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Agami
Categories: Restaurants Sushi Bars Restaurants Japanese Sushi Bars, Japanese [Edit]
4712 N Broadway(between Leland Ave & Clifton Ave)
Chicago, IL 60640
Neighborhood: Uptown
(773) 506-1845
- Nearest Transit:
-
Lawrence (Red Line)
Wilson (Red Line)
Argyle (Red Line)
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 5 pm - 12 am
Fri-Sat 5 pm - 2 am
Sun 5 pm - 11 pm
- Parking:
- Street
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Trendy
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
207 reviews for Agami
Review Highlights
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"THE SPICY TUNA RICE CRISPY is AMAZING." In 5 reviews -
"Signature maki was very interesting and delicious." In 9 reviews -
"Speaking of the bar, they serve an excellent Pear Martini." In 8 reviews
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207 reviews in English
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Review from Fadi Q.
Earth, TX
5/8/2012
The place looks great, the server was helpful and knowledgeable
Yep it's great for a date but why did I take 1 star off?
for the following couple reasons
1. the hostess was uninviting and didn't give attention even though she had nothing to do (1/2 star off just because her attitude but assuming the manager doesn't know of her way treating customers)
2. the presentation was great however the quality is not great compared to their pricing. I had better tasting sushi for sure.
Note: this is not a Japanese restaurant so DO NOT expect Japanese tradition on how food is served
so why didn't I knock off another star for it?
because they don't claim to be a Japanese restaurant. it's a Contemporary Sushi restaurant.
and Yes I do prefer traditional true Japanese joints but it doesn't mean I have to give a bad rating -
Review from Charlotte T.
Chicago, IL
5/14/2012
Some friends and I visited Agami at 8:00pm on a Friday night for dinner. This neighborhood (Uptown!?) is quickly becoming one of my favorites for casual nights on the town.
We made a reservation, but didn't need to as we were one of about 10 tables in a restaurant that seats hundreds. Our table was a cozy booth, perfect for old friends to eat, drink and catch up.
The food was amazing. There were a wide variety of rolls at prices ranging from $4-$20. The food was fresh and delicious.
The atmosphere is fun and cool. although there are a few too many sex dungeon cliches (red pleather, fire and Ice). This makes Agami good for dates, not for parents visiting from out of town.
The con was that the service was frustratingly slow, so slow that it put a cramp in what would have been a carefree dinner. We had to think strategically ahead about what to order because it took 20 mins for anything, including drinks, to come back to us. This would have been understandable if the restaurant was packed, but this wasn't the case. Thank goodness the bus boy realized what was happening and hurried things along or I think we would have been there all night.
Aside from the slow service, Agami was a nice place to start off an evening off of the Lawrence Red line stop. -
Review from Daliah F.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 3/23/2012
New favorite rolls: mIni godzilla roll and some garlic chicken roll. (Still order the the spicy tuna rice crispy every time!) The signature nigiri are incredible - I have never had sushi like this anywhere else - try the big eye tuna, yellotail or zuke salmon.
Sit at the bar and have a chat with Nick...he's excellent!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/31/2011
This is my FAVORITE sushi restaurant in the city. How lucky am I that it is two blocks away? The… Read more »
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Review from Kristina A.
Chicago, IL
3/21/2012
Meh. Flashy decor, mediocre and overpriced rolls. Everything that makes sushi douchey and overrated. Not sure why I feel so inclined to hate on Agami so much, isolated it isn't so bad. But when you're competing with all of the sushi places that Chicago has to offer, you gotta step up yo game, son.
Shout out to the wine list and the really nice bartender, Nick. -
Review from Joiya M.
Chicago, IL
5/1/2012
A bit pricey and the service was meh..alive...I think. I would go again maybe later in the evening. There are better sushi spots in Uptown this is not it.
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Review from Jeff A.
2/8/2012
The waitress was amazing, and everything else was bad, not good, horrible, yuck....
I have not written a review in way too long, and it took this to get me back on the review writing wagon...
Over priced, fishy, and the worst dirty martini I have ever had, how does one screw up a dirty martini, they did, it was actually a little bit sweet, how I don't know, maybe sweet vermouth by accident...
