Hot Woks Cool Sushi
2032 W Roscoe St, Chicago, IL, 60618
Hot Woks Cool Sushi Menu
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Address :
2032 W Roscoe St
Chicago, IL, 60618 - Phone (773) 880-9800
- Website https://www.hotwokscoolsushi.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:30 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Categories
Chinese Cuisine
The popularity of Chinese food in America can be adjudicated by the appearance of China Town in many major cities in the United State of America. The popular trend of ordering or opting for Chinese take away food isn't unknown in America. Chinese take away food comes to rescue when you're too tired from work or too exhausted to cook. No one can resist the temptation of eating spicy noodles, shrimp, chicken, beef or pork cooked in the sweet and spicy sauce. The cooking method of authentic Chinese food is a lot different compared to what is served in America.
Generally, Chinese use dark meat small bones and organs to cook dishes but this changes when you are eating American-Chinese fusion food prepared using white boneless meat cooked with broccoli, carrots and onions. Back in China, the food is less spicy and oily as they favor steaming and braising method for cooking the most popular dishes. So, if you have a taste for authentic Chinese food, then try finding a real Chinese restaurant in the city. You can also try the most popular fusion Chinese food like Pecking Duck, Chicken Feet, Hot Pot, Shrimp Dumpling Soup, Mapo Tofu, Wontons, Chop Suey, Egg Rolls and not to forget Fortune Cookies.
There are not many restaurants in America serving authentic Chinese food. A little research on Restaurant Listings directory can help you locate the best Chinese restaurants in the city. Chinese cuisine is continuously evolving, and you can find a variety of dishes categorized as the food for lactose intolerant, gluten intolerant, vegan, vegetarian, and diabetic friendly. So, if you have a group of friends with different taste patterns, save the hassle and visit the nearest Chinese restaurant in your city.
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Pam N.
Went here for a cousin's birthday lunch. Between 2 and half people (2 adults and a 3 yr old) we ordered the passion fruit iced tea, pad thai, crab rangoon, sushi (new york roll, tuna avocado roll, sweet potato roll), and a chicken teriyaki bento box. The service was great. The food came out pretty quickly. Before starting on my bento box, I sampled the crab rangoon, sweet potato roll, and my niece's pad thai. I must say that those 3 dishes were excellent. The sweet potato roll was really tasty. I am pregnant and can't have raw fish right now so it was a great alternative. I haven't had anything like it. The pad thai was really yummy as well. I definitely will be ordering that the next time I stop in because my bento box that came was good, but not great. I've definitely had better at other places. But those places usually specialize in Japanese cuisine specifically. I don't think I would order that again. My cousin really enjoyed her sushi. I had a taste of her iced tea and that was amazing! Overall I'd give give it a 7 out of 10 rating. Certain dishes were great. Others were just ok. It was a little pricey. I definitely would go back. There is actually another location of this place closer to my home that I will have to try.
(4)Amber S.
I order in from Hot Woks Cool Sushi on a regular basis and I continue to be impressed with their quick delivery and their yummy food. I also love their online ordering system. I've had the General Tao Chicken (very tasty), the chicken pad thai (so good), the crab rangoon (a party in your mouth), and a variety of their sushi rolls (fantastic). This restaurant is a great addition to Roscoe Village and definitely worth checking out!
(4)Steph R.
HORRENDOUS service and mediocre sushi! My friend and I were one of 4 tables the entire night and I still cannot get over how horrible the service was. We both worked in the service industry for 5+ years, so we both are very understanding when it comes to slow service when a restaurant is packed. However, even if the place had a line around the block, it would not have been an excuse for these servers. There were more servers on the floor than tables, and we still had to wait a ridiculous amount of time for each course...as well as our wine and water. We weren't even offered dessert, and when we asked for it, our server checked her watch -- right in front of us, despite the fact that it was still 30 minutes before closing time. Even if the sushi was perfect, I would not go back to this place...and perfect, it is not...it's not bad, it's just not great. I have definitely had fresher sashimi at other restaurants. At least they didn't screw up the edamame.
(1)dean f.
I just finished the most bland sushi delivery I've ever had. I ordered 4 things: Vietnamese spring rolls, miso soup, a rainbow roll, and one tamago sushi. All 4 things were basically tasteless. The best thing about the meal was the ginger. Things started off on a bummer note when I noticed the spring roll had cilantro poking out of the end. The menu description did NOT include cilantro, which is why I ordered it. I am one of the rare few that absolutely cannot stand cilantro, so I had to cut open the roll and pick it out, which kinda ruins a roll, ya know? Well, when I cut the roll open, I discovered that there was NO shrimp in it and the whole thing was stuffed with white, shredded iceberg lettuce. It was 90% shredded iceberg with a few carrots, some bean sprouts, and 3 pieces of mint/basil. The "peanut sauce" was a brown corn-syrupy gel with peanuts sprinkled on top. I tossed the spring rolls and tried the miso. It was delivered luke-warm and was nothing special. It was a so-so miso, with a few tofu cubes and some sparse seaweed. I'd ordered a rainbow roll with brown rice, but maybe I expected too much? The raw fish atop the roll was cut VERY small and the end pieces didn't even have sashimi on them. I appreciated that they remembered the brown rice, but the roll was SO BLAND. It tasted like NOTHING. I mean...the fish wasn't fishy, but it also had no flavor. SO BORING. Question: are there grades of wasabi paste? Because whatever ball of green paste accompanied my meal was pretty mild. I usually use a pinch, but I ended up mixing the whole ball into a few drops of soy sauce to make this roll edible. Even their wasabi is bland :( Finally, I attempted the single tamago sushi, which I always order at the end of a meal. It's my version of "dessert". Uh....I don't know how they got this wrong, but it tasted like nothing. Usually it's a little sweet, I akin it to tasting kinda like a waffle. But it's like they left out the mirin and soy and just cooked a scrambled egg. Blaaaaaaah. Overall it was disappointing. I don't think I'll be ordering from here again.
(2)Alexander M.
My friend had a craving for sushi, so she and I tried this place last night. I don't like sushi, but I knew I could get tempura or other hot items. We got a seat on the patio. She had the California roll and another sushi roll and I had shrimp tempura and chicken satay. The food was very good and we both enjoyed our meals. The atmosphere was very nice. I have lived in Roscoe village for over 7 years and this was the first time there. The overall experience was excellent and I will definitely be back soon.
(4)Ingrid R.
My last review was based on take out rather than dining in. My dining in experience was definitely five stars. I went with my parents and we shared some Sushi, a salad, and chicken satay for starters. We each had a separate dish (all entrees I think) and I liked them all. the wine - yummm and was $26/bottle which is not bad. The service was great. Very unintrusive but I didn't feel abandoned. Well maybe a little when I wanted more wine - but I think that says more about me than them! We sat outside last Monday night. It was a beautiful evening and their patio area is lovely. Can't wait until next summer to sit outside, but will dine inside in the meantime.
(5)Joshua M.
This is an asian fusion restaurant that does a lot of things well but nothing outstanding. Nevertheless, this is one of my friends and my favorites when it comes to Asian food in general. I think that one of the best things they do is appetizers. My personal favorite is their Crab Rangoon and their Untraditional Egg Rolls. Both have excellent flavor especially for the price. My friends and I usually split these appetizers among two of us. Their Shrimp with Lobster sauce is surprisingly good especially if you like Garlic. One thing to watch for here, is that they have trouble gauging the heat that they put into the dishes. The wait staff here has always been attentive, occasionally it seems like they might be too attentive.
(4)andrea s.
This sushi was very average--nothing great. The service was not very good. We were one of the only tables waiting to sit at 8:30 pm on a Thursday and it took forever to sit us down. Because the place was not very busy it worries me that the turnover is low and the food might remain in back longer before being prepared for service. The staff was standing in the front of the restaurant chatting and not serving. The price was pretty good.
(2)Chad L.
This is some of the best thai food that I've had. Granted, I've never had high end thai but I have tried a lot of different delivery thai places around Chicago. Their menu isn't as big as some of the other thai places but I think that contributes to how much effort they put into the dishes that they do make and their ingredients are fresh. I've never been disappointed when getting delivery from them and they are quite friendly when you order from them over the phone. If you think you'll keep ordering from them, make sure to order online because every 5 orders online you get $5 off(if that deal is still on). Their maki rolls are also pretty good. I've never had it at the restaurant which may be better but I wouldn't compare this sushi to a place like Tank. Their rolls can get creative and aren't quite as pricey as a place like Tank so that is nice. Don't be afraid to get their rolls delivery but just understand that they will end up a little warm if you also order hot food since it's in the same bag. Try the Panang Noodles, those are great!
(4)Sydney F.
I went to this adorable neighborhood spot with a group of 6 on a Friday night at primetime dinner rush and we were able to get a table immediately...but not in a why-is-this-place-empty kinda way. (The people started rolling in shortly thereafter). Our tab was amazingly low considering the food kept rolling in and we were all drinking, $200 for six people!! Good drink selection & delicious sushi & bento boxes!! Try the Mount Fuji & a sake flight. Great for a group of friends or a sweet date spot!
