Gaijin - Chicago

This is a great okinomiyaki spot with cool vibes. We sat at the chef's counter and it was fun to watch the chefs cook all the food. The interior is well decorated with a dimmer lit atmosphere. We tried the traditional Hiroshima style okinomiyaki. The sauce is on the tangier side. It was a lot of food, so would recommend splitting it between two people. I split it with a friend and it was the perfect amount for lunch.

We had 4 ppl and ordered two tasting experience plus one extra okonomiyaki. The portion was pretty big and all the okonomiyaki we ordered were very tasty.However, I do NOT recommend the tasting experience. Making separate orders should be a better choice.In the gaijin tasting experience:1. FIRST: KOMBU MARINATED VEGETABLES. This item is simply too plain. I feel like this should be something offered for free in most Asian restaurants. Nothing special about it. Money can be better spent on other dishes.2. SECOND: SHORT RIBS OR VEGGIE YAKISOBA. We did both short ribs and yakisoba, and both dishes are very delicious. Short rib is small.3. THIRD: OSAKA STYLE OKONOMIYAKI, like I said, all okonomiyaki are very good. Better to order separately.4. FOURTH: MOCHI DONUT. ——Turns out the donut in the tasting experience is NOT the same one if you order separately!!!!! —— We were not happy about it as the menu does not mention anything about it and neither did our waiter. It’s small donut balls not real donut. Plus the taste was just okay no highlight. Not recommended.

What a unique experience! You don't often find a genuine okonomiyaki restaurant in the USA. I really enjoyed the Hiroshima style, but I found the Osaka style just okay, and we didn't finish it. Although our meal wasn't perfect, I would definitely come back to explore more of the menu.

I particularly enjoyed the cauliflower base, which added a wonderful heartiness to the dish. While a side of white rice could complement it well, it certainly didn’t detract from the meal's quality. The homemade kimchi and pickled vegetables were simply delicious. The chef and owner, Paul Virant, was kind enough to stop by our table to take our order and chat with us. It was fantastic to engage with him and see other patrons being treated so warmly by the staff, who were incredibly hospitable! I really enjoyed sitting at the counter and watching the cooking process. Lastly, the coffee was among the best I’ve ever had—it was rich, layered with flavor, and not bitter at all. I paired it with the matcha citrus mochi donut to balance the sweetness. However, it was actually the black sesame yuzu shaved ice that my partner ordered that stole the show for me. I usually dislike shaved ice, but this dessert completely changed my mind! The honey-sesame drizzle was absolutely amazing, with every single ingredient tasting just right. Honestly, I think the approximately $50 we spent was a steal for the quality of food we received. Many thanks to Chef Paul Virant for a wonderful date night away from our little ones!

I had a wonderful first visit to this restaurant. The okonomiyaki, freshly made and served hot on a personal teppanyaki pan, had a fantastic balance of flavors. The mochi donut was also a delightful and creative treat. I rate this place 4 stars mainly because the flavors could be more pronounced based on my experience, and the prices could be a bit more affordable. Nevertheless, this is definitely a restaurant I would visit again!