4. Restaurants

Roka Akor - Chicago

456 N Clark St, Chicago, IL, 60654
  • (224) 541-0592
  • Store is closed

Roka Akor - Chicago Menu

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  • Sam N.

    I was here a few nights ago with some friends for drinks and sushi. There are some places you could tell that are interested in you leaving ASAP so they can get the next batch in your chairs to pay them more money. This is not one of those places. They know that customer service and good service is a good thing and it leads to getting good customers back again soon. It's not for nothing that this is rated among the best sushi places in the country

    (5)

  • Xinran L.

    I really love this restaurant, the decoration is not like the traditional japanese restaurant, and they have a open kitchen in the center that you can see everything making by the chef. I went there with my friend, and the restaurant is busy, though we walk in around 8:30pm, there are only a few tables are avaliable, thanks we didn't need to wait for a long time to get a table at that time. Since it was really busy, we couldn't find our waiter when we were ready to order (our waiter approach the table fast which is good), but I think it's reasonable, later when the a few tables left, our waiter and busers come back to check the tables more often, but he really make sure that every single dishes come to the table is good, which I think it's good. The buser who delivered the food to our table gave us a short introduciton of the dish. Food are delicious!!! We ordered 3 appertizers, the beef tataki in cold and the scallop in hot are wonderful!! We also order the sashimi chef seletion, fish are fresh and taste well. And the wild mushroom with rice which is in the pot, we saw that most ot tables ordered too, smells and taste very good, and it's with some basil and sauce. For the dessert, we ordered two dessert, one is good and the other is beautiful, I prefer the green tea one...lol.... but I forgot the full name... In conclusion, both service and food are good, probably we ordered the right things to try? Anyway, I would like to come back again :)

    (5)

  • Christine R.

    Energetic, swanky, and lovely. Roka Akor is one of my favorite restaurants in the River North area. One thing in particular that makes this place stand out is the service; it is spot on. The bartenders are great, very knowledgeable, Jorge I believe is the lead bartender and he makes excellent drinks based on what flavors or liquor you enjoy. Everyone is warm and friendly and high energy. There are a ton of people working at Roka Akor and they all seem to work hard together to make the best experience for their guests. The food and drinks hit the spot. The wagu beef and kimchi dumplings are always a great choice. Their sake selection is large but not intimidating. I always end up getting the absinthe cocktail because it is so good! I absolutely love their sashimi and maki, you really can't go wrong with any of them. Great for: special occasion, group dinner, night on the town, date, drinks

    (5)

  • Ivis A.

    Love the sushi but the best part of the night was the bartender Jorge Bernaldez. The best drinks I have had in a long time. Highly recommend The spicy blood orange margarita.

    (5)

  • Jacob A.

    The food is alright. Not worth the price you pay. The have an interesting menu selection. Something for everyone. The ambiance is nice. Service was good, although the bartender didn't know what time the kitchen closed. The kitchen is a few feet away from him.

    (3)

  • Courtney R.

    I went here on one of my very few instances in which I decide to "ball out" with my lady. She really deserved a good time out of me, and I chose this place. Let me just say that they did not fail me. Our server was such an amazing person. This was honestly the first time I had ever been to a place in which the server very adequately teetered the line between being too attentive and not attentive enough. She wowed us with her expansive knowledge of the menu and she suggested the ribs that could have only been described as "PURE FIRE FLAMES." (that's trademarked, don't steal it.) I'm not a super sushi guy, so I got California rolls while my girl opted for Teriyaki Chicken. I will say the chicken was not so amazing, but I am led to believe that it was because our 5 mushroom rice and the ribs were so amazingly delicious that we couldn't think of much else. So, in a nutshell, if you're looking for a place to take your girl on an impressive night out... go here.

    (5)

  • Susanne F.

    Ambience here is super fun! The staff members at Roka Akor are some of the most friendly anywhere. Servers do a great job of explaining the menu options, but also offer to modify plate sizes and options to suit your palate. All the grilled foods are fantastic. The sushi was delicious, as well. Wine list was very good. For our main choices we had the lamb chops and braised pork ribs. Both were delicious. One especially nice feature is that the menu has enough variety to appeal to almost any fussy eater in your group. Steve, the general manager, was circulating and connecting with diners the whole time we were there. Super nice guy who wants to make his guests happy. We'll certainly be going back. Make sure you have a reservation- especially on a Saturday night!

    (4)

  • Ni V.

    Ordered the omakase when my boyfriend and I went here. I had high expectations for this place but was semi disappointed. Of all the food that came out I remember the sashimi and beef wagu as being pretty yummy. The crab legs that came out were not fresh, almost to the point where I wanted to vomit if I ate another piece. Some of the other stuff I did like we're the presentation-They mash fresh wasabi and grate rock salt and truffles on some of their dishes. For dessert we had a fruit platter along with some sorbet, cake, and a delicious green tea something. For the most part I liked everything on the plate besides the sorbet. It was a weird taste for me. The service was okay. The waiter wasn't as friendly as expected. For the price here, I still prefer Japones over this place. Japones has fresh crab and the beef wagu was on point (all the beef dishes we had MELTED in your mouth, it was a beautiful experience.) for even better sashimi I like ORA. For the price and the food quality I don't know if I would go back, I think the bad crab traumatized me.

    (3)

  • Mike N.

    Absolutely wonderful. Everything from the ambience to the food was delectable. Friendly staff as well.

    (5)

  • Anne C.

    So this review is a few weeks behind but never the less it is a review I am happy to write. My girlfriend and I came here January 23rd for my birthday and this was hands down the BEST dining experience I have ever had! *Side note: I've worked in the industry for a little over two years so I know what a great dining experience should entail and this establishment went above and beyond that. So here's my experience beginning to end: I walked in the door and was greeted by three beautiful ladies (one was happened to be a manager) who checked me in for my open table reservation. The rest of my party had not shown up yet so they offered me a spot at the bar or high top tables. I chose to sit at the bar, although some of the patrons at the bar were pretty obnoxious the bar tenders were great, in fact one of them made me this delicious shot that was a kind of spicy mango and some kind of vodka I believe, and told me it was on him and chatted with me until my girlfriend arrived for our reservation. Her and I were seated and then greeted by this gorgeous server (Xristo I believe was his name) who took care of us the rest of the night, he even helped us out of a really awkward conversation by some guy that came to our table to hit on us. He was so helpful with recommendations, since we are both such picky eaters and even had the kitchen make us something that wasn't technically on the menu! **Side note: don't follow that example, asking for things that aren't on the menu is really douchey, but I digress. Anywho, when the food arrived much faster than we expected since we ordered a bunch of stuff and it was FANTASTIC! Everything was so fresh and flavorful. Then, while we finished our meal the manager, Brie came to our table and was so sweet! She made sure we were having a great dining experience and even sent over drinks from us from the bar. So we asked her if we could buy the bartenders a shot to return the nice gesture and she happily let us. She also assured us that she would love to have us back and the restaurant and to just let her know if we ever needed a table. Shortly after, a beautiful surprise came out for me. I'm not entirely sure if it was the sorbet parfait or something else (honestly I can't remember what it was called) but it was SO good! They even put a little birthday candle in it and wished me a happy birthday. Then the general manger Benjamin caught us on the way out and also assured us he would love to have us back and we chatted with him for a while about the restaurant and work in general. They were both so nice and the entire experience really restored my faith in the hospitality industry. These guys (entire staff) really knows how to make you feel welcomed and appreciated. Ever since I went I've been dying to come back and I have been recommending it to everyone. Hands down 11/10 experience!

    (5)

  • Linda L.

    Pretty good. Got the sashimi 7 different kinds of fish, but it wasn't $42 for 14 pieces good. Hamachi roll was pretty tasty tho. Had the japanese muchroom claypot rice which was bland. Would definitely come back for the steak. I had the 12 oz rib-eye steak, perfectly chard and perfectly medium rare. Thinking about it makes my mouth water. I wouldn't come back for a casual dinner again. But maybe with friends for a drink and some steak to snack on :)

    (4)

  • Chanelle N.

    Nothing beats the drinks by Jorge! Creative, delicious, fresh and he's great! Just perch yourself at the bar for some delicious apps and drinks! Let him steer you in the right direction, you won't be disappointed!

    (5)

  • Rick F.

    Hostess left a bad taste in my mouth, very unprofessional, to the point of being a smartass! The valet parking situation is horrible, slow, rude and just does not give a crap! Not good for business! The rest of my experience was awesome! The waiter was excellent, great recommendations, even tried to help me get my car from the crappy valet and hostess! Pork belly and edamame really good! Salmon sashimi with fresh grated wasabi nice touch! Unfiltered sake went down easy! Black cod was good, presentation was great!

    (4)

  • Jackie H.

    The food here is amazing!!! Jorge is one of the best bartenders ever! So personable, great cocktails and excellent food recommendations! I'll definitely come back because of him:)

    (5)

  • Emily W.

    Ehh....not so much. To state the obvious...this place is in River North. If you enjoy that scene, you'll probably like the ambiance. Fair warning-the restaurant is LOUD. I enjoy a lively restaurant for a weekend night out, but the acoustics were so bad and it was so loud I had to shout across the table to chat with my boyfriend. Minus one star. We tried a few appetizers....the spicy tofu is a good size, but has too much sauce on top. The wagyu beef and kimchi dumplings were bland...didn't taste even a sliver of kimchi. Bummer, because I love kimchi. Next, the "sushi". We tried the hamachi serrano chili roll and the spicy scallop roll. The hamachi serrano roll had some good heat, but the addition of sauce on the top as well as the plate made the roll 'goopy'. Gross. The spicy scallop roll was a glob of something that resembled mayo and diced up fish (maybe scallop? who knows) topped with a slice of a seared scallop. It was completely inedible...all we could taste was the gas from the torch. We sent it back immediately. Put off by our maki choices, we turned to our plate of sashimi. Sigh. The addition of fresh wasabi was a nice touch, but the quality of the fish was second rate. It was fine...nothing more. At this point, our server could tell we weren't impressed, so he started bringing out tastes of various dishes that he felt showcased what the place had to offer (which clearly wasn't sushi). He was great, and did a really good job of trying to turn some frowns upside down. That said, the food just wasn't good. He insisted we try a few items off the grill, so he brought us the scallops, as well as some brussel sprouts. The scallop had a really strong mesquite flavor that completely overpowered the flavor of the scallop. The brussel sprouts weren't roasted properly....they had a dark char but were underdone, so they tasted like burnt, rotting cabbage. Needless to say, both of these dishes missed the mark. He also brought out a few nigiri bites,including the butterfish tataki, and this salmon bite on a bed of roasted onions. Both were OK, but nothing great. All in all, I really appreciated our server's enthusiasm, but I wasn't a fan of the food.

    (3)

  • Susan S.

    Chef's week dinner is pretty good. Wine is so-so

    (4)

  • May Y.

    5 star service. Steven, thank you for offering a special meal after the broken phone incidence three weeks ago. My friend and I definitely appreciate both the food and the service. I ordered my favorite Brussels sprouts, as always, and found it slightly cold. I would recommend ensuring that all dishes are hot when they are delivered to the customers. However, the sweet potato grill was neither too soft nor too raw, and I consider ordering it again next time. While my friend and I were enjoying our food, a RED BOOB was dropped in front of us - the first LOBSTER TEMPURA I have ever seen in my life. Although I am allergic to lobster and cannot enjoy the lobster myself, my friend really enjoyed it and thought both sauces went with the lobster well. I would recommend sharing this dish with several friends in the future. Overall, my friend and I had a great time, and would definitely come back to Roka again. Food: 4.5 (0.5 star off for the cold Brussels sprouts) Service: 4.5 (0.5 star off for the take-away box not well secured and was opened within fifteen minutes after we left the restaurant) Decor: 5

    (4)

  • Michelle R.

    This place will always have a close place to my heart. I met a special someone here and we go back repeatedly for the amazing food. The omakase is a MUST TRY! The Wagyu... omg! Everything else on the menu is just as amazing. The scallop appetizer there is something I order every time I go too now.

    (5)

  • Will C.

    Very nice decor, great ambient! We ordered the Omakase for two. Not the best all sashimi ones we were used too from Manhattan but decent. I wasnt expecting all the non sushi items but for most part they were good. I just wish it was more sashimi than the other fillers... Presentation of the items were good, and the price decent for what we had, around $270 for both without drinks. So if you are looking an all sashimi Omakase I wouldn't recommend it here. Just go for your individual pieces which is what we decided to do next time we come, since we are def. coming back.

    (4)

  • Ada H.

    Still 5 star service! We came back here since we couldn't get the Wagyu beef off our minds. However, they were unfortunately sold out of the Japanese Waguy beef. Our server, Mark and the manager, Steve talked us into trying the American Wagyu. They were honest in saying that while it has similar flavor profile with the Japanese Wagyu, it doesn't melt in your mouth. And they were right. Not the same. But we tried, and next time we'll be sure to ask about their Japanese Wagyu stock when making a reservation. However, we did choose the Decadent Omakase (which included the American Wagyu this night) and boy was it decadent. We truly received the royal treatment. I highly recommend the Omakase if it's within your budget (or if not, treat yourself or your loved one to it on a special occasion). You will get more than your money's worth. I'm sure the courses separately would have added up to more than the price of the Omakase meal. The quality of the ingredients really can't be beat. The fish and seafood are all very fresh and the meats are excellent. We had lamb chops here for the first time and it was barely a hint of gamey-ness, something that other restaurants often struggle with when it comes to lamb preparation. Every member of the staff looks happy to be working. The food runners and bus people even look happy and and were very friendly. Jose was our person and he's just the nicest guy. Even if you don't love the food as much as I do, I can't imagine anyone not loving the service here. Ask for Mark. He is extremely knowledgeable, efficient, and courteous without being annoying or overbearing. Makes great recommendations and definitely aims to please. Steve is also great. I love when managers personally go around introducing themselves to customers and ask about their meal. For those people who are inclined to give a negative review, please mention your concerns to Steve or another manager. I'm sure they would love to hear the feedback. They really do seem to care. And no, I don't know anyone who works there personally or paid for an endorsement! I am just truly blown away by the level of service and my dining experience here.

    (5)

  • Jaime J.

    I had a small wedding party for 30 people here. The food was absolutely amazing, the service was out of this world. We had a set course and everything was so good. I really loved their butterfish tataki. I loved how their wasabi was made fresh. You can definitely taste a difference. The wagu dish was excellent as well. Just thinking about it makes me hungry again. LOL There was nothing that came out that we did not absolutely love. The managers were super nice and accommodating. I will definitely do parties here again in the future.

    (5)

  • Brandon B.

    Shishitos are better than nachos. Squirmy bonito flakes wriggle while you stab them like melting worms. Took a true Japanese aficionado who lived in Japan and he stated afterwards that it was the best Japanese food he had tried in Chicago, bringing back a lot of memories. Items: Butterfish Tataki, Grilled shishito, wagyu and kimchi dumplings, wild Japanese mushroom hotpot, and a selection of nigiri sushi. Dessert was a birthday purple sweet potato custard and we also got green tea custard. Just right with a combination of meals and small dishes; at a place like this you are going much more for quality than quantity. It does add up but it was a special occasion. Cocktails were nice: cucumber, fruit and fire. Service was intensely detailed and personal from every one of the many staff that helped. The waiter was very down to earth and gave a good rundown of the menu. Modern and interesting space complements the food for an overall extraordinary experience!

    (5)

  • Greg G.

    I came here last weekend with 3 friends on a reservation and the food was great! We all got their house special moscow mules with their own brewed ginger beer, and they were very good. The ginger beer does have a lot of bite to it so just make sure you're okay with that. We ordered 3 sushi rolls for aps, the hamachi serrano chili roll was our favorite. The butterfish tataki was also one of my favorite dishes. The pork belly was also very good. Our server was really nice and great at making recommendations. The only thing that wasn't great was that we were seated in the very back small room. Even though the main room had a good amount of open tables. I guess our reservation was not as important. It's not like we looked like scrubs either, we were all wearing nice clothes. Oh well. My recommendation to you if you come here.. Eat a meal about 2-3 hours before coming, because the portions are very delicious but very tiny. I think we each ended up spending $100 including tip and 2 drinks per person, and then we walked across the street to XOCO for dessert.

    (4)

  • Mylah T.

    Roka Akor..I love you! wide open beautiful space! exciting and inviting! Food is to die for! Fancy presentation! Wait staff = amazing and attentive service! LOVE! love! LOVE! THIS PLACE!

    (5)

  • L W.

    I have fetish on sushi and always in search of good but also affordable sushi places. I used to live in New York, where there are tons of Japanese restaurants. Now I am search for good sushi restaurant in Chicago. When I walked into Roka Akor, my expectation is very high. Goodness, how disappointed I was! The appetizers were very greasy and heavy. The waitress highly recommended "daily special drink". I had a sip and immediately regretted of ordering it. The sushi was OK but not spectacular. Overall it was not worth the money at all. Will never return. Once is enough.

    (2)

  • Danny L.

    Roka Akor was one of the finer establishments we went to on our short trip to Chicago, the service was impeccable and the decor was very eye opening. I personally loved the style of the open, bar like sushi chef section in the middle of the dining room with many chefs just working away on their craft with its almost show like quality. With the sushi preparation being the center of attention it is safe to assume that the sushi should be great as well. While the maki rolls are nothing to write home about the nigiri is definitely on another level for a place like this. Let the sushi chefs work their magic and you should not be disappointed

    (5)

  • Donna V.

    Good Food if you dont mind spending $125 to leave hungry. Not a place for sushi but the meat is good. Too loud more like a club than a restaurant

    (1)

  • Marni S.

    Chose Roka Akor for a very late lunch the other day with girlfriends...and was not disappointed. We had sake, wine, sushi and steak...it was all excellent. We were thrilled because we showed up after the normal lunch seating but the manager quickly accommodated all of our requests and the chefs were awesome. (You can watch them making the sushi and cooking the filet.) Love the steak because it is prepared in small slices and ready to eat with chopsticks. Roka Akor is one of the few places you can eat steak and still look (and feel) like a lady. Thank you Roka Akor, we look forward to our next outing!!

    (5)

  • Deb B.

    *PERFECTION* If you want to experience utter perfection in every category, arrange a visit to Roka! It's really very difficult to express the level of delight you'll experience. The staff and Chefs at Roka could give lessons to others on setting standards of excellence. Sadly, we have been conditioned to settle for mediocrity and indifference. Roka will provide you the opportunity to be awakened! When your mind is sufficiently blown by the end of the meal, you won't want to "settle" for less ever again. They are mindful of every detail. We opted for the "Decadent" menu. If you can, I HIGHLY recommend it. Buckle your seatbelt and prepare yourself for a wild ride! The chefs are in control. Course after course of the highest quality, most perfectly prepared, and artistically presented delights you've ever tasted. Standouts for us were the tataki, the premium sashimi platter including toro and butterfish, the scallops, the massive and exquisite shellfish platter (so incredibly beautiful - I'll try to post some pictures, you won't believe it), the wagu preparation with three variations (our favorite was the New Zealand) the ridiculous premium dessert platter and personal wine service from one of the most knowledgeable sommeliers (Steve) I've ever met. Aaron was our server (excellent), but I must say each and every Roka employee who participated in our experience that evening was outstanding. Every staff member was kind and engaging. We were even treated to personal table side visits from the head sushi chef and the head dessert chef. They each highlighted selections they were especially proud of and were truly interested in our feedback. It was so much fun and will stand out as one of the most memorable dining experiences of our lives. As I write this, I'm feeling sorry for myself that it will be a while until I can return to Chicago and visit Roka again.

    (5)

  • Greg H.

    Randomly made my way into Roka after a long day of work did not have a reservation, but was greeted kindly at the bar by the bartender Elaine she was great about walking me through the menu due to my lack of knowledge of sushi and wine. Overall had a wonderful meal and great drinks! I will be coming back

    (5)

  • Stephanie S.

    Amazing food, exceptional service all set in a super trendy setting!

    (5)

  • Teresa P.

    Service: They were so super sweet to our group. We were celebrating a birthday and the chef sent us butterfish on the house, and our server gave the birthday girl a complimentary dessert. Food: I got the porkbelly and the hamachi roll with wasabi aioli. The hamachi roll was delicious! I tried my friend's scallops which were also very tasty. Aside from one dish (fish prepared two ways) that the the birthday girl didn't like (I tried some and would have to agree with her), we all enjoyed our food. Overall: I wouldn't say that this was the best sushi in town, but the service made up for it :) I actually would give this 3 and 1/2 stars, but that's not an option, so I'll be generous and give them a 4 star review.

    (4)

  • Christine B.

    This place was amazing. Our server was amazing, knew exactly what we were looking for, can't remember his name but handsome young guy and I believe it started with a C. Chefs do amazing artistry on food and flavor. Definitely will be back!

    (5)

  • Kathiana E.

    I dined at Roka Akor during Chicago's Restaurant Week. The atmosphere is surprisingly relaxed in comparison to their somewhat pretentious and very chic ambiance. The food experience was phenomenal. As my starter, my party and I had the butterfish tataki and scallop gyaza, both dishes were excellent. For the second course, we decided on the traditional nigiri. It was so tasteful and fresh that we pretty much decimated the assortment of sushi in a matter of minutes. I completed the meal with the 8oz NY strip steak which was equally as delicious as the starter and second course. I will definitely return!

    (5)

  • Jessica M.

    We had a GREAT experience at Roka Akor. Everything was great: the people working there, the food, the drinks and even the bathrooms are really swanky. We shared the Japanese Wild Mushroom Rice Hot Pot / with Black Truffle. IT WAS TO DIE FOR!! So flavorful!! We also each tried a roll of sushi and the sushi was very good. The portions were on the smaller side, but you can tell that the food you are eating is really fresh and to me that it more important. I have also sat at the bar and you can sometimes see them chill the sake on the ice luge. Legit.

    (5)

  • Angie B.

    Excellent option in Chicago !!! Delightful and tasty Japanese food! Very good variety for vegetarians and non-vegetarians. Spicy Fried Tofu with Avocado Relish, Fresno Chili and Grilled Vegetable Roll are DELICIOUS!!! Music playing in background, pretty decorations and food comes out very artistically. Servers are knowledgeable and toss in samplers. Highly recommend the Chicago branch!

    (5)

  • Emily W.

    We tried Roka Akor this week on a double date. The atmosphere is very nice and the food was delicious and unique. The brussel sprouts are delicious, and all of the meats (the steak and lamb, specifically) were perfectly cooked and the highest quality. This restaurant is a lot more than sushi. Our waiter, Wesley, was awesome. We wanted to try a bunch of things, but didn't want to go with the pre-fixed tasting menu. Wesley suggested that he pick out his favorites - a combination of hot and cold appetizers, vegetables, and meats, and we let him take charge. The result was a relaxed, fun evening with great food and zero stress. I recommend Roka Akor if you are looking for a unique dining experience.

    (4)

  • Pam Y.

    Delicious! We went to Roka Akor to celebrate my boyfriend's birthday. Our server, Mark, was awesome and really made the night extra special for my boyfriend. The food came out unbelievably quick so we were able to order a few items at a time. Everything we ate and drank was delicious! I can't wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Alfie T.

    Food was great as usual...maybe even better than usual. The salmon tartare is awesome and the dynamite scallop roll is our go-to. Unfortunately, experience was well below average. Our waiter was friendly enough, but man was he slow as heck at the end. He dropped off the dessert menu at 8:10pm, completely disappeared for 10 minutes, we asked for the check, he came back 10 minutes later (again), I gave him my gift card and credit card, and he literally didn't come back for another 10 minutes (AGAIN). As a result, we didn't sign the check and leave until 8:45. At around 8:40 we also complained to the manager about the slow service. He was some scrappy looking guy with curly hair and a big smirk on his face. And I think he was wearing red suspenders (who wears that?). In other words, he looked like an a**hole. Guess what? He was a complete a**hole. He went into some excuse about how they switched to a new system recently, and it was therefore our own fault for the long wait since we brought in an old coupon (which I actually received in the mail a few weeks ago) and a "very old" gift card (which was given to me at the end of last year). Basically, he gave us the rudest apology I've received since middle school (back when the teacher makes you apologize for something you don't want to apologize for). My wife was getting pissed but I opted to give him the "that's fine", put my head down, wrote in a bad tip, and wrote in the comment card "manager is an a**hole". It's something that I feel very strongly about, so I just wanted to reiterate that fact online. I sincerely hope the higher-ups look at this. The manager on Wednesday night 3/26 has a terrible attitude and should definitely not be managing anything. My wife was joking on the way home that when people in Japan mess up service, they bow to you repeatedly and say something like "omg omg I'm sooooo sorry" 50 times. If they're really disgraced they might even kill themselves. Too bad we're not in Japan.

    (2)

  • Isabelle L.

    Oh yes as good as it gets. A few days after my meal at Roka and I'm still drooling over the dishes I ate. Roka has all the elements of a 5 stars place that guarantees an outstanding experience. 1. Perfect service all across: from the host, to the waiter, to the staff filling water glasses or removing dirty dishes to the cooks bringing the dishes over to the table. Everyone was really attentive to our needs. 2. Clean yet warm decor with quite a zen feeling which transports you right away into a relax mode. Sitting by Illinois avenue was a nice plus. 3. But seriously the highlight here is the food. All the dishes that came from the grill were outstanding. I'm still dreaming of the cod that was so tasteful and juicy and mouth melting. The Brussels sprouts, sweet corn and pork were all top notch in terms of flavor and preparation. The butterfish tataki was really good. The only thing that was not 5 stars but more like 4 was actually the maki we had. But again, the grilled dishes way surpassed out expectations. I will definitely be back, especially for a special occasion as the food, atmosphere and service here is definitely a treat.

    (5)

  • Vicki L.

    Share items so you can try many dishes. Good service and nice vibe and drink list.

    (4)

  • Carolyn R.

    I finally ate here (2x) and have loved everything I've tried! Great food AND service !

    (5)

  • Dom M.

    Beyond excellent...sea urchin, salad, ultimate plate, pork belly, little chicken. Everything was above & beyond.

    (5)

  • Leichen Z.

    Have to try the sweet shrimp sashimi, so good! and the miso black cod is amazing!

    (4)

  • Sara G.

    I went to Roka Akor for dinner last Sunday and had an absolutely amazing meal. This place is expensive, but it is worth it. Our server was excellent and the food was amazing! We ordered sides for the table and the brussels sprouts were absolutely delicious! For entrees, our group ordered duck, steak and salmon and everyone loved their meal. Since we were there on a Sunday it was not very crowded, but it seemed that the tables were pretty close together so if it had been more crowded we may have been very close to other patrons. Based on the excellent food and service, this place definitely deserves five stars.

    (5)

  • Alya S.

    Dear Everyone, Please do yourself a favor and order the mushroom hot pot with truffle. Japanese comfort food perfected. Thanks, Happy Belly

    (4)

  • Natasha R.

    This was one of the best dining experiences I have had in a long time. I made reservations for my boyfriend and I for his birthday. When we arrived, the hostess greeted us and wished him a happy birthday, which caught us by surprise because that has never happened before. We were seated in the main dining room - the entire restaurant has beautiful decor and a very pleasant environment. The location is great as well, with a nice view of the city. I was surprised that this place wasn't busy, however, maybe it was due to the fact that it was around 6:30 on a Sunday night. Anyway, I don't remember the waitresses name, but she was very nice and knew the menu extensively. The only complaint I have is that she talked a bit too much and seemed like she was trying to sell us the items on the menu. Back to the menu - everything we ordered was AMAZING. We ordered a couple of sushi rolls for appetizers - the ROKA AKOR Hamachi Serrano Chili Roll is phenomenal. And for the entrees, we both wanted steak so we went with the Prime Beef Fillet. I have never had a piece of meat that melted in my mouth like that - yum! We were also convinced to order a side - so we went for the sweet potatoes - one was enough for the both of us. OMG DELICIOUS! Anyway, after our dinner, the waitress wished my boyfriend a happy birthday as well, and then we decided to order the baked green tea custard with caramelized bananas. It was something out of this world - and the fact that it was comped for an "occasion" also helped :-D Overall, I would recommend this place - for a special occasion or not. It's a bit pricey, but we had such a great experience that every penny was worth it.

    (5)

  • Shawn G.

    Amazing service and culinary creations. Wonderful flavors dancing on my palette is the best way I can describe the food here. Take heed to the waitstaff's recommendations. The King Salmon is superbly fresh and tasty. Lamb chops are perfectly grilled and seasoned. You muss have the dessert platter! Muss! The only thing I didn't like about my experience was the noise level was loud.

    (4)

  • Robin W.

    It was as good if not BETTER than the first time. If that's possible! Of coarse, I had to get the serrano chili roll and brussel sprout dish, but I tried the scallops, tempura, and different selections of sashimi. All absolutely fantastic. Our server Amy was so sweet and helpful with wine selection and food choices. We had her the first time we went and she was wonderful to us then too. It's hard to try other restaurants when you enjoy your experience so much at this one.

    (5)

  • Paul H.

    Every bite was incredible. Food could not have been better. I thought the service just OK. Not up to par with the food, or with any other service in Chicago. As for the price, I don't feel it was worth the cost. AND, I WAS ON EXPENSE ACCOUNT! That said, I am certainly glad I went. Might be back again...we'll see.

    (3)

  • Ahmad Z.

    Overpriced. Food was average. Just a swanky place with expensive drinks and normal food.

    (3)

  • Laura K.

    I went here with a group of girls before a night out and thought this was a great choice! It has a great atmosphere, great food selection, and it is super close to a bunch of other night spots (we hit up quite a few after dinner). The food I had here was excellent, especially the Yellowtail Sashimi with Shallots and Poached Garlic Ponzu (that makes my mouth water as I write that). They prepare everything for each dish to be shared which is my favorite way of eating, however the group I was with was not interested in sharing, so I didn't get to try as much as I would have liked. There is a LOT on the menu that looks awesome - both the fish and the meat. I definitely want to make my way back there to try out more!

    (4)

  • Selena L.

    Went during lunch and got the Ramen Noodles with prawns & scallops. The broth was delicious and the service was even better. I will definitely be returning.

    (4)

  • N B.

    I've dined at Roka Akor twice and the second time was this past Saturday night with my wife during restaurant week. With that said, I have now have two perspectives of this place. 1. 4.5 Stars because ROKA is one of the best Pre-Fix deals in the city with the "Decadent Experience." When you want or can drop some $$$$, $150+ pp, it will seem like an endless buffet of dancing peppers, maki, sashimi and fortunate enough to partake in the MELT IN YOUR MOUTH ....wait for it............................ Australian Grade 10+ Pure Bred Wagyu Beef. Yummmy! Some of the richest pieces of meat you'll ever have and so full, you'll be rolling your happy ass all the way home. 2. When you dine for the second time at a place you love, you want to keep that initial experience with you. Unfortunately, that didn't happen with my wife and I dining off the restaurant week menu. Each course of the menu was tiny. Tiny to the point that another posted a review of root chips that seemed like they were from the "bottom of the bag." I think we must have finished the same bag of chips! While flavor wasn't the issue, the presentation was not what I would expect from such a do-or-die River North $$$$ restaurant. For $44pp plus tax and tip, Roka left us disappointed, losing 1 star from my initial visit and most likely will not see us for another restaurant week the next time around.

    (3)

  • dasom l.

    Very good steak, fresh sushi, and good wine selections. We had a pleasing dinner time. But the waitress rushed us even though it wasnt that busy.

    (3)

  • Sung hoon K.

    fresh fish, nice decorations and quality service by our server yura! will be back soon!!

    (5)

  • Lily C.

    Thank you yelpers, followed everyone's advice and I was not disappointed. The butterfish tataki was really great, the modern sushi, cremini mushrooms and the hamachi serrano I was surprised I was able to eat all of that and then tried the japanese flan with passion fruit to top it all off. Great mix of flavors and fresh fish. The sochu and sake selection was good as well. Delightful experience, I would come back next time I visit Chicago.

    (4)

  • Lu C.

    The sashimi is very good. However the price is a little bit high. And is not very Japanese.

    (4)

  • Oscar the Death Cat B.

    So I guess Roka Akor is known for their sushi and seafood, but I decided that since the trendy, pricey atmosphere this of place was practically daring me to spend money, I would skip the Dragon Rolls and go right for the Australian Wagyu. At $18 per ounce this was no easy decision, with each bite I thought about what else that one little just-consumed morsel of Wagyu would have bought - a new pair of trousers, movie tickets for two, a full meal for the family at Steak-n-Shake. But was it worth it? Yes indeed it was, it melted in my mouth like meat-flavored butter. It was served with three different sea salts, a small dip of the meat into the salt was all that you needed to make each bite perfect. The other folks at my table seemed to be enjoying whatever it is that they had, but because their dishes were nowhere near as exquisite as mine, I felt sorry for them. That is, until the check arrived and I saw that the charge for my meal exceeded the total for everyone else, then I started feeling sorry for myself. But really, it was nice to splurge on something that was worth the splurge, just this once.

    (4)

  • Robert W.

    The ambiance is on the trendy side, but flirting with overdoing it. The service was poor but it may be because it was restaurant week so the waitress basically phoned it in. If you're only spending 50/person you'll be treated like you're wasting their time. And that's funny, because as a dining experience, this truly isn't worth 50/person. The butterfish appetizer was excellent but it was all downhill from there. Got the sal,mon avocado roll and hamachi Serrano rolls and both were average. The chicken teriyaki was also average. The ny strip with aioli was good. If this place was considerably cheaper I'd probably consider returning. But it is insanely expensive. And I won't.

    (3)

  • Eric H.

    We have been to Roka a couple times and it is always top notch. We had seats at the chef counter tonight which I highly recommend. The sushi chefs are creative, careful, and quick in their work and fun to watch. Behind them there is a specialized grill which the grill chefs lower or raise depending on the item. Chef Ce Bien is in top of his game- inspecting every dish and always thinking about new items to expand the menu. We had lamb, steak, and miso as well as mushroom hot pot wagyu and kim chi dumplings - were all amazing. He gave us a taste of some new items they are soon to add- a tuna amous bouche, braised muscles with mushrooms and pork belly 'yes please!' as well as the best grilled octopus I've ever tasted. There was a busy crowd for a Saturday but we had a 7:00 and they sat us right away. Seemed like they had an even busier crowd at 9:30 when we were leaving. Our waiter Guy (Seung) was a great host and helped us select from a huge cocktail, wine and sake menu - he gave us great advice and I think we tried six different types which were all interesting. Special thanks to Angie who was very attentive in making sure we always had our drinks. We were celebrating a birthday and we were so glad we saved room for dessert. The pastry chef Jesse Divine brought out an assortment for us which were out of this world. Choc cake with peanut caramel, lemon tart which was so moist it was more like cheesecake with berry couli, a frozen ouzo and citrus mousse with berry sorbet, custard with mango, four kinds of freshly made ice cream including my favorite- apple pie, plus slices of the freshest fruit I've ever had. Never tasted Jack fruit before but it was great. Can't say enough about the night. Great restaurant- we will definitely be back soon.

    (5)

  • Scott C.

    Amazing service! We were craving for ramen and trying to hide from the fierce cold; chef made it just for us; service was very attentive and friendly, I think it's a reflection of the superb general manager Mr.Oh that greeted and took care of us from the beginning when we stepped into the restaurant. Some of the items are a bit pricey but you can tell the staff cares about its product as evident by the executive chef, himself, checking every item prior to it leaving the kitchen.

    (5)

  • Jennifer K.

    Delicious from beginning to end! My husband and I each got the 5 course sampler (forgot the name) @ $130 each... but it was fantastic. Actually got too full to finish and took some home. With that, the chef chooses a variety of menu items for you to sample- but you can tell the wait staff "no this, more of that..." (for example, I wanted to stick to tuna variety and mild fish for the sushi). We went on a Saturday night- had reservations... and it was pretty packed. Not a lot of elbow room, and really loud in there... but we truly had a wonderful experience overall.

    (4)

  • Kelly M.

    Wow...I rarely ever give five stars to any establishment but this was truly a dining experience to remember. From our incredibly attentive (if a bit intense) waiter to the ambiance to the food itself, not a beat was missed. Intense waiter helped steer us in the right direction with regards to sake, cold plates, sushi and entree and even surprised us with an incredible light dessert (we were stuffed so didn't think we wanted it...turns out we did). The cod still haunts my dreams at night and the brussel sprouts, which I were afraid were going to be played out by now, we surprising with their almost animate miso shavings (get them...the miso moves like it's alive). All told, the meal set us back some but it really was worth it.

    (5)

  • Danica W.

    YUMMMMMMMYYY!! I tried some things i have NEVER had in my life here, some "interesting" and some so bangin I want more right now!! I saw some complaints about the priciness, however I felt it was comparable to other sushi restaurants. Plus, this isn't your "hole in the wall, dive sushi BYOB", it was upscale trendy, hip and gigantic. You get ambience with the experience and price! I ordered the Blood Orange Margarita to start. So fantastic but so strong! It hit me quick. the rim was garnished with chili salt for a little kick. WOOO. We shared the following: organic mixed green with ginger wasabi (mmm, my mouth is watering), edamame, spicy tuna roll, soft shell crab roll, and dynamite scallops roll (a first for me!). All yummy. For dessert they surprised me with a complementary birthday dessert. They also didn't embarrass me by singing or waving and jumping, hooting and hollering. It was just nicely presented dessert which was the bomb diggity!!! a must try. They gave me, wait for it...wait for it...BAKED GREEN TEA CUSTARD WITH CARAMELIZED BANANA AND VANILLA FROTH. i died and went to heaven....I wonder if they can ship me some? lol My only complaint was it was slightly loud and that we got sat in a very tight booth which was dimly lit, as in NO light. I couldn't see my menu at all. But that wasn't even an issue becasue our service was super helpful, knew the menu back and forth and was able to make suggestions based on our personal tastes. Aside from this the rest of the ambience was really cool. Very hip, trendy, and PACKED on a Wednesday night.

    (5)

  • Pocket Yiqing S.

    To be honest Roka Akor does not match the reputation. I've been there twice and neither time impressed me with the taste. The food quality was good and fresh, but somehow the dishes just were not able to make me say wow. It's like a girl who's elegant and classy but you just can't fall in love with.

    (3)

  • Sonia A.

    I don't mind paying for a great dining experience, but this is the second time I've been to Roka Akor and both times have been lacking. The Dynamite Scallop roll, the roll recommended by our waiter, was yummy. We also got both types of miso soup and both were average. In the tataki sampler, the butter fish tataki was good, tuna average and beef very good. Hamachi chili roll was okay, but nothing special. They seated us at a very dark table where there really shouldn't be a table - it was directly next to the order kiosk for the waiters. I asked for a different table, but of course they couldn't accommodate us. I would have not even have made a reservation if I had known we would have gotten such terrible seating. Service was very good and the one saving grace. I think maybe you're better off getting the steak there, but I'm unlikely to try this place again.

    (2)

  • Adam S.

    Great food, great atmosphere. The GM was also very nice and came to our table to ask how everything was. Overall I suggest this for a couple or with a small group.

    (5)

  • Carol K.

    Roka Akor. A palindrome that the server explained to me that means "home". Well, whatever it means, this cool. contemporary place that just opened up on Illinois and Clark (a chain with locations in Scottsdale, Hong Kong and London) impressed me with it's decor, it's food and it's service. First, the space. The set up reminded me a bit of the now defunct Blue Water Grill with a large casual bar area in the front and the dining room wrapped around the open kitchen with the Robata grill in plain sight. The use of wood lent a casualness to the place that allows for dressing up or dressing down. Large windows run along the side of Illinois. We were seated promptly and our server, Brad, was great with suggestions and in explaining the menu. We started with some sashimi and a maki roll. The food was beautifully presented (seemed almost overkill for the two thin pieces of sashimi to be in such a beautiful bowl) I also liked the presentation of the fatty tuna as they grated fresh salt onto a plate right at the table. We also had the "burnt tomato" salad (just okay). But then our main courses came. I stayed the sushi route having one of their signature rolls (soft shell crab) as well as a spicy tuna roll. But my friend? He went with the filet cooked on the Robata Grill, and I have to say I have not had a more tender and tasteful filet anywhere. They also cut it into bite sized pieces so that you can continue to use your chopsticks to eat it. For dessert, we went with the warm chocolate cake with peanuts and coffee ice cream. Rich, decadent, all the things a desert should be. The only thing I wasn't crazy about was the bathroom set up. They are almost "communal" in nature as you enter a common door with the sinks and mirrors open to both sides (no primping, ladies) and the stalls in behind. My suggestion is to watch how much you drink of their delicious cocktails or you may find yourself on the wrong side! Roka Akor is a little on the pricey side. Dinner for two ran a little over $200 (the steaks are in the $35- $45 range) and valet parking will set you back another $13. One other thing. At a couple of points during our dinner, we all swore that we smelled someone smoking pot. So much so that all the tables around us were commenting on it. When we asked our server about it, he said, "Oh, that's just the mesquite wood on the grill". Right. So that's what the kids are calling it these days! Check it out for yourself. And take a deep breath of that "mesquite wood". It will make your night!

    (4)

  • Roxy A.

    The bf took me here on a date, unfortunately we were running like 10 mins. late for our reservation so we had to get seated in the lounge so I wasn't too pleased about that but the ambiance in the lounge was still pretty nice. It was a less intimate than I would have liked & was a bit noisy, but they still offered the same menu that they do in the dining room. We started off with the Japanese shishito peppers that the server reccomended and we also ordered the White Butterfish Tataki w/ white asparagus & yuzu. The Butterfish tataki was delicious..I'm not really a big fan of butterfish, but this just melts in your mouth & the yuzu had a nice settle flavor too. I guess we were really in the mood for tataki dishes because we also ordered the Tuna Tataki, it was tasty as well but nothing too different than other Tuna tataki dishes I've ordered elsewhere. For our entree I went with the modern Nigiri selection. I wasn't really in the mood to order steak and since the sushi is supposed to be amazing I figured I would be more adventurous and go with the nigiri selection that the chef chose. Wow, everything was so fresh and artfully plated, the nigiri selection was amazing. Only complaint I have about the sushi was that I was really craving Uni, but they ran out for the night so I was kinda bummed. The bf ordered the prime rib eye with mushrooms and seemed to really enjoy it. For dessert we ordered the Mango cake with toasted rice ice cream, the cake wasn't out of this world but the mango was really fresh & I did really enjoy the ice cream because you could really taste the toasted rice in the ice cream. Overall Roka provided great service and it's a nice place to go for a date night & get all fancy schmancy.

    (4)

  • Niti B.

    Ok expectations were very high and well...let's just say if I'm heading that direction for sushi I will only be heading towards Sunda. Being so close in proximity I figured they would have brought their A game. It was more like C- We started with the tuna titaki with apple mustard dressing. The chef recommends to eat it with the fresh diced papaya that lies underneath the greens but honestly there was no flavor to the dish. Had to definitely douce it with soy sauce. The fresh tuna is nice but no heat or citrus was added. I could barely taste any apple mustard. The second item we tried was the hamachi serano chili roll. Now when you read that you think wow sounds amazing and packed full of heat and flavor. Guess again. No heat or flavor. The roll was very bland. The third roll was a spicy tuna. My classic choice and it was not spicy even the least bit. It was as if the chef forgot how to add any flavor to anything that came out to the table. Lastly we tried the rock shrimp. The chili sauce that accompanied the dish was a heaven send. We definitely enjoyed the fresh squeezed lime on the lightly batter shrimp tempura but sad to say it was the only dish that we liked. BUT not as amazing as the shrimp at Sunda. We ended our dining event on that note since we were afraid to be further disappointed by the menu. Overall not great...maybe ment for those that have not ventured to try very unique rolls. I have had my share and this place is not getting a second visit from me.

    (2)

  • Thomas K.

    Service and food were amazing!!! Angie my server was awesome! Very friendly and had great recommendations.. Anyone who loves sushi should try this place!

    (5)

  • Vindaloo T.

    Loud, "sceney", big & flashy, and not generally the kind of place I go for. The service was fine--not great, not bad--it was just what you would expect. That said, the food was pretty good! (but not great.) Lovely presentation of the sashimi with beautiful shiso leaves, and generous freshly grated wasabi. The Robata-grilled ribeye was tasty, though not as "smoky" as we were led to expect. The miso black cod was good, but not great. The presentation was cute, but I've had much better miso black cod at other places. It wasn't bad, just "eh". A couple of items were pretty disappointing--the wagyu kimchi dumplings were bland, and the burnt tomato salad was nothing special. For the money I'd rather go to Takashi or Slurping Turtle.

    (3)

  • Rosa H.

    We recently visited Roka for a birthday party and we were amazed how great the food + service was! Jamie was the bar manager there that night and he presented himself with great professional manner and awesome service. I wanted to thank Jamie again for making my Friend's birthday very special that night by serving us a desert tray with various delicious ice cream and fruits. It was fantastic and I would definitely go back there for another special occasion. Thanks Jamie!!!

    (5)

  • Suzy D.

    We came here on a Saturday night to meet friends for some drinks and appetizers before heading to another bar down the street. This place was packed and seemed very trendy. One of those places to see and be seen. Anyways, I had an asian pear and ginger martini. It tasted a bit more like lychee, but still tasty and they were generous with the alcohol. We shared some edamame and scallop rolls. The scallop roll was tasty, and the edamame was nothing special. However, I find that Roka is pretty overpriced. We were a party of 4. We had one drink each, shared a couple of rolls, and a bowl of edamame and it was about 100 (before tip). I think you're definitely paying for the ambiance and the trendiness. In general, if I am in the mood for Japanese food, I'd rather go somewhere that focuses more on the food.

    (3)

  • Ricardo S.

    If my parents would have prepared vegetables the way Roka Akor does, I wouldn't have had to spit them into my napkin when they weren't looking while I was growing up. Roka's grilled sweet potato and sweet corn are probably the best I've had. And for one night only, I didn't mind eating brussel sprouts. My favorite part of the meal, however, was the Madagascar Jumbo Tiger Prawn with yuzu kosho chili paste. I'm pretty sure I scared my date with all the sounds I was making while eating it. It was that good.

    (4)

  • Tanya A.

    Its very difficult for me to give a rating. I went to Roka a couple times, the first being nearly 7 years ago and it was top notch! Everything was great! The food, the drinks, the service; you name it, it was 5 golden stars! A couple months back we made reservations. For the most part, the food was excellent! Sushi melted in your mouth, you could tell it was a high grade fish. The appetizers were all delicious! We had something called a Lobster Dynamite I believe, wow, it was great! The only thing that bothered me all evening was out waiter. He had a horrible attitude. We had for suggestions, lets just say nothing positive came out of his mouth. Whatever he reccommended was horrible! From the appetizer to the wine, he clearly wasn't listening to what I was saying I liked. I had a feeling we were his last table and he was ready to leave. He made me feel rushed. Instead of bringing things out in moderation, he had brought everything at the same time. I'm there to enjoy my dinner, not have my table covered with various plates. Not a very good experience the second time around. I'm sure I will return again, but I will make sure not to have the same server.

    (3)

  • Robby S.

    Great place! I would definitely go back. The service was ever so slightly slow at first, but the food was divine. Was pretty hoppin' for a Thursday night - we didn't have a reservation and they were able to accommodate our party of 6 fairly quickly. I had the California roll (basic, yes, but still really good) and the teriyaki sweet potatoes were to die for.

    (5)

  • Laura G.

    I have been to Roka Akor twice in the past month. Loved the food and atmosphere both times! The hostesses and waiters were both helpful and friendly. I preferred the sushi here over Sunda across the street. Favorites: hamachi serrano chili roll, wild mushroom rice hot pot, sweet corn with butter and soy a must try!!

    (5)

  • Valentina V.

    I've been itching to try this place and a girl friend and I finally went earlier this week. She's not a big meat eater so I didn't get to try out the grill (disappointing but I'll be back), but everything else we had was really great. The sushi was fresh, great flavor and had some unexpected twists. The menu doesn't make it seem like they are anything special b/c it doesn't go into detail, but trust me they are. The dumplings were also very tasty, I've been on a dumpling kick lately and these are some of the better ones I've had. I knocked a star b/c it was a little pricey, but you have to expect that in the area.

    (4)

  • Galina M.

    One of my favorite places in the city! Its very pricey-but also very worth it!! Must get the miso cod and wuyugo beef thingy in the appetizers!!! Oh and the sweet corn!!! And any steak!!! Way too tasty...and a great vibe...but be prepared to pull out the big bucks.

    (5)

  • CeeCee Y.