On the way out they asked if everything was ok, and I just was not in the mood to even begin to explain the levels of not ok, besides I am always afraid when a place is that out of touch with good, they would just assume I want free stuff, and frankly I have no interest in eating fishy AKA old sushi even for free...
Sorry guys and gals of Agami but this was a total disappointment and I can not imagine ever coming back... -
Review from Adam K.
Chicago, IL
4/26/2012
Fresh fish and friendly service. Try the spicy tuna tartar tataki and spicy tuna rice crispy.
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Review from Peg J.
Chicago, IL
3/15/2012
My friend, her husband and I had dinner here early on a saturday.
The setting, staff and food were fabulous. Try the Crunchy California roll - it was amazing.
The only reason this place is getting four stars instead of five is the bar service was extremely slow. It was early on Saturday - around 7PM and the restaurant was only half full. We ordered a bottle of wine with our dinner and were almost through eating when it arrived. -
Review from Lisa C.
Chicago, IL
3/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
We've been in the neighborhood for years and have always wanted to try Agami but they are so many good sushi places with lower price points that have enticed us in instead.
Finally, one [very snowy] day we ventured in and found they actually have some great deals, not to mention the sushi that costs more is because it's incredible sushi--totally worth it, as long as you're willing to drop $17/roll...they're much more filling than your average spicy tuna roll.
Also, our server knew so much about the food, had great recommendations and was just overall very pleasant.
We'll definitely be back. -
Review from Cameron H.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 2/19/2012
My friend drove in from Indiana, and wanted to get some sushi. So, to stay close to home, we all agreed on Agami. We've never had a bad experience there so it is our go-to spot for good sushi.
After arriving, we were seated right way. Then we ordered shortly after being seated. Unfortunately, it took some time to get our drinks. However, that was probably due to a concert the Rivera and Aragon.
I must say, food-wise, Agami is always consistent. We all enjoyed our rolls. We left very satisfied!!
We will definitely go back!!Listed in: Sushi
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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6/1/2009
We were looking for good sushi but didn't want to pay much for it. However, we knew Agami is… Read more »
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Review from Kailee A.
Chicago, IL
2/10/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Agami is a very nice place to eat. The inside decorations are really nice and the atmosphere of the restaurant is great. The sushi is pretty good, but I have had a lot better. It is also a bit pricy. For the more interesting sushi rolls they are about $16 or more.
The service was slow. I was with a group of friends and we wanted to go out for a quick dinner. The waiter took forever to take our orders, clear our plates, and give us our checks. The place wasn't even busy either! -
Review from Deena D.
1/29/2012 1 Check-in Here
Agami was accommodating with our large party on NYE. We called ahead to make reservations and were quickly seated once we all got there.
Overall the sushi was good, fresh and they did have some nice signature rolls - the one I split actually came out on fire (on purpose, no need to worry)
They were a little light on man power for the night and we found our waiter to be running around trying to keep up with the group. In the future they should probably assign another person to help with a 12 person party.
Although I don't live in the area I would come back if I was checking out another show at the Aragon or the Riv.
FYI there is a corkage fee! -
Review from Christina K.
Chicago, IL
1/24/2012
Agami has great sushi and I could not say enough about the service. Our waiter was excellent! He made sushi recommendations that we ended up trying and loving, plus he gave me a wine recommendation that was not only delicious, but was one of the cheapest wines! Usually that sort of thing never happens.
The dragon roll and shrimp tempura were amazing as well as the edamame. We ended up ordering two drinks plus three or four rolls and needless to say we were pleasantly surprised at the bill. Very modern and romantic atmosphere - great for date night! -
Review from Lauren M.
Chicago, IL
11/4/2011
Sushi wasn't bad, but I don't understand why they wouldn't give us a table in an empty restaurant.
Went here with my husband before a show at the Riv. We usually like to get to shows early to get a good spot and see the opening band, so we were cutting it a tad close by getting to the restaurant at 6:15 for a show whose doors opened at 7pm. We didn't bother with a reservation ahead of time because most people on yelp said this place is usually pretty empty.
