina

Seafood

Meat

Vegetables

Deluxe - Beef

Deluxe - Chicken

Sushi & Sashimi
Udon

Yasai

Beef

Tempura

Okame

Kitsune

Nabeyaki

Yosenabe
Soba

Yasai

Beef

Okame

Zaru

Ten-zaru
Donburi

Ten Don

Katsu Don

Una Don

Alaska Don

Tekka Don

Healthy Meal suggestions for Itto Sushi Restaurant

Appetizers

Asari Miso Soup [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sashimi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Maguro Tataki [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Kanisu [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Takosu [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mixed Sunomono [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ankimo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Nuta [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Gomaae [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Oshinko [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tsubugai [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Potato Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Seafood Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Avocado Tuna Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Kaiso Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tempura [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tatsuta Age [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hirame Baiko Age [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Wakasagi Karaage [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Kawaebi Karaage [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Soft Shell Crab [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Kaki Fry [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hotate Isobeyaki [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Kani Motoyaki [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Seafood Motoyaki [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Asari Butter Yaki [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Negi Maki [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Kushiyaki [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Kushikatsu [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Yakitori [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Gyoza [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Yakko Tofu [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Yudofu [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Agedashi Tofu [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Nameko Tofu [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ika Shogayaki [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ika Maruyaki [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Edamame [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

3 B Rice [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Entrees

Sashimi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Tempura

Shrimp And Vegetables [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Squid And Vegetables [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Assorted Vegetables [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Combination (vegetables Fish Squid And Shrimp) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Fry

Pork (tonkatsu) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Shrimp [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Teriyaki

Beef [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken W/ Only White Meat [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fish - Mackerel [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fish - Salmon [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Itamemono

Beef [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Vegetables (yasaiitame) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Itto Special Combina

Seafood [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Meat [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Vegetables [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Deluxe - Beef [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Deluxe - Chicken [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sushi & Sashimi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Udon

Yasai [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Beef [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tempura [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Okame [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Kitsune [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Nabeyaki [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Yosenabe [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Soba

Yasai [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Beef [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Okame [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Zaru [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ten-zaru [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Donburi

Ten Don [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Katsu Don [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Una Don [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Alaska Don [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tekka Don [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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Write An Anonymous Review

Nick L.

Fresh and well prepared sushi.
(4)
Jessica S.

Ordered for carry out last week and it was ready on time and very inexpensive. The rolls are a tad smaller than most places but the prices are also appropriate for the serving portion. Also loved the adorable mini bottles of soy sauce they gave us in our carry out bags. All of our rolls were delicious (spicy scallop, winter, spider, California, and sweet potato) and I have no complaints.
(4)
Jenn C.

OK... now coming from the East Coast and West Coast, sushi just does not compare here.... however, this place considering being in the mid-west, I will give it 4 stars only because so far this is the only place that seems to be quite fresh, reasonable in price, and authentic. They also serve alcohol which is nice, because I personally like to drink saki or beer (or both) with my sashimi/sushi. We had a combination of sushi rolls, sashimi, hot dinner and appetizers and I have to say that all was quite satisfying. I will definitely come again when I am in the city!
(4)
Joel A.

I loved this place, but last night when I ordered a Diet Coke, and after I drank the two sip glass (about 8 ounces with ice) the waitress came by, didn't offer me a refill though she was filling my water glass and when my food came I asked for more soda, and she told me they didn't offer free refills. I asked how much each 8 ounce glass of soda was, and she told me $1.75. I told her for $1.75 for an 8 ounce glass they have some nerve. Check this out next time you go there. I have no problem with a real sized glass of soda with no free refills but charge me $1.75 for 8 ounces of soda and won't give me a refill? Restaurants that screw the customer don't get my business ever again!
(1)
Kimberly L.

What? I can't believe I only gave Itto four stars! Redonk. While Itto isn't by any means a "scene," they deliver consistently great sushi in a traditional environment (think warm hand towels and fine, fresh food). When I want great sushi/Japanese food in a comfortable, unpretentious environment, Itto is my go-to place.
(5)
Shyam S.

I went there two weeks ago for my birthday based on Yelp recommendations. I almost didn't find the place, but it was so cozy and inviting inside that I had to stay. As far as appetizers go, the tempura and edamame were out of sight. Also, the sushi is good, but honestly not the best I've ever had. I had spicy tuna maki and also something with eel. However, what it lacks in taste, they make up for presentation - by far the most beautifully presented sushi I've ever seen.
(3)
Jamie O.

One mark of a good Japanese restaurant is that a significant portion of clientele is Japanese. (except when in Japan, obviously) Such is the case at Itto Sushi. Despite the awkward environment of a former Wendy's shell, Itto Sushi provides quality, authentic dishes with excellent service. I have now been to Itto three times, each time trying a new type of dish. 1. Soba (wheat) noodles in broth with fish cakes - Tasty noodles and mushrooms. Fish cakes were new for me, a spam of fish but better quality. 2. A ridiculous amount of sashimi and sushi (and sake) - The quality of fish is excellent, especially for the price. 3. Tempura dinner entree with sides of cucumber salad and miso soup - I never deep fry food at home because it requires a large amount of oil, good technique, and it makes a mess. My shrimp and vegetable tempura was a nice treat that I would never make for myself. My next endeavor is to grab a group of friends and try their 50 appetizers in tapas style. I've heard their more traditional Japanese dishes are what make this restaurant unique. Enjoy!
(3)
Shanna G.

This place is tied with one other sushi place I've been in Chicago for best sushi I've ever had. This place is legit Japanese, super fresh, and very reasonably priced for quality and proportion. I always get maki. Their philadelpia roll has the freshest salmon I've ever tasted. Their texas roll is a favorite as well. I haven't been disappointed with a single maki roll I've tried. Service is great as well, all the waitresses are very adorable and nice. Atmosphere isn't entirely trendy, but there's something really great about it.
(5)
Nicolas H.

Solid, traditional sushi spot. The list of appetizers is almost overwhelming, but also is amazing, because you probably haven't heard of half of them. I'd recommend the Fried smelt, if you are up for something a little different. The sushi is fresh and the portions are generous. On my second visit I got the chef's choice which turned out to be a good idea. It came with a roll, some fish eggs over rice, nigiri and sashimi (along with salad and dessert).
(4)
Jessica F.

What a disappointment! I drive past Itto Sushi everyday and when I friend and I wanted to grab a quick bite for dinner, I thought why not give this place a try. From the moment we walked into the restaurant, it was like a scene from Lost In Translation sans Bill Murray. I could not understand a word of what the host was saying to us. I also noticed that my friend and I were the only two non-Japanese patrons in the restaurant. The service was painstakingly slow and I was starving which did not make the situation any better. It took a long time for our food to come and then even longer for the bill to come. I mean, honestly, how long does it take to make Sashmi - isn't it just raw fish!? However, they do deserve two stars. One star is for their menu which had so many options which was nice - over 50 different appetizers. And the food was all in all was pretty good. Also, I figure if real Japanese people are eating at sushi restaurant I find that pretty indicative that the food is up to caliber. The second star for the "valet" parking, I hate having to find parking the city so it was nice that the restaurant had a parking lot in the back. However, I felt odd tipping the valet since we walked to the car after dinner and he simply handed me the keys. Come to think of it, I want my two dollars back. Just kidding! Next time, order from the take out menu! Good food & relatively inexpensive, but the dining experience in the restaurant was a disaster.
(2)
Daniel W.

if you want some great REAL sushi, Itto is the place for you. Every time I go there, the staff (and food, of course) makes me feel like I'm in Japan. The best sushi in Chicago, hands down, with Japanese sushi chefs - how many sushi restaurants in Chicago actually have Japanese sushi chefs behind the sushi bar? For you night owls, they are open until midnight.
(4)
Brad C.

Itto is one of the few Japanese-owned and -operated sushi parlors in the city--I say this not to wade into the identity politics swamp but to suggest its influence on the focus and expansiveness of the menu, the kinds of fish offered, the cutting, et al. This is not a rolls-and-saketini temple (don't get me started on how bad these places are); there's no DJ. We're not in Lincoln Park anymore, Toto. Put another way, this is where I first tried natto. So I sit at the sushi counter; I check the specials board for what fish are in (and they go global on that; I think they're one of the few places not served by Rev. Moon's sushi-in-a-van empire); I scan the specials menu for cooked guidance. I'll order some nigiri--remember, you came here for the fish, not some mayo and fried shit stuffed together--I'll order something with eggplant, as they do lovely t'ngs with it. They are golden with the fryer and grill, as traditional Japanese restaurants are apt to be; some fatty seabass or yellowtail collar, grilled and choked with lemon, will do nicely, as will tonkatsu. But let me tell you about my favorite dish here: tilefish jerky. I ate some lovely things in '08--duck at Sun Wah, tacos at Asadero, among others--but this was favorite last bite of the year: a little smoky, a little sweet, a little briny--and served with Kewpie, no less! Just awesome.
(4)
Helena B.

After eating here tonight, I find myself struggling with the appropriate words to describe it. It was... pretty standard. Pretty much exactly what you'd expect at a sushi place. In addition to other Japanese fare, Itto offers sushi by the roll and sashimi by the piece. The rolls were predominantly pretty standard - old classics as opposed to new creations. We went with two traditional favorites - spicy tuna and spider - in addition to some other rolls It seemed to take awhile for the food to come, but perhaps that is because they are all fresh and hand-rolled. Plus, admittedly, I was starving. To end the evening, there were many flavors of mochi. I went with red bean (my all-time favorite) and blueberry. Both were delicious. Overall, an enjoyable meal, but with so many sushi places in this city, I'm not sure if Itto had enough of a hook to reel me back in (fishy puns!).
(3)
Kevin A.

THE FINE LINE BETWEEN FISH AND FISHY One of the weird thing about sushi eaters is that we want to taste the fish, but we don't want it to taste fishy. This is probably mind-boggling to people that don't eat sushi, but it makes perfect sense to all devotees. In any case, it's a fine line between tasting the fish and tasting fishy and Itto definitely crossed the line with some questionable hamachi. I was excited to go here as I often get in the mood for a traditional sushi bar that doesn't feel the need to cook their fish, batter it, and slather it in sauces. Unfortunately, I left Itto feeling disappointed with the quality of the fish. Perhaps it was an off day?
(3)
Colin B.

Itto was recommended to me from a good friend. Having moved from Los Angeles, and eating japanese food probably 3 times a week for the last 5 years, I've become accustomed to a certain quality and essence to Japanese cuisine (aka, I'm a snob. I hate being one. but I am. OK?! sorry! I try to keep it in check, really I do. Because I hate snobs. But I am one.) That said, for a Japanese restaurant in a city not necessarily known for its Japanese restaurants, I'm happy to say Itto has met my standards, and I wish I went more than the once-every-two-months that I do. It's owned, operated, and run by Japanese people, which is somewhat comforting considering so many Sushi places are Korean or Chinese owned. No offense of course, but it lacks that authenticity any other way. There are always Japanese customers here, which is also a good sign. It comes as close as I've found to an izakaya in the city, which is also something I've sorely missed. The problem with Japanese food is that I love so much of it is that I want to order everything off the menu. This place has its share of goofy maki rolls, which at this point, are merely expected at Japanese restaurants, authentic or not. Regardless, I've been willing to try a few, and as long as they have spicy mayo or tuna on them, i'm pretty stoked. All the fish I've had has been extremely fresh - nothing tastes freezer burned, fishy, or funky in any way. The sashimi slices are average-sized - I've certainly had more generous - but knowing you're getting a good piece of fish is far more important. They have great agadashi tofu and I recommend their bento box style meals - they're filling and quite a bargain that come with Fish or Chicken, Salad, tempura, ice cream, rice, miso soup, and some california rolls. I'd love to come here for lunch some day but alas, I work too far away. I hope I can "earn" a set of chopsticks behind the counter soon. One gripe: I wish they served Ebisu beer. Hell, I wish any place in Chicago served it. They do have free valet though, which is pretty rare.
(4)
Wretched Consumer S.

I love Itto so much ... I get aggressive and angry at anyone who tries to give it a bad rating. (I'd fight Jennifer H. and Joyce D. if I could. I'll show you fake, Joyce. That's how much Itto rules.) ++++ LOVE the owners. Been operating Itto for 25 years or so. Sweet Japanese couple doing the thing they do best. ++++ LOVE the food. It's authentic. You want a natto roll? They've got it. You want an ume shiso roll, it's on the menu and paired for heavenly flavor. It's not the kind of sushi restaurant where the menu is limited due to the ineptness of it's clientele. ++++ LOVE the freshness of the fish. I've eaten at Itto for 8-YEARS and have never had a bad dish. ++++ LOVE the red bean cakes they make in the back kitchen and serve so warm and lovely at the end of a meal. ++++ LOVE the ginger tea. No one else in Chicago makes you a hot cup of hand-made ginger tea. ++++ LOVE the size of their menu AND the constantly changing specials. Plenty to eat there for just about anyone. Vegans too. ++++ LOVE how, if you don't know exactly what you want you can just tell the waitress that you want a certain dollar amount in sushi/sashimi and the owner/chef will make you a personalized serving. Mango/salmon roll ftw! ++++ LOVE that you can get out of here with a full tummy and spending anywhere from $12 +. It's as pricey/not pricey as you want it to be. ++++ LOVE the ambiance, facility, space. Itto is an old world sushi restaurant. It's warm and welcoming. As soon as you walk in you get a warm hello and welcome. It's not the sort of place that tries to cater to self-important twits who want minimalism and neon lights as they eat themselves into believing their *ish doesn't stink. ++++ LOVE that it's always clean and comfortable. Never have I seen a dirty chair or table. ++++ LOVE how they remember just about everyone who comes in through their door. That's right. Repeat business, people. Repeat business speaks in volumes. ++++ LOVE that the Japanese who travel from around the world to Chicago for conventions and business meetings, all come to Itto. +++ LOVE how they're good people. I once told the owner I was studying Japanese for a semester in college and the next time I came in to the restaurant they had a gift for me. They gave me a kana learning chart that has come in so handy over the years. ++++ LOVE the herb/veggie garden they rely on in the back of the restaurant. ++++ LOVE it's right off the brown and red line train if you're car-less. ALSO - it's as local and "mom and pop" as you can get. Support it or go shop at Walmart like an unconcerned hayseed.
(5)
Sophia Q.

Avoid the sushi and stick with their other dinners. The soba noodles and rice dishes are really tasty but their sushi is probably some of the worst I've had in Chicago. Both times I've gone, there's always an abundance of real Japanese people dining... Next time I go, I'm going to pay more attention as to whether or not they are eating sushi here because I was really surprised at how bad it was.
(3)
Kim C.

This place seemed so promising. Free valet parking (though the valet was really grumpy.. not the nicest guy). Good atmosphere, lots of Japanese customers, etc. I really felt like this could be an authentic Japanese experience. But they were SO. FREAKING. SLOW. Took about 10 minutes after we ordered to get my miso soup. Took another 25-30 minutes for the rest of our order, and that's after we flagged down a waitress and had her check on our food. We didn't order anything terribly intricate, just 2 rolls and a Chirashi. Sure, the food was pretty good. My friends had the Winter and Fall rolls, both were tasty and the presentation was beautiful as well. My Chirash, well, you can't really mess it up but I will say that the fish was fresh. Took another 15 minutes to get our check. Overall just SLOW SLOW SLOW. PAAAINFULLY SLOW. Aren't Japanese people known for their efficiency??? Would not go back.
(2)
Kristin L.

I LOVE THIS PLACE! The staff is very polite and the food is amazing. I really love authentic Japanese food and this is it. The tonkatsu was so tender. My hot green tea was perfect on a cold night and the refills just kept coming. This is my first stop for dinner on my next trip to Chicago.
(5)
Lex E.

I was really excited to try this place out from the great reviews (for the most part) on here. I was a little disappointed though. I ordered a shrimp + cucumber + added avocado, and a piece of king crab nigiri. I asked for no wasabi but for some reason the sushi chef thought I wanted wasabi in my roll - so I had to ask for a new one. And instead of giving me a whole new one, they only gave me part of one since I'd already eaten 2 pieces of the other... strange. plus it had seaweed on the outside, which I don't like as much as rice on the outside for some reason. And it was a pretty small roll. The king crab nigiri was really huge and good though. But my friend got the egg/omelet nigiri and it was old/waxy looking and the color was weird. She only ate one bite. The pricing was okay - but for how small a roll I got, it could have been cheaper. Staff and chef's were nice and place was clean and what not. Just not my favorite sushi place - just an okay one :)
(3)
Dmitri G.

The spicy tuna roll was kinda small, but delicious indeed. In fact, most of their regular rolls were smallish, but they're only like 6 bucks, so order a few if you're hungry. The service is great, and the green tea warms you up on a cold evening. And you get a complimentary orange for desert! How nice of them!
(5)
Spencer C.

I just got back from eating at Itto and I must say I am very disappointed with my experience. First, the decor of the place in the words of my friend is "japanese Denny's," not exactly what I'm looking for when I go out for a good dinner. Second, the quality and portions of the fish were off. I LOVE escolar (super white tuna) and did not enjoy it here. Also, my saba (mackerel) tasted unusually fishy. Anyways, without all of the details of my meal I will close with food was very mediocre to sub-par, the sake list was limited and the sake that I did wind up choosing was really truly terrible, the decor was poor and while the service was nice they were slow. I read a lot of reviews before I went here and they were reasonably good, so I was very surprised with my experience but I would NOT recommend this place to anybody that considers themselves a well-dined sushi goer, you will be disappointed.
(2)
John P.

This is my favorite place to go for great Japanese food. Serving traditional Japanese food for 24 years.WOW Over 50 appetizers.And a great place to enjoy the best Sushi in Chicago. You know this is a good place as soon as you walk in with a Japanese staff and many Japanese customers.Yummy I'm getting hungry.
(4)
Yuko K.

