Itoko

Q: Does Itoko offer gift cards?

Itoko does offer gift cards which you can purchase here .

4.8

556 Reviews

$31 to $50

Japanese

Make a reservation

2 people

Mar 16, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 57 times today

Experiences are available.

Good for special occasions
Neighborhood gem
Innovative

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.

Restaurants you may also like

View all

Private dining

Book your next event with us

View details

Dining areas

Additional information

Location
3325 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60657-1417
Phone number
(773) 819-7672
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Japanese
Hours of operation
Daily 4:30 pm–10:00 pm Sat, Sun 10:30 am–2:00 pm
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
Street Parking
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Executive chef
Gene Kato

Gift card

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

Send a gift card

Experiences

Mother's Day Brunch
$0.00 - $65.00 per person
May 11, 2025 only
Celebrate Mom with a delicious 3-course prix fixe brunch, featuring all your favorite brunch beverages, in a vibrant and festive setting—because she deserves nothing but the best! A kids' menu will also be available, making it the perfect celebration for the whole family. $65 per guest for the prix fixe menu Prix Fixe Menu (with options in each course): o Complimentary Amuse – Ube Muffins o Course 1 (Family Style) – Deviled Egg, Cucumber, Spicy Tuna Dip, Steamed Buns & Lox o Course 2 (Choose One) – Yama Maki, Momomaki, Harumaki, or 3pc Nigiri o Course 3 (Choose One) – Chicken Katsu, Steak & Eggs, Egg Soufflé, Chirashi Don, Kabocha Pancake, or Honey Toast o Credit card required to hold the reservation ($20 per person cancellation fee)
Easter Egg Decorating Brunch
$30.00 - $45.00 per person
Prepaid
Apr 19, 2025 only
10:30 AM
Join us for a hoppy and colorful Easter brunch in the Kinjo Room, where you can let your creativity shine with egg decorating while enjoying a delicious meal! We'll have bento boxes for both kids and adults, so everyone can sip, snack, and celebrate while bringing their egg designs to life. Adult tickets are $45, and kids' tickets are $30. Adults will have a choice of Shiitake (savory grilled mushrooms), Negima (juicy grilled chicken and scallion skewers), or Skirt Steak (tender, flavorful cuts grilled to perfection) for their bento. Each bento also comes with a 6-piece Salmon Avocado Roll, crispy pan-fried Gyoza, comforting Miso Soup, and a refreshing Side Salad to round out the meal. For the little ones, we’re serving up kid-approved favorites! They can choose between a Sushi Set (fresh cucumber and tuna rolls), Yakitori (grilled-to-perfection chicken skewers), crispy Chicken Katsu (Japanese-style fried chicken), or golden-fried Shrimp Katsu—all served in a fun and delicious bento box. It’s the perfect way to celebrate Easter with great food, festive fun, and a little extra creativity!
Let The Good Times Roll
$65.00 per person
Prepaid
Apr 23, 2025 only
6:30 PM
Join us at Itoko on Wednesday, April 23rd at 6:30 PM for Let The Good Times Roll, a lively evening of unlimited food and sake for $65 per person (plus tax and gratuity). Indulge in a bottomless sake tasting station featuring a curated selection of sakes, a maki station offering fresh, hand-rolled sushi, plus a karaage and fried rice station. Savor delicious bites, sip on sake, and share good times with friends—tickets are limited, so reserve your spot today!

