Arami

"We did our homework, but the dog ate it. We were going to take out the trash, mom, but something super important came up. We meant to put on pants, but the day got away. There are a lot of “buts” in life. We like Arami, but, well, let us explain. It’s easy to miss Arami off of Chicago Ave., but once inside you'll find a cool space. The main dining room is like an unfinished atrium with a partial glass ceiling and music bouncing off the brick walls. The food is pretty good too. Arami is best known for its sushi, from the simple nigiri and sashimi to the slightly more complex rolls - it's all solid. You can also go the small plates route that includes different appetizers, rice dishes, meats off the robata grill, and even ramen that does the trick. All in all, it's a cool place with satisfying food. But… Unless you only get ramen, it’s pretty damn expensive for a solid meal --- and it's not a memorable one. The roughly $70 chef's choice nigiri and sashimi sounds great, but the chef chooses to give you a meager amount for that price. And that's also true for all of the a la carte sushi, which is both tiny and overpriced. At one point, you needed Arami in your rotation because it was one of the first places to drift away from the crazy rolls with 37 fried ingredients drenched in spicy mayo, but that's no longer the case. And at one point, Arami was all the talk because of its head sushi chef, but now he's somewhere else. So, if you were to casually ask on any given night whether or not you should go to Arami, our conversational response would sound like this: “It’s a cool place, and like, it’s good and all, but the portions are tiny and you'll spend a lot on sushi that's fine but not special." And that's why we think there are better options if sushi is what you want. Just make sure you find the time to put on pants either way. Food Rundown Arami Ramen With pork belly, soft egg, grilled mushrooms, and house-made preserved veggies, this is a good bowl of ramen. But for us, Arami isn't really a ramen place. When we want ramen, that's the focus of our meal --- and this isn't a ramen destination. At Arami, ramen can add substance to your meal on the cheap, but if that's your goal you should probably be somewhere else. Robata The robata section of the menu is grilled meats from a charcoal grill. They're good (but small) bites that add some variety to the meal. Chef's Choice Sashimi & Nigiri We can't get behind this for two reasons: One, it's small pieces of fish for big prices. And two, you'll usually only get the simple stuff like tuna, salmon, and maybe some yellowtail. That kind of limited variety doesn't cut it for us. Nigiri If you're going to do it big on the sushi, make sure to order the things you want. And make sure to order a couple extra items than what you would normally get." - Sam Faye

"One of the gold standards for sushi in Chicago has long been West Town’s Arami. Grab a seat at the bar and watch the team prepare traditional pieces of nigiri and maki in addition to items like toro don and tuna and salmon tostadas. There are also several omakase options, including a 10-piece tasting menu for $110. Recently, sushi chef Nelson Vinansaca returned to the restaurant." - Naomi Waxman, Eater Staff

"If you're looking for the best, highest quality sushi & sashimi, Arami is the place to go. Set in a warm, garden-like atmosphere, you won't find crazy rolls drenched in sauces here - only simple, beautiful dishes that celebrate the ingredients, letting all of the flavors shine through as they're intended. Some favorites include the Toro Tartare Bite (a little piece of heaven), the octopus and the Hamachi Maguro Ebi. They also have amazing cocktails, ramen, and if you're a vegetarian or vegan, a whole nigiri/maki menu just for you!" - Serafini Creative

"A longtime favorite among Chicago sushi fans, Arami skillfully navigates the line between a come-as-you-are neighborhood spot and a special-occasion destination in West Town. The menu allows diners to choose their own adventure from a lineup of traditional and inventive maki, nigiri, and sashimi, or opt for omakase offered in 10-piece, six-piece, and five-piece varieties." - Naomi Waxman, Eater Staff

"Make your way to this urban enclave—replete with a cherished counter and soaring skylights—for impressive sushi, small plates, and specialty Japanese cocktails. The window display of bamboo, moss, and river stones is a symbol of welcome serenity on this ever-changing stretch. Aside from its standout façade and sleek interior, Arami draws a crowd for Chef Ismael L. Lopez's nightly selection of sashimi and nigiri.Kick things off with a spicy tako maguro maki filled with octopus, tuna, eel sauce, and chili oil; or marinated tuna-wrapped zuke maguro kani. Shishito peppers lend that delicious bit of crunch to a small plate of katsuobushi and ponzu, not unlike those miso-graham cracker crumbles that garnish coconut- cinnamon- and banana-flavored ice cream." - Michelin Inspector