4. Restaurants

Momotaro

820 W Lake St, Chicago, IL, 60607
  • (312) 733-4818
  • Store is closed

Momotaro Menu

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  • Naotomo Y.

    Best Japanese restaurant in chicago so far that I have tried. We tried almost everything, stream, grill, fried, sushi, handroll, chirashi....everything was sooo good. Fresh, tasty, with nice presentation. Best services, reminded me the time when I was living in japan. Must come again! Worth the $$$.

    (5)

  • Natalie M.

    Beautiful interior, excellent meal, drink was great and our waiter was wonderful as well! Enjoyed sashimi, sushi, a delicious seaweed salad and the Momotaro Tartare, which is a must try! Loved everything about this restaurant and I recommend it to anyone who wants a delicious meal in Chicago.

    (5)

  • Stephanie S.

    Maybe our expectations were too high, but this place left us feeling severely underwhelmed...and hungry. The server pushed the meintako (sp?) spaghetti HARD and it was unanimously our least favorite dish of the night. It was lacking any flavor and while super rich and heavy, was not filling at all. We also tried quite a few items from the Nigirizushi list that were good, but not memorable, especially for the price. Bottoms Line: if you have lots of $$$$ to spend, try the various cuts of sashimi/nigiri without abandon. For everyone else, here are two "must try" dishes: Momotaro Tartare and Uni chawan Mushi (unreal how deliciously tasty and satisfying both were)

    (3)

  • Steph U.

    I came here for the mentaiko after seeing Momotaro in the United magazine. Honestly, this place should probably have a 3.5, but I rounded down because it was really expensive and the mentaiko honestly wasn't something I'd come back for; it felt like something I could make at home, actually. We also ordered the uni risotto, which was a special they had that day. Once again it was good, but not something that I'd go out of my way for. The sushi, however, was amazing and actually very reasonably priced compared to everything else. We ordered the momomaki. I would come back just for the sushi and the sushi deserves 5 stars, hands down. My boyfriend and I also ordered some Japanese whiskey, which was good, but a bit strong for my taste. Overall, it was a lovely experience, but much to expensive for my taste, other than the sushi. If there were a special occasion, I'd go back just for that.

    (3)

  • Keiko O.

    Had a fantastic dinner at the sushi bar tonight! We indulged in: 2 sushi omakases, A5 wagyu tartar, oysters on the half shell, an additional uni nigiri, and the waka momo dessert. Highly recommend sitting at the sushi bar if you come as a couple - the chef served us piece by piece (omakase in Japan is also served this way) as opposed to serving all 9 pcs on a plate. All in all, $160 for the two of us which was very reasonable given the quality of the food. Service started off great but tapered off a bit at the end, although it may be because it was coming close to closing time.

    (5)

  • Yiming C.

    I came here yesterday with my boyfriend for my birthday. I had really good experience with Boka so I was very excited. From the sushi bars, depends on your preference, it might be better to select your own sushi/sashimi than going with the chef's selection - sashimi/sushi Omasake (8 different selections). We picked 9 different orders of sashimi and highly recommend Zuke, Shimaaji, Akami and Ootoro, with Ootoro being our favorite. Ootoro just melts in your mouth. LOVE IT! If you are a Uni lover, definitely try their Uni for $5/each. It is a decent good price, many places charge more. All sushi we tasted are good and fresh. My only complaint is the wasabi isn't strong enough for my taste. From the Coals, we tried Hatsu (chicken hearts) and Washugyu (skirt steak with pepper). The pepper didn't taste as good as I expected (it was raw and hard, barely cooked) but the skirt steak tasted amazing. I would eat the steak again without the pepper. I ordered chicken hearts just to try it. It is good, tender, but I probably won't order it again. We also ordered Chili Mentaiko Spaghetti. It is on the heavy side and the sauce is a little salty. We wanted to try Santa Barbara Uni Rice so bad, but the waiter informed us that they won't serve it anymore? What a bummer! It is an overall good experience. The food here is designed to be shared with others so the portion isn't big. I will come back again to try more dishes.

    (4)

  • Romana Y.

    Love the open, airy space, along with the trendy, yet refined, crowd. Sushi: 4 Drinks: 4

    (4)

  • Rui L.

    Came here Saturday night with a girlfriend for a celebration dinner. Got very lucky and grabbed seats at the bar since their dinning area was fully committed for the night. Started off with two drinks, can't remember what we ordered but they were both good and the bartender was just awesome. My girl friend and I basically ordered everything on menu that includes uni or foie gras, and yes everything tasted soooo sooo good. Our favorite of the night probably has to be the uni sushi...I know we are boring but they were just so fresh little bites that we couldn't resist. The $45 dollar roll that I couldn't remember the name of...honestly it was good but I would recommend spend your money on other dishes. Overall, very nice service and food. Definitely recommend go with a reservation, and seriously, just enjoy the meal worry about the bill later :)

    (5)

  • Caitlin B.

    Came here for dinner last Friday and loved it. My friend and I started out by trying their cocktails - she got the Monk's Journey, which is vodka and matcha green tea, and I got the Strength + Longevity, which is gin and goji among other things. Both of them were great - they had really unique flavors, especially the green tea one. For dinner, we're both pescatarians, so we stuck to their seafood options. We got the Diver Scallop, the Alaskan King Crab Hibachi, and the Donburi bowl with sashimi. Everything was great. The scallop was tender and had a wonderful flavor, and the sashimi bowl was perfectly seasoned. I should also say that while this place is definitely expensive, the price is what you make of it. The waiter recommended to us that we get 3-4 dishes each, but we split 3 and were completely full. So if you're not going to go all out and order everything on the menu, you can get away with spending under $35-40ish a person (and a lot of the meat options are more expensive). Would definitely come here again and recommend to anyone!!

    (4)

  • Sarah W.

    They have a vegetarian menu, and many of the options on that menu are vegan. I ordered the age dashi tofu vegan-ized, which was great! My meat eating compatriots tried the tofu and declared that it was the best age dashi tofu they'd ever had and wished they'd ordered it, too. The huge serving size allowed me to share, so all was good. I also ordered the vegan-typical avocado and cucumber maki, which is my go-to for all sushi places. Momotaro didn't disappoint! The organic edamame was deliciously salted and the wine was inexpensive and quite good.

    (4)

  • Andrew W.

    3.5 Made reservations for 8:45 for 2, didn't get seated til 9:30, with empty tables next to us. Restaurant operations are tough, but felt a bit too much like a drink cash grab. Food was good, but not great for the prices, also very slow, wait time between dishes was long. Went with recommended dishes of sea bream with wasabi rice, some robota wagyu and scallops, momomaki roll and toro tartar. All decent, none memorable, tally came to $114 ex drinks. The 5 star reviews are sadly exaggerated, unless I considered this place more of a watering hole, won't be back.

    (3)

  • Cat G.

    I've had Momotaro on my list for a while - people talk about it at work and it's a super trendy place. Pro tip: if you want to go during peak dinner hours on a weekend, check out OpenTable early for reservations. I made my reservation a couple of months in advance (though I might've gone a bit overboard). It's right smack dab in the middle of the restaurant-saturated West Loop, close to big names like Girl and the Goat and the Publican. THE GOOD: Food is delicious. There's really no debating that. We ordered a variety of dishes - started with the crab salad and the chawan mushi (no idea how to describe chawan mushi in English, but it's similar to Chinese dan geng - more or less beaten egg that's been steamed into a pudding texture, with various fillings. This one had crab in it. So money (literally)). Both had amazing flavor and tasted super fresh. We then tried the diver scallops and skirt steak from the grill - amazing though a very small portion size for the price. For main courses, we went with the mentaiko spaghetti (a must-try) and the hibachi duck breast (actually a reasonable portion size and tasty, but not my favorite thing we ate that night). The desserts were also amazing - I can't find the dessert menu on their website, but we had a cheesecake and a chocolate cake, of which the latter was my favorite. I was pretty much ready to lick the plate clean. Pacing was good. Other reviews mention that their meal took 3 hours or that food took a long time to come out - this was absolutely not the case for us. Dinner was wrapped up in about an hour. (We were dining at 5:30 though, so perhaps that contributed to it?) Lots of cute Asian boys with tattoos work here (i.e. totally my jam) (I am also Asian please don't think I'm fetishizing the Asian ethnicity) Oh and the one drink I tried - the Merchant from Kyoto - was really good! And that's a HUGE compliment coming from me, because I rarely (like less than 5x a year) drink. Combination of really bad Asian glow and the fact that I think I may be allergic to alcohol because I start feeling sick after one glass of wine. THE BAD: Service was a bit disjointed in that it seemed like every one of our dishes was brought to the table by a different waiter. Everyone was very nice, but it was strange to not have the same waiter throughout the entire meal. I was seated facing a west-facing window, and the sun was setting during our meal, so I was pretty much blinded by the sun the entire time we were eating. My dining companion was a veritable dark silhouette - I couldn't even see his face. I didn't bring it up to the waiter because I decided it wasn't that big of a deal, but I wish they'd do something about this as a whole because a lot of seats face that direction. Maybe some heavier drapes on the windows would help? And finally, the portion sizes are (predictably) pretty small in general for the price. The quality of the ingredients is obviously high, but that's what makes this restaurant a once-in-a-blue-moon place for me. Overall, definitely a cool spot with great food and nice ambiance. Good place to impress a date. I'd probably come back.

    (4)

  • Carolyn M.

    Gorgeous space, impeccable staff, fabulous cocktails. Oh, and then there's the food. Where do you begin on the food. So much to choose from, we were all over the menu, and while a couple dishes we'd probably not get again, all the others were game changers. Insanely fresh, innovative, and just generally fun. Favorites were the Alaskan king crab, the toro, beef tartare, and the smoked bacon and eggs. Incredible experience, we will be back (in fact, we made a follow up res while we were still sitting at the table).

    (5)

  • Kaman T.

    Came here on a whim and I'm sure glad I did. Food: Clam chower: This was not your average clam chowder. Has that seafood umami and the clams in it were cooked perfectly. Still has a nice crunch. Shrimp Tempura: The tempura had a hardy crunchy shell. The shrimp inside tasted super fresh. Dotted with spicy mayo. I like more flaky shells, but my bf loved the crunch. Bara Chirashi: This was really small, BUT really delicious. Loved the plum seasoning in the rice and the fish in the chirashi was nothing short of amazing. The fish roe was so well balanced with the plum and fresh fish. Hikarimono roll: Super delicious and fresh. Different from other rolls I've had before. Simple and a must get. Washugyu and Shishito skewer: Hint of gaminess from the foie gras on the beef. Beef was juicy, tender, and well, beefy. Shishito was a nice touch. Gyutan skewer: Super nice char and texture. AMazing fatty flavors. Can't go wrong with grilled gyutan. Wasabi salmon roll: Great salmon. Simple and tasted great, but nothing unique. Very well done salmon roll. Sukiyaki: This was the only disappointing dish of our night. The problem was the broth. It was extremeeeeely salty. Like they used pure soy sauce for the broth and nothing else. It is also very small which we expected, but for $36 we did not think this was worth it. Staff asked us how we like the sukiyaki and we told them it was a bit salty and they took it off our check. Great service right there. Chicken meatball skewer: This was topped with two sunny side up quail eggs. Meat was super moist and had amazing ginger flavors. Must get. Curry Udon: Made with ground pork. This had such nice curry flavors, Loved this dish and this was the biggest bang for your buck. Big portion and only $16. Chocolate spongecake with Sakura ice cream: Loved the crunchy chocolate bits and the sakura ice cream stole the show. Wish they gave more than a dollop of the ice cream! Service: The staff were extremely attentive. They kept refilling water, prompt to take away plates, refreshed our plates, folded my napkin when I went to the restroom, and explained the menu well. One guy even gave us a tour of the izakaya downstairs after our meal. We had a great experience here and look forward to coming back for the Izakaya which is suppose to have a completely different menu.

    (5)

  • Benjamin R.

    Excellent, inventive Japanese food in a slick, beautiful restaurant. The menu is huge, we tried a smattering of almost every category and barely scratched the surface. Big eye tuna maki rolls, crab croquettes, seaweed salad, and the ice cream with black sugar dessert were standouts for me. But everyone we were with loved different things, so it was all very good. Had nice, mild cocktail called a River Child, and they had a really good beer and wine list. Service was great and the environment is top notch, can't go wrong here.

    (5)

  • Marley L.

    I had the chili spaghetti thing and then promptly DIED. It was so damn good. That is all.

    (4)

  • J P.

    Momotaro is a hip, contemporary Japanese restaurant. The servers, bartender, chefs, and hostesses get 5 stars. They are welcoming and provide excellent service, even at 11:15 when the place is packed and more patrons are sitting down for their reservation. The massive space is absolutely gorgeous. I'm old school, so the set-up with the lounge in the basement and the restaurant on the main floor reminded me of Japonais. We could've easily stayed downstairs for the entire meal in the lounge area. I was intrigued there is a staircase that leads to a 3rd floor, however it does not appear to be open for the public. The hostess found us when our table was ready. We had reservations at the sushi bar at 9:45 pm, which is all they had when I had called earlier in the week. Our waiter, that bore a striking resemblance to a young Jude Law, was very knowledgeable with the menu. We started with Goma Ae, which we all but given up after Sushi Wabi shuttered its doors. This version runs a close second to Wabi, where everywhere else we've ordered has never come close. I know the Sushi Omakase is heralded as the source of recognition, but this was my least favorite. Somehow the subtle garnishes did not bring forth the flavors of the pieces as explained by our server. The washugyu beef entree was the best dish we ordered. My husband would've liked another serving, but we saved some space for a fantastic dessert, which I can not remember the name. The two sushi rolls were fresh and as expected, well done in terms of fusion of flavors. I'm thinking if we tried more "from the coals" list, we would have experienced more of the chef's mastery. The menu is pretty extensive, thus slightly overwhelming when trying to choose wisely. I would like to think a repeat visit would be necessary to give a more accurate review of the chef's creativity or perhaps a tasting menu would be in order. It a shame my life doesn't allow for repeat business at restaurants in Chicago without serious effort. If I were to do it all over again, I would save more room for non-sushi items.

    (3)

  • Aaron P.

    I was very impressed by this place. It's another fine addition to the Fulton Market restaurant scene. We spent maybe 20 minutes figuring out this sake menu with our waitress. She was really helpful because I am clueless about sake. The sake was good. We drank it all. It did not taste like red wine. I'm trying to remember all the things on the order: Toro Tartare, Angel Prawns, Mentaiko Spaghetti, Washugyu, Negi Hama, Bacon & Eggs, Wasabi Rice, and a few pieces of nigiri. Jesus we ate a lot of food. Thank god we ate a ridiculous American brunch or this would have ran a third bill. Oh and then a slice of the Shittori Citron cake. I liked the Toro Tartare. I did not like the slippery ice block it was served on. Also, this would be one of the weirder foods to split if you aren't really close friends or touching butts or something because it's just a mound of chopped up toro mixed with other things. They give you one spoon. I used chopsticks. Moving on, Angel Prawns. I'd skip this next time. I'm not in love with head on shrimp that you can't peel. I don't know what I expected out of the ohba butter, but it didn't do it for me. Shrimp on a skewer is difficult to peel. The end. Washugyu was a massive win. Skirt steak, foie, shishito pepper, lime. I have a very high bar for steak after going to Argentina. This met it. I couldn't even see the foie. It didn't matter. This worked. Get it. The negi hama roll was good but not memorable. Skip. Bacon & Eggs were ridiculous. Quail eggs are unbelievably rich. Bacon is rich. Maple syrup is rich. Beware. Mentaiko Spaghetti may have been the evening's winner. The chili sauce with jidori egg fish roe was addictive. I could eat this every night. Wasabri Rice was a great side. The rice was filled with scallions and mizuna lettuce. I wish we ordered this to sop up what was left of the Mentaiko Spaghetti. The finale was this Shittori Citron Cake. The slice of cake was topped with various dehydrated fruit. The cake was moist and tangy. This is the only cake I'd want for my birthday. I'd get a whole sheet. I thought the service was good. I'm not too picky on a Sunday evening. Go here while it's relatively uncrowded.

    (5)

  • Brad A.

    Jacob was a wonderful guide to a spectacular dining experience. Sushi Omakase Sashimi Omakase Oysters, seemed to be west coast...not too much brine, plenty of oyster taste. Wasabi Fried Rice... Just show up, start ordering and sharing. Beautiful space.

    (4)

  • Kari O.

    Holy. Moly. I don't need to say much besides this was one of the best dinners I've ever had. The sushi platter was BUTTER. The fish, so fresh and so absolutely delicious. What else I ordered: Momotaro Tartare Apple Smoked Bacon Chawan Mushi A lot more, but these were standouts. Highlight: Sushi platter... holy amazing.

    (5)

  • T. L.

    Had high expectations that were sadly not met... Great space and would definitely return for drinks, but too many misses on food for this price point: Good: crab appetizer, washugyu, curry udon, dessert Meh: steak tartare, spaghetti, tare duck, hikarimono Way too salty: edamame, chili hama, tuna jaga

    (3)

  • Bari S.

    Great food and great staff! Our server Ally was truly helpful in making the evening fun. Her recommendations were great from what we should try to how many plates we should order. The booths are a little low if you are short. Kind of like sitting in a high chair but very comfortable. The place is energetic but easy to talk to the people at the table. We had 6 and everyone could hear the conversation! The water glasses were constantly filled and the plates were removed when we finished the dish and this was done without interrupting the flow of the evening or the conversation. Half our group loves sushi and the other half does not and we were able to make everyone happy. All the dishes were delicious but if they have the baby corn its a must. Definitely will be back!

    (5)

  • Shradha A.

    Both times I've been here it's been for events, once downstairs and once upstairs. The decor is beautiful, service super attentive and they were very accommodating to my GF/V requests!

    (4)

  • Julie H.

    I had dinner with a friend here recently and we both got the omakase tasting menu. It was decidedly over priced. The dishes we got weren't bad--though I will say that the sushi was very non-traditional. Everything was slathered in lots of sauces to the point where you couldn't really taste the fish. If you're a fan of traditional, Japanese-style sushi you won't be happy here. We were astounded when they brought out the last course. For what we paid, we expected much more. The cocktails weren't too bad, though. At least this place had that going for it. And the service was very nice.

    (2)

  • Jay L.

    Definitely worth the price tag. I've never slept better! Shared 17 courses and some cocktails with my fiancee and we licked the plates clean, she's still in a food coma but I know she enjoyed herself. Now I have the house to myself. Thanks Momotaro! ========= Some of our favorites: *wagyu beef tongue *chicken heart skewers *hibachi grilled satsuma orange duck breast

    (5)

  • Tyan S.

    I have to say, this was the best sushi experience I have ever had... and that's saying a lot. We were there with a party of 4 on 3/22 -a Sunday, and the place was packed!!! The design is phenomenal - rich, chic, stylish... attention to detail, logical separation to the room. Lots of wood and natural materials. The service was very good - a bit over the top for me from the head waiter, but charming. He was extremely knowledgeable about the menu and did not hesitate to give us his opinion and suggestions with the menu which was helpful. We were never left unattended - all food runners explained all of the food precisely and were able to answer questions. The wine list was very good and had options for all budgets. We had 2 bottles of white to go with the meal. We had the shima aji sashimi (so fresh and beautiflly presented), chawan mushi (king crab and black truffle oil? OMG), Shortrib Mitoboru (so tender), Diver Scallops (delicate and tasty), Ebi Tempura (amazing light batter, tail on), and a lot of sashimi - sake, uni, hamachi, and some others I can't even remember.. What made this so amazing? The food was so delicately prepared, perfect seasoning.. nothing really heavy, (no cream cheese LOL) the sushi chef cut the fish with such precision, each bite was perfectly sized. The chawan mushi was so fine and smooth... I can't say enough. I can't wait to go back!!!

    (5)

  • Laura J.

    We had a perfect night here for my sisters birthday. Came on a rainy Sunday April night and had no problem getting our seats on time. Denise was our waitress and she was absolutely lovely. We had the eel rice, momomaki sushi, chili spaghetti, chicken heart skewers, meatball skewers, and beef tongue skewers. I honestly would recommend that exact menu. We split it between three people then had room for dessert and left perfectly full without being overly stuffed. We had the black sugar ice cream that my sister described as tasting like cookie dough and I had the peaches and momo sorbet which was perfectly refreshing. The bill was $95 which I find to be reasonable at a place like this. Great experience.

    (5)

  • Dustin H.

    + Going downstairs was great to get drinks while we waited for Au Cheval + Mentaiko spaghetti was magnificent + Whipped tofu with baby pears was unique and tasty ~ Chicken Karaage was good, interesting dipping sauce ~ Drinks were solid

    (4)

  • Kelly S.

    I loved my meal here. My friends and I had reservations at 10pm, which was the only time available. Upon arriving, it was very apparent why. It was packed. The atmosphere was chic and trendy, and the drinks were amazing. The sushi was some of the best we have ever had. Our server was great. He cared very much about our experience, knew the menu, and was overall very happy to be sharing the experience with us.

    (5)

  • T G.

    The best Japanese food in Chicago! The servers are smart and attentive. They are knowledgeable about the background on all of the food and drinks they serve. I moved to Chicago from Hawaii so I'm a fresh fish and Japanese food snob. This place rivals the food in Hawaii

    (5)

  • Ashley D.

    With a refined, refreshing and sexy perspective on Japanese food, Momotaro is an INCREDIBLE addition to Fulton Market's restaurant row. The ambience is upscale, the service on-point, and food utterly inspiring. From the best edamame we've ever had (brined first then steamed, not boiled), to the diver's scallop "Tokyo street food", every dish hit an equally satisfying yet unique note. Perfect from start to finish! Thanks Brennan for the wonderful hospitality and be sure to sit at the sushi bar to get in on the action!

    (5)

  • John And Marcella B.

    Phonemail. My favorite sushi place in the city (may be in part to the architecture and interior design, which is very mid-century Japanese). The service is always impeccable! Highly recommended.

    (5)

  • Elisa L.

    The ootoro here is really great! Our party of three ordered two sets of the ootoro (b/c the first was too good to stop!), the curry udon, the agedashi tofu, the sushi omakase and wagyu strip steak on the hibachi grill. The service is very friendly and the noise level is perfect (not too loud but good background sound so silences don't feel awkward - that type). Cocktails can be a little strong but they're delicious as well!

    (4)

  • C M.

    Outside was a typical November-Chicago weather: cold and overwhelmingly windy. I entered Momotaro and I felt like I was instantly transported to Japan. The restaurant's wooden décor was different and tastefully done. I celebrated my birthday at Momotaro with a couple of good friends. Every bite was unique, sumptuous, scrumptious, orgasmic... I can go on and on with beautiful praises. Among the three of us, we shared 13 menu items, including two desserts. Our server explained to us how the food was meant to be shared on the table. My heart did a little happy dance. Whatever you say, sharing is caring. I left the restaurant in awe with a big fat belly and endless food raves that might have annoyed whoever asked how my dinner was. So I'm doing a Yelp review so I can move on with my life for now and stop talking about my awesome dinner. YOU NEED TO DINE TO MOMOTARO. And yes, they should pay me for advertising relentlessly. I know that newly opened Momotaro will be a huge success. Of course, I'm not going to end this review without giving out my favorites from the menu. Tuna sashimi: Delicate, Fresh Unagi don: Filling, tasteful Negima: Familiar, mouth-watering Washugyu: My favorite, soulful Momotaki: Exquiste, A must A5 Wagyu: Pleasantly different Yuzu Shitori Cake: Love at first bite

    (5)

  • Courtney C.

    Amazing food, killer service, super cool minimalist decor. Everything was perfect. Some standout dishes were the Momotaro Tartare, Bacon and Eggs and the A5 Miyazaki Waygu. We didn't even make it to the sushi part of the menu - but we will definitely be back to check it out fully. Also popped downstairs to the Izakaya which may have been more of our scene (darker, louder). We found out there are about 4 tables downstairs where you can order from the main upstairs menu. If you're into Japanese food, you must go to this place.

    (5)

  • Rose P.

    Very good variety. Unfortunately they didn't have their table ready for us. The portions are small and is a bit pricey. The udon curry was decent size. The seabeam was really good. The Angel prawns were good. Deserts are nice as well. The bar downstairs was a nice place to chill.

    (4)

  • Eb K.

    Waiter Paul was amazing. Dinner and drinks stellar. Try the A5. Valet available.

    (5)

  • Casey F.

    I dined here last night for the first time after hearing great things about Momotaro. Our party of 4 waited for our table downstairs at the bar. I loved the space, and the staircase was behind the hostess stand so out of the way of the door and very well thought out. There is big bar area and lots of seating - the perfect place to grab a drink and maybe order a few bites while you wait. We had a reservation and only waited about 10 minutes for our table. The cocktails were fantastic - I tried the Spirited Away and the River Child. Once seated, our server walked us through some highlights of the menu. We started with the Momotaro tartare which was absolutely spectacular. I can't believe they can do that with tomatoes. We also had an amberjack sashimi that was unbelievably fresh. Next - probably some of the best dishes we had here - the skewers from the coals. We tried the smoked bacon and eggs and the washugyu (skirt steak, shishito peppers and foie). Both were to die for. Other items we ordered: Chili mentaiko spaghetti An assortment of nigiri including diver scallops, amberjack, smoked mackerel, and the show stopper- Alaskan king crab. Eel roll Monomaki (tuna and spicy octopus) A5 wagyu Everything was amazing. Truly some of the best I've had. Inventive, fresh and perfectly executed. So then why the less than perfect review?? SERVICE. Sure it was attentive and courteous. But we all knew for a fact that our server disliked our table. At the onset of the meal she told us it was encouraged to order everything at one time and she would space out the delivery. We chose to order several things at a time so we could ensure not everything came at once and we could decide what we were feeling to eat next. As soon as we ordered only the 2 apps and 4 skewers initially and asked to keep menus, our server was visibly annoyed. Next we ordered nigiri and the spaghetti. Finally we ordered additional nigiri and the rolls. We didn't do it to be annoying, but rather because we didn't know what we wanted to try next and typically dishes meant to be shared can and should be ordered in waves. Each time our server came by she took another menu from us - as if to threaten us we wouldn't be able to order any more. There were even multiple times we were asking her a question while she was at the table and she walked away!! And, despite her assurance that not everything would come at once, everything from each of our staggered orders came either at the same time or within minutes of each other, which was fine only because we didn't order that much at once. But that doesn't give me much confidence that if we had placed our order all at once that we wouldn't have felt rushed. We honestly were able to find amusement in the whole thing so it didn't taint our experience. The food was still the standout. But the service needs work. Even if you are annoyed with my table, I'm still the one tipping so don't make it obvious.

    (4)

  • George G.

    Decided to see what all the hype was about and was impressed with the whole thing. Swanky vibe with a fresh take on the sushi experience. Servers were on point with recommendations and knew the right time to stop by to place another order or refill my Japanese whiskey concoction (something about a tiger?). All of the sushi was very fresh, Una-Kyu was the star of the night. Also really impressed with the non sushi items. You'll have a new found respect for tofu (fried tofu pictured, excuse my childlike picture taking skills).

    (4)

  • Anand S.

    Had the hibachi Alaskan crab entree. It came out on a small charcoal grill which was pretty neat. Also had some rice / tofu plate, high end Japanese whisky and chocolate dessert.

    (5)

  • Wei H.

    I decided to come out of my yelping hiatus (not weather related) because my/our dining experience was that memorable, unfortunately not in a good way. To be fair, we all had high expectations going in. I did not read any of the reviews besides the 4.5 stars. Our waiter was unbelievably vague about what the "assorted sashimi" entailed when I asked him about the chirashi. I understand it's chef's choice but I found it hard to understand why they couldn't tell us what chef's choice of the day was. If you are reading this and know why, please educate me. Since we did not want to get assorted sashimi that we potentially would not like, we strategically decided to get two apps and some sashimi and wanted to go from there: - washugyu ($12): two skillets, we got a 3rd. I do not understand the point of having the pepper there. If one wants to juxtapose the texture of the decently cooked skirt steak with a bit of crunchiness, pepper is a good choice but at least pick something that has a bit of a kick. The pepper completely took away from the skirt steak and the foie gras. I also did not enjoy the seeds of the pepper. The skirt steak was marinated well but I wouldn't call it intensely flavorful. It was good for two tiny pieces of skirt steak but I wouldn't want another bite. It was fatty though which helped save the dish from being a complete disaster. - diver scallop ($12) for ONE complete piece of scallop divided into 4 small pieces, with salmon roe and uni. I really hope it was just tonight that the scallop was not fresh. It was just not fresh and overcooking it did not help. The texture was so overwhelmingly wrong that I just could not appreciate anything else. - salmon sashimi: pretty average salmon on the lean side but quite fresh - yellow tail sashimi: see above. better than the salmon. - medium fat bluefin belly: this was probably the only thing I enjoyed this evening. It was the right amount of fat that I personally like and the after taste was pleasant. It was tuna so it was fishier than the others but at this point, considering everything else I have had, I couldn't be happier I ended my meal with something that offered me more complexities in its flavor. Ironically, it's just a piece of sashimi. So the fact that I enjoyed it had little to do with the chef. Yes, the way they cut it matters. Yes, the temperature they served it at matters, but really, nothing more. It's the tuna itself that's enjoyable. Other than food, their ambiance and decor are absolutely on fleek. It's one of the most beautifully and tastefully decorated trendy new restaurants I have been in. Great for first dates. I actually had to ask my friends twice "Did we order the right things?" at the end of it, coz I was just not willing to accept the fact I disliked such a highly reviewed restaurant. Alas, dining experience is a very personal thing and you just have to see it for yourself.

    (2)

  • anna p.

    Everything we ordered had surpassed our expectations. We started with the wagyu with sea urchin and the unagi don which were pretty good, followed by the see scallops, maki rolls and sashimi as well as the Alaskan king crab habachi , which was all absolutely amazing. Big bold flavors yet delicate textures. Definitely will be coming back here soon

    (5)

  • Stephen R.

    Absolutely wonderful! I dined in a group of 7 and everything - ambiance, service, and the food - was perfection. I would definitely recommend this place for a group of adventurous diners because it really allows you to sample so much from Momotaro's rather extensive menu. We split two servings each of the chef's special sashimi and sushi plates - the sashimi was by far some of the freshest and most delicious fish I have ever had. We also split several hot plates: standouts for me were the tongue, chicken hearts, short rib, and scallops. The spicy tako roll was probably my favorite roll, but as far as nigiri, I LOVED the Aji Yakusugi - the aromas of the aged cypress were just fantastic! I wanted to take the bowl home! Cocktails were awesome as well: I stuck with the Warlord's Bounty and it was just the right amount of sweet for me. So it was an amazing time and we all got to sample so much! Our server, Brendan(? Too many Warlords for me! Hah!), was quite the salesman though ("Hm why not get THREE of that so you all can share?" Haha) and a lot of fun. The damage totaled around a grand (before tip - I was surprised they didn't include gratuity for a party of seven!) though but, hey - getting to taste so many wonderful pieces and plates made it worth it. I will definitely be back for a more intimate experience!

    (5)

  • Enbar T.

    Stumbled across Momotaro over the weekend and managed to snag reservations for last night. Once there, we discovered that the restaurant has been open for under a week. I'm so glad we made it in when we did because I'm confident that, in a few months, it will join the ranks of the Chicago restaurants with months-long waitlists. It really is that good. The menu is primarily a collection of small dishes under the headings of snacks, hot or cold appetizers, skewers, and sushi, plus one section of larger, seasonal entrees. Ordering enough to satisfy the table may take a bit of legwork, but the bright side is that you'll have an opportunity to take in a good cross-section of the menu. (I suspect that, no matter how much you manage to order in one sitting, you'll regret the fact that you couldn't try more). With the exception of one dish (the Momotaro Tartare, which needs some more textural diversity), the food was exceptional. I don't normally include the particulars of my order in a review, but since the restaurant is new and the menu can be overwhelming, I'll point out some highlights of our meal: the spicy tuna roll appetizer (akin to a delicate egg roll), the chicken heart skewers (very tender), the beef and shishito pepper skewers (vibrant and delicious), and the bacon and quail egg skewers (I know a bacon-and-egg skewer sounds gimmicky, but the texture and flavor of this dish were really something special). In the sushi department, the nigiri is really thoughtfully constructed, and the fish quality was top-notch. The soy milk custard for dessert was a lovely endpiece -- playful combination of textures and not overly sweet. As others noted, the service and decor add a lot to the experience. In contrast to the well-camouflaged exterior of the building, the dining room is interesting, with a spacious, industrial feel. And the servers are super knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the menu. In sum, one of the best meals I've had in Chicago.

    (5)

  • S G.

    This place was awesome! Busy even on a weeknight. Cocktails are good- wines are minimum We stated with a ground tomato appetizer and the chicken thighs. We had skirt steal skewers- sooo good There is an amazing sweet pea fried rice as well. All of the rolls were so good- fresh and unique. Service was good- expect 1.5 hrs minimum Valet is 12 dollars

    (5)

  • John L.

    Momotaro is one of the best Japanese restaurants I have experienced. Compared to Morimoto's in NY - Momotaro is far better. The variety and quality of the fish and selection of dishes were amazing. The toro tartare was mind blowing and the mentaiko spaghetti was a great & surprising unusual dish that you would not expect at a Japanese restaurant. I can't wait to go again and try other dishes. The waitress we had was great with suggestions and service she truly made our night complete.

    (5)

  • Jenna S.

    Well executed environment with super attentive servers who were very knowledgeable and attuned to the menu! Expensive but well worth it! The mentaiko spaghetti is perfect you will not want to order more than one!

    (5)

  • sonicolone s.

    We dined at Momotaro on a Saturday night recently, our second time there since its opening. While we enjoyed our first visit, WOW, our second visit was absolutely outstanding! In a very short time, the restaurant had made adjustments to the menu, service and dining experience that resulted in one of the finest dining experiences we have ever had in Chicago. What really struck me was how incredibly fresh all of the fish was as well as the creativity of the rolls and hot dishes. The eel roll is like no other as you can actually taste the eel, not just the sweet bbq sauce. The octopus roll was so delicious that it will be the first thing I order when we return. The coal-fired shrimp and scallop were incredible and the Donburi was a meal in and of itself. Finally, it is impossible to have a great restaurant without great service and it is in this area, that perhaps the Boka Group has set the bar highest. The service was exemplary and our server was invaluable in guiding us through the lengthy menu and making recommendations that were spot-on. When you add in the delicious deserts you have a restaurant that has already secured a spot at the top end of the Chicago dining scene. I would not hesitate the recommend this restaurant to a friend and if I had a visitor in from out of town that I wanted it impress with an exceptional meal, Momotaro would be high on my list. Another winner from the Boka Group!

    (5)

  • Josh T.

    Wow! As you are walking up to this restaurant you already know you are in for a fantastic meal. The decor, exterior design, cleanliness - it is all spot on. When you walk in you are greeted by two hosts. You check your coat downstairs, for free, where there is a full bar. Here you find business men and women enjoying a drink or two after a long days work in the busy west loop. It was a great atmosphere! You wait patiently, and as you are ready to order a drink, guess what.....your table is ready! The food, drinks, service - all blew me away just as I expected. We sat right in front of the hot line. You can see right into the kitchen - which was spottless. They have two lines in different spots of the restaurant. A sushi/cold bar, and then the hot line that is enclosed as the main kitchen. I suggest to try at least two items from each section of the menu. Food items that stuck out to my party is the smoked bacon and eggs, as well as, the duck breast. This duck breast comes out on a small bbq rack that is heated by one, very powerful, coal. We did a couple sushi rolls. The fish in each roll melted in your mouth. It was fantastic. If you enjoy vodka, our vodka enthusiast loved the Monks Journey. She was not the drinker of the group, but she was indeed the first to finish her drink well before the rest of the party. If you enjoy whiskey, the Spirited Away and the River Child were spot on. Ultimately, this will be a place I return to - several more times. The prices are right on the money, no pun intended. We left very satisfied, and our wallets did not feel light!

    (5)

  • Christina B.

    Tried out this newer restaurant in the West loop. Definitely spot for sushi. The sushi was fresh and tasteful. The sushi combinations presented unique flavor combinations, which added a "wow" factor to the experience. The cocktails were quite delicious; however, the drinks were light on alcohol. A comparable drink place would be Bavette's--for the same price, the drinks are wayyyy better. If you happen to be in the West Loop, stop in for some good sushi but opt for wine or another beverage over the cocktails. A reservation is a good idea.

    (4)

  • Jenn C.

    Yes Boka Group! So well done - and the most authentic atmosphere and food I've found in Chicago after a trip to Japan nearly ruined Japanese food in the US for me. We had drinks in the izakaya bar downstairs while waiting for our table to be ready. Fun cocktails and a great sake and Japanese whiskey selection. Lots of lounge space makes this a fun spot for a group night out. Upstairs we had tons of great food and sake. Highlights were the kampachi starter with jalapeños, the Italian-Japanese fusion dish of spaghetti with roe, the beef tongue and the shortrib meatballs. Whoa were those shortrib meatballs something! The space is beautiful and done so well - very upbeat, energetic atmosphere and great service. Can't wait to go back to try more things - the menu is pretty massive and there was a lot we didn't get to but our server helped guide us to the right amount of food so we left very happy and full.

    (5)

  • Adrienne H.

    Amazing meal and perfect service from Ali! Every item was delicious. Great ambiance. Ali helped us pick a great variety of dishes....We loved them ALL! So knowledgeable about all of the items on the menu, wine and bar. Beautiful food and perfect atmosphere. Cant wait to go again!

    (5)

  • Bella P.

    Momotaro made my belly oh so happy!!! Libations are beyond exceptional. The Monks Journey left a lasting impression of macha madness. I would drink that daily if I could. Who doesn't love antioxidants and vodka? Yeah, I don't know either. We ordered a few small plates to share between three people. The Chirachi, big eye tuna roll, eel roll were fresh and savory, big enough for three. The winner of the night: beef tongue. Wow!! Better than the steak I had at Gibsons last week. It was marinated and grilled to perfection. The chocolate dessert hit the spot to tie things together. A nice finish to a fantastic array of food. Emilios was enthusiastic and well versed in the menu. Very attentive and personable. I can't wait to go back!! I need more beef tongue in my belly.

    (4)

  • Ev A.

    a little disappointed actually. we had reservations for a 9pm dinner upstairs, and the table was not ready so we headed downstairs for drinks. after thirty minutes we were informed that the hostess had seated another party at our reserved table and there was not another table available. we were offered a table downstairs, but when the host escorted us to the table, it had not been bused yet. soo, the service was unpleasant. the food was ok. nothing stood out though. the hibachi duck was enjoyable, but the rolls, eel, and scallops were nothing worth mentioning. scallops were actually really salty. even the dessert was very underwhelming. sticking to sunda. sorry guys :/

    (2)

  • Tim O.

    Very good, among the best I've had anywhere. Ordered about ten different items from the menu between the two of us and enjoyed everything. The fish was fresh and I found the menu to be creative. The decor is nice but the restaurant was very loud. I thought the tables were too close together. I heard a young woman discuss the prospect of marrying her boyfriend with her mother for more than half my dinner. For the amount of food we ordered, I thought the prices were very reasonable. Will definitely return here.

    (5)

  • Nicole R.

    I went here on a random weeknight for dinner with my gf and we really enjoyed ourselves. The service was excellent and the fish was fantastically fresh. I think this place deserves all the accolades it's gotten so far. We ordered the sashimi omakase (aka "fish cemetery") and my gf ordered the sushi omakase and they were both delicious! We also ordered a side of the mentaiko spaghetti which was amazing!! (I frequently still think about this spaghetti). For dessert, we had this chocolate one (I forget the name) and a yellow custard one (I forget the name). Those were both just good but not great. This place is totally upscale with upscale pricing but we enjoyed the experience. We were both taken aback and impressed by the luxurious ambiance. We were both eyeing the table next to us who ordered this small sliver of Wagyu steak being grilled at their table and were going to order it but then saw the price in the triple digit range and decided not to LOL. We came out of there not full but we were reasonably comfortable. This place is a good choice for super upscale Japanese food that is superbly executed. Bottomline is, come here for special occasions and expensed business dinners!

    (5)

  • Ophelia D.

    We made a reservation for 7.30 at Momotaro and arrived promptly at 7.25. We were told that a table would be available in a few minutes and were left to wait in a crowded corridor. By 7.40 we were feeling pretty annoyed (if you are going to work on a first come first served basis, that's fine but don't take reservations) and decided to leave. The people at reception were very offhand and seemed to suggest that there was something wrong with us not wanting to wait around indefinitely. I don't care how good the food is, this level of service is never acceptable (I've had better service at Mc Donalds). We walked around the corner to Vivo which was exceptional and I would highly recommend. Service, food and ambience were all top class and proved our point about the sub-standard levels at Momotaro. Incidentally, they also cancelled our reservation on OpenTable to prevent us posting a negative review. We are working with OpenTable to rectify this. Caveat Emptor.

    (1)

  • Lukas E.

    I sit down. My eyes traverse the spectacularly dimly lit room... remeniscent of the deep, dark and plush tones or the Moroccan huts I once explored... in another life. Not only does my pleasant exchange with the hostess set the stage for an unforgettable evening fit for the gods, but I was immediately infused with the notion of Asian fusion that I almost completely blacked out. We were asked by the master of ceremonies, our waiter, just what would satiate our pallets. We were baffled beyond description with the likes of this complex narrative... more formally referred to as the menu. We immediately sought refuge in the wisdom and guidance of our waiter. A master of cuisine, a curator of insight and knowledge. He advised us endlessly on the indiscribable pleasure contained in the chefs mind. We submitted to his recommendations and the resulting experience will be sung about in psalms for years to come. Do I recommend it? Please. Does the artist Hot Chocolate believe in mircles? Enough said.

    (5)

  • Jaime F.

    I'm not one to complain about price because I eat at nobu 2 times a month so this is a very honest review. Bottom line it's not worth the money these guys are asking for sushi. I don't ever mid paying high prices for great food but when the portions are the size of my finger it's ridiculous. Go to nobu and get what you pay for. Stay away

    (1)

  • Stella W.

    quality of fish: excellent service: excellent sushi rice: gross the quality of the fish was really good, and well worth the price. similar quality of these on the coasts would cost similar if not more. the grilled sea beam was excellent. I am glad the pesto-looking shiso dressing sauce comes on the side because even though the shiso taste from the sauce added another dimension to the fish, the oil component of the dressing would have made the whole dish too greasy, imho. the sushi rice that the fish sit on, GROSS. I don't think it's even the japanese short grain rice that's used on sushi...I felt like i am eating some leftover rice that's been sitting out in the rice bucket overnight, it has that smell and texture. Last time when I didn't get any wasabi with the sushi order, and the sushi chef in Tokyo refused to give me wasabi because he claimed he had put enough on the nigiris, which he was right. And I admire that. So when i didn't see any wasabi on my sushi plate, i thought the sushi chef has put enough inside the nigiris. But nada, they didn't put any. And even after i put tons of wasabi on the rice, i could still taste that off-putting leftover rice. Def worth the price and going back, just stay away from the sushi rice .

    (3)

  • Brita C.

    Shane was amazing. Thank you for an over the top experience...everything was very delicious.

    (5)

  • kandyo o.

    Best Sushi in Chicago! The drinks could be better but the food is spectacular. I'm dreaming of my next trip back.

    (4)

  • Rachel B.

    My boyfriend and I are both in the restaurant industry at high-end restaurants. Dining out is our favorite thing to do, and we are always trying new places. We celebrated our anniversary here recently, and we both agreed it was the best all around experience we've ever had dining out! The quality of our meal, our server, the atmosphere, the staff, drinks, etc. was phenomenal! We were blown away by every bite! I would highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a high-end casual dining experience where you will get your bang for your buck! We cannot wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Valigirl V.

    Pricy, trendy upscale Japanese restaurant. Enjoyable fare, excellent service. Atmosphere was light, airy with beautiful wood. When the restaurant was full, quarters were tight and very noisy. It did not help that there were 3 loud drunk "Cougars" celebrating a birthday seated in our vicinity! I dined with another person. We each had a cocktail (Monk's Journey... meh),shared an assortment of sushi, and shared one dessert and coffee. With tip, the bill came to $225. Bring your piggy bank or be traveling on business. Food was good, but most choices were NOT remarkable to warrant the extremely high prices. Everything a la carte. Suggestions: Toro tartare $25 (small disc of chopped toro accompanied with sesame toast), and unagi don $14 (small bowl of freshwater eel with sauce on rice). Some rolls were $25 or more... I would return for cocktails and 1-2 menu choices.

    (4)

  • Bernie R.

    We had an amazing dinner here on a busy Tuesday night. Our group of four had several small plates. We had skirt steak and chicken from the grill, tempura shrimp and scallops. We also sampled the sushi. Every dish was creative and tasty. We had excellent attentive service and a visit to our table by the chef to make sure we were enjoying our dishes. In the center of the dining area is a sushi bar, I'll try that next visit. We sat near the back where we had an open view of the kitchen it was fun to watch all of the cooking activity. Downstairs there is a bar a lounge where we had drinks before our meal. Overall this is a great restaurant with a creative menu.

    (5)

  • Susan M.

    Loved this hot new restaurant! The decor is sexy! The bar downstairs is perfect for great cozy evening- with amazing drinks. Food was fabulous. Interesting takes on some old favorites and lots of new interesting items- don't miss the Uni risotto. Has a great gluten free menu too. Service was terrific- - our waitress was incredibly helpful with suggestions. I love that they brought me a sample of the sake I was interested in. The only negative- she could have upsold us. We had finished what we ordered initially- but she did not ask if we wanted anything else- just dessert. Had she asked- we would have ordered more! Can't wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Sijia C.

    I have to say I did not have any impression after finishing my dinner here... It is OK, could be better.

    (3)

  • Natalie F.

    great atmosphere!!! great food! check out the bar downstairs!

    (5)

  • Sara H.

    A place for special occasions. We let the chef take the lead. We gave our waiter an amount we wanted to spend and a few things we like especially (tuna, spicy food) and they brought us 7 small courses of the best fish I have ever had, making for a meal to remember.

    (5)

  • Victoria C.

    My friends and I had a very nice time here. We were sat right away when we arrived. Food was excellent and ambiance was very nice as well. This is a great place for a date night or nice dinner with a group of friends. Lounge downstairs was also very nice, great spot for a happy hour. We had the scallop (sliced into 4 pieces) it was small but very tasty The chili spaghetti with the chicken egg underneath - this was AMAZING. Highly recommend. We had the first 5 sushi maki on the menu - all of them were very good! The only thing Id say is the hamachi roll was a little "fishier" than I had anticipated. That was the only one I didn't care for. I cant remember the name but we had the chocolate cake with the tea ice cream and it was also very good! I will definitely be back and recommending this place to friends.

    (5)

  • Linda M.

    I had no expectations for this place since I had never even heard of it but it was incredible! I stopped by with a friend this past Friday for a late dinner and I had a wonderful dinner. Our waitress was incredible, extremely knowledgeable with the menu and the drink list. she recommended the monk's journey which I ordered and was very satisfied with, incredibly light and refreshing. We ordered a variety of things from the off the coals section which included the short rib, smoked bacon and eggs, and the skirt steak with the shishito peppers, everything was amazing. The service was wonderful, everything was timed perfectly. We had the blood orange sorbet for dessert. I would highly recommend this restaurant, it was quite pricey but everything was perfection.

    (5)

  • Eric S.

    My wife and I went here for her birthday with very high expectations. Not including tip we spent about $250 on food and beverages and all I can remember is Salt. We mostly ate off the hot side of the menu. My wife loves salt and even these were so salty we sent back three items; Skirt steak, wasabi fried rice, and the beef tongue. I can honestly say this was the saltiest meal I've ever had in my whole life. I honestly couldn't even taste the beef tongue. The server apologized but those items weren't even taken off of our check. It was extremely disappointing, especially considering how many amazing restaurants are within walking distance. I'd give it a two stars but at this price point you should never have to send food back to the kitchen. It also just feels dishonest to not comp food that is sent back to the kitchen that is visibly caked with salt. I can honestly say I would not recommend this or go back.

    (1)

  • Gary F.

    Excellent food, we tried just about everything. A few issues finding allergy friendly options but our guest managed to enjoy what they could. The waiter was not friendly or helpful. Zero explanation of the menu despite several attempts to engage although attentive to the onion allergy issue. Thankfully the team bringing the food was friendly and efficient which minimized our need to engage with the waiter who was frankly rude.

    (3)

  • Elisa O.

    My hubby and I heard this place was great and most definitely did not disappoint! We got there on the early side before the crowds. The menu is extremely expansive and is more creative than your typical sushi restaurants these days. Yes it's on the pricier side, but it super delish! We started with the cold crab appetizer which was just awesome, followed by the Washugyu...yummm! Do not pass up on the three piece tuna sashimi which was incredible! We had a few pieces of the fatty tuna and it was great every time. For the chocolate lovers out there, the chocolate lava cake is a must! Overall I would give the place a 4.5. Definitely one of the best sushi places in Chicago. Very different presentation, decor, and the customer service is whoa! Can't wait til we make it back!

    (5)

  • Stephen N.

    Momotaro is more than a sushi restaurant. I would call it Japanese fusion. I went there however to enjoy sushi. I always ask for a seat at the sushi counter because I enjoy watching the chefs do their thing. Unfortunately, Chef Mark was in the kitchen the whole time which made me think I should have ordered something from there as well. The quality of the sushi was extremely fresh and they had almost everything that I like to order, including uni, o-toro, fatty salmon, etc. I'm more of a traditionalist so I stuck to nigiri and did not try any of the rolls. At one point in the night the sushi chef brought out a red trumpet fish, never saw that before. My bill was pricey but I had many drinks. The decor is cool and the service is fine. Each piece that was brought out was described by the server. Overall, it was a good experience.

    (4)

  • Lisa C.

    Beautiful interior. Came for dinner with the bf and enjoyed sake and dinner. For the two of us, we ordered seaweed salad, bara chirashi, smoked mackerel, smoked bacon and eggs, smoked duck breast, unagi, few pieces of ootoro, angel prawns, momomaki, Hamachi, and two desserts. Portions were small so you have to order several items per person. Expensive meal but worth it for a special occasion. Our waiter was awesome and gave great recommendations. It was a freezing that night and he even ran to the street with no jacket to get us a cab which we felt bad about but it goes to show what level of service is provided. Overall great experience.

    (5)

  • Linda M.

    Amazing, pure intense food. Ambience and food are extraordinary. Great service with high quality selections of food. Feels like I was back in Tokyo .

    (5)

  • Sarah W.

    Absolutely amazing. Cool atmosphere and delicious food. The quality and texture of the fish was outstanding. We let the server plan our meal and were so happy with the results. Must get back as soon as I can!

    (5)

  • Jose R.

    Great modern sushi restaurant. Nice assortment of raw and cooked items. Great selection of cold and hot appetizers. The nigiris were awesome especially the toro and unagi. The FU roll no worth the $45. The hibachi chops and king crabs very good. Creative cocktails were just ok for my taste. I taste three. I will go back

    (4)

  • Bryan J.

    Outstanding. Top service. Knowledgable staff. Effective execution and success in reproducing the genuine feel of a Tokyo izakaya. Very creative menu that showcases the best of Japanese food. Nigiri/tuna tartar idecent but certainly not the draw of the menu. Do not miss the A5 wagyu roll. Thanks to GM Chris Auld for showing us around!

    (5)

  • Mace W.

    3.5 stars - Enjoyed the ambiance and service, but the food did not live up to expectations. Nothing was terrible, but nothing stuck out as being excellent. We found the sushi was better than everything else on the menu. The only plate other than the sushi that stuck out was the tomato tartar, that was different and tasted great. Skewers, noodle dishes, sashimi bowls...all average/not worth the $$$. I normally don't complain about pricing, but the food did not equate to the abnormally high price tag.

    (3)

  • W S.

    Fortunately I was able to fill up on the martini olives. We were seated 30 minutes late. The food was high-quality but the portion sizes were wildly inconsistent and the kitchen couldn't keep up. Parts of our order never arrived. The staff was aplogetic and comped us a round of drinks... but then things kept going wrong. This sounds nasty on my part but it's true, and you have to appreciate that at the steep prices they charge, you expect perfect food and service. There were some highlights in our meal so I hope they can get it together.

    (2)

  • Holly A.

    Our waitress completely messed up our order and we had to remind them that we were there after they had asked us to wait Just 5 Minutes. They ruined our time, not a great bang for your buck. There are literally dozens of better places within a few blocks from there, it's a bit of an embarrassment for the neighborhood.

    (1)

  • Dale B.

    Fish, uni, and unagi were all superb. The service was impeccable, and our waiter couldn't have been more warm and helpful. I wish I could join in on the NYE party! Looks like a great package in a cool place.

    (5)

  • Jahna L.

    Delicious dinner experience. Despite being sat down 40 minutes after or reservation time, our server was incredibly gracious. We enjoyed the tartare (amazing!), short ribs, scallops and rib eye to start. Wow! We continued on with the tastiest spaghetti ever and finished with king crab salad. Divine. Highly recommend.

    (4)

  • Krzysztof K.

    This place is just awesome. My fiance and I were celebrating here recently and our experience was fantastic. We were seated at the sushi bar downstairs, which I would highly recommend. Our service throughout the experience was impeccable. The food recommendations were on point and the final product was outstanding.

    (5)

  • Marnie R.

    I am voting Momotaro as best place to go with an expense account. I want to order everything and try everything. From what I did order the seaweed salad the the chilli spaghetti were my favorites. The eggs and bacon I could of skipped, the texture I had trouble with. I will be back hopefully with someone with an expense account :)

    (4)

  • Jack F.

    Absolutely amazing! Everything from the starters to the mains. The fish is crazy fresh and the servers and hostesses are very nice. This spot is near perfect!

    (5)

  • B G.

    My boyfriend and I literally went into this bar early on a saturday to break up. We both knew it was coming. We were the first ones there and sat immediately. I really liked how the bar was laid out and how the menus hung from hooks above your head. I had donated blood earlier that day and barely eaten anything since so once the conversation got started the tears started coming. It was perfectly amicable of a break up, but the point of me mentioning that is that the bartender was super cool about everything. He gave us some whiskey on the house and rolled with the punches. Great experience and it really helped make the situation better. The chef also came out and said hello to us. That was cool. I will definitely have something to eat the next time I go in. Loved it!

    (5)

  • Jim B.

