Roka Akor - Chicago

This was our 1st time at Roka Akor & we celebrated my birthday here. The food was all very delicious. The meat was cooked to perfection with so much flavor. All the sides were great and the deserts were phenomenal! Customer service was great and everyone was very friendly. We will DEFINITELY be coming back in the near future. Thank you Roka for the awesome birthday experience.

Visited 5 months ago

Been to Roka Akor three times now and each time is just as wonderful as the time before. It’s a great place to bring a group of people or a romantic date. There’s something for everyone, the quality of the fish and meat is very high.

Visited 5 months ago

Spectacular Omakase experience at Roka. Definitely worth the splurge if you’re looking for experience dining.

Our five course meal contained plenty of raw fish, cooked fish, meats, veggies and a dessert platter. Not a single item was a miss and we all left stuffed. Loved the variety of courses compared to a more traditional omakase. Don’t sleep on the dessert finale…I’m not a dessert fella but it was probably my favorite part.

Great service and a nice ambiance. Tables aren’t too close and the restaurant is lively, without being too loud. Loved sitting near the open kitchen.

Visited 7 months ago

I absolutely loved it! Food and drinks were amazing. My favorite drink was the Lychee martini. We also had dessert and it was so good!

Visited 5 months ago

Food was ABSOLUTELY amazing. All the ingredients were fresh, flavors were great, and the sauces all brought out or enhanced the flavor of the ingredients. My absolute only gripe would be the rice. It was very consistently undercooked (the rolls were fine though? Idek how that works), so get the sashimi option over the nigiri option.

I would actively recommend against the wagyu. If it’s your absolute first time trying wagyu, sure, but if not, it’s not too special. There are better options of wagyu at much more reasonable price points elsewhere.

Also, I would recommend against if you’re looking for a fine dining EXPERIENCE. The atmosphere was very rowdy and some details of the place were off. The food is amazing though, so go for the food.

Visited 9 months ago

Just tried the omakase there last night, it was one of the best meals I’ve ever had! Everything was SO FRESH and delicious. The sashimi was melt in your mouth. Not fishy at all. The rest of the food was AMAZING. I left feeling so satisfied and full and happy. The service was great, the staff was very attentive. Will definitely go here again.

Visited 9 months ago

We cane here by chance when the neighboring restaurants were full and it was truly a happy accident. This was easily the best restaurant we went to during our weekend in Chicago. The drinks, food, and service were top notch, we ate outside so I can’t say much about the atmosphere but it seemed nice!
We were a bigger group and they were very accommodating. We tried so many thing so I’ll just call out the favorites:
The skirt steak was some of the best i’d ever had, it just melted in your mouth. The sweet corn was such a fun and delicious side dish, though be prepared to get a little messy (they do provide wet towels though!), the seared salmon roll was great, and everyone raved about the mushrooms.
Every dish was delicious, not one disappointment. It is on the pricey side but honestly I would have paid even more for some of these dishes.

Visited a year ago

The omakase signature was awesome - it’s a five course meal. Service was amazing, the food was perfect and vibes were good. Amazing spot - been here three times and it’s consistent.

Visited 6 months ago

:To the Roka Akor Team,

I want to take a moment to express how much I truly enjoy the experience at Roka Akor. From the moment I walk in, the familiar faces and warm greetings make it feel like home. There’s something special about the atmosphere you’ve created, and it’s a big part of why I keep coming back.

Years ago, Elaine Ramirez introduced me to Roka Akor, bringing me over from another restaurant she worked at. Since that day, the bar has been my favorite spot, not just for the incredible food and drinks but for the conversations and connection I get to share with Elaine.

Elaine has always gone above and beyond to make every visit memorable. She greets my partner and me with a huge smile and a warm hug every time we come in. While I usually stick to my go-to rum and Coke, her talent for crafting unique cocktails has convinced me to leave the choice in her hands. Her creativity knows no bounds, and every drink she makes feels like an adventure.

When it comes to food, Elaine always takes the initiative to order for me, knowing I love to try new things. Her recommendations are always spot-on, and I truly appreciate her camaraderie and thoughtfulness. She makes it hard to leave—and even harder to resist indulging a little more than planned!

I also want to thank the entire Roka Akor staff for consistently making me feel so welcome. Being invited to your VIP drinks and appetizer events each year is such a thoughtful gesture, and I’m honored to be included. Receiving texts every few weeks to join Elaine at the bar is just another example of how much you care about your guests.

Elaine, you are simply the best, and I will always follow you wherever your journey takes you. Thank you for making every visit unforgettable and for being such a big part of what makes Roka Akor special.

Thanks
Dan Dantuma

Visited 4 months ago

Where can I get started, the second we walked in the server led us to our table, introduced himself, and explained us the menu. Our server who's name I believe was Paulo was very generous and explained everything in detail. I ordered the Kobe beef, which I will be honest was pricy for what is was worth, I would say the value would be around 100-120. It was an absolutely amazing steak, I just don't believe any steak is truly worth more than 60 dollars. If you are trying it for the first time, I 100 percent recommend it. The sashimi was absolutely spectacular and exceeded all expectations. The atmosphere is very elegant and the lighting matches the vibe perfectly. If you are looking for a rather upscale Chicago Japanese style steakhouse, I 100 thousand percent recommend Roka Akor.

Visited 5 months ago

Been to Roka Akor three times now and each time is just as wonderful as the time before. It’s a great place to bring a group of people or a romantic date. There’s something for everyone, the quality of the fish and meat is very high.

