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Name: Grand Katachi
Address: 4747 N Damen Ave, Chicago, IL, 60625
Telephone: (773) 271-4541
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 3.53

Grand Katachi

4747 N Damen Ave, Chicago, IL, 60625

(773) 271-4541
Store is closed

Grand Katachi Menu

Appetizers

Zaalouk

Hommus

Tuna Salad

Veggie Meal

Zaalouk

Hommus

Tuna Salad

Veggie Meal
Soup

Harira

Harira
Sandwiches

Kefta

Beef

Chicken

Tuna

Kefta

Beef

Chicken

Tuna
Kabobs

Beef Kabob

Chicken Kabob

Kefta Kabob

Beef Kabob

Chicken Kabob

Kefta Kabob
House Specials

Morrocan Beef

Morrocan Lamb

Lambshank

Lamb Tagine

Bean Tagine

Chicken Plate

Chicken Tagine

Meatball Tagine

Couscous with Lamb

Couscous with Chicken

Couscous with Vegetables

Morrocan Beef

Morrocan Lamb

Lambshank

Lamb Tagine

Bean Tagine

Chicken Plate

Chicken Tagine

Meatball Tagine

Couscous with Lamb

Couscous with Chicken

Couscous with Vegetables
Desserts

Chocolate Cake

Carrot Cake

German Chocolate

Moroccan Crepes

Chocolate Cake

Carrot Cake

German Chocolate

Moroccan Crepes
Drinks

Large Moroccan Tea

Famous Moroccan Hot Tea

Moroccan Ice Tea

Moroccan Coffee

Latte Cappuccino

Mocha

Hot Chocolate

Regular Coffee

Soda

Flavor Syrup Shot

Large Moroccan Tea

Famous Moroccan Hot Tea

Moroccan Ice Tea

Moroccan Coffee

Latte Cappuccino

Mocha

Hot Chocolate

Regular Coffee

Soda

Flavor Syrup Shot

Healthy Meal suggestions for Grand Katachi

Appetizers

Zaalouk [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hommus [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tuna Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Veggie Meal [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Zaalouk [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hommus [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tuna Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Veggie Meal [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Soup

Harira [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Harira [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Sandwiches

Kefta [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Beef [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tuna [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Kefta [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Beef [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tuna [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Kabobs

Beef Kabob [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Kabob [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Kefta Kabob [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Beef Kabob [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Kabob [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Kefta Kabob [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
House Specials

Morrocan Beef [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Morrocan Lamb [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Lambshank [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Lamb Tagine [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bean Tagine [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Plate [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Tagine [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Meatball Tagine [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Couscous with Lamb [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Couscous with Chicken [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Couscous with Vegetables [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Morrocan Beef [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Morrocan Lamb [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Lambshank [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Lamb Tagine [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bean Tagine [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Plate [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Tagine [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Meatball Tagine [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Couscous with Lamb [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Couscous with Chicken [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Couscous with Vegetables [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Desserts

Chocolate Cake [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Carrot Cake [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

German Chocolate [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Moroccan Crepes [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chocolate Cake [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Carrot Cake [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

German Chocolate [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Moroccan Crepes [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Drinks

Large Moroccan Tea [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Famous Moroccan Hot Tea [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Moroccan Ice Tea [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Moroccan Coffee [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Latte Cappuccino [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mocha [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hot Chocolate [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Regular Coffee [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Soda [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Flavor Syrup Shot [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Large Moroccan Tea [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Famous Moroccan Hot Tea [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Moroccan Ice Tea [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Moroccan Coffee [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Latte Cappuccino [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mocha [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hot Chocolate [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Regular Coffee [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Soda [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Flavor Syrup Shot [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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Write An Anonymous Review

Nick B.

Friend comes to me ringing alarms that she needs help planning a birthday party. I figured, BYOB sushi is cheap and I'll make it easy on me and find a place near my apartment. Enter Grand Katachi. Over the summer I was a tapas monster. I went to every tapas place in the city over a 3-star rating to fall into spicy potato galore. This fall and quickly approaching winter, I'm back into a sushi kick. Anyway, birthday party was last night and I called ahead to make reservations for six. Phone call was a little weird, but when we arrived promptly at 8, we were seated in the upstairs area with a nice set up for us. We cracked open our first of six bottles of wine and got the night started. For appetizers, we went with the edamame, crab rangoon, and vegetable tempura. Edamame was cool, my friend's enjoyed the rangoon, and any vegetable dipped in tempura is good by me. The green bean tempura was the best of the bunch. For the main course I went with a basic cucumber roll (basically the fries to a burger) and the sweet potato tempura rolls. I'm going to make a bold statement right now, but Katachi easily had the best sweet potato tempura roll I have ever had. I was STUNNED. We had 4 of these at the table and had to order a fifth because I don't know how I would have slept at night without anymore. AWESOME. Since it was a birthday celebration, we had the nice little green tea ice cream. Cool. Overall, a fun experience. We hung out for almost two hours, drinking our wine and eating without any rush from the waitress. Best sushi in the city? Can't say that, but I would definitely recommend it.
(4)
Sarah M.

Had a *very* bad experience here. The sushi pieces were very small and bland. The shrimp tempura roll was TINY...not even worth the price with 50% off!!! Spent a lot of money and was still hungry and felt like I had a really bad meal. I do NOT recommend this place. If I could have given it zero stars, I would have!
(1)
Carrie S.

All you can eat sushi for $20. You're kidding right?!?! Yeah, I came here for their sushi special with a bunch of girls. I can't pass up a chance to eat lots of sushi for a reasonable price. The sushi and conversation were probably the highest points of the night. The all you can eat menu had quite a few choices with appetizers, nigiri, and maki rolls. I had a couple Unagi pieces, Unagi maki and Crunchy maki. I also had a gyoza appetizer which was fried not steamed. I'd say that it was good. Like I said, the sushi tasted good and average. Truly nothing special. Our service was in a word disappointing. The waitress seemed overworked with too many tables. She also came off as a tad bit rude when explaining the rules of the all you can eat special. The rules are basically order what you think you can eat, leftovers are charged, and beverages aren't included in the special. Otherwise, the decor seemed to be a mix of modern and a quick paint job. The walls are lined with a variety of artwork for sale. I like that concept as someone whose into collecting pieces from local artists. The floor appeared to need a good wash. Overall, it's an average sushi place with a great special. Their takeout business looked like it was doing gangbusters. This sushi joint has a lot of potential and needs to improve a few things and maybe get a real sushi bar. That would be nice. I suggest giving the sushi special a try, but don't expect that much.
(3)
Kelly C.

Really good, fresh sushi at a great price point - and everything doesn't have tempura crunch or mayo like a lot of cheaper sushi. Have become a big fan of GK both as a byob spot and for take out.
(5)
Truth B.

The food is great- but without the buffet, I'm left cracked out in the cold. The Dynamite roll & San Fran flippin' rawk. I did notice that they'd slip a little fishy mackerel into the sushi if they felt you were working them too hard. Still, as yummy as the food was, I can't go back knowing what it used to cost versus that horrible 50% off menu. The implication that I wouldn't even notice the cost difference make me raise an eyebrow; I'm petite, but I can eat. Can't go back, but will always have fond memories...
(3)
Jen D.

This is my favorite sushi place in Chicago! I have even moved to the West Loop and no longer live a few blocks away, but I still make it to Katachi about every month or so. The service is perfect, not too fast that you feel rushed out, but not too slow that you are checking your watch. The BYOB and no corkage fee are awesome! My favorites are the San Francisco and Brown line Maki Rolls. Price range 4-7 for delicious maki rolls and 9-11 for large maki rolls.
(5)
Lauren C.

The service is just short of awful, but the fish is super fresh, and the prices are ridiculously cheap. I may make this my take-out standard. The great things is that it's BYOB and relaxed. I wouldn't ever take guests here, but for lunch or a laid back neighborhood dinner, it's a decent place.
(3)
Mary S.

Just love this place! It has good food at great prices and love that it is byob! They have a great happy hour price list on weekday's m-f too!
(4)
Rhay E.

It's like all the other sushi places...but this one is close to me and not discouragingly packed. This one gets 3 stars because i like the paintings, location, and price. The service was friendly, and the sushi was made with care.....and love? The taste reminded me of all the sushi places i have been to in the past; nothing at Katachi made me want to forget them. I haven't tried everything, not enough to give it a 4th star. I'll try again tomorrow.
(3)
Justin W.

I should preface this by mentioning that I've never been to one of the "great" sushi restaurants in the city: there was a long Yelp discussion about which ones were the very best, and I'd never heard of any of them because I don't tend to venture too far out of my neighborhood. Enter Grand Katachi. Three months ago, I'd have written a three- or four-star review. As much as the all-you-can-eat for $20 deal appealed to me, it was still a lot of money for what even I (a not-too-experienced sushi eater) could tell wasn't the greatest fish in the world. A dinner for two coming in at $40 needed to be better than what I got here. A few weeks ago, though, I got word that, maybe because of the economic troubles or maybe because of some crazy new revolutionary marketing scheme, there was a 50%-off-everything deal going on. They'd dropped the all-you-can-eat deal altogether, but a half-off discount was too good to pass up. The food was still only good (not great...though I've never had BAD sushi) the service was still decent (again, not great, but then again I don't like being bothered too much by persistent waiters); the ambience was still a little off (floor plan set up to be a hip, chic dining experience but with bad music playing a little too loudly). Really, not much had changed. So, then, why a five star review for what is so clearly a four-star restaurant? My date and I ate as much as we had on one of those $40 nights for $16. Yes, this is officially my new favorite sushi place.
(5)
Julie M.

A great neighborhood sushi place. BYOB, inexpensive, fresh, who can ask for more?
(4)
benjamin d.

I regularly eat sushi from Hachi's Kitchen in Logan Square, but came to Grand Katachi last night for the first time. They have a special going on for I dont know how long thats 50% off all sushi. Wow! I went with four others and we basically gorged ourselves, ordering once, twice, three times for a total of 15 rolls. Wow! It was soo good and fresh and cheap I wonder, how the hell do they make money off of this deal. The rolls maybe are a bit smaller than the ones I get normally from Hachi's Kitchen, but the quality, presentation and price more than make up for a roll one or two inches shorter than normal. Service is amiable. They dont try to push you even when others are waiting for a table. We could of sat there all goddamned night stuffing makis into our drooling maws. The bathroom is always occupied, so go before you come here. Other than that, nothing but praise. Grand Katachi , I salute you!
(5)
Laura H.

