4. Restaurants

Rodan

1530 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL, 60622
  • (773) 276-7036
  • Store is closed

Rodan Menu

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  • Tracey S.

    I went here the other night with two of my girlfriends and had an excellent time. I was a little worried about the service given all of the bad service reviews, but our experience could not have been better. Our waiter (I feel terrible that I can't remember his name!) never hovered, but was always available and was extremely helpful with the menu. We kind of lingered between drinks, apps and entrees and he never rushed us one bit. He also gave great recommendations, which I always appreciate, and absolutely went above and beyond with one of my friends and her choice of entree: she's doesn't eat pork or shellfish, but was interested in the ramen (which mentions both pork belly and fish cake.) She asked if the dish was made with the pork belly or if it could be made without and also asked what type of fish was in the fishcake. He was beyond helpful - he went back to the kitchen and since the soup was made with the pork, he offered to use their red miso broth, but add the noodles and poached egg. He said they couldn't be quite sure about the fish cake, so best to leave that off. She would have been fine picking something else entirely, but I was seriously impressed with his kindness and professionalism. The ambiance was excellent and the drinks were great all around - both cocktails and wine. I was also blown away by the prices. I thought it was incredibly reasonable (two apps, two drinks per person and an entree each and the total bill before tip was $80-something). I will definitely be going back - both for dates and for girls' nights out.

    (4)

  • Tom D.

    I wasn't impressed with the food as my guests were. The ambiance is trendy and the drinks are adequate. I kind of groan when my friends want to meet up there.

    (3)

  • Teri Y.

    I'm not sure I "get" what this place is trying to achieve. It appears to be an Asian gastropub but there was a 1980s American movie projected on the wall. Came here with some friends and there were four of us. We sat towards the back and the decor was pretty bare and minimalistic....it wasn't the contemporary type of minimalism, but rather it just lacked something. Maybe I should say that it felt like a dive-ish kind of place. Our drinks were decent and later on, we wanted dessert so we ordered the Asian beignets. Oh what a huge, huge disappointment. I'm not even sure what constitutes it to be Asian beignets. Those balls were so dry and just not nice at all. Our group of 4 did not even finish the plate of "beignets" which we got to share. The "beignets" were like egg sponge cake balls and there's nothing wrong with sponge cake balls BUT those balls tasted like they've been made a few days ahead, kept in a jar, and then dished out for us to be served as dessert. Not cool. Because we were so unsatisfied with the dessert, we actually walked over to Hot Chocolate just so that we didn't have to end our evening with bad dessert.

    (2)

  • Irene Z.

    This is my friends 'tried and true' go-to bar. The vibe is relaxed and laid-back, and it's the perfect place to chill and have a couple of drinks. Lychee martinis, wasabi fries, tempura green beans make the favorites list for us. The crowd here is chill too and the service is good/friendly. Music on any given day seems to fit the all-around vibe of the place. Oh, and 3 bathrooms - His, Hers, and Unisex. Sometimes the lock on the unisex bathroom is broken, so be careful not to get walked in on (they usually have a sign posted).

    (4)

  • Dave H.

    Took a date to Rodan after church this past Sunday night and was very pleased with the restaurant. We had the rodan ramen and the pork belly lo mien to share...both did not disappoint! Atmosphere was dark and modern with good tunes and a very nice wait staff. Great Spot!

    (4)

  • Monica M.

    Based off of $2 Taco Tuesday. They were tasty - especially the fish. We also nibbled on the green beans. Switch out the sauce for the wasabi one though. Maybe I will go tonight!

    (4)

  • Tiffany D.

    Lance makes this place awesome. Go visit and tell him I sent you!

    (4)

  • Anna V.

    I've been here a few times. Once was with a couple of douche musicians after a show at Subterranean, and the other in the presence of similar. Like you might imagine for Wicker Park fusion establishments, this place has a magnet for bizarro pretension on certain nights, which I don't feel exempt from since I obviously also come here. But if the crowd is worse or has crazier beard haircuts than anyone I know personally, I start to doubt it. And that's happened more than once now. The beer list here is actually great, and some points for stocking Hitachino Nest. They have the typical awkward waitstaff for this area who alternate between hovering, condescending to other patrons, and ignoring you. Periodically this can be a great place to people-watch. It can also be a place to remind you of how annoying your town is (and all of its faux-hipness, depending on the night), or how cold it is outside, as this place never seems to have the heat on. Doesn't help that its whole ambience is upmarket IKEA kind of sterile with dimmer lights. I don't hate it here. But I don't particularly like it, either.

    (3)

  • Allen B.

    I met up with some friends here on a Friday night and I have to say that I was quite pleased. I've passed this place numerous times before, but never had the inkling of wanting to step inside. "Never judge a book by it's cover", right? Their brew selection was surprising. They had my favorites, Delirium and Tripel Karms. After I laid eyes on those two it was all over for me, I knew right then and there it wouldn't be the last time I'd be back to check this joint out. Oh and it also helps that our server was a cutie too. A+ for you Mr. Rodan.

    (3)

  • Kathleen C.

    Free beer with your burger?! This spot doesn't fill up until later in the evening (after 7:30 pm during the week). I visited for dinner. The burger was quite delicious (and they let me share my free beer so that I could order wine). I also tried the pork belly tacos - quite delicious. The wasabi dusted fries were excellent (they are nice with regular ketchup as well as sauce they provide). I like how the front part of the spot is a bit brighter, with regular tables and the back is more loung-y. The service was a bit slow (especially considering there were only a few tables full). However, the staff was very friendly. It's a good, solid spot. However, there are so many other spots in the area, that I'm not sure how quickly I'll be back as I want to try almost everything!

    (3)

  • Yesy D.

    Waitress? What waitress?? The waitress came once! She was definitely an idiot because we were a table full of good tippers. It was a low key place with room to dance but the DJ sucked so needles to say no one was dancing. I had fun but it had nothing to do with this place. I do not intend to go back to this place. I can get the same type of drinks at other bars with better music and definitely better service

    (1)

  • Jessica R.

    Started going back again and it seems that everything is doing better. I am not sure if they have a new manager (the guy with the long hair, it appears) but whomever is in charge is doing a great job in creating a great vibe and selecting great music. seems like Rodan is back on track. food is great too! A+

    (5)

  • Dominique L.

    Some friends and I visited Rodan last night after bar hoping. I must say that upon entering I really like the layout and the furniture. I liked how everything wasn't uniform and it was a mix of different styles. We walked in and found seats right away as it wasn't crowded since it was a Tuesday night. We were brought menus and given a moment to look them over. A waitress came and took our order and answered my question about the food options. I ordered the Peach Crush and wasabi fries. Food and drinks came and I must say the fries were delish! I am not a fan of spicy food but they weren't that spicy. After finishing my drink and fries and letting my friends taste them, we ordered 3 more wasabi fries and I order the bao buns with fried fish and spicy mayo. They were really good and presented really well. On the big screen was a movie: The Craft ( I love this movie) was playing and a DJ played 80's and 90's house/hip-hop music. Once the bill came we payed and left. I would most def come back. I liked the fact that it wasn't too crowded and we were served so promptly. The reason why it's not 5 stars is I feel they should expand the menu a little bit more.

    (4)

  • Mindy S.

    On a Monday night @ 7pm, the seats in Rodan were plentiful, which meant a perfect atmosphere for catching up w/a friend. The restaurant was not quiet, as background music was playing, accompanied by a film of some sort projected on the back wall. I had a faint reminder of Kit Kat bar in Boystown. The service was great, the restaurant was clean, the ambiance was cool, the vibe was hip but not pretentious. The food was really really good! One of us was vegetarian, and there were plenty of satisfying options. I tried the: -- Edemame hummus - hummus like consistency, pureed edemame with light chips -- Fish taco - one in an order; loved the tomatillo salsa accompaniment -- Bahn Mi w/tofu - wow!! Loved it. Strong flavors, and a perfect size for one person -- House-made slaw - wowwww!!!!! Extremely intense, and felt like hundreds of different flavors. Certainly a must-try. -- Chili Pan Fish - it was a bit salty, and didn't taste much like Chili (assuming that Chili is the intended flavoring, not just the name of the dish); the spinach that comes with was also salty for my liking I'd highly recommend Rodan any day of the week.

    (4)

  • Violet W.

    Amazing brunch~

    (5)

  • A S.

    I have lived in this area for so long and only used to come to rodan as a bar - never really thought to eat here. I have eaten here twice in the past few weeks and it is so good, good portions, and good prices. They have so many options for vegans as well. Edamame hummus is tasty - and the fried wonton chips are delish Hanoi noodle dish with tofu is awesome The black bean burger was really tasty They serve black dog gellato which is great The tofu taco appetizer is really good the slaw is good it sounds like im a pig i know but i did order a lot because everything looked so good. Im really happy to have re discovered this place.

    (4)

  • Angie M.

    Sleek and sexy. Rodan on a weeknight is a great little spot to grab drinks and eats in an unpretentious, yet slightly upscale atmosphere. Think low tables, booth seating and extra-dim lighting all orchestrated to make you feel, for lack of a better word, seductive. Who doesn't want to feel hot when they're having drinks with friends, dates, whatever? No one! The menu has a decidedly Asian flair (fish and chips served with wasabi fries, Togarashi Burgers, Marinated Hanger Steak with Yuzu Chimichurri Sauce and Vegetable Pave) that seamlessly matches up with the clean lines and modern layout of the restaurant. And might I say that the fish and chips were awesome? The fish was light and crisp and the wasabi fries were the perfect, spicy counterpart to the mild fish. Mmmm... Did you know that Tuesdays at Rodan are $3 whiskey drinks? You do now. So fellas: Get out there and wine, dine, sixty...errr... just wine and dine your lady friend. I'm sure that the whole vibe of Rodan is much, much different on a weekend, but this gal was a happy camper after her visit on a Tuesday night for dinner and a few cocktails with a friend. I would imagine coming here for a drinks before hitting a livelier bar on the weekends when I'm out and about with my girls.

    (4)

  • Amy S.

    For my first Yelp review, I shall write about a Chicago favorite of mine, Rodan. What's not to love? The food is excellent. I come to this place exclusively for the Tempura Green Beans and $3 Lychee Royals on Monday. Mondays are also fun for another reason; grab a window seat and watch all the inappropriately-dressed underage gals skip to Rehab at Debonair, just down the street. Don't get me wrong, I go to Rehab now and then, but Rodan is the perfect escape...a pseudo-Japanese oasis in the middle of Milwaukee Ave. They also carry some amazing brews and while the liquor selection is not vast, they have what I like: St. Germain's Elderflower Liqeur and Hendrick's Gin. And for some reason the PBR always tastes sweet here; it's on tap which I guess explains it. The Togarashi Burger is heavenly...a fine patty of beef (or ground-up vegetables, I've had both) covered in sprouts and a tangy Asian sauce. My friends are partial to the Wasabi-dusted fries as a side, but I prefer paying for the 'bean upgrade. Late at night everyone here may or may not be on drugs, which may or may not explain the one-seater locking bathrooms. But I think it's all part of the atmosphere. Rodan is five-star to me.

    (5)

  • Liz O.

    It is an acquired taste-- but this is my take. We went here to celebrate a friend's b-day on a Saturday night. Upon entering, the place was fairly busy, Dj was playing good tunes, and we found our group in a booth toward the back. We started off the night with a few lychee drinks (they were indeed delicious- 4 stars). However, we pretty much had to get our drinks each and every time. I think I saw the server visit our booth once... not acceptable. We are a pretty low maintenance group, but this was disappointing. The ambiance was ok, nothing too special. I had a great time because of the company that I was with-- if that were out of the picture, it would have been borderline boredom.

    (3)

  • Rachel R.

    I really enjoy coming to Rodan. Whenever someone is in town visiting, this is usually the spot I bring them too. It's small, intimate, not too loud, and you can usually find a place to sit and chat. It's definitely more of a loungey-type feel than a bar or club. Which is what makes it so appealing to me. It's good for a date, a girls night, or just with a friend to grab drinks. Any reason to come to Rodan is a good enough one for me. I've munched on their sweet potato fries (yum!) and their tempura fried green beans (more yum!). My favorite drink they serve their is Ketel One Cintron mixed with San Pellegrino Limonata and topped with a splash of the Belgian wheat beer, Allagash White. It is quite delicious. The service isn't anything great. I've never really felt that the bartenders/servers are very nice. They've run out of food and drink mixers more than once when I've been there. The woman's bathroom is pretty annoying... instead of a mirror they have a busted video camera that you can't see yourself in. Maybe cool when they opened, definitely not anymore. Time to fix that, ASAP. Either way, I keep going back and continue to enjoy the atmosphere.

    (3)

  • Rachel Z.

    Rodan is unique. Walking in on a Saturday night and sitting down to watch a black and white documentary and listen to electronic music, definitely not your typical bar. They serve food until 1 a.m. which is a huge plus. I had their fish tacos and my friend ate their spicy tuna. Average sushi and good fish tacos, the bill was about $22, no complaints here. Rodan fits in with wicker park because its unique and hip! I don't think I would go back for the food, I think you go if you're a hipster and go to places for atmosphere or electronic music ;)

    (4)

  • Caroline A.

    I love the feel of this place. modern and clean design, dim lights, good music and a very mixed group of people. I had dinner here a while back and definitley liked the food. They did a good job of being fusion without being too fusion. We came here for drinks last night, and it was really crowded. Everyone was really nice, and we got a good seat at the bar. I forgot about this place... im glad we found it.

    (4)

  • Frida G.

    I came here for a friend's going away gathering on a late night. The place wasn't too crowded nor abnoxious. The drinks were like any other, but they also offered a huge selection of sake. The food menu had an asian-fusion twist and I went ahead and ordered the yummy chicken buns (like sho pao aka wow boa). I'd actually like to visit Rodan during normal lunch/dinner hours to sample the menu some more. Oh.. and YOU MUST visit the bathroom!! They've got something pretty unique in there... trippy trippy!

    (4)

  • Tyler B.

    Put your black socks on. Rodan manages to attract trixies and hipsters, its that fine line between pretentious posh and hipster-chic- from a design point of view- its pretty classy- dim light, articulated walls and ceiling , post-modern bar and seating. Not normally my scene but I'm trying new things i suppose. DJ had a terrible selection- who doesn't have Otis Redding on vinyl? The place was hopping on a thurs. Selection of beer was superb. It was O K. I agree that the pseudo- psychedelic windows media player screen saver projection was pretty lame. come on Rodan be original.

    (3)

  • Charles T.

    I have been going to Rodan for about 5 years now. I used to go every weekend about 4 or 5 years ago. It seemed like the place to be. Great lights and decor, really nice chill atmosphere, dark, good music, hip crowd. The food was amazing fusion of east Asian and Latin American. But people always went more to drink then to eat. This was a great disappointment as the food was fantastic and not very expensive. The giant video wall, some occasional dancing, the low-lounge chairs, and the video screens instead of mirrors in the bathrooms all worked well to make this place a fun night now. Flash forward now 5 years to 2010. The video screens in the bathrooms stopped working 3 years ago and have never been fixed. The host and a few waiters have not changed in the entire time. They just look older and like they still want it to be 5 years ago. The menu has changed, some of the drinks have changed, and people still go more for hanging out and drinking than they do to eat, perhaps even more so than 5 years ago. BUT....it is still a great, underrated place to go! In fact, I feel like it is more underrated than it used to be. Like it always was, the crowd is still mixed. You get 1-part hipster, 1-part frat boy, 1-part urban professional. The different groups blend well, the music is still great, the atmosphere is still hip, and the food is still amazing. They seem to have slimmed their menu down, no doubt in part because people just don't seem to go their to eat. I ate there last night for the first time in about a year and was surprised to see how much the menu had been cut and also that it had become much cheaper. You can now have a very fancy meal, presented very nicely, all for under the price of $20 not including drinks. I would definitely recommend the tempura green beans for an appetizer. They are a decent size and can feed 3-4 people to get you going. I would also have the Hong Kong crab cakes. You only get 2 but they are exquisite. Finally, I ordered the NY Strip Steak. I have to say, I wasn't sure what to expect with the steak. I used to get their Argentinian skirt steak back with their old fusion menu. I was worried this might be disappointing. But it wasn't. Perfectly cut slices topped with incredible seasoning made each bite an incredible sensation. Although I still regularly go for drinks, I regret now that I have not been back for dinner until now. I will definitely eat again very soon.

    (4)

  • Jackie R.

    I would never eat here again! Ordered a steak medium rare and it came out like a piece of leather. I am normally not difficult, but I refuse to pay for, and eat, steak that is cooked dark brown the whole way through- just as people who like their steaks completely cook will not eat them red. I informed my server of the problem, and was told that the steak was actually cooked just right, and I could not properly see it because the entire restaurant is lit in blue lighting. Whaaaa!!! Ok so maybe my sense of sight is impaired by your lighting, but my sense of taste, and my ability to feel chewy texture is not! The waitress then agreed to take it to the kitchen and look at it under the kitchen lights, just to confirm. She brought it back and assured me it was red in the middle. By this time I had a cold, well cooked, terrible steak.

    (2)

  • Julia H.

    Rodan has my favorite martini in the world: the lycheetini, made with a large lychee at the bottom of the glass. tip: order without the pineapple juice, pineapple juice ruins most drinks. The scene here is just that: scenesters. I love people watching, but the men and women here walk around with carefully calculated indifference. Most of them don tight pants and have used a flat iron to carefully coif their hair. It's not the best place to socialize with people outside of your social circle. The prices are okay for drinks, (about $ 9 with tip for a martini) A DJ is spinning most nights to a huge projected screen. Tip for the ladies: if you're on a date, or concerned about having perfect lipstick, there is not a real mirror in the ladies room -- it's a computerized screen with floating butterflies.

    (3)

  • Angela B.

    This place IS hipster mecca...but in a good way. I reminds me of the village in the NYC, the decor is a combination of posh and sleek but the staff is wearing jeans. I had the grapefruit drink with compari, it was wonderful (strong but didn't taste like it). I will definitely go back

    (4)

  • Lera T.

    Monday's at Rodan. Lychee Royale special. Yes, please. Rodan's food is also really good--especially the tempura green beans. If you're sitting at a booth, the service errs on the side of slow/molasses in winter, but the servers are friendly. It's well worth the wait for the great atmosphere, drinks, and food.

    (3)

  • Nicolas H.

    Another place that I can enjoy when it's not too crowded. The food actually looked really good and the music was nice (the addition of the live drummer was interesting). I also liked the decor and the varied seating...

    (4)

  • Jeff H.

    I signed up for a Yelp account just to write this review. I like burgers. I usually get burgers the first time I go somewhere. Kinda a test I guess. Their burger is the best constructed burger I have had in very long time. Do you want a 3/4 pound sloppy slab of beef that soaks the bun and slides all over? Well don't come here. Hard to explain well, but the burger stays together very nicely and is a joy to eat. Meat is very good. It was cooked properly as ordered. I can't think of a better burger on Milwaukee from Division to Western. On Division, Smoke Daddy competes, but that is about it for the area as far as I am concerned. Wife had some fish soup with awesome-tasting broth. Pleasantly surprised with this place. I will say the atmosphere is not my cup of tea, but it doesn't rub me the wrong way either. I rate on food-only, so who cares about that. Service was fine.

    (5)

  • Ellen F.

    I went here for dinner last night. Everything was completely adequate. Our server was nice and made good suggestions. Plus she was super friendly. The atmosphere is loungey and comfortable. The music was good and played at an appropriate volume. The food was pretty good. I had not had dinner here before, but have been for brunch a few times. The brunch is good (though not the best in the 'hood) and I feel the same way about dinner at Rodan as I do about brunch at Rodan: it's good, but I get the feeling it's striving to be something that it's not. It's kinda like that one friend you have who really wants to be hip and cool and they try so hard, but they're just kinda nerdy at heart and if they just embraced their nerdiness, they'd be so hot. It's kinda like that.

    (3)

  • Ria C.

    My boyfriend and I went to brunch here last week and were really impressed with the quality, value, and the eclectic menu. The Asian inspired brunch choices is a nice escape to the All-American Dishes mostly offered at Weekend Brunches. I'm actually very surprised that there aren't more asian brunches with japanese, thai, korean etc. being so ubiquitous in American culture. The place itself was really subdued-minimalistic with asian accents and the hippie touch of a secret cinema. To start we had the New Orleans Beignets and Vietnamese Coffee. Having lived in New Orleans, I wasn't that impressed with the Beignets-they weren't as light and airy as I'm typically used to, but moreso like fancy doughnut holes with powdered sugar. The highlights were our main dishes. I had the Shrimp Fried Rice with 2 Eggs and Ham and the bubby had the Rodan Omelette (shitake mushrooms, spinach, and goat cheese) with roasted potatoes and berries. We typically split our meals, but he was having none of that-he loved it so much. Having grown up in the Philippines, my meal nostalgically satisying, reminding me of brunches on the beach of Boracay. We left under $25 for a very satisfying brunch. We will definitely be back, and are looking forward to trying items off the dinner menu.

    (4)

  • Robin W.

    Smallish type borderline hipster bar in Wicker Park, but there's always good music! The DJs are really DJs here; they mix the tracks and play old school and lesser known artists all the time. The martinis are yummy, and it's pretty reasonably priced for the neighborhood. It can get really crowded by the bar, but towards the back of the space, there are a few booths and tables and a dance floor! I've seen some "interesting" dancing there... the clientele aren't necessarily the best dancers... but that just adds to my entertainment :) I haven't tried the food yet, but it looks pretty darn good! PS The bathrooms are a lil trippy! Beware...

    (4)

  • Jo C.

    totally meh for dinner. my girl friends and i were around the hood and been wanting to try dinner here. we've tried calling many times before and no one ever picks up the phone. (now we know why) the menu was very limited, and the food was mehhhh and the services was awful too. walk away now.

    (1)

  • Lynn H.

    Loved the place! Music wasn't bad but a little loud. Conversation was very raised. The tempura green beans are a must!

    (4)

  • Miss P.

    I probably enjoyed the decor and my date more than I did the food. Had the tempura green beans (nothing special), tuna maki (I'll pass on the soy foam, thanks), and the BahnMi (it was pretty good). Drinks took a bit long...and there wasn't that many people... Hmmm.... Our server... maybe she had a bad day... she definitely wasn't "all there" The gentleman bussing our tables and refilling our waters had more personality and warmth than she did... So Rodan, thank her for this 3 star review... Will I be back? Sure... I'll just sit at the bar and give my tips to the bartender...

    (3)

  • Leanne M.

    I'm sad to say all the great vegan options have left the building. Sigh.

    (3)

  • bridget g.

    One star, because the food WAS pretty good. However, it takes more than good food to run a place. This past Friday, I met a few friends at Rodan. I coudn't find parking, so I told them to get seated and order, and I'd be in as soon as possible to order, because we had a show to get to. SO, I arrived 5 minutes after them. They had ordered drinks and food and told the server to come back for me in a few minutes. It took 20 minutes for us to flag down a server and get me a drink and food order. I sat there PARCHED, wanting a simple water. By the time she came to our table, everyone had already gotten their food, and I decided I needed a drink to deal with this. SO, I order a glass of water, a French Martini, and an entree. I am IMMEDIATELY disappointed when I try to order sweet potato fries, and my waitress says, i'm sorry, your entree comes with regular fries, we cannot substitute. "I said, oh? I didn't realize it came with fries, can't we do an upcharge for the sweet potato fries? I really had my eye on them?" She said, "Oh, we can't do that anymore. You can get a salad instead of fries, and then order a $6 side of fries on top of your entree." YEA...because i want to order WAY more food than i need.... ridiculous. I ate regular french fries that evening. Then, I receive my mediocre $10 martini. French Martinis are my FAVORITE drink, and I can tell when they don't use the right ingredients. It's quite simple really, vodka, pineapple juice, and a bit of Chambord. This cocktail did NOT have Chambord, and instead used some other sub par fruity liquer in it. Sorry if I sound snooty, its just that in a restaurant this nice, I'd expect my $10 martini to be made properly. Even dive bars make the drink better. After that, I got my entree, I drank all my water and no one came to fill it a single time. I finally sat it at the edge of the table to make it more obvious after waiting for water for 15 minutes. Someone came by and TOOK the glass .... and never returned it with water. I also know they were going around with pitchers filling water glasses, so they wouldn't have probably taken it with intention to refill anyway. Bogus. Lastly, our server was VERY short and rude when dealing with the bill. She acted like it was the end of the world because we gave her cash and two cards for a bill of 7 friends... In a nutshell, terrible martini, terrible service, good and creative food.

    (1)

  • Jennifer B.

    Wow, the tension between hipsters and...everyone else...is palpable in this part of town, isnt' it? Given the reviews here, it seems Rodan has itself positioned in the eye of the sh*tstorm. Anyway. I would have liked this place. It seemed like a good crowd and pleasant atmosphere. But it was Impossibly Loud. I had by then come to accept that every bar with people in it in Wicker Park on Friday night was by obligation loud, and Rodan was at least Loud and Tolerable music. As someone who has endured the occupational hazard of screaming for 2 and a half years with probable hearing damage, I don't typically complain of loudness, either. But I had a b*tch of a migraine. A pub (one that wasn't a storefront for top-40 booty grinding) would have been better.

    (3)

  • Robyn A.

    Are you sick of hanging out with screaming, PBR-guzzling 21-year-olds? Enter: Rodan. The crowd is comprised of a bunch of classy aging (late 20s/early 30s mostly) hipsters who just want to dress up a little and sip cocktails to the beat of the non-ironic DJ music. If you can roll your hungover self out of bed on Sundays--VEGAN BRUNCH!! Even if you aren't vegan (I'm definitely a meat eater!) you will be super impressed by the vegan fare, I'm sure.

    (4)

  • shaina v.

    I was not expecting to feel as classy as I did when i walked in here. Call it a character flaw if you will. I went here for late dinner and was impressed with the ambiance. I liked the booths and the lighting. There was a Brigit Bardot montage playing on the screen and I enjoyed the music. It was a bit loud for conversation. I got some wasabi fries and the rodan pizza w/ tomato and asparagus. I agree that the fries don't taste very much like wasabi, but they were good none the less and plentiful. Pizza was good. Some of the tomato slices were a bit large for one bite, which severely took my classiness down a notch. I can't comment on the quality of the other patrons, I didn't really notice. It wasn't all that busy because it was Monday night.

    (4)

  • Melissa W.

    Best spot in Wicker Park. Love the layout/design, the drinks, the food, the music, the people watching. Place is an experience. It's hip.... so what? If you're more into basic and boring, go somewhere else. They have four areas: the bar and tables towards the front and huge booths and two sofa configurations next to each other towards the back. Whatever your lounging mood, you're covered. Design is modern and hi-tech'ish. It gets crowded (especially on weekend nights) which speaks to demand so get early & stay late or go on a weeknight to get the best experience. Earlier, it's more of a relaxed, quiet place for dinner & convo - so fellas, great dinner date place. But, later in the night (and most nights I've been there), gets louder - a DJ spins music with a visual show going in the background = pleasing sensory combo. Love it.. The food's tasty - burger, greenbean tempura, wasabi fries (ok, so not as impressed with the spring rolls) - and come with interesting sauces that kick u in the ass. Sooo good! Diverse yummy beer selection that they pair with stemware (Hitachino White, Delirium Tremens and a ton of others), and yummy cocktails (lychee martini). The bathroom mirrors are NOT at all functional but entertaining nonetheless! So ladies, if you want to check your makeup, bring a compact. Wish I had the first time I ventured here with a date! LOVE, LOVE rodan

    (5)

  • Amidoux B.

    Whether eating brunch, dinner or hitting up Rodan for Drinks and nighlife, i am always pleased. The hangar steak was awesome, the soups are great, wasabi fries are on point, great drink selection... plus everytime I walk in here, the staff is super cool and does a good job. Some nights when its packed it can take a minute to get a drink, but whatever, this place gets busy. Whenever I'm out late, I always think to myself, "hmm i wonder whos at rodan?" and i almost always venture in to kick it for a while and run into friends. Good times, good food, good DJ's... no complaints about this spot.

    (4)

  • Nicole S.

    Chill spot but the sushi was horrible! Jewel makes a better spicy tuna roll. The atmosphere was great for sitting and talking, catching up. The service was slow and I left hungry and smelling like fried foods. It's got so much potential. Sadly, I've had much, much better. I'd go back for a drink but that's it.

    (2)

  • Ingrid G.