Visited 5 months ago

I absolutely loved it! Food and drinks were amazing. My favorite drink was the Lychee martini. We also had dessert and it was so good!

Visited 5 months ago

This was our 1st time at Roka Akor & we celebrated my birthday here. The food was all very delicious. The meat was cooked to perfection with so much flavor. All the sides were great and the deserts were phenomenal! Customer service was great and everyone was very friendly. We will DEFINITELY be coming back in the near future. Thank you Roka for the awesome birthday experience.

Visited 5 months ago

We had high expectations for Roka Akor Chicago during our Christmas Eve dinner, but unfortunately, the experience was disappointing due to dishonesty about the food they served.

Our evening started well, with attentive service and prompt order-taking by our server. However, the positives ended there. We waited nearly 50 minutes for our main courses, which was frustrating but somewhat understandable given the holiday rush and the fact that all eight of us ordered steaks. During the wait, the staff provided some appetizers as a courtesy, which was appreciated.

When the steaks finally arrived, things went downhill. All of our steaks were overly seasoned and salty. Two of our orders—prime ribeye and filet—were particularly concerning. The prime ribeye had a significant amount of tendons and was tough to chew. We asked the server to confirm with the kitchen, only to find out they had run out of ribeye and substituted it with a random cut of meat without informing us. This lack of transparency felt deceitful and unacceptable.

As for the prime filet, we ordered four, and while three were fine, one had a completely off texture, almost resembling synthetic meat. When we brought this to the attention of our server and the manager, they brushed it off and offered complimentary dessert as compensation, which didn’t address the underlying issue.

Overall, our experience left us feeling that Roka Akor prioritizes expediency over honesty, which is especially troubling for a restaurant that markets itself as a high-quality steakhouse. Serving the wrong cut of meat without informing customers is not only unprofessional but also a breach of trust.

If you’re looking for a place that values transparency and quality, Roka Akor Chicago is not it. They should seriously reconsider their approach to customer service and integrity.

Visited 5 months ago

Great halal steak. Overall wonderful experience

Visited 5 months ago

Very tasty food

Visited 5 months ago

Jedzenie dobre, ALE:
niestety po kolacji nasza koleżanka źle się poczuła i gdy wstała od stołu krótkotrwale straciła przytomność.
Jak w takiej sytuacji reaguje personel?
Jeden kelner biegnie za tobą z rachunkiem (ekspresowo podliczonym i wydrukowanym w 15 sekund, jakby to bylo najważniejsze na świecie w tej chwili), drugi kelner owszem, proponuje karetkę, ale gdy jej nie potrzebujesz, to zaleca, krótko mówiąc, wypad z lokalu.
Nie jest ważne nic - to że osoba, która się źle poczuła jest w towarzystwie lekarzy, że nie wymaga karetki, odzyskała przytomność i że już chcemy wyjść, tylko chcemy, by bezpiecznie poczekała minutę nie wstając, aż weźmiemy swoje rzeczy, ubierzemy kurtki i bedziemy mogli ją wyprowadzić, bo nadal czuje się słabo.
Nie. Kelner już stoi nad Tobą i mówi Ci, że to nie jest ok. Że ma wyjść. Nie zaproponuje też żadnego siedzenia/kanapy, by mogła moment poczekać i nie upaść. Nie ma innych możliwości.
W takiej sytuacji już nie jesteś ich klientem i najwyraźniej psujesz atmosferę beztroskiego wydawania kasy. Jeśli uregulowałeś swój rachunek to obsługa upewni sie, że szybko opuścisz lokal.

W Chicago nie brakuje miejsc, gdzie dostaniesz dobre jedzenie, ale najwyraźniej nie w każdym z nich zostaniesz potraktowany godnie.
To jak restauracja potraktowała swoją klientkę, która sie słabo poczuła jest poniżej wszelkiej krytyki.

Visited 5 months ago

Visited 6 months ago

Visited 6 months ago

Service food and atmosphere were amazing! David was a phenomenal server who gave great advice on food and adult beverages. Everything we ate was absolutely delicious! We had the ribeye, the himachi roll, the dynamite scallop, the crimini mushrooms, and saki! All were delicious! Thank you David for an amazing experience!

Visited 6 months ago

David was an excellent server. We appreciate his attentiveness and conversation. The food was beyond our expectations. Thanks for a great night.

Visited 6 months ago

Visited 6 months ago

Visited 6 months ago

The waitress was extremely busy, we only saw her in the beginning and when she dropped the check. One of the apps didn’t come but we couldn’t let her know because she never stopped to asked or checked on us. Didn’t explain the menu much but kept suggesting we should get 2 of every app which we did. And then one thing we all didn’t like they wanted us out of there so fast, our total was 923$ so we didn’t expected to be rushed to the point that they started to wipe the tables while we were sitting there. All in all good was really great but service was not at all pleasant.

Visited 6 months ago

Visited 6 months ago

Melhor Japonês em Chicago ! Ambiente moderno, música boa e comida excelente ! Fui atendida pelo Gary que me ajudou a escolher o melhor menu e melhor harmonização de vinho !!!! Jantar maravilhoso. Não deixe de ir

Visited 6 months ago

The omakase signature was awesome - it’s a five course meal. Service was amazing, the food was perfect and vibes were good. Amazing spot - been here three times and it’s consistent.

Visited 6 months ago

Visited 6 months ago

What a place! Every bite here was absolutely top-notch. We started off with the beef and escolar takaki alongside the toro tartare, and it was a beautiful marriage of flavor and texture. So much so that we ended up going for the A5 Japanese waygu steak, which would be my first exposure to the coveted cut!