    Cons: -super expensive for what it is, which to me is basically Americanized Japanese cuisine and creatively "dressed-up" sushi rolls that look better than they taste -horrible blue fin toro presentation and way overpriced as it was nowhere near the perfection that toro usually tastes -we waited maybe 45 minutes for our rolls. not cool. -the waitress was cute, but didn't speak or understand English well enough to make me want to overlook it in this review -they sat us right by the door so we were freezing and had to ask for them to turn the heat on -because of where we were seated, I felt we were ignored in terms of service which doesn't make sense since um, we were right by the door? -the entry to the bathroom is shared by both women and men by like, a piece of curtain. i just didn't get it. Pros: -hot lady hostesses in tight dresses -older men that look like they have fat wallets scheming at the bar -amazing decor -sexy atmosphere Sorry Roka Akor, you LOOK hot but are really only "meh".

    (2)

  • Christie B.

    Went here for their $25 business lunch and it was totally worth it. You get several courses of food, all of which tasted amazing. There was soup, dumplings and a maki roll and then an entree. We didn't have to wait for a table which I almost don't like. This place should be more busy. It's pricey for lunch but definitely a value for the quality and portions.

    (4)

  • Dennis L.

    I visited Roka Akor for lunch with a couple of colleagues and fellow foodies. First off, the decor and design of this restaurant is excellent. From the light fixtures to the layout to the open kitchen...well done! For my meal, I ordered the Panko Fried Pork Loin on Steamed Rice with Onion & Farm Egg. The dish starts out with a wonderful cup of miso soup, which one should consume traditionally (without a spoon). The pork loin was absolutely melt-in-your-mouth delicious! I savored ever bite as I enjoyed the accompanying rice and green salad. The service that we received was also top notch. I look forward to returning to Roka Akor and trying a fish or sushi dish to round out my experience.

    (4)

  • Beth M.

    Okay. I don't eat rice. But here I eat rice. Everything was amazing. They are daring enough to allow some dishes to live on their own, like the rice/mushroom dish where all the flavors were the emphasis of the dish and then the lamb was unreal and had so much spice and flavor. Even the roe was crazy good and made me realize why some people would like and eat it as a main dish. I have never had someting so delicate and so fresh tasting, it was clean not fishy. And the sake we drank was out of this world. My good friend Elaine knew what to order and everything was smashing, including dessert and I don't eat dessert. Well done sir, well done.

    (5)

  • Kelly K.

    You can't believe how excited I was when I found out this place was open for lunch! Edamame and miso soup to start was par for the course, but delicious nonetheless. The Yuzu Miso Marinated Black Cod Skewer was AMAZING. I didn't think cod could be prepared like that! Quick service for lunch and tasty to boot!

    (4)

  • Courtney W.

    My boyfriend took me here for our anniversary. I love seafood and steak, and I love to eat!! We decided to do the Omakase Decadent Experience (at $128 per person!). We were really going for the full experience. Our server was like a salesperson but I didn't mind that so much. We started out with blood orange margaritas which were really good (but not for $14 each!). Now, by choosing the experience, you get the best things on the menu but they don't tell you what you'll be getting it. The servings come out individually and you eat all of it before another course is brought to your table. The first course was four pieces of beef tataki with black truffles and truffle jus ($22) and then four pieces of butterfish tataki with white asparagus and yuzu ($12). Next, we had a robata grilled scallop yuzu shiso and wasabi (we each got one scallop on a plate, $14.50). Our next course was the most extensive presentation of sushi I have ever seen. A huge bowl full of ice came out with the most elaborate presentation of exquisite fish. I was in love at first sight. There were sixteen pieces (two of each kind of fish). We had three different cuts of tuna, crab, raw Wagyu beef, eel, amberjack, and yellowtail ($46). Next was the yuzu marinated black cod with pickled red onions. It was outstanding, probably the best thing that came out. It was so tender and wrapped in a leaf with even more black truffle ($32). Next we had a whole lobster tempura (1.5 pounds) with spicy ponzu and wasabi mayo (mp). Next, we had the Japanese wild mushroom rice hot pot with black truffle ($25). This was the only dish that we did not finish, we took it home to eat later. The last big course was Australian Grade 10+ Wagyu beef with Artesian salts (mp). Desert was also served in a large ice bowl. I liked the desert because it included fresh fruit as well as some sugary options. The desert bowl included two different types of sherbet with fresh fruit, mango cake with rice ice-cream on top, green tea pudding, and lots of exotic fresh fruit. It was quite expensive and quite an experience for our anniversary. I did enjoy myself. Next time, I will order what I want off the menu and most likely pay significantly less. I had heard great things about Roka and I wasn't disappointed. I didn't give it four or five stars just because I felt like it had been done before. When I return, I will stick with the excellent sushi and other fish options.

    (3)

  • Casey F.

    I have been wanting to eat here for awhile so a girlfriend and I made reservations for restaurant week. 45 min before our 8pm reservation, Roka Akor called to say their grill "wasn't working" and that they were not making any changes or concessions for the restaurant week menu- they were super snobby about it. Um what? You can't tell me 45 min before, just as I'm getting ready to cab it over there. And then not make any effort to accommodate those of us that want the pre fixe menu deal. We ended up canceling and going to eat at Toro. The whole thing left a bad taste in my mouth and now I have no plans to go here - ever.

    (1)

  • Jen O.

    I'm reading the bad reviews of this place and the experiences sound awful! Specifically to finding glass in your drink... VERY dangerous... that same thing happened to me in food at another restaurant in Chicago and I understand how they gave it only 1 star. However, based on the 2 times that I've dined there I loved it. I'd recommend sitting in the loungy area in front. Both times that I went I've ordered wine by the glass or saki. Food-wise, I love Black Cod and here I think it's done very well. The sushi rolls I've tried have been very good, but I've had better sushi. The sweet corn side was recommended by the waitress and very delicious. The service was attentive, friendly and knowledgable. I'd say this place reminds me of Tao or Haru in NYC. I like the location, modern vibe and trendy atmosphere of the place. Some people here are complaining about price and yes it's expensive but I don't think any more so than if you went to a comparable place - e.g. Sushi Samba - in Chicago. For 2 people with drinks, dessert, appetizer and side, the bill was probably around $200. The portions are small and everything is a la carte so that's why the price ends up being more. Overall I like this place and would go back.

    (4)

  • Suana W.

    let's be frank, this is sushi for white people. it's a tad too trendy/fusiony and there aren't nearly enough asians in the kitchen. BUT it'll do in a pinch, especially if you're craving rolls galore. yesterday i stopped by for takeout: - hamachi serrano roll: fantastic - 6 pcs. "modern" sushi: it was okay, i've had better and worse. - negitoro roll: somehow ended up as a negituna roll. i wanted toro! - edamame: ok, i guess. it's hard to mess that up. my main complaint would be the price. somehow that totaled up to $50+...maybe it was my fault for not checking my bill carefully enough, but i was racking my brain for the prices. but eh well, sushi doesn't come cheap. i did have to wait much longer than the promised 10-15 minutes though, so i'll be sure to call it in even earlier next time.

    (3)

  • Faye L.

    So, so bourgeois. Not a fan of the ambiance, but the food is excellent, albeit a bit pricey. Cocktails are creative and delicious as well.

    (4)

  • Cat G.

    Went with a big group of friends to celebrate my 20th! Food was delicious - I split the wagyu beef and kimchi dumplings (which were divine) with a friend, and had the soft shell crab maki roll and Japanese mushroom rice hot pot. The maki roll was great, if not super memorable, and the rice was good but a bit gooey (with all of the sauce). It was one of the less expensive items on the menu, though, and it was filling and did taste good, so I was satisfied. There was a bit of a mix-up with our order where the waiters brought my friend the wrong order twice - they probably misheard her when she ordered - and then charged us for the wrong orders on the receipt as well. So that was messy. Restaurant ambience is trendy and happening as opposed to really upscale, which I loved, and since we had a big group they seated us in a corner away from the noise. Overall, a bit pricy, but worth it for a special occasion, and the food was great.

    (4)

  • Shalin D.

    The negative aspects of Roka are immediately apparent: the slew of self-conscious tourists posing as locals, the birthday party diners cheering drunkenly as a server bearing a candle approaches the table, and the over-attentive waitstaff. But, all these are small annoyances when compared to the ridiculously good food. Roka's menu functions more like a tapas restaurant than a traditional sushi bar. You can order from the left side of the menu (with traditional sushi bar items) or from the right side (the robata items). The left side of the menu is even divided into hot and cold plates, like a tapas restaurant. Our server, ever helpful, helped us navigate and select a good mix of grilled and raw dishes. A couple of highlights include: - the wagyu beef with shaved truffle - the grilled scallops (with a delicious smoky taste), - the filet with dipping sauce, and - the yellowtail with shaved garlic and micro-greens. I was hard-pressed to find anything wrong with the dishes. Instead of pairing with wine, we opted for scotch and soda - a good palate cleanser between dishes. Try and get a seat in the VIP seating area. Without making reservations, we were led to a table for two in this quieter area of the restaurant. Also, this really isn't the place you want to wear your Kohl's jeans. It's a see and be seen place. So, up the ante on the apparel.

    (5)

  • Dee A.

    very fancy place. presentation of their food was top notch. sushi & steak are delish. all in all 5 star for the food, the place, and the service. BUT for the price of the food i was expecting it to be more. i ordered a sake, it was good. they serve it in nice fancy wine glass. sake was so little like it was in a shot glass, for the price of it; it was probably a whole bottle. i'm a fan of this place. i'm not giving them a bad review or anything like that. i'm just giving my thoughts about their serving size. for the price it should be more.

    (4)

  • Alaina T.

    Went here again for NYE dinner... Fantastic! The food was delicious and perfectly prepared, and our server, Wesley, was very friendly and knowledgeable. The filet, king crab legs, butterfish tataki, and wagyu beef dumplings were great. We will definitely be returning again!

    (5)

  • Shalene M.

    Food was great, waitstaff was awesome. Hostesses were awful! Checked in at the front, and everything seemed normal. Decided to use the restrooms to wash up and the hostess yelled at me from across the room "WHERE ARE YOU GOING? YOU CAN'T JUST SIT WHEREVER YOU WANT?" I walked back over to her station and let her know we were walking to the clearly marked restroom. And she kept on making a scene, until I asked her directly "Is it okay to use the restrooms or no?" She then realized that we were part of the party that just walked in, and just shut down. No apologies, no acknowledgement - nothing. She just stared off into the windows. like i said - waiters and food were great. definitely pricey and too pretentious to return though. not worth a second visit. #thumbsdown

    (1)

  • Mike S.

    I went for lunch on a Tuesday and the place was nearly empty (never a good sign!). Started with the Wagyu beef dumplings and my expectations were high, unfortunately they were just ok. I ordered "ROKA AKOR Sushi Set with Flame Seared Salmon Nigiri, Hamachi Sashimi & Spicy Tuna Roll". This was served in a giant bowl full of ice, which was a little unusual. The spicy tuna roll was solid, but I could have skipped the flame seared salmon nigiri and the hamachi sashimi. One kinda cool thing (or maybe weird thing depending on your level of conservatism) is that the sinks in the men's and women's restroom are open to one another. I bet that makes for a neat social scene at midnight when you're three sheets to the wind on a Friday, but it did take me back a little on a Tuesday at 12:30pm. I originally went here because one of my friends recommend it, but he went for dinner and did the "Decadent Experience". So while I was disappointed at lunch, I feel like I ordered poorly so I would give it another shot...but definitely dinner next time!

    (2)

  • Seema A.

    Trendy atmosphere, but I wasn't blown away with the food. The space is really fun and trendy. Great place to meet up with friends. They had limited rolls to choose from - more steak on the menu. I thought the yellow tail had the best flavor. They just opened like 3 days ago and had a weird vibe upon entering the restaurant. 10 greeters who looked at you like you were an alien if you did not have reservations. It was like they were trying too hard to be posh. Just be... don't try so hard people! Props for the unusual but yummy green tea dessert.

    (2)

  • Stephanie W.

    Never thought I'd say this, but the service at Roka may have been TOO good! Everyone who helped us was incredibly friendly, knowledgeable, helpful, and attentive. Oh so attentive. As in - I don't think we went two minutes without someone stopping by our table to check on us, pour more water, take away the 3 empty edamame pods, etc. It was great that they were so on point, but we had a hard time relaxing and enjoying our meal. My only other complaint is that all of our food came incredibly fast - we were in and out in under an hour. Now onto the good stuff - The food was legitimately mind blowing. We ordered the edamame, one of the tuna sashimi options, grilled scallops, vegetable tempura, and a crispy shrimp roll. The shrimp was probably our favorite, with crisped instead of steamed rice on the outside and a wonderful, complex aftertaste. The vegetable tempura had some unusual choices, like a carrot, but was still good. The scallops are still making my mouth water, and the tuna was uber fresh and delicious. The bill was a little pricey, but honestly, everything was delicious. Next time, though, we'll probably sit at the bar.

    (3)

  • Ke M.

    I went here the other night with a few friends. drinks and sushi were a bit over priced but as to be expected in the area. but the meat off the robata makes it all worth it. I definitely recommend the pork belly but i don't think you can make a wrong choice. Service was also great and our server seemed to really know what he was talking about. he was able to recommend the perfect saki to compliment our meal and made great recommendations on small plates and rolls as well. I would definitely come back!

    (4)

  • Mandi G.

    Roka Akor is a beautiful space. It definitely fits in with the area well. I was slightly surprised to see another Asian fusion place right across the street from Sunda, but Roka definitely is more of a Japanese steak house concept and it works. For starters we had the grilled scallops and the yellowtail sashimi. Both were outstanding, although the portion size on the scallops (2 for $14) was a little tiny. We then shared some maki rolls. The spicy tuna was boring and not rolled tight enough. The crunchy prawn was perfect. Dinner wise, everyone had steaks and I must say...they were unbelievable. I have grown up in Chicago all of my life and I have been to every major steak house, chain or not. This was the absolute best filet mignon I have ever had. Ever. It was amazing. I actually ordered the strip, which was also delicious, yet I kept swapping out pieces of that for my friend's filet. Desserts were good, but also pretty small on the portion considering the price. We we were so stuffed from dinner that they were more of an afterthought and probably not needed. They did have a small craft cocktail list and their "Bonzai Mule" was almost too good. I may have drank a few more then necessary, hence the hazy recollection of the desserts. Back to the restaurant itself, I did go on opening night and there were definitely some timing issues. It took forever to get our drink order in. The we received 2 of our apps before the drinks. Then when it came time for entrees, one person in our group received his prime rib, while the rest of us had to wait a good 10 minutes for our steaks. So, poor prime rib owner was forced to share with us. Too bad for him! However, our server Johnny was very apologetic and comped us a round of drinks for all the timing issues. He was also very knowledgeable of the menu and made some great recommendations. Definitely get the mushroom hot pot as one of your side dishes. It was delightful and I generally am not the biggest fan of mushrooms. Back to the space...it's sleek and beautiful (albeit slightly casual) and reminded me a little of Blokes & Birds with the abundance of wood everywhere. I was NOT a fan of the bathroom. It's basically one large room with a boys hall of stalls and a girls hall of stalls, and a communal sink area. So when you first walk in, there may be a guy washing his hands, which makes you think you are in the wrong room (or vice versa). They definitely need some better signs explaining the set-up. This place is also way too loud. Not because of the music (which was a great selection BTW)...the high ceilings and the fact that it was packed made it impossible to hear any of your dining partners without yelling at them. And our poor server definitely had to repeat himself a few times. So do NOT go here expecting a "quiet" romantic dinner because it's not going to happen. Bottom line, very sexy atmosphere and seriously delicious food. Once they work out their opening week timing/service kinks, this is going to be a pretty fabulous spot. I definitely enjoyed myself and look forward to returning.

    (4)

  • Don J.

    Very nice looking restaurant however it is horribly overpriced. Service was very good throughout our meal. We ordered the following: - Wagyu Gyoza = 4/5 - Rock Shrimp = 5/5 - Chicken Wings = 2/5 - Uni = 4/5 - Tuna Maki = 4/5 - Hamachi Serrano = 5/5 - 12 oz fillet = 2/5 - Truffle Rice = 2/5 - Chocolate Cake = 3/5 I went to Gibsons the next day and was able to get a much better and bigger steak for $40. The average steak I got from Roka Akor cost $48. Nice restaurant, but it will be a special occassion restaurant instead of a regular haunt. $250 including tip for all of above. I could have gone to Schwa and paid about the same for much better food.

    (3)

  • Maren B.

    I've only been once for the drinks so I can't comment on the sushi or other food, but I will definitely give 4 stars for the bar area. There were only a couple bartenders but the one who seemed to be in charge made every drink precisely and efficiently. I was enjoying watching her make someone else's drink when she saw me and pleasantly asked if she could get me something. Then as soon as she was done with the first drink she got me what I ordered. Why can't getting a drink always be that easy?! The drink menu was pretty extensive, although the specialty cocktails were limited and on the pricey side. It was a little confusing also because there was a "wine" section, then separate sections for both white wine and red wine. It would make more sense if there was one section for all white wines and then all red wines. I got a glass of chardonnay so not much to comment on there, but my boyfriend got the blood orange margarita which was pretty tasty. I would recommend it for tequila fans. In addition, the bathrooms are awesome - stall panels that go almost floor to ceiling (love my toilet privacy) and everything has an authentic fresh lumber smell. Check out the floor, I can't even describe it. The only thing I didn't like is that at the sinks I could look across the hallway at the men's sinks! Sometimes things need "adjustment" in front of a mirror, and I would prefer to do that without men gawking... As a last note... This is definitely a place for the young and beautiful, so make sure you're dressed in your Sunday best!

    (4)

  • Candice S.

    After reading several articles and reviews, I was excited to try this place. My friend who mentioned this place happened to be coming to town this weekend so we decided it was the perfect opportunity. Lobster Red Miso Soup - Tastes like regular miso soup with some lobster meat Wagyu beef and kimchi dumplings - ok...not very special Soft shell crab roll - not as good as i've had elsewhere. wasn't really much in the roll besides the soft shell crab Hamachi Serrano Chili Roll - lacked a certain creativity in the roll. Not special or memorable Lamb cutlets - good, but very small portions....very small. Sweet potato - this dish was actually good Mango and vanilla cake - cake wasn't bad, but the star was the toasted rice ice cream green tea custard - first bite was good, but after a few bites the flavor became more muted and bland Pros: was easy to get reservation, some food items were good, sake was really good, food came really fast Cons: extremely loud (impossible to have a conversation sitting across from someone unless you yell), food portions were really small, sushi rolls lacked any hint of creativity, everything else besides the food took quite some time. It is unlikely that I would return to this place again.

    (2)

  • Puja S.

    I've been to Roka Akor twice and loved my experience there both times. The restaurant has a cool, contemporary atmosphere. I love the Yoi Mono cocktail. Also, I can't get enough of the corn. Our waiter laughed at us because we ordered 3 servings of the corn. The steak is awesome. This place is a great place to take a date or to go to with a group of friends.

    (4)

  • Amy P.

    SP and I decided to try Roka Akor last weekend after having passed by it before and admired its stylish and luxe décor. Overall, we thought everything was very good. Nothing fell short of expectations, particularly given the price point. One thing that irked me was the service. Our server was trying so hard to make recommendations that it came off as being downright pushy, particularly when everything he steered us to was way more expensive than what we were considering. Perhaps if we weren't one of the first reservations of the evening, we would not have gotten the full force of all that earnestness, but to me the line between helpful and overbearing was crossed. Upon our arrival we were promptly seated. Within moments of picking up the libations menu, our server appeared and asked if we were thinking of ordering a bottle of wine, or perhaps some sake, and if we wanted some recommendations. Umm...I don't know I haven't even looked at the menu yet. I expressed as much and he continued to hover until we asked for a few minutes to look through the menu. When we finally ordered, I asked for a glass of the "Pinot Grigio", not having remembered the name because I remembered seeing only one offered by the glass on the menu. He then asked me if it was *insert name of wine* and I had to flip through all 48 pages of the menu again to find it and confirm that yes, indeed it was. It was the only Pinot Grigio offered by the glass on the menu. SP ordered the Mango-Chili shochu and of course, as his luck would have it, they didn't happen to have that particular one that day. (If it's on the menu....) The server then suggests a Honey Pineapple Shochu and when SP said "How about the Apple?" the server says "Oh, I'm not sure if we have that one either, let me check." Lucky for them, they did have that one, but to me, the server appeared disappointed that we did not opt for bottle service of any sort. When it came time to order our food, it did not come as a surprise that our server recommended the omakasse (cha ching cha ching). We decided instead to make our own selections and when we placed our order, the server flat out told us that their portions are very small and that we did not order enough food. I indicated to him that if we decided we needed more food we can add to our order later on in our meal and he proceeded to describe exactly how small each dish was and suggest that we add another entrée. I told him again that we'll gauge our satiation level as the meal progresses but it almost felt like I was getting into an argument. Now, if we had ordered an appetizer to share, I could understand his vexation, but we ordered over $100 worth of food! Here is what we ordered: * Sashimi Platter (7 kinds of fish, 2 pieces each): $46 * Wagyu Beef and Kimchi Dumplings: $10 * Lamb Cutlets with Korean Spices: $35 * Red Miso Glazed Crispy Rice Cake: $9 * Broccolini with Sesame: $5 The sashimi platter was presented beautifully. The fish was incredibly fresh and very tasty. However, one thing that we have realized is that sashimi is subject to the law of diminishing returns - there is a certain threshold above which the higher-price-for-greater-freshness slope starts to flatten out. Was the sashimi very fresh and tasty? Yes it was. Was it worth $46? Perhaps not. (Case in point: last night, we ordered the Deluxe 18-piece Sashimi Platter, a spicy tuna roll, spicy salmon roll, spicy scallop roll AND Green Dragon Roll for $45.68, including tax and delivery, from a local restaurant that we feel has very good fish.) Everything that we ordered was very good. The surprise of the meal was the Lamb Cutlets. The lamb was perfectly cooked and subtly, yet effectively, flavored with a recognizable, yet unique, Korean flavor. The lamb was accompanied by a gulchujan/miso-ish sauce that further enhanced the spiciness and gave it a more noticeable Korean flare, and complemented by some Japanese eggplant (or perhaps it was cucumber?) that provided a cool and fresh contrast to the lamb's spices. Overall, the food was very, very good. The portion sizes are definitely not large (as our server so kindly pointed our earlier), but just the right size to truly savor the flavors and feel satisfied, rather than gluttonous. The quality of the food, combined with the modern, trendy feel of the restaurant makes it a great spot for a date or a night out with friends.

    (4)

  • Gregory L.

    Details details details, they mean everything to everyone in the restaurant industry. From the drinks, to the food, service, décor and cleanliness, Roka Akor pays attention to all of this. Which is why they're able to turn an Omakase meal into an Omakase experience. Behind the scenes of this newly opened Japanese sushi and steak house, stands proven experienced veterans; Chefs Ce Bian and Jason Alford, former Double A mixologist now Mixology consultant Dante LoPresti, Former Mercadito manager Felipe Ospina and transferred Scottsdale Roka Akor manager Arthur Doloresco. Without their shear pride and perfection in what they do, they may not be where they are today. Rated by Bon Apetite Magazine as a top 10 sushi restaurant in the US, nothing less will be expected nor received. To assure this, chef Ce Bian travels in his van to the airport and picks up the fish he knows will hold up to Roka Akor's name. This is pure dedication. With a sake list of at least 75 deep and various in house shochu infusions, the late night River North crowd will be pouncing on the Izakaya in no time. Expect a lively chic late night scene filled with sake and cocktail enthusiasts packing the bar area. Not a sake connoisseur, the menu is set up to allow even the first timer to make the right decision. Or ask any of the staff for assistance, they'll be sure to help you choose your favorite. Cocktails not to miss includes the "Whiskey Plum Sour" and "The One." Adjacent to the bar area is the 200 seating dining area, which is centered around the action coming from the open kitchen and robata grill. So sip on your bowl of red miso lobster soup and let your eyes assist your next decisions. Seafood, prime beef, lamb, pork, chicken, veggies... Ce Bian wouldn't have it on the menu if the quality wasn't there. So just close your eyes and point. Photos at wp.me/p1zAxe-7W come from the Decadent Omakase menu. If you leave hungry, it's your own fault. Let the chef know and the courses will continue beyond your satisfaction.

    (5)

  • J ..

    I had heard good things about Roka Akor, and decided to try the Sunday Brunch for a small gathering of four. The entire experience was a DISASTER! The buffet kept running out of food. People were standing around the buffet tables waiting for the food to come. As soon as the food came out, a horde of people would grab the food, with their OWN CHOPSTICKS, because the staff FAILED to put out enough tongs. The staff did not put enough food out....a lot of people would leave empty-handed since they were not quick enough to snatch any food. I don't know how many times we saw a small plate of food be placed on the buffet table, then a mad rush of patrons each trying to get a small piece of food, would attack it, and by the time we would get there, the food was gone already. The orders from the Robata grill was also very slow, it took us 1 hour to get our order served and I had to repeat my order for the Salmon to 3 different servers before it was finally served to us. When it was finally time for the Bill, we had a 50% off the total bill coupon. The staff took 50% off the bill, but then charged us MANDATORY TIP of 20% (on the original full $40 brunch cost, instead of the $20 reduced brunch price). Normally, I would not question the tip amount. But, in this situation the service was TERRIBLE/non-existent and we had to bus our own empty plates.

    (1)

  • Denise R.

    I loved the decor and ambiance here. Every time I turned my head I was fascinated with another aspect of their design. To drink, I had the pink ribbon. It had muddled strawberries, grapefruit and some other stuff. It was pretty good, tasted like a less tangy pink lemonade and of course I loved that it was pink. My favorite maki roll was the dynamite roll. The scallops on top tasted so fresh and had a smokey flavor, difficult to explain but definitely try it if you're going for sushi. I had the green tea custard and happened to LOVE it. I wasn't sure what to expect, but the combination of the custard with the caramelized bananas and the foam on top was delicious. The service was great. When my friend didn't like her first cocktail, the manager came over to speak with us and assured us he'd "get us back on track". I always appreciate good service and I will definitely be returning to try more of the menu.

    (4)

  • Erica D.

    The sushi is fresh and the service is fantastic. It's great for groups or even for just 2.

    (5)

  • Sarah C.

    Amazing! I just had dinner there with a good gal pal. The ambience was great - the restaurant is trendy and modern but also warm and inviting and is a great place to go with a few close friends or to take a date. There happened to be lots of attractive people at the restaurant - we saw a few small groups of single guys and ladies in their late 20s/early 30s enjoying cocktails and small plates (in addition to the couples). The food was delicious. The brussel sprouts were out of control, the sushi was great, and the beef dumplings were amazing too. The service was excellent. Really nice and had good recommendations without being pushy. Will definitely go back.

    (5)

  • Emma F.

    Delicious delicious delicious. Wonderful atmosphere.

    (5)

  • Jana S.

    Dear Roka Akor, Is it ok if i just call you Roka? I feel that we are on a 'first-name' basis now. It was just recently, that I met you...but you came into my world like a whirlwind...i hope you can look past the fat rolls that are inevitably going to form. Every meeting has been amazing, but the last time was unlike anything I've ever experienced. It was Valentine's Day and you had a romantic evening planned for me. Even though I've had experiences with tasting menus (wink wink), yours was by far the best. Butterfish Tataki with White Asparagus Kumomoto Oyster with Yuzu Sashimi Selection Lobster Miso Soup with Wakame Yuzu Marinated Black Cod w/ Robata Grilled Asparagus with Sweet Soy Creekstone Prime Filet and Chili Ginger Sauce w/ Robata Grilled Mushrooms with Soy Garlic Butter Japanese Wild Mushroom Risotto Double Chocolate Ganache Cake Everything was delicious. You even made me like mushrooms! I was full, content and happy. Then it happened - you wanted me to pay?! 79 bucks? AND I had to tip you? I thought I was special...that we had something!!! It's ok though. You were worth every penny. And even though you make me feel a little dirty and very guilty, I can't wait to meet with you again. Passionately, Jana

    (5)

  • Brian P.

    Outstanding menu and very helpful waiters. Both fish and meats are delicious. Have been to the London and Hong Kong locations as well - consistently great. For Japanese food in Chicago that goes well beyond sushi (and doesn't get involved with complicated makis - which can be great, but there's so much more to Japanese food), this is a solid choice.

    (5)

  • Kevin Z.

    Food was subpar, especially considering the price. Specific dishes: Modern nigiri selection, decent fish and dressing, but size is very small. Dynamite scallop roll was the standout of the night, very good. Butterfish tataki was very mediocre, pretty tasteless, toppings added little to flavor profile. Prime rib eye steak was absolutely terrible - low quality meat, chewy, and cubing them don't help either; pointless toppings. Robata grill on the whole very mediocre. Restaurant filled w/ robata grill smoke at one point. Desserts were a cut above what's offered at most asian or asian fusion restaurants. Service: Unnecessarily long menu explanations. Worst of all, wait times were inexcusable. The restaurant was not that busy (Monday night).

    (3)

  • Amy V.

    Fabulous atmosphere, trendy crowd (although a few too many backless spandex dresses), great service, and the food and cocktails were delicious... the menu has terrific variety. We enjoyed maki, crispy squid, grilled prawn, ribeye, and a rice side dish. Everything tasted wonderful, and we're used to spending $$ on dinners out, but $32 for prawn with absolutely nothing else on the plate--just the shrimp--is pretty outlandish. It was good, but not that good. A fun night out but I don't think we'll feel compelled to return.

    (3)

  • Mihir P.

    Absolutely the best waiter service I've had in this city. I say waiter service because our hostess wasn't the friendliest or most alert. Something about getting a pretty face doesn't always translate into a good person to greet guests. Our server was truly knowledgeable about everything on the menu. He was also super passionate about everything - even the Himalayan rock salt that he grated in front of us. Don't you dare miss the pork belly or the ribs. I was looking forward to the fish and we ordred a lot but it just wasn't what I am used to. Excellent for Chicago though. Stick to the land animals.

    (4)

  • Bianca C.

    Went to Roka Akor for New Year's Eve dinner with a group of six people. Our friends were late getting there, but the hosts were still very nice and accommodating. The server was incredibly helpful and careful with my constant questions regarding food my husband could eat with his gluten allergy. He also suggested a perfect white wine and a bottle of sake for the table after we asked his opinion. The food was all delicious! My husband and I shared a few rolls-one spicy that I specifically remember. At the table, we ordered steaks, the pork ribs, and the fish. No complaints! The ambiance was perfect for a special occasion, or any time you want to feel like a high-class citizen!

    (5)

  • James S.

    So this is a perfect example of the hype being too much to meet the reality. Roka is a very nice place that serves decent food. Really nothing more or less. The service, decor, and ambiance are all consistent with what you would expect a trendy downtown sushi place. No comlaints here, top notch. However the food ranges from fair to very good. The best thing we had was a salmon/avacdo roll. I might eve go so far as fantastic. Everyting about it was fresh and delicious. The worst as a dynomite scallop roll. Very salty, barely touched it. Soup, dumpling appetizers, and the tuna were all tasty too, but nothing spectacular. Good place, but Chicago has better.

    (3)

  • Tim W.

    It didn't start well, but finished fine. I went here for sushi, which I was ree-ally looking forward to. To my dismay the sushi menu was only about 1/4 of the menu, predominately focused on the appetizers. I ordered an organic salad, hamachi serrano chili roll, and cumin barbecued berkshire pork loin. The salad was nothing stellar, about what I'd expect. It had a variety of ingredients, but it probably traveled too far, so the greens weren't so crisp. The cherry tomatoes were lightly charred which was a nice touch. I very much enjoyed the hamachi serrano chili roll. It also had avocado in it with the serrano appearing as a thinly sliced ring standing on top of each piece. In my mind the limited sushi menu was forgiven at this point, and I wished I skipped the salad and ordered some nigiri or sashimi. The pok loin was fantastic, and as I was still at the "" bar, I was able to watch it be prepared. The chef did an excellent job, good carmelization on the outside and the most remote blush of pink on the inside. I liked how it was sliced so think to make the flavor, and meal, last long. The pok with served with a touch of a very spicy kimchi, which I don't think I've had before, but liked very much. The I didn't order any sides with my entree, I wish I did, as the brocolini with sesame seeds sounded very good, and I don't usually order dessert. But my meal was filling and I felt satisfied. So why not four stars? The food was good, but honestly I doubt I'd come again. This restaurant falls in the category of being reserved for dates, celebrations, or someone else is buying. My entree was the least expensive item (a happy coincidence for me). Otherwise the tab here is an easy $50-$70 person, plus alcohol. If you are looking to impress someone, buy all means go, otherwise I think you could do better.

    (3)

  • MesmerEyes G.

    I really enjoyed this place. I found the service to be excellent, the food delicious, the ambiance was clean, modern but comfortable with a woody interior. The lights change colors but it is not done in a tacky way. Meal: 1. Hamachi serrano chili roll 2. Dynamite scallop roll 3. Beef tataki 4. Lamb cutlets 5. Sweet corn 6. Mango with white cake and crispy rice ice cream #1-Hamechi is my favorite sushi. Roll was fresh and clean tasting #2-Good #3-Basically beef carpaccio. Good, made with shaved truffle which can be an acquired taste. #4-Excellent #5-Average, it's just corn on the cob #6-Fair. I love mango but cake was a little dry and I didn't like the ice cream at all. Waiter was nice enough to bring me another flavor which was much better. I would go back again to try different stuff

    (4)

  • Dan D.

    Had the Roka Akor Lunch - Sushi Set. The flame seared salmon nigiri was an outstanding take on a basic nigiri. The service and presentation were top notch. We added the Hamachi Serrano Chili Roll which was also outstanding. Above the other accolades I would say the incredible freshness of all the products used stood out.

    (4)

  • Hayley N.

    customer service was great. we had a reservation at 8:15, walked in the door a few minutes later, and were told we'd have to wait 20-30 minutes. then what is the point of a reservation (reserving of table)?! We had a chat with the manager and he sat us right away. As we were walking in there were 6 EMPTY tables! Why were we going to need to wait for in the first place? After we got seated, the manager took great care of us and sent us complimentary wagyu beef dumplings, which were incredible! The rest of the night we had great service and the food came out perfectly. We were well taken care of. The only other complaint was the music choice. It was really loud rap. I feel like if you want your place to be trendy, go with whats trendy--which is electronic/house music or something else. The heavy rap did not go with the flow at all in my opinion. So, overall-the food was very delicious. The service was great, but only after we had complained. The atmosphere was beautiful, but the music was a disconnect for me.

    (4)

  • Liezl P.

    Having no expectations coming in, I was delightfully impressed. I came with my sister early on a Friday night 4 days after their opening. The whole place is very chic and trendy, but also comfortable. We were greeted by 4 hostesses and seated immediately for there was only 1 other table occupied. There were about 50 people in the restaurant, 44 of them were employees/waitstaff. Its opening weekend, so I'm sure they overstaffed for the occasion. I'm happy they did, because as you can imagine, we had impeccable service. Our server was very nice and gave great suggestions. He was always available and checked on us quite often. Our water was always filled to the brim, even the water marks left by the dewy glasses were wiped immediately- about every 8 minutes :) There was pretty much someone standing over us at all times. I didn't mind today, but may have minded if I wanted to have a deep personal conversation with my dinner mate. Food was also pretty good. The crispy fried squid with chili and lime was delicious and not drenched in too much batter. The crispy prawn roll was just like any other shrimp tempura roll out there- good, but not too memorable. I usually order my steaks medium to medium-well, the chef recommends the Roka Akor prime rib eye with wafu dressing done medium-rare, so I compromised and ordered it medium. It was delicious, but I wish I ordered it my usual way. I wish we weren't in a time crunch, I would have loved to try more things. I will definitely be back at least to have a beverage- they have so many exotic ones to choose from! Check it out!

    (4)

  • Natasha L.

    Simply put - I love this place! It combines two of my favorite things - sushi and steak. Service is always top notch and it's one of the few places that I go where the meal is light and savory. I never leave here feeling weighed down after having one of their steaks. If you go...and you should....be sure to try the dynamite scallop roll. You can thank me later :)

    (5)

  • Lyndsie Z.

    Excellent food!!! Excellent service!!! I'm coming back!!!

    (5)

  • Scott N.

    After hearing and reading so many good things about Roka Akor I finally decided to take the plunge and scheduled a reservation through Open Table for this past Monday evening for 3. As we pulled up all of us were genuinely excited and a quick peek through the floor to ceiling glass windows of the space gave way to a space featuring beautiful and modern décor with guests who seemed to be enjoying themselves. Walking in the door we were greeted by a friendly hostess who sat us at our table. We were then immediately greeted by an over-zealous bus boy that took our order for water and asked about 25 questions. Next came our waiter who seemed in somewhat of a rush to get us going with our meal, which was very annoying to both my guests and myself. I have always thought that a good waiter should never come over and interrupt a conversation between diners to take an order but that really was a theme throughout the night with both our waiter and numerous managers looming about. Our group decided to go with a bunch of small plates to try as many things as possible so we actually neglected to order any of the entrees, which constituted the entire right side of the menu. Our order was as follows: Robata Grilled Scallops with Yuzu Shiso and Wasabi Soft Shell Crab Roll Hamachi Serrano Chili Roll Dynamite Scallop Roll Spicy Tuna Roll Rock Shrimp Tempura with Wasabi Peas and Sweet Chili Aioli I must admit the food was outstanding. The ingredients were extremely fresh and expertly prepared -- same with the drinks I want to add. The scallops were big and juicy and cooked expertly. They were simple and just overall very well done. The sushi was very good and all the rolls featured a smoky element to them, which is not something I was expecting. I thought they were still classic enough to be appealing to foodies and purists but also ingenuitive. The tempura shrimp was also excellent and the dipping sauce that accompanied it featured a great balance of spice with actual flavors to back it up all of which complimented the shrimp themselves. My problem with this restaurant is the lack of bang for the buck. If you look at similar restaurants -- Union Sushi and BBQ for instance down the street -- you can expect a substantially similar meal and overall experience for a fraction of the price. I have taken a group of 4 to Union on numerous occasions and -- including 1-2 drinks a person -- we were out the door for under $40 per person including tip. Conversely if you order the exact same amount of food at Roka Akor you're looking at a bill up well over $60 per person. I am by no means saying avoid Roka Akor or that it isn't worth going to, I am simply pointing out that as a person who dines out a lot and considers himself a foodie I like to know my dollars are getting me maximum enjoyment in both the quality of the food but more importantly the overall experience. If I walk out of a restaurant feeling like I overpaid it just makes it hard for me to want to return and especially difficult for me to recommend that someone else show up and risk walking out with the same feeling I did. Overall, Roka Akor is delicious and the ingredients featured are fresh beyond belief. However, in the end my personal opinion is that, as they say, "the juice doesn't justify the squeeze" and for my money I think there are equivalent restaurant experiences out there to be had in downtown Chicago for considerably less money without giving much, if anything, up. Try it once, and consider returning when you want to impress a client or a date, but otherwise I would say this isn't a place I'd otherwise be in a rush to return to.

    (4)

  • Rama K.

    I tried this new River North hotspot on Friday night with a couple of friends. I always love great sushi, and I have to say I was not disappointed by Roka Sushi. Ambiance was finally a bit different. It's in a very large space with huge ceilings, a color-changing ceiling/curtain above the sushi bar, and trendy scene. Usually with a scene like this, the food falls completely flat. However, not the case here. Everything we had was really quite good. The rolls are a bit on the average side. We had the soft shell, the spicy tuna, and the salmon avocado. The sashimi was really fresh tho, and the toro was excellent. We also had the steak, which was good as well. Service was nice as well. So all in all a great experience in a new, trendy restaurant! Will def be back for more.

    (4)

  • Esha M.

    As a vegetarian, we got sushi and tons of sides. They were all delicious! Def. get the butter corn and the brussel sprouts. I tried the ginger drink and it was def. too strong. I couldn't have more than a sip and couldn't even taste the ginger flavor. My husbands drink was also very strong. If you are looking for a trendy date place, this is it.

    (4)

  • Elina S.

    Decided to give Roka another shot and had an amazing culinary experience with even better customer service. Our server was fantastic from the very start, always attentive and very helpful in making our decisions. We had the salmon avocado roll and it was wonderful this time, full of fresh salmon, and no asparagus this time around, made such a difference. We also tried the unagi maguro roll which was my husbands favorite thing of the evening as it had chunks of spicy tuna on top of freshwater eel. We also had the butterfish sashimi that was very fresh and flavorful. Furthermore, we had the skirt steak which is still my favorite dish at Roka, I loved its spices and flavors. The manager Steve came up to us quite a few times to make sure everything was up to par and it was. He also sent us a few items such as the pork belly, cooked for 14 hours and their famous Brussels sprout salad. The final treat in the end was the dessert platter filled with champagne grapes, sorbet, chocolate brownie lava cake and coffee ice cream. Everything was wonderful and we left stuffed and happy that our server really took her time to make sure we were happy and satisfied. We will definitely be back and bring our friends too!

    (4)

  • Ania J.

    Interior is very cool, feels like Alice in Wonderland! Staff is polite with casual personalities - doesn't feel stuffy or pompous in there :) Menu had a great selection, all very creative dishes. Favorite part of the night was the sake, ROCK SAKE. Very clean, smooth taste and paired perfectly with everything we ordered. So amazing in cocktails! The bartender said it's from California, so it's nice to see a USA sake for a change!

    (5)

  • Diane D.

    I was recently in Chicago for business and my colleague and I had dinner here on our last night. Everything about it was amazing! The atmosphere is really cool.....when we walked in Wesley greeted us and when we told him that we were from out of town he proceeded to tell us about the restaurant and recommend some of the signature dishes to try including the black cod and the butterfish tatami. We tried both and they were fantastic. The service was incredible all around! Our server Maro, took great care of us and was very personable. Overall everything we ordered was fresh and fabulous...from yellowtail, tuna and salmon sashimi to a grilled salmon from the robata grill. We are from Los Angeles and are used to great Japanese restaurants. I would say this is one of the best and will definitely come back here the next time that I am in Chicago :)

    (5)

  • Ana D.

    The food was great and the service was very fast. Busy and nice place. Ambience was great as well.

    (5)

  • Joel W.

    Great. Always. Tony at the bar is great! Wesley, Steve, Brianna, all great!!

    (5)

  • Pamela H.

    Very delicious, the scallops are a must have! The only reason that I didn't give it five stars is that I've had sushi rolls that are just as good or better for half the price. I would recommend this restaurant for a very special occasion. My fiance and I had dinner there and it was $200 after tax but before tip. Everything is a very small dish that is meant for sharing, for example, the scallops there are only 2 per order. So, we had a couple appetizers, a couple sushi rolls, split a dessert and drinks. So, figure its about $100 per person if you're drinking. Glad I tried it because I like trying new restaurants. It's not very vegetarian friendly if you are going out with any vegetarians. They have a lot of seafood, meat and sushi on the menu. Dessert was awesome, too, we had a warm chocolate cake, I would recommend that!

    (4)

  • Morris D.

    Hi folks! Well wasn't this place a nice little suprise. Roka Akor which of course means "I Like Meatloaf Sauce" in German was delish all the way around. Started off with some Edamommies with some amazing soy sauce. Boom, we downed that like a QB at the end of a football game. My 2nd cousin's Uncle had some sort of sushi roll. Not sure what is was, but i don't even like Sushi and it wasn't bad. I had the skirt steak smothered in some tasty teriyaki sauce and we shared some Sweet Potatoes covered in Sesame Seeds and that very same tasty Teriyaki. Decent wine list that list out all the wines on the list. The waitress made some suggestions that were pretty much on par. The little drinky drink drank she suggested for me was pretty good, it wasn't out of this world like a planet, but I liked it. Nice little bar area in there as well. I can see stopping here for a drink to begin a night or something along those lines. Some pretty good people watching and people to make fun of while you wait for your tasty fixins and treats to come to the table. Overall this is a nice little sushi/asian restaurant with some nice side components as side dishes. There is also a rumor that on Fri nights, Mehmut Okor from the Utah Jazz makes special appearances when the Jazz don't have a Friday night game.

    (4)

  • Anthony W.

    Great food, great service, great atmosphere. Try the wagyu beef - it's fantastic. I also highly recommend the spicy tuna roll and the corn.

    (4)

  • Mike L.

    what a disaster! i specifically asked for a decent table to celebrate a special event; i got seated in the bar area, next to three loud drunks who stood over three ladies they were trying to hit on the entire dinner right in front of us. the service was beyond slow throughout the entire meal. when the food arrived, we found the servers messed up our sushi order. despite asking for rolls w/rice on the outside, we were given the opposite on one roll. the other roll, a salmon/cucumber roll, was served sans rice (ie the salmon was inside slices of cucumber). my beef with the latter roll is that a competent server makes customers aware that this is how the roll is served upon ordering. finally, the miso cod (about the only redeeming dish with any taste) was filled with bones. you can do a lot better for your $ in river north.

    (1)

  • Monica M.

    We stopped in here for a quick bite after a small sailing excursion so maybe we were not dressed the part, but attire was definitely acceptable enough that they didnt have to shove us in the back. I've heard about this place before but it was never on my radar of must try. and its def not on my maybe try again list. edamame was super salty. and yes i understand the point of salt, but it was salt on steroids. and our rolls? we all got a different one and none of them were anything i would write home about. service was great though! water was never empty and plates were nicely taken away. very accommodating. overall i would say the place is overrated but then again tell me whats not in river north...?

    (3)

  • Mark P.

    Service was great! The food was fantastic! The servers knowledge of the menu was spot on. HIs recommendations really made our first trip here very enjoyable. I would return.

    (4)

  • K R.

    The pros: Service was really attentive and prompt; food came out quickly; decor was very nice The cons: Food is overpriced and hit-or-miss; restaurant is loud, as they turn up the music even when there aren't many customers Ratings on specific dishes: Butterfish Tataki -- The standout of the evening. 5/5 Serrano Hamachi Roll -- Quite tasty but not extraordinary. 4/5 Rock Shrimp & Butterfish Tempura -- Imaginatively presented, with a nice variety and portion, two types of dipping sauce, and two flavored salts. BUT, very greasy and not especially tasty for all that. 2/5 Robata Scallops -- Quite delicious, nice citrus flavor. 4.5/5 Traditional Nigiri Selection -- Terrible. Skimpy pieces of fish, not fresh. If you can't get this right, you're not really a sushi restaurant. 2/5 Also, $8/bottle for sparkling water. WTF?

    (3)

  • Dina I.

    I'm not a fan of restaurants like this, big, flashy, in your face, in touristy downtown, but I took a chance and had dinner here with my brother. The sake list is huge, but I was happy because it did include 2 of my favorite sakes, azumaichi and divine droplets...the food was good, not spectacular...I don't think it's high on my list of places to be back, as we were politely asked to move because a reality tv show was setting up to shoot right near us, which goes to show you that it's definitely not my kind of restaurant or scene...

    (3)

  • Izzy N.

    So it's exotic sounding sushi and asian tasting food for white people. I don't think it's super trendy- there's a casual contemporary playful vibe to it in my opinion. Maybe I'm just really jaded or I'm so use to this being the norm with contemporary asian spots out west, as I'm not in there going Whoa! There's a lot of tragic forever 21 trash floating around, mixed with business folks and a dash of tourists. So don't be intimidated my friends. The food is pretty good but not mind blowing. -- that sums up Roka Akor for me. I will probably return but know what to pass on next time. I wasn't very impressed with the sushi. Everybody was saying how the signature hamachi serrano chili roll was fantastic but I thought it was just fine at best but not spicy nor special. It just tasted like a regular roll to me. If you told me there was no chili in it I'd believe you. I was expecting at least a little bit of a kick but it was nothing. I think it'd really compliment the white fish. Same with the spicy tuna. It wasn't spicy and tasted very similar to the former roll I had just minus the mayo. I was a little let down. Maybe they're playing it safe for weak white americans. I do appreciate that their sushi leans on the simpler side and not with a bunch of needless shit like stale tempura crumbs, fruit, pumpkin seeds, hair extensions and the like, it's how people take their sushi in this city and that's just gross to me. The tempura was said to be unique especially in presentation.. I don't know, it seemed pretty standard to me and there's nothing special about the presentation. I just remember thinking oh that's it? when it came out. It's nicely done though with a light crisp batter like it should be with the usual suspects- carrot, sweet potato, shitake mushroom, bell pepper, leeks, etc.. I'm a sucker for deep fried anything but lets not build it up as amazing or best ever unless you're use to eating the likes of hamburger helper and your moms shitty meatloaf and crockpot catastrophes. Which also brings me to the asparagus which I ordered based on reviews. It's about average at best. I can see it as sn accompaniment to your steak but it's not blowing my mind. It tastes like steamed asparagus with sesame soy sauce. Big whoop. Again I guess I can see if you've been eating tuna casserole and the like most of your life I can see how this can be an epiphany? I had a bite of the black cod and it was good, bit I'm just not a fan of the skin and they leave that on. I was more interested in the pickled onions to the side. Truth be told, I did look at a fair amount of the reviews for suggestions and the suggestions were mostly a fail. I'll know to go my own way next time. But.. I was very impressed by the tuna tataki. It was very light and refreshing- simply fabulous and had me wanting more. Very memorable and I'm just fucking in love with it. Order THIS. I'd love to return and order the beef tataki along with any one of their steaks or even the omakase experience. Staff here was great. Extremely nice and helpful, always around ... always. They could maybe back off a little. Give me some space and time to think people..! I shall return for some bloody meat and lunch! Yess! They're open for lunch- a huge plus since I live minutes away. Sweet.