    I love going to restaurants when they first open, just to spot where the problems are, and how (and whether) they are corrected. So I went to Momotaro on its second day. I was immediately greeted by two absolutely stunning Hostesses that were very friendly and helpful and attentive, so that's always a plus. They gave me a quick visual tour and invited me to try the adjacent bar. I sat down, and was greeted by Dana, the bartender, who knew the cocktail menu and its backstory inside and out, and who was as friendly and un-rushed as the Hostesses. In fact, she knew the Sake list, and the Japanese words to describe it. She recommended two cocktails, both of which I had, which were balanced and original and fantastic. I ordered the tomato tartare, which was very good, but a bit rich/cloying/almost over the top after about half. Best to be shared by at least two. But I'm being very critical here, because the flavor and presentation and texture was unique and perfect. I then ordered the Curry Noodles - wow. Absolutely original, beautifully presented (all of the plate ware is specially designed and hand crafted), flavorful, fantastic texture to the noodles, velvety sauce. A+++. Tried the tuna 3 ways (?), which will somewhat standard to Sushi goers, but very good, perfectly fresh, correctly chilled (a peeve of mine in some cities but usually done correctly in better houses in Chicago) and beautifully presented. And two glasses of Sake, the names of which I forget but Dana recommended the pairing and she was absolutely correct. And it turns out that an acquaintance of mine from Michigan is a server. His name is Jake, and he came by three or four times and made perfect recommendations and obviously was very well versed on the menu and preparation and pairing. Ask for Jake! And the interior is stunning. I'm trying hard to find negatives, just so the restaurant and staff are aware and can work on things in their opening days, but I really had a fantastic experience. I am already thinking of going back - I'm sure I will be a regular. Congrats, guys!!! You nailed it. Now keep it up for the throngs that are certain to pour through your doors!! By the way, I think this is only my 5th or 6th restaurant review - I'm not in the habit of doing this, but Momotaro is That good!!

    (5)

  • Seb H.

    Great food, especially the rolls and the tomato tartar. Everything is great for sharing. Very nice and relaxed service, reasonable in comparison to what it could be, and very cool atmosphere. Liked it a lot. They have a big bar area downstairs which seems to have a cozy flair to it as well (just checked it out for a minute).

    (5)

  • Valeria G.

    Food and wine were delicious! We started off with the seaweed salad, followed by the tartar, 2 maki roles (BBQ eel and I can't remember the name of the other one), and the spaghetti. We ended our dinner with the chocolate namelaka. The ambience is great and the staff was extremely attentive. There is also a lounge downstairs, which is my favorite part. Perfect for good company and good conversation. The sushi wasn't the best I ever had, but was certainly up there.

    (4)

  • Ali D.

    Simply divine! The food was delicious (Ground pork w Udon + Veggie sushi), the sake tasty, the service impeccable and the ambiance hip & cool. Will be going back!

    (5)

  • Emily B.

    Everyone must try this place! A very unique and delicious experience. The dishes here are small plates that are meant to be shared. I came with my boyfriend and we ordered five plates, which I thought was definitely enough. We ordered the diver scallop, sashimi omakase (with a side of rice), chili mentaiko spaghetti, FU roll, and the A5 wagyu sushi roll. All the plates were excellent. I personally feel as though it is hard to give a recommendation when it comes to seafood. Some people like how fishy some seafood tastes, but others do not. I would say definitely get the chili mentaiko spaghetti, and choose dishes around your flavor palette. Their menu is not just limited to seafood. I expected all the sushi rolls to be relatively expensive, but was pleasantly surprised to see that the FU roll was the only $45 sushi roll on the menu. All the other sushi rolls are definitely not as pricey. The service and the ambience of the restaurant were great. The only thing that was a little disappointing was that they took the uni rice with black truffles off the menu, because truffles are currently out of season. That just means we'll have to come back to try the dish when it's back on the menu!

    (5)

  • K B.

    Everything was excellent - everything! The food, the service, the atmosphere. This is on my top 10, or maybe even my top 5 list for Chicago. I'm not a big duck person, but even loved the tare smoked duck breast my friend ordered for us. The room can get loud, so you have to be ready for that, but most restaurants in Chicago are loud. Can't wait to go back.

    (5)

  • Chelsea M.

    My husband and I went to Momotaro for a special occasion and it was wonderful! The dishes were complex, well-balanced and delicious! We ordered several dishes, but my favorite was the unagi don (barbequed eel rice). The cocktails and service were excellent as well. My only complaint was that our chairs didn't have backs, but that's hardly a strike against the place. I highly recommend Momotaro!

    (5)

  • Ann D.

    Everything about our experience here was fantastic. We arrived about 30 minutes before our 8:45 reservation, and were led to the downstairs lounge until our table was ready - the lounge is a great space and our cocktails were delicious. I'd recommend the monk's journey, it was well blended and not too sweet. Our table was ready for us about 5 minutes before the reservation time. Service both downstairs and at the restaurant was great, everyone was very attentive and our server was so knowledgeable about the drink menu and the food menu. Without outlining our entire meal, some highlights were the dungeness crab salad, the A5 wagyu steak tartare (an off-the menu special), and the Ikura sushi (marinated salmon roe served in an apple). Dishes were creative and flavorful. We tried two different sakes with our meal, one off the "clean" menu and a second from the "earthy" menu, both were easy to drink and paired well with the food. The atmosphere alone is worth a trip - it is open and modern yet still comfortable. All in all, it was a memorable dining experience on account of the food and the vibe; we're sure to be back to momotaro in the future.

    (5)

  • Kelly G.

    The food at Momotaro is excellent. I was particularly fond of the shitake skewers and the salmon nigiri, but everything we were served was solid. We ordered everything at once, and it came to the table pretty perfectly timed - plenty of time to socialize but not start wondering where's the food? The interior of this restaurant is very, very cool as well. Minus one star because the menu is overwhelming and the server gave us little guidance about ordering beyond describing the dishes. We had a party of 8 and she basically said, I'll let you know if you order too much food. I would have liked more guidance about ordering at this place, such as a couple suggested menus or a description about how many people a particular dish served.

    (4)

  • Katrina C.

    This is a fantastic restaurant, those with an adventurous palate should definitely come here. I came here on a Tuesday evening with a reservation around 8PM for 2. We were seated promptly and the service was near perfect and knowledgeable. We ordered our dishes and she spaced the courses out beautifully so after each dish was delivered another came shortly after. A5 Miyazaki wagyu - delicious, small bite size portion with uni in the middle. Eat it slowly and really enjoy the taste notes together. Momotaro tartare - compressed tomato tartare, tasted like a cross between beef tartare and sundried tomatoes. I thought it was genius and delicious, I would order again. Uni rice - if your a big uni fan, this was on par with other uni rice dishes. Good standard. Age dashi tofu - tasted like japan to me, firm tofu Hastu - don't let chicken hearts scare you off this dish. It's yummy! I would love to have more of that. Washugyu - wagyu and foie gras, the nice slight char with meaty flavor and then the soft melt in your mouth foie gras interior. Another plate please! Kushi oyster - first dish that came out, tasty Ikura botan ebi - very fresh and good balance of each component in each bite. Udon - delicious authentic Japanese curry flavor and helped to fill my tummy Yuzu shittori cake - great light dessert to cap the night off and cleanse the palate! In short, I would definitely go back again. And you should give it a try!

    (5)

  • Richard H.

    Amazing flavors and Amazing Presentation. We will be back for sure on our next trip. See you in a month.

    (5)

  • Cristy L.

    Overall, the food lived up to the hype. The tartares and sushi were excellent; cold dishes definitely outshined hot dishes. The cocktails were great too. Service wise, when it was on it was really on - when it was off it was really off. The latter part of this comment is regarding cocktail service. Several times we sat with empty drinks and no one came by to ask if we'd like another. At one point I asked one of the food servers to send over our waiter so we could order more drinks. Ten minutes went by, and then I had to flag our waiter down. We also ordered a bottle of wine which sat in an ice bucket a walk away from our table; our glasses sat empty again for about ten minutes. We literally had only had one glass each and then our meal was over so the wine was not paced with the meal. I had to get up and pour the bottle myself by the end of the night because it was basically forgotten. Our waiter seemed extremely busy, but I'm not sure why one of the many other staff walking around could not stop by to ask us if we'd like more drinks or pour more wine to help him out. Seeing as how alcohol is the lifeblood of many restaurants it was odd. I would go back again for the food, but if service is dodgy the second time around that will be the last for me.

    (3)

  • Elizabeth F.

    Everything was great!! The quality is top notch. The only thing I wouldn't order again was the king crab. $24 for half a crab leg doesn't cut it. Tuna Tataki and Diver Scallops were just a few of the items we shared. Beautiful space too. I will definitely be back very soon.

    (5)

  • Jon S.

    Beautiful ambiance feel is very swankily Asian. Food was excellent. Sea breem prepared wonderfully and so flavorful. Tomato tartare gets much fanfare for me beautiful faux presentation of the real thing but if you are not vegan you miss the payoff of real tuna. Sushi with tuna, octopus and lotus root one of the best pieces of sushi we have ever had. So we got seconds. Looking forward to going back and trying more new dishes

    (4)

  • allison k.

    Like others, maybe I was just too excited to try this place and had high expectations that it didn't live up to. I've been to Morimoto in philadelphia before which I loved so I was expecting something similar. Honestly the cooked options we got were amazing and better than the sashimi choices which is frustrating at a sushi restaurant. I think our biggest mistake was getting the Sashimi Omakase, the fish was fresh at least but not worth it for the price.... get some more of the other interesting dishes. Also, this is the first place we've paid for the freshly grated wasabi where it wasn't grated at the table. it just came in a lump and then we got another lump on the sashimi platter. If others wanted to go I would go the food was good but for the price I would go elsewhere.

    (3)

  • Tracey P.

    An enjoyable dinner experience, but be warned... the portion sizes are small. We enjoyed everything, especially the seaweed salad. We had to order and re-order several times because the sharing plates are really small. The Monk's Journey cocktail was a hit with our group. A nice time, but not sure if I'd return.

    (3)

  • James C.

    Went here for a private event upstairs. It was a perfect evening. Food: The best sushi I have experienced. We had a set menu of four courses. The potato salad was a nice start. It had a fresh flavor that cleansed the palate. The tuna was slightly smokey, giving it a unique flavor. The second course was all sushi. The presentation was excellent, adding to the enjoyment of dinner. We had some of the highest quality sashimi. The rolls were equally delicious. One of the white fishes tasted like butter. For the main course, the aged beef was a huge hit. It was tender and continued to cook over provided heat. Drinks: We had like twenty bottles of sake. Not really. The sake selection was very impressive. Service: Very attentive and friendly. The service got visibly agitated by his serving assistants, which is easy to do when you're under pressure. Being verbal with your frustrations is something you never do, though. Overall, he was an excellent waiter. I highly recommend this place. The vibe is relaxed, the ambience chic.

    (5)

  • T C.

    Went here for a friends birthday 6 weeks after they opened up (thinking the bugs were all worked out). We were seated almost 1 hour after our reservation (although they gave us a small pour of rose to compensate). The waiter greeted us and didn't come back again for 30 minutes. By the time we were able to flag him down again, we wound up ordering because we didn't want to wait any more (vs hearing about the best parts of the menu) and severely under ordered (a group of 5), which you would think the waiter would tell you about. We then had to request our check and wound up taking our bills to the bar to pay because the waiter again didn't come back. I would find this excusable if they were really busy or something but we were literally one of 4 tables left in the restaurant at that time. The food was good, but wasn't anything to write home about. It was fairly overpriced for the flavor and portion sizes. (Note: when I read about people complaining about price, I usually think that they are just cheap. But I consider myself a foodie and am happy to pay a good price for something worth it, and I found this to be significantly less than worthy of the cost.) On a plus side, the atmosphere is very cool!

    (2)

  • Sam C.

    Came here last night and Momotaro definitely delivered, the followings are what we had: 1 - Chawanmushi - a must get 2 - A5 Miyazaki Wagyu - uni goodness wrapped around by wagyu meat 3 - yellowtail sashimi 4 - Uni Rice 5 - Wasabi Negi Rice 6 - Chili Mentaiko Spaghetti 7 - Diver Scallops 8 - Alaskan King Crab 9 - Hamachi Kama 10 - Negi Hama ( yellowtail sushi rolls) 11 - Spicy Octopus Roll - also a must try if they have it 12 - Yuzu Shittori Cake 13 - Chocolate Sponge Cake dessert (forgot the name) I'm extremely impressed by the quality of the food here. I liked every dish here. But a few are in the spotlight and a must get: Chawanmushi, Uni Rice and the Hamachi Kama (yellowtail collar) and wrap it up with the wasabi negi rice. Don't forget to try the dessert here too. It's pretty darn good. My only complain is that the miyazaki wagyu is too tiny. I want a bigger wrap cuz I couldn't taste the uni and the meat in my first try (and the leaf overpowered all the flavor). It was in my 2nd bite that I can taste both ingredients. Service was also a strength as our server was really knowledgeable about the dishes and were very attentive.

    (5)

  • Michelle R.

    Extremely high quality fish. Been here multiple times and racked up quite a bill every time. No complaints on the food but had a slightly negative experience with the staff. There seems to be way more than enough staff working there, but why is it so hard to get their attention???? And even when there are plenty of tables open, they ask you to wait for another 15 minutes (suggesting that you sit at the bar or go to the downstairs bar). Each time I go, the service isn't as good. Sad, especially when the food is of such high quality.

    (4)

  • Cathy F.

    Wish I could give them 4.5 Stars. Service was a little slow, but I imagine its due to the restaurant still working out some kinks. We arrived early for a 9pm reservation and our group waited until around 9:20 in the downstairs lounge. Cocktail service was slow, but the drinks were extremely well executed. Food was incredibly fresh and delicious all around. Unique flavors and combinations that are pleasantly surprising. Highlights: -The Momomaki - might be the best Maki Roll I've ever tasted -The baby hamachi "chefs Nigiri" -Negima Skewer. For all the skewers be sure to use the fermented yuzu paste that comes on the plate. Incredible! -Unagi Don -Momotaro Tartare - SUCH a unique vegetarian option... a must try We also tried the Chili spaghetti, Wasabi fried rice, Sea Bream, Ogo, Tsukune, Pork Chop Hibachi, Marinated salmon maki, and 2 desserts and they were all delicious as well. The only dissapointing bite of the night were the diver scallops. They were overcooked and had a strange fishy taste. Cocktails were done very very well and there was a good selection of wines by the glass. The Voss single vineyard sav blanc was a table fav. Other than the one blip, everything was incredible. Can't wait to come back to try some of the other items on the extensive menu.

    (4)

  • Stacy O.

    Very cool space with extensive, unique menu. We sat at the bar late on Saturday night. Our bartender was very friendly. I admit to sometimes feeling intimidated by an Asian menu so I had many questions. We had the quail eggs (on a skewer) wrapped in bacon -amazing and I can't imagine how challenging it must be to poach six tiny eggs and wrap them in bacon, and then cook the bacon. Anyway! We also had the Uni rice with shaved black truffles - also delicious, and I cleaned the bowl. The only thing we didn't like was the tuna tartar. I asked for a dish that featured a diced tuna, and was served a nicely plated dish of mushy, onion laden tuna. The server was kind enough to take off the bill. Lastly, they have chicken hearts which our friends tricked me into eating; the flavor was good before I spit the chewy nugget out, but the trust is lost. Check this place out.

    (4)

  • Tim F.

    Wow, lots of fun food here, A5 beef wrapped in uni, 24 hour marinated salmon, every dish we had was extremely well done, don't expect the huge rolls and nigiri you get at lesser places, the portions and quality are just like Japan. Super !!

    (5)

  • Wenbo F.

    Hands down best Japanese restaurant in town.

    (5)

  • Akvamarinko P.

    My friend and I headed to the Momotaro one Friday not too long ago instead of the usual Bar Louie. It is a pretty nice experience. Im not sure if they have happy hour there..It was decent place to grab pretty affordable drinks.

    (5)

  • Rob L.

    The food was great and the service was exceptional as well. The sushi was the freshest I've tasted in as long as I can remember. This was my first time in Chicago and if I find my way back here, Momotaro is definitely gonna be one of the places I hit up again.

    (5)

  • Suri L.

    I went to momotaro for dinner couple weeks ago, it made my belly so happy!! I enjoyed every single bite of my food because it was so delicious! I wish i had a bottmless stomach, there was so much more on the menu i wanted to order. By the way please make sure you save room for dessert ^_^

    (5)

  • Yong b K.

    A big disappointment:( Their martinis were not good. I ordered Sushi Nigiri Omakase ($50). Usually Omakase means a sushi chef would treat you with various best plates. I and my friends only got 8 pieces of sushi (for $50 - no blue fin tuna included), which were just OK. The waitress seemed clueless about the restaurant or what they offer in the menu such as sake selection, etc. Japonais or Sushi Samba were far better. This place made yearn for real authentic Japanese restaurants such as Itto Sushi or Katsu. The interior was fine, but the Izakaya downstairs was not really a place in Tokyo as they advertised.

    (2)

  • Exavier P.

    Beautiful atmosphere, great food. Downstairs vibe completely different from upstairs. The bar has beautiful, friendly people. Staff is super cool and friendly. Great drinks. If you are vegetarian they provide a separate menu, just ask for it. Great for date or group outing.

    (5)

  • Melinda C.

    It was our first night in Chicago, so we found this sushi place on one of the "Best New Restaurants in Chicago". I called to make a reservation and the guy said the next available was at 10:45pm, but if I put my name on the wait list, they would try to get me in as soon as possible which could mean 30mins to 1 hour, so we got there and the girl says it's going to be 1.5 hour wait. Thank goodness we weren't starving yet so we decided to stay and wait at the lounge/bar downstairs. The bar tender was very friendly, gave us some tips on other places to eat and was always trying to check on our reservations. We tried the Alaskan crab and unagi hand roll, both were good, but I liked the unagi better, more flavorful. We finally get seated after almost 2 hour wait. We tried the omakasi and was quite delighted with the different fishes and toppings. Sous chef Kazi Chan and his assistant was professional and very knowledgeable of their craft. One of our favorites was the otoro. Definitely try this place out if you can wait the 2 hours.

    (5)

  • C G.

    Probably one of my top 10 meals anywhere ever! The layering and nuances of flavors impeccable! Definitely will be back when I'm in Chicago.

    (5)

  • Kurt V.

    What an amazing experience from the BOKA group. I would expect nothing less. You could not ask for fresher seafood with meticulous presentation. For a new restaurant they really had their act together. The Hamachi was sinfully good. The Toro was even more so. The Gyutan was especially good. The wait staff was extremely helpful and friendly. It was a great space- not too loud and with the dual kitchens the food smells made you hungrier. Best Japanese Food experience in Chicago in all my years. I look forward to going back.

    (5)

  • Santiago R.

    The chef's selection nigiris is incredible.

    (5)

  • Fuudcritic C.

    Boka folks nailed it again! I'm always a little hesitant in trying a new restaurant shortly after opening. To start, walking through the doors I was amazed. The decor of the restaurant is gorgeous! The service is top notch all around and the food...did not skip a beat!!! We ordered almost everything and shared. Everything from the coals, rice bowls to sushi, and desserts were fantastic! All creative, flavorful and reasonably priced. I couldn't tell you what to order...just try it all!

    (4)

  • T L.

    This place may be one of the best Japanese restaurants in Chicago. The fish is fresh. Uni from Santa Barbara. YUM! The hot dishes are great. Service is great. The environment and design is great except for maybe the floors in the main dining room (but who cares the food is great, this coming from a picky eater). I will be back again and again. You know you've been to a great restaurant when you leave feeling incredibly happy with a big smile.

    (5)

  • mounia t.

    Absolutely amazing $50 omakase - the octopus sushi was melt in your mouth goodness. Very good desserts too - the okinawa brown sugar is delicious, kind of like crunchy salted caramel ice cream. Great service - friendly, attentive.

    (5)

  • Jim S.

    I've been four times...the first time was very early in the process and it showed...both in the timing of meals and the overall service. Each visit thereafter, the service improved and so did the quality of the experience. There is typically a hip crowd and reservations are highly recommended. The cocktail menu is OK...

    (4)

  • Nate A.

    Awesome experience from start to finish. The entire staff was genuinely friendly and efficient without being overbearing. Every dish that we ordered was excellent. Highlights: from the robota grill, skirt steak with foie gras, beef tongue and scallop. Chili/roe spaghetti was amazing. Curry udon noodle had great flavor and momomaki roll was one of the best rolls I've ever had. In addition to the great service, food and cocktails they have a really cool atmosphere too. Will definitely be back soon!

    (5)

  • Suzie S.

    I went here for my birthday and was so impressed. Unbelievable food with a menu the length of a novel, fun drinks, and awesome service. Our waitress took a lot of time explaining the menu and helping us narrow down our choices. It was a very special experience and I cannot wait to go back again!

    (5)

  • Alex P.

    WOW.. Very impressed by this Japanese restaurant, the server took care of us and brought us a sequence of delicious plates that did not disappoint. Will come again

    (5)

  • Richard L.

    Very nice ambiance and food itself was good. We had issues with service. Perhaps the waiter had an off-night - he flew through things, and I got a stare when I interrupted him to slow things down. He even forgot two of our orders. You expect more from such high-end establishment with a price tag to match. We will not come back.

    (2)

  • Kevin H.

    Full disclosure, I would have never picked this place. I am not a sushi/ Japanese cuisine fan. My daughter picked here for her birthday. She told me she'd give it close to 4 stars . For my review, couple comments. The facility is beautiful. So good to see business people investing these kind of dollars into real estate in challenging areas. This isn't an area to be walking around at night but getting better. The service is great and average. Our server was very helpful and friendly and took much time with us explaining the menu. Why it was average is that he was spending much time with other clients doing the same so his touch with us was not consistent. A couple people, I assume management types, walk around and smile and fold your napkin when you depart the table. I'd suggest these people offer to get drinks and clear the table. The folding of napkins is a nice touch but got annoying. We were a party of 7. I caution you to make sure everyone at the table is talking about what they are ordering. We felt the server ran up the bill by bring two of everything, which was ridiculous cause a couple of us didn't want anything to do with that food. Without wine and dessert our bill approached $500. As to the food, the sushi folks enjoyed it. I was excited as it was Teriyaki Chicken Tuesday. Probably the only entree on the menu for me and didn't live up to the server's hype. Actually tasted like pork. The beer and wine selection was very good. As to why we didn't do dessert, we were there almost 2 1/2 hours and they kept bringing us little dishes. We finally had to shut them off and ask for the bill. Finally, this was a birthday dinner and I approached two management types during the course of the evening if they would bring a small dessert with a candle--- never happened. Never be back.

    (2)

  • Ila L.

    We went to Momotaro for an anniversary dinner. It was wonderful. Everything from the sashimi to the donburi was excellent. Even the rolls, which I generally shy away from, were delicious.

    (5)

  • Tina Y.

    Amazing experience. We must have ordered at least 15 dishes and all of them were good to great. Nothing disappointed. The curry noodles stood out to me as did the beef skewers. Service was exceptional.

    (5)

  • R J.

    We had an 8:00 reservation for my birthday. At 8:35, they had no table and no way of telling us when we would get one. The basement bar, despite yummy cocktails, looks like my moms basement with a few Japanese posters and kitschy lights. Not cool, just sad. Chicago has a lot of great rooms. You do NOT need to wait an indeterminant amount of time to eat in a crappy basement. If you absolutely have to eat here, check back in 6 months when they're not the hot young thing. I give them 3 years max.

    (1)

  • Mario L.

    The menu was so overwhelming that we decided to let our server Nam-Binh make the selections for us. We started with 3 dishes and added a couple more and more until we were full. Don't miss the Age Dashi Tofu, Washugyu & the Chili Mentaiko Spaghetti. It was expensive but worth it. Gorgeous restaurant, sophisticated Asian-inspired presentation and attentive staff. A must try.

    (5)

  • Kevin L.

    Reservation at 9 and waited almost 40 min to get seated.Food service is really slow. Food is great and fresh. Prepare to spend a fortunate...

    (3)

  • Erika J.

    Everything was delicious. I especially recommend the hamachi collar. However, this place gets four stars instead of five because: 1) I spent $80 and left still feeling hungry, and 2) I found the entire atmosphere a bit esoteric and pretentious. Don't get me wrong, the food was AMAZING, but for a place this pretentious, the food should be life-changingly good. For the best sushi in Chicago (without the attitude), I prefer Juno.

    (4)

  • C T.

    very good! the quail eggs wrapped in bacon was delicious. drinks were also above average. great ambiance!

    (4)

  • Carter D.

    So our Friday night reservations were for 9:30. We came a bit early to hang out downstairs in the lounge and have a couple drinks before the meal. No one at the restaurant shared the fact that there was a private party taking place downstairs when I made the reservation. So the only seating available was at the bar. Between the private party and regular guests, I'd say there were over 100 people downstairs. There were two bartenders. Two. It took about 15 mins to order a drink and only if you were willing to simulate the motions of hailing a cab. We were finally seated around 10:15 (45 mins late). The interiors are befitting a high-end restaurant, but not out-of-this-world; the lounge seems a bit low-rent to me given the plain treatment of black paint on cinderblock, like a dojo quickly repurposed into a lounge. The food is just ok; nothing was wow. Small portions and sushi is definitely not their expertise. The best items were coming from the kitchen and not the sushi bar. If you want solid sushi, your best bets are still Japonais, Arami, and Juno. This is just not in the same league at all. The crowd is very young, and perhaps why all these rave reviews with words like, "gorge" and "bomb." It's new and certainly has a see-and-be-seen vibe, but if they plan to stick around longterm and rise to the high standards of their other restaurants, they still have a lot of kinks to work out.

    (3)

  • Kari B.

    I had the opportunity to return to Momotaro and it was just as fantastic as I was hoping it would be the first time I dined there. The service was outstanding: not pushy or rushed, everything was delivered to the table at the appropriate time and in the order that had been requested (hot food first, sushi last). Since this was the second time eating here, I got the chance to try some different items on the menu and was just as blown away by the food as the first time I ate here. Standouts this time around were the Chawan Mushi to start, the Washugyu for a robata, and the three rolls my husband and I tried: Momomaki, Spicy Tako, and the Negi Hama. The one disappointment on the menu for us was the Bara Chirashi Donburi bowl. The amount of sushi rice overpowered the small bits of delicious fish, ordering another roll or some sashimi would be the better route in my opinion. I am so happy that I got the chance to return and received the same kind of service I read about in other yelp reviews. The food at Momotaro is the star of the show! Put this on your short list of restaurants to visit, I'll definitely be back.

    (5)

  • Adam B.

    We were seated at 5:00 p.m., the first seating, and I will dispense first with the sole shortcoming of this otherwise interesting restaurant: the booths feature tables which are so tall, relative to the seats, that diners feel like children straining to sit at the grownups' table. Why a designer made this decision is puzzling, but we chose a table instead. Momotaro should remedy this odd situation immediately. The cuisine and service, though, left nothing to be desired. Nigiri sushi is deconstructed cleverly by Mark Hellyar and recreated without violating the spirit of the tradition. A few high points: A Scottish langoustine is served in the style of ama ebi, the head posed with legs akimbo, the meat extracted from the body and topped with caviar. The empty shell is plated alongside to provide context. Baby hamachi nigiri sushi is delectable. Goma ae features not spinach but broccoli raab, adding tooth and crunch. Humble miso soup includes puffed tofu, its silky texture elegant and subtle. The menu is enormous, but our server was helpful, knowledgeable, and never intrusive. A guest whose vegetarian needs and aversion to hot spice was accommodated skillfully. Momotaro is worthy of many return visits.

    (4)

  • David C.

    Talk dirty to me... Momotaro. It was on a surprise dinner reservation from the GF that I was introduced to the stylings of Momotaro. The menu was extremely impressive featuring a multitude of variety. I love choices. Each entry even reads like a line in a continuous Haiku. The aura of the place is definitely hitting on the new-age take on traditional Japanese cuisine that has a flavorful but fully balanced palate. Our server helped walk us through the menu like over-anxious children in a candy store wanting to grab anything and everything. But after our deliberation we decided on these dishes: ::Seaweed Salad:: Surprsingly awesome. The flavor profile was garlicky, with a hint of smokiness, and the seaweed maintained the firmness without being too chewy. ::A5 Miyazaki Wagyu:: Holy crap. I wanted to just order 5 of these - the crisps weren't even needed but were a nice chaser. The delicate egg on top was just a plus. ::Whole Roasted Kurodai:: This dish is actually one of the better values that we ordered. You get a generous cut (about 6" length) of sea bream that has an excellent salty and crispiness to it that is unique. ::Diver Scallop:: The scallop was just average sized with fixings of uni and ponzu butter. It is very savory and buttery but the "side" elements felt a little heavy for the scallop and the freshness gets a little lost. Still a solid dish though. ::Uni and Baby Hamachi Nigiri:: This is where the meal hit a lull. Which is why I could NOT give it 5-Stars. The Uni was just average. Not very impressive for a place that features it in a lot of dishes. Also, the baby hamachi was just, eh. It was a surpising dull note after such impressive notes. (I think leaning more on their kitchen food is actually the way to go.) ::Momomaki:: MO' MO' MAKI, MO' MO' PROBLEMS... (Sorry.) But this maki was a fantastic creation and really highlighted the creativity of the sushi chef to make something that was not just drenched in sauce/cream. Instead, it really gave the feeling of freshness with a huge range of flavor profiles from silky tuna, to a robust octopus mixture, and a coolness of lotus root. The only problem was that it was better than the nigiri. ::FINALLY Chili Mentaiko Spaghetti:: What. Wait.. What?.. I want to finish every meal with this dish. Seeing as I am an avid "noodle-hoe". This paired with the fact that the seasoning was so well blended that it was incredibly difficult to describe where the spiciness and the light creaminess and the bounciness of the noodles all started and ended. ***So the overall recommendation is definitely come by this place for a special occassion (with reservation) and when in doubt lean toward the seasonal menu for a wonderful experience.

    (4)

  • Andrea G.

    Omakase is the way to go. The best sushi I've had in Chicago yet...but I'm working my way up so stay tuned.

    (5)

  • Sarah Y.

    Momotaro is legit! So many items on this menu were just divine that it's hard to go wrong. Momotaro is the place to try the seafood you're too wigged out to try elsewhere, like the sea urchin pasta, or smoked clams, eel donburi. It's all super good. There were a total of 6 of us, and we were able to split most small dishes, so everyone was able to try a few bites of each. Also, splurge on some cocktails...it completes the experience.

    (5)

  • Jason M.

    Worst meal I have ever had in Chicago. They are trying too hard to be different. Food doesn't taste like the associated cost

    (1)

  • Chris R.

    Place was amazing. I love Sushi and also travel for work a lot so I eat sushi all over the country. This place was the best I've ever had and my wife felt the same. Defiantly try the smoked eggs and bacon, legendary. Everything was great

    (5)

  • Jack T.

    I don't often review restaurants on Yelp, but after last night's dinner, I feel compelled. We went here for a graduation celebration, so we had the opportunity to try most of the full menu, the bar snacks, and the cocktails. Plain and simple, everything I had was amazing. This meal easily ranks as one of the best of my life. The courses were inspired and perfectly composed. The service was incredible. I highly recommend Momotaro for anyone who wants to let their taste buds run wild, particularly for a celebratory dinner.

    (5)

  • Kevin M.

    Really good Japanese food (and I tend to be tough on Japanese food.) Everything from the small dishes (Goma ae) to the sushi was excellent. The smoked aji sushi was done well with great flavor. Cocktails were a nice surprise also. Desserts were good, we tried four of them, overall, after eating sushi I preferred the lighter desserts (wake mono, shittori cake ) over the heavier ones (e.g., chocolate)

    (5)

  • Chelsea M.

    What a joy! With a long wait time upon arrival (which was expected - I suggest making a reservation) we happily sauntered over to the bar and were met with incredible service. Out bartender, Emily, was a total delight. Bringing us snappy cocktails such as the potent and bright Spirited Away and the frothy, fresh take on a whisky sour, the Seafarer's Contribution, she kept the pace quick and the jokes quicker. We decided to eat at the bar, and following on her excellent recommendations, I ordered the donburi bowl and three pieces of nigiri. Now, I'm a sushi snob and let me tell you, this was hands down the best fish I have ever had. Probably the best meal. Ever. The fish in unbelievable fresh, served at the perfect temperature and over the most delectable and earthy rice I have ever sampled. My friend had the Washugyu, which was small-portioned but packed with intense flavor - the snappy pepper, the soft, velvety fois gras, and the juicy skirt steak were a lovely balance. This is easily one of the best restaurant experiences I've had in a long time. Kudos to their exceptional staff and delightfully inventive chefs for a delightful and powerful experience. I will certainly be back.

    (5)

  • Karolina K.

    Amazing Experience last weekend, everything was fresh and tasted simply delicious. All the fish we had was so soft and simply melted in your mouth. Left perfectly full. Portions allowed you to try various items on the menu! Such an amazing place, the decor was beautiful and unique. My favorite the bar mimicking an old Japanese stock market! Bathrooms had drawn wall covering. I guess it took 3 people 10 days to draw all those little lines! New favorite Japanese place :)

    (5)

  • Michael H.

    Let's go 4.5 Stars/ Amazing place! The interior is really well done/ liked the bar area the best. Great wooden signage behind the bar with all the liquor offerings that looks great. The food was outstanding, everything we had was exceptional and unique. Great bartender who recommended some great picks and can mix up a hell of a cocktail! They even brought out a complimentary "Diver Scallops" bite that just killed it. Really cool views of the "L" going by if you look hard enough! Must try joint.. get dat did!

    (4)

  • Sandra L.

    Had the best Valentines dinner here last night. Can't stop thinking about the food. Everything we had was good. Presented beautifully and the service was impeccable. Our waitress did a great job explaining the menu and suggesting some items. We went with things that she suggested which we wouldn't of picked out on our own. This isn't your typical sushi establishment yet a refined Japanese experience. I highly recommend this to anyone that has an adventurous palate. Can't wait to go back and try the rest of the menu.

    (5)

  • Grace J.

    Last night at Momotaro was a bust. The service was pretty awful... I got there a few minutes after 7:30 PM and was told there were no tables available yet and we could either wait at the bar for an indefinite amount of time or we could sit at the sushi bar for dinner. I was hungry so I chose the sushi bar, which was very unpleasant so I said I would rather wait at the bar to be seated. After about 45 minutes we were seated. Then we ordered and began to slowly get our food. The waiter brought the wrong drinks, they brought the same dish two times. This is my second time at the restaurant that I had an unsatisfactory experience with service. The first time I was also seated way behind schedule. I have had friends who have also waited almost an hour or even more for their tables to become available. They removed the second drinks from the bill and brought a complimentary dessert out after I complained. If you are looking for trendy Japanese in Chicago this would not be at the top of my list. Food is very delicious, the momotaro tartare is unbelievable, seriously it is hard to believe their is no meat or fish in it, but it is just as delicious as Japonais, Sunda, etc...without the same caliber of service. Maybe once they have been around for a few more months the service will get a little bit more efficient. Who knows!! Though I do like the parche app valet feature, I hope more restaurants start utilizing that service. Get the matcha green tea cocktail it was very refreshing!

    (3)

  • Mat B.

    Excellent. Seriously great robata. Chicago has suffered from a deficit of grilled and skewered meats. Momotaro fixes that. Ingredients were uniformly fresh. The Kushi oysters were some of the freshest I've had anywhere. How are they doing that? Sushi was terrific. 1 in 20 roll. Yes, please. I will return. And I will consume everything on this menu. And it will be good. Very good service. Approachable and informative but not overbearing. Momotaro is having a moment but didn't sense any attitude. Good. This is Chicago after all. It's too cold for attitude. Cool little lower level that would be fun to come back to and enjoy.

    (5)

  • Andrew C.

    I'm not sure how you could rate this place lower than a 5. It's really an AMAZING restaurant. First, they fly in all their fish daily from the Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo...which, for anyone whose been to Tokyo knows is really the finest seafood in the world. The Japanese food was amazing, but the star of the show was the sushi. My friend, who annoys me sometimes because he's SUCH a food snob, finished his meal and said..."This is the very best sushi I have had in my entire life." Anyway, the atmosphere is typical of that area, clubby cool, but unpretentious, I thought. It's expensive, but....really....an amazing meal like this is worth it. I'd say $100 per person (drinks included) would be a pretty reasonable expectation. There were three of us and with tip it came out to about that, maybe a few dollars more. Another great addition to Chicago's fantastic restaurant culture. Excellent!

    (5)

  • Rebecca C.

    Food: Edible but forgettable, small portions, pricey for its value, limited creativity/originality. Ambience: Nice, nothing that sticks out. Service: Atrocious. One of the worst waiters I had in my lifetime. Every time I pass by this restaurant I want to spit on its doorstep.

    (1)

  • Erick N.

    Boka Group's long awaited, much anticipated modern Japanese restaurant has finally opened. The venue is impressive from the moment you walk in; high ceilings, open space and Contemporary decor. A large sushi bar adorns the middle of the dining room. While the venue looks elegant and the serving pieces are aesthetically pleasing - especially the fun chopstick holders, the one drawback is tables (at least in the portion of the dining room we were seated) are extremely closely spaced detracting some from the otherwise elegant feel. The venue has a lot of energy and while i was expecting the relaxed, upscale vibe of Boka it is more akin to Girl & the Goat. The menu is vast and divided into several sections; snacks, hot & cold small plates, robata items, luxurious items finished tableside on a hibachi grill, items based on the season and all sorts of sushi options (even an Omakase option). Most of the items are appetizer sized and meant to be shared tapas style. A duo of highly talented chefs each have their own kitchen; Mark Hellyar is in charge of the hot items and Jeff Ramsey (who came to Chicago from Tokyo) is the head sushi chef. The early buzz on Momotaro has been consistently fantastic among professional food critics and the general public alike; after being served course-after-course of creative, delicious, attractively plated, high quality, perfectly executed cuisine there is no doubt that these chefs are top notch in their areas of expertise. Momotaro is already serving Michelin star quality food in just their second week in business; it is not a stretch to say that they already deserve recognition as one of the very best Japanese venues in not just Chicago, but the entire region. We sampled an item or two from nearly every category on the menu and one would never know this is a new venue from the flawless execution. Prices were quite reasonable for the quality of the ingredients; the menu contains so many delicious sounding dishes I definitely want to return to experience more. This was definitely some of the best tasting sushi I have consumed (such fresh, flavorful fish and nicely seasoned rice in the perfect ratio), but be sure to order items from other portions of the menu as well; the Momotaro Tartare (a play on steak tartare but with tomatoes) was exquisite as was the skirt steak wrapped with foie gras served along with shishito peppers off the robata grill. As with the fish, the quality of the meats here is also off the charts (Jidori chicken, A5 Miyazaki Wagyu, Berkshire pork etc.). Service was mostly good, but unlike the cuisine it is not yet firing on all cylinders and still needs some tweaks. As for the positive, everybody we encountered was friendly, service was very attentive, our primary server had a ridiculously good command of the massive menu and was helpful in making selections, and there are upscale touches such as one's napkin being folded while using the restroom. Pacing however was an issue; we ordered food from six different categories on the menu - while the order in which the dishes were brought out was thoughtful there were virtually no gaps between courses. Not only did the first course arrive a couple minutes after receiving our cocktails, but on multiple occasions the next course was brought literally as we were still taking the final bites of the previous course. Furthermore, the busing of the dishes was awkward; the serving plate would be cleared as we were still eating that particular course - in addition to being bumped into on a couple of occasions as this was occurring it resulted in feeling rushed and at times I would have liked to have made use of the flavorful pools of sauce in the serving plate. We had been expecting a leisurely dining experience but were done in under an hour (as I took my last bite I noticed we still had more than half of our cocktail remaining as there was no time between courses to sip our drinks). I imagine that with a menu format with so many categories it is likely hard for Momotaro to predict the average dining time per table and therefore plan for reservation spacing. As Boka Group is known for amazing service I am confident this issue will be rectified sooner rather than later. After dinner we enjoyed an after dinner drink and dessert in the downstairs Izakaya bar; this was dimly lit, had funky decor and the vibe of a speakeasy. The bar staff were friendly and attentive and we enjoyed our drinks; the beverage menu is the same upstairs and downstairs; craft Japanese influenced cocktails, sakes, wine and beer but the downstairs has a smaller and different food menu featuring bar snacks and a trio of desserts (we loved the cheese dessert that was a riff on a port wine cheese ball; really delicious cheese with toasted homemade pumpkin bread, gourmet mustard and pickled fruit). Momotaro is going to be a huge success and is already on the verge of greatness; a very welcome addition to Chicago's bustling dining scene.

    (5)

  • Kellye W.

    Genuinely enjoyed dining at Boka's "most adventurous restaurant yet." The menu was loaded with choices and if you aren't a seasoned Japanese diner, your server will be happy to guide you through. I was disappointed by the fact that there wasn't an Omakase menu which takes you through the entirety of Momotaro offerings. So we decided to do our own "tasting menu" which included the following, our server coursed appropriately. However we did have to ask our server to slow down the delivery of each dish. One at a time please! Chili spaghetti, Negima, Diver scallop. Toro tartare, Ikura, Washugyu, Hamachi collar, Sashimi of Uni, Tamago, Unagi and hamachi. For dessert we had the whipped tofu with almonds and pralines. I'd take a pass on the Diver scallops and the Alaskan King Crab hot appetizer. The Hamachi collar, sashimi, chicken thighs and Waygu with foie gras were standouts. I'm not sure why people are loving the chili spaghetti. Meh at best on that dish. Well put together wine and cocktail list! Applause for having sparkling sake!! We took a trip downstairs to the lounge for an after dinner drink. Great music in a sterile environment. Didn't remind me of a Japanese office but more like a Japanese interior design project gone bad. I'll definitely go back but Kai Zan is still my favorite!

    (3)

  • David D.

    One started was a bit fishy, otherwise 5 stars. Service was top notch, and hear with an extensive and foreign menu, they have work to do, explains the items. But ours did with enthusiasm and charm. Water glasses never fell below the half way mark and any scrap of anything was whisked away without notice. Located just out side the elevated train, the sounds were evident but hard to notice with hip ambient tunes that were not intrusive to dinner conversation. Food was definitely something different and we thoroughly enjoyed our meal, tea, and dessert.

    (4)

  • Samantha H.

    Ate at Momotaro last night! Very very enjoyable! Food was great! We had the edamame (cooked and salted to perfection), the unagi rice, the skirt steak skewers, the short rib skewers, the sashimi omakase, the curry udon, and the butterscotch pudding. Favs were def the unagi rice and the skirt steak skewers! I was somewhat disappointed with the sashimi--just expected it to be a bit more fresh. The butterscotch pudding was great, but just a little bit too salty. I get, and love, the salty-sweet combo, but for a dessert I'd take it a notch back on the salty side. Our waitress was great and was incredibly knowledgeable. The only other drawback was that I noted on our reservation that this was a celebratory dinner, and yet there was no mention of it throughout our meal...Not a huge deal, but would have been nice.

    (4)

  • Lauren M.

    If I went off my first experience alone, this review would be 5 stars, no question. The food incredible. The service, however, varied significantly from my first visit to my second. First visit: We started out with the edamame (because, obviously) and I must say, I never knew edamame could be so tender. From there the wonderful experience continued. The Washguyu is to die for, so tender and flavorful. As is the Zuwai Gani.. And the Chili Hama. Ok so all the food there was/is to die for. Our waitress was also great. She provided helpful wine and food recommendations and helped our group of 6 decide how many of each item we would need to order so that everyone may have at least one piece. She came back to check on us frequently and even offered each of us two glasses of wine - so that we may have one of each type (white and red) with our meals. Second visit: Quite a contrast with regards to service. I had friends in town and made the reservation a month in advance... So there was a lot of build up and the expectations were high. We arrived on time for our 8:30 reservation the table wasn't ready. We went downstairs for a drink and waited patiently.. Enjoying our Monk's Journey cocktail (which is incredible btw). We were seated around 30/45 mins later. Our waitress seemed completely uninterested in our group of 5 from the start. She stood there blindly (almost looking annoyed) as our group asked for recommendations. I tried to give her the benefit of the doubt, but the fact of the matter is: she did not check on our table after the first introduction unless one of us flagged her down- or asked someone else to please send her over. She must not have added our edamame to the order because it didn't arrive until after we mentioned it - in the middle of our meal. If she would have stopped by to see our 5 empty drinks, we likely would have each ordered another one. Did I mention they're $13 a piece? At the end of the meal, after flagging her down at least 4 times throughout, we asked for the dessert menu. After what felt like 10 minutes I see her walk by. I say "excuse me, miss?" - she continues on like she hadn't heard me.. grabs the menus and brings them to the table. My guests agree that she likely forgot about the request for menus until she heard me and then made it seem like she was getting them all along. All in all: the food is great. REALLY really great. But the service my second visit has now skewed my view on Momotaro.. and it embarrassed me in front of my guests who originally wanted to go to Kai Zan.

    (4)

  • Jody O.

    We had an amazing dinner the other night. We started with several different appetizers and transitioned into the main entrees including several sushi rolls, hibachi meats, and the curry udon. Everything was fabulous including Tamsen who made our evening Spectacular. The different assortment of traditional true Japanese beers, wines, mixed drinks, and sake were out of this world. This place is the real deal if you want truly authentic Japanese food. A definite favorite when visiting Chicago.

    (5)

  • Jimmy W.

    Food presentation was great. It's a super loud spot so older people can't hear what is being said to them. Tight seating to pack more people in. Table for 3 is a joke, more like table for 2.25. Flavors are good to over seasoned/salty. Order the $5 white rice in the begining incase you need it with the food. Prices are high but I think worth it for some things, not others. The real downer was the service. Good for 50% of the meal, then our server vanished and didn't check on us for more orders or drinks. The bussers and food servers did a great job the whole night. THEY took our rice order and brought us the desert menu. I would have paid & walked out if I wasn't with other out of town family members. Poor service truly ruins a meal and evening. Eating at the hotel would have been better service wise. In the end ordered one desert item and one drink. The drink was brought 10 minutes AFTER the desert... This place needs to get things ironed out.

    (2)

  • Brian G.

    My favorite sushi place in Chicago closed a few months ago and I was now only attending "just ok" sushi places to tide me over. Having been a fan at almost every restaurant in the West Loop Randolph St area a few friends recommended to me Momotaro. Calling it the "au chevel of sushi" I knew I had to go. This past weekend I made the trip to Momotaro with a little doubt in my mind because of how high my expectations had been set. I arrived without a reservation (not recommended but also not the worst thing either) and was told that I would have an hour and a half wait. I put my name on the list and headed downstairs to their bar where I enjoyed a couple Japanese beers. Less than 45 minutes later I was texted that my table was ready. (Always assume the wait time is half of what they tell you in these places because their going on the optimistic assumption that all of the people on the wait list are actually waiting.) When we sat down we were greeted by a very friendly waiter who was patient and explained the admittedly overwhelming menu to us. He made some suggestions and also suggested we order in rounds so we could get a feel for portions and how much we wanted. We ordered the vegetarian tartar (both of us are meat eaters) and found it to be the best thing we had all night. It's sweet and spicy and will keep us coming back just for that. The sushi is very good and some of the presentations are fun. We ended up getting a few skewers as well that we would call "ok". My review is lacking one star simply because if you were to ask me if it's the best sushi I've ever had I'd have to say no, but for options in Chicago it's now one of my top 3. I also disagree with them that they can't serve the full menu if you're sitting at the bar downstairs. I think any seat in a restaurant should be able to provide a full menu but that's just an opinion. I'm sure they have 500 reasons why they don't want to do that.

    (4)

  • Dylan B.

    IN SHORT: Very surprised at the early outpouring of strong reviews, as I was caught between a two and a three star. Momotaro, in my experience, was extremely hit or miss - some of the best dishes I've ever had, followed by some of the worst dishes I've ever had. It's definitely possible that you can order wrong here, as the menu is huge. As far as high end Japanese restaurants go, I think you'll enjoy a more consistent (if less authentic) meal at Japonais. First impressions: the space is beautiful. The menu is a seven page beast, and probably cannot be handled without the assistance of your wait staff. Fortunately, we had a wonderful experience with servers, and our waitress picked a proper amount of food and balanced items from the cold and hot menus with perfection. Food: the chicken thighs from the robata grill were phenomenal. At a certain point in life, you think you've tried essentially every chicken skewer. Momotaro raised the bar. The diver scallops, served with roe and uni, are also a must order. Salmon and tuna sashimi were straightforward, and tasted generally as you'd expect. Then came the bad. We had a seared mackerel sushi roll, which was mackerel served over a massive mound of rice. The mackerel, my brother (Hi Ross!) pointed out, smelled and likely tasted like a dead fish you may find on the shores of Lake Michigan. Not the praise you want heaped on your $25 sushi roll. Then on to the Imperial Wagyu stew, a hot pot-esque dish, where wagyu cooks in broth while on the table. A fun, tasty sounding idea, with poor execution. My family is into salty dishes (see my early onset of high blood pressure) - but this broth was nearly inedible due to over-salting. I felt dehydrated after several spoonfuls, and then gave up on the $32 bowl of soup. In the end, at the prices Momotaro charges, you cannot have two huge misses. The ambiance, the atmosphere, and some of the menu items are worth coming out for. Momotaro is worth a try, but don't order the mackerel and beware the Wagyu stew.

    (3)

  • Jeannine T.

    So here's my story... I hate going to new restaurants, simply because there will always be some kinks that needs to be worked out. Momataro is no different. We drove up to the restaurant and I immediately remember this venue. Having been here for my clubbing days many years ago and bumping into Usher on the second floor... ahh fond memories. I promptly checked in for our reservation. The hostess stated that they are just reshuffling some tables, and the option was for us to go downstairs to the lounge for a drink. She then stated that she will come get us when our table is ready. 35 minutes later I had to asked the bartender to check on our reservations. She was so sweet to go upstairs and check for me. After which she came down and told me our table is ready. After arriving at the hostess check-in for a second time, the lady asked me what were we waiting for. Me: We were told our table is ready. Pretty Lady: What's the name? (Thinking: How was she planning to come get me in the lounge if she didn't remember who I am?) Me: {My name} Pretty Lady: For what time? Me: 8:30 Pretty Lady: Just give us a few minutes, we're shuffling some table around. Seriously? At this point I'm getting pretty annoyed but was trying not to show it. Quite frankly, this is not how I wanted to start my Saturday night - 40 minutes wait for my reservations. However, she didn't lie. Several minutes later, we were seated at a table in the off-center of the room, which is close to the entrance to the kitchen. No apology, no "drinks are on the house," no redemption for my 45 minute wait. At least at RPM I was given champagne, which left me bubbly and smiley while waiting. After sitting down, we wanted to order immediately. That took a bit, and when our waiter finally arrived he was super friendly and attentive, which neutralized our distaste for this place. Though at one point, I felt like I had the whole wait staff plus their managers hovering around our table as a meeting point. Perhaps we were too close to the kitchen? I need my personal space! Onward with the food... Mostly everything was tasty. I know that food is really a matter of preference and taste so I'll try to keep it short but descriptive here. In no particular order... Skewers: Chicken - Ok grilled with a light ginger/onion sauce on top. Prawns - Good, but the waiter told me I can eat it with the shell on. Not true. Steak - Good but very rich and fatty (oily). It's served with shishito peppers which kind of tones down the richness of it. Tomato Tartare - I didn't like it, but the bf enjoyed it. Tasted like grind sundried tomatoes but just too much of it. Again, this is just my opinion. Uni Rice with Truffle shavings - Ok but for $21 for a small plate appetizer, it did not wow me. However, given that truffle can cost more than gold per ounce, I guess the price is somewhat justified. Both of us agreed that it was our least favorite dish. Spaghetti - forgot the name. This is a must get. Served with an egg at the bottom. Mix it well into the pasta and you're left with a rich creamy sauce. Seaweed salad - drenched in sesame oil. I personally like the taste of sesame oil and seaweed so this was a good option for me. Uni Nigiri - really fresh. King Crab Legs Habachi - served on a tiny personal grill. Creative and super tasty! However, for $26 you're getting half a king crab leg that's cut in another half. This was our last dish and it came out about 15 minutes after we ate everything else. At one point my we wanted to cancel it but the waiter said it's right at the counter now. I felt bad for the wait staff there. You see them hovering around the kitchen just WAITING for food to be served. And here's us witnessing the execution of the kitchen and just baffled at how slow they were. We opted not to order sushi or sashimi. As long as it's fresh, then you know you won't go wrong. Just judging from the uni, I'm sure this restaurant will serve only the freshest. Will I be returning? Not anytime soon.

    (2)

  • Kim L.

    Great date night at Izakaya lounge downstairs, where you can order from both menus. We ordered the momotaro tartare, baby Ika, Mentaiko spaghetti, una-kyu and the momomaki. Momotaro - flavored were delicious and my favorite dish. Baby Ika - squid on skewers, so tender and the squid ink sauce was great Mentaiko spaghetti - such a simple dish but really great flavors Una-kyu - probably the best eel we've had in the city. Second favorite dish of the night. We also got several drinks - the river child, monks journey, and some other whiskey based ones - the river child was my favorite. Our server was so great helping us pick out items.

    (5)

  • Steve B.

    Absolutely delicious. That is the best way to describe it. My wife and I went there for a dinner date at 8:15 pm. We walked in and were seated right away which was a pleasant surprise. The place was busy but not overly loud considering the number of people there. Our waitress was extremely nice and descriptive of the menu. We basically followed her lead on what to order and she didn't disappoint. It was all very well prepared and tasted fantastic. We had the Goma AE, Momotaro Tartare, Faroe Island Salmon, Ootora sashimi, Momomaki roll and Negi Hama roll. We also had a beef meatball that was a special on the menu that I wish I remembered the name as it was my favorite of the evening. Sorry! Definitely would recommend going here for a contemporary Japanese restaurant. I want to go back with a bigger group so we can try more dishes next time.

    (5)

  • Jessie L.

    Very pricey but the sushi was totally worth it! There were little twists and surprises within each sushi and every bit was phenomenal!

    (5)

  • Amy D.

    Bottom line: Worth trying but NOT worth the wait even with reservations. Time: 7PM reservation for dinner with a few girlfriends on a Friday night. Service: Don't go hungry or you will starve. - An 1 hour wait even with reservation is pretty ridiculous. Several parties leaving, but we still had to wait an hour to be seated. - It isn't like my party of 3 was a walk in. I made reservations almost a month ago so I expect a table, not being suggested to be seated at the sushi bar when I made my reservations for A TABLE. - The timing on the flow of service was somewhat slow even though our server told us to order everything together so the timing would not be off. - Our server was friendly and had some pretty good recommendations. - Otherwise table service was pretty on point. Everyone was very accommodating and attentive to our needs. Food - Hidden gems in this menu. - Server suggested that we order 3-4 per person, but we ordered about 5-6 dishes. - Started off with the infamous age dashi tofu and we definitely can see why. The silky tofu with grated ginger packed a flavorful punch but the sweetness of the soy complemented the dish perfectly. - From the coals, we shared the diver scallop which was a scallop with salmon roe and uni. We all agreed that with the raw uni thrown in with the cooked scallop took the sweetness of the sea away and left a bit of a fishy taste to the dish. - The best dish of the night was easily the chili mentaiko spaghetti! The rare egg inside the spaghetti needs to be mixed right away when the dish arrives at the table. The yolk melts into the pasta and blends the chili and roe together perfectly. This dish practically melts in your mouth. - Before we dove into the sushi, we got the kushi oysters, which only came with 2, but the server helped us get an order of 3 in. These oysters had a better presentation than the actual taste. There wasn't anything special about it. - Can't go to a Japanese restaurant and not order sushi. We got the sake, mizudako, and uni. All were good. Everything was pretty fresh. The uni tasted better raw than semi cooked in the diver scallops. We also got the momomaki and the una-kyu. Of all the sushi we ordered that night, the momomaki stood out the most due to the simple presentation and freshness of each ingredient. Overall, the wait time definitely put a damper on our first visit. My sister experienced a similar wait time and she also made reservations. Not sure if this is a consistent issue but I won't revisit this place until I know this issue has been addressed. There were some highlights about this restaurant, but nothing that left me feeling like I NEED to come back again.

