Chicago's Bloop Bloop Offers $1 Sushi Balls and Viral Labubu Dolls

This quirky Lincoln Square spot puts a fun, affordable spin on casual Japanese dining.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 9:05am

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A brightly colored, high-contrast silkscreen print of a single, iconic sushi ball repeated in a tight grid pattern, capturing the playful and vibrant spirit of Bloop Bloop's unique Japanese-inspired cuisine.Bloop Bloop's signature $1 sushi balls are becoming a quirky new Chicago food icon.Chicago Today

Bloop Bloop, a new restaurant in Chicago's Lincoln Square neighborhood, is making waves with its unique $1 sushi balls and viral Labubu doll combos. The restaurant claims to be the first in the U.S. to specialize in temarizushi, or spherical sushi, and also offers creative items like sushi push-up pops and lucky sushi bags.

Why it matters

Bloop Bloop is putting a fresh, affordable spin on traditional Japanese cuisine, appealing to younger diners with its playful, Instagram-friendly menu items. The restaurant's quirky concept and viral toy tie-ins could help establish it as a new Chicago food icon, joining the city's other famous dishes like deep-dish pizza and Chicago-style hot dogs.

The details

Bloop Bloop offers over 20 different varieties of $1 sushi balls, with toppings ranging from tuna to octopus to mango. The restaurant also sells sushi roll push-up pops and 'lucky sushi bags' filled with ingredients like spicy salmon and fish roe. Beyond the food, Bloop Bloop has nearly 20 unique drink options, from taro cream lattes to rose-petal lemonades.

  • Bloop Bloop opened in the summer of 2025.
  • The restaurant claims to be the first in the U.S. to specialize in temarizushi, or spherical sushi.

The players

Bloop Bloop

A new restaurant in Chicago's Lincoln Square neighborhood that specializes in $1 sushi balls and viral Labubu doll combos.

Sushi Suki

A New York City restaurant that pioneered the sushi roll push-up pop concept that Bloop Bloop has also adopted.

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The takeaway

Bloop Bloop is bringing a fresh, affordable, and playful approach to Japanese cuisine that could help establish it as a new Chicago food icon, appealing to younger diners with its Instagram-friendly menu items and viral toy tie-ins.