Sushi by Scratch Restaurants: Chicago
Christina Huynh · 1008 Google reviewsSushi by Scratch Restaurants: Chicago — top-tier japanese in Fulton Market. Order the Fish. Dim lighting, small tables, and all the right energy. "(flown in from Japan) and the toppings on the nigiri were incredible unique" — Hagz
What 198 diners keep saying
What 198 diners keep saying
verbatim, from Google
“JP, Noel, & Kevin are the dream team! We’ve been to a bunch of omakases around the city and this one was not only incredible food wise but the atmosphere and service was amazing a must go”
“JP, Noel, and Kevin, Thank you for being absolutely incredible. You are the heart of this establishment, and the world deserves to know it. Thank you for making my two year anniversary a memory that will be etched in my heart for a lifetime. The entire evening was unforgettable, not only because of the phenomenal omakase experience itself, but because of the people behind it. I can honestly say I will never look at sushi the same way again. After tasting the incredible bites you crafted for us, I have officially become a sushi snob. What truly elevated this experience beyond the food was the intimacy of it all, the conversations, the stories, and the opportunity to learn about your journeys and passion for the culinary arts. That personal connection made every course even more meaningful. Thank you for creating something so special. We left feeling celebrated, inspired, and incredibly grateful. I already can’t wait to come back for my birthday celebration.”
“Easily my favorite restaurant in Chicago now. My girlfriend and I came here for our anniversary and were blown away by the 20-course omakase (the caviar and truffle additions are a must). Every single bite was a 10/10. What sets this place apart is the world-class staff. Kevin, JP, and Noel run a flawless, high-energy, and educational experience. The synergy behind the counter is amazing; they are funny, personable, and master craftsmen. To management: you have an absolute dream team on your hands with these guys. Thank you for a life-highlight dining experience! We’ll be back soon.”
“Sushi by Scratch has been at the top of my list for a long time, and I finally got the chance to experience it. It’s an only 10 person dining experience. First, the positives: the privacy, atmosphere, and overall experience were incredible. This is a 16-course (2 course extra) omakase dining experience where each piece of sushi is hand-crafted right in front of you. Part of the experience is watching the chefs prepare everything while they walk you through the ingredients and techniques. The salmon, wagyu, caviar, and truffles are sourced from highly specialized suppliers, and the quality absolutely shows. The chefs were one of the highlights of the evening. They were witty, personable, welcoming, and easy to talk to throughout the experience. Great customer service matters a lot to me when dining out, and they truly elevated the meal. That said, I do want to give an honest warning about the pricing. The experience is advertised at $185 per person plus a 20% service charge, but there are several optional add-ons that can significantly increase your final bill if you're not paying close attention. When you arrive, you're greeted in a small waiting area before being seated at the chef's counter. Unfortunately, the host explaining the experience spoke extremely quickly, making it difficult to fully understand the additional offerings and associated costs. For example, my understanding was that the caviar add-on was a flat $65 charge. What wasn't immediately clear was that the charge applied to each course where caviar was added. Truffles are also an additional charge. Drinks are not included either. I opted for the cocktail flight, which was about $65 and, in my opinion, completely worth it. The cocktails were thoughtfully crafted and paired beautifully with the courses. If you're not paying attention, it's very easy for this experience to climb to $500+ per person. My final bill was around that amount. During my seating, I also overheard other first-time guests surprised when their bill came out to roughly $1,200 for three people. None of this ruined the experience for me—I genuinely enjoyed myself. I dine out frequently, and I felt the quality, hospitality, and craftsmanship were excellent. However, I do think guests should ask questions, understand the add-ons, and be aware of how quickly costs can accumulate. Also having a host who speaks SLOWLY (him speaking that quickly also might be part of their business plan). Everything is optional, and you can absolutely decline the caviar and truffle upgrades. Overall, it was a beautiful experience and one I'd recommend for birthdays, celebrations, special occasions—or even solo dining, which is how I experienced it. Sometimes it's worth treating yourself to something memorable. My only suggestion for improvement would be the music selection. The soundtrack didn't really complement the Japanese dining experience. Incorporating music that better reflects the culture and atmosphere of the cuisine would make the experience feel even more immersive. Despite the pricing surprises, I left impressed by the food, the chefs, and the overall experience. Just go in informed, ask questions, and enjoy the ride.”
“Words can’t really describe how much I loved this entire experience. Loved watching the chefs working and having the opportunity to ask questions. Everyone we encountered from the second we walked through the door were extremely welcoming and kind. Even as we were leaving they helped recommend an amazing place for a nightcap. Definitely recommend a special occasion, really want to thank everyone for making my birthday special!”
