Ani
3056 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL, 60657
Ani Menu
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Address :
3056 N Lincoln Ave
Chicago, IL, 60657 - Phone (872) 206-8553
- Website https://anichicago.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Trendy
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Dustin M.
Recently visited for the first time. Great food. Excellent service! I was surprised, and impressed.
(5)Sanders F.
Great meal at Ani, the sushi was super good and the ramen was the best I have ever had. The vast variety of sake was amazing. Truly a wonderful experience
(5)Ryan K.
I love, love, love Ani for the following reasons (in no particular order): 1) Patio. Quiet, quaint, comfortable. 2) Cocktails. They get inventive and I haven't had a bad one yet. 3) Spicy edamame. I don't know what magic they put on these but they are delicious. Hot and delicious. 4) Ramen. So good. 5) Sushi. Solid, always. 6) Service. Always friendly. Always feel welcome. 7) Crowds. There aren't any. It's the best kept secret on Lincoln.
(5)Samantha G.
I paid over 14 dollars for the smallest meal I've ever seen in my life. It was incredibly too expensive, the container my "lunch special" came in would be comparable to a box you'd ship one, and only one, fork in. The tuna was good, and the seaweed salad beneath it even better, but re-read what I just said and reassess if that's even a good thing at all. I regretted eating this place for lunch.
(2)Ryan K.
I love, love, love Ani for the following reasons (in no particular order): 1) Patio. Quiet, quaint, comfortable. 2) Cocktails. They get inventive and I haven't had a bad one yet. 3) Spicy edamame. I don't know what magic they put on these but they are delicious. Hot and delicious. 4) Ramen. So good. 5) Sushi. Solid, always. 6) Service. Always friendly. Always feel welcome. 7) Crowds. There aren't any. It's the best kept secret on Lincoln.
(5)Stephanie H.
I went here a couple weeks ago with a Gilt City voucher. We went on a Friday and made reservations only a half hour before with no problem. We ordered a few sushi rolls, all of which were very fresh. I don't think you could go wrong with the sushi. We also split the Shoyu ramen, which was good, but could've been better. I loved everything we ordered, but the Okonomiyaki was just okay. The service was awesome, and the place was really inviting! I'd love to try their sister restaurant Arami based on my experience at Ani.
(4)Amanda M.
More of a 3.5. Came with a Gilt City credit voucher and I expected this place to be slightly better than your average sushi spot that are numerous in the city. The front décor really draws you in but the rest of the ambiance inside was nothing spectacular. We were seated promptly for our 6:30 reservation Friday evening. Shortly after, we noticed a slight wait for others. Right away, we were given a complimentary dish of Asian cracker snacks. These weren't my thing, but it was a nice thought. Boo and I each got a pork belly bun and a plate of brussel sprouts to start. The pork belly was good but the bun was a little too big for what was inside. The brussel sprouts were very good and was actually the best thing we had there. I got the shoyu ramen, boo had the gyu donburi. I wasn't expecting mind-blowing ramen here but I enjoyed it. Big tender pieces of pork belly and perfectly poached egg. The broth and noodles weren't the best but were satisfactory. Boo really enjoyed his donburi. We also got a sake ikura and a spicy maguro temaki (handroll), along with a hamachi maguro & cilantro maki roll. Here's where I was somewhat disappointed. While the fish was quite fresh, the rolls weren't made too well, as they fell apart. Also felt like something was just missing from the flavor of the maki and temaki. Think the rice could have been better as well. Overall, the food wasn't that memorable. However, service was great. Food came out at appropriate times. Waitress was super friendly and helpful. Waters were constantly refilled. Not a bad place but certainly not outstanding.
(3)Allison J.
My boyfriend and I came here for a weekday lunch date. Upon walking in, the ambience was really nice. We were the first people in the restaurant and our server was attentive, informative and entertaining. We ordered the hot sake, Ban Ryu 10,000 ways. It was ok, the server helped with ordering but it wasn't the best... Granted he recommended some of the cold sakes more highly. There definitely isn't a lack of sake options! We ordered 2 sushi rolls. The Hamachi, Maguro & Cilantro was so fresh and flavorful. The cilantro and jalapeño paired perfectly with the fish, which literally melted in our mouth! Definitely recommend!! The Ebi Tempura and Sake was not as good, and I've had a lot of better tempura rolls in the city. We finished off with the Shoyu Ramen which was decent. The pork belly was good but this was definitely lower down on my favorite ramen places. All together, I've had better sushi and I've had better ramen but I still think this places deserves a solid 4 stars.
(4)Brett F.
Why aren't you going to Ani? You should be! But you're not. It may be the best kept secret yet. Did you know that Ani: \\ Is owned by the same folks as the ultra tasty Arami (so, basically, their sushi is tops)? \\ Does amazing bento box specials at lunch? \\ Serves killer ramen? \\ And that ramen plus a beer is only $10 on Wednesdays? \\ Is also really cute and ideal for small groups and big ones? Well, now you know. No excuses left. Go.
(4)Kelsey S.
On a cold day, Ani is cozy and zen, serving food that warms without being too heavy. Brussels sprouts laced with togarashi, soy and bonito flakes make for a deliciously umami dish (not to mention some of the best sprouts I've had). They're tender, hearty and - of course - savory. Vegetable Shumai, filled with carrot, cabbage and chevre, are crunchy, a tad chewy and slightly indulgent thanks to the creamy goat's cheese. Both dishes are apt precursors to the sushi rolls. With poached shrimp, avocado, mango and obha leaf, the Ebi & Mango Maki Mono is simple, but it delivers on flavor. One swift swipe through soy sauce is just enough to compliment the sweetness of the mango and cut through the richness of the avocado. To cap off the meal, a glass of one of the many types of Sake will provide some added warmth.
(4)Stephanie S.
I like to consider myself pretty adventurous when it comes to food, but I've never been able to get into raw fish. A sushi roll here and there, OK. But sashimi, meh, no thanks. So I'm not even sure why I agreed to come here with friends, but I'm glad I did. I started with the octopus beignets (tako yaki) and the pork belly steamed bun. So good! Both were perfect. The tako yaki especially--I thought about those long after I ate them all in quick bites. I don't even really know how to describe the flavor other than awesome. I also had the shoyu ramen. I hadn't yet found a ramen I really liked until I came here. The broth and noodles were so comforting on the cold night. I didn't care for the fish cakes in the bowl, but I just ate around them. I had the cheesecake for dessert, which I could've done without. It had a strange flavor I couldn't quite figure out. Overall, no one at my table enjoyed their dessert, so I'd pass on that in the future. The service was attentive, patient and friendly, even easily separating bills for us. A great spot to try out, even if you aren't into sushi!
(4)Annie W.
Oh, yes! This place is delicious! Definitely one of my favorite sushi joints in the city, and the perfect location to hit up on the way to a show at Stage 773. Love the food, the ambience, and the service is dynamite! Definitely a hidden gem! :)
(5)Shambavi K.
Good date place. The place was pretty much full by 8pm with a few group diners but mostly dates sharing ramen. We tried out this place after hearing about it thru gilt city. we tried the sake flight (I liked the "Snowflake" one). The hot sake was better given the cold weather. The octopus beignets were not my favorite...too doughy. The maguro tekamaki was fresh. Somehow we ended up ordering 2 rolls that were both a bit spicy...OCEAN MAKI and ZUKE SAKE & SPICY HOTATE. Both were very fresh and tasty still. The highlight was the SEARED HOTATE - perfectly seared scallop appetizer with mushroom sauce. This was recommended by our waitress. Service was very attentive as well. I hope to return to try the ramen one day on a cold night. Most other tables seemed to be ordering ramen.
(4)Louise R.
Went for birthday had green tea cake, delish. Ordered maki and sake for 20$ special , with four people we ordered 4 rolls (salmon, soft shell, octopus) and were amazing. Waitress super knowledgeable and gracious with sake tasting.
(5)Sharris W.
I can only give this place 2 stars because the only thing I actually liked about my experience here was the design and setup of the restaurant. I had reservations for a Sunday evening dinner to meet my friend before a show at Lincoln Hall. When I arrived I let the hostess know that my friend was waiting and that she had texted me she was in the back dining room...the hostess looked really aloof and told me she didn't think so. I scanned the room and my friend surely wasn't in the front so I texted her again and sure enough she was in the back...at the very first table...and had just been seated by the same person. I should have known right there how the night was going to be. We did have a friendly waitress that walked us through the menu and gave us a couple of suggestions. We ordered edamame for an appetizer which wasn't the best edamame I've had but was good. I also had ordered a beer which didn't come until after our appetizer and I had to ask for it. We had placed out order pretty quickly but we waited for nearly 45 minutes for our food. We watched a couple next to us sit down and receive their plates and they came in after us-mind you, my friend had a simple veggie roll and I had one of the simpler seafood rolls. After letting out waitress know we were worried a out being late to the show, she apologized a few times and a manager came out and offered cheap Asian trail mix as compensation while we waited and there was STILL another 15 minute wait after that. Our plates finally came and I had a roll that featured tempura blue crab. I was immediately turned off at how the roll was falling apart and after tasting it, it seemed as if the crab had been fried in old cooking oil. I didn't even finish all 6 pieces. I also noticed that at some point when the waitress had cleared the table, she had discarded the rest of my beer. We let the waitress know when she came to clear our plates that we were ready for the check and that's when I began to lose my patience. She flitted around to all the tables but never came back to drop off the check. After finally bringing it, we sat and waited another 15 minutes or so for her to come back run our cards so we could leave. Again, she was nice but the overall service and quality of the food won't have me coming back again.
(2)David R.
Ani hits a home run in the "casual but high quality" category. I really dig a place that puts out such a laid-back vibe across their service and atmosphere, but still has the wait staff describe the nightly specials verbally in great detail. It shows that they are excited about their product and care about their customers, but they aren't putting on airs. That was a sweet touch. The service was wonderful from start to finish, and all of the food was pretty good. I mostly ate sushi plus nibbles of the brussels sprouts appetizer and a chicken and rice bowl. And as a bonus, I got to try temaki for the first time; this is basically the ingredients of a maki roll wrapped up in a cone of seaweed. I like the idea of sushi as deliberate finger food. This joint should have been busier than it was on a Saturday night, but the mellowness was nice. I hope that they do well; I would definitely go back. Close-by street parking was plentiful, and after dinner you are within striking distance of numerous post-dinner drinks venues. Or Scooter's for dessert.
(4)Gayatri S.
The food was great, so was the ambience but their service was excellent. We were there with my nephew (6 month old baby) and they did a great job of accomodating us and being very patient with our orders. I would definitely go back here!
(5)Nicole P.
