Gaijin is Paul Virant's narrow, focused take on Japanese comfort food: okonomiyaki, the griddled savory pancake whose name translates to "have it your way," built on cabbage and noodles with customizable additions like pork, shrimp, fried egg, and bonito flakes. The West Loop room keeps its menu tight around that one dish, rounded out with starters and share plates.
Kakigori, Japanese shaved ice dressed in sweet sauces and syrups, sits alongside the okonomiyaki as the other fixture of the menu.
Virant also runs Vistro Prime, Petite Vie, Jar Sessions, and The Preservation Kitchen around Chicago; Gaijin is his departure into a smaller, more playful format. Michelin has selected the restaurant for its Chicago guide in both 2024 and 2025.
Kakigori, Japanese shaved ice dressed in sweet sauces and syrups, sits alongside the okonomiyaki as the other fixture of the menu.
Virant also runs Vistro Prime, Petite Vie, Jar Sessions, and The Preservation Kitchen around Chicago; Gaijin is his departure into a smaller, more playful format. Michelin has selected the restaurant for its Chicago guide in both 2024 and 2025.