I went for the tasting menu and I didn't regret it at all. Loved this place. The experience itself wasn't perfect but the food came pretty damn close. Here's my full review:
<a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Ftastetestchicago.wordpress.com%2F2013%2F02%2F25%2Fkai-zan-review%2F&s=74ba11e7d44cdc009fc1ee5e1d0ebe2e5a1cf1ca8c0a5a0e2a53862f4003cae6" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://tastetestchicago.…</a>
Amazing, amazing, amazing. Â I can not rave enough about our experience at Kai Zan last night. Â A friend had recommended the place to us as her favorite sushi place in the city. Â Contrary to a lot of the complaints I've read in other reviews, I had no trouble making a reservation through the online <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fseatme.com&s=47bc43e964c4bd0f55fca9b43fa18c78e060d62825997fcc2ab81204af67691f" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://seatme.com</a> site that Kai Zan directs you to from their Facebook page. Â We went on a Monday with a party of 3, and booked an 8pm res.
Also, contrary to other reviewers comments, we had no problems with the service and had no feeling of being rushed. Â My fiance and I arrived 5 minutes early and they prepared the table, seated us, and opened our wine for us to enjoy while we waited for our friend. Â They may act differently on a busy weekend night, but with a space this small, it is understandable that they want to keep their tables used efficiently.
Once our whole party was seated, our server Chris explained the menu and asked how we'd like to proceed. Â Based on the overwhelming recommendations on yelp, we each decided to do the $50 omakase (Chef's Choice) tasting. Â
In a word...perfection. Â Did we enjoy every single item completely? Â No, of course not. Â With the kind of variety Kai Zan offers, there's bound to be some items that don't agree with your personal tastes. Â But every single item was prepared to perfection, presented beautifully, and only the utmost top quality ingredients were used. Â We were completely and pleasantly full after the meal, no room left for anything additional. Â It's the perfect amount of variety and quantity, and a tasting like this would easily be $85 at any of the other top sushi places in the city. Â Trust me, if you appreciate sushi, this is the best $50 you will ever spend. Â And the restaurant is BYOB so our bill was literally $50 each, plus a $5 corkage fee. Â Not bad for one of the best meals I've ever had.
You won't need any soy sauce or siracha sauce with this meal. Â Just sit back, order the tasting, and let the chefs dazzle you with their brilliance and creativity.
Favorites:
- Uni shooters and oyster shooters: Both were delicious, but I was surprised to find that I liked the uni significantly better than the oyster (and I usually love all things oyster).
- Escolar and maguro pearls: These were both equally delicious and just as everyone else has mentioned, easily a favorite of the night.
- Angry Crab: A bite of heaven and the wasabi perfectly hits you at the end. Â It's like it was created in layers so you can taste each individual layer as you're chewing and each has a distinct flavor.
- Steelhead Trout Sashimi: Â Imagine the best salmon sashimi you've ever had...and then imagine having something similar but twice as delicious.
- Taco: The octopus salad was served at the perfect time, the vinegar was light and refreshing to cleanse our mouths and the touch of wasabi was nice.
- Unagi Poppers: The jalapeno poppers were also very tasty, but I was a little confused. Â They were said to have had unagi inside the jalapeno, but there was none, so I think somebody messed up there. Â Either way, the panko covered jalapeno with cream cheese and eel sauce was not their most original creation of the night, but still tasty and enjoyable.
- Shrimp with Shitaki Mushrooms: The shrimp was good but the moist and barely cooked shitaki mushroom cap with delicious ginger dressing and other sauces was fantastic.
- Mussel: My memory escapes me, but we had a mussel on a shell dressed in deliciousness. Â I had hoped we'd get to try the Orange Crush, but the mussel was a wonderful substitute.
- Sushi Roll: The sushi roll came out towards the end, as we were all discussing how there was no way we could eat any more food, so my fiance ended up eating most of this for the team. Â I'm not sure what the roll was called but it was a simple roll of tuna and cucumber, salmon and a bit of spicy sauce. Â It was delicious, but I could only eat one bite.
Not Our Favorites:
- Agedashi Tofu: The broth that the tofu was served in was downright drinkable, but the tofu itself was bland and unseasoned and a little bit boring.
- Enoki Bacon: I didn't try this one, but the other two said it was just ok.
- Grilled Yellowtail: A little bit bland and boring as well.
- Charred Smelt: I believe this dish was prepared to perfection and Chris seemed disappointed that we didn't enjoy it, as it's one of his favorites. Â But the smelt was just a little bit too fishy for our tastes. Â If you're okay with strong fish (and okay with eating whole fish, head to tail), you'll love this.