    A wise person once said, "Don't hate the playa, hate the game". Well the game here is brunch my friends, and as a dutiful English major I present for your inspection a comparison contrast of two closely located Wicker Park brunch spots. 1) Wait for up to 2 hours at Bongo room vs. sit right away at Rodan 2) Eat a wide range of tasty breakfast/lunch food (some with a vegan/veg emphasis) at Rodan vs. a few specialty items at Bongo (after that, face it--it's just eggs.) 3)Pay a lotta money for that French toast at Bongo vs. a reasonably priced meal at Rodan. 4) After waiting an hour or more for your highly priced French Toast at Bongo getting asked to leave mere seconds after you swallow your last morsel vs. being able to spend a few more leisurely minutes sipping your Vietnamese style coffee at Rodan. My friends, at the game of brunch, Rodan is the winner and champion! I might add the staff is super friendly. Addendum: I usually don't look at other reviews so I don't bias myself, but I just did and must admit that it may not be the best place to take the folks or grand-folks unless they are artsy sorts.

    (4)

  • Stef B.

    Aside from the fact that my boyfriend is the artist of this classy place (both the artwork and faux finishing of the interior) - It is one of my top 10 places to dine of all time. Brunch in the summer is awesome becasue you can sit next to the window, with the windows open - catching the breeze and people watching. For brunch, their asparagus omlette wins me over no matter how much I tell myself I need to try something different again. Their fried donuts and thier mimosas are the next two things you'll need to try. I highly recommend this place for brunch and for late night drinks. I have never been her for dinner.

    (5)

  • Eileen L.

    Love Rodan, especially on Mondays when their lychee royales are $3! Recessionista, what? Staff here is super friendly, especially Jamie who tends to be our waitress like all the time. Besides their great specials throughout the week they have pretty awesome food as well. Love the wasabi fries and also the pho noodle soup (which is $3 on sunday nights!) as well as their potstickers. or their maki sushi with miso foam? OOoooOOoo. I've had brunch here before which i recall was also amazing and a great time. love the vietnamese + latin fusion of this place. Modern yet chill vibe. A great place to go with friends or for a date!

    (4)

  • Chris C.

    I have been to this place multiple times and I have to say that it really is hit or miss. The locations of Rodan is amazing it is in a very vibrant area of Bucktown and the scene is gives off a retro hipster vibe. There are a lot of shop and great bars near by BUT I do have to say the drinks are good. Especially the lychee martini! The off is hit or miss but some basic things like the rice they cook with their steak is amazing. The steak is good also but again it can be a hit or miss.

    (3)

  • Stefanie W.

    One star is for our super sweet waitress, one is for the vegan-friendly-yet tasty looking menu, and the other is for the lychee martini. I do not enjoy the Chad and Trixie crowd, and my review might have been much less star-filled had I not been seated facing the wall instead of the crowd. I might pop back in at a slow time to enjoy the many things Rodan has to offer, and sample some of the food.

    (3)

  • Erin J.

    I've been to Rodan twice now (at least from what I remember) and each time has been pretty good. The people are soooooooo pretty, like, eye-rollingly so. My boyfriend likes to go here for the pretty girls, but no one ever really talks to strangers here. It's like the uber-chic cliques from high school, only now they're wearing skinny jeans and ironic plastic 80s sunglasses. Inside. At 11pm. All that aside, I like the space, the drinks are made properly, if a touch expensive (but that's the area, so I can't really complain) and the MUSIC rocks! The night we were there, they were playing some mix with all of my favorite music! I realize I have niche taste, and it's just plain awful to many other people out there, but you know all that bad R&B and rap/hip hop from around 1991? That is MY GROOVE, and they were playing it! I was absolutely dancing in my seat. So, as a tipsy stop in a full night of bar hopping, i like this place.

    (4)

  • James J.

    Its important to read that people recommend this for drinks. DRINKS. They should give up the food and just be a lounge. The food was bland and flavourless and our waitress seemed tired and too busy. Then to ruin the dinner experience more - the seven of us were instantly charged a 20% gratuity. We could not even let the waitress know how bad she was bc we were charged 20%. We were also charged for non-alcoholic drinks. Go for drinks, just dont eat there.

    (1)

  • Rebekka T.

    Spicy togarashi burger with a $2 PBR is what I'm missing right now! I like Rodan for it's ability to cater to different people. The decor has a more upscale, yuppie feel but the food and drinks are all across the board. So basically you can eat and drink well and affordably, while hanging out in a modern setting. There's nothing wrong with that?

    (4)

  • kevin b.

    i go to this bar pretty much every week. sick design, low lights, awesome food and drinks, in the heart of wicker park. this is my favorite bar in the city.

    (5)

  • Grace L.

    I am basing my review solely on the Sunday brunch. I went there once for a DJ night...there was hardly anyone there and it didn't seem to be anything special. Nice ambient and lounge-y atmosphere, I guess. Now, onto the brunch. Rodan is one of my favorite brunch spots in Chicago. The menu may seem limited, but it's limited to things that are unique, tasty and not too rough on my negative account balance. I usually get the Vietnamese coffee with its own little drip filter and sweetened condensed milk at the bottom and a plate of hot sugary-cinnamony donuts ($3 for both) AND the tofu and quinoa scramble with mixed greens and yucca potato hash ($7). Delicious!

    (5)

  • Chan K.

    The wood panelled walls with Asian decor - classy but a bit pretentious. A large projection screen TV sets the mood. I ordered some dumplings to munch on - decent but overpriced. The have a dj spinning most nights and live jazz on Tuesday .

    (3)

  • Dane D.

    My favorite bar in Wicker Park. Always a great laid back atmosphere filled with beautiful people. The music is never too loud that you can't chat with your friends. My only two complaints are that sometimes the on-tap PBR tastes watery/over-carbonated/funky and the table service can sometimes be slow.

    (4)

  • Giselle S.

    I heard this place was Filipino owned serving fusion Asian and Brazilian cuisine. Enough said. Go in for dinner and get a table early. 7:30pm was our dinner reservations. Our group was seated at three booths, kind of hard for conversation, but not a bad atmosphere. Our group was able to talk and drink next to the tables and then seated for the food portion. The whole place allows for standing along the back wall displaying digital images and lounging on the cushiony couches while the DJ spins the tunes. Our servers were knowledgeable and quick, always asking how we were doing with our food and drinks. They also offered for our coats to be brought downstairs and were always open for any request from our group of 16 throughout the night. Dinner started off with bread ( mini pandisals). If you know what I'm talking about go and try it out. If you do not know what pandisal is it's the Filipino version of the dinner roll. This version had the right sweetness and density and also served warm. For drinks we all ordered and tried the bubbletini(7.5), lychee martini(7.5), and the lambic. All were good and served in modern martini glasses (except for the lambic). Our table of 5 shared the appetizers of cigarette rolls with shrimp and pork rolled in egg wonton wrappers (6) (reminiscent of lumpia shanghai) and the wasabi tempura battered fries with spicy peanut and honey wasabi sauces (6), fresh sea bass ceviche with grilled sweet corn (8). The cigarette rolls were small with 6-7 qty served with a vinegar sauce. The wasabi fries had a yummy crunch and texture but did not have the slightest taste of wasabi. As for the ceviche, very small and very sour, served along with 5 small tortilla chips. On request, the pandisal and chips were refilled. I also shared the Spicy shrimp and rice coconut curry soup (6). The soup needed more vegetables, but good spicy flavor, and a pretty big portion. For dinner I tried the Grilled fish tacos with guacamole and mango corn salsa (8 )and my hubby had the Sauteed peruvian steak with papaya salad, plantains and rice (14 ). My fish tacos were yummy and filling. I was served 2 tacos and the sides were refreshing and tasteful. Our server allowed us to stay after dinner as long as drinks were ordered and we did so since temps outside registered -4 but only occupying 2 tables instead of 3 (our choice). The ladies bathroom is a single seater and has this mirror that makes me think I'm looking through the talking glass mirror of Snow White.

    (4)

  • Lyndsay G.

    I like this place, but definitely for a certain crowd. Thankfully there are no douche-y frat boys here, but hipsters can be just as annoying. Located in right off the Damen Blue Line, this small, metallic bar gets packed quick with the main focus is a large colored psychedelic screen towards the back. The bar in front is usually jammed with people trying to get overpriced and underliqoured drinks. The mid section is for seating and looks to fit about 30 people. It also has a bit of window seats to get a view of the street and all of its debauchery. I've only been here a couple times, each on a Saturday and enjoyed making a different kinds of people going there. (I tend to be forced to dbag bars, so its nice to get out). Good times can be had here, but I've never seen anyone carried out, so this a "lets get a drink bar" not "lets get hammered" bar.

    (4)

  • Nancy H.

    I came here on a Friday night around 7:30 where only a few people occupied the bar area, and almost none of the tables were taken. Rodan started getting crowded after 8, and finally when we left around 9, it was almost too hard to hear my friends talking at the same table. The acoustics are terrible, and the Windows Media Player looking visual effects coupled with the music really made me feel out of place, like I'm not skinny and vegan enough to be hipster. The food could have been bigger and better (yes, you get what you pay for; $8 only lands you two fish tacos and a bunch of veggies as sides), and the service was just ok. On the upside, the wasabi fries were addicting! They tasted more like cajun spices and weren't over-fried.

    (3)

  • Jessica Y.

    It took me a bit, but I really warmed up to this place! If it weren't all the way across town, I would put this on my short list for a chill night out. When we walked in, Rodan was pretty empty (it was about 7:30 on a Saturday, but the restaurant/lounge filled up within the hour. Once you walk in, past the bar, large booths (think 6 people each) are lined up down the left while padded benches and low tables make cozy seating for conversation groups to the right. The low lighting, lounge feel, and low but audible music make this a great place to chat up your friends. The outer space movie playing on the large screen in the back of the room seemed a bit out of place. Anyway, I didn't eat, but the limited menu seemed pretty reasonably priced and the portions looked generous when they came out of the kitchen. We ordered a bottle of wine, which was also reasonably priced. An interesting, but somewhat irrelevant fact to people who don't get as much amusement from cool bathrooms as me: The mirror in the bathroom is somewhat self voyeuristic as a darkened video camera image of your face as you wash your hands (please wash your hand people - not washing is just disgusting and unsanitary) among the floating butterflies. I know it sounds weird, so go experience it yourself!

    (4)

  • Ro L.

    Love this place. Particularly on the last Saturday of the month. DJ Intel kills it! Kinda small but once you get to dancing you won't care. The lychee royals are pretty amazing as well.

    (5)

  • Misse D.

    I've been to Rodan for brunch on a few occasions. It is very good although I don't enjoy their Mimosas. They don't use regular OJ but some sort of orange drink product. Since there are so many fabulous brunch options in the city (heck, even in this area), I probably won't come back unless it's for dinner or drinks.

    (3)

  • Karen P.

    As soon as I was gonna give up on Chicago's taste in clothing style, I walked into Rodan. Most stylish crowd I've seen in 6 months!!! Oh gingham dress shirts, striped bow ties, red lips and chucks....I love you Rodan or to be more accurate...I love you Rodan go'ers! Anywho's drinks weren't the best but pricing is reasonalble. Place is kinda small. Good music, props to the DJ! =) Yay! I'm coming back!

    (4)

  • Amy G.

    All the drunk cokehead hipsters who started last night at rodan are back the next afternoon for brunch. They eat vegan dumplings and quinoa-- must not injest preservative-laden crap after a night of hard a and chemically-processed opiates... Regardless of your actions the night before, this is a great place to naturally (re)gain some serotonin and/or other neurotransmitters. Yum (especially to the quinoa!)

    (3)

  • Jasmine P.

    I wanted to like Rodan, but I sadly didn't. My friends and I were led here by another one of our friends. We arrived around 10pm on a Monday night (last night) and could not find a place for the four of us to sit down together. There wasn't much standing room either. Rodan looks like a great space and I wanted to enjoy it, but it was really small and too crowded. It was even tough to squeeze through the crowd to find a place to sit/stand. The music seemed ok (clubby, I guess), but we didn't stick around for long to give it a listen. Rodan was too crowded (but I guess that's good for business?) and the floors were SUPER sticky. Given these factors how could enjoy anything else? I didn't have a good time -- sorry, Rodan gets only two stars from me ....

    (2)

  • Liza M.

    Solid 4 stars. I tend to have a good time here, whether I'm eating or drinking, or dancing, or all three! The service is really good, although it can get crowded. I came for brunch once and didn't have to wait very long. I got some type of salad with steak on it. I didn't realize what I was ordering. I ate it, it was alright. I came for dinner a few times and it was delicious. I think I had some type of thai food, believe it or not. Asian fusion? Asian-American fusion? With some latin roots? I don't know what they claim their menu's genre is, but it's tasty. As a bar, there is generally pretty good music, sometimes theres people dancing. Maybe just me. There's nice lil couches and tables, it's good to go with a group. Give it up for Rodan!

    (4)

  • Stephanie T.

    An embarrassing attempt at irony. I'll never forget the day I came in here and some pin thin guy was wearing a leather thong around his head and one of those potato sack pullovers with white cowboy boots and skinny jeans. Unflattering clothing is hip these days, haven't you heard? Aside from that, if you are some dimwitted ex-suburbanite fashion photo major from SAIC (with daddy's credit card) you will love it here and think you have finally made it into the in crowd.

    (1)

  • Greg M.

    i really enjoyed this bar as it has a great blend of everything one should be able to experience at a bar. First and foremost, their selection of beer was fantastic. Definitely get the Allagash on tap, it's delicious. Secondly, the way the bar was set up was perfect. If you wanted to chill, you stayed up front near the bar, but if you wanted bit more of an intimate setting move towards the back and sit on the comfortable benches. Due to the open space near the back, their is also enough room for a small dance floor while listening to the music the DJ is playing. Unfortunately, when i went the DJ wasn't playing the best music. But still, my buddies and I managed to get our dance on. I definitely see myself coming back here in the future.

    (4)

  • Babs H.

    I almost said that the $3 Lychee Royales are all that's good about this place, and the rest is one great big laughable joke, but now that I've thought about it, I can get way more fucked up for the same price at other bars WITHOUT having to get stared at by jerks with stained jeans and ironic mustaches so, I'll pass.

    (2)

  • Kim J.

    I wanted to like Rodan, but I just wasn't feeling it. We came here for drinks the other night, and everything was just a bit off. Service was kind of slow, the drinks tasted kind of water-y, the music was way too loud, and everything seemed more expensive than it needed to be. It's not an awful place, and I'd give it another shot to try the food. But as a drinking destination? Meh.

    (2)

  • Meagan L.

    Oh Rodan, you'll always carry a special place in my heart. One of the first bars I ever went to in the city it used to be my staple along with Rainbo. Although I don't go out nearly as much as I used to I do still love a good $3 Lechee Royale on a Monday night. Weekends here are atrocious, stay far, far away, but weekenights are always great. The crowd completely changes on a Friday and Saturday from the locals to suburbanites and Lincoln Parkers. Weekend brunch is great and so are the pot stickers and cigarette rolls. Excellent selection of beers and great mixed drinks. Decent prices too. What more could you ask for in a neighborhood bar?

    (4)

  • Kim P.

    Absolutely AMAZING bar. My review just focuses on the nighttime scene, not the restaurant. Very diverse and extensive list of beers -- tons of rare, hard to find Belgian brews and lots of local stuff (MN and IL) too. Delicious martinis. Intimate setting and decor is one of the coolest I've ever seen. Both welcoming (open air/windowless) and chic (dimly-lit, back wall is lit up in alternating neon colors, floor and ceiling are black). Set up like a typical NY bar, like a corridor with a full-length bar and lots of tables. Sleek-looking colors like an LA/Miami bar but with none of the pretentiousness -- a great mix of people, not just hipsters. Would love to come back during the day and try the food!

    (5)

  • Anjali B.

    I spent more time here and I am growing to love it. :)

    (4)

  • Frankie J.

    Is it a bird, is it a bar, is it restaurant? Its all of the above. AMBIANCE First, its named after the Japanese movie monster Godzilla ally and sometimes pain-in-the-scale, whose bird-like, pteranodon features gave it the name Rodan, not to be confused by the progenitor of modern sculpture, french artist Auguste Rodin (pronounced the same way). Beyond the name, the place is a modern Japanese hipster restaurant bar with a well stocked set of liquor and beer. Very adequate seating and not too dark. MENU It has a large selection of Asian influenced food which I did not see too much of because I drank too much. We did order the pork satay (nicely spiced good sized slices of grilled pork) and the pork cigarette rolls (tighlty rolled pork eggrolls in a thin waferlike shell). Both were very well done and I will have to go back to try the rest. CAVEATS It will get super-crowded, but this is a GOOD thing - but if you get there early or on a weeknight (which I think is the best time to go), you should go. All in all, a good place to start or end the night, even if Chicago is under a giant monster threat. In fact, better yet.

    (4)

  • J S.

    Sort of a weird set of images projected in the back that reminded us of The Ring a little... BUT we really liked the decor otherwise and the food was great! Try the burger and the Korean steak and eggs! Great stuff!

    (4)

  • Molly P.

    Expecting so much better! I went there for a friends birthday, and we went early so we wouldn't have to wait. The tables are very close together, but luckily we only had neighbors on one side. I was debating between two and three stars. The service was average (though see below about early plate clearing) and it seemed sitting at the bar with a drink was a thing to do. But there menu looked so amazing that we ordered dinner. I decided on three stars for potential. Wasabi Fries: Was there wasabi here? Tasted like extra-crunchy french fries to me, good, but not wasabi. It came with two sauces, a very, very subtle peanut dip and a soy type thing. Didn't really do it for me, and would rather have had something else. Sticks buns: there was curry in there? really? kind of plain. And then the bread came out, which we were supposed to get in the beginning. Also, the guy came buy and swept everything up. There weren't people waiting, and we weren't finished ordering, so it was kind of strange. Orange sesame crepe: Also not as flavorful as it had potential to be, and I think I could easily make this at home. I thought there would be at least some veggies in there too, but it was just tofu and spinach. A little boring. I told the waitress it was my friends birthday, and they nicely brought out cake. But two things: first, they brought the cake out with our entree, and second, they charged me for the cake. Now, I didn't say anything about the cake charge, but I also never specifically asked for cake either, I just mentioned it was her birthday. It was getting more crowded as we were leaving. This is probably a better place for a late night drink and bites, since they serve a lot of the food until 1. Not impressed. Too many other places in the city to bother returning.

    (3)

  • Dane K.

    Brunch review ... I searched Yelp to find a place in Wicker Park / Bucktown that was good and somehow ended up going here (it came up as a contender of the "no wait" brunch). We sure didn't have to wait but I think there might be a reason for that.. We barely found the place even when we were looking for it... I couldn't really find a menu before going here but wish I had... It was a little too exotic to take my mom to and for some reason my SO wasn't in an experimental food mood either--normally he'd eat a cow foot if you put it in front of him. If you are going with anyone who is in the least bit picky about food, are looking for a traditional breakfast, or someone who doesn't like to try adventurous things or things made with ingredients that aren't all that ordinary...stop reading now. I picked huevos rancheros, which really aren't all that exotic at all... The two others I was with didn't really find much they liked so they ended up ordering regular eggs, potatoes, toast, and bacon. After picking up the warm but untoasted bread they served, he said 'This is like Toast but without the toaster.' ... I guess he wanted Toast. Neither of them liked the side of Yuca potatoes they serve with just about everything... They were severely over-seasoned, it tasted like eating a pine tree. His eggs were also undercooked (runny egg whites) from what was ordered. I liked what I ordered but it was on the soupy side. The coffee was slightly burnt and/or bitter tasting. The atmosphere screemed, "Hi, I'm really a late night lounge but hey we'll serve you food too in the morning if you want..." ... There was some sort of psychedelic tie die thing projected on the back wall which just didn't fit with the modern asianesque decor. On the plus side, we were in and out in 35 minutes.

    (2)

  • Emile D.

    Their $12 Chilean Sea Bass is superior to most $20+ fish dishes at higher end places. Nice cocktails as well.

    (5)

  • Risa T.

    Perhaps, I might be semi-biased because I am a regular but I love the staff and the edamame hummus, wasabi fries, burgers, udon, steamed mussells, porkchops (which have left for the season), empanada specials, tuna maki. I could go on and on with what I love here. I love drinking out of the lagunita sumpthin' sumpthin jars and I love both the staff & music selection. Tuesdays Jazz Nights are pretty rad. The owner is awesome, too. I have no complaints except that I wish brunch was back because that would make it perfect. I am willing to spread the word if brunch does come back and get people in Rodan!

    (5)

  • Kory B.

    This past Friday my girlfriend and I stumbled across Rodan whilst meandering around Wicker Park for a nice patio drink. We arrived at 6:30ish, and due to the early timing, were among just a few other patrons there. To begin, we ordered a few cocktails - which were delicious - y mas fuerte. Then we ordered the tempura green beans - which were a simple, but scrumptious snack to hold our hands down the aisle of our next cocktail. Two cocktails in and we we're feeling a Chicago-summer-buzz in all of its glory. As we began to hit that high, Josh - Rodan's bearded culinary conductor, stopped by our table to deliver a COMPLIMENTARY second appetizer, brazed pork belly, covered in his (signature?) homemade asian-inspired sauce. The magnificence of the taste was only superseded by the elation we felt by receiving a FREE dish. In other words, hospitality makes everything taste better (not that it needed it) and makes everyone feel better (again, thanks to the cocktails, not that we needed it). Then, after chatting with Josh some more (which further enriched the experience) we ordered an entree - the pork boas. Not surprisingly, they were delicious. Also, our waiter put in another FREE side order of green beans for us - just because. Another score! As we were wrapping up our meal and waiting for our check, Josh emerged AGAIN with ANOTHER COMPLIMENTARY entree - a ramen dish. Needless to say, we were taken aback by the level of generosity and congeniality Josh provided us - all amounting to a wonderful dining experience which we having been raving to others about ever since. Cool, generous guy who gets the value of sending away happy customers. Oh, and the food was delicious. Ok, back to work for me. Go try this place out!

    (5)

  • Zorin D.

    We stopped in here when we were walking around Chicago during craft beer week. We had planned on going to a tap takeover at the Emporium Arcade but the place was far to packed so we opted out of that idea. That aside It was a decent place to stop by. It was a Saturday afternoon so it wasn't crowded at all. I also liked the fact that they had lots of vegan and vegetarian options. We ended up getting the vegan fritters and they were pretty good, though just slightly oversalted. It seemed like t hey had a lot of interesting options on the menu though. If I lived in the area, I would definitely make a stop back but being as I'm a suburbanite always looking for new places, I don't think I'll be back unless I happen to be strolling through the neighborhood with nothing to do.

    (3)

  • Nailah E.

    I can't vouch for the food, I didn't even get that far smh! I was at the silver room block party and wanted to grab a bite. I saw Rodan and me and my friend popped in. We sat down and a great runner brought us some water. We asked for lemon and he graciously brought it. Then I looked at the glass and that thang had lipstick on it. I asked the waitress for a new glass of water and pointed out the lipstick. She didn't apologize and wasn't rude. More so indifferent, and brought a new water. Then the runner came back in and apologized. I wasn't pressed. I was hungry and ready to order. Reached down to take a quick sip and the replacement glass had lipstick AGAAINNN. See now y'all had me messed up. I was like oh no. I told the waitress and this trick rolled her eyes. That's when I had to tell that trick I wouldn't be dining there. Now I'm at Pint across the street. Like I said in my last review, these waitresses must not want this moneyyyy though

    (1)

  • Bria D.

    Delicious Wasabi Fries and the strongest margarita I've ever tasted! I came here on Saturday with my friend and sister and we loved it. The Japanese BBQ and Sweet Dragon wings were amazing and we really enjoyed the Grilled Korean Short Ribs. The atmosphere was really nice, I loved the whole 3D wall thing they have going on in the back. The only issue was parking; but parking is always scarce in that area. We will most definitely be back !!!!

    (5)

  • Niti B.

    Stumbled in the door after a few drinks down the street at Salud to continue the night. Ordered the Moscow Mule and can't complain! This is the perfect summer drink. The place was just the right amount of crowd. Can't say too much about the place but was a pleasant experience.

    (3)

  • Hana Y.

    Very unmemorable. We had a groupon, so gave it a try. It's probably much better as a nightlife joint than an actual restaurant. The main food options are the buns, and they said the shipment was delayed, so they were completely out. That left us with like four other food options (no joke). With the variety of restaurants in Wicker Park, don't bother with this unless you want some drinks and a few Asian-inspired appetizers.

    (2)

  • Natalia K.

    Came here to use a groupon with a date and it was a really likeable little place. We had a nice big booth and after some cocktails, we dug into the deal. For our shared app we tried the popcorn shrimp, which had this great creamy sauce on it and was delicious. He talked a lot so I got to eat more of it. Score! I chose the steamed bun trio for my entree and I enjoyed all of them. I also enjoyed a bit of my date's ribs, which were quite good. I didn't share any of mine. I'm a selfish eater when I like the food. Ha. I did order the green beans as my side though and it was such a huge portion, he had some as well. The service and general ambiance were nice and modern with some purple lighting in the back. They were setting up the DJ for the soon to be club atmosphere for the later hours of that Friday night. Strange for an Asian bistro, yet my friends who have been here before were surprised there was a food groupon for this place because they have come here for late night drinks. Hey, whatever they have to do to stay open is fine by me, because I would definitely like the opportunity to return!

    (4)

  • Dave D.

    I didn't have to many expectations going in and that's good because I would have been very disappointed. Everything about this place screamed average. I love Korean food and they couldn't wow me. I did like a few things here. There was no wait, prices were ok, and the drinks are strong. Don't get me wrong, this place isn't terrible. It's far from it. But it's also far from amazing. Good weekday option when everything else is starting to get old.

    (2)

  • Denny D.

    Been back here a few times since my last review... I probably came on a shitty day because my experiences after that have been awesome! Bloody Mary's are deeeeeelish and have a nice spicy kick. The togarashi fries... OMG get them get them get them! Make sure to go on Dirty Dish night :)

    (5)

  • Ulric H.

    Came in here when it was pouring rain hungry and looking for a good meal. Restaurant was pretty empty but hey what do you expect for a Monday night. They were out of beef, no problem. Asked about the ramen and how it compared to other places in the area. Waiter didn't really know. I wanted to know spice level and was hoping it wasn't too spicy, waiter said it wasn't spicy but a little tangy. I asked to leave jalapeños off just to be safe. So how was the ramen you're wondering? In one word? Awful. Huge chunks of pork belly and egg were nice additions, but pork belly was largely flavorless. The broth was incredibly spicy and not tasty. The noodles were bland. I'm usually a good eater, but this just wasn't worth it knowing there are places like oiistar that serve incredible ramen just down the street. Maybe Rodan is more of a night time drink spot, but it certainly isn't great bc of the food. What saved this from a one star review? Waiter didn't think twice about removing ramen from our bill when we stated our dissatisfaction. Bottom line. There's so much better in the area, keep on walking.

    (2)

  • Jen B.

    Rodan is an Asian fusion gastropub that seeks to marry the complex flavors of Asian cuisine with American bar food. On this visit, my dinner mate and I ordered the popcorn shrimp, fish and chips, wasabi fries, and bao buns. Dinner mate had the shrimp on a prior visit, and lamented the freshness of the app. The fish was tender, but the coating was overly crispy and "cracked" off the fish. I skipped the wasabi aioli as it left something to be desired, so I ate the fries by themselves. Bao was dry and overly chewy, and the kalbi was fattier than expected. My dinnermate had been to Rodan for drinks before, and recommended them. Service from Caleb was excellent. Overall impression: Good concept, poor execution.

    (3)

  • Bao L.

    Went here on a Friday night for some grub and drinks. They have a pretty wide variety of beers. I didn't order a cocktail, so I can't attest to that. For food, we ordered: -Thai chili buffalo wings: crispy and juicy. A bit on the tangy side -House cured bacon satay: very interesting dish. I liked the thick cut bacon, but I'm still not sure if I liked pairing it w/ the satay -Fried pork belly baos: these were real solid. Good sized piece of pork with cucumbers and some pickled carrots. The place is pretty dimly lit. There's a DJ in the back that spins while random movies are being projected onto the screen behind the DJ (when we were there, it was a mix of the Matrix and some old Alfred Hitchcock movie). Not sure if this is a cool date spot to go to, but it seems everyone who wasn't sitting at the bar was on a date.

    (3)

  • Morganne B.

