"Ten seats, eighteen courses, $250 from Kaze Chan in River North — book the counter for a solo dinner worth the splurge."
About The Omakase Room at Sushi-san
Ten seats. Eighteen courses. $250 a head, a $100 deposit to hold it. The Omakase Room sits behind Sushi-san in River North, a Lettuce Entertain You room that closes off a counter for one seating of edomae sushi a night and runs it like Tokyo, not like a hotel sushi bar.
The Infatuation ranks it among Chicago's serious omakase counters, and the format is fixed: you sit, the chef leads, and eighteen courses of mostly nigiri come across the counter in the order he chooses. This is a destination dinner at 63 West Grand Avenue, not a drop-in, and it is priced and paced to be one.
The Counter
Master sushi chef Kaze Chan leads the counter, working alongside Shigeru Kitano, who brings more than three decades behind a sushi bar. The eighteen courses are seasonal and chosen daily, but the spine is edomae nigiri: aged tuna from akami to fatty otoro, sea urchin set on warm vinegared rice, a torched piece or two, and a tamago to close. Each bite is built and handed over one at a time, the way the form is meant to work.
The price is $250 per person for the full progression, with sake pairings at $75 for the classic flight or $125 for the premium, before tax. Beverage aside, this is a single fixed experience — no menu to order from, no substitutions beyond allergies flagged at booking. For the wider field, see our guide to the best sushi restaurants worldwide.
The Room
The counter seats ten, and that is the whole room: a single blond-wood bar, low light over the chef's hands and dim everywhere else, the hush of a small group watching the same work. Sound is quiet, conversation easy with your neighbour and the chef rather than across a wide table. Dress is smart-casual; trainers pass but sportswear does not. One seating a night means the evening runs about two hours at a steady, deliberate pace. Book through Tock with the $100 deposit, and arrive on time because the omakase starts when the counter fills.
Best for Solo Dining
Book the counter for a solo dinner because omakase is the rare fine-dining format that rewards eating alone: a single seat is easy to land when pairs struggle, the chef talks you through each course, and there is no empty chair across a wide table to make a solo meal feel like one. Sit, take the classic sake flight, and let eighteen courses carry the evening. It works for two as well — the counter seats couples side by side. For more, see our best restaurants for solo dining or the Chicago dining guide.
Not for
Not for a big night out or a fussy eater — it is ten seats, one fixed eighteen-course menu, mostly raw fish, with no substitutions beyond allergies flagged when you book.
Frequently Asked
Is The Omakase Room at Sushi-san worth it?
Yes, if you want serious edomae sushi in Chicago. It is a ten-seat, eighteen-course counter led by master sushi chef Kaze Chan with Shigeru Kitano, and The Infatuation ranks it among the city's best omakase. At $250 a head it is a splurge, so come for the craft and the pace rather than a casual sushi fix. See our Chicago dining guide for other options.
How much does The Omakase Room cost?
The omakase is $250 per person for eighteen courses, with a $100 deposit taken at booking and a 20% service fee added to the final check. Sake pairings are extra at $75 for the classic flight or $125 for the premium, before tax. It is a fixed-price experience with no a la carte option, so the headline number is close to the full cost before beverages and tax.
How hard is it to book The Omakase Room?
It takes planning. There is one seating a night for ten guests, booked through Tock with a $100 deposit, so weekend dates go early. Solo diners often find a single seat easier to land than a pair. Set a reminder for when the booking window opens and be ready, because ten seats fill fast for a counter this well regarded.
What is the dress code at The Omakase Room?
Smart-casual. The focus is the counter and the chef's work, so a collared shirt or a tidy outfit fits; trainers pass but sportswear and gym wear do not. There is no separate lounge, so you go straight to your seat — arrive on time, because the eighteen-course progression starts once all ten seats are filled.
Is The Omakase Room good for solo dining?
Yes — book it for a solo dinner. A single counter seat is easy to secure, the chef walks you through each of the eighteen courses, and there is no empty chair across a table to make eating alone feel awkward. Take the classic sake flight and settle in for two hours. See more in our best restaurants for solo dining.
Reserve a Table
Reserve at The Omakase Room at Sushi-san
One seating a night, ten seats, $100 deposit on Tock. Book early.
Affiliate disclosure: Restaurants for Kings may earn a commission when you book through our reservation links, at no cost to you. Our scores are editorial and never paid for.
Practical Information
Address63 W. Grand Avenue, River North
NeighbourhoodRiver North
CuisineJapanese (Edomae omakase)
Price$250 per person; sake pairings $75 or $125, ex-tax
Dress CodeSmart-casual
Seating10 at the counter
ReservationBook via Tock; $100 deposit
DietaryPescatarian by design; advise allergies at booking
