Gaijin

Q: Does Gaijin offer gift cards?

Gaijin does offer gift cards which you can purchase here .

4.7

118 Reviews

$30 and under

Japanese

Make a reservation

2 people

Mar 11, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 40 times today

Experiences are available.

Innovative
Hot spot
Neighborhood gem

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.

Designed to deliver a lively and interactive culinary experience, the 60-seat space is anchored by a custom 12-foot griddle and chef’s counter and offers individual Hiroshima teppan griddles for table service.

The dessert menu features kakigori, a shaved ice dessert, along with mochi donuts and other Japanese-inspired treats. The bar program showcases highballs and a focused selection of beer – including a Moody Tongue-Gaijin collaboration house lager, sake, Japanese whisky, and wine.

We can’t wait to see you at Gaijin!

Private dining

Book your next event with us

View details

Dining areas

Additional information

Location
950 W Lake St, Chicago, IL 60607
Phone number
(312) 265-1348
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Japanese, Okonomiyaki, Asian
Hours of operation
Mon–Fri 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Sat, Sun 11:00 am–10:00 pm Happy Hour Mon–Thu 5:00 pm–6:00 pm
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
None
Delivery & takeout
Order direct

Gift card

Send gift cards instantly by email or print to present in person.

Send a gift card

Experiences

Sunset Soundscapes - Monthly DJ Night
$5.00 per person
Prepaid
Mar 19, 2025 only
Our monthly DJ night is back! This month, we're thrilled to have DJ Shon Dervis spinning a killer mix of city pop, funk, and soul from 6pm-9pm. Come early for happy hour deals from 5pm-6pm and stay for the vibes. Plus, enjoy half-off sake bottle all night long. A $5 deposit per person secures your reservation and will be applied to the final bill. See you there!
Chef Collaboration Night: Brian Jupiter
Mar 20, 2025 only
Gaijin is thrilled to welcome Chef Brian Jupiter of Frontier and Ina Mae Tavern & Packaged Goods in on Thursday, March 20th, for the seventh installment of our Chef Collaboration series! Chef Jupiter will be in house from 6 - 8 p.m. to showcase his unique osaka-style okonomiyaki special. This is a one-night-only opportunity you won't want to miss!
Chef Collaboration Night: Christian Hunter
Apr 17, 2025 only
Gaijin is thrilled to welcome Chef Christian Hunter of Atelier in on Thursday, April 17th, for the eighth installment of our Chef Collaboration series! Chef Hunter will be in house from 6 - 8 p.m. to showcase his unique osaka-style okonomiyaki special. This is a one-night-only opportunity you won't want to miss!

Offers

Try Our Happy Hour Specials Starting At $5!
Multiple dates available
Mon - Thu - 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Join us Monday through Thursday, 4 p.m. - 6 p.m., for selected highballs, sake, draft beer, starters and share plates, starting at $5. Reservations are recommended, but walk-ins are also welcome.

What 118 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7

4.7 based on recent ratings

4.6Food
4.6Service
4.6Ambience
4.5Value

Noise • Moderate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Gaijin delivers an outstanding culinary experience with "delicious food" and "amazing drinks." The Japanese okonomiyaki and mochi donuts are "a must-try." Patrons praise the "friendly service" and "inviting atmosphere." Although some feedback highlights seasoning concerns, the restaurant remains a top choice for adventurous diners seeking authentic flavors and diverse menu options.

118 Reviews

A
Adriana VIP
Chicago1 review
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Great food, very different from any Asian cuisine, very specific and nice. The place is small, always full with great atmosphere. The servis is very efficient, helpful and fast. Great experience.
Is this helpful?
J
Joanne
Chicago40 reviews
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Such a fun and delicious dinner! Great food and great drinks and stellar service. I have been before and have been hyping this place to my friends. It definitely lived up to the hype and we had a blast! This place is not to be missed!
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
Chicago1 review
5.0
Dined 3 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Food was amazing as always I tried the duck and it was great 😊
Is this helpful?
H
Hanae
Chicago1 review
5.0
Dined on March 3, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
I had a business dinner with customers from Japan. But I wanted it to be a nice casual occasion, so Gaijin was just the right fit. Good Japanese choices and good drinks. The Okonomiyaki was pretty good but they enjoyed the atmosphere so much that they went for seconds on the highball. My boss joined us later in the night, the staff was super-flexible and friendly, the night got better and in the end, we all enjoyed the evening :)
Is this helpful?
C
Cody
Unspecified1 review
3.0
Dined on February 23, 2025
1. Overall 3
2. Food 2
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
I have been wanting to try this place for a while now, I was exited to step in for brunch! The host was very kind, the ambiance was nice, and the noise wasn’t too loud. My server happened to be the bartender and I sadly didn’t get to catch her name(she was working the brunch shift on 2/23 and she was amazing! She helped me pick a drink, wasn’t intrusive, and had a warm bubbly and inviting personality. Sadly that’s about where it ends, everything was much so overly salted, I couldn’t finish my rice dish because the amount of salt that was on the food was aggressive. I didn’t complain nor ask for my money because it’s not worth the trouble, but please focus on bringing the flavor out in the food without needing to pile on the salt.
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
Washington DC1 review
5.0
Dined on February 17, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
One of my favorite places in the city. It’s the only place I ever willingly visit west loop to eat at. Worth it every time.
Is this helpful?
J
Justin
Indiana9 reviews
5.0
Dined on February 16, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We're very impressed with the unique flavors of an otherwise authentically created dish. The service was very friendly and prompt. The atmosphere was positive and inviting with a pleasant buzz among all the customers without being overly loud. While visiting Chicago, this was a great stop on our itinerary and the location has such easy access. For okonomiyaki regulars who have roots in the city of Osaka, we were very impressed! Don't forget the mochi donuts and the kakigori for dessert!
Is this helpful?
Y
Yunho
Guatemala1 review
3.0
Dined on February 15, 2025
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 3
Good Japanese Okonomiyaki, but I hope we can get more sauces option next time!
Is this helpful?
J
Jennifer VIP
Chicago115 reviews
5.0
Dined on February 13, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 3
We ordered from the Chicago Black Restaurant Week menu. A fabulous & delicious selection and a great value. So tasty and you totally won over my friend. Huge fan.
Is this helpful?
N
Nina
Chicago60 reviews
5.0
Dined on February 9, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
This was a delightful experience from start to finish.
Is this helpful?

FAQs

You can order delivery directly from Gaijin using the Order Online button.

Gaijin is rated 4.7 stars by 118 OpenTable diners.

Gaijin does offer gift cards which you can purchase here.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.