Service was prompt and friendly. Â They were great about clearing dishes quickly, always explained what each dish was and recommended the best way to eat it, and did not make us feel rushed at any time. Â The place is very cozy and casual and welcoming. Â I can't wait to go back again.
Definitely would go back again.
Service: Great
Unagi popper: Mediocre; good as a jalapeno popper but couldn't taste any unagi
Green Monster: very fresh and delicious; loved the texture, but it was supposed to have unagi in it and didn't taste any
Escolar pearls: Probably the best thing we had; truly amazing
Kaki fry: LOVE; and love the small salad it comes with
Although not on the menu, we asked for a sashimi platter, and the waiter said the chef could prepare something for us - fantastic; only thing i didn't like was the saba, but ive also spent a lot of time in japan so perhaps i'm spoiled; all the fish was fresh and they gave 2 tempura shrimp heads as well
Tip: everything was great except things that we ordered unagi in; they either serve quantities of unagi that are undetectable or their's isnt very good; would recommend everything but those pieces; having said that, those items were still delicious, just couldn't really taste the unagi! 1 of 2 really great sushi places in chicago
SO DISAPPOINTED. I have read so many good things about Kai Zan and couldn't wait to come here to check it out. The hubs and I had reservations last night.
In short- our pompous server tainted our experience and we felt like we got ripped off.
The deets: Â After being seated for 15 minutes, our waiter finally came by to offer to open our wine. Side note- the place is so small there are 5 tables and a sushi bar. We were seated at the sushi bar and he had to walk by us at least a dozen times before acknowledging us. Anyways, 10 MINUTES LATER he still hasn't delivered our opened bottle of wine. We wanted to walk out, and would have had he not been holding captive the wine we brought. In retrospect we should have walked out and just said sayonara to the vino.
We started with the escolar pearls. They were really tasty but small for $8. Ok fine. Still feeling optimistic. We ordered the 3 of their featured sushi items. Eel wrapped in tuna, angry crab, and scallop wrapped in salmon. Each were $8. We expected them to be rolls. Instead, we discovered that they were 2 bites per order, equating to 1 bite per person.
Where we felt the most taken advantage of though was on the sashimi we ordered. They had 2 sashimi specials of fresh fish they were featuring. One was a steelhead trout, the other was toro. The other sashimi items we were going to order were $3 a piece. Of course having been tempted by the sound of the specials, we ordered 2 pieces of each. When the bill came we found out they were 3 times the price of all other sashimi- $9 a piece!! Lovely surprise when the bill came to discover that 2 bites per person cost $36.
Our server was MIA for the most part but when he was present to deliver our next dish, he couldn't be bothered. The whole experience just left a bad taste in my mouth. Â
I get that the fish quality was really good, and honestly we liked everything we got. That is the only thing keeping this from being a 1 star review. But we left starving after spending $80. There are so many great, super fresh sushi joints in the city and I'm just sorry I wasted a dime at this one.
One of the best meals I've ever had and I cannot wait to go back.
My friend made reservations for a large party there, which is kind of hard to do due to the seating arrangements. We insisted on all of us sitting together quite cozily in the front. None of us seemed to mind or care - we wanted to be together and not divide up.
Almost all of us ate the Omekase menu and each dish was more amazing than the previous. Service was great and the chefs are super kind. I appreciate them tolerating us rowdy folks.
I can't believe I have yet to write a review as I have now been here several times all the way from Arizona. I met the chefs when they were working at Kyoto and followed them to their own restaurant Kai Zan - I tell everyone I can about this great restaurant! The sushi is one of a kind - I highly recommend going and just letting the chefs feed you. It's BYOB so don't forget your wine - absolutely have the green monster roll and go now! You won't be disappointed!!
Review Source:Wow... seriously wow. Â
Came here on a double date because my wife's cousin got us a gift card to Kai Zan. Â And let me tell you, it was awesome.
The four of us made reservations for Sunday (Sat was already booked five days in advance). Â Online reservations, easy to manage, shame they don't have their online menu/website up and working yet.
We ordered the omakase ($50) and received a lot of food... I'm going to list all that I can remember, in case you choose not to go omakase, and instead order piece by piece. Â Here's what I can remember.
Escolar Pearls - Yes, these are amazing. Â We each received four full bites of escolar pearls using super white tuna and lean tuna (maguro). Â Best dish of the night.
Angry Crab - A full 12 pieces for the table, so three pieces a person. Â Another clear winner.
Oyster shooters - Beautiful presentation, and one of the few ways my wife enjoyed raw oysters. Â (Actually, the first time she's ever said she enjoyed raw oysters).