I love this place. It's consistently high quality, and is super affordable. The Mexico Maki is amazing, the fish is so fresh, and the veggies are fresh. The ice cream is always freezer burned, so save dessert for home.
(4)
A S.

Ordered delivery tonight for the first time from this place. Have been wanting to try it for a while. Thought that the sushi was average but felt that we paid way too much for what we got. Probably won't go there again.
(2)
Kathryn G.

stopped here for dinner after turning away from a 2 hour wait at tank sushi. nothing fancy but the service was good and so was the food. the hubby and i enjoyed a nice bottle of wine from the store around the corner and left full and content for $35. I would go back, but it is not the best sushi i've had in the city.
(3)
Rathi J.

went on a double date to this BYOB sushi place to take advantage of the half-price deal on just about everything. our service was better than what most (from what i've read here on yelp) with a pair of attentive servers, although with only two filled tables i cannot believe anyone would be kept waiting. we had a huge bowl of beautiful edamame then ordered several rolls and a few sashimi. the only thing i can say is that if you're really into sushi, this may not be the best place for you. the rolls fell apart, no fresh wasabi (although that didn't make or break the experience), and the overall quality of the fish was not that awesome. they had the standard dragon and rainbow but a few originals (or maybe just more contemporaries?) had mayo or cream cheese in them; while i don't usually go for that kind of thing the mexican roll was interesting...
(2)
Melissa S.

$20 all you can eat is a great appeal but who wants all you can eat of some mediocre sushi!
(2)
Katie O.

Great atmosphere where old architecture meets mod interior. The art on the walls is for sale and, oh yeah, did I mention the sushi is delish? We primarily stuck with the maki, so I'd recommend the Miami Maki. Of course, the super white tuna was smooth as silk. The staff was friendly, the sushi was tasty and the atmosphere was unique. We'll definitely be going back!!!
(4)
Beebe G.

at the suggestion of our neighbor, we dined at this place a while back with our neighbors, two additional couples. we made a reservation for the all -you-can-eat sushi for $30 a person. it's a four-person minimum reservation. this is basically a cornucopia of sushi and worth the price for the quality and the variety they made and provided. we must have had 2-3 platters of appetizers and a bowl of soup to start, then over half a dozen platters of sushi and sashimi after that. they just kept coming and i was having a blast! our daughters also joined us for dinner but they both had bento box dinners that they said they thoroughly enjoyed. we ended the evening with fruit and ice cream. and i must say, i hurt myself and it was almost death by sushi that night but so worth the consumption!
(4)
Cindy R.

Nothing at this restaurant was terrible - rolls were decent - but the atmosphere and vibe were really meh. It seems they may have made some changes in decor etc. since I've last been there, and if so they were greatly needed, but the whole setup of the restaurant with the two levels is weird. The vibe of the place just did not motivate us to return.
(2)
Erin B.

My boyfriend and I decided to stop in here last night- and we were not disappointed. Previously we have ordered sushi to go (we live down the street), and in the past year or so they have really made an effort to give the space a better vibe (new tables, decor, etc.). Our server was sweet gave us plenty of time with our order. We ended up with the Chicago Maki, Miami Maki, Futo Maki, Spicy Crunch Tuna Maki, and the Sweet Potato Maki. Honestly I can say don't bother with the Futo Maki (kind of bland...i've had better futo rolls) and the Spicy Crunch Tuna Maki (it wasn't spicy. Period) BUT do try the Miami or Chicago maki- both really good and reasonably priced for larger specialty rolls ($7 and $10). And the sweet potato roll ($4)...it's been a favorite for awhile! I think the great thing about this place is that the sushi here is inexpensive. All of the vegetarian rolls were between $4 and $5. And classic maki, like the California roll or Spicy Tuna were $5! I give GK a 3 instead a 4 because some of our rolls were just average- but we left completely stuffed and happy- and are looking forward to popping in again!
(3)
Jade T.

Umm.... pass. First off, my friend held a large 20+ person party here and it was not a good experience for her. The manager/owner and waitstaff were not a welcoming, accommodating bunch. I did not order the sushi buffet. Even at a "steal" for $19.95, I can't eat that much food. Obviously, you can NOT share. They HATE that here. Instead, I ordered a few vegetarian appetizers, sushi, and tofu yakisoba. The portions were small. $5 for minuscule seaweed salad. The vegetables in the tempura were cut somewhat small too. Maybe it's the presentation, because the food was served on small plates. Anyway, the yakisoba was a disappointment. Not only was it bland (not even soy sauce could "pep" it up), but it had the wrong type of noodles, ramen instead of soba. Major difference! While there were a few vegetarian dishes (average selection), the food and sushi was so lackluster. The employees were not very friendly in general. Yeah, I'm gonna pass.
(2)
Tuyen T.

Stopped inside to get out of the cold and also because we were hungry! I got the salmon bento box. I don't know, it didn't really hit the spot. Maybe I'll it another chance, but I don't think I would go out of my way to get here.
(3)
Molly P.

I write this for other vegetarians who like sushi with simply vegetables. I hesitated on the $12 veggie roll, but it is twice the size I thought it would be and it's delicious-- beets, carrots, cream cheese, peach nectar and gourd with fried tofu on top. The avocado roll is fat. Free egg rolls with my order. Cute inside and byob-- I got mine to go, but I would eat here another time. I live nearby, so I am happy to have found it.
(4)
Amanda R.

My husband and I ate here for the first time last Saturday night. I'll admit up front that I loved it while he just liked it. We'll defnitely be back though. He ordered 3 sashimi rolls, while I ordered the salmon teriyaki. We each had miso soup, split a sweet potato tempura maki roll, and shared the three flavors mochi sundae for dessert. Everything we ate was delicious. We had a certificate from restaurant.com , and even with all that food we just barely hit the required $35 total. I really couldn't believe how cheap their prices were, even when compared to the 1/2 price maki Tank serves on weekends (our usual Susi place). I can't imagine more reasonable prices for sushi in Chicago. You may find more inventive rolls in other locations, but if you are looking for a comfortable atmosphere and are a fan of some of the old standbys (particularly the veg options), this place can't disappoint. While everything was very good, three dishes I tried stood out for me. First, I loved that the miso soup had pretty small blocks of fairly firm tofu. Also, the scallions were very finely shopped. I can usually take or leave miso soup, but I enjoyed this one quite a bit. Second, the sweet potato tempura maki was awesome. I adored it. There seemed to be extra end pieces of tempura sticking out, which added some extra crunch and flavor. Delicious. And finally, the mochi sundae. I've had mochi ice cream balls before, but never with chocolate syrup, whipped cream and a cherry on top. It was so fun, I really wanted to order a second one immediately. The best part though was that the mochi itself had a lot of flavor. Usually I honestly only taste the ice cream, but that wasn't the case at Grand Katachi. My only complaint was that the timing was a bit off. It was busy, and there appeared to be only one server, so I do understand that there was likely to be a bit of a lag at times. However, my teriyaki came out perhaps 5 minutes before my husband's sashimi. I've seen this happen to people at Tank as well, so perhaps it isn't that uncommon when one person orders sushi and the other doesn't, but it was a bit awkward. That said, the service was so friendly, that I'd stiil give even it an overall positive review.
(4)
Jessica M.

Definitely not the worst place in town-- and it's attached to my apartment building. I do have beef with them as their weekly special applies to dine-in only, and as my freaking apartment is TECHNICALLY attached to the same building, I would argue that they should be neighborly and let me take my rolls to go, so I can enjoy them 140 feet away on my couch. I even offered to bring my own plate. Aside from that, I've never had a bad experience here. The staff is friendly and generally accommodating, the space is comfortable, and the sushi is A-OK. Oh, and for Valentines Day it was BREATH-TAKINGLY gorgeous inside. Candelabras and everything. Super cute!
(4)
Emily C.

Aparently GK is under new management, and with this comes a new special: Monday - Friday happy hour; $1 sushi and $3 for some very basic makis. (think spicy tuna). Still BYOB, no corkage. Still totally worth your time & what little money it will cost to eat a bunch of raw fish at those prices.
(4)
Derrick T.

The list of all you can order sushi places for a single price in Chicago are countable on one hand... well maybe two... but remember, we're talking about all you can ORDER (prepared after you place an order), and not all you can EAT (prepared in advance and sitting around for unknown amounts of time to be chosen for your ravenous hunger). That being said, my Grand Katachi visit came about due to wanting a change from the Sushi Para and House of S&N. With some Yelp research, we headed out for a Friday evening dinner. Atmosphere: Average. We debated whether this was once a Spanish, Arabic, or Mexican restaurant in the past. No agreement was reached. Multi-floors, fast seating, not many customers, good overall service. Midway through the meal, lights were dimmed and candles were lit. Enjoyable. Menu options: The all you can order involves not only nigiri and rolls, but also appetizers, noodles, etc. Good selection. Rolls quality: Consistently falling apart... the rolls were not rolled tight enough. However, they do not overload their rolls with rice either, like some all you can order places. This left us with the ability to actually taste/enjoy the ingredients as opposed to munch on rice the whole evening. Fish quality: Not bad, but definitely lacking a certain freshness to it. Mind you, there was no fish flavor, but it also didn't have the appropriate "taste" of each fish we tried... overall, the nigiri pieces tasted slightly bland. On a plus, super white tuna is available and the flavor and texture were fairly spot on! Again, I've had much better, however this was tasty enough for our party of 4 to order 20+ pieces that evening. Verdict: Nice change of pace. For those seeking a good deal, well worth a trip. For those seeking high quality sushi, this is not the place... but honestly, there are not any places that I know of that would provide high quality sushi for a mere $20. Would I go back? Very likely. It's a nice change up from Para and S&N.
(3)
Ivy C.

We discovered this place a couple of years ago, and it became our go-to place for sushi pretty quickly. The first thing about this restaurant, is that it is always easy to get a seat. I've been there on date night, and with 7-8 friends for a birthday, and we never have to wait. Second best thing...BYOB! My friends and I always bring a bunch of booze. There is no corkage fee, and the super friendly staff is quick to bring ice buckets, glasses and bottle openers. As far as the sushi goes, it's as good or better as any I've had anywhere in the city. I work in a seafood restaurant, so I'm more familiar than most with the taste and quality of fresh fish, and I have never been disappointed here. Some of my favorite rolls here are the Dynamite, San Francisco, Chicago, and Dragon. My fiancÃ© is also a big fan of their veggie tempura. Last but not least, the price is extremely reasonable. With tempura as an appetizer, two house rolls, and one grand maki, our last dinner bill was only $37. So stop wasting your money at Tank, and go to Grand Kitachi the next time you are in the Lincoln Square area and in the mood for sushi!
(4)
Bobby H.

