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Kumiko unveils a 10-seat omakase counter hidden in its basement

Morgan Olsen
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Morgan Olsen
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There's a tasty secret hiding below Kumiko, the intimate West Loop cocktail den from creative director Julia Momose, executive chef Noah Sandoval and chef de cuisine Mariya Russell. On May 22, the all-star team will debut Kikkō, an 10-seat underground omakase counter offering a seven-course tasting menu.

The opening of Kikkō marks a shift in service for Kumiko: The eight-seat bar upstairs will now accept walk-ins and the menu will expand to include more a la carte bites. The formal omakase experience will move downstairs to the basement and is now accepting reservations via OpenTable. Seatings are available Wednesday through Sunday at 5:30, 7:30 and 9:30pm. 

Developed by Sandoval and Russell, the menu at Kikkō is priced at $130 per person and includes familiar dishes like ora king salmon sashimi with sea grapes, pillows of creamy uni nigiri and the raved-about Japanese milk toast, which is topped with summer truffles (ICYMI: this bite made our restaurant critic cry tears of joy). Guests can add cocktail and sake pairings for $65—an absolute must if you ask us. Keeping with the ethos of the omakase experience at Kumiko, Momose and her skilled team will chat with guests to determine their preferences before building super-personalized drinks to pair with the food.

The space is described as a dark, modern "nook-like setting" with a vintage stereo that plays vinyl records. Kikkō opens below Kumiko at 630 W Lake Street on Wednesday, May 22.

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