Chicago - November 03, 2010

Sushi Rolls, Fresh Fish, and Inspired Japanese Flavors

Arami Japanese Restaurant

We tried to do you a favor and wait for the hype to die down before writing about Arami. Turns out the hype may never die down — the food’s that good.

Instead, we suggest trying it at lunch. (Daytime service began a few weeks ago.)

You can order almost everything that’s available at dinner (sorry, no omakase). That means sashimi flown in fresh from Japan, like pike with scallion-ginger dipping sauce and fresh squid (coming soon). Raw chef BK Park’s (Mirai, Aria) intricate creations (spicy octopus, fluke, Fuji apple dressing) put your average California roll to shame.

On the other side of the kitchen, Shin Matsuda mans the hot food, prepping already sought-after ramen noodle bowls that get their rich flavor from stocks. Try the kimchi ramen, a fragrant explosion of tofu and pork belly, or dig into sake mussels, meaty critters soaked in sake and garlic.

Inside, bamboo wood treatments and verdant trees make you feel like you’re in a sanctuary. And, in a way, you are.

Arami, 1829 West Chicago Avenue, between Wolcott and Wood Streets (312-243-1535 or aramichicago.com).

Photo: Seb Ruiz / Flickr

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  BYOB, Fish Bar, Foodies, Healthy, Neighborhood Gem, Worth the Wait