Eater Inside

Tour Wasabi’s New Expansion as One of Chicago’s Best Japanese Spots Grows

Will this help decrease wait times?

by Ashok Selvam@Shokdiesel May 9, 2017, 2:47pm CDT

Photography by Marc Much

Ashok Selvam is the editor of Eater Chicago and a native Chicagoan armed with more than two decades of award-winning journalism. Now covering the world of restaurants and food, his nut graphs are super nutty.

Ramen fans in Logan Square have waited two years for this, as Wasabi, the beloved Japanese restaurant at 2115 N. Milwaukee Ave., opens its new dining room and bar next to its original location. The new space comes with a new menu: Tokyo-inspired street items like yakitori and more vegan options are part of the bill — as well as change from BYO into offering a full booze menu. As previously reported, Wasabi’s previous location will now be Wasabi Sushi & Robata, and remain BYO.

Wasabi’s sister restaurant off Fulton Market, Ramen Takeya, focuses on chicken paitan, a poultry-based broth that’s lighter than pork-based tonkatsu. The new, improved Wasabi is promising three new broths—hakata classic tonkotsu, spicy hakata, and tsukemen — as part of its soft opening menu beginning tonight. Also expect gyudon beef bowls and other small plates to be available during the soft opening period that coincides with the move next door.

Long waits are the norm at Wasabi. Ownership hopes additional seating alleviates that problem, but it’s unclear if management has made any changes in its reservation policy. That includes if they plan to implement any systems such as those where hosts text diners once their table is ready.

The new space offers a row of wooden booths along the windows so diners can watch pedestrians along Milwaukee Avenue, and the main attraction is the bar. Check out the photos below.

Wasabi, 2115 N. Milwaukee Ave., (773) 227-8180.