Kyoten Next Door in Logan Square serves a refined 15-course Edomae-style omakase with generous nigiri, blowtorched wagyu, and a sleek, intimate vibe.
"Kyoten was our highest-rated sushi restaurant until it was dethroned by Kyoten Next Door, its younger sibling. This 10-seat sushi omakase takes everything that's great about the original and does it better in a more casual setting and for less money. It's still expensive ($169 for 18 courses) but dinner at this Logan Square spot involves phenomenal nigiri made with high-quality fish, heavily seasoned large-grained rice, and a piece of blowtorched wagyu that puts your favorite steakhouse to shame. Kyoten Next Door is where to go for a reminder that Chicago does sushi as well as New York or LA. Reservations are the only way to snag a seat (walk-ins aren’t allowed) and they’re available 20 days in advance. You might have some luck dining solo on a Tuesday, but otherwise, set up some Resy Notifies and be ready the instant your phone lights up." - adrian kane, john ringor, veda kilaru
"Verdict: Kyoten was our highest-rated sushi restaurant until it was dethroned by its younger sibling, Kyoten Next Door. This small 10-seat omakase spot takes everything that’s great about the original and does it better in a more relaxed setting and for less money. It's still really expensive ($159 for 18 courses)—but compared to Kyoten’s $450 price tag, you'll still spend less even if you get a bottle of sake and take an Uber home." - adrian kane, veda kilaru, john ringor, nick allen
"Kyoten Next Door is omakase-only, and it’s one of the best sushi restaurants in Chicago. At $159, the 18-course menu also happens to be significantly less expensive than dinner at the original Kyoten. The omakase here involves phenomenal nigiri made with high-quality fish, heavily seasoned large-grained rice, and a piece of blowtorched wagyu that puts your favorite steakhouse to shame. Just don’t plan on eating here without making a reservation first—there are only 10 seats, with two seatings per night." - adrian kane, john ringor, veda kilaru
"The original Kyoten used to be on this guide, but it’s been usurped by its low-key and significantly less expensive sibling in Logan Square, Kyoten Next Door. The $159 18-course omakase involves phenomenal nigiri made with high-quality fish, heavily seasoned large-grained rice, and a piece of blowtorched wagyu that puts your favorite steakhouse to shame. Just don’t plan on eating here without making a reservation first—there are only 10 seats, with two seatings per night." - adrian kane, john ringor, veda kilaru
"Kyoten is one of Chicago’s best sushi restaurants, so any sequel to this Logan Square spot comes with high expectations. But Kyoten Next Door is more The Empire Strikes Back than Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2. It’s a fantastic option for a straightforward, classic sushi omakase without the creative small plates (and possible second mortgage) unique to a visit to the original Kyoten. photo credit: Veda Kilaru Aptly named “Kyoten Next Door,” this restaurant is a more low-key and less expensive version of its neighbor. It still costs $159 per person (not including tax, drinks, and an automatic 18% gratuity), and you’ll need to make a reservation weeks in advance. But considering the original experience is a three-hour ordeal that costs over $450, Kyoten Next Door is more casual. After finding the nondescript papered-over entrance, you’ll sit with nine other people at a sushi bar that stretches across the art gallery-esque room. The setting doesn’t feel solemn, though. The quiet intensity of the chefs preparing ingredients is broken up by a couple’s enthusiastic questions about wasabi production, or by two friends gossiping about their least-competent coworker over salmon nigiri. And there’s a good chance that more than one of your seatmates is wearing sneakers. photo credit: Veda Kilaru But there’s nothing casual about the food. An early indication? A reservation confirmation will come with a request to “avoid heavy use of perfume/cologne so that you and those around you can fully appreciate the taste of our sushi.” A meal at Kyoten Next Door involves phenomenal nigiri made with high-quality fish, heavily seasoned large-grained rice, and a piece of blowtorched wagyu that puts your favorite steakhouse to shame. Enjoy each methodically prepared bite unencumbered by the fragrance of Drakkar Noir. photo credit: Veda Kilaru All 15 courses display an incredible level of precision, from the knife work on a piece of seared gindara that looks like Sonic the Hedgehog, to the hand-grated wasabi used throughout the meal. If you can keep yourself from getting lost in a sea of perfectly formed fish, make note of what you like best. There’s an option to add à la carte pieces before dessert—and it will be a struggle not to re-order the whole menu. Food Rundown Omakase Kyoten Next Door offers a 15-course nigiri omakase for $159 per person every Wednesday through Sunday (multiple seatings are available depending on the day). The menu occasionally changes and the selection of sushi runs traditional—the experience is less about trying uncommon fish and more about careful preparation of the usual suspects. Your meal starts with things like kinmedai, chutoro, and a Hokkaido scallop. Uni, a piece of maki, and a handroll follows. Maple-syrup sweetened tamago closes things out. photo credit: Veda Kilaru photo credit: Veda Kilaru photo credit: Veda Kilaru photo credit: Veda Kilaru photo credit: Veda Kilaru" - Veda Kilaru