    (4)

  • Michael B.

    Would have given more stars because the food was fantastic, but the hostess spoiled the evening for us. Party of 8, 6 people present and waiting on two more doctors who were running late from surgery and they would not seat us. She kept telling us it was "against policy" to seat incomplete parties. 7th person arrived and they sat us, but at a tiny round table designed for 6. We questioned the size of the table and asked about our 8th on the way and they told us there were no larger tables available, which confused us because our original reservation was for 8, so where was THAT table? What if all 8 of us were present, where would we have been seated? Meanwhile, the entire time we were eating (amazing food if I didn't mention that) the 8-top behind us only had two people sitting there for over an hour which really annoyed us. Anyway, great food, will bring my wife here for dinner sometime, but kinda snooty hostess who clearly has not worked in customer-service-related jobs before. If we were 3 people trying to falsely hold a table for 10, I get it. 6/7 people out of 8 is a no-brainer.

    (2)

  • Rakesh K.

    I am not overly critical on service at a restaurant. Thus, if the service is not too great but the food is great, I will still go back. However, Roka takes service to a new level and definitely has the best in the City. Went with my family and friends this past weekend and had a table of 10. The waiter and support staff were unbelievable. My saki cup never went empty, the smallest smudge on my sisters menu was cleaned off without her even knowing, the napkins were always refolded when people had to get up, and the recommendations were top notch. The food matched the service - we ordered the butterfish tataki, wagyu beef dumplings, ribs, shoshito pepper and rock shrimp - they were all awesome. The table ended up getting three more orders of rock shrimp throughout the evening they were that good. for main dish we ordered family style and had a few orders of the blackened cod, filet and lamp chops and a couple rolls - all were great - we ended with a the ice cream and sorbet tray for desert - great finish. if you are celebrating anything with friends, this is place should be at the top of your short list.

    (5)

  • Allison S.

    A little over priced for the food, but great atmosphere. We split a soft shell crab roll that was good, the wagyu beef kimchi dumplings, that were pretty good, and the scallop appetizer. I had the cod that was amazing, and pretty much melts in your mouth. The service was attentive but there was a computer glitch so the tables got mixed up and the servers tried to bring other tables food to us about ten times through out the meal. I would possibly go back for a nice meal.

    (4)

  • Jordan S.

    high-end Japanese, well worth the price point, great assortment of flavors

    (4)

  • J J.

    I never thought I would rave about brussell sprouts, but they were absolutely delicious. We couldn't get enough. I also tried the red lobster miso soup which was delicious and much less salty than a traditional miso. The two specialty sushi rolls we chose were so fresh and very filling. We left without a single complaint including the impeccable service!

    (5)

  • shannon w.

    Hands down the best experience I've had at a new restaurant in Chicago in a lonnnnng time. I was expecting hiccups here and there, considering it is a pretty new place. Not a single misstep anywhere, even when holding it to well-established standards. As a vegetarian, I know I probably miss out on a high-end restaurant's really great menu items, and I often find like the vegetarian dishes on a menu feel like a chef's afterthought. I can say that is NOT the case at Roka Akor. I had the tomato salad, the fried tofu with greens and then the hot pot, along with the corn and sweet potato sides. Everything was incredibly delicious, with multi-layered flavored combinations, and I was so full afterwards! The drinks - my goodness, the drinks. The Yoi Mono officially changed my life for the better. It tastes like summer - even though you think there cannot possibly be alcohol in it, halfway through it, when your head starts to swim, you realize that this glass is fully loaded....but it's so good you can't stop drinking it! And as if the food and drinks were not enough to sell me on the place, the service was impeccable. Anthony was attentive, friendly and had extensive menu knowledge. He also had fantastic timing - despite a busy night where you could see he had many tables, he didn't miss a beat in taking our order right when we were ready, or ensuring we didn't wait even a minute after the last bit of the drink was drained to check and see if we wanted another round (we did). All in all, a fantastic new restaurant, which I definitely plan to re-visit as often as possible.

    (5)

  • Jenn G.

    holy trendy-restaurant alert batman! roka akor is almost painfully trendy...clearly aiming for a NYC / London vibe. but the good news is that the food, service and ambiance live up to the NYC / London prices they charge. i took advantage of the business lunch menu on a friday afternoon - a great way to check out roka akor on a more affordable budget. i ordered the black cod lunch special that came with a butterfish sushi roll, miso soup and green salad. first - the butterfish sushi roll is outstanding. excellent proportions of rice, fish and sauce so that you get all of the flavors. the miso soup is clearly made on site and reflects that quality - it is not overly salted, but very flavorful. my boyfriend's meal came with the red miso soup with lobster, and i wasn't a big fan, but that was more of a taste preference than any reflection of quality. my entree was the black cod skewers which absolutely melt in your mouth. sweet pozu sauce to top it off - amazing. the service at roka akor is impeccable. the entire waitstaff have an excellently choreographed routine to make sure that dishes arrive at your table exactly when you're ready for the next bite and no finished plate lingers for more than a moment before it is picked up. bottom line - the place is definitely very expensive, but if you factor in the location, ambiance, service and quality of food, you get what you pay for, and my vote is that it's well worth it.

    (4)

  • Jia Y.

    Food is ok, not worth the price. Service is excellent and the place is very clean. Truffle tends to be added on lots of the dish, it adds to the price more than the taste. Overall, It was a good experience and would not go out my way of coming here again.

    (3)

  • Allison H.

    I went this past Friday night here for restaurant week. I was a little apprehensive because I feel like with trendy sushi places all you pay for are ambiance and service, and the food is the same as any other above average sushi place in Chicago. This is not the case for Roka. I was pleasantly surprised! We had a 7:45 reservation and arrived a few minutes late but were seated right away. Both my husband and I went with the restaurant week menu, though we had to ask for it. I really don't like when restaurants are participating in restaurant week but you have to ask for the menu. Makes me feel like they don't want me to order it. For drinks, I got the blood orange margarita. Very good! So good I had two. But at $14 a piece they were not cheap. The restaurant week menu included a lot of food. We had miso soup and edamame for starters. The miso soup was VERY good. Some of the best I've had. Though I didn't like that we had to drink it and didn't get a spoon. Maybe that's the traditional or authentic way of serving but at least give me the spoon and let me choose if I want to use it or drink it. We also got to pick another appetizer and we chose the crispy fried squid and the crispy butterfish roll.The fried squid was good, especially with the lime juice, but not that different from any other fried calamari you could order. The crispy butterfish roll was very very good! The fish so extremely fresh and there was just enough crispy tempura crumbs on top to give it a tiny bit of texture but not overpower the fresh and mild flavor of the fish. This roll made me want to come back here just to try some more of their sushi. For entrees, we picked salmon teriyaki with pickled cucumbers and prime skirt steak with sweet garlic soy sauce. Both were very good but the skirt steak was the star here. If was wonderfully marinated and tender and cooked to perfection and considering they didn't ask how we wanted it cooked, they are lucky we like it medium to medium-rare. The entrees came with steamed rice and grilled sweet potatoes. The rice was fine but there's not really much to say about plain steamed rice. The tried the sweet potato but have long-lived hatred of sweet potatoes so I imagine someone who liked them would have thought they were good. For dessert, we ordered one of each option, the green tea custard and spiced poached pear & tapioca pudding. Both were not very good. I don't like green tea but I don't even think the custard tasted like green tea that much. It just wasn't very good in general. The pear and tapioca pudding was also not very good but I get kind of grossed out by tapioca pudding in general. Overall, would go back for more sushi, skirt steak, and those orange margaritas but the desserts were definitely a miss!

    (4)

  • Asha V.

    Despite the crowd, the service was great! We were surprised to get a last minute reservation through OpenTable. It's yet another trendy River North establishment, but its not a total disappointment. Tried most of the veggie stuff on the menu (it's somewhat limited) and they were all pretty good! It's really loud and vibrant on a typical Chicago wknd night, so don't expect to have any deep conversations while dining here!

    (3)

  • Adri B.

    O...my...G! I just had the absolute BEST sushi roll I've ever had in my life! When you go, order the Dynamite Scallop- it's amaaaazing! I also liked the Hamachi Serrano Chili Roll. Great atmosphere. Went with a birthday party of about 7 or 8 and they gave us our own private area. Service was great. Wasn't too impressed by the meats- I've had more tender cuts elsewhere, but the sushi is GREAT! A worthwhile splurge.

    (5)

  • Candace D.

    Fabulous food at the Chicago Architecture Foundation's event here. Service very good too. The found nail sculpture over cooking station an amazing example of how one person's rubbish is another's art. Mesmerizing. And food fabulous too. Range from sushi to skirt steak to a black cod that had our table eye popping.

    (5)

  • Irina M.

    I wasn't sure what to expect from yet another restaurant opening in the area, but I was pleasantly surprised. The service was great - the wait staff took great care of clearing empty plates/ refilling water,etc. The atmosphere was casual, but chic - a nice addition to the area, considering how pretentious other restaurants nearby have become. Lastly, the food was excellent. The truffle steaks were perfect all around, and the nigiri was fresh and delicious. The chicken wings and the tempura shrimp appetizers were good, but I would try other menu items next time. The dessert menu looked great - hope to come back to try some items.

    (5)

  • TK K.

    Upon several recommendations, I finally ventured to Roka Akor last weekend. After being warmly greeted, my companions and I were whisked away through the crowded dining room to our table. It was around 7:45 p.m. and the place was packed. Because of its open concept, the restaurant is on the loud side. However, this is typical for trendy River North places. It is not marketed as a romantic spot. Our server was very friendly and attentive during our visit. I wish I remembered his name. Usually, my companions and I start off with edamame for our appetizer. However, our server suggested the robata grilled Japanese shishito peppers. He pretty much insisted we would like them, so we ordered them, along with the grilled asparagus. Wow was he right. The peppers were excellent and perfectly seasoned with ponzu and bonito flakes. The asparagus was the best I have ever had. It was cooked to the approprate texture and had sweet soy and sesame. Delicious! We ended ordering two more orders. Being a vegetarian, I indulged in the organic vegetable roll, while my carnivorous companions had their selections. All of us enjoyed our meal immensely. I could eat at Roka Akor everyday.

    (4)

  • Dan C.

    Some of the BEST most fresh sushi I've ever had since living in CA... Also some of the best service I've had anywhere. Very reasonably priced for the awesome tasting fresh food you're eating. Go here for a fun, romantic or just a celebration night.. Comfortable place. Just don't order too many drinks if you want to keep your bill down, just like any dinner place I guess.

    (5)

  • Jeanus T.

    Very good! Everything was tasty and I liked the combination of sushi and grill providing many more options. Decor is very nice and although it is pricy, you'll for sure have a good experience.

    (4)

  • Brian O.

    Awesome atmosphere on Fri night. Bar was packed. Food a little spendy but we expected that after looking at menu. Asparagus was tasty, and their house specialty duck.

    (4)

  • Delores C.

    This place was beyond amazing.. I can't put words to this. Worth every single dollar spent. I couldn't stop talking about the food, the service, the environment.. It was AMAZING!

    (5)

  • Stephanie G.

    I have been to Roka three times and enjoyed it each time. Have reservations for this Friday too! I like the small plates and sharing her becuase there is alwyas so much I want to try. The sushi is great and they do a great job with the beef dishes. The only thing that I have found to be just okay is the chicken teryiaki. But that is still better than what I have been served other places. The other dishes are just so phenomenal, that a dish that's only 'good' stands out. The desserts are 'meh' but usually I am so full anyway, it doesn't matter. My favorites are the sushi, salmon teryaki, prime rib and the brussell sprouts.

    (4)

  • Lin H.

    Went there because we go the 50% off promotion thru Facebook. the regular price was 39.99. plus 20 % service charge, with the promo it come down to 29 bucks tips included. Not a bad deal at all. The sashimi is by far the best quality you can get in brunch buffet (other than vegas) the soy glazed short ribs, duck leg, and corns are def a must have.

    (4)

  • Marisol D.

    Pricey but the freshest sushi you'll find in the city. The Butterfish and Tuna Tataki's were to die for!

    (4)

  • Jonathan V.

    SOLID food, decent experience. Service was a little pushy and kept reccomending "extras" - bottles of wine, seafood platters etc. Food was good, but not great. We ordered: Butterfish tataki - A - really good item Negrani Chef Selection - B+ Dynamite scallop roll - A best sushi hamachi serrano chilli roll - B second best sushi Pork belly - C pretty good Sweet corn with butter and soy - Awsome side - must get Skirt steak - fatty - C could take it or leave it Ribs were good, and feel off the bone - had to since we only had chopsticks - B

    (3)

  • Basil A.

    I had never been to Roka and wanted to give it a try. Overall my party felt the food was tasty but the portions were very small. The price was high for the quantity. For reference, my favorite sushi place is Sakura in Indianapolis and I receive twice the portion for exactly half the price. At Roka, the most expensive Sushi plate- the "Deluxe" was $58. The sashimi pieces were so thinly sliced, I had trouble picking them up. More emphasis was on presentation than the actual food. The service was uniformly pretentious. Our bar waitress was critical of my appetizer choice of the spicy tuna roll, and told me flatly it wasn't very good. She directed me to a much more expensive roll- one with scallops- that was $18. I ordered both. The tuna roll was fine, as it is very simple. The one with scallop had precious little scallop in it. Our waiter was a salesman-pressing us toward certain choices on the menu. He told me if I ordered the Deluxe sashimi plate, I'd be "the rockstar of the table" whatever the heck that means. Overall, the crowd was trendy and the ambiance was cool. I just recommend you eat before you go.

    (2)

  • Aloysius T.

    I typically hate Japanese-style places. Especially modern Asian blah-blah-blah places. I love Japanese food and I"m a bit of a purist for everything that I do; but Roka Akor is the exception. So surprised that this place is from Arizona. What is the last thing exported from Arizona, Nash-ian assists from white boys? Either way, it's a good thing. Ambience - Trendy, modern, huge. Casual enough for jeans, but nice enough to get a little dressed up and not feel out of place. The Kitchen area is widely visible, and you can see their robata grill front and center. Service - No hiccups at all. Water was always filled. We were checked on often, and not annoyingly so. Not stuffy, not too casual and "TG McFunstery" The perfect middle ground. Recommendations were lent, and a sense of humor was had. We were a group of 6 people and might have been a pain in the ass to manage, but everything went smoothly. The apptz and sushi came out lightning fast. Nothing took too long to come out. All drink requests were executed upon quickly. Everything just went very, very smoothly. One of our party members came late, and they handled it without hiccup. Food - we ordered up a buncha food. So i'll try to keep this concise Sashimi - super fresh, some of the freshest I've had in Chicago. I've had sashimi in Japan so I know what the golden standard is. Cheap, it is not. But quality, it has in spades. Beef and Kimchi dumplings - perfect tasty little morsels of high quality meat. Couldn't taste the kimchi, though; but the texture of the dumpling skin was perfect Butterfish tatake - Amazing, order it. No excuses. Unctuous with the perfect amount of acid as contrast. Best app we ordered. Rolls - I think the rolls are a waste here. Not b/c they aren't good. But b/c the quality of fish is so good. Also, the rolls here are very simple such that the fish isn't overwhelmed by....well crap and junk. The soft shell crab roll particularly stood out, but the other rolls we ordered were forgettable for the most part. I heard the dynamite roll was really good as well; but they were out of it. In summary; You don't buy a Ferrari and paint it Beige. Vegan shout out - so my buddy was worried about what to order, but luckily they had Rice Hot Pot w/ Black Truffle. Nothing to scoff at, at $25 , but the portion was fairly large; and as you can imagine it was a very hearty, rich dish. Delish Steaks - this is the only area where things were a bit...lacking. First off, they cut up their steaks. Now, I can see the reasoning behind this; they want everything that you order from the restaurant to be shareable. And the steaks are a la carte (no sides). But on the other hand, whenever food is cut up for me; I feel like I'm a grandpa. Maybe i'm just being finicky here...but if you are going to cut up steaks; make sure to get the temperature right. We ordered two medium rares and one came out medium. If you get the luxury of being able to check the steak, you should never ever fuck it up. I found my medium rare Prime rib to be forgettable and under-seasoned. Steak shouldn't warrant sauce; although the variety of sauces they offer are good. The NY strip was better, but unfortunately due to it being cooked medium; I had trouble falling in love with it. But it was seasoned well, and didn't need sauce; so that is a plus. Quick Dessert roll up - Green tea Custard 4.5/5, Chocolate Cake 4/5, Sorbets 3.5/5, Banana Bread 5/5, Booze - Amazing selection. Sakes up the wazoo. If you need a rec, get the Hiroshima Seikyo sake. Smooth and only $26 a carafe. They had interesting beers, esp one of my faves: Hitachino. Wine for days divided by region. Their 07' chateauneuf du pape Rhone wine was at a good price point ($46) and hearty enough for steak, but not too overpowering for the rest of the non-seafood items we ordered. I was glad to see some South African wines on their list, and we ordered the Pinotage; which was also at a very good price point. In summary: Trendy restaurant, great for a date. Price is not cheap, but not prohibitively expensive. There's a ton of great deals on the menus with food and booze if you look hard enough. The service was impeccable. The quality of fish was some of the best in the city I've had, but the steaks can use a little work IMO. This place is a hot spot, so check it out. Seems like a place Bears or Bulls players will probably frequent. k thx bai PS: Complimentary REAL wasabi rubbed on shark's skin with orders of sashimi. If you have never tried real wasabi, you dont' know what you are missing. 1 piece (root) can fetch up to $50 dollars.

    (5)

  • Rob D.

    Again, breaking my usual silence in reviewing for an exceptional case. I was on business travel in Chicago during the week and stopped into Roka Akor with a coworker for some cocktails while we waited for our table across the street at Frontera Grill. We figured we'd have cocktails and appetizers at Roka and then our mains at Frontera. The cocktails were competently mixed and enjoyable. For apps we had the Robota grilled shisiedo peppers, Hamachi Serrano Chili roll, and the braised and grilled pork belly. It was all good, but the pork belly was really a stand out dish. It took the title of "best single bite in Chicago". After my wife came into town to join me for the weekend, we ended up at Roka Akor again after an architecture and fireworks cruise along the river. It was a very different scene from Wednesday night, and very loud. I really think that this might me fixed a bit with some soft treatment on the ceiling and walls to reduce reflected sound, but I digress. We were seated very promptly at the Robota bar despite the crowd. Obviously I had to order the pork belly again (that being my reason for recommending it to my wife), and also repeated the shisiedo peppers. Added to that we had a spicy yellowtail roll, and the vegetable, prawn, and butterfish tempura. All of this was quite good, but as sometimes happens, more food kept coming. We also had the Robata Grilled Scallops with Yuzu Shiso and the Wild Jumbo Tiger Prawn with Yuzu Kosho Chili Paste, as well as a sample of the Grade 10+ Australian Wagu and butter poached mushrooms. The scallop took the title of "best bite", the prawn was indescribably good, and the Wagu, served rare, even met with my wife's approval (and she always orders her steaks medium well). The mushrooms were buttery and amazing (the Robata Chef let us in on the secret of "butter...a LOT of butter"). Our server Manny as well as the rest of the floor staff were attentive and very friendly (Manny gave us some great suggestions for lunch tomorrow. He's a man after my own heart who loves his food). The Robota chefs were extremely friendly, good natured, and accommodating, and the head chef who was expediting made sure we were well taken care of from his post across the grill. Sorry I missed your names guys, you deserve all the accolades that can be heaped on you. In every city I visit I have one or two restaurants that are "must visit" spots when I come into town. While on this trip I ate at Frontera Grill, XoCo, Blackbird, Alinea, Lou Malnati's (I HAD to try some buttercrust deep dish), and Roka Akor. Roka Akor is my Chicago "must visit" spot.

    (5)

  • Michelle L.

    Great atmosphere. The drinks are okay and the sushi is decent.

    (3)

  • Erik Z.

    Nice atmosphere. Good service. Went on a Tuesday eve around 6 pm got seated right away. Had sushi. Food was good not great. A little on the expensive side in my opinion.

    (3)

  • Gina L.

    Great food, great service, trendy place with nice decor. The Butterfish Tataki and the Yuzu Miso Marinated Black Cod was amazing. The uni was one of the mildest sweetest uni I have ever had. (My mouth is watering as I type this thinking of the food there.) I'd go back in a heartbeat but I might skip the otoro the next time. It was good, and I enjoyed dipping it in the freshly grated himalayan salt, but not really worth what it cost (at least for me).

    (5)

  • Ryan L.

    Delicious appetizers and rolls. Less so the Prime Rib. Very loud atmosphere foiled our attempts at conversation with friend we rarely see. Forgot our brussell sprouts. Overall not quite up to the price point.

    (3)

  • D S.

    I'm a fan after giving Roka Akor a try on Tuesday night. Stopped by while in the area and was seated at the sushi bar straight away. The service was impeccable. Our server, Anthony, made sure we had everything we needed even though the place was packed. We never lacked attention. Great job. We ordered both Sushi and Grilled plates and everything was super fresh. The sushi is excellent and prepared with care. For an appetizer we ordered the Mixed Salad and the Tomato Salad. The Mixed Salad portion was excellent and the salad was crisp. For entres we had the Salmon Teriyaki, Soft Shell Maki, Hon Maguro and Asparagus. I liked that the Salmon was served with sauce on the side and grilled to perfection. The decor is upscale and ambiance was a perfect vibe for a night out. I definitely plan on returning and recommend giving it a try.

    (5)

  • John T.

    Don't go here if you're hungry.

    (3)

  • Mark G.

    After a stupidly expensive dinner because our waiter decided that since three people wanted the deluxe sushi platter and brought three platters (with a charge for 9 people) and the waiter charged us with too many bottles of the over-priced, nearly undrinkable wine that he recommended, I called the restaurant to question the bill. I spoke to an assistant manager who promised me a call by the manager within 2 hours. The manager wrote me days later that he called me without an answer. Impossible since I never left home that day. He gave me his cell phone number which always goes to voice mail and after a few messages truly understand that Roka is a rip-off joint. It has no place in our neighborhood and I suggest that you would only go there if you had too much money and no sense of good food and like being over-charged on our bill. We paid more than $150 per person for two bottles of wine, three cocktails and not enough tasty food to satisfy anyone. All nine of us went home and made dinner. Stay Away!

    (1)

  • Jen B.

    Roka Akor: Sceney/pricey sushi bar in River North that's nothing you haven't seen before. Sushi is really, really good. Like, melt in your mouth, buttery perfection good. Definitely worth the coin you will drop. But overall this place is just not my thing. Too many suits and stilettos perhaps?

    (4)

  • Jackie A.

    If I'm evaluating Roka on food alone, it's a 4. Food was very good. Prices were very high. Too high for my liking. The combination of food and price matters a lot to me. The price in this case dampened the overall experience. UPDATE: Upping it to a 4. Have had too many experiences at other restaurants recently that are super-hyped for their food but don't offer near the quality and taste of Roka Akor. I'd rate those others a 3. This is far superior.

    (4)

  • Richard D.

    Went tonight with 2 friends. I'm a sushi snob, and I swore that I wouldn't get excited for any new sushi place in the midwest (besides Katsu- that is still by far the best sushi in Chicago) but my friends knew that this was the new hot spot and begged me to go. Let me say that when rating ANY restaurant, all I care about is the food. I don't give a crap about the decor, the crowd, the lighting, the velevet ropes, etc etc. So while my friends were thrilled with being at the new hot place in town, I wasn't. So, here's the deal with the food. AT BEST, it is well below average. The sushi was on par with grocery store sushi- I had yellowtail (it was almost warm), Ama Ebi (so small it was ridiculous for $6 per piece), Uni (again $6 per piece and it was BAD), along with 3 rolls, a scallop appetizer, butterfish appetizer, and a few other things that were completely forgettable. Everything was TINY, but I guess they felt that they could make up for the tiny portions by putting layers of scallions, garlic, peppers, etc on top to make it look substantial. I'm too tired to write much more, but here is the bottom line- this place SUCKS. Another trendy, overpriced, crappy ripoff. A perfect location for it, in the new trendy part of town. Sunda is across the street, and the sushi there is A MILLION times better, and all of the kitchen items blow this place's away. AND, in addition to ridiculously small portions of low quality food, our bill for 3 guys was $535 before tip, and with 8 cocktails. Turns out that the waitress recommended several appetizers and sushi that were $28 a piece....nice. Hope this place closes its doors and heads back to Scottsdale in time for the first frost.....AND, I would give this ripoff joint zero stars if Yelp would let me......

    (1)

  • Julie B.

    Decent food, horrible service. Went here for dinner on a Saturday night. Made reservations in advance. We went a little early to see if we could be seated earlier, which the rude hostess quickly and snootily shot down. Just because you work at a restaurant that is a new hot spot does not make you hot. Drive away customers who are there to drop a few hundred dollars and they'll remember it and will go elsewhere. We were sat in the lounge area, not the main dining room, so didn't get to see the open kitchen that we were looking forward to. The service only got worse from here. Our waitress told us to order everything at once so they could time our food, so we did. Everything came out at once, and it didn't fit on our tiny lounge area table. We had to combine items on plates so they could take plates away. They were obviously trying to turn the tables over as quickly as possible while pushing certain dishes - and not focused on creating a nice dining experience. Food was pretty good - we had the grilled king crab legs which were tasty. The burnt tomato salad was good, as was the spicy tuna roll and cod. Spicy himachi roll was pretty flavorless. Butterfish sashimi and himachi sashimi were good but the same as at any other restaurant. If I go back, it will be after the staff loses it's attitude of working at a newly opened restaurant.

    (2)

  • Keri W.

    Loved it!!! Great atmosphere and fantastic sushi!! Worth trying!!

    (4)

  • Taz M.

    Not impressed. The ambiance here is a bit too over the top (kind of pretentious), and almost uncomfortable. The food here is between OK and good; I would love to give Roka Akor a 3.5 if I could, but I can't. They seem to spend alot of time and effort on presentation - I'd prefer they worked a little harder on taste. Rounding down...I almost never do that.

    (3)

  • Sunil D.

    Upsell, Upsell, UPSELL! I envision that's a mantra that is chanted during the staff training meetings . My first experience here was lackluster. The food was good, not great and certainly not "Top 10 Bon Appetit" great (which is the claim to fame for their Scottsdale, AZ location). The portions are quite small and pricey, but the quality/freshness is there, so take that for what you will. We started with a few appetizers - the serrano chili hamachi roll was very good and the spicy tuna roll was also very well done as the tuna was not soaked in sauce, so you could actually appreciate the quality of the ingredients, which was refreshing. The unagi nigiri, always a staple for me while eating sushi, was the smallest, yet one of the pricier servings I've ever had. We also got the wings, which while tasty and crispy, were quite small and only came with 4. The shrimp tempura appetizer was actually very good, crispy and once again fresh, quality products. This was the only dish so far that I thought was a fair portion size. Our entrees were very good, the prime beef with chili sauce was a good quality cut of meat but at $48 for 12 oz I would expect that (and quite honestly would rather go to Joe's or Mastro's if I'm paying that much for cow). The lamb chops were probably my favorite thing of the night and the black miso cod was also very well done. We also did the hot pot rice, which was almost like an asian risotto (although we got the rice after we were done with our previous three entrees, which was a pretty mistimed mistake in my opinion). The service, this was really the downfall of the experience. I told the waiter I was interested in some sake, he quickly flips the menu to some premium bottles at $150 a piece. I'm no aficionado and don't pretend to be, maybe it was my mistake in not letting him know my price points, but I was more than happy with the $30 bottle that I found on the menu. When we ordered the shrimp tempura, he tried to push us to a 24 oz lobster tempura appetizer instead. I have no clue what it costs (it was listed as MP) and didn't care to ask, I wasn't interested in dropping a mortgage payment on an appetizer (obviously this meal wasn't going on my corporate card). When we ordered anything else on the menu (including the rice), he insisted on the shaved truffle option (which was $15 or so). By the end of the meal, I was waiting for him to unveil a limited edition gold plated cone with truffle and black diamond speckled ice cream on the desert menu that "we had to have," fortunately he did not. I don't mind, actually I fully invite suggestions from the staff when its his/her true opinion. I don't like being pushed with every pricey option on the menu with such insistence and having to awkwardly decline it while trying to save a shred of dignity and trying not to look like a penny pincher. Needless to say, this part of the meal left a bad taste in my mouth. Overall, I think this could easily be a 4 star experience. Our meal wasn't outrageously priced when it was all said and done. Although for the amount of food we thought we ordered, it was far less than what showed up on the plates, but the quality, freshness and creativity were all present in each dish. The aggressive upselling really detracted from things, as for the few other missteps that occurred, this is a new place so it will undoubtedly have a few kinks to work out which is expected and forgivable. I'm sure I will be back to give it another try, but there will have to be more than a few tweaks before it can viably compete with Billy Dec's Asian Fusion hot spot across the street...

    (3)

  • Regina D.

    I was there with a group of friends for Saturday dinner and it was amazing! I had been there before and I had a good experience, but we ordered the chef's selection menu on Saturday and it was an unforgettable experience. The hostess was attentive, and Brian took great care of us. He was attentive and knowledgable about the food and wine. He recommended great wine pairings! I highly recommend everything we ordered: - fish, tuna and beef tataki - grilled shishito peppers with bonito flakes - mushroom salad and tomato salad - a big platter of the freshest sashimi I've had! - Mushroom risotto - Lamb chops with a delicious chili sauce - Steak with a delicious...I don;t know what is was! - Miso glazed black cod!...wow! - Tiger shrimp and mussels - Dessert...a whole new experience. I cannot even explain, but we had a delicious chocolate cake, amazing ice creams and sorbets (great combinations and unexpected flavors). The pastry chef, Jesse (?) is amazing and he made everything work! Thanks for a memorable dinner!

    (5)

  • Mike H.

    I had heard great reviews of the Scottsdale location, but had never been. So I had pretty high expectations going in when we ate at the Chicago location last Friday. Now I know what people were raving about. Every dish was outstanding. And the service was incredible. There must've been 1 waitstaff for every 2 diners. We started with the robata grilled shishito peppers, which were perfectly grilled and had just the right amount of heat. Next we had the robata grilled scallops appetizer. I like scallops but I could usually take them or leave them. These on the other hand, I could've taken down a plate of a dozen. I can't recollect what a robata grill even is, but whoever is manning the robata at this place knows what they're doing. Order anything with robata in the name of it at this place and you'll be in good hands. The robata wagyu beef and kimchi dumplings were next. Putting excellent beef in a dumpling is almost unfair. Of course it's going to be great. The beef tataki with shaved black truffle and truffle jus followed. My wife rarely eats red meat and she was asking the others at the table if she could have seconds and clean the plate. Next we had a plate of the yellowtail sashimi and the wagyu gunkan. The sashimi was good and very fresh but for me it's not going to stand up to the flavors of the other dishes we were having. The wagyu gunkan on the other hand was tremendous. As if we hadn't already stuffed ourselves on appetizers, the person ordering for us (who has been to the Scottsdale location many times) made probably his best decision of the evening and got the table the pure bred wagyu beef with artesian salts. I must've had at least 10 slices of this an only stopped because the plate was empty. WOW is all i can say. It was a beautiful piece of meat cooked perfectly...again the robata grill. Already sufficiently stuffed, we decided to split entrees and ordered the lamb and the miso black cod with pickled onions. It's hard to say which I enjoyed more. I typically never order lamb at restaurants, but this dish would merit serious consideration on my next visit. The black cod was also melt in your mouth good. We finished with two desserts - which ones I can't exactly remember. Partially because I was so full I could barely eat them and partially because the waitstaff was so quick to bring me another glass of wine. I would highly recommend eating here, especially with a group where you can try a lot of different things. The food is outstanding, the service is top notch and the atmosphere was great.

    (5)

  • Caroline F.

    Roka Akor is my new favorite restaurant in Chicago. My husband took me here for my birthday on Thursday. Our waiter, Patrick, was wonderful and gave us great suggestions. Everything we ate was delicious. The sashimi was as fresh as can be. The presentation was amazing. The miso glazed black cod was melt in your mouth delicious. We will definitely be back!

    (5)

  • Michelle S.

    The Butterfish tataki was tantalizing. The Tuna 4-ways was beautiful and everything I would expect from Roka Akor. Each bite of the Hamachi Serrano Chili provided another dimension of flavor and texture. When one of their new dishes was brought to the table, we were tempted just by the view. The taste was clean, refreshing and summery, but, it begged for a bit of a kick, one more dynamic layer. Our server, Anthony, who was fabulous, attentive and on point, inquired about our thoughts, we shared our opinion. He immediately brought out their seven spice mix and sprinkled it onto the dish. It came alive in our mouths. Let's just say, they may be adding our suggestion to the permanent menu. Can't wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Julia Y.

    I came here on a Saturday evening with my hubby. The atmosphere was pretty cool and comfortable. We were seated right by the foyer at a window table, which wasn't my top preference, but it wasn't that big of a deal. The service was alright, and so was the food, but there wasn't nothing really to rave about. The edamame was overcooked and oversalted, which was pretty gross. The lobster miso was okay with only a few pieces of lobster for the price of the soup. The dumplings and sushi rolls were yummy. The wagyu steak was good, but pricey and not all that great compared to other steaks in the city. I probably won't come back here, and think this place is a little overrated in Chicago.

    (3)

  • Roman P.

    So I had the pleasure to be invited for the Friends and Family 2 days ago and I must say it was amazing. The restaurant space is very beautifully, lots of cool wood designs and some very nice detail. Make sure you check out the bathroom when you come here. The service was very attentive and had good knowledge which surprised me because I was there the first night they served food. They must have had a good training. Now most importantly the Food: -Grilled Scallops where really sweet and so flavor full -Beef Tataki with Truffle. GOSH! What can is say, whats better then Prime Beef and Truffle :) -Sashimi and Sushi was top notch. Best I had in Town. The Chef Ce Bian told me and my Date that they import there own fish from Japan and they picked it up at the Airport early this morning fresh from the Plain. Who does such thing. They are the real deal here! Don't wast your time eating sushi somewhere else... - The Grilled Prime Fillet (I think Niman Ranch) was melting in my mouth and the Spicy Sauce they served with it had just a good kick with lots of flavor -Lamb was nice and tender -LOVED the mango cake for dessert. They toast there rice in house I think to make a Ice Cream out of it to go with it Honestly I think those guys will do very well. It was already a great experience but I'm sure once they have a few weeks under there belt it will be the place to be in River North

    (5)

  • N H.

    I wash my hands after using the restroom, unfortunately at least one member of their waitstaff does not. The food and service at Roka was excellent even though I felt it was pricey for the portions and quality. Out of all the items we ordered, the ribeye was probably the best. Unfortunately the experience was ruined at the end of the night when I was washing my hands in the restroom and noticed a member of the waitstaff skipping that key process. Needless to say, I won't be back.

    (1)

  • Desiree N.

    So, lots of new restaurants keep popping up in Chicago...being a self proclaimed foodie, I always check them out. Went to Roka Akor, the Monday after they opened, expecting them to still be working out the new restaurant kinks, but was blown away!! I'll start with service: being in the industry myself, I have high expectations. Started for drinks in the bar, where the bartender was extremely knowledgeable about the saki list and made several great recommendations from the cocktail list. Later, we moved into the dining room, where our server, Andrew, proved to me that great service does still exist here in Chicago. Andrew made several recommendations, was very detail oriented, and really went out of his way to customize the service for each guest I was with. VERY impressive. Now, on to the food: we ordered a little bit of everything. We started with the grilled chicken wings and the scallop apps. I am still dreaming about those scallops. Probably the best prepared I have ever had. After apps, we ordered the Cod, King Crab, and Lobster Tempura Entrees and the corn and steamed mushroom rice pot for dinner. The presentation was beautiful. I always kinda laugh when people take pictures of their food, but I found myself doing it here. I usually tend to stay away from tempura, but am so glad Andrew convinced me otherwise! The lightly tempura live Maine lobster alone would be reason to return. Food was phenomenal! Regretfully, we did not have dessert. Managers are also frequenting each table throughout the night,. Many restaurants in the city forget that guests love to have that contact with a manager, but two of them stopped by regularly, though the restaurant was busy to check on us. I had such a great experience that Monday that I returned again Thursday fir dinner once again. This time, to try the sushi, which was also fabulous. The wagyuu beef and dumplings app is also one that is a must try. In short, do yourself a favor, and go to Roka. Food is phenom. Andrew is one of the best servers I've seen in quite awhile, and they have a nice wine and sake list. A great addition to Ricer North for sure!! I will be back thus week too!

    (5)

  • Elisa O.

    YUMMMMMMMY!!!! Everything from the atomsphere, to the service, and let's not forget the FOOD was GREAT!!!!! Our server was very detailed with the menu, which in turn offered great insight. We started with the Butterfish Takaki (to die for), pork belly (yummm), and the rock tempura shirmp (the sauce...oh the sauce that comes with it!!) We then ordered some sushi rolls (spicy tuna, soft shell crab) that although are common rolls, they were made a little differently here which made them outstanding! The fish was incredibly fresh! Great place for celebrations! They really go out of their way to make sure you are satisfied 100%!

    (5)

  • R R.

    I have been dying to try this place since it opened but it was never in the budget. Thank goodness for restaurant week. We finally got to experience Roka Akor. We had a late reservation, so the place was extremely crowded on a Saturday night. We were seated on the side wall near the bar and in line of sight to women's bathroom, so that kind of put a negative tinge for the evening. It took about 10 minutes for a server to get our drink order. Once we ordered, things were coming at a better pace. We first started with root vegetable chips with two sauces. The amusez bouche was good but we obviously got the bottom of the bag as most of the chips where broken in crumbs and über tiny ( like what you find at the bottom of chip bag). I had the tuna roll two ways and the Japanese red snapper with pickled vegetables. Both were tasty but nothing novel or exceptional. My boyfriend had the pork and scallop Goya for an app and the roasted short rib with mushrooms. He enjoyed his meal more than I did, so he gave it a thumbs up. We closed out the meal with their bread pudding, which I actually did enjoy...a lot. So in short the service was a 5 and the meal overall for a meat eater and an ecto vegetarian was about a 7. I think we will be venturing to other Japanese inspired restaurants in the city and maybe a little lighter on the pocket book before returning here. Chitown Veg Gal

    (2)

  • Diana Z.

    If I could give this place 2.5 stars, I would. Food: 4 stars Service: 2 stars Ambiance: 3 stars If you want to dine and be seen, then this place is worth checking out. However, the service we received was not okay. The delivery of food/drinks was poorly timed (as in, our food was delivered, but we waited 15 min before our drinks made it out), our waiter rarely checked in on us, and when he did, it was clear his objective was to get us in and out. I HATE being rushed during dinner, and it's completely unacceptable at this price point. Am I ticked off? Yes. As for the food, while on the whole we ate some pretty tasty dishes, the chef's sashimi plate left much to be desired. Tip: eat at the sushi bar for a prime view of the robata grill and culinary action. Though, be warned, you'll leave smelling like a grilled piece of meat.

    (3)

  • Solomon D.

    The greatest thing about a fusion Japanese restaurant are that there are no rules. I asked the server because you don't I redact with sushi chefs at the sushi bar to get their modern nigiri plates (2 of them) and to just be creative what I got were two plates of 6 nigiri which were very cookie cutter. Overall the food was just average. Not worth the lack of imagination.

    (3)

  • Vijay R.

    Roka Akor is quite simply, the best sushi restaurant in Chicago. From the freshness of the fish, the unique preparation (Butterfish Tatki), and the visually captivating and flavor-inducing robata, one facet of the restaurant kept outdoing the next. I hate to say it, but the vegetable dishes (corn, asparagus) could potentially outdo the awesome steaks! Whereas desert in Asian restaurants is normally blah, the Vanilla Panna Cotta, the Chocalate Cake and the Mango Cake are sublime. Servers were friendly, attentive and very helpful. I hope to be back very soon.

    (5)

  • Heidi R.

    First of all, I must say this review is based only on my bar experience at Roka. I never ate anything while I was there and only sat at a stool in the bar area with a friend. The place was pretty much empty when I walked in on a Tuesday evening after work. I took a seat at the bar next to my friend and ordered a dirty martini with blue cheese olives which are the best party of the dirty martini. The bartender said they didn't have any blue cheese olives - only regualar... BORING. I still had the martini which was tasty but how can you really mess that up? There were about 5 guys behind the bar - not sure if they were bar tenders or bar backs but either way it was impossible to get any of their attention to order a glass of water and even another martini. I would love to go back to Roka to try the food since I do hear its pretty good but to go sit at a bar and as much as I did for a martini with bad service is hardly worth it.

    (2)

  • bliss m.

    This is my favorite restaurant in Scottsdale, where I am from. Every time I leave that restaurant, I am BLOWN AWAY by the food, atmosphere, and service. So naturally when I heard Roka was opening a Chicago location, I had to go. Took my boyfriend who is from out of town for our really nice dinner of the weekend. On first impressions: the atmosphere is very cool. Loved the glowingchangingcolorsthingy above the kitchen area. We were greeted by the manager, shook our hands, nice touch. Then, the service kinda went downhill from there. I won't say our waitress was TERRIBLE, but she was pretty bad. She had a frantic deer in headlights look the entire time. Wasn't very well versed on the wine menu, and just seemed rushed and not attentive. We never saw a glass of water, our wine came AFTER we already had food brought to the table. Maybe that is just a personal thing, but when I order wine, I'd like to have a little bit before the food starts pouring in. Timing of dishes was odd, but perhaps that was our fault as we ordered apps and then wanted to wait a bit to order entrees. However, she really never came back to take our entree order, we had to flag her down, mid sprint. All that being said, the stars were earned with the food. Spicy tuna roll- fresh fish, delish. Beef dumplings-must have Mushrooms and asparagus- mushrooms soooooooo good. Lamb chops- perfectly cooked, little spicy, very yummy Prime Rib- again, perfectly cooked, juicy, awesomeness Bill came out to around 160 pre tip. Luckily for the waitress, my boyfriend is nicer than I. Would I go back? Yeah... but I am going to give it a couple months to get all of the service kinks out first. Not stoked to pay top dollar for an odd, choppy meal experience. Kudos to the chefs though, job well done.

    (3)

  • Ashley L.

    I went with my sister recently and we had the most amazing experience. We sat at the sushi bar and loved being able to watch the chefs at work. Our waiter was wonderful at explaining everything to us. Each item that we picked was equally delicious. The atmosphere at this place is great. The lighting is very nice and though there is music going it's not distracting. I can't wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Sam C.

    i had heard such great things about roka, and was very excited to dine there last friday night. roka is pretty good, but this is no japonais. roka is beautiful, has fantastic service, and great food, but is way too overpriced for what you pay for. we started off with cocktails, japanese beer (good), scallops (pretty tasty), a few rolls (better that average) and beef dumplings (my mom's are better). others ordered the steak, which was grilled pretty rare but still very tasty. our friend's cod was tender and even better. however, my bf didn't think his steak was better than mastro's or chicago cut. i had a few more rolls to finish off, the california was just plain, and avocada salmon was interesting. finished off with dessert - they are more asian style, and light. so if you want something decadent you will be disappointed. overall, the meal was just short of $500 for 4 people. the food was still very good, but at that price point, i would have expected something more.

    (3)

  • K S.

    average sushi. maybe for chicago it's ok but really just ok. nothing special. it's a big trendy restaurant. the best was the kimchi wagyu dumplings but nothing in the sushi is notable aside from the sake. so go for the sake but not for the sushi unless you want a big trendy restaurant that has mediocre.

    (2)

  • Bea K.

    Food is fabulous, yet very pricey. I was not a fan of the atmosphere whatsoever. There was nothing to absorb sound and I could not hear anything the waitress asked/said. I don't know how she takes orders! Very professional staff, though. They just need to fix the noise issues, because I couldn't hold a conversation at dinner. It won't last if they can't fix that! Desserts were FAR too expensive, although delicious. But for the small size, they were double the price that I would pay.

    (3)

  • Aaron R.

    The food's not bad; it's just horrendously overpriced for the quality and quantity (I think that might be a function of being so close to tourist-central). The pieces of fish used for the nigiri were embarrassingly small. The maki was nothing special. The pork belly and beet salad was tasty but not very fulfilling. I haven't tried their steak, but my experience with the apps and sushi make me want to pass on anything further. There are way better options in the area for the same price (or less). It seems like they're trying to sell a lifestyle rather than concentrating on producing great food.

    (3)

  • Gina G.

    Chicago has a new sushi king! Roka Akor is bar far the best sushi in chicago.! The drinks are also great and the staff knows what they are doing. I love the layout of the dining room with the grill in the center. Chilli roll is amazing and the steaks are pretty good. You will have to make reservations in advance if you want to go on the weekend, but it is worth it!

    (5)

  • Kevin W.

    I'm really torn between 2 and 3 stars on this one. My gut reaction for a response to "How was my meal at Roka Akor?" is "MEH. It was ok." So I'll be generous and give them 3 stars. I took 3 clients here for dinner. We had a bottle of sparkling sake for the table and 2 glasses of wine or 2 cocktails per person. We also ordered 3 appetizers, 3 entrees, 3 sides and 1 sushi roll. The bill, with tip, was nearly $400. For $400, I expect SOMETHING to leave an impression on me, but nothing really did. I read that the calamari was good, so we ordered it. Despite the green chili peppers mixed in, it was surprisingly bland. The scallops which our server raved about were ok, I've had better. I had the lamb, which was served with a puddle of spicy red chili sauce and a tiny mound of kimchi. For my side I got the mushrooms. I just didn't see what was so unique about the robata cooking concept and certainly did not see the value for the prices charged. The drink menu was a point of contention throughout the evening. We ordered a 300mL bottle of sake to start off and I asked that the drink menu be left behind. In fact, I asked this several times, yet the server kept taking it. It was incredibly frustrating. When it was left, it was very overwhelming to navigate. It's a bible full of laminated pages with everything thrown together - non-alcoholic drinks, red wine, white wine, shochu, sake, beer, cocktails - it's just too much. It's more than 40 pages long, with no tabs indexing the different sections. When a drink is the first thing you are asked to decide upon, it shouldn't be that hard to navigate a drink menu.

    (3)

  • Mark O.

    Best Sushi in Chicago - hands down - ROBATA GRILL PORK AND RIBS ARE AMAZING. I've been to Mirimoto in NY of Iron Chef acclaim and this place blows it away. This place is more appropriate in NYC than here. Who else has black truffle? I've been everyplace - Japonais, Sunda, Nomi, Coast, Samba, RA, Sushi Wabi - and this place simply has better quality and more finely tuned offerings than the rest. Robata is definately a new thing - I've heard of one other place in LA which had it. The Robata is what puts this place over the top. It's so good I made another reservation for the following weekend as we were leaving to bring in some friends who will be visiting from SanFran. The pork and the ribs were amazing. HARD TO GET INTO THOUGH .... I tried for two days and the place was full. I had to get an off time (10:00 pm) but it was totally worth it. My friends tell me the London ROKA is crazy hard to get into - like French Laundry in Napa. IF YOU'RE A FOODIE - YOU'LL LOVE THIS PLACE.

    (5)

  • Ryan T.

    It is rare I give 5 stars but this place was exceptional! Service is amazing and skilled. The food here is so good and the presentation and ambiance were truly excellent. The steak and Ginger sauce I had was so delicious that I had dreams about it for a week afterwards. This is a place that I was truly impressed with and will come back to soon.

    (5)

  • Heather C.

    Was very impressed with every aspect of my meal. The service was exceptional and the food was delicous. Definitely recommend the hamachi serrano chilli roll and the filet was outstanding. Overall great experience and would recommend to anyone.

    (5)

  • Balu's G.

    I really want to give this place more star. Everything was delicious, but I had to sit in the bathroom for the rest of the night after eating here. We went for a dinner and ordered: - Steamed Edamame with Sea Salt - Butterfish Tataki - Soft Shell Crab Roll - Modern Nigiri Selection = my favorite - Prime Beef Filet w/ chilli ginger sauce (cooked medium) - Prime Skirt Steak w/ sweet garlic soy (cooked medium) = my favorite This restaurant is young, hip, loud, and dark, not suitable for family with little kids. There were 2 guys walking around in suits, I think they are the hosts that this place doesn't need. They're just standing around blocking the walkway that's already cramped. Overall experience was enjoyable, but I still prefer the north side sushi places.