Yikes. Please do not waste your time and/or money at this restaurant. I generally go out of my way to give a spot the benefit of the doubt, but there was absolutely nothing about this experience that warranted any sort of positive review. We went here with an online certificate which thankfully saved us $25. That was about the only positive. To keep it short and sweet: The service was reprehensibly bad and the food was not much better. The decor and layout are strange. Just not a pleasant dining experience from beginning to end. If you are searching for good Japanese cuisine and/or sushi in the area you would be much better served going to Tank on Lincoln. Ugh.
(1)
A W.

It's all changed! Why, oh, why? No more Manhattan roll w/lemonnaise. No more 50% off menu. No more Ginger Fried Rice w/ chicken side. No more of any of the things I raved about in my original review. Well, they are still BYOB. I say, I was utterly aghast. How dare they ruin my little happy place? How dare they, I ask? They have almost a completely new menu. I can't really eat spicy or fried food and that's mostly what the menu consists of now. I had a difficult time working out what I could manage and my options were few. I'd say out of the rolls I had I like the new Brown Line Roll the best, but it was nothing compared to the rolls they used to have. Even without the 50% off menu, the prices were still decent. However, I'm just not happy with this place anymore. The total menu change is what stamped on my happy. They've also put seats *in* the window (yes, in) and attempt to seat people there like they're the restaurant's live visual display to draw in more customers, like a department store. I'd need a stipend for all that. I guess this is farewell, Grand Katachi. Somehow, my heart will go on.
(3)
Jason M.

A few things have changed since my last trip to Grand Katachi, but it still may be my favorite neighborhood BYOB sushi spot. (I'm excited to visit Toro, but it may not qualify as a little BYOB spot since there's always a line.) You can always sit right down, but it's never so empty to make you feel like something's wrong. Last night was a perfect sized crowd of couples and foursomes enjoying the quality sushi and no corkage fee. There's nothing very snazzy about GK. It still looks a bit like a middle eastern restaurant that used to be in the space, I assume. It's a little cold downstairs and a little warm upstairs, but, in general, it's comfortable. To those who complain about the end of the 50% off promotion, you're being ridiculous. They used that promotion to draw in customers, but no sushi spot can operate with $3 rolls and $6 giant, interesting rolls. It's just not possible. The sushi at GK is well worth the price. Along with the lack of corkage fees, your bill is never going to be much. Last night, the two of us spent $23 pre-tip. Amazing. The rolls are a nice mix of interesting and standard, and while there's nothing that stands out as absolutely amazing (like Ocean Drive at Blu Coral), there are some great rolls, like the Mexican and Samurai. All in all, between easy parking, great BYOB policy, and quality rolls, GK should be your go to spot for quick and easy sushi 7 days a week.
(4)
Dan L.

if it wasnt for the fact that this place looked like a turkish bath house i would have gone higher :) anyway, went there with another couple last night and i believe the whole bill came to $50 BYOB is huge ( especially that there isnt a corkage fee) we had alot of sashimi and all the fish was really fresh. i didnt like the smaller diced up scallop pieces but the mackerel and super white tuna were excellent. two of the four rolls i had were really good. the other two were just ok and lacked a little flavor. i would go back again for sure and try some of their other rolls, but just wasnt WOWED by it all
(3)
Leang E.

It's actually 3.5 stars, but I don't have the option of doing that. I didn't get to sit in and eat either, which I might do sometime since it is a BYOB spot. I came in here for pick up and it was fast since I ordered 15 minutes after they open. The staff seemed pretty friendly. I think the prices are average. My sushi was pretty good, but nothing that really stood out. I got the Unagi Maki, the Lakeshore Drive, and the Dynamite.
(3)
KELLIE K.

Dear GK, We have to talk. I have to say it. Our brief romance is on shaky ground. I will say that you keep me just inside the line with your improved sushi rolls, all tight and pretty. You also still let me BYO, or as you last told me, "B.Y.OK". Unfortunately, that's where the good times end. You once promised me that you'd be a fantastic deal. Your offer of endless sushi love was my proof. You threw it all away for a second-rate blue light special, giving all of yourself for half of what you did before. I know that means I can have you almost like I did before, but now you have limits. You still promise me spice. When it comes down to it, you leave me feeling just above bland. I'd also like to mention that your inclination to throw everything together, no matter what I or my friends say, makes me believe you're not really listening. Details count. The most awful part is that the people you send to care for me are a little neglectful. I'm not sure that they remember they're supposed to bring me things and check on me. I'm not delicate, but my throat gets parched so easily. Frankly, I'm hesitant to give you another chance. The time will probably come again soon and I'll be ready to see you. Until then, remember the good thing we had going. Love, Kellie K.
(3)
AM C.

Went to this place with a friend on a Saturday night, loved the sushi, atmosphere was a C-. The sushi was delicious, prices are extremely affordable too ($4.00 to $6.00 for most of the "normal" maki rolls). I had a great special that was fresh scallops grilled just the right amount on top of grilled vegetables. It came with a generous spicy tuna hand roll, the entire dish was only $12.00. Parking is street and metered, which isn't my idea of "easy parking" as someone mentioned. But we found a space right in front anyway. It was 8 p.m. on a Saturday but there were only about 5 people in there. We sat "upstairs" (see the pictures) at tables that are too small, next to popcorn-style walls, with unlit candleholders with pricetags still on them. Just kind of cheezy, you know. Another pair of diners at a similarly doll-sized table near ours ordered champagne in a bucket (!) and the server pulled over an extra plastic chair from a nearby table and put the bucket on the chair because there was no room for it on the tiny table. Then about 30 minutes in, 2 large parties came in, 6 or 8 each. The waiter pulled a bunch of the tiny tables near us to form two islands, one for each loud group. They were so loud and echoing in that room that my friend and I couldn't hear each other talk, though we tried for 30 minutes. So we left. More comfortable seating, larger tables, some sound proofing and partitions so you don't feel like you're eating in someone's refinished basement ... that would go a long way in this place. But ... the sushi is very good. That's the most important thing I guess.
(3)
Liz A.

Came back here recently. Was not up to par. They no longer have the older chef, who was great, but some new people. The rice was cold and hard. It did not go well with the fish. Will not came back again. Sorry GK!
(3)
Danielle K.

Still love this place - 4 years after I tried it for the first time. I used to live above this restaurant (literally) and would frequent it about twice a week. Now I go every couple weeks and it is still spectacular. The San Francisco, the Dynamite, the Mexican, Tuna Paradise and my favorite - the Godzilla. If I could go there every week I would! I even went there for lunch the other day and it was fantastic! Definitely a quiet place for lunch with a friend
(5)
Jacob Y.

AS my friend puts it...sushi coma...and I KNOW how to get it now! Yup, those two words does describe how I felt last night after consuming a healthy portion of my share of 9 maki rolls. And as I always say...go BIG or go home when it comes to consuming good food! (I am sure my fellow consuming friends would agree!) And to top it off...BYOB...and my friend last night brought the mega 1.75 sized bottle of wine...and there were only 3 of us. That in itself resulted in a good time. But let's focus back on the food...The makis were exceptional....but what was more surprising...the prices. The regular makis ranged from $4 a roll to about $10 for the more complex ones, and $14 for the jumbo ones. Very good prices for outstanding food! (Sad thing is...my friend who recommended this place said they used to have a $20 all you can eat special...they woulda SOOO lost money on me with that one!) Ambiance...don't expect much...but as you all know, I am not there for the color of the walls. Food...CHECK! BYOB...CHECK! Prices...CHECK! Definitely another one I must return to!
(4)
John B.

I have to preface my review with the admission that I am neither a maki sushi nor sashimi snob. Neither is C. We generally favor maki sushi rather than sashimi. We are not experts about sushi, the rice, at all. Here goes: First, we ordered Baby Egg Rolls for an appetizer. You get five. They were okay; nothing special. We ordered Dragon Maki and thought it was excellent. But not enough for two to share, so we ordered Spicy Tako Maki and Unagi Maki. Both excellent, but now it was too much. A Dragon Maki and one house maki order would have been ideal for us. We're not big eaters. Service was good+ Ambiance was sort of funky. Interesting. We ate upstairs. Will we back? I dunno . . . we live far and there are a lot of places to try. If we lived in the neighborhood, we would certainly go back.
(3)
Kathy B.

Sweet Potato Maki rules!! Excellent selection and service, I love this place - yum!
(5)
Jackie P.

$20 all you can eat menu including appetizers, soup, salad and sushi! Hells yeah I'm down! And that's the main reason for my five stars. The rolls were a little messy and some threatened to fall apart immediately but I do love a good challenge. Also it's BYOB and I arrived 30 minutes before the restaurant actually opened but the server didn't mind. He let my guest and I sit and enjoy our wine while taking a look over the menu. And didn't ask us to wait outside in the cold and rain! Food was prepared rather quickly and all tasted good. The rolls are a little smaller than average but hey it's $20.00 all you can eat and they make it they way they are suppose to and how it is described in the menu (see my review of House of Sushi and Noodle). This place is a little bit of a trek for me but it seems worth it. Especially since one great friend lives so close!
(4)
Julia H.

So I am a Sushi novice. And while I can't necessarily rate the quality as expertly as others, I can say that I absolutely loved this place! They were very accomadating to the large group that I was with. The employees themselves were very friendly, and worked with are interesting billing. However, the real key here, is the 50% off everything (except sides). This was absolutely perfect for me, because I am still not sure what I like and don't like in Sushi. Going with a group and trying close to 10 different types of Sushi was extremely fun for me! I will definitely be going back, enjoying the cosy atmosphere and great prices. Oh, and they are B.Y. Okay (according to their menu). Go there and take your Sushi virgins with you!
(4)
Megan B.

Ran across this place my first week in town and after looking at the menu, immediately wanted to try it out. The rolls sounded very yummy and unique! I ended up making it over a few weeks later with my bf and a bottle of wine (BYOB and now corking fee, score!). It was a really great experience. We sat outside, just beautiful weather. The waiter was very friendly and informative and didn't make fun of me when I struggled with pronunciations. Also, he was very attentive in filling up waters, checking on us, etc. - which is something I never expect when I sit outside. We had the gyoza to start, it was crunchier... fried i think, instead of pan-fried. I wasn't a huge fan but he was so no biggie. I can't even remember all the rolls we had... we ordered 6 (I think) and they were all very good. The fish was all fresh and the vegetables crunchy. One standout I do remember was the brown line maki (my decision to get it being based solely off the fact that I take the brown line to work everyday). I especially loved the toasted sesame seeds, gave it a great crunchy texture without the traditional tempura crunch. all in all it was a great dinner, love the BYOB and the super cheap sushi (the whole meal, with all of the rolls we ordered, was under $50). I'm definitely planning on going back since we didn't even begin to exhaust the menu!
(4)
Valery P.

