NORIKO

Noriko is hands down one of the best sushi spots in Chicago. Chef Billy is a true artist — every hand roll was unbelievably fresh, flavorful, and beautifully crafted. The rolls literally melted in my mouth, and the attention to detail in each bite was next level. Chef Billy made the experience feel personal and special, taking time to explain each roll and share his passion. The vibe is intimate, stylish, and welcoming. If you’re a sushi lover (or just love incredible food), do yourself a favor and visit Noriko. Chef Billy’s creations are unforgettable!

Found my new favorite sushi spot - incredible quality, a fair price, and an approachable but beautiful atmosphere. Not only does the food taste amazing, but watching the rolls be created in front of you makes for a fun experience. Our server Lily was the perfect level of attentive. Highly recommend the chips & edamame hummus, California roll, and warm crab roll. But everything on the menu tasted great. Excited to come back and try more.

i had to book this 60 days out for a party of 3, but it was so worth it! the service was excellent, the atmosphere felt great, the bar was beautiful, and the food was delicious. note that noriko is in the basement of perilla fare, and you have to enter perilla fare to get to noriko (which was not obvious as the signage only mentioned perilla) each handroll felt very thoughtfully crafted, and tasted very balanced - no flavors in any of them felt like they dominated the entire roll. although there were very slight hints of fishiness in the pieces of fish that fell out of some rolls, this was not noticed when they were in the roll with the rest of the ingredients. it was very hard to pick a favorite, but i think i’d say the bluefin tuna akami roll was my favorite - the tuna in it was so soft. also notable: the california roll had real crab in it overall a dining experience i loved & would absolutely return for in the future (with some planning in advance). next time, i’d order the chefs set instead of the signature set - it’s only $12 more for not only an extra roll, but it includes 2 premium rolls and 3 classic rolls rather than just 4 classic rolls

This was an incredible experience. Tucked away you are met with kind and attentive service. Our server guided us through the experience. The food was - taken your breath away - amazing. Chef Lisa was warm, skilled, and precise. Every bite was a work of art. If you can snag a reservation do so and enjoy all that Noriko has to offer!

Exceptional quality, flavors, and service! Easily some of the freshest quality fish I’ve had in the city. I highly recommend the handrolls! You can’t go wrong with any but my favorites were the spicy octopus, spicy bluefin tuna, and the classic California roll. Simple ingredients, but expertly sourced and seasoned. The Tokyo Story cocktail (their take on an old fashion) is complex, balanced, and unlike any other drink I’ve had before - I highly recommend. Can’t wait to come back for dinner!

Delicious hand rolls! Some of the freshest and most unique sushi I’ve had. This is really high quality, top tier sushi. The service is wonderful, and it has a very exclusive under ground lounge vibe. You have to go thru a different restaurant upstairs to get to the back stairwell down to this place. Great lofi music, but the cocktails were weak and the lichee martini was overly sweet. I highly recommend this place for a wonderful unique meal and I’m already looking forward to coming back. Oh and the California roll has large chunk crab meat that is the most tasty California roll I’ve ever had.

Incredible new spot! I had to book one month in advance to get this reservation, so I was hoping it would be worth it. It was. The food was delicious—every hand roll had a perfect bite that was balanced and fresh and crisp! My favorites were the bluefin tuna toro, the spicy tuna, and the yellowtail roll. The appetizers were also spot on. The seaweed salad had a variety of different fresh seaweeds and was finished with a tangy sauce. We also enjoyed the smoked butter edamame with their house made furikake. It was both rich, salty, and sophisticated! My bf says he would “buy a bag” of the furikake. Anyway, this place was not only delicious, but the ambience was on point—intimate, welcoming, and modern. Chefs and servers were friendly and warm. S/o to Chef Michael!! We will be back and this is now one of my (and our) top places in Chicago!! ❤️

Wow what a lovely treat this place was! You have to walk through the dining room of Perilla, and there is a staircase into the basement where Noriko is. We really enjoyed the lychee martinis, they are not too string and great subtle taste. One of my favorite dishes of the night was the hamachi poke. The fish was surrounded by this delicious savory jelly and we quite literally cleaned that plate. Could’ve eaten 20 of them! For handrolls you can either custom select options (which they recommended about 5 at $9-24 a piece) or select a pre-set menu. We opted for custom and the server gave us some recommendations. We tried two tuna handrolls, I particularly enjoyed the bluefin tuna toro because it had a delightful pickle wasabi on top. My favorite roll of the night was the uni handroll which had a generous serving of sweet light fresh uni on top. We also enjoyed the crab handroll, the wagyu truffle roll we also tried which was a hit. The spicy octopus roll had was super fresh and not at all chewy. We really enjoyed the food and atmosphere, the chefs would explain every roll to us as it was served. If I had to wish for something, it would probably be to have a slower pace! We were only at the counter for 45 minutes, for the price point I expected a lengthier experience. I’d be interested to see if they decreased the size of these rolls to a smaller bite so we could try more of the options and really savor the evening. And they don’t have a dessert menu just yet but I would love to try that in the future. All in all, delicious food and drinks! Attentive service and I found it easy to talk with my sister but not overhear others conversations.

