Kumiko
Eldarbek “Eldar” Kamchybekov · 332 Google reviewsKumiko — well-regarded japanese in West Loop. Unpretentious and comfortable, exactly what you want. The bar is worth the visit on its own. [$$$$]
What 680 diners keep saying
What 680 diners keep saying
verbatim, from Google
“Nice high end cocktails and food was all good too. Potato salad, chicken karage with Japanese curry was delicious!! Milk toast was light and yummy.”
“Great experience. Sat at the bar and enjoyed the à la carte menu. Very good. The staff, food, and drinks were spectacular. Highly recommend.”
“We had a wonderful experience. The drinks were delightful and the service was warm, welcoming and perfectly guided. Thank you for such a lovely night.”
“I’ve been for dinner and drinks with friends before but this was such a fantastic date night for our anniversary! They really made it special for us and the drinks are outstanding.”
“You can always count on Kumiko, never goes wrong for a lovely night! photos are from 2024, 2025, 2026 lol”
“Favorite mixology in all of the city of Chicago and the Sunday burger was unreal now my favorite non smash rendition of a burger in the city”
“Kumiko is a premium restaurant with an underground whiskey bar around the West Loop. The interior design is beautiful, staying very faithful to the Japanese theme. Staff are incredibly friendly and helpful; the bartender is very knowledgable about whiskey and was ready to make recommendations. Keep in mind that this place is usually very busy with a small physical footprint. You might get lucky with a walk-in, but you should definitely make a reservation ahead of time, or you might have to stand. The dessert options are delicious. I recommend ordering all of them and splitting them between two people.”
“Kumiko｜Overall ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) Atmosphere ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Beautiful Japanese-inspired bar with a calm, refined vibe.. Cocktails ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ • Cloud Hopper (Rice Shochu) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very clean and refreshing with a strong rice character. Lightly sweet and easy to drink, but not quite special enough for me to be memorable. • Moonlight Daiquiri (Flight) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A really interesting progression. The main cocktail was a gently sweet matcha-forward drink. The flight moved through ginjo → cocktail → tea, creating layered textures and flavors that evolved with each sip. Thoughtful and well executed. • Sea Flower (Gin-based) ⭐⭐⭐⭐½☆ Strong and spirit-forward, with a salty-sour powder around the rim. Quite acidic and bold, but well balanced and nicely done. • Hojicha Gimlet ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ My favorite of the night. Made with dry gin and roasted green tea—deep tea aroma, clean structure, and incredibly satisfying. The tea flavor really came through. Overall Thoughts No surprise this place consistently ranks among the world’s top bars. The cocktails are precise, intentional, and quietly complex rather than flashy. Also tried the truffle milk toast and potato salad—both were excellent and much better than expected.”
“Sin duda el servicio ha sido espectacular! Las aceitunas y la ensalada de papa son un must! Y los cócteles del bar de whisky me encantaron! Aprender de destilados japoneses me voló la cabeza. Gracias por tan linda experiencia, en especial Gaby y Brandon!”
“Authentic whiskey and spirits bar. Great setting and service. Great place to take out of town friends.”
“This intimate Japanese cocktail bar lives up to its reputation as one of the best in the world ranking 25th. Julia Momose's carefully crafted creations showcase Japanese whiskey, shochu, and other premium liquors. Each sip is a masterclass in balance and flavor. Delicious bites complement the drinks perfectly, while exceptional service provides insightful explanations of each cocktail's ingredients. Cozy and intimate, this bar is ideal for a date night or special occasion. They also offer Omakase cocktail tasting which I never had before.”
“such a beautiful bar/restaurant with stellar service. they have a huge drink menu with very unique tasting drinks - my favorite was the cloud hopper, which may be my favorite cocktail of all time. the food was beautifully presented, and it tasted delicious, but it can get expensive if you plan to fill up on food here. excited to come back again for the cloud hopper cocktail!”
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