    The 3 stars I feel are one each for the Sunday beer special ($4 drafts), the service, and the music. The atmosphere here is super unique--DJ in the back playing stuff that may match up with the huge video on the projector, but it may not. The daily specials all look like a great deal; we were happy with $4 3 Floyds Alpha King drafts. We started with the steamed edamame, spicy style. All this meant was regular edamame with a pile of dry spice on top. Strange, not really tasty, but at least we were able to knock off as much of the stuff as we could. Would've been much better with just sea salt. I ordered short rib bao buns, which came with raw jalapeños. The jalapeños overwhelmed the flavor of the meat and sauce inside... And the meat was cold and super hard and chewy. I don't know if I'd feed it to my dog. The Szechuan green beans saved my meal, but I could've made them at home. My boyfriend got the ramen, which we thought was decent, but nowhere near as good as the ramen across the street at Oiistar. It did have a hearty portion of crispy pork belly though. I doubt I'd come back here for food, but I would at least consider the drink specials because the service was decent.

    (3)

  • Jesus G.

    Very hip/trendy place! Was there this past Saturday for brunch and everything was great. We sat outside and ordered the wasabi french fries which I highly recommend. I also ordered a mimosa to go along with my meal (mimosas were $5 and they dont do bottomless mimosas anymore). The food was great... I had the Rodan Breakfast which has a little bit of everything. The waitress was very funny and was at point whenever we needed something. Oh and there was also a DJ inside spinning some nice relaxed jams just to make everything even better! Will definitely be back to try more dishes!

    (5)

  • Marissa D.

    I've been here plenty of times at night. This place is usually is more of a dance party after dark. However other than having drinks, I've never had the pleasure of dining here. A friend and I went here last night for drinks and some food. I purchased a groupon deal and thought "Perfect excuse to try out the food!" Our server was friendly and helpful. She explained how the groupon works and the restrictions along with good recommendations. The food was tasty, and the experience was fabulous. It was somewhat empty with maybe a handful of other people there. We will certainly be back for dinner again. My only complaint is the music was a little too techno for my taste. Everything else was on point!

    (5)

  • Christopher M.

    Came in here with a Gilt certificate not really knowing what to expect. Pros: - Great wings - Awesome burger, inparticular the house sauce - Great green beans Cons: - Weirdest ambiance ever. I couldn't figure out what they are: a club? An Asian restaurant? Hipster? And what's with the house music? If they can figure out what they are I can see them succeeding since the food was really good. 283/365

    (4)

  • Katie B.

    Had an impromptu date night here with the hubby. It was my second trip, and I was just as pleased as the first. I'm actually not sure why this place wasn't more busy. We were able to get seated right away around 8pm on a Saturday. It's a little quirky. Dark, good music, and a big jumbo screen playing random things in the background. The food is very good. Asian fusion is one of my favorites, so I might be a bit biased! On my last trip, they had a different menu, so I think they change menus seasonally. I had a quinoa dish with added pork belly that was awesome! On this trip, we shared the Thai chili wings and coconut curry wings and the pork belly bao buns. Loved the Thai wings, but the curry ones could have used more sauce. The pork belly buns were really good! I would recommend them. Drinks were solid. I loved lychee, so I tried the drink with lychee and champagne. Also good--and the waitress told me it's their monday special for $4! We would definitely stop by again.

    (4)

  • Angelica P.

    Their udon stir fry with "vegetables" was terrible. Just noodles in sauce with a couple mushrooms. That can never be called a stir fry with vegetables! And it was super spicy which wasn't mentioned at all. Their wasabi fries left a lot to be desired.

    (1)

  • Jennifer C.

    Pan/fusion-Asian place with a chill ambiance in the early evening but it can get loud later! The food might be 3 stars but the drinks are 5! The fries are decent though and come with a seasoning and horseradish sauce that is quite addictive. otherwise the food is alright-palatable (average bao with average tofu or pork fillings and average pan Asian tasting spicy string beans)... But nothing special. What it lacks in zing in makes up for in decor and drink selection. Highly recommend any of the cocktails: esp. Ginger Hibiscus, Horse Feathers, Lychee Martini. The place has a projection wall and dancefloor-ish space that most of their young professional crowd feel too self-conscious to dance in until a few get absolutely plastered. Of all bars I've visited in Chicago so far, I think they've got the music nailed with live DJs on most nights. If you like funky house, disco house, deep house, techno, this place is for you. I just like the ambiance so much I keep coming back. came here with 8+ friends for my birthday last year and also for an okc date (that eventually worked out :D)

    (4)

  • Christelle S.

    Came here for dinner on a Friday night with a Groupon. We got there around 7 and it was not super busy. I had never been there before, but I am a fan of asian style food, so I was excited to check it out. We started with the egg roll of the day: duck confit. It was absolutely amazing! It came with two dipping sauces (chipotle and a sweet/sour mayo), but both were equally good. For dinner, I ordered the coconut curry and my boyfriend got the burger and wasabi fries. The fries seemed like regular fries, but the burger was massive. My curry was delicious, not too strong of a curry flavor but satisfying. There were old school movies playing on the back wall, booths, a lounge area, a bar, and seating for smaller parties. Overall, the food was great and the service was good. The best part was that the chef came out to personally check on the food - a nice touch! He was very proud of the egg roll, which was my favorite part of the whole meal.

    (4)

  • David C.

    Rodan wings goin' up... On a Wednesday... 1/2 price wings on Wednesday is a decent deal. But without the deal, I'm not sure if I'd ever willingly choose to go here. Kind of like going to see your dentist on a Wednesday, only if it was half off... ::WINGS:: They have 4 flavors: Japanese BBQ, Korean BBQ, Thai chili buffalo, and Rodan sauce. -The flavor profile on the Korean BBQ and the Rodan Sauce were very similar. A mildly spicy, but tangy sauce with some hints of sesame and onion flavoring. The sauces were solid, but I did not feel like they needed to be classified into 2 separate flavors. I have similar feelings toward Mary Kate and Ashley... -The Thai chili buffalo is definitely different and seemed like a hit or miss amongst our group. The thai chili definitely takes priority over the buffalo flavoring. It almost becomes like a curry type flavoring, which for me is a little weird on wings. But I can see how people will like it. I have similar feelings toward Mary Kate and Ashley... -The Japanese BBQ was the weakest. The sauce was overly sweet and did NOT take advantage of the smokiness it was dying to complement the sweetness. I had similar feelings toward Mary Kate and Ashley (Full House years)... Another disappointment about the wings were they didn't maintain that crispness through the sauce. As the old anonymous saying goes "Nothing is worse than a basket of flaccid wings." So after about a dozen wings, some fries, and a couple beers it was an ok Wednesday night. And now, if I have a wing craving, on a Wednesday, you may find me meandering over to Rodan to quench it.

    (3)

  • John S.

    Best place in the North/Damen/Milwaukee strip for good DJs/music & diverse crowd, any night of the week. Friendly staff, laid-back vibe & tasty food.

    (4)

  • Amy Y.

    I like this place. They have a rotating menu of food and it's pretty good. Food is fusion or Asian inspired. Lychee drinks are excellent too. They often have specials on weekdays. It's supposed to be a dance place as well but it's kinda small for that not to mention it's usually dead on weekdays. Still, nice place to grab a bite and chill.

    (4)

  • Alexander Z.

    Service = 5 Food = 3.5 Ambiance = 3 (depending on what you want) Drink Selection/Specials: 4.5 Service.... our waitress was excellent and very friendly. Not much else to say there Food.... Overall the food was very good. Some of the dishes really stood out with others leaving something to be desired. So 3 of us went, using a groupon for 2 and buying additional food. We ordered the Mussels, the Pork Belly Fried Rice, the chicken curry dish and the fried fish and chips. Mussels: easily the shining star of the menu. The mussels were decent in size and were cooked perfectly. The sauce was the special side of this dish. With a curry backbone, there was a strong Star Anise flavor which is a unique spice for those not used to it, and something I've never tried in mussel broth before. It worked excellently though and is a dish I will happily order again. I might have (ok I totally) had them box up the broth for me to use as a simmer sauce cooking at home! The fries have a blue cheese crumble melted on top, which if you love blue cheese (I don't) works very well. Fish & Chips: the piece of fish was surprisingly thick, and fried perfectly. Crispy, yet totally moist inside and not too greasy. The fries were the same as with the Mussels. Pork Belly Fried Rice: the fried rice part was excellent. it seemed like they used an Indian type basmati rice as it wasn't sticky and all the ingredients weren't in one clump which I prefer. The jalapeno was a nice touch for some heat. My only complaint, and a fairly big one, while the pork belly was cooked perfectly, seemed to have a good deal more fat (and less meat) than I've come to expect from a good pork belly dish. Maybe this was a 1-time thing, so I'll try it again but this dish is only worth it if you get a good serving of meat Chicken Curry Dish: this was the weakest by far and was just OK. It's also of note that this is the only dish we didn't finish Ambiance: It is sort of clubby inside with a giant 100"+ tv screen playing some Christian Bale movie with trance music playing. This is not really my scene but one of my friends loved it. I will say that the space is put together really well and we had a nice seat on benches/couch chairs for a low key meal. DRINKS!!! Can't forget the (arguably) most important part of the meal! while their beer selection was only OK they did have an awesome special for a Tuesday night ($4 Revolution beers, including Bottom Up Whit, Anti-Hero & Eugene Porter). I didn't try the wine, but my friend Alyssa did work on a few glasses and was pretty satisfied (~$8-10/glass?) Overall....... fairly unique menu, good execution, great service, decent set up. I will definitely come back here to try the steamed buns & Korean style short ribs!

    (4)

  • Ada K.

    Love the vibe of this place. Came here with a friend to celebrate my pending birthday. I was pleasantly surprised with the Asian fusion of comfort foods.. The staff were awesome. I decided to return to give it the official test of consistency. Even better than the last time. Awesome! Highly recommend.

    (4)

  • Alex M.

    I should give this place more stars. In fact, the waitstaff and bartenders deserve a four- or five-star rating. They were friendly and very good at their jobs. I gave it three stars because the food was underwhelming. An $8 bahn mi should probably blow my tongue out of my mouth. I'm used to $2 bahn mis in Seattle that were pretty damn great. This was ok. Very cole slaw-y. Also I'm all for creating a certain feeling in a bar and they have been successful at that. The DJ was playing some interesting house music while Godzilla played but it was loud enough that it really did require me yelling at my friends whose faces were about two feet from mine.

    (3)

  • Tatiana M.

    We came here because of the Groupon. Here is my advice, don't buy the Groupon. We got the short ribs as an appetizer. Umm, more like jerky ribs with maybe a bite or two of meat on there... and you really had to chew them. Not a good start. I got the steak fried rice, HOLY SALT. I literally ate 4 forkfuls because it was BEYOND salty. And my gf tried it too, she couldn't even swallow it. Pure salt, inedible, and such a waste. I imagine he took a box of salt, cut a hole and dumped the whole thing into the dish. It was that bad. She got the hungover burger, nothing to rave about on her end. Wasabi fries... they are just mushy fries and wasabi aioli. Such a bummer. We settled up our check and ran out of there. While we were walking, we stopped at another restaurant up the street because I've never seen it and I wanted to check out their menu. We got to talking with the hostess and she told us that Rodan is very "hit or miss and they are mainly about their drinks"... so clearly tonight, a huge miss. It could probably be better next time around, but I definitely will never go back to find out. Good luck and hopefully you get a "hit" when you go!

    (1)

  • Andrea A.

    Didn't eat here but the menu seems like it's nice and a lot of people were ordering. Nice drink specials. Friendly staff.

    (4)

  • AJ M.

    After having some drinks atLinks, my buddies and I were looking for some place to eat some really good food. It was a Friday night so many of the popular places were packed and had over 1hr wait. So I yelped to see what was around and found this place. I have recently been to Chicago's wingfest and know that these guys won in 2014, but was unable to taste thier wings at this years event because they ran out, so that means it must be good. I assumed like many great wing spots this was a sports bar, I was so very wrong. We walked in it was very dark, with some trance music playing. The vibe was very clubish. My first impression was this is a lounge, theres no way they serve food here, but they did. Everything on the menu looked so good. Its Asian fusion, Im talking pork bellys, boas, burgers, noddles, all that good stuff. We got 12 wings 4 of each flavor ( coconut curry my fav, thai chili, rodan(sweet). The wings were good, loved the asian flavors to them. We also got the hanover burger, and rodan burger. They accidently brought 2 hangover burgers and let us keep the extra for free. The hangover burger is spicy with a hint of wasabi, fried egg. The Rodan is a amazing wagyu patty with porkbelly and kimchi. The flavors here are the real deal. Beer list is unimpressive for this area, and the vibe is deff diff, but I dont know what it is but something is missing. Part of me thinks the trance music and lighting doesn't work but part of me kinda likes it. Overall great flavors and a unique dining experience!

    (4)

  • Todger ..

    What the hell is going on here? I don't know. I don't think they do either. They are friendly enough, that's for sure. But the food is really nothing special and is on par cost-wise with this other restaurants in the area. So the lesson here is...

    (2)

  • Toye A.

    Rodan never disappoints! I come here looking to enjoy the chefs take on short ribs, ramen, lettuce wraps, and burgers! Every person I've ever brought to Rodan never forgets this food experience!!

    (5)

  • Mike T.

    PRO: Good place for drinks CON: The food is not good. This place is decent for drinks. It's a pretty standard Wicker Park bar. They have calm neon lights, good seating and DJs, pretty par for the area. It's one of those places where if you have no planned reason to be in Wicker Park, you can stop in for a drink and have an alright time. The food though is way below the drinks. It's technically "Asian Fusion" but in the sense that some person who grew up in Chicago made up their own recipes based on their limited experience eating the many types of "Asian" food that exist. Most Asian (kimchi, ramen, Thai curry, etc.) items are a bad imitation of what they are when they're made by a chef well-experienced in that type of food. The staff though are INCREDIBLY nice, and you'll be made to feel welcome. It's worth a glance, but overall nothing special.

    (3)

  • Robby K.

    The bao buns are all very good. Even the tofu! And I am a big meat guy. Come here for a leche royal and pbr chaser. Very hip. look out for their Saturday "Retox" day party. or "techno brunch". expect dj's spinning electro vinyl for a really fun 11am-4pm all you can drink mimosas for only $8!!!!! whaaaaaaat!!! sign me up! the manager-bro Caleb is super rad and wants everyone to have a great time. even if that entails $3 Jameson shots!!!!! are you kidding me!. for a day drinker like me, this place is the bees knees. it is also a great date spot if you want to impress a girl and show her how urban-hip you are.

    (4)

  • Sam S.

    Came here with a brunch groupon and was very impressed! For entrees my boyfriend and I split two entrees, the pinoy breakfast with Filipino Longanisa (Sweet Pork Sausage) and the Rodan Omelette. The house potatoes that came with the omelette were absolutely amazing because of the house rodan sauce. We also loved the fried rice and sausage from the pinoy breakfast. The chef even brought us out some complimentary wings for us to try with the house sauce! We will definitely be back to try some dinner entrees and snacks, the wasabi fries looked great and the service was attentive without being too intrusive.

    (5)

  • Jon F.

    Good beers on tap, pretty good food, I've always heard great things about the ceviche, but as others have said it is hard to come by. In 3 trips I've never been able to get it. I did enjoy my other meals, and I know its a bit hard to come by fish that fresh, but maybe make some note as to the consistency somewhere if you know it is sporadic?

    (3)

  • Janet S.

    Hmm, felt like I was in a 90's London timewarp. In a good way. Heck $5 bloody marys, a quick pitstop whilst Pablo went to reckless records next door. Kids eating brunch and watching cartoons and supping endless mimosas. Absolutely pucker service from our gal

    (3)

  • Melanie V.

    Lychee Royle. $3. Monday nights. Cannot beat that! Lovely drink...with a real lychee, too! The Thai Ramen (spicy, egg, fish cakes) was pretty tasty as were the sweet potato fries. Thumbs up on the food! The fail-ish part? Waiting close to 20 min for our waitress to bring us the check. On on a Monday? In a not so crowded bar? Meh.

    (3)

  • Mark Y.

    Superb Deep house/techno and swanky visuals w/ table service: sprout salad or coco fried rice and premium cocktails or beers, in heart of wicker-buck. Not mainstream, gets full stars!!

    (5)

  • Beth L.

    We ate here on a Thursday night and I had no idea what to expect as my husband had picked it out as our dinner place. They were not busy at all and we were seated in a spacious booth. The atmosphere is sparse and not at all like the current reclaimed wood craze - the vintage video mash up projected on the wall made me feel like I was at a rave, but hey good memories! The menu is really random - I had a moment of hesitation where I thought maybe we should leave, but I'm glad we stayed! The drink menu was nice and varied. Sake? Check. PBR? Check. Wine? Check. Craft beer? Check. Plus a full bar - your options are covered. There really wasn't much on the menu that I could eat as I have issues eating spicy or fried foods, so I ordered the udon stir fry and my husband ordered the coconut curry. The food arrived timely and at first bite, we both proclaimed "YUM!". The Rodan sauce on my stir fry (which by the way is a bit spicy even though our waitress said it was not spicy at all) was delicious - a very nice sweet-hot soy sauce based sauce that apparently they are known for. My husband (a curry connoisseur) loved his coconut curry - he said it was unlike anything he had ever had and ate up every last bite of it. I would have tried dessert but their two options of tempura-something and mochi ice cream were not too enticing for me. So I guess this place is a restaurant/bar/lounge. It had some couches and a place where a dj could set up, plus that weird video projection wall for when you want to space out... The music was electronic/loungey/Hotel Costes which I totally dig. I'm surprised it wasn't busier but maybe it was just a slow night on the town. I would have given it five stars if there were more options on the menu that weren't fried or spicy. Otherwise, I would recommend as a great option in Wicker Park! Other bonuses: Everyone who worked there was very nice. Our waters were regularly refilled. They have outdoor seating options. They are open past midnight for when you need a cool late night place.

    (4)

  • Megan D.

    I went again to Rodan on this glorious Summer eve. I have to say this place is a wicker park gem. My friend and I were both low on cash and too stir crazy to buy drinks and stay in. So knowing that rodan will both stretch your dollar and fulfill your savory needs we headed there. We sat out side and literally ordered the cheapest beers on the menu at $3 and $4, We were completely satiated with that. But little did we know the new chef at Rodan Josh fresh back to the CHI from Cali decided to send us over a few dishes he has recently added or was going to add to the menu. Pardon my superlatives but they were fan-f*cking-tasitc!!!! Rodan's food was always good. But this was Rodan in a less pretentious more flavorful version. We tried out the new ribs which were just amazing. We had the beef noodles as well which had the perfect amount of sweet and spicy, not the mention the mushrooms were cooked impeccably. And the icing on that cake was the popcorn shrimp. NO BREADING, just delicious in your mouth. om nom. Josh's friendly and sociable natural just reaffirmed my love for Rodan let alone someone you just want sit down and have a beer with and chew the fat. There are so many cookie cutter cheap bars on Milwaukee there is no reason you can't drink on the cheap and enjoy your food there. I will be going back within the week. Thanks JOSH!!!!!

    (5)

  • april w.

    Very unique bar-feel asian restaurant! The ramen is really good ($13). It's a little spicy and has mushroom, big pieces of pork belly, green onions, pink fish cakes. And 2 Bao buns can be a meal! Dimly lit and had snowflake decor for Christmas!

    (5)

  • Ashley C.

    Top fav spots to chill and dance! My guy spins here from time to time but everytime I have been here it has been a great night! Bartenders always friendly and quick. I love that there is always Soultrain or great graphic movie like Kill Bill playing on the screen. Who doesn't like to dance along with Soultrain?!? I have also been here for lunch on a summer day and dined in the front on I guess you would say patio, I say front sidewalk lol. Food was good but service was a bit slow. So slow that we nearly just walked away because we were waiting forever but you know what Rodan, I still got a love for you. Come to Rodan when you don't want to deal with the Wicker Park douche bags that love Crocodile (despise that spot!) and former Empire Liquor. It's a chill spot with chill good people.

    (4)

  • g z.

    I've been coming to Rodan a lot lately and I should have written this review sooner. For starters, the food is really good all around including brunch, dinner, apps, etc. The wings are highly recommended and they are on special Weds. night. The menu is interesting and the food is solid. The staff is always great including all the servers and bartenders. The music is really good and they have been attracting some well known Chicago house and light techno djs that have been making late nights at Rodan into a small but very cool club scene. There is ample room to dance and the vibe is always great. Rodan is really a great experience whether you are looking for a restaurant, a bar or a later evening desitination.

    (5)

  • Thomas T.

    This isn't a night life or dinner review so skip me if that's what you're looking for. I came here for brunch on a Satuday after attempting to go to Bongo room down the street but the line was too long there. Walked up and read the menu and they had a pinoy breakfast. Being Filipino myself, I definitely had to try this out. For comparison purpose, I'm comparing the food to Uncle Mikes, which is another diner that also has a filipino breakfast. First I asked how many Longanisa comes with the meal (at Uncle Mike's it's 3). Longanisa is like a small pork sausage for anyone that doesn't know. My waitress told me 1. So I was confused, was it just 1 huge sausage or do you only get 1 small sausage? Either way, I was thrown off and went with the thai chicken and waffles instead. That was kind of weird. I understand that they throw asian flair onto their dishes but it was just too weird for me. Don't really recommend that. My gf got the tosino which wasn't too bad. Still no Uncle Mike's though. Good amount of meat though for the price. Not sure if it was garlic rice or suppose to be normal fried rice but either or it tasted plain. It was ok though, nice to know that there's filipino breakfast available walking distance from her apartment. They did have outdoor seating which was pretty cool. People watching on Milwaukee avenue is pretty entertaining. Watching people park is funny, all the dogs that walk by are cute. Def recommend that if the weather is nice.

    (3)

  • Sarah L.

    I should note that my review is slightly biased because I got food poisoning after eating here. Came here on a whim after purchasing a groupon, which included two entrees and a snack item (did not include the wings, rodan burger, or entrees). We decided to try the edamame hummus first. Holy salt, the hummus and chips were so salty we could barely eat it, and this coming from someone that often likes overly salty food. For main meals I ordered the mini bao buns (pork belly and chicken) and a side of wasabi fries, my spouse ordered the coconut curry. The buns had good flavor but were pretty tiny for the $12 price tag, and did not include the side of fries ($4). The fries were crispy, but did not have much of a wasabi flavor. The coconut curry was unusual. It looked like a giant bowl of spaghetti, and hardly had any sauce or vegetables. Overall this was probably the worst meal out I've eaten...and we decided this before I woke up sick in the middle of the night... Other than the food, the ambiance was bizarre, as other reviewers have noted. The place was nearly empty, which made the loud oldies music and Edward Scissorhands playing on the screen even stranger. The service was average. Perhaps this is a fun place to grab a drink late at night? Overall, if you've never been I'd recommend stopping in for a drink first, at least that should lower the risk of getting food poisoning...

    (1)

  • Ann T.

    I've always loved this place and have come here several times in the past. I haven't been there for a while. Wow, what a big let down. I went there with my husband and daughter on Mother's Day. Originally, we were just going to have a drink there but then the Pinoy breakfast caught my eye - specifically the "Garlic Fried Rice" esp since I'm Filipino. Anyways, I get my breakfast and I see that the fried egg is on a mound of white steamed rice. Big let down. So I thought no big deal. They'll just replace it right? Wrong! I usually never ever say anything to waitstaff esp since I have worked in restaurants myself. I inquired with one guy about the fried rice. First he says something about it being a typo. I show him it in the menu. He acts like he's going to go ask someone and then never comes back with any sort of answer. Finally, I flag him down again and he says that it is garlic fried rice. He says it rice with garlic sprinkled on it. WHAT? iT WASN'T EVEN FRIED. IT WAS STEAMED RICE. Ok, so I'm fine with when people make mistakes but dudetake some responsibility. Anyways, I'm"m not one to make a stink or let it ruin my meal with my family. They didn't even comp me at all for the rice or anything. We paid the bill and even tipped. but I will never ever go back there again.

    (2)

  • Elle W.

    Went here with a group of 7 for dinner and drinks on a Friday night. Reservation was for 8pm which was the perfect time- the dinner rush was ending and we could eat before the crazy club goers got there. Our server was GREAT. Super patient, very knowledgable. We really liked her. My (vegetarian) food was so good. I am still thinking about it a few weeks later! For apps we got the tempura green beans, wasabi french fries (just a hint of wasabi), and for my entree I got the tofu bao. I had never had anything like a bao before, and it blew me away! Drinks were creative and delicious. Highly recommend this place. Be aware that it has a club-type atmosphere, which was a little odd at first but a fun dinner overall!

    (5)

  • Amanda R.

    Four of us came here on a Sunday morning for brunch with bottomless mimosas. The place was empty, save for a couple sat near the front, but I think they were friends with one of the staff. Our waitress, an eastern European woman, was pretty hard to understand, but otherwise average to friendly. At first, they wouldn't sell us the bottomless mimosas because they were almost out of champagne (they would still sell us mimosas at the per-glass price, of course). So, since the bottomless part was the reason we came, we decided to go to Crocodile instead (we'd been before and loved it). When the waitress saw us putting on our coats, though, she ran over and said the manager changed their mind and we could have the special after all. They were pretty weak (which I guess in hindsight we should've seen coming). (A few months later, another group of friends went and ordered the bottomless mimosas with brunch at Rodan, as well. At some point during their meal, their waitress told them they were out of champagne. Those friends laughed it off... hey, we drank Rodan dry!... but I'm starting to wonder if this isn't an excuse Rodan uses to limit how much people drink.) Now, on to the food. The dish I ordered sounded SO good on the menu. It was pancakes with strawberries and blueberries, honey butter, and coconut whipped cream. When the plate arrived, though, it was really disappointing. The amount of fruit wouldn't have even filled my palm, the butter didn't taste any different from regular butter, no whipped cream (coconut or otherwise) to be found, and the pancakes were dry. I felt like someone was trying to put me on a diet. Music: It was nice at first, some kind of generic-sounding pleasant music for our Sunday morning (ish), but it changed to annoying thumping electronica midway through our meal. Even though we were now the only people in the place who didn't work there (and continued to be until we left), they wouldn't change it back for us. Verdict: Skip it. There are tons of places to get brunch with better food, better service... and better bottomless mimosas, which you won't have to threaten to leave to actually get.

    (2)

  • Ainsley E.

    This place is fantastic. The food is incredibly good and prices are totally decent! I had pork belly ramen which was OUT OF CONTROL. Tender pork belly, delicious egg, fab noodles. All it needed was a squirt of sriracha for some heat and the waitress happily obliged. My friends had the short ribs and chicken skewers and were both sad when it was gone. The wasabi fries were bomb. Cocktails also excellent -- their bartender makes a mean sazerac! Would totally return to try more of their menu if I get the opportunity. The banh mi looked amazing.

    (5)

  • Mihir P.

    I'm surprised Rodan isn't more crowded - it was almost empty when I arrived. Love the alternative rocky-ambient music and hip-ish atmosphere. I got a very warm greeting from the bartender as I walked in (there was no hostess). Our waitress was fun and friendly. Excellent cocktails - try 'em all! Niche beer list with some Asian microbrews on it. Food... Tempura Green Beans: Yummy for your tummy KimChi fried rice: decent portion, filled me up, but where's the kimchi? Food is inexpensive so I'd go for drinks and to nosh on the creative small platd and apps that I didn't get to try.

    (4)

  • Scott L.

    Ah Rodan, where do I start. Let's start with the only thing that really matters - the food is atrocious. I showed up for brunch today and ordered their Hawaiian-style breakfast platter: fried rice, a fried egg, choice of breakfast meat, and a cucumber-tomato salad on the side. They had spam elsewhere on the menu, and I shamelessly adore the stuff (I'm Korean), so when asked, were kind enough to substitute spam for "PBR-soaked sausage," among other things. So far, no overtly obvious red flags. Apparently soaking random stuff in PBR is a thing now? I'm a bit confused but whatever. The taste of the rice was easy to describe - ever cooked rice, left it in an open container, forgot about it for 24 hours, and then came back and tried to eat it? That's exactly what it tasted like. Except also brown with cheap soy sauce and a handful of chopped spring onions on top in a presumably half-hearted attempt to avert complete disaster. It didn't really work. I guess I've had worse fried eggs. It came out cold. Woops? The spam tasted like spam. They managed not to screw up something that came out of a can. Good job? I came with two friends. One of them ordered chai-spiced french toast, and I tried a bite. Remember when you visit your relatives for the holidays and your 12 year-old nephew or cousin offers to make you french toast and he basically just takes wonderbread, dips it in beaten egg, and fries it in a pan with butter and you pretend to enjoy it because 1) you're not an asshole and 2) come on, it's adorable. Except you're not my nephew and it's not adorable and oh my god you cannot just take a 12 year-old's french toast, sprinkle chai-spice powder on top and pass it off as a brunch item. My other friend ordered a salad and a plate of veggie gyoza. I didn't try the salad, but the gyoza tasted exactly like a certain Korean brand of frozen gyoza from H-mart. Should I have been surprised? I guess not. What should I have expected walking into a japanese-themed brunch place that has such eclectic items as Sapporo ramen and chicken and waffles? Oh, don't worry, the chicken is fried "Thai-style." So normally, I don't comment too much on the decor, but having big red lanterns swinging just an inch above your diner's heads seems like a bad idea? Like it was literally an inch above my head. And I'm only 5'8". At least they had pop-eye projected on the wall to distract me from the obnoxious asian-trance mix they had blaring incessantly. The sooner you leave this place, the better. Like ideally before you come to begin with.