We walked into a completely empty restaurant and were told that since we didn't have a reservation we would have to wait 30 minutes for a table. They said that although it looked empty now, starting in 15 minutes a ton of reservations would flood in and the place would be full. We chose to sit at the bar because we could sit there right away. 50 minutes later, we are paying our tab, and the place is still COMPLETELY EMPTY! I am really not interested in paying $15 a roll for the privilege of sitting at the bar in a totally empty restaurant that was supposedly full of reservations due to the show.
Giving them 2 stars for decent food and generous portions. I just can't fathom why they would refuse to seat us in an empty restaurant. -
Review from Jessica F.
Chicago, IL
10/14/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Beautifully presented, with very generous portions - a place you can convince someone they like sushi.
Where else can you go and eat sushi inside of a giant aquarium-slash-lounge in Chicago? Agami is a big place. There are lots of seating items - huge round red booths for the ballar experience, a 30-foot sushi bar, regular tables, and a nice bar area. The whole place is alive with colors, textures and shapes, so it's a pleasure to be there. The big screens at the bar area allow you to catch the game. They're open pretty late, too - no matter when I've gone I've been seated right away. However, on nights when the theater is open, parking is a pain in the butt.
There are lots of menu items so those who are sushi-phobes can find something decent to eat. If you're eating the fish, which you should be, the presentations at Agami are absolutely lovely. The descriptions of the rolls are good. There's usually a lot going on in every roll - it would burn the eyebrows off a sushi traditionalist. The quality of the fish is OK. Not great - but when you dress it up and present it the way Agami does, it's not bad. The nigiri pieces are HUGE. Again, not the best fish ever, but solid. The o-toro is usually very tasty, but often tough. But I'll still eat it!
I recommend Agami to visitors just for the experience alone - plus it's a good place to take big groups. It might not be my go-to joint (that would be Sai Cafe), but it's still a fun place to go when I want to mix up my sushi experience.Listed in: Sushi Sunday
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Review from Christophe A.
Chicago, IL
9/25/2011
We love Agami and can't understand why it's never crowded. Sure, it's on an odd stretch of Broadway in Uptown but it's close to the el and you can always find parking on Broadway if you drive. If you're going to the Riviera or the Aragon, it's the perfect pre or post show restaurant.
We were there last weekend and the sushi was excellent, as always. This was my first visit since switching to a gluten-free diet. Since soy sauce contains gluten and many items include tempura, it can be hard finding food besides the simplest of maki, nigiri or sashimi that are safe. Our excellent waiter, William, went out of his way to check which items are safe for me and also checked with the kitchen to see if they had any gluten-free dipping sauce for my fish. While they didn't, he assured me they are planning to get gluten-free tamari for their customers that can't eat gluten. I'm not sure why all sushi restaurants don't make this simple and cheap adjustment for their customers but I'm happy Agami is making the effort because it has become my favorite sushi restaurant in Chicago.
Oh yeah, the Ocean Drive maki is amazing!Listed in: Gluten-free
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Review from D.B.W. E.
Chicago, IL
6/18/2011
I agree with JPM below. It is my sushi place that is 4 blocks from my house....it hurts to see such a great place not get the attention and customers it so greatly deserves. I am there every Friday night after work and sometimes in between. New management doing everything it can to make every meal special.
The ambiance is fantastic, the rolls are creative and big. There must be 30-40 roll choices alone. The sashimi is the freshest. I owned a charter sportfishing boat in South Florida for 5 years....I know what fresh fish is as I used to make my own sashimi right on the back of the boat!!
The complimentary Agami spring roll which was given to us was unbelievably good. Must try the spinach and the artichoke gomae..... I like the fact that everything is presented as a work of art. Creative bowls, etc. Thinking about going back tomorrow night!! Please support this restaurant!!! -
Review from Eileen Z.
3/27/2011
Have they been under new management or something? New chefs? I don't know.
I used to frequent this place circa 2005-2006. I loved going here and taking people here, especially because the ambiance is flat out very cool. I still think it's one of the better looking restaurants without looking pretentious. But every time I've been back since then the food has left me unsatisfied. Looks won't save you.
Their turtle roll is still one of the best looking ones I've seen, great to amuse first time sushi eaters with but as far as the taste, meh. Another good starter roll was the California Crunch Roll, but 1) has gotten smaller and 2) looks like a hot mess nowadays. As far as sashimi and nigiri go, I say skip it.
