Chicago | 🧑‍🍳 Is This Michelin Japanese Restaurant Really That Good.

✨ Restaurant Vibe This is a super atmospheric modern Japanese restaurant. The decor is perfect for dates or chatting with girlfriends. The open kitchen design is really eye-catching, watching the Japanese chefs diligently crafting delicious food with focus. 👨‍🍳 🍽️ Menu Recommendations & What to Avoid 🥗 Cold 1️⃣ Kaki to Buri ⭐️⭐️ The yellowtail wasn't very fresh and had a slight fishy taste overall. The persimmon and grapefruit sauce was okay, a bit on the sweet side, but overall not recommended. 2️⃣ Jidori Kimo ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Chicken liver pâté on buckwheat toast. The buckwheat toast was crispy, and the smooth chicken liver pâté made for a rich texture. It's worth a try on the Cold menu. ✅ 🔥 Hot 1️⃣ Tako Su ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The octopus was super generous in quantity! Two whole octopus legs 🦑, with a chewy texture. Highly recommended! ✅ 🍡 Robata Yaki 1️⃣ Gyutan ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Beef tongue with sea salt and lemon. The beef tongue was tender and perfectly grilled, with simple seasoning that highlights the natural flavors of the ingredients. Highly recommended! ✅ 2️⃣ Negima (Chicken Thigh) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The chicken thigh was marinated with shiso leaves, giving it a unique flavor. However, I personally felt it could have had a bit more charred aroma from the grill. 🍣 Sashimi & Nigiri 1️⃣ Chef's Seasonal Sashimi Selection ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The salmon, tuna, and snapper were all very fresh and had a great texture. ✅ However, the yellowtail was disappointing again. 😅 2️⃣ Special Salmon Trio ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Highly recommended! The toro (fatty tuna) and chu-toro (medium fatty tuna) had great fat distribution, rich but not greasy. ✅ 3️⃣ Botan Ebi Sashimi ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The best of the night! The sweet shrimp 🦐 was incredibly firm and sweet. A little soy sauce can elevate the flavor to perfection. ✅ 4️⃣ Yari Ika Sashimi ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The Hokkaido squid sashimi was very fresh and had a smooth texture. A touch of soy sauce really highlights its natural flavor. ✅ 🍚 Rice 1️⃣ Yakitori Don (Grilled Chicken Thigh Bowl) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The combination of runny egg 🥚 and rice was super fragrant, and the chicken thigh was tender. It was quite impressive overall, though a bit salty towards the end. 💡 Summary - Overall, it was satisfactory. Highly recommend the Botan Ebi and Special Salmon Trio. Avoid the yellowtail. ⚠️ - It's recommended to book in advance as this restaurant is very popular. 🔥 💰 Average Cost: Around $80 per person 📍 Momotaro #RestaurantRecommendation #Chicago #JapaneseCuisine #UniversityOfChicago #ChicagoLife #Sushi #Sashimi