It was medium-rare (I might have called it rare personally) but very lightly seasoned, which allowed the quality of the meat to shine through. Once you’ve experienced and appreciated it, then you can start making it your own with a nice selection of 3 salts and a ginger ponzu to cut through the richness.

I was scared since I’ve heard so many people describe the cut as meat butter, but in my opinion, it just tasted and felt like the best beef on the planet. It still had that beefiness and melt-in-your-mouth aspect, but the richness comes through in a way I didn’t expect.

The rest of the table ordered other cuts of American waygu steaks, and they were cooked and seasoned to perfection. They also melted in your mouth but in a more full and hearty way you’d expect from a top-class steak. Absolutely no notes you can’t go wrong ordering any cut of beef from this place.

The recommended scallop and snow crab roll was once again perfectly crafted. With their open kitchen, you can see all of the chefs at work, and they are locked in. It clearly is reflected in each dish and added to the exciting atmosphere of the night.

Roka Akor is one of those restaurants where I would trust any dish they put on the menu. I’m excited to go back and place my meal in the chefs’s hands and order one of their omakases!

Visited 6 months ago

The food was delicious. The cocktails were awful. Maybe it was an off night for the bartender. All the drinks were watered down. The Chilean sea bass was delicious, so was the lobster roll maki. All the appetizers were great (especially the eggplant). If you’re going for the meal, I would recommend. Don’t waste your money on any of the cocktails, stick to wine.

Visited 6 months ago

Visited 6 months ago

Wonderful.

Visited 7 months ago

We had a halal steak, and it was out of this world. Everything else was good

Visited 7 months ago

Visited 7 months ago

This place just DOUBLE CHARGED US for the $200 meal we had two months ago in August. We called them and they are currently "investigating" the issue. We paid with debit at the time without issue.

I don't know what's going on but receiving a charge for a meal that was already paid for two months ago is extremely suspicious. Don't go here if you don't want it to happen to you.

Visited 7 months ago

Visited 7 months ago

Great atmosphere and service. The food was OK. The rolls were decent.

Visited 7 months ago

Visited 7 months ago

Had a great dinner here and everything was delicious. Dessert is my favorite part every time I stop by and I always order the Ube!

Visited 7 months ago

We had a best time!

Visited 7 months ago

Visited 7 months ago

My server Lupe was AMAZING. If he is ever your server give him a huge tip ! Very kind very patient VERY helpful. Not to mention EVERYTHING I ate was amazing ✨😩😋

Visited 7 months ago

Delicious black cod and sushi as a starter. Well done guys!

Visited 7 months ago

Visited 7 months ago

Awesome as always. Moving from city to suburbs and made this our farewell omakase, not disappointed. Thanks

Visited 7 months ago

Spectacular Omakase experience at Roka. Definitely worth the splurge if you’re looking for experience dining.

Our five course meal contained plenty of raw fish, cooked fish, meats, veggies and a dessert platter. Not a single item was a miss and we all left stuffed. Loved the variety of courses compared to a more traditional omakase. Don’t sleep on the dessert finale…I’m not a dessert fella but it was probably my favorite part.

Great service and a nice ambiance. Tables aren’t too close and the restaurant is lively, without being too loud. Loved sitting near the open kitchen.

Visited 7 months ago

I always eat at the bar. Bartenders are stellar. Scallop roll is my all time favorite dish. I could have 3 of those with the cheesecake dessert and have a perfect evening.

Visited 7 months ago

Tremendous experience of flavors and sights! Absolute laser focuses attention to details ... sushi had perfect size and flavor. The uni was the best of any I have had worldwide. The Macha cheesecake is a jewel that might be missed if you don't think sushi restaurants can make memorable desserts.

Visited 7 months ago

Sleek and casually modern spot with tasty shareables. The black cod and Korean lamb chops were recommended to us and definitely must haves. Impressive Japanese whisky and scotch menu as well.

Visited 7 months ago

Visited 8 months ago

Visited 8 months ago

Visited 8 months ago

The omakase was delightful. Wide variety of flavors and experiences and really good value. Works for pre theatre dinner. Thanks @william for the wonderful service.

Visited 8 months ago

Amazing!! Must visit this place if you like atmosphere, vibes, delicious food and extraordinary service!! I believe the manager and maybe the owner took great care of me and my dietary needs ( I was craving a specific dessert taste ). I highly recommend the Ube Pot de Crème and BAYYBBYYY it was scrumptious!! Pallets cleaning and oddly it pleasantly light , hitting all the right flavor notes.

What made our experience even more memorable was the service which was so benevolent considering we wondered in 20 mins before closing . Thank you to the kind staff who were so gracious to my husband and I .

Visited 8 months ago

Wir waren letztes Jahr schon hier und fanden das Lokal, abgesehen vom Lärm, sehr gut. Also besuchte ich dieses Jahr das Lokal noch 2 mal während meinem Aufenthalt in Chicago.

Am ersten Abend hatten wir das Omakase Menü. Nur zu empfehlen. Sehr gute Leistung aus der Küche und das ganze zu einem sehr guten Preis-Leistungs-Verhältnis.

Am zweiten Abend konzentrierten wir uns mehr auf die Sushi Kreationen. Die waren hervorragend. Und auch geschmacklich top. Einzig das Sashimi wir zu kalt serviert. Schade für den Geschmack des Fisches. Aber Achtung: die vielen kleinen feinen Sachen können ganz schnell sehr teuer werden. Am Schluss war dieser Abend um einiges teurer als der mit dem Menü. Aber es hat sich gelohnt.