It's been a slow, downwards spiral Agami... but you got there. First it was inconsistency. I started ordering more [used to be yummy] hot plates here and there to see if I could find it somewhere in me to keep you around. Now I'm just flat out unhappy. Your prices don't match the quality of your food. And that's even with me trying to do this review separating myself from my preference for purist sushi joints (I have to when I review any sushi place in the Midwest because we lack fresh fish options). Don't get me wrong, I love specialty rolls. But not here. At least not anymore.
Things have changed Agami. Sorry, I no longer love you. -
Review from HTMS s.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 6/27/2011
I have come to the conclusion that sushi in Chicago is a bad idea. you better buy a ticket and fly somewhere where they have an ocean near by.
if you want rolls with mayonnaise and and cream cheese and such then Agami is a pretty good bet, I guess you can call it sushi but its not what I think of when I think of sushi.2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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5/20/2009
I have been to a few more sushi places since i first reviewed Agami 4 months ago. I still think they… Read more »
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Review from Evan Thoreau H.
12/8/2010
Sexy. It's not an adjective you usually use to describe establishments in Uptown... until you walk into Agami.
The dashingly unique interior would be right at home on South Beach or in Soho, but its location next to the El tracks on north Broadway make this high-end sushi spot a curious diamond in the Uptown rough. Tall red booths line the walls, cozy little nooks make you feel like you're on your own little world and the dark, hazy bar in the middle of the round dining room complements the glow of fresh fish from the sushi bar.
And then comes the sushi. Unique flavors and crafty construction make the fish here - though not the best ever I've ever had - certainly on par with such overbooked mainstays as Coast or Tank. A smallish menu of maki and nigiri make it a great place for beginners, but the specialty and signature lists offer a wide range of unique tastes for experts as well (try taking the Fire roll for a burn).
Apps are awesome as well. We had the braised king crab leg with golden sauce which was amazing. We could have eaten ten more of that alone.
The price point is pretty high, especially for Uptown. But when you factor in the quality and ambiance, it really is on par with other high-end joints.
The good news is that Agami has a great selection of daily specials, which makes it easy to fill up without thinning out your wallet. By far the best day is Sunday, when all kitchen apps and specialty and signature maki are half off (and you can get a large hot sake for only $5). It's a great time to go on a sampling bonanza, so that you can know what to focus in on when you come back for a snazzier date night.
Overall, great spot and definitely worth a try. With so few really amazing restaurants still available on the far north Broadway corridor, we all need to do our part to keep the real gems going strong.
Hot damn, social-consciousness never tasted so good. -
Review from Thuc N.
Chicago, IL
5/30/2011
I am no sushi expert but I know what I likes and dislikes
I tried Agami few years back and it was good but I was into latin cuisine at the time. I revisited Agami this year and had been going there literally 1-3times per month since January.
Dine in-
Service = Very good. Attentive and friendly. Everyone were friendly.
Food = I liked their sushi and some of their plate had good presentation. I think the portion was enough for the price. I'm not into sashimi. Therefore, I didn't give it a try. I'm a maki sort of person. I mainly stick with crab, shrimp, and eel type of roll. Those were flavorful and fresh. (A friend of mine who only eat California Roll, love the Cali from here more than any other place I took her)
I only tried 2 of their kitchen entree - Seabass and Tuna. Both were flavorful, fresh, and the portion was quite a lot.
Alcohol= So far, I have only tried their Pinot Grigio and I'm sticking to it since my friends are not into red wine as much.
Interior= It's definitely a very nice cozy place. I really like their interior. Modern and clean. Bathroom was clean.
Carryout-
The container to the way they organized the sushi inside were all quality. The manager or owner usually hand me my carryout and he is very friendly. He usually give me miso soup and/or Edmame for free which is definitely a nice gesture.
So far, i dine/carryout here on Tuesday to Thursday and had exceptional service. It's definitely one of my favorite spot. I just need to find more friends that like to eat. :( -
Review from Roxanne R.
Chicago, IL
3/7/2011
If I could give this place 4 1/2 stars I would but Yelp doesn't offer that option.
