The best sushi and ramen in Chicago: 20 spots

Before you go

The omakase counters seat a handful of people at set times, so book ahead: Omakase Yume has six seats and three seatings a night. The ramen shops are easier, and High Five Ramen takes no reservations at all.

9 of the 20

1. O

   Omakase Yume

   West LoopOmakase counter$$$$

   Chef Sangtae Park, who learned Japanese cooking in his hometown of Busan, runs this Michelin-starred counter: six seats, seatings at 5, 7 and 9, and a 16-course omakase. Arrive early, and add extra pieces à la carte at the end if you're still hungry.

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2. M

   Mako

   West LoopOmakase restaurant$$$$

   B.K. Park, born on Jeju and schooled at Tsunami, a Gold Coast sushi bar, serves a long omakase here: about two dozen courses of nigiri, sashimi and small plates such as king crab with kani miso, sent out to the whole room in step. Michelin gives it a star.

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3. K

   Kyōten

   Logan SquareEdomae omakase counter$$$$

   Otto Phan, an Austin transplant, opened this counter in 2018, early in Chicago's omakase wave. His nigiri leans on Edo-style curing and aging, and the 2025 Banchet Awards named him chef of the year. One of the city's priciest meals.

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4. S

   Sushi-san

   River NorthSushi bar$$

   Chicago Reader readers voted it the city's best sushi in 2024. Go for nigiri and maki at the bar, with meats roasted over binchotan on the side; lunch and late-night hours make it an easy drop-in.

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5. L

   Lawrence Fish Market

   Albany ParkTakeout sushi market$

   Takashi Iida's takeout-only market has sold sushi made with fish imported from Japan on Lawrence Avenue for four decades, with single pieces from about a dollar. Grab a few rolls or a party tray for a picnic. Open daily 10 to 8.

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6. A

   Akahoshi Ramen

   Logan SquareRamen shop$$

   Everything is made in-house here, noodles included. The name means 'red star,' a nod to the stars on Sapporo's monuments and on Chicago's flag, and the Sapporo-style miso bowl is the one to get.

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7. H

   High Five Ramen

   West LoopRamen bar$$

   Take the stairs down from a doorway inside Hogsalt's barbecue hall on Green Street. The signature bowl is pork-and-miso tonkotsu with pork belly, black garlic oil and a seasoned egg; slushies put out the fire. No reservations, and the room is snug.

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8. M

   Monster Ramen

   Logan SquareRamen shop$$

   Katie Dong's corner shop specializes in gyukotsu, a beef-bone ramen from southern Japan that's rare in the US. Take a seat at the kitchen counter to watch the bowls come together.

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9. R

   Ramen Wasabi

   Logan SquareRamen shop$$

   Open on Milwaukee Avenue since 2010, it simmers its Berkshire pork tonkotsu for 45 hours; get it with chashu and a soft egg, or the mushroom bowl if you're vegan. A second shop opened in Fulton Market; this is the original.

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The other 11

The 20 are spread across 14 neighborhoods. Logan Square (4) and West Loop (4) have the most; Albany Park, Andersonville, Bridgeport, Humboldt Park, Irving Park, Lakeview, Lincoln Park, Noble Square, North Center, River North, West Town and Wicker Park have one each.

For Chinese, Thai, Filipino and more, see our Asian list.

All 20, on your own map

This page is 9 of them. The Chicago Sushi & Ramen pack in Whosly has all 20 — add it and every one drops onto your map, ready to save, rate and turn into a plan your friends RSVP to from a text, no app needed to answer. The pack is included with Planner Pro.

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