Best Fine Dining Sushi Restaurants in Chicago
14 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Mako
A chef-driven omakase with a serious cooked-course bench.
Essential Picks
#1
Mako
9.1
A 22-seat, reservation-driven omakase built around pristine fish, tightly paced courses, and cooked interludes that keep the meal from becoming a pure nigiri parade. This is destination sushi for when you want chef-led progression, quiet focus, and a night that feels deliberately composed from first bite to dessert.
Must-Try Dishes:
Omakase tasting, Chawanmushi (seasonal savory custard), Braised abalone (cooked course)
What Makes it Special: A chef-driven omakase with a serious cooked-course bench.
Notable Picks
#2
Midōsuji
8.8
An eight-seat omakase tucked inside the Chicago Athletic Association, built around a chef’s-counter progression that blends Japanese ingredients with French technique. Expect a tightly paced, reservation-driven experience where composed hot and cold courses (plus rotating hand rolls) matter more than à la carte variety.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chickpea chawanmushi, Rock shrimp tempura, Rotating hand rolls
What Makes it Special: An intimate 8-seat omakase where Japanese ingredients meet French technique at a chef’s counter.
#3
Momotaro
8.8
Momotaro is a multi-level West Loop Japanese restaurant where precise sushi, robata, and composed plates anchor a high-energy dining room. Locals treat it as a go-to for special-occasion sushi and cocktails, backed by years of strong reviews and Michelin recognition.
Must-Try Dishes:
Spaghetti (beef curry pasta), Momomaki roll, Chahan beef fried rice
What Makes it Special: Large-format West Loop Japanese restaurant blending serious sushi with a multi-level, design-forward space and Michelin-level recognition.
8.8
Vibes:
Luxury Dining Elite
Date Night Magic
Business Lunch Power Players
Birthday & Celebration Central
A modern Japanese steakhouse and sushi spot centered on a dramatic robata grill, Roka Akor pairs A5 wagyu and grilled seafood with composed sushi in a sleek River North room. High review volume over many years indicates it functions as a reliable destination for business dinners and date nights alike.
Must-Try Dishes:
Wagyu beef and kimchi dumplings, Robata grilled pork belly, Robata grilled Chilean sea bass
What Makes it Special: Japanese-inspired steakhouse marrying robata-grilled meats with polished sushi.
#5
Miru
8.7
A St. Regis rooftop Japanese dining room that leans into polished nigiri, shareable hot plates, and a view-forward, celebration-ready pace. It works best as a structured progression: a few signature nigiri pieces, one crispy rice or raw plate, then a single warm centerpiece to finish.
Must-Try Dishes:
A5 Wagyu Nigiri, Chutoro Gunkan, Wild Mushroom Sizzling Rice
What Makes it Special: Signature nigiri and shareable plates in a skyline-view rooftop setting.
#6
Omakase Yume
8.7
An intimate omakase counter that leans into precision, calm pacing, and thoughtful cooked accents alongside dressed nigiri. Best approached as a full chef-led progression—arrive hungry, stay present, and let the sequence build rather than trying to “optimize” with add-ons.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chef’s omakase, Dressed nigiri progression (seasonal), Miso-marinated black cod (cooked course)
What Makes it Special: A small, reservation-first omakase built for focused, chef-led dining.
8.7
A Ravenswood omakase-minded room where the focus is clean cuts, careful seasoning, and a tasting-menu flow that’s designed to feel indulgent without being stiff. It shines when you commit—go omakase, add one premium nigiri upgrade if offered, and let the pacing do its job.
Must-Try Dishes:
Omakase tasting menu, Otoro (fatty tuna) nigiri, Uni (sea urchin) nigiri
What Makes it Special: Omakase-led sushi with premium fish and a polished, modern room.
#8
AJI
8.6
A small, reservation-driven sushi counter that leans into a paced omakase experience with clean, fish-forward bites rather than big, sauced rolls. Come here to let the chef drive—this is the kind of meal that rewards a focused sit-down and a slow, structured progression.
Must-Try Dishes:
Omakase (chef’s choice tasting), Sashimi dinner, Shrimp shumai
What Makes it Special: A tight, chef-led omakase flow in a small Lakeview room.
#9
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.
#10
SHŌ
8.6
SHŌ is a modern Old Town omakase where chef Mari Katsumura runs a tightly edited 10-course menu that moves from sashimi to playful composed dishes and DIY hand rolls. The counter-only format, music-forward room, and focus on seasonal Japanese technique with global twists make it one of the most ambitious sushi experiences in 60610.
Must-Try Dishes:
Corn cream croquette with jalapeño and yuzu, Sukiyaki-inspired wagyu hand roll, Tonkotsu ramen with Iberico ham
What Makes it Special: Music-driven omakase that blends serious technique with interactive, DIY hand rolls.
#11
Lure Fishbar
8.5
The Chicago outpost of New York’s Lure Fishbar brings a yacht-inspired dining room, serious raw bar, and a full sushi program to Rush Street. Beyond its seafood towers and lobster rolls, the menu’s crispy rice tuna and signature sushi rolls make it one of the neighborhood’s more polished options for sushi-centric nights out.
Must-Try Dishes:
Tuna on Crispy Rice, Lobster Tempura Signature Roll, Classic Lobster Roll
What Makes it Special: Seafood-focused restaurant with a nationally recognized sushi and raw bar program in a glamorous hotel-adjacent space.
#12
Omakase Shoji
8.5
Omakase Shoji is an intimate omakase counter in Ukrainian Village where a small number of seats gather around the chef for a focused, seasonal progression of nigiri and composed bites. It’s a special-occasion destination for diners who want a slower, more deliberate sushi experience than neighborhood AYCE and roll-heavy spots.
Must-Try Dishes:
Seasonal Omakase Nigiri Flight, Toro and Uni Course, Chef’s Daily Appetizer Trio
What Makes it Special: Tiny omakase counter focused on seasonal fish and a tightly choreographed tasting menu.
8.3
Mirai Sushi’s Gold Coast outpost brings the long-running brand’s creative maki and sashimi to a sleek Streeterville high-rise just off Lake Shore Drive. It leans more upscale than casual, with composed rolls like Spicy Mono and Tuna Tuna Salmon anchoring dinners before shows or nights out nearby.
Must-Try Dishes:
Spicy Mono, Tuna Tuna Salmon, Special Salmon
What Makes it Special: Established Chicago sushi name delivering polished, modern rolls and sashimi in a sleek tower setting.
Sushi by Scratch runs a ticketed omakase in a small, candlelit room, pacing 15–17 courses around the chefs behind the counter. It’s structured, theatrical, and sake-friendly, ideal for couples who want a single-focus tasting menu built around nigiri and composed bites.
Must-Try Dishes:
Yellowtail Jalapeño Sashimi, Miso Black Cod, Torched Toro Nigiri
What Makes it Special: Multi-course omakase where every seat faces the chefs.