Izakaya Mita

I just returned from truly the worst dining experience I have ever had, at Izakaya Mita.
First off, my friend made reservations for six at 8 PM. She got a confirmation e-​mail that said 8:15, so we called to confirm, and they asked if we could do 8:30 PM. We said fine, no problem. We arrived at 8:30, and were not seated until after 9 PM. It was clearly busy, so I understand having to wait, but we didn’t get any food until after 10 PM. This is beyond a reasonable delay.
I order the six-​course Prix fixe Restaurant Week menu, as did three others at the table. Two people at the table ordered three to four courses a la carte, but kitchen didn’t bother to try and have anything come out at the same time. By the time we had our third course, the diners who ordered a la carte were completely finished eating. Not great for our total experience at the table.
I actually never received the first course — after my fellow diners got their first course, the waitress came to ask me if I would be OK with a substitution, since they were out of one of the fishes in the first course. I said fine, no problem, but it never actually came out. It was frustrating to see other tables getting their first course while I was still waiting for mine, and when I asked (multiple times) about it, she kept saying that it was coming. I kind of felt like I was being duped.
That said, the waitress did get me a shot on the house, but when I asked again about the first course as she was bringing out the dessert, she offered me more alcohol instead of the first course. We ended up talking to the manager and they comped one of the prix fixe dinners, and brought us out and extra dessert, which was a nice gesture. We were happy that they tried to make things right for us, but still, our bill was over $ 330 (minus probably $ 120 for alcohol), which just felt like way too much considering the overall experience and amount of food we actually got. The staff were very friendly and understanding.
We spent almost 4 hours in the restaurant, and I left hungry, and I would rate this among my worst dining experiences ever encountered. I feel like I’ve never had such a poor experience at a restaurant before. The real disappointment is that I feel so reluctant to go out to eat again for a while after eating at Izakaya Mita. I’m better off just cooking for myself.
The food is very good, but not worth the wait or mediocre service. If you eat here during Restaurant Week, you’re better off ordering a la carte — the food will (probably) arrive in a more timely fashion and you’ll definitely be getting a better value for your money. Some of the cocktails are weird (too sweet or too sour or too boozy or like, don’t taste like anything at all) so unless you know sake varieties well you might be better off getting beer or wine.
I hate that I wrote all this on Unilocal but I just feel kind of cheated and wanted to share my experience.

The food looks amazing and the portion is as expected-​small. The music gets you going but I’ll be honest, it’s not the ideal place to go to on an empty tummy.

Had the Restaurant Week menu last night and it was fantastic. Six amazing courses. I have eaten at Izakaya Mita plenty of times (all great) and this was the best meal. So wonderful to try different items that are not normally on the menu. The highlight was the Kani Ankake Tofu which is too wild to explain. Unbelievable flavors and textures. I also did the sake pairing and tried all types of sakes that I have never tried. The ceder barrel sake being the most memorable. Go check it out while you can.

Came here for the first time during Restaurant Week. As an izakaya aficionado, I was pretty excited to try it after looking at the Restaurant Week menu and the 4 star ratings on Unilocal.Unfortunately, Izakaya Mita didn’t meet my expectations and left underwhelmed.
Despite arriving for the Restaurant Week menu, I also looked/​considered the restaurant’s regular menu. Despite the numerous menu items, I didn’t find anything that caught my interest and I noticed it was slightly on the pricy side. As such, I stuck with my choice in trying the Restaurant Week Menu.
One of the deciding factors in choosing Izakaya Mita over any other Japanese establishment for Restaurant Week was that there was more courses than the others (6 courses for $ 44). Don’t let this fool you! The portions for each course was quite small and I left the restaurant pretty hungry. Since the portions were small, I was planning to split a ramen with my friend but the waitress never came back so we never ordered it.
In terms of the food taste and quality, I was a little disappointed. Ingredients are good but average. Taste missed the mark as some items were either overly salty, overly bland, or overly fried. The one thing I did really enjoy was the matcha green tea cheesecake!
Service is prompt and friendly, but not very attentive. We initially ordered the Restaurant Week menu to get the food order started and told the waitress to comeback after we decided on some additional dishes from the regular menu and she never came back. I also asked for some hot water in addition to my friend’s beer, but only the beer came.
Overall, I wouldn’t say Izakaya Mita is a bad restaurant, but I’ve definitely had better experiences elsewhere.

