Chicago Dining Guide | Japanese · Vietnamese · Chinese BBQ · Pasta

A roundup of some treasure restaurants I tried in August! 🍽️💫 🇯🇵 Japanese — Ikigai Sushi & Izakaya A personal favorite! 🍢 Ikigai Kushiyaki (Skewer platter) — perfect mix of chicken, beef, and veggies. Great for the indecisive 😄 🍚 Chirashi Donburi — sushi rice topped with tuna, salmon, tamagoyaki, roe, and cucumber. Everything’s fresh, and it comes with salad or miso soup! 🥗 🇻🇳 Vietnamese — Le Colonial Chicago A beautifully decorated spot with great ambiance 🍃 🫔 Goi Cuon (Spring rolls) 🥗 Goi Bun So (Grilled scallop salad) 🍜 Pho (only one type, authentic but small portion) 🍛 Also tried the green curry (not pictured) Great for Vietnamese food lovers — extensive menu, ~$50 per person. 🇯🇵 Japanese — Cocoro Restaurant Another hidden gem run by a lovely Japanese family — super authentic! 🏮 🍜 Udon noodles — super flavorful and generously topped. 🍲 Sukiyaki hot pot — huge portion packed with beef and veggies. Comes with two salads and ice cream! 🍷 Plum Wine (Umeshu) — sweet, tangy, and delicious! 🇨🇳 Chinese BBQ — Lao Gao BBQ First time dining in — so many skewer options! 🥇 My top pick: grilled mantou (bun slices) 😋 🍲 Clams with vermicelli — a bit spicy but tasty. Probably Chicago’s only authentic Chinese skewer spot — will return when craving that smoky BBQ flavor! 🔥 🇮🇹 Italian — Volare Big portions, affordable, and delicious! 🍝 🥗 + 🍝 × 2 = enough for 2+ people (seriously, so filling!). A must-visit for pasta lovers — total satisfaction guaranteed! #ChicagoEats #ChicagoLife #FoodieFinds #JapaneseFood #VietnameseFood #ChineseBBQ