If you want a sceney spot…but not a pretentious sushi experience, this is it! Really loved their handrolls + special s/o to the edamame hummus and nori chips.

Such a cool concept! Felt like we walked into an izakaya - we got the nori chips and dip, the poke, the chefs selection of rolls and added the wagyu beef roll! All were so fresh and incredible. Great cocktails too - loved their take on an old fashioned. Would highly recommend!!

I have never sat at the counter before in a sushi restaurant, but I did here. The sushi is really impressive, but it was also both fun and educational to be able to talk to the person who was making the sushi.

I had to book 1 month in advance and let me tell you Noriko is hands down one of the best sushi spots in Chicago! I loved the nori chips and was pleasantly surprised by how yummy the cocktails were (my favorite was puncha matcha). The space was intimate and lovely. Also, all the staff members were super friendly and welcoming - will definitely be back!

Located under Perilla Fare in the west loop, Noriko is Chicago’s hottest, new restaurant opening (just opened Feb 5th) and that comes with reservations being VERY hard to get! Why? Well, Noriko only has 20 SEATS and the food and service are great! The space is very intimate and cozy….. and EACH PERSON has a front seat view of the chef action! I was in heaven - the ingredients are FRESH and you’d be surprised at what is made in house. A good example is their SOY SAUCE - homemade. Unbelievable! The edamame hummus dip and nori chips wowed me as an opening appetizer and the rolls were excellent. The cuts of meat are so fresh and prepared so well, it melts in your mouth like butter. The hand rolls are expertly made and taste phenomenal! I highly recommend the nori chips and dip, the crab motoyaki, uni, bluefin tuna toro…. Okay EVERYTHING! 😂 And for drinks the Tokyo Story and Lychee Martini are must try’s! If you can snag a reservation here, do it!!! It’s beyond worth it ❤️

Great ambiance, music, lighting, staff friendliness, volume level. Easy option for solo dining too given the limited spots. Nori chips & dip are a must. Highly recommend overall and would come back! Located in the basement of Perilla. The Tokyo drink was a fave

READ THIS REVIEW Before you go. There are no signs for this outside and at first you would think Google maps navigated you to the wrong spot ! It’s found at the bottom of the staircase in another restaurant called “Perilla”. You’ll go in and tell the staff you’re going to NORIKO and walk all the way behind the tables to find the staircase. This place seats ~ 22 people only and don’t expect to be seated (even if you’re a party of 1) without reservations. Most time slots apart from when they first open (at 5 pm) are taken at least 2 weeks in advance ! The food is good. Best hand rolls ever? No. Best hand rolls in Chicago? Yes ! The drinks are also elevated and amazing. The stand outs for me were the appetizers - the nori chips + dip , as well as the lox sashimi. Our orders were messed up quite a few times but they did give us a free nigiri to make up for that. All in all - must experience it for sure if you’re in this area !

This handroll spot is so good it’s kind of unreal. Everything tastes super fresh, simple, and done right. I’d go back immediately.

Book this place well in advance or try to sneak in day of if you’re feeling lucky because Noriko is here to stay. The Chicago hand roll bar scene was non existent until Tamu, and now Noriko continues to build on that foundation. Don’t miss the Nori Chips, Salmon Lox, and my favorite the crab hand roll. We will be coming back for more soon!

Noriko is an absolute triumph from Chef Rhan Whang and Sous Chef Mikey! This incredibly exclusive spot, seating only 20, delivers an intimate and exclusive dining experience unlike any other. We dove into their sensational roll menu, with the spicy bluefin tuna, bluefin tuna toro, bay scallop dynamite, crab motoyaki, and wagyu tataki being unforgettable highlights. Every dish showcased incredibly fresh, delicious ingredients. For a party of 2, I would recommend around 3-4 rolls each, along with 2 appetizers and drinks. The noro chips and dip and salmon lox crudo were also phenomenal, packed with flavor. It's no surprise they're booked solid for three months—we felt incredibly lucky to snag a reservation. Noriko is a must-try!