Popular dishes

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

Hot

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

Robata

Cooked Over Japanese Charcoal

Shiitake$14.00
shiso, lemon
Negima$14.00
chicken thigh, scallion, shiso
Salmon*$15.00
teriyaki marinade
Slider*$16.00
beef tsukune, bao bun, miso mustard
Skirt Steak$18.00
citrus ponzu, wasabi

Kazoku

Family Style Dishes

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

Rice

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

Temaki Hand Rolls

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

Specialty Maki Rolls

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

Chirashi Don*

Fish Over Rice

"TCD" Tuna Toro$35.00
kaluga caviar, pickled onion, sushi rice, nori
Jewel Bako "Chirashi Don Style"$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)$6.00
- Sashimi (2 Pieces)$10.00
Madai*
sea bream
- Nigiri (1 Piece)$6.00
- Sashimi (2 Pieces)$10.00
Hirame*
ikejime flounder
- Nigiri (1 Piece)$6.00
- Sashimi (2 Pieces)$10.00
Sake*
faroe islands salmon
- Nigiri (1 Piece)$6.00
- Sashimi (2 Pieces)$10.00
Akami*
bluefin tuna loin
- Nigiri (1 Piece)$7.00
- Sashimi (2 Pieces)$12.00
Chutoro*
medium fat bluefin belly
- Nigiri (1 Piece)$10.00
- Sashimi (2 Pieces)$18.00
Otoro*
fatty bluefin belly
- Nigiri (1 Piece)$12.00
- Sashimi (2 Pieces)$22.00
Saba*
mackerel
- Nigiri (1 Piece)$6.00
- Sashimi (2 Pieces)$10.00
Aji*
horse mackerel
- Nigiri (1 Piece)$6.00
- Sashimi (2 Pieces)$10.00
Botan Ebi*
spot prawn
- Nigiri (1 Piece)$6.00
- Sashimi (2 Pieces)$10.00
Yari Ika*
Japanese hokkaido squid
- Nigiri (1 Piece)$6.00
- Sashimi (2 Pieces)$10.00
Hotate*
scallop
- Nigiri (1 Piece)$8.00
- Sashimi (2 Pieces)$14.00
Uni*
sea urchin
- Nigiri (1 Piece)$10.00
- Sashimi (2 Pieces)$18.00
Ikura*
marinated salmon roe
- Nigiri (1 Piece)$8.00
- Sashimi (2 Pieces)$14.00
Unagi
barbecued freshwater eel
- Nigiri (1 Piece)$6.00
- Sashimi (2 Pieces)$10.00
Tamago
sweet omelet
- Nigiri (1 Piece)$4.00
- Sashimi (2 Pieces)$6.00

Nigirizushi

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

Makimono Classic Rolls

Cucumber$8.00
Avocado$8.00
Kanpyo$8.00
Crispy Shrimp$10.00
Tuna*$12.00
Spicy Tako$12.00
XO Scallop$12.00
Baby Shiitake Maki$12.00
Spicy Tuna*$14.00
Negi Hamachi*$14.00
Unagi Cucumber$15.00
Negi Toro*$16.00
King Crab California$21.00

What 556 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
4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Itoko offers an unforgettable dining experience with "incredibly fresh raw fish" and creative dishes like Blue Fin Tuna with apples. Guests appreciate the vibrant atmosphere and standout service, particularly from servers like Maggie. Although some mention service inconsistencies, the "delicious, inventive" menu and "insane brunch" options make it a must-try spot.

