The Best Sushi in Chicago, by the Record
The best sushi in Chicago, by the professional record: The Banchets, Time Out, and Michelin Guide have all weighed in, and their honors are what rank this list. Kyōten comes out on top.
Kyōten Next Door and OMAKASE YUME hold the next two places. Michelin Guide and Time Out show up on more of this list than any other guide.
-
Rank 1. Kyōten
Sushi
-
Rank 2. Kyōten Next Door
Sushi
The nigiri pieces here are cut large, scored deep, and pressed onto generous mounds of rice, which tells you something about what the chef thinks omakase should feel like. Ten seats, nigiri only, and fish shipped twice weekly from Japan. A tuna handroll with avocado and a scallop the size of the rice beneath it keep things from getting too reverent. The beverage list is kindly priced for a room this serious.
-
Rank 3. OMAKASE YUME
Sushi
The fish arrives already sliced, since the chef handles his prep before guests sit down, which gives this West Loop omakase counter an almost ceremonial stillness. Korean flourishes like kimchi puree and sesame oil show up alongside fish flown in from Japan, and the pacing moves faster than you might expect. The chef rarely looks up, staying locked in, which somehow makes the whole thing feel more serious rather than less.
-