Chicago’s New Japanese-Thai Fusion Bar — Gaoku 🍸

The team behind Q Sushi recently opened a new spot in West Town — Gaoku, blending Japanese and Thai flavors. Visited early — liquor license pending, but they welcomed BYOB warmly. 🍵 Matcha Mousse – Thick, airy cream with matcha powder — a sweet, elegant start. 🍳 Oyster Omelette (Special) – Not very Japanese, more like Taiwanese oyster omelette — eggs and oysters separate but tasty. 🐖 Cherry Blossom Pork Shoulder – Cooked perfectly — tender, sweet-sour, fatty and lean. Server’s recommendation paid off. 🐟 Hamachi Kama (Grilled Yellowtail Collar) – Thai-style green sauce, like steak sauce — interesting, but fish itself was mild. 🦐 Grilled Tiger Prawns + Japanese Mayo – Huge, bouncy, delicious. Missed having grilled prawn heads — would’ve been amazing. 🐟 Fresh Tuna + Yuzu Soy – From the Q Sushi lineage — sushi here is safe to order. Rustic, moody lighting — great for dates. Just be mindful: area gets sketchy after midnight, so visit earlier. 📍 Gaoku 2759 W Augusta Blvd, Chicago, IL 60622 #Gaoku #JapaneseThaiFusion #WestTown #QSushiTeam #ChicagoEats #BYOBFriendly