    (3)

  • Maisa R.

    Wow! The food was amazing! Went there with 6 people total & spent $350. The negative aspect of the evening was that the waitress was super aggressive. Additionally my friend spilled her beer by accident & she charged her for it...couldn't believe it. We felt like we were second class when we wanted to split the bill....what do you expect? Honestly we asked right away to be charged separately but it didn't come out that way. Might return but will make sure we sit at a different table :(

    (3)

  • Caren H.

    We just returned from dinner here and one of the members of our party just suffered from a bout of food poisoning. Although we initially were favorably impressed, it is definitely not a traditional Japanese place. It is one that is more like an Americanized Katsuya. The good, the ambiance is good. The restaurant has valet parking, which is always a perk. In addition, as we were coming from the suburbs, we came early and we were able to go downstairs for a quick drink and sit comfortably before the meal. It seems that this is a happening place as it was busy, but it also had the vibe of a new happening place rather than an established "go to" must. The flip side is that the service is mediocre. We had a server that seemed young, inexperienced and definitely not of the caliber of what you would expect from a seasoned server from an established eatery. Her ability to explain the dishes ranged from that is "good" to everything is "good" here. When the main adjective is good, it left us to scroll through Yelp, which was much more descriptive. Finally, we had to leave early as one of our party members got sick. The restaurant server and manager knew. When we called to let the restaurant know, here is what happened: 1. I was told that food poisoning usually takes 72 hours to hit 2. I then got a call back from the manager that said please keep him apprised as it is virtually impossible that we could have one person get sick from the sushi due to the high standards of care to keep sushi fresh and to please get a doctor's note and keep him apprised 3. It seems very odd that one person would get sick and not the other 3 people in the party. So, here is my response. If somebody is calling you to say listen my dinner was ruined and can you please address, please don't start by telling me that 1) I am wrong 2) get proof with a doctor note and 3) that are you sure that is the case if none of the others got sick. Poor response by management. For the price, I would expect better service, more well trained staff and yes, a bit of empathy. I would advise to not come here.

    (2)

  • Mike C.

    After seeing good reviews on Yelp, I had somewhat high expectation. I had special guests who came from overseas and so I wanted to make this a special dining experience and so I called them to request to give us a good seating area with enough space. Well, we arrived 10+ minutes before the reservation and we were seated on a table for 4 ppl close to the wall (this table looked worse than any other table). I saw many other people sitting on roomy booths for 4 people). I asked the manager (someone who looked to be a manager) if we can sit on one of the booths as I even requested for good seating and they still had about 3 empty booths. He immediately said that he cannot sit us there since it was reserved. Although I requested for a good seating area, I was given the worst seating area with the window with West exposure, which blinded us from the sunlight during the whole dining time. Now, for food, $8 or 9 for Miso, it was really salty and way too pricey. I mentioned it to the server and he took them off the bill. (3 ppl from my table only had 1/4 of it and left the remaining. I ordered Sashimi omakase. For $50, it was definitely NOT worth it. I would not order this quality of Sashimi even if it was $20. I have been to many different Sushi places globally; Japan, other parts of Asia, New York, New Jersey, etc... this place has the smallest portion and quality was not any better than those Sushi place owned by Chinese people. I would not recommend. BTW, server was great and service by the staff members was great!

    (1)

  • Khloe K.

    I love all of the Boka group's restaurants and was pleasantly surprised with this unexpected direction they took with modern japanese. Momotaro is hands down better in all respects (food, service, decor) compared to Japonais by morimoto in my opinion. Our evening began downstairs with drinks in their cute and chic Izakaya lounge with plenty of bar and lounge type seating. Though the night we tried several cocktails and 1 hot sake. Warlord's Bounty - one of my favorites Monk's Journey - very good and it has matcha green tea so its healthy right? Seven Spears - hot sake, yummy on a cold winter night Spirited Away - japanese whiskey based cocktail may of been my least favorite bc i found it a little too sweet Tanaka's Discovery - one of my favorites of the night ...i like anything with yuzu and egg whites Overall i was pretty happy with the food, everything was tasty and I'm a die hard Uni girl and boy oh boy this restaurant has Uni peppered all over their menu and i think i had all of those items. Uni Toast- in the izakaya lounge Tenshi Ebi - angel prawn, roasted essence, meyer lemon - get it Anago - salt water eel - loved it Chopped Wagyu - tartare, uni, wasabi - get it Gyutan -imperial wagyu beef tongue, karashi, smoked peppercorn - omg just trust me and get it!!! divine Washugyu -skirt steak, shishito, foie gras - yummy!! Chawan mushi -alaskan red king crab, black truffle ankake - tasty but maybe my least favorite dish of the night A5 Miyazaki Wagyu - santa barbara sea urchin, shiso ohba - loved it, get it Santa Barbara Uni Rice -burgundy black truffles - the uni is blended into the rice so don't expect pieces of Uni on top, very flavorful Uni nigiri - Duh! Beautiful restaurant, great food and wonderful service! I can't wait to return

    (5)

  • Brian M.

    Came here for my gf's little sisters birthday. They have valet parking for 12 bucks for like 2 hours which isn't too shabby. The server was super nice and helpful in explaining the menu to us and recommending what to order as well. We got the unagi rice bowl, the spaghetti, the chicken heart skewers, the beef tongue skewers, the makimono roll, the seared duck sushi, and I think those were it. I'm a little behind on my reviews so those are the ones that I remember. If I could I would order like 5 of the tongue skewers because they were amazinggggg. Crispy on the outside and rich and tender on the inside. Soooo good. The spaghetti was really really good as well with the egg yolk and the roe blending together to make a silky and delicious concoction. We got the salted caramel ice cream and the plum cake as a dessert and they gave out some birthday sprinkled pocky sticks as well which was very nice of them. Overall, the service and food are what makes this place wonderful and I would love to go back and try the rest of the menu

    (4)

  • Michelle P.

    One of the BEST restaurants that I have been to... Go! The service:fast, polite, impeccable The atmosphere: trendyish and lively The drinks: one kid had jasmine, the other green tea. Both loved it. I had the Monk cocktail with vodka, aloe and green matcha tea.... And then I had another! The food: so many amazing options, I don't even know where to begin. Many are tapas style, smaller and meant to be shared. Several vegetarian options for my son too. Best miso soup he's ever had, and he's tried many. Amazing sushi and sashimi.... So fresh and tender...and beautifully displayed. Go, go, go!

    (5)

  • Amanda N.

    I stopped by here on a Thursday evening thinking there would be available seating. I was told they were no longer taking walk ins because they were booked for the night. I called in the next day to see if there were any openings There was just one opening at around 5 which was just an hour later. I had just ate but I really wanted to try this place before my vacation ended. As I walked in to the restaurant there were many open tables even towards the end of my dinner which was around 630, there were plenty of seating. I guess they always want to seem busy. The decor seemed like an upscale casual, and I noticed there were lots of employees. My server was very helpful, and attentive. Everyone seemed on point. We ordered a couple of items which came out in this order Washugyu- sirloin steak with green peppers on skewers. The meat was tender, the peppers were tender. Buttery texture, lots of flavor Smoked aji not a fan of the smoke flavor but something I guess you have to experience and try yourself. Momo tartare- light and refreshing Wasabi salmon roll- very basic, we were told this was the most popular roll. Don't get it if your trying to experience new and unique new things. A5 Mizyaki sirloin wagyu- the most expensive and the one dish that made my experience a whole lot better. It made up for all the other dishes. Juicy tender melt in your mouth beef. Curry udon- if you've ever had Japanese curry, it's udon smothered in this stuff Almond crumble with peach sorbet- green peaches, delicious sorbet on top of almond crumbles. So good I ate it in two bites. Overall my experience here was great. But with the food, the presentation was outstanding but the flavors did not match up. I was expecting more. I'm glad I tried this place but don't think it's a place I'd want to come back for seconds (unless it's for the a5 lol)

    (4)

  • Andrea R.

    My husband and I recently celebrated our 7th anniversary, which fell on a Monday evening. I'd originally made a res at Oak + Char, but a few days before wished I had made a res at Momotaro instead. While I had heard it could be difficult to get a res at this popular restaurant, but I had a bit of hope for a Monday night. When I originally called they told me they were booked, but when I explained it was our anniversary they very sweetly made room for us. That alone deserves an extra star. Most restaurants are empty at 630pm on a Monday night, but biz was booming here. In fact, by 7pm most of the tables in the restaurant were filled with people enjoying fabulous cocktails and food. My husband and I agreed that everything we ordered was fabulous. Per our waiters suggestion we shared a variety of dishes from the menu: a little sushi, Unagi rice bowl, etc. I was full after a few dishes, but just kept eating as the food came to our table because it was so good. Dessert on your anni is a must and we finished our celebration with some sort of butterscotch pudding that I will definitely be ordering again. We should have ordered 2 since I didn't leave much for my husband, but then again he knows I'm not good at sharing my dessert after 7 years of marriage.

    (5)

  • Steve A.

    I was expecting this restaurant to be crowded, noisy and with forced service, but it was none of these. Even though by the time we finished dinner it was full, it didn't seem crowded, and noise levels never made it the least bit difficult to converse. Most importantly, our server, Brennan, was the opposite of stiff. He made the whole meal a fun and exciting experience, with excellent recommendations, deep knowledge of the menu and wine list, and a clear passion for what he is doing. We loved the quality of the fish in the sashimi platter (which is called an omakase, but isn't really what that is, traditionally). Crab with shishito peppers was also very good. My favorite dish was the bacon wrapped quail eggs from the robata grill. With three eggs on each of two skewers, this is a very shareable item. The flan-like butterscotch dessert was also delicious. The interior design of the restaurant is beautiful, and reasonable pricing makes it a place I will return to often.

    (5)

  • Samantha H.

    Momotaro was good, but given some of the feedback I had received from friends and on Yelp!, I was expecting great. I'm not sure if I just was there on an off night or what. Overall, the standouts were the sashimi and it was good food for big prices. The ambiance is nice; they have some semi-private booths, which is where we sat as a party of 6. That was awesome. Our server, Nam (sp?), was outstanding. He was on point the entire night. We let him pick many of the dishes for us. As far as food, we started with a few rolls and two rice dishes. None of the rolls stood out to me. We ended up getting three more rolls later and again, none of them stood out. None of them were bad either but just no standouts. The rice dishes were the same: tasty but nothing special. The sashimi was great though. My favorite was the saba...it tasted like the ocean. The tuna and blufin were both great as well. I feel that when I go back, I'll really concentrate on sashimi. We also tried the beef tartare, which was decent, the squid, which I thought was a bit chewy, and the octopus, which was actually quite good. There was nothing I would say to stay away from as it was all good but other than sashimi, nothing I would say is a must have either.

    (3)

  • Nadia S.

    Wow. Oh mi goodness what a meal. First off I love that you get to wait in their cute lounge area downstairs while your table is being ready. I went with 2 friends and we had the most fantastic time. We ordered about 6-7 things btwn us to share and it was a perfect amt and the total was under 100 bucks! The chawan mushi was delicious. The washugyu with foie was so buttery and yum! The wasabi fried rice was spicy and so different. Loved! As far as the rolls we tried, I believe they were the una-kyu (with bbq'd eel) and the chili hama- both incredible. Our server gave the best recommendations and was extremely helpful. Love everything about this place and need to get back here asap!!! **Also I would totally recommend this place for a girls night out, date night, or a spot to start a fun long night ;)

    (5)

  • Maria P.

    One of the best Japanese restaurant we have tried in US! The izakaya plates are all great to share. Best were the Live crab and the whole fish. For the sushi the fish are some of the freshest and delicate we have ever had. We had the Aji with the 1200 year ild oak: impressive! The zuke sake and angel fish nigiri were amazing and all the rolls were delicate yet flavorful!

    (5)

  • Tina L.

    This review is for the drinks and the uni toast that we had downstairs. I wish we hadn't had dinner, because I would have loved to try some of their other dishes! We were all way too full, so we decided to split an order of uni toast, just to try. Even though I was beyond full, it was such a wonderful experience to get even a little sliver of that savory, delectable, rich and creamy uni on top of the buttery, crispy, flakey toast. YUM! I ordered a drink that was delicious and STRONG. Two of those things got me buzzed!

    (5)

  • My T.

    We waited forever for the table but they made up for it. Gave us a round of free drinks and desserts. Food was excellent.

    (4)

  • Irina K.

    We had an incredible experience there. I would say it is the best Japanese restaurant in Chicago right now. Every dish they served was unique. Our server Nam Binh made us feel like we were some kind of royalty. Seriously, that young man was on top of his game. I wrote down his name because I was so impressed. We usually go out for dinner 5 times a week. So we know the difference. This place has seriously impressed us. Btw, on top of everything they got us additional free dessert.

    (5)

  • Renaud S.

    A must-go place in Chicago for Japanese food lovers. Food is delicious, reffined, slightly spicy sometimes, always flavored. Broad choice of wines - we had a red Australian wine which went absolutely well with the meals. I particularly recommend their Momotaro tartare: exquisite!

    (5)

  • Teri Y.

    Took me awhile to finally write a review for Momotaro. Reason was that my first visit was during their soft opening, which already quite blew me away. I wanted to return again at a later time to see how it matched up to the night of the soft opening and again it impressed. Soft openings are usually when kinks need to be ironed out, and yes, there were some, but overall being so damn fantastic on opening night was already a very good sign. My favorite part of Momotaro's menu is that there are popular everyday items you will see in Japan but unfortunately you don't get that in most Japanese restaurants in Chicago. Chawan mushi is one of them. Their take on the steamed egg custard- soo good. Mentaiko spaghetti: popular item in Tokyo and only Momotaro has it in Chicago. So ahh-mazing. You mix it up with the runny egg at the bottom of the plate and the taste of the noodle is excellent. The toro tartare is so fresh and of so good quality, I could taste it's natural sweetness. The whole kurodai fish on a cedar plank is so moist, I ate everything up, skin and all...

    (5)

  • Louise M.

    I was too excited to write the review after dining here that I had to write it right away so I could remember every single details. I have been so blessed. 2015 started with a bang with unexpected treats that I probably could never done on my own, from tasting an $800 bottle Lafite Rotschild to this dinner tonight. The five star says it all about tonight's dinner, courtesy of my good friend C.K and Sabrina. Our party really ate well tonight at this three month old newly opened restaurant, Momotaro. Let me take you to the wonderful journey of discovering Japanese food art. To tell you the truth, I haven't been all that enthused of Japanese cuisine lately. I had been eating tons of Vietnamese cuisine, especially pho, dealing with cold winter in Minnesota, that the thought of cold raw fish didn't appeal to me. Plus, some of the sushi places I had been lately weren't that exciting. C.K. was very excited to try this place and though I insisted that I would treat this time, he told me no because he wanted all the ordering power. Did he do some ordering! We just sat back, relaxed, and ate every single morsel of pure ecstasy delivered to the table. Reservation is a bit hard to get to this new and hot restaurant. We got in early at 5:45 PM reservation; however, we were really hungry so it worked out just fine. Our server, Nam, was pretty knowledgeable working with C.K. on what to order. They started with an unagi don or rice bowl topped with grilled seasoned eel intended for the kids. However, we were hungry and we also tried a spoonful of it and that was heaven in a bowl. Dear baby Jesus, that unagi really hit the spot from the charred flavor of the flaky sweet eel combined with the sticky Japanese rice. It was deelicious!! Then the foods just kept flowing: the langoustine topped with caviar that was $20/pop was so buttery good it was unbelievable. The uni wrapped with marbled wagyu was the ultimate surf and turf in one pop. The fattiness of the wagyu paired with the flavor of the sea in the form of uni was an extreme indulgence. The kampachi was very delicately served in yuzu juice paired with micro cut of yuzu. The skewer of beef, shishito and foie gras also topped everything. The shishito pepper was the star actually. I never had it before and couldn't believe my mouth. Each item that came was better than the one before and it kept on coming. The cawan mushi which was egg custard that was made with perfection, so smooth with no air bubble, had to be topped with this creamy sauce filled with king crab leg meats and black truffle. It was texture and flavor explosion! The mentaike spaghetti was tasting better than spaghetti carbonara believe it or not! It was a little spicy paired with such a creaminess coming from an egg yolk that was placed under the pasta. I thought it would taste just plain, but I was wrong. It was so so good! The wasabi fried rice was shocking too. I didn't think I'd like it but it was so exquisite I didn't know if I ever had anything better in the form of fried rice. I was bending my body towards the rice paying respect to its greatness. The grilled sea bream was nonpareil. OMG.. Flaky white fish, thick meat and just enough fat and and acidity from the shizo sauce was so delightful!! Then the nigiri sushi platter filled with angel prawn that was tasty but quite gingery, the diver scallop that was so delicate but then we got a huge punch of wasabi coming from underneath, and lastly, the kobe with sea urchin nigiri... Oh la la..party in my mouth! Lastly, we also ordered the rib eye donburi that was good and sea urchin nigiri with egg yolk. I was full at this point. I didn't try the sea urchin nigiri but my friend wished it didn't have the egg yolk as it covered the taste of the uni. Overall though... Top notch! Boka Group did it again with Momotaro. They know how to create a great eatery and despite the executive chefs for this restaurant aren't even Japanese, I love every single bite I had. The restaurant was definitely hip and trendy, and prices weren't cheap; however, with the amount of food we got and the quality of the ingredients, it was all fairly bartered. We had a lot of fun trying the food one by one, bite by bite. The pace was just steady and we had small bite each time and it was a really fun way to eat. It has been one of the most spectacular meals I had in the three days of 2015! Holy balls, the benchmark is high for the rest of the year! The service was quite good towards the excellent level though my friend wished it was even more attentive. I had a little mishap with the rib eye don thinking that a hard piece I couldn't chew seemed to be plastic. They examined it and told me it was just onion. It was a pretty hard unpalatable onion let me tell you. I wish they at least would say sorry instead of kinda saying..you were wrong! However, I forgave them for being a new restaurant and for the fact the foods have been extraordinary. Wow!! I am blown away

    (5)

  • Tiffany R.

    I was here for my birthday. It was very near the end of the evening but they were very accomdating and the food and service was amazing! Sarah was our server and she was the best ever and the gentleman Darryl who bused our table was nice as well. The sushi was very fresh and tasty. Given the traditional Japanese sushi status of the restaurant the food was a little different then some other popular places but that is good because it's one of the things that made the experience great! Don't come here looking for a California roll but be prepared to be wowed. Amazeballs!

    (5)

  • Ginny M.

    What a great place. We were a bit confused when we first arrived because this is actually two restaurants within one. We were seated downstairs in the lounge which was quieter and less hectic than the main restaurant. The two restaurants do have different menus and the lounge menu is significantly smaller. We ordered the king crab deviled eggs, spicy tuna and octopus roll, beef tongue salad, salmon sashimi, fried chicken thighs and cocktails. The roll was incredible. I have not seen tuna that bright and fresh in long time. The beef tongue was prepared like corned beef. I had one of the Japanese scotches and it was surprisingly good! Our waiter, Shane, was very knowledgeable and helpful. Overall a great experience!

    (5)

  • Allison V.

    I was excited to go her for my anniversary. I made reservations far in advance. We arrived a few minutes prior to our reservation and we were greeted with smiles and seated promptly. A bit disappointed because even on my reservation I listed that it was our anniversary in hopes of a special evening. Seating was cramped and we were placed at the front, at one of the two tables that are in between the two end tables that are more appropriate for a romantic evening. At the middle table you have to lean in to hear one another. At the end tables your partner can sit next to you since the booth portion curves around. After waiting quite a while, our waiter took our drink order and since we had waited we promptly put in an order because we did not know when someone would be back to our table. Later after our drinks arrived, then our water glasses were filled. We felt as if we were crashing someone's party. Nobody seemed to notice we were there. We explained to the server it was our first time there and would just like a little explanation about how to proceed. He slowly started to warm up. Up until this point we were questioning whether or not to leave. The FOOD: We tried a little bit of everything. EBI TEMPURA......$10 (very good) new caledonian spot prawns, watermelon radish tsuyu SHORTRIB MITOBORU......$12 ( this was probably one of the best items) ground beef shortrib, mustard mayonnaise, pickled cucumber ANGEL PRAWNS.....$10 ( this was probably one of the worst items) not user friendly and after you man-handle your food it is too destroyed to enjoy. i tried to peel off the edible shell and i also attempted to eat it with the shell...neither enjoyable. red chili yuzu kosho, ohba butter GYU DONBURI......$12 soy-simmered beef ribeye, sweet onion, marinated ginger, tamaki rice TUNA JAGA big eye tuna, chili sesame, pickled onion......$12 WASABI SALMON marinated salmon, pickled onion, wasabi......$9 MOMOMAKI big eye tuna, spicy octopus, lotus root......$15 We had some other things that I don't remember and we also had two desserts. I ordered a very good cappuccino, unfortunately it arrived after we had finished dessert. The manager touched base with us at the end of dinner and after our dessert had arrived to let us know he had paid for one of the desserts (the one that said happy anniversary). That was nice but did not really make up for the service issues. I had high hopes. I had been told by friends about the wonderful 'experiences' they had and how excellent the service was. Sadly, we did not experience this.

    (2)

  • Patty C.

    I came to celebrate my cousin's birthday here on a Friday night. I had tried to make a reservation on open table, but the inly thing available was 9:45pm. So, I called them instead and they had sushi bar seats at 6:15pm. So, I took the sushi bars seats. When we got there, there were actually quite a few tables available, and we were offered a table instead. Our server was very nice, and he said Happy Birthday to my cousin as we settled in. We ordered skewers of tsukune (chicken meatball with quail eggs), gyutan (beef tongue), and angel prawns. Both the tsukune and gyutan was very good. I didn't care for the angel prawns, they were dry and boring. We also ordered toro tartare, Kushi oysters, curry udon, a $45 Fu maki (uni, A5 waygu, langostino, toro, scallop, and king crab), and a Momomaki. All of these were delicious. Fu means wealth in Chinese, so for $45 a maki, it really had the upper crust of sushi. We also ordered the sorbet desert which they put a candle in for my cousin to make a wish, and then they threw in two chocolate covered pretzels. Service was good. From the hostess to the coat check to the valet. Everyone was on top of their game. However, the pace of the food coming was very inconsistent. Our meal took over 3hrs. All of a sudden, a bunch of things would come out all at once. Yet, sometimes we were left with an clean table just waiting for more food. The stretch was like 15-20 mins. Very awkward feeling since a lot of people were waiting for a table behind us. I'm sure they thought we were just hogging the table and nursing our drinks.

    (4)

  • Monica B.

    I am still drooling thinking of our meal at Momotaro last night! Staff is super friendly, restaurant is gorge, and food is incredible. We waited about 15 minutes for our 8:45pm reservation and headed downstairs to the lounge for a cocktail. The Curious Tiger was great! Once seated, our waitress ran through the menu and gave her recommendations. We opted to share: + Organic Edamame: your typical edamame; warm and perfectly salted + Tsukune: delish! chicken was so juicy and marinated with an amazing sauce + Diver Scallop: one scallop split into 4 pieces. I absolutely loved the uni. this dish was a party in my mouth! + Chili Mentaiko Spaghetti: mixing the egg yolk on the bottom made this dish even better. must get! + Una-Kyu: loved the bbq-marinade on the eel + Momomaki: a must get roll! beautiful presentation. originally thought the combination of octopus and tuna was odd, but it was incredible. + Wasabi Salmon: extremely fresh salmon -- delish! There was not even one poorly executed dish. Everything here was great and the seafood is probably the freshest I've had in Chicago. I'll be back very soon!

    (5)

  • Dr. Wendell P. W.

    We have always had great meals at the magical restaurant creations of Boehm and Katz ~ Girl and the Goat, etc. However we were not prepared for the absolutely incredible delicious dinner we were in store for at Momotaro. Perhaps it's because we are blessed with so many good Japanese restaurants in our home bases of California and Hawaii. Momotaro is located in a hot new area on Lake Street west of the loop. You could tell it was built in an old warehouse, but as soon as you enter, you're stunned by its exquisite and beautiful three story open design. Then comes the creative and extensive menu. There is something for everyone from sushi and sashimi to robatayaki and yakitori hot dishes accompanied by a nicely selected sake, wine, beer and Japanese whiskey menu. Our server Paul and the attentive team were never intrusive, but extremely efficient whisking away chopstick wrappers and filling water glasses. Now on to the dishes we selected. A delicious miso soup with two types of high quality tofu and kombu. Next we ordered ebi tempura made with fresh spot prawns which is one of standards I use at Japanese restaurants. They were "spot" on. The Momotaro tartare made with fresh tuna had a nice balance of shallots, tomato, shiso, capers with dollops of Maui onion mayo was very good, as well as Mentaiko spaghetti subtly with fish roe and a raw egg ~ like a fish egg carbonara. The chicken meatball skewers were good, but the Wa Shugyu skirt steak wrapped around foie gras with grilled shishito peppers just melted in your mouth. A nice and unique dish was the Aji Yakusigi which was smoked jack mackerel artfully presented in a closed bowl releasing an aromatic smoke when removed. It was Oishi! We finished with the cedar roasted whole sea bream with shiso dressing which was amazingly juicy and flavorful. Because many dishes had two items per order for the skewers, you could enjoy working your way through this creative and diverse menu. We can't wait to return.

    (5)

  • Amber A.

    Yum-my!! Met an old friend for a 4 hour dinner- had edamame, short rib skewers, momotara tartare (a must) and 2 sushi rolls (one with marinated salmon and other with big eye tuna). A couple of their special cocktails. Great service and great, creative food! Definitely want to go back and try more of the sushi!

    (4)

  • Rosemary T.

    I promised a friend that my first review for the weekend would be on Momotoro, so here it goes :p I went downstairs to the bar area before... The food option is really limited downstairs and be service is super slow. This time, I finally got the chance to try some of their up stairs food. First up: yellow tail sushi... Not sure the exact name of the fish, but definitely one of the best yellow tail sushi I had. The fish was really fresh, chunky and wasn't hidden behind all the rice. The ratio of fish to rice was done right. Second up: sashimi - amber jack, fatty tuna, yellow tail and uni. I didn't try the uni so I can't tell you about it. From my friend's reaction though, he said it was really fresh, sweet and yummy. The sashimi was extremely fresh. Fresh raw fish has a sweetness and firmness to it that you would not get on none fresh ones. The only con is that it's sliced paper thine... I like my sashimi cut very thick. And the fatty tuna (toro) was definitely not fatty enough. If it's toro, it needs to completely melt in your mouth without you chewing at all... This taro did not do that. Third: steak and foie gras. Melts in your mouth! The fattiness of the foie gras goes perfect with the meat! Seasoned with a little bite of sea salt and wherever sauce they already had on was perfect. Fourth: scallop - again don't remember the name, but it's on the 3rd page or the menu. A little bite of sour and salty with perfectly cooked scallop; what else can you ask for. But, this was the least memorable dish. Fifth: chicken meat with fried quail egg - what's better than runny egg yolk all over your meat ball? Nothing! Definitely a must get dish! The meat is not dry and has just perfect amount of saltiness on there. The egg yolk can be cooked runnier, but that's just picking bones outta the egg. Sixth: beef tongue - ok, I gotta admit, I'm not a tough fan but I will eat it and give it a shot. This was the best beef tongue I ever had! If you didn't tell me it was tough, I wouldn't even have known. Beef tough is known to be a little bite on the chewy side; you gotta be careful not to over cook it or you'll be chewing on elastic bands. And... Momotoro did it right. Seven & Eighth: yes, there's more! No meal is complete without dessert. The desert that you MUST GET is the Japanese plum with crumbles. I can't even describe be flavor cause I tasted nothing like this before. A little bite of sourness and a little bite of sweetness. The sourness is from the plum, so it's not the lime or lemon type of sour. The sweetness is also from the plum... Which I can't describe. We also got the other dessert - the first one on the menu... It was good but because the plum dessert is so awesome; it makes it seem like this dessert was just a-ok. Tip: make reservations at least 2 weeks in advance if you wanna come on a Friday or sat around prime dinner time. Or, so what I did, come at 5:00 and they'll seat you right away.

    (4)

  • Sheila C.

    It's a head scratcher really...this place is being hyped up all over the place ... All my girlfriends are talking about it ... That one friend from high school who blogs is reviewing it ... Chicago Magazine distinction...Blah blah blah ... And here's the deal ... It is simply AVERAGE ... Essentially a Suburban sushi joint (think FAR west suburbs ... Practically Iowa) dressed up in a Fulton market neighborhood disguise ... Crab salad dish tasted like Hellman's mayo and crab salad from Costco mixed together...no depth of flavor...no surprise notes - nothing ... Sushi Omakase was so mundane...a piece of salmon plain on rice with no garnish or flavor is your chef's very best on a Friday night?!? The coal dishes were so boring in presentation and taste that even wagyu beef managed to disappoint ... And wagyu beef cooked on hot charcoal should never disappoint ... EVER ... Overall Momotaro is "NO-NO-taro" for me ...strip mall sushi joints work harder than Momotaro at a 1/4 of the price ...

    (2)

  • Amanda M.

    Food definitely fit the bill. Came Monday evening around 6, after calling in for availability. A staff member immediately opens the door for you. Ambience is very nice and décor was beautiful. Big open space with an intimate feel. We were seated in a corner booth area, which was fine, although most tables are very close to one another, which I don't like, but is how many places are. Our waitress was fine. She was pretty helpful and friendly, but a tad loopy at the end and seemed a bit unnatural. Multiple people tended to us and they were all very good and attentive, as my water was constantly refilled, and one of the gentleman even walked me to the bathroom after I asked about it. The bathroom by the way, was somewhat disappointing. It was fine and clean, but standard. For a place like this, I was expecting the bathroom's décor to match the rest of the restaurant. We got the diver scallop, washugyu, king crab salad, chili mentaiko spaghetti, and three rolls. Cousin also had a beer and a couple of nigiri. The spaghetti was pretty amazing and very unique. Just silky and eggy deliciousness. The diver scallop and king crab salad were also very good and vibrant. I enjoyed the balance of flavors in these two. The washugyu was good as well, but expected. Felt like it would have tasted the same minus the foie gras. The rolls were also quite good. We finished off by splitting a dessert with Japanese peach berries and some form of ice cream, which was delightful and a perfect end to our meal. Overall, food was unique and very tasty. Really no bad or subpar dish that we tried. Definitely a splurge though as we spent $88pp after tip, and I wasn't exactly full upon leaving, although content. Great place for couples.

    (5)

  • Sunny K.

    Took my mom here last Tuesday evening. Pros: - Everything we ordered was delicious. We ordered a miso soup, 3 rolls (eel, salmon, wagyu beef), curry udon, and peaches & sherbet for dessert. Our unanimous favorite was the curry udon. - Servers were attentive and accommodating. The table next to us held a threesome of incredibly drunk, boisterous people. I asked if we could perhaps move to another table and they said, why yes, of course ! - Decor was tasteful. High ceilings, wooden motifs, dim lighting. - Not as expensive as I thought it might be. The bill came to around $100 including tip, which wasn't so bad considering we ordered a lot of food. Cons: - LOUD. We're used to eating sushi in a relatively quiet setting, so yelling over others / the music was new for us. 4/5

    (4)

  • Alex R.

    Momotaro is a new addition to the Boka Restaurant Group's growing culinary empire; and it's a hit. Fresh and delicious menu items, great service, and a cool atmosphere combine to make this a must-visit spot for those craving excellent Japanese food. Sushi has become ubiquitous. Make no mistake, this is not your run-of-the-mill restaurant where you'll find rolls liberally covered in spicy mayo to mask the lack of freshness. And while that may be enough to satisfy most cravings, you aren't really tasting the fish. Not so at Momotaro; everything tastes fresh. The Sushi Omakese is sure to please. The dish comes with eight pieces of the chef's choice sushi. Don't be surprised if you're tempted to order another; it's that good. The Fu Roll is another popular item, though I wasn't as satisfied as I was with the Sushi Omakese. While the flavors were great, I didn't care much for the crunchy bite you get from the beet inside. Other standouts from our meal included the Chili Mentaiko Spaghetti and the A5 Miyazaki Wagyu. The spaghetti was delicious and creamy without being heavy. For $21, you get three very small pieces in the A5 Miyazaki Wagyu (Santa Barbara sea urchin, shiso ohba), but it's worth every penny. The silky texture alone is enough to warrant the price. The Washugyu and the Gyutan ("From the Coals" menu) were also excellent. We tried one of the Donburi Bowls, essentially deconstructed sushi similar in appearance and texture to risotto. It was delicious, but I wouldn't say it stood out. This place is highly recommended for great food and drinks. Some might bristle at the prices, but they are well worth it for the delicious high quality food you'll get at Momotaro.

    (5)

  • Bryant S.

    I like this place so much! The vibe is right and the space is impressive. But the food! That's what it's all about. The Chef's selection sushi, which are perfectly prepared and seasoned, are to die for. I like the stripejack, the salmon with truffle, and sometimes, off-menu you can get a scallop with uni. It's a flavor bomb! Everything else is great as well. Steak and Toro Tartare are excellent. I'd recommend the Squid off of the grill as well. But you seriously can't go wrong!

    (5)

  • Monica H.

    Expensive asian food? That's an oxymoron I don't believe in! Until now.. Grabbed a 5:15 reservation because they mean business. I heard great things about this place but nothing in specific so we ended up ordering based on the waitress's recommendations. She was really friendly and helpful, and did not forget to emphasize how small the plates were... somehow, fast forward two hours later, I was hungry again. However, you go here for the flavors, not to curb your appetite. For two people we shared: - A5 steak tartare (a special?). I seriously wanted to cry. 1, because it was so tiny, but more importantly 2, it was so light, flavorful, and perfect. Possibly the best steak tartare I've had in the city. We - Sashimi omakase - basically an assortment of 9 sashimi pairs. I didn't think it was too all special or a true omakase experience. It was basically a sashimi boat with okay/good quality fish. - Beef tongue skewer - mmm!! Very good, thick and tender. - Skirt steak with shishito pepper and foie gras skewer - I totally forgot there was any foie gras in this and definitely didn't appreciate it. However, it was still good although I'd probably try something else next time. - Chili mentaiko spaghetti - I'm not a fan of al dente pasta but I basically devoured this. It was creamy without being heavy. - Ebi tempura - solid shrimp tempura but nothing special. Overall I really liked Momotaro. The ambiance wasn't pretentious and it felt spacious with a lot of natural daylight opening up the room. In a land dominated by New American cuisine, I'm glad to have at least one go-to Asian fine dining spot that can deliver a fun and delicious night out.

    (4)

  • Giorgio F.

    Absolutely delicious. The presentation of all the dishes is perfect. I found this restaurant to be in direct competition with Roka Akor. Roka is more modern, Momotaro feels more authentic Japanese but the dishes look and taste just the same as Roka is not better! I attended on Saturdya May 30th, during a birthday party so I had the chance to try many different plates. The fish was very fresh and tasty. The steak with soybean paste was my favorite of the night I will return to this restaurant in the future!

    (4)

  • Brett F.

    Restaurant = Gorgeous Service = Spotless Menu = Will give you major FOMO so go ahead, order it all If you're a fan of uni, like I am, there is more sea urchin here than you can shake a stick at. Uni over scallops. Uni in rice with truffles from Burgundy. Uni lovingly wrapped in nori atop fabulously fluffy rice. Uni in the Fuck You Roll. Yes, the Fuck You Roll. Because it's so expensive you get to say Fuck You, I ate that. Of course, if you're not so into uni - and are crazy - there is plenty else to indulge in. A few of the non-urchin highlights for me were the Chawanmushi, Big Eye Tuna Airbread, Salmon Roe with Fuji Apple, Foie Gras stuffed Wagyu and Alaskan King Crab over hot coals. I'm already plotting my triumphant return... as soon as I can afford it. While the bites are small and intended for a more casual style shared vibe, the pricing is straight up no holds barred luxury caliber. Prepare accordingly or plan Momotaro for a special night out. The downstairs lounge features an Izakaya (drinks with more casual plates) and a separate menu that may more successfully pander to a less indulgent experience. That I can do and will report back soon. #uniforever

    (5)

  • Joe L.

    Not only the best Japanese in Chicago... May actually be my new favorite restaurant in Chicago. We go out to dinner 3-4 times a week and this has been the best meal I've had in a long time. To provide a little perspective, we went to NEXT on Wednesday night and Momotaro on Thursday. NEXT has been on my hit list for almost 3 years and Momotaro was booked on a whim. After comparing the two in close succession, I can honestly say that Momotaro is 100x better than NEXT or any other "high end" restaurant in Chicago. Do yourself a favor and order as many items on this menu as you can afford. If you're into funkier fare, go for the chicken hearts - you won't be disappointed. The highlight of the meal was hands down the Wagyu Donburi. I'll be dreaming of the succulent steak fried rice for weeks to come. Anyone who says this place is "too salty" needs to get their tastebuds checked. All the food is seasoned to perfection.

    (5)

  • Dave K.

    Every dish was incredible. The chili mentaiko, tomato tartare, and aji yakusugi (smoked jack mackerel with a piece of 1000 yr old smoked cypress) were definite highlights - and unlike anything I've eaten elsewhere. Service and atmosphere were also top-notch.

    (5)

  • Calvin C.

    This is probably the best Japanese meal that we've ever had and I also should say that this is one of the most efficiently run restaurants that I have ever seen. Whoever is managing the restaurant has really made sure that everyone knows their roles. There is no one standing around looking idle. Once one table leaves, we noticed that it was cleared within 5 min and cleaned and the next patrons were seated Now onto the food. It was amazing. We came here for our wedding anniversary and told them ahead of time. They gave us a corner table so it would be a little quieter and welcomed us with a glass or rose. This was just one of many great little things that our server did for us. The restaurant space is also really fantastic. We spent a lot of time admiring the chandeliers and high ceilings. Anyway back to the food. We ordered the sashimi omakase, the grilled short rib moritubi, grilled sea bream, and Dungeness crab salad (raibu Kani no salada). Our server also gave us an Agashi no dashi Tofu as the kitchen made an extra. EVERYTHING was fantastic. The sashimi was the most beautiful sashimi plate that we'd ever seen, with a big variety of fish including two kinds of tuna and hamachi. The grilled sea bream was our favorite, a whole grilled fish. It doesn't come with the head so if you want the cheeks, you'd have to call ahead and ask for that. The fish with the sauce was just A great combo. Light and smoky. The tofu was great, covered in bonito flakes. Based on the taste, I would think that they make their own tofu. Our only complaint was that the short rib was a bit on the salty side. And then for dessert, we ended with the chocolate sponge cake which was salty, chocolatey and crunchy at the same time. A great way to end. I definitely want to come back

    (5)

  • Ngoc N.

    Wow! This place is simply amazing but naturally, need your cash money to fully enjoy. I had the pleasure of eating a meal here a few days after their official opening with a group of my favorite people. We were able to try a bit from almost every part of the menu. It has been a really long time since I've left a meal in Chicago so damn satisfied. It's a meal that dreams are made of. (This is mainly because we are so spoiled here in Chicago with amazing food everywhere, so the average is skewed towards great food.) I think we ended up sampling a majority of their specialty cocktails. For the food, we tried the Tuna Tataki, Unagi Don, Dive Scallops, Gyutan, Miso Hamachi Kama, Kurodai, Sashimi Omakase, Aji Yakusugi, 10 orders of the Uni and a couple of deserts. We purposely made sure we touched on each part of the menu. As you can see from the pictures, everything look amazing when it was bought out to our table. The fish was extremely fresh. The cooked items were made to perfection. And the UNI! So buttery. We couldn't help but order a 2nd round after we ate the 1st round. In our minds, it was going to be the desert that ended our meal...until the desert menu came. Food is all around creative but keeps the integrity of the fish. Everything is fresh, fresh and fresh. What more do you need to ask for from a fish restaurant? The space is beautiful, you can see the time and effort put into every little detail of the restaurant. The bar below is great, including the hentai posters...ahah. I am looking forward to try their bar menu down there once it's ready to go. Can't wait to go back...again...and again...and again!

    (5)

  • Susan C.

    We had a 9:15 reservation. We are still sitting here waiting for someone to speak with us. It is 10:52. We had a 9:15 reservation. We are still sitting here waiting for someone to speak with us. It is 10:52. It's 11:29. We've had edamame. It was edamame. Our cocktails were very delicious. The food is fantastic. The service, however, leaves much to be desired and the staff failed to make us feel as if the delay concerned them in any way. The waiter failed to come over for at least a half hour after we were seated. It was an "also manager" that finally took out order. I have dined at most of the "best" restaurants in Chicago and understand that things happens and sometimes you cannot accommodate everyone. However, I have never dined at a restaurant that made me feel as if service was less of a concern. Even though we fully enjoyed the food, with all the other amazing options in Chicago, I don't believe I would willingly return. To be fair, Adam - one of the managers - spoke to us at the end of the night and was very receptive and respectful. That conversation alone is reason to give it another shot.

    (2)

  • Franklin M.

    We were super excited to try this restaurant after reading so many glowing reviews on Yelp. So, it's likely that our expectations may have been at a whole nother level in anticipation of our Valentine's Day dinner but we left not feeling impressed even though we really wanted to like it a lot. Before the Momotaro groupies go berserk, I want to make it clear that our dinner was a pleasant experience, but the wow factor was just missing. Food/Drink: - Monk's journey: this was light, refreshing and a good way to start the night if you enjoy vodka cocktails. - Warlord's bounty: my wife wanted a sweeter cocktail so this is what our server recommended. She liked it, but I was not a fan. - A5 Miyazaki Wagyu: you receive three tiny, bite-size pieces for $21 and you're left wondering where the rest of it went. It was good but I'd skip this if you're looking for something more substantial. - Washugyu: two skewers each with a couple pieces of skirt steak wedged in between shishito peppers. Foie gras is supposedly part of this dish as well but it probably forgot to make an appearance on mine or maybe I scarfed it down too quickly to savor the taste as I was still really hungry after the first dish. - Smoked bacon & eggs: two skewers each with three quail eggs that I think were either wrapped in bacon or doused in some other flavor to make you think it was bacon. I'll admit I was still really hungry after the Washugyu so I devoured this one so that could be why I didn't notice whether the bacon was real. Plus, the richness of the quail eggs overpowers your senses. If you're not a fan of quail eggs, avoid this one. Thankfully, I do like quail eggs but the mix of flavors was not a tasty combination for me. - Glass of riesling & gruner veltliner: we both finished our cocktails by this point and were thirsty for more so we each ordered a glass of white wine before the sashimi omakase came out. These were nothing special. - Sashimi omakase: sushi chef's choice of 9 pieces of sashimi. They split whole pieces into two since we only ordered one for both of us. The highlight was the hamachi (yellowtail) along with the chutoro and ootoro which were medium fat and fatty bluefin, respectively. This was our first time trying bluefin sashimi and we were both very pleased! All of the pieces were very fresh though very thinly sliced. - Diver scallop: once we finished the sashimi omakase, we both looked at each other with that hungry face look and took another spin at the menu. We landed on another dish highly praised on Yelp. This was good but it's basically just one scallop sliced into four pieces along with some uni and ikura so this definitely didn't fill us up. At a $12 price point, I would not order this again. - Momomaki: since we were still hungry and wanted to try more from the rest of the menu, our server recommended this from the makimono (sushi roll) list. We're glad we ordered it as it was our favorite dish of the night. It has big eye tuna on top with spicy octopus rolled into the middle. Pure deliciousness! - Una-Kyu: we were almost at that point of feeling full but still wanted to try one more before moving onto dessert. So, our server asked if we liked unagi (eel) and we both said yes! This had barbecued eel along with cucumber and a spot of some avocado-like sauce. The barbecued eel straight from the coals is what made this one delish...definitely our second fave dish of the night. - Shittori citron cake: a yuzu cake with some yogurt and blood orange. It was light and not too sweet so it was a perfect way to cap our dinner. 3 out of 5 stars with the sushi rolls being the highlight. Service: Lisa was great. She walked us through the menu, provided knowledgeable recommendations and was very cheerful and pleasant. The busboy never let our water go empty and the courses came out in a timely fashion. At the end, she did take the signed receipt before we left so I didn't like the strong hint to leave so I'm deducting one star. 4 out of 5 stars. Ambience/location: Being situated in the west loop, this place has some stiff competition. It's also right next to the train so if it wasn't for the music and loud conversation noise, we probably would've noticed the train more. The tables are really close to each other though with three floors, you'd think they'd have better spacing. Overall, it still has a cool date night feel but not overly formal so you could definitely rock the jeans here. 3.5 out of 5 stars. Overall, rounding down to 3 stars due to cost/portion sizes. We also went to their lounge downstairs and enjoyed a couple more glasses of wine along with a cheddar and bread dessert. So, we left feeling super full and needing a wheelbarrow to carry us out after that but definitely worth checking out their lounge if you're looking for a chill place to hang out or a nightcap. For my money, I'd rather have the omakase experience at Juno in Lincoln Park any day over this place though

    (3)

  • Judy D.

    Just love this place. We ate in the dining room last time but the izakaya this time. I think the izakaya is a bit better. Must order dishes: the waygu foie gras skewer, the spaghetti (unbelievable), hamachi collar. Great hospitality too. We got a complimentary order of the eggplant katzu, which was also delicious. Can't wait to go back again!

    (5)

  • Trina J.

    It is better than a "3" but less than a "4". I know, I know, I know! I did not rate this place as high as all of the other Yelpers. I genuinely wanted to say it is one of the best ever but I did not leave with that impression. Don't get me wrong. It's nice! Love the ambiance, a few menu options and its location. It's hip, newer and trendy. The price point is what you would expect in the Midwest for fresh fish of great quality outside of the Arlington Heights market style set up. But, it is more akin to the new "in" spot more than the best sushi one can find in Chicagoland. The food itself does not stand out more than other sushi spots in the area. What makes this place better than your average Japanese restaurant? - it's cute; tastefully decorated in a memorable sort of way - location; in the heart of "it" dining spots - lively establishment with good music. Perfect for a first date or evening out with friends. Is this a sushi/sashimi spot? Not really. The cooked items and dessert are more popular and receive more emphasis. Overheard 3 different waiters pushing the "Over the Coals" items. This seemed to work well for many people seated near us. Is the menu extensive? Kinda Sorta. As a whole, many of the items are served different ways so they pop up under different sections (i.e. Duck breast, king crab, salmon, wagyu, diver scallops). Thus, the offerings are not as extensive as one might expect. So, enough with the general stuff. What did we order? Bara Chirashi - **traditional Japanese meal. Assorted Sashimi, ikura, wasabi sushi rice;pieces are mixed in a bowl. It is a common lunch dish in a market setting. It is usually scraps of fish. Here, it's "chef choice". $21 3/5 Ogo - Hawaiian seaweed salad, nopoles and konbu $6 5/5 Organic Edamame - soybeans with Okinawa sea salt $5 5/5 Fresh grated wasabi root $6 4/5 Kamo Ro-Su -seared duck breast jalapeño marinade $4 per piece 4/5 Hotate - Hokkaido diver scallop, yuzu and sea salt $6 per piece 3/5 Wasabi Salmon - marinated salmon, pickled onions and wasabi - $9 5/5 Momomaki- big eye tuna, spicy octopus and lotus root -$15 3.5/5 Brown Sugar Ice Cream - $5 4/5 Beverages - Fitz-Ritter Riesling $15, Akashi Blended Malt $11 and Seattle Cider $10. 2.5/5 The Fitz-Ritter sparkling wine was a great pairing with the meal. It is a dry Riesling with just the right notes to compliment seafood. The cider and Japanese whiskey was underwhelming to say the least. My BF said it tasted like Dewars passed off as a delicacy. Service 2.5/5 Service left a lot to be desired in that at times there were 2-3 people servicing the table and at others we were left unattended. Our edamame was the first thing we ordered but we received it half way into our meal after asking about it each time a new course was brought. At one point, I was tempted to get up and get the water carafe to refill ours myself. The hostesses were neat and attractive but never smiled and made little to no eye contact even when seating us. Seating 1/5 With reservations at 9:15p, we were cramped into this very tight space. The table was so small we purposefully ordered a few things at a time so we could share without the threat of knocking something over. When others seated next to us came and excused themselves to the powder room, you have to push over to make space for them to get up. I suspect it would have been more comfortable at the sushi bar. Overall Trendy places always end up getting second chances so I hope for a 4 or 5 star experience the next time.

    (3)

  • Stephanie L.

    Went here on a Tuesday for a GNO. The food was FAN-FREAKING-TASTIC! So fresh and delish. Everything we had, was really amaz. We had scallops, tuna sashimi, uni-q, octopus maki, some other of the makis, alaskan crab, uni rice (fav dish of the night). I actually thought for being a Boka, hot new restaurant, things were reasonably priced. I absolutely loved it, however there are a couple of things that are annoying here. No one offered to check our coats and we were seated at the first table when walking in...not a big deal, however there are no backs on the chairs...which equals no where for coats or purses. Also, our server, although nice seemed slightly annoyed with us. We had several allergies at the table that we made clear in the beginning...but it took her several minutes to confirm with the kitchen about some of the dishes. When they didnt work out with the allergies, we stated the table didnt want it and she seemed upset because she had already put in the order? Alas, the joy of going out with a huge group of girls. It was bustling little place...slightly difficult to hear from one end of the table to the other, but overall, I loved the space. The food was 5 star...and just a few hiccups brought it down a bit.

    (4)

  • lisa n.

    Momotaro is outstanding, the BEST Japanese I've had in Chicago. From start to finish our meal was incredibly delicious! I have dine here several times before and even worked at The Izakaya (located lower level of Momotaro main dining room). Due to the holiday, the dining room was not too noisy and most importantly, our server, Nam, made the whole meal a fun and exciting experience! My guest and I loved the quality of the ingredients from the seasonal beans in our Goma Ae to the fish for our nigiri pieces. I can personally attest that Chef Mark, Jason, Chris and the rest of this talented kitchen's crew that everyone has a passion for sharing the highest quality and seasonal dishes of the Japanese cuisine. One of my favorite dish the Chawan Mushi was not available since the steamer was not working properly that night. BUT Momotaro has so many great dishes, it just gave us a chance to try something new in it's place. COME CHECK OUT THE NEW IZAKAYA AT MOMOTARO MENU! Newly release! You will definitely not be disappointed!

    (5)

  • Karen C.

    This was one of the best meals I've had in all of 2015. Granted, it's only April, but I have eaten some insanely good shizz these last few months. Anyway... We arrived on time for our reservation, but they said our table wasn't ready yet. Normally, this would really irritate me... a reservation is, you know, a reservation, an agreement that we will be there at said time & our table should be there at said time. But all crankiness aside, we went downstairs and grabbed a cocktail at the basement bar while waiting for our table. I love this basement bar & I would have had no idea this even existed had our table been ready on time, so I guess I'll chalk that up to a win. The service was impeccable... our waitress helped us out SO much and was super personable while doing so. She carefully explained the concept, the items on the menu and how to order. When things started arriving & all of us were overwhelmed & forgetful about what we had ordered, she was right there to tell us again what everything was and who got what. The decor is on point... from little details like the flatware being awesome, the menus being beautiful & the lamps being amazing, I love the style/vibe of Momotaro. The concept... I love the idea that everything is small and you can get whatever you want, but at the same time it was a smidge confusing. For instance, I don't eat beef, but other people at the table eat beef. Some of the items are sold by the piece or two, so you could order exactly what you wanted, but half the time we felt pressured to order enough for the table, even though not everyone would eat the item. It's weird to try to explain, but it can get a little crazy when everyone (myself included) wants just a few specific items for themselves. The food... holy mother of God the food. We ate all the things & I loved everything. The tuna was some of the best I've ever had in my life... melt-in-your-mouth amazing. Everything was seriously so good. Order it all. The only big thing I'm bummed about is that, we ate so much dinner-type food, that there was no room for dessert! Next time, next time.

    (5)

  • Laura K.

    Cool atmosphere, extensive menu, and great service. We came in for the sushi, and got talked into a few items on the other parts of the menu. Everything was good, but wished we had just stuck with our original plan because the sushi was good. The sashimi omakase was excellent and we wished we had both gotten our own. The chef selection sushi (the signature maki rolls) were all good, but the options were more limited than I would have expected. I would recommend Momotaro for a solid Japanese meal and would recommend to focus mostly on their sushi.

    (4)

  • M O.

    Absolutely outstanding food and service. This place deserves the hype. I don't know where people giving this less than 5 stars are eating, but I kind of doubt its on this planet. The sushi was fresh and immaculately prepared. Legitimately interesting offerings, consistently good. Definately legit sushi, not some fusion or watered down American version. The service was excellent, attentive, detail oriented, not intrusive, everything I want in service.

    (5)

  • Susie C.

    My husband and I came here for dinner on a Friday night at 630pm. We made reservation a month in advance. Very pretty interior, dimly lit, and busy! Service is great! Our waiter was very attentive of our needs and made sure we were taken care of. The hospitality overall is very good. Onto the food... Small portions, big price tags, but seriously good. The cheapest item we ordered was the seaweed salad at $6. Even the miso soup was $9. It' Was a loaded miso soup with fried tofu and other veggies inside. The seaweed salad was good. We ordered the wasabi salmon roll which was fab, had 4 pieces of the fatty tuna and 4 pieces of hamachi nigiri...which were buttery and tasty. We had the FU Roll which was $45 for 6 pieces. That's crazy! Each piece has a specific fish/seafood... Shrimp, scallop, fatty tuna, Santa Barbara uni, Unagi, and king crab with wagyu beef inside the roll. I really enjoy the combo texture of all the stuff inside my mouth. My husband thought it was overrated..there were too much favors inside his mouth that he wasn't able to identify the fish goes eating. We also had chirashi which was good. The chili spaghetti was very good. One of our favorite dishes for the night. It was definitely my husbands fave. We also had the ribeye donburi which was so good. It was sweet and a runny yolk that you mix with the rice and ribs. So delish! We ended the night with two desserts- the shittori blood orange cake sorbet and the chocolate cake. Love the chocolate cake! The bill came out to be $235 for the food (without tip) we ordered and it was just two of us. Definitely will come back! All so yummy!