Der Service war an beiden Abenden sehr gut und machte einen guten Job. Vom Lärm her hat sich nicht viel geändert und so wird es sehr laut wenn das Restaurant etwas voller ist.

Was überhaupt nicht geht ist diese zusätzliche Gebühr welche auf der Rechnung aufgeführt wird. Darum einen stern Abzug. Liebe Touristen: ihr könnt diese Gebühr jederzeit ohne schlechtes gewissen runter streichen lassen. Ihr müsst diese nicht bezahlen. In gewissen Staaten, z.b. CA, sind solche Gebühren inzwischen sogar verboten worden. Man kann jederzeit die Preise erhöhen und macht sie so gleich zu Beginn für den Gast ersichtlich. Aber am Schluss nochmals einfach ein paar Prozent aufschlagen geht gar nicht. Ich lasse diese Gebühr immer und überall runter streichen.

Visited 8 months ago

Absolutely astounding!!
The food was unbelievable!
Steak Tartare was beyond expectation.
We started at the bar and proceeded to a table, our server, Eric, was welcoming and prompt. We did not wait for anything and he was very helpful with our allergy constraints. We will rave about this establishment!!!

Visited 8 months ago

Great service

Visited 8 months ago

Well-preserved and prepared sushi

Visited 8 months ago

Visited 8 months ago

Delicious food and Liz was lovely!

Visited 8 months ago

Visited 9 months ago

4.75/5. Food was great just took a little longer than we would have liked. Everything pictured was great. Ube (obviously not pictured was amazing! Would highly recommend for dessert)

Visited 9 months ago

Great Japanese

Visited 9 months ago

Had an early dinner before a play. Food and service were great.

Visited 9 months ago

Some of the best sushi I have had in my life - and that is saying something. The service, food, and ambiance is 10/10. I wouldn't hesitate to eat here two nights in a row.

Visited 9 months ago

This spot was off the hook! So great when you get a well prepared server who knows the intricacies of the menu. Thanks for the guidance Alea! The crispy rice tuna roll, Waygu dumplings with kimchi, all of the apps were so good with the in house sauces! I had the black cod which was so awesome and the truffle hot rice with mushrooms. If you’re a Japanese steak house and sushi fan and visiting town this place is a must do. Family owned. Family run!

Visited 9 months ago

One of the locals' favorite sushi places serves different dishes. An elegant dining with a cozy bar. The food is delicious, and the staff are all friendly.

Visited 9 months ago

Just tried the omakase there last night, it was one of the best meals I’ve ever had! Everything was SO FRESH and delicious. The sashimi was melt in your mouth. Not fishy at all. The rest of the food was AMAZING. I left feeling so satisfied and full and happy. The service was great, the staff was very attentive. Will definitely go here again.

Visited 9 months ago

Highly recommend to make reservations before visiting- the place is popping on a Saturday night!

Impression on the food:

Appetizer: grilled octopus - it was extremely flavorful and the meat was tender!

Sushi roll: dynamite scollop roll- no words can describe how appetizing this roll was!

Entrees: snake river wagyu steak- it was incredible! It came with a chili sauce that was delicious. The steak was cooked medium rare and it was perfectly tender and well seasoned. Slight char on the top of the steak was just right.

Prime fillet- the steak was succulent, juicy and packed with flavor!

Dessert: warm chocolate cake- the lava cake was not sweet, the sweetness came from the candied peanuts, chocolate and caramel sauces and the ice cream all together.

The wine: we asked our waitress for wine recommendations and she gave us a Pinot noir that paired beautifully with our steak!

Great find: definitely coming back here- we were blown away! Everything was absolutely delicious and the staff was very friendly!

Visited 9 months ago

Great food, but the water tastes awful

Visited 9 months ago

Got the summer special which turned out to be not very special at all compared to the advertisement. The uni was bitter and not of good quality, some of the white fish and scallop were not very fresh, and the handroll was already falling apart by the time it hit our table. The sirloin was surprisingly good as were the eggplant tempura and broccolini. The toro tartare was pretty but lacking in flavor and seasoning.

Visited 9 months ago

This place was a huge letdown, the sushi was mediocre at best, the steak was just ok, and the side dishes were just meh. For the price, we expected better. You can honestly find better sushi and steak at chain restaurants, save your money and go somewhere else.

Visited 9 months ago

Food was ABSOLUTELY amazing. All the ingredients were fresh, flavors were great, and the sauces all brought out or enhanced the flavor of the ingredients. My absolute only gripe would be the rice. It was very consistently undercooked (the rolls were fine though? Idek how that works), so get the sashimi option over the nigiri option.

I would actively recommend against the wagyu. If it’s your absolute first time trying wagyu, sure, but if not, it’s not too special. There are better options of wagyu at much more reasonable price points elsewhere.

Also, I would recommend against if you’re looking for a fine dining EXPERIENCE. The atmosphere was very rowdy and some details of the place were off. The food is amazing though, so go for the food.

Visited 9 months ago

Visited 9 months ago

Visited 9 months ago

Sushi is ok, has tiny meat on it. But Entrees are good. Recommend lamb chop. Over priced, to get full at least $150/person.