“Amazing omakase in Chicago. The food was delicious and the service even better. Shout out to all the chefs and specially JP for their hospitality and attention to detail. Highly recommend.”
“Loved loved loved the experience. This may have ruined all other sushi for me. Every bite was so delicious. The cuts of fish were so fresh, every bite basically melts in my mouth. Not only was the food delicious, the atmosphere and experience was also really great. This place is reservation only so you will need to plan ahead if you want to try this place. It's located beneath a burger joint. You enter through a hidden door to go down a flight of stairs where a host greets you as you check in just to verify any food allergies and dietary restrictions. I highly recommend participating in the complimentary happy hour, which has very intimate seating. You get a couple teasers and drinks. They do offer non alcoholic versions. They're very punctual so at the time of your reservation everyone is instructed to go down another flight of stairs where the omakase begins. It's assigned seating so make sure you look for your name plate. Don't be like the guy during our reservation who didn't listen to instructions and tried to steal our seats. The staff there were all amazing. They seem to have a great relationship with each other and truly love what they do. I would highly recommend experiencing this at least once. Expect to be paying over 200 per person. If you get the alcohol pairings or any other drinks other than water, it's going to cost you even more.”
“My first time at Sushi by Scratch for the 9:30 PM seating, and it was a total vibe! If you’re looking for a fusion Omakase that’s high energy and interactive, every 17 bites of sushi so yummy .this is it. The storytelling and the chefs’ personalities really make the night. Chef Win and Chef Ice were absolutely amazing, and the guy make cocktails so fantastic. The host was so welcoming, too. This is hands-down one of the best Omakase spots in Chicago.I’ll definitely be back!"”
“This was a surprise for my wife for our ten-year anniversary, and honestly, it couldn’t have gone better. Before we even arrived, the team were brilliant—checking allergies, getting everything lined up. I’d been selling her a bit of a white lie about where we were going, and the entrance absolutely sealed it. Proper “got her” moment. The first couple of canapés were spot on, and the host set the tone straight away—great energy, not stiff, just really welcoming. Once we got to the sushi bar, you could tell it was going to be good. Kevin, who handled drinks, was excellent—walked us through everything without overdoing it and steered us in the right direction. The chefs were all approachable as well, chatting, explaining what they were doing, and making it feel like you were part of the experience rather than just watching it. The main chef was the one in the pictures, sorry I don’t remember his name, but has some incredible artwork, that I’ll let tell you what it is! He led the meal and walked us through what was what. We had Noel as our sous chef, and he was class. Chatty without being too much, really knowledgeable, and clearly very, very good at what he does. He made the whole thing feel relaxed and special at the same time. We’ll 100% be back, and I’d go out of my way to sit with him again. The food itself—just incredible. No other word for it. We’ve done a fair few omakase spots around town, and this felt genuinely different. You usually get either very traditional and a bit stuffy, or places trying so hard to be creative it barely feels like sushi anymore. This sits right in the middle—proper omakase, but elevated and modern. The fish quality was outstanding, but the toppings are what really set it apart. Everything just worked—from perfectly crisp garlic to a chimichurri that had no business being that good on sushi, but somehow was. Standouts were the short rib hand roll and the madai with Japanese mint chimichurri. Really, really good. I’m not sure if they do it at all seatings but afterwards we were offered the ability to try something new or go back and do some of our favorites again, that was really special and I’m glad we did! TL;DR Amazing place, you need to go. Sous chef Noel was amazing. Go to the latest seating, it was worth it.”
“Absolutely amazing experience in Chicago. This place is next level. Quality of fish is superb, presentation is exquisite and chefs are very very good. We will have to try NYC and Austin locations for sure! I highly recommend this place!”
“We had a great time at Scratch. The best bite, by far, was a special off-the-menu option made by one of the chefs (his name was JP I believe). It was unreal. By far, the best night we’ve had in a long time. Great vibes, great food, will definitely be back.”
“One of the best Omakase that's we've had. Every detail of the experience was well planned. Chef and staff were charming and kept the process quick and informative. The quality of the fish was fantastic. The non alcoholic pairing was excellent, without overwhelming the flights of food. Caution it is expensive but well worth it”
Sounds like your kind of place?
Star it — your hit list is where dinner decisions get made.
One email a month — new openings, hidden gems, and where locals are actually eating.
More Japanese in West Loop & Fulton Market
See the ranking →
In the same lane · Japanese
If it's packed, walk to…
More good rooms in Fulton Market, minutes away.