I'd extend that to "it's all about the food". There are many newer Izakaya style (Japanese pub) restaurants in town and while Ginza may not be an Izakaya, the decor works better here. It is very rough around the edges, especially being adjacent to the grim Tokyo Hotel but the hot food is fantastic, the soups are the best in Chicago and the ramen can compete with most of NYC's famed ramen shops. The sushi is pricey but not to an extreme. It's a great lunch spot, my go-to place when downtown, and if you stick to soups, it's a great value for dinner as well.