Dynamite mussels: Â Very flavorful and a great combination. Â Mussels were slightly overcooked, but only in the barest of ways.
Agedashi tofu: Â Soul satisfying broth, but the tofu wasn't crisp/crunchy on the outside... I think we've just had better agedashi tofu elsewhere.
Jalapeno poppers: Â Perfectly fried, nice combination.
Bacon wrapped enoki: Â Not a huge fan... I think I was expecting the bacon to be more crisp and more texture to the enoki.
Marinated shitake: Â These were awesome... so packed with flavor, I saved these as my last bite for this particular dish.
Yakitori smelt: Â Tasty, good flavor, nice and smokey. Â Reminded us of some filipino fish dishes in terms of preparation/smell.
Steelhead trout: Â Really, this tasted like salmon. Â I would have never guessed that this was trout... but then again, they are both very closely related, so I guess it makes sense. Â A phenomenal sashimi.
Mango pudding: Â Refreshingly light and simple, perfect way to end the meal. Â Best shared with two people, though we did share with four as we had additional dessert plans afterwards.
Verdict: Â Get reservations early, as this place literally will only fit 22 people or so. Â Great service, phenomenal food, and you have got to make your way here to enjoy it. Â The Omakase is a steal, in all our opinions, and I hope they keep it that way because it will keep us coming back for more and more. Â Only disappointment for the night was Agedashi tofu... but considering the amount of courses we had, one off course is nothing in light of everything we enjoyed. Â Can't wait to come back again.
Third times a charm. After I left a negative, but accurate review for Kai Zan's reservation process, someone messaged me from the restaurant and said to come in for a free meal with a friend. I felt slightly odd cashing in on the offer, but took my best friend to see what the hype at Kai Zan was all about.
My strongest recommendation is for you, dear reader, to find a way to go. I thought the food was absolutely amazing. My friend and I both decided to go for the Omakase and we were beyond delighted. We were filled to the brim on $50 worth of food (not including tax or tip). Â
Highlights were the
- Gyu Tongue Kushi
- Fiesta Maki
- Dynamite Mussels
- Oyster shooters
- Tofu in broth
I can't wait to go back. Making reservation now.
Super cute restaurant, awesome atmosphere and some great dishes. I loved the oyster shooters and the white fish special (I forgot the name but you roll it yourself). The sushi honestly was good but not amazing. I preferred more of the non sushi dishes, as they were more creative. I do, however, plan to go back and try the omakase.
Review Source:O.M.F.G. Wow, wow, wow, wow, wow. I had been here before, but my friend and I had been on a bar hop, so having a full evaluation of the sushi just wasn't happening. This time, however, I was sent into nirvana.
I'll fully admit, I haven't had sushi from tokyo and whatever other great sushi cities one can come up with. I have had what I believe to be very good sushi, and Kai Zan is heads and shoulders above anything else I've had.
I went here with 3 other friends. We're all very into wine, so yes, many bottles were brought. I do love that they are completely BYO, and yea, we kinda abused that. Thankfully the staff was cool with it and we made sure to reward them for that.
Anyway, it's near impossible to get into all of the food. Mostly because we just let our waitress pick for us. So, food would just appear and she would tell us what we were having. I was only paying so much attention and more just focused on the killer fish in front of me.
We started off with the oyster shooters and the escolar pearls. The oyster shooters are a complete trip with them being so wrong that they are insanely right. The escolar pearls were absolutely awesome and should be ordered by everyone.
Here is where things got hazy as it was one order after the other. I do remember there being some steelhead trout sashimi that was amazing and a fiery crab (or was it angry crab?) that we had to order twice. The major point being though, everything put in front of us was both gorgeous in it's presentation and just as delicious as it looked.
Kai Zan is a very small spot. We were there for a little over an hour and we could see a line forming out the door, so we did have to leave a bit sooner than we probably would've liked. But, it was also a friday night and I fully understand that they have to turn over tables since there is so much demand. I can't wait to come back and I'm already plotting yet another return.
My wife and I went o Kai Zan tonight and had to write a review ASAP. Â We have been to just about every sushi restaurant in Chicago and have a new favorite. Â Kai Zan is terrific. Â The sushi is flown in fresh daily and is evident from the very first bite. Â The manager grew up in Japan on the waterfront and was charming and knowledgeable. Â The twin owners/chefs came by our table to say hello and are clearly proud of their work. Â Go to Kai Zan and you will not be dissapointed. Â This was an easy 5 star review.
