Daruma Restaurant

I’ve been to Daruma many times — one of the most authentic Japanese restaurants in the Chicago area. Worth driving from downtown. Big portions and reasonable prices. Authentic and great Japanese food every time.

I visited here on a certain day in August 2025. It was at 11:25 am. They were already open. My wife ordered a "KAKI FRY LUNCH". And I ordered a "TONKATSU LUNCH" "TONKATSU" was very huge ! and juicy. The tomato spaghetti served alongside the "TONKATSU" was also good. They were very kind and explained about the foods politely.

great food, quality is amazing; a little slow; space is limited so better reserve

UGH!! This place. I wish I could afford it more often. It was so delicious. The sashimi melted in my mouth. It was so fresh. The maki rolls were also so yummy. Rice perfectly seasoned with not too many sauces. I’ve been craving the soba ever since I’ve had it. The teriyaki chicken was also so yummy. Buttery, rich, delicious. Not too sweet and cooked perfectly without being burned. The servers were all super attentive and nice. Accommodated perfectly without bothering us. It’s an amazing place for special occasions. Birthdays, anniversaries, etc. not your everyday easy dinner though.

The restaurant itself is beautiful, with authentic designs, and even a Koi pond. The service was quick and attentive throughout. All of the amazing waiters and waitresses were very kind and were always keeping our glasses filled. The food itself was spectacular. Truly amazing and authentic tasting dishes with American sized portions! Someone may argue that the pricing is a little high, but when you see the plate in front of you, you definitely know that you’ll be getting some leftovers. Overall, I highly recommend this place. I’m glad that they were able to maintain a high-level of quality staff and maintain the excellent atmosphere throughout the years.

Nice, quiet atmosphere, beautiful Japanese interior. The staff are very polite and friendly. I ordered the Katsu pork rice bowl. It was a huge serving! The pork was tender, juicy, and tasty. We also had the fried baby octopus for appetizer and it was delicious. There were lots of Asian customers in the restaurant so it could be a good sign that the food is good and authentic.

Authentic Japanese food, Big portions, server was nice and attentive. I recommend getting the zaru soba. It is a cold noodle with dipping sauce. It is flavorful. We also got chicken teriyaki combo. It’s huge. It’s good for 2 people sharing. Also, Tonkotsu dinner is very big too. I love Agedashi tofu, so I always order from every Japanese restaurant I that go. I also ordered from here. I think the tempura batter here isn’t my style but dipping sauce was ok. My least favorite is Buta Nira Moyashi. There is too much bean sprouts. We ended up packing a lot of food home. So, don’t over order. Most of the main dishes and entrees are good for sharing.