Chicago | Visiting a Japanese Handroll Bar… All for a Matcha Cocktail!

While everyone was enjoying Restaurant Week deals, I snuck into a popular Japanese handroll spot that’s usually hard to book! Many friends recommended this place! Tucked away downstairs from what looks like a Korean BBQ joint — a bit tricky to find at first 😅. They even use the same plates as the restaurant upstairs — probably owned by the same people? Most rolls were solid but not mind-blowing — just consistently tasty. But these three dishes truly stood out! 🍵 Matcha Puncha A cocktail made with purified milk, matcha, and yuzu. It starts with a refreshing tea and creamy aroma, backed by gin that adds a floral hint! A very approachable sweet drink — currently top 3 on my Chicago sweet cocktail list! 💚✨ Hamachi Poke Fresh yellowtail served with yuzu vinegar jelly — so bright and appetizing! Topped with chives, perfect for sour-flavor lovers. 🍋🐟 Chef Special A special collab roll with a chef from another Chicago restaurant (forgot which one — comment below if you know! 😆). Packed with Vietnamese-inspired flavors — fried garlic, shiso, lots of herbs — but still lets the fish shine. The most surprising roll of the night! 🌿🎉 A friend mentioned the portions have gotten slightly smaller recently. Also, the sweet shrimp we ordered that night wasn’t great — even tasted a bit bitter. 🍤😕 As a girl with a decent appetite, I had 5 rolls, 2 appetizers, and a drink — and felt just full. Overall, not the best value, but I’d go back just for that Matcha Puncha! 🥂 What’s your favorite Japanese spot in Chicago? 👇 📍 Noriko Handroll Bar 💰 $100+ per person #Chicago #Foodie #CocktailLove #RestaurantRecommendations #StudentFoodie #HiddenGem