Review Source:My kind of place!
charming, intimate, and (my favorite) unpretentious. Most importantly, exquisite! By far, best sushi experience we've had on a while! not only for their one of a kind menu options, but the service is also worth mentioning. they truly enhanced our experience. Brandon even suggested a few options which ended up being our favorite bites of the night. We will definitely be returning. This time, with friends and family. Not all at the same time, the place is very small.
oh, and don't forget, its byob.
I waffled a bit on 3 or 4 stars. Â Why you ask? Â Oh you didn't? Â Well I'll tell you anyway. Â The food was good. Â CA caliber sushi? Â No, but getting closer. Â So Chi-town sushi-wise decidedly 4 stars.
However, our experience was a little dampened because we felt rushed-- they told us we had to be done in an hour. Â Admittedly, this was our fault for being 20 minutes late for our reservation. Â Parking was a b*tch to find in the rain so keep that in mind. Â
Luckily I yelped this gem before coming so I made sure to get the Uni Toro Special and the Escolar pearls. Â The Uni Toro was an inventive, delicious, and memorable offering. Â The added richness from the quail egg was superb.
Escolar pearls were good, but didn't leave the same impression as the Uni Toro. Â My friend and I went a bit crazy with our ordering and they brought the food out so quickly that we ran out of counter space. Â
Everything else was good, though nothing made quite as much of an impression as the Uni Toro. Â I'm partial to uni, so I appreciated the plethora of uni choices. Â
Next time, I'll make sure to be on time, and I'll try the omakase.
Almost forgot to mention BYOB!!! Â So bring it. Â Don't forget it in the car like we did.
I came here last month with the boy. We were celebrating Christmas early since we were going to be separated by the ocean during the holidays.
To treat ourselves, we headed to Kai Zan! I made reservations for a Tuesday night dinner. When we arrived, I knew it was going to be a small space. But dear lord, it really was TINY. I think it might be slightly larger than my garage.
We opted to get the omakase and it started off pretty slowly. We had the peppers, followed by a jalapeno popper, uni shooters, and I forgot what else. To be honest, I was quite disappointed. Perhaps I've been building up too much hype in my mind, but I thought that the offering was rather boring. I liked the shooters. Actually, I liked them a lot. But that was probably one of the few standout points of the meal. I started to really pay attention when we decided to order 2 additional dishes after we were done with the omakase just because we weren't full. Both were nice pieces of fish belly. It was served simply and it really let the fish speak for itself.
The service was alright. We came in knowing that we were going to order the omakase, but when the food came, the hostess/waitress didn't explain what we were eating. We had to flag someone down to explain what was in front of us. But other than that, the chefs were nice. I don't know which brother it was, but he kept on asking if we were enjoying ourselves.
The boy liked the overall meal more than I did. I just expected more, whether it was mixing up textures or serving it in a different way. It felt like everything was either wrapped in escolar, an escolar roll, a slice of escolar belly, etc. Sweet Jesus, what happened to other fish?!
Sorry, just not enough innovation for me.
The digs get an A+
The Sushi and Sashimi get somewhere between A- and B+ pending the dishes you order.
The grill items get a D.... The only thing going on there was the presentation and the nice little cabbage and ginger dressing garnish on the side. Â I wasn't tasting any soul in these dishes at all!!!
The service can range between an A and a C- depending on the night... Â Needs improvement to be more consistent to its potential. Â They also badly need a coat rack or coat check there!!!!! Â Unless you like sitting on your coat the whole meal.....
The details:
This is a really fun cozy place with cool atmosphere and a cool crowd.
The sushi quality is really nice, but watch out for very pricy specials that are good but can really multiply the total in your bill.
Regardless, most of the sushi is quite delicious. Â On the other hand, I have tried several of the small portion grill items, and I have yet to find any that have any real taste. Â
Also, watch out for the oyster shooters. Â It is not a fusion dish, but it was a totally confused over the top disaster that just had too much going on and could not pull together the flavors in any delicate or balanced way.
Stick to the sushi there and you will fine. Â The Gomae was also quite tasty and among the best in the city. Â Get that too....
Service needs to be more consistent. Â I loved the restaurant, when the servers kept my drinks filled plentiful the first time and even helped pour our beers. Â That was great, but.... Â The next time, drink refill requests were forgotten, the server never poured or refilled any of our BYO beer, servers did not appear for long extended time periods to continue the ordering process (costing the restaurant revenue loss as well), and somehow the whole great service experience I had the first time was totally lost in visit 2. Â I also tried to cancel a reservation for visit 3 recenty, and the phone was busy or nobody would answer all afternoon.
In summary: One of the best sushi options in Chicago, but the reservation process is a bit of a disaster
Things we've tried: Maguro and Escolar pearls. Orange rush. Flaming tuna. Green Monster. Fresh, unique and made with attention to detail. Everything was delicious.
