We went to Miru, a high end Japanese restaurant, a few nights ago with some friends. Located at the end of the Chicago River walk in The St. Regis with breathtaking views of Navy Pier and the lake. They have an amazing outdoor terrace, but unfortunately it is closed in the winter. The restaurant offers an ambiance that’s truly captivating. As you step inside, you’re transported to a tranquil haven. The soft, warm lighting and minimalist design create a serene atmosphere. The gentle hum of conversations mingles with the soothing melodies, adding to the sense of authenticity. The exquisite use of wood, bamboo, and subtle earthy tones infuses a sense of calm, making it the perfect setting for an immersive culinary journey through Japan. Miru’s ambiance is a testament to the restaurant’s commitment to providing an authentic and memorable dining experience.
The food was absolutely amazing, the flavors and textures are just something I can’t even describe in words, you just have to trust me when I say it was great. They suggest 3-4 plates per person and everything is intended to share, we listened to our servers food recommendations, and were pleased.
Vegetables: We started with the Shishito Peppers and the Grilled Avocado. The peppers were perfectly cooked and flavored and I absolutely loved the texture of the creamy grilled avocado, not to mention the dressing over the top made it taste amazing and fresh.
Signature Raw: We ordered the Hamachi & Lemon and the Tai Snapper which were both recommended to us by our server, and I absolutely loved them. The hamachi had a lemon foam over it which was very good and the tai snapper had a sesame citrus dressing over it. I think I liked the tai snapper better then the hamachi if I had to pick one.
Crispy Rice: When ever Miru came up in my Instagram feed, they always talk about the crispy rice being amazing. All three options looked good but we ended up trying the King Crab Crispy Rice which was made with gochujan aioli, and wasabi tobiko. I was nice a creamy, but I would like to try the avocado crispy rice next time.
Robata Skewers: We ordered the Tako which was a skewer of charred otopus and heirloom potatoes. I think my favorite part of this dish was the green cilantro sauce that the skewer was served over. It reminded me of a sauce that is often served with indian food.
Crunchy: We ordered the tempura rock shrimp which was served with a tobanjan lime sauce. The shrimp was fresh and fried to perfection.
Rice & Noodles: We ordered the wild mushroom sizzling rice and it was amazing, literally came to the table sizzling. I love mushrooms, and this rice was the perfect amount of mushroom paired with garlic. There were almost burnt or crispy pieces of rice in the bowl which were my favorite.
Seafood: We got the diver scallops, these were the largest scallops I have ever seen. They were cooked to perfection and very fresh. I loved how they were served over a broth, it kept them very moist and tender.
We got two rolls and one order of nigiri / sashimi, honestly I know that one of the items we ordered was the chutoro with was the medium fatty tuna, and this is the first time I have ever tried sashimi and let me tell you, it was great! It just melted in my mouth.
We barley had room for dessert, but we made it work. We ordered the black sesame mochi charcoal-vanilla ice cream which had black sesame praline over a mochi sponge. Probably my favorite dessert in a while. It was warm mochi topped with cold ice cream and crunchy praline. It was so many different temperatures and textures in one bowl.
In conclusion, this amazing Japanese restaurant offers a culinary journey like no other. With its exquisite dishes, attentive service, and authentic ambiance, it’s a place where every visit feels like your first. Whether you’re a sushi aficionado or seeking new flavors, this restaurant’s diverse menu has something to delight every palate. So, if you’re in search of a remarkable dining experience, make sure to visit this gem of a restaurant.
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Living My Best Life 