    (5)

  • David L.

    Of all the restaurants that I've been to at Chicago so far, this is by far my favorite. Yes, it's on the pricier side but rarely do I get the sense of "wow, I'm getting my money's worth" with every bite. Came here with the Lady for dinner and sake, left satisfied beyond expectations. Ogo (seaweed salad): 4/5 (Just the right amount of "salty sea" flavor) Unagi don: 5/5 (I love eel, that is all. Seriously) Smoked bacon and eggs: 5/5 (Pleasant surprise as the flavors worked very well together) Angel prawns: 4/5 Tare smoked duck breast: 6/5 (The BEST duck breast I've ever had, EVAR) Bara chirashi: 4/5 (Different take on the traditional chirashi bowl but enjoyable nonetheless) Aji yakusugi (smoked mackeral): 6/5 (Impressed with the preparation. They actually smoke the fish with a piece of charcoal/wood chip prior to presentation) Ootoro (fatty bluefin tuna): 5/5 (Who doesn't like tuna that melts in your mouth?) Momomaki (big eye tuna and octopus roll): 5/5 Chili hama (hamachi): 4/5 Chocolate sponge cake: 4/5 (Very sweet) Citrus jelly cake: 5/5 (Refreshing palate cleansing dessert) Water Lilly sake: 5/5 (fruity, smooth, less dry) Demon Slayer sake: 4/5 (still fruity but more dry than the Water Lilly IMO) Strength and Longevity (gin): 5/5 Merchant from Kyoto (gin): 4/5 P.S. Our waiter went outside in the cold to flag us down a taxi when we finished dinner. Never have I seen that before. Pretty bad ass if you ask me.

    (5)

  • Kristina K.

    If a restaurant keeps showing up in the Chicago Magazine, you have to go there right? So I went thinking i was going to write a 5 star review. I am not so why do you ask? I will keep this short. The food is good but not amazing. I liked it but i didnt love it. The decor is beautiful and very contemporary and the service was fantastic. But thats it. I wish it lived up to the reviews in the chicago magazine. We ordered the baby ika, washugyu, tsukne, 1 in 20 (for a veggie roll it is to die for) momomaki (the server raved but i thought it was mkay) hatsu, negima and gyutan. I tried to pick things that were friendly for my non sushi eating friends but they werent impressed either. Both the chicken and the beef were really chewy. The plates are very expensive for the portions and i am ok with that if they were to be delish but i cant sit here and rave about it. Maybe my pretentious level is at an all time low. Not gonna say i plan on visiting in the near future, but i cant say that i hated the place either.

    (3)

  • Vincent C.

    Great food!!! The ambiance and the concept of the restaurant are cool!! Although the place is a little dark, you kinda have to manage your steps around. The staff is pretty welcoming. Know what they are talking about for the most part. Cocktail tasted great, too. Place is pretty clean. Menu is minimalistic simple. Divided into categories and does not confuse customers. The head sushi chef ( I supposed) , Mark, was very helpful and talkative. He talked and briefly explained what was up with the restaurant. Great guy!!! The service was alright. Nothing out of ordinary and nothing was too special, too. But, again, these waitstaffs are welcoming. Will come back next time and try more stuff on the menu. Thanks, Momotaro!!!!!

    (4)

  • Victoria O.

    This is a go to if you are in Chicago and craving sushi! We had to wait an hour and a half, but it was only an hour and it flew by because they have a full Izakaya down in the basement, with small plates and great cocktails. While waiting I enjoyed the "Fruit of Luxury" cocktail with ceres vodka, pisco control, nigori sake, honeydew, orange, and lime. Wasn't too sweet, but wasn't too citrusy. Would order again. For dinner, we ordered off the gluten-free menu. The gluten-free menu is a subset of the main menu, with a good amount of selection. Ordered the ... NEGIMA from the coals section: shishito-marinated organic chicken thigh, tokyo scallion. Very juicy and flavorful and came prepared with two skewers each with about 4 pieces of chicken and a few pieces of vegetables. The EDAMAME was absolutely amazing, with the perfect amount of salt and perfectly boiled. Highly recommend for a starter at the table. From the sushi roll section ordered the WASABI SALMON (not a huge fan of wasabi and this was delicious). Also ordered 3 types of tuna, with varying levels of fattiness. Some of the best tuna i've ever tasted.

    (4)

  • Amy W.

    What a lovely experience at Momotaro! I loooved the decor and lighting of the space. My fiancé and I were seated at a table right next to the open kitchen and we were able to observe some of the action going on there and even chat a bit with one of the chefs. Everything was so delicious, but highlights: The Momotaro tartare was amaazing. I was so shocked that it was made out of tomatoes because I had never enjoyed anything made from tomatoes that much. The smoked bacon and quail egg skewer was probably one of the best skewers I've ever had. The grilled, smokey flavor was so great with the sweet maple sauce, and the egg was the perfect texture.

    (5)

  • Benjamin U.

    I had really high expectations going into my visit to Momotaro. The ambiance was great, the service was friendly (but a little slow and unorganized). Food: Good: -Sea Bream with shizo sauce - fish was really tender and juicy. Definitely the highlight of the meal. -Wasabi rice fried rice - Really good with the sea bream. Well seasoned and a nice flair of flavor. (salt and wasabi) -Shiitake mushrooms- couple of the mushrooms were a bit burned but of the ones that weren't burned it was pretty good. -Tuna Zanmai - 3 grades of lean, medium, fatty tuna - all were great and fresh Ok - Momomaki - to caveat this one im not a big spicy tuna fan. I can see someone who likes spicy tuna loving this dish. The lotus provides a nice crispy texture along with the chewiness of the octopus but to me the spicy flavor over powers the tuna and the glaze. -Omakase - 9 piece negiri set. the fish selection was a bit odd. It ranged from snappers, tunas, bonito, and duck breast (I was a bit shocked by that), Some of the pairings went well together. In particular, the tuna with almond stood out others such as the duck breast did not. If i were to repeat this I would just order a la carte. I think i would've been happier with my choice. -Angel prawns- nothing special. Seasoning was good but the prawns were a little on the dry side -Washuguy - also pretty average. Tender but over seasoned Pass/bad -Tuna Tartar- doesn't really work with the crisps. Also the presentation was pretty bad being served on a piece of wax paper over ice. Not a big fan. So all in all, when you go to momotaro you're going for the ambiance. I applaud them for trying to bring a japanese presence with the sushi and the robata into the west loop. Hopefully more will come in as well but momotaro misses the mark a little bit for me on the sushi front. I may go back in the future to try some of the other items on their robata menu and maybe some stuff off the a la carte menu.

    (3)

  • meredith d.

    I love this place! We had so much fun, and they were very friendly to us. We were early for our reservation, and they saw that we're elderly, so they brought us some padded stools to sit on (since the bar area was full). We had to wait a while past our reservation time, but then they seated us at a corner banquette, where it was a little bit less noisy (we'd expressed some concern about noise), so that was very thoughtful. We ordered a bunch of small plates, like the kani korroke (crab croquettes), the washugyu (skewers of beef and shishito peppers with a minuscule amount of foie gras, but really delicious nonetheless), some nigirizushi, the chili hama roll, the chili mentaiko spaghetti, and the ebi tempura. Our friendly waiter also gave us a freebie - because we expressed disappointment that we couldn't order the uni toast from the izakaya menu, he got us an order of it on the house! We also had some very tasty cocktails (the River Child and the Warlord's Bounty - the latter is sort of like a Mai Tai) and some good sake (I had a very nice nigori - the Kurosawa), and finished up with dessert. Our only disappointment of the evening was that they were out of the hamachi collar - but that just gives us an excuse to go back!

    (5)

  • Sachin P.

    Great Japanese food, though a bit in the pricey side. Atmosphere and presentation of your meal are great. Portions are small (albeit commensurate with Chicago's high-end foodie scene). Had a great night out in the downstairs bar/lounge. Dinner and drinks perfect for an good date night.

    (4)

  • Kristin M.

    WOW. Fabulous from start the finish. The cocktails are delicious, the space is very cool (think Japanese version of Mad Men), service is great and the food is amazing! Started with a cocktail: our server recommended the Curious Tiger, their version of an Old Fashioned. It was so good, I stuck with it all night. My friend tried the Monk's Journey, which was very refreshing, something I would love in the summer. For food, we went with the nomakase - told our server our dietary restrictions and preferences and let the chef send out what he wanted. Everything was fantastic, I highly recommend going this route for the most popular dishes, plus things you wouldn't necessarily order yourself. Here's what we had, in rough order of yumminess (yes, we were stuffed afterwards): -Smoked Eel Donburi Bowl - I would never have ordered this on my own, but it was the standout! The smoky flavor and heartiness of the dish were phenomenal -Wasabi Fried Rice - I didn't expect to like a fairly plain rice dish so much for the scallion flavor was so lovely and comforting -Washugyu - beautifully grilled skirt steak accompanied by grilled green peppers stuffed with foie gras. I'll have four more please! -Cedar Roasted Kurodai - another dish I wouldn't have chosen but was excellent! The sea bream was perfectly cooked and full of flavor, with either lemon or the shiso dressing. I went back for seconds! -Momotaro Tartare - this looks just like steak tartare but is actually a japanese sweet tomato, vegetarian friendly! It's sweet and delicious, we all went back for seconds -Alaskan King Crab hibachi - they pre-shuck the crab then place it back in the shell for presentation so you don't need to wrestle with it. It's smoky and delicious, either with or without the wasabi sauce (which was not very hot) -Smoked Bacon & Eggs - a soft boiled, bacon wrapped quail egg finished with maple syrup glaze. As a Canadian, I wholeheartedly approve -Hamachi Sashimi - the citrus sauce on top was very refreshing -Tuna Zanmai Sushi - so fresh, from the eel inside to the gorgeous pink tuna on top -Goma Ae - a refreshing little salad with sesame dressing to start the night -Dessert was a refreshing poached pear sorbet that was a nice light end to a very robust meal. Our servers were very attentive and explained each course to us, the timing between dishes was great and overall the whole experience was fabulous. I definitely want to come back, thanks Momotaro!

    (5)

  • Lin C.

    Located on the corner of Lake and Green Street, Momotoro stands in it's unassuming location in Fulton Market. There are ample street parking, if you are lucky enough to score a free spot off many of it's small streets, but be weary of signs that indicate it is permit only, for loading only, and meter areas. You're best bet is to just valet your car for $10.00 right when you pull up in front of the establishment. The main entrance, is a through a glass door, up a small flight of stairs, and through another glass door. I might be wrong, but I don't believe the front entrance is wheelchair accessible. The restaurant has high ceilings in the main dining room's bar, but the space is beautifully lit in a noir manner. The bar's menu board is fashioned in a way, which reminds me of an old airport arrivals/departure's board: Listing their beers, red wines, white wines, beers, whiskey, and sake. The restaurant's main dining room's lighting is dim, in a romantic sense. Which makes you feel like you are secluded and the only table in the room. While you are waiting for your table to be set up, grab a drink at the main bar, or head downstairs. Check in your coats, which is highly recommended. The downstairs bar and dining room area is also dimly lit. It has the feel of an old bustling pub or Asian night market, but with there are ample seating, tables, interesting art decor, and an attentive bartender/ servers. From the Cold: Momotaro Tartare for $9, made sweet tomato & onion placed on top of a piece of shiso(mint leaf). This is a vegetarian dish and yes it does have the texture of a beautifully done steak tartare. It is paired with some light rice crackers and is delicious. It is sweet, without being overly acidic from the tomato. From the Coals: 2 skwers per order Hatsu for $6, Jidori chicken hearts (Jidori is basically the Kobe beef of chicken), house made yuzukosho sauce. Don't be deterred by the "chicken heart". Organ meat is usually the preferred choice for yakitori in Asia. It's lightly seasoned with salt and pepper and the coals does it's magic on the meat. The texture, when done right, has a tender snap. It doesn't taste organy or mineraly. Unless you are going to Asia anytime soon, this is definitely a great place to experience chicken hearts for your first time. Angel Prawn for $10, red chili yuzukosho sauce with ohba butter. Note that the head of the prawn is left on. I can't provide more details as I didn't personally try this dish. I am squeamish when it comes to crustaceans with it's head on. Diver Scallops for$12, dressed with uni(sea urchin eggs), ponzu butter, seabeans,& ikura(salmon eggs). The portion of scallops we received was over cooked. However the dressing was tasty, the uni and ikura was kind of unnecessary. Gyutan for $10, imperial wagyu beef tongue, karashi(mustard sauce), & smoked peppercorn. Again, another organ meat that I highly recommend trying. It was seasoned to perfection. The texture, hard to explain, is something you have to experience first hand for yourself. It's very rich and decadent, for the lack of a better word. A must try. Ashugyu for $12, skirt steak, shishito(sweet peppers), & foie gras. This item was tasty, but we could have done without it. There was only a small tiny indistinguishable trace of foie gras. The small skewer of steak was cooked and seasoned well, with little chunks of shishito in it. Not overly impressive and slightly overpriced. Rice & Noodles: Curry udon for $16, with ground heritage pork curry, futo udon noodles, & shishito. This is a large order and is enough to share for 5 people, if you are doing a small portion for each person. Definitely enough for 2 meals if it's for 1 person. The curry is done Japanese style, which has a thicker sauce and a milder flavor. The udon has the perfect chewiness to it, although I didn't think it was a good carrier for the curry sauce. I am more of a rice to curry kind of person. This is definitely worth a try and is delicious. From the Sushi Bar:Sashimi Omakase for $50. It's the chef's selections of sashimi. These are hearty cuts of fish and the chef does not give out inferior cuts. I wish I had taken a picture of this beauty, but note that there were chunks of Ootoro, Hamachi, Hirame, Shimaaji, Sake, and Chutoro. Nigirizushi chef selection: Aji Yakusugi for $12 (2 pieces per serving), smoked jack mackerel with smoking 1000 year old cypress on the side. The cyprus is to enhance the flavor of the fish. Do not attempt to eat it. Normally I would not recommend this fish, but the mackerel was so fresh, it didn't have that fishy taste. Ikura for $4 (1 piece per serving), marinated salmon roe, yuzu sauce, inside a slice of apple. I'm a big fan of Ikura, but I did not enjoy this particular presentation or seasoning of the roe. It was too salty. The apple was not a good receptor for the roe. This needed rice to catch the bursting roe. I think a small sliver of apple around a small portion of rice would have fare better.

    (5)

  • Dani L.

    Okay...this restaurant was so absolutely amazing from beginning to end I can't even think about it without getting overly emotional LOL! No seriously, for all the serious foodies out there that want the "experience" of great atmosphere, amazing service, and to die for food...this is your place!!! We ended up here unplanned, as the restaurant we planned on is closed unexpectedly for a few weeks. I went online and made a reservation for half an hour later and got it!! Yessss!!! It was a Monday but still quite busy, which says a lot already. Walking in, you immediately feel you are trendy by association. The bar is beautiful and the people are beautiful in the restaurant. We were greeted by wonderful hostesses and sat in a comfortable and private booth that afforded us a great view of the place and lots of people watching :) I love being able to see the gorgeous dishes that people are enjoying! We were greeted by our server Paul, who impressed myself and my friend unendingly with his top notch service. We both were in the food industry for many many years so good service is noticed, and Paul was awesome! He explained the menu so well, was patient, and so helpful in answering our million questions. He had such great suggestions for us and was very attentive without being overbearing. My friend ordered a spicy roll without realizing how spicy it would be and without my friend even saying anything he came right over and asked if everything was okay. When she told him it was too spicy for her taste he took it right out of the way and asked what he could do for her. He and the sushi chef worked together and made up a special roll for her that was not even on the menu that she would like instead!!!! How about that for amazing service?? Then there was a food runner named Doug. He was so personable, upbeat, and friendly! He was explaining some of our food that he brought out and did such a great job! We were blown away at how much we could tell he enjoyed and truly cared about his job and the guests in the restaurant. There was also another gentleman that brought our food out named Nick who was such a great server as well. His descriptions and attention to detail made me excited to try the dishes more than I already was! Thank u so much Paul, Doug, and Nick! I hope you all are very valued enployees at Momotaro, because you all made for a wonderful experience from beginning to end. So let's start with the food...I'm going to have to go back here several more times because there were so many amazing dishes I want to try. We did our best to try as many as possible and went way overboard on eating, but we had to get so many to try! It was interesting for me because I love seeing the beautiful art sushi chefs produce, however I am allergic to fish and shellfish but there were so many great menu dishes that were fish free! Love that! We started with the Goma Ae. On the online menu it says it's broccoli Raab and a sesame dressing but they must've changed it because in restaurant the menu is green beans in a sesame dressing. It was fresh green beans and snow peas with a sesame ginger dressing. So fresh, and the perfect combination of sesame/peanut. I had the miso soup, which was a wonderful light broth and was unique with the puffed tofu in it. I do not like tofu but the puffed tofu was awesome! My friend got the yasei no hiramasa. I didn't try it but she said it was so amazing and used several expletives explaining how great it was that I can't repeat. My A5 Wagyu then arrived. I'm going to need a moment of silence before I talk about this one....omigosh!!! I can't even describe it because amazing, awesome, spectacular just do not do it justice. To be able to have a roll that didn't have fish in it, but to have one as awe inspiring as this?! Just wow! I can't even tell you everything that was in it, but it had needle thin potato pieces, rolled in rice and some other yumminess with the paper thin slices of Wagyu laid on top with a yummy sauce on the side. The food runner explained it in great detail and explained how the dish is preferred to be eaten with the sauce and not with soy. I would agree, I would never want to ruin it with soy sauce. The pure taste of the top quality beef is what I wanted to taste! We thought about ordering another it was so great but we had so much other food coming we resisted the urge. I got a piece of tamago that looked like art and was so delicious I ordered another that looked like another different piece of art. My friend ordered the sushi omakase and this was also explained beautifully and with great detail and was so gorgeous my friend didn't want to eat it! She did though and she loved it! The salmon was her favorite. I got the Wagyu donburi which was Wagyu beef and fried rice garnished with a tiny little quail yolk. It was delicious and had the perfect amount of seasoning. Got a couple other dishes can't fit in the review. So great momotaro!!!

    (5)

  • Angelo L.

    One of the best restaurants in Chicago. Best Japanese food. The grilled items are amazing, especially the gyu-tan and the wagyu. The sashimi is solid, though I would order the other items next time because they are just so good. The Japanese steak was not too oily and was perfectly cooked. I enjoyed the steak and toro tartares too.

    (5)

  • Hannah N.

    Went back last weekend and decided I probably won't be back for a very, very long time if at all. Ordered all sushi and rolls. The sushi rice was terrible, all gummy and sticky. It massacred the hamachi that was in the middle, all you had leftover in your mouth was a gummy film of rice coating your tongue. It was pretty inedible and I had to send it back - I have NEVER sent back food in my life. This happens when you add in too much water at the beginning of the rice steaming process. In addition, sushi rice requires slightly less water than other rice dishes (such as say, a donburi), because it is seasoned afterwards with vinegar (amongst other things), which adds extra liquid content to the rice. But all in all, this is a pretty amateur mistake coming from a restaurant that touts a $45 roll on the menu. Not a fan of food that is showy and expensive with top ingredients but pays no respect to the most basic techniques. The cutting on the sashimi was also pretty uneven, I received a salmon nigiri that had a salmon piece that looked concave from the side and the middle was see-through thin. It was falling apart. Just no. The chawanmushi was delicious because eggs are almost always delicious. I actually don't think this dish needs the all that truffle. I love truffles as much as any other American in this joint (I'm looking at you, Umami burger truffle fries), but for me chawanmushi in particular is all about the silky texture and delicate subtlety. The amount of truffles in this dish has all the subtlety of a sledgehammer. The drinks are still mediocre (they tend towards overly sweet and fruity). The prices are still way too high. The only reason this isn't a 1 star review is because our server went above and beyond to try to fix the problem with our rice. She had it remade and checked back on us repeatedly, and even thanked us for pointing out any mistakes with the food early in the day. Bless her soul.

    (2)

  • Jessica W.

    I loved almost everything about my experience at Momotaro. We had reservations for 7:00 pm, but didn't get seated until around 7:30. For drinks, I started with the "River Child", which was a refreshing ginger-based cocktail. They have an extensive list of wines, beer and sake as well. When it came to food, we tried to order something from almost every section of the menu, but the "From the coals" options were definitely the best. These are small plates served with two skewers; the shortrib and squid were absolutely delicious! Our server gave us excellent service, but the timing of the food wasn't as smooth as we had expected and the long wait times make this a 4-star, rather than a 5-star review in my opinion.

    (4)

  • Leo S.

    Well I have to say, i like the whole atmosphere of the place. Not a fan of the seat since there's no coat closet it's kind of inconvenient but the apron the waiters and waitresses use are cute! Lol Ok so food - miso soup was salty... I was expecting everything to be perfect since.. Well.. My meal was 360$ lol but I have to say if you only want to try 1 thing, get the Sushi Okamase! It is divine. I love fish, im allergic to shell fish and this meets all those requirements. No shellfish on these lol sorry shrim lovers lol but i did mention im allergic to shellfish when I made the reservation so that might be why haha so considerate. I tried a bunch other stuff too but I love the desserts, not disappointed at all. I feel like the tea menu shouldn't be with desserts because... Well I and most asians like to drink tea before anything else and we were only told of sencha an jasmine tea but i would have gotten something else if I had known there are other options... But the aroma of the tea was wonderful so I wasn't disappointed :3 They say the portion if for share but it's really small portions like any other fancy restaurant lol I just really like their Apron haha can I have one pwease :3?

    (4)

  • Danielle S.

    I was not hungry today so I know I missed a lot of good stuff. I ordered a miso soup (which was probably one of the best I've had), and sushi from chef's choice. Food was good but I was actually looking for some traditional sushi. The chef's choice was more toward modern style creative sushi. Personally I don't like many favors from different materials on one sushi. The service here is phenomenon. Just for trying all the other interesting options in the menu, I'll come back again

    (5)

  • Jane K.

    WOW!!! What an experience at Momotaro!!! First time there. Loved the atmosphere, the decor and restaurant seating were very nice, nicely laid out with the sushi chefs in the middle of the restaurant. We were not real familiar with the menu so we kind of let the waitress order for us. She did an unbelievable job picking out stuff for us. We had miso soup, edamame, chili hama sushi roll, aburi beni (salmon nigiri), tarabageni (king crab nigiri), momotaro tartare (a vegan sweet tomato dish), miso cod, washugyu (skirt steak skewers), tsukune (japanese meatball on a skewer)and a traditional Tokyo spaghetti with a quail egg in the middle of it. Every dish we had was absolutely outstanding. I cannot believe HOW FRESH the seafood was. I have never had seafood this fresh before, not even on vacation!! it literally melted in your mouth. They also have a nice private room upstairs for about 25 people and they have kick ass bar in the basement with cute intimate little tables and couches and seating around the bar. I believe they also have happy hour specials. This place rocks, great place for dinner then you can move downstairs to chill and have an after dinner drink. Waitress was excellent, excellent knowledge of the extensive menu, the servers and bus staff were extremely attentive, and everyone paid great attention to detail here. Nothing was missed. Dont miss this restaurant!!

    (5)

  • Stephanie S.

    Loved all the prepared dishes. The cod is amazing (which I wasn't expecting) and so is the waygu beef. I was a bit disappointed in the rolls and sashimi. Juno is much better for this, in my opinion. If you go, you have to order the namelaka desert. It's basically lava cake/ chocolate mouse, and is the most incredible thing ever. The green tea ice cream is also the best I've ever had.

    (5)

  • Kim N.

    I visited this restaurant for the 1st time tonight and have decided that this was the best sushi dinner I have ever had. My favorite sushi restaurants are Uchi in Austin, TX and Nobu in Dallas, TX. I have to give Momotaro a 5 star review-anything less would be an injustice. From the sushi to the kitchen hot food to the service, everything was on point. I dined with three others. We started with some Japanese whiskey that was recommended by our server-they have a large selection of whiskey. Then we had some appetizers including the yellowtail sashimi cold plate, Washugyu from the hibachi, and Chili Mentaiko Spaghetti = delicious. We wrapped up dinner with the sushi omakase (9 pieces total for $50-totally worth it!) that was infused with flavor for each piece. It was the first time I didn't need to dip my nigiri in soy sauce. With every dish, the servers were detailed with their explanation of the ingredients and preparations. This by far was probably the best service we have ever received. I suggest that you get recommendations from your server before ordering. We had an amazing dinner and looking forward to the next time we will have a chance to dine here.

    (5)

  • Gina N.

    From start to finish this meal was surprising and delicious! Best new restaurant in the city right now! Because reservations are still hard to come by service could still use some fine tuning. We waited 30 minutes past our reservation time to be sat. Our server was fantastic, but wait time between some of the dishes did seem longer then necessary. I was starving by the time the first plate arrived to the table, but oh my, the food makes up for it! We tried a small variety of everything. Highlights: RAIBU KANI NO SALADA - JUST DO IT! This dish was simply amazing. I wanted to lick the hard shell it came in after we were finished. I would order this every time I return. EBI TEMPURA - not your typical bready tempura. Batter was very light and refreshing. Ebi was fresh and delicious. SHORTRIB MITOB ORU - Again, DO IT! If you enjoy short rib you must try this dish. We said it was like mashed potatoes. Melts in your mouth with excellent flavors. CURRY UDON - Get this for the scents alone. This is a hearty dish. The curry pork and noodles are filling, but again one I would recommend. WASABI SALMON - good but would probably be the least exciting of all of our dishes, and only because everything else was so fantastic. We also tried the special of the evening Crab Croquettes. A ball of fried crab goodness. If it's available~ get it! Book your reservation now and try this amazing place! I'm fresh off of our dinner there and already looking forward to our next visit!

    (5)

  • Mehran F.

    Hip wanna be (but certainly not) with a total hit and miss dishes. Overall Momotaro reminds me of the old Japonais when it pretended to be something good it never was. Momotaro is pretty Americanized. So be it if dishes were good. For those familiar with Katsu's sushi and sashimi, if you give Katsu a 10, Momotaro would be a 3 or 4 if i am generous. For those familiar with Sumi's Yakitori and such, if you give Sumi a 10, Momotaro would be a 4 or 5 at best. Soy sauce. I am not sure it is a good idea to have a very small "pot" of soy sauce open waiting for you with all the dusts and airborne germs....you be the judge. Chawan Mushi: delicious, flavorful, Americanized. Goma Ae. Nice Sashimi Omakase. Below average quality. Sorry guys, i read your fancy mission statement and how you strive to get best quality fish. Just drive to Mitsuwa and more often than not you find better quality. Also that bulk powder wasabi, felt like a stone. I ordered real wasabi. One of the servers said it is expensive, and said $6. I said fine. Once he brought it, it was so little. Our server said fresh Wasabi is very rare and very expensive. I told him we get fresh wasabi at Mitsuwa ever other week!!! (whoever has given them that mis-information needs to correct themselves so these good hard working people do not appear disingenuous in front of customers. Most important is of course getting the fish quality right. The salmon was so blah that my son (half Japanese) who loves salmon could not eat another piece. Negima. Real good. In fact, i ordered a second set, partly because i liked it, partly because after a few "misses," i was not ready to risk a mistake again. Angel Prawn. OK. Washuguy. Really Bad. Hatsu. OK. Bara Chirashi. Nice presentation. Simple but nice. Nothing to write home about re. the flavor. NS-chopped Wagyu. Fine. Shiitake mushroom. Fine. Spagetti. Confused. OK. Waka momo desert. Overly sweet. OK Chocolate Namelaka. OK. Me, the sweet tooth boy certainly could not have more than a bite of each. Drinks: my wife had three and seemed to like one of them only. Service by Shawn excellent. Clean and professional champ. (in fact my rating would have been a one - not two stars were it not for the service)......My only suggestion is please do not hand in the bill as soon as desert is served. I know such a professional person would not have done it on his own...this is in all likelihood what the restaurant expects their servers to do....Maybe for a diner or a fast food Chinese restaurant OK but not to be done when your overall bill tops 300 bucks easily. Again, Shawn was great and all staff seemed friendly and attentive. Thanks to them all. Certainly not worth going back for me. I think The Girl & The Goat, and The Little Goat, owned by the same people are much better journey. Update: The morning after -- my wife had stomach ache most last night and still -- attributing it to the dinner and specifically to the raw Miyasaki meat with uni (she had it and i did not)....it's kinda ironic as my wife is from Miyazaki, Japan!! so i cut one of the two star off, down to one. So much about a mother's day dinner i took the family to.

    (1)

  • Darron G.

    New place down the road from another favorite Sushi spot on Randolph. Truly a wonderful bar with amazing Japanese whisky choices, my favorite being Hibiki, which is hard to find. If you prefer Sake, definitely try the Demon slayer, dry and smooth, excellent! We tried the Live Dungeness crab with shishito, Angel prawns & Hatsu (chicken hearts), all good. The Chili mentaiko spaghetti was better than expected. Wonderful Nigiri and rolls. Service was excellent and the restaurant has a great vibe.

    (4)

  • Linn L.

    One of the best contemporary Japanese restaurants I have been outside of Tokyo. We went full on and had about ten or so different plates. Highlights include: Cocktail: Tanaka's Discovery. Tart, little sweet, with a thin layer of skimmed egg white on top. It set the standard for the remainder of the meal! Soy marinated tuna: Usually not a big fan of tuna, I like the fattier, softer fishes. But when marinated in soy it turns out this is a whole other story.. Toro, the semi-fatty one: The tuna belly is my all time favorite. We had already ordered 10 or so plates, when I chatted with the waiter about this piece. He insisted we should try this and came out with two exquisite pieces on the house... There must be a God. Meat skewer with ginger: Wow yes it was such a surprisingly good combination with the spicy, refreshing ginger and the soft meat on a stick, Wasabi fried rice: Delicate, spicy, fluffy, and just perfectly wonderful. That said, Momotaro might just be another reason for going back to Chi-town sometime in the near future...

    (5)

  • Melissa F.

    I wanted to like this place more, as evidenced by the fact that my anticipation was through the damn roof! I went here with a friend and we were seated at a tight two-top. The food was overall good, and our server was a nice young woman. Can't complain. As far as food goes... - Washyugu - Yessssss, just the right amount of intense flavor relative to portion - Spicy tuna roll (blanked on name) - Good but not as exciting as its description seemed. Got very little of the Gochujang miso flavor. Odd, mushy texture, even with the slightly bruleed outside. - Egg dish with crab and truffles - Dominant flavor was cooked eggs that had a bizzare texture, somewhere between just-cooked and runny. Not much truffle, and the crab itself was not flavorful. - Seaweed salad - Simple but good! Nice sesame oil, not too much of it (good balance) As far as drinks, the monk's journey was very good and not something you can get anywhere. This seems to be a governing principle of their inventive cocktail menu! My friend got the kurodai (sea bream) and said it was some of her favorite fish ever. I found the presentation and smell off-putting, and I can't put my finger on why (other than the fact that I'm very sensitive to smell, so...grain of salt and all that). The issue here is that most of our food took 45 minutes to arrive, and the kurodai took well over an hour. Oh, and hilariously small portions! Keep in mind that neither of us was expecting Old Country Buffet or anything (re: portions or timing of food)...but this was a bit much. Finally, a manager graciously brought her the kurodai and took it off our bill without us even thinking or asking about it. That is very nice of them to do. As much as it's a new restaurant, it was somewhat underwhelming, and the service hiccups make me inclined to return, but not ASAP.

    (3)

  • Bri A.

    We planned on going to a neighborhood sushi spot for dinner, but my bf ended up getting a last minute reservation for Momotaro. I've been wanting to eat here so I was way excited! We were a little early, so we had a drink at the bar downstairs. The Seafarer's Contribution was light and delicious....the perfect pre-dinner drink . We were notified when the table was ready and the bartender promptly brought the check. Talk about efficient! Food wise, we had: -Sashimi omakase: Hands down the best sashimi we've ever had! Of course the presentation was beautiful, but the cuts were thick. My favorite was the ootoro and uni.....both of which were firsts for us. The ootoro melts right in your mouth! There was an unlabeled mystery cut that tasted saltwatery and super fresh. I wish I knew what it was! The chef also sent out a tasty little seaweed salad since the order took awhile. -A5 Miyazaki Wagyu: We had never had raw beef before and I was a little hesitant, but it was so good! This had sea urchin in the middle and the flavors went well together. -Washugyu: Skirt steak + foie gras = wow! I could eat this as an entree! -Angel Prawns - Whatever these were grilled in made them awesome! The chili sauce gave them a nice kick, too. -Unagi Don - Another awesome dish that I could eat a giant portion of. The eel was so tender. -Curry Udon - So messy and spicy, but tasty. I was starting to get full at this point! We had the chocolate sponge cake for dessert which was awesome. The dried cherries added a lot of flavor. We also had the Curious Tiger, Monk's Journey and sake, all of which were delicious! I wish I wrote down the sake we had. The Monk's Journey was minty and refreshing, kind of like a mojito. Service was excellent and our server was super nice. He even gave us some home made soy sauce to take home! I'm already anxious to come back and try the sushi!

    (5)

  • Ben A.

    Located below the L on Lake Street, stepping inside Momotaro takes you to a different place. The menu is a blend of small plates and sushi, with dishes ranging from the simple (Japanese Shitake) to the unexpected (smoked bacon and eggs). Our waiter seemed a bit rushed (even though we went on a Monday night, the place was packed). Overall though, the table service was excellent and every dish (we tried several small plates) was nicely presented and delicious. The interior is modern and sophisticated, but the noise level can be a distraction on a date. This is a great place for a group. Our tab ran about $50 per person, with a modest amount of drinks.

    (4)

  • Diana P.

    Run don't walk to this place! Oh wait, make a reservation first for a few months out bc this hot spot is HARD to get into however once you're in, you'll never want to leave. Everything we ordered melted in our mouths and the flavors, not overpowering, just perfect. Freshest fish for sushi I've ever had. A few days ago we were here in the basement bar/lounge for an event and the drinks are so good. They offer a few menu items such as a spaghetti we liked but is creamy so beware if you want a healthier option. Hand rolls which are ONLY served downstairs are phenomenal, especially the BBQ Eel. At dinner, my hubby ordered the beef-pepper skewers and had to order another it was that great. The sushi maki can't be beat and the wasabi fried rice was so unique-delicious. There's this one appetizer you MUST get. It's a tomato tar tar however you would have NO Idea it's made from tomatoes. Very 'meaty'. We also splurged and went for desert, only because everything was so amazing we knew the meal couldn't end without seeing what these guys can do with dessert. It was an orange citrus cake. I LOVED it and would get it again and again. Def will be coming back. We will be reserving a spot for a few months out. I have to end by noting how incredible the staff is here. Warm, friendly and accommodating. Usually new 'hot spots' have pretentious staff working and that's not the case at all here. Bravo Boka boys on hitting every beat. We will be recommending your establishment with pleasure.

    (5)

  • Jackie M.

    This would be one of my favorite Japanese restaurant !! Highly recommend the charcoal skewers - hatsu (chicken hearts), washugyu (skirt steak with foie gras), and angel prawns. Each order of skewer is a set of 2.. compared to other places, this is very reasonable for the quality and you will definitely taste the charcoal.grill taste. I also ordered few nigiri and it was very fresh and the size is not overtly large (it's gross when restaurant give you an inch chunk of fish). The yuzu shittori cake (blood orange and yogurt sorbet) was good, not too sweet, bit tangy, and beautifully decorated. The raw oyster which comes in set of 3 is just okay- would not order that. The spaghetti was just okay and not a big fan of it. I will definitely return to momo and try other entree.

    (5)

  • Niti B.

    After weeks of driving by in wonderment of what this hidden gem was everytime I drove by I finally went!! It if course helped that I had a great date and he had been before to guide my palate in the right direction. To ease the nerves of a first date I started with a cocktail. I sipped on the Tanaka's discovery- ceres vodka, maurin quina, egg white, yuzu-lemon. It was just what I needed to welcome the night. We nibbled on Edemame as the chef prepared our sashimi omakase, spicy taco roll and age dashi tofu. Everything was implacably made and the service was stellar despite the crowd. For my second beverage I tried the Monk's journey-ketel one vodka, chareau aloe liqueur, matcha green tea, lime. After dinner we ventured to the downstairs bar and lounge to try different Sake. In our time downstairs the chef greeted us to ask how our night was and our meal upstairs. Furthermore he was nice enough to tell us he had just received fresh Dungeness crab and wanted to prepare us a complimentary plate of crab cakes! Needless to say, these crab cakes were delicious and we were more that satisfied with our experience. I can see why my date had been before and wanted to come back.

    (5)

  • Roger J.

    Wow, I was excited to take my beautiful date to this hot spot and was greatly disappointed. As part of the highly touted BRG restaurants I was hoping for a similar experience to Boka or Girl and the Goat. Not even close. Unlike some others who commented on long delays, we were actually seated on time but then the experience declined rapidly. Our waiter failed to greet us promptly and when he did he failed to tell us any of the specials. He basically recommended the most expensive items without any logic or pairing ideas. We ordered appetizers, entrees, etc. but nothing was memorable. Honestly other than some lame spaghetti dish that our waiter raved about (which was average) we didn't care much for anything else that we ordered. I would name all of the items we ordered but the only other one I remembered was prawns that I would not order again. Oh, they did tell us we could eat the whole thing as is if we chose. The guy next to us tried to eat the head and that didn't end well. You can tell from other reviews I have written that I am rarely hard on a restaurant but this place was over priced, underwhelming, and I will not return. Nothing special here other than hype. Overall, poor service, average food at best, high priced and did not make me as a customer feel valued. Only positive is the decor and ambiance. Go to Yuzu or Coast for a sushi treat instead, save a few dollars and then go out dancing because you will be in a much better mood. Update: I got a scathing response on this review from a Momotaro employee who chastised me for giving a negative review and told me that my type of review is the reason restaurants dislike Yelp. No apologies for my less than stellar experience, just a lecture on why Momotaro is so great. I love the proud passion but how about working on a better experience?

    (2)

  • svetlana k.

    Best meal I've had in awhile. Beautiful restaurant and our server Emilio was the bomb, he knew his wine and really helped us with the four page menu. Started off with the washugyu (skirt steak, shishito pepper, and foie gras) ($12). Two prices served on a skewer. Very oily but a delicious appetizer. Further, we ordered the diver scallop served with uni, ponzu butter, and salmon roe ($12). It was beautifully plated a top a scallop shell on top of a bed of seal salt. Small dish, very very buttery but still tasty. Would try something else next time. The best dish of the night was hands down the Santa Barbara uni rice served with black truffles ($22). Rich, luxurious, lush, indulgent, incredible dish. The truffles were not necessary but this dish, especially if you like uni, is to die for. We also ordered a couple of pieces of nigiri. Freshest fish I've had in awhile but the rice needs a little work, tastes fishy. The last dish of the night was the FU roll ($45). As a base it's tuna and a crunchy root vegetable. A top each piece was (6pieces total) was a different combination: toro, king crab, uni, A5 wagyu, shrimp, and one more I can't remember. The A5 wagyu and king crab were to die for. The rest were obviously really good but i don't know if I would order the $45 roll again. We ended the meal with a chocolate dessert, mousse type. Phenomenal and not heavy at all. Will definitely be coming back here, even with a high price tag. This place is worth every penny. Come for a special occasion for sure. PS. Corkage fee is $30 per bottle, max 2 bottles.

    (5)

  • Christina C.

    Welcome to the block, Momotaro. I fell in love with this place instantly upon stepping in. Really beautiful and simple interior (also, where can I find the aprons the waiters wear? Such a fresh and clean cut look...). It's a whole new dining experience here, and most of that credit goes to my server, Nam. He was very attentive and personable. He went through the entire menu and highlighted the must-tries with very detailed descriptions of how the dish is prepared. He really knew his stuff and I greatly appreciated that. Ebi tempura - this is how tempura should be fried. Loved the watermelon radish tsuyu that came with it; it was just the right amount of accompanying sweet/salty flavor. Negimi - perfectly grilled chicken with green onion, but too much salt for my taste. Kanpachi - this was actually to die for. Instead of wasabi to glue together the slice of fish and rice, Nam explained how they use the buttery oil of the fish (or something similar? I don't quite remember), and the texture of it all was just perfect. The wasabi salmon roll was standard and solid. Tuna zuke came in a small bowl but with just enough rice and fish, rice was perfectly seasoned to my liking. Ended with the waka momo dessert - what a lovely finish. I didn't know such tiny green peaches existed! I somehow don't even feel like my descriptions are doing justice because the whole dining experience was sensual but subtle for my tastebuds, and so perfectly detailed that you just want to take your time to slowly savor everything. You definitely can't go wrong with anything on the menu. I want to be back here very very soon.

    (5)

  • Evelina L.

    Not only did Boka group didn't dissapoint, they have probably created my most memorable and best new restaurant to open in the the city of Chicago in 2014. Yes, its that good. The admostphere is simply magical and very impressive, I really just wanted to live there in zen and have them serve me food for the rest of my life. I probably couldn't afford it, but I can try until they kick me out... Not sure that they would though, since everyone was so warm and welcoming... The menu can be a bit overwhelming, especially since everything sounds good, but our waitress had great explanations and recommendations. I would recommend to come here with 2 people, even though I wanted to bring 10 people with me to try everything on the menu, the portions are somewhat small. So, unless you are willing to stab your friends and relatives over a piece of momotaro, just come here in a small group! We had at least 1 item from each page and it was all fabulous. Highlight was definitely the uni rice with truffles - who knew that it was such a fabulous combination? We almost ordered it for dessert as well!!! We didn't order the steak dishes, but heard from the table next to us that they were divine. There will definitely be a next time, so no big deal!

    (5)

  • Jacob C.

    supposedly one of the best japanese restaurant in town? I only went here once for a sake night. sake was decent, but the rolls that came out were just about average. I havent tried the full sushi menu so I cant say much, but overall decent japanese restaurant

    (4)

  • Suzy D.

    We came here for dinner with friends last night. We started in the izakaya downstairs before our 7:30 reservation. In the izakaya we had: Uni toast- not great. Chorizo was too overpowering and could not taste the uni Sizzling clams- average steamed clams. Nothing to write home about. Bacon wrapped asparagus- tasty and interesting because the bacon was so thin Florida clam nigiri special- delicious and flavorful clam but was the sushi rice was off We had some the lucky peach, monk's journey and a few other cocktails and we're finally seated upstairs. The dining room is beautiful and I loved the lighting. The food left a lot to be desired. While our server was friendly and helpful, she had some body odor issues which were not helping the situation. Edamame-too salty Mackerel with smoke nigiri- decent but not worth the price. Rice was falling apart so sushi rice was not good at all. Hamachi with ginger blossom- this was 16 dollars for 4 very small slices of fish in an overpowering sauce. Disappointing Ika nigiri- I love ika in general but not this ika. Maybe because the rice was falling apart and too mushy, it took away from the squid. There was also too much wasabi on top of the rice. At 5 dollars a bite, I would expect better. Wagyu Beef tongue- this skewer was delicious. One of the best items of the evening. Chicken heart skewer- the skewer needed more charring. Not great. Wagyu robota sirloin- this 70 dollar piece of meat was such a letdown. Way too lean with no marbling. Also the presentation over the coals was just for show. The meat is already fully cooked. Berkshire pork robata- much tastier than the wagyu. This was tasty. Rice- with pickled veggies other seasonings- way too salty They kindly gave us on extra rice on the house as well. We were also given a complimentary crab salad and that was decent as well. Our bill was over 400 bucks including tip, drinks, and the izakaya items downstairs. We left hungry and underwhelmed. We will not be returning. It might have been an off night, but if your sushi rice is not good, no matter how fresh the fish is, your sushi will be subpar. For this price point, the rice should be perfect. Ambiance is the best thing this place has going for it.

    (2)

  • Jennie C.

    Finally, a great Japanese restaurant for this Japanese food fan. I was in love with the sushi omakase: every piece of fish I tried was amazingly fresh and perfect marriage between fish and rice. The uni rice was super rich, unfortunately I like my uni a bit more unadulterated than this, so surprisingly it was not my favorite dish. The smoked bacon & eggs were interesting, I loved how silky the yolks were, but the sauce drizzled on it was way too salty. Tsukune (chicken meatballs) were decent. Also liked the momomaki. I had the spirited away drink and liked it. Will totally return for drinks and sushi.

    (5)

  • Maria K.

    Great dining experience - top notch environment, great crowd and the service was superb. The menu is extensive, take a good glance in advance to create the best combinations. I am not an expert in Japanese but I did pretty well with a little help. Top dish? The crab. The flavors with the combination of perfectly grilled peppers presented in an actual crab ... Yeah. Amazing. These were my favorites (heavy on the meat) : Unagi, washugu, negima, beef strip loin, chili mentaiko + nigiri/rolls. The water lilly sake was whimsical, light - strong, clean and aromatic. The quality of food is excellent, fresh as ever.

    (5)

  • Jason A.

    Another primo spot from the Boka group. Modern decor that I really like. Its a bit too hip and busy for me, but with so many floors and areas you can find a spot for your speed. The service was super friendly and and attentive. I do wish they were a little more assertive about their likes and dislikes. This menu can be intimidating. They should really guide more fully on the first visit in terms of how many dishes to order, and what their favorites are. As I mentioned the menu is a bit much at first. About 90 items on there and you want them all. You can get familiar in 10 minutes or so, but the issue I come across is portion size as its not really sorted out at all by category. This makes it very difficult to know how much food to order. They promote ordering in rounds so this is helpful so you don't order too much or too little, but this has a downside, meal time continuity. When you order in rounds some things come faster than others. Our first several courses came almost immediately, but then we had to wait over 20 minutes for sashimi because they got busy. That just got me hungry and disrupted the flow of my dinner. I've spent little time on the star of the show, the food. Every dish was a home run. The dungeoness crab was a favorite, along with the salmon role. The butterscotch bundino was the perfect finish, if you like butterscotch it is a must try. The downside to Momotaro is that its not a once a year place. You need to come here semi regularly to enjoy all the dishes, I want to try all 90. Its a little busy to do that, and a touch expensive for that so I'm left trying to decide when to come again. Probably a quarterly spot for me.

    (5)

  • Lena E.

    Service and amazing food. Can't go wrong here. We ordered a little of everything from each section. If you love quality Japanese then this is the place to go. The shishito peppers were fabulous - right amount of flame taste with the sweet pork stir fry. The Alaskan king crab - the best thing on the menu (I love crab). So fresh, sweet and tender. I don't think there is a bad thing on the menu.

    (5)

  • Donnie D.

    Another Boka Group hit. From the ambiance to the hospitality to the food and even the decor...this is definitely the new hot spot in Chicago. Came here to dinner with a group of 6 and we just had the best time! The sushi is some of the most fresh sushi I've yet to eat. Must try the tuna dishes, all of them! The uni scallop dish is so amazing my mouth is watering as I type this. There is not one thing (out of 15) that we are and didn't like. The staff is very friendly and welcoming, you immediately feel at home. Always busy and the scene is vibrant! I can't wait to go back to this gem :)

    (5)

  • Jessica O.

    We are in the izakaya downstairs. Drinks were great, service a little slow. The food was good, but the clams were overly salty... Really salty. The price was fair, but really not nearly the best I've had in the city, which some other reviews promise.

    (3)

  • Shannon J.

    Really good skewers, my favorites were the washugyu (beef wrapped foie gras) and gyutan (beef tongue). Also the mentaiko noodle was delicious. And they have an amazing sake and Japanese scotch selection.

    (5)

  • Jay I.

    4.5 stars with a lot of upside. Tried this place as post xmas date. Honestly I had a little bit of reservation on trying this place because this is run by BOKA group, and I wasn't really impressed with Boka the other day (granted, I went to a restaurant week dinner so I wouldn't really weigh that on to what restaurant actually could be). Anyway, I was able to park right across the restaurant on the street (has valet which is about 12-14 bucks i think). Ordered bunch of food including chirashi, sushi omakase (8 piece), whole fish of sea bream and chicken yakitori. oh, definitely agedashi tofu. We thought the chirashi was definitely above average, and each piece of sushi was fresh and had a lot of flavor in each piece. agedashi tofu was a bit funny in a way that the shape was more of a pancake than tofu, but the dash tasted great and mingled pretty well with tofu. Lastly the sea bream was well cooked but nice visualization. The only problem I had, although slight, is that the server asked us to order everything at once. Well I wanted to order more food actually but couldn't do it because of that statement. I mean, I understand it helps with the efficiency of the restaurant, but I don't know... because they just lost about 10-25 bucks from me because of it.

    (4)

  • Manisha K.

    Awesome place with trendy atmosphere, impressive presentation, accommodating waitstaff, and delicious food! Great new find!

    (5)

  • Fred F.

    A friend who is very into Japanese food is in town. I was in panic mode since Japanese food in Chicago tends to be very Americanized and is all about teriyaki chicken. I am very fortunate to find out that Momotaro opens tonight. Service is smooth without the usual hiccup of new restaurants. Our server knew the menu inside out. More importantly, although every dish is Americanized, they are done in fabulous manner with the freshest ingredients you can find here. For example: uni is fresh without the hint of being fishy or being imported from Costco. Chili mentaiko spaghetti was very subtle and delicious. Negima was very juicy and tasted like those you would find in izakaya in Tokyo. Hamachi Kama was done flawlessly with a touch of umeboshi. Ootoro was good although it was pricey for $9 a piece. Make sure you save room for dessert. They are extra ordinary. Hint: get the citrus sponge cake and soy pudding with huckleberry.

    (5)

  • Jennifer S.

    We stopped by Momotaro last night after dining all around Randolph street. Since we were pretty full we asked Patrick to choose two light options for us. He really hit it out of the park with a delicious sushi selection that was served with burning wood chips in a covered clay pot. The star was the Snapper... accompanied with seasonal vegetables and a deep, complex, delicious broth. It was the best thing I ate all night. I will be back for it soon! Stop by and ask for Patrick, he'll take great care of you.

    (5)

  • Tiffany L.

    TL;DR - Spectacular sushi, above average hot food. Bring the benjamins and a small stomach. Momotaro is the newest addition to the food mecca which is the Boka restaurant group, that brought you such gems as Girl and the Goat, GT Fish and Oyster, Balena, and their namesake Boka, just to name a few. The interior is impeccable. I really loved the open layout, the woods, the marble, and the windows. The upstairs has a boardroom-esque private dining area, and the downstairs houses a dimly lit lounge. There's a funny phone in a corner, if you pick it up, it teaches you Japanese. The sushi menu has been carefully crafted by Chefs Jeff Ramsey and Kaze Chan, Ramsey earned a Michelin star for his restaurant in Tokyo, while Chan may be familiar if you've ever dined at Kaze or Macku in Chicago. As expected, the sushi is very good and handled more on the traditional side. We ordered a Sushi Omakase (8 pieces in the flight -- they will soon offer a traditional omakase as well, price TBD) and the Tuna Zanmai (3 types of tuna). Formed into the perfect bite-size piece, the fish is treated as the star. No swirly spicy mayo or unagi sauce here, just the fish, the rice, and a dab of grated radish, or microgreen. I loved the sushi rice, which is so often overlooked -- just slightly vinegared and still with a bite so you can really taste each grain of rice. Served with freshly grated wasabi, and their housemade soy, it left me wanting more. Oh and that piece of shrimp sushi you see in my pic? It has a little surprise stuffed in the middle of the rice, like a creme-filled cupcake, except it's crunchy smoky, shrimp shell. Much more delicious than it sounds, I swear. The rest of the menu is handled by someone else, and definitely had more of a "fusion-y" feel to it. From the hot side of the menu we ordered: - Alaskan King Crab Chawan mushi - Tsukune (chicken meatball skewer) - Angel Prawn skewer - Chili Mentaiko Spaghetti - A5 Miyazaki 3oz Wagyu, hibachi style The Chawan Mushi was really tasty and an interesting take on the traditional dish. The Tsukune was good, but a tad too salty, balanced with a side of yuzu paste. The Prawns were cooked perfectly and served head-on (mmmm shrimp brains). The Spaghetti was their take on a carbonara, with a spicy mayo like taste. It was ok, I wouldn't order it again. And the wagyu -- ah true Japanese wagyu -- delicious and buttery, and that miso sauce slathered underneath is like crack. Too pricey at $60 though, and I probably wouldn't order it again. For dessert we ordered the Shittori Citron Cake and the Waka Momo. Both desserts are very Japanese - light and not too sweet. I loved both, kinda. The Shittori cake is like a blood orange creamsicle cake. Good! The Waka Momo was unique -- whipped tofu with the little green fruits that were unripened white peaches. Sounded and tasted good! Then our server mentioned something about the rarity of these fruits because small children have to climb trees to pick them. That factoid made me feel weird on many levels. Like, expensive coffee beans excreted through monkey poo, weird. For being only a week open, the service was good. The pacing was a bit slow though, our meal took about 2.5 hours from start to finish. The price point is on the higher side. If you're about the most bang for your buck, then Momotaro might not be for you. I'd say plan to spend at least $100pp if you want a drink, try a variety of dishes, and not be hungry afterwards. But after you've stopped hyperventilating from the sticker shock and the small portions, you may just decide that you still want to try the Curry Udon, but alas have no more room in your second stomach because you had two desserts, and make a reservation for next time.

    (4)

  • Katie P.

    Wow- came here last night for a super yummy meal with my husband. We loved everything! The ambiance was hip, tables pretty packed together so not very intimate or quiet but nice. The hostess was a bit rude to us. She begrudgingly took our coats to check but then forgot our check number so then of course took forever to find our coats after the meal because of it. Oh well, the food made up for it. We split: Momotaro Tartare: really rich and flavorful Hamachi sashimi: simple, citrus-y, clean, great fish Ebi Tempura: tasty but nothing too special- I'd skip this next time Negima: Yum! Great flavors on the ckicken Smoked Bacon & Eggs: Really unique, loved this fun dish Curry Udon: Hard to eat but tasty- never had anything like this before Chili Mentaiko Spaghetti: Rich Sushi Roll w/ octopus and tuna: I forgot the name of the particular roll we got but it was delicious! Besides the Udon and Spaghetti, all portions were small so it does get pricey but the food is really unique and special. Highly recommend!

    (4)

  • Brit N.

    Absolutely amazing food and service! Shawn was our waiter and was outstanding. He recommended delicious drinks, appetizers and entrees. Sushi was extremely fresh and so flavorful. Bar downstairs was cool to check out as well - stopped there for a drink after dinner just to check it out. Wait staff was friendly there as well. Hope to be back again soon :)

    (5)

  • Stella S.

    Nice restaurant and good service. We ordered the baby squid, the chicken meatball, the chicken thighs, and the beef tongue and they were all a little undercooked and too salty. We also ordered the spicy tako, ebi tempura, and the green pea fried rice which was too oily. Their drink list is creative and their staff is very attentive.

