Momotaro - Japanese restaurant in Chicago - 820 W Lake St, USA

Definitely will need reservations if you would like a spot. The cocktail choices were great. I would say my favourite dish was actually the appetizer, the octopus and the buns. I was actually disappointed by the sushi. The sushi rice wasn’t what I expected for the price they charge. All in all, this restaurant has a great vibe and atmosphere for chatting along with decent food.

I used to love Momotaro but they need to work on their service. The times we saw our server was far and few in between. We pointed out that one of the sushi items we ordered, which I've had there before, was really fishy that night. No response other than he'll let the kitchen know. It was a friend's birthday which was noted on my reservation and confirmed to both the server and host but they didn't bother to even put a birthday candle on the dessert we ordered. Final straw was when we asked for the check, the server pointed out the QR code for payment. I found out that by paying via that method, I was charged a $3 service fee which wasn't previously disclosed. It's obviously just a few dollars but when you're already charged a 3% surcharge on top of everything else, it's enough to make you not want to go back.

Been wanting to come here for a while now. Would suggest the chicken pâté dish. Definitely ask for extra bread with it because you initially only get 4 small pieces. Would suggest to skip on the highball drinks. The plates are small, a bit pricey as well. Overall I’m glad I came to see the place for myself but I wouldn’t come back. The prices were too steep for what we got. Plan to eat elsewhere beforehand or afterwards to truly fill up or plan to spend quite a bit to get a lot of small dishes.

We were honestly a little surprised how well such a nice place accommodated our toddler dining with us. They whipped up an off-menu buttered noodles for the picky eater and kept us all happy and satisfied the whole meal. The staff was highly professional and the sushi was phenomenal.

Agree with some other reviewers that the atmosphere is very nice, food is…good but definitely overpriced & service was ok/good. I would give it 3.5 stars. However, it missed the mark on some dishes like the chicken meatballs were too salty. The scallop dish had way too much Mayo. The blondie dessert (their most popular dessert) was pretty conventional & the flavors were not unique. The beef fried rice was very good & probably our favorite dish of the night but still a bit too salty. The octopus was good. The nigiri sushi was fresh but the rolls were nothing spectacular. Our server took our order but only came back to check on us a couple times & far in between. The tables were way too close together so when someone sitting on the inside had to get up to go to the restroom, their behind was basically on your table. I’m glad I went here once to cross it off my list but most likely will not return as I’ve had much tastier, more reasonably priced sushi elsewhere. I would go back for the ambiance & maybe just grab a drink from the bar. I also enjoyed the Izakaya bar much better & it’s a bit more affordable than the restaurant. We spent $400 (including tax & tip) for 2 people & that did not include alcoholic drinks.

Only been here twice and I think I need to come back more often. Everything about this place is impeccable. Great for groups to get a bunch of things and share. I can’t remember the names of dishes we ordered, but you cannot go wrong with the Izakaya options (the lamb is a must) and the sushi (could pass on the rolls, but the sashimi or sushi bites are delicious).

One of my favorite places to eat sushi in Chicago ! While all of the dressed nigiri I’ve tried are all phenomenal, my favorite dish would have to be the fried octopus. Simply the best octopus I’ve ever had in my life. My server, Nui, was incredibly helpful in explaining the menu and making recommendations. Her warmth and kindness greatly enhanced my dining experience ! All of the desserts are also amazing, the chocolate toffee dessert is my favorite

It’s so nice to find actual good sushi these days. Most restaurants typically have menus filled with tempura, cream cheese and crab stick. Momotaro is the complete opposite. Their fish was high quality and executed more towards the traditional Japanese standard. Really glad I stopped by here while in the neighborhood.