Itoko
Itoko — top-tier japanese in Lakeview. Modern space that photographs well but eats even better. Good cocktails round out an already strong menu, and no long waits. Dany Chheang: "The steak robata was a highlight, perfectly grilled and packed with rich, smoky flavor" [$$, patio]
What 1,922 diners keep saying
What 1,922 diners keep saying
verbatim, from Google
“Amazing food and service, will definitely come back!! The jewel chirashi box was so worth it!!”
“We hit up Itoko for Sunday brunch and honestly, we probably could have skipped the last-minute reservation—they had us seated before I could even check my coat. The kitchen is clearly operating on a "speed of light" policy, which would be great if the service didn't feel so wonky. Our appetizers and entrees staged a full-scale "plate pile-up" on our table before the drinks even arrived. Pro tip: avoid the corner of the counter unless you’re looking to be invisible; our server basically disappeared after the food drop and only resurfaced to hand over the check. Now, let’s discuss this "lychee sangria." Can you legally call something a sangria if it has zero wine and exactly one piece of fruit? Regardless of the identity crisis, it was delicious, went down way too easy, and I can see why people go hard on the bottomless offer. The food was a bit of a mixed bag; the deviled eggs were great with a subtle, non-offensive curry, but the seaweed on the rice crackers for the spicy tuna dip was so aggressive it basically bullied the tuna off the plate. If you order the cucumber salad, just know it’s bringing some serious, non-negotiable heat—come prepared. As for the mains, the brunch version of the chicken katsu don was solid, though it was crying out for a bit more sauce. Then there’s the continental egg soufflé. It’s been three days and I’m still waiting for it to cool down to a temperature safe for human consumption, but once it hits 180°C, I’m sure it’ll be a delight. It's massive and filling, and while I skipped the tomato jam on the toast, you do you. Overall, a tasty spot if you don't mind a "blink and you'll miss it" dining pace.”
“Amra was fantastic, very knowledgeable on the menu, and very lively!”
“Came for dessert for my dad’s birthday and it’s incredible”
“Woah!! Will definitely be returning and adding to my happy hour rotation. I tried a little bit of everything. The nigiri were all quite flavorful. The scallop roll was quite good, I’d definitely order it again and try some additional dishes. I also really liked the salmon dip and the lychee martini. Staff were super friendly and attentive. The space is beautiful!! See yall soon. 🫶🏾 Update: tried the shishito peppers, shaken kato wings, and the ebi tom yum hand roll 😮💨😮💨 they not playing around in that kitchen it’s serious!!!! 10/10. The black garlic mayo under the peppers took me clear out. So good. I love it here so much.”
“For my girlfriend’s birthday, we wanted to give Itoko a try. We had walked by a couple times and thought it looked super cute. When we came inside, we were greeted by a gorgeous dining room. Itoko has a gluten-free menu that is celiac-safe. My girlfriend particular loved the Ebi Tom Yum. I thought the yellowtail nigiri was also ferocious. For dessert, they have a soy milk panna cotta that is really delicious and refreshing as well.”
“Went for restaurant week and the food was delicious, specifically the lychee sangria, curry deviled eggs and the HONEY BUTTER TOAST. Omg that was delicious. I do feel that the entrees were meh, but everything else was great.”
“I visited on November 23, 2025, and the experience was extremely disappointing. This was the first time in my life that I encountered both fish scales and fish bones in sashimi, and they were not from the same piece. After biting into fish scales, I informed the server. The restaurant replaced the piece, which I appreciated. However, shortly after that, I encountered a fish bone in another slice of sashimi. At that point, I was honestly stunned and chose not to raise the issue again. For a restaurant with high pricing, this level of quality control is completely unacceptable. Our total bill, including tip, was around $400, which makes this experience even more frustrating. Proper sashimi preparation is basic and fundamental. Finding fish scales and bones in multiple pieces reflects carelessness and poor standards. To put this into perspective, even inexpensive sashimi from H Mart has never contained fish scales or bones in my experience. That comparison alone says a lot. Given the price point, this was far below expectations. I would not recommend this place to anyone looking for quality Japanese food, and I will not be returning.”
“Beyond Disappointing – Terrible Service and Zero Flexibility We had a 4:30 PM reservation on New Year’s Eve, but the experience was a complete disaster. The host seated us at the absolute worst table, directly next to the restroom door. It’s hard to enjoy a holiday dinner while constantly facing the bathroom and its foot traffic. What made it truly unacceptable was the staff's attitude. Despite the restaurant having numerous empty tables, they flatly refused my polite request to move. For a high-end Japanese restaurant, is it really that difficult to accommodate a simple and reasonable request? The most insulting part? By the time we finished our meal and left, many of those same tables were still empty. There was absolutely no reason why they couldn't have moved us, other than sheer laziness or a total lack of customer care. An upscale establishment should provide a premium experience, but here, the service is rigid and dismissive. Spending New Year’s Eve staring at a toilet door while better seats sit empty is not what I paid for. Avoid this place if you value service and atmosphere.”
“Genesis was amazing! She was so nice !Answered our many questions and new the menu very well.”
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