Is No One Going to Address the State of Japanese Food in Chicago? 😤

Been hesitating to post this — these three spots aren’t exactly bad, but for the price, I definitely expected more. 🍢 Tengoku – Yakitori was meh, kind of forgettable. Their maze soba seasoning was interesting though. 🍣 Ryota – All over Instagram for their chirashi bowl loaded with otoro, uni, salmon roe, caviar, and chives. Yes, it’s rich and fresh with red rice, but after a few bites it gets heavy. A palm-sized box costs $100+ after tax and tip. 🍱 Ikigai – Thought it’d be a more affordable alternative, but you really get what you pay for. The seafood freshness just isn’t comparable. Mostly rice and scallions with a thin layer of minced fish and a couple sweet shrimp on top. We also ordered skewers to go with beer — the chicken skin was poorly fried, and the gizzard was impossible to chew. We just paid and left. When can I go back to my happy place Osaka? 😭 📍 Addresses Tengoku: 651 W Washington Blvd Suite #101A, Chicago, IL 60661 Ryota: 1131 W Madison St, Chicago, IL 60607 Ikigai: 372 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60654 #DayInMyLife #FoodReview #MakingPeaceWithMyself #Chicago #ChicagoLife