Kai Zan

Absolute best Japanese food I’ve had since living in Japan, and even a little better. We split a regular omakase and added a couple extra a la carte orders, as well as dessert. Our waiter, Justin, was extremely knowledgable and passionate about describing each of the foods and helping us craft our dinner menu with flavors that would meld perfectly. I will be back here many, many times!

Beautiful presentation of delectable bites. We celebrated with the Omakase. Prefer tuna over salmon but had the butteriest salmon ever here. Didn't have to supplement our order with other sushi as all were included in the Omakase of the day.

Dropped in after work with a friend for a bite and left impressed. Walked in and the hostess graciously found us seats at the bar. The food was delicious and presented beautifully. The chefs sent over some bites for us to try and even this was perfectly seasoned. Will definitely make reservations next time for an extended dinner. Highly recommend!

I have ventured to countless sushi restaurants in different cities, states, and even traversed through Japan itself. I have never had such a culinary experience as I did at Kai Zan. I never thought I would fall head over heels for a sushi restaurant. The quaint and small environment made me feel special and like I was among a lucky few who had the opportunity to try their masterpieces. We started with the special hand roll - the expertly fried taro wrapper had a delicate, flaky texture that contrasted perfectly with the succulent fish inside. In addition, there was a small and artfully placed Brussels sprout that added a delightful balance to the buttery dish. Next, the Orange Rush was a true work of art, with a buttery soft salmon seared to perfection on the outside, and a plump, juicy scallop coddled within. An absolute delight. The Oyster Shooter was an adventurous ride for sure! The fresh flavors of the oyster combined with the tang of the citrusy ponzu sauce created an unexpected but delightful explosion of flavors in my mouth. It was crazy, and I loved it. The most expensive dish on our receipt was the Wagyu fried rice. One of the most luxurious dishes of the night, the fried rice was a symphony of flavors. Each ingredient had a purpose and danced in my mouth as I savored every bite. The Green Monster lived up to its name with its stunningly vibrant and eye-catching appearance. This sushi roll was heavily enveloped in creamy avocado, perfectly complementing the tender unagi cradled within. With just one bite, it felt like I was eating a buttery cloud as all the components melted in my mouth, leaving me spellbound. The Dynamite Mussels had a unique twist on the traditional favorite, with a special homemade mayo and eel sauce that brought out the natural flavors of the mussels. Last but not least, the Char Siu delivered the final round of applause. The pork was smoky, fatty, and salty, covered in a delicious sauce that left me wanting more. Kai Zan has mastered the technique of harmonizing different flavors and textures into their signature dishes. Each item they serve is an extraordinary experience in its own way. The passion and mastery that went into crafting each dish were palpable, and I felt privileged to be a part of it. It's rare to have such an experience at a restaurant, and I can't wait to go back to Kai Zan and try all the other dishes I missed. Chicago, you are so lucky.

I came right at opening and secured a seat at the counter. I toured around the menu with the shiitake and hotate skewers, agedashi tofu, hamachi kama, and hotate and botan ebi nigiri. The agedashi tofu was the sleeper hit of the meal. I was delighted that the botan Ebi nigiri came with fried shrimp heads ; they’re so delicious. There’s a lot more to explore on their menu and it’s a great spot for sushi. I definitely recommend it.

Delicious omakase! I dined in with two friends on a Tuesday night. We made a reservation 3-4 days in advance since it's a smaller, more intimate restaurant, having a reservation is important. Every course was amazing and perfectly timed. I'm not even a fan of wasabi but the way it was used in the dishes was delightful. The fish and oysters were incredible. Two of us had traveled from out of town and tried 10+ restaurants while in the city, yet we found this to be the most wonderful meal yet! We finished with a smoked anchovy ice cream and it was mind blowing. It sounds unappealing, I know, but it was perfect - from presentation to taste. One of the best meals of my life!