    (3)

  • Casey F.

    I dined here last night for the first time after hearing great things about Momotaro. Our party of 4 waited for our table downstairs at the bar. I loved the space, and the staircase was behind the hostess stand so out of the way of the door and very well thought out. There is big bar area and lots of seating - the perfect place to grab a drink and maybe order a few bites while you wait. We had a reservation and only waited about 10 minutes for our table. The cocktails were fantastic - I tried the Spirited Away and the River Child. Once seated, our server walked us through some highlights of the menu. We started with the Momotaro tartare which was absolutely spectacular. I can't believe they can do that with tomatoes. We also had an amberjack sashimi that was unbelievably fresh. Next - probably some of the best dishes we had here - the skewers from the coals. We tried the smoked bacon and eggs and the washugyu (skirt steak, shishito peppers and foie). Both were to die for. Other items we ordered: Chili mentaiko spaghetti An assortment of nigiri including diver scallops, amberjack, smoked mackerel, and the show stopper- Alaskan king crab. Eel roll Monomaki (tuna and spicy octopus) A5 wagyu Everything was amazing. Truly some of the best I've had. Inventive, fresh and perfectly executed. So then why the less than perfect review?? SERVICE. Sure it was attentive and courteous. But we all knew for a fact that our server disliked our table. At the onset of the meal she told us it was encouraged to order everything at one time and she would space out the delivery. We chose to order several things at a time so we could ensure not everything came at once and we could decide what we were feeling to eat next. As soon as we ordered only the 2 apps and 4 skewers initially and asked to keep menus, our server was visibly annoyed. Next we ordered nigiri and the spaghetti. Finally we ordered additional nigiri and the rolls. We didn't do it to be annoying, but rather because we didn't know what we wanted to try next and typically dishes meant to be shared can and should be ordered in waves. Each time our server came by she took another menu from us - as if to threaten us we wouldn't be able to order any more. There were even multiple times we were asking her a question while she was at the table and she walked away!! And, despite her assurance that not everything would come at once, everything from each of our staggered orders came either at the same time or within minutes of each other, which was fine only because we didn't order that much at once. But that doesn't give me much confidence that if we had placed our order all at once that we wouldn't have felt rushed. We honestly were able to find amusement in the whole thing so it didn't taint our experience. The food was still the standout. But the service needs work. Even if you are annoyed with my table, I'm still the one tipping so don't make it obvious.

    (4)

  • Caitlin B.

    Came here for dinner last Friday and loved it. My friend and I started out by trying their cocktails - she got the Monk's Journey, which is vodka and matcha green tea, and I got the Strength + Longevity, which is gin and goji among other things. Both of them were great - they had really unique flavors, especially the green tea one. For dinner, we're both pescatarians, so we stuck to their seafood options. We got the Diver Scallop, the Alaskan King Crab Hibachi, and the Donburi bowl with sashimi. Everything was great. The scallop was tender and had a wonderful flavor, and the sashimi bowl was perfectly seasoned. I should also say that while this place is definitely expensive, the price is what you make of it. The waiter recommended to us that we get 3-4 dishes each, but we split 3 and were completely full. So if you're not going to go all out and order everything on the menu, you can get away with spending under $35-40ish a person (and a lot of the meat options are more expensive). Would definitely come here again and recommend to anyone!!

    (4)

  • Sarah W.

    They have a vegetarian menu, and many of the options on that menu are vegan. I ordered the age dashi tofu vegan-ized, which was great! My meat eating compatriots tried the tofu and declared that it was the best age dashi tofu they'd ever had and wished they'd ordered it, too. The huge serving size allowed me to share, so all was good. I also ordered the vegan-typical avocado and cucumber maki, which is my go-to for all sushi places. Momotaro didn't disappoint! The organic edamame was deliciously salted and the wine was inexpensive and quite good.

    (4)

  • Andrew W.

    3.5 Made reservations for 8:45 for 2, didn't get seated til 9:30, with empty tables next to us. Restaurant operations are tough, but felt a bit too much like a drink cash grab. Food was good, but not great for the prices, also very slow, wait time between dishes was long. Went with recommended dishes of sea bream with wasabi rice, some robota wagyu and scallops, momomaki roll and toro tartar. All decent, none memorable, tally came to $114 ex drinks. The 5 star reviews are sadly exaggerated, unless I considered this place more of a watering hole, won't be back.

    (3)

  • Courtney C.

    Amazing food, killer service, super cool minimalist decor. Everything was perfect. Some standout dishes were the Momotaro Tartare, Bacon and Eggs and the A5 Miyazaki Waygu. We didn't even make it to the sushi part of the menu - but we will definitely be back to check it out fully. Also popped downstairs to the Izakaya which may have been more of our scene (darker, louder). We found out there are about 4 tables downstairs where you can order from the main upstairs menu. If you're into Japanese food, you must go to this place.

    (5)

  • Suri L.

    I went to momotaro for dinner couple weeks ago, it made my belly so happy!! I enjoyed every single bite of my food because it was so delicious! I wish i had a bottmless stomach, there was so much more on the menu i wanted to order. By the way please make sure you save room for dessert ^_^

    (5)

  • Yong b K.

    A big disappointment:( Their martinis were not good. I ordered Sushi Nigiri Omakase ($50). Usually Omakase means a sushi chef would treat you with various best plates. I and my friends only got 8 pieces of sushi (for $50 - no blue fin tuna included), which were just OK. The waitress seemed clueless about the restaurant or what they offer in the menu such as sake selection, etc. Japonais or Sushi Samba were far better. This place made yearn for real authentic Japanese restaurants such as Itto Sushi or Katsu. The interior was fine, but the Izakaya downstairs was not really a place in Tokyo as they advertised.

    (2)

  • W S.

    Fortunately I was able to fill up on the martini olives. We were seated 30 minutes late. The food was high-quality but the portion sizes were wildly inconsistent and the kitchen couldn't keep up. Parts of our order never arrived. The staff was aplogetic and comped us a round of drinks... but then things kept going wrong. This sounds nasty on my part but it's true, and you have to appreciate that at the steep prices they charge, you expect perfect food and service. There were some highlights in our meal so I hope they can get it together.

    (2)

  • Holly A.

    Our waitress completely messed up our order and we had to remind them that we were there after they had asked us to wait Just 5 Minutes. They ruined our time, not a great bang for your buck. There are literally dozens of better places within a few blocks from there, it's a bit of an embarrassment for the neighborhood.

    (1)

  • Dale B.

    Fish, uni, and unagi were all superb. The service was impeccable, and our waiter couldn't have been more warm and helpful. I wish I could join in on the NYE party! Looks like a great package in a cool place.

    (5)

  • Jim S.

    I've been four times...the first time was very early in the process and it showed...both in the timing of meals and the overall service. Each visit thereafter, the service improved and so did the quality of the experience. There is typically a hip crowd and reservations are highly recommended. The cocktail menu is OK...

    (4)

  • Nate A.

    Awesome experience from start to finish. The entire staff was genuinely friendly and efficient without being overbearing. Every dish that we ordered was excellent. Highlights: from the robota grill, skirt steak with foie gras, beef tongue and scallop. Chili/roe spaghetti was amazing. Curry udon noodle had great flavor and momomaki roll was one of the best rolls I've ever had. In addition to the great service, food and cocktails they have a really cool atmosphere too. Will definitely be back soon!

    (5)

  • Suzie S.

    I went here for my birthday and was so impressed. Unbelievable food with a menu the length of a novel, fun drinks, and awesome service. Our waitress took a lot of time explaining the menu and helping us narrow down our choices. It was a very special experience and I cannot wait to go back again!

    (5)

  • Marnie R.

    I am voting Momotaro as best place to go with an expense account. I want to order everything and try everything. From what I did order the seaweed salad the the chilli spaghetti were my favorites. The eggs and bacon I could of skipped, the texture I had trouble with. I will be back hopefully with someone with an expense account :)

    (4)

  • Jack F.

    Absolutely amazing! Everything from the starters to the mains. The fish is crazy fresh and the servers and hostesses are very nice. This spot is near perfect!

    (5)

  • Alex P.

    WOW.. Very impressed by this Japanese restaurant, the server took care of us and brought us a sequence of delicious plates that did not disappoint. Will come again

    (5)

  • Richard L.

    Very nice ambiance and food itself was good. We had issues with service. Perhaps the waiter had an off-night - he flew through things, and I got a stare when I interrupted him to slow things down. He even forgot two of our orders. You expect more from such high-end establishment with a price tag to match. We will not come back.

    (2)

  • Erika J.

    Everything was delicious. I especially recommend the hamachi collar. However, this place gets four stars instead of five because: 1) I spent $80 and left still feeling hungry, and 2) I found the entire atmosphere a bit esoteric and pretentious. Don't get me wrong, the food was AMAZING, but for a place this pretentious, the food should be life-changingly good. For the best sushi in Chicago (without the attitude), I prefer Juno.

    (4)

  • C T.

    very good! the quail eggs wrapped in bacon was delicious. drinks were also above average. great ambiance!

    (4)

  • Monica H.

    Expensive asian food? That's an oxymoron I don't believe in! Until now.. Grabbed a 5:15 reservation because they mean business. I heard great things about this place but nothing in specific so we ended up ordering based on the waitress's recommendations. She was really friendly and helpful, and did not forget to emphasize how small the plates were... somehow, fast forward two hours later, I was hungry again. However, you go here for the flavors, not to curb your appetite. For two people we shared: - A5 steak tartare (a special?). I seriously wanted to cry. 1, because it was so tiny, but more importantly 2, it was so light, flavorful, and perfect. Possibly the best steak tartare I've had in the city. We - Sashimi omakase - basically an assortment of 9 sashimi pairs. I didn't think it was too all special or a true omakase experience. It was basically a sashimi boat with okay/good quality fish. - Beef tongue skewer - mmm!! Very good, thick and tender. - Skirt steak with shishito pepper and foie gras skewer - I totally forgot there was any foie gras in this and definitely didn't appreciate it. However, it was still good although I'd probably try something else next time. - Chili mentaiko spaghetti - I'm not a fan of al dente pasta but I basically devoured this. It was creamy without being heavy. - Ebi tempura - solid shrimp tempura but nothing special. Overall I really liked Momotaro. The ambiance wasn't pretentious and it felt spacious with a lot of natural daylight opening up the room. In a land dominated by New American cuisine, I'm glad to have at least one go-to Asian fine dining spot that can deliver a fun and delicious night out.

    (4)

  • Giorgio F.

    Absolutely delicious. The presentation of all the dishes is perfect. I found this restaurant to be in direct competition with Roka Akor. Roka is more modern, Momotaro feels more authentic Japanese but the dishes look and taste just the same as Roka is not better! I attended on Saturdya May 30th, during a birthday party so I had the chance to try many different plates. The fish was very fresh and tasty. The steak with soybean paste was my favorite of the night I will return to this restaurant in the future!

    (4)

  • Wei H.

    I decided to come out of my yelping hiatus (not weather related) because my/our dining experience was that memorable, unfortunately not in a good way. To be fair, we all had high expectations going in. I did not read any of the reviews besides the 4.5 stars. Our waiter was unbelievably vague about what the "assorted sashimi" entailed when I asked him about the chirashi. I understand it's chef's choice but I found it hard to understand why they couldn't tell us what chef's choice of the day was. If you are reading this and know why, please educate me. Since we did not want to get assorted sashimi that we potentially would not like, we strategically decided to get two apps and some sashimi and wanted to go from there: - washugyu ($12): two skillets, we got a 3rd. I do not understand the point of having the pepper there. If one wants to juxtapose the texture of the decently cooked skirt steak with a bit of crunchiness, pepper is a good choice but at least pick something that has a bit of a kick. The pepper completely took away from the skirt steak and the foie gras. I also did not enjoy the seeds of the pepper. The skirt steak was marinated well but I wouldn't call it intensely flavorful. It was good for two tiny pieces of skirt steak but I wouldn't want another bite. It was fatty though which helped save the dish from being a complete disaster. - diver scallop ($12) for ONE complete piece of scallop divided into 4 small pieces, with salmon roe and uni. I really hope it was just tonight that the scallop was not fresh. It was just not fresh and overcooking it did not help. The texture was so overwhelmingly wrong that I just could not appreciate anything else. - salmon sashimi: pretty average salmon on the lean side but quite fresh - yellow tail sashimi: see above. better than the salmon. - medium fat bluefin belly: this was probably the only thing I enjoyed this evening. It was the right amount of fat that I personally like and the after taste was pleasant. It was tuna so it was fishier than the others but at this point, considering everything else I have had, I couldn't be happier I ended my meal with something that offered me more complexities in its flavor. Ironically, it's just a piece of sashimi. So the fact that I enjoyed it had little to do with the chef. Yes, the way they cut it matters. Yes, the temperature they served it at matters, but really, nothing more. It's the tuna itself that's enjoyable. Other than food, their ambiance and decor are absolutely on fleek. It's one of the most beautifully and tastefully decorated trendy new restaurants I have been in. Great for first dates. I actually had to ask my friends twice "Did we order the right things?" at the end of it, coz I was just not willing to accept the fact I disliked such a highly reviewed restaurant. Alas, dining experience is a very personal thing and you just have to see it for yourself.

    (2)

  • Exavier P.

    Beautiful atmosphere, great food. Downstairs vibe completely different from upstairs. The bar has beautiful, friendly people. Staff is super cool and friendly. Great drinks. If you are vegetarian they provide a separate menu, just ask for it. Great for date or group outing.

    (5)

  • Stephen R.

    Absolutely wonderful! I dined in a group of 7 and everything - ambiance, service, and the food - was perfection. I would definitely recommend this place for a group of adventurous diners because it really allows you to sample so much from Momotaro's rather extensive menu. We split two servings each of the chef's special sashimi and sushi plates - the sashimi was by far some of the freshest and most delicious fish I have ever had. We also split several hot plates: standouts for me were the tongue, chicken hearts, short rib, and scallops. The spicy tako roll was probably my favorite roll, but as far as nigiri, I LOVED the Aji Yakusugi - the aromas of the aged cypress were just fantastic! I wanted to take the bowl home! Cocktails were awesome as well: I stuck with the Warlord's Bounty and it was just the right amount of sweet for me. So it was an amazing time and we all got to sample so much! Our server, Brendan(? Too many Warlords for me! Hah!), was quite the salesman though ("Hm why not get THREE of that so you all can share?" Haha) and a lot of fun. The damage totaled around a grand (before tip - I was surprised they didn't include gratuity for a party of seven!) though but, hey - getting to taste so many wonderful pieces and plates made it worth it. I will definitely be back for a more intimate experience!

    (5)

  • Kari B.

    I had the opportunity to return to Momotaro and it was just as fantastic as I was hoping it would be the first time I dined there. The service was outstanding: not pushy or rushed, everything was delivered to the table at the appropriate time and in the order that had been requested (hot food first, sushi last). Since this was the second time eating here, I got the chance to try some different items on the menu and was just as blown away by the food as the first time I ate here. Standouts this time around were the Chawan Mushi to start, the Washugyu for a robata, and the three rolls my husband and I tried: Momomaki, Spicy Tako, and the Negi Hama. The one disappointment on the menu for us was the Bara Chirashi Donburi bowl. The amount of sushi rice overpowered the small bits of delicious fish, ordering another roll or some sashimi would be the better route in my opinion. I am so happy that I got the chance to return and received the same kind of service I read about in other yelp reviews. The food at Momotaro is the star of the show! Put this on your short list of restaurants to visit, I'll definitely be back.

    (5)

  • Adam B.

    We were seated at 5:00 p.m., the first seating, and I will dispense first with the sole shortcoming of this otherwise interesting restaurant: the booths feature tables which are so tall, relative to the seats, that diners feel like children straining to sit at the grownups' table. Why a designer made this decision is puzzling, but we chose a table instead. Momotaro should remedy this odd situation immediately. The cuisine and service, though, left nothing to be desired. Nigiri sushi is deconstructed cleverly by Mark Hellyar and recreated without violating the spirit of the tradition. A few high points: A Scottish langoustine is served in the style of ama ebi, the head posed with legs akimbo, the meat extracted from the body and topped with caviar. The empty shell is plated alongside to provide context. Baby hamachi nigiri sushi is delectable. Goma ae features not spinach but broccoli raab, adding tooth and crunch. Humble miso soup includes puffed tofu, its silky texture elegant and subtle. The menu is enormous, but our server was helpful, knowledgeable, and never intrusive. A guest whose vegetarian needs and aversion to hot spice was accommodated skillfully. Momotaro is worthy of many return visits.

    (4)

  • David C.

    Talk dirty to me... Momotaro. It was on a surprise dinner reservation from the GF that I was introduced to the stylings of Momotaro. The menu was extremely impressive featuring a multitude of variety. I love choices. Each entry even reads like a line in a continuous Haiku. The aura of the place is definitely hitting on the new-age take on traditional Japanese cuisine that has a flavorful but fully balanced palate. Our server helped walk us through the menu like over-anxious children in a candy store wanting to grab anything and everything. But after our deliberation we decided on these dishes: ::Seaweed Salad:: Surprsingly awesome. The flavor profile was garlicky, with a hint of smokiness, and the seaweed maintained the firmness without being too chewy. ::A5 Miyazaki Wagyu:: Holy crap. I wanted to just order 5 of these - the crisps weren't even needed but were a nice chaser. The delicate egg on top was just a plus. ::Whole Roasted Kurodai:: This dish is actually one of the better values that we ordered. You get a generous cut (about 6" length) of sea bream that has an excellent salty and crispiness to it that is unique. ::Diver Scallop:: The scallop was just average sized with fixings of uni and ponzu butter. It is very savory and buttery but the "side" elements felt a little heavy for the scallop and the freshness gets a little lost. Still a solid dish though. ::Uni and Baby Hamachi Nigiri:: This is where the meal hit a lull. Which is why I could NOT give it 5-Stars. The Uni was just average. Not very impressive for a place that features it in a lot of dishes. Also, the baby hamachi was just, eh. It was a surpising dull note after such impressive notes. (I think leaning more on their kitchen food is actually the way to go.) ::Momomaki:: MO' MO' MAKI, MO' MO' PROBLEMS... (Sorry.) But this maki was a fantastic creation and really highlighted the creativity of the sushi chef to make something that was not just drenched in sauce/cream. Instead, it really gave the feeling of freshness with a huge range of flavor profiles from silky tuna, to a robust octopus mixture, and a coolness of lotus root. The only problem was that it was better than the nigiri. ::FINALLY Chili Mentaiko Spaghetti:: What. Wait.. What?.. I want to finish every meal with this dish. Seeing as I am an avid "noodle-hoe". This paired with the fact that the seasoning was so well blended that it was incredibly difficult to describe where the spiciness and the light creaminess and the bounciness of the noodles all started and ended. ***So the overall recommendation is definitely come by this place for a special occassion (with reservation) and when in doubt lean toward the seasonal menu for a wonderful experience.

    (4)

  • Andrea G.

    Omakase is the way to go. The best sushi I've had in Chicago yet...but I'm working my way up so stay tuned.

    (5)

  • Chelsea M.

    What a joy! With a long wait time upon arrival (which was expected - I suggest making a reservation) we happily sauntered over to the bar and were met with incredible service. Out bartender, Emily, was a total delight. Bringing us snappy cocktails such as the potent and bright Spirited Away and the frothy, fresh take on a whisky sour, the Seafarer's Contribution, she kept the pace quick and the jokes quicker. We decided to eat at the bar, and following on her excellent recommendations, I ordered the donburi bowl and three pieces of nigiri. Now, I'm a sushi snob and let me tell you, this was hands down the best fish I have ever had. Probably the best meal. Ever. The fish in unbelievable fresh, served at the perfect temperature and over the most delectable and earthy rice I have ever sampled. My friend had the Washugyu, which was small-portioned but packed with intense flavor - the snappy pepper, the soft, velvety fois gras, and the juicy skirt steak were a lovely balance. This is easily one of the best restaurant experiences I've had in a long time. Kudos to their exceptional staff and delightfully inventive chefs for a delightful and powerful experience. I will certainly be back.

    (5)

  • Karolina K.

    Amazing Experience last weekend, everything was fresh and tasted simply delicious. All the fish we had was so soft and simply melted in your mouth. Left perfectly full. Portions allowed you to try various items on the menu! Such an amazing place, the decor was beautiful and unique. My favorite the bar mimicking an old Japanese stock market! Bathrooms had drawn wall covering. I guess it took 3 people 10 days to draw all those little lines! New favorite Japanese place :)

    (5)

  • Michael H.

    Let's go 4.5 Stars/ Amazing place! The interior is really well done/ liked the bar area the best. Great wooden signage behind the bar with all the liquor offerings that looks great. The food was outstanding, everything we had was exceptional and unique. Great bartender who recommended some great picks and can mix up a hell of a cocktail! They even brought out a complimentary "Diver Scallops" bite that just killed it. Really cool views of the "L" going by if you look hard enough! Must try joint.. get dat did!

    (4)

  • Sandra L.

    Had the best Valentines dinner here last night. Can't stop thinking about the food. Everything we had was good. Presented beautifully and the service was impeccable. Our waitress did a great job explaining the menu and suggesting some items. We went with things that she suggested which we wouldn't of picked out on our own. This isn't your typical sushi establishment yet a refined Japanese experience. I highly recommend this to anyone that has an adventurous palate. Can't wait to go back and try the rest of the menu.

    (5)

  • Bernie R.

    We had an amazing dinner here on a busy Tuesday night. Our group of four had several small plates. We had skirt steak and chicken from the grill, tempura shrimp and scallops. We also sampled the sushi. Every dish was creative and tasty. We had excellent attentive service and a visit to our table by the chef to make sure we were enjoying our dishes. In the center of the dining area is a sushi bar, I'll try that next visit. We sat near the back where we had an open view of the kitchen it was fun to watch all of the cooking activity. Downstairs there is a bar a lounge where we had drinks before our meal. Overall this is a great restaurant with a creative menu.

    (5)

  • Grace J.

    Last night at Momotaro was a bust. The service was pretty awful... I got there a few minutes after 7:30 PM and was told there were no tables available yet and we could either wait at the bar for an indefinite amount of time or we could sit at the sushi bar for dinner. I was hungry so I chose the sushi bar, which was very unpleasant so I said I would rather wait at the bar to be seated. After about 45 minutes we were seated. Then we ordered and began to slowly get our food. The waiter brought the wrong drinks, they brought the same dish two times. This is my second time at the restaurant that I had an unsatisfactory experience with service. The first time I was also seated way behind schedule. I have had friends who have also waited almost an hour or even more for their tables to become available. They removed the second drinks from the bill and brought a complimentary dessert out after I complained. If you are looking for trendy Japanese in Chicago this would not be at the top of my list. Food is very delicious, the momotaro tartare is unbelievable, seriously it is hard to believe their is no meat or fish in it, but it is just as delicious as Japonais, Sunda, etc...without the same caliber of service. Maybe once they have been around for a few more months the service will get a little bit more efficient. Who knows!! Though I do like the parche app valet feature, I hope more restaurants start utilizing that service. Get the matcha green tea cocktail it was very refreshing!

    (3)

  • Mat B.

    Excellent. Seriously great robata. Chicago has suffered from a deficit of grilled and skewered meats. Momotaro fixes that. Ingredients were uniformly fresh. The Kushi oysters were some of the freshest I've had anywhere. How are they doing that? Sushi was terrific. 1 in 20 roll. Yes, please. I will return. And I will consume everything on this menu. And it will be good. Very good service. Approachable and informative but not overbearing. Momotaro is having a moment but didn't sense any attitude. Good. This is Chicago after all. It's too cold for attitude. Cool little lower level that would be fun to come back to and enjoy.

    (5)

  • Andrew C.

    I'm not sure how you could rate this place lower than a 5. It's really an AMAZING restaurant. First, they fly in all their fish daily from the Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo...which, for anyone whose been to Tokyo knows is really the finest seafood in the world. The Japanese food was amazing, but the star of the show was the sushi. My friend, who annoys me sometimes because he's SUCH a food snob, finished his meal and said..."This is the very best sushi I have had in my entire life." Anyway, the atmosphere is typical of that area, clubby cool, but unpretentious, I thought. It's expensive, but....really....an amazing meal like this is worth it. I'd say $100 per person (drinks included) would be a pretty reasonable expectation. There were three of us and with tip it came out to about that, maybe a few dollars more. Another great addition to Chicago's fantastic restaurant culture. Excellent!

    (5)

  • Rebecca C.

    Food: Edible but forgettable, small portions, pricey for its value, limited creativity/originality. Ambience: Nice, nothing that sticks out. Service: Atrocious. One of the worst waiters I had in my lifetime. Every time I pass by this restaurant I want to spit on its doorstep.

    (1)

  • Erick N.

    Boka Group's long awaited, much anticipated modern Japanese restaurant has finally opened. The venue is impressive from the moment you walk in; high ceilings, open space and Contemporary decor. A large sushi bar adorns the middle of the dining room. While the venue looks elegant and the serving pieces are aesthetically pleasing - especially the fun chopstick holders, the one drawback is tables (at least in the portion of the dining room we were seated) are extremely closely spaced detracting some from the otherwise elegant feel. The venue has a lot of energy and while i was expecting the relaxed, upscale vibe of Boka it is more akin to Girl & the Goat. The menu is vast and divided into several sections; snacks, hot & cold small plates, robata items, luxurious items finished tableside on a hibachi grill, items based on the season and all sorts of sushi options (even an Omakase option). Most of the items are appetizer sized and meant to be shared tapas style. A duo of highly talented chefs each have their own kitchen; Mark Hellyar is in charge of the hot items and Jeff Ramsey (who came to Chicago from Tokyo) is the head sushi chef. The early buzz on Momotaro has been consistently fantastic among professional food critics and the general public alike; after being served course-after-course of creative, delicious, attractively plated, high quality, perfectly executed cuisine there is no doubt that these chefs are top notch in their areas of expertise. Momotaro is already serving Michelin star quality food in just their second week in business; it is not a stretch to say that they already deserve recognition as one of the very best Japanese venues in not just Chicago, but the entire region. We sampled an item or two from nearly every category on the menu and one would never know this is a new venue from the flawless execution. Prices were quite reasonable for the quality of the ingredients; the menu contains so many delicious sounding dishes I definitely want to return to experience more. This was definitely some of the best tasting sushi I have consumed (such fresh, flavorful fish and nicely seasoned rice in the perfect ratio), but be sure to order items from other portions of the menu as well; the Momotaro Tartare (a play on steak tartare but with tomatoes) was exquisite as was the skirt steak wrapped with foie gras served along with shishito peppers off the robata grill. As with the fish, the quality of the meats here is also off the charts (Jidori chicken, A5 Miyazaki Wagyu, Berkshire pork etc.). Service was mostly good, but unlike the cuisine it is not yet firing on all cylinders and still needs some tweaks. As for the positive, everybody we encountered was friendly, service was very attentive, our primary server had a ridiculously good command of the massive menu and was helpful in making selections, and there are upscale touches such as one's napkin being folded while using the restroom. Pacing however was an issue; we ordered food from six different categories on the menu - while the order in which the dishes were brought out was thoughtful there were virtually no gaps between courses. Not only did the first course arrive a couple minutes after receiving our cocktails, but on multiple occasions the next course was brought literally as we were still taking the final bites of the previous course. Furthermore, the busing of the dishes was awkward; the serving plate would be cleared as we were still eating that particular course - in addition to being bumped into on a couple of occasions as this was occurring it resulted in feeling rushed and at times I would have liked to have made use of the flavorful pools of sauce in the serving plate. We had been expecting a leisurely dining experience but were done in under an hour (as I took my last bite I noticed we still had more than half of our cocktail remaining as there was no time between courses to sip our drinks). I imagine that with a menu format with so many categories it is likely hard for Momotaro to predict the average dining time per table and therefore plan for reservation spacing. As Boka Group is known for amazing service I am confident this issue will be rectified sooner rather than later. After dinner we enjoyed an after dinner drink and dessert in the downstairs Izakaya bar; this was dimly lit, had funky decor and the vibe of a speakeasy. The bar staff were friendly and attentive and we enjoyed our drinks; the beverage menu is the same upstairs and downstairs; craft Japanese influenced cocktails, sakes, wine and beer but the downstairs has a smaller and different food menu featuring bar snacks and a trio of desserts (we loved the cheese dessert that was a riff on a port wine cheese ball; really delicious cheese with toasted homemade pumpkin bread, gourmet mustard and pickled fruit). Momotaro is going to be a huge success and is already on the verge of greatness; a very welcome addition to Chicago's bustling dining scene.

    (5)

  • Kellye W.

    Genuinely enjoyed dining at Boka's "most adventurous restaurant yet." The menu was loaded with choices and if you aren't a seasoned Japanese diner, your server will be happy to guide you through. I was disappointed by the fact that there wasn't an Omakase menu which takes you through the entirety of Momotaro offerings. So we decided to do our own "tasting menu" which included the following, our server coursed appropriately. However we did have to ask our server to slow down the delivery of each dish. One at a time please! Chili spaghetti, Negima, Diver scallop. Toro tartare, Ikura, Washugyu, Hamachi collar, Sashimi of Uni, Tamago, Unagi and hamachi. For dessert we had the whipped tofu with almonds and pralines. I'd take a pass on the Diver scallops and the Alaskan King Crab hot appetizer. The Hamachi collar, sashimi, chicken thighs and Waygu with foie gras were standouts. I'm not sure why people are loving the chili spaghetti. Meh at best on that dish. Well put together wine and cocktail list! Applause for having sparkling sake!! We took a trip downstairs to the lounge for an after dinner drink. Great music in a sterile environment. Didn't remind me of a Japanese office but more like a Japanese interior design project gone bad. I'll definitely go back but Kai Zan is still my favorite!

    (3)

  • David D.

    One started was a bit fishy, otherwise 5 stars. Service was top notch, and hear with an extensive and foreign menu, they have work to do, explains the items. But ours did with enthusiasm and charm. Water glasses never fell below the half way mark and any scrap of anything was whisked away without notice. Located just out side the elevated train, the sounds were evident but hard to notice with hip ambient tunes that were not intrusive to dinner conversation. Food was definitely something different and we thoroughly enjoyed our meal, tea, and dessert.

    (4)

  • Samantha H.

    Ate at Momotaro last night! Very very enjoyable! Food was great! We had the edamame (cooked and salted to perfection), the unagi rice, the skirt steak skewers, the short rib skewers, the sashimi omakase, the curry udon, and the butterscotch pudding. Favs were def the unagi rice and the skirt steak skewers! I was somewhat disappointed with the sashimi--just expected it to be a bit more fresh. The butterscotch pudding was great, but just a little bit too salty. I get, and love, the salty-sweet combo, but for a dessert I'd take it a notch back on the salty side. Our waitress was great and was incredibly knowledgeable. The only other drawback was that I noted on our reservation that this was a celebratory dinner, and yet there was no mention of it throughout our meal...Not a huge deal, but would have been nice.

    (4)

  • Susan M.

    Loved this hot new restaurant! The decor is sexy! The bar downstairs is perfect for great cozy evening- with amazing drinks. Food was fabulous. Interesting takes on some old favorites and lots of new interesting items- don't miss the Uni risotto. Has a great gluten free menu too. Service was terrific- - our waitress was incredibly helpful with suggestions. I love that they brought me a sample of the sake I was interested in. The only negative- she could have upsold us. We had finished what we ordered initially- but she did not ask if we wanted anything else- just dessert. Had she asked- we would have ordered more! Can't wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Sijia C.

    I have to say I did not have any impression after finishing my dinner here... It is OK, could be better.

    (3)

  • Lauren M.

    If I went off my first experience alone, this review would be 5 stars, no question. The food incredible. The service, however, varied significantly from my first visit to my second. First visit: We started out with the edamame (because, obviously) and I must say, I never knew edamame could be so tender. From there the wonderful experience continued. The Washguyu is to die for, so tender and flavorful. As is the Zuwai Gani.. And the Chili Hama. Ok so all the food there was/is to die for. Our waitress was also great. She provided helpful wine and food recommendations and helped our group of 6 decide how many of each item we would need to order so that everyone may have at least one piece. She came back to check on us frequently and even offered each of us two glasses of wine - so that we may have one of each type (white and red) with our meals. Second visit: Quite a contrast with regards to service. I had friends in town and made the reservation a month in advance... So there was a lot of build up and the expectations were high. We arrived on time for our 8:30 reservation the table wasn't ready. We went downstairs for a drink and waited patiently.. Enjoying our Monk's Journey cocktail (which is incredible btw). We were seated around 30/45 mins later. Our waitress seemed completely uninterested in our group of 5 from the start. She stood there blindly (almost looking annoyed) as our group asked for recommendations. I tried to give her the benefit of the doubt, but the fact of the matter is: she did not check on our table after the first introduction unless one of us flagged her down- or asked someone else to please send her over. She must not have added our edamame to the order because it didn't arrive until after we mentioned it - in the middle of our meal. If she would have stopped by to see our 5 empty drinks, we likely would have each ordered another one. Did I mention they're $13 a piece? At the end of the meal, after flagging her down at least 4 times throughout, we asked for the dessert menu. After what felt like 10 minutes I see her walk by. I say "excuse me, miss?" - she continues on like she hadn't heard me.. grabs the menus and brings them to the table. My guests agree that she likely forgot about the request for menus until she heard me and then made it seem like she was getting them all along. All in all: the food is great. REALLY really great. But the service my second visit has now skewed my view on Momotaro.. and it embarrassed me in front of my guests who originally wanted to go to Kai Zan.

    (4)

  • Jody O.

    We had an amazing dinner the other night. We started with several different appetizers and transitioned into the main entrees including several sushi rolls, hibachi meats, and the curry udon. Everything was fabulous including Tamsen who made our evening Spectacular. The different assortment of traditional true Japanese beers, wines, mixed drinks, and sake were out of this world. This place is the real deal if you want truly authentic Japanese food. A definite favorite when visiting Chicago.

    (5)

  • Jimmy W.

    Food presentation was great. It's a super loud spot so older people can't hear what is being said to them. Tight seating to pack more people in. Table for 3 is a joke, more like table for 2.25. Flavors are good to over seasoned/salty. Order the $5 white rice in the begining incase you need it with the food. Prices are high but I think worth it for some things, not others. The real downer was the service. Good for 50% of the meal, then our server vanished and didn't check on us for more orders or drinks. The bussers and food servers did a great job the whole night. THEY took our rice order and brought us the desert menu. I would have paid & walked out if I wasn't with other out of town family members. Poor service truly ruins a meal and evening. Eating at the hotel would have been better service wise. In the end ordered one desert item and one drink. The drink was brought 10 minutes AFTER the desert... This place needs to get things ironed out.

    (2)

  • Brian G.

    My favorite sushi place in Chicago closed a few months ago and I was now only attending "just ok" sushi places to tide me over. Having been a fan at almost every restaurant in the West Loop Randolph St area a few friends recommended to me Momotaro. Calling it the "au chevel of sushi" I knew I had to go. This past weekend I made the trip to Momotaro with a little doubt in my mind because of how high my expectations had been set. I arrived without a reservation (not recommended but also not the worst thing either) and was told that I would have an hour and a half wait. I put my name on the list and headed downstairs to their bar where I enjoyed a couple Japanese beers. Less than 45 minutes later I was texted that my table was ready. (Always assume the wait time is half of what they tell you in these places because their going on the optimistic assumption that all of the people on the wait list are actually waiting.) When we sat down we were greeted by a very friendly waiter who was patient and explained the admittedly overwhelming menu to us. He made some suggestions and also suggested we order in rounds so we could get a feel for portions and how much we wanted. We ordered the vegetarian tartar (both of us are meat eaters) and found it to be the best thing we had all night. It's sweet and spicy and will keep us coming back just for that. The sushi is very good and some of the presentations are fun. We ended up getting a few skewers as well that we would call "ok". My review is lacking one star simply because if you were to ask me if it's the best sushi I've ever had I'd have to say no, but for options in Chicago it's now one of my top 3. I also disagree with them that they can't serve the full menu if you're sitting at the bar downstairs. I think any seat in a restaurant should be able to provide a full menu but that's just an opinion. I'm sure they have 500 reasons why they don't want to do that.

    (4)

  • Jessie L.

    Very pricey but the sushi was totally worth it! There were little twists and surprises within each sushi and every bit was phenomenal!

    (5)

  • Dylan B.

    IN SHORT: Very surprised at the early outpouring of strong reviews, as I was caught between a two and a three star. Momotaro, in my experience, was extremely hit or miss - some of the best dishes I've ever had, followed by some of the worst dishes I've ever had. It's definitely possible that you can order wrong here, as the menu is huge. As far as high end Japanese restaurants go, I think you'll enjoy a more consistent (if less authentic) meal at Japonais. First impressions: the space is beautiful. The menu is a seven page beast, and probably cannot be handled without the assistance of your wait staff. Fortunately, we had a wonderful experience with servers, and our waitress picked a proper amount of food and balanced items from the cold and hot menus with perfection. Food: the chicken thighs from the robata grill were phenomenal. At a certain point in life, you think you've tried essentially every chicken skewer. Momotaro raised the bar. The diver scallops, served with roe and uni, are also a must order. Salmon and tuna sashimi were straightforward, and tasted generally as you'd expect. Then came the bad. We had a seared mackerel sushi roll, which was mackerel served over a massive mound of rice. The mackerel, my brother (Hi Ross!) pointed out, smelled and likely tasted like a dead fish you may find on the shores of Lake Michigan. Not the praise you want heaped on your $25 sushi roll. Then on to the Imperial Wagyu stew, a hot pot-esque dish, where wagyu cooks in broth while on the table. A fun, tasty sounding idea, with poor execution. My family is into salty dishes (see my early onset of high blood pressure) - but this broth was nearly inedible due to over-salting. I felt dehydrated after several spoonfuls, and then gave up on the $32 bowl of soup. In the end, at the prices Momotaro charges, you cannot have two huge misses. The ambiance, the atmosphere, and some of the menu items are worth coming out for. Momotaro is worth a try, but don't order the mackerel and beware the Wagyu stew.

    (3)

  • Jeannine T.

    So here's my story... I hate going to new restaurants, simply because there will always be some kinks that needs to be worked out. Momataro is no different. We drove up to the restaurant and I immediately remember this venue. Having been here for my clubbing days many years ago and bumping into Usher on the second floor... ahh fond memories. I promptly checked in for our reservation. The hostess stated that they are just reshuffling some tables, and the option was for us to go downstairs to the lounge for a drink. She then stated that she will come get us when our table is ready. 35 minutes later I had to asked the bartender to check on our reservations. She was so sweet to go upstairs and check for me. After which she came down and told me our table is ready. After arriving at the hostess check-in for a second time, the lady asked me what were we waiting for. Me: We were told our table is ready. Pretty Lady: What's the name? (Thinking: How was she planning to come get me in the lounge if she didn't remember who I am?) Me: {My name} Pretty Lady: For what time? Me: 8:30 Pretty Lady: Just give us a few minutes, we're shuffling some table around. Seriously? At this point I'm getting pretty annoyed but was trying not to show it. Quite frankly, this is not how I wanted to start my Saturday night - 40 minutes wait for my reservations. However, she didn't lie. Several minutes later, we were seated at a table in the off-center of the room, which is close to the entrance to the kitchen. No apology, no "drinks are on the house," no redemption for my 45 minute wait. At least at RPM I was given champagne, which left me bubbly and smiley while waiting. After sitting down, we wanted to order immediately. That took a bit, and when our waiter finally arrived he was super friendly and attentive, which neutralized our distaste for this place. Though at one point, I felt like I had the whole wait staff plus their managers hovering around our table as a meeting point. Perhaps we were too close to the kitchen? I need my personal space! Onward with the food... Mostly everything was tasty. I know that food is really a matter of preference and taste so I'll try to keep it short but descriptive here. In no particular order... Skewers: Chicken - Ok grilled with a light ginger/onion sauce on top. Prawns - Good, but the waiter told me I can eat it with the shell on. Not true. Steak - Good but very rich and fatty (oily). It's served with shishito peppers which kind of tones down the richness of it. Tomato Tartare - I didn't like it, but the bf enjoyed it. Tasted like grind sundried tomatoes but just too much of it. Again, this is just my opinion. Uni Rice with Truffle shavings - Ok but for $21 for a small plate appetizer, it did not wow me. However, given that truffle can cost more than gold per ounce, I guess the price is somewhat justified. Both of us agreed that it was our least favorite dish. Spaghetti - forgot the name. This is a must get. Served with an egg at the bottom. Mix it well into the pasta and you're left with a rich creamy sauce. Seaweed salad - drenched in sesame oil. I personally like the taste of sesame oil and seaweed so this was a good option for me. Uni Nigiri - really fresh. King Crab Legs Habachi - served on a tiny personal grill. Creative and super tasty! However, for $26 you're getting half a king crab leg that's cut in another half. This was our last dish and it came out about 15 minutes after we ate everything else. At one point my we wanted to cancel it but the waiter said it's right at the counter now. I felt bad for the wait staff there. You see them hovering around the kitchen just WAITING for food to be served. And here's us witnessing the execution of the kitchen and just baffled at how slow they were. We opted not to order sushi or sashimi. As long as it's fresh, then you know you won't go wrong. Just judging from the uni, I'm sure this restaurant will serve only the freshest. Will I be returning? Not anytime soon.

    (2)

  • Kim L.

    Great date night at Izakaya lounge downstairs, where you can order from both menus. We ordered the momotaro tartare, baby Ika, Mentaiko spaghetti, una-kyu and the momomaki. Momotaro - flavored were delicious and my favorite dish. Baby Ika - squid on skewers, so tender and the squid ink sauce was great Mentaiko spaghetti - such a simple dish but really great flavors Una-kyu - probably the best eel we've had in the city. Second favorite dish of the night. We also got several drinks - the river child, monks journey, and some other whiskey based ones - the river child was my favorite. Our server was so great helping us pick out items.

    (5)

  • Steve B.

    Absolutely delicious. That is the best way to describe it. My wife and I went there for a dinner date at 8:15 pm. We walked in and were seated right away which was a pleasant surprise. The place was busy but not overly loud considering the number of people there. Our waitress was extremely nice and descriptive of the menu. We basically followed her lead on what to order and she didn't disappoint. It was all very well prepared and tasted fantastic. We had the Goma AE, Momotaro Tartare, Faroe Island Salmon, Ootora sashimi, Momomaki roll and Negi Hama roll. We also had a beef meatball that was a special on the menu that I wish I remembered the name as it was my favorite of the evening. Sorry! Definitely would recommend going here for a contemporary Japanese restaurant. I want to go back with a bigger group so we can try more dishes next time.

    (5)

  • Amy D.

    Bottom line: Worth trying but NOT worth the wait even with reservations. Time: 7PM reservation for dinner with a few girlfriends on a Friday night. Service: Don't go hungry or you will starve. - An 1 hour wait even with reservation is pretty ridiculous. Several parties leaving, but we still had to wait an hour to be seated. - It isn't like my party of 3 was a walk in. I made reservations almost a month ago so I expect a table, not being suggested to be seated at the sushi bar when I made my reservations for A TABLE. - The timing on the flow of service was somewhat slow even though our server told us to order everything together so the timing would not be off. - Our server was friendly and had some pretty good recommendations. - Otherwise table service was pretty on point. Everyone was very accommodating and attentive to our needs. Food - Hidden gems in this menu. - Server suggested that we order 3-4 per person, but we ordered about 5-6 dishes. - Started off with the infamous age dashi tofu and we definitely can see why. The silky tofu with grated ginger packed a flavorful punch but the sweetness of the soy complemented the dish perfectly. - From the coals, we shared the diver scallop which was a scallop with salmon roe and uni. We all agreed that with the raw uni thrown in with the cooked scallop took the sweetness of the sea away and left a bit of a fishy taste to the dish. - The best dish of the night was easily the chili mentaiko spaghetti! The rare egg inside the spaghetti needs to be mixed right away when the dish arrives at the table. The yolk melts into the pasta and blends the chili and roe together perfectly. This dish practically melts in your mouth. - Before we dove into the sushi, we got the kushi oysters, which only came with 2, but the server helped us get an order of 3 in. These oysters had a better presentation than the actual taste. There wasn't anything special about it. - Can't go to a Japanese restaurant and not order sushi. We got the sake, mizudako, and uni. All were good. Everything was pretty fresh. The uni tasted better raw than semi cooked in the diver scallops. We also got the momomaki and the una-kyu. Of all the sushi we ordered that night, the momomaki stood out the most due to the simple presentation and freshness of each ingredient. Overall, the wait time definitely put a damper on our first visit. My sister experienced a similar wait time and she also made reservations. Not sure if this is a consistent issue but I won't revisit this place until I know this issue has been addressed. There were some highlights about this restaurant, but nothing that left me feeling like I NEED to come back again.

    (3)

  • Maisa R.

    Wow! The food was amazing! Went there with 6 people total & spent $350. The negative aspect of the evening was that the waitress was super aggressive. Additionally my friend spilled her beer by accident & she charged her for it...couldn't believe it. We felt like we were second class when we wanted to split the bill....what do you expect? Honestly we asked right away to be charged separately but it didn't come out that way. Might return but will make sure we sit at a different table :(

    (3)

  • Caren H.

    We just returned from dinner here and one of the members of our party just suffered from a bout of food poisoning. Although we initially were favorably impressed, it is definitely not a traditional Japanese place. It is one that is more like an Americanized Katsuya. The good, the ambiance is good. The restaurant has valet parking, which is always a perk. In addition, as we were coming from the suburbs, we came early and we were able to go downstairs for a quick drink and sit comfortably before the meal. It seems that this is a happening place as it was busy, but it also had the vibe of a new happening place rather than an established "go to" must. The flip side is that the service is mediocre. We had a server that seemed young, inexperienced and definitely not of the caliber of what you would expect from a seasoned server from an established eatery. Her ability to explain the dishes ranged from that is "good" to everything is "good" here. When the main adjective is good, it left us to scroll through Yelp, which was much more descriptive. Finally, we had to leave early as one of our party members got sick. The restaurant server and manager knew. When we called to let the restaurant know, here is what happened: 1. I was told that food poisoning usually takes 72 hours to hit 2. I then got a call back from the manager that said please keep him apprised as it is virtually impossible that we could have one person get sick from the sushi due to the high standards of care to keep sushi fresh and to please get a doctor's note and keep him apprised 3. It seems very odd that one person would get sick and not the other 3 people in the party. So, here is my response. If somebody is calling you to say listen my dinner was ruined and can you please address, please don't start by telling me that 1) I am wrong 2) get proof with a doctor note and 3) that are you sure that is the case if none of the others got sick. Poor response by management. For the price, I would expect better service, more well trained staff and yes, a bit of empathy. I would advise to not come here.

    (2)

  • Mike C.

    After seeing good reviews on Yelp, I had somewhat high expectation. I had special guests who came from overseas and so I wanted to make this a special dining experience and so I called them to request to give us a good seating area with enough space. Well, we arrived 10+ minutes before the reservation and we were seated on a table for 4 ppl close to the wall (this table looked worse than any other table). I saw many other people sitting on roomy booths for 4 people). I asked the manager (someone who looked to be a manager) if we can sit on one of the booths as I even requested for good seating and they still had about 3 empty booths. He immediately said that he cannot sit us there since it was reserved. Although I requested for a good seating area, I was given the worst seating area with the window with West exposure, which blinded us from the sunlight during the whole dining time. Now, for food, $8 or 9 for Miso, it was really salty and way too pricey. I mentioned it to the server and he took them off the bill. (3 ppl from my table only had 1/4 of it and left the remaining. I ordered Sashimi omakase. For $50, it was definitely NOT worth it. I would not order this quality of Sashimi even if it was $20. I have been to many different Sushi places globally; Japan, other parts of Asia, New York, New Jersey, etc... this place has the smallest portion and quality was not any better than those Sushi place owned by Chinese people. I would not recommend. BTW, server was great and service by the staff members was great!

    (1)

  • Khloe K.

    I love all of the Boka group's restaurants and was pleasantly surprised with this unexpected direction they took with modern japanese. Momotaro is hands down better in all respects (food, service, decor) compared to Japonais by morimoto in my opinion. Our evening began downstairs with drinks in their cute and chic Izakaya lounge with plenty of bar and lounge type seating. Though the night we tried several cocktails and 1 hot sake. Warlord's Bounty - one of my favorites Monk's Journey - very good and it has matcha green tea so its healthy right? Seven Spears - hot sake, yummy on a cold winter night Spirited Away - japanese whiskey based cocktail may of been my least favorite bc i found it a little too sweet Tanaka's Discovery - one of my favorites of the night ...i like anything with yuzu and egg whites Overall i was pretty happy with the food, everything was tasty and I'm a die hard Uni girl and boy oh boy this restaurant has Uni peppered all over their menu and i think i had all of those items. Uni Toast- in the izakaya lounge Tenshi Ebi - angel prawn, roasted essence, meyer lemon - get it Anago - salt water eel - loved it Chopped Wagyu - tartare, uni, wasabi - get it Gyutan -imperial wagyu beef tongue, karashi, smoked peppercorn - omg just trust me and get it!!! divine Washugyu -skirt steak, shishito, foie gras - yummy!! Chawan mushi -alaskan red king crab, black truffle ankake - tasty but maybe my least favorite dish of the night A5 Miyazaki Wagyu - santa barbara sea urchin, shiso ohba - loved it, get it Santa Barbara Uni Rice -burgundy black truffles - the uni is blended into the rice so don't expect pieces of Uni on top, very flavorful Uni nigiri - Duh! Beautiful restaurant, great food and wonderful service! I can't wait to return

    (5)

  • Brian M.

    Came here for my gf's little sisters birthday. They have valet parking for 12 bucks for like 2 hours which isn't too shabby. The server was super nice and helpful in explaining the menu to us and recommending what to order as well. We got the unagi rice bowl, the spaghetti, the chicken heart skewers, the beef tongue skewers, the makimono roll, the seared duck sushi, and I think those were it. I'm a little behind on my reviews so those are the ones that I remember. If I could I would order like 5 of the tongue skewers because they were amazinggggg. Crispy on the outside and rich and tender on the inside. Soooo good. The spaghetti was really really good as well with the egg yolk and the roe blending together to make a silky and delicious concoction. We got the salted caramel ice cream and the plum cake as a dessert and they gave out some birthday sprinkled pocky sticks as well which was very nice of them. Overall, the service and food are what makes this place wonderful and I would love to go back and try the rest of the menu

    (4)

  • Sara H.

    A place for special occasions. We let the chef take the lead. We gave our waiter an amount we wanted to spend and a few things we like especially (tuna, spicy food) and they brought us 7 small courses of the best fish I have ever had, making for a meal to remember.

    (5)

  • Enbar T.

    Stumbled across Momotaro over the weekend and managed to snag reservations for last night. Once there, we discovered that the restaurant has been open for under a week. I'm so glad we made it in when we did because I'm confident that, in a few months, it will join the ranks of the Chicago restaurants with months-long waitlists. It really is that good. The menu is primarily a collection of small dishes under the headings of snacks, hot or cold appetizers, skewers, and sushi, plus one section of larger, seasonal entrees. Ordering enough to satisfy the table may take a bit of legwork, but the bright side is that you'll have an opportunity to take in a good cross-section of the menu. (I suspect that, no matter how much you manage to order in one sitting, you'll regret the fact that you couldn't try more). With the exception of one dish (the Momotaro Tartare, which needs some more textural diversity), the food was exceptional. I don't normally include the particulars of my order in a review, but since the restaurant is new and the menu can be overwhelming, I'll point out some highlights of our meal: the spicy tuna roll appetizer (akin to a delicate egg roll), the chicken heart skewers (very tender), the beef and shishito pepper skewers (vibrant and delicious), and the bacon and quail egg skewers (I know a bacon-and-egg skewer sounds gimmicky, but the texture and flavor of this dish were really something special). In the sushi department, the nigiri is really thoughtfully constructed, and the fish quality was top-notch. The soy milk custard for dessert was a lovely endpiece -- playful combination of textures and not overly sweet. As others noted, the service and decor add a lot to the experience. In contrast to the well-camouflaged exterior of the building, the dining room is interesting, with a spacious, industrial feel. And the servers are super knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the menu. In sum, one of the best meals I've had in Chicago.

    (5)

  • S G.

    This place was awesome! Busy even on a weeknight. Cocktails are good- wines are minimum We stated with a ground tomato appetizer and the chicken thighs. We had skirt steal skewers- sooo good There is an amazing sweet pea fried rice as well. All of the rolls were so good- fresh and unique. Service was good- expect 1.5 hrs minimum Valet is 12 dollars

    (5)

  • John L.

    Momotaro is one of the best Japanese restaurants I have experienced. Compared to Morimoto's in NY - Momotaro is far better. The variety and quality of the fish and selection of dishes were amazing. The toro tartare was mind blowing and the mentaiko spaghetti was a great & surprising unusual dish that you would not expect at a Japanese restaurant. I can't wait to go again and try other dishes. The waitress we had was great with suggestions and service she truly made our night complete.

    (5)

  • Jenna S.

    Well executed environment with super attentive servers who were very knowledgeable and attuned to the menu! Expensive but well worth it! The mentaiko spaghetti is perfect you will not want to order more than one!

    (5)

  • sonicolone s.

    We dined at Momotaro on a Saturday night recently, our second time there since its opening. While we enjoyed our first visit, WOW, our second visit was absolutely outstanding! In a very short time, the restaurant had made adjustments to the menu, service and dining experience that resulted in one of the finest dining experiences we have ever had in Chicago. What really struck me was how incredibly fresh all of the fish was as well as the creativity of the rolls and hot dishes. The eel roll is like no other as you can actually taste the eel, not just the sweet bbq sauce. The octopus roll was so delicious that it will be the first thing I order when we return. The coal-fired shrimp and scallop were incredible and the Donburi was a meal in and of itself. Finally, it is impossible to have a great restaurant without great service and it is in this area, that perhaps the Boka Group has set the bar highest. The service was exemplary and our server was invaluable in guiding us through the lengthy menu and making recommendations that were spot-on. When you add in the delicious deserts you have a restaurant that has already secured a spot at the top end of the Chicago dining scene. I would not hesitate the recommend this restaurant to a friend and if I had a visitor in from out of town that I wanted it impress with an exceptional meal, Momotaro would be high on my list. Another winner from the Boka Group!

    (5)

  • Josh T.