(5)Jamie M.
My husband and I went to Hot Woks over the weekend for the first time. We ordered a specialty Mt. Fuji sushi roll and it was FANTASTIC! Very tasty and fresh. However, when it came down to ordering the main entrees, we asked the server what she thought of the Beef and Broccoli - she said "not so good" so we inquired about the Pad Kee Mao - she said "not my favorite" and mentioned the 2 dishes she liked. Really, only 2 dishes that the server recommends out of how many entrees??? Okay, that's a little odd if you ask me. Anyways, my husband was compelled to order the Pad Thai (it was one of the server's faves) after going back and forth with the server and it was okay. (Not the best in the city but we'd order it again if we had a coupon for the place but def not worth going back for). I got the hot woks noodles and it was not good. It was covered with a very greasy substance, like they used way too much oil during preparation. It came with chicken and shrimp - 2 shrimp to be exact. Menu says that it's spicy - it's not, get the red sriracha sauce on the side if you want it spicy. I ate some of it cause I was hungry but would not recommend this at all! The table next to us ordered the Tempura Udon which looked really good though. Overall, we were disappointed in Hot Woks Cool Sushi and probably won't go back unless it's for sushi but we have other favorites to go to before heading back to HWCS.
(3)Angel P.
I've been here twice. Sushi both times - didn't like it either time. The seaweed is tough and chewy and the flavors just don't pop like they do most other places I go to. Not planning on going back.
(2)Lyn L.
Great place to go! Staff is nice and friendly. Nice atmosphere and the food is awesome!
(4)Chris C.
Review coming soon.
(3)Nikol Z.
Yum Yum Yum. We had 3 rolls 2 were the jumbo ones I cant remember what was in it but one was salmon and one was yellowtail, made my day! The third roll was the octopus roll and that had to be my favorite. The cilantro and the jalapenos were such an amazing touch. My husband also got the panang curry which was actually disappointing because it was too think of a curry and didnt have the flavor that panang usually has. My tom tum soup was also just ok.
(4)John S.
I heard great reviews about this place, but I wasn't completely wow'd by it.. Definitely a good mix of cooked Asian fusion and of course, very americanized-fusion-type rolls... but nothing on the menu struck me as original. I didn't have any problems with service either... I suppose people come here because it's conveniently located (a few different locations too), but I wasn't feeling it. I didn't see anything that was unique about the place (or a reason to go back)... and I ordered a good majority of the menu too...
(3)Jason M.
Solid neighborhood Chinese. Good curry and the hot wok noodle special with jalapeno also is very solid. They will experiment with some special (a sweet potato and cranberry take on crab rangoon ran recently). I've had the sushi here once and liked it in general. They have some type of homage Obama roll that was the best we tried. It's around the block for us so very convenient, fairly priced, solid service for takeout. They have good drink specials we have yet to take advantage of.
(4)Daniel C.
My girlfriend and I love this place. Have tried the Irving Park, Roscoe Village and Millennium Park locations, and this Roscoe one's probably the best. Their Panang Curry is some of the best I've had in Chicago -- a nice blend of peanut flavor and spiciness and thickness, the three individual factors that are hard to mix properly. Other places have spicier panang, or more peanuty, or thicker, but I think Hot Woks has the most balanced. Also, get an order of the Mega Vega roll, you won't regret it -- best vegetarian roll I've ever had.
(5)Nick B.
This place is right down the street from me and our go to sushi joint. We went last night, had the untraditional egg rolls, Fukudome roll, spicy shrimp, and spider rolls. The Untraditional egg rolls are fantastic. Very crispy and served with a great spicy mustard and sweet and sour sauce. The rolls are all good. Not the best in the city (Coast is my personal favorite) but flavorfull and well presented. Great staff, great service, all in all a great experience.
(4)Zhiyou D.
Very good eating place in downtown Chicago--I mean good food at a reasonable price. You know, it's on Michigan Avenue. So I thought it would be expensive but it turned out acceptable. Less than $10 for a bowl of noodle of big size and it is delicious.
(4)Jake F.
Although a chain, this is a great neighborhood sushi place. The staff is friendly and the service fast. The sushi is always fresh! The place has warm decor for the winter and a nice outdoor patio for the summer. Definitely a solid restaurant if you want consistently good sushi!
(4)Eric G.
I call this place "Cold Sushi and cold everything else". I've ordered delivery from here twice and dined in once. I really don't like their food, but for some reason my girlfriend does. I think she just likes the cute name. I really haven't been impressed by anything they do and would give it a 3 star; however. this last time it took them an hour and a half to deliver. I'm sure she will force me to order from here again.
(2)Iris F.
Just what Roscoe Village was missing for over a year. We went during lunch time as I couldn't wait for dinner, we were immediately greeted and seated while I was observing the ambiance. Had some maguro/sashimi pieces and they were great. My toughest decision was ordering the spicy tuna crunch as I wanted to only sample it and try some noodles or other maki's. I took the menu home with and highlighted which items I would like to try. It'll take more then one visit to try items of interest.
(5)Jim M.
One of my favorite restaurants in Roscoe village. My favorite appetizer is the tasting platter. The edamame is always hot and perfectly salted. The chicken satay is always tender with an excellent peanut sauce. The sushi is fresh and well prepared. Also, order the chicken Bento Box as an appetizer or an entree, you can't go wrong. As far as entrees, I have yet to find a dish I don't enjoy. Their wine selection is terrific and I always go with the Gnarly Head red wine.
(5)Elizabeth S.
Love this place for take out and quick dine in service. I can only speak to the non-sushi items on the menu but everything I have tried from the fresh edamame to the Cashew Chicken and Hot Wok Fried Rice have been consistently delicious. A decent beer list and friendly staff make dining at the restaurant a great experience. Would definitely recommend if you are looking for a cheap, tasty dinner on the go or a nice spot for a low key evening meal.
(4)Scotty D.
My wife and I went here for the first time last week. We sat outside where they have very nice patio seating. Their untraditional egg rolls were crisp and delicious. Some of the best chow mein I've ever had. Very fast service. I'd definitely go back to this place.
(4)Kaitlin D.
I live nearby and frequent Hot Woks Cool Sushi. I've tried a variety of items on the menu but the Dragon Roll is my favorite and I would also recommend the untraditional egg rolls. I usually just do carry out but have dined in a few times and the interior is nice - the outdoor seating is much nicer though in my opinion. I'm really glad we have this place in Roscoe Village!
(4)Drew M.
Big fan. This place is very close to me so I often visit or order in. I typically like to stay away from sushi delivery since I have never liked it as much as eating it in the restaurant. Every time I have ordered delivery from here it has been amazing. The only reason why this place does not get 5 stars is because they messed up my order really bad last time. Not only did they forget i even called in to order but they promised to put some extra goodies in since they forgot about me but they forgot the goodies too! Needless to say the poor delivery man had to come back to my place three times!
(4)Seabiscuit J.
Ok, so I've ordered sushi from here before and it was great. Therefore, I decided to try more and got an order of the chow mein. Mistake! When the order came, my noodles were as hard as uncooked ramen, but they must have been cooked at one point because they were charred black! To add to that, the guy I spoke to, even though he was very sorry, stated that he will make sure the chef knows because sometimes that happens with the chow mein noodles. I'd beware of ever getting that dish delivered. Upside: I called the Roscoe location immediately and let them know what happened. They were very apologetic and accommodating. When I declined an offer for a credit off a future bill, he offered to have something else sent out instead. With that said, I had a new dinner delivered that day.
(2)Nikki B.
*Sigh* Oh high expectations..... I have been eating thai and japanese food for as long as I can remember....and became obsessed with sushi about 10 years ago. I live in the neighborhood and LOVED Kaze's sushi and was hoping for at least the same quality if not better for what moved into their spot. PROS: they offer more variety than Kaze did, Not only sushi, but also chinese and thai dishes. The Panang Curry is quite good as well as the untraditional egg rolls. CONS: None of it is really up to snuff. It seems like there is not enough focus on one thing. I will not get sushi from here anymore....although I'll admit I am a sushi snob. I will get the chinese and thai food, but that is only when I'm in a pinch, having a craving, and its right around the corner. But I will conclude with that the Panang Curry IS good! I had never had it until my roommate kept getting it from here and I tried hers. It's a nice peanutty sauce and coconutty milk flavor...a taste explosion if you will. Only thing is that it's never consistant! I have had it perfect with just the right amount of flavor sensation and heat. then I have had it with so much heat that I couldn't eat it, or possibly worse?? no heat whatsoever. The only thing here that has yet to steer me wrong is the Untraditional Eggrolls. They sound a bit scary on the menu, and frankly not very good. But one day I was in an adventurous mood and got them. What a success! They are yummy and I would suggest them to anyone!
(3)Anna M.