I am annoyed... quite annoyed. As I wait for my bill to show up at Itto Sushi right now, I am writing this review. I've been to Itto few times when I lived in South Bend, feeling desperate to have a good sushi. It was worth the drive. Now after almost a decade and confirming upon Yelp reviews that the place is still great , I suggested my friend to grab a dinner there while visiting Chicago. Yes, it is still Japanese-owned. Everybody who works there is Japanese. Tonight, there are many Japanese business men sitting at the sushi counter. So, you would think these are good signs for an wonderful sushi experience...... WTF!?? Both Hamachi and Toro were stringy. Ikura was okay. Uni was decent. Hotate was quite good. My friend's spicy tuna rolls had old tasting tuna. Agetashi dofu was pretty good. The servers were quite sweet, friendly and efficient. There were only like 4 items on the white board (including toro, ironically, along with 2 types of snappers and grouper). What happened? Was my standard just low enough to appreciate Itto after living in non-sushi oriented states (IN, MI, LA) for such a long time? Or, was it possibly an off night at Itto? I just don't know. If this was my first time at Itto, I would have said I would never come back. For sure, I would not be revisiting Itto soon... unless for some unfortunate circumstances, I end up living in South Bend for a long duration of time.....
(3)
Anthony B.

A disappointment. We ate here while visiting family in Chicago for a few days. We started with the soft shell crab, which was heavily breaded in panko. Next was tempura, which was passable, but not so the sashimi. One of the cuts of fish had an off odor, and the rest were poorly trimmed and had a mealy texture. To top it off, both the gf and I had indigestion the whole evening after our dinner. It's a shame the food was so poor, as the service here is good. But, that is no reason to suffer through a bad meal. There are several better places to get sushi in the city, and I would look to those places to get your craving on instead.
(1)
Payden C.

Best Sushi in Town, hands down. The first time I visit a sushi place I'm always pretty conservative with my choices to feel it out. But then I tasted what my friends were having and I had to order something more adventurous, best decision ever!! I went there again last night with the same results, AMAZING!! The tempura sushi is always delicious and their miso is the best that I've ever had.
(5)
Valery P.

Itto Sushi is such a great place if you're into old-fashioned sushi and bento. If you're one of those modern sushi-goers like me who enjoy more exotic/tropical and spici-er sushi, then this place is definitely not for you. Most of their food and sushi are too organic / eco-friendly. However, the service was great and they do have a great selection of Japanese drinks/desserts.
(3)
Joe B.

Wonderful fajmily owned restaurant, where even the valet parker excels. Kitchne is always up to snuff. Owner mans sushhi bar, and the service is always first rate.
(5)
Andy S.

I ordered take out from Itto today without ever seeing the place, and that may explain my complete confusion upon arriving there. You see, there isn't really a front door. You go up a ramp into a small entry where you are confronted with two options: 1. Go up the stairs 2. Open a mysterious wooden door. Thankfully I opted for choice #2, deciding to see what was behind the door, god knows what would've awaited me on the second floor. But wait, the food, how was it? I'll be honest, I got a weird combo, Sweet Potato Tempura and Yakatori, most likely NOT what the majority of you would be grabbing from Itto. Yet, regardless of the weird order, it was tasty, not incredible, but for the price I definitely feel like I got my money's worth and more. Add on the fact that it was ready quickly and the staff I interacted were all great, Itto's definitely a keeper.
(4)
Susie Q.

I went here here for the first time with regulars. This sushi was SO good-- fresh and of good quality. The spicy mayonnaise was a surprising good flavor. I will definitely be back. Obviously, it's no Mira, but save some coinage and come here.
(5)
Jennifer N.

Tried Itto Sushi for the first time due to recommendation from Yelp and really fell in love with this place. This place is definitely low key but it has great food, low prices, friendly staff, and free valet! We ordered sushi and sashimi which was decent for the price so for sushi alone I would give it 3.5 stars. Fresh and nice size, nothing extra noteworthy and no fresh wasabi. The rest was I thought was really good: Nameko Tofu - agedashi tofu with mini mushroom caps so tasty Monkfish Liver - rich but more delicate and light than pate Fried Whitefish - seaweed wrapped whitefish then fried in tempura batter Fried Skatewing - with ponzu dipping sauce...mmm Buttered Cod - my least favorite (kinda dry) but interesting Beef rolls - perfectly done with spring onion Desserts: Green Tea Pudding - with azuki beans and condensed milk Mochi Cake - warm and soft This place really exceeded my expectation and I will definitely come back to try the rest of the menu and the entire staff said goodbye to us when we left - it was so sweet.
(5)
Luke S.

I went here a few years back and I have no complaints. The fish was fresh and flavorful. They didn't have the most creative menu items, but everything was good. I feel like the prices were a bit high for a place that won't wow you.
(4)
elissa w.

Came here before heading over to Kingston Mines. This place is pretty big so no need to make a reservation. Had the winter roll which was good. Smelled kinda gross and fishy though when you first walk in though.
(2)
Double L.

I will start this review with a warning: Do Not Sit At The Sushi Bar. You will end up wanting to order every single thing they are making and feel like a Tub'o'Lard when you are done. Thankfully the sushi chef gave the people next to us one of the things we ordered by mistake otherwise we would have been in trouble. Everything was fresh and presented wonderfully. The menu is very diverse and seemed to have some excellent traditional options you don't often see at sushi houses. They have many of your standard rolls but really nothing with fruit or Americanism mixed in. I saw about 15 different things I want to try but just didn't have the belly for on this trip. The sushi we had was fresh, nicely cut, the rice was perfect and just all around tasty. The atmosphere was friendly and casual. We sat at the sushi bar but there is also a small actual bar and about 15 or so tables. The waitresses were attentive and helpful. We eat Japanese food all the time but still had some questions since their menu is uniquely Japanese and different from most places here in the states. I like that they have lemons in their water pitchers, always a simple nice touch. Not only that but they kept our glasses full the whole time, that is not an easy feat because I drink more than a camel just off the caravan. I am a sake drinker. That sounds a lot more refined then it is, I drink anything just wring out the bar rag in a snifter. They have a small but good selection of sakes and your standard beer offerings, in addition to a full bar. I like that the waitress brought us two sake glasses without even asking since the lady got a different type then me. The little things they do here really separates them from other spots, Japanese or otherwise. Prices are extremely reasonable, we got a ton of food and two bottles of sake for less then $70. Come on in and have something to Itto. RrL
(5)
Ric S.

Being from LA and traveling to Japan often, this place is the best in Chicago.
(5)
Allyson C.

This place is officially high up on my list of Chicago sushi. They have an extensive menu. I tried the Caterpillar & Sweet Potato rolls and loved both. They are BYOB but also have a bar which is always nice when you don't remember/realize you needed to BYO. Our server was very attentive and sweet as well. Hope to be back soon.
(4)
Steve T.

Hokay, so in general, I love sushi. I love sushi so much, that me and my friends have become sushi elitists... and are used to dishing out excessive amounts of cash for it, and are ok with that. We embrace it. That said, at the recommendation of many fellow yelpers, we decided to branch out from our usual sushi destinations and try Itto. We walked up to what looks like a JaponArby and I looked at my friend said ok, we can do this... On the menu it says they are celebrating 26 years of being in business, well congrats. We had a dinner of edamame, sashimi, and 3 special maki rolls... our bill came, $65... I felt like we had been teased with the promise of good sushi, only to be left with sushi blue balls and a high bill to pay for not being satisfied. Bah. Never again. To sum it up, decent, over-priced sushi served in an arby-esque setting. You can have better people, much much better, for the same prices elsewhere.
(2)
Melli Y.

Wonderful waitresses! They're very charming and friendly. Even though their menu was very confusing to me, they were very helpful with the least bit of attitude. Normally when i ask politely at a lot of restaurants about their menus, they're so rude. But this place is good. Sushi isnt the greatest but it's different and their style and not bad at all. I would totally come back and especially just because of their service alone. I walked quite far from my place to come here and I wasn't disappointed. That's great! Haha
(4)
Karen L.

I got to enjoy a birthday dinner at this Japanese restaurant that my Japanese friends claimed to be "pretty darn authentic." When we walked in, I did feel like I was in a restaurant in Japan. The key was to go with Japanese people, I think, so then they just talk in Japanese and figure out what to order. My friends ordered SO much food... and a lot of it was not the typical "American" Japanese like sushi rolls and sashimi, but instead was other traditional foods like fried smelt, raw squid, something that tasted like pate, filefish, etc. Yes, we ate a lot and a lot of the stuff even I have never tried! The people were so nice, at least I think they were nice, as I don't understand Japanese and they were basically talking to my Japanese friends the whole night. The seafood was really, really fresh and my first time eating raw squid was great! It melted in my mouth. Yum! One of my other favorite things were the mochi ice creams. They are different than the ones you can buy at Mitsuwa and they were so delicious! I tried the coffee and mango... again, melts-in-your-mouth good! Another sign of a good restaurant is their repeat clientele. I saw people walking out and saying goodbye to the owners like they were friends. AND, they even have a thing where you can buy your own chopsticks and keep them in chopstick cases there. That way, for a frequent diner, you can conserve on those disposable chopsticks and also feel like a VIP with your own special chopsticks! Overall, great, authentic food!
(5)
Ryan K.

This place was a very nice meal. But I love sushi. It is always going to be a nice meal. Frankly, for the same price you can go to some nicer options in the neighborhood. And for less money there are also some options that are just as good as Itto.
(2)
Fernando D.

I just went here for the third time now and I came to realize the same experience each time: Nothing jumped out at me. We got the same type of rolls we get at other sushi places and neither one of the rolls had a better taste than at other places. We tried to look for specialty rolls that each sushi place seems to have and the only thing on the menu was a Chef Special which had a ? for a description. Hmm? The place is pretty big and there is a lot in the back which is free to park in...granted its big enough for 5 cars. The service was ok, but I definitely felt as if I was being rushed to order. Talking with friends we decided if nothing stood out as better than other sushi places then this may have been our last time here.
(2)
Justin R.

I, for whatever reason, had never been to Itto Sushi in the many years I have lived in Chicago. Always, people would mention it as being pretty good for sushi in Chicago, but I still never went. That all changed the other day when my girlfriend and I, after a thrilling trip to Home Depot, stopped in for dinner. Upon arriving, I was a bit annoyed. It was packed and we were actually skipped during the seating process twice. Finally, we were seated and we ordered some beer. Now we went with the pitcher, but I would highly recommend not doing that, as well will not in the future. It was not the value it seemed it may be. Actually, I would just stick with bottles and forget all about the beer on tap. Anyway. Moving to the menu and food. The menu at Itto is pretty big. In addition to a boat load of sushi, sashimi, and the usual strange roll combinations that all of us in America love, they had a whole menu of Japanese appetizers. Oh I know what you are thinking, "but all sushi places have appetizers." True. But not like Itto. This place has so many of the dishes that you find on menus in Japan, such as the simmered daikon radish with miso, the Japanese pickles, Japanese mushrooms just steamed or simmered, the best fried fish in the world with shiso leaf and plum sauce, and the odd, but very real, potato salad. Yes. It was awesome. I immediately forgot about the seating issue and fell in love with Itto. Itto Sushi has become my favorite sushi place in Chicago. Everything we had was excellent and the atmosphere of the place is very Japanese, which is pretty rare in this city. I highly recommend it to everyone and will be back soon.
(4)
Miinno N.

We visited our favorite Japanese restaurant in Chicago after many years. They did not disappoint us. They welcomed us with open arms as they recognized us right away. They still have our favorite menu and everything was as good as we remembered them to be. Fried flounder with plum sauce (Hirame Baiko age), their Winter rolls... We had a nice eating out there.
(4)
Patricia M.

This was the very first Japanese restaurant I ever went in. That was many years ago and it is still my favorite! Food is always fresh. Service is always good. I wish it were larger.
(4)
Daniel H.

One of the top sushi spots in Chicago; I always enjoy coming here. Food: The menu is pretty diverse, and even if you're not a sushi fan, there will be something that will pique your interest. Turning to the sushi, contrary to a few reviews, their fish is of excellent quality. Moreover, the maki selection is pretty diverse, with less than 20% Americanized combinations (which aren't bad necessarily, but not what I typically like to get). I really appreciate the fact that their chili tuna has no mayo and is actually spicy. Further, they have the best salmon skin maki I've ever had and I invariably use it as a baseline to compare any other salmon skin rolls I get elsewhere. They also have some interesting vegetarian options that go beyond boring old cucumber and avocado. I haven't tried their nigiri or chakin since I like certain maki combinations so much, but I'll resolve to give it a shot next time I go. However there's no reason to think that they wouldn't be as excellent since the same ingredients are used more or less. However, the last time I was there, some of the maki (not even the ends) started to unroll at the table - a no no. What's up with that happening to me a lot lately...? Service: nice, friendly, and prompt enough - no complaints Value: Though it's sushi, it won't bust your wallet, which is nice.
(4)
choong l.

Solid, but doesn't live up to the hype on Yelp. As a Japanese restaurant, serving home-style Japanese cuisine, Itto is pretty good (for Chicago). These comprise dishes beyond the familiar trio (sushi, udon and teriyaki), and they tend to be less salty, sweet or provocative; traditional Japanese is rather simple and 'bland' to the taste buds used to the sickly sweet teriyaki sauces and the sharp wasabi stings. I personally don't prefer the authentic Japanese cuisine, but I think that Itto does them well -- if you crave home-style cooking, Itto should be among the top in your list. On the other hand, if you're craving sushi, Itto doesn't really stand out among its peers. Fish is fresh, but so are other four-Yelp-stars establishment. The sushi and rolls are consistenly well made with the right proportions, but others do the same. Itto starts to fall behind in the 'innovation' department, because it sticks with the traditional, perhaps dabbling with an asparagus in a roll here and there, while others are churning out some spectacular hits (and misses). To me, Itto sushi is good, but boring; it is not my destination for sushi. Service is no-nonsense and friendly, and they'll be happy to accomodate your questions and requests; chum up to them, and they will do the same. It's fairly down-to-earth and casual, but still Japanese in its manners -- i's a good thing. Atmosphere wise, it has the usual Japanese restaurant decor, with frayed edges and age obviously showing. This is not a place I'll bring my out-of-town friends to wow them with sushi; it's more of a place where I'll go with a buddy or two, order a few appetizers and enjoy an evening of conversation and sake.
(3)
R K.

I went there with my friends few days ago. The food in general are good but elderly waitresses attitude was terrible. we didn't make a reservation for 10 people but kindly they allowed us in even thought they did not have an enough space for 10 because there was a party going on that Danit was very nice of them. Somehow we ended up 13 and I didn't know what to do since I wasn't the organizer. and the elderly waitress came up to me (since i spoke Japanese) and told me "what the fuck are you guys doing? you told us 10 and you are bringing in fucking 13 people. we are not a public place, it's a restaurant where we can allow limited amount of people in restaurant. and now you are bringing fucking 13 people. get out of the restaurant" she told me in everything in Japanese and I said that i didn't organize this and i totally didn't know that there gonna be more than 10 and ill tell the organizer to figure it out. elderly waitress never listened to me, but just gave me a look and told us to leave. I know we weren't organized but she should have told us in a nicer way, not using any Ford. of course we we rent organized enough and, it was very nice of them to let us in, but i wish the waitress told us in nicer way. told everyone, not only to me who spoke Japanese
(1)
Dennis S.

Varied reasonably-fresh sushi and shasimi, good service, boring decor, affordable prices - everything you want in a casual sushi bar.
(4)
Chuck W.

The prices here are excellent, however I can't give five stars because I was slightly disappointed by the sushi. The rolls were good, but nothing out of the ordinary. Also, I think that there had to be some wasabi on the chef's knife, as each one of my rolls tasted of wasabi. I probably won't be back, as this restaurant is slightly out of my way, and there are much better, albeit more expensive, restaurants closer to me.
(4)
Susan K.

Small, so you may have to wait or give up. Good Japanese food at the going rate. Parking in Lincoln Park is never easy.
(4)
Fate O.

My sister and husband took me here for my birthday. Sushi is a little bland if you don't dip it in soy sauce but the appetizer is a wonderful way to start a meal because they did turn out delicious. Then you'll have a better idea which dish to try. I tried raw fishes and wasn't too crazy about it. I'll stick with the sushi. I've only been here once but I wouldn't really come too frequently because it's a bit pricey.
(4)
Ben B.

I love this place, it was a great sign on my first visit that there was a table of 10 Japanese business people there. They seemed to be enjoying themselves thoroughly. I also did, and the prices are not bad at all. The fish is fresh daily. I suggest ordering sushi from the individual piece menu and not just the rolls. Service has always been good, and the food is very good and reminds me of all the sushi I had overseas. For desert try the Mochi, the mango is very tasty, as is the strawberry.
(5)
Tim P.

If you want extra fresh sashimi, as well as very rare special raw fish, you should definitely come to Itto. We had Orange Marlin, Tsubugai, and and Blue Snapper sashimi the last time we dined here. I've never seen these on the sashimi menu at any other restaurant. We also had beef tripe, chicken drumlet appetizer, and a shiso and okra tempura special. Just lovely...
(5)
Hauwei L.

One of my favorite Japanese places in Chicago, very large, diverse, traditional menu. Extremely fresh sushi, limited parking available, giant bottle of saki available.
(5)
Andrew L.

It's not everyday you find a restaurant that actually has staff that are Japanese! Most of the Japanese restaurants in Chicago are run by either Koreans and Thai and you can definitely tell the difference in the cooking and the type of food offered on the menu. Plus this place has a great selection of food plus you can order authentic food not found at most Japanese places. I really like the tripe dish yum! I recommend the soba tempura soup and anything from the nigiri/sashimi menu.
(4)
Chris J.