Last night I went to Ani and I left happy. We had an early dinner reservation during Restaurant Week and the place was almost empty but really filled up as we ate. The space was welcoming and the decor was on point. There is a large dining room in the back of the restaurant as well that would be perfect for a private party. Our server was really helpful and knowledgeable about both the dinner menu and the sake menu. We decided not to go with the restaurant menu and instead ordered a la cart off the dinner menu. So what did we eat? Upon the recommendation from our server we started with fresh fish. We had salmon which was perfect. Cut well, fresh and served at the right temperature. Then we moved on to the spicy tako hand roll. This was awesome. The spicy octopus was just the right texture and the mix of flavors was pleasing. We then moved on to edamame with sea salt (solid but nothing special) and the togarashi brussel sprouts. These were good but the flavors were all salty/spicy. I felt like if there were a slight sweet element to this dish, it would have been a home run. The highlight of the night by far was the ramen. I was there with one other person and we had the tantanmen ramen (spicy with pork meatballs) and the vegetarian soba (we subbed the soba for ramen noodles). The tantanmen was amazing. If you like spicy, this is your dish. The pork meatballs melted in your mouth. The vegetarian soba had a mushroom broth where the mushroom flavor was appropriately assertive. Overall we left feeling satisfied and would go back for sure. They have a special deal Wednesday nights with ramen, beer and a sake shooter for $15.00. I think this sounds like the perfect reason to go back. The cost was reasonable with the total bill at $75.00 for all the food plus two great specialty cocktails. This is my first go at the trendy ramen craze and I was not disappointed. A place to check out for sure.
(4)Kristin M.
If you're expecting sushi, Ani is so much more than that. Food is tasty and inventive and the sake selection is extensive. I came for a chef's tasting menu where the courses were chosen for us. Here's the breakdown: Sushi -Hirame - this was a huge piece of sashimi curled in a tulip shape. It was pretty and tasted very fresh, but the size made it hard to eat, and with no knife, I couldn't cut it -Maguro - a cornucopia-style maki with big chunks of avocado. The idea, they said, is to taste more of the seaweed. It was good, just awkward to eat Veggie/Seafood -Vegetable Shumai - this were delicious wonton-type bites with goat cheese, cabbage and carrot -Tako Yaki - OCTOPUS BEIGNETS!!! I don't have to say more, but I will. These were light and airy, not at all what I expected. The octopus was tender which was fantastic because some places overcook it so it's rubbery. Highly recommend these -Brussel Sprouts - served with housemade garlic flakes, these were super tasty, we fought over the last ones Meat -Enoki - tiny enoki mushrooms wrapped in bacon. The bacon was very thick and not crispy, so my last bite was hard to get through (too fatty), but many at the table enjoyed it -Buta Hara - DELICIOUS pork belly! It was super tender and not fatty, this was a winner Dessert -Pana Cotta - I am not a fan of pana cotta. HOWEVER, the chef whips this and serves it with a shortbread cookie, which makes all the difference. I could have had another! Each course came with a sake pairing. I'm not really a sake fan, but our servers described why each was paired with each dish. They seem very knowledgable about sake and say they are proud to present the top 10% of sake varieties. If you're an afficianado, this seems to be the place to go.
(4)Erica L.
I was excited to try this place after walking by and noting the nice facade and interior. We were greeted warmly and seated immediately for our Friday dinner reservation at a table for two toward the front, which was great for people watching along Lincoln Ave. Also the space is well lit with the high floor to ceiling front windows that let a lot of the natural sunlight in which is a contrast to other sushi places that are dimly lit. Tried the Edamame with the soy ginger seasoning. It was good, but got a little soggy while it was sitting on the table. Started off with the sashimi platter, which included 3 pieces of four different fishes - salmon, tuna, Yellowtail, and Japanese snapper. The tuna was acceptable (usually this is the piece that's tough). The sashimi was good quality, but I've had better in the city, and for cheaper too as this platter was $32. The robata grill items were better - the ebi was delicious! The crispy pork belly was also yummy, but not as unique as the ebi. Since we were still hungry, we ordered the special Hamachi Kama. It was well cooked and seasoned with a delectably crispy skin. They have a few options for dessert - I was torn between the Matcha Cake and the Almond Mousse, but ultimately went for the mousse, which had a peppercorn shortbread crust, lemon curd sauce, fresh lychees, and topped with sugared almonds. It was light, with an interesting combination of flavors. The mousse was more solid in the form of a bar. It almost tasted like a stick of nutty brown butter. Maybe I should have gone for the Matcha Cake - perhaps next time.
(3)Rick F.
A zen like environment, felt great after a busy day. Meghan was an excellent server, made some great recommendations. Salmon sashimi was excellent. Ramen was excellent and the variety of rolls were succulent. These are the same folks that own Arami so the foundation of the concept is solid. I see great things in Ani's future.
(4)Erick N.
Ani (which translates to older brother) is the sister venue of Arami which has long been regarded as one of Chicago's best sushi restaurants. My meal at Ani was delicious from start to finish; I loved the refreshing yuzu aioli with my seaweed salad and was really impressed with the sushi; our table sampled a variety of sashimi, a roll and some Nigiri; beautiful presentation on the sashimi platter and all the fish was extremely fresh and well prepared - definitely some of the better quality sushi I have consumed in Chicago. I also enjoyed my pork belly steamed bun (one of the daily specials that was available). The Chitown ramen (a fun play on Italian beef and ramen) was good, but not on par with the sushi items nor with the best ramen I have had in Chicago. The space is sparsely decorated but is comfortable. Service was another strong point; Meghan took great care of us and was warm and attentive (even catching on that I was left handed and adjusting my place setting). She made some excellent recommendations, coursed out our order perfectly and was very knowledgeable of the vast menu (far more than just sushi and there is an extensive and thoughtful beverage program as well). Ani is going to run you a few bucks more than your run-of-the-mill sushi venue, but the upgrade in quality is readily apparent and overall our meal was a good value. Definitely a venue I would recommend as well as would gladly return for more.
(5)Nicole M.
I love the arare crackers given as a little snack when you're seated. Ambiance and decor make this place a great spot for both dates and friendly gatherings; it is intimate and classy without any pretentious undertones. I've been here during both lunch and dinner shifts and the hosts and waitstaff have always been nice and attentive. Prices are on the mid to higher end but quality and attention to detail are fantastic, so most items are worth the price. Their takoyaki and sushi are absolutely scrumptious. However, the ramen I've tried don't really compare to the other items on their menu or other ramen spots in the city.
(4)Andrew C.
I loved this place the first time I went, so I wanted to go a second time to make sure it wasn't an aberration.....and it wasn't. Let me start by saying this isn't just a sushi place, although the sushi is excellent. It's a Japanese restaurant. They have excellent ramen and yakitori. An amazing sake list and fantastic sashimi. The special sashimi they had when I was there (I feel awful for forgetting the types of fish) was amazing. Amazing. So fresh, so delicious. They also have a quite a list of Japanese beers....which I love because, as many people don't know, many of the Japanese beers we get in the U.S. aren't actually brewed in the United States. They're brewed in places like Guelph, Ontario so they can say they're "imported". They even have a sake for beginners menu...to help people who don't know much about sake. This restaurant moved into a space that has been many failed restaurants over the years. I hope people try it for the unique experience they will have and realize that it's not just another mediocre sushi spot in Lakeview. Think of it as a neighborhood Momotaro.
(5)Jaime S.
I prefer the sister restaurant Arami. The sushi we had here was good, but the ramen and mushroom robata were so salty that I had an unquenchable thirst almost every he entire next day. The wait staff was both uninformed and scarce during our entire meal and we continually had to ask for more water.
(3)David B.
Just like West Town's Arami, this place serves up some amazing Japanese cuisine. And being much closer to our place, we love stopping by on a casual weekday for delicious ramen or sashimi. It's definitely one of our favorite spots and the service has always been top notch. The decor is inviting, simple, and traditional. Try their house sake...it pairs well with their menu.
(5)Shlomy G.
One of our favorite neighborhood restaurants, great sushi using quality ingredients and even better Ramen. Great ambiance and music and most of all very good service. Called for some takeout yesterday and arrived to find my order was delayed for a few minutes, guy at the front had me comfortably seated and offered a complimentary beer while I wait, I waited for exactly 5 minutes till my order was ready, that is what I call service.
(5)Megan P.
Ani has great service and even better food! We tried a little bit from each section of the menu. Our waitress, Tayler, helped us to to order just the right amount. If you go, 'must orders' for me were the octopus beignets and cured pork belly grilled skewers! The atmosphere is very relaxed. Great for a low key night when you don't want to skimp on food quality but don't want to go 'all out'!
(4)Jamie B.
This is a fantastic sushi restaurant, but note this isn't for the novice sushi eater. There are no California rolls, cream cheese stuffed rolls, fried rolls or tempura rolls of any kind. This is simply excellent quality fish and creative rolls that really showcase the fish as opposed to a bunch of goopy sauce, cream cheese or crunchies. We started with the octopus beignets and shumai. The beignets were fantastic, I recommend these as a starter. We went with the chef's sashimi platter which was fantastic. The fish was incredibly fresh and I like the way they serve it on ice as opposed to a plate. The wasabi and ginger accompaniments were incredibly fresh as well. For rolls we had the maguro, avocado, and cilantro roll which was fantastic- and spicy. Afterward we had the ebi mango roll which was the perfect amount of sweetness to finish off the meal. These were rolled nicely and had a quality amount of fish inside. Win win for sushi and rolls. The service was fantastic and they have a nice selection of sake, beer and wine. I think their wine was overpriced with limited glass selections ($10 per glass was the least expensive) and for being up in a neighborhood this is ridiculous. They do have sake flights here at 3 for $14 which is a nice way to sample some of the different sake. Overall a solid sushi place and I would definitely return. They need to lower the price of their wine though in my opinion.
(4)B. G.
Solid sushi place with a gluten free menu for the hubs. Ambience could be warmer and my sushi was probably average but my husbands was excellent. He got something with mango. He loves this place!
(4)Mohit S.
Anu covers a broad spectrum of Japanese cuisine - both hot and cold. Great food, attentive service in a nice atmosphere. First time I've had Oyster beignets. Creative Makimono items that combine familiar flavored. We had a fab imago-Maputo. Will surely return!!
(4)Lizbeth S.
Arguably the best ramen of my life. The Tantanmen ramen was rich in all the right flavors. The heat from the chili oil was balanced by the sweet corn - definitely a must try!
(5)Niti B.
Delicious dining spot! I came here with a Gilt City deal and I'm so glad I had bought it! This deal gave me the opportunity to try so many things on the menu. For starters to unwind I had the nigata river -Kikusui Funaguchi Sake, cucumber. This was smooth light and refreshing. A perfect pairing to all the food we tried. We started with edamame and then had the ZUKE SAKE & SPICY HOTATE soy-marinated salmon, torched spicy scallop, MAGURO & SPICY SAKE bluefin, spicy salmon, avocado, kizame wasabi and HAMACHI, MAGURO & CILANTRO yellowtail, bluefin, jalapeno, avocado, masago. Every piece was amazing!!! My favorite was the ZUKE. The torched scallop added a unique twist that kept me wanting more. We also tried the brussel sprouts that were out of this world. The glaze and charred flavor were mouthwatering. Last but not least we tried the Tako yaki. This was a octopus beignet with a tonkatsu sauce, bonito and kizami. It was like nothing I've ever had the creamy savory texture was new and creative. Overall I was more than ecstatic with coming here!
(5)Tian Y.