Reservation system: It's been a bit of a logistical nightmare; twice now. First time we were told that they had a table for us, but to our surprise we had to wait an extra hour for it. The second time, we were promptly provided with our table but were given a time limit of how long we can keep it (about 60 minutes). Not a fan of that policy. Perhaps adding a delivery service would be a way to make up for the lack of seating.
In conclusion: Completely worth the visit despite the limited seating and reservation quirks. The quality of the food is top notch.
Had a bangin' dinner here with my boyfriend and our friend from out of town, who is actually a chef that has trained and worked in Japan for much of his career. Â Loved the space, and we felt really welcome. Â Ordered the Magura Rice Ball guys and LOVED them. Â Flaming Tuna was a delicious, fresh, and lightly crunchy maki that I definitely recommend. Â Service was great and since it is BYO, we left our remaining beers for the chefs on the line. Â The only thing I didn't love was that we ordered one maki that had truffle oil on it, which wasn't in the description, and I have an aversion to truffle. Â It's just my personal opinion that such an ingredient should be included on the menu. Â Everything else was so great, I'm definitely coming back and recommending Kai Zan to my friends.
Review Source:4.5 stars
I have long awaited my visit to Kai Zan! Attempt #1 was foiled by lack of reservations. Lesson learned! Tiny restaurant good for sizes of 2. Also BYOB as well with small corkage fee. Seriously, amazing sushi and BYOB are my two favorite combinations.
The tasting menu was legit. This place is the fancy sushi dressed up with creative truffled fireworks. But the simpler seared sashimis were buttery and phenomenal themselves. Beautiful presentation, but slightly rushed service.
The tasting menu was so much fun since you get to try SO many different pieces of sushi and they include a lot of the specials. My favorites from the tasting menu were the salmon wrapped tuna and escolar with truffle oil, seared salmon sashimi, and the fatty yellowtail. The sashimi was so buttery and creamy--- it just melted in your mouth in a sushi explosion.
My least favorite was the wasabi tako (octopus)-- To be fair, I do despise tako because it's often a filler on sashimi platters, but I gave it a chance. Way too much wasabi! It'll clear your sinuses unpleasantly. I also wasn't a fan of the shooter in the beginning-- very vinegary.
Overall, a new sushi favorite in Chicago!
First time? Omakase tasting menu is the way to go. And If your worried about reservations, go during the week so you can skip a long wait or crampy crowd.
As I walked in our server immediately addressed the beer we brought and put the six pack on ice and cracked our bomber of barley wine. I appreciate that kind of attentiveness, sometimes your beverages get ignored at BYOB spots. So THANK YOU!
The Omakase menu is the chef's creation, which is a solid way to explore the menu and even some off menu items. Some highlights were the Escolar and Maguro Pearls, Oyster and Uni Shooters (raw quail egg in oyster shooter, OH YEAH!), Dynamite Mussels, Smoked Oyster wrapped in salmon, Octopus Salad, and countless and flawless pieces beautiful sushi with more components than I can ever remember. There vanilla ice cream and mango pudding were delicious as well.
Kai Zan provides incredibly fresh, clean, and beautifully crafted food. The portions, progression, and value of the Omakase menu are perfect. This is perhaps one of the best sushi restaurants I've ever had the pleasure of visiting.
Some final quick tips: Nevada's across the street has a great beer selection for your last minute BYOB needs, plenty of FREE parking can be found on Chicago, and biggest tip is to GET YOUR BOOTY IN HERE IMMEDIATELY!!!
I had an inauspicious start here - called on three separate days to make a reservation, but no one answered during business hours. Â Decided to risk it and showed up 5pm Sat, but of course they were completely booked (they said their phone was broken.....whatever). Â Ended up making a reservation for Sunday
Two of us ordered the omakase and I chose to a la carte it. Â
The most memorable:
Angry Crab ($8) - spicy tongarashi crab wrapped in tuna
Escolar Pearls ($8),
Uni and Otoro Special - uni, otoro, quail egg, watercress and other delicious seasonings over a bed of rice with nori on the side to make small handrolls.
The snapper and steelhead trout were also quite good in both the nigiri and sashimi forms.
Things to pass on -
Kushi Lava Rock Charbroil - beef, scallop, enoki in bacon ($4 - all quite bland)
I didn't try the teppan yaki part of the menu (e.g. yakisoba or teriyaki) but their hot foods were below average for me...sorry!
BYOB $5 corkage
The mango pudding with whipped cream ($4) is made in house and was a wonderful end to the meal. Â
For first timers, get the omakase! Â For this price (~$50 ea), this has got to be hands-down, one of the best places in the city.