    (1)

  • Melissa P.

    $8 bottomless mimosas til 4p on Sundays. Best deal around!!!

    (4)

  • Brian M.

    $0.35 wings every Wednesday! But not just the super small wings that you find at most places. This was the whole thing: Drumstick, wingette and wing tip and they were big. This was the best deal for chicken wings I've ever seen in Chicago. Ever. Your choice of three unique sauces, not the typical stuff. I wish I took a picture of it. The atmosphere in Rodan is pretty chill. It's got a modern feel with a super cool staff and is a great place for dinner or late night drinks. They advertise it as an asian restaurant, which is reflected in the menu options, but it's more of a hip, modern restaurant with an asian inspired menu. Super cool place.

    (5)

  • Jean C.

    Great food, great drinks, great music everyday! The staff is very friendly and the new chef has improved the menu a lot. The cocktails are also very good. They have a dj every night after 10 with always a great crowd.

    (5)

  • Mia L.

    Late night Eat!!! Where do you go to eat after midnight? If you're craving Asian, Rodan is the place. We were lucky to grab a seat, people were just hanging out and hogging the tables. So when we found an open seating we couldn't wait to order. The service was super here. Rough start because the waitress didn't notice us, but once we walked up to her and asked to order food, she was very tentative. The tacos were okay, the sauce made it good. Their burgers we cool but it wasn't anything spectacular. What I did like was their soba noodles. Considering the area we were in I'm surprised that I was eating a hot bowl of soup. It made my night. I was a happy camper after that. So the 3 stars is because the food is average at best, but still satisfying. Their music was what killed me. If it wasn't for their appealing menu, we would have walked out of this place. The music at one point got really really annoying. Once we were done with our food, instead of staying to drink, we pretty much left and went to another bar.

    (3)

  • Lexie V.

    I have never eaten here but I have had many drinks here. They have pretty good drink specials such as $3 Lychee Royales on Monday, $3 Surprise beer on Tuesday, $2 ALL cans of beer on Wednesday, $5 glasses of wine on Thursday, $6 Beer and a shot of bourbon on Friday & Saturday, and $4 drafts on Sunday. They have a really well rounded drink selection, and as someone who mainly drinks beer I am always pleased with what they have on tap. -1 star because sometimes the crowd can be weird. I like bars with a communal atmosphere but this is not the place to go to make friends at. Bring your own friends if you want to have a good time.

    (4)

  • Hector M.

    Love this place, been here a handful of times and they do it well. Cool inside, love the music, sometimes a DJ, (not a hokie one), and the Asian fusion menu (infused of Filipino flavors). Tip: they won best wings here in 2014 or so THEY say... Enjoy!

    (4)

  • Nick C.

    I don't venture to Wicker Park that often due to the lack of parking and long waits, but my wife and I found ourselve in the area on wednesday night looking for some cheap eats. This place does not disappoint! 35 cent wings every Wednesday plus Templeton Rye Whiskey! We are sure to return

    (5)

  • Michelle L.

    I really liked this place. The fish and tofu buns were great. The tuna tartare was good and the grilled octopus was great. We came on Friday because we were headed to some of the First Friday Wicker Park Bucktown events nearby. This was a great choice. The service was really good - attentive but not hovering. They had some issues with the beer taps, but they were really great about dealing with it. We will definitely be back.

    (4)

  • Caleb R.

    I really enjoy the music, food, and overal vibe at this place. It is such a breath of fresh air from most of the places in Wicker Park. I really don't mind the Sapporo Ramen noodles either! :)

    (5)

  • Denzell W.

    Rodan is an Asian-fusion underground-hip-hop dive bar gone disco hipster. The setup and decor is brilliant. The medium-brown finished wood walls that wrap around to the ceilings are surprising and worth sitting back and admiring the taste level. Every table has a glow; either from a centered tea candle or a floating paper lamp. You can tell this place is Asian fusion without looking at the menu. The seating options are; outside, bar-side, 2-4 seaters next to the huge open window facing the crowd of Milwaukee Ave--- or booths next to a live DJ and digital TV projection screen. Large groups or tuck-a-way dates have the option of contemporary gray sectionals or a rustic bench. You seat yourself, I like that. Sometimes I want to impress someone by having the sectional all to ourselves. The servers greet you, recommend specials and keep it moving--- it's a bar. I prefer it that way. Good specials. I remember an option for either a PBR & Jamo shot for $6 or $2 cans. I've never tried anything other than the burgers here, it doesn't give me that "chef in the back" vibe I need to start ordering soups and whatnot. I stick to burgers and appetizers. The audio system sounds incredible and the DJ was not amateur by any means. I found myself with Shazaam on my phone constantly trying to snatch the song being played to download later. The music ranged from disco to funk to Motown to R&B. The vibe of this bar is extremely eclectic and great for a night out, a date or meetup. It offers a ton of variety and is one of those bars where you don't have to talk to the person you're with, just sit back drink and zone out in the ambience. The crowd is an eclectic bunch of people, I never know what to expect when I arrive at Rodan--- it's spontaneous. I ordered Edamame Hummus, a Togarishi Burger w/ Wasabi Dusted Fries and a Delirium... all while listening to Outkast being spun live to the Rocky Horror Picture Show. My only negative is the bathroom. That's where the dive bar comes in. Tagged walls and that awkward moment where you and another guy are trying to figure out if the bathroom is for one... or two dudes. Rodan I look forward to spending the summer w/you... never change.

    (5)

  • James L.

    Have been to Rodan a couple of times in the evening. Always a good vibe with a good selection of hip hop, r&b and house music to serve as the backdrop. Could get loud in the evenings making it difficult to converse with your party, but if that's the case plenty of other bars to go to in the area. Can't wait to go back and try the food given the other reviews!

    (4)

  • Steven A.

    We decided to give Rodan a try for brunch but almost passed on it after looking at the dinner menu posted in the window. Not that there was anything wrong with the menu, to the contrary. It looked delicious...for dinner. I would recommend posting a brunch menu as we saw a number of people check out the menu and move on. Maybe they were looking for something more brunch/lunch. We're glad we ventured in and asked. The staff was very friendly and attentive. We sat in the front window and people watched Milwaukee Avenue as some great jazz music provided the backdrop. The Asian/Filipino inspired egg/rice/sausage Pinoy breakfast was unique and delicious. It was an over easy egg on a disk of sticky rice a choice of Filipino sausage, pork or veggies on the side. The tofu Bao was very tasty. I recommend Rodan for a brunch that is a little out of the ordinary.

    (4)

  • Dustin R.

    Great music, good food, non pretentious atmosphere, good service, friendly staff. And brunch till 4pm! No complaints!

    (5)

  • Emily R.

    When in town I come here for the drinks and for the ambiance. Food is just OK. On both visits I've sat at the bar, which is a good spot for meeting interesting people, especially if you are traveling solo. The bartenders took good care of me. When choosing which outfit to wear here, think "effortless yet fashionable hipster."

    (4)

  • Jamal P.

    This review has been a long time coming. I can't figure out what this place is. This is true for the food, drink selection, décor and ambiance. It's described as an Asian gastro pub. This is true when it comes to the food names and some of the items. The menu is all over the place. Their idea seems to be to infuse American flavors into Asian cuisine, and Asian flavors into American cuisines. This doesn't always translate into a winner. The cocktail menu also swings from American traditional Manhattan to a Lychee Royale. The décor and ambiance say neither Asian nor Gastro pub. It screams lounge. All of this put together throws this place off in my opinion. They should maybe focus on infusing American with one specific Asian cuisine. I have never have a bad individual item here, but at the same time the whole experience has never came together.

    (3)

  • Seth F.

    This was a really difficult place to nail down. On food alone, it's hard to give this anything other than a 3. It's not bad by any means, but it has a pretty limited menu. However, the few items they do serve, have a pretty interesting Asian-fusion vibe to them. I particularly enjoyed the Korean Kimchee Burger and the Togarashi Burger. The Wasabi Dusted Fries are really good as well. Most importantly however, it's a really cool bar. They show old movies on a projector in the back, it always seems to have an amount of crowdedness optimal for the time of day and all the waitstaff/bartenders are super nice and helpful. In the end, I want Rodan to continue to exist and I'm proud to call it a neighborhood bar. And quite frankly, I'm not sure how I ever considered giving a bar named for a Godzilla villain anything but a positive rating. Godzilla is a real threat that we, as a country, and society in general, need to start taking seriously. Not the mythical monster, the threat of another remake. A threat that is real. And terrifying.

    (4)

  • C D.

    An Asian fusion bar at Wicker Park! The food menu is pretty small which is normal for a bar! My boyfriend and his friends almost ordered everything from the menu. :O I really like the soy sauce pepper from appetizer menu!

    (3)

  • Timothy L.

    Rodan recently updated their menu with more small bites perfect for a midnight snack and some of the most delicious banh mi I've ever had. The more varied menu is friendly for any budget. The food is great for a late dinner or for refueling for a heavy night of drinking. I will be back more!

    (4)

  • Vince N.

    Stumbled upon this hidden gem when trying to figure out where to grab brunch around Wicker Park. Yes, there's many many brunch options in WP but don't overlook this chill and satisfying establishment. Came in with 4 other filipinos and to our surprise, their menu was offering a pinoy breakfast! WOW! Very proud that our national food selections are being offered in trendy spots like Rodan. If you've never had filipino breakfast, you are missing out! And no, we don't just eat spam. The service was awesome, the decor/vibe was as expected for a restaurant off Milwaukee and the food wasn't over the top amazing but it hit the spit. 4 stars for Rodan!

    (4)

  • Belle L.

    Turon -- delish dessert. Unlike the traditional receipe, Chef added his preference for ginger. Addictive. Comes with perfect Coconut ice cream with macapuno bits. Filipino Breakfast for Dinner -- a OK. Not ordering again. Bland. Excellent portion though. Band plays on Sunday, about after 9 pm. Lots of continuous streaming of patrons on a Sunday night. Nuovo video may be a soft porn or an artistic display.

    (4)

  • Jelena Z.

    Still a legitimate hot spot without the downtown struggles (parking, lines, covers!). And, the crowd they pull in is very attractive. Now we all like to look at pretty things, don't we? In addition to having my beloved Allagash White on tap, they carry Ayinger Brau-Weisse in bottles. Yes, Rodan is a lounge but how sweet it is that they take care of the craft beer drinker as well! Just don't leave your drink unattended on the bar for more than a few minutes or it will get swept away by the bartenders. Lesson learned! Sexy music. Sexy drinks. Sexy people. And that's more than enough for me!

    (5)

  • Kori E.

    I came here for a girls night out last week and we thoroughly enjoyed our dinner/drinks here. I had been here once before late on a Saturday night, so I wasnt sure what to expect grabbing dinner here. We started off with the Pork Belly Tacos, and they were outstanding. I could have eaten 3 all by myself! For our mains, I ordered the Ramen soup and a side of the wasabi dusted fries. Both were really good. The fries came with this tasty wasabi/mayo dipping sauce that packed quite a punch! My soup was super spicy as well, I think they topped it with chili oil. The poached egg was a little more done that I would have cared for, but all in all the soup was really good. Everyone else raved about their meals as well. The only thing I didnt like about Rodan was that damn house music! My friend towards the end of the meal literally couldn't take it anymore and demanded we leave. I totally agreed with her. I found the place to be totally confusing. They are serving up this great fare and in the background they have a DJ playing house music and a huge screen with creepy images on it. I think during the week they need to tone down, at least at 7 PM, the clubby scene and focus on being a good restaurant that serves quality food. Because the food is really good, but the scene turns me away from possibly coming again...

    (3)

  • Wren B.

    I've come here a few times for brunch and have to say, this place is amazing! The staff is awesome. Caleb, the bartender, always keeps the unlimited mimosas and coffee coming. They always have good music and something cool on the screen, making a cool ambiance. Most important, their breakfast potatoes are so good they are addicting. I wake up thinking about them sometimes. I'll definitely keep coming back

    (5)

  • Ryan C.

    If their menu was a little more expansive, I would have gave it 5 stars. I love this place. Its very chill and relaxing. The projection screen always has something amusing on it, from psychedelic art to kung fu movies. The food is good, I have not been disappointed yet. They have a good selection of beers on tap and normally a weekday special. I have come to this place a few times for brunch. If you want decent food without the wait (Bong Room), come here.

    (4)

  • Kymberly J.

    I have no reason to not give this place 5 stars. OK, there is only one bathroom for the ladies but I wont take off a star for that. One stall marked that is; there is an unmarked door in between the mens and womens washroom that is unisex. I'd stay away from it though...I'm sure something funny was going on in the there last saturday. I was there on a Sunday a few weeks ago. They had $3.00 Allagash on special. Thank you for introducing me to a lovely Belgian! I didnt have any food but enjoyed the music and loungy, uncluttered atmosphere. last Saturday I was there with a large group. They accomodated us well considering we bombarded the joint when it was already packed. I really love any place that offers a lively late night menu with healthy(ier) alternatives. If I am faced with limited late night options of nachos or poppers one more time I'm gunna lose it man! I ordered spicy tuna maki. 10 pieces for only $10.00 and really good too! A little too much rice but the spicyness was right on. I also tried someone's tempura greenbeans. They used fresh greenbeans and a light batter to retain the crispness of the bean. Oh....and today the Groupon is for Rodan! Go out there and get it.

    (5)

  • Mark H.

    A hipster with a techno-ish flair lounge/ bar good for a drink or two. Never ate there. In a clustera of interesting bars and social clubs. If you're in the area, you can easy find yourself in there... even on accident. All part of the Wicker experience. Regular more last year.

    (4)

  • Edith H.

    Great drinks and beer selection at a decent price. Best bar food in the area. Pretty people and rocking DJ's round this oasis in IdiotTown out.

    (5)

  • Tiffany K.

    So, everyone knows that Tuesdays here are the best - cheap beer drafts and free jazz. It doesn't get packed, so it's a good spot for easy hangouts and drinking on any weekday, not just a Tuesday. I came here on a Saturday. It was lowkey because of Lollapalooza, but it was still nice. The music was a little off-kilter with the visuals, but service was good and they gave us our food (green beans) on the house because it took too long. Their beers are decently priced, and their cocktails looked good. Good spot for a date, but I'd probably avoid this place on your average weekend night. The crowd is a mix of people, and in the late 20s to 30s and 40s range.

    (3)

  • Carol K.

    Interesting little spot. A little out of my age bracket, for sure -the young way, not the old- like I had to say that!- Ha!!!, but Rodan served up some tasty drinks the other night in an environment that actually allowed for conversation. We stopped by after having dinner up the street and decided a night cap was in order. Had a couple of tasty martinis that were served by a affable bartender which was unexpected in a place like this. A look around had me wondering if this was a restaurant, a bar or a video cafe for local artistic talent. And if you go to the restroom- the video in the mirror will have you foregoing your lipstick as you stare into the thing. Not a place I'd search out when looking for a cocktail- but certainly welcome on a windy weeknight when you are just not ready to call it a night yet.

    (3)

  • Andre W.

    As promised I returned to give the place another chance. Walked in about 1AM, which means it only left us an hour to continue the fun we were having all evening. The music was better this time around, everyone was rockin out and the place was packed. I felt bad for the bartender, because she was the only one back there serving drinks to a full house. I felt bad up until the point she started serving everyone that came to the bar after me and left me unattended. I then proceeded to make a comment and she ignored me still. I didn't let that get me down though. I knew this place was better than what I experienced the first time around. I hear the food is good here so maybe I will try it next time. They recieve a 1 star upgrade from the last time.

    (3)

  • Molly L.

    I think that 3.5 stars is a fair rating for Rodan, but I'm going to bump them up to 4 for the food. That's what a restaurant's all about, right? We started out with the salmon tostadas. It was a great combo of sweet and savory with the pineapple and wasabi cream. For dinner, I had the Togarashi burger. It was very juicy and well-cooked. I LOVED the wasabi fries it came with. I could've eaten 4 orders of them. My fiance thought they were very spicy with the wasabi, but I can never get enough wasabi, so I happily ate his fries. To drink, I had the lychee royale cocktail with lychee juice and champagne. Rodan has a good cocktail list and lots of craft beers, too. The food was great, but the service was just OK. Our waiter went MIA for a little while, especially toward the end of our meal. The atmosphere was dark and sexy, which I loved. There are projections of strange, hypnotizing scenes on the back wall, and the music was very weird. It kind of sounded like whale sounds accompanied by a didgeridoo. Fortunately the food was good enough to outweigh all that. Or maybe I was just hypnotized by the didgeridoo.

    (4)

  • Sandy M.

    Absolutely love this spot, it's chic and modern, lounge feel and have the best lychee champagne drink aka "lychee royale" it comes with a real lychee. Music is good, mixes of oldies n trendy top 40 but definitely not a big dance floor n they serve Asian fusion small plates thats great too. Date friendly but also nice for a group social of 5 and under.

    (5)

  • Sady C.

    I've always walked pass this place but never really cared for it. I came in here lastnight and I really liked the chill vibe and the projection that had stars with a dj playing a tune. This is probably somewhere I'd go to start my journey kinda like in the movie Lost In Translation. They had a small bar and the setting was pretty intimate which would be good for a date night. Started off with some Brooklyn beer, shot of jamo.. Entrees: togarashi burger. It had the essentials for a burger, tomatoes, cheese, onions, buns. Asked for a medium well but it turned out to be a overcooked crusty mess. I ALWAYS finish my food like its gonna be the last meal I'm ever gonna have. Came with fries and they didn't mess that up. Came with a wasabi dipping sauce and yes its not original but it was damn tasty. Friend had the cod fish.. I think that was it. It had the grill marks and everything, seasoned but this too didn't scream. Omg. It was like making fish at home with seasoning and throwing it on a fry pan within 5min. The potatoes had no flavor and we wanted to throw down siracha sauce on it but our server was literally mia. No where to be seen.... The spinach was good at least. Service: horrible. Lol. She didn't give us an introduction no pizzaz which I was expecting especially working at a chill vibe restaurant. She totally forgot about my jamo. And I needed siracha but she never came around for me to ask. She was there but not there.. The best part of my night was probably seeing so many different kinds of mustaches walk in thru the door. It was amazing.

    (3)

  • Candice G.

    Rodan is just okay. Very middle of the road... but not as cool as the Blur song. I've been here several times, all on a Thursday because we have a friend who frequently Dj's there. The place is pleasant, the crowd is nice- they keep to themselves, and everyone is attractive. The staff is very friendly and beautiful but I have found that Rodan is often out of numerous menu items. Recently their menu changed and it just simply is not as good as it once was. Very boring and the quality seemed to have gotten toned down. Their drinks aren't bad but they're just okay and a little costly- not too bad but I could go elsewhere for better taste & less buck. Also, I've never had a memorable time here. It's like the nights here are so blah that it's like they were erased Eternal Sunshine style. I'm torn on their bathroom. The mirror isn't a mirror. It's a camera view of you but in all distorted colors... kinda cool the first time but gets REALLY old when you just want to see if you look okay or if there's S in your teeth.

    (3)

  • Ashley V.

    FOOD: Is OK, maybe good, but not great at all. Burger was overcooked (WAY overcooked) and the Wasabi Fries... just regular fries with Wasabi Mayo on the side. Nothing special, at all. Tempura Green Beans were fine, maybe good, but have had much better at tons of other places. DRINKS: If you love Lychee, they are great. Other than that, nothing too out of the ordinary. Reasonable enough pricing, though, and cool vibe to hang out, so worth a stop by if just for drinks. SERVICE: like other reviews say--SLOW. And they forgot to even order our appetizers. So when the food came, we were so hungry (like 20 mins, and not many people were eating, not packed) so we just ate. BOTTOM LINE: Stop by for a drink if you like Lychee or a cool vibe in Wicker (since lots of bars around there are a little more beer-ish/bar-ish not as chic). Other than that, not missing much.

    (2)

  • La M.

    I had some of the most delicious food ever here. But then some food was ok and some was meh. Delicious: I had their mussels and they were just perfect, amazingly balanced and tangy coconut curry broth, plenty of toasts for dipping in the broth, perfectly cooked and cleaned mussels. Just great. My companions had two other soups and said they were delicious too. Okay: Before that I had the avocado bao, which rather dry. It needed a sauce of some kind.The bun was kinda dry and dense, although tasty. The filling was well-prepared, it just needed more sauce to make it sing (they mentioned a mayo but I couldn't taste or feel it). I also think their take on bao (where it's just a fold of dough rather than a full bun) reduces the doughy delight of bao where you get a whole pillowy mouthful. Meh: Their vegan cheesecake was disappointing. It appeared basically to be a condensed brick of mostly-unflavored tofu. The texture was dense and not creamy at all. It had hardly any flavor. There were two cherries on top but they didn't add much - perhaps a coulis would have helped? The deconstructed graham cracker crust was tasty but also extremely dry and would have been well-paired with moister creamier cake. I've had good vegan cheesecake so I know it's possible, but they need to retune this recipe. Service was great, music was rather loud for dinner (and kept switching in volume). Pretty much every time the waiter came over to take our order the music would swell into this wave of dreamy distorted guitars so that he couldn't hear us.

    (3)

  • Sheresse S.

    Every single time I go here I feel like I'm drowning in a sea of L.A Hipster Trash. There is always tons of creepy hipster guys on the prowl for another girl to infect here. I'd probably like it if there was a different crowd and it were located in a different neighborhood other than wicker-park.

    (2)

  • Matt P.

    Automatic strike ... it's in the Wicker Park/Bucktown area of hipster douchebaggery, and it looks trendy when you walk in. HOWEVER Wasabi fries. Totally makes the hipsters worth dealing with.

    (3)

  • Pinaki S.

    Five stars for brunch food (interesting tastes and good prices). 1 star for place as a night spot. I'm not sure what the crowd of this place is going for... $3 PBRs. Leechee martinis. I wore 1 of my 2 "this is what you wear when you go to nice places" shirt and felt completely out of place. My friends were asking me if I had used heavy starch with the shirt. I guess I don't go to WP that often, but I saw more ironic beards, weird random hats, non-smiling people, and unbelievable shirt combinations than I've seen in months. I almost internally combusted from the irony. A text message (from myself, of course) summed it up. In an answer to my friend "Howisit?", I replied: "My friends are here. otherwise, I wouldn't go there if you paid me"

    (3)

  • Dante P.

    visited during a happy hour while visiting.. The drinks were so delicious! Atmosphere was perfect for after work decompression! Will visit again, if I am in Chicago!!

    (5)

  • Stephanie M.

    Honestly- 2.5 stars. I went with a friend on Saturday evening for a light dinner and drinks. We were seated right away (after we found someone to acknowledge us) and got our menus. When our waiter eventually got around to checking on us for our orders, I got the Horse Feathers cocktail, which was really good. We split the wasabi dusted fries, which were amazing, and each got a couple of their tacos. I tried the fish taco (mediocre), and a Korean taco (amazing). We saw our waiter exactly 3 times. And each time was awkward. He never smiled, made eye contact, uttered more than monosyllabic short sentences, or checked on us. I don't expect stellar service everywhere I go, but this was just dumb. We would have ordered more drinks, but it was too painful to sit there and try to see if we could get his attention again. The drinks and atmosphere weren't *that* good... That being said, we got our food quickly, and our dishes were cleared quickly, but that unfortunately had nothing to do with our waiter. I almost sought out our busboy to give him the tip instead of our waiter.... Food = GREAT (4 stars) Service = Pathetic (1 star) Atmosphere = Wicker Park "hip" (3 stars) I'd actually really like to go back to try some of their other food as they have a great menu and tasty food, but I'll have to wait until I forget about the poor service, or explore their take out options (?).

    (3)

  • Mawie T.

    The food was done fast. The kimchee fried rice has good flavor, but it's too mushy. The kimchee is alright. The kimchee burger is pretty good though. Kind of over priced, but it looked swanky inside.

    (3)

  • vincent g.

    I'm the Artist that painted the paintings and the table tops, gilded the ceiling and bar, venetian plastered the walls, painted the suede on the walls and wallpapered the back walls. I've known the owners for many years now from the time I had an art gallery across from their other restaurant Thai Lagoon on North Ave. What can I say, their AWESOME! It's not because I'm friends with them or that they hired me to work for them. It's because they try hard to put together a quality looking restaurant and food menu without cutting corners and was affordable for everyone. If you don't like crowds, don't go there on weekend nights. Go there during the day or weekday nights and enjoy a very pleasant experience. If you like to get funky, go Thurs. Fri. and Sat. nights, it's Crazy!

    (5)

  • Adam M.

    I visited this spot a couple weeks ago on a wintery, blustery evening. The staff was warm and welcoming as we came in. Just what the doctor ordered! We ordered some seasonal beers at the suggestion of our server. I had their burger which is OUTSTANDING. My guess is that the grill is seasons just to perfection because there is a crust on this guy that is so tasty and savory. All of the toppings were great as well. Oh! We also had the fries seasoned with wasabi for an appetizer - AWESOME! Great service, unique menu, and an excellent atmosphere will certainly bring me back here soon.

    (5)

  • Anne E.

    Had another great night on Friday for Sub Tropical! Nuphie was great, she took care of us and made sure we had what we needed. Great place!

    (5)

  • Melissa S.

    I really liked the atmosphere and I like to try new things. It's sort of an asian fusion thing. Something smelled fantastic when I walked in, we asked and were told it was the Korean BBQ. Sounds good, so we order it with our waiter who I will call Dieter. Someone other than Dieter dropped it off and since I'm new at Korean BBQ I didn't have a clue in hell what to do with it. Dieter never did come to see how it was so I was never able to ask and I made it up as a went along and ate and picked at it. Not very satisfying. I had to flag down for every drink, we ordered mussels, they never came. We were still hungry and the whole thing was just a struggle. Could have been good and a little guidance from the server would have been great. My friend spent the entire meal with one coke with about 2 fingers left in it and never bothered to ask if she wanted more.

    (3)

  • R G.

    Awesome place, great food and drinks. Staff is amazingly friendly.

    (5)

  • Dani K.

    The layout is great, the prices aren't really that terrible, and the patrons are starting out their night of a good time. However. I ordered a taco thing and my friend ordered soup. It took about five minutes for a waiter to come over (it wasn't even that busy and all the tables, from what we saw, already had their meals/drinks) and took about 15 minutes for our food to come out. Now, 15 minutes for food? That's pretty average, right? No. We ordered from the appetizers section and the portions were small. We didn't ask for a steak and lobster, here; we asked for a dang taco and soup. Why did it take so long? After seeing how small everything was, I'm still puzzled. Whatever.

    (3)

  • Sami A.

    I love this place! Love it love it love it! Why isn't it 5*s? Regardless of the day, I can always count on it being cool, dark, laid back and enjoy a great bite! Their Togarashi burger is amazing! So is their wasabi fries and anything else on the menu for that matter. Don't get me started on the BREAD PUDDING! They have a great list of beer, liquor and sake! They always have a food and/or drink special. Servers/bartenders there are super nice and not the faux nice you sometimes get from servers/bartenders. These guys have snark (is that a word?) and aren't afraid to show it. But who wants a boring bartender? Forget any kind of conversation I might have if they're playing Blade Runner in their huge back projector screen. Just like Jelena Z said: Sexy music. Sexy drinks. Sexy people. And that's more than enough for me!

    (5)

  • Stephanie V.

    I really enjoyed the ambience! great place to chill and have a few drinks! really enjoyed the pork belly fried rice although i couldnt really taste the kimchi, which is what i was looking forward too. I enjoyed the red miso (not sure why its called "red", looked and tasted just like any other miso) and the bao was tasty yet a bit on the small side. they also have a delicious lychee martini!