Their Pad Thai gets 6 stars!!! We have done delivery and dined in, the staff is quick and nice. The Pad Thai is strangely good, I normally like but don't love pad thai but it was soo good it took a lot of restraint not eat my husband's whole plate when he ordered it. We haven't had the sushi yet, but it looks good. Overall a surprisingly great experience.
(4)Carroll S.
This is an Asian food lover's paradise. if you look past the cramped tables and mediocre decor you'll find quality food that is guaranteed to come to you fast and piping hot. The selection has something for everyone and the prices are simply unbeatable. I was so happy to find this gem just a block or so away from my apartment and I've gone almost weekly since. Their Tempura is crispy and their entrees are fantastic. The service is top notch and actually cares about whether or not you're happy from start to finish.
(4)Brett W.
Excellent fresh sushi and good service. A little neighborhood place with a nice, if minimalist interior with great food.
(4)Matty B.
As an FYI, I am just rating this on their sushi as that is all we had. We had three rolls, and I can honestly say I did not enjoy one. We had 3 signature rolls, which I would hope would reprint them well. For the dragon, The shrimp tempura in one of our rolls was so soggy and had no crunch. I had never experienced a shrimp tempura like this before. The rainbow was ok but very bland and Akira, which was marked spicy, had no spice and was not good. Also, each roll was poorly rolled and they all were falling apart on the plate. We went on a Friday night and there were 5 chefs working, so maybe we just had a bad chef. Overall, this was some of the worst sushi I have had in chicago, as we did not even finish half of each roll. This is the first time I have gone to sushi and not finished the rolls. On a brighter note, they have a great patio area where you can sit outside. It is also byob. We also had the crab ran goons for an app, which although we're heavy celery flavor, are always good. I was surprised with all the good ratings, and while I hope we just had a bad sushi chef that night, I will never return here as there are too many sushi options in the city to eat bad sushi that falls apart and has no crunch to the tempura.
(1)Katie H.
So, my friend and I have consistently loved this place UNTIL today. We ordered our sushi, which did not look right (the rolls were small and kind of pathetic looking), but based on our past experiences we went ahead and finished our meal. We got a roll to go for a co-worker, which we immediately took back to the office (less than 1.5 miles away). Our co-worker went to eat her sushi and found a maggot crawling out of one of the rolls. She immediately went to Hot Woks (since it's so close) and the same women who is always waitressing blamed us for putting maggots in the sushi before we brought it to our co-worker. Of course this was not true, who would do this and everything was packaged and stapled just like it was before we left. The woman proceeded to say that it was our fault, but reluctantly and eventually refunded our co-worker. Either way....terrible, terrible customer service and DON'T ever go there, unless you want maggots in your food!
(1)Amy K.
Hot Woks was good, but not great. We went on a whim because it was close and wanted something "light." Service was attentive and I always appreciate when the staff collectively shares the tables rather than individually is responsible for a certain section. We started with the "untraditional egg rolls" and crab rangoon. They were tasty and better than your average run of the mill sushi place. I had the Mega Vega, the super vegetarian roll, which was more complex than a typical veg roll. My bf had a couple of maki rolls. Our experience was solid, no complaints but no wows either.
(3)Deborah H.
So-o-o-o happy that Hot Woks has come to Roscoe Village! Live closer and have been going to Pulaski location, but the food is consistently terrific at both locations...like the decor and space better on Roscoe. Servers are alway super friendly, and the owners make it a habit to stop by your table and make you feel welcome. Love the little egg rolls (forget the name, but they're long and thin) Their delivery service has been consistently good as well.
(5)Chicago G.
I am not going to lie, I really did NOT want to like this place. First, a cheesey name - "Hot Woks, Cool Sushi?" Call me shallow, but come on now, who came up with such a lame name? Second, it's a chain. Need I say more? Third - They have margaritas on their drink menu. Saketini's at an asian restaurant I get. Margarita's I don't. Fourth - They serve an array of different asian fare - Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Korean, you name it they make it. I typically hold the opinion that when a restaurant is trying to be everything to everyone, it typically means they are good at nothing. I believe in sticking to your core competency. So when HWCS opened it's doors in Roscoe village, I was adamant about staying away. But let's call a spade a spade - There aren't many restaurant choices is Stroller Hell, I mean, Roscoe Village. So jonesing for a walk, some fresh air and some healthy fare, we hiked over to check out the patio. We started with the seaweed salad - Mediocre at best. But then the sake came (our waiter helped us pick out a good unfiltered bottle based on our likes/dislikes) and we were happy. Shortly thereafter, the sushi and the rolls came. The Veggie Roll? Delish and filled with healthy stuff! The Akira Roll? Fresh, crunch and gingery! The Harajuku roll? Fresh and crunchy with a kick! Not to mention the sashimi was fresh and the service was great. My only beef is thaty they went WAY overboard on the mayo and sauces on the rolls, but something that can be corrected when ordering again. We walked away pleasantly surprised. So just to test it out again, we did a delivery and a take out order in the weeks to follow (with a special request for easy on the sauce/mayos). And wouldn't you know, each one was more delicious than the next! I am not going to lie, this cheesey named place has won my love. Not my absolute favorite sushi place but a beacon of culinary hope in Stroller Hell...
(4)Christopher Q.
I have been twice with the kids, and my wife went once with the kids. Overall the place is clean and friendly. The menu is large, and a mix of Thai, Chinese and Japanese. It's no Kaze, but a higher end neighborhood place. The sushi as good, the rolls just ok, and I tried some Chinese last time which was good. The kids loved the place, the waitress was great with them, but they are pretty easy miso soup, pot stickers and edamame is what they like, though my daughter wanted to eat the shrimp tail on one of the rolls which was pretty funny. Overall it is fine, not a destination restaurant or anything, but decent neighborhood place.
(4)Steven R.
My favorite asian place in the neighborhood, maybe even in the city. I live walking distance from the downtown location, so I've been there a lot. Great food at reasonable prices. Consistently delicious.
(5)P N.
I came here on a Saturday afternoon for lunch with my boyfriend. The decor is just the right amount of trendy. They have an amazing lunch special where you can get most entree's (sp) for $8 and it comes with an appetizer. It came with more than enough food and there were plenty of left overs. We ordered the crab rangoon appetizers which are the best in our area (which is saying a lot). Stuffed full of ooey goodness. And the fried spring rolls were ok too. I had the pad thai which is hard to mess up but the chicken was cooked to perfection here. And my boyfriend had the panang curry which is too spicey for me but still delicious. We also had a sushi roll that I can't remember the name of but everyone there suggested it and it melted in my mouth. I'm drooling right now just thinking about it. The sushi was $12 for 10 pieces, and with a taste like that I think it's well worth it. My new go to sushi/thai restaurant.
(5)Jaime E.
I love this place. My husband and I go at least once a month. Great prices, fresh sushi and service with a smile. The owner (manager?) often stops at each customers' table to see how the food is and I've seen him sweeping and taking out the trash. I appreciate a restaurant run by someone who isn't afraid to get his hands dirty who treats his employees well and genuinely cares about the whole customer experience. We're moving out of the area soon but will be hard pressed to find a similarly priced and impressively run sushi chain that feels like a family restaurant.
(4)Amanda C.
Had the worst experience here, to the point where I didn't leave a tip for the waitress GASP. That is something that I never do! First time for everything I guess. My aunt, friend and I walked in at 1130 am (when they open). Sat down and looked over the menus. Our waitress came by and put out waters. Two of the glasses were dirty. I asked for a Thai Iced Tea, she brings me a Thai Iced Coffee. Off to a rocky start but whatever. So were ready to order from the lunch menu (1130-3 menu) and were told that no sushi from the menu was available. O.K. My aunt comes specifically for the sushi... major let down, but fine. My friend orders her food, asks if she can have beef with pea pods and not broccoli. The waitress claims they don't have that (which is interesting because she's had it there several times). Fine, she ordered her beef and broccoli. My aunt orders the beef teriyaki bento box. We then ask what they are planning to substitute the california rolls since there is no sushi. She says you can order a vegetable one instead, so we ask for the sweet potato. She says any substation costs $2. So we ask how can you charge us extra for something when the original item isn't available? She said yes I told you you can have vegetable. OK. So we want sweet potato. OK but I have to charge you extra. I draw a blank. She claims that this is the rule and that she cannot substitute it. Fine. I then order my pad thai and we sit kind of confused as to what is up with this woman. Our appetizers come out, my aunt (bento box) doesn't get her miso soup. We figure the lady must have forgot. Then the entrees are brought out, guess what? No bento box for my aunt. Waitress claims we cancelled that. Not once did we say that we didn't want the bento box. My aunt then says please just bring me beef and broccoli, it comes with an appetizer right? Waitress says no (mind you ordering from the lunch menu), so my aunt just says beef and broccoli is fine. She brings out a supposed "dinner portion" of the beef and broccoli which is the same size as the one served for lunch, no one asked for the entree portion, we noticed it on the bill. When she brought the bill we asked and she claimed thats what we wanted. My aunt told her that she didn't understand us from the beginning. This experience is absolutely ridiculous and although their food is great, I cannot get past the horrible service. I will not return. I will go back to the Irving Location and pray that all goes well there. I have visited this location many times and usually have an ok experience, but this was just ridiculous. The three of us were so irritated we hardly touched our lunch and of course didn't leave her a cent of a tip. Feel we wasted $30 on a terrible lunch experience! The receipt says "YUWA" on it, so maybe that the servers name. Management, PLEASE, train your staff in customer service and to LISTEN to their guests. This place I really like became so sour to me!
