Restaurant

Sushi by Scratch Restaurants: Chicago

Name: Sushi by Scratch Restaurants: Chicago
Address: 415 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL, 60654, US
Telephone: (872) 870-0200
Price range: splurge

Japanese•Chicago•splurge

Sushi by Scratch Restaurants: Chicago is one of the best japanese restaurants in Chicago for date night, especially if you want a strong option in Chicago.

Sushi by Scratch in Chicago is not attempting to replicate the austere reverence of traditional Edomae omakase — and it doesn't pretend otherwise.

Editorial review•Dec 9, 2025

Sushi by Scratch in Chicago is not attempting to replicate the austere reverence of traditional Edomae omakase — and it doesn't pretend otherwise. Chef Phillip Frankland Lee and Chef Margarita Kallas-Lee have built a multi-city concept around a deliberately non-traditional seventeen-course nigiri progression, and the Chicago outpost leans fully into that identity. The room is accessed through a password-protected door in the basement of the Drop In bar in River East — a setup that reads as theatrical but also functions practically: it insulates a counter of ten seats from the ambient noise of a bar crowd, keeping the three-seating-per-night rhythm tight and focused. Ten diners face three chefs directly, which means the counter is the performance and the pacing is controlled with unusual precision. This format suits diners who want deliberate showmanship grounded in technical ambition, not quiet deference to centuries of tradition. If you're arriving expecting a Japanese minimalist experience, recalibrate. The menu's most discussed preparations are the ones where Lee's kitchen visibly crosses culinary registers. Hamachi painted yellow with sweet corn pudding and finished with breadcrumbs made from Kallas-Lee's own sourdough is the piece that consistently draws commentary — it announces the kitchen's appetite for American pantry references without apologizing for them. The aged Blue Fin Tuna with housemade soy and fresh wasabi functions as the counterweight: restrained, anchored in craft, letting the sourcing carry the moment. Albacore wrapped in sake-soaked nori, dressed with ponzu, fresh wasabi, and crispy onions represents the format at its most structurally layered, while the unagi nigiri finished with roasted bone marrow drippings is the piece that tends to polarize — it's the clearest signal of where this kitchen's loyalties actually lie. The Michelin recognition comes from the Montecito location, but the concept travels with its reputation intact. The practical reality: reservations through Tock, with three seatings nightly at 5 p.m., 7:15 p.m., and 9:30 p.m. The 7:15 seating is the standard choice for diners who don't want to rush or linger too late. At a price level that reflects a full omakase commitment, this is an occasion dinner — book weeks out, particularly for weekends, and note the password-access entry means late arrivals disrupt the counter's collective pacing in a way that a conventional dining room absorbs more easily. Come on time.

James Whitfield, Restaurant Critic

Methodology•Chicago guides•Editorial team

Sushi date night special occasion precise intimate sushi

Visit Website Get Directions

Taste ID

Rate this restaurant

Score flavor, vibe, value, and service to sharpen your Taste ID and get better picks.

Rating (Google) 9.6

188 reviews

Chicago

At a glance

The fastest read on whether this place fits tonight.

9.6

Rating

Based on 188 reviews

Best used for

date night and Sushi

Price and pace

splurge

Neighborhood

Chicago · 415 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60654, USA

Price

splurge

Google rating

9.6 from 188 reviews

Phone

(872) 870-0200

Watch

Sushi by Scratch Restaurants: Chicago on video

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

What to order

Signature dishes at Sushi by Scratch Restaurants: Chicago

Hamachi with sweet corn pudding and sourdough breadcrumbs

Aged Blue Fin Tuna with housemade soy sauce and fresh wasabi

Albacore in sake-soaked nori with ponzu, fresh wasabi, and crispy onions

Unagi nigiri with roasted bone marrow drippings

Why go

What makes Sushi by Scratch Restaurants: Chicago worth the move

Sushi by Scratch Restaurants: Chicago looks like a good night-out option in Chicago because it reads polished without feeling overly formal. Hamachi with sweet corn pudding and sourdough breadcrumbs and Aged Blue Fin Tuna with housemade soy sauce and fresh wasabi also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.6 rating across 188 Google reviews.

