SushiSamba Rio

504 N. Wells St. (Grand Ave.) Send to Phone

See and be seen fusion spot that also has a nice rooftop patio. SushiSamba Rio Restaurant is one of our | Top 10 Chicago Sushi Restaurants | Top 10 Chicago Lounge Restaurants |

Cuisine

Open

Lunch Mon.-Sat., Dinner nightly, Brunch Sun.

Features

Private room(s)
Full bar
Reservations suggested
Entertainment
Outdoor dining
Open late Tues.-Sat.
Parking lot
Casual

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Dining room at SushiSamba Rio, Chicago, IL

Here we have an alliance (unholy at times) between Japanese (the sushi part) and South American (the samba part). Nonetheless, the 12,000-square-foot eatery quickly gained---and has since maintained---a scenester following. It’s not easy getting everything right in this kind of arrangement, but often the kitchen succeeds. We like the creative rolls---try the Pacific with king crab, avocado and Asian pear wrapped in soy paper with wasabi-avocado crema. Sea bass skewers with starchy Peruvian corn and braised short ribs, served in a sizzling cast iron pot with Japanese wild mushrooms, are memorable. Not to be missed is the brunch, which features everything from Japanese breakfast to buttermilk cakes with pear syrup and Valrhona chocolate fondue. For dessert, indulge guilt-free in the delicate, refreshing fruit tiraditos, paper-thin slices of fruit with flavored “pearls’; we especially like the mango with mint and pineapple with coffee. Or, go for broke with the pear custard, baked in an iron pot with vanilla bean ice cream.