After passing this restaurant for years from going to the Riviera or the Aragon, I finally went here last Saturday for a friend's surprise birthday. They sat us at a nice booth that was hidden so that my friend wouldn't see us right when we walked in. The server was really nice checking in on us ever so often and are waters were also filled. The server also spilled a little bit of beer not on anyone I believed but she came back with some saki for everyone so that deserves a star for customer service.
The creative rolls were deliciousssss!!!!!!!! My favorite was the white dragon, super white tuna over shrimp tempura. Yum Yum yum. Not too much breading and a good crunch from the tempura. I also liked the california sunset: fresh salmon over snow crab, avocado, and cucumber. V. delicious. The classics like the boston, phili, and california crunch were also good.
I didn't have too much of a problem finding parking and this was a Saturday night at 730. My only downside was price. We ordered a lot of rolls but the bill was $40 per person. That's what I get for ordering the white dragon and california sunset which were $14 EACH.
The other downside is that they don't split the bill and they only take 3 credit cards to split from. That's good the organizer warned us of this and we all brought cash.
The sushi is really good though so I'll definitely return. With 16 specialty rolls on the menu, I gotta try some more! -
Review from Emma K.
Orland Park, IL
1/5/2012
My husband and I made a reservation here to eat before a show at the Riviera. We arrived at 6:45 on time, waited 15 minutes for our server to take our order but after another 15 minutes of waiting we decided to leave. No drinks, no food and only one visit by our waitress for the half hour we were there. Funny though, the waitress apologized and said it was really busy but the place was half full. Not sure what rates 4 or 5 stars these days but this place does not.
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Review from Karen T.
Houston, TX
4/15/2011
Delicious! Finally came here for dinner with some friends, and everything was excellent. A great interior, lots of space, and the semi-private booths are perfect. The sushi and sashimi were very good, and dessert did not disappoint. Overall, the menu was well-priced - there are items available for a variety of budgets. Our server Nick was the best I've had in a long time: thorough, pleasant but not overly chatty, made good recommendations from the menu, and (best of all) knew how to balance attentiveness with privacy.
Hope they continue to do well in the neighborhood! Next time, will try the sushi bar for happy hour. -
Review from David C.
Plainfield, IL
11/6/2011
Agami Sushi was decent. I really love sushi and have eaten it everywhere I go, so I don't dole out 5 stars when I taste a decent spicy tuna role. Bottom line here was, it was fine and met my expectations. I had time to kill in a neighborhood I was unfamiliar with and I had a sushi craving. This satisfied it. They have a ton of roles which are on the expensive side (probably to pay the rent in this area). I typically start with sashimi and end with a few rolls. The sashimi was good. The cuts were not super generous, but they were enough to satisfy. I had the seven spiced ahi appetizer that was a specialty of the house. That was disappointing. Go to Sushi by Chef Soon in Lisle if you really want a great version of this.
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Review from Kristine Bobbie N.
Chicago, IL
2/12/2012
The decor is amazing, sushi is delicious, and our servers (we sat at the bar) were extremely nice and helpful. My boyfriend can't eat shellfish and Nick was very patient and suggested various rolls or substitutions. We went during happy hour so it was $3 Sapporo, $6 large sake, $4 purple haze, and buy one get the second maki half off. Can't beat that!
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Review from J.P. M.
Chicago, IL
5/15/2011
It always breaks my heart when I dine somewhere special and the place is nearly empty. Agami is a prime example -- sleek interior, beyond-attentive staff and reasonable prices. We popped in for the maki special (buy 3, get 1 free) late on a Thursday night and practically had the run of the place.
The sushi was fresh, ample and attractively presented. The sake was only, like, 6 bucks and the server didn't even charge us for a refill. Overall, a very pleasant experience close to home. Will def repeat. Don't allow this place to change up anything (not suggesting it's in trouble b/c this was my first trip)! -
Review from Jon H.
Chicago, IL
12/12/2010
I went there a while ago for a blind date on Sat. I am not a big sushi fan and I am not a vegi. It is nice inside, warm, friendly service, light soothing music, etc. They do have a lot fancy Sushi plate, maki, etc.
I called to reserve a booth but found it was nearly empty at 6:30pm Sat.
I usually do not go eat because it is a special discount day for certain items. NO, I do not.
