Kizuki Ramen & Izakaya ( 1482 N. Milwaukee Ave.; Kizuki.com ) is the latest in a string of impressive Japanese restaurants I've had the fortune to visit.
Even my dining partner, who's traveled to Japan, really liked the fare at Kizuki, which started in Tokyo and has expanded to several states, including Washington, Oregon, Illinois and Indiana.
Dining here was a great experience from start to finish, with attentive service and sizable dishes that seemed to materialize almost instantly.
My friend selected a sake flight, liking each item he chose. ( Kizuki has a nice selection of sakes and Japanese beers. )
The menu is divided into ramen, izakaya and rice disheswith a plethora of ramen toppings ( including woodear mushrooms, bamboo shoots, seasoned half-boiled eggs and various flavored meat cuts, called chashus ) being offered.
We started with edamame that was flavored with sea salt that truly smelled like it came from the Atlantic minutes priornot a bad thing, but definitely distinctive. As for the izakaya, I highly recommend the chicken karaage, delicious deep-fried marinated chicken with spicy mayo. You also can't go wrong with other appetizers like Japanese pork buns and potato croquettes.
The ramen is among the best I've had. My friend loved his chicken-rich ramen while I similarly adored my low-sodium version of garlic tonkotsu Shoyu ramen, which contained extra-rich pork broth along with a variety of toppings.
Lastly, there's the rice dish known as the karaage donpossibly my favorite dish of the evening. It's chicken karaage on a bed of rice, salad greens and tomatoes, with Kizuki's special sesame dressing drizzled on the concoction. It's heavenly.
The only possible wild card is dessert. There are almond tofu and mocha/mango/red bean mochi ice creamor there are Jeni's ice cream across the street as well as Stan's Donuts down the block.
Overall, I highly recommend Kizuki, for the service and the cuisine.