One of the best places in the city. Jeremy behind the bar was so informative and a pleasure to get served by. The atmosphere here is lovely and the crew all help each other. I can tell they love what they do. Come to IZAKAYA for some good food and great service/​ambiance.

I’ve never been to an Izakaya restaurant before and this was a great introductory experience. We went on a Monday night, it wasn’t very crowded so when we showed up with a few more people than our reservation stated they were very accommodating (we were 13 people).
Our server was Ana, who was the sweetest, knew so much about the menu, and was able to give great recommendations. The «crack mushrooms» were amazing, we wanted a good amount of sake to share without spending more than our means, and she advised the bang-​for-​your-​buck 1L can. We embarrassingly asked how possible it was for us to split the check (for 13 people!) and she said it was absolutely no problem.
It should be noted that the «tapas style» dishes are pretty small and can add up quickly if you’re hungry. The bottles of sake are also pretty small and expensive but are very high in ABV. However, the atmosphere was perfect. The food was delicious and they played good music that wasn’t too loud to where we couldn’t hear each other. All in all, great place with great service.

I can’t say enough about Izakaya Mita. The staff is great, the bartenders are super knowledgeable, and everything I’ve ever ordered has been delicious. I was referred by a friend who overheard me talking about my search for the best ramen in Chicago. I’m down to try ramen anywhere, and I have a few favorite places, but Izakaya Mita is now in my top 3. The tonkotsu broth is rich, thick, and fully flavorful. Not only is the ramen legit, everything else I have tried on the menu — and I feel like I’m close to crossing everything off — has been amazing. Do yourself a solid and order the moriawase sashimi platter, the kinoko itame, tonkotsu ramen, and the matcha green tea cheesecake. Also, sit at the bar and have a conversation with Jonathan (I believe that is his name), he’s great to talk to about the different Japanese whiskeys and sakes.

Just very average.

Yesss. This was my first izakaya experience so I decided I wanted to take my half Japanese friend who’s basically tried all the izakaya restaurants in the greater Chicago area (and some in Japan) so he knows what’s up.
This place was delicious, very affordable and with friendly service. We had a Tuesday evening reservation but didn’t need it as it wasn’t full. Not empty either which is what I like to see because I hate when I find a neighborhood spot I love and it’s empty because then I worry that they’ll close :(
We tried the following dishes:
Kara age: can’t go wrong with fried chicken but I liked this a lot more than I thought I would! definitely getting this again next time I go
Okonomiyaki (savory pancake): this took a while to come out but our waitress didn’t forget us and let us know that it would take some extra time. totally worth it. so tasty I want to get this again as well. I will say that the pork belly didn’t really stick out to me flavor wise but the whole thing was so good it doesn’t matter
Takoyaki (octopus balls): this was definitely tasty but I wouldn’t get it again. there wasn’t much octopus though the inside was very creamy. reminded me of arancini with a hint of octopus.
Dessert:
Helen’s (the owner), home made crustless green tea cheesecake: I’m not a fan of green tea desserts but I love cheesecake. I probably wouldn’t get it again just because I’m not really into the green tea aspect, but it was good and my friend loved it. It was more like a soufflé but then again how do you picture crustless cheesecake. also much lighter tasting than regular cheesecake which imo is a bonus after chowing down on everything else
Banana tempura: I was so excited about this and it lived up to my expectations. Would definitely order this again it was so good! Obviously not calorie free but it also tasted like a somewhat lighter dessert. Especially if you split it with someone.
We kind of loaded up on desserts but I don’t feel like we ordered a ton of food for two people. I didn’t come away stuffed, but comfortable. The okonomiyaki is definitely larger and filling and I’m really into the protein heavy options so overall I loved this place and also love the price point given the quality and portions.