    Wow! As you are walking up to this restaurant you already know you are in for a fantastic meal. The decor, exterior design, cleanliness - it is all spot on. When you walk in you are greeted by two hosts. You check your coat downstairs, for free, where there is a full bar. Here you find business men and women enjoying a drink or two after a long days work in the busy west loop. It was a great atmosphere! You wait patiently, and as you are ready to order a drink, guess what.....your table is ready! The food, drinks, service - all blew me away just as I expected. We sat right in front of the hot line. You can see right into the kitchen - which was spottless. They have two lines in different spots of the restaurant. A sushi/cold bar, and then the hot line that is enclosed as the main kitchen. I suggest to try at least two items from each section of the menu. Food items that stuck out to my party is the smoked bacon and eggs, as well as, the duck breast. This duck breast comes out on a small bbq rack that is heated by one, very powerful, coal. We did a couple sushi rolls. The fish in each roll melted in your mouth. It was fantastic. If you enjoy vodka, our vodka enthusiast loved the Monks Journey. She was not the drinker of the group, but she was indeed the first to finish her drink well before the rest of the party. If you enjoy whiskey, the Spirited Away and the River Child were spot on. Ultimately, this will be a place I return to - several more times. The prices are right on the money, no pun intended. We left very satisfied, and our wallets did not feel light!

    (5)

  • Christina B.

    Tried out this newer restaurant in the West loop. Definitely spot for sushi. The sushi was fresh and tasteful. The sushi combinations presented unique flavor combinations, which added a "wow" factor to the experience. The cocktails were quite delicious; however, the drinks were light on alcohol. A comparable drink place would be Bavette's--for the same price, the drinks are wayyyy better. If you happen to be in the West Loop, stop in for some good sushi but opt for wine or another beverage over the cocktails. A reservation is a good idea.

    (4)

  • Jenn C.

    Yes Boka Group! So well done - and the most authentic atmosphere and food I've found in Chicago after a trip to Japan nearly ruined Japanese food in the US for me. We had drinks in the izakaya bar downstairs while waiting for our table to be ready. Fun cocktails and a great sake and Japanese whiskey selection. Lots of lounge space makes this a fun spot for a group night out. Upstairs we had tons of great food and sake. Highlights were the kampachi starter with jalapeños, the Italian-Japanese fusion dish of spaghetti with roe, the beef tongue and the shortrib meatballs. Whoa were those shortrib meatballs something! The space is beautiful and done so well - very upbeat, energetic atmosphere and great service. Can't wait to go back to try more things - the menu is pretty massive and there was a lot we didn't get to but our server helped guide us to the right amount of food so we left very happy and full.

    (5)

  • Adrienne H.

    Amazing meal and perfect service from Ali! Every item was delicious. Great ambiance. Ali helped us pick a great variety of dishes....We loved them ALL! So knowledgeable about all of the items on the menu, wine and bar. Beautiful food and perfect atmosphere. Cant wait to go again!

    (5)

  • Bella P.

    Momotaro made my belly oh so happy!!! Libations are beyond exceptional. The Monks Journey left a lasting impression of macha madness. I would drink that daily if I could. Who doesn't love antioxidants and vodka? Yeah, I don't know either. We ordered a few small plates to share between three people. The Chirachi, big eye tuna roll, eel roll were fresh and savory, big enough for three. The winner of the night: beef tongue. Wow!! Better than the steak I had at Gibsons last week. It was marinated and grilled to perfection. The chocolate dessert hit the spot to tie things together. A nice finish to a fantastic array of food. Emilios was enthusiastic and well versed in the menu. Very attentive and personable. I can't wait to go back!! I need more beef tongue in my belly.

    (4)

  • Ev A.

    a little disappointed actually. we had reservations for a 9pm dinner upstairs, and the table was not ready so we headed downstairs for drinks. after thirty minutes we were informed that the hostess had seated another party at our reserved table and there was not another table available. we were offered a table downstairs, but when the host escorted us to the table, it had not been bused yet. soo, the service was unpleasant. the food was ok. nothing stood out though. the hibachi duck was enjoyable, but the rolls, eel, and scallops were nothing worth mentioning. scallops were actually really salty. even the dessert was very underwhelming. sticking to sunda. sorry guys :/

    (2)

  • Tim O.

    Very good, among the best I've had anywhere. Ordered about ten different items from the menu between the two of us and enjoyed everything. The fish was fresh and I found the menu to be creative. The decor is nice but the restaurant was very loud. I thought the tables were too close together. I heard a young woman discuss the prospect of marrying her boyfriend with her mother for more than half my dinner. For the amount of food we ordered, I thought the prices were very reasonable. Will definitely return here.

    (5)

  • Natalie F.

    great atmosphere!!! great food! check out the bar downstairs!

    (5)

  • Nicole R.

    I went here on a random weeknight for dinner with my gf and we really enjoyed ourselves. The service was excellent and the fish was fantastically fresh. I think this place deserves all the accolades it's gotten so far. We ordered the sashimi omakase (aka "fish cemetery") and my gf ordered the sushi omakase and they were both delicious! We also ordered a side of the mentaiko spaghetti which was amazing!! (I frequently still think about this spaghetti). For dessert, we had this chocolate one (I forget the name) and a yellow custard one (I forget the name). Those were both just good but not great. This place is totally upscale with upscale pricing but we enjoyed the experience. We were both taken aback and impressed by the luxurious ambiance. We were both eyeing the table next to us who ordered this small sliver of Wagyu steak being grilled at their table and were going to order it but then saw the price in the triple digit range and decided not to LOL. We came out of there not full but we were reasonably comfortable. This place is a good choice for super upscale Japanese food that is superbly executed. Bottomline is, come here for special occasions and expensed business dinners!

    (5)

  • Ophelia D.

    We made a reservation for 7.30 at Momotaro and arrived promptly at 7.25. We were told that a table would be available in a few minutes and were left to wait in a crowded corridor. By 7.40 we were feeling pretty annoyed (if you are going to work on a first come first served basis, that's fine but don't take reservations) and decided to leave. The people at reception were very offhand and seemed to suggest that there was something wrong with us not wanting to wait around indefinitely. I don't care how good the food is, this level of service is never acceptable (I've had better service at Mc Donalds). We walked around the corner to Vivo which was exceptional and I would highly recommend. Service, food and ambience were all top class and proved our point about the sub-standard levels at Momotaro. Incidentally, they also cancelled our reservation on OpenTable to prevent us posting a negative review. We are working with OpenTable to rectify this. Caveat Emptor.

    (1)

  • Lukas E.

    I sit down. My eyes traverse the spectacularly dimly lit room... remeniscent of the deep, dark and plush tones or the Moroccan huts I once explored... in another life. Not only does my pleasant exchange with the hostess set the stage for an unforgettable evening fit for the gods, but I was immediately infused with the notion of Asian fusion that I almost completely blacked out. We were asked by the master of ceremonies, our waiter, just what would satiate our pallets. We were baffled beyond description with the likes of this complex narrative... more formally referred to as the menu. We immediately sought refuge in the wisdom and guidance of our waiter. A master of cuisine, a curator of insight and knowledge. He advised us endlessly on the indiscribable pleasure contained in the chefs mind. We submitted to his recommendations and the resulting experience will be sung about in psalms for years to come. Do I recommend it? Please. Does the artist Hot Chocolate believe in mircles? Enough said.

    (5)

  • Jaime F.

    I'm not one to complain about price because I eat at nobu 2 times a month so this is a very honest review. Bottom line it's not worth the money these guys are asking for sushi. I don't ever mid paying high prices for great food but when the portions are the size of my finger it's ridiculous. Go to nobu and get what you pay for. Stay away

    (1)

  • Stella W.

    quality of fish: excellent service: excellent sushi rice: gross the quality of the fish was really good, and well worth the price. similar quality of these on the coasts would cost similar if not more. the grilled sea beam was excellent. I am glad the pesto-looking shiso dressing sauce comes on the side because even though the shiso taste from the sauce added another dimension to the fish, the oil component of the dressing would have made the whole dish too greasy, imho. the sushi rice that the fish sit on, GROSS. I don't think it's even the japanese short grain rice that's used on sushi...I felt like i am eating some leftover rice that's been sitting out in the rice bucket overnight, it has that smell and texture. Last time when I didn't get any wasabi with the sushi order, and the sushi chef in Tokyo refused to give me wasabi because he claimed he had put enough on the nigiris, which he was right. And I admire that. So when i didn't see any wasabi on my sushi plate, i thought the sushi chef has put enough inside the nigiris. But nada, they didn't put any. And even after i put tons of wasabi on the rice, i could still taste that off-putting leftover rice. Def worth the price and going back, just stay away from the sushi rice .

    (3)

  • Brita C.

    Shane was amazing. Thank you for an over the top experience...everything was very delicious.

    (5)

  • kandyo o.

    Best Sushi in Chicago! The drinks could be better but the food is spectacular. I'm dreaming of my next trip back.

    (4)

  • Rachel B.

    My boyfriend and I are both in the restaurant industry at high-end restaurants. Dining out is our favorite thing to do, and we are always trying new places. We celebrated our anniversary here recently, and we both agreed it was the best all around experience we've ever had dining out! The quality of our meal, our server, the atmosphere, the staff, drinks, etc. was phenomenal! We were blown away by every bite! I would highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a high-end casual dining experience where you will get your bang for your buck! We cannot wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Valigirl V.

    Pricy, trendy upscale Japanese restaurant. Enjoyable fare, excellent service. Atmosphere was light, airy with beautiful wood. When the restaurant was full, quarters were tight and very noisy. It did not help that there were 3 loud drunk "Cougars" celebrating a birthday seated in our vicinity! I dined with another person. We each had a cocktail (Monk's Journey... meh),shared an assortment of sushi, and shared one dessert and coffee. With tip, the bill came to $225. Bring your piggy bank or be traveling on business. Food was good, but most choices were NOT remarkable to warrant the extremely high prices. Everything a la carte. Suggestions: Toro tartare $25 (small disc of chopped toro accompanied with sesame toast), and unagi don $14 (small bowl of freshwater eel with sauce on rice). Some rolls were $25 or more... I would return for cocktails and 1-2 menu choices.

    (4)

  • Victoria C.

    My friends and I had a very nice time here. We were sat right away when we arrived. Food was excellent and ambiance was very nice as well. This is a great place for a date night or nice dinner with a group of friends. Lounge downstairs was also very nice, great spot for a happy hour. We had the scallop (sliced into 4 pieces) it was small but very tasty The chili spaghetti with the chicken egg underneath - this was AMAZING. Highly recommend. We had the first 5 sushi maki on the menu - all of them were very good! The only thing Id say is the hamachi roll was a little "fishier" than I had anticipated. That was the only one I didn't care for. I cant remember the name but we had the chocolate cake with the tea ice cream and it was also very good! I will definitely be back and recommending this place to friends.

    (5)

  • Linda M.

    I had no expectations for this place since I had never even heard of it but it was incredible! I stopped by with a friend this past Friday for a late dinner and I had a wonderful dinner. Our waitress was incredible, extremely knowledgeable with the menu and the drink list. she recommended the monk's journey which I ordered and was very satisfied with, incredibly light and refreshing. We ordered a variety of things from the off the coals section which included the short rib, smoked bacon and eggs, and the skirt steak with the shishito peppers, everything was amazing. The service was wonderful, everything was timed perfectly. We had the blood orange sorbet for dessert. I would highly recommend this restaurant, it was quite pricey but everything was perfection.

    (5)

  • Eric S.

    My wife and I went here for her birthday with very high expectations. Not including tip we spent about $250 on food and beverages and all I can remember is Salt. We mostly ate off the hot side of the menu. My wife loves salt and even these were so salty we sent back three items; Skirt steak, wasabi fried rice, and the beef tongue. I can honestly say this was the saltiest meal I've ever had in my whole life. I honestly couldn't even taste the beef tongue. The server apologized but those items weren't even taken off of our check. It was extremely disappointing, especially considering how many amazing restaurants are within walking distance. I'd give it a two stars but at this price point you should never have to send food back to the kitchen. It also just feels dishonest to not comp food that is sent back to the kitchen that is visibly caked with salt. I can honestly say I would not recommend this or go back.

    (1)

  • Gary F.

    Excellent food, we tried just about everything. A few issues finding allergy friendly options but our guest managed to enjoy what they could. The waiter was not friendly or helpful. Zero explanation of the menu despite several attempts to engage although attentive to the onion allergy issue. Thankfully the team bringing the food was friendly and efficient which minimized our need to engage with the waiter who was frankly rude.

    (3)

  • Elisa O.

    My hubby and I heard this place was great and most definitely did not disappoint! We got there on the early side before the crowds. The menu is extremely expansive and is more creative than your typical sushi restaurants these days. Yes it's on the pricier side, but it super delish! We started with the cold crab appetizer which was just awesome, followed by the Washugyu...yummm! Do not pass up on the three piece tuna sashimi which was incredible! We had a few pieces of the fatty tuna and it was great every time. For the chocolate lovers out there, the chocolate lava cake is a must! Overall I would give the place a 4.5. Definitely one of the best sushi places in Chicago. Very different presentation, decor, and the customer service is whoa! Can't wait til we make it back!

    (5)

  • Stephen N.

    Momotaro is more than a sushi restaurant. I would call it Japanese fusion. I went there however to enjoy sushi. I always ask for a seat at the sushi counter because I enjoy watching the chefs do their thing. Unfortunately, Chef Mark was in the kitchen the whole time which made me think I should have ordered something from there as well. The quality of the sushi was extremely fresh and they had almost everything that I like to order, including uni, o-toro, fatty salmon, etc. I'm more of a traditionalist so I stuck to nigiri and did not try any of the rolls. At one point in the night the sushi chef brought out a red trumpet fish, never saw that before. My bill was pricey but I had many drinks. The decor is cool and the service is fine. Each piece that was brought out was described by the server. Overall, it was a good experience.

    (4)

  • Lisa C.

    Beautiful interior. Came for dinner with the bf and enjoyed sake and dinner. For the two of us, we ordered seaweed salad, bara chirashi, smoked mackerel, smoked bacon and eggs, smoked duck breast, unagi, few pieces of ootoro, angel prawns, momomaki, Hamachi, and two desserts. Portions were small so you have to order several items per person. Expensive meal but worth it for a special occasion. Our waiter was awesome and gave great recommendations. It was a freezing that night and he even ran to the street with no jacket to get us a cab which we felt bad about but it goes to show what level of service is provided. Overall great experience.

    (5)

  • Linda M.

    Amazing, pure intense food. Ambience and food are extraordinary. Great service with high quality selections of food. Feels like I was back in Tokyo .

    (5)

  • Sarah W.

    Absolutely amazing. Cool atmosphere and delicious food. The quality and texture of the fish was outstanding. We let the server plan our meal and were so happy with the results. Must get back as soon as I can!

    (5)

  • Jose R.

    Great modern sushi restaurant. Nice assortment of raw and cooked items. Great selection of cold and hot appetizers. The nigiris were awesome especially the toro and unagi. The FU roll no worth the $45. The hibachi chops and king crabs very good. Creative cocktails were just ok for my taste. I taste three. I will go back

    (4)

  • Jim B.

    I love going to restaurants when they first open, just to spot where the problems are, and how (and whether) they are corrected. So I went to Momotaro on its second day. I was immediately greeted by two absolutely stunning Hostesses that were very friendly and helpful and attentive, so that's always a plus. They gave me a quick visual tour and invited me to try the adjacent bar. I sat down, and was greeted by Dana, the bartender, who knew the cocktail menu and its backstory inside and out, and who was as friendly and un-rushed as the Hostesses. In fact, she knew the Sake list, and the Japanese words to describe it. She recommended two cocktails, both of which I had, which were balanced and original and fantastic. I ordered the tomato tartare, which was very good, but a bit rich/cloying/almost over the top after about half. Best to be shared by at least two. But I'm being very critical here, because the flavor and presentation and texture was unique and perfect. I then ordered the Curry Noodles - wow. Absolutely original, beautifully presented (all of the plate ware is specially designed and hand crafted), flavorful, fantastic texture to the noodles, velvety sauce. A+++. Tried the tuna 3 ways (?), which will somewhat standard to Sushi goers, but very good, perfectly fresh, correctly chilled (a peeve of mine in some cities but usually done correctly in better houses in Chicago) and beautifully presented. And two glasses of Sake, the names of which I forget but Dana recommended the pairing and she was absolutely correct. And it turns out that an acquaintance of mine from Michigan is a server. His name is Jake, and he came by three or four times and made perfect recommendations and obviously was very well versed on the menu and preparation and pairing. Ask for Jake! And the interior is stunning. I'm trying hard to find negatives, just so the restaurant and staff are aware and can work on things in their opening days, but I really had a fantastic experience. I am already thinking of going back - I'm sure I will be a regular. Congrats, guys!!! You nailed it. Now keep it up for the throngs that are certain to pour through your doors!! By the way, I think this is only my 5th or 6th restaurant review - I'm not in the habit of doing this, but Momotaro is That good!!

    (5)

  • Seb H.

    Great food, especially the rolls and the tomato tartar. Everything is great for sharing. Very nice and relaxed service, reasonable in comparison to what it could be, and very cool atmosphere. Liked it a lot. They have a big bar area downstairs which seems to have a cozy flair to it as well (just checked it out for a minute).

    (5)

  • Valeria G.

    Food and wine were delicious! We started off with the seaweed salad, followed by the tartar, 2 maki roles (BBQ eel and I can't remember the name of the other one), and the spaghetti. We ended our dinner with the chocolate namelaka. The ambience is great and the staff was extremely attentive. There is also a lounge downstairs, which is my favorite part. Perfect for good company and good conversation. The sushi wasn't the best I ever had, but was certainly up there.

    (4)

  • Ali D.

    Simply divine! The food was delicious (Ground pork w Udon + Veggie sushi), the sake tasty, the service impeccable and the ambiance hip & cool. Will be going back!

    (5)

  • B G.

    My boyfriend and I literally went into this bar early on a saturday to break up. We both knew it was coming. We were the first ones there and sat immediately. I really liked how the bar was laid out and how the menus hung from hooks above your head. I had donated blood earlier that day and barely eaten anything since so once the conversation got started the tears started coming. It was perfectly amicable of a break up, but the point of me mentioning that is that the bartender was super cool about everything. He gave us some whiskey on the house and rolled with the punches. Great experience and it really helped make the situation better. The chef also came out and said hello to us. That was cool. I will definitely have something to eat the next time I go in. Loved it!

    (5)

  • Emily B.

    Everyone must try this place! A very unique and delicious experience. The dishes here are small plates that are meant to be shared. I came with my boyfriend and we ordered five plates, which I thought was definitely enough. We ordered the diver scallop, sashimi omakase (with a side of rice), chili mentaiko spaghetti, FU roll, and the A5 wagyu sushi roll. All the plates were excellent. I personally feel as though it is hard to give a recommendation when it comes to seafood. Some people like how fishy some seafood tastes, but others do not. I would say definitely get the chili mentaiko spaghetti, and choose dishes around your flavor palette. Their menu is not just limited to seafood. I expected all the sushi rolls to be relatively expensive, but was pleasantly surprised to see that the FU roll was the only $45 sushi roll on the menu. All the other sushi rolls are definitely not as pricey. The service and the ambience of the restaurant were great. The only thing that was a little disappointing was that they took the uni rice with black truffles off the menu, because truffles are currently out of season. That just means we'll have to come back to try the dish when it's back on the menu!

    (5)

  • K B.

    Everything was excellent - everything! The food, the service, the atmosphere. This is on my top 10, or maybe even my top 5 list for Chicago. I'm not a big duck person, but even loved the tare smoked duck breast my friend ordered for us. The room can get loud, so you have to be ready for that, but most restaurants in Chicago are loud. Can't wait to go back.

    (5)

  • Chelsea M.

    My husband and I went to Momotaro for a special occasion and it was wonderful! The dishes were complex, well-balanced and delicious! We ordered several dishes, but my favorite was the unagi don (barbequed eel rice). The cocktails and service were excellent as well. My only complaint was that our chairs didn't have backs, but that's hardly a strike against the place. I highly recommend Momotaro!

    (5)

  • Michelle R.

    Extremely high quality fish. Been here multiple times and racked up quite a bill every time. No complaints on the food but had a slightly negative experience with the staff. There seems to be way more than enough staff working there, but why is it so hard to get their attention???? And even when there are plenty of tables open, they ask you to wait for another 15 minutes (suggesting that you sit at the bar or go to the downstairs bar). Each time I go, the service isn't as good. Sad, especially when the food is of such high quality.

    (4)

  • Ann D.

    Everything about our experience here was fantastic. We arrived about 30 minutes before our 8:45 reservation, and were led to the downstairs lounge until our table was ready - the lounge is a great space and our cocktails were delicious. I'd recommend the monk's journey, it was well blended and not too sweet. Our table was ready for us about 5 minutes before the reservation time. Service both downstairs and at the restaurant was great, everyone was very attentive and our server was so knowledgeable about the drink menu and the food menu. Without outlining our entire meal, some highlights were the dungeness crab salad, the A5 wagyu steak tartare (an off-the menu special), and the Ikura sushi (marinated salmon roe served in an apple). Dishes were creative and flavorful. We tried two different sakes with our meal, one off the "clean" menu and a second from the "earthy" menu, both were easy to drink and paired well with the food. The atmosphere alone is worth a trip - it is open and modern yet still comfortable. All in all, it was a memorable dining experience on account of the food and the vibe; we're sure to be back to momotaro in the future.

    (5)

  • Kelly G.

    The food at Momotaro is excellent. I was particularly fond of the shitake skewers and the salmon nigiri, but everything we were served was solid. We ordered everything at once, and it came to the table pretty perfectly timed - plenty of time to socialize but not start wondering where's the food? The interior of this restaurant is very, very cool as well. Minus one star because the menu is overwhelming and the server gave us little guidance about ordering beyond describing the dishes. We had a party of 8 and she basically said, I'll let you know if you order too much food. I would have liked more guidance about ordering at this place, such as a couple suggested menus or a description about how many people a particular dish served.

    (4)

  • Katrina C.

    This is a fantastic restaurant, those with an adventurous palate should definitely come here. I came here on a Tuesday evening with a reservation around 8PM for 2. We were seated promptly and the service was near perfect and knowledgeable. We ordered our dishes and she spaced the courses out beautifully so after each dish was delivered another came shortly after. A5 Miyazaki wagyu - delicious, small bite size portion with uni in the middle. Eat it slowly and really enjoy the taste notes together. Momotaro tartare - compressed tomato tartare, tasted like a cross between beef tartare and sundried tomatoes. I thought it was genius and delicious, I would order again. Uni rice - if your a big uni fan, this was on par with other uni rice dishes. Good standard. Age dashi tofu - tasted like japan to me, firm tofu Hastu - don't let chicken hearts scare you off this dish. It's yummy! I would love to have more of that. Washugyu - wagyu and foie gras, the nice slight char with meaty flavor and then the soft melt in your mouth foie gras interior. Another plate please! Kushi oyster - first dish that came out, tasty Ikura botan ebi - very fresh and good balance of each component in each bite. Udon - delicious authentic Japanese curry flavor and helped to fill my tummy Yuzu shittori cake - great light dessert to cap the night off and cleanse the palate! In short, I would definitely go back again. And you should give it a try!

    (5)

  • Richard H.

    Amazing flavors and Amazing Presentation. We will be back for sure on our next trip. See you in a month.

    (5)

  • Cristy L.

    Overall, the food lived up to the hype. The tartares and sushi were excellent; cold dishes definitely outshined hot dishes. The cocktails were great too. Service wise, when it was on it was really on - when it was off it was really off. The latter part of this comment is regarding cocktail service. Several times we sat with empty drinks and no one came by to ask if we'd like another. At one point I asked one of the food servers to send over our waiter so we could order more drinks. Ten minutes went by, and then I had to flag our waiter down. We also ordered a bottle of wine which sat in an ice bucket a walk away from our table; our glasses sat empty again for about ten minutes. We literally had only had one glass each and then our meal was over so the wine was not paced with the meal. I had to get up and pour the bottle myself by the end of the night because it was basically forgotten. Our waiter seemed extremely busy, but I'm not sure why one of the many other staff walking around could not stop by to ask us if we'd like more drinks or pour more wine to help him out. Seeing as how alcohol is the lifeblood of many restaurants it was odd. I would go back again for the food, but if service is dodgy the second time around that will be the last for me.

    (3)

  • Elizabeth F.

    Everything was great!! The quality is top notch. The only thing I wouldn't order again was the king crab. $24 for half a crab leg doesn't cut it. Tuna Tataki and Diver Scallops were just a few of the items we shared. Beautiful space too. I will definitely be back very soon.

    (5)

  • Jon S.

    Beautiful ambiance feel is very swankily Asian. Food was excellent. Sea breem prepared wonderfully and so flavorful. Tomato tartare gets much fanfare for me beautiful faux presentation of the real thing but if you are not vegan you miss the payoff of real tuna. Sushi with tuna, octopus and lotus root one of the best pieces of sushi we have ever had. So we got seconds. Looking forward to going back and trying more new dishes

    (4)

  • allison k.

    Like others, maybe I was just too excited to try this place and had high expectations that it didn't live up to. I've been to Morimoto in philadelphia before which I loved so I was expecting something similar. Honestly the cooked options we got were amazing and better than the sashimi choices which is frustrating at a sushi restaurant. I think our biggest mistake was getting the Sashimi Omakase, the fish was fresh at least but not worth it for the price.... get some more of the other interesting dishes. Also, this is the first place we've paid for the freshly grated wasabi where it wasn't grated at the table. it just came in a lump and then we got another lump on the sashimi platter. If others wanted to go I would go the food was good but for the price I would go elsewhere.

    (3)

  • Tracey P.

    An enjoyable dinner experience, but be warned... the portion sizes are small. We enjoyed everything, especially the seaweed salad. We had to order and re-order several times because the sharing plates are really small. The Monk's Journey cocktail was a hit with our group. A nice time, but not sure if I'd return.

    (3)

  • James C.

    Went here for a private event upstairs. It was a perfect evening. Food: The best sushi I have experienced. We had a set menu of four courses. The potato salad was a nice start. It had a fresh flavor that cleansed the palate. The tuna was slightly smokey, giving it a unique flavor. The second course was all sushi. The presentation was excellent, adding to the enjoyment of dinner. We had some of the highest quality sashimi. The rolls were equally delicious. One of the white fishes tasted like butter. For the main course, the aged beef was a huge hit. It was tender and continued to cook over provided heat. Drinks: We had like twenty bottles of sake. Not really. The sake selection was very impressive. Service: Very attentive and friendly. The service got visibly agitated by his serving assistants, which is easy to do when you're under pressure. Being verbal with your frustrations is something you never do, though. Overall, he was an excellent waiter. I highly recommend this place. The vibe is relaxed, the ambience chic.

    (5)

  • T C.

    Went here for a friends birthday 6 weeks after they opened up (thinking the bugs were all worked out). We were seated almost 1 hour after our reservation (although they gave us a small pour of rose to compensate). The waiter greeted us and didn't come back again for 30 minutes. By the time we were able to flag him down again, we wound up ordering because we didn't want to wait any more (vs hearing about the best parts of the menu) and severely under ordered (a group of 5), which you would think the waiter would tell you about. We then had to request our check and wound up taking our bills to the bar to pay because the waiter again didn't come back. I would find this excusable if they were really busy or something but we were literally one of 4 tables left in the restaurant at that time. The food was good, but wasn't anything to write home about. It was fairly overpriced for the flavor and portion sizes. (Note: when I read about people complaining about price, I usually think that they are just cheap. But I consider myself a foodie and am happy to pay a good price for something worth it, and I found this to be significantly less than worthy of the cost.) On a plus side, the atmosphere is very cool!

    (2)

  • Sam C.

    Came here last night and Momotaro definitely delivered, the followings are what we had: 1 - Chawanmushi - a must get 2 - A5 Miyazaki Wagyu - uni goodness wrapped around by wagyu meat 3 - yellowtail sashimi 4 - Uni Rice 5 - Wasabi Negi Rice 6 - Chili Mentaiko Spaghetti 7 - Diver Scallops 8 - Alaskan King Crab 9 - Hamachi Kama 10 - Negi Hama ( yellowtail sushi rolls) 11 - Spicy Octopus Roll - also a must try if they have it 12 - Yuzu Shittori Cake 13 - Chocolate Sponge Cake dessert (forgot the name) I'm extremely impressed by the quality of the food here. I liked every dish here. But a few are in the spotlight and a must get: Chawanmushi, Uni Rice and the Hamachi Kama (yellowtail collar) and wrap it up with the wasabi negi rice. Don't forget to try the dessert here too. It's pretty darn good. My only complain is that the miyazaki wagyu is too tiny. I want a bigger wrap cuz I couldn't taste the uni and the meat in my first try (and the leaf overpowered all the flavor). It was in my 2nd bite that I can taste both ingredients. Service was also a strength as our server was really knowledgeable about the dishes and were very attentive.

    (5)

  • Cathy F.

    Wish I could give them 4.5 Stars. Service was a little slow, but I imagine its due to the restaurant still working out some kinks. We arrived early for a 9pm reservation and our group waited until around 9:20 in the downstairs lounge. Cocktail service was slow, but the drinks were extremely well executed. Food was incredibly fresh and delicious all around. Unique flavors and combinations that are pleasantly surprising. Highlights: -The Momomaki - might be the best Maki Roll I've ever tasted -The baby hamachi "chefs Nigiri" -Negima Skewer. For all the skewers be sure to use the fermented yuzu paste that comes on the plate. Incredible! -Unagi Don -Momotaro Tartare - SUCH a unique vegetarian option... a must try We also tried the Chili spaghetti, Wasabi fried rice, Sea Bream, Ogo, Tsukune, Pork Chop Hibachi, Marinated salmon maki, and 2 desserts and they were all delicious as well. The only dissapointing bite of the night were the diver scallops. They were overcooked and had a strange fishy taste. Cocktails were done very very well and there was a good selection of wines by the glass. The Voss single vineyard sav blanc was a table fav. Other than the one blip, everything was incredible. Can't wait to come back to try some of the other items on the extensive menu.

    (4)

  • Stacy O.

    Very cool space with extensive, unique menu. We sat at the bar late on Saturday night. Our bartender was very friendly. I admit to sometimes feeling intimidated by an Asian menu so I had many questions. We had the quail eggs (on a skewer) wrapped in bacon -amazing and I can't imagine how challenging it must be to poach six tiny eggs and wrap them in bacon, and then cook the bacon. Anyway! We also had the Uni rice with shaved black truffles - also delicious, and I cleaned the bowl. The only thing we didn't like was the tuna tartar. I asked for a dish that featured a diced tuna, and was served a nicely plated dish of mushy, onion laden tuna. The server was kind enough to take off the bill. Lastly, they have chicken hearts which our friends tricked me into eating; the flavor was good before I spit the chewy nugget out, but the trust is lost. Check this place out.

    (4)

  • Tim F.

    Wow, lots of fun food here, A5 beef wrapped in uni, 24 hour marinated salmon, every dish we had was extremely well done, don't expect the huge rolls and nigiri you get at lesser places, the portions and quality are just like Japan. Super !!

    (5)

  • Wenbo F.

    Hands down best Japanese restaurant in town.

    (5)

  • Akvamarinko P.

    My friend and I headed to the Momotaro one Friday not too long ago instead of the usual Bar Louie. It is a pretty nice experience. Im not sure if they have happy hour there..It was decent place to grab pretty affordable drinks.

    (5)

  • Rob L.

    The food was great and the service was exceptional as well. The sushi was the freshest I've tasted in as long as I can remember. This was my first time in Chicago and if I find my way back here, Momotaro is definitely gonna be one of the places I hit up again.

    (5)

  • Melinda C.

    It was our first night in Chicago, so we found this sushi place on one of the "Best New Restaurants in Chicago". I called to make a reservation and the guy said the next available was at 10:45pm, but if I put my name on the wait list, they would try to get me in as soon as possible which could mean 30mins to 1 hour, so we got there and the girl says it's going to be 1.5 hour wait. Thank goodness we weren't starving yet so we decided to stay and wait at the lounge/bar downstairs. The bar tender was very friendly, gave us some tips on other places to eat and was always trying to check on our reservations. We tried the Alaskan crab and unagi hand roll, both were good, but I liked the unagi better, more flavorful. We finally get seated after almost 2 hour wait. We tried the omakasi and was quite delighted with the different fishes and toppings. Sous chef Kazi Chan and his assistant was professional and very knowledgeable of their craft. One of our favorites was the otoro. Definitely try this place out if you can wait the 2 hours.

    (5)

  • C G.

    Probably one of my top 10 meals anywhere ever! The layering and nuances of flavors impeccable! Definitely will be back when I'm in Chicago.

    (5)

  • Kurt V.

    What an amazing experience from the BOKA group. I would expect nothing less. You could not ask for fresher seafood with meticulous presentation. For a new restaurant they really had their act together. The Hamachi was sinfully good. The Toro was even more so. The Gyutan was especially good. The wait staff was extremely helpful and friendly. It was a great space- not too loud and with the dual kitchens the food smells made you hungrier. Best Japanese Food experience in Chicago in all my years. I look forward to going back.

    (5)

  • Santiago R.

    The chef's selection nigiris is incredible.

    (5)

  • Fuudcritic C.

    Boka folks nailed it again! I'm always a little hesitant in trying a new restaurant shortly after opening. To start, walking through the doors I was amazed. The decor of the restaurant is gorgeous! The service is top notch all around and the food...did not skip a beat!!! We ordered almost everything and shared. Everything from the coals, rice bowls to sushi, and desserts were fantastic! All creative, flavorful and reasonably priced. I couldn't tell you what to order...just try it all!

    (4)

  • T L.

    This place may be one of the best Japanese restaurants in Chicago. The fish is fresh. Uni from Santa Barbara. YUM! The hot dishes are great. Service is great. The environment and design is great except for maybe the floors in the main dining room (but who cares the food is great, this coming from a picky eater). I will be back again and again. You know you've been to a great restaurant when you leave feeling incredibly happy with a big smile.

    (5)

  • mounia t.

    Absolutely amazing $50 omakase - the octopus sushi was melt in your mouth goodness. Very good desserts too - the okinawa brown sugar is delicious, kind of like crunchy salted caramel ice cream. Great service - friendly, attentive.

    (5)

  • Kevin H.

    Full disclosure, I would have never picked this place. I am not a sushi/ Japanese cuisine fan. My daughter picked here for her birthday. She told me she'd give it close to 4 stars . For my review, couple comments. The facility is beautiful. So good to see business people investing these kind of dollars into real estate in challenging areas. This isn't an area to be walking around at night but getting better. The service is great and average. Our server was very helpful and friendly and took much time with us explaining the menu. Why it was average is that he was spending much time with other clients doing the same so his touch with us was not consistent. A couple people, I assume management types, walk around and smile and fold your napkin when you depart the table. I'd suggest these people offer to get drinks and clear the table. The folding of napkins is a nice touch but got annoying. We were a party of 7. I caution you to make sure everyone at the table is talking about what they are ordering. We felt the server ran up the bill by bring two of everything, which was ridiculous cause a couple of us didn't want anything to do with that food. Without wine and dessert our bill approached $500. As to the food, the sushi folks enjoyed it. I was excited as it was Teriyaki Chicken Tuesday. Probably the only entree on the menu for me and didn't live up to the server's hype. Actually tasted like pork. The beer and wine selection was very good. As to why we didn't do dessert, we were there almost 2 1/2 hours and they kept bringing us little dishes. We finally had to shut them off and ask for the bill. Finally, this was a birthday dinner and I approached two management types during the course of the evening if they would bring a small dessert with a candle--- never happened. Never be back.

    (2)

  • Ila L.

    We went to Momotaro for an anniversary dinner. It was wonderful. Everything from the sashimi to the donburi was excellent. Even the rolls, which I generally shy away from, were delicious.

    (5)

  • Tina Y.

    Amazing experience. We must have ordered at least 15 dishes and all of them were good to great. Nothing disappointed. The curry noodles stood out to me as did the beef skewers. Service was exceptional.

    (5)

  • R J.

    We had an 8:00 reservation for my birthday. At 8:35, they had no table and no way of telling us when we would get one. The basement bar, despite yummy cocktails, looks like my moms basement with a few Japanese posters and kitschy lights. Not cool, just sad. Chicago has a lot of great rooms. You do NOT need to wait an indeterminant amount of time to eat in a crappy basement. If you absolutely have to eat here, check back in 6 months when they're not the hot young thing. I give them 3 years max.

    (1)

  • Mario L.

    The menu was so overwhelming that we decided to let our server Nam-Binh make the selections for us. We started with 3 dishes and added a couple more and more until we were full. Don't miss the Age Dashi Tofu, Washugyu & the Chili Mentaiko Spaghetti. It was expensive but worth it. Gorgeous restaurant, sophisticated Asian-inspired presentation and attentive staff. A must try.

    (5)

  • Kevin L.

    Reservation at 9 and waited almost 40 min to get seated.Food service is really slow. Food is great and fresh. Prepare to spend a fortunate...

    (3)

  • Carter D.

    So our Friday night reservations were for 9:30. We came a bit early to hang out downstairs in the lounge and have a couple drinks before the meal. No one at the restaurant shared the fact that there was a private party taking place downstairs when I made the reservation. So the only seating available was at the bar. Between the private party and regular guests, I'd say there were over 100 people downstairs. There were two bartenders. Two. It took about 15 mins to order a drink and only if you were willing to simulate the motions of hailing a cab. We were finally seated around 10:15 (45 mins late). The interiors are befitting a high-end restaurant, but not out-of-this-world; the lounge seems a bit low-rent to me given the plain treatment of black paint on cinderblock, like a dojo quickly repurposed into a lounge. The food is just ok; nothing was wow. Small portions and sushi is definitely not their expertise. The best items were coming from the kitchen and not the sushi bar. If you want solid sushi, your best bets are still Japonais, Arami, and Juno. This is just not in the same league at all. The crowd is very young, and perhaps why all these rave reviews with words like, "gorge" and "bomb." It's new and certainly has a see-and-be-seen vibe, but if they plan to stick around longterm and rise to the high standards of their other restaurants, they still have a lot of kinks to work out.

    (3)

  • Naotomo Y.

    Best Japanese restaurant in chicago so far that I have tried. We tried almost everything, stream, grill, fried, sushi, handroll, chirashi....everything was sooo good. Fresh, tasty, with nice presentation. Best services, reminded me the time when I was living in japan. Must come again! Worth the $$$.

    (5)

  • Natalie M.

    Beautiful interior, excellent meal, drink was great and our waiter was wonderful as well! Enjoyed sashimi, sushi, a delicious seaweed salad and the Momotaro Tartare, which is a must try! Loved everything about this restaurant and I recommend it to anyone who wants a delicious meal in Chicago.

    (5)

  • Stephanie S.

    Maybe our expectations were too high, but this place left us feeling severely underwhelmed...and hungry. The server pushed the meintako (sp?) spaghetti HARD and it was unanimously our least favorite dish of the night. It was lacking any flavor and while super rich and heavy, was not filling at all. We also tried quite a few items from the Nigirizushi list that were good, but not memorable, especially for the price. Bottoms Line: if you have lots of $$$$ to spend, try the various cuts of sashimi/nigiri without abandon. For everyone else, here are two "must try" dishes: Momotaro Tartare and Uni chawan Mushi (unreal how deliciously tasty and satisfying both were)

    (3)

  • Steph U.

    I came here for the mentaiko after seeing Momotaro in the United magazine. Honestly, this place should probably have a 3.5, but I rounded down because it was really expensive and the mentaiko honestly wasn't something I'd come back for; it felt like something I could make at home, actually. We also ordered the uni risotto, which was a special they had that day. Once again it was good, but not something that I'd go out of my way for. The sushi, however, was amazing and actually very reasonably priced compared to everything else. We ordered the momomaki. I would come back just for the sushi and the sushi deserves 5 stars, hands down. My boyfriend and I also ordered some Japanese whiskey, which was good, but a bit strong for my taste. Overall, it was a lovely experience, but much to expensive for my taste, other than the sushi. If there were a special occasion, I'd go back just for that.

    (3)

  • Keiko O.

    Had a fantastic dinner at the sushi bar tonight! We indulged in: 2 sushi omakases, A5 wagyu tartar, oysters on the half shell, an additional uni nigiri, and the waka momo dessert. Highly recommend sitting at the sushi bar if you come as a couple - the chef served us piece by piece (omakase in Japan is also served this way) as opposed to serving all 9 pcs on a plate. All in all, $160 for the two of us which was very reasonable given the quality of the food. Service started off great but tapered off a bit at the end, although it may be because it was coming close to closing time.

    (5)

  • Michelle P.

    One of the BEST restaurants that I have been to... Go! The service:fast, polite, impeccable The atmosphere: trendyish and lively The drinks: one kid had jasmine, the other green tea. Both loved it. I had the Monk cocktail with vodka, aloe and green matcha tea.... And then I had another! The food: so many amazing options, I don't even know where to begin. Many are tapas style, smaller and meant to be shared. Several vegetarian options for my son too. Best miso soup he's ever had, and he's tried many. Amazing sushi and sashimi.... So fresh and tender...and beautifully displayed. Go, go, go!

    (5)

  • Tina L.

    This review is for the drinks and the uni toast that we had downstairs. I wish we hadn't had dinner, because I would have loved to try some of their other dishes! We were all way too full, so we decided to split an order of uni toast, just to try. Even though I was beyond full, it was such a wonderful experience to get even a little sliver of that savory, delectable, rich and creamy uni on top of the buttery, crispy, flakey toast. YUM! I ordered a drink that was delicious and STRONG. Two of those things got me buzzed!

    (5)

  • My T.

    We waited forever for the table but they made up for it. Gave us a round of free drinks and desserts. Food was excellent.

    (4)

  • Irina K.

    We had an incredible experience there. I would say it is the best Japanese restaurant in Chicago right now. Every dish they served was unique. Our server Nam Binh made us feel like we were some kind of royalty. Seriously, that young man was on top of his game. I wrote down his name because I was so impressed. We usually go out for dinner 5 times a week. So we know the difference. This place has seriously impressed us. Btw, on top of everything they got us additional free dessert.

    (5)

  • Amanda N.

    I stopped by here on a Thursday evening thinking there would be available seating. I was told they were no longer taking walk ins because they were booked for the night. I called in the next day to see if there were any openings There was just one opening at around 5 which was just an hour later. I had just ate but I really wanted to try this place before my vacation ended. As I walked in to the restaurant there were many open tables even towards the end of my dinner which was around 630, there were plenty of seating. I guess they always want to seem busy. The decor seemed like an upscale casual, and I noticed there were lots of employees. My server was very helpful, and attentive. Everyone seemed on point. We ordered a couple of items which came out in this order Washugyu- sirloin steak with green peppers on skewers. The meat was tender, the peppers were tender. Buttery texture, lots of flavor Smoked aji not a fan of the smoke flavor but something I guess you have to experience and try yourself. Momo tartare- light and refreshing Wasabi salmon roll- very basic, we were told this was the most popular roll. Don't get it if your trying to experience new and unique new things. A5 Mizyaki sirloin wagyu- the most expensive and the one dish that made my experience a whole lot better. It made up for all the other dishes. Juicy tender melt in your mouth beef. Curry udon- if you've ever had Japanese curry, it's udon smothered in this stuff Almond crumble with peach sorbet- green peaches, delicious sorbet on top of almond crumbles. So good I ate it in two bites. Overall my experience here was great. But with the food, the presentation was outstanding but the flavors did not match up. I was expecting more. I'm glad I tried this place but don't think it's a place I'd want to come back for seconds (unless it's for the a5 lol)

    (4)

  • Andrea R.

    My husband and I recently celebrated our 7th anniversary, which fell on a Monday evening. I'd originally made a res at Oak + Char, but a few days before wished I had made a res at Momotaro instead. While I had heard it could be difficult to get a res at this popular restaurant, but I had a bit of hope for a Monday night. When I originally called they told me they were booked, but when I explained it was our anniversary they very sweetly made room for us. That alone deserves an extra star. Most restaurants are empty at 630pm on a Monday night, but biz was booming here. In fact, by 7pm most of the tables in the restaurant were filled with people enjoying fabulous cocktails and food. My husband and I agreed that everything we ordered was fabulous. Per our waiters suggestion we shared a variety of dishes from the menu: a little sushi, Unagi rice bowl, etc. I was full after a few dishes, but just kept eating as the food came to our table because it was so good. Dessert on your anni is a must and we finished our celebration with some sort of butterscotch pudding that I will definitely be ordering again. We should have ordered 2 since I didn't leave much for my husband, but then again he knows I'm not good at sharing my dessert after 7 years of marriage.

    (5)

  • Steve A.

    I was expecting this restaurant to be crowded, noisy and with forced service, but it was none of these. Even though by the time we finished dinner it was full, it didn't seem crowded, and noise levels never made it the least bit difficult to converse. Most importantly, our server, Brennan, was the opposite of stiff. He made the whole meal a fun and exciting experience, with excellent recommendations, deep knowledge of the menu and wine list, and a clear passion for what he is doing. We loved the quality of the fish in the sashimi platter (which is called an omakase, but isn't really what that is, traditionally). Crab with shishito peppers was also very good. My favorite dish was the bacon wrapped quail eggs from the robata grill. With three eggs on each of two skewers, this is a very shareable item. The flan-like butterscotch dessert was also delicious. The interior design of the restaurant is beautiful, and reasonable pricing makes it a place I will return to often.

    (5)

  • Samantha H.

    Momotaro was good, but given some of the feedback I had received from friends and on Yelp!, I was expecting great. I'm not sure if I just was there on an off night or what. Overall, the standouts were the sashimi and it was good food for big prices. The ambiance is nice; they have some semi-private booths, which is where we sat as a party of 6. That was awesome. Our server, Nam (sp?), was outstanding. He was on point the entire night. We let him pick many of the dishes for us. As far as food, we started with a few rolls and two rice dishes. None of the rolls stood out to me. We ended up getting three more rolls later and again, none of them stood out. None of them were bad either but just no standouts. The rice dishes were the same: tasty but nothing special. The sashimi was great though. My favorite was the saba...it tasted like the ocean. The tuna and blufin were both great as well. I feel that when I go back, I'll really concentrate on sashimi. We also tried the beef tartare, which was decent, the squid, which I thought was a bit chewy, and the octopus, which was actually quite good. There was nothing I would say to stay away from as it was all good but other than sashimi, nothing I would say is a must have either.

    (3)

  • Nadia S.

    Wow. Oh mi goodness what a meal. First off I love that you get to wait in their cute lounge area downstairs while your table is being ready. I went with 2 friends and we had the most fantastic time. We ordered about 6-7 things btwn us to share and it was a perfect amt and the total was under 100 bucks! The chawan mushi was delicious. The washugyu with foie was so buttery and yum! The wasabi fried rice was spicy and so different. Loved! As far as the rolls we tried, I believe they were the una-kyu (with bbq'd eel) and the chili hama- both incredible. Our server gave the best recommendations and was extremely helpful. Love everything about this place and need to get back here asap!!! **Also I would totally recommend this place for a girls night out, date night, or a spot to start a fun long night ;)

    (5)

  • Maria P.

    One of the best Japanese restaurant we have tried in US! The izakaya plates are all great to share. Best were the Live crab and the whole fish. For the sushi the fish are some of the freshest and delicate we have ever had. We had the Aji with the 1200 year ild oak: impressive! The zuke sake and angel fish nigiri were amazing and all the rolls were delicate yet flavorful!

    (5)

  • Teri Y.

    Took me awhile to finally write a review for Momotaro. Reason was that my first visit was during their soft opening, which already quite blew me away. I wanted to return again at a later time to see how it matched up to the night of the soft opening and again it impressed. Soft openings are usually when kinks need to be ironed out, and yes, there were some, but overall being so damn fantastic on opening night was already a very good sign. My favorite part of Momotaro's menu is that there are popular everyday items you will see in Japan but unfortunately you don't get that in most Japanese restaurants in Chicago. Chawan mushi is one of them. Their take on the steamed egg custard- soo good. Mentaiko spaghetti: popular item in Tokyo and only Momotaro has it in Chicago. So ahh-mazing. You mix it up with the runny egg at the bottom of the plate and the taste of the noodle is excellent. The toro tartare is so fresh and of so good quality, I could taste it's natural sweetness. The whole kurodai fish on a cedar plank is so moist, I ate everything up, skin and all...

    (5)

  • Louise M.

    I was too excited to write the review after dining here that I had to write it right away so I could remember every single details. I have been so blessed. 2015 started with a bang with unexpected treats that I probably could never done on my own, from tasting an $800 bottle Lafite Rotschild to this dinner tonight. The five star says it all about tonight's dinner, courtesy of my good friend C.K and Sabrina. Our party really ate well tonight at this three month old newly opened restaurant, Momotaro. Let me take you to the wonderful journey of discovering Japanese food art. To tell you the truth, I haven't been all that enthused of Japanese cuisine lately. I had been eating tons of Vietnamese cuisine, especially pho, dealing with cold winter in Minnesota, that the thought of cold raw fish didn't appeal to me. Plus, some of the sushi places I had been lately weren't that exciting. C.K. was very excited to try this place and though I insisted that I would treat this time, he told me no because he wanted all the ordering power. Did he do some ordering! We just sat back, relaxed, and ate every single morsel of pure ecstasy delivered to the table. Reservation is a bit hard to get to this new and hot restaurant. We got in early at 5:45 PM reservation; however, we were really hungry so it worked out just fine. Our server, Nam, was pretty knowledgeable working with C.K. on what to order. They started with an unagi don or rice bowl topped with grilled seasoned eel intended for the kids. However, we were hungry and we also tried a spoonful of it and that was heaven in a bowl. Dear baby Jesus, that unagi really hit the spot from the charred flavor of the flaky sweet eel combined with the sticky Japanese rice. It was deelicious!! Then the foods just kept flowing: the langoustine topped with caviar that was $20/pop was so buttery good it was unbelievable. The uni wrapped with marbled wagyu was the ultimate surf and turf in one pop. The fattiness of the wagyu paired with the flavor of the sea in the form of uni was an extreme indulgence. The kampachi was very delicately served in yuzu juice paired with micro cut of yuzu. The skewer of beef, shishito and foie gras also topped everything. The shishito pepper was the star actually. I never had it before and couldn't believe my mouth. Each item that came was better than the one before and it kept on coming. The cawan mushi which was egg custard that was made with perfection, so smooth with no air bubble, had to be topped with this creamy sauce filled with king crab leg meats and black truffle. It was texture and flavor explosion! The mentaike spaghetti was tasting better than spaghetti carbonara believe it or not! It was a little spicy paired with such a creaminess coming from an egg yolk that was placed under the pasta. I thought it would taste just plain, but I was wrong. It was so so good! The wasabi fried rice was shocking too. I didn't think I'd like it but it was so exquisite I didn't know if I ever had anything better in the form of fried rice. I was bending my body towards the rice paying respect to its greatness. The grilled sea bream was nonpareil. OMG.. Flaky white fish, thick meat and just enough fat and and acidity from the shizo sauce was so delightful!! Then the nigiri sushi platter filled with angel prawn that was tasty but quite gingery, the diver scallop that was so delicate but then we got a huge punch of wasabi coming from underneath, and lastly, the kobe with sea urchin nigiri... Oh la la..party in my mouth! Lastly, we also ordered the rib eye donburi that was good and sea urchin nigiri with egg yolk. I was full at this point. I didn't try the sea urchin nigiri but my friend wished it didn't have the egg yolk as it covered the taste of the uni. Overall though... Top notch! Boka Group did it again with Momotaro. They know how to create a great eatery and despite the executive chefs for this restaurant aren't even Japanese, I love every single bite I had. The restaurant was definitely hip and trendy, and prices weren't cheap; however, with the amount of food we got and the quality of the ingredients, it was all fairly bartered. We had a lot of fun trying the food one by one, bite by bite. The pace was just steady and we had small bite each time and it was a really fun way to eat. It has been one of the most spectacular meals I had in the three days of 2015! Holy balls, the benchmark is high for the rest of the year! The service was quite good towards the excellent level though my friend wished it was even more attentive. I had a little mishap with the rib eye don thinking that a hard piece I couldn't chew seemed to be plastic. They examined it and told me it was just onion. It was a pretty hard unpalatable onion let me tell you. I wish they at least would say sorry instead of kinda saying..you were wrong! However, I forgave them for being a new restaurant and for the fact the foods have been extraordinary. Wow!! I am blown away

    (5)

  • Allison V.

    I was excited to go her for my anniversary. I made reservations far in advance. We arrived a few minutes prior to our reservation and we were greeted with smiles and seated promptly. A bit disappointed because even on my reservation I listed that it was our anniversary in hopes of a special evening. Seating was cramped and we were placed at the front, at one of the two tables that are in between the two end tables that are more appropriate for a romantic evening. At the middle table you have to lean in to hear one another. At the end tables your partner can sit next to you since the booth portion curves around. After waiting quite a while, our waiter took our drink order and since we had waited we promptly put in an order because we did not know when someone would be back to our table. Later after our drinks arrived, then our water glasses were filled. We felt as if we were crashing someone's party. Nobody seemed to notice we were there. We explained to the server it was our first time there and would just like a little explanation about how to proceed. He slowly started to warm up. Up until this point we were questioning whether or not to leave. The FOOD: We tried a little bit of everything. EBI TEMPURA......$10 (very good) new caledonian spot prawns, watermelon radish tsuyu SHORTRIB MITOBORU......$12 ( this was probably one of the best items) ground beef shortrib, mustard mayonnaise, pickled cucumber ANGEL PRAWNS.....$10 ( this was probably one of the worst items) not user friendly and after you man-handle your food it is too destroyed to enjoy. i tried to peel off the edible shell and i also attempted to eat it with the shell...neither enjoyable. red chili yuzu kosho, ohba butter GYU DONBURI......$12 soy-simmered beef ribeye, sweet onion, marinated ginger, tamaki rice TUNA JAGA big eye tuna, chili sesame, pickled onion......$12 WASABI SALMON marinated salmon, pickled onion, wasabi......$9 MOMOMAKI big eye tuna, spicy octopus, lotus root......$15 We had some other things that I don't remember and we also had two desserts. I ordered a very good cappuccino, unfortunately it arrived after we had finished dessert. The manager touched base with us at the end of dinner and after our dessert had arrived to let us know he had paid for one of the desserts (the one that said happy anniversary). That was nice but did not really make up for the service issues. I had high hopes. I had been told by friends about the wonderful 'experiences' they had and how excellent the service was. Sadly, we did not experience this.

    (2)

  • Jahna L.

    Delicious dinner experience. Despite being sat down 40 minutes after or reservation time, our server was incredibly gracious. We enjoyed the tartare (amazing!), short ribs, scallops and rib eye to start. Wow! We continued on with the tastiest spaghetti ever and finished with king crab salad. Divine. Highly recommend.

    (4)

  • Krzysztof K.

    This place is just awesome. My fiance and I were celebrating here recently and our experience was fantastic. We were seated at the sushi bar downstairs, which I would highly recommend. Our service throughout the experience was impeccable. The food recommendations were on point and the final product was outstanding.

    (5)

  • Patty C.

