FULTON MARKET — One of South America’s most acclaimed Nikkei restaurants is opening this winter in Fulton Market, introducing Chicago diners to its signature blend of Peruvian and Japanese cuisine.
Osaka Nikkei launched more than 20 years ago on a beach in Lima. What began as a speakeasy-style restaurant with no exterior signage has become synonymous with top-tier dining in Latin America.
Opening at 1101 W. Lake St., the restaurant will be the company’s second in the United States.
Nikkei cuisine combines the precision of Japanese culinary techniques with the bold, vibrant flavors of Peruvian gastronomy. The cuisine developed out of the Japanese immigrant community, called Nikkei, that formed in Peru in the 19th century.
In 2019, Osaka Nikkei opened its first U.S. location in Miami, a familiar Latino market. After finding success there, the brand is ready to take on the more complex and diverse dining scene in Chicago — a “true American market,” Juan Alfonso Urrutia, Osaka’s global culinary director, said in an interview with Block Club.
“Chicago is a great food city. Chicago has roots. [Chicago has] some of the best restaurants, not only in the U.S. but also in the world,” said Adonay Tafur, Osaka’s regional operations director.
Kero bar and entrance to Osaka, coming this winter to Fulton Market. Credit: Provided
While Chicago has a deeply rooted meat-and-potatoes culture, the city has increasingly embraced global flavors, inventive concepts and seafood- and sushi-forward menus, from international names like Nobu in the West Loop to neighborhood spots like Itoko in Lakeview from Chicago-based Boka Restaurant Group.
Enter Osaka.
Tafur and Urrutia see strong competition in the city’s dining scene, but they believe Osaka Nikkei offers something distinct.
“You go to sushi restaurants, even fusions, and you’ll try them and say, ‘Yeah, this is different’ — but it’s not shocking. I think we bring a little bit of a shock,” Urrutia said. “Not too strong, but strong enough to mark the difference and stand out.”
Osaka Nikkei emphasizes depth, contrast and a multi-sensory experience that considers every element of the dining journey — from the music and service to the food, Tafur and Urrutia said.
The restaurant won’t shy away from Chicago’s love for bold, hearty fare, incorporating smoke, fire and grilled meats into dishes alongside omakase offerings with a Peruvian twist.
The flavor combinations at Osaka Nikkei are meant to surprise diners, such as pairing high-quality fish with Amazonian sauces for its nigiri offerings, Urrutia said.
Other potential menu highlights include Amazonian grilled fish cooked in banana leaves over charcoal and a tiradito-style octopus dish served with a creamy sauce made from Peruvian botija olives.
The restaurant’s design will highlight Chicago’s architectural heritage, preserving interior timber ceilings and the exterior limestone of the Lake Street building while featuring an open kitchen layout and a prominent sushi bar.
Osaka Nikkei will seat 150-170 guests and will include a private dining room and a 40-seat cocktail bar, Kero, that’s considered its own brand.
The bar — which takes its name from an intricately designed ceremonial vessel used by pre-colonial Incas in central Peru — will offer a globally inspired cocktail menu rooted in Peruvian and Japanese flavors that incorporates local ingredients. Kero will also feature a few rotating cocktails crafted at other Kero outposts inside Osaka Nikkei restaurants around the world.
Osaka Nikkei’s Chicago location will also have a strong emphasis on music, with a curated playlist and DJs performing on weekends, Tafur said.
“The idea is to also have a fun environment,” Tafur said. “You’ll have your intimate spaces, but at the same time, you’ll also be able to share with the people around you and embrace everything.”
For more information and updates on the Chicago location’s opening, vist Osaka Nikkei’s website and Instagram.
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