Gaijin

“What a fun and incredible dinner experience.”

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!

Angie Holmes

Jan 2026

“Loved this restaurant, yummy authentic okonomiyaki and other Japanese delicious food.”

Loved this restaurant, yummy authentic okonomiyaki and other Japanese delicious food. Great service too, Ana our server was very kind.

Ingrid Clausen

Jan 2026

“First, the service at this location was impeccable: hospitable, engaging, and exceeding all dining expectations.”

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.

David Brunton

Jan 2026

“Another wonderful dinner at gaijin.”

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.

Ed Brill

Dec 2025

“Gaijin brings a fun, energetic pulse to its corner of Chicago with a hip, warehouse-style setting...”

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.

Nomadicus

Dec 2025

“I came here because I had some friends visiting out of town.”

I came here because I had some friends visiting out of town. The food was sooo good!! The traditional Hiroshima was my favorite order. Service was very quick and attentive even though almost all tables were full. And the desserts were so fun! I loved their authenticity and how they would explain how to eat each dish. I had to call later on another day due to a mix up with my bill I didn’t catch that night and they were very understanding and got everything resolved very quickly!!

Brynn

Sep 2025

“the service from everyone at this restaurant was superb.”

the service from everyone at this restaurant was superb! we had the passport experience and it was delicious :) i was hoping we would get to cook it ourselves - the grill is used to keep things warm

amanda t

Sep 2025

“I thought I was in Japan when I enjoyed the dinner in this restaurant.”

I thought I was in Japan when I enjoyed the dinner in this restaurant. It was not only because of the wonderful vibe but also the authenticity and the high quality of the food. I had been to Japan many times so I know how well they are doing. If you want to enjoy watching the chef to cook, don't forget to request to sit in the chef cooking bar. It was so entertaining to watch them cook. The owner is very friendly and chatted with us. I would highly recommend this restaurant to you!

Nana Sang

Aug 2025

“This was some of the tastiest food I’ve had in a long time.”

This was some of the tastiest food I’ve had in a long time. We tried the short ribs and sesame bok choy for our apps. For our entree, we tried the pork belly okonomiyaki.. OMG, new fav food. For dessert we tried the coconut mochi donut and the matcha shaved ice. Everything was a 10/10. They were so fast too, despite being busy!! Service was great. And they are right under the tracks so it was easy to get to. I can’t wait to come back here!

Zoe Haggard

Aug 2025

“Delicious, fun, and surprisingly affordable (by West Loop standards) experience.”

Delicious, fun, and surprisingly affordable (by West Loop standards) experience. The yakisoba and the mochi donuts were a surprise hit! Service was excellent and we appreciated our server’s recommendations. I can’t believe how cute the shaved ice was too.

one der

Jul 2025

“Come to celebrate my friend's birthday here, and it was amazing.”

Come to celebrate my friend's birthday here, and it was amazing! We enjoyed the food and atmosphere here. The taste and food quality were quite good. We loved it! Our server was so nice and very attentive. Once he knew it was our friend's birthday, he also gave us the complimentary ice cream with a candle to surprise our friend. It was a memorable. We also ordered the desserts, those Japanese shaved ice was so good. If you are looking for where to celebrate your special occasions, please keep this place in mind. Even though it's paid street parking it's not that hard to find a parking spot tho.

Alice JC

Jul 2025

“The food was excellent.”

The food was excellent! The Hiroshima style okonomiyaki was the move! Easily the best dish of the night and would highly recommend. We split the traditional Hiroshima style, the shrimp, and the beef okonomiyaki, and all were delicious. I’d also recommend the chicken karaage. You can’t go wrong here!

Griffin Wooley

Jul 2025