Akiro Hand Roll Bar — Restaurant in Chicago

don’t even know where to begin. was debating whether or not to even leave a review—

a big sushi fan, and heard about akiro via the internet— was excited to try a peruvian-japanese handroll spot. from los angeles, was raised with sushi all my life, and developed such a love for peruvian food so this type of restaurant was right up my alley. also tried the same type of fusion, non-handroll, in places like new york, of course LA, and vegas.

right off the bat, entered the restaurant and was told to wait to be seated— reasonable, but while i was waiting, a few more parties came entered the restaurant after me, all with the same reservation time, and they were all seated before me. mind you, these are groups of 3-5 people, and it was just me eating. just a bit unprofessional in my opinion to be seating almost 3 parties before me, but..

next, got seated. my server was so nice, no issue there and the ambiance of the restaurant is beautiful. ordered a bunch of food ranging from the salmon and toro nigiris to the short rib, octopus, acevichado along with a bunch more handrolls. putting it simply, i typically first judge a handroll spot based off the rice they use— in my opinion, while the fish and meats were well cooked and prepared beautifully, the rice was hard and slightly cold as if they were either old or cooked improperly and not much vinegar added to it like typical sushi rice.

and from there, was mid-meal when i was approached by possibly a manager? he asked me how my dinner was going and after, asked if it would be okay for me to scoot over a seat to accommodate for a table of 3. while i said it was okay, it internally bothered me. being asked to scoot over in a fine-established restaurant has been one request i have never been asked to do. first inappropriate and second so unprofessional.

at the end of the day, definitely a good vibe in terms of ambiance probably a good place to get drinks. but in terms of food and service, felt really poorly from the service i was provided— as if i was a minority, so would never...

Such a cool, intimate spot! All seating is at the sushi bar, so you get to watch the chefs handcraft every roll right in front of you … it feels personal and immersive. The vibe is trendy yet relaxed, perfect for date night or a small catch-up with a friend (it’s definitely better suited for 2 than a larger group).

We started with the Nikkei Journey apps; the tuna tiradito was outstanding with its rich, curry-forward sauce that was unlike anything I’ve had before. The shrimp tempura had just the right crunch and came with an addictive spicy mayo.

For Nigiri, the burger was bite-sized but bursting with charbroiled flavor, and the toro nigiri melted in your mouth. The hand roll selection was seriously impressive; I tried the tuna, short rib, and snow crab, and while all were great, the snow crab and short rib were the clear standouts.

Ambiance-wise, it’s got that River North modern-meets-zen aesthetic…low lighting, sleek finishes, and great energy without being loud. Billy was an incredible server…personable, knowledgeable, and attentive; definitely ask for him if you go.

Overall: a chic, flavorful experience that balances creativity and comfort. Highly recommend for sushi lovers looking for something a...

Happened upon Akiro on a buddy trip to Chicago, coming from NYC and the Bay Area. Lucky for us because it’s been our top dining experience so far. Here’s how Akiro is killing it: Flavor combinations are inspired, unique, and work beautifully Carolina, our server, welcomed us like old friends, with warmth and attention. She walked us through the menu, gave pointed tips, and made sure our meal was perfectly paced Our sushi chef, Benjamin, was on point, skilled, and charming. He literally made edible art Total vibe was on point. The interior, finishings, art, music, everything contributed to a singular dining experience

Everything was delicious, so it’s hard to pick faves - that said, the hamachi ceviche; truffle salmon, wagyu burger, and chocolate eel nigiri; and eel with orange and short rib hand rolls...