Itoko

Name: Itoko
Address: 3325 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL, United States, 60657-1417
Telephone: (773) 819-7672
Price range: $31 to $50
Rating: 4.8

4.8

486 Reviews

$31 to $50

Japanese

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2 people

12 Dec 2024

7:00 pm

Booked 71 times today

Experiences are available.

Neighbourhood gem
Good for special occasions
Great for brunch

Situated in Lakeview's iconic Southport Corridor, Itoko is a neighborhood Japanese and robata restaurant from Gene Kato, Executive Chef of Momotaro. “Itoko” meaning “cousin” in Japanese, refers to the connection with Momotaro, located in the Fulton Market District. The menu features the high level of ingredients and technique that Chicago has come to expect from Chef Kato, alongside a beautiful interior curated for the Southport neighborhood. The menu itself features uniquely interpreted sushi rolls that allow the high-quality fish to be the star of the sushi experience. In addition, an innovative beverage menu with a focus on cocktails & highballs highlights the relationship between the technique of the food created by the kitchen and how this is complimented by the beverage selection.

Private dining

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Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Japanese
Hours of Operation
Daily 4:30 pm–10:00 pm Sat, Sun 10:30 am–2:00 pm
Phone number
(773) 819-7672
Website
http://www.itokochicago.com/
Payment Options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
Executive Chef
Gene Kato
Private party facilities
We welcome you to explore our Private Dining options, perfect for any occasion.
Private party contact
our Private Dining Coordinator: (773) 819-7672

Location
3325 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60657-1417
Area
Lakeview / East Lakeview
Cross Street
N Southport Ave + W Henderson St
Parking details
Street Parking
Additional
Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Wine

Gift card

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Experiences

Holiday Ornament-Decorating Lunch!
USD 30.00 - USD 45.00 per person
Prepaid
15 Dec 2024 only
10:30 am
Join us for ornament-decorating fun at Itoko! Each ticket includes an ornament, all the decorating supplies you need to unleash your creativity, and a delicious bento box to keep you fueled, and a special meet + greet with Hello Kitty! For the Adults: Enjoy a classic bento with a maki roll (chef's choice), 3-piece gyoza, miso soup, rice, and your choice of Negima, Skirt, or Salmon skewers. For the Kids: Choose from Shrimp or Chicken Katsu, Yakitori don, or a sushi set – perfect for our little artists! Spots are limited, so grab your tickets and let’s get into the Holiday spirit!
Chicago Restaurant Week 2025
24 Jan 2025 - 9 Feb 2025
From January 24 to February 9, 2025, join us for a special Restaurant Week celebration. Enjoy a thoughtfully curated prix fixe menu available for dinner nightly plus Saturday & Sunday brunch!
Omakase Sake Dinner
USD 150.00 per person
Prepaid
11 Dec 2024 only
Join us for an exclusive evening in our Kinjo Room, where Chef Taylor and Sushi Chef Thanit present a six-course omakase menu crafted to highlight exquisite sake pairings. Each course, from delicate seafood to expertly prepared wagyu, is designed to elevate and harmonize with the sake selection, promising a memorable culinary experience in an inviting, atmospheric setting.

Popular dishes

Cucumber^USD 12.00
seaweed, sesame seed, onion, spicy dressing
Crab SaladaUSD 18.00
sweet crab, endive, kaiware, tempura onion
Tako KatoUSD 18.00
sliced octopus, shiso, red onion, ponzu
Bluefin Tuna*USD 18.00
apple, soy, ginger, puffed buckwheat
Scallop*USD 16.00
serrano, avocado, nira oil, citrus
Spicy Salmon Dip*^USD 14.00
salmon, perilla, fried garlic, spicy mayo, nori rice cracker

Hot

EdamameUSD 8.00
MisoUSD 8.00
fried tofu, maitake mushroom, scallion, wakame
GyozaUSD 16.00
foie gras and pork filling, soy dipping sauce
ShishitoUSD 12.00
black garlic mayo, bonito, lemon
Shaken Kato^USD 16.00
crispy fried chicken wings, choice of original spice or fire spice
Hamachi KamaUSD 26.00
aka miso glaze, daikon-shiso oroshi *subject to availability