The best sushi I’ve had in Chicago in a long time. The chips and dip is sensational. All the rolls were fantastic but the standout was the octopus and crab

Had an amazing experience for a weekend dinner. Some of the best bites of the year, with favorites being the Bluefin Tuna Toro and Scallop Dynamite. All staff were incredibly welcoming and friendly. Overall a fantastic time.

Where do I start! This speakeasy style sushi bar was hands down the best sushi I have ever had. Everything is prepared with precision and love right in front of your eyes. Our waitress and chefs were amazing, and the food was so fresh that I felt as though I was eating straight from the ocean. The textures and layers of flavor were unmatched. I recommend nori chips and dip benitoro lox wagyu tataki And crab motoyaki This place is a must-see and taste spot if you are in Chicago.

10/10 experience. everything ordered was perfect and balanced and just exciting. ambience super chill and intimate. staff was perfect. the beers and drinks were perfect too and simple. everything complimented itself

Would highly recommend - best hand roll bar in the city! Has speakeasy vibes and is super cozy. Their old fashioned is one of the best I’ve ever had (has a buttery finish) and the crab roll is incredible, will definitely be going back!

I came here for my birthday dinner. Two of my homies work here. Absolutely delicious! Everything to the food and drinks and overall the experience had my mind blown away! Keep up the good work Noriko staff 🖤✨

I can’t believe this exists in Chicago. This is the best sushi I’ve ever had. The fish is top notch, and you can taste the level of precision and care in every ingredient. The crab motoyaki roll is a MUST order—it’s pure warm, savory, and crunchy decadence. The crudos and appetizers might be more addicting than crack. The ambiance is stellar—perfect for a date night or special night out.

Outstanding!!! Wow !!! This has to be the best Japanese hand rolls concept in Chicago. Just returned after a year and the food was better than ever !!!! Beautiful restaurant, incredible food and a team of extraordinary chefs!!! Happy Anniversary and THAK YOU for a beautiful dinner !!!!!

Amazing atmosphere and food. Not packed at all and spacious, which I loved. The course meal was good, with plenty portion. Please try the guac and nori chips 🥺 The hand rolls were amazing, with California being my fav.

Amazing!!! Went for a birthday dinner and we were blown away by the food and service. The tuna toro roll was out of this world - one of the best bites of food in Chicago. Can not recommend this place enough.

We had an incredible experience at Noriko. The atmosphere is such that when you walk down the stairs and pull aside the curtains, you know you're in for a special evening. The handrolls were all exceptional, the staff was fun and friendly, and the freshness of the fish combined with complex and complimentary flavors is superb.

This was our favorite restaurant in Chicago! Amazing hand rolls and great service from everyone we interacted with. We loved the overall vibe and the music was really good too.

GLUTEN-FREE Review Noriko not only lived up to the hype—it exceeded it. The atmosphere is sexy and intimate, with a sense of exclusivity that makes the whole experience feel special from the moment you walk in. And the food? Every single item I tried blew my mind. For anyone who’s Celiac or has a wheat allergy, Noriko is a rare gem (I’ve listed safe menu items below). The staff was incredibly attentive—Chef Billy personally ensured my order was safe, and our server was impressively knowledgeable about gluten-free options. I felt completely taken care of. To start, the nori and chips were light, crispy, and packed with umami, and the hamachi crudo was stunning—fresh, delicate, and beautifully balanced. I tried several hand rolls and loved every single one: the yellowtail, king salmon avocado, spicy bluefin tuna, bluefin tuna poke, and the decadent wagyu tataki. The cocktails are also to die for. The Tokyo Story is a fantastic twist on an Old Fashioned—rich, smooth, and perfectly balanced. The Puncha Matcha is bold and unique, definitely worth trying (though one was enough for me). Noriko hits every note: food, drinks, service, and vibe. Reservations are hard to come by though, so makes yours early if you’re planning a date or special night out. CELIAC FRIENDLY MENU ITEMS STARTERS Noriko Salad Nori Chips & Dip Pork Belly Hamachi Poke Crudo HAND ROLLS Salmon Avocado Tuna Avocado Yellowtail Spicy Salmon (no garlic crunch, contains gluten) Spicy Tuna Spicy Octopus (no garlic crunch, contains gluten) Tuna Poke Cucumber Spicy Avocado Bay Scallop Dynamite Tuna Akami Sweet Shrimp Wagyu Tataki

One of my favorites! The fish is always so fresh and the vibes impeccable. They are really great with gluten free mods too!

