Kyoten Next Door
Sushi restaurant · Logan Square ·
Refined omakase tasting menu showcasing fresh, high-quality nigiri
Refined omakase tasting menu showcasing fresh, high-quality nigiri
"This 10-seat, nigiri-focused spot in Logan Square is the best bite-per-dollar omakase in Chicago. Their 16-course dinner has the same hyper-detailed sushi excellence as its more deluxe, $440-a-head sibling, Kyoten, but without needing a pre-visit financial consultation. Precise knifework transforms gindara into spiky, Sonic-The-Hedgehog-looking sculptures. Rare Japanese rice is punched up with varying vinegar levels to match the seafood or wagyu blanketed on top. But despite their serious approach, Kyoten Next Door’s personable chefs will also nerd out with you about fish or favorite restaurants. It’s perfect for omakase obsessives and first-timers alike. 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." - john ringor, nick allen, adrian kane
"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
"Kyoten Next Door is omakase-only, and it’s one of the best sushi restaurants in Chicago. At $169, 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. 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, nick allen
"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. 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, veda kilaru, john ringor, nick allen
"Chef Otto Phan’s latest omakase is something of a gem. Located next door to his flagship counter, which costs exponentially more, this 10-seat experience serves only nigiri and offers both style and substance. The cost is reasonable when you consider the expense of twice-weekly shipments from Japan and the length of the meal. Cut large, scored deep, sauced readily, and then pressed onto generous mounds of rice, the fish make for hearty pieces. Fun quirks include avocado wrapped inside a tuna handroll or an entire Japanese scallop set on an equally-large bed of rice. To finish, the tamago is a silky sensation. The chic space and kindly-priced beverage list add to the swagger of a counter that cares about quality but never takes itself too seriously." - Michelin Inspector