The price is upscale consider the amount of sushi you get and it is in uptown area, but they only open at late afternoon to midnight tells you sth.
so generally speaking, it is a good chance for small stomach or fat wallet to visit there daily or weekly. -
Review from Karen A.
Chicago, IL
8/18/2010 Seated via OpenTable
The interior is dark and looks like a pscyhedelic 1950's space age movie set- thats why I wanted to try Agami. Then we ate some of the best sushi in town- and we were hooked.
A Full bar. Check.
An extensive Sake list. Check- love that!
SPECIALS- (half priced specialty rolls on Sundays?!) CHECK
Oyster shooters with quail egg and oyster? CHECK
The service was great,; atmosphere, inspiring; sushi-delicious.
This is the new hot spot on my hit list:)Listed in: Ethni-City, More Better Life, Pretty Dead Raw Fishies
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Review from Mike K.
3/13/2008
Welcome to the Mike K Generic Review Template version 0.6c.
[ ] First! Look at me! I love this place!
[ ] First! I wish I never found this place!
[ ] What the hell is everyone talking about? This place rocks!
[ ] What the hell is everyone talking about? This place sucks!
[ ] I agree w/ everyone. You need to be here.
[ ] I agree w/ everyone. You need to stay away.
[X] Meh. You could certainly do better or worse.
[ ] I was drunk the entire time and didn't really notice much.
[X] I liked everything but
- [ ] The food
- [ ] The service
- [ ] The atmosphere
- [ ] The music
- [ ] The people
- [ ] The location
- [X] The price
- [ ] The __________
[X] I recommend _the Jalapeno Spicy Tuna Maki__
- [X] and _the Fire Maki (it's on FIRE!)__
- [ ] and ____________
[X] +1 for _80's music on the soundsystem all night__
[X] +1 for _the excellent, attentive service (possibly b/c we were the only ones there)__
[ ] +1 for ____________
[X] Witty comment: _I get royalties if you want to use this template, yo__ -
Review from Colleen C.
Chicago, IL
6/4/2007
Edit 3/11/08: I went back, and I STILL love it.
I've been wanting to try Agami forever! I am an Uptown dweller, and always keen on trying new establishments that are working to spiff up the image of Uptown. Plus it just looked generally funky and wanted to take a look :)
We stopped in after strolling around Borders...just had edamame to start, very good, and FAST. We didn't have drinks, but their sake list is HUGE. We had fun just looking at all of the different kinds!
I order the Ahi Tuna Steak over sauteed veggies and mash with garlic butter sauce...it was DIVINE. Melted in my mouth,flavorful, veggies were still a bit crunchy, but tender (not soggy). It came with miso soup and a great salad (green lettuce and spinach) and a lovely sesame dressing). My date had several interesting maki rolls that he raved about, including one topped with salmon and sesame sauce.
It's a bit pricier than my favorite "mom and pop" joint Bentonara, but its got some killer ambience for a chill night out, adequate seating for large groups, and an all around great vibe. Waiter was super friendly and fast...
Definitely worth a try. I will go back for sure...Listed in: Date night..., Sushi, Stellar Chicago Sushi, Viva L'Uptown, Come play in Uptown ;)
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Review from nikki c.
3/17/2008
I love:
- American food.
- fish.
- alcohol served cold and tastefully prepared for consumption.
- women with sultry curves and smiles that warm your soul.
- rooms that were planned out and executed to express soul and imagination.
- bathrooms that are clean and give you a place to collect and say hello to yourself.
I love coming back to the table with plates decorated like presents waiting for you to open and consume.
and I love really cheap prices.
Except for the last item, everything else can be found here.
but its been said by many before me, the words cheap and sushi should never be joined...and in this case this a good thing. -
Review from Katarina X.
Chicago, IL
8/16/2009
I had a mind blowing date here.
It was supposed to be brief for cocktails but gloriously escalated into several courses... I ordered a martini flight that included a mini Honeydew Melon martini, a Green Tea with lemon twist and a truly elegant Coffee concoction (you already know how I love coffee) that I refused to share.
Most coffee liquor drinks taste like one of Cosby's pudding pops dropped in cheap vodka, ew- I am happy to report this drink was exceptionally sublime and worthy of ordering again.