One of my fave dinner places in Lincoln square! Wait staff was extremely nice. Very good selection of sushi and bento as well, especially the salmon bento plate! Parking was easy to find and the price is affordable too. All around a great place to enjoy your lunch at!
(4)
David G.

This is one of the few sushi places around where I was satisfied with the takeout/delivery. Maybe it's because it's only a few blocks from me, but either way, I am satisfied having ordered from here twice. The service was fast and the sushi was fresh. The price seemed a bit steep, but that's before I realized that the combo came with miso and salad. The ginger dressing on the salad was a bit sweet, but at least it was edible. I just had two problems. First of all, when you order the sushi combo you're kind of rolling the dice. It's described as "chef's choice" and depending on what combo you get you either get a california roll or a tuna maki. So if you're ordering out, you don't know what the chef's choice is. I decided to take the plunge, hoping it wasn't going to be sea urchin. When I got the combo that had 7 pieces of sushi, I got three pieces of saki. Where's the variety? It tasted good, but I was hoping for a much better combo. I can see how a sushi newbie would get a bit confused by this. They should at least tell you what you're getting, or provide more info on the menu. Another problem I had with the delivery was the salad container was sideways and the dressing was leaking all over. The bag was dripping. It can happen to anyone, I guess, so I let it slide. The quality of the food allowed me to look past this blunder. Besides, I'm sure if I actually ate in, I wouldn't have salad dressing spilling all over the place. I would definitely order from here again. Maybe I'll try some of the specialty local selections, like the Cubs Maki or the brown line maki. They're pricy. The Cubs Maki is $9, but it's cheaper than trying to get tickets to a game.
(4)
Kristin H.

Great/Fresh/EXTREMLY addicting Sushi! We first walked in there about a month ago after driving by, it looked interesting (the decor). Since we live in the neighborhood, we decided to swing in there for a few rolls one Friday night. My - oh - My. At first we were unsure about the place since we were the only people in the restaurant, and the same song played on the speakers over and over - the cd was stuck or something. Finally, they figured it out. It was rather amusing. Then the sushi came (appetizer and 4 rolls), wow it was AMAZING! We thouroughly enjoyed every bite! Oh my, the Miami Roll was do die for. The spider, the new york, and the philly all good options too. Yuuummmyyyy! We tried a Snapper appetizer - awesome! And thai style pot stickers - WOW, freakin' good and fresh! We later went back into the restaurant and a few more people were in there dining (on 2nd level, it's nicer up there). We felt better that more people were there since the food is so darn good. The people working there are also very nice, a little slow, but very pleasant. We always say thank you to the sushi chef's upon leaving. It's also very good take-out too as we just tried that, and will again tonight :) 4+ stars in my book. They could improve on the ambiance, especially on the main floor dining area. The upper part is interesting, yet simple decor that is 3+ stars. The sushi sure as heck makes up for the mediocre decor. BYOB rocks!
(4)
Kate K.

YUMMY! This is the best sushi deal in the city. You get a lot of bang for your buck. My boyfriend and I are huge sushi lovers and we have tried everything from Sushi Wabi and Japonais to House of Sushi and Noodles all you can eat buffet. Before trying Grand Katachi, our two favorite sushi places were Wakamono (boys town) and Toro (Lincoln Park) because both have high quality sushi at semi-affordable prices plus BYOB. Grand Katachi has high quality sushi at such a great price, plus it is BYOB with no corkage fees. We left completely full on plenty of delicious nigiri pieces and maki rolls for under $40. WOW. The atmosphere is a little lacking but it is clean, so I'm not marking them down in that area. What it may lack in trendiness it more than makes up for in taste and price. The waitstaff was also extremely friendly and attentive. I've lived near GK for a few years and I'm so glad I finally tried it!
(5)
Damian M.

My wife and I went to Grand Katachi with some friends this past weekend. After living on the west coast I can say that this isn't the best sushi in the world but it is a great value. Normally my wife and I order 3-4 rolls, we get seaweed salad and miso soup. We typically spend somewhere between $60 and $80. At Grand Katachi, the rolls were a bit small so we ended up getting 7 rolls to share. However, with the 50% off promotion, our bill was only $40. What a deal! To clarify, I've had better sushi, but this wasn't bad by any means. The spicy tuna wasn't spicy at all but we enjoyed the Manhattan roll.
(4)
Colleen W.

I got delivery and was pleasantly surprised. The crab rangoon (or as they call it the creamy crab) was okay, but not that good. It was a bit too dense and didn't have much flavor. The spider roll was very good - nice and crispy with lots of flavor. I also liked the brown line roll. It has smoked salmon which can sometimes overwhelm the other flavors in a sushi dish. They had a nice sauce on this roll that complimented the salmon flavor and didn't get lost in the mix. Delivery was fast and the price is reasonable.
(3)
Val B.

I SO wanted to like you, Grand Katachi. You are so amazingly close to my building and when I'm full of your average-tasting sushi, I can leisurely walk home. And $20 for unlimited sushi? Wow...we were meant to be, right? No. You take too long regardless of whether I'm alone in the whole place or whether it's packed. You have one, maybe two, servers with blah attitudes and just one guy making sushi. Are you serious? Yeah, the atmosphere pretty much sucks but I can get over that. But waiting more than an hour-and-a-half for my order after placing it -- come on! And it takes around 20-30 minutes just to get the server to come and take my order! I had high hopes for you, GK...and I gave you a couple of times to work out your kinks and redeem yourself. But it's just not happening again. ps-your soy sauce containers were always almost empty when you brought them to me...and getting you to refill them was nearly impossible. thanks a lot. also -- $4 corkage fee?
(1)
Culinary P.

I've been here twice. The food and service were both okay the first time and the quality of food matched the price. It was clearly good enough to go back a second time. However, that was a very bad experience. We arrived just before 10 on a Saturday night (they were opened until 11) and ordered a few sushi rolls. My husband (who has a sensitive sense of smell) noted one of the rolls smelled bad. He had just one of the pieces and I ate the rest. Everything seemed to be fine until the next morning. I have never been so sick in my life!!! I do have a weak stomach to begin with but the sushi roll was definitely bad. I won't be going back there.
(1)
Jacqueline M.

This place was recommended by a close foodie girlfriend so one day after work when my boyfriend and I had a hankering for sushi we decided to go. At first, we were totally worried because at 6 p.m. on a Friday night we saw nary a soul in the dining room. This is never good for a sushi restaurant. So after walking past a few times (we felt really silly and obvious) we took the plunge and went in. We were escorted to two white Ikea-like plastic chairs in the front dining area, and had one of the most pleasant dining experiences in quite some time. This place is by no means haute sushi but it is really good. The service was also really great. Our waiter was not just attentive but funny, too (without stalking us). He also took the time to learn about the things we like about sushi (salmon, spicy things) before he made recommendations. The decor of the place was minimal and a bit more modern than anything. It also had a cute-kitschy feel as well. For the All-You-Can-Eat Sushi Experience and familial type service, this place is way better than Todai and other more mass-market sushi places. And by the time we left, the dining room has really filled up and we were satisfied.
(4)
Elaine C.

This place is good if you are really, really hungry and you want sushi but you know you don't want to pay outrageous amounts of money for some raw fish. They are known for having incredibly priced sushi. First they had an all-you-can-eat deal for $20 and right now they have 50% off their entire menu. The place itself is kind of like its deals: it's clean and you know they are trying to be hip and modern and fun, but its ultimately cheap. But that's OK, it's not a Japonais day everyday. The quality of the fish is not terrible (somedays, we've found really great pieces of fish but it varies day to day--that's why we try to start with a sashimi sampler to see what is good that day). However, all the sushi and specialty rolls, although delicious, are really get-what-you-pay-for because they are a lot of sauce/mayo/rice and not a lot of fish. Which is all the same delicious, but not really healthy if that's why you decided on sushi in the first place. A place like this definitely has its place, especially in today's economy. The service varies from crappy to decent depending on how busy they are. We ended up heading in there on Friday night once (during Lent) and there were only two servers for the entire restaurant. It's BYO, but we had to ask three times before we got cups for the beer we brought. Again, you get what you pay for, but sometimes you just want to satisfy that salty, ricey, spicey craving and this is a decent and cheap place to do it.
(3)
Jennifer M.

This place reminds me of the little engine that could....but didn't quite make it. It's right around the corner in a great Ravenswood location. The mod interior clashes with a Moroccan vibe from the previous biz. The outdated pop music they played(not the fun kind) furthered the identity crisis of the place. The server was very sweet, but as another yelper mentioned, seemed inexperienced. Cool that they sold local artwork on the walls, but also had signs posted reminding everyone of the rice shortage...and to request less rice when ordering. OK...socially conscious, but sent pangs of guilt when I craved more rice to the already small portions. The food here was, eh. The server was an all-you-can-eat-pusher (not bad for 20 bucks, but too risky for bad soosh). The maki is presented creatively on the menu, but lacks in taste. I ordered the Samurai roll (small and flat tasting) and the San Francisco roll (better, but not quite there). The fish was fresh (yay!), but not as tasty as I had hoped. Left hungry (needed more rice) and ate pizza later in the nite. This place is fairly new, and I'm willing to give it another shot.
(3)
M H.

I have never written a review on yelp before. I am only writing this now because I felt misled by what I read here before going to Grand Katachi last night. Maybe the previous reviewers are affiliated with the restaurant or maybe they just do not know good sushi but this place was awful. Cutting to the chase: the sushi was bad. So. Bad. Not. Fresh. Ick. Read on for details. The atmosphere was mediocre at best, although that is easily overlooked if the sushi is good. We started with the Gomae and the greens were frozen. This definitely set the tone for the evening. We ordered a whole slew of maki and sushi and the rolls seemed ok at first but the freshness of the fish was masked with all the other items in the rolls. Just looking at the sushi pieces you could tell they weren't fresh. Day old? Frozen? Who knows? But it was a Saturday evening you would think they would be serving their best product. After eating just a few pieces we had enough. We immediately had to go to the drug store to get some gum to erase the bad fish taste from our mouths. I still feel sick thinking about it. Ew. Nothing worse than bad sushi. I am angry we wasted a rare night out without the kids on this place. Such a disappointment.
(1)
Victoria W.

