Came in around 10 pm just for a quick bite to eat after work but ended up staying until close for karaoke. Such a refreshing and fun spot for a good time! This was my first time at a izakaya and I was pleasantly surprised. Great food good options for drinks but small staff for a lot of tables they seemed very overwhelmed . Very great prices for food and drinks Would definitely come back again! Recommend the gyudon and takoyaki

Was honestly very impressed with this spot and had good asian food especially for chicago. I liked the way they seasoned their meats especially the wagyu skewer which was probably my favorite. One of the items to skip was the fried rice which was way too salty and just not authentic. I also liked the booths they had as they were private while still being able to enjoy the atmosphere of the restaurant. One of the best parts was also the music. They were playing bops after bops which really added to the great time we were already having. One thing to note is that the food ends up being pretty pricy (except the eel which was a great deal!). We went with a group of 5 and it came out to $35 pp. Overall I would come back for the food and music.

I randomly came across this place and actually dined during their soft opening and was blown away from that initial experience that I came back again. I went on a Thursday night around 6:30 pm; not super busy/walk-in friendly. I ordered the ebi skewer, scallops, unagi don, and the takoyaki. Between my friend and I, the portions were surprisingly filling. If there's one thing to get, it would be the unagi don-it was sweet/savory, fatty and just melts in your mouth. The rice bowl also comes with a side of miso soup. I also ordered the Hawaii tiki piña colada, which definitely hits the spot if you want alcohol, but not the alcohol forward taste. My friend got the Okinawa passion fruit mojito which was also very good/on the sweeter side. Place overall is clean, had great vibes, staff were courteous, and overall service was great! This is def a new go to late night spot for me.

TL;DR Very pleasantly surprised by this Izakaya. Unlike many restaurants in Chicago that are only loosely based around Izakaya culture this spot actually delivers. Great friendly service, food was delicious and came out quickly and cute decor/pop music does a pretty great job of visually transporting me back to Shinjuku (well as close as I've gotten in Chicago ;P) Don't miss the must have gyudon! Details: This spot has been on my list for a while now, and if I'm honest I've always been kind of let down by Izakaya style restaurants in Chicago. They either totally miss the mark with the food they offer or they're just priced stupidly high. Shinya was like a breath of fresh air, an actual izakaya that serves izakaya food + booze and is actually open late! Finally an actual izakaya!! Here are the dishes we had from good to best (nothing at all was bad): Zucchini + mentaiko: Perfectly grilled zucchini topped with a pollack roe sauce and torched until slightly set. This was a perfect break from the more decadent skewers. The zucchini had just the right amount of grill and wasn't mushy and the mentaiko was subtle and not too salty or fishy.7/10 Miso Nasu: Soft broiled eggplant slices with a sweet, tangy & savory miso glaze. It tastes exactly like it looks and like you're hoping it will, delicious! Only wish there was a bit more of it :P 8/10 Torikawa (chicken skin): Think chicharron but instead of pork it's chicken. The chicken skin was perfectly cooked on the skewer and shatteringly crunchy. I'm not sure how they were able to get the entire skin so crispy but it is very impressive, like they were fried not grilled. Typically the middle sections of torikawa are just a little bit chewy since the grill doesn't reach that area as well (some people even like that chewy/crunchy contrast). The perfect bar food with an ice cold mug of Sapporo or Kirin. 9/10 Negima (chicken + large green onion): Juicy chunks of chicken charred to perfection and glazed with sweet sticky tare. If you've never had yakitori then this is the perfect entry point. Simple ingredients that are transformed into something wonderful on the grill. The way this izakaya cuts the onion was a pleasant surprise, I wasn't expecting that lengthwise negi. The way each layer of the green onion gets a little char on its edges and starts to pull apart was very pleasant to eat. Some other places when the negi chunks are quite large the inner parts don't cook quite as soft as the exterior. 8/10 Chicken Katsudon: Crispy fried chicken thighs smothered in savory rich curry sitting atop a massive mound of white rice. Paired with some thin shredded cabbage and a miso soup it's such a comforting and delicious meal. If you're looking for a single comfort meal to warm you from the inside out this winter then look no further. This single dish is enough to satisfy a large appetite on its own. 8/10 Gyudon: Beef bowl. I would f'n live inside this gyudon bowl. How do they get it so delicious, so savory? Is it some sort of wagyu fat? I don't know what magic Shinya is doing back there but this gyudon was as good if not better than many I had in Tokyo. It's everything I was hoping it would be and more. The addition of the mixed egg added to the richness while simultaneously cutting it a bit with the egg whites. The flavor of the meat has that super umami richness that coats the mouth and tastes like the best parts of bone marrow. I'm not sure if it's the cuts of meat they use, their dashi or the sake they use but THIS. BOWL. WAS. PERFECT. I ate the entire bowl of rice underneath which almost never happens, but the topping was so wonderfully decadent I gladly plowed through it all. Some togarashi and beni shoga served along side would have completed the Tokyo late night eats experience but it wasn't essential. If you need something to instantly sober you up and fill your heart with joy then this bowl of meat, egg, onions, and rice is one of the best I've found! 10/10! Will be back for more.

This Izakaya is open from 5:00 pm through 2:00 am. Perfect for a late night stop. This Izakaya has a large selection of Yakitori and a variety of small plates. I was trying to match the experience of the small Izakaya found outside the rail stations in Japan however most of those are much smaller and intimate. The Japanese decor was nice and I liked the dolls by the bar and the umbrellas over head. Service was attentive with no complaints from me. Food was good. Wagyu beef was tender and flavored well. Shrimp grilled head on with a nice crunch to them. The beef tendon felt like the collagen would go right to my knees. Very thick pieces Crisp on the outsides and chewy inside. Chicken skins were also crisp only on the outsides. I prefer mine crisp all the way through but that might just be difference in the style of cooking. Desert of macha ice cream was a refreshing end to the meal. The presentation of the food was not exciting. Skewered meats on the same rectangular plates. The wagyu came on a charcoal grill but the waitress asked if we wanted to remove it when the beef skewer was gone. My mistake was to let it go. If she had suggested we put the other skewers onto the grill instead it would have improved the experience. There is a big selection of whiskey but we weren't drinking. I think this Izakaya would be more inviting if the owner would have a chefs selection of plates paired with a beer or whiskey (cheaper if alcohol not included). Parking in this part of Wicker park was easy.

New Japanese Bar/Restaurant in Wicker Park. Restaurant right off North with street parking. Restaurant is decorated so nice. Interior is intimate so if large party then get reservation. We came on Thursday evening without reservation at 6:30pm. Our service was great. No issues at all. 5.0 stars. For food: Hibachi Rice, Yakisoba, Gyoza, Karraage, & Chicken Screwer. Food was seasoned well but I thought it was salty. Biggest reason that downgrading to 4.0 stars. I would order Hibachi Rice and Gyoza again. The Karraage was good but luke warm. Drinks were good. My husband got Old Fashion made with Hennessey and I got a specialty vodka cocktail. We were thrilled with our drink selection. I would come back here. They do have Happy Hour (starts at 10pm). This place is open late and even on Christmas and Christmas Eve. Nice selection of sake here. Definitely would come back to try the Japanese beer and hard yuzu seltzer.