"From vaulted to favorite!"

April 23, 2012

• Food: Fresh Sushi
• Decor:
• Service: Knowledgeable and polite
• Cost: $$$$
• Wine / Cocktails:

Overview:

I was on the hunt to fill the void left by the unfortunate closing of Sushi Wabi and after reading Amanda Puck's review of Arami I knew I had to try it. Let me tell you, Arami did not disappoint! The sushi here is probably the freshest I ever had. I think they must secretly have a pond in back filled with blue fin tuna and salmon, it is that fresh. The presentations of the sushi dishes were just amazing and the seats at the sushi counter are a good bet.

I am declaring a sushi tie between Arami and Macku as my favorite sushi in Chicago. Amanda…it is your turn to try Macku.

Recommended Dishes:

Uni shooter, mushroom salad, sake garlic, shrimp tempura asparagus and the spicy maguro.

This Review has been recommended by 2 people

"Arami"

April 17, 2012

• Food: Beautiful and Tasty Sushi
• Decor:
• Service:
• Cost: $$$
• Wine / Cocktails:

Overview:

The most beautiful sushi I have ever seen, this night was long anticipated, and I can’t wait to go back. Thanks for a great night TK. We closed the place down!!

We had:
Luscious Oysters
A whole filleted mackerel
Botan Ebi – sweet shrimp.
Secret Hamachi – yellow tail with mushroom and truffle oil.
Sake Garlic – salmon with garlic and vinegar.
Special grilled prawns. These guys were good.
Akami Anikimo – tuna with monkfish foie gras, one of my all time favorite dishes I first tried at Nobu in NYC when it first opened.
Special spring roll with crab.
Toro Tartar Bite = the best bite of anything you ever had.

Check out the Photos for a few snapshots of what we ordered. The sake mussels were a great spin in the mussle dish, and the ramen all sounded delicious. I can’t wait to go back.

Recommended Dishes:

Oysters, Botan Ebi, Secret Hamachi, mackerel, Sake Garlic, Special grilled prawns, Akami Anikimo, Special spring roll with crab, Toro Tartar Bite

"A great atmosphere and fun vibe with delicious sushi"

April 16, 2012

• sushi
• Japanese

• Food: Delicious
• Decor: Chic/Modern
• Service: Excellent
• Cost: $$
• Wine / Cocktails: Japanese influence

Overview:

The food is delicious and the service was great. Our waitress was knowledgeable and attentive. The restaurant itself is very chic and modern. Soy sauce was not readily available, which is unheard of at a sushi restaurant - it's not necessary at Arami.

We loved everything we ordered! Make sure you try the Saki - it pairs well with the sushi and it's refreshing with the cucumbers in the glass. Arami is a hidden gem and I am glad Food Mafia helped me discovered this amazing sushi!

Recommended Dishes:

Toro Tartar Bite, Togarashi Seared Tuna, Uni Shooter, ALBACORE UNAGI (marinated albacore, chili paste, toasted almond, eel) Maguro Kani, Secret Hamachi, Akami Ankimo, Hirame Spicy Tako Hand Roll

"Completely surprised! (in a good way)"

February 6, 2012

• sushi
• noodles

• Food: sushi
• Decor: asian
• Service: helpful, thorough
• Cost: $$$
• Wine / Cocktails: full bar

Overview:

I'd heard random comments about how good Arami was, and on a misc Weds night, decided to make the jaunt and give it a go. Pulling up, I was skeptical, this isn't an upscale stretch of Chicago ave, by any means. We walked in and to the back, and the restaurant is absolutely charming (and packed for a weds!). This is the sort of menu that presents a problem, as there are so many things I wanted to try that we had to narrow things down. We ended up getting the Toro Tartar Bite and the Spicy Tako Springroll (Both at the server's suggestion). Both good, but the springroll was amazing. While there were many amazing noodle dishes on the menu, for which I will return, we went the sushi route. Ordered the Chef's Choice Sashimi and several rolls.

This was, by far, the most fresh and delightful shashimi I have ever had in my life, hands down. I am usually really picky which fish I will eat Shashmi style, yet I ate every single piece that was presented. The rolls were amazing as well.

All of this for VERY reasonable prices and more the adequate service.

I can't wait to go back, this blows other sushi places out of the water.

Recommended Dishes:

spicy tako springroll, sashimi, hirame spice tako roll

This Review has been recommended by 1 person

"Supreme Sushi"

January 8, 2012

• Sushi
• Japanese

• Food: Sushi
• Decor: Modern, Sexy
• Service: Great
• Cost: $$$
• Wine / Cocktails: Great

Overview:

A friend in the industry recommended Arami for some great sushi, and I was thoroughly impressed. We showed up and there were several local chefs there for dinner, so I knew it had to be quality. After ordering two (large) glasses of sake, we dived right into the menu and got hamachi and fatty tuna sashimi and uni nigiri- all the most fresh cuts of fish I've ever had. We also had the hamachi collar which I believe was on special, but it was a beautifully grilled piece of yellow tail. We moved on to the Akami Ankimo, which is tuna with monkfish foie gras (probably my favorite of the evening), and then had the special nigiri of king crab wrapped in marinated tuna. For rolls we had the soft shell crab and spicy ebi and the hamachi maguro ebi. We went off of our server. Elizabeth's recommendation for a lot of our dishes, and she was spot on- she's a great server and very knowledgable! We were also brought a special (and delish) sesame-fig-chocolate chip- gelato at the end from Black Dog Gelato, which was a great way to end the meal. We would have gladly sat at the bar for a couple more hours if we weren't already closing down the place. We will be back!