    (3)

  • Pete V.

    Stopped in at Rodan on a busy afternoon...it was Wicker Park fest weekend and the crowds + awful country music was making my head throb. Rodan was advertising $10 pints and a 1/2 pound burger, and although the idea was clearly stolen from the Paramount Room, the relative quiet and a glass of decent beer was more than enough to lure me in. All I can say is DAMN they blew me away with the burger. It was huge and the spicy marinate they used did the trick. The salad it came with was fantastic and a glass of Three Floyds Pride & Joy made it the best meal I had all day. Of course the service was lacking a bit due to the masses of families and drunken college students, but I was delighted by my meal...$10 well spent!

    (4)

  • Lois A.

    I'd only been here for drinks over the years and finally got to try the food this weekend. It was excellent - if I'd known how delicious the burger here was I'd have tried it a long time ago. The sweet and sour mayo was fantastic and the wasabi fries that came with were just as good. Also amazing were the fish tacos with corn and chili seared pan fish with shitake mushrooms. The beer list here has always been good - la fin du monde and two hearted ale are on my list of favorites. My complaint is that the staff here really enjoys talking to themselves. We weren't given plates for the appetizer and we really could have used them! We noticed that friends of the waitress at the table next to ours were given them and didn't have to hold their appetizers above napkins the way we did. We would have asked for them but we would have had to get up and walk over to the group of staff talking to do so as we couldn't get their attention by staring at them, not too cool.

    (4)

  • Laura V.

    I finally got a chance to use my groupon at Rodan and I was pleased. As far as food goes, I thought the small plates all looked excellent and I was very torn on which to get. The wasabi dusted fries and the vegetarian sushi ended up being the big winners and they were both excellent. I also got to sample some of the edamame hummus and it was phenomenal - garlicky and creamy. The entree selection for vegans isn't very promising as the vegetarian burger is not vegan. Therefore, if you were vegan you would be pretty much stuck with the Jungle Curry - which isn't necessarily a bad thing - it was very good and nice and spicy. The drink list looked really impressive and I can't wait to come back to partake in some of those interesting looking beers. The daily specials looked quite good and would also be a reason to come back. The decor was very loungey and dark. Very nice. It was quite loud in there but it was also past 9pm so I'm sure it is a little more mellow earlier on. Based on the food selection and the drink specials - I think Rodan would be an excellent place to hang out, listen to some good music, have some drinks and split some small plates - but not necessarily ideal for a full meal. The entree selection and the noise level made it just a little difficult for that. I'll be back.

    (4)

  • Zack C.

    I was in Wicker Park with my hipster friends and decided to give Rodan a try since my coworkers had been raving about it all week. I instantly fell in love with the place--the people, the drinks, the food, the music, the whole package! Rodan's new owners are really hip people who have turned the establishment into something to write home about every weekend. I definitely wish I were at a soiree at Rodan right now.

    (5)

  • Vanitha S.

    I went in hungry and thought that the fish tacos would have filled me up but they didn't. It was an appetizer but I thought they'd be heftier so I'd be careful next time to not order that as a full meal. Absolutely loved the hot sauce they gave me with it. I had to get the chocolate chip bread pudding which was divine! The ambiance was super cool and I loved the loungy feel to it.

    (4)

  • diana t.

    Friday night, we waited about 30 minutes-an hour for our food. While they were nice enough to comp us the appetizer, we missed our party plans even though we spaced out an hour and a half for dinner and spent the next 2 hours wandering around looking for somewhere to go. It completely ruined our night. What really grinds my gears is that the people next to us sat down 30 minutes later, knew the owners or something and got their food in 2 minutes- almost before we did. I'm taking 2 stars off my initial review.

    (3)

  • Christopher K.

    I pretty much love this place! Since I live really close this is one of my go to places for both food and drinks. FOOD: I have tried many food items from old to new menus here but I stick with what I love the most. The Togarashi Burger is probably one of the best burgers I have had in the area. The burger is always prepared perfectly medium every time I have ordered it and loved the wasabi fries. Sometimes I'll get the fries as a side if not too hungry or the tempura green beans. The Korean Tacos are wonderful and even better on Thursday $2 taco night though you're only saving a $1/taco. DRINKS: Nice beer selection and I love the Moscow Mule. Reasonable drink prices and a nice chill place to meet for just drinks either at the bar or a booth. SERVICE: The service is a bit slow but I am never really in a hurry here anyways. I do wish the servers would recognize some of us regulars even though I am not in here everyday like others but enough that you would think they would remember. BOTTOM LINE: Good food and drinks and an overall chill/cool atmosphere. Rodan hasn't done anything wrong to make me not want to come back.

    (4)

  • Lidia L.

    Yes a little on the pricey side but the wasabi dusted fries were to die for. The place had a nice aura to it --- a good place for drinks with friend. I ordered the Korean tacos, which had the best tasting pork belly ever! I would definitely recommend this place. The four of us also had the tempura green beans as well which was delicious in the sauce. I also had the lychee champagne which was quite deli-sh for a cocktail

    (4)

  • Jorge M.

    Came here for a drink and decided to have some food. The place was busy, it was very warm and extremely noisy. I get that a lot of places try to promote local talent and live music, but if you want to do it, why not get a good sound system and not play the music at max volume. Drinks were okay, nothing special. The food was just weird and took a very long long time for some fries to come out. They were sort of cold by the time they arrive to the bar. I would probably stop for a beer or two since the actual place is pretty nice.

    (3)

  • Brittany S.

    First thing I need to say about this place is "Get the Wasabi Fries!" This restaurant has a small menu, so if you have a party with picky people, it could be a good or bad thing. Since I have read a previous review to try the Lychee Royale, I ordered it and gave it a chance. It was pretty good, but I suppose I expected it to be juicier or have a strong lychee taste, but that's just me. However, it was great to have the fruit in the bubbly glass. I also ordered the Togarashi Burger (medium rare) with the Wasabi Fries. The burger was really good and juicy, and I thought the presentation was nice. The grilled marks on the burger buns made it look gourmet. Like other gourmet burgers, this one was pretty tall, but I surprisingly didn't have major messy issues or had too much of its contents spewing out. And dipping the fries into the wasabi sauce transported me into a stage of foodgasm! It was sooo good, it was tempting to not share-- but I wanted my friends to have a taste at this awesome side. Honestly, if I were to come back I would probably have those fries (maybe 2 orders) as my whole meal! And don't worry, the sauce isn't really that hot at all! The atmosphere was good, and so was the service. There seemed to be a small dance floor near the DJ table and wall which had videos and shapes playing from a projector.

    (4)

  • Dave C.

    This place was a surprise, but I think it has to do with your expectations coming in. I was expecting pretty standard bar food when I came in for a date on a Wednesday night. The girl and I settled in and tried the fish tacos, the burger, salad, and tempura green beans. I had a couple beers, she hit the cocktails. On the whole, the entire thing exceeded expectations. Obviously, we're talking in context of bar food, but seriously, we'll be back. I liked the green beans (she didn't). She loved the fish tacos (I didn't). We both were pleasantly surprised by the burger. The drink list is good, the prices reasonable. The staff could be a bit more attentive and friendly, but what do you expect from hipsters? I guess that is what we get for gentrifying the neighborhood and tipping 20%. Like I said, definitely a pleasant surprise all things considered and will definitely return.

    (4)

  • Adrienne G.

    Good for drinks with friends. The staff is laid back & they have a nice beer list, as well as sake. The vibe is classy, but very chill, On Sundays they have cheap soup! And Asian movies. I usually just drink here but last time I got the scallion pancake, which was nice, but nothing amazing. If you're going here Thurs-Sat night, it is going to be packed with loads of people in their 20s-early 30s. And probably always will be.

    (3)

  • Tammy W.

    Rodan, for me, is like a high school crush. You know what I'm talking about: You think he's pretty cute, and you're TOTALLY bummed you don't move in the same social circles, but you try to steal glances at him when you don't think he's looking, and you gush about him to your friends way too much. And they really don't see it (and don't want to hear any more about it), but you KNOW that they'd really like him, too, if they'd just give him a chance. Oh, and you've spoken to him maybe once or twice, but the way his deep, velvety voice caressed the words, "I think you dropped this," as he handed you back your pencil gave you the shivers. In a good way. (Plus, you hear he likes puppies. And that's cute, 'cause you also like puppies.) Right. Rodan was my first Wicker Park bar. I went one of the very first nights I moved to Chicago-- with a huge group of people-- and I really have never gotten over it... though I have yet to make my way back, despite having been in the neighborhood several times since and even passing it a couple of times... Maybe it was the lighting: warm and amber in the candlelight; cool and blue on the mini-dance floor-- but always soft and muted just so. Maybe it was the Asian fusion burger: tender, juicy, and paired with delicious wasabi fries. Maybe it was the sake. Or the lychee champagne cocktail-- which was, obviously, delightful. Maybe it was the fact that I could have a delicious, reasonably priced, and possibly romantic meal-- or grab a couple of drinks with friends in a lounge-type setting-- and then get up and dance right afterwards. In the same place. (Yeah; it might be a little awkward, and people might stare, but that's just part of the high school experience, right?) Or maybe, even, it's just part-nostalgia. There's something to be said for firsts. Or maybe it was a combination of all these things and even some things I can't describe or articulate. Whatever; it's a crush-- do I really need this much justification? I wish I could see him again.

    (5)

  • Kristen H.

    Thanks to Groupon, I went here with a few of my friends on a Thursday night. Wasn't sure what to expect, but in the end was happy with the overall experience. Every night they offer $5 Chef special drinks and it happened to be that this night they were offering a singapore sling and a tequilla / grapefruit type of drink. Both were tasty. Food wise - we all ordered miso soups. The taste was great, but the bowls weren't barely half full and for $4 a soup, fill that sucker up. We also had to try the wasabi fries with all the rave reviews about them. For dinner, I had the chicken banh mi sandwich which had a great combination of flavors - a bit spicy from the jalepinos but that was easily adjusted. The others I was with - 1 had the burger and more wasabi fries as he hadn't had enough, another had the fish tacos which looked delicious and the other tried the special of the day - fried rice with salmon and pineapple. The atmosphere in here was simple and sleek. It does turn more into a lounge later at night, but if you're in the food for some asian fusion, give Rodan a try.

    (3)

  • Gamaliel E.

    I came here with friends for drinks....they have great beer list and we took full advantage of it. We ordered the wasabi fries and tempura green beans. Both were awesome and hit the spot. I'll be back again for sure.

    (4)

  • Encourager Z.

    food isn't bad, nice burgers and wasabi dusted fries. The service is another story though. I've been lucky and had a good server once before, but she knew a friend of mine so I got the special treatment. I had to walk out before because I wanted to order another round, than I just wanted my check, than I was pissed, than I had to go. The staff just disappeared in the back and never came back.

    (2)

  • Gaurang S.

    Oh, Rodan, Rodan. The first time I experienced you, I had barely moved into Chicago. Worked in the loop. Lived in the Gold Coast. Strategically exposed only to the river north clubs, and carefully inculcated with values pertinent to that neighborhood. So a trip here to the wilderness called wicker park back then left me wild eyed, in denial, and yet totally enthralled. I first came across the animal known as the Chicago hipster here (very different from say, and east village nyc hipster). And I saw my first fixie outside your doors. And I loved your craft beer collection, served in those special glasses tailored for those bottles. I loved every moment of it. I since grown older. And more cynical. And less impressionable. I moved to wicker park, and visited you a lot more frequently, almost weekly. And you don't hold the same charm anymore, Rodan. I'm actually more interested in trying out your weekend brunch one of these days, but always get sidetracked and go somewhere else. But you're like that first love, that girlfriend you can't get over. And so while you really should be three stars, I'll give you another for nostalgia's sake. And for being named for a Japanese monster. And for those visualizations, that drive me crazy in windows media player, but somehow are hypnotically beautiful when in sync with Jeff Parker or one of your DJs. Some day hopefully I'll relive the magic.

    (4)

  • Joe S.

    Edamame hummus...money. Wasabi dusted fries with wasabi aioli...mo money. Bahn Mi was amazing. Togarashi burger was extremely tender and one of the best "trendy" burgers I have had for awhile. Service was decent...not out of this world but he appeared to be the only one working the tables.

    (4)

  • Olivia K.

    Rodan! The food is really good and they have a sort of a modern asian twist on American food...which it awesome. Just the burger alone was delicious! I also had crab cakes as an appetizer and that was also really great. My only complaint was the waitress wasn't nice, I went in there with my friend and he asked for a corona (he doesn't go out much mind you) and she gave an attitude and said "we don't have those here" and then laughed....Much to my surprise she didn't flip her hair, roll her eyes, and stick out her "hip" .Otherwise! I would be more than happy to give it 5 stars.

    (4)

  • Jennifer S.

    Food is decent. I much prefer the old menu. Blonde waitress is rude with a bad attitude!! Bartenders are great, good drinks.

    (3)

  • Maja B.

    Hands down, Rodan has one of the coolest atmospheres of the bars in Chicago. It is a good place to go at the beginning of the night and decide where to party, or if you just want to have a chill night with friends. It is also a perfect place for a date. Over the years I've seen Rodan go through many different menus and music nights. What is still there is the Asian influence in the cuisine, and the popular Tuesday Jazz night. This night features members of Tortoise for some cool freejazz instrumentals if you're into that sort of un-rhythmical thing. What Rodan lacks now is the DJ Rickshaw reggae night on the 2nd Fridays, which had everyone bumping and grooving in the aisles. There is still a reggae dub vibe earlier in the evenings on Fridays dubbed "Early Dub". Now that was a lot of dub. But this feeds into the more atmospheric side of Rodan, which is probably it's best. The current 2nd Fridays have the "Solid Gold" 90s hip-hop and dance night. Frankly it is too cheesy for me. I think if your going to do a dance atmosphere do it right, if you want to be whimsical and sarcastic that's another vibe. Not one so much for a dance party anyway. If you are going to Rodan for a late dinner and chilling rather than dancing, here is what I would recommend. First of, you must try the signature cocktail Lychee Royale. It is composed of refreshing Cava a.k.a. Spanish Champagne, lychee juice, and a lychee fruit bubbling at the bottom of your glass. This combo is most superb and delicious, and I am not even a champagne drinker. It's priced at $8. As far as food, you must go with the Sapporo Ramen. OMG. Yummers! This is one fancy $12 bowl of spicy white miso broth, smoked pork belly, poached egg, fishcake and veggies. Your taste buds will delight in the contrast of the spicy white broth and intense smokiness of the pork. The poached egg is done just right and soaks up all the flavors in the bowl. This is definitely a filling meal of high quality and worth the $20. There are some other innovative Asian influenced dishes on the menu like the Chili Pan Fish and Korean Surf and Turf. The one other thing that can be lacking at this joint is service. Sometimes it's impossible to get a drink. One time I walked in with a friend and sat at a table and a rushing stressed out served came to yell at us about sitting down while others were waiting to be seated. Yet, when we walked in there was no one at the door to take our names or let us know that there is a wait on the seating. But again, Rodan's style and atmosphere are unmatched in this city and with good drinks and grub it's easy to forgive and forget ;)

    (3)

  • Nessie V.

    Only one main for vegans, jungle curry, which was just okay. This is more of a hang out than a restaurant: it's pretty loud with a dj and not many tables. Go here to get drinks and maybe some food as opposed to eat a meal.

    (3)

  • h h.

    It looked like they had some wonderful noodle dishes. I just had the burger. It was really tasty. The fries were just average though. So was the dipping sauce.

    (5)

  • Dawn H.

    Rodan in one word: CUTESY. Everything from the contemporary decor to the plating of the food. Speaking of food, here we go: 1) Tempura Green Beans (4 stars): A MUST. The green beans have very light tempura batter so the tempura:green bean ratio doesn't spoil the flavor. 2) Spicy Tuna Maki (4 stars): What can I say -- I'm a sucker for sushi anywhere I go. Although the tuna was mulched, it was well done here. I did miss my side of unagi sauce though.... 3) NY Strip Steak (3 stars): This was the fiance's dish. It was average. You could taste that the meat was previously frozen. It was cooked well (medium-rare) though. The tempura onion rings were a nice touch, and the shallot vinaigrette dressing on the side salad was excellent. 4) Chef Special (4 stars): My dish. Very innovative. It had prosciutto, sweet sausage, and some other pork dish that I'm unfamiliar with, but it was all very good. The side of a deviled egg was a nice touch. One star off for the pate. It was way too mustardy and sinus clearing (in a bad way). Overall, I thought the food was cutesy, innovative, and very good. Not bad for $42. Even better with our $40 Groupon. I wouldn't mind venturing back someday. The only thing that weirded me out was the amount of guys that were wearing skinny jeans in the area, including employees and patrons of the restaurant and people walking by the window where we sat. LOL. I'm sorry, I'll never be able to wrap my head around why guys would opt to wear skinny jeans. Gross.

    (4)

  • Justin R.

    Rodan was a strange place. The decor was pretty cool and the staff was friendly, but it seemed like almost no one was there to eat; just to stand around in groups and chat. Then again, maybe it was because the food was only okay. Nothing was bad, but nothing was particularly outstanding. The Wasabi Fries, although they tasted good, seemed to be frozen fries from a bag, which is a shame. The Edamame Hummus was too garlicky and the Togarashi Burger just tasted like a burger. The Chicken Bahn Mi tasted good, but didn't particularly remind me of a Bahn Mi. For dessert, we shared the Vietnamese Coffee and Beignets. The coffee was good, but the beignets were not. They tasted plain and boring. The drink list at Rodan was good, but the drink special they offered ran out after only having one, which was weird because we arrived only about a half hour after they opened. There were one or two more things I tried to order that they were also out of. All in all, Rodan was only okay. If I lived right by it, I would probably go back, but since I don't, I doubt that I ever will.

    (3)

  • Ellie M.

    I will never, ever, ever understand the hype about this place. It bleeds pretentiousness out of the freakin' walls... and not even the charming, hipster-laden pretentiousness. The quasi-ironic, why-can't-I-afford-to-move-to-New-York-City, no-one-will-ever-understand-me-but-Andy-Warhol pretentiousness. The menu sounds far more interesting than it is, and it's a little pricey for the portions. They change it up every once in a while, which I think is a great thing for a bar trying to emphasize its food offerings, but every time I try something there all I end up thinking is, "Wow, this side salad is great."

    (3)

  • Jessica M.

    As far as I'm concerned, Rodan is a secret gem hidden away in the heart of Bucktown. The place is really well-designed inside: swanky enough to make you feel a little fancy, but unpretentious enough that you can roll in in jeans with no reservations and have a great meal/dessert/drinks. And it's SO AFFORDABLE! The servings seem to be considered "small plates" but they're pretty sizeable and great for sharing. Since the menu is so varied and unique you'll want to try as much as possible. I cannot recommend the Edamame Hummus enough. It's amazeballs. The staff is friendly, they have really yummy drinks, and every time I've gone back, there's something new/seasonal on the menu I just have to try. I originally tried Rodan with a Groupon and we had a REALLY tough time spending the minimum required amount, the food was just so well-priced. As many people have mentioned, there are a ton of bars/restaurants in the area, so it's easy to walk right past Rodan and miss it. But definitely give it a whirl. It's sure to easily become a favorite spot!

    (5)

  • Nicholas Y.

    Glad I tried this place, but won't be going back. The food was definitely a fusion mix. Very interesting. Wasabi fries are definitely worth a try.

    (3)

  • Heaven M.

    I have been coming here for almost 7 years. Mondays are the best night for me. It has an NYC post-goth art school type crowd, the DJs spin coldwave and mod music, and the drink special of the night is a Lychee Royale. The Lychee Royale is a champagne cocktail made with the lychee fruit, which is kind of like an asian grape, but much larger. Usually it runs $7 dollars any other night of the week, but on Monday's it's only $3 dollars. This night definitely brings out a classier crowd than the other Monday options. And I've had so many adventures stemming from this place. Expect to see & meet beautiful people.

    (5)

  • Sandy N.

    Came here on a chilly Saturday night to have a nice dinner with my boyfriend. Rodan was a good choice because they had a lot of cool-sounding vegetarian options. The decor is really nice and svelte, with candlelit booths towards the back of the restaurant. It was pretty quiet when we came in but there was a DJ spinning some reggae later on in the night so I'm guessing it probably picked up after we left. That was fine with us, since we were just there for the food and didn't really care for reggae. We ordered: veggie fruit (maki avocado, asparagus, mango, tempura flakes) - probably the most disappointing dish of the night. I thought it was pretty bland. My boyfriend thought it was okay. Would have been better if the mango was ripe. wasabi dusted fries (served with wasabi aioli) - this was really good. the wasabi dust had this cool sweet-savory umami thing going on. the fries were also pretty good quality. tofu tacos (cornmeal breaded tofu, miso corn and tomatillo salsa) - boyfriend didn't like the tomatillo salsa too much, but he did like the flavor of the tacos. korean tacos (crispy pork belly, kimchee and mozzarella) - this was good. Reminiscent of Del Seoul kimchee porkbelly fries, except with much better pork belly (crispy and larger portions). Would have benefited from a sharper cheese (like cheddar) and scallions (this analysis is based on the Del Seoul fries). Service was pretty meh, but wasn't horrible. Definitely will be back as there are a lot of other things I want to try, like the mac & cheese, mushroom banh mi, mussels, togarashi burger.

    (4)

  • Berlin G.

    This place was actually pretty darn good. The last Asian infusion restaurant I went to was pretty damn horrible *cough* CHANT in-hyde-park *cough* but I'm not here to talk about that. Ahem. Anyway, this place was actually really good. I ordered the Korean tacos for an appetizer and you get three little tacos with a sweet and sour sauce. For my main meal I ordered Togarashi burger with wasabi dusted fries. I knew I made the right choice on my entree when I looked around. It was cooked to perfection and the fries were amazing. And for my drink I ordered the Lychee Martini which was pretty good. Only problem after the first couple bites of my delicious burgers with fries I started to notice how salty it was. And the Korean tacos were okay definitely not something I would ever brag about or order again. So to the main point: Do I recommend this place? My answer is yes, nice vibe, nice drinks, and decent food.

    (4)

  • Alysha P.

    I forgot how much I liked this place.... Stopped in Friday for a few drinks and to catch up with some old friends....we had planned on just bellying up to the bar....but it was full....so we grabbed a table in the window....love weekend people watching on Milwaukee.... Our waitress was super cute n' sweet.....came and went at all the appropriate times.....easy-peasy but attentive Music and vibe was low-key, cool and hipster....so was the crowd. I got one of the specialty drinks....the yachtsman or some such thing......ruby red vodka, grapefruit juice and soda....I don't remember the exact ingredients but I do remember that it was fantastic and could be a very very dangerous drink....I only had 2 but could def go back and make a night of it. Overall.....perf spot for a pop in cocktail....unpretentious....mellow and hip

    (4)

  • Joseph F.

    We went to Rodan instead of Bluebird because the wait was shorter. And now I know, with good reason. Rodan has two things going for it (stars 1 and 2 respectively) The vibe and interior is great and the waitstaff is knowledgeable and well put together. The food? Not so much. I ordered Udon noodle soup. It was extremely salty and the tempura mushrooms that came with it included an assortment of fungi that were, quite literally, inedible. The house salad, a mere trifle of a salad really, was $5. Why? It must be the Rodan house dressing, which, if ginger is your thing, is available at other Asian restaurants for less. If not, then I have no idea why 8 leaves of lettuce, 2 cherry tomatoes and a slice of cucumber should cost that much. Skip Rodan for the food. Go there for the drinks and ambience.

    (2)

  • Nicole N.

    I loved the chicken satay and mussels. The soup that the mussels was in was delicious. The atmosphere is very relaxing. Its a great place to unwind.

    (5)

  • Violet K.

    While the drinks were tasty, service was horrible. They are perfectly kind, however my table and I basically had to chase down the waitress every time we needed another drink. Not only that but I reserved the lounge area only to be seated at a table. I confirmed that I reserved the lounge twice before the reservation date yet they still got it wrong! Definitely not worth making a trip out to wicker park for and will only go back if there's no other choice (which in wicker park would never happen)

    (2)

  • molly w.

    Stumbled here with a few friends the other night. I didn't really have any expectations except that there would be a lot of hipsters in skinny pants. I was correct about that. I was pleasantly surprised by the extensive beer menu, although some were quite pricey. We didn't order food, but the menu looked interesting - heavy Asian flair which didn't seem to match with their heavy Belgian beer menu. I'm not sure if it's because I'm not artsy or what, but the ladies bathroom didn't have a functional mirror or any decent lighting at all. Was it supposed to be like some weird art installation? The "mirror" literally was clouded gray and black, and about 4 inches around. I looked for additional lights to turn on but there were none. I did find what appeared to be a green light inside the mirror frame, I got freaked out and thought it was a camera. Maybe I just had too many 9% alcohol beers, but it was super creepy.

    (3)

  • Blaise S.

    I must say that what caught me by surprise at Rodan was their large selection of beers, although a couple are pricey. I tried a few I had never heard of before, like Levitation Stone Ale, and one I love but can't find much around here, like Brooklyn Lager. So needless to say, it was a good night drinking. I also thought their food was very good, ordering the pork chops and loving them (see pic). I didn't expect much when I walked in but they proved me wrong. They have a dining area on one side, and a lounge area on the area, and the large group I was with had plenty of room to hang out and drink. They had some psychodelic screen saver going on on that giant tv, and the place itself was hard to find because their signage is weak, but Rodan is a good place despite those nit-picky things.

    (4)

  • Toni L.

    A great lunch/dinner spot with a light Asian fusion menu.There's lots of vegan options as far as food goes. A bit on the pricey side, but WORTH IT. The Lychee Royale is by far my favorite on their super inventive roster of cocktails. Rodan really kicks off after dark, mainly on the weekends. Seating does disappear somewhat fast, but in a bar environment that really doesn't matter.

    (4)

  • Katie R.

    all i can review is a NYE a few years back, where, after ONE long island iced tea (i think it was at least 10 dollars, but well worth it) i could barely function - and i'm by no means a lightweight. i do remember it tasting good for a long island. 5 stars.

    (5)

  • Matt S.

    Thanks Groupon for helping us find yet another neat place for dinner! And kudos to the folks at Rodan for having a small plates menu that isn't expected. I'm a sucker for a good beet salad and Rodan offers a wonderful (and HUGE) beet salad. And I'm a big fan of their New York Strip option, which is a smaller portion but the $15 price tag isn't outrageous for the amount of food you're getting. In addition to their creative menu, they have a great beer selection for those of you who like your IPAs and your yeasty, malty, frothy brews.

    (4)

  • Meg E.

    I've been to Rodan three times: two dates and one girls' night. The atmosphere is relaxed but fun and the food is decent. I like the quirky movies playing from the projector and how it becomes more of a club/lounge on the weekend. I love the wasabi fries-could eat them all day every day. Drinks aren't bad; service is sometimes a little slow, but it's a busy wicker park bar.

    (4)

  • Maria C.

    This was my first time here and probably not my last. I have to try their food, unfortunately I had already ate somewhere else and decided to go there for drinks.. Once I looked at the menu, I couldn't decide what to order since I've never ordered drinks at an Asian place. I tried the Lychee martini which was really tasty... went back for another.... I have no idea what a lychee fruit is but it certainly does look weird like a soaked up chicharon, for those who don't know Spanish it's fried pork skin.. yuck. But the drink was good. the next one was a bubbletini which had a lot of malibu in it. Very tropical yet tasty. The bartender sure has a heavy hand because by my third drink I was in full swing. The decor was very modern with a huge screen projecting some animated cartoon. The music was pretty low but a couple of people said that the music doesn't' start till pretty late. I could definitely have a good conversation here and the people don't care what you look like either. My type of place.

    (4)

  • Michael K.

    This is not a restaurant. It's a bar. This became very obvious when we walked in and there were more people not eating than there were people eating. It's heavy fried stuff. You can make better stuff at home, no matter who you are. Cheap ingredients, expensive menu prices. Go elsewhere.

    (2)

  • Jordan V.

    I've been here a bunch of times but never really felt compelled to write a review until I ate brunch there this morning. This is a phenomenal place to get brunch if you are hungover, hate the sun or other people (dark and empty) and like grainy videos of motown artists that aren't played too loudly (James Brown's "It's a man's world" is quite pleasant in the background). Try the bloody mary and the sticky pork and egg buns with chili dipping sauce. The house cured salmon was pretty good, but I prefer it across the street at Bin Wine Cafe. The worst thing about this place is that instead of a mirror in the ladies' room there is a digital screen projecting microscopic images of what I believe to be the earth at its conception. I'm not going to say much about nights since there are 158 other reviews to that effect except the clientele tends to be diverse and it gets crowded. As far as the bars around north/damen/milwaukee go these days though, it's definitely one of the least annoying options.