Visited 9 months ago

I liked the atmosphere of the restaurant. Waiters were kind but the guys at the entrance are categorizing the people according to their outfit and appearance unfortunately. We’ve entered the restaurant at 5 pm as first customers and then the woman at the register showed us a table which was the smallest and unsightable in the restaurant. I felt bad because I chose them to enjoy my meal as a sushi lover and the restaurant was empty of course. I don’t have to wear makeup or excellent night dress all the time and I can not put my title on my shirt right? Of course, I had nice and clean outfit which is not showy. I said we wanna sit down by the window then she was surprised because we are not deserving to sit there 😂 maybe their manager told them that’s why they were like that but it is not nice. Besides, the portion of sushi was soo small according to the price. If you wanna enjoy with your sushi, I think you should order at least 3 porsion of sushi per person.

Visited 10 months ago

I was invited to sample the "Summer Sushi Experience" and had a wonderful time! Everything was delicious, and the presentation was top tier. Located within walking distance of both the Red & Brown lines. The dining room was bright and spacious, and there was patio seating available as well.

Visited 10 months ago

Visited 10 months ago

Great experience! Amazing food, outstanding service and nice atmosphere. A lot of vegetarian options! Every dish we got was flavorful, dynamic, and well-balanced. Dessert was fantastic as well! We got Ube Pot de Creme.
Great spot for a date night or a dinner with friends/family! Highly recommended!

Visited 10 months ago

Waitress we had was very well experienced, knew the menu, great recommendations, and was very knowledgeable. Took good care of my friends and I celebrating a birthday. Highly recommend no complainants

Visited 10 months ago

Amazing place. Halal and tasty Heads up, stick to the meats and not the fish if you want flavor!

Visited 10 months ago

Just amazing

Visited 10 months ago

Roka Akor is among my favorite sushi places. It’s classy, has a fantastic and interesting menu, great service, and a really beautiful, upscale interior environment. I’ve been here and to the Oak Brook location a dozen times and I’ve enjoyed every one of my meals. I do wish the Chicago restaurant were open for lunch, and I don’t love the restaurant junk fee, but every experience has otherwise been top-notch. Try the ube pot de crème!

Visited 10 months ago

I went here with a group of friends, and we ordered the sushi and sashimi special, which was brought out beautifully presented in a family style format. I felt comfortable with consuming raw fish because the fish was fresh as could be and presented on ice. The conversation among our group was easy, and the server was very friendly and accommodating. I would recommend this place for an adventurous group dinner with friends!

Visited 10 months ago

The decadent omakassa was really amazing! The dishes came out very quickly and all of them were packed with flavor. By the end my friends and I were stuffed

Visited 10 months ago

Visited 10 months ago

Visited 10 months ago

Visited a year ago

Honestly speaking, this is the first time I visited Roka Akor since I saw it open in 2008. About 15-20 years ago, that was the time when these fusion/contemporary/robata/sushi/steak grills start to pop up like mushrooms after a rain storm. I think after their success in London with Roka from 2004, it is natural to bring this to the US. At that time, the food here was probably considered new and high end, but now this type of chain contemporary joints are a dime for a dozen.
I am a traditionalist, so I am not really into contemporary Japanese hence I have never visited this joint even after 16 years, until today. Let's break down everything that I have tried. The wine selection is great, as expected. The thumb size sushi rolls (you cannot possibly call these maki rolls) were very underwhelming, the rice was a bit on the dry side, since the rolls were small I couldn't taste if the sushi rice had vinegar in it. There is a good amount of lobster in the lobster roll. The beef on the Wagyu Beef Roll were a little dry also, like they have been out there for a while. Normally for sushi, the beef shouldn't be hot off the grill but it also shouldn't be dry looking. If it wasn't for the quality of the beef, this would've been a tough chew. As for the shrimp tempura, this caught me by surprise, these are not the traditional shrimp sizes. These are like pop corn shrimps, 41-50 at the best. Traditional shrimp tempura should use at least jumbo 21-25. But the batter was right. The pork ribs has a Chinese style marinate, but the meat is very tender and definitely fall of the bone.
Overall, nothing impressive, I can see how this joint can be on the Michelin Guide and voted the Top 10 Sushi in the US 15-20 years ago, but not anymore.

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Celebrated my big 50 with my beautiful wife and my best-friend, my 14 year old son. The staff was welcoming from start to finish. The food was amazing, the king crab, the NY Sirlon Steak, the chicken terriyka and the chocolate lava cake knocked us off our feet. We are from NYC, so we know our food and my son and I are very pleased that my wife picked this lovely place. I didn't get the waitress name but it was an Asian female and she was just great. Definitely will go back before heading back to NYC.

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

미국에서 해석한 일식이란 어떤 맛일까 궁금하다면 가보실만 합니다. 한국의 하이엔드 오마카세 같은 건 바라지 않았기에 롤 종류와 타르타르, 미소국, 연어테리야키소스구이 등을 먹었는데 미소국은 전혀 기대하지 않았던 맛이라 별로 추천드리지 않습니다.

Visited a year ago

Most amazing culinary experiences of my life, maybe the best actually. The food is so delicious I can’t really even describe it. You will not regret eating here.

Visited a year ago

We cane here by chance when the neighboring restaurants were full and it was truly a happy accident. This was easily the best restaurant we went to during our weekend in Chicago. The drinks, food, and service were top notch, we ate outside so I can’t say much about the atmosphere but it seemed nice!
We were a bigger group and they were very accommodating. We tried so many thing so I’ll just call out the favorites:
The skirt steak was some of the best i’d ever had, it just melted in your mouth. The sweet corn was such a fun and delicious side dish, though be prepared to get a little messy (they do provide wet towels though!), the seared salmon roll was great, and everyone raved about the mushrooms.
Every dish was delicious, not one disappointment. It is on the pricey side but honestly I would have paid even more for some of these dishes.

