Sumi Robata Bar

Great restaurant! Really liked it. Cute interior and overall our service was good.
Must try:
Tofu appetizer (it’s tiny, but it’s deliciously memorable)
Matcha mouse with chocolate filled donut. Also on the small side but excellent!
It’s small plates so get ready to share. Te miso soup was also good. Their tofu is their winning point. I’ve not had such delicately made tofu like theirs!

Fresh off a fantastic dinner at Gyu Kaku, I was still in the mood for some grilled meats. Although I’m still searching for a true Japanese izakaya around Chicago, places like Sumi Robata seemed to have decent enough menus to satisfy my fix for Japanese tapas.
Ambiance: The place wasn’t that big. It had less than 10 tables in the back area and then just some stools in front of the grills. Inside it was very bright and vibrant with a trendy wooden décor. Apparently there was also a hidden bar downstairs called Charcoal Bar but it was closed when we went.
Service: Our server took our order using a smartphone instead of the old school pen and paper. While it’s cool they’re using new technology, it took forever to navigate to each item to put it in, especially at a place like this when you’re ordering like 3 – 4 plates per person.
Food: I was reading the reviews ahead of time and most of them were pretty spot on in terms of this restaurant being on the pricey side. This was especially true for the robata items, which ranged from $ 3-​$ 9 for a portion that was 2 – 3 bites. I’d come for the experience and to be able to try a bite from a bunch of different things, but don’t expect to leave super full, at least not without racking up the bill. Between 2 people we ordered a mix of appetizers and robata items.
Tofu — This wasn’t exactly what I was expecting. It was a small bowl of cold custard topped with salmon roe. When I took my first bite, it was surprisingly sweet and creamy and felt like I was eating a dessert as an appetizer. I’m not usually a tofu fan, but I kinda liked this interesting spin on it.
Wagyu sukiyaki — We originally wanted to get Ishi Yaki but they ran out for the night. The waitress said this was the next closest thing so we got it. The meat starts out raw and cooks as its heated by the hot skillet. The marinade on the beef was super flavorful and I loved the meat and egg combination.
Sea bass — I’m honestly not a fish fan whatsoever, so I was expecting to just force myself to eat this, but it honestly wasn’t that bad. It was served steaming in a bag full of butter and herbs. The butter sauce was flavorful enough to mask any nasty fishy taste so I was happy about that.
Ramen — This was a special that wasn’t on their regular menu. I think they were just testing it out because our server was asking us what we thought of it and if we had any feedback for the kitchen. As a ramen fanatic, it definitely isn’t on the same level as other places that specialize solely on ramen, but it was pretty tasty nonetheless. The broth was light but salty enough to flavor it. The noodles were a little thicker than what I’m used to seeing, almost to the thickness of an udon noodle. The meat in the soup was pretty good. It was sliced pork that had a thick peppery rub on the outside. I just had to try it since I’m a ramen fiend but I probably wouldn’t order it again.
Robata Items:
Chicken thigh — The order only came with one skewer with a small piece of chicken on it. Very juicy and tender, but way too small to share.
Shrimp — A single jumbo prawn on a skewer and the head slid right off… but once again too small to split between two people.
Pork jowl — This came with a few cubes of pork on a skewer. I personally liked the charred fat flavor but I can see how it wouldn’t be appetizing to some people. It was fatty but not the melt in your mouth type but instead a very chewy texture.
Overall, Sumi Robata was a pretty good place to check out at least once, but for the price to portion ratio I’d probably choose some of the other options around the city.

This was a really good meal.
Came here on a weds night, upon entering at around 8 the place was empty so that was a little worrying but I guess people just wasn’t eating out that night.
We had the best seat in the house, at the bar right in front of the chef. It was great to watch someone cook your meal with such care and attention.
Things that’s stood out to me was the tofu, the kaarage, the beef and the crab leg. All of it was cooked perfectly. The shaved ice desert was also a nice light finish to the meal. The service was attentive and on point.
I would come here for a date and would suggest sitting at the bar as near the action as possible.

This whole experience was weird. We walked in at 7:55pm for our 8pm reservation and were told we’d have to wait about 25 minutes. There is really nowhere to wait, so we just had to stand there awkwardly. The person at front was awkward and didn’t really seem to know what was going on. We asked to go downstairs to the Charcoal Bar, but he told us it was full. A handful of people came up from downstairs, and we tried to go down at that time, but were told it was still full. Shortly after, another party walked in, asked if they could wait downstairs, and he said yes. There was a group for a private party waiting, as well, and they started to offer them cocktails for having to wait, but we weren’t even acknowledged. We waited for awhile, and finally someone asked if we had been taken care of, and we let her know we had been now waiting 20 minutes past our reservation time. She offered us drinks and we were sat shortly after.
Once we were seated, the appetizers we ordered were great, but things started to go downhill again when we were served our robata. The salmon was good, but that’s where it ended. The mushrooms were completely waterlogged and had no flavor other than dirty. My husband bit into the shrimp, said it tasted raw, and when we looked, we saw that it was, and consequently, he did not feel well the rest of the evening. When we told the waitress, she said «it’s just shrimp, haven’t you ever had it before?». The beef we ordered was fine, but after the shrimp, we didn’t really want to eat much else.
I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this place, but if you had all the time in the world, and just stuck with drinks and appetizers, it could be fine.