With the five star ratings I was expecting to be blown away by Ani on my 6 course dinner visit. And I was not. at all. So it's taken me a while to decide whether I was just let down by extremely high expectations. I think after a couple of weeks I remember the food to be generally good. Service though... To be fair, I think they were overwhelmed by the number of coursed-dinners and pacing on those, both in the kitchen and the front. Everyone there had to wait a very long time between courses, and the servers were so flustered. Beyond that, service was also very ...inexperienced? Awkward? Like they weren't in their element. The restaurant was extremely apologetic and accommodating, but we weren't the only ones who were in a rush to get out of there by the end because dinner took twice as long as expected. Food started strong. Complementary Japanese snacks/trail mix thing, which was a nice touch. Then oysters that were the only raw oysters I've ever liked eating. Some pickles. A togarashi tuna dish that I really enjoyed. Simple but the fish comes through. Then some pretty decent sashimi. Very fish, generous cuts. The mussels were excellent. The broth is pretty standard wine-based with a twist, but the quality of the mussels themselves - really fresh, super tender, and not overcooked at all. Ramen and dessert were truly letdowns though. We tried the miso and the unique Chicago ramen. Italian beef sandwich flavors in the form of ramen... so interesting and creative, right? So promising, but it was truly awful. Really tough chewy beef, the wrong kind of noodles, and a really overly sweet and muddled broth that basically just tasted like they dumped the brine from a can of giardiniera peppers into my bowl and called it soup. Miso was so average I've completely forgotten about it, but I suppose that's not a bad thing compared to the chicago ramen... We also had the matcha financier as a dessert, and it was a bit dry and uninventive. Ending the meal on a low note probably soured my impression of the place, and the annoyance of having to deal with the service/pacing/overall experience didn't help. But I do remember really enjoying the first half of my meal even through all the waiting. If you're patient, give them some time and/or take an entire evening and try the food. Ani does a nice job of adding just enough twist to Japanese food to make it interesting, while still keeping its simple/delicate/comforting food. That Chicago ramen is one step too far though...
(4)XTreats X.
Changed my perspective on ramen. Amazing Brussels sprouts. Pricing here is a little odd. Not too expensive, just odd. Everything is great and of high quality. Go check it out!
(5)Britney R.
Service - terrible. The place wasn't even packed and our server seemingly forgot everything we ordered or asked for. It took 45 minutes for us to get our sushi (a veggie roll and a tempura crab roll) and they brought us those nasty crunchy Asian medley snacks as consolation. Food- just ok. My friend said you could tell the crab was fried in old grease and my veggie roll was really just ok. I love sushi, but probably won't be back.
(3)Alyssa M.
Was looking for a sushi lunch after getting a reflexology massage and Ani popped up on my Yelp feed meeting my criteria (4+ stars & serves sake...I'm not too hard to please ;) ) Upon arrival you notice this place is different. No sushi bar to be seen, and the waitstaff have a hipster vibe. Yet the atmosphere remains pleasant, clean, and simple. They also have a nice private dining area in the back that has a wall of candles/sake bottles--would be awesome to have a dinner party there. The waitstaff was very friendly, and had a calm relaxed vibe that made you feel really comfortable. My sister and I ordered a few rolls (spicy tuna, salmon avocado, eel avocado) and Shoyu Ramen. The maki was some of the freshest sushi I've ever tasted! Very flavorful! The ramen was good, but the broth could use a little bit more pork flavor. I really enjoyed my experience here. I do believe the price point is a tad too high, but the quality of sushi and service made it worth it.
(4)Emily B.
Looooong waits in between courses and there were only 3 tables sat when we got there :/ wouldn't have minded normally but we did the restaurant week prix fixe and the amount of food and quality of service just weren't up to par with what we paid. Food was pretty good, but nothing you can't get a sushi place that costs about half and where you can get better service
(3)Mith R.
Solid Ramen, decent bento boxes. Worth hitting up for lunch. Certainly one of the better options in the area for Japanese food.
(3)Maggie Z.
Their nigiri is one of the worst I ever had... The rice would fall apart and there is no sushi vinegar in the rice.... But the seared scallop is delicious....chitown ramen is not like Japanese ramen at all but still pretty tasty... The kitchen was understaffed so we waited for a long time, and so they gave a complementary seaweed salad and a discount....
(3)Vivek R.
Ani is an amazing find. We've been here 3 times in the last month, and enjoyed every visit. The staff is super friendly, prompt and has great recommendations - and they remember you the next time you come in, which makes you feel really welcome. The ambience is nice and casual but it'd be good for a date night too. The menu doesn't have a lot of the "usuals" like the Philadelphia roll etc., but it's great sushi and ramen. I'd highly recommend: - Shoyu ramen - Donburi sake - Zuke Sake & Spicy Hotate (GET THIS GET THIS GET THIS) - Spicy Maguro - Sake Sashimi (mmmm salmon sashimi *drools*)
(4)Kevin W.
Place is a joke. Ordered online for pickup and got the smallest pieces of sushi I've ever had. $14 for something you could buy at Target for $6.
(1)Cathy C.
Went here with a friend last week and really liked it! We sat outside since it was nice out. The waitress was really nice and helpful answering our questions about the menu. Most of all the sushi was high quality. I had the spicy tuna roll (so good!) and the ebi tempura roll, both were tasty. I normally don't like Brussel sprouts but tried them here and loved them, highly recommend. I hope to be back soon
(5)Fletcher B.
Excellent miso ramen pork belly was wonderful albeit works have liked one more piece for $13 playboy Good sake and beer and drink options Amazing service
(4)Mark C.
Just delicious! Excellent, fresh fish. Creative, delicious maki. And by "creative" I don't mean "dumps cream cheese, tempura crumbs, and spicy mayo". Just really well executed rolls, both the special ones and the simpler standards. Didn't get to try any robata (next time), but the ramen and octopus beignets were stellar. Welcome to the neighborhood!
(5)Sarah H.
Delicious ramen. I was all about Wasabi's Ramen until I came here. I rate my ramen on broth flavor and the texture of the noodle. The shoyu ramen broth is light and very very flavorful, without being overly salty- which i think is an issue with a lot of ramen i've tried at other places. the noodles are awesomely slurpable, not mushy, but firm and tasty as they should be. The Miso Ramen with kimchi was also delicious. The pork in both dishes just melts in your mouth. The sushi here was good. I only had pieces of uni and tobiko but i look forward in trying it again. I just cant resist the ramen when i'm here! Will be frequenting this place often, perfect for Chi-beria weather :)
(4)Adam S.
Another reviewer nailed it w the 'casual but high quality' compliment. A friend demanded to take me out to dinner on my birthday, surprise style, and this is where we ended up. Birthday was a Wednesday, we arrived about 7:30. It's a cute restaurant, semi-low light, no TVs, music that's present in the background, and a nice selection of cocktails and beer. Go for the can/bottle of beer as opposed to a glass, b/c the glasses are smaller than the cans or bottles. We didn't have any sushi or sashimi, so I can't comment on that. My friend however said they're both pretty damn good. We did get the mushroom appetizer, which was great, they were cooked perfectly, presented well, etc. Main course? Among other culinary vices, I'm equal parts soup and gardineria junkie, so there was only one thing I was interested in getting. CHITOWN RAMEN. Their idea of stuffing the contents of an Italian Beef sandwich into a bowl of Ramen is great. There was ample gardineria (I could always have w more but I could also eat it straight out of the jar), a nice amount of beef, and the plenty of noodles. It tasted good, it's hard to really impregnate broth with gardineria flavor, I think they did pretty well. I need to come back n try the traditional Japanese fare, but if you're a Ramen fan and like Italian Beef, get here now n try their Chitown Ramen.
(4)Haley S.
Excellent meal with the bf last night (he's a chef, and he's picky). We had the chef's special sashimi....delicious. He had the hamachi collar, and I had a couple of additional pieces of sashimi. Extremely high quality fish. Very creative desserts. We had the almond mousse. A little pricey, but not obscene. We will definitely be regulars.
(4)Jack W.
i happened to walk by with very little time between appointments and I'm so glad I stopped for an early dinner. The octopus beignets and the sashimi and the rolls were exceptional. All very fresh, carefully prepared, with an exquisite blend of bold and subtle flavors. The server, Tess, was exceptionally helpful, courteous and professional. I look forward to many happy returns.
(5)Sam H.
This is my first review ever and I'm compelled to give it because there were hardly any people in Ani on a Wed and I want it to thrive so I can continue to eat there. Yep, this is being written out of completely selfish reasons. That said they may be packed on Fri/Sat and I'm now shooting myself in the foot by increasing Ani's popularity. Anyhoo, we ordered the octopus beignets, seared tuna seaweed salad, seared scallops (on mushrooms), maguro akami (which they made into a roll, originally hand roll) and the pork belly ramen. Everything was delicious and the ramen alone was enough of a meal for one person. However, I'm a glutton and had to have the starters. While I'm not an elite reviewer and I will likely not review many more restaurants, I can qualify this review by saying that I am a foodie having eaten at many very high end (and low end) restaurants starting at a young age. I know what's good and Ani is good. Go there. Let it thrive so I can continue to have my ramen fix.
(4)Patrick D.
Delicious! This was our second time visiting and again really, really enjoyed it. We are moving it up in our list to one of our favorite sushi places in the city and will be back soon. Love their recommendation to save the warm/savory small plates until after the sushi. We did the chef's special sashimi plate, the mackerel special, tako poke, tako yaki and a couple rounds of Kentucky Hai's.
(4)Julie Y.
We came here with a Restaurant.com coupon. No trouble whatsoever in redeeming it! The server was very nice and apologized several times for the dining experience... We arrived when the restaurant was maybe 60% filled. Our apps (Pork Belly Bun & Edadame) came out very quickly. We were somewhat disappointed that the pork belly bun was just a single bun - where the price of $4 is a tiny bit deceptive. The bun itself was good, but definitely nothing outstanding compared to other neighboring asian joints. For entrees, we ordered the tantanmen and the tori don and gyu don. We waited 30 minutes for the tantanmen. We then waited another 30 minutes for the tori and gyu don. Not sure what the justification was for the long wait time - since we received no explanation. Looking back at other Yelp reviews, I can see that this is a consistent theme. I feel even a little bit slighted since we did not receive any form of consolation for our long wait. The food itself was pretty flavorful (if not a little TOO salty and overpowering with the sauces). Dessert, however, was AH-mazing. We would definitely consider returning for the food but are very deterred by the long wait times.
(3)Jeanne W.
We do a lot of sushi. We found this place on yelp because of its ratings. So glad we did. As another reviewer said, it's more of a Japanese restaurant than a sushi bar. The items we tried were very good. All fresh fish was just that... Very fresh. The grilled shrimp had us wanting a plateful. Love the extensive sake list. Our waitress, Taylor, was knowledgeable and extremely pleasant to work with. We will be back.
(5)Meredith K.
Hip, fun, and stunning. Much like the premiere of LA Law. This is a great whatever place. Dates, business, casual friends. I could see coming here with anyone with an adventurous spirit. And I don't mean that they're serving scary things. For example my boyfriend tried SPAM for the first time in one of their noodle dishes. He's smacking himself for not having it sooner. Clearly they're not just a sushi place although you could come here and fill up on rolls. They have this cart, like a fresh guacamole cart, but this one makes an amazing cornucopia of fresh fish. I know there's a word for this but it was so delicious that I forgot what it was. We've been here twice now and both times we tried different things. I have to say the cart and the octopus beignets were some top favorites. Also some great veg dishes like their brussels sprouts. They have a great saki program which includes their own. They'll help you decide from the huge list, what's right for you. I usually don't get dessert at sushi places but the one that really stood out was the whipped panna cotta. It was like a fluffy, chocolatey dream. The staff is very attentive, friendly and knowledgeable. You feel very comfortable even if you're not in your food comfort zone.