Noriko has been one of my favorite spots since they opened in February 2025. I’ve always wanted a true sushi handroll bar in Chicago, and this place absolutely delivers. The space is intimate, warm, and beautifully designed, with the counter experience at the center. Billy and Rhan are phenomenal. Their experience shows in both the food and the hospitality, and every visit feels personal and intentional. Standout dishes include the edamame hummus with tempura seaweed chip and chili crisp, the hamachi poke with yuzu jelly, and the zuke salmon crudo. If it’s your first time, go for the chef’s set. The bluefin toro handroll is exceptional and my personal favorite. Consistently excellent food, thoughtful pacing, and a dining experience that feels special every time. Easily my favorite handroll bar of all time.

The atmosphere and service were amazing, we did the Chefs handroll set - I appreciate the intricacies of each handroll, but some of the flavors masked the truly tasty parts of handrolls. The bay scallop dynamite, for example, was tasty but didn’t taste like a scallop and was overpowered by spice and sauce. Not bad at all, just up to everyone’s preference! I will definitely be back!!

[Opening Night Review] As a former Los Angeles resident and lover of hand rolls, i am of the firm belief there are NEVER enough hand roll bars in the city of Chicago. Noriko is a lovely new addition to what is becoming the new wave of sushi restaurants in the city. My friend and I were lucky enough to snag an opening night reservation. This little gem is tucked away in the basement of Perilla Korean BBQ. Walk through the dining room to the left and turn left down the stairs and you’ll see the purple neon sign welcoming you to come discover what’s down below. This place is SUPER intimate, with maybe no more than 30 covers on the full restaurant. The restaurant however feels vast thanks to a very well positioned mirror that makes the space seem much larger. I love sitting at the sushi bar and watching the masters at work. This is an interesting triangle shaped sushi bar that allows more surface area to watch your hand rolls being prepared. The cocktails were very tiny and extremely refreshing, my Lychee martini was extremely crushable but nothing too insane. We got the seaweed salad ($12) nori chips with edamame dip($9), spicy pea king salmon ($8), and bluefin tuna toro ($12) hand rolls. The chef also treated us to a last hand roll of Uni! I loved the crispy garlic crunch in the spicy salmon that added a surprising textural element. My favorite roll was of course the bluefin bc you can’t go wrong with fatty toro. Overall my favorite thing by far was the edamame dip, i could literally eat that forever and the rice paper + nori chip was lightly fried and made me wonder why doesn’t anyone sell this by the bag? The one unfortunate aspect of the hand rolls was that the rice wasn’t warm, however that didn’t take away from the flavor, just was something that made the rolls fall a bit flat. In the same breath I say all of that, i will repeat that it was opening night. As a former waitress that opened a massive restaurant, i know that it can take some time to work out the kinks. Once the wait list dies down, I’ll be back to try a few more hand rolls and see if this review still holds true. Overall i would definitely say this spot is most certainly worth the reservation, it’s currently stacking up in my top 3 for hand rolls in the city.

Beautiful place and delicious. However their handrolls are all on the overly saltier side - so I would suggest you let the chef know to brush on less soy sauce. Great, intimate dining place to impress a date.

Rice was super cold, very disappointing for a handroll restaurant where rice is one of two important aspects of the dish. Had high expectations. The fish was overseasoned as well— i understand this restaurant is supposed to be leaning on the fusion end but if you’re not into this please take that into consideration before going

Noriko has a really cool space: sleek, intimate 21-seat handroll bar tucked right under Perilla Fare. Honestly, that’s the best part of the experience because the food didn’t quite deliver. The nori chips and dips was a decent start: pleasingly umami with great textures. The yuzu jelly in the hamachi poke was such a creative and delicious touch but the fish itself was unpleasantly fishy. We shared the chef’s handroll set and unfortunately every roll had some level of fishiness to it. The toppings did make for some nice combinations but because of the quality of the fish, the rolls just fall flat. To be fair, I’m extremely picky about seafood freshness and I understand sourcing quality fish in the Midwest isn’t easy. That being said, the search for a good raw fish-focused Japanese restaurant continues.

The hand rolls lacked in quality and quantity. Don’t get the Dashi dashi roll that’s 38 bucks and after tax and tip 50. It was a paltry amount of caviar and uni. Even the tuna toro was mushy and didn’t have a good texture.

Very sketchy… their credit card reader incorrectly charged my card twice, seemed like a scam I will be checking with my bank. It also incorrectly charged my friend’s card. This has never happened to us. The hostess is extremely unprofessional, unwelcoming and rude. We tried to ask her questions about our reservation and she was aggressive and mean when we asked for clarification. She mocked us and laughed at us when we asked if it would be okay to be seated early (there were plenty of open seats…). She could have politely declined while being respectful. Not sure who hired her, it really ruined our experience and was a horrible first impression of the restaurant. Take your business elsewhere!