First time I have been to a place dedicated to Japanese barbecue and I was beyond impressed. The place is designed beautifully, with warm wood tones and lighting — very modern but inviting. My friend and I sat at the bar and could watch our food being made. We shared a saki flight and ordered the sweet potato fries as an appetizer which had this tangy sauce. They were heavily seasoned but yet delicious. We also shared a king crab leg, beef tongue, asparagus and duck breast. All the meat was tender and cooked perfectly. The portions are small, but have incredible developed flavor, and since the majority of the dishes are fairly inexpensive, you can pay a decent price and try many different things. The service was also excellent as our waitress took the time to explain to us how the meal progressed through different courses, told us how they recommend eating/​drinking for the best experience and answered all of our questions. They even put a candle in my green tea mousse for my birthday dessert. I highly recommend this place!

I had high expectations due to the great Unilocal reviews but really wasn’t impressed. You order meat and it comes with one to two skewers. They meat was a bit dry and not very flavorful/​juicy. The one good item was the fried chicken. The host that seated us was super friendly and tried to get us a good spot in the restaurant. If you want to come here make sure you make reservations.

best japanese robata in Chicago, especially try the shitake and shishito skewers, Sumi really knows how to bring out the veggie’s natural flavour
the scallop one is awesome too, so juicy, much better than momotaro’s

This place is great! Everything is all homemade and delicious. We need a place like this in Vegas. Chef Kato is the best

This was hands down one of the top meals this year. It’s not just the food, the service was excellent, attentive but not hovering. Each plate was served with explanation or suggestion on how to eat it. We had a vegan in our party. The server did mention there was a chance for «cross contamination» but luckily, my vegan companion was ok with it. There were 5 of us and we were a little concerned about the small serving size. In the end, we were satisfyingly full and rounded up to be about $ 45 pp.
Every dish was delicious but the cold tofu appetizer was outstanding. It was so smooth, it took on an almost custardy texture. Either caviar on top, omg, I’m drooling thinking about it. Another outstanding dish was the chicken gizzards. The chef cooked that with care because I’ve never had gizzards that tender and so full of flavor. I can kick myself for not ordering more because I won’t be back in Chicago until next year!!! The chicken yakitori is another highlight.
Other dishes we raved about: the Gyozas, the strip steak and the wagyu beef. The feeling for the sliders was mixed. The shishito peppers were not a hit with out table either– most thought they were too spice but I thought they were great.
After dinner, we went downstairs to the Charcoal Bar for more drinks. The cocktail menu is different. «Rodeo Girls» is AMAZING!!! I’ll just leave it at that.
I can’t wait to come back!!!

