The Izakaya at Momotaro

4.7

829 Reviews

$31 to $50

Japanese

The Izakaya at Momotaro

4.7

$31 to $50

Japanese

West Loop

Make a booking

2 people

4 Dec 2024

19:00

Booked 72 times today

Experiences are available.

Lively
Hot spot
Great for creative cocktails

The Izakaya is located on the subterranean level of Momotaro. The Izakaya and its shared-plates pub-inspired menu echoes the Yokocho street scene of Tokyo. Narrow lounge-inspired ‘alleys’ around a central bar bedecked with hand-painted Japanese menus, moody neon lights, and vintage Tokyo street signs set the scene for the Izakaya’s direct nod to Tokyo’s most famous post-war black markets. Dark, energetic, and ripe with expectation, the Izakaya additionally offers a 30-seat bar featuring crafted cocktails, sakes, and a quality selection of Japanese whiskeys. Parties and programming are no strangers to the Izakaya, where a rotating selection of events, including Monday Night Karaoke, feel right at home in this lively lower-level atmosphere.

Order delivery or takeout

Private dining

Book your next event with us

View details

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Japanese, Sushi, Seafood
Hours of Operation
Dinner Wed, Thu, Sun 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–11:00 pm
Phone number
(312) 733-4818
Website
http://www.momotarochicago.com/
Payment Options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
Executive Chef
Gene Kato
Private party facilities
The Izakaya is located on the subterranean level of Momotaro
Private party contact
our Event Sales Manager: (312) 773-4818

Location
820 W. Lake St, Chicago, IL 60607
Area
West Loop
Cross Street
Green
Parking details
Valet is located on the corner of Lake & Green
Public transit
#8 Halsted Bus at Lake Street. Green & Pink line at Morgan stop.
Additional
Gluten-free Options

Gift card

Send gift cards instantly by email or print to present in person.

Send a gift card

Experiences

2014-2024: 10 Years of Momotaro and Izakaya
US$125.00 per person
Prepaid
31 Dec 2024 only
20:00
Ring in the New Year with 10 Years of flavor and fun! Celebrate a decade of unforgettable moments with incredible vibes, chef-curated food stations, and a sparkling sake toast to kick off 2024 in style! Ticket includes food stations, sparkling sake toast, and 2 drink tickets. From 8pm-1am, join us as we toast to 10 years featuring: **Chef-Curated Food Stations** - Delectable array of dishes that’ll take your tastebuds on a journey. **Decadent Desserts** - Sweet bites to satisfy your every craving. **Sparkling Sake Toast** - Raise your glass and celebrate the new year with a special bubbly sake toast! **Great Music & Vibes** - Dance, mingle, and vibe with the best tunes all night long. Limited seating, grab your spot before it’s gone!

Popular dishes

EdamameUS$8.00
Japanese sea salt
Baby Green SaladUS$12.00
mizuna, carrot-citrus dressing
Uni Deviled EggUS$12.00
curry spice, chive, shiso
Miso SoupUS$8.00
house tofu, wakame, honshimeji mushroom
Nikkei Scallop CevicheUS$16.00
sashimi scallop, pickled persimmon, pine nuts, shiso oil
Blistered ShishitoUS$12.00
bonito mayonnaise, togarashi
Tuna Tostada*US$16.00
crispy nori, tuna tartare, avocado, pickled red onion, lime
Gyoza
pork & chicken filling, soy dipping sauce
- 6 PiecesUS$14.00
Satsumaimo FriesUS$9.00
Japanese sweet potato fries, miso mayo
Shake'n Kato WingsUS$16.00
kaarage chicken wings (choice of ramen or fire spice blends)
Mishima Skirt Steak*US$18.00
robata yaki, seasoned with Japanese sea salt

Tonkatsu

Berkshire Pork RibsUS$18.00
8oz baby back ribs, curry spice, white kimchi, ponzu, Asian chimichurri
Chicken KatsuUS$24.00
crispy panko-crusted chicken thigh, sweet and savory curry sauce, pickled turnip

