Chiyo Japanese Restaurant

05/09/09

Kobe beef very poor quality beef

by hyundouwe at Citysearch

I ordered the $50.00 Kobe Beef entree and I received a cold ,overcooked, thin steak with the quality equivalent to a breakfast steak at a greasy spoon. The beef was chewy and did not come close to resembling the Kobe beef I have eaten many times in Japan and in the US. I was truly disappointed that they even advertise their superior Kobe beef on their website and on the back of their menu. Please do not be fooled and order the Kobe beef as it is a completely different beef from what you receive. The only positive was the friendly staff that tried to make up for the lack of food quality. Also, we were at the restaurant during prime dining hours on a Saturday evening and only one other couple was in the restaurant.

• Pros: Friendly staff
• Cons: Kobe beef very poor quality beef

06/01/07

Great Sushi in Albany Park

by kedvale at Citysearch

We read great reviews so we figured we'd check it out. This place is great! We didn't expect to find such a high quality Japanese restaurant in the heart of the northwest side. The friendly service and decor reminded us of our recent trip to Tokyo. We had a good time sharing our Japan experiences with the staff. Good times.

The tempura was great, sushi portions were generous and rolls were tasty. The cost was very reasonable. We highly recommend this place. It's definitely worth the trip.

• Pros: sushi portions, service and value; they have private rooms for larger groups
• Cons: relatively small restaurant it may fill up during peak hours

02/20/07

Amazing food!

by brushhill at Citysearch

We visited this restaurant after a trip to Japan, and it was just like returning to one of Tokyo's fine restaurants. The food is excellent and very authentic, and the mostly Japanese staff is very helpful in explaining the menu and making suggestions so that your experience turns out just right. Private dining rooms are available, which makes it even more fun. This restaurant is a bit of an undiscovered Chicago treasure, but was recently spotlighted in an issue of Chicago magazine, which may increase their clientele. If you like Japanese food, you must definitely try this place.

• Pros: Attentive service, great food, nice ambiance
• Cons: A bit of a haul to get to, but worth it!

01/11/07

Authenticity! Sugoi Oishi!

by ourmanritter at Citysearch

I had gone there a few times for drinks after dining at their Korean BBQ two doors down "Chicago Kalbi", which is also great. Then I finally tried some food. Although they're not breaking any new ground, you'll find excellent tasting Japanese kitchen items as well as Sushi. Quality fish, competently prepared. That's rare in Chicago's "sushi" restaurants. Fantastic service (I did say authentic Japanese...). Atmosphere is relaxed, casual or formal it's up to you, and very authentic. Although I usually see mostly Japanese costumers, everyone is welcome and comfortable. I'm not Japanese btw. Authentic vibe and food, it's hard to find that in the city. Except for a very few other places, I'd have to go all the way to Arlington Heights to get it, and I don't need a native speaker friend to order for me. I love it and it's become a regular hang for me. If you like Japanese cuisine and appreciate authenticity, you won't be disappointed. However you don't need to speak Japanese or be a Japanese food critic to enjoy and order what you want. Of course, as goes with any foreign cuisine, don't be afraid to ask questions! And remember, never let your dining partners pour their own drinks...