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Good food, excellent and service and great atmosphere

Visited a year ago

It was an overall “meh” for me. Servers friendly and attentive. Food fine, but not great. Pieces small. Menu broad, but not a sushi lover’s place in my opinion.

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Great food.. Great service. Great atmosphere

Visited a year ago

Processing fee!?

Visited a year ago

Food was the right amount, very filling, deliciously made. Stakes were on point.

Visited a year ago

Aaron was our server. He was amazing and fun. Love the plating. Food just delicious

Visited a year ago

Excellent restaurant, trop bruyant à mon goût, mais personnel très sympathique et superbe cuisine: les côtelettes d’agneau étaient mémorables!

Visited a year ago

Incredible food and wine selection.
Went twice in one week.
Only downside is the noisy main seating area (for non-Americans I’d recommend the terrace or the back room, which is much quieter). Friendly staff, but not very accommodating if you need to split the bill. Given how pricy the restaurant is, I find it ridiculous

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

I started with the grilled octopus, which was cooked to perfection – tender, flavorful, and beautifully presented. We also ordered and sampled a variety of other dishes and desserts, each one more delicious than the last. The flavors were authentic, fresh, and expertly balanced.

The highlight of our evening was our server, who was absolutely perfect. He was attentive, knowledgeable, and made excellent recommendations that enhanced our meal. His warm and friendly demeanor made us feel right at home.

The atmosphere here is stylish and inviting, making it a great spot for both a casual meal and a special night out. I highly recommend this place for anyone looking to enjoy exquisite Japanese cuisine with exceptional service. The food here is to die for 🙌

Visited a year ago

Best food I’ve had in a long time. Everything was amazing. Service was excellent.

Visited a year ago

Food is ok but too overpriced. Doesn’t feel like I’m getting the quality of food given the price. Median cooked streak ends up median well. Average execution on uni. Mushroom hot pot rice is just a blend of mushroom with rice. Overall I think it’s a bit over hyped.

Visited a year ago

Amazing food, attentive service and overall great place to dine.

Visited a year ago

Had an amazing dinner at Roka Akor. The sushi was phenomenal along with the grilled wagyu. Everything was delicious.

Visited a year ago

Amazing food and drinks and ambience . Must try dishes are the grilled pork belly, grilled scallops, fatty tuna sashmi and the Macallan based cocktails.

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Six of us visiting Chicago for business, visited for dinner. Exquisite cuisine. Freshest sushi, with wonderful varieties. Lovely plate presentation.

What made it more special, was the magnificent professional service from our waitress Alea.

Such a well run restaurant does not happen by accident. Superb management & excellence in the kitchen make it. Congratulations.

Visited a year ago

I booked a reservation to celebrate my birthday. I knew it would be great but they went above and beyond! They brought out a complementary appetizer (or amuse bouche) which was delicious. I was even greeted by a birthday card when I sat down (whhaaaat??!). The meal was truly an experience and delicious. The dessert platter we shared also had a candle and everything. And then they finished off the service with a glass of complementary champagne (and it was definetly the good stuff)----our server Eric and the staff made it such a special meal.

Overall the menu has a variety of veg, steak, sushi options. I think if you wanted to be meager or selective about it, you could def keep it to $40/person but if you do the whole sharing experience and have any of their amazing cocktails, expect at least $100 per person. Was it worth it though? With the above and beyond care and the quality of the dishes, absolutely. I will definetly be back to celebrate another event!

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Not much to say other than great food, great drinks, great service, and great atmosphere.

Certainly works out to be pricey but really backs it up by being excellent.

Our best dinner in Chicago. Highly recommend going early to the bar area on Monday for happy hour. We went during an extremely busy Monday (massive conventions in town), but had no problem getting in and getting a great experience.

Visited a year ago

Amazing, sushi, sashimi, cod, and everything else was a amazing.

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Highly recommended!

Visited a year ago

Was a special occasion, and the 5 of us were ready for the whole experience. We all ordered a variety of appertisers and main dishes along with cocktails. Food was on the WoW side along with the drinks. ( Remember to order to share)
The waiter was spot on and very helpful with questions. Be ready to spend some $$ but well worth it and enjoy the experience. We were seated at a table pretty close to the chef line, so it was pretty loud for talking but not impossible.

Visited a year ago

The service is incredible, and the food is some of the best I have ever had. The only downside I had was the atmosphere, where you could not hear what the food was that was being brought out, and you could not hear each other l. The restaurant was also very warm, even in a t-shirt and shorts we were sweating.

I would still go back because the service and food were above and beyond.

Visited a year ago

We had the best time! From the front of the house to the back of the house! The food was extraordinary. The pork belly is the best I've ever had! If you like, you can sit at the counter and watch the Chef's work their magic. It's a beautiful space and the managers are super friendly and very knowledgeable. 5 stars all the way around.

Visited a year ago

really great place for date night and it has amazing food and the atmosphere is amazing. you can see the chef making the food and decorating it perfectly. Definitely recommend this place.

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

A favorite of mine

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Sensationell… Noch nie sooo gutes Fleisch gegessen. Vorspeise war ebenfalls TOP. SEHR zu empfehlen

Visited a year ago

Absolutely Amazing. I highly recommend doing the omakase. The food is well worth the price. I recently came back from Japan, and this was so authentic and mimicked the freshness and flavors of Japan. Best Japanese I have had in the United States by far.