Their "winter promotion" for 50% off convinced us to give Katachi a try, and we were glad we did! Our group represented a range of sushi experience (new-to-veteran) and everyone was satisfied. We ordered 10-12 different rolls (with non-alcoholic bevs) and the bill came to $70. Normally, maki ranges in price from $6-$15 (if I remember correctly), which isn't too bad. And the service was very friendly. We actually preferred Katachi's deal to Tank's 50% special because there were many more rolls to choose from at Katachi and there's no need to stuff yourself before 6PM. We are going to wait and see what kinds of deals (if any) Katachi offers after this one expires.
(4)
Katie C.

This place is simply put, relaxing, delicious, and inexpensive. The bento box is usually what I go for and it's delicious. Perfect amount of food too! It's a quieter place to eat; every time I've been there it hasn't been too busy, which I like. All the staff are very friendly and I honestly have nothing bad to say about it!
(5)
Brandon W.

Pretty good local spot. The BYOB is a pretty decent draw. I love the location, it looks great and was glad to see a decent restaurant opened up here. They have $20 all you can eat sushi daily, which I have yet to partake in but will more then likely give it a try soon. Other then that, its good to just coming and get a roll or two, bring a bottle of wine and relax. AND they have the outdoor dining area for the summer now, so its a win-win. I actually like this location more then the original Katachi location. Give it a shot if your in the neighborhood!
(3)
Rebecca H.

Very odd looking in there! I am echoing the other reviewer in that it looks like a turkish bath house with all the stairs, tiling, and arches. WTF? Well it is actually a former fur coat store. Bizzare! Anyways on to the food, the portions are average and the prices are great, and the staff is just perfect. The downside, nothing really stood out enough to make me yearn to go back for more. Its just... so so.
(2)
Lawrence J.

We decided to try Grand Katachi, after getting a menu in the mail. We went for the All you can eat buffet... I found the fish quality to be below average.... the fish did not have much taste. If you're not really into sushi and want to try mediocre sushi, this is the place for you. If you're into good quality sushi, well, I can recommend other places....
(2)
L J.

Not my favorite sushi place, but it will do. The place was kinda empty for a Friday night. There were also no paintings on the wall so it seemed really bare bones. The service was slow, only one waiter for the whole restaurant. My husband got the $20 all you can eat. I did not think I would eat that much so I didn't, but that turned out to be not smart because when I finished I had nothing to do as he kept eating. Plus I was still hungry so I could of eaten more. And once you choose no to the all-you-can-eat option, you can't switch. The gyoza was good, chicken yakisoba was ok, cucumber salad was very good, individual pieces of sushi were good. The rolls were not amazing: pretty standard, slightly bland. But, we didn't try every roll on the menu, and we forgot to bring booze. It was not a great date place, probably better with a group of friends, cause its a flat $20pp and you can BYOB.
(3)
Megan R.

Great place to pick up sushi off the brownline damen stop. I picked my food up and it was very quick and yet beautifully presented. The miso soup is great and I love the spicy california roll.
(4)
Drew S.

GK currently sits at the top of my go-to Grubhub sushi places. They're pretty fast, good about calling immediately if there's a problem with the order and the vegetarian rolls especially are cheap and delicious. I hope to one day walk the 7 blocks and check it out in person.
(4)
Bree L.

My husband and I consider ourselves gyoza experts and Katachi has the best that we have ever had! Our only complaint is that we should have asked for two orders! Katachi now knocks Wakamono down to #3 on our list of sushi spots (some random place in a Vegas stripmall still gets #1!).
(5)
Amber L.

UPDATE The all-you-can-eat deal has ended, and been replaced by a sudden splike in quality. The 50% off everything deal gave me and my friend the opportunity to try a few more rolls than we would have if they were full price, and I was pleasantly surprised by almost everything. (Spicy tuna is what it is- smallish, and boring.) Overall, I have to say I'm impressed with the turn the menu has taken, and the quality of the rolls definitely has improved. A pleasant experience.
(3)
Jenna P.

Ended up at Grand Katachi for dinner the other night, and it was okay. The atmosphere is nice. They manage to do a lot with a small space, and it looked lovely inside. Service was prompt and very friendly. We ordered gyoza as an appetizer, and it was pretty good. The bf ordered a few rolls (I don't remember which ones!) and he really enjoyed them. However, GK only gets two stars because my meal was really sub par. Not in the mood for sushi on that particular day, I instead ordered yakisoba. It's a simple dish and I expect any Japanese restaurant to handle it easily. Instead, I received a plate of noodles that had been doused in soy sauce. At least I think it was soy sauce.... it was incredibly salty and tasted nothing like yakisoba should taste. I couldn't finish because the salt content was simply overwhelming. I understand this is primarily a sushi place, and they seem to do that well. But to me it's not okay for a Japanese restaurant to fail so badly at a standard Japanese dish. With so many Japanese options in Chicago, I would skip this one.
(2)
El G.

Whither the all you can eat menu, G-Rand? That was how you wooed and won me, and now you have stealthily changed the game! To be fair, your 50% off menu generally runs under the $20 I paid before, but is that not proof that your prior gambit was the right one? It was the promise of neverending sushi that made me pay $20, even if I only consumed $17 worth of your very tasty fish. Bring back the dream, G-Rand! Bring back the joy! That said, I have always been happy with the sushi. It is not as fancy or mouth-orgasm inducing as I have had elsewhere, but that is not why I come to G-Rand. The quality has always been superior to run of the mill sushi-buffet and I venture to say that, even with the loss of the all-you-can-eat, G-Rand is my go-to place for full sushi belly.
(4)
Jendy B.

Probably more like 3.5 stars. But, I'm rounding up. Went here with three friends and we all ordered off the buffet menu. Great concept which paired very well with the bottles of wine we brought. Have I had tastier sushi before? Yes! But, $20 a person really can't be beat for the quality of sushi & maki received. I will be back.
(4)
Allen M.

We really wanted to like this place since it feels like a nice neighborhoody type restaurant that's very accessible. Unfortunately, they have some serious quality issues: 1. some basic comforts were missing - steady tables, coat racks (no where to put a coat in Chicago in the winter? good luck with that), candles that were actually lit, non-craptacular music (there's no excuse for playing "I will always love you" followed by hard korean rap), etc. 2. slow service - there was a wait staff of exactly 2 on a friday night, so attention was lacking to say the least 3. most importantly the food - my wife's chicken was RAW in the middle. Not slightly undercooked - it was literally raw and rubbery. Hard to see at first, but we finally discovered it after eating several pieces. So she felt ill for several days afterwards - not sure if it was the actual meal or the just the thought of being served raw chicken. Hey news flash Katachi: chicken is not fish - you can't serve it sushi style because people get diseases from uncooked chicken. You should really know that. I guess the worst part is that they offered to cook up another one, but after waiting 15 minutes we just decided to leave. They didn't even take it off the bill until we insisted. I recommend crossing this one off the list, but if you do end up here, stick to the all you can eat sushi that everyone else here seems to go for.
(1)
Lauren S.

Love this place. Great when you're craving sushi and don't want to spend a crazy amount of money. The inside is cute with a tiny upstairs room. The waitstaff is really nice. Not to mention it's byob! Definitely worth going to!
(4)
Jen M.

Sushi: so-so. Straight-forward, which I appreciate, but very, very average. Scallops were a little iffy. Service: S. L. O. W. and SPACEY. Had to ask twice for the soup and salad that came with the entree. (a process that took 30+ minutes because our server was actually a turtle in human clothing). Oh, and the half-price offer has been changed to an ambiguous and not-at-all competitive "red price" system. Tuna and scallion maki is $4, the bigger rolls are $8-9, seaweed salad is $5...huh??? Skip it.
(2)
Johanna C.

Not good during the lunch hour. Hardly a selection of sushi on the lunch menu - you are better off ordering from the regular menu which is a decent selection unless you want teriyaki or chef's choice sushi. The prices are average. I had the New York Maki and the Crunchy Maki. Both were mediocre at best; the Unagi had a tough texture and the Spicy Tuna tasted pretty fishy. I'd probably hit this place once it gets busier so that the items are more fresh. My lunch buddy liked his meal. I'm picky about sushi so maybe I'm being super critical. As far as service goes, the waitress was friendly but not very attentive. It took at least 15 minutes for her to drop off our check. Give this place a few more months and maybe it will be better! ATTENTION! As of March 2008, on weekday evenings from 4:30 - 7:30 they have a sushi buffet that is $19.95 per person. I highly recommend trying the San Francisco roll. It is probably worth it to come during this time to check and see how you like this place. Be forewarned that you will be charged for any uneaten portions on your plate!
(2)
Kris L.

For a $20 all-you-can sushi place ,it's not bad. I'm not sure why everyone is complaining about the atmosphere, because i think it's just fine. it's clean and quiet. If you're not a sushi connoisseur, this place is great. The selection is good and the sushi is fresh enough. I'd say the worse thing about this place though is how long it takes to order and get your sushi. Every time I've gone it has never been busy, but there is only one guy making the sushi, so the service can be very slow. Also, you would think if you're basically the only person in the restaurant the server would come by often to ask for your next order, but we have always had to grab his attention to come to our table. Other than this, I think it's a great place to dine, and I've definitely been going - and will be going - back for more.
(3)
Alex B.

This place is just about the best sushi deal in town. For 20 bucks you get it all- from gyoza to udon, rolls and sahimi and everything in between. This is the perfect place to take a sushi newbie- they can try everything on the menu without fear. And its BYOB??? Truly a no-brainer. True, the rolls are generally uninspired, but everything is fresh and tasty. And don't believe the other claims- the servers are attentive and prompt and on my two visits the food has always been delivered as ordered. House of Sushi and noodles- your crappy 15.95 all-you-can-eat has been shamed. Its all Grand Katachi for me from here on out. This place is the best sushi value in town. Downsides? The decor is certainly neither here-nor-there, so I reccommend taking a seat in their outdoor patio. Also, the $4 corkage fee is not listed anywhere on the menu, so don't be surprised when it appears on your bill. See you there!
(5)
M C.

The sushi wasn't the best I've ever had. Quite ricey, in fact, but the service and the ambiance were so nice that I had to give the place 4 stars. They seated my friends and I after 10pm and were so kind and never rushed us and were very good about putting our whites/champage on ice and giving us glasses. The sushi wasn't necessarily bad, and may be better earlier in the night, but it just wasn't mindblowingly good. Definitely worth a try!
(4)
Kelly B.

