The 13 Best Sushi Spots In Chicago
By Staff in Food on Apr 2, 2014 8:00PM
If someone wants a guide for finding the most mediocre sushi, we could write a novel on the subject. Since gaining popularity in U.S. (Food & Wine points out the number of sushi restaurants quintupled between 1988 and 1998), sushi has become a staple on many hodgepodge fusion restaurant menus, a popular overpriced cafe option and even available at your local Walgreens or 7-Eleven. Just because something is popular doesn’t mean the quality is good, which means a lot of folks in the world have no idea what great or even good sushi is.
Yet when you find your favorite spot, it truly is a special moment. Sushi is something that will keep us coming back to the same spot for many years, a type of cuisine that if done correctly is so simple and perfect, it’s ripe for allegiance to your favorite. While we love trying new places, here is a list of our favorite sushi spots around Chicago that keep us coming back for more. And as always, if we missed your favorite, let us know and share the wealth.
Tanoshii Sushi
I was inculcated into the cult of sushi with rolls filled with fried stuff and mayonnaise. Somewhere along the way, I turned my back on such rolls, having learned they were not “real sushi.” I believed they were only for sushi beginners. I vowed to only order the most spartan of sushi—fish, good rice, and very little else. Then one day I accidentally ordered some fancy rolls here. And I loved them. Fresh and surprising flavors accent the fish, not overwhelm it. Sit at the bar and tell them what you like and they’ll make something amazing for you. — Melissa McEwen
Tanoshii Sushi Mike has two locations at 720 W. Randolph St. and 5547 N. Clark St.
Coast
Coast is one of my long time favorites for sushi in the city. The quality of fish is consistently fresh and the nigiri is just as good as their signature maki. Some of my favorite dishes are the Popper maki (which is technically a special, but it may as well be on the menu because it’s always on special), the Hamachi Carpacio (an appetizer, but perfect for one), Angry Salmon (also an app) and the always popular Tuna On Top maki. A lot of Coast’s allure comes from atmosphere, too. Laid back with a sleek design and loungy music, it’s a popular spot for a girls night out, date night or to celebrate that new promotion. The place can get pretty crowded on the weekends with waits upwards of an hour, so it’s smart to make a reservation, or at least bring an extra bottle of wine to consume while you wait. Oh yeah, they’re byob. We recommend picking up a bottle at Polonia Food & Liquors about a block away--they’ve got a surprisingly large selection of vino for a corner store. — Michelle Meywes
Coast is located at 2045 N. Damen Ave. They also have a South Loop location with a full bar at 1700 S. Michigan Ave.
Wasabi's "Artmex" roll. (Chuck Sudo/Chicagoist)
Wasabi
Chicagoist has spoken in the past about our love of the ramen and sushi at Wasabi, so it’s no surprise it is one of my favorite spots in the city for both. The draw for many at Wasabi might be the velvety rich ramen, but they also have some of the freshest seafood I’ve enjoyed in Chicago. Wasabi is my main spot to score super fresh uni. The first time I tried sea urchin, the spot I was at served up a chewy gross piece of what they called uni. I mentioned it to my favorite Wasabi waiter Chris, who assured me I had a bad round, brought me a piece from Wasabi and I was immediately hooked. Uni isn’t for everyone, but I love it. The freshest ocean taste just melts in your mouth, I can’t go to Wasabi without ordering at least one piece. My other sushi favorites are the spicy scallop roll, with super fresh clean flavors and the perfect bit of kick. The Artmex is a great option for the spicy roll lover that wants a bit more oomph but simple clean flavors in their roll. They have a variety of maki but I generally stick to the more simple options because Wasabi has such great quality fish. I don’t need a lot of bells and whistles when I can have such beautifully fresh ingredients. Your best bet at Wasabi is to go and share, grab a bowl of spicy garlic miso ramen, a side of kimchee, a few rolls and a few pieces of uni, crack open the bottle of wine you brought and enjoy your feast. — Lisa White
Wasabi is located at 2115 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Kohan
Like Melissa McEwen, When it comes to sushi I prefer the simplicity of sashimi and nigiri over intricately prepared monster rolls. To my palate they’re better avenues to enjoy the flavor and freshness of the fish. Kohan was one of the first restaurants to open in University Village (in the shadows of the old Maxwell Street Market) and executes nigiri, sashimi and especially maki rolls well. The nigiri here is some of the largest I’ve encountered in Chicago, with thick, fresh cuts of fish smothering the tiny beds of rice underneath. The chef’s choice nigiri and sashimi platters will easily feed a group of four or more and have you feeling sated. —Chuck Sudo
Kohan is located at 730 W. Maxwell St.
Matsuya
This Lakeview restaurant has been serving some of my favorite sushi in Chicago for as long as I can remember and at affordable prices. The sashimi here is always clean tasting, the nigiri served atop some of the fluffiest rice imaginable and the rolls aren’t gut-busters. —Chuck Sudo
Matsuya is located at 3242 N. Clark St.
