Kumiko

Chicago

Slick Japanese-American service with unparalleled community building

In Japan, the term omotenashi translates as the selfless, intentional act of care for others, without the expectation of anything in return. Its roots come from tea ceremony culture, equating to what the Western world would simply call 'good hospitality'. But for Julia Momosé and the team behind Kumiko, that translation barely scratches the surface.

On any given night in the serene space – Momosé has called Kumiko a place that lingers between Japan and America, reflecting both parts of her lived experience – you'll find staff executing the pillars of good service with warmth and approachability. Every detail in the bar is deeply considered, from how the rhythm of service unfolds, how subtly and frequently water glasses are filled and how tables are reset.

There is no staff manual for omotenashi, but the team at Kumiko excel at approaching service instinctively. Its staff are a multilingual and diverse mix – from artists and DJs and photographers to medical professionals, with everyone having their own way of practising the art of omotenashi. 

What makes service here even more special is the way Momosé and her staff extend their understanding of omotenashi to the community beyond. In 2020, when the pandemic unexpectedly forced bars and restaurants to shut their doors, Momosé's first instinct was to find a way to keep the business afloat for the sake of her staff. Like many other bars around the US, cocktails to-go seemed like a natural first step, but when she found this wasn't legal in Illinois, she spearheaded a successful campaign to change the legislation.

Within the last year, Kumiko has become a safe haven amidst ongoing deportation efforts in Chicago have detained citizens and non-citizens alike, with Kumiko's staff trained in de-escalation techniques. 

For its unique Japanese-American brand of quiet hospitality and unwavering dedication to its surrounding community, Kumiko is named winner of the Michter's Art of Hospitality Award 2026.

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