(1)Kenny M.
In the times I've been here, I've never had a single problem. The food was delicious, my girlfriend's plate was decorated beautifully, and for being a sushi place, they have a lot of other options than just sushi to try. The general tao's chicken is amazing, crispy/crunchy with a good flavor. Staff has always been super friendly. Food has never come out wrong, Overall just a wonderful place. And their mochi dessert is always tasty and beautifully done. Just a great place! And it's always been clean.
(5)Jen M.
I wish they were more consistent with the cooking of their food. I've ordered about 4 times now from them and sometimes it can be delicious and other times just not that good. Their general chicken usually when it's good is crispy and crunchy. Sometimes it can be soggy and flavorless. I would love to know anytime I wanted Chinese I could order here but I think next time I will look elsewhere first.
(3)Ali D.
Great drinks, sushi, crab rangoon, service and more! This has easily become one of my favorite places to order from in Chicago.
(5)T V.
Nice girlie dinner Saturday night. Split the Gyoza and Crab Rangoon. Both were yummy. Gyoza was steamy and fried, with a nice amount of pork filling. The Rangoon had just the right amount of crab and cream cheese. We also split the beef chow fun. The noodles and sauce were really good, but a couple of pieces of beef were a little chewy. Mai tais were great - just the right amount of alcohol. Raspberry cheesecake was meh - wouldn't get it again. Cute atmosphere, friendly service, and reasonable prices. Will definitely go back and order take out.
(3)Jackie F.
This is by far my favorite sushi restaurant in Chicago. I have never had a bad sushi roll from this restaurant. I have eaten there and ordered take-out and delivery. The sushi is always fresh and very flavorful. I used to live close enough that I could walk here when I ordered take-out and the people that work there were always extremely friendly and got to know me by name (maybe I went in too much, lol). Whenever I order delivery I usually get my meal before the estimated 1 hour and 15 min delivery time. This restaurant is not BYOB which is the only thing I think that could make it even better. Some of my favorite rolls include the Alaskan, Rainbow, Spicy Salmon, Salmon Avocado, and the Akira. Akira is really where it's at if you want an amazing sushi roll! Every time I order I also get the cucumber salad which has an amazingly sweet dressing on it. The crab rangoon appetizer is also amazing! I ordered Pad Thai once while I was here and it was just OK. I would definitely recommend getting the sushi when you go here. Hot Woks has a great variety of sushi rolls and it isn't insanely overpriced. The service is good and the food is always fresh!
(5)Joe L.
This will be quick, but just wanted to say their specialty drinks were not very good. Ordered their version of an old fashion and it was basically a Manhattan. My friend ordered a drink that was missing amaretto, can't remember the name. Plus she was waiting 15 mins for me to arrive and when I get there no one had even asked if she wanted a drink. The servers were walking over each other once they started serving us. Well the warm saki was very good, and the Mt Fiji roll was awesome. Great looking place. Pork Fried Rice was very good as well. So the food gets the 4 stars, but the service and drinks, that are advertised on their menu could use some help. Go for the food and order a bottle of wine, you will be good to go.
(3)Karolina T.
Really cute small place. Came here for dinner on a weekday. For appetizers we got the gyoza and untraditional spring rolls. Both super good with flavorful dipping sauces. As an entree, we got the chardonnay garlic chicken and the chicken lo mein. These were good but kind of bland. I would come back to this place to try their sushi next time.
(3)Cassidy W.
Awesome sushi and sashimi - wanted to try the untraditional egg rolls but they were out :( will need to order from here again!
(4)Kate G.
Just moved to Roscoe Village and was stoked to have a sushi place just a short walk from my house. My husband and I tried it on a Saturday night, we were seated right away. We started with the Chopstick Rolls which were piping hot and crispy. I ordered the Spicy Tuna and Ebi Maki, my husband ordered pad Thai. The maki was super fresh and delicious. My husband loved the pad Thai. Prices are reasonable and the crowd is anything from couples to families. All around a great place with a variety of Asian cuisine, we will definitely be coming back!
(5)Christine S.
My friend lives a block away...we almost have food delivered on a nice night. God I feel so lazy sometimes. We bucked up and opted for pickup instead. Untratitional Egg Rolls: (Asian spices, peanut sauce, Italian sausage, cabbage, carrots and caramelized onions.) They tasted like normal egg rolls to my friend and I. I do like egg rolls though so I wasn't dissapointed. I was hoping for something a bit more though. Pepper Steak: (A hearty dish made with flank steak sauteed with bell peppers, baby corn and onions in a rich black bean garlic sauce.) This was really good and a dish I have not had in a while. Panang Curry: (Tender chicken breast stewed in a rich Panang curry and coconut gravy with carrots, bell peppers, basil leaves, and peanuts). Normally a go to of mine. I like it...my only problem was that it was VERY soupy. They waver between 3.5 and 4 stars in my book...
(4)Elizabeth G.
I would give this place 1 star, but I don't think it was the delivery person's fault. Therefore, 2 stars for a quick delivery. I had crab Rangoon and shrimp pad Thai delivered. The crab Rangoon was soggy. The noodles were warm, almost cold. I had to microwave my entire meal, which didn't help the taste much. Everything tasted as if it was sitting out all day and they simply warmed it up and stuck it in a to go container. Needless to say, I will not be ordering take out from here again.
(2)Lynn L.
Based on reviews of the food among the four locations, this seemed like the perfect place for a birthday dinner. From the get-go, making the reservations and getting questions answered by the manager, everything was perfect. We had a party of six and chose this place because some love sushi, some dont, and their menu was great for us. To start, we ordered the untraditional egg rolls, crab rangoon, and edamame. My husband, who was anti-sushi, got some helpful tips and advice from the manager. He went with the fukudome which was terrific! Their shrimp pad thai was excellent. The noodles tasted so right - not crazy weird sweet and not blah; just perfect. The shrimp were so good - not rubbery feeling like some places. The roast pork fried rice was definitely a favorite among us. The roast pork was bbq pork ("moo-dang" in Thai) and the plate was super tastey! We also ordered the pad kee mao (drunken noodles) and the sauce and noodles were prepared and cooked soooo deliciously. We are excited about going back to try other things.
(5)Deanna S.
As far as sushi goes, this place is decent. It's definitely not the worst that I've had but not the best, either. I love that it's in our hood of Roscoe Village and offers alcohol, as so many sushi joints are BYOB. They do have a fabulous crab Rangoon and a good selection of signature rolls. I've been for lunch and dinner and I love that they have lunch specials. We've ordered delivery from here a few times and the food was just as good delivered as it was in the restaurant...I don't know what exactly happens to sushi on the delivery drive but it's never quite as good as when it's served at a table. Or is that just me?
(3)Gretchen P.
My boyfriend and I came here on a Friday night. The host was really nice and friendly-a great first face. We did have a reservation but had to sit at the bar for a while to wait, and then we had a drink. We had a few different people come ask if we were ready to order, and then realized we were waiting for a table, so that part seemed a little disorganized. Our food came out quickly, and was good. Our waitress was nice also. I'd say this place is worth a try, but to be honest it didn't blow me away food wise. Maybe we just didn't order the right roles.
(3)Dallas F.
Hot Woks Cool Sushi is my go to sushi place when I can't be bothered to travel too far. Sometimes even when I'm motivated to venture more than a mile outside of my immediate area, I still chose Hot Woks Cool Sushi. I like Hot Woks Cool Sushi for many reasons. I like that the sushi is fresh, fast, and not absurdly expensive. I also enjoy many of their hot menu items and appetizers . I'm a fan of the Bento Boxes and I love their seaweed salad. If in Roscoe Village and craving sushi, I would recommend Hot Woks Cool Sushi. The service is friendly and prompt, they serve alcohol, and the food is good. You can't go wrong!
(4)Elizabeth L.
I am a frequent diner at the Hot Woks on Adams St. I have always been impressed with that location as a lunch spot and therefore didn't hesitate to bring my husband for dinner at the one near our home. We shared a sushi roll to start which was fairly basic but relatively fresh. We each had Panang Curry for our main course. While not bad, it was not the best or most authentic curry either of us have had. One big plus was that we came on half price wine night. For the amount of food and drink, it was quite the bargain! Overall, I would recommend this spot for a good, basic dinner but not much more.
(3)Anne M.
