Ringo

Despite an open kitchen and tables full of Japanese food, this quiet Lincoln Park restaurant feels like a cute neighborhood coffee shop. The sparsely decorated space is bright and narrow, with mid-century modern chairs and frosted pendant lamps. And like any good neighborhood spot, the delicious, reasonably priced food, and friendly service are convincing reasons to become a regular. Both their sushi and hot dishes are equally tasty, so a group meal or low-key date is the best way to ensure you’ll try enough of both. The maki and nigiri are both great, with options like hamachi with yuzu or sweet botan ebi served with a perfectly crispy shrimp head. But the appetizers are even more impressive. The tsukune skewers have a balance of savory ground chicken and onion with a sweet glaze, while their chawanmushi is perfectly light and creamy with just a hint of fruity yuzu.