I've been to this place twice, both times for a weekday lunch. I'm not super aggressive when it comes to sushi, sticking mostly to spicy tuna, eel, and spider rolls... but they had a great lunch special that had a cup of miso soup and 3 rolls, spicy tuna, salmon/cucumber, and aparagus with some sort of sauce, for like $10. All three were really good, even though I'm usually not a fan of salmon. As for the menu, there's a ton of different kinds of sushi/rolls... some of which, well, I didn't even know people ate those parts of the respective sea creature. I'll leave those to someone else. But all in all, plenty of options and a great lunch spot. Maybe I'll have to try dinner some time. A side note, the first time I was there, some guys from the Japanese consulate were there... so I guess that means this place is legit.
(4)
Jim W.

Itto sushi is run by Japanese and has Japanese clientele, which in retrospect, makes it rather disappointing. The restaurant itself is cozy and having valet parking (albeit in a very small lot) is nice in this hard-to-park area in Lincoln Park. Itto has a long, traditional sushi menu with a few inventions, but nothing groundbreaking. This particular night, I had a deluxe chirashi sushi. Decent amount of fish cut to above average size, but the fish tasted a little bit on the frozen side. The grilled scallop was a small portion placed in a nice plate that was being heated from below but put into some hot liquid that was more Chinese than Japanese (odd considering most of the staff was actually Japanese). Lastly, the winter roll tasted good at first, and it came with some very nice fruit arrangements, but ultimately was a bit too rich and creamy. Itto was well-priced, however, and the service was very attentive. Given the free parking, definitely a better choice than say, Sai Cafe, but overall, just another run-of-the-mill Chicago sushi joint.
(3)
Ben H.

I would rate this as an authentic as you can get mom and pop place in chicago... but the style is more izakaya, which is popular in Japan. The menu is pretty solid, and priced reasonably. Dishes and food are as close as authentic as you can get... great for a laid back sushi night and its japanese owned, and run... you cant go wrong
(5)
Peter S.

This is the second time I came here. The food is not good in this restaurant. We went on the weekend and the fish is not fresh. Other than the quality of the fish, the sushi also taste bad. I have to say that the service is pretty good. But I give them one star because the sushis are by far the worst sushi I had.
(1)
Ray L.

Yay! I'm a fan. No, that's not what I wanted to say. Food: 4 Authentic:4 Friendliness:3 Atmosphere:3 Price: 2 *Freshness of Fish: 4* To be honest, if I am in Chicago, and I have to find Sushi, I know there are other choices. But they are all in the Suburbs. And for the city folks, this is one of the best that you can go. I mean, if you have been to Japan and you really want some authentic style, this is good place to go. I almost come here every time when I am in town, and I am in town every month :)
(4)
Bryan S.

The food at this place is awful, this is Japanese food at its worst. The sushi does not at all seem fresh, it is served very sparingly, and the other non-sushi items on the menu were so unpleasant that no one in our five member family could finish their meal. If one could identify the problem, I would say that cheap and low grade ingredients are at the base of the taste issue. If you add this to maximizing profit to the max, then you have a perfect storm.
(1)
Leang E.

This place has free valet! That's pretty surprising given that it's not a swanky sushi spot. It's actually kind of homey. When you come in the chefs all say hi, and when you leave the staff also thanks you and says bye. We got the nice hot towels, and started off with some wine. In addition to wine, they also have beer and saki here. We started off with edamame and it was a little overcooked, but still good. We also had the summer and winter rolls which were very unique and delicious. We also had a really cute and fresh caterpillar roll. They made eyes and antennas, but the avocados really ripe and flavorful. It's just the right price for sushi, and the staff is pretty attentive too. There's a few other rolls I'd like to try out, and I'd be happy to come back and try them out.
(4)
Christine O.

Ok... I know what you are all talking about now... I brought a group of 6 here one night and the service was extremely SLOW... The anticipation makes it all the more delicious though! It's still the only place in Chicago I trust to serve me raw food.
(4)
Shaman S.

This is my go-to place when I need sushi that is good for sure. The atmosphere in this place is also superb, it feels really authentically Japanese, and that's part of the fun. I met some japanese people there who said they would not eat anywhere else in Chicago. highly recommend this place.
(5)
Bernard L.

In my three-plus months in Chicago thus far, I've already been to Itto Sushi twice to get my west coast sushi withdrawal fix. I find it intriguing that when people have a conversation and the topic gets to Japanese food, the first question that comes up is: "Is it good?" Let me tell you, this place is good - fresh fish and it's the real deal. For starters, there is free valet parking in the back. My favorite thing to order is the Chirashi sushi, basically a bowl of sushi rice with an assortment of fish and other items on top. Everything is fresh, even the wasabi. I never thought there would be differences in miso soup, but Itto's miso soup has tofu so silken and fresh you can taste the difference. If you're on the look out for something really special, check out the nigiri specials on the blackboard by the bar. If you want to play it safe, the Autumn roll is an excellent choice and a sight to see. Downside is that the environment is not very romantic nor chic. In fact, it feels like a very odd set-up, kind of like if you took a horseshoe shaped Denny's and dropped a Japanese restaurant into it. But I guess that's how they are able to get away with good food at reasonable prices.
(4)
Mary S.

Quick and to the point: Best, freshest pieces of sushi you will probably ever find in Chicago are at Itto. Rolls are not a strong point (subtract one star), but the pieces - phenominal (plus four stars). Can't wait to go back!
(4)
Benjamin B.

I went here on a date back in January and I was expecting something more from this place, to be perfectly honest. I'm not necessarily one of those people that looks at the racial composition of the staff and then judges how things will taste or what-not. So the fact that the employees all looked Japanese, didn't really mean a whole lot to me from the get-go. Since my date really loves this place, I was really hoping for something amazing... but ultimately, it just wasn't. Now this could have been a fluke, or off-night... I will concede that point for sure... but I always test an establishment's sushi by ordering two things, "Unagi Nigiri" and "Sake Nigiri" - I always find that a place that can prepare these two well pieces well, nearly always gets high marks in my book. The Sake Nigiri's texture felt like it wasn't all that fresh... you know that slightly rubbery texture that sets in to slightly aged fish-based sushi? Their miso soup was very good and so were their gyoza... but it is my opinion that it is kind of hard to screw those ones up. Anyhow, despite that lack of an impressive food experience... I really had a great time that night, but it was because the woman I was on the date with is so amazing and engaging. I wouldn't define the place as "gross" or "unworthy of my presence" - but I wouldn't really go out of my way to go here either... so take that as you will... I'll try to get back here some time and see if my "just an off-night" theory holds true... I am sure it will also please my special-lady to go back, because I am sure she would be apalled by this unimpressed review. I hope they can change my mind...
(3)
A L.

So we went to this place based on Yelp reviews... We had to wait a long time for a seat, but that was ok, we kind of arrived at the prime dining time. When we finally got seated, we got 3 menus - the drink menu, the specials of the day, and the regular menu. We decided that we should give at least one of the specials a try, and the Grilled Cold Eggplant with ginger sounded yummy. We were in the mood for something deep-fried (how can anything deep-fried not be good??), so we went with the shrimp and vegetable tempura. Then for our sushi, we got a LOT. I got the Dragon maki, the tuna avo-maki, and the una-maki (I think those were the names). My friend got the California, the Philadelphia, and the Tempura makis. The tempura was yummy, but again, hello, deep fried??? Then the eggplant came out... We were definitely scared for awhile - the eggplant was cold yes, but tasted like it was overboiled - and then, there was absolutely NO flavor. They litterally just put a pinch of grated fresh ginger in the middle. Eww. I tried to eat it, I really did. It was not good. My friend spit it out. Then... The heavenly sushi came out. This sushi was sooo good. Very fresh and good quality. My friend chowed down on her 3 rolls in no time. I still had some leftover, all the more to enjoy today. The sushi gets 4.5 stars from us! We will definitely be back.
(4)
Annie W.

When am I ever going to learn to lower my West Coast standards for good sushi? My default order is Chirashi and this one just didn't cut it. The tamago had no substance to it and was salty--I like my tamago on the sweet side. The pieces of the fish were crudely cut and wasn't the freshest. My friends got the winter and fall walls which although were Americanized, were pretty tasty. We also shared a couple of appetizers including the tripe (very good! soup with tripe and daikon!) and warm eggplant with ginger on top. While the eggplant I could've done at home, they used real minced ginger. Not bad when paired with soy sauce. While the servers were all very very nice, kept our reservation although we were 20 minutes late! and continually kept our green teas (which were very nice btw) filled, service was really slow. I think we waited a good 20-30 minutes before our actual entrees arrived. I'd probably give this place more 3.5 stars because the appetizers were actually very good. I guess next time I should just try one of their rolls or just more of their izakaya styled appetizers.
(3)
Mavel M.

I love itto sushi!!!! A few weeks ago my boyfriend and I had a craving for sushi and came to Yelp to help us find a good place for sushi that was affordable. We looked at several places but itto stood out from all of them. I am glad we found this place because so far every Friday night is Sushi night at itto..:) The service is awesome, Free Parking, yummy sushi, delicious Japanese green tea, yummy cucumber salad, overall its a great place for sushi. I LOVE U ITTO!!!
(5)
Aileen O.

If you're looking for a no-frills sushi spot, give Itto Sushi a try. We went on a Friday evening and was surprised that there was no wait. Can I say how awesome that was? My typical sushi restaurant experience = jot name down on paper since restaurant doesn't take reservations, wait impatiently for my name to be called, complain about the hunger... you get the picture. Four stars for no waiting! As everyone notes, the makis aren't incredibly inventive, but you do get your standard fare at a very good price. I ordered the fresh eel maki and a Texas Maki (shrimp tempura, cucumber and jalapeÃ±o mayonnaise). They were skimpy with the eel, but you get what you pay for ($4.50 for six pieces). The Texas Maki was much better, although if you're scared of jalapeÃ±o heat, you might want to pass. Good food in a friendly neighborhood restaurant. It's no Mirai, but hey guess what? That means no Mirai prices!
(4)
Matt H.

I went there because I wanted to get some veggie sushi. I have not really been to lots of sushi restaurants, but I still think this one was not very good. The people where sorta friendly, however it was not the best experience. My food was ok, but not amazing to say the least.
(1)
Patti B.

We were craving Japanese food and decided to try Itto since we saw it was the best of the Japanese restaurants on Yelp. I hate to be the naysayer but it really didn't stand up to its reputation. Slow service and bland dishes made this a rather substandard meal, although I do agree that everyone was very friendly and the atmosphere was nice and cozy. Perhaps we got off to a poor start. Our appetizers took a really, really long time to get to us, and we saw tables around us getting through multiple dishes before ours finally came. The gyoza fell apart and the soft shell crab was no longer recognizable after being so deeply fried. Now I love a good crunch but this almost defeated the purpose of ordering the soft shell. Since it was cold that night, I opted for the beef udon while my boyfriend had the tempura udon along with the matsu sushi. My udon was extremely bland and the beef, although thin, wasn't especially tender. I've had better. My boyfriend's udon was much more flavorful and this time I liked the crunchy tempura (at some places it gets soggy so fast and who likes that?). However, we didn't think the sushi was particularly fresh, although there certainly was a lot of it for the price we paid. Maybe I've been spoiled by having lived in Hong Kong for a good number of years, but I have yet to find a truly amazing sushi place in Chicago - this isn't it.
(2)
Sherry G.

Went here for the first last week and will not go back. I ordered 4 items- Tempura roll, Philadelphia roll and a piece each of King Crab and Tamago. The Tempura roll was decent but lacked the crunch I was expecting so made me wonder how long ago the shrimp was fried. The Philadelphia roll and King Crab were both quite good but the Tamago was a deal breaker. I should have trusted my instincts and sent it back because the color was definitely not right but I took a bite anyways and it was absolutely disgusting. I've never eaten a rotten egg before so that was a first, I'm surprised I didn't throw up on the table. If you are going to eat here trust your instincts, if it doesn't look right it's probably not!!!
(2)
Megan S.

This place is great. Good food. Good people. Open late. On top of all that its priced well. The only weird thing is the way you get in. It looks like you're going into an apartment. Not a problem though. Go there.
(5)
Tanya T.

The places smells. Worse sushi ever. The sashimi did not taste like it was properly cleaned.
(1)
Quantas G.

This is a quaint joint off of Halsted. It seems like one of the most authentic sushi places I have been too in a long time. The decor doesn't seem over-Americanized and the sushi is great. They even have sake that is served in square wooden Japanese bowls. The sushi selection is extensive and the prices are extremely reasonable. I went for a late lunch and enjoyed myself very well. The place wasn't crowded and the service was attentive.
(4)
Emily C.

Very small restaurant. A decent chicken teriyaki I am told, and decent enough vegetable sushi, nothing outstanding, nothing horrendous. It is fun to slag on the trixies that walk by if you sit in the window.
(3)
Patrick K.

A great variety of Japanese dishes for a very reasonable price. They have a lot of things that you don't see on a lot of Japanese menus here in Chicago. I really enjoy the Hirame Baiko Age (fried white fish), and they have great daily specials too. The staff is great with recommendations, and have never let me down. I also appreciate the laid back nature of the place. It's a great neighborhood restaurant. There is a reason this place has been around for almost 30 years, and it's my favorite place for Japanese in Chicago.
(5)
Edwin L.

I'm shocked at all the positive reviews. I get the Chirashi-don (just plain fish and rice) at every sushi restaurant to test the quality of the fish undiluted by spicy mayo, seaweed, and other ingredients. At Itto Sushi, the freshness of the fish is substandard at this price range, especially with the plethora of sushi restaurants that price their menus similarly. Their waitresses are fairly nice, so they get 2 stars. However, a better alternative in this area would be Nori Sushi by the Diversey Brown Line.
(2)
Anonymous P.

Great atmosphere, good food. It's comforting to actually see a Japanese crowd running a Japanese restaurant. Prices are reasonable but, hey, it's sushi. Edit: I'm in the middle of telling the guy my order for delivery and he says, (in a Japanesey way) "Aw shit. What's wrong with this fuckin' computer." He said it so casually.
(3)
Caitlin H.

I counsel high-school kids, and on a whim while we were exploring Lincoln Park, we decided to nab some sushi. None of the staff balked at the fact that 4 adults were dragging about 13 kids. They seated as quickly as could be expected and we were all WOWED by how delicious the food was! Everything was prepared expertly and arranged prettily. No one seemed impatient when taking our large party order. And surprisingly, our party didn't disturb anyone else because they stuck us in the perfect spot! I've been back many times since, whether to share a quick roll after work or to gorge on a full meal during the weekends. Mmm and it's a terrific place to take your sushi-virigin friends. My mother loved it and the waiter was able to help us decide the best "starter" rolls.
(5)
David D.

My real rating is 4.33 repeating. Lets just pretend that 1/3 of that last star was colored in or something. Anyways.. Traditional Sushi Restaurant! This place is filled with giggly Asian waitresses, that automatically gave it 3 stars. But wait! The sushi is just so damn good! Very friendly calm service... The atmosphere was wonderful except some whitey at the bar who had too much to drink and was being loud, I believe he though he had a chance with one of the waitresses. I ordered Chicken and it happened to be too crunchy but no matter because the sushi made up for it completely! Raising my score from 3 to 4 stars.. As we left every single staff member in Itto's said goodbye, including the bar workers. "That my friend raised my rating from 4 to 4.33 repeating!" -Nice ,Relaxing ,Great Sushi... Try it!
(4)
Daniel C.

Godzilla rolls- best in the world.
(5)
Cali M.

Oh, if I didn't have itto -- Well, lets just not think about that.
(5)
Brian G.

Fresh sushi, everything on the menu done well - not fancy and service can range in friendliness at times but reasonably priced and a really good restaurant. Udon good with Tempura done to perfection, lunch boxes a bargain, sushi fresh - you don;t ask for "real" crab meat in the California roll cause they would never serve you that fake crap. It is not fancy but the complete package and a decent value with parking. That makes it a five. I will say I would echo the slow service - I really think it is because they make everything with a bit of care and fresh. But it is my one annoyance and given the food I will live with it.
(5)
Pav S.

Great authentic place. Lots of locals (ie, native Japanese) come here. If you are looking for a flashy roll place, this is not your restaurant. However, for food very similar to what you will find in Japan, it's very good and solid. Tempura is quite fantastic and the sushi is always well made. A nice neighborhood gem!
(4)
Stefan L.

Good sushi. Definitely going back.
(4)
Michelle X.

Ok, so the 1-star on my first review was because I was still pissed about the service. And while I vowed never to go back, ...well, I went back. This time it was just me and 2 other friends...again, pretty decent sushi up until the point when my friend got pricked in the roof of her mouth with BONES in her spicy tuna roll. I mean, that's not supposed to EVER happen with sushi, right??? I'm a huge fan of sushi but that made me think twice about eating it for a couple of months afterwards...anyway, the point is, service was not really an issue this second time around but BONES?? Anyway, not coming back, ever. Seriously this time.
(2)
Seijen T.

Delicious Sushi. Friendly staff. Great experience.
(4)
Trey A.

I love this neighborhood place. My family and I used to frequent at least once a week. My wife and I still make a cameo every once in awhile. GREAT sushi for the price! The atmosphere is casual and inviting. The staff rocks! To give you an idea they gave my wife and I a wedding gift when we got married. Free valet is always nice...however whenever its free I always feel I give more :/. Delivery can be so so, cause certain things might not hold up and need to be served/eaten right away (for ex: tempura.) As they say in AA (not to say I attend meetings) keep coming back!!! and we will!
(4)
heather d.

i couldnt believe my husband and i got a huge sushi meal (which was delicious) for under $50. the same meal would have been double easily anywhere else. Fresh, classic sushi (no fancy dragon rolls here!) and free parking.
(5)
Eddy C.