    (3)

  • Alyssa L.

    An oasis nestled in the heart of wicker park- truly magical. awesome margaritas!!!!

    (5)

  • Meghan B.

    Tuesday nights at Rodan are the best. Killer free Jazz + good lookin guys and gals + nice bartenders + good beer (like allagash white) on special for $3 = good time, every time. I've had the food at Rodan and it was terrible, I've gone to Rodan on the weekends and it was jam packed full of yuppie looking men. So basically I'm only giving Rodan 5 stars for jazz night on Tuesdays. LOVE.

    (5)

  • Terri M.

    This place was a welcome refuge from the heat and crowds during the Wicker Park Fest. Why I even went to that, I have no idea. But BF and I have taken to seeking out the cool, quiet and undiscovered gems that are open and close-by during these crazy festivals and we've really enjoyed the opportunity to get away for a short while and discover an inviting space with a great selection of beers. We sat for probably over an hour. First at the bar, and then over on the couch in front of a large screen where they had a movie playing (Bob Dylan at a music festival). Between the two of us, we tried three of their draft beers and an imported Belgian-style wheat beer in a bottle. Most of the pints were either $5 or 6. We also had the wasabi fries, which were a perfect counterpoint to the cold beers. The bartender and staff were great and the space was chic and inviting. We probably would not have tried it if it weren't for the need to seek refuge during the festival, but we were really glad we did.

    (4)

  • Rob R.

    Having vague memories of watching Doctor Who as a child, I had high hopes for the red phone booth out front having the powers of travel through time and space. I wanted to get back to the '50s and have a drink with Nelson Algren, or at the very least get back to 1999 when Wicker Park was still a melting pot and pulsing with Bohemian flair. So, I entered the booth, pressed some buttons, shook the booth vigorously and called out for K-9 for a good fifteen minutes, but nothing happened. All this exertion made me hungry. And thirsty. So, I finally stepped inside. I was pleasantly surprised. This cozy and intimate environment features small booths (personal digital TVs I could do without), brick walls, a mini balcony with a couple more intimate tables, couches in the back, and a nice hardwood bar. Though being over 30 puts me outside the demographic, it's easy to make this environment your own. The beer menu keeps up with the times- 50 or so choices (15 draughts), including some British Isle options beyond Guinness (Smithwick's, Tetley's). Food options average around $10 for bar sandwiches. I got the burger with Kobe beef just to try it. The verdict is that there are other types of cattle I'd much more readily sink my teeth into, but it's good to have the option.

    (4)

  • April S.

    LOVE THIS PLACE. If you've ever wanted to "feel" cool, hip, citified, and trendy without dealing with the pretentiousness of going to a rooftop bar downtown, this is the place. Every time I've gone, the people have been completely cool and friendly, the doorman, bartenders, servers, other patrons...everyone is just loving life. And! The ambience is completely different than the rest of wicker park hipsterville. Down side is the drinks are a smidge pricey and there's not much food selection...you don't notice too much though because everything else is suuuuupppeeeerrrrrrrrr....especially the sweet potato fries...and the dj...and the funky Windows screensaver thing in the back...

    (4)

  • Valery P.

    I went to Rodan for the first time last weekend. It was amazing. I completely in love with how cozy the place is (the decoration, atmosphere, and customer service). Great crowd as well, Music was okay in my opinion (although to be frank, I was barely able to listen to anything after the drinks we had there - oh, and they have a good selection of drinks too) The downside was probably parking, especially during the weekend. Prices and food was acceptable. Definitely a gem in Wicker Park!

    (4)

  • Steve T.

    Wandering around Wicker Park, we were looking for a semi-late night dining destination, then stumbled across Rodan. Seemed pretty hip and was packed so we figured why not. We sat down, ordered some wine and a lychee martini, then noticed something out of the corner of our eye...The couple next to us was feeding each other! Yes, bite by bite, alternating and feeding each other like you would a toddler in a high chair. I instantly was shocked and disgusted, but then I realized the people watching here was going to be amazing. So while this was going on, we ordered the edamame hummus, the ahi tuna and the pan fish. Everything was delicious, the ahi tuna came with mandarin oranges and it was in a lime reduction which was perfect to go with the tuna. We attempted to mimic the happenings next to us, but I laughed too hard and ruined it. Mid dinner, a couple came and sat down next to us, and they too decided to share their dinners, but this time with musical plates. Swapping every 2-5 minutes. I was thoroughly amused. Basically you can't go wrong here, dinner and a show!!

    (4)

  • Justin G.

    Asian fusion. I love this place. The food portions aren't huge, but there is a pretty clever menu that is asian inspired american food. For example, they have some form of wasabi ranch for your fries (if you get a burger). Went there with a couple of girls not too long ago and we had a great time. It's a nice place to get a bunch of drinks because you can actually hear everyone and have a conversation and get drinks quickly. Definitely a good start to any evening.

    (5)

  • Renee G.

    Sake and wasabi fries. mmmm.... heavenly. Slick, minimalist design with djs playing. I'll always come here when in town.....

    (4)

  • Nikita W.

    I absolutely love this place. Rodan is a great mix of fun hip bar meets yummy fusion small plates meets upscale dining entrees. As far as I'm concerned Rodan has it all. I love coming here for just a drink after work or for a late night dance party, but most of all I love coming to Rodan to EAT! Being vegetarian it can sometimes be difficult at fusion restaurants to find yummy and exciting fare to eat. Not at Rodan. Their menu changes fairly constantly and it always features a few delicious and inventive vegetarian options. I love their Jungle Curry and just recently I tried the Tofu Tacos (from the small plates menu) which I must say BLEW MY MIND. The tofu was cooked so wonderfully it was really the best veggie taco I've ever had. Meat lovers fear not, my husband comes here for one thing, the steak, and it never disappoints. Our our most recent trip he got the Korean Steak and Eggs and was quite happy. Again I don't have enough good things to say about this place. Their beer menu is also wonderful. The one thing I would say on the downside is that it can get a little pricey, but good things don't come for free as they say. There are coupons online that you can get to bring the price down, otherwise it'd be 5 stars!

    (4)

  • Mork M.

    Second time eating here. I'd give it one star but the bartender was phenomenal and they carried some good beer. Walked in and there was no one but 3 people at the bar and the bartender. Shuffled our feet, not knowing whether it was closed for food, and took a seat at the bar. I asked if the kitchen was open, and for menus. Two minutes later two girls walk in and a guy at the end of the counter LEAPS towards them, asks if they want water, fetches them silverware etc. Get fucked buddy, me and my girlfriend aren't hot enough? Food was abysmal and tasted like the same inattentive waiter prepared it himself. I ordered a curry and the vegetation involved was all from a can: water chestnuts, peas, cubed carrots. Having been soaking in saltwater in a can they obviously didn't soak up the curry itself. I couldn't tell whether the rubbery cauliflower was from a can or frozen though. The only part of the dish made in the kitchen, if they have one, was a single whole charred scallion. The curry was flavorless and gritty, like it was instant powdered curry mix. 12$ is a kick in the teeth for food so bad. The beer was good though.

    (2)

  • Christopher T.

    I'm all about this place. You can always find a cozy/cool atmosphere at Rodan with fitting music to the interiors modern off beatness. Ultra friendly staff (love the waitress!) always armed with a friendly smile or good conversation. My work gathers here on Sundays for the soup bowl special which is to die for. They have a $3 Vietnamese noodle soup in either tofo or beef. Great for small groups!

    (4)

  • Jesse S.

    Popped here for dinner with an Out Of Town friend and some Never See Them friends one eve a few weeks ago when Piece was overrun by sports-playoff-watching drunk fratty types clearly overstepping their boundaries by infiltrating the pristine hipster mecca of the WP. Okay, so, the Kobe beef burger was fuckin' delicious, topped with some kinds of sprouts and shit, love those vegetables addin' flavor and texture to my shit. But I have to say the highlight for me was the tempura green beans I got in lieu of fries, served with a spicy chili aioli. I mean, fuck, dude. There's little better than deep fried vegetables. They have the illusion of being healthy but the comfort of eating something totally disgustingly bad for you (and isn't that really what we all want?). I mean, I want to emphasize just how good these green beans were. I languished over this food. Those who know me well know I typically wolf everything down with speeds approximating Kobayashi, but, god damn. I took my time with this food, also enjoying a couple of beers (don't recall what they were, precisely, but I think I had a Surly, and something else). This also could have been a side effect of the fact that dinner conversation consisted of catching up and talkin' shit (two of my favorite modes of conversation, certainly). Of course, the other cool thing about Rodan is the freaky bathrooms with the video mirrors. While this feature makes it difficult to check yourself out if you really need to engage in some face maintenance, the mirrors make your life totally awesome if you want to have a picture of yourself with rainbow-prism lasers shooting into your forehead and fish swimming around you. So if you're into that, Rodan's pretty sweet. I'd for real hit this spot again, if only for cocktails. The space is cool lookin', the peeps are hip, the nosh is satisfactory, the location is bangin'. I like this kind of joint; it aspires to hipness.

    (4)

  • Daniel B.

    Several years ago on a visit to Chicago a close friend introduced me to Rodan. I loved the relaxed atmosphere, eclectic music and projected iMac video graphics. I loved the collection of avant-garde haircuts. An amazing human poodle show. After moving to town, this has taken on the role of "most consistent bar" in the city. You always know exactly what to expect. A drink menu that's slightly on edge. You feel just a little bit cooler than usual ordering a random Japanese import beer over a Bud Light. Absolutely great music. Not too loud that it's intrusive. Always interesting. Always a nice variety. It's as if KCRW was broadcasting in Wicker Park. Now, I bring all my out of town guests here. A really safe bet and a really great scene.

    (5)

  • Karlo F.

    Nice ambience for a late night meal. Enjoyed the udon noodles and korean tacos. Don't get the edamame hummus, you're better off going to the grocery store for that. Lychee drinks were ok. I had a lychee martini at the blue line lounge that I enjoyed better the other night.

    (4)

  • P S.

    *snert* It's a good thing I arrived at Rodan after already having had cocktails. It kept my eye rolling to a minimum. Decent noise level for conversation, nice enough staff. Fairly good cocktails, easily accessible. I am however, too old for this joint.

    (3)

  • Broc J.

    I don't remember much of Rodan. But the people who walked in the bathroom while I was puking were very friendly. For that Rodan, you get 5 stars.

    (5)

  • Crystal P.

    I went last Monday and had a ball! 3.50 lychee royals! are you kidding me?? No, they weren't! They were cheap and fabulous!! Like someone I know!! The vibe was awesome and we danced like fools untill they kicked us out! Mondays are the new saturday at this place! Who would want to sit here!!

    (4)

  • Jesse A.

    My first "food at Rodan" experience finally came into fruition....I've been intending to eat here for ages, but kept getting distracted by the cocktail menu. This time I ordered the Japanese Curry (bit of a vague name, but hey), and I had no idea what I was in for. The result was a large shallow bowl of some kind of brown gunky curry, with steamed rice plopped in the middle. It did not look appetizing, and actually looked kind of embarrassing to eat, amongst people elegantly eating ahi tuna and sushi rolls.... But once I took a bite, I changed my mind. It was delicious, and just the right balance of flavor and spiciness. Yum.

    (4)

  • Laura P.

    By the time I got here this summer my qualude had almost run it's course...but what I do remember was LOADS of pretentious 24 year olds with store bought beat up jeans and already broken in cowboy boots that they found at Plato's closet. Paying 5x's what they are worth. It felt like I had stepped into the twilight zone and I was in LA circa 1979. With better decor and cellular phones. The wall screen made me nauseous and by the time I left the place I was walking barefoot believing I was on a beach. I am not sure whether to give it 5 stars or 2.....I guess it just proves you have to be on psychotropic drugs to enjoy Rodan in the evening hours.

    (2)

  • Samantha L.

    I think that Rodan is a solid three. A-OK in my book. I had been here for drinks before but actually ate here over the summer. My boyfriend and I went on our first date here now that I think about it. We went to the area to see some music at Wicker Park fest. I had told him that I hate going out to dinner on first dates because it is too boring, but we drank so much at the fest and Rodan had a sign out that said half price burgers so we ended up going out to dinner technically. The menu looked so good that neither of us got burgers. I had the mussels in a curry sauce and he had the salmon. His was very good but I loved mine. The mussels were awesome! The curry broth was not too thin but not too thick and it came with rice. Thinking about it now I am pretty sure that it is one of the best mussel dishes I have ever had. I guess that I knocked down some stars because of the layout and the service. The service was fine but not great. The layout sucks because they are trying to be a high endy restaurant and nightlife spot at the same time. This can be done of course, but it needs to be a bit more separated, like at hopleaf. We didn't really mind too much but by 9 we were still eating and people were crowding all over the table because the place got so packed. All in all the food was really good and we liked the atmosphere, it just got a little muddled in terms of the am I at a restaurant or a bar thing.

    (3)

  • Irena A.

    I loveeee this place! Went here with friends. We had the tempura green beans which were so good!!! We also had beet and goat cheese salad, sweet potato fries. The food is really fresh and well priced!! Will return:)

    (5)

  • Emily R.

    I love Rodan. The staff is great. The patrons are gorgeous. The curry tofu dish is to die for and it is one of very few "modern minimal" bars that play great music, have no televisions, and provide a casual un-pretentious atmosphere. Oh, and the dance parties are fabulous!

    (5)

  • Kim W.

    i don't really give a shit if the patronage is uber-hipster-scene throw-up. the lychee champagne royale for $3 on mondays? be still my god damn heart.

    (3)

  • Brett G.

    The construction company I work for built out this business, so I definitely think it looks awesome - modern, classy, and trendy. The ladies bathroom (a single-stall) is one of my favorite parts (even if it's weird for me to rave about it) - with a reverse video camera. You could spend hours in there playing around and watching yourself. The food is pretty good, although a little inconsistent. I've been there and had amazing wasabi fries, but on one occasion they were not flavorful and pretty dry. Other good options - the fire-roasted veggie pizza, vegetable dumplings, cigarette rolls (mini egg-roll type appetizers), fish tacos, and pork satay. Service is decent. Fusion food is very hip, and this place is better than a lot out there. That said, there are also better options. If you're a hipster, you'll probably like this place a lot. Me - I'm not as trendy as a lot out there, so it's not really my cup of tea.

    (3)

  • Amy S.

    I'm gonna give this place an extra star because for the month of July I have decided to try out Pescatarianism (vegetarian who eats fish...it's a real word...I promise). I really feel like I'm lacking variety in my everyday cuisine. However, this place is great. They have a lot of vegetarian options and they all sound delicious. I tried the huevos rancheros for breakfast and it was good. It's just nice to be able to order something off a menu and not have to substitute half of the items to make it vegetarian. Thanks Rodan!

    (4)

  • Mini M.

    My experience at Rodan was just ok. Food was not that great. The soups that we ordered were cold and we had to ask waitress to re-heat them . The waitress was nice and friendly. The crowd and atmosphere were good. I might go back there for drinks, but I do not think that I will be eating there again.

    (3)

  • Nathan S.

    For dinner and for late night socializing, I give Rodan 4 stars. Really I'd give it 3.75 stars. I like Rodan for it's tasty and diverse menu (decent ceviche, sushi, fish tacos, and other stuff--friend said the swordfish was a little dry however), it's trendy but comfortable decor, and that its packed with people who think people think their interesting, especially the robo-hipsters and the ex frat boys. It's fun to hang out with your mates and watch these other folks out of the corner of your eye. Some find these people annoying, I don't. Good entertainment I think. The combination of all this separates Rodan from most and make it worth experiencing. I also like that on a Thurs-Sat night, the place gradually gets busy/crazy, so if you want an easy vibe, go early, and if you want loud beats and crowd, go late. We went early and stayed late. Love the transition. The special effects stuff is pretty neat, but would probably be a little lame if I ever go back. So unless you have a violent reaction to hipsters or frat dudes, give Rodan a couple hours of your life and experience something a little less ordinary.

    (4)

  • jamie k.

    Brunch - Awesome! I was so pleased to know they had such an amazing and healthy options for brunch... The rice porridge with fresh fruit is a delicious vegan treat.. Other things there are also great and fresh. Bar time - Ehhh..I think it depends on the time of night and the night. I went there last night (Monday) and it was actually quite crowded (shit, even the bread lady hangs out there now) I never noticed the awesome drink specials such as lychee champagne drinks...etc..for $3.00!! hell yeah. Though I prefer the Sake there, they actually have a descent and affordable sake selection...and if you can score a seat by the window to people watch while sipping sake, you are set. I kind of despise this place on the weekends, the crowd in downright annoying and unfortunately the servers can be really snobby and ultra pretentious (this coming from someone who actually likes Rainbo) I mean come on...just because you put on the bling to go out one night doesn't mean you are any different then yesterday when I saw you at Goldstar.. I think the attitudes of some regulars and some servers could improve and this place would actually be much better... It is a cool alternative to the regular dive bars and the food is actually quite good! (sorry this review is ALL over the place...)

    (3)

  • Barbara D.

    Great place to meet up for a date. I love the atmosphere. The lounge has this cool ambient, cobalt blue lighting and digital abstract images are projected on the back wall. You can sit at the bar or in a booth and when I went they had mimosa specials that were oh, so yummy. The food is Asian and S.American but I skipped dinner, so I cannot comment on it. However, when the drink bill came I was pleasantly surprised....I was expecting it to be much steeper. The bartender was right on the ball and polite. The women's bathroom has this crazy-cool mirror that I just cannot explain. It's like touchscreen or something. I'm going back just to mess with that thing after a few drinks.

    (4)

  • Natalie L.

    This review is primarily for the brunch at Rodan. Rodan is a lovely space, clean lines and modern, but so minimalist that the sign outside is really easy to miss. We went with a party of eight for brunch last Sunday and didn't have to wait too long, which is an anomaly for the area for sure. The food, as many have mentioned, is a fusion of Southeast Asian with South American with American, and as far as the brunch goes, it seems to work. They have both healthy/vegetarian/vegan choices and more indulgent items for reasonable prices. I loved my huevos rancheros, and everyone else seemed to love their choices too, from the salmon benedict to the flank steak and eggs to the crepes. The portions are huge. The drinks, like the raspberry bellinis, are good as well. The only problem was that, as our server informed us reluctantly, they were two people short, and so service was a bit quirky and slow. Some items got mixed up and drinks took a long time to be made. But our server was very sweet and earnest and apologetic and it was clear he and everyone else was doing the best they could. But in any case it didn't dampen our experience at all and we had a great time. This is more of a three and a half-star review but I'll give it the benefit of the doubt. I'd love to see how it is at night--it seems pretty cool. Edit: we did go to Rodan at night finally, and I've got to say, it is pretty cool indeed. Cool mixed crowd, good bartenders, sweet room overall. Thumbs up.

    (4)

  • Lauren L.

    LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS PLACE. All dishes are delicious, great beer choices. Such a hidden gem, looks like it would be a late-night bar only, but in fact it is the wonderful sister-restaurant of my other favorite: Thai Lagoon.

    (5)

  • Jane J.

    Who controls the music here? Who controls the crowd? How are two people allowed to take up a table all night? A table I could EASILY fit 8 of my friends into (4 skinny, 4 not skinny). Why is shitty beer so expensive? Why isn't anyone there cute the next morning? Why do the bartenders roll their eyes when they get tipped? I don't get it.

    (1)

  • Maya H.

    I ran into an old friend a few days ago and he suggested we meet at Rodan for dinner because "he was craving their fish." I often go to Rodan for a fun night out, and remembered having brunch there about a year ago, so I happily agreed to try eating there dinner options. I thought it'd be one of those weird, uncomfortable dining situation where you're the only table in the restaurant, but we grabbed the last available booth near the turntables and people were consistently streaming in. It was extremely dark, which I usually hate, but it was good there because I always think it's weird when you're in a bar or club you frequent a lot during the day and things take on a whole new look. Anyway, our waitress was slow to get to us, but two other tables walked in just before we did, so we let it slide. I've been craving veggie sushi ever since I had the veggie kun at SushiSamba (don't even get me started) so we decided to start with the tempura avocado and lime-glazed asparagus rolls and the veggie dumplings for good measure. The rolls were amazing! Crunchy and creamy avocado nestled near sweet asparagus and a piece of their mild pickled ginger had the best texture and a uniquely delicious taste. The dumplings were okay; I like the ones at Zen Noodles a little better, but they weren't bad. For entrees, my homie got their fish n chips and I went for the quinoa tofu stew. I don't get down with eating animals, but my friend ate every single last crumb on his plate. The stew had a light broth with onions, cranberries, walnuts, glass noodles and chunks of green papaya. It was very flavorful and hearty, but at this point of the meal I knew I was going to go easy on it so I could have room to share a piece of espresso chocolate cake with raspberry sauce (yeah, we went all out). I knew I'd be so full that I'd barely be able to walk home, but I went for it anyway, and I'm glad I did, because it was yummy and the perfect way to end the meal. I'm so glad he suggested Rodan for dinner. Not only is it a great go-to weekend spot for a guaranteed good crowd vibe, decent drinks, good music, sleek interiors and cool visuals via the projector screen, but it's also a pretty damn good restaurant, too

    (4)

  • Kameko G.

    Love this place. From the food to the interior to the wait staff....it's awesome. Highly recommend the pink grapefruit cocktail, yakisoba, and the seared white fish. De-lish! Can't wait to go back. :) Be warned though....parking is a *****.

    (5)

  • Leigh P.

    Last month I went to Chicago on business. My coworkers and I all have friends in the area, so we decided to get a handful together and take them out on the company dime. One girl suggested Rodan to which I said "sure" knowing only it was in Bucktown. There was no wait for a table, which was nice due to the fact we were tired from work, but should have been a sign that maybe, just maybe, this place wasn't exactly the next Top Chef host restaurant... My one moment of happiness was, while looking over the drinks, being able to order a 90 minute Dogfish Head IPA (this isn't available in California where I call "home") while everyone else was gulping down the too-sweet-for-me lychee martinis. So we all order food, I suggested we order the wasabi fries and tuna ceviche. Boy, was I wrong. The wasabi fries weren't even up to Jack in the Box standards (invisible wasabi, when was this invented?!), and the tuna ceviche both resembled in appearance and taste that of low-grade cat food. I can't even write anymore. Just thinking about it... oh god. BLARGH!!

    (2)

  • Rob L.

    I can't comment on the late night scene here, I can't stay up that late anymore. I can comment on the food. I came here a few weeks ago to meet up with friends. I was told that they would be here around 10pm, I was here about 9:50pm, finding stellar parking about a block away. I came in, no sign of them. Okay, well they did say around 10pm. So I wait. While I wait I get hungry. I snag a four top table and peruse a menu. I don't know how long they are going to be so I ordered a sesame encrusted seared ahi tuna salad and some Belgian fries. (What? I had the salad to balance the fries off.) At this point the place is starting to fill up. I look around, throngs of people, some dressed to the nines, some dressed in jeans and t-shirts, some in skirts, some in skinny jeans, a mixture of people, so I didn't feel too out of place waiting for the friends, (um, where the hell are they?) and eating alone, (actually ,I have no problem eating alone). The scenery really is a slight upscale lounge type, exposed brick, slick walls, low seated couches to one side, tables to the other. Low level mood lighting and people noshing, chatting and in various forms of flirting and commiserating. The food comes out quick, the salad is pretty and pretty tasty. Remarkable and awe inspiring? No. Setting high standards in the culinary world? Nope. It was just pretty tasty. The tuna was a little more than seared, but still pretty good, the addition of the tangerines hit the acidity and gave some brightness to the dish. The fries had some flavor, but not not close to crispy, ( I actually don't need them to be crispy but limp isn't the way I roll with my fries.. I need some firmness), and the aioli needed something to give it a little more flavor. Something. Anything. My server was friendly and quick when I needed things, although at this point it was creeping closer to 10:40pm and I decided that I needed to get going and I felt bad for taking up a four top as people still were coming in but not the ones I expected. I don't know if I would be rushing back here, as its not my scene. Although the food was pretty good, they had some interesting dishes I would want to come back and try. Decisions... decisions....

    (3)

  • Winnie L.

    A nice place to chill and drink with some friends.

    (3)

  • Miss A.

    Rodan is OK. I've been there for dinner a couple of times. It's probably a good spot for a date. It's not too expensive (you can eat for under $10), and there are some fun drinks (get the grapefruit vodka-grapefruit juice-soda water one, yum), and pbr isn't $4. I had the fish and chips. It was a lot of food, but the "wasabi" fries were really just seasoned fries. They were still good, though. The music was good, the people weren't too annoying or pretentious, and the service was attentive, but laid back. My only real complaint is that even in broad daylight it's pitch black unless you sit directly next to the window. As a bar at night, Rodan is kinda lacking. People love themselves. The decor is neat, but definitely not all that people rave about. Ends up seeming like the place/the people there are trying way too hard. Also not much of a place to meet people, as they are always really secluded in their own groups. Might not want to count on having any conversation, either, since the music is really loud, even if the place is pretty empty. I might like it better at night if I get drunk before I go...

    (3)

  • Drea C.

    Maybe I shouldn't base a whole yelp review on a bar's lighting and ambience but that's what I'm doing. Sorry. I don't remember what I drank here or whether or not I had any fun but what I do recall is waiting to use the restroom. And upon waiting, I saw this crazy little lazer light show being displayed on the floor. It looked like little sperms swimming around in a puddle. If I was high, I probably wouldn't have left that spot in front of the ladies room. But I wasn't high and eventually my friends came searching for me. All in all, I felt out of place here in my dirty jeans and sneaks. Lots of nicely dressed folks sitting at modern tables drinking cocktails while crazy light shows blipped along to dance tracks. if anything, go here to use the restroom.

    (3)

  • Jasbir S.

    I was here for dinner a while back and I have to say I was very impressed on a number of counts. This restaurant has an amazing design. As much as I love this city, there aren't enough restaurants like Rodan (and pingpong) with great design, great food, and reasonable prices. We need more of these. The food at Rodan is quite good. I had a curry dish that was the right mix of spicy and sour and the servings are great. The waitstaff is wonderful too and the crowd is extremely ecletic although the girl at the table next to me seemed a few cards short of a deck as she decided to chase sake with beer. I'm not really sure who came up with that brilliant idea. The tables are a bit close so it's not the most intimate of atmospheres but that's okay. The main thing that bothers me about this place is the Lung Cancer Convention that goes on. I really wish they wouldn't allow smoking until a certain time or have a non-smoking area. That really does ruin the experience when you go in, have a great meal, enjoy a great conversation, and leave smelling like you just walked out of Sound Bar and you didn't even get to dance! Overall - great food, big servings, great value, sexy atmosphere, bring the Febreeze.

    (4)

  • chris r.

    Since my first review in 2007, they've changed the menu significantly. The food is great...almost across the board. The Bahn-mi sandwhich is rediculously good. Pricey at $8 but still awesome. The service is snooty in a stupid coked out hipster way. If they had a policy that staff aren't allowed to invite their friends to come hang out with them at the bar during business hours they would be much better off.

    (3)

  • Jillian S.

    I was drawn to Rodan by the RedEye drink/food specials section, and actually did not know about this place before discovering that ad! Thank God I did! In my opinion, no place I have been is more deserving of 5 stars than Rodan. At first, the fiance and I were turned off by the seemingly cold exterior on the outside, feeling perhaps we were too under dressed for the swanky appearance. However, once inside, we could not feel more comfortable. The food... was the best I've had in a long time. We came on a Monday night around 9:00pm, which in my opinion is the perfect time to come. They had $3.00 Lychee Royales - a perfect cocktail made of champagne and lychee juice - so perfect in fact, that I drank 3 of them (oops!) Our food was sublime. The green bean fries were perfection, do not pass them up if you come here!!! I cannot WAIT for a return trip to Rodan!

    (5)

  • lola d.

    Rodan rocks! Good people, good food, good sparkling beverages in my belly! Must try: brunch The huevos rancheros are to die for and the coffee is sooooooo goooood! Get over your opinions of neighborhood and just try it already! Gosh!

    (5)

  • Laura R.