You must peruse the menu beforehand to make the best Signature Maki selection because you can be there debating the merits of each, getting distracted by the gorgeous plates and that would be no good because then you would miss dessert.
Someone who works here must please, pretty please PM me the name of this majestic apple dessert masterpiece because by that point the martinis kicked in, my date got hotter and I was too distracted to take note. That is a compliment.
Yes dessert- no euphemism my yelpster friend- there is a scrumptious apple dessert- crispy, succulent, sweet... I ate the apple, the date devoured the ice cream... there were no fork stabbings over caramel sauce... oh, oh, oh it was good.
Plus, I love any reason to dress up. Go.Listed in: Yumminess!
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Review from Ray P.
3/15/2010 2 Check-ins Here
I know there are many, many sushi restaurants in Chicago. Many. Ad nauseum. But, I go out of my way (I live in the loop. Agami is in Uptown. 'Nuff said.) for sushi at Agami because it's good.
Tasty.
Fresh.
And, not over mid-westernized. Okay, they have one maki that has cream cheese (cream cheese, people, does NOT belong in sushi. Or hot dogs for that matter. You heard me Seattle). And, there is one "kitschy" maki that is surrounded by flame, but is quite tasty. I stand by my belief that the specialty and signature maki are just, well, gosh darn delicious.
Spicy two ways (the chili only and chili-mayo style).
Tuna two or three ways.
Tuna, salmon, unagi, and other fishies on one or many maki.
But, don't stop with the maki (even though most of their maki is HALF OFF on Sunday. Yes, you heard that correctly. HALF OFF. This means up to eight people, without alcohol, can eat for a little under $240. Watta-bah-gan -- EDIT: WITH tip). Try the hamachi kama -- blissful, not fishy, meaty, broiled perfectly, and if you're asian, ask for an extra bowl of rice, although given the fact that you're asian, they may just give you an extra bowl of rice without your asking. I'm just sayin'.
The staff is quite friendly and sitting at the bar is a good way to end a Sunday Funday (again, Sunday is HALF OFF most maki. Seriously. This is not an ad, I swear!). A few people have noted the priciness of Agami. Hmm, could that be because we're in the Midwest, landlocked from any ocean, and it costs a bitch-load to fly in fish fresh every week? And, Agami uses a lot of fish. A LOT. Don't let the prices deter you. Go. I'll see you at the bar -- I'll be the brown guy with the large cup of sake and my extra bowl of rice -- say hello when you come in! -
Review from Mitchell P.
Chicago, IL
10/30/2007
WOW!
This was a fun sushi experience.
It was sweetest day, and i needed to find a place to take her out for the night. We decided to try this place as we saw that there were some good reviews and it was in the neighborhood.
Iko was our server. If you can get him, do it. He's wonderful, and will make your lady laugh.
They have some very fun martinis and the sushi was very good.Listed in: Buena Park Restaurants, SUSHI!
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Review from Jackie P.
Chicago, IL
3/12/2008
OMG OMG OMG! And let me say it one more time OMG! The sushi here was AMAZING. I mean melt in your mouth, fantastic bites of fishy, yummy goodness! The spider maki and California rolls were so yummy I almost ordered a second California roll but then decided against for fear of looking like a little piggy!
The Miso soup was also delicious I just wish it came in a little bigger bowl. It was so good and when I reached the end of the bowl I was still wanting more.
Their cuts of Nigri are HUGE and FRESH! I was really surprised by the size of fish that we got but was also impressed by how fresh it was. This was also melt in your mouth fantastic.
Agami is a little pricey but well worth what you pay and I believe that's how it should be. I have no problem paying a little more as long as I am getting the quality I deserve based on the payment. And Agami delivers!
Oh and parking is not so much! I would suggest taking another form of transportation if you have the option.
So why four stars you ask? Two reason and both equal to losing one star. First reason - we walked in and were greated by the receptionist who was on the phone. Fine I can understand they do take reservations but then quickly I realized this was a personal phone conversation and she didn't seem like she was going to end the conversation anytime soon. So I set off to find the group of yelpers myself. How hard is it to find a group of yelpers anyway? Not to damn hard actually! The second reason - our wait staff was a little slow and unorganized but I do believe they were really, really busy so I can understand a little. And actually the first reason made me a little angrier than the second.
