Arami’s Sibling Restaurant Opens in Lakeview
Ani, the “brother” restaurant of Chicago’s acclaimed Arami, has launched in Lakeview. Owners/brothers Ty and Troy Fujimura offer traditional and forward-thinking Japanese cuisine. The menu, crafted by Chef Shin Matsuda (Arami, Slurping Turtle), reflects a full Japanese experience and accentuates the duality of the sibling restaurants through the dishes – hot and cold, sweet and spicy, crunchy and smooth. Ani’s innovation is rooted in tradition.
Ani’s menu, available for lunch and dinner daily, includes an array of cold plates (togarashi seared tuna; tsukemono; wakame salad) and hot items (tako yaki; vegetable shumai; seared hotate), along with noodles (Chitown ramen; shoyu ramen; miso buta hara ramen), donburi dishes made with exceptional rice (tori; sake korokke; gyu), temaki hand rolls (spicy tako; maguro akami; sake kaiware), creative maki mono (sake citrus; maguro; gani) and the highest quality nigiri/sashimi (hirame; madai; ikura) delivered daily. During lunch service, dining guests may choose to enjoy a bento box (beef, chicken, salmon, tofu) and after 5 p.m., diners may order robata skewers (buta hara; ebi; enoki) grilled over white oak charcoal. For those with dietary restrictions, a variety of gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan menu options are offered. The dessert menu, created by Pastry Chef Erin Cade (Trump Hotel Chicago, NoMI), features Matcha Financier (matcha cake with ice cream, fruit and mango sauce), Whipped Panna Cotta (sesame milk chocolate panna cotta with yuzu marmalade, shortbread and melon) and Castella Cake (sakura whipped cream with fruit). The menus are outlined below.
The extensive sake program at Ani is as thoughtful as the Japanese cuisine. Each place setting incorporates an authentic, sake masu box. The square masu, originally used to measure rice, reflects the overflowing hospitality and informed education diners experience at the restaurant. The house sake, Ichi No Torii, is brewed exclusively for Arami and Ani by Omuraya Brewery in Japan. This true private label sake, available cold or warm, is rich and dry with hints of hazelnut and cocoa and is designed to perfectly pair with Ani’s range of dishes. A sake pouring station is featured in the front dining room and offerings range from clean/pure, fragrant/floral and rich/classic to specialty, reserve and hot sake by the glass pour, bottle or flight. In addition to sake, Ani offers wine, shochu, scotch/whiskey and beer (beverages also outlined below).
Ani is a welcoming, family-friendly restaurant with two separate dining areas. The front room (table seating for 40) is enveloped in warm hues and natural elements, with a custom made mural designed by the Fujimura brothers. The rear room (table seating for 16) boasts a comfortable small lounge area, exposed brick walls and counter seats that peer into Chef Matsuda’s kitchen. The back room may be reserved for private dining. A sidewalk cafe, located on Lincoln Avenue, will be available for seasonal alfresco dining.
Hours of Operation
Monday-Thursday: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday-Saturday: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Sunday: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
About ANI
Ani, the “brother” restaurant of Chicago’s acclaimed Arami, offers traditional and forward-thinking Japanese cuisine in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood. Owners/brothers Ty and Troy Fujimura and Chef Shin Matsuda present a full Japanese dining experience that reflects both Ani’s innovation and traditional roots. The menu features an array of cold plates and hot items, along with noodles, donburi dishes made with exceptional rice, robata skeweres grilled over white oak charcoal, temaki hand rolls, creative maki mono, the highest quality nigiri/sashimi delivered daily and decadent desserts. The extensive sake program at Ani is as thoughtful as the Japanese cuisine. Each place setting incorporates an authentic, sake masu box representing the overflowing hospitality and informed education diners experience at the restaurant. The house sake, Ichi No Torii, is brewed exclusively for Arami and Ani by Omuraya Brewery in Japan. This welcoming, family-friendly restaurant, open for lunch and dinner daily, boasts two separate dining areas and a sidewalk cafe located on Lincoln Avenue. For more information please visit www.AniChicago.com