Robata

Cooked Over Japanese Charcoal

ShiitakeUSD 14.00
shiso, lemon
NegimaUSD 14.00
chicken thigh, scallion, shiso
Salmon*USD 15.00
teriyaki marinade
Slider*USD 16.00
beef tsukune, bao bun, miso mustard
Skirt SteakUSD 18.00
citrus ponzu, wasabi

Kazoku

Family Style Dishes

Whole BranzinoUSD 32.00
shiso and shichimi crust, pickled bamboo shoot salad
Prime Striploin**USD 38.00
8oz prime striploin, watercress salad, sukiyaki sauce
Tantan RamenUSD 22.00
chicken broth, spicy pork, bean sprout, gailan, sesame seed
Oshima RamenUSD 22.00
ginger miso broth, porkbelly, scallion, soy egg

Rice

Steamed RiceUSD 4.00
Beef Chahan*USD 22.00
wagyu beef, kaiware, maitake, soft poached egg
Chicken Katsu DonUSD 18.00
crispy chicken cutlet, pickled carrot-daikon slaw, ginger mayo, katsu sauce, rice

Temaki Hand Rolls

Momo Jr.*USD 9.00
tuna, spicy tako, pickled daikon, sweet soy
Shio Koji Salmon*USD 10.00
avocado mousse, crispy salmon skin, trout roe
XO Scallop*USD 10.00
diver scallop, xo sauce, scallion, puffed soba
Ebi Tom Yum^USD 10.00
tiger shrimp, makrut lime, cilantro, crispy shallot
King Crab
ginger mayo, tempura shallot, lemon
- HalfUSD 12.00
- FullUSD 24.00
Mecha Kucha*
bluefin tuna, uni, kaluga caviar
- HalfUSD 12.00
- FullUSD 24.00
Three Piece Set*USD 26.00
momo jr, x.o scallop, shio koji salmon

Specialty Maki Rolls

A5 Beef*USD 24.00
maguro, asparagus, pickled onion, yuzu kosho
Momomaki*USD 22.00
big eye tuna, spicy octopus, pickled daikon
YamaUSD 22.00
crispy shrimp, snow crab, cucumber, sweet soy
Harumaki* ^USD 22.00
(served riceless, wrapped in rice paper) lettuce, pickled daikon, hamachi, maguro, spicy shiso dressing

Chirashi Don*

Fish Over Rice

"TCD" Tuna ToroUSD 35.00
kaluga caviar, pickled onion, sushi rice, nori
Jewel Bako "Chirashi Don Style"USD 58.00
chef selection - 12 pieces of seasonal fish and caviar, with myoga salad, pickled watermelon radish, pickled ginger, nori sheet

Nigiri | Sashimi

Hamachi*
yellowtail
- Nigiri (1 Piece)USD 6.00
- Sashimi (2 Pieces)USD 10.00
Madai*
sea bream
- Nigiri (1 Piece)USD 6.00
- Sashimi (2 Pieces)USD 10.00
Hirame*
ikejime flounder
- Nigiri (1 Piece)USD 6.00
- Sashimi (2 Pieces)USD 10.00
Sake*
faroe islands salmon
- Nigiri (1 Piece)USD 6.00
- Sashimi (2 Pieces)USD 10.00
Akami*
bluefin tuna loin
- Nigiri (1 Piece)USD 7.00
- Sashimi (2 Pieces)USD 12.00
Chutoro*
medium fat bluefin belly
- Nigiri (1 Piece)USD 10.00
- Sashimi (2 Pieces)USD 18.00
Otoro*
fatty bluefin belly
- Nigiri (1 Piece)USD 12.00
- Sashimi (2 Pieces)USD 22.00
Saba*
mackerel
- Nigiri (1 Piece)USD 6.00
- Sashimi (2 Pieces)USD 10.00
Aji*
horse mackerel
- Nigiri (1 Piece)USD 6.00
- Sashimi (2 Pieces)USD 10.00
Botan Ebi*
spot prawn
- Nigiri (1 Piece)USD 6.00
- Sashimi (2 Pieces)USD 10.00
Yari Ika*
Japanese hokkaido squid
- Nigiri (1 Piece)USD 6.00
- Sashimi (2 Pieces)USD 10.00
Hotate*
scallop
- Nigiri (1 Piece)USD 8.00
- Sashimi (2 Pieces)USD 14.00
Uni*
sea urchin
- Nigiri (1 Piece)USD 10.00
- Sashimi (2 Pieces)USD 18.00
Ikura*
marinated salmon roe
- Nigiri (1 Piece)USD 8.00
- Sashimi (2 Pieces)USD 14.00
Unagi
barbecued freshwater eel
- Nigiri (1 Piece)USD 6.00
- Sashimi (2 Pieces)USD 10.00
Tamago
sweet omelet
- Nigiri (1 Piece)USD 4.00
- Sashimi (2 Pieces)USD 6.00

