Izakaya Shinya｜Finally Tried Chicken Lantern in Chicago 🏮

Recommended by a friend for their yakitori—finally got the chance to try it! Previously tried Kurumaya, which didn’t impress me much (though J prefers Kurumaya’s chicken skin; also, their chirashi wasn’t fresh… but their service was decent—they refunded the dish and gave us chocolate 🍫). Anyway, back to Shinya: Asahi 🍺 – Served still bubbling 🫧, refreshing for a hot summer day. ❤️❤️❤️ Hamachi Kama (Yellowtail Cheek) – My favorite! Juicy, crispy skin, lots of meat—squeeze lemon for extra zing. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ Miso Nasu (Grilled Eggplant) – Pretty good, though a bit oily and smaller than expected. ❤️❤️❤️❤️ Shiitake – Least favorite—maybe I just don’t like grilled shiitake. ❤️ Torikawa (Chicken Skin) – Personal preference here! I liked it; J thought it could be crispier. Great value at $4 for two skewers. Sanma (Pacific Saury) – Always find it slightly bitter—same this time. Chouchin (Chicken Lantern) – Finally tried it in Chicago! A bit overcooked for my taste, but still happy to have it. Muneniku (Chicken Breast) – Huge and filling. ❤️ Wagyu Gyutan (Beef Tongue) – Friends recommended it, but I didn’t quite get the hype. ❤️ Momo (Chicken Thigh with Shiso) – Delicious! Big tender chunks wrapped in fragrant shiso. ❤️ Negima (Chicken & Scallion) – Another tasty one—we even ordered seconds. Tebamoto (Chicken Wing) – Very good, recommended. ❤️ Sunagimo (Chicken Gizzard) – Lightly seasoned but tender, not chewy. ❤️ Edamame – Simple boiled soybeans with salt—fine. ❤️😁 Overall, everything is glazed with tare sauce—I prefer it over salt-grilled yakitori. They also have weekday specials (Mon–Thu), so those days are a great time to visit. Can’t wait to come back! #ChicagoIzakaya #YakitoriLove #ChickenLantern #JapaneseFood #ChicagoEats