Best Girls Night Out Sushi Restaurants in Chicago
16 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Sunda New Asian - River North
Modern Southeast Asian spot with a true dim sum section and long-running River North buzz.
Notable Picks
A long-running River North pan-Asian restaurant where a dedicated dim sum section runs alongside sushi, noodles, and Filipino-leaning plates. Locals use it for shared small plates like oxtail pot stickers and char siu ribs in a lively, see-and-be-seen room.
Must-Try Dishes:
Oxtail Pot Stickers, Char Siu Ribs, Lumpia
What Makes it Special: Modern Southeast Asian spot with a true dim sum section and long-running River North buzz.
#2
Ocean Prime
8.6
A high-volume, reservation-driven surf-and-turf room where the steakhouse side is most reliable when you keep the order classic: broiled steaks, one rich side, and a clean starter. It reads more modern-lounge than old-school clubby, making it a strong downtown choice for polished nights out and client dinners.
Must-Try Dishes:
Filet mignon, Chilean sea bass, Black truffle mac & cheese
What Makes it Special: Modern surf-and-turf polish with a consistent steakhouse backbone.
#3
Sushi-san
8.5
Vibes:
Family Friendly Favorites
Group Dining Gatherings
Girls Night Out Approved
Trendy Table Hotspots
Sushi-san Lincoln Park is a polished, music-forward sushi house from Lettuce Entertain You that combines Toyosu-driven fish with crispy rice, maki, nigiri sets, and a deep sake list. The Halsted Street space adds a full bar, patio, and private event rooms, drawing both families and groups for upbeat sushi nights.
Must-Try Dishes:
Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice, Hamachi Ponzu Signature Sashimi, Bluefin Tuna & Avocado Maki
What Makes it Special: A buzzy, design-conscious sushi spot where crispy rice, bluefin-focused nigiri, and a serious sake list meet a family- and group-friendly format.
#4
Sushi-san
8.4
Lettuce Entertain You’s flagship Sushi-san pushes hip-hop, high energy, and shareable sushi in a loud, crowded Grand Avenue space. Thousands of reviews and multiple locations built off this original show that it’s a reliable go-to for fun maki, nigiri, and Japanese-ish bar food.
Must-Try Dishes:
Tako Taco, Crazy Shrimp Tempura roll, Beef 'n Bop sizzling rice
What Makes it Special: High-volume, music-driven sushi bar balancing playful rolls and solid nigiri.
8.3
A high-energy, coursed omakase that treats the night like a show—fast beats, playful bites, and a party-leaning room. It’s strongest when you embrace the format and let the chef’s sequence do the work rather than trying to steer it toward a quiet, traditional sushi bar.
Must-Try Dishes:
Ama ebi nigiri, Red curry with wagyu bite, Uni or caviar-topped course
What Makes it Special: A speakeasy-style omakase built as much for fun as for fish.
8.3
Since 2011, Union has blended robata-grilled meats with creative maki and sashimi in a compact, graffiti-accented Erie Street space. Its long-running happy hour, $1 oyster promotions, and reliable sushi make it a high-volume standby for after-work meetups and casual dates.
Must-Try Dishes:
Truffled Tuna, Kyoto Glazed Lamb Chops, Spicy Tuna roll
What Makes it Special: Japanese-leaning sushi and robata spot with serious happy hour traction.
#7
Sushi Nova
8.2
Vibes:
Group Dining Gatherings
Trendy Table Hotspots
Girls Night Out Approved
Business Lunch Power Players
Sushi Nova’s Loop location runs an all-you-can-eat format where maki, nigiri, appetizers, and dessert come at a fixed price. Diners lean on value and breadth here, moving from carpaccio and tuna tartar to specialty rolls and mochi in a straightforward dining room.
Must-Try Dishes:
Angry Dragon Roll, Tuna tartar appetizer, Mochi ice cream or banana tempura
What Makes it Special: All-you-can-eat sushi and apps in the Loop with strong value.
#8
Wakamono
8.2
Lakeview East Japanese restaurant pairing creative maki and sashimi with ramen, bento, and cocktails in a modern, softly lit dining room. Locals lean on it for date nights and reliable special-occasion sushi without leaving the neighborhood.
