Gaijin 950 West Lake Street, Chicago, IL 60607

"What a great experience... the food and drinks were outstanding... it doesn't matter what you choose will be delicious... you ll feel an explosion of flavors in your mouth... highly recommend... I ll come back for more..."

"This was a place that I wouldn’t mind coming back to. We sat outside so we didn’t see if it was small inside. I loved the food. We ordered shrimp Osaka style okonomiyaki, traditional Hiroshima style okonomiyaki, and matcha mochi donut. We also shared a kakigori. Portion size was ample for two people, we had more than enough. Both of the okonomiyaki’s were very delicious. Shrimp was soft and fresh. The Osaka style was quite nice with the cabbage pancake, corn, and shrimp. The traditional Hiroshima style had cabbage pancake, yakisoba noodles, bacon, and egg. It was very filling. Matcha mochi donut had a crispy outer layer, matcha flavor was more subtle, and chewy on the inside. Kakigori is big enough for 2-3 people. In the past they got really creative with the designs."

"Wonderful and delicious experience. Very easy to get a table with reservations and great team. I felt very taken care of. Also I really appreciated the thoughtful design of the space. The chairs open up at the bottom so your clothes don't smell like food. For dinner we started with the Korokke and although they were delicious after those and two okonomiyake, we were too full. Both the okonomiyake were fantastic. We got one Hiroshima style and one Osaka style. Both my partner and I felt ultimately the Hiroshima style was better with the addition of the noodles cause both were great but having the additional texture made a difference. I would also recommend getting a side of the kombu marinated vegetables to cut through some of the fattiness. It balances things out nicely. Lastly, the drinks were all great. We only tried two but they were both perfectly made. The best high ball I have had in the city. I should also add the desserts are very popular here. I was too full but they are supposed to be very tasty and Instagrammable if that is your thing. I would absolutely recommend Gaijin. Great date spot or spot to go with friends. The food is really delicious and I couldn't be happier with my first okonomiyake experience. It definitely made me curious and next time I visit Japan I will be seeking some out."

"We ordered Veggie Koroke (which was really good) and Hiroshima style and Osaka style okonomiyaki. We added udon to Osaka style which tastes like Takoyaki. Hiroshima style was a little sweet but ramen inside was delicious. It was sufficient portions for two people. however, their server was chatting with her colleagues not checking us frequently. Customer service can be improved. They have a warming pan on the table which is great to enjoy warn dish throughout your meal."

"I've visited this place twice now, and it's a consistent delight! The menu is concise, making it easy to choose what you want to order. The croquette appetizer was wonderfully crispy and flavorful. We tried the Japanese-style pancake, using the table grill to warm it up - it's perfect for sharing, with one pancake serving 2-3 people. The mochi donuts were irresistibly chewy and sweet. Don't miss the shaved ice desserts, especially the cute blue bear and matcha one. It's a small place, so reservations are a must to beat the crowds!"