Izakaya Mita is the first restaurant in America, where it reminded me of my trip to Osaka, Japan. I’m not too sure that says much when, outside of Roka Akor, I have only experienced Japanese cuisine at strictly sushi or ramen restaurants. Izakaya Mita really came close to the kind of foodie experience I had in Japan. Now if they only had Green Tea Bols on the rocks. I can’t find it anywhere! I love the concept of a restaurant that offers a menu of little portions of appetizers and meat skewers at an affordable price. All while you wash it down with creatively crafted mixed cocktails where speakeasy meets Japan without the aftertaste of a medicine cabinet. Of course, there’s an overwhelming sake menu, but be careful, after seeing how cheap it went for in Japan, it’s hard to justify the cost.
First, I learned that Izakaya Mita is known for their Okonomiyaki, or a Japanese pancake. While I was in Japan, nothing was salty enough and I covered everything in wasabi and soy sauce. I hate to say it, but the Okonomiyaki served here is amazing when made with ingredients high in sodium. That also goes for the tako yakis. They were tasty in Japan, but here it was so rich and all of the same flavors were there, just amplified. Straight street-​food heaven! As for the skewers, I had the chicken breast, and the teriyaki marinade wasn’t on point. However, the sake-​salt marinade over the shrimp was simple and it definitely triggered Osaka memories. What really brought it all home for me was the Piri Kara Kyuri — spicy cucumbers. I recommend these for every visit.
If you like cocktails that are sweet, but not overboard on the sugar, then order the Mo Mugi, Mo Problems. It’s a strong drink for $ 10, and after a few of these, the hangover isn’t that intense. I think I have found a new favorite restaurant. I must say the décor of Izakaya Mita does not lend itself to the kind of restaurant they are trying to echo. Maybe I’m just partial to an all-​wooden interior/​pub-​style place to sit. I felt like this place was a little sterile. Then again, Brian Mita himself pointed out that the food items I ordered had more of a Tokyo spin, and perhaps that also goes for the atmosphere. The seating is a little tight, but there’s definitely more room than sushi restaurants you find around the city. Domo arigato gozaimasu!

Honestly the food isn’t good enough to deal with the overall experience. I was there last week with a friend who loves this place and has been raving about it. We decided to go and sit at the bar, hoping to have a more intimate experience.
First the bartender was helping another guest when we sat and the manager sat there and stared at us with the dumbest look of confusion on her face. Didn’t offer us a drink or menus, not even a water while we wait. Finally after the bartender came over who was really friendly, and got us drinks and explained the menu. As we are waiting for our food we over heard the manager yelling at another guest about how messed up the Indian culture is??? How is that appropriate?! And she was yelling! We couldn’t hear each other and even more so really uncomfortable by the conversation and how the manager was yelling. Worse when we asked the bartender about it, SHES THE OWNER! we were so disgusted, we left as soon as we’re done.
Then tonight my friend is in town and convinces us to go back. The food wasn’t bad, nothing to go crazy over but still plenty good. We were seated and drinking our sake and over hear the servers talk about how crazy there managers were, how unprofessional and lazy they were, at this point I just feel bad and disgusted. To top this all fucking off I see that same crazy bitch yelling at another girl!!! She’s waving her arms around like a crazy banshee, screaming! Yes screaming at this poor girl and people are staring. I don’t know who the girl was but she was calming just standing there. My friends and I can’t take it anymore, we threw cash down and walked out.
Note to management– don’t treat your guest or staff like crap! No one wants to see that or support your business and especially not when you do it in front of us!

This place is really wonderful. The food was great, though I don’t think they offer what most Americans would expect from a Japanese restaurant. The Okonomiyaki and avocado tempura were really good, as was the spinach goma ae and Japanese pickle plate. They have a really nice list of Japanese beers (even micro brews) and an extensive sake list. Our server Frank was very helpful, and on request set up a sake flight for us based on our tastes and what we were eating at the time. He gave us a lot of great info and recommendations without overselling it or making us feel silly for not knowing anything about sake (which I freely admit that we didn’t).
If you are in the mood for a cozy meal of shared snacks and lots of good drinks, definitely come here!