(5)Stephen S.
Ani is awesome. A friend recommended this as a good option in his neighborhood so we stopped by for a quick bite on a Thursday night. The dishes were slam dunks and I was really impressed that it offers a lot of stuff you wouldn't see on a typical menu of a Japanese restaurant (loved the brussels sprouts) and some things that should show up a lot more often (takoyaki!). The only dish I didn't love was the edamame, we ordered the spicy version which was spicy but lacked any salt which would've helped a lot. Maybe we should have ordered the sea salt version but a little more balance on the seasoning would have gone a long way.
(4)Thomas N.
Exquisite dining experience. Expensive, but used the restaurant.com coupon to put it in our budget. The staff was attentive and our senses were stimulated in the most marvelous ways. The ambience is relaxed, encouraging of conversation and warm. The food is overwhelmingly flavorful and precisely prepared. One of Chicago's hidden gems.
(5)Clare C.
Super helpful staff, great food, very cool environment.
(5)Carl B.
If you want an intimate dinner experience with authentic sushi and saki, this is the spot and what a cool neighbor not too far from city or suburbs and not too crazy to find parking!
(5)Dustin M.
Recently visited for the first time. Great food. Excellent service! I was surprised, and impressed.
(5)Sanders F.
Great meal at Ani, the sushi was super good and the ramen was the best I have ever had. The vast variety of sake was amazing. Truly a wonderful experience
(5)R M.
Perfect service. Fabulous food and drink (with an entire gluten-free menu). Couldn't be happier that Ani is within walking distance!
(5)Christine R.
Popped in for lunch. The sushi was very fresh and well prepared. The staff was attentive and friendly. I liked the modern music so it would appeal to a younger crowd. Their menu is simple but that is how traditional sushi restaurants should be (not all that deep-fried, cream cheese laden stuff).
(4)John M.
Ramen was o so tasty. It was also unique from the other ramen dishes I have had. The Robata Grill dish we order was mouth watering but very pricey. I had never put anything like the sweet potatoes of the Robata Grill before and now I want to order them every time I go back here. The street side cafe seating is nice but next time I look forward to dinning in the back room. The backroom had a modern Japanese style cocktail lounge look to it.
(5)Kate D.
I searched for the perfect sushi place to take my younger sister for her birthday. And found it. The food was amazing. I'm still having dreams about my hand roll from the table side temaki cart (!) The service was excellent. The atmosphere was cool, but relaxed. And the prices were totally reasonable. My favorite sushi spot in the city!
(5)J S.
This is a 4.5 star place. The sushi is fresh and well prepared. The Hamachi temaki rolls were the best of the options. All great though. The portions are good. The sashimi platter is not quite as good as the sister restaurant Arami. The medium fatty tuna is excellent. This is not a cheap place to eat but a good value for the money spent. The octopus roll was also great. Like the Ramen here better than Arami version.
(4)Edward H.
I went some friends and we order some of the aps to share. I could have orders more of the same as my dinner! They were so good. My main course was just as good!
(5)Saira C.
I had lunch here with my Japanese Studies and Japanese Art History advisors and was totally blown away. All of us having visited/lived in Japan felt super impressed by this place! The spicy tofu was SO good! I loved Arami already, but I think I prefer this place now. Can't wait to go back!
(5)Mike C.
Beautiful space, but more importantly incredible food!! Do yourself a favor and get a double order of the octopus beignets and wash it down with the house Ichi sake. Staff is fun and friendly and make the menu approachable.
(5)Victoria K.
I was turned on to this place by a good friend. Place is really cute and spacious. The service was great! My waitress really knew the menu and made great suggestions. The food was fresh and delicious. Don't miss out on a new local sushi gem!
(5)Keith T.
I'm a hater of hyperbole and absolutes, but I have seriously never had a better meal than the one I had at Ani. I've had meals as good (my Granny's chicken and dumplings, that beef tenderloin at New Years)...but none better. I have eaten at Arami many times and have always completely enjoyed myself, leaving fat and happy. Great food, beautiful preparation, fantastic service - so I expected no less from the sister location. I was surprised, however to find a gigantic step up in the sake selection. All the food, service, attention to detail, etc. was still done to a thoughtfully high level, but the sake menu changed the game (and I am by no means a connoisseur). The staff was really knowledgeable about pairings and regional differences...pretty mind-blowing, really. The sake flowed and the meal was outstanding. Ani is a beautifully designed space that is airy, tasteful and welcoming. I really can't throw enough superlatives at this place. When you go, get: the muscles, something from the grill (you can't go wrong with the pork belly) and a smattering of maki mono and sashimi. I'm also a huge fan of the Gyu Donburi and the Miso Buta Hara Ramen. It's all so very, very good.
(5)Katie L.
Great sushi! We tried the octopus beignets which were delicious. They were light fluffy beignets with small bits of octopus inside. Great flavor and texture. We also tried a few different sushi rolls which were all great. I will be back to try the Ramen.
(5)Sruts A.
Quite honestly, we landed up at Ani only because a friend related it to Arami and suggested we try it out. It was love at first sight. It's a quaint spot, very open and inviting, with just the right touch of finery that isn't too overwhelming. Their sake menu is ridiculously tempting - we tried two of them, a dry cold sake with a creamy texture and floral scents (I do not remember the name!) and the Demonslayer's Dream. The latter was the perfect accompaniment for our dinner courses, while the first was a good aperitif. Now the food. Everything we ordered was absolutely delicious, every flavor bursting smoothly against delighted tastebuds. We had the Tsukemono - the pickled daikon is something special; Tako Yaki - bite sized octopus beignets; Vegetable Shumai - these dumplings are one of the best I've had - it had just the right amount of goat cheese in it to add that extra kick of tartness; Enoki - tastes as good as it looks, mushrooms wrapped with a strip of bacon, just pop the whole piece in straight off the skewer to enjoy it fully; Hamachi, Maguro and Cilantro - fish roll, yellow tail and bluefin with jalapeños and a light spread of avocado ; Double Sake - spicy salmon roll; Double Ebi - shrimp tempura roll with a hint of heat from the spicy shrimp; and Zuke Sake and Spicy Hotate - spicy scallop and marinated salmon roll. A few of my friends ordered some sashimi and a vegetarian ramen dish as well. The best part about all of the food was that every single flavor was distinguishable and work so well together, the sweet citrus with the spicy toppings, the soft rice with the light crunch of masago, and the combinations of the different sea food elements in it. The service was great with everyone in the restaurant very attentive and ready to answer all of our questions. Our waiter had great suggestions for drinks and food, we got almost everything he mentioned and a few more and were glad we listened to him.
(5)Jonathan C.
Great food and good atmosphere. I would go back again.
(4)Anna C.
I've eaten here twice now, and there are several dishes I can't stop thinking about: tako yaki (octopus beignets!), vegetable shumai, daily carpaccio (hamachi), and sake mussels. The makis are thoughtful and beautiful, each piece a perfect bite. Looking forward to trying Ani's bento box lunches...
(5)Manny B.
I am a huge fan of Arami. So we set out to try Ani, there sister restaurant, and we are glad we did. The atmosphere is completely different and it was nice to see they did not set out to make another Arami. It is very stark, but comfortable with high ceilings, and no sit down sushi bar. We had a party of 7 and they sat us at an extremely cool table cut from a tree. Our server was amazing. She was knowledgable, recommended the best items, and made the evening special, even with the vocal group I was with. The food did not disappoint. It was the same high quality sashimi you would expect from a great sushi establishment. The chef special, the spicy tuna, the three fish rolls, and the assorted sashimi, all had great flavors and textures. The special Ramon dish, even though I could not eat, was devoured by my friends and family and they raved. We had one non sushi participant and she was able to enjoy a good chicken dish and an appetizer of fresh veggies prepared well. The drink list is good with a nice selection of cocktails and a good wine list. Great evening and now we have two favorite sushi places.
(5)Anna P.
We thought we would try out out local sushi place. Boy what a bad idea. From the outside this place looks lovely. We first got asked if we had a reservation for the half empty restaurant. No we did not. The woman who sat us was very pleasant and promised that we would have a fantastic experience. Well clearly, this did not happen. We were seated right away and this is where the trouble started. Supposedly you are supposed to receive some rice crackers when you sit down but this did not happen. A page from my husband's menu was missing and it took several servers and a bus boy to get the menu replaced. After that we ordered our food right away. Our appetizers came pretty quickly but then no one checked up on us and asked how those were. Our sever was too busy taking care of the table next to us. She walked them out of the restaurant and spent 15+ minutes talking to them outside and hugging it out. At that point we had ordered our entrees over 40 min ago and they had not come. We asked several people for help and to check on our food at which point a bowl of rice crackers( which can be purchased at Costco) were literally thrown on our table. Are we supposed to eat this instead?!! Really?!? Our server eventually reemerged from the outside and apparently heard that we were mad so came over to tell us the kitchen was backed up. Really??? Your restaurant is half empty ? Hard to believe. Then she told us that she only put in iur food in 30 min ago, so great...are you baking a deep dish pizza or roasting a chicken?? Because again making 1 handroll and 2 maki rolls should not take 30+ minutes in a half empty restaurant. We continued to wait for our food for another 10 minutes and then it finally arrived. The waitress randomly brought over some cold saki for us to try so we could "compare it" to the warm sake we already tried. Mind you no apology, just here is some sake, turn and walks away. We ate our food and talked to the manager who really didn't have anything to say. So that was out experience. Overall, pretty bad and we are not planning to ever go back. I don't know maybe the people the waitress was hugging outside gave her a great tip, I hope so frankly, because they just lost us as a customer.
(1)Emily H.
This is a great little place on Lincoln - try it! Have been there multiple times (eating in and takeout) and tried a variety of dishes- the menu consists of small plates, typical sushi fare and noodle dishes. Highly recommend the brussels sprouts, the spicy salmon roll (any of the rolls, really) and the pork meatball ramen. Drinks are pretty fairly priced and there is a good size sake menu. I went on New Years Eve for dinner and they gave out a little Japanese good luck trinket - which I thought was a cute idea. I don't love the decor (and it could be a bit darker and louder - though that is just my taste), but the service has always been good and the food great! PS if you have kids, it looks like they have kids' table activities (coloring books) and a changing table in the womens bathroom.
(5)Jessica B.
I just went to Ani for the first time with a date last night, and was completely impressed. I got the Gilt City deal for a 6 course meal for both of us, and it was not only amazing food, but a huge quantity as well; we both left completely satisfied. The place was nearly empty (Monday night, which I'm assuming is why they had the Gilt thing going), so the service was extremely attentive and we even got some special treatment. My boyfriend has been to Japan several times and has a few favorites that are hard to find in the US, so our server was happy to discuss their menu with us, and eventually the chef came out and gave us some dishes on the house, including the takoyaki which was nothing less than amazing. The other big standouts were the oysters (I've never been a huge fan, but they were totally worth it), the vegetable shumai, and the sashimi. Our server was even nice enough to give us a sample of some of their sake. Overall, great staff, great atmosphere, and really remarkable food. Great for a date night or if you're just getting a few plates with a friend.
(5)Brian G.
Amazing... The sushi was delicious! The Ramen dishes were so scrumsilumcious! Get to Ani... You're missing out and a loser if you haven't gotten to this great place.
(5)Deb M.
