A Venerable Chicago Vegetarian Restaurant is Opening a Sushi Spot

For the past nine years, Mana Food Bar has served an eclectic selection of vegetarian small plates with a Korean influence in Wicker Park and now ownership will lean on Japan for inspiration. Next month within the Mana space that they expanded last year they’ll debut Anaba Handroll Bar at 1742 W. Division St. Anaba will serve sushi with vegetarian options, as Mana will continue to be meat free.

The new restaurant, according to Chicago, is a collaboration between Mana owners Jill Barron and Susan Thompson, plus Soon Park. Park owns Chef Soon, a seven-year old sushi spot in West Suburban Woodridge. Like Mana, Anaba is also a tiny space with 15 seats.

While Anaba will concentrate on hand rolls, the restaurant joins a cluster of sushi restaurants near Division, Milwaukee, and Ashland. There’s Seadog Sushi Bar, Jieyi Sushi, Kin Sushi, Sushi Taku, Mirai Sushi, Nori Sushi, Sushi Burrito, and Komrebi Sushi all within a short walk. Wicker Park can see if Anaba can separate itself from the pack in mid-October.