Restaurant

The Izakaya

Name: The Izakaya
Address: Lower Level, 820 W Lake St, Chicago, US
Telephone: (312) 733-4818
Price range: moderate

Japanese•West Loop•moderate

The Izakaya is one of the best japanese restaurants in Chicago for date night, especially if you want a strong option in West Loop.

Underground Chicago has a specific kind of pull, and The Izakaya at Momotaro has built a reputation on delivering exactly that.

Editorial review•Dec 9, 2025

Underground Chicago has a specific kind of pull, and The Izakaya at Momotaro has built a reputation on delivering exactly that. Descend below the West Loop sidewalk and the room reportedly evokes post-war Tokyo black market — vintage Japanese street signs crowding the walls, lanterns doing the heavy lifting on atmosphere, and a 30-seat bar anchoring everything with an encyclopedic range of sake and Japanese whisky. The intimacy is structural: the space seats only a few dozen people, which means the energy reportedly stays concentrated rather than diffuse. Executive Chef Gene Kato's kitchen has drawn Restaurant of the Year recognition from both Chicago Magazine and Chicago Social, and the pub-friendly price point makes that pedigree accessible in a way the West Loop doesn't always manage. The cocktail program is where most accounts suggest you should start. LIQUID LUCK and the KABA OLD FASHIONED are the bar's stirred, serious offerings — the kind of drinks diners consistently single out when describing what the program does well. On the food side, the pub-style menu is built for grazing and sharing, with MONK'S JOURNEY and UME-MATSURI representing the kitchen's Japanese-leaning creativity. KOBAYASHI is the dish that generates the most curiosity by name alone, and the menu is reportedly designed so that ordering several things across the table is the natural move rather than the exception. Monday karaoke nights with DJ Greg Corner come with a $20 shot-beer-wings combination that is an unusually strong value proposition for this part of the city. Reservations are worth securing in advance given the room's size — walk-ins at a 30-seat bar fill fast. If you're committing to one order at the bar, diners point toward the KABA OLD FASHIONED as the place to begin the night.

Priya Sharma, Dining Editor

Methodology•Chicago guides•Editorial team

West Loop dinner date night group dinner high energycocktails

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Taste ID

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Rating (Google) 9.6

1,075 reviews

Chicago

At a glance

The fastest read on whether this place fits tonight.

9.6

Rating

Based on 1075 reviews

Best used for

date night and group dinner

Price and pace

moderate

Neighborhood

West Loop · Lower Level, 820 W Lake St, Chicago, IL 60607, USA

Price

moderate

Google rating

9.6 from 1,075 reviews

Phone

(312) 733-4818

Watch

The Izakaya on video

Short: Beli App (third-party feature) · plays on YouTube

What to order

Signature dishes at The Izakaya

MONK'S JOURNEY

cere's vodka, aloe liqueur, matcha, lime

UME-MATSURI

umeshu, tequila, mezcal, lime, black lava salt

LIQUID LUCK

strawberry infused rum, jikuya shochu, strawberry shrub, lime, candy rim

KABA OLD FASHIONED

evan williams bourbon, mars iwai whisky, bitters

THE RINGISHO MEATHOD

rye whiskey, nigori sake, amaro montenegro, jikuya black shochu

Why go

What makes The Izakaya worth the move

The Izakaya looks like a good night-out option in West Loop in Chicago because it reads polished without feeling overly formal. MONK'S JOURNEY and UME-MATSURI also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.6 rating across 1,075 Google reviews.

What to know fast

Public rating

9.6 from 1,075 Google reviews

Best used for

date night and group dinner

Style

Japanese in West Loop

Spend

moderate

Best for

West Loop dinner date night group dinner high energy cocktails

Know before you go

Google rating: 9.6 from 1,075 reviews

Price point: moderate

Popular dishes: MONK'S JOURNEY, UME-MATSURI, LIQUID LUCK

Website linked on this page

TastyPals Reviews

What diners are saying

0 diner reviews · reviewed by Priya Sharma for The Izakaya

Google snapshot

9.6 from 1,075 reviews

TastyPals notes

Editorial review by Priya Sharma

Ila's Chicago, tucked into River North at 15 W Hubbard, operates on a premise that most restaurants only gesture toward: the idea that a room should feel like it belongs to someone specific.

Plan the visit

Quick details

Book on OpenTable Menu Directions

Address: Lower Level, 820 W Lake St, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
Phone: (312) 733-4818
Price: moderate
TastyPals score: Coming soon
Google rating: 9.6 (1,075 reviews)
Cuisine: Japanese
Neighborhood: West Loop

Restaurants in West Loop

Frequently asked questions

What cuisine does The Izakaya serve?

The Izakaya is a Japanese restaurant located in West Loop, Chicago. Underground Chicago has a specific kind of pull, and The Izakaya at Momotaro has built a reputation on delivering exactly that.

What is The Izakaya best for?

The Izakaya is best for west loop dinner, date night, group dinner, high energy, cocktails. The Izakaya looks like a good night-out option in West Loop in Chicago because it reads polished without feeling overly formal. MONK'S JOURNEY and UME-MATSURI also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.6 rating across 1,075 Google reviews.

How much does it cost to eat at The Izakaya?

The Izakaya is in the moderate price range (moderate). Google rating: 9.6 from 1,075 reviews

What should I order at The Izakaya?

Start with MONK'S JOURNEY, UME-MATSURI, LIQUID LUCK and KABA OLD FASHIONED. These dishes are shown from TastyPals notes or restaurant data on this page.

Is The Izakaya worth visiting?

The Izakaya holds a 9.6 Google rating from 1,075 reviews. The Izakaya looks like a good night-out option in West Loop in Chicago because it reads polished without feeling overly formal. MONK'S JOURNEY and UME-MATSURI also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.6 rating across 1,075 Google reviews.

Where is The Izakaya located?

The Izakaya is located at Lower Level, 820 W Lake St, Chicago, IL 60607, USA. Directions are available via Google Maps.

Does The Izakaya take reservations?

Yes, The Izakaya accepts reservations. You can book a table online through their reservations page.

Is The Izakaya good for a date night?

Yes — The Izakaya is tagged for date night dining. The Izakaya looks like a good night-out option in West Loop in Chicago because it reads polished without feeling overly formal. MONK'S JOURNEY and UME-MATSURI also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.6 rating across 1,075 Google reviews.

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