Maybe it was the Purple Haze I ordered (hot sake + Chambord)... but this sushi was excellent! It wasn't just the Purple Haze. The food was just really fresh and delicious tasting. We split three rolls to start: spicy tuna, the confusion (really light and different with an orange glaze on top), and the akira. I would order all of those again, and I might be able to eat them all myself. We also split an order of general tao chicken that we both didn't really need at that point, but we devoured nonetheless. This sauce was a tad too sweet for my liking, but the chicken was crisp and good, and there were no "bad pieces" (the mystery / chewy pieces that are always a bad surprise). The staff here was so friendly too - it was a bustling place the night we dined, and we got smiles and thank yous from everyone we encountered.
(4)Phil Z.
Hot Woks is one of my favorite in the city. Great food, wonderful service, fast delivery...what else do you want? I love the General Tsao chicken and the beef and broccoli. We are a big fan of the gyoko as well. I'm not sure about the other locations but this one is hard to beat. Well done, folks!
(5)Terri B.
One of my favorite places for solid sushi, gyoza, crab rangoon, etc. I go here pretty often and I almost always like everything I order. Nice outdoor space, but nothing terribly special about it. Great that they have beer/wine options, unlike their sister Hot Woks on Pulaski. But if you prefer BYOB, that's the place to go.
(4)Katie S.
I order from here regularly. The food is consistently top notch. I love the mega vega! The employees are friendly and don't seem to judge the frequency by which we order from there. The only reason I gave it 4/5 is because while it's great, it's just missing a little something to make it stand out from the other sushi places
(4)Susan Q.
I have been to this location and two other Chicago locations - and their food is always consistent. This review is specifically about the horrible service we received on a not-very-busy Friday evening. We were seated promptly, the server came over to take our drink order - my boyfriend ordered a beer and I just wanted a glass of water. The beer came right away, but I didn't get any water. 10 minutes later, the server came to take our food order, and when I placed my food order, I again asked for a glass of water. When 10 more minutes went by and I still hadn't received the water, my boyfriend went inside to find her and again asked her for it. She finally came out with the water said that they were out of clean glasses, that's why it took so long. Our food came out about 30 minutes after we ordered - way longer than it normally takes. We had ordered some appetizers - but everything came out at once - except for one item we ordered that never came. There was no soy sauce on the table - I waited a few minutes but the server was not to be found. So I went over to an empty table that had not been cleaned up and got their soy sauce. When we were done eating, our server was still MIA so we asked another server for our check. The check came - and the appetizer we never received was on the bill. We asked her to take it off, which she did. Then our regular server took 15 minutes to run our credit card. I walked by her when I was coming back from the rest room, and she was standing at the CC machine with my card in her hand. I asked if everything was OK and she said yes, and handed me the card and receipt to sign. She seemed very nervous and confused, and every part of her job seemed to be a challenge for her. The group sitting right by us was also receiving horrible service - as we all commented to each other how slow/bad it was. As we left, we stopped by and told the host/manager about our experience. His response "I am sorry but are very busy tonight." First of all, the restaurant was half full, second of all, what kind of apology is that?"
(1)Erin Q.
Hot Woks best foods: Crab Rangoon - amazing, Pannung Curray - amazing, very flavorful but not too heavy, Sushi - the sushi is fresh and flavorful. HWCS has fast pick up service, friendly on the phone, and a discount program if you are a repeat customer. I am a huge fan!
(4)Gino W.
A lazy afternoon during the work week and I was in Roscoe Village. My intention was to go to Orange, but it took too long for the hostess to seat the people in front of me. So I left. Kitch'n next door to Orange was packed. So I left. Just up the street is Hot Woks Cool Sushi. Bliss. I had been to Hot Woks Cool Sushi on Michigan Avenue and on Adams Avenue. They were all worth the visits, so I figured that the location in Roscoe Village would be equally worthwhile. Yes, it was. From the gyosa to the unagi maki to the spicy shrimp maki, all of it was a great escape from the normal fare that you find along the stretch of Roscoe Avenue. And just when I thought that it could get no better, I order mochi balls: mango and green tea. What was I thinking? I wanted to leave the restaurant without feeling like I was developing an addiction. Those mochi balls were so ridiculously delicious that I spent weeks going into local grocery stores and hanging out in the frozen section searching for mochi balls to take home for my own dining pleasure. Thank you, Hot Woks Cool Sushi, for getting me hooked. I will be back.
(5)Ed N.
We have been here many times since we moved to Roscoe Village in the spring. They are always friendly and the food is always good. The crab rangoons are terrific. We usually order the cashew chix and yakisoba, never disappointed. We haven't tried the sushi yet, but friends dining with us have with no complaints. We should step out and experiment with their other dishes...after tonight, I swear!
(5)Kathleen C.
I have a few favorite sushi spots and I am somewhat picky about my sushi (shouldn't everyone be?)... However, hungry and not wanting bar food one night, I went here. I thought that the lights didn't need to be quite so bright...but the food was pretty good. I'm not sure if I'm totally sold on this spot for sushi, but in the area, it's a decent option. However, while the sushi was ok, I didn't think it was stellar. Service was also pretty slow. So, I might be back, but I wouldn't seek this spot out purposely for sushi - but in the area, it's a good option for a quick meal.
(3)Misty S.
Akira Roll - Still delicious. Seaweed salad - Still enormous and delicious. Crunchy spicy tuna roll - Very good for a simple maki. Chop stick rolls - Similar to limpia (skinny egg rolls), crunchy and tasty. There is a quiet outdoor seating area to the side of the restaurant. Half price sake on Tuesday!
(5)Donisha L.
Since i wrote this review and sent it to management, they promptly responded and rectified the problem. I can appreciate a business that takes customer issues seriously! Hot Woks is A-OK with me. Hi Donisha, By now you should have received an apologetic call from our Manager Rush at the Hot Woks Cool Sushi location, but I also want to follow up with you to apologize once again for such an incident. This definitely is not something you should expect from Hot Woks Cool Sushi and I am incredibly thankful that you brought it to our attention. We have actually used your note to identify what not to do in similar situations at all our locations. Rush is following up with Seamless Web to reverse your charge with Seamless Web. Please let us know if there is any other issues. I realize this may not totally rectify your evening. Granted, we are not always 100% correct but we definitely try our best to improve the quality and service you expect. I just want you to know though that we appreciate your patronage and support. We built this business a little over five years ago and we're pushing hard to make sure we can make it through another five years at least. Thanks in advance for your understanding. Regards, Lois
(3)Nichole M.
One of my favorite places. It's fusion, so it's not necessarily "authentic" anything. It is just fresh and not overly greasy food in a restaurant with a nice ambiance. All of the servers are really nice. My b/f and I order take-out and dine in both pretty often. Our favorite hot dish is the XO Beef Satay special. It's not on the online order menu, so you have to call in your order if you want it for take out or delivery. It is not like chicken satay on the app menu, it is instead really tasty fried beef over white rice. I don't know, we just love it. Another regular dish that we get is the General Tao Chicken, sweet and spicy and delicious. The bbq pork fried rice is also very good, it is light and delicious, not disgustingly greasy like Chinese takeout places. We have also had the beef chow fun, which was also great. For sushi, I have liked pretty much every roll I have ordered. I usually stick to the small maki rolls so I can have some of the b/f's hot dish as well. The gyoza appetizer, which is like a pot sticker, is also good. I believe it is both steamed and fried. A perfect mix :) They have a decent wine selection as well. And I love their after dinner candies, a sort of pear (I can't remember what the name of the actual fruit is) hard candy and then green apple tootsie rolls. How can I not be happy when I leave?!
(5)P S.
This is probably my favorite go-to/kinda inexpensive/holy crap I'ma eat all that myself sushi spot. I get carry out and delivery pretty often, and haven't been disappointed. Not a very colorful review and I can't drop the names of everything I've ever had, but I definitely keep returning and I feel like that's a pretty good endorsement. Crunchy spicy tuna is a must-try though, as is the Akira and Harajuku rolls. Always friendly counter staff.
(4)Anna E.
Solid Thai place, but we didn't try the sushi. We started with the dumplings and crab rangoon, which were both very good. The crab rangoon had lots of filling and were wrapped up like cute little purses instead of the normal triangular shape. For dinner I had the beef chow fun, which was served with wide noodles (the Chinese version I've had is usually a thinner noodle), but it was still very good. I think we all pretty much cleared our plates! One of my friends had the chardonnay chicken, which was really nice and lite, other friends had something with chicken, shrimp, noodles and veggies, which was also very tasty. Service was good and they have a good sized outdoor patio. Prices were also very reasonable.
(4)MARK B.
Was in from St Louis visiting the grandkids and stopped for carryout. Rush, the manager(owner?) helped me decide on what to get since they don't have a few favorites that we would normally get in STL. The order was fast and the staff was really nice while I waited offering me a drink numerous times. Luckily the hockey game was on the tube and Rush let me sit at a table to watch the game whiole food was prepared. Took the sushi over to daughter's place and everyone raved about it. We even came back the next night for a late dinner to eat in the restaurant. Ordered General Tsao Chicken which was great also. Can't say enough about Rush and the rest of the staff. Only downside is that he said the Blackhawk players tend to eat here also. Bummer being a Blues fan. Hopefully Bicks will bring the Cup by for all on Roscoe Street to see
(5)Daniel C.
