Hi all – I used to frequent Good Measure (great place before it closed) and really enjoyed their Toki highballs, which were pumped out via a speciality machine designed by Suntory for precisely that drink. It is one of my favorite drinks. I found a 2021 Eater article (linked) that listed the places in Chicago that have such a machine (some of which were modified to add flavors, not my thing) but it seems to be out of date. E.g., it lists Good Measure and Prairie School.
Is there an updated list of the places with the Toki highball machine? Or does anyone know of some new / additional places that have the device? My Sodastream is not cutting it, so any knowledge that people have on the subject would be appreciated. Thank you!
by ChiGuyDetFan
35 Comments
Momotaro
Not Chicago but just in case you find yourself in that area, Maxwell Mansion in Lake Geneva has one.
Thalia hall upstairs bar (which you would only go to during a show lol sorry)
I think akahoshi also got a machine recently
California Clipper, if memory serves.
Joto
I think Hiro Izakaya has it too
Akahoshi has them
Golden hour on Chicago. Go for burger happy hour
Gaijin has a high ball menu but I don’t know if they have the machine
Common Good Cocktail House in Glen Ellyn has a Hoshizaki tap and they offer different highball options (currently Hakushu, but they certainly have Toki).
Longman & Eagle
The Beam Suntory US HQ is in the Merchandise Mart, and they have a wonderful bar in their lobby that I wager would have the highball machine in it.
Thing is, you need to be an employee (or guest) to get in. But I’m betting you could call them, ask to speak to their “on-premise marketing” team, and they could tell you all the places around the city that have the highball machines installed.
Gaijin.
Yokocho in WL has them and they have a happy hour.
Omakase Box on Armitage has incredible toki highballs. I’m not actually 100% sure they have the machine but I suspect they do, because they’re served insanely cold, in a chilled mug, with tons and tons of carbonation.
RAMEN-SAN on Hubbard has the machine. I’m pretty sure Sushi does too
Kumiko surely the winner here. Subourbon in Wheaton also has some great highballs. Although they often use Legent, I suspect you could get something else in Suntory portfolio if you wanted. Common Good in Glen Ellyn as well.
Longman & Eagle
I liked the one I had at Tengoku Aburiya
I want to say Ramen Wasabi has it on their drinks menu also.
Edit: didn’t read the article 😒 first one on the list
Kumiko does a killer whiskey highball. I don’t believe they have a machine, but they have quality soda water for one and they make highballs the proper way – cold and bubbly
You can also upgrade your highball to nicer whiskeys too if you’re feeling fancy. A Yamazaki highball is expensive, but totally worth it
Shout out to my fav writer Vox media sponsored by Toki
Omakase Box makes a great Toki Highball
RIP Good Measure :’(
Hiro in west town
Sushi San
The best highball I have had is at Q sushi. Hands down
Hotel Zachary and Low Country (surprisingly!) in Wrigleyville also have Suntory machines
RIP Good Measure. They had a great happy hour, those Toki Highballs were like $6, and they had the best Patty Melt for like $5, the onions were carmelized in foie gras or something. So damn good.
Nine Bar has a rotating highball menu
Nine Bar has a rotating highball menu
Noriko in the west loop does Toki Highballs. It’s a hand roll bar in the basement if Perilla Fare.
Just wanted to say thank you to everyone for the information. Very helpful and I’m looking forward to trying out a couple of these spots, some of which are new to me. Thanks!
• Blind Barber
• CH Distillery (Jinsei Motto)
• From Here On Food Hall
• Gaijin
• Hotel Lincoln
• Hotel Zachary
• Kasama
• Lowcountry South Loop
• Lowcountry Wrigley
• Momotaro
• Money Gun (Sunnygun)
• Punch House
• Ramen-San RN and WL
• Sushi-San RN
• The California Clipper
• The Salt Shed
• Yokocho
All have highball machines! Hope this helps.
Bisous has really good highball, unsure about machine.