It's difficult to add to the bevy of accolades that Itto has already received. However, I must share with you all an oh-so-pleasant surprise I encountered last night at dinner. I'll sum it up in five words: Fried skatewing -- so damn good! Authentically Japanese? No way. Ridiculously delicious? You betcha! My gf and I saw this little treat on Itto's specials menu and since we're both fans of skatewing in general (we've only had it at French and Italian restaurants), we decided to give it a whirl. When the dish came out, it was difficult to decipher that it was actually skatewing -- it just looked like a big hunk of fried stuff. But upon taking a bite of it, I knew we had struck gold. The meat was soft and flaky, almost crab-like, which is a very good thing in my book. The fried exterior had a good crunch and lots of flavor. The skatewing also came with a dipping sauce, which provided a nice tart contrast to the fish. The dish was so tasty that by the end, I was seriously eating it with my hands as if it was a piece of fried chicken. I was THIS close to sucking all the meat off of the bones before I remembered that we were eating in public and not at home. Oh and the best part? The dish only costs $7.50! Do you know how ridiculous that is? $7.50 will barely get me a side of asparagus at some restaurants. Get it while the getting is good because who knows how much longer it'll be on their specials menu. You won't regret it!
(5)
Kat W.

There are hundreds of Sushi restaurants in Chicago, and it is such a shame that the Chicagoans do not know sushi. Itto is an authentic, all-Japanese run (chefs AND waitstaff) sushi restaurant. It's hard to find these in the States anymore. Fish is fresh, and the appetizers are pretty good too. If you want REAL sushi, you have to come here. If you are satisfied with supermarket-grade fake sushi, go elsewhere.
(5)
Jamie T.

Excellent sushi. Fast delivery packed very nicely. A bit on expensive side. The restaurant atmosphere leaves something to be desired, however.
(4)
Dan C.

after trying pretty much every single sushi place around lakeview i'd have to say this was our favorite. why? simply because in my opinion we've had the best and freshest sushi here. there's some maki rolls that this place has that i havent seen elsewheres, the sashimi was probably the best i've had in chicago and the plating is good too. we've only sat around the bar area and i think there's a restaurant space in the back but i havent been back there. the bar area is fun. they usually have sports going on the tvs and the sushi chef has a friendly personality. love this place :)
(5)
Elizabeth C.

I read all the rave reviews and came in with perhaps heightened expectations. The sushi was decent - fresh fish, etc., but the rolls lacked creativity. They were just your standard rolls. Others have commented that this is "real Japanese," which may explain the lack of maki with cutesy names and an abundance of cream cheese (my favorites strain of sushi, I admit). I'd actually love to go back for their soba noodles sometime. The service was extremely slow, but not unplesant. Overall a mediocre experience, but it's close enough to my apt. that I'd give it another go.
(3)
bj f.

the first great thing about this place is that the owner is japanese and endured extensive training in japan to become a sushi chef, not a six month express sushi course. they've been around for twenty five years because their focus is on quality for the price. their fish is the freshest it can be, and the owner and his wife are incredibly cordial and willing to please. they serve traditional dishes as well as some original combinations, like the winter roll, which show they are evolving to hold their own with the ever growing influx of sushi wannabes, without sacrificing the old school specialties, like inari sushi, which is NOT easy to find at some of the newer sushi bars. every once in a while, the eel in the unakyu maki or dragon roll is a bit too fatty or tough, but never once has it been less than fresh. and the authentic miso soup, which is from japanese heaven, means more to me than the occasional eel issue. for an entree, try the tempura, which is never tough from overcoating or soggy from grease like some i've had, the hirame fry, which is like a delicate fish tender, their teriyaki sauce is perfectly seasoned, and their salmon is always excellent, as is the pork tonkatsu. as an appetizer, you can't beat the seafood motoyaki, which is mixed seafood baked in a creamy sauce. so, go and be greeted by a happy hello, fresh food, friendly service. they are not exotic, but we have enough of those places. this is a homey, reliable place to kick back and enjoy.
(5)
Dan P.

This is a great traditional sushi place - reminds me of the traditional sushi restaurants in Japan. This is definitely not a funky roll/fancy drinks/house music trendy type of "sushi" establishment. I go to Itto when I feel like having good quality sashimi, in a nice quite environment, with fair prices and friendly staff... for those days I am feeling rather raucous, I frequent the more popular disco-sushi establishments.
(5)
Erica T.

I'm new to the area so I'm on a sushi hunt..... This has the best sushi I have tried so far, and the price is pretty decent too ($10-$15 per roll) They serve food until midnight I believe on weekends, which was a bonus because I went in there around 11 on a Saturday night. Overall, I recommend this place for some quality, decently priced sushi!
(5)
Carrie S.

Mmmm sushi. This is the restaurant where I learned to like sushi. I went through the many stages of sushi liking here. On my first visit, I had delicious tempura and little sushi. On that first visit, I attempted my first piece of real sushi. It was delicious and much yummier than any sushi that I had ever had before. In my subsquent visits, I've become more of a sushi eater experimenting with dragon rolls and pieces of sashimi. Last night, I went to Itto's after a movie and was super hungry. We got a dragon roll, a salmon roll, a tuna roll, and some pieces. The sushi is good that we cleaned the plate up fast between two people. We also tried the mochi green tea ice cream which was yummy. The service here is always great and the servers are extremely nice and attentive. I can't say enough good things about Itto's because it's such an awesome sushi restaurant. I'll be back when my sushi cravings start to kick up and I want some delicious rolls.
(5)
Jorge S.

This is the best sushi I've had. The prices aren't bad and the food is great. I've been to trendy places and "cheap" places, but Itto takes the roll when it comes to good food, price, and atmosphere. The first time I came here, there were a pair of Japanese business men ordering from the Japanese language menu to the chef. I haven't been to Japan yet, but to me that gave it a lot of credibility and an authentic feel that I haven't gotten anywhere else. Its a small cozy setting that usually isn't full, and there's a parking lot.
(5)
Kristin L.

some of the best sushi I've eaten in Chicago! I ordered a sushi combination lunch special, which was just the right portion and price. my friends ordered a bento box, edamame, and a few other types of sushi. everything I tried tasted very fresh and light, leaving me full but refreshed rather than stuffed. I can't wait to eat here again!
(5)
hlzdg h.

Still searching for a really good sushi joint. Shocked at the overall rating here. The salad was the best part. Everything else was bad. Literally had to forcefeed ourselves. Had four different types of maki. None were tasty.
(1)
Jeff D.

They have excellent sushi. The prices are affordable. Lunch combo sushi platter, 3 rolls, is $9.50. The sushi specials are always my favorite. I see a lot of Japanese patrons, which is a good sign. The staff and chef's are very friendly.
(5)
Kate B.

After reading so many glorious reviews I decided to try Itto. I wasn't blown out of the water by this sushi. To me some of our rolls lacked alot of flavor - our spicy tuna roll wasn't very spicy. One of their specialties was rolled with a pink soy paper and it looked better than it tasted.
(3)
Wende A.

Yum. If you like fresh fish this is the place for you. I've eaten at countless sushi restaurants and this is by far the the freshest and most flavorful - they have a huge selection to chose from too. When I went I was on a date and we ordered the sushi for 2 and got to sample a ton of sashimi and maki, it was all fantastic. You could really taste the difference between their fish and those of other places. I've also been for their lunch special and it is awesome as well. You get plenty of food but not enough to leave you dragging at work afterward. My only complaints are that it does take a long time to get your food (we waited 45 minutes for our food the first time we went , but it was worth the wait in the end) and it is also a bit pricey (but you're paying for quality). Overall, it's worth a try.
(4)
Julia K.

Mmmm. Really fresh fish and delicious sushi. We came on a Saturday night and the wait was less than 10 minutes. Server was very attentive. We had appetizers, sushi and 2 bottles of sake. Bill was $75 for 3 people. I can live with that!
(4)
Amy D.

I kinda gave up on sushi in Chicago but this gave me hope. They had interesting rolls. The chef's special wasn't all that, but the season rolls were delish. Pretty inexpensive. Our bill came out to 90 bucks for four people and we got two bottles of sake. I would go back again. Not amazing that's for sure, but pretty good. Very friendly service as well.
(4)
Omar F.

This place is great. My friends took me here because I never have had Japanese food before and I fell in love with the place. I forgot what the certain dishes were called since they were all in Japanese but I'll do my best to describe it. I had some Tuna Sushi to start it off and that was pretty tasty. I also drank this really cool soda that had a marble in it. The fried eel was really good along with this really lightly battered fried chicken. The main dish, which was beef teriyaki, was phenomenal. I really enjoyed the flavor they put in the meat and the sauce. For desert I had this weird ice cream dish that was rice on the outside (although you can't tell) and green tea ice cream on the inside. It was really tasty. They also threw in a free green tea pudding that was amazing. Overall it was great and fairly priced. I would recommend it to anyone who wants a small low key place to eat Japanese food. Oh! Also! They have their own parking so that's a HUGE plus
(5)
Angela O.

I'm impressed by the variety and how authentic their food and atmosphere is. I'm a vegetarian but there was still a nice variety of dishes I can choose from. However they do not have yakisoba which is one of my "fast food" dishes. I love that they have free valet parking plus the people there are very nice.
(4)
Kat K.

This is where my boo took me on our first date over 9 years ago! While this place won't knock your socks off, it is better than average and in a city where restaurants come and go they have been around forever. Their prices are incredibly reasonable, the staff is friendly and their fish is fresh and well prepared. This is traditional sushi, not the crazy concoctions that you often find in over-hyped, trendy restaurants. Not to say I don't appreciate the crazy, but sometimes you just want some tasty, fresh fish on rice. Well this is the place where you can go for that. Oh and for those who love to party they serve sake bombs...what can I say I'm bit of lush!
(4)
Ben H.

Itto is one of the more authentic Japanese sushi places available in the city. They have a good IZAKAIYA (bar) style selection of dishes and the standard Japanese selection of beers to go with them. Unfortunately, unless you can understand the Japanese version of the menu you will miss out on a lot of the better dishes. Good food in general ... sushi is good when you stick to the "classic" choices. A bit pricey but that comes with the (sushi) style and location.
(4)
steve k.

I think I'm with everyone on here...this place is tucked inbetween all of the retarded frat goodness that Lincoln Park is known for. Traditional sushi at it's best in my opinion with an all japanese staff which is hard to find it seems nowadays at a sushi place. They greet you with a hearty "hello" in Japanese when you walk in, which is like a verbal punch in your face. It's comfortable in there, there aren't hipsters or people all dressed in black with 900 dollar wire frame glasses eating some massive mothrazilla roll. It's simple and delicious...unfortunately I haven't been there in a while but I used to be a regular. Good prices for just the right amount and they also deliver, which is a plus.
(4)
Celine C.

we eat sushi one a week and like to find a simple restaurant that has a great turn over and makes a good product every time. This is it.....we sit at the bar since the main dining area has little to offer as far as atmosphere....we love the sushi chefs, we love the rolls and the sushi, the fish is always fresh and the rice seasoned to perfection. The prices are super reasonable, the service wonderful even if a few of the girls dont speak english do well. I suggest sticking to the simple things such as the shrimp tempura, the tune roll, the salmon and avocado, and give a try to the Fashion A which is the best. What has me sold is the fact that Japanese clients are handed a menu in Japanese....and there are lots of them that come to dine at Itto, to me it is a good sign. Perfect such for any night, but dont expect anything fancy or fusion like you might find at other more yuppie places.
(4)
Fred B.

Strange to find a sushi restaurant in Chicago (in Lincoln Park of all places) with a Japanese staff and sushi chef. As authentic of a sushi restaurant as I've seen in the area, and the food and prices were great.
(5)
Lindsay B.

You know you've found the perfect neighborhood gem when, upon seating, you presented with a warm towel to clean your hands. And when you leave you get a complimentary fresh fruit. I loved my experience. The food was all flavorful and fresh. We got, in addition to a few sushi rolls, ramen and a couple appetizers. I do not understand how they can deliver such QUALITY food at such a reasonable price point -- but I'm not complaining. I look forward to many more trips here!
(5)
Monica C.

Most authentic I've had in the city. Been to Japan many times, and this was very comparable. Super impressed! Great service as well.
(5)
John K.

I had my very first sushi experience at Itto, so did Mom for that matter. I used to pick up my former mentors lunch here back in the late 90's. I've picked up xmas eve dinner here (we are Italian, feast of the 7 fishs) my point being is I have history with this place. Today nearly 20 years later I had a bowl of ramen here. Now, it's been awhile since I had the sushi here (which was always excellent ) the ramen didn't disappoint. I went with the Tan Tan Spicy Miso ramen, it came with a half hardboiled egg (I prefer soft or poached in my ramen) green onion, bamboo and. Bean sprouts, crushed nuts and chasu pork that was a little over cooked but still tasty. The broth had good flavor ( I added spicy via crushed red pepper and a paste Guco my new sushi chef friend offered, he's been here 40 years ) in that note the service was outstanding and I really appreciated thier hospitality. I'll definitely be back and for my money this is the place to have the best sushi and a solid bowl of ramen in the Windy City that won't break the bank.
(4)
Steph U.

Super legit Japanese restaurant. I didn't think anything like this existed in Chicago. The food is authentic and delicious. I ordered the chef's special sushi roll and the spicy ramen. My boyfriend ordered chicken katsu. We both got ice cream (green tea and red bean) at the end of our meal. Everything was amazing, and I'm so happy I found this place. This restaurant is run by Japanese people and they have a lot of repeat Japanese customers, so you know it's the real deal. It's a little more pricy than some other places, but way more worth your time and money. Come check it out and you'll never want to go anywhere else.
(5)
Ko T.

I have been come here for a long long time . This's in my humble opinion. The best sushi place. Good quality and inexpensive. Most sushi roll taste so clean and light without all those mayo and bread crumbs . This the sushi how we like it . And thank you Ito San and your wife. Have been working so hard for so many years to prepare the best Japanese food in Chicago. Kudus to you and see you soon.
(5)
Alan J.

Very good sushi, excellent service, nice place. Best sushi I have had in Chicago. Note that when you open the outside door, you do not go up the stairs. The entrance is a little confusing.
(4)
Jeoly M.

The portion is quite small for its price. However, the sashimi is quite fresh and good!
(3)
Christopher V.

Sushi wasn't as fresh as I'd like. Maki options are limited, not very creative. Service was fast and friendly, but I wouldn't return.
(2)
Stefanie A.

Itto is a pretty standard sushi place, nothing too fancy. Rolls were good, but I prefer a bit more creative rolls on my sushi menu. 4 stars because the staff and service were great.
(4)
Natalie E.

My boyfriend and I went here last night and it was awesome! I had the Tantan Ramen, which was PHENOMENAL. I have never had better ramen. I will go back for that alone. My boyfriend got the winter roll and a dragon roll. Both were very good, but a little on the large side and almost impossible to fit the whole thing in your mouth and it fell apart if you just took a bite. That's the only reason I am deducting a star. The service was awesome though. We were seated immediately, asked for our order immediately. They were very friendly. I have definitely found my favorite Ramen place and a great sushi place as well.
(4)
C Y.

Love this place for the food AND because they can accommodate people with severe allergies to tree nuts and peanuts! They truly understand the risks of cross contamination and they know their ingredients. All sauces store made inhouse. Hurrah!
(5)
Chris F.

Very authentic Japanese spot. The raw oysters were fantastic I liked the clam miso soup also The shoyu ramen was good as well. Overall good place to eat will definitely come back to try other items on the menu.
(4)
Andrew S.

So pleased with my experience here I had to write a review before I left the restaurant. This is a nice little cozy sushi bar. Visually, it reminds me a lot of the sushi bars I visited in Japan. If you want to go to a sushi restaurant that at least feels authentic, this one is a good bet. The sushi was great. It's all relative of course, but this restaurant is a great intersection of value, quality, and freshness. You can have an excellent sushi meal for $20-30 at a quality well above similarly priced options in the US.
(5)
Sujin Y.

Best sushi I've had in Chicago so far. Service was on the slow side but I didn't really mind since we got complimentary cucumber salads. I ordered a variety of nigiri: ama-ebi, scallops, surf clam, squid, Zimbabwean shrimp, salmon, and conch. It was all super fresh. The knife work was incredible. They also have a huge menu for non-sushi eaters. Lots of different types of katsu and udon. I wish I had found this place earlier! It has the "I want to be a regular" type vibe. I'm definitely coming back the next time I'm in Chicago. I would have given this place 5 stars if our food would have come out a bit faster and if the valet guy wasn't such a jerk.
(4)
Roxanne A.

This place has some of the best Japanese style curry katsu in the Chicagoland Area. This is also the only place where I will actually order sushi that is not an all you can eat place. The interior is cozy with the different eating areas and like all sushi restaurants, you can also eat at the sushi bar. I took my boyfriend here so he could try Japanese curry and perhaps attempt to cook it for me. The dinner portions are a little big so we split the Curry Katsu, potato croquette appetizer, and a caterpillar roll. The food here is really fresh and high quality. It's like being back in Japan. i highly recommend the Curry Katsu. I love that they offer it on the menu outright as opposed to other places where it's only offered as a special for a limited time. Come here eat some great authentic Japanese food and pretend you're in Japan if only for a little while.
(5)
Aileen W.

Overrated. Pricey: the nigiri prices are for one piece only. I paid almost five bucks for an uni gunkan that was rather unremarkable. The sashimi combo dinner does, however, come with soup and dessert (ice cream), but my dining partner and I both agreed that we'd be happier if it were at least ten bucks less. Maybe it's standard for Chicago but being from out of town we really were kind of shocked by the prices.
(3)
BiwTy B.

I have been there many time. One of the best sushi restaurant in town. Great food & great service
(5)
Samantha T.