Let's put it this way... I could have lost my paycheck here. I had crab rangoons and edamame - very good, but not to die for good. The sashimi platter made me wanna just camp out and empty out all the oceans. It hit a certain spot in my brain that will make everything else in my life just a series of diminishing returns. Now I'm sad...
(4)Abbey J.
We order delivery from this place once a week and it's always consistently good, on time, and fresh. Their sweet potato roll and specialty rolls are fabulous- and their crab rangoon is some of the best I've ever had!
(5)Aaron S.
Had a 7:15 reservation on Valentines Day. Seated promptly, waited 15 minutes before we were greeted. Another 10 before we got our cocktails, which arrived separately. Everything took way too long and our entrees were delivered 10+ minutes apart. No explanation, no apology. Food quality was pretty decent, but not enough to make up for the inexcusable service. Lots of employees running about, the place was chaotic and uncoordinated all around. There are so many other Asian-fusion style restaurants within a 10 minute drive, there's no reason to go back.
(2)Stephanie C.
I'm a big fan of hot woks cool sushi. In fact, I love their Michigan ave. location and Pulaski location too, but roscoe village is my favorite location. I love the atmosphere, service and the food. Can't wait to eat here again soon.
(4)Kati M.
I've had sushi everywhere from New York City to Little Rock, and this is the first time I've been so horribly disappointed. Decided to splurge on sushi, but it was too hot to go pickup anywhere - Hot Woks was the nearest place. Maybe it's that it was a delivery, maybe the delivery vehicle didn't have ac, but everything was sub-par. Signature roll was limp, bland, badly rolled with loose rice and soggy tempura crumbs, and I kept biting down on the odd uncooked bit of rice. Philly roll was better in form, but the cream cheese tasted a few days past due. Fish in both was slimy and bland, and strange in texture, as if cut the wrong way. Crab rangoons were slightly better, but limp and slightly doughy, as if undercooked or left sitting too long. I'm forcing down the last of it now because it was expensive enough that I really shouldn't let it go to waste, but I already feel worse for it and won't be surprised if I spend this evening sick. Maybe their stir-fry/cooked meat type dishes are better, but avoid their makizushi at all costs.
(2)Rob B.
Cute, quick and a pretty good bargain, they seem to have Thai, Japanese and Chinese. The $7.95 lunch included an appetizer and sizable entree. My pad Thai was good but does not come close to Aree Thai. The small dining room is nice and the service was quick and friendly. Beef and Broccoli "to go" came at a dollar more and without the appetiser. The non-tradtional egg roll was that. Egg roll wrapper filled with peanut butter, mine came cold and not to be repeated. Next time I'll try the spring roll.
(3)Annalea T.
I adore this place and the staff. I live a block away which is pretty dangerous. At this point the staff knows my name and order when I call in for pickup which is embarrassing for me but also sweet.The food is very good quality and it's consistent.
(5)Jacques M.
This has become my go to lunch place. The Sushi is very good and for about $20 bucks I can get three different maki selections (about 18 total rolls), a bento box, or a good sized chicken dish. The portions are large, the lunch prices are cheap, and the food is well above average. Their dinner dishes are good as well, but you'll be hard pressed to get better quality sushi for the price of Hot Woks lunch specials and service is always good. Overall, a top lunch venue in Roscoe Village.
(4)Brett F.
Hot Woks Cool Sushi, you've got big shoes to fill my friend! Admittedly, I'm a Kaze addict. Or was. When it existed in this space, natch, I was here constantly. When they closed their doors I cried like a baby. When they reopened not too far away as Macku, I rejoiced like nobodies business! Then, of course, I began eagerly anticipating what could possibly fill the old Kaze Roscoe Village real estate? Answer: HWCS and its very bright, peppy, orangina brand of Japanese fare. Is it an adequate replacement for Kaze? Not really, but I doubt much would be. Is it sufficient to get your sushi fix on in a cute, fun atmosphere with decent eats and nom nom mochi? Yes... a resounding YES I say! Didn't get much variety of fare on this, my initial visit, to HWCS as I was doing serious diet duty and wanted to eat as clean and healthy as possible. A shared order of seaweed salad, miso soup, tuna maki and salmon avocado maki later, and I was totally satiated and feeling like the skinny bitch I want to be. Huzzah! Would their signature Obama-nami roll made with deep fried salmon, unagi, avocado and cream cheese given me a better experience? Possibly. Does the Akira Jumbo Maki with tuna, salmon, super white tuna, spicy mayo, masago, ginger, avocado, cucumber, tempura crumbs and sweet soy sauce sound like it would rock my world? Without a doubt, but my fresh and simplistic order suited me just fine and was all flavorful and prepared well. There are obviously several reasons to find myself back at HWCS soon, and the superbly chubby maki rolls aren't the only ones! A quick walk by today showed their street side patio is also now open as well and sporting huge umbrellas in the signature shade of? You guess it, orange. Get there as soon as our fleetingly warm nights allow.
(4)Christina G.
This is a pretty decent place to go for sushi. I'm partial to it because it's so close and has a nice little patio area to sit when it's nice out. However, what won me over was their customer service. We ordered online on Memorial Day. The order went through, and it gave us a time to pick up the food. As the place isn't far away, we decided to walk there and took the dog on a walk too. As we got close to the restaurant, I saw it was closed. Huge bummer. Just as we were walking away, my husband got a call from the owner saying he wasn't sure why our online order was allowed to go through, but that he was really sorry for what happened. OK, fine, that was nice of him to call, but I was disappointed. The next day, my husband received a coupon for Hot Woks in his email. $5 off our next order. It wasn't much, but it was a nice thing for them to do. On to the food. My favorite rolls are the the sweet potato tempura, the Mega Vega, and the Rainbow. The sushi always tastes fresh, and it's pretty good. If you're close by and want a fix to your sushi craving, head to Hot Woks. My friend really liked their Pad Thai too. She's not a sushi eater, but loves her stand by go-to of Pad Thai. She said it was pretty good here.
(4)Angie M.
Cute, inviting, friendly and very, very orange. Orange? Well, the décor, at least. I'm not sure what it is with sushi joints and orange walls, chairs, booths and tables, but they seem to go hand in hand. Like peanut butter and jelly. Or Kool-aid and sugar. Or ham and burger. Needless to say Hot Woks Cool Sushi is right on target with the tangerine 'tude. Even if orange isn't your thing, you can't help but feel happy when surrounded with all that citrus flavor. Moving on. In an effort to be as health conscious as possible, my gal pal and I ordered light. This means no tempura, no cream cheese, no spicy anything (it's all mayo-ridden) and therefore no signature rolls. Insert sad face. However, I believe that if a sushi restaurant can do the basics well, the fancy-schmancy rolls should be pretty delicious, too. My cucumber salad starter was light, refreshing and utterly delicious. I'm not sure what is in that sweet vinaigrette, but HWCS should bottle it and sell it immediately. It turned what is normally a fairly 'blah' starter into something pretty fabulous. I also sampled the seaweed salad and confirmed it's a pretty solid starter. HWCS doesn't skimp on the sesame seeds in their seaweed salad, so there was tons of flavor. Our basic rolls were tasty too, if not a little boring, but that's not really HWCS's fault. It's our fault for trying to veer away from all the unhealthy things that make sushi taste great and interesting. The tekka maki, Califoria roll and salmon avocado rolls were as fresh as could be and beautifully presented. No complaints out of this girl! If I had one teensy recommendation, it would be to pretty please start using real crab instead of crab stick in the California roll. It truly makes all the difference in the world. My friend and I walked out spending well under $20 each for three rolls, cucumber salad, seaweed salad and a couple of diet Cokes. Not bad!
(4)Johnny R.
The family traipsed over to HWCS and had a nice time. Ordered a number of rolls as well as beef/broccoli, yakisoba and the sampler appetizer. Very kid-friendly, nice atmosphere. Kids liked and and want to go again tomorrow. :)
(3)Justin F.
I would like to believe that every time I go to a new restaurant and order crab rangoons that they will come out looking very pro. Every so often, your standards must rise. Hot Woks Cool Sushi was that pro. Oh man... My quick tip reads something like this, "Crab Rangoons are sacs of deliciousness." I stand by that statement. These sacs are about the size of a small scoop of ice cream. In this case, the ice cream is tasty rangoon innards deep fried in a tender flaky crust. They are amazing to look at and even more amazing to eat. Be careful, they do pop when you bite into them. Sooo good.. ....I will be back and it is not to order sushi but a seaweed salad and about three orders of crab rangoons.
(5)Heather P.