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Where do I begin. I never write reviews. Matter of fact this is my first review I’ve ever made. I came here for my birthday along with my boyfriend and the customer service was impeccable. They gave us a small appetizer along with champagne for free. The food was amazing and the atmosphere was warm. But my favorite part of the whole experience was my waiter. Gary was wonderful. THE best waiter I’ve ever had. And I’m from nyc and I go out a lot. This gentleman was endearing, and helped us out with the menu and our selections. Not only was he wonderful to talk to, he also gave us a an extra scoop of desert, compliments from him. He’s amazing at what he does and I truly hope he does well in his future endeavors. We even got to chat with him for a bit. This experience was very personal and enjoyable. 10/10 experience when it comes to customer service. Roka Akor give this man a raise. He deserves it.

Visited a year ago

i’ve been here twice - last time we did the omakase (the pricier one 😬) and it was actually a decent amount of food and i was actually full, which rarely happens for omakase for me.

also have ordered sushi a la carte and everything was really good. tbh probably preferred ordering a la carte over the omakase just because there weren’t many sushi dishes in the omakase we got

great vibes like not too loud and they were really attentive (kept refilling water without us ever having to ask) dinner lasted 3ish hours i think for all of the courses

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

The food was exceptional and service was excellent
Highly recommended :
Crispy rice spicy tuna
Lobster tacos
Dynamite scallops rolls

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

I truly believe this is the best calamari I’ve EVER had!

Visited a year ago

Went for the omakase decadent and it was definitely that! $145 per person, good quality. Ambiance quite nice / hip. Toro and red tail sashimi very good quality, others in the selection were ok. Filet mignon, Seabass and corn all roasted on robata grill were excellent! Portions were generous, I was very hungry walking in and could not finish everything.

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Excellent steak, salmon, sushi!! Highly recommend!!

Visited a year ago

Great date spot! Tasting menu was fantastic

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Went for Valentine's Day, the tasting menu was phenomenal! Only gripe is we were not served for our first 15 minutes of sitting at the table, but hey it was a holiday, the place was very busy! 5/5 regardless

Visited a year ago

This is me and my partners favorite date spot. Anything that comes off the robata grill is magic. I want to give a special thanks to our server David. We came on Valentine’s Day and it was so busy but he tended to us as if we were his only table. Making sure we were always good and enjoying each dish. Made plenty of great recommendations. I have to say the Lamb cutlets were the best thing I have had from Roka and we have been many times. Must finish your night with a port wine and the Ube dessert! Fantastic 10/10

Visited a year ago

It was a great experience overall. All the staff was very nice, accommodating and professional. Everyone checked in multiple times to see how everything was. The food was delicious! From the drinks to dessert everything was amazing! It is a very nice and pretty atmosphere as well! Definitely recommend!

Visited a year ago

Good food & wine -you might be broke by the time you leave, but don’t show up that way. $$$

Visited a year ago

I came in for restaurant week and probably won't be coming back. While the atmosphere was excellent and the food was delicious, the service was lacking. The restaurant week menu had a few add-ons that the server rattled off too quickly, and the prices were not listed anywhere. Once we chose not to add anything besides drinks, the server tried to rush us out of there as quickly as possible. The restaurant week menu has 3 courses, and we weren't even done with our food when they came to clear plates and bring out the next course. We were rushed out of there within an hour.

Visited a year ago

We tried this restaurant for the first time and everything was excellent,we had rib eye,prawn tempura ,wagyu dumplings,the tuna sushi.The pork belly melts in your mouth.The bone marrow was soo good,will definitely come back.

Visited a year ago

Awesome atmosphere, food was great, and service was almost too fast. 6 friends and I went for restaurant week and got to try a lot of different dishes. All were great. Service was so fast that we didnt have time to finish the drink pairing for that course before the next came out.

Visited a year ago

Probably the best dinner I've ever had at a restaurant. Extremely gluten free friendly! Yura made amazing recommendations for us, including adding the side of bone marrow to our wagyu steak dinner. It is a must try! Additionally, we were seated in a really nice, quiet spot near a window, which we absolutely loved and appreciated.

Out of three days we spent in Chicago and 4 restaurants, Roka Akor was the only place that told my boyfriend happy birthday and brought him dessert - I had made notes on all the reservations, even a Michelin starred place, ignored it.

We came for restaurant week but will most certainly be back! Thanks again Yura :)

Visited a year ago

First time here and it was restaurant week so we tried the special menu! Everything was delicious and nicely presented. Portions are small but the server informed us of such so we had the option to add more from the regular menu. I recommend getting the drink pairings. It's a modern, swanky space, you hear the chefs in the back like they're on The Bear which makes it fun and energetic. Great for date night or celebrating!

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Everything here was delicious! My husband and I came here during restaurant week and we loved every single thing we had. Our waitress mentioned that the portions were small and recommended for us to get an appetizer/maki. We did as she recommended and we got the seared salmon roll. It was delicious but we didn’t think we needed it, the amount of food that came with the restaurant week menu was sufficient.
We had the following:
Serrano chili maki - delicious and just the right amount of spicy.
Wagyu beef dumplings - melt in your mouth delicious.
We had 2 other appetizers but I can’t remember their names. One of them was a white fish that was so good, perfectly seasoned and melted right in your mouth.
For our entrees, he had the wagyu steak and I had the black cod. In my eyes, the cod was the clear winner. Probably the best cod I’ve ever had in my life. For dessert we had a lava cake with ice cream and chocolate pearls, also delicious. For drinks I had the Roka Fashioned, so so so so good! My husband had a mezcal drink that was delicious. Overall, highly recommend this restaurant. The food, drinks and service were top notch!