    (3)

  • Zayna D.

    AMAZING experience. Food was amazing, whether you want a nice piece of meat, or sushi. Let me tell you, the freshest sushi I've had in the city. The ambiance was lovely too. Very pricey, so get ready for an expensive night out.

    (4)

  • Paul N.

    Generally an excellent experience here- have been several times. The last visit was a little disappointing- fish was not as fresh as usual. Service always good. I will definitely give them another chance when I am back in Chicago.

    (3)

  • jewelz O.

    The food was exquisite!

    (5)

  • Robert E.

    I'd like to give this place 3.5 stars instead of 3 but since that isn't an option I'm going to downgrade to the lesser option. It was good, very good, just not amazing. It's a nice room, the service was excellent, and the menu offers a diverse selection of contemporary Japanese. We started with the Shosito Peppers (so-so), the Kobe beef and kimchi dumplings (excellent), chicken (ok), hamachi roll (very good), and beef tataki (for $22 and 5 small bites it was just okay). Our group ordered a variety of dishes which were alright and I ordered chef selection of 10 pieces of sashimi. The fish was fresh and delicious. Our desserts were good too. No real complaints I just wasn't shocked and awed like I was hoping and like some of the other reviewers on here. All in all, it was a nice dinner but for $400 for 5 people it wasn't the best value. I'm on the fence...

    (3)

  • Jaimi G.

    Fish is just fair. Overpriced lesson ...there are better sushi restaurants out there (and nearby). "Modern sushi" = small toppings on the same fish for $1 extra per piece. Staff was good.

    (3)

  • Samantha L.

    The food here was excellent. So were the drinks...if you have an hour to wait for a drink during your meal. The service here was abysmal, and so bad the good food cannot outweigh it. It took 40 minutes for a drink during my meal, and even though the manager came over and apologized and said it was "on him", the drink still appeared on my bill. I also specified an allergy, and was still served that food instead of what I was told would be substituted. I would go back if they changed their management, and only then.

    (3)

  • anthony t.

    Ive been here 3 times now and overall I like the place. There drink with the ginger beer in it is great. (mule something or another) Food is all very good with some nice creative entrees, although sometimes the smell gets a little weird in there. The exhibition kitchen is great and the design of the place is very contemporary with cool lighting. They are giving Sunda some competition but I think I like Sunda a little bit better.

    (4)

  • Christine S.

    Very good - my only complaint would be about the calamari - we ordered it by accident and didn't send it back. We should have - it was way overcooked and crunchy/rubbery. Skip it - there are far better things on the menu. Our server (Andrew) was very knowledgeable about both the food and wine menus - suggested wines that were just to our liking and went well with the food. He also took the time to go over the menu and suggest items, based on our questions. The mushroom hot pot was amazing - I would go back just for that! We also had one sushi roll and the butterfish tataki - both of which were very good. Great atmosphere - overall, a pleasant experience and I'd definitely go back.

    (5)

  • Lim K.

    Wanted to try some grilled foods. Unfortunately, they were having problems with the grill and the place was a little smoky. We ordered kimchi dumpling, hamachi serrano, uni with quail eggs, sweet shrimp, yellow tail appetizer and dynamite roll. The dumplings tasted good; however, the dumpling wrap was not sealed and when I tried to pick it up with the chopsticks it fell apart. The hamachi serrano was very fresh and tasty. I especially enjoyed sweet shrimp. The chocolate cake dessert was very delicious. Overall, the food was good and the service was excellent.

    (4)

  • Dominic A.

    awesome food and ambiance. Loved the fatty tuna.

    (4)

  • neal s.

    Beautiful place with awesome food and I am not even a Sushi fan! There is a lot more here than Sushi and Japanese Steak. I had heard several great recommendations from friends and thought that we would check out this place. I was a little put off initially after being told that we couldn't be seated at 7:30 but that they could get us in at 7:15 only to find the place half empty but so be it. I was expecting it be good, but this place surpassed my expectations. Three of us shared the following items all of which were great: Salmon Avocado Roll Yuzu Miso Marinated Black Cod with Pickled Red Onions Lamb Cutlets with Korean Spices Cremini Mushrooms with Garlic and Butter Japanese Wild Mushroom Rice Hot Pot I will definitely be back.

    (5)

  • diane c.

    just went to lunch there for the first time (have never been for dinner yet) and the food was very tasty overall. the ramen was the best i've had in the city. delicious broth, not as high in sodium as state st or urban belly and good sized shrimp and scallops. the noodles were perfect (not soggy) and not fried. the roll that came with the ramen was very good, although i wish japanese restaurants would stop putting all the extraneous sauces/creams on their sushi. it's so unnecessary. will def try dinner next time!

    (4)

  • Mandy P.

    I don't think I've had a server more knowledgeable than ours at Roka Akor. We got in-depth explanations about flavors on everything from the cocktails we were considering right through the entrees. It was pretty impressive. After a lot of deliberation; the drink menu is 48 pages after all, my friend and I ordered the specialty cocktails for the season. They arrived expertly made and tasting exactly as our server said they would be. She and the bartender got 4 thumbs up for that one. Though we weren't terribly hungry, we were kind of encouraged to order a lot of food. Despite this, we settled on just getting the scallops to start and two rolls. This ended up being a perfect amount of food for what we were looking for. The scallops were perfection. Our rolls, one of which was a special for the evening, were also pretty good. The Hamachi Serrano Chili Roll was one of the best sushi rolls I've ever had. The kick of jalapeño that came at the end of the bite was initially eye-watering. I think I could order two of those for myself and be one happy girl. Our other roll is really not worth mentioning. It was pretty standard and really didn't provide any special reason to ever order it again. And never people to say no to dessert, we ordered the house made banana cake with coconut ice cream. Since my friend has a sensitivity to nuts, it seemed to be the safe choice on the menu based on the descriptions for other options. Unfortunately the menu leaves off the fact that it comes with a praline candied topping, but we handled the situation on our own by making sure she only had parts of the ice cream that hadn't come in contact with it. The cake, ice cream, and chocolate combo was most definitely a very enjoyable end to our meal. There was a slight sticker shock upon receipt of the bill, but all things considered, I would most definitely return.

    (4)

  • Weston T.

    Our server was extremely knowledgeable and very pleasant. The food was good but it took longer than expected. In their defense they realized it was taking longer than normal and sent out edamame to snack on while we waited. They say the fish is extremely fresh but I feel "extremely fresh" is an opinion. I get it we are in the midwest so I'm not expecting oceanside fish... However don't try to make it more than it is. Would I go back? Yeah I suppose. It's a bit pricey but I guess that's what people in that area are looking for. The decor is nice so I suppose that's a good of reason as any to go back. However for my money I would prefer Yuzu or Arami. They aren't as "fancy" but they are just as good if not better and not as stuffy.

    (3)

  • Trang T.

    This is one of my favorite spot for sushi in the Chicago. If you're looking for good quality sushi with a fun atmosphere - this is the spot. The food is down right yummy! Order the salmon and avocado roll, hamachi, uni....oh uni!!! If you're grabbing a drink - ask for George's fantastic spicy margarita - taste like tamarind with a kick jalapeño infused in the tequila. Our waitress, Eso recommended dishes that were right on and choice of wine that went well with our meal. Look forward to the opening in San Francisco - so when I'm back home I have a bit of Chicago with me!

    (5)

  • Fuudcritic C.

    Went for Sunday Brunch (buffet). Very good. Nice selection. Very reasonable. Staff has gotten better as far as friendliness.

    (3)

  • Kristin W.

    Loved it!! I was with a group and we ordered the "decadent" which was basically chef's choice. It was a ton of food and absolutely delicious. Great variety, all was so good! The sashimi was really fresh and beautiful. The steak was perfectly seasoned. Dessert was also nuts, in a good way. Served in a massive bowl filled with ice. Lots of sorbets, cake, I don't even remember them all, but they were great. I would go back any time. If you go, eat a light lunch to save room!!

    (5)

  • Dustin G.

    I have eaten at many great restaurants across the country and there are not many that are as memorable to me as my dinner at Roka Akor. From the minute we sat down my wife and I had one fantastic dish after another come to our table. Hands down the best seat in the house is right in front of what Roka's Robata Grill. Not only do you get to eat well but you also get to converse with the chefs cooking your dinner. There were so many great looking dishes listed on the menu that we couldnt figure out what to order. So we tried a little of everything. You can't go wrong with the Butterfish Tataki, any of the Sashimi and make sure you try the Prime Ribeye with Wafu Dressing. To finish things off, the Mango and Vanilla Cake with Toasted Ice Cream is perfect. We are very much looking forward to our next dinner at Roka Akor. I highly recommend this place to everyone. You will not regret it.

    (5)

  • Sarah D.

    I went to Roka Akor during Restaurant Week, expecting to do the special RW menu. My foodie friend convinced me to do the "Decadent" chefs tasting menu and it was awesome. 5 courses with 2-3 plates during each course. An amazing meal! I will definitely be back.

    (5)

  • Kim V.

    Visited some friends in Chicago last week, and after reading reviews on here, we thought we'd try Roka to get our Japanese food fix. So great that we did!! We split a bottle of sake with some awesome apps: Whitefish Tatake, a roll with yellowtail and chili, and "Modern Nigiri (a fan favorite, I was told by my server)". SO GOOD. Then we shared a few things from the grill: Miso Cod, Lamb (came with a salad on the side that complimented the cutlets perfectly) and the Chef Special Steak. We also had the Truffle Rice Hotpot (!!!) and I barely shared it with my friends. Good service staff--waters stayed filled,questions were answered yet we had enough privacy for us to catch up on each others' lives. I'm in Chicago for a wedding in October and I know this is a place I'll revisit with my friends!!

    (5)

  • Brian G.

    Outstanding menu, food, service, and scene. 2nd time here. Fantastic. Australian Wygu was fantastic along with spicy tuna roll.

    (5)

  • Sarah W.

    After having been a long time fan of the Scottsdale-based Roka Akor location, I was eager to try the latest recently opened Chicago location this past week while visiting the Windy City. I am pleased to report that it once again exceeded by expectations! I can not say enough good things about Roka. Having lived in Phoenix for more than a decade, my boyfriend and I relished the chance to experience five star Japanese inspired dining in the unlikely desert, and have been avid fans of Roka since their opening in scottsale a few years back. Seeing as Chicago is known for having a multitude of quality restaurants to choose from, (with the critically-acclaimed Japanese restaurant Sunda mere blocks away from the new River North Roka Akor location), I have no doubt that it won't take long for Roka to emerge as one of the leading fine culinary dining destinations in the city. For those not familiar with the menu, it is Japanese-fusion meets steakhouse meets highest-grade sushi. My husband and I have traveled all over the world and this restaurant repeatedly leaves me with the feeling I just finished one of the best meals of my life. Located on an easily located corner in the heart of River North, the airy, high-ceilinged contemporary wood-paneled interior is beautiful and simplistic and exudes sophisticated elegance. Definitely a fun place to people watch, the bar was swarming with beautiful, trendy and eclectic patrons. For our dinner, we were happy to try some of our favorites from the Scottsdale location, and as usual everything was divine. Try the butterfish tataki (a light appetizer with yuzo-infused, lightly garnished ginger on delicious sashimi), the black cod (my favorite---buttery, savory, with a hint of sweetness elegantly wrapped in a banana leaf), the filet (hubby always gets it, declaring "best he's ever had") along with various sashimi, delicious (no really, amazing) buttery grilled veggies....and lest you think you can't eat anymore----you must try the dessert! Their in-house pastry chef/dessert specialist creates what look like artistic masterpieces crafted out of various fruits, mousses, and exotic ice cream, all displayed on a block of ice. Our server recommended what he described as their "Japanese equivalent to vodka" fruit-infused shochu drinks, and we enjoyed the peach and honey flavors. Impeccable service throughout the night; the manager even came over to check on us himself! My only complaint would be that the night ended all too soon. I look forward to our next visit to Chicago & in the meantime will be enjoying the Scottsdale location.

    (5)

  • W b K.

    This place did not live up to expectations. The nigiri sushi was okay but $20.00 for Toro is a bit steep. The sushi rolls were mediocre at best. The waiter interrupted my order midstream to inform me that "the restaurant's focus is the grill" ????? while we were seated at the sushi bar?????? I guess in retrospect we should have taken his advice and left.

    (2)

  • angeline b.

    Hovering and condescending waitstaff, overly priced bland food....if your lucky you will get a piece of plastic in your roll!

    (1)

  • Brian B.

    My first visit was tremendous.Coming from Hawaii I had not had much luck finding a top notch sushi bar in Chicago.Roka Akor fits the bill.Great food, great service ...I will be back often.

    (5)

  • Al L.

    Perhaps I am being too harsh with my review because they are new - they needed to work the kinks out. I went a few weeks after they opened and I was truly disappointed with everything except the (gyzoa and pork belly appetizers) We got some appetizers, drinks and rolls. The server was nice but she was gone most of the night, it took 45 minutes to get our drinks, I ordered a drink that meant Yum but it was not - it was too strong and lysol like. The whole dinner took over 2.5 hours - I am American - that is a very long time for me when there were long long long breaks between food and even seeing our server? The place was reslly pretty though. The sushi ? Not so good - I would rather go to a byob hole in the wall. Will I try it again? If it's someones birthday and I have no say. BUT Bombay spice - their Indian place is good for take out. Not worth the $175 dinner

    (1)

  • Jamie F.

    Roka is an excellent addition to the River North restaurant scene. I dined there on a Friday night with 3 other friends, we all remarked upon leaving that we couldn't remember the last time we were so pleased with a dining experience. The service staff from our waiter, Andrew, all the way to the runners, bussers, and hosts was excellent. My cocktail at the bar while waiting for my party was fantastic, and Jorge was kind enough to make some great menu recommendations. Andrew steered us in the right direction with sharing multiple menu items for the table, making recommendations without being over-bearing. The fish was the best, freshest quality I've had and the steaks were phenomenal as well. I highly recommend the ribeye and the new york strip. My friends raved about the tempura appetizers, while I had a delicious salmon roll and the wagyu dumplings to start. I've been raving to all my friends about the restaurant over the weekend, and I can see myself returning very soon.

    (5)

  • d b.

    2 thumbs up! This is a great addition to the river north area. It delivers great japanese food with the added bonus of grilled meats. They call it robata grill and I love the BBQ from any nation. I tried many of the dishes including the deluxe sashimi which apparently was rated in Bon Appetit mag as one of the best in america per the waiter. It was great but just high end fish in the end. Prob fresher/higher grade in arizona where the original is. The fresh grated wasabi and sea salt were a cool touch. The decor and service were stellar. The prices were a little high to eat there regularly. However, some signature dishes including the grilled pork belly and shrimp might bring me back more often to try out what else that grill can do

    (4)

  • I K.

    This place starting with the staff and finishing with the food is just amazing. I could write 10 pages how great that place is but you have to see it for yourself. You will not be disappointed probably no matter what you order. Pricing is a bit steep but worth every penny. Will go back there many many times more.

    (5)

  • Jen P.

    Great food. Cool space. Terrible service. Perhaps they're still trying to work out the kinks, but this place seemed completely overbooked during our late August Saturday night dinner. After telling us that the people at our table were paying the check and we would be seated shortly, we were sent to the bar--where we waited for an hour before we were seated (we had to check back twice to remind them). I ordered sushi, which was really good. But my guy ordered a steak, which took another hour to come out. He said it was pretty good, but not worth waiting all that time. I also couldn't really enjoy my dinner since I was tipsy from drinking at the bar while waiting for what seemed like a lifetime to have dinner. We were also promised a round of drinks for our patience, but it was never delivered. The host or manager of some sort was also walking around and greeting only the loudest tables that seemed to be ordering the most alcohol. Annoying. There are plenty of other really good sushi/steak places in this city to head to instead where I don't have to wait hours before I'm able to feed my appetite.

    (3)

  • Erin S.

    Good hot, cold apps, sushi and entrees and have to say favorites were the butterfish, crab, beef dumplings, filet and mushroom rice. But seems very overpriced as there are many other restaurants in Chicago with a better atmosphere and similar if not better selection. Desserts were underwhelming. Drinks are crazy expensive like you can go to trump or 95th for the same if not less. Service was pretty attentive but pushy. Wish I had a better experience but doubt I will go back since topolobampo is across the street and by far a better value and experience.

    (3)

  • Marcus Z.

    Ok so the sushi choices were limited...but....Butterfish Takaki and Pork Belly are yummy. Great Atmosphere, I was impressed by the nice/friendly staff, and the manager came by as well to make sure we were taken care of.

    (4)

  • Genious C.

    Great ambiance/scene and service. Food is average. Overpriced for what you get. Will not be returning for dinner.

    (3)

  • Heidi D.

    came here for dinner with family friends without reservations and we were seated immediately. this place is trendy, with modern decor and comfortable ambience. our server was charming and his recommendation--a side of japanese wild mushroom rice-- was delicious! we got sashimi and maki to share which were pretty typical fare--not bad but nothing to write home about either. i had the salmon which was quite amazing, cooked to perfection. the place is a bit pricy although i would definitely come back to try other things on the menu.

    (4)

  • Jessica N.

    I. Love. This. Place! I love the decor - it feels really sexy and upbeat Servie is always great and not snobby Food - never disappoints. And I love how diverse the options are! Some of my favorites: Black Cod - This is a MUST TRY. Amazing texture and great flavor Steaks - I've tried a few in the past 2 months are they are all good (sirloin, filet) Duck - holy cow! Duck breast is good and the leg might be even better! Mushroom and rice side - almost a MUST TRY for me :) Yellowtail sushi - clean and light I know I will be back here a lot!!

    (5)

  • Belle L.

    5-stars for Sous Chef Justin: For private dining, you want him at your table. Charming. Social skills. Listener. Creative. If you are feeling adventurous with time to spare, you should request an off-off menu dishes that are deliciously whimsical and unique. Who has lamb tartare with marinated Asian pear in Chicago? 1-star for Executive Chef Ce Bian: Tried too much to be grand that became nothing. O Toro (Premium Fatty Blue Fin Tuna - MP @ $22) -- marbled 4 thin square cut that looked like wagyu beef. I pitty the Food Delivery Dude who spent more time shaving the Chef recommended sea salt, instead of soy sauce. O Toro + Sea Salt = Fishy I didn't hesitate getting the soy sauce with wasabi. Robata Grilled Pork Belly -- the complex marinade leaves an undesirable after taste. A dot of marinated golden beets. Hamachi Serrano -- a glorified version of tuna, avocado and jalopeno with a mega-stiff mayo that impressingly holds the serrano in place when turned sideways. Dessert -- who is the dessert creator? 2 impressive selections that is sub-labeled. Mango Cake ($10) is a good layer of mango mousse with a tad less vanilla cake with a Chicago-first toasted rice ice cream. Precision at it's best. Venue -- spacious but seated elbow to elbow. Price -- you are paying for a 2001 interior decor (color changing cube) with a Las Vegas vibe. I shall NEVER return. No specials shall entice me to endure an ill-paired ordinary menu.

    (1)

  • John M.

    I would say this place is only ok. The food just didn't seem that inspired. Given the high price for steaks and other dishes, I definitely thought that it would have been tastier. Instead I found many dishes to be rather bland or off flavor. My steak was certainly not a 50 dollar steak. I felt like given the size of the restaurant, everything was made very quickly and without much love. I am also a little surprised by the ratings here. I think they're a little suspicious.

    (3)

  • Laurence K.

    Great sake list, pretty decent cocktail list too. We had the Yellow-tail with jalapeno and the spicy tuna both really good and fresh. I usually don't think of a chain restaurant for sushi but this was an exception. The place is very lively and has a good vibe George the bartender was really knowledgeable and helped us out quite a bit . I can see why its so busy here

    (3)

  • Liz H.

    I cannot believe it took me so long to get here for dinner. The food is outstanding and definitely worth the price. Perfect river north spot before going out with great ambiance and healthy dining options (which is a big plus for me). All the seafood is very fresh and rivals as one of the best sushi spots in the city. Wasabi/steak potstickers - amazing, sushi rolls - amazing, robata grilled steak- amazing, martinis - yum! The only thing that was not so good was the rice pot which was a little too sticky for my tastes. Additionally, the service is first class - my waitress both times was attentive and friendly. Can't wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Rio J.

    Absolutely AMAZING. The cocktails are so artistic and delicious. We ordered the chef's selection menu and every single thing we were given was unbelievably yummy. I would go back in a heartbeat.

    (5)

  • Grace S.

    Everything in this restaurant is about presentation. There is a cool ambiance to the restaurant; the decor is very modern, and the sushi bar is in a big open space. It looks really nice from the outside too because they have those big glass windows where you can see everything inside without ever having to step into the building. I think that's why it's a little surprising how empty it was when my family came here on a Sunday night. I think because the restaurant is so big and there were only five tables filled the entire night, it looked kind of dead. But that was okay because that meant faster service and a quieter dinner for us. I guess I would just expect a place that looked so nice to be bustling with people. Anyway, the food was pretty good. All of the sashimi was fresh. The pork belly was delicious. If I could recommend one thing, it would be the pork belly -- unless you're a health nut, in which case, do not get the pork belly. It's one of those things that's so good yet so bad, and you can tell just from one bite. The cod had a nice texture and was cooked perfectly. The steak was tender. The lamb was alright - I think I was already too full to taste anything by then - but I do remember it had a little kick to it. Regardless, everything looked amazing. I couldn't stop taking pictures. Like I said, it was all about the presentation here. My only complaint is the price. It was $98 for the Signature five-course meal. They have another five-course meal that is even more expensive than that. And if one person gets it, the whole table is supposed to get the same thing. I mean, the food was great and it's a wonderful choice if you want to try a little bit of everything, but nothing really blew me away. By the end of the meal, I was so stuffed I couldn't enjoy the rest of my $100 meal, so I personally don't know if it was worth it. I will say that our server was very accommodating when I asked about the options in the beginning, and he even offered to come up with a cheaper three-course meal for us, to which I was open but the rest of my family declined... Overall, I would recommend this place but only get the five-course meal if you're there celebrating something, or if you're rich. Otherwise try asking about a three-course meal instead; that way you're not uncomfortably full by the end and you still get to have a great meal for a slightly lower price than the Signature option.

    (4)

  • Maria D.

    We had our "Sex In The City" night at Roka Akor and I was truly impressed right from the start, when we got our wine list. The selection of sparkling wines, aside from the usual suspects had a bottle from Oregon, which ended up being absolutely spectacular! Everything from service to presentation was fantastic. As a winning touch our waiter was most accommodating, he made all the appetizers sharable for 3 of us, he even provided us with the extra plates to share without being asked. The dinner started with (may I add complementary!) butterfish tetaki, which was absolutely fantastic. We decided to share a bunch of small plates and large plates and our favorites were beef tetaki, the oysters presented with most exquisite lime sauce (they are the hidden gem - be sure to ask, they are not on the menu) and foie gras. We weren't that impressed with lamb chops (they officially call them cutlets) even though the sause was a winner they were a bit overcooked in our opinion. However, moving on to the desert course, we were thrilled with variety, quality and presentation. Our waiter AGAIN accommodated and created a desert wine flight for each of us! We got enjoy/learn more about wine (always a plus!) I must add that this place has a fabulous decor! This swanky lounge-like restaurant is a perfect place for a romantic dinner, a lades night out or a happy hour with clients - you cant go wrong!

    (5)

  • Avi G.

    Excellent sushi and the place has a great ambiance. You had me at dessert! I love, love the passion fruit and coconut crisp. All the rolls are great and the tuna is fresh and flavorful. As mentioned in other reviews, the butterfish and white asparagus shouldn't be skipped and all the veggie servings are amazing. My favs are the corn and brussel sprouts.

    (5)

  • James L.

    Went with the Chef's Pre-Fix menu. Group of 7 of us did so for a friend's birthday. Couple bottles of wine and Sake. The ambiance of the place was cool. I've been there for drinks before as well. Nice place to be. Service was excellent and they were also accommodating to the one vegetarian in our group. It was a fun night, however the food, albeit was tasty, it wasn't worth the price tag. Average rating on food. The sushi was ok and the rib dish was eh. The best parts of the meal were the fish dishes! If I was to go back for a meal, i'd order fish. All in all, fun experience with friends, but for the food? I would probably spend elsewhere.

    (3)

  • KtMila F.

    Maybe us west-coasters just get spoiled when it comes to sushi, but Roka Akor in Chicago was a massive disappointment. I was able to reserve a 6:30 time slot on Saturday night and arrived at Roka, the ambiance is nice. Dim lights, not too noisy. After being seated my guest and I ordered the Rock shrimp tempura and the veggie tempura to start. The rock shrimp tempura tasted similar to what you might find in your local grocery store freezer, tiny shrimp, soft thick breading and The chile sauce that accompanied was far too heavy. I had higher hopes for the veggie temp. because the breading looked light and crispy. Again, disappointed. The veggies weren't cooked properly and juices oozed out of eat bite. I then ordered the Serrano roll and my guest had the California. Her California had way too much fish roe and she complained of it being salty and overwhelming. As for mine, the worst dish of the evening. VERY Bland taste, and the fish had little to no freshness. I ate one piece and set the rest aside to be cleared along with the rest of the unfinished plates. I have had better tasting sushi from whole foods. As for service, it was ok...not memorable. Over all, I will not be returning and would not recommend to a friend.

    (2)

  • Lindsey O.

    My boyfriend took me here for our anniversary, and we both ordered the Premium tasting. We did not order the alcohol pairing because it was a Sunday evening. Food: The beautiful thing about this tasting is it changes based off what is available and what is the freshest/highest quality. That being said, you can tell your waiter what you do and do not prefer. We both dislike Oysters, so those were taken off and replaced with another item. The second beautiful thing about this tasting - come hungry, they feed you until you are full. We could have kept going on the 11th plate, but didn't want to waste the food. **** Due to this fact alone, out of all the tastings I've had in Chicago, the Roka Akor tasting has the best price tag. My bf and I agreed that we received our money's worth that evening. Details on the tasting: I was highly impressed by the vast variety of fish we had, and the pairings selected. Black Truffles with butterfish, Toro sashimi to experience the entire flavor, kobe beef sampling with 3 types of salt, lamb chops, Fuskie crab, mussels ... on and on ... it was delicious and it just kept coming. The service through each course was excellent. We had 1 waiter and 3 other servers waiting on us the entire meal. My water glass never dipped below the half way mark. I would highly recommend the experience for the quality of the meal and service.

    (4)

  • Steven C.

    If you're looking for sushi at a value price, this will not be your place. If you want a dining experience outside of your basic nigiri/sashimi/maki, then come here. Also, remember that quality comes with a price. Decor is clean and lighting warm. The grill is the central part of the open kitchen layout. I really like this design but can hear my grandfather saying, "Why the hell do I want to watch them cook my food? That's what I pay them for." Ah, I digress. I went with some Sashimi and Uni Nigiri paired with a Dry Mountain sake. Wonderful presentation and outstanding fish. I followed it up with the wagyu beef and kimchee dumplings. Holy crap! Not sure what genius came up with this but they are insanely good. The tasting looked interested but I just cannot chow that much food. The service was outstanding. I would like to come back with friends and try some of the other options.

    (5)

  • Xin H.

    The food here is great. We ordered sashimis, sushi rolls, steak, and a bunch appetizers. The manager is super nice. A great place to hang out with friends.

    (5)

  • Jasmine S.

    My boyfriend and I went there over the weekend.. Great food, awesome service. I don't understand why people complaint about rushing service and prices.. They post the menu outside for you to look and see before you even walk in.. Waitress explained throughly as a sharing dishes and it will come different timing.. If you feel like rush you should considered somewhere else not trendy high end food..and we are planning to go back on valentine weekend..

    (4)

  • Shan H.

    Bad experience! So I took a trip to Chicago for my birthday and was walking around trying to find a decent place to have my birthday dinner. Roka Akor looked trendy and the posted menu seemed enticing enough that I went in and was seated within 5 minutes. However I did not get the pleasure of tasting the food, because I sat at my table for 20 minutes without being greeted by a server. I however was pointed at by busboys several times, and I could only assume to figure out whether or not to fill my water glass. Needlessly to say I returned the menu to the hostess and walked out. On my way out, the manager saw my expression and caught up with me to ask me if everything was okay. I tried to explain to him why I'm leaving and the manager wasn't even listening to my response to his inquires.He was very condescending in trying to placate me in staying for dinner. At that point I was so infuriated by what he was saying that I told him there was nothing he could do to make me stay for dinner. The customer service from the management down is just poor. I'm sure their food is delicious, but I'll will never know because I will never subject myself to such poor service again. After leaving this place and I walked a block down the street to Boss and was seated, greeted AND had a glass a wine in front of me within 5 minutes of stepping into the place.

    (1)

  • Doug C.

    Wow! 5 course dinner -- we had it all -- wine pairings too. Exquisite food -- my favorites were the sashimi course - tuna, salmon, sea bass -- all great. Loved the king crab and prawns too. Great service beautiful dining room. Highly recommend.

    (5)

  • Captain F.

    This is a $$$$ restaurant. The spicy tuna roll ($12) was nothing special at all. The service and ambiance was good but who cares? Not me when they are charging $6 for a hot green tea.

    (2)

  • Albert C.

    Great ambiance and always**** call for reservations. For dinner, I tried the calamari which was nothing special. The yellow tail sashimi with the ponzu sauce was great. If you're a fan of dumplings then, you have to try the wagyu beef and kimchi dumplings... Amazing! The appetizer scallops was alright. The oysters are thee best in town and I can eat this all night. I also tried the steak here but I forgot which one it was but was cooked to perfection! Great place for a date

    (5)

  • Cooper R.

    Was here for dinner. Tapas style. Not much sushi or sashimi on menu. Sushi great. Lamb even better. Everything was cooked to perfection. Trendy club music. The staff is mediocre at best.

    (5)

  • Gina G.

    Roka Akor is definitely unique Asian cuisine. However, I was not overly impressed with the food for the price I paid.

    (3)

  • Odeh T.

    Food was good. But the waiter was adding things without our approval. And played it off like it was cool. $800 for OK sushi. Sunda was too busy. That's why we went to Roka. Never coming back

    (2)

  • Mike H.

    Absolute hype! Beware, you will pay twice what you would normally pay at a good sushi restaurant for small pieces of average fish. Took my family here on the 4th of July and had slow service, sake for $30 per bottle that I was told was the "house" sake and very average nigiri. When the waiter asked what he could get me to make up for the slow service and average food, I said perhaps the spicy tuna roll. Turns out he wasn't providing it comp, but rather charged me full price for it. His big "give" for all the problems was one piece of salmon nigiri. This really felt like a deliberate rip off. If you can make the trip to Northbrook, see what world class sushi can be at Kamehachi. They also have a small bar in the nearby Westin hotel.

    (1)

  • Hendrix B.

    Decidedly underwhelming. Nothing stands out. Too many other places to keep them on my list.

    (2)

  • Anais M.

    Never disappointed. Started off the my meal with the miso soup. Very good. Then moved to the sushi. The sushi avocado was the best sushi I ever ate. After eating my first set of rolls, I reordered another. Ordered the crispy brussel sprouts as a side - also a home run. Finished with the pistachio custard - perfect ending to my meal. My meal was paired with the Cab Franc - what a great wine. The staff is top notch. Extremely knowledgeable and great service. Can't wait to go back.

    (5)

  • Marisa A.

    Very trendy, very River North, very pretty people. Don't let that sway you one way or the other-- Roka Akor has amazing food and drinks! I can't rave enough about their tuna toast appetizer. It's insanely good. I was confused the first time I took a bite because it was that good. I think they change it up every now and then but when I was there a couple of nights ago they had piled black truffles on top. The skirt steak is savory and delicious. Butterfish and asparagus is perfect. Brussels sprouts. Calamari. Everything is very flavorful and nothing tastes like the next dish... love that. Even though I'm a chocolate lover, their fruit desserts are really good. The food is 5 stars for me, but each time I've been there the service has been really slow.

    (4)

  • Jess K.

    This place was amazing. The food was so flavorful and looked amazing. Staff very knowledgable and hardworking. And it's not strictly sushi. We ordered a cod fish that was spectacular.

    (5)

  • Pamela G.

    I had never been here before and my boyfriend had a long conversation with the manager about different types of tuna. The manager sent us out 2 different types, one my boyfriend would like and one I would like. That was super thoughtful and everyone was very friendly and attentive. The server knew a lot about the menu and mostly everything was delicious, minus the last dish (I think it was some kind of rice). We then went next door to Enolo wine bar, which is connected to their building and they also own. The bartender was awesome. They give 50% industry discounts after 11pm (I'm pretty sure it was every day, forgot if weekends were included) and serve food really late!

    (4)

  • Mark S.

    We did the 7 course chef's tasting and it was so much fun. Each course was unique and displayed well! The waiter had good humor and the ambience was enjoyable on a Friday night. I had gone a couple years earlier on a Sunday and it was completely empty so this fun atmosphere was quite welcomed

    (5)

  • Mary S.

    Always liked Roka Akor, used to frequent the location in Scottsdale. Came here in the afternoon for snacks and drinks. We sat in the lounge, ordered miso soup, seaweed salad and drinks. The waitress was good and informed me that the seaweed salad at Roka Akor is not like the normal seaweed salad. I already knew this b/c I have ordered there before, but it was nice that she mentioned it because I am sure some people are in shock when they see it. It is yummy!! Good atmosphere and great for drinks and sushi :)

    (4)

  • Patricia R.

    First time here for lunch. I work a few blocks away and never ventured this way. So glad I did now. Excellent, quality lunch meal specials and very affordable. Service was excellent too. Wish I had taken pics of the food presentation, maybe the next time I come!

    (5)

  • Cecilia V.

    This is a staple in our family. We recommend to everyone who comes in from out of town. We have consistently had excellent service and amazing food. Love Roka!

    (5)

  • Taylor S.

    Food is unreal and service was spectacular! Waiter was extremely helpful in explaining the menu, making recommendations and making sure we had the perfect amount of food for the table. Reason this place doesn't get 5 stars is the club atmosphere in the front once it gets dark. Clientele can get a bit douchey

    (4)

  • Brooke L.

    I've been meaning to write this review since my boyfriend and I went here to eat on Wednesday--it was fantastic! One of my co-workers recommended it as a great sushi joint, and we were not disappointed. We actually ended up sitting in the lounge, and our server Amy was awesome. She suggested several choices from the menu, but my favorite was the butterfish tataki--soooo good! Great atmosphere, delicious food, and excellent service! We will definitely be back!

    (5)

  • Steve S.

    Very Good Sushi. Spicy Tuna was great as there was no paste like the cheap joints. This is worth the trip I you are staying downtown. Solid Dining experience. The wait service was second to none.

    (5)

  • Shaina B.

    Went there with my family for a wonderful meal, got treated like kings by the general manager Ben who was hilarious and kind. Very expensive meal, but every scrumptious bite was worth it.

    (5)

  • Susie C.

    I would give this restaurant a 4.5 star but no 0.5 allowed so it will be a 4. Great place! Love the atmosphere and easy to get to. This is a very popular restaurant. My husband and I came on a weeknight after work. Our waitress was very nice and accomodating. My husband and I ordered 4 rolls (salmon roll, spicy tuna, dynamite scallop, and one of their special roll that I forgot what it's called). The salmon roll was really good, spicy tuna was okay, dynamite scallop wasn't as great because it has the scallop on top but the roll itself is just mixed crab salad, and the special roll was some kind of serrano..it was decent). I enjoyed the tastes of the sushi, but they are small. The salmon roll was $12..at most other restaurants it would be under $10. It was good, but small. We also ordered the spicy tofu with mixed green entree and a miso soup and several nigiri pieces. The spicy tofu was yummy. Very hot (temperature) and the mixed greens was a great combination to go with it. Miso soup was okay. The 3 types of nigiri pieces we had was salmon, hamachi, and toro. The salmon and hamachi was really realy good. The toro (which was $10 each) came with salt..the sushi chef suggested we dont add soy sauce to the sushi but the rock salt, which we did and it was really good. Overall it was a good time. I wish the portions were bigger for the amount you pay. Our tab came out to be $123 for these items. They were good though, just pricey.

    (4)

  • marc c.

    Amazing Amazing. Didn't go for sushi. Went for all the amazing grill items. Waiter presented the best choices and was thrilled. Try the lamp chops

    (5)

  • Erica L.

    I made reservations for last night on a whim for Chicago Chef Week. I really liked the decor with floor-to-ceiling windows facing the street which made the dining space more open, lighted, and modern. Hubby and I were seated immediately at a table facing the sushi bar. It was fun watching the chefs prepare the meals and take care with the elegant presentations. Our server was friendly and patient, giving us time to look over the large drink and main menu. We started with the Sashimi Chef Selection w/ 7 kinds of fish (red snapper, striped bass, fluke, amberjack, blue fin tuna, salmon, and yellowtail). Presentation was beautiful and the pieces were fresh, even the snapper tasted great, which is usually my least favorite piece. The other dishes came out promptly in the following order: Robata Grilled Japanese Shishito Peppers with Ponzu and Bonito Flakes - Hubby liked; the bonito flakes look alive on the peppers! Rock Shrimp Tempura with Wasabi Peas and Sweet Chili Aioli - Nice crunchy, light tempura batter, yummy dipping sauce, but where were the peas? Sweet Corn with Butter and Soy - Creative presentation, very sweet corn, and creamy butter - one of my favorite dishes Japanese Wild Mushroom Rice Hot Pot w/ Black Truffle - It's worth it to pay extra for the fresh black truffle! The mushroom rice was a little on the salty side, but otherwise very flavorful Fresh Mango and Vanilla Cake with Toasted Rice Ice Cream - Nice textured cake accompanied with freshly cubed mango and ice cream Wouldn't mind returning again - hopefully this place will last longer than it's predecessors!

    (4)

  • Josh G.

    Surprisingly excellent given location. I prefer other spots for value, but for pure unbridled Japanese excellence, it's hard to go wrong. A little pricey for what you get, but not outrageous. Will definitely be back, especially since I'm not a huge fan of what Morimoto has done with Japonais...

    (5)

  • Trish R.

    The food is pretty good. Not terrible, but also not terribly memorable. The pace of our entire meal felt rushed though, and was capped at the end of the evening by the manager asking us, and the table next to us, to leave. Granted, we had finished paying our bill, but we were wrapping things up, and were on our way out. It just seemed unnecessary, and left a bit of a bad taste in my mouth. Other than that, the place is absolutely fine. The selection is a bit more limited than I would have liked, but the food didn't really stand out one way or the other.

    (3)

  • Brittni H.

    Wow! Chef Boyd is AMAZING! Cannot imagine a more special dinner prepared by a more experienced chef! Thank you Chef Boyd for a great experience!

    (5)

  • Andy C.

    Slowly starting to get caught up on places that I went in September of 2012, but I should probably review Roka on account of the fact that it does serve a special memory now in my mind and heart. Categorically: Location: 4 out of 5 For downtown/loop dwellers, Roka is probably within walking distance. If not, multiple forms of public transportation are available, including the red line, purple/brown line, and the 22 Clark bus. Street parking is available if you know where to look, but I'm not going to tell you where it is because otherwise you might take a spot that I would have otherwise parked in. Customer Service: 4 out of 5 Our waitress was fast and friendly, with just the slightest timbre of "hipster" in her, as evident by her cool mustache ring. I mean...all of the wait staff that night were nice, but I'd be lying if I said they were as polished and synchronized as a 1-star Michelin restaurant. Then again, that's probably not what they're going for, and I imagine that it'd be a REALLY tough task, given two diametrically preparation techniques. Selection of food items: 5 out of 5 This might be a little biased since we got the decadent experience omakase, but it came with: - 2 cold plate apps (butterfish tataki with white asparagus and yuzu and beef tataki with truffle and truffle oil) - one hot plate app (robata grilled scallop with shiso and wasabi) - a big ol' sushi/sashimi platter (toro, decorative sweet shrimp heads, squid nigiri, salt water eel nigiri, oysters, quartet of fish [bluefin tuna is the dark red one, snapper, amber jack, and striped jack], and sweet shrimp [ebi]) - robata grilled king crab - robata grilled broccolini - robata grilled brussel sprouts - tempura whole lobster - Japanese rice hot pot with mushrooms - Australian 10+ grade waygu beef - Large dessert platter with several types of sorbet (raspberry, mocha), fruit (apricots, blood oranges, dragonfruit, grapefruit, etc), and two types of cake (mango with vanilla chiffon ice cream, and some type of chocolate lava cake with caramelized peanuts, fudge, etc.) The selection of items a la carte is vast and expanse, and there is equal representation on the raw side, as well as the robata side. Quality of raw ingredients: 5 out of 5 You know - the raw (both literally and metaphorically) products used were actually top notch. The raw fish was fantastic and none of it had the weird "not quite right" smell, the produce and meats were also of great quality, and the fruits on the dessert platter were equally as phenomenal. Execution of food: 4 out of 5 A resounding "5" for the sushi and sashimi/raw fish. Besides being visually stunning, the raw platter tastes terrific; amazingly, the ebi was my favorite whereas I think I've overhyped toro in my mind so much that when I ate it, I sorta said to myself, "well...shucks." I should mention that the waitstaff were ADAMANT that no soy or wasabi was to be used on some of the nicer items. Instead, only pink himalayan rock salt. Pssst...listen to them. Speaking of the wasabi, it's fresh ground from the root, and not from a paste. Uhh...they could use a little help with the hot items though. While the king crab, scallop, beef, and mushroom rice hot pot were fannnntastic, the tempura lobster, broccolini, and brussel sprouts weren't my favorite. There's nothing wrong with tempura lobster, as long as you can tell it's lobster. By the time they got done with it, you could have told me that it was chicken or pork and I would have had the same reaction. The grilled broccolini was soy and sesame oil/seeds heavy (a bit much), and it seemed like they sort of just mailed in the brussel sprouts. Quantity of food: 5 out of 5 So full. Most omakases and tasting menus are just that - let's just get a taste of everything and everyone leaves feeling like they had enough to eat, but not stuffed like a rat inside a pigeon inside a chicken inside a turkey inside a small pig inside a big pig. Roka gives you the full serving size in EACH of its dishes. When I walked away, I felt...disgustingly full. Ha. Variety of drinks: 5 out of 5 They're still just as creative as they were the first time I went - a few types of house infused sochus, a few novel drinks like sake with hendricks or green tea with egg foam. However, they do offer classic drinks on their menu, and that's always a good sign. Price: 4 out of 5 (for tasting menus) Probably cheaper than most tasting menus, given the fact they stuff you like a pinata. Including drinks, tax, and tip, it was about 450$. Overall: 5 out of 5 Realistically, a 4.5 out of 5...but since I did get engaged that evening, I'll use my discretion to bump the rating up to a 5 (which it would have been anyway with my usual rounding). Two different cooking styles, just like two different people with varying backgrounds that end up working together in the end. See what I did there? EH????

    (5)

  • Tiffany N.

    In town for business and had an amazing dinner at Roka downtown. I had the Omakasa. It was amazing and what a treat. The GM, Steve was super gracious and met one of the Executive Chef, Boyd. He was so friendly and so talented. The service was outstanding. I would highly recommend this place. Way better then Nobu.

    (5)

  • Louvros K.

    When you go there try butter fish and black cod is to die

    (5)

  • Candace M.

    Nice atmosphere, good service and delicious sushi. My margarita was made perfecto! I would definitely return to try other items on the menu.

    (4)

  • Jared J.

    Overall, it was OK. The Lamb chops with Korean spices- Phenomenal! Maybe the best lamb I ever had, it was so tender. Highly recommend this. Everything else was pretty normal. Edamame- normal. Expected more from the Shishito peppers app- they were actually too big, not much flavor to them. White miso soup- pretty tame. Shrimp, butterfish & veggie tempura- also pretty average- their ponzu dipping sauce had far too much lime flavor to it, had to mix it with more soy. Everything was prepared in the correct, traditional manner, just very tame flavors. Twice cooked duck dish- it was good, not great. Save your duck eating for Sun Wah. The Ribeye was pretty blah too- dipping sauce for that was good, but I question that it was actually Prime beef- seemed more Choice to me. Had some sushi rolls- nothing blew me away, but certainly well prepared. The sakes were delicious though. The staff was very attentive, but it was a Tuesday night- they weren't slammed. They brought our some free extras, so that was very nice of their managers. The menu was very well rounded, just wish more dishes had more pop.

    (3)

  • Eli T.

    Delicious fresh sushi! and service with a smile! When I walked into the restaurant for lunch I did not expect such a great experience, but the food was truly delicious, the service was quick, and the atmosphere was fun!!! ill be back again. Try the lamb shanks, yum!!

    (5)

  • Tim H.

    Very good sushi quality and good service. Roka Akor is definitely one of the fancier Japanese places you will find in Chicago or anywhere. The mushroom hot pot rice is fantastic. Everything I have tried here is expertly prepared with high quality ingredients. The couple grilled dishes I have tried on my visits here have been disappointing, but everything else I would recommend. As long as you don't mind high prices, definitely a place to try out!

    (4)

  • Todd H.

    I travel to Scottsdale and Vegas a lot and I think it's kind of funny that River North is turning into Scottsdale (or I guess Scottsdale is River North-West) either way, I approve. Both Scottsdale and River North has a Mastro's, Ra Sushi, Flemings, Mortons, and now a Roka Akor. Pretty much what you would expect: great food, hip environment, good service, a bit too loud, a bit too overpriced, but all in all a good time.

    (4)

  • Jvmr C.

    I've been to many Japanese restaurants in Chicago. I love Japanese food and live in Chicago; but this was my first time here. I was wowed by the excellent and attentive service; but very disappointed in the food. It was way overpriced. I've never paid so much for a piece of sushi. The menu was not typical Japanese; meager selections that were rather pretentious. Had the wagyu beef and kimchi dumplings, which fell apart as soon as they were touched (not prepared properly). Beef tataki was OK, but expected it would have shaved black truffle, instead it had shaved white no-taste truffle. My specialty cocktail had too much ice. The yuzu elderflower cheesecake was quite tasty though. I can't believe the ratings they get on yelp (must be from those who don't know good Japanese food) And I definitely can't believe the ratings claim to get on their website from such places as Michelin Guide Recommended, Zagat, and Bon Appetit. They must pay well for them. Experience has taught me that if you want honest, unedited, reliable reviews; you should check Yelp.

    (2)

  • Shardool P.

    I wouldn't eat here again. The food isn't all it's hyped up to be considering the ultra upscale design and high price tag. In fact, it's very very average quality. I don't remember all the dishes I had, though it was during Restaurant Week a year ago and I remember leaving thinking "wow I would be really disheartened and kind of upset had I paid full price for that very, very mediocre food". Though the sushi was pretty good. I was almost a little upset that I even paid $44 or whatever for it, because it really wasn't even worth that. The decor is really awesome. Easily one of the best designed restaurants in River North, and I like the bar area as well as it's spacious and casual. I would consider stopping in for a drink to start the evening though they could use some better specialty drinks. I had high hopes for this place, but unfortunately the food doesn't even begin to live up to the aesthetic.

    (2)

  • Deke B.

    Came here after seeing the great reviews and I was not disappointed. It is very pricey but was some of the best sushi I have had. The staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. The warm plates looked amazing as I will be trying those on my next visit.

    (5)

  • S. Sean B.

    Visiting from Southern California this establishment every bit satisfied my expectations. This was my second time here in the past two years. We visited the same restaurant about a year ago and both then and now, both times they've earned my highest recommendation. The sushi was well-prepared and tasty, well represented, service was great, and more. Certainly on the pricey side of things, this would be choice for an upscale sushi night out. I would come back again... Along with that, I would highly recommend this...

    (5)

  • Bernie M.

    Roka Akor opened a little over three years ago. My first visit then was mediocre. I just had my second dinner there in three weeks, and everything was excellent. While the ambiance could use some help as it's a little vanilla, the food was outstanding, as was the service. Our servers were very knowledgable on the menu, and wine list each time. We had the following; To Start Shrimp veggie roll w/ lobster on top - excellent. This was a special that evening. Robata grilled scallops - excellent; cooked exactly the way scallops should be. Robata grilled pork belly - good, but a little too fatty for my liking. Uni - Excellent. Very fresh, and the texture was just right. On a side note, I think Roka's sushi is better than other options in the area, including their neighbor across the street. Dinner Filet - cooked perfect and sliced to eat. Roka's medium was a little on the rare side compared to other steak houses, but that's what I wanted. Brussel Sprouts: Unique style; chopped with soy sauce. Good, but could use a little less soy. I would recommend Roka to anyone who enjoys having a mix of fish, sushi and steak. They have a great variety on the menu. Looking forward to my next visit.