Hot Woks Cool Sushi
Off to a concert at Millennium Park but forgot to pack a picnic? Lucky you—now you have to stop in at Hot Woks and have the "Mega Vega," my favorite vegetarian roll in the city. Alone, it nearly suffices as a light dinner, though chances are you’ll want to eat about eight. With four locations, you also stand a decent chance of being able to order in if the concert falls prey to rain or a summer snowstorm rolls in. I recommend the hulking monster rolls, which testify to the fact that more is better when it comes to your umami sensors. Someone also may very well be slipping crack into the shrimp tempura, so I leave it to you to decide whether to go down the Fukodome roll path, which gives the tempura some wicked wasabi mayo treatment. And if I said I didn’t want some mango mousse cake right this minute, I’d be lying. —Melissa Wiley
Hot Woks Cool Sushi has locations at 30 S. Michigan Ave., 3930 N. Pulaski Rd., 2032 W. Roscoe St. and 315 W. Adams St.
Kamehachi
Kamehachi is my neighborhood sushi joint. That said, it’s not much of a joint at all but a sultry piece of splendor, with glass doors that open out onto a sidewalk patio that alone would tempt me to sit and slurp a cup of cold, insipid udon on a biweekly basis were the sushi itself unremarkable but the weather fine. Fortunately, though, my go-to sushi seraglio kills it with the simplest maki, which I prefer here to the hotter, heavier signature rolls, because food this fresh tastes better basic. One spicy salmon and one spider make for one of my favorite meals, though the menu is an extensive one, allowing even the avowed sushi-averse to find something to please their palates while relaxing into one of the serenest atmospheres you’ll find in this part of the city. —Melissa Wiley
Kamehachi is located at 1531 N. Wells St..
Kai Zan
When it comes to sushi as art few places do it better than this tiny Chicago Avenue shop. Owners and brothers Carlo and Melvin Vizconde create unique and inventive maki rolls with inspired use of sauces and fresh cuts of fish. Some of their rolls and nigiri are so beautiful you’re almost afraid to eat. Take a picture, or at least a mental image, and enjoy; this art is meant to be consumed. —Chuck Sudo
Kai Zan is located at 2557 W. Chicago Ave.
Katsu
With last year’s closing of Ginza Sushi the title of freshest fish in town transfers to this popular West Rogers Park mainstay. Yellowfn tuna is one of the more popular items on the menu but Katsu also stocks amazing fatty tuna, mackerel, bluefin, sea urchin and scallop. You can’t go wrong with the combination platter of fatty and yellowfin tuna. It and the chef’s choice sashimi platters are worth the price tag. —Chuck Sudo
Katsu is located at 2651 W. Peterson Ave.
The "Five-O" roll at Sushi X. (Chuck Sudo/Chicagoist)
Sushi X
If you are looking for creative rolls to share in a more trendy sleek atmosphere, Sushi X is the perfect combination for a great date night or dinner out with a friend. The quaint spot just off the Milwaukee and Chicago intersection is BYOB, so grab some booze before you step into the dark confines where clubby music plays while Japanese cartoons are projected on the wall. It’s a fun playful atmosphere that perfectly matches the food. Sushi X is all about mixing up creative rolls, where you’ll find some interesting protein mixed in the menu (chicken, bacon, prosciutto) for the appetites that want something a little different. The rolls are packed with ingredients so they are great for sharing and the presentation is always gorgeous. Some of our favorite rolls are Honey (white tuna, tempura flakes, cucumber and honey sesame mayo), their version of the Godzilla roll (tempura shrimp, sriracha, scallions, roe, cream cheese, tempura flakes, avocado, mayo and topped with eel sauce and wasabi mayo), and if you like basil, the Thai Stick (shrimp, bamboo shoots, green curry and basil leaves). Although their fish by itself is wonderful, super fresh and I’ve never had a bad piece, the creative rolls are the real draw of Sushi X and is a fun way to explore new flavor combinations. — Lisa White
Sushi X is located at 1136 W. Chicago Ave
Sushi Taiyo
Remember a summer not so long ago when it was 105 degrees out? Well, I do, and it’s because of Sushi Taiyo. I was out with some friends and we’d decided sushi was the right answer for a quick lunch when we felt the air conditioning emanating from this Ontario Street haven. Taiyo has just enough comfortable seating, attractive decor, and amazing sushi. Their signature rolls aren’t random concoctions with gimmicky local names- they’re an art form. Some of my favorites are the honey roll, featuring a lovely sweet and salty sesame honey sauce, the Tochigi maki with the smooth coolness of avocado and sweet juicy mango, and the roll I will absolutely sell my soul for- Kinomi maki. This roll features fatty tuna, avocado, fresh raspberry slices and is drizzled with a perfect raspberry reduction. It’s absolutely essential to stop in and try Sushi Taiyo, in any weather. —Marielle Shaw
Sushi Taiyo is located at 58 East Ontario St.
Arami
This Ukrainian Village restaurant is arguably the most tranquil place to eat sushi in Chicago and the fish here perfectly complements the surroundings. The nigiri shimmers with freshness, the maki deftly walks a tightrope of tangy and savory and the sashimi invites you to feast. —Chuck Sudo
Arami is located at 1829 W. Chicago Ave.
The sushi bar at Union Sushi + BBQ. (Roger Kamholz/Chicagoist)
Union Sushi + BBQ Bar
Astute readers know we love this River North hotspot for the cocktails but you need to fill your belly with more than liquor and thankfully Union provides. Their sashimi cup will easily fill you with its combination of white tuna, salmon, green onion, rice puff, lime, ponzu, wasabi avocado puree. I’m a huge fan of the black rice sushi rolls and nigiri and Union’s black rice sampler gets you four of the restaurant’s rolls for $25. —Chuck Sudo
Union Sushi + BBQ Bar is located at 230 W. Erie St.