    I came to celebrate my cousin's birthday here on a Friday night. I had tried to make a reservation on open table, but the inly thing available was 9:45pm. So, I called them instead and they had sushi bar seats at 6:15pm. So, I took the sushi bars seats. When we got there, there were actually quite a few tables available, and we were offered a table instead. Our server was very nice, and he said Happy Birthday to my cousin as we settled in. We ordered skewers of tsukune (chicken meatball with quail eggs), gyutan (beef tongue), and angel prawns. Both the tsukune and gyutan was very good. I didn't care for the angel prawns, they were dry and boring. We also ordered toro tartare, Kushi oysters, curry udon, a $45 Fu maki (uni, A5 waygu, langostino, toro, scallop, and king crab), and a Momomaki. All of these were delicious. Fu means wealth in Chinese, so for $45 a maki, it really had the upper crust of sushi. We also ordered the sorbet desert which they put a candle in for my cousin to make a wish, and then they threw in two chocolate covered pretzels. Service was good. From the hostess to the coat check to the valet. Everyone was on top of their game. However, the pace of the food coming was very inconsistent. Our meal took over 3hrs. All of a sudden, a bunch of things would come out all at once. Yet, sometimes we were left with an clean table just waiting for more food. The stretch was like 15-20 mins. Very awkward feeling since a lot of people were waiting for a table behind us. I'm sure they thought we were just hogging the table and nursing our drinks.

    (4)

  • Monica B.

    I am still drooling thinking of our meal at Momotaro last night! Staff is super friendly, restaurant is gorge, and food is incredible. We waited about 15 minutes for our 8:45pm reservation and headed downstairs to the lounge for a cocktail. The Curious Tiger was great! Once seated, our waitress ran through the menu and gave her recommendations. We opted to share: + Organic Edamame: your typical edamame; warm and perfectly salted + Tsukune: delish! chicken was so juicy and marinated with an amazing sauce + Diver Scallop: one scallop split into 4 pieces. I absolutely loved the uni. this dish was a party in my mouth! + Chili Mentaiko Spaghetti: mixing the egg yolk on the bottom made this dish even better. must get! + Una-Kyu: loved the bbq-marinade on the eel + Momomaki: a must get roll! beautiful presentation. originally thought the combination of octopus and tuna was odd, but it was incredible. + Wasabi Salmon: extremely fresh salmon -- delish! There was not even one poorly executed dish. Everything here was great and the seafood is probably the freshest I've had in Chicago. I'll be back very soon!

    (5)

  • Renaud S.

    A must-go place in Chicago for Japanese food lovers. Food is delicious, reffined, slightly spicy sometimes, always flavored. Broad choice of wines - we had a red Australian wine which went absolutely well with the meals. I particularly recommend their Momotaro tartare: exquisite!

    (5)

  • Dr. Wendell P. W.

    We have always had great meals at the magical restaurant creations of Boehm and Katz ~ Girl and the Goat, etc. However we were not prepared for the absolutely incredible delicious dinner we were in store for at Momotaro. Perhaps it's because we are blessed with so many good Japanese restaurants in our home bases of California and Hawaii. Momotaro is located in a hot new area on Lake Street west of the loop. You could tell it was built in an old warehouse, but as soon as you enter, you're stunned by its exquisite and beautiful three story open design. Then comes the creative and extensive menu. There is something for everyone from sushi and sashimi to robatayaki and yakitori hot dishes accompanied by a nicely selected sake, wine, beer and Japanese whiskey menu. Our server Paul and the attentive team were never intrusive, but extremely efficient whisking away chopstick wrappers and filling water glasses. Now on to the dishes we selected. A delicious miso soup with two types of high quality tofu and kombu. Next we ordered ebi tempura made with fresh spot prawns which is one of standards I use at Japanese restaurants. They were "spot" on. The Momotaro tartare made with fresh tuna had a nice balance of shallots, tomato, shiso, capers with dollops of Maui onion mayo was very good, as well as Mentaiko spaghetti subtly with fish roe and a raw egg ~ like a fish egg carbonara. The chicken meatball skewers were good, but the Wa Shugyu skirt steak wrapped around foie gras with grilled shishito peppers just melted in your mouth. A nice and unique dish was the Aji Yakusigi which was smoked jack mackerel artfully presented in a closed bowl releasing an aromatic smoke when removed. It was Oishi! We finished with the cedar roasted whole sea bream with shiso dressing which was amazingly juicy and flavorful. Because many dishes had two items per order for the skewers, you could enjoy working your way through this creative and diverse menu. We can't wait to return.

    (5)

  • Amber A.

    Yum-my!! Met an old friend for a 4 hour dinner- had edamame, short rib skewers, momotara tartare (a must) and 2 sushi rolls (one with marinated salmon and other with big eye tuna). A couple of their special cocktails. Great service and great, creative food! Definitely want to go back and try more of the sushi!

    (4)

  • Rosemary T.

    I promised a friend that my first review for the weekend would be on Momotoro, so here it goes :p I went downstairs to the bar area before... The food option is really limited downstairs and be service is super slow. This time, I finally got the chance to try some of their up stairs food. First up: yellow tail sushi... Not sure the exact name of the fish, but definitely one of the best yellow tail sushi I had. The fish was really fresh, chunky and wasn't hidden behind all the rice. The ratio of fish to rice was done right. Second up: sashimi - amber jack, fatty tuna, yellow tail and uni. I didn't try the uni so I can't tell you about it. From my friend's reaction though, he said it was really fresh, sweet and yummy. The sashimi was extremely fresh. Fresh raw fish has a sweetness and firmness to it that you would not get on none fresh ones. The only con is that it's sliced paper thine... I like my sashimi cut very thick. And the fatty tuna (toro) was definitely not fatty enough. If it's toro, it needs to completely melt in your mouth without you chewing at all... This taro did not do that. Third: steak and foie gras. Melts in your mouth! The fattiness of the foie gras goes perfect with the meat! Seasoned with a little bite of sea salt and wherever sauce they already had on was perfect. Fourth: scallop - again don't remember the name, but it's on the 3rd page or the menu. A little bite of sour and salty with perfectly cooked scallop; what else can you ask for. But, this was the least memorable dish. Fifth: chicken meat with fried quail egg - what's better than runny egg yolk all over your meat ball? Nothing! Definitely a must get dish! The meat is not dry and has just perfect amount of saltiness on there. The egg yolk can be cooked runnier, but that's just picking bones outta the egg. Sixth: beef tongue - ok, I gotta admit, I'm not a tough fan but I will eat it and give it a shot. This was the best beef tongue I ever had! If you didn't tell me it was tough, I wouldn't even have known. Beef tough is known to be a little bite on the chewy side; you gotta be careful not to over cook it or you'll be chewing on elastic bands. And... Momotoro did it right. Seven & Eighth: yes, there's more! No meal is complete without dessert. The desert that you MUST GET is the Japanese plum with crumbles. I can't even describe be flavor cause I tasted nothing like this before. A little bite of sourness and a little bite of sweetness. The sourness is from the plum, so it's not the lime or lemon type of sour. The sweetness is also from the plum... Which I can't describe. We also got the other dessert - the first one on the menu... It was good but because the plum dessert is so awesome; it makes it seem like this dessert was just a-ok. Tip: make reservations at least 2 weeks in advance if you wanna come on a Friday or sat around prime dinner time. Or, so what I did, come at 5:00 and they'll seat you right away.

    (4)

  • Kevin M.

    Really good Japanese food (and I tend to be tough on Japanese food.) Everything from the small dishes (Goma ae) to the sushi was excellent. The smoked aji sushi was done well with great flavor. Cocktails were a nice surprise also. Desserts were good, we tried four of them, overall, after eating sushi I preferred the lighter desserts (wake mono, shittori cake ) over the heavier ones (e.g., chocolate)

    (5)

  • Sheila C.

    It's a head scratcher really...this place is being hyped up all over the place ... All my girlfriends are talking about it ... That one friend from high school who blogs is reviewing it ... Chicago Magazine distinction...Blah blah blah ... And here's the deal ... It is simply AVERAGE ... Essentially a Suburban sushi joint (think FAR west suburbs ... Practically Iowa) dressed up in a Fulton market neighborhood disguise ... Crab salad dish tasted like Hellman's mayo and crab salad from Costco mixed together...no depth of flavor...no surprise notes - nothing ... Sushi Omakase was so mundane...a piece of salmon plain on rice with no garnish or flavor is your chef's very best on a Friday night?!? The coal dishes were so boring in presentation and taste that even wagyu beef managed to disappoint ... And wagyu beef cooked on hot charcoal should never disappoint ... EVER ... Overall Momotaro is "NO-NO-taro" for me ...strip mall sushi joints work harder than Momotaro at a 1/4 of the price ...

    (2)

  • Amanda M.

    Food definitely fit the bill. Came Monday evening around 6, after calling in for availability. A staff member immediately opens the door for you. Ambience is very nice and décor was beautiful. Big open space with an intimate feel. We were seated in a corner booth area, which was fine, although most tables are very close to one another, which I don't like, but is how many places are. Our waitress was fine. She was pretty helpful and friendly, but a tad loopy at the end and seemed a bit unnatural. Multiple people tended to us and they were all very good and attentive, as my water was constantly refilled, and one of the gentleman even walked me to the bathroom after I asked about it. The bathroom by the way, was somewhat disappointing. It was fine and clean, but standard. For a place like this, I was expecting the bathroom's décor to match the rest of the restaurant. We got the diver scallop, washugyu, king crab salad, chili mentaiko spaghetti, and three rolls. Cousin also had a beer and a couple of nigiri. The spaghetti was pretty amazing and very unique. Just silky and eggy deliciousness. The diver scallop and king crab salad were also very good and vibrant. I enjoyed the balance of flavors in these two. The washugyu was good as well, but expected. Felt like it would have tasted the same minus the foie gras. The rolls were also quite good. We finished off by splitting a dessert with Japanese peach berries and some form of ice cream, which was delightful and a perfect end to our meal. Overall, food was unique and very tasty. Really no bad or subpar dish that we tried. Definitely a splurge though as we spent $88pp after tip, and I wasn't exactly full upon leaving, although content. Great place for couples.

    (5)

  • Sunny K.

    Took my mom here last Tuesday evening. Pros: - Everything we ordered was delicious. We ordered a miso soup, 3 rolls (eel, salmon, wagyu beef), curry udon, and peaches & sherbet for dessert. Our unanimous favorite was the curry udon. - Servers were attentive and accommodating. The table next to us held a threesome of incredibly drunk, boisterous people. I asked if we could perhaps move to another table and they said, why yes, of course ! - Decor was tasteful. High ceilings, wooden motifs, dim lighting. - Not as expensive as I thought it might be. The bill came to around $100 including tip, which wasn't so bad considering we ordered a lot of food. Cons: - LOUD. We're used to eating sushi in a relatively quiet setting, so yelling over others / the music was new for us. 4/5

    (4)

  • Alex R.

    Momotaro is a new addition to the Boka Restaurant Group's growing culinary empire; and it's a hit. Fresh and delicious menu items, great service, and a cool atmosphere combine to make this a must-visit spot for those craving excellent Japanese food. Sushi has become ubiquitous. Make no mistake, this is not your run-of-the-mill restaurant where you'll find rolls liberally covered in spicy mayo to mask the lack of freshness. And while that may be enough to satisfy most cravings, you aren't really tasting the fish. Not so at Momotaro; everything tastes fresh. The Sushi Omakese is sure to please. The dish comes with eight pieces of the chef's choice sushi. Don't be surprised if you're tempted to order another; it's that good. The Fu Roll is another popular item, though I wasn't as satisfied as I was with the Sushi Omakese. While the flavors were great, I didn't care much for the crunchy bite you get from the beet inside. Other standouts from our meal included the Chili Mentaiko Spaghetti and the A5 Miyazaki Wagyu. The spaghetti was delicious and creamy without being heavy. For $21, you get three very small pieces in the A5 Miyazaki Wagyu (Santa Barbara sea urchin, shiso ohba), but it's worth every penny. The silky texture alone is enough to warrant the price. The Washugyu and the Gyutan ("From the Coals" menu) were also excellent. We tried one of the Donburi Bowls, essentially deconstructed sushi similar in appearance and texture to risotto. It was delicious, but I wouldn't say it stood out. This place is highly recommended for great food and drinks. Some might bristle at the prices, but they are well worth it for the delicious high quality food you'll get at Momotaro.

    (5)

  • Bryant S.

    I like this place so much! The vibe is right and the space is impressive. But the food! That's what it's all about. The Chef's selection sushi, which are perfectly prepared and seasoned, are to die for. I like the stripejack, the salmon with truffle, and sometimes, off-menu you can get a scallop with uni. It's a flavor bomb! Everything else is great as well. Steak and Toro Tartare are excellent. I'd recommend the Squid off of the grill as well. But you seriously can't go wrong!

    (5)

  • Sarah Y.

    Momotaro is legit! So many items on this menu were just divine that it's hard to go wrong. Momotaro is the place to try the seafood you're too wigged out to try elsewhere, like the sea urchin pasta, or smoked clams, eel donburi. It's all super good. There were a total of 6 of us, and we were able to split most small dishes, so everyone was able to try a few bites of each. Also, splurge on some cocktails...it completes the experience.

    (5)

  • Jason M.

    Worst meal I have ever had in Chicago. They are trying too hard to be different. Food doesn't taste like the associated cost

    (1)

  • anna p.

    Everything we ordered had surpassed our expectations. We started with the wagyu with sea urchin and the unagi don which were pretty good, followed by the see scallops, maki rolls and sashimi as well as the Alaskan king crab habachi , which was all absolutely amazing. Big bold flavors yet delicate textures. Definitely will be coming back here soon

    (5)

  • Brett F.

    Restaurant = Gorgeous Service = Spotless Menu = Will give you major FOMO so go ahead, order it all If you're a fan of uni, like I am, there is more sea urchin here than you can shake a stick at. Uni over scallops. Uni in rice with truffles from Burgundy. Uni lovingly wrapped in nori atop fabulously fluffy rice. Uni in the Fuck You Roll. Yes, the Fuck You Roll. Because it's so expensive you get to say Fuck You, I ate that. Of course, if you're not so into uni - and are crazy - there is plenty else to indulge in. A few of the non-urchin highlights for me were the Chawanmushi, Big Eye Tuna Airbread, Salmon Roe with Fuji Apple, Foie Gras stuffed Wagyu and Alaskan King Crab over hot coals. I'm already plotting my triumphant return... as soon as I can afford it. While the bites are small and intended for a more casual style shared vibe, the pricing is straight up no holds barred luxury caliber. Prepare accordingly or plan Momotaro for a special night out. The downstairs lounge features an Izakaya (drinks with more casual plates) and a separate menu that may more successfully pander to a less indulgent experience. That I can do and will report back soon. #uniforever

    (5)

  • Joe L.

    Not only the best Japanese in Chicago... May actually be my new favorite restaurant in Chicago. We go out to dinner 3-4 times a week and this has been the best meal I've had in a long time. To provide a little perspective, we went to NEXT on Wednesday night and Momotaro on Thursday. NEXT has been on my hit list for almost 3 years and Momotaro was booked on a whim. After comparing the two in close succession, I can honestly say that Momotaro is 100x better than NEXT or any other "high end" restaurant in Chicago. Do yourself a favor and order as many items on this menu as you can afford. If you're into funkier fare, go for the chicken hearts - you won't be disappointed. The highlight of the meal was hands down the Wagyu Donburi. I'll be dreaming of the succulent steak fried rice for weeks to come. Anyone who says this place is "too salty" needs to get their tastebuds checked. All the food is seasoned to perfection.

    (5)

  • Dave K.

    Every dish was incredible. The chili mentaiko, tomato tartare, and aji yakusugi (smoked jack mackerel with a piece of 1000 yr old smoked cypress) were definite highlights - and unlike anything I've eaten elsewhere. Service and atmosphere were also top-notch.

    (5)

  • Calvin C.

    This is probably the best Japanese meal that we've ever had and I also should say that this is one of the most efficiently run restaurants that I have ever seen. Whoever is managing the restaurant has really made sure that everyone knows their roles. There is no one standing around looking idle. Once one table leaves, we noticed that it was cleared within 5 min and cleaned and the next patrons were seated Now onto the food. It was amazing. We came here for our wedding anniversary and told them ahead of time. They gave us a corner table so it would be a little quieter and welcomed us with a glass or rose. This was just one of many great little things that our server did for us. The restaurant space is also really fantastic. We spent a lot of time admiring the chandeliers and high ceilings. Anyway back to the food. We ordered the sashimi omakase, the grilled short rib moritubi, grilled sea bream, and Dungeness crab salad (raibu Kani no salada). Our server also gave us an Agashi no dashi Tofu as the kitchen made an extra. EVERYTHING was fantastic. The sashimi was the most beautiful sashimi plate that we'd ever seen, with a big variety of fish including two kinds of tuna and hamachi. The grilled sea bream was our favorite, a whole grilled fish. It doesn't come with the head so if you want the cheeks, you'd have to call ahead and ask for that. The fish with the sauce was just A great combo. Light and smoky. The tofu was great, covered in bonito flakes. Based on the taste, I would think that they make their own tofu. Our only complaint was that the short rib was a bit on the salty side. And then for dessert, we ended with the chocolate sponge cake which was salty, chocolatey and crunchy at the same time. A great way to end. I definitely want to come back

    (5)

  • Ngoc N.

    Wow! This place is simply amazing but naturally, need your cash money to fully enjoy. I had the pleasure of eating a meal here a few days after their official opening with a group of my favorite people. We were able to try a bit from almost every part of the menu. It has been a really long time since I've left a meal in Chicago so damn satisfied. It's a meal that dreams are made of. (This is mainly because we are so spoiled here in Chicago with amazing food everywhere, so the average is skewed towards great food.) I think we ended up sampling a majority of their specialty cocktails. For the food, we tried the Tuna Tataki, Unagi Don, Dive Scallops, Gyutan, Miso Hamachi Kama, Kurodai, Sashimi Omakase, Aji Yakusugi, 10 orders of the Uni and a couple of deserts. We purposely made sure we touched on each part of the menu. As you can see from the pictures, everything look amazing when it was bought out to our table. The fish was extremely fresh. The cooked items were made to perfection. And the UNI! So buttery. We couldn't help but order a 2nd round after we ate the 1st round. In our minds, it was going to be the desert that ended our meal...until the desert menu came. Food is all around creative but keeps the integrity of the fish. Everything is fresh, fresh and fresh. What more do you need to ask for from a fish restaurant? The space is beautiful, you can see the time and effort put into every little detail of the restaurant. The bar below is great, including the hentai posters...ahah. I am looking forward to try their bar menu down there once it's ready to go. Can't wait to go back...again...and again...and again!

    (5)

  • Susan C.

    We had a 9:15 reservation. We are still sitting here waiting for someone to speak with us. It is 10:52. We had a 9:15 reservation. We are still sitting here waiting for someone to speak with us. It is 10:52. It's 11:29. We've had edamame. It was edamame. Our cocktails were very delicious. The food is fantastic. The service, however, leaves much to be desired and the staff failed to make us feel as if the delay concerned them in any way. The waiter failed to come over for at least a half hour after we were seated. It was an "also manager" that finally took out order. I have dined at most of the "best" restaurants in Chicago and understand that things happens and sometimes you cannot accommodate everyone. However, I have never dined at a restaurant that made me feel as if service was less of a concern. Even though we fully enjoyed the food, with all the other amazing options in Chicago, I don't believe I would willingly return. To be fair, Adam - one of the managers - spoke to us at the end of the night and was very receptive and respectful. That conversation alone is reason to give it another shot.

    (2)

  • George G.

    Decided to see what all the hype was about and was impressed with the whole thing. Swanky vibe with a fresh take on the sushi experience. Servers were on point with recommendations and knew the right time to stop by to place another order or refill my Japanese whiskey concoction (something about a tiger?). All of the sushi was very fresh, Una-Kyu was the star of the night. Also really impressed with the non sushi items. You'll have a new found respect for tofu (fried tofu pictured, excuse my childlike picture taking skills).

    (4)

  • Anand S.

    Had the hibachi Alaskan crab entree. It came out on a small charcoal grill which was pretty neat. Also had some rice / tofu plate, high end Japanese whisky and chocolate dessert.

    (5)

  • Trina J.

    It is better than a "3" but less than a "4". I know, I know, I know! I did not rate this place as high as all of the other Yelpers. I genuinely wanted to say it is one of the best ever but I did not leave with that impression. Don't get me wrong. It's nice! Love the ambiance, a few menu options and its location. It's hip, newer and trendy. The price point is what you would expect in the Midwest for fresh fish of great quality outside of the Arlington Heights market style set up. But, it is more akin to the new "in" spot more than the best sushi one can find in Chicagoland. The food itself does not stand out more than other sushi spots in the area. What makes this place better than your average Japanese restaurant? - it's cute; tastefully decorated in a memorable sort of way - location; in the heart of "it" dining spots - lively establishment with good music. Perfect for a first date or evening out with friends. Is this a sushi/sashimi spot? Not really. The cooked items and dessert are more popular and receive more emphasis. Overheard 3 different waiters pushing the "Over the Coals" items. This seemed to work well for many people seated near us. Is the menu extensive? Kinda Sorta. As a whole, many of the items are served different ways so they pop up under different sections (i.e. Duck breast, king crab, salmon, wagyu, diver scallops). Thus, the offerings are not as extensive as one might expect. So, enough with the general stuff. What did we order? Bara Chirashi - **traditional Japanese meal. Assorted Sashimi, ikura, wasabi sushi rice;pieces are mixed in a bowl. It is a common lunch dish in a market setting. It is usually scraps of fish. Here, it's "chef choice". $21 3/5 Ogo - Hawaiian seaweed salad, nopoles and konbu $6 5/5 Organic Edamame - soybeans with Okinawa sea salt $5 5/5 Fresh grated wasabi root $6 4/5 Kamo Ro-Su -seared duck breast jalapeño marinade $4 per piece 4/5 Hotate - Hokkaido diver scallop, yuzu and sea salt $6 per piece 3/5 Wasabi Salmon - marinated salmon, pickled onions and wasabi - $9 5/5 Momomaki- big eye tuna, spicy octopus and lotus root -$15 3.5/5 Brown Sugar Ice Cream - $5 4/5 Beverages - Fitz-Ritter Riesling $15, Akashi Blended Malt $11 and Seattle Cider $10. 2.5/5 The Fitz-Ritter sparkling wine was a great pairing with the meal. It is a dry Riesling with just the right notes to compliment seafood. The cider and Japanese whiskey was underwhelming to say the least. My BF said it tasted like Dewars passed off as a delicacy. Service 2.5/5 Service left a lot to be desired in that at times there were 2-3 people servicing the table and at others we were left unattended. Our edamame was the first thing we ordered but we received it half way into our meal after asking about it each time a new course was brought. At one point, I was tempted to get up and get the water carafe to refill ours myself. The hostesses were neat and attractive but never smiled and made little to no eye contact even when seating us. Seating 1/5 With reservations at 9:15p, we were cramped into this very tight space. The table was so small we purposefully ordered a few things at a time so we could share without the threat of knocking something over. When others seated next to us came and excused themselves to the powder room, you have to push over to make space for them to get up. I suspect it would have been more comfortable at the sushi bar. Overall Trendy places always end up getting second chances so I hope for a 4 or 5 star experience the next time.

    (3)

  • Stephanie L.

    Went here on a Tuesday for a GNO. The food was FAN-FREAKING-TASTIC! So fresh and delish. Everything we had, was really amaz. We had scallops, tuna sashimi, uni-q, octopus maki, some other of the makis, alaskan crab, uni rice (fav dish of the night). I actually thought for being a Boka, hot new restaurant, things were reasonably priced. I absolutely loved it, however there are a couple of things that are annoying here. No one offered to check our coats and we were seated at the first table when walking in...not a big deal, however there are no backs on the chairs...which equals no where for coats or purses. Also, our server, although nice seemed slightly annoyed with us. We had several allergies at the table that we made clear in the beginning...but it took her several minutes to confirm with the kitchen about some of the dishes. When they didnt work out with the allergies, we stated the table didnt want it and she seemed upset because she had already put in the order? Alas, the joy of going out with a huge group of girls. It was bustling little place...slightly difficult to hear from one end of the table to the other, but overall, I loved the space. The food was 5 star...and just a few hiccups brought it down a bit.

    (4)

  • lisa n.

    Momotaro is outstanding, the BEST Japanese I've had in Chicago. From start to finish our meal was incredibly delicious! I have dine here several times before and even worked at The Izakaya (located lower level of Momotaro main dining room). Due to the holiday, the dining room was not too noisy and most importantly, our server, Nam, made the whole meal a fun and exciting experience! My guest and I loved the quality of the ingredients from the seasonal beans in our Goma Ae to the fish for our nigiri pieces. I can personally attest that Chef Mark, Jason, Chris and the rest of this talented kitchen's crew that everyone has a passion for sharing the highest quality and seasonal dishes of the Japanese cuisine. One of my favorite dish the Chawan Mushi was not available since the steamer was not working properly that night. BUT Momotaro has so many great dishes, it just gave us a chance to try something new in it's place. COME CHECK OUT THE NEW IZAKAYA AT MOMOTARO MENU! Newly release! You will definitely not be disappointed!

    (5)

  • Franklin M.

    We were super excited to try this restaurant after reading so many glowing reviews on Yelp. So, it's likely that our expectations may have been at a whole nother level in anticipation of our Valentine's Day dinner but we left not feeling impressed even though we really wanted to like it a lot. Before the Momotaro groupies go berserk, I want to make it clear that our dinner was a pleasant experience, but the wow factor was just missing. Food/Drink: - Monk's journey: this was light, refreshing and a good way to start the night if you enjoy vodka cocktails. - Warlord's bounty: my wife wanted a sweeter cocktail so this is what our server recommended. She liked it, but I was not a fan. - A5 Miyazaki Wagyu: you receive three tiny, bite-size pieces for $21 and you're left wondering where the rest of it went. It was good but I'd skip this if you're looking for something more substantial. - Washugyu: two skewers each with a couple pieces of skirt steak wedged in between shishito peppers. Foie gras is supposedly part of this dish as well but it probably forgot to make an appearance on mine or maybe I scarfed it down too quickly to savor the taste as I was still really hungry after the first dish. - Smoked bacon & eggs: two skewers each with three quail eggs that I think were either wrapped in bacon or doused in some other flavor to make you think it was bacon. I'll admit I was still really hungry after the Washugyu so I devoured this one so that could be why I didn't notice whether the bacon was real. Plus, the richness of the quail eggs overpowers your senses. If you're not a fan of quail eggs, avoid this one. Thankfully, I do like quail eggs but the mix of flavors was not a tasty combination for me. - Glass of riesling & gruner veltliner: we both finished our cocktails by this point and were thirsty for more so we each ordered a glass of white wine before the sashimi omakase came out. These were nothing special. - Sashimi omakase: sushi chef's choice of 9 pieces of sashimi. They split whole pieces into two since we only ordered one for both of us. The highlight was the hamachi (yellowtail) along with the chutoro and ootoro which were medium fat and fatty bluefin, respectively. This was our first time trying bluefin sashimi and we were both very pleased! All of the pieces were very fresh though very thinly sliced. - Diver scallop: once we finished the sashimi omakase, we both looked at each other with that hungry face look and took another spin at the menu. We landed on another dish highly praised on Yelp. This was good but it's basically just one scallop sliced into four pieces along with some uni and ikura so this definitely didn't fill us up. At a $12 price point, I would not order this again. - Momomaki: since we were still hungry and wanted to try more from the rest of the menu, our server recommended this from the makimono (sushi roll) list. We're glad we ordered it as it was our favorite dish of the night. It has big eye tuna on top with spicy octopus rolled into the middle. Pure deliciousness! - Una-Kyu: we were almost at that point of feeling full but still wanted to try one more before moving onto dessert. So, our server asked if we liked unagi (eel) and we both said yes! This had barbecued eel along with cucumber and a spot of some avocado-like sauce. The barbecued eel straight from the coals is what made this one delish...definitely our second fave dish of the night. - Shittori citron cake: a yuzu cake with some yogurt and blood orange. It was light and not too sweet so it was a perfect way to cap our dinner. 3 out of 5 stars with the sushi rolls being the highlight. Service: Lisa was great. She walked us through the menu, provided knowledgeable recommendations and was very cheerful and pleasant. The busboy never let our water go empty and the courses came out in a timely fashion. At the end, she did take the signed receipt before we left so I didn't like the strong hint to leave so I'm deducting one star. 4 out of 5 stars. Ambience/location: Being situated in the west loop, this place has some stiff competition. It's also right next to the train so if it wasn't for the music and loud conversation noise, we probably would've noticed the train more. The tables are really close to each other though with three floors, you'd think they'd have better spacing. Overall, it still has a cool date night feel but not overly formal so you could definitely rock the jeans here. 3.5 out of 5 stars. Overall, rounding down to 3 stars due to cost/portion sizes. We also went to their lounge downstairs and enjoyed a couple more glasses of wine along with a cheddar and bread dessert. So, we left feeling super full and needing a wheelbarrow to carry us out after that but definitely worth checking out their lounge if you're looking for a chill place to hang out or a nightcap. For my money, I'd rather have the omakase experience at Juno in Lincoln Park any day over this place though

    (3)

  • Judy D.

    Just love this place. We ate in the dining room last time but the izakaya this time. I think the izakaya is a bit better. Must order dishes: the waygu foie gras skewer, the spaghetti (unbelievable), hamachi collar. Great hospitality too. We got a complimentary order of the eggplant katzu, which was also delicious. Can't wait to go back again!

    (5)

  • Angelo L.

    One of the best restaurants in Chicago. Best Japanese food. The grilled items are amazing, especially the gyu-tan and the wagyu. The sashimi is solid, though I would order the other items next time because they are just so good. The Japanese steak was not too oily and was perfectly cooked. I enjoyed the steak and toro tartares too.

    (5)

  • Karen C.

    This was one of the best meals I've had in all of 2015. Granted, it's only April, but I have eaten some insanely good shizz these last few months. Anyway... We arrived on time for our reservation, but they said our table wasn't ready yet. Normally, this would really irritate me... a reservation is, you know, a reservation, an agreement that we will be there at said time & our table should be there at said time. But all crankiness aside, we went downstairs and grabbed a cocktail at the basement bar while waiting for our table. I love this basement bar & I would have had no idea this even existed had our table been ready on time, so I guess I'll chalk that up to a win. The service was impeccable... our waitress helped us out SO much and was super personable while doing so. She carefully explained the concept, the items on the menu and how to order. When things started arriving & all of us were overwhelmed & forgetful about what we had ordered, she was right there to tell us again what everything was and who got what. The decor is on point... from little details like the flatware being awesome, the menus being beautiful & the lamps being amazing, I love the style/vibe of Momotaro. The concept... I love the idea that everything is small and you can get whatever you want, but at the same time it was a smidge confusing. For instance, I don't eat beef, but other people at the table eat beef. Some of the items are sold by the piece or two, so you could order exactly what you wanted, but half the time we felt pressured to order enough for the table, even though not everyone would eat the item. It's weird to try to explain, but it can get a little crazy when everyone (myself included) wants just a few specific items for themselves. The food... holy mother of God the food. We ate all the things & I loved everything. The tuna was some of the best I've ever had in my life... melt-in-your-mouth amazing. Everything was seriously so good. Order it all. The only big thing I'm bummed about is that, we ate so much dinner-type food, that there was no room for dessert! Next time, next time.

    (5)

  • Laura K.

    Cool atmosphere, extensive menu, and great service. We came in for the sushi, and got talked into a few items on the other parts of the menu. Everything was good, but wished we had just stuck with our original plan because the sushi was good. The sashimi omakase was excellent and we wished we had both gotten our own. The chef selection sushi (the signature maki rolls) were all good, but the options were more limited than I would have expected. I would recommend Momotaro for a solid Japanese meal and would recommend to focus mostly on their sushi.

    (4)

  • M O.

    Absolutely outstanding food and service. This place deserves the hype. I don't know where people giving this less than 5 stars are eating, but I kind of doubt its on this planet. The sushi was fresh and immaculately prepared. Legitimately interesting offerings, consistently good. Definately legit sushi, not some fusion or watered down American version. The service was excellent, attentive, detail oriented, not intrusive, everything I want in service.

    (5)

  • Susie C.

    My husband and I came here for dinner on a Friday night at 630pm. We made reservation a month in advance. Very pretty interior, dimly lit, and busy! Service is great! Our waiter was very attentive of our needs and made sure we were taken care of. The hospitality overall is very good. Onto the food... Small portions, big price tags, but seriously good. The cheapest item we ordered was the seaweed salad at $6. Even the miso soup was $9. It' Was a loaded miso soup with fried tofu and other veggies inside. The seaweed salad was good. We ordered the wasabi salmon roll which was fab, had 4 pieces of the fatty tuna and 4 pieces of hamachi nigiri...which were buttery and tasty. We had the FU Roll which was $45 for 6 pieces. That's crazy! Each piece has a specific fish/seafood... Shrimp, scallop, fatty tuna, Santa Barbara uni, Unagi, and king crab with wagyu beef inside the roll. I really enjoy the combo texture of all the stuff inside my mouth. My husband thought it was overrated..there were too much favors inside his mouth that he wasn't able to identify the fish goes eating. We also had chirashi which was good. The chili spaghetti was very good. One of our favorite dishes for the night. It was definitely my husbands fave. We also had the ribeye donburi which was so good. It was sweet and a runny yolk that you mix with the rice and ribs. So delish! We ended the night with two desserts- the shittori blood orange cake sorbet and the chocolate cake. Love the chocolate cake! The bill came out to be $235 for the food (without tip) we ordered and it was just two of us. Definitely will come back! All so yummy!

    (5)

  • David L.

    Of all the restaurants that I've been to at Chicago so far, this is by far my favorite. Yes, it's on the pricier side but rarely do I get the sense of "wow, I'm getting my money's worth" with every bite. Came here with the Lady for dinner and sake, left satisfied beyond expectations. Ogo (seaweed salad): 4/5 (Just the right amount of "salty sea" flavor) Unagi don: 5/5 (I love eel, that is all. Seriously) Smoked bacon and eggs: 5/5 (Pleasant surprise as the flavors worked very well together) Angel prawns: 4/5 Tare smoked duck breast: 6/5 (The BEST duck breast I've ever had, EVAR) Bara chirashi: 4/5 (Different take on the traditional chirashi bowl but enjoyable nonetheless) Aji yakusugi (smoked mackeral): 6/5 (Impressed with the preparation. They actually smoke the fish with a piece of charcoal/wood chip prior to presentation) Ootoro (fatty bluefin tuna): 5/5 (Who doesn't like tuna that melts in your mouth?) Momomaki (big eye tuna and octopus roll): 5/5 Chili hama (hamachi): 4/5 Chocolate sponge cake: 4/5 (Very sweet) Citrus jelly cake: 5/5 (Refreshing palate cleansing dessert) Water Lilly sake: 5/5 (fruity, smooth, less dry) Demon Slayer sake: 4/5 (still fruity but more dry than the Water Lilly IMO) Strength and Longevity (gin): 5/5 Merchant from Kyoto (gin): 4/5 P.S. Our waiter went outside in the cold to flag us down a taxi when we finished dinner. Never have I seen that before. Pretty bad ass if you ask me.

    (5)

  • Kristina K.

    If a restaurant keeps showing up in the Chicago Magazine, you have to go there right? So I went thinking i was going to write a 5 star review. I am not so why do you ask? I will keep this short. The food is good but not amazing. I liked it but i didnt love it. The decor is beautiful and very contemporary and the service was fantastic. But thats it. I wish it lived up to the reviews in the chicago magazine. We ordered the baby ika, washugyu, tsukne, 1 in 20 (for a veggie roll it is to die for) momomaki (the server raved but i thought it was mkay) hatsu, negima and gyutan. I tried to pick things that were friendly for my non sushi eating friends but they werent impressed either. Both the chicken and the beef were really chewy. The plates are very expensive for the portions and i am ok with that if they were to be delish but i cant sit here and rave about it. Maybe my pretentious level is at an all time low. Not gonna say i plan on visiting in the near future, but i cant say that i hated the place either.

    (3)

  • Vincent C.

    Great food!!! The ambiance and the concept of the restaurant are cool!! Although the place is a little dark, you kinda have to manage your steps around. The staff is pretty welcoming. Know what they are talking about for the most part. Cocktail tasted great, too. Place is pretty clean. Menu is minimalistic simple. Divided into categories and does not confuse customers. The head sushi chef ( I supposed) , Mark, was very helpful and talkative. He talked and briefly explained what was up with the restaurant. Great guy!!! The service was alright. Nothing out of ordinary and nothing was too special, too. But, again, these waitstaffs are welcoming. Will come back next time and try more stuff on the menu. Thanks, Momotaro!!!!!

    (4)

  • Victoria O.

    This is a go to if you are in Chicago and craving sushi! We had to wait an hour and a half, but it was only an hour and it flew by because they have a full Izakaya down in the basement, with small plates and great cocktails. While waiting I enjoyed the "Fruit of Luxury" cocktail with ceres vodka, pisco control, nigori sake, honeydew, orange, and lime. Wasn't too sweet, but wasn't too citrusy. Would order again. For dinner, we ordered off the gluten-free menu. The gluten-free menu is a subset of the main menu, with a good amount of selection. Ordered the ... NEGIMA from the coals section: shishito-marinated organic chicken thigh, tokyo scallion. Very juicy and flavorful and came prepared with two skewers each with about 4 pieces of chicken and a few pieces of vegetables. The EDAMAME was absolutely amazing, with the perfect amount of salt and perfectly boiled. Highly recommend for a starter at the table. From the sushi roll section ordered the WASABI SALMON (not a huge fan of wasabi and this was delicious). Also ordered 3 types of tuna, with varying levels of fattiness. Some of the best tuna i've ever tasted.

    (4)

  • Amy W.

    What a lovely experience at Momotaro! I loooved the decor and lighting of the space. My fiancé and I were seated at a table right next to the open kitchen and we were able to observe some of the action going on there and even chat a bit with one of the chefs. Everything was so delicious, but highlights: The Momotaro tartare was amaazing. I was so shocked that it was made out of tomatoes because I had never enjoyed anything made from tomatoes that much. The smoked bacon and quail egg skewer was probably one of the best skewers I've ever had. The grilled, smokey flavor was so great with the sweet maple sauce, and the egg was the perfect texture.

    (5)

  • Benjamin U.

    I had really high expectations going into my visit to Momotaro. The ambiance was great, the service was friendly (but a little slow and unorganized). Food: Good: -Sea Bream with shizo sauce - fish was really tender and juicy. Definitely the highlight of the meal. -Wasabi rice fried rice - Really good with the sea bream. Well seasoned and a nice flair of flavor. (salt and wasabi) -Shiitake mushrooms- couple of the mushrooms were a bit burned but of the ones that weren't burned it was pretty good. -Tuna Zanmai - 3 grades of lean, medium, fatty tuna - all were great and fresh Ok - Momomaki - to caveat this one im not a big spicy tuna fan. I can see someone who likes spicy tuna loving this dish. The lotus provides a nice crispy texture along with the chewiness of the octopus but to me the spicy flavor over powers the tuna and the glaze. -Omakase - 9 piece negiri set. the fish selection was a bit odd. It ranged from snappers, tunas, bonito, and duck breast (I was a bit shocked by that), Some of the pairings went well together. In particular, the tuna with almond stood out others such as the duck breast did not. If i were to repeat this I would just order a la carte. I think i would've been happier with my choice. -Angel prawns- nothing special. Seasoning was good but the prawns were a little on the dry side -Washuguy - also pretty average. Tender but over seasoned Pass/bad -Tuna Tartar- doesn't really work with the crisps. Also the presentation was pretty bad being served on a piece of wax paper over ice. Not a big fan. So all in all, when you go to momotaro you're going for the ambiance. I applaud them for trying to bring a japanese presence with the sushi and the robata into the west loop. Hopefully more will come in as well but momotaro misses the mark a little bit for me on the sushi front. I may go back in the future to try some of the other items on their robata menu and maybe some stuff off the a la carte menu.

    (3)

  • meredith d.

    I love this place! We had so much fun, and they were very friendly to us. We were early for our reservation, and they saw that we're elderly, so they brought us some padded stools to sit on (since the bar area was full). We had to wait a while past our reservation time, but then they seated us at a corner banquette, where it was a little bit less noisy (we'd expressed some concern about noise), so that was very thoughtful. We ordered a bunch of small plates, like the kani korroke (crab croquettes), the washugyu (skewers of beef and shishito peppers with a minuscule amount of foie gras, but really delicious nonetheless), some nigirizushi, the chili hama roll, the chili mentaiko spaghetti, and the ebi tempura. Our friendly waiter also gave us a freebie - because we expressed disappointment that we couldn't order the uni toast from the izakaya menu, he got us an order of it on the house! We also had some very tasty cocktails (the River Child and the Warlord's Bounty - the latter is sort of like a Mai Tai) and some good sake (I had a very nice nigori - the Kurosawa), and finished up with dessert. Our only disappointment of the evening was that they were out of the hamachi collar - but that just gives us an excuse to go back!

    (5)

  • Sachin P.

    Great Japanese food, though a bit in the pricey side. Atmosphere and presentation of your meal are great. Portions are small (albeit commensurate with Chicago's high-end foodie scene). Had a great night out in the downstairs bar/lounge. Dinner and drinks perfect for an good date night.

    (4)

  • Kristin M.

    WOW. Fabulous from start the finish. The cocktails are delicious, the space is very cool (think Japanese version of Mad Men), service is great and the food is amazing! Started with a cocktail: our server recommended the Curious Tiger, their version of an Old Fashioned. It was so good, I stuck with it all night. My friend tried the Monk's Journey, which was very refreshing, something I would love in the summer. For food, we went with the nomakase - told our server our dietary restrictions and preferences and let the chef send out what he wanted. Everything was fantastic, I highly recommend going this route for the most popular dishes, plus things you wouldn't necessarily order yourself. Here's what we had, in rough order of yumminess (yes, we were stuffed afterwards): -Smoked Eel Donburi Bowl - I would never have ordered this on my own, but it was the standout! The smoky flavor and heartiness of the dish were phenomenal -Wasabi Fried Rice - I didn't expect to like a fairly plain rice dish so much for the scallion flavor was so lovely and comforting -Washugyu - beautifully grilled skirt steak accompanied by grilled green peppers stuffed with foie gras. I'll have four more please! -Cedar Roasted Kurodai - another dish I wouldn't have chosen but was excellent! The sea bream was perfectly cooked and full of flavor, with either lemon or the shiso dressing. I went back for seconds! -Momotaro Tartare - this looks just like steak tartare but is actually a japanese sweet tomato, vegetarian friendly! It's sweet and delicious, we all went back for seconds -Alaskan King Crab hibachi - they pre-shuck the crab then place it back in the shell for presentation so you don't need to wrestle with it. It's smoky and delicious, either with or without the wasabi sauce (which was not very hot) -Smoked Bacon & Eggs - a soft boiled, bacon wrapped quail egg finished with maple syrup glaze. As a Canadian, I wholeheartedly approve -Hamachi Sashimi - the citrus sauce on top was very refreshing -Tuna Zanmai Sushi - so fresh, from the eel inside to the gorgeous pink tuna on top -Goma Ae - a refreshing little salad with sesame dressing to start the night -Dessert was a refreshing poached pear sorbet that was a nice light end to a very robust meal. Our servers were very attentive and explained each course to us, the timing between dishes was great and overall the whole experience was fabulous. I definitely want to come back, thanks Momotaro!

    (5)

  • Lin C.

    Located on the corner of Lake and Green Street, Momotoro stands in it's unassuming location in Fulton Market. There are ample street parking, if you are lucky enough to score a free spot off many of it's small streets, but be weary of signs that indicate it is permit only, for loading only, and meter areas. You're best bet is to just valet your car for $10.00 right when you pull up in front of the establishment. The main entrance, is a through a glass door, up a small flight of stairs, and through another glass door. I might be wrong, but I don't believe the front entrance is wheelchair accessible. The restaurant has high ceilings in the main dining room's bar, but the space is beautifully lit in a noir manner. The bar's menu board is fashioned in a way, which reminds me of an old airport arrivals/departure's board: Listing their beers, red wines, white wines, beers, whiskey, and sake. The restaurant's main dining room's lighting is dim, in a romantic sense. Which makes you feel like you are secluded and the only table in the room. While you are waiting for your table to be set up, grab a drink at the main bar, or head downstairs. Check in your coats, which is highly recommended. The downstairs bar and dining room area is also dimly lit. It has the feel of an old bustling pub or Asian night market, but with there are ample seating, tables, interesting art decor, and an attentive bartender/ servers. From the Cold: Momotaro Tartare for $9, made sweet tomato & onion placed on top of a piece of shiso(mint leaf). This is a vegetarian dish and yes it does have the texture of a beautifully done steak tartare. It is paired with some light rice crackers and is delicious. It is sweet, without being overly acidic from the tomato. From the Coals: 2 skwers per order Hatsu for $6, Jidori chicken hearts (Jidori is basically the Kobe beef of chicken), house made yuzukosho sauce. Don't be deterred by the "chicken heart". Organ meat is usually the preferred choice for yakitori in Asia. It's lightly seasoned with salt and pepper and the coals does it's magic on the meat. The texture, when done right, has a tender snap. It doesn't taste organy or mineraly. Unless you are going to Asia anytime soon, this is definitely a great place to experience chicken hearts for your first time. Angel Prawn for $10, red chili yuzukosho sauce with ohba butter. Note that the head of the prawn is left on. I can't provide more details as I didn't personally try this dish. I am squeamish when it comes to crustaceans with it's head on. Diver Scallops for$12, dressed with uni(sea urchin eggs), ponzu butter, seabeans,& ikura(salmon eggs). The portion of scallops we received was over cooked. However the dressing was tasty, the uni and ikura was kind of unnecessary. Gyutan for $10, imperial wagyu beef tongue, karashi(mustard sauce), & smoked peppercorn. Again, another organ meat that I highly recommend trying. It was seasoned to perfection. The texture, hard to explain, is something you have to experience first hand for yourself. It's very rich and decadent, for the lack of a better word. A must try. Ashugyu for $12, skirt steak, shishito(sweet peppers), & foie gras. This item was tasty, but we could have done without it. There was only a small tiny indistinguishable trace of foie gras. The small skewer of steak was cooked and seasoned well, with little chunks of shishito in it. Not overly impressive and slightly overpriced. Rice & Noodles: Curry udon for $16, with ground heritage pork curry, futo udon noodles, & shishito. This is a large order and is enough to share for 5 people, if you are doing a small portion for each person. Definitely enough for 2 meals if it's for 1 person. The curry is done Japanese style, which has a thicker sauce and a milder flavor. The udon has the perfect chewiness to it, although I didn't think it was a good carrier for the curry sauce. I am more of a rice to curry kind of person. This is definitely worth a try and is delicious. From the Sushi Bar:Sashimi Omakase for $50. It's the chef's selections of sashimi. These are hearty cuts of fish and the chef does not give out inferior cuts. I wish I had taken a picture of this beauty, but note that there were chunks of Ootoro, Hamachi, Hirame, Shimaaji, Sake, and Chutoro. Nigirizushi chef selection: Aji Yakusugi for $12 (2 pieces per serving), smoked jack mackerel with smoking 1000 year old cypress on the side. The cyprus is to enhance the flavor of the fish. Do not attempt to eat it. Normally I would not recommend this fish, but the mackerel was so fresh, it didn't have that fishy taste. Ikura for $4 (1 piece per serving), marinated salmon roe, yuzu sauce, inside a slice of apple. I'm a big fan of Ikura, but I did not enjoy this particular presentation or seasoning of the roe. It was too salty. The apple was not a good receptor for the roe. This needed rice to catch the bursting roe. I think a small sliver of apple around a small portion of rice would have fare better.

    (5)

  • Dani L.

    Okay...this restaurant was so absolutely amazing from beginning to end I can't even think about it without getting overly emotional LOL! No seriously, for all the serious foodies out there that want the "experience" of great atmosphere, amazing service, and to die for food...this is your place!!! We ended up here unplanned, as the restaurant we planned on is closed unexpectedly for a few weeks. I went online and made a reservation for half an hour later and got it!! Yessss!!! It was a Monday but still quite busy, which says a lot already. Walking in, you immediately feel you are trendy by association. The bar is beautiful and the people are beautiful in the restaurant. We were greeted by wonderful hostesses and sat in a comfortable and private booth that afforded us a great view of the place and lots of people watching :) I love being able to see the gorgeous dishes that people are enjoying! We were greeted by our server Paul, who impressed myself and my friend unendingly with his top notch service. We both were in the food industry for many many years so good service is noticed, and Paul was awesome! He explained the menu so well, was patient, and so helpful in answering our million questions. He had such great suggestions for us and was very attentive without being overbearing. My friend ordered a spicy roll without realizing how spicy it would be and without my friend even saying anything he came right over and asked if everything was okay. When she told him it was too spicy for her taste he took it right out of the way and asked what he could do for her. He and the sushi chef worked together and made up a special roll for her that was not even on the menu that she would like instead!!!! How about that for amazing service?? Then there was a food runner named Doug. He was so personable, upbeat, and friendly! He was explaining some of our food that he brought out and did such a great job! We were blown away at how much we could tell he enjoyed and truly cared about his job and the guests in the restaurant. There was also another gentleman that brought our food out named Nick who was such a great server as well. His descriptions and attention to detail made me excited to try the dishes more than I already was! Thank u so much Paul, Doug, and Nick! I hope you all are very valued enployees at Momotaro, because you all made for a wonderful experience from beginning to end. So let's start with the food...I'm going to have to go back here several more times because there were so many amazing dishes I want to try. We did our best to try as many as possible and went way overboard on eating, but we had to get so many to try! It was interesting for me because I love seeing the beautiful art sushi chefs produce, however I am allergic to fish and shellfish but there were so many great menu dishes that were fish free! Love that! We started with the Goma Ae. On the online menu it says it's broccoli Raab and a sesame dressing but they must've changed it because in restaurant the menu is green beans in a sesame dressing. It was fresh green beans and snow peas with a sesame ginger dressing. So fresh, and the perfect combination of sesame/peanut. I had the miso soup, which was a wonderful light broth and was unique with the puffed tofu in it. I do not like tofu but the puffed tofu was awesome! My friend got the yasei no hiramasa. I didn't try it but she said it was so amazing and used several expletives explaining how great it was that I can't repeat. My A5 Wagyu then arrived. I'm going to need a moment of silence before I talk about this one....omigosh!!! I can't even describe it because amazing, awesome, spectacular just do not do it justice. To be able to have a roll that didn't have fish in it, but to have one as awe inspiring as this?! Just wow! I can't even tell you everything that was in it, but it had needle thin potato pieces, rolled in rice and some other yumminess with the paper thin slices of Wagyu laid on top with a yummy sauce on the side. The food runner explained it in great detail and explained how the dish is preferred to be eaten with the sauce and not with soy. I would agree, I would never want to ruin it with soy sauce. The pure taste of the top quality beef is what I wanted to taste! We thought about ordering another it was so great but we had so much other food coming we resisted the urge. I got a piece of tamago that looked like art and was so delicious I ordered another that looked like another different piece of art. My friend ordered the sushi omakase and this was also explained beautifully and with great detail and was so gorgeous my friend didn't want to eat it! She did though and she loved it! The salmon was her favorite. I got the Wagyu donburi which was Wagyu beef and fried rice garnished with a tiny little quail yolk. It was delicious and had the perfect amount of seasoning. Got a couple other dishes can't fit in the review. So great momotaro!!!

    (5)

  • Bryan J.

    Outstanding. Top service. Knowledgable staff. Effective execution and success in reproducing the genuine feel of a Tokyo izakaya. Very creative menu that showcases the best of Japanese food. Nigiri/tuna tartar idecent but certainly not the draw of the menu. Do not miss the A5 wagyu roll. Thanks to GM Chris Auld for showing us around!

    (5)

  • Mace W.

    3.5 stars - Enjoyed the ambiance and service, but the food did not live up to expectations. Nothing was terrible, but nothing stuck out as being excellent. We found the sushi was better than everything else on the menu. The only plate other than the sushi that stuck out was the tomato tartar, that was different and tasted great. Skewers, noodle dishes, sashimi bowls...all average/not worth the $$$. I normally don't complain about pricing, but the food did not equate to the abnormally high price tag.

    (3)

  • Hannah N.

    Went back last weekend and decided I probably won't be back for a very, very long time if at all. Ordered all sushi and rolls. The sushi rice was terrible, all gummy and sticky. It massacred the hamachi that was in the middle, all you had leftover in your mouth was a gummy film of rice coating your tongue. It was pretty inedible and I had to send it back - I have NEVER sent back food in my life. This happens when you add in too much water at the beginning of the rice steaming process. In addition, sushi rice requires slightly less water than other rice dishes (such as say, a donburi), because it is seasoned afterwards with vinegar (amongst other things), which adds extra liquid content to the rice. But all in all, this is a pretty amateur mistake coming from a restaurant that touts a $45 roll on the menu. Not a fan of food that is showy and expensive with top ingredients but pays no respect to the most basic techniques. The cutting on the sashimi was also pretty uneven, I received a salmon nigiri that had a salmon piece that looked concave from the side and the middle was see-through thin. It was falling apart. Just no. The chawanmushi was delicious because eggs are almost always delicious. I actually don't think this dish needs the all that truffle. I love truffles as much as any other American in this joint (I'm looking at you, Umami burger truffle fries), but for me chawanmushi in particular is all about the silky texture and delicate subtlety. The amount of truffles in this dish has all the subtlety of a sledgehammer. The drinks are still mediocre (they tend towards overly sweet and fruity). The prices are still way too high. The only reason this isn't a 1 star review is because our server went above and beyond to try to fix the problem with our rice. She had it remade and checked back on us repeatedly, and even thanked us for pointing out any mistakes with the food early in the day. Bless her soul.

    (2)

  • Jessica W.

    I loved almost everything about my experience at Momotaro. We had reservations for 7:00 pm, but didn't get seated until around 7:30. For drinks, I started with the "River Child", which was a refreshing ginger-based cocktail. They have an extensive list of wines, beer and sake as well. When it came to food, we tried to order something from almost every section of the menu, but the "From the coals" options were definitely the best. These are small plates served with two skewers; the shortrib and squid were absolutely delicious! Our server gave us excellent service, but the timing of the food wasn't as smooth as we had expected and the long wait times make this a 4-star, rather than a 5-star review in my opinion.

    (4)

  • Chris R.

    Place was amazing. I love Sushi and also travel for work a lot so I eat sushi all over the country. This place was the best I've ever had and my wife felt the same. Defiantly try the smoked eggs and bacon, legendary. Everything was great

    (5)

  • Jack T.

    I don't often review restaurants on Yelp, but after last night's dinner, I feel compelled. We went here for a graduation celebration, so we had the opportunity to try most of the full menu, the bar snacks, and the cocktails. Plain and simple, everything I had was amazing. This meal easily ranks as one of the best of my life. The courses were inspired and perfectly composed. The service was incredible. I highly recommend Momotaro for anyone who wants to let their taste buds run wild, particularly for a celebratory dinner.