    (5)

  • Matt A.

    Food and presentation merits 4 stars. The grilled scallops and the modern nigiri platter were fantastic. Front of house staff brought earned 2 stars. Pacing from our server was slow, yet there were only about 10% of the tables were occupied. We heard quite a bit about the new table numbering system as staff argued about near customers. Another waiter openly complained about something else that was broken -- by shouting from one long-end of the bar to another. The staff behavior did not match the style or sophistication the restaurant seems to be striving towards.

    (3)

  • Jenny H.

    Roka wooed me once at a past Yelp event with its mood lighting, smoky robata bites and intoxicatingly potent house-infused soju. I've since returned for dinner and we left sufficiently satisfied. DELUXE SASHIMI PLATTER One word: beautiful! But...for something so wonderfully plated, there were some major amateur mistakes. Some of our cuts (namely our toros) were tendonous and brittle-- immediately fell apart with our chopsticks. I may not be a connoisseur, but I can say that neither of the above are supposed to happen. Although I did enjoy the ebi and uni, also the tableside wasabi (the real root, folks!) and Himalayan salt prep. WAGYU BEEF & KIMCHI DUMPLINGS A revamp of the traditional dumpling-- I decided to revisit an item I'd tasted previously. I liked it but probably wouldn't order it again. My dinner date noted that he wouldn't have noticed the wagyu if it wasn't explicitly titled on the menu. Pricey for only six dumplings. WILD MUSHROOM RICE HOTPOT This is a must-order! Our server likened this dish to an "asian risotto"-- came piping hot in a nice wooden cast-iron presentation with an assortment of Japanese mushrooms. I liked digging around the bottom for the crisped parts. My favorite thing here! Jon L's review does a really good job of recapping the complete dining experience. For such a flashy-stylish place, Roka puts your money where your mouth is with a fair execution of beauty and brains!

    (4)

  • Rick G.

    Stopped by for lunch the other day when I saw they were participating in Restaurant Week. Haven't been here before. Consider myself a foodie. Was really blown away with the quality. Awesome deal for $22. Enjoyed so much, I went back for dinner the next night and was equally impressed. So much so, that I am planning my next office party of 40 people in their Private Dining Room.

    (5)

  • Jen G.

    Impeccable! Food, service, drinks. It's a taste explosion. Don't pass up the black cod, butterfish or vegetable sushi roll. I thought the organic vegetable sushi roll would be a waste because it was just vegetables. So not true. The sweet potato dide is slso to die for. As is the Japanese rice hot pot. I don't eat steak but currently they have some high grade beef (A11 maybe, sorry I can't remember because I am not interested in beef) that no other restaurant has. I can keep going. It's expensive but so worth it.

    (5)

  • tracy a.

    Had a great dinner at the bar with my sister Our bartender george was very knowledgable on the food menu and made some great cocktails I will definitely return. The atmosphere had a great energy and the sushi was so fresh and the tasty drinks . Everyone was so friendly I am making this my new place to go to.

    (5)

  • Des T.

    I went there on a Saturday night, with a friend, for couple drinks and a snack. We sat at the bar, where our bartender greeted us. Had a great time. She recommended a chardonnay, which I loved and the lamb chops with side of brussel sprouts. Even though it was Saturday night, and the bar was slammed Elaine still went over the menu and gave us great recommendations. Will be back, awesome experience, Elaine you rock

    (5)

  • Laura H.

    Restaurant week here is a crazy deal. $44 dollars for 3 courses. They had 3 options for each course. FIRST -Goma Salmon Tataki with Cucumber and Lemongrass Vinaigrette - good, 5 or 6 nice size pieces of fish. -Forest Mushroom Salad with Truffle Barley Miso Vinaigrette - YUM. Plenty for two to share. SECOND -Lamb Cutlet with Korean Spices - $34 on their regular menu! Same portion too- 3 cutlets. Perfectly cooked. Crispy outside and nice and pink inside. If you aren't a rare/medium rare person you should definitely tell them. They didn't asked how I wanted it cooked. DESSERT -Ube Pot de Creme with Bubu Arare Tuile - ube is like a Japanese yam. And bright purple! Topped with kiwi, pomegranate, strawberry, and a crispy rice cracker. I LOVED this but it's definitely an acquired taste. DRINKS Good, $13 each I believe. $15 pairing of three 2 oz pours but our server actually recommended just getting a different wine in a full glass. I'll be back next year!

    (4)

  • Stacy M.

    Went to Roka this past weekend with a few girlfriends. It was our first time dining there. We didn't have reservations but we were able to get seated immediately in the lounge area, we loved the atmosphere and Our server Amy was very helpful in explaining the menu. We ordered a bunch of maki rolls, The Hamachi Serrano roll was my favorite! Great food! Great service! Great night! Definitely will be back soon!

    (5)

  • Jon F.

    Roka Akor Chicago is just as delicious as its (newer) brother in San Francisco. Fantastic old fashioned (penned "Roka Fashioned" in the bay, but not here) and food that will really delight any foodie palate. We came for NYE, but opted for our own menu over the prix fixe as we knew there were a few items we couldn't do without. Beef tataki was awesome again, and the Wagyu gunkan was great alongside the grilled scallops. Each dish we had was really just a blast of decadent flavors from the sea and land. I really can't recommend Roka Akor enough, and will keep it up! The one unexpected thing on this trip was a "lack" of oysters. I was falsely under the impression that they were an everyday thing with a special on Tuesdays, but the waiter had to check on them for us. They did have some, and they were delicious... but a few were slightly undersized and cost $24/6. Alas, this was my misunderstanding and is no fault of Roka's, but be aware. We finished by going from full to a few rounds of dessert. The best of those being the Green Tea Custard that was one of the best desserts I've ever had. So savory and sweet, so many ways to eat, it really is a great treat!

    (5)

  • Madison L.

    The best seafood ever. Hands down. A beautiful venue and great service. The seafood is fresh and delicious. Try the roasted crab, Chilean Seabass and grilled lobster- you won't be disappointed! One of my favorite restaurants in Chicago- you cannot go wrong with Roka Akor for a special date or celebrating a birthday or special day!

    (5)

  • Sally A.

    Fantastic experience. We visited for a late lunch so not many patrons were there which means attentive service. The food was on point, fresh sushi and sashimi was even better. The miso soup was the best we've ever had. A must do if you're a fan of Japanese food and want a lovely experience.

    (5)

  • Jing C.

    I had lunch with a friend about two weeks ago here and I immediately decided that I was gonna bring my BF here for his Birthday. I canceled my reservation at another restaurant and made a reservation here. I'm really glad that I made that decision. We had a blast yesterday. I noted in my reservation that it will be my BF's Bday, please get us nice seats and it would be great to have a candle on the dessert. When we arrived the restaurant, I didn't even remind our waitress anything, she already knew it's my BF's Bday. She gave us complimentary Champagne. We were very happy about the seating arrangement - quite corner with comfy chair and we can easily reach each other's hands. :) Food was phenomenal!!! Since its restaurant week, we thought probably it's good idea to try it - they probably want to impress new customers, so it's very likely food on the list will be representative. And we also ordered additional appetizer sashimi salad - turned out to be our favorite dish. Pictures are worth more than thousands of words. So I would like to share some of food pictures that I took. We did get a candle on the additional complimentary dessert. My BF enjoyed the dinner very much!!! We sure will come back!!! One final comment: I have been to a lot of the so-called fancy restaurants. Most of the time I was not impressed by either the food or the service. I have to say I had a really positive experience here. Love both the food and service. Whoever designed the dishes, I can definitely feel a lot of LOVE he/she put in the dishes!!! :) :) :)

    (5)

  • Irina M.

    Definitely great sushi and great experience. Dishes look like a piece of art! Not something you can have in an average restaurant. Could not give all 5 stars just because of the price. The place is super Pricey! Be ready to leave $$$$ here.

    (4)

  • Hannah C.

    I want so badly to give this place five stars, but a series of service mishaps mean I just can't. From forgotten appetizers (which never came but were charged) to forgotten entrees to drink refills poured into the wrong glasses... The service was a bit of a nightmare, despite our charming and hard-working waitress. That said, the bento box lunches are one of the best deals around. The wagyu beef and kimchi dumplings are phenomenal. The vegetable maki were great (first sushi I've ever liked). The steak was a good sized portion, especially for lunch. I walked away very full of good food and would definitely give them another chance on the service.

    (4)

  • Dragana M.

    I love this place!!!Great food,and nice atmosphere!!! Waygu beef dumplings are amazing. Great Brussels sprouts!The best serves in the city!

    (5)

  • Shradha A.

    First went for an event and being gluten free vegetarian, they did such a great job taking care of me. So now I keep returning for lunch meetings because they know how to make my special food still taste good. And oh, solid service!

    (5)

  • Ann H.

    Back again for dinner and treated as always with superb service. We started with a few appetizers - forest mushrooms with truffle - flavor and texture was good however portion was too much for 2. Best shared with a group so everyone can get a taste otherwise it's quite a mushroom overload. Tried the squid with lime and it was 5 stars perfect! Texture and flavor of the coating was excellent and seasoned perfectly. Can't believe we haven't ordered this hot plate more often! Highly recommended! Next we had the Serrano chili sushi which was beautifully made as usual. At this point we are getting full. But still want to imbibe the deliciousness. Strip steak came next and was cooked just right a little pink in the middle and tender. So full. Lastly we had a special birthday dessert - Ube creme brûlée- this was my favorite part of the meal. Not too sweet but with full Ube flavor! Super! I can eat a whole jar of this!! It has become my new favorite dessert. Our server Mark was witty and knowledgable about the menu and new seasonal items. He made our birthday dinner experience memorable. Steve was there to welcome us at the hostess desk and wished us a good dining experience. There was another manager throughout our meal that helped us out and made our evening! Wait staff was on point - I never had to ask for water (I drink a lot of water), it was refilled often and promptly. Come here if you want a modern/trendy venue, top notch service, and awesome food!

    (5)

  • Meghan S.

    Soooooo good! Right across from Sunda and definitely on par with their food - accept at a slightly more pocket pleasing rate! Yay! Definitely try the grilled octopus as a starter - we ended up ordering a second one!

    (5)

  • Jackie C.

    I recently went here after not having been in a few years. The first time I went, it had just opened and was packed - and the food was totally delicious. So my husband and I made reservations here recently thinking we would get the same experience. To our disappointment, we walked in on a Friday night to an only half full restaurant- which you know in River North is not a good sign. It immediately smelled like fish when they sat us in the same room as the sushi bar. The sushi was fine- we had no real complaints. But it wasn't anything impressive. For the price, I would not recommend it- you can get the same quality at Nori. And I'm actually shocked there are so many positive reviews on here because another couple who I talked to that went recently said the same thing - very average.

    (2)

  • Aaron M.

    I always wanted to try Roka Akor. So I took the wifey on our anniversary the other day to try it. The ambiance was nice but our sushi was just OK. Definitely had better. The price didn't justify the portions. We may give it another shot and try something else next time.

    (3)

  • Stella S.

    We had the lobster maki, the crispy prawn maki, chicken teriyaki, robata grilled lamb cutlets, and prime skirt steak. We ordered lychee martinis but they didnt have any lychees :-( The restaurant is loud and a little pricey for the portion size you get but the food and the service was very good.

    (4)

  • Christy C.

    The mushroom rice appetizer, highly recommended! I have been here twice and I really enjoyed it. The seabass is also a great choice. Desert plate is not as good as order sth separately. Make a reservation before you go. It is always a popular place.

    (4)

  • Dania M.

    I could not have picked a better place to have had my first dinner of 2015! The restaurant itself is gorgeous. Has an upscale look without that snobby feel some places tend to have. Fabiola was our server and she was FANTASTIC!!!!!! Gave us her recommendations and great descriptions as to what each dish entailed. So we went with the following: Wagyu dumplings. These were flippin amazing. The sauce that accompanied them was perfect. We kept it for the rest of the dishes! Scallops- they were simple flavorful grilled scallops but the key to these were the fact that they were cooked to perfection. The seared scallop roll- my favorite roll on their menu. Had this smokey taste to it that blew my palate away. Butterfish tataki- order it. Don't ask questions! For dessert we ordered the chefs platter. Came with the yummiest sweet potato mochi, fruits, chocolate cake, green tea custard with bananas and a couple of homemade sorbets. They were amazing to us and sent over several small little dishes complimentary. THANK YOU FOR SETTING THE BAR HIGH FOR 2016!

    (5)

  • Jennifer H.

    We did the Omakase Decadent menu and everything was delicious. Wagyu beef with truffled salt? Um yes. Fatty tuna sashimi? Mmmm. Brussel sprouts with bonito flakes? Ok. Chilean Sea Bass? Yummy. Japanese wild mushroom hot pot (with freshly shaved truffles)? OMG. And dessert? Even though we were both full by this point there was no way we were passing this up. Along the way every dish was beautifully presented. The Omakase really offered a nice way to tour the best that Roka Akor had to offer. It's a pretty penny to drop but honestly worth it.

    (5)

  • Juni P.

    I need to know YOUR NAME. What is your name? Thanks to MARK, I had most delish thursday night anyone could ask for. I'm one of those people.. who writes on yelp when get unhappy results from places.. not the other way around. Roka Went Beyond And So Here I am. With the 5 stars. Mark took his time to explain every little details of the dishes. I am very sensitive with the ingredients bc i have some allergies to certain fish. Explain littlest things can be very annoying but he didn't seem to be annoyed or bothered. He was willing to go beyond. All the ingredients and sauces.. popular drinks to size of desserts. He checked up on me on the right times and right amount of times. Refilled my water without me having to ask. I hate being bothered and interrupted by servers. But this guy knew perfect timing to come in and out. So smart!! OHHH MARK And the dishes I got? No need to ask. Of course. It was also 5 stars Here are just few out of 6 dishes I ordered. *Tiger prawn.. don't remember the specific name of this dish. but man, definitely remember how good it was! Ive been to many seafood rstrnts all over many diff states. But this was so far the best I've ever had. So fresh. Nomnom *grilled scallops I'm a seafood killer. This dish comes with two giant grilled scallops. It was super fresh and seasoning was perfect. Gosh. phenomenal *garlic soy sauce steak This is my fav steak and the biggest reason why I come to Roka. Just a mere thought of it already makes me go just try it. So good Long story short, I was very pleased. 5 stars to Mark 5 stars dishes = perfect night Thanks and see you soon

    (5)

  • Shambavi K.

    The 4 of us came here for the restaurant week menu last night. Energetic atmosphere with robota grills providing some visual entertainment. All the first course appetizers were great but in order of preference was the salmon tataki (phenomenal), the crispy prawn maki, and the mushroom salad (dressing on this was good that it balanced the strong mushroom flavors). The dinner started of great with high expectations. The most disappointing part was the portion size of the sea bass! It was well made in a tasty broth but it was the size of a big sea scallop ( it looked like another appetizer). I immediately knew I was sharing the delicious and sizable 3 piece lamb cutlets from the boyfriend's plate because I needed to have more for dinner. I regretted not getting the ribeye. The desserts were just ok but mostly unexciting. We had lychee martinis and other cocktails over dinner recommended by the very knowledgeable and attentive waitstaff. At times I felt like they were rushing us out or clearing plates sooner. It was still a good night overall but could be the glow of drinks talking.

    (3)

  • Jessica W.

    Loved the decor in this place, it seemed very modern and trendy. The service was excellent and the food was delicious. They have some creative cocktails and a nice wine selection. The tomato heirloom salad was a bit small, but super tasty and refreshing. The warm chocolate cake for dessert ended the meal on a high note. I loved my experience here & look forward to going back.

    (4)

  • Omair R.

    Booked a party of 13 for a work event. Worked with Erin to setup the reservation. She was great, dealt with out multiple reschedules Food was awesome, good service, great ambience. Would definitely go back

    (5)

  • Stacey L.

    The sweet potatoes with ginger teriyaki side dish might be one of the best things I've eaten this year. Perfectly roasted and sprinkled with sesame seeds it had a depth of flavor that I didn't expect from a simple side dish. Give me more, please. I also ordered the vegetable tempura roll (fish just isn't my thing), and it was by far the most beautifully crafted roll I've ever eaten. Flavor-wise, it was standard for a veggie roll. The place I usually go for sushi makes a similar roll for half the price. Generally I'm not an adventurous eater, but everything at Roka Akor was so beautifully presented (decor included) that I figured now was as good a time as any to expand my horizons. The Brussels sprouts were crispy and delicious (though I did have a bit of a mental block afterward upon finding out that bonito flakes are dried fish), the crispy squid was super tasty (and not at all chewy like most calamari), and I even tried the beef tataki that was sent to our table since it was our first visit. The beef was incredibly tender, but as a person who orders everything well done one bite was more than enough. Definitely a nice touch, though. The overall price point is a bit on the high side for everyday dining, but the veggie options are pretty reasonable so it'll definitely stay on my list (even if it's just to mow down on those sweet potatoes).

    (4)

  • Tara P.

    It was ok but nothing I am dying to come back for. I definitely would not rate it the top 10 in America according to Bon appetite. They must have never been to california. It was good but not great and too expensive for what you get.

    (3)

  • Jialing L.

    i've been here twice. Once for a friend's birthday and once for chef's week last year. The food is a nice Japanese fusion that leans towards a light but flavorful taste. The wagyu beef and kimchi dumplings are really good so I definitely recommend that. The Japanese mushroom rice hotpot is a good deal for the amount of food and price. Not one of the best items on the menu but good. The maki rolls are the usual sushi roll, nothing special. I had the salmon teriyaki for part of the chef's week menu and it was good but a little too charred for my liking but the flavors were definitely there. I do really like their desserts here; the presentation is good and they're delicious. Service here varies depending on time and number in your party. I do like the restaurant's ambience and the decor. Worth a try if you haven't been.

    (4)

  • Rosanna P.

    Awesome & fresh! I had their sushi set bento box and it was the perfect amount of food for lunch!

    (4)

  • Andi S.

    This place is definitely on my "Must Visit" list every time I find myself in Chicago! Three of my girlfriends and I found ourselves here for lunch on a Thursday afternoon. It wasn't very busy, and the reservations we had made weren't needed. The service was excellent. We were well taken care of even though we had many questions and needed a bit of help deciding what to get. The staff was all super friendly, including the manager who stopped by and chatted with us at one point during our 2 hour visit. The food... It definitely can't get much better than this. The sushi combinations were fresh and great quality with beautiful presentation. Everything any of us ordered was absolutely divine! We all ended up doing different options of the Business Lunch, and ordered a few rolls to share to go along with it. The Dynamite Scallop roll was by far my favorite, and I seriously toyed with the idea of coming back another time during my visit just for this roll.

    (5)

  • Emily P.

    Omakase is more food than a single person could eat.

    (4)

  • Suzanne D.

    The sushi and the ambiance are great! They feature some original rolls that are delicious and worth the price. My only (and major) complaint is the service. Our waiter just seemed to forget there were two of us dining. He took my drink and our appetizer order and then just walked away, totally ignoring my husband. it took me about 10 minutes to flag him down and call him back over. The manager then came over and sent apologized--I guess the waiter told on himself--and offered us a second appetizer. The service the rest of the evening was okay, but not the caliber I'd expect. UPDATE!!!! After posting my original review I got a response from Ben, the business manager at Roka. He wanted to follow up and asked if we could chat via phone. Ben called and we talked through our visit. He was geniune in his concern about our experience and apologized. He then offered to make it up to us when we visit Chicago again. And if that's not enough, he went over to the hotel where we had stayed and talked with the staff who had made our reservation. Customer service like that is INCREDIBLE! I'm so, so impressed.

    (4)

  • Jasmine B.

    Best. Sushi. Ever. Seriously. My group was so impressed with Roka that we I all joked about coming to Chicago again, just to have Roka, then heading back to Minneapolis. It would be worth the 6+ hour drive one way. I am salivating even writing this review. My group of four gals headed her for our first stop on our girls weekend, we made reservations, but it wouldn't have been necessary at 1pm on a Thursday afternoon. At one point we had the place to ourselves. Our server was excellent, giving us plenty of time to decide without rushing us, and giving great suggestions and explanations on the menu items. We all decided to go with the Business Lunch, but with different selections. We also ordered a couple rolls to go with our meals. First, the rolls - Unagi (my absolutely favorite) and Dynamite Scallop. Absolutely divine. The unagi is hard to beat for me, but the scallops were so perfectly made, beautifully presented, and amazingly tasty that I may have a new favorite (at Roka anyway). First course : -Lobster Miso - miso is miso, right? Nope. This Miso was more delicious with the added delight of lobster. -Wagyu Beef and Kimchi Dumplings - I don't like kimchi, it grosses me out, but these dumplings were the perfect combination of beef and kimchi and I gobbled them up with no problems at all. The dipping sauce was also delicious and probably cut the taste of the kimchi. -Spicy Crispy Butterfish Roll - this roll was amazing and a close second to the scallops. I had never had Butterfish before, but it was really light and refreshing, paired with the spice of the wasabi cream on top, just delicious. Second course: I chose the Roka Sushi Set - flame seared Salmon Nigri (2 pcs), Hamachi Sashimi (2 pcs), Spicy Tuna Roll. The Salmon was amazing and I saved one for my last bite of the meal. Hamachi was a first for me, I was surprised at how creamy and light it tasted. The Spicy Tuna was a tad too spicy for my taste, I had to dose it with quite a bit of soy, but it was very tasty nonetheless. One of my counterparts had the steak as their second course, it was amazing, cooked perfectly and spiced to perfection. Another at our table had the salmon, which was crispy outside and perfectly cooked with the same care as the rest of the meal. Just wonderful. We also all had drinks and desert, but I can't remember what they were called. Regardless, they were all delicious. Each course was served at the perfect interval, giving time in between each, but not too much that you were waiting for it. I really don't even know how to put into words how wonderful this meal was, from start to finish, amazing at every turn. The presentation was absolutely stunning, too; I have never seen such attention to detail and you could see the love put into every plate. My only complaint, the server was unable to split the check by seat, so we ended up a little uneven on the bill - but it was so perfect none of us cared if we had to pay a little more than the other. Be prepared to drop $100 on a single meal with drinks and tip (if you pig out like we did...). Do yourself a favor and go here, now. Leave whatever you are doing and go.

    (5)

  • Scott B.

    Ordered the sushi chef recommendation and a glass of sake, $60 and it was less food than an appetizer at any other restaurant. An apple would have filled me up more. Nice atmosphere but not impressed.

    (1)

  • Kabir S.

    Excellent sushi and ambience! One of my favorite restaurants in Chicago! I have been here many times and never once been disappointed!

    (4)

  • Danny D.

    'Remarkable' is the most appropriate way I can sum up my latest experience here. There were four of us and we were treated exceptionally well but everyone that we were in contact with. Ben (the GM) could not have been more hospitable and checked in with us numerous times throughout the night. Yura, our server was nothing short of amazing. She took time to talk in detail about the chef and kitchen staff and how Roka Akor stands out with its quality of food, the dishes and the preparation. She joking conversed with us and regularly stopped by to top off our sake and wine glasses. (Her support staff was also amazing.) I honestly believe if servers in the industry were to follow her lead, they would absolutely be crushing it with their tips during each and every shift. We ordered quite a few dishes to share among us - numerous rolls, tuna 4 ways, tempura, king crab, corn, brussel sprouts, wagu beef, and rice hot pot and they were all really tasty. The chocolate cake and cheesecake (made by the in-house pastry/desert chef) had excellent presentation and also tasted amazing. Thanks for the overall remarkable experience - I will be back soon!

    (5)

  • Jake L.

    The food amazing. Service was impeccable.They helped me pick a great bottle of wine and then they remembered me and what wine I chose the next time I came in. Now thats service! A little pricier than I was hoping both times but it was worth it overall! Def reccommend.

    (4)

  • Mira C.

    Roka Akor was one of the best sushi/Japanese restaurants I've ever been too. It's perfect for vegetarians!! When I saw the menu, lots of things looked good, but it was hard to spend a crazy amount of money for like 2 things. Soooo they had this bento style box that came with a sushi roll, beef dumplings, and miso soup and robata vegetables. The waitress Danielle was amazing. She replaced all the meat items with veggie tempura roll and spring salad. And we got their famous Brussel sprouts which were phenomenal. ABSOLUTELY loved the experience and by far, the best veggie sushi roll I've ever had.

    (5)

  • Lisa G.

    We went in on a very busy Tuesday night and got the last 4 top in the place. There was a mix up between servers and we were left sitting for a very long while. I got up and mentioned this to the kind lady that sat us who was a manager. She went above the call of duty and turned everything around for us from that point forward. The food was amazing! The waygu dumplings, pork belly and calamari were amazing appetizers. Sushi and lamb entrees were exquisite. The entire staff bent over backwards for us the rest of the night and made this one the best nights out we've had. Mistakes happen but character is determined by how they are handled. Roka showed exemplary character!

    (5)

  • Christina C.

    Came in for Easter dinner and were amazed by the stellar service and delicious food. The sushi was fresh and literally melted in your mouth. We ordered miso cod, soft Shell crab, salmon avocado roll, yellow tail sashimi, wagyu dumplings, deluxe sashimi, scallop roll and even had the green tea dessert. The drinks were boozy but not drunk boozy. We got the drunk monk, the blood orange marguerita, and the north northwestern. Being manhattaners we were happy to see an east coast vibe in Chicago. Ask for YURA the server, she is super knowledgable and genuinely sweet! Thank you guys! We will be back when we are back in town, locals...run don't walk to this place!!

    (5)

  • Deana B.

    Valentine's Day menu was superb. I ate lobster & delicious sushi. Their ginger mule was refreshing and the service was outstanding. I'll definitely be back the next time I am in Chicago. Give it a try, you won't be disappointed.

    (5)

  • Grant S.

    Butterfish, beef tartare, scallops, skate wing, musssles, Chilean seabass, roasted corn, rib, sashimi assortment and medium rare ribeye. Finished off with a platter of desserts. Everything was great here. The butterfish, tartare, and ribeye with truffle mayo were the favorites.

    (5)

  • Kyle M.

    I had some type of mushroom green onion risotto dish and it was delicious. We also ordered the yellow tail sashimi which was also excellent. I usually prefer nigiri but I was just as satisfied with their sashimi here. The thing I love most about this snazzy little spot is the overall ambience... I've never been to a place that looked so cool. I just wanted to hang around after the meal and admire the architecture inside of the building. Which is exactly what we did! We actually had some Gratafy gift codes for drinks to Roka so we hung around and redeemed our free drinks and jammed out to some light music. Awesome venue!

    (5)

  • Tamila C.

    First of all,dumplings were really salty,almost impossible to eat. Secondly, after an hour in this place ,we were still hungry and only got half of our order. Place was not busy,so I couldn't blame slow service on that. Sushi is not the best,so I wouldn't say it was worth the wait!!! Will never come here again!!!

    (1)

  • Sofia J.

    Another great experience: came for oyster happy hour (Tuesdays in the lounge during dinner service), were greeted with complimentary sparkling wine, followed by complimentary butterfish tatami! Butterfish tatami is indeed like butter, only wish the portions were bigger for the $ Enjoyed the oysters, which were lightly dressed without masking their flavor. Loved the Brussels sprouts appetizer. Duck and papaya salad was quite misleading - focusing on the more enticing ingredients in the description, $18 is much too expensive for a tiny salad with a few pieces of duck. Blood Orange margarita is still standout Infused soju cocktail was also good (but was enjoyed more with a single ice cube rather than covered crushed ice).

    (5)

  • Sijia C.

    way tooooo salty and honestly the sashimi does not look and taste fresh... I ordered Omakase but it did not surprised me. I have to say it is American Japanese food. the service and the environment are good actually

    (2)

  • Lynette H.

    This place is delicious! There's a wide variety of things you can order here. sushi rolls, tempura, hot plates, cold plates, entrees like steak, chicken, pork, and beef. We came with a big group of 8 and everyone was happy and ordered different things. And they put us in a private room! The dumplings and rock shrimp tempura were a hit! Oh and.. order the spare ribs, you won't be disappointed. The items range from approx $8-$48. You definitely could spend a lot if our not careful. But if you pick right, it's not too bad. The cocktails are good too. Unique and well mixed. Prices range from $13-18.

    (4)

  • #NAME?

    This is one of my favorite restaurants in Chicago-I actually have lived here for many years and moved downtown years ago and have walked by this but never went in- Last November my neighbors took me here as a thank you for cat sitting and it was a really good experience-They really took care of us-I ordered the skirt steak rare and when it was brought out it was medium, once I mentioned it they whisked the plate away and brought me a new steak within 2 minutes- Everything I ate was so good, so good that a couple days later I brought my boyfriend here so he could experience it-Again, we had good service, a little slower this time, but good service and great food- Then the following month my boyfriend actually brought his friend here for dinner and they enjoyed it and said their waiter was good- Well last night was our anniversary and I had made reservations-We got seated in the bar area, along the windows at the small tables, and I thought it would be less attentive up there, but it was not- Our waitress Danielle was so nice and attentive-They brought out complimentary champagne and a couple other great items later on-Service was spot on and of course, the food was amazing-The times we have eaten there, nothing has tasted different, always the same, perfect seasonings and temperature- I just really like this place, it's got a great atmosphere...you feel relaxed when eating here and the waiters always take care of you and are very knowledgeable- I highly recommend: Small hot plates: -grilled scallops, so amazing- -wagyu dumplings, you might need to order 2 b/c they are so good- -chicken yaktori skewers Entrees: -skirt steak w/ soy ginger sauce (this is my favorite, cooked rare) Vegetables: -crispy brussel sprouts-I hate brussel sprouts, I mean I never have liked them and never eat them, not as a kid or adult-But here, I will eat them, only place-The cool thing about these are the bonita leaves on top, they dance around :) Dessert: -warm chocolate cake, I ask for the peanuts to be removed b/c I hate peanuts on any desserts and they do with no issues :) Oh and the drinks are always good- If you think about going here, do it...should be a great experience for you-

    (5)

  • Tricia D.

    Darn. Not sure what happened here, but we left underwhelmed. Dinner started with the potstickers (ordinary and really thin skin) and pork belly. I've had my fair share of pork belly, and this was like 90% fat. In retrospect, I'm kicking myself for not saying something to the waiter. :o( The filet was tender and flavorful. Prep here seems to be like a fine steakhouse: medium comes out more like medium rare. Overall, it's a spendy place, and when you're dropping that many Jacksons, you want to be satisfied and without a gurgly stomach for the rest of the night.

    (3)

  • Christopher H.

    Brought my wife and her friend for NYE. The decadent omakase was amazing as always but on New Year's Eve they had Japanese A-5-12 Wagyu beef which melted in my mouth. We shared the lobster hot pot and that did not disappoint. They had my favorite Oysters on the sushi platter- kumomotos. The toro was the best I have had. Great wine pairings that was recommended by what seemed to be the manager. (His name was Steve or Stewart) Great food and atmosphere for NYE.

    (5)

  • Alli J.

    Fantastic food, with plenty of options for sushi and steak lovers.

    (4)

  • Claudia M.

    Roka Akor has hands down the best service when it comes to sushi. There is some tough competition across the street but I'm here to tell you that Roka is where it's at. I've been here three times and each time they have rolled out the red carpet for us. The sushi is fresh and the drinks are strong. Roka Akor does have a Robata Grill, so if you are in the mood for a steak instead of sushi you can have that here. I also noticed that there are couples, friends out for a night and even families having dinner here. It's a place that fits all. I came here tonight with a friend of mine to kick off the Summer of Sushi in Chicago and we were able to get TWO Serrano Hamachi rolls for the price of one! We even got some champagne compliments of the manager. Our server Bryan kept coming to see if we were doing well and was very attentive. I have to say I really love having someone who is attentive. It isn't like this across the street and I've been there twice. If you have not been you have to come here. I brought my husband here for his birthday and we had the best time ever!

    (5)

  • Rick R.

    Easily the best Japanese restaurant I've been to. Better than Nobu in Manhattan, sorry chef. Ok so details... this place keeps tradition real. For example, you won't find cream cheese on the menu sorry Maki folks. Freshest items delivered daily. I would always go with the Omakase. Toro is incredible. They may have the next Wagyu in the Midwest if not the country. A59 10 and 11 sometimes. .although you'll have a 6 Oz minimum which is going to run you about 180 to 200 for a steak. .but you need to share that with 3 people because it is so rich. The fish is amazing. Presentation is very authentic. It is trendy but still keeps Japanese roots. Service is amazing. Every dish is explained when it is served. Drinks are amazing. Sake list to die for. Fantastic wine list. Just go. Make a reservation. Bring your credit card. Dress up.

    (5)

  • Paddu P.

    On the expensive side. But deeelisious! They're 12 oz steak with truffle aioli was just buttery deliciousness! Sushi was okay. Salmon teriyaki was very good! Oysters were fresh! Lobster app was a little salty but tasty. Red miso vs. White miso. Thought battle. So we got both and were so happy! It's a little loud at this place and beware of the creepy guys that try "holler". Besides those two things. This place was a deff hit! Will be going back.

    (4)

  • Ryan B.

    One of Chicago's finest sushi establishments that has an awesome business lunch for ~$25, which gets you: red miso soup with lobster, wagyu beef and kimchi dumplings, crispy butterfish maki roll, and then your choice of an entree. I highly recommend something from their robata grill, which is grilled out in the open for your viewing pleasure. The winner is the grilled salmon teriyaki. Overall this place is a steller restaurant in River North that should be on your "must eat here" list.

    (5)

  • Tammy H.

    Dinner here was excellent. This restaurant was standing out in my head lately so I picked it as my birthday dinner with Joe. We opted for the "Decadent Omakase" which included 5 "surprise" courses from the chef - starters, sushi, surf, turf, and dessert. The folks here graciously took our "these sound good from the menu" selections and incorporated them into an amazing series of dishes. We had the heirloom tomato salad, a Tataki flight, Wagyu beef & kimchi dumplings and the Robata grilled scallops as starters. Everything was on point, except the dumplings were a little heavy on the ginger for our taste. Second course was a beautiful Sashimi/Nigri platter that was accompanied by freshly grated wasabi, freshly grated Himalayan rock salt (I guess you grate salt?), and house made low sodium soy sauce. This course was a little decadent for me to really split evenly with Joe, but each and every piece of fish/seafood was as fresh as could be. We were both incredibly impressed with the quality of food given to us. Third course was the "surf" which chef turned their Robata grilled skate wing into a main dish for us. I took one bite and blurted out "I love this." The skate wing was served with a side of grilled corn with soy butter. OMG. So good. Next course - "turf" was a deftly prepared slab of Wagyu beef that came with chili ponzu sauce (not the best), flaky smoked salt, and flaky citrus salt. The citrus salt was the way to go. This course also included the wild mushroom rice hot pot which was very tasty, but by this time in the meal I was so full that I couldn't finish it. Even if you don't really like mushrooms, this hot pot tasted like warm comfort. I don't really drink, but I imagine the level of warmth and satiety from this hot pot is what comes from a really nice scotch. The last bit of the savories included Robata grilled artichokes. They were dressed well and really tasty, however, this is what keeps Roka Akor from its 5 star rating. While delicious, I don't feel this dish was executed well because the chokes were left in the artichoke, which meant that instead of really being able to enjoy this dish, we scraped coarse fibers and worried about actually choking. Moving on... The conclusion of our meal came in the form of a dessert platter - presented like the Shashimi/Nigri platter (sitting on ice in a big stone bowl) - which included a green tea custard, chocolate lava cake with coffee ice cream, mixed berry sorbet, and lychee sorbet (YUM)... And fruit because what Asian dessert doesn't include cut up fruit?! It is a little on the expensive side, but 1000% worth it.

    (4)

  • Mark E.

    Stopped here with a co-worker after a very busy day for some desperately-needed sushi therapy. We shared three rolls: the Dynamite Scallop, Spicy Tuna, and the Salmon Avocado. All were immaculately fresh, the veggies squeaky and crisp, the seafood clean and light, but indulgently flavorful. We had three Sapporos each, as well, which lended a nice buzz to accompany the protein-high we were experiencing in the expanse of the minimalist dining room. Our bill was nearly $100 with tip for the aforementioned items. So, not a spot I will be frequently hitting up for a casual snack, but I was very pleased with our experience, and the quality of the sushi.

    (4)

  • Mark O.

    Late Review. Came here for dinner for the first time while craving sushi/robata grill, and heard many great reviews. Started with one of their cocktails featuring a nice aged Japanese whisky, and then switched to a sake which started the night off right! We ended up going with an omakase option that was featured in their menu. The sashimi selection was fantastic and included shima aji and kampachi that were some of the freshest cuts I have ever had in Chicago. They were accompanied by fresh wasabi that was grated at our seats at the sushi bar, which was a nice touch. However I was disappointed that there was no uni included as part of the "rare and hand selected ingredients." We also received some filler courses such as grilled corn on the cob and deep fried/battered king crab, (I personally find it a sin to have prime seafood fried into bland oblivion.) But these frustrations were offset when they brought us a mushroom/rice dish which was mentioned as vegetarian, but even as an avid meat eater I thoroughly enjoyed this fragrant, flavorful and aromatic dish jampacked with umami. 10/10 for this mushroom hot pot and I may return for this alone! Service and food presentation were both excellent, and the dessert course was definitely over the top. That being said, sakes here are almost 75-100% more expensive than the already heavily marked up restaurants around the loop/downtown area, for those who may not be as familiar. Prices are so outrageous here that they prevent me from giving 5 stars.

    (4)

  • Jessica P.

    We went for Restaurant Week and it was SO DELICIOUS! Start off by free coat check adn then off to your table. The seats are beyond comfortable couches. We started off with wagyu kimchi dumplings as an appetizer (free if you check in on yelp! :)) For restaurant week, we all tried different things but the highlight of the night was the dessert. We had Ube Creme Custard. It's not on the menu, it's seasonal. (we even embarrasingly tried asking for the recipe which clearly was going to be a no, but hey we tried) It was and is one of the top desserts I've ever tried in my life and we couldn't get enough. Food was great too - seabass melted in my mouth. Lamb cooked to the right degree and the steak was all so so good. Great experience over all. Our server made it a point to highlight whats good as well. :) Thanks for the great time!

    (4)

  • Heather P.

    There are a few sushi spots in this city that are as coveted as Roka Akor. I spent an evening (a very fun evening) on a sushi tour of the city. Basically, the plan was to hit up all these hot spots, having one roll at each so I could compare and scrutinize all these haughty taughty sushi spots. Of the three that I visited for the purpose of this evening - Roka Akor wins hands down! Service was beyond impeccable. Bryan was most accommodating and attentive without being too much. Our rolls were fresh, delicious and artfully presented. The sexy lighting and wine wall make this a very chic place for an intimate date or an occasion where you are looking to impress.

    (4)

  • Brittany P.

    Visited here on a Friday night...after the great reviews here I have to say I was a bit disappointed. Although the decor and restaurant vibe was great, the service was inattentive and food was mediocre. Our entrees came out cold and were about 10 minutes apart (this isn't a tapas restaurant, right?). Then I come to find I don't have silverware to eat while the waitress was no where in sight. Food quality seemed fine (although portions are pretty small). Overall, beautiful place, but do not think I'll return.

    (2)

  • Amy H.

    This place is very upscale and maybe that impacts my judgment because I'm not used to spending a lot of money on food. I thought the flavor for the appetizers were good, the waiting staff was playful, and the setting was elegant. However, there was barely anything on the plate. I left hungry and my bill ended up being $100. I wasn't too happy about that. If money isn't a concern, you just want to try something new, then please go here. Everything else besides the cost was great.

    (3)

  • Jessie P.

    Dined here on NYE and happy to report it was one of my favorite Chicago dining experiences in my 2.5 years in the city! Service was excellent and remained so even when we opted not to do the prix fixe. As first timers, we wanted to stray from the set menu and our waiter offered excellent recommendations. We started off with drinks (a delicious Saketini for me and a 3 Floyds beer for him), the Yellowtail Sashimi and the Robata Grilled Japanese Shishito Peppers. Next up was the 5 piece Sashimi Chef Selection. The presentation, quality, freshness, and flavor of the fish as well as the freshly grated wasabi had us thinking we should've gone for the 7 piece platter (although we had PLENTY of food)! Our next course was the Yuzo Miso Marinated Black Cod with Pickled Red Onions. Sashimi and steaks are definitely the way to go here, but in my opinion, the cod can't be missed! This is listed as one of their signature dishes on the menu and for good reason. When we winced at the $30.00/oz wagyu prices, our waiter steered us towards a seasonal American wagyu option that was more unique than the New York Strip Loin we were leaning towards and even at a lower price. We rounded out our meal with sides of Broccolini, Brussels Sprouts, and Asparagus, and finished the night off with the Warm Chocolate Cake with Coffee Ice Cream, Caramel Sauce, and Caramelized Peanuts. Overall, a great evening with attentive but not pushy service and outstanding food! Would add Roka Akor to my regular rotation if I could. For now, it remains a great place for a special occasion!

    (5)

  • Cheryl H.

    This place is awesome! It's fun, it's energetic and is on the pulse of what's great in Chicago. Go see Jorge Bernaldez at the bar. He will whip you up an amazing drink- one you gave never heard of but you will love. Let him recommend food for you- many trips here and he has never been wrong. Just tell him your flavors and he will do the magic. The food is fresh and interesting. Nothing run of the mill. Be adventurous and go for it. You will be surprised at what wakes up your palate here.

    (5)

  • Lorilee R.

    Fantastic staff & service. Wonderful saki options and sushi as well as lovely environment. The server was very helpful & patient with us and made great recommendations as well as a treat at the beginning just since we were new! Loved this place!

    (5)

  • Stella W.

    I was skeptical when my bf first took me here for dinner a few weeks ago....well, i am skeptical about any japanese restaurants, esp those in the chicagoland area, in general... I was really happy and satisfied after the dinner esp after having a pretty grumpy start of the day and lousy lunch :P we liked it so much that the coldest day of the month didn't deter us from coming back here for the omakase for my birthday.... :D the presentation and the quality of the food were excellent. After having the blue fin tuna sashimi from one of the courses, coupling with the Jiro dream of sushi we had watched, now going to the Tokyo fish market to get the real deal is way up high on my to-do list!!! the dessert platter were excellent! Knowing it was my bday, Chef Brett asked if i like chocolate and he sent out a really pretty dessert platter that had the best sorbets we never had and a chocolate ginger cream brulee...i don't usually like cream brulee because of the toasted brown sugar layer...but man...this chocolate ginger cream brulee had a well balance of favors and sweetness that i am glad my bf isn't much of a sweet or chocolate fans (yet he still said that's a really good cream brulee) :P the beef tatatki we had during our first visit was soooo good that it's probably the best app i have had... the taste and texture of the beef was well complimented with the hint of fragrance and crunchiness from the the shaved black truffle and the vegetable wrapped in the slices of the beef the Brussels sprouts with bonito flakes....gosh...who would think of bonito flakes could go so well wtih brussels sprouts!!!

    (5)

  • Delilah D.

    I've only been here for happy hour on the patio, but I'm definitely planning to come for dinner soon. There is a great selection appetizers and snacks for $5 and $6. We had the Wagyu beef and kimchi dumplings, crispy squid, hamachi serrano roll, and shrimp and lobster dumplings. Everything was really great, but the only downside is that the dumpling portions were small.

    (4)

  • Fish V.

    It's hard not to give this place a full go! A very well oiled machine with a professional staff. They do only have a one roll guy and all the business happens at the hostess stand. The wait and hard to get in speech. Lots of grilled offerings with an open mesquite grill. I have not tried the food yet and waiting for a martini 10 min and counting. But it will not remove the stars . It's Sunday night and it is what it is. A very unique place with a good vibe.

    (5)

  • Greg N.

    I stumbled into this place late last night after arriving late to Chicago and was happy to see that they would still serve me. I started with edamame and had the Yuzu Miso Marinated Black Cod with Pickled Red Onions and it was absolutely delicious! I also got the brussel sprouts since the cod is ala carte, and it was just ok. It was heavily seasoned and it overpowered the flavor of everything else but the service was fantastic, the decor and location are beautiful and the cod was killer. I'll be back next time I'm in Chicago!

    (5)

  • Jaclyn H.

    Love this place, the fish is always so fresh and the sushi is always very neat on the plate. If you are not a sushi person there are other options but defiantly somewhere you want to be if you enjoy sushi. The staff is always very accommodating and very polite

    (5)

  • Giselle G.

    Nice restaurant but over priced. Decor is ok, ambience is ok and the food is ok. For the price I expected way more. Most likely wont be returning.

    (3)

  • Rosanna L.

    I love GNO since I have some of the craziest/most fun girlfriends. Roka Akor has a lovely ambiance for our fun-filled dinner. The food: Robata Grilled Scallops with Yuzu Shiso and Wasabi ( yelp.com/biz_photos/roka… ) was tender and a big juicy scallop that you wanted to slowly eat so you can savor the taste. A fave! We ordered a few oysters ( yelp.com/biz_photos/roka… ) that were small in size, but packed with various flavors and freshness, some were better than others. Wagyu beef and kimichi pot stickers ( yelp.com/biz_photos/roka… ) weren't as exciting as it sounds. Not a lot of flavor, pretty much your standard dumplings. Summer roll ( yelp.com/biz_photos/roka… ) isn't something to dive in for but the Hamachi Serrano Chili roll ( yelp.com/biz_photos/roka… ) is definitely a go-to with it's refreshing ingredients. Wagyu beef ( yelp.com/biz_photos/roka… ), two way duck ( yelp.com/biz_photos/roka… ), and pork belly ( yelp.com/biz_photos/roka… ) instantly became favorites at the table. Everything was seasoned well and cooked perfectly. The beef and pork had a melt in your mouth feel with it's tenderness. The two way duck had great flavors. The Japanese Wild Mushroom Rice Hot Pot ( yelp.com/biz_photos/roka… ) was disappointing. The truffle smelled delicious, but the overall dish lacked flavor/seasoning (salt). With the food alone Roka Akor could of went 4 stars in my book with it's outstanding entrees, but the service wasn't up to par. I had to ask 3 times for a water re-fill, in a good restaurant a water glass should never go empty. There was also an incident where one of our servers knocked a glass of wine over and it spilled all over me and I received a simple apology yet the server constantly apologize to my friend (who's wine he knocked over) and give her a comp drink (which is great), but for the one that smells like wine (me) for the rest of the night I was simply ignored. They also need to "talk" to their valet guys. My cousin paid for her valet right before me and she paid $12 and right after her I gave him my ticket and he told me $17 and I even read the sign and knew it was $12, yet my slow brain didn't click and I had to ask my cousin for cash because this valet driver insisted that he couldn't take "card." Upon asking my cousin she told me it's only $12 and as soon as the valet guy heard it, he correct his "mistake." What a bunch of bull. Well, that ruined a nice dinner meal.

    (3)

  • Nikki A.

    Solid lunch spot. I had a day to myself in Chicago and decided to treat myself to a sushi lunch. I came to Roka Akor, a short walk from my hotel and got the Sashimi lunch special. It came with soup, salad, a butterfish roll and three types of sashimi. I also checked in on Yelp and got a free app! Everything was pretty good--nothing worth raving about, but satisfying. I like the fresh grated wasabi and my seat at the window--perfect for people watching.

    (3)

  • Jeff S.

    Roka Akor is one of those places that experienced diners might view as being all flash with little substance. That skepticism would be wrong in this case. Everything from the quality of the food to the service to the decor is top-notch. The robata grilled steaks will melt in your mouth, the freshness of the sushi and sashimi will wow you, and the overall presentation is great for those Instagram moments. If I were to recommend just one item on the menu, well I'd cheat and tell you to go for the Decadent Omakase. Although it's not cheap, it's actually quite the value with extremely high-quality ingredients including real truffles, A5 Wagyu, and variations of fish that you may not have come across in the past. They also have great executive lunch options, and they're also reasonably priced for the value that you get. Definitely high on my list of favorites in the city, and it should be high on your list of places to visit next.

    (5)

  • Yvonne B.