Absolutely disgusting. I ordered it for carry out and as soon as I got home the rolls had completely fallen apart. The rice was not cooked right and the shrimp was very gummy. Do yourself a favor and go to Toro!
(2)
Eirene N.

Hands down the best authentic Japanese restaurant in downtown. I had the best Saba shioyaki of my life, rice was perfect, grilled nasu was just like how mom makes it, and the potato salad was so Japanese I almost cried. My sister had a GREAT ten don, with shrimp, eggplant, potato, and green beans which was so delicious. Ever since I moved out here from LA, I've been looking for a place like Itto. We ordered a ton of stuff and the total came out to around $30. I'll be back.
(5)
Emily S.

Best sushi in the city. Awesome environment, sushi chefs are always so friendly. They clearly take pride in what they're creating. Super fresh, delicious, and authentic. The only negative is them being closed Sunday's! Can't get enough!
(5)
J M.

Tried out this place with my wife but sadly some dishes came up short. Pros: okay service, tamago sushi was fine and the miso soup was good. Cons: we had the gyudon(meat and onion served over rice) and the beef udon. Both had little flavor. The Gyudon meat itself had zero flavor, the same meat served in the udon. The udon soup had no flavor neither. A good udon soup should be sweet tasting, this had no taste. Just water with brown. -6 years living in Japan taught me that udon soup should be amazing on its own. Maybe there are too many items on this menu?
(2)
Shannon K.

Irasshaimase (welcome). I've been to Japan several times and I adore this singsong welcome when you walk into a Japanese establishment. I've popped in for lunch a couple times and it's always reassuring to see mostly Japanese people dining here. The sushi chef is meticulous and that sometimes means slow. He was the only one working the sushi bar the couple times I have been in and that's a tall order. I ordered a special baked roll and it took over 40 minutes. I wasn't in a big hurry, but it seemed like a long time. They obviously have some regulars and they definitely get some special treatment. No biggie, I like special treatment when I hang out at my favorite haunts. The sushi is fresh, clean tasting and the rolls are solid. The bento boxes look good too. I enjoyed the baked roll, but wouldn't go back specifically for it. I found the rolls to be good, but fairly basic. The baked ones were the most inventive. Bottom line - if you're in the neighborhood and hankering for some fresh sushi, then definitely pop in. It's reasonably priced. For me, this is an okay spot for lunch (I've added it to my rotation of cheap lunches), but not someplace I would go out of my way to get to when I get a sushi craving and I get a lot of sushi cravings.
(3)
Kimberly D.

Girlfriend and I were looking for an after hour sushi spot. Itto had four stars. WHAT ARE YOU PEOPLE THINKING? THIS PLACE IS TRASH! Sushi should always be fresh and handled with care. This is raw fish being served. Sushi tasted as if premade and was straight out of the fridge. My roll kept falling apart and there was only maybe 5 grains of rice in my philly roll. Rolls are much bigger at Hot Woks. Highly disappointed. Staff was friendly. 33 dollars for mediocre food. Clam butter sauce was great though! Too bad these establishments get offended if you return or refuse to pay for trash food.
(1)
Jesse T.

Best Japanese in Lincoln Park/Lakeview, no competition. The deco is traditional/reserved, and the tastes are authentic and smooth. I have yet to encounter something on the menu that I would not eat again. The staff are also very friendly and accommodating, and every item on the menu fits very well with anything else you want to order. I highly recommend this place for both new and experienced Japanese eaters alike.
(4)
Lu Y.

This is perhaps one of the most authentic Japanese restaurants in Chicago, and apparently, it's one of the oldest. Ambience: in the dining area, it looks like a renovated diner while the sushi bar is much more Japanese-like. It is quiet when do one is there, but at crowded times, it's very loud! Service: very prompt service, but be aware that 50 pieces of sushi is a lot and will take longer, especially when there's a full house! Food: OMG the tantan ramen is probably the best ramen I've ever had in Chicago (even better than Cocoro's ramens, which rank really high on my list). Plus, it's rare to see this ramen on the menu in Chicago so give it a try! The sushi is also very fresh and traditional :)
(5)
Louy B.

I love the food here! I eat here at least once a month. They have a very large selection of sushi and maki. The food is always really fresh and taste amazing. Some of the staff could be friendlier, but they're very attentive. They make sure your drink is full. Sometimes they're really busy and it takes longer for the food to come out, but it's never disappointing and worth the wait. I recommend their tempura here. I've had it at other locations, but nothing tastes as good as Itto's. I wish they'd do more specials though!
(5)
Eric M.

Best sushi in the city! Great service, prices and quality sushi every time. It's very authentic. Love this place. I'd recommend it to anyone who loves sushi.
(5)
Vendome 1.

I've been here three times. All three times have been amazing. Fresh fish, great atmosphere, friendly service, and most importantly, the attribute that is missing in most sushi places in the states- the SKILL is there. It's run by an actual chef who went through training in Japan and hands down the best sushi place in the Chicagoland area, city, suburbs, all included. Its a sad reality nowadays that most owners of Japanese restaurants are Chinese and Koreans but the difference in taste becomes a hundred times more apparent when you taste the authentic- and Itto sushi is just that- the authentic.
(5)
Prestine D.

Itto Sushi is truly the most authentic Japanese restaurant in Chicago! Their Jap-style potato salad, curry don, tempura, and sashimi are to die for. Fresh and traditional, this combo make up the a very very satisfying Japanese meal. I also like the ambience a lot, quiet and very homey.
(5)
Cheffrey D.

I still can't understand how some people give this place so-so or bad ratings. This place is the bomb! There have been sushi restaurants that have come and gone, some with beautiful people working there, some with some outrageously priced outrageously fresh fish but very few really good places LAST. Itto on the other hand has been a stalwart of Japanese cuisine in Chicago. It's probably close to 30 years old, is family owned and operated and is NOT a "see and be seen" place like so many sushi restaurants. They aren't pumping techno music or dub step, the lights aren't low, the setting isn't "hip." It is solid as a rock, service is unbelievably friendly and the food is KILLER and authentic. Do be afraid to explore the menu and order some apps from the kitchen. Even though they've been in biz for nearly 30 years, certain items on the menu still get lost in translation. For example, last time I was there, I ordered a special, "grilled mushrooms." To my surprise a plate with salt, came out and in the middle there was a little fire. On top of that was a little bowl filled with broth and a lot of little super tasty mushrooms in it. Cool! I was glad I ordered it because it was great but certainly didn't fit the description. If you're looking for authentic Japanese style sushi, this is your spot. The fact that they have free valet behind the restaurant is a nice plus. Keep doing your thing Itto, we love you!
(5)
Kevin W.

Smells Japanese. This is a good sign upon walking in. We chose this place because it seemed we could avoid the saucy, overdressed, overtempura'd westernized versions of sushi pervasive everywhere you look... Success! Simple, quality, authentic sushi with great technique and decent prices. And natto!! My companion claims the Uni she had that night was the best she's ever tasted. I can't give Itto five stars for two reasons: - the restaurant varied between super warm and stuffy and chilly on the same evening. Though this detracted only a little away from an otherwise cute place, it did make me uncomfortable at a few points during the meal. - I wasn't wowed by the quality of the fish. Nothing was off, but several pieces (including the cornerstone salmon and more exotic scallop) were simply "alright" and I'd hope for better at a place such as this. All in all a great place to go out and I would return again happily.
(4)
Paul M.

Came here last night after a show at Lincoln Hall. Was pretty excited by the 4 star rating on yelp, but it really just framed an epic letdown. The from I came with ordered 4 rolls and 5 pieces of sushi total as well as a miso soup for each of us. We were the only people there and the sushi took about 25 minutes, while the miso never came. I had 4 of the 5 pieces of sushi and all except for the salmon egg(for obvious reasons) had an unacceptable amount of vinegar on them. The bite from the vinegar was so intense it cleared my stuffy nose. The rice was dry and at times even crunchy. I also had one of the rolls. They toasted the nori right before rolling which was a nice touch but the disappointment carried over into the rolls. The crab just didn't seem fresh nor did the lettuce or cucumber. Environment was kind of uncomfortable. Typical quiet staff but there was also a rather unpleasant smell up until they started to toast the nori. In all, their hours are great but that's about all I enjoyed while I was there.
(2)
Teri Y.

This review update is for the omakase alone. First let's get the definition out of the way: omakase is a traditional Japanese concept where instead of ordering food from the menu, the customer lets the chef surprise the customer with food that the chef thinks is best/fresh/good based on seasonal ingredients. Omakase is also a great way to reflect on how creative the chef is. Itto does not mention this on their menu but as you would expect from an authentic Japanese restaurant like this whose many customers are made up of Japanese businessmen and Japanese families, the chefs at Itto happily offer omakase to any customers who would like them. They were very flexible in their omakase concept and basically it was up to us how much we wanted to spend per person and based on our wanted price (we decided on $50/pp), they will prepare the food items for us which consisted of the categories of sashimi, sushi, and kitchen food. We loved the surprise element of omakase where every course presented to us was, yes, a surprise and decided by the culinary creativity of the chef. It also helps that we aren't picky eaters and will eat anything. Many of the items we got were not on their regular menu as well: 1. Tako (octopus) and ika (squid) with seaweed and cucumber in vinaigrette 2. Tasting portion of salmon cake, chilled pork slice, and braised pork 3. Sashimi: absolutely generous amount per person with many different varieties 4. Nimono: taro ball, mushroom, lotus root, fishcake, sweet potato 5. Grilled rolled chicken stuffed with enoki mushroom 6. Sushi: battera (square sushi in which the rice is compressed into a mold; originated from Osaka), grey snapper, maguro, super white tuna 7. Dessert: green tea pudding and coffee jello parfait The husband and I were absolutely x2 stuff from the omakase dinner. It showcased a good variety of kitchen food that so many people tend to forget about what Japanese food is all about as a whole. Yes, there is more to Japanese food than maki rolls.
(5)
Irvan S.

Best sushi in the area. Quality of food and service is truly impeccable. Check out the sushi specials on the blackboard behind the sushi counter. You might get a good deal on the Toro if they have it.
(5)
Claire Y.

Friendly staff members. Tried their fried oyster- was alright. Got the sashimi, very fresh. Mushrooms soup was delicious!
(4)
Kate J.

Positives: - They're open really late and I was able to order delivery at 10pm on a Wednesday. - The man I talked to on the phone was really nice and thorough. - The delivery was super fast (about 30min) compared to other sushi places that take at least 45min. - My two pieces of hamachi were delicious. Negatives: - My Spider Roll was only cut half way, so I had to cut the rest of the roll into slices - The soft shell crab inside was not good and there was a lot of lettuce - I do not recommend the Fall Roll. It comes with a spicy sauce but without the sauce it doesn't taste like much I've learned that when ordering form Itto to stick with the traditional sushi options. They don't specialize in Americanized rolls anyways. I'll order again but be smarter about my choices!
(3)
May Y.

Food that touches your heart. When I first had the miso radish, I smiled from the bottom of my heart. The food is executed so well that you wondered why you have not have been here earlier in your life. Most authentic Japanese food I ever had in the States. A place that I would come for a date, a gathering with friends and a close dinner with my family. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! P.S. It was my first time to see a koi fish decoration outside of Japan!
(5)
Mike M.

This place is awesome! Great service. They definitely went above and beyond for me while I was in there.
(5)
Green T.

I can't quite get down with Americanized sushi - too many mayonnaise-y sauces and rainbow rolls and spider rolls, etc. And there is a LOT of that in Chicago. So, we went searching for a more authentic option and found Itto. I can get basic faves like Kampyo (gourd) or Oshinko (pickled daikon) maki, inari, and we love the Ume Shiso Kyu-Maki. Great salmon skin, yellowtail and scallion, and both sea and freshwater eel. Yum! I can even get down with the Fashion Roll A (Tuna, avocado, lettuce, cucumbers, mayonnaise) - it's kind of like sushi with hamburger flavor and there are plenty of more Americanized rolls if you want that. We mostly get sushi so I can't speak much to their apps or entrees, though we have gotten the ankimo (monkfish liver) once or twice which was pretty good, though not the best I've ever had - though we do love monkfish liver, so I've had a lot. Everything is reasonably priced as well which is great AND they're open until midnight. We also really like that their pickled ginger is white instead of bright pink - I'm not sure what it's sweetened with, but the pink stuff usually has saccharine so we usually look for white when we go out since my husband is mildly allergic to saccharine/aspartame. If you're going for nigiri or sashimi, I definitely recommend looking at the special board. The stuff on the menu is usually very good, but when we've ordered off the specials board it's been outstanding. Hands-down my favorite sushi place in Chicago.
(5)
Leslie G.

Authentic Japanese food no funky maki rolls to speak of! Service is slow due to low kitchen staff and diners are in no rush to leave. Moderate prices but worth every penny!!!
(4)
Mo M.

Yum!!! I've found my new Japanese food spot. I've been here four times now and every time I've been extremely happy with both the food and service. My favorites are the hamachi kama, dragon roll and half shell oysters. For the quality of the food and friendliness in service, you can't beat the prices. Seriously, I'm over the top I've found this place.
(5)
Jim M.

I'm now spending a lot more time in Chicago. If I'm going to survive, I need another regular Friday night sushi haunt. When I lived in Los Angeles, I followed the same sushi chef for 17 years. My hunt in Chicago has been problematic as up until I found Itto Sushi, the sushi restaurants have been run by Koreans, Taiwanese, and Chinese. Sadly, this doesn't work. But I stumbled across a recommendation that seemed to indicate this place was actually Japanese. This was obvious from the moment I walked in. Including the first hot towel I've been proffered in a sushi bar in Chicago -EVER. I ordered the mixed sashimi. Everything was Ã¼ber-fresh, and served creatively. I sat at the sushi bar and could see that the head chef had clearly apprenticed properly, and in Japan. I then began to try other items that haven't even been available elsewhere. Sweet shrimp. Two varieties, and served with the heads tempura-ed. They had shiso (a Japanese mint) and uzura (quail eggs). . . both a sushi bar requirement. I was able to see the items leaving the kitchen, and clearly this restaurant is a first rate establishment. Over 31 years in the same Lincoln Park-area location is a testament to the quality here. I rarely give fiver stars. For Itto Sushi, I wish I could give six!
(5)
Rahul K.

I've lived in Chicago for 10 years. This is the most reliable, delicious sushi in the city. Fun fact: it's the oldest sushi restaurant in the city. It even has parking!! Anyway, great seaweed salad, great miso, wonderful nigiri, and some solid (not too fancy rolls). Great casual environment. Reasonably priced alcohol selection with Soporro on tap. It's an institution! Come visit!
(5)
Laura E.

I'm not sure I understand the 4 star reviews. Service was UNBELIEVABLY SLOW (to quote my dad), particularly for a Monday night. We waited 45 mins for our food to arrive. The fact that my dad had to ask our server multiple times when our food would be ready was aggravating. I'd be ok waiting if the sushi was good, but this is not the case for Itto. Maybe I've been spoiled with fabulous sushi in Berkeley, Portland and Washington, D.C., but Itto is not worth the slow service and poor quality sushi.
(1)
Paul G.

I liked their Katsudon! Very traditional and yummy :) But their udon wasn't that great. :( Nothing in the soup (just noodle) and their Tempura smelled like they were re-using the oil too many times.
(3)
Mai H.

First tip: DON'T TRUST GOOGLE MAPS FOR WHERE THIS THIS. On the map it told me it was on N. Sheffield but of course the address is Halstead..d'oh! However, this place was so good I ate here twice in the same DAY! I walked an hour for it and it was so worth it. I kind of wish I didn't have the katsu curry for lunch because it ruined everything else that entered my mouth that day. In a good way! Their Japanese curry is the best I've ever had, anywhere! It was delicious. Must have for lunch or for dinner. I also had the daikon radish with miso. I thought it was going to be raw but it turned out to be cooked so the daikon just melted in your mouth and the miso on top was beyond amazing. Going to try to make that one at home. For dinner my Japanese friend and I had an assortment of their appetizers. We got grilled eggplant with ginger and soy sauce. So yummy. Spinach and miso. So yummy. Clam miso soup. So yummy. Miso the way it was intended. So yummy. The only thing missing was maybe another round of that daikon and miso. Then we got assortment of nigiri. Some of the fish was amazing. The salmon was not very bright so I was a bit weary of it at first but it melted in my mouth. Some of the fish tasted like it had definitely been frozen and defrosted but for the most part, the fish was buttery and did not taste fishy or metallic at all. Wish I had saved room for some dessert! One of the only places I know where it was run entirely by Japanese people. Yessss
(4)
Stella W.

Well, this is probably a biased review...since i love itto! :) As much as i love itto, i don't know about the omakase until a few of my friends went and raved about it!!! So i decided to check it out with some of them. But since all my friends said how generous the portion they had, we decided to do a lower price point than they previously did. We were still stuffed! It wasn't as fancy/inventive as Macku's or Arami's, but the price is also very reasonable. If you like the good old traditional japanese food, this omakase is for you. We had a good combination of the kitchen food and sushi/sashimi. The best part was that i got to check out dessert that are on the regular dessert menu that yet i have never had. Well, we are usually stuffed after dinners, so we normally skipped dessert unless the combination came with icecream...but the omakase allows you to pick one from the dessert menu, so hey, i will worry about the calories later! :P I love their coffee jello parfaits (and i am not a jello fans and i probably ate all the jellos!) and the mochi cake! The mochi cakes was def. different from what i was expecting even after hearing my friends' description. Japanese def. knows how to do a better "sticky rice flour cake" than the Chinese does :P It's like the japanese style of brownies :D
(5)
Jeff M.

Service was crazy slow and sushi was incredibly mediocre. None of the sushi we ordered was any good. Best thing about the meal was the orange slices at the end.
(1)
Stephen L.