I was excited to eat at Izakaya Mita because #1 I LOVE izakayas in Tokyo (I travel to Japan 1 – 2 times a year for work) and #2 one of my best friend’s last name is Mita (ok, this just gives more positive vibes to the restaurant). First, let’s start with the good. The service was quite friendly and attentive.
Apps:
Ingen Goma Ae: Bland. I liked the idea of the black sesame gomae sauce.
Piri Kara Kyuri: I liked them.
Kinoko Itame: SALTY
Takoyaki: I was so EXCITED to see this on the menu because this is one of the reasons I fell in love with Osaka, Japan. However, they were under cooked inside. The sauce was good.
Skewers:
Pork Belly: Bland (If you are looking for some tastier pork belly, I would suggest PIKO Street Kitchen food truck)
Tsukune: It just tasted like flour with a scent of chicken. (Sumi Robata Grill has some excellent Tsukune)
Dessert:
The meal did end on a positive. I love anything with matcha so of course, I had to try the matcha cheesecake. Even though I did not enjoy the savory items, I would actually go back for the cheesecake and a drink.
I really wanted to love Izakaya Mita but overall, the food was either too bland or salty.

I found this restaurant via Gilt City (an amazing value, btw) and am SO glad I did. My husband and I have a tradition of going out for date night on the date of our wedding (18^th) each month — so we stopped in on a VERY stormy Tuesday.
Izakaya is a great style for group dining — everyone gets to try a little bit of everything — and the portions here are generous.
Our deal allowed us a 6 course meal — each course had numerous dishes! We started with a palette cleanser like a Japanese coleslaw minus the mayo but more nutty, YUM. Next came chilled green beans and a spicy chilled cucumber dish. We then sampled some amazing mushrooms, octopus balls, chicken meat balls, pork belly X2, smoked peppers, chilled ramen, tempura banana, and mochi ice cream. It was VERY filling and each dish was unique and flavorful.
Of course we also tried cocktails and Japanese whiskey… again YUM.
Its fitting that this place is next to one of my favorite restaurants in the city (Le Bouchon), because Izakaya Mita has earned a place in my heart and stomach. We will be returning (with friends) ASAP!

Amazing sake. Very knowledgeable staff and delicious easy to eat food.
The staff are warm and friendly and the owner is always trying to make the experience better. Highly recommend checking this place out.

On Friday 5÷15÷15, I had the greatest meeting at Izakaya Mita. It consisted the chairman and his colleague from the All Japan Sushi Association (AJSA) and fellow all American world class sushi chefs.
The AJSA is holding a sushi competition to look for the number 1 sushi chef from the U.S. to compete in Japan later this year and the U.S. Preliminary round was held in Chicago and I was one of the few competitors for the occasion.
So, for the competition, I’ve arrived at Chicago prior to the date and I was craving anything japanese since all I was eating was Chicago hot dogs and sandwiches. I needed sake, mirin, and soy sauce!
Since I was alone in an unfamiliar location, I asked other competitors to join me for dinner and that’s when the concept of Unilocal came in handy.
I looked up japanese near downtown Chicago and Mita came up.
Told the other competitors if they wanted to join and became a party !
At first, we were all skeptical due to the fact that none of us was familiar with this place but my god, it was one of the best night of my life. We were all craving japanese food and everything was legit! From the tsukedashi (appetizer) to the main dishes, every thing blew our minds. Even the chairman of the AJSA said he’ll be back when he’s in Chicago and I can’t agree more!
Helen san! (Mita’s mama san) was super nice and we even got the chance to see where the magic happens. Great hospitality and that is the core of Japanese cuisine.
I hope they do great in the future and I will definitely come back when I visit Chicago.
Thanks to Helen and her staff at Izakaya Mita!

