Nobu Chicago

"The Verdict: Bypass the restaurant and go have a drink on the roof. Collect $200 (of money, that you have now saved). Nobus are ubiquitous in major cities, and Chicago’s very own is in the West Loop, at the bottom of the (you guessed it) Nobu Hotel. It has an identical Japanese fusion menu to its brethren, and nothing is mindblowing. What is mindblowing is the bill—especially for just-fine food and an unpredictable dining experience that might have you surrounded by tables filled with sulking couples, MMA fighters on their phones, recent grads celebrating with their parents, and an ever-growing pile of dirty dishes the staff is too busy to clear. Instead of coming here for dinner, head to the elevators and go up to the much-more-fun rooftop bar." - adrian kane, veda kilaru, john ringor, nick allen

"After an ill-fated detour through D.C., Lee returned to Chicago and posted a video on Friday, September 6 showing him visiting Chicago’s location of Nobu, the Robert DeNiro-led sushi spot with locations all over the world. This was a special video — Lee ate at the restaurant as opposed to in his car. Sushi was also a special choice to help convince folks that he doesn’t eat fried food all the time — that narrative bothered Lee. He spent $1,079.77. Lee wishes the yellowtail jalapeño appetizer was too acidic and had more heat. He gave it a six out of 10. The cucumber salad had the right amount of heat and he scored it a 7.5. Next came the toro tartare with caviar. The caviar didn’t do much for Lee, and he didn’t care for the toro’s fattiness. He gave it a 5. Nobu’s signature black cod earned a 5.5. The wagyu dumpling was too thick and he gave it a 6. The scallop Brusell sprouts impressed and earned Lee’s highest score of 8. The nigiri assortment disappointed: “It’s not even top 20 best nigiri that I have had,” Lee says. He awarded it 5 out of 10. Overall Nobu scored a 6.5. Lee called Chicago one of America’s top three food cities and said Nobu wouldn’t be on his list to visit. there are better places to visit." - Naomi Waxman

"Nobus are ubiquitous in major cities, and Chicago’s very own is in the West Loop, at the bottom of the (you guessed it) Nobu Hotel. It has an identical Japanese fusion menu to its brethren, with dishes like miso cod, tuna crispy rice, and black truffle ribeye. Some are better than others, but nothing is mindblowing. What is mindblowing is how expensive the bill will be—especially for just-fine food and an unpredictable dining experience that might have you surrounded by tables filled with sulking couples, MMA fighters on their phones, and recent grads celebrating with their parents. Skip the restaurant and head straight to the much-more-fun roof for drinks and a lighter bill instead. " - veda kilaru, john ringor

"Chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s restaurant within the Nobu Hotel Chicago provides a luxurious space for dates and other special dinners featuring lobster ceviche, king crab tempura, wagyu tacos, and maki. Reserve the omakase at the sushi bar, have a sake negroni and chicken karaage during weekday happy hour, or check out the recently launched rooftop brunch for a spritz and salmon burger. Make a reservation through OpenTable." - Samantha Nelson

"After several delays and much anticipation, Chicago’s first Nobu Hotel finally arrived in 2020 — and the company’s glitzy Japanese restaurant, founded by celebrity chef Nobu Matsuhisa. Diners can indulge in luxuries such as toro tartare with caviar, uni shooters, lobster and king crab tacos, and much more. There’s also an extensive selection of nigiri, sashimi, and maki rolls plus noteworthy hot dishes like the signature miso black cod. Can’t decide what to order? Try the omakase menu to sample a variety of cuts." - Naomi Waxman, Eater Staff