Our son took us here and we loved it! Wish we had sushi like this in WI. Can't wait to come back!
(5)Alex W.
Terrific atmosphere and even better food. Super super server who knew everything on the menu for someone like me (who knows nothing about Japanese cuisine). Sake flight is a terrific idea. Will be back!
(5)Rits T.
Great food great service. Hope they decor they place more but over all I love this place. Its going to be my new fav lunch spot from now on.
(4)KL S.
This place was a lovely surprise. The room is minimalist but warm and inviting, and the service was top-notch. The food was creative and delicious, and we fell in love with the tako yaki, octopus temaki, and the brussels sprouts. We're looking forward to returning and trying more of the menu.
(5)Steven S.
Gave this place two chances. Both times we were disappointed by the food. Serving sizes are somewhat small (5 brussels sprouts for $9) Service was good, but sadly the food at Arami Go was better and more consistent.
(2)Kristin M.
If you're expecting sushi, Ani is so much more than that. Food is tasty and inventive and the sake selection is extensive. I came for a chef's tasting menu where the courses were chosen for us. Here's the breakdown: Sushi -Hirame - this was a huge piece of sashimi curled in a tulip shape. It was pretty and tasted very fresh, but the size made it hard to eat, and with no knife, I couldn't cut it -Maguro - a cornucopia-style maki with big chunks of avocado. The idea, they said, is to taste more of the seaweed. It was good, just awkward to eat Veggie/Seafood -Vegetable Shumai - this were delicious wonton-type bites with goat cheese, cabbage and carrot -Tako Yaki - OCTOPUS BEIGNETS!!! I don't have to say more, but I will. These were light and airy, not at all what I expected. The octopus was tender which was fantastic because some places overcook it so it's rubbery. Highly recommend these -Brussel Sprouts - served with housemade garlic flakes, these were super tasty, we fought over the last ones Meat -Enoki - tiny enoki mushrooms wrapped in bacon. The bacon was very thick and not crispy, so my last bite was hard to get through (too fatty), but many at the table enjoyed it -Buta Hara - DELICIOUS pork belly! It was super tender and not fatty, this was a winner Dessert -Pana Cotta - I am not a fan of pana cotta. HOWEVER, the chef whips this and serves it with a shortbread cookie, which makes all the difference. I could have had another! Each course came with a sake pairing. I'm not really a sake fan, but our servers described why each was paired with each dish. They seem very knowledgable about sake and say they are proud to present the top 10% of sake varieties. If you're an afficianado, this seems to be the place to go.
(4)Alyssa M.
Was looking for a sushi lunch after getting a reflexology massage and Ani popped up on my Yelp feed meeting my criteria (4+ stars & serves sake...I'm not too hard to please ;) ) Upon arrival you notice this place is different. No sushi bar to be seen, and the waitstaff have a hipster vibe. Yet the atmosphere remains pleasant, clean, and simple. They also have a nice private dining area in the back that has a wall of candles/sake bottles--would be awesome to have a dinner party there. The waitstaff was very friendly, and had a calm relaxed vibe that made you feel really comfortable. My sister and I ordered a few rolls (spicy tuna, salmon avocado, eel avocado) and Shoyu Ramen. The maki was some of the freshest sushi I've ever tasted! Very flavorful! The ramen was good, but the broth could use a little bit more pork flavor. I really enjoyed my experience here. I do believe the price point is a tad too high, but the quality of sushi and service made it worth it.
(4)Emily B.
Looooong waits in between courses and there were only 3 tables sat when we got there :/ wouldn't have minded normally but we did the restaurant week prix fixe and the amount of food and quality of service just weren't up to par with what we paid. Food was pretty good, but nothing you can't get a sushi place that costs about half and where you can get better service
(3)Mith R.
Solid Ramen, decent bento boxes. Worth hitting up for lunch. Certainly one of the better options in the area for Japanese food.
(3)Maggie Z.
Their nigiri is one of the worst I ever had... The rice would fall apart and there is no sushi vinegar in the rice.... But the seared scallop is delicious....chitown ramen is not like Japanese ramen at all but still pretty tasty... The kitchen was understaffed so we waited for a long time, and so they gave a complementary seaweed salad and a discount....
(3)Vivek R.
Ani is an amazing find. We've been here 3 times in the last month, and enjoyed every visit. The staff is super friendly, prompt and has great recommendations - and they remember you the next time you come in, which makes you feel really welcome. The ambience is nice and casual but it'd be good for a date night too. The menu doesn't have a lot of the "usuals" like the Philadelphia roll etc., but it's great sushi and ramen. I'd highly recommend: - Shoyu ramen - Donburi sake - Zuke Sake & Spicy Hotate (GET THIS GET THIS GET THIS) - Spicy Maguro - Sake Sashimi (mmmm salmon sashimi *drools*)
(4)Kevin W.
Place is a joke. Ordered online for pickup and got the smallest pieces of sushi I've ever had. $14 for something you could buy at Target for $6.
(1)Shlomy G.
One of our favorite neighborhood restaurants, great sushi using quality ingredients and even better Ramen. Great ambiance and music and most of all very good service. Called for some takeout yesterday and arrived to find my order was delayed for a few minutes, guy at the front had me comfortably seated and offered a complimentary beer while I wait, I waited for exactly 5 minutes till my order was ready, that is what I call service.
(5)Megan P.
Ani has great service and even better food! We tried a little bit from each section of the menu. Our waitress, Tayler, helped us to to order just the right amount. If you go, 'must orders' for me were the octopus beignets and cured pork belly grilled skewers! The atmosphere is very relaxed. Great for a low key night when you don't want to skimp on food quality but don't want to go 'all out'!
(4)Rick F.
A zen like environment, felt great after a busy day. Meghan was an excellent server, made some great recommendations. Salmon sashimi was excellent. Ramen was excellent and the variety of rolls were succulent. These are the same folks that own Arami so the foundation of the concept is solid. I see great things in Ani's future.
(4)Mohit S.
Anu covers a broad spectrum of Japanese cuisine - both hot and cold. Great food, attentive service in a nice atmosphere. First time I've had Oyster beignets. Creative Makimono items that combine familiar flavored. We had a fab imago-Maputo. Will surely return!!
(4)Erick N.
Ani (which translates to older brother) is the sister venue of Arami which has long been regarded as one of Chicago's best sushi restaurants. My meal at Ani was delicious from start to finish; I loved the refreshing yuzu aioli with my seaweed salad and was really impressed with the sushi; our table sampled a variety of sashimi, a roll and some Nigiri; beautiful presentation on the sashimi platter and all the fish was extremely fresh and well prepared - definitely some of the better quality sushi I have consumed in Chicago. I also enjoyed my pork belly steamed bun (one of the daily specials that was available). The Chitown ramen (a fun play on Italian beef and ramen) was good, but not on par with the sushi items nor with the best ramen I have had in Chicago. The space is sparsely decorated but is comfortable. Service was another strong point; Meghan took great care of us and was warm and attentive (even catching on that I was left handed and adjusting my place setting). She made some excellent recommendations, coursed out our order perfectly and was very knowledgeable of the vast menu (far more than just sushi and there is an extensive and thoughtful beverage program as well). Ani is going to run you a few bucks more than your run-of-the-mill sushi venue, but the upgrade in quality is readily apparent and overall our meal was a good value. Definitely a venue I would recommend as well as would gladly return for more.
(5)Andrew C.
I loved this place the first time I went, so I wanted to go a second time to make sure it wasn't an aberration.....and it wasn't. Let me start by saying this isn't just a sushi place, although the sushi is excellent. It's a Japanese restaurant. They have excellent ramen and yakitori. An amazing sake list and fantastic sashimi. The special sashimi they had when I was there (I feel awful for forgetting the types of fish) was amazing. Amazing. So fresh, so delicious. They also have a quite a list of Japanese beers....which I love because, as many people don't know, many of the Japanese beers we get in the U.S. aren't actually brewed in the United States. They're brewed in places like Guelph, Ontario so they can say they're "imported". They even have a sake for beginners menu...to help people who don't know much about sake. This restaurant moved into a space that has been many failed restaurants over the years. I hope people try it for the unique experience they will have and realize that it's not just another mediocre sushi spot in Lakeview. Think of it as a neighborhood Momotaro.
(5)Jaime S.
I prefer the sister restaurant Arami. The sushi we had here was good, but the ramen and mushroom robata were so salty that I had an unquenchable thirst almost every he entire next day. The wait staff was both uninformed and scarce during our entire meal and we continually had to ask for more water.
(3)XTreats X.
Changed my perspective on ramen. Amazing Brussels sprouts. Pricing here is a little odd. Not too expensive, just odd. Everything is great and of high quality. Go check it out!
(5)Britney R.
Service - terrible. The place wasn't even packed and our server seemingly forgot everything we ordered or asked for. It took 45 minutes for us to get our sushi (a veggie roll and a tempura crab roll) and they brought us those nasty crunchy Asian medley snacks as consolation. Food- just ok. My friend said you could tell the crab was fried in old grease and my veggie roll was really just ok. I love sushi, but probably won't be back.
(3)Louise R.
Went for birthday had green tea cake, delish. Ordered maki and sake for 20$ special , with four people we ordered 4 rolls (salmon, soft shell, octopus) and were amazing. Waitress super knowledgeable and gracious with sake tasting.
(5)Amanda M.
More of a 3.5. Came with a Gilt City credit voucher and I expected this place to be slightly better than your average sushi spot that are numerous in the city. The front décor really draws you in but the rest of the ambiance inside was nothing spectacular. We were seated promptly for our 6:30 reservation Friday evening. Shortly after, we noticed a slight wait for others. Right away, we were given a complimentary dish of Asian cracker snacks. These weren't my thing, but it was a nice thought. Boo and I each got a pork belly bun and a plate of brussel sprouts to start. The pork belly was good but the bun was a little too big for what was inside. The brussel sprouts were very good and was actually the best thing we had there. I got the shoyu ramen, boo had the gyu donburi. I wasn't expecting mind-blowing ramen here but I enjoyed it. Big tender pieces of pork belly and perfectly poached egg. The broth and noodles weren't the best but were satisfactory. Boo really enjoyed his donburi. We also got a sake ikura and a spicy maguro temaki (handroll), along with a hamachi maguro & cilantro maki roll. Here's where I was somewhat disappointed. While the fish was quite fresh, the rolls weren't made too well, as they fell apart. Also felt like something was just missing from the flavor of the maki and temaki. Think the rice could have been better as well. Overall, the food wasn't that memorable. However, service was great. Food came out at appropriate times. Waitress was super friendly and helpful. Waters were constantly refilled. Not a bad place but certainly not outstanding.
(3)Allison J.
My boyfriend and I came here for a weekday lunch date. Upon walking in, the ambience was really nice. We were the first people in the restaurant and our server was attentive, informative and entertaining. We ordered the hot sake, Ban Ryu 10,000 ways. It was ok, the server helped with ordering but it wasn't the best... Granted he recommended some of the cold sakes more highly. There definitely isn't a lack of sake options! We ordered 2 sushi rolls. The Hamachi, Maguro & Cilantro was so fresh and flavorful. The cilantro and jalapeño paired perfectly with the fish, which literally melted in our mouth! Definitely recommend!! The Ebi Tempura and Sake was not as good, and I've had a lot of better tempura rolls in the city. We finished off with the Shoyu Ramen which was decent. The pork belly was good but this was definitely lower down on my favorite ramen places. All together, I've had better sushi and I've had better ramen but I still think this places deserves a solid 4 stars.