Went here w/​7 of my friends on a Saturday night. It’s a small restaurant and when we came in it was packed. We were quoted about an hour wait, but the hostess said we could be seated right away if we split up into 2 groups, since 2 tables on different ends of the room just opened up. Of course, food takes precedence over friendship and we all instantly agreed to be split up into 2 tables. Highlights included:
–Sake sashimi: smooth and fresh
–Pork belly okonomiyaki: one of the better Japanese pancakes I’ve had. Great texture, flavor, and lots of pork.
–Chicken gizzards and chicken liver: tasty. Not chewy or gritty at all.
–Ika sugatayaki: grilled fresh squid. My table of 4 loved this — so much so that we ordered another plate after we demolished the 1^st one! The squid was delicate and was grilled to perfection. A must try!
All in all, a really good restaurant. Will definitely be coming back

I came here for dinner last night with my parents. My experience here was overall pretty good. I thought that the service was great but the food was just all right in my opinion. This is what we ordered:
–Sashimi Combination $ 16 — This came with 3 pieces each of the salmon, tuna, and yellowtail. We really enjoyed the yellowtail and salmon but felt that the tuna was a bit too chewy.
–Octopus Balls $ 7 — These were very good! I loved the batter and the little bits of octopus inside
–Chicken Breast Skewer $ 3 — A bit dry, not too flavorful
–Beef Tenderloin Skewer $ 5.50 — Very moist but had absolutely no flavor at all! Also, $ 5.50 for this??? It was tiny!
–Squash Tempura $ 4 — so so so good! We loved this!
–Tonkatsu $ 9.50 — We had to pay extra for rice, which I found pretty ridiculous. This was definitely fried very well but the pork inside was too tough and chewy
–Tonkatsu Ramen — $ 12.50 — My parents really enjoyed this and I did too. I felt that the noodles were cooked perfectly but the broth was a bit too salty and not flavorful enough
Overall I think that this place has pretty good food. I think that their prices are a bit high for the quality and amount that you get however. Still, very good service!

I wanted to love it! I really did. I love sharing food so it’s hard to go wrong with a tapas style Japanese restaurant.
We ordered the Okonomiyaki (waiter’s suggestion) with pork belly, Moriawase sashimi, Ebi Mayo, and of the grill we got chicken white and dark meet, beef tenderloin, and salmon. The grill was good, especially the beef, and I liked the Ebi Mayo, but it wasn’t enough to make me want to come back. I was disappointed by the Okonomiyaki since the waiter suggested it, I just couldn’t get myself to eat it after 1 bite.
Really worth trying at least once, but it’s not my preference.

Amazing Amazing Amazing!
Every single thing about this place is delicious! Went here for a double date opening weekend and got seated within 15 minutes. The list of sake is impeccable. You can get warm sake, cold sake, floral sake, fruity sake or traditional sake. They have cute little sake cans, that are super authentic, which is a nice touch to this theme of japanese homey-​ness — tapas, comfy japanese faire, and solid drinks not to mention Japanese beer on tap!
We tried the following:
Japanese Pancakes with Shrimp — MUST GET! This was seriously the most delicious thing I have ever tasted in a long time. It’s a perfect sweet and savory duo!
Oyster Balls — Contrary to what you first might think, these are really balls made out of octopus =) Super delicious. The batter is thin so it doesn’t ruin the integrity of the octopus, and the octopus is cooked to perfection.
Tenderloin Skewers — So tender, juicy, and perfectly seasoned. We had to each order one of these because they were that good!
Chicken Wings — Yum! These come in threes and were really flavorful and tender.
Chicken Skin — Really unique style of cooking and it was the perfect touch to our meal.
Sashimi — Super fresh and yummy!
Beef Sliders (on a rice bun) — It’s more wow than wow bao!
I will definitely be back and I am excited to try more things on their menu. This place is also very reasonably priced. I think the most expensive thing we ordered was Sashimi, which was still cheaper than most sushi spots!
The people that work here were super nice and attentive. The best thing besides the food is the ambiance and location of this place. It is a warm cozy Bucktown spot, perfect for a date night or a friends gathering. I anticipate coming here with all my friends in the near future!