From nigiri to sashimi and vibrant maki rolls, satisfy your seafood cravings at Chicago’s 10 best sushi spots in the city.
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401 E. Wacker Dr. / Website
Located in the St. Regis Chicago, this sophisticated Japanese destination offers shareable sashimi, maki, nigiri and signature dishes like spicy bluefin tuna crispy rice, A5-grade Miyazakigyu wagyu beef and hamachi with ponzu sauce. The restaurant is also home to a 12-seat sushi bar with rolls like the triple tuna chutoro with otoro (bluefin tuna belly), akami (lean tuna) and garlic crunch, and a shrimp tempura roll with avocado, cucumber, wasabi tobiko and sweet soy sauce along with caviar and king crab. Opt for a table on the broad terrace to enjoy scenic views of Navy Pier, the Chicago skyline and the river.
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Multiple locations / Website
This beloved BYOB sushi restaurant is a classic date night spot. With an attentive waitstaff and abundant sushi options, Coast is also known for its appetizers—think fried soft shell crab, tropical ceviche and tuna tartar—and uberfresh ingredients.
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2557 W. Chicago Ave. / Website
This upscale West Town bistro offers a luxe chef’s choice omakase experience and nigiri, maki and charcoal skewers. The menu, curated by notable twin chefs Melvin and Carlo Vizconde, features signature dishes like wagyu nigiri, shrimp tempura “Green Monster” maki and stir-fried egg noodles with seasonal vegetables. The menu is rounded out with dishes like glazed chicken teriyaki, New Zealand sake-steamed mussels and tender short ribs.
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2507 W. Armitage Ave. / Website
You’ll have some of the best sushi of your life at this eight-seat Logan Square omakase destination (and at $440-$490 per person, you’ll pay for it). Chef Otto Phan prepares each guest’s meal using predominantly wild fish sourced from Japan. On Kyoten’s ever-changing menu, you may find offerings like Japanese akamai (lean tuna), ensui uni (sea urchin) and amadai (sweet snapper) with fried crispy scales, creme fraiche and caviar. Kyoten is a reservations-only restaurant, so plan accordingly.
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5701 N. Clark St. / Website
Presentation is key at this Andersonville restaurant, which features signature rolls like the surf and turf with seared ribeye and the benitoro with salmon belly from Scotland. Marvel at the near-perfect ratio of fish-to-rice and the highly recommended nigiri. While Ora does offer carryout, this BYOB spot is worth a visit on your next date night.
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415 N. Milwaukee Ave. / Website
Sushi by Scratch’s Chicago outpost is an intimate space for 10 people to enjoy a 17-course tasting menu. Be sure to keep an eye out for an open table as reservations become available on the first day of each month for the following one.
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1904 W. Division St. / Website
With locations in Wicker Park and Logan Square, this fave sushi buffet is a must-visit spot for small bites, signature rolls, nigiri and sashimi. Try fried oysters, soft shell crab, ika (squid) nigiri, hamachi sashimi and the fresh tuna and sriracha-topped Crazy Tuna Roll with spicy tuna and jalapeno.
The Omakase Room at Sushi-San
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63 W. Grand Ave. / Website
Looking for an incredibly intimate sushi experience? You’ve found it. The Omakase Room at Sushi-San is a 10-seat eatery offering an 18-course omakase experience. Sample a meal prepared by master sushi chef Kaze Chan while enjoying the restaurant’s sleek, upscale atmosphere and libations from one of the most expansive Japanese whiskey and sake lists in the city.
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3313 N. Broadway / Website
This low-key chic sushi joint serves a full range of Japanese fare but stands out for its creative specials—think tapioca-dusted agedashi tofu, tuna crispy rice, freshwater eel sashimi and rolls like the Green Turtle with unagi and tempura crumbs and the Big Sur with crab surimi, smoked salmon and avocado. Pair your meal with a cocktail like the ginger-infused vodka martini, the ginseng margarita or the Mayan Mai Tai with tequila, fresh lime, orange juice and apricot liquor.
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1751 W. Chicago Ave. / Website
This West Town spot offers a full slate of sushi—including some of the most vibrant, Insta-worthy maki on this list—as well as tempting traditional Japanese plates with a modern twist. Sample popular dishes like the chicken gyoza, the ponzu-topped hamachi crudo with yellowtail, the ribeye skewers, the udon noodle soup, the tuna avocado roll and the “Three Amigos” maki with yellowtail, avocado, jalapeño, cilantro, chili oil and lime juice.
See also: The Hottest New Restaurants In Chicago
Photography by: NATASHA BREEN/ISTOCK