Oh and actually I think I'm gonna give it 4.5 stars. They brought us out a lovely appetizer...on the house...and even though I didn't eat it (to spicy for me) I heard it was delicious. Also our desserts were on the house as well! Oh hell that's a lot of free stuff!Listed in: One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish,…
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Review from Bialynia C.
Chicago, IL
3/21/2007
Anybody who claims the food at Agami is just "okay" must be out of their mind. Agami is my favorite Sushi joint, and I maintain it has the best Sushi east of Japan (or west, depending on how you look at it). I eat Sushi regularly, and I try to check out a new Sushi bar every week or two, and Chicago has plenty of them. Due to my location, when I just want great Sushi I go to Agami, I'm never disappointed. If I want cheap Sushi I go to Tokyo Marina.
The decor has been described, but I think the round booths behind the Sushi bar are really fun.
Try the Tuna rice crispy for an appetizer, you'll love it. The specialty rolls are all fantastic, I highly recommend the Ocean Drive. The seared Tuna is better than any other place in Chicago. What can I say virtually everything is good, save for maybe the seared scallops. -
Review from Emily Y.
Chicago, IL
12/17/2008
Top notch sushi in Uptown! We had a terrific experience here on a recent Friday evening. As soon as we entered the restaurant, the staff was extremely friendly and attentive. I love the decor -- it's kind of nightclubby and hip, yet cozy and private at the same time. We had a "private booth" (which I think at one time may have contained a curtain to keep it private, but the curtain was no longer). Nonetheless, it was still quite cozy and intimate. Perfect for a Friday night date.
Our booth was behind the glass-enclosed sushi counter, so we got an up-close look at all those yummy fresh ingredients and the sushi chefs' amazing skills, without compromising the intimacy. And the sushi: top, top. We had the rainbow roll, the caterpillar roll, and the soft shell crab roll. All were beautifully presented, the fish wonderfully fresh, and the accompanying sauces delicious. I would definitely go back to try more of the maki rolls on their menu. There are tons of really different and inventive rolls.
As for drinks, there are lots of fun martinis and a fairly large wine selection, but we stuck with beer this time around. I'll definitely be back to try a few of those martinis! For dessert we had the chocolate banana maki, which was basically a frozen chocolate covered banana with ice cream. I was expecting something a bit more inventive, but still very tasty nonetheless.
I was a little concerned at the lack of patrons at prime dinnertime Friday night, but perhaps it was the cold that was keeping people away. This is the perfect date spot and a stellar sushi dining experience, so I'd hate to see this place close on us! Meter parking is plentiful, plus the bank parking lot across the street, and it's steps from the red line.
For great sushi in a sexy environment, Agami hits the nail on the head.Listed in: On the up-and-up in Uptown
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Review from rachel p.
Chicago, IL
10/29/2007
I've been to agami once, late at night on a weekday. Yes, the place was dead, no the decor did not knock my socks off (feels like its trying too hard to be trendy) but the sushi was good... and... lets focus on the positive here people, its open late, and they have sushi that LIGHTS ON FIRE!
Now, I realize that fiery sushi may not be as entertaining for everyone as it is for me, but who doesn't like food with flames? Seriously people, don't lie to yourselves!
And, speaking of the positive... isn't it nice to see a business in uptown thats not a crack house, or hourly motel? -
Review from Rhonda G.
8/18/2008
The place was pretty empty when I went here on Sunday around 9:30pm but still had an inviting atmosphere. I really like the reds used in the interior and I think it makes for a sexy environment. The booths were really nice, comfy and large! Our waitress was very nice and attentive although it was pretty close to closing time.
Wine bottles are half priced on Sundays so this was a very nice surprise. We had the edamame, Philly Maki, Yellow tail and scallion maki, salmon maki, dragon roll, spice shrimp roll and I must say that they were all very good (though I opted out of the dragon roll). I didn't think the rolls were expensive at all and trust me because I'm CHEAP:)
A couple were $5, $7 and $8, but the dragon was $15 because it's a specialty one (eel).
Olympics were on the flat screens so we were able to check that out, while talking and eating so it was a pretty good night. I highly recommend this place if you're in the area.Listed in: Sushi, I can't say NO, These places make me happy