I made reservations for the fella's birthday back at the end of November. I've been dying to return ever since.
We opted for the omakase. Our server asked if there was anything that we'd like them to stay away from. I mentioned my hatred of cilantro (devil lettuce) and she said she'd inform the chefs, but other than that, chef's choice. She assured me that the fan favorites that I heard so much about would be a part of the menu. I was specifically looking for the escolar pearls. Man, those were amazing. As was everything else. We were so impressed that after we reached our $50 worth, we opted for one last course, even though we were stuffed.
The service was pretty spot on. We were seated immediately. Courses were evenly timed. Each course was described in detail. One of the chefs came by and chatted us up for a bit. Overall our experience was lovely AND my fella thinks I'm awesome!
I received a book on the art of sushi making for Christmas. Now I have an excuse to return sooner than later. I am going to sit at the sushi bar so that I can watch the masters in action. I'm also going to bring  "kitchen beers", because dammit, these dudes deserve it.
This is my new sushi spot for someone special or folks visiting Chicago. Why?
Edibles
- Oyster shooters
- Seabass carpacio
- Salmon wrapped scallops aka Orange Rush
- Great sushi rolls
Non-edibles
- $5 bottle poppin' fee
- Easy street parking
Done and done. Make reservations. Get after it.
You hear that squeaking? It's the wheels on this hype wagon that's got me going along for the ride! I have a feeling that Kai Zan is entering THAT level of culinary hype status for snazzified sushi. Â
OMAKASE!!!
Beautiful, light, tastefully prepared course by course. I can't think of anything else better than relinquishing your meal to the pros. For those looking for an adventure, it was an epic multicourse from uni, escolar pearls, mussels, scallops, an assortment of maritime goodies... I'll let the pictures speak for itself as everything was wonderfully drowned in flavors and garnishes. However, the pickled wasabi was a little too much for me to handle... Â a little does go a long way. I wasn't a big fan of the bacon-wrapped enoki or the fried popper. My mussel was gritty. After we reached our $50 level, we had been asked if we wanted to proceed. After trying one more, we ended the meal with the mango mousse. I LOVE mango and you know they used the real stuff... slightly stringy, oh-so-creamy.
Every dish came out with an intro from our servers, an emphasis on the thoughtfulness behind each creation. Dinner was a super intimate experience, I'm not sure how they'd be able to accommodate groups larger than 4. I almost feel your chances of nabbing seats prove increasingly difficult if you're bringing more than one other person. For the variety and value, I would say the omakase's your best bet. After having the roller coaster tour of all things Kai Zan, I shall be back with an appetite, BYOB, and friends (hopefully in one of the only two larger tables in the place)!
LOVE this place! Â It's small and so make reservations ahead of time, not great for large groups but a perfect date spot!
DEF recommend the Omisake chef's multi-course option, everything was amazing! Â My favorites: Â Escolar Pearls (I could eat five dishes of these!), Zuke & Creamy Roll! Â I'd pass on the fried stuff, just meh. Â Was so full after the meal, a great deal!
Try to get a seat at the sushi bar, it's so fun talking to Melvin and Carlos, they're great!
I too am reluctant to write this review, but this is the restaurant that made me finally write a review.
My wife and I went here for my Birthday. We sat at the bar and ordered the Omikase. Everything was fantastic. Each course was better than the last and I'm usually wary of inventive sushi as it brings to mind the "kitchen sink rolls" served all over, but everything was so balanced and delicious. The fish was fresh and took a front seat. The chefs/owners and the staff were very attentive and seemed to really enjoy being there and watching us swoon with every bite.
I would love to eat here every week if I could afford it (I'm back in school). Although it is very reasonably priced considering the quality, and the byob makes affordable for those increasingly rarer nights out.
I had the chef's choice. It was pleasing but not like blew your mind.
Maybe I am just spoiled by all the great Japanese restaurants in NYC.
Definitely try the uni shooter! And oyster shooter. You won't easily find these at another place in Chicago.
Sushi is good and fresh, and the "famous" Escolar pearls is worth a try.
The biggest thing is always remember to make reservation at least two days ahead of time according to the waitress. Or if you go there early, like 5 pm, you may find spots at the bar.
The waitresses are not very helpful. You may want to do a little homework before you go.
When I thought that I've had the best that Melvin and Carlo had to offer, they continue to push their culinary boundaries and offer mind blowing plates of creative flavors that keep me coming back. Â My best sushi experience were from these guys and they have managed to top themselves once again.
At their new establishment Kai Zan it feels like they now have full creative control and are now doing things their way.
Of course with these guys, I order Omikase (chef's choice).