Went here because I thought the place was super cute from the outside and I found a certificate at restaurant.com . Inside, the decor is neat. Cozy and modern. Service was outstanding! The server was polite, attentive and so smiley. Food was delicious too. Ordered the tempura and there was a ton of it. Loved the mexican roll and the dragon roll. Could have lived without the spider roll. Salmon and white tuna sashimi out of this world. Super reasonably priced too. It would be an affordable place to go, even without the coupon. I want to go back already.
(4)
Sarah M.

When my friends and I are in the mood for sushi, we don't even discuss where to go anymore; it's always here! Love that it's BYOB, have always had great maki and sushi, and prices are great. The only reason this place didn't rate 5 stars for me is the slow service. On weekends it can be a long wait just even to get your wine uncorked, so please hire more wait staff!
(4)
Jessica M.

I order out from this place aaaaall the time. They're fast, decently priced, and extremely nice. Sometimes they throw in some free miso soup or another appetizer. And did I mention the sushi is delicious? I can't think of any sushi roll that wasn't good in their menu. Though I've never sat down and ate at the restaurant, I would definitely recommend it for the sushi alone.
(5)
Kimberly L.

A BYOB with all-you-can-eat sushi? Holy smokes; it's like a dream. Well...almost. The staff was kinda clueless. (I don't think they're unfriendly, as someone mentioned. I think they're just inexperienced.) For example, they seated everyone upstairs and so from the street level it looked as though the restaurant had no business. Not too bright. The food was fine but not exceptional. Certainly worth a try and a solid value if you're in the neighborhood. The biggest negative in my book was that the music was way too loud (and, IMHO, way too crappy).
(3)
Matthew U.

great sushi place in the hood. small and quiet, it is a good place to take a date. the place is BYOB so bring some wine, and get ready for some good sushi at some really good prices. i am told their Hamachi is the best in the city. A friend of mine had it last night who really loves sushi, and it was the best that he has ever had.
(4)
Diana M.

The BF and I have been here twice for the all you can eat buffet and have walked away happy and very full each time! The menu is huge with maki, hand rolls, nigiri, etc. as well as appetizers, salads and cooked foods. The portions are regular sized for the appetizers and cooked foods, in other words, they're not smaller because it's all you can eat. It's just the normal size portion you'd get if you ordered off the menu! BYOB is great, but they need to put on the menu that there's a $1/person fee. We went with another couple last night and there was a $4 BYOB charge...which, in the grand scheme of things isn't all that bad. But it would have been good to see on the menu. Rolls I can recommend: spicy tuna, samurai, San Francisco, Alaska and the Mexican!
(4)
Edward P.

I admit, I haven't been to many other sushi restaurants, and this place is part of the reason why. BYOB and reasonably priced sushi! I love the Dynamite Maki and the Red Line Maki. We have always had good experiences here. I also love the fact that there isn't a repressive Yuppie vibe. You can't go wrong with Grand Katachi.
(4)
Rachel O.

Great sushi, reasonable prices, speedy takeout and superfriendly staff. The perfect no fuss neighborhood sushi spot. GK is just one of the many reasons I love my neighborhood.
(4)
Jessica M.

The sushi here is very good! I actually used to go to their old location by the Sheridan red line stop and was pleasantly surprised that they moved closer to me. The service is really good and the inside of the restaurant is decorated really cute! Last time I was in there, I was told they were under new management. They gave me a 20% off coupon to use for my next purchase. In addition, they have gift certificates available on restaurant.com . The prices are very reasonable even without coupons though... and it's BYOB!!
(4)
Julia K.

Really pleased with my experience here. I came here for a b-day party of 20 people. The waitress was really friendly and patient despite us being such a large, loud group. BYOB definitely scores this place some extra points. We asked for a separate bill for four of us and the total was about $55 including tip. The sushi here is nothing special, but the atmosphere is great and the prices totally reasonable.
(4)
Cherie E.

We stopped in here on a Saturday night & I was pretty underwhelmed. It was almost empty & we were one of only 3 full tables. The sushi was pretty good; a decent selection on the menu. The service wasn't very friendly, although not outwardly rude either. Prices are reasonable & the decor is pretty cool - stark white walls w/ bright colored canvas paintings. I'd go back if in the neighborhood again but probably wouldn't seek it out.
(3)
Brian T.

A confluence of good luck (finding a great bottle of wine + gorgeous weather) inspired my girl and I to sit outside and eat sushi at Katachi. Sushi can be a love it/hate it proposition for many, but I fall smack dab in the middle. I think it's just fine. Katachi may have changed my mind, however. We took full advantage of the half-off sushi deal and ordered eel, tuna, scallop and veggie. The preparation and presentation were all very thoughtful. Nothing was too fishy here, literally and figuratively. The large, tightly packed cylinders of food gave me the false confidence of being a pro at using chopsticks! I was famished that night. The idea of a family-size KFC bucket for one seemed like a good idea earlier in the day. Well, I left Katachi fully satiated, with a final bill of $20 (for two!). Go and go now. That deal ends soon.
(4)
shermi p.

I think this place is great. Every time we've come here, we haven't been disappointed and neither have our friends. It's a quaint little place, byob, and I think the rolls are great. The presentation and the taste are good. It's a nice little neighborhood spot I would definitely recommend!
(4)
Annie T.

50% off EVERY DAY!? and BYOB? a godsend. my friends and i do our cheap girls' night here. we usually spend about $10-15 each and get some good soosh. it's not the best in the city but it'll do. that'll do, pig. that'll do. it definitely hits the spot when i'm cravin' a sushi fix. there's never a wait, service is always decent and we leave happy. note: if you want to use the 50% off, be sure to order only from the menu that marks "50% off" and it is DINE IN ONLY. to-go is 0% off.
(3)
Joe P.

This place is great for neighborhood sushi - we've been several times and never had a bad experience. Decor doesn't make for a good date or anything, but the sushi is consistently good and service is good enough. Prices can be really good, especially during the "happy hours" during the week.
(4)
Cat B.

They got rid of their all-you-can eat...Big mistake. There are a lot better sushi places in this area and the only draw to this place was that $20 deal.
(3)
Craig T.

Im actually a little surprised at the low marks this place is getting. We went for the all-you-can-eat for $19.95 and I must say we were quite impressed. Sushi was good quality (fresh, well-constructed, good flavor balance in all the rolls). At 6:30 on a Saturday it was EMPTY. This was good because service was excellent, but had that awkward feeling of "omg they're all watching us eat!". Filled up as the night went on though, so it got a bit better. Sushi - good, fresh, great flavors. Spicy rolls werent slathered in hot mayo like some places, and the crunchy rolls weren't coated in a cm of tempura like some places. BYOB - yes, there is a $4 corkage fee. Of course, you were going to bring a $4 bottle anyway, so its still not bad. Price - $20/person. Not too shabby, just come hungry. Includes their delicious appetizers (yay dumplings!)
(4)
Sumarlin W.

I was at Chicago last week and it was my first time here. The place is trendy, dim and just perfect for a couple. The service was good and staffs were friendly and knew the maki really well. Also told me that they had just changed to a new owner. Anyway, ordered their godzilla maki and bento box. They were AMAZING.! My friend tried their brown line maki and it was as what other had described. Superb and the good thing about this place was.. BYOB!!! without corkage fee. Overall, with the amount I paid, it was a top notch and did not disappoint me. The food portion was not bad and better compared to other places that I had been to. Will definitely come back here again if I ever go to Chicago.
(5)
Christina A.

Update: Grand Katachi no longer has the all-you-can-eat deal for $20. They are currently running a "winter promotion" that discounts most menu items by 50%. When ordering from the 50% menu, our bill was a few dollars less than what the bill was with the all-you-can-eat deal, even though we ordered roughly the same amount. However, if you follow the tipping rule that you are supposed to tip on what the meal would have cost at full price, then our total bill with tip was actually about $5 more. But, if the new promotion puts a few extra dollars in the pocket of the very nice waitress that we get every time we go there, I'm ok with it!
(4)
tony f.

I eat here all the time. If you walk by you'll think this place is abandoned, but its not, its a fully staffed and functioning sushi restaurant, that for some reason no one ever goes to. That's a damn shame, cus the sushi is excellent and reasonably priced. The chicago roll and dynamite rolls are good signatures and all the regular rolls are there for your enjoyment as well. ordering online is available and they've never screwed up my order which is sometimes quite complicated (my gf is a finicky about her sushi). Sometimes the rolls can be inconsistent in quality, but I think that is when I eat there on off nights like a monday, on weekends everything is better. worth checking out.
(4)
Laura K.

I'm relatively new to the sushi scene so I've only ever eaten at one other restaurant. However, I thought the place had a nice atmosphere and the food was really good. We had a couple of appetizers (the Gyoza were perfect) and 4 different maki rolls. All of them were very good. My only critique is that the spicy scallop maki was a little too heavy on the mayo. You couldn't really taste the scallop. The dragon rolls were awesome.
(4)
Veronica F.

Ordered carryout and it was ready and waiting for me as soon as I got there. The sashimi platter was delicious and filling for one person and came with miso soup. This is an excellent place to dine in or carryout. I will definitely be back to dine in sometime.
(5)
Bryan W.

I picked up a couple pieces of sashimi and a maki roll from Katachi. As such my review is strictly based on the carryout experience. I have to say they were rather quick at making preparing my order and the pieces of sashimi were of decent size. The maki roll was tasty and overall I was pleasantly surprised. The inside of the restaurant seemed to be nice and I did notice it was a BYOB. I don't want to give the impression I was dissatisfied in anyway with the 3 stars but I wasn't really blown away either. I would go back and it's a good choice if you are wanting to stay in the neighborhood.
(3)
Paige L.

But wait! Are they closing? I think they're closing. There was a sign on the door last night that said "Closed, thank you for the support" and it looks like they're boxing stuff up. My reaction...NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! This was my neighborhood go to sushi spot and I'm devasted. I'm also hopeful this is just a short-term thing to maybe do some renovations and perhaps let Tweety out of the cage. Unfortunately, I think they may be gone for good. If anyone has some inside intel please let a girl know!
(5)
Megan B.

This review is coming very late. Earlier this spring I was deeply saddened to see that my favorite sushi restaurant in Chicago had closed its doors. I was a loyal customer for three years. The menu choices offered a great variety of flavors and the cost for the quality was outstanding. The owner and chef were so friendly and inviting, I loved visiting them and giving them business. I spent many special occasions there with my boyfriend, and it was our first date meeting spot (which I suggested). I still have not found a compatible sushi restaurant to take its place. Miss you Grand Katachi!!
(5)
Heather R.