Izakayas have come and gone quickly in Chicago with a flurry of them opening and closing over the past 12 to 18 months. Places written up as the hot new thing have closed almost as quickly. Unfortunately for Chicago foodies, the local izakaya boom hit just as the economy tanked and Japanese companies pulled their expats home. In any American city Japanese expats are the lifeblood of these restaurants. Through it all Itto Sushi has soldiered on as a family style izakaya. If you're not familiar with these restaurants, their menus are designed for sharing like Spanish Tapas. Go with a group and order lots of the small dishes - try everything that sounds interesting. If you don't like something, someone else may so little of the food will go to waste. If you like something, order it again. Take your time and enjoy your meal with some good drinks with friends. That's how Japanese enjoy izakaya dining and they're definitely on to something. Typically izakaya diners will start with a round of beers as they peruse the menu - order some edamame or some other small snack. If you're drinking beer, you're set, but if you really want to drink sake or shochu (a low proof distilled alcohol from Japan), you should make this choice next. The shochu list at Itto is impressive by Chicago standards (only Murasaki has more to my knowledge). Usually the first course at an izakaya like Itto will be sushi or sashimi. Some light fish to start off with before ordering the richer grilled, fried, or simmered dishes. The sushi is fresh and the grilled fish options are done just right. There are plenty of interesting little dishes to try. If you're feeling adventurous consider the ankimo (monkfish liver pate), Tsubugai (conch in ponzu sauce), or Ika Maruyaki (broiled whole squid). If you're not quite that adventurous there's still one must try on the "strange" list of foods. That's the Kani Motoyaki - this is crab in a delicious almost pudding gratin. Not even sure how to describe it, but last time we went our table of 8 ordered 4 of them! Work your way through the menu and don't be afraid to ask questions. You'll likely want to finish with a rice or noodle dish to fill up at the end, but eat through the meat, veggie, and seafood options before you fill up. It's worth it. And if you can't try everything you'd like to try on that visit, you you can always return. Itto will be there. Kampai!
(4)
Joanna T.

My go-to sushi place was a hole in the wall joint on Diversey until three months ago when my husband and I started going to Itto. I had been here a few years ago with my sister and remembered it as being old school and expensive. After going to lots of other sushi places in Chicago and out of state, I can now appreciate the authenticity of Itto. This isn't just a sushi bar but it has great Japanese offerings from the kitchen. We like the ramen and the dinner combinations. I love a good bento box. I hate going to trendy sushi places obviously run by Koreans that offer overly huge creative rolls. Good sushi is about fresh fish and not California rolls. My hubby always orders the Hot Tuna. Don't confuse this with the Spicy Tuna cause this sh!t is fiery--real Japanese spicy.
(4)
Fei W.

Came here tonight after being told there was an hour+ wait at Toro. We tried several different rolls, all of which were passably good. I didn't think anything really stood out, but nothing was terrible either. Drink prices are very reasonable, especially for unfiltered sake. Probably wouldn't suggest coming here, but on the other hand, wouldn't decline if invited.
(3)
Jane Y.

I would LOVE to gvie this place five stars.. but im a cheap college student so why did i come here? it was the only place open in the area at the time. and MAN is it deeelisshusss. sashimi is so FRESH. lovedlovedloveddd the smoked salmon! my friend who doesnt even normally LIKE sashimi even said it was really good and that he'd like to try sashimi again! basic spicy tuna roll was really good he said. and the servers were pretty nice.. good customer service but yeah overall definitely recommend this place! just if your on a budget maybe not. but sushi is sushiii you get better quality fish at higher prices! but yess i will probably be backkk sometimee
(4)
Steve B.

This is about as traditional of a Japanese restaurant as you can get. I grew up eating here, and it's remained a stalwart "old-school" style restaurant. They offer modern style of sushi rolls as a portion of their operation, rather than making it their bread and butter. This is where you go when you want a solid, reliable night of Japanese cuisine. Traditional offerings: Soups (udon, ramen), -yaki dishes, sushi/sashimi. Sushi-bar seating is recommended if you want to see experts in action.
(5)
T D.

Always delicious! We eat out for Japanese food on a regular basis and so we have tried many places in the city. Itto is by far the best place.
(5)
Rachel N.

So perhaps the deck was stacked against Itto to begin with -- we just came from seeing Jiro Dreams of Sushi -- but we were not impressed -- the nigiri was fine but not outstanding -- the sush wasn't as buttery as I would have wished, and the rolls were a bit bland. Oh, and they serve escolar, which is never a great sign. We tried the winter roll -- it's whitefish, avo, cuc, and some torched miso sauce on top - it not only burned the eff out of my mouth, but it didn't really taste like a whole lot -- which was a pretty consistent with the tone of the entire meal. Service is kind of spacey, but fine -- decor is as your would expect from a mediocre sush bar. Overall, not worth a trip. Oh, and din was around $80 (with tip) for 2 starters, 3 roll, and 5 orders of nigiri (albacore, yellowtail, salmon, ikura, and whitefish).
(2)
Rachel W.

I really love Itto. It's totally old-school & it is full of Japanese patrons, servers & chefs, which is never a bad sign. Actually it's a great sign. Their sushi is reasonable, and they have a lot of vegetarian rolls, options and specials for me. Make sure to ask for the black/brown rice if you're a fan of other rice on your rolls. They are super friendly, they have kirin for cheap & tasty cold soba noodles (this may be the kind of thing you needed to grow up on to appreciate). Also, we think it was originally an old arbys by the covered glass patio area which adds to the charm.
(5)
Christine D.

Most authentic Japanese restaurant in the city. Love it. Always fresh and great staff. The owner is always behind the sushi bar. GREAT!!!! Wish they delivered...especially to Bucktown.
(5)
E D.

Used to love this place. They still have great traditional sushi, but I can no longer recommend this restaurant because of the service. Even when not crowded, it takes more than 40 minutes for food to arrive, and even then they ignore simple requests like leaving tobiko off of my son's rolls. Heartbreaking, but we will not be back.
(2)
Lunch E.

Hands down the best fish you can get in the area, maybe city. The best spicy tuna maki I have ever had. I also recommend the fried chicken app. Avoid the chef combo cuz if they pick roll for you it will likely be veggie and your here for the fish. Also there are better places for ramen in the area. But if you want great flavors at low prices and authentic small plates over 40! This is the place for you. If they know you, they do take better care of you. Make sure you check out the ever changing special boards.
(5)
April B.

Fresh delicious no frills sushi...if I lived here in Chicago I would definitely be a regular!
(4)
Katie R.

Went here on a whim, and I was really hoping for something more. Authentic yes, fresh, not so much. It would have been amazing if the quality was slightly better. With that being said, the amount I payed far outweighed what I got. Service and environment were fine - it's actually nice to have sushi at a non-hip-ish sushi restaurant!
(3)
Jessica C.

Quite possibly the worst sushi place I have been to in Chicago. Went here because it had 4 stars on Yelp. What? Horrible service. Sushi is almost always good, mediocre here.
(1)
C. L.

Valet Parking: Yes, there is free valet parking in the back, however the man who works there is VERY RUDE. He greeted me with "I don't have all day, give me your keys". When I went to get my car, he said "What, after all of this no tip?" Service: SLOW. It took almost 30 minutes for us to get our food. Food: Okay. I ordered the Tempura Udon Soup and a Tuna Avacado Maki roll. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't spectacular I'm not making the trek back to this restaurant again.
(1)
Tina M.

The staff knew nearly everyone who walked in the door and seemed to have very friendly relationships with them. I even saw them give a patron a Japanese/English "cheat sheet" for his upcoming trip to Japan. Very neat. The menu is probably more traditional than we're used to here...in other words, not a lot of fancy rolls with multiple ingredients. The rolls are pretty basic - salmon and cucumber, etc. They were good. Very easy to make a reservation.
(3)
NARDO Q.

I don't like that its open for lunch closes and reopens for dinner, kind of caught me off guard since I got there at roughly 145pm, 15 minutes from closing. Felt rush. Heard the owners yelling at my waitress due to her allowing us to sit and taking our order so close to closing. However, the food was good - tried the California-Makki, Vegetempol-Makki and the coffee jello gelato. The waitress was really nice despite her getting yelled at. The tab ended up being reasonable. I think they should close the door at 130 if they don't want anyone going in after because they made it awkward.
(3)
Joseph P J.

DO NOT EAT HERE!!! Walked in the place smelt of mold. We sat down had a very nice sake at their recommendation which I will give them that. Also the potato croquettes were really good. But when it came to out Sushi we waited for an hour and a half while the other tables around us had a good rotation of food being served. We finally got our Sushi and it was put together so sloppy!! The rolls kept on falling apart. The salmon was slimy and had a funky taste. The eel was full of spines. The sweet potato rolls were greasy and the tomago was over cooked. Stay away and go to one of the other hundreds of sushi places in this city.
(1)
K B.

This is my favorite sushi place in Chicago, and definitely one of the most authentic. It's been there since the early 80s, way before there was sushi in every grocery store and an assembly-line sushi joint on every corner. I've never been when there wasn't at least one table of Japanese expatriates or business travelers. The fish is always incredibly fresh, flavorful, and cut in thick, juicy portions. Plus they always have the items that the cookie-cutter places just don't tend to stock, such as uni and natto. The quality is at least comparable to the super-fancy sushi places (Mirai, Kamehachi, etc.), if not better in some cases, but the prices are much more reasonable, the food less gimmicky, and the atmosphere far more pleasant. The only reason I'm not giving five stars is that in recent years they always have multiple TVs blaring - though if you come on a slow night and sit in the patio section they might turn it off if you ask. And even so, I will take authentic, top-quality sushi in a chill neighborhood setting over tarted-up rolls amidst noisy crowds of drunk yuppies any day! Oh, and do yourself a favor and order the grilled mushroom appetizer.
(4)
Michele S.

This family owned traditional restaurant has great food. I highly recommend the sushi rolls -- my mother enjoyed the uni (sea urchin) and I like the spicy tuna. The tempura was lightly fried with panko. Beef soba soup was delicious. I took a star off because we were a placemat and utensil short for a person in our group. Lunch specials are priced appropriately. Wonderful green tea drinks and dessert selection.
(4)
Julie C.

Very very very AVERAGE sushi. Don't come here expecting good fresh quality sushi to rock your world. Sat at the sushi bar and ordered omakase, and all pieces of the nigiri were served together on a tray. I could've just sat at a table and ordered a sushi combination off the menu. Definitely a Japanese joint catered to American style sushi and not for the true sushi connoisseur. everything was simple and decent but nothing great. Oh, and it was ridiculously priced too. As in crazy expensive for the food & quality.
(2)
Laz P.

No stars! Why doesnt yelp have this option? Waited 1 hour for sushi that was bad. My wife politely asked why it was taking so long and was told that fresh sushi takes time to prepare. Meanwhile the tables around us where all getting served. The family next to us was on 1 hour and 15 minutes of waiting. Customer service here is horrible. Again we asked for our food and manager asked us to be quiet. This place will get my bad opinion of it until I breathe no more. One more note, every Japanese customer had food on their table!
(1)
Cindy J.

I really wish I was a big sushi person, but I'm really just starting out on my venture into raw fish. I've been to a few sushi restaurants, but wanted to try something new for New Year's Eve. After researching my fellow yelpers reviews, the three of us headed to Itto Sushi. Easy to find, check. Free valet parking (plus tip), check. Friendly staff, check. Great ambiance, er,...um,...so this is where the restaurant could use some work. It is way too quiet in this place. I mean, if I was the ultimate eavesdropper, this would be heaven. However, I'm a loud talker and don't necessarily want my table neighbors hearing all my inside jokes (they may steal my material, after all). Also, we were seated in the corner of the far dining room, which seemed to be "baby land" AKA the place where all the families with babies were seated. Fine, but it just added to the whole "I can hear everything you are talking about" vibe. Music would have been nice. Second, with prices for combos being in the mid to high $20's, I expected some cloth napkins. That's just me. This place keeps itself in the paper napkin category, but I think it deserves to be more. With that, I continue my list: Clean bathrooms, check. Fresh sushi, check. For being one of my first sushi places, I was impressed. There were definitely those "things" that avid sushi lovers eat (I imagine), such as squid and clams, etc. But there were sweet potato rolls, tempura rolls, and edamame for all those dabbling sushi-hearter wannabes. Three people, one pitcher of beer, and a soda later, our bill came to about $100 with tip. Not bad considering this was our New Year's Eve "celebration." I was actually glad to spend it being adventurous and trying some very new things.
(4)
Amy L.

I've driven by this sushi joint for years and have never thought to try it until a friend suggested it. Cute atmosphere, great service, yummy food. The two of us shared the agedashi tofu, spicy salmon, spider roll, and the fall roll. I LOVED the agedashi tofu, although my friend thought the sauce was a bit salty. The spicy salmon was delicious - the spiciness starts off kind of subtle and it turns into quite the kick even after you're done with the piece! The fall roll has a spicy sauce with super white tuna and mushrooms with tiny rice cracker balls on the outside - it was quite interesting! We really enjoyed it. The spider roll was different from other places - we both couldn't really decide if we liked it or not; will have to give it another shot. With such a variety of appetizers and rolls, I will definitely go back and try everything. I'm especially interested in try the omakase where we decide our own price point and let the chefs create a menu for us! Sounds very intriguing. TIP: No charge on the valet parking except for tip! Although there is plenty of street parking (paybox).
(4)
Jess A.

This place is a hidden treasure. We've been back a few times and love it. It has a nice intimate atmosphere, warm and friendly. The sushi there is great and fresh, I think better than Coast since I"m not a fan of mayo in my sushi, which Coast has a surplus of. There is plenty of choices for everyone.
(5)
Eric L.

best traditional japanese establishment in the city. unfortunately one knock on this place is that they definitely stratify their customers into "people we like" and "who the hell are you?". I went with a friend who is a regular, and the sashimi quality was unbelievable. I went back 2 days later and got the same thing and I got very run of the mill stuff. Do I have to spend 5k here over the next 4 months in order to get into the club? Still the food is excellent: Oden -- this is the only place i've seen in the city that has oden and its delightful on a cold winter evening Sea bass nabe -- to die for gomae -- with their home made sesame sauce, bundled up perfectly, am i in japan!?? the amazing salmon (sake) sashimi we had with JM -- AWESOME! the average salmon (sake) sashimi we had when we went without JM -- WTF! Still giving them a 5 because I know their capable of excellence, but there's a part of me that HATES that they just dont do this for everyone. However, judging on food, not philosophy or service. Also, free valet parking, that's sort of cool.
(5)
Chris B.

Hands down my favorite sushi restaurant. Great service, simple casual atmosphere and great food. This place is owned, operated and frequented by actual Japanese people. In the many years I have frequented this establishment, it has never disappointed. And FREE VALET PARKING, which is unbelievably convenient in this neighborhood.
(5)
Tiffany K.

JAPANESE OWNED JAPANESE RESTAURANT. (a rare combination in chicago) my boyfriend ordered 7 things on the appetizer menu and at first i was thinking to myself, "is he crazy??" and i ordered my usual sushi. we also had a large beer that came with some type of seaweed dish- i'm assuming it's like what peanuts are to Americans when drinking beer. then he tells me AFTER the fact, that this restaurant is known for their appetizers. i felt tricked but he always does this to me! everything but one item he ordered was just WOW. we weren't too pleased with kushiyaki (beef skewers). the meat was too tough for us. we ordered, chicken skewers, agedashi tofu with mushrooms, baked seafood, tatsuta age- they're like chicken wings, avocado tuna salad (hugggge salad), grilled scallop... we had to cancel one of my rolls and we ended our meal with a roll (i forgot what i ordered) and some super white tuna. the restaurant is cute and cozy but the service is kinda slow because the waitresses are all doing everything together. i want to come back to this place soon!!
(5)
Cassidy S.

Had a great night at Itto. Arrived before the rush for appetizers, sake and beer. Enjoyed most of the food though the service slowed as the place filled up. I'll definitely come back for the tempura appetizer, sushi (Hawaiian White Tuna on special was phenomenal), and to try some different rolls. Love that it's small and family-run!
(4)
Simone C.

I have been going to Itto for some time now and I think it is one of the best sushi places I have ever been. The sushi is consistently fresh and really good. The makis are perfectly made and don't fall apart and the service is prompt and attentive. After all, if this place has been around for like 30 years I bet there's a good reason for that!
(4)
Cynthia A.

My boyfriend and I frequently dine late night together because of our schedules. We decided to try Itto because they close at midnight, wow! First impression upon walking in - the staff greeted us very warmly, and the space is cute for a sushi restaurant. Unfortunately, I have more to say... The menus and cups of water with ice were brought out. Exhausted from playing volleyball that night, I went for a taste, but it tasted... off. I looked at the water and found whitish bits floating in both of our glasses. Now, my imagination is going crazy because: 1) flecks like the ones I saw are NEVER a good thing and they're in both cups, not to mention the taste 2) I watch too much Restaurant Impossible and Robert says bacteria can come from the ice maker if it's not cleaned... So I gave them the benefit of the doubt about the ice. After telling him about it, my b/f politely asked for a new glass of water without ice and the waitress took his glass away. She came back and I observed it - same flecks of whatever floating around! OK,not happy... but again, benefit of the doubt - what if it's just the tap water? Far fetched for me, but I didn't want to cause a ruckus over it before getting our food, so we ordered. However, I will admit that I did go to the bathroom and cupped my hands to see if there was anything in the tap out of there... and it ran clean. I ordered a hot green tea and it tasted fine, but the water really put me off. The menu is typical Japanese fare, nothing stood out except for the pricing of chicken teriyaki ($14) versus the beef teriyaki ($21). The beef was $7 more? The first time we go to new places, we try to order some staple foods so that we can compare them more evenly across the board, so in Japanese places that's least some kind of teriyaki chicken/beef, and salmon (among other things, these are our most common choices). The chicken teriyaki entree above was very, very, *very* underwhelming all around - the chicken was pale and unseasoned and the teriyaki sauce was no aid because it was thin and not flavorful. I would have been pissed if I had ordered the beef and it tasted like that. Mind you that while I'm comparing this to something like Renga-Tei's teriyaki which is fairly thick, the sauce at Itto had no flavor. Just, so disappointed. Sushi freshness: was ok, but not absolute fresh or anything like that. Sashimi ok. Rolls? Only thing I remember was this crunch roll, but they used something that tasted like *cereal* crunchy bits instead of panko or whatever. Needless to say, it ruined the roll for both of us. I like to say give places a second chance, but this experience wasn't the best and I don't foresee a second trip anytime soon. If by some chance I end up here again, you bet I'll be rolling my eyes the minute I see Itto.
(2)
Brule L.