What to know fast

Public rating

9.6 from 188 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 188 reviews

Price point: splurge

Popular dishes: Hamachi with sweet corn pudding and sourdough breadcrumbs, Aged Blue Fin Tuna with housemade soy sauce and fresh wasabi, Albacore in sake-soaked nori with ponzu, fresh wasabi, and crispy onions

Website linked on this page

TastyPals Reviews

What diners are saying

0 diner reviews · reviewed by James Whitfield for Sushi by Scratch Restaurants: Chicago

Google snapshot

9.6 from 188 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

Read restaurant page

Website Menu Rate

Plan the visit

Quick details

Visit Website Directions

Address: 415 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60654, USA
Phone: (872) 870-0200
Price: splurge
TastyPals score: Coming soon
Google rating: 9.6 (188 reviews)
Cuisine: Japanese
Neighborhood: Chicago

Frequently asked questions

What cuisine does Sushi by Scratch Restaurants: Chicago serve?

Sushi by Scratch Restaurants: Chicago is a Japanese restaurant located in Chicago, Chicago. Sushi by Scratch in Chicago is not attempting to replicate the austere reverence of traditional Edomae omakase — and it doesn't pretend otherwise.

What is Sushi by Scratch Restaurants: Chicago best for?

Sushi by Scratch Restaurants: Chicago is best for sushi, date night, special occasion, precise, intimate, sushi. Sushi by Scratch Restaurants: Chicago looks like a good night-out option in Chicago because it reads polished without feeling overly formal. Hamachi with sweet corn pudding and sourdough breadcrumbs and Aged Blue Fin Tuna with housemade soy sauce and fresh wasabi also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.6 rating across 188 Google reviews.

How much does it cost to eat at Sushi by Scratch Restaurants: Chicago?

Sushi by Scratch Restaurants: Chicago is in the splurge price range (splurge). Google rating: 9.6 from 188 reviews

What should I order at Sushi by Scratch Restaurants: Chicago?

Start with Hamachi with sweet corn pudding and sourdough breadcrumbs, Aged Blue Fin Tuna with housemade soy sauce and fresh wasabi, Albacore in sake-soaked nori with ponzu, fresh wasabi, and crispy onions and Unagi nigiri with roasted bone marrow drippings. These dishes are shown from TastyPals notes or restaurant data on this page.

Is Sushi by Scratch Restaurants: Chicago worth visiting?

Sushi by Scratch Restaurants: Chicago holds a 9.6 Google rating from 188 reviews. Sushi by Scratch Restaurants: Chicago looks like a good night-out option in Chicago because it reads polished without feeling overly formal. Hamachi with sweet corn pudding and sourdough breadcrumbs and Aged Blue Fin Tuna with housemade soy sauce and fresh wasabi also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.6 rating across 188 Google reviews.

Where is Sushi by Scratch Restaurants: Chicago located?

Sushi by Scratch Restaurants: Chicago is located at 415 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60654, USA. Directions are available via Google Maps.

Is Sushi by Scratch Restaurants: Chicago good for a date night?

Yes — Sushi by Scratch Restaurants: Chicago is tagged for date night dining. Sushi by Scratch Restaurants: Chicago looks like a good night-out option in Chicago because it reads polished without feeling overly formal. Hamachi with sweet corn pudding and sourdough breadcrumbs and Aged Blue Fin Tuna with housemade soy sauce and fresh wasabi also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.6 rating across 188 Google reviews.

Explore more in Chicago

Best Restaurants in ChicagoStart with the flagship Chicago restaurant shortlist.Best Japanese Restaurants in ChicagoMore japanese spots worth comparing.Date Night Restaurants in ChicagoRooms with the mood, pacing, and food for a slower night out.Best New Openings in ChicagoSource-checked recent openings worth knowing now.Best Pizza in ChicagoA city-aware pizza shortlist for your next slice or pie.Best Burgers in ChicagoBurger spots with enough local signal to compare.Best Brunch in ChicagoWeekend and slower-morning picks across the city.

Ready to dine?

Book a table at Sushi by Scratch Restaurants: Chicago

Check availability on the restaurant's official site.

Visit Website

Get the App

See your Taste Match in TastyPals

Use the web for editorial context, then explore Sushi by Scratch Restaurants: Chicago and similar picks in the app when you want a more personal Chicago dinner plan.

Personalized city picksCleaner shortlistsBuilt for iPhone and Android

TastyPalsTonight

Your taste. Our picks.

Smarter follow-through after the guide: better restaurant context, quicker narrowing, less second-guessing.

For tonight

Date night spots with warm rooms and polished service

Next step

Keep exploring in the app when you want a tighter shortlist

Website