    I'm a fatty. Or at least I'm becoming one thanks (in part) to Roka Akor's business lunch special for $24. I got four dishes and a bonus amuse bouche. All delicious and all included in that $24 price tag. That's right. I got: 1) Amuse Bouche: some sort of seared fish with a garnish that was yummy yummy yummy. 2) Red Miso Soup with Lobster: that's right. REAL lobster chunks. It was delish and my new favorite way of eating miso soup. 3) Spicy Crispy Butterfish Roll: It had a jalepano on top but it wasn't spicy. It was creamy with strong flavors of rice and avocado. 4) Robata Grilled Prime Skirt Steak: I died! It was so good! There were three portions all sliced into strips that I could easily eat with my chop sticks. I loved the seasoning on those strips. I also loved and completely consumed the white rice that came with it. It had dark flecks of seasoning on top that were ah-mazing. I'm spoiled now. The guy who was busing our table didn't need to ask how the food was. He saw my face and his own grew into a silly grin. He said, "That's what it's all about! When I see that face and know that you like the food!" He wasn't joking. My friend Jen R somehow managed to stop her indulgence and bring home leftovers but I kept going until I ate it all. What's really neat about Roka Akor is that it's an uber classy place for lunch. It has high ceilings, expansive windows that flood the space with natural light, and simple decor. Although it's so nice (and everyone else was dressed nicer than me) I felt right at home in my jeans and button-up shirt. The only thing that I'll mention is that the host was a little weird. My friend and I stood there for a solid minute chatting while he tooled around his desk. Another woman stood off to the side. He didn't acknowledge any of us and I didn't know what was going on. Then he asked if I had a reservation and I started to say yes, but then the phone rang. Of COURSE he had to answer it and attend to the person on the phone. When he did give me his full attention he was terse, but I didn't care. I was spending time with my friend and excited about the lunch special.

    (4)

  • Justynka K.

    Everything I ate was melting in my mouth! Definitely recommend the cod and the Brussel sprouts salad. So yummy and can't wait to come back!

    (4)

  • Arbab S.

    The butterfish tataki was spot on. The rib eye was alright. Full of flavor but something was amiss. The two maki rolls we got were delicious as well. Overall the food is good. Portions are rather small. I don't mind paying a lot for good food but I felt like there could have been more food for the price charged.

    (4)

  • Lance R.

    The quality of the fish is just as high as down town. More limited sake menu then down town. The atmosphere is not as swanky as down town but it is nice and tranquil and comfortable. I love the butter fish tataki and the tuna tartar is very good. They are one of the few places in the north shore which reliably has great UNI!!!!

    (4)

  • Suzanne W.

    Hands down best sushi in River North. More than sushi - every morsel I put in my mouth was superb! Corn, brussel sprouts, and every yum dish!!!! I came here last Friday night with a girlfriend of mine to check out this place l. I was so pleased! We sat at the bar and had the most amazing bar tender Jorge. And the service was the best! Jorge at the bar was so friendly and attentive. He knows his stuff and knows exactly what food and drinks to recommend. Perfect way to end the week! I'll be back soon.

    (5)

  • Christina D.

    Roka was trendy and full of life. The cocktails were really good and the sushi was fresh, full of flavour and beautifully presented. We had a small mishap with our CC but the manager was out in seconds to resolve it. We will be back!

    (4)

  • Stephanie A.

    This place NEVER disappoints! Service is always FANTASTIC! The Food, well that speaks for itself! I will go here many more times! It is quickly becoming our go to for group dinners. Awesome!

    (5)

  • Vanessa X.

    Possibly the best food I've had this year. Or ever. What we had: Butterfish Tataki with White Asparagus and Yuzu Wagyu Beef and Kimchi Dumplings Crispy Squid with Chili and Lime Hamachi Serrano Chili Roll Plus some other free appetizer they gave us (Don't remember exactly what it was but it was delicious as well). Also they started us off with complimentary glass of sparkling wine. Seriously everything felt like heaven just melting in your mouth. Every bite was multi-dimensional flavored and packed with freshness and delicacy. It's rare for me to actually love every single thing I eat at a restaurant and this happened here in Roka Akor. I was very impressed and blown away. I wish I can afford actually eating here 2-3 times a week!!

    (5)

  • Rufin A.

    First and foremost, the presentation on each plate was immaculate. I had the Signature Omakase (5 Courses) which came with: Salmon Sashimi, Lamb Chops, Infused Ice Cream, Scallops and Foie Gras. All were great. Favs: Scallops and the buttery Salmon Sashimi Staff: 10/10; our waiter was extremely nice and very knowledgeable Atmosphere: modern, calm and fashionable

    (5)

  • Sawyer F.

    Just wow. One of the most enjoyable dining experiences I've had in a long time. I can recommend the butterfish tataki and the mushroom rice bowl -- the latter comes in a clay pot -- but I can't recommend adding the truffle to it. As far as I could tell they just scraped a few thin shavings of truffle on top of it, and doubled the price, but I'm not sure I could taste the difference.

    (5)

  • Robin L.

    Amazing sushi, really a taste sensation. The sashimi is served without rice, and lord knows, it's so good and top-quality that it doesn't need it. I found the menu a tad confusing, and while our serve offered to break it down for us, he recited his spiel to us so fast that it never really sunk in. There's some sort of Chef's menu and tasting menu, but since that was never adequately explained to us, I can't elaborate. It is pricy, but the drinks were good (and strong) and the fish was killer. I'd head there again in a heartbeat.

    (4)

  • Nathan J.

    Why am I sitting next to a hangry girlfriend? 1) the location and atmosphere are great. Dimly lit, just loud enough, and kind of sleek, not really sleek but kind of. On to the food. The butterfish tataki is a great taste to start with but leaves you wanting more. And that more you want doesn't come until you get a finely grilled steak. In between we had some decent nigri that was good but not great and not nearly enough. Overall the food was good but left something to be desired. Keep in mind that the location is a block away from some after dinner portillos dogs.

    (3)

  • Kristy D.

    I have now been here 3 times (including NYE) and have enjoyed each time for different reasons. The menu is large and differentiated enough to please a lot of different taste preferences. The sushi is simple but really fresh with great flavor combinations. They also have a fantastic red lobster miso soup that is a perfect way to start a meal. The scallops from the robata grill are nicely seasoned and a nice lighter way to go. Aside from all of that, their selection of wagyu beef is awesome and prepared perfect. Definitely recommend a visit to Roka!

    (4)

  • Tom M.

    We had a dinner at the sushi bar and both were disappointed. This place is pricey and a bit pretentious. We came on Tuesday to enjoy the 1$/oyster offer. Fresh but not super tasty, the soy sauce brings a pinch of saltiness and the onions and lemon some freshness. Satisfying as it should be. Likewise, the sashimi platter is just good. It looks better than it tastes. The sushis (tamago and umagi) are also just on average. The yakitoris are pretty poor: the meat is tender but the marinade is too strong, like the burnt. On the opposite, the desserts are excellent. The lemongrass usigiri makes a very smart use of the lemongrass and has textures' contrasts. It is light and fresh, perfect to conclude a meal. The black sesame ice cream is well done too. That sounds not that bad, moreover the service is attentive, except when you are charged almost 150$ for it ! A show-off bar but not a fine restaurant for sure.

    (2)

  • John B.

    In the beautiful River North neighborhood in downtown Chicago there are many choices for sushi, steaks, and hand crafted cocktails. After visiting Roka Akor I can attest that it is one of the best I have experienced. We enjoyed oysters, pork belly, butterfish, and several rolls. Our bartender, Elaine Ramirez was knowledgable, friendly, and passionate about the food and drinks she served. It was an incredible night of fantastic food and service. I definitely recommend to others!!

    (5)

  • Lindsay T.

    Really enjoyed the food and the atmosphere! Sushi and Filet were great! The Butter Fish under cold plates was truly unreal. For desert we had the warm chocolate cake it was awesome

    (4)

  • Michael A.

    Downtown Chicago I expected to find some quality sushi and this place delivered. Start with all the windows that let you know your in the heart of the city. Great atmosphere! Then you get knowledgeable wait staff. Brian did a great job showing up just before we needed him and our wine steward tipped me off to a free appetizer by checking in on my Yelp account. A good tip I need to remember to check out everywhere. I thought the free appetizer was this tuna tartar that was amazing but turns out that was complementary anyway and we got an order of dumplings on the Yelp coupon. The tuna tartar was so good we ordered more even though its not on the menu. It was spiced just perfect. My friend and I really enjoy sushi and we eat it all over the country, so really that's all I can comment on. We had Nigiri and some of the specialty rolls. Now nigiri can be pretty plain but every one of them was so fresh it was really a treat. The rolls were spectacular, especially the tuna 4 ways. We finished off with some norimaki that was also 5 star. Everything about the meal was top notch including the wine list. The only downside is its a bit expensive but not out of line with a good meal downtown. I would definitely like to go back and try the chef creations.

    (5)

  • Angie L.

    Been wanting to try Roka for a while and finally did when I bought a Gilt City offer of a tasting menu with a cocktail. It was delicious, and the service was great! The butterfish tataki and hamachi serrano roll were amazing. The chef sent out an extra course on the house that was actually my favorite... I can't remember exactly what it was, but it had truffle so how can you go wrong?! The cocktails were also very good. The place is a bit pricey normally, so I was happy to have the voucher, but I still would definitely recommend it and return in the future.

    (5)

  • Erica P.

    Great experience. Amazing food. Everything tastes super fresh and left dinner feeling satisfied yet light. Ragu dumplings and the steak were perfect. Staff was super nice.

    (4)

  • Célia Beatriz P.

    The food is great, but the place is noisy... Even the waiters need to scream to be understandable... Makes the whole experience stressful instead of "Japanese" calm...

    (3)

  • Nita W.

    Omakase did not disappoint! Expensive, but worth the experience. Our waiter was very informative and waiters were extremely attentive keeping the table clean and water refilled. Restaurant is beautiful...perfect atmosphere to celebrate my bday and our anniversary. My favorite dishes were the maki rolls, lobster tempura, scallop, and dessert presentation. My least favorite were the wagyu beef dishes....they were good, but I preferred the seafood options.

    (4)

  • Jenna B.

    Wandered over here after Sunda closed early and so glad we did!! Had a brilliant array of cocktails and accommodated and tantalized our vegan palette with a variety of choices...and that homemade ginger beer...get some!

    (5)

  • Tony L.

    Amazing how terrible service can wreck a meal. Food was pretty good but the service was horrible, literally 15 min gaps between visits. A Tuesday night and less than half full btw. Truly the worst service I have had in years. Asked for the check halfway through my meal because I just couldn't take it anymore. Thanks for your patience sir. Sorry will never go back

    (1)

  • Jen R.

    Damn. I brought my friend here for her bday lunch, knowing I wanted a more upscale, kick ass sushi place. And Roka Akor delivered. Even better, I noted on my reservation we were celebrating a birthday, and both the host and our waiter wished my girl a happy bday, which was a nice surprise. I love that level of service. Now on to the eats. We both decided to go with their business lunch, which at $24 includes a first course of red miso soup with lobster (yes, for real, and just as delicious as it sounds), wagyu beef and kimchi dumplings, and their spicy crispy butterfish roll. And yes, you receive all three. Next comes the second course, which for my friend was salmon teriyaki and for my meat loving self, the robata grilled prime skirt steak. My friend loved her salmon, and took most of it home because we were stuffed from the first course. I was able to make my dad proud and rocked two thirds of my steak. Which was delish. Delish! It was perfectly cooked, tender, and juicy. Yum, yum, yum. I would not hesitate to dine here again. While at first glance the menu looked expensive, the beautiful dining room, exceptional service, and the amount and quality of the food we received made the experience an unbelievable deal. Oh, and they brought my friend a little birthday surprise dessert. Did I say the service rocked? I really cannot wait to go again. My only regret? I didn't try any of their drinks. But like I said, I'll be back for more.

    (5)

  • Vince L.

    Go for the robata and not the sushi. Made that mistake as we wasted all our per diem money on plates of nigiri. The sushi was good but it didn't blow my mind. Get the black miso cod. You can probably avoid the wagyu dumplings, but check in on yelp and they might give you one for FREEE.

    (4)

  • John L.

    Okay so hear me out... First and I suppose most importantly, the food was absolutely incredible. High end-ish but amazing tastes. The $30 per ounce wagyu beef is probably not worth it, but it was certainly amazing! Secondly, the bar staff was very impressive as we had to wait for 30 minutes or so for our reservation. They were quick and made great suggestions. Great experience from the bar and kitchen perspective. Now to explain why I rated this place 2 stars...when I drop $300-400 for dinner for two, I expect a full service experience. Kitchen, excellent. Drinks, incredible. Wait staff, neglectful. I'm not sure if my server was new or if he brushed me off as being "too young" or "Asian" to be worth his time. I hope my 30% tip changed his prejudices for the future. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not assuming he had prejudices on my age or race, but I did notice he paid a lot more attention to all of his other tables and so happened to neglect the one I was sitting at. My expectations are extremely simple when it comes to wait staff. Keep my drink halfway full, ask how my food is a few minutes after it's served, and be quick once you take my credit card. Needless to say, none of those things were done. Anyways, it could just have been a one off poor experience, but I won't go there again (not for dinner at least) as there are too many restaurants in Chicago to drop $400 for a great experience.

    (2)

  • Tiffany H.

    The food was delicious and very tasteful. The music was modern and trendy. The service was very informational. They server was prompt on refills and we did not have to ask for water or other items they just brought it. The lightening was good but we had a window view. The bathrooms were clean. The design is very eclectic.

    (5)

  • Alexa N.

    I live in San Francisco, so I was thrilled to see a Roka Akor! My dining experience was wonderful. I had the Hamachi Serrano Chili roll and the Tuna Four Ways roll. Both were perfect. There was a divine chef's appetizer on the house. Two beatiful pieces of sushi. The manager, Felix, came over to introduce himself and suggested to call him in the future if any friends were visiting his restaurant. It's a large restaurant. I sat at the sushi bar and watched all of the beautiful dishes being served. Everything was perfect. Go here!

    (5)

  • Aakash P.

    Roka Akor was delicous! The service was impeccable, from the moment we walked in (with approx 10 in our party) to the food coma like state we were in after dessert. We ordered across the table and shared tons of dishes -- highlights are below: Drinks: Roka Mule, Old Fashioned, and beer (Echigo Stout) Food: Yellowtail Sashimi, Tuna Tartar, Robata Grilled Shishito Peppers, Yuzu Miso Marinated Black Cod, Japanese Wild Mushroom Rice Hot Pot, Dynamite Scallop Maki Roll..... Dessert: Warm Chocolate Toffee Cake with Peanut Butter Ice Cream This restaurant is modern, elegant and should definitely pride itself on the knowledge and quality of the servers. The food was brought out in exactly the right order at the right time -- hard to get this right on a busy friday night. Awesome place, def check it out!

    (5)

  • Chuck M.

    Jorge and Aron (Butterfly) are awesome. Give them a liquor then sit back and enjoy whatever they make. True mixologists!

    (5)

  • Nan K.

    Get the "omakase"..it's amazing! The omakase is where you basically "leave it to the chef" to bring you their best selections. You just tell the waiter what you're in the mood for and if you're starving or just simply hungry. If you tell them you're starving I think you get more in quantity, and if you're just hungry you get less food but they up the quality for each selection. We chose to do the latter. We didn't choose a single item on the menu, we just told our waiter how hungry we were and that was that since we weren't in the mood for anything in particular. We had no idea what to expect so it was thrilling! We were pleasantly surprised with everything we were served. Here's a list of everything we got for our "three" course meal: Braised Duck, Papaya, and Bamboo Shoot Salad with Chili Shiso Dressing Forest Mushroom Salad with Truffle Barley Miso Vinaigrette Butterfish Tataki with White Asparagus and Yuzu Whole Lobster with Spicy Ponzu and Wasabi Aioli Sashimi Chef Selection Madagascan Jumbo Tiger Prawn with Yuzu Kosho Chili Paste Broccolini with Ginger Shallot Dressing Japanese Grade A5 Wagyu Beef with Artesian Salts Dessert platter The dessert was nothing special, but everything else was exquisite. We weren't planning on spending $98/person that night, but it was worth every penny. I haven't had a meal this good in quite a while. Highly recommended!

    (5)

  • Carolyn P.

    I walked across the street to Roka after horrendous service at Sunda. So glad I did! The butterfish tataki is not to be missed and the cocktails are superb! Fresh fish and excellent attentive service. Noe THIS is how you do sushi in Chicago!

    (5)

  • Michael P.

    Unbelievable wagyu steaks. Multiple options too from the flat iron wagyu to A-5. Butterfish and Beef Takati were great too. Decent wine prices as well. Look forward to trying the sushi bar on another night!

    (4)

  • Marta S.

    Awesome atmosphere, great service, REALLY good food! Ben, the manager, was fantastic!

    (5)

  • Rajat B.

    Amazing food and fantastic service. Very unique dishes; nothing tastes generic or predictable. Truly elevated fusion food. Decor could be little more upscale perhaps but no complaints really. Definitely would go back again. Highly recommended if you want good fusion food and fresh, high quality seafood.

    (5)

  • Gino W.

    There was a media event at Roka Akor that I received an invite for. It was a chance to meet the new mixologist. Well, that was all fine and dandy, but I had gone to Roka Akor already and had a tasting of seven courses. Libations are okay. Good food is better. Instead of sticking around turning up one glass after another, I opted to return to the dining area and had a seat at the robatayaki bar for another tasting. Because it appears the menu changes, I got something different. I'll just list what I had and post the photos with the course naming so that you can see for yourself what all I had. First Course: Ume Foie Gras Torchon. Nama Nori Sesame Toast and Kumquat Preserve Second Course: Ora King Salmon, Sashimi & Nigiri Third Course: Micro green & Sprout Salad. Ginger Shallot Vinaigrette & Crispy Lotus Root Fourth Course: Sake Steamed Mussels. Citrus Dashi Broth & Shaved Vegetables Fifth Course: Halibut. with Sake Kasu Glaze and Pickle Salad Sixth Course: Robata Grilled Lamb. Spring Herb Marinade, Aka miso, Cucumber & Sesame Dressing Seventh Course: Yuzu Semifreddo with Local Mixed Berry Compote I was thoroughly happy!

    (5)

  • Aces O.

    As We were driving towards downtown Chicago we drove by what looked to be a happening restaurant spot. I quickly grabbed my phone and yelped this joint. The reviews were awesome and they served sushi so I was inclined to try it. Luckily, I called and they had a table for us. We went in and enjoyed the cool ambiance. We ordered some great drunkin snapper sake and began he night. We followed it with the wagyu dumplings and butter-something appetizer. We had the 4 way sushi and the serrano chili and 4 prawn sushi. All was GREAT. Btw, the Brussel sprouts are a must. Enjoy.

    (5)

  • Sherry L.

    My first time at a Japanese Robata Grill and Sushi place! The menu is very diverse with Robata items, sushi, sashimi, classic kitchen items like chirashi, katsudan, etc. We ordered a little bit of everything: sashimi chef sampler (very fresh!), sushi (subpar), grilled filet mignon (bleh, I'm not a huge fan of steak to begin with but I thought this was too chewy?). The food was good but very pricey. You are definitely paying to eat in a upscale environment.

    (4)

  • Gabriel B.

    Nobu introduced this Black cod miso marinated dish and now it seems to be a very popular offering at a lot of Japanese restaurants. I make a point of trying it at every place I go to that offers it. This version was one of the better ones. It was perfectly cooked, and served with a painted mild mustard and poppy seed sauce on the plate not on the fish. It was complimentary to the flavor of the fish and did not cover its subtle taste. We were strolling around this neighborhood of Chicago and checked every other restaurant on the way until we settled on this place. Great choice too. Unfortunately it was busy so we were given the option of eating in the lounge/bar area. The waitress was incredibly busy and our service suffered from it. She tried her best and kept her poise despite a very busy service. However, purely rating this for the food quality and taste I can objectively give it a 4 out of 5. If I were to judge the entire dining experience it would drop to a 2-3 stars for the delayed service, but in all fairness, we had no reservations, knew they were busy, and still chose to dine here. We also ordered a New York strip to share, it was grilled, pre sliced, and served with a Teriyaki something glaze. (some soy based sauce that was salty sweet, I just call it teriyaki because its a variation of it anyway). The manager noticed our troubles and removed about $30 off the final check, which was very considerate and fair. I would definitely come back here and recommend this place.

    (4)

  • Lisa M.

    One of the top sushi places I've eaten at in the city. The grade of sushi is probably the freshest in comparison to other places. We had a little bit of everything, Steak, sushi, scallops, king crab. The flavor was amazing. A5 -11 waygu is a must! Tuna 4 ways was nothing special, take a pass on that one. Other favorites...tataki, butterfish, grilled pork belly, wild truffle rice in hot pot, himachi maki. Everything melts in your mouth.

    (5)

  • Chez J.

    Went here with my old buddy Steve a couple of weeks ago. Simply put, this place is fantastic. Ambiance was on point. As a good ole boy, it's always nice to come to a high-energy big city restaurant and check out a scene like Roka. The restaurant was packed with good-looking people. Even if it were packed with ugly people, I don't think that would have negatively impacted my experience. The food here was sensational. Had some great fatty pieces of nigiri. The real highlight for me was the A-5 Kobe. At $35 an ounce, I ordered ten ounces because my buddy was payin' (Steve does that investment banking). This stuff was incredible. Ordered the steak medium rare, and it was perfectly cooked. The service was fantastic. Our server was incredibly quick and knowledgable. Talked to the sushi chef, and he told me that the fish had been flown in from Tokyo that morning. As a fan of Jiro, this was huge for me. In the interest of full disclosure, I have to mention that I received free Wagyu dumplins for checking in here. Trust me though yall, the free dumplins did not affect my judgment. Also, forgot to mention that I took my ADD medicine before I ate here and still ate all of my food! All in all, I had a fantastic experience at Roka and will be back soon.

    (5)

  • AJ M.

    Came here opening night on restaurant! As soon as you walk in the environment is amazing, the main dining room is really nice with a trendy looking bar area. We were seated in the lounge area but were told we could wait for the main area and we did. We had plenty of drinks which were all strong and good. Had plenty of apps but the wagyu roll might have been the best roll I have ever eaten!!! Wagyu is so tender and flavorful! I got the ribeye which was really juicy, my friend got the curry lamb sticks, which were perfectly cooked and burst of rich lamb flavor. The desserts that were part of restaurant week were not that great, but oh well. Overall the R week deal was really good! $44 for 3 course meal where just the entree would be normally $35! Otherwise prices are a little pricey but well worth it for the amazing flavors and environment this place brings! I can see why this was ranked o e of the best sushi spots in the country!

    (5)

  • Cheryl V.

    This place is fantastic. Everytime I come, Jorge the bartender provides great service and never lets your glass go empty. I have also dined here and Faviola is extremely knowledgeable. The way she explains the menu makes you want to try EVERYTHING!

    (5)

  • Maryann M.

    I spent an amazing evening last night with three great guys--Jorge, Dean and Willy. The food was spectacular as was the ambiance and people. I liked it so much that I'm going back again tonight!

    (5)

  • Anastasia U.

    Not the best but not the worst-they have gluten free items and tamari sauce for the sushi. We were expecting a much larger sushi menu. We ordered 4 rolls-I think I only really liked 2 of them-the cali and the dymanite. We ordered the spicy tuna and it was very fishy tasting. Pretty pricey for what you get, good service and atmosphere.

    (3)

  • Justin H.

    Romantic setting, awesome service, free and tasty dishes.. what else can you ask for? My gf and I went for the first time because of spring deals with a minimum of 20 dollars. Also yelp also gives you a free appetizer, and we asked for the butter fish rather than the dumplings and they did without question. The scallops on the hot fish was great except that mine was a bit too charred and had a burnt aftertaste.the butter fish was good but the ginger was a bit strong. The Korean lamb chops were amazing. We also received a free Brussels sprouts dish as well. It was alright. For dessert, we had the chocolate cake and green tea custard. I really enjoyed the green tea custard but not so much the top sugar canes. Chocolate cake was great. We will come back for sure.

    (5)

  • Mary Kay H.

    First thing I noticed upon entering is the noise level is fairly high in the dining room. Since I wanted to easily talk with my guest, we sat in the bar area. I'm not usually a fan of dining in a bar but this was a great choice. Our server was very attentive & he offered recommendations based on our entree choices. We received a special tasting of tuna because I had booked via Open Table. We also took advantage of the gratis yelp check-in Chefs Choice appetizer. Both were excellent. A sushi special was the a anago & the two pieces in the order were delicious. My guest ordered for his entrée the Yuzu Miso Marinated Black Cod with Pickled Red Onions & the accompanying slightly sweet sauce was the perfect compliment to a perfectly cooked piece of fish. My entree was Prime Rib Eye (12 oz.) with Wafu Dressing. This was cooked perfectly medium rare & the portion was more generous than I expected. I typically don't like a sauce with my steak but the wafu dressing was great. As side dishes we had the Japanese Wild Mushroom Rice Hot Pot & Crispy Brussels Sprouts with Wafu Dressing and Bonito Flakes. I know this restaurant is well known for sushi but me being a meat eater & my guest loving fish, these were ideal entrée choices for us. I will return another time to explore even more thoroughly the extensive sushi selections.

    (5)

  • Holly W.

    OK, Roka is our absolute go to when we are looking for something we know will be delicious, reliable and a little upscale. I am fairly certain you will not find fresher fish anywhere in the city. We usually order an obscene amount of food because we have so many favorites. The usuals include the Wagyu Beef and Kimchi Dumplings, the Hamachi Serrano Chili Roll, the Soft Shell Crab Roll (when in season), and you ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO order the Yuzu Miso Marinated Black Cod- Good god it is incredible- and don't forget the Crispy Brussels Sprouts. Also, if Jorge (the best bartender in the city) is working, ask him to make you a lychee martini... You will love it! Service is always impeccable and you never leave disappointed that you just dropped a few bills on dinner.

    (5)

  • Nick S.

    Best dinner ever, Mark made our first anniversary very special!! The OMAKASE is what I'd recommend to anyone coming here for the first time. I can't wait to come back to Roka Akor!!

    (5)

  • David Y.

    With much deliberation, I finally decided to give Roka Akor a try. Our server Danielle, recommended the omasake menu (prefixe dinner) which was beyond phenomenal. Danielle was excellent on timing and staggered the meal so that we can really immerse ourselves in not only the experience, but also the array of flavors. At the end of the meal, we had the executive pastry chef (Jesse) come out to personally greet us with his dessert plate. Let me tell you, the Apple-mint basil sorbet which is made in-house is to die for. I would highly recommend this place. Will be back again soon.

    (5)

  • Jackie M.

    I've been here few times for lunch and dinner at both location (Old Orchard and Downtown). I prefer the downtown location because there's more variety in the menu, minus the dishes are few bucks more in comparison to the suburban location. For a chain, I'm very proud there they serve quality and good food. The price is on a higher end and smaller portion, but the service and food makes up for it. I would not recommend this place for large group, bu perfect portion size for max of 4 people. Ask for the oyster special - certain days,there is happy hour for oyster or $1 on weeknights. Chef's selection - Typically, it's average fresh nigiri. There was one experience that it was exceptionally good (reminiscence the fresh and good nigiri i had in japan) and the top notch nigiri was served (snapper, madai, yellowtail, and etc) Robata grill - the steak is a must -order. My preference is med-rare, but the medium would give a more flaming charcoal taste. Robata favorites - corn, brussel sprouts, and sweet potatoe (very flavorful with the charcoal taste and sauce) Grilled cod and grilled salmon - cook to perfection and not overdone. beef tataki - very tasty and fresh seared beef. Oh i wish this wasnt a bite size portion. Scallop - it comes in 5 pieces? with a wooden stick on top and the scallop was a generous size (considering how much it shrinks when it's cooked) dessert - the chef pastry comes in every morning and prepare the dessert fresh. My favorite would be the chocolate cake with peanuts. Next time, I would try the wagyu steak which is about $30 per ounce. This is probably one of the restaurant in chicago that serves wagyu and I have faith that Roka will do a good job!

    (5)

  • Diane W.

    I came here with my boyfriend on Valentine's Day and I must say the atmosphere and ambiance of the whole place was wonderful. The service was quick and very kind and gave suggestions for anything we were unsure of. We got their famous Brussel sprouts, chef sashimi platter, mushroom risotto, dynamite maki roll, edamame, king crab legs, and sake. We got a variety of food, and All in all the food was delicious! I would definitely recommend the chef sashimi platter, the fish was melt in your mouth and their is such a variety of fish.

    (5)

  • Yuki Z.

    Like the ambience. It feels pretty private and the waiters are very welcoming and easy going. They have several house-made Gyoza and they are good! since we are a group of 7, we tried almost all appetizers, but nothing too special. They have some really high-end wagyu beef but I can't really taste the difference lol. Love the lobster roll so good! And have to recommend the dessert platter!!! Most worthy $15 of the night :)))

    (5)

  • Dave H.

    All flash no substance. My nigiri cuts were light, thin. Fishy. Over priced. My unagi was slimy and undercooked. Scallops were tiny and flavorless. (No salt or lemon.) The Wagyu dumplings were simple potstickers with ground beef that tasted like grade B chuck. With so much hype, I was expecting a decent sushi experience. I got amateur hour with a lot of pretty hostesses being ogled by crowds showing up for the wrong reasons.

    (2)

  • Norm J.

    I've walked passed Roka Akor numerous times and always said I need to try that place. So when my colleagues asked me where I wanted to go for my birthday dinner i said Roka Akor and after dinning here I can say I made the right selection. The decor of Roka Akor is very trendy and they have some cool lighting on the bar. The service was spot on and the food was DELICIOUS! We had the: * Lychee Martini (I had 3 so clearly I was a fan) * Wagyu Beef and Kimchi Dumplings ( a must try) * Ginger and Scallop Dumplings (underwhelmed by these) * Rock Shrimp Tempura with Wasabi Peas and Sweet Chili Aioli (I highly recommend) * Salmon Teriyaki with Pickled Cucumber* (so fresh and flavorful. Definitely get this) * Rolls - Dynamite Scallop (yes yes yes) - Crispy Prawn and Chirashi* (we all loved this) - Seared Wagyu Beef ( recommend trying this) - California (old faithful...don't waste the money; try something different) - Spicy Tuna (good, but wish we would have gotten another Dynamite Scallop) * Green Tea Custard ( not my cup of tea, but my colleagues liked it) * Warm Chocolate Cake (so rich, so delicious, so I didn't share) I had a amazing dining experience at Roka Akor and will be back for sure!

    (4)

  • Steven M.

    The interior decor is very classy and the food is absolutely amazing. However, the best of the dining experience is our server Mark. He provided us his recommendation on the dishes and was always present when we need him. He really is the best server in town! If you come here, try to get Mark as your server!!

    (5)

  • Manpreet K S.

    FINEST FOOD + EXCELLENT SERVICE = One of the best dining experience so far! I booked a table a week in advance on open table for my husband's pre-bday dinner. Not only the food was delicious but everyone on the staff made us feel so special!! They seated us quickly and served us complementary glass of bubbles and a chef special appetizer/teaser Our server AARON was extremely confident, knowledgeable about the food and friendly. He gave us great recommendations for drinks/appetizers and surprised us with entrees :) Highly recommend, which is absolutely everything we tried: Cocktails: Off fruit n fire and Shochu mojito! Appetizer: Robata grilled scallops and Hemachi Serrano Chilli Entrees: Grilled chillean Seabass in beautiful peppercorn broth and a side of crispy Brussel sprouts!! Lamb cutlets cooked to perfection with a side of cool cucumber eggplant salad Complementary birthday dessert like REALLY!! We both are in love with Roka!! A big thanks to Ben, Aaron and every other staff member for the amazing experience!! I would highly recommend it to everyone and hope you enjoy it as much as we did!!

    (5)

  • Happiness L.

    Coming here makes me happy. Roka is a new discovery for me and I was very impressed. Love the contemporary yet comfortable atmosphere, the food is especially delicious, and the service was stellar. Sitting at a 4 top table in the bar area is nice with the doors and long windows as it gives a welcomed outdoor feel. I believe our waitress was Fabiola or something similar and she was very caring and attentive. The entire team here creates a guest experience worth coming back for over and over and over. Bravo! And...fantastic happy hour with smaller portions and cocktail specials.

    (5)

  • Krista M.

    Love this place! Craft cocktails, knowledge and friendly staff and delicious, fresh sushi!

    (5)

  • Jackie M.

    I would highly recommend eating here. We were stuck in Chicago for the night and this made our stay very enjoyable. Our waitress was extremely helpful in suggesting what to order. She then brought our meals out in the order that worked best for the table. We ordered several different things for the table and they were all great.

    (5)

  • Ellie C.

    I don't eat much seafood, so I was kinda nervous when a friend suggested this for resto week. But this place had the right kind of non-seafood choices to compensate, and I left full and happy

    (5)

  • Lea S.

    I came into Roka Akor a few weeks ago and decided to sit at the bar as I waited for a friend. As soon as I arrived, I found the staff to be welcoming and friendly and the vibe, upbeat. Dean, my bartender, made some great recommendations both from the wine and dinner menus. Along with a lovely cabernet, I ordered the robata grilled scallops and a seared wagyu beef maki roll. Everything was absolutely delicious. The scallops were much larger than I expected (never a bad thing!) and prepared perfectly. The maki roll was fantastic - really fresh ingredients and a super tasty sauce and crunchy garlicky garnish. There is no need for soy sauce or wasabi with a roll like that. Overall: The service was great - The staff was attentive and friendly. The food was amazing - It was served quickly and tasted fantastic. The ambience was energetic - Super fun way to unwind on a Friday night. Can't wait to go back and experience more of their menu!

    (5)

  • Dan M.

    I am clearly trying to check out all the sushi joints in the city and this place came across as one of the spots to check out. This place is a chain restaurant and I recognized the name from SF so naturally when I saw it in Chicago I figured I should try it out. I made a reservation on opentable we showed up for my 7 pm res. This place is definitely "hip" and they are definitely catering to an upscale crowd. We were seated right next to the window and our server came over promptly. She was a sweet girl but a bit too cheerful for my taste not that it should have a bearing on this review. The décor of this joint is true swanky and they have a nice bar set up going. My one complaint is that I felt it was trying to be more of a club than an upscale restaurant but didn't bother me too much. You get one free appetizer when you check in on yelp so yelpers make sure to do so. We decided to order the pot stickers, the butterfish tataki, a sashimi plate, 3 ozs of the Japanese grade A5 wagyu along with the Hamachi Serrano Chili roll. The potstickers were just bleh so definitely pass on this. The rest of the food was pretty fresh from a sushi perspective and I could appreciate all of it. The Wagyu tasted GREAT but seemed a bit overkill for $30/oz.... The sake selection was great here so I give it props on that front for sure. All in all, the food was good enough for me to go back but im not sure of the pricing of certain items... feel you could get better bang for the buck for some of these items but solid nod for the food.

    (4)

  • Merlin C.

    Roka is pretty great. I'd go with a group and order about 2-3 things per person, a mix of appetizers/sushi/sashimi and an entree or two. That'll be more than enough. Portions are excellent and end up hitting that safe spot just below bloated and right above too light. Definitely go for the sashimi 2 of a kind. They'll bring out 2 pieces of 7 different varieties. We also had the wagyu dumplings (delicious), one of the steaks, and the pork ribs, all standouts. I'd dock a star because they try too hard to emulate a club atmosphere, but the music is way too loud and overwhelming. I started feeling dizzy after about an hour-plus of pulsating house music.

    (3)

  • Weiling H.

    Roka Akor - Chicago Fantastic dinner!! I went there couple of times finally got a chance to write sth for ppl have not yet. Not your typical sushi a-fare, the variety at Roka Akor will keep you coming back to sample the plethora of accessible and affordable modern-style Japanese dishes--from Robata Grilled Scallops or Yellowtail Sashimi, to the signature black truffle-infused aioli made from fresh truffle. Be it fish, fowl, vegetable, beef or seafood, leave it to Master Chef Cebian to bring authentic eastern flair to downtown chicago, at a price you can't beat with anywhere else. And if you are in a raw mood, of course there are plenty of creative sushi combos and Bento Box specials that make for a quick and easy selection for your lunch. Be sure to save room for desert!

    (5)

  • Lina A.

    My husband and I stumbled upon this place totally by chance as we were walking the city. We were celebrating his birthday and I secretly told the hostess this after we sat down and our waiter (who was awesome!!) brought over two small champagne toasts on the house. It was a very pleasant surprise. We were looking over the menu trying to figure out what to order and the waiter suggested the Chef's Special. It's basically a small plate portion of an assortment of different items and it's all a surprise what the chef decides to cook and have brought out to us. We took the chance and went with the special. OH MY GOD, it was AMAZING!! It was an assortment of salad, sushi, steak, seafood, rice, and dessert. Halfway through dinner, my husband and I began to look towards the kitchen with a gleam in ours eyes, patiently waiting while our tongues were salivating thinking about what delicious surprise was coming next. It was also SO filling. When the staff first came out with a salad, followed by sushi, my husband and I looked at one another wondering if we had made the right choice because even though they were both delicious, we were starving. We soon realized we had made a great choice. One after another, plates were coming our way. It was such a great experience because much of the food were items that I never would've thought to order myself. I wish I could remember them all exactly but sadly I cannot. I also wish I could remember the name of our waiter because he was fantastic. We came in pretty late to eat and were taking our time with each portion. Towards the end we could see that the staff was cleaning up and we were the only ones left, and our waiter did not rush us for a second. All I can say was even though it was a very expensive meal, it was worth every penny. We would 100% go back and get the Chef's Special again.

    (5)

  • Bo Y.

    Wife and I went to celebrate our 2nd anniversary for lunch. It's so hard getting some quality alone time with the missus nowadays with a 7 month old at home. Upon some serious deliberation I chose roka akor. Back in 2012 we moved to Chicago and roka was one of the first japanese/robata places we tried. The brunch was amazing so I thought why not. Let's go back and reflect on the past years. Now onto the experience: Made a reservation for 11:30 am. Arrived punctually and was seated near the window. Casey was our server. I mentioned to him it was a special day for us. What followed was nothing short of spectacular. Service was on point-the perfect amount of chit chat and our drinks were refilled just often enough. The FOOD-there are two options for tasting menus. We opted for the $98 signature menu since the $128 one that included japanese wagyu was still waiting to be delivered later in the afternoon. It was a five course meal: Started with an appetizer: grilled shishito peppers. Followed by the first course: trio of tataki: beef, tuna, and butterfish. The beef had slices of black truffles, but I couldn't really taste them. Looked pretty though. All three were very tasty. Second course: sashimi platter. I believe there were 7 types of fish: the waiter mentioned one was scorpion fish, which I was very excited to eat. The orange king salmon was probably my favorite though. Melted right jn my mouth. 3rd course: robata grilled black cod and Madagascar prawn. This was my favorite course by far. The fish was perfectly cooked and it came paired with a decadent sweet miso based sauce. The prawn was the biggest prawn I had ever seen in my life. From tail to head it must've easily been over a foot long. It also came with some grilled asparagus which was quite refreshing. 4th course: japanese risotto? with prime NY strip, mushrooms with a truffle sauce, and grilled corn with sweet butter. The steak was grilled perfectly- in between a medium rare and medium. The portion was huge too. Easily 1.25" thick and at least 16oz. Post cooking. The mushrooms were very aggressively seasoned, so it kind of overpowered the seasoning on the steak. Eaten together it was quite good. There was also a truffle aioli that was quite good as well. The risotto was very fragrant, and had mushroom, tofu, leek, and sake infused. It was mixed table side and the portion was very generous. Fifth course: green tea with banana foam dessert, assorted sorbet, lava came with espresso ice cream and assorted fruit all on a platter. Presentation was not lacking in any of the courses. I'm a big guy-6'3". All I can say is halfway through the steak and risotto course I was almost stuffed! We couldn't even finish the dessert course. All in all including a three Floyd zombie dust and valet parking the total came out to just under $300. Well worth it imo. My wife told me afterwards the experience was so good she wanted to have every anniversary meal here. Lol. Thank you roka akor for making our special day even more special!

    (5)

  • Deanna B.

    While in Chicago, we thought we would give this place another try. Still great sushi and excellent service. Would come back again.

    (5)

  • Justin B.

    Quality through and through...but you're gonna have to bring cash baby! Dropped in for Restaurant Week lunch today, because my wife and I can't normally afford to eat at places like Roka Akor. But we had heard good things so I came by with a friend for chow today and left very impressed, albeit a little hungry. The starter for lunch is an order of Japanese peppers that were interesting; tasty, but not too much flavor, with flakes that curled with the heat of the dish. Cool looking, but just an ok start. (We did have an amuse bouche taster that was very much tuna tartare for a peasant like me, but with much more flavor, a mustard (honey mustard, maybe?) glaze that opened the meal quite nicely.) Then we had the spicy tuna maki, which was very good; spicy, indeed, and not just with bad mayo found in other rolls at lesser restaurants. The dish was great but apparently this was only a four-maki order for this "roll"...at regular menu prices (I think they were $12-$22 normally for a sushi roll), it might cost you $50 or more to eat lunch here normally just on the sushi. Yikes! Then we finished with two more dishes--a skirt steak with shiso and chimichurri sauce, and the winner of the week so far, black cod skewers that look like chicken when they hit your table but taste like butter when they go down your throat. The skewers were incredible, even with the steak being as good as it was, I've been thinking about the skewers all day. The cod was incredible and very light, so freakin' good. But all of this food was pretty small. So small, that I went to Firecakes after eating at Roka to get a vanilla iced doughnut for dessert. Space is huge, which attributes some to the high cost of the meal; really cool-looking kitchen set up and it seems like a place that would be pretty sweet to hit on the weekend. Service was attentive and our prix fixe menu was explained very well. While I can't afford to go back for a normal meal, I can say that the quality is incredible. If you are in town on an expense account, make this happen!

    (5)

  • Roslyn C.

    I really enjoyed the live preparation of the food. The atmosphere was high-end yet casual. A perfect location for a business dinner. The flavors were incredible. I had the Kobe Beef Wagyu. The quality was unbelievable, the texture and the taste was like butter. The Kobe with brussels sprouts and risotto with fresh black truffle was the highlight for me. I would recommend this for a group business dinner. Very impressive.

    (5)

  • Edi I.

    This is an amazing restaurant that will give you an amazing experience. Came in on a busy Saturday night. Tables are great as you get to see the Chefs in action . We had a variety of dishes sent to us as this is the perfect place to share ! Our waiter Anthony was very knowledgable and guide us so well with all our dishes, made our experience even more memorable ! Maki, sashimi, their way to present the rice and all the dishes have so much attention to details ...A must go place !

    (5)

  • Joni C.

    It's a nice trendy place with very good sushi. After reading all the reviews I thought I prepared myself enough for an encounter with a pushy waiter. Although our server was very friendly and very helpful, I did feel like I was dealing with a car salesman at one point. I'm pretty good with saying no but he sure made us spend much more than we were planning. All his suggestions were excellent though so I can't quite hold his pushiness against him. It's just that the many times I've been eating out, I've never felt like I wasn't in control of my ordering like I did that time. Now for the food. We had the Beef Tataki with Shaved Black Truffle and Truffle Jus, plus the Butterfish Tataki with White Asparagus and Yuzu for starters, both suggested by our server. I have to say that both appetizers were excellent! We enjoyed the appetizers with a nice bottle of Crazy Milk Sake. We ended up going for the Deluxe Sashimi Platter which included 8 different sashimi selected by the chef. It was $45 per person and as expensive at it was, I have to admit it was worth it. Beautiful presentation I must say. It's like one of of those dishes that's too pretty to eat. I can't quite remember which fish exactly it came with but there were 5 kinds of the freshest sashimi I've ever had, Oysters, King Crab Nigiri and a Kobe beef sushi of some sort that was just melt in your mouth good. The server suggested that two of the sashimi be eaten without soy sauce and be dipped in the grated Himalayan Rock Salt instead. Perfect combination indeed! Our server even gave us the Robata Grilled Scallops with Yuzu Shiso and Wasabi for us to try. I think that gesture was very nice of him. I was kinda glad we didn't order it since as crazy as I was for scallops, this appetizer did not quite excite my palate. Scallops were fresh, but I thought the dish was a little bland. Since we were there, we had to try the Robata. So we had the Prime Rib Eye which was enough for the 3 of us to have room for dessert. Ah, the dessert. Wanting to try many things, we ordered the dessert platter good for 2 people. Although there were 3 of us, I think it was more than enough. 7 different fruits, 1 sorbet, 1 ice cream, 1 slice of cake, and a custard of some sort, all beautifully arranged in an ice-filled giant bowl. Overall, food was excellent! Everything was fresh and presented beautifully. Sure you can have sushi as fresh in your favorite neighborhood sushi restaurant for a lot less but it's the whole outstanding dining experience you're getting here. I Would definitely be back!

    (5)

  • Jimmy D.

    This place is awesome! Loved the food, service and flexibility to accommodate my kids. I will be back for for sure!

    (4)

  • Francesca L.

    Went here on Saturday night with a group of four. We had reservations but were somehow put at a really small and low table at the bar. I didn't understand the seating as the main dining room looked to have some empty spots. I felt like we were in a time out because the table was soo small and the chairs were so low to the ground. Also, we shared and had to keep maneuvering things on the table (including our drinks and water glasses) constantly. That got annoying, esp when you spending a lot per couple for dinner. The food we had was good and the portions were a decent size. However, I think there is a similar food for a much more reasonable cost in the city. We paid a lot per couple (approx $180) with only 2/4 people drinking and the men commented that they were hungry when we left. I hate leaving a place and knowing my husband is prob still hungry. Overall, good food but in my opinion very pricey!

    (3)

  • Jon L.

    River North has been invaded by a number of generally indistinguishable upmarket corporate chains lately, but the Chicago incarnation of a Scottsdale-based division of a Japanese-ish restaurant with locations in London and Hong Kong merits attention. Billed as "Sushi and Steak," Roka Akor is like a stylish, modern-day Ron of Japan or Benihana for the capitalist class, but with really fabulous food. If you ignore the offensive prices and garish clientele, Roka Akor excels in each of its varied roles: sushi destination, serious steakhouse, and contemporary Asian eatery. We've sampled much of the menu at both lunch and dinner, and at this point, I'm generally more excited to eat at Roka than I am at Sunshine Café, Renga Tei, Arami, or Katsu, at any number of the places around town where you can a very good steak, or at Slurping Turtle or either of the Bellies. The restaurant offers an impressive selection of raw fish, including daily specials (last night we had some variation of aji that I had never heard of plus some cousin of snapper that were doubtless endangered and soaked in radioactive cesium), all accompanied by real deal wasabi grated before your very eyes. Any of the steaks are great, cooked exactly as requested and with a fabulous char, exactingly pre-cut in chopstick ready slices. Simply grilled fish is exactly that, and right on each time. (A rare food-related misstep is the disappearance of grilled mackerel from the menu.) Other entrees, like the barley miso chicken, are worth a detour. The quality of everything they serve is extremely high, and the preparation accurate and consistent. Even the miso soup exhibits remarkable depth of flavor. At $8 for a bowl of the red variety--with lobster, natch--it better. Roka Akor may be the rare place where self-professed foodies and cocktail-swilling culinary philistines in short skirts and untucked buttondowns can coexist. It takes some effort to subjugate the ickiness of the restaurant's corporate provenance, the waitstaff's shameless upselling, and the obnoxious scene. Cheap, it is not--although there are deals to be had, including a four-course executive lunch and a happy hour appetizer omakase. But even at full price and considering all the foibles that may make the restaurant a less than ideal destination for the most discerning diners, Roka Akor should be near the top of any good eater's list of places to visit.

    (5)

  • Beth A.

    what?! a place that serves one of my fav flowers with every drink??? luv it :) comin from baton lounge a guy saw us on the street and insisted we go inside roka and see jorge who would 'hook us up'; after a hilarious conversation about what exactly 'hookin us up' would entail we went inside to this super swanky japanese? bar/lounge i dont know how much drinks were but jorge made some delicious beverages (and when i asked if i ordered a beer if i could still have a flower he laughed and said but of course) roka reminds me of a vegas lounge...id say hands down go check it out...even if u only grab one at the bar

    (5)

  • Amy S.

    Delicious delicious food! I would recommend this place for a girls night or for a date, but not for a guy's night because the portions are super tiny. It gets pricey, but it is worth it for a "date night". I would call this the modern day Japonais, minus the lounge area.

    (4)

  • Elizabeth A.

    Delicious sushi - that's about all that needs to be said.

    (4)

  • Ken R.

    I might have enjoyed this place a little better with a different party. I went with a large group and we ordered the chef's recommend items. Unfortunately, many of the items presented weren't things I would choose. Next, it was a large table and it was very loud, so half the time I couldn't hear what new dish was being presented. With all that being said, most of what i tasted was delicious. I would love to go back with a smaller crowd and order my preferences off the menu. It was quite loud in there too, making it less suited for larger parties.

    (3)

  • mei s.