This place has been around for years and for good reason. Great assortment, especially the specials, carefully made. Always order sushi ala carte to get the best selection. Price is fair too.
(5)
Celby R.

Super awesome authentic Japanese sushi bar. I love their traditional roll choices and extensive hot menu featuring a lot of old school favorites. Everything I've had there has been delicious, and the service is very friendly and on point. So why not five stars? I have yet to try their teriyaki. Note - This place does not have those "crazy" rolls that are so popular at most sushi places. I would not come here unless I was looking for some very simple but excellently prepared sushi.
(4)
Eleanor S.

I am obsessed with Itto Sushi. If you are looking for some hip fusion place with crazy lighting and club music this is not something you will enjoy. If you want an Authentic Japanese dining experience this is the place to go. I have been going to Itto for about 8 years now. I have tried just about everything on the menu and nobody can top it. Everything is always very fresh. My husband and I like to share the Omakasae which is basically the chef's choice. You simply let them know how much you want to spend and you are served all the fresh fun items. A great way to enjoy some of everything. What I like the very best about Itto though, is the staff. In all the years we have been coming here we have been treated so nicely. This is a business who pays attention to the customers and notices who comes back. I don't mean in the "Only regulars get good service way." I meant they just get to know you and are happy to see you and treat you nicely. Also, for my birthday I wanted a very special dessert. My husband and I knew it was not on the menu, but he called ahead and asked if they could make it, and they made it for me special! I always count on Itto to make me feel great! PS there is free valet parking
(5)
James D.

Tired of all the flash trendy glitz sushi places, that basically offer you the same low quality creatively stagnant rolls? Check out Itto, the owner Juko has been then since before Lincoln Park "changed", and has maintained the utmost quality throughout; dude is a legit "sushi chef". If your into checking out "real" Japanese food, sashimi at the paramount of it's quality, well executed rolls, and supporting a locally owned institution, Itto hits the spot. Plus they have parking, sumo on tv, and a solid liquor selection.
(5)
Cecil S.

*to the moderator, there is a duplicate listing here ( yelp.com/biz/itto-sushi-â€¦ ) that should have its review moved to this page I really like their business hours and how they're open late-night; I ordered two Maki rolls (Something-tuna and California-maki) but when I opened the box everything (except 2 rolls) fell out. These two rolls were delicious though, and forced me to go back and make a second order of Spicy Tuna and the Hot-Tuna Maki before they closed....for some reason the second order didn't taste as delicious and fresh as the first time Regardless, this is a great sushi spot and I know I'll be back to dine very soon! (and as others mentioned, Google Maps has the incorrect location, so plug in the address directly - 2616 N Halsted)
(3)
Erin L.

This was probably the most authentic Japanese restaurant I've been to. The entire staff is Japanese and some of the menus are in Japanese. We definitely saw a lot of Japanese customers too - so that tells you something right there. Sushi was delicious and had a nice presentation. If you're looking for no frills atmosphere but awesome, authentic food...you've come to the right place.
(4)
Y.D. K.

The place seems nice, clean, a bit tight (space-wise) for my taste, but still had ample seating for our group. Washrooms were clean albeit a bit small. Valet parking is provided - its one of those "pay me how much you think you should pay me" deals with this older gentleman doing it all (I gave him a 10 spot since he was cool and got my car out earlier that everyone else when we all left). Staff was very friendly and did their jobs very well - kept our tea cups filled and hot, and drinks when they were low/empty, and served our food well. I am no sushi fan nor am I an expert in it, but, the fish was tasty and clean, rolls were good, and the price (I heard) wasn't too bad, as opposed to more upscale places in River North or nearby-Gold Coast. If I had to go to a place for sushi and I was in the neighborhood, I would go back to Itto, but would rather go to a place I know on Belmont (its name escapes me for the moment).
(3)
Allan S.

Awesome sushi and good service. Down to earth vibe like what you would get in a neighborhood sushiyasan in Tokyo. This is my new neighborhood sushi place.
(5)
Suzy D.

My husband and I have been meaning to come here but we finally made it here on Saturday night. The place was pretty busy which is always a good sign. Many of the patrons and staff were Japanese which was another plus since this is usually an indicator of authentic Japanese food. We asked to do the omakase and the waitress said we could pick which dollar amount we'd like to do per person so we decided on 50 per person. Our dinner was delicious, although it was a little slow, but they were quite busy and we were happy to wait. The first course was some fish cake with potato in a light sweet brother. For the second course there was little deep fried eggplant with shrimp stuffed in the middle. The third course was a delicious crab and octopus salad with a light vinegar dressing. The crab was sweet and the octopus was very tender. I really enjoyed this course. Then we had a nice plate of sashimi with all different types of tuna as well as some halibut. The quality of the fish was excellent and the portions were quite generous. Then there was a large plate of nigiri and sushi rolls. One of the rolls had shiso leaf and salted plum which was very refreshing. Then we got to pick our dessert. I had the mochi cake and my husband had the green tea pudding. Everthing was delicious. The fish was very fresh and the portions were very fair. We will definitely be back as we would love to become regulars here. You can tell that they have a lot of regulars and the staff treats them very well!
(4)
Keith C.

Amazing lunch specials and sushi! Will be back very soon.
(4)
Brooke L.

Perfectly low key, an authentic neighborhood Japanese spot. Run by a Japanese family.
(5)
P S.

Thank you, Mike to the K, this was probably the best sushi I've had since the stuff I had in Malibu, California. In 2005. Or maybe Mirai (RIP). No joke, sir. Amazing. The rolls (specifically the spicy tuna - two kinds and the salmon skin) not to mention the pieces themselves. Fresh, perfectly sized, quickly delivered. Tea and an unsolicited refill on tea when it was clear that we were in no rush to leave after paying, smiles all around to boot. The most delicious stuff. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
(5)
Mary T.

I've had sushi on the brain the last few days and it's all Michael G's fault! I heard good things about Itto and have been wanting to try it for a while now since I prefer simple, traditional rolls. I ordered 3 maki: spicy tuna, sake kyu, and negimaguro, which I got for just under $15. The spicy tuna was my favorite of my 3 rolls. Generous portions of fish and whole pieces; it was definitely the most flavorful of the 3 rolls I got. My least favorite roll was the sake kyu (salmon and cucumber), compared to my other 2 rolls it was light on the fish, heavy on the rice. The sake kyu wasn't bad, just not as good as the others and salmon rolls are usually my favorite. I love ginger with my maki and asked for extra since I rarely have enough for my meal, but the ginger I got with my rolls was *raggedy* looking. It hadn't gone bad, there were just a lot of small slivers of ginger rather than the nice sized pieces you usually get; the slivers ended up sinking to the bottom of my soy sauce because they wouldn't stay on the roll. Even though I carried out, service was very friendly and no one made me feel like a cow for the amount of sushi I ordered. I know I have a bit of a sushi problem, but backhanded compliments like *wow, that's a lot of sushi for just one person* or *that's enough to feed two people* are never appreciated. So kudos to Itto for that! Bottom line: 3.5 stars. The fish was fresh, the rolls were good, I would definitely give it another shot. TIP: Here's a tip so you don't look foolish like I did, you can thank me later. When you get to the entrance you will see a stairwell going up and a wood, windowless door next to it. That windowless door looks like it would lead to someone's apartment, but it does not, it leads you right into Itto. Now you won't have to stand there confused, drawing odd stares from people enjoying their meal on the other side of the window.
(3)
Jason E.

Fresh, tasty, great service and wonderful atmosphere! Love it here!
(5)
Luan N.

Itto is one of the few old skool, long standing, authentic Japanese restaurants in the city. The price point is just slightly above Matsuya, but I think the flavors and experience are closer to Japan. At the same time, it can compete with many of the $$$ restaurants in city. So Itto serves as my middle ground when I want some traditional fixins without sacrificing much. I tried chicken yakitori, scallop maki, and the daily special of deep fried skate wing. The skate dish was a huge thick meaty piece. I just wished they filleted and salted both sides because it was little tasteless even with the ponzu sauce. I've only had the scallop maki, but my gut feeling tells me Itto is probably not going to be my destination for pure sushi experience. I guess my strategy for Itto is to stick to the appetizers, chalkboard specials, and maybe one maki.
(3)
Boon K.

I'm so happy they are open for lunch today, I was really craving their spicy scallop handrolls. This is one of my favorite Japanese places to eat because it clean japanese food. They have the fish cheeks that I really like and their sushi is simple and good. They have some special rolls but their hot dishes are just perfectly made.
(4)
Mike L.

Short notice order at 11:00 A.M. for a catered 12:30 lunch for 10 people today at Wrigley and THEY CAME THROUGH!! Incredible presentation, excellent service and perfect timing on the delivery. I do not eat Sushi, but I did have the Beef and Chicken Teriyaki and both were excellent. Everyone who eats Sushi LOVED IT!! I give Itto Sushi a 10!! Thank you Juko!
(5)
Elisabeth C.

If you're looking for maki rolls with sparklers and mango in them, walk away now. Itto is a classic, authentic Japanese restaurant. It's refreshing to hear a 'irasshaimase!' when walking into a sushi restaurant in Chicago, since the majority of Chicago sushi places aren't run by Japanese. They have a separate menu in Japanese, which should tell you something. I only wish my Japanese reading skills were better so that I could feel confident ordering from it (someday soon!) Delivery is also excellent. They pack their sushi in a separate bag from hot food (unlike places like Kamehachi), and the people on the phone and the delivery drivers are very pleasant. Sushi is good and reasonably priced. The rice has the perfect consistency, the fish tastes fresh, and they give you plenty of gari and wasabi (it was freshly made and super hot- not out of a tube, but not hon wasabi- which I will ask about the next time I'm in). I have not tried their uni yet, but will report back when I do- since it's a favorite of mine. We also ordered tempura udon and beef soba (for the boyfriend). They arrived well-packaged (the tempura separate) and piping hot. The tempura veggies were delicious and perfectly battered. Boyfriend liked his beef soba a lot, and he's not too accustomed to Japanese cuisine (yet). Whoever described this as Japanese comfort food was totally right. Itto is the place to order from when you're craving real, classic and unfussy Japanese food. The Japanese clientele, the food, and the atmosphere almost make you feel like you're in Japan. This place is going to be a favorite of mine for as long as I live in Chicago.
(5)
Chad R.

Absolutely my favorite sushie place, the Beef Soba is by far the best soup I have ever tasted
(5)
Dee W.

Another great sushi joint with great rolls and great friendly service - they boost of fresh fish delivery daily - there are seats around the sushi bar to watch the master chefs at work or you can just seat normally around the restaurant
(4)
dj z.

first place i had - get this - blood oranges. i've been addicted to their luscious food for over two decades, i think! neghi-hama yum.
(4)
A.S. V.

It's mind boggling how many sushi restaurants there are nowadays. Itto is an older establishment that has done stable business, with reliable service, good mid-price sushi.
(4)
R P.

I was not really impressed. I thought it smelled strongly of fish and the sushi was not very tasty. I will say, however that it was REALLY cheap. That's a plus.
(2)
kirren h.

FOOD this is probably the best japanese food i've had in chicago. my mom grew up in japan and she's the one that recommended itto to me so that's saying something right there. some may complain about the rolls being 'plain' but this is real japanese food people! rolls that have too much going on make you forget that you're eating raw fish. but at itto the fish is the star of the maki. every appetizer we've ordered is insanely delicious (try the mixed mushrooms.. the sauce that it comes swimming in is like a broth i've only had in dreams). they have the staples such as donburi, katsu, tempura and udon. kind of like rolling mitsuwa all into one. the only thing that would make this place absolutely 5 star worthy is if they made their own noodles. chicago could use a place like that. SERVICE very friendly staff. and get this- they're japanese! they do everything with a smile and are patient when you can't decide what to order (since most things on their menu are simply 'oishii') oh! and free valet!! where can you get that this side of town?! not many places, i can tell ya that. it's definitely an added bonus. AMBIANCE this is a no frills japanese restaurant which, to be honest, is just the way we like it. it's not the kind of restaurant that needs to use loud music and dim lighting to entice customers to come in- the food speaks for itself. it seems like the people who do come to eat here are regulars and so it has a fairly cozy atmosphere. there are 2 sides of the restaurant: the area when you first come in and the area on the other side. we prefer the area when you first come in. there's more action there and you can watch the people behind the sushi counter too.
(4)
Dani B.

My boyfriend and I are in Chicago for the weekend and we were in search of some hot udon soup on this rainy night in Lincoln Park. We found this place on yelp and were pleased that they had exactly what we wanted. We both got some traditional udon noodles with veggies/fishcakes. Delicious!!!!! The broth was flavorful, the noodles were perfect and the veggies were great. It felt good to have this warm us up on a chilly night. We also had a spicy tuna roll just to try the sushi (hey it's a sushi bar!). It was a really nice roll, with an actual piece of tuna with spicy sauce unlike the more common chopped up spicy tuna (at least it's more common in SD). The fish was good and the spice was great! The service was very friendly and attentive. Complete with a hot towel when you arrive and yummy oranges when you leave. If you want some traditional udon or soba noodles in the area, this is the place!
(5)
Jennifer B.

Do you ever have that experience where you read such awesome reviews on Yelp and get psyched up for a restaurant based upon said reviews only be disappointed when actually experiencing the restaurant...to then have a self-fight wondering if it was you, the other people, or your over-reliance on Yelp reviews? That's the self-fight I had after eating at Itto Sushi... ....it's not such a bad place (well, obviously from all the great reviews I read!). It's just that there is so much better sushi within a couple minutes walk. I will give Itto credit that they have soy paper, which many sushi restaurants around Lincoln Park fail to provide!
(3)
Linda SingaSong S.

1st time @ Itto Sushi.. and I'm not sure if i'll be back any time soon. Service was ok...wasn't surprised when our neighboring Japanese patrons got a wee more attention from Japanese waitress and owner. The hot towel service was nice, and we started off with a glass of Sapporo and tempura appetizer. They have pitchers of beer, I believe it's $18 for Sapporo. Price is semi reasonable. The vegetable tempura was crispy, not overly battered, and portions were right on. We ordered a ton of roLLs, varying from Spicy Tuna Maki, Ana Kyu-Maki, Spider roll, Una Kyu-Maki. They weren't bad..the Spider Roll was solid. I understand that sushi isn't supposed to be overpowered by sauces, mayo, etc but the rolls were too plain. I found myself dunking 'em in my soy sauce to give it some flavor. They didn't skimp on the meat hence the 3 star rating. Service could've been better, server was sweet and all, but I found myself flagging her down when we needed her. Not the most memorable sushi joint.. bummer.
(3)
Vanessa P.

This place gets major points for being open late and on a Monday no less. A friend and I came here after our accounting class with some major hunger pains. We were given a fast server who gave us water right away and took our order about 5 min after we sat down. We ordered 6 rolls between us that were good, but not memorable. The one that was the most memorable was the Winter roll and that mainly because it was baked (which threw us off completely). However, the price was decent and the place was pretty busy (especially for a Monday), so I will probably go back at some point.
(3)
Natalie M.

Four star experience over all. The food was 5stars- the tempura sauce was SOOOO FLAVOR FULL- OMG. The sushi rolls were fresh and tasty. The prices were very reasonable. My two friends and I ordered so many different things, edemame, veggie tempura, seaweed salad, sashimi, vegetable rolls etc, and the bill was only a little over $60(we ordered a LOT of sashimi). The service did leave a bit to be desired, it wasnt HORRIBLE and we would definately head back to Itto but our tea came out cold, it took us a while to get water and we did have to wait a while for our food. Another fab thing about Itto is that they DO have a parking lot for your use while you are dining. YAY for parking! If the place was closer Id definately head back there more often.
(4)
Ed T.

This is my favorite Japanese restaurant in Chicago. Very authentic.You easily could be eating in Japan. And I've been to Japan more than 50 times since 1963. Prices are very reasonable and all food, cooked & raw is excellent.
(5)
Josh E.

My personal favorite sushi place in the US, I would highly recommend the Oysters, Okame Udon, and of course the Chirashi. Sitting at the sushi bar is a must. If they really like you and you're there a lot they will even hold on to chopsticks for you. None of this disposable chopstick nonsense. Now that's service.
(5)
Michael E.

Itto is now my favorite sushi place! Why? Well for one, they create some of the freshest sushi I've tasted and it is priced VERY affordable. Most Maki is $4.50.....I cannot remember any sushi place I've tried that has come close to that price. The service is great and the servers are very nice. They even bring you a warm towel to start off your meal. Sitting at the sushi bar on the right side near the corner affords you a view of them creating your rolls right there in front of you. The place doesn't have hip decor, nor is it very sexy place, but there were a lot of Japanese eating there which I find is a good sign if the ethic food being served is also being consumed by that same group. You even get sliced oranges at the end of your meal which I find is a nice touch. A great inexpensive sushi place you should try.
(5)
Charlie H.

