The Izakaya at Momotaro

“Been wanting to eat dinner here for a while and I'm so happy to have finally tried it. Ambiance and service were both killer - there's no mistaking you're in a hidden joint in a big cosmopolitan city. Happy to report the food matched the atmosphere! Our favorite dishes were the Satsumaimo Fries, Happi Salada, and Chahan - all amazing and full of well curated flavors. Sashimi was a little disappointing and a bit more fishy tasting than we were expecting. Still an amazing meal overall and I can't wait to return.”

“An amazing Japanese bar experience. It can be a bit loud with low lighting, but that's part of the ambiance. The staff were all very welcoming and professional. The menu is well curated to offer a variety of dishes and everything that came out of the kitchen looked splendid. The temaki was well prepared and easy to assemble. The skewer was amazing - juicy inside, crisp outside, and generally an explosion of flavors that was hard to beat! As you'd expect, they have an extensive drink menu and it's hard to go wrong there!”

“The Izakaya at Momotaro was great. The vibe is super cool, and being downstairs makes it feel even more special. It’s really pretty inside, especially sitting at the bar, and the service was great too. It is pretty loud though, so just know you’ll have to talk a little louder. We got the uni pasta, the spicy chicken sando with satsumaimo fries, the Nagoya style tebasaki wings, and the Momo Royale burger. The uni pasta was nice and the noodles were definitely good, but it could’ve used a little more flavor. It was good, just not my favorite. The spicy chicken sando was delicious and was probably my favorite thing we got, and the satsumaimo fries were sooo good, especially with the sauce on the side. The wings were flavorful, but they got pretty sticky and I kind of wish they were a little smaller or easier to separate. The Momo Royale burger was good, but nothing too special to me. Not sure what all the hype is about! I’ve definitely had better burgers in Chicago. I’d come back for the good food and good vibes, but next time I’d try out different dishes like donburi, hand rolls, or tonkatsu.”

“The izakaya was highly hyped but I have to say the experience was leaned strongly on the side of average. We went right at opening without a reservation and we were able to get a table no issue. It started off great with a cool atmosphere, good music and delicious drinks. When it came to the food however I was a bit underwhelmed. The shrimp katsu and the fried chicken dumplings were highlights but the ramen and famed burger were disappointing. The ramen lacked any real flavor and the broth was luke warm at best ( ramen should be served piping hot). The burger was alright but I did not love the texture of the bao bun and the beef itself tasted cheap and under-seasoned. It may have been an off night, and the service was great throughout but I don’t think I’d be back. The pricing was fair, overall I would say if you go don’t go with high expectations and you may have a better experience.”

“This place was highly recommended by a friend in Chicago and I left overall satisfied. I walked in with no reservation and was welcomed warmly, told there was seating at the bar which I gladly took. Service was quick and friendly by the staff. The ambiance of this location felt so cool, I could imagine coming with a group of friends and having a great night out. I was recommended the wings and bao bun burger which I ordered with no hesitation. Starting with the wings, they were large and delicious, very nice crunch on them. Being the star of the show, the burger had some high expectations. It was large in size and came with japanese sweet potato fries. The fries’ texture was so pleasing to bite into, they were large and plentiful. The burger I have to say I wasn’t totally in love with. The burger was extremely greasy, which the bun did not help. The structural integrity of the burger collapsed just a few bites in as everything kept sliding around and falling in and out of the bun. The bun was far more crispier than fluffy, which I had expected. I enjoyed the double patties within it, just wish I could comfortably eat it as a burger. For $26, the burger experience wasn’t great and it disappointed me. I can see how this place is satisfying to the eyes. Its underground feel with beautiful bar display, dark ambience with bright lighting sprinkled through all creates a high level atmosphere. The food is priced highly and although decent, I would’ve expected more if I am being honest. When the fries are the highlight of my meal, I think that says a lot. I did not finish the burger.”