Some of the notable dishes:
Salmon Belly - my personal favorite when they were at Kyoto and it's even better here! Â If you like salmon than this is a must.
Uni Shooter
Uni Special - when mixed with rice, it's like butter
octopus salad - great hit of wasabi heat
DIY Uni hand rolls
This place has great sushi but it was completely misleading.
My boyfriend and I came in with no reservation (which I recommend making in advance since there are 5 booths and the sushi bar) we were told there was a reservation coming in so we had 45 min to eat which was completely fine with us.
We had ordered miso soup which was great! the special, steal head trout which could of been better and we also ordered the shrimp and cucumber roll which had 8 pieces in it and another $8 roll (only had 2 pieces). We were very confused about the portion sizes since the server never specified. After our measly dinner, we were both completely unsatisfied, we had gone home and made more food. Â
Overall this place is nicely decorated and the concepts are well thought out but I will not be returning to Kai Zan.
There are very few things in the world I love more than seafood.
(I am allowed to say that; I don't have children. My pets don't count, I cannot eat them. Yet. OK: The husband has a place up there as well.)
Hearing glowing review after glowing review of Kai Zan left me filled with envy, anticipation and the very distinctive mouth tingling accompanied by the slightest surge of saliva that occurs when you think of something you really, really, really want to eat.
I am sure you know what I mean.
Well, ladies and gents, Kai Zan didn't disappoint on any account.
I knew it was BYOB; I brought a lovely bottle of Pouilly Fuissé (one of my French faves; a Burgundy Chardonnay in translation) that pairs perfectly well with fish and holds up to the stong-profiled flavors of soy sauce.
I knew it was small; my friend made a reservation for 6 pm. We were sitting at the counter; it was roomy, comfortable and manned by the very efficient Michelle who did an excellent job all throughout.
But yes, it is SMALL. Think of it, and divide the size by two. That small.
I knew it was delicious. And my, oh my....
Specials are always a safe bet in a restaurant; they highlight the best of what's available that day. Kai Zan is no exception. So be attentive when the waiting staff explains them to you at the beginning of your meal, 'cause you don't want to miss, for example, a plump kumamoto oyster served as a shot with a raw quail egg, scallions and ponzu sauce. Or the uni and toro tartar concoction that you spread yourself on nori if you can resist eating the whole thing with a spoon (provided. You don't have to bring your own.)
These two dishes blew up my mind, as well as my taste buds. Rich, flavorful, complex but also subdued in a way that let each ingredient shine while combining superbly with each other.
A rare experience.
Another great surprise was the bite-size kushi skewers; the shitake-ponzu one should illustrate "umami" in a dictionary. The best $3 spent on food in your life. It totally beat the crap of the scallop-onion one, and God knows I love scallops.
Fact: Mushroom are definitely magic, with or without hallucinatory proprieties.
You will also find more traditional sushi and sashimi, a few rolls and a couple of cooked dishes such as yaki, noodles and cooked protein for the non-raw eaters. But if you come here, you should really stick to the creatures of the sea because it's what they do.
And they do it pretty damn fucking well.
And yes, it totally requires the emphatic swearing.
I've been here a couple times and love 99% of Melvin's and Carlo's creations!
I highly recommend the omakase menu for those with hearty appetites (10 or so small courses for $50/pp). Â You will be really full but not uncomfortably stuffed, and if you are, you are no fun! Â
My recommendations (a la carte, or if you can ask them to incorporate these into the omakase - not sure if they will allow it?):
- Escolar pearls (nigiri - super white tuna with truffle!)
- Orange crush (seared salmon and scallop)
- Creamy roll (unagi & shrimp tempura wrapped in avocado instead of nori seaweed)
- Hamachi collar (seared fish with lemon juice)
- Unagi popper (jalapeno, unagi, and cream cheese - deep fried!)
I do NOT recommend: ahi tuna flatbread, chawanmushi, or the katsu rolls
Suggestion #1: Come here if you enjoy sushi at other restaurants already but are willing to try slightly more refined Japanese cuisine - both traditional and creative.
Suggestion #2: Do not sit down and pour soy sauce right away because you will not need it. Â Use the appropriate sauces that come with the dish because the food here is already so flavorful.
Suggestion #3: Make reservations to be on the safe side because this restaurant only seats around 20 people. Â Also, large parties would not fair well here. Â Come here as a couple or in a group of 4 max.
Suggestion #4: BYOB!
Reservations recommended, very limited seating!
Well, well, well. Lookie here at little Kai Zan making some big waves in Humboldt Park. Fresh and inventive sushi has arrived, my dears. And, you should go get you some. Rawwwwwwwsome.
