Lettuce Entertain You Is Opening Yet Another Streeterville Japanese Restaurant

Chicago restaurant group behemoth Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises is adding to its growing family of Japanese-style restaurants once again in Streeterville. Mr. Maki is slated to open later this spring at 676 N. St. Clair Street, not far from sister restaurants Ramen-san and Sushi-san.

Rolls aren’t Mr. Maki’s primary focus. The menu is also designed around teishoku, affordable set meals popular all over Japan that serve several dishes simultaneously. These are not unlike bento, those packed lunches to be devoured at work or school. Based on ichiju-issai (“one soup, one side”) meals served at Japanese Zen temples, teishoku typically include a main dish, soup, rice, and pickles. The sets at Mr. Maki will include a main entree — such as teriyaki, crispy stir-fried noodles, or maki — accompanied by tempura veggie fries, miso soup, and a salad.

Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises/Jeff Marini

Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises/Jeff Marini

Lettuce Entertain You first opened Ramen-san in River North in 2014, and subsequently expanded to Fulton Market and Streeterville. Intimate Lincoln Park sushi bar Naoki Sushi is also owned by the group inside the former Intro Chicago. Teishoku isn’t new to Chicago, though diners will mostly have to travel to the Northwest Suburbs for a taste of these homestyle meals.

Mr. Maki will be will be open for lunch, dinner, carryout, and eventually delivery. Check back for an opening date when LEYE releases one.