Momotaro

"Momotaro is an upscale Japanese restaurant with an izakaya in the basement. Come here for sushi, small plates, and robata with friends. Pretend you're heading downtown for a night out after dinner—when deep down, you know you’re heading straight to bed." - sam faye, adrian kane, veda kilaru, nick allen

"Momotaro is an upscale Japanese restaurant from the Boka team, with great sushi, small plates, and robata. And if you're looking for something a little more casual or want a nightcap without having to get too many steps in, make your way to their basement. That's where you'll find their buzzier izakaya—a 30-seat dimly lit bar with its own menu and dishes like sweet soy-glazed wings and a burger on a fluffy bao bun." - adrian kane, veda kilaru, nick allen

"Momotaro is an upscale Japanese restaurant in the West Loop with a very long menu full of small plates, robata, and (as you probably suspected since it’s on this guide) sushi. Everything is very good, but the sushi is excellent. They have usual suspects like hamachi and salmon to harder-to-find selections like purple sea urchin. And the nigirizushi (their more creative options) are always interesting and delicious. Momotaro is on the more expensive end of the sushi spectrum, but their chef’s choice is a pretty good deal. It comes with about nine pieces for around $80." - adrian kane, john ringor, veda kilaru

"Boka Restaurant Group made a big splash with its foray into Japanese dining. Decorated chef Gene Kato not only carves into prime seafood, such as fatty bluefin tuna belly and striped beakfish, but also uses a robata to produce succulent pieces of lamb, chicken thighs, and more. Downstairs, a Tokyo-inspired izakaya serves more casual dishes like uni pasta and chicken katsu. Thee’s also an impressive sake and Japanese whisky collection. In early 2023, Kato and Boka introduced Itoko, an intimate new Japanese restaurant in Lakeview that shares the former Southport Lanes building with Little Goat Diner and GG’s Chicken Shop." - Naomi Waxman, Eater Staff

"Boka Restaurant Group’s glamorous from chef Gene Kato Japanese destination also ventures into cold noodles: delicate somen with umami-rich bonito, myoga (Japanese ginger), shiso, and tensuyu for dipping. The team makes its noodles on-site. Kato and Boka will soon open a small sibling restaurant in Lakeview, but it’s unclear if the cold noodles will make their ways north." - Naomi Waxman