Hiro Izakaya will soon open in West Town

Diners who enjoyed a meal at Porto understand what it felt like leaving the Spanish and Portuguese seafood restaurant with your clothes lightly dusted from the delicious smoke of grilled dry-aged fish. The open kitchen outfitted with custom grills in the back of the restaurant would often emanate the aroma of fish flown in from Spain and Portugal. It earned a Michelin star in 2021.

An uni toro handroll.

Celeste Group

Porto, a collaboration between Celeste Group and Bonhomme Hospitality Group, closed in summer 2023 without a chance for many customers to say goodbye. Since then, Bonhomme and Celeste have focused on their neighboring venues along Chicago — Beatnik and its newish wine bar, GoodFunk. Celeste has full control of the former Porto space at the northwest corner of Ashland and Chicago and has slowly determined how to take advantage of the space’s layout and kitchen.

Tuna crispy rice

Celeste Group

Edamame

Celeste Group

The suspense is now over as on Thursday, March 6, Celeste announced Hiro Izakaya will open this spring at 1600 W. Chicago Avenue. A news release describes the “live-fire robota grill” as the restaurant’s soul. They’ll still serve seafood in the space as sushi will be on the menu. Small plates and family-style dining options are also planned. While not naming any chefs in particular, the release says a group of culinary experts who worked at Asian fusion staples Sunda and Nobu developed Hiro’s menu.

Tuna takaki

Celeste Group

Porto gained acclaim for its stunning design, something Bonhomme, in particular, is known for. Hiro will fixate on an ‘80s aesthetic, bringing a taste of Tokyo to town with traditional Toki highballs, plus sake and whisky.

Celeste also owns Vela and Beatnik on the River. Stay tuned for more information as the opening date grows closer.

Hiro Izakaya, 1600 W. Chicago Avenue, planned for a spring opening

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