Iza Classics

Uni PastaUS$23.00
uni, rock shrimp, shiso
Hamachi Kama (Collar)US$14.00
"kalbi" marinade, red miso crust, garic aioli
A5 Cup Noodle*US$38.00
sliced A5 tenderloin, pickled shishito, umami paste, soft-poached egg, shio tare
The Momo RoyaleUS$20.00
double-patty burger, house-made bao bun, satsumaimo fries

Rice

Yakitori Don*US$16.00
grilled chicken thigh, chicken tare, soft-poached egg
Chahan*US$22.00
stone bowl beef fried rice, wild maitake, soft-poached egg
Tamaki GoldUS$6.00
steamed short grain rice

Sashimi

garnished with myoga salad, pickled ginger, wasabi

Shima AjiUS$7.00
striped jack
AkamiUS$7.00
bluefin tuna loin
ChutoroUS$11.00
medium fat bluefin belly
OtoroUS$13.00
fatty bluefin belly
MadaiUS$7.00
snapper

Temaki

Momo JrUS$22.00
spicy octopus, tuna tartar, pickled daikon, nikiri
ScallopUS$16.00
diver scallop, yuzu kosho, pickled onion, fried garlic
Shio Koji SakeUS$16.00
salmon, avocado mousse, salmon skin, ikura
King CrabUS$26.00
king crab, ginger mayo, tempura shallot, lemon wedge

Donburi

Tuna, Tuna, TunaUS$28.00
akami, chutoro, tartar, nikiri, myoga salad, wasabi
Jewel BakoUS$38.00
Chef's selection of seasonal fish and caviar. Myoga salad, pickled watermelon radish, pickled ginger, nori sheet

Cocktails

Monk's JourneyUS$17.00
chicago distilling ceres vodka, aloe liqueur, matcha, lime
Before & AfterUS$16.00
broker's gin, manzanilla sherry, luxardo aperitivo, chamomile, lime
A Land ApartUS$16.00
espolon tequila, fruitful dragonberry, ming river baijiu, manzanilla sherry, coconut milk
Strawberry SwingUS$17.00
el guel mezcal, pineau des charentes, strawberry shiso cordial, thai spice bitters, lime
White LotusUS$17.00
flor de cana rum, jasmine, cardamom, red clover bitters
Kaba Old Fashioned*US$18.00
evan williams bourbon, mars iwai whisky, turbinado, cherry bark and sarsaparilla bitters

Highballs

Roku HighballUS$13.00
shiso & ginger infused roku gin, toki water
Toki HighballUS$13.00
suntory toki whisky, toki water
Haku HighballUS$13.00
hibiscus infused haku vodka, toki water

Sake

Honjozo

Dry MountainUS$14.00

Junmai

Itami OnigoroshiUS$13.00
served hot
- Kettle (500ml)US$52.00
Karakuchi Premium DryUS$16.00
Mirror of TruthUS$16.00

Junmai Ginjo

Black DragonUS$17.00
Nakao's SecretUS$16.00
Bride of the FoxUS$18.00

Junmai Daiginjo

Demon Slayer, OnikoroshiUS$19.00
The One with the ClocksUS$20.00
Pearls of SimplicityUS$21.00
Heaven & EarthUS$18.00

Nigori

Dreamy CloudsUS$17.00
tokubetsu junmai nigori
The Blue OneUS$16.00
junmai nigori

Umeshu

KiuchiUS$16.00

Flights

Japanese Whisky

1 oz Pour

Donyu Suru: An IntroUS$28.00
mars iwai; akashi blended; suntory toki
Nikka: by Japan's Oldest DistilleryUS$50.00
from the barrel coffey grain; taketsuru pure malt

Gin

1 oz Pour

Gin Shotto: SilvershotUS$34.00
ki no bi; nikka coffey; suntory roku

Sake

1.5 oz Pour

Mizu to Mai: Water + Rice = SakeUS$30.00
karakuchi premium dry (junmai); nakao's secret (junmai ginjo); dreamy clouds (nigori)
The Fifty Percent: Junmai DaiginjoUS$34.00
the one with the clocks; pearls of simplicity; demon slayer
U(mai)mi: Earthy & RichUS$31.00
black dragon; bride of the fox; heaven & earth

What 829 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7

4.7 based on recent ratings

4.7Food
4.4Service
4.7Ambience
4.3Value

Noise • Moderate

Diners' Choice Awards

Chicago
Japanese

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

The Izakaya at Momotaro boasts "one of the best burgers in Chicago," complemented by a vibrant atmosphere and unique cocktails. While some found service inconsistent, the food remains "absolutely phenomenal," with hand rolls and sashimi as highlights. It's a lively spot perfect for date nights or special occasions.