    Came here for a business lunch, during Christmas time, so the place was pretty busy. The service started off surly but maybe bc we kind of returned a look of "really?" that it toned down some. In any case, we ordered the business lunch, which is supposed to include: Red Miso Soup with Lobster, Wagyu Beef and Kimchi Dumplings*, Spicy Crispy Butterfish Roll* and an entree, which I chose skirt steak. I say, supposed to, bc they neglected to give us the spicy crispy butterfish roll. and this is after we were advised not to order any appetizers or additional items as we would be very very full. really? do i look like i can't eat? thanks, but really, i can. anyways, i was debating between this place and union sushi and bbq bar, which i went to a few days later, and it was much much better.

    (2)

  • Stephanie L.

    The new place to be "scene" for sure. Had reservations here on a Sat night at 930....this place was hopping thats for sure. All walks of life and definitely great people watching. I was pretty sure the table next to us of four dudes had rented the two hookers that were with them. Comical. Why not? We got talked into the tasting menu... Let me just say this...it was way too much food, however, it was good. We had beef tataki, butterfish, some sort of truffle risotto, crab legs, lobster, tons of sashimi...I cant even remember all of it because it came out on a huge platter, followed up by wagyu beef and then sorbets....I think that was everything. They have fresh sea salt and fresh wasabi which is definitely a bonus in my book. Everything was fantastic. It really was...Honestly, I was absolutely stuffed. It was too much. I could have done about 1/4 of what we got. Not to mention at $128 per person....its pricey. Our server said that if we came in again, he could do something for a lower price but still hit all of the amazingness....maybe just less food in general. I felt a little wasteful. You can definitely tell they are a new restaurant. The service isnt amazing, however, the staff was very accommodating and talkative. We got bombarded by food and then would wait like 20 mins for something...slightly weird. Plus, just ok on keeping up with the drinks. Plus, two of my glasses of wine had cork in it. Would I go back....maybe....is it worth checking out if you havent....of course :) Plus, they have some interesting drinks. I tried the blood orange marg...it was tastey. A little sweet.

    (3)

  • Alejandro G.

    Wow- this place rocks. I went with my girlfriend to celebrate her birthday and we had an incredible experience. We went with the signature chefs tasting menu, Each dish was fresh, beautifully composed and delicious. Hard to pick a favorite but the giant ice bucket sashimi platter was spot on and the wagyu beef. Brad our server was attentive and very knowledgeable and picked a great bottle of sake to go along with our meal. I mentioned that it was my girlfriends birthday and when we got seated Steve (GM) introduced himself and brought us 2 glasses of champagne on the house. Well done! Great time and most importantly my girlfriend walked out with a huge smile. Check this place out, food and service is top notch. Thanks Roka and we will be back!

    (5)

  • Michael C.

    Can't say anything about the sushi, I only came in for drinks. The place seemed pretty swanky. All of their cocktails seemed to have an Asian twist. The drinks were all around $15, definitely pricey.

    (4)

  • Cassandra K.

    Stopped in here last night, and wow was it amazing. First off, the decor is incredible. The people who created this place really did their homework. The ambiance is very nice and the staff were incredible. Now onto the food. I started off with the red miso soup with lobster. UNREAL. The noodles were very thin and the broth was amazing. All of this was topped off with chunks of really tender lobster. Just an unbelievably awesome starter. Then I moved onto the sushi rolls. I got the hamachi (yellowtail) roll and I must say I have honestly never had a fish so insanely fresh in my entire life. This was INCREDIBLE. The rice also didn't fall apart nor get stuck in my teeth, and the seaweed wrap wasn't dry. I also ordered the hamachi sashimi which is presented to you on ice surrounded by greens. The presentation of this dish is beautiful and tasted even better; so fresh and tender. I will absolutely be back here again without a doubt. Ask for Patrick H. when you arrive. Very knowledgeable man, especially when it comes to bottles of wine.

    (5)

  • Jason P.

    I was looking forward to trying this for the first time since I've heard so many great things about the food. Unfortunately when we showed up for our 9:00 p.m. Friday night reservation we were told there would be at least a 45 minute wait. Yes, a 45 minute minimum wait for our RESERVATION. One of the greatest things about Chicago is that its flush with quality restaurants. That being said, our party decided to take our dinner somewhere else

    (1)

  • Marco H.

    Major Update!!!! I don't know what has changed (chefs maybe?) since my last visit 5 months back, but this time the food was phenomenal. I dine at Roka Akor for lunch with some friends. We wanted the waiter to surprise us, so we asked him to bring out a sampling of dishes. I was not disappointed. Highlights: Robata grilled scallops, wagyu gunkan with caviar, yellowtail sashimi, hamachi serrano roll, and the black cod. A few things (not found on the menu) were amazing: a lobster and truffle sauce dish, and brussel sprouts with bonito flakes. I'm glad I gave Akor a second visit.

    (5)

  • Robin D.

    Great date spot, good service, good ambience but I dont think its the best value especially if you enjoy sashimi like we do. The slices are thin to the point of being transluscent. Ive never paid this much for sashimi. If you enjoy sashimi as much as we do, this is not the place unless your willing to pay a few hundred dollars to satisfy your appetite for raw fish Otherwise you will leave feeling very hungry. We ordered the set lunch and I think that was an ok value, it comes with miso and 4 pieces of roll which was pretty good. They have options other than sushi but we never tried it so I cant say much about it. Because we are sashimi and sushi lovers, I would only recommend this place if you are willing to pay more money for getting less food. I personally won't be back but that doesnt mean you shouldn't especially if you have lots of $$$$ to spend.

    (3)

  • Steve S.

    Great service, excellent food The steak was outstanding Not cheap but worth it.

    (4)

  • Amanda F.

    My girlfriend and I dined here for the first time right before the holidays and absolutely loved every minute of it! We came in towards the end of the evening after a show at the theater and were immediately greeted by smiling faces. Before I could even unzip my coat we were told our table was ready. After being seated we were greeted within a minute. Our waitress Danielle helped make the whole experience really memorable. She was extremely friendly, polite, knowledgeable of the menu, and offered suggestions when needed. Being that we had never been before it was nice to hear her suggestions and pairings of the wines to the food we did order. The food came out at a timely manner, we never felt like we were waiting around or rushed. When asked if we needed anything else by the gentleman who dropped the food, he returned within seconds with our request. Besides the impeccable service we were offered the food was outstanding. Thanks to the staff,l chefs, and especially our waitress Danielle, my girlfriend and I were most definitely recommend AND return to Roka! Thanks again!

    (5)

  • KC C.

    An incredible experience, especially for one who is not that familiar with sushi-now I'm hooked! Ambiance, environment, music, staff, service, all was a very good experience. The hostess provided excellent suggestions on sake choices to start, and on menu choices to follow. As is standard for us, we arrived about 7:45; and closed the restaurant up about 11:30 or so. But it never felt like anything but a fun and pleasurable dinner-even exciting at times. And the food was excellent, the rolls, wasabi, ginger, sauces, all were exquisite. The final entrée was the prime beef in chili sauce, expertly prepared and served. And most importantly, after a grand meal here I believe that going to the gym is optional not required-I went anyway though just to ensure compliance with traditions. Off to the gym anyway!

    (5)

  • Sarah N.

    Roka Akor gets a 5-star rating from me. The food was great. Drinks were delicious. And the service was AMAZING! The staff handle their responsibilities very quietly and nimbly, without drawing attention to their good deeds. That said, their impeccable service does not go unnoticed or unappreciated. The wait staff seemed to have an eye on our party of 5 at all times, without hovering. Our server anticipated questions and needs before we even alerted him. Even when my jacket slipped from my chair, someone was there to quietly replace it before I had the chance to turn around to fetch it. Kudos, Roka Akor staff!

    (5)

  • Dan H.

    This place actually is as good as it gets. Helps to like both American grill AND Asian style cuisine, as this is a hybrid of the who, perhaps leaning more toward the grill end. All the food is cooked to perfection, the atmosphere is enjoyable for dinners both business and pleasure, and the grill pit is a nice touch. I recommend, so long as you are in good company, that you order a bunch of things to share among the table, as there are that just that many great dishes on the menu. Too many to name; besides, the servers are very helpful and accommodating; they won't steer you wrong. Certainly not a traditional steakhouse, so if that's what you're looking for, keep looking, but their steaks (which can be sliced for the table to try) are tender and delicious, among everything else.

    (5)

  • Paul F.

    food was excellent but portions are small and a tad pricey. the service was fantastic! we had the butterfish, scallops and mushrooms for appetiser. very good. lamp chops for mains - was just ok... expected more out of it as as the bar was set too high after the appetisers. dessert was light with the apricot usigiri.

    (4)

  • Ebony R.

    The Butterfish has been calling me back for the past several days. I can't remember the last time I had a dish that was so amazing to my taste buds that I did not want the dish to end. The cod was so perfectly prepared, we used our chopsticks to share and had no problem as it fell apart easily for us. We had a very attentive waitress and the drinks were perfect. I cannot wait to return!

    (4)

  • Chowhound C.

    Can't wait to go back!!! My second visit to Roka drove this place to be one of my leading recommendations for two of my favorite things; drinks and steak....with the perfect amount of Japanese flair. It takes a lot to make a table of 4 drinkers all change their orders to "I'll have what she has." The Journeymen Shiso is my new BFF :) Consisting of Ravenswood Rye, fresh lemon juice, luxardo cherries, fresh shiso, fresh mint and demerara syrup, it was reminiscent of a whiskey old fashioned, but more gender neutral. The shiso in this drink makes it progressive and dynamite as this Japanese version of mint and basil keep you wanting more. The second surprise of the night was the steak. I am always reluctant ordering a steak in Chicago at a non-traditional steakhouse since there are so many places that do it right. Roka Akor added a nice twist by serving their properly cooked and perfectly seasoned fillet with an optional spicy sauce on the side that made this an item I will order every time. Special thanks to this place for starting my evening off on the right foot. Did I mention that I can't wait to go back! -Chowhound Chick chowhoundchick.blogspot.…

    (5)

  • Steven N.

    My wife and I visited this restaurant again on a Wednesday before Thanksgiving and we were pleasantly surprised by a much better dining experience. Instead of ordering a la carte this time around, we tried their signature collection omakase for $100/each person paired with a bottle of Loimer Riesling (~$75). Being the night before Thanksgiving, the restaurant wasn't super busy, so we had the chance to chat with the wait staff and food runners to learn more about the food & the restaurant. These are really professional, hospitable, and knowledgeable people, they certainly made the dining experience much more enjoyable. Below is a summary of what we had: * Japanese shishito peppers - good ingredient, grilled to perfection and seasoned with just the right amount of salt * Tuna tatami - the dressing went well with the tuna, very refreshing. The tuna was very fresh. I think we also had a super white tuna tatami as well if my memory is correct. * Sashimi platter - nicely decorated and presented. You can tell the fish is very fresh. Having oysters and seaweed as well is a nice touch to change up the flavor. The rock salt went well with the toro and the freshly grinded mustard really elevated the flavor, especially for the raw shrimp. The shrimp heads were fried nicely as well. I would suggest making a more generous cut (thicker) to make each bite more satisfying. (some sushi chefs actually change the size of the cut based the gender of the diner, males tend to like thicker cuts) * Miso soup - nice touch putting ginger & a chopped shrimp in there to create a deeper flavor. It did taste a bit too shoyu (soy), but still good. The shrimp was a bit overcooked and dry, so less time in the soup would probably be better. * Yuzu black cod - easily the best dish of the night. My wife and I were speechless after the first bite. It was juicy, fresh, and flavorful. Grilling it inside a lotus leaf is a very nice touch. Pairing it with red onions is outstanding. * Brussels sprouts - my wife and I don't even like Brussels sprouts and we loved it. Grilled & seasoned perfectly, great side dish to go along with the cod to balance the flavors. * Japanese wild mushroom rice - we loved this the first time around and it didn't disappoint us during this visit. We would come here just for this mushroom rice with a few drinks. * Short ribs - if possble, see if you can switch this one out for the NY strip wagyu. It was cooked nicely, tender and juicy, but it just lacked flavor because of lack of seasoning. * Desserts platter - the raspberry crème brulee is marvelous - flavorful without coming off as too rich and the top was just burnt enough. The sea salt & raspberry ice crème flavored just right, goes very well with everything in the platter.

    (4)

  • Jeff H.

    The atmosphere is excellent and the authentic coal grill greets you with a nice aroma when you walk into the restaurant. The service was great. The host and support staff were nice, well trained and quick to assist. Those were highlights. Our server was knowledgeable but was pushing the special items a little too hard. We took his suggestions on some of them and were unimpressed. The KingCrab Maki was soft and lacked taste and the super-white tuna appetizer, while very good, could have used a little more meat. To end on a good note, the Dynamite Scallop roll was out of this world good!

    (4)

  • Rosa W.

    Let's start off that if you are reading this, go book your rez first and then read the rest below. It's THAT amazing. Note that I cancelled my Japonais Rez to come here since 2 of us had already had Japonais and we wanted to find a place that none of us been to before. #BestDecisionEver Atmosphere was pretty nice. The bar upfront was crowded while we patiently waited. And yes, I am giving them 5 whole stars simply because every little thing that went into our mouths AND our ears were immaculate, superb, and aaa-maaaaa-zzziiingg!!! Let's start with the EARS- Alex our waiter, was the best possible. Very helpful and friendly and handled a group of 6 hungry ladies very well I must say. Also with the rest of the crew who came by with the food were all great. Granted, we did have a hiccup of one of the guys accidentally spilling a glass of wine while grating the black truffle into the wild mushroom rice, but to make up for it, they gave us a complimentary drink. They also had some pretty loud music playiing thorughout too. Nothing too loud we couldn't handle though. There was no need for me shout across the table. And for our pretty MOUTHS- Every. Single. Dish that came out literally melted in our mouths and it was nothing but "oooooHhhh, Mmmmm Ohhh MY GOSH" spilling from our lips. In the order it entered our bellies, we had the following dishes: 1) Robata Grilled Pork Belly - sooo tender and juicy 2) Robata Grilled Scallops - very decent sizes; usually comes in 4 pcs (maybe 5 pcs) but we had a party of 6 and Alex requested the add'l one(s) - no charge! 3) Bottle of Sake - poured it into a glass for each of us 4) Wagyu Dumplings - different but quite deelish with the ponzu sauce 5) 3 different types of raw Oysters (2 ea) - Summer Menu; small sizes but who wants to gulp a huge piece of oyster down their throat? (Not I) 6) Summer Salmon Roll - Summer Menu - big salmon fan and this was yum! 7) Wild Mushroom Rice w/ Black Truffle - very moist and tasty (TWHS) 8) Special Duck w/ Mango - Summer Menu - they cut it for us so no butchering necessary 9) Wagyu Filet - this was probably my personal favorite; literally MELTED in our mouths...pricey, yes but what do you expect for a legit piece of Japanese Wagyu?! WORTH IT!! 10) Himachi Serrano Roll - Spicy & deelish - this was ordered afterwards bc everything literally was amazing and we wanted MORE. Yeah, we ladies can eat. =D To leave you with my final thought - we had no leftovers, we licked the plates clean, and to add cherries on top, the table full of guys next to us bought us a round of shots and ordered a cluster of sorbet for our table (which is made in-house)! All in all, it was a wonderful experience and really superb food.

    (5)

  • lori c.

    very nice, large restaurant perfect for couples or groups! we enjoyed a few selections of sushi nigiri, the dynamite roll & miso cod. prior to our order, a complimentary avocado & crab roll was served which was a nice touch. their miso cod was cooked perfectly but personally I think could use a little more miso flavor. service was awesome!

    (5)

  • T S.

    Excellent food and great service. Had a great time with friends, and loved the recommendations made by our waitress !

    (4)

  • Missie B.

    Just ate at the downtown location & had an outstanding experience! Everything from the food to the service was amazing. We asked our waiter Mark for recommendations and everything he suggested was delicious. Both the manager and the assistant manager stopped by our table to make certain we were pleased ...& we were. Can't wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Andy C.

    Great food and atmosphere but crappy service! In attentive unhappy bar tender obviously had other things on his mind tonight as I came in an hour before closing time on this slow Monday night. Maki roll and edamame were good as was the grilled sweet potato,

    (3)

  • Andre W.

    I was originally enticed by a friend to try this cool spot in River North for dinner a few months back. I walked in to a very welcoming staff that told me how awesome their bar was while I waited on my friend. I checked out the scenery and it had a very fresh, cool spin to it. I always like a place that puts a little effort into its decor. My dining pal finally showed her face and we were seated instantly. We started out with appetizers: Tuna Tataki (superb), Veggie Tempura (meh) and the Spicy Tuna Maki (just ok). For my entree, I went with the Black Cod which was decent along with asparagus. The service was pretty cool,but slightly overwhelming. It seemed as overtime me and my friend engaged in deep convo, the servers were right there asking if we needed anything or giving additional info on some of their drinks and dishes. I guess I shouldn't complain as they were attentive. I came back again not too long after as I had an out of town colleague come to town and she wanted some good eats in a nice place. I was feeling like meat so I went with the RibEye and it was delicious...very tender and well seasoned. My side was the sweet potatoes...simple marvelous! We also did some damage on a bottle of their finest Malbec as well...good stuff. We wound up pending a good 4 hours here on a semi secluded Monday night. Nice mixture of people frequenting this joint which makes for good people watching. Good spot to hit up for some fine dining.

    (4)

  • Quoc T.

    Jorge, the bar tender, was excellent! He made the best old fashioned & gave the best service. Scallops & pork belly are great but the service was even better!

    (5)

  • Ramina H.

    AMAZING. Fine Japanese cuisine. My friend and I stumbled across this place late on a Saturday memorial weekend. They sat us immediately. Our server Wes was THE BEST, he convinced us to trust his suggestions and I'm glad we did. I'm not a brussel sprouts fan but I become one that night. So much flavor packed into each dish, I could not get enough. The butter tataki was my other favorite!

    (5)

  • Jennifer D.

    The food was excellent - we had sushi and several vegetable sides. Pricing was pretty reasonable for a Japanese place and the staff exceptionally friendly and solicitous. The noise level was very high so it was hard to speak with one another, that is why I didn't give it the final star. Would definitely return, but maybe on a Tuesday not a Friday! And oh yeah- one the most expensive sake menus ever- they really should be offering a wider selection of the many small bottles of good sake under $50- only a few in that price range...

    (4)

  • Tatiana B.

    Celebrated my engagement here!! :) Food was very good, sat at the bar area and the ambiance was nice. Waiter was ok but a little pushy.

    (5)

  • tim d.

    Omakase. Excellent experience.

    (5)

  • Nancy P.

    The service was excellent! I had never been here before but it was awesome. The waitress really knew the menu well and helped us choose a few dishes. The dumplings are delicious as was the butterfish I think it was? and the hamachi roll. Totally recommend this place!

    (5)

  • Brett F.

    Roka Akor, I don't love to hate you, but I kinda hate that love you I actually do. Fully being the kind of place I expect to dislike (large, flashy, downtown, appealing to tourists) imagine my surprise when not only dislike I did not, but wholeheartedly appreciated. While the glitz and address are what they are, it's the service, food and experience that really do set RA apart from its downtown visitor trap counterparts. Roka manages to exude a 'locals are the ones dining here' vibe pretty effortlessly even if it's not the case. Perhaps a little of the adjacent NaHa's fabulosity has wafted in this direction? Either way, the servers are all on point, making great suggestions from an extensive - as in 16 pages extensive - sake and shochu list, an equally robust cocktail offering, a beautiful wine book and the thoughtfully assembled Japanese-focused menu. From superb sashimi and maki, to traditional robata items like scallops with shiso glaze, to entrées of Roasted King Crab with Chili Lime Butter and Japanese Wild Mushroom Rice Hot Pot with Black Truffle, RA's edibles do not disappoint in the slightest. As a matter of fact, on all 3 of my visits here (one for a Yelp Elite event - holla!) I've been blown - the F**K - away by their steak. Something so simple, yet so distinct, Roka gets major points in the beef department. It doesn't matter if you're splurging on their 10+ Pure Bred Wagyu or hitting up the Skirt Steak with Sweet Garlic Soy, all of their meat is marinated like a bad ass beast and cooked to pink-in-the-center perfection. You can't go wrong here. The only thing possibly better than the Wagyu? The apple shochu. If you're lucky enough to find them steeping it, DO IT. It's a master crafted booze cruise of the finest, tastiest, loveliest kind. Roka may be near the masses, neighboring the unimpressive and noisy to boot, but it's not to be missed. Go.

    (4)

  • Ania W.

    Delicious sushi and drinks!!!

    (4)

  • Samantha E.

    I came here for a belated birthday dinner with my sister and we ordered quite a few things on the menu to share. Whether it was appetizers, the main course, or dessert, it was all delicious. The only thing that fell a bit short was the rocks shrimp tempura. Go for something else if this tempts you. Prices may scare away some people but it is not bad at all if you share dishes. Good service and great atmosphere as well.

    (4)

  • Josie V.

    For a nicer restaurant, I was surprised this place was a little noisy. I came here with my boss who's uncle owns the restaurant group this place was associated with. We ordered the Omikase which was awesome, and I have to admit a little more food than I could handle. It was all delicious though. The service wasn't the great because when you order Omikase, you would expect the same server would be the one brining out the dishes. One of the servers we had was difficult to understand that I had to translate for my boss. Also, my boss wanted a glass of red wine and asked for one. Instead of suggesting a wine, the waitress told him to look at the menu which was kind of weird. If I were the waitress I would suggest a wine because as part of the restaurant staff you should also know the drink menu unless there's a dedicated sommelier. Plus think....you can suggest a more expensive wine option and a lot of people won't blink at the price in a place like this. Overall the food was great but the service could use some polishing.

    (3)

  • Ferdinand H.

    3.5 stars. As a Japanese food purist, I have to say that I have very mixed feelings about Roka, especially since the head Chef is HK UK Chinese apparently getting an MBA at Cardiff. Part of me wants to wish him well and want him to expense every success - but Sushi must be evaluated on the basis of its origin - Japan. There are 4 things I'll review; 1) service, 2) Robata, 3) Sakana, 4) Sake. My server was presumptuous, trying to tell us what sakes to try, and jesting about me ordering one of the 1500 USD sakes on the menu. Given that I've actually had most of their Junmai Daiginjo selection - I felt a little put off by his forwardness and his suggestions at having their sake - additionally because many of their selection can be found at such standouts like East 15th or Yakitori Totto in NYC for roughly 60% of the price. While anyone can be justified to up mark their beverages, I actually like to get a sense of how the sommelier/liquor source prices their clientele. As it is, I settled with good old Dassai 50. Having been eating huge volumes of food this weekend, we started with 6 oz of their AUS Wagyu Robata, adding 6 selections of sashimi - and were dismayed that their Uni was sold out. We got Miso Cod with Yuzu as well as mushroom rice and Butterfish Tataki finishing with a banana bread and coconut ice cream. The fish was reasonably fresh, though I was again dismayed that the "exotic fish" described by the server featured in the Sashimi Deluxe Selection basically consisted of Hon Maguro, King Crab, Otoro, Aji - and that's about it. I don't know Chicago Sushi well enough to know whether that qualifies as exotic, but for me, i expect something like needlefish at minimum - perhaps some unusual saba or perhaps some unusual clams before you start calling something "exotic". The Wagyu was reasonable - the salt pairings were decent, although again, standard. Vegetarian Salt, Truffled salt, and rock salt... not bad. The fresh Wasabi was offered freely, though somewhat wastefully. I expect parsimony when it comes to sharing such treats - this particular root was a tad bland - but the thought was there. The Mushroom Rice had a touch of Shisio on top of the ginger and mushrooms - I'd have gone for a little less Shisio - maybe 1/2... but again, and interesting idea. Miso Cod was okay, though the skin was charred to the point of carcinogenic... but that was pretty good. The butterfish was quite good. The Banana Bread was reasonable, but the coconut ice scream was a bit heavy handed, and the rice crisp a bit too burnt. It was reasonable, but decidedly un-Japanese. In the end, I'm between 3-4 stars, maybe towards 3. Decor is passable, service was presumptuous and frankly insulting. I've eaten far more delicate Kaiseki, and I do not appreciate being insulted by my server upon being seated. If my server knows more than me, I'm happy to learn, but when they bring the wrong sake, call standard fish exotic, make assertions about the quantity of my ordering - it's too much presumption for my taste - too much for 5 minutes of interaction. Best wishes to Ce Bien, and I hope that his endeavors will succeed at every turn. But, until the quality standard improves, I have no intention of going back.

    (3)

  • Kim W.

    Great service. Enjoyed food. One star down due to limited sushi menu. However everything we ordered was fresh, well prepared and beautifully presented. Highly recommend.

    (4)

  • Nicki B.

    After eating Japanese food in Toyko & Kyoto, I thought that I couldn't be impressed with a "Japanese" place in the US. I am please to say that I am wrong. Roka Akor made me very impressed! My honey in Chicago for a conference, left me to dine for lunch alone. I decided on Roka Akor since we've passed by the Scottsdale location many times. I have to say that their business lunch menu was suberb! The Miso soup was fused with pieces of lobster and ginger! The beef dumplings very unique and surprisingly good. And Maki rolls were refreshing and lite. The best part of was the mean event that I choose which was the salmon. It was honestly the best salmon that I had in a long time. The skin skin was crunchy and meat was juicy and flavorful. Not dry and over cooked! I sat that their bar and was able to watch their cooks in action. Was very cool. I got to chat with their executive chef Bret! Who is very down to earth and from Arizona like myself. I can say that the place was very modern and the upbeat casual music was a perfect combination. Even a group of men in business attire seem to be enjoying their lunch meeting. I'm looking for to check out Roka Akor when they open their new Las Vegas location:)

    (4)

  • Wadi M.

    Food was great! Music a bit too loud tho and wish they could dim the lights to set a better ambiance. Other than that this is where you go impress your lady friend and eat like a KING!

    (4)

  • Ryan K.

    Roka Akor is always good. I'm not a big sushi guy and will leave the reviews to those who are a bit more experienced than myself. I will say that I really enjoy the Serrano Chili Roll. What brings me back is their Robata grill. Yes other places in Chicago have one but Roka's robata choices are just better than the rest. - Shishito Peppers are fantastic and exciting as 1 out of 10 peppers are HOT. - Prime Beef Filet with with the chilli sauce is, excuse the term, dank. - Black Cod is the best fish you can get in Chicago. The dinning room is cool and the scene is up-beat. Some might call this noisy but I think it is energetic and a good place to start the night. The waitstaff is attentive, knowledgeful, and courteous. Of course you expect to find a good sake list and their well advertised Japanese shochu spirits from the bar. But the real value is the bar manager, Jason Huffman, and the selection and knowledge of Japanese Whiskies he has built. Get a tasting setup with your dinner, you won't be sad.

    (5)

  • David F.

    Great experience! Ate at bar, Elaine, Jorge and Willie made us feel like regulars. The Edamane, Sushi, Wagyu Dumplings and Lamb were to die for, highly recommend Roka Akor. Congrats to Steve the GM for running a great establishment and his hospitality!

    (5)

  • Lily Z.

    I came here last week for Sunday brunch. I think for the month of September, they have buffet style brunch? I was brought here by friends, so I didn't really know the details. But to the food! When we arrived, there were 3-4 tables of people. Other than that, the rest of the restaurant was empty. It was a nice but breezy day, so the windows were open. We pretty much got one of everything. Out of everything that we ordered, I liked the ribs and the sashimi the best. The ribs were flavorful and practically falling off the bone. The quality of the fish in the sashimi were pretty good and actually surprising for a buffet. The salmon was good, but then again you can't go wrong with salmon. It was a pretty good portion size as well. The dessert was nice. My friend really liked the cream with the red bean pancake. It was so good, she wanted to take it home! Some drawbacks are that although the restaurant wasn't very busy, we juggled a lot of empty plates on our table, even though 3 people were seated at a 4 person table. Also, I don't know if it was chicken leg or something else, but we were a little suspicious about whether it was fully cooked or not so we decided not to risk it. The ambiance was nice. They were playing Bob Marley and the open windows made everything very casual. The waiter was attentive, friendly and smiling the entire time. This one barely squeaked by with a 4 because although I had a good experience, there wasn't anything offered that would bring me back. But I liked the easy-going atmosphere and the sashimi. Plus the waiter was cute. Last thing is that if you bring your receipt to your next brunch, you get 50% off! EDIT: The "chicken leg" is actually a braised duck leg.

    (4)

  • Travis L.

    Sashimi sampler, ribeye, rice mushroom hot pot. Triple win. I have eaten here on four separate occasions, and none have been a disappointment. I've also had their Omakase tasting menu sat at the sushi/grill bar. Worth checking out. Also good for groups.

    (4)

  • So D.

    Been to Chicago location, Scottsdale location, even the Skokie location. In each one the food is always good, cocktails well made, excellent sake selection. The ambiance is upscale, high energy, a night on the town kind of place. It's their pricing that doesn't sit well, it seems overpriced, every time. This from someone who will run $100 per person tabs without complaint, so it's not me being cheap. Strange, not sure why i always have that feeling at Roka Akor, because like I said, they do serve good food and well made cocktails.

    (3)

  • Aine Z.

    Right, so before we get started, let me just say that this place is gorgeous. The decor is incredibly modern, and you can actually see inside the kitchen. I would suggest that you make a reservation during the weekends, as this place is very popular and full during that time. The crowd is older and decidedly professional, this wouldn't be the place to come in a sports jersey and your beat up Nike's, you'd feel really out of place. I've been here twice, once someone treated me and the other time I treated my friend. Both times, the servers were extremely nice and quick to recommend dishes of you're in need of help. I was also very surprised and grateful when I asked one of them if 3 dishes was enough for 2 people (portions are on the smaller side) and instead of trying to push more, the waiter replied "this is the perfect amount, since the mushroom risotto is heavy". Honest. I like that! This place is kind of misleading if you think you'll get sushi, although they have a very fresh cuts, it's of the norm of Cali and tuna rolls. What you should really be here for is the meats and fish. I had the Lamb and the Wagyu, and both of cooked to medium rare perfection! Absolutely delicious and worth the splurge. The black cod dish literally melts in your mouth, and the sauce to go with it was heavenly. The mushroom risotto was the perfect addition to help you fill up. We also had the sweet potatoes, which was as delicious as everything else. I highly recommend this place, food's great and their cocktails ain't so shabby either. So if you really want to impress your date, or you're just in the mood to splurg, this place is awesome.

    (4)

  • Jennifer C.

    Amazing! My hubby, 14 month old daughter, and I came in early Saturday night. The food was awesome. We had the hamachi Serrano chile roll, the skirt steak, and the grilled sweet potatoes. The sushi And skirt steak were exquisite. The sweet potatoes were good, but not life-changing like the other two items so i'll probably try a different side next time. Our server was really great and patiently cleaned up the many items that my daughter threw on the floor. I can't wait to come back, hopefully next time my hubby And I can venture out and enjoy it by ourselves.

    (5)

  • Brian K.

    Awesome as usual. One of the best places in CHI town for steak, sushi or just great start to your evening. Atmosphere is awesome, good music but not too loud. Anything they put on front of you to eat it just excellent.

    (5)

  • Nyota W.

    The best scallops I ever had in life! I just needed to start with that. We were looking for tasty food and Roka Akor silently spoke to me, like a restaurant whisperer with the simple words, "come inside". OK, perhaps it wasn't that mystical, but I'm happy that we decided to go here. Even on a Monday night, it was pretty crowded, obviously this is a local hotspot. We took a seat sitting along the chef's bar area where you can easily watch as your food and others' are being prepared. Everything was so tasty and fresh. We decided to go on a tasting spree ordering several options to share then finally ending off with a sushi roll that was built to perfection. The food was pretty rich and oh so flavorful. Yum! No disappointment here. Do yourself a favor and order those scallops.

    (5)

  • Jessica F.

    Great meal, beautiful setting, passionate & knowledgeable service. I liked Roka exactly for what it advertises itself to be. Our server, Ian, was fantastic. Polite, attentive, and genuinely enthusiastic about the food he served. We decided on the "Decadent Omakase". Ian recommended a bottle of sake (Raccoon / Tanuki) for the meal. It was $80, which is reasonable for the quality. He actually talked about his own experiences as a diner. As it was, the bottle was excellent and somehow managed to pair well with 10 types of fish, two kinds of steak, lobster, black truffles, AND dessert. A great recommendation. The Omakase consisted of very generous portions, served at a comfortable pace. I've posted photos of everything we ate here on the site. The most memorable courses: the superwhite tuna sashimi-type dish, scallop and pork belly (best dish of he whole night, IMO), the lobster tempura, brussels sprouts with shaved bonito flakes, and the 5-mushroom risotto that went with the wagyu beef dish. The steak dish (it was a tataki type) tasted great but the beef was pretty chewy. Other than that, I had a wonderful meal and left very, very full. The portions were generous, but not such that I felt overfed. I look forward to going back, perhaps to sit in the lounge area and sample some of those lovely looking cocktails. And honestly I could probably sit myself in front of a big bowl of that mushroom risotto and be set for the evening. If they won't let me do that, I'll be perfectly content sampling more of the menu for sure.

    (4)

  • Dustin H.

    Roka Akor will not only exceed your expectations, it will mezmorize you. From the moment you walk in the ambiance will grab you and take you to another world. Starting at the bar you are greeted with premium cocktails delivered by seasoned bartenders( if you're lucky enough to get Jorge you're in for a treat) and once you move to your table and the fire from the kitchen flares the real fun begins. Everything you will eat is carefully selected by arguably one of the best culinary teams around. Freshness is the name of the game here and from start to finish you'll never be disappointed with a night out at Roka Akor.

    (5)

  • Molly E.

    We simply love Roka Akor. This was our 4th visit and we came to celebrate our 1 year anniversary. The food is consistently fabulous and with great presentation and quality. Service is also all-star (The last two times we have had Brad as our waiter). Previous times we've simply ordered what sounded good and what the waiters have recommended (I suggest ordering from the "specials" when you can, they are always mouth watering). This time since it was our anniversary we decided to go with the Decadent tasting menu. We did not regret it. It was just amazing. From king crab to wagyu beef to raw tuna, we had it all. Highly recommend! Good for groups, couples on a date night, or if you are alone and want a killer meal!

    (5)

  • Amoli P.

    Mind-blowing. After my first visit to Roka, I was pleased but was left a little bit short of my expectations. Less than 24 hours after writing my review, I was contacted directly by the restaurant's general manager, Steve Tindle. He was disappointed that Roka did not live up to their standard of excellence and insisted I come back to try them again as their guest. I was so impressed by this kind of response and service, that I instantly agreed and my boyfriend and I returned to Roka last Friday night. I sent Steve an email indicating when we'd like to return and he set up the reservation himself. The service had already been absolutely superb on my first visit, and this second visit was above and beyond. We had a different server this time, but he was just as attentive and friendly as the first time around. Steve came by our table to meet us and immediately sent over the butterfish tataki and robata scallops to get us started. He had remembered that the butterfish was one dish I thought was lacking from my first visit, and the second time around, the dish was exactly as I hoped it would be. The butterfish melted in my mouth and the flavor was perfection. The scallops came next and just like the butterfish, they were somehow even better than the last time. Grilled perfectly and the scallops just fell apart into your chopsticks when you touched them. We ordered a bottle of sake, and our server was great about chilling the bottle in between refilling our glasses. We placed the rest of our order - the hamachi serrano chili roll which is still one of the best sushi rolls I've ever had. Probably the best tasting yellowtail I've had in Chicago and Roka is consistent with providing this top quality. The miso cod was also delicious, the yuzu-miso sauce kept the fish very moist and light, and the cod was grilled perfectly without drying out at all. Lastly we tried the mushroom hot pot (risotto) as a side, based on recommendations from other yelpers. It was nicely presented and was a very well made risotto, but a bit on the bland side. I think that's just my personal taste though, as risotto is not typically supposed to have an overpowering flavor. I imagine it would complement any of their steaks perfectly. As we were stuffed from our meal, we were given another surprise when the chef came and delivered the deluxe dessert platter as a treat for us. This gigantic bowl was filled with decadent desserts like chocolate cake topped with coffee ice cream and caramelized peanuts, a couple of different sorbet scoops, some sort of green tea layered ice cream, and an assortment of tropical fruits. On my second visit to Roka, I got the mind-blowing experience I was hoping for. The food was absolutely delicious, the service was second to none, and I will gladly come back to this restaurant again.

    (5)

  • Ami S.

    amazing food , great service , will always say yes to a costumer . love this place

    (5)

  • Mike T.

    Have you been for lunch? Their price fixe lunch special is the best deal in the city! Plus, I had given up wheat for January and without hesitation or additional cost they chef whipped up a wheat free menu. A combination of great Customer Service & great Food brings me back and has me recommending it to all of my friends!

    (5)

  • Rachael R.

    There isn't one thing I'd change about his dinner. Service and sake recommendations were perfect, and each dish was filled with really intricate and interesting flavors. The fish in the sushi just melts in your mouth, and the wasabi was the most flavorful I've had. I very highly recommend!

    (5)

  • D T.

    We stumbled upon by accident, only bc we were in lulu gear (my dad in jeans). I knew it'd be high end, but it was FANCY plating. We are not shy to the restaurant game, and we know everyone's money is green, but we like to semi look the part. Well that night, we didn't. And we lived to tell about it. . The yellowtail app is phenomenal, as is the fried app. (Forgive me, I eat a lot, I don't remember). The sushi was insane, the appetizers ridiculous, the service was excellent. We may have been casual, but we're narcissists, we don't care who we offend. Kidding, but none of the well dressed couples seemed to notice my daughter and I dining with my parents. It WAS pricey for a weekday, 5:30 dinner, and I HATE when people say that. But it was. And it was worth it. If you want a lot of food for your money, stay away...and you probably shouldn't eat sushi. Buffet/all you can eat eat/deal/left feeling full~ all phrases I refrain from using when sushi is involved. We had quite a variety of the menu, and I think it's worth mentioning, the black cod was VERY forgettable. The meats were excellent.

    (5)

  • Tiffany L.

    I was expecting overpriced frou-frou Japanese food that looks better than it tastes. What I actually ended up with was surprisingly good food, although still overpriced. But considering it's in that trendy River North area, the pricepoint is about right. Besides the large space and trendy decor, their strength is that they can appeal to a wide spectrum of sushi people. They have your typical safe Japanese dishes like edamame and rolls, but they also offer more unique options that you might not be able to find elsewhere. Definitely be adventurous and try their specials. For example, we ordered the Sayori sashimi (Needle fish). It was really beautifully sliced up and presented, and they were even willing to fry up the spine afterwards. The pork belly was tasty as well. Our waiter (who totally resembled a young Weird Al Yankovic) was pleasantly knowledgeable of the menu and of Japanese food in general. He was really attentive in beginning of our dinner, but was nearly non-existent during the second half. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt this time and say that maybe it's because they were low on waitstaff that night, but it was still kinda disappointing. He would have redeemed himself had he broke out in a parody song. "Eat It" would have been an acceptable choice. They have a REALLY extensive sake selection so of course we found a nice bottle to get tipsy on. After finishing half the bottle I realized the advantages of dining in a loud restaurant. FUN TIDBIT: I was uber excited when a guy came around and started grating fresh wasabi tableside. Fresh wasabi is the best. Then with our o-toro, he came around again to grate a piece of Himalayan rock salt. There was some fun banter back and forth regarding him offering us a "straw to go with the white powder". Aaaaaand cue the jokes.

    (4)

  • John M.

    I

    (5)

  • Joanna T.

    Amazing food, fantastic service! Ambience is very comfy and modern all at once. You will be welcomed as soon as you walk in, and this will extend to your server. So far, on both of my visits here, the servers were very knowledgable and will give great suggestions as far as house favorites. I've had quite a variety of food so far and everything was good, if not inventive. The drink menu is extensive, offering souchu (both fig and pineapple were good) specialty cocktails, wine and of coarse sake. The specialty rolls, such as chili Serrano, and dynamite roll were very flavorful and delicious. The crispy shrimp and chirashi could have been good, but was over salted. The king crab, and black cod were fantastic! The corn was also great. I did have the butterfish tataki on my first visit, but this time skipped, it was good but easily forgettable because all of the other amazing items I tried. We also had 2 desserts, the apple fig tart and also the banana dessert, which was sort of like a pound cake. Really though, the dessert was not the star of the evening. The food more than made up for that, and the real star here is the food and drinks. This will definitely be a place on my rotation.

    (4)

  • Albert K.

    Ordered the $85 Chef's Pre-Fix menu. Here's my take on it: 1. Pre-fix menu is great - supplies soup, oysters, sashimi, Uni (so good), Toro (so good), steak (the best - melts off the bone), and dessert (apple pie - decent) 2. Service is great - the server is very attentive. She was a bit pushy for getting more drinks, which got a little annoying again, but overall the service is very good. 3. -1 star - we got seated at a table where there was the wall kind of blocking my friend and I. Also, the chairs were not across from each other, which made the seating situation a bit awkward. Not sure why they isolated us in the corner, but it made the experience significantly less desirable. Had the treatment of where we sat been better, I would have easily rated this restaurant 4-5 stars. It is quite sad that it ruined our experience. Overall, the bill was over $200, but I would definitely return for a special occasion. Not your daily eating spot.

    (3)

  • Annette V.

    At first glance, Roka Akor seems a little too trendy for its own good (and by that I mean, Roka Akor seems to believe it is the trendiest place on the planet), but overall my dinner experience there was very positive. The drink menu is insanely long and, quite frankly, a little overwhelming. With that said, I settled on the ginger daquiri - despite the terribly name that evokes images of slushy machines and tiny umbrellas, it was a really unique and excellent cocktail. We didn't order anything particularly out of left field for dinner - edamame, tempura vegetables, and basic sushi/sashimi - so I can't really comment on the inventiveness (or lack thereof) of the menu. I can, however, say that everything I tried was excellent. The veggies were battered very lightly and still maintained their flavor with a great little tempura crunch. The sushi was fresh and fabulous, especially the dynamite roll and the hamachi serrano chili roll. I would definitely recommend Roka Akor for someone on the lookout for a tasty sushi dinner.

    (4)

  • Maile M.

    I will begin my review with the pros: Staff service was phenomenal, the entire staff was very attentive A few starters were delicious including the beef tataki and butterfish Beautiful ambience Good time spacing between dishes Now a few picky cons that would cause us to think twice before returning: We love our sushi but all of the rolls we ordered were just "ok" including the four tuna and crispy prawns with hamachi (the latter of which had absolutely no flavor) Prices were simply too high for the quality of food we ordered Although the staff were attentive they made us feel awkward for not ordering more... But after the lack of flavor we just weren't in the mood for more!

    (3)

  • Jess E.

    Amazing! Love the food, so fresh! The dumplings are really good. The service is awesome, ambiance is cool, not sure where people say it's "trendy" maybe im used to west coast but I like the inside. Even the valet guys were nice! The ribeye melts in your mouth! The chefs Brett, Ce Bian, are so nice they interact with you answer any questions. I've been here twice and will continue to go. PS they have an amazing industry discount! Love love

    (5)

  • Drew S.

    Enjoyed the chef's tasting menu tonight. Everything was presented beautifully and was delicious. The sashimi was sliced perfectly and very fresh. The lamb was outstanding. The service was personable and attentive. Overall, I give it two thumbs up.

    (5)

  • Michelle M.

    My very favorite spot for sushi in chicago. Went here with my company last year and couldn't wait to get back. They were super understanding with my food allergies and modified everything. I ate at the bar, and my bartender Dean as very accommodating. Easily a favorite Chicago restaurant.

    (5)

  • Mekhala E.

    I have always wanted to go to the Roka Akor in San Francisco, but since I was in Chicago for a few weeks for work, I decided to do one last hurrah at the Chicago at Roka Akor before heading back home. Coming from San Francisco, I'm used to making reservations all the time and as a rule I will only eat outside without a reservation if ramen is involved. So, out of habit I made a reservation at Roka (the day of) for 7.15 (prime time!). This is unheard of in SF, I don't even know who do you have to be or do to make this happen in SF but I digress. Also, I don't know why the Roka in Chicago would be $$$ on yelp but the one in SF is $$$$. If anything it should be the other way around, we are the city who asks for a million dollars for a 400 sq ft loft (parking not included btw), thus the show million dollar listing SF is kind of useless since that's pretty much every other house. However, as with all Bravo shows, the show is useless but extremely entertaining (go Fichelson!) but I digress, again. I started off with the Roka mule - Slightly different than the regular Moscow mule, this one has an after taste, which I happened to dig. Lobster Tempura - Saw this on someone's table as we were entering and I started salivating immediately creating a puddle that the said lobster can swim in. So, in the spirit of reckless abandon we went ahead and ordered the $56 lobster tempura. This dish was without a doubt the highlight of the evening - loved the presentation and the taste. If you like lobster and spending money, I don't see why you shouldn't get this amazing preparation. Shishito Peppers - Can be totally skipped or replaced by the lobster tempura (though it might be hard to rationalize that kind of swap from a $ perspective, the Roka mule might help with that decision making) Chicken Yakitori - Good, not the best I have had, can also be replaced by the lobster tempura if the Roka mule has kicked in. Madagascan jumbo tiger prawn - I liked this preparation, the flavors were great and the prawn was fresh but this is not an entrée portion, this should be in the hot plates section. The dish comes served in the prawn shell with about 7-8 pieces of the prawn. If you think this is your main course, good luck finding a burger king after dinner. Japanese wild mushroom rice hotpot - This was the one I had read a lot about and was really really looking forward to but unfortunately was my least favorite of the night. I was expecting something umami but the preparation was overpowered by an herb that I can't put my finger on, could be lemongrass, tarragon, a combination of both or a whole another mystery soap type herb - I don't know, it just tasted soapy. To round things off, we ordered the warm chocolate cake and green tea custard - talk about redemption!!! Both these desserts were absolutely amazing. The cake was rich and moist and worked perfectly with the coffee ice-cream while the tea custard was super light and airy. So long story short, lobster tempura and desserts make up for the 4 stars. Oh, and the service was super nice too.

    (4)

  • Bob H.

    Ok, I always said that I was not a Sushi guy. Roka proved me wrong. The Sushi was so fresh and there wasn't a fishy taste at all. Incredible meal. For my Main Course I completely enjoyed the Crab legs. Combine this with the fact that they made all our food Gluten Free so my wife could try things as well. Absolutely Incredible service. The server made it so easy to work with the chef and get Gluten Free options!!!

    (5)

  • Nathan T.

    Excellent dinner! Our group of three enjoyed sushi, salmon teriyaki and chicken teriyaki. Service was excellent. The general manager, Mr. Tindle, stopped by and checked in and was very personable. He mentioned a SF Bay area location. The salmon was tender and well prepared as was the chicken. Would like to try the steak offerings. We tried the Dynamite Scallop. My fellow diners are not big raw fish eaters, but the dynamite scallop roll was big hit. Smokey with a flavor profile that explored each piece of the roll. Very nice combination. Their soju cocktails were fun and a different approach to cocktails. The location and ambiance are both spot on. Fun place. I will seek out this spot on my next trip to Chicago.

    (4)

  • Noelle H.

    Stopped by here with a group of 4 to grab a light dinner before my flight out. I've been to the one in San Francisco and the menus are pretty similar. We had Butterfish tataki: my favorite at the SF location, and this one was no different! Must get! Tuna Tataki: this was brought out as a complementary taste, and was nicely seasoned with fresh flavors. Calamari: perfectly cooked and it wasn't greasy Shrimp and lobster dumplings: cute presentation, lots of flavors Forest mushroom rice pot: loved this! For a side dish, you get a good size portion to share and loved all the different mushrooms. Perfect end to our dinner. Excellent service!

    (4)

  • Patrick M.

    Been to Roka a handful of times over the past few years and it's always pretty good. Last night we really enjoyed the Yellowtail Sashimi and Robata Grilled Scallops as our starters. The scallops are surprisingly large. For our entrees I had the Prime Rib Eye and she had the Grilled Chilean Sea Bass. Both were very good. As a side we got the Brussels Sprouts. They were amazing! For dessert she ordered the Green Tea Custard and I ordered the Cheesecake Ice cream. I didn't really care for either. Best to go for a walk and grab dessert elsewhere.

    (4)

  • Ashley D.

    Say yes to eating here! Service was great, our server was wonderful - helpful, conversational and extremely knowledgable about the menu. I was with three other people and we ordered sushi family style to get a variety of flavors and dishes. I love tuna and was not disappointed with the Tuna Four Ways rolls - excellent. I also had the Heirloom Tomatoes salad, Brussel sprouts, miso soup, cheese cake and chocolate cake desserts. Everything was superb.

    (5)

  • Jai S.

    Despite being a vegetarian, I found lots of good stuff, which is saying a lot for a Japanese restaurant! For non vegetarian lovers, I remember the waiter explaining the kinds of meat they serve and it came from all over the world! The staff was very friendly, patient and approachable.. The best part was the dessert. Overall, a great evening!!