Came in town for a Blackhawks game, saw this place had pretty good reviews so thought we would try it. I was pleasantly surprised the Miami Making was amazing as well as the Tuna Paradise (little too much wasabi sauce) The green tea ice cream was the best I've ever had. Will definitely return when I'm back in Chicago
(5)
Melissa G.

I wanted to like this place so bad, but it was just terrible. Overcooked rice, questionable tasting fish, and now my stomach hurts. It was blah, definitely not going back. It was also expensive.
(1)
Dustin G.

First let me say that I do like their food. The sashimi is some of the best I've had in the city and I generally like everything I order. However, my last visit wasn't so spectacular. My husband and I visited Grand Katachi on Valentine's Day. We had about a ten minute wait and then we were seated. The dining rooms were full. One waiter, the sushi chef and a kitchen chef were the only three employees that night. I waited nearly two hours for my sushi. My water was refilled once in the two hours by the chef himself. Everyone finished their bottles of wine before they were served so you had a bunch of drunk hungry couples grumbling then watching as one couple after another got their food and ate silently. The food was not bad but it had been made in a rush and that was evident from the torn nori and sloppy presentation. Usually it's much better. I feel bad writing such a bad review because I do like this place. They just really need to hire some more people. At least for those occasions when restaurants usually fill up like when Valentine's Day fell on a Friday this year. Those three guys wouldn't have been able to keep up on a regular Friday night. They need a bigger staff. I'll definitely go back. Their sushi Happy Hour is delicious and the restaurant is usually empty enough that service isn't a problem. I'm just never able to go in the early afternoon. Maybe I'll change my review if my next visit is better.
(2)
Gino W.

Could it be that restaurants with hidden allure to them are the ones worthy of seeking for dining experiences? The Lincoln Square area of Chicago has a lot of restaurants along some of the major thoroughfares where they are certain to be found because of constant foot traffic. But there are some down residential streets and tucked between other businesses without much flash and flair to draw attention. Such is the case with Grand Katachi. Jasmine green tea. Gyoza. Dragon roll. Caterpillar roll. Green tea ice cream. I knew I was going to eat a lot, so I had hot tea to aid with digestion. The gyozas were fried rather than boiled and I think I prefer them fried now. The dragon roll and caterpillar roll were incredibly fresh, completely without any fishy taste. And then there was my all-time favourite - sweet potato maki. That has become a mandatory order whenever I got to sushi bars now. The wrap-up with the green tea ice cream was a HUGE highlight. I need to find out if they make it on-site or if they buy it from a grocer, and who the grocer is if they do buy it wholesale. The atmosphere borders on hip and dark. It was empty when I went, so I had my pick of seats. The service was not bad, at all, and it actually got better as my time there progressed. I do believe the server was tempted to switch into Japanese with me after all was said and eaten.
(5)
Jeff F.

I love this place. I would give it 5 stars, but my girlfriend thinks it's cold there. Byob, cool koi pond, delicious rolls
(4)
Brian L.

I normally just order Standard sushi. But here I ventured out and tried a few new roles. The staff was super helpful and found that the fishponds to be entertaining as well as the artistic decor. I will definitely be back! Oh yeah, and there's a liquor store around the corner it's a BYOB.
(5)
Beth M.

I'd give this a 3.5-star rating. Sushi was great. The best I've ever had? No. Was it bad? Not at all. It was good, fresh, and delicious but of all the sushi places in Chicago, it's about average. I would have given it a higher rating if it wasn't for the slow service. Our waiter was very nice but it was so slow. We were there on a Sunday night- there was one other couple for a bit- and it took two hours. I feel like when you go out to eat at a dead place on a Sunday night you're thinking an hour tops, at most. The good part was the BYOB. The bad (or good?) part was we actually finished two bottles of wine while waiting for our food and had to go out and buy a third. The waiter never really came around and there were always dirty dishes on our table. To put it very simply, my friend ordered a salmon sashimi (two pieces of raw salon over rice) and it took 30 minutes for him to get it. At this point we were the only ones there. I'd have it again, but probably via carryout.
(3)
Reid F.

Small sushi place that isn't quite like a hole-in-the-wall, but not entirely too big to make you feel like you're just a patron. The rolls I ordered had about 5-6 pieces and the nigiri pieces were nicely sized. I would say the prices for what I ordered and were quite reasonable. My new go-to place!
(4)
Jacob T.

My go-to sushi place. Friendly service, good food, quiet dining room. The shiitake rolls and sweet potato rolls are great for vegetarian eating. Their sashimi pieces are always fresh.
(4)
Alicia R.

Short and straight to the point... rolls taste okay at first, but be prepared for the aftermath. You'll be sitting on your toilet for at least an hour. You've been warned.
(1)
Michelle L.

This place is great. * good sushi, sashimi, and maki * great service *never packed so you can always get a table *reasonably priced *BYOB
(4)
Christy L.

This is by far, the best sushi I have ever had! San Francisco and Crunchy spicy tuna are (insert something clever meaning absolutely amazing). I have been going here for years. The sushi is always fresh, the service is always pleasant, and my favorite rolls are only $7.50 (rolls that would generally cost $15 elsewhere). I can't comment on their happy hour since I'm never available at that time, but I can say I would order my regular order regardless of if there was $2 sushi on the menu (or however much happy hour costs)
(5)
David R.

This restaurant is often nearly empty, except for Friday and Saturday, when I see a few tables full at a time. They must do a lot of carryout and delivery business; otherwise I don't know how they stay open. As the nearest walking-distance sushi outfit to my new digs, I selfishly wish them well. GK salad: thumbs up Seaweed salad: a-ok Negi-hamachi maki: a-ok Spicy tako maki: a-ok Spicy scallop maki: a-ok San Francisco maki: thumbs up Fried tofu: a-ok Veggie egg roll: double thumbs up plus Udon soup: No good, stay away! Staff: All smiles
(4)
David C.

I am surprised at the number of lower star reviews for Grand Katachi. Just went for the first time tonight and was pleased with my experience! My wife and I ordered edimame, soft shell crab and a few roll, all of which were very tasty and fresh! The decor is a little dated/funky, but the service and food were good and prices were reasonable! I would recommend to someone looking for tasty sushi at a good value. There is also a cool Koi pond in the front of the restaurant. It was very soothing to look at and enjoy while I scarfed down maki rolls. The restaurant is also BYOB! I don't think there was a corkage fee either. It may not be as refined and sleek as other sushi places in the area, but I really enjoyed my food! I will definitely be back.
(4)
Eleanor K.

Looove the Miami
(4)
Taufiq H.

Excellent service! Food was so so good .. tuna spicy maki. Salmon teriyaki. - huge portion. Close to my house so I frequent the place often. Friendly owner who takes are of you.
(5)
Jenna S.

A friend of mine visits GK quite often and now I know why. This place was relatively empty on a Thursday night, which was nice for our group. Seated and served immediately. Nice. BYOB. Awesome. We were given some buckets of ice for our enormous growlers of beer from Revolution, which boded well for the rest of our evening. We ordered a BUNCH of rolls and I was happy with all of them. We just started sampling and I found that the San Fransisco and Red Line makis were totally my favorite. Lots of flavor, excellent levels of heat and a bit of crunch. Everything I like in a roll. Total damage at the end of the night? About $50 for the four of us. Totally worth it, especially since the sushi was fresh and delicious. Abundant street parking and lots of seating in the restaurant (both on the lower level and upstairs). Service was friendly and quick. I'll be back for sure.
(4)
Chip W.

We had extremely slow service Friday night even though the place was not crowded. There was only one server trying to cover the entire restaurant. It took 20 minutes before we got the water we initially asked for and it took over an hour and a half before we got the starter sushi rolls we ordered. They did give us a edamame free as an apology to keep us going while we waited. When they finally arrived, the rolls were very good with nice presentation. BYOB with no fee made it a reasonably good value. I wouldn't go here if pressed for time, since they seemed to prioritize the delivery business over people in the restaurant. Highly recommend the metra and Chicago roll. Golden triangle was also good.
(3)
Brent W.

Like Forest, I like you a lot. Came here for their happy hour menu which is insanely cheap but the quality is anything but. We shared: hamachi, tai, salmon, spicy tuna, squid and some crab tempura. She knows this place well and glad it was brought to my attention. [x] will be back.
(4)
Richie D.

Grand Katachi is my favorite sushi spot in the city. Keep in mind, however, that I'm not all into the bizarre rolls enveloped with crab legs, eel or smoked fish. I like it simple...and affordable. GK does just that. If I'm in the mood for Asian with a sushi teaser, I got for their Bento Box. $12 gets you practically two meals for the price of one. Picture it: Miso soup starter and partitioned 6 california rolls, salad (House with ginger dressing or cucumber salad), rice, and an entree (teriyaki meat, yokisoba noodles or tempura). Wazam! Their rolling masters and quick and make everything look fancy in presentation, even though I just toss the rolls one after another into my mouth (of course, after adding a layer of pink ginger and dunking it in wasabi soy sauce). A small thing too is that everyone gets low sodium "green top" soy sauce which I prefer. It doesn't overrule the flavors. For the super reasonable prices ($3-8 maki), semi-modern decor in an old fur shop lobby, BYOB, and tasty sushi, I'm all for Grand Katachi! Oh and if you're more for take-out, I'd recommend them for that too.
(5)
Steve M.

These guys are on it. Fresh, excellent Maki, BYOB to keep your booze tab to a minimum, and some of the friendliest service up in the Lincoln Square/Ravenswood area. 5th star for this: One night we were trying to cook teriyaki chicken skewers on the grill at home. I scoured the neighborhood for some ginger, as the marinade called for fresh ginger root, and it couldn't be found anywhere. That's when I saw Grand Katachi and thought it might be worth a shot. I walk into the bar area, and ask for some ginger root to go -- not even intending to sit down and eat! The head chef - without hesitation - goes into the back and comes out with half a root wrapped in saran wrap. They give it to me and charge me nothing! I was floored. I owe Grand Katachi repeat business for sure as a result of this awesome gesture. Check them out -- they're an asset to the neighborhood.
(5)
Matthew D.

Miami Rolls. Most underrated place around.
(5)
Christina K.

Not bad! I'm no sushi expert but this place is A-OK in my book. The sweet potato roll is my new fav!!
(3)
S P.

awesome spot under new management they tell me, i never saw it before they re-decorated, but im I into the japanese-thai inspired I interior design. Mellow music. I love the vibe. Friendly staff and last but not least reasonably priced high quality sushi and byob! Definite 5 star
(5)
Adele n.