829 Reviews

N
Nicholas
Las Vegas
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined today
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
One of if not the best burger in Chicago… and from a Japanese place. Best bun easy at least
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
Chicago
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined 3 days ago
1. Overall 2
2. Food 4
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 3
Our server was great, but clearly struggling with a lack of support. At one point we got our own drinks from the service well after watching the runner mill around and pass them several times. Food was good, nothing amazing. Cocktails were a little overwrought. No real reason to return.
The Izakaya at MomotaroResponded 1 day ago
Hello Robyn, Thank you for sharing your feedback with us. We're glad to hear that you found your server to be great, and we truly appreciate your understanding of their hard work. I apologize if there were any delays or moments where the service didn’t meet your expectations. Our goal is to provide seamless service, and we’ll certainly review your comments to ensure we’re always improving. We’re also sorry that the cocktails and food didn’t quite exceed your expectations, and we’ll take your thoughts into consideration as we continue to refine our offerings. We’d love the chance to welcome you back in the future and provide an experience that better aligns with your preferences. Best, Merissa White General Manager Momotaro & The Izakaya
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H
Harry
Chicago
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 4 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Incredible burger - they even included a happy anniversary message on our menus
The Izakaya at MomotaroResponded 1 day ago
Thank you so much for the fantastic review! 🎉 We're so happy you enjoyed the burger, and we're thrilled that we could help make your anniversary a little extra special with the personalized touch! 🥳💖 We can’t wait to celebrate with you again—see you soon! Cheers, Merissa White General Manager Momotaro & The Izakaya
Is this helpful?
A
Angela
Chicago
5 reviews
vip
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on 24 November 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Everything was amazing, the food was so good and the service was top notch! We can’t wait to come back!
The Izakaya at MomotaroResponded 1 day ago
Thanks for visiting us! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your experience at The Izakaya at Momotaro. It's wonderful to know that our food and service met your expectations. We appreciate your kind words and high ratings. We can't wait to welcome you back for another amazing experience! Cheers, Merissa White General Manager Momotaro & The Izakaya
Is this helpful?
A
Amber
Chicago
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on 22 November 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The ambience was beautiful, the food was amazong, the drinks were unique. Would recommend.
The Izakaya at MomotaroResponded 1 day ago
Thank you so much for your glowing review! ✨ We're absolutely thrilled to hear that you loved the ambiance, the food, and our unique drinks! Your kind words mean the world to us, and we’re so happy we could provide such a memorable experience. We can't wait to have you back for more amazing moments—see you soon! 💫🍽️🍹 Kanpai, Merissa White General Manager Momotaro & The Izakaya
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D
Deanna
New York City
14 reviews
vip
4.0
14 reviews
Dined on 21 November 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 3
The food is fantastic! Our drinks were tasty but they didn't fill the glass to near/the brim. Overall, I enjoy the vibe here - just wish it were a bit less noisy.
The Izakaya at MomotaroResponded 1 day ago
Hello Deanna, Thank you for taking the time to review The Izakaya at Momotaro! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed our food and found the vibe to be fantastic. We're sorry to hear that the noise level was a bit too high for your preference. We appreciate your feedback and will certainly take it into consideration for future improvements. We hope to see you again soon and promise to make your next visit a bit more peaceful! Best regards, Merissa White General Manager Momotaro & The Izakaya
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E
Erin
Chicago
5 reviews
vip
3.0
5 reviews
Dined on 16 November 2024
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 3
The only thing worth eating is the burger. Everything else was Meh. The service was okay not great.
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C
Claudia
Chicago
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on 16 November 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 5
The atmosphere is great! The food is amazing! And they brought us some champagne for our anniversary! Also the burger is a must try!!!
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b
burhan
Chicago
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on 14 November 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Everything was delicious but the hand rolls were so unique and fun
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D
Danny
Chicago
3 reviews
vip
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on 14 November 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Best burger in Chicago. Will definitely be back as soon as possible
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FAQs

The Izakaya at Momotaro offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (312) 733-4818.