    (5)

  • Leo S.

    Well I have to say, i like the whole atmosphere of the place. Not a fan of the seat since there's no coat closet it's kind of inconvenient but the apron the waiters and waitresses use are cute! Lol Ok so food - miso soup was salty... I was expecting everything to be perfect since.. Well.. My meal was 360$ lol but I have to say if you only want to try 1 thing, get the Sushi Okamase! It is divine. I love fish, im allergic to shell fish and this meets all those requirements. No shellfish on these lol sorry shrim lovers lol but i did mention im allergic to shellfish when I made the reservation so that might be why haha so considerate. I tried a bunch other stuff too but I love the desserts, not disappointed at all. I feel like the tea menu shouldn't be with desserts because... Well I and most asians like to drink tea before anything else and we were only told of sencha an jasmine tea but i would have gotten something else if I had known there are other options... But the aroma of the tea was wonderful so I wasn't disappointed :3 They say the portion if for share but it's really small portions like any other fancy restaurant lol I just really like their Apron haha can I have one pwease :3?

    (4)

  • Danielle S.

    I was not hungry today so I know I missed a lot of good stuff. I ordered a miso soup (which was probably one of the best I've had), and sushi from chef's choice. Food was good but I was actually looking for some traditional sushi. The chef's choice was more toward modern style creative sushi. Personally I don't like many favors from different materials on one sushi. The service here is phenomenon. Just for trying all the other interesting options in the menu, I'll come back again

    (5)

  • Jane K.

    WOW!!! What an experience at Momotaro!!! First time there. Loved the atmosphere, the decor and restaurant seating were very nice, nicely laid out with the sushi chefs in the middle of the restaurant. We were not real familiar with the menu so we kind of let the waitress order for us. She did an unbelievable job picking out stuff for us. We had miso soup, edamame, chili hama sushi roll, aburi beni (salmon nigiri), tarabageni (king crab nigiri), momotaro tartare (a vegan sweet tomato dish), miso cod, washugyu (skirt steak skewers), tsukune (japanese meatball on a skewer)and a traditional Tokyo spaghetti with a quail egg in the middle of it. Every dish we had was absolutely outstanding. I cannot believe HOW FRESH the seafood was. I have never had seafood this fresh before, not even on vacation!! it literally melted in your mouth. They also have a nice private room upstairs for about 25 people and they have kick ass bar in the basement with cute intimate little tables and couches and seating around the bar. I believe they also have happy hour specials. This place rocks, great place for dinner then you can move downstairs to chill and have an after dinner drink. Waitress was excellent, excellent knowledge of the extensive menu, the servers and bus staff were extremely attentive, and everyone paid great attention to detail here. Nothing was missed. Dont miss this restaurant!!

    (5)

  • Stephanie S.

    Loved all the prepared dishes. The cod is amazing (which I wasn't expecting) and so is the waygu beef. I was a bit disappointed in the rolls and sashimi. Juno is much better for this, in my opinion. If you go, you have to order the namelaka desert. It's basically lava cake/ chocolate mouse, and is the most incredible thing ever. The green tea ice cream is also the best I've ever had.

    (5)

  • Kim N.

    I visited this restaurant for the 1st time tonight and have decided that this was the best sushi dinner I have ever had. My favorite sushi restaurants are Uchi in Austin, TX and Nobu in Dallas, TX. I have to give Momotaro a 5 star review-anything less would be an injustice. From the sushi to the kitchen hot food to the service, everything was on point. I dined with three others. We started with some Japanese whiskey that was recommended by our server-they have a large selection of whiskey. Then we had some appetizers including the yellowtail sashimi cold plate, Washugyu from the hibachi, and Chili Mentaiko Spaghetti = delicious. We wrapped up dinner with the sushi omakase (9 pieces total for $50-totally worth it!) that was infused with flavor for each piece. It was the first time I didn't need to dip my nigiri in soy sauce. With every dish, the servers were detailed with their explanation of the ingredients and preparations. This by far was probably the best service we have ever received. I suggest that you get recommendations from your server before ordering. We had an amazing dinner and looking forward to the next time we will have a chance to dine here.

    (5)

  • Mehran F.

    Hip wanna be (but certainly not) with a total hit and miss dishes. Overall Momotaro reminds me of the old Japonais when it pretended to be something good it never was. Momotaro is pretty Americanized. So be it if dishes were good. For those familiar with Katsu's sushi and sashimi, if you give Katsu a 10, Momotaro would be a 3 or 4 if i am generous. For those familiar with Sumi's Yakitori and such, if you give Sumi a 10, Momotaro would be a 4 or 5 at best. Soy sauce. I am not sure it is a good idea to have a very small "pot" of soy sauce open waiting for you with all the dusts and airborne germs....you be the judge. Chawan Mushi: delicious, flavorful, Americanized. Goma Ae. Nice Sashimi Omakase. Below average quality. Sorry guys, i read your fancy mission statement and how you strive to get best quality fish. Just drive to Mitsuwa and more often than not you find better quality. Also that bulk powder wasabi, felt like a stone. I ordered real wasabi. One of the servers said it is expensive, and said $6. I said fine. Once he brought it, it was so little. Our server said fresh Wasabi is very rare and very expensive. I told him we get fresh wasabi at Mitsuwa ever other week!!! (whoever has given them that mis-information needs to correct themselves so these good hard working people do not appear disingenuous in front of customers. Most important is of course getting the fish quality right. The salmon was so blah that my son (half Japanese) who loves salmon could not eat another piece. Negima. Real good. In fact, i ordered a second set, partly because i liked it, partly because after a few "misses," i was not ready to risk a mistake again. Angel Prawn. OK. Washuguy. Really Bad. Hatsu. OK. Bara Chirashi. Nice presentation. Simple but nice. Nothing to write home about re. the flavor. NS-chopped Wagyu. Fine. Shiitake mushroom. Fine. Spagetti. Confused. OK. Waka momo desert. Overly sweet. OK Chocolate Namelaka. OK. Me, the sweet tooth boy certainly could not have more than a bite of each. Drinks: my wife had three and seemed to like one of them only. Service by Shawn excellent. Clean and professional champ. (in fact my rating would have been a one - not two stars were it not for the service)......My only suggestion is please do not hand in the bill as soon as desert is served. I know such a professional person would not have done it on his own...this is in all likelihood what the restaurant expects their servers to do....Maybe for a diner or a fast food Chinese restaurant OK but not to be done when your overall bill tops 300 bucks easily. Again, Shawn was great and all staff seemed friendly and attentive. Thanks to them all. Certainly not worth going back for me. I think The Girl & The Goat, and The Little Goat, owned by the same people are much better journey. Update: The morning after -- my wife had stomach ache most last night and still -- attributing it to the dinner and specifically to the raw Miyasaki meat with uni (she had it and i did not)....it's kinda ironic as my wife is from Miyazaki, Japan!! so i cut one of the two star off, down to one. So much about a mother's day dinner i took the family to.

    (1)

  • Darron G.

    New place down the road from another favorite Sushi spot on Randolph. Truly a wonderful bar with amazing Japanese whisky choices, my favorite being Hibiki, which is hard to find. If you prefer Sake, definitely try the Demon slayer, dry and smooth, excellent! We tried the Live Dungeness crab with shishito, Angel prawns & Hatsu (chicken hearts), all good. The Chili mentaiko spaghetti was better than expected. Wonderful Nigiri and rolls. Service was excellent and the restaurant has a great vibe.

    (4)

  • Linn L.

    One of the best contemporary Japanese restaurants I have been outside of Tokyo. We went full on and had about ten or so different plates. Highlights include: Cocktail: Tanaka's Discovery. Tart, little sweet, with a thin layer of skimmed egg white on top. It set the standard for the remainder of the meal! Soy marinated tuna: Usually not a big fan of tuna, I like the fattier, softer fishes. But when marinated in soy it turns out this is a whole other story.. Toro, the semi-fatty one: The tuna belly is my all time favorite. We had already ordered 10 or so plates, when I chatted with the waiter about this piece. He insisted we should try this and came out with two exquisite pieces on the house... There must be a God. Meat skewer with ginger: Wow yes it was such a surprisingly good combination with the spicy, refreshing ginger and the soft meat on a stick, Wasabi fried rice: Delicate, spicy, fluffy, and just perfectly wonderful. That said, Momotaro might just be another reason for going back to Chi-town sometime in the near future...

    (5)

  • Melissa F.

    I wanted to like this place more, as evidenced by the fact that my anticipation was through the damn roof! I went here with a friend and we were seated at a tight two-top. The food was overall good, and our server was a nice young woman. Can't complain. As far as food goes... - Washyugu - Yessssss, just the right amount of intense flavor relative to portion - Spicy tuna roll (blanked on name) - Good but not as exciting as its description seemed. Got very little of the Gochujang miso flavor. Odd, mushy texture, even with the slightly bruleed outside. - Egg dish with crab and truffles - Dominant flavor was cooked eggs that had a bizzare texture, somewhere between just-cooked and runny. Not much truffle, and the crab itself was not flavorful. - Seaweed salad - Simple but good! Nice sesame oil, not too much of it (good balance) As far as drinks, the monk's journey was very good and not something you can get anywhere. This seems to be a governing principle of their inventive cocktail menu! My friend got the kurodai (sea bream) and said it was some of her favorite fish ever. I found the presentation and smell off-putting, and I can't put my finger on why (other than the fact that I'm very sensitive to smell, so...grain of salt and all that). The issue here is that most of our food took 45 minutes to arrive, and the kurodai took well over an hour. Oh, and hilariously small portions! Keep in mind that neither of us was expecting Old Country Buffet or anything (re: portions or timing of food)...but this was a bit much. Finally, a manager graciously brought her the kurodai and took it off our bill without us even thinking or asking about it. That is very nice of them to do. As much as it's a new restaurant, it was somewhat underwhelming, and the service hiccups make me inclined to return, but not ASAP.

    (3)

  • Bri A.

    We planned on going to a neighborhood sushi spot for dinner, but my bf ended up getting a last minute reservation for Momotaro. I've been wanting to eat here so I was way excited! We were a little early, so we had a drink at the bar downstairs. The Seafarer's Contribution was light and delicious....the perfect pre-dinner drink . We were notified when the table was ready and the bartender promptly brought the check. Talk about efficient! Food wise, we had: -Sashimi omakase: Hands down the best sashimi we've ever had! Of course the presentation was beautiful, but the cuts were thick. My favorite was the ootoro and uni.....both of which were firsts for us. The ootoro melts right in your mouth! There was an unlabeled mystery cut that tasted saltwatery and super fresh. I wish I knew what it was! The chef also sent out a tasty little seaweed salad since the order took awhile. -A5 Miyazaki Wagyu: We had never had raw beef before and I was a little hesitant, but it was so good! This had sea urchin in the middle and the flavors went well together. -Washugyu: Skirt steak + foie gras = wow! I could eat this as an entree! -Angel Prawns - Whatever these were grilled in made them awesome! The chili sauce gave them a nice kick, too. -Unagi Don - Another awesome dish that I could eat a giant portion of. The eel was so tender. -Curry Udon - So messy and spicy, but tasty. I was starting to get full at this point! We had the chocolate sponge cake for dessert which was awesome. The dried cherries added a lot of flavor. We also had the Curious Tiger, Monk's Journey and sake, all of which were delicious! I wish I wrote down the sake we had. The Monk's Journey was minty and refreshing, kind of like a mojito. Service was excellent and our server was super nice. He even gave us some home made soy sauce to take home! I'm already anxious to come back and try the sushi!

    (5)

  • Ben A.

    Located below the L on Lake Street, stepping inside Momotaro takes you to a different place. The menu is a blend of small plates and sushi, with dishes ranging from the simple (Japanese Shitake) to the unexpected (smoked bacon and eggs). Our waiter seemed a bit rushed (even though we went on a Monday night, the place was packed). Overall though, the table service was excellent and every dish (we tried several small plates) was nicely presented and delicious. The interior is modern and sophisticated, but the noise level can be a distraction on a date. This is a great place for a group. Our tab ran about $50 per person, with a modest amount of drinks.

    (4)

  • Diana P.

    Run don't walk to this place! Oh wait, make a reservation first for a few months out bc this hot spot is HARD to get into however once you're in, you'll never want to leave. Everything we ordered melted in our mouths and the flavors, not overpowering, just perfect. Freshest fish for sushi I've ever had. A few days ago we were here in the basement bar/lounge for an event and the drinks are so good. They offer a few menu items such as a spaghetti we liked but is creamy so beware if you want a healthier option. Hand rolls which are ONLY served downstairs are phenomenal, especially the BBQ Eel. At dinner, my hubby ordered the beef-pepper skewers and had to order another it was that great. The sushi maki can't be beat and the wasabi fried rice was so unique-delicious. There's this one appetizer you MUST get. It's a tomato tar tar however you would have NO Idea it's made from tomatoes. Very 'meaty'. We also splurged and went for desert, only because everything was so amazing we knew the meal couldn't end without seeing what these guys can do with dessert. It was an orange citrus cake. I LOVED it and would get it again and again. Def will be coming back. We will be reserving a spot for a few months out. I have to end by noting how incredible the staff is here. Warm, friendly and accommodating. Usually new 'hot spots' have pretentious staff working and that's not the case at all here. Bravo Boka boys on hitting every beat. We will be recommending your establishment with pleasure.

    (5)

  • Jackie M.

    This would be one of my favorite Japanese restaurant !! Highly recommend the charcoal skewers - hatsu (chicken hearts), washugyu (skirt steak with foie gras), and angel prawns. Each order of skewer is a set of 2.. compared to other places, this is very reasonable for the quality and you will definitely taste the charcoal.grill taste. I also ordered few nigiri and it was very fresh and the size is not overtly large (it's gross when restaurant give you an inch chunk of fish). The yuzu shittori cake (blood orange and yogurt sorbet) was good, not too sweet, bit tangy, and beautifully decorated. The raw oyster which comes in set of 3 is just okay- would not order that. The spaghetti was just okay and not a big fan of it. I will definitely return to momo and try other entree.

    (5)

  • Niti B.

    After weeks of driving by in wonderment of what this hidden gem was everytime I drove by I finally went!! It if course helped that I had a great date and he had been before to guide my palate in the right direction. To ease the nerves of a first date I started with a cocktail. I sipped on the Tanaka's discovery- ceres vodka, maurin quina, egg white, yuzu-lemon. It was just what I needed to welcome the night. We nibbled on Edemame as the chef prepared our sashimi omakase, spicy taco roll and age dashi tofu. Everything was implacably made and the service was stellar despite the crowd. For my second beverage I tried the Monk's journey-ketel one vodka, chareau aloe liqueur, matcha green tea, lime. After dinner we ventured to the downstairs bar and lounge to try different Sake. In our time downstairs the chef greeted us to ask how our night was and our meal upstairs. Furthermore he was nice enough to tell us he had just received fresh Dungeness crab and wanted to prepare us a complimentary plate of crab cakes! Needless to say, these crab cakes were delicious and we were more that satisfied with our experience. I can see why my date had been before and wanted to come back.

    (5)

  • Roger J.

    Wow, I was excited to take my beautiful date to this hot spot and was greatly disappointed. As part of the highly touted BRG restaurants I was hoping for a similar experience to Boka or Girl and the Goat. Not even close. Unlike some others who commented on long delays, we were actually seated on time but then the experience declined rapidly. Our waiter failed to greet us promptly and when he did he failed to tell us any of the specials. He basically recommended the most expensive items without any logic or pairing ideas. We ordered appetizers, entrees, etc. but nothing was memorable. Honestly other than some lame spaghetti dish that our waiter raved about (which was average) we didn't care much for anything else that we ordered. I would name all of the items we ordered but the only other one I remembered was prawns that I would not order again. Oh, they did tell us we could eat the whole thing as is if we chose. The guy next to us tried to eat the head and that didn't end well. You can tell from other reviews I have written that I am rarely hard on a restaurant but this place was over priced, underwhelming, and I will not return. Nothing special here other than hype. Overall, poor service, average food at best, high priced and did not make me as a customer feel valued. Only positive is the decor and ambiance. Go to Yuzu or Coast for a sushi treat instead, save a few dollars and then go out dancing because you will be in a much better mood. Update: I got a scathing response on this review from a Momotaro employee who chastised me for giving a negative review and told me that my type of review is the reason restaurants dislike Yelp. No apologies for my less than stellar experience, just a lecture on why Momotaro is so great. I love the proud passion but how about working on a better experience?

    (2)

  • svetlana k.

    Best meal I've had in awhile. Beautiful restaurant and our server Emilio was the bomb, he knew his wine and really helped us with the four page menu. Started off with the washugyu (skirt steak, shishito pepper, and foie gras) ($12). Two prices served on a skewer. Very oily but a delicious appetizer. Further, we ordered the diver scallop served with uni, ponzu butter, and salmon roe ($12). It was beautifully plated a top a scallop shell on top of a bed of seal salt. Small dish, very very buttery but still tasty. Would try something else next time. The best dish of the night was hands down the Santa Barbara uni rice served with black truffles ($22). Rich, luxurious, lush, indulgent, incredible dish. The truffles were not necessary but this dish, especially if you like uni, is to die for. We also ordered a couple of pieces of nigiri. Freshest fish I've had in awhile but the rice needs a little work, tastes fishy. The last dish of the night was the FU roll ($45). As a base it's tuna and a crunchy root vegetable. A top each piece was (6pieces total) was a different combination: toro, king crab, uni, A5 wagyu, shrimp, and one more I can't remember. The A5 wagyu and king crab were to die for. The rest were obviously really good but i don't know if I would order the $45 roll again. We ended the meal with a chocolate dessert, mousse type. Phenomenal and not heavy at all. Will definitely be coming back here, even with a high price tag. This place is worth every penny. Come for a special occasion for sure. PS. Corkage fee is $30 per bottle, max 2 bottles.

    (5)

  • Christina C.

    Welcome to the block, Momotaro. I fell in love with this place instantly upon stepping in. Really beautiful and simple interior (also, where can I find the aprons the waiters wear? Such a fresh and clean cut look...). It's a whole new dining experience here, and most of that credit goes to my server, Nam. He was very attentive and personable. He went through the entire menu and highlighted the must-tries with very detailed descriptions of how the dish is prepared. He really knew his stuff and I greatly appreciated that. Ebi tempura - this is how tempura should be fried. Loved the watermelon radish tsuyu that came with it; it was just the right amount of accompanying sweet/salty flavor. Negimi - perfectly grilled chicken with green onion, but too much salt for my taste. Kanpachi - this was actually to die for. Instead of wasabi to glue together the slice of fish and rice, Nam explained how they use the buttery oil of the fish (or something similar? I don't quite remember), and the texture of it all was just perfect. The wasabi salmon roll was standard and solid. Tuna zuke came in a small bowl but with just enough rice and fish, rice was perfectly seasoned to my liking. Ended with the waka momo dessert - what a lovely finish. I didn't know such tiny green peaches existed! I somehow don't even feel like my descriptions are doing justice because the whole dining experience was sensual but subtle for my tastebuds, and so perfectly detailed that you just want to take your time to slowly savor everything. You definitely can't go wrong with anything on the menu. I want to be back here very very soon.

    (5)

  • Evelina L.

    Not only did Boka group didn't dissapoint, they have probably created my most memorable and best new restaurant to open in the the city of Chicago in 2014. Yes, its that good. The admostphere is simply magical and very impressive, I really just wanted to live there in zen and have them serve me food for the rest of my life. I probably couldn't afford it, but I can try until they kick me out... Not sure that they would though, since everyone was so warm and welcoming... The menu can be a bit overwhelming, especially since everything sounds good, but our waitress had great explanations and recommendations. I would recommend to come here with 2 people, even though I wanted to bring 10 people with me to try everything on the menu, the portions are somewhat small. So, unless you are willing to stab your friends and relatives over a piece of momotaro, just come here in a small group! We had at least 1 item from each page and it was all fabulous. Highlight was definitely the uni rice with truffles - who knew that it was such a fabulous combination? We almost ordered it for dessert as well!!! We didn't order the steak dishes, but heard from the table next to us that they were divine. There will definitely be a next time, so no big deal!

    (5)

  • Jacob C.

    supposedly one of the best japanese restaurant in town? I only went here once for a sake night. sake was decent, but the rolls that came out were just about average. I havent tried the full sushi menu so I cant say much, but overall decent japanese restaurant

    (4)

  • Suzy D.

    We came here for dinner with friends last night. We started in the izakaya downstairs before our 7:30 reservation. In the izakaya we had: Uni toast- not great. Chorizo was too overpowering and could not taste the uni Sizzling clams- average steamed clams. Nothing to write home about. Bacon wrapped asparagus- tasty and interesting because the bacon was so thin Florida clam nigiri special- delicious and flavorful clam but was the sushi rice was off We had some the lucky peach, monk's journey and a few other cocktails and we're finally seated upstairs. The dining room is beautiful and I loved the lighting. The food left a lot to be desired. While our server was friendly and helpful, she had some body odor issues which were not helping the situation. Edamame-too salty Mackerel with smoke nigiri- decent but not worth the price. Rice was falling apart so sushi rice was not good at all. Hamachi with ginger blossom- this was 16 dollars for 4 very small slices of fish in an overpowering sauce. Disappointing Ika nigiri- I love ika in general but not this ika. Maybe because the rice was falling apart and too mushy, it took away from the squid. There was also too much wasabi on top of the rice. At 5 dollars a bite, I would expect better. Wagyu Beef tongue- this skewer was delicious. One of the best items of the evening. Chicken heart skewer- the skewer needed more charring. Not great. Wagyu robota sirloin- this 70 dollar piece of meat was such a letdown. Way too lean with no marbling. Also the presentation over the coals was just for show. The meat is already fully cooked. Berkshire pork robata- much tastier than the wagyu. This was tasty. Rice- with pickled veggies other seasonings- way too salty They kindly gave us on extra rice on the house as well. We were also given a complimentary crab salad and that was decent as well. Our bill was over 400 bucks including tip, drinks, and the izakaya items downstairs. We left hungry and underwhelmed. We will not be returning. It might have been an off night, but if your sushi rice is not good, no matter how fresh the fish is, your sushi will be subpar. For this price point, the rice should be perfect. Ambiance is the best thing this place has going for it.

    (2)

  • Jennie C.

    Finally, a great Japanese restaurant for this Japanese food fan. I was in love with the sushi omakase: every piece of fish I tried was amazingly fresh and perfect marriage between fish and rice. The uni rice was super rich, unfortunately I like my uni a bit more unadulterated than this, so surprisingly it was not my favorite dish. The smoked bacon & eggs were interesting, I loved how silky the yolks were, but the sauce drizzled on it was way too salty. Tsukune (chicken meatballs) were decent. Also liked the momomaki. I had the spirited away drink and liked it. Will totally return for drinks and sushi.

    (5)

  • Maria K.

    Great dining experience - top notch environment, great crowd and the service was superb. The menu is extensive, take a good glance in advance to create the best combinations. I am not an expert in Japanese but I did pretty well with a little help. Top dish? The crab. The flavors with the combination of perfectly grilled peppers presented in an actual crab ... Yeah. Amazing. These were my favorites (heavy on the meat) : Unagi, washugu, negima, beef strip loin, chili mentaiko + nigiri/rolls. The water lilly sake was whimsical, light - strong, clean and aromatic. The quality of food is excellent, fresh as ever.

    (5)

  • Jason A.

    Another primo spot from the Boka group. Modern decor that I really like. Its a bit too hip and busy for me, but with so many floors and areas you can find a spot for your speed. The service was super friendly and and attentive. I do wish they were a little more assertive about their likes and dislikes. This menu can be intimidating. They should really guide more fully on the first visit in terms of how many dishes to order, and what their favorites are. As I mentioned the menu is a bit much at first. About 90 items on there and you want them all. You can get familiar in 10 minutes or so, but the issue I come across is portion size as its not really sorted out at all by category. This makes it very difficult to know how much food to order. They promote ordering in rounds so this is helpful so you don't order too much or too little, but this has a downside, meal time continuity. When you order in rounds some things come faster than others. Our first several courses came almost immediately, but then we had to wait over 20 minutes for sashimi because they got busy. That just got me hungry and disrupted the flow of my dinner. I've spent little time on the star of the show, the food. Every dish was a home run. The dungeoness crab was a favorite, along with the salmon role. The butterscotch bundino was the perfect finish, if you like butterscotch it is a must try. The downside to Momotaro is that its not a once a year place. You need to come here semi regularly to enjoy all the dishes, I want to try all 90. Its a little busy to do that, and a touch expensive for that so I'm left trying to decide when to come again. Probably a quarterly spot for me.

    (5)

  • Lena E.

    Service and amazing food. Can't go wrong here. We ordered a little of everything from each section. If you love quality Japanese then this is the place to go. The shishito peppers were fabulous - right amount of flame taste with the sweet pork stir fry. The Alaskan king crab - the best thing on the menu (I love crab). So fresh, sweet and tender. I don't think there is a bad thing on the menu.

    (5)

  • Donnie D.

    Another Boka Group hit. From the ambiance to the hospitality to the food and even the decor...this is definitely the new hot spot in Chicago. Came here to dinner with a group of 6 and we just had the best time! The sushi is some of the most fresh sushi I've yet to eat. Must try the tuna dishes, all of them! The uni scallop dish is so amazing my mouth is watering as I type this. There is not one thing (out of 15) that we are and didn't like. The staff is very friendly and welcoming, you immediately feel at home. Always busy and the scene is vibrant! I can't wait to go back to this gem :)

    (5)

  • Jessica O.

    We are in the izakaya downstairs. Drinks were great, service a little slow. The food was good, but the clams were overly salty... Really salty. The price was fair, but really not nearly the best I've had in the city, which some other reviews promise.

    (3)

  • Shannon J.

    Really good skewers, my favorites were the washugyu (beef wrapped foie gras) and gyutan (beef tongue). Also the mentaiko noodle was delicious. And they have an amazing sake and Japanese scotch selection.

    (5)

  • Jay I.

    4.5 stars with a lot of upside. Tried this place as post xmas date. Honestly I had a little bit of reservation on trying this place because this is run by BOKA group, and I wasn't really impressed with Boka the other day (granted, I went to a restaurant week dinner so I wouldn't really weigh that on to what restaurant actually could be). Anyway, I was able to park right across the restaurant on the street (has valet which is about 12-14 bucks i think). Ordered bunch of food including chirashi, sushi omakase (8 piece), whole fish of sea bream and chicken yakitori. oh, definitely agedashi tofu. We thought the chirashi was definitely above average, and each piece of sushi was fresh and had a lot of flavor in each piece. agedashi tofu was a bit funny in a way that the shape was more of a pancake than tofu, but the dash tasted great and mingled pretty well with tofu. Lastly the sea bream was well cooked but nice visualization. The only problem I had, although slight, is that the server asked us to order everything at once. Well I wanted to order more food actually but couldn't do it because of that statement. I mean, I understand it helps with the efficiency of the restaurant, but I don't know... because they just lost about 10-25 bucks from me because of it.

    (4)

  • Manisha K.

    Awesome place with trendy atmosphere, impressive presentation, accommodating waitstaff, and delicious food! Great new find!

    (5)

  • Fred F.

    A friend who is very into Japanese food is in town. I was in panic mode since Japanese food in Chicago tends to be very Americanized and is all about teriyaki chicken. I am very fortunate to find out that Momotaro opens tonight. Service is smooth without the usual hiccup of new restaurants. Our server knew the menu inside out. More importantly, although every dish is Americanized, they are done in fabulous manner with the freshest ingredients you can find here. For example: uni is fresh without the hint of being fishy or being imported from Costco. Chili mentaiko spaghetti was very subtle and delicious. Negima was very juicy and tasted like those you would find in izakaya in Tokyo. Hamachi Kama was done flawlessly with a touch of umeboshi. Ootoro was good although it was pricey for $9 a piece. Make sure you save room for dessert. They are extra ordinary. Hint: get the citrus sponge cake and soy pudding with huckleberry.

    (5)

  • Jennifer S.

    We stopped by Momotaro last night after dining all around Randolph street. Since we were pretty full we asked Patrick to choose two light options for us. He really hit it out of the park with a delicious sushi selection that was served with burning wood chips in a covered clay pot. The star was the Snapper... accompanied with seasonal vegetables and a deep, complex, delicious broth. It was the best thing I ate all night. I will be back for it soon! Stop by and ask for Patrick, he'll take great care of you.

    (5)

  • Tiffany L.

    TL;DR - Spectacular sushi, above average hot food. Bring the benjamins and a small stomach. Momotaro is the newest addition to the food mecca which is the Boka restaurant group, that brought you such gems as Girl and the Goat, GT Fish and Oyster, Balena, and their namesake Boka, just to name a few. The interior is impeccable. I really loved the open layout, the woods, the marble, and the windows. The upstairs has a boardroom-esque private dining area, and the downstairs houses a dimly lit lounge. There's a funny phone in a corner, if you pick it up, it teaches you Japanese. The sushi menu has been carefully crafted by Chefs Jeff Ramsey and Kaze Chan, Ramsey earned a Michelin star for his restaurant in Tokyo, while Chan may be familiar if you've ever dined at Kaze or Macku in Chicago. As expected, the sushi is very good and handled more on the traditional side. We ordered a Sushi Omakase (8 pieces in the flight -- they will soon offer a traditional omakase as well, price TBD) and the Tuna Zanmai (3 types of tuna). Formed into the perfect bite-size piece, the fish is treated as the star. No swirly spicy mayo or unagi sauce here, just the fish, the rice, and a dab of grated radish, or microgreen. I loved the sushi rice, which is so often overlooked -- just slightly vinegared and still with a bite so you can really taste each grain of rice. Served with freshly grated wasabi, and their housemade soy, it left me wanting more. Oh and that piece of shrimp sushi you see in my pic? It has a little surprise stuffed in the middle of the rice, like a creme-filled cupcake, except it's crunchy smoky, shrimp shell. Much more delicious than it sounds, I swear. The rest of the menu is handled by someone else, and definitely had more of a "fusion-y" feel to it. From the hot side of the menu we ordered: - Alaskan King Crab Chawan mushi - Tsukune (chicken meatball skewer) - Angel Prawn skewer - Chili Mentaiko Spaghetti - A5 Miyazaki 3oz Wagyu, hibachi style The Chawan Mushi was really tasty and an interesting take on the traditional dish. The Tsukune was good, but a tad too salty, balanced with a side of yuzu paste. The Prawns were cooked perfectly and served head-on (mmmm shrimp brains). The Spaghetti was their take on a carbonara, with a spicy mayo like taste. It was ok, I wouldn't order it again. And the wagyu -- ah true Japanese wagyu -- delicious and buttery, and that miso sauce slathered underneath is like crack. Too pricey at $60 though, and I probably wouldn't order it again. For dessert we ordered the Shittori Citron Cake and the Waka Momo. Both desserts are very Japanese - light and not too sweet. I loved both, kinda. The Shittori cake is like a blood orange creamsicle cake. Good! The Waka Momo was unique -- whipped tofu with the little green fruits that were unripened white peaches. Sounded and tasted good! Then our server mentioned something about the rarity of these fruits because small children have to climb trees to pick them. That factoid made me feel weird on many levels. Like, expensive coffee beans excreted through monkey poo, weird. For being only a week open, the service was good. The pacing was a bit slow though, our meal took about 2.5 hours from start to finish. The price point is on the higher side. If you're about the most bang for your buck, then Momotaro might not be for you. I'd say plan to spend at least $100pp if you want a drink, try a variety of dishes, and not be hungry afterwards. But after you've stopped hyperventilating from the sticker shock and the small portions, you may just decide that you still want to try the Curry Udon, but alas have no more room in your second stomach because you had two desserts, and make a reservation for next time.

    (4)

  • Katie P.

    Wow- came here last night for a super yummy meal with my husband. We loved everything! The ambiance was hip, tables pretty packed together so not very intimate or quiet but nice. The hostess was a bit rude to us. She begrudgingly took our coats to check but then forgot our check number so then of course took forever to find our coats after the meal because of it. Oh well, the food made up for it. We split: Momotaro Tartare: really rich and flavorful Hamachi sashimi: simple, citrus-y, clean, great fish Ebi Tempura: tasty but nothing too special- I'd skip this next time Negima: Yum! Great flavors on the ckicken Smoked Bacon & Eggs: Really unique, loved this fun dish Curry Udon: Hard to eat but tasty- never had anything like this before Chili Mentaiko Spaghetti: Rich Sushi Roll w/ octopus and tuna: I forgot the name of the particular roll we got but it was delicious! Besides the Udon and Spaghetti, all portions were small so it does get pricey but the food is really unique and special. Highly recommend!

    (4)

  • Brit N.

    Absolutely amazing food and service! Shawn was our waiter and was outstanding. He recommended delicious drinks, appetizers and entrees. Sushi was extremely fresh and so flavorful. Bar downstairs was cool to check out as well - stopped there for a drink after dinner just to check it out. Wait staff was friendly there as well. Hope to be back again soon :)

    (5)

  • Stella S.

    Nice restaurant and good service. We ordered the baby squid, the chicken meatball, the chicken thighs, and the beef tongue and they were all a little undercooked and too salty. We also ordered the spicy tako, ebi tempura, and the green pea fried rice which was too oily. Their drink list is creative and their staff is very attentive.

    (3)

  • Yiming C.

    I came here yesterday with my boyfriend for my birthday. I had really good experience with Boka so I was very excited. From the sushi bars, depends on your preference, it might be better to select your own sushi/sashimi than going with the chef's selection - sashimi/sushi Omasake (8 different selections). We picked 9 different orders of sashimi and highly recommend Zuke, Shimaaji, Akami and Ootoro, with Ootoro being our favorite. Ootoro just melts in your mouth. LOVE IT! If you are a Uni lover, definitely try their Uni for $5/each. It is a decent good price, many places charge more. All sushi we tasted are good and fresh. My only complaint is the wasabi isn't strong enough for my taste. From the Coals, we tried Hatsu (chicken hearts) and Washugyu (skirt steak with pepper). The pepper didn't taste as good as I expected (it was raw and hard, barely cooked) but the skirt steak tasted amazing. I would eat the steak again without the pepper. I ordered chicken hearts just to try it. It is good, tender, but I probably won't order it again. We also ordered Chili Mentaiko Spaghetti. It is on the heavy side and the sauce is a little salty. We wanted to try Santa Barbara Uni Rice so bad, but the waiter informed us that they won't serve it anymore? What a bummer! It is an overall good experience. The food here is designed to be shared with others so the portion isn't big. I will come back again to try more dishes.

    (4)

  • Romana Y.

    Love the open, airy space, along with the trendy, yet refined, crowd. Sushi: 4 Drinks: 4

    (4)

  • Rui L.

    Came here Saturday night with a girlfriend for a celebration dinner. Got very lucky and grabbed seats at the bar since their dinning area was fully committed for the night. Started off with two drinks, can't remember what we ordered but they were both good and the bartender was just awesome. My girl friend and I basically ordered everything on menu that includes uni or foie gras, and yes everything tasted soooo sooo good. Our favorite of the night probably has to be the uni sushi...I know we are boring but they were just so fresh little bites that we couldn't resist. The $45 dollar roll that I couldn't remember the name of...honestly it was good but I would recommend spend your money on other dishes. Overall, very nice service and food. Definitely recommend go with a reservation, and seriously, just enjoy the meal worry about the bill later :)

    (5)

  • Cat G.

    I've had Momotaro on my list for a while - people talk about it at work and it's a super trendy place. Pro tip: if you want to go during peak dinner hours on a weekend, check out OpenTable early for reservations. I made my reservation a couple of months in advance (though I might've gone a bit overboard). It's right smack dab in the middle of the restaurant-saturated West Loop, close to big names like Girl and the Goat and the Publican. THE GOOD: Food is delicious. There's really no debating that. We ordered a variety of dishes - started with the crab salad and the chawan mushi (no idea how to describe chawan mushi in English, but it's similar to Chinese dan geng - more or less beaten egg that's been steamed into a pudding texture, with various fillings. This one had crab in it. So money (literally)). Both had amazing flavor and tasted super fresh. We then tried the diver scallops and skirt steak from the grill - amazing though a very small portion size for the price. For main courses, we went with the mentaiko spaghetti (a must-try) and the hibachi duck breast (actually a reasonable portion size and tasty, but not my favorite thing we ate that night). The desserts were also amazing - I can't find the dessert menu on their website, but we had a cheesecake and a chocolate cake, of which the latter was my favorite. I was pretty much ready to lick the plate clean. Pacing was good. Other reviews mention that their meal took 3 hours or that food took a long time to come out - this was absolutely not the case for us. Dinner was wrapped up in about an hour. (We were dining at 5:30 though, so perhaps that contributed to it?) Lots of cute Asian boys with tattoos work here (i.e. totally my jam) (I am also Asian please don't think I'm fetishizing the Asian ethnicity) Oh and the one drink I tried - the Merchant from Kyoto - was really good! And that's a HUGE compliment coming from me, because I rarely (like less than 5x a year) drink. Combination of really bad Asian glow and the fact that I think I may be allergic to alcohol because I start feeling sick after one glass of wine. THE BAD: Service was a bit disjointed in that it seemed like every one of our dishes was brought to the table by a different waiter. Everyone was very nice, but it was strange to not have the same waiter throughout the entire meal. I was seated facing a west-facing window, and the sun was setting during our meal, so I was pretty much blinded by the sun the entire time we were eating. My dining companion was a veritable dark silhouette - I couldn't even see his face. I didn't bring it up to the waiter because I decided it wasn't that big of a deal, but I wish they'd do something about this as a whole because a lot of seats face that direction. Maybe some heavier drapes on the windows would help? And finally, the portion sizes are (predictably) pretty small in general for the price. The quality of the ingredients is obviously high, but that's what makes this restaurant a once-in-a-blue-moon place for me. Overall, definitely a cool spot with great food and nice ambiance. Good place to impress a date. I'd probably come back.

    (4)

  • Carolyn M.

    Gorgeous space, impeccable staff, fabulous cocktails. Oh, and then there's the food. Where do you begin on the food. So much to choose from, we were all over the menu, and while a couple dishes we'd probably not get again, all the others were game changers. Insanely fresh, innovative, and just generally fun. Favorites were the Alaskan king crab, the toro, beef tartare, and the smoked bacon and eggs. Incredible experience, we will be back (in fact, we made a follow up res while we were still sitting at the table).

    (5)

  • Kaman T.

    Came here on a whim and I'm sure glad I did. Food: Clam chower: This was not your average clam chowder. Has that seafood umami and the clams in it were cooked perfectly. Still has a nice crunch. Shrimp Tempura: The tempura had a hardy crunchy shell. The shrimp inside tasted super fresh. Dotted with spicy mayo. I like more flaky shells, but my bf loved the crunch. Bara Chirashi: This was really small, BUT really delicious. Loved the plum seasoning in the rice and the fish in the chirashi was nothing short of amazing. The fish roe was so well balanced with the plum and fresh fish. Hikarimono roll: Super delicious and fresh. Different from other rolls I've had before. Simple and a must get. Washugyu and Shishito skewer: Hint of gaminess from the foie gras on the beef. Beef was juicy, tender, and well, beefy. Shishito was a nice touch. Gyutan skewer: Super nice char and texture. AMazing fatty flavors. Can't go wrong with grilled gyutan. Wasabi salmon roll: Great salmon. Simple and tasted great, but nothing unique. Very well done salmon roll. Sukiyaki: This was the only disappointing dish of our night. The problem was the broth. It was extremeeeeely salty. Like they used pure soy sauce for the broth and nothing else. It is also very small which we expected, but for $36 we did not think this was worth it. Staff asked us how we like the sukiyaki and we told them it was a bit salty and they took it off our check. Great service right there. Chicken meatball skewer: This was topped with two sunny side up quail eggs. Meat was super moist and had amazing ginger flavors. Must get. Curry Udon: Made with ground pork. This had such nice curry flavors, Loved this dish and this was the biggest bang for your buck. Big portion and only $16. Chocolate spongecake with Sakura ice cream: Loved the crunchy chocolate bits and the sakura ice cream stole the show. Wish they gave more than a dollop of the ice cream! Service: The staff were extremely attentive. They kept refilling water, prompt to take away plates, refreshed our plates, folded my napkin when I went to the restroom, and explained the menu well. One guy even gave us a tour of the izakaya downstairs after our meal. We had a great experience here and look forward to coming back for the Izakaya which is suppose to have a completely different menu.

    (5)

  • Benjamin R.

    Excellent, inventive Japanese food in a slick, beautiful restaurant. The menu is huge, we tried a smattering of almost every category and barely scratched the surface. Big eye tuna maki rolls, crab croquettes, seaweed salad, and the ice cream with black sugar dessert were standouts for me. But everyone we were with loved different things, so it was all very good. Had nice, mild cocktail called a River Child, and they had a really good beer and wine list. Service was great and the environment is top notch, can't go wrong here.

    (5)

  • Marley L.

    I had the chili spaghetti thing and then promptly DIED. It was so damn good. That is all.

    (4)

  • J P.

    Momotaro is a hip, contemporary Japanese restaurant. The servers, bartender, chefs, and hostesses get 5 stars. They are welcoming and provide excellent service, even at 11:15 when the place is packed and more patrons are sitting down for their reservation. The massive space is absolutely gorgeous. I'm old school, so the set-up with the lounge in the basement and the restaurant on the main floor reminded me of Japonais. We could've easily stayed downstairs for the entire meal in the lounge area. I was intrigued there is a staircase that leads to a 3rd floor, however it does not appear to be open for the public. The hostess found us when our table was ready. We had reservations at the sushi bar at 9:45 pm, which is all they had when I had called earlier in the week. Our waiter, that bore a striking resemblance to a young Jude Law, was very knowledgeable with the menu. We started with Goma Ae, which we all but given up after Sushi Wabi shuttered its doors. This version runs a close second to Wabi, where everywhere else we've ordered has never come close. I know the Sushi Omakase is heralded as the source of recognition, but this was my least favorite. Somehow the subtle garnishes did not bring forth the flavors of the pieces as explained by our server. The washugyu beef entree was the best dish we ordered. My husband would've liked another serving, but we saved some space for a fantastic dessert, which I can not remember the name. The two sushi rolls were fresh and as expected, well done in terms of fusion of flavors. I'm thinking if we tried more "from the coals" list, we would have experienced more of the chef's mastery. The menu is pretty extensive, thus slightly overwhelming when trying to choose wisely. I would like to think a repeat visit would be necessary to give a more accurate review of the chef's creativity or perhaps a tasting menu would be in order. It a shame my life doesn't allow for repeat business at restaurants in Chicago without serious effort. If I were to do it all over again, I would save more room for non-sushi items.

    (3)

  • Aaron P.

    I was very impressed by this place. It's another fine addition to the Fulton Market restaurant scene. We spent maybe 20 minutes figuring out this sake menu with our waitress. She was really helpful because I am clueless about sake. The sake was good. We drank it all. It did not taste like red wine. I'm trying to remember all the things on the order: Toro Tartare, Angel Prawns, Mentaiko Spaghetti, Washugyu, Negi Hama, Bacon & Eggs, Wasabi Rice, and a few pieces of nigiri. Jesus we ate a lot of food. Thank god we ate a ridiculous American brunch or this would have ran a third bill. Oh and then a slice of the Shittori Citron cake. I liked the Toro Tartare. I did not like the slippery ice block it was served on. Also, this would be one of the weirder foods to split if you aren't really close friends or touching butts or something because it's just a mound of chopped up toro mixed with other things. They give you one spoon. I used chopsticks. Moving on, Angel Prawns. I'd skip this next time. I'm not in love with head on shrimp that you can't peel. I don't know what I expected out of the ohba butter, but it didn't do it for me. Shrimp on a skewer is difficult to peel. The end. Washugyu was a massive win. Skirt steak, foie, shishito pepper, lime. I have a very high bar for steak after going to Argentina. This met it. I couldn't even see the foie. It didn't matter. This worked. Get it. The negi hama roll was good but not memorable. Skip. Bacon & Eggs were ridiculous. Quail eggs are unbelievably rich. Bacon is rich. Maple syrup is rich. Beware. Mentaiko Spaghetti may have been the evening's winner. The chili sauce with jidori egg fish roe was addictive. I could eat this every night. Wasabri Rice was a great side. The rice was filled with scallions and mizuna lettuce. I wish we ordered this to sop up what was left of the Mentaiko Spaghetti. The finale was this Shittori Citron Cake. The slice of cake was topped with various dehydrated fruit. The cake was moist and tangy. This is the only cake I'd want for my birthday. I'd get a whole sheet. I thought the service was good. I'm not too picky on a Sunday evening. Go here while it's relatively uncrowded.

    (5)

  • Brad A.

    Jacob was a wonderful guide to a spectacular dining experience. Sushi Omakase Sashimi Omakase Oysters, seemed to be west coast...not too much brine, plenty of oyster taste. Wasabi Fried Rice... Just show up, start ordering and sharing. Beautiful space.

    (4)

  • Kari O.

    Holy. Moly. I don't need to say much besides this was one of the best dinners I've ever had. The sushi platter was BUTTER. The fish, so fresh and so absolutely delicious. What else I ordered: Momotaro Tartare Apple Smoked Bacon Chawan Mushi A lot more, but these were standouts. Highlight: Sushi platter... holy amazing.

    (5)

  • T. L.

    Had high expectations that were sadly not met... Great space and would definitely return for drinks, but too many misses on food for this price point: Good: crab appetizer, washugyu, curry udon, dessert Meh: steak tartare, spaghetti, tare duck, hikarimono Way too salty: edamame, chili hama, tuna jaga

    (3)

  • Bari S.

    Great food and great staff! Our server Ally was truly helpful in making the evening fun. Her recommendations were great from what we should try to how many plates we should order. The booths are a little low if you are short. Kind of like sitting in a high chair but very comfortable. The place is energetic but easy to talk to the people at the table. We had 6 and everyone could hear the conversation! The water glasses were constantly filled and the plates were removed when we finished the dish and this was done without interrupting the flow of the evening or the conversation. Half our group loves sushi and the other half does not and we were able to make everyone happy. All the dishes were delicious but if they have the baby corn its a must. Definitely will be back!

    (5)

  • Shradha A.

    Both times I've been here it's been for events, once downstairs and once upstairs. The decor is beautiful, service super attentive and they were very accommodating to my GF/V requests!

    (4)

  • Julie H.

    I had dinner with a friend here recently and we both got the omakase tasting menu. It was decidedly over priced. The dishes we got weren't bad--though I will say that the sushi was very non-traditional. Everything was slathered in lots of sauces to the point where you couldn't really taste the fish. If you're a fan of traditional, Japanese-style sushi you won't be happy here. We were astounded when they brought out the last course. For what we paid, we expected much more. The cocktails weren't too bad, though. At least this place had that going for it. And the service was very nice.

    (2)

  • Jay L.

    Definitely worth the price tag. I've never slept better! Shared 17 courses and some cocktails with my fiancee and we licked the plates clean, she's still in a food coma but I know she enjoyed herself. Now I have the house to myself. Thanks Momotaro! ========= Some of our favorites: *wagyu beef tongue *chicken heart skewers *hibachi grilled satsuma orange duck breast

    (5)

  • Tyan S.

    I have to say, this was the best sushi experience I have ever had... and that's saying a lot. We were there with a party of 4 on 3/22 -a Sunday, and the place was packed!!! The design is phenomenal - rich, chic, stylish... attention to detail, logical separation to the room. Lots of wood and natural materials. The service was very good - a bit over the top for me from the head waiter, but charming. He was extremely knowledgeable about the menu and did not hesitate to give us his opinion and suggestions with the menu which was helpful. We were never left unattended - all food runners explained all of the food precisely and were able to answer questions. The wine list was very good and had options for all budgets. We had 2 bottles of white to go with the meal. We had the shima aji sashimi (so fresh and beautiflly presented), chawan mushi (king crab and black truffle oil? OMG), Shortrib Mitoboru (so tender), Diver Scallops (delicate and tasty), Ebi Tempura (amazing light batter, tail on), and a lot of sashimi - sake, uni, hamachi, and some others I can't even remember.. What made this so amazing? The food was so delicately prepared, perfect seasoning.. nothing really heavy, (no cream cheese LOL) the sushi chef cut the fish with such precision, each bite was perfectly sized. The chawan mushi was so fine and smooth... I can't say enough. I can't wait to go back!!!

    (5)

  • Laura J.

    We had a perfect night here for my sisters birthday. Came on a rainy Sunday April night and had no problem getting our seats on time. Denise was our waitress and she was absolutely lovely. We had the eel rice, momomaki sushi, chili spaghetti, chicken heart skewers, meatball skewers, and beef tongue skewers. I honestly would recommend that exact menu. We split it between three people then had room for dessert and left perfectly full without being overly stuffed. We had the black sugar ice cream that my sister described as tasting like cookie dough and I had the peaches and momo sorbet which was perfectly refreshing. The bill was $95 which I find to be reasonable at a place like this. Great experience.

    (5)

  • Dustin H.

    + Going downstairs was great to get drinks while we waited for Au Cheval + Mentaiko spaghetti was magnificent + Whipped tofu with baby pears was unique and tasty ~ Chicken Karaage was good, interesting dipping sauce ~ Drinks were solid

    (4)

  • Kelly S.

    I loved my meal here. My friends and I had reservations at 10pm, which was the only time available. Upon arriving, it was very apparent why. It was packed. The atmosphere was chic and trendy, and the drinks were amazing. The sushi was some of the best we have ever had. Our server was great. He cared very much about our experience, knew the menu, and was overall very happy to be sharing the experience with us.

    (5)

  • T G.

    The best Japanese food in Chicago! The servers are smart and attentive. They are knowledgeable about the background on all of the food and drinks they serve. I moved to Chicago from Hawaii so I'm a fresh fish and Japanese food snob. This place rivals the food in Hawaii

    (5)

  • Ashley D.

    With a refined, refreshing and sexy perspective on Japanese food, Momotaro is an INCREDIBLE addition to Fulton Market's restaurant row. The ambience is upscale, the service on-point, and food utterly inspiring. From the best edamame we've ever had (brined first then steamed, not boiled), to the diver's scallop "Tokyo street food", every dish hit an equally satisfying yet unique note. Perfect from start to finish! Thanks Brennan for the wonderful hospitality and be sure to sit at the sushi bar to get in on the action!

    (5)

  • John And Marcella B.

    Phonemail. My favorite sushi place in the city (may be in part to the architecture and interior design, which is very mid-century Japanese). The service is always impeccable! Highly recommended.

    (5)

  • Elisa L.

    The ootoro here is really great! Our party of three ordered two sets of the ootoro (b/c the first was too good to stop!), the curry udon, the agedashi tofu, the sushi omakase and wagyu strip steak on the hibachi grill. The service is very friendly and the noise level is perfect (not too loud but good background sound so silences don't feel awkward - that type). Cocktails can be a little strong but they're delicious as well!

    (4)

  • C M.

    Outside was a typical November-Chicago weather: cold and overwhelmingly windy. I entered Momotaro and I felt like I was instantly transported to Japan. The restaurant's wooden décor was different and tastefully done. I celebrated my birthday at Momotaro with a couple of good friends. Every bite was unique, sumptuous, scrumptious, orgasmic... I can go on and on with beautiful praises. Among the three of us, we shared 13 menu items, including two desserts. Our server explained to us how the food was meant to be shared on the table. My heart did a little happy dance. Whatever you say, sharing is caring. I left the restaurant in awe with a big fat belly and endless food raves that might have annoyed whoever asked how my dinner was. So I'm doing a Yelp review so I can move on with my life for now and stop talking about my awesome dinner. YOU NEED TO DINE TO MOMOTARO. And yes, they should pay me for advertising relentlessly. I know that newly opened Momotaro will be a huge success. Of course, I'm not going to end this review without giving out my favorites from the menu. Tuna sashimi: Delicate, Fresh Unagi don: Filling, tasteful Negima: Familiar, mouth-watering Washugyu: My favorite, soulful Momotaki: Exquiste, A must A5 Wagyu: Pleasantly different Yuzu Shitori Cake: Love at first bite

    (5)

  • Gina N.

    From start to finish this meal was surprising and delicious! Best new restaurant in the city right now! Because reservations are still hard to come by service could still use some fine tuning. We waited 30 minutes past our reservation time to be sat. Our server was fantastic, but wait time between some of the dishes did seem longer then necessary. I was starving by the time the first plate arrived to the table, but oh my, the food makes up for it! We tried a small variety of everything. Highlights: RAIBU KANI NO SALADA - JUST DO IT! This dish was simply amazing. I wanted to lick the hard shell it came in after we were finished. I would order this every time I return. EBI TEMPURA - not your typical bready tempura. Batter was very light and refreshing. Ebi was fresh and delicious. SHORTRIB MITOB ORU - Again, DO IT! If you enjoy short rib you must try this dish. We said it was like mashed potatoes. Melts in your mouth with excellent flavors. CURRY UDON - Get this for the scents alone. This is a hearty dish. The curry pork and noodles are filling, but again one I would recommend. WASABI SALMON - good but would probably be the least exciting of all of our dishes, and only because everything else was so fantastic. We also tried the special of the evening Crab Croquettes. A ball of fried crab goodness. If it's available~ get it! Book your reservation now and try this amazing place! I'm fresh off of our dinner there and already looking forward to our next visit!

    (5)

  • Rose P.

    Very good variety. Unfortunately they didn't have their table ready for us. The portions are small and is a bit pricey. The udon curry was decent size. The seabeam was really good. The Angel prawns were good. Deserts are nice as well. The bar downstairs was a nice place to chill.

    (4)

  • Eb K.

    Waiter Paul was amazing. Dinner and drinks stellar. Try the A5. Valet available.

    (5)

  • Tiffany R.

    I was here for my birthday. It was very near the end of the evening but they were very accomdating and the food and service was amazing! Sarah was our server and she was the best ever and the gentleman Darryl who bused our table was nice as well. The sushi was very fresh and tasty. Given the traditional Japanese sushi status of the restaurant the food was a little different then some other popular places but that is good because it's one of the things that made the experience great! Don't come here looking for a California roll but be prepared to be wowed. Amazeballs!

    (5)

  • Ginny M.

    What a great place. We were a bit confused when we first arrived because this is actually two restaurants within one. We were seated downstairs in the lounge which was quieter and less hectic than the main restaurant. The two restaurants do have different menus and the lounge menu is significantly smaller. We ordered the king crab deviled eggs, spicy tuna and octopus roll, beef tongue salad, salmon sashimi, fried chicken thighs and cocktails. The roll was incredible. I have not seen tuna that bright and fresh in long time. The beef tongue was prepared like corned beef. I had one of the Japanese scotches and it was surprisingly good! Our waiter, Shane, was very knowledgeable and helpful. Overall a great experience!

    (5)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :5:00 pm - 10:00pm

Specialities

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

Momotaro

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