I don’t even know where to begin. I’m pretty sure I’ve been a pescatarian for fifteen or so years — and no matter how many times I tell this to KFG, whom I’ve known for at least 20 years, each time we’re together and she gets excited abt a dish, which inevitably involves something Waygu, without fail she’s so enthusiastic abt whatever she’s consuming that she squeals «rachieeeee, have some, you’ll love it» — thus… I was quite puzzled when she told me that we were going to Sumi’s to nosh on the most amazing tofu I’d ever eat. This is a girl who generally tells me that tofu is food of the devil, so I had a lot of Qs — but as I trust her resto judgement above almost anyone’s, off K, K, and I went into the crisp Chicago night to stuff ourselves silly.
Entered into a den of blonde unfinished wood, smoke lingering in the air, the chef on full display behind a glass DJ booth of sorts, patiently tending to his many skewers on the flame — vibe manages to be starkly Japanese modernist but warm at the same time — a win. Intimate — 12ish bar seats, 5 tables in the back — though they also have a downstairs bar that apparently serves the full menu as well — best to make a res.
The games began with the aforementioned tofu — chilled ramekins filled with sweet/​savory silken soy glory, kissed with dashi, roe, crispy ginger — was a challenge not to storm the kitchen and demand a vat of it, so perfect was the pop of the roe paired with the smooth tofu and zingy ginger. Also tried the mizuna greens with a fierce carrot/​citrus dressing — an intriguing tang not for the faint of heart — as well as the gobo (mirin marinated burdock root, sesame seed), a refreshing hit after the shishito robata that came out simultaneously, wonderfully blistered and surprisingly hot.
Other skewers we ordered were the baby octopus (tender), shrimp (one massive ebi per order, perfectly cooked, a bitch to peel), scallops (2 per order, buttery), something beefy (? Skirt with sansho pepper or Waygu with wasabi ponzu) as well as the beef sausage slider with miso mustard, which elicited a joyous expression on KFG’s face second only that she wore whilst walking down the aisle to JSG. It all seems so simple — a sprinkle of sea salt here, a touch of garlic at most, but dear Lord was it good — omg, I almost forgot carby delight that stole my heart — the mochi robata — pressed between soy-​brushed nori, the crisp exterior of the rice cake gave way to a blissfully gooey, soft, interior — unreal.
K and K also tapped the onsen tomago (soft poached egg, dashi soy) and yakitori don (over rice, tare, negi, poached egg, nori), both of which throughly enjoyed. Clearly we had our game faces on, but if you’re still hankering for other options, many tables around us had the jidori karaage (fried chicken, shishito paste), duck and lamb skewers, and the more adventurous went for the chicken hearts, tails, and gizzards.
Cold apps are $ 5 (veg based) to $ 26 (sashimi — note, no sushi on the menu, so take your tempura/​cream cheese/​krab cravings elsewhere), hot apps $ 5 (edamame, onsen) to $ 14 (steamed sea bass) — most portions appropriate to share with 2ish if you’re ordering multiple dishes. Veg robata is $ 3 – 4, seafood (salmon, crab, shrimp, scallop) is $ 7 – 22, chicken/​beef $ 3 – 15 — if you and your dining partner are sups stoked abt something, get two skewers, but otherwise one should be plenty for 2 ppl to get a taste — for three of us, we got ummmm like 15 dishes, clocking in at $ 160 total (light booze) ohhhhh and don’t forget the dessert — was skeptical and I’m not a huge doughnut person, but the dark chocolate filled doughnut with matcha semifreddo is ambrosial.
Hands down one of the finest meals I’ve had in Chicago in a while — run, don’t walk, to Sumi — but, be warned that like many places that are heavy on the grill, your hair, clothing, and soul will leave cloaked in the strong odor of char — worth it, but just unpleasant enough to necessitate immediate bathing upon our arrival home.

A couple of our friends have been obsessed with this place and given their great taste in food we were excited to finally go with them.
Our group of seven (large for the small space) had a spectacular meal here. It’s a small restaurant so plan ahead if you want to go!
I know nothing of robata but hot damn, the food was delicious. We tried so many things, including some more «edgy» stuff like octopus, beef tongue, chicken liver and soft boiled egg, and it was all so, so tasty.
If you are open to trying a different style of food that is so well marinated, flavored and cooked (they use white oak), come here. They obviously take great care in picking the best, most succulent ingredients and preparing them to perfection. So yummy.

Awesome lunch deal. I’ve been for dinner before and loved it but it had been awile. So I decided to check out their lunch since they have a $ 15 bento box.
I went with the steak option which was delicious. Everything was super yummy. The I was wondering if the seafood croquette would be any good cause I feel like that can be hit or miss at a lot of places. But their’s was delicious. In fact I stole my friends who hates anything seafood. Portion were good and I left full!

The 6 of us went here for dinner — it was good but we probably would not go back for a while.
It is pricey for Robata but tasty enough to not complain. The portions are small — most robata places bring out two skewers per order but here it was 1 skewer per order! We ordered a variety of items but here were our table’s favorites:
Cold Appetizer: Potato salad, Maguro, Sashimi Moriawase, Inaniwa Udon
Hot Appetizer: Satsumaimo, Jidori Karaage, Sea Bass (delicious!)
Robata: Asparagus, Shitaki, Shishito, Skirt (so good), Lamb, Tontoro — all these were so good but small portions.
Would not order again: Onsen Tamago, Gyoza, Chicken Thigh, Beef Tsukune Slider, Wagyu Ribeye, and Duck Breast (barely could keep this one down)

Never pass by a restaurant because of its unassuming appearance. Never make an assumption that the food would be fusion due to its location in Near North Side. Smell, bite and savor. You would be amazed by onsen tamago (soft poached egg marinated with dashi soy) that had a bright red, umami egg yolk. The shiitake mushroom skewers with the perfect amount of salt and earthly flavor wowed me. All juicy skewers, ranging from tako (octopus), gyutan (beef tongue) to tontoro (pork jowl), transported me and my friend to Tokyo. The best izakaya restaurant in Chicago has been found — may I present Sumi to you.