(4)Brett F.
Why aren't you going to Ani? You should be! But you're not. It may be the best kept secret yet. Did you know that Ani: \\ Is owned by the same folks as the ultra tasty Arami (so, basically, their sushi is tops)? \\ Does amazing bento box specials at lunch? \\ Serves killer ramen? \\ And that ramen plus a beer is only $10 on Wednesdays? \\ Is also really cute and ideal for small groups and big ones? Well, now you know. No excuses left. Go.
(4)Kelsey S.
On a cold day, Ani is cozy and zen, serving food that warms without being too heavy. Brussels sprouts laced with togarashi, soy and bonito flakes make for a deliciously umami dish (not to mention some of the best sprouts I've had). They're tender, hearty and - of course - savory. Vegetable Shumai, filled with carrot, cabbage and chevre, are crunchy, a tad chewy and slightly indulgent thanks to the creamy goat's cheese. Both dishes are apt precursors to the sushi rolls. With poached shrimp, avocado, mango and obha leaf, the Ebi & Mango Maki Mono is simple, but it delivers on flavor. One swift swipe through soy sauce is just enough to compliment the sweetness of the mango and cut through the richness of the avocado. To cap off the meal, a glass of one of the many types of Sake will provide some added warmth.
(4)Stephanie S.
I like to consider myself pretty adventurous when it comes to food, but I've never been able to get into raw fish. A sushi roll here and there, OK. But sashimi, meh, no thanks. So I'm not even sure why I agreed to come here with friends, but I'm glad I did. I started with the octopus beignets (tako yaki) and the pork belly steamed bun. So good! Both were perfect. The tako yaki especially--I thought about those long after I ate them all in quick bites. I don't even really know how to describe the flavor other than awesome. I also had the shoyu ramen. I hadn't yet found a ramen I really liked until I came here. The broth and noodles were so comforting on the cold night. I didn't care for the fish cakes in the bowl, but I just ate around them. I had the cheesecake for dessert, which I could've done without. It had a strange flavor I couldn't quite figure out. Overall, no one at my table enjoyed their dessert, so I'd pass on that in the future. The service was attentive, patient and friendly, even easily separating bills for us. A great spot to try out, even if you aren't into sushi!
(4)Annie W.
Oh, yes! This place is delicious! Definitely one of my favorite sushi joints in the city, and the perfect location to hit up on the way to a show at Stage 773. Love the food, the ambience, and the service is dynamite! Definitely a hidden gem! :)
(5)Shambavi K.
Good date place. The place was pretty much full by 8pm with a few group diners but mostly dates sharing ramen. We tried out this place after hearing about it thru gilt city. we tried the sake flight (I liked the "Snowflake" one). The hot sake was better given the cold weather. The octopus beignets were not my favorite...too doughy. The maguro tekamaki was fresh. Somehow we ended up ordering 2 rolls that were both a bit spicy...OCEAN MAKI and ZUKE SAKE & SPICY HOTATE. Both were very fresh and tasty still. The highlight was the SEARED HOTATE - perfectly seared scallop appetizer with mushroom sauce. This was recommended by our waitress. Service was very attentive as well. I hope to return to try the ramen one day on a cold night. Most other tables seemed to be ordering ramen.
(4)Stephanie H.
I went here a couple weeks ago with a Gilt City voucher. We went on a Friday and made reservations only a half hour before with no problem. We ordered a few sushi rolls, all of which were very fresh. I don't think you could go wrong with the sushi. We also split the Shoyu ramen, which was good, but could've been better. I loved everything we ordered, but the Okonomiyaki was just okay. The service was awesome, and the place was really inviting! I'd love to try their sister restaurant Arami based on my experience at Ani.
(4)Jamie B.
This is a fantastic sushi restaurant, but note this isn't for the novice sushi eater. There are no California rolls, cream cheese stuffed rolls, fried rolls or tempura rolls of any kind. This is simply excellent quality fish and creative rolls that really showcase the fish as opposed to a bunch of goopy sauce, cream cheese or crunchies. We started with the octopus beignets and shumai. The beignets were fantastic, I recommend these as a starter. We went with the chef's sashimi platter which was fantastic. The fish was incredibly fresh and I like the way they serve it on ice as opposed to a plate. The wasabi and ginger accompaniments were incredibly fresh as well. For rolls we had the maguro, avocado, and cilantro roll which was fantastic- and spicy. Afterward we had the ebi mango roll which was the perfect amount of sweetness to finish off the meal. These were rolled nicely and had a quality amount of fish inside. Win win for sushi and rolls. The service was fantastic and they have a nice selection of sake, beer and wine. I think their wine was overpriced with limited glass selections ($10 per glass was the least expensive) and for being up in a neighborhood this is ridiculous. They do have sake flights here at 3 for $14 which is a nice way to sample some of the different sake. Overall a solid sushi place and I would definitely return. They need to lower the price of their wine though in my opinion.
(4)B. G.
Solid sushi place with a gluten free menu for the hubs. Ambience could be warmer and my sushi was probably average but my husbands was excellent. He got something with mango. He loves this place!
(4)Niti B.
Delicious dining spot! I came here with a Gilt City deal and I'm so glad I had bought it! This deal gave me the opportunity to try so many things on the menu. For starters to unwind I had the nigata river -Kikusui Funaguchi Sake, cucumber. This was smooth light and refreshing. A perfect pairing to all the food we tried. We started with edamame and then had the ZUKE SAKE & SPICY HOTATE soy-marinated salmon, torched spicy scallop, MAGURO & SPICY SAKE bluefin, spicy salmon, avocado, kizame wasabi and HAMACHI, MAGURO & CILANTRO yellowtail, bluefin, jalapeno, avocado, masago. Every piece was amazing!!! My favorite was the ZUKE. The torched scallop added a unique twist that kept me wanting more. We also tried the brussel sprouts that were out of this world. The glaze and charred flavor were mouthwatering. Last but not least we tried the Tako yaki. This was a octopus beignet with a tonkatsu sauce, bonito and kizami. It was like nothing I've ever had the creamy savory texture was new and creative. Overall I was more than ecstatic with coming here!
(5)Nicole M.
I love the arare crackers given as a little snack when you're seated. Ambiance and decor make this place a great spot for both dates and friendly gatherings; it is intimate and classy without any pretentious undertones. I've been here during both lunch and dinner shifts and the hosts and waitstaff have always been nice and attentive. Prices are on the mid to higher end but quality and attention to detail are fantastic, so most items are worth the price. Their takoyaki and sushi are absolutely scrumptious. However, the ramen I've tried don't really compare to the other items on their menu or other ramen spots in the city.
(4)Fletcher B.
Excellent miso ramen pork belly was wonderful albeit works have liked one more piece for $13 playboy Good sake and beer and drink options Amazing service
(4)Tian Y.
With the five star ratings I was expecting to be blown away by Ani on my 6 course dinner visit. And I was not. at all. So it's taken me a while to decide whether I was just let down by extremely high expectations. I think after a couple of weeks I remember the food to be generally good. Service though... To be fair, I think they were overwhelmed by the number of coursed-dinners and pacing on those, both in the kitchen and the front. Everyone there had to wait a very long time between courses, and the servers were so flustered. Beyond that, service was also very ...inexperienced? Awkward? Like they weren't in their element. The restaurant was extremely apologetic and accommodating, but we weren't the only ones who were in a rush to get out of there by the end because dinner took twice as long as expected. Food started strong. Complementary Japanese snacks/trail mix thing, which was a nice touch. Then oysters that were the only raw oysters I've ever liked eating. Some pickles. A togarashi tuna dish that I really enjoyed. Simple but the fish comes through. Then some pretty decent sashimi. Very fish, generous cuts. The mussels were excellent. The broth is pretty standard wine-based with a twist, but the quality of the mussels themselves - really fresh, super tender, and not overcooked at all. Ramen and dessert were truly letdowns though. We tried the miso and the unique Chicago ramen. Italian beef sandwich flavors in the form of ramen... so interesting and creative, right? So promising, but it was truly awful. Really tough chewy beef, the wrong kind of noodles, and a really overly sweet and muddled broth that basically just tasted like they dumped the brine from a can of giardiniera peppers into my bowl and called it soup. Miso was so average I've completely forgotten about it, but I suppose that's not a bad thing compared to the chicago ramen... We also had the matcha financier as a dessert, and it was a bit dry and uninventive. Ending the meal on a low note probably soured my impression of the place, and the annoyance of having to deal with the service/pacing/overall experience didn't help. But I do remember really enjoying the first half of my meal even through all the waiting. If you're patient, give them some time and/or take an entire evening and try the food. Ani does a nice job of adding just enough twist to Japanese food to make it interesting, while still keeping its simple/delicate/comforting food. That Chicago ramen is one step too far though...
(4)Lizbeth S.
Arguably the best ramen of my life. The Tantanmen ramen was rich in all the right flavors. The heat from the chili oil was balanced by the sweet corn - definitely a must try!
(5)Erica L.
I was excited to try this place after walking by and noting the nice facade and interior. We were greeted warmly and seated immediately for our Friday dinner reservation at a table for two toward the front, which was great for people watching along Lincoln Ave. Also the space is well lit with the high floor to ceiling front windows that let a lot of the natural sunlight in which is a contrast to other sushi places that are dimly lit. Tried the Edamame with the soy ginger seasoning. It was good, but got a little soggy while it was sitting on the table. Started off with the sashimi platter, which included 3 pieces of four different fishes - salmon, tuna, Yellowtail, and Japanese snapper. The tuna was acceptable (usually this is the piece that's tough). The sashimi was good quality, but I've had better in the city, and for cheaper too as this platter was $32. The robata grill items were better - the ebi was delicious! The crispy pork belly was also yummy, but not as unique as the ebi. Since we were still hungry, we ordered the special Hamachi Kama. It was well cooked and seasoned with a delectably crispy skin. They have a few options for dessert - I was torn between the Matcha Cake and the Almond Mousse, but ultimately went for the mousse, which had a peppercorn shortbread crust, lemon curd sauce, fresh lychees, and topped with sugared almonds. It was light, with an interesting combination of flavors. The mousse was more solid in the form of a bar. It almost tasted like a stick of nutty brown butter. Maybe I should have gone for the Matcha Cake - perhaps next time.
(3)David B.
Just like West Town's Arami, this place serves up some amazing Japanese cuisine. And being much closer to our place, we love stopping by on a casual weekday for delicious ramen or sashimi. It's definitely one of our favorite spots and the service has always been top notch. The decor is inviting, simple, and traditional. Try their house sake...it pairs well with their menu.
(5)Cathy C.
Went here with a friend last week and really liked it! We sat outside since it was nice out. The waitress was really nice and helpful answering our questions about the menu. Most of all the sushi was high quality. I had the spicy tuna roll (so good!) and the ebi tempura roll, both were tasty. I normally don't like Brussel sprouts but tried them here and loved them, highly recommend. I hope to be back soon
(5)Mark C.
Just delicious! Excellent, fresh fish. Creative, delicious maki. And by "creative" I don't mean "dumps cream cheese, tempura crumbs, and spicy mayo". Just really well executed rolls, both the special ones and the simpler standards. Didn't get to try any robata (next time), but the ramen and octopus beignets were stellar. Welcome to the neighborhood!