Nigirizushi

Seared Japanese Mackerel*USD 7.00
with daikon shoga ponzu
Seared Fatty Tuna*USD 14.00
daikon, yuzu, sudachi ponzu
Hokkaido Hotate*USD 11.00
scallop, uni, ikura
Kumamoto Beef To Hotate*USD 22.00
garlic sauce, fried shiso

Makimono Classic Rolls

CucumberUSD 8.00
AvocadoUSD 8.00
KanpyoUSD 8.00
Crispy ShrimpUSD 10.00
Tuna*USD 12.00
Spicy TakoUSD 12.00
XO ScallopUSD 12.00
Baby Shiitake MakiUSD 12.00
Spicy Tuna*USD 14.00
Negi Hamachi*USD 14.00
Unagi CucumberUSD 15.00
Negi Toro*USD 16.00
King Crab CaliforniaUSD 21.00

What 486 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.8

4.8 based on recent ratings

4.8Food
4.7Service
4.8Ambience
4.2Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Chicago / Illinois
Japanese
Chicago
Japanese

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Itoko offers a delightful dining experience with "delicious food and incredible all-round service." The ambiance is inviting, ideal for both special occasions and casual outings. Highlights include the wagyu fried rice, flavorful hand rolls, and King Crab Temaki. While some find it pricey, the quality and presentation make it worthwhile.

486 Reviews

A
Amy
Chicago
11 reviews
5.0
11 reviews
Dined 4 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Wonderful restaurant. Excellent customer service and delicious food.
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J
Jack
Chicago
28 reviews
vip
4.0
28 reviews
Dined 5 days ago
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
Nice array of sushi and non-fish items. The sashimi was excellent.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Chicago
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 1 December 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Wonderful dining experience! Food and service was great, everything we tried(which was a ton) was amazing 🤩 Highly recommend!
Is this helpful?
J
Jack
Chicago
11 reviews
5.0
11 reviews
Dined on 27 November 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Itoko is an excellent neighborhood spot. The quality of fish is great every time as is the service. We always enjoy it!
Is this helpful?
C
Celina
New York City
2 reviews
vip
4.0
2 reviews
Dined on 27 November 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 5
The food was delicious and the crab temaki hand roll was the outstanding. Great decor and ambiance. Great for a date night but tough for a large group if you want a family style meal. Service was mediocre, which was disappointing given prior glowing reviews.
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T
Tomson
Chicago
6 reviews
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on 18 November 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Had Miso Soup, Salmon Nigiri, Spicy Tuna Maki roll, and King Crab Maki roll. I loved my food but was then disappointed when I saw what the people next to me ordered. Looked phenomenal! Great service and I need to go back! :)
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W
Wendy
London
10 reviews
4.0
10 reviews
Dined on 13 November 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 4
Love Itoko and frequent often. This visit was mixed. A $16 piece of nigiri was just not as good as prior visits. Tried a new roll with beef which was excellent. Our server forgot one of our dishes… even tho I reminded her of it when reviewing order. After food was served, no one checked in on us for solid 20+ minutes at which point we reminded her again (3rd time ordering dish). Server never apologized and it took another 15+ minutes to get item.
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C
Ciel
Philadelphia
10 reviews
5.0
10 reviews
Dined on 13 November 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Amazing food and attentive service! We love the shishitos with black garlic mayo and bonito flakes. The kabocha kakigori was very unique and perfect for fall. Dont miss the A5 specialty maki as well! The beef truly melts in your mouth.
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J
Jorge
Chicago
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 10 November 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Brunch was exceptional and I highly recommend anyone who wants to try some Japanese brunch. Plates are small so you'll be able share.
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K
Kathy
Chicago
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 10 November 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We went for a birthday celebration and it was perfect. Outstanding service, food was exceptional and it was made extra special by a personalized Birthday menu. I would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys the finest in Japanese dining. You pay for quality, but it was worth every cent!
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FAQs