    This review is of rodan as a brunch place. While I don't care for rodan as a bar, it is one of my favorite places to go for brunch. While I love my sugarbuttercheese huge pile of pancakes sometimes I actually feel like eating something healthy in the morning, and rodan is probably the only place in the 'hood that offers a lot of healthy (and vegan) brunch items. I loooove the rice pudding, it is sweet but not fakey sweet and comes with delicious fresh fruit. The arepas are also outstanding, and although I don't know what kind of coffee they serve here I've noticed it's especially tasty (and no problem getting some soy milk to go with). Unlike bongo room a few doors down I've never had to wait here! In my book it deserves an extra star just for that.

    (5)

  • Ingrid G.

    I love this place! The cocktails are tasty (and I am a hard critic on mixed drinks...I don't like much) and they serve personal bottles of champagne. The food is super! Definately try the Wasabi Fries, they are a bowl full of heaven. The music is great and the mix of people is always interesting, there is a little bit for everyone. And the place gets really busy after 10pm, but not so busy you can't find somewhere to sit. The only reason I took off one star is that it is practically impossible to get a drink after midnight. The waitresses/waiters practically disappear and it's a challenge to get to the bar.

    (4)

  • Karen M.

    I've only gone to Rodan on Saturday nights for dinner or for early drinks, so I can't vouch for the place's prime bar scene. What I can vouch for is a decent, not-too-crowded restaurant that's great for dinner or drinks before a night out. While reservations are accepted, they're usually not needed at dinnertime. They've got a vegan-friendly menu with some interesting spice/flavor blends. The Chinese sticky buns are tasty and the vegetarian maki is excellent! I tried the tofu crepes last night and wasn't too excited. My friend had the coconut curry and loved it. I still have to check out the Sunday brunch, though. The dinner rolls aren't vegan, sadly enough. The drinks, while pricey, are made well. I recommended the Lychee Royal. The music is low-key (there's a non-distracting DJ in the corner) and the atmosphere is ambient and seemingly upscale, but jeans and a t-shirt are entirely fitting.

    (3)

  • priya b.

    was one of my favorite neighborhood spots in wicker park. 20s crowd, well-dressed and on the slightly fancy side. more "new york" than most places i've experienced in chicago. great drink specials, especially on weekdays. nice, attentive bartenders / wait staff. food is awesome - great appetizers including the wasabi fries and green beans.

    (4)

  • Ani L.

    I met some friends here the other night for drinks and I didn't expect much of this place. But I have to say, I was impressed with the mix of people and how everyone blended well with one another. Whether you are a hipster, hippie, yuppie, preppie, LP Trixie, young, old, whatever... you can come here and enjoy dinner or a cocktail or two or ten.

    (3)

  • joanne y.

    the food could be much better but they have good drinks and i like the atmosphere inside. comfy seating and dim lighting equals perfect date night. i also like the staff. they've always been friendly so i enjoy coming here with friends for some drinks. i just wish the food was tastier and there was more parking available.

    (3)

  • Chris S.

    I'd give 3.5 star, but this place is still a big "meh". Was there on a Sunday. Dug the minimal urban decor and the half booth/half lounge effect. Music was a bit too chill. People were trying a bit too hard. One beer and was out.

    (3)

  • carlos t.

    I love Rodan. I heard they have a new cook so gotta update this review later cuz if the wasabi fries are gone then I hope there is something equally as fabulous on the menu! They have (had?) great veggie options. My friends Sadie and Madid DJ there monthly and they usually have great music during the week, sometimes live music, good artwork on the massive screen (they let me show artwork for an event I did back in January), the staff is usually pretty nice AND you can't beat $2 PBRs!!!! Can get super-crowded on the weekends.

    (4)

  • Jennie M.

    I was hesistant to go here because I've heard it is a mecca for hipsters and I basically can't stand them, but it was a weeknight and I was offered a free dinner and good company so I thought why the hell not. I'm glad I went. The decor is dim but inviting, there are booths in the back but there are only 4 and I felt bad taking one for the two of us when it would easily seat 6. The only place for two tops however was in the front where it was loud and a little too dark for my taste. When the server brought our menus I noticed it was totally different than the menu they had online. I already had my heart set on an entree to find it wasn't listed. I ended up getting the black bean tacos and he got the fish tacos. They were really delicious, as were the wasabi fries we shared although I was expecting a bit more of a kick to them. For after-dinner we ordered whiskey neat because it was the drink special. Since we ordered it neat however there was a 50 cent up charge for the larger pour. Eh, whatever I guess. I had a good time nonetheless, but didn't find it to be some out of this world place. Good food, good vibe, but nothing too special. Also, as someone who is allergic to shellfish and doesn't eat seafood in general there wasn't very much for me to choose from on the menu. The menu on their website had more non-seafood dishes. Just something to keep in mind if you aren't a fan of fish like me.

    (3)

  • Alyssa M.

    Rodan is a place that I can go to pretty consistently and feel good about, whether I'm feeling like a little party or just meeting a friend for a drink and dinner. A place that pops up into my mind if there isn't anywhere specific we want to go, which is interesting because it's the only place I really frequent in Wicker Park. They have a really nice drink menu - featuring lots of craft and import beers and a delicious Allagash, white beer, on tap. They also have a $3 beer on tap, Three Floyds usually, but sometime Allagash. Really great draft and bottled beer selection, yummy sake's. I've never tried any of their cocktails but my friends like them though, esp their Manhattan. The food here is also really nice. Especially as a place that I always view primarily as a bar. Kind of Asian themed- large selection offering both cheaper appetizers (that are great for sharing) and more expensive entrees. Sushi, Ramen, Togarashi Burger. Have tried almost everything and have liked it all. Again making it nice for a snacking while getting drunk or a sit down date. The battered green beans are awesome! Overall it's a really good vibe. The people who work there are pleasant and there's usually some decent music playing there. Esp Living Sundays - which I love! Sometimes the service is a little shotty on busy nights, but hey, it's a bar, it's hopping, you're having a good time, so you get over it. Nice work, Rodan.

    (5)

  • Ilina K.

    There isn't enough I could say about how much I wish little copies of Rodan a.k.a Brodan were made and put all over the world so that no matter how square and lame the place you live is or you are, you could come into Rodan and sigh, and know you're in good artsy hands. The food? Phenomenal. South american meets american-asian meets a lil bit of everything else. Make a night of it with appetizers like pork satay, grilled shrimp and sea bass ceviche, and grab a good bottle of wine or 5. Polish off some Mojito ice cream or down an obscure malt scotch afterwards. Then sit back and enjoy the ambiance with psychedelic videos playing on the large drop-down screen, and a sexy soundtrack of house/idm/indie rock. They have live bands/a dj often. Mostly the staff plays their own Ipod lists, or their own work. Oh, and the waitstaff is total eye candy. It's a perfect marriage of casual meets visual art meets chic. They also host the Around the Coyte fest for video shorts. Be sure to check out the nuskool restrooms too. Did I mention I love it here?

    (5)

  • Nick S.

    I don't go here too often but when I do it's an enjoyable experience. Good ambience, decent selection. Judging the crowd when I walk by on the weekends, it's probably a place I wouldn't want to be. Obviously the crowd is larger but seems much different as well.

    (3)

  • Hedy S.

    Had a great meal at here last night. Service was great, drinks cool and refreshing, and the food...delicious! I enjoyed the house salad with curry croutons, the yakisoba and wasabi dusted fries. My husband loved the udon soup, ahi tuna salad and a fish entree. It was a lot of food but there are so many great options to select from. I like the vibe and the decor. Give it a try if you have not already.

    (4)

  • Elizabeth C.

    Against all odds, I actually really like this place. At first glance, it seems pretentious - the giant screen looping old '30's-era black and white film was a tiny bit creepy at first. But it's actually quite laid-back. The service is consistently good, even when they're slammed, the drinks are good and priced comparably for just about every other bar in the neighborhood, and the decor is sleek, but not overdesigned. The food is the biggest surprise of all - decent sized portions, tasty, and cheaper than you'd expect. I had a lovely Thai shrimp (or chicken?) soup there that I think was $6 (a huge bowl of it, I might add), and the sweet potato fries are a lucky charm to ward off incoming hangovers. Unlike some of the places in that area, it's not filled with hipper-than-thou types, just cool regular young folks thirstin' for liquor and an eastern hemisphere vibe.

    (4)

  • Jonathan S.

    Came here right after work and realized that this is definitely a good place to marinate with your friends after a long day at work. This was one of the few places at Wicker Park that had it goin on. Good size crowd for a small place. As for the food, this is probably not the place you want to go for dinner but only get some expensive bar snacks. In my opinion, the food needed some major help. Upon reading the menu, it was obvious that the meshing of Asian and South American cooking styles sounded experimental. I sampled the Adobo Cornish Hen and give it a big thumbs down. Needs more vingegar!!! The Tuna Kilawin wasnt spicy enough and lacked a fresh quality. I asked for my Argentinian Beef to be cooked medium rare and it came out dry and well done. Overall the food did let me down, but the whole atmosphere put out a cool vibe that I really liked. I would only reccomend this place as a place to get a few drinks and chill. Forget the food, it blows!!!

    (3)

  • Rahul S.

    I treked here in -10 degree weather for a friends bday on Sat night, and although my legs were numb by the time I got there, I had an awesome time. The restaurant/lounge is a bit hard to see from the outside, but is truly a nice place to be on the inside. The atmosphere is trendy and relaxed w/o the pretention you might find in Lincoln Park. I had light appetizers, the tempura battered fries which were pretty good. I thought the chicken chinese sticky buns were delicious. The true prize here are the drinks, in particular the lychee martini!! It was very frothy and deceptively strong, one of the best i've had. The bubbletini was pretty good also, even though they ran out of tapioca. This is a great place to come hang out and have a drink. Come early if you want a table! I'll definitely be back, lychee martini here I come!!

    (4)

  • Margot C.

    Rodan is a pretty fun place to go an a weeknight. Weekends are way too crowded in my experience. The best two things this place has to offer are its frequent jazz gigs and delicious curry sweet potato fries. Be sure to bring some gum, though -- talk about garlicky! Their menu is pretty schizophrenic, sort of a combination of a burger bar and Asian fusion. Their sushi is OK, and I haven't tried their burgers myself, but my friends rave about them. As far as beverages go, I'm not a huge fan of their mixed drinks. For the price, they are quite week. However, they have a pretty good beer selection. I don't think I'll ever become a regular here, but it's nice for a change of pace from dive bars.

    (3)

  • Shakeia T.

    I went to Rodan for the first time last weekend. It was okay. The crowd was very interesting to say the least. It's definitely not a place that requires you to dress up dress up, if you get what I mean. It's more a restaurant, than a lounge. And, in true Chicago fashion, it's narrow. There was a DJ that night but he didn't seem to be able to continuously keep the crowd involved. At one point, my entire group was sitting down staring off into space. So, Rodan, I like the atmosphere, but your music game could stand to be stepped up a few notches. :)

    (3)

  • Nana H.

    Rodan has changed. I've been going to the bar since it first opened, and the scene has drastically changed, as with the whole neighborhood....but anyhow, its still a sort of, go to place for my friends and I. The spot is dark, clean, often very very crowded on saturdays ( its best to go on a weekday) You can order food up to 1130 pm, their menu is an asian/south american fusion. I am both, and it fits my palette perfectly. The wasabi fries, and mango shrimp are delicious! Most often there are 2 bartenders, 2 girl servers walking around the place- they will look like everyone, or anyone so you sorta have to look out for them. A lot of the times, their servers also work at Hefjina ( across the street)

    (4)

  • Chance T.

    K, it's only pretentious and snobby if U aren't cool... Kidding, the vibe is hipster elite, I just don't have a problem with that! DJS are always on point... I've heard complaints of their service, never happened to me or anyone I care about there. So- Go git yo drank and boogie on!

    (5)

  • Jess S.

    I don't know much about the nightlife here but let me tell you, I'm seriously impressed by their brunch. Fusion cuisine. Great sized portions. Reasonable priced. (But horribly understaffed the Saturday morning I wandered in.)

    (4)

  • Juliet H.

    Rodan...one of the first restaurants i went to moving into the city. It's just how i like it. very intimate setting...good crowd...no dress to impress, good drinks and good food. i always get the infamous lychee martini..it's a must!!! they give you little cute bread too. nightlife here is fun too! they bring in dj's on the weekends and you can dance the night away without having to worry about if people are judging you or not. i go back whenever i can.

    (4)

  • Timothy M.

    If you want a real New York/L.A. vibe, try this place. The lighting is cool and stuff, and it's ultrahip. Johnny Love likes this place, if that means anything to you. It's not really my thing, but it's kind of an interesting niche: not fratty, not clubby, not a dirty bike messenger hangout either. Something else. Interesting lounge feel. I think drinks are a bit on the overpriced side. I've heard their food is great.

    (2)

  • Justin H.

    ok, i pushed it up a few stars, and by few i mean one, the food is decent, and i have started to crave the fries on a weekly basis... does anyone know how to cook tempura style?

    (3)

  • Lola Chelsea B.

    Well just walked back home from Rodan and the best thing I have to say is that it is close to home. Not at all what I expected, the interior is minimal, dark walls, cramped art installation screen made me feel like I was trapped in a wardrobe closet for the Flaming Lips. Clientele and the servers all look like people I might have spilled beer on at Pitchfork(sorry). I am sure what you want to know about is the food. I have nothing to say about it. Seriously middle of the road, Pan-Wanna be. It was like the eighties version of Pan-Fusion. My tuna roll was tough and oddly minced. It completely lacked any flavor,at all. My Udon soup - was noodles and a indistinguishable broth - with a very heavy after taste of sesame. Steak was OK. It was well done and not medium rare I requested. It was the most retro piece of meat, I have ever eaten. Almost like salisbury. Dessert was a white chocolate mousse. Yet, it wasn't mousse, it was a pool of milky cream with rhubarb baby foodsauce on top. Seriously, don't order it - it may actually be the grossest thing I have eaten all year. Didn't have any cocktails - because I was dying to go home and make myself a better meal. Great staff - but I would avoid it until they tinker with the menu. It needs a lot of work, alot of work. Once again, service was impeccable and my issues are with shoddy recipes and bad food. I bet this place is great for drinks - only.

    (2)

  • Fine Young Canibals Q.

    Brunch: Walking right in and having a table waiting for you and your friends, superb. The atmosphere is friendly enough for a Sunday, no one wants annoying servers doting on them during a hangover meal anyway, and you won't get that here. I view it as a plus. It's bright and sunny up front by the windows and the bar (food service at the bar as well) but as you move into the rear with trippy lava-lampesque patterns swirling on the projector screen, it gets a bit darker, but nothing too off-putting. The menu is not your typical brunch, like you would find at Bongo Room or Bin. It's ecclectic, diverse and interesting, I just wish the execution was a little better. The pan-crepes are defintely tasty, but as far as crepes go, they were more like pancakes, and the warmfruit compote they were stuffed with was sparse and mostly apples. But It's served with big purple grapes, strawberries, sliced pears and plums. My friend ordered the Huevos Rancheros, which they construct beautifully, with oodles of yummy black beans. The flavor wasn't quite there, needed more seasoning I thought, and for some reason, the entire dish was almost swimming in water, was more like a soup towards the end. The Argetine omelette could've used more cheese, and a few more ingredients to make it really stand out, and once again, better seasoning. Overall, not terrible, but not the most satisfying brunch I've ever had. We didn't try the bellinis or bloodies, in fact I didn't see anyone in the place drinking them...

    (3)

  • Lindsey W.

    Been here a few times. Never had a good time. My server last time was really stuck up and rude....to the point where I just left. Not worth it.

    (1)

  • Da J.

    DINNER REVIEW (as opposed to brunch or the bar) I came here on a Saturday night to have dinner with a small group of my friends. First of all, they didn't take reservations, which didn't actually end up mattering because we got there at nearly 9. But this surprised me because Yelpers seemed to say that they TAKE reservations. The space here is definitely loungey. They've only got a handful of tables, and wide open spaces for the later bar crowd to come in and mill about. In fact, as we were finishing up, this bar crowd (and their cigarette smoke) settled in on the bench immediately behind us. The smell of cigarette smoke does not make the food appetizing. Then there is the lighting problem. I'm in my early-mid twenties, and I am having problems reading the menu with their basically non-existent lighting. I had to resort to borrowing the light from cell phones to read their small menu. This plus the strange light show against the wall? That's not really appropriate for dinner. Or anything that doesn't involve illicit drugs. Between the five of us, we ordered the veggie dumplings, sea bass ceviche, empanadas, and wasabi fries for appetizers. We were starving! The only thing I tasted, unfortunately, was the wasabi fries, which were basically just battered french fries with absolutely NO wasabi kick. What's up with that? Nor did either of the dipping sauces have any kick to them either, just sugary sweetness. Not really spectacular - I would NOT recommend them. I had the grilled salmon curry for the entree, which was a salmon steak covered in an uninspiring curry sauce, with a ice-cream-scoop of rice to accompany. The salmon was grilled well, but the curry sauce was halfway to a cream sauce - just, again, not enough flavor. And I hate to force the point, but the darkness makes the food pretty unappetizing. The best thing was their drinks menu. Bobatini - with tapioca balls - were a new twist, and the lychee martinis were a great blend of sweet tropical fruit and dry sparkling wine. The service wasn't all bad, either. But I can definitely think of better places to shell out $35 for dinner.

    (3)

  • Michael D.

    I can't say enough good things about Rodan. Great atmosphere - lighting, layout, seating all unique, useful and enjoyable. Great drink selection - full bar, GREAT beers (from PBR to Duvel), wine too. Good food - Its a lounge that happens to also serve very interesting and tasty bites. Portions could be bigger but I'm typically impressed. Great Audio/Visual - Love the bathroom screens, keeps my mood up after a long day. The music is eclectic and varied depending on who knows what. DJs are always choosing and blending well. Sometimes they pull down a big projection screen in front of the dance floor and play cool films without sound, just music and awesome visuals. Love it. And maybe its that I like the crowd so much. The people are either pretty, interesting, or both. Generally a personable group made all the more by the setting. Obviously one of my favs.

    (5)

  • danny e.

    Only came in for drinks, this place looks super snazy. Like a über hip hotel lounge/ bar. They get 1 magic stars for the meet and greet/ friends bar tender. They get 1 stars for it's looks. they get another star for having hitachino nest white, has become my favorite beer in the past six months. And they get their last star for having Aecht Schlenkerla Helles Lagerbier, which is going to be right up there with Nest and Bitters xxx. This was some good beer.

    (4)

  • Vanessa P.

    I went here last week with my roommate. It was very low-key and lounge-y. I had the fish tacos, which were very tasty. My roommate had the rodan pizza, which is basically a pizza topped with avocado and tomato. Also very tasty! I'm definitely coming back here for their brunch. UPDATE (8/12/07): I finally came here for brunch and it did not disappoint! First off, you have to love the fact that they have many options to make some of their brunch items vegan/vegetarian. I had the Korean omelet and the yucca potato hash. Both were a bit on the spicy side but very good. My friend had the crepes. I tried some of his, and they were so good. They were filled with tropical fruit. There was no waiting and the service was good and fast.

    (4)

  • Misi P.

    Eek a mouse!!! I heard that shriek several times while sitting on a couch at Rodan, wondering what the hell was going on in the bathrooms. Rodan needs to cancel the projections onto the floor. It looks like roaches. Rodan is always the big name on the street and I had not yet checked it out. Typically the places that everyone loves, I hate, but Rodan stands to be an exception to the rule. If you're not careful you'll overlook it (I shopped at Reckless a few times and it's right next door - had no clue) but that's kind of a good thing. I got the impression that Rodan is where the truly beautiful people hang out. Not pretentious hipsters (if you check it out on a weekday, not sure about the weekend) but normal, sexy, people. I had a few drinks here with Em last night and was impressed. The drinks are reasonably priced (or at least my Ketel One drink special was) I hear the food is excellent, and the atmosphere is lovely and low key. The perfect spot to curl up on a couch and bring your journal and drop a few pages of poetry. Drawbacks...They actually need to cancel the whole projection gimmick altogether though - please get real mirrors in the bathroom because I need to know when there is seaweed in my teeth before I go chat up one of the beautiful men who filters through Rodan during the course of the night. And the projection show on the big screen is just weird.

    (4)

  • Haute H.

    I hear people say this place has a New York vibe and I sort of agree. You will meet any and all of the creative professionals in Chicago here. Lot of beautiful posers too but rather them than conservatives. Probably the best veggie burger I've ever had and the kitchen is open late. I wish they had consistent breakfast on the weekend. Expect good djs and a truly mixed crowd.

    (4)

  • Joe M.

    Psychedelic most aptly decribes this little place. Rather than a mirror in the mens room there is a digital image of yourselft in a strange and interesting futuresque opaqueness. Also there is a giant screen on the back wall playing what looks like the background of windows media player. I enjoyed my time here and met some cool people and drank a lot and was confused in all together new way.

    (4)

  • Santi M.

    Rodan is a cool bar with above average food. The steak with chimichuria sauce is very very good. Lots of flavor but your breath will be lethal afterwards. It's probably one of the few places that still has an old school wicker park vibe meaning it has character and good music.

    (4)

  • Kate S.

    Rodan is generally pretty great--music, crowd, drinks reasonably priced. But: do NOT EAT THE PIZZA. It's the worst attempt at pizza I've ever experienced. A giant tomato wedge next to a giant avocado wedge? The most boring and unappealing item--it's like a pizza a 5 year old would make. Rodan is older than 5 years by now, I'd suggest they re-vamp the pizza cuisine. Other food here is much better at least.

    (4)

  • mike l.

    just stumbled into Rodan for brunch with some friends. well, it wasn't really brunch since it was 2pm. So, it was pre-dinner, post-lunch. Make up your own name - linner? dunch? anyhows, rodan's a really nice space. feels very modern/asian. wide booths to sit in. the menu was really eclectic. but not scary eclectic either. it definitely moves you out of your culinary comfort zone, but that's a good thing. i'm bored of all these places trying to do traditional comfort foods with some sort of twist. screw that, just make me some original food. rodan delivers. check it out and try something new.

    (4)

  • Blake B.

    Great place for food, drinks, brunch and listening to local electronic music / watching visual arts. One of the best places in Chicago for VJ'ing because of the overall atmosphere.

    (5)

  • Maximilien V.

    Rodan may have the best bar food in the city. The togarashi burger (black bean) is the best veggie burger I've ever had. Justin R., you're an idiot. Seriously, I have tried hundreds of veggie burgers, this one's amazing. Everything I've had here food-wise is very good with the exception of the veggie tacos. The beet salad is bigger than your face and even better. The prices are very reasonable and I have never, no matter how busy they are, come across an employee that was anything less than very nice to me. The vibe is both hipster and eclectic. It's a slightly older crowd than the usual wicker park bar and there never seems to be the Lincoln park element present, even on the weekends.

    (5)

  • Chris H.

    I would review the food but since it took 45 minutes to get a bowl of soup I am not sure what it tasted like!!! We walked in to try the Chinese New Year's brunch, it was maybe half full, but their excuse for not serving us in a timely manner was they were slammed. My wife was starving by this time and i had to go out to the car to get her a snack bar! For $20 a person this is ridiculous. We even notified the waitress who continued to ignore us. I understand if the waitresses are slammed however, they were giving out hugs to people coming in and lighting fireworks outside. Hopefully this place is better at night. I would have rather waited 45 minutes for a table at the Bongo Room! Ridiculous.......When we finally got up to leave the waitress did apologize and did not charge us for coffee and soup. Thus the 1 star rating.

    (1)

  • Orack B.

    Aside from our waitresses whole game being tired, I enjoyed the ambiance and uniqueness of Rodan. Of course any place you go to in Bucktown you are going to run into a crew of at least 3 dudes all wearing really tight pants, slip-ons and a hoodie - why do people want to go out all looking like clones - but aside from those fucking fashion whore, dick riding, douche bags, the vibe is right. Love the video screen playing all sorts of trippy stuff and dig the music.

    (3)

  • Sasha R.

    I've only ever been here late at night, and it's kind of an odd experience (random black and white movies projected on the back wall, some strange [still fun] music) but after a drink or two I am really feelin it. The atmosphere can be kind of hipster-ish, so if you're really not into that.. it's not recommended. But if you're cool, you'll probably enjoy it :)

    (4)

  • Jenny S.

    One morning when Bongo Room was way too packed yet again, we decided to venture over to Rodan for brunch. Surprisingly there was no wait and I can't understand that at all. Brunch was fantastic. Whether you're getting a fancy version of steak and eggs or a tasty warm bowl of rice pudding, Rodan makes no mistakes. I haven't been there for drinks or dinner but it's a fantastic find for brunch.

    (4)

  • Julie H.

    As a bar, Rodan is great. But as a brunch spot, not so much. (and yes, I do realize that my review contradicts with Laura R.'s review, so I guess you'll have to go and decide for yourself!)

    (3)

  • Heather K.

    I've been here a jillion times and never left sober- to Rodan's credit. The music is VERY hit or miss, and sometimes too loud, but the seating is ample (unless you're dead-set on sitting at the bar), and the prices are straight. You can get a Vodka-Cran for $4 and domestic drafts for $3. There's a $12 minimum for plastic, but you're there at four beers. The wasabi fries were awesome, but they mysteriously disappeared from the menu. One more thing, I should mention that this is like the drinking haven for Chicago skateboarders- oddly enough.

    (4)

  • Natalie G.

    I went here for dinner during the week one night with a few people-- We started off with the potstickers which were pretty average and the wasabi french fries which were pretty incredible. They have some pretty good wines and beer selection. For dinner I had the burger which was so amazing! So good! They also have a tuna roll that some friends shared and tons of great picks on their menu. I really like the menu here and will for sure go back. Service was great!

    (4)

  • Raneta V.

    another hometown favorite. too many nights wasted (in a good way.) great for cocktails, snacks and a civilized time.

    (5)

  • Tiffany S.

    Nightlife on Saturday. Music was good. Crowd was mixed. Good drinks, just strong enough. Decent prices. Friendly bar staff. The apple martinis have a little jolly-rancher-candy-ish aftertaste.

    (4)

  • alicia g.

    My favorite place to get blurred at in Chicago next to my friend's houses. I've been going to this bar for years and it's the one place where I know I will always run into friends. Going there on Mondays for the $3 lychee champagne is awesome, even though it drags in a bunch of people I'd rather not be around. My boy and I go there for cute dinner dates and we are always happy with the $12 kobe beef burger. I also enjoy their maki and the wasabi fries are on point. Did I mention the Pho? I forgot to mention the Pho. The Pho is also great and $3 on Sundays.

    (5)

  • Caitlin O.

    I went here to see a friend who had a DJ set that night - the two stars are pretty much due to the music. The food, which came in tiny itsy-bitsy portions, was bland, uninspired and mis-cooked (overdone, underdone - it depended upon the dish). It didn't taste particularly nasty but it certainly wasn't any good. The drinks were alright but overpriced, which I expect to happen in the area, but other places at least have high points that make up for the overpriced drinks. The atmosphere was alright. The booth was sort of comfortable but we had to fight for it... even though we were ordering food they hardly wanted to seat us at it, which brings me to another point : the service stunk. The waitress was slow, ignored us and lagged on bringing our drinks a whole five feet to us from the bar. Blech. Completely unimpressed. I don't know if I'd go back, even if one of my friends was playing. Spend your money somewhere else. There's better places to listen to music.

    (2)

  • Ross B.

    It's like having brunch inside an iPhone.

    (4)

  • Fred S.

    I really like this place. Nice chilled out vibe. Great beers/drinks and tasty food. Try the wasabi tempura green beans dish and a lychee martini.

    (5)

  • Christine P.

    I can only speak about Rodan in relation to breakfast/lunch. They have the best Vietnamese coffee EVER. It's a decadent place - stuffed challah french toast, dessert style pancakes - Mmmm pancakes. They also have great steel cut oatmeal and fruit. I don't try and fight the crowds on the weekends, but during the week it's definitely a hidden gem.

    (4)

  • Doug C.

    Great food, great neighborhood, great service. Try the tempura green beans, they're fantastic.

    (5)

  • Nick L.

    Very stylish place and I've heard great things about the food, though I haven't eaten there yet. The bar, tables and couches are all cozy and swanky. I highly recommend visiting on Sundays for a relaxed atmosphere and some fantastic downtempo/idm music and visuals from some awesome locals. Definitely enjoyable.

    (4)

  • Pilsen C.

    My experience here lasted exactly 5 minutes - all of which were spent trying in vain to order a drink. Inattentive, pretentious staff, stupid idiots hanging out by the door waiting for their girlfriends, minimal selection of beers. Bad trendy music. I will never be stepping foot inside here again.

    (1)

  • Andrea C.