We arrived around 630pm with a group of 4 on a Tuesday, and it would be good to note that they only have two tables that seat more than a 2-top, so as mentioned...make a reservation. This isn't a great spot for a big group. Even as is, the space is fairly tight. Better for a date spot. We were allowed to snag one of those bigger tables, but it was reserved starting at 8pm, so we had to hustle just a bit. Luckily all the food came out expediently!
We started with a round of specials, some oyster shooters, seabass carpacio, among others. Everything was delicious. We ordered some special rolls (take care here, some only come with 2 pieces) as well as some standards: rainbow, california, spicy tuna, et al. Again, all exceeded expectations.
Our service was wonderful from start to finish. Never felt rushed despite the timeline. All dishes and specialities explained with just the right amount of excitement. Wine opened, glasses distributed, smiles given.
*BYOB with $5 corkage fee per bottle.
*Some of the best sushi I've had in a very long time!
*Street parking fairly easy (and non-permit)
Fantastic, off the beaten path date spot that will impress your miss or mister with the quality, location and uniqueness. It's super indie, but just posh enough to be special. The food will knock your socks off, you can bring your own bottle of wine to impress...what's not to love?
*Also, if you are waiting for a table...pop into Komodo or Squasht for some local shopping!
Total bill for 4 was just over $115 (without tip), and we were stuffed and sated. A better value than anticipated.
Now, take that someone special. You'll thank me, I promise!
There's not a lot to be added to the already huge list of glowing reviews for Kai Zan.
The experience was fantastic, the price was very reasonable and the fish was amazing!
Sign of a good restaurant...people making reservations to come back before they finish their dinner!
If you haven't already been, go there immediately but don't forget a reservation!
Oh hai!!!! Welcome to the neighborhood, Kai Zan. How I love you so very much!!!! I noticed that there's a new restaurant opened up next to Komoda but I wasn't very sure what type of restaurant it is. One day, after doing some work from Star Lounge, my boyfriend and i tried to come in for dinner. Sadly, it was about an hour of a wait and we can't wait that long :( so, the next day, i called in to make a reservations and 7pm right on time, when we walked in. we were seated at the booth, cool waters and hot towels were ready for us :)
Our server.... Shame on me for not remembering his name was super nice and friendly. He introduced himself and asked if this is the first time we were there and showed us the yummiest items on the menu. And so, we had the Escolar Pearl, which is AMAZINGLY YUMMY!!!! It's a must try!!! The chicken karaage was also very delicious. We tried a few of the Omakase which also very very good and fresh. We had the green monster roll and the Angry Crab. Yum!!! Everything was very delicious. We tried the skewers but weren't very impressed by it, but that didin't ruined it at all. I am just happy to know that there's delicious sushi spot a block away from where I live.
All the servers are very attentive and friendly. The place is too adorable. It's really small but very cozy and lovely. You can't come in a big group because on how small the place is and make sure you call in ahead of time for a reservation. I love everything about this place and definitely will be back sooner than later :)
I'm celebrating my ROTD with an updated review! I've since been back a couple more times to try their omakase. Check out my titillating photos, courtesy of my favorite eating-partner-in-crime. (Forgive me that I didn't quite catch all the names of the dishes as I was too busy stuffing my face).
Faves:
- Uni Toro DIY hand roll
- Yellowtail Sashimi with Kai Zan sauce
- Orange Crush (Scallop wrapped in Seared Salmon)
- Escolar Pearls
- Toro!!!
Passes:
- Flatbread
Of the 20+ dishes I've tried here, I'd only pass on one of them. C'mon, that's pretty good odds. But I'll be honest. This isn't necessarily the best Japanese food I've ever had. The prices are lower here for a reason. Â You probably won't get the quality here that you get at Arami. You're also not paying what you pay at Arami. But what they do at Kai Zan, they do really, really nicely. This a gem of a Japanese place and a fine addition to this otherwise quiet neighborhood. Now to decide whether to share this place with my friends or keep it all to myself...
The 5 best restaurants in the 2015 Denver Restaurant Week
3,611 Views | Category: Denver
The complete list of 2015 Denver Restaurant Week businesses
1,972 Views | Category: Denver
The tourists' guide to Portillos: 5 must have dishes
3,318 Views | Category: Chicago
Pho = Pronounced "fuh" not "foe" for pho-king sake
2,915 Views | Category: Denver
Indulgery selected to exhibit at Collision Conference
2,987 Views | Category: Press Releases
Not Logged In
BUSINESSES
Local Businesses
Near Me
My Favorites
SOCIAL
Blog & News
MY ACCOUNT
Login
Register
Contact Us
Add Your Business
