Gina M.
10/10/2025
This is a casual restaurant by a Michelin star chef! I had the vegetarian okonomiyaki and it was fabulous! So much flavor and a great texture. The chef stopped by to greet our group and make sure...
Gaijin
$$
Closed
(765)
Photos
950 W Lake St
Chicago, IL 60607
Gaijin by Chef Paul Virant is Chicago's first okonomiyaki restaurant, offering both Hiroshima and Osaka styles of the savory Japanese pancake. A self-described gaijin, or "outsider" in Japanese, Virant playfully embraces this perspective and honors traditional preparations and techniques, as well as his well-known passion for pickling and preserving.
Find related places
Reviews
4.5765 reviews
Maggie H.
8/17/2025
Had a great experience here. We walked in on a Friday without a reservation and were able to sit at the bar with a full menu. We got two drinks each and had a great time watching the bartenders...
Gaz H.
8/8/2025
Fun. Hip. Loud. The kitchen executes. All that being said, absolutely nothing delighted my mouth. It's just the palate. It's entirely "off" or at least different from anything I might like or...
Amisha R.
10/17/2025
A delightful array of Japanese traditional Osaka and Hiroshima food. I really enjoyed the yakisoba with pork belly, flavorful and balanced. There's plenty types of okinomiyaki so I suggest getting...
Caitlin K.
8/25/2025
Authentic okonomyaki restaurant located in Chicago. I was pleasantly surprised by the taste and options available at Gaijin. They serve Osaka and Hiroshima style okonomyaki. I personally like the...
See a problem?
You might also like
Partial Data by Infogroup (c) 2025. All rights reserved.
Partial Data by Foursquare.