    Rodan for brunch is great- interesting menu, fast service and super reasonable prices. The only downside is that is usually reeks of the prior night which isn't exactly pleasant first thing in the morning. I don't really care for Rodan, the bar. It was so loud the last time I was there I was hoarse from yelling to be heard. Or maybe I'm just getting old. The mirrors in the bathroom were pretty cool, though.

    (4)

  • lilzeppelin y.

    This place has good specials. Sunday - 3$ ale and noodle soup, Monday 3$ Luychee Martini, etc. The soup is average, it is hardly reminiscent of the best vietnamese soups I have had before. The atmosphere is fine. Sundays they have art movies palying with subtitles. So you can eat, drink and "get cultured".

    (3)

  • Sara B.

    Been here a few times. The sticky buns were not bad...a it pricey though. The drinks are cheap though. $4.50 for a vodka tonic is pretty cheap. The music is good and the place pleases all the people I've taken here so a definite recommend.

    (4)

  • Melissa P.

    Great brunch! 3 dollar Lychee Royal night rocks. Also, the decor here is pretty awesome. They do unique things with lights and bathroom mirrors.

    (4)

  • Elizabeth K.

    Rodan...I feel like its one of those bars that if you are going to go to and then write a review that criticizes the people that go there, than you don't really understand the concept of the bar. When ever i've gone there and randomly talked to people just standing around- everybody is cool. You can definitely go there and do your own thing or you can definetly meet some cool people. i have friends that are the creative types that go there to network or at least meet people that know the difference between modern and contemporary art. (thanks Ry). Anybody that goes to Rodan and then goes on yelp to talk about somebody's who is a "hipster, vegan, skinny jeans, cowboy boot wearn" type- shouldn't have been in there in the first place- cause the people that go there are cool and not judgemental and probably would have talked to you in your gap tshirt and dungaree jeans if you said hello...nobody cares. next time you need to chill out, have a good time and order some wasabi fries. I would have given it a 5, if the bartender I gave my number to actually called me....just kidding.

    (4)

  • Megan L.

    Interesting experience. Met a friend around 7 for dinner and a drink, and when I got there I was one of literally four customers - normally this doesn't bode well to me, but it's been recommended by a couple friends so I wasn't too worried. The food turned out to be quite good. Not exceptional, but I'd certainly go back and the prices were fairly reasonable. It started picking up around 8:30, so I got the impression that it's more of a drinking destination. My guess is that it was chock full of hipsters by 11.

    (3)

  • Sarah C.

    I just went back to Rodan after over a year when I was visiting Chicago this weekend. It is still a wonderful place, great atmosphere, friendly staff. The main thing I wanted to add (or subtract star-wise) was that the food is very different. Though it is still good, it is much less vegan friendly and got rid of all of my favorite dishes. So this made me sad a bit. The good news is, it is still a great bar, just not my favorite place to eat.

    (4)

  • sam h.

    This place used to be a contender. It had a certain something that made you want to go back and back again. The food was always (just) ok - but the music and the staff (owners too) were the best part.. followed closely by the drinkies.. and the price!! the prices may have stayed about the same but the music has taken a serious dive and the welcome feeling is all gone.. another casualty of uber-hipsterism? maybe. or maybe the cool people that used to go there have found another home away from home. i was there on a thursday night and had some jerkkk yelling up a storm RIGHT next to me. joy. They're here to stay. give rodan a pass (& a wide berth) and check out the new places down the street. At least have some personality left.

    (2)

  • Kyle L.

    I LOVE RODAN! Everyone that works there is very nice & makes sure they know your name if you go there often, a smile & a hello even if they are too busy to take your order right away (that's the thing about places that rock, they get overcrowded sometimes). If you go on a Monday its just as it should be crowd-wise {just enough local regulars & not an annoying amount of suburbs-filler}, complete w/the musical stylings of Kraftwerk one moment & Blonde Redhead the next. During the summer they open the almost walk-in size front windows, which totally makes up for lack of patio seating. Then there's the ever-popular $3 Lychee Royale special (champagne w/a lychee fruit & juice at bottom!) Their menu has changed many times since I've been going there, but always in a good & exciting way. They sure do take customer opinions to heart & I can taste it in every bite of that amazing Togarashi burger (get the veg black bean burger option). Get that with a side of tempura green beans & you're in heaven (they come crispy on the outside & plump/juicy inside, with a wasabi aoli sauce). God, now I wish I had gone there this Monday!

    (5)

  • Aaron S.

    Yeah, the service here can be maddening, but it's one of the few places in the neighborhood where you can eat and drink decently in a noisy/friendly environment with decent music without feeling like you're helping put the finishing touches on the Linkin-Parkization of Wicker Park. I guess that's an endorsement?

    (3)

  • Amelie D.

    I am not just partial to Rodan because of its fabulous interior decoration. Rodan is a little oasis of "I'm cool without being annoyingly cool" in Bucktown. Although Rodan is probably best known as a bar, you might be surprised to learn that they have a great eclectic food selection. Try the wasabi fries if you are just there to hit the bar. At least you get a taste of Rodan's twist on food. Rodan also is great in the summer because they keep the front windows open. And check out live music there, you get anything from electro to avant-garde jazz.

    (5)

  • Joshua M.

    This place was well on it's way to a solid 4 before our waitress acting like splitting the check of our party which was large, but sitting at 4 different tables was the end of the known universe. Had she made any attempt at disguising her obvious contempt for the very nature of the question and me who asked it I would have had a pretty good experience there. The breakfast was fine, relatively reasonable price, and the decor of the place is awesome. But try not to act like I gouged out your puppy's eyes when I make a fairly reasonable, if not at least not unusual request. Jeez.

    (3)

  • Chris O.

    Really unique interior, a unique and diverse drink menu and a great value food wise. I can't believe some people didn't like the food, I found it to be very tasty and great value. (priciest entries were 14$, apps were 5-7$) A great date place since it is dark and they have a lot of girly drinks for the ladies such as the lychee martini, etc. Also, they are one of the few places where I can get my lindemans ras framboise, so extra stars for that! I haven't checked out the brunch yet but this little spot is a hidden gem, I almost didn't even want to review this place since I like being able to get a table whenever I please... Great concept, interior, friendly service, interesting people watching, a tastful lounge, wonderful prices, tasty food with creative presentation and a really funky bathroom, what more could you want? Edit- Went a 2nd time and must take off a star, first of all, the waitress was rather rude and unfriendly when we were asking for a different seat for a birthday dinner. I understand she's the only one there and must be busy but a smile and some basic, standard politeness could go a long way! Secondly, I ordered the wasabi fries and asked for extra wasabi since I didn't taste any the first time I came, and AGAIN, it simply tasted like seasoned fries. Crispy yes, but no wasabi flavor at all! Thirdly, the prices are decent but the amount you get for the peruvian steak or the argentinian beef is very meager. Maybe ok for a lincoln park trixie but I want mah MEAT! And finally, the chimichuri sauce was a weak knock off green paste with no kick, I was very dissapointed and almost take 2 stars off my initial 5 star rating, but I'll go again to see if that was simply a bad night.

    (4)

  • Giselle M.

    Don't forget to lock the bathroom when you go here. The bus boys are known for checking for unlocked bathrooms and walking in on women with their pants down.

    (1)

  • Amy H.

    Rodan is great.. The beer selection is a nice change and although I've never tried the food it always smells good. I may be a bit biased but I always have a good time here. It's a pretty chill place, good music, good service, nothing to complain about.

    (4)

  • Cooper T.

    Very disappointed. This place was cold and uninviting. Service was terrible. Food was below average. I ordered the Wasabi Fish and Chips on the recommendation of the waiter It was completely bland and tasteless. My wife had the Peruvian steak. Which again was very average. I will not be going back nor can I recommend this place.

    (2)

  • andrew c.

    Good music. Nice drink selection. Great brunch. Word.

    (4)

  • neil c.

    When I'm in Chicago I often end up here with my friends. If you get here early enough and can get one of the couch areas, it's pretty nice. They have good drinks, and usually have a decent DJ playing. The big screen USUALLY has interesting things going on it... although last time it was boring circles. Oh well.

    (4)

  • Steve R.

    Never been here as a brunch place, just as a regular bar. It gets painted with the hipster brush a lot, but I didn't find it more so than anywhere else in the area that I could still stand to go to, and far less so than something like Rainbo. The DJ was spinning great tunes of a wide variety, there's a nice little variety of beers on tap, the pours on the mixed drinks are decent enough, and I found the crowd to be friendly, chatty, and unpretentious.. Plus they project some weird stuff on the walls, clips of different movies I gather. Only downside is that it's roaringly loud in there. I'll be back for sure.

    (4)

  • David S.

    Rodan is small bar with a modern décor and fashion forward Asian Fusion food. This place could so easily be a 4 but a few things yanked them on back to a three in my book. Read on for all the juice. You walk into Rodan and it's a very nice looking and clean bar/restaurant. However, which do they want to be, a bar or a restaurant? What do I mean you ask. The bathroom in this place made me feel like I was walking into a college bar's bathroom complete with the smell of cheap paint splattered across the urinal and toilet. In addition the mirror is this smoked out thing which only provides reflection when close up, and at that a smoked hazy reflection. In and of itself I think it's neat but doesn't belong in the bathroom. Still, they could get away with it in a guys bathroom but the ladies not so much. The ladies I was with pointed out how much the ladies want a mirror. The second issue was the waitress. They were having a presentation in the back and the place wasn't busy. Considering the time she should have had on her hands she wasn't, oh how shall I say it, attentive or caring in any fashion she had customers. Ah well, I'll chalk that up to a bad day but the bathroom is un excusable. Now then, that is enough negativity lets move onto the good things because I did like their food and liquor. They have a small selection of beers but a GOOD selection of beers. The list isn't cluttered with a bunch of innocuous cr**; the selection is well thought out and high quality. The four of us ordered up the wasabi dusted French fries, tempura green beans, and crab cakes. The aiolies are bar none the best thing these guys have going for them. The wasabi aioli was fantastic and was really good on the fries, which themselves were nothing special. The crab cakes were good and had an interesting sweetness to them that was enjoyable. The tempura green beans were crisp and refreshing with a perfect tempura on them not to crusty or oily but adding to the texture and flavor. I had the seared ahi tuna which in itself was fine but the sauce on the salad beneath it was good enough to buy by the jar. It has the perfect intermingling of sweet and sour with the infusion of Asian flavors to compliment the greens and tuna. My girlfriend had the fish taco which was very good but a bit dry. The fish had a nice light battering on it which was quite tasty. As soon as I through some garlic aioli on it for her it turned into an A. All-in-all you can see I thoroughly enjoyed the food and would like to eat there again. However, they don't know whether they are a nasty college bar or an Asian Fusion Bistro. Their service could use a slight upgrade to. I won't steer away from the place and will try them again but only for appetizers on my way to a place where I don't feel like I'm standing in pee if I need to use the little foodies room. Prost, Cheers, Salud, Bon Appetit, and all those great wishes

    (3)

  • Steven C.

    Rodan looks like a pretentious bar where people aren't going to be friendly and the food is going to be overpriced and underflavored. But it's completely the opposite. The food is excellent, the wine selection is surprisingly good, and the staff are always really friendly. They even have a great brunch on the weekends. All that, and they still show interesting video on the back wall and play good tunes. I've eaten or drank here at least a dozen times and have always had a good experience.

    (4)

  • Theresa C.

    As far as places to go in Wicker Park, it's actually pretty awesome. I've been here for food during the day and drunk dancing at night. The food is excellent, a little more than you would pay some places but the unique menu is worth it. My friend called the fish taco's the best she'd ever had and while I'm not much for fish, I believe her. The back booths are roomy and have an intimate feel to them even though you're in an open room. At night the bar becomes a drunken dance party. There's no cover, a DJ and the night I was there a live drummer. The music isn't the classically terrible house/dance crap you find so many other places in Wicker Park. The beer was way cheaper than I expected and the service was really good, especially considering how packed it was. MY friend didn't even get a dirty look when he dropped his drink and broke the glass, they just cleaned it up promptly. I would definitely go back, but not unless I was at least a little drunk and looking to be moreso. It was a lot of fun, drunk.

    (4)

  • Amanda B.

    I like the place itself. I live very close, so I come here a lot. The service is something to be desired. If you have a table, you will probably wait an hour to get served. Try the wasabi fries. I've had very good brunch and not so good brunch. Even though I sometimes get very aggervated with this place, I still like it a lot, maybe I'm crazy so it still gets 4 stars. Definitely much better experience for drinks during the week.

    (4)

  • YerMah L.

    great vibe...vegetarian friendly dishes... and most importantly... they have Cava! And by the bottles... yum.

    (3)

  • Mollie O.

    One of my favorite stand-bys. Usually this is a good place to people watch and meet people (the set up totally facilitates that) however I think the bar should probably hire some more workers--two bartenders, really?

    (4)

  • Christina M.

    Every last saturday of the month, indulge in some great funk and breakbeats. The music is awesome the drinks were a GREAT price! good times

    (5)

  • Nina W.

    I heart Rodan. The decor is minimal with clean lines and there is artwork projected onto the walls. I've been to Rodan twice and I still can't get over those tasty little nubs of bread that they bring to your table. Love it. I ordered the tofu coconut curry with the herbed rice and it was absolutely delicious. We spent under $48.00 with two drinks, an appetizer and two entrees. I'll definitely be back.

    (4)

  • Lisa F.

    Sometimes when it feels like nothing is going my way, I go to Rodan and eat Wasabi fries and all of a sudden the world is right again. The tuna and avocado maki rolls are excellent as well. However, Sunday through Wednesday nights are the best time to go if you don't want to be be distracted by the uber-hipsters.

    (4)

  • Jennifer C.

    One of the few places in town where I can get one of my favorite beers-Hitachino, but the bathrooms- WTF am I suddenly in The Lawnmower Man?

    (3)

  • Kevin T.

    i guess never having tried their food, i give it one more star than jonathan. rodan is a great spot to hang out with friends and mingle with others. saturday nights are festive and their washroom was a pretty original idea as your image is not reflected in a traditional mirror, but captured by a camera and projected onto a flat screen. definitely worth a visit if you have never gone.

    (4)

  • Valerie A.

    A good spot to meet for drinks during the week. On the weekend, however, it's way too crowded. The food is pretty good too.

    (4)

  • Maija T.

    Great place to get a drink with friends. I have been here a few times for drinks/dinner and everything has been delicious - especially the lychee martini. No one seemed to mind that only half the table was ordering food and the portions were easy to share. The projection screen on the wall/floor can be a bit much...

    (4)

  • P J.

    I came here for brunch and actually sent my food back (and I'll eat *anything* but couldn't bear to eat what I ordered). The service wasn't great, either. Food's not that great, the decor is boring. Worth avoiding.

    (1)

  • elsa m.

    Good spot for a little later at night. They carry yummy Japanese white beer and serve some of the best fries ever. But what is up with the lack of a mirror in the bathroom? A few years ago they had this stupid virtual video mirror, which doesn't even seem to be working now. The bathroom is so dark that your own compact mirror won't matter a damn either.

    (3)

  • Betty B.

    Rodan is my Cheers. I am there a lot and I like it. I love their empenadas and their fries and their staff. And on Mondays I get drunk off of Champagne and Tuesday is a rough day at work. The music is almost always good or at least tolerable and there are a lot of pretty people there. The weekends are a different crowd and I tend to not go then.

    (5)

  • Lindley E.

    bad brunch! Bad bad brunch. Why? Things just didn't taste good. It was slooooooow the day I was there. I did appreciate the 'brazilian' flair of the menu, but the dishes just didn't deliver. I've had apps there, too, and wasn't impressed. More importantly, I was hit by amnesia the moment I left and I can't remember a thing about it. That's always a bad sign.

    (2)

  • natalie F.

    I love this place...Best brunch in Wicker Park. I didn't give all 5 stars cause on the weekends its full of too many hipsters but otherwise this place is great. Go during the week...Tuesdays are great and the staff is really nice.

    (4)

  • calivanilla c.

    If you want be anonymous, this is the place. Low lights, hypnotic screen, non-billboards music, and a relaxed urban atmosphere. A pretty eclectic crowd, and everyone is just doing their thing... nice.

    (4)

  • Derek S.

    i've had a lot of fun at rodan, but for me it's a place to grab a bite to catch up with someone. it's a two person place...not a place to gather the guys to rock out kind of scene. the food's not actually made at rodan...it's pre-prepared...at least the dinner options. nevertheless it's pretty darn good, especially the ceviche. i'm not talking culinary magic or anything...but it's not "bar food". pretty much everything on the menu's tasty. i think the edge of the place is fine...doesn't impede on your conversation. yeah, the crowd is a bit hip-tastic, and it can get crowded as hell as you get closer to the weekend. all in all, i like to stop by every once in a while to meet a friend for drinks and an appetizer, but it's kind of a "if you wanna go, i'll go" sort of place.

    (3)

  • Drucilla D.

    Bubbletini's and pretty darn good food! This place is definitely not one of the many places in the city that inspire a groan of protest from me.

    (4)

  • Demian S.

    I like the ambiance, but the food was mediocre. Very modern and uncomplicated interior. Good place to have a drink or two and make a plan on where you are really gonna eat. I had a wasabi battered fish and chips plate....whatever.

    (3)

  • Simone G.

    I've always really "liked" this place. Sometimes it gets way to packed, but the drinks are strong and not to expensive. The food is alright, but mostly I never go here to eat. I like when they have dj's playing electic electronica music to old kung fu flicks. the decor is wood, with low cielings (for some reason I'm a sucker for low cielings, maybe because I'm so tall). but overall I digg this place especially because of the blue lighting... trendy, but a good place to hang.

    (3)

  • Liz K.

    This is a great place to take out-of-town visitors for drinks. It's comfortably modern with multiple seating options (booth, couch, table--if you get there early enough) and a surprisingly affordable wine list and menu. The sound system is kind of pathetic for a bar and the music is often hit or miss, but it's a good place to people watch and a decent place to spend time in. Try the Lycheetini and visit the bathrooms for a video-mirror experience.

    (3)

  • Dee C.

    This place gets four stars for the vibe and atmosphere. Servers/bartenders are super chill and friendly. Couches in the back would be a great place to lounge. While I feel any fusion food served in America is never going to be satisfying, the food here was good enough.

    (4)

  • Doug S.

    Nice lounge with dim lighting. They have decent DJs (Madrid is a favorite), but I consider this a bar that I will go to if asked but never ask anyone to meet me at. Good luck finding it if you have never been there.

    (3)

  • Mike H.

    The bathrooms are the most fun thing about this bar. If you have diarrhea you should head over. This could be your night.

    (1)

  • Robert S.

    I had a blast at Rodan last week. After a first look-around, I thought that I would only be there for one drink or so before I got annoyed. I was wrong. The place is trendy looking and has nice looking patrons, but everyone there was super-friendly and service was fast, something I didnt expect. It was really crowded at first, but I was able to get a table after a group left. Then, my friends and I called more friends to come and hang out since we were having such a great time. The music was nice, the drink prices were average. The bathrooms are very cool indeed, and big, and clean. I will have to stop back for the food sometime.

    (4)

  • A.S. V.

    Despite some problems, Rodan is coming into its own as a solid new restaurant, offering a unique mix of South American and Southeast Asian dishes. While the video mirrors in the bathrooms are more gimicky than useful, I think it's a cool touch. The video screen in the dining room that often features art by local video artists, and DJs in the evenings (Sunday nights in particular are hopping), and overall spare design lends it a sort of sleek ancient-future, cyberpunk-chic vibe that Tizi Meloul once had and lost. In the end, it's the food and service that matters most. Of the four times I've been, one experience on a busy night last year was absolutely horrible. We waited 30 min to have our order taken, another hour for the food, and then my steak was so undercooked it was still bleeding and twitching. I was so hungry and frustrated I was going to lose it. They did make it right by not charging for it, and my other experiences and those of others were just fine. However, another problem is that the portions are just too small. I'm used to taking home leftovers, not leaving hungry. The desserts are excellent, and I'll be willing to give it another chance.

    (3)

  • Ron S.

    I really can't believe the reviews about this place. It seems some people think anything in wicker park is cool and worth a visit. Friends drug me here on Sunday for brunch. They don't open til ten, and I was starving before. We arrived at 9:40. We decided to have coffee at Sweet Thang around the corner and wait for this dump to open. Came back around 10:15 we were the only ones there. The waiter came over and asked if we wanted coffee or drinks. We got lukewarm water. (a big pet peeve of mine) He came back to our table a couple minutes later and said, "it will be a few minutes, we can't find any menus". Pet peeve 2 (were so cool we can be excused for stupid stuff.) To make a long story, short. Service spotty, meal forgettable, place is too dark and cold for brunch, psychedelic shit projected on the wall is annoying on a Sunday morning folks! To think I left Sweet Thang to come back to this hole.

    (1)

  • Tobia C.

    One of my favorite spots to hang on a weeknight. The food is ok (most people love it), but I usually go for the drinks and the ambiance. Sometimes it turns into a hipster convention (not always a bad thing...I guess), but it has always proven to be a great time when I go there. It isn't overly expensive, either.

    (4)

  • Arjun C.

    Very nice brunch option when Bongo Room is overcrowded (which is always). Ok bar, with nice clubbish ambiance That's why this place gets 4 stars. That said, the the dinner menu, while simple and certainly not bad, leaves a lot to be desired. This is one of those places where I ask myself, rather than eating here, am I better off getting a nice piece of swordfish from Whole Foods, marinating it for a day and grilling it myself (with a nice glass fo Two buck Chuck, of course) . When it comes to this place, the answer is "yes." Two stars for dinner.

    (4)

  • Elizabeth C.

    I have never been impressed with their food. But great atmosphere, and they actually use limes to make Margaritas. I would definately go there for drinks with friends.

    (3)

  • catharine s.

    sunday morning brunch usually means waiting for at least 30 mins, eating deliciously greasy eggs, french toast, and pancakes... not at rodan. DELICIOUS FOOD with good portions that is great for vegans and meat eaters alike. usually it's one or the other. i went with five people and we shared the tofu quinoa scramble, the french toast with fruit, the crepes, huevos rancheros, and arepas with black beans! we also drank leechee mimosas, vietnamese coffee, and sampled bolinos. (i wasn't a fan, but then i don't like donuts either.) when i walked in i thought it was going to be a pricey meal because it's got a clean, modern, minimalist decor with a screen for showing digital images. but, the prices are normal. not $4 for 2 eggs, toast and hashbrowns, but under $10. try it all! loved the place

    (5)

  • Liliana S.

    this is a good place for drinks. the atmosphere is very trendy and the decor pretty posh for wicker park. I was fairly suprised to see that the music and crowd was diverse. the drinks are normal, nothing spectacular and expect the prices to be just the same as any other lounge/bar..

    (3)

  • Jenny I.

    The PBR is $2. Everything is NOT. Bartenders here are always very nice and prompt, and the DJs are selected from among the best in the city. Very loungy and dark, and the two specialty martinis will knock both your socks off. OH, and hot Asians flock to this place - gotta be the Godzilla reference.

    (4)

  • Michelle W.

    Rodan is a trendy looking spot on Milwaukee Avenue. It's claim to fame or rather what should be it's claim to fame is their wasabi crusted french fries. They are incredible. The pizza I had was a little off and they had weird smoking policies, but the fries and wine will definitely get me back.

    (3)

  • Karen L.

    This is definitely a trendy lounge spot in Wicker Park. Some would call it uber trendy--but not necessarily the stuck-up kind. The drinks aren't cheap, the decor is modern and the crowd is young.

    (3)

  • Blah B.

    Delicious is the first word that came to mind!! I was here so long ago, but it def. left a lasting impression!! One of the few and first time's I actually tired ceviche and throughoutly enjoyed it and my entree was so good!! I think it was also the first time I tired sake, not a huge fan!! Anyhow, the place is really chic and the food was excellent!!

    (5)

  • Nelson T.

    Rodan is p lame

    (3)

  • Martha Z.

    My friend lives next door to this place and we come to rodan when we can't think of any other place to go. It's for the sake of convenience. The place itself is rather neat. Although the video mirrors in the bathroom serve no functional purpose whatsoever. I've never had the food here, which I've heard is pretty decent. The table service for drinks is rather unimpressive. The girl that we usually get is inattentive and forgetful. Not to mention that each time I've ordered a drink here they've managed to mess it up. Examples...I order a lemon drop martini...she brings me a lemon drop shot, I reinstate I wanted a lemon drop MARTINI...she brings vodka with lemon on the side. Another time at the bar I order a "tom collins" he gives me a gin and tonic, ask for a 7 and 7 get vodka and club soda, ask for a champagne cocktail get I don't even know what. The list goes on. In the future I think I will stick to beer, even though I know some how they will manage to mess that up to.

    (3)

  • k s.

    Not the sort of place you'd imagine going for a PBR, but that's what people do. There are free movie screenings and such pretty frequently, or so it seems. The DJs are a mixed bag, ok to plain ole' bad. I can't decide whether I think the mirrors in the bathroom are neat or really stupid. Oh yeah, the wasabi crusted fries and food in general is good, vegetarian-friendly even.

    (3)

  • Amy L.

    If you can stand the obnoxious crowd here, at least have some wasabi fries.. They're really the only good thing about this place, aside from the bathroom mirrors. I wouldn't recommend bothering with their mixed drinks as they're overpriced and my boba martini whatever had overcooked boba in it (mmm..mushy!).

    (1)

  • vicky y.

    small place, couches and chairs aren't very comfortable, it's that "modern" styled furniture. but, it's the only place i know where i can get a bobatini.

    (3)

  • One T.

    Two dollar PBR's. That's why I come by. Also, they have some pretty rad and great mix of DJ's. Not sure about the food though. And it can get very very hipster-ish.

    (4)

  • Bob L.

    Good atmosphere and interior. Friendly staffs(most of them) Food. Some of them are good.(prown: Thumbs up! Sapporo ramen: ehhhh. Fries: OK)

    (5)

  • Ana Luv Y.

    ideally my afternoon was meant to be spent in the bongo room (which ive already been to), but it was prettyyyy busy so i decided to come here after seeing the sign out front about the bottomless drinks (bloodmary & mimosa). it wasnt many people there which i actually liked. the setting was very relaxing while the lightening was kind of dark it set the mood. the waitress was very friendly. as i looked through thr menu i saw alot of pork, which i, nor my friend eat. i decided to order the steak that came with the cucumber/tomato salad & garlic rice with a fried egg. decided to try something new like the vegan sausage. it took quite awhile for my food to come out. the presentation of the food being served to me looked pretty cool. everything tasted like i expected, delightful. i never had a fried egg before, i usually get scrambled because ive always thought the runny yolk was gross. rodan fried it perfectly to the point that i love my eggs fried now! the vegan sausage tasted weird to me but with some hot sauce i got accustomed to it as well lol. i would go back definitely, esply for the mimosas! & i would try something different on the menu as well.

    (5)

  • Regina F.

    Came here with a Gilt deal a couple of weeks ago, which included: one appetizer, two entrees, two drinks, and one "happy ending" as they call it ha.. ha... We had the edamame hummus to start, which was pretty tasty, but both the dip and the chips were on the salty side, especially the chips. My cousin had each of the steamed bao buns, while I had the soba coconut curry. We both liked our entrees, as they were pretty tasty but not salty. The only happy ending/dessert they had that night was chocolate mochi ice cream, which wasn't bad. Neither one of us have a sweet tooth, so we definitely would have preferred any other flavor, but chocolate. We sat outside as inside was pretty busy since it turns into a small lounge/club after a certain time. Since it's on Milwaukee though, traffic is still busy with both cars and people. If you are looking for something really intimate, this wouldn't be the place. Our server and the rest of the staff were really attentive, nice and friendly. Only other thing I want to point out, FYI, is that their online menu isn't quite up to date. It was a bit disappointing for me, since I wanted to try their veggie noodle soup, but didn't see it on the menu in person.

    (3)

  • Gerrell W.

    I love this spot. It's more of a chill bar with good bar food. I wouldn't come here for a typical "restaurant" experience. The wasabi fries are always a must-have. Drinks are great and affordable. I usually come in a Friday night where they will have various DJs playing pretty hip beats (no Top 100, Taylor Swift mess). Huge projection screen in the back of the bar that either shows vintage foreign film or crazy atmospheric imagery. Diverse crowd. My type of place.

    (4)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :6:00 pm - 2:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Late Night
    Parking : Street
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : No
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Hipster
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Outdoor Seating : Yes
    Wi-Fi : Free
    Has TV : No
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : No

Rodan

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