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✔️Brunch ✔️Lunch ✔️Dinner ✔️Dine in ✔️Take out
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Hip, warehouse-like setting for savory Japanese pancakes, creative shaved ice desserts & highballs.
Address and Contact Information
Address: 950 W Lake St, Chicago, IL 60607
Phone: (312) 265-1348
Website: https://gaijinchicago.com/
Menu Photos
Order and Reservations
Reservations: tripleseat.comopentable.com
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Related Web Results
GAIJIN | CHICAGO
Gaijin by Chef Paul Virant: okonomiyaki, kakigori, highballs and more in Chicago’s West Loop.
Gaijin Menu — GAIJIN | CHICAGO
Enjoy Gaijin on the patio, in the dining room, or to go! Okonomiyaki, yakisoba, kakigori, mochi donuts, highballs and much more.
Gaijin Chicago (@gaijinchicago) – Instagram
Chicago’s only restaurant dedicated to okonomiyaki & kakigōri. Created by Chef @paul_virant. Happy Hour Tues-Thurs 5-6pm Fulton Market …
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Reviews
Kevin Wojdak
Gaijin serves Okonomiyaki which are savory Japanese pancakes made with mixed vegetables and meat and cooked on a teppan (griddle). They are then topped with a number of different toppings of your choice and sauces. This was my first experience with okonomiyaki and they were simply delicious. We ordered one Osaka-style with duck and one Hiroshima-style with pork belly. Each was quite unique and tasty in it’s own way. The Hiroshima-style incorporated noodles. After being prepared by the chefs, the pancakes are delivered to a warm griddle in the center of your table which keeps them warm. While there, I enjoyed a great house rice lager and my wife and I each had individual pots of tea. For appetizers, we had well-made pickled vegetables and the best kimchi I’ve ever tasted. For dessert, we had mochi donuts with different sauces. I fully recommend Gaijin and will be back in the future.
… moreLuis Miguel Mejia
Amazing restaurant! Recently came back from Japan and the taste of Gaijin is very authentic. Loved everything, the octupus okonomiyaki was the best. Dessert donuts where very tasty as well. The restaurant has great service and very cool decoration and table setup. Really recommended!
… moreLeo Z
I got the Hiroshima and it was decent. It as well as a few other entrees seemed to have a bitter after taste to it. Not the dishes fault at all im simply just not a fan of the after taste. I think the most bitter by far was the scallion pancake. It was really too fishy and bitter for my liking but to each their own.
Service was phenomenal, waitress was super nice and funny and food was brought out pretty quickly.
By far the best of everything was the shaved ice. My partner and I got the black sesame one and it was amazing. Lots of flavor with the sweet condensed milk or whatever the sauce is youre given. And the ice cream in the center is super sweet. I really love the crunchy bits as well.
… moreService was phenomenal, waitress was super nice and funny and food was brought out pretty quickly.
By far the best of everything was the shaved ice. My partner and I got the black sesame one and it was amazing. Lots of flavor with the sweet condensed milk or whatever the sauce is youre given. And the ice cream in the center is super sweet. I really love the crunchy bits as well.
Chris Crackaveli (Chris Crack)
This place was really good. Stopped in for our third restaurant week destination and it was definitely the right choice. The vibe was really chill w/ a slight Japanese essence. We did the lunch menu, it was super bomb and the portions were nice sized. The service was a little slow due to the supposed “storm” and Saturday lunch rush I guess. We sat at the cook counter and the drinks were tasty. The mochi donuts went crazy too, the coconut flavor best one hands down
… moreJuan Sebastian Lozano
Had an absolutely amazing dinner with their tea cellar tasting menu! They had great service and the pairings were really interesting and unique. One of us is vegetarian and they made really thoughtful substitutions from their regular menu (which has lots of vegetarian options). The tasting menu even came with a custom tea blend to take home! We’ve eaten here before and it’s always been a great experience.
… moreYevette Brown
I have never had OKONOMIYAKI, the flavorful shredded cabbage pancakes loaded with your choice of various ingredients. So I thought it was time to give this japanese lunch favorite a try. I ordered the duck version made with added yakisoba noodles and a mayo-sriracha sauce. Verdict: delicious! I enjoyed the crunchy veggies and noodles, the sauce was perfect but I found the duck that topped the dish a bit dry, but you can also top it with shrimp, octopus, beef, pork belly or tofu. The wagyu babette appetizer was amazing, and Yuzu Martini a great starter, with the light, refreshing shaved ice as a nice ending. Overall a very flavorful lunch. Gaijin is a unique dining experience that you cannot find anywhere else in Chicago and I plan to return to try other okonomiyaki toppings soon.
… moreAngie Holmes
What a fun and incredible dinner experience! The food and drinks were exceptional. Friendly, knowledgeable and attentive service. We tried several different items and enjoyed them all. It’s such a fun way to eat with a group! Loved it!
… moreNomadicus
Gaijin brings a fun, energetic pulse to its corner of Chicago with a hip, warehouse-style setting that suits its playful take on Japanese comfort food. The space buzzes with activity, highballs flowing, and an open kitchen vibe that fits the restaurant’s modern, approachable spirit.
Service was warm and friendly from the moment we walked in, the kind that makes you feel like you’re in good hands even before the food arrives.
We came specifically for the signature savory Japanese pancakes, and they delivered—delicious, generously sized, and packed with flavor. But the real showstoppers might just be the desserts. The mochi donuts and shaved ice creations are eye-catching, wildly fun, and worth the visit all on their own.
Gaijin is a great stop when you want something casual but still inventive, with plenty of personality on the plate and in the room.
… moreService was warm and friendly from the moment we walked in, the kind that makes you feel like you’re in good hands even before the food arrives.
We came specifically for the signature savory Japanese pancakes, and they delivered—delicious, generously sized, and packed with flavor. But the real showstoppers might just be the desserts. The mochi donuts and shaved ice creations are eye-catching, wildly fun, and worth the visit all on their own.
Gaijin is a great stop when you want something casual but still inventive, with plenty of personality on the plate and in the room.
David Brunton
First, the service at this location was impeccable: hospitable, engaging, and exceeding all dining expectations. Second, the food was delicious and prepared to perfection.
The okonomiyaki delivered a rich, savory flavor balanced by a gentle touch of sweetness.
But the real magic happened the day after my visit. I had misplaced the dinner receipt, which is never ideal for expense reporting, so I called the restaurant for help. The hostess was incredibly kind and understanding, and within five minutes I had a copy of the receipt in my email. That kind of “going above and beyond” mentality is what truly sets good restaurants apart from the great ones.
Overall, it was an excellent experience that I highly recommend.
… moreThe okonomiyaki delivered a rich, savory flavor balanced by a gentle touch of sweetness.
But the real magic happened the day after my visit. I had misplaced the dinner receipt, which is never ideal for expense reporting, so I called the restaurant for help. The hostess was incredibly kind and understanding, and within five minutes I had a copy of the receipt in my email. That kind of “going above and beyond” mentality is what truly sets good restaurants apart from the great ones.
Overall, it was an excellent experience that I highly recommend.
Ed Brill
Another wonderful dinner at gaijin. So legit. Had one Osaka style beef a one shrimp sechiyaki. Both were picture perfect, flavor in every bite. I can put pics from here side by side with pics of my Japan trips and not tell the difference. Fresh and quality. Good drinks too.
… more