Incredibly cute decor and seating area. Incredibly cheap prices (two hungry people ate for $19). BYO goodness. Friendly, attentive service. The sushi was just OK though. It all tasted fine, and I am still breathing today, but the quality of fish and the size of the pieces could both be better. Even though the prices are absurd (like maybe 30 percent lower than an average sushi place) I'm still going to say that Tokyo Marina is the best sushi value in the 'hood. The spicy scallop roll was the best thing we had. Yum spicy sauce.
(3)
Erin E.

i am THE easiest person to impress when it comes to sushi. or so I thought. i'm guessing that my palate has become somewhat more refined in the 7ish years i have lived in chicago. prior to that, my small town living did not afford me the pleasure of such a wide array of dining choices. when i began eating sushi, a roll was a roll was a roll. they were all-- in my naive opinion-- equally amazing. but now, (sadly?) i can tell the difference. this place just didn't quite do it for me. ordered the philly, which i always love, and eh. guess i can't say i *always* love it anymore. brown line maki sounded interesting, but was just okay. spicy scallop maki-- i can't believe i'm saying this-- was not that great. the flavors just didn't have that... pop. that little baby explosion of flavors that should come with each perfectly crafted bite of a roll. when you can distinctly taste all the ingredients but yet they blend deliciously in your mouth. the atmosphere is really cute- the building is old and there's a lot of dark wood. they also had cute little monster toys everywhere, which was strange, but i can dig it. overall it was a pleasant, if not life-changing, dining experience. due to the proximity to my abode, there is a chance i'll give it another shot.
(3)
Annie D.

Grand Katachi had so much potential, since it's both convenient to my boyfriend's apartment and has a really cheap happy hour. It kinda let me down in a big way though, and I don't think I can give it more than one star. Dang. If you're looking for a cheap happy hour that will fill you up (but not do much else), GK can maybe handle that. If you're looking for flavor or quality, I'd recommend continuing the search. We ordered the Mexican Roll off the regular menu, plus a few $3 maki from the happy hour menu (spicy salmon, spicy tuna). We also ordered a couple pieces of escolar (super white tuna) nigiri that actually tasted a little off to me. The other fish didn't necessarily taste bad, but the rice was so poorly made. I know how good sushi rice should be taste having spent almost a year working in a nice sushi restaurant back in my youth. This rice was way overcooked, so the consistency became like a starchy, gelatinous mush. They have BYOB and delivery here, so that's a plus. Our server was nice enough too, though we were the only customers in the restaurant (with nothing complicated about our order) and our food still took a really long time. I should also mention that my boyfriend didn't seem to mind the food as much as I did because he finished it all when my appetite left me. Mind you, he will eat anything... including an entire party tray of Costco sushi.
(1)
Dena' C.

Before I review, let me say that I may be the exception and not the rule. I was referred to Grand Katachi by a friend who frequents there and loves it. Unfortunetly I ordered delivery and was disappointed with the outcome. Although the miso soup was wonderful and the house salad was ok, the spicy tuna roll that I received was so "fishy" when I tried it that I had to throw it out. I have sampled quite an array of Sushi places and I feel that a spicy tuna roll should be no problem to nail. I ordered a maki roll in case I was disappointed but it was not wonderful enough to remember the name. If your in the neighborhood I would recommend Fin, Tank, or Blue Ocean Points for being inexpensive!
(3)
Natalie S.

My vision is blurry with a disease I am going to dub "sushi coma". No, I'm not very original. Must... stay... focused... I have been to Grand Kitachi in the past. Then, it was the all-you-can-eat-for-$20-deal. I went to Yelp it, saw the policy had changed and decided I would hold off until I experienced it in it's new form. However, it's still BYOB which is a huge draw. My husband and I ate like gluttons on a real mission... the waitress raised her eyebrows when we ordered a second round of food, inquiring "is this to go?" (oh, no. That's just how we roll). I was whining about needing elastic waisted pants afterwards and he had to choke down his last mouthful of salmon skin roll... ... and our pretax bill was $41. So, yeah... it's still all we can eat for $20 each. If you aren't quite the fatasses the Mr. and I are (we're proud of our bottomless stomachs), you will probably spend even less. The highlights of our sushi trough: Miami roll (tempura shrimp with cream cheese and avocado, rolled then deep fried). Mmmmmm. Melts in your mouth. My husband was calling it a "sushi donut". Dynamite roll... I can't remember what was in it (maybe yellow tail?) but it had a crunchy topping that was mmmm mmmm good. The best thing? All of these rolls are $6 or less. They have some giant rolls that are $9 and $10 and they are real monsters. Simple rolls like yellowtail and scallions or salmon skin are $3. Everything tastes fresh... great quality. The waitress was super friendly and attentive. We were there pretty early for dinner... 6:00... and she was definitely more attentive when we were one of three tables in the joint. It took her a little longer to get our check at 7:15 when all sorts of tables were recently sat. But I certainly will not hate on 'er. Is it going to blow your mind with unforgettable decor and inventive sushi? Of course not... but you're not paying inventive sushi prices. I personally am annoyed by expensive sushi. As long as the quality is there, everything else is just presentation and snobbery. Grand Katachi gives you quality product without all the bells and whistles... which is something I appreciate. It doesn't hurt that this place is a 5-10 minute walk from our place. Good food, super convenient? Oh yeeeaaah... we'll be back.
(4)
L M.

After 24 years as a suburbanite, being able to say that I have a "neighborhood sushi joint" was a pretty exciting concept for me upon moving to Chicago 2 years ago, and Grand Katachi does not disappoint. Everything I've tried, which at this point includes a majority of the makis and sashimi, has been consistently fresh and tasty. The menu includes classic rolls and a la carte sashimi pieces (spicy tuna, yellowtail) along with more creative specialty makis such as the Magma Chamber (deep fried spicy salmon roll) and the Dai GK (shrimp tempura topped with seared super white tuna). BYOB with no corkage fee, quirky decor, and friendly owners/servers all add to Grand Katachi's charm. Sometimes the dining room can be nearly empty, but they always seem to have a steady flow of takeout and delivery orders. Prices are very reasonable, especially with a restaurant.com certificate. If you're in the neighborhood, definitely give it a try!
(4)
Suzanne B.

This is my regular sushi joint. I live in neighboring Albany Park, and love sushi. Grand Katachi is convenient and reasonably priced, and therefore allows me to get my sushi fix whenever I want. (They even deliver, and I live just within the border). My husband and I typically order the same 4 or 5 rolls, with miso soup or salad and it always costs about $35. They also have a restaurant.com coupon available. I've had the sashimi, which is just ok, and I haven't really tried any of the entrees. Like I said, we always order the same 4 or 5 rolls: - Chicago: fresh salmon, eel, cream cheese and avocado, wrapped with crunch and topped with sriracha, spicy mayo and teriyaki sauce - Brown Line: smoked salmon, tamago and cream cheese topped with sesame seed and spicy mayo - Mexican: yellowtail, avocado, tuna, cilantro, jalepeno and house spicy mayo - San Francisco: salmon, avocado, jalepeno and cilantro topped with crunch and teri-mayo - Miami: fried spicy tempura maki, crab meat and cream cheese If you go to GK, don't expect a fine-dining experience. If you like rolls, please try the ones listed above. =) oh, and it's BYOB. (no corkage fee)
(4)
Joel R.

I went there last night, and -- as always -- had a really good experience. The (affordable) sushi was generously portioned and tasted fresh. The waiter was extremely friendly and attentive. Plus, I love the quirky atmosphere, and they play excellent tunes. And it's BYOB! What's not to like? I've been to GK several times, and never had a bad experience.
(4)
Joshua M.

I went with 2 friends to GK last evening. The nicest thing I can say is about their decor. It has a quirky Japanese feel that I was told by my friend that lived in Tokyo, feels a little like you are back in Japan. Unfortunately, I can't be as kind to the food. There was about 3 times as much rice in each roll as was required. This excess rice didn't contribute to huge rolls though. It just meant that the fish and other ingredients contained inside was reduced. As to the flavors, there are several rolls on the menu that contain cilantro and have a Mexican flavor to them. The two that we had, the San Francisco roll and the Mexican roll, both tasted good but once again had far too much rice packed around the good stuff. The Spicy Tuna roll, which recently I've had some very good renditions of, was the worst offender in the "over-ricing" of the maki and contained very little tuna. All in all Decor / Ambiance 7 of 10 Waitstaff friendliness 7 of 10 Food Quality 3 of 10
(2)
Leah W.

This should be 3.5 stars, but I'm rounding up because this place is so convenient -- it's the sushi place to which we can easily walk. And I've always liked the space. And it's BYO so we often pick up a bottle of wine on our way there. The service is always fast or fast-ish and friendly, and the prices are decent. I'm not the biggest sushi connoisseur (hey look, I just learned how to spell "connoisseur") but it's good -- extremely good for the price -- although I've had better and more flavorful fish elsewhere. We've ordered a few other things on the menu; the tempura udon was fine. Grand Katachi is perfect for "affordable neighborhood sushi place" -- for "awesome gourmet sushi experience" I'd go somewhere else.
(4)
Holly M.

Grand Katachi is not a terrible place. It's just lacking. I'll go here for quick sushi and BYOB. I do enjoy the layout of this place with it's small spiral staircase and weird Japanese bears that decorate the Sushi bar. The service is either really slow or super fast, but the wait staff has always been pleasant. I recently went on a Saturday and it was absolutely dead, so everything was quick. The sushi is just not that great. It doesn't taste fresh and the rolls are often sloppily made. The caterpillar roll was disappointing and there was something hard in the tempura that hurt my teeth. My Philly maki was huge and again, just messy and sloppy. Very hard to eat. It was a bit expensive for the quality, but I'll probably return because it's nearby.
(2)
Michelle M.

Gross. This place should be ashamed of what they serve. I ordered delivery from here and all 3 of the rolls were awful. They all were made of low quality fish that lacked in flavor and had way too much rice. The house salad was tiny, the ginger dressing was watery and the lettuce was so wilted that I threw it away after a bite. So not worth it. Not ordering from here ever again.
(1)

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Address : 4747 N Damen Ave
Chicago, IL, 60625
Phone (773) 271-4541
Website https://www.grandkatachi.com
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Opening Hours

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Specialities

Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes

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Grand Katachi

4747 N Damen Ave, Chicago, IL, 60625

Grand Katachi Menu

Appetizers

Soup

Sandwiches

Kabobs

House Specials

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Appetizers

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