I don't live in this neighborhood so I'm not exactly sure how desperate they are for a sushi/thai place, but this is good - not great. I love the atmosphere. It's fresh and cool and very upscale looking without being intimidating. The decor is minimal, but has red undertones everywhere which kind of "sexy" it up. As for the food, I split a sushi roll called Mt. Fuji with two other people and we were all blown away. It was delicious! Even the girl that doesn't eat sushi raved about how much she enjoyed it. The entrees on the other hand were served in bowls that made it somewhat difficult to actually eat from with chop sticks. The portions were okay, but the flavors weren't exactly there. We all decided we'd come back for sushi but maybe wait til they have been around a little longer to test out the entrees again. Since they are new to the area (but apparently they're a chain - who knew), I figure there is a little bit of trial and error that goes into creating the menu. I'd give them another shot if nothing else because the sushi was so tasty.
(3)Karissa F.
My fiancé and I went here on the 3rd of July. The staff was really friendly. The food was delicious, and it came out quickly. We shared the untraditional egg rolls, some sashimi, a couple of rolls and pad thai, which really hit the spot. This is rare for us, but we left without room to try dessert. It's a great Roscoe Village restaurant; we will be back.
(4)Jessica B.
Favorite sushi in the area. Quick delivery, always fresh!
(5)Jane D.
One of my favorite places to go for sushi. I have been to all locations in Chicago and have never been disappointed. They have a pretty decent sized menu and it's all very reasonably priced. They also have really great lunch deals! Some of my favs include: Tuna Avocado Salad, Mega Vega Roll, and Sweet Potato Tempura.
(5)Zack R.
I have to update my review, because I ate in this restaurant and tried a signature roll, the confusion, and it was incredible. Had to add a star for their great service, pleasant environment, and one of the best sushi rolls I have ever had. Try the confusion!
(4)Sarah R.
So my girlfriend and I found ourselves in Roscoe Village for dinner. It was a last minute thing and we were starving. We originally stopped by the Kitschn and I had no idea that they closed at 3. Next stop, Costello's, Nah didn't feel like a cold sandwhich. We then spotted Hot woks Cool Sushi. Looked at the menu and felt that would be a good decision. Boy were we right. I got a huge chicken teriyaki bento box that was filled with everything I could ever want! An awesome peanuty coleslaw, tempura, rice, miso soup, california rolls, and my chicken teriyaki? Geez. When I was done (and I finished mostly everything) I stated that I ate a whole family's worth of food. And all for $11.95?!?!?! This is where it gets better! My girlfriend is vegan. She's been vegan for a year so she's pretty much switched over to the dark side. She orders the tempura Udon soup. Asks if it's vegetarian and was told it was. When we get her soup, it's beef based (very delicious btw). We ask our waitress and she appologizes. She comes back and offers to have the chef make veggie based broth from scratch!!!!! It's not something they normally do, but they made a wrong totally right! A manager even came by and apologized. I am ever so thankful that they made our night a happy and comforting one. It was dreary and rainy outside, but the decor (candles and low light) made everything feel so relaxed. We will definitely be back. They certainly take care of their clientel. Everything tastes so good too!
(5)Michelle M.
This place has been open down the block from my work for some time now and I just got around to ordering some lunch from here. Since I just started eating Veggie Sushi, I called and ordered 1 asparagus tempura roll and one sweet potato tempura roll. At about $5 per roll it was a good price for lunch. The wasabi was super strong. Over all if I have an Asian lunch craving this place will be a good option. It is by no means gourmet or amazing, but good for quick easy lunch.
(3)Mayank P.
The decor is nice, the sushi is good, the service is acceptable, and the prices are reasonable.
(4)Nikkie H.
As sushi places go, Hot Woks is alright. See my previous post about Tanoshii and you will find that I am now spoiled when it comes to sushi. Perhaps it was unfair to go to Hot Woks so soon after Tanoshii, but I digress. Visited with one of my best friends and we had a great time. It was fairly empty, with just enough ambient noise to talk about things that may otherwise be uncouth in a really quiet environment. I had the spicy tuna and dragon rolls, which are my usual go-to maki rolls when I don't feel like thinking. They were fine - not bad, not amazing. The cucumber salad was refreshing and the gyoza tasty. The nicest bonus was half price beer that day. I don't know if it's every Wednesday, but I always appreciate a nice, discounted beer. I can't say that this place will be added into my rotation of sushi places, but I was glad to finally check it out.
(3)Pamela P.
We had dine in here...on a late Thursday night. The place was packed but we managed to snag a table. It's supposed to have really amazing food and sushi in particular, etc. I wasn't amazed or knocked out of my chair. The food was just ok. I think our appetizer sampler was the best part--minus the chicken satay. If I wanted a couple of chicken breasts (full, uncut, un-skewered), I would just slap them on the grill. These things they call satay should not bear the satay name. My veggie rolls were fresh but un-inventive and just plain ordinary. As was the hubby's bento box. Same old routine with mediocre ingredients and potentially old veggies fried up into tempura. Service was terribly slow. Had to get up and ask for our check and then ask for her to swipe our credit card. Sorry, there's so many better sushi joints to try.
(2)Kim B.
Excellent! This place is great! Really nice decor/ atmosphere. The waitstaff is always very friendly and the food is great. Best sushi I've ever had!
(5)R J.
Great place. Sushi and maki are very fresh and served in large portions. Bentox boxes are a nice combination of different small specialties if you want to go for variety at affordable price. The staff is adorable. They love their customers and you can feel it an every moment. Highly recommended!
(5)Bert R.
Good neighborhood sushi and kids love eating here.
(5)Melissa B.
I've lived in Roscoe Village for a year and a half and hadn't visited the restaurant due to mediocre reviews. We decided to give it a shot on a crummy rainy evening in December. This place was really terrible. The fish was lukewarm in the sushi and the flavors in the rolls weren't great either. The rice was undercooked and crunchy. The edamame was overcooked and over-salted. All in all, a pretty disgusting meal. There were a few tables of really shouty drunk people which didn't help the atmosphere (which is sort of lame to begin with). It also didn't help that I was sick to my stomach about 45 minutes after leaving the place. Maybe this is the sort of place that caters to people who don't actually like sushi, but since there are many, many superior sushi restaurants to this one in the area, so I won't be going back.
(1)A L.
I live very close to this location so it's become my go-to for a quick & easy takeout. I've also eaten in the restaurant, and it's a nice setting with friendly service. This location used to be a Japanese restaurant that I adored (Kaze) so I was very disappointed when it was replaced by HWCS. Nevertheless, they've won me over. Their sushi is average but for a convenient neighborhood type joint I can't complain. Not everybody can be Kaze. And with the other pan-asian food options there's variety to choose from. I tend to rotate between the steamed Sole (my fav), the Oceano roll, the Chardonnay Chicken, Shrimp with Lobster sauce (although it has been very very salty the last few times), and the beef chow fun.
(4)Marty G.
Slow service and the food is good - but nothing to sing Hallelujah too. not a bad choice if you want asian and don't have time to look for something better.
(3)Julie Z.
This review is for take-out only: Roscoe Village really needed a sushi place so I was happy to see this one but it's just ok. I walked there and placed an order for take-out...10 min later it was ready which I appreciated the fast turn around time. Upon a quick observation, the inside is nice and what you would expect...typical Asian influence and decor. They have a great lil outdoor eating area which I appreciate especially in the summer months when all you want to do is be outside. So, I only got the spicy tuna and spider maki. It wasn't terrible but it could have been better. I think it needed to be more fresh. I am used to spicy tuna with some cucumber or avocado but this was just tuna in a roll and it wasn't spicy at all. booooo. Overall, I'll try it again just b/c it really is the only sushi place close by. Sigh.
(3)Debbie S.
I'm glad that Hot Woks opened up in Roscoe Village. Food is consistently good as is the service. I have ordered the beef chow fun on several occasions and have never been disappointed. Bento boxes are a good deal -- especially at lunch -- large portions at low prices. In general, the portions are large and you get a lot for your money. Sushi is decent (I have had much better but also much worse) and the space is nice is clean. Being able to order on line for pick up is a nice bonus. Solid restaurant choice when you are looking for an Asian option in Roscoe Village.
(3)Scott C.
We made another trip to Hot Woks Cool Sushi this past weekend and again were happy with our meal here. The dumplings certainly make a nice appetizer along with a bowl of edema me. I had the sushi silver for dinner and it was the perfect amount of food - 1 spicy tuna roll (you get to choose between spicy tuna or a California roll) and 5 pieces of sushi including eel. The fish was fresh and the rice was good as well. The service was attentive and again we enjoyed our meal here. It continues to provide a solid sushi option in Roscoe Village.
(4)Carolynne M.