    (4)

  • Renaud S.

    I booked a table here on a Saturday evening. I liked the atmosphere, the waiters were all very nice and friendly. We ordered a Signature, a mix of their best food, and it wasn't disappointing at all. Everything was so delicious, perfectly perfumed, very tasty! Wonderful experience! Also, the wine drink offers interesting possibilities. Wide choice of wine, sake and spirits. It took them more than one hour to bring us the first courses... that's why I only rate it 4 stars and not 5. However the waiters apologized for that and were very understanding, so I guess this is exceptional and does not happens often.

    (4)

  • Yasmin C.

    HOLY moly! So delish!! My husband and I popped in with a last-minute rezzie one evening after exploring good old Chi-town and deciding that we had a craving for sushi. I will say, we have an absolute favorite sushi place in our old stomping grounds, San Diego, and hold sushi to pretty high standards...we don't actually expect much at even the most talked-about, highly-rated sushi places because we're so biased toward our fave. We were pretty shocked to see that this place matched up!! First of all, I commend everyone here on not judging my windblown, post-tourist, 30,000 steps on my fitbit, jeans-and-sweater appearance in what seems to be one of the most trendy restaurants in Chicago. I felt a bit frumpy until distraction ensued...I looked at the menu and was instantly ravenous. I'll tell you now that everything was mind-blowing, but here's what we got: edamame butterfish tataki (talk about melt-in-your-mouth deliciousness) lobster and shrimp dumplings (what?? just order them...so good) 5-kind chef's selection sashimi (salmon, yellowtail, sea bass, tuna, and red snapper) hamachi serrano chili maki (okay i'll stop with the parentheses now) soft shell crab maki lobster maki The fish was so fresh that it was unbelievable, and that sashimi was some of the best we had ever had! And we didn't initially order the lobster maki, but by mistake it got made and brought to us instead of what we had actually ordered...the waiter took it back at first, but since our next roll was delayed, he felt so bad that he brought us a brand new, fresh lobster maki on the house. The additional roll stuffed me to the brim, but I am NOT sorry...best mistake that has ever been made in my presence. Despite how full I was, my dessert stomach came through for me when the waiter told us about the elderflower cheesecake, which we had to order. It was so different, with blood orange marmalade and mochi bits...and was light and tasty and a perfect contrast to the amazing sushi we'd just eaten. All in all a great night and amazing meal. Pricey, but worth it for this kind of service and food. Will be back for sure next time I'm in Chicago!!

    (5)

  • Pavnit K.

    Perhaps we came here on an "off" night, or maybe my expectations were too high as I thought I would have a similar experience to Nobu. Unfortunately, for the money spent, this was a pretty mediocre experience. To start, the service was less than ideal. Our waitress was not very attentive. For example, she dropped off our drinks, told us she had to drop off another drink and would be back to explain the menu. She did not return for at least 10 minutes. Also, my husband tried to mention it was my birthday and she completely ignored him. Throughout the meal, at no point did she explain to us what we received. The bus boys did a better job of that. The only slightly redeeming quality was that she realized the chef made something we specifically requested against and she rectified the situation immediately. Now for the food. We went with the premium omikase meal. For a meal this costly, I was hoping to be blown away. The most major offenses were the 2 dishes that should have been the best. This was probably the worst Chilean sea bass I have ever had. It tasted old and fishy. I think what almost made me cry was the wagyu steak. It was overcooked! How can such a beautiful piece of meat be cooked to well done! Travesty I tell you. The scallop ceviche, beef tartare, nigiri, tiger prawn maki, and tiger prawn main dish was just average. The best part of the meal was the lobster tempura and the wild mushrooms and rice. It will take a lot to consider coming back here.

    (3)

  • Kamila J.

    Love this place came here for my 21st birthday! The sushi is delicious and served so beautifully! The restaurant looks very modern and classy! Loved it! I recommend this place to anyone who loves great sushi!!

    (5)

  • Samad F.

    Quick Run Down: -Amazing steaks -loud environment -very pricey (but understandable) -food takes forever, but needed for precise cooking. I decided to go to Roka Akor with my wife to celebrate a special occasion. I heard about this place through a friend. I have never been to a Japanese steakhouse so I was thoroughly excited. We booked a reservation through Open Table. When we arrived we were quick to be seated and taken care of. I decided to go with the 12 Oz. Prime Beef Filet with Chili Ginger sauce, and we both shared the Cremini Mushrooms with out steaks. Wow. To start with, the mushrooms were so well cooked and buttery. They were massive pieces that complimented the steaks perfectly. Steaks. Oh, how the steak game has changed for me. The cut of Filet that I enjoyed that night was something not comparable by any means. It did take forever to get cooked, however, with each bite, I could taste every moment that was used to cook this epic piece of meat. In this review, I have decided to award Roka Akor with a 5 star rating. My reason? Simple. Because a restaurant that gets 5 stars means it just can't get any better. This is precisely the case with Roka Akor. I recommend this restaurant to everyone, and hope you guys enjoy it as much as I did.

    (5)

  • Frank O.

    Another trip, another amazing experience! But things were different because it was lunch on a weekday, and that is arguable better value for your money! Disappointingly the beef tataki isn't on the lunch menu, but if you ask politely they can make it for you (so ask politely). Butterfish tataki is, and was as good as ever. Of course the broccolini is too good to skip. But the stars of the meal were the lunch Bento Boxes. Each entree comes with a side of miso soup (solid, but just a soup), 2 pieces wagyu dumplings (tasty), 4 pieces of butterfish maki, and a side of rice. While most dishes are small plates, the Bento Box will fill you up by itself. Our party got both the Black Cod Skewers and the Lamb Cutlets. This black cod is the same cod served as part of the dinner portion, but is only 75% of the size and served on skewers (and if you consider the price this is staggering). Of course it tasted delicious, just try to stop yourself from drooling when looking at the pictures. The lamb cutlets came with 2 pieces (awkward if you have a party of 3). The korean spices were both on the meat (delicious on its own), and in the red sauce with a spicy kick it was served with. It was delectable, but if I had to choose only one it would be the black cod. We finished with the yuzu cheesecake ice cream, and this is perhaps the only place I can make a recommendation for improvement. 1 scoop is $4. Yes it's good ice cream, but for $4 I could walk to Pinkberry and get five times as much frozen yogurt. Maybe 2 scoops for $5 or $6, but $4 per scoop just seems a bit steep considering the size of the scoop. Otherwise a perfect visit in every other way. Go book yourself a reservation today, you won't regret it.

    (5)

  • Radha K.

    This place is incredible! ...this is what fresh fish tastes like. My fiance and I went with the signature "Omakase" - we didn't have to pick anything! For $98/person, the menu is pre-selected for your table to share and get a taste of things from every portion of the menu. This is an awesome way to go, especially if it's your first time here. The waitress will course everything out for you and all you need to do is enjoy every last bite! We started with the Heirloom Tomato Salad (so good and light) and the Robata Grilled Skate Wing (a little salty to me, a little heavy for an initial course, but good). We were also given the Hamachi and Mebachi Tartare which was very light and had great flavor! We next had the Butterfish Tataki which I could see myself eating all day every day. Next we had Robata Grilled Japanese Shishito Peppers - they were perfectly charred and were so flavorful. I would definitely get these again! We were brought some excellent Prime Rib Eye with Wafu Dressing. This was cooked perfectly medium rare and the wafu dressing was kind of like a peanut sauce...but a million times better (if you like your meat more well-done, I suggest you let them know how you like your meat cooked before you order this entire option). We were also brought a beautiful display of sashimi - I have never tasted, nor expected, fish so fresh. It was served with Japanese mint leaves and freshly-ground wasabi. It was incredible. We received a bowl of their Brocolini with Ginger Shallot Dressing - if you love the taste of something immediately off the grill - so smokey, so good - this is for you! I found the taste to be a little salty, but this was pretty dang good. We got Crispy Brussels Sprouts with Wafu, Mustard and Bonito Flakes. I love brussels sprouts and am eating the leftover brussels sprouts from Roka Akor right this moment, so you could say that I liked them! I have, at the moment, mixed my brussels sprouts with the Japanese Wild Mushroom Rice Hot Pot. This is kind of like a risotto and is very excellent! Things to note: -Because we chose this option, they did not include any maki rolls because rice fills you up so quickly. We'd definitely go back and try a few maki rolls. -They do a great job explaining what each dish includes and before ordering, take into consideration what food allergies/restrictions you may have. -Just let them know if you feel like the food is coming out too quickly - they were happy to accommodate! -Get the Omakase option - it's so fun and so excellent!

    (5)

  • Erica B.

    Wonderful service, delicious tempura and sushi! I would highly recommend this restaurant for a date or other social gathering!

    (5)

  • Aneesh B.

    Had dinner at Roka Akor after a long weekend of attending a large conference in Chicago. We had a set menu prepared for us, and even though I was dealing with a nasty cold, I really enjoyed dinner with my team here. Food: We had at least twelve dishes, which included the following (I can't remember all of them!): Shishito peppers, Wagyu Beef tataki (awesome!), tuna tataki, a deluxe sashimi platter, several kinds of maki, yuzu marinated black cod, and wagyu steak. Also had a selection of five desserts. Food was prepared thoughtfully and presented artfully. It was a really great night with really great food. Would definitely return to Roka Akor for a special occasion. Service: We were with a big group and had amazing service. A custom menu was prepared for us, we never waited for anything (especially drinks - at one point I had four different styles of cocktail in front of me!), and we felt well cared for all night long. Vibe: Modern-sushi-spot-cool. We had a semi-private table tucked away in an alcove, so it felt pretty intimate even though the dining room is huge. I love places that use stone and wood properly in their decor so that the place doesn't feel cold and loud. Roka Akor accomplishes that. Family-friendly: Yes, there are definitely plenty of dishes my kids would eat, but they're 5 and 8 and starting to try more things. For the price point, though, you may wish to save Roka Akor for date-night. Summary: Quality ingredients, excellent service, and overall a really nice experience. I have my share of choices for sushi where I live, and it was cool to see high quality such as this away from home. So many other places to eat in Chicago that I may not return soon, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't try it!

    (4)

  • Fareeha M.

    Excellent service, we had a large party and they accommodated us perfectly. The food was just as amazing. I had the salmon teriyaki and I loved it. The portion sizes were very good. Everyone I spoke to in our party enjoyed their food. I would highly recommend this restaurant.

    (5)

  • Jenny B.

    I use to a regular this place. Recently I got there less than use to. A few Reason 1, my favorite dish mushroom pot not as good as use to anymore. Either cook less than suppose to or over cooked. And relative less choice of food on menu 2, service is kinda bad. Server has very bad attitude. Slow, forgot our order and she heard my complain act like I'm bitchy complain to her. it was terrible. For that type of restaurant we expect a decent service. Not an arrogant attitude. 3, too loud.

    (3)

  • Brian L.

    upon many Yelpers' suggestion, I tried the Hamachi Serrano Chili Roll. It was the perfect amount of heat for a sushi roll! roll was a little small (not your usual $12 roll with mounds of fish and tobiko) but luckily I also got the... RIBS!!! the ribs were so delectably good. tender, juicy, mouth watering meat with a nice asian flair to them with the green onion/nuts/lime sprinkled on top.

    (4)

  • Yi-Jie W.

    Good food, but not great, especially considering the prices. Nice ambiance and helpful servers that explain all of the dishes. I tried the mushroom hot pot, which was delicious, and the modern nigiri, which was very fresh. I also had the yuzu souffle cake, which I didn't really like. It had nice flavors, but the cake had a weird mushy texture.

    (3)

  • Jasmine O.

    This place has amazing sushi! My boyfriend and I met another couple there for dinner a few weeks ago. We ordered the veggie rolls and the scallop rolls. They were so good! The decor and style of the place is very downtown chic, so it's a great place to go to on a Friday or Saturday night.

    (5)

  • Dan O.

    This spot is OFF Le CHART! Decadent Omakase is the jam if you want to eat like a king/queen. Chef Brett rocks the house with execution, presentation, table side manner, and is hilarious to boot. Do it big - Do Roka

    (5)

  • Peter F.

    One of the best restaurants I have ever been to (being from NYC that is saying something). Lamb Chop is by far the star with its spicy dipping sauce. The black truffle and wagyu beef is another winner. If you are visiting Chicago or haven't been yet I highly recommend.

    (5)

  • Dyna C.

    The ambiance was great. The food was amazing. The drinks were mediocre. I enjoyed my visit and will definitely return as well as recommend.

    (5)

  • Mo S.

    The kitchen alone is amazing to look at. And the food quality is even better than the expectations.

    (5)

  • Monique B.

    Came back for restaurant week and was especially tempted by the crepe dessert option posted online. I was disappointed because that dessert was no longer on the restaurant week menu, but was pleasantly surprised by the offerings. We had the salmon appetizer, which I liked, but it had a dab of some seasoning that threw the whole thing off. Once I took it off, it was much better. We got the Chilean sea bass entree and both agreed it was cooked to perfection, but was a bit under seasoned for our taste. The real star of the night was dessert. I had the pear tart and my date had the sweet potato pudding. We devoured them both and our waitress Shirin was so attentive and nice that she got my date a little piece of the cookie to go. Overall, the dinner was nice, but not as great as the first time I came, possibly because of restaurant week. I'll have to come back and try them again and maybe order the spicy tuna trio and duck that I loved so much from before.

    (3)

  • Zula L.

    I will give this place 4 star for the ambiance and service and food maybe 3 1/2. Maybe I may have gotten used to eat top of the line sushi. Or maybe we're Californians are spoiled having so many amazing options for sushi! Such as Katsuya In Brentwood, Sushi Roku in Santa Monica, Koi in Beverly Hills, NOBU in Malibu, and Sugar Fish, list could go on. I'm writing this review strictly for Roka Akor management team if they would explore and add the followings to their menu! Honestly think these would be hit! *Spicy tuna crispy rice *Creamy lobster roll *Baked crab hand roll, wrapped on soy paper. *Seaweed salad *More dessert options please. Whenever we asked above dishes our waiter was willing to go and get for us. For example we asked lobster hand roll and when it came out it wasn't what we hoped it would be but Great service and effort though! I liked the fact that this restaurant was in the middle of everything in down town. Great location! Walk a way from all the bars and lounges! We probably would come back again but would love to see more familiar dishes on the menu ;)

    (4)

  • Nicole U.

    Love this spot. THE VIBE IS AWESOME and they have a really interesting drink list. I tried some sort of whiskey lemonade drink which was strong and tasty. Great music. Great layout for socializing. Everyone is well-dressed / dolled up.. but again, this is downtown Chicago people. Get with it.

    (4)

  • Lalitha A.

    Wonderful! Jorge at the bar was great, made us delicious lychee martinis and the atmosphere was so fun!

    (4)

  • John D.

    Excellent Japanese restaurant. Went alone around 5:30pm. Sat at the sushi bar. Great view of kitchen. Started with a salad -- lovely presentation and quality ingredients. Moved to the red miso lobster soup -- also very good, but just a bit under salted. Had two pieces of salmon sushi -- very good quality, but the pieces were small. Finished with a ribeye cooked medium rare on the wood fired grill. Best piece of meat I've had in a long time, and I eat red meat frequently. The wafu sauce was very tasty as well.

    (4)

  • Paul B.

    Been coming here for over a year and it can't be understated how great the service and personality of this restaurant provides for you and your party. You can order lunch or dinner and get individual items but the real value is when you come for dinner. Ask for Wesley as your waiter and you'll have the best service in the city. Then have him prepare a unique Omakase meal for you. Omakase is "Chef's Choice" and the dollar for dollar value is incredible for the amount of food you will get in the 5-8 course meal. Bring an appetite and you won't be disappointed. If you like spicy they have a blood orange margarita that you need to request the ghost pepper extract added to it. Its the best in town.

    (5)

  • Christine T.

    love that purple sweet tomato desert! it is not on the menu, Wesley made that available for us! very special and very happy about this. the service here is wonderful. Last time on christmas eve, Mark served us. he is the most professional server i ever met . i have been here there times within two months just for friends& family get together. i will come back any time soon.

    (5)

  • Laila C.

    Came here for lunch but ordered from the dinner menu cuz we're geniuses like that! The business lunch just didn't seem enough to satisfy our gluttonous needs. First of all, the blood orange margarita! So good! So good! Had 2 of those during lunch and I sure was glad it was a Friday! :) Yummers: -Yellowtail with garlic ponzu, gimme that sauce! I'll drink it -salmon tartare, huge creamy pieces of salmon mixed with the rich avocado. Didn't go wrong there! -prime ribeye, ordered it medium since others at the table wanted that..but it was still juicy. Bet at medium rare it would've been amazing! --EXTRA EXTRA MUST GET. The wagyu nigiri. I've never had anything like it and I am dying for more. I've heard that Roka has the best wagyu in North America and I believe it. This is so cliche but it melted in my mouth, that full rich fattiness, cuz by the crunch seaweed, mellowed by the rice...yum yum yummers gimme gimme more, gimme more! Meh-ish: -Everyone raved about the butterfish but i found it kind of boring, at least the asparagus gave it a nice texture -Hamachi roll..eh, I would've rather ate more wagyu

    (4)

  • Don M.

    Had a group of 13 people and they were able to take care of us beautifully. We shared three medium sashimi dishes as appetizers for the table and the fish was truly awesome. Great flavors, truly fresh and delicious. There was plenty for everyone. For the main course we had a variety of steak and grilled seafood dishes. People raved about the salmon and the black cod dishes. I personally had the black cod and was extremely pleased with it. The steaks were cooked perfectly to everyone's different preferences. It is nice to see that when you have that many steaks coming to the table that they are all cooked properly and that the servers make sure they are all delivered to the appropriate person. We were all also happy with the wine selection. We found one that the whole table enjoyed and that the restaurant had enough in stock to keep our table nicely supplied all evening.

    (5)

  • Emann B.

    It's a big, boisterous, and modern space, expectedly filled to the brim on a Saturday evening. Navigating the menu is somewhat daunting, so let me give you some advice: Just do the omakase. Yes, it's $98/person, and with cocktails, wine, tax, and gratuity, we ended up at $190/person. But oh so worth it! The quality of food, and as expected the sashimi, were stellar. But the QUANTITY! So. Much. Deliciousness. We started off with an assortment of warm appetizers, followed by the sashimi, including sweet briny oysters This was followed by more assorted warm dishes, and two types of gyoza (very delicious, especially the duck). At that point we thought we were done (and quite stuffed). But then out came the beef! The dishes included fillet and strip, in very generous portions, accompanied by rich and tangy Japanese mayo. By itself the beef selections would have made a more than filling main. A ginormous dessert platter topped everything off before we rolled out, bellies full and more than sated. The exceptional service was a perfect match for the beautiful food. OMAKASE!!!

    (5)

  • Julie Y.

    Came here for dinner over the weekend. Left it up to our server to order a bunch of things from the menu. Got a little bit of everything which was super good and fresh. Would defiantly recommend the grilled scallops. Also the sashimi and rolls were amazing.. Had some filet mignon as well which I didn't like too much but I'm not too crazy about my red meats. Def recommend this place!

    (4)

  • John L.

    Roka has an amazing design inside and the ambiance of the space is lots of fun. The food I think was very good, but I can't say it was mind blowing in terms of quality of fish for the sushi. I think its a great location to hang out at and have a fun time - it has a great atmosphere.

    (3)

  • Vik K.

    Excellent sushi - loved the chef's deluxe sashimi platter - 7 varieties, 14 pieces. Supplemented with uni sahimi, and the yellowtail svocado.habanero roll, vegetable tempura and some vegetable robata

    (5)

  • Mandy P.

    Hands down the best fish I have had so far in Chicago. Great atmosphere and wait staff!

    (5)

  • Adam K.

    I can't get enough of this restaurant ! The food is always phenomenal and the cocktail list is creatively put together with options for everyone. The staff is always very friendly and service is always on point. I highly recommend to everyone.

    (5)

  • Daniel Z.

    The food here is delicious and fresh, and the service is top notch. What really caught my attention was the hard working food runners. I came here with my fiance for lunch and the food runner (Lee) really took care of us. He was really polite and showed hustle. 5 stars would recommend!

    (5)

  • Angel C.

    Came here for date night and loved it! We ordered an Easter tasting menu, which was really generous in portion. Instead of having to choose between a few options for each course, you get them ALL. The sashimi was super tasty, and they used fresh wasabi which was pretty neat :) I wasn't huge fan of the dessert I had (I had some jello/pudding thing that tasted too sour), but it wasn't too horrible considering that it was not too heavy after such a large meal.

    (5)

  • Sebastian C.

    Don't miss out on this place if you love sushi! Better than the London one! Food: 9/10 very tasty sushi specials! Sake: 10/10 fantastic selection Service: 10/10 very friendly staff - suggested great specials Atmosphere: 10/10 great decoration. great crowd! pretty buzzy even on a monday night! un abrazo ;)

    (5)

  • M K.

    Super slow service, waaaay overpriced food & drinks, and rude staff that thinks its normal to serve a big group a large quantity of $45/oz wagu beef when told to "bring us a few things for the table to share". At $250/person and crappy service, it's clear this place's days are numbered.

    (1)

  • Sahar M.

    Food is good, atmosphere is decent. However, prices can be ridiculous. I was planning a bd party and decided to get the cake from my fav bakery and ask this restaurant to serve it after dinner. When I discussed my plan with the manager, I got informed that there is a $3 fee per slice for cake cutting. I had party of 10 and just paid $80 for the cake. Now what???? $30 extra just to cut the cake????? Rediclouse!!!!

    (1)

  • Gabriela R.

    Roka... Like my husband says: " A restaurant club" Ambiance is quite loud and people range from their 35's to their 40's ( just an observation) If you are big in sushi, TURN AROUND... this place has few varieties and most of them are California Rolls and Dragon Rolls type. Plus didn't think they were that great: I had the Nogi and others... We also ordered Cod and that was fabulous in addition to the fried squid :)

    (3)

  • Lauren B.

    A-MAH-ZING!!!! The restaurant is gorgeous and service is outstanding. Comfortable seating, not too loud or crowded!! Major plus for such a hot spot! This is one of the BEST meals I have had out in so long. App- Tuna Tataki- perfectly cooked, just slightly seared. Served with greens, green melon, and an apple cider vinagrette that brought out all the flavors wonderfully. My entree- Black Cod. Melt in your mouth delicious!!!! Served with a miso sauce and black toasted sesame seeds on the side. Perfect portion size, not too much or too little. My dinner companion had a steak entree that she just loved, and was cooked just as she desired We also shared the cremini mushrooms with dinner, 2 skewers with 3 mushrooms on each. Also, perfectly cooked and delicious/ I cannot find one thing wrong with Roka Akor, I even enjoyed the crowd here at the bar while waiting for my friend to arrive. This is not an inexpensive restaurant, so if that is what you are looking for this is not the place to go, BUT if you want a GREAT meal that is worth every penny......THIS IS THE PLACE I ate here again last week using a gdine.com deal and it was lovely!! Plenty of food and a fun experience. The service and food is always impeccable here. The customer service from gdine is amazing as well, I paid for wine pairings that I didnt receive and gdine was quick to refund my money. For sure I will be using gdine again. I will DEFINITELY be coming back to Roka again, one of my favorites in the city!!

    (5)

  • Antoinette S.

    Yes it is loud...and the wait staff is nice...but the food and presentation are worth it. It is expensive...ours was $50 per person without drinks. Uber trendy...great bar. So if you have a jones for good sushi and other Japanese food, have no hearing problem, and would like to dine with cool people, save up and go.

    (4)

  • Becky H.

    I came here the night of my birthday with my parents and boyfriend. It would have earned 5 stars, but the portions seemed small for the price (and yes, I am aware of food cost, ingredient quality, etc. I'm a cook). Our server was extremely friendly, attentive, and helpful in terms of navigating their wine and food menus. We split a bottle of wine, and had a meal of a variety of sushi and fish dishes. Their pork belly was particularly flavorful and well cooked. Going back to my comment on portions, it was mostly the size of the "main" we ordered- it was barely bigger than the apps which seemed odd to me. I don't always get desserts, but my boyfriend and I split the banana cake with coconut sorbet and ginger-chocolate sauce. The cake and sorbet were delicious, the ginger in the sauce was undetectable. My parents split some sort of pineapple/mango cake with sorbet and garnish. It wasn't anything to get overly excited about. I love the decor, and the variety of dishes, and everything we had was flavorful and enjoyable. I particularly like the open kitchen which added to our dining experience.

    (4)

  • Cindy L.

    Roka Akor is absolutely amazing!!! I went there for my birthday with my husband. We had the Tuna tasting as our server recommended. Toro was outstanding, fresh and melting in your mouth. We also ordered fillet, which was the best steak we ever had!!!!! The service was efficient and welcoming. The prices are reasonable for the high quality of the food. Definitely will go back! What a wonderful night!

    (5)

  • David I.

    It was really good food in an intimate atmosphere. Love the location too!

    (4)

  • Ab K.

    Best meal of my life! That statement sounds dramatic, but the perfect combination of friends, drinks and food is rare. We were invited to dine here at the request of the birthday girl. She works in the industry and is familiar with their menu, so we gave her complete control. We started with cocktails at the bar. The blood orange margarita was delicious and not too strong. (I am not a fan of being drunk BEFORE dinner is served.) Their soju (shochu) cocktails were creative and tasty. Soju mixes well with anything, but it is so hard to find a classy soju cocktail. Well done! Once we were seated in the dining room, we ordered shishito peppers, nigiri and the hamachi serrano chili roll. The peppers were not spicy (except for a few) and the sushi was the freshest I have had outside of Asia! We followed with steak and the recommended black cod. Both were spectacular. After toasting with champagne, the executive chef made his way over to our table with some special treats. One was made with a buttery Chinese bread and the other a refreshing palette cleanser of fresh fish. Perfection! Both dishes were unexpected yet complimented our meal nicely. For dessert, we started with a fruity panna cotta. I would have been happy ending there, but a gigantic dessert spread suddenly appeared at the table with an inventive mix of sorbets, cakes and fruit. It was so impressive, I would recommend hitting up Roka just for dessert!

    (5)

  • Carmen B.

    I've been to Roka twice and forgot to write the reviews. But here's what I remember: FANTASTIC! My during the week visit, and Friday night visit were equally crowded. I like the bar area, although it is tough to get seats. Please note that Roka is expensive, particularly the steaks. I enjoyed it, but the portions were small. Tables in the bar/lounge area are very close, so you have to focus on your date and drown out the conversations less than 12 inches away. Not always ideal. I remember the following dishes: the tomato salad, kimchee dumplings, and the new york strip with the chili sauce. That robata grill can tranform a meat and a vegetable. Don't forget about the mushrooms!

    (4)

  • Rits M.

    I love the look of RA- sleek lines and minimal work well for me. And the ventilator cube is pretty trippy, if you decide to have the wine pairings with your tasting menu. Having done the tasting menu, I must say all the food was pretty delicious. Some of them that stood out for me was the miso soup with lobster, the grilled corn, the grilled steak and the madagascar shrimp. I know they have a roll that claims to be a roll-winner in London, but I wasnt the biggest fan of that one, the flavours were too strong for me and I thought there was too much wasabi in it. It was a beef roll, wrapped in seaweed with caviar on top, but the name eludes me. The quality of the sashimi was outstanding too, but Im not the biggest fan of sashimi in general. One of the desserts that I really loved was a chocolate cake with roasted coffee beans and ice cream (espresso??) on top. Now for the - one star. The timing of the food was really odd, after the first 3 plates, we had to wait half an hour for the next few items to come out and before dessert came out, we had another 20 min wait. I also thought that we had too many courses come to our table - we counted 12 of them, including dessert. Our waiters were super attentive and well informed though, and really apologetic about the delays, so that helps, I suppose.

    (4)

  • Ron H.

    Food is amazing here, and being first to try, I recommend trying any of their recommend dishes as it wont disappoint for sure. Can be a bit pricy, but the experience and food is great. Highly recommend the Scallop Appetizer if anything. Also when I reserved my table I wrote down it was a "birthday for my girlfriend" they surprised us with a nice treat at the end of our meal, making me look really good in front of the girlfriend.

    (5)

  • Diana M.

    Disappointing. The only great thing about this place is the trendy decor and my husband appreciated the beer variety on the menu. We sat in the lounge which was romantic and enjoyable. Food was just barely ok. Ordered 4 types of sashimi and when they were brought out, the waiter didn't really know what was what. The spicy tuna had cracked pepper sprinkled on it which completely overpowered the fish, the dynamite scallop had a burnt aftertaste, the salmon avocado roll had a nasty aioli sauce which completely overpowered the entire roll. Had the chocolate cake with coffee ice cream for desert. It was incredible but the portion was just barely enough for a couple to share. I will not be returning for sure. The food is not worth the downtown prices. Sunda is across the street... Wish I'd gone there instead.

    (2)

  • Casey N.

    I came in on Thursday with my mom and we loved the cocktails. Our waitress, Lindsey, was really helpful. She recommended the scallops and we loved them so much we ordered them twice. She convinced my mom to try raw fish for the first time, and she loved it! We came in for sushi and got so much more. We will be back next time we are in town.

    (5)

  • Stacey A.

    Here's my deal: I normally get sushi from House of Sushi & Noodles, which is PERFECTLY SERVICEABLE, affordable sushi. I tend to not eat steak in restaurants because I am a poor person. So now that we have established that I am a poor person who eats cheap sushi and doesn't go to steakhouses, we get to talk about how it is perfectly feasible that Roka Akor melted my mind out of my ears. I cannot even begin to name everything that I had because it was all ordered for me but here's what I remember: - oysters - prawns - butterfish - something with asparagus and foie gras - little waygu steak tartare roll doodads - more oysters - toro tuna - otoro tuna - fillet - ribeye - crying into my steak - oh dear god it's so good - the meat coma is the best you'll ever have - once you stop crying. I can't wait until I have a giant pile of money so I can go here again, because DAMN.

    (5)

  • Sami J.

    Hands down, INCREDIBLE!! I'm huge on the quality of service and I kept saying throughout the dinner, "what incredible service!". Our server was very courteous, attentive, and others were constantly bringing food and drink, filling water, clearing plates and asking about the food. Even the manager helped with clearing plates. I was already sold on this place at the service... until I had the food. There were 4 of us and we shared a lot of different plates. We got tuna, salmon and yellowtail sashimi which was all incredibly fresh and delicious. We also tried the scallops which literally melted in my mouth, the dumplings and the pork belly. The dumplings were good and the pork belly was so tender and most it just fell apart. For the entrees we shared the 12 ounce filet, tiger prawn and the lamb cutlets. The filet came already sliced so it was prefect for sharing. It was cooked just right (we ordered medium rare). The lamb cutlets were pretty excellent also. It came with 3 cutlets of very generous size. The tiger prawn was ok. It was the size of a lobster tail but I found it to be a bit dry. It was grilled so that may be why. It was good, but I would have preferred it to be not as dry. For the sides we got the sweet potatoes and the mushroom rice hot pot. The hot pot was stirred up and served in a (obviously) hot pot at our table. It was a rissotto type of grain with 6 types of japanese mushrooms in it. If you like mushrooms (which i love) you will really enjoy this dish. It's best hot as it gets thicker as it cools. The sweet potatoes were grilled and very good. Sweet and well proportioned. Drinks are pricey and so is the food, but in my opinion it's well worth it. Each person had 1 drink at the table and our bill came to almost $300 (before tip). I have to admit, I thought the dining room would be a little more fancy. The bar area has a great ambiance and the cooking area is really cool looking. However, the tables look like they are from a hole in the wall sushi place. We got a booth by the wine cellar which was great, but was also a little small for 4 people. I saw past it though once I realized how great the service and food was. If you're looking for a fun place with incredible food, this is your place.

    (5)

  • Kelly B.

    Good food. Good service.

    (3)

  • Casimir J.

    I recently moved to Chicago and the big "to do" list included checking out as many restaurants as possible. I haven't really been exposed to sushi but was looking forward to dinner with a group of friends at Roka Akor. We went on a Saturday night and although the restaurant was busy it had a really great energy to it. The design of the restaurant was beautiful. We were seated quite quickly and our server came right over to take our drink order. We were unsure of how to begin but knew that we wanted an experience to remember. Rob, their beverage person, came over to recommend some wines. He also mentioned his knowledge in sake and we thought that would be a lot of fun. You can get wine pairings anywhere but where can you go for a sake pairing? Between our server and Rob they made some wonderful recommendations for starters and good sake to go with it. We started with the grilled pork belly, scallops and butterfish tataki. The pork belly was so tender it just melted in my mouth, the scallops were very tasty and the butterfish tataki was my favorite out of the three. Not knowing what to expect - it was sooo delicious, I wanted to eat the whole plate. We then ordered the hamachi serrano chili roll, lamb cutlets, salmon teriyaki and crispy brussel sprouts. We didn't eat all day just so we could try as much stuff on the menu as possible! I am now forever a sushi lover purely because of Roka Akor. I have tried it other places and it just tasted fishy and well, just not good. This was a completely different experience and very enjoyable. I liked that we could pair it with meat, I was worried we might go hungry with just sushi but instead we were full and very satisfied. Our server was not only knowledgeable about the restaurant and all it has to offer but very excited about the city and was able to give a newbie like myself some fun places to go see the sites. Rob was spot on in his sake and what we would like, it was quite the experience and just made the evening that much more fun. I believe that this will be a regular spot for me and am looking forward to trying their lunch and having some work meetings there as well.

    (5)

  • Sarah R.

    The first time I tried Roka Akor I loved the food and the service was decedent which is one of the reasons why I decided to make a group reservation for NYE. I made the reservation on open table for four people and even called Roka to change the number of people within the reservation to six, at no time was I advised that they were having a set menu. I am a picky eater and would never have made reservations had I known there was a set menu. When I arrived with my group extra tables had obviously been added for NYE and we were squished in like sardines. Upon learning of the set menu we informed our waiter we had been unaware there was a set menu. I guess a lot of people who had made reservations on open table had complained because it was not advertised and he was extremely rude about it. Our waiter was willing to add to the menu, of course for a price. However, his attitude never improved throughout the meal. The meal ended up costing us $300 a person! I find that price to be really high for the service provided and the meal we received. I was so disappointed that I sent an email to Roka Akor over a month ago voicing my concerns. No one could even be bothered to respond to my email. I cannot believe that a restraunt which wants to be considered a premiere restraunt within Chicago would have such poor service. I am completely disappointed in my experience and will likely never go back. There are plenty of other restraunts that will not treat customers with such disrespect.

    (1)

  • Chris C.

    At the start, I want to acknowledge that I did my enjoy experience at Roka Akor. From the decor to the staff to the cuisine, we were very happy. The price, however does not meet the product. For starters, we enjoyed the Burned Tomato Salad and the Wagyu Kimchee Dumplings. The char on the tomato in the salad brought out a nice smoky foil for the tomatoes acidity. The dumplings were downright delightful with a little kick from the kimchee and that firm substantial savory quality of the Wagyu beef. The side of Broccolini we ordered was equally delicious with ginger to add a touch of brightness. We tried some nigiri: Amberjack, Salmon and Tuna. Each was succulent, fresh and beautifully prepared. We also had a few rolls: The softshell crab tasted sinfully delicious. The Hamachi Serrano Chile Roll was a roller coaster ride of spicy and smooth flavors. And finally the Spicy Tuna roll was surprising in the way it was tempered and not at all acidic. Our cocktails were very good. Our server was a gentleman. The entire staff was very sweet. However, when the bill came, I felt as if I wouldn't have paid as much in a more expensive city. The experience was very good just, not up to that price, good.

    (3)

  • Jennifer S.

    I'm not sure if folks know - this is a chain! No matter though. It's set in River North, for a night out, or after work for some apps and drinks. If you go on a weekend for dinner, expect the usual river north douchery crowd to assault you. Onto the goods- the food! It is priced according to what I would expect for a restaurant in this location with some standout dishes, but know that you do not need to pay this money to get the same level of great food in Chicago. This is location location location although their prices hold in their other 2 locations as well. Loved the large group tables in the back- makes it great for a big group like a birthday or celebration. Standouts were the brussel sprouts, scallop specialty roll, broccolini, and the hibachi-grilled steak. Some of the standard rolls were just ...... eh - standard rolls! A+ for environment (as I said- great for groups) and we had great service too. Minus for $20 for valet parking for over 3 hours... really? Cuz i just dropped $570 on dinner. Better valet contract, perhaps? Whatever, its not the main show. I know SRA has now been in Chicago for a bit including the Skokie location, but buyer beware - $$$. I tend to compare these asian combo places to Sunda which I consider really great for atmosphere and food and because of both, I don't mind plunking down some cash. SRA is up there. It delivers.

    (4)

  • Jayde L.

    5 stars if it was purely based on the wagyu beef.. if you're coming here, skip the sushi and get that. We had also ordered another premium aged steak of theirs and honest to God, after indulging in wagyu, the other beef just ridiculously pales in comparison. You order by oz for wagyu and the min is 6 oz at mkt price. Wagyu commands at a premium price but hey, you only live once right? Sushi here was disappointing to say the least. Ordered a variety of rolls along with the nigiri platter and nothing stood out. Prices for the sushi were within range of comparable places. As for the robata grilled items, I had better at Yuzu. For example, I felt the flavor of the scallions was competing with the taste of the charcoal itself. Just not the greatest to me. Dessert was nothing special. Nice presentation for the platter and I liked how we didn't need to pay for all four people at the table.

    (3)

  • Lorie R.

    Wonderful food, better than expected! The crowd is a bit strange, but being in an area where you attact tourist, bachelorette parties, etc, it comes with the territory. We sat outside and it was very pleasant. Our server was great and accomodating and again, the food was amazing!

    (4)

  • Princessa G.

    Roma Akor is truly outstanding and one of the best Japanese restaurants anywhere! We've had great Japanese food all over the world and were quite surprised to find such a gem in Chicago (which has great restaurants but we weren't expecting a Japanese one at this level). Our first experience was so good we went back a second time during our recent 5 day trip - something we rarely if ever do. The food is amazing and the service is friendly, attentive and very accommodating. They really make you feel appreciated. This is the first Open Table restaurant we've given 5 stars across the board. If you are going to Chicago you owe it to yourself to go.

    (5)

  • Ali B.

    Great food with very average service. But I would go back to the bar and for a smattering of small plates!

    (4)

  • Ceal P.

    Food alone is good enough for 5 stars - overall a solid 4 stars. Went here on a Sunday night, space is huge and beautiful, located in a fun part of River North if you're planning on going out afterwards. 80% of our meal was cooked on the Robata grill and the remaining was raw fish. The Robata grill is AMAZING. everything that was cooked on it has this deep robust grill flavor, very different than anything you can get on a weber! Loved: - Grill pork belly: perfectly gooey and fatty - the top portion charred on the grill perfectly sweet. Yum - tuna tartare sushi appetizer: its named something strange on the menu. topped with caviar and perfect - cremini mushroom vegetable side: grilled on the robata TO PERFECTION. i could eat 30 of these. yum. - wild mushroom rice side dish with truffle shaving: japanese take on risotto - rich and filling, very earthy, delicious - American wagyu rib eye: 10 oz of absolute perfection. amazing marbled, fatty beef flavor -- hit of the night (of course). sprinkle a little pinch of truffle salt and you're in steak heaven! Liked: - Prawn main course: I think sitting aside to the wagyu, this really paled in comparison, but it was pretty good. - Shishito peppers: this was a great dish because again cooked on the robata grill. but there were too many spicy ones that were pretty much inedible but i'm not gonna hate it for trying :) - modern nigiri sushi: really delicious, super fresh - can't complain Why not 5 stars? Service was a bit too hip, kinda cold, the main person serving really were the bus-boys - waiter didn't do too much for us. Prices are steep but again the freshest ingredients so can't hate them for trying. Can't wait to return. Worth a special dinner.

    (4)

  • Megan S.

    Food is great but does take a little too long for drinks. Otherwise the tuna four ways and other appetizers are amazing!!

    (4)

  • Meredith G.

    I'm not a sushi eater, but there were plenty of other dishes to select from. I started with the Lobster Red Miso Soup. It was so good and perfect size. For my entree I had the Whole Baby Chicken with Barley Miso. It had a great flavor from the thick marinade. I really enjoyed this, but not likely to return on my next trip to Chicago with sushi eaters. The staff were all great and attentive. Cool decor too.

    (3)

  • Kelly C.

    The first thing that came to mind after dining here was "overrated". After all the hype about this place I expected more. I went here Saturday night with 4 other ladies and I'm not sure I will make any effort to come back. The service was not great, in fact our server seemed annoyed he had to wait on us. He was not really ever around and when he was he had a bit of an attitude. We even commented that the busboy(?) was better and more attentive than the server. At one point a projector came down on the wall and almost hit one of my friends - and no one seemed very concerned. As far as the sushi - eigh I've had so much better. - Dynamite Scallop Roll which was really good - even better if you dip it in the sweet chili aioli they serve with the rock shrimp. -Crispy Prawns Roll - boring - I was not impressed at all with this roll -Rock shrimp - I find it odd that the serve the sauce on the side - this is a dish where the sauce should be on the shrimp in my opinion. Sunda's rock shrimp is so much better. I also found it to be very expensive for the quality of food/service. $11 for a Cali roll - ha that's a joke. Bottom line - there are much better places to get sushi in the area. Go to Sunda for some quality sushi.

    (2)

  • Connie M.

    I really enjoyed my meal here. I read the other reviews, though, and felt compelled to weigh in. I went on a Saturday night early, when there were relatively normal people, but when I left around 9, very pretty people had come. Granted, these people don't really eat and their presence no way makes or breaks a place for me, but they're there. If you want a sclump meal, I guess, don't eat in River North? Most restaurants there have a silliness to the clientele on the weekends and this is no better or worse. For me, we just really enjoyed the food. There was a brussels sprouts special that was transcendent, and the maki weren't... traditional but a nice variation. We had Unagi, the Serrano one (a little too hot for me, but that's a personal thing), salmon, and spicy tuna. And our service was on point, except they didn't fill our water. My only other complaints were... that I had this crazy early reservation and yet we were still seated in the bar? WTF. That and the whole place is kinda loud, but such is the case with such open restaurants. All and all, I didn't think it was particularly expensive compared with other restaurants of its class and location. And I would totally go back. Just earlier, before the "scene" sets up for late night.

    (4)

  • Janet N.

    Pros: Very good sushi and sashimi, pork belly with beets was amazing, tapas-like and fun to share. Cons: Marginal rolls, beef dumplings were gross, WAY too trendy, three times as expensive when compared to other really great sushi joints! Go for it if you want pretty food and pretty people. Go elsewhere if you want real sushi.

    (2)

  • L S.

    I have dinned in Roka at their world locations for four years now. Regardless, I'm in London, HK or US, I have NEVER been disappointed and always left with wanting more. The service is incapable and the food is to die for. It is one of my FAV restaurants at all time!!!

    (5)

  • Igor Z.

    Food - Delicious Everything we got was top notch, we ordered butterfish tataki, very nice and clean, I would definitely recommend this. I had the pork ribs which were fall off the bone and perfectly tasty, sticky, and sweet. Service - Pretty Good We had reservation for 8:15 and were finally seated at 8:45; not terrible, like showing up to the doctors office with a reservation and the receptionist tells you, "the doctor will be right with you". Why didn't you just make the reservation for 15 minutes later then? But I digress. Once seated, our server was great, being our first time there he explained the menu and what they are really good at. We started up a conversation about Wagyu and the difference between American and Australian...he explained the difference and even brought out a piece of the Australian to show us what it looked like. He brought a 6 oz fillet, $104. They are $16/ounce with a minimum of 6 oz and then you can go up as many oz's as you want. Overall, great service once seated. Decor - Trendy I'm not a trendy chick or an interior designer. I don't care about a place being trendy or chic. I have 4 criteria for restaurants 1) Tasty food 2) Clean establishment 3) Attentive knowledgeable service 4) Good company I would definitely recommend this place, its $$$$ but the food is great if you're willing to spend the $.

    (4)

  • Diana P.

    Great food, fresh sushi, amazing scallop appetizer, delic mushroom/Japanese rissoto-type dish. Prices are really up there but almost expected based on the hype, location and high quality of fish products. Great place to order a bunch of smaller dishes and share. OVERALL, pricey but tasty.

    (4)

  • Mariam K.

    Went here on a Saturday night with a group of 4. We made reservations, which was a really good idea, because it was packed! I loved the ambiance and the architect of the place did an amazing job. Our waiter recommended that we order a couple of items and share everything, so we ended up doing that, which was a good idea, because we got to try the steak, fish, sushi, and a bunch of little appetizers. Everything was amazing.. My only complaint would be that I thought it was a bit too pricey, considering the size of the portions and you have to order a few to actually get you full and also the fact that it was way too loud, we couldn't hear a word our waiter was saying, we were making him repeat everything over and over. Nonetheless, the food was still really good so I can't wait till they open it in Old Orchard!

    (4)

  • Ben S.

    It's just so damn trendy. The name, location, the hostess, waitress, menu and the guests . . . all so damn trendy! It begs the question, how much more trendy could this place be . . . and the answer is none . . . none more trendy. We had a reservation and they sat us at a bar table. And just like everyone is pointing out, there is not enough room on the table for our meals. The food was tasty but pricy. The service was fine but cold. I think the arrogant look on the hostesses face is as annoying as the food was tasty.

    (2)

  • Jeff S.

    One of the best omakases' I have ever tried. Definitely worth the price tag.

    (5)

  • Crystal X.

    I really wanted to like this restaurant but it just didn't do anything for me. The sushi grade was expected to be finer than your BYOB sushi spots - which they did deliver. But Roka didn't have any outstanding signature dishes, cocktails, or small plates. It was a disappointing $85 bill.

    (2)

  • Andrea H.

    I came here last June on a date and was impressed with the experience. Solid sushi rolls and mouth-watering Wagyu beef steaks. Tuna tataki appetizer was delicious, and sashimi chefs selection was beautifully presented and delectable. And though the food was excellent (as you would expect at these prices) in my opinion, the main draw is the locale and swanky scenematics. Don't come here dressed in jeans and flip flops, you won't get in, and even if you did you would feel ridiculous. No, guys wear your power suits (you are carrying a black amex in your wallet right??) and women break out the sky high loubutins and bandage dress, you're gonna be getting looked up and down all night whether you like it or not. Best for: scene/people watching. Do: come on your skinny day bahahaha.

    (3)

  • Kris O.

    We were in Chicago for a conference and came here for dinner on 4/1/12, planning to eat ramen but were told it is only on the lunch menu. That turned out to be a GREAT thing as we proceeded to order dinner. The black cod was AMAZING...wrapped in a leaf then cooked over 2 different kinds of wood (according to the server) the flavors and texture were incredible. I'm from Hawaii so I know great seafood. We also ordered the wagyu beef kimchee dumplings which weren't bad and the salmon and toro nigiri sushi which were pretty good. Ended the meal with port and the soft chocolate cake with coffee ice cream which was very delicious because it wasn't overpoweringly sweet. We tried the regular port and the 10 year aged port...we like the regular port better, but both were fantastic! Service was also very good and it was a nice atmosphere. This was one of the best start to finish dining experiences I've had in a long time.

    (5)

  • Lee E.

    Let me start by saying I am the wife of a fine dining Chef. I have NO issues paying good money for great food - if I am aware up front of what I am paying for.... I took my team to Roka for dinner last night. From the beginning it was a train wreck. Server was confusing when explaining the menu - especially as it pertained to the platters. When I asked what Market Price was for an item he answered with the amount and then said "is money a concern" really? . We ultimately picked a platter - he said he could get us a better "deal" by creating a platter for us and so we said "sure do it!". When we finally got the bill p the platter he ordered for us was $200! R U kidding me! I was completely blown away and immediately asked for the Mgr. They were slightly more accommodating by taking $50 off our bill but I still felt that they just did not 'get it". If you are going to put something together like that you have a responsibility to communicate the cost to your guests. The quality of the fish & presentation was exceptional. Really fresh and delicious. The snow crab with truffle butter was amazing. I found the lobster in the red miso to be over cooked - would rather have had it butter poached and added to the soup in the end but the miso solo had great flavor. The atmosphere was very loud - not at all conducive to conversation. Server was a totally used car salesman and made us all uncomfortable. Net Net - I wish I had got back to SUNDA where i ate the night before and had amazing sushi and outstanding service - without the $200" I got a deal for you platter" All in all terribly disappointed all the way around. I can't help but feel like our waiter took advantage of us and "up sold" us as best he could. It's very disheartening. Go to SUNDA right across the street - more roll selection and every bit as fresh with less attitude, noise and price.

    (1)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :11:30 am - 2:00pm

Specialities

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

Roka Akor - Chicago

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