Kai Zan｜A Gift from Mountains & Sea

Went to Kai Zan with Maruko to celebrate Rabbit landing a new job! 🥳🎉 Kai Zan has a 90-minute dining limit per table—but as chronic latecomers, we still arrived 25 minutes late 🐢⏰. Anyway, overall the food at Kai Zan was excellent—Maruko and I both gave it a 9.5/10 (docked 0.5 for the rushed 90-minute limit, which makes it hard to fully savor the meal). We were seated at the counter, where we could watch the chefs work behind glass—a fun addition to the experience 👨🍳✨. Of course, we had to try their omakase (Fig. 1), but because we were late, the server said there wasn’t enough time to prepare two full omakase courses. So we shared one—which worked out well, since we could also try other dishes! Besides omakase, we ordered: agedashi tofu (Fig. 2), momo skewer (Fig. 4), and uni toro tartare (Fig. 3). 🍣 Most Memorable: Escolar & Maguro Pearls – Layers of flavor exploded in the mouth, with the fish’s richness blending perfectly with seasoned rice. Absolutely loved it! 🦪 Oyster/Scallop Shooter (popular at nearby tables) – Oyster or scallop with yuzu vinegar, soy, a dash of Tabasco, and wasabi. One shot and you’ll understand what true indulgence feels like. 🍚 Uni Toro Tartare – Pure satisfaction! A generous heap of sea urchin and fatty tuna over vinegar rice, topped with two quail eggs. Wrap in nori and enjoy—an unforgettable bite. 🐟 Orange Rush (Maruko’s favorite) – Seared salmon wrapped around scallop, served on a scallop shell. Unique and thoughtfully crafted. 🍢 Yakitori – Momo (Chicken Thigh) – To balance the rich glaze, the chef included pickled cucumber and radish slices on the side—a thoughtful touch! 🌸 Final Thoughts: While the ingredients may not match those at high-end establishments, Kai Zan is unbeatable for value. Every dish shows creativity, portions are generous (we couldn’t even finish sharing one omakase—Maruko took leftovers home 😂), and the experience is memorable. #FoodieLife #ChicagoEats #ChicagoWeekend #CoupleGoals #DateNight #WeekendVibes