The Izakaya at Momotaro is rated 4.7 stars by 829 OpenTable diners.

The Izakaya at Momotaro does offer gift cards which you can purchase here.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

The Izakaya at Momotaro

4.7

$31 to $50

Japanese

West Loop

Make a booking

2 people

4 Dec 2024

19:00

Booked 72 times today

Experiences are available.

Order delivery or takeout

820 W. Lake St, Chicago, IL 60607

Additional information

Cross Street
Green
Area
West Loop
Hours of Operation
Dinner Wed, Thu, Sun 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–11:00 pm
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Japanese, Sushi, Seafood
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
Valet is located on the corner of Lake & Green
Public transit
#8 Halsted Bus at Lake Street. Green & Pink line at Morgan stop.
Payment Options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Executive Chef
Gene Kato
Additional
Gluten-free Options

Website
http://www.momotarochicago.com/
Phone number
(312) 733-4818
Private party facilities
The Izakaya is located on the subterranean level of Momotaro
Private party contact
our Event Sales Manager: (312) 773-4818

Gift card

Send gift cards instantly by email or print to present in person.

Send a gift card

The Izakaya at Momotaro

The Izakaya at Momotaro

Make a booking

Order delivery or takeout

Private dining

Additional information

Gift card

2014-2024: 10 Years of Momotaro and Izakaya

Uni Pasta

Tuna Tostada

Tuna Tuna Tuna

Small Plates

EdamameUS$8.00

Baby Green SaladUS$12.00

Uni Deviled EggUS$12.00

Miso SoupUS$8.00

Nikkei Scallop CevicheUS$16.00

Blistered ShishitoUS$12.00

Tuna Tostada*US$16.00

Gyoza

Satsumaimo FriesUS$9.00

Shake'n Kato WingsUS$16.00

Mishima Skirt Steak*US$18.00

Tonkatsu

Berkshire Pork RibsUS$18.00

Chicken KatsuUS$24.00

Iza Classics

Uni PastaUS$23.00

Hamachi Kama (Collar)US$14.00

A5 Cup Noodle*US$38.00

The Momo RoyaleUS$20.00

Rice

Yakitori Don*US$16.00

Chahan*US$22.00

Tamaki GoldUS$6.00

Sashimi

Shima AjiUS$7.00

AkamiUS$7.00

ChutoroUS$11.00

OtoroUS$13.00

MadaiUS$7.00

Temaki

Momo JrUS$22.00

ScallopUS$16.00

Shio Koji SakeUS$16.00

King CrabUS$26.00

Donburi

Tuna, Tuna, TunaUS$28.00

Jewel BakoUS$38.00

Cocktails

Monk's JourneyUS$17.00

Before & AfterUS$16.00

A Land ApartUS$16.00

Strawberry SwingUS$17.00

White LotusUS$17.00

Kaba Old Fashioned*US$18.00

Highballs

Roku HighballUS$13.00

Toki HighballUS$13.00

Haku HighballUS$13.00

Sake

Honjozo

Dry MountainUS$14.00

Junmai

Itami OnigoroshiUS$13.00

Karakuchi Premium DryUS$16.00

Mirror of TruthUS$16.00

Junmai Ginjo

Black DragonUS$17.00

Nakao's SecretUS$16.00

Bride of the FoxUS$18.00

Junmai Daiginjo

Demon Slayer, OnikoroshiUS$19.00

The One with the ClocksUS$20.00

Pearls of SimplicityUS$21.00

Heaven & EarthUS$18.00

Nigori

Dreamy CloudsUS$17.00

The Blue OneUS$16.00

Umeshu