Itoko is rated 4.8 stars by 486 OpenTable diners.

Itoko does offer gift cards which you can purchase here.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

2 people

12 Dec 2024

7:00 pm

Booked 71 times today

Experiences are available.

3325 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60657-1417

Dining areas

Additional information

Cross Street
N Southport Ave + W Henderson St
Area
Lakeview / East Lakeview
Hours of Operation
Daily 4:30 pm–10:00 pm Sat, Sun 10:30 am–2:00 pm
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Japanese
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
Street Parking
Payment Options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Executive Chef
Gene Kato
Additional
Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Wine

Website
http://www.itokochicago.com/
Phone number
(773) 819-7672
Private party facilities
We welcome you to explore our Private Dining options, perfect for any occasion.
Private party contact
our Private Dining Coordinator: (773) 819-7672

Gift card

Send gift cards instantly by email or print to present in person.

Send a gift card

Itoko

Make a booking

Private dining

Dining areas

Additional information

Gift card

Holiday Ornament-Decorating Lunch!

Chicago Restaurant Week 2025

Omakase Sake Dinner

Sushi Set

"TCD" Tuna Toro

Shishito

Cold

Cucumber^USD 12.00

Crab SaladaUSD 18.00

Tako KatoUSD 18.00

Bluefin Tuna*USD 18.00

Scallop*USD 16.00

Spicy Salmon Dip*^USD 14.00

Hot

EdamameUSD 8.00

MisoUSD 8.00

GyozaUSD 16.00

ShishitoUSD 12.00

Shaken Kato^USD 16.00

Hamachi KamaUSD 26.00

Robata

ShiitakeUSD 14.00

NegimaUSD 14.00

Salmon*USD 15.00

Slider*USD 16.00

Skirt SteakUSD 18.00

Kazoku

Whole BranzinoUSD 32.00

Prime Striploin**USD 38.00

Tantan RamenUSD 22.00

Oshima RamenUSD 22.00

Rice

Steamed RiceUSD 4.00

Beef Chahan*USD 22.00

Chicken Katsu DonUSD 18.00

Temaki Hand Rolls

Momo Jr.*USD 9.00

Shio Koji Salmon*USD 10.00

XO Scallop*USD 10.00

Ebi Tom Yum^USD 10.00

King Crab

Mecha Kucha*

Three Piece Set*USD 26.00

Specialty Maki Rolls

A5 Beef*USD 24.00

Momomaki*USD 22.00

YamaUSD 22.00

Harumaki* ^USD 22.00

Chirashi Don*

"TCD" Tuna ToroUSD 35.00

Jewel Bako "Chirashi Don Style"USD 58.00

Nigiri | Sashimi

Hamachi*

Madai*

Hirame*

Sake*

Akami*

Chutoro*

Otoro*

Saba*

Aji*

Botan Ebi*

Yari Ika*

Hotate*

Uni*

Ikura*

Unagi

Tamago

Nigirizushi

Seared Japanese Mackerel*USD 7.00

Seared Fatty Tuna*USD 14.00

Hokkaido Hotate*USD 11.00

Kumamoto Beef To Hotate*USD 22.00

Makimono Classic Rolls