Hidden Fun at Itoko Chicago 🍸

Finally went to Itoko with a friend yesterday — a spot I’ve been eyeing for a while. Verdict: Drinks have more soul than the food. Portions are small and pricey, so prepare yourself mentally 💸. 🍣 3325 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60657 🍻 The Drinks — We’re Obsessed with Yuzu! Dreamy Clouds (Sake) Yuzu, plum, chestnut notes — soft, slightly sweet, fruity. Shochu Yuzu Highball Strong yuzu flavor! Clean, refreshing, perfect with cold dishes. 🍹 Yuzu Lychee Lemonade So pretty when served — high on aesthetics! 🍸 Haru Yuzu (Non-alcoholic) Fresh green color — feels like spring in a glass. 🍣 Food Section My friend strongly advised avoiding all hot dishes (they’ve mostly been misses) — I listened. 🌊 Seafood & Raw Overall Fish and seafood were fresh, texture smooth and delicate — felt safe and tasty yesterday. 🥩 Kumamoto Beef To Hotate Nigiri Kumamoto Wagyu + Hokkaido scallop — rich fattiness meets sweet freshness, nice contrast. 🌊 Uni (Sea Urchin) Clean, silky, smooth — fair market price. TCD Tuna Toro (Chutoro/Otoro) Everyone’s eating it, so I had to try. Beautiful marbling, melted with nori — devoured with rice 🍚. 🐟 Mecha Kucha (Mixed Sashimi) Luxurious mix: bluefin tuna, uni, Kaluga caviar — layers of flavor: fresh, smooth, salty, umami. 🍣 Not Full Yet? Try These 🐟 Tuna Trio Akami, Chutoro, Otoro with pickled radish, shiso, Tokyo onion, wasabi. Crisp, fresh, moving from lean to rich — a complete experience. 🥬 HaruMaki (Rice-less Veggie Roll) No rice — rice paper wrapped with lettuce, pickled radish, yellowtail, salmon, tuna, served with shiso herb sauce. Very “veggie-forward,” light and refreshing. 🍸 Final tip: If you can’t get into Kumiko, come here for “little drinks” instead 😉. #Chicago #LifeInChicago #JapaneseCuisine #SushiBar #HiddenGems #CocktailLove #ChicagoEats