Reader Bites celebrates dishes, drinks, and atmospheres from the Chicagoland food scene. Explore all of our favorites at chicagoreader.com/food/reader-bites. How good ...

It’s always difficult to pull myself away from the sushi at this sublime shrine to raw fish, but the rest of the menu, including the cooked dishes, is a treat, too, especially the spicy udon soup ...

Unpopular opinion: Japan is basically the Italy of Asia — amazing food, sure, but sometimes a bit… bland (at least for my spice-loving palate). Now, before you grab the pitchforks, let me clarify: I’m ...

There is the line at Marugame Monzo, curling into the somewhat longer line outside the ramen shop Daikokuya a few feet away. There is cold Asahi on tap and a stunningly good appetizer of tempura-fried ...

TOKYO -- Jellied sea urchin roe on a bed of tofu skin. Foie gras sushi. Fresh tea-leaf tempura. Raw horse-liver sashimi. A month ago -- before I consumed those dishes and many others equally as ...