(5)Sarah H.
Delicious ramen. I was all about Wasabi's Ramen until I came here. I rate my ramen on broth flavor and the texture of the noodle. The shoyu ramen broth is light and very very flavorful, without being overly salty- which i think is an issue with a lot of ramen i've tried at other places. the noodles are awesomely slurpable, not mushy, but firm and tasty as they should be. The Miso Ramen with kimchi was also delicious. The pork in both dishes just melts in your mouth. The sushi here was good. I only had pieces of uni and tobiko but i look forward in trying it again. I just cant resist the ramen when i'm here! Will be frequenting this place often, perfect for Chi-beria weather :)
(4)Adam S.
Another reviewer nailed it w the 'casual but high quality' compliment. A friend demanded to take me out to dinner on my birthday, surprise style, and this is where we ended up. Birthday was a Wednesday, we arrived about 7:30. It's a cute restaurant, semi-low light, no TVs, music that's present in the background, and a nice selection of cocktails and beer. Go for the can/bottle of beer as opposed to a glass, b/c the glasses are smaller than the cans or bottles. We didn't have any sushi or sashimi, so I can't comment on that. My friend however said they're both pretty damn good. We did get the mushroom appetizer, which was great, they were cooked perfectly, presented well, etc. Main course? Among other culinary vices, I'm equal parts soup and gardineria junkie, so there was only one thing I was interested in getting. CHITOWN RAMEN. Their idea of stuffing the contents of an Italian Beef sandwich into a bowl of Ramen is great. There was ample gardineria (I could always have w more but I could also eat it straight out of the jar), a nice amount of beef, and the plenty of noodles. It tasted good, it's hard to really impregnate broth with gardineria flavor, I think they did pretty well. I need to come back n try the traditional Japanese fare, but if you're a Ramen fan and like Italian Beef, get here now n try their Chitown Ramen.
(4)Haley S.
Excellent meal with the bf last night (he's a chef, and he's picky). We had the chef's special sashimi....delicious. He had the hamachi collar, and I had a couple of additional pieces of sashimi. Extremely high quality fish. Very creative desserts. We had the almond mousse. A little pricey, but not obscene. We will definitely be regulars.
(4)Jack W.
i happened to walk by with very little time between appointments and I'm so glad I stopped for an early dinner. The octopus beignets and the sashimi and the rolls were exceptional. All very fresh, carefully prepared, with an exquisite blend of bold and subtle flavors. The server, Tess, was exceptionally helpful, courteous and professional. I look forward to many happy returns.
(5)Sam H.
This is my first review ever and I'm compelled to give it because there were hardly any people in Ani on a Wed and I want it to thrive so I can continue to eat there. Yep, this is being written out of completely selfish reasons. That said they may be packed on Fri/Sat and I'm now shooting myself in the foot by increasing Ani's popularity. Anyhoo, we ordered the octopus beignets, seared tuna seaweed salad, seared scallops (on mushrooms), maguro akami (which they made into a roll, originally hand roll) and the pork belly ramen. Everything was delicious and the ramen alone was enough of a meal for one person. However, I'm a glutton and had to have the starters. While I'm not an elite reviewer and I will likely not review many more restaurants, I can qualify this review by saying that I am a foodie having eaten at many very high end (and low end) restaurants starting at a young age. I know what's good and Ani is good. Go there. Let it thrive so I can continue to have my ramen fix.
(4)Patrick D.
Delicious! This was our second time visiting and again really, really enjoyed it. We are moving it up in our list to one of our favorite sushi places in the city and will be back soon. Love their recommendation to save the warm/savory small plates until after the sushi. We did the chef's special sashimi plate, the mackerel special, tako poke, tako yaki and a couple rounds of Kentucky Hai's.
(4)Julie Y.
We came here with a Restaurant.com coupon. No trouble whatsoever in redeeming it! The server was very nice and apologized several times for the dining experience... We arrived when the restaurant was maybe 60% filled. Our apps (Pork Belly Bun & Edadame) came out very quickly. We were somewhat disappointed that the pork belly bun was just a single bun - where the price of $4 is a tiny bit deceptive. The bun itself was good, but definitely nothing outstanding compared to other neighboring asian joints. For entrees, we ordered the tantanmen and the tori don and gyu don. We waited 30 minutes for the tantanmen. We then waited another 30 minutes for the tori and gyu don. Not sure what the justification was for the long wait time - since we received no explanation. Looking back at other Yelp reviews, I can see that this is a consistent theme. I feel even a little bit slighted since we did not receive any form of consolation for our long wait. The food itself was pretty flavorful (if not a little TOO salty and overpowering with the sauces). Dessert, however, was AH-mazing. We would definitely consider returning for the food but are very deterred by the long wait times.
(3)Jeanne W.
We do a lot of sushi. We found this place on yelp because of its ratings. So glad we did. As another reviewer said, it's more of a Japanese restaurant than a sushi bar. The items we tried were very good. All fresh fish was just that... Very fresh. The grilled shrimp had us wanting a plateful. Love the extensive sake list. Our waitress, Taylor, was knowledgeable and extremely pleasant to work with. We will be back.
(5)Meredith K.
Hip, fun, and stunning. Much like the premiere of LA Law. This is a great whatever place. Dates, business, casual friends. I could see coming here with anyone with an adventurous spirit. And I don't mean that they're serving scary things. For example my boyfriend tried SPAM for the first time in one of their noodle dishes. He's smacking himself for not having it sooner. Clearly they're not just a sushi place although you could come here and fill up on rolls. They have this cart, like a fresh guacamole cart, but this one makes an amazing cornucopia of fresh fish. I know there's a word for this but it was so delicious that I forgot what it was. We've been here twice now and both times we tried different things. I have to say the cart and the octopus beignets were some top favorites. Also some great veg dishes like their brussels sprouts. They have a great saki program which includes their own. They'll help you decide from the huge list, what's right for you. I usually don't get dessert at sushi places but the one that really stood out was the whipped panna cotta. It was like a fluffy, chocolatey dream. The staff is very attentive, friendly and knowledgeable. You feel very comfortable even if you're not in your food comfort zone.
(5)Stephen S.
Ani is awesome. A friend recommended this as a good option in his neighborhood so we stopped by for a quick bite on a Thursday night. The dishes were slam dunks and I was really impressed that it offers a lot of stuff you wouldn't see on a typical menu of a Japanese restaurant (loved the brussels sprouts) and some things that should show up a lot more often (takoyaki!). The only dish I didn't love was the edamame, we ordered the spicy version which was spicy but lacked any salt which would've helped a lot. Maybe we should have ordered the sea salt version but a little more balance on the seasoning would have gone a long way.
(4)Thomas N.
Exquisite dining experience. Expensive, but used the restaurant.com coupon to put it in our budget. The staff was attentive and our senses were stimulated in the most marvelous ways. The ambience is relaxed, encouraging of conversation and warm. The food is overwhelmingly flavorful and precisely prepared. One of Chicago's hidden gems.
(5)Clare C.
Super helpful staff, great food, very cool environment.
(5)Carl B.
If you want an intimate dinner experience with authentic sushi and saki, this is the spot and what a cool neighbor not too far from city or suburbs and not too crazy to find parking!
(5)Keith T.
I'm a hater of hyperbole and absolutes, but I have seriously never had a better meal than the one I had at Ani. I've had meals as good (my Granny's chicken and dumplings, that beef tenderloin at New Years)...but none better. I have eaten at Arami many times and have always completely enjoyed myself, leaving fat and happy. Great food, beautiful preparation, fantastic service - so I expected no less from the sister location. I was surprised, however to find a gigantic step up in the sake selection. All the food, service, attention to detail, etc. was still done to a thoughtfully high level, but the sake menu changed the game (and I am by no means a connoisseur). The staff was really knowledgeable about pairings and regional differences...pretty mind-blowing, really. The sake flowed and the meal was outstanding. Ani is a beautifully designed space that is airy, tasteful and welcoming. I really can't throw enough superlatives at this place. When you go, get: the muscles, something from the grill (you can't go wrong with the pork belly) and a smattering of maki mono and sashimi. I'm also a huge fan of the Gyu Donburi and the Miso Buta Hara Ramen. It's all so very, very good.
(5)Sruts A.
Quite honestly, we landed up at Ani only because a friend related it to Arami and suggested we try it out. It was love at first sight. It's a quaint spot, very open and inviting, with just the right touch of finery that isn't too overwhelming. Their sake menu is ridiculously tempting - we tried two of them, a dry cold sake with a creamy texture and floral scents (I do not remember the name!) and the Demonslayer's Dream. The latter was the perfect accompaniment for our dinner courses, while the first was a good aperitif. Now the food. Everything we ordered was absolutely delicious, every flavor bursting smoothly against delighted tastebuds. We had the Tsukemono - the pickled daikon is something special; Tako Yaki - bite sized octopus beignets; Vegetable Shumai - these dumplings are one of the best I've had - it had just the right amount of goat cheese in it to add that extra kick of tartness; Enoki - tastes as good as it looks, mushrooms wrapped with a strip of bacon, just pop the whole piece in straight off the skewer to enjoy it fully; Hamachi, Maguro and Cilantro - fish roll, yellow tail and bluefin with jalapeños and a light spread of avocado ; Double Sake - spicy salmon roll; Double Ebi - shrimp tempura roll with a hint of heat from the spicy shrimp; and Zuke Sake and Spicy Hotate - spicy scallop and marinated salmon roll. A few of my friends ordered some sashimi and a vegetarian ramen dish as well. The best part about all of the food was that every single flavor was distinguishable and work so well together, the sweet citrus with the spicy toppings, the soft rice with the light crunch of masago, and the combinations of the different sea food elements in it. The service was great with everyone in the restaurant very attentive and ready to answer all of our questions. Our waiter had great suggestions for drinks and food, we got almost everything he mentioned and a few more and were glad we listened to him.
(5)Jonathan C.
Great food and good atmosphere. I would go back again.
(4)Anna C.
I've eaten here twice now, and there are several dishes I can't stop thinking about: tako yaki (octopus beignets!), vegetable shumai, daily carpaccio (hamachi), and sake mussels. The makis are thoughtful and beautiful, each piece a perfect bite. Looking forward to trying Ani's bento box lunches...
(5)R M.
Perfect service. Fabulous food and drink (with an entire gluten-free menu). Couldn't be happier that Ani is within walking distance!
(5)Christine R.
Popped in for lunch. The sushi was very fresh and well prepared. The staff was attentive and friendly. I liked the modern music so it would appeal to a younger crowd. Their menu is simple but that is how traditional sushi restaurants should be (not all that deep-fried, cream cheese laden stuff).
(4)John M.
Ramen was o so tasty. It was also unique from the other ramen dishes I have had. The Robata Grill dish we order was mouth watering but very pricey. I had never put anything like the sweet potatoes of the Robata Grill before and now I want to order them every time I go back here. The street side cafe seating is nice but next time I look forward to dinning in the back room. The backroom had a modern Japanese style cocktail lounge look to it.
(5)Kate D.
I searched for the perfect sushi place to take my younger sister for her birthday. And found it. The food was amazing. I'm still having dreams about my hand roll from the table side temaki cart (!) The service was excellent. The atmosphere was cool, but relaxed. And the prices were totally reasonable. My favorite sushi spot in the city!
