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About
Ekiben Japanese Kitchen
Welcome to Ekiben Japanese Kitchen, a hidden gem located at 1825 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago, IL. Known for its vibrant atmosphere and delectable dishes, **Ekiben** expertly combines traditional Japanese flavors with a modern twist, making it a prime destination for sushi lovers and food enthusiasts alike.
As you step inside, you are greeted by a clean, contemporary decor, enhanced by inviting lighting. The ambiance sets the perfect backdrop for a delightful meal. Whether you're here for a quick lunch or a leisurely dinner, Ekiben offers something for everyone.
Menu Highlights
The diverse menu at Ekiben showcases a variety of offerings, ensuring a satisfying experience for all palates. Here are a few standout categories:
- Soups and Salads: Refreshing options like the Ekiben Salad and Spicy Miso Soup provide a light yet flavorful start to any meal.
- Donburi (Rice Bowls): Indulge in mouthwatering selections like the Shogun Don Unagi, featuring succulent eel, or the Katsu Pork Don for those who enjoy a crispy bite.
- Sashimi: A sushi lover's paradise, the Sake Toro Sashimi and Maguro Sashimi are real must-tries, hailed for their freshness and quality.
Specialty Dishes
One of the remarkable features at Ekiben is its array of Onigiri, or Japanese rice balls, available in various flavors. Customers rave about the Spicy Tuna Onigiri and Salmon Onigiri, exuding authentic flavors that are hard to find elsewhere in Chicago. The Gyoza and Takoyaki also come highly recommended, embodying the perfect balance of crispy and tender textures.
Not to be missed is the lunch special, where you can experience a delightful trio of Onigiri paired with miso soup for just around $12.50—an incredible value for the quality and quantity served!
Customer Experience
Feedback from patrons emphasizes not only the delicious food but also the warm service. While the restaurant may experience busy periods during peak hours, the initial attentive service allows for a pleasurable dining experience. Guests have expressed their satisfaction with every dish, noting the rich flavors and generous portions.
In summary, Ekiben Japanese Kitchen stands out as a must-visit spot in Chicago for those seeking authentic yet modern Japanese cuisine. With a diverse menu, attentive service, and a welcoming atmosphere, this kitchen truly revitalizes the Japanese dining experience. Don't miss your chance to savor their specialties, and perhaps find your new favorite dish!
People talk
Our Guestbook
“ Ekiben, a unique spot. Let me get into it! The food here was great. My friend and I really like the crispiness of the mixed tempura. The sake toro really is worth a try as well. The sushi was pretty good and I highly liked each one that we got. The service was good initially but, as more people same it the service wasn’t as good. This wasn’t too bad as my friend and I really enjoyed the food. The atmosphere or ambiance like I call it was pleasant. Really clean and everything looked new since. The lighting inside the shop was very modern at least to me. Overall, I would say give the fried tempura and the fatty salmon a try! ”
“ My cousin and I went to have lunch at Ekiben - Japanese Kitchen yesterday, it's our first time there and we enjoyed our foods so much and we plan to go back there again soon. The specialty of this restaurant that I never found in any other Japanese restaurants is their Onigiri, Japanese Rice ball in triangular shape wrapped in seaweed. We tried their Spicy Tuna Onigiri, and Salmon Onigiri which were good. We also had Gyoza (Chicken pot stickers), Takoyaki (Fried octopus ball with sauce) - quite tasty, hot & soft on the outside and filled with mayo & octopus on the inside, Salmon Zaap (Spicy) salmon sashimi with spicy 3 flavors Thai sauce, it's quite delicious with unique flavors. We ended our lunch with Spaghetti Spicy Basil with tofu which was very flavorful. They have lunch specials with very reasonabl price. We ordered lunch special 3 Onigiris with miso soup to go for 12.50 tax. There is also lunch specials starting from 15.50 that you can choose one noodles dish appetizer drink. Everything was so good, fresh, and delicious. The place had a nice relaxing ambient with great service. I will go back to have more Onigiri and try Spaghetti Cream Mentaiko that other review recommended. ”
“ Dropped in for lunch because it's right off the brown line and they have a great lunch special! Got three amazing onigiri and miso soup for a little over 13 dollars. They have a lot of options to choose from, and the portions are great! I am stuffed from the food I had. Not a single complaint for the food or service. Highly recommend coming by! ”
“ Loved it! It was quite empty when my friend and I came as it was midday on a weekday. I myself got the shogun don, hamachi wasabi onigiri, and a Thai iced tea—the takoyaki was shared between us. Everything is delicious, generously portioned, and most importantly seasoned!!! Love that the rice for the onigiri was seasoned, although I did think it could have gone stronger on the wasabi (I personally loooove a strong wasabi taste though). The eel on the shogun don was great, I loved the tare that soaked down into the rice as well! Savory and juuust a bit sweet. My friend got for themself a sushi roll and also the katsu don. For both of us, it totaled out to a little above 60. Absolutely worth it in my opinion, especially for how much food we were stuffed with! The location is also convenient, right by the train line and with lots of bus stops along the street as well. ”
“ Went for their lunch special and it was literally amazing! Two onigiri and miso soup for 9.50 is an amazing deal, especially with how much food it is. I had to take some home! ”
“ Stopped by for lunch with my girlfriend and had a wonderful time with great food! To start, their restaurant is so cute and decorated beautifully! I got the Pad See Ew which was amazing! The noodles are flat and thick and absorbed the sauce amazingly. We also got the spam onigiri and spicy tuna onigiri which were huge for their price point! (compared to other chicago restaurants) My girlfriend got sushi (unfortunately I forgot which one ) but she finished it all so its safe to say she enjoyed it :) Definitely recommend if you’re in the area, a total gem! ”
“ Found this place by accident. I was running errands around the area and looking for a place for lunch. Stopped by and tried their lunch special. It is incredible good. It’s more than I expected. All food is delicious. I personally love onigiri. I got spicy octopus and negi hamachi onigiri. Both of them are good and they are big too. Their spaghetti spicy basil tastes like authentic spicy basil! It’s spicy and flavorful. The price is affordable. I highly recommend this place! ”
“ Loved my visit to Ekiben! The vibe is chill and stylish, and the staff were super friendly and helpful. The sushi was super fresh and full of flavor — you can tell they use top-quality ingredients. The Spaghetti Cream Mentaiko was a standout — so flavorful and beautifully done. Definitely a go-to spot for great sushi and good service. Can’t wait to come back! ”