I get that in this day and age, it is important to set yourself apart so that you arent forgotten because of the newest hip joint on the scene. HWCS is a pretty solid establishment. The interior is great, with the pops of orange against the white, the staff is almost overly attentive, and the presentation is excellent. So what is the problem? Why not 5 stars? Well, first up, remember the whole "setting yourself apart" thing? We wanted to sample a variety of things, so I ordered the Hot Woks Noodles. Its a stir fry with chicken, shrimp, spinach noodles & mixed vegetables in sweet/tangy sauce that includes Jalapeno peppers. It tasted great but there was only 2 shrimp and 2 jalapenos in the whole dish. The we got the nontraditional egg rolls. They have spices, peanut sauce, Italian sausage, cabbage, carrots and caramelized onions all rolled up. I found these to be incredibly nasty and didnt eat more than one bite. Andy loved them though. But he likes those Reuben Rolls at Summerfest so its understandable. I also got an Unagi roll and a Tamago roll. The Unagi was OK, but a little lacking in flavour. The Tamago was good, but again, nothing I'd rush back for. If I had one bit of advice it would be to nix the wacky stuff and focus on making the other items as fabulous as possible. Its a good place I think it is just trying too hard.
(4)Andy M.
Hot Woks is a different take on Asian food. We started out with the Non-Traditional Egg Rolls. My wife hated them, but I thought they were delicious. They were filled with Peanut sauce and Italian Sausage. I thought that the people at Hot Woks did a nice job turning your regular old Egg roll into a hearty and delicious appetizer. For me entree I went with the Beef Fried Rice. Fried Rice is usually a safe dish to order when you are going to a place for the first time. But once again, Hot Woks has a different take on this dish. The dish was served with generous portions of beef, Jalapeno Peppers and Carrots. The peppers really compliment the dish well. Its not your normal, run of the mill fried rice. I thought that the interior was kind of tacky, but like I always say, it's all about to food, and the food was fantastic. They also offered a wide variety of Asian Beers which was a nice touch. I enjoyed my night at Hot Woks. The food was unique and delicious. The Service was prompt and attentive. I wouldn't hesitate to go back.
(4)Kristin S.
It's pretty much right across the street from me, so I occasionally order thai and sushi from here. If it weren't so close, I'm not sure that I would. The noodles are hit or miss (Yakisoba isn't my favorite, but the Chicken chow mein/Cantonese was decent) , and we've had our carryout order messed up before, so maybe writing down your order or pointing the the menu would help. The sushi isn't the best I've had, but it isn't the worst, either. The creamy white tuna is actually my favorite roll I've had there, though the harajuku isn't bad. The cucumber salad isn't fresh, so don't waste your time with it. Until a better sushi spot opens up in my neighborhood, Hot Woks will still get some occasional business from my sushi-loving household.
(3)Helena B.
I will now review HWCS on a very scientific "Yay!" vs. "Bleh." scale: Signature rolls = Yay! The Akira Roll gets high marks. The touch of ginger was perfection. Like most other signature rolls, this one boasts 10 pieces, so you get your fill. We will be trying other specialty rolls on future visits. Standard rolls = Bleh. Our Spider Maki (generally a Boyfriend-and-I favorite) was too mushy. Too much mayo, not enough softshell crabby goodness. Yick. Our Tekka Maki was utterly forgettable. Menu = Yay! In addition to standard sushi (read: sushi with fish in it), HWCS provides a list of vegetarian options. As my sister recently went veg, I'm constantly on the lookout for places we can enjoy together. Score one for HWCS, you will see the B. sisters soon! Not into sushi? They also have a wide selection of Chinese dishes. Convenience = Yay! Delivery or pick up! Fantastic. HWCS has guaranteed its menu a spot in my delivery menu drawer.
(3)Andrew C.
To be fair, I'm going to give this two reviews. One for dine in, the other for carry out. I understand that this is Roscoe Village and that it is known for having baby strollers but for whatever reason, every time I go here there is a family that allows their baby cry out really loud. Three times, three screaming babies. Perhaps every time I go here, it is busy as well. The wait staff seems nice but the service is slow or unorganized. Unfortunately I have never had such bad experiences at any other place in this neighborhood. Sushi is just too expensive and too competitive to deal with this. So I have to give this place a two stars. However, if you decide to to take out...this is a quality 4 star.
(2)Kat L.
trendy interior. but super small. super freezing. it was like we were sitting in a freezer to eat. we had to ask to be reseated. and it was still freezing. idiots couldn't take a hint and turn the thermostat higher. it was in the 60's and rainy outside. Terrible, terrible service. Wasn't asked for drinks. wasn't checked on if the food was ok. just bad. bad. service. waitresses standing around staring at empty space rather than check on diners. Another diner who came in 10 minutes after us got their entire meal before we got anything at all. Finally go miso. We probably only got the miso soup because the waitress overheard us complain. I dunno. Do you think it takes 15-20 minutes to make a small cup of miso soup? So a minute after we get our soup, the waitress brings our rolls. On plates that are the entire width of the table. Ps, the tables are tiny. So she's holding the plate, realizes there's no space, and clunks and chinks the plate against the glasses of water to shove them over on the table. o_O hmm.... not so smart, eh. Although I did enjoy watching her struggle. Maybe she would have space if she brought our bowls of soup earlier-- erego, two less bowls to take up space on the table. The sushi was decent. Nothing fancy. Lacking in vegetables. I've never seen a philly with only salmon and cream cheese. no cucumber. ich. spicy tuna was minced. I detest my fish hacked up. needless to say, i don't think i'll come back.
(2)Sheila M.
Great local neighborhood sushi place. Top quality sashimi. Reasonable prices. I'm not as keen on their specialty rolls, but their sashimi and nigiri here are super fresh and have always met my expectations. They're quick on takeout orders. I live two blocks away and can put in my order, and by the time I can get me and my toddler out the door to pick it up, it's ready. Nice dine in experience too. There's a great outdoor area for warmer days, and the service/ambiance is nice for a sushi place.
(4)Lauren B.
Very good, better than average sushi. Their sashimi pieces were a very nice size, very good miso soup, and good rolls... Oh, i should say that my sashimi came with a bowl of rice, the rice was way too vinegary...great texture but all i could taste was the rice vinegar so that kinda ruined the rice for my fish. I dined in with a friend on a Friday night, the place was busy but not packed. The strange part was that their website does NOT indicate that they are a BYOB restaurant, so I ordered my wine off of the menu. However, many other people were bringing in their own bottles of wine. This was quite irritating after I had already ordered my overpriced (but good) wine. All in all, good sushi, very good prices and nice ambiance for a night out!
(4)Dolores P.
I wish Kaze was still here, but I love Hot's prices. We went and were pleasantly surprised as to how good the food is. I had three different veggie rolls and they were cheaper than most places. However, my food came a solid 10 minutes after everyone else at my table. There were only three other tables in the entire restaurant, so not quite sure what the hold up was. Definitely a great place for some yummy take out, but not sure I'll be dining in again anytime too soon.
(3)Philip B.
Checked out this new sushi/asian restaurant out on opening night in Roscoe Village! Previously Kaze Sushi (which has been closed for about a year, now known as Macku Sushi in Lincoln Park), I'm glad to have this option nearby. It was busy but was expecting that on opening night. Even so, all went smoothly with just a short wait around 7pm and service and food better than I was expecting. The Fukudome roll was very tasty, as well as the tuna sashimi. The crab rangoon appetizer was delicious as well. They do have a liquor license FYI (not BYOB like their Pulaski location) so we had a couple of glasses of wine with dinner. Hopefully they will get a permit for outdoor seating to enjoy the rest of the summer. Overall I am a fan and the food is great and prices are fair, and will enjoy coming back!
(4)Emily R.
Good, reliable sushi. Never had the "hot woks" menu items but the decor is clean and bright, they have a nice patio, though it's not BYOB, which might be good or bad depending on your POV.
(4)Katherine S.
I've been to the location on Michigan Ave a few times now. Service is always excellent. The restuarant is clean and I'm always happy with my food. I tried the new location on Roscoe when it opened and was impressed with the decor. It's very unique and trendy. For food the Mega Vega roll is by far my favorite. I'm not vegatarian and I'm obsessed with it. It's hearty and fills me up which is what I love. Another time I ordered fried rice and I couldnt finish it all and packed it up to take home and before I left the waitress made sure I knew how to heat it up for when I got home. I was really appreciative of that. Rumor has it there is a fourth location opening on W. Adams...right by my work. Looks like I'll be heading there for my lunch break!
(5)Beth A.
portions have beefed up and they now let me order pad thai without protein :)
(4)Leah C.
don't miss kaze... this is a wonderful addition to roscoe village and picks up where kaze lacked. as soon as we entered the restaurant, we were greeted by shiny happy people. the 3 of us shared some offerings off the "cool sushi" side of the menu. the hit of the table was the mega vegi roll which consisted of the UNusual suspects: broc and beets in addition to sweet potato, avocado, etc. my sweet potato roll and asparagus roll were also very good but next time, i would just order the mega - it's large and hearty enough as a meal on its own.
(5)Carrie L.
Ok sushi. Very bland and run of the mill. Over priced for the lack of uniqueness. Blah...
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