556 Reviews

M
Michaela VIP
Chicago30 reviews
5.0
Dined 7 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Always a great meal. I do find the menu a bit hard to understand so I always ask the waiter to order for us and it works out every time!
Is this helpful?
E
Emmanuel VIP
Chicago1 review
5.0
Dined on March 8, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Fantastic service and birthday surprise for my wife. A wonderful brunch experience for my family. Thank you to the staff!
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
Chicago2 reviews
5.0
Dined on March 7, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We were saddened to hear the happy hour special was only honored at the bar, which was the deciding factor in attending. Unfortunately, there were no seats at the bar upon arrival. However, the food and service was absolutely amazing. We shared the Gyoza and each had the Tantan Ramen. Best ramen we’ve had in the city thus far!
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner VIP
Chicago1 review
5.0
Dined on March 7, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Delicious! The faroe salmon nigiri and medium fatty tuna nigiri were incredible. I’d also recommend the gyoza and the A5 maki! And you can drink the lychee martini like a juice box 😂 yummy!
Is this helpful?
CC
CorinneC
Philadelphia1 review
5.0
Dined on March 7, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Itoko is a beautiful spot in a gem of a neighborhood. My partner and I wanted to enjoy some sushi before a show but we were blown away with the selection of food! The drinks were really well balanced as well. Personally, I adored the sakura spring, a really smooth and bright mezcal cocktail. We were very happy with the range and variety of the food. Everything was incredibly delicious, fresh, well seasoned, and we enjoyed every single dish. We specifically adored the Branzino with the schichimi crust and the gyoza. The handrolls were incredible too! Our server Min was very gracious and worked hard to have us finished by a certain time since we went to a show at the Wit right after. Overall it’s a bit pricy, but absolutely worth it for a special evening!
Is this helpful?
A
Alexander
Chicago1 review
4.0
Dined on March 6, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
The food is good, really solid Japanese casual food with quality sushi, a good place for a quiet date on a weeknight. Avoid dessert. It's very casual food, but done well set in a casual but elegant atmosphere. Music was not overly sentimental or standard. -Gyoza and the burger were highlights, A3 beef sushi roll was excellent. -Excellent cocktails, including nonalcoholic cocktails. -Service was attentive for the most part, though she dropped an order, it didn't make big difference to the overall flow of the meal. -Dessert is to be avoided, options are a bit uninspired or too sweet. The donatsu is artless and a bad combination of flavors, textures, and weights. The macha semifreddo is a poor match, the dish would have been better as a small basket of churros with a dipping ganache or a small selection of semifreddos, green tea, hojicha, and black sesame. Or 3 intensities of matcha. Pairing that with a warm sake or would have been an incredible dessert, but they went with a stupid donut. The chocolate cherry milk ice is sickly sweet, but inviting and appetizing. The panna cotta is fine, mild and light, more of a sweetened tofu, but white chocolate is generally to be avoided. If the dessert menu was revamped, it would be five stars, since it achieves what it sets out to be at a high level. It's an unpretentious, clean, and friendly place, like many contemporary restaurants you might see in Japan, though obviously it is much larger. You can get out of here for 30 a person for a beer and the burger or the tantan ramen.
Is this helpful?
M
Mariana VIP
Chicago5 reviews
4.0
Dined on March 4, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
food was great, service was also perfect, one thing we didn’t like so much was being seated right next to the door when there was other 2 person tables available
Is this helpful?
S
Sherrie VIP
Chicago13 reviews
4.0
Dined on March 4, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 4
Food amazing, bartender a bit too busy to attend to diners at the bar, and drinks although delicious were not worth the price point as my martini glass was only half filled. Bartender said everything is measured and that the glasses are large. Not accurate. Nor the customer service for this price point.
Is this helpful?
M
Miles
Detroit3 reviews
5.0
Dined on March 3, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Came here right as they opened for happy hour to celebrate my wife’s birthday and we couldn’t have been more impressed with the quality of food, the amazing service, and the comfortable ambience. Everything we ate was incredible, but the standouts were the Salmon Temaki, Crispy Shrimp Maki, Miso Soup, Scallop Sashimi, Beef Slider Robata, and the Donatsu. The Lychee Martini and Itoko cocktails were perfect compliments to the meal. From the moment we walked in, every staff member said happy birthday to my wife, and we received complimentary sparkling wine, a matcha cookie, and even a Polaroid of us to remember the evening. 10/10 recommend anyone to come here and we will definitely be back.
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
Chicago1 review
5.0
Dined on March 2, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Excellent place to celebrate a birthday. Sushi Counter is engaging and fun, and all food was 10/10. Brenna took excellent care of us and made our night that much more special. Thanks Itoko!
Is this helpful?

FAQs

Itoko is rated 4.8 stars by 556 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.