Okay Japanese Robata place in town.
I got beef tongue, mushroom, chicken breast, and chicken heart. Some items are hard to find in other japanese restaurants (like chicken heart) hehe, so it’s nice they have them!
The taste is okay, a bit too salty for me.
We also got tofu as starter, but I personally don’t like sweet tofu so I don’t like it that much as other reviews.
Overall a nice place. It’s very small btw. We are sitting at the bar, so not the most convenient place :/

Years ago when you first opened your doors, I’d never even give you a second glance. In my ‘hood, Cocoro was my one and only. I scoffed at your trendzy all-​style-​no-​substance sleekness. I stuck my head up high as I walked passed. It would never sway me from my patronage to Cocoro. Of course when it came down to trying a different place, I did an eye roll but obliged my dinner companion.
Sumimasen, I was wrong about you, Sumi Robata.
I realized my previous prejudices were completely unfounded. Sure, Sumi Robata was the «newer» place on the block, but the entire experience was all-​style-​and-​tons-​o-​meat. We sat up at the counter where chef was working his magic on the grill. From the scallops, to different parts of beef, to the fried chicken. Everything was prepared lovingly. The portions are akin to tapas sizing. Good for a few bites, but all pairs perfectly with beer (s).
For all my comfort-​food needs, Cocoro is still my go-​to. But if I want to bunker down with drinks and a great robata experience, Sumi’s where it’s at.

I am floored! This place sucks stay away you yuppie scum, this place is the first authentic Japanese Robata I have seen since being in NY at Yakitori toto above the sushi place on the second floor. For those who think sushi is «Japanese food» you are noobs… It is robata that represents the most popular «after work» food for the Japanese business man and this place has it spades. The only problems with the place is 1) that it does not give ½ price discounts to fabulous people like … Well screw them. Just me, 2) it is not open to 4 am for really hard working Americans who try to emulate Japanese business men and 3) there are no kyabajō here to feed me my delicious morsels of food. Any volunteers can email me and I’ll take you to this great place.

HOLY GRAIL I AM SO IMPRESSED
I went there for lunch and was the only one there.
First off, this restaurant is just so simple yet cozy. They have a place for jacket/​bag storage, the table set up just feels so fresh and clean, the whole wooden tone blends really well with white and the feeling of Japanese.
Server was really friendly and patient. :)
Okay even though they don’t have much on lunch menu, sadly, I tried to order as much food as possible (haha)
Cold appetizer:
Tofu with Caviar!!!
I can’t believe that’s tofu. Ultra creamy texture with a little crunch from the topping distracted from the fishy taste of caviar.
Smoked duck breast
I love duck breast. This was no exception. It came with mustard but I hate mustard so I didn’t put on it haha. The greens that came with it was tooooo sour but I mean I can stand it. The duck breast though was firm and flavorful.
Hot appetizer:
Beef slider
FOOD IN A BUN is definitely the new trend now. But can we talk about their beef first? Best blend of beef I’ve ever had. It was cooked but it was so soft that it almost melts in your mouth. So amazing and aromatic. They definitely reinvented sweet potato fries with the hint of Japanese element — seaweed flakes. Yum yum.
Salmon Bento:
Solid food. Solid price. The miso that came with it has tofu on the bottom and it has the same crème brûlée-​like texture that blows my mind. The salmon is cooked just right and the glaze made it look so beautiful.
Dessert: Tofu
Yea okay I’m obsessed with their tofu. This is almost like a panna cotta, I’d say, with hint of lemon flavored custard. Too yum.
Definitely will come back for dinner coz I’ve heard so many amazing things about it even though I’m not into grill at all!

This place was just alright, as I felt I didn’t get enough food for what I paid for. My bill for (3) people was north of $ 350 and yet I left almost hungry… In fact we went to Hooter’s after for wings.
The food is very tasty and the bottled cocktails delicious, but I just can’t love it based on what I got for what I spent.

I came here for lunch and it was very quiet there. The lunch menu is quite limited. The waitress was very attentive. Overall the food was well executed. It’s simple and taste like a quality home-​cook meal. I really enjoy my lunch. It was also very zen looking out at the zen garden.
The bento box came with house salad, radish, choice of miso or chicken soup, and choice of chicken/​veg/​skirt skewer. It may appear small, but it’s filling and well-​made for $ 15. The skirt steak was good, but the chicken was way better. Chicken was tender and juicy. I had the chicken soup which came with spicy pepper and mushroom. The seafood croquette was fried and the interior seafood combo was tasty.
The tofu with caviar and ginger was amazing (appetizer, not the dessert). It was silky and taste so delicious with the caviar. It’s small, but very enjoyable.
The gyoza was the legit pan fried ones where the dough is still stuck to all of the gyoza. LOVE IT! I wish the pork gyoza was bit more tender.
The Cold udon — it was a generous portion of udon where you dipped into the dashi soy broth. It’s very difficult to find a good udon in Chicago and I’m glad you are found!
Lunch was $ 60 for 2 people, but it was enjoyable and filling. The food was well-​made and fresh. Will definitely come back for dinner to try the other skewers!