(5)J S.
This is a 4.5 star place. The sushi is fresh and well prepared. The Hamachi temaki rolls were the best of the options. All great though. The portions are good. The sashimi platter is not quite as good as the sister restaurant Arami. The medium fatty tuna is excellent. This is not a cheap place to eat but a good value for the money spent. The octopus roll was also great. Like the Ramen here better than Arami version.
(4)Edward H.
I went some friends and we order some of the aps to share. I could have orders more of the same as my dinner! They were so good. My main course was just as good!
(5)Saira C.
I had lunch here with my Japanese Studies and Japanese Art History advisors and was totally blown away. All of us having visited/lived in Japan felt super impressed by this place! The spicy tofu was SO good! I loved Arami already, but I think I prefer this place now. Can't wait to go back!
(5)Mike C.
Beautiful space, but more importantly incredible food!! Do yourself a favor and get a double order of the octopus beignets and wash it down with the house Ichi sake. Staff is fun and friendly and make the menu approachable.
(5)Victoria K.
I was turned on to this place by a good friend. Place is really cute and spacious. The service was great! My waitress really knew the menu and made great suggestions. The food was fresh and delicious. Don't miss out on a new local sushi gem!
(5)Manny B.
I am a huge fan of Arami. So we set out to try Ani, there sister restaurant, and we are glad we did. The atmosphere is completely different and it was nice to see they did not set out to make another Arami. It is very stark, but comfortable with high ceilings, and no sit down sushi bar. We had a party of 7 and they sat us at an extremely cool table cut from a tree. Our server was amazing. She was knowledgable, recommended the best items, and made the evening special, even with the vocal group I was with. The food did not disappoint. It was the same high quality sashimi you would expect from a great sushi establishment. The chef special, the spicy tuna, the three fish rolls, and the assorted sashimi, all had great flavors and textures. The special Ramon dish, even though I could not eat, was devoured by my friends and family and they raved. We had one non sushi participant and she was able to enjoy a good chicken dish and an appetizer of fresh veggies prepared well. The drink list is good with a nice selection of cocktails and a good wine list. Great evening and now we have two favorite sushi places.
(5)Katie L.
Great sushi! We tried the octopus beignets which were delicious. They were light fluffy beignets with small bits of octopus inside. Great flavor and texture. We also tried a few different sushi rolls which were all great. I will be back to try the Ramen.
(5)Anna P.
We thought we would try out out local sushi place. Boy what a bad idea. From the outside this place looks lovely. We first got asked if we had a reservation for the half empty restaurant. No we did not. The woman who sat us was very pleasant and promised that we would have a fantastic experience. Well clearly, this did not happen. We were seated right away and this is where the trouble started. Supposedly you are supposed to receive some rice crackers when you sit down but this did not happen. A page from my husband's menu was missing and it took several servers and a bus boy to get the menu replaced. After that we ordered our food right away. Our appetizers came pretty quickly but then no one checked up on us and asked how those were. Our sever was too busy taking care of the table next to us. She walked them out of the restaurant and spent 15+ minutes talking to them outside and hugging it out. At that point we had ordered our entrees over 40 min ago and they had not come. We asked several people for help and to check on our food at which point a bowl of rice crackers( which can be purchased at Costco) were literally thrown on our table. Are we supposed to eat this instead?!! Really?!? Our server eventually reemerged from the outside and apparently heard that we were mad so came over to tell us the kitchen was backed up. Really??? Your restaurant is half empty ? Hard to believe. Then she told us that she only put in iur food in 30 min ago, so great...are you baking a deep dish pizza or roasting a chicken?? Because again making 1 handroll and 2 maki rolls should not take 30+ minutes in a half empty restaurant. We continued to wait for our food for another 10 minutes and then it finally arrived. The waitress randomly brought over some cold saki for us to try so we could "compare it" to the warm sake we already tried. Mind you no apology, just here is some sake, turn and walks away. We ate our food and talked to the manager who really didn't have anything to say. So that was out experience. Overall, pretty bad and we are not planning to ever go back. I don't know maybe the people the waitress was hugging outside gave her a great tip, I hope so frankly, because they just lost us as a customer.
(1)Emily H.
This is a great little place on Lincoln - try it! Have been there multiple times (eating in and takeout) and tried a variety of dishes- the menu consists of small plates, typical sushi fare and noodle dishes. Highly recommend the brussels sprouts, the spicy salmon roll (any of the rolls, really) and the pork meatball ramen. Drinks are pretty fairly priced and there is a good size sake menu. I went on New Years Eve for dinner and they gave out a little Japanese good luck trinket - which I thought was a cute idea. I don't love the decor (and it could be a bit darker and louder - though that is just my taste), but the service has always been good and the food great! PS if you have kids, it looks like they have kids' table activities (coloring books) and a changing table in the womens bathroom.
(5)Jessica B.
I just went to Ani for the first time with a date last night, and was completely impressed. I got the Gilt City deal for a 6 course meal for both of us, and it was not only amazing food, but a huge quantity as well; we both left completely satisfied. The place was nearly empty (Monday night, which I'm assuming is why they had the Gilt thing going), so the service was extremely attentive and we even got some special treatment. My boyfriend has been to Japan several times and has a few favorites that are hard to find in the US, so our server was happy to discuss their menu with us, and eventually the chef came out and gave us some dishes on the house, including the takoyaki which was nothing less than amazing. The other big standouts were the oysters (I've never been a huge fan, but they were totally worth it), the vegetable shumai, and the sashimi. Our server was even nice enough to give us a sample of some of their sake. Overall, great staff, great atmosphere, and really remarkable food. Great for a date night or if you're just getting a few plates with a friend.
(5)Brian G.
Amazing... The sushi was delicious! The Ramen dishes were so scrumsilumcious! Get to Ani... You're missing out and a loser if you haven't gotten to this great place.
(5)Deb M.
Our son took us here and we loved it! Wish we had sushi like this in WI. Can't wait to come back!
(5)Alex W.
Terrific atmosphere and even better food. Super super server who knew everything on the menu for someone like me (who knows nothing about Japanese cuisine). Sake flight is a terrific idea. Will be back!
(5)Rits T.
Great food great service. Hope they decor they place more but over all I love this place. Its going to be my new fav lunch spot from now on.
(4)KL S.
This place was a lovely surprise. The room is minimalist but warm and inviting, and the service was top-notch. The food was creative and delicious, and we fell in love with the tako yaki, octopus temaki, and the brussels sprouts. We're looking forward to returning and trying more of the menu.
(5)Steven S.
Gave this place two chances. Both times we were disappointed by the food. Serving sizes are somewhat small (5 brussels sprouts for $9) Service was good, but sadly the food at Arami Go was better and more consistent.
(2)Samantha G.
I paid over 14 dollars for the smallest meal I've ever seen in my life. It was incredibly too expensive, the container my "lunch special" came in would be comparable to a box you'd ship one, and only one, fork in. The tuna was good, and the seaweed salad beneath it even better, but re-read what I just said and reassess if that's even a good thing at all. I regretted eating this place for lunch.
(2)David R.
Ani hits a home run in the "casual but high quality" category. I really dig a place that puts out such a laid-back vibe across their service and atmosphere, but still has the wait staff describe the nightly specials verbally in great detail. It shows that they are excited about their product and care about their customers, but they aren't putting on airs. That was a sweet touch. The service was wonderful from start to finish, and all of the food was pretty good. I mostly ate sushi plus nibbles of the brussels sprouts appetizer and a chicken and rice bowl. And as a bonus, I got to try temaki for the first time; this is basically the ingredients of a maki roll wrapped up in a cone of seaweed. I like the idea of sushi as deliberate finger food. This joint should have been busier than it was on a Saturday night, but the mellowness was nice. I hope that they do well; I would definitely go back. Close-by street parking was plentiful, and after dinner you are within striking distance of numerous post-dinner drinks venues. Or Scooter's for dessert.
(4)Gayatri S.
The food was great, so was the ambience but their service was excellent. We were there with my nephew (6 month old baby) and they did a great job of accomodating us and being very patient with our orders. I would definitely go back here!
(5)Nicole P.
Last night I went to Ani and I left happy. We had an early dinner reservation during Restaurant Week and the place was almost empty but really filled up as we ate. The space was welcoming and the decor was on point. There is a large dining room in the back of the restaurant as well that would be perfect for a private party. Our server was really helpful and knowledgeable about both the dinner menu and the sake menu. We decided not to go with the restaurant menu and instead ordered a la cart off the dinner menu. So what did we eat? Upon the recommendation from our server we started with fresh fish. We had salmon which was perfect. Cut well, fresh and served at the right temperature. Then we moved on to the spicy tako hand roll. This was awesome. The spicy octopus was just the right texture and the mix of flavors was pleasing. We then moved on to edamame with sea salt (solid but nothing special) and the togarashi brussel sprouts. These were good but the flavors were all salty/spicy. I felt like if there were a slight sweet element to this dish, it would have been a home run. The highlight of the night by far was the ramen. I was there with one other person and we had the tantanmen ramen (spicy with pork meatballs) and the vegetarian soba (we subbed the soba for ramen noodles). The tantanmen was amazing. If you like spicy, this is your dish. The pork meatballs melted in your mouth. The vegetarian soba had a mushroom broth where the mushroom flavor was appropriately assertive. Overall we left feeling satisfied and would go back for sure. They have a special deal Wednesday nights with ramen, beer and a sake shooter for $15.00. I think this sounds like the perfect reason to go back. The cost was reasonable with the total bill at $75.00 for all the food plus two great specialty cocktails. This is my first go at the trendy ramen craze and I was not disappointed. A place to check out for sure.
(4)Sharris W.
I can only give this place 2 stars because the only thing I actually liked about my experience here was the design and setup of the restaurant. I had reservations for a Sunday evening dinner to meet my friend before a show at Lincoln Hall. When I arrived I let the hostess know that my friend was waiting and that she had texted me she was in the back dining room...the hostess looked really aloof and told me she didn't think so. I scanned the room and my friend surely wasn't in the front so I texted her again and sure enough she was in the back...at the very first table...and had just been seated by the same person. I should have known right there how the night was going to be. We did have a friendly waitress that walked us through the menu and gave us a couple of suggestions. We ordered edamame for an appetizer which wasn't the best edamame I've had but was good. I also had ordered a beer which didn't come until after our appetizer and I had to ask for it. We had placed out order pretty quickly but we waited for nearly 45 minutes for our food. We watched a couple next to us sit down and receive their plates and they came in after us-mind you, my friend had a simple veggie roll and I had one of the simpler seafood rolls. After letting out waitress know we were worried a out being late to the show, she apologized a few times and a manager came out and offered cheap Asian trail mix as compensation while we waited and there was STILL another 15 minute wait after that. Our plates finally came and I had a roll that featured tempura blue crab. I was immediately turned off at how the roll was falling apart and after tasting it, it seemed as if the crab had been fried in old cooking oil. I didn't even finish all 6 pieces. I also noticed that at some point when the waitress had cleared the table, she had discarded the rest of my beer. We let the waitress know when she came to clear our plates that we were ready for the check and that's when I began to lose my patience. She flitted around to all the tables but never came back to drop off the check. After finally bringing it, we sat and waited another 15 minutes or so for her to come back run our cards so we could leave. Again, she was nice but the overall service and quality of the food won't have me coming back again.
(2)