Momotaro Mark Hellyar Kaze Chan Boka Restaurant Group Momotaro
820 W. Lake St. (Halsted St.)
Chicago, IL 60607
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Cuisine: Japanese / Small Plates / Sushi
Spacious spot with a huge Japanese menu and updated cocktails in a sexy dining room and lower-level izakaya.
Openings: Dinner nightly

Features

Momotaro, Chicago, IL


Momotaro Restaurant Review:


The vast menu, the huge stylish space with a glassed-in kitchen, and the sexy lower-level izakaya are a lot to take in --- in a good way --- at this stunner from Boka Restaurant Group. Whether you’re in the mood for snacks; in it to share appetizers; want to score skewers from the robata grill and sushi; or looking for a full-on seasonal meal or hibachi dish, traditional and updated options from chef/partner Mark Hellyar and sushi pro Kaze Chan abound. Ones we cannot do without include the luxurious uni rice christened with black truffle; foie gras encased with steak; and Jidori chicken meatballs finished with sunny-side-up quail eggs --- even the barbecued eel rice with shiitake and sansho pepper. Saké plays prominently on the drinks roster; creative, Asian-inspired cocktails keep things interesting. Plus, the by-the-glass wine list is quite lengthy. Desserts are numbered and not the star of the show. Still, if you need something sweet, selections like the yuzu cake with yogurt sorbet suffice. Service is polished, if a bit harried on weekend nights.