*Have since been back and went a little overboard (in such a good way), with the special Oysters, Akami Ankimo (tuna with monkfish foie gras), the Secret Hamachi (yellowtail, mushrooms, truffle oil), Grilled Baby Tako, Tonkatsu Don (kurobuta pork cheek, miso-karashi, negi, braised cabbage, pickled shishito), Maguro Kani (king crap wrapped with marinated tuna), Zuke Sake Hotate (spicy scallop wrapped in salmon), the Soft Shell Crap & Spicy Ebi, Hirame Spicy Tako, and the Shrimp Tempura Asparagus rolls, Uni, and the Botan Ebi (sweet shrimp with fried heads), Salmon, and Fatty Tuna sashimi. Every single thing we had was out-of-this-world delicious! The Special Sashimi (Akami Ankimo and Secret Hamachi) was incredibly different and tasty, the Grilled Baby Tako (octopus) was amazing, we had to get seconds of the Shrimp Tempura Asparagus roll, which had a great smoky, earthy flavor, and the Pork Cheek was a splendid surprise!

Again, love this place, and can't wait to go back!

Recommended Dishes:

Uni Nigiri, Sashimi, Special Sashimi, Everything

"My new go-to sushi spot!"

November 1, 2011

• Food: Sushi
• Decor: Simple, understated
• Service: Excellent
• Cost: $$$
• Wine / Cocktails: Great sake and wine menu

Overview:

Loved Arami! The decor is very simple at Arami and you can tell their focus is definitely on the sushi - which I love. They had a great menu that offers some items I had not seen before. We got the last order of the matsutake mushrooms that are harder to find on a menu. They were excellent! The table next to us wasn't as thrilled since we took the last order they had available and we were not sharing them!

The oysters were fantastic, the salmon was literally one of the best looking pieces of salmon that I have ever seen, papio was good, the shiro anago (white sea eel) was amazing. I always try to get sea eel when it is on the menu but this is the first time I have seen both white sea eel and red sea eel available. The preparation of it was fantastic. We had the soft shell crab and spicy ebi roll, and the hamachi maguro ebi roll.

I would recommend anything that we tried and the waitress was extremely helpful taking us through the menu and pointing out what was unique. If you are a big sushi lover I would definitely try some of the things you can't usually get at another sushi restaurant.

It takes a lot to become a favorite restaurant after trying it just once but Arami is a favorite! I can't wait to go back.

Recommended Dishes:

Anything but the white sea eel was extra special

This Review has been recommended by 1 person

""Sushi Done Right""

June 9, 2011

• Omakase

• Food: Sushi
• Decor: Sparse, casual
• Service: Good
• Cost: $$$
• Wine / Cocktails: Sake, Japanese beer, some wine

Overview:

Stepping into Arami's simply decorated space, we figured we'd have a nice standard meal. We left giddy that we had found our new favorite sushi spot. Apparently they
were saving the wow factor solely for the food. The fish is incredibly fresh, and immaculately prepared. Every nigiri and sashimi we had was fantastic; some other menu standouts include: Togarashi Seared Tuna, Miso Grilled Salmon, Mushroom Salad, and a wonderful Veggie Udon.

Tip: Get some sake - the list is very approachable, and divided into categories, ranging from "clean and pure" to "rich and classic". You can't make a bad choice. But if you order the hot sake, that's it, we're no longer friends.

Next time we go (and it will be soon) we will be making an "Omakase" reservation.

Recommended Dishes:

Togarashi Seared Tuna, Miso Grilled Salmon, Mushroom Salad, Veggie Udon, All Sushi!

"Amazing"

March 30, 2011

• Food:
• Decor:
• Service:
• Cost: $$
• Wine / Cocktails:

Overview:

Arami has great sushi as well as well executed food. I've been once so far and cant wait to go back.

Recommended Dishes:

Unagi Shooter

"Best Sushi in Chicago."

March 17, 2011

• Food:
• Decor:
• Service:
• Cost: $
• Wine / Cocktails:

Overview:

My favorite sushi place in Chicago by a country mile!

Recommended Dishes:

"Best sushi in Chicago"

February 27, 2011

• Food: sushi and Japanese comfort food
• Decor: eco chic
• Service: friendly and knowledgeable
• Cost: $$$
• Wine / Cocktails:

Overview:

The freshest fish and most delicious sushi in Chicago. BK Park's rolls are fabulous and my favorite is is the maguro kani-fresh crab wrapped in tuna. Yum! Their sake and wine list is very extensive for a small restaurant. Love the signature cocktails with sake-not too sweet and gorgeous presentations.
Staff is very knowledgeable and friendly. The donburi shortrib will come back to you in your dreams it's that good!

Recommended Dishes:

Toro bites, mushroom salad, fried oysters, maguro kani, double salmon, short rib and the Arami ramen.

This Review has been recommended by 1 person