Itoko | Dinner on a Snowy Day Belongs to Sushi & Matcha 🍣🍵

Always heard about Itoko but never tried it — finally visited and found they’re part of Chicago Restaurant Week '26! $45 for a set including hot & cold appetizers, one entrée, and dessert — a solid deal for dinner. We ordered two sets: ✨ Course 1: Spicy cucumber salad — decent but not outstanding. Miso soup was simple yet heartwarming with mushrooms and fried tofu. ✨ Course 2: Spicy salmon dip + crispy shrimp maki roll. The salmon dip stole the show — served with freshly fried seaweed chips, crispy and fragrant like childhood shrimp crackers. The shrimp roll (5 small pieces) was fine but less memorable. ✨ Entrée: Chirashi bowl— so good I’d order it again! Also tried the dandan ramen (not pictured) — small bowl, spicy with scallions and bean sprouts. ✨ Extras: Angus burger with incredibly crispy fries — joked it looked like a mobster’s burger 😂 10-day aged tuna set (akami, chutoro, otoro) — super fresh, excellent quality. Kama (tuna cheek) — tender and charred, but only available when they get whole tuna. ✨ Dessert: Two options — both nicely balanced, not too sweet. Pina colada was refreshing, panna cotta rich and creamy. 🎉 Service was outstanding! They made a birthday menu, took Polaroid photos, and brought dark chocolate matcha with a candle — all so thoughtful! (Our server even whispered about upcoming surprises — this INTJ loved the attention to detail 🖤.) Overall: While flavors were solid but not groundbreaking, the fresh ingredients and exceptional service made it a worthwhile visit! #BeautifulMeals #ChicagoBirthday #BirthdayRestaurant #ChicagoLife #ChicagoSushi