Must-Try Dishes:
Spicy Trio Roll, Wakamono Roll, Maki Mexicano
What Makes it Special: Modern Japanese spot where composed rolls feel more like entrées.
At Lincoln Common, Blue Sushi Sake Grill focuses on sustainable fish and one of the city's stronger vegan-friendly roll lineups. Diners come for long happy hour windows, colorful house rolls like Unami and Roja, and the ability to feed mixed groups of omnivores and plant-based eaters without compromise.
Must-Try Dishes:
Unami Roll, Roja Roll, Vegan Tuna Tower
What Makes it Special: A sustainably minded sushi bar with an unusually deep vegan and vegetarian roll roster.
#10
Uni Sushi
8
Uni Sushi blends Japanese sushi with a few pan-Asian influences in a cozy room that feels relaxed yet date-night ready, especially later in the evening. Long hours and a broad menu make it a flexible choice for last-minute plans or late dinners after shows.
Must-Try Dishes:
Hamachi Jalapeno, Salmon Ceviche, Chicago-v Maki
What Makes it Special: Late-hours sushi spot with playful Chicago-named rolls and a relaxed, dimly lit room.
Worthy Picks
#11
Caboo
7.9
A late-night-leaning neighborhood spot that mixes sushi rolls into a broader fusion menu, so the best move is to treat sushi as the anchor and keep the order focused. Go with a couple of rolls and one cooked item, and it lands as an easy, lively option when you want something beyond standard takeout pacing.
Must-Try Dishes:
California Roll, Dragon Roll, Salmon Presidente
What Makes it Special: Sushi-forward ordering inside a lively fusion menu and late-hours energy.
7.8
A Bridgeport late-night sushi-and-karaoke setup where the draw is energy and convenience more than delicate, whisper-quiet omakase theatrics. It’s best when you order straightforward maki and one signature roll, then let the room do the rest—drinks, friends, and a night-out pace.
Must-Try Dishes:
Dragon Roll (8 pcs), Eel Maki (6 pcs), Spider Maki (6 pcs)
What Makes it Special: Sushi plus karaoke energy for a late-night neighborhood hang.
#13
AMORE Sushi
7.8
Vibes:
Trendy Table Hotspots
Group Dining Gatherings
Girls Night Out Approved
Instagram Worthy Wonders
A Halsted-area sushi room that leans modern, with crowd-pleasing appetizers and a roll lineup designed for easy sharing. It’s at its best when you build the meal around one standout starter and two rolls, instead of trying to cover every corner of the menu.
Must-Try Dishes:
Crispy Rice Spicy Tuna, Pompeii roll, Hamachi Serrano
What Makes it Special: Modern share-friendly sushi anchored by crispy rice and signature rolls.
7.8
Blue Sushi Sake Grill is a colorful, high-energy sushi spot known for a huge menu that balances classic rolls, specialty nigiri, and one of the city’s deeper vegan sushi lineups. Date nights skew fun and social here, with cocktails, sake flights, and big maki spreads rather than hushed omakase.
Must-Try Dishes:
Cherry Bomb Nigiri, Lion King Roll, Avo Kaluna Vegan Maki
What Makes it Special: Lively sushi bar with big menus and serious vegan options.
7.8
Friends Sushi Izakaya brings a lounge-like feel to Gold Coast with a big menu of maki, sashimi, and izakaya plates plus cocktails. It’s a flexible choice for shared rolls, sake, and small plates before a night out, with enough variety to keep both sushi regulars and casual diners happy.
Must-Try Dishes:
Spicy tuna roll, Rainbow roll, Chef’s choice sashimi platter
What Makes it Special: Gold Coast sushi-and-cocktails spot that leans into shareable rolls and izakaya plates.
7.6
iWine 312 Sushi Bar pairs a full sushi menu with a wine-centric lounge attached to Silk Road, shifting from to-go lunches to candlelit dinners. Evenings lean into chef’s nigiri flights, specialty rolls, and pairings for downtown date nights and small groups.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chef’s Nigiri Choice, Spicy Tuna Roll, California or Spicy Ika Roll
What Makes it Special: Sushi bar inside Silk Road that emphasizes wine pairings, chef’s nigiri, and a quieter evening room.