A sushi joint must be massively excellent to receive five stars from me. Itto is massively excellent. Very friendly staff. Sapporo on tap. Fresh fish. Uncomplicated rolls. Emphasis on authenticity and quality. Inexpensive. I've been here three times and will go back. And now, a story: You know how there are some restaurants where when you walk in, you can tell they used to be some kind of other restaurant? Well I think that Itto used to be Wendy's. Or at least part of Itto used to be Wendy's. The platform for my crazy theory is that one section of the restaurant has these funny curved windows that you only normally see in Wendy's. PRO TIP: There are some spicy tuna rolls -- I think they're called hot tuna rolls or something -- that are really not that spicy. Your server may try to talk you out of your selection by warning that they are very spicy, but if you can tolerate a medium amount of (tastefully included) spice in your rolls, you'll be fine. Wash it down with some Sapporo you big baby.
(5)
Jenna S.

I think my review will be slightly biased but I really enjoyed this place. This is the first time I ever ate sushi so I was obviously apprehensive - but it was delicious! This is also the second date I ever went on with my amazing boyfriend so I obviously love the place because love blossomed there. I was terrified to try sushi but it was totally painless. The maki was absolutely delicious and very well prepared. We were one of two or three couples in the restaurant that night, so it was nice to have a server to ourselves. We could also see the chef preparing all of the sushi and that was really fun for me. My boyfriend said the sashimi was also really excellent, but I'm still too afraid to just eat a raw piece of fish; I'll stick with the maki. Very nice look to the restaurant - kind of dim and romantic. Nice seats at the sushi bar as well as extra seating in an atrium-like area in the back. Almost like a sun porch or something. Lots of traditional servingware and very inexpensive Saki served in great, traditional servingware.
(3)
michael s.

When I need comfort food and my grandmother doesn't want me over to her house because my grandfather is all medicated up and ranting about being in the war... I go to Itto's. This is about as perfect of a environment for dining as I've come across. There's something so satisfying about curling up in a corner table out front and watching the world lazily go by while enjoying a bowl of miso. The katsudon is wonderful, as is the wakasagi kaaragi and hot (not spicy) tuna maki. Heck, everything on the menu is just about flawless. Five stars easily. Four stars if they've got a Cubs game on the TV behind the bar. Seriously, Shingo Takatsu ate here. Maybe if Fukudome did, we can discuss.
(5)
Casey O.

Came here last night after hearing the wait at Toro was over an hour. I'm not sure how everyone is giving Itto a 4-5 star rating. Immediately when we walked in a strong smell of fish punched us in the face. It was gross. And yes, I understand that a restaurant that serves predominantly fish is going to smell like it, but this was that gross fishy smell that isn't fresh. Luckily, the hostess sat us in the other room with the large floor-to-ceiling windows. We noticed the couple next to us wasn't speaking to each other and were just poking at their food. Didn't think anything of it until our food arrived. We ordered the Tempura, California, and Spicy Tuna maki rolls. They *looked* good, but the minute you take a bite you realize it's not. Not that the fish tasted rancid or that it went bad, but it definitely was not as fresh as some other places I've been to. We then turned into the couple not speaking to each other and just poking at our rolls because we were too afraid to eat them. It's too bad that we didn't like the place because the service was outstanding. They were prompt and friendly, which is all you can ask for. Maybe it was an off night for the sushi? Judging by the smell, I'm going to say no. I think we'll stick to Sushi Mon or Toro.
(2)
KuangYou C.

I think I've been here more than five times. My Japanese friends told me the food here is pretty authentic. However, I think some dishes are good, but some are not that good, especially some are pricy. I usually had don rice there and I recommend Alaska don, which is half raw salmon and half cooked. I feel the tuna don is not that good because just few fish meat and rice is cold(and the price is the highest).
(4)
Alex R.

This is a very good sushi restaurant. They have great rolls, and authentic Japanese dishes. It's a good date place, and a good place to bring friends. I've been here several times, and I've never been disappointed.
(4)
Robert S.

I came to Itto at the recommendation of a friend, and wow. This place is amazing. I tried a bunch of things that I hadn't even heard of before, like some weird little fish jerky and a quail egg. The friendly waitresses brought extra appetizers and didn't look disgusted when I horribly mispronounced the dishes. The fish is very fresh here, and wonderfully tasty. I thought that maybe there could have been more creative maki rolls, but I'm probably used to Americanized sushi- there were plenty of Japanese people eating here, so it must be authentic. Itto isn't hip, and doesn't try to be- but who cares as long as the food is great!
(5)
Aurore L.

Hi, my name is Aurore and I am addicted to katsudon. What is worse is that I developed this addiction while being on the hunt for another one - udon. So this is a damn vicious circle, I am f*$&@&ed and I will never get out of this alive. Or slim. Seriously peeps if you never tried katsudon you just HAVE to. This is probably one of the most comforting of the Japanese comfort food....like mac n'cheese, mashed potatoes or chicken pot pie. Or a mix of the three. Breaded deep-fried pork, onions, sticky rice, egg and condiments that create a wonderful saltiness I keep craving..... It's INSANELY good. And is supposed to bring you good luck for exams eaten the night before. Got that?!?!? But their udon is quite decent too. There are 6 varieties, including my favorite - nabayaki (fish cake, tempura shrimp and a poached egg - YUM!!) and really, this is where this place clearly wins: traditional food. Drop your raw fish rolls and give it a try. Itto is cute and intimate. It really feels like a little (deluxe) shack tucked in a quiet Kyoto neighborhood. A teishoku-ya. Or so I dream. I have never been. But if this love story goes on for a while I would have no choice....
(4)
Nessie V.

I just don't get this place. We had to wait for every step of the way, and the place wasn't that busy, and there was plenty of waitstaff. It looked very disorganized. The whole meal was almost two hours with no appetizers or anything fancy. And the sushi was not that great. The vegetable tempura maki was 90% breading. It was basically an Awesome Blossom with a little bit of rice and nori. I've been to Japan, and I love sushi. I don't really think this place is good at all. I don't know how everyone thinks this place is so authentic. Frankly I don't know how they've been in business for so long. Where's Gordon Ramsay when you need him? If this is the 'best' sushi in Chicago I'm going to be really upset.
(2)
Mike P.

Excellent authentic sushi. Hate to be a Sushi Whore but this place goes on the regular list! :)
(4)
Kelly B.

The place is cozy and they take reservations which was nice. We opted to sit at the sushi bar. We ordered some specialty rolls including the Chef's Choice which is just whatever the Chef chooses to give you (total surprise). I've eaten at about 6 sushi restaurants since moving here in March and although this one was OK, I didn't think it was great. I found their menu to be a little hard to follow and none of th specialty rolls "wowed" me. That said, it was nice to be seated quickly. And the presentation and service was very good.
(3)
Jeff L.

Itto is the cat's ass. All the employees are so friendly there, when you walk in everyone shouts "hello" and when you leave everyone says "good bye" so it's sort of like on Cheers. Except they don't have a drunk mail man. You can even order a Chef's Special Roll. Where it's a surprise, and I fucking love surprises. It's more traditional than most new age sushi restaurants, with their fancy "hip" music, and their pretentious decor. Itto doesn't do that. Itto respects you. Oh and their miso soup is too good for words. And their sushi is even better. And they have free valet, and if there isn't a valet on duty. You can just park in their small parking area in the back. There really isn't any way that you could improve Itto.
(5)
Derrick T.

A Japanese sushi restaurant actually owned by Japanese people? That has a plethora of Japanese patrons? This is a rarity in Chicago, and my fiancee and I had to find out how it stood. (Note, this does not by any means imply that the non-Japanese owned restaurants are lower in quality, but this is definitely the rarity). Appetizers: Fried Smelt, Seaweed Salad - Seaweed salad was the standard good quality that you can find in most restaurants. Tasty way to start. Fried smelt were crispy when the smelt was thing enough, otherwise, left with a somewhat chewy texture. Not bad, but wouldn't order again. Main course: Fancy Chirashi, Select Nigiri pieces: For this price, the chirashi was far from filling... granted the fish was fresh and tasty, the size of the bowl, quantity of the fish, and mix of fish was left wanting. Matsuya does a better job with their chirashi IMHO and a cheaper price point with equivalently fresh fish. We tasted unagi, sake (salmon), and escolar (super white tuna). These tend to be our staples of nirgiri. We also ordered up uni to taste test here. This is truly where Itto shines, as the nigiri was delicious, and fairly affordable across the board. Main Course, Second: California Roll, Spicy Tuna, and two others randomly chosen - Honestly, I'd be okay not ordering rolls here again. I don't believe their rolls are well done, fairly densely packed with rice, and it just wasn't enjoyable. From the past reviews, my guess is they began adding more rolls to their menu based on customer demand, however the rolls are mediocre at best. Final Verdict: Excellent place for nigiri. Honestly, the quality and price point are great, and it's definitely a down to earth no frills sushi place. If you're looking for the newest fancy rolls, don't come here... if you want good old tradition nigiri served fresh, tasty, and affordable, this is a staple. Fiancee and I will be coming back for sure. Side note: Fiancee was a big fan of the different types of serving ware they had... good presentation. We've decided that the area looks almost like a closed Wendys... not quite a traditional environment, but the nigiri was excellent.
(3)
Joyce D.

I don't understand how this place has such high ratings. I think a lot of these reviews are either fake or they are thinking about another sushi place. The service was extremely slow. The food was tiny and mediocre tasting. I don't care if it's cheap, but can we at least have some flavor please?? There was 4 people and we ordered 7 rolls and we weren't even full. We had to go to McDonald's to eat afterwards because that's how bad it was. Don't go here! Go to Toro Sushi instead, if there's a wait, trust me that it's worth it.
(1)
Bella D.

This restaurant has been here for years and always packed! Great food and great stores nearby to enjoy. Always getting my soft shell crab appetizers and Sushi/Teriyaki combo dinners. Yummmm Also the management is very good and down to earth.
(5)
Kiks A.

If you want fancy minimalist sushi, this is not the place. Despite the name, the sushi I did have the few times I did order it was at times a miss (the uni was the one with the widest range of hit & miss) -- it still gets 5 stars because this place hits the spot in so many other ways. This place is cozy and serves traditional Japanese dishes that taste great with beer and sake. Low key, friendly service, all round good food.
(5)
David G.

Itto is one of Chicago's best sushi restaurants, hands down. The food is fresh, authentic, traditional, yet with modern twists. The staff is very friendly. This isn't a fast food restaurant, expect to sit down and stay a while and enjoy fine, traditional Japanese hand crafted food. (It's not a pizza joint, so don't expect things like free refills on coke. If that's what you need, go to McDonald's and have a processed meal 1/2 made of eatable plastic). Expect there to be cultural differences (maybe even enjoy that), and a menu of variety. In fact, even though Itto doesn't advertise this, it is the kind of place that will make custom sushi rolls if you ask properly. And when you become a return customer, and they know your face, they treat you like family. The sashimi is delectable!! You can never go wrong with the specials or chief's choices! It's in a great neighborhood. Gentlemen, take your lady out to a night of up scale yet traditional sushi, then go catch a show at a venue close by, like the Tonic Room or Kingston Mines. This place is not BYOD, but they do have a full bar! (*warning: people who consider themselves "modern sushi eaters" are actually hipsters who don't know the first thing about Japanese food, yet know everything about being shallow and writing misleading reviews.*)
(5)
Jen H.

Itto Sushi is one of those places where you wish you hadn't trusted Yelp. The sushi was not fresh tasting and mediocre. The service wasn't that much better either. Nothing good was memorable about this place. We ordered the salmon, shrimp tempura, spicy scallops, yellowtail (and maybe one other) rolls and none of those were at all appetizing. It was a huge disappointment to say the least, especially after a long flight into the city. Oh, wait. They had good Agedashi tofu. Yep, that's it.
(1)
Polwach W.

I read somewhere in the internet that its Katsu Don is very delicious. So, I went there for lunch special. The service from Japanse staffs here is really nice. I ordered Katsu Don and california maki and a piece of tuna sushi. The sushi tasted pretty nice, should have tried more. Maki is very so so. And my favorite dish, Katsu Don, somewhat disappointed me. It's very bland actually. I left with half of the rice in the bowl. I would rather be holding on to Katsu Don at Cocoro Japanese near my place. If I tried more sushi, I might give one more star, but that's it for today.
(2)
Ruth S.

i can't believe i haven't reviewed this place. Now if you want authentic japanese you got to try this place. Full of Japanese patrons like renga tei. I love me some seaweed salad and nabeyaki udon with a few vegetarian rolls. To end, some green and redbean icecream. How can you go wrong with that? Yum
(4)
Petronella D.

When we first moved to Lakeview, we struggled to find a restaurant that met my criteria for a "homebase sushi place": fresh fish, a focus on producing quality traditional sushi rather than fancy pants fusion-weirdness, good service, laid back atmosphere, affordability, a convenient location, and natto on the menu. We tried a number of expensive, way too fancy places and I was starting to resign myself to the fact that we'd have to hop on a Clark St. bus back to Tokyo Marina every time the sushi-craving hit when we found Itto Sushi. Other than one unusually crowded evening, the service has always been great and more importantly, the sushi is delicious.
(4)
Derek S.

i went to itto's on yelper's recs, and i really enjoyed it. everyone said hi when we walked in, as expected. the place was busy for a monday night, and we were seated in the back sunroom, where there were mostly open tables. the ambiance in the back leaves a bit to be desired...it feels like a college dining hall. the service was great...our server was a sweetheart, and very attentive. the food was very good. i can't say i was overwhelmed with the sushi...i personally think sai cafe had better fish, but the squid appetizer was delish as was the sweet potato temura maki. i was underwhelmed with the yellow tail maki and the philly roll...both seemed to lack real flavor from their meats. i would definitely go back, for a quick and affordable meal, but for a nice date or something like that, i'd probably pick another place.
(3)
Juan A.

As others have mentioned, this place is old school. If you're looking for super fancy sushi with strawberries and jalapeÃ±os stop reading about this restaurant and go elsewhere (might I suggest Tank perhaps). Itto is 100% "comfort food" sushi with fresh fish, traditional rolls, a friendly staff and good prices.
(5)
Kieran C.

I saw the reviews for Itto Sushi on yelp, and I had to give it a try. While I wouldn't say it was the best sushi I have ever had, it was definitely worth checking out, and I will definitely go back. The sushi was fresh and well prepared and the prices were very reasonable.
(4)
Risa T.

koko de sushi wa ama suki jyanakatta. hokano tabemono wa mama yokatta.
(3)
Rocky B.

My husband and I checked out Itto Sushi this past Friday night and we absolutely loved it. I had the hot and cold maki which was a california roll with unagi on top...omg, it was like a party in my mouth! On the downside I didn't care for the miso soup...something about the tofu that just wasn't quite right. The staff was very friendly and attentive. I love the kind of places where the staff will stand back quietly making sure your table has everything it needs without being too pushy and Itto Sushi fit that perfectly. We will definitely be going back...and soon.
(4)
Robin D.

if you really want to feel like your in Japan eating sushi, this might be the closest you can find. The ambience, most of the customers and the sushi chefs are Japanese. The place is not too big, but its cozy. The menu is not too extensive. I would say that the sashimi is a bit more pricey than places like oysy. You have your typical menu items. I enjoyed the chef special, that day, cant remember what it was but it was topped with salmmon. I would recommend this place but II dont see myself coming back just because there are a ton of different sushi places out there which I wanna try and places that I am a regular in which Id rather go to (eg. oysy). All in all the quality and price is ok.
(3)
John H.

This is a solidly good restaurant for sushi and sashimi. The atmosphere is nicely Japanesey, a nice Japan fix.
(4)
Becky W.

My favorite sushi in the city!! I've been approximately 10 times and it has never disappointed me. The sushi is very straight forward. Don't go here if you are looking for the hip, new or trendy sushi place...it is the classic Japanese sushi. High quality ingredients and great seafood and fish. YUM.
(5)
Nate B.

Yum! I just ate here last night with the girl, we both really enjoyed it. The staff is super friendly, and sitting under the windows made me feel like I was at a Japanese Wendy's, lol. The food was great, I was very impressed with the chef's Scallop Maki and Super-white Tuna Nigiri. The price is very good for heart of Lincoln Park. Very good Sake selection as well. Free Parking as well!
(5)
aileen b.

hands down one of my top places to go for sushi. sure the atmosphere is nothing fancy, but who cares, i'm here for the food. i have always found the fish to taste fresh, and the service is friendly and quick. try the gomae, and the squid with ginger to start, and of course some sake.
(5)
Jody C.

i like the free parking, so i probably would go back. however, its not the best sushi. i tried most of the rolls on the menu and was not impressed with any of them. some were fairly inventive, but didn't deliver on taste
(3)
jason t.

the hip fancy sushi places may be good (and expensive), but this is the kind of moderately-priced, unassuming japanese restaurant you'd find on the west coast. some of the freshest fish i've had in chicago.
(4)
Erin F.

The sushi was pretty good, but the atmosphere is so-so. Definitely not a date-type place.
(3)
Takelya W.

its okay. i mean its not the nest sushi in the world but its not the worst either. i know its been around for a while though
(3)

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Address : 2616 N Halsted St
Chicago, IL, 60614
Phone (773) 871-1800
Website https://www.ittosushi.com
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :12:00 pm - 2:00pm

Specialities

Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No

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Itto Sushi Restaurant

2616 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL, 60614

Itto Sushi Restaurant Menu

Appetizers

Entrees

Tempura

Fry

Teriyaki

Itamemono

Itto Special Combina

Udon

Soba

Donburi

Healthy Meal suggestions for Itto Sushi Restaurant

Appetizers

Entrees

Tempura

Fry

Teriyaki

Itamemono

Itto Special Combina

Udon

Soba

Donburi

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