Restaurant

Omakase Shoji & Izakaya

Name: Omakase Shoji & Izakaya
Address: 1641 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL, 60622, US
Telephone: (312) 579-4472
Price range: splurge

Japanese•Chicago•splurge

Omakase Shoji & Izakaya is one of the best japanese restaurants in Chicago for date night, especially if you want a strong option in Chicago.

Editorial review•Dec 9, 2025

Omakase Shoji & Izakaya operates in a format that demands commitment from the diner: twenty courses of kaiseki-influenced edomae omakase at $210 per person, at a ten-seat counter on West Town's Chicago Avenue, where the kitchen dictates the evening entirely. The name Takashi Iida carries genuine weight in Chicago's Japanese dining conversation, and his collaboration with Chef Takahashi Shoji positions this room as something more deliberate than the wave of omakase counters that have opened across the city in recent years. The sourcing is specific — fish flown directly from Japan, then aged to what the kitchen considers peak expression — and the menu changes daily according to season. That last detail is the argument the restaurant makes for its price: you are not paying for a fixed showpiece, but for a kitchen tracking something harder to replicate. Within the twenty-course arc, it is the hot small plates that diners and reviewers consistently single out as the meal's emotional center — a notable inversion for a sushi counter, where the nigiri sequence is typically expected to dominate. The white shrimp nigiri and chutoro (fatty tuna) appear as representative pieces of edomae technique: the former showcasing the delicacy of fresh-sourced seafood, the latter prized for the richness that high-quality tuna at proper aging delivers. A sakizuke course has been noted to include precisely fried tempura flounder, and a curry-inflected sea bream served in green tea broth with matcha soba has drawn attention as one of the kitchen's more unexpected compositions — the kind of dish that signals a kitchen unafraid of flavor contrast within a classical structure. The sake program is not incidental: over forty Ginjo and Daiginjo labels, plus rare Japanese whiskies, make the drink pairing here a genuine parallel track to the food rather than an afterthought. Reservations at a ten-seat counter with daily-changing menus will require advance planning — this is not a room that absorbs walk-ins. Request counter seating directly in front of the chefs; at this format and price, proximity to the preparation is the entire premise.

James Whitfield, Restaurant Critic

Methodology•Chicago guides•Editorial team

Sushi date night special occasion precise intimate sushi

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Taste ID

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Rating (Google) 9.6

166 reviews

Chicago

At a glance

The fastest read on whether this place fits tonight.

9.6

Rating

Based on 166 reviews

Best used for

date night and Sushi

Price and pace

splurge

Neighborhood

Chicago · 1641 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60622, USA

Price

splurge

Google rating

9.6 from 166 reviews

Phone

(312) 579-4472

Watch

Omakase Shoji & Izakaya on video

Video: YouTube (third-party feature) · plays on YouTube

What to order

Signature dishes at Omakase Shoji & Izakaya

White Shrimp Nigiri

Chutoro (Fatty Tuna)

Tempura Flounder (sakizuke course)

Curry Sea Bream in Green Tea Soup with Matcha Soba

Why go

What makes Omakase Shoji & Izakaya worth the move

Omakase Shoji & Izakaya is an easy yes when you want somewhere that feels considered rather than fussy. White Shrimp Nigiri and Chutoro (Fatty Tuna) also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.6 rating across 166 Google reviews.

What to know fast

Public rating

9.6 from 166 Google reviews

Best used for

date night and Sushi

Style

Japanese in Chicago

Spend

splurge

Best for

Sushi date night special occasion precise intimate sushi

Know before you go

Google rating: 9.6 from 166 reviews

Price point: splurge

Popular dishes: White Shrimp Nigiri, Chutoro (Fatty Tuna), Tempura Flounder (sakizuke course)

Website linked on this page

TastyPals Reviews

What diners are saying

0 diner reviews · reviewed by James Whitfield for Omakase Shoji & Izakaya

Google snapshot

9.6 from 166 reviews

TastyPals notes

Editorial review by James Whitfield

Boka Group has a knack for making a room feel more expensive than it is, and Zarella Pizzeria & Taverna at 531 N Wells St.

Tavern style pizzacasual nighttakeout

2127 reviews

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Website Menu Rate

Plan the visit

Quick details

Visit Website Menu Directions

Address: 1641 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60622, USA
Phone: (312) 579-4472
Price: splurge
TastyPals score: Coming soon
Google rating: 9.6 (166 reviews)
Cuisine: Japanese
Neighborhood: Chicago

Frequently asked questions

What cuisine does Omakase Shoji & Izakaya serve?

Omakase Shoji & Izakaya is a Japanese restaurant located in Chicago, Chicago. Omakase Shoji & Izakaya operates in a format that demands commitment from the diner: twenty courses of kaiseki-influenced edomae omakase at $210 per person, at a ten-seat counter on West Town's Chicago Avenue, where the kitchen dictates…

What is Omakase Shoji & Izakaya best for?

Omakase Shoji & Izakaya is best for sushi, date night, special occasion, precise, intimate, sushi. Omakase Shoji & Izakaya is an easy yes when you want somewhere that feels considered rather than fussy. White Shrimp Nigiri and Chutoro (Fatty Tuna) also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.6 rating across 166 Google reviews.

How much does it cost to eat at Omakase Shoji & Izakaya?

Omakase Shoji & Izakaya is in the splurge price range (splurge). Google rating: 9.6 from 166 reviews

What should I order at Omakase Shoji & Izakaya?

Start with White Shrimp Nigiri, Chutoro (Fatty Tuna), Tempura Flounder (sakizuke course) and Curry Sea Bream in Green Tea Soup with Matcha Soba. These dishes are shown from TastyPals notes or restaurant data on this page.

Is Omakase Shoji & Izakaya worth visiting?

Omakase Shoji & Izakaya holds a 9.6 Google rating from 166 reviews. Omakase Shoji & Izakaya is an easy yes when you want somewhere that feels considered rather than fussy. White Shrimp Nigiri and Chutoro (Fatty Tuna) also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.6 rating across 166 Google reviews.

Where is Omakase Shoji & Izakaya located?

Omakase Shoji & Izakaya is located at 1641 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60622, USA. Directions are available via Google Maps.

Is Omakase Shoji & Izakaya good for a date night?

Yes — Omakase Shoji & Izakaya is tagged for date night dining. Omakase Shoji & Izakaya is an easy yes when you want somewhere that feels considered rather than fussy. White Shrimp Nigiri and Chutoro (Fatty Tuna) also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.6 rating across 166 Google reviews.

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