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Entered at 7:14 for a 7 reservation and they said “we have a 15 minute grace period and gave the table away.” At least honor the full 15 minutes.

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Excellent food, the scallop roll and spicy tuna are to die for!

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

All round great Japanese food. Very flavorful. The bill can rack up though

Visited a year ago

Went during restaurant week for my fiancé's birthday and service and food was excellent. The seafood was so fresh! Highly recommend

Visited a year ago

Was here for restaurant week. Food was great and service was very good! I was impressed and highly recommend.

Visited a year ago

Loved this place. Service timing is decent but not great. The servers approach to the table is incorrect and they carry dirty dishes over your new food. Sometimes the courses were too overlapped. The fried calamari was giant, beware. The black cod is amazing. Great atmosphere and people. The food was amazing. The A5 Kobe wagyu was fantastic. The cocktail options were very good. Overall near nobu quality but not quite.

Visited a year ago

Tried out Roka Akor for restaurant week, and it was great. The highlights were the Wagyu Sirloin and the Hamachi Serrano Maki. The dumplings and Tataki were okay, just not for me. The chocolate cake was a great dessert. Service was attentive and friendly. Will definitely be back another time for dinner.

Visited a year ago

Excellent food and service. Tried them for restaurant week and will definitely go back

Visited a year ago

Mind blowing food. Great flavors. Chef was amazing

Visited a year ago

Unbelievably good food and service! The sushi and steaks are awesome. Waygu steak with bone marrow had an impressive presentation and were tender and delicious. Lamb chips were perfectly seasoned and cooked. All of the sushi was good but the one with scallops was the best I've ever had. Straight up an umami bomb! So savory for sushi.

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Wow! That was my first, but hopefully not my last time dining there. The Seabass is so good, it will put a hole in your sock! From the wine to the great time, this place is a winner. They serve some dishes that are similar to the menu at the ever popular Nobu Chicago. Honestly, Roka Akor's dishes were on par with Nobu. That was a shocker. A pleasant surprise.

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Had dinner here. Space is beautiful with lots of room between tables ( but not between booths). High ceilings meant loud acoustics plus it’s a happening place so it was crowded. Service was very friendly and attentive. Menu was interesting, sushi, interesting appetizers, robata grill items including high end steaks, and interesting sides. I’ve been to Japanese steakhouses before and this menu was very creative with lots of things we wanted to try.
Food was mostly delicious but a couple of things weren’t great. Fried squid was over fried so crust was hard and squid overcooked. Sushi rolls were small and rice was not well seasoned. Skirt steak was ordered medium rare and was rare. But still, we would go back and try more things including the dessert platter for two. I thought the meat prices were reasonable compared to other steakhouses.

Visited a year ago

We tried Rola Akor for Chicago's Restaurant Week and will definitely be coming back. Everything we had was delicious and some of the best food we've had!

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Great food. All the time. Best Japanese in the city!!

Visited a year ago

Near Michelin quality food and service. Always a delight.

Visited a year ago

Had omakase, the prices were a bit overpriced but had great time!

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Spectacular. Utterly excellent. I highly recommend the chef's table. To embrace the cuisine, one must trust the chef.

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

I'm not much of a seafood guy so I can't weigh in on that front. The food in general was good though with the exception that I did feel fleeced by the "Kobe" beef we paid $70 per person on. We have had Kobe before and this tasted like a standard tenderloin. Flavor was still good but it definitely didn't taste like kobe. Not enough to damn the place but still annoying considering how much extra was paid.

Visited a year ago

Food was very flavorful

Visited a year ago

Lamb Chops was amazing!!!

Visited a year ago

The waiter is really rude. He always interrupted my conversation during my date with girl, once per 10 minutes. He always showed up while I didn’t need him but cannot find him when I need him.

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Had an absolutely amazing experience. The food was delicious - highly recommend ordering a selection of dishes to share amongst the table. Cocktail and liquor selection was superb, tried a variety of cocktails and they were all great - especially the old fashioned. All the service staff was amazing and well informed on the menu. Would highly recommend - great experience.

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Unbelievable food. Got to talk to the chef, that trained in Mexico. Most of the food is Japanese. 50$ dollar steaks that taste like 100$ and the steak was perfectly sumptuously cooked.

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

The service was wonderful but food could've been better. However everything was great overall!

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Amazing Sushi. Great service. Just a bit loud on atmosphere. Bring your wallet.

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Amazing experience. Environment was great, such fun vibes and amazing food. Everything we had was great especially the wagyu dumplings! Our server was great too I didn't get her name but she gave us many great recommendations. Would go again!

Visited a year ago

Roka Akor was really impressive - glad I got to spend an evening here. The sushi options were all amazing, and the king crab was real flavorful.

Visited a year ago

Restaurante centrico, con mesas bastante juntas, algo pequeñas cuando vas 4 personas. Pedimos el menu degustación, completo, los platos no son contundentes pero llenan! La carta de vinos es amplia también. Quito estrellas porque avisamos 2 personas de alergias a champiñones, nos aseguró la camarera que nos iba a traer alternativa, pero nos sirvieron rissotto con champiñones por todos los lados. Al decirlo de nuevo, trajeron..coles de bruselas, sin preguntarnos si nos gustaba o no.. ni las tocamos. Por el nivel del restaurante, no me parece adecuado.

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago